Technology

Partitioning your storage drive from one large volume into multiple smaller ones seems like an unnecessary step on modern PCs that can often create more problems than it solves. But back when hard drives were the mainstream storage medium, partitions were surprisingly common — you'd be hard-pressed to find a Windows PC that didn't have multiple partitions.

Nothing beats the big-screen experience. For over a century, films have been a major part of our lives. Movies give us entertainment, art, commentary, and inspiration. But how those movies look and sound matters. So, good equipment is essential. If you’re going for the theater experience, you’ll need a high-quality screen and, more importantly, a powerful projector that won't let you down.

The best October Prime Day earbuds deals: Best Apple deal Apple AirPods 4 $79 (save $50.99) Get Deal Best Apple deal with ANC Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179 (save $70) Get Deal Best Bose deal Bose QuietComfort Earbuds $129 (save $50) Get Deal Best open earbuds deal Shokz OpenDots One $139.95 (save $60) Get Deal Best sleep earbuds deal Soundcore Sleep A30 Special $159.99 (save $70) Get Deal

It's leaf-peeping season, and that means it's time for another massive sale event at Amazon. October Prime Big Deal Days runs Oct. 6 and 7, and Amazon is bursting with offers, especially on earbuds.

Many of us depend on earbuds like we depend on water. On the checklist before walking out the front door, we need our wallet, phone, keys, and of course, earbuds. They're with us from a morning walk with the dog to bedtime YouTube viewing. If your current pair is not up to these tasks, October Prime Day deals are coming to the rescue.

SEE ALSO: 12 expert-sourced deals on headphones and earbuds ahead of October Prime Day: Shop Beats, AirPods, and Sony

From incredibly comfortable Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) to the Soundcore Sleep A30 Special, we're seeing plenty of great deals on earbuds, and I've rounded up the best options below. Keep an eye on Mashable's Prime Day coverage as more deals roll in during the sale.

Best Apple earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $79 at Walmart
$129.99 Save $50.99   Get Deal Why we like it

At the affordable price of $79, the Apple AirPods 4 are on sale at Walmart. Redesigned for comfort, the AirPods 4 come with a massive 30-hour battery life with the included charging case. And good news on that front: Apple made the case smaller and compatible with USB-C charging.

Keep in mind that the base model of the Apple AirPods 4 does not come with active noise cancellation. If that's a priority, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 with ANC are on sale for $179.

SEE ALSO: The 5 headphones deals we want to see on sale during October Prime Day Best Bose earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Earbuds $129 at Amazon
$179 Save $50   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking for the most comfortable earbuds, the Bose QuietComfort earbuds are a top pick. Mashable's analysis of the best Bose headphones and earbuds notes that these Bose buds are the best budget earbuds. "They’re focused on a great fit, as they come with multiple ear tips and multiple bands you can change out on the earbuds for a better fit on the crest of your ear," wrote Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard.

Best open earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shokz Shokz OpenDots One $139.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $60   Get Deal Why we like it

If you'll be wearing earbuds while running or working out at the gym, open earbuds might be the best option. The design focuses on solid sound quality while also keeping you aware of your surroundings. The Shokz OpenDots One are among Mashable's favorite open earbuds, and they're on sale for under $140 for Prime Day. Need more convincing? They're also Mashable's top choice for running earbuds.

The sale price of $139.95 is the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Best sleep earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Soundcore Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 Special $159.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $70 get a free Anker Soundcore Eye Mask Get Deal Why we like it

If you struggle to sleep on account of environmental noise, sleep earbuds might be a great solution. Instead of using earbuds that hurt when sleeping on your side, sleep earbuds are specially designed for comfort, no matter which sleeping position you prefer. Mashable's favorite sleep earbuds are the Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 Specials, and they're on sale for $159.99 for October Prime Day. That's a new record-low price.

In Mashable's review of the Sleep A30 Specials, Allard wrote, "Soundcore's quick upgrade to the recently released Sleep A30 earbuds is a welcome one, delivering a longer battery life and lower price point, making a great pair of sleep earbuds even better."

If you're searching for solutions to get better sleep, consider these sleep earbuds while they're on sale for the best price.

More earbuds deals

Earbuds

• Soundcore P30i — $23.68 $49.99 (save $26.31)

• Nothing Ear (a) Earbuds — $55 $79 (save $24)

• Beats Studio Buds+ — $89.95 $169.96 (save $80)

• JBL Tour Pro 2 — $99.95 $249.95 (save $150)

• Bose QuietComfort — $129.99 $179 (save $50)

• Beats Powerbeats Fit — $159.95 $199.99 (save $40.04)

• Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $179 $249 (save $70)

• Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 — $179 $229 (save $50)

• Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro — $209.99 $249.99 (save $40)

• Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 — $234.99 $299.99 (save $65)

• Sony WF-1000XM6 Earbuds — $258 $329.99 (save $71.99)

Open earbuds

• Baseus Inspire XC1 — $94.04 $129.99 (save $35.95)

• Soundcore AeroClip — $94.99 $169.99 (save $75)

• Bose Ultra Open Earbuds — $199 $299 (save $100)

Sleep earbuds

• Soundcore Sleep A20 — $99.99 $179.99 (save $80)

• Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 — $237 $279 (save $42)

The best October Prime Day deals on power stations: Best Jackery deal Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 $469 (save $90) Get Deal Best Ecoflow deal Ecoflow Delta 3 Classic with 220W Solar Panel $659 (save $440) Get Deal Best Bluetti deal Bluetti Elite 100 V2 $448.99 (save $450.01) Get Deal Best Anker deal Anker Solix C1000 $469.99 (save $130) Get Deal Best DJI deal DJI Power 1000 v2 $399.98 (save $300.01) Get Deal Best camping deal Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra $1,019 (save $180) Get Deal Best refrigerator backup deal Anker Solix S2000 $679.99 (save $699.01) Get Deal

You can't go wrong with a portable power station, especially as we head into colder, stormier months.

They're great for camping or road trips, keeping your gadgets running when you're away from a plug socket. Portable power stations come in all shapes, sizes, and price points, with some costing well into the thousands. It's not exactly an everyday purchase, so when sales events like October Prime Day roll around, it's a great excuse to finally invest in one.

Kicking off today, Prime Day runs Oct. 6-7. There are discounts on seriously powerful models that can serve as a perfect backup power source for your refrigerator, as well as smaller models that will keep your personal devices charged and online. Now is a great time to pick one up at a lower-than-usual price. Below, we've rounded up the best deals worth checking out.

SEE ALSO: The best Prime Day outdoor deals: Anker power stations, Igloo coolers, and LifeStraws are among our top picks Best Jackery deal Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 $469 at Amazon
$559 Save $90   Get Deal at Amazon Why we picked this

For those new to portable power, Jackery makes some of the most beginner-friendly and uncomplicated models. The Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is a compact, portable power station with a 1,070Wh capacity and 1,500W output, making it suitable for powering devices such as fridges, electric pots, and other appliances. It can also go from empty to fully charged in an hour with emergency charging switched on, and the LFP battery is designed to retain more than 70% of its capacity after 4,000 charge cycles. Plus, it weighs under 24 pounds, so it's easy to carry around the house or the campground.

(Note: If you don't love the traditional black and orange look of Jackery portable power stations, the Explorer 1000 v2 comes in a modern cream color called dune white. That version is also on sale for $469 for Prime Day.)

More Jackery deals

• Jackery Explorer 300 — $239 $289 (save $50)

• Jackery Explorer 2000 V2 — $849 $999 (save $150)

• Jackery HomePower 3000 — $1,269 $1,499 (save $230)

• Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus — $1,538 $1,899 (save $361)

• Jackery HomePower 3000 with Solar Panels — $1,709.04 $2,149 (save $439.96)

Best EcoFlow deal EF EcoFlow Delta 3 + 220W Solar Panel $659 at Amazon
$1,099 Save $440   Get Deal at Amazon Why we picked this

One of the major benefits of a portable power station is the ability to recharge using solar power. The EcoFlow Delta 3 Classic bundle with a 220W solar panel is a great choice on Prime Day. You'll get the 1,024Wh portable power station with a 1,800W output that can power even big appliances like fridges. It has X-Boost providing up to 2,600W for higher-power devices, and can charge to 80% in 45 minutes via AC.

With full sun, EcoFlow says the Delta 3 Classic can recharge in about 6 hours with the 220W solar panel. Of course, you can also recharge using standard wall power or a generator. When plugged into a wall outlet, the EcoFlow can reach 80% capacity in just 45 minutes.

More EcoFlow deals

• EcoFlow Rapid Mag Power Bank — $39.99 $54.99 (save $15)

• EcoFlow Laptop Power Bank — $64.99 $99.99 (save $35)

• EcoFlow Trail Plus 300 — $179 $199 (save $20)

• EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic — $447 $559 (save $112)

• EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max — $799 $1,199 (save $400)

Best Bluetti deal Bluetti Elite 100 v2 $448.99 at Amazon
$899 Save $450.01   See It at Amazon Why we picked this

This Bluetti Elite 100 v2 unit has $400 off the list price. It comes with a 1,024Wh capacity and 1,800W output, with 11 ports so you can charge multiple devices at once. It can also fully recharge in about 70 minutes with TurboBoost AC charging, making it a great option for last-minute use.

But one of the highlights of the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 is its ability to connect with up to 1,000W of solar power. That's a massive amount of solar compatibility for a portable power station in the 1kWh range. If you have access to both 1,000W of solar and full sun, the Elite 100 V2 will recharge in just 70 minutes.

The 10-millisecond UPS (uninterruptible power supply) also makes this a great model for plugging into your workstation or the WiFi router at home when a storm threatens to take out grid power. A 10 UPS means the Bluetti will take over providing power within 10 milliseconds of losing wall power.

More Bluetti deals

• Bluetti AC70 — $399.99 $699 (save $299.01)

• Bluetti FridgePower — $849.99 $1,499 (save $649.01)

• Bluetti Elite 300 — $999.99 $1,499 (save $499.01)

• Bluetti Elite 300 with Solar Cable — $1,069.99 $1,599 (save $529.01)

Best Anker deal Anker Solix C1000 $469.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $130   Get Deal at Amazon Why we picked this

This unit has a 1,056Wh capacity and 2,400W output, with 11 ports for powering multiple devices and appliances. It can reach 80% charge in 43 minutes with UltraFast charging enabled through the Anker app. It's built a LiFePO4 battery, so it's designed to last a long time, up to 10 years, which is around 3,000 battery cycles.

The original Anker Solix C1000 also has a few advantages over the new C1000 Gen 2. For starters, the older model has a built-in light bar, which is incredibly useful when camping or carrying the power station around the house during a power outage. The original C1000 is also expandable to add 1,056Wh of power, doubling its capacity.

More Anker deals

• Anker Nano Charging Station — $59.98 $79.99 (save $20.01)

• Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 — $849.99 $1,499 (save $649.01)

• Anker Solix S2000 Portable Power Station — $679.99 $1,199 (save $519.01)

Best DJI deal DJI Power 1000 V2 $399.98 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $50.01   Get Deal at Amazon Why we picked this

We all know DJI as the brand that launched drones into our everyday lives, as well as the company that makes excellent creator cameras and mics. But DJI also makes a stellar lineup of portable power stations. Often, they're on sale at such a competitive price that anyone should consider them a frontrunner for portable power, especially for those who have DJI drones.

The DJI Power 1000 v2 comes with a solid 1,024Wh battery capacity with a peak output of 2,600W. It has your standard AC ports, USB-C, and USB-A, but it also features dual SDC ports that can fast-charge DJI drone batteries. This feature makes it incredibly friendly for content creators. Additionally, it's super quiet, operating as low as 26 decibels, making recording video or audio near the power station no big deal.

More DJI deals

• DJI Power 2000 — $749.99 $1,299 (save $549.01)

The best October Prime Day Lego deals: Best Lego Icons Deal Lego Icons Project Hail Mary $69.99 (save $30) Get Deal Best Lego Art Deal Lego Art Hokusai The Great Wave Framed Japanese Wall Art $69.99 (save $30) Get Deal Best Lego Star Wars Deal Lego Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Battle Droid with STAP $83.99 (save $56) Get Deal Best Lego Collector's Pack Lego Speed Champions Ultimate Formula 1 Collector's Pack $188.99 (save $81) Get Deal

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale event has officially begun. For 48 hours, Prime members can browse a variety of discounts ahead of the holiday sale season, including on a selection of Lego sets.

We've already spotted a ton of builds worth a look. The Project Hail Mary set has received its first major discount as part of the sale. There's also the Lego build of Hokusai’s The Great Wave, which has dropped to its lowest-ever price for members.

Those just scratch the surface of what's available, though. Check out even more of our favorite October Prime Day Lego Deals below.

Best Lego Icons Prime Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Project Hail Mary $69.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $30   Get Deal

This price cut on the Lego Icons Project Hail Mary set is an awesome surprise for the Prime Big Deal Days sale. It marks the first discount it has ever received at the retailer, dropping down to $69.99 from its original price of $99.99 exclusively for Prime members. If you adored the movie (or are even just a huge fan of the book), it's a build that's absolutely worth grabbing. I speak from personal experience.

I pieced together this set, which is recommended for adults, and it's one of my favorites up on my shelf. With 830 pieces, you'll construct a microscale replica of the Hail Mary ship, which is docked on a display stand, but that's not even the best part about it. There's a crank on the stand that allows you to simulate the ship's centrifugal gravity system when you turn it, which is my favorite element. Of course, it also comes with a minifigure of Ryland and a little Rocky figure that you can set up next to it, which is the perfect finishing touch.

Best Lego Art Prime Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Art Hokusai The Great Wave Framed Japanese Wall Art $69.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $30   Get Deal

Lego's brick-built art piece of Hokusai’s The Great Wave has dropped to a brand new low price at Amazon as part of the sale, just for Prime members. Normally priced at $99.99, it's plummeted to $69.99, so you can enjoy $30 off this set if it's been on your radar.

Recommended for adults, it comes with a grand total of 1,810 pieces to assemble the artwork, along with six canvas bases, two hanger elements, and a decorative tile featuring Hokusai's signature. Once completed, you can hang it up as a lovely new piece of wall art in your home.

Best Lego Star Wars Prime Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Battle Droid with STAP $83.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $56.00   Get Deal

Lego's The Phantom Menace Battle Droid with STAP is another set that's down to its lowest-ever price right now as part of Prime Big Deal Days. If you're a member, you can snag it for $83.99 instead of its full price of $139.99, saving you $56 in total. Not bad at all.

Unlike the two models above, this Star Wars set is recommended for builders ages 12 and up. It comes with 1,088 pieces to build a Battle Droid on an STAP speeder from The Phantom Menace. The Droid also features multiple articulation points and can be fitted with a brick-built blaster. Plus, it comes with a display stand you can set it on, along with an information plaque.

More Lego Star Wars Prime Day deals

• Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon 25th Anniversary Collectible — $67.99 $84.99 (save $17)

• Lego Star Wars SMART Play: Millennium Falcon — $79.95 $99.99 (save $20.04)

• Lego Star Wars Ahsoka Ghost and Phantom II Spaceship — $111.99 $159.99 (save $48)

Best Lego Collector's Pack Prime Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Speed Champions Ultimate Formula 1 Collector's Pack $188.99 at Amazon
$269.99 Save $81   Get Deal

This Lego Speed Champions Ultimate Formula 1 Collector's Pack is another that's back to its best-ever price at Amazon during its October Prime Day sale, matching the price we saw during June's Prime Day sale. If you're a Prime member, this set is available for $188.99, down from its full price of $269.99.

It comes with 10 Lego car sets — measuring over one inch high, eight inches long, and three inches wide — from the F1 grid in the 2025 season, alongside a limited-edition poster with all 10 F1 teams on it.

More Lego Prime Day dealsLego Advent Calendars

• Lego City Advent Calendar 2026 — $25 $34.99 (save $9.99)

• Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2026 — $35 $44.99 (save $9.99)

• Lego Marvel Advent Calendar 2026 — $35 $44.99 (save $9.99)

• Lego Disney Princess Advent Calendar 2026 — $35 $44.99 (save $9.99)

Lego Animal Crossing

• Lego Animal Crossing Blathers’s Museum Collection — $46.99 $79.99 (save $33)

Lego Architecture

• Lego Architecture Great Pyramid of Giza Set — $90.99 $129.99 (save $39)

Lego Botanicals

• Lego Botanicals Flower Bouquet — $33.59 $59.99 (save $26.40)

• Lego Botanicals Hibiscus Flower — $55.95 $69.99 (save $14.04)

Lego City

• Lego City Lava Land Roller Coaster Park — $69.99 $99.99 (save $30)

Lego Creator

• Lego Creator 3-in-1 Majestic Tiger Building Set — $34.99 $42.35 (save $7.36)

• Lego Creator 3-in-1 Forest Animals: Gray Wolf — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)

Lego Disney

• Lego Disney Piglet’s Birthday Fun — $27.99 $39.99 (save $12)

• Lego Disney Cruella De Vil’s Car — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)

• Lego Disney Moana 2 Kakamora Barge — $42.69 $99.99 (save $57.30)

Lego Dreamzzz

• Lego DREAMZzz Nightmare Shark Submarine — $104.99 $149.99 (save $45)

Lego Duplo

• Lego DUPLO Classic Cars and Trucks Brick Box — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)

Lego Fortnite

• Lego Fortnite Klombo — $65.16 $109.99 (save $44.83)

Lego Friends

• Lego Friends Heartlake City Shopping Mall — $83.99 $119.99 (save $36)

Lego Harry Potter

• Lego Harry Potter Thestral Family — $41.99 $69.99 (save $28)

• Lego Harry Potter Privet Drive: Aunt Marge’s Visit — $62.99 $89.99 (save $27)

• Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle and Grounds — $136.99 $169.99 (save $33)

Lego Ideas

• Lego Ideas River Steamboat — $229.99 $329.99 (save $100)

Lego Jurassic World

• Lego Jurassic World Velociraptor, Stegosaurus & Pteranodon Rescue — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)

Lego Ninjago

• Lego NINJAGO Zane's Ice Dragon Battle — $27.99 $39.99 (save $12)

Lego Pokémon

• Lego Pokémon Eevee — $47.95 $59.99 (save $12.04)

Lego Super Mario

• Lego Super Mario Prince Florian & Castle Bowser — $69.99 $99.99 (save $30)

• Lego Super Mario: Mario Kart – Mario & Standard Kart — $149.99 $169.99 (save $20)

Lego Technic

• Lego Technic Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica Orange — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)

Lego Wednesday

• Lego Wednesday Black Dahlia Flower — $18.99 $27.99 (save $9)

Miscellaneous Lego sets

• Lego Classic Vibrant Creative Brick Box — $41.99 $59.99 (save $18)

As the weather cools, most households quietly change how they use water at home. Iced drinks give way to hot coffee and tea, slow cookers and soup pots come back into rotation, and kitchens start filling up ahead of Thanksgiving. All of that runs through the same tap, which is why autumn is a reasonable time to think about what is actually coming out of it before the year's busiest cooking season arrives.

SAVE $610: As of Oct. 6, the Samsung SSD 9100 Pro 4TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD is on sale for $749.99 at Amazon, down from its $1,359.99 list price. That’s a 45% discount for Prime Big Deal Days.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung SSD 9100 Pro 4TB SSD $749.99 at Amazon
$1,359.99 Save $610   Get Deal

With RAMageddon driving up memory prices across the board, finding a legitimate bargain on top-tier storage feels nearly impossible right now. But Amazon’s October Prime Day event just dropped a massive lifeline for PC builders, creative pros, and AI power users.

Right now, the flagship Samsung 9100 Pro 4TB PCIe 5.0 SSD is down to $749.99 — a 45% discount off its usual $1,359.99 list price. By hopping onto the PCIe 5.0 interface, it runs roughly twice as fast as the legendary 990 PRO, meaning 4K and 8K video files transfer in seconds, and heavy AI workloads or game load screens don't even give you time to check your phone.

SEE ALSO: The best Prime Day SSD deals to upgrade your laptop storage and speed

Extreme speed generates serious heat, but Samsung fixed the thermal throttling problem that plagued early Gen5 drives. Built on an ultra-efficient 5nm controller, it delivers up to 49% better power efficiency than previous generations, keeping temperatures low so your drive doesn't slow down to protect itself during prolonged transfer sessions. You get a massive 4TB of raw storage — plenty of space to hold your entire game library, huge video projects, and local LLM datasets without constantly juggling files.

Because Samsung manufactures all its flash memory and controllers in-house, the reliability is as good as it gets in the storage world. It pairs with Samsung Magician software to keep your firmware updated and manage hardware encryption without annoying background overhead.

Snag the Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB SSD for $610 off before Prime Day ends.

Some Amazon Prime subscribers might get a surprise payment in the near future.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, Amazon is still working through a $2.5 billion settlement stemming from "misleading enrollment and cancellation practices." Amazon has already sent out more than $845 million in refunds, but payments will continue through April 2027. Anyone eligible will receive a payment via PayPal, Venmo, or a physical check in the mail, and there's no form to sign or anything like that. It's all automatic.

SEE ALSO: The 100+ best October Prime Day deals: We found record prices on Apple, Bose, Lego, and Sony favorites

Payments can go all the way up to $200, but to be clear, there's probably a decent likelihood that you won't get that much, given how these sorts of things usually work. You are eligible for one of these payments if you meet the following criteria:

1. You are an Amazon Prime subscriber in the United States

2. You attempted to sign up for an Amazon Prime subscription through a "challenged enrollment flow" or tried to cancel but couldn't, between June 23, 2019, and June 23, 2025

3. You used no more than 20 Amazon Prime benefits (such as free offerings through Prime Music or Prime Video) in any 12 months after enrolling

The first two requirements cast a pretty wide net, but the last one will likely filter out many people. After all, the basic idea behind signing up for Prime is to use its free benefits, but if you only did so sparingly, you might get some money very soon.

Sorry to anyone who did the first two steps and then got hooked on Reacher, though.

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You don't have to buy a pricey video card enclosure to add external graphics to your PC — the phone in your pocket might do. Reddit user StayLameBro has found a way to use his iPhone 17 Pro Max as an external GPU that assists his MacBook Pro M4.

It's easy to end up with multiple versions of the same Excel report. You might need one for each region, department, or product, so you copy the report and change the data it shows. I've done this plenty of times, and for a while, I didn't see much of a problem.

Samsung is rolling out its One UI 9 update in earnest, if later than expected. The custom take on Android 17 is starting to reach Galaxy S26 devices in the U.S. roughly a week after the launch was supposed to start.

Streaming was supposed to be a cheaper alternative to cable television. Unfortunately, that ship has sailed. Streaming has now become a necessity for major media companies. Between new originals, licensed content, live broadcasts, and sporting events, many streaming services have significantly expanded their content offerings. More movies and shows lead to bigger spending, which, ultimately, has resulted in higher subscription prices.

Want to tackle some DIY car repairs? Well, having the right tools can make or break the experience. Here are the nine essential tools every DIY car repair kit should include, and why each one matters.

Following Tinder's launch of an IRL Events feature this summer, another Match Group-owned app, BLK, is doing the same.

BLK, a dating app for Black singles with more than 13 million downloads, is introducing Events in 29 American cities today after testing in Atlanta this summer.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best hookup apps of 2026: I swiped until my thumb hurt

"Black singles have always met through community," Corinne Harris, director of brand marketing at Match Group, stated in a press release shared with Mashable. "What our community keeps telling us is that they want to meet people in person; they just don't always know where to go. Events answers that. It takes the pressure off and puts the focus on being in the room with people who understand you."

Mashable has also reported time and again that daters long to meet potential connections in person rather than on their phones, but they're unsure how to do so. Dating apps are now attempting to bridge that gap themselves. In addition to Tinder Events, Bumble has hosted events in various cities this summer, and Hinge has its One More Hour initiative to encourage community events. (Hinge is also owned by Match Group.)

On BLK, 60 percent of singles surveyed last year said they prefer meeting someone in shared spaces. But a recent survey found that nearly seven in 10 feel lonely, and six in 10 don't know where to go to meet people.

Now, BLK users in major areas like Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C, and Miami will be able to use Events. They can find a nearby event, reserve a spot, invite friends, add it to their calendar, and connect with others going before, during, and after the event. Like Tinder's Events feature, BLK users will also be able to match with other attendees.

Since the Atlanta test began on Aug. 7, 65 percent of eligible active users engaged with the tab, according to BLK, signaling an interest in venturing offline...but using the app to help.

The people selling us the future are having a bit of an image problem right now: AI companies are promising to transform work while workers worry about losing their jobs. Social platforms have become fixtures of daily life even as questions about their influence on people and politics persist. And the founders behind them are increasingly part of the controversy themselves. Which makes this a pretty interesting moment for Hollywood to put them on a much bigger screen, don't you think?

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This fall and winter, Hollywood is turning its cameras on four of tech's most consequential and controversial founders: Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Tesla and SpaceX's Elon Musk, OpenAI's Sam Altman, and Theranos' Elizabeth Holmes. Their stories are wildly different, spanning social media, electric cars and rockets, artificial intelligence, and convicted fraud. But the films have a common question at their center: What happens when someone promises to change the world, and millions of people, investors, and institutions decide to believe them?

The founders are getting their close-up. The audience is already skeptical.

When The Social Network first arrived in 2010, Facebook’s beginnings supplied plenty of drama. But writer-director Aaron Sorkin’s The Social Reckoning, opening Oct. 9, has a different perspective than his movie from over a decade ago. As he put it: "'The Social Network' was about the invention of Facebook. 'Social Reckoning' is about what it’s become and, in particular, Facebook’s role in the rise of extremism and divisiveness."

In the film, Jeremy Strong takes on Zuckerberg, with Mikey Madison playing Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen and Jeremy Allen White as Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz, and is set to follow the disclosures behind the newspaper’s "Facebook Files" investigation, tracing what Facebook actually knew about the harms of its platforms, and what happened when that information became public.

But since 2021, the allegations about harm to young users have hardly faded. In August 2026, Meta agreed to a settlement worth up to $17.1 billion with a coalition of attorneys general over claims that it knowingly built addictive features that harmed children and teens. The agreement, subject to court approval, also requires new restrictions on minors’ use of Facebook and Instagram.

That is part of the history audiences bring to the movie theater. As Meta’s platforms have become woven into how we talk, get news, and spend our time, scandal after scandal has given users reasons to question the company’s influence. Concerns about social media’s power are widespread: A 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that 78 percent of Americans believed social media companies had too much power and influence in politics, up from 72 percent in 2020.

The pushback goes beyond what’s on our feeds. People across the country, on both sides of the political aisle, have been resisting the technologies becoming part of their everyday lives.

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Whether they’re fighting data centers going up in their communities, protesting or vandalizing Flock Safety cameras, or dubbing Meta’s smart glasses "pervert glasses" online, people aren’t simply buying into the future tech companies are selling anymore.

AI has its own skeptics. A June 2026 survey found that 52 percent of Americans were more concerned than excited about its growing use in daily life. The distrusted tech now has its own movie as well, adding to this slate. Artificial, director Luca Guadagnino’s drama about Sam Altman’s 2023 firing and return to OpenAI, is set to take audiences inside the fight over who gets to run one of the companies shaping that technology. Andrew Garfield plays Altman and said making the film actually left him questioning his own use of AI.

"I got off my ChatGPT immediately," Garfield told Jimmy Kimmel Live! in September, explaining that learning more had made him realize "we’re careening into some very unknown territory."

"They’re not an evil person, they've got blinkers on."

It’s easy to see why these stories draw us in. There’s money, competition, and the conviction that you’re building something important enough to change everyone’s lives. A founder may see that ambition as heroic, though for the people living with the consequences, it can look very different. Ron’s Gone Wrong co-writer Peter Baynham told WIRED in 2023 that the film’s contrasting tech executives reflected how these figures can see themselves as the good guys.

"They think they’re on a heroic mission to make the world a better place," he said. "They’re not an evil person, they’ve got blinkers on."

To me, that's a more interesting character to watch than someone who simply wants to do harm — someone so convinced they’re helping that they stop questioning what their version of progress costs everyone else.

No one better epitomizes that ideal than Elizabeth Holmes. If you watched The Dropout, you know what I mean. Holmes promised to revolutionize blood testing through her startup, Theranos, and went to extraordinary lengths to sell investors on technology that could not do what she claimed. That deception led to her conviction for defrauding investors.

Now she’s the subject of You Can See Everything, a documentary opening Oct. 16 from directors Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim. It follows Holmes in the 34 days before she reported to prison for

+her TK-year sentence, with the equally uncomfortable-to-watch Fielder — whose Nathan for You and The Rehearsal turn awkwardness into must-watch television — joining her at home. If you’ve seen his work, you can imagine why that pairing is hard to resist.

SEE ALSO: Does 'You Can See Everything' live up to the hype?

Holmes won’t be the only tech figure appearing as herself this fall. Audiences will also get a closer look at Elon Musk in filmmaker Alex Gibney's documentary, Musk. Musk's influence stretches from the cars people drive to the posts they see on X and the politics shaping their lives.

The film will explore his business empire and political influence, opening in New York and Los Angeles on Oct. 9 before expanding nationally. For viewers used to encountering Musk through his posts and the headlines they generate, the film offers a chance to spend more time with the story behind them.

Now, just because all these movies are arriving at the same time doesn’t necessarily mean change will follow. But they can bring scrutiny beyond the usual audience for tech news. Someone who uses ChatGPT, Facebook, Instagram, or X every day may know relatively little about the people and decisions behind those products. But what film is very good at is giving audiences a reason to look more closely at topics they may — or may not — be familiar with.

For now, I'm looking forward to seeing whether Andrew Garfield really nails Sam Altman's (in)famous walk.

SAVE $558: As of Oct. 6, the Samsung 85-Inch Class Neo QLED QN70F 4K Mini LED Smart TV (2025 Model) is on sale for $1,139.99 at Amazon. That’s a 33% discount for Prime Big Deal Days and marks its lowest price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 85-Inch QN70F 4K Mini LED Smart TV $1,139.99 at Amazon
$1,697.99 Save $558   Get Deal

Prime Day discounts are officially live, and Samsung’s massive 85-inch QN70F Neo QLED just hit a huge price milestone. It dropped to $1,139.99 — down 33% from its standard $1,697.99 price tag. Getting a display this size for just over a grand is a rare buy, marking its absolute lowest price since launch. If you want a home-theater setup without spending thousands, this is easily one of the best value picks on the board.

The real draw of this model comes down to its Mini LED panel. Instead of using a few oversized backlights that spill light across the screen, Samsung uses thousands of tiny LEDs grouped into tightly controlled dimming zones. That level of precision keeps deep blacks looking dark and uniform during shadowy movie scenes rather than turning into a murky gray, while bright highlights still pack a heavy punch.

SEE ALSO: The best October Prime Day TV deals, according to our experts: Save $1,200 on OLED TVs

Processing is handled by an onboard chip that runs 20 separate neural networks to upscale whatever you are watching. Standard 1080p cable feeds, older YouTube videos, and compressed streams get cleaned up with sharper lines and better contrast in real time, making them look remarkably close to native 4K. An automated HDR remastering feature also injects extra color pop into non-HDR content, so everyday viewing looks noticeably richer.

Fast motion is another area where this display excels, thanks to a native 144Hz refresh rate and full Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support. Live sports stay crisp without blurry artifacts, and high-frame-rate console or PC gaming runs completely tear-free.

Lock in the $558 savings before this Prime Day deal ends.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Fire Stick 4K Select — $17.99 $49.99 (save $32)

• AirPods Pro 3 — $179 $249 (save $70)

• Bose QuietComfort Gen 2 — $319 $359 (save $40)

• iPad mini — $499 $599 (save $100)

• MacBook Air M5 — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200)

Saturday Night Live fans, the latest episode of Good Hang is must-watch material.

In the episode above dropped Tuesday, host and SNL alum Amy Poehler chats with current SNL cast member (and Mashable 101 alum) Marcello Hernández — and he brought flowers, people.

The comedian talks through his storied career so far, including his Netflix special American Boy, as well as growing up with his Dominican dad and Cuban mom, playing baseball as a kid, soccer in college, getting into drama with a John Leguizamo monologue, taking his teachers to see SNL, and being the Gen Z face of the show.

Plus, fellow SNL star Sarah Sherman drops in on Zoom with a Marcello Hernández screen saver and it's a delight.

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage, sign up for our Trending Now and Top Stories newsletters or get Mashable push alerts to discover the internet's most exciting voices.

Android is a powerful operating system with tons of potential. As a result, many set-top box makers often settle on it. It's hard not to see why: it gives users an easy way to install Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and more. But what if you could make your Android-powered TV box? Here's how you can do it with a Raspberry Pi.

The best AirPods deals on Prime Big Deal Days: Best overall deal Apple AirPods 4 $79 (save $50.99) Get Deal Best AirPods Pro deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179 (save $70) Get Deal Best airpods max deal Apple AirPods Max 2 $429 (save $120) Get Deal Best budget ANC deal Apple AirPods Pro (1st Gen) with MagSafe Case $89.99 (save $159.01) Get Deal

Wallets at the ready, folks: October Prime Day has officially dropped.

The sale, also dubbed Prime Big Deal Days, is the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season — a chance to stock up on marked-down tech with deals on items such as AirPods.

The sale runs Oct. 6-7, and our team is tracking all the best AirPods deals. So far, we haven't seen any price drops on the newly announced AirPods 5 (more on that below), but we have seen some other competitive price drops — including an all-time low match on 1st-Gen Pros. As someone who tests and writes about headphones and earbuds year-round, I get why Apple users are willing to invest in AirPods. As a deals expert, I also much prefer to see folks grab AirPods on sale.

SEE ALSO: Rare iPad deal: The Apple iPad mini is $100 off for October Prime Day

The key to shopping these sales smartly is grabbing deals at just the right time. That's why I've rounded up the best AirPods deals live so far, plus the three that you should keep an eye on. Check them out below, and be sure to follow more of Mashable's October Prime Day coverage.

Best AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $79 at Walmart
$129.99 Save $50.99   Get Deal Why we picked this

The humble AirPods 4. What they lack in active noise cancellation, they make up for in a more appealing price point of $79, a total discount of over $50. With the release of the AirPods 5, these are the last AirPods available without ANC. Maybe that's ideal for you, or maybe you simply appreciate the lower price point. In either case, this is likely the last holiday shopping season you can grab these buds on sale. Just note that they are still $10 away from their record low price of $69, but their availability may be limited as we get further into the shopping season — they've already sold out on Amazon.

Best AirPods Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179
$249 Save $70   Get Deal Why we picked this

For listeners who need ANC in their ears, the AirPods Pro 3 currently boast one of the best Amazon discounts on AirPods. Having just dropped to $179, they're now just $10 off their lowest-ever reduction of $169. Sure, they're not the latest and most advanced model anymore, but you get a bunch of great features, including adaptive noise cancellation, Live Translation, heart rate sensing, and three-dimensional spatial audio.

Best budget ANC deal Apple AirPods Pro (1st Gen) $224.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $24.01   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Abt Electronics Get Deal at Amazon Why we picked this

Amazon just brought back the 1st-Gen AirPods Pro for $89.99, matching their all-time record low. Yes, they run on Apple's older H1 chip rather than current-gen silicon, but at under $90, you're getting active noise cancellation and silicone ear tips for just $10 more than the non-ANC AirPods 4. If you want proper noise cancellation without spending $179 on the Pro 3, this is easily the best value on the board — just keep in mind stock on discontinued generations usually disappears fast during Prime Day.

More AirPods deals

• Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation — $119 $179 (save $60)

• Apple AirPods Max 2 — $429 $549 (save $120)

AirPods deals to wait for

• The AirPods 5 have only received one small deal — a $4 price drop — so far since their release on Sept. 18. Granted, they're still very new to the market, so even that price dip is notable. We're hoping that as we get further into holiday deal season, a slightly more substantial deal comes along.

• The AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case haven't dropped in price just yet, so we're not holding our breath that they will, especially since they're still brand new. That said, October Prime Day is a very appropriate time for a surprise deal, so the chance that we see even a small dip isn't zero. At the very least, grabbing them at full price is still likely a better deal than grabbing the AirPods 4 with ANC on sale (more on that below).

• Amazon likes to drop the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation to $149 (down from $179), which might look like a good deal at first glance. But there's a catch. Their newer analog, the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, has a standard list price of $149 and comes with an improved feature set, including better active noise cancellation and sound quality, with the same battery life. In other words, paying $149 for the older model doesn't make sense — the AirPods 4 with ANC would have to be priced well below that (like the Best Buy deal we mentioned above) for it to be a deal worth picking up.

SAVE OVER $50: As of Oct. 5, the Apple AirPods 4 are available for $79 at Walmart. That's a total saving of $50.99 from the regular list price of $129.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $79 at Walmart
$129.99 Save $50.99   Get Deal

You may have heard by now that Amazon is hosting another October Prime Day deal, but that isn't your only chance to save. Over the weekend, you could grab the Apple AirPods 4 for just $99 at Amazon, but you can now get an even better deal on those exact AirPods as part of the Walmart Fall Sale.

The Walmart Fall Sale event runs from Oct. 5 through 11, but there's no guarantee these popular earbuds will be available for much longer. (They're already completely sold out at Amazon.) Apple recently released the AirPods 5, and so once these past-gen earbuds are gone, they're likely gone forever.

Again, as of Oct. 5, the Apple AirPods 4 are now just $79 a Walmart, which gives you savings of $50.99. If you don't care about ANC (or have a tendency to lose your earbuds), then the more basic AirPods are a more practical choice.

It's worth noting that these are the last generation of AirPods to not feature active noise cancellation (though there is an ANC version available at Walmart, which is almost double the price). If you don't need ANC, these are an absolute steal right now — one of the very best bargains you'll find on any AirPods. You get spatial audio, high-quality Apple sound, and a charging case that delivers up to 30 hours of runtime.

Grab the Apple AirPods 4 before they sell out at Walmart. They're available now for just $79, which is just a smidge above their all-time record low price.

More Walmart AirPods deals

• Apple AirPods 4 (open box) — $71 $129.99 (save $58.99)

• Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $179 $249 (save $70)

• Apple AirPods Max 2 — $429 $549 (save $120)