Technology

I've had a Solawave red light therapy wand in one of my bathroom organizers for probably two years now. I really wanted to love it, but it just didn't provide noticeable enough results for me to remember to use it. So it should say something that I never forgot to use the Shark CryoGlow red light mask in the few months that I was testing it — and beyond.

The Shark CryoGlow mask's $349.99 price tag isn't exactly cheap, but it isn't expensive compared to the other top red light masks on the market. The price feels much fairer when the CryoGlow has a few unique flexes that separate it from popular competitors like the $395 Omnilux mask and $349 Solawave mask.

Shark hair tools like the FlexStyle have cemented themselves as formidable fixtures in the hair care world for years now. But the CryoGlow is Shark's first attempt at esthetics — one carefully designed over time after input from dermatologists, evidence from clinical trials, and customer feedback about other red light devices on the market. I learned all about its lore at SharkBeauty's launch event for the mask in January 2025, then brought one home to test for myself.

What does the Shark CryoGlow mask do?

The Shark face mask targets fine lines, acne, dark circles, and generally uneven skin texture. These are the main benefits of red light therapy (and blue light and infrared light), often yearned for when even the most devout skincare routines aren't doing enough.

The CryoMask is lined with 160 interlocking tri-wick LED bulbs, spanning all corners of the face and even a little under the jaw. Everyone calls it an LED mask, but if you want to get fancy, it's technically iQLED.

The Shark CryoGlow mask weighs around 1.5 pounds. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The pink glow is achieved when blue and red light are shining simultaneously. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

That 160 beats the 132 LEDs of the Omnilux mask or the 14 LEDs of the Solawave wand, so that's noteworthy on its own — but the "tri-wick" thing is crucial, too. Tri-wick means that every single one of those bulbs can emit each wavelength, so you're getting full-face light coverage regardless of the setting. Scientifically, this would be clocked in terms of irradiance: a measurement of power density at the source of the LED. The Shark CryoGlow hits a maximum radiance of 128mW/cm² compared to the 30mW/cm² of the Omnilux.

(The bulbs in several competing masks can't all illuminate simultaneously because they're either single-wick or bi-wick, meaning half turn off when their designated color isn't being used.)

The nanometer measurement of each wavelength plays a huge role in skin penetration. The Shark CryoGlow uses a 415nm blue light targeting the skin's surface layer and 630nm red light with 830nm infrared to travel to the deeper, cellular layer of skin.

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So, what's the difference between red light and blue light? All you really need to determine is the skincare concern you'd like to target, then scroll through the CryoGlow remote's settings to choose one. Shark designed the two main settings to be used for an initial eight-week session with daily use.

• Better Aging mode: This mode stimulates collagen production and promotes plumping under the skin, making it the best setting for targeting fine lines and wrinkles. Here, the mask administers a combination of red and infrared light simultaneously for six minutes.

• Blemish Repair mode: This is used to kill acne-causing bacteria and improve skin clarity and texture on the top layer of the skin. Here, the mask administers a consecutive concoction of blue light with infrared for a few minutes, then blue and red light together for a few minutes, then red light + infrared for a few minutes. It takes eight minutes total.

• Skin Sustain mode: This is used to maintain your results and get a daily boost of brightness after your initial eight-week cycle is over. Skin Sustain administers blue light, red light, and infrared light simultaneously for a total of four minutes.

After each session is completed, the Shark mask turns off by itself. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The remote keeps track of how many sessions you've completed. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Each cycle's timing was calculated based on the wavelength combination of that setting — it's a much more precise approach than Googling "how long you should use red light therapy for." During the science part of the discussion at the launch event, it clicked for me: The momentary swipe of a red light wand with a one-inch surface is a really small amount of true LED exposure. This cleared up a lot of my confusion about my lack of Solawave wand results when it worked well for other people.

The Shark mask isn't super chill to wear, but it's quick

I doubt there's anyone out there researching the best red light mask to buy and expecting to not look like Dwight in that episode of The Office where he cuts off the CPR dummy's face. It's just part of the game.

Still, the Shark mask definitely isn't the chicest or slimmest mask I've seen. It's not foldable like some other models, and is also a little clunky when it comes to storage. The heavy packer in me could not take this thing in a suitcase, even though it comes with a carrying pouch.

I wish the remote were wireless, but it does have a pants clip. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable My cat isn't scared of the mask. I kind of am. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

There's definitely no answering the door like this, but you know what? The horror fanatic in me does not mind casually walking around the apartment looking like Jason Voorhees for a few minutes (though I am a proud Michael Myers girlie at heart — argue with yourself).

The CryoGlow doesn't necessarily feel heavy if you're just scrolling on your phone while wearing it. But it does start to feel a little bulky if you're performing a real task that requires looking down. I kept trying to feed my cats during morning CryoGlow sessions and had to strain my neck to accurately scoop the wet food into the bowls on the counter.

The mask itself is rechargeable and doesn't need to be plugged into the wall while being used; instead, it needs to be charged about every three days. Though the remote and its cord mostly stay out of the way, it would be sick if it were cordless.

The CryoGlow takes a few hours to fully recharge. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The thing is, no Shark CryoGlow session lasts longer than eight minutes. You're not really being inconvenienced for long. The fans are whooshing right in your ear, but it's not so loud that you can't hear a conversation or watch TV. Honestly, the hardest part of wearing it is sitting there with air-dried skin without something moisturizing on it — Shark recommends a clean, dry face for light to best penetrate, but the itchy feeling post-cleansing makes me want to tear my whole face off.

Shark CryoGlow results after three months

I kind of stopped giving a shit about how I look without makeup after my frontal lobe developed. But the CryoGlow marks a time in my life when I genuinely feel cute bare-faced. I truly feel like there's more of an inherent glow and evenness to my skin after my full CryoGlow session than I've ever had before.

But I know everyone is most interested in the full transformation, so fine, I'll give you a "before" picture. But before I expose myself like that, I'm entitled to show the "after" picture first.

My skin after completing the full CryoGlow session. (Peep the sticker in the phone case — I TOLD YOU I was a Michael Myers girlie.) Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

I promise my skin is smooth in this photo — the only leftover "spots" are discoloration from previous giant pimples. I've accepted the fact that I need to pay for more microneedling to uproot those.

Does the Shark mask work on acne?

Every little kid dreams of growing up, having a mental breakdown about adult acne at age 30, and publishing a close-up photo of it in an online article for work. But I have to showcase the full transformation to show that yes, the Shark CryoGlow mask really does keep acne formation at bay.

Before: No concealer/foundation combo was hiding these. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable After: No makeup, just morning skincare! Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

For context, I'm 30 years old and never really struggled with acne... up until about four years ago. It's been a battle to keep my chin, jawline, and cheeks clear since then. I was living in fear of waking up with a new pimple cooking after I had just gotten the last one to simmer down. Mine were in areas typically associated with fluctuating hormones.

All of that was happening while never skipping my nighttime skincare routine and attending a few microneedling appointments, my last of which was three months before I started testing the Shark mask. While I do believe my religious Tretinoin use has improved the texture of my skin, it was outnumbered by hellbent acne. The only true slowdown of pimples I experienced started a month into using the CryoGlow. I went from a new painful crater popping up almost every day to maybe one or two every two weeks.

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(The only other changes I recently made were spritzes of hypochlorous acid after waking up or going outside, and taking a Zinc supplement after TikTok suggested that could help with acne.)

The CryoGlow is excellent at fighting bacteria that causes acne and reducing redness of the ones that do exist, it doesn't really reduce acne scars or deep leftover red spots — and doesn't claim to. Those just seem to be stubborn little marks that probably require an in-office facial treatment.

Does the Shark mask work on fine lines?

Yes, the Shark mask made the fine lines in some areas of my face less noticeable.

The needlelike presence of my forehead wrinkles had become increasingly prominent in the last few years of my 20s. Makeup was making the texture even more noticeable, especially when it began creasing after a few hours. I finally started getting occasional forehead Botox about two years ago, and let me tell you: Botox is that girl. But the baby wrinkles soon creep back in, and keeping up with it gets expensive.

I'm fully convinced that the Shark CryoGlow mask was key in mellowing out my forehead lines enough to keep me out of the Botox chair for months longer than I'm "supposed" to. (For context: My last Botox appointment was five months before testing the Shark CryoGlow, and I did not get any Botox treatments while testing the mask.)

SEE ALSO: TikTok is criticizing young girls who shop at Sephora. They're missing the point.

Concealer and powder were blending so much more seamlessly than they previously did when I was overdue. There's nothing like that post-Botox forehead plumpness, but the CryoGlow provided the next best thing for me — a smoothness that no serums in targeted Instagram ads are going to achieve.

Unfortunately, the CryoGlow didn't have the same blurring effect around my crow's feet. God forbid you're someone who LAUGHS.

Does the Shark mask work on under eyes?

I definitely think I look less like a corpse on the days when I use the CryoGlow's under-eye chill pads. This is where the "Cryo" part of the title comes in: the mask is mimics cryotherapy, which can lower inflammation of the tissue using targeted low temperatures. The chill pads can cool at three different levels of chilly during an LED session, or can be used without lights.

SEE ALSO: NIRA Pro review: I used this anti-wrinkle device for 90 days — here are before and after pics

The CryoGlow's de-puffing effects don't feel super long-lasting — keep in mind that this is more of an elevated ice roller routine each morning than a heavy-duty under-eye treatment. You can't expect hollowness to permanently fill out, but I can vouch for the brightening effect. At any rate, the cool metal plates feel amazing when you're a zombie in the morning.

Is the Shark CryoGlow Mask worth it?

Shark's face mask visibly proved its worth in my skincare routine, and I'd recommend it to just about anyone.

The way my acne cleared up during the eight-week period was easily the most palpable result. I'm not saying you'll never get a pimple while using the mask, but I do think the CryoGlow's red, blue, and infrared concoction is extremely effective at mitigating the amount of acne popping up. Similarly, because its wavelengths can dig further into the skin than topical skincare, it's a more powerful tool for dulling fine lines than any retinols or retinoids I've tried. With less-dead under eyes as the cherry on top, I am glowier and more comfortable bare-faced now than I was pre-mask.

The Shark CryoGlow mask may or may not be able to accomplish these exact results for everyone from scratch. It probably depends on the skin you're working with to start, and the consistency of the rest of your skincare routine. The CryoGlow is definitely a slight financial investment up front, but most people deep in skincare mode know that no route to glass skin is cheap. Plus, regular CryoGlow use could end up saving you money over time.

Shark CryoGlow LED face mask $349 at Amazon
Shop Now

Kids aren't the only ones who get excited about birthday gifts. You can be a full-grown adult and still lose your shit when you open up the gift that topped your wish list. But as you get older, it does become a little more difficult to come up with a list of birthday gift ideas. You can't just ask for all the coolest new toys anymore. Well, you can if you want — we're not going to stop you.

SEE ALSO: Try Gift Lab: Our interactive gift guide

If your birthday is coming up and you're struggling to think of what you want, don't sweat it. We compiled the ultimate birthday wish list, with gifts ranging from tech to outdoor essentials to home goods. To make your search easier, we've separated our gift ideas into categories: Our current favorite birthday gifts, gifts under $25, gifts under $50, gifts $50 to $150, and gifts $150+.

Read on for some birthday inspo and start casually dropping hints to your friends and family. And hey, happy birthday!

Our top picksColor-changing smart light bulbs Credit: Philips

Deputy Shopping and Reviews Editor Miller Kern here. I have put a Hue light bulb in every lamp in my apartment, and it's so rare that I use the Big Light now. These color-changing bulbs let me dim the lights when I want to relax or emit fun colors while I'm watching a movie. And the best part is, I don't have to get out of bed to turn the lights off at night.

Opens in a new window Credit: Philips Philips Hue Smart Bulbs $99.99 at Best Buy
Shop Now A digital camera that captures film-style photos Credit: Camp Snap

I love taking and having film photos, but 1) film is expensive, and 2) all of the film cameras I have are chunky. The Camp Snap camera is an amazing alternative. It's digital and incredibly lightweight — and the pictures truly do look like they were taken on film. They're clear yet stylized enough to give that vintage feel. And you can take multiple versions of the same shot without feeling like you're wasting film.

Opens in a new window Credit: Camp Snap Camp Snap camera $69.95 at Camp Snap
Shop Now Coffee from around the world Credit: Atlas Coffee Club

I personally don't drink coffee, but my dad is a big coffee guy. I got him and his wife a three-month subscription to Atlas Coffee Club for Christmas and they freakin' loved it. They sent me a text every month to let me know where their coffee came from, and they love trying new roasts from around the world. Each month you get coffee beans and a postcard from different countries, so you get to try beans you can't get from your grocery store. You can select from whole beans, grounds, Keurig pods, and Nespresso pods. Subscriptions can be three, six, or 12 months.

Opens in a new window Credit: Atlas Coffee Club Atlas Coffee Club gift subscription Starting at $55 Shop Now A new Kindle Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Listen, I used to be such a physical books-only kind of person. Then I bought a Kindle Paperwhite and it changed my reading game for good. I'm able to easily take the e-reader on the plane, to the beach, or even in the bathtub (shoutout to the Paperwhite being waterproof). Plus, I can read library books for free from the Libby app. If you're a reader, trust me when I say a Kindle should be at the top of your birthday list this year. (P.s. A new Kindle Paperwhite was released in October 2024.)

Kindle Paperwhite (2024) $159.99 at Amazon
Shop Now A gorgeous TV that doubles as art Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

Samsung's The Frame TV made waves when it came out a few years ago, but the price is just not attainable for everyone. The Hisense CanvasTV is an amazing, budget-friendly (well, friendlier) alternative if you want an art TV for your birthday. The Google TV interface is amazing, and the TV truly does blend in with your art and decor. This is a bougie birthday ask, but one that's worth it.

Hisense CanvasTV (55-inch, QLED) $697.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $302 Shop Now Birthday gifts under $25Elevate your cooking game Credit: TrendPlain

This 2-in-1 oil dispenser pours and sprays so you won't have to buy separate olive oil and Pam cooking spray. This is a practical gift to put on your list whether you're a home chef or use an air fryer for every meal.

Oil dispenser and sprayer $8.88 at Amazon
$9.99 Save $1.11 Shop Now Whatever you want from Amazon Credit: Amazon / Mashable composite

If your Amazon wish list is calling your name, ask for an Amazon gift card for your birthday. Get the present you've been dreaming of on someone else's dime.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon e-gift card Shop Now Learn something new Credit: Coursehorse

You’ve successfully completed one more trip around the sun, so to celebrate, develop a new skill or indulge a passion by taking an IRL class on the subject of your choice. Coursehorse partners with real-world instructors and schools in major cities to offer nearly 70,000 classes in subjects such as art, language, music, cooking, self-defense, gardening, and anything else you could possibly want.

Opens in a new window Credit: Coursehorse Coursehorse Gift Card Starting at $5 at Coursehorse Shop Now A tiny bag Credit: Nanobag

Nanobag is a tote bag that can fold up into a pocket-sized ball. It's great for keeping in the car or your bag for those unplanned grocery or Target stops. The standard size starts at $13.95 and comes in 10 different colors and patterns.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nanobag Nanobag $13.95 at Nanobag
Shop Now Simple Lego flowers Credit: Lego

Lego sets can be pretty freakin' expensive, but if you're looking for some more budget-friendly building kits for your birthday list, we've found a fun one. It includes two buildable roses that you can display after you've put them together. Wilting not included!

Lego Roses building kit $9.03 at Amazon
$14.99 Save $5.96 Shop Now A delicious-smelling candle Credit: Bonita Fierce

Candles are a timeless gift that you can ask for at every single gift-giving opportunity (and will likely receive anyway if you don't specify what you actually want). We are firm believers that you can never have too many candles. Add some sweet scents from Bonita Fierce, a Latina-owned small business, to your b-day wish list this year and every year. Candles start at $16. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Bonita Fierce Bonita Fierce candle Starting at $16 at Bonita Fierce Shop Now A puzzle with a few tricks up its sleeve Credit: Magic Puzzle Company

Magic Puzzle Company makes incredibly fun 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles that have a secret envelope for you to open when you're done. This surprise envelope unlocks a "magical twist ending," so placing that final piece will be even more exciting. The intricate designs feature tons of little Easter eggs, like puzzle pieces in the shape of items in the scene. The Big Rock City puzzle has a hot dog-shaped piece and music note-shaped piece to name a couple.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic Puzzle Company Magic Puzzle Company (Big Rock City puzzle) $22.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Somewhere to put your headphones Credit: Coreminded

Rather than laying your headphones throughout your home or having them clutter up your desk, ask for a universal headphone stand for your birthday. This one is compatible with almost any pair of over-ear headphones or gaming headsets — and it has a pretty sleek look, too.

Opens in a new window Credit: coreminded Universal headphone stand $24.99 at Amazon
Shop Now A stylish candle warmer lamp Credit: Geezo

Big candle fan? Then a candle warmer should be on your birthday list. It helps your candle last longer and you don't need an open flame burning in your home. And if you're going to ask for a candle warmer, make it a cute one. With a glass lamp shade, this warmer blends seamlessly into your home decor.

Opens in a new window Credit: Geezo Candle warmer lamp $24.99
Shop Now Backup battery for your phone Credit: Anker

This portable charger from Anker is great for travel or being out on the town all day. It has enough juice to recharge your phone a couple of times, and it comes in four colors.

Anker portable charger $16.09 at Amazon
$25.99 Save $9.90 See It Cold hard cash Credit: Pixabay

You really can't beat the gift of cold, hard cash — or a gift card. A Visa card is a perfect birthday gift because you can spend it on literally whatever you want; buy yourself something fun or get some help with groceries. Best of all, you don't need to decide exactly what you want before your birthday. The gift card starts at $10.

Opens in a new window Credit: Visa Gift card Starting at $10 at Giftcards.com Shop Now New reading materials Credit: Getty Images / iStock / Extreme-Photographer

Support independent bookstores from around the country with a gift card to Bookshop. Starting at $10, the gift cards can either be used to buy books from a specific shop you love, or the purchase can feed the site’s profit-sharing pool to benefit all of Bookshop's partner stores. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Bookshop.org Bookshop.org Gift Cards Starting at $10 at Bookshop Shop Now Gifts $25 to $50A way to keep track of your keys Credit: Apple

In our opinion, the first thing you add to your keyring should be an AirTag. You can monitor where they are in Apple's Find My app, and you'll get an alert on your phone if you ever leave them behind somewhere.

Apple AirTag $24.95 at Amazon
$29 Save $4.05 Shop Now The viral Owala FreeSip reusable water bottle Credit: Owala

The Owala FreeSip is a fan-favorite and Mashable staff-favorite reusable water bottle. The innovative spout lets you sip like a straw or chug like a cup. Plus, the bottles come in super cute color combinations.

Opens in a new window Credit: Owala Owala FreeSip insulated water bottle $29.99 at Amazon
Shop Now A cookie cutter of your pet Credit: FormaCookieCutters

Celebrate your favorite furry creature by eating their face — in a good way. Send in a photo of your best pet friend to this Etsy store and get a four-inch-wide, food-safe PLA cookie cutter of their likeness in return. Whether you’re taking care of the baking or you’re leaving the prep work for the recipient, you’re going to be hailed as an absolute gift-giving wizard. Order these custom birthday gifts for $30 from Etsy seller the FormaCookieCutters.

Opens in a new window Credit: FormaCookieCutters Custom Pet Portrait Cookie Cutter $30 at Etsy
Shop Now Elegant chopsticks Credit: Pingto

Step up your take-out game and do right by the environment with a set of elegant, reusable chopsticks. The bundle of six bamboo chopsticks is available in two color palettes and retails for $32.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pingto Pingto Bamboo Chopstick Sets $32 at Amazon
Shop Now A personalized Yeti mug Credit: Yeti

This Yeti Rambler 24-ounce mug is a great size for both true coffee lovers and beer drinkers. It can also hold two Moscow mules, according to Yeti, if that's more your speed. The Rambler is available in an array of fun and neutral colors. Plus, you can customize it with an etched design or monogram. For just $6 to $10, you can choose designs from Yeti's library or upload your own file. (Mashable's review editor owns the king crab orange mug with a cowboy boot and flowers etched on the side, pictured below.)

Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Rambler 24-ounce mug $35 at Yeti
Shop Now A one-of-a-kind planner Credit: Papier

Are you a proud Type A over-planner and over-thinker? Or maybe your meticulously organized BFF is having a birthday soon? This spiral-bound planner can be customized with the recipient's name and three personal photos.

Opens in a new window Credit: Papier Personalized Photo Strip 2025 Planner $36 at Papier
Shop Now An app for exploring Credit: AllTrails

Love to be outside, but can’t fold a map to save your life? Enter AllTrails+, the app designed to get you off your phone and into the wild. Featuring over 400,000 curated trails all over the world, the app allows you to download maps in case of a poor signal, record your hikes, create your own trails, and more. A yearly subscription costs $35.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: AllTrails AllTrails yearly subscription $35.99 at AllTrails
Shop Now Mini zodiac cupcakes Credit: Baked by Melissa

Birthday cake is the standard, but might we suggest this fun alternative: mini cupcakes selected by an astrologer specifically for your zodiac sign. This Baked by Melissa offering comes with 25 cupcakes and the flavors vary depending on your sign — though there are some fan-favorites that show up in each zodiac variation. These also make for a great last-minute ask if you're in Manhattan or Boston, as there's same-day delivery for select locations.

Opens in a new window Credit: Baked by Melissa Baked by Melissa zodiac cupcakes $37
Shop Now A custom pet portrait Credit: LeFlore Studio

Sometimes, the best birthday gifts are the ones made just for you. If you're obsessed with your pet, these custom pet portraits need to be on your birthday list. There are many different styles to choose from, each one super freakin' adorable. Prices vary depending on size.

Opens in a new window Credit: LeFlore Studio Custom pet portrait Prices vary at LaFlore Studio on Etsy Shop Now An inconspicuous fanny pack Credit: FlipBelt

Whether you’re going for a run or heading to a music festival, keep your necessities at the ready with a FlipBelt Zipper pack. This handy belt can hold your phone, money, credit card, keys, and all sorts of everyday necessities. Coming in multiple sizes, the FlipBelt doesn’t bounce or chafe and is machine washable.

Opens in a new window Credit: FlipBelt FlipBelt Zipper Running Belt $39 at Amazon
Shop Now A cast iron skillet Credit: Lodge

A cast-iron skillet is the true sign that you're graduating from cheap nonstick cookware and all mismatched plates. It's something you probably want, but don't particularly want to spend the money on. Lodge has different sizes depending on what you want to cook.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lodge Lodge cast iron skillet $40.75 at Amazon
Shop Now Authentic chai Credit: Kolkata Chai

Not satisfied with supermarket-bought chai? Get the real thing from New York-based chai-preneurs at Kolkata Chai. This small business will send authentic chai straight to your door with the Chai Trio Variety Pack ($62) or the Chai Starter Kit ($45). For devoted chai drinkers, Kolkata Chai offers subscription packages to keep that tea coming.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kolkata Chai Kolkata Chai Starting at $45 at Kolkata Chai Shop Now A Lego set that doubles as decor Credit: LEGO

One of our favorite gifts under $50 is this Lego Orchid that's fun to build and adds a nice touch of greenery to your space that feels more unique than a plastic plant. This set is part of the Lego Icons line, which also features succulents, a bonsai tree, and a bouquet, in case orchids aren't your thing.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Orchid $49.99 at Amazon
Shop Now A smart speaker Credit: Amazon

If you don't have a smart speaker by now, it's time to make a change. The Echo Dot is an affordable voice-controlled companion that'll keep you in the loop on the weather and current events and keep track of your most important reminders. Also, they're great for playing music.

Echo Dot smart speaker $37.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $12 Shop Now A media streaming stick Credit: Amazon

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is one of the best streaming devices we've tested, and it's also one of our favorite birthday gift ideas. If you don't already have a smart TV but want to access Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Disney+, and all the other streaming apps directly from your TV, ask for a Fire TV Stick for your b-day. Amazon's streaming stick has better voice control than similar products from Roku, and the 4K version normally goes for $49.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K $49.99 at Amazon
Shop Now The delicious scent without the fire hazard Credit: Pura

If candles are a no-go, opt for a Bluetooth-enabled diffuser to make any room in your home smell divine. The Pura Smart Fragrance Diffuser ($49.99) holds two fragrances and is controlled entirely through the app. Schedule one smell to wake up to and one to fall asleep to with the in-app calendar feature. Pura collaborates with brands like NEST, Anthropologie, Disney, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City to source their scents, so whatever the occasion calls for, they’ve got your back.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pura Pura Smart Fragrance Diffuser $49.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Gifts $50 to $150Local flavors delivered Credit: Goldbelly

Speaking of take-out: if you’ve maxed out your city’s culinary offerings, see what’s available from the rest of the country. Goldbelly makes it possible to order meals and gifts from restaurants around the United States. No matter your craving, a Goldbelly gift card at any price point is bound to satisfy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Goldbelly Goldbelly gift card starting at $50 at Goldbelly Shop Now A custom neon sign Credit: GITM Store

Pick out a funny phrase, inside joke, or a family name and get a custom sign in as little as one week. It might sound too good to be true, but Mashable editors have ordered from this Amazon storefront before and had a great experience. In fact, this is one of our favorite undiscovered gems on Amazon, and you can buy signs for as little as $53.96.

Opens in a new window Credit: GITM Store Custom Neon Sign $53.96 at Amazon
Shop Now Coffee from around the world Credit: Atlas Coffee Club

Atlas Coffee Club is a coffee subscription that sends you coffee beans and postcards from a different country each month. So, you get to try roasts you probably can't get from your grocery store and you get to learn about a new place — and maybe get some travel inspo. You can select from whole beans, grounds, Keurig pods, and Nespresso pods. Subscriptions can be three, six, or 12 months.

Opens in a new window Credit: Atlas Coffee Club Atlas Coffee Club gift subscription Starting at $55 Shop Now A personal blender for smoothies Credit: Nutribullet

Make smoothies in your own kitchen with a NutriBullet personal blender — it's fast and easy. The NutriBullet Nutrient Extractor comes with the 600W motor base, blender blade, 24-ounce blending cup, travel lid, and lip ring, plus a recipe book if you're sick of the same old smoothies.

Opens in a new window Credit: NutriBullet NutriBullet $58 at Walmart
Shop Now An endless supply of veggies and herbs Credit: AeroGarden

Whether you're an enthusiastic home chef, like a bit of greenery, or simply can't stand running to the grocery store every time a recipe calls for some cilantro, a hydroponic garden is a great way to keep veggies and herbs on hand, even if you don't have a green thumb. We're fans of AeroGarden, which has gardens that start at $60.75.

Opens in a new window Credit: AeroGarden AeroGarden Sprout $60.75 at Amazon
Shop Now A weighted blanket Credit: Quilty

For what seems like an extraneous expense, an extra-heavy blanket can be a total game-changer. Besides providing all the comfort of a partner without the snoring, a weighted blanket can reduce tossing and turning and keep you extra warm. This one at Amazon comes in a bunch of colors, sizes, and weights.

Opens in a new window Credit: quilty Quilty weighted blanket Starting at $63.99 Shop Now Film vibes from a digital camera Credit: Camp Snap

Film photos are back in a big way, but not all of us have the patience to fill up an entire roll and then wait for it to get developed. Camp Snap is a really neat camera that takes film-esque photos and stores them on an SD card so you can pull them to your computer or phone and post them immediately. It's super lightweight and has a pretty low profile compared to film cameras, making it easy to slip into your purse or pocket on a night out.

Opens in a new window Credit: Camp Snap Camp Snap camera $65 at Camp Snap
Shop Now A necessary Nintendo Switch upgrade Credit: Nintendo

It's never too late to upgrade your Switch set up, and the Pro controller can help you do just that. This controller is perfect for when you connect your device to a larger display, and it has the added bonus of zero Joy-Con drift.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch Pro Controller $69.99 at Amazon
Shop Now A tea and coffee lover's best friend Credit: Cosori

There's a certain electric gooseneck kettle that's beloved by design nerds, but that's also a tad overpriced (more than a tad, really). Instead, make the smart choice and opt for the infinitely more practical Cosori Electric Gooseneck Kettle. It still has plenty of charm — not to mention pre-set buttons for tea, coffee, and boiling water.

Opens in a new window Credit: Cosori Cosori Electric Gooseneck Kettle $69.99 at Amazon
Shop Now A pack of disposable cameras Credit: Fujifilm

We have a couple of camera options on this list, but sometimes you really just want that classic disposable camera experience. You'll capture some fun, in-the-moment memories with no do-overs. A three-pack of disposable cameras costs $79.99 (these have become kind of expensive since the invention of digital/phone cameras).

Opens in a new window Credit: Fujifilm Fujifilm disposable cameras $53.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $26.00 Shop Now Affordable no-worry earbuds Credit: Anker

Worried your earbuds will fall out of your ears and be lost forever? Get peace of mind with the affordable Soundcore Sport X10 wireless earbuds. Designed for athletes but great for anyone, these headphones hook around your ears and stay put no matter how sweaty or active you get (a fact we can personally attest to). Keep them in their case for on-the-go charging.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore Sport X10 Earbuds $79.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Fancy olive oils Credit: Brightland

This is one of our favorite gifts to give someone who's difficult to shop for, so it also makes a great gift to ask for when you aren't sure what you want. Brightland makes infused olive oils that come in super cute bottles. This set includes four mini bottles of chili, garlic, lemon, and basil-flavored olive oils. Your kitchen will feel elevated with these on display and in your cooking rotation.

Opens in a new window Credit: Brightland Brightland olive oil Mini Artist Series $85 at Brightland
Shop Now Color-changing smart light bulbs Credit: Philips

Turn your bedroom into a party with these color-changing smart light bulbs. You can control the lights from your phone and set whatever mood you're feeling. This kit includes two smart Bluetooth bulbs for $99.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Philips Philips Hue Smart Bulbs $99.99 at Best Buy
Shop Now A year of ad-free music Credit: Spotify

Maybe a Spotify Premium membership isn't in your budget this year, or maybe it's a monthly bill you'd just rather have someone else foot for you. Whatever the case, add a 12-month Spotify subscription gift card to your bday list. It's especially great if you've got someone shopping for you who notoriously waits until the last minute to buy gifts since it can be delivered via email or text.

Spotify Premium 12-month subscriotoin e-gift card $99 at Amazon
Shop Now Something to make your life a little more eco-friendly Credit: Stasher

Whether you're packing your lunch or storing leftovers, using plastic bags should be your last resort. Heck, you should be trying to stay away from all single-use plastics if you're able to. But, if you want to start small, these Stasher bags are a great option to make your daily life more eco-friendly. These silicone bags are secure and completely reusable — either wash them by hand or stuff them in the dishwasher. Grab a starter pack for $99.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Stasher Stasher Bags starter kit $99.99 at Stasher
Shop Now A beginner-friendly sewing machine Credit: Singer

Sewing has become a popular hobby amongst TikTokkers, and whether you've never touched a sewing machine in your life or you're just in need of a new one, the Singer M1150 is a solid machine for sewists of all levels. It hits all your basics at a reasonable price point.

Opens in a new window Credit: Singer Singer M1150 sewing machine $119.98 at Amazon
Shop Now The smart temperature-controlled mug Credit: Ember

There's a lot of debate about what makes a good gift, but getting something that is a) practical and b) something just extravagant enough that you'd never get it for yourself may be the infallibly perfect combo. We think for coffee and tea drinkers, that combo is found in the Ember Mug 2, which retails for $129.95. This temperature-controlled mug may be unnecessary (and expensive), but boy does it feel good to take a hot sip of coffee after forgetting you poured it an hour ago.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ember Ember Mug 2 $129.95 at Amazon
Shop Now A photo printer Credit: Canon

Have some photos on your phone or Instagram that you want to pin to your fridge? Ask for the Canon SELPHY CP1500 Compact Photo Printer. This sleek gadget connects to your Android or iPhone through WiFi, SD card, or USB stick and prints out your favorite pics in a layout design of your choosing. The printing isn’t instant (the color ink layers print one at a time), but the quality of the final product makes it worth the wait.

Opens in a new window Credit: Canon Canon SELPHY CP1500 Compact Photo Printer $139.99 at Amazon
Shop Now The gift of clean air Credit: Levoit

We know, we know, an air purifier is not the sexiest gift, but it is a practical one. The Levoit Core 300S is a smart air purifier with a companion app that lets you control the device and see real-time stats about your home's air quality. It's suitable for spaces up to 1,095 square feet.

Levoit Core 300S smart air purifier $149.99 at Amazon
Shop Now A portable, waterproof speaker Credit: Bose

Beach days and outdoor adventures are made complete with your favorite playlist. The Bose SoundLink Flex is a portable speaker that can handle the elements while still providing stellar sound quality. It's waterproof, rust- and drop-resistant, and even floats. Plus, it comes in five fun colors. For even bigger sound, try the Bose SoundLink Max.

Bose SoundLink Flex $149 at Amazon
Shop Now Gifts $150+A new Kindle Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The Mashable team has tested every Kindle e-reader, and we think the Kindle Paperwhite is the right e-reader for most people. Instead of asking for a book, ask for a Kindle for your birthday and save yourself money and space. Sure, it doesn't smell the same as a new book, but now you'll have no excuses for not keeping up with your yearly reading resolutions. (P.s. A new Kindle Paperwhite was released in October 2024.)

Kindle Paperwhite (2024) $159.99 at Amazon
Shop Now The viral Hatch alarm clock Credit: Hatch

Intrigued by sleepmaxxing? The Hatch Restore 3 sunrise alarm clock could help you get a better night's rest. It's designed to help you create a bedtime routine to help you fall asleep easier. It's packed with different sleep sounds and light levels to ease you in and out of sleep.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hatch Hatch Restore 3 sunrise alarm clock $169.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Sleep earbuds that also track your sleep Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds are our top pick for the best sleep earbuds. Our tester liked their battery life, comfort and fit, reliable performance, and sleep data. The sleep tracking was more accurate than data from a sleep-tracking phone app.

Anker Soundcore SleepA20 sleep earbuds $179.99 at Amazon
Shop Now A desk you can take anywhere Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

If you work remotely, you gotta get this portable desk from Logitech. The Casa Pop-Up Desk includes a wireless keyboard, wireless trackpad, and a desk stand that doubles as a discreet and stylish carrying case. It comes in three colors so you can match your aesthetic. This is an especially great tool if you like working from coffee shops or moving around while you work.

Opens in a new window Credit: Logitech Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk $179.99 at Amazon
Shop Now A new comforter Credit: Buffy

Comforters, like a mattress, shouldn't be an item you cheap out on. They're supposed to last you a while, so why not have something a little more luxurious? The Buffy Cloud comforter is a sustainable comforter made from recycled fiber and eucalyptus. Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart reviewed it, calling it "the first piece of bedding I've used that actually feels kind of dreamy." Snag a full/queen size comforter for $195 at Buffy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Buffy Buffy Comforter $195 at Buffy
Shop Now Sony's latest bass-heavy headphones Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Sony released its new ULT Power Sound lineup in April, and we adore the headphones. The ULT Wears have Sony's impressive sound quality and noise cancellation and are made even more impressive by the addition of the ULT button, which punches up the bass two additional levels. These headphones are booming, and the best part is they're relatively budget-friendly.

Opens in a new window Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable Sony ULT Wear headphones $198 at Amazon
Shop Now A new kind of jump rope Credit: Crossrope

Turn traditional jump roping on its head with Crossrope. The weighted jump rope (available in 1/4, 1/2, one, and two-pound weight options) and associated app keep you on your toes and strengthen your entire body through guided workouts. For those with downstairs neighbors or curious pets, the weighted ropeless option provides a silent solution for an otherwise noisy activity. Upgrade to the Bluetooth-connected AMP handles for a more individualized experience.

Opens in a new window Credit: Crossrope AMP Jump Rope Set $199 at Crossrope
Shop Now A pressure cooker and air fryer in one Credit: Instant Pot

Maybe not quite as heavy duty as a cast-iron skillet but just as useful: a pressure cooker that can air fry, roast, bake, dehydrate, slow cook, prepare rice, steam, sauté, and more. Impress guests with your culinary skills (that are in fact just throwing all the ingredients listed in the recipe into this thing and then waiting a few hours). The Instant Pot 11-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker will cost your gift-giver $199.99, but they can reap the rewards when you cook for them with it.

Opens in a new window Credit: Instant Pot Instant Pot Duo Crisp $199.95 at Amazon
Shop Now A trusty pet camera Credit: Furbo

If you're anything like us, you view your pet like it's your actual child. We support that. Now, you can up your pet parent game by picking up a Furbo pet camera. Not only does it livestream what your pet is up to while you aren't home straight to your phone, but it also has the ability to toss treats and produce two-way audio for quick check-ins.

Opens in a new window Credit: Furbo Furbo pet camera $129 at Amazon
$210 Save $81 Shop Now Design-friendly humidifier Credit: Vitruvi

There's something to be said for a product that can marry form and function, and this Vitruvi humidifier does just that. Admittedly, $229 is probably a hefty price for a humidifier you're buying for yourself, but it's a great splurge gift if you prefer your household appliances not be eyesores.

Opens in a new window Credit: Vitruvi Vitruvi Cloud Humidifier $229 at Amazon
Shop Now Your own personal ice cream maker Credit: Ninja

If you're as chronically online as we are, you've likely seen people whipping up frozen treat concoctions with the Ninja Creami. The countertop ice cream maker has presets for gelato, ice cream, sorbet, smoothie bowls, milkshakes, and mix-ins if you want to channel your inner Dairy Queen. You do need to freeze your ingredients beforehand, so it's not an instantaneous sweet treat fix, but you have creative freedom to try out whichever flavors your sweet tooth desires.

Ninja Creami $199.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $30 Shop Now A portable, smokeless fire pit Credit: Solo Stove

Whether you're a hardcore camper or you just like unwinding with a few beers by the fire, Solo Stove's Ranger fire pit is a fantastic gift to ask for. It's designed to be smokeless and portable, making it great for balconies, backyards, beach hangs, or camping trips. Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel reviewed the larger Solo Stove Bonfire and wrote that it burns "beautiful, clean fires when conditions are right." The best part? The Ranger is typically on sale for $199.99, so whoever gifts it has 30 extra dollars to spend on your birthday.

Opens in a new window Credit: Solo Stove Solo Stove Ranger 2.0 $199.99 at Solo Stove
$229.99 Save $30 Shop Now A Bluetooth record player Credit: Sony

Are your Spotify playlists just not cutting it anymore? Switch it up and go retro with a vinyl music collection. This turntable connects to Bluetooth speakers and headphones, or you can hook it up to a traditional sound system using cords.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony Turntable $248 at Amazon
Shop Now A pair of AirPods Pro Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

When you already own a pair of earbuds, it can be hard to justify splurging on a new pair — even if you really, really want to. And that's why the new AirPods Pro (Gen 2) earbuds are an ideal birthday present. For people still using lightning cables, the new USB-C version will be a welcome upgrade. Apple stepped up its audio game with these buds, which feature improved sound quality and active noise cancellation. For a cheaper alternative, ask for the latest 4th Gen AirPods, which are $129 without ANC or $179 with ANC.

AirPods Pro 2 $188.56 at Amazon
$249 Save $60.44 Shop Now A robot vacuum Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Stop manually vacuuming your house every day and let a robot vacuum clean your floors for you. The Shark RV2300 is budget-friendly and tough on dirt. Our robot vacuum expert called it "the most reliable cheap robot vacuum that I've tested."

Shark Matrix RV2300 $249 at Walmart
Shop Now A cool drone with a 12MP camera Credit: DJI

This drone is small and super lightweight, but it takes stunning photos and videos. It's great for traveling or for use at home. DJI is one of the top names in drones and the Mini 2 SE costs $279 with a remote control.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Magic Mini 2 SE $279 at Amazon
Shop Now A massage gun Credit: TheraGun

Whether you're working at a desk all day, running around, or just inexplicably tense, a massage gun will get you limber and relaxed again. What better gift than the gift of painless movement? Our best recommendation? Go for the TheraGun. The Prime model costs $299, but if that's not quite in your budget, then check out our gadget gift guide for more gifting inspiration.

Opens in a new window Credit: Theragun TheraGun $299 at Amazon
Shop Now Five hair tools in one Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Instead of asking for the $600 Dyson Airwrap, you can get a product that performs nearly identically for half the price in the Shark FlexStyle (trust us, we tested them head to head). Pick up a version for textured hair or straighter hair for $299.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle $299.99 at Amazon
Shop Now A portable projector The portable projector fits in the palm of your hands. Credit: Anker

All of your friends will start calling your home the "cool house" if movie nights involve this mini portable projector. Use it to play movies, shows, or games outside on a screen or indoors on a blank wall. The Anker Nebula Capsule in black costs $299.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Nebula Capsule Projector $299.99 at Amazon
Shop Now An Apple Watch Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

An Apple Watch lets you access smartphone features conveniently on your wrist. You can control your music, send and receive texts, monitor your health, and tons more.

Apple Watch Series 10 $299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100 Shop Now Year-round spa days Credit: Molly Flores / Mashable

You can ask for a day at the spa, or you can ask for the gift of getting a facial whenever you want and from the comfort of your home. In her review of the device, Mashable's Deputy Shopping and Reviews Editor Miller Kern wrote the TheraFace Pro is "a hell of a lot cheaper than getting regular professional facials, and I truly feel like I've received a spa treatment every time I use [it]."

Opens in a new window Credit: TheraGun TheraFace Pro $399 at Therabody
Shop Now The newest iPad mini Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Our reviewer called the iPad mini 7 the "best choice" if you want a compact tablet, and said it looks better and is a lot more powerful than previous-generation iPad minis. It supports the Apple Pencil Pro and we named it the best tablet for reading.

Apple iPad mini (2024, 7th generation, A17 Pro chip) $659 at Amazon
Shop Now A fancy desk chair Credit: Branch

Our favorite type of birthday gift is something you want to buy yourself but just can't justify spending your own money on. The Verve chair is a prime example of that. It's super comfy and ergonomic, and it comes in really cute colors, but it's definitely on the luxury end of pricing. If you work from home or just spend a lot of time sitting at a desk, put this at the top of your birthday wish list.

Opens in a new window Credit: Branch Verve Chair $549 at Branch
Shop Now A new bike Credit: Schwinn

Head outdoors with this hybrid bike designed for both leisure and more adventurous rides. It comes in different colors and a couple of different styles for men and women. The 18-inch Schwinn GTX 2.0 bike normally goes for $549.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Schwinn Schwinn GTX bike $549.95 at Amazon
Shop Now A camera to rival your phone Credit: Nikon

When giving your friends and family birthday gift ideas, it's usually best to look for gifts under $50. But if you have a partner or parent who really loves you, then it's okay to dream big.

An easy-to-use mirrorless camera designed with creators in mind, the Nikon Z 30 boasts video, camera, and live streaming capabilities at an affordable price. The camera body can be purchased alone or with one or two kit lenses. There’s also the creators’ accessory bundle which comes with a mic, tripod grip, and Bluetooth remote.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nikon Nikon Z 30 Mirrorless Digital Vlogging Camera Bundle $696.95 at Amazon
Shop Now A handheld gaming console that's not a Switch Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Mashable Tech Reporter Alex Perry described the Lenovo Legion Go as "beefier and more powerful" than the Nintendo Switch. It has a huge display, solid performance, and all-around great specs. It's not a one-to-one competitor of the Switch, but rather a portable way into PC gaming that's "really good at running all kinds of games."

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Legion Go $699.99 at Best Buy
Shop Now A new phone Credit: Apple

Thinking of upgrading from an iPhone that has a Lightning port? Don't spend your own money on an expensive phone — have someone who loves you spend their money! The new iPhone 16 starts at $799 while the iPhone 16 Plus starts at $999. (Group gift, anyone?)

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 16 Starting at $799 at Best Buy Shop Now A robot vacuum that also mops Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart called the Eufy X10 Pro Omni the catchall answer to the question, "Which robot vacuum should I get?" It vacuums and mops — and empties its own dust bin, refills its water tank, and washes and dries its mop pads. The Eufy is a true hands-off cleaning device.

Eufy X10 Pro Omni $699.99 at Walmart
$799.99 Save $100 Shop Now A TV that blends into your decor Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

Samsung's The Frame TV made waves when it came out a few years ago, but the price is just not attainable for everyone. The Hisense CanvasTV is an amazing, budget-friendly (well, friendlier) alternative if you want an art TV for your birthday. The Google TV interface is amazing and the TV truly does blend in with your art and decor. This is a bougie birthday ask, but one that's worth it.

Hisense CanvasTV (55-inch, QLED) $697.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $302 Shop Now A MacBook Air Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

MacBook Airs are super nice computers, but they can definitely be a bit pricey... which is what makes them such a great addition to a birthday wish list. Someone who loves you can drop the big bucks for you! The new 13-inch M4 MacBook Air starts at $999, but we've seen it dip down to $849 on sale.

Apple MacBook Air (M4, 13-inch) $849 at Amazon
$999 Save $150 Shop Now

It sure looks like Google is prepping its controversial AI mode for primetime.

This week, some Google users noticed an AI Mode button showing up instead of Google's iconic "I'm feeling lucky" button on the homepage. And today, a Mashable reporter spotted "AI Mode" appearing as an option on search results pages, alongside stalwart Google tools like News, Shopping, Images, and Videos. Notably, this reporter did not proactively sign up to participate in AI Mode through Google Labs. That suggests Google is testing the feature for select users.

AI Mode appears for select users on search results pages. Credit: Tim Marcin / Mashable This is what AI Mode looks like in Google Search. Credit: Tim Marcin / Mashable

This suggests a widespread release of its AI-powered search tool is coming soon. Maybe at Google I/O next Tuesday?

Google has been testing AI search features ever since OpenAI and ChatGPT started siphoning away searchers, particularly younger searchers. And that's just one of many new developments from Gemini-land.

Like pretty much every other week, a lot happened in AI news this week.

So, we've rounded up the biggest stories and most important AI developments in products, business, politics, and... Catholicism. Here's our recap of AI news this week.

Grok's "white genocide" problem, ChatGPT learns to code, and more Gemini news

xAI's Grok chatbot went off the rails this week, responding to X users with completely unprompted musings about "'white genocide' in South Africa." The company said it was due to an "unauthorized modification" and promised to do better next time. Coincidentally, xAI leader and Grok power user Elon Musk has been repeatedly tweeting about the subject. Even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joined the ongoing pile-on on X:

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In OpenAI's world, the company brought GPT-4.1 to ChatGPT "by popular request." Initially, it was only available through the API. Now it's available to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Team users with Enterprise and Edu access rolling out soon and GPT-4.1 mini for free users.

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On Friday, OpenAI also launched a preview version of Codex, a coding agent for engineers. That's rolling out to ChatGPT users Pro, Enterprise, and Team subscribers. Codex is "a version of OpenAI o3 optimized for software engineering."

Google held a pre-I/O event for Android news. The main takeaway there is that Google is bringing Gemini to Android operating systems in smart watches, cars, and TVs. 

There's probably no better fit for image-to-video generation than TikTok, and it has released a new feature that does exactly that. It's called AI Alive, and Mashable's CJ Silva says it's pretty realistic. 

Credit: TikTok

Last but not least, prepare to hear a lot more AI-generated narration with your Audible books. Its parent company Amazon announced this week that it's partnered with publishers to "expand [its] catalog with AI narration."

OpenAI's foreign and domestic infrastructure plans, a 10-year moratorium on state AI regulation, and AI copyright controversy

This was also a big week for artificial intelligence in politics and foreign affairs.

OpenAI is reportedly already making moves on its global AI infrastructure plans. Bloomberg reports that it is "considering building new data center capacity in the United Arab Emirates." Meanwhile, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and other tech billionaires joined President Donald Trump in Saudi Arabia for a visit with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who launched a new AI company called Humain.

While business schmoozing went down in the Middle East, Bloomberg also reported that OpenAI's Stargate Project to build AI infrastructure in the U.S. has run into roadblocks. Plans have reportedly been held up by Japanese investor SoftBank over tariff-related concerns.

On top of that, Microsoft and OpenAI are reportedly renegotiating the terms of their partnership as OpenAI tries to restructure its for-profit business into a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) which would still be governed by its nonprofit board, according to the Financial Times. OpenAI needs to keep Microsoft, which has invested $13 billion, happy but the increasingly competing interest has reportedly created tension between the companies.

In the public sector, House Republicans proposed a ten-year moratorium on states introducing their own AI regulations, 404 Media reports. This language was nestled in the Budget Reconciliation bill. Don't Republicans like states' rights? We're confused too. 

Speaking of AI regulation under the Trump Administration, the U.S. Copyright Office published a "pre-publication version" of part three of its highly anticipated AI copyright report last week, which generally favored copyright holders over AI companies claiming fair use. The very next day Trump, fired Copyright Office head Shira Perlmutter. That hasn't stopped plaintiffs in the Kadrey v. Meta from using it as a weapon against Meta, as Mashable first reported.

What does the new pope have to say about AI?

A lot, actually. Pope Leo XIV said AI posed "new challenges for humanity in his first address to the College of Cardinals. And his name choice pays tribute to Pope Leo XIII who presided over the Catholic Church during the Industrial Revolution and advocated for workers rights and social reform. 

Sensing myself called to continue in this same path, I chose to take the name Leo XIV. There are different reasons for this, but mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic Encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution. In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

NASA engineers have brought a set of obsolete thrusters back from the dead on the Voyager 1 probe, just before losing their ability to talk to the aging spacecraft. 

Over a half-century, Voyager 1 has sprinted about 38,000 mph and become the farthest human-made object, crossing into interstellar space. For the past two decades of its journey, the spacecraft has come to rely on a special set of backup thrusters that are designed to control its roll motion. But those backups have begun to clog with gunk, and no one is sure how much longer they'll last — perhaps mere months. 

Meanwhile, a powerful antenna in Australia — the only one capable of sending instructions to Voyager 1 now 15.5 billion miles from Earth — was about to go offline for critical upgrades. NASA feared if those backups failed during the monthslong blackout, the team would forever lose their fragile link to the spacecraft. 

So engineers crafted a risky plan to attempt a resurrection of the primary roll thrusters that the team had all but given up on in 2004. Those small engines help spin the spacecraft just enough to keep it pointed at a guide star for orientation. Without them, Voyager 1 would be as good as gone. 

"At that time, the team was OK with accepting that the primary roll thrusters didn’t work, because they had a perfectly good backup," said Kareem Badaruddin, Voyager mission manager, in a statement. "And, frankly, they probably didn’t think the Voyagers were going to keep going for another 20 years."

SEE ALSO: Carter's UFO hounded him for years. Few knew his expertise in astronomy. Voyager 1 launched from Earth in 1977 and is the farthest human-made object in space. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

Both Voyager 1 and its twin, Voyager 2, have far outlived their original life expectancy. Launched in 1977, the pair was originally intended to study Jupiter and Saturn, their moons, and Saturn's rings. For the two-planet journey, they were built to operate for just five years.

After their initial success, engineers doubled their objectives to include two more giant planets, Uranus and Neptune. Between the two spacecraft, they've explored four planets, 48 moons, and a host of planetary magnetic fields and rings. Now they're in the cold, uncharted abyss.

In August 2012, Voyager 1 made history as it entered interstellar space, the region between stars, filled with material ejected by other stars that died millions of years ago. Voyager 1 and 2 are the only spacecraft ever to fly outside of the heliosphere, the region of space affected by the sun's constant flow of radiation and particles.

But after 48 years hurtling through the unknown, their systems are wearing down. The primary roll thrusters stopped working 21 years ago, after losing power in two small internal heaters. Engineers at the time thought that meant they were inoperable. 

"That was a legitimate conclusion," said Todd Barber, the mission’s propulsion lead, in a statement. "It’s just that one of our engineers had this insight that maybe there was this other possible cause and it was fixable."

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The team pondered whether a disruption in the heaters' circuits had essentially flipped a switch to an off position. If they could turn it back, the heaters might work again. 

To try it, the team would have to turn on the broken thrusters, then try to restart the heaters. If, during that time, the spacecraft drifted too far off course, the broken thrusters would automatically fire, due to their programming. The danger there would be if the heaters were still not working, they could trigger a small explosion.

But within 20 minutes of attempting the fix, the team saw the heaters' temperature rise dramatically, signaling success. 

"It was such a glorious moment. Team morale was very high that day," Barber said. "It was yet another miracle save for Voyager.”

A radio antenna at the Deep Space Network's Canberra facility in Australia is the only dish that can send commands to the Voyager spacecraft. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

As of May 4, the Australian antenna — part of NASA’s Deep Space Network, a system of three enormous radio dish arrays on Earth — is offline. It'll remain dark until February 2026, with only brief periods of operation in August and December. 

The antenna upgrades are necessary for Artemis astronaut moon landings and will increase communication capacity for deep space robotic missions, said Suzanne Dodd, who oversees Voyager and the Deep Space Network.

Voyager 1 is so far away, it takes 23 hours for a command to reach the spacecraft, and another 23 hours for mission control to hear back from it. NASA has previously said the Voyagers generate about 4 fewer watts of power annually, limiting the number of systems the spacecraft can use. The teams have occasionally turned off equipment to conserve power. 

NASA says the goal is to keep the two missions afloat beyond 2025.

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While you’ll learn the key ideas, concepts, and principles, these summaries don’t replace the entire book. They’re a great way to discover topics that pique your interest and find areas you’d like to dive deeper into.

Catch up on your reading list with a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium, now only $59.99 (reg. $299.95), the best price online, through June 1.

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TL;DR: Sterling Stock Picker gives you lifetime access to smart stock picks, portfolio tools, and your own AI financial coach—for just $55.19.

I was watching the first of the month’s market crashes and wondered, ‘Does it make sense to invest right now?’ I’d always been curious about the stock market, at least in terms of how people actually got rich by practically gambling, but I didn’t have a single clue where to begin, let alone how to even buy a stock.

Once I saw a TikTok calling this period a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (take that with a grain of salt), I decided to take my chance. But I needed help researching everything: what stocks to choose and how to track them. That’s when I found Sterling Stock Picker and made my first investment with their $55.19 lifetime subscription (reg. $486).

How I invested my first dollar

My biggest concern wasn’t that the market wouldn’t eventually recover, but that I would choose ‘bad’ stocks due to my lack of experience. Sterling Stock Picker helped me feel calm with the 5-minute questionnaire covering my wants and ability to handle risk.

Then, I started researching stocks with help from AI. I also learned about something called exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which are like groups of stocks. I didn’t know what these were at first, so I consulted the AI assistant, Finley AI, and it told me that it’s like putting a stake into a huge nest of companies at once rather than individually.

Once I selected a few ETFs to invest in, I opened a free brokerage account (sadly, you can’t directly invest through Sterling Stock Picker). I purchased my shares and put the information into Sterling Stock Picker so I could view my portfolio with fun graphs and charts and get alerts when prices change—which may help me determine when to sell.

How it’s going

Well, it’s only been a few days since I’ve made my investments and, if you’ve been keeping up with the news, things have been up and down. One day, my $1,000 portfolio was up $100, and the next, it was down $20. 

As a total beginner, I won’t offer any formal advice to you other than to do your research and be well-informed, and Sterling Stock Picker is a great tool to do just that.

Get a Sterling Stock Picker lifetime subscription for $55.19 (reg. $486) with code SAVE20 through June 1.

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TL;DR: Change the way you take notes forever with a lifetime subscription to My Notes AI Pro Plan, now just $39.99 (reg. $299).

It’s 2025, and now there’s no need to take your own notes — there’s an app for that. AI can now do it for you with My Notes AI, your very own note-taking assistant. And right now you can employ it forever with a lifetime subscription to their Pro Plan for just $39.99 (reg. $299)

Outsource your note-taking to AI

Whether you’re in school and taking notes during lectures or you’re always jotting down action items from work meetings, My Notes AI can transcribe it all and then provide you with a summary without ever having to write a word. You don’t even have to be physically present — it also works with Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams meetings, or you can upload an audio file.

You’ll never again waste time trying to decipher what you wrote. My Notes AI can take all your notes and turn transcriptions into helpful summaries. It even breaks it down into specific action items, so you know exactly what you’re responsible for afterward.

Need to share your notes with someone? Exporting the transcriptions is easy, and you can use My Notes AI’s organizational tools to save them by topic, date, or project, for easy access later.

My Notes AI has a user-friendly interface, and you can use it on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. This lifetime subscription provides everything mentioned above, but if you need more, you can also unlock premium features such as unlimited transcription, meeting recordings, instant AI summaries, and extra organizational tools.

Let AI take your notes with a lifetime subscription to My Notes AI Pro Plan, now just $39.99 (reg. $299).

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TL;DR: Let AI tackle your creative projects for you with this lifetime subscription to AI Magicx, now $59.97 (reg. $972) through June 1.

If you’re constantly churning out creative content at work, it’s only a matter of time before you burn out. If your creative juices are no longer flowing, AI Magicx can help. This handy service streamlines all kinds of creative tasks to free up time in your day, and right now, a lifetime subscription to AI Magicx’s Rune Plan is just $59.97 (reg. $972) until June 1.

This AI-powered app helps you create content in seconds

Major companies like Microsoft, Atlassian, and Intel already trust AI Magicx. Whether you need help designing a logo, writing a blog post, or creating images for social media, AI Magicx can step up to the plate. It makes it simple to turn ideas into creative content, with no advanced skills or design degrees required. And if you’re a small business, it can prevent you from spending a fortune on freelancers.

Wondering how it works? Just type in a prompt, and let AI Magicx take it from there. It can whip up anything from a new company logo to a well-researched blog post. Once it’s done, you can make changes until it creates your exact vision.

If you want to interact with customers more efficiently, AI Magicx can also create an AI chatbot. This lifetime subscription to the Rune Plan provides 100 premium chatbot messages. It also provides unlimited Magicx words, 250 Magicx images, 250 Magicx logos, private generations, and a commercial license.

For content you’re still producing on your own, AI Magicx can also serve as your smart document editor. It can proofread writing and even has a built-in coder to review, optimize, and refine your coding.

Let this lifetime subscription to Magicx’s Rune Plan take some things off your plate — it’s now just $59.97 through June 1.

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TL;DR: Tackle your entire to-do list with help from this MacBook Pro, now only $449.99 (reg. $1,799) while supplies last.

Can your current laptop keep up with your workload? If the answer is no, it may be time to consider a MacBook Pro. Apple’s most powerful portable device typically comes with a hefty price tag, but right now a 13″ MacBook Pro can be yours for only $449.99 (reg. $1,799).

Knock out work, play and more with these powerful MacBook Pro

Want to take some of Apple’s most powerful technology along with you everywhere? The MacBook Pro makes it possible, as it’s powered by a 2GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 processor. It can handle all of your usual multi-tasking — and if you’ve got any heavier tasks, this laptop also has Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.8GHz.

With 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, you can enjoy speed and the convenience of access to your important files right on the device. The sharp retina display on this MacBook Pro’s 13.3″ screen offers 2560×1600 native resolution, and the Intel Iris Plus Graphics take gaming to another level.

Apple’s signature True Tone display technology goes easy on your eyes, helping reduce eye strain as it adjusts the screen color depending on your lighting. This model includes helpful features like Touch Bar, a limited-edition Apple feature that provides easy access to shortcuts, and the Magic Keyboard, which offers a more responsive typing experience.

Four Thunderbolt 3 ports keep you connected and charged up — though you won’t have to hunt down an electrical outlet often, thanks to this model’s impressive 10 hours of battery life.

If you’re wondering why you’re getting this MacBook Pro for 74% off, it’s because it comes with a grade A refurbished rating. That means it will arrive in near-mint condition, with virtually no sign of prior use, while you still enjoy the discount.

Get a MacBook Pro for only $449.99 (reg. $1,799) right here while supplies last.

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Samsung’s Galaxy S25 lineup just got a sleek new sibling: meet the S25 Edge. It’s an ultra-thin, titanium-clad version of the flagship, designed to lure in the premium crowd. Over in Apple-land, there’s a new kid too: the iPhone 16e. It’s not flashy, not titanium, but it is the cheapest way to get a new iPhone this year.

So, which digital ecosystem do you want to plug your life into? We’re breaking down how these two stack up on price, design, display tech, battery life, and cameras. If you’re here for a quick pick and price is your only metric, just get the 16e and move on. But if you want the full picture, please, keep reading.

We should also note that if you're excited for the year of thin phones, you'll have to wait for the rumored iPhone 17 Air to get an ultra-slim Apple smartphone.

The new Samsung Galaxy S25 offers a lot of features for the money, but the 16e wins on price alone. Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs iPhone 16e: Price and specs

If you’re judging by price alone, the iPhone 16e is the clear winner. It starts at $599 — almost half the cost of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge, which begins at $1,099 for 256GB or $1,219.99 for the 512GB version. At that point, you could just get a standard iPhone 16 for $799 and still have cash to spare for accessories.

So what does $599 get you with the 16e?

• 8GB RAM

• 128GB storage

• Apple’s new A18 chip with a 4-core GPU

• 6.1-inch display

• The Action Button

It’s not dripping in luxury, but it’s modern where it counts.

Meanwhile, Samsung’s S25 Edge does cost more. This isn’t a phone for deal hunters — it’s for Android users who want something razor-thin, ultra-premium, and unapologetically exclusive. However, the S25 Edge still offers a lot of value for its price. It has many of the same features as the flagship S25 Ultra, but for a whole lot less (both in dollars and size).

For $1099, think of it less as a phone, more as a flex:

• 12GB RAM

• 256GB storage

• Snapdragon 8 Elite

• 6.7-inch AMOLED display

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs iPhone 16e: Design

Samsung’s pitch for the S25 Edge is simple: Take everything you love about the flagship S25 and wrap it in a body that’s thinner, lighter, and slicker. It’s got those signature curved edges, a titanium frame that feels more aerospace than smartphone, and three sharp finishes: Titanium Silver, Titanium Jetblack, and Titanium Icy Blue.

The iPhone 16e takes a more utilitarian approach. It’s got Apple’s tried-and-true aluminum-and-glass build paired with a Super Retina XDR display. It looks clean, feels solid, and comes in exactly two shades: Black and White. Simple, classic, and not trying too hard.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs iPhone 16e: Display

The iPhone 16e sticks with what works: a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel that’s sharp at 460 ppi. You still get Apple’s usual bag of tricks — True Tone, Wide Color (P3), and Haptic Touch. It’s bright enough for most people, topping out at 800 nits in typical use and 1200 nits for HDR content. It's also worth noting that the 16e ditches a rear camera compared to the standard 16.

Samsung, never one to be outdone in display tech, gives the S25 Edge a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen wrapped in a new Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2. It boasts a crisp 3120 x 1440 resolution, a dynamic refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz, and a peak brightness of 2,600 nits. It’s bigger, smoother, and sharper on paper.

Meet the ultra-slim new Samsung phone. Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable

Plus, there’s an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor built right into the display. Like the 16e, the Edge also drops one of the usual rear cameras, keeping things a bit more minimal this time around.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs iPhone 16e: Cameras

This one is for the photographically inclined; you can get by with either smartphone. Both the S25 Edge and the iPhone 16e are straight shooters when it comes to taking a photo. Here's what the iPhone 16e offers:

• 48MP main camera

• 12MP 2x Telephoto

• Digital zoom up to 10x

• Standard Apple features like Burst mode, red-eye correction, and Live Photos

What the S25 Edge gives up in camera count, it tries to make up for in sheer megapixel flex. Samsung’s also betting big on Galaxy AI, promising smarter capture, editing, and sharing:

• 200MP main camera

• 12MP ultra-wide with 2x optical, 10x AI zoom

• 12MP front camera

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs iPhone 16e: Performance/Battery Life

Under the hood, the iPhone 16e runs on Apple’s new A18 chip, built with a 6-core CPU—two performance cores, four for efficiency— designed to juggle tasks smoothly while keeping power draw low. The main spec split from the regular iPhone 16? The GPU. The 16 gets a 5-core GPU, while the 16e settles for four. It's not a massive difference, but if you game or edit video on your phone, you might feel it.

On the Android side, the Galaxy S25 Edge runs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite — the same chip that powers the S25+ and Ultra. It’s tuned for serious mobile horsepower, from AAA mobile gaming to AI-heavy photo edits. The Edge also packs more RAM than the 16e, which gives it a leg up in multitasking and performance headroom.

If battery life is your dealbreaker, the iPhone 16e might just edge out the Edge — ironically. Samsung’s obsession with making the S25 Edge thinner and lighter came at a cost: battery capacity. The iPhone 16e packs a 4,005mAh cell, which Apple claims is good for up to 26 hours on a single charge.

The S25 Edge isn’t far behind, with a 3,900mAh battery. That puts it well ahead of the baseline iPhone 16 (which sits at 3,561mAh), but still slightly behind the 16e.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs iPhone 16e: Which should you buy?

If you're looking for maximum value without feeling like you're settling, the iPhone 16e is a smart, balanced pick. It gives you flagship-level performance, modern Apple design, solid battery life, and just enough of the bells and whistles to feel current, all for $599. It’s not flashy, but it’s efficient, reliable, and comfortably within reach for most buyers who just want a great phone that’ll last a few years.

The Galaxy S25 Edge, on the other hand, is a statement piece. It’s the phone you buy because you want something that feels high-end every time you pick it up — ultra-thin, titanium-framed, and loaded with display and camera tech. It’s more powerful, more polished, and more expensive, as expected. But that price tag is buying you more than specs — it's buying a vibe. So if you're deep in the Android ecosystem and crave sleek hardware with top-tier performance, the Edge earns its name. Just bring your wallet.

iPhone 16e $599 at Apple.com
Shop Now Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge + $50 Amazon Gift Card $1,099.99 at Amazon
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When it comes to shopping for the best budget laptops, you can do a lot for less than $1,000. (Heck, even $500 cuts some mustard nowadays.) But you'll probably have to make some compromises along the way to stay below that price point.

That doesn't mean you have to settle for a total clunker that doesn't tick any of the boxes on your must-have specs list. It just means you have to shop a little smarter than someone with unlimited funds.

That's where we come in. The Mashable team is constantly reviewing new laptops with different operating systems and use cases, and we recommend several budget-friendly options that meet most, if not all of our performance, battery life, and build quality standards.

Our top picks

As of May 2025, we believe the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air powered by the M4 chip is the best cheap MacBook for most people. It's seriously speedy, super quiet, equipped with a nice new camera, and priced at an almost unfathomable $999 to start.

SEE ALSO: The best laptops for 2025, tested by our experts

Among Windows PCs, the Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 (Gen 9) is the best budget pick we've tried. It has a peppy processor and a good battery life, it doubles as a tablet, and it starts at $899.99.

Read on for Mashable's in-depth guide to the best budget laptops of 2025. FYI: We've listed the pricing and specs of our testing units, which may not apply to each laptop's base model.

A note about tariffs

President Donald Trump's tariffs on imported Chinese goods have made a mess of the tech market, causing several manufacturers to raise their laptop prices over the past few weeks. (The Trump administration recently moved to exempt laptops from some of its tariff plans, but that will probably change soon.) This is bad news for budget shoppers, according to our sister site PCMag, which reports that cheap laptops stand to see the most dramatic impact from tariffs.

None of the laptops that are currently featured in this guide have been affected by tariffs, but one model we have in hand for testing, the Asus ZenBook A14, has gotten $100 more expensive since launch because of them. We'll take this into account as we decide whether it's a new top pick: "Value" is one of our four big testing metrics.

Other cheap laptops on our radar

We have the latest Intel-powered Framework Laptop 13 on deck for testing. While it comes in just over our "budget" threshold of $1,000 when purchased prebuilt (the DIY Edition starts at $899), the fact that it's upgradable and repairable makes it seem like a solid long-term value. We were big fans of an older version.

We'll also soon review two sub-$1,000 Asus laptops. One is the aforementioned Asus ZenBook A14, which features an OLED display, a neutral-toned chassis made out of a durable yet lightweight material called "Ceraluminum," and an advertised battery life of up to 32 hours. (We briefly tried it in Asus' private showroom at CES 2025, and it left us extremely impressed.) The other is the Asus ZenBook S 15, a second-gen Copilot+ PC with a Snapdragon X Plus processor, a 3K OLED display, and an RGB keyboard. They start at $999.99 and $899.99, respectively.

What no longer makes the cut

We removed the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 from this list in May 2025, as it feels too overpriced and outdated to recommend for 2025 buyers. Plus, a (seemingly) better option is on the horizon: Microsoft just announced a new 13-inch Surface Laptop that starts at $899.99. It's set for release on May 20.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 17 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 17 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: She's got game

The words are sports-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are popular women's sports teams.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Basketball

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for May 17

• Storm

• Fever

• Wings

• Dream

• Basketball

• Mercury

• Liberty

• Lynx

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 17 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Natural classifications

• Green: Measuring tools

• Blue: Black and white birds

• Purple: Electronic

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Member of a kingdom in taxonomy

• Green: Graduated instruments

• Blue: Kinds of penguins

• Purple: "E" Things

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #706 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Member of a kingdom in taxonomy: ANIMAL, BACTERIA, FUNGUS, PLANT

• Graduated instruments: BEAKER, PROTRACTOR, RULER, SYRINGE

• Kinds of penguins: CHINSTRAP, EMPEROR, KING, MACARONI

• "E" Things: COMMERCE, MAIL, SCOOTER, SIGNATURE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 17

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) seems to be heading for a family reunion of some kind on Doctor Who — and it's about time.

In a surprise twist, first revealed halfway through his season 2 episode "The Interstellar Song Contest," Doctor number 15 has been having visions of the first person to travel in the TARDIS with Doctor number one (William Hartnell): his still-mysterious granddaughter Susan, played then and now by Carole Ann Ford.

Ford, age 84, is the last surviving member of the original TARDIS team. Susan was the "Unearthly Child" for whom the first-ever episode of the show, broadcast on November 23, 1963, was named. Other than a one-off appearance in a 1983 anniversary special, she hasn't been seen in the show since becoming the first companion to leave the TARDIS — the very name of which, we were told, was Susan's creation — in 1964.

Susan, a pupil at Coal Hill school, was the reason her teachers Ian (William Russell, who died in 2024 age 99) and Barbara (Jacqueline Hill, who died in 1993) strayed into that bigger-on-the-inside police box in the first place. Like the Doctor's latest companion, Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu), they were effectively kidnapped.

Ford felt trapped herself; as promising a character as the mysterious granddaughter sounded, she wasn't given much to do week to week besides scream and faint. So she was written out at the end of "The Dalek Invasion of Earth," the second serial to feature the Doctor's infamous enemies. Hartnell's Doctor locked her out of the TARDIS so she would start a new life with her Earthling beau David, and left with a speech about how he would come back one day.

Spoiler alert: The Doctor didn't come back. But that speech was reused at the beginning of "The Five Doctors" (1983), in which Ford's Susan appears in several scenes alongside the second actor to play the first Doctor, Richard Hurndall (William Hartnell died in 1975) — Ford having made her peace with the show by then.

Technically, that adventure took place before Susan left the TARDIS — so in a timey-wimey kind of way, this is the first time we've seen Susan in 61 years.

But to quote another Doctor, the moment has been prepared for.

How Doctor Who led up to the Susan reveal Carole Ann Ford in 1964, showing a Dalek what she thinks of it. Credit: Victor Drees / Evening Standard / Hulton Archive / Getty Images

In the second episode of Gatwa's first season, "The Devil's Chord," the TARDIS lands in 1963 to visit the Beatles at the suggestion of then-companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson). Off-handedly, the Doctor tells Ruby that his earlier incarnation is living in a junkyard across London with his granddaughter Susan.

"I put that in as a test," Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies told Mashable in a pre-season interview. "She hasn't been mentioned in the show since 1964, so I wondered how my bosses at the BBC would take that, and thought, 'I'll take it out if no one likes it.' But everyone loved it."

The success of that Susan test brought us to the cold-open cliffhanger of "The Legend of Ruby Sunday," the penultimate episode of season 1. That's when the Doctor wondered if the reason for multiple appearances of characters played by Susan Twist was that his granddaughter had survived the genocide of his people, the Time Lords, and regenerated herself.

In that same episode, the Doctor casually revealed more about his family than ever before. "If you've got a granddaughter, that means you've got kids," Kate Lethbridge-Stewart said. But the Doctor denied it. "Not quite, not yet," he said, waving away the obvious chronological issue with this all-purpose explanation: "Life of a Time Lord."

Mention of his granddaughter appeared to be a fake-out; Susan Twist's multiple characters were in fact created by the Doctor's old enemy Sutekh. "Did you think I was family, Doctor?" laughed the ancient god. But as we said at the time, bringing up Susan may yet mean Ford's return to the show: "Could there be one final Susan twist at the end?"

Why is Susan returning now? Carole Ann Ford alongside a Dalek, and Frazer Hines, who played "Doctor Who" companion Jamie, in 2022. Credit: Tristan Fewings / Getty Images

In "The Interstellar Song Contest," the Doctor revealed that he'd seen Susan in his head after the Time Lord genocide. But the scene where he is frozen in space, close to death, is the first time we see the vision too.

"Grandfather," says Susan, in what appears to be a TARDIS very much like the Doctor's. "Come find me," she adds, in another vision towards the end of the episode.

That may be all that showrunner Russell T Davies wrote for Ford, at least; given her age, a regeneration may be necessary if and when the Doctor finds her. But if he has shot scenes with her on the TARDIS set, it's more likely that Ford's version of Susan will appear again at some point in season 2's final episodes, "Wish World" and "The Reality War."

More concerning, in the meantime: the effect on Ford herself. "I don't know if I could survive the excitement," she said of a then-theoretical return to the show at Luton Comic-Con in 2024, according to the BBC. "It would be intense beyond all intensity."

Doctor Who Season 2 premiered April 12 on Disney+ and BBC. New episodes air weekly on Saturdays at 3 a.m. ET.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A robbery.

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

HEIST

Hurdle Word 2 hint

What a parent might do to a naughty child.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 17, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SPANK

Hurdle Word 3 hint

An Arctic dog breed.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 17 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 17, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

HUSKY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To tease someone.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for May 17 Hurdle Word 4 answer

FLIRT

Final Hurdle hint

Egg-shaped.

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

OVATE

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TL;DR: Add the new OS and Office programs your PC needs with discounted $54.97 bundle of Office 2021 and Windows 11.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle $54.97
$418 Save $363.03 Get Deal

Buying a new computer is expensive, even if inflation has slowed. Just add Microsoft Office Professional 2021 and upgrade your Windows 11 Pro license to speed things up and get the most out of your current hardware. You can bundle Office 2021 and Windows 11 to get a PC makeover for just $54.97 (reg. $418.)

What's included in Office 2021?

When you add a lifetime license for Office 2021, you'll get access to eight popular programs, including:

• Word

• Excel

• PowerPoint

• Outlook

• Teams

• OneNote

• Publisher

• Access

More recent versions of Office do not contain all eight programs, so if your professional workflow relies on Publisher or Access, this Office and OS bundle is an affordable way to keep them while upgrading.

What does Windows 11 Pro come with? 

The Windows 11 Pro user interface upgrade is so seamless you may not even realize you're on a Windows PC. It was redesigned with a focus on both good looks and better function. 

Professionals benefit from increased productivity tools like snap layouts, multiple virtual desktops, improved voice typing, and pumped up search capabilities. 

You also get a virtual assistant with AI-bot Copilot. Built directly into the system, you can ask Copilot research questions, summarize web pages, create images, support writing, and even generate code. 

If your workflow requires advanced features, Windows 11 is ready to accommodate with Azure AD, Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, and BitLocker device encryption.

Please note: Verify compatibility before purchase. This is for PCs that need a new license and will not work for those currently unable to use Windows Update to access Windows 11.

Instantly update your PC when you get this Microsoft Office 2021 and Microsoft Windows 11 bundle for just $54.97. Act before bundles sell out for good.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream Leinster vs. Glasgow Warriors in the United Rugby Championship for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are a number of huge rugby fixtures taking place this weekend, but Leinster vs. Glasgow Warriors might be the biggest of the bunch. It's a battle at the top of the United Rugby Championship standings between two talented sides.

If you want to watch Munster vs. Ulster in the United Rugby Championship for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Leinster vs. Glasgow Warriors?

Munster vs. Ulster starts at 7:35 p.m. BST on May 17. This fixture takes place at thr Aviva Stadium.

How to watch Leinster vs. Glasgow Warriors for free

Munster vs. Ulster in the United Rugby Championship is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player.

RTÉ Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland. This process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can stream on RTÉ Player from any location.

Access free live streams of the United Rugby Championship by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

4. Visit RTÉ Player

5. Live stream Munster vs. Ulster for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming aren't free, but leading VPN providers do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By signing up for these deals, you'll be able access free live streams without actually spending anything. This is a temporary fix, but it gives you enough time to stream Munster vs. Ulster (plus more United Rugby Championship fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for sport?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to live stream the United Rugby Championship, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

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

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

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months of coverage for free — 61% off list price. This deal includes a year of unlimited data backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Munster vs. Ulster for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

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

In the early stages of 2025, the world of porn was rocked after a number of states introduced laws that required visitors to upload ID before accessing sites. Pornhub responded by banning visitors from these states from accessing their website.

These restrictions are still in place. That's frustrating for potential users in impacted locations, but fortunately, a simple workaround exists.

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

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Montana

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

Unblock Pornhub by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

4. Visit Pornhub

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

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

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

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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

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

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Unblock Pornhub for free in Montana with ExpressVPN.

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

You access to porn sites is restricted in many locations around the world, and we're not talking about far away places with no connection to you. We're talking close to home.

A number of U.S. states have introduced laws that require visitors to upload ID before accessing pornography sites. As a result, Pornhub banned visitors from those states from accessing their website, and there's no guarantee that things will stop there.

There are valid reasons for restricting access to porn, but there is also something to be said for protecting online freedom. When the time is right, you should be able to access all your favorite porn sites without hassle. Fortunately, there is a simple workaround for these online restrictions.

Want to unblock porn sites for free from anywhere in the world? We have all the information you need.

How to unblock porn for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This quick and easy process means you can bypass geo-restrictions to access your favorite porn sites from anywhere in the world.

Follow these simple steps to unblock porn sites:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

4. Watch porn from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for bypassing content restrictions are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can retain access to porn sites in an unsupported location.

If you want to retain permanent access to all your favorite sites, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing online restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for porn?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking porn sites, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Unblock porn for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

You can feel the excitement building. The biggest international song competition in the world is fast approaching, so clear your calendar, prepare food from across the continent, and dress to impress.

The Eurovision Song Contest is back once again, promising incredible performances, dazzling choreography, and moments that you really can't explain. There isn't anything else like the Eurovision Song Contest. You just know it's going to be beautifully mad. We can't wait to watch, and you can do the same without spending anything.

Want to watch the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest for free from anywhere in the world? We have all the information you need.

What is Eurovision?

The Eurovision Song Contest is an international song competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union. This popular competition primarily features entries from European countries, with each participating nation submitting an original song to be performed on live TV. Competing countries cast votes to pick a winner.

Eurovision has a reputation for delivering truly memorable performances, and not always in a good way. Rules and convention go out the window with Eurovision, resulting in some absolutely unmissable moments.

Where is the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest?

The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest is the 69th edition of the event. This year's competition will take place in St. Jakobshalle, Basel.

When is the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest?

The full schedule for the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest can be found right here:

• First Semi-Final — 9 p.m. CEST on May 13

• Second Semi-Final — 9 p.m. CEST on May 15

• Grand Final — 9 p.m. CEST on May 17

Keep these times and dates in mind. No excuses.

How to watch the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest for free

Audiences from all participating countries should be able to watch the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest on local broadcasting services:

• Albania — RTSH

• Armenia — AMPTV

• Australia — SBS

• Austria — ORF

• Azerbaijan — İctimai

• Belgium — VRT

• Croatia — HRT

• Cyprus — CyBC

• Czechia — ČT

• Denmark — DR

• Estonia — ERR

• Finland — YLE

• France — FT

• Georgia — GPB

• Germany — ARD/NDR

• Greece — ERT

• Iceland — RÚV

• Ireland — RTÉ

• Israel — Kan

• Italy — RAI

• Latvia — LTV

• Lithuania — LRT

• Luxembourg — RTL

• Malta — PBS

• Montenegro — RTCG

• Netherlands — AVROTROS

• Norway — NRK

• Poland — TVP

• Portugal — RTP

• San Marino — SMRTV

• Serbia — RTS

• Slovenia — RTVSLO

• Spain — RTVE

• Sweden — SVT

• Switzerland — SRG SSR

• Ukraine — Suspilne

• United Kingdom — BBC

If you are based in a country not on this list, you will need to use a VPN to live stream the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest for free. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another country. This simple process makes it look like you're connecting from a country with free access to Eurovision, so you can live stream the event for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with free access to Eurovision

4. Visit your favorite free streaming platform listed above

5. Live stream the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

Something to note is that the best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can live stream Eurovision without actually spending anything. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream the event before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for streaming?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free streaming services, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest for free with ExpressVPN.