Technology

Have you ever wondered whether a free Android app is worth downloading? Maybe you're wondering what the app actually does or how it differs from others. In any case, the Play Store provides a decent amount of information on each app, organized into sections like ‘About this game/app,’ ‘Data safety,’ ‘Ratings and reviews,’ and ‘App support.’ But is that good enough? It can sometimes be hard to find what you’re looking for, especially in the About section, where you’ll find the developer’s app description and information.

You might think that Milwaukee's M12 lineup is only for DIYers or woodworkers—and those people can definitely benefit from Milwaukee's compact tools. But, did you know that it's also an ideal power tool line for electronics and single-board computer hobbyists? Here's why you should check out Milwaukee's M12 lineup for your next electronics DIY project.

CachyOS has taken the Linux world by storm lately. It’s currently one of the most popular Linux distros, and for good reason — it’s fast, polished, and, most importantly, reliable. I’ve used it myself, and I can see why so many people, especially Linux gamers, are fans of it. That said, if I were building a Linux gaming system, I’d choose Bazzite over CachyOS, and it boils down to one key reason.

Wi-Fi 8 is coming, just like Wi-Fi 7 was before it. And it promises us the sun, the moon, and the stars in terms of performance. Faster speeds. Lower latency. Better reliability. And sure, I'm sure it can deliver all of that. But, as this Reddit meme makes quite clear, can Wi-Fi 8 ever match the power of a good ol' Ethernet cable?

Docker Desktop is the default way to run containers on a Mac, but it is not the only one. Colima, a free open-source runtime driven entirely from the terminal, offers a lighter and more configurable alternative. Here is what it is, how it compares, and who should switch.

In 2019, during my school days, I was introduced to the world of smart wearables. The Honor Band 5 was my first smartwatch — I still remember how niche it felt to wear tech among students back then. It offered a solid two-week battery life. Ever since, I have associated smartwatches with devices that don't require frequent charging, until my recent stint with Samsung's flagship Galaxy Watch Ultra.

Ryobi tools strike a balance between cost and competence that weekend warriors love. That said, they’re not without their problems, and it pays to know what you’re getting yourself into before you invest in the ecosystem.

When we write about e-readers, Kindle is usually the first name that comes to mind. But in the color e-reader market, Kindle has been late to the party. That delay opened the door for other brands to step in with stronger devices. We’ve rounded up the best color e-readers, and here are the ones that stood out.

Color e-reader price increases

2026 has not been a good year for tech prices. Due to the global memory crisis, prices are increasing on tablets, phones, laptops, and even e-readers. Three out of the four color e-readers on this list increased in price this year. The only e-reader to avoid a price hike was the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft.

Temper your color expectations An e-reader's color won't be quite as vibrant as a tablet's or physical book's. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mangino

Having tested my way through a lot of e-readers — and now color e-readers — I’ve found a universal truth: While the colors are accurate, they often look a bit washed out. No matter which brand you use, that’s going to be the case. The muted tones don’t outweigh the convenience and portability of color e-readers, but it’s worth tempering your expectations.

Don’t expect the vivid, punchy colors of an iPad screen. An iPad has a max of 500 nits (a measure of brightness), while Kobo and Kindle e-readers max out at 100.

The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft makes a splash

In February 2026, we added the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft to this guide. After testing Amazon's latest e-reader, we were thoroughly impressed by both its speed and display. With an 11-inch display, it's still too large for daily e-reader use; however, that makes it a fantastic device for note-taking. Not to mention it is an investment at $629.99, making it the priciest model on this list.

What about ReMarkable tablets?

You might notice that ReMarkable e-ink tablets are not on this list. We've tested both the ReMarkable Paper Pro and ReMarkable Paper Move, and while they're dynamic digital notebooks, they're limited in their e-reader capabilities. Getting e-books on these devices was a bit of a struggle, and we missed the Libby integrations available on Kindles and Kobos. So while we think they're great e-ink tablets, they're inferior e-readers.

Open-ear earbuds sit on the exterior of the ear, but they also come in many shapes and sizes, from clip models to ear hook models. Some are specifically designed for exercise, while others are better for everyday use. The Bose Ultra Open earbuds have long been a popular pick, and the second generation model just dropped (alongside the new Bose Sport Open earbuds). That said, they're also $299 and $199 respectively, which is firmly on the expensive side for this audio category.

With open earbuds' growing popularity, there are newer premium competitors from brands like Sony and Shokz. Budget options are also becoming more prevalent, with open earbuds under $100 from brands including Soundcore, EarFun, Raycon, and CMF by Nothing. We tested open earbuds from all price ranges to find the best of the best — these seven picks are the results of our search.

SEE ALSO: The 11 best wireless earbuds we've ever tested What are open earbuds?

Open earbuds let you get as close as possible to the feeling of not wearing earbuds at all. Unlike in-ear earbuds, which sit in your ear canal, open earbuds sit outside the ear canal and leave it completely unobstructed, or open (as the name would suggest). Some models hold the speaker component in place with an ear hook, while others opt for an ear cuff.

SEE ALSO: We tested the top fitness trackers of 2025: See our favorite wearables and smart rings

People generally opt for open earbuds for three main reasons:

1. They provide a private listening experience while leaving you almost completely aware of your surroundings. It's like the best transparency mode you've ever used.

2. For some people, not having an earbud physically in their ear is generally more comfortable.

3. The hooks and cuffs (along with general awareness of your surroundings) make them a great option for keeping you in place and alert while you're working out, working, or simply existing in the world.

What are the drawbacks of open earbuds?

As you may have gathered from the section above, open earbuds don't come with active noise cancellation. That's mostly thanks to how much sound they let in (by design) and the difficulty of cancelling out sound without having the device covering your actual ear canal.

Also, thanks to the whole open ear-canal situation, these aren't going to be the earbuds for audiophiles. That's not to say open earbuds sound bad — if you've never tried them, we promise they sound much better than you're imagining — but you will lose out on some of the nuance of a song without having the earbud actually in your ear.

SEE ALSO: I tested sleep earbuds for over a month: Here are the 3 I'd buy

That said, many pairs still have equalizers on their companion apps to help you make them sound their best. Our best picks for sound, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds and Shokz OpenFit Pro earbuds, even have spatial audio features that work surprisingly well.

Most open earbuds will also boast some form of special technology that keeps them from leaking too much sound. While these pairs do pretty well in keeping the sound just to you, most pairs (including our picks) will be prone to some leakage, especially at higher volumes.

Finally, some open earbuds — mainly those with ear hooks — tend to have slightly bulkier cases. If you like to travel especially light, it's something to keep in mind.

How to wear open-ear earbuds

Open-ear earbuds come in three major styles: cuff, ear hook, and bone conduction. How you wear them depends entirely on which style you have. Cuff earbuds "clip" onto the ear, not unlike a piece of jewelry, generally around the area right above the earlobe. Ear hook earbuds have a hook situated around the back of your ear and a speaker component situated right over your ear canal. Finally, bone conduction earbuds sit right behind the ears, with a band that goes around the back of the head to hold them in place.

Regardless of the style, it's important to adjust the exact positioning of your open earbuds to see which offers the best sound, especially as the wrong positioning can deteriorate the quality.

For a visual representation of what wearing a cuff-style earbud looks like, you can check out our open earbuds explainer.

What about bone conduction headphones?

Bone conduction earbuds work exactly like the name implies they do — they use your skull to conduct sound waves, instead of projecting the sound into your ear, like most of the picks on this list. Typically, a band runs from either side of the user's head to help hold the headphones in place.

Shokz, the brand behind our top pick, is a popular maker of these kinds of headphones. While we do consider them open earbuds, we have yet to test any bone conduction earbuds — look out in the future for that update. On that note:

What's next in our testing pipeline

The latest big release in the open earbuds world is the second-generation Bose Ultra Open earbuds and the Bose Sport Open earbuds. Considering the first gen Ultra Opens have been a mainstay on our list of recommendations, we're thoroughly testing the newer models to see how they stack up.

The Apple AirPods 5 are a newer release that are also technically open earbuds, but we're testing them against similar designs (as opposed to the more classic clip or hook style open earbud) before making a call on adding them to this guide.

The open earbuds market is rapidly expanding, so we'll be testing more as we can get our hands on them. We recently added the Sony LinkBuds Clip and Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro to this guide.

In addition to the earbuds that made our initial guide in May 2025, we tested out the Nothing Ear (Open) earbuds ($149), the Sony Linkbuds Open ($199.99), the Anker Soundcore AeroClip earbuds ($169.99), and the Shokz OpenFit Air ($119.95). While none of the above were bad earbuds by any means, we found our picks to outshine them in comfort and sound quality, especially when considering their respective prices.

The best Hulu deals and bundles in October 2026: Best Hulu Bundle Deal Disney+ and Hulu Bundle Get 6 months for $11.99/month Get Deal Best HBO Max Bundle Deal Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle $21.99/month with ads, $34.99/month ad-free Get Deal Best Student Deal Disney+ and Hulu Student Deal $6.49/month Get Deal Best ESPN Bundle Deal Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle $35.99/month Get Deal

There's a wide range of excellent shows and films to watch on Hulu, including season 2 of Chad Powers, The Devil Wears Prada 2, Furious, and Hokum. It's a library that's full of options to keep you entertained, especially as we head into the chillier months of the year.

If these shows have caught your eye and have you itching to sign up for Hulu, we're here to help you get the best deal. While the streamer was recently hit by another price hike, there's still plenty of bundle options available to help you save some cash.

This includes the awesome Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max package, but that's certainly not all. Disney also has a six-month offer for the Disney+ and Hulu bundle, though it is only available on their site. This drops its ad-supported plan to $11.99 per month when locked in for six months (then back up to $12.99 per month). The ad-free plan is down to $19.99 per month (which will return to $21.99 per month after six months).

Disney notes that this is an "ongoing offer for people who want to subscribe for a longer period to save on the average monthly cost." It's also available for new and eligible returning subscribers.

SEE ALSO: 'The Swan: Behind the Mirror': Let's talk about the most WTF reveals

Below you can find details on Hulu's best bundles at the moment — along with information on both its ad-supported and ad-free plans, if you just want the basics — to help you save on the service right now.

Best Disney+ bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Disney+ and Hulu Bundle Get 6 months for $11.99 per month Get Deal at Disney Why we like it

The ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu Bundle starts at $12.99 per month. If you'd prefer the Premium ad-free version of this plan, this jumps to $21.99 per month.

If you're curious about Disney's six-month offer, this is available on Disney's site. Again, it offers the ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu bundle plan for $11.99 per month when locked in for six months, then returns to $12.99 per month. The Premium ad-free plan is $19.99 per month for six months, then returns to $21.99 per month after.

• Disney+ and Hulu Bundle — $12.99 per month

• Disney+ and Hulu Bundle Premium — $21.99 per month

Best HBO Max bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle $21.99/month with ads, $34.99/month ad-free Get Deal Why we like it

This is one of the best Hulu bundles available at the moment. Starting at $21.99 per month, this bundle grants you access to Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max for a much lower price than what you'd pay for the three separately. It's an incredible deal to take advantage of, especially if you've already got Disney+ and HBO Max subscriptions. There are two plans to choose from with this bundle, and they are:

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (with ads) — $21.99 per month (save 38%)

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (no ads) — $34.99 per month (save 43%)

Best student deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Disney+ and Hulu Student $6.49/month Get Deal Why we like it

If you're a student enrolled at a university, you can get the ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu Bundle for $6.49 per month. That's 50% off the regular monthly price of $12.99, though the page does note that the offer only lasts "so long as student enrollment status remains verified." After that, it goes back up to $12.99 per month.

• Disney+ and Hulu Student — $6.49 per month

Best ESPN bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle $35.99/month Get Deal Why we like it

Alongside the big Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max bundle, Hulu also offers sports-focused plans that include ESPN Select or ESPN Unlimited. According to ESPN, "ESPN Select includes ESPN+ content only. Fans who want ESPN+ exclusively may subscribe to the ESPN Select plan. ESPN Unlimited includes all of the ESPN networks and services, including ESPN+." 

The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle, which has ads, is available for $35.99 per month. The Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited premium bundle without ads is available for $44.99 per month.

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle — $21.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle Premium — $32.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle — $35.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle Premium — $44.99 per month

Hulu's monthly plans

If you're just looking to jump straight into Hulu's library without any fancy bundles, there are a couple of subscription options to consider. The ad-supported tier comes in at $12.49 per month. If you want to go ad-free, that'll cost you $21.49 per month.

• Hulu (with ads) — $12.49 per month, $124.99 per year

• Hulu Premium (no ads) — $21.49 per month

If you really want to go big on a streaming investment, there's the Hulu + Live TV plan. This costs a whopping $99.99 per month for its ad-supported plan, but comes with plenty to keep you busy. Hulu + Live TV (with ads) gets you access to 95+ channels, unlimited DVR, Disney+ (with ads), ESPN Select (with ads), and Hulu (with ads). If you want to go even bigger with the ad-free plan — which offers Hulu (no ads), Disney+ (no ads), and ESPN Select (with ads) alongside Live TV — it'll cost you $109.99 per month. The ad-supported plan also offers a free trial for three days.

• Hulu + Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN Select (with ads) — $99.99 per month (3-day free trial)

• Hulu Premium + Live TV, Disney+ Premium, and ESPN Select (no ads) — $109.99 per month

• Hulu + Live TV, Disney+ Premium, and ESPN Select — $94.99 per month

• Live TV Only — $98.99 per month

Wondering what to watch once you get set up with a Hulu plan or bundle? We're here to help with that as well. Have a look at our roundups of the 30 best comedies on Hulu, the 25 best sci-fi movies on Hulu, and the 26 best horror movies on Hulu to start building your watchlist. And if you're in the mood to binge-watch a show, check out our breakdown of the 25 best shows on Hulu.

TL;DR: Get a lifetime subscription to Koofr’s 1TB cloud storage plan for $199.99 (reg. $810), with file management tools and no recurring subscription fees.

Opens in a new window Credit: Koofr Koofr Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (1TB) $199.99
$810 Save $610.01   Get Deal

Somewhere in your cloud storage is a document you haven’t opened in five years, three copies of the same photo, and a folder you definitely meant to organize. Koofr gives you lifetime access to 1TB of space for your files, plus tools like Duplicate Finder to help tidy things up, all for just $199.99 (reg. $810).

One whole terabyte gives you plenty of room for photos, videos, documents, and other files without having to constantly decide what deserves to stay on your device. That’s roughly enough space for 250,000 12-megapixel photos, depending on file size. And because this is a lifetime subscription, you won’t have another monthly cloud storage bill to add to your collection. Your streaming services can keep that honor.

Koofr lets you connect existing cloud accounts, including Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive, so you can access files from multiple services through one interface. You don’t have to move everything into Koofr just to find it, which is particularly useful if your digital life is spread across several accounts.

For the files you do store there, Duplicate Finder can help identify redundant copies taking up space. Other file management features include advanced renaming options and customizable sharing links, while collaboration tools make it possible to work with colleagues on shared files. That means fewer duplicate documents floating around and, hopefully, less time figuring out which version everyone is supposed to be editing.

Files are encrypted during transfer and while stored on Koofr’s servers, and the service says it doesn’t track your file activity. You can access your storage through desktop and mobile devices, with no limit on the number of devices connected to your account.

Formerly $810, get a lifetime subscription to 1TB of Koofr cloud storage for only $199.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

A laptop doesn't make a great impulse buy, like a pack of gum in the checkout line or a weird thingamajig you saw in a TikTok livestream.

Of course, if the computer you depend on for work, school, or entertainment randomly decides to kick the bucket, it likely requires immediate replacement (after recycling or repurposing it). Most people, however, can and should strategize before investing in a new machine they hope to use for years to come.

First, decide what's most important to you: a laptop with minty-fresh specs, or a laptop that costs less than usual? From there, I can point you to several key times to buy, based on my historical knowledge of laptop launches and deals. With the holiday shopping season approaching, I'll tell you upfront that we're heading into the best time to buy a laptop if you want the best bang for your buck. But if you're not quite ready to lock in, Black Friday isn't the only time to shop.

If you want the latest specs

For future-proofers and shoppers with cash to spare, splurging on the laptop of the moment can be more appealing than buying an older model at a discount.

Best time to buy: At launch

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a tech industry trade show that happens every year in January, is basically ground zero for next-generation Windows laptops. Major manufacturers like Asus, Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, MSI, and Razer treat their booths as runways for new computers with the latest processors, graphics cards, and/or cutting-edge features. Think rollable displays, weird lid attachments, and touchpads with built-in media controls.

While some of the laptops showcased at CES are just prototypes, many are fully fleshed-out devices, and a batch of them are available for preorder or purchase shortly after the event wraps. The rest typically hit the market by March or April.

Billed as "the world's first rollable display AI PC," Lenovo's ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 made a splash at CES 2025. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

There are two lone alpha wolves who don't make appearances at CES, one being Apple, which is known to take a couple of different approaches to new laptop launches. Apple usually hosts formal keynote events to mark an upgrade, which the public can watch via livestream. Other times, it just drops an unceremonious press release. That said, the company is pretty consistent about updating its MacBook Air and Pro lines annually. You can usually count on seeing new MacBook Airs in the spring (March or June) and new MacBook Pros in the fall (October or November). In 2026, Apple also dropped the first budget laptop, the MacBook Neo, alongside the M5 Air.

SEE ALSO: Laptop specs explained: A jargon-free guide to what's inside your computer

Microsoft also opts out of CES in favor of holding its own Surface laptop launch events, which typically happen in the spring (March or May) or fall (September or October). It's been operating on a two-year release cycle lately.

If you want a good deal

Any opportunity to save money is ultimately a win, especially after a year full of price increases (thanks, RAMageddon). Certain times of the year feature more (and steeper) laptop deals than others if you can overlook specs for a stellar value.

Best time to buy: On or near Black Friday

The fourth Friday in November isn't treated with the same sort of reverence it once was: Ever since Amazon started hosting Prime savings events in the fall, prompting other retailers to jumpstart their own year-end sales, "Black Friday" has become an informal season that lasts from early October into late November. Still, it remains the best time of year to grab a great laptop deal — and it's not just because stores like to take advantage of the holiday shopping surge.

Laptops get extra cheap around Black Friday (to the tune of 20 to 50% off) because it syncs up with when retailers and manufacturers are trying to offload their inventories ahead of next-gen refreshes at CES. For laptops that debuted at the beginning of the year, which are about to age out of their "current-gen" moniker, this often translates to year-round lows that knock hundreds of dollars off their normal sticker prices. Older laptops that are at least one generation removed, meanwhile, can plummet to the lowest prices of their entire lifespan as they're priced to move. (I've encountered some ancient Chromebooks on sale for less than $100 on Black Fridays past.)

The 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M4) was $200 off three weeks post-launch thanks to Amazon and Best Buy's Black Friday sales. Credit: Microsoft

Apple and Microsoft might not operate on the same product cycles as everyone else, but they often see rock-bottom discounts on older MacBooks and Surface laptops at third-party retailers (Amazon and Best Buy, in particular) during Black Friday. They also tend to drop initial deals on newly launched models. On Black Friday 2025, for example, they took $200 off the 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro that debuted three weeks prior.

Apple and Microsoft technically host their own Black Friday sales, too, but they usually aren't much to write home about. The famously stingy Apple Store only doles out free gift cards or accessories with the purchase of older MacBooks, and the Microsoft Store's prices are often trounced by its third-party peers.

SEE ALSO: Now is one of the best times to buy a MacBook

To wait or not to wait...

The real debate concerning Black Friday laptop deals revolves around whether consumers should shop early or hold off on buying until Black Friday proper, in case prices get even cheaper, and the answer boils down to whether you're eyeing specific models or specs. Retailers still reserve some deals for the actual holiday (always the Friday after Thanksgiving) even if their sales are weeks or months long, so it can be worth waiting to see which laptops get featured in that primetime slot. The trouble is that we rarely know what those featured laptops are ahead of time — and by the time they're live, the model you really wanted may be backordered or back to full price.

If you're married to a certain spec sheet and don't just want a good deal, period, I generally recommend buying a laptop as soon as it gets added to a Black Friday sale's roster. In the off-chance its deal improves, you can always tap the retailer's holiday price-match guarantee and/or return policy as a fallback plan.

Second-best time to buy: During back-to-school season

Whether it's a multitasking MacBook for a college freshman or a basic Chromebook for a fifth-grader, a laptop is a given on most school supply shopping lists. As such, laptop prices dependably tank in the summer to tempt students, their parents, and teachers preparing for the upcoming semester — typically from mid-June to early September.

The back-to-school season is so major for laptop purchases that it's the only time outside of Black Friday when the Apple Store runs one of its "sales," throwing in free gift cards or accessories with MacBook purchases from early June through early October. That's in addition to its usual education pricing, which saves students, parents, and faculty $100 on select MacBooks year-round.

Apple runs one of its rare gift card promos during the back-to-school season; the other happens during Black Friday. Credit: Apple

It's worth mentioning that Amazon's flagship Prime Day sale falls during back-to-school season, and it's one of the only times when shoppers can source a slew of legitimately good laptop deals there besides Black Friday.

Crucially, Prime Day can also be lucrative for laptop shoppers because it prompts other retailers to run competing sales that often match or beat Amazon's prices. (Best Buy's Prime Day counter-programming is usually Amazon's toughest rival when it comes to tech deals.) Prices aren't quite as low as they are on Black Friday, but it's still enough to make Prime Day worth marking on your calendar.

Third-best time to buy: Over holiday weekends

Retailers are partial to offering deals on big-ticket tech purchases like laptops over federal holiday weekends, the big ones being Presidents' Day weekend (in mid-February), Memorial Day weekend (in late May), the Fourth of July, and Labor Day (in early September, coinciding with the end of back-to-school season). You won't find extreme discounts like you do in the thick of back-to-school season or Black Friday, but they're above average for the "off-season."

Honorable mention: Buy right after new models are announced

Pay attention to new laptop launches even if you don't want the latest tech, as they often trigger quiet sales or price drops on the older models they're replacing. For most laptop brands, this usually means deals start trickling out after the CES dust settles in late January and into February.

Apple's 13-inch M2 Apple MacBook Air got two permanent price drops during its lifespan. Credit: Molly Flores / Mashable

Apple and Microsoft refreshes are, again, a little less predictable timing-wise, but they're just as reliable when it comes to previous-gen discounts. You might recall the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air getting a permanent $100 price cut when its 15-inch counterpart debuted, then another $100 chop once the latest M3 version materialized. And the original Surface Laptop Studio went on sale for $500 off the week after its successor was announced.

How to tell if you're getting a good laptop deal

Being wary of third-party sellers and cross-checking listings between laptop retailers and manufacturers are two of the best ways to ensure you're making a smart purchase. I also recommend appraising discounts using price-tracking tools like camelcamelcamel and Google's Shopping Insights feature. They can tell you whether a laptop you're considering has ever gone on sale for cheaper, if at all.

Finally, consider bookmarking Mashable's shopping experts' deals coverage. In recommending laptop deals, we personally vet every single discount and stick with trusted sellers. Whether the computer you buy is brand new or just new to you, we strive to ensure you can confidently say your money was well spent.

Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably already know that Grindr has opened up access to everyone, including women, trans, and non-binary people, which now means it can compete in the larger hookup category rather than the more specific gay hookup category when it comes to comparisons.  

And that got us thinking: how does Grindr stack up against the web's oldest, raunchiest hookup site, AdultFriendFinder? Specifically, when it comes to hookups, is one service much better at finding you something fun, flirty, and short-term? What are each service's strengths and weaknesses?

We put these two hookup juggernauts to the test across four major categories to see which one will work best for you.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder   Learn More Opens in a new window Credit: Grindr Grindr   Learn More Userbase

Let's start with Grindr. According to their Investor Relations report, Grindr boasts 15 million active monthly users, which really does make them, in their words, the "Global Gayborhood in Your Pocket." 

AdultFriendFinder, on the other hand, boasts nearly 8 million active users (7,288,978, to be precise!), but in our experience on the site, many of them are bots.

Grindr, with nearly twice as many active users, is the clear winner, then, right? Not so fast! The answer depends on what you're looking for. While AdultFriendFinder definitely has a skewed gender ratio (65 percent men, 35 percent women, according to a recent DatingAdvice breakdown), Grindr still hasn't escaped its reputation as being an app exclusively for gay men, since, according to the latest DatingNews report, Grindr's members are a whopping 93 percent male. 

In other words, if you're a gay man looking for a hookup, Grindr is the clear favorite, but if you're anyone else… AdultFriendFinder still retains the edge. 

Winner: AdultFriendFinder

Interface and ease of use

The big drawback of AdultFriendFinder is that the site was founded all the way back in 1996, and though it's undergone some updates through the years, it definitely looks its age. The aesthetics, navigation tools, and even the profile photo limitations don't reflect what modern technology is capable of, so you have to get comfortable with a dated interface. On the plus side, though, AFF has one of the most comprehensive offerings of any dating site, with blogs, discussion boards, live webcam feeds, and even user-generated sex tutorials you can peruse when you're tired of looking at profiles.

Grindr, being a mobile app, operates very differently and is powered by more impressive tech. The focus of Grindr is its location-based grid, which shows you the nearest Grindr users to within 100 meters, which is about as efficient as any hookup app can get.  

Other features are also much better executed on Grindr. Profile photos are larger and crisper, messages are easier to read and allow for modern conveniences like location sharing and voice notes, and the navigation bar makes it easy to switch between the main grid, your profile, and your conversations in the blink of an eye. And best of all, for those of us who prefer a computer or tablet to a smartphone, Grindr even has a web app, Grindr Web, so you can enjoy all the above perks with a full-size keyboard to boot. 

Winner: Grindr

Cities versus towns versus rural communities

Another major difference between AFF and Grindr is where their users are located. Because Grindr operates on proximity, showing you the profiles of people closest to you first, it is most effective in large metropolitan areas where you're constantly surrounded by people. On the other hand, if you live in a small town or rural community, not only are you unlikely to have many fellow Grindr members nearby, but your profile is at an inherent disadvantage since you live farther away from the core Grindr userbase. 

If, for example, you live 30 minutes outside of Manhattan, there's a good chance your profile won't appear to Manhattan Grindr users, unless they manage to swipe through the millions of Grindr profiles on the island. 

Which, in turn, demonstrates the beauty of AdultFriendFinder: you can be from anywhere, including rural Alaska, and still let your freak flag fly prominently, without being penalized because you don't live near a large, active member community. 

This one is a bit of a toss-up, since Grindr is arguably the most effective app for people living in cities, but, for the same reason, it's much less effective for everyone else. 

Winner: Tie

In-person success

If you narrowly define a hookup as something that exclusively happens in person, there's a clear winner in this category: Grindr. Its location-based matchmaking algorithm and culture of horny singles constantly on the lookout for novelty make hooking up nearly as fast and efficient as ordering food for delivery. Just look at any social media site, and you'll find hundreds, if not thousands, of people talking about using Grindr and meeting people from the app. AFF? Not so much.

On the other hand, if you expand the definition to include online hookups, whether that's sexting or sharing a live webcam interaction, AdultFriendFinder has a lot going for it, beginning with the fact that you aren't limited to the people in your immediate vicinity. 

For in-person fun, though, Grindr takes the victory. 

Winner: Grindr

Does this ultimately mean that a heterosexual male will be better off creating a Grindr profile than an AdultFriendFinder one? No, of course not. If you're a man and not at least heteroflexible, Grindr will be an exercise in disappointment, and you're automatically better off on AdultFriendFinder. But if you're gay, lesbian, or bisexual, Grindr has the goods and is clearly the future of hookup apps.

TL;DR: Watch Real Madrid vs. Sevilla in La Liga for free on CazéTV. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

La Liga action has been typically entertaining this weekend, and we're expecting more of the same from Real Madrid vs. Sevilla. José Mourinho's side is stacked with stars, but they need to keep pace with the defending champions Barcelona. They'll need to be at their best to defeat a strong Sevilla side.

If you're interested in watching Real Madrid vs. Sevilla in La Liga from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Real Madrid vs. Sevilla?

Real Madrid vs. Sevilla in La Liga kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Oct. 18. This fixture takes place at the Santiago Bernabéu.

How to watch Real Madrid vs. Sevilla for free

Real Madrid vs. Sevilla in La Liga is available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can live stream Real Madrid vs. Sevilla for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Real Madrid vs. Sevilla for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Brazil

4. Visit CazéTV

5. Watch Real Madrid vs. Sevilla for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Real Madrid vs. Sevilla without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus more La Liga action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for La Liga?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on CazéTV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Real Madrid vs. Sevilla for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: The Apple iPhone 18 Pro is $1,000 off with T-Mobile. To claim this offer, switch and bring your number or trade in an eligible phone in any condition on an Experience Beyond plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 18 Pro for under $200   Shop Now

The iPhone Duo is now available to preorder. That's obviously the focus right now, but you can actually score the iPhone 18 Pro for a ridiculously low price if you don't mind missing out on Apple's first foldable.

For a limited time, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro is available for under $200 when you switch and bring your number or trade in an eligible phone in any condition on an Experience Beyond plan.

The full savings are distributed as monthly credits over a 36-month payment plan. If you leave T-Mobile before the end of the three-year commitment, you will be charged the remaining balance. That's how they get you. You're paying a super-low upfront cost, but you're committing to stick it out with T-Mobile.

You do need to pay local sales tax on the phone's full retail value upfront, plus a standard $35 device connection fee per line at checkout. That's something you simply can't escape with this type of mobile carrier deal.

Get the Apple iPhone 18 Pro for under $200 this weekend with T-Mobile.

TL;DR: Watch Leeds vs. Manchester United in the Premier League for free on CazéTV. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are a number of massive Premier League fixtures taking place this weekend, but Leeds vs. Manchester United might be the most important. Manchester United are struggling right now, and comments made after their poor defeat to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League have heaped the pressure on manager Michael Carrick. They need a win, but Elland Road is not an easy place to get it.

If you're interested in watching Leeds vs. Manchester United in the Premier League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Leeds vs. Manchester United?

Leeds vs. Manchester United in the Premier League kicks off at 9 a.m. ET on Oct. 18. This fixture takes place at Elland Road.

How to watch Leeds vs. Manchester United for free

Leeds vs. Manchester United in the Premier League is available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can live stream Brighton vs. Arsenal for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Leeds vs. Manchester United for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Brazil

4. Visit CazéTV

5. Watch Leeds vs. Manchester United for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Leeds vs. Manchester United without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus more Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the Premier League?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on CazéTV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Leeds vs. Manchester United for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A sleep condition.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

APNEA

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Foreign.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 18, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

ALIEN

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Picture.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 18, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 18, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

PHOTO

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Divided.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SPLIT

Final Hurdle hint

Range.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

SCOPE

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for people who like soccer.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: The beautiful game

• Green: Boxers

• Blue: Football commies

• Purple: Sports-related things and places

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: The Beautiful Game, In Different Languages

• Green: Oscar-Nominated Boxers

• Blue: Washington Commanders

• Purple: Sports____

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #755 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• The Beautiful Game, In Different Languages: CALCIO, FOOTBALL, FUTBOL, SOCCER

• Oscar-Nominated Boxers: DE NIRO, STALLONE, SWANK, WASHINGTON

• Washington Commanders: DANIELS, SETTLE, STYLES, WAY

• Sports____: BAR, CENTER, ILLUSTRATED, MEDICINE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 18, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 18, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for October 18 Pips

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this purple space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 3-4, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for October 18 Pips

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 5-2, placed vertically; 3-6, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed vertically; 2-4, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for October 18 Pips

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (9): Everything in this space must be less than 9. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 6-2, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 2-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 18, 2026 Bureau meaning

A government or organizational department.

Chest meaning

A large, sturdy storage box.

Trunk meaning

A large, sturdy chest or case used for packing and transporting clothes and personal possessions.

Wardrobe meaning

A built-in cabinet with doors, rails or shelves used for hanging and storing clothes.

Butter meaning

A pale yellow, fatty dairy product made by churning cream or milk.

Deodorant meaning

A personal care product applied to the body to neutralize, suppress or mask unpleasant body odors

Dynamite meaning

A powerful high explosive made by soaking nitroglycerin into an absorbent material.

Incense meaning

A substance made from plant materials, gums, spices or essential oils that releases a sweet, fragrant smoke or odor when burned.

Angel meaning

A spiritual, supernatural or celestial being found in various religious and cultural traditions.

Coco meaning

Short for the coconut palm or its fruit.

Obsession meaning

Continuous or recurring ideas, urges, or images that capture mental control.

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Opium meaning

The dried, milky latex collected from the seed capsules of the opium poppy.

Fogerty meaning

An Irish surname.

Hazel meaning

A deciduous shrub or small tree of the birch family.

Mister meaning

A physical apparatus or spray bottle used to emit a fine mist of water for plants or cooling.

Vaporetto meaning

A motorboat that functions as a public water bus in Venice, Italy.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.