Technology

Apple might be shaking things up a little when it comes to iPhone colors this year.

Leaker Sonny Dickson just shared dummy units of Apple's entire upcoming iPhone 17 lineup, and one color stands out in a big way.

Dickson's "color dummies" mostly follow what we've heard so far, with most of the colors being fairly subdued, as is traditional Apple iPhone fashion. But the iPhone 17 Pro and the 17 Pro Max are shown in a bold, orange color.

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This is in contrast with previous leaks which claimed the iPhone 17 Pro's new color will be copper, or at least a cross between copper and orange. Frankly, it's also in contrast with every iPhone Pro color so far, so take this leak with a grain of salt.

It's fun to dream, however, of Apple finally choosing a slightly more colorful shade of...any color, really, for one of its iPhone Pro models.

The other colors on offer for the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are black, white, and blue.

The iPhone 17 Air is shown in black, white, beige (gold?), and light blue, while the iPhone 17 can be seen in black, iPhone, light blue, and pink.

SEE ALSO: Take this iPhone 17 camera 'leak' with a bucket of salt

If I had to guess, I'd say these colors are a good way off from what Apple is really going to show in September; regardless of the color choices, Apple's actual devices always look a bit sparklier and nicer than these dummy units we keep seeing ahead of launches.

Apple will likely launch the iPhone 17 lineup in September; until then, nothing is official.

The AI browser wars hath begun, which fighter will you choose?

Of course, you could always opt for a traditional, static browser, free of AI chatbots and agentic AI features. But tech companies are banking on AI-powered web browsers replacing the likes of Chrome and Safari.

The generative AI boom has already ushered us into a new paradigm for search. More and more, users turn to chatbots like ChatGPT instead of the traditional search engine. So, if search is changing, why are companies developing AI browsers?

Platformer's Casey Newton summed it up well in a May newsletter:

Search and browsers are two sides of the same coin. When you search for something on the web, you see your results in a browser. That's what made Chrome such a great investment for Google. Its innovative omnibox address bar, which would go on to become the industry standard, encouraged you to search more than ever. And as Chrome gained market share, Google leveraged its influence to make the world increasingly Google-shaped: easy to index, to search, and to serve ads against.

Today, a new generation of companies are coming to the same conclusion that Google did a generation ago: if you're really serious about search, you should build a browser.

Meanwhile, Google may be forced to sell off Chrome as part of an antitrust ruling, putting its dominance under threat. New tech companies are jockeying for the top spot in the coming AI browser era, guided by the premise that browsers powered by AI can do so much more than just navigate users to a webpage.

What are AI browsers?

Imagine a browser that acts as your research assistant, plans trips, sends emails, and schedules meetings. As AI models become more advanced, they're capable of autonomously handling more complex tasks on your behalf. For tech companies, the browser is the perfect medium for realizing this vision.

Several nascent AI browsers can already perform some of these tasks, and we think a rumored browser from OpenAI is on the way.

For now, here are the top AI browsers you can try today, with details about pricing, availability, and features.

1. Dia from The Browser Company Credit: The Browser Company

Last year, The Browser Company launched an AI browser called Arc. Then, it pivoted and started building Dia, a new browser with even more AI features. For now, only macOS users can try the beta.

Dia's sidebar chatbot is the hub for its AI features, including summarizing pages, turning lengthy emails into action-items, and helping with writing and editing. Dia also maintains awareness across your tabs for comparison shopping and research assistance. Mashable's sibling site ZDNet tried Dia, and even though it's not able to make purchases yet, the site said the browser was very impressive. For the privacy-minded, user data is encrypted and stored locally on your device. Chat data is encrypted and sent to a third party search engine, Dia servers, or partner servers, which don't store the data.

Availability: A beta version of Dia is available for Arc members; non-members can sign up for the waitlist. Dia requires macOS Sonoma and up with M1 chips or later. For this beta, Windows users are out luck.

2. Perplexity Comet

Perplexity Comet launched a few weeks ago to much fanfare, especially since Perplexity's CEO Aravind Srinivas said the reason they built the browser was to collect your data. "That’s kind of one of the other reasons we wanted to build a browser, is we want to get data even outside the app to better understand you," said Srinivas on the TBPN podcast in April. "We plan to use all the context to build a better user profile and, maybe you know, through our discover feed we could show some ads there," he continued.

Indeed, according to Comet's privacy policy, it collects a lot of data. That includes browsing data, interactions with the Perplexity chatbot, and payment information and passwords — if you choose to save them to your Comet profile.

All this data goes into making Comet highly personalized. I recently tried Comet for myself, and my experience was very mixed. Comet's AI assistant can research and add items to your shopping cart, automatically organize tabs, and even schedule events and send emails with email integration, again, with mixed results. It also has awareness across all of your tabs and voice mode. When prompted with "take control of my browser," Comet can make purchases and book reservations.

Availability: Comet is available for Perplexity Max subscribers ($200 a month) or by selection from the waitlist. It's available for macOS and Windows.

3. Neon and Aria from Opera AI Introducing the Opera Neon browser. Credit: Opera

Opera announced its agentic browser Neon with a truly surreal marketing campaign. Access is invite-only and there's a waitlist to sign up. But it's described as a "browser designed to understand your intent, assist with tasks, and take actions."

Meanwhile, Opera's existing browser Aria comes with AI features that aren't as autonomous. Aria has a pop-up chatbot that can summarize and generate text, create images, and automatically organize tabs. With the Explore Topic feature, you can right click on a highlighted word or term and get an explanation in the chat. It also has text-to-speech mode for reading content out loud. The contents of your tabs for automated organization are stored locally on your device.

Because it's widely available for free, Aria is one of the top AI browsers to explore if you're curious about the technology and don't have the patience for waitlists.

Availability: Aria is publicly available and free to download on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android.

4. Copilot Mode in Microsoft Edge Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft just entered the AI browser war with something called Copilot Mode for Edge, announced on July 28. Copilot Mode is launching as an opt-in experiment that currently offers contextual awareness across open tabs, voice mode, and a pop-up chatbot that can answer questions about the page you're on. Microsoft says its launching the ability to book reservations and browser history memory soon so Copilot can pick up where you left off with various searches.

As with other AI browsers, all this personalization comes at the cost of your privacy. Microsoft says the memory feature can be turned off, will require explicit permission to access search history and passwords, and "there will always be clear, visual cues on your browser when Copilot is viewing or listening."

Availability: Copilot Mode is free as an opt-in experiment for Edge on Windows and Mac, but only for a limited time. Learn more and opt in at Microsoft.

5. Brave Leo AI browser Credit: Brave

Brave is known for its privacy protections, which extends to its Leo AI app (relatively, since LLMs still need a lot of your data to function properly). Leo AI doesn't collect IP addresses or retain personal data, and it sends your request through anonymized servers and discards responses after they're generated. Activate Leo AI from the icon next to the search bar or sidebar for AI-generated summaries, or chat with it by asking questions about what's on the page. It also has text generation, translation, and on iOS, voice-to-text.

Availability: Free version with lower usage limits, or Brave Leo AI Premium ($20 a month) with more models, higher usage limits, and early access to new features. On macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android.

6. DuckDuckGo's Duck.ai Credit: DuckDuckGO

Duck Duck Go is another privacy-focused browser that keeps privacy in mind with its Duck.ai chatbot. While it's not a true AI browser, you can think of it as an AI-enhanced browser, and one that prioritizes privacy.

Duck.ai lets you choose between multiple chatbots from OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, and Mistral. Within the browser, you can search in chat mode or traditional search mode, which shows AI-generated summaries at the top of the page, or turn it off altogether. DuckDuckGo also says it honors publisher sites that use anti-scraping code robots.txt, which prevents sites from appearing in AI-generated summaries. This something that other AI companies reportedly bypass.

DuckDuckGO says it proxies Duck.ai chats by removing users' IP addresses, anonymizes queries, stores chats locally on device instead of cloud servers, and does use chat data for AI model training.

Availability: Duck.ai is free with a daily limit on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. DuckDuckGo is exploring a paid subscription for higher limits. Try it at DuckDuckGO.

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.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 30 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: To teach

• Green: A way

• Blue: They contain numbers

• Purple: Things you play

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

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

• Yellow: Instruct

• Green: Means

• Blue: Starting with Greek numerical prefixes

• Purple: Anagram of musical instruments

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 #780 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Instruct: COACH, DIRECT, GUIDE, TRAIN

• Means: INSTRUMENT, MEDIUM, ORGAN, VEHICLE

• Starting with Greek numerical prefixes: DIOXIDE, MONORAIL, TETRACYCLINE, TRIANGLE

• Anagram of musical instruments: ABUT, BULGE, GROAN, VOILA

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 July 30

Are you also playing NYT 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.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands 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 preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 30 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 30 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: You've got that right!

The words are politics-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are American privileges.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Constitution.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for July 30

• Life

• Liberty

• Vote

• Constitution

• Speech

• Assembly

• Counsel

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.

SAVE OVER $300: As of July 30, the Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum is on sale for $297.99 at Amazon. This is 50% off its list price of $599.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum $297.99 at Amazon
$599 Save $301.01 Get Deal

If you're feeling overwhelmed with a busy summer schedule and looking for a little cleaning help at home, a robot vacuum can help you stay on top of things. Thankfully, there are some great deals available right now. This discount on the Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum is one of our favorites we've come across recently, saving you 50% on list price.

This discount has dropped the price of the Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum from $599 to $297.99. It's also incredibly close to its lowest-ever price of $294.99, so why not grab it now if it has been on your radar?

SEE ALSO: I've tested 25+ robot vacuums. Here are 6 I'd actually recommend buying in 2025.

Boasting powerful suction and a deep clean thanks to its Matrix Clean system, which takes multiple passes over your floor to suck up all the dirt and debris, the Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum will get a thorough clean done on both carpets and hard floors. It's able to map out your home as well with the help of 360° LiDAR vision, so it can clean without running into any obstacles.

It even has a bagless, self-emptying base that can hold up to 60 days of mess, so you can go a couple of months without even thinking about it as it cleans. If this is the robot vacuum you've been looking for, now's your chance to grab the Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum for 50% off.

This isn't the only robot vacuum deal we've comes across, though. Right now you can also score some great deals on the Roborock Q5 Max+ and the Lefant M3 robot vacuum.

SAVE $269: The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is marked down to $180.99 at Best Buy, dropping this smartwatch from its usual $449.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic $180.99 at Best Buy
$449.99 Save $269 Get Deal

A premium Samsung smartwatch has had one of the most impressive price drops we’ve seen lately among wearables. As of July 30, Best Buy has the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (43mm, LTE) on clearance for just $180.99 — a steep $269 discount that undercuts nearly every other retailer right now.

This deal is for the LTE-enabled stainless steel version, giving you the freedom to make calls, send texts, stream music, and access notifications without being tethered to your phone (service plan required). It’s the perfect pick for anyone who loves the timeless design of a traditional watch but wants the smarts of Samsung’s latest wearable tech.

The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic’s rotating bezel makes navigating apps effortless, while its durable crystal glass and sleek 43mm build keeps it looking sharp for any occasion. 

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

Under the hood, you’re getting a powerful suite of health and fitness tools: automatic workout detection, tracking for 90+ exercises, personalised heart rate zones for optimised training, and advanced sleep coaching that can even detect snoring and guide you toward better rest.

There’s also continuous heart rhythm monitoring, a bioelectrical impedance sensor for body composition readings (BMI, muscle mass, body water, and more), and seamless connectivity across Galaxy devices. Swap out the included fabric band in seconds for a new look thanks to Samsung’s easy one-click system.

When we first reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 at launch back in late 2023, we were already impressed with all the features you get, whilst still being cheaper than competitors even then (like the Google Pixel watches). While its battery life doesn’t raise the bar, and some pushy automatic alerts can be annoying, the $181 price tag definitely helps see past them.

If you like to keep up with the latest and greatest fitness tech, check out the best fitness trackers in 2025 from various brands, like Apple and Fitbit. In the event you’re unsure what’s right for you, be sure to also take a look at our list of the best smartwatches for all wrist types, so you get the ideal fit.

SAVE $40: Beats Studio Buds + are down to $129.95 at Amazon (regularly $169.95). That’s 24% off and their best price since Prime Day.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio Buds + $129.95 at Amazon
$169.95 Save $40 Get Deal

Now’s your chance to snag some top Beats earbuds for less. As of July 30, the Beats Studio Buds + are available for $129.95 on Amazon, shaving $40 off the usual $169.95 list price. That’s the lowest price these buds have hit since July’s Prime Day sale, and it applies across all four colour options: cosmic silver, black/gold, ivory, and transparent.

Beats didn’t just refresh their design with the Buds +. They offer an overhauled listening experience. Powered by a custom acoustic platform, these earbuds promise to deliver rich, detailed sound whether you’re streaming music, binging a podcast, or hopping on a call. With two listening modes — Active Noise Cancelling and Transparency — you decide how much of the outside world makes it through, tailoring the soundscape to your surroundings.

SEE ALSO: The best Apple deals this week: MacBooks, AirPods, and more

Battery life is another strong point here. You’ll get up to 36 hours of total listening time with the included pocket-sized charging case, meaning fewer top-ups throughout the week. The buds are designed to fit more ears comfortably, thanks to four different silicone tip sizes, helping create a secure seal for better bass and noise isolation.

Connectivity is seamless, too. Whether you’re on an iPhone or Android device, the Studio Buds + offer one-touch pairing, reliable Class 1 Bluetooth, and spatial audio support for an immersive, surround-like sound. Plus, the three upgraded microphones keep your voice loud and clear on calls, while the IPX4 rating means you can take them to the gym or out in the rain without worry.

For anyone seeking a feature-packed alternative to pricier buds, this deal is hard to beat. At $129.95, the Beats Studio Buds + deliver premium sound, versatile noise control, and sleek looks — all at their lowest price in weeks.

If you’re after more audio options, check out our list of the best noise-cancelling headphones. In the event you’re shopping specifically for Apple earbuds, the Apple AirPods 4 are still on sale for $99 at Walmart.

SAVE $230: Score the Lefant M330 Pro LiDAR Robot Vacuum and Mop for just $139.99 at Amazon — that’s 62% off and its lowest-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lefant Lefant M330 Pro LiDAR Robot Vacuum and Mop $139.99 at Amazon
$369.99 Save $230 Get Deal

If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to let a robot take over the vacuuming and mopping duties, this Lefant M330 Pro deal might be the push you need.

As of July 30, Amazon has dropped the price of the Lefant M330 Pro LiDAR robot vacuum and mop to just $139.99, a massive 62% discount from its usual $369.99 price tag. According to camelcamelcamel, this is the lowest-ever price for this model.

What makes the M330 Pro worth grabbing is the dToF LiDAR navigation system that smartly scans your space, plans efficient routes, and avoids unnecessary passes — meaning faster, more thorough cleaning sessions. It’s also slim enough (95mm) to slip under furniture and has advanced PSD obstacle detection, so cords, toys, and even nighttime cleaning sessions won’t cause chaos.

SEE ALSO: I've tested 25+ robot vacuums. Here are 6 I'd actually recommend buying in 2025.

This 2-in-1 vacuum and mop combo is pet-friendly, with a tangle-free suction port to keep hair from clogging and a roomy 450ml visible dustbin that lets you know exactly when to empty it. It intelligently detects carpets, avoiding them in mop mode while cranking up suction power in vacuum mode for a deeper clean.

You can also customise everything in the Lefant app, from no-go zones to cleaning schedules, and it’s fully compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and dual-band WiFi for hands-free control. With up to 150 minutes of runtime, it can tackle large areas on a single charge.

At just under $140, this is one of those rare times when smart, LiDAR-powered cleaning tech slips into budget-friendly territory. But like all Amazon flash deals, this one won’t stick around forever — grab it now before it climbs back to full price.

For more picks, check out Mashable’s guide to the best tested robot vacuums or our list of the best vacuum cleaners in 2025, which includes cordless stick options too.

It's been a busy 2025 so far, with new product drops almost every week. We've seen launches from new and exciting brands like the UK-based startup Nothing, as well as updates to flagship products like the Dyson Airwrap Co-anda and Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones.

The biggest product release of this year is easily the Nintendo Switch 2, a long-awaited update on the brand's handheld console. It was difficult to get your hands on one at first, but now that we're a few months in, Switch 2 units are finally becoming available at most retailers.

And that can be the hard part about new releases. Stock may be limited at launch and take a few months to become widely available. With such frequent drops, it's easy to lose sight of all the new products that have come on the scene — so we're keeping a running list of them in one place. Here are all of the hottest new releases of 2025 so far.

Nintendo Switch 2 The Nintendo Switch 2 is a Mashable Choice Award winner. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Launched on June 5, the Nintendo Switch 2 has taken the gaming world by storm. It's brought new iterations of our favorite games, like the chaotic but delightful Mario Kart World, and delivered a much-needed update to Nintendo's handheld console.

Since it hit the market, the Nintendo Switch 2 has been frequently in and out of stock. Now that we're nearly two months into its release, it's finally available with more consistency.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 $449.99 at Best Buy
Shop Now Dyson Airwrap Co-anda 2x The Dyson Airwrap Co-anda is the brand's most advanced multi-styler — and also its most expensive. Credit: Dyson

Another beloved product to get an update this year is the Dyson Airwrap. The latest model, called the Co-anda 2x, comes with a brand new motor which delivers twice the air pressure (hence the name), new attachments for straight/wavy or curly/coiled hair types, as well as a higher price point of $699.99, more expensive than some of Dyson's vacuums.

It's limited in stock, currently unavailable at Dyson. However, it is available for purchase at Sephora.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airwrap Co-anda 2x for straight to wavy hair $699 at Sephora
Shop Now Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones The Sony WH-1000XM6 come in black, midnight blue, and platinum silver. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Sony boasted a big release in May when the brand dropped the WH-1000XM6 headphones. They're a worthy upgrade to the Sony WH-1000XM5s, delivering phenomenal noise-cancellation, stellar sound, and a comfortable fit. Having been out for several months now, they're widely available for purchase and priced at $448.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones $448 at Amazon
Shop Now Framework Laptop 12 The Framework Laptop 12 DIY Edition comes black, sage, bubblegum, lavender, and gray. Pre-built models just come in black. Credit: Framework

Announced in February, Framework's first modular, repairable convertible features a touchscreen with stylus support and some fun chassis colors (if you opt for the DIY Edition). Its 13th-generation Intel Core processor is quite outdated, so it's "best suited to education and other lower-power fleet scenarios, rather than home-office or professional use," wrote our sister site, PCMag.

The Framework Laptop 12 is now on its 10th batch of preorders, which is set to begin shipping in Q3. The DIY Edition starts at $549, while a pre-built model pre-loaded with Windows will run you $799.

Opens in a new window Credit: Framework Framework Laptop 12 DIY Edition Starting at $549 Pre-order Here Backbone Pro The Backbone Pro is a mobile controller that doubles as a regular controller. Credit: Backbone

Backbone calls its latest controller an "all-in-one gaming system designed to unify your gaming experience." It's got a more ergonomic design, fully remappable buttons, and a new Wireless Mode that lets the user connect it to different devices via Bluetooth. (That includes gaming consoles, laptops, and VR headsets.) Unlike the original Backbone One, it works with way more than just your phone.

The Backbone Pro retails for $169.99 on the Backbone website and at Best Buy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Backbone Backbone Pro $169.99 at Best Buy
Shop Now Petal Smart Nature Camera The Petal was a Kickstarter hit earlier this year. Credit: Bird Buddy

From the makers of the Bird Buddy comes the Petal, a 12MP smart nature camera that can identify more than 2,000 species of birds, bugs, and plants. It also has a companion app that can create "BBC Earth–style mini documentaries" using AI, according to a press release. It launched on Kickstarter in late April alongside some modular habitat systems called Wonder Blocks and quickly crushed its funding goal.

The Petal doesn't start shipping until mid-2026, but in the meantime, you can still back it on Kickstarter to lock in one of the first units.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bird Buddy Petal Smart Nature Camera $142 at Kickstarter
Pre-order Here Microsoft's 13-inch Surface Laptop and 12-inch Surface Pro These are convertible, pared-down versions of Microsoft's flagship laptop. Credit: Microsoft

This May, Microsoft debuted a 13-inch Surface Laptop and a 12-inch Surface Pro convertible. They're cheaper, more compact versions of the company's flagship devices that feature less powerful Snapdragon X Plus processors and worse displays, but more battery life. They also come in fun new ocean and violet colorways.

The 13-inch Surface Laptop and 12-inch Surface Pro start at $899.99 and $799.99, respectively, with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. (Note that the Surface Pro's keyboard, stylus, and charger are all sold separately.) They're currently in stock at Amazon, Best Buy, and the Microsoft Store.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $899.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Pro, 12-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 256GB UFS) $799.99 at Best Buy
Shop Now Dell 14 and 16 Premium Dell replaced its XPS line with these new releases Credit: Dell / Mashable Composite

Dell killed off its popular XPS series laptops at the start of 2025 and released these Premium machines as their replacements in late June. (They sport the same gapless, minimalist design, which most people either love or hate.) Both models start with an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD, and you can upgrade them with OLED displays and Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics. Notably, neither model is a Copilot+ PC, so they don't support Windows AI features like Recall and Microsoft Paint's Cocreator image generator.

The 14.5-inch Dell 14 Premium starts at $1,649.99, while the 16.3-inch Dell 16 Premium starts at $1,799.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Dell 14 Premium (Intel Core Ultra 7 255H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,649.99 at Dell
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Dell 16 Premium (Intel Core Ultra 7 255H, Intel Arc Graphics 140T, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,799.99 at Dell
Shop Now Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 This is the best battery life of any Chromebook Plus. Credit: Lenovo / Mashable Composite

Lenovo's newest 14-inch Chromebook Plus has a snazzy Kompanio Ultra 910 processor that makes it capable of handling more onboard AI tasks, including two exclusive software features: a "smart grouping" tab-sorting tool and an AI image editor for the Gallery app. At up to 17 hours per charge, it's also the longest-lasting Chromebook Plus on the market.

The $649.99 base configuration is currently sold out on Lenovo's website, but a restock is imminent. In the meantime, you can snag a model with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS storage at Best Buy for $749.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 (MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910, 16GB RAM, 256GB UFS) $749 at Best Buy
Shop Now Amazon Colorsoft (16 GB) and Amazon Colorsoft Kids The new Kindle Colorsoft comes with less storage and a slightly more attainable price tag. Credit: Amazon

Amazon made a surprise July drop, offering two additional Kindle Colorsoft models. The Colorsoft line of Kindles is Amazon's collection of color e-readers, which first launched last fall with the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, a 32GB e-reader with a steep price tag of $279.99.

In July 2025, Amazon released a more basic Kindle Colorsoft, with just 16 GB of storage. However, like the Paperwhite, it has adjustable warmth and brightness and is waterproof. The new Colorsoft also comes with a more affordable price tag of $249.99. Amazon also released the Kindle Colorsoft Kids, allowing young readers to enjoy their books in full color.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (16 GB) $249.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Kids $269.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro Nothing's new smartwatch brings ChatGPT to your wrist. Credit: Nothing

The brand Nothing upped the smartwatch game with its July 2025 release of the CMF Watch 3 Pro. Like many smartwatches, it offers GPS tracking, heart and blood oxygen sensors, stress tracking, and 130 activity modes. But it takes things to the next level with its ChatGPT integration.

The device has integrated ChatGPT so users can ask questions, set reminders, and perform other tasks with its help.

The Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro was available for purchase at launch; however, it is now out of stock, with more units hopefully becoming available soon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro $99 at Amazon
Shop Now Anker Nano chargers The new Anker Nano chargers provide more flexibility Credit: Anker

On July 28, Anker dropped three new products in its Nano lineup. Now available for purchase are the Anker Nano Charging Station (7-in-1, 100W), Anker Nano Power Bank (10K, 45W), and Anker Nano Power Bank (5K, 20W, MagGo). The new devices offer faster and more convenient charging at home and on the go.

All three devices are now available for purchase at Anker now.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Nano Charging Station (7-in-1, 100W) $89.99 at Anker
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Nano Power Bank (10K, 45W) $59.99 at Anker
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Nano Power Bank (5K, 20W, MagGo) $54.99 at Anker
Shop Now Lego Super Mario Game Boy The Lego Game Boy comes with swappable Game Paks. Credit: Lego

Lego had us thinking about holiday shopping in July with the debut of its Lego Super Mario Game Boy set. While you can't actually play games on it, this Lego set is a recreation of the 1989 Nintendo gaming console. The 421-piece set also includes interchangeable game cartridges and corresponding screens so you can bask in the nostalgia.

It's available for preorder now with shipments expected to go out October 1.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Super Mario Game Boy $59.99 at Amazon
Pre-order Here Nothing Headphone (1) Some of the best battery life for the price. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Another pair of headphones to hit the market in 2025 is the Nothing Headphone (1). They're the first over-the-ear headphones from the brand — hence the name — and deliver some pretty good performance for a debut model.

Priced at $299, they have a transparent, futuristic design and adjustable ANC, a rare feature since the discontinuation of the Bose 700s.

The Nothing Headphone (1) are available for purchase now.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing Nothing Headphone (1) $299 at Amazon
Shop Now Samsung Watch 8 The new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 now has a circular watch face. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Samsung debuted a new watch at the brand's Unpacked event. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 features a new circular watch face, similar to that of the existing Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. It's the brand's thinnest watch and jam-packed with AI features that help maximize your fitness goals. While it isn't equipped with ChatGPT like the Nothing smartwatch, it does feature Google Wear OS 6 and Gemini.

It became available on July 25, and costs $349.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 $349.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip 7 The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 were unveiled at Samsung Unpacked 2025. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 phones also made their debut at Samsung Unpacked. The new Z Fold 7 is slimmer than its predecessor and comes with the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor alongside its eight-inch AMOLED screen.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Flip 7 has Samsung's Exynos 2500 processor, which doesn't quite measure up to the Snapdragon. However, the new Flip model has a bigger cover screen, now covering the full surface. Samsung also released a more affordable Flip, the Flip 7 FE, which starts at $959.99.

Both phones are available for purchase now. The Z Fold 7 starts at $2,119.99, and the Z Flip 7 starts at $1,189.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 7 Fold 7 $2,119.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Z Flip 7 $1,189.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Nothing Phone (3) The Nothing Phone (3) is available in black and white. Credit: Nothing

The UK-based startup, Nothing, has had a big year of releases with its smartwatches and headphones. However, it also brought the release of Nothing's third smartphone. It features the brand's signature transparent, futuristic design, and inside, has the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset. It comes in two iterations, one with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, or one with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage.

It's available for purchase now on Nothing's website and Amazon for $799.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing Nothing Phone (3) $799 at Amazon
Shop Now Five-Foot LED Skelly's Cat Skelly got some new friends. Credit: The Home Depot

The Home Depot's viral 12-foot skeleton got a pet cat this year. Announced on July 29 as part of the retailer's 2025 Halloween collection, the five-foot-long prop features light-up eyes, a posable mouth, and an on/off timer.

It'll be available for purchase online and on the Home Depot app starting August 4, before arriving in stores around Labor Day. But be warned: It'll probably sell out fast. A Home Depot rep told Mashable that the company got a lot of requests for this one.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Home Depot 5-Foot LED Skelly's Cat $199 at The Home Depot
Learn More

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.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for July 29, 2025 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: Each a way to get one of three

• Green: Where the best compete in a particular sport

• Blue: Regionally specific

• Purple: Baller beginnings

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: Types of outs in baseball/softball

• Green: Professional golf tours

• Blue: First names of Atlanta sports stars

• Purple: Starts of NBA team names

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 #310 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Types of outs in baseball/softball - FLY, FORCE, STRIKE, TAG

• Professional golf tours - KORN FERRY, LIV, LPGA, PGA

• First names of Atlanta sports stars - BIJAN, RHYNE, RONALD, TRAE

• Starts of NBA team names - KIN, PAC, TIM, WIZ

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.

SAVE $270: As of July 30, the Apple Studio Display is on sale for $1,629.99 at Amazon. That's a 14% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Studio Display $1,629 at Amazon
$1,899 Save $270 Get Deal

Is your work-from-home setup in need of a refresh? If so, you'll love this latest Apple deal on the Studio Display monitor, now reduced by $270.

As of July 30, this monitor is on sale for $1,629, down from its list price of $1,899. This price is for the tild-adjustable stand with nano-textured glass, and without AppleCare+.

SEE ALSO: Save $5 on Fandango movie tickets on Wednesdays by using Apple Pay

It's compatible with most Apple devices too, namely the MacBook Air, Mac mini, MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac Studio. It boasts a 27-inch 5K Retina display with 600 nits of brightness, P3 wide color, and support for a billion colors, so everything you do will look incredibly high quality.

It also has a 12MP Ultra Wide camera with Apple's Center Stage, meaning your video calls stay focused on you, even if you move around. The three-mic system is also top-notch, ensuring your voice comes through loud and clear, and the six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio delivers an immersive listening experience. Perfect for long calls or meetings, or taking a break to watch movies and TV.

Connectivity-wise, you get one Thunderbolt 3 port and three USB-C ports, plus 96W of power delivery to keep your MacBook charged. And for added comfort, there’s an optional stand that lets you adjust both tilt and height.

Get this deal now from Amazon.

SAVE $500: As of July 30, the 55-inch Samsung Frame TV is on sale for $997.99 at Amazon. This deal saves you 33% on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Frame TV 55-inch Samsung Frame TV 55-inch $997.99 at Amazon
$1,497.99 Save $500 Get Deal

The Samsung Frame TV is back on sale at Amazon, and this time you can save a whopping $500 on the 55-inch model. As of July 30, it is now priced under $1,000.

This deal is specific to the 55-inch TV. But if you want something bigger or smaller, there are discounts across all size options.

SEE ALSO: The best headphones for Samsung devotees

So, why the Frame TV? Well, this TV is a work of art, literally. This Samsung device has long been famous for its ability to camouflage as a painting on your wall. The 4K QLED display gives you a stellar viewing experience when bingeing your favorite shows, before giving you an amazing artwork image when not watching. Special mention to the matte finish, reducing reflections and making your displayed images pop even more. How many of your friends can you trick?

It also features a Tizen smart interface for a user-friendly experience for navigating apps and settings, voice control compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant, and multiple HDMI ports and USB connections. So it doesn't just look good, it works well too.

Get this deal online at Amazon before it runs out.

My cooler is cooler than most coolers. My cooler is also a boombox. 

My cooler is the $149.99 Igloo KoolTunes Playmate Cooler, a 14-quart hardsider with built-in speakers. It's a 2020s reboot of an identical cooler-boombox combo Igloo released back in 1989, complete with the same retro look, but now with wireless Bluetooth connectivity. 

My first brush with the KoolTunes was back in 2023, when I was trawling Best Buy's listings in search of pink gadgets for a Barbiecore gift guide. Ever since then, I've wondered why I've never seen one in real life: It combines two summer entertaining essentials in one cute, convenient package; it feels like a no-brainer for beach days and tailgates. Is it merely the victim of poor marketing, or is it actually a shoddy gimmick that sucks to use?

After finally testing the KoolTunes during a recent lakeside picnic, I have to believe it's the former. The KoolTunes keeps snacks and beverages cold while offering well-rounded sound quality (minus some oomphy bass). It's a fun, functional novelty product that I enjoy using so much, I think it deserves a Mashable Choice Award. Spread the word.

Igloo KoolTunes Playmate Cooler $139.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Igloo KoolTunes review: Design and features

The KoolTunes is a variant of Igloo's classic plastic Playmate design that comes in vaporwave colorways. It has a built-in handle and a tent-top lid that swivels open when you press a button on its side. It can easily fit a 12-pack of beer or soda cans with a standard seven-pound bag of ice. It's IP56-rated for protection against dust particles and big splashes, so it's safe to use outdoors — just don't dunk it in water.

Stocked up. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

For my picnic, I stocked the KoolTunes with a charcuterie spread for my husband and me (plus drinks) on ice. We spent two hours with it outside in humid 80-degree Fahrenheit weather, then brought it back home. After unpacking our leftovers, I set the KoolTunes out on the counter, still full of solid ice, so I could see how fast its contents melted. Lo and behold, a bunch of ice chunks were still floating around in there at the 24-hour mark. They'd certainly disappear faster had I left the KoolTunes out in the sun all day, but I'm confident that it can keep refreshments chilled for at least a full afternoon in the heat.

There are two saucer-sized 5W speakers on the front of the KoolTunes. On the back, you'll find a control panel with physical buttons for power, Bluetooth pairing, and volume; a USB-C port for charging (hidden under a rubbery flap); and an indicator light. The light turns blue when the KoolTunes is connected to your smartphone, green when it's fully charged, and red while it's charging. It flashes blue when the KoolTunes is in pairing mode and red when it's low on battery. (Note: I haven't tested the KoolTunes' battery life yet, but Igloo rates it at up to 10 hours per charge. I'll update this review once I've verified that.)

The KoolTunes comes with a three-foot USB-C charging cord, but you'll have to supply your own USB adapter.

This KoolSync sticker peels right off, by the way. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The KoolTunes connects to your smartphone using Bluetooth 5.0. That's really outdated wireless technology — it came out in 2016; in 2025, we're on Bluetooth 6.1 — but I don't think most users will care. (I mean, the latest Apple iPhone still uses Bluetooth 5.3 from 2021.) The KoolTunes paired almost instantly with my iPhone 15 Pro at startup and remembered the phone the next time I turned it on; I didn't need to re-pair them. Also, I was able to walk the length of three Chicago city lots without losing its connection, meaning it has a wireless range of at least 100 feet.

The KoolTunes supports a "KoolSync" feature that lets you share its audio with a second KoolTunes. (It's only compatible with its ilk, not any other portable speakers.) Igloo accidentally sent me two review units, so I was able to try it this mode myself. It's nothing miraculous, but it works as intended. If you happen to attend the same cookout or pool party as another KoolTunes owner, you can DIY a stereo system.

Igloo KoolTunes review: Sound quality A cool, retro vibe. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Truthfully, I really only expected the KoolTunes to be good at the "cooler" half of its job description since Igloo isn't in the audio business. But as it turns out, it's actually a half-decent portable speaker, too. 

Maybe it's because I spend most of my days testing laptops, which generally sound — if I may be frank — like ass. But I really do think the KoolTunes' audio is pleasantly clear and crisp, not tinny or muffled. Music playing from it sounded balanced, while voices on podcasts were undistorted.

I'll add three caveats. One is that the KoolTunes’ sound is mainly front-facing, since that's where its speakers are located. You won't hear what it's playing as well if you're behind or beside it.

The second is that the KoolTunes' audio has a teeny bit of bass to it, but none of the deep, thumping bass you'd get from a nicer portable speaker. (My $179.95 JBL Charge 5, an older version of our top pick, blows it out of the water here.) Igloo describes it as being "punchy"; on a scale from 1 to Rocky Balboa, I'd give it a solid 2.

My final asterisk is that the KoolTunes can sound strained at higher volumes, depending on what's playing. "365" by Charli xcx was fine at full blast, but "Sundown" by Gordon Lightfoot seemed forced. It wasn't crackling or muddy-sounding, but it sort of felt like it was pushing the KoolTunes to its limit. That said, you'll probably never use the KoolTunes at max volume in public places or at social functions where you'll be chatting with others: It can get really loud.

Igloo KoolTunes review: Price and overall value

The KoolTunes retails for $149.99 on the Igloo website and at major retailers like Amazon and Dick's Sporting Goods. (It was sold out at Best Buy, Costco, and Walmart the last time I checked.) Igloo itself carries the most color options, including special-edition designs inspired by bands and NFL teams. Those go for $40 more if you can catch them in stock.

The KoolTunes would be excessively expensive if it were just a plain old cooler sans speaker functionality. Igloo sells a rugged 14-quart Playmate for $32.99 and a standard 16-quart Playmate for $29.99. Does the boombox bit merit a $120 upcharge? After speaking with Mashable's Bethany Allard, who's tested Bluetooth speakers in the past, I think it's mostly valid.

The speakers lack booming bass, but are impressive for being attached to a cooler. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

According to Allard, speakers around the $100 mark typically ditch great bass and a long battery life to remain affordable. They also lack good audio quality and clarity at higher volume, she said. In this sense, the KoolTunes parallels the competition at its price point.

Allard added that most Bluetooth speakers retailing for $100 to $120 usually have some sort of companion app that lets the user toggle equalizer settings, check on their battery life, and play around with different connection options. This is the KoolTunes' biggest shortcoming compared to regular budget speakers. (Igloo doesn't have an app for it.) I personally didn't notice its absence when I was using my KoolTunes, but if you're someone who likes being able to adjust and customize their speakers' sound, you'll miss out on some extra fixings here.

SEE ALSO: The 5 best party speakers, tested for sound, portability, and fun

If it helps, the KoolTunes is relatively easy to find on sale at a deep discount. The Igloo website had it marked down to $99.99 in mid-July during Amazon's Prime Day sale, and I expect similar deals to pop up over Labor Day weekend and Black Friday. If you're a Costco member, I'd keep an especially close eye out for it there: It dipped down to just $49.97 on the wholesale retailer's website before selling out.

The cooler portion of the KoolTunes comes with a one-year warranty, but its electrical components (i.e., the speaker parts) are only covered for 90 days. That's a really short warranty, so be sure to inspect your KoolTunes for any manufacturing defects as soon as you unbox it. For comparison's sake, regular portable speakers from popular brands like JBL and Bose have one-year warranties. The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4, Mashable's favorite budget Bluetooth speaker, has a two-year warranty.

Final thoughts: Is the Igloo KoolTunes worth it? Will the KoolTunes join your next picnic or beach day? Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The KoolTunes is one of my favorite products I've tested all year. It's not a gimmick, but a fun fusion of summer party gear that's priced mostly fairly. All the better if you can find it on sale.

I wouldn't buy a KoolTunes to replace a good portable speaker that you already like and use, but if you want to upgrade an existing cooler to something with a little more pizazz, I think it's a rad option. It would also make a great gift for outdoorsy folks in your life. They probably don't have one yet, for some odd reason.

Igloo KoolTunes Playmate Cooler $139.99 at Amazon
Shop Now

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 Wednesday, July 30, 2025:

AcrossFire-resistant part of a redwood

• The answer is Bark.

App featuring personalized videos from celebrities

• The answer is Cameo.

Where to find sponges that are always wet

• The answer is Ocean.

Rousey in the U.F.C. Hall of Fame

• The answer is Ronda.

Upturned parts of a canoe

• The answer is Ends.

DownBring home the ___

• The answer is Bacon.

Change, as a bill

• The answer is Amend.

Passes time at the beach, maybe

• The answer is Reads.

Beer brand with the Longboard Island Lager and Big Wave Golden Ale

• The answer is Kona.

What planks, Russian twists and mountain climbers help to exercise

• The answer is Core.

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.

Best offer on the Nuu N10 smartphone: Nuu N10 Smartphone, 128GB, Unlocked $99.99 with on-page coupon (save $20 at Amazon) Get Deal

Bargain electronics are extremely popular right now. We’re seeing some of the best wireless earbuds and wireless headphones under $100 challenge class leaders like the AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WH-1000XM6, respectively. Several of the best Amazon Echo devices continue to dominate the smart home sector, delivering intuitive voice assistance that many high-end rivals have yet to match (cough, Google Home, cough), and at a fraction of the cost. 

Smartphones seem to be the only market where budgetary selections aren’t as popular. It’s understandable. We all aspire to own the absolute best phone money can buy, and flagship phones are modern-day status symbols. And considering how much time we spend on our phones, they justify an investment. Hence the high purchase prices for the latest iPhones and Android devices (case in point, the $1,999.99 Samsung Galaxy Fold 7).

Well, smartphone developer Nuu hopes to change the narrative around cheap Android phones. (Nuu also positions these phones as the best starter phone for teenagers.) Its N series lineup consists of three Android-operated models: the N10, N20, and N30. These highest entry sells for $150 — and even less on Amazon when they're on sale.

I got my hands on the entry-level Nuu N10 to see if this $100 Android phone could compete with my Google Pixel 9. The answer is a resounding no. However, it is shockingly better than I expected from a phone this cheap. 

Read my full Nuu 10 smartphone review to see what I liked about this budget mobile device.

A solid performer with unsung traits Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

The N10 won’t blow you away with cool AI features (which is a plus for some users), jaw-dropping visuals, or super-fast processing speeds, but what it does deliver is impressive.

Underneath the hood lies a single 1.6GHz octa-core Unisoc processor that allows for simple navigation and task enablement. This is the Chromebook of phones. There is noticeable lag when accessing certain apps or pulling down the notifications tab. Other than that, the N10 runs fine. My unit never crashed or overheated when used excessively throughout the work week.

The 5,000mAh battery gets you about 10 hours of consistent use, depending on how you use the phone. High volume, screen brightness, and running multiple apps in the background will slash battery life in half. Nuu included 18W USB-C fast charging to fully charge the phone in less than 1 hour.

Having 8GB of RAM to run advanced features and 128GB of internal storage with microSD card support is remarkable for $100. You can download numerous Spotify playlists and take hundreds of pics on the device. Google integration also expands storage capacity by way of Google Drive. 

Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Mic performance isn’t as bad as some tech outlets report. In my testing, I had no problems using Google Assistant or the speakerphone. The feedback I received from voice calls was positive. Bear in mind that ambient noise can affect call quality and voice command translations, but noise-cancelling headphones could also help with that.

There are three more features well worth mentioning. First is the 3.5mm headphone jack, which has been removed from most current phones, but is available on the N10 to appease wired listening enthusiasts. Two dual SIM slots sit on the top right, so you can add a local SIM card and avoid roaming charges when traveling. Lastly, you can use face recognition technology to unlock the N10 using the front camera. It works surprisingly well.

More of a backup or starter phone than a primary option Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

The N10 isn’t designed to meet most mobile user’s needs, which is probably why Nuu pitches this to parents. Apple’s, Google’s, and Samsung’s offerings spoil us with endless features, gorgeous displays, and robust processing. You’re not getting that here. 

The phone’s plastic construction is indicative of the price. I don’t mind it because the material offers greater protection than the fragile glass construction on today’s premium phones. Fashion-forward individuals won’t find it trendy in the least. Visibility can be an issue due to the low-lit display, and it’s difficult to view anything in sunlight.

Nuu’s rear 13MP camera with 2MP macro lens is weak. Depth and detail are lacking in comparison to images I captured on my Google Pixel 9 (see above). There is no optical image stabilizing, meaning any photos you snap on a dime will come out blurry due to shakiness. The front-facing 5MP is even worse and takes dull-looking selfies.

Left: Photo taken with Nuu N10 smartphone. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable Right: Photo taken with Google Pixel 9. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable Left: Photos taken with the Nuu N10 smartphone. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable Right: Photo taken with Google Pixel 9. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

While music and videos sound clear on the speaker, audio output is far superior on the newest iPhones and Android phones (bass and midrange sounded much better on the Pixel 9).

But the phone’s biggest knock is the fingerprint scanner, which is installed on the power button. I would love to share in-depth details on how it performs…had I gotten past the setup process. The feature always timed out and never fully scanned my finger.

Now, that sounds like a lot of downsides, but that's because we can't help but compare the N10 to the flagship devices we're used to testing. Tech reviewers are hardly the target demo here, after all.

Is the Nuu N10 smartphone worth it? Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Yes, but only if you’re seeking for a quality, entry-level phone that costs less than a dinner date. It’s a decent substitute that can hold you over until your new luxury phone arrives. I also recommend the N10 for parents who want to gift their pre-teen a beginner phone. Likewise, if you're traveling overseas and don't want to bring your fancy new phone, the Nuu N10 can handle the basics.

What the N10 provides is more than serviceable for the price. The Android experience is pure with zero bloatware, something that usually takes up a large chunk of memory. Google’s feature suite is at your disposal for seamless productivity on the go. Music streaming is satisfying and stable over Bluetooth. The operating system and apps operate at a moderate pace. Furthermore, the 6.6-inch HD+ touchscreen is OK for social media browsing and YouTube viewing — just avoid brightly lit environments when indulging in content.

There are as many cons as there are pros. Still, the N10 proves itself as a more-than-capable cheap Android phone that handles primary mobile tasks efficiently. That’s all you can ask for at under $100.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nuu Nuu N10 Smartphone, 128GB, Unlocked $99.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $20 Get Deal

Don't let it go to your head, but everybody wants you — more specifically, your browsing data. Personal information about the links you click on and the sites you visit is highly valuable to third parties, including your internet service provider (ISP) and Google, who may want to share or monetize it. Certain government and law enforcement agencies may also be eager to peek at your activity online for their own surveillance purposes.

One way to reclaim some of your digital privacy is by getting a virtual private network, or VPN, a service that creates an encrypted connection between your device and one of the VPN provider's private, remote servers before spitting it out onto the open web. In plain English, a VPN lets you browse the internet more stealthily than usual.

Why do you need a VPN?

Even the best VPNs can't make you totally anonymous on the web. The VPN companies themselves can still see what you're doing while you're using their servers. But they can secure your personal info and hide your true IP address from prying eyes on the outside. The most trustworthy VPN providers operate transparently and abide by independently verified no-logs policies to prove that they don't collect or store user data in this process.

SEE ALSO: A popular VPN is seeing a 1,400% spike in signups as the UK's age verification law takes effect

Because VPNs conceal your real IP address, they're also useful for spoofing one's location. By connecting to a VPN server across a border or ocean, users can bypass geo-restrictions on content that's not available in their own country or region. (This is pertinent intel for folks in France, the UK, and 22 U.S. states where sites with explicit content are restricted by age verification laws.)

Best VPN 2025: Our top picks

After extensive testing, I believe Proton VPN is the top VPN for most people. It's the most privacy-forward VPN I've tried, with open-source apps, a proven no-logs policy, and a history of supporting digital freedom efforts. It's also a stellar value: Paid Proton VPN users get full access to its huge fleet of reliable servers and useful features like multi-hop and split tunneling (on some platforms), with up to 10 simultaneous VPN connections per account. The free version of Proton VPN is extremely limited in comparison, but it's the only free VPN I've encountered that doesn't have any data limits. For all these reasons, Proton VPN is the first (and only) VPN to win a Mashable Choice Award.

My runner-up is TunnelBear, a veteran VPN service with a simple, adorable app that offers unlimited simultaneous connections with a paid subscription. (It also offers a free tier, but users are capped at 2GB of data per month.) TunnelBear supports some form of split tunneling on all platforms, and it's been undergoing security audits longer than any other consumer VPN. It wasn't able to unblock regional content in my testing, but it was sufficient for everyday browsing. Overall, I think it's the best VPN for beginners and casual users.

Read on for Mashable's guide to the best VPNs of 2025. FYI: Prices for most VPN providers' long-term plans change frequently. The rates listed here were accurate at the time of publication.

What didn't make the cut

NordVPN has the same core security features as Proton VPN, including an anti-censorship protocol, multi-hop, Onion Over VPN, and split tunneling on all platforms. It also supports up to 10 simultaneous connections. However, its server network is smaller than Proton VPN's, its plans are more expensive, and its record isn't as clean. In 2019, NordVPN didn't tell users about a security breach at one of its third-party data centers until allegations of it circulated on X. (In its defense, the company implemented network upgrades, better security standards, and bug bounty program in the aftermath.) I also don't love that users need a NordVPN account to read the results of its no-logs audits.

Opens in a new window Credit: NordVPN NordVPN Learn More

ExpressVPN is often recommended for streaming and travel because of its servers' geographic diversity, but Proton VPN's network is even more widespread (and its plans don't cost as much). Also, ExpressVPN doesn't offer multi-hop, supports two fewer connections, and restricts its split tunneling tool to Windows and older Macs with macOS 11 from 2020. Its ownership by Kape Technologies is a slight cause for concern — in a previous life, the company made software that bad actors used for adware injection — but it helps that Kape doesn't touch ExpressVPN users' personal information.

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN Learn More

CyberGhost VPN is a cheaper option with a large server network, including locations optimized for streaming, torrenting, and gaming. It only offers split tunneling on Android, and multi-hop is a no-go across the board. Most egregiously, CyberGhost is also owned by Kape — and unlike ExpressVPN, its privacy policy states that it may share users' personal data with its parent company. It's pretty new to independent audits, too, which you can only read by requesting a copy via email, filling out a contact form, or creating a CyberGhost account.

Opens in a new window Credit: CyberGhost VPN CyberGhost VPN Learn More

SAVE $80: As of July 30, the Braun IPL Silk·Expert is on sale for $299.94 at Amazon. That's a 21% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Braun Braun IPL Silk·Expert $299.94 at Amazon
$379.99 Save $80.05 Get Deal

Trying to cut back and save money on salon treatments? We've found the perfect product to help you do just that: an IPL device. It's one of the best long-term solutions for hair removal that can be done at home, and right now, you can get a great device on sale at Amazon.

As of July 30, the Braun IPL Silk·Expert is $80 off, now priced at $299.94. The package includes the IPL device, a Venus razor, two changeable caps, and a vanity travel case. The Braun device also benefits from skin tone sensors, a handy tool that optimizes the power of every flash to your skin tone.

SEE ALSO: People are asking ChatGPT if they're hot enough

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light and is a hair removal process that uses light pulses to target hair follicles, so it reduces hair growth over time. It's not a laser, but it works similarly by focusing on the pigment in hair. It's a relatively painless, long-term solution for hair removal.

Laser hair removal uses a concentrated single wavelength of light, making it more precise and powerful. IPL, on the other hand, uses a broad spectrum of light, covering a larger area but with less intensity. IPL is slightly less effective than laser but is much gentler on the skin, and can be done from home.

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out.

Top offers on the Beats Pill speaker: Beats Pill $99.95 (save $50 at Walmart) Get Deal Beats Pill $129.95 (save $20 at Amazon) Get Deal

The original Beats Pill popularized the portable speaker category. Its powerful bass output, sleek form factor, and trendy moniker-inspired design set many standards for today’s wireless audio products. Beats even refreshed the speaker a few times, adding stereo playback, USB-C charging, and water resistance to the mix.

However, the Pill series became severely outdated as time passed. It lacked modern technologies that JBL, Ultimate Ears, and other rivals leveraged to dominate the market. Furthermore, it was missing prominent features that other Apple and Beats devices acquired via iOS updates.

I always wondered when a new version would arrive. Then the company surprised me last summer with the 2024 Beats Pill, a model upgraded to compete with the best portable Bluetooth speakers. 

Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

This modernized bass-blaster earned mostly positive reviews when it launched, but it hasn’t gained the same attention as the brand’s headphone releases (e.g., Powerbeats Pro 2, Studio Pro). Sure, you may have seen an ad during the NBA Finals or come across it in guides to the best Apple accessories for iPhone. That’s about it. 

I’ve been using the Pill for over a year, and not only is it a solid legacy sequel, but this speaker is also substantially better than its critics would have you believe. So, is the Beats Pill worth it? I say yes, though I recommend grabbing it on sale, which isn't hard to do.

Beats’ new sound design elevates performance Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Listening to music on the 2024 Pill is a much different experience than the previous entries. This iteration comes with a new woofer system built that tweaks bass response with minimal distortion at select volume levels. There’s also a new tweeter for stabilizing mids and treble.

Rock bangers like Rage Against the Machine’s “Guerilla Radio” are actually audible this time around. Kicks and snares remain impactful and prominent without muddying up the midrange; the enunciation on Zack de la Rocha’s boastful vocals is shockingly crisp.  

Jazz records sound more impressive. Dynamic best describes the instrumental separation on Ahmad Jamal Trio’s “Dolphin Dance.” Every drum tap, guitar strum, and piano chord is resonant and transparent.

Hip-hop is the one music genre Beats favors heavily. Whether vibing out to skull-rattling jams like Run the Jewel’s “Out of Sight” or mellow classics like The Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff’s “Summertime,” the Pill’s sound signature emphasizes the low end, which is bold and engaging. Mids and highs are given plenty of shine as well for well-balanced frequency range. Blasting music at max volume will distort sound, so I advise keeping the volume level around 70 percent.

The biggest reason to own this speaker is lossless audio. It’s only available on compatible devices and requires a wired connection (USB-C to USB-C) to enjoy, but the feature brings out more clarity and depth on Dolby Atmos content. The big three music streaming services — Apple Music, Spotify, and Tidal — receive a nice boost in mids. 

Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

The Pill is also one of my favorite speakerphones. Clients and friends always rave about how loud and clear I sound on calls. There is some muffling when ambient noise is present. However, the mics capture vocals well enough to recognize words and sentences in rowdy environments.

Digital assistance is just as rewarding. The speaker accurately executes Siri and Google Assistant voice commands — a very noticeable drawback with my favorite party speakers. It would have been awesome if Apple included “Hey Siri” voice activation. A future software update could fix that.

It lasts longer than most portable speakers Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Any wireless speaker that provides a full day of playback is a winner in my book. Beats rates battery life at 24 hours, which mostly tracks. High volume and multi-device pairing can bring this down to about 19 hours. My speaker has survived multiple weekend gatherings before recharging. Most luxury speakers will tap out in the middle of a party. Fast-Fuel charging is efficient: a 10-minute charge equates to 2 hours of listening time. 

The Pill has a built-in power bank. Hence, it can be used to charge mobile devices when necessary. My wife uses this feature often when her iPhone is low on battery near the pool.

The few issues I have with the Beats Pill Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

I never said the Pill was perfect. Bass needs to be refined, and the distortion produced at high volume is painful to hear. Not having spatial audio is a missed opportunity for Beats. Anker and Sony offer it on their speakers. Something else I’m disappointed with is the missing aux-in and aux-out ports from the older versions that let you connect the speaker to wired playback sources (e.g., the iPod Classic, may it rest in peace).

The Pill is hefty at 1.5 pounds. Dropping it on hard surfaces can dent the metal grilles (I learned the hard way). Thankfully, it comes dust-, rust-, shock- and waterproof to protect what’s inside.

Is the Beats Pill worth it?

If the advancements in functionality and sound don’t convince you to purchase the Beats Pill, then the low MSRP should. This is the series’ least expensive entry at $149, and I’ve seen it on sale for as low as $129 on Amazon and $99 on Walmart. (As of this writing, select colors are on sale at Walmart for this price.)

We’re talking about an incredible value for Apple and Android users who want an excellent summertime speaker at an attainable price that also checks the most important boxes. In this case, it is audio, battery life, connectivity, and portability. The setup process is seamless, no matter what device or operating system you’re using. Lastly, the Pill is designed for use in all environments.

You won’t find a more captivating portable Bluetooth speaker deal right now.

Beats Pill (2024) Bluetooth speaker $129.99 at Amazon
$149.95 Save $19.96 Get Deal

AI is all the rage, and it's true that there's a ton of money going into it right now, even if most of that money is from investors rather than actual users. But did you know that many of the best AI tools are actually free, or at least offer free tiers? There's no reason you have to pay to use basic AI tools like ChatGPT or Google Gemini, and while you might find that some of them are useful enough to pay for down the line, at least you can try AI tools out before you actually pull out your credit card.

If you're looking to use AI to enhance your workflow, get more organized, or anything else, here are five free AI tools that are worth checking out, especially if you're an AI beginner.

While you can use all of the free AI tools below at no cost, you may need to create an account to get started. In addition to the online version, many of these tools also have iOS and Android apps.

ChatGPT

Let's start with the obvious one. ChatGPT is probably the AI tool that most people think of when they hear "artificial intelligence," and for good reason. OpenAI's chatbot kicked off the current AI craze, and while there are paid tiers, the free version is still incredibly capable.

Most people know that they can chat with ChatGPT. But the free tier actually includes a bunch of features that many users don't realize are available without paying. For starters, you can access image generation features without paying, using the GPT-4o model. When we compared the top AI image generators, we named GPT-4o the best image-generation model overall, and while usage limits are lower on the free tier than the paid tiers, they're still reasonable for basic users.

Voice Mode in ChatGPT is free too. This mode essentially allows you to talk to ChatGPT out loud. It's gotten much more advanced and natural over the past few years.

The main limitations of the free tier are pretty reasonable. You'll hit usage caps during peak times, you won't get access to the newest models immediately, and you can't use some of the more advanced features like custom GPTs. But, for most people, the free version does everything they actually need in day to day life.

Try ChatGPT for free.

Canva AI

Canva has quietly become an AI powerhouse, and many of their AI features are available on the free tier. If you've ever struggled with graphic design or just need to create something that doesn't look like it was made in Microsoft Paint, Canva's AI tools are a game-changer.

Notable features available for free include the ability to generate new designs, create images with Dream Lab, and more. There are usage limits that are imposed on free users, but most basic users will be able to get by without running into those limits. 

The main difference between using a tool like this and a tool like ChatGPT's image generator is that the elements in Canva AI are editable and you can tweak them manually as needed. It's basically an AI assistant for graphic design, without the need to know much about actual image editing.

So what could you use Canva AI for? You could use it for anything from party invitations to social media posts. The free tier is great for anyone who doesn't use graphic design tools on a daily basis for work, but still wants to use them from time to time. 

Try Canva for free.

Zapier

Zapier might not seem like an AI tool at first glance — it's primarily known for connecting different apps and automating workflows. But the company has been quietly adding AI features that make automation accessible to people who aren't tech experts.

The free tier gives you access to basic automations (called "Zaps") between popular apps, but more importantly, you get AI-powered automation suggestions. Instead of having to figure out complex workflows yourself, Zapier's AI can analyze how you work and suggest automations that would actually be useful for your specific situation. It's all part of the evolution of agentic AI, meaning AI tools that can act autonomously and perform multiple tasks, such as finding a restaurant and then making a reservation.

The Natural Language Actions feature is where things get even more interesting. You can literally tell Zapier what you want to happen in plain English — like "when I get an email from my boss, create a task in my to-do app" — and it'll build the automation for you.

Zapier's AI can also help optimize existing workflows, suggesting ways to make them more efficient or catch edge cases you might have missed. The chatbot interface makes it easy to troubleshoot when something isn't working right.

The free plan limits you to five single-step Zaps and 100 tasks per month, which is pretty restrictive for heavy users. But, it should still be fine for basic users, and you might find it worth paying for down the line.

Try Zapier AI automation for free.

Perplexity

Search is evolving. Sure, you probably still use Google to search, but Perplexity has been working on AI search for some time now, with the goal of creating a smarter, more conversational, and easy-to-use search tool.

The free tier is very capable. You can ask complex questions and get detailed answers complete with relevant citations. Unlike ChatGPT, Perplexity is designed specifically for finding current information, so it's perfect for research — or just satisfying your curiosity about random topics.

What makes Perplexity special is how it presents information. Instead of just giving you a single answer, it often provides multiple perspectives on complex topics and shows you exactly where each piece of information came from. The follow-up question suggestions help you dig deeper into topics you might not have thought to explore.

Free users get limited access to the more advanced AI models and fewer daily searches, but for casual research and curiosity-driven browsing, it's more than enough.

Try Perplexity for free.

NotebookLM

Google's NotebookLM might be the most underrated AI tool out there. It's designed to help you make sense of your own documents and research, turning your collection of PDFs, notes, and web pages into an interactive knowledge base.

The concept is simple: you upload your documents, and NotebookLM creates an AI assistant that's specifically trained on your material. Want to find that specific quote from a research paper you read last month? Just ask. Need to compare findings across multiple sources? NotebookLM can synthesize that information for you.

The Audio Overview feature is particularly cool. It can turn your uploaded documents into podcast-style discussions between two AI hosts. The discussions are surprisingly engaging and a great way to review material or get a different perspective on complex topics. 

The free version gives you access to all the main features, though there are some limits on the number of sources you can upload and queries you can make. For students, researchers, or anyone who works with lots of documents, it's incredibly useful for making sense of information overload.

We wouldn't be surprised if Google eventually removes the NotebookLM free tier, so try it for free while you can.

Try NotebookLM for free.

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.

TL;DR: Save $9 on the iKlips S USB-C Nano Fingerprint 256GB SSD while supplies last.

Your phone’s out of space — again — but the thought of giving in to those cloud storage prompts, and being locked into another subscription loop, is just too much. Before you delete any pics of summer memories or your dog being a goof, consider grabbing this mini USB-C SSD with 256GB of space.

By mini, we don’t just mean smaller than your phone, we’re talking tinier than a kiwi, strawberry — even a grape. All you have to do is plug it into your phone, move files over, and lock everything up with your fingerprint. Order yours here for $79.99 (reg. $89).

When size really does matter

It’s called the iKlips S, and even though it’s barely the size of your fingertip, it somehow manages to be a fully functional SSD that works with iPhone 15 and newer, Android phones, laptops, and more. It doesn’t require any apps to transfer files. Just plug it in via USB-C and start moving photos, ProRes videos, or other large files instantly. It supports exFAT, so you won’t run into annoying size limits.

Worried about losing it? The iKlips S has built-in fingerprint encryption and can store up to 20 different fingerprints. That means your files stay private even if someone else finds the drive, and you can still share access with trusted friends and family members.

From freeing up space for vacation pics to backing up important work documents or videos on the go, this little SSD packs a punch without bulking up your pocket or your phone while in use.

Grab this mini SSD as external phone storage for $79.99 (reg. $89).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Adam Elements iKlips S USB-C Nano Fingerprint 256GB SSD $79.99
$89 Save $9.01 Get Deal