Technology

SAVE $400: As of April 4, HP Victus 15.6-inch Full HD gaming laptop is on sale for $449.99 at Best Buy. That’s a $400 discount off its regular $849.99 price.

Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP Victus 15.6-inch Full HD gaming laptop $449.99 at Best Buy
$849.99 Save $400 Get Deal

For a machine with gaming in its DNA, the HP Victus 15 is weirdly humble. No flashing lights, no over-the-top branding, just clean silver lines and surprisingly solid specs. Right now, it’s only $449.99 at Best Buy, which is wild considering it’s usually $849.99. That’s a full $400 off, and I think it’s one of the best entry-level gaming laptop deals I’ve seen this season.

This thing runs on an AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS chip, paired with Radeon RX 6550M graphics. I wouldn’t throw it into a 4K ray-tracing battle, but for smooth 1080p gameplay, it’s more than capable. Throw in 8GB of DDR5 RAM and a 512GB SSD, and you’ve got a machine that boots fast, multitasks smoothly, and handles your Steam backlog without begging for mercy.

SEE ALSO: Apple announces WWDC 2025 dates

And the screen? It’s 144Hz Full HD with AMD FreeSync Premium. Translation: smoother gameplay, no screen tearing, and a way better experience than most laptops at this price point deserve to offer. I also appreciate that HP includes a backlit keyboard and a wide-vision HD camera, so you're not stuck looking like a pixelated ghost during late-night Discord calls.

• Price: $449.99 $849.99

• Retailer: Best Buy

• Display: 15.6-inch Full HD (1920x1080), 144Hz, anti-glare IPS

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS

• Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6550M, 4GB GDDR6

• Memory: 8GB DDR5

• Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD

• Operating System: Windows 11 Home

• Battery Features: HP Fast Charge (50% in ~30 mins)

• Wireless: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3

• Ports/Extras: Backlit keyboard, wide-angle HD camera, Game Pass trial

It charges to 50% in about 30 minutes, has Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and a touchpad that isn’t the size of a postage stamp. I could nitpick the 8GB RAM (which you’ll want to upgrade eventually), but honestly? For under $500, the Victus 15 is punching above its class.

If you’ve been waiting for a gaming laptop that doesn’t require a payment plan, I think this is your green light.

SAVE $30.10: As of April 4, CMF Watch Pro Smartwatch is available for $38.90 at Amazon. That’s 44% off its usual $69.00 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Cmf / Nothing CMF Watch Pro Smartwatch $38.90 at Amazon
$69 Save $30.10 Get Deal

Sometimes a deal drops that makes me do a double take, then open three tabs just to make sure I’m not hallucinating. This is one of those. CMF Watch Pro is currently just $38.90 on Amazon, which is absurd when you factor in what this little wrist computer actually does.

I mean, 1.96 inches of AMOLED display is already way more screen than most budget watches dare to offer. It’s crisp, it’s bright, and it doesn’t look like you’re wearing a plastic calculator from the '90s. I like that. It’s also IP68 waterproof, which means you don’t have to baby it when it rains or during sweaty workouts. If your lifestyle includes walking fast enough to break a sweat, congrats — this one’s built for you.

SEE ALSO: Apple announces WWDC 2025 dates

Let’s talk about the health tracking. I don’t expect perfection from a sub-$40 smartwatch, but this one checks heart rate, sleep stages, blood oxygen, and even tries to read your stress levels. I can't vouch for its emotional intelligence, but it does keep tabs on your pulse when your boss sends that “quick follow-up” email.

• Price: $38.90 $69.00

• Retailer: Amazon

• Display: 1.96-inch AMOLED

• Operating System: Wear OS

• Connectivity: Bluetooth

• Special Features: Bluetooth calling with AI noise reduction, multi-system GPS, heart rate and sleep tracking

• Water Resistance: IP68

• Color Options: Ash Grey (featured), Black Grey, Silver

• Compatible Devices: iOS and Android

There’s also built-in GPS that doesn’t require tethering to your phone, so your runs and hikes aren’t tied to your pocket. Bluetooth calling is onboard, and it even comes with AI noise reduction, which is basically code for “you won’t sound like you’re calling from a wind tunnel.”

This isn’t an Apple Watch killer. Let’s not get wild. But for less than 40 bucks, I’d argue it’s punching far above its price bracket. I think it’s a no-brainer for anyone who wants the smartwatch basics without the price tag that usually comes with them.

SAVE $185: As of April 4, Samsung 990 PRO 4TB PCIe 4.0 SSD is on sale for $279.99 at Amazon. That’s a 40% discount, shaving $185 off its $464.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 990 PRO 4TB PCIe 4.0 SSD $279.99 at Amazon
$464.99 Save $185 Get Deal

A 4TB SSD that moves files at lightning speed and doesn’t cost half your paycheck? Yeah, I want that. Samsung 990 PRO SSD is the kind of upgrade I’d actually recommend to my friends — and not just the ones who know what NVMe means. Amazon’s current price drop brings it down to $279.99, a 40% discount that saves you $185. For a premium PCIe Gen4 drive, that’s kind of wild.

I think the biggest appeal here is that it does everything fast. Load times? Gone. File transfers? Blink and you’ll miss them. It maxes out read speeds at 7,450 MB/s and write speeds at 6,900 MB/s, which is essentially "hold my beer" territory for most other drives. It’s also 55% better at random performance than the 980 PRO, and it manages to sip power like it’s being judged in a conservation contest.

SEE ALSO: Apple announces WWDC 2025 dates

I’m not saying you need 4TB of space for gaming, editing, or hoarding 4K drone footage — but if you’ve ever had to delete a game to install another, then yes, you probably do. Plus, it's compatible with laptops, desktops, and even PS5s if you're doing a bit of console customizing.

• Price: $279.99 $464.99

• Retailer: Amazon

• Digital Storage Capacity: 4TB

• Interface: PCIe 4.0 NVMe

• Sequential Read Speed: Up to 7,450 MB/s

• Sequential Write Speed: Up to 6,900 MB/s

• Form Factor: M.2 2280

• Encryption: AES 256-bit

• Special Features: V-NAND Flash Technology, Power Efficiency Boost

• Compatible Devices: Laptops, PCs, Macs, and PS5 (with adapter)

The no-heatsink version on sale is perfect for clean builds or systems that already manage heat well. If you’re worried about thermals, the version with a heatsink is also on sale for a little more.

This is one of those “treat yourself” upgrades that actually makes sense. I think it’s a deal that delivers speed, space, and sanity in equal measure. And at this price? It's a power move, plain and simple.

DC Studios has released a sneak peek of Superman, in which the historical personification of truth, justice, and the American way plummets to the ground, beat up, bloody, and wheezing for help. It feels apt.

Superman stars David Corenswet as the titular Man of Steel, who's feeling markedly less steel-like than usual in this new clip (which we saw hints of in a previous trailer). Fortunately, his canine companion Krypto is just a whistle away, and willing to literally drag Supes to safety — though not before getting a few enthusiastic hits in himself. It seems that no matter which planet they come from, there's little you can do to stop an excited dog from joyfully jumping on their owner.

Directed by James Gunn, the film will also feature Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane.

Superman arrives in theatres July 11.

TL;DR: Outfit your PC with a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for just £38.50 (reg. £169.48) through 27 April. 

There's a reason the Microsoft Office apps have had such amazing staying power — they really work. The same tools you used as a kid growing up in the '90s on that bulky desktop are still helping you tackle work tasks on your laptop at the office. 

If you've been without the fleet of helpful apps, you've probably already run into numerous scenarios where you needed them. Give your PC the gift of these eight go-to's with a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for just £38.50 — that's 77% off the usual £169.48. 

Fall in love with the Microsoft Office apps all over again

Microsoft Office Professional includes favourites like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Newer apps like Access, Teams, OneNote, and Publisher round out this deal. 

Don't be deceived by the year 2021 in its name; this older Microsoft Office Professional version still has all the tools you need — and at a lower price. It offers a more budget-friendly way to enjoy these apps, offering them at a low one-time price instead of Microsoft 365's monthly subscription costs. And a 2021 version offers three more apps than the most recent 2024 license. 

Microsoft Office Professional 2021 also offers familiar interfaces. There are no AI integrations like in later versions, so there's no extra tech knowledge required. And once you install the apps, you can easily work offline from anywhere, making this a great option for travelers. 

Make sure your computer's operating system is updated to Windows 10 or 11 prior to purchase. Once you buy, you'll receive an instant delivery and download, so you can get started working with these apps right away.

Let this lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows make life a little easier, now for just £5 an app. Head to the Mashable Shop and pay just £38.50 (reg. £169.48) for a limited time. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License £38.50 at the Mashable Shop
£169.48 Save £130.98 Get Deal

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

Disgusting.

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

GRODY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A clear bodily fluid.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SWEAT

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Ordinary.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

USUAL

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Used to walk a dog.

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

LEASH

Final Hurdle hint

A fragrance.

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

SCENT

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

A Word document that is difficult to navigate is pretty much useless, even if it's full of amazing content. That's why you should take some time to ensure people (including you!) can easily find their way around your work without losing patience. Here's how you can do just this.

Did Nintendo bump up the price of its upcoming Switch 2 due to Trump's tariffs? It seems like that could be the case.

The entire stock market has been thrown into turmoil following President Donald Trump's implementation of across-the-board "reciprocal" tariffs on April 2. Trump waited until after the markets closed on Wednesday so the full force of his tariffs announcement wasn't felt until the following day.

Tech stocks like Apple, Amazon, and Nvidia have been hit especially hard by Trump's tariffs. On Wednesday, for example, Apple stock fell 9.2 percent. Other tech stocks, such as Microsoft, were down between 2 percent and 9 percent.

While a "baseline" 10 percent minimum tariff has been put on goods coming in from any country, Trump has implemented a much larger tariff on the U.S.'s biggest trade partners like China and Taiwan. Many tech companies, such as Apple, manufacture their products in those countries thus those companies will be forced to pay a much higher tariff and, in turn, likely pass on those additional costs to customers.

SEE ALSO: The internet reacts to Trump’s tariffs with dark humor: 'girl the tariffs'

Trump imposed a 32 percent tariff on goods from Taiwan, for example. As for China, Trump hit them with a 34 percent tariff. However, China's reciprocal tariff is in addition to an existing 20 percent tariff on goods from the country.

So, what does that mean for consumers? Your favorite tech products are about to get more expensive. In fact, there was already speculation among analysts following Nintendo's Switch 2 announcement yesterday that the gaming company had priced the new console at $450 with Trump's incoming tariffs in mind.

Trump claims he implemented the tariffs to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. Trump even specifically mentioned Apple in his speech.

“Apple is going to spend $500 billion, they never spent money like that here,” Trump said. “They’re going to build their plants here.”

However, Apple isn't going to start building its consumer-facing products like the iPhone here in the U.S. Its investment is in building servers in the U.S. And even that is years away, as companies like Apple still need to set up their manufacturing plants and factories in the U.S.

So, in the near future, it's very likely that you'll be paying more for — a lot more — for your favorite new tech. And tech stocks — and the stock market as a whole — will likely continue to suffer as a result of consumers having less spending money.

While Power over Ethernet (PoE) is nothing new to home networking, I recently found some unique ways to use PoE in my smart home. Utilizing some simple PoE splitters, I'm easily able to run both my Hue Hub V2 and Raspberry Pi 3B using my network. Here's how I do it.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here, and it represents an improvement over its predecessor in almost every single way. One of the improvements touted by Nintendo was support for up to 1080p games at 120 frames per second (with an improved 120Hz display) as well as up to 4K at 60 frames per second when docked. Thanks to NVIDIA, we now know this is partly thanks to a party trick your gaming PC also uses.

Japanese roleplaying games, or JRPGs for short, are experiencing a second golden age. It's the perfect time to give this storied genre a try, especially if you haven't dipped your toes in before. If you don’t know which quest to take on first, I have you covered with this nifty guide.

If you have a fancy LG Smart TV we have some potentially bad news. Select owners of LG OLED TVs have started receiving notifications that the Google Assistant is about to be removed. Yes, one of the most helpful smart features will disappear from your smart TV.

Intel is shutting down its Unison app, which allowed Windows PCs to connect with PCs for sharing files, synchronizing photos, and other data. Thankfully, there are several potential alternatives.

OneCommander, Directory Opus, Q-Dir—there are plenty of File Explorer alternatives available for Windows 11. While each one has its own set of pros and cons, for me, File Pilot is so amazing that I’ve permanently replaced Windows File Explorer with it.

The basics of your Windows taskbar design have remained mostly the same ever since Windows 7 was released 16 years ago—a thick taskbar with big icons for each open app, as well as for pinned apps. You had the option to tweak this in previous operating systems, but the Windows 11 taskbar is famously inflexible. Now, this is finally improving if you want to.

Liam Neeson takes the reins from Leslie Nielsen in 2025's The Naked Gun reboot, and the teaser trailer promises that the Taken star is here for an outrageously good time.

The film, directed by Akiva Schaffer (Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping) and produced by Seth MacFarlane, stars Neeson as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., who's following in his father's footsteps and leading Police Squad.

The Naked Gun's teaser trailer opens with a bank robbery. Dastardly criminals hold the bank hostage while law enforcement waits outside. Yet somehow, a small schoolgirl manages to slip past the barricades and make it into the crime scene.

As it turns out, the schoolgirl is no schoolgirl at all. She rips off her face mask (and grows several feet) in order to transform into Frank, who proceeds to wreak havoc in the bank. In yet another plot twist, Frank's lollipop is no run-of-the-mill sucker either: It's a weapon, perfect for stabbing and stunning! Neeson makes lollipop law enforcement look easy, even in a too-small schoolgirl uniform.

The rest of the teaser features a gag where all the current Police Squad members pay tribute to their fathers, from Nielsen's Lt. Drebin to George Kennedy's Capt. Hocken. Check out the full trailer above, and stay tuned until the end for a fourth-wall break about OJ Simpson's role as Det. Nordberg.

The Naked Gun also stars Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddie Yu, and Danny Huston.

The Naked Gun hits theaters Aug. 1.

While you might think keyboard shortcuts are just for keyboards, what if I told you that programming them to your mouse could be even more convenient? Here are five ways I use keyboard shortcuts on my mouse, and why I do it.

Whether you like it or not, technology plays a massive role in the automotive world. As time has gone on, though, features that used to be reserved for top luxury models have begun trickling down into the mainstream. This has made cheap cars feel more luxurious than ever before.

Apple released the first beta of iOS 18.5 on Wednesday. It's not super exciting, but there is a helpful Mail app feature for people who don't like change.

As expected, not much is new. Most of the promised iOS 18 features have already been shipped. Plus, as Apple gears up for WWDC on June 9, the company's focus has turned to the upcoming iOS 19 announcement.

SEE ALSO: iOS 18.4 developer beta released — here's what you can expect

So that's left us with a few minor features for the iOS 18.5 beta. That said, versions of the incumbent iOS always continue to be released up until the next iOS takes over, so there's still a chance we might see some noteworthy new features in the 11th hour.

But for now, here's what's new.

It's easier to revert back to the old Mail interface

With the iOS 18.5 beta, you can toggle on or off the display of Contact Photos. There's also a quick way to turn on or off Mail categorization.

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In the iOS 18.2 update a new feature automatically sorted emails into categories based on priority: Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. Now by tapping the three dot icon in the upper righthand corner, you can revert back to the previous interface by turning off Group by Sender, or by selecting List View instead of Categories.

AppleCare is front and center

AppleCare, its warranty and technical support program, is now featured more prominently in two places. When you tap on AppleCare and Warranty from General, there's a banner at the top of the page with an option to learn more about the coverage.

If you're an AppleCare subscriber, when you go to Device Info from the Apple Account setting, there's a new AppleCare section that you can tap into and manage your plan from there.

How to install the iOS 18.5 developer beta

If you want to explore the new iOS 18.5 updates for yourself, you can install the developer beta by enrolling in the Beta Software Program. Once you do that, you'll be able to install the update from the Software Update page.

But make sure to backup your phone first and be aware that it might be buggy since betas are for testing purposes. Here's a detailed guide on how to install the iOS 18 beta.

TL;DR: Through 27 April, save A$111 on 10TB of lifetime cloud storage with Internxt using code STORAGE20 at checkout (reg. A$555).

There are few things more annoying than getting hit with "Storage full - upgrade now" notifications when you’re just trying to upload a few more photos. Sure, you could pay for more space, but then you’re getting sucked even deeper into the subscription world. Here’s a new option: lifetime cloud storage.

Not only will you never have to worry about monthly or yearly subscription costs, but you can also purchase storage plans from Internxt that are so big you’ll probably never fill them up. How does 10TB of cloud space sound? Secure it for life using code STORAGE20 at checkout, dropping the price from A$555 to A$444 until 27 April.

(Almost) unlimited storage

With 10TB of cloud storage, you can fit about two million photos, 100,000 videos, or 20 million documents (depending on their exact size, of course). That amount of space would be a challenge to fill up on your own, so it’s a good thing you can share it with an unlimited number of devices.

More about Internxt

Internxt may not be as popular as a name like Dropbox, but don't write off this deal. Your photos and files are end-to-end encrypted, meaning they can’t be read by prying eyes. 

The company also makes its source code open to the public, so programmers and tech nerds can analyze it and ensure there are no vulnerabilities. That’s a lot more honesty than you’ll get from big-name brands.

Use code STORAGE20 at checkout to get an Internxt 10TB cloud storage lifetime subscription for A$444 (reg. A$555) until 27 April. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB Plan AU$444
AU$4,758 Save AU$4,314 Get Deal