Technology

The new Xbox gaming handheld might be even more of a premium product than initially expected.

That's the fear emanating from a new leak that originated in a Spanish online Asus marketplace (via Tom's Guide), anyway. If you type "xbox ally" into the search field, it will actually show supposed prices for both the base ROG Xbox Ally console and the more powerful Xbox Ally X. The "cheaper" one is the equivalent of $699 USD, while the Ally X comes out to around $1,050 after currency conversion. I tried this and can confirm that it still works at the time of publication.

Whoops. Credit: Screenshot: Alex Perry

Of course, there are some caveats here. One is that this could simply be a technical error on the part of this one specific Spanish Asus store. Perhaps those numbers are just placeholder figures that were never meant to be seen by the public. After all, they haven't appeared anywhere else yet, as far we know. Another is that a leaker named eXtas1s claimed on YouTube that the two devices would cost $499 and $799, respectively. Those would be far more in line with competing gaming handhelds like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch 2.

Still, if the leaked figures in the Spanish Asus store are even close to true, it would be another in a long line of negative recent headlines for Microsoft and its Xbox division in particular. In just the past few months, Xbox has been added to the official Boycott, Divest, and Sanction list due to Microsoft's partnership with the Israeli military, while a recent round of layoffs saw 9,000 people put out of work on top of 6,000 others who lost their jobs just a couple of months prior.

Nintendo might have finally realized the Switch eShop has a lot of garbage. The company quietly rolled out a new set of publishing guidelines for developers looking to put their games on the Nintendo Switch 2 eShop in Asia, but it's not clear if the same rules are coming to other regions.

Are you still using an old, slow, outdated phone charger in your car, or do you have only a single port but often need to charge multiple devices? If so, you'll love this deal we found on one of Anker's best little 2-in-1 phone chargers. Right now, Anker's 52W dual-port car charger is 40% off and under $12.

You've probably noticed that your PlayStation 5 has quite a few USB ports on the back and front of the console. You already know that you can charge your controllers using these ports, but they're useful for much more than that.

Google running two different, seemingly independent operating systems might be a weird strategy for some people. But now, it looks like Google might actually merge Android and ChromeOS, the operating system running on Chromebooks, at some point down the road.

The Alienware 27" Gaming Monitor has hit an astonishingly low price, now available for just $189 on Amazon. This incredible deal slashes the original list price of $270, netting you a massive 30% off on a premium gaming display. This markdown makes it an absolute steal considering the brand name.

The best self-emptying robot vacuums have one huge perk past the obvious act of vacuuming the floor for you. (Spoiler alert: It's in the name.)

When you outsource vacuuming to a robotic cleaner, your floors get cleaned way more often, right? There's just one little downside to that extra attention: More debris pulled off the floor means a dust bin that fills up faster, especially if you have pets. You could either empty that dust bin manually multiple times a week, or you could just get a robot vacuum that empties itself.

SEE ALSO: Roborock Saros Z70 review: If you think you need the robot vacuum with an arm, no you don't

These vacuum cleaners do the vacuuming and bin emptying for you, storing the debris collected on each trip in a larger compartment that's located in the charging dock. While you'd typically have to empty a standalone robot vacuum as often as every day or two, self-emptying robot vacuum cleaners are self-sufficient for several weeks. Most brands claim to have capacities averaging between six to eight weeks, but almost every self-emptying dock I've tested in my three-bed, three-bath apartment has stretched much longer than that.

The feature is so core to the hands-off cleaning experience nowadays that it's rare for any new robot vacuum release to arrive to market without a self-emptying dock. (Unless you're the Dyson robot vacuum, in which case you're not a robot vacuum that mops nor self-empties — but you still cost over $1,000.)

SEE ALSO: Shark vs. Roomba: Comparing top-rated robot vacuum lineups

I've been testing the latest and greatest self-emptying robot vacuums from 2025 against the top vacs from years prior. Halfway through 2025, these top five picks offered the most efficient automated cleaning experience in my home.

Other robot vacuums I've tested recently

I've tested several other robot vacuum hybrids that didn't make the cut. Some, like the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Roborock Qrevo Master, Narwal Freo X Ultra, and Roomba j7+ were top picks in this list at one point, but were merely upstaged in power and price tag value by newer models.

I've also tested some 2025 robot vacuum releases that were OK, but weren't contenders for this list. The Dreame X50 Ultra grabbed attention during its CES 2025 debut for its ability to "climb," though the fine print is that it can't scale thresholds taller than 6 millimeters (about 2.36 inches). The Roborock Saros 10 and 10R were able to hoist over the few thick doorway thresholds in my apartment just as well as the X50 Ultra. Its mopping and vacuuming capabilities are better than most mid-range robot vacuums, of course, but they weren't impressive enough for me to suggest the X50 Ultra in this list over either Saros model.

I'm also in the process of testing the new fleet of 2025 Roombas. The Roomba Combo 205 DustCompactor wouldn't be a bad pick if you absolutely can't spare floor space for a self-empty dock. But for being one of iRobot's newest vacuums, I expected it to be a much smoother, smarter navigator. I was impressed by the Roomba 105 compared to the older budget Roombas, but would ultimately recommend the similarly-priced Shark Matrix due to app experience.

Are self-emptying robot vacuums worth it?

A robot vacuum that can empty its own dust bin is for sure worth it in just about every home. If vacuuming every day is something you don't feel like doing manually, you probably also don't feel like manually dumping a vac's dustbin into the trash every day. Such is the natural pipeline of being spoiled with technology.

Automatic emptying is particularly valuable in homes with pets. Daily pet hair pickup could easily fill up a vacuum's tiny onboard dustbin after just a few rooms, but that capacity is significantly expanded when there's a large alternate dustbin on the dock. If they get full mid-cleaning session, self-emptying vacuums know to head back to the dock to unload, then finish the rest of the session with a clean slate.

SEE ALSO: The best robot vacuum mop combos of 2025 so far, tested on my own tile and hardwood

Not for nothing, even the most ergonomic upright vacuums are a pain to wrestle out of the closet sometimes. In a pinch, it's inarguably worthwhile to have the option to start sweeping with a click on an app.

For people with allergies, auto-emptying also spares you from inhaling the inevitable puff of dust that emerges when dumping a dustbin into the trash. Speaking of avoiding the grosser parts of the job, if you're specifically seeking a robot vacuum that mops, many self-emptying docks also take it upon themselves to wash and dry the dirty mopping pads after the job is done.

From the moment Gachiakuta drops you into its world, you can practically smell the rot. There’s a grime-coated intensity to everything: the clatter of rusted machinery, the soot-stained alleyways, the discarded objects that form the bones of the city. But this isn’t just set dressing. Like the manga it’s based on — written and illustrated by Kei Urana with graffiti designs by Andou Hideyoshi — the anime wastes no time building a world where the societal divide is so extreme it’s physically enforced, where expendables are cast into an abyss of literal garbage.

The series takes place in a divided floating city called The Sphere, where the wealthy live in comfort and convenience, and the marginalized are confined to the outskirts, a slum-like district carved out for the city’s unwanted. It's a world built on rigid separation and systemic cruelty, where even a stuffed animal with a busted seam is tossed away without a second thought, and so are the people.

Rudo surveys the wasteland from atop a mountain of debris. Credit: ©Kei Urana, Hideyoshi Andou and KODANSHA/ “GACHIAKUTA” Production Committee

"This manga started from a visual image of the protagonist and his crew fighting amongst trash," Urana told Mashable. "But in terms of theme, I kept asking myself: 'Who am I? What kind of person am I?' And at the bottom of that question, I realized I’m someone who cherishes the objects I use."

That emotional core of care amid cruelty permeates every level of Gachiakuta’s worldbuilding. It’s a story about waste, yes, but also about value: who gets to define it, and what happens when it’s denied.

Gachiakuta's brutal worldbuilding

That trash doesn’t just disappear. In Gachiakuta, everything unwanted ends up in The Pit, a toxic wasteland where discarded objects rot alongside those society deems unworthy. Officially, it’s where criminals are sent, but in The Sphere, there’s no such thing as due process. The Pit is punishment by proximity: out of sight, out of mind.

But what The Sphere calls The Pit is, in reality, a surface-level world known as The Ground. It’s a harsh, chaotic ecosystem shaped by generations of fallout. Toxic air, mutated Trash Beasts, and collapsing debris from above make it nearly uninhabitable, yet an entire civilization has adapted to life down there.

It’s here that Gachiakuta fully leans into its trashpunk aesthetic: twisted environments stitched together from broken remnants, monsters born of corruption and decay, and a brutal logic that says worth is measured by usefulness. It’s violent. It’s unfair. And it’s where the real story begins.

At the center is Rudo, a fiery 15-year-old boy from the slums of The Sphere. After being falsely accused of murdering his guardian, Regto — the one person who ever treated him with care — Rudo is cast into The Pit. As he falls through the void, he vows revenge on the society that threw him away and the person who killed Regto.

Rudo moments before being discarded by The Sphere. Credit: ©Kei Urana, Hideyoshi Andou and KODANSHA/ “GACHIAKUTA” Production Committee

"The story isn’t just about the people who feel discarded," Urana explained. "It’s also about those around them and how easily someone who used to be your friend can turn on you, like a witch hunt. That kind of betrayal, and the loneliness that follows, is something I really wanted to explore."

She sees this dynamic reflected in our own digital lives. "That moment where [Rudo] is discarded under the supervision of many people, that felt like a visualization of how people behave on the internet," she said.

It’s the kind of revenge plot that fuels so many shōnen narratives: a young outcast betrayed by the world, burning with rage and purpose, determined to claw his way back and take down the system. Rudo’s anger isn’t vague teenage angst; it’s righteous, and it burns bright. His world collapses quickly, but in the wreckage, something new is forged.

On The Ground, Rudo is rescued by a group known as the Cleaners, a team led by the enigmatic Enjin. Their job is to defeat the Trash Beasts, monsters born from the waste of the world above. Using Vital Instruments, powerful weapons made from objects imbued with meaning, the Cleaners turn survival into resistance. Through them, Rudo begins to understand The Ground not as a graveyard, but as a place of second chances.

A snarling Trash Beast emerges from the wreckage. Credit: ©Kei Urana, Hideyoshi Andou and KODANSHA/ “GACHIAKUTA” Production Committee What makes Gachiakuta's trashpunk aesthetic so visually striking

That darkness is where the show begins to stretch its legs, especially with the introduction of Enjin in Episode 2. Manga readers have long been drawn to his chaotic charisma, and the anime adaptation captures that energy: stylish, unpredictable, and sharp-edged. He literally falls into frame wearing a gas mask and wielding his Vital Instrument, an umbrella, like some punk Mary Poppins. (Naturally, the fan edits followed.) But it’s not just Enjin that marks this tonal shift. It’s life on The Ground.

The Ground is a paradox: both vibrant and volatile. Some areas, like graffiti-covered Canvas Town, introduced later, pulse with color and creativity, while other parts are far less forgiving. No Man’s Land, a region choked by the most toxic air, is barely survivable. And even in the safer zones, there’s the constant threat of falling debris from above. Still, people persist, building communities from the wreckage.

Visually, Gachiakuta leans hard into its grunge edge. Directed by Fumihiko Suganuma and animated by Studio Bones Film, the anime doesn’t just adapt Urana's jagged, kinetic art; it amplifies it. The line work is bold, the color palette scorched, and the movement constantly teeters between chaos and control. "When I first started working on the script, there were only three or four chapters out," Studio Bones producer Naoki Amano told Mashable. "But even then, I knew the visual impact of Gachiakuta was strong — things like graffiti, intense emotions like anger — I felt like all of that could translate into a powerful and dramatic anime."

Enjin takes on a Trash Beast with his Umbreaker. Credit: ©Kei Urana, Hideyoshi Andou and KODANSHA/ “GACHIAKUTA” Production Committee

The character designs ooze cool. Urana's punk sensibility is everywhere, from the baggy silhouettes to the jagged haircuts to the way each character carries their weight, sometimes literally, through oversized coats, slouchy pants, and heavy boots. No one in Gachiakuta looks delicate. Enjin, with his undercut, tattoos, and rings, fits right in, all sharp lines and calm menace. Rudo's design, meanwhile, captures his volatility perfectly: his gravity-defying white hair tipped in black, his burning red eyes, and his permanently clenched expression all radiate a kind of emotional combustion.

"I always loved cool things,” Urana said. "So I was always accumulating these kinds of images in my mind… and eventually they naturally started to come out in my work. That’s how Gachiakuta started to take shape."

That sharpness of vision extends into the adaptation. "My character designs are pretty complex, so I was a bit nervous at first," she said. "I gave feedback to the anime production team about their initial approach, and they really understood my notes and reflected that in the final designs. I truly appreciated that."

That raw energy carries into the music as well. Taku Iwasaki's (Bungo Stray Dogs) score pulses with tension and swagger, while the opening theme "HUGs" by Japanese punk band Paledusk — chosen by Urana and Andou — is a controlled explosion: distorted, defiant, and deeply felt.

"At first, I was worried about the music and sound direction," Hideyoshi told Mashable. "But when I heard what the anime team brought to the table, it was honestly the best possible choice. As soon as I heard it, I was really excited, and that excitement carried through when I watched the episodes."

Gachiakuta's power system is fueled by emotion, not force

What makes these first episodes click is how fully the world and its mechanics are realized from the jump. In Gachiakuta, power isn't just about strength; it’s about sentiment. Objects that have been treated with care are said to be imbued with a soul, and those known as "Givers" can transform these cherished items into Vital Instruments. It’s a system that ties power to memory, utility to emotional value, in a world that otherwise treats everything as disposable.

A tender flashback of Regto and young Rudo that shows how care, not power, gives objects their worth. Credit: ©Kei Urana, Hideyoshi Andou and KODANSHA/ “GACHIAKUTA” Production Committee

"When I was younger, I broke a pen out of anger, and I immediately regretted it," Urana said. "I felt really bad for the pen. That’s when I realized I’m the kind of person who wants to take care of things. That’s where the idea came from: that if an object is treated with care, it gains a soul."

Rudo doesn’t just wield trash; he treasures it. In the very first episode, we see him shyly offering a stuffed animal he fixed up from the trash to his childhood friend Chiwa, trying to express feelings he doesn’t yet have the words for. That same instinct to mend and repurpose becomes the foundation of his strength. It’s why he alone can turn multiple objects into Vital Instruments. Where others see waste, Rudo sees worth.

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The concept is rooted in care, but also in rage. "One of the things I wanted to express in this work is the anger, and I felt like that anger should be portrayed honestly and straightforwardly," she added. "That’s the kind of intensity I wanted from the anime, too, and I feel like the anime team successfully accomplished that."

Rudo’s rage may be the spark, but Gachiakuta is ultimately about what happens after the fire is lit. On The Ground, Rudo is met with something unexpected: not just survival, but humanity. That’s the beating heart of Gachiakuta — it’s less about vengeance than it is about the slow, radical act of learning how to be human in a world that tried to strip you of that very right. His fury may ignite the plot, but what sustains it is something quieter, more enduring.

"It’s about how people could change by being in relationships with other people," Urana said. "Those are the kinds of things that come to my mind when I’m writing the theme of the story."

It’s what makes the show’s explosive first episodes so compelling. They’re brisk but never rushed; stylish but not shallow. Instead, Gachiakuta threads story, character, and worldbuilding with surprising clarity, immersing you in a dystopian trashpunk nightmare that’s equal parts shōnen adrenaline and emotional reckoning.

In a world built on what’s been thrown away, Gachiakuta dares to ask what’s still worth holding onto.

New episodes of Gachiakuta stream weekly on Crunchyroll.

Like most carriers and big companies, T-Mobile loves to collect personal data. While that's typically done for targeted ads and other marketing, it still gives many users pause. And now, it looks like T-Mobile has fired up two more collection processes, which are enabled by default.

Tesla will soon face a jury over a fatal crash involving its autopilot system. The trial, set to begin today in Miami, could be the first legal judgment regarding the increasingly normalized transportation tech.

The Elon Musk-owned company has weathered several lawsuits levied against its autopilot driver-assist system in recent years, all of which have previously been dismissed or settled. The latest suit was brought forward by the family of Naibel Benavides, the victim of an April 2019 crash involving a Tesla Model S sedan with an allegedly defective autopilot, and her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, who was severely injured in the same south Florida wreck. Benavides, a 22-year-old college student, and Angulo were standing outside an SUV when they were struck by the Tesla, which was driven by George Brian McGee.

SEE ALSO: Grok is now in Tesla cars, but not in the way you think

Tesla contends that the autopilot feature was not fully activated at the time of the crash, which resulted when McGee dropped his cellphone and reached down to find it, smashing into the parked SUV and surrounding pedestrians, according to case documents reviewed by the New York Times. "The evidence clearly shows that this crash had nothing to do with Tesla’s Autopilot technology. Instead, like so many unfortunate accidents since cellphones were invented, this was caused by a distracted driver,” a Tesla spokesperson told the Times. McGee was allegedly driving nearly 62 miles per hour in a 45 m.p.h. zone, and pressed the accelerator before the crash, which overrode the autopilot's cruise control.

But the plaintiffs believe that the crash should have been prevented by Tesla's advertised attentiveness features and automatic emergency braking system — according to video obtained from the vehicle's computer, the autopilot system recognized the presence of the parked car and at least one person, but didn't activate its breaks or alert the driver to the obstacles. The plaintiffs' legal team plans to depose Tesla Autopilot engineer, David Shoemaker, and two other employees.

For years, Musk has repeatedly claimed that Tesla's autopilot features, including those powering the company's new fleet of autonomous vehicles, are empirically safe for drivers and pedestrians. Experts who study autonomous vehicle safety, however, aren't as quick to claim the data as sound and the technology ready for widespread use, noting continued issues with unexpected driving behaviors like unpronounced disengagement, roadblock confusion, and phantom breaking. In addition, popular "robotaxi" companies Waymo and Zoox are currently under the microscope of the federal government, including 22 reported incidents by Waymo vehicles that the NHTSA began investigating in 2024.

In June, Tesla appealed to a judge to block the public disclosure of vehicle crash data in a case with the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), arguing that it would threaten their competitive advantage in the market. In addition to repeated incidents of Tesla vehicles and robotaxis acting unpredictably, analysts have accused the company of obscuring and de-contextualizing safety data in its Autopilot Safety Report.

SAVE $150: As of July 14, the Sonos Ace headphones are down to $299 at Amazon. That's a 33% discount from the usual cost of $449 and their best price to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Ace $299 at Amazon
$449 Save $150 Get Deal

While Prime Day had some of the best deals on headphones we've seen in a long time, most of our favorite discounts up and disappeared once the event ended on July 11. But not all of them.

As of July 14, you can still score the Sonos Ace headphones at their Prime Day price of $299. That's a massive $150 discount from the usual cost of $449 and their best price on record, beating their previous low by $30.

The Sonos Ace are the brand's first foray into headphones and unsurprisingly, they're pretty dang impressive. These cans were three years in the making and while other brands may have better noise cancellation, Mashable's Miller Kern said, "Sonos wins when it comes to sound quality."

The headphones are an aesthetic 10 out of 10, they offer great spatial audio, and they'll last you up to 30 hours per charge with ANC turned on. Kern said the ear cup seal could be tighter, but ultimately she would recommend the Sonos Ace to "true audiophiles who value incredible sound quality above all else."

Our biggest complaint is the steep $449 price tag. So we're thrilled this $150 discount has stuck around. We can't guarantee it'll be around for much longer, though. Get your post-Prime Day savings while you can.

Save up to $20: Looking to save a little extra on food deliveries? Best Buy marked down DoorDash gift cards valued from $15 to $200 about 10% as of July 14.

Opens in a new window Credit: DoorDash DoorDash gift cards Save up to 11% on gift cards valued from $15 to $200 Get Deal

Anyone who's ordered food delivery knows that it's very easy for a $13 sandwich to end up costing you $25 to $30 once taxes, fees, and the driver's tip gets added in to the equation.

Sometimes, apps offer you limited time deals, but if you'd rather lock in some guarantee savings for yourself, grabbing a discounted gift card is exactly the way to do that. Or maybe you're picking up a gift that almost anyone would appreciate. In either case, DoorDash gift cards are on sale at Best Buy for up to 11% off as of July 14.

While this isn't the wildest DoorDash deal we've ever seen, it does apply to gift cards valued for $15 to $200, which is less common for Best Buy to offer. At the $15 tier, you'll save $1.50, knocking your price down to $13.50. However, even just the slightly more expensive $50 gift card gets a $5 price cut to $45 — not huge, but not nothing. All the way at the $200 gift card, you'll save $20, paying $180 instead.

All the pricing tiers except for the $15 and $200 gift cards are available as both digital and physical gift cards. Digital gift cards require a valid email, and will be sent to your inbox shortly after purchase. Additionally, they're not eligible for returns. Physical gift cards, on the other hand, can be ordered online to be shipped or picked up at your nearest Best Buy.

Someone just calculated a potential drop date for the iPhone 17 — and it could be sooner than many of us thought.

The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air, the long-awaited new iPhones that allegedly could come in black and have a potentially extensive battery life, doesn't have a set release date. We don't know many of the specs, including price, hardware, and colors, but we have gotten plenty of exciting leaks. One leak reported by Mac Rumors from a leaker known as Majin Bu claims that the iPhone 17 Air could come in the MacBook Air's new Sky Blue finish.

The newest piece of iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air rumors comes not from a leak, but from some well-calculated math. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman wrote in the newsletter Power On that we might get the new iPhone specs — and the opportunity to buy them — the week of September 8.

Gurman noted that Apple tends to launch its new iPhones the week after Labor Day. This year, that falls on September 1, so we'll probably see the launch the week of September 8. And that tracks with its history — in the last decade, nine of the 10 Apple events fell on the second week of September, according to MacRumors. The only year that breaks the pattern is 2000, when the event was moved due to the pandemic.

Apple never schedules events on Fridays, Gurman argues, and will likely avoid a show on September 11. That leaves three days open for its iPhone event: September 8, a Monday; September 9, a Tuesday; or September 10, a Wednesday.

"It could be that Monday (the 8th), though I suspect the 9th or 10th is probably more likely,” Gurman wrote, according to PC Mag.

So if you're on the lookout for all the new iPhone details, you might want to set time in your calendar for the second week of September.

SAVE 31%: As of July 14, you can get a 27-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 gaming monitor for $549.99, down from $799.99, at Amazon. That's a 31% discount and a $250 savings.

27-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 $549.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $250 Get Deal

Looking for a gaming monitor that won’t cost you your entire paycheck (or your K/D ratio)? We found a lingering Prime Day gaming monitor deal that’ll save you some money.

As of July 14, you can snag a 27-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 for $549.99, down from $799.99, at Amazon. This is a 31% discount and a savings of $250. It’s also the lowest price we’ve seen to date for this particular model. We haven’t reviewed this specific model, but our friends over at PC Mag (also owned by Ziff Davis) have tested and loved other monitors in Samsung’s Odyssey OLED gaming monitor lineup.

SEE ALSO: The best gaming monitor for upgrading your visuals

The Odyssey OLED G6 (LS27DG610SNXZA) features a 27-inch screen, a 240Hz refresh rate, and a near-instant 0.03ms response time to eliminate lag and motion blur. The visuals are powered by a QD-OLED panel, which delivers vibrant colors and the perfect, inky blacks that OLEDs are famous for. Plus, with FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync compatibility, you'll get super-smooth gameplay without any distracting screen tearing.

It sounds like Samsung is making big changes to the middle child in the Galaxy S family next year.

A new leak from WinFuture (via TechRadar) gave us some possible camera specs and other pertinent info related to next year's Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup, which has not been officially announced yet. According to the leak, the S26 Ultra will feature a 200MP wide lens and a 50MP telephoto lens, which is the same as what was on the S25 Ultra earlier this year. However, things really get interesting when the leak gets to the S26 Plus, which would be the middle of the three S26 models released next year if Samsung keeps up with what it has been doing for the past few years.

SEE ALSO: Samsung is exploring smart necklaces, earrings as AI-powered wearables

Per WinFuture, Samsung is considering swapping out the Plus model (which is really just a bigger version of the base model) with the next super-thin Galaxy Edge phone. Samsung just launched the S25 Edge earlier this summer, and its extremely thin form factor gives it more of a distinct identity than any S-series Plus model has. Apparently, the middle phone (whether it's a Plus or an Edge) will have a new 50MP ultra-wide lens, bringing it closer in line with the Ultra models in that regard.

In summary, Samsung's not-too-cheap-but-not-too-expensive Galaxy S-series phone next year could have both a new form factor and a newer, better camera array. We will likely find out in January.

SAVE $120: As of July 14, you can still grab the Apple M3 iPad Air for $479 — its lowest price on record — instead of $599. At 20% off, it's still sitting at its Prime Day price at Walmart, but not Amazon or Best Buy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple M3 iPad Air (128GB, WiFi) $479 at Walmart
$599 Save $120 Get Deal

Most of the Prime Day Apple deals have dried up. But if you're hoping to score the M3 iPad Air at its record-low price, then you're in luck.

As of July 14, you can still get the M3 iPad Air with WiFi and 128GB for its Prime Day price of $479 instead of $599 at Walmart of all places. The Apple tablet has already jumped back up to full price at Best Buy and nearly full price at Amazon. There's a good chance the Walmart deal could disappear soon as well, so we suggest jumping on this ultra-low price ASAP.

"Apple's new iPad Air doesn't feel very new, as the only major difference is the new M3 chip," Mashable's reviewer writes of the M3 iPad Air released earlier this year. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. As they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Besides the extremely powerful new processor that unlocks Apple Intelligence, the M3 iPad Air features a slightly better battery life, a more advanced Magic Keyboard (optional add-on), and pass-through charging.

Already have the M2 iPad Air? There's probably no need to upgrade. If you're rocking an older iPad, however, it's definitely a worthy purchase — especially while it's still sitting at its lowest price ever of $479 (beating its former best price by about $20).

2025 has already been a noteworthy year for laptops. In the past six months alone, we've seen the expansion of Microsoft's AI PC project, the debut of Nvidia's GeForce RTX 50 series graphics cards, and the cheapest Apple MacBook launch in years — never mind this spring's tariff-induced supply chain chaos.

As it so happens, 2025 has also been a big year for Mashable's laptop team. In April, we introduced a new testing methodology with more rigorous criterion for assessing computers' performance, battery life, design/build quality, and overall value, as well as a supplemental rubric that standardizes scoring between different writers. It marks the first major overhaul to our laptop testing process since we started reviewing them over a decade ago. We think it's made our coverage more comprehensive and conclusive than ever.

SEE ALSO: The 9 best laptops we've tested

Since we implemented this new methodology, only three current-generation laptops out of the many we've tested earned a score of 4.5/5 or higher, which makes them eligible for a Mashable Choice Award. (That's our most prestigious accolade for the products we review sitewide.) I've listed them below in no particular order, along with one honorable mention from 2024 that we finally got around to trying.

A quick housekeeping note before we get into it: Our team just finished testing some of these models at the time of writing, so if you don't see all of them listed in our laptop buying guides, know that we'll add them soon. I've noted which superlative each laptop has earned in its blurb — consider this a sneak peek at some of our freshest recommendations.

SEE ALSO: The 3 best gaming laptops with Nvidia GPUs in 2025, so far 1. The Asus Zenbook A14 Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

There was a lot of pressure riding on the Asus Zenbook A14. Back in January, we named the 14-inch Copilot+ PC our "Best of CES 2025" award winner in the laptop category for its long advertised battery life and minimalist, ultraportable design, which includes a beautiful OLED display. Of note, its chassis is made from a unique magnesium aluminum alloy called "Ceraluminum" that's durable, scratch-resistant, and recyclable. It looked great in a showroom, but we didn't yet know how well it would function in a real-world setting. At the time, it was priced at just $899.99 to start.

Now that I've formally tested it, I'm happy to report that the Zenbook A14 meets most of our high expectations. It's incredibly thin and light, and that Ceraluminum is spiffy; its matte-textured finish reminds me a lot of pottery, which I love. (Too many modern PCs try to be silvery MacBook dupes.) Furthermore, it lasted nearly 22 hours in our video rundown battery life benchmark. That doesn't quite match Asus' bonkers rated battery life of 32 hours, but it's excellent nonetheless.

SEE ALSO: The best Windows laptops of 2025

The Zenbook A14 is now the longest-lasting sub-$1,000 laptop we've tried, and the most powerful one. The Zabrinskie Beige base model with a Snapdragon X Plus processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage got a multi-core score of 11,256 in Primate Labs' Geekbench 6 CPU test. (That's what we use to quantify laptops' processing power.) It's almost as zippy as an M3 MacBook Pro we reviewed in 2023, which got a score of 11,998. Granted, the Zenbook A14 isn't perfect — its speakers are among the worst I've encountered — but all things considered, I think it's a good overall value. That's even after a $100 price bump to $999.99 in March because of President Donald Trump's tariffs.

The Zenbook A14 is also available in Iceland gray with a lesser Snapdragon X processor but more RAM and storage (32GB and 1TB, respectively). It's the lighter of the two configurations by about 0.3 pounds, and it costs $1,199.99 post-tariffs. Personally, I think the cheaper version with added oomph is a more competitive buy. It's our new favorite budget Windows laptop.

Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus Zenbook A14 (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $999.99 at Best Buy
Shop Now 2. The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

The latest version of the premium Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 has an "Aura Edition" addendum, which denotes its support for a handful of exclusive AI features. One called "Shield Mode" can tell you if someone's looking at your screen over your shoulder. Another called "Wellness Mode" analyzes your posture and calls you out when you're hunched over your desk like a shrimp. They're cool and all, but build quality and battery life are the areas where this 14-inch convertible really shines.

In particular, Mashable contributor Sarah Chaney adored its "super vibrant" 2.8K OLED touchscreen display and its island-style keyboard, which she likened to the clackety mechanical variety. On the battery front, the Lenovo Yoga 9i Aura Edition held out for a whopping 23 hours and 34 minutes before dying. That makes it the longest-lasting laptop we've ever tried. Ever!

There is, of course, a catch. The Yoga 9i Aura Edition has triple the battery life of last year's Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9), its forebear, but it got a 20 percent lower Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 10,765 — even with a newer Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor. (That means the Zenbook A14 also outscored it, for what it's worth.) In the Aura Edition's defense, both of the other Intel Core Ultra Series 2 laptops we've tried this year scored similarly and cost more. Ultimately, I think it's still safe to call this puppy our new favorite 2-in-1 laptop. For her part, Chaney thinks the "less power, more stamina" trade-off is totally worth it.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition (Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,749.99 at Best Buy
Shop Now 3. The M4 Apple MacBook Air Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

In March, Apple extended its M4 era with the launch of a new MacBook Air in two sizes and one bland new color. Some of its upgrades feel like obvious next-gen tweaks: It has an improved 12MP FaceTime camera, for instance, and it can now support two external displays with its lid open. Its jump in processing power is impressive, though not entirely unexpected given the track record of Apple's M-series chips. (The 15-inch model got an amazing Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 14,992; last year's iteration clocked in at 12,057.)

No, what really blows us away is the fact that the M4 MacBook Air starts at just $999, making it $100 cheaper than its predecessor: The base M3 MacBook Air cost $1,099 before it was discontinued. For added context, $999 also matches the final going rate of the M2 model from 2022, following a post-M3 discount in 2024, and that one came with a mere 8GB of RAM for most of its lifespan. In a year when many laptops have gotten more expensive, not less (see above), this feels remarkable.

After trying the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air, Mashable's Stan Schroeder deemed it "the best-buy Apple laptop, period." It's our current favorite MacBook for most people, while its 13-inch counterpart is our top pick for budget shoppers. The latter has two fewer speakers, a slightly lower-resolution display, and an eight-core GPU instead of a 10-core GPU.

Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $1,049 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $150 Shop Now Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $849 at Amazon
$999 Save $150 Shop Now Honorable mention: The Framework Laptop 13 (Intel Core Ultra Series 1) Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

A few weeks ago, I tested the DIY Edition of last year's Framework Laptop 13, a modular laptop that's powered by a previous-gen Intel Core Ultra Series 1 CPU. (Read my full review here.) It's not as powerful or as nicely specced as other premium PCs in its price range, but freshness and flair aren't the point here — fixability is.

The Framework Laptop 13 makes at-home repairs and upgrades so easy and accessible that it's almost jarring. After assembling and tinkering with my loaner, I've started to re-evaluate my relationship with most of the tech I use. (Do I really own something if I have to outsource all of its servicing? Why should I have to replace an entire device if only one of its components gets obsolete? Consider me a right-to-repair radical.) It's a bigger upfront investment than other laptops, but an unbeatable long-term value.

Framework released a newer version with an AMD processor, a different thermal system, and an updated keyboard this April, which I'd like to try ASAP. In the meantime, this model is the best repairable laptop I can personally vouch for.

Framework Laptop 13 DIY Edition (Intel Core Ultra Series 1) $899 at Framework
Shop Now

Save $120: As of July 14, you can still grab the Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS) at its lowest price ever of $279. We first saw this 30% price drop at Amazon during Prime Day, but it's holding on through July 14.

Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS) $299 at Walmart
$399 Save $100 Get Deal

Prime Day may be over, but not all of the deals are.

Case in point: the Apple Watch Series 10 with GPS capabilities and a 42mm display is still on sale for the record low price it hit during the sale — $279. That's a whopping $120 savings on the usually $399 watch. If you missed out on this deal during Prime Day, your window of opportunity may be closing: other Apple deals we saw hold out through this morning already jumped back to higher prices.

The Series 10 is Mashable's favorite smartwatch fitness tracker for most people, but especially those already integrated in the Apple ecosystem. The watch is the slimmest and lightest weight Apple's put on the market. Paired with a display that can be ultra-bright for reading in sunlight, ultra-dim for reading in a dark room, and with wide-angle OLED for better visuals when viewed at an angle, this is an impressive overall display. While the watch itself is without a blood oxygen sensor due to an on-going patent dispute, it still has plenty of fitness features including tracking for sleep, steps, heart rate, and menstrual cycles.

SEE ALSO: Apple Watch Series 10 vs. Apple Watch Series 9: All the new upgrades

All of that said, if you own a Series 9 or 8 you might want to wait until a new Apple Watch hits the market. The differences in speed, battery life, and available fitness features aren't so drastic as to make a difference. As Mashable's Stan Schroeder wrote in his review, "Yes, it's better in every way, but none of these small refinements will make you say 'Wow, I need the new one.'"

Still, if you've been waiting to upgrade to the Series 10, this is the best price to grab it at.

SAVE 45%: As of July 14, you can get a 75-inch Hisense Class U7 Mini-LED ULED 4K UHD Google Smart TV (75U75QG, 2025) for $1,097.99, down from $1,999.99, at Amazon. This deal first dropped on July 8 (the first day of Prime Day) and has surprisingly stuck around, saving you over $900 on a top-tier 2025 model.

75" Hisense U7 Series 4K Mini-LED ULED Google Smart TV (2025 Model) $1,097.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $902 Get Deal

Prime Day(s) had some of the best TV deals in history (we were honestly shocked at how good some of the discounts were this year). If you missed out on the opportunity to snag a new television, don't worry, because some sales are still happening.

One of the best deals we’ve found is on the 75-inch Hisense U7 Series Mini-LED Google TV, which is still available for its lowest price ever of $1,097.99 at Amazon. That’s 45% off the list price and a $902 savings.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day is over but these 10 popular deals are still live (plus one free bonus offer)

What makes the Hisense U7 Series Mini-LED Google TV so unique is its mini-LED backlight — it’s built to make your viewing experience more detailed and vibrant (up to 3,000 nits peak brightness and up to 3,000 local dimming zones). Mini-LED backlights use thousands of tiny LEDs that are grouped into zones and controlled individually.

The 2.1.2 multi-channel surround also gives you the illusion that sound is coming from all around you, rather than just from the front of the TV. And, for gamers, the Game Mode Ultra offers a pretty impressive variable refresh rate of 48-165Hz.

SEE ALSO: What's the best time of year to buy a TV? Yes, there's an answer.

Other features, like the anti-reflection pro, total HDR solution, and Hi-View AI Engine Pro, make this deal a no-brainer. Plus, with Google TV, you can stream thousands of movies and TV episodes from across your favorite apps, all in one place.

SAVE $20: The Eufy Smart Scale C20 is on sale for just $39.99 at Amazon, down from the usual price of $59.99. That's a 33% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy Smart Scale C20 $39.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $20 Get Deal

Gone are the days of using simple metrics to get health insight. These days, we have advanced fitness trackers in the form of both watches and rings that give accurate readings on heart rate, sleep quality, and even blood-oxygen levels. But if you're using a standard old-school scale in your bathroom, you're missing out on way more advanced models. Thankfully, Amazon has a nice discount on a great smart scale.

As of July 14, the Eufy Smart Scale C20 is on sale at Amazon for just $39.99, marked down from the normal price of $59.99. That's a 33% discount which works out to a savings of $20.

If you haven't bought a new scale in the last decade, chances are yours is probably only giving you one number — your overall weight. If you upgrade to the Eufy C20, you'd have access to 16 biometrics that give a much more comprehensive view of overall health. The scale's display gives readings on metrics like your heart rate, weight, BMI, muscle mass, bone mass, body age, and more. The Eufy Life app gives you even more options like creating a profile for each member of the family to keep track of their own fitness goals. There's even a setting for weighing your pets.

SEE ALSO: The Garmin epix Pro is still down to its lowest-ever price after Prime Day

Eufy mentions the C20's accuracy gets as close as 0.1 pounds thanks to four advanced sensors on the scale. The anti-skid pads attached in four locations on the bottom of the scale add to safety. Overall dimensions of the scale measure 11 inches wide and 11 inches in length.

Upgrade your health tracking at home thanks to the Eufy Smart Scale C20. You'll have access to much more data compared to a standard scale and thanks to today's sale price, you can grab the scale at Amazon for just under $40.

The best tech deals to shop this week

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $79.98 (List Price $99.00)

• Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop — $849.00 (List Price $999.00)

• Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

• Dreame X40 Ultra Robot Vacuum With Removable and Liftable Mop — $699.99 (List Price $1399.98)