Technology

Multiple monitors are all the rage right now. If you flip on the TV or watch a movie, you'll encounter hackers and IT specialists with dazzling arrays of displays spanning the width of their desks. However, I've mostly given up on my triple-monitor setup in favor of a modest 13.5-inch display. Here's why.

ChromeOS devices, like Chromebooks and Chromeboxes, have to serve a wide variety of audiences, including schools and businesses that might have media and AV equipment that's decades old, but still in use.

Foldable phones started life as a gimmick. They were demonstrably worse in terms of usability compared to typical smartphones and were a lot more expensive. Over the years, the price has remained mostly consistent, but the foldables themselves have improved significantly, making their price-to-performance ratios more justifiable. There are also way more than there used to be, and that competition has been good for consumers.

With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, and the upcoming launch of the Pixel Pro 10 Fold, you may be curious what the current foldable market looks like. There still aren’t a ton of foldables out there, but they are much more plentiful than they once were.

For the purposes of this list, we’ll discuss the foldables currently on the market, but you can still find virtually every foldable phone ever made on sites like eBay, Swappa, and other used phone marketplaces. We'll also have a guide to our favorite foldables coming soon, so stay tuned.

Are foldable phones worth buying Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

The first generation of foldable phones were... not great! They had squeaky hinges and high price tags. They were a novelty more than a viable phone, and only the earliest early adopters bought them. But in recent years, we've favorably reviewed phones like the OnePlus Open and Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold. And in July 2025, we gave even stronger recommendations to the new Samsung foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and its little sibling, the Galaxy Z Flip 7.

While these remain niche products, for techies who appreciate the form factor, they finally justify their high price tags. The smaller flip phone-style foldables easily fit into your pocket and have a lot of handy features, while the larger foldables with tablet-style displays let you use your phone more like a tablet. These phones are still conversation starters, but now they're so much more than that.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Read our full Galaxy Z Fold 7 review.

Let’s start with the latest addition to the foldable family, and that’s the Galaxy Z Fold 7. It’s arguably the best foldable that Samsung has released yet. It houses a number of improved specs and hardware advancements over its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 (which is now discontinued, although you can still find new stock on some online retailers). If you want a flagship, Westworld-style foldable phone with a huge display, this is the top contender so far in 2025.

So, what makes the Z Fold 7 so good? It’s the lightest Fold that Samsung has released to date, shaving precious grams off the weight. Our reviewer Alex Perry also said it's incredibly thin and simply feels great in the hand. The 8-inch screen is the largest ever housed in a Fold, and Samsung also redesigned the hinge. As we said in our review, "Samsung's latest Z Fold phone is [our] favorite yet thanks to its gorgeous form factor, great displays, and solid camera array.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, 256GB, Unlocked $1,999.99 at Samsung
Shop Now Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Read our full Galaxy Z Flip 7 review.

The Fold’s younger sibling is also on the menu if you want something more traditional. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 7 is the tippy top of the Flip lineup from the Korean tech giant, and it’s definitely packing some great stuff. The AMOLED external display increased to 4.1 inches in size and goes right up to the edge of the screen. It functionally covers the entire front half of the phone while folded, giving it some honest-to-goodness usability. Crucially, this "AI flip phone" also easily fits in your pocket — imagine that?

Like the Z Fold 7, it also houses numerous software and hardware improvements over the Flip 6, which has been officially discontinued. It features the largest battery in a Flip device yet, and a decent camera array (two out of three of the cameras are really good, in our testing). It’s also a lot more affordable than the Z Fold 7 at $1,100 — that's $900 less than the least expensive Fold model. At its current price, specs, and feature set, the Z Flip 7 can compete with standard smartphones better than any other foldable on the market right now. 

Our chief complaint? While we haven't had any performance issues yet, we do wish it came with a Snapdragon processor.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, 256GB, Unlocked $1,099.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $200 + $200 Amazon Gift Card Get Deal Motorola Razr family Credit: Motorola

We've been complaining about the Motorola Razr flip phones since 2020, but we have good news: With the 2025 edition of the Motorola Razr, the company has finally figured out the modern flip phone. This phone is a heck of a lot of fun.

Technically, there are three smartphones in the Motorola Razr foldable family. However, they’re all essentially the same phone with some spec bumps as you move up the pricing ladder, so we’ll talk about all three of them here. The most powerful is the flagship Razr Ultra, which includes flagship specs and a $1,300 price tag. With a higher price tag than the new Z Flip 7, the Razr Ultra has to be damn good to win over shoppers. Fortunately, we think it largely does.

Mashable's tech editor Timothy Beck Werth has been testing the Motorola Razr Ultra, and he's been very impressed so far. "The cameras could be slightly better for a flagship IMO, but other than that, I've been loving this phone. Like all foldables, it's a huge conversation starter, and I love being back on a flip phone. The displays are incredible, and the battery life lasted over 24 hours in my testing."

Following that is the Razr Plus at $999 and the base Razr at $699. The former comes with a Snapdragon 8S Gen 3 while the other comes with a Dimensity 7400X chip, making the Plus a flagship model and the regular Razr a midrange device overall. All three phones are widely regarded as superior to Moto’s prior foldables and are reasonable choices if you aren’t thrilled with the Galaxy Flip 7. As per the norm in 2025, they also come with some AI goodies if you’re into that sort of thing. 

Pro tip: Since the debut of the Z Flip 7, you can now find select colors of the Razr Ultra discounted to $1,099, and with 512GB of storage, too.

Opens in a new window Credit: Motorola Motorola Razr Ultra, 512GB, Unlocked $1,099 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $200 Get Deal Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable

Read our full review of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Next up is the current foldable in Google’s lineup, although we 100 percent expect the Pixel 10 Pro Fold to be released at the Made by Google event on Aug. 20. In any case, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a reasonably good foldable, and it competes pretty well with the Galaxy Fold 6. It isn’t quite as strong in terms of specs as the newer Galaxy Fold, but it makes up for it by shaving $200 off the price. We’ll have to wait and see if the Pixel 10 Pro Fold keeps up that trend, or if the price increases, which it might. Cough, tariffs, cough.

In any case, what you get here is a Pixel that folds. You get Google’s clean Android software design with its excellent camera processing. Even though the Tensor G4 isn’t the strongest processor, it still holds its own and will do everything you ask it to do. The only downside, according to our review, is that the colors are boring and Google shovels a bunch of AI features into phones that folks may or may not use. Otherwise, it’s a solid competitor.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, 256GB, Unlocked $1,799 at Best Buy
Shop Now OnePlus Open Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable

Read our full review of the OnePlus Open.

OnePlus entered the foldable market in late 2023 with the OnePlus Open. It’s another competitor to the Galaxy Fold 7 and Pixel 9 Pro Fold market with a vertically opening hinge with a tablet-sized inner display. It holds up in some areas, like the excellent displays and generally good design. While its hardware is a little dated compared to foldable phones released in 2025, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip is still perfectly capable, and the rest of the spec sheet holds up surprisingly well. 

Mostly, the concern with the Open is that OnePlus hasn’t released another one. The successor was initially delayed to 2025, and then eventually cancelled. This was considered a bad idea by just about all the foldable fans out there, as the original Open was cheaper than the Galaxy Fold 7. OnePlus has said that they’ll continue supporting the Open, which is good because they’re still selling it. It seems to go on sale quite often for $1,500, which is $500 less than Samsung’s most recent offering.

Opens in a new window Credit: OnePlus OnePlus Open $1,499 at OnePlus
$1,699 Save $200 Get Deal The world has more foldable phone options than the U.S.

We've covered all the top foldable phones for sale in the United States at this time. However, international markets have a lot more options than North American markets, where Samsung, Google, and Motorola reign mostly unchecked. That may change in the future, but for now, those are the three brands we recommend checking out if you're an early adopter and mobile nerd, like us. You can get your hands on these international smartphones without jumping through a lot of hoops or paying a premium.

Honor Magic V3

The Honor Magic V3 is the first of a slew of Chinese-made foldables that may or may not be directly available in the U.S. market. At the time of its launch, the Magic V3 was the thinnest foldable on the market at 9.3mm, a title that has since been taken by Samsung and Oppo. Released in late 2024, it has specs that compete with the big dogs, although it’s about six months behind in terms of design improvements.

Even so, the phone is reasonably good. It has modern amenities like a 120 Hz display, an IPX8 water resistance, and a 5,150 mAh battery. It’s also equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, giving this thing flagship-level chops. Honor has launched this phone globally, so you can buy it anywhere except in North America, per the company’s product page. It’s still available at specialty shops and places like eBay.

Opens in a new window Credit: Honor Honor Magic V3 foldable phone (international version) $1,500 at Amazon
$1,700 Save $200 Get Deal Oppo N5

The Oppo N5 made waves when it launched as the world’s thinnest foldable (at the time). Thin phones have been met with mixed reactions over the years, but this is the year of ultra-thin phones. They are easier to hold but often come with compromises like less battery life. Samsung’s S25 Edge is a prime example of this. In any case, the N5 is a vertical folding phone like the Galaxy Fold 7, and still comes with some decent specs. 

It comes with a 6.62-inch outer screen and an 8.12-inch inner screen, matching Samsung’s Fold 7 in those areas. It also comes with a massive 5,600 mAh battery, which is also larger than the Fold 7, despite being a similar size. Overall, it’s a monster of a phone. Unfortunately, it’s a little tricky to get. The Oppo N5 is only available from specialty shops and places like eBay. It’s sold brand new in Asia, but that’s about it. It’s too bad, because the price in Singapore puts this phone at around $1,800.

Opens in a new window Credit: Oppo Oppo Find N5 foldable phone Search eBay listings Learn More Huawei Mate X6

Huawei started making the Mate foldables around the same time as Samsung, making it one of the phone makers with the most experience in this area. The Chinese brand’s latest foldable model is the Huawei Mate X6, which includes some pretty snazzy stuff, like a leather back that gives it a very premium look. It’s a book-style foldable with competitively sized screens and specs. It’s a perfectly competitive smartphone. 

The only two knocks against it: Huawei’s modern phones don’t run Android (and thus lack the Google Play Store), and it's not widely available in the U.S. market. There are ways around both of these downsides, although Google has warned against using its apps on Huawei phones in the past. In any case, it’s a stylish smartphone. Here in the States, you can only get it from resellers, and you’ll definitely pay a huge premium. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Huawei Huawei Mate X6 $3,099 at eBay
Shop Now Vivo X Fold 5

The Vivo Fold 5 is the latest in Vivo’s lineup. It launched in 2025 in many parts of the world. In some ways, this is the most impressive foldable on the list. Its 6,000mAh battery is top of the class while keeping the weight at 217 grams, which is very impressive. It’s a bit thicker than other 2025 foldables at 9.2mm compared to some others that are around 8mm. It also has the highest IP dust rating of any foldable at IP5X. 

Like many of the foldables here, it’s available in China only, but you can buy them from specialty shops and eBay if you really want one. At ¥7,999 (that translates to about $1,100), it's one of the cheapest foldables on the market in 2025, which is especially impressive given its spec sheet. The book-style foldable isn’t our first choice, but it’s definitely not a bad choice. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Vivo Vivo X Fold 5 $1,060 at Aliexpress
$1,325 Save $265 Get Deal The foldable market keeps growing

More phone makers are coming out with new foldable phones with increasingly good specs. Just a few years ago, dust and water resistance were considered a fantasy for foldables, and now there are models with both. Screen durability has also improved considerably in a short period of time. In a few years, we may see even less expensive foldables that continue to push the envelope.  

Of course, there's one massive mobile brand that's missing from this list — Apple. And rumor has it everyone's favorite fruit company is hard at work at the yet-unnamed iPhone Fold, which we're hoping to see in 2026, if not sooner.

Just days after thousands of user images and locations were leaked in an apparent hack of archived app data, women-only safety app Tea is weathering data exposure at an even larger scale than first reported.

In addition to exposing thousands of user verification images and personal IDs, which were later abused by users on platforms like 4Chan, the app's recently discovered security flaws make it possible for hackers to access private messages between users. An independent security researcher, verified by 404Media, was able to pull conversations from a second database that were sent as recently as last week, which included sensitive information like shared phone numbers, conversations about intimate relationships, and discussions of abortion.

SEE ALSO: Grindr bans 'no zionists' in bios, but still allows racist and fatphobic language

The researcher, Kasra Rahjerdi, also obtained access to back-end app features like the ability to send mass push notifications to users' devices. They told 404Media that the second vulnerability existed until late last week, around the time the initial hack was reported.

In a statement given on Friday, Tea said it was addressing the first database breach and that no current user data had been exposed. In a follow-up statement to 404Media, Tea wrote: "We are continuing to work expeditiously to contain the incident and have launched a full investigation with assistance from external cybersecurity firms. We have also reached out to law enforcement and are assisting in their investigation. Since our investigation is in its early stages, we do not have more information we can share at this time."

The Tea app recently shot up in popularity, following viral controversy over its existence as an alleged "man-shaming" app. Prior to the breach, some users were concerned with the app's storing of personal information (including that of both users themselves and the men they discuss), while others supported the need for women-only spaces online to share stories and protect each other's safety.

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But while debate about the app's efficacy flared, online users took advantage of the app's vulnerable security system to target its female user base: Shortly after reporting on the first breach, hackers seized geolocation information stored in the legacy database to explicitly doxx users — who are promised anonymity upon making an account in order to more comfortably share warnings about encounters with men — and have since created a nationwide map with the locations of Tea users. Others pulled personal images from the database in order to ridicule their appearance in public forums, while a few created copycat apps designed for men to discuss intimate details of women's bodies.

PayPal is expanding its crypto ambitions, and it will soon allow merchants in the United States to accept more than 100 different cryptocurrencies as payment. The new Pay with Crypto feature moves beyond staples like Bitcoin and Ethereum, and sellers will soon be able to accept payments in meme-tier tokens, including the controversial Trump memecoin and DOGE.

PayPal announced the new Pay with Crypto feature on Monday, and it will be rolling out to U.S. merchants as a pilot in the coming weeks; it will be widely available later this year. When a merchant accepts a payment with one of the accepted cryptocurrencies, PayPal will convert the funds into either fiat currency or the company's PYUSD stablecoin. Pay with Crypto's 0.99 percent transaction fee is considerably less than typical credit card processing fees.

The company says it's all part of its mission to "drive crypto payments into the mainstream." And in interviews with Fortune and Bloomberg, PayPal leaders said the Pay with Crypto feature is designed to help small merchants, in particular.

PayPal provided Mashable this preview of the new Pay with Crypto feature. Credit: PayPal SEE ALSO: Stablecoin bill advances in U.S. Senate as Trump critics call to end his crypto dealings

“Imagine a shopper in Guatemala buying a special gift from a merchant in Oklahoma City,” said PayPal CEO Alex Chriss in a press release. “Using PayPal’s open platform, the business can accept crypto payments, increase profit margins, lower transaction fees, access funds instantly, and even earn up to 4% APY when storing funds as PYUSD on PayPal.”

With the crypto-enthusiastic Trump administration back in The White House, PayPal is moving fast to address one of digital currency’s core dilemmas: you still can’t buy much with it. Spendability has long been crypto’s Achilles’ heel, which is partly why NFTs briefly took off as a form of "ownership" in the first place.

But with this latest move, PayPal is giving crypto holders a clearer path to using their digital assets for actual purchases, not just speculation. It also coincides with the recent successes of Bitcoin, the world's most popular cryptocurrency. In fact, in 2024, the token reached $100,000 per 1 BTC for the first time. As of this writing, a single Bitcoin is valued at approximately $118,000, per Coinbase.

According to PayPal, merchants will be charged a transaction fee of 0.99 percent for the first year, rising to 1.5 percent after that, according to Fortune.

UPDATE: Jul. 28, 2025, 5:20 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with an image and additional information from PayPal.

If you've ever found yourself in a situation where you didn’t have internet access, a new messaging app might be of interest. Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey just dropped Bitchat, a new peer-to-peer messaging app that works over Bluetooth. And it’s available now on your iPhone, Mac, iPad, and even your Apple Vision Pro.

Streaming is undoubtedly the most convenient way to watch TV shows and movies, but sadly its greatest flaw remains image quality. While steaming content can look pretty decent under ideal circumstances, the nature of streaming technology itself means that ideal circumstances are rarely what you get.

Mozilla Firefox is one of the few browsers that does not use Chromium as its browser engine, but that doesn't mean it doesn't occasionally take a page from Chrome, especially when it's a useful feature. Now, it's getting easier to link to things from Firefox, just like it currently is from Chrome.

Most of us spend several hours per day looking at screens, be it our phones or our PCs. If your work involves sitting at a computer, it'll be even more. If you're going to sink that much time into looking at something, do yourself a favor and don't cheap out—your eyes will thank you. Here are a few features I consider essential in any new monitor I purchase.

There’s something extra fun about finding out that a movie, TV show, or book takes place in a location you’re familiar with. Maybe you've wondered how many pieces of media have taken place in your area, or any other place in the world. There’s a website for that.

If vacuum brands like Dyson and Shark can venture into hair care and kill it, who says a drone brand can't be the next big Roomba or Roborock competitor? DJI begs that question with the imminent release of its very first robot vacuum, the DJI Romo.

The Romo was but a rumor until a teaser video started to make its rounds on X on July 23. A reliable leaker allegedly spotted the announcement from the official Chinese DJI Romo account, which includes the date August 6, 2025 — presumably the launch date for China. There's no word yet about drops in other countries, and tariffs could throw a wrench into the works of a release date for the United States. However, many other China-based robot vacuum brands like Roborock, Ecovacs, and Dreame are typically quick to get their flagships to the American market, so the Romo's U.S. release is hopefully on the horizon.

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From a navigational POV, there's a very clear overlap between drones and robot vacuums. A ton of robot vacuums use LiDAR (Light Detecting and Ranging) technology to create the in-app map that allows them to clean specific rooms or zones on command. And, as you may have put together, several DJI drones also use LiDAR to create detailed 3D aerial maps. Perhaps DJI will be the brand to finally get small obstacle avoidance down to a science — because I've still never tested a robot vacuum with a 100 percent perfect track record when it comes to chargers and cords on the floor.

No concrete information about the Romo's actual cleaning specs are available to the public yet. But from the short teaser clip, it looks like the Romo has a self-emptying dock — it's unclear whether part of that dock also holds water tanks for mopping. Looking at the transparent view of the Romo dock, if I squint, I think I'm seeing multiple different compartments (not just a dust bin or bag). Since DJI is familiar with the premium pricing end of the spectrum with its drones (and now wireless microphones and gimbal cameras), it seems likely that DJI's first robot vacuum will be similarly premium. I'm predicting mopping, self-washing, and -drying pads — the works.

SEE ALSO: I found the most impressive robot vacuum under $500. You've never heard of it.

Being so late to the game, DJI does have intel on where some other big brands have gone wrong. Maybe the Dyson 360 Vis Nav flopped so the DJI Romo could run.

How much the DJI Romo will cost is also still up in the air. DJI drones are high-end, so it'd be surprising if the DJI robot vacuum wasn't high-end as well. I personally don't see it costing less than $1,000, and again, tariffs could provoke a steeper price point than originally planned.

While I'm excited to see the unique ways a drone brand could go with a robot vacuum, there's a fine line between innovating and doing too much — the Roborock Saros Z70 and its hit-or-miss robotic arm are a prime example of that. Hopefully, DJI won't try to be so different that the Romo is too fancy to be a practical addition to the average person's home.

Microsoft is jumping on the AI browser bandwagon with new Copilot features for Edge.

On Monday, Microsoft introduced Copilot Mode for Edge, an opt-in experimental feature with agentic AI features. (If you've been nodding and smiling every time you hear the words "agentic AI," we have an explainer for you.) This includes contextual awareness across open tabs, natural voice commands for navigating the web hands-free, and Copilot in the form of a pop-up chatbot that can answer questions about the page you're on.

Coming soon, Copilot Mode can take over your browser and perform tasks on your behalf, such as booking reservations. Copilot Mode will also soon remember your browsing history and offer suggestions based on what you've been searching.

Copilot Mode in Edge joins Perplexity Comet, ChatGPT Agent, and other AI assistants that can browse the web on the user's behalf. New reasoning models can perform more complex tasks, which is fueling the advent of autonomous agents for shopping, managing your calendar, and more. This, plus the fact that Google might be forced to sell off Chrome, has suddenly created new potential for AI-powered browsers to compete with traditional browsers.

Think of an AI browser as a proactive, personalized assistant for handling tasks online as opposed to a static portal for manually accessing information you need. At least, that's how tech companies and AI labs are selling it, as the so-called browser wars heat up. Meanwhile, heightened security risks, incompatibility roadblocks (with sites not optimized for agents), and deep-rooted browsing habits could threaten widespread adoption.

Plus, all this hyper-personalization comes with higher privacy risks, since AI browsers collect lots of data. As Microsoft asserted, Copilot Mode is opt-in only, and the data it collects is controlled in your personalization settings. You can turn Copilot Mode off whenever you want, and "there will always be clear, visual cues on your browser when Copilot is viewing or listening," said the announcement. With the more involved AI features like booking reservations coming soon, Microsoft says Copilot requires your permission to access browsing history and password credentials.

How to try Copilot Mode

Copilot Mode is free... for now. Microsoft says the new features are free for a limited time, but it doesn't specify for how long. If you want to try it out, you'll need to install the Edge browser on Windows or Mac. From there, go to aka.ms/copilot-mode to opt into the experiment. Once opted in, you can toggle on Copilot Mode within your Edge settings.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Online retailers are being majorly affected by President Donald Trump's tariffs and handling of the de minimis exemption.

Just take a look at the price hikes Reuters saw from Shein, a fast fashion e-commerce retailer based out of Singapore. A "baby bodysuit" rose in price 63 percent from April 24 to July 22, according to Reuters. During the same time period, a kid's t-shirt increased by 68 percent, a pair of boy's shorts increased by 57 percent, a boy's t-shirt increased by 45 percent, a girl's tank-top increased by 52 percent, a baby shirt increased by 24 percent, a girl's camisole top increased by 35 percent, and a girl's dress increased by 10 percent, just to name a few of the recent price hikes.

SEE ALSO: Shein exploited marginalized women for their influencer trip. It worked.

"Reuters tracked the price of 70 of the lowest cost apparel items listed on Shein’s U.S.-facing website in girl’s, boy’s, men’s and baby categories on April 24, one day before Shein’s price adjustments went into effect to accommodate new tariff rules starting May 2, which at the time exposed these packages to steep tariffs of up to 145 [percent]," Reuters reported.

These price hikes are likely due to the elimination of the de minimis exemption, according to Reuters.

On May 2, Trump ended the de minimis exemption. That means that packages worth less than $800 entering the U.S. from China are no longer tax-exempt. Trump's official reasoning is that sellers use the exemption to ship illicit substances like fentanyl in low-value packages. While lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agree that a reform on the de minimis provision could slow the spread of drug trafficking in the U.S. and help U.S. manufactures, some argue its effectiveness in both curbing illegal drugs and helping U.S. manufacturing, and are suspicious of the timing coinciding with his ongoing trade war.

And, as Reuters pointed out in a working paper published by National Bureau of Economic Research last year, eliminating the exemption "will cost U.S. consumers between $10.9 billion and $13 billion overall, but the relative cost per person will be higher for lower-income Americans."

These tariffs and the ending of the de minimis exemption don't only affect Shein, although it is one of the largest e-commerce companies effected. Influencers, content creators, and entrepreneurs, particularly those who sell their own goods and work with brands who sell under the de minimis exemption, are also feeling the pain.

Google has admitted its earthquake alert system largely failed during the 2023 earthquake in Turkey.

The tech giant told the BBC that its Android Earthquake Alert (AEA) feature only sent 469 "Take Action" warnings for the deadly 7.8 magnitude earthquake. If working the way it was supposed to, the alert system reportedly could have given 10 million people within 98 miles of the earthquake's epicenter critical seconds to find safety.

The "Take Action" alert is the feature's highest warning and overrides user's Do Not Disturb setting with a full-screen notification and audible warning sounds. Google told the BBC that it sent half a million people the lower level "Be Aware" warning that is meant to indicate lighter shaking and does not override the Do Not Disturb setting. The first earthquake began a little after 4 o'clock in the morning, when many people were asleep. The death toll was over 55,000, with the earthquake killing people in Eastern Turkey and parts of Syria.

Google's earthquake alert system works by using Android phones to work as "mini-seismometers" to detect vibrations and communicate that information to Google's earthquake detection servers, according the feature's page. Over 70 percent of phones in Turkey use the Android operating system, so this alert could have had wide reach.

Back in 2023 when the earthquake hit, the BBC spoke to hundreds of Turkish residents and "didn't find anyone who had received a warning." At the time, Google insisted to the outlet that the alert system had worked. Google cited "limitations to the detection algorithms" that failed to detect the magnitude of the earthquake in a paper recently published in Science. According to the paper, researchers simulated the Turkey earthquake with an improved algorithm and reported that the system generated 10 million Take Action alerts and 67 million Be Aware alerts.

SAVE 17%: As of July 28, you can get the Nintendo Switch Mario Kart 8 Deluxe bundle (international model) for $289, down from $349.99, at Woot. That's a 17% discount and a $60.99 savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch Mario Kart 8 Deluxe bundle (international model) $289 at Woot
$349.99 Save $60.99 Get Deal

The hunt for the Nintendo Switch 2 has been an inventory nightmare since its June 5 launch, with restocks vanishing almost instantly. While the shortage finally seems to be letting up (the console is currently in stock at retailers like Target and Walmart), getting one still requires a little luck.

If you're tired of tracking restocks and just want a great Nintendo console to play now, you can get the Nintendo Switch Mario Kart 8 Deluxe bundle (international model) for $289, down from $349.99, at Woot. That's a 17% discount and a $60.99 savings.

This is an international model, but Woot notes that it works with U.S. power outlets and comes with a U.S. adapter. The bundle includes the original Nintendo Switch console, a set of white Joy-Con controllers, wrist straps, the dock, and a download code for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

There are 48 Mushroom Kingdom courses to race on with a large cast of characters. You can race up to four players locally on one system, two to eight players locally using multiple systems, and two to 12 players online.

The first trailer for James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash left me gasping in awe, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

SEE ALSO: 5 things we would love to see in 'Avatar 3'

The follow-up to 2009's Avatar and 2022's Avatar: The Way of Water looks just like its predecessors, which is to say, downright stunning. The trailer had me at the appearance of iridescent hot air balloon-like creatures, along with the return of Avatar: The Way of Water's beloved tulkun. But where it really grabbed my attention was the reveal of the Mangkwan clan, a new Na'vi people that Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri's (Zoe Saldaña) family will cross paths with.

Each Avatar movie so far has introduced a new Na'vi clan. Avatar featured the forest-dwelling Omatikaya clan, while Avatar: The Way of Water introduced the Metkayina clan, who make their home around Pandora's reefs. These clans became allies to Jake and Neytiri, but that will not be the case with Avatar: Fire and Ash's Mangkwan clan.

Also known as the Ash People, the Mangkwan live among ashy, volcanic ruins and appear to ally themselves with Avatar antagonist Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang). Their leader, Varang (Oona Chaplin), also seems to be fireproof, able to light her hands on fire without any pain. Is she a firebender? Is this officially a crossover between Avatar and Avatar: The Last Airbender? Finally, the Avatars collide.

In all seriousness, check out the full trailer above for a better look at the Ash People and at Avatar: Fire and Ash's mind-blowing alien landscapes. From just these two minutes alone, it looks like the Avatar franchise is on track to take home yet another Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

Avatar: Fire and Ash hits theaters Dec. 19.

SAVE $40: As of July 28, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ coffee and espresso machine is down to only $89 at Amazon. That's a savings of 31% off and its best price to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ $89 at Amazon
$129 Save $40 Get Deal

Imagine it: a piping hot shot of espresso any time you desire at the press of a button. Need to pull an all-nighter and study for exams? Can't stay awake in class? Need a midday boost after a sleepless night? Enter the Vertuo Pop+ coffee and espresso machine.

As of July 28, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ is on sale for only $89 instead of its usual $129. That's 31% in savings and its best price ever — just in time to head back to school. Choose from three different color options — black, mango, or pacific blue.

The Vertuo Pop+ is no one-trick pony. Besides on-demand single espresso shots, it can also brew coffee in a four other ways: five-, eight-, and 12-ounce cups, and double espresso shots. Just pop in a Nespresso pod, fill up the 37-ounce water tank, give it about 30 seconds to heat up, and you're ready to brew.

The slim (just 8.5 inches wide) and compact build is designed to slide into small spaces, making it ideal for a dorm, small apartment, or even a cubicle. It's the smallest Nespresso machine on the market, but still offers the same big taste.

There's no telling how long this deal will stick around, so be sure to snag the 31% savings while you can.

Save 30%: The Dreame Gleam hair dryer is an affordable Dyson dupe at $99.99, but a price cut from Amazon makes it even more so. As of July 28, you can grab it for $30 cheaper, at just $69.99.

Dream Gleame $69.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $30 Get Deal

If you're looking for a tool to reliably dry your hair quickly, trust me — you have way more options than the Dyson Supersonic.

I say that confidently as someone who's tried the Supersonic, the Supersonic Nural, and the many dupes they've inspired. If you're really looking for just the basics, the Dreame Gleam hair dryer is the best Dyson Supersonic dupe under $100, even at full price, but as of July 28, you can grab it for just $69.99 at Amazon.

Seeing as at this price, you can buy six Dreame Gleam dryers for the price of one Supersonic, you should expect to go without some extras. Starting there, you won't get the three or five attachments Dyson offers with its dryers. Instead, you'll get just one styling concentrator, in addition to one less air speed and heat setting. It also doesn't have that expensive-sounding Dyson whir when powered on, but it's far from the loudest hair dryer I've used.

Where the Dreame Gleam shines is in doing a simple job well. Without going up to its highest heat (which I found to be a little on the hot side, especially for near the root), it dried my mid-length hair in about 15 minutes. At 0.73 pounds, it's also ultra-lightweight and easy to maneuver, making it a great dryer to use with styling with a brush.

At $70, it's hard to find a better option than the Dreame Gleam, especially if you're looking for a basic daily hair dryer.

SAVE $6: The Anker Nano Travel Adapter is on sale at Amazon for just $19.99, down from the list price of $25.99. That's a 23% discount and the lowest we've ever spotted at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Nano Travel Adapter $19.99 at Amazon
$25.99 Save $6 Get Deal

If your remaining 2025 travel plans have you heading to an international destination, you probably need to pack a travel adapter. Buying one in advance will save you the heartbreak of grabbing one at the airport that's sold for a ridiculous markup. Instead, check out this great deal at Amazon that'll save you big time.

As of July 28, the Anker Nano Travel Adapter is on sale for just $19.99 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $25.99. That's a 23% discount that takes $6 off the price. It's also the lowest Amazon has ever offered.

Your travel packing list needs to include a travel adapter if you'll be headed to a country that doesn't use our standard US plug type. That includes most of Europe, the UK, Australia, and plenty more. Anker makes some of Mashable's favorite charging accessories and there's plenty to love about this Nano adapter. For starters, it gives you access to a huge range of plugs around the world including plug type E, K, N, L, O, C, F, J, G, and I.

SEE ALSO: Anker just dropped 3 new Nano power banks and chargers

The Anker Nano Travel Adapter has you covered in all of those locations, and it comes packed with charging versatility. The travel adapter has five ports for your recharging needs including one AC, two USB-A, and two USB-C. Plus, its compact size means it won't add much heft to your luggage. However, it's worth mentioning this is not a voltage converter, so be sure the electronics you pack match the voltage of your destination.

Before you're in a panic about last-minute packing, snag the Anker Nano Travel Adapter at Amazon while it's on sale for a record-low price of under $20. Your inevitable travel anxiety will thank you for this pre-purchase.

SAVE 70%: As of July 28, you can get a two-year Proton VPN Plus for just $2.99 per month, down from $9.99 per month. That's a 70% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Proton VPN VPN Plus $2.99 at Proton VPN
$9.99 Save $7 Get Deal

Age verification has become a hot topic of discussion in policy (and Reddit) debates. And thanks to the UK’s Online Safety Act, apps (including dating apps, like Tinder and Hinge) and websites that host explicit content (yes, Pornhub) are now required to verify the age of their users in an effort to keep younger viewers safer online.

In practice, however, these age-verification laws are tricky to enforce because they're easy to get around with software like a virtual private network (VPN), which can make it seem like you're browsing from another country entirely. It’s so easy, in fact, one Redditor claimed "a five-year-old can do it."

SEE ALSO: UK age verification starts July 25. Here's what that means for you.

Since the law took effect (July 25 at midnight BST), multiple VPN companies, specifically Proton VPN, have seen a surge in signups. According to Proton's Observatory page, the company saw a 1,400 percent hourly increase in signups immediately after the UK’s Online Safety Act went into effect.

If you're looking for a top-tier VPN to protect your privacy, Proton VPN (one of the best VPNs in the bizz) has a few options. For a limited time, you can get a two-year subscription to its VPN Plus plan for just $2.99 per month. You'll be billed $71.76 for the first 24 months, a 70% discount from the standard $9.99 monthly rate. There's also the Proton Unlimited plan, which bundles all of Proton's premium services (VPN, Mail, Calendar, Drive, and Pass) for $7.99 per month. And if you just want to test the waters, there's a completely free version of Proton VPN available that offers medium speeds and access to servers in five countries.