Mashable

With the rise in popularity of pickleball, a "pickleball movie" was inevitable. But I'm frankly relieved that The Dink is in the hands of director Josh Greenbaum. He's the helmer of the brilliant buddy comedy Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar and the buddy documentary Will & Harper. 

Not only are both of these movies top-tier when it comes to feel-good films, but each centers on older women without making them the butt of any jokes about aging. Instead, both celebrate their heroines for their brightness, humor, horniness, and brave honesty. And The Dink follows in their footsteps, while being a bit more mainstream. 

The Dink brings together Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Harris, Patton Oswalt, and Aaron Chen for a buddy comedy that's laugh-out-loud hilarious and terrifically heartwarming. But of course, it begins with the fiery rivalry between tennis players and pickleballers. 

The Dink is a sensationally silly sports comedy. 

Jake Johnson stars as lovable loser Dusty Boyd, who'll tell anyone who'll listen about his brush with long-passed glory. As a child, Dusty was a tennis prodigy, coached by his father Chuck (a comically mirthless Ed Harris) to be the next hard-hitting legend. But after a disastrous match against Andy Roddick (yes, Andy Roddick), his reputation was destroyed. So here he is, a lollygagging tennis coach to children at a club run by his father. 

But Dusty has a chance to redeem himself in his father's eyes when a new enemy invades their pristine tennis courts. You guessed it: pickleballers. 

In a deranged slideshow presentation, Chuck explains to Dusty how the pickleballers — led by Patton Oswalt — are demanding more courts, which will obviously lead to pickleball dominating the world, so no one can play tennis again! To beat them back, Chuck sets up a tournament, pitting the best tennis player against the best pickleballer. Winner makes the call on the courts. 

However, Dusty's mission to squash the pickleballers gets sidetracked when he begins playing himself, alongside some charismatic older women, including Candace (Mary Steenburgen). While it's a rough start learning the game and its playful lingo, Dusty grows close to Candace at movie nights and country bars. And through their friendship, they both begin to realize how they've gotten stuck in the narratives of their past, which is inhibiting their growth toward a better future. Naturally, those lessons will be tied into a big final match, where pickleball becomes a metaphor for life. 

Don't worry. You won't have to strain to catch that message. Greenbaum's got John McEnroe making a cameo in The Dink, playing an unsolicited commentator on the big match. 

Jake Johnson and Mary Steenburgen lead a hilarious cast. 

With many years of New Girl behind him, Johnson has a lot of practice at playing a lovelorn buffoon. And given Steenburgen's elegance, it's easy to see how Dusty would fall for Candace. But The Dink rejects the temptation to become a cliched rom-com of opposites attract. Instead, Johnson will play the fool, while Steenburgen will be his straight man. Their chemistry is crackling and their comedic timing sublime. 

But Johnson switches gears opposite Aaron Chen, who plays a co-worker who idolizes Dusty and believes every tall tale. With Chen, Greenbaum is able to reach into more offbeat humor through goofy visual gags and a flat delivery that's a sharp foil to Johnson's funny floundering. 

Beyond that, The Dink has a jaw-dropping list of comedians turning up for gleefully ludicrous bit parts, like Ben Stiller as a rambling doctor, Oswalt as an uptight pickleballer, Chris Parnell as a smug tennis player, Chloe Fineman as a mean ex, and the late Lynne Marie Stewart (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Pee-wee's Playhouse) as a flirty friend of Candace's. However, Ed Harris deserves a special shout-out here.

Ed Harris had me howling in The Dink.

This long-celebrated American actor has really sunk his teeth into playing a string of ruthless fathers, from the grisly thriller Love Lies Bleeding to the dark comedies Riff Raff and How to Make a Killing, and now The Dink. Where Johnson goes broad and Chen goes offbeat for punchlines, Harris goes unflinchingly serious. He's treating this squabble between club members and courts as if it's a threat to the Earth as we know it. He regards every Dusty freakout with a stern but unfurrowed brow. And that's what makes his bits hysterical. 

Greenbaum smartly blends these different styles of comedy to craft a movie that'll be a crowd-pleaser. There are bits in here weird enough to exist in the wacky and wondrous world of Barb and Star. Then there are riffs of physical comedy or a serene absurdity that feels in line with the comedy of Will Ferrell and Harper Steele. Johnson plays more broadly, expertly hitting every beat with aplomb. Steenburgen offers support with stinging one-liners and lively reactions. And I can't stress enough: The Dink won't mock pickleball or those who play it. 

Greenbaum's brand of comedy is defiantly wacky, welcoming, and humane, never mean. So The Dink is sure to please, whatever your age or interest in its central sport. 

The Dink premieres on Apple TV on July 24.

Elon Musk's space exploration company SpaceX has struggled since making its debut on the stock market last month. After skyrocketing to a high of $225 just days after the company's blockbuster IPO, SpaceX stock has been in what seems like a never-ending slide.

SpaceX stock has now fallen for seven days in a row, and is now trading at a new low of $120. That's well below the $150 price point at which the SpaceX stock debuted. The stock's lackluster performance has resulted in SpaceX losing $1 trillion of its market value. In addition, Musk himself has lost his trillionaire status, a designation he was able to claim for a short time last month.

How did we get here?

Our big Guessing Game is back! Enter now for a chance to win an Apple Watch.

SpaceX stock began to crater shortly after the company announced the acquisition of AI coding agent Cursor for $60 billion. SpaceX also recently received the lowest possible environmental, social, and governance (ESG) rating, a Triple-C ESG rating, from index provider MSCI. ESG is often utilized by investors and funds when determining the most ethical, least problematic stocks for investors, helping them avoid problematic companies such as arms manufacturers or polluters. On top of that, many investors have begun to get cold feet when it comes to AI investments, beyond just SpaceX.

SpaceX, of course, isn't just a space exploration company anymore. In the months before the IPO, Musk merged SpaceX and his AI company xAI, claiming it was a necessary move to realize his goal of putting AI data centers in space. 

So, what happens next? SpaceX's flagship project is Starship, the powerful reusable rocket that is a core part of the company's success. The 13th Starship launch was originally scheduled for July 16 but was delayed due to engine issues (delays aren't unusual). SpaceX plans to retry the launch this upcoming Thursday.

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SpaceX is still one of the biggest companies in the U.S. with a valuation in the trillions. Musk also recently issued a warning to investors betting against the company on his social media platform X.

"The survival probability of firms who maintain a significant short position in SpaceX over time is very low," posted Musk.

Still, regardless of what the future holds, it's hard to argue against the fact that investors aren't too hot on the stock right now.

SAVE $280: As of July 21, get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic for $269.99 at Woot, down from its usual price of $549.99. That's a discount of 51%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic $269.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $280   Get Deal

If you're looking to kit your wrist out with a new smartwatch, now's a great time to do so. Samsung is on the verge of debuting several new models, and that means the old ones are going down in price. Case in point: the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, which you can get for an excellent discount right now if you don't want to wait for the new crop of devices.

As of July 21, get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic for $269.99 at Woot, down from its usual price of $549.99. That's $280 off and a discount of 51%.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Unpacked: What to expect from Samsung's new smartwatches

This classy smartwatch opts to keep things traditional while offering a variety of modern features that you'll appreciate. That includes a bright, easy-to-read display, a rotating bezel you use to select apps and navigate menus, and several health-tracking abilities so you can stay on top of what's happening with your body and fitness at all times.

From a heart rate and sleep score monitor to a daily Energy Score calculated from your heart rate, sleep, activity, and rest this watch can make sure you're ready for the day in all the ways that count. It can also be used to help track blood pressure.

Beyond all its health-centric features, this is a great smartwatch for day-to-day functionality and staying on top of your schedule. It has a built-in AI assistant as well as the option to use voice commands to navigate, which means you never have to use your hand to get things done if you don't want to.

If you're ready to debut a new smartwatch without breaking the bank, now's a good time to buy in.

SAVE 25%: As of July 21, you can get the Bissell Little Green Max Pet SmartMix carpet cleaner (38572) for $119.99, down from $159.99, at Amazon.

Bissell Little Green Max Pet SmartMix carpet cleaner (38572) $119.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $40.00   Get Deal at Amazon

I used to have a Bissell Little Green machine, and it worked right up until I poured liquid into the wrong compartment. But before my little mishap, this little thing was a lifesaver (I seldom use that word, but in this case, it's true). With two beagles running around my apartment, having a carpet cleaner is a necessity.

SEE ALSO: Dreame's newest vacuum mop basically pressure-washes your floors

And right now, you can get your own Bissell Little Green Max Pet SmartMix carpet cleaner for $119.99, down from $159.99. That's a 25% discount or $40 in savings.

It comes with a specialized Pet Hair Removal Tool designed to grab embedded fur and debris from your upholstery, and once you're done scrubbing, the Self-Cleaning Tough Stain Tool rinses out the leftover dirt and residue from the hose with the touch of a button (my machine didn't have that feature).

Another major upgrade on this specific model is the SmartMix Technology, which automatically mixes the water and cleaning formula together for you so you don't have to measure anything. Just be sure you pour it into the correct tank!

SAVE $301: The Ecovacs Goat 01000 RTK robot lawn mower is on sale for $698.99 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $999.99. That's a 30% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ecovacs Ecovacs Goat 01000 RTK robot lawn mower $698.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $301   Get Deal

Not many people consider the chore of mowing the lawn to be enjoyable. It's a task we often hand off to the neighborhood kids or a professional landscaping crew. But if you'd rather take matters into your own hands, we have a great solution these days. Plus, an affordable model is on sale.

As of July 21, the Ecovacs Goat 01000 RTK robot lawn mower is on sale for $698.99 at Amazon, marked down from the list price of $999.99. That winds up being a savings of $301 from a 30% discount.

By now you've probably seen a robot lawn mower rolling around someone's yard, but it's still an abnormal sight. Just like the rollout of robot vacuums, we'll slowly start to see more and more robots take over mowing the lawn. As someone with allergies, I'm totally cool with never touching a lawn mower ever again.

The Ecovacs Goat 01000 is designed to maintain lawns that span up to 0.25 acres in size. You don't need to worry about a wire perimeter because it maps your yard and stays on course thanks to LiDAR RTK navigation that even works in the shade or under trees. It can even avoid obstacles when mowing in dark conditions.

SEE ALSO: The Roborock RockMow X120H robot lawn mower has never been cheaper — save $700 at Amazon

The small mower body that measures 2.3 feet means it can mow in tight areas like between raised vegetable beds or small walkways. Plus, it has an IPX6 waterproof design. You get to decide on your ideal cutting length between 1.2 and 3.2 inches.

Today's Amazon deal on the Ecovacs Goat 01000 applies to the robot mower with a care kit which includes 36 blades and an RTK AC adapter. Since the mower and the care kit are on sale for under $700, today is a great day to wave goodbye to the heavy and loud push mower and make the upgrade. Spend the rest of summer perfecting homemade slushies instead of doing yardwork.

Remember Light, the New York-based company that builds super-simple, distraction-free, cheap smartphones?

It's back with a new device; its first-ever flip phone called the Light Flip.

SEE ALSO: Galaxy Z Flip 8 rumors: Release date, colors, specs, and more

Once again, this is a cheap phone designed to free you from endless scrolling and social media addiction, while still offering the basic tools you need for everyday life. To do this, the company has built an Android-based, minimalistic operating system called LightOS that's mostly textual and displays everything in just two colors. You do get access to music, messages, alarms, and other basic apps, but you don't get to scroll the flashy new TIkTok video; that's what your other phone is for.

The Light Flip is available in six colors: Black, Navy, Red, Pink, Yellow, and Light Gray. Credit: Light Phone

The Light Flip doesn't stray far from the formula, but approaches it with the body of a flip phone. In many ways, it's far more simple than the company's previous phone, the Light Phone III, which has an OLED touchscreen. The Light Flip is basically your flip phone of old, with a plastic body, a numeric, T9 keypad, some function buttons, and a 2.8-inch, non-touch display.

Numeric keypad? That's right, but at least it supports T9 predictive input. Credit: Light Phone

Inside, it's powered by a MediaTek MT8873 chip, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and has a 50-megapixel camera and a (replaceable) 1,800mAh battery. Other amenities include a headphone jack (nice!), a USB-C port, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 5G connectivity.

The camera on the back has a 50-megapixel sensor but takes 12-megapixel images. Credit: Light Phone

The numeric keypad might be a tough sell to folks that are used to touchscreens or at least QWERTY keyboards. Fortunately, the Light Flip does support voice-to-text and audio messaging, too.

The phone is available in six colors: Black, Navy, Red, Pink, Yellow, and Light Gray.

The Light Flip retails for $299 or $39 per month with the Light Service plan. It starts shipping in April 2027.

Featured Video For You Austin Evans says the biggest creator mindset shift is learning to think beyond the next video

HALF OFF MOVIE TICKETS: AMC Stubs members get 50% off adult evening movie tickets every Tuesday and Wednesday.

Opens in a new window Credit: AMC AMC Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 50% off evening tickets All Stubs tiers are eligible for the promo Get Deal

It's been over a year since AMC announced that evening movie tickets would be 50% off every Tuesday and Wednesday. That officially bumps the promo into "year-round" territory.

It only feels right to re-remind you of how easy it is to get cheap movie tickets, given the nonstop bangers that summer 2026 is blessing us with. The Odyssey and Evil Dead Burn are the two must-see-in-theaters picks that come to mind as I write this post on July 21, but there's bound to be a wicked box office lineup regardless of when you're reading this. Heavy hitters like Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Resident Evil, Other Mommy, Verity, Avengers: Doomsday, Werwulf, and Dune: Part III are all making their theater debut in the last quarter of the year.

SEE ALSO: 'Avengers: Doomsday' trailer: Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans return for a star-stuffed superhero epic

As long as you're an AMC Stubs member, you can catch all of them for around $9 per person (ticket prices may vary slightly depending on your location). All tiers of the AMC Stubs membership have access to the promo, and Stubs members can buy up to 10 tickets at 50% off per showing. The discount applies to the base price of a standard adult evening ticket only — no IMAX.

To elevate the in-theater experience even more, Stubs members can also get 50% off small combos on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, like the heavenly pairing of popcorn and that good movie theater Coke. AMC's snacks are apparently so elite that people are paying to order them at home through Uber Eats — and here you are, getting 'em for cheap.

Not content with launching several foldables this week, Samsung is also releasing a new Galaxy credit card. The leaks missed this one, somehow.

In a press release on its website, Samsung announced the Galaxy Card, a new credit card on the Visa network. Starting Wednesday, the same day as the Galaxy Unpacked event in London, shoppers who apply for the card online or at any Samsung retail location in the U.S. can get $200 in cash rewards after spending $2,000 in the first 90 days of account opening.

In addition, Samsung says cardholders will "earn cash rewards on everyday purchases with increased cash rewards for purchases made from Samsung — including the latest devices." The press release includes a picture of the new card alongside a flip phone, though it's unclear if the pictured device is last year's Z Flip 7 or this year's rumored Z Flip 8.

Credit: Samsung SEE ALSO: Everything we expect from Samsung’s July event (Fold 8, watches, and glasses!)

According to Samsung, additional perks of the Galaxy Card include:

• 20 percent off Samsung VIP Advantage

• 5 percent cash rewards on direct Samsung purchases

• 3 percent rewards on Samsung Wallet purchases

• 2 percent rewards on streaming services

• 1 percent reward on all other purchases

So, yeah, if you need another credit card and you really like Samsung products, this is certainly an option. It's timed well with the Galaxy Unpacked stream that's set to happen on Wednesday. At Unpacked, Samsung is expected to announce at least three foldable devices and two smartwatches, so you could easily hit that "spend $2,000 within 90 days" number this week, if you felt like it.

Before the global memory crisis, Samsung was known for enticing pre-order mobile deals that let shoppers get cash back and double the storage at launch. If you prefer pre-order deals that don't require a new line of credit, you're out of luck thanks to RAMageddon.

SAVE $400.99: As of July 21, get the iRobot Roomba Max 705 robot vacuum for $499 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $899.99. That's a discount of 45%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon iRobot Roomba Max 705 robot vacuum $499 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400.99   Get Deal

When it comes to cleaning your home these days, we're working smarter, not harder, in 2026. So if you're tired of manually vacuuming your floors all the time, you should absolutely invest in a robot vacuum. And now's the best time to do it, as we've found an excellent option that'll have you getting things done quickly and easily without spending an entire paycheck.

As of July 21, get the iRobot Roomba Max 705 robot vacuum for $499 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $899.99. That's $400.99 off and a discount of 45%.

SEE ALSO: I found the best robot vacuums for every floor, budget, and level of laziness

This model offers powerful suction to help cut through dirt and debris no matter where it's found throughout your home. It uses special rubber brushes to continuously stay in contact with the floor as well as 180x more power-lifting suction than the robots in the Roomba 600 series. It creates a path through your home usng LiDAR to map the entirety of each room for the most thorough cleaning possible, and can recognize and navigate around any type of obstacle, from pets to socks and everything in between.

Using the app, you can set up special cleaning schedules so the robot can operate when you want it to. Choose specific rooms or zones, adjust four levels of suction, or change the number of cleaning passes it takes in high-traffic areas. Plus, it's auto-emptying dock can hold up to 75 days of dirt and debris before emptying, so you don't have to deal with any kind of mess in the meantime.

If you're ready to offload your cleaning tasks to the robots, be sure to grab this model before it's sold out.

TL;DR: DashPass members can save $40 on Sephora orders of $100+ with the DoorDash promo code BEAUTY40 on July 22. The beauty deal is only available for one day, so you’ll want to shop before the redemption limit runs out.

DoorDash is ending its Summer of DashPass promotion with a beauty deal for members.

On July 22, DashPass subscribers can get $40 off Sephora orders of $100 or more placed through DoorDash with the promo code BEAUTY40.

The one-day offer starts at 9 a.m. EDT on July 22, 2026, and is available until the redemption limit of 162,500 uses is reached. To claim the discount, DashPass members must place a qualifying Sephora order on DoorDash with a minimum total of $100.

The $40 discount applies only to the order subtotal; fees, taxes, and gratuity still apply. The deal is limited to one redemption per person, isn’t available for pickup orders or alcohol purchases, and requires an active DashPass membership.

If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to refresh your beauty stash, this one-day DashPass deal could be the perfect time to check out your Sephora wishlist.

Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has some truly spooky moments. (Team Circe.) But fans who took to theaters this opening weekend were shook by a surprising trailer ahead of the big show. Meet Other Mommy.

If you screamed at that jump scare, you're not alone.

Jessica Chastain, who's previously starred in such horror gems as Momma and IT: Chapter Two, returns to the genre with a twisted double-turn. Based on the New York Times bestselling novel Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman, Other Mommy centers on a little girl named Bela (Arabella Olivia Clark), who's formed a disturbing bond with an entity that looks like her mother. Chastain plays both roles, while Jay Duplass lends support as Daddo.

Beyond this promising trailer and an enticing adult cast, Other Mommy also boasts intriguing talent behind the scenes. Horror icon James Wan produces for Blumhouse Atomic Monster, while director Rob Savage ( Host, Dashcam, The Boogeyman) takes the helm.

From the looks of this trailer, he's primed another scream-rich stunner sure to thrill audiences beyond this impactful trailer.

Other Mommy opens in theaters Oct. 9.

SAVE 50%: As of July 21, you can get the DJI Power 1000 Portable Power Station for $348.98, down from $699, at Amazon. That's a 50% discount or $350.02 in savings.

DJI Power 1000 Portable Power Station $348.98 at Amazon
$699 Save $350.02   Get Deal at Amazon

I'm not exactly an outdoorsy person. I mean, I love going to the beach, and I like a nice hike (in a place where I won't get eaten by bears) every now and again, but if I were to do something in the wilderness, I'd definitely like to be prepared. And for me, "prepared" means having a guaranteed way to keep my phone, laptop, and a mini-fridge fully charged.

SEE ALSO: The 6 best portable power stations to stay charged up at home and on the go

Right now, Amazon has the DJI Power 1000 Portable Power Station marked down to $348.98. Normally, it'd cost you $699, so this is a pretty good deal.

DJI is a Mashable fave for its drones and its portable power stations. (You should check out our review of the DJI Power 1000 V2.) This model features a 1,024Wh capacity and a 2,200W continuous output, which should offer enough power to handle high-watt camping equipment, a portable heater, or even power tools without shorting out.

It fully recharges in just 70 minutes via a standard wall outlet. If you're out in the wild and using solar panels, it tops off in about 1.35 hours (though you'll have to buy the solar panels separately).

SAVE $400: The 65-inch LG OLED AI B6 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for $1,599.99, down from the list price of $1,999.99. That's a 20% discount and the lowest we've seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG 65-inch LG OLED AI B6 4K TV $1,599.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $400   Get Deal

Now that the World Cup is over, we're all experiencing a touch of the TV blues. What should we watch tonight? We're slowly getting back to watching the shows we were watching before soccer/football took over the screen. But if you've noticed your TV is no longer as clear or crisp as you'd like, it might be time for a new model. Thankfully, Amazon has a great option on sale today.

As of July 21, the 65-inch LG OLED AI B6 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for $1,599.99, marked down from the standard price of $1,999.99. That works out to a 20% discount or a savings of $400. It's the best price we've ever seen at Amazon.

The best time of the year to buy a new TV doesn't usually include the second half of summer, but Amazon is breaking the rules. If you're looking to upgrade to an OLED TV for the excellent color vibrancy and contrast, today's LG deal is well worth considering.

OLED TVs are ideal if you tend to watch TV during daylight hours or in bright rooms. The brand says LG OLED technology has over 8.3 million self-lit smart pixels, making it bright enough for any lighting condition.

SEE ALSO: The huge LG 100-Inch Class QNED evo AI TV hits record-low price at Amazon — save $700

With a 120Hz refresh rate, the LG is a game-worthy model. There's a 0.1 millisecond response time along with NVIDIA G-SYNC, AMD FreeSync Premium, and VRR.

In addition to saving $400 on the list price, Amazon is tossing in free delivery to the room of your choice, unpacking, and removal of packaging. That'll be great for not overcrowding your recycling bin with a giant TV box.

Before this lowest-ever sale price vanishes, upgrade your watching experience thanks to the 65-inch LG OLED AI B6 4K TV.

Xteink is back with the second generation of its X4 e-reader. The X4 Pro is here and redesigned, but are there improvements?

Xteink's tiny e-readers, which are bigger than a credit card but smaller than a passport, get plenty of attention for their small size, which supposedly can fit on the back of a phone. The X4 has previously made our list of the best e-readers as the best mini e-reader, so we had to try out the second generation ourselves

About the Xteink X4 Pro A little bigger than a credit card, the Xteink X4 Pro is perfectly pocket-sized. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Xteink X4 Pro, the second generation of the X4, comes with a 4.26-inch display and 219 ppi resolution (Kindle and Kobo both have 300 ppi). It has 8MB RAM and 16MB of storage with up to 256GB of expandable space with a microSD card. It has a 10+ hour battery life, which is about one to two weeks of casual reading, and has a touchscreen with physical buttons on the side. Plus, there's a circular home button, reminiscent of the old iPhone button.

The touchscreen is new to the X4, which also has a frontlight. It has a magnetic back, which is compatible with MagSafe, so it can snap to the back of an iPhone. Rather than a USB-C port, it also comes with a magnetic charging port, which uses USB-C.

The Xteink X4 Pro charges through a magnetic pogo pin. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

It connects to WiFi, and books are imported to the e-reader via the Xteink app, USB-C, or microSD card. It only supports DRM-free books in text-only PDF and MOBI format, in addition to JPG and BMP image files.

The new Xteink X4 is available from Xteink for $99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Xteink Xteink X4 Pro $99 at Xteink
  Shop Now First impressions of the Xteink X4 Pro But how is the Xteink X4 Pro in action? It's not bad if you read DRM-free books. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Ahead of the Xteink X4 Pro's launch, I got to see the device and try it out myself. While the idea of a mini e-reader is fun, I'm not sold on the Xteink X4 Pro. It's a little bit glitchy, and a few times, it froze, and I had to restart it. The touchscreen and home button are improvements over the previous generation's front buttons, which I found confusing and unintuitive in use.

The magnetic charging port is a confusing upgrade. It requires a pogo pin extension, which is tiny, and immediately made me think it was just a matter of time before it was lost. The pogo pin port isn't very secure either and easily got knocked around when plugged into the USB-C cable.

Unless you exclusively read DRM-free books, the Xteink X4 Pro is not a great e-reader for most people. It only accepts e-books in the PDF and MOBI formats. Where I do think it works is for articles, which you can upload via a URL in the Xteink app, which then syncs to the e-reader. But is it really worth $99 for that alone? Probably not.

TL;DR: Spain’s World Cup winners celebrated their victory wearing a one-of-one pair of custom Oakley Meta glasses created exclusively for the team. While fans can’t buy that exact edition, Oakley’s AI glasses show how wearable tech could help athletes capture plays, review performance, and train smarter.

Opens in a new window Credit: Meta Meta Oakley Vanguard Smart AI Glasses $499 at Amazon
  Shop Now

Spain’s World Cup celebration came with a special piece of tech. After winning the championship, the Spanish team celebrated wearing custom Oakley Meta glasses made just for the players.

The one-of-one edition features custom packaging and lenses etched with the FIFA World Cup Champions mark. While fans can’t buy this exact pair, you can get the same AI-powered experience with the Oakley Meta glasses.

Credit: FIFA

Oakley Meta Vanguard is designed around the needs of athletes. The glasses can capture hands-free footage, letting players record practices, game highlights, or specific plays simply by saying, “Hey Meta, take a video.” The built-in 12MP ultra-wide camera records in 3K, while stabilization helps keep footage smoother during quick movements like sprints, cuts, and tackles.

The glasses can also help players review their performance after the game. When connected to apps like Strava or compatible devices like Garmin, Oakley Meta Vanguard can overlay performance data like sprint speed, distance, and heart rate on captured content, giving athletes more context around their training sessions.

Featured Video For You Hands On with Meta’s New $299+ Smart Glasses

The goal is to give players useful tech without making them think about the tech. Open-ear speakers let players hear audio while staying aware of what’s happening around them. Another key feature is Meta AI, which gives players hands-free access to information through voice commands, so they can get real-time answers and stay focused on the action.

The glasses are also built for the physical demands of sports. Oakley Meta Vanguard uses a rugged O Matter frame, Prizm lenses for enhanced clarity, and an IP67 water-resistance rating to handle sweat, weather, and tough training sessions.

Spain took home the trophy. You can take home the tech — Oakley Meta glasses are available on Amazon for $499.

TL;DR: Live stream Aston Villa vs. Walsall in a 2026 preseason friendly for free on VillaTV. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 World Cup was everything we hoped it would be, but now the attention has switched back to the domestic game. A number of Premier League sides are back in action over the next few weeks, including Aston Villa.

Unai Emery's side have lost a few key players this summer, but they are also bringing in some exciting new faces. There's a lot of uncertainty ahead of their opening game with local rivals Walsall.

If you want to watch Aston Villa vs. Walsall in a 2026 preseason friendly for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Aston Villa vs. Walsall?

Aston Villa vs. Walsall in a 2026 preseason friendly kicks off at 7:30 p.m. BST on June 21. This fixture takes place at the Bescot Stadium.

How to watch Aston Villa vs. Walsall for free

Aston Villa vs. Walsall in a 2026 preseason friendly is available to live stream for free on VillaTV. To access this fixture, all you need to do is sign up for a free Essential Membership on VillaTV.

VillaTV is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming service 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 access free live streams on VillaTV from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Aston Villa vs. Walsall for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend 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 VillaTV

5. Stream Aston Villa vs. Walsall for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 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 watch Aston Villa vs. Walsall without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select games before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for VillaTV?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on VillaTV, 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 two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% 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 $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Aston Villa vs. Walsall for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Geeky Sex Toys limited-edition Pokémoan Collection goes live on July 21 at 7 p.m. ET. (Note: These will sell out.)

Becoming a Pokémon "master" just got a brand-new meaning...

In 2016, Geeky Sex Toys released a small collection of Pokémon-inspired sex toys (which they very cheekily named "Pokémoan"), and it sold out instantly. (Because, like, of course it did.)

SEE ALSO: I've tested 100+ sex toys. Here are the 15 most mind-blowing toys I've ever owned.

Now, 10 years after its first launch, Geeky Sex Toys is blessing Pokéfans with a brand-new, limited-edition collection of sex toys. I'm not a Pokémon fan per se (cue collective gasps, I know), but I always thought that Pikachu and Rapidash were super cute. And, after taking a peek at this collection, I have to say I'm coming on to Bulbasaur.

The new lineup includes four toys:

• Bulbypulse ($169): Bulbypulse is an air-pulse suction toy that features eight patterns and three speeds. It also has a pretty impressive runtime of two hours and 30 minutes (do with that what you will).

• Charmybuzz: ($169): Charmybuzz is a curved G-spot vibrator. It has eight patterns and five speeds, with a runtime of two hours and 15 minutes.

• Squirtyblast ($169): Squirtyblast (my fave name of them all) is a flexible-head wand vibrator with rumbly power. A rumbly wand is the best wand, IMO. It has eight patterns, five speeds, and a runtime of an hour and 20 minutes. Pro tip: Try deep, G-spot stimulation followed by clitoral stimulation to help yourself squirt.

• Pikyplug ($69.00–$100.00): The Pikyplug is a non-vibrating, tapered, silicone butt plug. It comes in three sizes (hence the pricing structure). The Small is 7 inches long / 4 inches circumference, the Medium is 8.5 inches long / 5 inches circumference, and the Large is 12 inches long / 7 inches circumference.

The new lineup includes four toys. Credit: Geeky Sex Toys

Each individual toy comes with a unique, 350gsm holographic trading card and a magnetic charging cable. You'll also get a hard case with the vibrating toys, but it doesn't look like the butt plug comes with one. (They're all IPX7 waterproof too, so you can take them into the bath or shower.) The site limits two of each toy per customer.

If you want to go all out, you can buy the Ultimate Collectors Edition box set on sale for $399. (This is a total steal; if you do the math, buying each toy individually is way over that price.) The full collector set includes all four toys packed in a hard case, plus an exclusive fifth "Master Bedroom" holographic card.

You'll have to act fast if you want to add these to your collection, though. The limited first-edition drop goes live on July 21 at 7 p.m. ET, and there are only 151 public collector sets available worldwide. Want to be one of the first ones to know when it goes live? You can sign up for "early access" by entering your email on the site. (At the time of writing, 299 people had already signed up.)

I love Splatoon. I have loved Splatoon since all the way back to its Wii U debut in 2015. But Splatoon doesn't always love me back.

Every time I boot up Splatoon 3, I rediscover I'm not ready for the series' signature competitive multiplayer arenas. Everyone who still plays Splatoon this long after launch is really, really good — too good for me to have much of a good time. The smattering of solo and co-op experiences that exist on the periphery can't hold my attention for very long.

It is delightful, then, to report that Splatoon Raiders is pretty damn good. The first single-player-focused entry in the decade-old series is one of the most purely fun (on a moment-to-moment basis) games on the Nintendo Switch 2.

Splatoon Raiders synthesizes some of the best side modes in previous Splatoon games into something that grabbed me and didn't let go for several days, thanks in part to some non-competitive co-op features. I can't wait to play more once it goes on sale.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo's potentially last Switch 1 game is absolutely worth your time Splatoon Raiders melds every non-competitive Splatoon mode into one game

I say this not as criticism, but as a compliment: Splatoon Raiders feels like DLC for a mainline Splatoon game that grew out of control.

This is still a third-person shooter where you, as a squid kid, use a variety of weapons to spread ink of your own color across a variety of battlefields. You don't run very fast, but if your ink color is on the ground, you can quickly swim around in it, recovering ammo and health in the process.

Everything about the basic mechanics and controls of Splatoon Raiders is exactly as they are in the previous games in the franchise, including its best-in-class use of gyroscopic aiming.

Where Splatoon Raiders sets itself apart is by excising competitive multiplayer entirely, in favor of something that feels like a combination of modes that existed in previous Splatoon titles. It's got level design and boss fights that are reminiscent of the story modes in the other games, plus the intensity and general flow of combat found in the co-op Salmon Run mode from Splatoons 2 and 3, and a helping of the variable character customization from the Splatoon 3 Side Order DLC.

I love these goofballs. Credit: Nintendo

That means a straightforward progression of hand-crafted single-player levels. Some are linear missions that combine 3D platforming with shooting; others are more open-ended and focused on collecting money and loot.

The amount of variety here feels just about right, as I never found myself getting bored or itching for something new in the 15 or so hours I spent with Splatoon Raiders.

As with the multiplayer matches in a regular Splatoon game, there's little here will take you more than five minutes to complete. Given the occasional need to replay missions for loot or leveling purposes, this is a great relief.

There is a story here, and while it might be fun to chew on for people who care a lot about Splatoon lore, I did not find myself especially engrossed. It's mostly an excuse to spend more time with series regulars Shiver, Frye, and The Big Man. The latter continues to be a very cool dude.

Customization is key in Splatoon Raiders Gadgets are key. Credit: Nintendo

Where Splatoon Raiders won me over was character customization. Not in the aesthetic sense, as that part of the game is pretty basic, but in the gameplay sense.

Your protagonist gains a constant increase in basic stats like health and damage. You can equip one of three different tanks, each coming with a series of cooldown-based gadgets that you can equip in combat.

The Tactical Tank, for instance, comes with an automatic turret you can place wherever you want, but you can also unlock and equip other gadgets that can only be equipped on the Tactical Tank. Same goes for the Speed and Power tanks, which fit the kinds of play styles you'd expect.

Customization really hits its stride once you unlock the ability to customize gadgets. One fun thing you can do with several gadgets (but not all of them) is tell them to activate the moment you hit an enemy with your weapon.

By the last third or so of the story in Splatoon Raiders, I had multiple turrets flying out automatically on weapon hit, alongside a bunch of other nonsense that basically made me a walking death machine, with very little shooting required on my part.

You will learn to love the turret. Credit: Nintendo

By the end of the story, I felt roughly as powerful as you do at the end of Hades or Risk of Rain 2. But this time it came in a game with persistent progression, rather than a random, run-based roguelike.

Splatoon Raiders' solo focus also makes it a lot easier to experiment with new builds and weapon types than the franchise's standard competitive modes. In other Splatoon games, I'm worried about not letting my team down, so I generally stick with what I know can be effective.

Here, the stakes aren't so high, so I can make a ridiculous build centered around an exploding grappling hook and an ink katana without worrying about ruining someone else's fun.

In short, if you like video games where lots of things are constantly exploding in a sort of digital projectile vomit of bright colors, complete with meters filling up and a steady stream of fun upgrades after every single level, Splatoon Raiders is for you.

How co-op works in Splatoon Raiders Hunt for treasure with the homies. Credit: Nintendo

Nintendo has been selling Splatoon Raiders as a single-player experience, and it can be one if that's what you want. Still, almost every single level in it is also playable with up to three other players in co-op. I didn't get a lot of time in the review period to test these features out, but based on a demo session with other game reviewers, the developers made basically every correct design decision.

Chiefly, they seem to have nailed difficulty balancing. In one session my character was level 42 and had completed the story, while another player in my group was only level 10. Splatoon Raiders smartly and dynamically adjusted numerical values so the difficulty feels right for everyone in the game, without arbitrarily strengthening or weakening anyone.

I was able to bring in my stupid endgame loadout and the challenge of combat felt exactly right, even though these were levels I would cruise through if I weren't playing them in co-op.

Every player also gets their own level-appropriate loot in co-op — so not only is it fun regardless of level, but it's productive, too. Nintendo is not the first company to nail this element of co-op play in games with levels and loot, but it's still one of the best experiences I've had to date.

Alas I didn't get to try is the "Call For Help" function, but the idea is you can press a button on the level select screen to matchmake with any players who have flagged themselves as available to assist you. This is similar to the way co-op works in Monster Hunter.

Not all great Splatoon elements made the jump

Unfortunately, Splatoon Raiders does fall a bit short of series expectations in some key areas — specifically, fashion and music.

The other Splatoon games have pretty deep dress-up features that allow you to look fresh and funky as hell. Here, there are a smattering of unlockable outfits, but I didn't love the way most of them look.

Dressing like a greaseball mechanic makes more sense for the treasure-hunting escapades in Splatoon Raiders, but personally, I miss the streetwise fashion of the other games. I just want to wear a snapback with a squid on it.

And while Splatoon Raiders' soundtrack is still a step above most video games, it's a bit disappointing compared to its brethren. The audio direction here goes in the direction of strange, non-standard sounds rather than catchy, hummable rock or pop melodies. Previous Splatoon games have served both ends of the musical spectrum.

Regardless of shortcomings, Splatoon Raiders is another pleasant Switch 2 surprise, along the lines of Yoshi and the Mysterious Book and Pokémon Pokopia, both of which also launched this year.

Those were games I was only medium-level interested in prior to release; now they're all some of the best (or at least most interesting) games on the platform. As we wait patiently for the next big Mario or Zelda release, it's nice to experience these fun, experimental takes on existing franchises.

Where to pre-order these soundtrack vinyl releases: Blue Velvet Soundtrack — 40th Anniversary Collector’s Vinyl $29.99 at Amazon Pre-Order Here Scream 30th Anniversary Soundtrack “Woodsboro Bloodbath” Red Vinyl Reissue $32.99 at Amazon Pre-Order Here Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit Soundtrack Picture Disc Vinyl $32.99 at Amazon Pre-Order Here

Movie scores can stick with us long after the credits roll, and three iconic soundtracks are getting the collector treatment this fall. Varèse Sarabande is celebrating three iconic movie scores with new collector releases for Scream, Blue Velvet, and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, with Craft Recordings joining select editions.

The lineup spans horror, cult cinema, and animation, with Marco Beltrami’s genre-defining Scream score returning for its 30th anniversary and Angelo Badalamenti’s haunting Blue Velvet soundtrack celebrating its 40th anniversary.

Blue Velvet 40th Anniversary Collector’s Vinyl Opens in a new window Credit: Varèse Sarabande Blue Velvet Soundtrack — 40th Anniversary Collector’s Vinyl $29.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here

Varèse Sarabande is celebrating the 40th anniversary of David Lynch’s Blue Velvet with a new collectible vinyl edition of Angelo Badalamenti’s original motion picture soundtrack. Available to pre-order now ahead of its Sept. 4 release, the reissue brings the 14-track album back to vinyl in a special rainbow-foil jacket.

The release celebrates Badalamenti’s haunting score for Lynch’s 1986 classic, with its dreamy melodies and unsettling arrangements that helped define the film’s unique atmosphere. The vinyl features some of the soundtrack’s most memorable moments, from the haunting “Main Title” and dreamlike “Mysteries Of Love” to standout tracks like Roy Orbison’s “In Dreams” and Ketty Lester’s “Love Letters.”

The soundtrack will also be released on CD, giving fans multiple ways to revisit Badalamenti’s iconic score.

Scream 30th Anniversary Red Vinyl Reissue Opens in a new window Credit: Varèse Sarabande / Craft Recordings Scream 30th Anniversary Soundtrack “Woodsboro Bloodbath” Red Vinyl Reissue $32.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here

For Scream fans, the phone is ringing again. To celebrate the horror classic’s 30th anniversary, Varèse Sarabande and Craft Recordings are bringing back Marco Beltrami’s iconic original motion picture score with a new collector's reissue arriving Aug. 28. The original 14-track album returns to vinyl in a collectible “blood-soaked” sleeve featuring an iconic image of Drew Barrymore as Casey Becker from the film’s unforgettable opening scene.

The soundtrack captures the tension and chaos that made Wes Craven’s 1996 horror classic unforgettable, with standout tracks including “The Cue from Hell,” which scores the film’s iconic opening scene, “Trouble in Woodsboro,” and the haunting “Sidney Wants It.”

Wallace & Gromit Soundtrack Picture Disc Vinyl Opens in a new window Credit: Varèse Sarabande Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit Soundtrack Picture Disc Vinyl $32.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here

Fans of the beloved claymation duo can bring home a collectible piece of Wallace & Gromit history with the new picture-disc vinyl edition of Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, arriving Sept. 18. Released by Varèse Sarabande, the picture disc features Julian Nott’s award-winning original score, produced by legendary composer Hans Zimmer, along with additional music from Rupert Gregson-Williams, James Dooley, Lorne Balfe, and Alastair King.

The vinyl includes 19 tracks across two sides, featuring fan-favorite cues like “A Grand Day Out,” “Anti-Pesto to the Rescue,” “Transformation,” and “Wallace & Gromit.” It’s a fun collector release for longtime fans of Aardman’s iconic characters and anyone who appreciates the whimsical scores that help bring animated films to life.

TL;DR: The Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G5 (G50F) QHD gaming monitor is on sale for $219.99 at Amazon, down from its $349.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 32-Inch Odyssey G5 (G50F) $219.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $130 Get Deal

Bigger gaming monitors can quickly become expensive once you add faster refresh rates and sharper-than-Full-HD resolution, but Amazon has just made Samsung’s 32-inch Odyssey G5 the perfect go-to for upgrading your setup at a bargain. 

As of July 21, the Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G5 (G50F) gaming monitor is available at Amazon for $219.99. That takes a full $130 off its $349.99 list price, leaving you with a 37% discount and the lowest price we’ve seen for this model so far (confirmed with price tracker, camelcamelcamel).

For the money, you’re getting a 32-inch Fast IPS display with QHD 2560x1440 resolution — which is shipped and sold by Amazon, getting to you as early as the next day if you’re a Prime member (at the time of writing). 

As an upgrade over older standard monitors, it offers 1.7 times the pixel density of Full HD, giving games noticeably cleaner edges and finer environmental detail without demanding as much from your PC as a 4K panel.  

The 180Hz refresh rate and 1ms GtG response time are the draws for anyone regularly playing quick multiplayer games. Whether you’re sprinting through Fortnite, tracking fast-moving enemies in Overwatch, or lining up a last-second shot in Call of Duty, the higher refresh rate should keep movement looking much smoother than it would on a typical 60Hz or 75Hz model.

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For those still worried about shaky movement with certain titles, NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility and AMD FreeSync are both included to keep the screen and graphics card in check, helping reduce image tearing, lag, and choppy action. What’s more, HDR10 adds brighter highlights and more detailed shadows, while the IPS panel provides a wide 178-degree viewing angle. 

Samsung has also fitted the G50F with Black Equalizer to brighten difficult-to-see areas, Virtual Aim Point to add an on-screen crosshair, and Auto Source Switch+ to automatically switch between connected devices.