Technology

SAVE $16.89: The Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box is on sale at Amazon for $18.10, down from the list price of $34.99. That's a 48% discount and the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box $18.10 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $16.89   Get Deal

Just like Pokémon, getting into Magic: The Gathering can take a serious investment. Instead of fretting over the price of a starter pack, check out this deal at Amazon.

As of July 6, the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box is on sale for only $18.10 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $34.99. That's a major 48% discount that shaves $16.89 off the price. It's also the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

Designed to help learn the basics of the game, the Magic: The Gathering Avatar set is the perfect option for a two-player adventure. The first game takes you on a guided battle between Aang and Zuko with two 20-card decks. There's a step-by-step guide booklet to take beginners through their first game with ease.

After that, players will combine any two of the eight 20-card half decks to form a full 40-card deck. That means players have tons of options to replay the game with new combinations and outcomes.

SEE ALSO: Score the Pokémon TCG: Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection for under $65 — save over $35

Today's box includes two packets of 100 cards, including the two 20-card tutorial decks with Aang and Zuko. The eight 20-card half-decks include Firebending, Earthbending, Waterbending, Allies, Big Creatures, Counters, Spells, and Attacking. Accessories include playerboards for both players, two spindown life counters, two beginner guides, and five double-sided tokens.

Since it's on sale for the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon, snag the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box for only $18.10. It's a great intro to the game that comes with an affordable price.

Sedans may not dominate the roads like they once did, but they’re far from gone. As SUVs continue to steal the spotlight, the list of new four-door cars available in the U.S. has become a lot shorter.

Microsoft laid off 4,800 employees Monday, with more than 30 percent of the cuts in its Xbox division, according to an internal email reviewed by IGN.

The reductions, described internally as an Xbox "reset," will affect roughly 1,600 employees immediately, with the company planning to eliminate about 20 percent of Xbox jobs by the end of its 2027 fiscal year.

SEE ALSO: Xbox hopes to win back disaffected gamers with new disc-to-digital program

As part of the shakeup, four studios are being spun off from Microsoft. Double Fine and Compulsion Games are returning to independent ownership under founders Tim Schafer and Guillaume Provost, respectively, while Ninja Theory and Undead Labs are being sold to new owners, with commitments in place to continue development on their respective titles, Senua and State of Decay 3.

In an internal memo obtained by IGN, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said the division's business "is not healthy," citing profit margins that are far below those of comparable platform and publishing companies. Sharma noted that Xbox lost 64 cents for every dollar invested in a typical year and pointed to oversaturation in the games market as a factor in the strategic pullback.

The memo also confirmed additional layoffs across Activision, Bethesda/ZeniMax, Blizzard, King, and Mojang, though Sharma said no first-party announced games are being canceled. As part of a broader management shakeup, Mojang and King will now report directly to Sharma, and Helen Chiang has been named Xbox's first Chief Operating Officer.

IGN, which is owned also reported that Microsoft is weighing the sale or closure of Arkane Studios, which has been developing the delayed, over-budget title Blade. According to the outlet, French labor consultations over Arkane's future could take months.

(Disclosure: IGN and Mashable are both owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.)

The 2026 World Cup is now racing to the latter stages of the knockout rounds. The quarter finals are calling for the USA, now facing off against Belgium in the Round of 16. Portugal and Spain are also in action — a fixture that has the makings of an all-time classic.

It all kicks off at 3 p.m. ET. If yesterday's action is anything to go by — with Norway upsetting Brazil and England beating Mexico in an absolute thriller — July 6 could be another special day from this electric tournament.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: July 6

• Portugal vs. Spain (Dallas Stadium) — kickoff at 3 p.m. ET

• USA vs. Belgium (Seattle Stadium) — kickoff at 8 p.m. ET

How to watch FIFA World Cup games todayWatch Portugal vs. Spain

Cristiano Ronaldo leads Portugal in what is almost certainly the superstar's final World Cup campaign. But it won't be easy getting to the quarter finals. Spain are defending European Championship winners and have their own superstar in 18-year-old Lamine Yamal. It's truly a battle between two powerhouses. Expect fireworks — not to mention goals.

Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch USA vs. Belgium

USA were facing this crucial game without Folarin Balogun after he received a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina. But his one-match ban has been controversially lifted, so USA will be at full strength against Belgium. Can USA ride the wave of home support and reach the quarter finals for the first time since 2002?

Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fox One Fox One (3-Month Subscription) $39.98
$59.97 Save $19.99   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock (Spanish Language) Starting at $10.99/month Get Deal More live streaming optionsLive TV cable replacement

Not interested in signing up for a standalone streaming service like Fox One or Peacock? You can sign up for a live TV cable replacement service, like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.

These services carry over 100 live channels, but run off a WiFi connection. You'll get live access to Fox and FS1, plus a whole lot more. Here are some options to consider:

• YouTube TV — 10-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months

• Fubo Sports — 1-day trial, then $45.99/month for 1 month

• Hulu + Live TV — 3-day trial, then $89.99/month

Watch the World Cup for free with a VPN

It's possible to watch the World Cup for free on international services like ITVX, BBC iPlayer, NOS, or RTÉ. Our global World Cup watch guide can walk you through the process.

You will need a VPN to live stream the World Cup on these free streaming services. We recommend ExpressVPN — a Mashable-tested service and an Official Tournament Supporter of the FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Europe — as our VPN of choice for sport. It offers servers in 105 countries, a user-friendly app available on all major devices, a speedy connection, and up to 10 simultaneous connections.

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

I recently came across an interesting discussion about the strange things happening in Google Photos: children being made up as oil paintings or hand drawings, etc. People suggested it was most likely an AI filter, not an AI-generated image, but that got me thinking about what Google is actually doing with our pictures.

SAVE $560.99: The 45-inch LG Ultragear OLED curved gaming monitor is on sale at Amazon for $1,439, down from the list price of $1,999.99. That's a 28% discount.

Your home gaming setup should be an oasis. It's a way to step out of real life and dive into an alterative life that serves as an enjoyable break. If you gaming station has less-than-ideal elements it can harsh the good vibes. Instead of dealing with a subpar monitor, check out this Amazon deal.

As of July 6, the 45-inch LG Ultragear OLED curved gaming monitor is on sale at Amazon for $1,439, marked down from the list price of $1,999.99. That's a 28% discount that shaves $560.99 off the norm.

The LG monitor is equipped with excellent stats. First off, it has an OLED display. Yes, that comes with a higher price point, but the quality of an OLED display is well worth the investment for many folks. On top of the display quality, there's the 800R curve for a fully-immersive experience.

LG also made this model with a glare-free design, low blue light, and a flicker-free screen. You'll be in line for a great 165Hz refresh rate and a zippy 0.03ms response time. All of these features will be great for summer weekends spent gaming.

SEE ALSO: The TCL NXTVISION Frame TV is over $500 off at Amazon — buy now for record-low price

The included base can swivel and tilt, and you can adjust the height to get the best fit for your gaming setup. In addition, it's a great model to have if you work from home. The 45-inch display is plenty of space for having two or three windows in full display at the same time. Zip through those e-mails thanks to the width.

While we're in the sticky summer months, upgrade to the 45-inch LG Ultragear OLED curved gaming monitor while it's on sale at Amazon for under $1,500. It'll be something you'll enjoy everyday for years to come.

The best Apple deals this week, at a glance: Best MacBook deal Apple 2026 MacBook Pro Laptop with M5 Pro chip $2,369 (save $130) Shop Now Best AirPods deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $222 (save $27) Get Deal Best iPad deal Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) $599 (save $100) Shop Now Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $329 (save $70) Get Deal

There's no major sale on the calendar, but Apple deals are still popping up. With Apple recently raising prices across Macs, iPads, and other devices due to rising memory and storage costs, discounts feel less predictable than usual. That makes any price cut worth a closer look.

You won’t find markdowns on new Apple gear directly from Apple, so retailers like Amazon remain the best place to shop for savings. And despite the recent price hikes, we’re still spotting a handful of deals on MacBooks, iPads, Apple Watches, and AirPods — including some models priced better than expected even after recent hikes.

We’ve rounded up the best Apple deals you can grab for the week of July 6, whether you’re upgrading your laptop, grabbing an iPad for everyday use, or picking up AirPods while they’re on sale.

Best MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple 2026 MacBook Pro Laptop with M5 Pro chip $2,369 at Amazon
$2,499 Save $130   Get Deal Why we like it

The MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro chip is built for heavy workloads. It handles demanding tasks such as video editing, design work, coding, and large-file processing without slowing down. Battery life is strong, and it’s designed to last through a full workday depending on usage.

The new chip also handles on-device AI tasks more efficiently, so image generation and other AI tools work quicker than on older models. Performance stays steady whether the laptop is plugged in or on battery, which makes it dependable for working on-the-go. The display is still one of Apple’s best — sharp, bright, and accurate enough for both creative work and everyday media use.

More MacBook Pro deals

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,049 $2,199 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Space Black) — $2,374 $2,499 (save $125)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro with 15-core CPU/16-core GPU, 24GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $2,849 $2,999 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,649.99 $2,999 (save $349.01)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro with 18-core CPU/20-core GPU, 24GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $2,749.99 $3,199 (save $449.01)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 48GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Silver) — $3,049.99 $3,599 (save $549.01)

• Apple 2026 MacBook Pro, with M5 Pro chip with 18-core CPU/20-core GPU, 48GB, 1TB SSD, Space Black) — $3,419 $3,599 (save $180)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,849.99 $4,399 (save $549.01)

MacBook Air deals

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,449 $1,599 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,349 $1,499 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,649 $1,799 (save $150)

Best AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple AirPods Pro 3 $222 at Amazon
$249 Save $27   Get Deal Why we like it

The AirPods Pro 3 are Apple’s most refined earbuds yet, with improved noise cancellation and a more comfortable fit thanks to redesigned foam-infused tips in multiple sizes. Battery life holds up for long listening sessions, and the earbuds bring newer features like heart rate tracking, Fitness app integration, and live translation support.

Early reviews on the AirPods Pro 3 have been strong too, with Mashable calling them “without a doubt, one of the best products of the year” in 2025. Given Apple’s recent price increases across its lineup, any discount here is worth paying attention to — especially for a newer model that rarely sees much movement in price.

More AirPods deals

• Apple AirPods 4 — $99 $129 (save $30)

• Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) — $159 $179 (save $20)

• Apple AirPods Max (2nd Gen) — $498 $549 (save $51)

Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) $599 at Amazon
$699 Save $100   Get Deal Why we like it

The iPad mini (A17 Pro) stands out as one of the best iPads for reading and everyday use. Its smaller 8.3-inch size makes it easier to hold for long periods than larger iPads, which start at around 11 inches.

In Mashable’s roundup of the best iPads of 2026, the iPad mini earned the “best for reading” spot because it hits a rare balance — feeling like an e-reader in the hand but still working like a full iPad when you need it. You can read, stream, and switch between apps without it feeling as limited as dedicated e-readers often do. The A17 Pro chip handles everyday tasks without slowdown and powers Apple Intelligence features like article summaries and basic productivity tools.

More iPad deals

• Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, WiFi + Cellular, 256GB) — $1,199 $1,399 (save $200)

• Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,249 $1,499 (save $250)

Best Apple Watch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 $329 at Amazon
$399 Save $70   Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple Watch Series 11 brings more health data, stronger safety features, and better battery life without changing the core design. As a Mashable review by Stan Schroeder puts it, “The Apple Watch Series 11 isn't all that different from last year's model, but it has a significantly longer battery life, and that's a huge deal.”

In everyday use, that upgrade makes a difference. The watch now lasts through a full day and can stretch closer to a day-and-a-half depending on usage. Stan notes that this alone changes how usable it is for sleep tracking and daily wear, since older models often needed a charge before bed.

More Apple Watch deals

• Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 44mm) — $249 $279 (save $30)

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) — $359 $429 (save $70)

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS + Cellular, 42mm) — $429 $499 (save $70)

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS + Cellular, 46mm) — $459 $529 (save $70)

• Apple Watch Ultra 3 (GPS + Cellular, 49mm) — $699.99 $799 (save $99.01)

Apple accessory deals

• Apple Pencil (USB-C) — $69 $79 (save $10)

• Apple Pencil Pro — $99 $129 (save $30)

USB-A ports are confusing enough, with their different colors that sometimes mean something (but not always). USB-C, however, is next-level because most ports look exactly the same, but they still have different capabilities on the inside.

SAVE 50%: As of July 6, you can get the Roborock Saros Z70 for $999.99, down from $1,999.99 at Amazon. That's a 50% discount or $1,000 in savings.

Roborock Saros Z70 $999.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $1,000   Get Deal at Amazon

As the proud dog mom of two beagles, keeping my floors clean is a never-ending battle. But ever since I brought a robo vacuum-mop combo into my apartment, I've been able to handle the mess without stressing (too much). So if you've been trying to justify buying one for yourself, let this be your sign.

SEE ALSO: The Roborock Saros 20 handily beats 2025's Saros 10R. But hopefully, the Saros 20 Sonic is even better.

Right now, you can get the Roborock Saros Z70 for $999.99, down from $1,999.99 at Amazon. That's a 50% discount or $1,000 in savings. It's also the lowest price we've tracked on this model to date. (It's listed for $2,599.99 on the Roborock website, so it's technically $1,600 off.)

One of the coolest (and most unique) features about this vacuum is its OmniGrip mechanical arm. It folds out to pick up rogue socks, tissues, or whatever else is in the way, and moves them. That said, our Senior Shopping Reporter, Leah Stodart, says that the arm is basically decorative. But with a $1,000 discount, the 22,000Pa of suction power and auto washing and drying base more than make up for it.

SAVE $599.01: The Anker Solix S2000 is on sale for $599.99, down from the normal price of $1,199. That's a 50% discount, and just 99¢ more than the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Solix Anker Solix S2000 $599.99 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $599.01   Get Deal

When the power goes out at home, it poses some problems. First, we consider how much battery is left on our phone. After that, the concern often turns to all of the food in the fridge and freezer going bad. If none of that sound like a nice time, you've probably considered upgrading to a portable power station. Check out this worthy model that's on a major discount at Amazon.

As of July 6, the Anker Solix S2000 is on sale for $599.99, marked down from the normal price of $1,199. That's a 50% discount that shaves $599.01 off the price. It's also just 99¢ more than the lowest price Anker offered on this model during its launch back in May.

Plenty of portable power stations are designed to keep you going when out camping, but not all are perfect for using at home during a power outage. Anker designed the Solix S2000 specifically for use at home, and it excels at keeping your refrigerator working as it should despite a power outage.

Anker Solix states the S2000 can keep a typical household refrigerator cooling for up to 35 hours. The team put that to the test in a live YouTube stream and wound up with a final time of 38 hours and 52 minutes. Keep in mind, the indoor temperature of your home as well as your specific refrigerator can alter the exact time. But Anker's test proves the model worthy of keeping your food safe for well over a day.

SEE ALSO: Regularly $799, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 power station is $429 right now at Amazon

Getting into some specifics, the S2000 has 2,010Wh of battery capacity while only weighing about 36 pounds. I've tested dozens of power stations and can say that's lightweight for a battery that holds over 2,000Wh.

It's also compact, measuring 8.2 inches × 11.1 inches × 12.7 inches. Anker put eight outlets on this model on both the front and the back of the power station. It has three AC ports on the front and two on the rear. This configuration is great for using a rear AC port for the fridge while keeping the front open for other kitchen items like the kettle of a coffee maker. The front also houses two USB-C ports and a USB-A, so you can keep your phone and other small devices charged up.

Before the next power outage, upgrade your home with the Anker Solix S2000. It'll give you the reassurance your fridge can continue cooling despite grid power going down. It's on sale for $599.99 at Amazon for a limited time. It's quite possible the current contents of your fridge are worth more than that.

Aside from snowballs, swimming pools, and air conditioning, nothing keeps the summer vibe chill like a refreshing movie. They provide zen-like escapes to help lower stress levels and offer mental rejuvenation, leaving us feeling hopeful and relaxed.

My home is full of cheap Wi-Fi smart bulbs that were hard to ignore because of how little they cost and how easy they were to set up. But as I got more into home labbing, I started questioning how much of my own setup was dependent on cloud services just for basic functionality.

SAVE OVER $10: As of July 6, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is on sale for $21.99 at Amazon. That's $18 off its full price of $39.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $21.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $18.00   Get Deal

The Fire TV Stick 4K Select may have dropped to $10 during Prime Day, but if you missed out on that offer, you can actually still save right now at Amazon.

As of July 6, this streaming device is on sale for $21.99 at Amazon. It may be just over $10 more than Prime Day, but it's still a pretty solid discount to take advantage if you're wanting to upgrade to 4K streaming. In comparison to its full price of $39.99, you're saving $18. Overall, that's a 45% discount, which isn't bad at all. On top of that, it even comes with one month of Xbox Game Pass for free if you're a new user.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (July 3, 2026)

If you're looking to make the jump from HD to 4K without splashing out on the pricier 4K Fire TV Sticks, this is an excellent model to start with. The Fire TV Stick 4K Select supports 4K Ultra HD picture quality alongside HDR10+. It also supports WiFi 5 for streaming quality and comes with 8GB of storage for holding all of your favorite apps.

If you're curious what the differences are between each 4K Fire TV stick before buying, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select store page features a nice breakdown of each. That way, you can feel a bit more informed before dropping your cash.

Don't miss out on this great deal on the Fire TV Stick 4K Select at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Samsung is going to make a lot of money selling memory chips.

According to Reuters, the company is about to post a huge profit increase estimate for its Q2 profit, an 18-fold increase compared to the same period last year. That would be 86 trillion won ($56.35 billion) in profit for the quarter starting in April and ending in June, up from just 4.7 trillion won ($3 billion) in Q2 2025.

SEE ALSO: 7 ways the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra turns your next festival into content worth posting

The reported number comes from an estimate based on forecasts from 30 analysts, and reflects an ongoing memory chip supply crunch. The insatiable need for memory chip recently drove stock prices of memory chip makers such as Micron and Hynix through the roof. As the largest chip memory chipmaker in the world, Samsung will profit from the market imbalance too.

Samsung sells memory chips to numerous companies including tech giants such as Apple, Google, and Nvidia.

The global memory crisis, dubbed the RAMageddon, has helped memory chip makers lock in lucrative contracts and increase profits, but it also caused consumer tech prices to surge. In June, Apple announced significant price increases across numerous product categories, and gadgets such as the PlayStation, the Switch, phones like Motorola Razr, and laptops from Acer, Dell, Lenovo, and Microsoft have suffered a similar fate.

Featured Video For You Boys on the internet are telling me nicotine is a productivity hack

The term “MiniLED” has become a hot buzzword as this technology spreads across the entire price range of modern televisions. The average person buying a TV knows that MiniLED technology is the successor to older LCD backlighting solutions and is the best of them.

There are a ton of Linux distributions out there, and figuring out which one to use can get overwhelming fast. DistroWatch is a great place to start because it's the go-to hub for tracking what's popular in the Linux world. At the time of writing, it’s ranking CachyOS, Linux Mint, MX Linux, Pop!_OS, and Debian as the five most popular distros.

The Play Store is packed with millions of apps, which means there are alternatives to pretty much all of them. This is especially nice when it comes to paid apps—up-front or subscription. Sometimes, a free option is just as good.

SAVE $598: As of July 6, the TCL 85-inch NXTVISION Frame TV is on sale for $1,399.96 at Amazon. That's down from $1,997.99, saving you $598.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL NXTVISION 85-Inch Frame TV $1,399.96 at Amazon
$1,997.99 Save $598.03   Get Deal

The TCL 85-inch NXTVISION Frame TV is now $1,399.96 at Amazon. That's down from $1,997.99, saving you $598 — the lowest price we’ve seen for this model and about $98 below its Prime Day low.

The TCL Frame TV sits directly against the wall, measuring just 1.1 inches thin. Instead of a bulky setup, the main hardware is built in, so there’s no separate external box. It comes with a light wood-style magnetic frame in the box, so you can change how it looks depending on your room — or keep the clean off-white bezel for a more minimal setup.

A flush wall mount is included to keep the TV close to the wall for a framed-art effect. Just note, it’s designed specifically for this setup and doesn’t work with standard VESA mounts.

The screen itself is matte and anti-glare, which helps it blend in more like framed artwork than a traditional TV. There’s also an art mode with a built-in library, AI-generated artwork options, and the ability to display your own photos. Installation is simple with an included template and mounting system, so it goes up cleanly, with no visible gaps or clutter.

Grab the TCL 85-inch NXTVISION Frame TV at Amazon while it's at its best-ever price.

England beat Mexico 3-2 on Sunday, securing a spot in the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup — and if there was any doubt whatsoever in your mind as to how England Captain Harry Kane might be feeling about the victory, his post-match interview made it crystal clear.

Here he is speaking with the BBC about the game while struggling a bit to find his voice.

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"Yeah it was a crazy game," says Kane in that clip, rubbing his throat. "But yep, we had to find...we had to find something. Yeah I've just been saying in there, I can't really talk."

SEE ALSO: How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup online for free

The Bert from Sesame Street comparisons were inevitable.

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He now has five days to rest that voice before England take on Norway in the quarter finals on Saturday.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're an online dater.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. 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 today's 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?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. 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 of 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 until 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: NYT Pips hints, answers for July 6, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Mind-blowing

• Green: Experiment

• Blue: Iconic animated character

• Purple: Find your match

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

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Stunning news

• Green: Science fair model subjects

• Blue: Acme products used by Wile E. Coyote

• Purple: Starting with dating apps

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 #1121 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Stunning news: BOMBSHELL, REVELATION, SHOCKER, THUNDERBOLT

• Science fair model subjects: ATOM, DNA, SOLAR SYSTEM, VOLCANO

• Acme products used by Wile E. Coyote: EARTHQUAKE PILLS, IRON BIRD SEED, ROCKET SKATES, TNT

• Starting with dating apps: BUMBLEBEE, GRIND RAIL, MATCHA, TINDERBOX

What is "iron bird seed"?

"Iron bird seed" is a fictional ACME product from classic Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons, used by Wile E. Coyote in one of his many failed attempts to catch the Road Runner. The product is exactly what it sounds like: bird seed mixed with iron pellets. The Coyote’s plan is to feed it to the Road Runner, then use a giant magnet to pull the now-magnetic bird into a trap.

As usual, the scheme backfires. Instead of catching the Road Runner, the Coyote ends up becoming the victim of his own ACME setup.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 6, 2026

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

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 today's Connections.