Technology

TL;DR: The Silent Hill 2 remake is now only $27.39 at Amazon. That's 45% off its original list price at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Konami 'Silent Hill 2' (PS5) $27.39 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $22.60 Get Deal

With Silent Hill f one of the best games of 2025, the long-running horror franchise has been enjoying a renaissance following the success of the 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake on PS5 — one of the best games of 2024. 

If you’ve been saving yourself to jump back in, you can now try the latter for a new low price. As of Jan. 9, the Silent Hill 2 remake is now available for only $27.39 on Amazon, thanks to a 45% price cut from its original $49.99 listing. Confirmed when checking price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is the lowest the Bloober Team-developed remake has been sold for on the store.

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

This low sticker price definitely doesn’t mean you’re getting a poor game in return. In addition to being one of the finest releases of its year, getting a high score in our own Silent Hill 2 review at Mashable, this best-selling hit has received acclaim and awards recognition across the board.

For instance, alongside receiving six nominations at The Game Awards, it even won ‘Best Remake’ at the New York Game Awards. If you’ve got Silent Hill f burning up your 2025 backlog, the Silent Hill 2 remake is the perfect warmup. 

If you’re also keen to upgrade your PS5’s setup, you can get the Samsung Odyssey G8 QD-OLED gaming monitor for its lowest price yet at Woot. For those who are after a PlayStation 5 display that’s a bit bigger, the 50-inch Roku Smart TV is over $50 off at Amazon, part of a limited-time deal. 

The weekend's almost here, so whatcha gonna watch? If you're like me, it'll be something on Netflix you can make your way through in a weekend, or even into next week.

CES 2026 has been full of big announcements — advances in the chips that power AI, major product launches, and more — but the Vegas tech convention is also known as a haven for weird tech.

We here at Mashable are lovers of weird tech and odd gadgets, and, thankfully, CES 2026 has not disappointed thus far. We've got folks on the ground in Vegas scoping out everything odd on the showroom floor — here are six of the weirdest and most fun things we've seen.

Check out the full list of Best of CES 2026 finalists, as selected by CNET Group, here.

Teeth music

Ever wondered how your music...tastes? Well, you can now find out...kind of. The Lollipop Star is a device that plays music through your teeth. The company sells $9 lollipops that use bone conduction to play music into your inner ear, while you also get a sugar fix.

For less than a ten-spot, you can buy your favorite song and have a little novelty treat. Not a bad deal.

Credit: Lava Brand Brain-sensing headphones

Neurable showed off headphones at CES that measure how fast you think. The idea is that gamers, especially, could track their reaction times and thought processes. Using this data, the company has developed a system that should help you focus better. Mashable's Chance Townsend tested it out and found it pretty cool.

"The feeling afterward was quite pleasant, all things considered," Townsend wrote. "Everything on screen felt slightly slower, but I was reacting more quickly."

Credit: Mashable / Chance Townsend Headphones that twist into speakers

In a bit of old-school gadgetry, new audio brand TDM debuted headphones that can twist into a speaker at CES 2026. It's a neat idea — go from private listening to sharing with one physical movement.

Credit: TDM A vibrating chef's knife

Mashable's Haley Henschel tested Seattle Ultrasonics' C-200 UltraSonic Chef's Knife, which vibrates as you use it to make cutting easier. Though the vibrations are nearly indetectable to the naked eye, the movement helps slice more easily.

Wrote Henschel:

"I had no trouble getting it to cut paper-thin pieces of tomato with a light touch. Seattle Ultrasonics' rep likened it to riding a bike versus pedaling an e-bike in that it makes your experience more effortless."

The $399 knife could prove useful for many home chefs, especially those with disabilities or physical limitations.

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable Panda companion bots

In a bit of strange-but-sweet tech, Mind With Heart Robotics showed off its AI-powered panda An'An. The idea is the fuzzy little guy will be an interactive companion for elderly folks with cognitive decline or kids working on social skills.

Credit: Mind With Heart Robotics The AI soulmate Credit: Mashable / Chance Townsend

Chinese company Lepro displayed its Ami device at CES 2026, a desktop OLED screen that houses an AI "soulmate" to keep you company. And that is not sat...at all.

The company pitched the Ami as a companion that would be empathetic and connect with its users on a deper level. Giving an AI companion a physical form is certainly an interesting choice.

Wrote Mashable's Chance Townsend:

"Most AI companions today live where everything else already lives: your phone, your browser, your notifications. They blur into the same infinite scroll that's already exhausting us. Lepro Ami, by contrast, asks for a dedicated spot on your desk. It doesn’t follow you everywhere. You have to choose to keep it around."

The OLED smart purse Credit: Mashable / Chance Townsend

Would you spend $9K on this smart purse? Created by Richard Peuty, Infinity appears to be a regular high-end handbag, but this statement piece has an OLED display directly embedded in the leather. And while the Kickstarter tiers start at around $800, the top-end Atelier Edition surpasses $9,000. It's a device described by Mashable's Chance Townsend as "one of the show’s more delightfully unnecessary ideas."

CES is always good for some truly wonderful and strange tech — thankfully, 2026 delivered in both regards.

Want to see more of the best in weird tech at CES 2026? The finalists for the Best of CES 2026 awards have been announced. See the nominees and learn when the winners will be announced.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

I used to dread sharing my screen during meetings because my Excel spreadsheets were a mess of raw data. I'd spend forever hiding columns and zooming in, only to have to undo it all later. Then I found custom views—a "save state" that toggles between layouts in just two clicks.

SAVE $30: As of Jan. 9, the Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) has dropped to $219 at Amazon. This deal saves you $30 on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch $219 at Amazon
$249 Save $30   Get Deal

Our favorite smartwatch for most people, the Apple Watch SE 3, has dropped to $219 at Amazon. If you're an Apple user and a smartwatch has been on your radar for the year ahead, this is a deal well worth checking out.

Overall, this discount saves you $30 on the Apple Watch SE 3's usual price of $249. What's even better is you can have your pick of a couple of different color options at this price as well: the starlight aluminum case with a starlight sport band or the midnight aluminum case with a midnight sport band. No matter which one catches your eye, this is a sweet offer to jump on.

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

The Apple Watch SE 3 is a great pick for those who aren't looking to have any over-the-top features in their smartwatch, which is why we've chosen it as the best smartwatch for most people. Mashable's Timothy Beck Werth notes that, "You get 98 percent of what you need from an Apple Watch or fitness tracker, and at a much better price."

Some of the features included on the Apple Watch SE 3 are an activity tracker, heart rate monitor, a daily sleep score, temperature sensing, and safety features like Fall Detection, Crash Detection, and Emergency SOS. It even boasts an always-on display, so you can check out the watch face at any point without raising your wrist.

Deals like this may not stick around for long, so act fast to save on the Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) at Amazon. Alternatively, if you'd rather splash out on a fancier model, you can also save on an Apple Watch Series 11 right now.

Posting content on OnlyFans is far from easy money, as several creators told Mashable last year, and the average creator only raked in around $1,300 in 2023. That being said, there are high earners on the platform — like Tiffany Wisconsin, who only started shooting adult content five years ago. 

Wisconsin (who goes by either Tiffany Wisconsin or Wisconsin Tiffany) typically earns upwards of $100,000 per month on OnlyFans (and supplied a screenshot of her November 2025 earnings to Mashable as proof). Wisconsin spoke to Mashable about what it takes to earn this much, including seeking help and staying consistent.

SEE ALSO: Former OnlyFans CEO's next app is coming — and it allows topless pics Upselling on OnlyFans

Wisconsin started posting solo bikini photos on OnlyFans in 2021, and in 2023 began shooting explicit content (meaning, having sex with other people on camera — and Wisconsin sometimes has sex with multiple people for a video, called a "gang bang"). But even though Wisconsin films hardcore porn, she believes that shooting solo content can produce a lot of cash. 

"I think it's all up to how you're selling your content, because you could do solo stuff," she said in an interview with Mashable. "As long as you know how to sell it, if you can upsell."

Wisconsin creates personalized content for an upcharge, which can involve degrading her fans, sexting, and sending spicy Snapchats. "I do a lot of upselling, and that will make a huge difference."

The importance of social media

OnlyFans famously lacks a search function, though, resulting in a lack of discoverability on the platform. So Wisconsin, like many adult content creators, posts on mainstream social media platforms to promote herself.

"Rage bait seems to work the best for me," Wisconsin said, referring to content designed to elicit anger. While not everyone is into it, she finds that it performs well. "I figured out what makes people react, and then it gets subscribers."

Sometimes she doesn't like doing rage bait, because people believe that's how she really is — but it's just for views, and it generates money for her. An example is a caption on an Instagram Reel where Wisconsin wrote that a man went broke because of her, and he put her in will. 

"I just made it up," she said, "and I got so many views and so many subscribers," she said, and even got into a porn niche: financial domination, when customers get aroused by the idea of Wisconsin taking all their money.

SEE ALSO: A beginner's guide to understanding Dom/sub dynamics

"I didn't even intentionally do that," she said, but she decided to keep doing it. "I was like, 'Well, these guys are gonna give me money. I might as well just keep doing that then.'"

Social media also gave way to her main niche: older men (her bios declare that she has "granddaddy issues"). She fell into the category after posting a TikTok about older men to see the reaction. It gained a huge number of views. Men were nice to her and started buying her things. 

"I was like, 'Wow, I like this.' I'm gonna just keep marketing towards older men," she said. "It just comes so easy to me now, because people know I'm the girl that films with older men."

"Even when I was doing solo content, I was marketing towards older men," Wisconsin continued. "So a majority of my subscribers are older men."

She posts daily on multiple social media accounts (Instagram, X, TikTok, and others), but she doesn't actively monitor them throughout the day.

"I used to do that a long time ago, being like, 'Oh, is it going to get views or not?' But now, I don't do that, and when I don't do that, [the video] always seems to get views," she said.

SEE ALSO: The best sexting apps for discreet NSFW chats

And asked whether she's ever been shadowbanned (or deprioritized or hidden on mainstream social platforms, which those platforms typically deny), Wisconsin said, "A lot of times, if people are shadowbanned, it's not that they're shadowbanned, it's because they're not posting content that the internet wants to push out." 

Wisconsin always stays up to date on algorithm changes, and that makes a difference, she said. 

Creators who believe they're shadowbanned might not understand their content isn't interesting, Wisconsin said. "I've done the same thing where I thought it was, and then today…I look back, and…it's not like, 'Oh my gosh… I want to watch this again.'"

Tiffany Wisconsin's top OnlyFans tips

Treat OnlyFans like a business, Wisconsin said. 

She's been working with an assistant for about a year, who handles her bookings, checks emails, and the like. "I really do think it's important to have extra help," she said. Other adult content creators Mashable has spoken to about what making porn requires (besides naked bodies) also said they rely on other people, like social media managers.

To earn a substantial income on OnlyFans, Wisconsin advises being consistent, having a plan, and not undervaluing yourself.

"A lot of girls undervalue themselves," she said. "They don't charge enough for their content."

"If you think about going to the store and you see something that's not as much, and then you're wondering, like, 'why is it not as much? It must not be as good,'" she explained. 

Women may think that if they charge less, more people will buy their content, but Wisconsin said it actually might turn them away because they'll wonder why it's not priced higher.

Even if you don't make six figures a month, you might be able to break above the yearly $1,300 average.

Stephen Colbert opened his monologue with a far more somber tone than usual, addressing ICE's fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good that took place in Minneapolis on Wednesday — and the Trump administration's reaction to it.

"By now we've all seen the video," says Colbert. "In it, as reported by the New York Times, Good 'appears to be turning away from a federal officer', and, as reported by the Washington Post, 'the agent was able to move out of the way and fire at least two of the three shots from the side of the vehicle as it veered past him.' It sure looks like a federal agent gunned down an American citizen without cause in front of witnesses on a city street. But the administration is telling you that you didn't see that. They're saying you saw him respond to an act of domestic terrorism. They're telling you to believe them and not your eyes."

Colbert goes on to say that this should be an alarm bell for the entire country, regardless of whether you live in a red or blue state.

"If we let this go on, regardless of who your state voted for, one day you'll have unaccountable, armed government agents acting with impunity in your town," says the host. "So peacefully, and non-violently, let your leaders know you don't want that."

Elsewhere, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and The Daily Show's Ronny Chieng have also reacted to the shooting.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Phantasmal Flames Booster Bundle is now 16% off at Amazon, dropping to $55.47 from $65.80.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokemon Company Pokémon TCG Phantasmal Flames Booster Bundle $55.47 at Amazon
$65.80 Save $10.33 Get Deal

The Pokémon TCG market may be unpredictable, but Amazon pricing occasionally lands in a place that actually seems a bit more budget-friendly. As of Jan. 9, the Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Phantasmal Flames Booster Bundle is $10 off at Amazon, dropping the price to $55.47 from its typical listing of $65.80.

This 16% price cut isn’t dramatic, but it’s a noticeable dip for a sealed Pokémon trading card product that has stayed in steady demand since release. The Booster Bundle format is especially popular with collectors who want more than a couple of loose packs, but aren’t ready to spring for a full booster box. 

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

This discounted price is still a little higher than its market value of $42.94, but shipping costs on TCGplayer make Amazon the top choice right now.

Each Phantasmal Flames Booster Bundle includes six booster packs from the Mega Evolution set’s Phantasmal Flames expansion. Inside every pack, you’ll find 10 game cards, one Basic Energy, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card, giving both physical collectors and digital players something to work with. The expansion itself leans heavily into Mega Evolution, featuring standout Pokémon like Mega Charizard X ex, Mega Gengar ex, Mega Heracross ex, and Mega Lopunny ex.

If you feel like springing for even more Pokémon TCG booster packs, the Phantasmal Flames Booster Box is still on sale. For Mega Evolution collections, both the Mega Lucario and Mega Gardevoir Elite Trainer Box are discounted right now at Amazon.

The Consumer Electronics Show brought us a fresh crop of new laptops this week, and I was on the ground in Las Vegas getting to know them all. (Final step count: 69,142.)

Naturally, new processors were on the docket. This year's batch of Windows PCs will be powered by updated AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm chips that promise better AI performance, better integrated graphics performance, and multi-day battery life. Good stuff, but pretty standard next-gen fare.

SEE ALSO: Best of CES 2026 awards announced: See all the winners and nominees

What's more interesting is the kinds of laptops these chips will be powering. It seems like every PC maker is pushing its consumer and commercial models to be thinner and lighter than ever before, upping the number of MacBook Air dupes on the market. I think everyone saw how much attention the 2.18-pound Asus Zenbook A14 got at last year's CES and wanted a piece of the pie.

Modularity was another trend I noticed among enterprise machines at CES 2026. Dell, HP, and Lenovo are making it easier for you (or your IT department) to bust open your PC for easy repairs or replacements. None of them have taken it to the level of right-to-repair champ Framework just yet — Lenovo gets close — but it's heartening to see mainstream manufacturers take this more seriously.

Finally, Asus and Lenovo are continuing to explore and refine screen innovations that they introduced in years past. The former revisited its two dual-screen laptops, while Lenovo further dabbled in rollable displays and actualized a twisting one. They're the sorts of new-fangled form factors that make CES so exciting year after year.

Featured Video For You The best laptops we saw at CES 2026

I can't help but wonder what happens when CES attendees and tech enthusiasts all leave Vegas and get back to reality. An AI-induced RAM famine is expected to make laptops get more expensive in the coming months. That's probably why Acer and Asus have yet to reveal any prices for their lineups, and why Lenovo and HP are only providing "estimated" or "expected" costs. There's a good chance their numbers will climb before launch.

Let's take a look at my top laptops of CES 2026 before the comedown hits. Spoiler: Lenovo and Asus had banner weeks at tech's biggest showcase.

Best laptop overall: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura Edition Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

What a mouthful, huh? Don't let the convoluted name throw you off: Lenovo's latest business laptop has a brand-new "Space Frame" internal design, which puts components on both sides of its motherboard for simpler DIY fixes. You can swap out its keyboard, speakers, fans, battery, and USB ports if something conks out. Big-name PC makers have historically spurned such extensive modularity (and Lenovo is the biggest name in PCs), so this one earns our Best of CES gold medal in the laptop category. Hopefully it'll be a trendsetter. It's set for release in Q1 at an estimated starting price of $1,999.

Best ultraportable: Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Ultra Aura Edition Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

At 2.15 pounds, the Yoga Slim 7i Ultra Aura Edition is officially the lightest laptop I've ever held — yet it doesn't feel fragile or cheap. It's equipped with a beautiful 2.8K 120Hz "POLED" (flexible Plastic OLED) display and maxes out with a high-end Intel Core Ultra X9 Series 3 chip. Lenovo has it pegged at a starting price of $1,499.99 with a Q2 release timeframe.

Best dual-screen laptop: Asus Zenbook Duo Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The dazzling dual-screen Zenbook Duo has a slimmer "hideaway" hinge, brighter and smoother 3K OLED displays, and lighter Ceraluminum chassis. That doesn't seem like an inspired update on paper, but when you look at the laptop next to its predecessor in person, its sleekness is truly striking. Asus also reworked the ROG Zephyrus Duo, its gaming-forward counterpart, but it's mainly playing catchup.

Best sequel: Asus Zenbook A16 Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Asus' new Zenbook A16 is the supersized version of the Zenbook A14, our ultralight Best of CES winner last year. It's impressively feathery for a 16-incher, weighing in at 2.65 pounds, or nearly an ounce lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Air. Big fan of its 3K 120Hz OLED touchscreen, too. It'll be the first laptop to launch with Qualcomm's new top-tier Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme chip.

Read more about the new Asus Zenbook A16.

Best gimmick: Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 7 Auto Twist View this post on Instagram

Lenovo's twisting business laptop has made the jump from concept to reality. The top half of it swivels between laptop and tablet modes on a motorized hinge, and you can control its position using voice commands. Additionally, its 10MP webcam has a face-tracking feature that automatically repositions its lid so it's always facing you. I can see it becoming an office regular: It's perfect for presentations. Look for it in June with an estimated starting price of $1,649.

Read more about the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 7 Auto Twist.

Best redemption arc: Dell XPS 14 and 16 Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

In a dramatic plot twist, Dell resurrected its popular XPS laptop line a year after killing it off as part of a confusing rebrand. Not only that, but the company fixed some of the series' most controversial features along the way. The new XPS 14 and XPS 16 have lighter, thinner designs with physical function rows, subtly outlined touchpads, and modular USB-C ports. This whole ordeal never needed to happen, but in the end, Dell gave the people what they wanted and then some. (It's me, I'm the people.) Select configurations of the 2026 XPS 14 and XPS 16 are now available starting at $2,049.99 and $2,199.99, respectively, with cheaper variants launching next month.

Read more about Dell's XPS revival.

Most intriguing MacBook rival: Asus ExpertBook Ultra Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

This 14-inch enterprise laptop wasn't on my radar initially, but after seeing it in Asus' showroom, I can't wait to get my hands on it for testing. The Asus ExpertBook Ultra is thinner and lighter than a MacBook Air, weighing as little 2.18 pounds and measuring 13.9 millimeters thin. (It's the thinnest laptop I saw at CES.) Yet it's also reminiscent of a MacBook Pro. It'll pair a powerful Intel Core Ultra X9 Series 3 processor with an "ExpertCool Pro" thermal solution, which an Asus rep described to me as a wind tunnel-like design with quiet, oversized fans. It has a 3K tandem OLED touchscreen with an anti-glare finish that comes standard; MacBook Pros might get OLED this year or next, and their nano-texture display upgrade costs extra. What's the catch? And maybe relatedly, how much will Asus charge for this thing?

Honorable mention: Lenovo's rollable concept laptops View this post on Instagram

Lenovo loves experimenting with unconventional designs that incorporate bendy OLED panels, and this week it showcased two new laptops with OLED screens that roll up and out. The ThinkPad Rollable XD is an enterprise model with an extendable double-sided display, while the Legion Pro Rollable is a gaming laptop whose display grows wider. They're only concepts right now, but don't lose hope that they'll hit shelves eventually. Lenovo sent a fully realized rollable laptop to market last summer, more than two years after it debuted as a prototype.

Read more about Lenovo's rollable concept laptops.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

SAVE $250: As of Jan. 9, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is on sale for $549 at Amazon. That's a 31% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Ultra 2 $549 at Amazon
$799 Save $250   Get Deal

If your Christmas tree was missing an Apple Watch-shaped gift this year, now’s your chance to treat yourself; the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is on sale at Amazon. And it's not just on sale, it's reduced to its lowest-ever price. As of Jan. 9, this smartwatch is down to $549 from $799, a pretty impressive saving of $250.

As a fitness tracker, the Ultra 2 really excels. Tough enough for running, cycling, hiking, swimming, and diving. For winter mornings or late night activities, the Always-On Retina display and dual-frequency GPS will both keep you guided. You'll also get offline maps, Compass Waypoints, and Backtrack to navigate efficiently.

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

It also has advanced metrics which you can read in the Workout app. Heart rate zones, custom workouts, training load, and running efficiency all help you train better and smarter. The stats stretch beyond fitness and also monitor health, with ECG and Blood Oxygen monitoring, sleep tracking, irregular heart rhythm notifications all included. And on top of all this, it boasts an extra long battery life, giving you 36 hours for normal use and 72 hours in Low Power Mode.

Get this Apple Watch deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $50: As of Jan. 9, the Kindle Colorsoft Kids (16GB) is discounted to $219.99 at Amazon. This is 19% off its usual price of $269.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Kids (16GB) $219.99 at Amazon
$269.99 Save $50   Get Deal

Though the holidays have passed, Amazon still has some deals lingering around for shoppers to enjoy. Among them are discounts on their e-readers, including the Kindle Colorsoft Kids (16GB). If you've had one in mind to get for your child so they can start the new year with new reads, now is the time to grab it.

The Kindle Colorsoft Kids has dropped from its list price of $269.99 to $219.99, allowing you to save $50. Keep in mind it's currently listed as a limited-time deal,, so you'll want to be quick to score it at this price before it's gone for good.

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

Thanks to the Colorsoft display, the Kindle Colorsoft Kids can make comics and colorful art from books really pop. It also has an excellent battery life that can last up to eight weeks, so there's plenty of time to cruise through books before plugging it in for a recharge. It's even waterproof, so it can handle future trips to the pool or beach as the warmer weather comes around.

As a bonus, it even comes with 12 months of Amazon Kids+, which is a subscription designed for kids between the ages of 3 to 12. With it, they'll gain unlimited access to a vast library of books. Once the 12 months is up, the subscription will be auto-renewed every month starting at $5.99 per month, but it can be cancelled at any point if you're not interested.

In our overall review of the Kindle Colorsoft, Mashable's Samantha Mangino noted that, while the regular Kindle Colorsoft may not be worth it for the average reader, the "color display is a huge boon for kids who want to experience their favorite books in color." If it's caught your eye, now's the time to make a move on the Kindle Colorsoft Kids.

SAVE $60: As of Jan. 9, the Apple Magic Keyboard is on sale for $189 at Amazon. That's a 24% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Magic Keyboard $189 at Amazon
$249 Save $60   Get Deal

iPad accessories are the perfect way to transform your device, whether to make it easier to work or create designs or artwork. One accessory that can completely change how you use your tablet is the Apple Magic Keyboard. It’s a keyboard case that connects to your iPad with the Smart Connector and essentially transforms it into a laptop, letting you type and even use a trackpad. And as of Jan. 9, it’s on sale.

Not only is it on sale, but according to camelcamelcamel, it hasn't been priced lower than this in well over a year, so you’re really getting a great deal. The list price is normally $249, but right now you’ll save $60 with the new price of $189.

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

The keyboard is compatible with the A16 or 10th generation iPads. It has an adjustable stand for comfortable viewing, and a large click-anywhere trackpad that supports Multi‑Touch gestures and has a cursor for easy navigation. Plus, the keyboard comes in multiple language layouts, including U.S. and British English, Arabic, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and more.

Get this Apple deal from Amazon now.

Late night shows from Jimmy Kimmel Live! to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Late Night with Seth Meyers have responded to the killing of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis, and the Trump administration's attempts to justify (read: spin) it in defence of the ICE agent.

The Daily Show's Ronny Chieng addressed repeated claims by Donald Trump and secretary of homeland security Kristi Noem about the shooting, ICE's recruitment campaign tactics, and ICE's brutal raids over the last year.

"If you're thinking they don't need to enforce the law this violently, you're correct," says Chieng in the clip above. "They don't need to be this violent. The violence and showing the violence is the point. This is why just breaking down these videos frame by frame doesn't tell the whole story of what happened here.

"People keep saying this ICE agent feared for his safety? Maybe so. But we also have to acknowledge that this woman probably feared for her safety too, and for good reason," Chieng continued. "And telling someone to just comply with law enforcement isn't helpful when ICE has spent the past year acting less like law enforcement and more like a lawless militia.

"So unfortunately we can keep expecting this to happen, not because ICE is going into dangerous situations, but because they keep going into safe situations and then making them more dangerous than they need to be."

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know west coast schools.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Postseason

• Green: Leaps and bounds

• Blue: NBA arenas

• Purple: Same second name

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: NFL playoff rounds

• Green: Jumping ability

• Blue: NBA arenas

• Purple: ____ Devils

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #473 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• NFL playoff rounds - CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP, DIVISIONAL, SUPER BOWL, WILD CARD

• Jumping ability - BOUNCE, BUNNIES, HOPS, UPS

• NBA arenas - DELTA, FEDEX, SCOTIABANK, SPECTRUM

• ____ Devils - BLUE, NEW JERSEY, RED, SUN

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

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

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

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

SAVE $10: As of Jan. 9, the Waterpik Cordless Pulse is on sale for $39.99 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Waterpik Waterpik Cordless Pulse $39.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $10   Get Deal

Looking to impress your dentist in 2026? Invest in a water flosser. And right now is the perfect time to do it because as of Jan. 9, the Waterpik Cordless Pulse is on sale at Amazon. Right now you’ll save $10 on the list price, down to $39.99 from $49.99. There are multiple color options too, so you can choose between white, pink, or blue, whatever matches your aesthetic.

The cordless flosser comes with two classic jet tips, a removable 6oz tank, and a lithium-ion battery with USB charging. The entire unit is waterproof too, making it safe to use in the shower and easy to clean after every session.

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

And it’s designed for comfort. Its quiet water flossing technology lets you floss without loud distractions, and with two pressure settings to suit your needs. And no matter which setting, it will help remove up to 99.9% of plaque bacteria, reducing your risk of gingivitis, cavities, and bad breath. This model even has the ADA Seal of Acceptance for both safety and effectiveness, and you’ll get a two-year warranty.

You can find this Waterpik deal at Amazon now. It’s stamped “limited-time”, so act fast so you don’t miss out.

SAVE OVER $1,000: As of Jan. 9, the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 is on sale for $1,198.99 at Amazon. That's a 52% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 $1,198.99 at Amazon
$2,499 Save $1,300.01   Get Deal

Looking for a portable power station unit that won't let you down? You're in luck, because the Jackery 2000 v2 is back on sale at Amazon. As of Jan. 9, the price has been cut from $2,499 down to $1,198.99. That's a saving of $1,300, and according to camelcamelcamel, the best-ever price for this model.

Jackery products are always reliable, and this model is no different. It delivers a strong 2,200W output across three AC ports and has a large 2,040Wh capacity. It also has a 100W USB-C PD port for fast charging of everyday devices like your phone or laptop.

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

And despite its power, this unit is impressively lightweight, weighing just 39.5 pounds. This makes the unit not only great for a home backup solution, but easy to take with you on a camping vacation or road trip. The charging is also flexible and fast, reaching 80% in 66 minutes via AC, fully charging in just over 100 minutes with Emergency Super Charging, or running on solar power in around six hours with 400W panels.

And with any product of this price, you want to be sure that it's a solid investment. Thankfully, the 2,000 v2 is built with a long-lasting LiFePO₄ battery that should last up to 10 years.

Pick up this deal from Amazon now.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, Jan. 9, 2026:

AcrossQuestion in a late-night text

• The answer is YouUp.

Plentiful

• The answer is Ample.

Saint ___ and Nevis (Caribbean nation)

• The answer is Kitts.

Baby-bringing bird

• The answer is Stork.

Take care of the tab

• The answer is Pay.

DownHimalayan herbivores

• The answer is Yaks.

Fail to include

• The answer is Omit.

"High five!"

• The answer is UpTop.

The "U" of UV rays

• The answer is Ultra.

Annoying to deal with

• The answer is Pesky.

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

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

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

It's no secret that Marshall has mastered the classic retro design. What is a secret is how good its noise-cancelling headphones, the Marshall Monitor III, are.

I have a few theories as to why these headphones fly under the radar. First and foremost, Marshall is more known for its speakers. Then there's the fact that other noise-cancelling brands like Sony, Bose, and Apple generally take the top spots on best-of lists (including ours). Finally, as mid-range headphones — which are neither class-leading nor the most affordable headphones out there — the Monitor III headphones simply get overlooked by reviewers and consumers alike. In short, their lack of obvious superlative power makes them the middle child of the headphone world (no offense intended to any middle children out there).

These headphones are more than just their good looks. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Despite all that, the Monitor III headphones are some of the best I've tried. After using them regularly for a few weeks, I'm impressed by how much Marshall gets right (where those aforementioned Bose and Sony headphones falter). Best of all, as a mid-range option, they sit under the $450+ flagship price range that's become normal, retailing for a more stomachable $379.99 at full price, or $279.99 if you can grab them on sale.

To be totally honest, going into the testing process, I was sure the look of these headphones would be their best feature — but let's get into why they're so much more than that, and how they've shifted my headphone worldview.

Marshall Monitor III $279.99 at Amazon
$379.99 Save $100   Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy The best on-ear controls I've ever tried

I don't care if this is a deeply unexciting point to start on; I need to talk about the Monitor III on-ear controls, which are the new Platonic ideal for all headphones from here on out.

The placement! The tactility! The perfection of these on-ear controls! Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Marshall keeps it simple with three tactile controls: a multidirectional control knob, the M button, and the ANC button. The latter two are located on the end of the hinge of the right and left ear cup, respectively, making them easy to locate without looking. The M button can be programmed to perform a multitude of tasks, from activating Spotify Tap to switching between the two equalizer settings. The ANC button, as the name suggests, toggles between the noise-cancelling and transparency modes. Perfect, simple, no notes.

The app allows for plenty of customization on the M button. Credit: Screenshot / Marshall And even with the ANC button. Credit: Screenshot / Marshall

The multidirectional knob, however, is the true star of the show, serving as the power button, volume control, and forward/backward button for music. Having encountered buttons on headphones that try to do too much (if we're long pressing and triple pressing, we've officially lost the plot), the knob accomplishes the versatility by shifting entirely up and down, or side to side. No finicky touch controls or sliders, no triple presses, just the audio playback performing as it's supposed to.

As much as I enjoyed it, I wasn't too surprised to encounter this knob mechanism — I had seen it before when testing a Marshall speaker.

Incredibly customizable, from ANC to spatial audio

As you may have gleaned from my ode to the touch controls, the Marshall companion app lets you customize so much of these headphones.

In addition to setting the buttons, there are standard features like an equalizer and toggling the auto-play on and off (for the latter, I chose off — the wear detection is admittedly a little laggy on these headphones).

The Marshall companion app allows for plenty of customization. Credit: Screenshot / Marshall Credit: Screenshot / Marshall

However, the Marshall app offers even more: There's a standby timeout option both for when the headphones aren't playing and for when they're not connected. The time can be set from zero to seven hours in increments of an hour, and zero to 55 minutes, in increments of five minutes, offering plenty of flexibility.

SEE ALSO: 6 of the most stylish headphones for bringing together form and function

Then, there's the battery preservation settings, the adjustable ANC, and the soundstage option. (As an aside, the ANC is solid — certainly not the best out there, but it does the job). The last on that list is Marshall's spatial audio setting — rather than offering options for listening while you're still or on the move, Marshall's app lets you set the size of the "room" the sound will take up, as well as the amount of the soundstage you want, from 10 to 100 percent. In all the headphones I've tested, I've never encountered this level of customization for spatial audio features.

The standby settings and soundstage settings are where the Monitor III headphones really start to stand out. Credit: Screenshot / Marshall Credit: Screenshot / Marshall

As a bonus, the app is easy to navigate, consistently branded with the look of the headphones, and features just the right amount of detail. For instance, when selecting the equalizer setting as the M-button preset, the app clearly shows what two equalizer settings are currently in place. Similarly, in the battery preservation screen, toggling the slider from none to max clearly shows which features are activated at each level of preservation.

Customization feels intuitive, with settings populating where you'd expect. Credit: Screenshot / Marshall You'd be surprised how many companion apps aren't this straightforward. Credit: Screenshot / Marshall Sound balance that doesn't lean too bass-heavy (finally)

I test a lot of headphones, and generally, I find that audio products tend to conflate "balanced" audio with audio that predominantly features bass. As someone who prefers a more mid-heavy mix, the Monitor III headphones felt like the audio match I've been looking for.

Though the custom equalizer allows you to filter between the five presets or opt for a custom mix, I was often most happy with the Marshall preset out of the box. The Korean pop-rock band Day6's hit "You Were Beautiful" felt made for these headphones, with sweeping vocals, electric guitar, and bass guitar especially standing out (plus a touch of piano in the verses). Similarly, the end of Billie Eilish's "Happier Than Ever" sounded angsty and crunchy in the best way possible (where a distorted guitar emphasizes the anger of the song). Considering Marshall's branding, it's unsurprising that more rock-heavy songs sounded especially great.

That said, softer strings sounded just as lovely. The finger-plucking of the acoustic guitar in Liana Flores' "recently" sounded crystal clear, making me feel like I was listening to an intimate performance in a cafe. In the same vein, Ebony Loren's take on the bossa nova classic "O Pato" sounded especially bouncy and playful in its quick guitar pattern, clear vocals, and trumpet solo.

SEE ALSO: I tested the best Beats headphones for sound quality, portability, style, and value

That's not to say these are the best headphones I've ever used. Though they do a decent job, these aren't the headphones to best enjoy house music or EDM. More generally speaking, they can also lean a bit flat, lacking the depth of those premium Bose or Sony options — but for the price gap, the difference is warranted.

Wear comfortably while looking stylish

Last but not least, let's tackle the design of these headphones. Marshall made a gorgeous product with the Monitor III, from the pebbled ear cup, the gold accents of the name (Dyson could take some notes on how to do branding right), and the touch of exposed wiring.

In my humble opinion, these headphones simply look better than most others out there! Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

It won't be to everyone's aesthetic, but I far preferred this unique design over the recently released Nothing Headphones. Plus, though the Marshall ear cups are on the lower-profile side, I found the give of their headband and the padding of the ear cushion to be far more comfortable than the Nothing headphones, and more akin to something like the Bose QuietComfort headphones. The result? Headphones that wear as well as they look.

The comfort of these headphones makes them great for a longer wear time — which is great news, considering they offer 70 hours of battery life with ANC, far outperforming most other models by at least 30 hours, and our current favorite headphones for battery life, the Sennheiser Momentum 4, by 10 hours.

A mid-range contender to be reckoned with

Are they perfect headphones? No. But if you don't need class-leading sound and ANC and can make do with both of those being just pretty good instead, the Monitor III headphones pick up the slack in areas where the most popular headphones overlook.

Their design is unique, but actually functional, their tactile controls are the best I've tried, and their customization is hard to beat. Even with their price being on the higher end of the mid-range scale, they're worth picking up — but especially if you can grab them on sale.

Marshall Monitor III $279.99 at Amazon
$379.99 Save $100   Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy

A new telescope in Chile has discovered a rapid asteroid as wide as eight football fields, making full spins in less than two minutes. 

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, built to repeatedly photograph the entire southern sky, had not yet begun its full scientific mission when it found asteroid 2025 MN45. Even so, during a brief test run, the telescope started to reveal the smallest worlds in space.

Over seven nights, Rubin's large digital camera recorded hundreds of thousands of images. In those images, astronomers identified more than 2,100 previously unknown asteroids. By watching how their brightness changed from one image to the next, researchers could measure how fast they spun and what kinds of surfaces they had.

Located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, 2025 MN45 is the fastest-spinning large asteroid detected so far by a long shot, said Sarah Greenstreet, a National Science Foundation NOIRLab astronomer, who presented the discovery at the 247th American Astronomical Society meeting in Phoenix this week. The previously known fast rotators complete a turn in about one hour, with some others spinning around in 30 minutes, though those asteroids had less-reliable data, she told Mashable. 

"If you were standing on this ultra-fast spinning asteroid, you'd be traveling at nearly 45 mph," Greenstreet said. 

SEE ALSO: Watch a real supernova blast evolve over 25 years in new telescope video

Asteroids are leftover building blocks from the birth of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago. By studying how they spin, what they’re made of, and how they break and reform, scientists learn how planets — including Earth — came to be.

These findings are among the first Rubin observations published in a scientific journal, appearing in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. They already reveal a population of asteroids that had barely been sampled before. As the survey continues, discoveries like these may reshape scientists' understanding of asteroids' collisions, internal compositions, and the early solar system itself.

In particular, the initial results suggest that crashes may not be the only way asteroids reach extreme speeds, perhaps pressing astronomers to develop new explanations.

An asteroid doesn't shine on its own, but reflects sunlight. Most have lumpy, irregular shapes, so as they spin, different surfaces catch the light, causing their brightness to rise and fall in a repeating pattern. From that pattern, scientists can measure how long it takes an asteroid to rotate.

For decades, astronomers believed they understood the spin barrier. Most asteroids larger than a few hundred yards were thought to be loose piles of rock, held together by gravity. Spin them up too fast, and those bits should fling apart. That limit corresponds to a rotation time of about two hours, Greenstreet said.

But Rubin’s early data is confounding. Among the newly discovered asteroids, researchers identified 76 with reliable spin measurements. Nineteen of them rotated faster than the long-accepted limit, and three, including 2025 MN45, rotated in less than five minutes.

Astronomers discovered 2025 MN45, a 710-meter-wide asteroid in the main asteroid belt with a spin of less than two minutes, during a test run of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory last spring. Credit: RubinObs / NOIRLab / SLAC / AURA / P. Marenfeld illustration

To remain intact, the 710-meter-wide asteroid must be made of solid rock, Greenstreet said, likely a chunk of the dense core of a larger object. A cosmic collision could have broken it free and sent it on its wild rampage. 

"Determining the parent body of this fastest-rotating asteroid would be quite difficult," she told Mashable. "It's also quite possible that its parent body was catastrophically disrupted, completely breaking apart, during the collision."

Though 2025 MN45 is the reigning champion for speed right now, that may not be the case for long. Astronomers believe the telescope may find lots of these in the near future. 

"With their distance away, there's a lot of the asteroid population in the main belt that we haven't been able to study before," Greenstreet said at the meeting, "but the Rubin Observatory is now just allowing us to start to get a chance to see." 

In case this week hasn't stressed you out enough, Greenland 2: Migration has arrived to kick your cortisol levels into overdrive.

Incredibly, this sequel to Greenland imagines an even worse-case scenario to the first film's premise. Sure, the 2020 disaster movie featured a massive comet called Clarke that was barreling toward the Earth so fast and furious it was sure to destroy most of the world's population and life as we know it. But what if, five years later, the survivors have a new series of Herculean obstacles to face before they can find any kind of peace? 

SEE ALSO: 2026 movie preview: All the films you need to know about right now

Greenland 2: Migration throws earthquakes, tsunamis, and radiation storms with vicious lightning at the Garrity family — and that's all in the first 20 minutes. From there, the story takes them on a dangerous trek to find a "promised land" where they can live happily ever after. But beneath all this action and disaster, this sly sequel is about the challenge of being a good dad as Gerard Butler's family man, John Garrity, gives everything he has to save his family at every turn. 

Brace yourself, because Greenland 2: Migration will have you gasping and crying before those credits roll. 

Greenland 2: Migration imagines a brave new world of horror and hope.  Credit: Lionsgate

Set five years after Clarke first pitched the Garrity family into a frantic flight to a high-security bunker in Greenland, this sequel shows a world transformed by the comet's impact. The globe is pockmarked with impact craters and death. In voiceover, John (Butler) explains that at least 75% of the world's population has been wiped out. Those who survived struggle against radiation that makes it dangerous to be outside without a special mask.

In their bunker, the Garritys' new community shares resources and debates what the future can look like. Rations are running low and tremors shake the bunker, threatening to shatter it. But scientists theorize that the crater where the biggest chunk of Clarke hit could become a new cradle of life. It's said the air and water there is pure, the land rich and ready to be cultivated. Plus, the furious natural disasters that plague this bunker don't get past the new mountains formed by the crater's impact. 

SEE ALSO: 25 good things that happened in 2025

Determined to give his 15-year-old son Nathan (Roman Griffin Davis) and his wife Allison (Morena Baccarin) the best life this world can offer, John asks them to pack up and trek from Greenland to this promised green land in the South of France. But getting there won't be easy. 

It's not just that nature is ruthlessly indifferent to the remnants of humanity. What resources and terrain that remains is being fought over. Marauders make the roads dangerous, while what's left of London is a scene of riots. As in Greenland, the Garrity family will see the best and worst of humanity, finding vicious foes and earnest friends. And through it all, John doggedly pushes his family forward. 

Greenland 2: Migration has a grimmer tone.  Credit: Lionsgate

The experience of watching Greenland was similar to a panic attack. One sequence after another made things harder for the Garritys, the plot playing out like the escalating worst-case scenarios that anxiety can trigger. And on top of that, the ticking clock of Clarke's impact made for chest-tightening tension. There was an incredibly prolonged sense of scramble to the first film, which separated John and Allison, forcing them to fight not only to survive but to find each other, all while keeping their young son — who has diabetes that requires insulin — safe.

In Greenland 2: Migration, there's less excitement and more sadness. The frenzy of being chased out of their spacious and pristine suburban home is swapped for a speedy fleeing of a crumbling bunker, where all they own can be shoved into a backpack or two. Inexplicably, the only mention of Nathan's diabetes is that he should grab as much insulin as he can before they leave the bunker. Shouldn't insulin be refrigerated? Wouldn't he run out eventually? Shhhh, this movie doesn't have time for your petty logic.

In the first film, the Garritys were everyday folks. Now, they are trauma-hardened refugees, alert and scared, but not as panicked as they were on day one. This shifts the feeling of the movie from fearful to a world-weariness that weighs heaviest on John, because he knows something the others don't. In the first act, it's hinted that John's scavenging trips to recover resources from the radiation-rich outside world have irrevocably hurt his health. His ragged cough becomes its own ticking clock: Can he get his family to safety before his time is up? 

Gerard Butler is riveting in Greenland 2: Migration.  Gerard Butler stars in "Greenland 2: Migration." Credit: Lionsgate

Butler's long been a solid choice as an action lead. Here, his broad shoulders stand strong against a sea of physical assaults from water, fire, stone, and man-made violence. His signature growl roars to boost the morale of his family as they face nauseating challenges, like traversing a rope bridge during an earthquake. But it also purrs low and alluringly to offer comfort to his loved ones. This is a man not only looking to make it to tomorrow, but all too aware that he's paving the path for his son's future one hard-won step at a time. There's a throbbing heartbreak to that.

The existence of the whole world was under threat in the first film. Here, the stakes are more immediate, personal, and devastating; mortality takes on a new meaning for an aging father who's increasingly aware he'll never see his boy become a man. 

Screenwriters Mitchell LaFortune and Chris Sparling neatly knit this emotional thread into the barrage of action set pieces. Director Ric Roman Waugh (Greenland) brings disaster-rich pages to vivid life, reimagining major cities and natural landmarks as wastelands or life-or-death obstacle courses. There's plenty of nightmare fuel in what the Garrity family faces. Yet Greenland 2: Migration doesn't quite hit the way the first one did. 

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

I'm not sure if that's the movie's fault or mine. This sequel does have a more elegiac tone, and understandably so. Outside of John's declining health, what he's seen in the last five years is that even the end of the world as we know it does not guarantee that mankind will get our shit together and embrace community and kindness. Even as he's taking down a bad guy with a gun, there's a look of sorrow in his eyes, because this struggle just won't end. But am I projecting? On my way to see this film and on the way home afterwards, I couldn't help but doomscroll through horrifying news headlines about violence, war, and cold-blooded murder. I'm aware that this hopelessness might be my own. I might have brought it into my understanding of the film. Or this sequel is reflecting a fear that's in the zeitgeist right now.

To be fair, Greenland 2: Migration does offer sparks of hope, both in compassionate people met along the way and a climax that strives for heart-warming. And it is soul-lifting to see Butler as the dad who won't ever give up. Waugh's message with the movie seems to be a recognition that the evils and violence of the world can be overwhelming, even for the strongest among us. But there's still value in fighting for a better tomorrow. Still, after all the horrors seen on screen and off, this sequel is less entertaining than it is a determined reminder of how much cruelty in the world is not caused by an act of God, but acts of man. 

Greenland 2: Migration is now in theaters.