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SAVE $61.99: The Sony XM6 headphones are on sale at Amazon for $398, down from the normal price of $459.99. That's a 13% discount that matches the record low at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones $398 at Amazon
$459.99 Save $61.99   Get Deal

Want to gift or receive some of the best headphones that came out in 2025? You're in luck if you prefer over-the-ear headphones with incredible sound because the Sony XM6 headphones are on sale at Amazon and they'll likely arrive in time for Christmas.

As of Dec. 22, the Sony XM6 headphones are on sale for $398 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $459.99. That's a savings of $61.99 thanks to a 13% discount. Today's sale price also matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

For anyone interested in top-of-the-line headphones, the Sony XM6 model shines. Freshly launched in the spring, the Sony XM6 is the brands latest flagship model which earned a Mashable Choice Award for their exceptional sound quality. Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth reviewed the headphones and said, "The new Sony headphones offer impressive audio quality, and they definitely improve on the XM5 models. The active noise cancellation is particularly phenomenal."

SEE ALSO: The Sony XM5 headphones now come with free earbuds at Amazon

This could be a huge benefit for anyone traveling this holiday season. Another major benefit for those who travel with headphones is the XM6 headphones now fold up for better portability. On Mashable's list of the best headphones, the Sony XM6 earn the top spot as the best option for sound-first headphones.

Big points get added to this sale price on the Sony XM6 thanks to the fact that Amazon might be able to get these on your doorstep today. Depending on your delivery address, these could come with same-day delivery, which could be a lifesaver if you're shopping for a last-minute Christmas gift for family or yourself.

While they're sitting at an all-time low price, upgrade in a major way to the Sony XM6 headphones. You'll be in line for some of the best sound in the industry.

Save $250: You can still save 21% on a MacBook ahead of Christmas. As of 2022, the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is on sale at Amazon and Best Buy for $949, down from its full price of $1,199.

Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $949 at Best Buy
$1,199 Save $250   Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Amazon

We may be just three days out from Christmas, but your window of opportunity to grab a great tech gift on sale hasn't closed just yet.

Both Amazon and Best Buy marked down the 15-inch M4 Apple MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage to just $949 as of Dec. 22. (The latter store does have a countdown on the product page showing that the deal will end come Dec. 23). At the time of writing, the deal applies to all four available colorways.

Mashable's laptop expert Haley Henschel deemed the 15-inch Air the best MacBook for most people in her MacBook guide. Why? Even at full price, the value is near unbeatable. (Mashable Senior Editor and longtime Apple review Stan Schroeder agrees, titling his review of the M4 Air "A really good deal").

SEE ALSO: The 60+ best Christmas gifts for 2025: Find unique gift ideas you'd never think of on your own

That's mostly thanks to the M4 chip, which as Henschel writes, "effectively closed the gap between Apple's MacBook Air and Pro series." The fanless model will likely get hot to the touch when handling especially heavy workloads, but it certainly has the power to do it. The 15-inch display is also useful from a productivity standpoint, but not so huge as to become obtrusive — overall, the Air stays true to it's name, remaining an ultraportable laptop.

When you do decide to hunker down in one place, your display options get even better, with this laptop providing open-lid support for two external displays. The only major con? The port selection is rather limited, with just two Thunderbolt/USB-C ports, one MagSafe 3 charging port, and a headphone jack. Still, it's an incredible value at full price, and an even better one at $250 off. (Note: this laptop does go on sale frequently, but $949 remains its lowest price ever).

Prime members can likely get this laptop in time for Christmas, while Best Buy also offers same-day pickup (pending your local stores' availability).

Grocery delivery service Instacart will end its controversial price tests, it announced on Monday.

The move comes weeks after a Consumer Reports investigation claimed that Instacart's AI-enabled price experiments may be upping your grocery bill.

SEE ALSO: YouTube pulls the plug on popular AI-generated fake movie trailer channels

The investigation reported that the experiments priced the same products differently for different consumers, sometimes by as much as 23 percent. The price variations could result in a yearly difference of $1,200 in grocery spending, according to Consumer Reports. The investigation also found that Instacart acquired an AI company in 2022 called Eversight, and afterwards, Instacart began offering pricing software to retail companies to "optimize" prices.

Several lawmakers took action against individualized pricing this month. Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona introduced a bill to crack down on "surveillance" pricing, while Democratic Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig sent a letter to Instacart asking for answers. Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York sent a different letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The latter two cite the Consumer Reports investigation.

Last week, Instacart denied that the experiments were dynamic pricing or surveillance pricing, instead stating that they were random A/B tests. (Dynamic pricing fluctuates based on demand, and surveillance pricing uses a consumer's characteristics and behavior to set individual prices.) It also denied Consumer Reports' claim that these tests cost a typical family $1,200 a year.

Today, Instacart announced that it is ending these price tests.

"We understand that the tests we ran with a small number of retail partners that resulted in different prices for the same item at the same store missed the mark for some customers," the blog post states.

"Effective immediately, Instacart is ending all item price tests on our platform. Retailers will no longer be able to use Eversight technology to run item price tests on Instacart."

The post explains that this means if two families are shopping for the same items at the same time at the same store location on Instacart, they will see the same price.

An Instacart spokesperson denied that these tests were dynamic or surveillance pricing in a statement sent to Mashable. "While these pricing tests were not dynamic pricing nor surveillance pricing, and were never based on personal, demographic, or user-level behavioral characteristics, we've listened carefully to customer feedback, and we understand these tests fell short of their expectations," the spokesperson said.

This announcement also comes days after the FTC announced that Instacart will pay $60 million to consumers as part of a settlement. FTC's lawsuit claimed that Instacart engaged in deceptive tactics like falsely advertising "free delivery" and failing to disclose the terms of its Instacart+ membership. Instacart denied the FTC's allegations.

SAVE 34%: As of Dec. 22, you can get a four-pack of Apple AirTags for just $64.98, down from $99. That's a 34% discount or a savings of $34.02.

Apple AirTag Tracker (4-Pack) $64.98 at Amazon
$99 Save $34.02   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Best Buy

If you’re still hunting for those last-minute stocking stuffers that people will actually use, this Apple AirTag deal is probably the easiest win you’ll find. I’m a firm believer that you can never really have too many of these, especially if you’re prone to losing your keys or want to keep tabs on your bags during holiday travel. (They're also great for pets; I use them to keep track of my beagles whenever we visit my parents' house.)

SEE ALSO: Apple's AirTag might get improved location tracking soon

Right now, you can get a 4-pack of Apple AirTags for $64.98 at Amazon. That’s 34% off the $99 list price, which brings them down to about $16 per tracker. Most importantly for this time of year, they arrive before Christmas (Amazon is currently showing overnight delivery in many areas), so you can get them under the tree just in time for the Big Day.

AirTags are super simple to use. It’s just a one-tap process to connect them to your iPhone or iPad. They use the "Find My" network to help you track down your stuff, and if you have a newer iPhone, the Precision Finding feature will lead you right to your lost keys with an arrow on your screen. They’re also water-resistant and have a replaceable battery that you can easily swap out yourself (after about a year), so they aren't just a "disposable" piece of tech.

This past year has been pretty rough for layoffs — and you can thank AI for that, at least in part.

According to a report by CNBC citing consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, AI was responsible for nearly 55,000 layoffs in the U.S. in 2025. This comes during a year that had the highest number of layoffs since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, with 1.17 million job cuts across the country, the consulting firm also reported.

In November alone 71,000 jobs were cut — and 6,000 of those, or about 9 percent, were due to AI.

While AI-focused layoffs hit workers across a wide range of employment statuses and ages at companies like Amazon and Walmart, Inc reported that AI has led to a hiring hiring freeze that has hit workers at the entry level particularly hard.

SEE ALSO: Amazon will reportedly cut 30,000 jobs in biggest mass layoff ever

"The rise in youth unemployment might actually be a symptom of the rise in AI," Stephanie Roth, chief economist at Wolfe Research, told Inc. "It’s not even that AI is doing the job for these people, but companies have uncertainty about the direction of travel and they want to preserve optionality [by not hiring young people]."

All the while, Fortune reported that AI-fueled finance jobs taking over human jobs is predominately "smoke and mirrors" for now.

No matter how you look at it, this was a tough year for U.S. workers — and AI reportedly played a role.

Louisiana's Secure Online Child Interaction and Age Limitation act, a social media law that requires social platforms to verify user ages and implement parental controls, has been struck down.

The before the buzzer decision was issued on Dec. 15, made just ahead of the act's enforcement period by Louisiana regulators. The federal judge ruled in favor of tech trade lobbying group NetChoice, which has been constitutionally challenging age verification laws across the country. In April, NetChoice successfully blocked Arkansas' Social Media Safety Act.

SEE ALSO: All the states and countries that have age-verification laws (so far)

"The Act is at once under-inclusive and over-inclusive," wrote judge John W. deGravelles in the Louisiana decision.

NetChoice joins other free speech advocates who argue sweeping age verification laws may pose large scale privacy risks, restrict access to protected speech, and chill open expression online. Online safety advocates, meanwhile, have pushed for social media regulation in the wake of widespread child exploitation and mental health concerns.

Louisiana was the first to enact such a law in 2023, and other states quickly followed suit. Currently, 25 U.S. states have some sort of age verification law on the books, with many focused on restricting access to online pornography. Most recently, Missouri began enforcing an age-gaiting law that requires user verification on sites with "one-third or more pornographic content" — Congress has discussed more than a dozen online safety acts in this month alone.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has said she will appeal the ruling. Murrill has made social media regulation a priority of the state, including filing the first of a wave of new lawsuits against kids gaming platform Roblox. “The assault on children by online predators is an all-hands-on-deck problem. It’s unfortunate that the court chose to protect huge corporations that facilitate child exploitation over the legislative policy to require simple age verification mechanisms,” said Murrill.

SAVE $20: As of Dec. 22, the basic Kindle (2024) is still on sale for just $89.99 at Amazon. That's 18% off its usual cost of $109.99 and $10 shy of its best price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Amazon Kindle $89.99 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $20   Get Deal

On a normal day, Amazon's basic Kindle is a steal at $109.99. It's the most affordable e-reader in Amazon's lineup (and the best, in my humble opinion), and this holiday season, it's an even better deal than usual.

As of Dec. 22, you can still grab the basic Kindle for just $89.99. That's $20 or 18% off its typical retail price and only $10 away from its best price ever (which I accurately predicted it would hit on Black Friday). If you're in the market for an e-reader for yourself or to gift to someone else, I highly recommend snagging this deal while it's still around.

While Mashable's resident e-reader expert's top pick is the Paperwhite, I would go to battle for the basic Kindle. It's the cheapest option and also the smallest. At only 6 inches, it's tiny enough to slip it into my purse and comfortable enough for one-handed reading. It packs 16GB of storage, which may not sound like much, but is surprisingly enough space for thousands of books. It also has the same screen resolution as the more expensive Paperwhite and the same magical formula that makes you fly through books unbelievably fast. Its only drawbacks are that it's not waterproof and that there's no warm light option. The warm light really isn't a huge deal — I've never felt eye strain from reading on the basic Kindle. The screen literally looks like paper. The waterproof issue is kind of annoying, though. Just be extra cautious if you choose to read at the beach or in the bathtub.

I wouldn't consider myself a Kindle pro, but as I have said before, I'm obsessed with my basic Kindle. I highly recommend it if you're in the market for an e-reader — especially when it's on sale. The discount won't last forever, though.

TL;DR: Live stream Egypt vs. Zimbabwe in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Africa Cup of Nations has started with a number of really entertaining fixtures. We didn't expect anything less from this electric tournament.

Next is Egypt vs. Zimbabwe in Group B. All eyes will be on Mohamed Salah as he looks to put his club issues behind him and lead his country to another AFCON victory. Egypt has won this competition seven times, but Salah has never lifted the trophy.

If you want to watch Egypt vs. Zimbabwe in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Egypt vs. Zimbabwe?

Egypt vs. Zimbabwe in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Dec. 22. This fixture takes place at the Adrar Stadium.

How to watch Egypt vs. Zimbabwe for free

Egypt vs. Zimbabwe in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Egypt vs. Zimbabwe 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 the UK

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Egypt vs. Zimbabwe for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Egypt vs. Zimbabwe (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• 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 one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Egypt vs. Zimbabwe in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $30: As of Dec. 22, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ coffee and espresso machine is down to just $99 at Amazon. That's a 23% discount from its usual $129.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ $99 at Amazon
$129 Save $30   Get Deal

Last-minute shoppers, if you're looking for a gift idea for under $100, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ just slid below that threshold.

As of Dec. 22, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ is on sale for only $99 instead of its usual $129. That's 23% or $30 in savings. There's a ton of color options, but only the pacific blue, pastel yellow, and candy pink have dropped below the $100 mark.

The Vertuo Pop+ delivers on-demand espresso shots at any time of day. But that's not all it does — it can also brew coffee in several other ways. Choose from single shots, double shots, five-, eight, or 12-ounce cups. Just pop in Nespresso pods, fill up the 25-ounce water tank, wait about 30 seconds for it to heat up, and it's ready to rock and roll.

It's just 8.5 inches wide, but the water tank can also be removed for an even slimmer build that can slide into small spaces. It's the smallest Nespresso machine on the market, but it still offers the same massive flavor. The Pop+ is a particularly good fit for dorms, small apartments, or even cubicles. As the name suggests, it adds a pop of color to any space, rather than the standard stainless steel look of most appliances.

At the time of writing, you can still order the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ on time for Christmas — but you'll have to act fast. Save 23% while you can.

SAVE $100: The iPad mini (128GB, WiFi, Space Grey) is on sale at Amazon for $399, down from the list price of $499. That's a $100 savings from a 20% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad mini (128GB, WiFi, Space Grey) $399 at Amazon
$499 Save $100   Get Deal

Sometimes smaller is better. That's true for those who travel with their devices or for students who commute to campus everyday. Smaller handheld devices can also be ideal for those with dexterity restrictions. For whatever reason, the smaller size of the iPad mini might be perfect for some folks. If that sounds ideal, check out this sale price.

As of Dec. 22, the iPad mini (128GB, WiFi, Space Grey) is on sale at Amazon for $399, marked down from the standard price of $499. That's a $100 savings from a 20% discount. Note there's no information about a delivery date from Amazon. Instead, it says you'll get a notification once they have an estimate. If you want the iPad mini as soon as possible, consider Best Buy which is also offering the same $399 sale price but with delivery on Dec. 24.

Christmas shopping brings on major discounts, but we often forget that it's a great time to consider goals for the New Year and if we should grab anything to help achieve those goals. If you want to read more in 2026, the iPad mini is Mashable's top choice for as the best iPad for reading.

Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino explained the compact size and quick processing makes this model perfect for readers. "The other models, like the iPad Air, start at around 11 inches, which is a lot of screen when you just want to flip through your book," Mangino wrote. "But the iPad mini isn't just a glorified e-reader; it's still a versatile tablet. Like any iPad, you can read on it, but you can also stream your favorite shows — a level of flexibility that a Kindle simply can't match."

SEE ALSO: Score the Apple Watch Series 11 for its best-ever price at Amazon — save $100 right now

This 7th generation model of the iPad mini comes with 128GB storage in its compact 8.3-inch display. Apple claims it has "all-day battery life" which translates to up to 10 hours of web surfing on WiFi. In Mashable's full review of the iPad mini from Senior Editor Stan Schroeder, he wrote, "If you're new to the iPad, and you want the most compact one around (or any compact tablet), the new iPad mini 7 is the best choice."

If your 2026 plans could be improved by a lightweight and compact tablet that's also great to use as an e-reader, jump on this deal to get the iPad mini for $399.

SAVE 25%: As of Dec. 22, you can get the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $749, down from $999, at Amazon. That's a 25% discount or a $250 price cut. It's also the lowest price we've tracked for this model.

13-inch Apple MacBook Air (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749 at Amazon
$999 Save $250   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Walmart

If you’ve been spending the last few weeks scrambling to get everyone on your holiday shopping list the perfect gifts, it may be time to get a little something for yourself. Right now, Amazon has a ton of deals on Apple products, including the 2025 MacBook Air.

As of Dec. 22, you can get the 2025 13-inch Apple MacBook Air (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for just $749, down from $999, at Amazon. That’s a 25% discount or a $250 price cut. It’s also the lowest price we’ve ever seen this model go for. The only downside is that it won’t arrive before Christmas, but it’s still a great deal if you’re willing to wait for a post-holiday delivery.

SEE ALSO: The best MacBooks to buy in 2025: The M5 is our new battery life champ

The MacBook Air M4 is Apple’s fastest and most portable laptop yet. It supports Apple Intelligence, offers up to 18 hours of battery life, and has a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display. It’s built for productivity and is considerably thinner and lighter than previous models. You’ll also get a 12MP Center Stage camera, three mics, and four speakers with Spatial Audio, so you can take video calls from wherever you are without compromising audio or video quality.

Even Mashable’s Senior Editor, Stan Schroeder, says the MacBook Air M4 is “absolutely” worth buying. In his review, he praised its affordability, speed, and portability, writing that the MacBook Air “put my 16-inch MacBook Pro to shame in so many ways that I'm wondering if I should just switch to the Air the next time around.”

Universal Pictures has released the first official trailer for Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, and Nolan-heads, we have never been so back.

In his follow-up to the Academy Award-winning Oppenheimer, Nolan adapts Homer's Greek epic with an all-star cast. Matt Damon plays Odysseus, the wily King of Ithaca. He's one of the tens of thousands of Greeks who fought in the Trojan War. It's his ruse of the Trojan Horse that finally breaches the walls of Troy and puts an end to the decade-long siege. After all that death and destruction, Odysseus is more than ready to return home to his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and his son Telemachus (Tom Holland).

Of course, Odysseus' journey quickly goes awry, otherwise we wouldn't have an epic poem — or Nolan's film, for that matter. On his voyage home, he'll encounter all matter of obstacles, from the enchantress Circe (Charlize Theron) to the Cyclops Polyphemus.

The latter's appearance is one of the many show-stopping moments in the trailer, with Nolan reportedly using animatronics to bring the famed one-eyed giant to life. But that's not all The Odyssey's trailer has in store. Between sweeping shots of the ocean, teases of the Trojan Horse sequence, and riveting storm sequences that leave Damon in bedraggled wet cat mode, the trailer is a visual feast. (And don't even get me started on the stirring score. My ears can only get so pumped.)

If the trailer already has you foaming at the mouth to see more of Nolan's next film, you're in luck. The Odyssey's six-minute prologue is now playing in theaters ahead of IMAX screenings of Avatar: Fire and Ash.

The Odyssey also stars Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, and Zendaya.

The Odyssey hits theaters July 18.

Capture the flag is one of the most iconic traditions at Camp Half-Blood, along with chariot racing and, you know, trying not to get killed by monsters. If given the opportunity to join in on a game, which Percy Jackson and the Olympians characters would the cast choose to be their teammates?

SEE ALSO: How is 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' Season 2 different from the books?

That's the challenge Mashable laid out for six of Percy Jackson and the Olympian Season 2's stars in our latest edition of Choose Your Squad. The rules: You can't choose your own character, and once you've drafted a pick, that character is permanently off the board.

To make things extra competitive, we added some Greek gods to the draft pool. Will the cast go for the ultimate power players in the Percy Jackson universe, or will they be wary of the gods' tendencies for pettiness and infighting?

The answer is decidedly the former. Stars Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri, Daniel Diemer, Dior Goodjohn, and Charlie Bushnell each decide to beef up their teams with some godly powers, and the result is delightful chaos. Come for the cast, stay for some of their wild strategizing.

Who will be the first pick in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians capture-the-flag draft? Which demigod actors will draft their fictional parents to their side? Watch the full video above to find out.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 is now streaming on Disney+, with new episodes every Wednesday.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're always looking for what's next.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for December 22, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: A gush

• Green: Next

• Blue: Given on birthdays, holidays, etc.

• Purple: Hues

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Influx

• Green: Subsequent

• Blue: Kinds of cards

• Purple: Colors minus last letter

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 #925 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Influx: RASH, RUSH, SURGE, WAVE

• Subsequent: COMING, FOLLOWING, FUTURE, LATER

• Kinds of cards: BUSINESS, GREETING, MEMBERSHIP, PLAYING

• Colors minus last letter: BROW, CYA, PIN, WHIT

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 December 22, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you don't like buying gifts.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 22, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 22, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme:Pass it along

The words are related to the holidays.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe giving presents.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Regifting.

NYT Strands word list for December 22

• Book

• Candle

• Gadget

• Wine

• Scarf

• Regifting

• Lotion

• Earrings

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a beachgoer.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 22, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for December 22, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

It has a spiral shell.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter C appears twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

CONCH

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 22, 2025

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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

Want to watch college football this season? Here are your best options: BEST FOR ESPN ESPN Unlimited $29.99 per month for 1 year (save $15) Shop Now Best for Fox and Big Ten Fox One 7-day free trial, then $199.99 per year (save $39.89) Shop Now BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV 7-day free trial, then $54.99/month for 1 month (save $30) Get Deal Best for channels Hulu + Live TV 3-day free trial, then $76.99/month Shop Now Best for affordability Sling Season Pass $329 for 5 months (save $50.95) Shop Now BEST for INTRODUCTORY OFFER YouTube TV 5-day free trial, then $49.99/month for 3 months (save $99) Shop Now

The first round of the College Football Playoffs are in the history books but there's more bowl season action to enjoy this week. Next up is Utah State Aggies vs. Washington State Cougars in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, a long-running contest previously won by Utah State in 2012.

The programs are tied with respective records of 6-6 this season. That means there's more than the glory of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on the line for these college teams — both programs are battling to make it a winning season.

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If you want to watch Utah State vs. Washington State for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.

When is Utah State vs. Washington State?

Utah State vs. Washington State takes place at 2 p.m. ET on Dec. 22. This game takes place at Albertsons Stadium.

Utah State vs. Washington State is broadcast on ESPN.

How to watch college football in 2025/26

Fans can live stream college football on a wide range of recommended services, some of which include free trials so you can follow the action without actually spending anything.

ESPN Unlimited (no free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: ESPN ESPN Unlimited $29.99 per month for 1 year Shop Now

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ESPN Unlimited provides access to everything that ESPN has to offer. For college football, you get live access to games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network, SECN+, ACC Network, and ABC. The Unlimited plan will set you back $29.99 per month, but for the first year, new subscribers can secure a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu for the same price.

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Channels: Fox, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network

Fox One provides access to live broadcasts on Fox, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network. It costs $19.99 per month, but you can save $40 by opting for the annual plan at $199.99. You can also start with a seven-day free trial, so you've got the chance to watch select games without spending anything.

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FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and provides the opportunity to watch on 10 screens at once, if that's your thing. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

Fubo takes sports seriously, and that's something we appreciate. With the Pro subscription, you get access to most college football broadcasts. But hardcore fans may want to consider upgrading to the Elite plan, which unlocks access to ESPNU, SEC Network, Pac-12 Network, and ACC Network. Either way, we suggest you test the waters for seven days before you make any sort of commitment.

Hulu + Live TV (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu + Live TV 3-day free trial, then $76.99/month Shop Now

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Hulu + Live TV is not exactly cheap, but it does offer good bang for your buck. You need to cough up $76.99 per month (after a three-day trial), but you get access to over 95 live TV channels, plus Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads). The included access to ESPN+ provides bonus access to even more college football games on top of live TV networks like ABC, FOX, ESPN, The CW, ACC Network, and more. Now that's value.

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Sling is a comprehensive sporting service that offers a whole host of benefits, but you do need to be careful when selecting a plan. The Orange and Blue packages give you access to FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and more in local markets, but for access to ACC Network, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and more, you'll need the Sports Extra package. We recommend checking your local market to ensure you get access to the channels you actually need.

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Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NBCSN, SEC Network, and The CW

YouTube TV provides access to over 100 live channels. Newsflash: that's a lot. This huge list includes most of the channels you actually need to watch live college football, including NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and ESPN, plus networks like FS1 and SEC Network. YouTube TV also offers that all-important free trial so you can watch select games without spending anything.

How to watch Utah State vs. Washington State from anywhere in the world

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of college football from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Utah State vs. Washington State from anywhere in the world 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 the U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming service

5. Watch JUtah State vs. Washington State from anywhere in the world

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

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A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

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This 50% off deal, which is automatically applied at the checkout, covers both the Individual and Families plans. This brings the former's price down to just $1.99 per month (which needs to be paid as an annual subscription of $23.88), and the latter down to $2.99 per month (paid as an annual subscription of $35.88). This limited-time offer only lasts until Dec. 31, so now's the time to sign up and set yourself up with extra online security in the new year.

SEE ALSO: The 60+ best Christmas gifts for 2025: Find unique gift ideas you'd never think of on your own

When signing up for the Individual plan, you'll be able to generate passwords securely, autosave and autofill credentials, share items securely, get alerts for weak or compromised credentials, and be able to use it on all of your devices. The Families plan includes all of that plus the ability to invite up to five family members, share unlimited vaults, and manage access through admin controls.

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In our roundup of the best password managers, we chose 1Password as a top pick for families. Through this plan, "you can safely share passwords, credit cards, notes, and more, while also managing what individual family members can see and do (meaning you can control who gets access to what passwords, which is ideal for parents). Plus, you can help any family member in your plan easily recover their accounts if they accidentally get locked out."

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Apple's iPhone Fold might be on its way, but Samsung appears to be determined to remain the king of foldable phones no matter what.

A new report says that Samsung is working on yet another foldable phone, this one with a wider form factor than its current foldable flagship, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

According to Korean news outlet Etnews, the Samsung Wide Fold (we're really not sure about that name; perhaps Samsung W Fold has a better ring to it?) will have a 7.6-inch internal display when unfolded, with a screen ratio at 4:3. The outer display will have a 5.4-inch display, an "industry insider familiar with the matter" told the outlet.

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 has an 8-inch display, so the new foldable won't change much in that regard. But having a different aspect ratio – 4:3 vs. the Galaxy Z Fold 7's near-square 3:33.3 – should make it feel more like a regular tablet when unfolded.

It's worth noting that Samsung also has a flip-style foldable, the Galaxy Z Flip 7, as well as a tri-folding phone, the Galaxy Z TriFold, which actually already has a near-4:3 aspect ratio (with 2,160x1,584 pixels, it's actually 1.36:1, but that's very close to 4:3). Adding yet another foldable to the lineup might be confusing, but it appears that Samsung is ready to throw everything at a wall and see what sticks.

As for why Samsung would add yet another foldable phone to the mix, we have to go back to Apple's rumored iPhone Fold, which will reportedly have a 4:3 aspect ratio when unfolded, making it similar to a small tablet. If this latest report is accurate, it would mean that Samsung simply wants to pre-emptively strike at Apple's first foldable before it even launches.

SEE ALSO: The iPhone Fold is coming. You may not get one for years.

The rumored release window for both devices is 2026, so it appears that next year will be the year of foldable phones, and we wouldn't mind that one bit.