Technology
Take $70 off the Blueair Air Purifier and conquer allergy season
SAVE $70: As of April 22, the Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max Air Purifier is on sale at Amazon for $159.99, down from $229.99. That's a discount of $70, or 30% off.
Opens in a new window Credit: Blueair Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max Air Purifier $159.99 at Amazon$229.99 Save $70 Get Deal
Blueair's Blue Pure 311i Max is a HEPA air purifier aimed at smoke, allergens, and other particles. If you suffer from seasonal allergies or live in an area at risk of smoke from wildfire season (aka most of America), this air purifier could be a good investment toward cleaner air.
As of April 22, the Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max Air Purifier is on sale at Amazon for $159.99, down from $229.99. That's a discount of $70, or 30% off.
SEE ALSO: The best Earth Day 2025 deals — find sustainable savings from Apple, Sonos, and BluelandThe Blue Pure 311i Max clears pollutants from the air and circulates clean, fresh-smelling air (I live in a home with two of them). I've encountered other air purifiers that can smell like plastic for the first few weeks. This one doesn't.
The 311i Max has a wraparound prefilter that traps pet fur and large particles before they clog the internal HEPA filter. This wraparound is simple to clean, helping to extend filter life.
Inside, an activated carbon filter provides even more filtration power and helps eliminate smells and cooking odor. The filter isn't designed to trap VOCs, gas, or other chemicals — at least, not that effectively (most air purifiers aimed at these types of pollutants will generally cost a lot more).
Whether for tree allergies, cat dander relief, or to prep for a smoky summer, the Blue Pure is a great air purifier that will benefit all sorts of homes. Plus, it's controlled via a handy app.
The Elder Scrolls Oblivion remake is real, and you can buy it right now
Nearly 20 years after its release on Xbox 360, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is actually coming back.
Original developer Bethesda shared a quick post on its X account on Monday confirming an announcement livestream on Tuesday at 11 a.m. ET. Well, the stream came and went, and we can confirm there is not only a spiffy new Oblivion remaster, but it's out now on Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series consoles.
SEE ALSO: Reminder: Only true gamers get to pre-order Switch 2 from NintendoThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a full remake of the 2006 original, with visuals updated from scratch and a host of other changes. Combat has apparently been reworked with new hit feedback animations and audio effects, there's new voice acting to distinguish different races from one another, and the user interface and leveling systems have been reconsidered. Crucially, all the DLC released for the original game is included in this $50 package, though a Deluxe Edition is also available for $59.99 (the Deluxe Edition comes with bonus quests, additional character skins, an artbook, and a soundtrack). It's also available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Rumors of an Oblivion remake have been around for a while now, but they started feeling a lot more urgent last week when legitimate-looking screenshots leaked off of a development studio's website. Journalist Jeff Grubb of Giant Bomb said on his GameBreaking News podcast last week that the game would shadow-drop this week, and he wound up being right.
This is just one more win for nostalgic millennials, I suppose.
Opens in a new window Credit: Bethesda The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered - Deluxe Edition $59.99Buy for PS5 Shop Now
Listen up: Grab the Soundcore P20i True Wireless Earbuds for just $20
SAVE $20: As of April 22, get the Soundcore P20i True Wireless Earbuds at Amazon for $19.99, down from their usual price of $39.99. That's a discount of 50%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Soundcore P20i True Wireless Earbuds $19.99 at Amazon$39.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal
If you're planning on heading out and enjoying the weather as it gets warmer, one of the best accessories for a rejuvenating walk is a pair of earbuds. But with the way the economy is, they can seem like a pricey luxury. Luckily, there's a deal going on at Amazon right now that can help net you a great pair of buds at an even better price.
As of April 22, get the Soundcore P20i True Wireless Earbuds at Amazon for $19.99, down from their usual price of $39.99. That's a discount of 50%. Currently, this deal applies to the Black, Blue, and White colorways.
SEE ALSO: I tested sleep earbuds for over a month: Here are the 3 best pairsThese earbuds have 10mm drivers, so they're great whether you're getting down with some bass-heavy tunes or crispy treble-based music. They also come with a companion app from Soundcore that you can use to customize their sound to your liking, with a selection of 22 EQ presets.
You can also use them to make and take calls, with two built-in microphones and AI features to help better pick up and transmit your voice for crystal clear conversations.
In addition to their great sound, they have 10 hours of battery life, with a charging case that can extend that time to 30 hours. A 10-minute charge will net you two additional hours of playtime as well, so you're not stuck waiting for them to juice back up before you head out.
With summer around the corner, it's a good time to go ahead and lock in a pair now. They're so affordable, they make a great pair to just keep in your gym bag.
The best Earth Day 2025 deals — find sustainable savings from Apple, Sonos, and Blueland
It's April 22, which means today is Earth Day, and a lot of tech brands are honoring the occasion with special events. You might not think of Earth Day as a big sales holiday, but we’ve actually found tons of Earth Day deals on everything from home and cleaning essentials to eco-friendly mattresses.
In the tech world, Apple is offering customers a trade-in deal to encourage customers to recycle old electronics. Through May 16, when customers recycle an eligible piece of tech at an Apple store, they'll receive 10% off Apple accessories and may be eligible for store credit. A new survey from CNET (Mashable and CNET are both published by Ziff Davis) found that one in three U.S. adults holds onto old devices simply because they don't know how to recycle them.
Here are the best Earth Day deals to shop this week.
Best Earth Day tech deals for 2025 Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Save 10% on Apple accessories with trade-in Learn More Why we like itEven Apple is celebrating Earth Day this year by giving customers 10% off an Apple accessory when they recycle an eligible item in-store. Bonus deal: Apple Watch owners can earn an Earth Day limited-edition award by completing any 30-minute workout on April 22.
While 10% off isn’t huge, it’s a great way to get rid of an old device in your home. Learn more at the Apple website.
More tech dealsSave 25% on certified refurbished soundbars, speakers, and smart home audio products from Sonos through April 22
Save on sustainable tech at Nimble
Shop Plug's Earth Day Sale and save on certified pre-owned tech
Get up to 20% off generators, electric coolers, and more during GoalZero's Earth Day Sale
Save up to 50% on Jackery portable power stations through April 25
Blueland is offering up to 20% off sitewide, plus 30% off subscriptions during its Earth Day Sale. You can find select items on sale at Amazon, too. But the real deals are happening on the company's website.
I use Blueland Dishwasher Detergent Tablets and the Multi-Surface Cleaner. I’ve been pretty impressed with the quality and how much plastic waste I’ve been able to cut down by switching to the brand. It’s also helped me declutter my cleaning cabinet! I keep the tablets in one glass jar under my sink.
More cleaning supplies dealsGet up to 20% off select Cleancult products at Amazon starting April 22
Get up to 30% off sitewide during Grove Co.'s Earth Month sale
Save up to 31% on Seventh Generation products at Amazon
Avocado Green Mattress is having an Earth Month Sale, where you can get 10% off everything, including mattresses, mattress toppers, bedding protectors, and adjustable bed frames. The sale runs through May 5, 11:59 p.m. EST.
The Avocado brand is known for its certified organic mattresses and bedding, plus they're Climate Neutral Certified. But this also means that they’ll be raising prices due to rising costs and tariffs (as stated on their website). So, if you’ve been eyeing an Avocado mattress, now’s the time to buy.
More mattress dealsGet up to 22% off sitewide at Naturpedic with code EARTH22
Get up to 15% off during My Green Mattress' Earth Day Sale
Get up to $400 off mattresses, plus a free gift at Purple
Get up to 25% off mattresses at Casper
Save 25% on Brooklyn Bedding's Ecosleep Lux mattress
GreenPan is offering up to 60% off sitewide during its Earth Day Sale. This is huge considering how expensive GreenPan cookware can be. (I spent nearly $400 on my pots and pans set.) And, if you spend $275 or more, you’ll get a free GreenPan Cook’s Journal Cookbook.
GreenPan sells nonstick cookware that is free from PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium, which justifies the price. They also sell bakeware, kitchen utensils, and small countertop appliances.
More kitchen dealsGet up to 20% off select Stasher products
Get up to 20% off select kitchen accessories during IKEA's Together for Earth Month Sale
Get up to 15% off select Caraway products
Get up to 30% off Energy Star appliances at Samsung
One of the best self-care deals I’ve spotted is from Biird — one of my absolute favorite sex toy brands. They almost never have a sale, so I was super excited to hear that they’ll be offering customers 15% off all non-vibrating toys with the code EARTH now through April 27.
This includes the brand’s newest silicone dildos and my personal fave, the Kalii (a glass G-spot dildo).
More self-care and beauty dealsGet up to 20% off select products at Foria
Get $25 off any sex toy at The Natural Love Company
Get up to 60% off select products at Lovers
New customers can get 15% off the Green Jade Calm Collection at Knesko when they sign up for email & SMS
Get up to 15% off select products at Saltair
Get 2 for $35 at Polite Society
Save on conscious beauty at Ulta
While we're clocking 40 hours a week, the least we can do is give ourselves the support of an ergonomic and comfortable work chair. Humanscale focuses on chairs that are not only good for our health, but friendly to the environment. The collection of Ocean Chairs uses reclaimed fishing nets in construction and the brand's 29 climate positive products work on reducing the manufacturing impact while focusing on seven elements like water, energy, and equity.
The Humanscale Earth Day sale gives the opportunity to save 20% on the brand's Ocean Chairs and climate positive products with code EARTH20.
Best fitness deal Opens in a new window Credit: Rad Power Bikes Save up to $699 on Rad Power Bikes Get Deal Why we like itLooking for a way to reduce your carbon emissions? Hop on an electric bike for your daily commute this summer: Take $699 off the price thanks to the Rad Power Bikes Earth Day sale that runs through April 23.
Rad Power Bikes has been an industry leader in the world of electric bikes and their collection includes cargo bikes, foldable models, and those ready for the trails.
UPDATE: Apr. 21, 2025, 4:13 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with additional information, including a new Earth Day 2025 sale from Sonos.
Tariffs are coming for your sex toys
Trump's massive tariffs on China are going to hurt your sex life. Most sex toys sold in the U.S. are manufactured in China, and production can't quickly shift stateside.
This month, the president has made a slew of announcements and backtracks on global tariffs. This has led to an escalating trade war with China, with current tariffs on imports at 145 percent (as of this writing), and the administration hinting that they can balloon to 245 percent.
As many products sold in the U.S. are made in China, many industries and customers will likely suffer. Sex toy companies aren't any different, and if these tariffs continue, your bedside drawer might look a lot emptier soon.
Why are sex toys made in China?"Pretty much all toys are made in China," said Carolyn Eagle, owner of the online sex toy shop Betty's Toy Box and others.
Factories in China have the manufacturing capabilities and decades of knowledge to make toys, particularly vibrators, which have small electronic parts like motors.
This wasn't always the case, though, according to sex historian and journalist Hallie Lieberman. In the early twentieth century, vibrators were produced in the U.S. — and companies were proud of it.
"Pretty much all toys are made in China." - Carolyn Eagle, owner of the online sex toy shop Betty's Toy Box"In the early 1900s, the U.S. [...] Racine, Wisconsin marketed itself as 'vibrator capital of the world,'" said Lieberman, author of Buzz: A Stimulating History of the Sex Toy. "We were making electric motors and vibrators in Wisconsin […] the Midwest was that production capital, because we were making small electric motors here. They had the infrastructure, they had the factories."
In the decades since, Lieberman said we've "gone from doing vibrator production in the U.S. to completely outsourcing it." Why?
Why does the U.S. outsource vibrator production?Firstly, these Midwestern-made vibrators weren't marketed for sexual purposes (even though that's what they were used for); they were sold as products for health and non-sexual uses — even vacuum cleaners.
Around the sexual revolution and women's liberation movement in the 1960s and 70s, vibrators did become more associated with sex, and women's masturbation in particular. This contributed to more stigma around the toys. American companies like Hamilton Beach, which produced vibrators at the turn of the century (you can find some on eBay), focused on other household appliances instead.
Meanwhile, the iconic Magic Wand vibrator (formerly known as the Hitachi Magic Wand), which isn't produced in the U.S., debuted in 1968. By the time Vibratex, the wholesale distributor of Magic Wand, took over distributing and managing the vibrators in 2000, Magic Wand was manufactured in China. The switch from manufacturing in Japan to China happened in the late 1980s or early 1990s, CEO of Vibratex Ken Herskovitz told Mashable.
Vibratex, which launched the also-famous Rabbit Pearl vibrator, also shifted production from Japan to China (unrelated to Magic Wand) around that time because of the reduced labor cost and larger manufacturing infrastructure, Herskovitz said.
"Shenzhen and Dongguan are where, I would say, about 90 percent of all sex toys are made." - Alexandra Fine, co-founder and CEO of sex toy company DameToday, it's difficult to determine how many vibrators and other sex toys are produced in China and imported into the U.S., Lieberman said. These products don't have a NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) code, so they're not categorized like retail or agriculture products.
Despite the lack of official statistics, Lieberman and business owners Mashable spoke to made it clear that the vast majority of sex toys sold in the U.S. are made in China.
"Shenzhen and Dongguan are where, I would say, about 90 percent of all sex toys are made," Alexandra Fine, co-founder and CEO of sex toy company Dame, told Mashable. "They are experts there at making this type of product."
Certain aspects of vibrators are particularly difficult to make, Fine continued. She used an example of not being able to use high-temperature silicone around electronics because it'll melt the electronics.
"There's nuance. They're hard to do, and this is where the experts are, and how we can make quality product," she said.
"The manufacturers in Shenzhen are exceptional at what they do," wrote Polly Rodriguez, co-founder and CEO of sex toy brand Unbound, in a blog post about how tariffs are impacting the company. "There is no other region that can match their quality of raw materials, technology, safety standards, manufacturing processes, speed, and price."
Can sex toys be made in the U.S.?One stated reason for the tariffs is to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. But in the case of many products, including sex toys, it's not easy.
Two variables are the ability to make products at scale and cost, according to Michael Topolovac, co-founder and CEO of pleasure jewelry company Crave. Currently, supply chains that companies need to make an array of products at scale (meaning, a lot of them) don't really exist in the U.S.
"For example, batteries and motors. They're not manufactured in the U.S. anywhere," said Topolovac. "Not for these kinds of consumer products. They just don't exist. Could you build battery and motor factories in the U.S.? Sure, but that's a five-year problem."
"Could you build battery and motor factories in the U.S.? Sure, but that's a five-year problem." - Michael Topolovac, co-founder and CEO of pleasure jewelry company Crave"When you get to electro-mechanical products, and the scale at work that we're doing it, it's just not feasible in the U.S. currently," said Ti Chang, co-founder and creative director of Crave. Crave does its design, research and development, some assembly, and quality control in San Francisco, but its parts are made in China.
The other problem is cost. Rates for labor, construction, real estate, and basic living costs are higher here than in China. "Even if you could build up the supply chain, it would be materially more expensive," Topolovac said.
So, are sex toy prices going to go up?If nothing changes with the tariffs, yes. "People are going to have to really raise the prices of vibrators," Lieberman said.
Sex toy brands are responding to this potential reality in different ways.
Unbound and Dame posted blog posts about the tariffs, pledging transparency to their customers. When the tariffs were set at 20 percent, Dame instituted a $5 "Trump tariff surcharge," which Fine told Mashable wasn't enough to offset the increased cost on the company's end.
Last week, Dame updated the charge and the blog post, stating, "We've updated our prices to reflect a ~50 percent tariff. Because we just don’t think it will stay at 145 percent." Dame's "Trump's tariff surcharge" is currently $15, and Dame and Fine shared more about the company's math on Instagram.
Vibratex sells wholesale to retailers, and effective immediately, there's a 10 percent tariff offset fee, which also wouldn't fully cover the increased cost, Herskovitz said. As of this publication, beginning in May, there will be a 20 percent tariff offset fee; in June, 30 percent; and in July, 40 percent. Vibratex aims to cap this fee to its customers (retailers) at 40 percent.
Vibratex has also controlled order sizes so one retailer doesn't stock up on all their inventory before prices increase.
Meanwhile, Crave stocked up on extra inventory before Trump's tariff announcement, given his history of imposing tariffs on China. In an email sent to customers and forwarded to Mashable, Crave stated it's not raising prices for now, but urged customers to buy something if they're eyeing it.
"[O]wing to the extreme tariffs and their apparent likelihood of being maintained, it is unclear how long we can keep our current pricing," Crave's email stated.
It's difficult to say how much products will cost if manufacturing eventually shifts to the U.S., Topolovac said, but he estimated prices can go up 300 or 400 percent.
Hurting businesses and bodiesThe escalating tariffs are causing chaos in the markets and businesses.
"If one's intent — I use that word very broadly — was wanting to eviscerate very large swaths of small businesses in America, this is precisely how you would do it," said Topolovac, CEO of Crave.
"I feel a little apocalyptic about my vibrators right now." - Alexandra Fine, co-founder and CEO of DameMultiple business owners told Mashable that the instability of Trump's decisions has made it difficult to decide what to do. Across industries, from beauty to children's toys to furniture, business owners feel, as the Wall Street Journal reported, "stuck in limbo."
"I feel like I'm dancing with chaos," Fine said. "I feel a little apocalyptic about my vibrators right now."
"Everyone's on edge," Herskovitz said of the Vibratex team. "This current situation feels very unpredictable. We don't know. It's why I'm doomscrolling all day."
"Even if the tariffs continue on for another couple of months, companies are going to start going under," said Eagle. "They just won't be able to afford to produce and bring over the product that they need to bring over."
These impacts will undoubtedly affect consumers, and not just their wallets.
"It's easy to look at it and say, 'Oh, it's just frivolous, whatever,'" about sex toys, "but these are products people use on their genitals, inside their bodies," Lieberman said.
SEE ALSO: Whatever Trump decides on tariffs, Apple and Tim Cook lose"People are always going to want to masturbate. They're always going to want to provide pleasure. They will find a way to get the cheaper product, even with the surcharge, the Shein product, or the whatever product that may have dangerous chemicals in it that may break, that may be harmful to them."
What makes matters worse is that this is happening alongside a years-long attempt to stifle online sexuality. Twin laws FOSTA-SESTA, which Trump signed into law in 2018, were outwardly to curb online sex trafficking, but in reality have pushed sex workers (and educators, and other people in the sexuality space) off social platforms and the internet. This makes them less safe and also makes it harder to find credible information online.
Sex toy companies, especially women-centered ones, aren't exempt from this. In 2023, Unbound showed that Meta rejected its toy ads until it marketed to men.
Additionally, around a third of the U.S. is now subject to age-verification laws. These laws typically require identification data (in the form of government ID or facial recognition) for visitors of sites with over a third of explicit content. Despite free speech advocates and researchers saying age-verification doesn't work to stop minors from accessing porn sites, they persist.
And age verification is coming for sex toys. Last month, Texas introduced a bill to require official proof of age to buy sex toys online.
"Current struggles impacting toy businesses with the new tariffs remind us of challenges we continue to see faced by advocates, researchers, and educators like ourselves in the broader field of sexual rights," COO at sexual freedom nonprofit Woodhull Freedom Foundation, Mandy Salley, said in an emailed statement to Mashable.
"Restrictive policies on who can access sexual content online, increasing censorship of sexual expression on social media, and regressive human rights policies contribute to the censorship and stigmatization of consenting adults' access to sexual content."
It's unclear whether the 145 percent tariffs will last long after this publication or for years, and how sex toy companies will respond. One thing for sure is, they're killing the buzz in more ways than one.
Keep checking Mashable for our latest tariff news and explainers, from delayed Nintendo Switch 2 preorders to reports of iPhone 16 panic buying.
Kickstart your day with $20 off a funky Keurig K-Express Coffee Maker
SAVE $20: As of April 22, get the Keurig K-Express Coffee Maker for $69.99, down from its usual price of $89.99, at Amazon. That's a discount of 22%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Keurig K-Express Coffee Make $69.99 at Amazon$89.99 Save $20 Get Deal
Sometimes a great cup of coffee can turn your morning around. You don't even have to leave home for one these days, since there are tons of options for personal machines. In fact, in most cases, you can press a button and have a fresh cup of Joe in minutes. If that sounds like a dream for you, it might be time to invest in a new coffee maker, namely the kind that's on sale right now at Amazon, especially if you're a Keurig K-Cup fan.
As of April 22, get the Keurig K-Express Coffee Maker for $69.99, down from its usual price of $89.99, at Amazon. That's $20 off and a discount of 22%. This discount applies to every colorway: Warm Stone, Black, Island Berry, Lavender, and Mint.
This small and lightweight coffee maker can make you a strong cup of coffee that can be adjusted to your liking, with options for three cup sizes: 8, 10, 12 oz. All you need to do is load your favorite Keurig K-Cup, and then press a button. It'll start brewing right away thanks to its multiple cup 42 oz. removable water reservoir. You can brew up to 4 cups without needing to refill it.
The coffee itself brews in just minutes, so you aren't left waiting around for your caffeine fix. While you can use just about any standard-sized coffee cup, if you need to take your drink on the go, that's an option as well thanks to the removable drip tray, which means you can use up to a 7.4-inch tall travel mug.
If you're ready to make enjoying coffee every morning easy and affordable, this is the ticket.
I Know What You Did Last Summer trailer teases familiar faces, fresh slaughter
Five teenagers, a coastal car accident and an attempted cover-up is the familiar starting point for the upcoming I Know What You Did Last Summer movie, but the franchise's latest edition (moving on from the lackluster TV series) isn't just a reboot — it's a sequel with some familiar faces.
In the trailer above the hooded, fish hook-wielding antagonist is back on another killing spree in the city of Southport, but this time the guilty teens might at least get some help from survivors of the 1997 massacre, Julie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Ray (Freddie Prinze Jr.).
Madelyn Cline, Sarah Pidgeon, Tyriq Withers, Jonah Hauer-King and Chase Sui Wonders also star.
I Know What You Did Last Summer opens only in theaters July 18.
The Ninja BN701 is $30 off at Amazon today — blend up all that spring basil
GET $30 OFF: As of April 22, the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender is on sale at Amazon for $89.99, down from $199.99. That saves you $30, or 25%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender $89.99 at Amazon$119.99 Save $30 Get Deal
Whether for morning blueberry smoothies with cherry juice, or fresh garden pesto at dinner, blenders unlock a vast repertoire of healthy, delicious foods. The Ninja BN701 Professional Plus is a powerful blender with drive enough to grind ice and space enough to prepare food for the whole family.
As of April 22, the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender is on sale at Amazon for $89.99, down from $199.99. That saves you $30, or 25%.
SEE ALSO: Spring redesign? Ruggable's End of Season Sale is offering savings up to 40% offSmoothies might be the iconic blender food, but professional grade blenders like this one can do so much more. Sauces, soups, and even ice cream are fair game, so whether you're aiming to perfect your mother-in-law's borscht recipe or impress your friends with homemade frozen cocktails, it's all within reach.
This powerful blender hits 1400 peak wattage and has a total liquid capacity of 64 ounces. It has three preset modes: ice cream, smoothies, and frozen drinks. These presets use pre-programmed pulsing, blending, and grinding recipes.
BPA-free, the Ninja is made of food grade plastic and can be run through the dishwasher for simple clean-ups.
Save $50 on the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and improve your summer playlist experience
SAVE 20%: The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are on sale for $199.99 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $249.99. That's a savings of $50.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro $199.99 at Amazon$249.99 Save $50 Get Deal
In just a few weeks, we'll be in the warmth of the summer sun, jamming out to our summer 2025 playlist. While we're still enjoying the best summer songs from 2024, soon enough we'll all be adding to a fresh playlist and you'll want to make sure your tunes are getting fair treatment with earbuds that come with solid sound quality. If you're in the market to make an upgrade, check out this Amazon deal.
As of April 22, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are on sale for $199.99 at Amazon, marked down from the list price of $249.99. That's a 20% discount that shaves $50 off the standard price.
Your go-to pair of earbuds likely get a lot of use these days. We take them with on the morning dog walk, pop them in to drown out the sounds of fellow commuters on the train, bring them to the gym, and use them while making dinner to tune into a podcast. All of that to say, they need to be comfortable for all-day wear, and that's one area where the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro shine.
Samsung used a new design with the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro to give a snug fit while also looking sleek thanks to the stem of the earbud lighting up.
SEE ALSO: Save $100 on the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones at AmazonBut of course, Samsung considered sound quality here, too, and the Buds 3 Pro come with adaptive noise cancellation which is perfect for using the earbuds while out on a run or during your morning subway commute. The dual amplifier and two-way speaker are ideal for clarity — useful for both listening to music and taking work calls.
Mashable's sister site PCMag (also owned by Mashable publisher Ziff Davis) reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and gave them praise for excellent audio quality paired with a comfortable fit. "The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro offer excellent audio quality, effective noise cancellation, and some interesting smart features. We also like how their revised design makes them more comfortable and easier to control than before," wrote Christian de Looper in his PCMag review.
The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro also shine if you're heading off on a summer vacation to a country that speaks a language you're not familiar with. The Buds 3 Pro come with real-time interpreter functions which translate speech through the earbuds during face-to-face conversations. This feature can also transfer when taking calls with the Samsung Phone app.
If your summer playlist deserves to be heard through earbuds that excel in sound quality, snag the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro while they're discounted at Amazon to $199.99. The $50 savings means you can gift yourself another summer-worthy gadget.
Insta360 is coming for GoPro with the X5, a new 8K 360-degree action camera
On Tuesday, Insta360 launched the X5, a 360-degree action camera that pairs with an "invisible" selfie stick. The next iteration in the company's flagship series is tougher than ever before, and has the ability to produce footage at 5.7K and 60fps with HDR support (or 8K non-HDR footage). Not bad for a camera that can fit in your pocket.
The double-sided camera can capture truly panoramic footage, and the Chinese company showed off the new camera's capabilities in a teaser video ahead of its launch. The X5 is available for sale now from Insta360 and Amazon, with a base price of $549.99.
With the X5, Insta360 increases the pressure on GoPro, the brand that is — for now, at least — still synonymous with action cameras. While the GoPro Hero13 Black may still be the action camera standard bearer, Insta360 has caught up in key respects. The company's Ace Pro 2 features a Leica lens, and the X5 beats GoPro's new Max 360 camera in video resolution and battery power (GoPro's newly updated 360-degree action camera is more affordable, however).
The Insta360 X5 360-Degree Action Camera: Key SpecsThe 360-degree camera's key features include replaceable lenses with tougher optical glass, better low-light performance, longer battery life, and a wind guard for enhanced audio. It's even waterproof up to 49 feet (or 15 meters).
Credit: Insta360 Credit: Insta360Priced at $549.99, here are the most important specifications:
Sensor size: 1/1.28 inches
Lens aperture: F2.0
Focal length: 6mm
Video resolution: 8K, 5.7K, 4K, 1080p
Frame rate: 30 fps (8K), 60 fps (5.7K), 120 fps (4K)
Photo resolution: 18MP-72MP
Video format: MP4
Weight: 200 grams
Battery: 2400mAh
Runtime: Up to 185 minutes in 5.7K24fps Endurance Mode
Waterproof: Up to 15 meters
The Chinese company already makes a variety of action cameras, and the X5 is the successor to the X4.
SEE ALSO: Insta360 launches GO 3S, a tiny 4K action camera with Apple's Find My The X5's key features to knowInsta360 is introducing a "Shoot First, Point Later" feature in the X5, which allows you to capture 360-degree and traditional video simultaneously, giving creators a lot more options while editing videos. The X5 will also come bundled with an invisible selfie stick that can't be seen while filming, giving it a unique floating camera effect from a third-person perspective.
In a press release announcing the launch, Insta360 also says the X5’s sensors are 144 percent larger than the X4, enabling a new AI-powered low-light mode.
And in a key first, Insta360 says this camera is the first of its kind to feature replaceable lenses.
We haven't had the chance to test the X5 yet, but we're hoping to review the new 360-degree camera soon.
Where to buy the Insta360 X5 cameraThe Insta360 X5 camera officially launched on April 22 and can be purchased from Insta360 and Amazon for $549.99. An Essentials Bundle with additional accessories is also available for $659.99.
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Heartstopper is set to end with a movie
Like the inevitable final days of high school, Heartstopper is coming to an end, with Netflix announcing a film to close the beloved series.
Three years since the release of Season 1, the streaming service revealed in an Instagram post on Tuesday that Heartstopper will return with a movie to send off Charlie Spring (Joe Locke), Nick Nelson (Kit Connor), and their marvellous crew. Production is set to begin this year.
SEE ALSO: Every book in 'Heartstopper' Season 3The Heartstopper film will be based on the unreleased sixth volume of Alice Oseman’s graphic novels, with Netflix revealing the narrative will revolve around Nick and Charlie preparing to go long-distance as Nick gets ready to start university out of town.
Still Alice director Wash Westmoreland will helm the project with series director Euros Lyn acting as an executive producer alongside Locke, Connor, and Oseman.
"I am completely overjoyed that we will get to tell the end of the Heartstopper story," Oseman said in a press statement. "I’m so grateful to everyone who has worked hard to make this possible and to the incredible fans of Heartstopper for your patience and passion. I cannot wait to bring this story to a magical conclusion."
Featured Video For You 'Heartstopper’s Joe Locke and Kit Connor talk teenage vulnerabilityConsidering we left the Paris Crew on the precipice of maturity and deciding what comes after high school in Season 3, there are plenty of loose ends to tie up. And although the rest of the cast hasn't been announced, it wouldn't be the same without Tao (William Gao), Elle (Yasmin Finney), Isaac (Tobie Donovan), Tara (Corinna Brown), Darcy (Kizzy Edgell), Imogen (Rhea Norwood), or Tori (Jenny Walser).
Save $100 on the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones at Amazon
SAVE $100: As of April 22, the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are on sale for $248 at Amazon. That's 29% off their list price of $348.
Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones $248 at Amazon$348 Save $100 Get Deal
A good pair of noise-canceling headphones are a game-changer. If you frequently listen to music, audiobooks, or podcasts, they can help you feel even more immersed in what you're listening to. While high-end models often come with high price tags, occasionally some very nice deals pop up that are worth taking advantage of. At the moment, Amazon's offering a great deal on the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones.
Sony's WH-1000XM4 headphones have received a 29% discount at Amazon, dropping their price from $348 to $248. That's a very nice deal to jump on if you've had your eye on these great headphones. Multiple color options are on sale right now as well, so you can choose between midnight blue, black, and silver headphones.
SEE ALSO: The 9 best headphones of 2025Alongside noise cancelation that'll keep sounds from the outside world from getting in the way, the Sony WH-1000XM4s feature a comfortable design and up to 30 hours of battery life so you can keep listening for longer. We consider them the best overall headphones in our roundup of the best wireless headphones for every budget, with Mashable's Miller Kern saying, "The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones have superior sound quality and noise cancellation. They're comparable to the Sennheiser PXC 550-II headphones, but have a more stylish look in our opinion — the ear cups are less bulky."
If you've been waiting to upgrade your headphones, now's a great time to do it with discounts like this floating around. Don't miss out on 29% off the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones at Amazon.
Another great Sony headphone deal that's worth checking out right now is on the Sony ULT WEAR headphones, which are over $50 off at Amazon. If you're looking for a bit more bass in your headphones, these are worth a look.
The Oscars announces new rules for using AI. Sort of.
The Oscars has landed squarely on the fence about the use of AI in potentially nominated films.
Following a widely publicised controversy around the use of artificial intelligence in Best Picture nominees The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez, the Academy has made its position of impartiality clear.
In the latest update to the Oscars rules, released on April 21 to apply to the upcoming 98th Academy Awards set for March 2026, there's an addition to the "Eligibility" section:
"With regard to Generative Artificial Intelligence and other digital tools used in the making of the film, the tools neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination.
The Academy and each branch will judge the achievement, taking into account the degree to which a human was at the heart of the creative authorship when choosing which movie to award."
Essentially, AI won't help films get nominated for an Oscar, nor hinder their chances. Then, it will be up to the Academy's voters to decide whether the movie deserves the award.
SEE ALSO: 'The Brutalist' AI backlash, explainedBrady Corbert's Best Picture nominee The Brutalist found itself amid public debate in January when editor Dávid Jancsó revealed in an interview he had used AI software by Respeecher to refine the Hungarian pronunciation of actors Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones (the former of whom won Best Actor). Jancsó also said that AI was used to create architectural sketches by Brody's protagonist Laszlo Toth. But The Brutalist wasn't alone, with Best Picture nominee Emilia Pérez also confirmed as having used AI to fine-tune lead Karla Sofia Gascón's singing voice.
It's a neutral decision from the Academy during a time where the use of generative AI has sat firmly at the top of the list of concerns for Hollywood. During the 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes, it was (and remains) a core issue.
Featured Video For You After the Oscars, we hold space for 'Wicked'There's a few more rules added to the new Oscars rules, too. In probably the most "uhhh what?" update of the Oscar rules, the Academy specifies that "members must now watch all nominated films in each category to be eligible to vote in the final round for the Oscars." Actually watching all the nominees in the category you're voting on? Groundbreaking. As The Hollywood Reporter explains, the Academy will actually track what members are watching on the Academy Screening Room streaming platform to make sure they haven't skipped a movie.
There's a small update for the Oscars' new category for best casting. Defined as "the process by which a casting director collaborates with a film’s director and producers on the creative consideration, and selection of actors who comprise the acting ensemble of a film," the award will allow "a maximum of ten films" on the nominee shortlist.
Plus, the best international film category also got an update, with filmmakers with refugee or asylum status now allowed to be represented by a country outside of their home when submitting. The Academy specified in the rules, "The submitting country must confirm that creative control of the film was largely in the hands of citizens, residents, or individuals with refugee or asylum status in the submitting country."
Looking to buy a new tablet? Score the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ for $60 off.
SAVE $60: As of April 22, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ is on sale at Amazon for $159.99. That's 27% off its list price of $219.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ $159.99 at Amazon$219.99 Save $60 Get Deal
If you've been looking to invest in a new tablet but don't want to spend a lot of money, the good news is there are some great deals to check out right now. And that includes the 64GB Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+, which has received a 27% discount at Amazon for a limited time.
This discount has dropped the price of the 64GB Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ from $219.99 to $159.99. It's currently listed as a limited-time deal at Amazon, so if you're interested in picking it up at this low price, you'll want to act fast.
SEE ALSO: The best tablets in 2025Boasting a large 11-inch screen and quad speakers powered by Dolby Atmos, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ will keep you immersed in what you're watching or doing on its display with high-quality images and sound. It also comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor and has a lightweight design that makes taking it on the go nice and easy.
All of that for under $200 is a pretty great deal, so scoop up the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ for 27% off at Amazon while the offer is still live.
There's more where this tablet deal came from, too. Another discount that's worth checking out is on the Fire Max 11 tablet at Amazon, which is still at its Big Spring Sale price right now.
Get over half off the roborock Q5 Pro+ robot vacuum and mop for a limited time
SAVE $400: As of April 22, the roborock Q5 Pro+ Robot Vacuum and Mop is on sale at Amazon for $299.99. That's 57% off its list price of $699.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: roborock roborock Q5 Pro+ Robot Vacuum and Mop $299.99 at Amazon$699.99 Save $400 Get Deal
There have been some great robot vacuum deals popping up lately, which is nice if you've been looking for a little extra help to get some cleaning done around the house right now. At the moment, one of our favorite deals is on the roborock Q5 Pro+ robot vacuum and mop, which is currently marked down by over 50% at Amazon.
More specifically, the roborock Q5 Pro+ Robot Vacuum and Mop has received a 57% discount that's dropped its price from $699.99 to $299.99. That's a great discount to take advantage of on such a versatile robot vacuum. It's worth keeping in mind that it's listed as a limited-time deal as well, so it may not stick around at this price for very long. If it has caught your eye, now is the time to pick it up.
SEE ALSO: I've tested 20+ robot vacuums and these are the best for every budget in 2025From hard floors to carpets to tile, the roborock Q5 Pro+ will keep a variety of surfaces neat and tidy as it zooms around. It features a 5500Pa suction and dual rubber brushes that'll take care of any dirt or hair that's hiding away on your floors, and the mop will give harder surfaces a nice shine. It's also self-emptying, so you can keep it going for up to seven weeks before needing to empty the dust bag.
Don't miss out on 57% off the roborock Q5 Pro+ robot vacuum and mop at Amazon.
This isn't the only cleaning device deal that's caught our eye. At the moment you can also save on the Dyson V11 Origin if you're just looking for a regular vacuum to have around the house.
Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 22, 2025
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. 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 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for April 22 Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 22, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Creative.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no recurring letters.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter A.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is...
ARTSY.
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle 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.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 22Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
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 Wordle.
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 22, 2025
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.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 22 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: To cut short
Green: Artistic supplies
Blue: Slick and slimy
Purple: Natural warmth
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Cancel, as a project
Green: Seen in a pottery studio
Blue: Things that are slippery
Purple: Natural producers of heat
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 #681 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayCancel, as a project: AXE, CUT, DROP, SCRAP
Seen in a pottery studio: CLAY, GLAZE, KILN, WHEEL
Things that are slippery: BANANA PEEL, EEL, GREASE, ICE
Natural producers of heat: FIRE, LIGHTNING, SUN, VOLCANO
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 April 22Are 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.
The Last of Us stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey react to the big death
If you found The Last of Us Season 2, episode 2 an emotional viewing experience, just imagine what it was like for the main cast.
In the Max video above, stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey sit down to chat about everything from their last days on set to what Ramsey thinks their character Ellie wishes she could have said to Joel before he died.
"I guess that Ellie wished she'd said 'I love you' to Joel," says Ramsey. "I don't think those words are ever really brought up. Together, they're like, I don't know, quite repressed."
A NASA rover just exposed something on Mars that eluded orbiters
A NASA rover taking rock samples on Mars has uncovered a plentiful mineral that was invisible to orbiters studying the Red Planet from space.
Scientists say the discovery of siderite, a type of iron carbonate, could be crucial evidence to support the theory that Mars once had a thick carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere, allowing a warm enough environment to support oceans, lakes, and streams.
Curiosity, a car-sized lab on six wheels, performed a chemical analysis of four rock samples drilled at different elevations of Mount Sharp, a mountain it has been exploring within Gale Crater. Three of the samples showed considerable amounts of siderite. Another sample, which had no significant traces of siderite, contained other iron-rich minerals that can form as siderite breaks down.
This iron carbonate mineral is known to form on Earth under specific chemical conditions involving water, iron, and carbon dioxide. The study, published in the journal Science, suggests more carbon is stored in the Martian crust than previously thought. And if similar carbonates exist in other sulfate-rich regions, they could represent a hidden trove of Mars’ ancient atmosphere.
"The discovery of abundant siderite in Gale Crater represents both a surprising and important breakthrough in our understanding of the geologic and atmospheric evolution of Mars," said Benjamin Tutolo, lead author of the paper, in a statement.
SEE ALSO: These scientists think alien life best explains what Webb just found NASA's Curiosity rover snaps a selfie image on lower Mount Sharp in Gale crater in August 2015. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSSThe results contribute to mounting evidence that ancient Mars had the right chemical and environmental conditions not only to have liquid water but also to trap and cycle carbon in the air — factors that may speak to the planet’s past habitability.
Scientists have had a long-standing theory that Mars used to have surface water. But for that to happen, the planet also would have needed to be warmer, with higher air pressure. That has led them to believe that though Mars' atmosphere is extremely thin today, it must have been thick and carbon dioxide-rich in the past.
Volcanoes could have released large amounts of carbon dioxide into the air. Over time, some of that gas escaped into space, but enough probably stayed to support lakes and rivers.
Over the past three decades, researchers have found lots of evidence that water flowed on ancient Mars. But up until now there's been a missing puzzle piece for the atmosphere within the rock record: Carbon dioxide in the air and water almost certainly would have reacted with rocks to create various carbonate minerals, so where are they?
At a Martian site nicknamed Ubajara, NASA's Curiosity rover discovers siderite, an iron carbonate mineral that might solve a mystery about how the planet lost its thicker atmosphere. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSSAfter drilling less than 2 inches below the surface, Curiosity used its CheMin instrument to conduct X-ray diffraction analyses of rock and soil samples, according to the new paper. The presence of siderite in them means the rocks likely formed in calm water like lakebeds, not volcanoes or lava. On Earth, siderate tends to form in shallow lakes and swamps.
Curiosity also detected sulfates, minerals that form when water evaporates. Geologists glean clues about a planet's past from the order in which minerals formed. That siderite came first in the sequence suggests a gradual drying of ancient Martian lakes, leaving behind these other minerals. The sample that didn't have siderite but had evidence of its breakdown materials supports the notion that Mars’ carbon cycle used to be active but became unbalanced over time.
"Drilling through the layered Martian surface is like going through a history book," said Thomas Bristow, a NASA research scientist and co-author of the paper. "Just a few centimeters down gives us a good idea of the minerals that formed at or close to the surface around 3.5 billion years ago."
If similar carbonates are found in other sulfate-rich layers across Mars, they could hold large amounts of carbon — perhaps equal to or even more than the carbon dioxide in Mars’ air today. Future observations could confirm these findings and illuminate how the planet changed as it lost its atmosphere.
Bluesky adds blue checks for verification, like the Twitter of old
Bluesky is introducing new ways to recognize genuine, verified accounts on the social media platform.
According to an official update on Bluesky's blog, certain accounts will now get a blue checkmark next to their names.
Bluesky will also let "select independent organizations" verify accounts of their employees directly, with one example being the New York Times which can now issue blue ticks to its journalists.
SEE ALSO: NFL bars teams from using BlueskyUsers will be able to see which organization granted the mark to a user by tapping on a verified account's blue check.
The new scheme echoes the blue checkmark verification system that Twitter had before Elon Musk bought the platform, renamed it X, and made checkmarks available to anyone who paid for a Twitter Blue subscription.
Bluesky did not share exact criteria as to which accounts can get a blue checkmark, besides saying it will proactively verify "authentic and notable" accounts.
Featured Video For You Our favorite robots at CES 2025This is another layer of verification on top of Bluesky's verified domain system, which allows individuals and organizations to set their domain as their user name. This is still available to all users.
As for the blue checks, Bluesky said in its update the platform is currently not accepting direct applications for verification; instead, it will launch a request form for notable and authentic accounts which are interested in becoming verified and/or trusted verifiers.