Technology

Sports cars as we know them are changing. While the shift towards electrification has certainly slowed down in the last year or two, it still feels as if gasoline is on its way out. It is within this context that a coupe with a supercharged V-8 exists as a swansong for all petrolheads.

The Anker 313 Charger offers strong power and portability at a surprisingly low price. By using the promo code Ankerhowtogeek2025, this small USB-C wall adapter can be bought for an impressive $15.60 at the Anker website.

Thermacell mosquito repellent deals: Best deal overall Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Diffuser $31.98 (save $8.01) Get Deal Best runner-up deal Thermacell No Spray Mosquito Repellent $18.69 (save $3.30) Get Deal Best budget deal Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Patio Shield $15.59 (save $11.40) Get Deal

If you live in the southern United States, mosquitoes might be something you have to deal with all year (though most hibernate once it gets below 50 degrees). For most of the country, however, mosquitoes are a seasonal nuisance that come out whenever the weather gets warm.

Mosquitoes aren’t just annoying — they’re borderline dangerous, considering they can carry and transmit serious diseases to humans and animals (Encephalitis, West Nile Virus, and Zika Virus, just to name a few). If you want to keep your friends, family members, and pets safe from mosquito bites this summer, we recommend investing in some kind of mosquito repellent. And right now, select Thermacell models are on sale. That includes the #1 best-selling ultrasonic mosquito repeller at Amazon, the Thermacell Patio Shield.

Best deal overall Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Diffuser $31.98 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $8.01 Get Deal Why we like it

The Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Diffuser is currently on sale for $31.98, down from $39.99, at Amazon. That's a 20% discount and an $8.01 savings. It's also a new all-time low price for this particular model.

This mosquito repellent creates a 20-foot zone of protection from mosquitoes. And, according to the manufacturer, it works fast. You can deter mosquitoes in as little as 15 minutes after turning it on. Unlike some other mosquito repellents, this diffuser is odorless and doesn’t require any messy sprays or lotions.

It’s also rechargeable (it has a 6.5-hour battery life and a two-hour quick charge), so you don’t have to worry about constantly buying and replacing batteries. It comes with a fast-charging dock, one 36-hour repellent refill cartridge, and one USB-C charging cable.

More deals from Thermacell

• Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Patio Shield — $15.59 $26.99 (save $11.40)

• Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Refills — $15.64 $19.99 (save $4.35)

• Thermacell No Spray Mosquito Repellent — $18.69 $21.99 (save $3.30)

• Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Lantern — $29.98 $32.39 (save $2.41)

• Thermacell Tick Control Tubes — $41.97 $44.99 (save $3.02)

Apple TV+ is one of my favorite streaming services because it prioritizes quality over quantity, with excellent shows like Severance, Silo, and Shrinking (plus others that don't begin with the letter "s").

BUY 2, SAVE 15%: As of May 30, Amazon shoppers can save on select Windmill air conditioners, fans, and air purifiers in this limited-time sale. Not only can you save $50.99 on the Mashable-reviewed Windmill 12,000 BTU WhisperTech Window Air Conditioner, but you can also save an extra 15% with this promotion.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Shop the Windmill air conditioner sale at Amazon Get Deal

It's getting hot outside. Do you have a reliable way to keep cool? If not, you might consider a fan or a window unit air conditioner. Don't let the heat get to you when you can get a great one at a decent price, especially thanks to this Amazon promotion that's going on for a limited time.

Not only can you save $50.99 on a Windmill window AC, but as of May 30, when you buy two Windmill products, you can save 15% on your total purchase. The promotion includes the brand's popular Mashable-tested window air conditioners, as well as fans and air purifiers. So, you can cool down two rooms at once or save 15% simply by adding a smart fan to your cart. To claim the deal, add two of the sale items from the promotion page to your shopping cart. Then, the offer will automatically be applied at checkout.

Mashable's own Miller Kern reviewed the Windmill AC window unit, naming it a Mashable Choice product. Kern proclaimed it's "great" for anyone looking for an air conditioner that "cools reliably." She praised it for its smartphone controls, simple scheduling, and pleasant aesthetic. "All things considered, Windmill is actually a pretty good bang for your buck if you’re looking for an air conditioner that cools reliably, has smartphone controls, allows for scheduling, and looks nicer than standard window AC units," wrote Kern. "Even as a self-proclaimed cheapskate, I’d consider buying this air conditioner."

Our advice? To save the most and spend the least, combine a Windmill WhisperTech air conditioner with the brand's sleek and colorful Air Circulator smart fan, which is on sale for just $69.

Windmill Air Conditioner Sale Windmill 8,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner $369 (Save an additional 15% at Amazon) Get Deal Windmill 12,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner with WhisperTech $549 (Save an additional 15% at Amazon) Get Deal Windmill Smart Air Circulator and Fan, Pink $69 (Save an additional 15% at Amazon) Get Deal Windmill 1,950 Square Foot HEPA Air Purifier $399 (Save 15% at Amazon) Get Deal

Regular charging bricks are good, but sometimes, you can find yourself a bit limited in terms of outlets. Or maybe you're carrying too much tech around and you need to charge everything at once. Multi-port charging bricks are a nice option, and you can get one at a considerable discount right now.

While the best control system for video games is clearly the mouse and keyboard, a good controller paired with the right game is a great way to play. However, not all controllers are made equal, and there have been some real howlers over the years.

TL;DR: The Criterion Collection officially has the Wes Anderson Archive, which includes 4K masters of his first 10 films and more, up for preorder for $399.96. The box set will be released on Sept. 30, but you can secure yours as of May 30.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Criterion Collection The Wes Anderson Archive $399.96 at The Criterion Collection
Pre-order Here

The Criterion Collection's Wes Anderson Archive is set for release on Sept. 30, but preorders are officially live for fans of the eccentric pastel-toned filmmaking legend.

The special edition collector's set includes Anderson's first 10 feature films, spanning 25 years. Those include Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Darjeeling Limited, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Moonrise Kingdom, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Isle of Dogs, and The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun. Note that 2023's Asteroid City is not included in the mix.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Fire TV Cube is on sale for under $100

The 20-disc set features ten new 4K masters of the film in Dolby Vision HDR, plus ten Blu-ray discs of the film with over 25 hours of special features. You can watch original audition tapes, deleted scenes, interviews, commercials, archival recordings, shorts, animation tests, and more. Along with the films themselves, you'll also receive 10 fancy clothbound edition illustrated books, all in an appropriately muted-tone Anderson-esque keepsake box. The collection as a whole is aesthetically suited to the Wes Anderson oeuvre, which fans will most certainly adore.

You can pre-order The Wes Anderson Archive at the Criterion Collection for $399.96 ahead of its official September release. And, in the meantime, be sure to check out Anderson's latest film, The Phoenician Scheme, set for limited release on May 30 and nationwide release on June 6. It has a monstrous cast, including Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Benedict Cumberbatch, Scarlett Johansson, Bryan Cranston, Hope Davis, Tom Hanks, and Jeffrey Wright.

If you want a robot assistant to live in your home and act vaguely like a human, you might be in luck.

Hugging Face, a company that largely specializes in machine learning but has branched out into robotics recently, has a new humanoid robot called HopeJr coming out potentially by the end of 2025.

As you can see in a video posted to X, it has a pretty wide range of movement capabilities. Per TechCrunch, it is specifically capable of 66 independent movements. The caption on the video claims it is capable of walking and "manipulating many objects," though we don't get to see the bot walk in the video.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: Tesla has begun testing driverless robotaxis in Austin ahead of June 12 launch, report says

The HopeJr robot is part of a collaboration between Hugging Face and the robotics company The Robot Studio, which shared a longer video of HopeJr on YouTube. The video comes from the Humanoids Summit in London, where the company says HopeJr was fully assembled for the first time.

HopeJr will allegedly start shipping at least some units by the end of 2025, and according to Hugging Face, could cost around $3,000. (The Robot Studio's YouTube video description puts the price at €3,000, however.)

Interestingly, this robot is open source, meaning people have a greater degree of freedom to do whatever they want with it than they would with a closed-source product.

Just as long as nobody makes one that can, you know, do bad things to human beings.

Streaming providers and services continue to increase prices, which is why it feels like we're all paying extra without any added benefits. However, if you have Disney+ or Hulu, a new Perks program will get you a slew of discounts, free trials for other services, freebies, and entries into some lucrative sweepstakes just for being a subscriber.

Remember those old school sports and actions movies — think Billy Bob in Varsity Blues — where they'd ask dazed people simple questions to see if they're concussed? How many fingers am I holding up? Or, what year is it?

Well, even by that low, low standard, Google's AI overviews may not pass concussion protocol. This week, folks noticed that Google's AI overviews couldn't reliably discern that the year was, in fact, 2025. (To be clear, we are now about halfway through 2025.)

There were a number of posts about it online.

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

TechCrunch spotted the issue and noted that Google fixed this particular bug, if not the underlying problem.

"As with all Search features, we rigorously make improvements and use examples like this to update our systems. The vast majority of AI Overviews provide helpful, factual information, and we’re actively working on an update to address this type of issue," a Google spokesperson told the tech outlet.

The whole what year is it debacle is far from the only time Google's AI overviews have tripped up over simple questions. Two staff members at Mashable asked Google other simple questions: "Is it Friday?" and "How many r's are in blueberry?" It answered both simple questions incorrectly, spitting out that it was Thursday and there was only one r in blueberry, respectively. It's worth noting that Google's AI tools previously went viral for answering a similar question incorrectly ("how many r's are in the word strawberry?"). It seems the underlying issue — that issue would be counting — still has not been remedied.

Google Search expert Lily Ray has called this approach to fixing AI bugs the "whack-a-mole approach." In other words, Google fixes bugs one-by-one instead of making a wholesale improvement.

Credit: Screenshot: Google Credit: Screenshot: Google

The accuracy problem has been a longstanding one for Google's AI overviews. Mashable tested the overviews' accuracy six months after launch — December of actual 2024 — and found there were still major problems, even if it was improving.

SEE ALSO: How a Monday Night Football mishap may have exposed deep problems with Google Search

Overviews can prove especially faulty when working with incorrect or incomplete queries. The Google tool often makes stuff up or confidently gets info wrong when it doesn't have a clear answer. It became a trend, for instance, to have Google's AI overviews create meaning for nonsensical, invented idioms. Or remember when Google's AI overviews first launched and it confidently told folks that a dog played in the NBA and that you should add glue to pizza?

Despite these persistent issues and incorrect answers, Google still pushed forward in rolling out AI Mode for all U.S. searchers. And at Google I/O 2025, the company bragged that its AI Overviews were reaching 1.5 billion people per month.

So when you're out there Googling, just be careful — and be sure to know what year it is.

Maintaining a large or awkwardly shaped lawn isn’t just time-consuming—it’s exhausting. Whether you’re dealing with steep slopes, winding edges, or zones broken up by trees, garden beds, or fences, traditional robotic mowers often fall short.

Arlines are tightening their rules on batteries and portable chargers.

Because of fire risks, you'll now have to keep your portable chargers visible while you're using them, at least on Southwest Airlines flights. In other words, you can't charge your laptop or Switch in the overhead bin. This, the airline argues, will allow them to better catch and stop a fire if a battery overheats. This policy went into effect on May 28.

"When a portable charger/power bank is used during a flight, it must be out of any baggage and remain in plain sight," Southwest Airlines' policy reads. "Do not charge devices in the overhead bin."

You can still travel with up to 20 spare batteries, including portable chargers and power banks, at a time on Southwest.

"Portable chargers and spare batteries must be protected from short circuit by protecting any exposed terminals and packed in your carryon (sic) bag or with you onboard," the policy continues. "Lithium-ion batteries size must not exceed 100 watt-hours."

Southwest's policy is actually fairly generous, as many foreign arlines are taking much stricter approaches to portable charging products.

Other airlines, including EVA Air, China Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, and Singapore Airlines, have all completely banned the use of portable chargers while passengers are in-flight, The New York Times reported. Ryanair asks passengers to remove lithium batteries from overhead bins, and the South Korean government requires that passengers keep their portable chargers out of overhead bins, too, also according to The New York Times. The Federal Aviation Administration, for its part, requires that lithium-ion batteries be kept in carry-on baggage.

This comes just a few months after a fire destroyed an Air Busan plane on the tarmac in South Korea, likely because of a portable power bank, local authorities told the BBC at the time. However, The New York Times reports that there is "no definitive link between portable batteries and the Air Busan fire, and an investigation is underway."

Better safe than sorry, I guess?

Like many travel regulations, rules are different for different airlines, so be sure to check your airline's official website before you head out on your next flight.

BOGO FREE: Don't go to the theater alone. Through June 27, when you snag your advanced ticket to see M3GAN 2.0 at Fandango, you'll get a second ticket for free. Just enter the code DGAM3GAN2.0 at checkout.

Opens in a new window Credit: Universal Pictures / Fandango BOGO free 'M3GAN 2.0' tickets Get Deal

Everyone's favorite murderous dancing AI diva doll, M3GAN, is back for round two and we are seated. This time, M3GAN's creator Gemma (Allison Williams) is forced to resurrect her after new AI bot Amelia (created using the technology that made M3GAN) becomes a threat to all of humanity. Enter M3GAN 2.0 — she's faster, stronger, and taller and bursting into theaters June 27.

Pre-sale tickets to M3GAN 2.0 are officially available for purchase and Fandango wants you to bring a friend. When you buy one pre-sale ticket to see M3GAN 2.0 on Fandango.com or the Fandango mobile app, you'll get another for free. Just be sure to use the promo code DGAM3GAN2.0 at checkout to get your freebie.

There is a catch, though. There's only a limited quantity of code redemptions allowed. So, while the offer technically expires on June 27 (the day M3GAN 2.0 officially hits theaters), it may reach the limit of code redemptions prior to that date. Translation: Order your tickets ASAP to get one for free. Just head to Fandango.com or the Fandango mobile app, select your date, theater, time, and ticket quantity, and sign in or create a free FanRewards account. Choose "Use Promo Code" and apply the code DGAM3GAN2.0. Then just complete your purchase and decide how you want to receive your tickets.

It's no surprise that M3GAN's monstrous box office success has brought us a sequel. Here's hoping for more memorable one-liners and campy dance numbers in M3GAN 2.0. Grab a friend and book your tickets now.

SAVE 15%: Starting June 1, you can get up to 15% off bestsellers at biird. Use the code NAUGHTYSUMMER to shop customer faves, like the Lumii, Evii, and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: biird Lumii $75.65 at biird
$89 Save $13.35 Get 15% off with code NAUGHTYSUMMER Get Deal

Buying sex toys right now is probably the smartest move you can make considering the impending economic doom (aka Trump’s tariffs on China). Also, you know, self-care is important, and I’d never discourage anyone from buying a new vibrator (et al), especially when you can get them on sale.

Starting June 1, biird is gifting customers with a 15% discount on ALL bestsellers. I say “gifting” because this brand almost never has sales. (But, honestly, I don’t blame them — their stuff is top-notch.) You can shop any bestseller from June 1-30 and get 15% off with the code NAUGHTYSUMMER.

SEE ALSO: Sex toy company removes 'Trump tariff surcharge' amid trade deal

One of my faves from biird is the Lumii. It’s like a smaller, more travel-friendly version of the Namii (my absolute all-time favorite clitoral suction toy; deets below). The Lumii is 100% waterproof, has seven suction intensities, and a one-button control. It’ll come with a super-cute storage pouch that resembles a makeup compact — it even has a mirror inside. You’ll also get a free Hiide Webcam Cover with your purchase, which is both a scary thought and a sweet gesture.

If you’re looking for more power, the Namii is what you want. Not only does this clitoral suction stimulator and vibrator come with a magnetic charging base that doubles as a chic nightlight, but it also features five vibration and five suction patterns that can be used separately or together. (Honestly, this is the best clitoral vibrator I’ve ever tried next to Tracy’s Dog OG clit sucker.)

Opens in a new window Credit: biird Namii $107.10 at biird
$125.99 Save $18.89 Get 15% off with code NAUGHTYSUMMER Get Deal

The Namii works hands-free (just adjust it until it’s in the right spot and let your thighs lightly hold it in place) and will deliver toe-curling orgasms in minutes seconds. But you can also use it for edging or building up a squirting orgasm. (I've used it for both.) It comes in three color options, and like all of biird’s toys, it's packaged like a little gift.

Both the Lumii and Namii are ideal for anyone who experiences pain with penetration or isn’t comfortable with sudden, direct clitoral stimulation. With these toys, you can ease into pleasure and enjoy the experience.

Can't wait until June 1? Here are some of our favorite sex toy deals from Amazon:

• plusOne Bullet Vibrator

• ava VIVV Massage Wand

• Tracy's Dog Wand Vibrator

• Womanizer Pro40

NEW RELEASE: As of May 30, get the Pokémon Trading Card Game: Scarlet & Violet Destined Rivals Booster Box (36 Packs) for $160.99 at Best Buy via Best Buy Drops.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Pokémon Trading Card Game: Scarlet & Violet Destined Rivals Booster Box (36 Packs) $160.99 at Best Buy
Get Deal

The Pokémon Trading Card Game just welcomed its latest expansion, Destined Rivals, today, May 30, and it's already selling out at just about every retailer. It's for a good reason: this is one of the most anticipated sets you'll find out there thanks to its new Team Rocket Pokémon cards, gorgeous illustrations, and much more.

It pays homage to the original 2000 set that came out, well, 25 years ago now (feeling old yet?). If you're looking to get your hands on some of the cards, it's going to be a longshot, but Best Buy has some in stock right now that you'll want to try and snap up if you can.

As of May 30, get the Pokémon Trading Card Game: Scarlet & Violet Destined Rivals Booster Box (36 Packs) for $160.99 at Best Buy via Best Buy Drops. It's only available in the Best Buy app, and you'll need to join a queue of other buyers to be eligible for purchase. This set comes with a free promo card with purchase in addition to the boosters, so you get a little something extra.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2 preorder guide: Track latest restocks, see our first-hand impressions

This set is an expansive one, with 83 Team Rocket's Pokémon cards, 17 EX cards, 23 Illustration Rares, 11 Special Illustration Rares, and 6 Hyper Rare gold-etched cards. The promo card, Team Rocket's Articuno, is an attractive one as well, and is only available via Best Buy.

You'll have to have a valid Best Buy account to be eligible to join the queue, and from the look of things, you may be waiting a while to be able to buy your box, if you end up being able to at all. But if you can't wait to get your hands on the new expansion, it's worth trying. You can join the queue and set your phone down to come back later.

Shop the Best Tech Deals

• Roku Ultra 4K Ultimate Streaming Player (2024 Release) — $79.99 (List Price $99.99)

• Beats Pill Bluetooth Speaker — $99.95 (List Price $149.95)

• Roborock Qrevo Master Robot Vacuum and Mop — $899.99 (List Price $1599.99)

• Peloton Bike — $1,145.00 (List Price $1445.00)

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $74.99 (List Price $99.00)

SAVE $300: As of May 30, All-Clad's newly released outdoor pizza oven is at a deep discount on the All-Clad website. For a limited time, snag one for $999.99 (which is $300 off the usual price). That's 23% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: All-Clad All-Clad 16-inch Pizza Oven $999.99 at All-Clad
$1,299.99 Save $300 Get Deal

Watch out, Ooni: a new pizza oven has entered the chat. Trusted cookware brand All-Clad has just launched its take on the outdoor pizza oven with a new 16-inch propane gas model that packs in a ton of cool features. It's an investment piece for sure, though — the oven is priced at $1,299.99, and compared to the popular Ooni Koda (which is the same size and only costs $599), it's a pretty steep ask.

Thankfully, the All-Clad oven is already sitting at a deep discount on the company's website. For a limited time, you can pick up one of All-Clad's new pizza ovens for a cool $300 off the original price, bringing your total down to $999.99. That's a discount of 23%.

SEE ALSO: Breville’s indoor pizza oven is the best way to cook pizza without using actual fire

The All-Clad outdoor pizza oven is one of the more feature-complete options out there, employing plenty of unique perks that enhance the device's convenience and portability. For starters, it has an automatic rotating stone that helps you cook each pizza evenly, and totally eliminates the need for manual turning — just pop it in and, 90 seconds later, you get a pizza that's cooked to perfection. It also has a built-in thermometer so you can monitor the heat more precisely, plus foldable legs for easy transport. It also includes an aluminum pizza peel to make transferring your creations from oven to plate a breeze.

Shop the Best Home and Kitchen Deals

• Skylight Frame 10-inch Digital Picture Frame — $139.99 (List Price $159.00)

• Ninja Crispi Air Fryer — $159.99 (List Price $179.99)

• Birdfy AI Smart Solar Powered Bird Feeder with Camera — $179.99 (List Price $249.99)

• KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer — $449.95

• Eufy Omni C20 Robot Vacuum and Mop With Self-Emptying Base — $399.99 (List Price $699.99)

SAVE $12: As of May 30, get the Anker Surge Protector for $23.99, down from its usual price of $35.99. That's a discount of 33%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Anker Surge Protector $23.99 at Amazon
$35.99 Save $12.00 Get Deal

Summer is here, and that means plenty of storms to go with it. It's one thing to lose your electricity in the middle of a storm, but another frustrating thing entirely to have issues with your electronics thanks to power surges, or sudden spikes in voltage. They can damage or destroy items like laptops, TVs, game consoles, and much more. A surge protector can help, so it's a good idea to grab one if you don't have one already.

As of May 30, get the Anker Surge Protector for $23.99, down from its usual price of $35.99, at Amazon. That's $12 off and a discount of 33%.

SEE ALSO: Turn your TV into a Smart TV with 33% off the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

This surge protector comes with 12 AC outlets, 1 USB-C port, and 2 USB-A ports so you can plug in just about anything you need to protect, including your phone or other USB devices. The USB-C port offers 20W fast charging, so it's capable of high speed power to juice up your phone from 0 to 53% in just 30 minutes.

Most importantly, this unit offers an 8-point safety system for fire resistance, temperature control, and overload protection to make sure you and your electronics stay safe even when storms are rolling and power spikes are happening off and on. It's simple to install, and comes with mounting supplies if you'd rather have it on the wall than somewhere tucked away on the floor.

It's a good idea to have one of these things to prevent disasters, so even if you don't have many things to plug in, you should consider grabbing it just in case, especially since you can save some money right now.

With streaming service prices constantly rising, it's about time that they start offering us a bit more for our money. Disney+ is poised to do just that with a new perks program they just launched today, which is accessible to all subscribers.

In a May 30 press release, Disney+ announced the new always-on perks program, which offers all subscribers access to unique discounts at various retailers, as well as the chance to win special fan experiences. Some of these perks include six-month DashPass membership, 20% off at Adidas, a three-month trial to Clear+, and exclusive savings at select Walt Disney World resorts. Members will also have the opportunity to win tickets to the Freakier Friday world premiere, as well as a four-night cruise on the Disney Destiny. New perks will be dropping regularly, so if you're a subscriber, you'll want to stay tuned to the Disney+ Perks homepage to stay up to date.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (May 30, 2025)

In addition to Disney+ Perks, Hulu Perks will also be launching on June 2, with new drops happening weekly throughout the summer. Subscribers will have chances to win tickets to Lollapalooza, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and passes to San Diego Comic-Con, as well as sweepstakes access to "win items from and inspired by Hulu favorites like The Handmaid’s Tale, A Complete Unknown, and Only Murders in the Building." So, if you're not signed up for either streaming service, now is a good time — and being a part of the perks programs won't cost you a penny extra.

Tinder's incoming CEO wants to rid the app of its hookup app reputation, but the app is testing a pretty superficial preference: height.

In recent days, users have started noticing a height "filter" in the app. Another dating app, Hinge, already had a height filter for premium users. Both Tinder and Hinge are owned by Match Group.

SEE ALSO: Best dating apps for singles who want something serious

Apparently, though, height is being tested as a paid preference, not a hard filter. The difference is that a preference doesn't block or exclude profiles outright for not fitting the requirements. It's more of a guide for the algorithm. The app is evolving its preference system, where free preferences help improve relevance while paid preferences like height offer greater control without completely cutting people off.

"We're always listening to what matters most to our Tinder users — and testing the paid height preference is a great example of how we're building with urgency, clarity, and focus," a Tinder spokesperson told Mashable. "This is part of a broader effort to help people connect more intentionally on Tinder."

"Our new product principles guide every decision, and this one speaks directly to a few: prioritizing user outcomes, moving fast, and learning quickly. Not every test becomes a permanent feature, but every test helps us learn how we can deliver smarter, more relevant experiences and push the category forward," the spokesperson continued, referencing incoming CEO Spencer Rascoff's LinkedIn post about changes he wants to implement at Tinder. (Rascoff is already CEO of Match Group, and will lead both it and Tinder as of July.)

For years now, height has been an obsession on dating apps, at least for straight users. As Mashable's features editor Rachel Thompson wrote in 2017, "In the economy of heterosexual online dating, where thumbs wield the ultimate power over a person's love life, height appears to be an immensely valuable currency." Two years later, Tinder even teased "height verification" as an April Fool's Joke. Now,

The obsession hasn't been quenched, and already there's drama online about Tinder's height preference. While this is currently just a test, it won't be surprising if this becomes a permanent fixture on the app.