Technology

VPN kill switches are an additional security measure for when you're browsing the internet—but what exactly do they do?

Saturday Night Live kicked off the fifth episode of its latest season with a targeted jab at President Donald Trump's odd behavior during a recent Oval Office press appearance, letting cast member James Austin Johnson run wild with his eerily accurate Trump impression.

SEE ALSO: Win tickets to see 'Hamnet' early at Mashable's advanced screenings

As the head of pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly (Mikey Day) begins to unveil how the administration is going to address the squeeze — flanked by "medical experts" RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz — right as new cast member and Dropout regular Jeremey Culhane dramatically dips to the ground. Cue a 4-minute Trump rant on NYC Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani, SNAP benefits, and stealing Christmas.

"Each week I like to create a big visual that sort of sums up how things are going," Johnson drawls before launching into his spiel. "This week, it's a medical professional almost dying in the Oval Office at the mere thought of charging less for drugs."

Saturday Night Live debuted a new advertisement sketch this week, featuring host Nikki Glaser promoting life-sized American Girl Dolls.

The premise is simple: as women grow older, their American Girl Dolls remain the same. Thus, the proposed solution is the same dolls, just taller. It’s a clever concept, if not for the twist that the men in the sketch have very different ideas about what to do with a six-foot Molly or Samantha that don’t exactly involve tea parties or historical reenactments.

If the idea of what a man would do with an adult-sized American Girl Doll immediately raises red flags, you can see where the sketch is heading. That’s what makes it both 1) funny and 2) a little alarming in how accurately it captures the likelihood that some men would outfit their American Girl XL in a crop top.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard the same story, someone’s hard drive dies, and with it go years of photos, videos, music, and memories. It’s one of those frustrating moments that’s entirely preventable, yet many don’t think about it until it’s too late. The truth is, the biggest mistake people make with their media files isn’t that they don’t back them up at all, it’s that they only back them up once. One external drive, one cloud folder, all your memories in "one safe place."

The pet parent contract comes with certain terms and conditions, and that includes a tolerance for omnipresent pet hair. You're also signing off on a lot of stains, paranoia about your pet's activities when you're not home, and the slim (but never zero) chance that you'll come home to an accident on the floor. The best vacuum for pets can help mitigate these problems. How do I know? Because I've spent years testing vacuums in my own apartment (not a lab), cleaning up after my own cats.

While every pet parent needs a vacuum to quell the pet hair situation, some vacuums can take on even more pet-related responsibilities. There are robot vacuums that can avoid pet waste, robot vacuums with livestream pet cameras, and a robot vacuum that comes with its own portable carpet cleaner — now we just need Roborock to expand the Saros Z70's robotic arm capabilities to pet toy cleanup. Manual cordless vacuums come with their own advantageous flexibility, like the option to go handheld and extend cleaning to furry furniture and staircases. I use both types of vacuums daily and wrote a whole buying guide for anyone stumped between a robot vacuum and a stick vacuum.

SEE ALSO: How long should a vacuum last? The lifespan to expect from corded, cordless, and robot vacuums.

Black Friday is definitely one of the best times of year to buy a vacuum. While all of my favorite stick and robot vacuums have already been on sale at some point in 2025, Black Friday vacuum deals are typically the most drastic discounts of the year. Both the expensive, high-power flagship vacuums and the already budget-friendly vacuums could easily be half off in November.

So, which vacuum would be the most helpful in your household? I'm continuously testing the top robot vacuums and cordless stick vacuums in my two-cat apartment, and I'm ready to name the best vacuums for pet owners as of late 2025.

How to choose a robot vacuum for pet hair

For a full breakdown of these features, check out my guide to everything you need to know before buying a robot vacuum.

Suction power and brush rolls

I recommend vacuums with at least 6,000 Pa suction power for effective pet hair pickup, though homes with heavy carpeting and more than two pets should consider suction power of at least 12,000 Pa. But the brush roll system is nearly just as important when choosing a vacuum for pet fur. In my testing, vacuums with dual brush rolls are far more effective.

I also recommend keeping a good cordless stick vacuum on hand — stick vacuums are just more powerful than robot vacuums in general. Shark, Dyson, and Dreame all make powerful stick vacuums with enough power to make pet hair disappear.

Automatic emptying

Pet parents should definitely opt for a self-emptying robot vacuum — so much fur being sucked up will lead to a full dustbin faster, and you won't feel like emptying it yourself every day. Even with daily usage, an auto-empty robot vacuum can last between one and three months before you need to empty the dustbin.

Mopping

If hardwood or tile is prevalent in your home, the best robot vacuum and mop combo for pet hair will be able to sanitize the floor while mopping and then wash its own mops to rinse off any lingering hair. Mopping is also much more likely to effectively wipe up other minuscule pet-related debris, like pet dander and kitty litter dust, that are too small to be inhaled by a vacuum's suction power.

Smart mapping

Some rooms or spots on the floor within those rooms get furrier than others. A smart mapping robot vacuum learns the layout of your home and can head to specific zones on command, which you can queue up right from the app. In my opinion, smart mapping is the most worthwhile robot vacuum feature, and should be a baseline even when searching for a cheap model — cleaning performance is a moot point if the vacuum can't get where it needs to go in the first place.

Small obstacle avoidance

Some advanced robot vacuums use cameras and 3D sensors to pinpoint any small roadblocks in the cleaning path in front of them. When successful, these vacuums save themselves from eating most pet toys, cords, laundry, or socks or shoes, avoid ramming into pet bowls, and even dodge pet waste.

Other robot vacuums I've tested recently

I tested several other top robot vacuums in the past that didn't make the most recent cut for this list. Some, like the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Roborock Qrevo Master, Narwal Freo X Ultra, and various versions of the Roomba j7, were my top recommendations at one point, but have since been overshadowed by newer, more powerful models that are a better bang for your buck. Most recently, I was impressed by the Roomba Plus 505 Combo, Plus 405 Combo, and Narwal Freo Z10 Ultra, but they ultimately just weren't the most thorough vacuum cleaners in their price range.

Vacuums I'm testing soon

The next vacuums slated for at-home testing are the Shark Stratos 2-in-1 NeverTouch, the Roborock H60 Hub Ultra, and eventually, the Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai. I'll be getting my hands on these as soon as possible and updating my top picks for pet owners accordingly.

The first gen Bose QC Ultra headphones (left) vs. the second gen QC Ultras (right). Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable Bose QC Ultra Gen 2 vs. Gen 1: Specs

While these headphones may appear similar, there are some differences in their builds worth knowing before we get into the comparison.

Battery life

• First generation: 24 hours of battery life (18 hours with immersive audio), 15-minute quick charge for 2.5 hours of playback

• Second generation: 30 hours of battery life (23 hours with immersive audio), 15 minutes of charge for

Listening modes

• First generation: Aware, quiet, immersive (spatial audio), auxiliary cable (with headphones powered on)

• Second generation: Aware, quiet, immersive (spatial audio), lossless with USB-C cable connection, passive playback with auxiliary connection

Bluetooth and connection

• First generation: Bluetooth 5.3; SBC, AAC, and AptX Adaptive codec support; multipoint pairing on up to two devices

• Second generation: Bluetooth 5.4; SBC, AAC, and AptX Adaptive codec support; multipoint pairing on up to two devices

Colorways

• First generation: Black, white smoke, lunar blue, deep plum

• Second generation: Black, desert gold, driftwood sand, midnight violet, white

Weight

• First generation: 0.56 pounds

• Second generation: 0.583 pounds

Bose QC Ultra Gen 2 vs. Gen 1: Sound quality

First things first: the absolute best sounding headphones of 2025 are likely going to be the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones (barring any surprises in these final two months of the year). If you're an audiophile above all else, you'll definitely want to check those out.

However, that doesn't mean the QuietComfort Ultra line goes down without swinging. Bose knows how to make a balanced sound profile, and with the second-generation headphones, they upped the ante. While I wouldn't call the difference night and day, the second-gen headphones generally sounded richer and more well-rounded compared to the first-gen headphones. (This upgrade felt not unlike that between the Sony XM5 and XM6 headphones).

SEE ALSO: We put the top 10 headphones of 2025 to the test

I'm not sure I would automatically notice a difference on a casual listen through, but testing the headphones on songs back to back made the differences stand out. On the second-gen headphones, Daniel Caesar and H.E.R.'s "Best Part" came through with more clarity and blend, which made details like vocal harmonies stand out even more. That clarity wasn't so sharp as to warp the original sound of songs — Ella Fitzgerald's smoky vocals on "Misty" felt especially like a warm hug to my ears on the second-gen headphones.

The listening experience on the second generation QC Ultras is ever so slightly improved, but the immersive audio setting on both generations could use work. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Perhaps the clearest test was the subconscious bopping of my head that happened while I listened to Twice and Megan Thee Stallion's "Strategy" on the second-gen headphones. Don't get me wrong, the first-generation Ultras produced a nice, full sound that still did justice to the song; they just didn't quite match up with the second-generation headphones. With those, I felt fully immersed in the pop song, feeling an excellent blend of the bass line and vocals.

Speaking on immersion, the immersive audio quality on both headphones is about the same, which is to say I wasn't too impressed by it. Bose hasn't quite figured out how to create a sound that feels like it's coming around you without losing the richness that makes their headphones sound so good in the first place. While there's definitely that spatial audio quality, it almost feels like the sound profile has been hollowed out from the middle on both headphones.

Also a little lacking was the equalizer — Bose kept the simple three-band equalizer for the second-gen headphones, which is serviceable, but not on par with options from other brands.

The equalizers for the first and second generation headphones are exactly the same. Credit: Bose / Screenshot Credit: Bose / Screenshot

Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)

Bose QC Ultra Gen (2nd Gen) vs. 1st Gen: Noise cancellation

Bose claimed that the second-gen Ultras come with improved adaptive ANC. Though I tested both headphones while on walks near busy streets, while working from a house where seven people live, and right on the other side of a window from a very noisy leaf blower, I can't say that I really noticed a difference between the two.

Granted, that could be the testing conditions not putting the adaptive ANC through the wringer (and the ANC on the first-gen headphones is pretty killer anyway).

Where the second-gen headphones do have more of a leg up is in how easy it is to adjust the ANC level through the companion app. The second-gen headphones have a noise control tab straight on the main screen of the app, which allows you to adjust the ANC from level one to 10.

The first gen app has no tab for adjusting noise cancellation. Credit: Bose / Screenshot While the second gen app features the "noise control" tab. Credit: Bose / Screenshot

You can technically also adjust the ANC on the older headphones, but you have to through the "modes" tab on the app, then create a new listening mode, where you can then preset the noise cancellation level. In other words, for a premium pair of headphones, it requires more effort than it should.

To adjust the ANC manually on the first gen headphones, navigate to the "modes" tab. Credit: Bose / Screenshot And as you choose a listening mode to add, you can adjust the ANC level for that mode. Credit: Bose / Screenshot

Winner: Tie

Bose QC Ultra (2nd Gen) vs. 1st Gen: Comfort and design

The design of these two headphones is near identical, with the same on-ear button placement and general look. Aesthetically, Bose opted for a shiny accent piece on the headband, as opposed to the satin brush finish on the first-gen headphones. The second-gen headphones are also 0.02 pounds heavier, but the difference in how they felt on my head was indiscernible.

A power/Bluetooth button, volume slider, and multifunction button can be found on both sets of headphones. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The on-ear controls, however, are located in exactly the same position and have the same exact functionality.

Two incredibly comfortable sets of ear cushions — but one is just a little better than the other. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Despite their similarities, I found the second-gen headphones to be ever so slightly more comfortable (a feat I didn't think possible, especially considering three separate Mashable staffers have deemed the first-gen headphones the most comfortable they've ever tried). The ear foam on the second-gen headphones feels ever so slightly firmer while still offering a healthy amount of give, which I think helps situate the headphones on my head better overall.

As for storage and travel, both headphones have identical carrying cases, making that particular aspect of their design a pure tie.

The identical carrying cases of the different QC Ultra generations. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)

Bose QC Ultra (2nd Gen) vs. 1st Gen: Connection

While the first gen of the QC Ultras did a lot right, my biggest points of contention with those headphones all came back to how they connected (and stay connected to devices).

As I'd experienced with other Bose products, the multipoint connection of the first-gen QC Ultra headphones didn't always perform the way you'd expect for $449. With two devices connected, it wasn't uncommon for lagging audio when switching between devices or stuttering audio when both devices were paired (even if I was only actively streaming audio from one).

Though less commonly used, their wired connection left something to be desired. I wanted to test it using the aux cable to listen to an interview transcript. With other headphones, you can do this powered off, or passively. You'll lose out on the top-quality audio you get by having the headphones powered on, but it's not a big deal if you're listening to something like an interview or simply want to save your battery. Bizarrely, the first-gen headphones don't allow you to listen to audio via the aux cable without powering on the headphones as well, meaning passive playback isn't an option.

SEE ALSO: I replaced my $249 AirPods Pro with $19 wired EarPods

Less egregious (but more commonly encountered) was the lag between pressing the power button and actually hearing the headphones turn on. Initially, I thought the button wasn't working, and it wasn't until using the headphones for a while that I realized I just had to wait longer than expected to hear the noise that indicated the headphones had turned on and connected (which although minor, could lead to some minor annoyance when powering them on — again, not something I expect to encounter at $449).

These are all issues that have virtually disappeared with the second generation Ultras.

For starters, I haven't had a single issue with the multipoint connection in the two weeks I've been testing the QC Ultra 2 headphones, which might be a Bose first for me. Beyond that, Bose improved the on-head detection of the second gen headphones and added a lay flat mode, which automatically disconnects the headphones from Bluetooth and puts them into a low power mode. The latter feature wouldn't work if the connection was finnicky in anyway, but every time I tested it, the headphones easily disconnected and reconnected.

Only the second generation Ultras (left) go into low power mode in this position. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Bose also gave wired playback a serious upgrade with the second generation model. Not only is passive playback now available with the aux cord (making the headphones an even better choice for air travel, IMO), but there's also a second option for wired listening. The included USB-C cable can be used to charge and play your audio back at the same time. The headphones do need to be powered on for the audio to transmit, but this is less aggravating considering there is an option for passive playback.

Wired! Playback! Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Best of all, the newer headphones connect much faster when powered on, minimizing any annoyance.

Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)

Bose QC Ultra (2nd Gen) vs. 1st Gen: Value

At full price, the first gen Bose QC Ultra headphones go for $429 and the second generation headphones go for $449.

A quick pricing history: upon their 2023 release, the older Bose's debuted at $429, and it was only in May of this year they quietly got a $20 price bump to $449. Following the release of the newer Ultras, they've dropped back down.

All this to say, at full price, it's hard to recommend the first generation Ultras, considering that the second gen smooth over some of their flaws, and make minor improvements where they already excelled. That said, Black Friday is around the corner, and the first Bose QC Ultras have been known to get nice price cuts. As I write this in the early days of November, they're $100 off, going for just $329, but they've hit an even lower price in the past at $299. In other words, if you're trying to save more cash, the newer gen might go on sale during Black Friday, but the real value pick is the first gen headphones.

Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra (1st Gen) on sale, 2nd Gen at full price

TL;DR: Live stream Dolphins vs. Bills in the NFL for free on TVNZ+. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The latest round of NFL games showcases some really interesting matchups, including Dolphins vs. Bills. The Buffalo Bills are 6-2 going into this contest, with fans expecting another confident victory in Miami.

If you want to watch Dolphins vs. Bills in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Dolphins vs. Bills?

Dolphins vs. Bills in the NFL starts at 1 p.m. ET on Nov. 9. This game takes place at the Hard Rock Stadium.

How to watch Dolphins vs. Bills for free

Dolphins vs. Bills in the NFL is available to live stream for free on TVNZ+.

TVNZ+ is geo-restricted to New Zealand, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in New Zealand, meaning you can unblock TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

Live stream Dolphins vs. Bills for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in New Zealand

4. Visit TVNZ+

5. Live stream Dolphins vs. Bills for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Dolphins vs. Bills in the NFL without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the NFL before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites to follow the whole season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for unblocking streaming services is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for TVNZ+?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like TVNZ+, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NFL for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Panthers vs. Saints in the NFL for free on TVNZ+. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Carolina Panthers take on the New Orleans Saints in the latest round of NFL games. The New Orleans Saints are suffering a really miserable campaign so far. The Panthers will be expected the win this one without too many problems.

If you want to watch Panthers vs. Saints in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Panthers vs. Saints?

Panthers vs. Saints in the NFL starts at 1 p.m. ET on Nov. 9. This game takes place at the Bank of America Stadium.

How to watch Panthers vs. Saints for free

Panthers vs. Saints in the NFL is available to live stream for free on TVNZ+.

TVNZ+ is geo-restricted to New Zealand, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in New Zealand, meaning you can unblock TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

Live stream Panthers vs. Saints for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in New Zealand

4. Visit TVNZ+

5. Live stream Panthers vs. Saints for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Panthers vs. Saints in the NFL without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the NFL before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites to follow the whole season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for unblocking streaming services is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for TVNZ+?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like TVNZ+, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NFL for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Commanders vs. Lions in the NFL for free on 7Plus. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Washington Commanders take on the Detroit Lions in the latest round of NFL games. Neither side has demonstrated real consistency this season, but the Detroit Lions do possess a positive 5-3 record going into this game. The Lions should be favorites to take the win here.

If you want to watch Commanders vs. Lions in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Commanders vs. Lions?

Commanders vs. Lions in the NFL starts at 4:25 p.m. ET on Nov. 9. This game takes place at the Northwest Stadium.

How to watch Commanders vs. Lions for free

Commanders vs. Lions in the NFL is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

7Plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 7Plus from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

Live stream Commanders vs. Lions for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 7Plus

5. Live stream Commanders vs. Lions for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Commanders vs. Lions in the NFL without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the NFL before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites to follow the whole season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for unblocking streaming services is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for 7Plus?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like 7Plus, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NFL for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Giants vs. Bears in the NFL for free on 7Plus. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are so many interesting matchups in the latest round of NFL games, including Giants vs. Bears. The New York Giants are struggling at 2-7, and will face a tough test to take anything from the 5-3 Chicago Bears.

If you want to watch Giants vs. Bears in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Giants vs. Bears?

Giants vs. Bears in the NFL starts at 1 p.m. ET on Nov. 9. This game takes place at Empower Field at Soldier Field.

How to watch Giants vs. Bears for free

Giants vs. Bears in the NFL is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

7Plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 7Plus from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

Live stream Giants vs. Bears for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 7Plus

5. Live stream Giants vs. Bears for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Giants vs. Bears in the NFL without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the NFL before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites to follow the whole season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for unblocking streaming services is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for 7Plus?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like 7Plus, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NFL for free with ExpressVPN.

Is the House still winning? The news about Las Vegas tourism has not been stellar as of late, with the city recording drops in visitors, hotel room occupancy, and convention bookings in September compared to the same month last year. Is the downswing due to Trump policies driving away foreign tourists, inflated prices for coffee and cocktails, or a public gravitating to online gambling and sports betting?

We spoke to Alan Feldman, the Director of Strategic Initiatives for UNLV's International Gaming Institute, about what’s going on. Feldman, a veteran of the gambling industry who works on responsible gaming initiatives, believes the slump is a blip, explaining that the third quarter is typically slow for Sin City. While he acknowledges the sobering statistics, he sees them as not exclusive to Vegas. Feldman also views the growth of online casinos and the increasing legalization of sports betting as a boon, not a threat, to the city — here's why:

SEE ALSO: Gambling online? Try turning off push notifications. Online gaming now accounts for 30 percent of all commercial gaming revenue, up from 13 percent in 2021. Lately, there’s been lots of talk about the softening Vegas economy — is online gaming contributing to that?

The "softening in the economy" is cyclical, annual, and not at all unusual. July, August, the third quarter generally is always the softest quarters of the year. There was a downturn in tourism across the country, frankly, every market was hit, and Las Vegas was not any greater than any of the others. 

That said, the impact of sports betting around the country has had absolutely zero impact in Las Vegas other than there are some people, now that sports betting is legal in their home state, thinking, Let’s go to Vegas. And the companies here are some of the bigger participants in it; MGM is probably the biggest, Caesars is also involved, Penn is involved. With their sports betting apps, they’re also getting a chance to market their properties not just in Vegas, but anywhere. So [the growth of legal online gaming and sports betting] has been at worst, neutral; it hasn’t been an uptick for every single company, but now we have FanDuel sportsbooks and DraftKing sportsbooks in some of the independent hotels. 

I would challenge anyone who starts talking about the incredible growth of sports gambling, because the only thing you can measure since 2018 is the incredible growth of legalized sports gambling. We don’t know if [Vegas has] 20 percent of the sports gambling market or 80 percent. It certainly isn’t 100 [percent]. There are still people absolutely accustomed to calling a bookie. Plus, an unknown amount of gambling activity simply goes on between friends. Sports betting has been everywhere; you just haven’t seen it. I’m not suggesting we ignore it. It does make a difference — we’re now validating behavior that has gone on for decades, and actually, more than a century [in the U.S.]. The Mayans were engaged in sporting activities that people were wagering on thousands of years ago.

Do you see a difference between the growth of legalized sports gaming and people playing blackjack or poker in an online casino?

Yes, I think they’re different. I don’t know if they’re always the exact same customer in the sense that sports bettors tend to gamble on more than one type of activity; they’re probably more likely to play poker online or with friends. It wouldn’t be surprising to learn that they occasionally go to an online casino. The folks interested in online casinos may or may not be sports bettors, and I haven’t yet seen a deep analysis into the interrelationships.

I imagine companies in the online gaming space prefer in-person gamblers so they can also spend money on food, entertainment, and hotel rooms.

I don’t think they look at it quite that way, as in whether they prefer one or the other. I think they prefer access to both; to not to get cut out of activity in a given market. MGM’s CEO has discussed seeing a measurable increase in visitors to Las Vegas who became interested in the destination after being introduced to it through online gaming. And MGM, specifically, is doing something now that I think is fascinating; they have a TV studio at the MGM Grand, and they are broadcasting gambling into foreign markets where it’s legal. These are folks in other countries trying to capture a bit of the Vegas experience and when they next travel, I think Vegas is going to be on their list. It’s not an automatic thing, but it’s a nice way of introducing them to the idea [of in-person gaming].

SEE ALSO: Shiny casinos and $10K wins: YouTube's gambling channels don't always depict reality The investment in the studios — is that part of the reason why big casino operators like MGM and Caesars don’t allow YouTubers to record at their properties?

We’ve been doing some work here, looking at slot influencers and what impact they are having. I have a student who, through a grant from ESPN, is going to look at online sports betting influencers — who are they, how do we look at them, should we group them in a particular way, how do we understand the kind of information they’re offering their viewers, and what impact it’s having. The jury’s out a bit. I also suspect there are some compliance questions about having someone promote your casino from within. I suspect there are also some regulatory issues that a company like MGM wants to be absolutely certain, Caesars the same, that they're completely [abiding by].

So, casino operators aren’t threatened by the growth of legalized sports gambling?

I have long believed, and experienced in my professional life, that if you put five gaming company CEOs in a room and ask a question, you’re going to get six different answers, including whether the sun is going to come up tomorrow. There is no possible way I could tell you all gaming companies aren’t concerned about this. The ones that are engaged in a broader business model than simply gambling revenue, they see online gambling, whether it’s sports-only or online casino, as a means of extending that experience for someone at home. [Online players] will have amassed points on a loyalty program and now they’re going to come [to Vegas to use them]. For those companies, I think you’ll find not only broad acceptance but enthusiastic acceptance. If I were in Reno, you’d hear a completely different story.

Why is that?

[Casino operators in Reno] feel attacked on all sides. The growth of tribal gaming in California and the growth of online gaming that they don’t have anything to do with. These are smaller operations, and anything that, in their minds, prevents folks from driving or flying to Reno, they don’t like.

I don’t know what the current breakdown is, but pre-COVID, if you looked at a company like Caesars or MGM properties on the [Vegas] Strip, 65-70 percent of their revenue was non-gaming. That’s very different than the MGM Grand Detroit, for example; in those markets, gambling is going to be a larger percentage, but [in Vegas] it’s part of a larger whole. 

What would prevent small casino operators from getting into online casinos or online sportsbooks? Is it too big an investment for smaller properties?

Almost certainly. For a property like the El Cortez [casino in downtown Las Vegas], they'd have to partner with someone to get into online gaming, even if it’s a company that’s providing white label back-of-the-house stuff; the systems that underlie these things are very involved. Those states [that allow online gaming] almost always require the servers to be in those states, so there’s a level of investment that happens with every one of these states where the technology and the workers that support that technology are there. This gets very expensive, very quickly.

Whatever impact online gaming has, positive and negative, is going to be felt differently by different companies. I suppose it’s a negative if someone else is benefiting and you’re not, which may not mean you’re being harmed, but rather that you’re not directly benefiting from that activity. For some folks, that alone can lead them to oppose [online gaming].

I wouldn’t ignore the fact that companies like Caesars and MGM, they’re taking a lot of the revenue they’re generating in other parts of the country and world [through online gaming and sports betting] and it shows up here in investment; it shows up in new restaurants and clubs and shows. It does benefit Nevada, it’s just indirect. Has anything been harmed in southern Nevada because of [online gaming]? Quite the contrary. This is an industry that has talked about the normalization of gambling for decades, and I think it’s happening faster and faster.

If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, help is available 24/7 through the National Problem Gambling Helpline. Connect with a trained professional who can guide you to local resources by calling 1-800-522-4700, texting 800GAM, or chatting online at https://www.ncpgambling.org/chat.

TL;DR: For $65, get a 1-year Costco Gold Star Membership and receive a $40 Digital Costco Shop Card to use later.

Opens in a new window Credit: Costco Costco 1-Year Gold Star Membership + a $40 Digital Costco Shop Card   Learn More

If you’ve been thinking about joining Costco, this might just be your lucky day. Costco Gold Star Membership gives you access to a vast range of quality products — from Kirkland Signature™ staples and gourmet holiday treats to top brands in tech, home, and beyond.

And for a limited time, when you sign up for a 1-year Gold Star Membership for $65, you’ll also receive a $40 Digital Costco Shop Card to use toward future purchases. That means you can enjoy the holiday shopping now and treat yourself later. To receive a Digital Costco Shop Card, you must provide a valid email address and set up auto renewal of your Costco membership on a Visa® card at the time of sign-up. If you elect not to enroll in auto renewal at the time of sign-up, incentives will not be emailed.

SEE ALSO: Shop smarter with Costco’s Executive tier and digital bonus — pay $140, get a $40 shop card

With your membership, you can shop both in-store and online and enjoy access to the Costco Gas Station, Costco Tire Center, and more. Plus, your membership includes a complimentary Household Card, so another adult in your home (18+) can enjoy the benefits, too (and help you with shopping trips).

Whether you’re stocking the pantry, prepping for a holiday party, or hunting down that amazing tech gift, it’s easy to find everything in one trip.

’Tis the season to get in on the Costco fun — and this is the ideal time to join. Get a 1-year Gold Star Membership + $40 Digital Costco Shop Card for $65 while you can.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream Milwaukee Bucks vs. Houston Rockets in the NBA for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Bucks and the Rockets have made positive starts to the new NBA season. We all expected Houston Rockets to make a jump, especially after they traded for Kevin Durant. But we weren't prepared for the Milwaukee Bucks to be 5-3 at this early stage. How could we ever doubt Giannis Antetokounmpo?

If you want to watch Bucks vs. Rockets in the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Bucks vs. Rockets?

Bucks vs. Rockets in the NBA starts at 3:30 p.m. ET on Nov. 9. This game takes place at the Fiserv Forum.

How to watch Bucks vs. Rockets for free

Bucks vs. Rockets in the NBA is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the UK and U.S., but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK or U.S., meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

3. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK or U.S.

5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Learn More

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional for Windows is just $9.97 (reg. $249.99) through Nov. 9 for new users.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional: Lifetime License for Windows $9.97
$249.99 Save $240.02   Get Deal

Not every presentation software is made with numbers in mind. We get it — complex data isn’t always fun. That’s where Visio Professional comes in. Microsoft designed its software for visualizing complex ideas thanks to pre-built templates and over 250,000 shapes. Right now, you can download a lifetime subscription to Microsoft Visio Professional 2021 for Windows for just $9.97 (reg. $249.99). 

Visio is a recognized diagramming powerhouse. From designing floor plans to visualizing team hierarchies, this platform simplifies system design processes while illustrating each piece of your project’s puzzle. 

A lifetime license gives you unlimited access to:

• Dozens of pre-made templates and diagrams to get you started — plus bonus templates for the web

• Access to more than 250,000 shapes in Visio’s online ecosystem

• Natural pen and touch support for sketching and annotating on smart devices

• Auto-generated org charts from other Microsoft apps, like Excel, Exchange, and Entra ID

• Live data linking capabilities from internal and external sources

If you’re a tech professional or IT admin, this desktop version also supports industry standards like BPMN 2.0, IEEE, and UML 2.5. 

Act quickly! A lifetime subscription to Microsoft Visio Professional 2021 is on sale for $9.97 (reg. $249.99) until Nov. 9 for new users only.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

If you've ever wondered why the moon looks a little different each night, it’s all down to its phases in the lunar cycle. Tonight we're on day 19 of the cycle, keep reading to find out what this means

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Sunday, Nov. 9, the moon phase is Waning Gibbous. This means 78% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

What can you see tonight? Well, without visual aids you should be able to spot the Aristarchus Plateau, the Mare Tranquillitatis, and the Mare Vaporum. If you have binoculars, you'll see all this plus the Grimaldi Basin, Posidonius Crater, and the Mare Frigoris. Telescope owners will get an extra treat, with the Reiner Gamma, Rima Ariadaeus, and Rupes Altai (Altai Scarp) all coming into view.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Dec. 4.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon completes an orbit around Earth roughly every 29.5 days, passing through distinct phases along the way. These phases happen due to the shifting angles between the Sun, Earth, and Moon. From our perspective, the Moon may look fully bright, partially lit, or entirely dark, though the same side always faces us. The difference is in how sunlight reflects off its surface, forming a regular pattern called the lunar cycle.

The eight main moon phases are:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

For the past decade, I've been a dedicated Apple user. I've been committed to the iPhone, MacBook, and iPad lifestyle, but I'll admit that it's left me uninformed about what's happening with Windows and Android. Since I started testing tech, it's opened up all sides of the iOS and Android spectrum, and I've come around. In fact, while doing a recent round of testing for our tablets guide, I found an Android tablet that convinced me iPads aren't necessarily the superior tablet.

The Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 is technically a gaming tablet, but if you're not a gamer, don't worry. That just means it's equipped to handle a decent amount of data in its small, portable form. Here's everything I love about the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 and why I've kept using it long after testing.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 $389.99 at Lenovo
$549.99 Save $160   Shop Now Small but mighty

The best part of the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 is its size. Before I started using e-readers, I was dragging around an old iPad that was heavy and strained my wrist while reading it for extended periods. Measuring 0.31 inches by 8.21 inches by 5.1 inches, it had an 8.8-inch screen, making it just slightly bigger than an iPad Mini.

The compact size makes it incredibly easy to take on the go. It's lightweight and won't take up much space in a bag, but it also allows you to hold it up for hours at a time.

It's powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform and runs on the Android 15 operating system. But its best spec is its memory, bringing 12GB of RAM. That's three times what you usually find in budget tablets and the same as what you'd find in premium models, like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra.

I will say, the notification tab on the Lenovo is mighty similar to that of an iPad. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

On the Geekbench 6 benchmark test, it scored 6674, which is actually higher than the score of the iPad 11th generation. It operates for hours at a time, boasting a battery life of over 11 hours. (Of course, it pales in comparison to the new M5 iPad Pro.)

To translate all of these tech specs: the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 is a small device with even more power than you need to keep yourself entertained on the go.

Two ports are better than one

After years of testing products for Mashable, most of them blend together. It's rare that a product really stands out from the crowd, and often it's the small details that make a particular product stand out. With the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3, I love the simple fact that it has not one, but two ports. Maybe it says more about the state of tech that I'm celebrating the fact that a device has more than one port, but alas, here we are. Every tablet I've tested has a single port, except for the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3, which features one USB-C port on the long side and another on the short side.

It's the first tablet I've encountered that has this set up, but I wish every tablet did. That way, if you want to use your tablet while it's charging, you can do so from the angle that works best. Alternatively, it allows you to plug in a controller and charge it simultaneously.

Perfect entertainment on the go The Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 is the perfect sized tablet for travel. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

For my purposes, I like a tablet on the smaller side, and the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 fits the bill with its 8.8-inch screen. Its compact size prevents arm fatigue during a reading marathon. Plus, it doesn't take up a ton of space on the kitchen counter, so I can cook and watch. Not to mention, it would be the perfect size for an airplane tray table. Gamers will also appreciate this Android gaming tablet, for obvious reasons.

I'd actually stopped carrying my iPad around because I found it to be too clunky, but the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 is a much smaller tablet to take on the go. With its compact size, I'm much more likely to reach for it when traveling.

My one complaint? The case The included case for the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 is not my favorite. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

OK, so I've been going on and on about the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3, but there is one downside: its case. On the upside, it comes with a case, a feature that very few tablets offer. The Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 comes with a case that provides suitable ventilation so the tablet doesn't overheat. The front of the case also features two magnetic hinges, allowing it to be removed on either side, which provides nice flexibility.

That being said, I find the case to be extremely flimsy. It definitely feels a little cheap, and folding the cover to create a stand is a bit awkward. It can only fold one particular way, and getting it right always takes me a few tries, even though I've been using it for weeks.

Since this is a lesser-known tablet, you don't have as many alternative case options from the brand. However, you can find some decent options on Amazon.

Why should you buy the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3?

If, for some reason, you're stuck on the idea that Androids aren't as powerful as iOS devices, the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 will prove that wrong. It features a stunning HDR10 display and 12GB of RAM, allowing you to game on the go. But even if you're not a gamer, I've found this tablet is just the right size for reading and streaming. If you're converting from an iOS device, you might experience a slight learning curve adjusting to the Android system, but it won't take long. It's a great budget-friendly alternative to an iPad Mini, which certainly convinced me to stray from the iOS agenda.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 $389.99 at Lenovo
$549.99 Save $160   Shop Now

Earlier this year, during the college basketball event known as March Madness, the biggest sports gambling apps were lighting up Eden Iscil's phone with notifications. From sunrise to late evening, they kept inviting him to wager on games, players, and teams.

But the apps didn't know that Iscil wasn't actually interested in placing bets or winning money. In fact, Iscil isn't a "sports person" and had never gambled on sports before downloading the FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM apps.

Instead, Iscil was conducting research about sports gambling app notifications in his role as the senior public policy manager for the National Consumers League. 

That research led the nonprofit organization to recommend a ban on sports betting advertising, particularly via push notifications. Iscil's own advice to gamblers? Turn off those notifications whenever possible. 

SEE ALSO: When the urge to gamble strikes, try mindfulness

Iscil made that conclusion after spending a few weeks on the frontlines of online sports gambling, learning firsthand what millions of Americans have already experienced: Sportsbooks can now reach customers anywhere with marketing messages designed to reel them in, using notifications tailored to their betting preferences. 

"That's just another level of access these gambling companies didn't have previously," Iscil says, noting that people typically placed their wagers at casinos or sportsbooks prior to the nationwide legalization of online gambling in 2018. Sports betting revenue reached $13.7 billion dollars in 2024, according to the American Gaming Association.

While push notifications may be standard business practice these days, experts say they encourage people to spend more time and money gambling than they otherwise would, similar to other aspects of gambling app design. A lawsuit filed this year by the city of Baltimore alleges that both FanDuel and DraftKings use "systematically designed and deployed" notifications and promotions to target users and keep them spending.

"The platforms are designed to create disordered gamblers and then exploit them," the lawsuit alleged. DraftKings declined to comment on ongoing litigation. A spokesperson for FanDuel said the company also wouldn't comment on pending litigation but added that it "operates in accordance with all laws."

With over two-thirds of U.S. states allowing online sports betting, such apps are becoming ubiquitous. According to a recent poll by the Siena College Research Institute and St. Bonaventure University’s Jandoli School of Communication, nearly a quarter of Americans, and 48 percent of American men aged 18-49, have an account with at least one online sportsbook.

SEE ALSO: Is online gambling contributing to Vegas' problems? Potential risks of gambling notifications

Iscil told Mashable that each app he tested quickly reflected his supposed personal interests once he began betting.

He received separate notifications reminding him of the odds of betting on NBA star LeBron James as well as March Madness favorites like the Houston Cougars and Tennessee Volunteers, for example. One "March Mania" all-caps text message paired candy and money bag emojis with an invitation to bet using a specific promotion to receive an odds boost. That was sent at 1:30 p.m. Eastern on a Sunday afternoon in March. 

Push notifications, or the pop-up messages sent directly to consumers outside of the app, can be a highly effective way to capture a user's attention with timely deals, discounts, and other promotions.

That may delight the consumer who receives a coupon from a coffee chain just as they were considering an afternoon caffeine fix. But when it comes to online gambling, preliminary research suggests that notifications could lead to impulsive decision-making and increased betting frequency and expenditures. 

Dr. Philip Newall, who studies gambling psychology as a lecturer at the University of Bristol, has looked at so-called "dark patterns," or the ways online gambling companies use various levers to manipulate gambler behavior, like making it harder for consumers to set sensible deposit limits and prominently placing "reverse withdrawal" buttons in an app to encourage consumers to bet with winnings they intended to transfer into their bank account. 

Newall argues that such engagement strategies have reached an unprecedented level because consumers can now bet instantaneously by phone. 

In general, people who experience addiction are more vulnerable to noticing related cues, such as advertising, which then fuel their urge to engage in risky behavior. Even viewing ads about the risks of gambling can increase the desire to place a bet, Newall says. 

Navigating notifications on gambling apps

Iscil discovered that dealing with sports betting notifications isn't simple or straightforward. 

Over the four-week research period, he received 93 notifications on a phone used to place a total of 12 bets. Ninety-five percent of those messages contained advertising to bet. The highest number of notifications arrived during the lunch and dinner hours, between 12 and 2 p.m. and 4 and 7 p.m., respectively. 

Iscil's colleague used a separate phone to download the same apps but didn't make any wagers. That phone received just 15 notifications over the same time period. 

Iscil cautions against averaging out the notifications based on the total number of days spent on the research. He and his colleague placed no bets during the first and fourth weeks of their testing, and the notifications increased and decreased accordingly. Iscil acknowledges that the absence of bets at the beginning and end of the month duration is a limitation of their research.

In Iscil's experience, FanDuel automatically gave itself permission to send notifications to his phone. When BetMGM requested permission from Iscil to send notifications, the platform didn't disclose that it would deliver advertisements for gambling. Though DraftKings asked for Iscil's consent, specifying that it would send exclusive offers and promotions, Iscil felt it didn't make clear that nearly all of its notifications would be marketing. 

BetMGM did not respond to requests for comment. DraftKings declined to comment specifically on Iscil's findings, but it appears the company introduced a new push toggle to turn off marketing notifications since the publication of his report. Mashable reviewed before-and-after screenshots of the app's settings to confirm the new option. According to the company, DraftKings is required by state regulations to offer opt-out mechanisms for all marketing communications, and it says it fully complies with those requirements.

A FanDuel spokesperson told Mashable that when customers download the app they are currently given the option to either enable push notifications or skip them for the time being. The latter setting silently sends messages to the notification center instead of presenting them as banners or on a locked screen. 

The spokesperson added that customers are able to opt-out of marketing messages via their account settings, by unchecking the box for "marketing" under "email preferences." On the FanDuel app, that acts as an opt-out for all marketing communications, including push notifications. 

When Iscil published his report, he noted that each of the apps' iPhone settings allowed a blanket opt-out from all notifications instead of letting consumers skip only marketing messages. Federal law requires businesses to give consumers the option to turn off marketing messages sent via email but keep them for security alerts. There are not yet similar regulations for push notifications, according to Iscil. 

The American Gaming Association, which represents industry members like DraftKings and FanDuel, declined to comment on Iscil's findings. The AGA's code of conduct governing advertising and marketing produced by its members states that such messaging shouldn't "represent saturation of that medium or become excessive."

How to deal with gambling notifications

Consumers who feel the urge to gamble should turn off online betting app push notifications, says Jaime Costello, director of programs for the National Council on Problem Gambling. 

If an app knows a consumer's betting preferences and frequently pitches related wagers via push notifications, the dynamic can quickly become risky, she says. 

"I think that personalization paired with those triggers is what really increases that risk," Costello says, referring to the development of addictive behavior. 

"I think that personalization paired with those triggers is what really increases that risk." - Jaime Costello, National Council on Problem Gambling

Beyond turning off notifications, Costello recommends batching them to read once a day as well as unsubscribing from email marketing messages and using app-based limits that restrict time and money spent during specific periods. 

It's important for consumers to generally track and reflect on their wins and losses, Costello adds. Developing the ability to notice moments of overwhelm or excitement that lead to impulsive choices can help people better manage their gambling habits. 

Yet Costello also believes that gambling operators play a key role by creating products that allow consumers to control what is sent to them. She argues that consumers should always opt-in to marketing messages than be required to opt-out. 

She suggests that gambling apps should use the same opt-in approach for push notifications as they do for email marketing, even if federal law doesn't require it. 

As Costello sees it, the stakes are too high to send notifications that encourage gambling if the person receiving them is already vulnerable.

"Yes, it can be a form of entertainment, but for some people, it has devastating effects," Costello says.

If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, help is available 24/7 through the National Problem Gambling Helpline. Connect with a trained professional who can guide you to local resources by calling 1-800-522-4700, texting 800GAM, or chatting online at https://www.ncpgambling.org/chat.

How to watch 'Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour | The End of an Era' Best long-term deal Disney+ Premium annual subscription (no ads) $189.99 per year (save $37.89 per year) Get Deal Best bundle deal Disney Bundle Duo Basic (Hulu and Disney+ with ads) $12.99 per month (save $10.99 per month) Get Deal Best deal for Verizon customers Disney Bundle: Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select (with ads) $10 per month for Verizon customers with myPlan (save $9.99 per month) Get Deal Best way to get Disney+ for free Disney+ Premium (no ads) Free with the Total by Verizon $60 plan (save $18.99 per month) Get Deal

We have good news and bad news, Swifties. The good news: A new docuseries taking you inside the once-in-a-lifetime event that was The Eras Tour is coming soon to Disney+. The bad news: You'll have to wait, as the series doesn't start streaming until Dec. 12.

Following the launch of The Life of a Showgirl, the biggest album in history, 14-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter-showgirl extraordinaire Taylor Swift still has two huge gifts for fans. First, fans will get to enjoy an updated The Eras Tour film that features The Tortured Poets Department for the first time (The Eras Tour | The Final Show). Second is a six-episode behind-the-scenes documentary series dubbed Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour | The End of an Era, which will take fans inside the phenomenon that was The Eras Tour.

The Final Show was recorded in Vancouver, B.C., the actual final show on Swift's monumental tour. The concert film is directed by Glenn Weiss this time around and features the entire set of The Tortured Poets Department, which was added to the tour following the album release in 2024.

The docuseries, directed by Don Argott, will give fans an inside look at the inner workings of the tour and offer appearances from Swift's family and friends, as well as spotlight performers like Florence Welch and Sabrina Carpenter. Here's everything you need to know to tune in.

How to watch Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour \ The End of an Era at home

Both Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour | The End of an Era (first two episodes) and Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour | The Final Show will premiere on Disney+ on Dec. 12.

Disney+ is the streaming home of the original The Eras Tour concert film, so it's no surprise that the new version — featuring The Tortured Poets Department —  as well as the documentary series The End of an Era will debut on the streamer as well.

Not yet a Disney+ subscriber? Subscriptions now start at $11.99 after the recent price hike, but we've rounded up a few of the best ways you can save some money on the streaming service below.

The best Disney+ streaming dealsBest Disney+ deal: save 17% on an annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Disney+ Disney+ Premium annual subscription (no ads) $189.99/year (save $37.89) Get Deal

You can save some money on a Disney+ subscription on its own by signing up for an annual plan upfront. The yearly plan without ads will cost you $189.99 per year, which breaks down to just $15.83 per month instead of the usual $18.99 per month. That's 17% or a total of $37.89 in savings. When you check out, be sure to select Disney+ Premium, then "annual" to secure the discount for the year. Unfortunately, there is no annual plan available for the cheaper ad-supported tier.

Best Disney+ bundle deal: save 45% on Hulu and Disney+ Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney+ Disney Bundle Duo Basic (Hulu and Disney+ with ads) $12.99/month (save $10.99/month) Get Deal

Want more bang for your buck? Disney's bundle deals are hard to beat — even after the latest price hike. You can bundle Disney+ with Hulu (both with ads) for just $12.99 per month, which basically gets you Disney+ for $1 per month (45% in savings). You could also go ad-free and get both for $19.99 per month (about 47% in savings). Want even more for your money? Add HBO Max or ESPN+ into the mix for a three-part bundle that'll cost you $19.99 or $32.99 per month, respectively.

Best Disney+ deal for Verizon Wireless customers: save $9.99/month on the Disney Bundle Opens in a new window Credit: Verizon / Disney+ Disney Bundle: Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select (with ads) $10 per month for Verizon customers with myPlan (save $6.99 per month) Get Deal

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Nothing hits the spot quite like the perfect romantic comedy.

Whether you're single or happily cuffed for the season, these movies have a knack for making everything feel sweet and simple. Every problem has a solution, and the most pressing matter for everyone involved is that two likable and attractive people get together in 100 minutes or less. We can’t always explore nuances and gray areas. We’re busy!

So, in honor of those evenings when you’re hoping to turn your brain completely off, here are the best romantic comedies streaming for free on Prime Video, in no particular order. They’re simple, they’re soothing, and they go great with a glass of wine.

1. Red, White & Royal Blue  Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Alex Claremont-Diaz is the United States President's handsome son. Prince Henry is the Duke of Cambridge, second in line to the British throne, and completely misunderstood. The U.S. and the UK are allies — will these two high-profile men form their own "special relationship"? Yes, please! 

SEE ALSO: 'Red, White & Royal Blue' review: A sexy gay romance that will make you swoon

Red, White & Royal Blue was adapted by director Matthew Lopez and screenwriter Ted Malawer from Casey McQuiston's best-selling novel of the same name — and it keeps all of the charm and gleeful will-they-won't-they from the source material. Taylor Zakhar Perez is confident as the smiley, self-assured Alex, and Nicholas Galitzine is simply perfect as the tortured prince, dreaming of a better life. — Kristina Grosspietsch, Freelance Contributor

How to watch: Red, White & Royal Blue is now streaming on Prime Video.

2. Charade

This 1963 classic brings together two of the biggest stars of the era. Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant mix it up in a rom-com rife with intrigue! She's a recently widowed glamour girl being chased by a menacing and mysterious band of thieves. He's a dashing stranger who insists on being of assistance…but why?! Directed by Singin' in the Rain helmer Stanley Donen, Charade is full of twists and turns, both suspenseful and comical. Its charismatic leads handle both tones with aplomb, but are at their absolute best when it comes to flirty banter. Walter Matthau and James Coburn co-star. — Kristy Puchko, Deputy Entertainment Editor

Where to watch: Charade is now streaming on Prime Video.

3. Priceless "You can resist beauty, but you can't resist charm." Credit: TFM Distribution

Attention anti-capitalists — this movie is not for you! Priceless is a French rom-com-slash-sex-farce about an honest, hardworking gold digger just trying to scrape together an opulent lifestyle in exchange for her companionship. Jet-setting through Europe with her wealthy lovers, Audrey Tautou (in an impossibly chic wardrobe) seems to have it all figured out — until she mistakenly spends the night with a luxury hotel waiter (Gad Elmaleh) she mistakes for another rich mark. In a different film, this story could be harsh or its characters unforgivable, but Priceless remains light and jubilant by keeping us laughing at the unchecked vanity and excess before us. So, then, maybe this is a movie for anti-capitalists. — K.G.

How to watch: Priceless is now streaming on Prime Video.

4. Fever Pitch

This British rom-com has a disappointingly low American profile, likely because we went and remade it with Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore as Red Sox fans. The original Fever Pitch, itself based on a Nick Hornby book, stars Colin Firth (!!!) as a schoolteacher whose love for his soccer team, Arsenal, gets in the way of his budding romance with Ruth Gemmell. Guys and their sports, huh? If the tagline doesn’t thrill you (“Life gets complicated when you love one woman and 11 men”), then the kick of watching Mr. Darcy as a likable slob definitely will! — K.G.

How to watch: Fever Pitch is now streaming on Prime Video.

5. Runaway Bride Credit: Ron Batzdorff/Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

Julia Roberts and Richard Gere are a '90s rom-com dyad for a reason. Nine years after they paired up for Garry Marshall’s instant classic Pretty Woman, they returned as the central couple in the comedy helmer's Runaway Bride. Roberts is off-the-charts charming as Maggie, a woman known in tabloids for leaving three different men at the altar. Gere is swoon-worthy as Ike, a reporter assigned to cover the story of Maggie’s fourth and hopefully final wedding. Their attraction and mutual understanding are romance movie gold. Yet you can’t help but feel bad for poor Bob (Christopher Meloni), Maggie’s fourth fiancé, whose sports metaphors don’t stand a chance against that magical Gere/Roberts chemistry. — Alexis Nedd, Senior Entertainment Reporter

Where to watch: Runaway Bride is now streaming on Prime Video with the MGM+ add-on.

6. What If "In fairy tales, love inspires you to be noble and courageous, but in real life, love is just an all-purpose excuse for selfish behavior." Credit: entertainment one

Daniel Radcliffe forms an instant connection with a woman at a party, only to find out she’s happily in a long-term relationship. The pair decide to just be friends, despite the doubtful scoffing of everyone around them. Though the premise sounds PTSD-inducing to those of us who wasted years pining over unavailable crushes, What If (or The F Word, if you live outside the states) is a deeply comforting watch. Playful and grounded, the film soars thanks to its cast, featuring a magnetic Zoe Kazan, Radcliffe oozing relatability, and an unexpected (and chaotic) Adam Driver predictably stealing his scenes. Because, duh. — K.G.

How to watch: What If is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

7. Overboard

A little zany, a little underrated, and very '80s, this Goldie Hawn/Kurt Russell movie gained popularity over the years and deserves a spot on your binge list. Hawn plays the heiress Joanna Stayton, who ends up getting amnesia after falling off her yacht. Her husband uses this to abandon her, while local carpenter Dean (Russell) pretends Joanna is his wife and uses her for unpaid labor. The two fall in love in the way that only rom-com amnesia can bring people together, but Dean lives in fear that she might recall her own life and leave, hating him forever. — Proma Khosla, Senior Entertainment Reporter

Where to watch: Overboard is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

8. Tortilla Soup "Tortilla Soup" is a family drama as much as a romantic comedy. Credit: Samuel Goldwyn / Starz! Encore Ent / Kobal / Shutterstock

Tortilla Soup is a cozy and heartwarming watch that remains pleasant from start to finish. The American remake of Ang Lee’s Taiwanese hit Eat Drink Man Woman, this romantic-comedy-drama features Héctor Elizondo as a retired chef worried about his three adult daughters still living in his suburban LA home. While the plot focuses heavily on the four main characters' romantic trials and errors, it also gives time and space to exploring their evolving familial relationships as well. This makes Tortilla Soup a broader entry than many others on this list, and a perfect pick for when you’re in the mood for something comforting — much like the many mouthwatering Mexican dishes this film serves up. — K.G.

How to watch: Tortilla Soup is now streaming on Prime Video.

9. Sleepless in Seattle Credit: Bruce Mcbroom/Tri-Star/Kobal/Shutterstock

It might get frequently confused with You've Got Mail, but Sleepless in Seattle is solid company in the niche but excellent Tom-Hanks-and-Meg-Ryan-fall-in-love-without-meeting genre. Hanks plays widower Sam, whose son (Ross Malinger) convinces him to talk about his late wife on the radio. His story captivates listeners around the country, including Annie (Ryan), who writes to Sam and asks him to meet her at the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day. As the day ticks closer, life mostly goes on, but chance encounters and missed connections pile up until the fateful meeting.

We know what you're thinking: Do they go to the Empire State Building? Do they live happily ever after?? Who knows!! — P.K.

Where to watch: Sleepless in Seattle is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

10. (500) Days of Summer This is not a love story. Credit: Watermark / Kobal / Shutterstock

Sometime in the 2000s, romantic comedies stopped trying to be funny and started trying to say something meaningful, none more overtly than 500 Days of Summer. This indie darling breaks from rom-com formula to tell a non-linear story of a relationship coming together and falling apart. Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s sincerity is palpable and Zooey Deschanel, as the object of his affection, is a quirky girl so quirky she single-handedly ushered in a new era of messy bangs for millions of women everywhere. With unexpected touches of surrealism and a stellar supporting cast, 500 Days of Summer is a satisfying watch for a love story that hits you right in the gut. —K.G.

How to watch: (500) Days of Summer is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

11. Love & Friendship

Based on Jane Austen’s posthumously published novel Lady Susan, Love & Friendship is an 18th-century rom-com that’s surprisingly raunchy for what we’ve come to expect from Austen. The titular character of Lady Susan is a widow and a notorious flirt whose reputation precedes her when she comes to live with her brother and sister-in law at their country manor and proceeds to seduce a variety of characters. Love & Friendship was adapted and partially rewritten by director Whit Stillman, who also released a version of the novel with the movie’s title to supplement a retelling that "vindicates" Lady Susan from the salacious gossip that, as seen in the movie, is pretty much entirely true. — A.N.

Where to watch: Love & Friendship is now streaming on Prime Video.

12. Marry Me Credit: Universal Pictures

Jennifer Lopez is a queen of rom-coms, having headlined The Wedding Planner, Maid in Manhattan, Jersey Girl (opposite her current husband Ben Affleck), and the recently released Shotgun Wedding (also on Prime). But the most charming of the bunch may be this 2022 treasure, which has JLo playing a pop diva who falls for a mild-mannered math teacher (Owen Wilson). The unlikely couple marry onstage the night they meet because fame is strange. But love can be even stranger — and sweeter. By breaking the rules of romantic comedies past, Lopez and Wilson bring fresh thrills and plenty of chances to swoon. Bonus: The fashion in this one is a love affair all its own. — K.P.

Where to watch: Marry Me is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

13. I Want You Back

A rom-com starring Charlie Day and Jenny Slate, I Want You Back enchanted Mashable's Nicole Gallucci with its willingness to skip over some of the most played-out tropes of the genre. "Every successful rom-com has a source of authentic chemistry, and Slate and Day's natural rapport delivers," she wrote in her review. "The two shine as heartbroken hot messes who desperately want their search for soulmates to be over, and their shared sense of humor proves to be ceaselessly charming."* — Caitlin Welsh, Australia Editor

How to watch: I Want You Back is now streaming on Prime Video.

14. Clueless

Clueless, first of all, is iconic. Nearly 30 years have passed, but it's still a cultural touchstone for today's teens. Perhaps its staying power comes from its plot, directly lifted from the literal founder of the romantic comedy, Jane Austen. Like Austen's Emma Woodhouse, Clueless' Cher (Alicia Silverstone) acts as a matchmaker to everyone around her but can't seem to get her own love life in order. The story alone does not fully capture the movie's charm. Clueless is both hilarious and sweet, features unforgettable costumes, and most importantly, is filled to the brim with memorable, quotable lines. Cinema has never heard a more cutting insult than "You're a virgin who can't drive."*  — K.G.

How to watch: Clueless is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

15. The Idea of You Credit: Amazon MGM Studios

Anne Hathaway gives a significantly better performance than she needed to for this sexy little rom-com about a single mother falling for a younger pop star (Nicholas Galitzine). It was inspired by a Harry Styles fantasy — we were going to watch it no matter what! But Hathaway, who also produced the film, gives a simply captivating performance, elevating this crowd-pleasing romance to a complex story about a woman reinventing herself. You'll be surprised how quickly and how deeply you become invested in this sparkling 2023 hit. — K.G.

How to watch: The Idea of You is now streaming on Prime Video.

16. Notting Hill

The movie that cemented Hugh Grant's place in cinema history as one of the most lovable bumbling Brits of all time, Notting Hill is a rom-com hall-of-famer. This dreamy and captivating love story, bursting with heart, is just as poignant now as it was in 1999. If you aren't moved by the final scene, then we're sorry, your heart is simply made of stone, and there's not much we can do about that. 

Julia Roberts absolutely glows as international movie star Anna Scott, who tries to hide from the paparazzi by wandering into an adorable bookstore owned by an equally adorable dude named William Thacker (Grant). Because, as previously mentioned, Grant is at his most criminally charming here, an unlikely romance blooms between the pair from completely different worlds. A superb supporting cast and an airtight script from rom-com veteran Richard Curtis (Bridget Jones's Diary, Four Weddings and a Funeral, About Time) makes Notting Hill the definitive take on the "celebrity falls for regular person" genre — the standard to which all subsequent romances have been held.* — K.G.

How to watch: Notting Hill is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

17. Warm Bodies

Whoever says romantic comedies can't also be zombie thrillers just hasn't seen Warm Bodies  yet. Nicholas Hoult is a zombie who lives in an abandoned airport and spends his time consuming human flesh so he can experience the memories of his victims before they die. But when he sees Julie (Teresa Palmer), everything changes. He doesn't want to eat her. He wants to protect her. The more time he spends in her company, the more human he feels. His heart begins to beat, and slowly, he even regains the ability to speak. Now the misfit pair must not only save themselves from the hordes of zombies they're surrounded by, they must also find a way to share the discovery that zombie-ism might be reversible.

Written and directed by Jonathan Levine, and adapted from Isaac Marion's novel, Warm Bodies is both romantic and gory, touching and irreverent. It straddles multiple genres with confidence and style: a captivating and utterly unique love story that you won't forget anytime soon. — K.G.

How to watch: Warm Bodies is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

18. The Map of Tiny Perfect Things

Mark (Kyle Allen) is a teenager stuck in a time loop, living the same day over and over, and he has completely perfected it. He knows exactly where and when he needs to be to help his family, friends, and the attractive girls around town with their tasks to make his repeatable day as enjoyable as possible. Until the day something happens he does not expect: Margaret (Kathryn Newton) interrupts his routine. She's stuck in a time loop as well! Will they find a way to escape… together? (Yes, it's basically Palm Springs, with teenagers!) 

Written by Lev Grossman, based on one of his own short stories, The Map of Tiny Perfect Things is a sweet and entertaining romantic comedy about getting stuck in patterns and the courage it takes to break out of them. — K.G.

How to watch: The Map of Tiny Perfect Things is now streaming on Prime Video.

19. Emma

If you've seen the Gwyneth Paltrow Emma from 1996 or even Clueless, then you know all about this beloved Jane Austen tale of romance and missed connections. Emma Woodhouse fancies herself a matchmaker and sets up all her friends — but in doing so, she realizes she might not know as much about love as she previously thought. 

The best part about Autumn de Wilde's excellent and sumptuous 2020 adaptation is that this film understands more clearly what its predecessors did not: Emma is kind of a brat. She ignores her friends' wishes, insisting she knows better; she infantilizes them and pushes them toward men who aren't interested. Allowing a beloved heroine to exist in a gray area, both sparkling and fallible, makes this version of a well-loved tale more complex and satisfying than many of those that come before. And the top tier cast doesn't hurt: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Josh O'Connor, Callum Turner, Mia Goth, Miranda Hart, and Bill Nighy all give sublime performances. — K.G.

How to watch: Emma is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

20. Four Weddings and a Funeral

With multiple Academy Award nominations and Golden Globe wins, Mike Newell's Four Weddings and a Funeral is about as big as a romantic comedy can get. Though Hugh Grant was launched to stardom by this, his original bumbling romantic role, the film's strength is in the chemistry of the entire friend group who laugh and lovingly tease their way through the year's social events. As if you needed another reason to watch after you learned Hugh Grant was in it, Four Weddings and a Funeral was written by Richard Curtis, an absolute rom-com legend who also penned Notting Hill, Bridget Jones's Diary, and Love, Actually.* — K.G.

How to watch: Four Weddings and a Funeral is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

21. His Girl Friday

This classic screwball rom-com, adapted from the play The Front Page, sees star reporter Hildy Johnson take on one last assignment with her editor ex-husband before she gets out of the game for good to remarry and retire to a quiet life of motherhood. If you're a little burned out on contemporary comedy, there's nothing better for the soul than watching a dame with moxie stalk around in gorgeous skirt suits tossing out rapid-fire banter in a Mid-Atlantic accent. As Hildy Johnson, Rosalind Russell does it better than just about anyone. Throw in Cary Grant as the former boss who's still in love with her — and still gives as good as he gets — and this 1940 film still crackles with energy and wit.* — C.W.

How to watch: His Girl Friday is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

22. Upgraded

Ana (Camila Mendes) is a long-suffering intern at an auction house, dreaming of a lavish career in art while sleeping on the couch at her sister's apartment. But one day, after finally getting promoted to assistant, she finds herself on a first class flight to London. Seated next to her is the handsome William (Archie Renaux), who assumes Ana is wealthy like himself — and Ana doesn't correct him. Upgraded is a surprisingly funny modern-day Cinderella retelling directed by Carlson Young. It's got everything you want from a romantic comedy: charismatic leads, over-the-top villains (Marisa Tomei is excellent as the nightmare boss), and ridiculous, low-stakes shenanigans you can get behind. — K.G.

How to watch: Upgraded is now streaming on Prime Video.

23. Bridget Jones's Diary

Bridget Jones's Diary is a perfect movie, and we're not hearing any opinions to the contrary, thank you! Renée Zellweger gained 20 pounds to snag the role of Bridget, already a beloved character in the UK thanks to Helen Fielding's wildly popular Bridget Jones novels. The Brits were in an uproar about an American being cast as in a role that was archetypally British, but Zellweger's performance (and accent!) were so spot-on, the complaints quickly gave way to rave reviews.

The start of a film franchise and the best movie of the lot, Bridget Jones's Diary introduces us to an ordinary thirtysomething woman in London who, after turning 32 alone, vows to lose weight, quit smoking, stop drinking, and find love. Enter Hugh Grant as Bridget's preternaturally charming boss, and, because this is a Pride and Prejudice adaptation, Colin Firth as the man who couldn't seem more wrong for Bridget (his name is literally Mr. Darcy!!!). Even if you know where this funny and grounded rom-com is going, you're sure to have a blast along the way.* — K.G.

How to watch: Bridget Jones's Diary is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

24. Molli and Max in the Future

Let's get one thing out of the way. Michael Lukk Litwak's quirky, sci-fi rom com is absolutely bonkers — and that's what makes it so dang lovable. It's When Harry Met Sally, set a billion years in the future! 

Molli (Zosia Mamet) is an impulsive, wannabe space witch, and Max (Aristotle Athari) is a methodical robotics whiz. The two crash into each other, literally, and quickly form a friendship. Over the course of 12 standard galactic years, their paths diverge and come back to each other, again and again. Are they friends? Or could they be something more? — K.G.

How to watch: Molli and Max in the Future is now streaming on Prime Video.

25. Legally Blonde

What can we possibly say about this truly perfect movie that hasn't already been said? Written by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith, Legally Blonde is bright, bubbly, and seriously smart — just like its main character, Elle Woods. Reese Witherspoon is iconic as the blonde bombshell who gets into Harvard Law School with the goal of wooing back her old boyfriend, only to learn that loving herself gives her much more satisfaction. Luke Wilson is a perfect supportive new flame, and Jennifer Coolidge is peak Jennifer Coolidge as Elle's BFF. 

Endlessly quotable, inspiring a successful Broadway musical, and garnering multiple awards, Legally Blonde is both a smash hit and a honest-to-goodness cultural milestone.* — K.G.

How to watch: Legally Blonde is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

UPDATE: Nov. 7, 2025, 2:00 p.m. EST Originally published in February 2022, this post has been updated to reflect Prime Video's current offerings.

In 2025, a pair of headphones or earbuds is pretty much non-optional. That's why there are hundreds of different headphones and earbuds in varying shapes, sizes, styles, colors, and, of course, prices. And these days, you can grab a random pair off the digital shelf without too much research and find that they do the job just fine.

SEE ALSO: Black Friday deals we hope to see — Apple AirPods 4 for under $90

However, if you're tired of settling for "just fine," then it's worth investing in the best headphones available.

If you're not keen on spending too much money, Black Friday season offers a great opportunity for grabbing premium headphones at more accessible price points. Generally, Black Friday offers some of the best deals on headphones you can find year-round, making it an especially good time to buy. Leading up to sales, you can also track any price drops through Mashable's deals coverage.

Below, you'll find some of our top picks that we chose after hours and hours of listening, from the newly-released Sony XM6 headphones and second generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones to old favorites.

How to choose the best headphones

We won't beat around the bush: There's no definitive "best" product here. Sure, elite audio brands put out high-quality products across the board, but even within each of those brands, you'll find different tiers of products. Some will deliver better value, and some will deliver better hardware and active noise cancellation.

All this to say, the best pair of earbuds or headphones largely comes down to personal preference and how you plan to use them. Some listeners swear by over-ear headphones, while others prefer the minimalism of earbuds — one is not necessarily better than the other. Athletes who like to use headphones at the gym will appreciate waterproof materials and the best open earbuds, while frequent fliers will prefer devices with long battery life, comfort, and portability. Finally, music lovers and audiophiles will want to invest in premium features like a custom equalizer, spatial audio, or best-in-class active noise cancellation.

To help you pick your pair, we tested all of the headphones in this guide (and a lot that didn't make the cut). Here, you'll find the top headphones of 2025 for noise cancellation, music, price, and wired connections.

What about wired headphones?

We focused primarily on the best wireless headphones for this guide. While wired headphones have their fans, wireless headphones are just more convenient for most of us. If we had to pick, we'd recommend the Marshall Mode earbuds as our top wired pick. Some of us are also fans of Apple's EarPods.

Other headphones we've tested

Most recently, we tested the JBL Tour One M3 headphones and the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC, and we may add them to this guide in a future update. We also tested the Marshall Major V headphones and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 headphones, both of which had excellent sound profiles and easy-to-navigate custom equalizers on their companion apps. Ultimately, they didn't make the cut on our final list for a couple of reasons. With the Major V headphones, we love that their claim of 100+ hours of battery life held up under our testing, but we found them to get uncomfortable after a couple of hours. We also would have appreciated ANC at their $149 price point.

For the B&W headphones, we loved their design and premium feel in addition to their truly impressive sound, but we found that their ANC was only so-so. If you're willing to spend $399, you can find a better balance of sound and ANC in the Sony XM5 headphones.

We've also tested the Sonos Ace headphones and Dyson OnTrac headphones. And while we loved them both for sound quality and noise cancellation, they fare in the way of AirPods Max — left out of our recommendations for their high price points.

In the testing pipeline

For our future updates, we're testing out more budget noise-cancelling earbuds and headphones.