Technology

AMD is dealing with soaring PC component prices through an unusual strategy: repackaging old CPUs and GPUs to reach gamers who can no longer afford the latest technology.

Dell is continuing its XPS revival by launching a redesigned XPS 13, and it's not just a major rethink of the company's smallest premium laptop — it's a direct bid to capture would-be MacBook Neo buyers.

Dell finally announced its new XPS 13 laptop at Computex 2026 in Taiwan on Monday, almost five months after teasing it at CES. With a premium CNC aluminum build and a launch price of just $599 for students, the device is poised to aggressively compete with Apple's budget bombshell, the MacBook Neo.

On that battlefront, Dell is coming out swinging. "I'll give [Apple] credit, it's a good product...The difference is, we built something better," Dell COO Jeff Clarke told reporters during a briefing ahead of Computex.

Dell XPS 13 specs The XPS 13 will come in sky and storm finishes (left and right, respectively). Credit: Dell

The XPS 13 will be the thinnest and lightest XPS laptop Dell has ever made. It's just as slim as the Neo but half a pound lighter, weighing in at just 2.2 pounds. It will come equipped with a 2.5K touchscreen, keyboard backlighting, and WiFi 7, three features the Neo lacks.

The XPS 13's display will offer up to 500 nits of brightness and full DCI-P3 color coverage, so it should look very crisp and vibrant. It will also support a variable 120Hz refresh rate that can drop to just 30Hz when it's displaying static content, maximizing its battery life.

The XPS 13 doesn't have a lattice-style keyboard or a seamless touchpad, two signature features of Dell's XPS 14 and 16 laptops. Credit: Dell

Dell's XPS 13 is rated for up to 17 hours of video streaming per charge. If that holds up in testing, it'll beat the Neo's battery life by just over two hours.

The XPS 13 will launch sometime later this month in a silvery "sky" finish with Intel's new entry-level Core Series 3 chips ("Wildcat Lake"). The base configuration comes with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, and until Nov. 2, students ages 16 and up can buy it for just $599. Everyone else pays $699 (the same price as an identically configured Neo).

Later this summer, Dell will add a second "storm" finish and scaled-up variants with the flagship Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chips ("Panther Lake"). Those upgraded models will have two Thunderbolt 4 ports, while the cheaper Wildcat Lake versions will have two USB-C ports. None will have a headphone jack, so there's one point on the Neo's side.

A cheap XPS laptop? In this economy? The XPS 13 is half a pound lighter than the MacBook Neo. Credit: Dell / Mashable composite

The Neo's arrival this spring sent many PC makers scrambling, but Clarke said it didn't affect Dell's planned features for the XPS 13, which was developed over the course of "around 30 weeks." The company first hinted at its existence at CES in January, describing it in a blog post as "our most accessible XPS price point yet."

Dell previously sold an XPS 13 laptop from 2012 to 2024. But it was basically just a compact version of its XPS 14 and 16 laptops, not a budget machine targeting a whole different user base.

The new XPS 13's cheap price tag is quite the feat amid the global RAM shortage that's forced most PC makers to raise their prices — Dell included. Last month, select configurations of its latest XPS 14 got up to 31 percent more expensive. And its new entry-level Alienware 15 gaming laptop debuted at a higher price than expected.

Dell delivered a premium-feeling budget laptop in the current market to fulfill the accessibility commitment it made at CES, Clarke said, though it also took "a change in mindset and attitude."

SEE ALSO: Thank the AI industry for tech price increases: See the full list

"We had this belief that XPS was this incredible premium product, which it is, and it couldn't go below a certain floor," he explained. "We put our minds to it, making the XPS experience more affordable. We wanted to share that experience with a broader range of consumers."

So far, Acer is the only other major PC maker to announce a Wildcat Lake-powered budget laptop with U.S availability. (Out this August, the new Acer Swift Air 14 also starts at $699.) Other models launched in China last month.

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Get ready for a documentary-heavy month on HBO Max, with new and returning original shows and some delectable movies making their streaming debuts. Whether you’re craving epic fantasy, sharp comedy, or prestige indie films, the platform has plenty of new content to satiate your desires.

TL;DR: Save $154 on the AdGuard Family Plan, which protects up to nine devices with ad blocking, privacy tools, malware safeguards, and parental controls for $15.97 (reg. $169.99) through May 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $15.97
$169.99 Save $154.02   Get Deal

Between smartphones, tablets, laptops, and shared family computers, keeping every device protected can quickly become complicated. The AdGuard Family Plan simplifies that by covering up to nine devices under a single subscription while helping reduce ads, block trackers, and filter potentially harmful websites.

Right now you can get the plan while it’s price-dropped to $15.97 (reg. $169.99) through May 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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AdGuard’s Family Plan is built specifically for households rather than individual users. While the company’s Personal Plan covers up to three devices, the Family Plan expands that coverage to nine, making it a more practical option for families with multiple phones, tablets, and computers.

One of AdGuard’s primary functions is ad blocking. The software is designed to remove many of the ads that appear while browsing the web, helping create a cleaner online experience. It also works to block tracking tools that collect browsing data, giving users more control over their privacy.

Beyond ads and trackers, AdGuard includes protection against phishing sites and certain forms of malware. These safeguards can help reduce the chances of accidentally visiting websites designed to steal information or distribute malicious software.

For parents, the Family Plan’s parental control tools may be one of its biggest advantages. The feature allows adults to restrict access to inappropriate or adult-oriented content, helping create a safer browsing environment for younger users.

The software works across both Android and iOS devices, helping families maintain consistent protection across multiple platforms.

For households looking to simplify online safety, privacy, and ad blocking across multiple devices, the AdGuard Family Plan is currently available for $15.97 (reg. $169.99) through May 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Everybody gets the thirst for a hookup once in a while, and you certainly don't need to worry about justifyng that thirst to us — or anybody else for that matter. The heart (and body) wants what it wants.

What you do need to worry about though is your online privacy — particularly if you're using dating sites and apps that are geared towards sex and NSFW content.

If you want to protect your privacy or at least keep a low profile while you swipe through sexy singles in your area, there are a few different things you can do. Here's some general guidance that works across all apps and sites, plus some more targeted advice depending on the service you're using.

General tips for browsing hookup apps discreetly

The following tips work well across all hookup sites. Think of them as general guidelines for limiting your exposure:

• Sign up using an alternative email address. Not only does this spare you in the event of a data breach (and trust us when we say they can be more common than you would think), it also means that if somebody does catch a glance at your inbox they won't be able to see what sites you frequent.

• Anonymize your photos as far as possible. You don't have to blur your face, but neither should you be taking photos of yourself that reveal where you live, where you work, or where you hang out. Additionally, ensure you leave out any identifying marks, such as unique tattoos, from any of your profile photos.  

• Don't link your social media in your profile. Too many people share their Instagram pages or TikTok handles in their profiles, but doing so dramatically increases your exposure, since every image and story you post there could inadvertently contain identifying information about you, such as who your friends are or where you're from. 

• Take advantage of gift cards or prepaid credit cards. If you purchase a premium membership to a hookup app or site, you'll leave a paper trail that links to your bank account or credit card. To maintain your anonymity, you can use a prepaid card or purchase a gift card instead of using your main credit or debit card when you register your membership. 

App-specific tips to retain your anonymityFeeld

For the privacy-conscious dater, Feeld’s Incognito mode is a game-changer: You can scout the Discover feed without leaving a digital footprint, remaining invisible to anyone you haven't explicitly "liked." The app also supports private photo vaults that only unlock for confirmed connections.

Tinder

Tinder offers a few unique features that can help you lower your profile, even as you swipe away. First, consider turning off Discovery mode when you're trying to keep a low profile. This will make it impossible for new people to find your profile in search. Meanwhile, you can still chat to people you're already matched with.

If you really want to take things up a notch and you already have a Tinder Plus, Gold or Platinum membership, you can use Passport Mode to browse singles in a nearby city, or a place you're travelling to for work or on a vacation. This is a great way to prevent your local friends and family from accidentally stumbling across your profile. 

SEE ALSO: Is Tinder making a comeback?

You can also block phone numbers if you really don't want certain individuals to find you — your boss, neighbor, or sibling, for instance.

Grindr

The first line of defence on Grindr is a relatively new feature called Profile Hide that works on one user at a time. Say, for example, you come across a co-worker on the app, and don't want them to know you're also using it. Simply click on their profile and find the Hide icon. If you tap this, your profile will become invisible to them and their profile will become invisible to you, like magic.

If you want to take things up a notch, you'll need a Grindr Unlimited membership, which unlocks a really useful privacy feature called Incignito mode, which essentially allows you to use the service in total secrecy, without anyone knowing you're there until you initiate an interaction. 

AdultFriendFinder

AdultFriendFinder is like the Wild West of hookup sites, a place where seemingly anything goes, but that carefree attitude can also be a privacy nightmare. We strongly recommend you limit the amount of identifiable information you put on your profile. That includes being very selective about which photos you choose to share.

One good way to strike a balance between total anonymity and a modicum of privacy is to take advantage of AFF's many photo features, specifically their photo permissions options. You can make your main profile photo something reasonably discrete, such as a full-length picture of you wearing a hat or a photo shot from a distance or even a photo with your face blurred out, but then you can create a photo album of more identifiable, personal photos that you choose to share only with friends. 

That way, you can be super selective about whom you share your photos with.

Euphoria season 3 comes to a close with tonight's finale, which airs at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and HBO Max. Will this episode wind up being the series finale?

Lincoln introduced the Aviator in 2003 as a three-row luxury SUV, but it shared its platform and its look with the Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer. While it was more upscale than both, Aviator sales were still modest as buyers noticed the all-too-close family resemblance. As dealers struggled to move units, Lincoln discontinued the model line not long after its debut. The 2005 model year was the last of the Aviator for quite some time.

I am not the biggest fan of Samsung phones, and that’s mostly due to the software. The plethora of features and options is nice, but I just don’t like some of Samsung’s design choices. Thankfully, One UI 8.5 improved one such thing in a big way: the Quick Settings panel.

SUV buyers in the U.S. are paying a lot more attention to what it actually costs to own a vehicle these days. It’s not just the sticker price anymore—it’s everything that comes after it.

Jellyfin works pretty well on Android with all the default settings in place. But there are still a few tweaks I make in both the Jellyfin client and Android itself to tailor the service to exactly how I want to use it. From enabling wider codec support to improving offline use, to enabling background play, these tips can improve your Jellyfin experience too.

Cloud storage is expensive, we like to host our own content locally these days, and can you really put all your trust in third-party backup solutions?

If you have been researching a new vehicle but have noticed that prices seem higher than ever, that is not your imagination! The average new-vehicle transaction price is hovering at or near $50,000 today, the highest it’s ever been in the automotive industry. It seems the days of ultra-affordable cars have passed, and even a six-figure salary may not leave enough margin when factoring in the total cost of vehicle ownership.

Microsoft has spent the last several years pushing Copilot and new user interface designs, which has meant that several great features included with Windows don't get the recognition that they deserve. These are some of my favorites that will run on any Windows 11-compatible PC.

Plex is great, but setting up and maintaining a home server is more effort than many people want. If you only want to use it for music and audiobooks, you don't need to go to that trouble. You might already have a simpler alternative that you're ignoring. It's YouTube Music.

Google is changing the way we install Android apps from developers that haven't registered with Google. There will be ramifications for those of us who use Android with open-source apps and alternative app stores. Google says these changes are in the name of security, and that's valid—but what about the far more numerous and far more dangerous threats that exist inside the Play Store?

The picture above is of a wireless USB dongle, and if you've used proprietary 2.4Ghz USB mice, keyboards, or game controllers, you know that your computer doesn't know the difference between those devices and wired USB versions of them.

Online prediction platform, Polymarket, is starting to block IP addresses from VPNs and asking some users to identify themselves, The Information first reported.

Due to regional regulations and international sanctions, Polymarket is blocked in 33 countries and several regions. But people in those places could, in theory, use a VPN, or Virtual Private Network, to mask their real location. According to The Information, Polymarket has now made it harder to use VPNs. It's blocking certain IP addresses associated with VPNs and blocking accounts with suspicious connection patterns.

If it doesn't start enforcing its official policy, Polymarket could risk regulatory action, The Information reported.

SEE ALSO: Meta faces employee backlash over tracking tool

Polymarket is also apparently asking some customers for their identities to "access faster trading technology," the report states. This marks a shift from the market's previous model of anonymous trading, TechRadar reported.

The news comes during a broader crackdown on VPNs in the U.S. and elsewhere. Utah now bans using VPNs to visit porn sites, though the law doesn't go into effect for Aylo websites like Pornhub until Sept. The UK is also considering a VPN ban for children following a spike in usage after the enactment of its age verification law, the Online Safety Act.

Age verification laws require proof of age, like a government ID or a facial scan, to see explicit content or content otherwise deemed "harmful to minors." Two studies on the burgeoning laws state that they don't work to keep minors off porn sites, and instead infringe on adults' First Amendment rights in the case of U.S. laws.

Last year, First Amendment experts warned Mashable of VPN bans as "second-order censorship." When people work around the initial law, in this case, age verification, then further regulations ensue.

A used sports sedan market is full of compromises, but every so often a model comes along that completely breaks the usual value equation. Most buyers expect to choose between performance, luxury, or affordability, yet a few rare vehicles manage to blend all three into a single package once depreciation kicks in. That’s exactly where this Korean performance sedan now sits, offering serious power, a refined cabin, and everyday usability for the price of a new economy car.

Android is often seen as a Google product, and in many ways it is. Google and its services sit at the center of the experience, but underneath all of that, Android is still built on an open-source foundation, which means the core system doesn’t actually require Google to function the way most people assume it does.