Technology

SEE ALSO: Robot vacuums vs. stick vacuums: Shopping advice from someone who has both The new 2025 Roombas shifted the tides

This comparison guide would have been a very different article to read had you clicked on it any time before March 2025. Before that, iRobot and Shark were both kind of plateauing in terms of the variety of their respective lineups. It was like a competition to see who could be the most mid.

But the lukewarm rivalry got interesting when iRobot went rogue and overhauled the whole Roomba fleet outside of its typical late summer schedule. The newest batch consists of eight new Roombas falling under four different umbrellas: the Roomba 105 or 205, or Roomba Plus 405 or 505, ranging in price from $299 to $999. The move may or may not have been a last-ditch effort to save the company from a reportedly bleak financial situation.

iRobot seems to have patched up many of its weak spots and prioritized budget friendliness without skimping on features that consumers really care about, like including smart mapping in even the cheapest models.

The 2025 Roombas all have LiDAR towers — a first for iRobot. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Where Roomba wins: Small obstacle avoidance and more models to fit more needs

iRobot simply has more robot vacuums than Shark, and that variety alone will make it a more palatable brand to more people. More models to choose from means more opportunities to customize the features and budget to a shopper's main goals for automated cleaning.

Let's say you're willing to pay a little extra for a premium robot vacuum that achieves the most hands-off experience possible. Between Shark and iRobot, iRobot has more options with features that make a robot vacuum self-sufficient, including mopping pads that automatically lift when going over carpet, self-empty docks that also wash and dry the mopping pads, and small obstacle avoidance cameras.

SEE ALSO: As an anxious cat mom, I love my robot vacuum with a livestream camera

The coolest part about the Roomba lineup is that you can mix and match several of these features to stay within a certain budget. You can skip all of the other fancy features while still bringing home small obstacle avoidance with the standalone Roomba j7 for as little as $299 on sale, or try out the space-saving DustCompactor design with or without mopping for under $500. Even the cheapest 2025 Roombas guarantee LiDAR-powered smart mapping and 70 times (read that again) the suction power of the 600 series Roombas, which were the super popular cheap Roombas a few years ago.

The most significant expansion to the Roomba family has been to the self-sufficient mopping Roombas — great news for folks who have been avoiding robot vacuums with mops because they don't want to manually handle the soggy pads. While Shark only has one robot vacuum that maintains its own mopping pad, several Roombas do so at varying price points:

• Roomba Plus 405 Combo for as low as $399.99 on sale (no small obstacle avoidance)

• Roomba Plus 505 Combo for as low as $599 on sale (has small obstacle avoidance)

• Roomba Combo 10 Max for as low as $599.99 on sale (stronger suction power and small obstacle avoidance)

• Roomba Max 705 Combo for $1,299.99 (roller mop, stronger suction power, and small obstacle avoidance)

If your home's hard floors are perpetually covered in a layer of hair from various pets, self-rinsing mopping pads are a hallmark feature of the best robot vacuums and mops for pet hair. Otherwise, all of that fur will be clinging to the wet mopping pad until the next time you wash it by hand.

iRobot also diverted from the traditional flat mopping pad with its 2025 overhaul. Now, the Roomba Plus 405 and 505 Combo use dual spinning mopping pads — a design that the majority of iRobot customers prefer, iRobot told me in a press briefing. The Roomba Max 705 Combo upgrades even further to a roller mop, making it close competition to other new high-end releases like the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller.

But here's the thing with robot vacuum and mop combos: Not everyone is pro-combo. A lot of people simply don't want to deal with tanks or anything soggy at all, but finding a vac-only robot vacuum typically means settling for a super basic model — all of the most advanced robot vacuums are automatically hybrids nowadays. iRobot heard the cries of the anti-mop crowd on Reddit and released a vacuum-only version of one of the most powerful Roombas, the Max 705 Vac.

The Roomba Max 705 Combo has a paint roller-esque mop and a wooden dock. Credit: iRobot The new Roomba Plus 405 Combo has two spinning mopping pads — a first for iRobot. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

iRobot's mastery of small obstacle avoidance gives it serious leverage over Shark — it's actually the best small obstacle avoidance I've experienced from any brand I've tested at home. All j-series Roombas, the Roomba Combo 10 Max, the Roomba Plus 505 Combo, and both 705s have the special small obstacle detection camera system, which helps to avoid small obstacles that less-advanced robot vacuums would typically eat, like a phone charger, extension cord, rogue sock, or pet waste. In short, it solves the main gripe that many robot vacuum non-believers have: robot vacuums get stuck so often that they're more trouble than they're worth.

SEE ALSO: As a Dyson stan, I wouldn't tell anyone to buy the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum

I first experienced this sense of relief when reviewing the Roomba j7+ and Combo j7+, and it was never easy to get back into the habit of pre-tidying when trying another robot vacuum that didn't have small obstacle avoidance. I'd easily sacrifice more intense cleaning for a robot vacuum to have the brain cells to do that.

Where Roomba loses: Cutting corners at the ultra-cheap and premium ends of the spectrum

Plummeting earnings one month, a random revamp of the entire Roomba line the next month — if we're trying to read between the lines, I'd say it became glaringly obvious that people were getting sick of Roombas costing a lot but not doing enough.

So while I'll give credit to Roomba for getting more practical with its prices, Shark still does budget-friendly better. For instance, I think that the perfect starter robot vacuum is one with smart mapping and self-emptying, with suction power being less of a priority as long as it's sufficient for light daily upkeep. In Roomba world, the cheapest option for this is the Roomba 105 + AutoEmpty Dock, going for $449.99 at full price or around $299.99 on sale. In Shark world, the same capabilities can be secured for as low as $199.99 on sale with the Shark IQ RV2302AE. And there are definitely more powerful cheap robot vacuums than both of them, namely from Roborock.

SEE ALSO: I found the most impressive robot vacuum under $500. You've never heard of it.

At the absolute most affordable end of the spectrum, iRobot's $150 to $250 assortment is comically Not Worth It. In April 2024, iRobot fumbled a low-hanging opportunity to fix the cheap Roomba situation by releasing even more cheap Roombas without smart mapping. I wouldn't recommend the Roomba Essential line to anyone — smart mapping is a feature I feel is ~Essential~ in any robot vacuum.

The Roomba Combo 2 Essential was more of a pain than a help in my apartment. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

In my experience, just hitting "go" and letting a robot vacuum clean aimlessly is a recipe for coming home to a robot vacuum lost under the bed. The zigzag pattern feels like a hit-or-miss guessing game made more annoying by getting stuck and missing spots on the floor that I'd rather just hit with my Dyson stick vacuum, anyway.

Sure, all of these base-tier Roombas do go on sale often. You could technically score the absolute cheapest Roomba for around $130 or a mopping, self-emptying Roomba for $280. But settling for no specific room cleaning just isn't worth it, especially when a similar wad of cash could get you way further if you were buying a Shark.

There's also some skimping afoot on the fancy end of the iRobot spectrum — the most powerful Roomba doesn't stand a chance against the most powerful contenders from other brands. On its face, the Roomba Max 705 Combo sounds like a beast: It has 175 times the suction power of a 600 Series Roomba and is coined as the most powerful 2-in-1 Roomba. But iRobot, who is quietly revealing Pa suction power measurements for the first time, has confirmed that the Roomba Max 705 Combo has 13,000 Pa suction power. That means that even the best Roomba for pet hair or carpet is significantly weaker than the other flagship robot vacuums out there: the Narwal Freo Z Ultra has 18,000 Pa, the Roborock Saros 10 and Z70 have 22,000 Pa, and the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller has 30,000 Pa. That's not a direct comparison to Shark, but definitely still relevant.

Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The curb appeal of the new self-emptying Roomba Combo models is lacking. The plasticky exposed water tank look doesn't exactly flow in an otherwise cozy, well-decorated home — this feels like the physical embodiment of cutting corners to keep prices down. I'm much more keen on the Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro's sleek self-emptying dock.

Where Shark wins: Spot cleaning and affordability

Shark has historically been in tune with what the average person is willing to spend on a robot vacuum. The brand consistently offers core capabilities like smart mapping and mopping at lower prices than its Roomba counterparts — a level of cost-effectiveness that should be particularly enticing to strict budget shoppers or first-time robot vacuum owners.

The Shark Matrix RV2310 is a reliable little vacuum. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Shark's more approachable price points don't necessarily mean it skimps on cleaning performance, though. Shark Matrix vacuums clean in a grid pattern, approaching the area several times from multiple angles to grab anything it may have missed in the first pass or two. According to Shark, Matrix mode dishes out 30 percent better carpet cleaning than the older RV Shark models. For Shark 2-in-1 robot vacuums, a mop in Matrix mode vibrates 100 times per minute to scrub at stains that likely wouldn't budge from a single pass of a cheaper robot mop or a paper towel. Matrix mopping always comes in clutch for keeping up with the constant layer of shoe prints by my front door.

While the brands themselves make it difficult to directly compare suction power on paper, in my experience, I found the low and mid-range Shark models to be less likely to leave a rogue crumb or pile of hair behind than a majority of budget Roombas.

SEE ALSO: After 3 months and visible results, the Shark LED mask is a staple in my skincare routine

Shark even extends the Matrix cleaning mechanism to most of its super-affordable models, making any of the RV2310 or RV2300 models a solid choice for a budget robot vacuum. I experienced no noteworthy navigational issues when sending either of those models to sweep specific spots in my apartment. Though the suction power is expectedly just OK, it was enough for surface-level daily upkeep of the big, visible debris. These two Sharks are also some of the most compact self-emptying robot vacuums I've seen — huge news for small spaces that don't have room for a huge dock.

Shark robot vacuums particularly shine when it comes to messes that need to be taken care of right now. Shark's spot cleaning has been such a straightforward, reliable feature in every Shark robot vacuum I tried. My ultimate spot cleaning test is the area outside either of my cats' litter boxes — even the cheap Shark robot vacuums always got to the right spot and cleared the kitty litter before I walked in there with bare feet.

In September 2024, Shark finally caught on to the whole "self-sustaining mopping pads" thing with the release of the Shark PowerDetect line. Even those premium Sharks debuted at $1,199.99 and $999.99 — far less than the asking price for flagship hybrids from other brands.

The Shark PowerDetect robot vacuum with NeverTouch Pro dock. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

This is the first mopping Shark that knows to stop mopping on carpeted areas without you having to specifically designate so. For good measure, the PowerDetect is also equipped with large wheels that hoist the vac over carpet to keep it dry during mopping mode. Those hydraulics also helped the PowerDetect to be one of the only robot vacs I've tested that's never gotten stuck on a rug corner or scrambled up my bath mats.

Where Shark loses: Small obstacle avoidance and variety

Shark's biggest shortcoming is that it takes forever to release new robot vacuums, and that staggered schedule often leaves it playing catch-up with other brands. Brands like Roborock and Dreame seem to drop new crops of robot vacuums twice in the time period that Shark introduces a single new model. The existing mid-tier Shark models are also a little more basic than the Roombas in the same price range.

SEE ALSO: Dreame's summer vacuum launch is the biggest vacuum drop of 2025 so far

Shark will also be at a huge disadvantage until its robot vacs can avoid cords and pet waste — it's the lone major robot vacuum brand that hasn't really invested in small obstacle avoidance. This is such a staple feature in my life, as I'm sure it is for anyone whose floor might be cluttered lived in from time to time.

Though I was satisfied with the floor coverage, thoroughness, and mapping accuracy when testing the Shark Detect Pro, it seems overpriced for the negligible differences between it and a regular old self-emptying Shark. "Detect" sounds like it should refer to the capability to detect phone chargers or socks, but alas, it's actually talking about a feature that increases suction when an edge, corner, or extra dirty spot is detected.

The Shark Detect Pro is fine. Just fine. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Similarly, only one mopping Shark automatically stops mopping when carpet is sensed. This means vacuum and mop mode aren't possible at the same time in the other 2-in-1 Shark Matrix models, and a person needs to manually attach the water tank to switch to mopping mode. With Matrix Mopping being such a solid feature, it's a bummer that its usage is so dependent on human intervention.

Even the best Shark robot vacuum still only has a flat D-shaped mopping pad. It does press downward and vibrate for more tenacious scrubbing action than the lazy mopping done by cheap mopping robots, but the robot vacuum is kind of past that singular design now. Most people, myself included, seem to prefer dual spinning mopping pads, and now roller mops reminiscent of a paint roller are popping up — both mopping designs that iRobot offers. The PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro did a solid job of wiping up small spills and shoe stains on my apartment's hardwood, but it wasn't able to scrub in corners and along edges like iRobot's flexible spinning mops can.

SEE ALSO: The Roborock Saros 10R aces one thing that most other robot vacuums can't

Shark doesn't do itself any favors by refusing to list its vacuums' suction power in Pascals (Pa). Almost every other major robot vacuum brand measures suction power in Pa (even iRobot now), which makes comparing options easy. Shark still insists on keeping an air of mystery by solely comparing suction power to other vacuums in its own family tree. Shark has also been known to make claims like "50% better suction than the best-selling iRobot." Whatever that means.

Where iRobot and Shark both lose: Their apps suck

Ironically, two of the most longstanding names in the robot vacuum game have the two most outdated-feeling apps. The bare bones home maps in both the Roomba Home and Shark Clean apps are far less intricate than the color-coded maps that Roborock or Eufy offer. Pausing a clean or adding an extra room to the queue is similarly clunky on both.

In the early days of PC SSDs, skepticism was sky-high, and not completely unfounded. When reviewers deliberately tried to kill these drives, it often didn't take much.

Remember the Apple Vision Pro? Apple's AR/VR headset launched more than a year and a half ago in early 2024 to much fanfare. Since then, however, there appears to be waning interest in the Apple Vision Pro as sales have plunged for the $3,499 device.

However, Apple isn't giving up on the Apple Vision Pro quite yet.

In fact, the company has been hard at work on a new version of the AR/VR set, tentatively titled the Apple Vision Pro 2.

There are conflicting reports from two separate trustworthy sources regarding Apple's upgraded AR/VR headset. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the new Vision Pro 2 would be powered by Apple's upcoming M5 chipset. However, Bloomberg's Apple insider Mark Gurman has previously reported that the upgraded Vision Pro 2 would use Apple's most current chipset, the M4. Either way, though, it will seemingly be a big upgrade from the M2 chip that powers the current Vision Pro model alongside the R1 chip.

In addition to the upgraded processor, Gurman reports that Apple is working on increasing the 16 cores in the neural engine of the current Vision Pro, which would make the Vision Pro 2 even more powerful at completing AI related tasks.

Another big upgrade to the Vision Pro 2 is a more practical one: The headstrap. Even the Vision Pro owners who like the headset have complained about how heavy the device is, especially when using it for a prolonged period of time. 

According to a report from Bloomberg's Gurman from over the summer, Apple is working on a new headstrap that will enable users to more easily wear the 1.4 pound device for longer time periods. The report says the new strap for the Vision Pro 2 would focus on reducing neck strain and head pain.

Apple appears to be aiming for a Vision Pro 2 release by Spring 2026 before moving towards a cheaper, lighter AR/VR headset to be released sometime in 2027 or later.

DoorDash just unveiled new delivery service offerings, the most notable of which is an AI-powered anthropomorphic robot named Dot.

Dot is touted as both agile and fast — traveling up to 20 m.p.h. — and is already deployed in the greater Phoenix area. (Meanwhile, in L.A., a non-DoorDash delivery robot recently crashed into a disabled person in a wheelchair.) The robot is electric and one-tenth the size of a car, and DoorDash touts it as an environmentally friendly alternative to car-based deliveries. Dot's deftness means it can travel to the front doors of many homes, apartments, and office buildings, according to the company.

"You don’t always need a full-sized car to deliver a tube of toothpaste or pack of diapers," Stanley Tang, cofounder and head of DoorDash Labs, said in a statement. "The breakthrough wasn't just making it autonomous, but in making it reliable and efficient to serve the needs of local businesses and consumers ... It is small enough to navigate doorways and driveways, fast enough to maintain food quality, and smart enough to optimize the best routes for delivery."

Dot can carry up to 30 lbs. of cargo or six large pizza boxes. The robots are also designed with "eyes" that react to sounds and glance toward someone speaking or honking at them. When opened by customers, the robots (oddly) make a yawning sound.

Along with Dot, DoorDash also announced its new Autonomous Delivery Platform, an AI-powered dispatcher that determines the best way to deliver products to a customer — whether it's by Dot, drone, or driver.

Visual Studio is probably one of the best IDEs out there, especially when it comes to Windows apps. Now, it just got a lot better with a new set of features—including a lot of AI stuff that should make your development experience a lot more pleasant.

Hop on any of the major streaming services today, and you'll be greeted by a selection of content that's not from the USA, not from North America, and not from the global Anglosphere. It's never been easier to access and enjoy content from all over the world, but why exactly is there so much "foreign" content on streaming services?

Jellyfin for iOS version 1.7.0 is finally here, and the big news is that it finally brings long-awaited download support to the app. This means you can finally grab your media and watch it offline, working just like it does in the Jellyfin web client and the Android app.

UPDATE: Sep. 30, 2025, 3:45 p.m. EDT Since the initial writing of this story, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd Gen) have gone up in price to $279.99. This is still a savings of $20. Our original story follows.

Save $41.64: As of Sept. 30, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen) are on sale for $257.36 at Amazon, marking their first-ever price cut just weeks after their release. Usually $299, this deal saves you 14% off the total price.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen) $257.36 at Amazon
$299 Save $41.64 Get Deal

The only thing better than a new product release is a new product release on sale.

That's exactly the case with the second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, which just became available on Sept. 10, and are now on sale for $257.36 at Amazon, slashing $41.64 off their $299 price point. Admittedly, it's not the biggest price cut ever, but it is notable that these earbuds are getting any discount at all so shortly after their release. At the time of writing, the deal is only available on the black colorway.

I spent a couple of weeks testing out the earbuds, and was impressed by how well their noise cancellation performs — it's easily on par with over-ear models. As someone who doesn't love the sensation of wearing earbuds for longer periods of time, I found these comfortable enough to wear for hours at a time without any irritation. The sound quality is also well-rounded and full, and I appreciated the mic enhancements that made my voice much clearer on calls over the previous gen.

Honestly, the biggest flaws on these earbuds was that they aren't that different from the previous generation — there are some minor improvements in ANC and sound, with other upgrades in the form of wireless charging and an ear wax guard on the ear tips, but nothing that would make them a must-upgrade for first-gen users, even on sale.

However, if you don't already own premium ANC earbuds and have been looking for some of the best money can get, this discount makes them especially intriguing to check out. If you're willing to wait (and possibly miss out on savings — we don't know how long these deals will last) Amazon has teased that Bose products will be going on sale next week for October Prime Day.

We're nearing the last quarter of the year, and as usual, we're getting a new Windows update. Windows 11 25H2 is finally here, and here's everything that's new. Spoiler alert: there's not a lot.

An Amazon event wouldn't be an Amazon event without the brand pushing its own devices. While Amazon tends to stick strictly to the end of any Prime event's end cutoff time, it doesn't shy away from putting Amazon devices on sale early. So naturally, several Echo deals, Fire Tablet deals, and Blink camera deals are already live the week before Prime Big Deal Days kicks off on Oct. 7.

The best Prime Day Amazon device deals at a glance: BEST FIRE TABLET DEAL Amazon Fire HD 10 (64GB) $79.99 (save $100) Get Deal BEST FIRE TV DEAL Insignia 65-inch QF Series QLED 4K Fire TV $299.99 (save $200) Get Deal BEST ECHO DEAL Echo Buds with ANC $34.99 (save $85) Get Deal BEST KINDLE DEAL Kindle Scribe (16GB) $299.99 (save $100) Get Deal BEST BLINK DEAL Blink Video Doorbell $34.99 (save $35) Get Deal

A few devices are even beating their Prime Day prices from July: Particularly of note are the Echo Show 8 dropping to $99.99 (compared to $109.99 in July) and the Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation dropping to $34.99 — a 71% discount only matched during Black Friday 2024. There are a ton of great Fire TV deals — they just happen to be on Fire TVs from non-Amazon brands, like Insignia and Hisense. There aren't a ton of great Kindle deals just yet, but we'll update this post immediately when more Kindles do go on sale at Amazon. But for now, you can prepare by signing up for three months of Kindle Unlimited for free if you've never subscribed before.

Before you buy, see if Amazon announced a new version of that device at its fall hardware event on Sept. 30 — maybe you'll want to wait for the refreshed model, or maybe the new prices are the justification you needed to grab a deal now.

SEE ALSO: What is Stuff Your Kindle Day? The best way to fill your e-reader with free books.

Below, we're keeping tabs on all of the best Amazon device deals before and throughout the end of October Prime Day on Oct. 8. The best Amazon device deals do tend to sell out toward the end of the sale, so if you see a good price drop now, hop on it. There's also a ton of stuff outside of Amazon devices on sale ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, so be sure to follow along with our carefully curated coverage of all of the best October Prime Day deals.

Note: Deals with a 🔥 next to them have dropped to new record-low prices, while struck-through deals were sold out or expired at the time of writing.

Best Amazon device deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation (newest model) 🔥 $34.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $85 Get Deal Why we like it

There's no way around it: A shit ton of people are going to buy AirPods this October Prime Day. But for those who aren't married to Apple's earbuds (or how often they seem to break), just know that the latest version of Amazon's Echo Buds with ANC are just $34.99 after a 71% discount. That beats their Prime Day price from July by $10, and you could get five pairs of Echo Buds for less than the $199.99 sale price of the AirPods Pro 2.

Amazon's noise cancellation doesn't level with the effectiveness of those AirPods or other top noise-cancelling earbuds, but casual music or podcast listeners may not care at this price point.

Fire tablet deals

• Amazon Fire HD 8 (32GB) — $54.99 $99.99 (save $45)

• Amazon Fire 7 Kids (16GB) — $54.99 $109.99 (save $55)

• Amazon Fire 7 Kids (32GB) — $59.99 $129.99 (save $70)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 (32GB) — $69.99 $139.99 (save $70) 🔥

• Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (32GB) — $74.99 $149.99 (save $75)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 (64GB) — $79.99 $179.99 (save $100) 🔥

• Amazon Fire HD 8 (64GB) — $84.99 $129.99 (save $45)

• Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids (32GB) — $84.99 $159.99 (save $75) 🔥

• Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (64GB) — $104.99 $179.99 (save $75)

• Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids (64GB) — $104.99 $179.99 (save $75)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids (32GB) — $104.99 $189.99 (save $85) 🔥

• Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro (32GB) — $104.99 $189.99 (save $85) 🔥

• Amazon Fire Max 11 (64GB) — $139.99 $229.99 (save $90)

• Amazon Fire Max 11 (128GB) — $189.99 $279.99 (save $90)

Echo deals

• Echo Auto — $14.99 $54.99 (save $40) 🔥

• Echo Pop — $24.99 $39.99 (save $15)

• Echo Pop Kids — $24.99 $49.99 (save $25)

• Echo Show 8 adjustable stand — $24.99 $34.99 (save $10)

• Echo Dot — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)

• Echo Dot Kids — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)

• Echo Pop Kids with Echo Glow — $34.99 $79.98 (save $44.99)

• Echo Dot Kids with Echo Glow — $44.99 $89.98 (save $44.99)

• Echo Spot — $49.99 $79.99 (save $30)

• Echo Show 5 — $54.99 $89.99 (save $35)

• Echo Show 5 Kids — $54.99 $99.99 (save $35)

• Echo Show 5 Kids with Echo Glow — $64.99 $129.98 (save $64.99)

• Echo Show 8 — $99.99 $149.99 (save $50)

• Echo Hub — $119.99 $179.99 (save $60) 🔥

• Echo Frames — $119.99 $299.99 (save $180) 🔥

Kindle deals

• Kindle Kids (16GB) — $94.99 $129.99 (save $35)

• Amazon Kindle Essentials Bundle — $115.97 $161.97 (save $46)

• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle — $156.97 $216.97 (save $60)

• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition Essentials Bundle — $191.97 $276.97 (save $85)

• Amazon Kindle Scribe (16GB) — $299.99 $399.99 (save $100)

• Amazon Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle — $384.97 $569.97 (save $185)

Fire TV deals

• Amazon Fire TV Stick HD — $17.99 $34.99 (save $17)

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K — $24.99 $49.99 (save $25)

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max — $39.99 $59.99 (save $20)

• Amazon Fire TV Cube — $99.99 $139.99 (save $40)

• Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus — $149.99 $249.99 (save $100) 🔥

• Amazon 43-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $219.99 $329.99 (save $110)

• Amazon 50-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $259.99 $399.99 (save $140) 🔥

• Amazon 43-inch Omni Series 4K QLED Fire TV — $339.99 $439.99 (save $100)

• Amazon 55-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $339.99 $519.99 (save $120) 🔥

• Amazon 55-inch Omni Series 4K Fire TV — $449.99 $549.99 (save $100)

Fire TV deals from non-Amazon brands

• Toshiba 43-inch C350 Series 4K Fire TV — $159.97 $299.99 (save $140.02) 🔥

• Hisense 43-inch QD6 QLED 4K Fire TV — $196.99 $299.99 (save $103)

• Hisense 43-inch E6 Cinema Series QLED 4K Fire TV — $209.99 $349.99 (save $140) 🔥

• Toshiba 50-inch C350 Series 4K Fire TV — $219.99 $349.99 (save $130)

• Hisense 50-inch QD6 QLED 4K Fire TV — $246.99 $329.99 (save $83) 🔥

• Toshiba 55-inch C350 Series 4K Fire TV — $199.99 $399.99 (save $200) 🔥

• Insignia 55-inch QF Series QLED 4K Fire TV — $209.99 $399.99 (save $190)

• Hisense 55-inch E6 Cinema Series QLED 4K Fire TV — $279.99 $429.99 (save $150) 🔥

• Insignia 65-inch QF Series QLED 4K Fire TV — $299.99 $499.99 (save $200) 🔥

• Insignia 65-inch F50 Series 4K Fire TV — $289.99 $449.99 (save $160)

• Hisense 65-inch E6 Cinema Series QLED 4K Fire TV — $399.99 $549.99 (save $250) 🔥

• Insignia 70-inch F50 Series 4K Fire TV — $329 $499 (save $170) 🔥

• Insignia 75-inch QF Series QLED 4K Fire TV — $399.99 $649.99 (save $250) 🔥

• Hisense 75-inch E6 Cinema Series QLED 4K Fire TV — $549.99 $799.99 (save $250) 🔥

• Hisense 85-inch QD7 QLED 4K Fire TV — $999.99 $1,299.99 (save $300)

• Hisense 100-inch E6 Cinema Series QLED 4K Fire TV — $1,999.99 $2,699.99 (save $700) 🔥

Blink home security deals

• Blink Mini 2 — $19.99 $39.99 (save $20)

• Blink Video Doorbell — $34.99 $69.99 (save $35)

• Blink Outdoor 4 — $34.99 $79.99 (save $45) 🔥

• Blink Wired Floodlight Camera — $49.99 $99.98 (save $50) 🔥

• Blink Video Doorbell with Blink Outdoor 4 (3-pack) — $94.99 $249.98 (save $154.99)

Other Amazon device deals

• Amazon Smart Plug — $12.99 $24.99 (save $12)

• Amazon Luna wireless controller — $39.99 $69.99 (save $30)

• Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor — $44.99 $69.99 (save $25)

• Amazon Smart Thermostat — $59.99 $79.99 (save $20)

SAVE $85: As of Sept. 30, Amazon's Echo Buds with ANC are down to an all-time low price of $34.99. That's 71% off their list price of $119.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Buds with ANC $34.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $85 Get Deal

Earlier this month, we highlighted Amazon's excellent deal on the Echo Buds with ANC. Little did we know, that deal was about to get even better.

As of Sept. 30, just a week before the Prime Big Deal Days event, the Amazon Echo Buds with ANC have dropped another $10 to just $34.99. That's a massive 71% or $85 off their list price of $119.99 and the lowest price on record. The buds have only reached this record-low once before on Black Friday 2024.

Since they're quite a few years old, originally launching in 2021, we probably wouldn't recommend the Echo Buds with ANC at full price. At less than $40, however, it's a whole different ball game. At that price, they're cheaper than any of the earbuds on our list of the best budget picks.

While they won't compare to something like the AirPods Pro or Bose QuietComfort earbuds, the Echo Buds are still solid noise-cancelling earbuds for anyone who doesn't want to spend a fortune. They offer a comfortable fit, decent sound quality, and acceptable battery life (about 15 hours with the charging case). As Mashable's Alex Perry wrote in his review, "Considering how much cheaper these are than other big-name ANC-enabled earbuds, it's pretty incredible that the ANC works as well as it does."

If you're in the market for some earbuds that'll go easy on your wallet, add these babies to your cart while they're sitting at their best price ever.

Amazon’s lineup of Alexa-powered smart speakers is probably among the most popular, if not the most popular, among households. And now with the age of Alexa+ getting closer, we have new smart speakers ready for Alexa+.

Sony doesn't do that much in the world of AV these days, with a limited selection of (excellent) TVs and audio products mostly focused on headphones—which makes me a little sad. However, it also means that when Sony announces a new set of speakers, I sit up and listen.

Amazon just revealed a ton of new gadgets, and one of them is a new Smart Remote that is completely programmable with Alexa. This device, the Smart Dimmer Switch and Remote, is available for preorder for just $20 and is expected to start shipping in October.

The gas-only Toyota RAV4 is about to vanish in the U.S., making way for an all-hybrid 2026 lineup. Toyota’s going all-in on electrification, but they’re not totally ditching gas engines just yet.

As a YouTuber myself, and as a heavy user of YouTube for both work and my own entertainment, I watch a lot of content on the platform. Which means I'm in a good position to pick up certain trends and changes in the videos that people produce and publish, which is why I noticed a subtle but awful trend—AI slop content.

Blink, the Amazon-owned company known for its affordable smart home security cameras, announced a new generation to its lineup featuring 2K video, new mounting options, and more. Some of the most popular indoor and outdoor battery-powered cameras are about to get even better, making it easy to secure your home.

The long-standing annoyance of not being able to send money directly between Venmo and PayPal is finally coming to an end. The two massive digital payment apps are set to become natively compatible this November, which has been a long time coming.

Kindle users might be the most passionate sect of BookTok, coming up with hacks to maximize the device's potential, through page turners or Stuff Your Kindle Day events. And we get it, they're the best e-readers out there. In 2024, Amazon released a new line-up of Kindles that improved upon the previous generation, which we already loved.

I've tested the Kindle Paperwhite, and spoiler alert, I do think it's a better value than the Signature Edition. However, the SE isn't without its merits. Let's get into the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 12th generation, and if you should buy it over the basic Kindle or Kindle Paperwhite.

It has all the perks of the Paperwhite and more It's nearly impossible to tell the difference between the Kindle Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Kindle Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition are essentially the same device; the Signature Edition just has the addition of a few special features. You can read all the in-depth details about why we like the Paperwhite in my review, but here's the TL;DR.

The 2024 Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is lightning fast. In comparison to the 2021 edition, the difference is noticeable, with no hesitation when flipping through pages. However, the biggest improvement comes when switching between books in your library, as it zips through tasks.

With a 7-inch screen, the SE got a slight size increase, while the resolution of 300 ppi and maximum brightness of 94 nits remain the same between generations. That being said, the display on this generation looks higher contrast, making it sharper and easier to read. Plus, it remains waterproof, perfect for taking along to the bathtub, beach, or pool.

SEE ALSO: I've read hundreds of free Kindle books with this app. Here's how.

Not to mention it comes with 32GB of storage. If you're thinking in terms of phones or tablets, that amount of storage might seem small, but keep in mind that 32GB has the potential to hold up to 32,000 e-books.

You get all of these great features in both the Kindle Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition, so what makes the SE unique?

The same great battery life as the Kindle Paperwhite

Kindles are unbeatable on one front: battery life. The Kindle Paperwhite and Signature Edition boast the same battery life of up to 12 weeks. The Signature Edition can go months without charging, but it doesn't have a longer life than the standard Paperwhite. The only battery life bonus you get with the Signature Edition is its wireless charging capabilities.

The Paperwhite vs. Signature Edition: What does $40 extra get you?

The Paperwhite Signature Edition has several added features that come with its $40 increase in price. For $199.99, it comes with an ad-free lock screen, 32GB of storage, auto-adjusting brightness, and wireless charging. Plus it comes in metallic versions of the Kindle Paperwhite's black, jade, and raspberry.

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition offers a more vibrant twist on jade. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable No lockscreen ads

Among the added features, the lock screen is the biggest draw. On a standard Kindle, ads pop up on the lock screen, forcing Amazon's recommendations on you. Not necessarily a dealbreaker, but still plenty annoying. So the Signature Edition does away with the ads, freeing you from the chains of capitalism (sort of). However, this does come with one catch. The ad-free lock screen tends to unlock easily when tossing it into a bag since there's no 'swipe to unlock' mechanism that the ad-enabled devices have. So if you're going to get the Signature Edition, make sure to get a case with a cover.

Auto-adjusting brightness

In terms of the other features, I didn't think they were anything to write home about. The auto-adjusting brightness didn't work consistently, even when I went from reading next to a lamp to turning off the lights; the auto-adjustment didn't kick in, and I always had to manually turn the brightness down.

Wireless charging

The wireless charging, while nice, didn't feel like the most necessary addition since you need to charge the device every three months. Plus, with most devices using USB-C these days, I'm never in short supply of chargers.

Magsafe chargers even work on the Paperwhite Signature Edition. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable 32GB of storage — is it necessary?

Now let's address the 32GB in the room. For an e-reader, that is an exorbitant amount of storage. It's double the amount of the standard Kindle Paperwhite, and again, 32,000 books' worth of storage. That is a lot of books. Is that much necessary? In my professional opinion, no, especially when you can remove downloaded books from your device and redownload from the Kindle cloud at any time. So if you think you need all that storage, you probably don't, and it's not worth splurging an extra $40 on it.

Differences between the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 12th generation and 11th generation

If you already have the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 11th generation, you may be wondering if it's worth it to upgrade to the next generation. Short answer: Absolutely not. Unless your 11th-gen Signature Edition has kicked the bucket, the differences between the 11th generation and 12th generation are negligible. Both devices have all the premium features of 32GB of storage, wireless charging, auto-adjusting brightness, and no lockscreen ads.

The main differences between the two devices are faster processing and a slightly larger screen. Having used both devices, the processing speeds are extremely similar, but the 12th generation's extra speed is admittedly hard to notice. The larger screen size is nice, but it's only a difference of .2-inches.

All that to say, don't run to upgrade unless your old device is on its last leg.

Is the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition worth it? Is 32GB worth the $200 price tag? We're unconvinced. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

For the average user, I don't think the Signature Edition is a worthy upgrade. The Kindle Paperwhite is far better bang for your buck, packed with everything you need for the ultimate reading experience. It might be worth the splurge if you do have storage concerns — maybe you've maxed out on 16GB on previous Kindle models. Otherwise, 16GB will be fine. And if you're really put off by lock screen ads, then the Signature Edition is going to be your preferred device.

However, if you are going to swing for the Amazon Kindle Signature Edition, look for it on sale. During Black Friday 2024, the Signature Edition was down to $154.99, cheaper than the listing price of the standard Paperwhite.

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (2024 model, 12th generation) $199.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Mashable's reviews of the current Kindle line-up

• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2024: I’ve tried every Kindle and the Paperwhite is the only one you need

• Amazon Kindle 2024: Amazon's basic Kindle is the best e-reader on a budget

• Amazon Kindle Scribe 2024: Amazon's Kindle Scribe makes minor improvements but it's not enough

• Amazon Kindle Colorsoft: Is color really worth $250?

The federal government is preparing for what appears to be an imminent shutdown after President Donald Trump and congressional leaders failed to find budgetary compromise in meetings convened on Monday (Sept. 29).

The funding lapse would be the first under Trump's second term (but certainly not the first in the country's history). Under Trump's first term, the federal government experienced its longest shutdown ever (35 days) as leaders debated funding for Trump's plans to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the pause resulted in a $3 billion hit to the U.S. economy.  

SEE ALSO: President Trump finally inked a $14 billion TikTok deal to keep the app alive

This year's budget hinges on the two parties agreeing to terms on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies, something the Trump administration has taken a hard line on in its One Big Beautiful Bill. Senate Democrats have already once rejected a Republican-led temporary funding plan that would extend the current budget for another seven weeks, choosing to stand their ground on Medicaid.

Republican leaders, which hold a majority in the House and Senate, have plastered some government pages with claims that Democrats are holding the budget hostage. The homepage for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, for example, reads: "The Radical Left are going to shut down the government and inflict massive pain on the American people unless they get their $1.5 trillion wish list of demands."

If the pattern continues until the deadline (Sept. 30 at midnight), federal spending streams will be halted and services will have to operate with limited staff and funding.

What a shutdown means for federal agencies

In a departure from previous government shutdowns, the White House has also threatened to slash the federal workforce should the lapse occur, with Trump saying thousands of permanent jobs could be on the line if the two parties can't come to an agreement. The administration has already cut thousands of workers, including another 100,000 expected to resign today.

But most employees, barring lawmakers on Capitol Hill, will be furloughed or forced to work without pay. The paychecks of around 4 million federal employees, including millions of active service members and currently deployed National Guard troops, will be held in limbo until the new budget passes. Hundreds of thousands of employees will continue to work as unpaid essential staff — more than 300,000 government workers were furloughed during the last shutdown in early 2019. 

Essential services, like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, will continue to be doled out in the event of a shutdown, although individuals can expect slower turnarounds and potential application pauses. Regulatory agencies, including the health and safety operations of the FDA and CDC, will have to pause some of their work, as they reduce necessary staff. TSA and air traffic users will also be forced to work without pay. The U.S. Postal Service, border patrol, and law enforcement shouldn't be affected. 

Federal employee unions, including the AFGE, have warned that such a pause would put federal employees at risk of financial, medical, and food insecurity, and called the proposed mass firings an illegal tactic by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 

How a shutdown may impact individuals and online users

For the average citizen, a brief government shutdown will be more like a blip than a pressing worry. But an extended funding lapse — like that in 2019 — could have further-reaching repercussions. 

Most online services will continue to operate, including filing options for federal benefits, forms, and documents, like travel visas. But whether or not you'll receive those requests on time is another matter. SNAP and WIC recipients, for example, could have their benefits delayed if the USDA is slow to process new forms. Non-automated collections and refunds for the IRS would also be impacted, as the agency works with limited staff. Immigration and travel services, like the E-Verify process for new employees, could be shut down, as well. 

Other human services, like call centers and hotlines, could be put on pause, too. Offline, conservation groups have called to close National Parks if employees are furloughed following widespread vandalism during the 2019 shutdown. In the past, this has threatened the ever-popular Fat Bear Week, held at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Agencies like the National Park Service historically stop updating social media during a shutdown.

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In addition to beleaguered services and hits to federally subsidized programs, federal websites and national cyber security could also be strained by the lack of staff and funding. In 2019, security company Netcraft alleged that the lapse led to dozens of expired security certificates for .gov websites, rendering them "insecure or inaccessible." The Department of Homeland Security's cyber-security and infrastructure security agency was reduced to half staff, and cyber security experts warned that continued understaffing could pose risks to the general public, unable to verify federal websites. Previous lapses have also delayed election system security scans and cybersecurity research. 

This time around, the DHS's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) may be reduced even more, down to 35 percent of its current staff. Also on the chopping block for budget lawmakers is the 2015 Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act, a law that facilitates cyber threat sharing between private companies and the government, which is set to expire.