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The Roman Catholic Church elected its new pope on Thursday, with the conclave selecting American Cardinal Robert Prevost, henceforth known as Pope Leo XIV. And like friends investigating their bestie's new boyfriend, the internet is already digging through the pope's old social media posts.

SEE ALSO: Pope Francis warned against new technology replacing 'human relationships' in final weeks

Pope Leo XIV opened his X account @drprevost in August 2011, back when the social media platform was still known as Twitter. However, rather than pen his own posts, Pope Leo XIV overwhelmingly preferred sharing other people's posts, links to external articles, and the occasional Catholic-themed meme. Of the few posts he appears to have written himself, many merely record administrative events, whether in his professional life or more broadly within the Catholic Church.

However, we can still glean a lot from what the new pontiff chose to share.

Pope Leo XIV is pro-life This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The first post strongly indicating Pope Leo XIV's attitude toward a political issue came in 2012. That February, the then-Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine appeared to share a petition calling for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to scrap its requirement that Catholic employers provide their workers with healthcare insurance plans which include birth control. 

The petition ultimately garnered 29,127 signatures. In 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that employers could enjoy an exemption from the HHS' requirement on religious and moral grounds.

Pope Leo XIV's views on abortion appear to have remained unchanged in 2016, when he shared an article in which pro-life voters blamed Hillary Clinton's election defeat on her pro-choice stance. The next year, he shared articles from the religious publication Catholic News Agency (CNA), which reported on then-U.S. vice president Mike Pence and New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan's comments at a pro-life rally.

The freshly minted pontiff also shared an article from CNA reporting on allegations that doctors conducting abortions were selling fetal tissue and endorsing infantcide. Though not mentioned in the article, an investigation by media watchdog Media Matters for America found that the undercover video giving rise to these claims had been deceptively edited and taken out of context.

Pope Leo XIV is pro-immigrant rights This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Though he apparently shares Pence's views on abortion, this doesn't mean Pope Leo XIV is wholeheartedly supportive of President Donald Trump's administration. The pope has long expressed disapproval of Trump's immigration policies in particular.

One of Pope Leo XIV's old X posts which has gained significant attention dates back to when Trump was campaigning. In August 2015, Pope Leo XIV shared a Washington Post opinion piece from Dolan entitled, "Why Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric is so problematic."

"I am not in the business of telling people what candidates they should support or who deserves their vote," wrote Dolan. "But as a Catholic, I take seriously the Bible’s teaching that we are to welcome the stranger, one of the most frequently mentioned moral imperatives in both the Old and New Testament."

Then shortly after the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Pope Leo XIV shared a speech by Archbishop José H. Gomez acknowledging that Trump's win left many immigrants fearful.

"This should not be happening in America," said Gomez. "We are better people than this. We should not accept that this is the best we can hope for — in our politics or in ourselves."

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

Then in 2017, Pope Leo XIV shared several posts condemning U.S. bans on refugees. He further shared statements from Gomez calling for immigration reform, speaking against deportation of undocumented people, and stating that the U.S. government's "ongoing failure to address the immigration crisis is a humanitarian tragedy."

"There is nothing remotely Christian, American, or morally defensible about a policy that takes children away from their parents and warehouses them in cages," Cardinal Blase J. Cupich wrote in a post Pope Leo XIV shared in 2018, referring to Trump's widely criticised policy of separating immigrant children from their parents. "This is being carried out in our name and the shame is on us all."

The pontiff further shared articles examining his predecessor Pope Francis' letter to U.S. bishops on immigration, and criticising J.D. Vance's statement on Fox News that "you love your family, and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens, and then after that prioritize the rest of the world."

"J.D. Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others," read the headline for a National Catholic Reporter article shared by the new pope. 

As of writing, the most recent update on Pope Leo XIV's X account is a repost sharing an article in the Catholic Standard by Bishop Evelio Menjivar, which condemns the U.S. government's recent treatment of immigrants and refugees.

"Do you not see the suffering…?" wrote Menjivar. Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?

Pope Leo XIV is for gun control This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The pope also seems to support gun control. In the wake of the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, Pope Leo XIV shared a statement from Archbishop of Chicago Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, which called for "increased access to mental health care and stronger, sensible gun control laws."

Pope Leo XIV also shared a post by Democratic senator Chris Murphy, who wrote, "To my colleagues: your cowardice to act cannot be whitewashed by thoughts and prayers. None of this ends unless we do something to stop it."

Pope Leo XIV is against racism This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Pope Leo XIV also took to X to condemn racism mere days after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in May 2020. The murder sparked global protests against racism and police brutality, and widespread support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

In one of his rare self-penned X posts, Pope Leo XIV wrote, "We need to hear more from leaders in the Church, to reject racism and seek justice." 

He also shared posts expressing support for Floyd's family and condemning racism.

Pope Leo XIV is for vaccines and masks Credit: Francesco Sforza - Vatican Media via Vatican Pool / Getty Images

The pope continued posting on X during the COVID-19 pandemic, posting news of mask donations in Peru. He also displayed a sense of humour when he shared a comedic TikTok skit about social distancing.

More significantly, in 2021 Pope Leo XIV shared a post from Gomez stating, "May God grant us the grace to face #COVID19 with the strength of faith, ensuring that vaccines are available for all, so that we can all get immunized."

Pope Leo XIV believes in climate change This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

While the pope hasn't made many posts about climate change on X, he isn't completely silent on the matter. In November 2015, Pope Leo XIV called for followers to sign a climate petition organised by the Global Catholic Climate Movement, which has since been renamed to the Laudato Si' Movement. This organisation advocates for non-proliferation and divestment from fossil fuels, as well as the protection of biodiversity.

Pope Leo XIV opposes the death penalty and euthanasia This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Another issue Pope Leo XIV touched on in his X posts was the death penalty. The pope took a strong stance against capital punishment in March 2015, writing, "It's time to end the death penalty."

He also doesn't seem to be a big fan of euthanasia, sharing an article in 2016 which reported on Belgium citizens who advocated against Canada legalising the practice. Canada legalised medical assistance in dying later that year. 

Pope Leo XIV might share some of Pope Francis' progressive philosophy This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Exactly how closely Pope Leo XIV will follow in Pope Francis' footsteps is still yet to be seen. However, a few of his X posts indicate he may be sympathetic to some of his predecessor's progressive views. In 2016, Pope Leo XIV shared a talk by Pope Francis in which he stated that God's law "was not drawn up to enslave us but to set us free," and that rigid adherence to it "isn't a gift of God."

Later sharing guidance that Pope Francis issued to bishops in 2021, Pope Leo XIV added that "These beatitudes also highlight the temptations faced by bishops, like that of seeking power and a comfortable lifestyle."

Another hint at what we might expect from Pope Leo XIV's papacy may be found in a 2015 article he shared from Huffpost. In it, author Kerry Weber discussed the future of the Catholic Church, and suggested how it might retain younger Catholics. This included supporting women in leadership roles; putting more emphasis on a global, diverse church; and making more of an effort to listen to younger Catholics.

Much of Pope Leo XIV's activity on X is years old, so it's possible that some of his opinions may have changed over time. Merely sharing an article also doesn't necessarily denote agreement with absolutely everything in it, and looking solely at the new pope's X activity still leaves many questions and gaps. Still, examining Pope Leo XIV's digital footprint certainly offers interesting clues as to what the Catholic Church might look like under its new leader.

SAVE OVER $200: As of May 9, the Apple MacBook Pro (M4 Chip, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD Storage) is on sale for $1,322.02 at Amazon. This deal saves you 14% on list price.

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As of May 9, the Apple MacBook Pro (M4 Chip, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage) is on sale for $1,322.02 at Amazon. This deal saves you 17% on list price, and represents the lowest-ever price on Amazon according to tracker camelcamelcamel. It literally doesn't get any better than this, so if you've been patiently waiting for your moment to invest in this powerhouse, this is it.

SEE ALSO: Best MacBooks of 2025: Which MacBook should you buy?

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Connections: Sports Edition is a new 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.

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.

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: Sportswear

• Green: Ballpark backups

• Blue: Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, etc.

  Purple: Hockey achievements

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Athletic clothing brands

• Green: Baseball relief roles

• Blue: Men's tennis players

• Purple: NHL Awards

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 #228 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Athletic clothing brands - CHAMPION, RUSSELL ATHLETIC, STARTER, UNDER ARMOUR

• Baseball relief roles - CLOSER, LONG, MIDDLE, SETUP

• Men's tennis players - ALCARAZ, FRITZ, RUNE, SINNER

• NHL Awards- CALDER, HART, LADY BYNG, VEZINA

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.

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 Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, May 9, 2025:

AcrossHumpty Dumpty, in many illustrations

• The answer is Egg.

Cartoon bear who wears a red shirt and no pants

• The answer is Pooh.

Collection of world maps

• The answer is Atlas.

Counterpart of "adios"

• The answer is Hola.

[See circled letters]

• The answer is Wow.

DownClean water org.

• The answer is EPA.

Subculture with black clothing

• The answer is Goth.

"When they ___ ..." (start of a memorable Michelle Obama line)

• The answer is GoLow.

Angel topper

• The answer is Halo.

It has sharp teeth

• The answer is Saw.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Mini Crossword.

TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.

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Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she's your mother-in-law, your best friend's mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.

Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.

The game plan here isn't just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you're not the kid who forgot Mother's Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don't even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother's Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?

SEE ALSO: The best gifts for her

Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it's something to make a part of her life easier, something she's mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can't put a price on everything she's done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.

After all, they say "No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother." But is that even a bad thing?

We can all agree that moms and mother figures deserve the world. But realistically, very few of us can afford to gift ours the diamond necklace or island getaway she's worthy of unwrapping this Mother's Day.

Is that an excuse to just send Mom a gift card from the grocery store checkout line and call it a day? Not in the slightest. (Don't even think about it.)

SEE ALSO: Best Mother's Day gifts: Show mom some love

Read on for more than 20 inexpensive but thoughtful Mother's Day gift ideas under $50 that will make her feel special without breaking the bank, including several products recommended to us by our own moms and mom friends.

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

Tourist attraction in Venice and Amsterdam.

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

CANAL

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Lively.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PERKY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To accumulate over time.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 9 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 9, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

AMASS

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Felt in the back or neck after a bad night's sleep.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for May 9 Hurdle Word 4 answer

CRICK

Final Hurdle hint

A kind of beer.

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

LAGER

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

Thanks to President Donald Trump's tariffs, we've seen a lot of price increases in the tech world. And today, some outlets reported that Microsoft is increasing prices on some of its Surface devices.

We're not so sure.

Yes, the $999.99 base configurations of Microsoft's 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 7 and 13-inch Surface Pro 11 disappeared from its online store this week after the company unveiled two smaller and cheaper Surface devices. The two flagship Copilot+ PCs now start at $1,199.99 in the Microsoft Store, causing several tech publications to report 20-percent price hikes. And to be fair, Microsoft did recently increase the price of Xbox gaming consoles.

However, Microsoft tells Mashable the price of its base Surface Laptop and Pro hasn't changed after all.

"Microsoft did not raise Surface Pro or Surface Laptop prices," Nancie Gaskill, Microsoft's General Manager of Surface Business, said in a statement to Mashable. "Microsoft simply removed the Surface Laptop and Pro $999 base models from Microsoft.com. Customers can purchase base models of Pro and Laptop at the starting price of $999 at other key retailers."

SEE ALSO: Microsoft reveals 2 compact Surface devices starting well under $1,000

At the time of writing, shoppers could buy them for even less: The base models of both devices were on sale for $200 off at Best Buy.

Why the markup in the Microsoft Store, then? Look closely at the specs in their listings: The $1,199.99 Surface Laptop and Pro that Microsoft is selling have a 10-core Snapdragon X Plus processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage, while the $999.99 base models available elsewhere have half the storage (just 256GB).

So, the prices haven't changed; the company is simply no longer selling the lesser configurations.

It's also worth noting that both 512GB models have held steady at $1,199.99 since launching in June 2024.

Microsoft's newly announced 13-inch Surface Laptop and 12-inch Surface Pro are slightly cheaper alternatives to their flagship counterparts, with starting prices of $899.99 and $799.99, respectively. They're available for preorder in the Microsoft Store and beyond.

Some laptop manufacturers have raised their prices because of President Donald Trump's tariffs on imported Chinese goods. Asus previously told Mashable that some of its laptops saw tariff-related price hikes of up to nine percent. But Microsoft's Copilot+ PCs have been marked safe for now.

Other Microsoft products haven't been so lucky. On May 1, the tech giant announced that it was raising the recommended retail prices of its Xbox consoles and controllers, and that new first-party games would debut at $79.99 later this year. It attributed the price changes to "market conditions and the rising cost of development."

Digital resurrection projects — using artificial intelligence to bring back the likeness of people who have died — have become a trend for at least two years. And, as AI gets more advanced, so do the resurrections.

Most recently, Stacey Wales used AI to generate a video of her late brother, Christopher Pelkey, to address the courtroom at the sentencing hearing for the man who killed him in a road rage incident in Chandler, Arizona. According to NPR, its the first time AI has ever been used in this way.

"He doesn't get a say. He doesn't get a chance to speak," Wales told NPR, referring to her brother. "We can't let that happen. We have to give him a voice."

Pelkey was a veteran who served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army, according to an online obituary. He was also heavily involved in his local church, and he went on multiple mission trips. His sister told NPR that he loved God, loved others, and would give a stranger the shirt off his back. He was 37 when he died.

Wales created the AI video of her brother in a few days, but she didn't come up with the idea immediately. After two years of trying to craft a victim impact statement, Wales said she had the epiphany that the only voice that mattered was her late brother's.

"Every time I'd get in the shower or the car and my thoughts were quiet, I wrote down what I was feeling — frustrated, crying or emotions, yelling, anger, love, anything that I could think of," she told NBC News. "I've been writing it for two years, but I never had the idea to help Chris speak until a week and a half before this second trial."

Wales also posted the AI video of her brother online, and you can watch the same video shown in the courtroom.

SEE ALSO: AI deepfakes bring back the voices of gun violence victims. They're still begging Congress for change.

"Hello. Just to be clear for everyone seeing this, I'm a version of Chris Pelkey recreated through AI that uses my picture and my voice profile," the AI avatar said in the video. AI Pelkey thanked everyone in his life, and said he and his shooter, Gabriel Paul Horcasitas, "could have been friends" in "another life."

"Well, I'm gonna go fishing now. Love you all. See you on the other side," AI Pelkey said at the end of the video.

According to NPR, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Todd Lang said, "I loved that AI. Thank you for that." He gave Horcasitas the maximum sentence of just over a decade in prison for manslaughter.

This isn't the first time people have pushed the limits of AI to create versions of people who have died. It's a phenomenon particularly beloved by TikTok true crime fans, as Rolling Stone reported in 2023. And just last year, youth-focused gun reform organizations March For Our Lives and Change the Ref used audio "deepfakes" to "resurrect" gun violence victims in a campaign to Congress.

I love sleeping — getting under the covers and rubbing my feet together like a little cricket before drifting into an easy sleep. Except that last part — drifting into an easy sleep — doesn't always happen for me. As an anxious person with insomnia, falling asleep is a battle. I've spent my lifetime gathering a tool kit of breathing exercises, trying sleep trackers, and developing a routine to combat sleepless nights. While I'm usually good at counting my breaths in my mindfulness practice, the Moonbird device promises to be a personal breathing coach for further relaxation.

Over a few weeks, I tested the Moonbird handheld breathing coach, using it to relax in the evenings or calm down in anxious moments. While it's an effective tool, I'm not sure it's worth the price. Plus, we've got to talk about its... interesting design. Here are all my thoughts on the Moonbird breathing coach.

It's an effective, distraction-free breathing tool Holding your thumb to the Moonbird's sensor automatically starts a new breathing exercise. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Despite being a tech-based tool, the Moonbird breathing coach is a distraction-free device without any required screen time. To use it, gently shake the device awake and hold it with your thumb resting against the sensor. The device then slowly expands and retracts to signal when you should inhale and exhale. The standard exercise runs for six minutes, and then the device shuts off. If you decide to end the exercise early, take your hand off the sensor, which will shut off after a few moments.

Holding the device is genuinely comforting. The feeling of the smooth silicone expanding and falling emulates the image of a lung expanding or your stomach rising and falling with your breath. What I liked most is that using the device takes the thought out of the exercise. No longer did I need to count the seconds of my breath; instead, I focused on the tactile motions of the device, letting my mind rest.

Plus, I love that the Moonbird has no screen or light. While I enjoy tuning into a meditation app or guided breathing exercise on my phone, I don't love doing so before bed when trying to avoid screen time. With the Moonbird, I hold the device to start the exercise with no blue light exposure. It's also a huge plus when I want to use it in bed. My partner goes to bed much earlier than I do, so I don't want to disturb them with any noise or light when I finally slip into bed. The silent and lightless Moonbird lets me use it without disturbing them.

And the Moonbird does work. One evening after hosting a group of friends for movie night, I was still wired despite feeling exhausted. My brain wouldn't shut off after my evening reading, so I reached for the Moonbird to follow its breath coaching, and before the six-minute exercise was over, I was already drifting off. It proved that it really does come in handy in moments I'd otherwise feel restless.

With the app, get customizable breathing exercises and biometric feedback You can set the duration of any exercise through the app. Credit: Moonbird Have a breathing exercise you like? You can craft it in the Moonbird app. Credit: Moonbird

The Moonbird comes programmed with a standard six-minute breathing exercise, but there are other options. When connected to the Moonbird app, you can adjust the device's settings to other breathing patterns designed for sleep or in the classic box breathing style. There's even an option to create your own breathing program if you have something that already works for you. Custom exercises can range from 2 to 30 minutes. The only downside is that you have to open up your smartphone to do so, defeating the purpose of a screen-free device. I preferred only adjusting the exercises during the day to avoid exposure to nightly screen time.

In addition to other Moonbird settings, the app has a library of educational materials on breathing, stress reduction, and heart rate. When using the app, you also gain access to biometric feedback, such as heart rate, so you can actually see the effects of the Moonbird device.

The Moonbird needs a redesign There's no denying what the Moonbird looks like, but this is no vibrator. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

We've gone this long, it's time to address the elephant in the room. The Moonbird totally looks like a vibrator. My colleagues and I thought so when we first saw the device, and I have touted it to all my friends for their opinions. Let's be clear, despite its looks, it is not a personal massager. While it's silly to acknowledge, its design affects its usage.

There are many situations where I'd love to bring along the Moonbird for some mindfulness on the go, whether coming down from a stressful situation at work or trying to fall asleep while flying. However, I'd be totally embarrassed to bring this on a plane, knowing what it could be misconstrued for.

Moonbird has an alternative design, the Moonbuddy, which is designed for kids and is downright adorable. It doesn't have the same biofeedback or controls as the Moonbird, but I still wish the flagship device would take on a similar design to look less provocative and more appropriate for public use.

The app is buggy and doesn't have a ton to offer

You could use Moonbird without the app and be totally pleased with it, but $199 is a lot of money to spend on just one breathing exercise. Downloading the app unlocks heart rate tracking and a new set of customizable breathing exercises, but the app itself is buggy.

Every time I've gone to open the app, it requires the Moonbird device to reconnect to the app, which takes a few seconds and is a real pain. Plus, it has a limited library of knowledge compared to apps like Headspace or Calm, so while the accompanying app is an added bonus, it doesn't add much value to the Moonbird's $199 price tag.

Is the Moonbird worth it? If you're in desperate need of a distraction-free breathing tool, then the Moonbird might be worth it. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Moonbird might be worth it if you want a distraction-free breathing tool. It is effective and takes the thinking out of your breathing exercise, but other devices with similar functionality cost a lot less. We recently tested the Dodow, a light-based breathing device, which we thought was expensive at $60. Considering the Moonbird is $199, it's hard to justify its cost when it has a design we're skeptical of — and one you can't use in public.

However, the Moonbird's screen-free design is a huge boon. If you've tried meditation apps, tired of their screen time, and want a silent, distraction-free alternative, the Moonbird might be a worthwhile investment.

UPDATE: May 8, 2025, 5:20 p.m. EDT In a statement to Mashable, Microsoft confirmed that it will no longer sell the $999.99 configurations of its flagship Surface Laptop 7 and Surface Pro 11 with 10-core Snapdragon X Plus processors, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD. Both models were pulled from the company's online storefront this week after it announced new compact Surface Copilot+ PCs. However, they'll still be available elsewhere.

"Microsoft did not raise Surface Pro or Surface Laptop prices," said Nancie Gaskill, Microsoft's General Manager of Surface Business. "Microsoft simply removed the Surface Laptop and Pro $999 base models from Microsoft.com. Customers can purchase base models of Pro and Laptop at the starting price of $999 at other key retailers."

Amazon and Best Buy had those lesser configurations in stock — and on sale — at the time of writing. Our original story follows.

Microsoft confirmed some long-standing rumors Tuesday and unveiled two new compact Surface devices, its second batch of Qualcomm-powered Copilot+ PCs.

The devices include a more portable 13-inch Surface Laptop and a 12-inch Surface Pro, which are pared-down versions of Microsoft's flagship laptop and convertible. Both Surface devices feature an eight-core Snapdragon X Plus processor with an NPU rated at 45 trillion AI operations per second (TOPS), which supports the latest Copilot+ experiences.

The new Surface Laptop and Surface Pro will come with 16GB of RAM, 256GB or 512GB of UFS storage, and three finishes: Ocean, Violet, and Platinum. They're set for release on Tuesday, May 20 starting at $899.99 and $799.99, respectively. Preorders are now available from the Microsoft Store, Amazon, and Best Buy.

Preorder the new Microsoft Surface devices: Microsoft Store Microsoft Surface Laptop, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 256GB/512GB UFS) Starting at $899.99 Pre-Order Here Microsoft Store Microsoft Surface Pro, 12-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 256GB/512GB UFS) Starting at $799.99 Pre-Order Here Microsoft Store Microsoft Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard $149.99 Pre-Order Here Amazon Microsoft Surface Laptop, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 256GB/512GB UFS) Starting at $899.99 Pre-Order Here Amazon Microsoft Surface Pro, 12-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 256GB/512GB UFS) Starting at $799.99 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Microsoft Surface Laptop, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 256GB/512GB UFS) Starting at $899.99 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Microsoft Surface Pro, 12-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 256GB/512GB UFS) Starting at $799.99 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Microsoft Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard $149.99 Pre-Order Here The new 13-inch Surface Laptop: Another MacBook Air rival Credit: Microsoft

Measuring in at 11.25 x 8.43 x 0.61 inches and 2.7 pounds, the new 13-inch Surface Laptop is the "thinnest and lightest Surface Laptop yet," according to a company blog post. It joins the Surface Laptop 7th Edition, Mashable's current favorite Windows laptop, which debuted in June 2024 in two sizes: 13.8 inches and 15 inches.

Compared to last year's model, the new Surface Laptop has a downgraded 60Hz touchscreen display with a lower resolution and contrast ratio. It's also a tad less powerful, as the existing Surface Laptop 7 is configurable with 10-core Snapdragon X Plus and 12-core Snapdragon X Elite CPUs with up to 64GB of RAM. It should still be plenty peppy, though: Microsoft's announcement claims it "outpaces the MacBook Air M3," Apple's previous-generation notebook.

SEE ALSO: Best Windows laptops for 2025: Our top pick lasts longer than the M4 MacBook Pros

The 13-inch Surface Laptop might have one leg up over the flagship model in the stamina department. It's rated at 23 hours of local video playback per charge, whereas the Surface Laptop 7 is rated at 20 hours. That said, the latter lasted nearly 23 hours in Mashable's hands-on testing, so they could be equals in practice.

At $899.99, the new Surface Laptop is $100 cheaper than the base Surface Laptop 7 (and the entry-level M4 MacBook Air).

The new 12-inch Surface Pro: A tinier hybrid Credit: Microsoft

The 12-inch Surface Pro measures 10.8 x 7.47 x 0.3 inches and weighs in at only 1.5 pounds, making it "the thinnest and lightest Copilot+ PC yet" across all brands, per Microsoft's announcement. That title was previously held by the Asus ZenBook A14 (and maybe it should still be: the 12-inch Surface Pro doesn't include a keyboard).

A hybrid device with a built-in adjustable kickstand, the new Surface Pro is a smaller alternative to last year's 13-inch Surface Pro 11th Edition, which came in two different configurations: a 10-core Snapdragon X Plus variant with a LCD touchscreen display, and a 12-core Snapdragon X Elite model with an OLED touchscreen display, both with up to 64GB of memory. Its own touchscreen has a worse refresh rate, resolution, and contrast ratio than both of the flagship options, but a better rated battery life of 16 hours of local video playback per charge (compared to 14 on WiFi-only models and nine with those sporting cellular connectivity). As with the new Surface Laptop, we'll see how that translates to real-world usage.

SEE ALSO: As tariffs come for tech, these are the best cheap laptops under $1,000

A new $149.99 Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard will turn the Surface Pro into a laptop, while Microsoft's Surface Slim Pen will allow the user to draw or take notes on its display. (It can magnetically attach to the back of the new Surface Pro for safekeeping.) Both accessories are sold separately, as is the 12-inch Surface Pro's charger.

The new Surface Pro will start at $799.99, making it $200 cheaper than the base Surface Pro 11.

No more 'Go'?

The launch of the 13-inch Surface Laptop and 12-inch Surface Pro seems to spell an end for Microsoft's Surface Laptop Go line of budget portable laptops, which was last updated in late 2023, though the company hasn't confirmed this yet. A Microsoft rep issued the following statement to Mashable when asked about the Surface Laptop Go's fate: "The Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch expand the Pro and Laptop lines, serving as entry points to our Surface Copilot+ PC family."

If nothing else, these new releases are sure signs that the tech giant is committed to Windows on ARM over x86-based processors (for its consumer-oriented products, at least).

New Windows Copilot+ experiences

Microsoft introduced several new and updated Copilot+ experiences alongside its new Surface devices Tuesday, including a dynamic lighting feature in Microsoft Photos, a custom sticker generator in Paint, image description-reading capabilities for Narrator, and more Click to Do actions. They'll roll out to members of its Windows Insiders feature preview program over the course of the next month.

Copilot+ PC users will also soon have the option to enable an AI agent that can automate and execute tasks within their Settings menu. Users will be able to describe what they need help with in plain English, such as "my mouse pointer is too small," and the AI agent will take care of it.

Head over to the Microsoft Blog to check out the full list of new Copilot features.

Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga return to The Conjuring franchise for one final demonic case in The Conjuring: Last Rites.

The pair have played real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren since 2013's The Conjuring. They reprised their roles in the sequels The Conjuring 2 and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. Plus, they also appeared in cameos or supporting roles in other Conjuring Universe films, like Annabelle Comes Home and The Nun.

Safe to say that after all this time, Ed and Lorraine have seen enough demonic activity to scare them several lifetimes over. But The Conjuring: Last Rites promises to be their last case, raising the question: After killer dolls and possession, what could possibly have been bad enough to make the Warrens retire?

The Conjuring: Last Rites is based on the Warrens' investigation of the Smurl family, who claimed to have experienced several supernatural incidents in their house in West Pittston, Pennsylvania. The trailer for The Conjuring: Last Rites highlights some of these occurrences, including a nightmarish floating doll and a sink filling with blood. But surely it will take more than that to deter the Warrens.

The Conjuring: Last Rites also stars Mia Tomlinson as Ed and Lorraine's daughter Judy, as well as Ben Hardy as Judy's boyfriend Tony. Michael Chaves, who helmed The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, is back in the director's chair. James Wan, creator of the franchise, serves as a producer alongside Peter Safran.

The Conjuring: Last Rites hits theaters Sept. 5.

Based on how hard it's been to lock down a Nintendo Switch 2 preorder, just about anyone could predict a big launch for the hotly anticipated new game console. In its latest earnings report, Nintendo itself predicted a giant first year for the Switch 2.

In its latest official sales forecast, released on Thursday, Nintendo said it expects to sell 15 million Switch 2 consoles before the end of March 2026, per CNBC. That date may seem random, but Nintendo's corporate fiscal calendar runs through March, so that's Q4 for the Japanese gaming giant.

SEE ALSO: Handheld Xbox console images leak just weeks before Switch 2 launch

For context, 15 million units would be one of the fastest starts for a console ever. Per Polygon, the original Switch came in at 14.8 million units in a similar timespan after its launch, while the PS5 (which was admittedly hurt by COVID supply chain issues) hit 13.4 million in that same window.

Fascinatingly, some industry analysts like Daniel Ahmad from Niko Partners actually see the 15 million units figure as conservative by Nintendo, and with good reason. While the hardware itself is impressive and there's a solid enough software lineup to match, President Donald Trump's tariff policies have thrown the general economic state of the world into question. The Switch 2's preorder in the U.S. had to be delayed by a couple of weeks because of tariffs, and though the announced price point of $450 is unchanged at the time of publication, the recent Xbox price hikes show that the gaming industry is not immune to large-scale price increases due to economic uncertainty.

With that in mind, it's entirely possible that Nintendo is low-balling itself and the Switch 2 will be an even bigger hit than predicted. Or, perhaps, many gamers will be avoiding big purchases over the next several months. Everything is on the table.

Toyota is facing a staggering $1.2 billion tariff bill, and that sum only includes tariff costs for April and May.

The Japanese automaker released financial results on May 8, which the company said "tentatively factored in" the estimated costs of the Trump tariffs.

In its FY2025 financial results, the company forecasted material costs for the coming year at 350 billion yen. But that number does not include an additional 180 billion yen for tariff impacts.

To put these numbers in perspective, Toyota reported a net profit for the year of $32.7 billion (through March). The $1.2 billion tariff bill would amount to 4 percent of the company's profit. Overall, Toyota's operating profit was down about 10.4 percent year over year, and the company forecasted a steeper decline of 21 percent in 2026.

The company also reported that electric vehicle sales now accounted for 46.2 percent of total sales, a “significant increase” driven largely by hybrid EVs like the Prius. The company sold an additional 850,000 EVs in the latest fiscal year, and it expects EVs to account for 50 percent of all sales in 2026, a major milestone. Across the world, current and potential Tesla drivers are rejecting the brand because of polemic CEO Elon Musk, which could be a boon for companies like Toyota.

The financial report also acknowledges the uncertainty of the current financial moment. The slapdash rollout of the Trump tariffs has caused much confusion and many price increases, and the report highlights "the difficulties in anticipating the business outlook due to the impact of U.S. tariff impacts and other factors."

Previously, Mashable reported on the ongoing fallout from the Trump tariffs. Smart home company Wyze recently shared a steep tariff bill on X, while e-commerce giants like Shein and Temu are struggling after the May 2 expiration of the de minimis exemption for imports.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Toyota only included the April and May tariff impacts because the tariff situation is so "fluid." The United States and Japan are actively negotiating the latter's tariff rate.

We reached out to Toyota for comment on the tariff situation, and we'll update this report if we hear back.

In 2020, The Old Guard, from director Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Woman King), delivered a thrilling combination of badass action and fantasy. Now, the tale of a group of immortal mercenaries — headed up by Charlize Theron, firmly in her action hero era between this, Atomic Blonde, and Mad Max: Fury Road — continues in The Old Guard 2.

SEE ALSO: Summer Movie Preview: What's coming to theaters and streaming?

For The Old Guard 2, Victoria Mahoney (Yelling to the Sky) takes over directing duties from Prince-Bythewood, who remains a producer. Greg Rucka, who wrote the first film as well as the original Old Guard graphic novels, co-wrote the film with Sarah L. Walker.

The movie picks up in the aftermath of The Old Guard. Andromache "Andy" of Scythia (Theron) has lost her immortality, while newbie immortal Nile (KiKi Layne) is getting the hang of being on the team. However, a fresh threat is rising: The first of the immortals (Uma Thurman) is coming to tear Andy and co. apart, resulting in a sword fight in the film's first trailer that will leave you saying, "Hell yeah."

But Thurman's character isn't the only problem awaiting Andy and Nile. Fellow immortal Quynh (Veronica Ngô) has escaped from her underwater prison and teamed up with traitor Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts). You can bet that after 500 years of being trapped in an iron maiden, revenge is Quynh's top priority. As the past catches up to Andy, and as she grapples with being mortal, will she and the rest of the Old Guard live to see another day?

The Old Guard 2 also stars Marwan Kenzari and Luca Marinelli as longtime lovers Joe and Nicky and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Old Guard handler Copley. The film introduces Henry Golding as Andy's longtime friend Tuah.

The Old Guard 2 hits Netflix July 2.

Meet Aperol and Bellini, the codenames Meta has given its new "super-sensing" AI glasses with facial recognition technology, according to The Information.

Meta originally scrapped the facial recognition feature for the first generation of the Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses over ethical concerns. However, the new report from The Information claims that a more business-friendly Federal Trade Commission under the new Trump Administration has emboldened Meta to reboot its plans for the next generation of smart glasses.

It's the latest example of AI-powered tech creeping into your private life, whether you like it or not.

SEE ALSO: Samsung heats up AR glasses arms race with new microdisplay technology

Meta may have signalled this shift back in April, when the company updated its privacy policies for its AR glasses. Meta also sometimes uses facial recognition to verify users' identity.

Now, The Information reports that facial recognition will be part of a live AI feature that will "always keep its cameras and sensors turned on and use AI to remember what its wearer encountered throughout a day." The feature will be opt-in (for the wearer, of course, not for anyone they interact with), but Meta is reportedly considering an indicator that would let people know the super-sensing feature is active. Currently, Meta's AI glasses have a light in the corner of the frame that signals when the glasses are taking a photo or video.

The live AI feature is already available, but it only lasts for about 30 minutes because of battery constraints. The new initiative is exploring how to make this feature last for hours, while adding facial recognition into the mix.

Meta's new focus is one of several instances of tech companies leveraging the AI boom to gather and process more granular data from its users. Recently, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas said on the TBPN podcast that they're building a browser to gather more personalized data about users. OpenAI is reportedly exploring some kind of social network to better compete with Meta AI and xAI's Grok, which can train on data from user posts. And then there's the Sam Altman-backed nonprofit World, which recently unveiled a mobile human verification device that scans people's eyeballs to distinguish humans from AI.

User data can be valuable to advertisers, but it can also be leveraged to improve AI models, since experts say companies are running out of training data (after "sucking the internet dry of usable information," as Nature put it recently).

As companies compete to gather as much data as possible, a concerning trend is becoming clear: privacy is out and surveillance is in.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Your next AR headset may include a brand-new microdisplay technology from Samsung.

According to a new report from South Korean business news outlet The Korea Economic Daily, Samsung's semiconductor division is now accelerating work on its new microdisplay technology, LED on Silicon, or LEDoS.

LEDoS is described as a "miniature display platform built on micro-LEDs mounted on silicon wafers." This next-generation display is being created with the intent that the technology will be used in augmented reality products (AR). 

Samsung's new microdisplay technology could heat up the competition in the AR space. However, in addition to Samsung's own upcoming AR glasses, the company reportedly wants to supply its LEDoS technology to Apple and Meta for use in their AR glasses.

When will we see LEDoS AR glasses?

According to the report, Samsung is currently looking at commercial production of LEDoS by 2027. That's also when Samsung's Mobile eXperience (MX) division could debut the company's second-generation AR glasses.

Smart glasses and AR headsets are the current big bet in the tech hardware space. Mashable noticed this trend earlier this year at CES 2025, as multiple AR startups showed off their latest augmented reality wares.

It's not just up-and-comers either. Tech companies like Sony and XREAL are also taking advantage of the AR headset market with new products. And, of course, companies like Meta and Apple already have products in the space.

However, a few tech giants have been noticeably absent. That is, until earlier this year when Samsung briefly teased its rumored XR headset, "Project Moohan." The headset is a joint venture between the South Korean electronics giant and Google.

Tech companies are betting big on AR despite early failures Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Credit: Google engineer Ian McKellar wears Google Glass during the Google I/O developers conference in 2013.

Speaking of Google, the search giant has also been rather quiet in this space. When it comes to wearables, Google is perhaps best known for its smart glasses failure, Google Glass, which set the entire industry back by years. (Are you old enough to remember the "Glasshole" backlash?) However, Google is expected to make announcements related to Project Astra, its visual AI tool meant for mobile devices and AR headsets, at the company's upcoming Google I/O 2025 event.

With big augmented reality plans in the works from Samsung and Google, it seems like big tech will continue betting on AR headsets and smart glasses. Clearly, they're hoping to succeed where even Apple failed.

UPDATE: May 8, 2025, 1:45 p.m. EDT Bird Buddy's Kickstarter campaign for the Petal nature camera and Wonder Blocks has now raised $2.1 million (with 11 days still to go), beating its original fundraising goal by nearly 2,000%. Due to this success, the company announced today that all Petal cameras will come with a free LED light ring attachment, which users will be able to control remotely. The light will turn on automatically when the user takes photos at night. Our original story follows.

Scores of new gadgets are introduced every year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the tech world's biggest showcase. Yet many of these products never make it to market. They're only proofs of concept or prototypes of devices that could maybe one day potentially hit the market.

That makes Bird Buddy's new $129 Petal smart nature camera somewhat of a phenom. After debuting at CES 2025 in January, the Petal and its modular Wonder Blocks system finally went up for preorder on Kickstarter on April 29, becoming an instant smash. A company representative said the campaign raised $1.5 million from more than 5,000 backers in 24 hours, crushing its $100,000 fundraising goal by 1,400 percent. (At the time of writing, it had drummed up over $1.8 million from 6,300 backers.)

Why all the hype? I wanted to share my take as someone who got to check out the Petal and Wonder Blocks on the CES showroom floor this past winter.

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable Bird Buddy to bee buddy

The Bird Buddy name alone has a big sway. The company's eponymous smart bird feeder, which has a built-in camera that can identify different avian species, has become hugely popular since it first launched in late 2020.

Bird Buddy co-founder and CEO Franci Zidar told me at CES that the company has cultivated an enthusiastic user base that's passionate about connecting with nature. Zidar said the Petal was an obvious next step to help people better understand their local ecosystems, going beyond just birds to capture backyard plants, insects, and pollinators, too.

Credit: Bird Buddy

Design-wise, the Petal is a 12MP camera in a cup-shaped case that comes in several colors. You can install the Petal by clipping it to the side of a pole or planter, or simply by wrapping its squiggly, bendable stem mount around a branch or gate. It's a lot friendlier-looking and less austere than your standard security camera. (To quote my CES writeup, the base and stem combo makes it look sort of "like a minimalist, bionic flower.")

The Petal ships with a swappable macro lens for detailed close-ups and an ovular solar panel that'll keep it running "indefinitely in most environments," according to its press materials. Without the panel, the device's "low-powered architecture" lets it run for over a month between charges.

SEE ALSO: Best of CES 2025: Everything that stole the show, according to our experts

The Petal isn't meant to be a cutesy backyard CCTV system: Its purpose is to get you on a "first-name basis" with your local flora and fauna, Zidar said in January. Its camera can identify more than 2,000 species using visual and audio cues. It can also detect shifts in its surroundings using an "advanced AI layer" called Nature Intelligence, which alerts users to these changes. For example, if a songbird starts building a nest in a nearby tree, you'll get a ping.

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Per the press release, Petal's companion app has a "built-in storytelling engine" called Nature's Voice that can create "BBC Earth–style mini documentaries" using highlights from its 4K video footage. Its narrator does a pretty good Attenborough impression.

A feature called Impact Score gives the user insights into their backyard's biodiversity and the frequency of pollinator visits. Users hoping to up that frequency can look into Wonder Blocks, a modular habitat system for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds that launched alongside the Petal. Together, they form what Bird Buddy calls a "Smart Nature Observatory."

The core Wonder Block configuration includes a Petal camera, an Observation Pole, and a self-watering planter base called the Habitat. The latter contains a built-in Bee Habitat, a Bee Observatory, and a "micro water feature" called the Stream. It ships with a seed pod that'll grow flowers native to your region. You can also add accessories like a butterfly shelter, hummingbird feeder, and a magnetic trellis.

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Bird Buddy CEO Zidar originally told me that the Petal would cost less than $100, but Bird Buddy has it priced at $129 on Kickstarter for early backers. (There's also a Duo Bundle with two cameras and an Observation Pole for $249.) Wonder Blocks setups range from $299 to $1,199. A singular Habitat planter sans Petal is also available for $149.

For those who have been waiting to try the Petal and Wonder Blocks since their CES appearance, stay patient: They'll start shipping in mid-2026. I know, I know — that's a long way off.

In the meantime, the Bird Buddy smart bird feeder is available at Amazon and Target for $199.

Meet the Bird Buddy product line The original Bird Buddy smart bird feeder $199 (save $100) Get Deal Coming soon-ish Petal Smart Nature Camera $129 Pre-Order Here Coming soon-ish Wonder Blocks by Bird Buddy Starting at $299 Pre-Order Here

SAVE $300: As of May 8, the original Peloton bike is down to $1,145 at Amazon instead of the usual $1,445. That's 21% in savings and just $50 away from its lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Peloton Original Peloton Bike $1,145 at Amazon
$1,445 Save $300 Get Deal

The OG Peloton bike skyrocketed to popularity during the pandemic and has since become synonymous with the term exercise bike, a la Kleenex with facial tissues. That's not to say it's the only worthy exercise bike option on the market, but it is pretty dang great. That greatness comes at a very steep price, so when we see a discount on the flagship bike, we have to let the people know.

As of May 8, you can get the Mashable Choice Award-winning original Peloton bike for $1,145 at Amazon. That's $300 or 21% cheaper than usual and just $50 shy of its best price ever, which it reached during October Prime Day in 2023.

Unlike a typical indoor exercise bike, the Peloton features a large display and companion app so you can follow along in on-demand classes or pedal alongside others in live classes. As Mashable's reviewer wrote, "The workouts are tough, but the captivating experience and (practically) never-ending list of exercise classes are enough to make me want to glue myself to the seat and stay in the magical Peloton universe forever."

The bike itself takes up about the same amount of space as a small yoga mat, so you don't need a ton of square footage to start pedaling. It uses a resistance knob to adjust the tension, so you can manually choose to leisurely ride along flat roads or climb hills and mountains. And like any good exercise bike, everything can be adjusted to suit your comfort: the seat, handlebars, and even the screen itself.

Peloton bikes aren't cheap by any means, but as of May 8, you can invest in one for $300 less than usual. That makes the purchase a little more palatable.