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When it comes to sweeping heteronormative love stories, there are typically two categories: 1) The couple lives together, happily ever after, or 2) Their love ends tragically, potentially with a death or two. In Eternity, filmmaker David Freyne says "why not both?" with all the knowing cheek that meme reference implies. 

Freyne's screenplay, co-written with Patrick Cunnane, folds together these romantic drama tropes with a dash of Defending Your Life. Miles Teller stars as Larry, a devoted husband who spent 65 years making his wife, Joan (Elizabeth Olsen), happy. When he chokes on a pretzel, Larry ends up in the afterlife in a younger version of his body and eager to reconnect to his wife. But he's not the only one waiting on Joan. Also on the other side is her dashing first husband, Luke (Callum Turner), who died valiantly in "the war." (Which one? Well, that's a whole thing.) 

When Joan shows up in the afterlife, a new war brews between her two beaus, fighting for who she'll spend eternity with. The result is a chaotic and winsome comedy that's heartwarming fun. 

Eternity re-imagines the afterlife with plenty of irreverence. Credit: Leah Gallo / A24

Forget typical cinematic depictions of the pearly gates or Tim Burton's Beetlejuice dead-world weirdness. In Freyne's movie, the entrance to the afterlife looks like a train station and a doctor's waiting room had a boring baby. But that's precisely the point. White walls lead to white halls and on to unremarkable hotel rooms and a convention center, because this is not a place for staying but instead for making one big decision: What will your eternity look like? 

Once Larry arrives, he's connected with his afterlife counselor, Anna (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), who lays down the rules: He has to pick which destination he wants, and it's forever. No turning back. These eternal locales range from mountains to beaches, museums to outer space. There's even a 1930s Germany that's all decadence and cabaret and no Nazis! Or perhaps you'd prefer a Capitalist World? For the religious, there's an array of options allowing them to live out the afterlife they imagined.

Credit: Leah Gallo / A24

These options mostly serve as background gags through posters and costumes, with overeager salespeople trying to score clients. Beyond that, however, there's the entertaining clash between Larry and Luke. 

Where Luke is suave, patient, and knows when to swoop in for a moment of chivalry, Larry is an impatient, cranky man in his mid-30s body. Where Luke might sweep Joan into his arms with an almost parody precision, Larry is giddy to show her their afterlife bodies allow them to squat again! No cracking knees or mobility issues! 

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Within this comparison, Cunnane and Freyne smartly play the romantic ideal of love against its everyday reality. Bringing the bubbly energy of a grandma given a new hip, Olsen is radiant as the love interest, but even better as the frustrated heroine torn between two very different men. Callum meets her in the sweeping romance tone, but is able to get down with Teller for some physical comedy/fighting. (The squatting bit is solidly funny.) However, it's Teller taking the brunt of the punchlines. All is fair in love and war, and for Larry, that means some low blows, including about the war that killed Luke! 

Da'Vine Joy Randolph and John Early are sublime as snarky sidekicks.  Credit: Leah Gallo / A24

Randolph, who's earned rave reviews for her turn in the drama The Holdovers and her hard-nosed detective in Only Murders in the Building, gets to be far sillier here. After eras of pointing the dead to their afterlives, Anna's become a bit jaded about her job. But seeing Larry and Joan's predicament, a fire ignites in her as she pulls for the underdog.

Her professional rival, then, is Ryan (the director and star of TIFF standout Maddie's Secret, John Early). As Luke's afterlife counselor, the sharply ambitious Ryan has been waiting 67 years to see Luke and Joan reunited. He's not about to give up on them just because of some schlub named Larry. 

Within this subplot, Eternity offers a bit of petty office politics that the actors make a meal of. Beyond that, these supporting players are tasked with much of the film's exposition, but they are never weighed down. They smile, sneer, and soar, turning little moments into laugh-out-loud events. Randolph and Early push every moment onscreen to something outrageous and hilarious. 

Even the bland colors of their uniform (beige suits with white button-downs and a red tie), proves a sharp comedic contrast to the world around them. Brilliant in deep reds, greens, blues, and golds, the palette suggests a world where everything is better than real life; it's perfect. So many scenes of Eternity look like postcards, vivid and gorgeous. Looking at such views, it seems impossible to imagine there could be a wrong choice. But the same palette means that flushed cheeks and teary eyes are all the more radiant, displaying the pain of Elizabeth's choice with simple details. 

Altogether, Eternity delivers a charming parody of romantic comedies without mocking the viewers who love them. The conflict between two kinds of romantic love, and the two robust love interests on offer, makes for exciting tension. The wild spin of their stories leads to moments silly, sexy, and warm. Yet Eternity's afterlife backdrop allows for a slew of more provocative jokes to sneak through. 

The result is a rom-com that's smart, sensational, and swoon-worthy. 

UPDATE: Nov. 20, 2025, 5:52 p.m. EST "Eternity" was reviewed out of its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. This article was originally published on Sept. 17, 2025.

Eternity opens in theaters Nov. 26.

Before Hamlet, there was Hamnet. He was the young son of William Shakespeare who died in his youth, inspiring the playwright to spin the timeless tragedy of a doomed Danish prince. Hamnet explores that true story through a mystical and matriarchal lens of Maggie O'Farrell's heralded novel of the same name, adapted by the Academy Award–winning director of Nomadland, Chloé Zhao, and her Academy-nominated actors, Paul Mescal (Aftersun) and Jessie Buckley (The Lost Daughter). 

This period drama seems primed to be a contender this award season. But Oscar buzz tends to mold the expectations of dramas — especially those even loosely biographical — into one box: star-stuffed theatrics festooned with tears, a soaring emotional score, and pretty scenes of pain, perfect for an award ceremony sizzle reel. To expect such a thing from Zhao, Mescal, and Buckley would be to ignore what's brought them acclaim to begin with. 

This trio has separately won praise for their nuanced expressions of joy and pain, from Buckley's star-making as an aspiring singer in Wild Rose to Zhao's bittersweet character drama Nomadland to Mescal's heart-wrenching turn as a lost love in All of Us Strangers. In Hamnet, their powers combined make for a drama that is more than a sentimental tearjerker poised for Oscar accolades; it is an earthy and poetic raw tale of love and loss. 

Hamnet focuses on the story of Shakespeare's witchy wife, Agnes.  Jessie Buckley stars as Agnes in "Hamnet." Credit: Agata Grzybowska / Focus Features

Rather than an earnest recreation of the real-life marriage of William Shakespeare and Anne "Agnes" Hathaway, Hamnet follows O'Farrell's interpretation, which imagines Agnes (Buckley) as a woman in touch with the woods and prone to premonitions of the future. 

In the film, Agnes scoffs at gossip that she is a witch. But her woodsy appeal — which includes wearing brash red robes and having a pet hawk — attracts the passionate and bookish son of a local glove-maker. Playing Will and Agnes from their youth into adulthood, Mescal and Buckley easily capture the lusty impulsiveness of young love. Their arms entangle with a violent intensity as they claw private moments from the mundane routines demanded of their families. 

Unlike in his yet-to-be-written comedies, marriage is not a happily-ever-after for the pair — as tragedy will follow. Still, marriage is a newfound freedom as they redefine what their married life looks like. For the Shakespeares, that means Will going off to London to write plays and express his soul in tales of star-crossed lovers and fortune-telling witches. For Agnes, that means raising their three children: Susanna and twins Judith and Hamnet. But a vision of her own deathbed makes Agnes certain that one of her children will die before her. 

Jacobi Jupe is a rare find as Hamnet.  Jacobi Jupe, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, and Olivia Lynes in "Hamnet." Credit: Agata Grzybowska / Focus Features

Whether you know the history of Shakespeare's home life, are a fan of O'Farrell's novel, or can just read the room, it's clear early on that Agnes is off with her expectation that the child to die will be her youngest, Judith. This gives an enhanced tension to every moment that she experiences with her bright, adventurous, and caring boy, Hamnet, because we know their time together is short, and she has no clue. 

Such a setup would be ripe for agony regardless. But young Jacobi Jupe is stupendous as the 11-year-old Hamnet. Under Zhao's direction, he avoids the pitfalls all too common to child actors in family dramas. He is neither precocious nor ethereal. He galumphs about with his sisters, chuckling in play, swapping clothes for a childlike prank in which the twins trade identities. Before his mother, he dreams of being on the stage, where he gets to sword fight to the cheers of an audience. Jupe frolics with a mix of clumsiness and earnestness that reads simply as authenticity. So when the plague hits the Shakespeare home, and Judith specifically, it's natural that this sweet boy would curl into his twin sister's cot to comfort her.

When Hamnet speaks in a whisper of an ominous "him" that's watching the twins, things get eerie — suggesting he has the same gift for premonition as his mum. But even here, Jupe avoids cliché, in this case that of the haunted house child, wide-eyed in terror. Instead, he is a boy who is scared, but accustomed to playing the hero, and so soldiers on to help his sister with one more switcheroo. And because he feels so real, the pain of his end will take your breath away. 

Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal are riveting in Hamnet.  Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal in "Hamnet." Credit: Agata Grzybowska / Focus Features

In early scenes of courting, they sizzle, each utilizing their well-reputed onscreen intensity. As the Shakespeare marriage gets complicated by distance and grief, they become explosions, destined to collide. But beautiful work is done in scenes without each other. Buckley, who is unquestionably the lead in the film, harnesses the focus seen in Wild Rose and the ferality of Men for a distinct portrait of grief. 

Her rage and resentment are both irrational and understandable. While she is in the home where her boy was lost, her husband is off in London. She can't see that he doesn't escape the loss of Hamnet, but is, in fact, consumed by it. Hamlet begins to take shape as Will's means of making sense of his own guilt and mourning. 

The "to be or not to be" speech becomes Mescal's greatest challenge to date. Not only because it's the iconic speech by which the greats are judged, but also because he's not playing Hamlet within it, but the man who wrote that speech to make sense of his own helplessness in the face of mortality. It's a layered and profound moment of pain and pondering, unfurling a labyrinth of dark feelings and darker thoughts. And yet, it's not even Mescal's best scene. 

That comes before Will knows Hamnet is dead. Rushing home because he's heard his little Judith is at death's door, Will barrels into the family home to see the girl alive and well. They hug, and he bursts with smiles and relief. But then he sees the little form covered in a white sheet, posed before the fire. 

Paul Mescal in "Hamnet." Credit: Agata Grzybowska / Focus Features

"Where is he?" Will says, and in that simple question, Mescal channels a mix of dread, hope, and fear that could bring down the Globe theatre. It's not booming. That's not Zhao's way. It's delivered strong but raw, quavering. It is what pain sounds like when stripped of Hollywood shine. It's too human for an Oscar reel. It's too heartbreaking. 

And all of this leads to a climax that takes Agnes and Will's pain to the stage, that of the Globe, to be specific. There Hamnet becomes Hamlet, in a prolonged and nerve-shredding sequence that is fueled by the couple's loss and their divide. No matter how many times you've seen Hamlet, this section hits different because it becomes about the pain that inspired the Dane. 

Props to Noah Jupe, who plays the onstage Hamlet, simultaneously channeling an actor striving to impress an audience and the dreamy wish of a mourning mother all at once. In a shrewd move from Zhao, she cast the older brother to play Hamlet to the younger's Hamnet, and the vague familial appearance makes this climax all the more haunting. Noah offers a pitch-perfect echo of his brother Jacobi's performance with flourishes of maturity and theater-worthy showmanship.

Still, I have one qualm with Hamnet. 

Jessie Buckley in "Hamnet." Credit: Agata Grzybowska / Focus Features

While I can see Zhao's vision and admire her restraint, I must confess I wished for a bit more cinema. I'm not asking for the emoting common in biopics aiming for Oscar glory — which this film is not strictly, on either point. Instead, I wish Zhao had embraced the visual storytelling of Agnes' premonitions as she did with the earthiness of Will's environment. 

As Agnes' visions are not just key to the plot but also to the core to her motivations, I wish Zhao had let us see them with her. Hamnet is rooted in Agnes' perspective, yet the screenplay by Zhao and novelist O'Farrell only has dialogue describing these visions of a deathbed with two guests, a landscape of trees, and a dark, infinite cave. By not using this visual medium to show us what Agnes sees, the filmmakers keep Agnes a bit at a distance. 

By contrast, Will's view of things gets a visual component through the climactic production of Hamlet. So, in a way, we are given more access to his inner world than Agnes'. And while the film is moving, I sometimes felt like I was watching Agnes' experience instead of feeling it with her — like I was on the outside looking in. Where with Mescal's Will, the play is the thing… that shows the heartache of the scribe. 

Still, Hamnet is a bold rebellion, and I respect that. Not only does Zhao reject the temptations of glossy Hollywood biopics, but also the regal romance or cerebral theatricality of a barrage of Oscar-adored Shakespeare adaptations, from a handful of intense Hamlets to The Tragedy of Macbeth to the winsome Shakespeare in Love. Her Shakespeare and company are more feral, bringing this historic tragedy fresh blood and true grit. 

For these big swings, Hamnet could be an unconventional but strong Oscar contender. But whether you're invested in awards season or just seeking a powerful drama from actors at the top of their form, be sure to bring tissues. Hamnet could leave you tear-soaked and in tatters. 

UPDATE: Nov. 20, 2025, 6:03 p.m. EST "Hamnet" was reviewed out of its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. This article was originally published on Sept. 7, 2025.

Hamnet opens in theaters Nov. 26.

TL;DR: Until Dec. 2, Norton Standard VPN is on sale for £24.99 per year for Black Friday. This limited-time offer saves you £5 on the annual list price of £29.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Norton Norton Standard VPN (1-Year Subscription) £24.99 per year (save 16%) Get Deal

Black Friday deals are here in a big way — it feels like there’s a deal on just about everything right now. From earbuds to portable power stations, if it's on your wishlist, chances are it's getting a discount of some kind.

And VPNs are very much in the mix, because Norton Standard VPN is on sale for £24.99 per year for Black Friday. This limited-time offer saves you £5 on list price. Your plan will automatically renew at full price, but you can cancel this automatic function at any time. This special offer covers five devices and comes with a generous 60-day money-back guarantee, so if you don't like the service, you can opt out with your cash.

SEE ALSO: 150+ Amazon Black Friday deals: We found record low prices on AirPods, Kindles, Legos, and TVs

A VPN acts like a privacy shield for your internet connection. It hides your location, encrypts your data, and keeps your browsing secure. It’s particularly useful for getting around geo-restrictions so you can stream bonus content from around the world. Norton VPN does this job without hassle thanks to over 100 server locations around the world.

With the Norton Standard plan, you get a solid mix of privacy and security features designed to keep your browsing protected. The discounted plan includes IP masking to hide your online activity and a no-log policy to ensure your data stays private. You can browse without annoying ad breaks thanks to the built-in ad blocker, and rely on the Kill Switch to prevent exposure if your connection drops. For extra peace of mind, IP rotation and Double VPN add an extra layer of privacy to every session.

Get the best Black Friday VPN deal from Norton VPN.

Imagine you had a G-Shock DWN-5600 watch, but smaller. Way, way smaller.

That, we guess, was the reasoning behind Casio's latest product, the G-Shock Nano DWN-5600. It's a fully functional, miniature version of the original G-Shock DWN-5600 that fits on your finger.

In terms of features, you get time (with seconds!), calendar, dual time, and stopwatch features. The three buttons on the side can be used (if you can press them) to switch between modes and activate the backlight, among other functions.

Just like the original, but smaller. Credit: Casio

The watch is resistant to shocks (duh!) and has 200-meter resistance.

About that size, though. Casio says the fit ranges from approximately 48 to 82 millimeters. The company also has some photos of people wearing the thing, and it doesn't look too clunky. But the Nano's distinct shape, and (smallified) bulkiness (the G-Shock watches are, after all, known for their heft), have to make this one a little awkward to wear. If we get a chance to try one, we'll tell you how it goes.

It works...we guess. Credit: Casio

The Casio G-Shock Nano DWN-5600 will be available on December 3 at G-Shock retailers and at gshock.com. It's available in three colors: Black, red, and yellow.

BMW is saying goodbye to one of its most iconic toys, and it’s going out with flair. Meet the Z4 Final Edition—a last hurrah for the classic BMW roadster we may never see again.

Whatever the occasion that has you looking for dad gifts (Father's Day, Christmas, Hanukkah), stay far away from clichés like whiskey stones and pocket knives. Unless your dad is an avid tie collector and seriously *lives* for ties, then avoid this played-out gift too. Instead, the best gifts for dads say, “I see your hobbies and I respect them." We've even got some unique ideas you may not have seen before. (We have two words for you: Fire. Harpoon.) From the latest gadgets from Apple, Sony, and Vizio to hip menswear finds, we think you'll find something your old man will love.

Pluribus has milk on its mind in its fifth episode, fittingly titled, "Got Milk."

The drink takes center stage as Carol (Rhea Seehorn) continues to investigate the Others, who have now abandoned her due to her drugging of Zosia (Karolina Wydra) in episode 4. The isolation is equal parts a curse and a blessing. A curse, because even the world's most miserable woman needs some company (and someone to pick up her trash). A blessing, because now Carol can do her detective work far from the prying eyes of a global hive mind.

SEE ALSO: 'Pluribus' happiness virus, explained: Where did it come from?

Surprisingly, what she finds during her snooping has everything to do with milk. It's the drink of choice of many an unsettling TV and film villain, from A Clockwork Orange's Alex to The Boys' Homelander, so the Others are in good company. Sure, they're nowhere near as violent or depraved as other onscreen milk drinkers, but their takeover of the human race certainly puts them in antagonist territory.

But while other milk-guzzling villains like Homelander enjoy the drink with Oedipal undertones, the Others seem to solely treat it as sustenance. What's really going on with them and milk?

The Others in Pluribus sure love their milk.

Carol notices that the only things in Albuquerque's recycling bins are milk cartons. She can't be drinking all that milk herself (although I'd be mildly impressed and mostly grossed out if she were), so she reasons that it's the Others' only food source.

The carton discovery leads her to Duke City Dairy, where all the milk is manufactured. There, she learns it's not actually milk (sorry to Homelander and co.) but a mixture made of water and a strange white powder. The resulting liquid is a light amber or straw color, as Carol puts it. It's neutral on the pH scale, and it has the texture of "olive oil, but thinner."

SEE ALSO: Google's 'Pluribus' Easter egg is a little too good

So what does this mystery not-milk liquid actually do to the Others? Is it just their food, or does it help strengthen the hive mind? Is it a physical manifestation of the "psychic glue" that keeps them together?

The key must be in the white powder, which Carol investigates next. Thanks to some bar code sleuthing, she winds up at Agri-Jet, a manufacturing plant that's full of produce and mysterious items wrapped in plastic bags. Whatever's in there is probably what gets reduced to that white powder, right?

Well, it's also apparently nothing good, because when Carol takes a peek under the plastic, she throws her hand over her mouth in terror. Cut to black, leaving us to speculate about the true nature of the Others' "milk" for another week.

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What is in the bag Carol finds at Agri-Jet?

What could make Carol react with such horror? Unfortunately, there's only one thing my mind goes to when presented with the idea of "absolutely sinister food sources," and it's human corpses.

That's right: I think Carol has made the grand discovery that in addition to being a parasitic hive mind, the Others are also cannibals.

We know that the Others are unable to kill any living thing. However, they could certainly eat something that's already dead, and you know what Earth has a lot of currently? Dead humans, on account of the trauma of the Joining, and of Carol's emotional outbursts. Those incidents left millions dead, giving the Others a free supply of meat that they didn't have to kill outright.

However, the implications of cannibalism might be a red herring meant to throw us off the scent. Perhaps what's under the plastic isn't corpses at all. Maybe it's hints of what the Others' true alien forms look like, wherever they come from in the universe. Or maybe it's some kind of experiment that proves they can bring Carol or the other survivors into the fold.

For now, though, I'm sticking with my initial theory. Pluribus is putting its own spin on Soylent Green. And guess what? It's still people.

Pluribus is now streaming on Apple TV, with a new episode every Friday, and episode 5 releasing on Wednesday, Nov. 26.

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

Released in August 2025, the 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 onto 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 for 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 November 8, 2025

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 November 8, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 26 Pips

Number (0): Everything in this purple space must add to 0. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this red space must be equal to 5. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 26 Pips

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add to 11. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed vertically; 3-2, placed horizontally.

Less Than(2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 26 Pips

Equal (4): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

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

Number (10): Everything in this red space must add to 10. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically; 6-5, placed vertically.

Number (15): Everything in this space must add to 15. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically; 6-5, placed vertically; 5-2, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed horizontally.

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 easy if you know baseball teams in the midwest.

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. 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: 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: Olympic sports

• Green: Midwest baseball

• Blue: Commonwealth sports

• Purple: Team or car?

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Verbs for an Olympic Athlete

• Green: NL Central Teams

• Blue: Virginia College Teams

• Purple: Teams Who Share Names with Ford Vehicles

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 #429 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Verbs for an Olympic Athlete - FENCES, ROWS, SURFS, SWIMS

• NL Central Teams - BREWERS, CUBS, PIRATES, REDS

• Virginia College Teams - CAVALIERS, DUKES, HOKIES, SPIDERS

• Teams Who Share Names with Ford Vehicles - BRONCOS, MAVERICKS, MUSTANGS, RANGERS

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 today's Connections.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're good with money.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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 November 26, 2025 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: Maybe, maybe not

• Green: AKA

• Blue: Money terms

• Purple: Furry friends

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Verbs expressing possibility

• Green: Women's nicknames

• Blue: Financial abbreviations

• Purple: Backwards animals

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 #899 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Verbs expressing possibility: CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT

• Women's nicknames: DEB, JAN, KAT, SUE

• Financial abbreviations: APR, CFO, IRA, SEC

• Backwards animals: FLOW, GOD, MAR, TAB

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 26, 2025

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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you travel frequently.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 26, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 26, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: All aboard!

The words are related to travel.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe travel sections.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Passenger Train.

NYT Strands word list for November 26

• Quiet

• Dining

• Coach

• Passenger Train

• Observation

• Sleeper

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and 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 Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you've lived in an unconventional home.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. 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 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 26, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 26, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A hutch.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter H.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

HOVEL

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 26, 2025

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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 Wordle.

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.

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 singing group.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

CHOIR

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A slithering reptile.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 26, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SNAKE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A creator.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 26 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 26, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

MAKER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Husk.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 26 Hurdle Word 4 answer

CHAFF

Final Hurdle hint

Harmonic.

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

TONAL

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

These days, supply chain attacks targeting npm are not rare. It's been a couple of months, but we're back with yet another attack—this one affecting over 500 packages. Yikes.

A glance at the best Black Friday deals at Amazon Best Apple deal Apple Mac mini (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $479 (save $120) Get Deal Best Lego deal Lego Star Wars: 'The Phantom Menace' Mos Espa Podrace Dioarma 75380 $50.99 at Best Buy (save $19.90) Get Deal Best Kindle deal Kindle Paperwhite (16GB) $124.99 (save $35) Get Deal Best portable power station deal Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $349 (save $450) Get Deal Best headphones deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Black or Smoke White) $298 (save $131) Get Deal Best smartwatch deal Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $199.99 (save $49.01) Get Deal Best Amazon device deal Amazon Echo Pop $21.99 (save $18) Get Deal Best TV deal Insignia 75-inch QF QLED 4K Fire TV $399.99 at Amazon (save $250) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Roborock Saros 10R $999.99 at Amazon (save $600) Get Deal Best kitchen deal Ninja Slushi $269.99 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal

Black Friday falls on Nov. 28 this year, but that doesn't mean you need to wait until after pumpkin pie to shop. Amazon's official Black Friday sale has been underway since Nov. 20, and we're seeing a bunch of epic deals. Some of our favorite products from Bose, Apple, Anker, and Lego are on sale, in addition to Amazon devices like Kindles and the Echo lineup, plus discounts on some of our favorite gifts for 2025.

A majority of Amazon Black Friday deals are record-low prices that match or beat the deals we saw during October Prime Day. See the evidence for yourself by plugging the URL into camelcamelcamel, the Mashable shopping team's secret weapon to finding the lowest prices at Amazon.

SEE ALSO: 20+ of the best Black Friday streaming deals live: HBO Max, Apple TV+, Spotify, and more

With speedy Prime shipping, shopping Amazon's sale early could get some of your items to your doorstep before Thanksgiving even starts.

We'll be updating this page with new Amazon Black Friday deals as they drop, so keep checking back through the end of Cyber Weekend. Of course, it's worth checking out the best deals from competing retailers like Target, Best Buy, and Walmart to make sure you're getting the best deal (we curate our lists to only include deals that are the actual best ones across retailers). If you don't feel like scrolling through all of that, you can keep up with the utmost best deals across the internet with our live deals tracker or get them texted straight to your phone.

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Mac mini (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $479 at Amazon
$599 Save $120   Get Deal Why we like it

If you need a desktop upgrade, this is hands-down the best value you can get right now. The new Mac mini packs the M4 chip into a tiny 5-inch box, and Apple finally upped the starting RAM to 16GB (instead of the stingy 8GB of the past). That means it can actually handle heavy multitasking right out of the box.

Honorable mention: Apple deals are going hard this Black Friday. The AirPods 4 with ANC just hit a record-low price of $99.99, but they're flying off the shelves. We've seen them sell out once at Amazon already, so if they're sold out for you, you can also grab them for $99.99 at Target. These give the entry-level AirPods (currently on sale for $69.99) the nice addition of ANC, which performed so well that it earned these buds a coveted Mashable Choice Award.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC.

More Black Friday Apple deals at Amazon

• Apple AirTag — $17.97 $29 (save $11.03)

• Apple AirTag (4-pack) — $64.98 $99 (save $34.02)

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

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

• Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) — $279 $349 (save $70)

• Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) — $399 $499 (save $100)

• Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi + cellular, 128GB) — $429 $499 (save $70)

• Apple AirPods 4 — $69 $129 (save $60)

• Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $219.99 $249 (save $19.01)

• Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) — $399.99 $549 (save $149.01)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) — $449 $599 (save $150)

• Apple Mac mini (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $479 $599 (save $120)

• Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) — $649 $799 (save $50)

• Apple iPad Pro (M5, 11 inch) — $899 $999 (save $100)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $949 $1,199 (save $250)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $949 $1,199 (save $250)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,444 $1,599 (save $250)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,149 $1,399 (save $200)

Best Lego deal Lego Star Wars: 'The Phantom Menace' Mos Espa Podrace Diorama 75380 $50.99 at Best Buy
$79.99 Save $29.00   Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

As the year comes to a close, another heartbreaking handful of Legos are set to retire. The Mos Espa Podrace dioarama from The Phantom Menace is one of them, so now is your last chance not only to find it in stock at all, but for nearly $20 off its usual price. This set is a best-seller for a reason: You get the full canyon in Tattooine scene, models of both Anakin's Podracer and Subulba's Podracer, and a special 25th anniversary plaque with a quote from Qui-Gon Jinn. It's nostalgia in brick form that any Star Wars fan should have in their collection.

More early Black Friday Lego deals

• Lego Classic Medium Creative Brick Box 10696 — $17.99 $34.99 (save $17)

• Lego Jurassic World Dinosaur Fossils: T Rex Skull 76964 — $24.99 $39.99 (save $15)

• Lego Disney Frozen Advent Calendar 2025 — $26.99 $44.99 (save $18)

• Lego Harry Potter Advent Calendar 2025 — $31.49 $44.99 (save $13.50)

• Lego Christmas Table Decoration — $33.40 $39.99 (save $6.59)

• Lego Icons Dried Flower Centerpiece — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)

• Lego Friends Space Research Rover — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)

• Lego Harry Potter Mandrake Figure & Pot Plant — $40.99 $69.99 (save $20)

• Lego Creator 3 in 1 Wild Animals: Majestic Rhino with Birds — $41.99 $59.99 (save $18)

• Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees — $44.99 $64.99 (save $20)

• Lego Harry Potter Thestral Family 76458 — $48.99 $69.99 (save $21)

• Lego Minecraft The Crafting Table — $62.99 $89.99 (save $27)

• Lego Disney and Pixar Up House — $37.70 $59.99 (save $22.29)

• Lego Star Wars: Millennium Falcon 'A New Hope' 25th anniversary model — $67.97 $84.99 (save $17.02)

• Lego Duplo Peppa Pig Grandpa Pig’s Garden and Greenhouse — $71.99 $89.99 (save $18)

• Lego Ideas Tuxedo Cat 21349 — $80 $99.99 (save $19.99)

• Lego Disney Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Cottage — $175.99 $219.99 (save $44)

Best Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite $124 at Amazon
$159 Save $35   Get Deal Why we like it

Down at a record-low price, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is Mashable's favorite Kindle. It can get up to 12 weeks of battery life before you'll need to recharge, and the 16GB storage gives plenty of room for downloaded books. Gift it to the reader in your life or snag one for yourself to stay entertained during holiday travel. It's also fully waterproof, so you can take it along to the pool or on your tropical winter vacation.

More Kindle deals

• Amazon Kindle (16GB) — $79.99 $109.99 (save $30)

• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids — $134.99 $179.99 (save $45)

• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (32GB) — $149.99 $199.99 (save $50)

• Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (16GB) — $169.99 $249.99 (save $80)

• Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Kids (16GB) — $189.99 $269.99 (save $80)

• Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32GB)— $229.99 $279.99 (save $50)

• Amazon Kindle Scribe (64GB) — $309.99 $449.99 (save $140)

Best Amazon device deal Amazon Echo Pop $21.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $18.00   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Echo Pop.

It’s a known fact of the universe that Amazon devices get serious discounts on Black Friday (and Prime Day, for that matter). If you haven't picked up a smart speaker yet, or just need one for a random room like the laundry room or guest bath, we recommend the Echo Pop. It’s currently $21.99, which is 45% off its regular price. Unlike the spherical Echo Dot, the Pop has a flat front that makes it fit way better on shallow shelves or crowded nightstands. It’s the perfect low-stakes way to add Alexa to another corner of your house without spending "real" money.

More early Black Friday Amazon device deals

• Echo Pop Kids — $21.99 $49.99 (save $28)

• Echo Dot — $31.99 $49.99 (save $18)

• Echo Dot Kids — $31.99 $49.99 (save $18)

• Amazon Fire HD 8 (32GB) — $54.99 $99.99 (save $45)

• Amazon Fire 7 Kids (16GB) — $54.99 $109.99 (save $55)

• Amazon Fire 7 Kids (32GB) — $59.99 $129.99 (save $70)

• Echo Hub — $119.99 $179.99 (save $60)

• Echo Frames — $114.99 $299.99 (save $185)

• Amazon Echo Show 11 — $194.99 $219.99 (save $25)

• Amazon Echo Show 15 — $254.99 $299.99 (save $45)

Best portable power station deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $349 at Amazon
$799 Save $450   Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2.

The new Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is one of my favorite portable power stations to hit the market this year. Anker's new Gen 2 models focus on portability, and the C1000 Gen 2 is shockingly easy to carry around at 25 pounds. It's a great model for taking to the campground or keeping in the garage in case of power outages. Thanks to Amazon's Black Friday sale, this model is down to a new record low.

More Black Friday portable power station deals

• Jackery Explorer 300 — $159 $279 (save $120)

• Bluetti Elite 30 V2 — $189.05 $239 (save $49.95)

• Anker Solix C300 — $199.99 $299 (save $99.01)

• Anker Solix C800 — $299 $599 (save $300)

• Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 — $349 $799 (save $450)

• Ecloflow Delta 3 — $378 $599 (save $221)

• Bluetti Elite 100 V2 — $394.99 $799 (save $404.01)

• DJI Power 1000 V2 — $399 $799 (save $400)

• Anker Solix C1000 — $397 $799 (save $402)

• Bluetti AC180 — $409 $699 (save $290)

• Anker Solix F1500 — $499 $1,399 (save $900)

• Anker Solix EverFrost 2 Cooler (40 liter) — $598.49 $899.99 (save $301.50)

• Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 — $699 $1,499 (save $800)

• DJI Power 2000 — $699 $1,299 (save $600)

• Ecoflow Delta 3 Ultra — $999 $1,399 (save $400)

Best headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Black or Smoke White) $299
$429 Save $130   Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd Gen).

If you're looking for the most comfortable noise-cancelling headphones on the market, you want the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. As long as you're cool with black or white, they're on sale for $298. Since we spend plenty of the day listening to music, podcasts, or streaming YouTube, there's good reason to invest in a super comfortable pair. Of course, they'll make for a special gift this holiday season, or consider it a gift of self-care to get yourself through holiday travel.

More Black Friday headphones deals

• Soundcore by Anker Q20i — $37.99 $69.99 (save $32)

• JBL Tune 770NC — $79.95 $149.95 (save $70)

• Sennheiser Accentum — $99.95 $189.95 (save $90)

• Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds — $107.99 $179.99 (save $72)

• Beats Solo 4 — $129.99 $199.95 (save $69.96)

• Bose QuietComfort Earbuds — $129 $179 (save $50)

• Sennheiser Accentum Plus — $149.95 $249.95 (save $100)

• Sony WH-1000XM4 — $159.99 $349.99 (save $190)

• Bose QuietComfort headphones — $199 $349 (save $150)

• Nothing Headphone (1) — $239 $299 (save $60)

• Sony WH-1000XM5 — $248 $399.99 (save $151.99)

• Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e — $270.02 $399 (save $128.98)

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) — $399 $449 (save $50)

• Sony WH-1000XM6 Noise-Canceling Headphones — $398 $459.99 (save $61.99)

• Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Over-Ear Headphones — $515 $699 (save $184)

Best smartwatch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $199.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $49.01   Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple Watch SE 3 earns the top spot on Mashable's list of the best smartwatches. The SE 3 is the first SE model to come with an always-on display. Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth wrote, "In addition to its gorgeous OLED display, it has the same S10 chip inside the Ultra 3, the same water resistance as the Series 11, and all the necessary features you're looking for in a smartwatch." All of that now comes in at under $200 thanks to this Black Friday sale at Amazon.

More early Black Friday smartwatch deals

• CMF Nothing Watch 3 Pro — $79 $99 (save $20)

• Fitbit Versa 4 — $119.95 $199.95 (save $80)

• Garmin Bounce Kids Smartwatch — $119.99 $149.99 (save $30)

• Garmin Vivoactive 5 — $195.95 $210.02 (save $14.07)

• Google Pixel Watch 3 (45mm, WiFi) — $199.99 $299.99 (save $100)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (44mm, Bluetooth) — $309.99 $379.99 (save $70)

• Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS + cellular, 49mm) — $599 $799 (save $200)

• Garmin fēnix 8 — $849.99 $1,099.99 (save $250)

Black Friday TV deals at Amazon Insignia 75-inch QF QLED 4K Fire TV $399.99 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $250   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy Why we like it

When you think of TVs on sale at Amazon, you probably think of Amazon's own Fire TVs. You're half right: The best Fire TV deal at Amazon is a Fire TV, but it's actually Insignia (a Best Buy brand). At just $399.99 after a 38% discount, this 75-inch Insignia QLED is the cheapest 75-inch QLED TV we've seen across all Black Friday TV deals so far — that's almost $200 cheaper than the non-QLED 75-inch version of Amazon's Omni TV. And why would you settle when you could bring home the boosted quantum dot brightness for watching in the daytime?

More Black Friday TV deals43-inch TVs

• Hisense 43-inch E6 Cinema QLED 4K TV — $177.99 $209.99 (save $32)

• Amazon 43-inch Omni QLED 4K Fire TV — $229.99 $439.99 (save $210)

• Amazon 43-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $249.99 $329.99 (save $80)

50- to 55-inch TVs

• Amazon 50-inch Omni QLED 4K Fire TV — $279.99 $469.99 (save $190)

• Amazon 50-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $329.99 $399.99 (save $70)

• Amazon 55-inch Omni QLED 4K Fire TV — $349.99 $499.99 (save $150)

• Amazon 55-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $399.99 $459.99 (save $60)

• Amazon 55-inch Omni Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV — $694.99 $819.99 (save $125)

65-inch TVs

• Amazon 65-inch Omni 4K Fire TV — $449.99 $669.99 (save $220)

• Hisense 65-inch U6 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $547.99 $847.99 (save $300)

• Sony 65-inch Bravia 2 II 4K TV — $598 $799.99 (save $201.99)

• Samsung 65-inch Q8F QLED 4K TV — $697.99 $897.99 (save $200)

• Roku 65-inch Pro Series Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $797.99 $1,199.99 (save $402)

• TCL 65-inch QM7K Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $797.99 $999.99 (save $201)

• Hisense 65-Inch S7N Canvas QLED 4K TV — $897.99 $1,297.99 (save $400)

• TCL 65-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $897.99 $1,499.99 (save $602)

• Hisense 65-inch U8 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $997.99 $1,498 (save $500.01)

• Samsung 65-inch The Frame Pro Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $1,597.99 $2,097.99 (save $500)

75-inch TVs and up

• Hisense 75-inch QD7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $597.99 $799.99 (save $202)

• Roku 75-inch Pro Series Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $997.99 $1,699.99 (save $702)

• Amazon 75-inch Omni Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV — $1,289.99 $1,499.99 (save $210)

• Hisense 75-inch S7N Canvas QLED 4K TV — $1,297.99 $2,499.99 (save $1,202)

• Samsung 75-inch The Frame Pro Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $1,997.99 $2,997.99 (save $1,000)

85-inch TVs and up

• Samsung 85-inch Q6F QLED 4K TV — $997.99 $1,297.99 (save $300)

• Hisense 85-Inch S7N Canvas QLED 4K TV — $1,797.99 $2,049.99 (save $222)

• Hisense 98-inch QD5 QLED 4K TV — $999.99 $2,299.99 (save $1,300)

• Hisense 100-inch QD6 QLED 4K TV — $1,299.99 $1,999.99 (save $700)

Black Friday robot vacuum deals at Amazon Roborock Saros 10R $999.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $600   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

This Black Friday season marks the very first time the Roborock Saros 10R has dropped below $1,000, so senior shopping reporter Leah Stodart can't help but recommend it to people — considering the Saros 10R was her favorite robot vacuum that she's ever tested for most of 2025, and is still the best robot vacuum mop combo when it comes to corner and edge mopping. (In Reddit threads about which robot vacuum everyone is looking to buy this Black Friday, the Saros 10R is mentioned multiple times.)

At 22,000 Pa of suction power, the Saros 10R is also one of the most powerful robot vacs you'll find on sale this season. Plus, the livestream pet camera will quickly become a daily staple in the routines of busy pet parents.

More Black Friday robot vacuum deals

Robot vacuum and mop combos

• Yeedi C12 Plus with self-empty station — $237.49 $399.99 (save $162.50)

• Roborock Q8 Max — $169.99 $259.99 (save $90)

• Dreame D20 Plus with self-empty station — $249.99 $399.99 (save $150)

• Roborock Q10 S5+ with self-empty station — $259.99 $549.99 (save $290)

• 3i G10+ with dust compression — $229.99 $449.99 (save $220)

• Mova E40 Ultra with self-empty and mop washing station — $349 $499 (save $150)

• Narwal Freo Pro with self-empty and mop washing station — $359.99 $699.99 (save $340)

• iRobot Roomba 405 with self-empty and mop washing station — $399 $499 (save $100)

• Roborock Qrevo with self-empty and mop washing station — $349.99 $649.99 (save $400)

• 3i P10 Ultra with self-empty and mop washing station — $449.99 $1,099.99 (save $650)

• Eufy X10 Pro Omni with self-empty and mop washing station — $499.99 $899.99 (save $400)

• Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro self-empty and mop washing station — $599.99 $889.99 (save $400)

• Dreame X40 Ultra with self-empty and mop washing station — $499.99 $1,199.99 (save $700)

• Roborock Qrevo Curv S5X with self-empty and mop washing station — $649.99 $1,149.99 (save $500)

• Narwal Freo Z10 Ultra with self-empty and mop washing station — $799.99 $1,299.99 (save $500)

• Roborock Qrevo CurvX with self-empty and mop washing station — $849.99 $1,499.99 (save $650)

• Dreame X50 Ultra with self-empty and mop washing station — $799.99 $1,599.99 (save $800)

• Roborock Saros Z70 self-empty and mop washing station — $1,299.99 $2,599 (save $1,299.01)

Robot vacuums that don't mop

• iRobot Roomba 105 — $149 $299.99 (save $150.99)

• Shark AI Ultra with self-empty dock — $249.99 $599 (save $349.01)

• Eufy E20 3-in-1 robot vacuum and stick vacuum with self-empty dock — $297.49 $649.99 (save $202.50)

Black Friday kitchen deals Ninja Slushi professional frozen drink maker (88-ounce) $269.99 at Amazon
$369.99 Save $100   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

The Ninja Slushi is a blast in any season — frozen margs in any flavor you want when it's hot, apple cider slush or gingerbread frappé when it's chilly. (Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart loves her Slushi, and so do all of her friends.) A year after the first Slushi came out, Ninja released two larger capacity versions in a few fun colors. The 88-ounce model on sale for $269.99 at Amazon can make a slightly bigger batch than the original 72-ounce model, which is on sale for $249.99 at Walmart. $20 more for extra beverages and a chic green build? Sold. (If you want the purple one, it's $269.99 at Target.)

More Black Friday kitchen deals

• Magic Bullet blender — $27.99 $49.99 (save $22)

• Chefman Everything Maker and pizza oven — $44.99 $59.99 (save $15)

• Instant Pot Vortex 6-in-1 air fryer (4-quart) — $59.99 $89.99 (save $30)

• Instant Pot Duo 9-in-1 multicooker (6-quart) — $69.99 $139.99 (save $70)

• Cuisinart ice cream maker — $71.99 $219.95 (save $58.05)

• Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro (8.5-quart) — $99.99 $169.99 (save $70)

• Ninja Mega Kitchen System blender and food processor — $99.99 $219.99 (save $120)

• Instant Pot Pro Plus WiFi 10-in-1 multicooker (6-quart) — $159.95 $229.99 (save $70.05)

• Airthereal Revive electric kitchen composter — $159.99 $349.99 (save $190)

• Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 portable glass air fryer — $159.95 $179.99 (save $20.05)

• Bartesian Duet cocktail machine and margarita maker — $199 $279 (save $80)

• Chefman Indoor Pizza Oven — $199 $499.99 (save $80)

• Ninja 12-in-1 Smart Double Oven with FlexDoor — $249.99 $429.99 (save $150.05)

• Ninja Luxe Café Pro Series espresso, drip coffee, and cold brew machine — $599.95 $749.99 (save $180)

Best outdoor deal LifeStraw $9.49 at Amazon
$19.95 Save $10.46   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

If there's one thing Mashable readers love buying on Black Friday, it’s the LifeStraw. It’s a staple of every major sales event, and for good reason. Right now, it’s back down to its Prime Day price of $9.99, which is typically the lowest it goes all year (it's usually around $20). Even if you aren't an avid hiker, this is a must-have for your home emergency kit or bug-out bag. It filters out 99.999999 percent of waterborne bacteria and parasites, so you can drink directly from a stream (or a sketchy tap) safely. At $10, it’s the ultimate practical stocking stuffer.

More early Black Friday outdoor deals Drones and action cameras

• Holy Stone Mini Drone — $33.99 $39.99 (save $6)

• DJI Osmo Action 4 (standard combo) — $209 $299 (save $90)

• GoPro HERO13 — $319 $429.99 (save $110.99)

• Holy Stone HS720G drone bundle — $191.99 $239.99 (save $48)

• DJI Mini 4K drone combo — $309 $389 (save $80)

Other outdoor gear

• Yeti Rambler 30-ounce Tumbler — $28 $40 (save $12)

• Coleman 1000L LED Lantern — $42.74 $53.49 (save $10.75)

• Klymit Static V2 Inflatable Sleeping Pad — $49.98 $69.99 (save $20.01)

• Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 speaker — $59.99 $99.99 (save $40)

• JBL Flip 6 — $99.95 $129.95 (save $30)

• HydroFlask Day Escape Soft Cooler (26-liter) — $134.96 $179.95 (save $44.99)

• Cuisinart Cleanburn Smokeless Fire Pit — $195.49 $249.99 (save $54.50)

• Bote Hangout Suite Floating Chair (two pack) — $395 $450 (save $55)

Beauty tech deals

• Laifen Hair Dryer SE — $97.99 $139.99 (save $42)

• Shark FlexStyle — $199 $349.99 (save $150.99)

• Dyson Supersonic Nural — $399 $549 (save $150)

• Dyson Airwrap i.d. — $499.99 $649.99 (save $150)

• Shark CryoGlow and FlexFusion bundle — $499.99 $699.98 (save $199.99)

A peek at the best Black Friday Pop Mart deals so far Opens in a new window Credit: Pop Mart Best Pop Mart deal: Spend $300, save $100 with code BF004 Includes Skullpanda, Crybaby, and The Monsters Why So Serious series Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Pop Mart More Pop Mart Black Friday coupons Save between $9 and $55 when you spend between $90 and $110 (excluding Labubus) Shop Now

Finding real Labubus and other Pop Mart favorites in stock has been an Olympic sport for the past year. Now, Google has confirmed that Labubus were one of the 100 top-searched gifts of 2025 — so you can probably only imagine just how chaotic the realm of fake Pop Mart Black Friday deals could get. The only way to ensure you're getting legit Pop Mart merch is to buy from Pop Mart itself — and yes, Pop Mart is having a Black Friday sale.

There are a handful of Pop Mart coupons live as of Nov. 25, with more coupons and mystery boxes dropping on actual Black Friday (Nov. 28). Three coupons pop up on the Black Friday landing page: save $55 when you spend $110, save $20 when you spend $100, and save $9 when you spend $90. But after a little digging in the "My Coupons" section of your profile, you'll find that only certain items work with certain coupons. Much to everyone on Reddit's disappointment, no, Pop Mart is not letting you pick out $110 worth of Labubus or SkullPandas and then handing you a $55 discount.

The Monsters are eligible for this one Pop Mart discount code

There actually is one hidden Pop Mart promo code that unlocks discounts on viral characters, including The Monsters. The "special offers" section in the "Black Friday deals tab" across the top holds a glorious $100 off $300+ deal, and popular series like Skullpanda You Found Me!, Crybaby Crying Again, and The Monsters Why So Serious are all eligible. You just have to get your cart to $300 and enter code BF004.

This code changes daily, but the deal will likely be the same until Pop Mart drops more deals on Nov. 28. It's specifically noted that a "50% off special picks" deal is coming to the items in this collection. No Labubus are eligible as of Nov. 25, but we have a reason to be hopeful for Labubu deals: If you Google "Pop Mart Black Friday," the official Pop Mart result that pops up mentions "exclusive discounts on Labubu."

SEE ALSO: 30+ trendy gifts for teen girls in 2025, according to teenage girls IRL and online

The good news is that you can still unlock a free exclusive item by spending a certain amount of money, regardless of which coupon your cart items fall under. Orders over $99 unlock a free Crybaby Crying for Love series storage bag, and orders over $199 unlock a free Crybaby Crying for Love series jewelry box. Both items are only available for the Black Friday sale and cannot be purchased separately.

Where else can you buy Pop Mart merch online?

It's quite possible that you'll be able to find Black Friday Pop Mart deals at the official Amazon Pop Mart Store and at Urban Outfitters, where Pop Mart is also selling officially licensed merch, including Crybaby, Skullpanda, Peach Riot, and The Monsters. If an item you want sells out on Pop Mart's website, there may still be stock at either of these retailers. For example, The Monsters Fall in Wild series vinyl plush doll pendant that's sold out at Pop Mart is still in stock at Amazon for its usual $39.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pop Mart Amazon official Pop Mart store   Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Pop Mart Urban Outfitters official Pop Mart store   Shop Now

RECORD PRICE ON AIRPODS: The Apple AirPods Max headphones with USB-C charging are finally back down to $399.99, their lowest-ever price. That's a 27% discount from their usual price and a savings of $149.01.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max Headphones (USB-C) $399.99 at Amazon
$549 Save $149.01   Get Deal

We've seen some killer Black Friday AirPods deals so far this year, with prices starting at $69. Yet even as the AirPods 4, the AirPods 4 with ANC, and the AirPods Pro 2 and 3 hit record prices, one Apple audio product has stubbornly refused to drop to its lowest-ever price. We're talking, of course, about the stylish Apple AirPods Max headphones, which have been available for $429.99 at Best Buy all week.

That's a great price on these Apple noise-cancellers, but not the lowest-ever price. On rare occasions in the past, we've seen these headphones drop to $399.99. And if you held out on buying these headphones with the hope that they would get even cheaper, then we have good news: As of this writing, the Apple AirPods Max are finally back down to their record price at both Amazon and Best Buy. This is the newest version with USB-C charging instead of the Lightning port. (Our apologies to anyone who bought them at the $429 price.)

Mashable has reviewed these headphones positively in the past, but their $549 price tag has held us back from naming them the best headphones. They've been conspicuously absent from our guides to the best wireless headphones and noise-cancelling headphones. We've seen newer flagship headphones from Bose, Sony, and Bowers & Wilkins land this year, and so it's been hard to recommend Apple's older headphones. However, at this price, that calculus changes.

There's also no denying that these are some of the most stylish headphones ever designed. They're a constant sight on the streets of New York, where people where them as fashion accessories as much as headphones.

As we head into the holiday season and the end of the year, you'd better believe that Disney+ and Hulu have a snow pile's worth of shows and movies—including specials, premieres, and dozens of catalog titles—to give you plenty to curl up with.

TL;DR: Invest without stress thanks to this lifetime subscription to Sterling Stock Picker, now $55.19 (reg. $486) with code STOCKS20 through Dec. 7.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sterling Stock Picker Sterling Stock Picker: Lifetime Subscription $55.19
$486 Save $430.81   Get Deal

Want to make money in the stock market stress-free? Take the anxiety out of picking stocks with a little help from Sterling Stock Picker. This AI-powered tool simplifies the stock market for you, helping you make more informed decisions. And right now, a lifetime subscription can be yours for just $55.19 (reg. $486) with code STOCKS20 through Dec. 7.

If you’ve been meaning to get involved in the stock market but weren’t sure where to start, Sterling Stock Picker makes the investing process a whole lot easier. This award-winning platform helps you invest confidently, with AI-powered features that make suggestions clear on when to buy, sell, or hold stocks.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

With Sterling Stock Picker, you answer a five-minute questionnaire to determine your risk preferences and personal values. From there, Sterling Stock Picker can determine the best stocks for your portfolio, and you can even be totally hands-off with the Done-for-You Portfolio Builder that continuously recommends updates over time.

Sterling Stock Picker’s North Star Rating System shows you things like the top-performing companies with over 50 percent quarterly revenue growth, helping you confidently decide when to buy, sell, or hold certain stocks.

This lifetime subscription includes access to Finley, Sterling Stock Picker’s AI financial coach, which can answer questions not only about your portfolio, but also individual stocks or the market in general. You also have access to a community chat forum to connect with fellow investors.

Get a lifetime subscription to Sterling Stock Picker for only $55.19 (reg. $486) with code STOCKS20 now through Dec. 7.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Keep a scanner handy at all times with a lifetime subscription to the iScanner App, now only $27.99 (reg. $199.90) with code FLASH through Jan. 11.

Opens in a new window Credit: iScanner iScanner App: Lifetime Subscription $27.99
$199.90 Save $171.91   Get Deal

We’ve got apps for everything these days, and now there’s an app to help you digitize documents from anywhere — the iScanner App. You never know when you’re going to need to submit a signature or safeguard something sentimental, and this app lets you do that in just a few taps.

Right now, you can snag a lifetime subscription to iScanner App for only $27.99 (reg. $199.90) with code FLASH through Jan. 11.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

It’s time to update the way you scan documents. If you’re still heading to your multitasking printer to digitize something, you need to meet the iScanner App. This app lets you scan right from your iPad or iPhone — just point the device’s camera at the pages you would like to scan.

From there, the app uses AI-powered features to automatically detect and adjust the borders of your document, preventing curves and distortions. Then you can use the editing tools, from color correction to noise-removing features, to polish up your file.

iScanner doesn’t just help you scan; it doubles as a document manager. It lets you organize your files with convenient drag-and-drop functionality and sorts them into folders. You can also edit PDFs within iScanner, from signing to adding text or even auto-filling documents.

Thanks to AI, iScanner has a few other tricks up its sleeve. You can also solve math problems and translate text in up to 20 different languages with the app.

Get a lifetime subscription to the iScanner App for just $27.99 (reg. $199.90) with code FLASH through Jan. 11.

StackSocial prices subject to change.