Technology

SAVE $60: As of July 29, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are back down to just $189.99 at Amazon. That's 24% off their list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro $189.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $60 Get Deal

If you have an iPhone, AirPods are a no brainer. If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone, it doesn't get much better than the Buds 3 Pro — especially when they're on sale.

As of July 29, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are back on sale for just $189.99 — down from the $249.99 list price and $9 cheaper than they were just yesterday. While that's not quite as impressive as their ultra-low Prime Day price, it's still 24% in savings for a truly great pair of earbuds.

Samsung took a page out of Apple's playbook for their third-generation premium earbuds, adopting the stem-style design for the first time. Aesthetic isn't the only upgrade, though; the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are the brand's smartest earbuds to date. Not only can these babies adapt to your environment, filtering out noise when you prefer to focus and keeping you in touch with your surroundings when you need to be alert, but they can also auto-adjust your audio based on your fit. They also include an interpreter feature that can give you real-time translations of foreign languages in Listening Mode, whether you're on a phone call, watching a TV show, or asking for directions in another country.

Of course, all of these fancy features don't matter if the sound quality isn't up to par. Fortunately, according to our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis), the audio is "stunning and clear."

At full price, the Buds 3 Pro are a bit steep, but for under $190, we're much more inclined to recommend adding them to your cart.

In less than five months, DJI drones could be officially grounded here in the United States, amidst escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China.

By Dec. 23, all drones manufactured in China are required to undergo a national security risk assessment, and as of mid-July, Chinese drone maker DJI said it's received no indication this review has even begun.

And while DJI drones haven’t been officially banned in the United States, the company told Mashable it's having trouble importing its drones into the United States. The looming threat of a ban has already caused a frenzy. Retail supply is thinning out fast, resellers are cashing in, and DJI's entire product line is listed as "Out of stock" at the company's online store.

But does this signal the end of DJI’s presence in the U.S. drone market?

Not quite. At least, not yet.

SEE ALSO: Trump administration threatens to shut TikTok down if it can't make a deal with China Why are DJI drones so hard to find in stock?

In June, the Trump administration signed two executive orders aimed at boosting the domestic drone industry and curbing potential "malicious drone activity." But the orders stopped short of directly banning DJI or other China-based manufacturers.

The real threat to DJI's presence in the U.S. market lies in the fine print of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), passed in December 2024. The act mandates a formal national security review of Chinese-made drones. If the government fails to complete that review within one year, the provision could automatically trigger a ban on DJI drones by the end of 2025.

So, while DJI drones are still legal to sell in the U.S. — for now — the clock is ticking. In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, DJI formally requested an audit of its operations and stated its full willingness to cooperate.

"DJI is confident that its products can withstand your strictest scrutiny," wrote Adam Welsh, the company’s Head of Global Policy. "We are confident not only because we have nothing to hide, but because independent firms and other US government agencies have repeatedly validated and confirmed that DJI’s products are secure."

However, in a July 16 blog post, the company stated, “Since the start of this year, there has been no formal indication that the mandated review process has started." The company also wrote, "there is a real risk that new DJI drones would be prevented from entering the U.S. market — not because of any proven risk, but simply due to compressed timelines or politically motivated decisions."

However, DJI may already be facing an unofficial ban.

DJI recently claimed to The Verge that CBP is "blocking many of its drones from entering the United States." And in a statement to Mashable, the company acknowledged it's having problems importing drones.

Mashable reached out multiple times — via calls and emails — to U.S. Customs and Border Protection press officers for comment but received no response.

In response to Mashable's questions, a DJI spokesperson provided this statement: "DJI remains committed to the U.S. market and making our products available to our U.S.-based customers. Current market conditions and policies have made it more challenging to stock and import drones. We are actively working to address and mitigate any influences and uncertainties, and to ensure products are accessible to our customers soon."

Calls to ban DJI drones in the U.S. go back to at least 2017, driven by data privacy concerns surrounding Chinese-made technology. Over the years, the federal government has floated various restrictions on DJI drones in particular, culminating in the Commerce Department adding DJI to its blacklist in 2020 during President Trump’s first term — a move that marked one of the earliest official efforts to curtail the company’s reach in the U.S. market.

Can you still buy and fly DJI drones?

Yes, as we stated previously, you can still purchase DJI drones — if you can get your hands on one. As of this writing, Amazon still has several popular DJI drones in stock, though only from third-party resellers. DJI's entire drone inventory remains out of stock at its official online store and most retailers.

Buying products from third-party resellers can be risky, and these sellers may charge a premium as supply dwindles.

Interestingly, DJI may have a plan B for the U.S. market. The Verge found a drone for sale at Amazon that's nearly identical in every way to a DJI drone. It even has a very similar app, though under a different name. Except for the yellow paint job, the Skyrover X1 drone clearly resembles a DJI product.

It’s not every day that one of the tentpole modern operating systems gets a massive overhaul. That’s exactly what Apple is doing with iOS 26. If you’re curious how Liquid Glass would look on your Android phone, you can try out that futuristic, glossy look with a new icon pack.

A lot of people (especially men) say that they're not into romance movies. After all, you can only watch so many movies with the same played-out, meet-love-lose-win-back-happily-ever-after formula with sweeping music before it drives you insane.

SAVE $275: As of July 29, get the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for $1,144.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,419.99. That's a discount of 19%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra $1,144.99 at Amazon
$1,419.99 Save $275 Get Deal

If you've been looking for a reason to upgrade to a new smartphone these days, we found a deal you won't want to skip. You can save a significant amount on a powerhouse, AI-backed device from Samsung right now.

As of July 29, get the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Samsung's latest and greatest phone) for $1,144.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,419.99. That's $275 off and a discount of 19%.

SEE ALSO: Verizon is giving customers a free Samsung Z Flip 7 — here's how to get yours

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor and comes with a 6.9-inch AMOLED display with adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and 3120x1440 resolution. It has 12GB of RAM, a 5,000mAh battery, and 512GB of storage. It also includes a built-in S Pen that you can use as a stylus for jotting down notes, doodling, or just navigating the phone.

This phone is built for AI support, and it has a wide variety of features that take advantage of that fact, like Now Brief that gives you a day's worth of information about what's happening in terms of news, weather, and more. There are also tons of photo and video editing options to help you clean up, remove static, and alter images for a more professional finish.

If you're ready for a new phone, make sure you don't miss the significant savings here. It's always good to get the top of the line device, and this one is no slouch.

A24 has already jumped into the love triangle fray this year with Celine Song's Materialists. But in the upcoming romantic comedy Eternity, A24 and writer-director David Freyne put a heavenly twist on love triangle tropes.

The film stars Miles Teller as Larry, a recently deceased man who finds himself at the Junction, the gateway to the afterlife. Here, the dead have a week to choose the one place where they're going to spend eternity — options include Studio 54 World, Man-Free World, and Paris — and who they're going to spend it with.

For Larry, that choice is easy. He wants to spend his afterlife with his wife Joan (Elizabeth Olsen), who arrives at the Junction not long after he does. However, there's one major wrinkle in Larry and Joan's plans for a happily ever after: Joan's first husband, Luke (Callum Turner). Luke died early into their marriage, and he's been waiting for Joan for 67 years in the afterlife. Now, Joan faces a tricky decision: Spend eternity with her first love, or with the man she spent decades married to?

Thus begins a week-long competition for Joan's heart (and future afterlife), one that gets two afterlife coordinators (played by Academy Award winner Da'Vine Joy Randolph and John Early) extremely invested. Who could blame them? I'm already invested from the trailer alone! This is eternity we're talking about, people!

Get your own taste of Eternity's afterlife in the trailer above, which promises plenty of love triangle drama and gorgeous retro production design. If this is the afterlife, then sign me up.

Eternity will premiere at 2025's Toronto International Film Festival. It hits theaters this Nov.

Tired of repeating the same routine tasks on your PC? With Task Scheduler, you can automate everything from daily cleanups to launching your favorite apps at startup. It’s built into Windows and easier to use than you might think.

The summer cinema of 2008 was an incredible time for blockbusters. Superhero films were reaching their pique with DC Comics and Marvel Comics hitting home runs at the box office. Old favorites returned to inject some classic magic back onto theater screens. And there was no shortage of fantasy and sci-fi to which you could take the whole family.

Photoshop is a tremendously useful tool in general, and it's also one of the few apps I'd say has adapted well to the AI era, with a handful of small but useful AI features. We're now getting a look at some of the additions for 2025, and there's one in particular I've really been looking forward to.

SAVE OVER $1,000: Verizon is giving away a free Samsung Z Flip 7 for customers who trade in a qualifying phone under an Unlimited Ultimate plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Free Samsung Z Flip 7 with Verizon Get Deal

Phone deals on the latest models don't come around all that often. And when they do appear, the savings on offer are not that great. But what if we told you that Verizon will give you a free Samsung Z Flip 7 phone right now. You probably wouldn't believe us, but it's true. There are some hoops that you need to jump through, but this deal is legit.

When you trade in a qualifying Apple, Google, Motorola, or Samsung phone under an Unlimited Ultimate plan with Verizon, you can get the brand new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 for absolutely nothing.

SEE ALSO: The best Samsung deals to shop this week: Galaxy Watch 8, Z Flip7, and more

The free Samsung Z Flip 7 is paid out through a 36-month billing cycle. You also need to pay for any taxes and fees required to purchase the device, and you must pay its service fee of $55 a month per line. We did say there are some hoops. And those hoops aren't exactly cheap.

Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

In our review of the Samsung Z Flip 7, Adam Doud was full of praise for this AI Flip Phone: If you appreciate the foldable form factor, then you'll definitely appreciate the Galaxy Z Flip 7. While we wish it came with a Snapdragon processor, it's the flip phone to beat so far in 2025."

Get a free Samsung Z Flip 7 with this special promotion from Verizon.

Individual routers can get expensive, and mesh systems even more so. But a good mesh system doesn't need to break the bank. This one by Netgear might be a good choice if you're getting started.

There's something incredibly satisfying about building a home theater setup that feels just right. But I've learned that you don't always need to buy everything brand-new. In fact, if you're even a little bit savvy (or lucky), you can score some serious secondhand audio-video gems like speakers, receivers, and projectors without compromising on quality.

This stylish hybrid SUV presents an appealing alternative to the popular RAV4 Hybrid, offering strong value without compromising on design or capability. It stands out with its upscale, rugged styling and a well-appointed interior that feels more premium than many in its segment.

SAVE OVER $10: As of July 29, the Lego Marvel Infinity Gauntlet set is on sale for $62.99 at Amazon. This is 21% off its list price of $79.99, allowing you to save $17.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Marvel Infinity Gauntlet Set $62.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $17.00 Get Deal

If the recently-released The Fantastic Four: First Steps (a movie we hailed as "One of the best MCU films in years" in our review) has you itching to jump back on the Marvel bandwagon, why not do it with an awesome Lego set? The incredibly cool Lego Marvel Infinity Gauntlet set is one worth picking up, and it's even on sale right now.

The Lego Marvel Infinity Gauntlet set is usually listed for $79.99, but right now it's marked down 21% to $62.99. This saves you $17, which is a nice little deal to take advantage of while it's still live.

SEE ALSO: Score a rare discount on the Lego Disney and Pixar ‘Up’ house set

If you're a Marvel fan, this Lego build is an awesome addition to your collection. Coming with 590 pieces, this set recreates Thanos' iconic Infinity Gauntlet, complete with Infinity Stones. You can set the assembled gauntlet on top of a display stand that features a little descriptive plaque for it. The fingers are even poseable, which is a very fun touch. It's recommended for ages 18 and up, but if you know a younger Marvel fan itching to build it, simply have an adult help them out.

Don't miss out on 21% off the Lego Marvel Infinity Gauntlet set at Amazon. And if you're looking for more Lego sets to pick up right now, Lego's Super Mario Piranha Plant set is also on sale at the moment, which is worth a look if the newly-announced Game Boy Lego set caught your eye.

SAVE OVER $300: As of July 29, the Roborock Q5 Max+ robot vacuum is on sale for $279.99 at Amazon. This is $320 off its list price of $599.99, and marks its lowest-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Q5 Max+ Robot Vacuum $279.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $320 Get Deal

If you've been looking for a little extra cleaning help around the house during these summer months, it's worth dropping some cash on a robot vacuum. Thankfully, deals on these helpful devices pop up quite frequently, especially over at Amazon. One of our favorite deals we've stumbled across recently is on the Roborock Q5 Max+ robot vacuum, which is over 50% off at the moment.

The Roborock Q5 Max+ robot vacuum is currently on sale for $279.99, a whopping 53% off its list price of $599.99. What makes this deal even better is its a return to its lowest-ever price according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, so there's no better time than now to grab it.

SEE ALSO: The best robot vacuums in 2025

This self-emptying robot vacuum can keep going for up to seven weeks before needing to be cleaned out, so you can keep it out of mind for a long while as it cleans around. With 5500Pa suction, it can achieve an effective clean on a variety of floor types including hardwood, tile, and carpet. On top of that, it features a PreciSense LiDAR navigation system that can map out your home to get a thorough clean done and avoid any obstacles.

Amazon has it listed as a limited-time deal at the moment, so act fast to scoop up the Roborock Q5 Max+ robot vacuum for 53% off while it's still available.

If you're looking for a robot vacuum/mop combo, there's another excellent Roborock deal that's crossed our radar recently: the Roborock Qrevo Edge robot vacuum is back at its lowest-ever price, too.

SAVE $20: The Lego Star Wars R2-D2 Brick Built Droid Figure is on sale for $79.99 at Walmart. That's a $20 discount off the regular $99.99 price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars R2-D2 Brick Built Droid Figure $79.99 at Walmart
$99.99 Save $20 Get Deal

One of the most beloved droids in the Star Wars universe just got a price drop worthy of a galaxy-saving deal. As of July 29, the Lego R2-D2 Brick Built Droid Figure set is available for $79.99 at Walmart. That’s 20% off a detailed collector’s set that brings everyone’s favourite astromech to life in brick form.

Part of Lego’s 25th Anniversary Star Wars lineup, this 1050-piece set offers more than just a fun build. The finished R2-D2 model features a rotating dome head, detachable third leg, extendable periscope, and attachable tools, capturing the clever mechanics that made R2 a fan favourite. Once complete, the build stands over nine inches tall, making it an eye-catching addition to any shelf or Star Wars display.

SEE ALSO: Our 13 favorite Lego sets, sourced from actual Lego fans

To mark the anniversary, Lego also includes a special Darth Malak minifigure, exclusive to this set and complete with a stand featuring the Lego Star Wars 25th Anniversary logo. It’s a thoughtful bonus that long-time fans and collectors will appreciate, especially those following the full anniversary lineup.

Recommended for ages 10 and up, the R2-D2 figure hits the sweet spot between play and display. It’s a fun, satisfying build for kids and adults alike, whether you're reenacting scenes from the galaxy far, far away or simply upgrading your desk décor.

Star Wars sets like this tend to disappear faster than the Millennium Falcon in hyperdrive — especially when they go on sale.

If you feel like building even more, don’t miss our curated list of top Lego sets — handpicked by real fans who know their bricks. Plus, the Lego Ideas Insect Collection is currently $16 off at Amazon, making it another sweet deal worth checking out.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 29 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Earliest

• Green: Proof

• Blue: Collectibles

• Purple: Types of films

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Discount

• Green: Irritate

• Blue: Poker actions

• Purple: Things you can pump

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #779 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Discount: DEAL, PROMOTION, SALE, SPECIAL

• Irritate: BUG, NETTLE, RUFFLE, STEAM

• Poker actions: CALL, CHECK, FOLD, RAISE

• Things you can pump: BRAKES, FIST, GAS, IRON

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 29

Are you also playing NYT Strands?

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

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

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 29 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 29 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: You got that right!

The words are precision-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are ways to be correct.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Taking Pains.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for July 29

• Precise

• Accurate

• Exact

• Taking Pains

• Strict

• Persnickety

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

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

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

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for July 29 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 29, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A letter in the Greek alphabet.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter O.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

OMEGA.

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 29

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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

Just about a year ago, I bought a Kubuntu Focus Ir14 (Gen 2) laptop after reviewing the bigger Ir16 model. In the time since, I've learned or simply confirmed several facts about Kubuntu and Linux-first computer purchases in general.