Technology

Google is officially launching its AI-powered Search Live feature in the U.S. on Wednesday, which enables mobile users to get real-time information with their voice and phone camera. Previously available as part of Google Search Labs, Search Live is available now in the Google app on iOS and Android.

Search Live is part of Google's AI Mode search tool, powered by Gemini, that lets users ask questions and receive conversational answers with help from AI. Search Live basically takes AI Mode and integrates a conversational voice feature, but it also goes a step further by letting Gemini see what you see. Using Search Live, users can show Google their camera feed and receive real-time information based on what's in frame.

The Search Live feature, which goes live today, was originally announced in June and required users to opt in via Google Labs to try it out. Now, all U.S. users will be able to access the Search Live feature by simply tapping the Live button under the search bar in the Google app. From there, users can ask questions with their voice or share their camera feed.

In addition, Search Live will also be accessible in Google Lens. Users will simply need to tap the Live icon in the app and start their conversation, as camera sharing in Google Lens is turned on by default.

Mashable got the chance to demo the new feature before its official rollout. In a live demo with Google, Gemini was able to quickly identify objects, products, games, and other items, while also engaging in a back-and-forth conversation with the user about those items.

In our experience with Search Live, even if there were five to 10 objects in the camera's view — and even if those items were upside down — Gemini was still able to correctly identify and answer questions about them.

Google also provided some examples of scenarios where Search Live could be helpful. For example, Search Live could teach you how to fix a broken appliance or learn the rules for a board game with a missing instruction manual. The camera feed can also be used for tech troubleshooting, as a user can show Search Live a new home theater setup and get instructions on what to do. Because queries can be performed with just your voice, Search Live also enables a hands-free experience.

Search Live's official rollout (and prominent placement within the Google app) shows just how much Google is centering AI Mode and AI-powered search over its classic search product. This is happening despite ongoing concerns about the accuracy of AI chatbots and hallucinations, particularly with AI Overviews.

Search Live is only available in English for now, but expect Google to add support for more languages and regions in the future.

Meet 101 creators, handpicked by a team of Mashable writers and editors, shaping digital culture right now. From viral innovators to community builders, these are the voices remixing the internet, rewriting the rules, and setting the trends we’ll all be talking about tomorrow.

https://mashable.com/mashable-101-top-creators-2025

SAVE $34: As of Sept. 24, the Monster S220 Bluetooth soundbar is on sale for just $49.98 at Amazon. That's a savings of 40%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Monster Monster S220 Bluetooth soundbar $49.98 at Amazon
$83.99 Save $34.01 Get Deal

If you're seeking a soundbar for your desktop setup, but don't want to spend a fortune, this budget option from Monster might be for you.

As of Sept. 24, the Monster S220 Bluetooth soundbar is on sale for only $49.98 at Amazon. That's a savings of 40% or $34 off the list price of $83.99.

Is it the best soundbar on the market? Well, no, for the price, you should keep your expectations low. But it's also not designed to be. Instead, the Monster S220 is built to pair with desktop setups to enhance gaming audio or boost your tunes while you work. It's pretty small at just 20 inches by 2.4 inches, so it can slip onto your desk seamlessly. You could pair it with your TV, but it won't get as loud as you'd expect from more premium soundbars.

The S220 features a 2.0-channel system with dual 52mm full-range speakers and two bass diaphragms. You can connect it via AUX, USB, TF Card, or Bluetooth, so if you want to transport it from your office to the patio for entertainment purposes, it's no problem.

Most of our favorite soundbars on the market average at about $500, so snagging a soundbar for under $50 is pretty wild. Just don't expect mind-blowing cinematic sound, and you'll be pleased with the Monster S220.

SAVE $200: The Roborock F25 Ultra Steam Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner is on sale at Amazon for $599.99, down from the list price of $799.99. That's a 25% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock F25 Ultra Steam Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner $599.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $200 Get Deal

Some people have the ideal home and routine for a robot vacuum. Others prefer a stick vacuum, and others still could use a combo vacuum that can suction up hair and debris while also cleaning up sticky messes like a standard mop would. If that last option sounds like your ideal floor cleaning solution, check out this deal.

As of Sept. 24, the Roborock F25 Ultra Steam Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner is on sale at Amazon for $599.99 with the on-page coupon, down from the list price of $799.99. That's a 25% discount that takes $200 off. This is the first discount we've seen on one of Roborock's latest models.

Ready to tackle all of life's messes, the Roborock F25 is a wet and dry vacuum, sucking up hair and debris with 22,000 Pa suction power. But it's also available to clean up sticky spills in the kitchen with an impressive 302-degree Fahrenheit steam mop.

SEE ALSO: The Roborock Q7 M5+ robot vacuum and mop has dropped to its best-ever price at Amazon — save over $100

Roborock packed this cordless floor cleaner with tons of features like hot water cleaning, blue-light illumination, and what it calls AI assistant wheels, so you can make sure you get way under the couch and in the kitchen corners. Roborock also mentions that the 187-degree Fahrenheit hot water cleaning is excellent at removing stubborn grease from floors.

The F25 is also great for getting under furniture and tables, thanks to its 180-degree lay flat ability. Plus, this model has self-drying with hot air that reaches 203 degrees Fahrenheit. The LED display and app support are also great for user-friendly features.

While there's a $200 off coupon, snag the new Roborock F25 Ultra and take care of vacuuming and mopping with one versatile and powerful cleaner.

Two U.S. senators have sent a letter to Match Group to compel its CEO to act against romance scams.

Romance scams occur when a scammer gains someone's trust — sometimes on a dating app — and then starts requesting money. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Americans lost $1.3 billion to romance scams in 2022. They're a global problem: In the UK, people lost £36.5 million to such schemes in 2023.

SEE ALSO: As Tinder struggles to attract paid users, one dating app is gaining popularity

Reuters reported that Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee and Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan from New Hampshire sent the letter to Match Group and Tinder CEO Spencer Rascoff on Wednesday. In addition to Tinder, Match Group owns dating apps like Hinge and OkCupid.

In the five-page letter, the senators claim that, "Over the years, many events have raised questions about whether Match Group — in its business practices and algorithmic design — has contributed to the proliferation of romance scams online." They cite the 2019 complaint the FTC filed against Match about false advertisements (which Match just settled this year), as well as other reporting about Match not making scammers or bad actors a priority to root out.

"Match Group's business model is to keep users engaged, but this engagement is dangerous when it involves scammers," the letter states.

Blackburn and Hassan are requesting evidence of Match Group's efforts to prevent romance scams by October 15.

In 2023, Match Group launched a campaign to help stop romance scams, which involved in-app messages warning users of scammer red flags. Tinder also now requires facial recognition scans for new California users.

In a statement sent to Mashable, Match Group's head of trust and safety, Yoel Roth, said:

Protecting users from scams is essential to our business and to earning the trust people place in our platforms. In recent years, we have made significant investments in advanced fraud detection, cutting-edge safety features, and expanded partnerships with law enforcement, industry, and civil society groups to better safeguard our communities. As a founding member of the Tech Against Scams Coalition, we are working across the industry to tackle these challenges. We look forward to constructive conversations with Senators Hassan and Blackburn on these important issues.

UPDATE: Sep. 24, 2025, 2:15 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with a statement from Match Group.

You can grab the Ugreen Magnetic Phone Stand for MagSafe for a surprisingly low price. This handy phone stand is currently 29% off, dropping the price to just $10 on Amazon from its usual $14. This is compatible with plenty of phones, making it both convenient and useful.

It’s time for another PlayStation showcase, with Sony set to spend about 35 minutes sharing the latest updates on games in development and new announcements. You can catch the action live on Sony’s YouTube and Twitch channels.

The livestream will begin today, September 24, at 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET and last approximately 35 minutes.

What to expect

It’s always tough to predict what might show up at these events, but with Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Yotei right around the corner ahead of its Oct. 2 release, it’s safe to expect something new on that front. What has been confirmed is that Saros, the upcoming arcade shooter from Returnal developer Housemarque, will get an extended spotlight during the show.

Many fans are hoping that Marvel’s Wolverine will finally make an appearance. The game, from Marvel’s Spider-Man developer Insomniac Games, was officially announced at the September 2021 State of Play, and we haven’t heard a word since — outside of the massive 2023 data leak.

What we do know for sure is that Bungie’s Marathon won’t be at State of Play. The extraction shooter was delayed indefinitely after lukewarm feedback from its closed alpha, followed by a confirmed case of plagiarism that derailed its release schedule. Originally planned for this month, Bungie said during the delay announcement in June that a new release date would come sometime in the fall, but it obviously won't be tonight.

Our mobile wallets have supported a variety of digital IDs and driver's licenses from many different states, but the one nationwide ID method we have—our passports—has somehow not been supported on iPhones yet. Now, this is about to change.

SAVE $100: As of Sept. 24, the TCL NXTPAPER 14 is on sale for $369.99 instead of its usual $469.99 at Amazon. That's a savings of 21% and its lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL NXTPAPER 14 $369.99 at Amazon
$469.99 Save $100 Get Deal

Tablets are hard on your eyes — unless, of course, you own the TCL NXTPAPER 14. Launched in 2024, this paper-like tablet is unlike anything else on the market. And for a limited time, it's on sale for $100 off.

As of Sept. 24, you can get the NXTPAPER 14 tablet (256GB, WiFi), as well as the T-PEN stylus and a protective and convenient flip case, for only $369.99 at Amazon. That's 21% off its usual cost and cheaper than the tablet retails on its own (reg. $399.99).

The TCL NXTPAPER 14 uses the company's NXTPAPER 3.0 technology, which mimics actual paper to keep your eyes working without strain. It's like a Kindle, only double the size at 14.3 inches and with the ability to do tablet-like things. It features a 2.4K anti-glare screen that automatically filters blue light and adjusts brightness, while delivering rich, lifelike colors. You can choose between three viewing modes: regular, color paper, and ink paper.

"From the get-go, their displays really do look like photos printed on actual paper," Mashable's Stan Schroeder said after some hands-on time with the NXTPAPER. "They appear perfectly still and perfectly flat, for lack of better words."

Paired with the T-Pen stylus, the tablet makes an ideal drawing pad, with over 4,000 pressure levels designed to mimic the feel of an actual pen gliding across paper. When you're not using it, the pen snaps onto the magnetic case so you won't lose it.

The NXTPAPER 14 does all the things a regular tablet can do, but you'll find it works best for drawing, note-taking, reading, and multimedia entertainment. And as for the paper-like screen, Schroeder says, "It’s something I didn’t know I needed, but now I wish other manufacturers followed suit." For $369.99, it's certainly worth a shot if you're in the market for a tablet.

SAVE $44: As of Sept. 24, get the Asus Dual Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition for $395.99, down from its usual price of $439.99, at Amazon. That's a discount of 10%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Asus Dual Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition $395.99 at Amazon
$439.99 Save $44 Get Deal

If you're looking to play the new Silent Hill f game, the recently-released Borderlands 4, or one of the many other great titles out now on PC, you'll want to make sure your gaming PC is up to the task. If your setup needs a bit of a lift in the GPU department, Amazon has a lightning deal going on right now that can ensure you're ready to tackle them.

As of Sept. 24, get the Asus Dual Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition for $395.99, down from its usual price of $439.99, at Amazon. That's $44 off and a discount of 10%.

SEE ALSO: Tons of Nvidia gaming tech is on sale during Walmart's GeForce Week

This GPU comes at a base clock of 1830 MHz and can be overclocked to 2505 MHz, with 8 GB of DDR6 RAM. It's an excellent choice to enjoy 1080p gaming if you're on a budget, with support for DLSS 3, fantastic ray-tracing performance for a card in its class, and "Ada Lovelace" architecture that helps it support some of the more demanding games that have come out in recent months.

It isn't the powerhouse you'd get from paying much more to bring home one of the latest and greatest GPUs on the market, but with these specs, it's more than capable of allowing your gaming PC to play more recent releases at respectable graphics settings.

For under $400, it's a budget graphics card that won't steer you wrong, though it will likely go quickly as a lightning deal, so best to get one while you still can.

Do you love mini PCs as much as me? I don’t know why I love them so much, but I think mini PCs are fantastic. They’re small, power-efficient, and powerful all at the same time.

SAVE 44%: As of Sept. 24, the LG 39GX90SA-W 39-inch Ultragear OLED Curved Gaming Monitor is on sale for $896.99 at Amazon, down from $1,599.99. That's a discount of 44%, or a savings of $703.

LG 39GX90SA-W 39-inch Ultragear OLED Curved Gaming Monitor $896.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $703 Get Deal

The line between a gaming monitor and a TV gets blurrier every year, and this 39-inch display from LG might be the device that erases it. It has the high-end specs of a premium gaming monitor, but with LG's webOS smart TV platform built right in. And for a limited time, you can get it on sale for a new all-time low price.

As of Sept. 24, the LG 39GX90SA-W 39-inch Ultragear OLED Curved Gaming Monitor is on sale for $896.99 at Amazon, down from $1,599.99. That's a discount of 44%, or a savings of $703.

SEE ALSO: Tons of Nvidia gaming tech is on sale during Walmart's GeForce Week

For gamers, the specs here are top-tier. You're getting an immersive 39-inch curved WQHD (3440 x 1440) OLED panel that delivers the deep blacks and vibrant colors OLED is known for. It has a 240Hz refresh rate for smooth motion, a 0.03ms response time for fast inputs, and is compatible with both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium to prevent screen tearing.

But what really sets this monitor apart is the built-in webOS smart platform. It essentially functions as a standalone smart TV. You can stream Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube with the included remote — no PC required. This makes it a great dual-purpose display for a dorm room, bedroom, or anyone who wants a single screen for both high-end gaming and streaming.

SAVE UP TO $119.99: Buy a $150+ Delta gift card and get a free $10 Starbucks gift card, or buy a $300+ Delta gift card and get a free year of Paramount+, which ordinarily costs $119.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Delta Free Starbucks gift card or free year of Paramount+ with Delta gift card purchase Get Deal

We're heading into the end of October, and that means it's time to start booking holiday travel. If your route is serviced by Delta or you plan on flying Delta anytime soon, there's a no-brainer deal in store.

Until Oct. 2 or selection sells out, buying a Delta gift card for $150 or more comes with a free $10 Starbucks gift card. A Delta gift card that totals $300 or more will earn you a free year of Paramount+, which ordinarily comes with a $119.99 price tag. Current Paramount+ subscribers aren't eligible for the free year.

SEE ALSO: How to get free Peacock, Paramount+, and Max streaming through services you might already have

Delta gift cards don't expire, so this is a great deal whether you plan on booking with Delta today or next year. If you think about it for long enough, you'll probably find a reason to travel in the next year, so snagging a gift card to pay for future travel is a simple task. Buying it before Oct. 2 means you'll get added value with a free Starbucks gift card or a free year of Paramount+.

The end of September also means it's time to consider holiday gifts. If someone on your list is deserving of a $150+ Delta gift card, no one will know if you gift yourself the Starbucks gift card or the year of Paramount+.

Delta lists the Paramount+ deal as expiring on Oct. 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET or until supplies last. The Starbucks gift card benefit says it's good while supplies last. In either case, it's probably best to jump on this deal soon.

iOS 26 is here, and if you've noticed a decline in your battery life since updating, you're probably not imagining it.

It's been a long-held belief among Apple users that an iPhone's battery performance declines — at least temporarily — after updating to a new operating system.

Apple itself acknowledges that there may be a decline in battery performance on a page dedicated to software updates.

Apple wrote:

"Immediately after completing an update, particularly a major release, you might notice a temporary impact on battery life and thermal performance. This is normal, as your device needs time to complete the setup process in the background, including indexing data and files for search, downloading new assets, and updating apps.

New features are exciting and help you get even more out of your Apple product, though some may require additional resources from the device. Depending on individual usage, some users may notice a small impact on performance and/or battery life. Apple continually works to optimize these features in software updates to ensure great battery life and a smooth user experience."

However, iOS 26 could also be the answer to your iPhone battery problems, as well as the cause.

iOS 26 comes with battery management tools, which, in my experience, have actually helped me hold a charge more reliably after updating. The new software has a feature called "Adaptive Power," which should work in the background to make adjustments to save your battery life. This could mean dimming your screen, letting low-priority activities take a bit longer, or automatically turning on low-power mode when your charge is low. The new OS also has a feature that tells you how long it will take you to charge to 80 percent, which is a personal favorite update. I've found it has helped me charge my phone more efficiently.

So yes, your battery life might be a bit down with iOS 26. But it should also prove easier to manage.

Sports sedans often carry a reputation for high prices and even higher running costs, but one standout proves driving excitement doesn’t have to break the bank. This sleek four-door blends head-turning style with genuine performance, offering enthusiasts a thrilling alternative to traditional luxury brands at a fraction of the cost.

Our lives are inextricably intertwined with what happens in digital spaces — from the news and current events we consume to the TV and music we stream and the viral videos we share in the group chat. 

American teens spend about 5 hours a day on social media. Internet users in the U.S. reportedly spend more than 7 hours online daily.

Driving it all? The content creators we love (and, sure, some you may love to hate).

About 57 percent of Gen Z aspire to be content creators someday. The creator economy is expected to reach $480 billion in the next two years, according to some projections.

These creators are shaping trends, what we consume and share, how we think, build, and connect online. 

It’s the reason the team at Mashable felt compelled to craft The Mashable 101, our ultimate list of the creators shaping the internet in the past year. 

Meet The Mashable 101: the creators keeping the internet interesting. From meme-makers to movement-starters, these are the people powering our timelines today. Dive into the full list and find your next favorite follow.

From the high-profile names you may recognize like MrBeast and Kai Cenat, to those who’ve surprised and delighted their way into the spotlight in the past year like Jools Lebron and Reesa Teesa, these creators, listed in no particular order, have been chosen for their ability to entertain, drive conversation, educate, inspire, or capture our attention again and again — sometimes to positive effect, but not always.

Some on our list may not be content creators by trade but have broken through all the same, at times in surprising ways. Others are behind the tools and platforms that keep us online and coming back for more (like BlueSky and Canva CEOs Jay Graber and Melanie Perkins). Our package also includes five cover stories, featuring creators Taryn Delanie Smith, Tineka "Tini" Younger, Arun Maini, Tefi Pessoa, and Morgan Jay.

All are cultivating engaged online communities and, in their own ways, are defining — and redefining — what the internet looks and sounds like right now. 

And who better than Mashable to curate a list like this? Our team is and has been a leading source for digital culture, from the creator economy and internet trends to influencer news and the tech that powers it all. Mashable's reporters and editors don't just write about digital culture; they're embedded in it.

Our list is not just about numbers, though many creators here have amassed huge followings. It’s also filled with those who cut through the noise, jumped onto our feeds, and caught our attention in the past year (through August 2025), who we’ve featured on our pages, or who are creating compelling content in the spaces we, too, love and cover — including tech, science, entertainment, social good, and more. 

So many members of our team, too, brought a little of themselves, their feeds, and their personal interests to this months-long effort. And in that way, this list highlights not only these standout creators but also what makes Mashable such a special publication.

You may already know some of these creators, but we hope to introduce you to a few new voices, too. 

They’ve made us laugh, made us cry, and helped shape how we see the world. Now, without further ado, dive in and meet the creators shaping the now and building what’s next in The Mashable 101. 

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage to discover the internet's most exciting voices.

SAVE UP TO $170: Two configurations of the 11-inch Apple iPad Air (M3, WiFi) are on sale for record-low prices at Woot as of Sept. 24. Get the 256GB model for $539 (normally $699) or the 512GB variant for $729 (usually $899).

Woot's Apple iPad Air deals at a glance: Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 256GB) $539 (save $160) Get Deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 512GB SSD) $729 (save $170) Get Deal

We consider Apple's M3 iPad Air from early 2025 to be the best iPad for most people: It's thin, light, and offers MacBook-level performance in "a more affordable package," wrote Mashable's Samantha Mangino. It starts to get a little less affordable as you add more storage — its base model only has 128GB — but right now, two upgraded configurations are cheaper than ever before.

As of late September, Amazon's daily deals site Woot has the 256GB and 512GB variants of the 11-inch M3 iPad Air marked down to new all-time lows. (Note that they're only available in the blue hue.) The former is priced at $539, or 23% off its $699 sticker price, while the 512GB model is going for $729 — that's 19% off its $899 MSRP. Those prices beat their previous record lows on Amazon by $10 and $20, respectively, per the price-tracking site CamelCamelCamel.

Credit: Samantha Mangino

I checked Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon itself to see if any of them were matching Woot's M3 iPad Air deals and came up dry. Both models were still stuck at $549 and $749 at all three retailers.

For reference, the iPad Air's M3 chip notched a multi-core score of 11,464 in Primate Labs' Geekbench 6 benchmark, our go-to performance test. That makes it almost as fast as the M3-era MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, which scored 11,998 and 12,057, respectively. This caliber of power, plus the new "windowing" system introduced in iPadOS 26, makes modern Apple tablets like the M3 iPad Air viable laptop replacements, Mangino said. (If you want a Magic Keyboard to seal that deal, it was $20 off on Amazon the last time I checked.)

SEE ALSO: Whether you're a creative or a traveler, these are the best iPads for everyone

Other notable specs you'll find on the M3 iPad Air include a bright anti-reflective Liquid Retina display, a 12MP Center Stage selfie camera, a 12MP rear camera, and a battery that lasted nearly 15 hours per charge in our testing. Our reviewer recommended it for anyone who's coming from an iPad that's at least two generations older: The M2 iPad Air is basically identical to it, chipset aside.

If you still need some time to mull over your purchase, just be aware that Woot's M3 iPad Air markdowns will be live for the next two weeks or until they sell out — whichever comes first.

SPEND $50, GET $15: Through Sept. 27, Target Circle members save $15 when they spend $50 on household essentials like paper towels, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, laundry detergent, and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: Target Household essentials at Target Save $15 when you spend $50 Get Deal

Despite household essentials (along with practically everything else in 2025) slowly eating away at your wallet, you still have to buy them. So why not save some money while you stock up?

Through Sept. 27, Target Circle members can save $15 when they spend $50 on household essentials of all kinds — from paper towels and paper plates to laundry detergent and cleaning supplies. Just load up your Target cart with items from the promotion until you reach the $50 threshold and select the red button that says "apply $15 off" to see the offer automatically applied at checkout. The offer is also valid in stores, if you prefer to do your shopping in person.

The list of products included in the promotion is pretty long, so there's a good chance it includes items you use regularly and need to stock up on. There are plenty of well-known brands like Downy, Arm & Hammer, Clorox, Dawn, Cottonelle, Tide, Mrs. Meyer's, Bounty, and Glad. But Target's own brands, like up&up and Dealworthy, are also included. Pro tip: You can get more for your money if you opt for Target's brands. There are over 50 pages worth of household essentials, but you can filter them by brand or product type if you're looking for specific items.

You'll need a Target Circle account in order to enjoy the savings, but unlike Amazon Prime, it's totally free to sign up. Beyond this household essentials sale, your free membership will also unlock access to Target Circle Week, which starts Oct. 10.

For decades, even some of the most mildly mannered people have become enraged at the sight of the unassuming, cheery typeface that is Comic Sans. Whether used on birthday cards, posters, wedding invitations, or road signs, it's guaranteed to spark debate.