Technology

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs. Sony WH-1000XM5: Is it worth the upgrade?

Mashable - Sat, 07/05/2025 - 11:15
Can you tell which is which? Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable XM6 vs. XM5: Specs

At a glance, here are the spec differences between the two headphones:

XM6 specs
  • Processor: Sony QN3

  • Microphones: 12

  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 (LDAC support)

  • Battery: 30 hours with ANC (40 hours without)

  • Quick charge: 3 hours in 3 minutes

  • Noise cancellation settings: Active noise cancellation, transparency mode, off

  • Spatial audio: Yes

  • Colors: Midnight blue, black, silver

  • Inputs: USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack

  • Weight: Approx. 8.96 ounces

XM5 specs
  • Processor: Sony QN1

  • Microphones: 8

  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 (LDAC support)

  • Battery: 30 hours with ANC (40 hours without)

  • Quick charge: 3 hours in 3 minutes

  • Noise cancellation settings: Active noise cancellation, transparency mode, off

  • Spatial audio: Yes

  • Colors: Midnight blue, black, silver, smoky pink

  • Inputs: USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack

  • Weight: Approx. 8.82 ounces

From a spec perspective, you might notice right off the bat that there aren't that many differences. Here's how that plays out in actually using both pairs:

XM6 vs. XM5: Sound quality

According to the XM6 press release, Sony worked with Grammy-winning and nominated audio engineers to make these headphones sound as good as possible.

In short, it does show. Out of the box, the XM6s generally sounded fuller and warmer, letting more elements of the song shine through. Mashable's Timothy Werth wrote in his standalone review for the XM6s that he found vocals to shine particularly, and I wholeheartedly agree.

We put both headphones to the test with a variety of different songs. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

That said, it wasn't as if every song featured a day or night difference — it was harder for me to pick out major differences on a live version of the Eagles' "Hotel California." But for the majority of the songs I tested, like Hall & Oates' "Rich Girl," to simpler songs that heavily feature vocals like Feist's "Now At Last," and Natalia Lafourcade & Los Macorinos's "Soledad y el Mar," the differences stood out almost immediately. Their vocals sounded more dynamic — not quite as if they were in the room with me, but marginally less like I was streaming it from my phone or computer.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best headphones of 2025 — how do the new Sony XM6 compare?

With the app, both headphones offer plenty of equalizer settings. With the XM6s, you'll actually get fewer presets — eight compared to the XM5s' 12 — but the same two custom preset slots. The XM6s' presets also feel more distinct and offer helpful descriptions underneath each one, whereas the XM5s feature a couple of more vague names like "bright" and "excited." The XM6s also feature a gaming preset, showing an effort to make these headphones more seamlessly versatile for daily use.

The Sony XM5 equalizer presets. Credit: Screenshot: Sony Versus the XM6 equalizer presets. Credit: Screenshot: Sony

Unlike the XM5s, the XM6s offer three listening modes: standard, background, and cinema. You can't use the equalizer with the latter two, but both are meant to simulate a certain experience — for background, a "distant ambiance," according to Sony's app, and for cinema, a more immersive experience powered by Sony's 360 Audio Upmix tech. Each of the three modes does actually provide a distinct sound, giving the XM6s an edge over the previous generation.

Winner: WH-1000XM6

XM6 vs. XM5: Noise cancellation

From a pure specs point of view, the XM6s should offer better noise cancellation than the XM5s: They have 12 microphones compared to the XM5s' eight microphones. The XM6s also feature a new QN3 processor, which Sony says improves the headphones' adaptive noise-cancelling capabilities.

In practice, I didn't notice a vast world of difference between the XM5s and XM6s. My partner records a lot of audio for his work, so noise-cancelling headphones are a necessity for our dual work-from-home space. With my first few wears of the XM6s, it was hard for me to tell if any less noise was getting through — only after being very nitpicky did I think his voice was slightly more dampened by the newer headphones.

SEE ALSO: The best noise-cancelling headphones we use and love

This isn't necessarily a knock against the XM6s, considering that the XM5s do have really impressive noise cancellation. More so, it feels like a limit of what noise cancellation in general can do — I've never tested a pair of headphones that offer pure silence in every situation. Relatively speaking, though, both of these headphones sit near the top of the pack from what's available on the market these days.

In addition to my apartment, I used both headphones at a park next to a busy street, a cafe with plenty of music and patrons coming in and out, a busy press room at VidCon, and while taking walks in my neighborhood. In each of those situations, I didn't notice huge performance differences.

Both headphones give the right amount of noise cancelling so you can focus while you work. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Considering the XM6s are $50 more, it's hard to make a case for why they're objectively better. The addition of a feature like manually adjustable ANC — something I've been seeing more and more on cheaper options like Skullcandy's latest earbuds — could've helped justify the higher price point.

Winner: WH-1000XM5

XM6 vs. XM5: Comfort and design

As similar as they look, the biggest difference between the XM6s and XM5s is a design change: the ability to fold up the ear cups.

It's easier to tell the difference between the two pairs now. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The XM5s did away with the folding design found on the XM4s, making them a bulkier option for traveling. With this newer generation, Sony brought the feature back while retaining the overall look of the XM5s. While there will be some personal preference at play here, in my mind, this brings together the best of both worlds.

SEE ALSO: The best noise-cancelling headphones for flying: 8 picks to improve your travel experience

This design difference does result in an XM6 case that's both thinner and more compact, making it a better option for frequent travelers.

The WH-1000XM6 case got a good downsizing thanks to the foldable ear cups. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

On a less dramatic note, Sony also switched up the button designs on the XM6s, making the power and Bluetooth button a circle. Though not drastic, it's a nice quality-of-life upgrade that makes it easier to identify which button is which without looking, or memorizing their positions.

The XM5s (left) have two rectangular buttons, compared to the circle and rectangle combo on the XM6s. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Both headphones also feature the same exterior touch controls that can be toggled on and off.

As for the actual wear of both headphones, the XM6s are ever so slightly heavier, with a weight of 8.96 ounces compared to the XM5s' 8.82. Does this result in any real difference in comfort? For me, not particularly. The headband on the XM6s was also slightly thicker, resulting in a more cushioned feel, but overall, these headphones use the same exterior materials, making them virtually indistinguishable by touch alone.

Winner: WH-1000XM6

XM6 vs. XM5: App features

The WH-1000XM6s and XM5s both use Sony's Sound Connect app. The in-app functions are basically the same, with minor differences.

Reviewing these headphones side by side is essentially one long game of spot the difference. Credit: Screenshot: Sony Credit: Screenshot: Sony

The XM6s have the listening mode section that the XM5s don't (as mentioned in the sound quality section), but beyond that, the app is pretty much identical. Sony's app isn't my favorite — though it offers a fair bit of customization for your device, it ultimately has so many different areas to navigate that it doesn't feel the most intuitive.

The app itself offers the standard fare, including automatic powering off, voice control settings, multipoint toggling, and automatic pausing. As someone who prefers buttons to touch controls, I wish the XM6s allowed you to toggle the NC button to pause or play music, but like the XM5s, it can only be set to quickly enable Spotify Tab, Endel, or Amazon Music Play Now. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a future update.

Winner: Tie

XM6 vs. XM5: Value

Sony still sells its circa-2020 WH-1000XM4 headphones for $350, so I guess it shouldn't be a surprise that it's keeping the XM5s available at $400, and upped the price on the XM6s to $450. Then there's the fact that competitors' headphones are priced similarly: Bose raised the price on the QuietComfort Ultra headphones to $449 from $429 sometime in the spring, while Apple's AirPods Max continue to sit at the impressively high $549.

The Sony headphones and the Bose QuietComfort Ultras, in order of their release date (from left to right). Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

But I'm not so convinced that we should expect a $50 price raise with each generation. If anything, the XM6s' new price makes the XM5s more appealing, especially if they drop to the $300 sale price we see them hit with some regularity. Sure, you won't be getting the absolute latest and greatest, but if you don't particularly care about folding ear cups, it's a much better value than going for headphones that don't make any hugely sweeping changes.

Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5

Winner: WH-1000XM6s for frequent travelers, XM5s for everyone else

Like I said up top, if you have the XM5s, there's no real reason to upgrade to the XM6s. If your current headphones or on their absolute last legs or you travel frequently, the XM6s are a worthy upgrade.

But if the folding ear cups don't call to you, I recommend saving the $50 (or even more, depending on available deals) and grabbing the XM5s. The sound difference between the two headphones is noticeable side by side, but the XM5s are still excellent-sounding headphones in their own right — you'll just likely have to play around with the equalizer a bit more to draw out the best possible sound. And don't get me wrong, the other design differences are nice upgrades to the XM6s, but ultimately, they're minor and don't quite justify a price bump.

Despite being a 2022 release, the XM5s are far from feeling outdated at this point in time, making them a great option for sound quality, comfort, and noise cancellation.

Check out the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones Sony WH-1000XM5 $299.99 at Amazon Shop Now Sony WH-1000XM6 $448.00 at Amazon Shop Now

Still can't decide? Check out our full reviews of the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones and WH-1000XM6 headphones.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Echo vs. Echo Dot: Which device should you buy during Amazon Prime Day 2025

Mashable - Sat, 07/05/2025 - 11:00

Smart speakers like Amazon's Echo family of products are a great starting point if you’re looking to get a smarter home. They're affordable and easy to use, and beyond just playing music, they can help you find your next binge-watch, read the news, and adjust room settings. 

Since debuting a decade ago, Amazon’s Echo devices have multiplied quickly. There are nearly a dozen iterations of the smart home devices, but let’s not overcomplicate it. The Echo (Fourth Generation) and Echo Dot (Fifth Generation) fall in the middle of the Echo lineup. While they look like virtually the same device, the Dot offers the perks of an Echo in a smaller package.

So what’s one to do? To help you out, we compared these smart speakers side by side. Here’s everything you need to know if you’re deciding between the Echo and the Echo Dot.

When is the best time to buy an Echo or Echo Dot?

Before we even get into all the logistics of both devices, you should be prepared for when to shop. Yes, they start at affordable prices — the Echo starts at $99.99 and the Dot at $49.99. However, you don't need to (and shouldn't) buy them at full price. The best time to buy is during shopping holidays like Black Friday, when you'll find Echos at their lowest prices ever. We've seen the Echo Dot go as low as $22.99.

Because Echos are Amazon devices, Amazon Prime Day presents huge savings opportunities. Be sure to stay on the lookout when Prime Day 2025 kicks off on July 8.

Privacy concerns on Echo devices

Another thing to mention before we get into the Echo vs. Echo Dot debate is something that affects all Echo users, no matter the specific device. Rightfully so, there are privacy concerns around Echos as they've been known to record entire conversations, listening in when you're talking about potentially sensitive information.

To limit some of this risk, in the Alexa app, you can review your daily voice history and delete anything you don't vibe with, manage the access to data certain skills have, and more. On the exterior of both the 4th Gen Echo and 5th Gen Echo Dot, you can also find a mic-off button that will prevent any audio input from reaching Alexa.

However, in 2025, Amazon is making even bigger changes that could affect user privacy. Previously, users could choose "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" in settings, which meant that all requests you made were processed locally rather than getting sent off to Amazon's servers. As of March 28, 2025, Amazon is taking away this setting, meaning all requests will be sent through Amazon servers.

While Amazon promises that all information requests are encrypted and secure, it still means that the retailer has access to all user data now. If you have concerns, there are other smart home options to explore with better privacy.

Good things come in colorful packages. Credit: Stacia Datskovska / Mashable Difference between Echo and Echo DotAmazon Echo smart speaker review (4th Gen) Amazon Echo (4th Gen) $99.99 at Amazon
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The Echo weighs 34.2 ounces and its dimensions are 5.7 x 5.7 x 5.2 inches. On its round exterior, you'll find an action button, volume buttons, a mic-off button, a light-up ring, a power port, and a 3.5-millimeter audio output. With three distinct color options currently available at Amazon, this under-$100 device is sure to fit your home decor seamlessly.

Setting up the Echo is also seamless and you can use it within minutes. Indeed, the only things inside the package are the device itself, a power adapter, and two guides. The setup guide is highly visual, which is always a perk. To begin, you have to download the Alexa app and sign in. No, you don't need to have a Prime account to use an Amazon smart device (though its range of possibilities surely increases for those of us who are Prime members). Plug in the included power adapter into the Echo and then plug the Echo into a wall outlet. The light ring on the Echo will turn blue when it’s on and then orange when Alexa greets you. Next, connect the Echo to your home WiFi network. The Alexa app will then walk you through the rest of the setup process, including customizing your "wake word," mastering the pronunciation of your name, allowing access to phone contacts, and more.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best Echo devices to add to your smart home

Once all that is ready, you're good to go. Give your newest smart home companion a warm welcome: After all, it will be your go-to from now on for blasting music, waking you up in the morning, providing news and weather reports, calling loved ones, and so much more.

Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker review (5th Gen) Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 release) $31.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $18.00 Shop Now

The Echo Dot takes smart living to a new level. Though this device is two years newer than the aforementioned Echo (4th Gen), it's actually $50 cheaper.

The Echo Dot weighs 10.7 ounces, a third of the size of the Echo, and its dimensions are 3.9 x 3.9 x 3.5 inches. This baby can easily fit on countertops, shelves, or nightstands. Similar to the Echo, it boasts an action button, a microphone-off button, volume controls, a light ring, and a power port. It pretty much comes with the same color options as the bigger Echo, except for its deep sea blue shade being slightly darker than the Echo's twilight blue shade. Potayto, potahto.

Setup is also a breeze with the Echo Dot. First, plug it into a wall outlet and open the Alexa app to start setup. (You’ll need to download the Alexa app on your smartphone beforehand.) Once you open the app, select “devices” and then select the “+” icon. Follow the on-screen instructions from that point on and personalize the device to your liking.

What you get when you order an Amazon Echo Dot. Credit: Stacia Datskovska / Mashable Smarter, easier living featuresEcho

The Amazon Echo functions as your personal butler and best friend. Since it's a smart speaker that connects to the Alexa Voice Service, you use it to do everything from playing the latest hits to purchasing some kitchen staples to killing your boredom with a round of Jeopardy! Advanced sound technology helps the Echo immediately respond to you and recognize your voice. In fact, during the setup process on the Alexa app, Echo learns your voice's cadences and pitch by making you repeat some sample prompts. Impressive.

You can tell Alexa exactly what to put on your grocery list and manage the items on your Alexa app. Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Prompt response: Beamforming technology, noise-cancellation, and seven microphones will enable the Echo to hear you from your nearby location. Just speak the wake word and say commands like “Alexa, find an Amazon Music playlist,” or “Alexa, call Dad” for immediate assistance. Something to note: Your speaker does not by any means have to be called Alexa. Other fun options include Echo, Ziggy, or Santa. Referring to your device as that last option unlocks a whole new Ho-Ho-Ho personality for it. Another thing to note: Amazon is getting better about accessibility, in the form of Adaptive Listening. This feature, when enabled, essentially gives you more time to finish speaking — Alexa's way of accommodating speech patterns like stuttering.

Beats master: Of course the Echo can play music, but it’s more than a basic speaker. It comes with Dolby premium sound that fills a whole room — with deep bass and clear high notes alike. If you have two Echo devices in one room, you can actually tell one of them to "play music everywhere," which will amplify sound to even higher levels and make for an actual at-home clubbing experience. Word of caution, however — Alexa didn't cooperate with me, strangely, when I tried to test out this feature. For those of us who are highly picky about music streaming services, Amazon lets you set default options which you can change at any time. Do you want Alexa to pick music from Apple Music but podcasts from Spotify? No problem, there's an option for that.

Hands-free communication: If you need to message or call loved ones, the Echo has your back. You can use Alexa to communicate with people via phone or text on the Echo, without grabbing your smartphone. Plus, Alexa can also make household announcements across Amazon Echo devices at home, so your family knows if dinner is ready or guests are arriving. Use the Drop-In feature to connect to other Amazon Echo devices or the Announcement feature to record cute messages in your own voice (accompanied by a range of sound effect offerings, including dinner bell, kiss, trumpet, as well as, a bit alarmingly, toilet flush and fart).

Control smart devices: If you have other smart devices that work with Alexa, you can easily control them with Echo's Zigbee smart home hub. Just ask Alexa to dim the lights, adjust the room temperature, or turn on a compatible smart-plug-connected appliance. The best thing about this? You don’t have to press any buttons, and you can even engineer routines for yourself ahead of time to set these processes in motion at a certain time in your home.

The Echo can double as a night light Credit: Stacia Datskovska / Mashable Echo Dot

Making the smart living switch isn’t always budget-friendly, but the Echo Dot is affordable and provides great voice control features. These features aren't all that different from what you get with the Echo. The only true upgrades are new motion sensors that let you touch-control the device, the 1.73-inch front-firing speaker (versus a woofer and tweeters), and "Eero mesh network support so the Echo Dot can serve as a node for your Eero network if you use one," according to our sister site, PCMag. Use the Dot to receive reminders, save cookie recipes to your app for future reference, bask your room in a night light glow, communicate with friends and family, soothe yourself with some white noise, and beyond.

Listening companion: We’ve all tried the conventional speaker setup, which typically involves too many outlets and wires. Echo Dot offers the opposite experience for all your listening needs. You can use your voice to play music through streaming services, including Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify. Plus, Audible and other media forms are available on the Echo Dot. Ask Alexa to find the perfect playlist or podcast, and you’ll have something to listen to when you cook in the kitchen, lounge on the couch, or work out in your living room. Another extra-cool feature? The Dot will start playing deep sleep music when it detects sounds of snoring — if you enable it to do so.

Task help: There are times we wish that we had a personal assistant for little things, including making lists and scheduling calendars. The Echo Dot helps make your everyday routine (and entertainment) more seamless with voice control. Try saying: "Alexa, set a timer for five minutes," "Alexa, play the Reuters news briefing," "Alexa, open my daily horoscope," or "Alexa, find my phone." The possibilities are endless. Be sure to reference the "more" tab on the Alexa app to browse through all of the Echo Dot's offerings.

Use the Dot to send messages to houseguests, remind you of tasks, and more! Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Converse with and check in on loved ones: Like the Echo, the Echo Dot allows you to send messages, make phone calls, and use other Echo devices as intercoms. Enjoy hands-free communication with loved ones and make announcements via Drop-In to keep everyone in touch at home. If you have elderly parents at home, you can also take advantage of Alexa Together — Amazon's remote caregiving offering that does cost extra but allows you to connect compatible fall detection devices to the Echo Dot, see snapshots of your loved ones' daily interactions with Alexa, get 24/7 access to trained agents who can call 911 in case of an emergency, create gentle reminders such as "take your pills," and more.

Monitor your smart home environment: The Echo Dot also offers the option to monitor smart devices at home. If you have light bulbs, thermostats, or streaming media players that are compatible with Alexa, you can control their activity with the Echo Dot. Just speak to Alexa in your room of choice, and you can easily monitor lighting, temperature, and more with verbal commands. Also, if you enable sound detection routines, you can program a particular sound (dog barking, oven dinging, door opening) to trigger a certain Alexa Routine. This feature has an accessibility bonus since it can be used as a way to provide visual cues to those with hearing challenges. For instance, "if Alexa detects running water for a period of time... she can trigger the living room smart lights to flash on and off, serving as a visual reminder to shut off the faucet," as reported in USA Today.

Don't let the Dot's size fool you — it's mighty smart. Credit: Stacia Datskovska / Mashable Price and competitionEcho

At $99.99, the Echo is moderately priced, but it comes with benefits that go beyond other smart speakers. With its high-tech sound features, including Dolby audio, you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite beats at the right volume. When you’re entertaining guests, you can engage the multi-room music feature to turn your pad into a dance floor (adjusting bass settings accordingly). In addition to playing music, the Echo allows you to control smart devices and communicate with loved ones via voice control. It also comes with a skills range so extensive that it might take you months to try them all out.

The Echo comes with a one-year limited warranty that covers defects in materials and workmanship. If you would like additional protection, you can buy an extended warranty separately at Amazon.

In terms of competition, the $99.99 Apple HomePod mini can be considered a pretty close match (at least price-wise). It's teeny compared to the Echo, though, and a larger/more advanced Apple smart speaker — the HomePod — will cost you $299 (see our full review of the Apple Homepod). While this competitor might be a better choice for Apple fans, due to its easy iOS compatibility, Siri isn't as smart or loyal of an assistant as Alexa in our opinion.

Echo Dot

For those on a technology budget, the 5th Gen Echo Dot delivers all the smart speaker benefits at a fraction of the price. At $49.99, it’s more affordable than other Amazon Echo devices (despite being the newest Dot) and still has desirable features like advanced voice recognition, smart device control, and assistance with small tasks via Alexa.

Unlike the Echo, the Echo Dot only comes with a 90-day limited warranty. It’s applicable to defects in materials and workmanship and you can contact Amazon’s Customer Service for assistance. This warranty, too, can be extended to a one-year, two-year, or even three-year plan for an additional fee.

If we're talking about what's available on the smart speaker market that can compare to the Dot, the Google-Assistant-powered Nest Mini (2nd Generation) immediately comes to mind, as it also costs $49.99. The Nest Mini is cute as a button (and weighs almost as much). It's compatible with streaming services like Spotify, Pandora, and iHeart Radio, as well as Youtube, has smart home pairing with Arlo, Nest, Ring, and other appliances, and it allows you to voice-purchase essentials from storefronts that aren't limited to Amazon. Still, with the Dot's new-and-improved front-firing speaker, there's no question that it wins the contest when it comes to quality audio. Also, with its upgraded temperature and movement sensors, the Dot seems to be leading the smart home game. I mean, what other speaker will listen for the sound of broken glass and immediately alert you to a potential robbery happening when you're MIA?

Clearly, the Echo is way bigger than the Echo Dot (reflected in their price difference). Credit: Stacia Datskovska / Mashable So, to Echo or to Echo Dot?

If you want a large smart speaker that delivers high-quality sound, allows you to engage in hands-free control, and use your voice to communicate with loved ones, the $99.99 4th Gen Echo is a good call. Another perk of this device is that it’s customizable: You can choose a decorative shell to compliment your home decor vibe. Plus, it works with other Amazon Echo devices for the ultimate sound setup whenever you need it.

If you don’t want to fork over a lot of cash for a smart speaker, the Echo Dot is a great pick — especially considering it's newer than the 4th Gen Echo. At only $49.99, it’s a steal compared to other Amazon-connected devices and offers the same smart speaker benefits... and then some.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Australia vs. Fiji online for free

Mashable - Sat, 07/05/2025 - 11:00

TL;DR: Watch Australia vs. Fiji for free on 9Now. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Lions have secured big wins over the Western Force, Queensland Reds, and Waratahs, but it's all about preparation for the Test matches against the Wallabies. And with that in mind, it's vital that Australia come into these Test matches with some momentum. Enter Fiji, playing in Australia for the first time since 2023.

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

When is Australia vs. Fiji?

Australia vs. Fiji starts at 1:30 p.m. AEST on July 6. This fixture takes place at the Newcastle International Sports Centre.

How to watch Australia vs. Fiji for free

Australia vs. Fiji is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Australia vs. Fiji 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 9Now

  5. Stream Australia vs. Fiji for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch Australia vs. Fiji before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, 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 always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% 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 (including money-back guarantee).

Watch Australia vs. Fiji for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Real Madrid vs. Dortmund online for free

Mashable - Sat, 07/05/2025 - 11:00

TL;DR: Live stream Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund in the 2025 Club World Cup for free on DAZN. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The final quarter-final matchup from the 2025 Club World Cup is Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund. We're expecting an entertaining game between two star-studded teams.

If you want to watch Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund in the 2025 Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund?

Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund in the 2025 Club World Cup kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on July 5. This fixture takes place at the MetLife Stadium.

How to watch Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund for free

Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund in the 2025 Club World Cup is available to live stream for free on DAZN.

The Club World Cup is free to stream all around the world, but if you're having problems accessing this streaming platform on your network, you can consider using a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in another location. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so that you can secure access to free live streams from anywhere in the world.

Unblock free live streams of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup 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 a location with access to DAZN

  4. Visit DAZN

  5. Stream the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only 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 Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund in the 2025 Club World Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream the Club World Cup before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for DAZN?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on DAZN, 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 one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% 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 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund in the 2025 Club World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Adults creators Rebecca Shaw and Ben Kronengold reveal the advice they got from Friends creators

Mashable - Sat, 07/05/2025 - 11:00

As a hangout sitcom centered on 20-somethings living in New York City, it was inevitable that FX's Adults would be compared to Friends. But Adults creators Rebecca Shaw and Ben Kronengold welcomed these comparisons.

"Ben and I grew up watching Friends. We love that show. We also love Living Single and Seinfeld and Broad City and Girls," Shaw told Mashable as part of our Say More interview series. "We do not pretend to be the first people to do a 20-somethings-living-in-New-York comedy... But I think those kinds of comparisons are unbelievably flattering."

SEE ALSO: 'Adults' review: More than just Gen Z 'Friends'

On top of being inspired by Friends and other classic friend group comedies, Shaw and Kronengold actually got the opportunity to speak with Friends creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane before they began shooting Adults, and the veteran showrunners passed on some key wisdom.

"They were unbelievably generous with their time and just had a lot of insight into not just how you write and sustain a show like this, but also how you build an ensemble and create healthy cast patterns, and all of these things that they just did so well," Shaw said.

The Friends creators helped Adults find a new name.

In addition to Kauffman and Crane's advice on keeping an ensemble sitcom up and running, the pair also proved instrumental in changing Adults' name. When Kronengold and Shaw pitched the show in 2021, the working title was Snowflakes.

"People were talking about 'special snowflakes' a lot, and there was this idea of, 'What if we sort of reclaim that?'" Shaw said. "Instead of the point being laughing laughing at these kids and being like, 'They're so sensitive,' [we'd be] taking it back and being like, 'Actually, they're tougher than they seem.'"

SEE ALSO: 'Adults' creators Rebecca Shaw and Ben Kronengold react to fan fiction about the show

However, like much slang, the term "snowflake" began to fall out of fashion, and keeping it as a title threatened to undermine the show's relevance and currency. Plus, Kauffman and Crane admitted they were skeptical of the title.

"When they say that, you better listen," Kronengold said.

Settling on Adults as the new name also had its roots in the conversation with Kauffman and Crane. When Shaw and Kronengold were growing up watching Friends as kids, they saw the show as being about adults. However, Kauffman and Crane told Kronengold and Shaw that they had different perspective as showrunners, viewing it as "a study of young people," Kronengold recalled.

That perspective switch reminded Kronengold and Shaw that while people from their characters' (and their own) generation would be watching the show, there would also be members from other generations — hopefully both older and younger — tuning in.

"We really put ourselves back in the shoes of us watching these shows, feeling like it's not a show about young people, but it's a show about grown-ups. That's where Adults, as generic a name as it is, came from and felt like it clicked into place," Kronengold said.

"And [Adam] Sandler got to Grown Ups first," Shaw joked.

For more on Adults from Shaw and Kronengold, check out Say More's full interview on YouTube.

How to watch: All episodes of Adults are now streaming on Hulu.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hundreds of Prime Day deals have already gone live — save on Apple, Ninja, and Samsung

Mashable - Sat, 07/05/2025 - 11:00

UPDATE: Jul. 4, 2025, 5:45 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with new deals on laptops, Apple devices, board games, Pokémon products, Bluetooth trackers, outdoor gear, Lego sets, bladeless fans, and unlocked phones. We've also added new top picks in the tablet, headphone, and Echo device categories.

The best early Prime Day deals at a glance: Best laptop deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $849 (Save $150) Get Deal Best tablet deal Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) $399 (save $100) Get Deal Best Kindle Deal Amazon Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle $352.97 (Save $217) Get Deal Best Echo device deal Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation $44.99 (save $95) Get Deal Best TV deal Insignia 65-inch QF Series QLED 4K Fire TV $349.99 (save $150) Get Deal Best headphones deal Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) $479.99 (save $69.01) Get Deal Best Bluetooth tracker deal Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 $18.50 (save $11.49) Get Deal Best fitness tracker deal Garmin vívoactive 5 $195 (Sace $104.99) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Roborock Q7 M5+ robot vacuum and mop $279.99 (Save $150) Get Deal Best Lego deal Lego Ideas Vincent van Gogh 'The Starry Night' $149.99 (save $20) Get Deal

Prime Day 2025 is nearly upon us. Amazon's annual sale is going to be its longest yet this year, spanning four days from July 8 through 11. As we gear up for the retail giant's biggest savings event of the season, early deals are already popping up across categories. We've already spotted great early deals on Apple products, including MacBooks.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Amazon Prime Day 2025: Dates, deals, and the competition

Plus, other retailers are getting in on the savings. Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and even TikTok Shop are running overlapping sales that last even longer than Prime Day. But the key thing about Prime Day, as the name implies, is that you have to be a Prime member to enjoy the savings. If you want to get in on the deals, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial here, and if you're ages 18 to 24, you can get six months of Amazon Prime for free here.

If you're too antsy to wait around for July 8 to start shopping, we've rounded up all the best early Prime Day deals that you can shop now. And remember to check back here often, as we'll update this list with more deals as they roll out.

Best early Prime Day Apple deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $849 at Amazon
$999 Save $150 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the M4 Apple MacBook Air.

"The new 13-inch MacBook Air is our top budget pick for Apple users and a Mashable Choice Award winner. 'It's powerful, silent, and comes with a couple of much-needed upgrades,' including an upgraded 12MP webcam and support for two external displays, wrote Senior Editor Stan Schroeder. He gave it an overall rating of 4.5/5.

Amazon's $849 deal applies to all colors of the base configuration with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The Sky Blue variant briefly dipped down to an even-cheaper $829 in late June, but I have no trouble endorsing it at its current price: It's such a good deal on a popular new laptop that's already pretty affordable." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More Apple deals

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Best early Prime Day laptop deals

MacBook deals

Scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

Windows laptops

2-in-1 deals

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Best early Prime Day tablet deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) $399 at Amazon
$499 Save $100 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple iPad mini.

"If you know you'll mostly use your iPad to watch shows, videos, and read, you should seriously consider the iPad mini. Clocking in at 8.3 inches, this aptly named tablet is easy to hold in your hand for long periods of time, making it an especially great option for someone who wants an e-reader with some versatility (or with vibrant colors). Even though it's not powered by Apple's latest chipset, it doesn't need to be for more casual usage.

For anyone who doesn't need a tablet as powerful as a laptop, this ultraportable choice is well worth considering. And at just $399, the iPad mini is back down to its lowest price ever." — Bethany Allard, Lead Shopping Reporter

For more iPad deals, scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

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Best early Prime Day Kindle deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle $504.97 at Amazon
$569.97 Save $65 Get Deal Why we like it

"The Amazon Kindle Scribe is the brand's only e-reader that offers note-taking abilities. So if you're an annotator, this is certainly the right e-reader. With a 10.2-inch screen, it has plenty of space for taking notes in the margins in both PDFs and e-books. Plus, the notebook feature allows you to write out pages and pages of writing that convert from handwritten notes to text.

However, keep in mind that among the Kindles we've tested, this is Amazon's slowest performing device.

The Amazon Kindle Scribe is also the most expensive Kindle in Amazon's line-up. But ahead of Prime Day, it does have the biggest savings. Normally $569.97, the Amazon Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle is $504.97, saving $65 for 11% off." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More Kindle dealsBest early Prime Day Echo device deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation $44.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $95 Get Deal Why we like it

"This deal's a Prime member exclusive, but it's a good one: the Amazon Echo Buds with ANC are all the way down to $44.99, making them an excellent price for a pair of noise-cancelling earbuds. Admittedly, this drastic of a price drop isn't exactly rare: Just last month, these earbuds received an $85 discount.

These earbuds are a 2021 release, so you won't be getting the latest and greatest tech. Their battery life is just okay at five hours per charge, and their ANC isn't going to be anything mind-blowing. But if you're looking for something that's good enough and at a price that's hard to beat, you'll find it in this deal." — Bethany Allard, Lead Shopping Reporter

More Echo device dealsBest early Prime Day TV deals Opens in a new window Credit: Insignia Our pick: Insignia 65-inch QF Series QLED 4K Fire TV $349.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $150 Get Deal Why we like it

"The cheapest 65-inch QLED TV we're clocking at Amazon ahead of Prime Day isn't an Amazon TV. It is still a Fire TV, but oddly enough, it's from Insignia — a Best Buy brand.

If you have trouble picturing the difference between an LED and QLED TV in your head, this is your chance to try an XL QLED out at home without severely overspending. The Insignia QF series has been garnering quite positive customer reviews on picture quality and color vibrancy. At this price, it's probably not going to have the same pop as some of the premium QLEDs out there, but you'll definitely notice the quantum dot difference compared to your old TV, especially during daytime viewing." — Leah Stodart, Senior Shopping Reporter

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43-inch to 50-inch TV deals

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Fire TV device deals

Best early Prime Day headphone and earbud deals Our pick: Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) $479.99 at Walmart
$549 Save $69.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Read more from Mashable about the AirPods Max.

"We're hesitant to recommend the AirPods Max because of their sky-high price point, but a $69 price cut makes them slightly more palatable — especially if you're already heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem. At the time of writing, all five colorways are marked down to $479.99. Though it's a deal, it's not quite the best we've seen on these headphones — earlier this year, they dropped all the way down to $449.99. If you want to grab a pair ahead of Prime Day, this is a solid price, but waiting another week might up your chances of grabbing them back at their record-low price." — Bethany Allard, Lead Shopping Reporter

For more AirPod deals, scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

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Best early Prime Day unlocked phone deals Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Our pick: Samsung Galaxy S25+ (256GB) $919.99 at Amazon
$1,119.99 Save $200 Get Deal Why we like it

"The Galaxy S25+, which launched earlier this year, is just $20 shy of its best price ever ahead of Prime Day — just $919.99 for the 512GB model. While it's not quite as powerful as the S25 Ultra or the latest S25 Edge, it's also a lot easier on your wallet. You'll still get the impressive Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and 12GB of RAM, plus a slightly larger and nicer display than the basic S25 (6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with new 'ProScaler' technology), as well as a bigger 4,900mAh battery. Mashable's Chance Townsend calls the S25+ the "sweet spot for battery life and versatility" amongst the S25 lineup. It doesn't look too much different than the S24+, but it'll definitely wow you in terms of internal upgrades — and that's saying something, considering how brilliant the S24 lineup already was." — Christina Buff, Mashable Contributor

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Best early Prime Day Bluetooth tracker deals Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Our pick: Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 $18.50 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $11.49 Get Deal Why we like it

"The best Bluetooth tracker deal to shop right now is on the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2. Ahead of Prime Day, get this Samsung Bluetooth tracker for just $18.50. That saves you $11.49 off its usual $29.99, for 38% off. The Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2, is compatible with Android 11 or later systems. It's both water- and dust-resistant so that it can withstand the unexpected. It can be detected by nearby devices via Samsung’s SmartThings Find network. You can even make it ring, check its location history, and customize it to perform other, simple tasks." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More Bluetooth tracker deals

For AirTag deals, scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

Best early Prime Day fitness tracker deals Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Our pick: Garmin vívoactive 5 $197.84 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $102.15 Get Deal Why we like it

"Do you look forward to summer for the outdoors? If you're eager to get outside on hikes and be more active than ever this year, then a fitness tracker will help you track ever step. Right now, the Garmin vívoactive 5 is the best fitness tracker deal we've spotted this year. With built-in GPS and 11 days of battery life, it's great for those constantly on the go. Plus, ahead of Prime Day, it's 34% off. It's down to $197.84 from its normal $299.99 to save $102.15." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More fitness tracker dealsBest early Prime Day robot vacuum deals Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Our pick: Roborock Q7 M5+ robot vacuum and mop $279.99 at Amazon
$429.99 Save $150 Get Deal Why we like it

"This budget Roborock model was also just released this year, but it's been living in the shadow of the big bad Saros trio. Nevertheless, it deserves a spotlight for the value that it packs, especially now that it's under $300 for Prime members ahead of Prime Day. The most impressive feat of the Roborock Q7 M5+ is its 10,000 Pa of suction power — that's far stronger than the norm for cheap robot vacuums. That matches the power of my favorite robot vacuum from 2024, the Roborock Qrevo Master, and is the baseline number I'd recommend for keeping up with substantial pet hair.

Note that the Q7 M5+ does mop and does self-empty, but doesn't wash and dry its own mopping pad like the more premium Roborocks." — Leah Stodart, Senior Shopping Reporter

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Robot vacuums that mop

Robot vacuums that don't mopBest early Prime Day kitchen deals Our pick: Chefman 4-Quart Window Air Fryer $79.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20 Get Deal Why we like it

"If you’ve yet to succumb to the air fryer hype, now’s your chance. The Chefman 4-Quart Window Air Fryer is currently on sale for $60.40, down from $99.99. That's a 40% discount and a $39.59 savings. It's not the absolute lowest price we've seen for this model (it was $49.97 last December), but it's still a solid deal for an Amazon's Choice kitchen appliance.

This mid-sized air fryer is large enough to cook a meal for up to four people, but small enough that it won’t monopolize your counter space. It’s also super user-friendly and has a little viewing window, so you can see what’s going on without opening the basket and letting all the heat escape (I like my stuff extra crispy, so this is a pretty cool feature IMO). There’s also a Hi-Fry button that lets you crank the heat up to 450 degrees in the last two minutes of cooking (again, great for those of us who like extra crispy food)." — Tabitha Britt, Mashable Contributor

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Best early Prime Day bladeless fan deals Our pick: Dreo Tower Fan (DR-HTF007) $67.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $12 Get Deal Why we like it

"Snag the Dreo Tower Fan (DR-HTF007) for just $67.99, down from $79.99. I know a $12 savings might not sound like a huge number, but honestly, it's already pretty reasonably priced compared to a lot of similar models, and you're getting a ton of bang for your buck here.

This 36-inch tower fan features four different modes and speeds that you can easily adjust from the top panel or with the handy included remote. Plus, it oscillates a full 90 degrees to really get that cool air circulating throughout your room (reaching up to 25 feet per second, according to Dreo). It even has a timer function, so you don't have to worry about forgetting to turn it off. And for those light sleepers out there, it's designed to operate super quietly (at just 28 dB), making it a solid choice for bedrooms." — Tabitha Britt, Mashable contributor

More bladeless fan deals Best early Prime Day security camera and doorbell deals Opens in a new window Credit: Blink Our pick: Blink Outdoor 4 5-camera system $159.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $240 Get Deal Why we like it

"If you're about to head out on summer adventures and want to keep an eye on your home, a set of security cameras can give you so some peace of mind. The Blink Outdoor 4 5-camera system can help you do just that. With five outdoor, wireless cameras, you can mount them around your house and be notified whenever motion is detected. Plus, these small but mighty cameras features infrared night vision and two-way audio.

Right now you can grab them at the stellar price of $159.99, down from its list price of $399.99. That saves you $240 for 60% off." — Samantha Mangino, shopping reporter

More security camera and doorbell dealsBest early Prime Day outdoor deals Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Our pick: Jackery Explorer 300 $168.99 at Amazon
$259 Save $90.01 Get Deal Why we like it

"Power up your campsite, tailgate, or beach day with the portable Jackery Explorer 300. It's down to its best price ever at just $168.99 — a savings of 35% — so no need to wait around for Prime Day to officially start. Weighing in at just seven pounds, it's a great companion for outdoor adventures. It packs six output ports (two AC outlets, one PD 60W USB-C port, one fast charge 3.0 port, one USB-A port, and one DC car port), so you can juice up six devices at once while the power station charges itself. Plus, it's compatible with the Jackery SolarSaga 100 solar panel, so you can stay connected even when you go off the grid." — Christina Buff, Mashable contributor

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Best early Prime Day book deals Opens in a new window Credit: Ballantine Books Our pick: 'Atmosphere' by Taylor Jenkins Reid $21 at Amazon
$30 Save $9 Get Deal Why we like it

"Atmosphere is the latest from the New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six, Taylor Jenkins Reid. Just released earlier this month, it's already listed as one of Goodreads' most popular books of the year. It follows Joan Goodwin, a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University, who is selected as one of the first women scientists to join NASA’s Space Shuttle program in the 1980s. The hardcover copy is already on sale ahead of Prime Day for $21, down 30% from its list price." — Christina Buff, Mashable Contributor

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Best early Prime Day Lego deals Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Our pick: Lego Ideas Vincent van Gogh 'The Starry Night' $149.99 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $20 Get Deal Why we like it

"While it's not down to its lowest price ever, the Lego Ideas: Vincent van Gogh 'The Starry Night' building set is one of those Lego sets that rarely gets discounted. We're hoping to see the price drop even further, but at $20 off, it's already a pretty solid deal for what you get: a 2,316-piece building set that constructs a 3D Lego wall art homage to one of the most beloved paintings. The set is a collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and really captures Van Gogh's colors and brushstrokes through creative building techniques. When you finish building, you'll have a gorgeous piece of art for your home — all for just under $150." — Christina Buff, Mashable contributor

More Lego dealsBest early Prime Day board game deals Opens in a new window Credit: Hasbro Our pick: 'Scrabble' $11.59 at Amazon
$21.99 Save $10.40 Get Deal Why we like it

"First released in 1948, Scrabble remains one of the most popular and best word games; it's my personal favorite. Whether you're new to the classic crossword game or are a word-slinging pro, you get seven letter tiles to start creating words and building upon letters added to the board with each turn. It's more than just word creation, though — land your highest-scoring letters on special double and triple point tiles and see who can rack up the most points. It's meant for two to four players. Grab it on sale for just $11.59 at Amazon ahead of Prime Day — that's nearly 50% off." — Christina Buff, Mashable contributor

More board game dealsBest early Prime Day Pokémon deals Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon Our pick: Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet — Prismatic Evolutions Super-Premium Collection $208.31 at Amazon
$258.37 Save $50.06 Get Deal Why we like it

"If you're a big Eevee fan, or even if you just love shiny things, this TCG box set will be right up your alley. It comes with a full-art promo card featuring Eevee ex, a playmat with Eevee and its multiple evolutions, a fuzzy Eevee deck box, 15 booster packs, and 65 card sleeves. It also comes with a code card for Pokémon TCG Live that you can use to unlock digital cards. Really, the gorgeous box is another reason to grab this beautiful collection while it's on sale, too. Just look at those colors." — Brittany Vincent, Mashable contributor

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Categories: IT General, Technology

The best laptops weve tested: Look for these 9 models on sale during Prime Day

Mashable - Sat, 07/05/2025 - 11:00

Choosing the best laptop is a largely subjective decision that comes down to your primary use cases, your preferred operating system, and your budget. In other words, there's no such thing as a universally best laptop.

This is an annoying fact of life for both laptop shoppers and those of us doling out "best laptop" recommendations, since we can't make custom judgment calls for everyone in need of a new machine. (I would love to, but I've got a thing after this.) However, I can confidently point you in the right direction of some standouts that other members of the Mashable team and I have vetted and approved.

Best laptops to buy 2025

As of July 2025, we think the new 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M4) is the best MacBook for most people. It's a sleek-as-ever notebook featuring impressive performance, open-lid support for two external displays, a great 12MP Center Stage camera, and an extremely reasonable starting price of $1,199 (making it $100 cheaper than its M3 predecessor). What's more, Amazon can't stop putting it on sale.

SEE ALSO: The best cheap laptops for 2025

The best Windows laptop we've tested is the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, a sophisticated and snappy Copilot+ PC boasting an unrivaled battery life of nearly 23 hours. Note that Microsoft makes an Intel version that may appeal to users wary of Windows on ARM for app compatibility reasons, but it's a business-oriented model with a significant markup.

Prime Day laptop deals are coming

If you're particularly hung up on the "budget" part of laptop shopping, know that mid-summer is one of the best times to buy a laptop. That's partly because of ongoing back-to-school discounts — even the Apple Store partakes — but it's also due to the hubbub surrounding Prime Day, Amazon's flagship summer sale for Prime members. (You can sign up for a free 30-day trial if you don't want to commit to a paid membership.) This year's festivities are scheduled for July 8 to 11, making it the longest Prime Day on record.

Normally slim on laptop deals, Amazon peppers its listings with better-than-usual discounts while Prime Day runs its course, giving extra attention to MacBooks, Surface laptops, and gaming laptops from Asus and Acer. Many models fall to new or year-round lows that we don't normally see outside of Black Friday.

SEE ALSO: Help, I can't stop recommending Amazon's $849 M4 MacBook Air deal

Perhaps more importantly, Prime Day also spurs other tech retailers like Best Buy into running their own sales with competitive pricing that matches or beats Amazon's, giving diligent shoppers more opportunities to save. Cross-checking these offers will be your best line of defense against overpaying, but if you don't want to sift through the sea of sales yourself, I'll also be tracking the top Prime Day laptop deals myself.

Read on for Mashable's in-depth guide to the best laptops of 2025. FYI: We've listed the pricing and specs of our testing units, which may not apply to each laptop's base model

A note about tariffs

Now is an especially weird time to be shopping for a new laptop. President Donald Trump's tariffs on almost all imports upended the tech market, causing some computer manufacturers to increase their prices and others to temporarily pause U.S. sales. We're monitoring this situation closely and will update this story if any of our top picks are affected. (None have been impacted so far, but the Asus ZenBook A14, a new contender we have in hand for testing, is now $100 pricier because of tariffs.)

What's on deck

I'm nearly done reviewing the Framework Laptop 13 (Intel Core Ultra Series 1), a cult-favorite repairable laptop with a Mashable Choice Award-winning predecessor. After that, we'll soon test the following laptops:

  • The Asus ZenBook A14, a featherlight Copilot+ PC with a durable "Ceraluminum" chassis, an OLED display, and a ridiculous rated battery life of up to 32 hours per charge. I briefly checked it out at CES 2025, and it took home our Best of CES laptop category award.

  • The Asus Vivobook S 15, a sub-$1,000 Copilot+ PC with a 3K OLED display, an RGB backlit keyboard, and a rated battery life of up to 19 hours.

  • The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9), a handsome mid-ranger with an OLED touchscreen and a rated battery life of up to 23.5 hours.

  • The Acer Predator Helios 16, a 16-inch RTX 4080 gaming laptop priced at $2,299.99.

  • The MSI Stealth A16 AI+, a 16-inch RTX 4070 gaming laptop that costs just under two grand.

What we've tested lately (that didn't make the cut)

I recently tried the Dell XPS 13 (9450), a 2024 Lunar Lake PC that's the last of its kind. (Dell phased out the XPS series earlier this year.) It's easily one of the prettiest and most stylish laptops I've ever gotten my hands on, largely thanks to its edge-to-edge design and the tandem OLED touchscreen display on my review unit: It's luscious, bright, and finished with an Anti-Reflect coating that makes it immune to annoying glares. At 13.4 inches, the XPS 13 is an ultraportable stunner.

The XPS 13 also lasted over over 13 hours in our battery life test. That's not an especially long runtime compared to other Windows laptops in our database, but it's well above the category's current median.

However, the XPS 13 over-prioritizes form over function in several ways that I found frustrating. Its zero-lattice keyboard is cramped, stiff, and topped off by an odd touch function row. Its fussy touchpad would click when I wanted to scroll and drag when I wanted to click. Most egregiously, the XPS 13 only has two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports — there's not even a headphone jack! (First, they came for our smartphones...)

The overall value prop for its internals just isn't there, either. My mid-range Intel Core Ultra 256V loaner with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage costs $1,849.99. (Most Windows laptops and MacBooks we've tested in that price range are stronger performers with at least 1TB of storage, and some have double the RAM.) Granted, the XPS 13 starts at $1,199.99 if you scrap its tandem OLED display, which is an optional add-on, but I think that's one of its biggest draws. I ultimately rated it a 3.8/5.

In January, I tested the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14, a 2-in-1 Lunar Lake laptop priced at $1,899.99 as tested (with an Intel Core Ultra 258V processor, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage). It's a beautiful machine with a colorful 3K OLED touchscreen display, a satisfying keyboard, a velvety touchpad, and a dark aluminum chassis that gives it a moody and elegant look. It also lasted an impressive 15 hours in our battery life test. That said, it has some baffling port placements and some very disappointing performance benchmark results.

In a Geekbench 6 multi-core test, my OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 scored slightly lower than the M2-powered MacBook Air from 2023 and significantly lower than its own predecessor. That would be last year's HP Spectre x360 14, which had a mid-range Core Ultra Series 1 processor as tested. I expected way more from a machine with Intel's freshest upper mid-range CPU.

Ultimately, I rated the OmniBook Flip 14 a 4.4/5 — very respectable, but just shy of being a Mashable Choice Award winner. It's a flashy premium hybrid for splurgers who want a future-proofed laptop that won't work very hard, but the zippier Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 feels like a better value for most people at $1,449.99 as tested.

If you're choosing between the two HP models, I'm also tempted to recommend the Spectre x360 14 over the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14. It offers more power and better top-firing speakers for a comparable price.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 5, 2025

Mashable - Sat, 07/05/2025 - 07:26

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for July 4, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Seen on a press call

  • Green: Awards

  • Blue: Stars of the Three Lions

  • Purple: Types of bases

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

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

  • Yellow: Setting for a News Conference

  • Green: Starts of Trophy Names

  • Blue: England Women's Soccer Players

  • Purple: ___Base

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 #285 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today
  • Setting for a News Conference - DAIS, LECTERN, PODIUM, STAGE

  • Starts of Trophy Names - BALLON, CY, HEISMAN, STANLEY

  • England Women's Soccer Players - BRONZE, MEAD, STANWAY, WILLIAMSON

  • ___Base - FAN, FIRST, STOLEN, THIRD

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

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

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Swiatek vs. Collins online for free

Mashable - Sat, 07/05/2025 - 06:00

TL;DR: Live stream Swiatek vs. Collins in Wimbledon 2025 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Wimbledon continues this weekend with a number of really huge matchups, including Swiatek vs. Collins. This is going to be a tough challenge for Swiatek as she looks to move through the rounds and win Wimbledon for the first time in her career.

If you're interested in watching Swiatek vs. Collins at Wimbledon 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

How to watch Swiatek vs. Collins for free

Swiatek vs. Collins in Wimbledon 2025 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another country, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Wimbledon 2025 for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for 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 the UK

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Live stream Swiatek vs. Collins for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees and free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Swiatek vs. Collins (plus the rest of Wimbledon 2025) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast streaming 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 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month subscription for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Swiatek vs. Collins in Wimbledon 2025 for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Kecmanovic vs. Djokovic online for free

Mashable - Sat, 07/05/2025 - 06:00

TL;DR: Live stream Kecmanovic vs. Djokovic in Wimbledon 2025 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are a number of fascinating games in the third round of Wimbledon, including Kecmanovic vs. Djokovic. The big question for tennis fans is whether Novak Djokovic can still do it on the biggest stage.

If you're interested in watching Kecmanovic vs. Djokovic at Wimbledon 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

How to watch Kecmanovic vs. Djokovic for free

Kecmanovic vs. Djokovic in Wimbledon 2025 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another country, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Wimbledon 2025 for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for 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 the UK

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Live stream Kecmanovic vs. Djokovic for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees and free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Kecmanovic vs. Djokovic (plus the rest of Wimbledon 2025) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast streaming 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 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month subscription for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Kecmanovic vs. Djokovic in Wimbledon 2025 for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Sinner vs. Martinez online for free

Mashable - Sat, 07/05/2025 - 06:00

TL;DR: Live stream Sinner vs. Martinez in Wimbledon 2025 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are a number of fascinating games in the third round of Wimbledon, including Sinner vs. Martinez. All eyes will be on the top seed as he looks to put the French Open behind him and win this Grand Slam for the first time.

If you're interested in watching Sinner vs. Martinez at Wimbledon 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

How to watch Sinner vs. Martinez for free

Sinner vs. Martinez in Wimbledon 2025 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another country, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Wimbledon 2025 for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for 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 the UK

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Live stream Sinner vs. Martinez for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees and free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Sinner vs. Martinez (plus the rest of Wimbledon 2025) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast streaming 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 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month subscription for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Sinner vs. Martinez in Wimbledon 2025 for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to unblock Pornhub for free in South Dakota

Mashable - Sat, 07/05/2025 - 06:00

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from South Dakota with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

South Dakota is one of the latest U.S. states to introduce age verification laws for adult sites like Pornhub. And Pornhub has responded by doing exactly what it has done elsewhere. Yep, you guessed it: potential users in South Dakota are now banned from accessing the site. It's a complicated situation, but the workaround is quick and easy.

If you want to unblock Pornhub for free from South Dakota, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in South Dakota

VPNs are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This straightforward process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: There are only 2 free VPNs I actually recommend. Ignore all the rest.

Unblock Pornhub by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a 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 a location that supports access to Pornhub

  4. Visit Pornhub

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

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like Pornhub, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, 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 always secure

  • Fast streaming 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).

Unblock Pornhub for free in South Dakota with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Waratahs vs. Lions online for free

Mashable - Sat, 07/05/2025 - 06:00

TL;DR: Live stream Waratahs vs. Lions for free on RugbyPass TV. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 British and Irish Lions are building some momentum ahead of their three-Test series against the Wallabies. Big wins over the Western Force and Queensland Reds were impressive, but you get the feeling that there is more to come from this talented squad.

Next up they face the Waratahs in Sydney. If you want to watch Waratahs vs. Lions for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Waratahs vs. Lions?

Waratahs vs. Lions starts at 11 a.m. BST on July 5. This fixture takes place at the Allianz Stadium.

How to watch Waratahs vs. Lions for free

Waratahs vs. Lions is available to live stream for free on RugbyPass TV.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the U.S., but anyone from around the world can gain access with a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to live stream Waratahs vs. Lions from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Waratahs 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 the U.S.

  4. Visit RugbyPass TV

  5. Stream Waratahs vs. Lions for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only 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 Waratahs vs. Lions without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for RugbyPass TV?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like RugbyPass TV, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

  • 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 one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% 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 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Waratahs vs. Lions for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch France vs. England in Euro 2025 online for free

Mashable - Sat, 07/05/2025 - 06:00

TL;DR: Watch France vs. England in Women's Euro 2025 for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

France and England will be looking to progress from Group D and move into the knockout rounds, but there are going to be no easy games in Women's Euro 2025. They start with a crucial game against each other. Three points here would be absolutely huge for both sides.

If you want to watch France vs. England in Women's Euro 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is France vs. England?

France vs. England in Women's Euro 2025 kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on July 5. This fixture takes place at Letzigrund.

How to watch France vs. England for free

France vs. England in Women's Euro 2025 is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another country, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Live stream France vs. England in Women's Euro 2025 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 the UK

  4. Visit ITVX

  5. Stream France vs. England in Women's Euro 2025 from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch France vs. England (plus the rest of the tournament) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, 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 always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% 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 (including money-back guarantee).

Watch France vs. England in Women's Euro 2025 for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Wales vs. Netherlands online for free

Mashable - Sat, 07/05/2025 - 06:00

TL;DR: Watch Wales vs. Netherlands in Women's Euro 2025 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Women's Euro 2025 is up and running, with the opening round of fixtures already providing plenty of big moments for fans to enjoy. Wales vs. Netherlands is the next game on the agenda. Wales are the lowest-ranked side at Euro 2025, but they'll still believe in a fairy tale ending.

If you want to watch Wales vs. Netherlands in Women's Euro 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Wales vs. Netherlands?

Wales vs. Netherlands in Women's Euro 2025 kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on July 5. This fixture takes place at Swissporarena.

How to watch Women's Euro 2025 for free

Wales vs. Netherlands in Women's Euro 2025 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another country, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer 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 the UK

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Stream Wales vs. Netherlands in Women's Euro 2025 from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch Wales vs. Netherlands (plus the rest of the tournament) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for streaming sport?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, 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 always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% 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 (including money-back guarantee).

Watch Wales vs. Netherlands in Women's Euro 2025 for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch PSG vs. Bayern Munich online for free

Mashable - Sat, 07/05/2025 - 06:00

TL;DR: Live stream PSG vs. Bayern Munich in the 2025 Club World Cup for free on DAZN. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The quarter finals of the 2025 Club World Cup showcase some really interesting matchups, but PSG vs. Bayern Munich might be the best of the bunch. We're expecting a real battle between two European heavyweights.

If you want to watch PSG vs. Bayern Munich in the 2025 Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is PSG vs. Bayern Munich?

PSG vs. Bayern Munich in the 2025 Club World Cup kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on July 5. This fixture takes place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

How to watch PSG vs. Bayern Munich for free

PSG vs. Bayern Munich in the 2025 Club World Cup is available to live stream for free on DAZN.

The Club World Cup is free to stream all around the world, but if you're having problems accessing this streaming platform on your network, you can consider using a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in another location. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so that you can secure access to free live streams from anywhere in the world.

Unblock free live streams of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup 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 a location with access to DAZN

  4. Visit DAZN

  5. Stream the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only 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 PSG vs. Bayern Munich in the 2025 Club World Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream the Club World Cup before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for DAZN?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on DAZN, 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 one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% 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 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream PSG vs. Bayern Munich in the 2025 Club World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Moon phase today: What the moon will look like on July 5, 2025

Mashable - Sat, 07/05/2025 - 06:00

The Full Moon is just days away now, but if you want to know what's going on with the moon tonight, keep reading because we have all the info you need.

The moon changes each night, well, from our perspective it does anyway. This is because of the lunar cycle, a recurring series of eight unique phases of the moon's visibility. The whole cycle takes about 29.5 days (according to NASA), and these different phases happen as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth. The moon is always there, but what we see on Earth changes depending on how much it is lit up.

See what's happening with the moon tonight, July 5.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Saturday, July 5, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. According to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, 75% of the moon will be lit up and visible to us on Earth.

This is day 10 of the lunar cycle, and we're only one phase away from the Full Moon. So, with so much of the moon lit up, there are plenty of geological features for us to spot, both with the naked eye and with aids.

Tonight, there is plenty to see with the naked eye, the most notable being the Mare Vaporum, the Copernicus Crater, and the Tycho Crater. With binoculars, you can add the Alps Mountains, Archimedes Crater, and the Alphonsus Crater to your list.

If you're one of the lucky ones with a telescope, you've got a great night of moon gazing ahead of you, with additional viewings of the Linne Crater, Apollo 12, and the Rupes Altai.

When is the next full moon?

This month's full moon will take place on July 10. The last full moon was on June 11.

What are moon phases?

Moon phases are caused by the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

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.

Last Quarter (or Third 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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hurdle hints and answers for July 5, 2025

Mashable - Sat, 07/05/2025 - 06:00

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

An advantage.

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

ASSET

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To splash.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 5, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SLOSH

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Where one might plant a kiss.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 5 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 5, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

CHEEK

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A slope.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for July 5 Hurdle Word 4 answer

SLANT

Final Hurdle hint

A loather.

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

HATER

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Japan vs. Wales online for free

Mashable - Sat, 07/05/2025 - 05:00

TL;DR: Watch Japan vs. Wales for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We know most of the attention from the world of rugby is pointed directly at the Lions right now, but there are a number of really interesting international games taking place this weekend. Japan vs. Wales is the first on the schedule. Things have been tough for Wales recently, but they'll be hoping for some positive results in this two-Test tour.

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

When is Japan vs. Wales?

Japan vs. Wales starts at 6 a.m. BST on July 5. This fixture takes place at the Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu.

How to watch Japan vs. Wales for free

Japan vs. Wales is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another country, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer 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 the UK

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Stream Japan vs. Wales for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch Japan vs. Wales before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, 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 always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% 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 (including money-back guarantee).

Watch Japan vs. Wales for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 5, 2025

Mashable - Sat, 07/05/2025 - 04:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 5 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: An illegal plan

  • Green: To fuse

  • Blue: To crave

  • Purple: A register

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

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

  • Yellow: Con game

  • Green: Combine, as baking ingredients

  • Blue: Yearn

  • Purple: Kinds of lists

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 #755 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Con game: HUSTLE, RACKET, SCHEME, STING

  • Combine, as baking ingredients: BEAT, BLEND, FOLD, STIR

  • Yearn: BURN, ITCH, LONG, PINE

  • Kinds of lists: BUCKET, LAUNDRY, SHORT, TO-DO

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 4

Are you also playing NYT Strands?

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology
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