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FREE GIFT CARD: Sign up for the Prime Visa card to get a free $250 Amazon Gift Card to spend over Black Friday.

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Ahead of Black Friday, Amazon has been dropping some stellar early deals for shoppers. If you're keen on taking advantage of some of the deals already available at the retailer and need a new way to save cash, Amazon is offering a limited-time deal that gets you a $250 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for the Prime Visa.

This deal can be accessed from the Prime Visa application page, which also gives you the chance to check to see if you're pre-qualified. The good news is you don't have to wait long after approval for the gift card — you'll get it instantly upon approval. It's worth noting that this card is only available to those who don't already have an Amazon Visa or Prime Visa credit card.

SEE ALSO: Target Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy online early

Once your application has been approved, you'll find the gift card loaded into your Amazon account. Another important thing to keep in mind is that the gift card cannot be used for other gift card purchases, but there's still a lot to shop at the retailer right now.

With this extra gift card cash, you can put it towards a wide variety of items at Amazon that have already dropped in price. To see some of the items that are already on sale ahead of Black Friday, check out our roundup of the 40+ best early Black Friday deals.

Treat yourself to something nice over Black Friday. Don't miss out on Amazon's limited-time offer of a $250 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for the Prime Visa. And if you're curious when the official sale event begins this year at Amazon, we've also gathered up everything you need to know about the retailer's plans in our breakdown.

I’m not the only person concerned about my data being exploited in the hands of data-broker sites. Incogni seeks to give users an easy way to remove said data from over 420 public and private data brokers. I found the service useful, but not without its weak points.

The best vacuum cleaner setup is subjective, heavily hinging on how badly you want to do the vacuuming yourself or if you'd rather have a reliable robot vacuum cleaner vacuum for you.

SEE ALSO: As an anxious cat mom, I love my robot vacuum with a livestream camera

If your vacuum is a pain to clean with, you won't feel like using it at all — whether it's an upright vacuum that's too clunky to get out of the closet or a robot vacuum that gets stuck more often than not. Regardless of the type of vacuum you choose, there's still a ton of nuance between brands and models in both of those categories. Your best bet is to get some recommendations from someone who uses both every day (like me).

Black Friday vacuum deals are going to pop off

You're lucky to be doing your vacuum shopping in November — vacuum cleaner deals are a pillar of Black Friday. If you were previously ruling out a more premium Dyson vacuum or a robot vacuum and mop combo with self-washing mopping pads, this might be your chance to grab one at a less scary price. In fact, every single robot and cordless vacuum in this guide has already been on sale at some point in 2025. They're bound to beat their own sale prices this month.

After several years of pitting the top robot and stick vacuums against each other in my own home, I've pulled a few of each to create Mashable's ultimate mashup of all of the best vacuum cleaners of 2025.

Should I get an upright or robot vacuum?

I could argue for both sides. Ideally, I'd recommend shopping strategically and splitting your budget between one of each type of vacuum. But if you're only choosing one, consider what your main priority for this new vacuum is. Is your ideal vacuum cleaner one that automates the most steps to give you as little work as possible, or is it one that does the absolute most meticulous job, even if you still have to do the work?

Trusting a robot vacuum to do this chore comes with the fine print that the robot vacuum is probably going to piss you off sometimes. Autonomy-related features like smart mapping, small obstacle avoidance, automatic floor type recognition, and debris level sensors have gotten quite perceptive over the past few years. But even the smartest robot vacuums I've tested are still inanimate objects, not humans with real brains.

The obvious downside of an upright vacuum is that you have to have enough free time to use it, and be OK with spending some of that free time off the couch. Granted, the better the cordless vacuum is at cleaning, the less you'll have to get it out, and the less of a pain it'll be to whip around. But at the end of the day, if you detest getting your vacuum out, you probably won't vacuum too often — and that defeats the purpose of spending your money on a nice, new vacuum in the first place.

Vacuums I'm testing soon

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

We don't mind admitting that our focus has been on Black Friday this week. We've been deluged by deals on AirPods, Macbooks, Pokémon, Lego, and just about everything else you can imagine. It's a great time to shop, but we need a break already.

So the latest Nintendo Direct has come at the perfect moment. Nintendo has confirmed that there will be a Nintendo Direct livestream on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 6 a.m. PT/9 a.m. ET. This Nintendo Direct will feature the world premiere of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie official trailer. That's wonderful news, but gamers should note that "no game information will be included in this presentation." That's a shame, but the official trailer should make up for that disappointment.

How to watch Nintendo Direct 2025

You can find the latest Nintendo Direct livestream on Nintendo's YouTube channel. Or alternatively, you could just keep this page bookmarked and check it out right above.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're bilingual.

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 Pips hints, answers for November 12, 2025 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: Games

• Green: An idiot

• Blue: They stand for something

• Purple: Foreign language

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Sports

• Green: Doofus

• Blue: Acronyms

• Purple: Spanish Words

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 #885 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Sports: GOLF, JUDO, POLO, SUMO

• Doofus: BOZO, DODO, DOPE, YO-YO

• Acronyms: BOGO, FOMO, GOAT, YOLO

• Spanish Words: COMO, LOCO, POCO, ROJO

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 November 12, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love brain exercises.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 12, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 12, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Aesop's animals

The words are related to this puzzle.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe word and number games.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Crossword.

NYT Strands word list for November 12

• Numbers

• Grid

• Answers

• Crossword

• Down

• Clues

• Byline

• Across

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a dice player.

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 hints today: Clues, answers for November 12, 2025 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 Pips hints, answers for November 12, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Two.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.

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...

DEUCE

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 November 12, 2025

Reporting 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 today's Wordle.

SAVE $300: As of Nov. 12, the Samsung 32-inch Odyssey QD-OLED G8 is on sale for $999.99 at Amazon. That's a 23% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 32-Inch Odyssey QD-OLED G8 $999.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $300   Get Deal

Black Friday is a great excuse to upgrade your gaming setup, and this year, the deals are coming early.

Amazon's official Black Friday sale kicks off on Nov. 20, but the standard Daily Deals have been more than impressive lately, including the Samsung 32-inch Odyssey QD-OLED G8 reduced to its lowest-ever price. As of Nov. 12, this impressive screen is reduced by $300, bringing the price down to $999.99. This is for the 32-inch model, however the 27-inch is also on sale for $879.99.

SEE ALSO: The 34-inch LG UltraGear OLED curved gaming monitor is half price at Amazon

This QD-OLED gaming monitor has 4K clarity with sharp details and deep contrasts, so every game you play is super high quality. It benefits from Glare Free technology which makes the screen 54% less glossy than standard anti-reflective coatings, so you can play no matter what the lighting, and even with harsh sunlight.

One of the most important things with any gaming device is performance, and this monitor delivers. Thanks to the 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time, this monitor says goodbye to laggy, slow gameplay. The G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro also helps to keep visuals seamless by minimizing lag and screen tearing. For managing heat and protecting the screen, this monitor also has a Pulsating Heat Pipe that cools five times faster than graphite.

Pick up this gaming monitor deal from Amazon while it's still on sale.

It's Third Quarter tonight, which means it’s a half-moon with the left side still lit. There's still lots to see on the moon's surface before it disappears from view fully, so keep reading to find out what you can spot.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Wednesday, Nov. 12, the moon phase is Third Quarter. This means 47% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

Looking up with no visual aids you'll be able to see the Mare Imbrium and the Kepler and Tycho Craters. If you have binoculars, to the bottom left you'll see the Grimaldi Basin, the Mare Humorum, and the Clavius Crater.

If you have a telescope, you'll get to see even more, including the Reiner Gamma, Apollo 14, and Rima Ariadaeus.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Dec. 4.

What are moon phases?

Moon phases are part of a 29.5-day lunar cycle, according to NASA. 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. So, sometimes it looks full, sometimes half, and sometimes not there at all. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

The eight main moon phases are:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The best early Black Friday Pokémon deals at a glance: Best Pokémon TCG deal Mega Evolution Booster Bundle $55.01 (save $4.98) Get Deal Best Pokémon Game Deal Pokémon Legends: Arceus $51.49 (save $8.50) Get Deal Best Pokémon Funko Pop! deal Funko Pop! Pokémon Advent Calendar $44.99 (save $5) Get Deal Best Pokémon Squishmallows deal Squishmallows Jumbo Eevee $34.91 (save $15.08) Get Deal Best Pokémon Toy deal Pokémon Battle Figure 8 Pack $26.04 (save $10.95) Get Deal Best Pokémon Plushie Deal Pokémon 5-inch Sleeping Squirtle, Charmander, Bulbasaur Starter Plush 3-Pack $34.99 (save $2) Get Deal Best Mega Pokémon deal Mega Pokémon Motion Charizard $84.82 (save $13.49) Get Deal

Black Friday is easily the best time to catch wild Pokémon deals, and even though a lot of retailers haven't officially kicked off their sales, you can already save a fortune on Pokémon TCG, Squishmallows, Plushies, Funko Pops, Mega building sets, and toys. Even Pokémon Nintendo Switch games are on offer right now.

I've checked out everything on offer to find the best early Black Friday deals on Pokémon. Consider this your comprehensive Pokémon Black Friday deals guide. Let's get straight into it with some of my top picks:

Best early Black Friday Pokémon TCG deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Mega Evolution Booster Bundle $55.01 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $4.98   Get Deal Why we like it

This has been the one Pokémon TCG product that's been dipping below market value consistently, and it's discounted right now. Plus, if you use a combination of the AMEX, Discover, and Amazon Store Card offers, you can snag this for as little as $1.

More Pokémon TCG deals Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box $98.88 at Amazon
  Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Black Bolt Elite Trainer Box $92.94 at Amazon
  Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company White Flare Elite Trainer Box $82.94 at Amazon
$104.49 Save $21.55   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Prismatic Evolutions Booster Bundle $55 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $4.99   Get Deal Best early Black Friday Pokémon game deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon Legends: Arceus $51.49 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $8.50   Get Deal Why we like it

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a great ride (more so on Switch 2), but Legends: Arceus kicked off the experimental mainline series that sees Pokémon games turning long-standing mechanics on their heads. Arceus isn't optimised for Nintendo Switch 2, but it's still such a great game. With a cheeky early Black Friday discount thrown in, you should see what you've been missing out on.

More Pokémon game deals Pokémon Violet $50.50 at Walmart
$59.96 Save $9.46   Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! $50 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $9.99   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Best Buy Best early Black Friday Pokémon Funko Pop! deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company / Funko Funko Pop! Pokémon Advent Calendar $55 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $4.99   Get Deal Why we like it

Getting a mini Pokémon Funko every morning in December is peak Christmas. It's a last-minute deal to get a loved one something different instead of chocolate for once. And these all look amazing on a shelf together, plus it's a cheeky $5 off right now. How can you lose?

More Pokémon Funko Pop! deals Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company / Funko Raikou Pokémon Funko Pop! Jumbo (Preorder) $39.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company / Funko Suicune Pokémon Funko Pop! Jumbo (Amazon Exclusive - WonderCon 2025) $44.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company / Funko Funko Pop Moments Deluxe: Pokémon Starters - Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle $69.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company / Funko Funko Pop Games: Pokémon - Dragonite $17.99 at Amazon
$19.27 Save $1.28   Get Deal Best early Black Friday Pokémon Squishmallow deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company / Jazwares Squishmallows Jumbo Eevee $34.91 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $15.08   Get Deal Why we like it

It's rare to see significant discounts on Squishmallows, and Pokémon is even more infamous for dodging price cuts. But there are plenty of Pokémon Jumbo Squishmallow early Black Friday deals right now, such as this cute Eevee with $15 slashed off. They're so soft and perfect cuddle buddies, according to my kids of course...

More Pokémon Squishmallow deals Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company / Squishmallow Belibolt 20-inch Pokémon Squishmallow $29.49 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $20.50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company / Squishmallow Marill 14-inch Pokémon Squishmallow $21 at Amazon
$24.99 Save $3.99   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company / Squishmallow Happy Pikachu 20-inch Pokémon Squishmallow $44.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $5   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company / Squishmallow Chansey 14-inch Pokémon Squishmallow $19.99 at Amazon
$24.99 Save $5   Get Deal Best early Black Friday Pokémon toy deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company / Jazwares Gengar, Alolan Marowak, and Misdreavus Pokémon Battle Figure set $11.49 at Amazon
$22.99 Save $11.50 Get Deal Why we like it

Because Ghost Types are epic and Gengar is the best one. I'll die on this hill, so getting Alolan Marowak and Misdreavus at 50% off is a great deal. If you're wondering what would go down well for the Pokémon fan in your life, this is a safe bet that won't break the bank this Black Friday.

More Pokémon toy deals Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company / Jazwares Pokemon Battle Figure 8 Pack $26.04 at Amazon
$36.99 Save $10.95   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon Battle Ready! Figure Set $34.43 at Amazon
$36.99 Save $2.56   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon Battle Figure Toy Set $34.99 at Amazon
$44.99 Save $10   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon Proxy Battle Figure 10 Pack $28.49 at Amazon
$37.18 Save $8.69   Get Deal Best early Black Friday Pokémon plushie deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon 5-inch Sleeping Squirtle, Charmander, Bulbasaur Starter Plush 3-Pack $34.99 at Amazon
$36.99 Save $2   Get Deal Why we like it

Sleeping Pokémon plushies are life, and these are by far some of the most popular. It's not a huge discount, but anything with the Kanto generation starter Pokémon is popular, and these are so fluffy. They're not huge either, so it's a perfect stocking filler.

More Pokémon plushie deals Pokémon Paldea First Partner Plush 3 Pack $29.10 at Amazon
$32.22 Save $3.12 Get Deal at Amazon Pokémon Charmander Select Velvet Plush $17.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company / Jazwares Pokemon Squirtle Select Velvet Plush $14.93 at Amazon
$17.99 Save $3.06 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon Jolteon Sleeping Plush $36.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $3   Get Deal Best early Black Friday Mega Pokémon deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company / Mega Mega Pokémon Motion Charizard $84.97 at Amazon
$98.31 Save $13.34   Get Deal Why we like it

The news that Pokémon is finally making the jump to Lego next year is ridiculously awesome, but there's already plenty of seriously cool Mega Pokémon sets to build. This Motion Charizard is always a favorite around Black Friday, and it's nearly $15 off right now. It sports 1,664 pieces and its wings move, sold.

More Mega Pokémon deals Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company / Mega Pikachu MEGA Pokémon $12.99 at Amazon
$18.89 Save $5.90   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company / MEGA Water-Type Trainer Team $17.99 at Amazon
$32.39 Save $14.40   Get Deal

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

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025:

AcrossPlace with ships and slips

• The answer is Dock.

Assignment for a delivery driver

• The answer is Route.

Way in

• The answer is Entry.

What might leave stains on a gardener's pants

• The answer is Soil.

Fearsome dinosaur, for short

• The answer is Trex.

DownPerson giving blood

• The answer is Donor.

Kind of belly button that 10% of the world has

• The answer is Outie.

Shortcut for "cut," for short

• The answer is CTRL X.

Door opener ... like 6-Across?

• The answer is Key.

"Oh, give it a ___ already!"

• The answer is Rest.

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

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

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

Even if you have a very capable smartphone and a nice laptop, a tablet can still be worth adding to your tech arsenal. A touchscreen that can be carried anywhere makes for a portable studio for creatives, a crucial sidekick for frequent travelers, and an e-reader for book lovers. These days, tablets are basically just laptops anyway.

Whether you're looking for a kid-friendly tablet or a compact laptop replacement, there are plenty of excellent options out there. If you're not exactly sure which tablet you should buy, we've got one simple question to help narrow down your search: Are you an Apple person? We tested the entire iPad lineup, and though iPads are our preferred tablets in 2025, we also love some of the best tablets from Samsung, Lenovo, and Microsoft. So, whatever your preferences, we've got a tablet to recommend.

Recent additions to this guide:

• Oct. 28, 2025: We've added the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 tablet to this guide; it's an excellent Android gaming tablet, but is suitable for anyone in the market for an Android tablet.

• Nov. 5, 2025: After spending several weeks with the Samsung Galaxy S11 Ultra, we were impressed by its performance. We've added it to this guide as the best Android tablet for professionals, as its oversized screen is overkill for the average tablet user.

TL;DR: Lock in enough storage forever with this 50TB lifetime subscription to Internxt Cloud Storage, on sale now for just $679.97 (reg. $7,900) until Nov. 20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription $679.97
$7,900 Save $7,220.03   Get Deal

Imagine a world where you never have to pay for cloud storage again. It may sound too good to be true, but it’s possible with Internxt. This handy service allows you to own your cloud storage outright, so you can skip the expensive monthly fees and finally feel free.

Right now, you can snag enough space for life with a 50TB lifetime subscription to Internxt Cloud Storage for just $679.97 (reg. $7,900) through Nov. 20.

SEE ALSO: Google unveils Private AI Compute, its answer to Apple's Private Cloud Compute

Since we’re all creating more data every day, our storage needs continue to grow over time. If you’re renting space in the cloud, that can get very costly. If you’re looking for an alternative way to secure your important files, it’s time to check out Internxt Cloud Storage.

With Internxt, you can own your cloud storage for life, with plans large enough to meet your demands. This 50TB lifetime subscription lets you secure more than 6.5 million photos, 5 million documents, or thousands of hours of HD video with this user-friendly platform.

While other popular cloud storage platforms monetize your data through targeted ads and data sharing, Internxt takes a very different approach. It offers end-to-end encryption, making your data safe and inaccessible, even to the company itself. It’s also GDPR compliant, adhering to strict European laws regarding user privacy and data security, and is audited and verified by Securitum.

The platform features an intuitive, easy-to-use interface. It also offers cross-platform compatibility, so it’s easy to integrate across devices and operating systems.

Act fast to snag this 50TB lifetime subscription to Internxt Cloud Storage for just $679.97 (reg. $7,900) until Nov. 20.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

SAVE OVER $500: As of Nov. 12, the Hisense 85-inch E6 Cinema Series TV is on sale for $767.99 at Amazon. That's a 41% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 85-inch E6 Cinema Series TV $767.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $532   Get Deal

TV deals are really picking up as we approach Black Friday, and if you're looking to upgrade in time for Christmas movie season, this latest deal on the Hisense 85-inch E6 Cinema Series is something to carefully consider.

Amazon's Black Friday sale hasn't officially kicked off yet (Nov. 20, save the date), but this discount is worth jumping on right now. As of Nov. 12, the TV is down its lowest-ever price, now just $767.99. That's a saving of over $500 on list price. And it's not just this model on sale, every size of this TV from 43-inch to 100-inch is currently discounted.

SEE ALSO: The 40+ best early Black Friday deals: We found record prices on Apple gadgets, headphones, TVs, and robot vacuums

As the name might suggest, this TV is designed with cinema-like quality in mind, meaning everything has been built to give you the best possible visuals. This translates to QLED Color using quantum dots to produce over a billion shades, and Total HDR Solution ensuring deep blacks and vibrant highlights across all major HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, HDR10+ Adaptive, HDR10, and HLG. Paired with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, it offers an immersive experience where picture and sound come together perfectly, just like they do at the cinema.

This model also has Fire TV built in, meaning all your favorite shows, movies, and apps are right there on the home screen. It also gives you access to Alexa, so you can use hands free voice control to search online or play your next movie.

Get this great TV deal from Amazon at a record-low price.

FREE RED CUP: Starbucks Red Cup Day takes place on Nov. 13, 2025. Buy any handcrafted holiday drink in any size to get a free reusable red cup.

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Is that the sound of sleigh bells in the distance? No, it’s the sound of coffee lovers gearing up for one of the most anticipated days of the year. Clear your schedules, because Starbucks’ holiday season officially started on Nov. 6.

So what exactly is included in this hotly-anticipated festive celebration? Starbucks is welcoming back those holiday beverages that we simply can't go a whole year without. We're talking about favorites like Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Iced Sugar Cookie Latte, and Iced Gingerbread Chai. And later in the season, two holiday classics — the Chestnut Praline Latte and Eggnog Latte — will make a glorious return. We don't know about you, but we're feeling the festive spirit.

SEE ALSO: Starbucks discloses secret menu, announces $25K drink contest

But that's not the highlight of the holidays. That's the return of Red Cup Day. On Nov. 13, Starbucks is giving away limited-edition reusable red cups for free with any handcrafted holiday beverage (at participating stores while supplies last). The free red cup is a 16-oz grande with a lid.

We really wouldn't want you to miss out on this special giveaway, so plan ahead. That might sound slightly ridiculous. This is a reusable cup, for goodness sake. But shockingly, people really love free stuff? Red Cup Day tends to draw large crowds, so arriving early or placing your order through the Starbucks app can help you beat the rush and secure your precious cup before they’re gone for good.

SAVE $1,500: As of Nov. 12, the Jackery HomePower 3000 is on sale for $999 at Amazon. That's a 60% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery HomePower 3000 $999 at Amazon
$2,499 Save $1,500   Get Deal

With Black Friday approaching, you can find incredible deals on all kinds of tech. Whether you're in need of a new TV, earbuds, or gaming accessories, prices are slowly starting to drop.

One product that is seeing some incredible early discounts is power stations. All brands are seeing some hefty early deals as we approach Black Friday, and this latest deal on the Jackery HomePower 3000 is seriously impressive. As of Nov. 12, you can score an incredible $1,500 off the list price, bringing the price down to $999. This is also the lowest it has ever been priced according to camelcamelcamel. This price includes an AC cable with the power station.

SEE ALSO: I found 15+ early Black Friday deals on power stations: Shop Jackery, Anker, Bluetti, and more

This is a device perfect for keeping your home running during power outages. With a 3,600W output (7,200W surge) and 3,072Wh capacity, it can power essentials like your fridge, fan, WiFi router, and lights for up to 15 hours, or keep a refrigerator going for up to two days. It features a UL-certified UPS that switches over in under 20ms. This means that devices like medical fridges or routers keep running smoothly during blackouts, with no cutouts.

It has plenty of ports so you can power multiple devices at once. Ports include AC, USB-C, USB-A, and DC, and it includes dual 100W PD ports for fast charging and a TT-30 RV port for hooking up to an RV.

This impressive power station deal is stamped as a limited-time offer, so grab this deal now before it runs out.

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

Age-verification laws are still producing ripples through the world of porn.

Individuals are being asked to provide proof of age in order to access adult content. Earlier in 2025, more than a third of U.S. states introduced age verification laws for online adult content. A similar situation has been taking place in France and the UK, and now Italy is the latest country to implement restrictions.

These age-verification laws raise serious privacy concerns. The prospect of handing over information to third-party systems and not knowing how these companies are handling or storing that data is naturally concerning to potential users. Fortunately, there is a simple workaround that can secure your access to your favorite sites without risking your personal information.

If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from Italy, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Italy

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.

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

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• 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 (including money-back guarantee).

Unblock Pornhub for free in Italy with ExpressVPN.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 8, 2025

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 8, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 12 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (30): Everything in this space must add to 30. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed vertically; 5-0, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add to 0. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 12 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this space must add to 6. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 2-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 0-5, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 12 Pips

Equal (1): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed horizontally; 1-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 0. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this red space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this green space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is easy if you're familiar with mid-major conferences.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Yellow: Canadian hockey

• Green: Iconic ballpark locations

• Blue: Mid-major basketball

• Purple: Sounds like a pro team

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Canadian NHL Teams, Minus the S

• Green: MLB Stadium Landmarks

• Blue: College Conferences

• Purple: Starts with an NBA Team

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 #415 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Canadian NHL Teams, Minus the S - CANUCK, JET, MAPLE LEAF, OILER

• MLB Stadium Landmarks - GREEN MONSTER, HOME RUN APPLE, MCCOVERY COVE, MONUMENT PARK

• College Conferences - IVY, MISSOURI VALLEY, PATRIOT, SUN BELT

• Starts with an NBA Team - BUCKSKIN, HEAT CHECK, MAGIC JOHNSON, SUNSCREEN

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

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

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

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

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

A cooking method.

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

SAUTE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A writing tool.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 12, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CHALK

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Copy.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 12 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 12, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

ROGER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Jazz music.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 12 Hurdle Word 4 answer

BEBOP

Final Hurdle hint

Twelve.

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

DOZEN

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