Technology

You can’t have a conversation about smart home devices without including Amazon’s Alexa in the picture. As of 2025, the number of Amazon Echo users is expected to reach about 69.9 million, and as of 2024, the Echo is the most popular smart speaker in the U.S., according to Electro IQ.

We surveyed our readers about the smart home products they use, and Amazon’s Alexa was among the top smart assistants used. 

SEE ALSO: Readers' Choice Awards 2025: Your favorite smart home brands How Mashable readers rate Amazon Alexa

In our Readers’ Choice Smartest Home survey, we asked readers to score their Amazon Alexa devices on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best) on multiple factors, including voice recognition, smart home controls, and programmable actions. Here’s how Amazon fared compared to the competition. (Interact with the chart below by clicking the arrow buttons or using the dropdown menu.)

Testimony from Alexa users

Mashable readers reported that their Alexa devices are easy to use and that they rarely have issues.

“Overall, I've found the Alexa system to be 99.9 percent reliable. On a rare occasion, it will not catch a command to turn on or off a light. Its answers to questions beyond general knowledge are not strong (Google is much better), but suffice for most daily things,” one respondent wrote.

A common complaint among respondents is that Alexa’s voice recognition is inconsistent, stating that it sometimes starts talking without being addressed or can be non-responsive at times. Regardless, respondents lauded Alexa’s integration with other smart home products.

“I've had a pretty good experience with Amazon Alexa,” one respondent said. “One of the best moments was when I set up my smart home with Alexa and connected everything from lights to thermostats to smart plugs. It was so easy to control everything with just my voice. For example, I could tell Alexa to turn off the lights or set the temperature, which made life a lot more convenient, especially when my hands were full.”

Others appreciated updates and user experience improvements: “One thing about Alexa that tickles me is that it responds to me with the same audio level I use to speak to it. If I whisper a command, it whispers in reply. That is a thoughtful UX detail I would not have anticipated.”

Amazon Alexa scored 7.8 on our 10-point scale on respondents’ likelihood to recommend the brand. One survey taker, who rated Alexa a 9 in both overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend, said, “I would recommend and will purchase more Amazon Echo devices in the future.”

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As smart home products become more integrated into U.S. homes, they need the best smart home hub to operate successfully. Smart assistants act as the centralized brain for a smart home, connecting to various devices so you can set routines, use voice commands, and more to seamlessly operate your gadgets.

We polled our readers to learn about the smart home products they use in our Readers’ Choice Smartest Home survey. When it comes to smart assistants, Google was the clear winner.

How Mashable readers rate Google Assistant

We asked readers to score their Google Assistant devices on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best) on multiple factors, including voice recognition, smart home controls, and programmable actions. Here’s how Google fared compared to the competition. (Interact with the chart below by clicking the arrow buttons or using the dropdown menu.)

Testimony from Google Assistant users

Our readers who use Google Assistant in their homes lauded it for being reliable, saying they use Google for cooking, asking questions, and smart home controls like turning on the lights.

One respondent said, “Our whole house has Google displays, speakers, TVs integrated with Google TV, and third-party plugs, bulbs, and the like. Just recently, I upgraded to a Google mesh router. The third-party devices can occasionally be a bit tricky to set up, but once everything is working, it's nice to be able to control everything right in the Google Home app.”

Others called Google Assistant “awesome” and said that they are “overall very satisfied.” On the likelihood to recommend, Google Assistant scored 8.2 out of 10.

Shop Google Assistant devices Google Nest Mini $49 at Google Store Shop Now Google Nest Audio $99.99 at Google Store Shop Now Google Nest Hub $99.99 at Google Store Shop Now Google Nest Hub Max $299.99 at Google Store Shop Now

Smart home products have become increasingly popular in recent years. According to one survey, 45 percent of U.S. households connected to the internet have at least one smart home device, and 18 percent have six or more. 

With that in mind, we set out to ask our readers about the smart home devices they use in our Readers’ Choice Smartest Home survey. We asked about a swath of gadgets, and you all rated your gear. The winners have been crowned across various categories, and Blink was a major winner in the home security camera category, securing the highest overall satisfactory score.

How Mashable readers rate Blink

We asked readers to score their Blink security camera devices on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best) on multiple factors, including video and audio quality, reliability, and motion detection. Here’s how Blink fared compared to the competition. (Interact with the chart below by clicking the arrow buttons or using the dropdown menu.)

Testimony from Blink users

In addition to the ratings, we asked Mashable readers for commentary on whether they had a particularly good or bad experience with Blink.

Multiple survey respondents expressed that Blink cameras were easy to set up and easy to use. Others commended Blink’s durability and highlighted positive interactions with Blink’s customer service. On durability, one respondent said, “The cameras have held up perfectly fine in a variety of weather conditions.”

One area we saw complaints from readers was the short video clips. One user said, “Cameras sometimes catch the middle or end of a motion event inside, leaving out people until they leave the house, and I just get the video of the door closing without knowing who it was.” And another reported, “The short clips can be frustrating. I often miss the beginning or end of events because of the short duration.”

Overall, that last reader said, “Despite the minor drawbacks, I'm pretty happy with my Blink Outdoor Security Camera System. It provides a good level of security for my home at a reasonable price. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a basic and easy-to-use home security solution.”

Blink received a 7.8 out of 10 from our readers when asked about their likelihood to recommend the brand.

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In case you missed it, we polled our readers on the smart home tech they use and love. The Mashable Readers' Choice 2025 results are in, and your favorite smart home brands have been revealed. We also asked our readers which smart home brands they trust in the vacuum category, and you probably won't be surprised to learn that Dyson and iRobot scored highly.

Keep reading for our breakdown of our readers’ preferred vacuum brands.

SEE ALSO: Readers' Choice Awards 2025: Your favorite smart home brands Your favorite vacuum brands

Dyson and iRobot were the two most popular vacuum brands with Mashable readers, with Dyson slightly beating out iRobot in the overall satisfaction ranking (7.6 and 7.4 out of 10, respectively). See how they fared against each other in the chart below. Pro tip: Use the arrow keys or dropdown menu to cycle through different scoring categories. And check out more vacuum guides from our experts.

Reliability and ease of use

iRobot Roomba scored more favorably on reliability (7.7 compared to 6.1) and ease of use (7.9 compared to 5.9) than Dyson. One respondent said of their Roomba robot vacuum, "It's an easy-to-use, simple feature, low-end smart vacuum robot; however, that makes it desirable for a lot of people like me because it's easier to use than complicated systems."

Cleaning performance

Our survey found Roomba to have better cleaning efficiency among the brands (though our vacuum expert swears by her Dyson stick vacuum). A survey respondent who has a Roomba commented that it vacuums well and they prefer it to using a traditional vacuum.

Another said, "I have had the Roomba for more than five years, couldn't be happier. I use it just about every other day — has never needed repairs. I am very satisfied. I wish I had another one."

Likelihood to recommend

Even though there were clear preferences in some of the scoring categories, the overall likelihood to recommend was about even for our readers' top two brands. Dyson secured a 7.3, while iRobot landed at 7.2. And, according to our in-house vacuum expert, both are solid brands worth adding to your cleaning arsenal.

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In case you missed it, we polled our readers on the smart home tech they use and love. The results are in, and your favorite smart home brands have been revealed. Smart lights are some of the most approachable and accessible smart home gadgets, thanks to their low entry pricing and ease of use. They can be controlled via your smartphone or smart home assistants, giving you some versatility on how you integrate them into your home. Check out our full survey results, or continue reading for our breakdown of our readers’ preferred smart lights.

SEE ALSO: Readers' Choice Awards 2025: Your favorite smart home brands Your favorite smart lights

Readers narrowed down their favorite smart lights to just two brands: TP-Link (Kasa) and Philips Hue. Kasa won in most categories, including overall satisfaction, where it cinched an 8.6 out of 10 rating (compared to Philips Hue's 8.1). See how each brand fared in different categories in the chart below by clicking the arrows or using the dropdown menu.

Editor's note: TP-Link has been under investigation for security vulnerabilities with its routers and predatory pricing.

Cost and installment

Smart light bulbs are one of the more accessible smart home devices, thanks to their relatively low cost. However, when comparing smart lights, you'll find a clear divide in this product category between premium-priced brands and more budget-friendly brands. It's clear from our survey responses that Philips Hue and Kasa are on different ends of the price spectrum. Philips was rated pretty low at 6.4, while readers favored Kasa at 8.7.

"The only reason I am not 'extremely likely' to recommend Philips Hue is they are relatively expensive compared to other brands," one respondent wrote.

A Kasa user commented, "I had another brand before and found them so frustrating. I was glad to find these worked to my liking at a lower cost."

Using the smart bulbs

Both Kasa and Philips Hue scored favorably in ease of use, reliability, and integration with smart assistants.

"Mostly, they work extremely well. We primarily control them by voice through Alexa," one respondent said about their Philips Hue lights.

Multiple survey respondents noted integrating their smart lights with either Alexa or Google Assistant. From a Kasa user: "I have a bunch of these bulbs throughout the interior and exterior of the house. The exterior ones had issues, but after upgrading to a mesh router, I haven't had any since. I can set them up for specific times, on and off at sunset/sunrise, and they have the ability to change colors. They integrate into my Google Home system without any problems."

Not enough respondents rated their TP-Link (Kasa) bulbs on lifetime of bulb, preset color themes, or routines and automation to generate a score, but Philips Hue received high marks in all of these areas.

Likelihood to recommend

Mashable readers equally recommend TP-Link (Kasa) and Philips Hue, each cinching a score of 8.1 out of 10.

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In case you missed it, we polled our readers on the smart home tech they use and love. The results are in, and your favorite smart home brands have been revealed. As part of that survey, we also asked our readers about their smart assistants of choice, pitting Alexa against Siri and Google Home.

This is a space that's rapidly changing, with Google revamping Google Home devices with Gemini AI, and both Alexa and Siri getting key upgrades for the AI era. While this is going on behind the scenes, millions of people are just looking for a quick download on the day's weather. So, when you need to automate your home's lights or find out whether you need an umbrella, which smart home assistant do you trust?

Check out our full Readers' Choice results, and continue reading for our breakdown of our readers’ preferred smart assistants.

SEE ALSO: Readers' Choice Awards 2025: Your favorite smart home brands Your favorite smart assistants

Google is our readers' favored assistant, with an 8 out of 10 overall satisfaction rating. Amazon's Alexa follows behind with a 7.7, and Apple trailing at 7.2. Google was also rated highest for "most likely to recommend." To see how the brands scored across different categories, click through the chart below using either the arrow keys or the dropdown menu.

Voice recognition and response to prompts

Google is ahead of the competition in voice recognition, in our readers' experiences. It secured an 8.5 out of 10 rating, while Amazon received a 7.7 and Apple got a 7.6. Survey respondents called their Google Assistant-enabled products "reliable" and "awesome." One reported that Google Assistant seems to always find the answers to the questions they ask.

Another Google user said that they were overall very satisfied, but that occasionally, the assistant stops understanding or commands stop working.

A respondent who uses Amazon products said, "Overall, I've found the Alexa system to be 99.9 percent reliable. On a rare occasion, it will not catch a command to turn on or off a light. Its answers to questions beyond general knowledge are not strong (Google is much better), but suffice for most daily things." Another said, "Sometimes Alexa activates, indicating it is on, but does not respond to my command."

In addition to voice recognition, Google also took the cake in responses to questions and commands, scoring 8 out of 10, while Amazon and Apple scored 7.1 and 7.2, respectively.

Programmable actions, routines, and automations

Not enough respondents rated Google or Apple in programmable actions, so Amazon wins by default in this category. For routines and automation, though, Google is rated higher at 8.2 compared to Amazon's 7.5.

One survey respondent said that they like Alexa for routine items and integrations, but Google Assistant is better at answering questions.

An Alexa user reported that they have a morning routine that provides the weather report, reads news headlines, and turns on their office lights. That same person also uses Alexa to create shopping lists. They wrote, "The more I use it, the more things I find I can do."

For another reader, their best experience with the Amazon smart assistant is when they set up their smart home with Alexa and "connected everything from lights to thermostats to smart plugs." They enjoy the ease of controlling everything with their voice, especially when their hands are full.

A Google user wrote, "Our whole house has Google displays, speakers, TVs integrated with Google TV, and third-party plugs, bulbs, and the like. Just recently, I upgraded to a Google Mesh router. The third-party devices can occasionally be a bit tricky to set up, but once everything is working, it's nice to be able to control everything right in the Google Home app."

Likelihood to recommend

Mashable readers are most likely to recommend Google Assistant, with an 8.2 rating. Amazon Alexa follows behind with 7.8, while Apple's Siri trails at 7.1.

Google users appreciate being able to change the assistant's voice, the safety and convenience voice commands provide, Google's music recommendations, and the reliability.

Siri users called the assistant "awesome" and said it gives the proper information they need.

Multiple Amazon users said that they "love" their Alexa devices. One wrote, "My family owns a few different models of Alexa devices...I would recommend and will purchase more Amazon Echo devices in the future."

Shop smart assistants Amazon Echo Dot $49.99 at Amazon Shop Now Amazon Echo Show 5 $89.99 at Amazon Shop Now Google Nest Mini $49 at the Google Store Shop Now Google Nest Hub $99.99 at the Google Store Shop Now

Mashable recently introduced our first-ever Readers' Choice Awards, where we polled our readers on the smart home tech they use and love. The final results are in, and your favorite smart home brands have been revealed. You can check out our full results, but we also asked readers about specific smart home products, like security cameras.

Continue reading for our breakdown of our readers’ preferred security cameras.

SEE ALSO: Readers' Choice Awards 2025: Your favorite smart home brands Your favorite security cameras

It was a tight race, but Blink won by a hair. Our survey respondents rated Blink 7.8 out of 10 for overall satisfaction, while Ring and Wyze scored 7.7. Blink didn't take the lead in every category, so tab through the chart below to see where each brand excelled (or fell flat).

Editor's note: Although our readers use and love Ring, we do not endorse Ring in our product recommendations because of a host of past privacy issues.

Click the arrow buttons or the dropdown menu to see all scoring categories within the chart.

Cost and setup

There's a clear winner in the cost category: Wyze secured a 9.1 rating, blowing Blink (8.1) and Ring (7.5) out of the water. Wyze's more favorable cost might be the reason it scored weaker in some other categories, though. Ring got the lowest cost score, which makes sense because it's billed as a more premium brand than Blink or Wyze. (Blink and Ring are both Amazon-owned companies.)

Both Ring and Blink scored pretty middle-of-the-road on monitoring costs, aka the extra subscription costs associated with security cameras, such as cloud storage or access to additional smart features. One survey respondent did highlight Blink's free cloud storage as a pro for the brand. Meanwhile, a Ring user said, "My experience with the Ring security camera has been mostly great. The only thing that I do not feel overwhelmingly positive about is the monthly subscription fee. I would be happy to keep data on a local server that I could delete after a certain time period that I chose. I don't really find the monthly service necessary or a value for the money."

In addition to cost, Wyze also scored the best for setup, followed by Ring, then Blink.

Audio and video quality

Owning a security camera becomes moot if you can't actually see or hear anything it captures, which is why audio and video quality are such important factors to consider. Blink, Ring, and Wyze all scored highly in video quality, but the scores dropped in the audio department. Wyze took the biggest hit with a score of 6.7 out of 10 in audio (compared to its 7.8 for audio). If you want the best combo of audio and video, Blink is the way to go, according to our readers.

One Blink user said, "The audio quality of the recordings can be a bit muffled at times," and, "While generally good, the image quality isn't as sharp as I'd hoped for in certain situations, like during heavy rain."

A Ring user commented that their security camera's video quality is good compared to others.

Motion detection

A common gripe with security cameras and video doorbells is that they either don't capture enough footage before a movement occurs, or they're too sensitive and bombard your phone with motion detection alerts. Both of these were comments we received in our Readers' Choice survey. Ring scored the best in this category, with an impressive 8.1 satisfaction rate.

In the words of one respondent: "The picture quality, motion detection feature, and two-way voice capabilities are absolutely sufficient for my needs." On the other hand, another Ring user wrote, "I've set motion detection to the highest sensitivity, but there are still movements it doesn't pick up sometimes." And conversely, another user said, "Smart motion detection consistently identifies spiders, raccoons, and opossums as people." So, it's a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to people's experiences with motion detection.

And the same goes for Blink. One respondent reported, "Motion detection works well, and I get alerts to my phone right away." While another said, "Often the wind sets off the motion sensor, causing the alarm to go off over and over."

Likelihood to recommend

All three of our readers' favorite security camera brands scored decently well on likelihood to recommend. Ring was the highest at 8.0, with Wyze right behind it at 7.9, and Blink trailing closely at 7.8.

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We're still in the early stages of the new NBA season, but you can already see how this campaign is likely to play out for the Spurs and Kings. Wemby's Spurs look very strong at 8-3. The Kings however are floundering at 3-9. Fans will be expecting the home side to take this one without hassle.

If you want to watch Spurs vs. Kings in the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Spurs vs. Kings?

Spurs vs. Kings in the NBA starts at 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 16. This game takes place at the Frost Bank Center.

How to watch Spurs vs. Kings for free

Spurs vs. Kings in the NBA is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

3. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

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A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.

Wondering where the moon is disappearing to? This is due to the lunar cycle, meaning each night a bit less of it is lit up until it disappears completely at the New Moon.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Sunday, Nov. 16, the moon phase is Waning Crescent. This means 12% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

There's not as much to see tonight, but if you look hard enough, you might spot a few features. If you don't have any visual aids, you'll be able to spot the Aristarchus Plateau. This is a 25-mile diameter crater. With binoculars you'll also be able to see the Grimaldi Basin, and with a telescope you'll see the Reiner Gamma.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Dec. 4.

What are moon phases?

Moon phases, like the Waning Crescent, are all part of a 29.5-day lunar cycle, according to NASA. These phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. So, sometimes it looks full, sometimes half, and sometimes not there at all (aka, the New Moon). There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

The eight main moon phases are:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 8, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 16 Pips

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

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

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

Number (2): Everything in this orange space must add to 2. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 16 Pips

Number (7): Everything in this space must add to 7. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 6-4, placed horizontally.

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

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

Number (6): Everything in this space must add to 6. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically.

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

Number (5): Everything in this space must add to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 16 Pips

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 6-1, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed horizontally.

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

Number (10): Everything in this red space must add to 10. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 1. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 1-4, placed vertically.

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

Number (8): Everything in this red space must add to 8. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this orange space must add to 8. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

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

Equal (0): Everything in this red space must be equal to 0. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically.

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is easy if you love Carolina sports.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Yellow: Remote work

• Green: East coast teams

• Blue: Places to race

• Purple: On the nose logos

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: At-Home Exercise Equipment

• Green: North Carolina Teams

• Blue: Settings for Races

• Purple: Teams with a Basketball in Their Logo

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #419 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• At-Home Exercise Equipment - BIKE, JUMP ROPE, TREADMILL, YOGA MAT

• North Carolina Teams - HORNETS, HURRICANES, PANTHERS, WAKE FOREST

• Settings for Races - CIRCUIT, SWIMMING POOL, TRACK, VELODROME

• Teams with a Basketball in Their Logo - 76ERS, HEAT, KNICKS, SUNS

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

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

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you love game night.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 16, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Strategy

• Green: Ordinary

• Blue: Patterned

• Purple: Found on a popular board game

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Technique

• Green: Run-of-the-mill

• Blue: Stripy things

• Purple: Words on Monopoly squares

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 #889 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Technique: APPROACH, METHOD, PHILOSOPHY, SCHOOL

• Run-of-the-mill: BANAL, EVERYDAY, HUMDRUM, PEDESTRIAN

• Stripy things: BARCODE, IBM LOGO, RUGBY SHIRT, ZEBRA

• Words on Monopoly squares: AVENUE, PARKING, RAILROAD, TAX

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 16, 2025

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love a burrito.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 16, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 16, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Around it goes

The words are related to coverage.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things that are used to cover something.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is That's a Wrap.

NYT Strands word list for November 16

• Scarf

• Shawl

• Stole

• Cellophane

• Foil

• Flatbread

• That's a Wrap

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 16, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 16, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To brandish.

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 W.

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...

WIELD

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 16, 2025

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

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

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

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A music and film genre.

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

INDIE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A hut.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 16, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SHACK

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Rough.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 16 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 16, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

RIGID

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Hereditary material.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 16 Hurdle Word 4 answer

GENES

Final Hurdle hint

A jewelry measurement.

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

KARAT

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

By now, it's common knowledge that if you have a device—whether a fridge or a smart TV—it's collecting information about you and sending them back home. It's not controversial anymore.

TL;DR: Get a refurbished Apple MacBook Air on sale for $194.97 with free shipping through Nov. 16 (reg. $999). This is a great device for everyday use.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 2017 (Refurbished) $194.97
$999 Save $804.03   Get Deal

Yes, you read that right. You can grab one of Apple’s infamous MacBook Airs for under $200, and there’s no catch. Well, inventory is extremely low, so you’ll have to make sure to get yours before they sell out.

But you get the same performance, portability, and quality MacBooks are known for, except you only pay $194.97 vs. the $999 MSRP because of its refurbished status. You’ll also receive free shipping for a limited time.

SEE ALSO: Apple's new M5 iPad Pro keeps getting cheaper — score it for its best price yet

Powered by a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor and Intel HD Graphics 6000, this MacBook Air breezes through web browsing, email, shopping, streaming, and basic work projects. It’s paired with 128GB of flash storage, giving you plenty of space for documents, photos, and apps, all while keeping things zippy.

And with 12 hours of battery life, you won’t be tethered to an outlet, whether you’re at home, at the office, or camped out at a coffee shop.

The 13.3-inch widescreen display with 1440×900 resolution allows your movies, spreadsheets, and FaceTime calls to look sharp and vibrant. Meanwhile, built-in WiFi and Bluetooth make it easy to stay connected and share files across your devices.

This machine isn’t just affordable; it’s also worry-free. With its Grade A/B refurbished rating, you may notice a tiny scuff or scratch, but inside, you’re getting a fully functional MacBook ready to roll.

At this price, it’s perfect as a primary laptop, a backup machine, or even a dedicated travel computer. Lightweight, reliable, and sleek — it’s the kind of deal that makes sense whether you’re working, learning, or just binge-watching.

Don’t miss this refurbished MacBook Air deal: $194.97 until Nov. 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT, or when inventory runs out (reg. $999).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

It might not feel like it,but digital photography is still relatively new. Yet once the digital shutterbug bit, everyone was taking photos all the time. The thing is, those digital photos from the early 2000s are at risk of disappearing forever—here's why.

America’s smallest SUVs don’t usually steal the spotlight, but one model is quietly dominating the segment, even outperforming some of the most established Japanese nameplates. Its surge in sales isn’t a fluke; it’s the result of smart packaging, strong value, and features that resonate with buyers who want more for less.

Retro gaming and collecting retro games is all the rage right now, but there are some among us for whom there's never been a break between "retro" and modern gaming. Their retro collections come from simply never getting rid of old games, but keeping them.