Technology

50+ home deals from Amazons Big Spring Sale — cooling sheets, air purifiers, and robot vacuums on sale

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 13:54
The best Amazon Big Spring Sale home deals at a glance: Best bedding deal Buffy Cloud Eucalyptus Cooling Comforter $159 (save $41) Get Deal Best home air deal Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max $168.99 at Amazon (save $61) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Eufy C28 $499.99 at Amazon (save $300) Get Deal Best Kitchen Deal Nespresso Vertuo Next Espresso Maker $137 (save $92.95) Get Deal Best home tech deal Amazon Echo Spot $49.99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal

The third annual Big Spring Sale is in its final day, officially wrapping up tonight, March 31, at 11:59 p.m. PT. While the sale spans all the usual product categories you'd expect to see during Prime Day, there's a natural focus on gear to help us transition into warmer weather.

SEE ALSO: Spring cleaning starter kit: 12 products that'll make it easy to keep things pristine year-round

For your home, this means scoring last-minute discounts on clean floors, clean air, and anything else that screams "spring refresh," with special attention on Echo devices, air purifiers, spring cleaning essentials, and summer-ready bedding.

We rounded up the best remaining deals from Amazon, Blueair, Shark, and more before prices jump back up tomorrow.

Best Amazon Big Spring Sale home tech deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Spot $49.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal

With the clocks springing forward, you may be feeling a little groggy. If you need a boost in your morning, consider upgrading what's on your nightstand.

The Amazon Echo Spot smart alarm clock packs everything you love about an Amazon Echo into a bedside device. It wakes you up but also helps you wind down. You can program it to start your day with a weather report and your favorite music.

More home tech dealsBest Amazon Big Spring Sale air purifier deal Opens in a new window Credit: Blueair Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max $168.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $61   Get Deal

Warmer weather means you can put away your heavy winter coats and pull out the antihistamines because spring allergies are on their way. If you're already getting the pollen-induced sniffles, you can do one thing to protect your home air: get an air purifier.

Smoke, dust, and pet hair don't stand a chance against the Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max. It cleans up to 1,858 square feet in just one hour, plus it does so quietly. For Amazon's Big Spring Sale, the air purifier is down to $169, saving you $60.99 off its $229.99 list price.

More air purifier dealsBest cooling dealsBest Amazon Big Spring Sale vacuum deal Eufy C28 $499.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $300   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Eufy

Read Mashable's review of the Eufy C28.

Mashable's robot vacuum expert, Leah Stodart, tested and loved the Eufy C28 when it came out last month. At $499.99 for the Big Spring Sale, the Eufy C28 is not only the most affordable roller mop robot vacuum you'll find this season, but the best budget robot vacuum and mop combo period.

If you're jaded from a bad mopping robot vacuum experience in the past, it's probably because it smeared dirty water more than it scrubbed. Stodart thinks that this Eufy's self-rinsing roller mop will change your mind. Its fluffy material is already more absorbent than the typical thin mopping pad — but just to ensure liquid spills aren't being smeared around, the C28's roller gets rinsed with clean water multiple times per second. Its self-emptying dock also washes and dries the mop after each cleaning.

Robot vacuum and mop combo dealsBroom, mop, and cordless vacuum dealsStain remover tool and upholstery deep cleaner dealsBedding, kitchen, and more home dealsSheets, comforter, and pillowsEspresso machines, coffee makers, and kettles Air fryers, crockpots, and other small appliances SteamersHome fitness equipment and recovery deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Airbnb now lets you book a ride to your accommodation

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 13:50

Airbnb will now let you book private car pickups, mirroring longtime offerings from competitors like Expedia, Tripadvisor-owned Viator, and Booking.com.

Announced Tuesday in a blog post, the travel company has paired up with Greek company Welcome Pickups to allow Airbnb users to pre-book airport and station transfers through the app.

It's not a groundbreaking, earth-shattering update, just pretty unwelcome news for Airbnb's competitors.

SEE ALSO: The 'Heated Rivalry' cottage is available to rent on Airbnb

If you book accommodation with Airbnb, you'll be prompted with the option to pre-book transfers, in a similar manner to other travel sites that throw add-ons at you after you've dropped the big budget allocation on your bed for the night.

For arrivals, you'll supply your flight number in the app for drivers to monitor delays and sync the pickup time, then you'll need to look for the driver waiting with your name on it at the airport or station. For departures, you can add your accommodation details and preferred time through the app just like a ridesharing platform like Uber, Lyft, etc. — the process will just be more streamlined as your address will already be in the Airbnb app.

Featured Video For You How prediction markets got people betting on nuclear war

According to the company blog post, the private car service was successfully tested in early 2026 to positive reviews. Pickups will be rolled out in 125 cities in Latin America, Asia, and Europe — North America has not yet been added, although Welcome Pickups has operated in U.S. cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago since 2021.

Airbnb said there will be "more cities to come in these regions throughout 2026," but for Heated Rivalry fans going to the cottage, Canada's not on the list yet.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon is clearing out last-gen tech during the Big Spring Sale: Apple and Sony on sale

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 13:36
Last-chance deals on last-gen tech: Best Amazon Device Deal Amazon Echo Dot $39.99 (save $10) Get Deal Best audio deal Sony WH-1000XM5 $243 (save $156.99) Get Deal Best smartwatch deal Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS + Cellular, 49mm) $499 (save $300) Get Deal Best tablet deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 1TB) $979 (save $120) Get Deal Best laptop deal Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,099 (save $300) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Eufy X10 Pro Omni $429.99 (save $270) Get Deal Best TV deal Amazon 50-inch Fire TV Omni QLED Series 4K TV $379.99 (save $90) Get Deal Best outdoor deal Anker Solix C1000 Portable Power Station $429.99 (save $369.01) Get Deal

Got spring cleaning on your mind? So does Amazon: The retail giant is putting last-gen tech on sale at deep discounts during the Big Spring Sale, its main seasonal savings event, to clear out its remaining inventory.

Older versions of some of our favorite gadgets are currently on sale for record-low prices (or close to them). The zippy M4 MacBook Air? Up to $100 cheaper than the iterative M5 version Apple announced this month. The superb Sony WF-1000XM5 headphones? Only $248. Older Amazon devices? Grab the 2022 Echo Dot smart speaker for 20% off.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Spring Sale is still live: We found 100+ deals on Apple, Kindle, Bose, and Sony

We've rounded up our top past-gen picks from the Big Spring Sale below. Today (March 31) is the final day of the event, so consider these last-chance deals.

Amazon Echo dealsHeadphone and earbud dealsSmartwatch and fitness tracker dealsTablet and e-reader dealsLaptop dealsMiscellaneous tech deals

Keep checking back for more Amazon Big Spring Sale deals on past-gen products. The Mashable Shopping team is working overtime to cover this shopping event, so don't miss out!

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I test new vacuums every month — these are the robot vacuum deals worth buying on the final day of Amazons Spring Sale

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 13:33
A quick look at the best Amazon Spring Sale robot vacuum deals: Best robot vacuum on sale overall Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete $1,359.90 at Amazon (save $340.09) Get Deal Best roller mop robot vacuum deal Eufy C28 $499.99 at Amazon (save $300) Get Deal Best budget robot vacuum deal 3i G10+ $199.99 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal

I have seven robot vacuums in my apartment right at this moment, and those are all just models that have come out in 2026. Perhaps that gives you an idea of how many robot vacuums I test at home on a yearly basis — and why I'm always super confident in telling readers which robot vacuum deals are worth it during any Amazon sale event.

So, I'm back with an updated list of robot vacuum recommendations for Amazon's 2026 Big Spring Sale, which ends today. A good robot vacuum is a staple in my general spring cleaning starter kit because automating your floor care quite literally frees up some time to focus on the chores you don't do as often.

SEE ALSO: The Shark UV Reveal robot vacuum came out less than a month ago. It's already on sale for Amazon's spring sale.

A ton of solid robovacs across all price points are up to 50% off, significantly expanding the number of options that fall within your ideal budget. Even the fanciest flagship Dreame, Roborock, and Shark robot vacuums that just came out are already seeing discounts. But this is your last chance to snag a robovac at these prices, with the clock now ticking on Amazon's Big Spring Sale.

(Looking for the best cordless vacuum deals or the best spring cleaning deals to restock kitchen, bathroom, and laundry products? We've kept tabs on those, too.)

Best robot vacuum on sale overall Eufy C28 $499.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $300   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Eufy

Read Mashable's review of the Eufy C28.

While I'm stoked that the most powerful robot vacuums of the year are actually seeing decent discounts, they still cost more than $1,000 on sale. So the more realistic route for my "best robot vacuum deal overall" pick is the Eufy C28, now under $500 (compared to its usual $799). It's still a 2026 premium robot vacuum and mop combo that rocked during my testing, and it's likely the most affordable mainstream roller mop robot vacuum you'll find this season.

If you're jaded from a bad mopping robot vacuum experience in the past, it's probably because it smeared dirty water more than it scrubbed. I think that this Eufy's self-rinsing roller mop will change your mind. Its fluffy material is already more absorbent than the typical thin mopping pad — but just to ensure liquid spills aren't being smeared around, the C28's roller gets rinsed with clean water multiple times per second. Its self-emptying dock also washes and dries the mop after each cleaning.

Best budget robot vacuum deal 3i G10+ $199.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon

Read Mashable's review of the 3i G10+.

In search of a cheap robot vacuum that doesn't suck? The $149.99 Shark Ion robot vacuum that probably popped up first at Amazon is far from the best robot vacuum under $200 during this sale. Instead, I'd point you to a more niche budget pick that wowed me during testing. Last year, I said that the 3i G10+ was "the most impressive robot vacuum under $500" (and that you've probably never heard of it). Now, it's on sale for a record-low $199.99.

The G10+ uses a unique dust compression system to keep you off dustbin emptying duty for 60 days, but without requiring space for a traditional self-empty dock. This means that the G10+ can live under relatively low-clearance furniture like a couch or TV stand. In this price range, I was blown away by its small obstacle avoidance capabilities and livestream pet camera. The Shark Ion doesn't even have smart mapping for cleaning specific rooms on command.

If you don't want to shell out that extra $50, you can spend the same $149.99 on the Roborock Q7 M5. That still secures mopping, room or zone cleaning through LiDAR smart mapping, and 10,000 Pa of suction power, beating the Shark Ion by a long shot.

SEE ALSO: The best air purifier deals to shop in Amazon's Big Spring Sale — save on Dyson, Sharp, and more More robot vacuum dealsRobot vacuums that don't mopRobot vacuum and mop combosRobot vacuum mop combos with self-washing mopping pads
Categories: IT General, Technology

The VS Code alternative that every developer should try in 2026

How-To Geek - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 13:30

If you are reading this, there is a 90% chance you have VS Code installed. It is the industry standard for a reason. It has an extension for everything from Kubernetes management to a pet cat that walks across your status bar, but as we move through 2026, many of us have started to notice the "Electron Creep" and the lag it brings. The reality is that VS Code is essentially a web browser pretending to be a text editor.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your PC is out of RAM? Try these 3 Windows tricks before buying more

How-To Geek - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 13:30

RAM prices have soared in the last year, and what used to be an inexpensive component to upgrade now can cost as much as a GPU used to. If your PC is running low on RAM, there are a few things you can do to mitigate the problem.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Last chance: Dreames flagship X60 robot vacuum hits lowest ever price — save $340 in Big Spring Sale

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 13:28

TL;DR: For the final day of the Amazon Big Spring Sale, the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete Robot Vacuum is marked down to $1,359.90, a record-low price on this flagship robovac. That's 20% off the list price of $1,699.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dreame Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete Robot Vacuum $1,359.90 at Amazon
$1,699.99 Save $340.09   Get Deal

It's your last chance to clean up in Amazon's Big Spring Sale. And we mean that quite literally with some of the deals on robot vacuum cleaners, which have been going strong since the beginning of the sale last week. With just hours to go before the seasonal sale wraps up for another year, we've spotted an elite robovac enter the fray at the last minute: The Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete, a robot vacuum and mop combo that boasts the strongest suction power you can buy right now and AI-assisted navigation, as we noted in our first impressions review last month.

On the final day of the Big Spring Sale, the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete Robot Vacuum is priced at $1,359.90. That's a total saving of $340.09 from the list price of $1,699.99 — a super discount for such a new model and its lowest price so far.

SEE ALSO: Review: Is the Antigravity A1 drone the DJI replacement we've been hoping for?

The big sell of the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete is its immense 35,000 Pa suction, but there's more to it than power. Our reviewer said it was "outstanding" on capret. It also has advanced small-obstacle avoidance capabilities, using AI cameras that can recognise and navigate around more than 280 objects on your floor. It can climb up obstacles of 3.4in, such as rugs and door tracks, and gets deep into corners with dual flex arms.

Our reviewer also rated its mopping performance and relatively quiet operation, especially considering the power this robo-vac is packing. It comes with a charging and emptying dock that holds up to 100 days of dust. All you need to do is program it via the Dreame app and let it do your dirty work.

Don't miss your last chance to get the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete Robot Vacuum at its lowest ever price of $1,359.90 — a $340.09 discount for the final day of the Amazon Big Spring Sale.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I test headphones and earbuds — heres what you can still buy during Amazons Spring Sale

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 13:25
Best Big Spring Sale headphones and earbuds deals Best headphones deal Bose QuietComfort $249 (save $100) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Technics EAH-AZ100 $247.99 (save $52) Get Deal Best budget headphones deal JLab JBuds Lux ANC $41.99 (save $38) Get Deal Best open earbuds deal EarFuns Clip $48.98 (save $21.01) Get Deal Best sleep earbuds deal Soundcore Sleep A30 Special $179.99 (save $20) Get Deal

As a shopping reporter, trust me when I say I understand better than most that Amazon's sale schedule can feel fatiguing. However, as a headphones reviewer, I also can't deny that this year's Big Spring Sale offers a great opportunity to upgrade your audio game on the cheap.

Having spent the last few years testing the latest in noise-cancelling tech, open earbuds, and even sleep earbuds, I was curious to see what this week's sale would bring. Honestly, Amazon isn't messing around this time.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Big Spring Sale 2026: Live updates on the top deals

Now that it's the final day of the sale, some deals are expiring. Sony's latest flagship headphones are no longer marked down, but luckily, Bose finally dropped prices on its QuietComfort headphones, QuietComfort Ultra 2 headphones, and Ultra Open earbuds.

The Big Spring Sale officially wraps up today, March 31, at 11:59 p.m. PT. If you see a pair you've been eyeing, now's the time to grab them.

Just a heads up: If you see a deal crossed out below, it means it has either sold out or the price has gone back up.

Best headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort headphones $249 at Amazon
$349 Save $100   Get Deal Why we like it

The gulf between budget headphones and premium headphones feels like it gets smaller with every new release, and nowhere does that feel more apparent than with the mid-tier Bose QuietComfort headphones. (To be clear, that's not a knock against premium headphones — the cheaper models are just getting that good). Though they don't have the absolute best comfort or spatial audio of their $449 QuietComfort Ultra 2 counterparts, they do come awfully close in that first category. And if you're not big on spatial audio anyway, it's not worth shelling out the extra cash for the flagship option.

The QuietComfort headphones live up to their name, and for $249, do it at a much more accessible price point than other options on our list (even with sale prices taken into consideration). While this isn't their lowest price ever — that would be $179 — this is still a solid get for the Spring Sale.

Read more about the Bose QuietComfort headphones.

More headphones dealsBest earbuds deal Technics EAH-AZ100 $247.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $52   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Technics Why we like it

If you're chasing the absolute best audio fidelity in a wireless package, the Technics EAH-AZ100 are the new buds to beat. Right now, they're down to $247.99 at Amazon, saving you a solid $52 off their usual price.

Our tech editor, Timothy Beck Werth, says these buds deliver "richer, fuller, and more detailed sound" than any other earbuds he's ever tested. Thanks to their proprietary Magnetic Fluid Driver, you get incredibly clear bass and can distinctly hear individual layers in complex tracks without the notes blurring into each other.

You're also getting adaptive active noise cancellation, seamless switching between three devices, and clever AI tech that blocks out background noise for both you and whoever you're talking to on the phone. Just keep in mind that they might make your ears a little sore if you keep them in for more than a few hours at a time. Still, if you're an audio nerd looking for reference-class sound, this is a pretty good deal.

Check out our full review of the Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds.

More earbuds deals Best open earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: EarFun EarFun Clip $48.98 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $21.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Open earbuds are convenient — they let you have the best of both worlds experience of enjoying your music privately while still getting to stay aware of the world around you. Where they may lose some convenience points, however, is in the fact that most people probably already own a pair of earbuds, and won't be too jazzed at the idea of dropping $100 or more on new ones just for some extra awareness.

Enter: the EarFun Clip. No, the sound quality won't quite match up to that of the Bose or Sony options, but at $48.98, they're also about one-sixth and one-fourth the price of those buds, respectively. I've spent time using them, and for their price point, they have well-rounded sound and minimal noise leakage compared to other open earbuds. If you've been open earbud-curious but less inclined to drop a ton of cash, this is the deal for you.

More open earbuds deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 31, 2026

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 13:22

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you like sea raiders.

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 March 31, 2026 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: A lack

  • Green: "Arrgh"

  • Blue: Undergarments

  • Purple: Small and furry

Here are today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Shortage

  • Green: Parts of a pirate ship

  • Blue: Kinds of bras

  • Purple: Starting with baby animals

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 #1023 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

  • Shortage: ABSENCE, CRUNCH, DEFICIT, PINCH

  • Parts of a pirate ship: CANNON, CROW'S NEST, JOLLY ROGER, PLANK

  • Kinds of bras: PLUNGE, PUSH-UP, SPORTS, WIRELESS

  • Starting with baby animals: CALF RAISE, CHICK FLICK, FRY COOK, KIT KAT

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 March 31, 2026

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Strands hints, answers for March 31, 2026

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 13:22

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you believe in magic.

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 March 31, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: While you were sleeping...

The words are related to a mythical creature.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe a children's tradition.

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 Tooth Fairy.

NYT Strands word list for March 31

  • Wings

  • Exchange

  • Tutu

  • Wand

  • Coin

  • Note

  • Pillow

  • Tooth Fairy

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 31, 2026

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 13:22

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you live in the south.

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 March 31, 2026 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 March 31, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Muddy waters.

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...

SWAMP

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.

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Anker charger deals are powering Amazons Big Spring Sale — last chance to save on smart chargers and charging stations

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 13:11
The best Anker charger deals in Amazon's Big Spring Sale: Best Anker Charger Deal Anker Nano 45W GaN Smart Charger $27.99 (save $12) Get Deal Best Anker Charger Pad Anker MagSafe Charger Pad $14.99 (save $15) Get Deal Best Anker Charging Station Deal Anker Prime 3-in-1 Charging Station $104.99 (save $45) Get Deal

It's the last day of Amazon's Big Spring Sale, which means now is the last time to pick up some of the best deals that have caught your eye over the last week. If you've been taking this opportunity to look for a charger for your favorite devices, you're in luck: We've spotted quite a few Anker charger deals that are certainly worth checking out before the sale ends.

No matter if you want something on the more affordable side — like this Anker Nano 45W GaN Smart Charger — or you're looking to splash out on a charging station for multiple devices — such as the Anker Prime 3-in-1 Qi2 25W Charging Station — we've gathered up some of our top picks that are worth your time and money.

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If you're searching for even more great tech deals, it's also worth checking out our roundup of the best tech deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale, which even highlights the Anker Nano 45W GaN Smart Charger as the best charger deal right now. Alongside that pick, check out even more of our favorite Anker charger deals below.

Best Anker charger deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Nano 45W GaN Smart Charger $27.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $12.00   Get Deal Why we like it

As mentioned before, the Anker Nano 45W GaN Smart Charger is one of our favorite charger deals we've spotted in this sale, landing on our list of the best tech deals in Amazon's Big Spring Sale. Not only is it marked down to an excellent discounted price of $27.99 — its lowest ever, might I add — but it features a cool smart display and even comes in a few different colors, so you can grab the option that stands out to you the most.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

50+ Amazon Spring Sale deals on outdoor gear: Owala water bottles, Anker power stations, Solo Stoves, and more

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 13:06
The best Amazon Big Spring Sale outdoor deals at a glance: Best portable power station deal Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $428.99 at Amazon (save $370.01) Get Deal Best for RV Campers Anker Solix F3800 Portable Power Station Bundle $3,498.99 (save $3,898.01) Get Deal Best outdoor speaker deal JBL Charge 6 $159.95 at Amazon (save $40) Get Deal Best cooler deal Igloo Marine Cooler (54 quart) $54.96 at Amazon (save $18.03) Get Deal Best hydration deal Owala FreeSip (32 ounce, select colorways) $29.99 at Amazon (save $5) Get Deal Best camping deal Rumpl Original Puffy National Park Blanket (select colorways) $74.95 at Amazon (save $25) Get Deal Best camping furniture deal Helinox Chair One $82.46 at Amazon (save $27.49) Get Deal Best backyard deal Solo Stove Bonfire $224.99 at Amazon (save $104.01) Get Deal Best watersports deal Bote 10-foot Breeze Aero Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board $499 at Amazon (save $280) Get Deal

Now that we're officially into spring, we're celebrating by snagging those elusive campsite reservations. Naturally, Amazon's version of celebrating is holding a massive sale — and the 2026 Big Spring Sale could prove quite beneficial to your upcoming outdoor plans.

SEE ALSO: How to recycle Amazon packaging from your Big Spring Sale purchases (yes, all of it)

This savings event always brings significant discounts to some of our favorite outdoor items like portable power stations, Owala bottles, Solo Stove firepits, and outdoor-ready Bluetooth speakers. If you have some well-loved outdoor gear that deserves to retire, today is officially your last chance to upgrade without paying full price.

Here are the best outdoor deals we've spotted during the home stretch of Amazon's Big Spring Sale. Keep in mind that the event wraps up tonight, March 31, at 11:59 p.m. PT, so the clock is ticking on these final discounts.

Best portable power station deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Solix Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $428.99 at Amazon
$799 Save $370.01   Get Deal Why we like it

If your campsite could use some extra power, consider the major upgrade to a portable power station. The Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is well worth inviting along on your weekend in the outdoors — and it's now on sale for a whopping 46% off.

Anker went super lightweight with this model, and it comes in at just under 25 pounds, making it easy to pack and carry around the campsite. There's also the quick recharging capability. Just 49 minutes of AC wall charging will get the Solix C1000 Gen 2 up to 100 percent charged. It'll keep phones and tablets juiced up, and give you the ability to hang fairy lights and even pack along the air fryer.

Read Mashable's full review of the Anker Solix C100 Gen 2.

More power station dealsBest outdoor speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Charge 6 $159.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $40   Get Deal Why we like it

Every camping adventure deserves some tunes. In Mashable's review of the best portable Bluetooth speakers, the JBL Charge 6 earns top marks as the best for most people. Its IP68 water- and dust-proof rating makes it especially worthy of adventure, and the battery can give it up to 28 hours of playtime. JBL also added a sturdy handle strap for easier transportation. Plus, the speaker doubles as a portable charger, so you can keep your phone from going dead while also hosting a dance party. It's never been cheaper than it is right now.

More outdoor speaker dealsBest cooler deal Igloo Marine Cooler (54 quart) $54.98 at Amazon
$72.99 Save $18.01   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

If you need a cooler that can handle a beating on the boat or at the campsite, you can get a 54-quart Igloo Marine Cooler for $54.96. This heavy-duty ice chest is built specifically to survive harsh marine and outdoor conditions. It features UV inhibitors to protect the white exterior from sun damage, along with rust-resistant stainless steel hardware and flexible Riteflex resin hinges that won't snap or crack under pressure.

More cooler dealsDeals on portable stoves, lanterns, and camping gear
Categories: IT General, Technology

Ive tracked TV prices for years — nows your last chance to score Amazons Big Spring Sale TV deals

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 13:02
The best Amazon Big Spring Sale TV deals at a glance: Best small TV deal Hisense 32-inch S5 DécoTV QLED FHD Fire TV $194.97 at Amazon (save $55.02) Get Deal Best 55-inch TV deal Hisense 55-inch Canvas QLED 4K TV $687.97 at Amazon (save $312) Get Deal Best 65-inch TV deal TCL 65-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV $997.99 at Amazon (save $502) Get Deal Best 75-inch TV deal Hisense 75-inch U7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV $897.96 at Amazon (save $400.03) Get Deal

Most of the year's major flagship TVs announced in January hit the shelves by the end of March, which cues retailers to push deep discounts on last year's models. Amazon's Big Spring Sale (which officially ends tonight, March 31, at 11:59 p.m. PT) is proving that this annual price drop cycle is very real.

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

It's not just Amazon's in-house Fire TVs that see big discounts during the Big Spring Sale (Amazon Fire TVs are hardly the best TVs you can get for the money right now). I've been tracking new TV releases and comparing TV specs at Mashable for years, and I consistently find that the most worthwhile Amazon TV deals are from solid budget brands like TCL and Hisense, with a few sizes of Samsung's The Frame occasionally thrown in.

Pro tip: Best Buy tends to have way more options for deals on flagship Samsung and LG TVs. For instance, Samsung just released its 2026 Neo QLED TVs on March 24; Best Buy's stock of on-sale 2025 versions of those TVs, like the QN70F and QN80F, has been much more stable than Amazon's this week. Amazon barely has any recent LG TVs in stock at all, while Best Buy has countless 2024 and 2025 QNED and OLED models on sale.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Spring Sale is still live: We found 100+ deals on Apple, Kindle, Bose, and Sony

I'll continue to monitor the best Amazon TV deals until the Big Spring Sale officially wraps up — add them to your cart while you still can. Every model featured here is at, or lower than, its previous best price based on data from camelcamelcamel, so these are genuinely competitive offers.

Best Big Spring Sale TV deal Hisense 75-inch U7 QLED 4K TV $897.96 at Amazon
$1,297.99 Save $400.03   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

One TV that's actually beating its previous record-low sale price is the 2025 75-inch Hisense U7. Currently 31% off, it's $103 cheaper than it was just a month ago during Presidents' Day sales.

The 2026 version of the same TV was just unveiled on March 6, so a new price drop on the predecessor model certainly tracks. The 2026 75-inch U7 will cost $1,999.99 — more than $1,000 steeper than the 2025 model's $897.96 sale price. Those are the kind of steals I was talking about. The 65-inch model is also at a new record-low $697.96 if 75 inches is a bit larger than you'd like.

This mini LED model packs a serious punch for the price. Its brightness in SDR and HDR gets consistently great notes across the internet, with glare handling strong enough for most sunlit rooms. You don't always see a 165 Hz refresh rate in budget to mid-range TVs, so the Hisense U7 is a top contender for an XL gaming TV under $1,000.

Deals on 43-inch TVs and underDeals on 50-inch to 55-inch TVsDeals on 65-inch TVs Deals on 75-inch to 77-inch TVsDeals on 85-inch TVs
Categories: IT General, Technology

This is the one Windows feature that convinced me I don't need Linux

How-To Geek - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 13:00

I like to experiment as much as the next tech guy. I’m always trying new tools, tweaking my setup, and looking for ways to work a little faster or with less friction. I've complained about Windows plenty over the years, too. The bloat, the telemetry, the way it tries to push you into doing things a certain way. On paper, Linux often feels like the escape hatch, a cleaner, more flexible alternative where you're actually in control.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Apple Watch deals to shop before Amazons Big Spring Sale ends

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 12:35
The best Amazon Big Spring Sale Apple Watch deals: Best Apple Watch Series 11 Deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $329 (save $70) Get Deal Best Apple Watch SE 3 Deal Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $219 (save $30) Get Deal Best Apple Watch Ultra Deal Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm) $499 (save $300) Get Deal

Don't sleep on Amazon's Big Spring Sale. The event is officially in its final hours, with price drops set to end after March 31.

For Apple users, these sale events are always super exciting — it's a rare chance to snag a device for significantly less. But time is ticking if you want to take advantage. There are still discounts on everything from MacBooks to AirPods. And if you've been hoping to get your hands on a brand-new smartwatch but refuse to pay full price, several Apple Watch models are still on sale, with savings of up to $300 on offer.

While Apple's Series 11 and SE 3 are getting attention for being the newest models, a few last-generation models during this final stretch. Right now, Best Buy is stealing the show with some last-minute price drops. You can currently pick up the Apple Watch SE 2 for just $189 (save $60), or the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for $599 (save $200). If you don't mind an older model, they might be the way to go.

We're keeping this page updated with all the live deals until the very last second. Just remember: if you see a deal crossed out below, it means it has either sold out or the price has officially gone back up.

We're already seeing low stock alerts on several configurations, so it's best to hop on these soon.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up! Best Apple Watch Series 11 deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $329 at Amazon
$399 Save $70   Get Deal Why we like it

While we're mourning the loss of yesterday's $100 discount, the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 is still sitting at a very respectable $329 ($70 off). Don't wait for it to jump back to full price — grab what our what our Tech Editor, Timothy Beck Werth, calls the "Best Apple Upgrade." Mashable's Stan Schroeder agrees, noting the battery life alone is worth the jump. "Even if you already have a Series 10, which has nearly all the same features, the new Apple Watch Series 11 doesn’t require you to charge it mid-day in order to keep it going through the night," he writes.

More Apple Watch dealsBest Apple Watch SE deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $219 at Amazon
$249 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

If you just want a reliable smartwatch without paying for features you won't use, the Apple Watch SE 3 is the way to go. We named it the "Best for Most People" in our smartwatch guide because it packs the exact same S10 chip as the Ultra 3 and the same water resistance as the Series 11 — "all for $150 less than the Series 11."

Now that the Big Spring Sale is in full swing, the 40mm model is down to $219, saving you $30. It’s also not the only configuration on sale right now. We've rounded up a few other discounted SE 3 models below so you can pick your preferred setup and still save some cash.

More Apple Watch SE dealsLast-generation Apple Watch deals

Looking for smartwatches that don't fall under the Apple umbrella? Check out our full list of Big Spring Sale fitness tracker deals.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These are the 6 worst Linux recommendations I keep hearing—here's why they're wrong

How-To Geek - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 12:30

Whatever the world of Linux may be short of, it isn’t opinions. You may be struggling with a command-line tool, confused by distributions, or failing to take perfect security measures; whatever it is, someone will tell you the right way to do it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Australia

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 12:28

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub for free with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites from Australia is ExpressVPN.

The world of porn continues to be impacted by age-verification laws. Back in early 2025, more than a third of U.S. states introduced age verification laws for online adult content. Pornhub hit back by blocking users from those locations. A similar situation took place France and the UK, and now Australians are facing the same set of challenges.

The porn blocks arrived just days before new online safety codes came into effect, requiring organisations to verify the ages of users. It's the same story we've seen before, with the same straightforward workaround.

If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from Australia, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Australia

VPNs are tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub from Australia by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Pornhub

  4. Visit Pornhub

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment. The situation may have changed before the free-trial period comes to an end.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like Pornhub, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan 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 $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Unblock Pornhub for free in Australia with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I test laptops for a living — these are the best MacBook deals in Amazons Big Spring Sale

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 12:21
A quick look at the best MacBook deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale: Best MacBook Air deal Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,099 (save $300) Get Deal Best MacBook Pro deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,799 (save $100) Get Deal Best MacBook Neo deal (that's barely a deal) Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $689.99 (save $9.01) Get Deal Best New Release Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,049 (save $50) Get Deal

Today's your last chance to snag a deal in Amazon's Big Spring Sale. The sale event ends today but there is time to save. And Amazon has held strong on a range of top deals.

While the Big Spring Sale has mainly revolved around seasonal items such as cleaning supplies and outdoor gear, it's also delivered on must-have tech — including flagship Apple products. Which of course means MacBooks. And as Mashable's resident laptop expert, I've been on the case with these deals since the sale kicked off. And as we count down to the sale's end, there are still deals available — though some MacBooks have gone out of stock, so we recommend grabbing them while they're available.

Apple actually just refreshed its MacBook lineup earlier this month, announcing updated MacBook Airs and Pros in addition to an all-new budget MacBook Neo. Most configurations of these new releases are seeing their very first (tiny) discounts during the Big Spring Sale, while their predecessors are priced to move at up to $300 off.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Big Spring Sale is surprisingly good: We found 111+ deals on Apple, DJI, Sony, and Dyson

Keep in mind that Apple has discontinued its last-gen MacBooks, which means they'll only be available on the refurbished market once third-party retailers' inventories dry up. If you see a good deal on an M4 MacBook Air or Pro at Amazon today, don't wait too long to add it to your cart.

Some configurations have been going in and out of stock, and they'll likely sell out long before this summer's Prime Day sale hits. With just hours to go, now is the perfect time to pull the trigger on a purchase — that said, I'll continue to monitor Amazon's Big Spring Sale MacBook deals throughout the day in case of further price drops or last minute additions to the discounted line-up.

Note: Deals marked with a 🔥 have dropped to a record-low price. Deals with a strikethrough are no longer available at the time of writing.

Best MacBook Air deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) 🔥 $1,099 at Amazon
$1,399 Save $300   Get Deal Why I like it

The M4 MacBook Air may be a last-gen laptop, but it's still an incredibly capable ultraportable. (In our testing, it proved much faster than much pricier Windows laptops.) It has the same 12MP Center Stage webcam, Liquid Retina display, and 18-hour battery life as its new M5 counterpart, which just offers slightly faster performance and newer wireless connectivity. This 15-inch configuration with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage has never been cheaper.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple MacBook Air (M4).

More MacBook Air dealsBest MacBook Neo deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $689.99 at Amazon
$699 Save $9.01   Get Deal Why I like it

Nine bucks off barely counts as a discount, but this is the best MacBook Neo deal I've seen outside of the Apple Store itself. (You can get $100 off there, but only if you're a college student, a parent of one, or school faculty.) This colorful little laptop has the same premium aluminum build as any other MacBook, and it boasts incredibly impressive single-core performance; in basic everyday tasks like web browsing, it's just as fast as an M4 MacBook Air. This particular model comes with Touch ID. It's worth noting that this discount only applies to the indigo and silver colorway variants.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple MacBook Neo.

Best MacBook Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,799 at Amazon
$1,899 Save $100   Get Deal Why I like it

A MacBook Pro has more ports and a brighter, smoother display than a MacBook Air. It's also better at handling heavier workloads (like video editing) over a long period of time since it has fans. I recommend it as an upgrade pick for power users like content creators and developers. This current-gen M5 model is well future-proofed with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. It's only $50 away from its record-low price from December.

Another configuration with an older, but more powerful M4 Pro chip is still in stock at the same price, though it comes with half the storage.

Read Mashable's full review of the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M5).

More MacBook Pro deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

The Drama review: Zendaya and Robert Pattinson deliver cringe comedy in troubling wedding romance

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 12:00

A24 loves a romance that demands its audience reevaluate love. Consider the nightmare-fuel breakup movie that is Midsommar, the carnal journey of self-acceptance that is Babygirl, the aching anti-romance of Queer, the violent passion of Love Lies Bleeding, the path not chosen of Past Lives, and the buzzkill subplot of sexual assault in the love-triangle dramedy Materialists. To this curious company of hits and misses comes The Drama, Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli's follow-up to the Nicolas Cage-fronted Dream Scenario.

SEE ALSO: Zendaya and Robert Pattinson plan the wedding from hell in 'The Drama' teaser

Written and directed by Borgli, The Drama stars Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as a young couple who have great chemistry and a seemingly blissful marriage on their horizon. That is, until a dangerous drinking game throws the groom into a deep spiral of panic and doubt. We're not talking your average wedding jitters scenario. Borgli uses a troubling American issue to rattle the expectations of wedding-day drama. But much like Dream Scenario, his actors give more than his undercooked script deserves. 

The Drama isn't about your common wedding upsets.  Credit: Courtesy of A24

It's the week before Charlie (Pattinson) and Emma (Zendaya) are to marry, which should be stressful enough between buttoning up the details of menus, speeches, and a bespoke first dance number. However, Borgli heightens the tension of this chaotic time by snapping from the present to the couple's flashbacks, fantasies, and nightmares as the couple's idea of each other changes dramatically. 

The romance between Charlie (Pattinson) and Emma (Zendaya) begins rather blandly with a meet-cute at a coffee shop, where he lies about loving the book she's reading. Such a little white lie might seem harmless, but it's the first red flag — one of many. Through flashbacks, we witness Charlie doubling down on his lies. Though Emma learns the truth during their courtship and forgives him, Charlie can't handle a dark secret from her past.

Their relationship hits a wall as he desperately tries to rationalize her revelation. Their fast-approaching wedding day becomes a ticking clock as he can't shake his newfound fear of her. It's almost clever how Borgli has found a new route to explore cold feet. But the story that builds from this place is scattershot and shallow, much like Dream Scenario's compelling concept fell apart under the filmmaker's clumsy commentary on cancel culture. 

Wait, so what happens in The Drama?  Credit: Courtesy of A24

On a drunken night out with friends, Emma reveals "the worst thing" she's ever done was plan a school shooting. She makes it clear she didn't go through with it, but the reveal that she'd seriously considered such violence is enough to shatter her relationship with her maid of honor Rachel (a glowering Alana Haim) and threaten her upcoming marriage with Charlie. 

With this revelation, Charlie no longer sees his fiancée as empathetic and kind, deleting these compliments from the draft of his wedding speech. He begins to imagine her holding a rifle, sometimes as her younger self (Jordyn Curet) and sometimes as her present self in lingerie, in their bed. As they argue over this revelation, he fantasizes that she's joking, and they can just push past it. He also imagines their wedding day as a mass shooting, with Emma chasing him down as their guests lie splayed among the decorated venue, blood staining their dress clothes. 

Where the film begins as a double-hander, with both Emma and Charlie informing the narrative through dialogue and flashbacks intended to be from their respective perspectives, The Drama shifts to Charlie after the revelation. As the audience, we are urged to be more aligned with his fears and paranoia, and Emma becomes less and less knowable. 

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There are many flashbacks to Emma's life as a teenager, fitfully showing her loneliness and the cold comfort her father's military rifle offered. But it's unclear if these looks back are Emma's memory or Charlie's imagination. Emma struggles to explain herself in the present as Charlie and his friends point out more red flags, like the accusation that Emma doesn't have any "real friends" of her own. She becomes a mystery to us as Borgli's script sides with Charlie through the perspective shift, leaving Emma alone in her thoughts and disconnected from her audience. 

The Drama dabbles sloppily in misogynoir.  Credit: Courtesy of A24

There's a racial undercurrent to The Drama that Borgli creates but doesn't seem to fully recognize or acknowledge. In the scene where they reveal the worst thing they've ever done, Charlie and Emma are opposite another interracial couple, Rachel and Mike (Mamoudou Athie). Though Rachel, who is white, tells a story of her committing an actual assault, the group is more disturbed by Emma's thought crime. And as the film shifts to what she looked like when she was younger, Borgli engages in colorism, casting the younger Emma as a darker-skinned Black woman with curlier hair. 

There's an implication between this casting and Charlie's fear that he now sees Emma as a stereotypical angry Black woman. Though she's never been violent with him, he flinches when Emma picks up a kitchen knife, even though she's making them food. When he looks over a smutty book of women posing with guns, the barrage of white women posing with guns doesn't seem to alarm him. But when he sees a Black woman with a gun, his mind — and thus the edit — flashes to an image of Emma. 

This is a connection Charlie — and therefore the movie — will never make aloud. Instead, Charlie suggests that maybe this scares him so much because he's British, and mass shootings are really more of an American thing. While this observation earned a few chuckles at the screening I attended, it's as deep as Borgli is willing to go into the culture clash between the couple. This is frustrating, because while the film seems to be intentionally engaging with the specific fears and anger targeted at Black women, it uses misogynoir and American gun violence as little more than a provocative flare for a story about a shallow man realizing the woman in his life has complexities he can't understand. The woman herself is left to wander mutely through the film's climax as her partner takes the spotlight. 

Zendaya and Robert Pattinson are well-matched in The Drama.  Credit: Courtesy of A24

The pair share an easy intimacy in early scenes that paper over how poorly Borgli's script establishes who Emma and Charlie are as individuals or as a couple. Their chemistry allows the film's first act to essentially coast. From there, Zendaya smoothly follows the heartache of her actual Emma and performs the chilly threat Charlie imagines her to be. Pattinson, for his part, embraces playing the fool, throwing his ego aside to go face-first into one bad decision after another, leading to embarrassment and bloodshed. 

Borgli's sense of humor doesn't remotely align with mine, so I didn't find The Drama funny. Still, his stars have a sharp comic timing that elevates even his sloppiest concepts. But overall, great performances — including those by a warm Athie, a vicious Haim, and a quizzical Hailey Benton Gates — can't save The Drama from Borgli's fumbling. Borgli and his co-editor Joshua Raymond Lee create kinetic energy through their collisions of past and present, reality and fantasy, and jump cuts from one scene to the next. This all creates a sense of anxiety, but the actual suspense dwindles as Emma is lost amid Charlie's running in circles of panic. It becomes less enticing or exciting and more tedious. 

Still, those tired of Hollywood happy endings or whimsical romances might appreciate A24's latest vision of the rocky road to commitment. While I don't feel the film's climax is earned, it is wisely ambiguous. Much like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Drama offers a conclusion that means Emma and Charlie's ending rests in the eye of the beholder. For all the film's fumblings, the ending hits hard. 

The Drama opens in theaters April 3.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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