Technology

The average "smart" home today looks and works nothing like I imagined it would when I was a kid. What I expected was a house with a brain in it, that anticipates your need, and does what you ask. Instead, a modern smart home is filled with barely functional hardware that does almost nothing itself and the "brain" is somewhere out there in a big company's server room.

Click around in the Linux world long enough and you'll no-doubt come across mentions of Canonical. It's an influential entity within the world of Linux and free software, which is why it's helpful to understand the creators of Ubuntu and what they do.

Affordable performance sedans are rare these days, but in the used market, one Japanese sports sedan stands out as a genuinely compelling bargain. For less than $20,000, you can step into a vehicle that delivers not just spirited driving dynamics but also a plush, refined cabin, something many buyers assume only comes with a luxury badge and a hefty price tag.

Pixel phones are still often thought of as being "stock Android"—devices that are free from bloat and offer Android in its purest form. But they aren't. Pixel phones are Google phones, and they come packed with apps and features that could technically be called bloatware.

Does File Explorer work fine one moment, then suddenly freeze, restart, or vanish altogether? These crashes aren’t random—they’re usually triggered by issues with File Explorer itself, its settings or features, or even Windows. If this issue interrupts your workflow, here are some fixes you can try.

These days, the world of 3D printers has no shortage of good budget options. The results from these printers are more than usable, but there's still a clear difference between a budget model and something more premium.

Well, Hellfire Club, it's finally here.

The very, very end of Stranger Things, after almost 10 years and five seasons of the Duffer Brothers' smash Netflix series. We've ridden our bikes through Scoops Ahoy sundaes and Spider Monster battles in the Starcourt Mall, through Billy's Mind Flayer recruitment drive, all the way to shredding Metallica in the Upside Down and staring into the Abyss.

SEE ALSO: Gaten Matarazzo hoped 'Stranger Things' fans would be conflicted about Dustin in Season 5

The final battle against Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) looms for our Hawkins heroes, with the penultimate episode bringing everyone together in the Squawk radio station, ready to face the mind-bending villain once and for all. But when, exactly, can you settle in with your Demogorgon plushie for the last stand?

Featured Video For You Gaten Matarazzo on 'Stranger Things' 'SNL' shoutout, Dustin and Steve's big fight, and why AI is 'lame' What exact time does the Stranger Things finale air?

The series finale of Stranger Things premieres Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Netflix.

Of course, you can also watch it in the cinema (but by this time, you'll be lucky to get a seat).

You can never have too many tools, right? Milwaukee already has an extensive selection of power tools and accessories, but one thing that makes the brand so popular is the constant arrival of new products. And while Milwaukee has over 150 items coming soon, here are a couple of new tools arriving in 2026 that are actually worth waiting for.

If you're not into crowds, streaming the New Year’s Eve fireworks from home has become a bit of an annual hack. HUNTR/X gets it — ringing in midnight from your couch is highly underrated, toasting what was and could be ahead with an actual glass, not an overpriced plastic cup whose crappy contents are inevitably destined for the front of your shirt in the chaos.

Thankfully, digital streams of the iconic and deeply expensive fireworks from around the globe are easily accessible, from the iconic lit-up vista of Sydney Harbour to London's Thames affair. Here's a guide to where you can watch the countdowns live or on demand — this is your 2026, you can decide when midnight happens for you.

SEE ALSO: The 15 best British TV shows of 2025 and where to stream them New Year's Eve fireworks live streams

The key to figuring out New Year's Eve celebrations is knowing your timezones. Mashable's Chance Townsend spelled it out last year, writing:

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the world’s standard time system and each location’s time zone is measured as an offset from UTC. For example, UTC+0 includes cities like London, meaning their clocks align exactly with UTC. Cities to the east, like Dubai (UTC+4), are ahead of UTC, celebrating earlier, while those to the west, like New York City (UTC-5), are behind, ringing in the New Year hours later.

Starting at UTC+14 in Kiritimati (a tiny island country in the Micronesia region of Oceania and the first to celebrate) and ending in Hawaii at UTC-10 (the last), this time zone progression lets us follow the global party as midnight strikes in each region.

You can also find a global list of live cams on Earthcam.com.

UTC +12:00

• Auckland, New Zealand

UTC +11:00

• Sydney, Australia

UTC +8:00

• Taipei, Taiwan

UTC +9:00

• Tokyo, Japan

• Seoul, South Korea

UTC +8:00

• Hong Kong

UTC +7:00

• Bangkok, Thailand

UTC +5:30

• Delhi, India

UTC +4:00

• Dubai, United Arab Emirates

UTC +2:00

• Athens, Greece

UTC +1:00

• Berlin, Germany

UTC 0:00

• London, United Kingdom

UTC -3:00

• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

UTC -5:00

• New York City, United States

Microsoft Excel is practically synonymous with spreadsheets, but the cost, along with being trapped in Microsoft's ecosystem, made me search for an alternative.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're preparing your resolutions.

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 December 31, 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: 2026

• Green: They swallow things

• Blue: The first capital of the US

• Purple: A waterway

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Happy New Year!

• Green: Places where things disappear

• Blue: Associated with Philadelphia

• Purple: Starting with bodies of water

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 #934 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Happy New Year!: BALL DROP, CHAMPAGNE FLUTE, FIREWORKS, NOISEMAKER

• Places where things disappear: BERMUDA TRIANGLE, BLACK HOLE, COUCH CUSHIONS, DRYER

• Associated with Philadelphia: BROTHERLY LOVE, CHEESESTEAK, LIBERTY BELL, ROCKY

• Starting with bodies of water: BAY LEAF, CHANNEL SURF, SEA BASS, SOUND BARRIER

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 December 31, 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 going in circles.

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 December 31, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 31, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: One good turn deserves another

The words are related to twirling.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe circular motions.

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 Round and Round.

NYT Strands word list for December 31

• Round and Round

• Circle

• Whirl

• Orbit

• Rotate

• Spin

• Pirouette

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 an emergency worker.

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 December 31, 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 December 31, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Found atop a police car.

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 S.

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...

SIREN

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 December 31, 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.

The Logitech Pro X Superlight 2c gaming mouse doesn't offer any groundbreaking new tech. That said, it offers dependability, precision, speed, and comfort, making it an incredible gaming peripheral.

The first Full Moon of 2026 is keeping the supermoon streak alive. After a string of them to end 2025, we get one more to kick off the new year. October, November, and December all saw beautiful, large moons in the sky, and January will be no different.

A supermoon is really what the name suggests, a Full Moon that appears bigger and brighter in the sky than usual, perfect for late-night stargazing. There's lots happening with the January Full Moon, so keep reading to find out what it means.

When is the January Full Moon?

January's full Moon will occur on Saturday, Jan. 3. Time and Date estimates it will peak at 5:02 a.m. ET.

What is the January full Moon called?

Full Moons all have their own names, and January's is traditionally known as the 'Wolf Moon'. Time and Date explains that this is because wolves were typically thought to be more active, and howling, in January.

January's Full Moon is also another supermoon, the fourth in a row. It will appear bigger and brighter in the sky because it sits closer to Earth in its orbit. A supermoon occurs when the Moon reaches its full phase at or near lunar perigee, the point where it comes closest to our planet, which creates a noticeably larger view, Royal Museums Greenwich tells us.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon is predicted to occur on Feb. 1, 2026.

What are the lunar phases?

The Full Moon is just one of eight phases in the Moon’s 29.5-day orbit around Earth. All of the different phases show how much of its surface is lit up from our point of view. We always see the same side of the Moon, but as it moves around Earth, the sunlight falls on it differently, so that's why sometimes we see it looking full, sometimes half, and sometimes it looks like it has disappeared completely.

The 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.

• Last Quarter (or Third 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.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know American baseball.

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.

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: 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: Movies

• Green: Major stars

• Blue: Venues

• Purple: Letter subtraction

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Sports films of 2025

• Green: MVPs of 2025

• Blue: SEC football stadiums

• Purple: Starts with an MLB team in singular form

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 #464 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Sports films of 2025 - F1, HAPPY GILMORE 2, MARTY SUPREME, THE SMASHING MACHINE

• MVPs of 2025 - A'JA WILSON, CONNOR HELLEBUYCK, SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER, SHOHEI OHTANI

• SEC football stadiums - BRYANT-DENNY, JORDAN-HARE, KYLE, SANFORD

• Starts with an MLB team in singular form - ANGEL REESE, RAY ALLEN, RED AUERBACH, TIGER WOODS

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.

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 December 30, 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 December 31, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 31 Pips

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically.

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

Number (18): Everything in this space must add up to 18. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed horizontally.

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

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 31 Pips

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

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed horizontally.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 31 Pips

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this red space must be equal to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically; 5-3, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 6-3, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 0-5, 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.

Donald Trump's golden smartphone won't be arriving anytime soon.

Trump Mobile, announced in June and run by the president's children Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, has yet again delayed shipping of its flagship device, the T1, according to a report by the Financial Times.

SEE ALSO: Trump Mobile shares T1 model, but something doesn't look right

Speaking to the news publisher, Trump Mobile's customer service team blamed this year's U.S. government shutdown for the phone's delay — without further detail. This follows a previously unaddressed delay in November, in which the Trump Mobile team quietly removed shipping dates from its website as the deadline sailed by and began listing refurbished Samsung and Apple phones.

In fact, the T1 was originally set to ship in August, was then pushed to October, went AWOL in November, and will now be shipped...sometime in 2026? Maybe?

Featured Video For You Slow internet on your iPhone? Try clearing your cache

Currently still available for preorder on the Trump Mobile website, the smartphone retails for $499 and is set to run on its "47 plan" including unlimited talk, text, and data for $47.45 a month (Trump is the 45th and 47th U.S. president). Down payments cost $100, with a message on the website fittingly reading, "Getting in line is easy."

In June, Trump Mobile was pitched by the Trump Organisation's trademark licensing arm DTTM Corporation as "a transformational, new cellular service designed to deliver top-tier connectivity, unbeatable value and all-American service for our nation’s hardest-working people" — with emphasis on the American-made element. Following Trump's chaotic global tariffs odyssey earlier this year, the president's aim of bringing manufacturing back into the U.S. has seen pressure on Big Tech leaders like Apple to produce their devices in America instead of China — though whether the T1 could actually entirely be made in America is a major question mark.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025:

AcrossMany a participant in the 2025 "6-7" trend

• The answer is Kid.

Like 2025, to the French?

• The answer is Fini.

The last one was minted in 2025

• The answer is Penny.

The O's in XOXO

• The answer is Hugs.

"Real" ones became required in 2025

• The answer is IDs.

DownNo ___ (2025 protest)

• The answer is Kings.

Travelers' lodgings

• The answer is Inns.

Home project inits.

• The answer is DIY.

Drake and Kendrick Lamar had a high-profile one

• The answer is Feud.

The 2025 Super Bowl champion Eagles, on scoreboards

• The answer is Phi.

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

Like every year, a slew of new TVs are waiting to be unveiled at CES. Unlike every other year, the big TV brands seem to have quite similar ideas on how to innovate. To sum it up, everyone and their mother is releasing an RGB TV, and CES 2026 is setting the stage for Samsung, LG, Hisense, and more to duke it out in very direct head-to-head comparison.

Typically, there's a decent amount of variety between the new TVs from each brand: In 2025, LG's main thing was an expansion of its best-in-class OLED TVs, TCL went hard on mini-LED, and Samsung's claim to fame was a Neo QLED version of The Frame. Of course, there will be no shortage of new OLEDs and QLEDs in 2026. But the suddenly-crowded RGB TV market is easily the most noteworthy plot point.

The year of RGB TVs and the inevitable OLED x mini-LED collab

For most of the 2020s, new TVs announced at CES have mostly fallen under one of two categories: fancy new OLED or fancy new mini-LED. TV innovation at CES this year finally deviates from those two buzzwords, though they both walked so RGB TVs could run.

Did you know that the bulbs in most QLED or mini LED TV backlights are only emitting white or blue light? This isn't visible to the viewer, of course. It's actually the layer of quantum dot crystals sandwiched on top that are reflecting white or blue light into all of the colors that appear on the TV screen. RGB TVs do things a little differently on the backend. "RGB" refers to thousands of microscopic red, green, and blue LEDs lighting the TV — these true red, green, and blue light sources are said to cover 100 percent of the color gamut (or the full possible spectrum of visible colors) and greatly expand the TV's color accuracy.

SEE ALSO: What to look for when buying a TV, as told through this easy TV specs guide

Each of those red, green, and blue LEDs are individually controlled like OLED pixels, offering much more precision than even the most densely-packed mini LED dimming zones can offer. So, micro RGB TVs shouldn't fall victim to mediocre contrast and imperfect black levels like many non-OLED TVs do, while simultaneously achieving higher peak brightness than OLED can provide.

Remember that the main trend here is RGB technology itself — the term "Micro RGB" is merely the marketing name that Samsung and LG are using. So far, Hisense is going with "RGB mini-LED" while Sony is rumored to have coined "True RGB." We expect other top TV brands to reveal their version of RGB at CES 2026 as well (TCL launched two RGB TVs in China in Sept. 2025 that could make their U.S. debut at CES.) Regardless of nomenclature, as long as RGB is involved, just think "the most colorful TV you've ever seen."

Big TVs are getting bigger, small TVs are getting better

Brands are likely to load the 85- to 100-inch (or bigger) end of the spectrum with their 2026 flagship TVs, whereas TVs near the 100-inch mark were more of an outlier in previous years. Samsung's CES TV lineup, much of which got leaked in early December, shows a new 98-inch version of The Frame. Even wilder, LG's 2026 Micro RGB line is apparently only available in 75, 86, and 100 inches. 

It's hard to fathom a 75-inch TV being the smallest option, considering 65 inches has been a staple size in the TV market forever. Mashable currently recommends 65-inch TVs as the best size for most people, but will that be considered "small" soon?

But you're not being left in the dust if your living room or bedroom requires a smaller TV footprint. We're continuing to see the yassification of small TVs, a trend currently represented with 32-inch and 43-inch versions of Samsung's The Frame or 42-inch and 48-inch versions of LG's flagship C5 OLED TV. So far, Samsung has confirmed that it's extending its premium Micro RGB tech to a 55-inch model in 2026, and it wouldn't be surprising if other brands offered similarly versatile sizing. Ahead of CES, Hisense just released the S5 DécoTV, a 32-inch QLED TV that's much more affordable than the smallest The Frame TV.

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The aforementioned Samsung TV leak also alludes to some slightly more affordable OLED TVs on the horizon, including a 55-inch S85H model allegedly priced around $1,000. That'd end up being slightly cheaper than the current sale price on the 42-inch version of Samsung's premium S90F OLED.

That's a prime example of the classic trickle down TV tech that we've seen with QLED and mini-LED over the past few years. Both of those started out as novel high-end TV technologies only to be found in the most expensive bracket. But as QLED and mini-LED panels gradually got easier and cheaper to manufacture, the tech was eventually tweaked over time to come in more budget-friendly forms. 2026 could be the year that OLED TVs get a taste of real accessibility, as Samsung is probably far from the only brand entering a more budget-friendly take on OLED.

New art TVs have the Frame Pro shaking in its boots

It seems like Samsung is taking a break from The Frame at CES 2026 after announcing the Frame Pro at CES a year ago. Naturally, LG is taking the opportunity to slide in with its very first iteration of an art TV (finally). Announced on Dec. 30, the LG Gallery TV will feature the hallmark glare reduction finish that separates art TVs from regular TVs, plus the expected ambient light sensor. It'll feature LG's MiniLED tech and full-array local dimming — a major blow to The Frame Pro's edge-lit mini-LED lighting. The full selection of artwork will require a $5/month LG Gallery+ subscription, matching the monthly price for the Samsung Art Store.

That's not the only Frame Pro competitor we could meet this year. The TCL Nxtvision A400 Pro, another new art TV with local dimming zones instead of edge lighting, is already available in China, and could be officially announced for the U.S. at CES. Will Hisense throw in a new CanvasTV, too?