Technology

SAVE $70: As of Sept 10, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE is on sale for $429.99 at Amazon. That's a 14% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE $429.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $70 Get Deal

Sitting on the couch with a coffee in the morning, or multitasking while watching TV in the evening, a tablet is the perfect companion. Amazon regularly offers great discounts on tablets, but this latest deal on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE is something that really caught our eye.

As of Sept. 10, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE is priced at $429.99 (down from $499.99). According to price tracker camelcamelcamel, it has never been cheaper than this.

SEE ALSO: How the new iPhone 17 Pro cameras compare to Pixel and Samsung Galaxy

The Galaxy Tab S10 FE is a great all-rounder tablet. Whether you're looking for something to stream, work, or take on the go, it's a great choice. It has a large, bright display with a 90Hz refresh rate (so no annoying lag) and dual speakers. It also comes with several AI features to improve usability, including Circle to Search, which allows you to quickly look up anything on your screen. Handwriting Assist keeps your notes neat, and Math Solver converts handwritten equations into text.

The tablet is water-resistant and powered by a fast processor, so if you want it for gaming, multitasking, or everyday use, it ticks all the boxes. The battery is a strong selling point too, and provides up to 20 hours of use with Super Fast Charging support.

Get this Samsung tablet deal from Amazon.

Jimmy Kimmel has already made his feelings clear about the very creepy letter and drawing Donald Trump allegedly sent to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday, which was recently made public by the House Oversight Committee — and now he's turned his attention to the Republicans scrambling to defend the president.

In the Jimmy Kimmel Live! clip above from Tuesday night's show, the host plays footage of Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett suggesting the signature on the letter is fake, before saying he's "never known Trump to be much of an artist."

"Oh well, then he couldn't have done it, right?" says Kimmel. "Not much of an artist, what are you talking about? He's an amazing artist, he's a con artist, he's a bulls**t artist...he paints his whole face orange every day."

SEE ALSO: Stephen Colbert reacts to Trump's creepy alleged birthday drawing for Epstein

Kimmel then moves on to the signature, which some Trump allies are claiming is either fake or the product of an autopen.

"They're saying it doesn't look like his signature and it could've been an autopen, which is a device that makes an exact replica of your signature," says Kimmel. "Which one is it? Is it exactly his signature or is it not his signature at all? It can't be both. And here's the other thing — this book is 22 years old. Who would've been faking Donald Trump's signature in a private birthday book in January of 2003? The Apprentice wasn't even on the air yet. This would've required an extraordinary amount of planning."

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

Nemesis.

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

ENEMY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To glorify.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

EXHALT

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To cut a sheep's wool.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SHEAR

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To mess up.

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

BOTCH

Final Hurdle hint

A steep ravine.

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

GULCH

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

We all like to think we wouldn't fall into a cult. But Wayward, the Netflix original mini-series, boldly asks, "What if it were run by Toni Collette?" 

Admit it, you'd be tempted to follow her anywhere, if only for the plot. 

The Australian actor is a chameleon, able to play the offbeat but lovable heroine of Muriel's Wedding, the emotional mum of About a Boy, the fiercely protective Philly mom in The Sixth Sense, and the full-on "I am your mother" of Hereditary. In Wayward, she's a mother figure, inviting yet intimidating and utterly addictive.

Evelyn Wade has long, flowing blonde hair, large eyeglasses, and a tendency toward cardigans that suggest she's a mix of earnest intellectual and crunchy hippie. She is the leader of Tall Pines Academy, a reform school for teenagers who need to "solve the problem of adolescence." 

However, from the intense opening sequence of Wayward, show creator/co-star Mae Martin lets us in on a sinister secret: This promising reform program in a picturesque town is not what it seems. 

Wayward begins with a big leap.  Credit: Michael Gibson / Netflix

On a dark night, a teen boy races recklessly through trees, fleeing something or someone. He's so desperate to escape that he plunges himself into a lake, but what he sees at the bottom of it is impossible: a glowing door. Swimming around him are the cryptic words of an unseen woman. She speaks of his mother, a bell, and a door. What could it all mean? 

Martin takes their time untangling the mystery of Wayward. Across the eight episodes of this mini-series, much of the action will be set in Tall Pines, Vermont, a cozy place where boundaries are so nonexistent that houses there have no doors between rooms. This lack of privacy comes as a shock to Alex (Martin), a cop joining the local police force at the behest of his wife, Laura (Sarah Gadon), who is a graduate of Tall Pines Academy. After facing some professional problems, this married couple is looking for a fresh start, and where better than the place once problem child Laura found hers as a teen?

Evelyn is positively giddy to welcome them to town, but less forthcoming when it comes to the Academy. Not long after they've arrived, Alex is drawn toward the place — or more specifically, to its troubled youths. Hailing from Canada, Abbie (Sydney Topliffe) fell in with a bad influence, her bestie, Leila (Alyvia Alyn Lind), who's coping with grief through drugs, partying, and a 26-year-old boyfriend who's as bright as a burnt-out bulb. The girls' parents hope Tall Pines will be a turning point for both. But Evelyn's promises are so enchanting that few grown-ups are looking into her methods — except Alex.

Mae Martin has crafted a compelling teen drama with grown-up twists.  Credit: Netflix

Often in teen dramas, grown-ups are lazy caricatures of smothering moms or abusive dads, or parents that are absolutely absent so as not to be an obstacle to the plot. Wayward handles this potential pitfall by writing the boring parents out pretty swiftly; they're all left behind as the kids enter Tall Pines. And yet, parenthood is a major theme of the series, as Laura is pregnant. 

A trans man eager to embrace the role of dad, Alex wants to support his wife in any way possible. But he's bewildered by her apparent disinterest in all things baby, even as her belly grows. Alex finds an outlet to test his fatherhood abilities in protecting the Academy kids, even if it defies Evelyn's rules.

Through a smuggled walkie-talkie, Alex communicates with Abbie about what's going on behind the cheery exterior of the Academy. But Evelyn, a mother figure not only to Laura but also to much of the town, has a power that even the police can't compete with. Plus, she seems so nice. And she's helping kids! So even doubting her feels wrong, like questioning your mother or God. (A very YA predicament!)

Beyond creating the series, Martin shoulders much of the story as an actor, taking on scenes of frenzied teen confessions, steely stare-downs with his partner on the police force, uneasy confrontations with Evelyn, and scenes of seduction with his wife. Gadon, a stalwart in Canadian television like Letterkenny and Alias Grace, lends support and delivers an unnerving arc of her own. Each of their stories slowly unravels the mystery of Evelyn Wade through flashbacks and investigation. Lovers of crime dramas will relish every tense moment. And yet, Wayward has more to offer. 

Wayward offers a fresh perspective. Credit: Netflix

While Laura and Alex try to make Tall Pines a home (or at least less scary) before their baby arrives, Abbie and Leila are fighting to survive the Academy. It's shades of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest as the kids are treated like inmates, stripped of their clothes and personal effects as a means of erasing their identities. They must all fit into the box made up of Evelyn's rigid rules. And as you might expect, the residents of the Academy range from rebels — like Abbie and Leila — to bootlickers, like counselors nicknamed Mule (Tricia Black) and Rabbit (Tattiawna Jones). 

Snitching on your fellow kids is rewarded at Tall Pines Academy, where Evelyn sits and smiles as her wards tear one another apart with judgment and snarling name-calling. Basically, imagine the shittiest thing someone said to you in high school being said in front of everyone in your grade, with your teacher nodding in approval. With the Academy, Martin heightens the stakes of high school drama — from embarrassment to cliques to crushes — by putting them all under the unblinking eye of Evelyn, who treats normal human urges like a disease that can only be defeated by a rigorous regimen of shame and submission. 

Within this, Topliffe and Lind have the most screentime, and make a meal of it. Together, they are authentic in capturing the chaotic chemistry of girlhood best friends. They are at times childish, challenging, caring, and even caustic. So you can't help but root for them, even if their paths seem to be pulling them away from each other.

Martin smartly builds a curious cast of misfits around their heroines, including a chronic liar who is also a sweetheart (John Daniel), a gleeful snitch (Isolde Ardies), and a volatile bad boy (Milton Torres Lara). Rather than fitting neatly into The Breakfast Club clichés of John Hughes–styled teen drama, Martin carves out fresh ideas of what it means to be young and acting out. And to drive home the high stakes of the Academy's brutal rehabilitation process, Martin offers Colette as a vengeful god. 

Toni Colette is electrifying in Wayward.  Credit: Michael Gibson / Netflix

Naturally. With enviable ease, Colette musters a gravitas that instantly establishes Evelyn as not only powerful, but also beguiling. From the first time you see her smiling face — in a promotional video for the Academy —you might know she can't be trusted. Perhaps because her whole schtick feels too familiar to the various true-crime exposés about pretty blonde white women who've led well-meaning people into twisted cults that profit from followers' shame. Maybe because you don't cast Toni Colette to play just some nice helper of children. That would be a waste of her depth and just how bone-chilling she can be. And Wayward wastes neither.

There's a sense in this show that Colette knows what the audience wants from her. On some level, maybe we're watching and waiting for a Hereditary-style monologue, so scathing that it's devastating and delicious. Every scene with Evelyn seems to peel back another layer of her smiling exterior, so that those glinting white teeth seem less a welcome and more a warning. What will be revealed becomes like a twisted striptease as the series goes on.

Colette grounds the horror of Wayward, which, despite hints at the paranormal, is terrifyingly human in its horror. Martin's series renders a world familiar, current, and even disarmingly progressive. LGBTQ+ characters live in Tall Pines, and they might be judged for all kinds of infractions against the town's unwritten rules of conduct. But no one will condemn them for their sexuality or misgender them. In this way, Martin lays a sophisticated message into the mini-series. 

Horror set in small towns can often come from a fear of conservative politics. In those movies, breaking from old-fashioned ways can get you cursed or killed. But Wayward offers a twist on this.

Tall Pines is not some Stepford Wives setup of brainwashed white wives obeying stodgy gender roles. It's a diverse Vermont town, in terms of race, sexual orientation, gender — just not belief. In that, Martin scratches at the troubling, smug isolation that can happen within liberal enclaves. These spaces aren't immune to the abusive tactics of a charismatic figure. And yet, both through casting Colette and building rich character arcs, Martin shows how damned hard resisting such an influence can be, especially when you are in desperate need of community. 

In the end, Wayward becomes about what we're willing to surrender. Like great Netflix series like Orange Is the New Black, Stranger Things, and Bridgerton, this mini-series gives audiences an ensemble of fascinating characters with intriguing arcs, so the story feels rich, no matter what thread a sequence follows.

All this makes for a show that's very easy to binge-watch. So now a warning: Don't hit play on Wayward unless you're ready to surrender yourself to 8 hours of this sensational series. Like the town at its center, it's hard to walk away from. 

Wayward was reviewed out of the Toronto International Film Festival; it will debut on Netflix on Sept. 25. 

The demise of Tootles (Kit Young) in Alien: Earth episode 6 is both avoidable and frustrating, but the silver lining is that it allows the show's greatest character to shine.

We're talking, of course, about alien sheep, the fluffy monstrosity stealthily stealing the show despite having no lines of dialogue whatsoever.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth's eyeball scares me way more than the Xenomorph What happens with the sheep in episode 6?

Alien sheep is brought to life in Alien: Earth episode 4, the product of another misguided Prodigy experiment to test the capabilities of a new — and truly hideous — specimen: T. Ocellus, that nasty little octopus-like creature that can burrow into eyeballs and essentially take over creatures' brains.

Prodigy's plan? Release T. Ocellus into the same laboratory pen as a sheep, and observe what happens after it inevitably tunnels its way into the poor beast's head.

"The wavy lines are totally different now," says soon-to-be-dead hybrid Tootles, observing the sheep's intelligence chart once the octopus creature has completed its attack.

"Those are gamma waves," responds Kirsh (Timothy Olyphant). "Problem-solving, concentration. See how they've increased? This creature is highly intelligent."

Featured Video For You 'Alien: Earth' episode 5 was its own 'Alien' movie. Here's how they made it.

He's not wrong, but it's only in episode 6 that we find out exactly how intelligent T. Ocellus is, when it uses its limited four-legged powers to despatch Tootles with nothing more than a well-timed headbutt.

The best part of this attack is the way alien sheep initially bides its time. When Tootles strolls into the lab, intent on completing his exciting solo responsibilities of feeding the assorted monsters, it simply waits and watches him bumble through his tasks. The minute Tootles discovers that the secure feeding hatch for the fly aliens' pen is broken (what the hell, Prodigy?) T. Ocellus sees its chance. As soon as Tootles has the cell door propped open with his foot and becomes off-balance, T. Ocellus slams its sheepy head into the glass and sends him stumbling. Moments later, the alien flies descend.

This manoeuvre may seem outwardly pointless for alien sheep at first, but later in the episode we see that it's just the first domino in a chain reaction. Tootles' grisly death leads directly to the attack on Prodigy employee Arthur (David Rysdahl), leaving the lab in a state of chaos that the final slow (and very metal) zoom into alien sheep's face suggests it will be taking full advantage of.

Alien sheep 1, Prodigy 0.

Why is alien sheep so great?

Brilliant acting isn't always about shouting loudly or crying on cue. Sometimes it's more subtle than than, and this is an area where alien sheep thrives. Somehow it's able to maintain a constant level of menace with a simple stare, gazing impassively out at its captors like a woolly Hannibal Lecter.

The sheep even breaks the fourth wall in the episode's final shot, staring directly down the camera lens as the opening chords of Godsmack's "Keep Away" play in the background. Absolute cinema.

At this stage we don't know what alien sheep's grand plan is, but we're certain of two things: 1) It will likely involve unspeakable levels of violence, and 2) We'll be rooting for it all the way.

Alien: Earth streams Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX.

Apple's big iPhone reveal is upon us.

One of the biggest days of the annual tech calendar, the Apple Event for 2025 — the tagline is "Awe Dropping" — lifted the veil on the much-anticipated iPhone 17 line, new Apple Watches, the AirPods Pro 3, and the iOS 26 release date.

The big show kicked off at 10 a.m. PT on Tuesday, Sept. 9, and you can watch a recording of the livestream at Apple's website and YouTube.

We've been updating this live blog all day, providing real-time updates on the biggest news from the event. So, grab a sleeve of cookies, a caffeinated beverage of your choice, and dive into the iPhone world with us.

Products featured in this story: Apple iPhone 17 Starts at $799 Learn More Apple iPhone 16 (128GB) Starts at $699 Shop Now Apple iPhone 16 Plus (128GB) Starts at $799 Shop Now Apple iPhone Air (256GB) Starts at $999 Learn More

As expected, Apple announced the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max models during its not-quite-so ‘Awe Dropping’ event. The new iPhone lineup comes with tons of updates, including a bump in specs, 120 Hz displays across the lineup, and one extremely eye-catching shade of orange. Even better, the new iPhones arrived without significant price increases, which isn't always the case in the tariff era.

However, while the eyes of the tech world were on the iPhone 17, some of last year's iPhone 16 models received a price drop at the Apple store.

Judging by the internet's instant reaction, a lot of people are disappointed by the iPhone 17. So, if you've been eagerly awaiting the iPhone launch event so you could finally upgrade your smartphone, then the iPhone 16 just got a lot more attractive.

Apple lowers prices on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus

Here are the updated prices for the iPhone 16 line:

• iPhone 16 - $699 (was $799)

• iPhone 16 Plus - $799 (was $899)

• iPhone 16 Pro - $999

• iPhone 16 Pro Max - $1,199

• iPhone 16e - $599

Sadly, the price drops are reserved for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. All of the prices shown are for the starter 128GB models except for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which starts with 256GB of storage.

Now, let’s take a look at the base pricing for the iPhone 17:

• iPhone 17 - $799

• iPhone 17 Pro - $1,099

• iPhone 17 Pro Max - $1,199

• iPhone 17 Air - $999

Interestingly, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16 both launched with a $799 price, but the iPhone 17 starts with 256GB of storage, so you're actually getting double the storage for the same price.

This year, there's no iPhone 17 Plus, and the new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air is $100 more than the Plus from 2024. Lastly, while it looks like the iPhone 17 Pro Max arrived with a price increase of $100, that's not technically true. This year, Apple eliminated the 128GB version of the Pro Max, and with greater memory comes greater pricing. The 256GB version of the iPhone 16 Pro Max costs the same as the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

The most interesting price, however, is for the iPhone 17 Air. It shares the A19 Pro chip with the iPhone 17 Pro models, and despite having Pro-level specs (though not Pro-level cameras), its $999 price tag is surprisingly appealing. 

What do you lose if you stick with the iPhone 16? The new iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max on display at Apple Park. Credit: CNET

The iPhone 17 does have some worthwhile upgrades, particularly the base model. All of the new iPhones now come with 120 Hz displays, a feature that was reserved for most Android phones and the higher-tier Pro models until this year. The iPhone 17 gets the new A19 chip, and the Pro models get the A19 Pro, which Apple promises offers better performance. (Apple says it's the fastest mobile phone processor ever constructed.)

Included also with these new iPhones is a return to aluminum, a 3,000-nit screen with Apple’s Ceramic Shield 2, and significant camera upgrades. If you're serious about photography, you'll lose out on the new 18-megapixel Center Stage front camera on the iPhone 17. The flagship models also offer better cameras, with three 48-megapixel cameras on the back.

Apple's Watch Ultra range is weird, but if you have the dough and you need a watch that can withstand a lifestyle even more active than yours, it's probably well worth the investment. Apple has just launched the latest Apple Watch Ultra 3 in addition to a new Apple Watch SE, and both are pretty decent upgrades.

SAVE $200: As of Sept. 9, get the TCL QM6K Mini LED 4K TV for $1,797.99, down from its usual price of $1,997.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 10% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon TCL QM6K Mini LED 4K TV $1,797.99 at Amazon
$1,997.99 Save $200 Get Deal

If you've been looking to add a new TV to your entertainment setup, a Mini LED 4K TV is a great option, especially when you can get it for a low price. That's the case with this TCL TV, which is currently on sale at Amazon for the lowest we've seen. If you're ready to buy, this is one price cut you won't want to pass up.

As of Sept. 9, get the TCL QM6K Mini LED 4K TV for $1,797.99, down from its usual price of $1,997.99 at Amazon. That's $200 off and a discount of 10%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Best TVs under $500: Low-budget, high-quality TVs in every size

This behemoth of a 98-inch TV boasts Mini LEDs, which means fantastic realism in terms of both brightness and color, with Quantum Dot tech for better contrast, vibrancy, and over a billion colors. Its Halo Control system means deeper shades of black, better detail, and advanced local dimming zones to get rid of haloing. It offers better, more accurate pictures thanks to a combination of all of these features, so no matter what you choose to watch, you'll get a satisfying picture.

It has a 144Hz refresh rate with Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG support, and a set of gaming options that you can use with your favorite games of the season. Auto Game Mode can switch you over to the best settings for gaming, while you get up to 288 VRR with ultra-low input lag and HDMI 2.1 support. Further, GameBar offers realtime stats on-screen.

For a massive TV with a picture that won't quit, this is one deal you won't want to pass up this season.

Apple has announced its new iPhone 17 line of smartphones — which means Google and Samsung have some fresh competition.

The iPhone 17 line has some major changes from its predecessor, the iPhone 16. But arguably the most significant are the camera upgrades. How do they compare to Google's Pixel phone and Samsung's Galaxy phone?

As usual, the pro model of iPhone received the biggest camera boosts, so let's compare the pro models of each device's latest lineup. In other words: How does the new iPhone 17 Pro's cameras stack up to Google Pixel 10 Pro's and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra's offerings?

iPhone 17 Pro vs. Google Pixel 10 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S25

We'll have to wait to actually get our hands on the 17 Pro for a full test. But based on its specs, we can already see that the iPhone 17 Pro's cameras got a killer upgrade.

Rear cameras

Apple has been upgrading the megapixels on each of the iPhone's three rear camera lenses with each iteration of its smartphone. But the iPhone 17 Pro is the first that sees all three rear cameras – main, ultra wide, and telephoto – receive that 48MP upgrade.

In addition, the iPhone 17's telephoto lens now has a whopping 8x optical zoom.

Credit: CNET

Apple's Fusion camera system packs multiple cameras in each one, which means that the iPhone 17 Pro sports a total of 8 "real" camera lenses.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro has a 50MP wide lens, 48 MP ultrawide lens, and a 48MP 5x telephoto lens.

But it's the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra that will keep its camera crown. It has four physical lenses: a whopping 200MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, a 10MP 3x telephoto lens, plus a 50MP 5x telephoto lens.

If megapixels are most important to you, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra seems to be the clear leader.

Selfie camera

The iPhone 17 Pro received a long-awaited upgrade to the front-facing camera too, with the new 18MP Center Stage camera.

Center Stage provides additional features to match the powerful rear cameras, such as video stabilization for selfies and automatically adjusting the framing for group selfies. Some of these features are made possible by the iPhone 17's new, larger, square sensor on its selfie camera.

On paper, however it looks like the Pixel 10 Pro would win here. Google's device has a 42MP front-facing camera, which would also trounce the Galaxy S25 Ultra's 12MP selfie camera too.

That new sensor from Apple will require some real-world testing before counting the iPhone 17 Pro out here.

Which is better?

If you're not already sold on one of these smartphones and you're planning to go with whichever has the best camera for your needs, there's a lot of information we still don't have until we get that hands-on experience. 

Some might prefer how one camera outputs photos over another, regardless of the camera quality. Another device may have the preferable color profile.

Apple may come away as the winner when it comes to video, if previous iterations of the iPhone are anything to go by. Samsung may be your pick when it comes to image quality. Google has a lot to offer when it comes to image processing.

Alas, if you were hoping to choose between them before the iPhone 17 Pro officially hits stores, you may have to wait a little longer — at least, until iPhone launch day, September 19, when we'll have tons of reviews to go by.

Apple's Sept. 9 "Awe Dropping" event featured the debut of the Apple AirPods Pro 3, which will start shipping on Sept. 19. That gives you a little over a week to decide if you want to upgrade.

Apple last updated the AirPods Pro wireless earbuds back in 2023, when the company finally gave the AirPods Pro 2 a USB-C charging port. The AirPods Pro 2 hit the market a year earlier in 2022. In other words, Apple fans have been waiting three years for a proper AirPods Pro update.

So what does that update bring? We dive into AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Pro 2 comparisons below.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $249 at Amazon
Shop Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs. 2: Price

Let's start with good news. Even as other headphones and earbuds get more expensive, the AirPods Pro 3 have the same retail price as the previous model.

• AirPods Pro 3: $249

• AirPods Pro 2: $249

It is worth noting that the AirPods Pro 2 are frequently on sale for $169, even reaching a record low of $149 over Prime Day. We don't expect to see them in stock for that much longer now that the Pro 3s are out, so if you're looking for a solid pair of noise-cancelling earbuds that won't break the bank, pick up the Pro 2 while you can.

AirPods Pro 3 vs. 2: Sound quality

This is hard to evaluate until we can review the new earbuds properly. For now, here's what we know

• AirPods Pro 3: Personalized spatial audio with head tracking, new multiport acoustic audio design to improve spatial audio

• AirPods Pro 2: Personalized spatial audio with head tracking

The new acoustic design allows for even better sound quality on the Pro 3 earbuds. Credit: Apple / Screenshot

Though the sound quality didn't take center stage of Apple's AirPods announcement (fair, considering how good the previous gen sounds), Apple didn't ignore it completely. The fruit company noted the third gen Pros will come with a new acoustic design that helps bring out the lows, mids, and highs, particularly in the spatial audio.

Apple also noted improvements to the sound of transparency mode, which is intriguing, considering the AirPods Pro already offer one of the best transparency modes out there.

AirPods Pro 3 vs. 2: Active noise cancellation

• AirPods Pro 3: Double the ANC of the AirPods Pro 2

• AirPods Pro 2: Double the active noise cancellation of the first-generation AirPods Pro

The AirPods Pro 2 have long been one of our favorite pairs of noise-cancelling earbuds, with Mashable's Stan Schroeder deeming their ANC so good that he called them "the first pair of earbuds I'd actually consider taking on an airplane (instead of my much larger and clunkier over-ear headphones)."

While we don't have our hands on them just yet, the fact that Apple claims the Pro 3's ANC has twice the noise-blocking power is also worth noting. The addition of foam in the ear tips (more on that below) also helps with passive ANC.

AirPods Pro 3 vs. 2: Design

• AirPods Pro 3: Five sizes of foam-infused ear tips, IP57 water- and dust-resistance rating, smaller body with updated ear tip alignment, H2 chip

• AirPods Pro 2: Three sizes of silicone ear tips, IP54 water- and dust-resistance rating, H2 chip

Apple kept the general design of the earbuds the same, and the chipset exactly the same. However, they did make improvements, offering more choices of ear tips, as well as foam-lined ear tips for better passive noise cancellation.

In their efforts to make the AirPods Pro an even better earbud for working out, they made the earbud itself even smaller, and increased the IP rating, so you can worry less while you sweat more.

The improved IP-rating of the AirPods Pro 3 makes them a better option for exercise. Credit: Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs. 2: Battery life

• AirPods Pro 3: Eight hours per charge

• AirPods Pro 2: Six hours per charge, 30 hours with case

While we don't have confirmation on the case battery life just yet, the two hour per charge improvement is a solid one, especially considering the norm for most noise-cancelling earbuds these days is leaning toward the seven to eight hour range.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max announced: New design, huge battery, powerful cameras AirPods Pro 3 vs. 2: Health features

• AirPods Pro 3: Hearing Aid mode, heart rate monitoring, custom photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, Apple Fitness app compatibility, Workout Buddy

• AirPods Pro 2: Hearing Aid mode

The Hearing Aid feature is one of many health features found on the AirPods Pro 3. Credit: Apple

Apple went all-in on the fitness features with the AirPods Pro 3, adding a heart rate monitor (a la the Powerbeats Pro 2), as well as the ability to use the Apple Fitness app on your iPhone to start up to 50 different workout types, track calories burned, and close Move rings. This is made possible by the combination of the monitoring from the PPG sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, and GPS found in the buds.

Alongside the Fitness app compatibility, the AirPods Pro 3 also work with your iPhone for a new feature, Workout Buddy, which was announced during WWDC earlier this year. Workout Buddy uses Apple Intelligence to combine workout data and fitness history to generate goals.

SEE ALSO: WWDC 2025: All the Apple Intelligence AI features coming to your devices AirPods Pro 3 vs. 2: Live translation

• AirPods Pro 3: Includes live translation feature

• AirPods Pro 2: No live translation available

The AirPods Pro 3 got the rumored live translation feature, which allows for automatic translation in-person in French English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish, with availability for Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified) slated to come later this year.

While wearing the AirPods Pro 3, users can use their iPhone as a display to the non-AirPods wearer to show the transcription of the conversation, which gets translated directly in the AirPods-wearer's ear. More instantaneous translation can happen in both people in the conversation have the Pro 3 AirPods, with the earbuds' ANC automatically lowering the actual voices of each speaker so the translation is easier to hear.

Where to buy AirPods Pro 2 and Pro 3 AMAZON Apple AirPods Pro 3 $249 Pre-Order Here APPLE Apple AirPods Pro 3 $249 Pre-Order Here AMAZON Apple AirPods Pro 2 $199 (Save $50) Get Deal

Some people just can’t help but suck the fun out of things.

Case in point: the word “clanker,” a quasi-new slur circulating on social media aimed at AI chatbots. A few weeks ago, I reported on the trend as it gained traction on X and TikTok, mostly in satirical posts imagining a future where robots had fully integrated into society. It was dark humor rooted in resentment toward Big Tech and the growing role of AI in daily life.

But the originally ironic nature of the term didn’t last long.

Like many memes that start out as parody, “clanker” quickly morphed into something uglier. What started as a tongue-in-cheek Star Wars nod has since curdled into a pejorative that riffs on real racial slurs.

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It’s disappointing. In just a matter of weeks, the joke slid from harmless gags about not wanting a robot to serve us popcorn at the Tesla diner to full-on skits mimicking Jim Crow–era scenes of racial discrimination.

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When it comes to online slang, this phenomenon isn't new. On social media — and in politics — language has long been co-opted into coded shorthand, especially for targeting Black communities. Think of how terms like “Critical Race Theory” or “DEI” get wielded as stand-ins, or how online slang once leaned on “ni🅱️🅱️a” and now, “yn.” The Uganda Knuckles "do you know da wey" meme famously got really racist, really fast.

It seems like the cycle is repeating itself once again.

SAVE $1,000: The Bluetti Pioneer 150 portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $899, down from the list price at Bluetti of $1,899. That's a 57% discount that matches the lowest price Amazon has ever offered.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Pioneer 150 (AC240) $899 at Amazon
$1,899 Save $1,000 Get Deal

Portable power stations bring life to almost any situation. From those who head off for months in the RV to days spent in the backyard shed, a portable power station can juice up almost anything that's not easily connected to the standard power grid. Bluetti has one of the most versatile lineups in the portable power station business, and there's a massive deal in store at Amazon today.

As of Sept. 9, the Bluetti Pioneer 150 portable power station is just $899 at Amazon, marked down from the list price at Bluetti of $1,899. That's a 57% discount that matches the lowest price Amazon has ever offered.

On its own, the Bluetti Pioneer 150 has a solid 1,536Wh of power capacity with a 2,400W AC output. But a major selling point of the Pioneer 150 is its expansion capacity. Pair it with up to four B210 batteries to get a maximum of 10,136Wh capacity. Bluetti says this can get most people through three days without AC power.

SEE ALSO: Amazon is giving away free Bluetti portable solar generators — here's how to qualify for the deal

The Bluetti Pioneer 150 also gets major points for durability. Its both dust and water-resistant, so it won't have any issue coming to the worksite or the campground where it might be sitting in mud. There's also a DC output for RV or boat life and a NEMA TT-30.

When it comes time to recharge the Pioneer 150, you can do so with standard AC or go with solar for a maximum input of 1,200W. With that amount of solar recharge, you can get back to 100% in just two hours.

While it's back at the lowest price ever at Amazon, go with the Bluetti Pioneer 150 and rest assured you have massive expansion ability should you decide you want more than 1,536Wh. Scoring a $1,000 discount isn't too shabby either.

Being born in the late 80s, I had the privilege of growing up with some of the best films ever made. My earliest memories are of watching Spielberg's ET and other masterpieces of the era.

SAVE $180: As of Sept. 9, get the Samsung Odyssey G7 gaming monitor for $1,019.99, down from its usual price of $1,199.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 15% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Odyssey G7 $1,019.99 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $180 Get Deal

When it comes to setting up a gaming battle station at home, a great gaming monitor is a must. You want one that can handle the darker shades, the colorful hues, and the twitchy nature of some titles with ease. And a little curve doesn't hurt either, to improve your immersion level. If you're thinking about getting ready to play some of the season's hottest games, you should consider picking up this Samsung monitor at its lowest price yet as part of your setup.

As of Sept. 9, get the Samsung Odyssey G7 gaming monitor for $1,019.99, down from its usual price of $1,199.99 at Amazon. That's $180 off and a discount of 15%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The 4 best premium gaming monitors instantly level up your desktop — for a price

This monitor just debuted last month, and it's already discounted. It has a 40-inch ultra-wide 21:9 curved screen that boasts a 5,120 x 2,160 resolution and 180Hz refresh rate, so it can take just about any title you throw at it and give you a great experience. It also has 1ms response time and is compatible with AMD FreeSync. That kind of curve puts you right in the middle of the action with immersion you can't really beat, and everything else is just the cherry on top.

Beyond all that, it packs several features that have been present in Samsung's lineup in several of is previous models, like CoreSync and CoreLighting+ for better lighting effects, Auto Source Switch+ so you don't have to manually change inputs, and improved contrast and realism.

Now's a great time to snag this monitor, especially with the holidays coming up, so if you're looking to score one for yourself or maybe a lucky gamer on your gift list, add it to your cart while you can.

TL;DR: This compact Microsoft Surface SE gives you all-day battery, 128GB storage, and reliable performance — all for $184.97 instead of the list price of $329.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface SE 11.6-Inch Laptop 2022 (Open Box) $184.97
$329 Save $144.03 Get Deal

If you’ve been searching for a budget-friendly laptop that doesn’t feel like a compromise, the Microsoft Surface SE 11.6-inch Laptop (2022) is a great pick — especially at just $184.97 (down from $329) with free shipping.

This lightweight device is powered by an Intel Celeron N4120 processor and 8GB of RAM, giving you enough performance to handle everyday essentials like web browsing, document editing, email, and streaming. With 128GB of storage, you’ll also have more room for files and apps than most Chromebooks in this price range.

SEE ALSO: Snag the MSI Vector 16 HX AI for $260 less at Amazon

And here’s the real standout: battery life of up to 16 hours. That means you can take this laptop to class, to work, or on a long flight without stressing over the nearest outlet. Add in the fact that it runs Windows 11 SE — a streamlined version of Windows built with simplicity in mind — and you’ve got a laptop that’s as straightforward as it is reliable.

Because it’s billed as a new, open-box item, you’re getting a new machine from 2022 at a serious discount. Expect it to arrive in excellent condition, though the packaging may show signs of handling or store stickers (which is what open box means).

For anyone who needs an affordable laptop for schoolwork, home office duties, or just keeping connected on the road, this Surface SE is a smart investment that won’t drain your budget.

Pick up this new, open-box Microsoft Surface SE while it’s $184.97 (down from $329) with free shipping through Oct. 5.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: If you’re sick of scrolling past drama to find a good docuseries, Curiosity Stream is for you — Lifetime access is $199.99 (reg. $399.99), no subscriptions, ads, or account-sharing restrictions.

Opens in a new window Credit: Curiosity Stream Curiosity Stream Standard Plan: Lifetime Subscription $199.99
$399.99 Save $200 Get Deal

HBO Max might be packed with slick documentary content, but it’s also buried under a mountain of boring prestige content, reality shows, and algorithm-pushed fluff. And let’s not even think about the commercials.

For a service that offers educational and ad-free content, you’ll want to check out Curiosity Stream, and right now, you can grab lifetime access for 50% off.

Why Curiosity Stream is a smarter stream

Created by the founder of the Discovery Channel, Curiosity Stream offers a curated library of thousands of award-winning documentaries and series. It’s basically a non-fiction paradise — think stunning visuals, fascinating interviews, and deep dives into space, science, history, tech, and nature.

Skip the made-for-streaming melodrama. Curiosity Stream features originals and exclusives like Engineering the Future, Planet of Treasures, and Deep Time History, with new content added weekly to keep your queue fresh.

Unlike Max or Netflix, there’s no account-sharing crackdown or subscription drama here. You pay once, then stream on all your devices, download episodes to go, and enjoy your documentaries without being interrupted by ads or price hikes.

Don’t miss this Curiosity Stream lifetime deal: $199 (reg. $399.99) with no coupon needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

We all need at least one router, and probably more than that with large homes and smart devices everywhere. Buying a router or mesh system isn't cheap either, so you want that gear to last as long as possible.

My iPhone 14 Pro is a solid workhorse of a smartphone, but lately it's been looking a little long in the tooth. The scratches on the screen are becoming more noticeable — when will I ever remember not to put my keys in the same pocket? — and about a week ago, when I dropped it for the umpteenth time, the aluminum casing developed a tiny nick.

Normally, this kind of wear and tear would annoy. But because it happened in September — which as any true Apple fan knows is new iPhone launch month — looking at the nick and the scratches produced a tiny leap in my heart. It's a sign! I should upgrade to the best iPhone that comes next, perhaps the long-rumored iPhone Air. It's bound to have a better camera setup than the 14 Pro ... right?

All of which is to say I was in the target audience for Apple's iPhone 17 launch event. And I was surprised to discover that the iPhone range unveiled made me less likely to upgrade. Neither of the new models I'd consider, the Pro or the Air, is calling to me. In design terms, both seem like a step down, with ugly bumps on the back that Apple is calling a "plateau."

It's an ironic choice of words from a tech giant normally so careful with them. Because it's easy to believe that with these so-called upgrades, the iPhone maker itself has plateaued.

Apple is dividing us into Airheads and Pros

So what's the problem? Assuming you don't want the iPhone 17 base model or the cheaper iPhone SE — and what power user would want to downgrade in their upgrade? — you have two choices, the Air and the Pro. And after assessing the social media reactions, it seems I'm not alone in being turned off by both.

The iPhone Air is beautifully thin, yes. But its actual utility is an inch deep (or in this case, 0.22 of an inch). I can't shake the notion that pulling this out of my pocket would trigger baffled laughter, maybe even snide comments from other iPhone users about being an "Airhead." (See what I mean about Apple making negative use of their names too easy?)

The main reason? The camera. Yes, camera, singular, as in single lens. You don't have to be a tech guru to equate more lenses with better camera quality. That's why the Pro version has three lenses! Even the basic iPhone 17 has two. The Air has the same number of lenses as an SE, even though Apple suggested the "machine learning" would do a lot of heavy lifting in the Air version (read: your photos will now look like AI slop).

That's not the only feature that would make this an airheaded upgrade choice. There's the worse battery life in the Air, which requires the bulk of an extra $99 MagSafe battery to get the same longevity as a Pro. Plus three weirdly pastel metal color options that make the Air look cheaper than it actually is — rare for an Apple product.

Who is the Air for, exactly? Fashionistas who don't want the outline of a bulkier phone to mar their suits or purses so much that they'll plug it in more often? Would-be Insta models who equate "skinny" with "beautiful," despite all real-world evidence to the contrary? Or is it, perhaps, a billionaire's burner?

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So that leaves the 17 Pro, another iPhone I really wanted to like. It has three 48-megapixel lenses! Only one of my three lenses in the iPhone 14 Pro can match that. It has a Vapor Chamber! That sounds like a dubious dispensary in a strip-mall, but it helps keep its components cool — unlike my 14 Pro, which occasionally overheats when it gets excited and downloads a bunch of app updates at once.

The 17 Pro is undoubtedly faster with its A19 chip (90 percent faster than the 14 Pro, Apple claimed at the event, in a nod to us upgraders). It has more battery life; apparently I could watch 33 hours of video playback on a 17 Pro without ever plugging it in. (I could do 23 hours on the 14 Pro, but the fact that I've never done this speaks to the fact that it's a pretty useless metric.)

All it would have taken to make me upgrade was a decent design. Heck, I would have taken the same design as the iPhone 14 Pro, which packs its three lenses into a neat little off-center square on the back. That square and the Apple logo are the only things on its beautiful deep purple derriere, a masterclass in using negative space.

But there's no way around it. The iPhone 17 Pro design is, in a word many people have already used on social media, just plain ugly. It's a shotgun wedding between the new bulky camera plateau (double the size of the old square, with no discernible benefit) and ... whatever is going on with that credit card shape in the MagSafe area just below it.

Is this supposed to be subliminal advertising for the Apple credit card? Or is the company trying to make us buy its MagSafe wallet cases that defeat the whole purpose of Apple Wallet?

The less said about the 17 Pro color options the better. If you're a huge fan of Halloween and pumpkin spice lattes, the orange might work for you. I might just about be able to enjoy the deep blue. But why would I spend $1,200 plus tax (which is what it would cost to get the equivalent of my current 512GB 14 Pro, minus a trade-in that Apple estimates at a whopping $100) to upgrade an object so I can enjoy looking at it less?

I'd consider upgrading to an iPhone 16 Pro instead — it's still got the square camera box, and the Desert Titanium color intrigues me. But bafflingly, Apple no longer sells the iPhone 16 Pro as of today. (You can still get the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 SE, but the 17 Pro is your only pro option in the Apple Store.)

So for now, I'm saving my pennies. I'll drop $100 on a new key-free screen for the 14 Pro; I'll sand down the scratchy nick and treat it like a character-building scar. And I'll settle down for the long wait until the iPhone Pro 18 drops in September 2026 — assuming Apple's iPhone design team has risen above its plateau by then.

For more Live Apple Event coverage, follow Mashable's live blog and get real-time updates on the iPhone 17, Apple Watch Series 11, and AirPods Pro 3 launch.

After months of rumors and speculation, Apple has finally revealed the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. ProMotion and always-on display are finally coming to the base iPhone, and all models are getting an improved front-facing camera and other improvements.