Mashable

India is now the top exporter of smartphones to the U.S., overtaking China in the race, according to research firm Canalys.

The number of smartphones assembled in India and imported to the U.S. skyrocketed this year, accounting for 44 percent of phones imported to the U.S. in the second quarter of 2025. The total volume of smartphones made in India increased by 240 percent from last year.

Meanwhile, China's smartphone exports to the U.S. shrank from 61 percent last year to just 25 percent of total U.S. imports by June. This is lower than that of Vietnam, which is now responsible for 30 percent of phone imports to the country.

China's exports to the U.S. are slipping amid tariff concerns and "accelerated supply chain reorientation" after uncertain negotiations between the two countries, according to Canalys. Tech giants like Apple largely shifted their supply chain to India, while "still dependent on established manufacturing bases in China," said Canalys analyst Sanyam Chaurasia. Companies including Motorola and Samsung have also increased their share of U.S. supplies from India.

Exports from China have been under increasing threat since the U.S. imposed high tariffs on the country (tariffs that were heightened, paused in May, and generally left global markets in a state of uncertainty). The two countries have resumed trade talks in Stockholm this week. Meanwhile, a tariff simulator has just predicted that China-made exports to the U.S. could fall by $485 billion between now and 2027.

SEE ALSO: What to buy before tariffs take effect: Experts say laptops, smartphones, and even Christmas lights could soon cost more

President Donald Trump has been pushing tech companies to move manufacturing to the U.S., as his tariffs have swept through the global economy in recent months. In May, the President took to Truth Social to inform Apple's Tim Cook that he expects iPhones to be manufactured and built in the United States – "not India, or anyplace else."

SAVE $150: As of July 29, get the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus for $599.99 at Best Buy. That's a discount of 20% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus $599.99 at Best Buy
$749.99 Save $150 Get Deal

If you're the type of person who likes to get work done on the go, you should consider picking up a new laptop. And if you like no-muss, no-fuss tech, a Chromebook laptop is even better. That's why you shouldn't miss this Samsung Chromebook, now down to the lowest price we've seen, at Best Buy.

As of July 29, get the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus for $599.99, down from $749.99, at Best Buy. That's a discount of 20% and $150 off. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The 3 best laptops of 2025 (so far)

This iteration of Samsung's Galaxy Chromebook line comes with an Intel Core 3 processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a gorgeous Neptune Blue chassis. Samsung boasts that it's the thinnest, lightest Chromebook Plus ever as well, so it's made to tote around wherever you need to get things done. It also comes with 12 months of Google One AI Premium so you can put Google Gemini Advanced and Gemini to use throughout apps like Docs, Gmail, and more with 2TB of cloud storage.

The AMOLED display is super bright, and the 15.6-inch screen is large enough to give you more real estate to work with. It gives you 13 hours of battery per charge as well, with super-charging able to your Chromebook back up to speed in no time. And, if you need to, you can connect to your phone straight from your computer to make additional tasks (or catching up) a cinch.

If it's time you upgraded, consider grabbing one of these models before they go out of stock at this price.

A new lawsuit filed by two companies in the adult film industry claims that Meta has torrented copyrighted adult film content for years in order to train its AI models.

Strike 3 Holdings, a pornographic film holding company, along with Counterlife Media, filed the lawsuit in a US Court District in California on Friday, alleging that Meta "willfully and intentionally" infringed at least 2,396 copyrighted movies since 2018. The company is the most active copyright litigant in the U.S., according to TorrentFreak, and regularly targets BitTorrent pirates.

SEE ALSO: Judge in 'Kadrey v. Meta' AI copyright case rules for Meta, against authors

According to the suit, Meta downloaded adult film content "for purposes of acquiring content to train its Meta Movie Gen, Large Language Model ('LLaMA'), as well as various other Meta AI Models that rely on video training content." Meta is accused of downloading copyrighted works without permission and with the purpose of distribution "in order to accelerate its downloads of vast amounts of other content."

Popular torrenting networks don't just allow users to download media files. Torrenting is a form of peer-to-peer file sharing, in which users download pieces of files from other users. The suit alleges that not only did Meta download copyrighted adult works, but that it made these files available to others, and benefited from doing so. Mashable has reached out to Meta for comment.

Strike 3 Holdings, which says its sites attract over 25 million monthly visitors, is now seeking extensive damages that could amount to $359 million. And, according to Ars Technica, the company is also asking for an injunction to permanently ban Meta from using its content again.

Meta has previously been sued over its AI model training, with a major copyright and fair use case filed against the tech giant by authors including Richard Kadrey, Sarah Silverman, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Junot Diaz. Recently, Meta won a ruling against these authors, who claimed the company used their copyrighted works without permission. As Mashable's Cecily Mauran reported, "At the heart of these fights is a battle of values: the rights and livelihoods of artists versus technological innovation at all costs."

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.

SAVE 22%: The 55-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series is on sale at Amazon for $359.99, down from the list price of $459.99. That's a savings of $100.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 55-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series $359.99 at Amazon
$459.99 Save $100 Get Deal

We're almost into fall TV season which means we have tons to look forward to. Plus, it happens to be getting close to major sports kickoffs. If you've been considering upgrading your TV, now is a great time. Amazon thinks so, too, and they're offering a sweet sale price on a solid model.

As of July 29, the 55-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series is just $359.99 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $459.99. That works out to a savings of $100 thanks to a 22% discount. It also matches the low we saw during Prime Day earlier this month.

Did you know season five of Only Murders in the Building is coming on Sept. 9? Now you do. We also have a new season of Wednesday dropping on Aug. 6, and plenty more that's worth tuning into. If you've been watching previous seasons of these shows on your tiny cellphone screen, consider today's sale your sign to upgrade.

SEE ALSO: Get this spooky Wednesday Addams Lego set ahead of the season 2 premiere

The 55-inch Fire TV 4-Series is a UHD TV that released in 2024. It's a great mix of quality with affordability, coming with a clear and crisp display. Plus, you get four HDMI ports to connect all your gaming and sound-system accessories.

The 55-inch size is perfect for a bedroom, a kids' room, or the garage. Like most Amazon TVs, this comes with the power of a Fire Streaming Stick already built in, so you won't need to add a streaming stick to your shopping cart.

In case you missed scoring a new TV during Prime Day, Amazon is here to save the day by offering the 55-inch Fire TV 4-Series for the same sale price of $359.99. Today's deal will put you in great shape for upcoming fall favorites.

SAVE $22: As of July 29, get the Nothing CMF Buds Pro 2 at Amazon for $47, down from their usual price of $69. That's a discount of 32%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Nothing CMF Buds Pro 2 $47 at Amazon
$69 Save $22 Get Deal

Looking for a new pair of earbuds? The many budget earbuds available might make your head spin, but there's one brand you may not have considered while shopping: Nothing. And you can get a pair of the company's CMF Buds Pro 2 for a pittance while they're back at their Prime Day price.

As of July 29, get the Nothing CMF Buds Pro 2 at Amazon for $22 off. That brings them down to $47 from the usual price of $69 for a discount of 32%.

SEE ALSO: The best wireless earbuds for every situation

These buds offer up to 50 dB of active noise cancellation with an expansive frequency range of up to 5000 Hz. They also boast a large 60 mAh battery so you can get 10 hours of music on each charge with 43 hours of additional playback thanks to the charging case. They also let you tweak their audio and EQ settings in the Nothing X app, where you can change everything from mid and high tones to bass and everything in between.

Beyond that, they offer spatial audio with 360-degree cinematic sound for Bluetooth connectivity, so no matter what you're doing in real life, you can be surrounded by sound. They include a customizable Smart Dial on the buds themselves to help you control them while on the go as well.

If you're ready to grab an advanced pair of earbuds, but don't want to spend too much cash, these make a great alternative to the many other options on the market.

SAVE $5: Heading to the cinema? Take $5 off any movie ticket on Wednesdays when you purchase through Fandango using Apple Pay. Just enter the code APPLEPAYWED at checkout.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fandango Fandango movie tickets Save $5 on Wednesdays using Apple Pay (code: APPLEPAYWED) Get Deal

Movie theaters are still struggling to return to their pre-pandemic glory, thanks in part to rising prices. If you're looking to spend more time at the cinema and less cash, Fandango is making things a little easier on wallets everywhere with Apple Pay Wednesdays.

When you purchase movie tickets on Wednesdays on the Fandango website or app using Apple Pay, you can get $5 off your ticket. This deal is valid for any movie on any day of the week — you just have to make the actual purchase on a Wednesday using Apple Pay with the code APPLEPAYWED.

There is a catch, of course. Only a limited quantity of code redemptions are allowed each Wednesday. So you'll want act quickly to secure your discounted ticket. If the code is showing up as invalid when you try to pay with Apple Pay (and it is, in fact, a Wednesday), it has probably already reached its maximum capacity. Pro tip: the earlier on Wednesday you can make your purchase, the better.

Be a part of the cinematic experience again while spending a little less on your tickets (we highly recommend starting with The Fantastic Four: First Steps or Oh, Hi!, which are both currently in theaters). It could be the first small step in the theater revival.

Google Nest users have a widespread complaint: that the verbal command "turn off the lights" isn't working.

A writer for Android Authority pointed out that the device didn't work for her, and several users on Reddit have reported the same issue. Some Google Home users say they can still control individual lights, but not groups of lights; others report individual bulbs won't turn on or off; and other times, the Google devices can't understand the difference between lights in separate bedrooms.

The issue seems to be contained to using Assistant voice commands, with most users saying that the controls work as they normally should within the Google Home app.

SEE ALSO: Is Google Home another victim of ensh*ttification? Redditors discuss, Google responds.

Google responded to several posts on r/googlehome, acknowledging the problem: "Hey all, We're aware of an issue with using voice commands to control some lights. We’ll share an update as soon as possible, thanks for your patience."

This onslaught of complaints follows criticism from Google Home users over the "enshittification" of Google Home smart speakers and hubs. Redditors have been complaining about glitches, delayed responses, and the deterioration of several basic features.

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Anish Kattukaran, Chief Product Officer of Google Home and Nest, responded to these complaints earlier in July, reassuring users that Google is "actively working on major improvements" and that the team would have more to share in coming months.

The crisis over Google Home gadgets may be getting worse. According to Tech Radar, US law firm Kaplan Gore has begun investigating a possible class action against Google for "failing to remedy increasing problems with its Google Home 'smart home' service." The law firm is asking Google users to share complaints over failing features, such as "unrecognized voice commands, automations and routines not functioning."

SAVE $180: The EcoFlow Delta 3 portable power station is on sale at Amazon to Prime members for $519, down from the list price of $699. That's a 26% discount and a record-low price for Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: EcoFlow EcoFlow Delta 3 portable power station $519 at Amazon
$699 Save $180 Prime member exclusive sale Get Deal

Now that we're almost to August, end-of-summer and fall storms are starting to show up on the radar. If you live in an area that's prone to power outages, it's smart to have a portable power station on hand. If you don't have one of these wonders yet, Amazon has your back.

As of July 29, the EcoFlow Delta 3 portable power station is on sale to Prime members at Amazon for $519, marked down from the normal price of $699. That works out to a 26% discount that shaves $180 off the price. This deal is exclusive to Prime members who can now score the Delta 3 for a record-low price.

The EcoFlow Delta 3 gives you access to 1,024Wh of power with the impressive LiFePO4 battery technology which means this portable power station will last for at least 10 years. In real life terms, 1,024Wh of power gives you access to recharging your phone 89 times, keeping a fan on for 17 hours, or recharging your drone 12 times. When the power goes out, the Delta 3 can keep your refrigerator cooling for at least seven hours and the WiFi router powered on for almost 60 hours.

SEE ALSO: The DJI Power 2000 portable power station means business, and it’s great for DJI drone owners

You get plenty of charging versatility and options with the EcoFlow Delta 3 including six AC ports, two USB-C ports, and two USB-A. When it comes time to recharge the Delta 3 itself, you can go from zero back to 100% in under an hour. Plus, this model weighs under 30 pounds, so you can carry it from the garage into your home or around the campsite without much trouble.

Before the next storm hits, get prepared by snagging the EcoFlow Delta 3 from Amazon while it's at a record-low price. As long as you're a Prime member, the portable power station is on sale for just $519. Since it'll last well over 10 years, that works out to less than $52 per year for ensuring you can stay powered up when the storms hit.

It's been a year and half since HBO Max (then just Max) cancelled Our Flag Means Death, the queer pirate comedy created by David Jenkins and starring Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi. While the show may be over, fans can now throw their pirate hats in the ring to own a piece of the series, as Heritage Auctions is auctioning off props and costumes from the show.

The auction is part of Heritage's HBO Mashup auction, which also features items from Barry, Big Little Lies, Curb Your Enthusiasm, White House Plumbers, and Perry Mason.

Our Flag Means Death lots include "Wanted" posters for Blackbeard (Waititi); pirate swords, daggers, and pistols; and the mermaid tail Stede Bonnet (Darby) wore during a pivotal Season 2 dream sequence. Several costume pieces are also up for grabs, including Stede's lavish coats and Blackbeard's leather battle ensembles.

SEE ALSO: Meet the real pirate queens behind 'Our Flag Means Death' hijinks

At the time of writing this, several lots are still at $1. Meanwhile, the most expensive item is currently the Stede and Blackbeard wedding toppers from Season 2, sitting at over $1,000. The auction ends Aug. 23.

Heritage Auctions isn't the only instance of an Our Flag Means Death auction. In Feb. and March of 2025, series fans organized the Our Flag Means Death craft fair, a 19-day fundraiser that brought in $105,000 for the Campaign for Southern Equality’s Trans Youth Emergency Project. Many of the pieces on sale were created by fans, ranging from embroidery pieces to jewelry. However, the Craft Fair auction also included donations from Our Flag Means Death's cast and crew. Jenkins donated an Our Flag Means Death teapot, along with a prop that Waititi doodled on during filming.

SPEND $50, GET A $15 GIFT CARD: Through Aug. 2, Target Circle Members get a free $15 gift card when they spend $50 on home essentials like laundry, kitchen, bathroom, or select lunch-packing supplies.

Opens in a new window Credit: Target Free $15 Target gift card With $50 purchase of household essentials Get Deal

One thing about Target: It's going to pay you just for buying everyday essentials you'd be buying anyway. Yes, yet another free gift card promo is back, this time geared more toward end of summer shindigs and back-to-school: Get a $15 gift card when you spend $50 on household essentials like sandwich bags, Clorox wipes, Tide pens, Kleenex, Zevo bug traps, and more, plus the usual suspects like laundry, bathroom, and kitchen supplies.

SEE ALSO: Robot vacuums vs. stick vacuums: Shopping advice from someone who has both

The offer is available both in stores and online, but note that the gift card will be only be activated after your $50+ purchase — so you'll have to use it during a future shopping trip. That can be used on anything at Target, though, and just think about how many items are $15 or less at Target. Now, they're kind of free.

You do have to be a Target Circle member to unlock this promo. But unlike Amazon Prime, Target Circle is completely free to join. There is also a paid tier, Target 360, that involves perks like free 2-day shipping on everything and same-day delivery from Target and other local stores. But if you're happy to just have access to all of the free gift card events that Target does (which probably happens at least once a month), the free version of Target Circle is a clutch membership to have.

SAVE $60: As of July 29, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are back down to just $189.99 at Amazon. That's 24% off their list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro $189.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $60 Get Deal

If you have an iPhone, AirPods are a no brainer. If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone, it doesn't get much better than the Buds 3 Pro — especially when they're on sale.

As of July 29, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are back on sale for just $189.99 — down from the $249.99 list price and $9 cheaper than they were just yesterday. While that's not quite as impressive as their ultra-low Prime Day price, it's still 24% in savings for a truly great pair of earbuds.

Samsung took a page out of Apple's playbook for their third-generation premium earbuds, adopting the stem-style design for the first time. Aesthetic isn't the only upgrade, though; the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are the brand's smartest earbuds to date. Not only can these babies adapt to your environment, filtering out noise when you prefer to focus and keeping you in touch with your surroundings when you need to be alert, but they can also auto-adjust your audio based on your fit. They also include an interpreter feature that can give you real-time translations of foreign languages in Listening Mode, whether you're on a phone call, watching a TV show, or asking for directions in another country.

Of course, all of these fancy features don't matter if the sound quality isn't up to par. Fortunately, according to our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis), the audio is "stunning and clear."

At full price, the Buds 3 Pro are a bit steep, but for under $190, we're much more inclined to recommend adding them to your cart.

In less than five months, DJI drones could be officially grounded here in the United States, amidst escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China.

By Dec. 23, all drones manufactured in China are required to undergo a national security risk assessment, and as of mid-July, Chinese drone maker DJI said it's received no indication this review has even begun.

And while DJI drones haven’t been officially banned in the United States, the company told Mashable it's having trouble importing its drones into the United States. The looming threat of a ban has already caused a frenzy. Retail supply is thinning out fast, resellers are cashing in, and DJI's entire product line is listed as "Out of stock" at the company's online store.

But does this signal the end of DJI’s presence in the U.S. drone market?

Not quite. At least, not yet.

SEE ALSO: Trump administration threatens to shut TikTok down if it can't make a deal with China Why are DJI drones so hard to find in stock?

In June, the Trump administration signed two executive orders aimed at boosting the domestic drone industry and curbing potential "malicious drone activity." But the orders stopped short of directly banning DJI or other China-based manufacturers.

The real threat to DJI's presence in the U.S. market lies in the fine print of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), passed in December 2024. The act mandates a formal national security review of Chinese-made drones. If the government fails to complete that review within one year, the provision could automatically trigger a ban on DJI drones by the end of 2025.

So, while DJI drones are still legal to sell in the U.S. — for now — the clock is ticking. In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, DJI formally requested an audit of its operations and stated its full willingness to cooperate.

"DJI is confident that its products can withstand your strictest scrutiny," wrote Adam Welsh, the company’s Head of Global Policy. "We are confident not only because we have nothing to hide, but because independent firms and other US government agencies have repeatedly validated and confirmed that DJI’s products are secure."

However, in a July 16 blog post, the company stated, “Since the start of this year, there has been no formal indication that the mandated review process has started." The company also wrote, "there is a real risk that new DJI drones would be prevented from entering the U.S. market — not because of any proven risk, but simply due to compressed timelines or politically motivated decisions."

However, DJI may already be facing an unofficial ban.

DJI recently claimed to The Verge that CBP is "blocking many of its drones from entering the United States." And in a statement to Mashable, the company acknowledged it's having problems importing drones.

Mashable reached out multiple times — via calls and emails — to U.S. Customs and Border Protection press officers for comment but received no response.

In response to Mashable's questions, a DJI spokesperson provided this statement: "DJI remains committed to the U.S. market and making our products available to our U.S.-based customers. Current market conditions and policies have made it more challenging to stock and import drones. We are actively working to address and mitigate any influences and uncertainties, and to ensure products are accessible to our customers soon."

Calls to ban DJI drones in the U.S. go back to at least 2017, driven by data privacy concerns surrounding Chinese-made technology. Over the years, the federal government has floated various restrictions on DJI drones in particular, culminating in the Commerce Department adding DJI to its blacklist in 2020 during President Trump’s first term — a move that marked one of the earliest official efforts to curtail the company’s reach in the U.S. market.

Can you still buy and fly DJI drones?

Yes, as we stated previously, you can still purchase DJI drones — if you can get your hands on one. As of this writing, Amazon still has several popular DJI drones in stock, though only from third-party resellers. DJI's entire drone inventory remains out of stock at its official online store and most retailers.

Buying products from third-party resellers can be risky, and these sellers may charge a premium as supply dwindles.

Interestingly, DJI may have a plan B for the U.S. market. The Verge found a drone for sale at Amazon that's nearly identical in every way to a DJI drone. It even has a very similar app, though under a different name. Except for the yellow paint job, the Skyrover X1 drone clearly resembles a DJI product.

SAVE $275: As of July 29, get the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for $1,144.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,419.99. That's a discount of 19%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra $1,144.99 at Amazon
$1,419.99 Save $275 Get Deal

If you've been looking for a reason to upgrade to a new smartphone these days, we found a deal you won't want to skip. You can save a significant amount on a powerhouse, AI-backed device from Samsung right now.

As of July 29, get the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Samsung's latest and greatest phone) for $1,144.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,419.99. That's $275 off and a discount of 19%.

SEE ALSO: Verizon is giving customers a free Samsung Z Flip 7 — here's how to get yours

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor and comes with a 6.9-inch AMOLED display with adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and 3120x1440 resolution. It has 12GB of RAM, a 5,000mAh battery, and 512GB of storage. It also includes a built-in S Pen that you can use as a stylus for jotting down notes, doodling, or just navigating the phone.

This phone is built for AI support, and it has a wide variety of features that take advantage of that fact, like Now Brief that gives you a day's worth of information about what's happening in terms of news, weather, and more. There are also tons of photo and video editing options to help you clean up, remove static, and alter images for a more professional finish.

If you're ready for a new phone, make sure you don't miss the significant savings here. It's always good to get the top of the line device, and this one is no slouch.

A24 has already jumped into the love triangle fray this year with Celine Song's Materialists. But in the upcoming romantic comedy Eternity, A24 and writer-director David Freyne put a heavenly twist on love triangle tropes.

The film stars Miles Teller as Larry, a recently deceased man who finds himself at the Junction, the gateway to the afterlife. Here, the dead have a week to choose the one place where they're going to spend eternity — options include Studio 54 World, Man-Free World, and Paris — and who they're going to spend it with.

For Larry, that choice is easy. He wants to spend his afterlife with his wife Joan (Elizabeth Olsen), who arrives at the Junction not long after he does. However, there's one major wrinkle in Larry and Joan's plans for a happily ever after: Joan's first husband, Luke (Callum Turner). Luke died early into their marriage, and he's been waiting for Joan for 67 years in the afterlife. Now, Joan faces a tricky decision: Spend eternity with her first love, or with the man she spent decades married to?

Thus begins a week-long competition for Joan's heart (and future afterlife), one that gets two afterlife coordinators (played by Academy Award winner Da'Vine Joy Randolph and John Early) extremely invested. Who could blame them? I'm already invested from the trailer alone! This is eternity we're talking about, people!

Get your own taste of Eternity's afterlife in the trailer above, which promises plenty of love triangle drama and gorgeous retro production design. If this is the afterlife, then sign me up.

Eternity will premiere at 2025's Toronto International Film Festival. It hits theaters this Nov.

SAVE OVER $1,000: Verizon is giving away a free Samsung Z Flip 7 for customers who trade in a qualifying phone under an Unlimited Ultimate plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Free Samsung Z Flip 7 with Verizon Get Deal

Phone deals on the latest models don't come around all that often. And when they do appear, the savings on offer are not that great. But what if we told you that Verizon will give you a free Samsung Z Flip 7 phone right now. You probably wouldn't believe us, but it's true. There are some hoops that you need to jump through, but this deal is legit.

When you trade in a qualifying Apple, Google, Motorola, or Samsung phone under an Unlimited Ultimate plan with Verizon, you can get the brand new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 for absolutely nothing.

SEE ALSO: The best Samsung deals to shop this week: Galaxy Watch 8, Z Flip7, and more

The free Samsung Z Flip 7 is paid out through a 36-month billing cycle. You also need to pay for any taxes and fees required to purchase the device, and you must pay its service fee of $55 a month per line. We did say there are some hoops. And those hoops aren't exactly cheap.

Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

In our review of the Samsung Z Flip 7, Adam Doud was full of praise for this AI Flip Phone: If you appreciate the foldable form factor, then you'll definitely appreciate the Galaxy Z Flip 7. While we wish it came with a Snapdragon processor, it's the flip phone to beat so far in 2025."

Get a free Samsung Z Flip 7 with this special promotion from Verizon.

SAVE OVER $10: As of July 29, the Lego Marvel Infinity Gauntlet set is on sale for $62.99 at Amazon. This is 21% off its list price of $79.99, allowing you to save $17.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Marvel Infinity Gauntlet Set $62.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $17.00 Get Deal

If the recently-released The Fantastic Four: First Steps (a movie we hailed as "One of the best MCU films in years" in our review) has you itching to jump back on the Marvel bandwagon, why not do it with an awesome Lego set? The incredibly cool Lego Marvel Infinity Gauntlet set is one worth picking up, and it's even on sale right now.

The Lego Marvel Infinity Gauntlet set is usually listed for $79.99, but right now it's marked down 21% to $62.99. This saves you $17, which is a nice little deal to take advantage of while it's still live.

SEE ALSO: Score a rare discount on the Lego Disney and Pixar ‘Up’ house set

If you're a Marvel fan, this Lego build is an awesome addition to your collection. Coming with 590 pieces, this set recreates Thanos' iconic Infinity Gauntlet, complete with Infinity Stones. You can set the assembled gauntlet on top of a display stand that features a little descriptive plaque for it. The fingers are even poseable, which is a very fun touch. It's recommended for ages 18 and up, but if you know a younger Marvel fan itching to build it, simply have an adult help them out.

Don't miss out on 21% off the Lego Marvel Infinity Gauntlet set at Amazon. And if you're looking for more Lego sets to pick up right now, Lego's Super Mario Piranha Plant set is also on sale at the moment, which is worth a look if the newly-announced Game Boy Lego set caught your eye.

SAVE OVER $300: As of July 29, the Roborock Q5 Max+ robot vacuum is on sale for $279.99 at Amazon. This is $320 off its list price of $599.99, and marks its lowest-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Q5 Max+ Robot Vacuum $279.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $320 Get Deal

If you've been looking for a little extra cleaning help around the house during these summer months, it's worth dropping some cash on a robot vacuum. Thankfully, deals on these helpful devices pop up quite frequently, especially over at Amazon. One of our favorite deals we've stumbled across recently is on the Roborock Q5 Max+ robot vacuum, which is over 50% off at the moment.

The Roborock Q5 Max+ robot vacuum is currently on sale for $279.99, a whopping 53% off its list price of $599.99. What makes this deal even better is its a return to its lowest-ever price according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, so there's no better time than now to grab it.

SEE ALSO: The best robot vacuums in 2025

This self-emptying robot vacuum can keep going for up to seven weeks before needing to be cleaned out, so you can keep it out of mind for a long while as it cleans around. With 5500Pa suction, it can achieve an effective clean on a variety of floor types including hardwood, tile, and carpet. On top of that, it features a PreciSense LiDAR navigation system that can map out your home to get a thorough clean done and avoid any obstacles.

Amazon has it listed as a limited-time deal at the moment, so act fast to scoop up the Roborock Q5 Max+ robot vacuum for 53% off while it's still available.

If you're looking for a robot vacuum/mop combo, there's another excellent Roborock deal that's crossed our radar recently: the Roborock Qrevo Edge robot vacuum is back at its lowest-ever price, too.

SAVE $20: The Lego Star Wars R2-D2 Brick Built Droid Figure is on sale for $79.99 at Walmart. That's a $20 discount off the regular $99.99 price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars R2-D2 Brick Built Droid Figure $79.99 at Walmart
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One of the most beloved droids in the Star Wars universe just got a price drop worthy of a galaxy-saving deal. As of July 29, the Lego R2-D2 Brick Built Droid Figure set is available for $79.99 at Walmart. That’s 20% off a detailed collector’s set that brings everyone’s favourite astromech to life in brick form.

Part of Lego’s 25th Anniversary Star Wars lineup, this 1050-piece set offers more than just a fun build. The finished R2-D2 model features a rotating dome head, detachable third leg, extendable periscope, and attachable tools, capturing the clever mechanics that made R2 a fan favourite. Once complete, the build stands over nine inches tall, making it an eye-catching addition to any shelf or Star Wars display.

SEE ALSO: Our 13 favorite Lego sets, sourced from actual Lego fans

To mark the anniversary, Lego also includes a special Darth Malak minifigure, exclusive to this set and complete with a stand featuring the Lego Star Wars 25th Anniversary logo. It’s a thoughtful bonus that long-time fans and collectors will appreciate, especially those following the full anniversary lineup.

Recommended for ages 10 and up, the R2-D2 figure hits the sweet spot between play and display. It’s a fun, satisfying build for kids and adults alike, whether you're reenacting scenes from the galaxy far, far away or simply upgrading your desk décor.

Star Wars sets like this tend to disappear faster than the Millennium Falcon in hyperdrive — especially when they go on sale.

If you feel like building even more, don’t miss our curated list of top Lego sets — handpicked by real fans who know their bricks. Plus, the Lego Ideas Insect Collection is currently $16 off at Amazon, making it another sweet deal worth checking out.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 29 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: Earliest

• Green: Proof

• Blue: Collectibles

• Purple: Types of films

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: Discount

• Green: Irritate

• Blue: Poker actions

• Purple: Things you can pump

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 #779 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Discount: DEAL, PROMOTION, SALE, SPECIAL

• Irritate: BUG, NETTLE, RUFFLE, STEAM

• Poker actions: CALL, CHECK, FOLD, RAISE

• Things you can pump: BRAKES, FIST, GAS, IRON

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 July 29

Are you also playing NYT 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.

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 July 29 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 29 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: You got that right!

The words are precision-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are ways to be correct.

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 Taking Pains.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for July 29

• Precise

• Accurate

• Exact

• Taking Pains

• Strict

• Persnickety

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.