Mashable

SAVE $25: As of July 16, get the Anker Prime 67W USB-C and USB-A wall charger for $34.99, down from its usual price of $59.99. That's a discount of 42%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Anker Prime 67W USB-C and USB-A wall charger $34.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $25 Get Deal

We rely on tech just about every moment of the day: a computer for work, a tablet for on-the-go productivity or relaxation, and our phones for everything else. It's no wonder we always need a quick top-up of electricity to stay afloat. If you're always juggling multiple devices that need to be charged up most of the time, then it's in your best interest to snag a charger that can handle everything. And there's a great one on sale right now at Amazon.

As of July 16, get the Anker Prime 67W wall charger for $34.99, down from its usual price of $59.99. That's $25 off, or a discount of 42%.

SEE ALSO: New, faster Qi2.2 wireless chargers for iPhones are coming. Here's what you need to know.

This 67W wall charger is a super compact brick that's 51% smaller than a MacBook charger, so it's great to toss in your bag and go, or tuck away on a power strip. It has two USB-C ports and one USB-A port, so you can charge just about any device you may need, including a laptop, phone, tablet, or even a portable charger.

And you can feel good about using this charger long-term as well, as it has a special ActiveShield 2.0 safety system to keep it from overheating or running into any issues. This fast charger will otherwise get you going quickly so you don't have to sit around worrying about when you'll be able to grab your device and move.

This is a great price if you're looking for a charger, so lock it in while you can.

Best tech deals

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $79.98 (List Price $99.00)

• Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop — $849.00 (List Price $999.00)

• Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

• Dreame X40 Ultra Robot Vacuum With Removable and Liftable Mop — $699.99 (List Price $1399.98)

Did you know that nothing beats a Jet2 holiday? If you're on TikTok, that's all you're hearing this summer.

To the mixed sound of "Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday" and English singer Jess Glynne's 2015 hit "Hold My Hand," thousands of people are posting vacation-themed bloopers and memes. The advert for Jet2, a British low-budget airline, has over 1.2 million videos on TikTok, just in time for the season of beach getaways, missed flights, and holiday adventures and mishaps.

The most viral of these videos shows the latter. As air-travel anxiety has spiked, the meme makes light of travel-related setbacks.

For those in the United Kingdom, Jet2 is known for easy, low-cost European flights. Its commercials are well-recognized too. As UK-based writer Hannah Cowton-Barnes explains, the commercial's jingle was "unrelenting" over the last decade or so: "broadcast across every UK TV channel that takes ads since 2015."

But the sound has put Jet2 on the map, well beyond the UK, thanks to TikTok.

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The sound has become something of a summer anthem, as Vulture and Forbes have pointed out. And the effects of virality have trickled. Glynee has garnered attention for her role in the sound, recently posting a TikTok that received over 4 million views. The original commercial for the airline, released in 2022, now has over 1 million views on YouTube. Zoe Lister, the voiceover artist behind the advert, has also acknowledged the virality of the trend. She's even been invited to radio shows and festivals to voice the iconic catchphrase in person.

Jet2 is certainly getting some free publicity too, just as it announced a record year for profit. The airline has embraced its TikTok fame, announcing a lip-sync challenge and £1,000 giveaway on the app. After all, nothing beats a Jet2 holiday.

SPEND $50 OR MORE AND SAVE $10: Select school supplies are included in an Amazon promo that takes $10 off your order of $50 or more.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Spend $50+ on eligible school supplies and get $10 off Get Deal

Ready or not, it's time to think about going back to school. Whether you're a teacher, a parent, or heading to school yourself, mid-July signifies the need to start thinking about supplies. If you're already set with a MacBook or a school-worthy tablet, check out this Amazon promo that'll cover your other necessities like pens, notebooks, and more.

As of July 16, those who spend $50 or more on eligible school supplies at Amazon will automatically save $10 at checkout. This deal applies to over 200 items like Sharpie pens, Oxford index cards, Mead products, Post-it sticky notes, Elmer's glue, and plenty more.

SEE ALSO: Best Buy and Amazon are restocking the Nintendo Switch 2 just in time for 'Donkey Kong Bananza'

Every new school year deserves a fresh start with great supplies, and that's true whether your entering the second grade or senior year of college. A new set of pens could be just the motivation you need to take better notes in class. Or consider how helpful a 300-pack of Oxford index cards would be for studying medical terms. Today's deal at Amazon covers hundreds of items that are useful for everyone from young learners and those approaching doctoral level and anyone in-between.

Even if you're not heading back to school in the fall, consider using today's sale to restock the office or finally replenish your home's stash of pens that magically dwindles by the day.

While this limited-time offer is still standing, stock up on school supplies at Amazon to save $10 on all qualifying orders of $50 or more.

The best home and kitchen deals to shop this week

• Skylight Frame 10-inch Digital Picture Frame — $139.99

• Ninja Crispi Air Fryer — $159.95 (List Price $179.99)

• Birdfy AI Smart Solar Powered Bird Feeder with Camera — $159.99 (List Price $249.99)

• KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer — $379.95 (List Price $499.99)

• Eufy Omni C20 Robot Vacuum and Mop With Self-Emptying Base — $449.99 (List Price $699.99)

If your retro, N64 remake is delayed, what do you do? Blame President Donald Trump.

Trump's punitive, widespread tariffs have reportedly delayed the shipment of the Analogue 3D, a $250 retro gaming console that promises the N64 experience with modern upgrades, according to the company. The Analogue 3D sold out last year and was supposed to ship in early 2025 — but now customers will have to wait until at least next month.

"Following last week’s sudden tariff changes, Analogue3D will now begin shipping next month. We’re absorbing the costs — your preorder price stays the same. No additional charges," the company wrote on its website this week. "Late August, the wait ends: reviews go live with everything we’ve been saving for this moment. We’ve poured everything into Analogue3D — and we can’t wait for you to see it for yourself."

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Trump levied a new round of tariffs last week, with rates as high as 50 percent on certain countries. The president's tariffs are sprawling and hard to track, but a pause on the initial, reciprocal tariffs levied in April is due to end in August.

To be fair, the Analogue 3D had already been hit with delays that had nothing to do with tariffs, and we can't independently verify that Trump's tariffs are the cause of the latest delay.

Regardless, it seems users will finally get their Analogue 3D next month.

Analogue says its N64 remake is a “reimagining of the N64” that’s compatible with every N64 game ever made, bringing classics like Goldeneye and Mario Kart 64 to 4K TVs.

Challengers director Luca Guadagnino swaps tennis courts for college classrooms in his star-studded psychological thriller After the Hunt, with a trailer out today.

The acclaimed director of Call Me By Your Name, Bones and All, and Queer teams up with Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, and Andrew Garfield for his latest project, which examines a #MeToo scandal on an elite college campus. Prior Guadagnino collaborators Michael Stuhlbarg and Chloë Sevigny also star, and the film is written by Nora Garrett.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best movies of 2025 (so far), and where to watch them

Roberts plays Alma, a well-respected college professor whose personal and professional lives are turned upside down when her student Maggie (Edebiri) accuses her colleague Hank (Garfield) of sexual assault. The ensuing backlash becomes a campus-wide storm of he-said, she-said. Hank counters Maggie's accusation with claims that she's been plagiarizing her college work, and Maggie threatens to expose a dark secret from Alma's past. The fact that both Maggie and Hank seem to have feelings for Alma further muddies the water of her reaction.

In addition to exploring the aftermath of Maggie's allegations, After the Hunt also studies the generational differences between the college's professors and their students. The film's first trailer opens with Hank telling Maggie, "All your generation, you’re scared of saying the wrong thing. When did offending someone become the preeminent cardinal sin?"

Her response? "Maybe it’s around the same time your generation started making sweeping generalizations about ours?"

If that conversation is anything to go by, we're in for far more inter-generational conflict — and more of Guadagnino's sumptuous filmmaking — in the full film.

After the Hunt hits New York and Los Angeles theaters Oct. 10, and expands nationwide Oct. 17.

If you haven't yet gotten a Nintendo Switch 2, you're about to have a chance to bring your FOMO phase to a swift end, because Best Buy and Amazon are about to unleash a restock just in time for the release of Donkey Kong Bananza. That's right, there's about to be more to play than just Mario Kart World. Be aware, though, there's a catch for buying the console at either retailer.

If you want to get your hands on one of the coveted handheld gaming consoles, listen up. On July 17 — the same day as Donkey Kong Bananza's release — Best Buy will restock Nintendo Switch 2 consoles for in-store purchases only in limited quantities. Every single Best Buy store will have stock, according to the retailer's website, so find your nearest store and get ready to head over.

SEE ALSO: My favorite Nintendo Switch 2 accessory is the Belkin charging case

Amazon is handling its restock a little bit differently. As of right now, Nintendo Switch 2 consoles can be purchased via invite only, and apparently those invites are starting to be sent out. You can still request an invite at Amazon for the regular Switch 2 and the Mario Kart World bundle version, but there's no guarantee you'll get an invite anytime soon. Still, it's worth a try.

Keep an eye on our Nintendo Switch 2 coverage to be updated about future restocks.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 (invite-only) $449.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 + 'Mario Kart World' bundle (invite-only) $499.99 at Amazon
Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo 'Donkey Kong Bananza' $69 at Amazon
Get Deal

The Daily Show often briefly hands the desk mic to famous faces passionate about issues affecting Americans, with stars like Laverne Cox hitting it out of the park in 10-minute opinion monologues. On Tuesday night, Nick Offerman channelled a little of his Parks and Recreation character Ron Swanson and a lot of himself, an author of books on America's great outdoors, into one heck of a segment on the current plight of national parks.

“I have several undeniable loves in my life: the oaky notes of a barrel-aged whiskey, an old-fashioned plumb bob dangling over a red cedar plank, my blushing bride’s hoo-ha," says Offerman in the clip above, "and of course, America’s national parks."

"It gives me great sorrow to report these pastoral gifts to America are under attack," he adds, before launching into why.

Offerman uses his monologue, both hilarious and concerned, to raise awareness of the very real circumstances facing national parks in the U.S., most pressingly the current staffing crisis due to the Trump administration and Elon Musk's DOGE cuts, and Donald Trump's "big beautiful bill" cutting a further $267 million of funding for national park staff — with the president then increasing entry fees for foreign visitors to try and earn back $90 million.

"So let me get this straight Mr. President, you cut $267 million to get back $90 million? Now, I’m no mathematician, but I believe that’s called shitting the bed," says Offerman. "But then again, I didn't go to Wharton Business College."

It's worth watching the whole 10-minute segment, as Offerman's delivery is impeccable.

SAVE UP TO $59.01: As of July 16, the Apple AirPods 4 — with and without ANC — are back within 99 cents of their record-low price. After spiking back up in price post-Prime Day, you can grab a pair for $119.99 with ANC (reg. $179) and $89.99 without (reg. $129), saving you 30% or more.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) $119.99 at Amazon
$179 Save $59.01 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 (without ANC) $89.99 at Amazon
$129 Save $39.01 Get Deal

Both versions of Apple's AirPods 4 hit record low prices on Prime Day — just $119 with ANC and $89 without. But following the shopping event, they jumped back up to their typical sale prices of $148.99 and $99. Prime Day prices don't last forever, after all. Much to our surprise, however, the Apple earbuds immediately dropped back down to within 99 cents of their best prices ever.

As of July 16, you can pick up the AirPods 4 with ANC for only $119.99 and the AirPods 4 without ANC for just $89.99. That's 33% and 30% in savings, respectively. If you missed out on Prime Day savings, you'll only be paying 99 cents more for either pair than you would've during the main event.

SEE ALSO: The best Apple deals this week: Shop MacBook Air, AirPods, iPads, and more

The fourth-generation Apple buds feature personalized spatial audio, Siri interactions, voice isolation, a more findable and compact charging case compared to previous models, and improved bass, mids, and highs. They're also surprisingly snug and comfortable, making them a great daily driver. The only real differences between the two pairs of buds is the addition of active noise cancellation, which also puts a slight damper on battery life. Without ANC, they'll last you about five hours per charge (with another 30 in the charging case) and with ANC, they'll go for about four (or 20 with the charging case).

Mashable's Kim Gedeon gave them a glowing 4.6 out of 5 stars, saying, "Whether I sprinted on a treadmill or bobbed my head to a song, they stayed put."

Grab them for just 99 cents more than their Prime Day price while you can — there's no telling how long these discounts will stick around.

iPhone users rejoice. Faster wireless chargers are coming for iPhones.

Yesterday, Chinese electronics company Ugreen announced a Qi2.2 wireless charging power bank arriving soon. Quickly following suit, other Qi2.2 products were certified by the Wireless Power Consortium, all from different manufacturers.

Here's what you need to know.

What is Qi2.2?

Qi2.2 is the latest version of the wireless charging standard, improving on previous standards. The new Qi2.2 standard boosts power to 25W, or 25 watts of power. Ugreen's MagFlow Magnetic Power Bank is the first wireless charger to receive the Qi2.2 certification.

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Qi2, the previous version, supported the iPhone 15 and 16 since launch, and iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 since iOS 17.2. However, Qi2 only supported 15W charging speeds. The iPhone 16 already supports 25W charging, the fastest wireless charging rate, with Apple's MagSafe charger announced at the phone's launch last year.

As we reported at the time, the entire iPhone 16 series is "capable of 45W charging over USB-C" and "MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W with a 30W adapter or higher, as well as Qi2 wireless charging up to 15W." With Qi2.2, third-party chargers will now be capable of 25W wireless charging.

Qi2.2 chargers utilize magnetic alignment to reduce power loss and improve charging efficiency, according to the WPC.

SEE ALSO: Anker's $29 supercharger is my secret weapon — and it's on sale Which other wireless chargers are available?

The Wireless Power Consortium certified eight more products with Qi2.2 charging speeds. The consortium announced version 2.2 in April 2025 and certified products with the latest standard on July 15.

Baseus received a Qi2.2 certification for one power bank and, according to The Verge, has another on the way. Belkin announced that several Qi2.2 products will roll out in the next few months. Anker, Aukey, Scosche, ODMs CVSMicro, and BH EVS are also set to release their own versions, too.

Apple is reportedly working on a new MagSafe charger with Qi2.2 compatibility, according to a leak last month.

When can you buy these chargers?

While several announcements are yet to come, some of these faster chargers are available. Aukey has a 2-1 charging stand available for preorder now, priced at $60.29. Ugreen's product is announced, but the price is yet to be revealed.

SAVE $99.01: As of July 16, get the 10th Gen Apple iPad for $399.99 at Amazon. That's down from its usual price of $499.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple iPad (10th Gen) $399.99 at Amazon
$499 Save $99.01 Get Deal

Time for a new tablet? If you're shopping around, you won't want to miss this post-Prime Day deal at Amazon on the Apple iPad (10th Gen). While it's no longer at its Prime Day price, it's still available for a significant discount that makes it a super attractive offer if you're ready to take the plunge and add an iPad to your tech stack.

As of July 16, get the Apple iPad (10th Gen) for $399.99, down from its usual price of $499. That's $99.01 off and a discount of 20%. This deal only applies currently to the pink colorway, but if that's not your favorite color, that's easily fixed by adding a case. So if you're hesitant because of the aesthetics, you can just cover it up if that's an issue, especially since this is a hefty discount.

SEE ALSO: The best Apple deals this week: Shop MacBook Air, AirPods, iPads, and more

This iPad model boasts a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display and the A14 Bionic chip that's perfect for getting things done, whether that means gaming, video calls, browsing the internet, or getting some work done on the go.

It has an all-day battery life as well as an impressive camera array, with a 12MP Ultra Wide front camera and 12MP back camera that's capable of shooting in 4K video.

If you're ready to get into the iOS ecosystem and have been wanting a companion iPad tablet, this is a great way to go, especially at this price. Grab it while it's still available on sale, as it likely won't last long since it's clinging to that post-Prime Day pricing.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $79.98 (List Price $99.00)

• Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop — $849.00 (List Price $999.00)

• Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

• Dreame X40 Ultra Robot Vacuum With Removable and Liftable Mop — $699.99 (List Price $1399.98)

SAVE UP TO 30%: Shop Ruggable's anniversary sale to take 25% off sitewide with code EIGHT. Shop Ruggable's daily deals to save 30% on select collections through July 20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ruggable Take 25% off sitewide at Ruggable with code EIGHT shop daily deals to get 30% off Get Deal

Ruggable is celebrating eight years of giving us the rugs we've always dreamed of adorning our spaces with. And as a bonus, Ruggable made them all washable, which is a must-have quality for those with pets. If you've been eyeing a Ruggable option for your space but haven't loved the price, the brand's anniversary sale is live and offering great discounts.

Through July 20, use code EIGHT to save 25% sitewide at Ruggable. To get 30% off, shop each day to get extra savings on select collections for 24 hours only.

Who wants a rug you can't wash? The pressure of keeping it completely clean is far too much for anyone to handle. Instead, go with Ruggable which makes both stain-resistant and washable rugs for your entire home. Your entryway will look better than ever and the patio will finally be a barefoot-friendly zone, all thanks to Ruggable and your smarts by shopping the anniversary sale to take up to 25% off.

SEE ALSO: Ruggable launches new collaboration with Jonathan Adler, featuring maximalist pillows and pet beds

Of course, Ruggable is also avaiable if you're looking to breathe new life via a rug into the kids' room, the kitchen, or the bathroom. Ruggable's size offerings are also expansive from small runners to major area rugs. You can even use the discount code to save 25% on select Ruggable x Jonathan Adler options.

RJ Andersen tested out Ruggable's medium-pile options in a home with two dogs and wrote, "Ruggable has far exceeded my expectations when it comes to a versatile, durable rug, and it’s certainly been easier to clean than any of my 'traditional' rugs." Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Dylan Haas compared Ruggable to Tumble, another washable rug brand. Overall, he found Ruggable to excel when it comes to options and aesthetics.

While you can save 25% sitewide with the code EIGHT, Ruggable is also offering a 30% savings on specific collections during each day of the sale. You'll only have 24 hours to shop these savings on each remaining day of the sales event. They include:

• July 16: Collaborations like Morris & Co. and Martyn Lawrence Bullard

• July 17: Washable throw pillows, pet beds, and mats

• July 18: Maximalist designs including Iris Apfel and Jonathan Adler

• July 19 and 20: Clean Classics

Instead of having strict no eating near the rug rules, upgrade to the wonderful world of washable and stain-resistant rugs from Ruggable. Some of these deals are better than what we saw during the Ruggable Black Friday 2024 sale, so this is the perfect time to buy.

SAVE $50: The 11-inch Apple iPad (A16, WiFi, 128GB) is on sale for $299 at Amazon. That's down from the list price of $349.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 11-inch Apple iPad (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $299 at Amazon
$349 Save $50 Get Deal

Prime Day might be over, but that doesn't mean the savings ended there. Sure, plenty of items are back at full-price, but a few linger pretty darn close their Prime Day sale price. If you're in need of a trustworthy tablet, check out this deal at Amazon.

As of July 16, the Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) is on sale for $299 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $349. That's a 14% discount that takes $50 off the usual price. During Prime Day last week, we saw this iPad dip to $279, but today's deal of $299 is just $20 more and still a nice discount to pick up.

SEE ALSO: The best Apple deals this week: Shop MacBook Air, AirPods, iPads, and more

This week, Apple deals are coming in hot. You can still snag the epic M4 MacBook Air for under $849, which is where it hung out during Prime Day. But if you're looking for something smaller, the 11-inch iPad is fantastic and it's under $300 today at Amazon.

On Mashable's list of the best iPads, this model earns the top spot as the best option on a budget. That makes this model especially great for students, kids, or anyone who plans to binge-watch summer favorites on a tablet while avoiding the scorching sun.

SEE ALSO: The $849 MacBook Air M4 deal is still live on Amazon, but for how long?

The 11-inch display will be a huge upgrade if you've been watching YouTube or Twitch streams on your phone. It also makes for an especially portable option for taking notes during classes this coming semester. This model of the Apple iPad is compatible with the Magic Keyboard Folio should you wish to add that on to your purchase. Doing so means you can transform the tablet into a highly versatile laptop.

The $299 sale price applies to the model with 128GB of storage and you can choose from blue, yellow, pink, and silver colorway options.

Get the tablet upgrade you deserve this summer and snag today's deal at Amazon on the 11-inch Apple iPad. It's Mashable's favorite budget-friendly iPad and it's even cheaper today.

The best tech deals to shop this week

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $79.98 (List Price $99.00)

• Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop — $849.00 (List Price $999.00)

• Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

• Dreame X40 Ultra Robot Vacuum With Removable and Liftable Mop — $699.99 (List Price $1399.98)

It's been over three years since Stranger Things 4 came to a close, but there's no forgetting that ending.

The Netflix hit's fourth season came to a sobering close when its heroes failed to prevent Upside Down overlord Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) from his nightmare realm into the real world. That's right: The spooky tendrils and decay of the Upside Down have made a new home in Hawkins, Indiana, leaving Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and her allies with their greatest challenge yet. To paraphrase Stranger Things patron saint Kate Bush, they've got a steep hill to run up before they can claim victory.

They've also got a time jump to deal with, as Stranger Things Season 5 picks up in the fall of 1987, over a year after Season 4. Clearly, Vecna hasn't immediately taken over the entire world, then, so that's good news, right?

Based on the teaser, Hawkins has learned to adapt in the year since Vecna's attack. The teaser shows footage of citizens living in bunkers, and of helicopters and military personnel patrolling the ruined streets of Hawkins.

Still, it's only a matter of time before Vecna rears his tentacled head again, and when he does, the Hawkins crew isn't going down without a fight. The teaser hints at a larger plan, one that seems to involve Steve (Joe Keery) and Mike (Finn Wolfhard) engineering some kind of controlled burn — perhaps to beat back the growth of the Upside Down?

But on top of teasing the fight against Vecna and the return of creatures like the Demogorgon, the trailer also promises some serious emotional damage. Look no further than Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) crying at the bedside of a still-comatose Max (Sadie Sink). Or Nancy (Natalia Dyer) sobbing in a bathroom. Or Hopper (David Harbour) telling Eleven, "Let's end this, kid." Oh yeah, we're in for a bloodbath, aren't we?

Volume 1 of Stranger Things 5 hits Netflix Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. ET. Volume 2 premieres Dec. 26, and the series finale premieres Dec. 31.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 16 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: Found at a university

• Green: Over the top

• Blue: To enclose

• Purple: Foreign alphabet

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

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

• Yellow: Parts of a college campus

• Green: Exaggerated, as a performance

• Blue: Close in on

• Purple: Starts of Greek letters

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 #766 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Parts of a college campus: CAFETERIA, DORM, LIBRARY, QUAD

• Exaggerated, as a performance: CAMP. DRAMATIC, HAMMY, OVERDONE

• Close in on: CORNER, SURROUND, TRAP, TREE

• Starts of Greek letters: BET, DELT, LAMB, THE

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 16

Are you also playing NYT Strands?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 16 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 16 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Tech accessories

The words are tech-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are iPad accessories.

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 Tablet.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for July 16

• Speaker

• Stand

• Folio

• Case

• Tablet

• Keyboard

• Stylus

• Charger

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.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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 today: Hints and answers for July 16 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's The Mini crossword answers for July 16, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Bold.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter N.

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...

NERVY.

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 July 16

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.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, 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 the latest 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 Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. 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 Mini crossword answers, hints for July 16, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Review

• Green: Cycling shirts

• Blue: Same school

• Purple: Half a name

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

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

• Yellow: Evaluate

• Green: Tour de France jerseys

• Blue: University of North Carolina alumni

• Purple: First words of Big Ten nicknames

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 Sports Edition #296 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Evaluate - ASSESS, GRADE, RATE, SCOUT

• Tour de France jerseys - GREEN, POLKA DOT, WHITE, YELLOW

• University of North Carolina Alumni - CARTER, HAMM, JORDAN, PEPPER

• First words of Big Ten nicknames - FIGHTING, GOLDEN, NITTANY, SCARLET

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.

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

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

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

Despite being a lifelong appreciator of Nintendo games, Donkey Kong as a character has never resonated with me all that much. I blame 1999’s Donkey Kong 64. 

The first attempt at a 3D platformer starring Nintendo’s simian superstar came out when I was a kid with an insatiable curiosity for video games. It also sucks to an almost unbelievable degree. DK64 is a grimy and unpleasant mess, loaded with tedious collectibles that notoriously take dozens of hours to accumulate. (Don’t play Donkey Kong 64. I hated it then and I hate it now. That’s my review.)

Oh yeah, I guess I’m here to review another game, huh? Well, Donkey Kong Bananza is just about the opposite of 64 in every way that matters. The first big post-launch Nintendo Switch 2-exclusive will be a welcome reprieve from Mario Kart World for early adopters, thanks to its beautifully elegant movement mechanics, delightfully destructible environments, and a new(-ish) companion character for Donkey Kong who almost steals the show by herself.

In other words, they finally made a good 3D platformer starring Donkey Kong, and anyone who bought a Switch 2 at or around launch should probably pick it up. Mario Kart is great, but this is the Switch 2 game you’ve really been waiting for. Scott Stein, editor at large at our sister site, CNET, gave his own review of the amazing game, and he agrees.

SEE ALSO: Free Nintendo Switch 2 upgrades for Switch 1 games are better than expected Donkey Kong Bananza gives DK a new best friend It's worth it to look at their faces every now and then. Credit: Nintendo

Bananza comes from the same internal team at Nintendo that developed Super Mario Odyssey, which is exemplified by its storytelling that prioritizes charm and good vibes over lore and dialogue.

It’s essentially a reboot for the Donkey Kong character, and he's given a brand new design that, frankly, makes the one that's been in use for the past 30 years look…not great by comparison. Bananza begins with DK (who is a miner in search of banana-shaped rocks) being helplessly sucked down into a world that exists beneath the planet’s surface. Before long, DK links up with Pauline, a 13-year-old human girl who rides around on his shoulder as the two dive deeper into the underworld in hopes of finding a way back up to the surface.

Yes, this is the same Pauline who was Donkey Kong’s kidnapping victim in the original Donkey Kong arcade game. No, Bananza does not take even one second to address whatever “continuity errors” you might think exist here. Nintendo doesn’t care and neither should you. They made Pauline a kid and made her friends with DK this time because they thought it would be fun. They were right.

What a star. Credit: Nintendo

As expressive and hilarious as the new Donkey Kong is most of the time, Pauline is the secret sauce that makes Bananza work on a vibes level. Giving our beloved ape a human companion who can speak for him in cutscenes and who offers goofy little insights every now and then helps add a lot of personality to the proceedings. What’s even better is that Pauline is perfectly believable as a 13-year-old girl; she feels three-dimensional, expressing a wide array of emotions throughout the story, all while occasionally cracking the kinds of corny jokes that young teens are wont to crack. Her personal journey, which revolves around her increasing confidence in her magical singing abilities, is also pretty endearing.

I hope I’m not succumbing to recency bias here, but I do think this version of Pauline is one of the best companion characters in a Nintendo game in a long time. 

Bananza revels in recklessness  Credit: Nintendo

Of course, this is a 3D platformer, so there are only a small handful of cutscenes in Bananza and the story’s not really what anyone is here for. I am pleased to report, in that case, that the 3D platforming on offer here is airtight, with lots of room for player freedom and highly enjoyable movement mechanics.

Nintendo’s big gimmick here is that Donkey Kong can use his substantive fists to pound through sand, rock, stone, gold, and most of the other materials that make up each of Bananza’s sprawling, open-ended levels. If you know there’s a Banandium Gem (this game’s main omnipresent collectible) behind a wall that’s in front of you, most of the time, you can just punch the wall until there isn’t a wall anymore. This is one of the most self-evidently fun game mechanics I’ve seen all year. Who doesn’t love busting up levels?

That said, this could have easily gone sour. There’s another world, not far from this one, where Bananza is a confusing mess of a game full of bugs and camera problems that make its destructive gameplay burdensome rather than delightful. However, somehow, some way, the Odyssey team figured out how to make all of it just work. It’s surprisingly hard to get lost thanks to a very effective map and intuitive level design that subtly encourages the player to wreak havoc in certain areas without outright holding their hand. And if you do get a little too reckless and find yourself unable to progress, you can simply restore all the terrain you destroyed with a button in the pause menu.

Explosions good. Credit: Nintendo

I’m not surprised that the destructive elements of Bananza are fun, but I am pleasantly surprised that they’re as elegant as they are. There are lots of potential interactions between different materials in Bananza, as you can pick up soft dirt and throw it at hard surfaces to create platforms or harness the explosive properties of gold (don’t think too hard about it) to clear out surfaces that are too hard to punch through. 

Shockingly, this never really becomes confusing at any point in the roughly 15-20 hours it takes to wrap a bow on the game. If you find yourself needing a certain material to progress, it’s always somewhere nearby. What’s more impressive is that you hardly ever need to stop and think about it, as Bananza’s visual language is clean enough that you can usually figure out what to do in any given situation just by scanning it with your eyes for a few seconds. 

Combat is also a lot more fun here than it normally is in 3D platformers. You can really feel the immense weight of DK’s punches as they land on enemies, especially in situations where a punch sends an enemy careening into another enemy for a double kill. I do have one minor criticism here, though, which is that a few of the early-game boss fights are a bit too basic and easy for my liking. There were some that I beat in literally about 30 seconds. Bonanza makes up for this in the back half with some extremely good late encounters, but still, I wasn’t sold on the boss fights in the first few hours.

It’s a good time to just move around these levels The forest level is great. Credit: Nintendo

One major reason why Super Mario Odyssey was so well-regarded is that its basic platforming mechanics are gorgeously intuitive and versatile. Bananza is no different.

The simple act of moving from place to place as DK is a great time in and of itself. He’s got a great roll move that you can use to pick up speed either on the ground or in the air, and you can even punch in the middle of a roll. DK can also climb most vertical surfaces with no limitations, creating lots of fun level design opportunities that the game definitely takes advantage of. Animations flow together beautifully so nothing ever feels rigidly mechanical. 

Admittedly, it takes about half an hour to get used to how it all works. There are four face buttons on a Switch 2 controller, and three of them are dedicated to different types of punches here. It just doesn’t control quite like any other recent big-name platformer I’m aware of. But once you get the hang of it, it feels incredible to effortlessly bound around these levels in a way that feels appropriately animalistic.

Sorry to Bother You (2018). Credit: Nintendo

Pauline isn’t just a cosmetic partner for Donkey Kong, though, as her singing abilities allow for the use of Bananza forms. These transform Donkey Kong into different animals (such as a swole zebra or a beefy ostrich) with different use cases. The Zebra can run really fast, making it perfect for crossing platforms that crumble beneath your feet, while the ostrich can glide over large gaps. You can even switch between forms on the fly for fun platforming combo opportunities.

Bananza forms add a lot of great variety to Bananza’s moment-to-moment action, but I wish I could say the same for the game’s upgrade system. There’s a very basic skill tree here that includes passive upgrades for DK and his various Bananza forms, as well as some very useful abilities you can only unlock there. You unlock skill points by collecting Banandium Gems, which is admittedly a smart way to incentivize thorough exploration.

Still, something about this just didn’t sit quite right with me. It feels a little tacked on, and many of the upgrades feel like things you should just have access to by default. Bananza forms in particular feel underpowered when first unlocked, which is a weird and disappointing dynamic for a 3D platformer. I don’t think the presence of the skill tree or its shortcomings will be enough to significantly hinder anyone’s enjoyment of Bananza, but I also can’t imagine it being anyone’s favorite part of the game, either.

Bananza one-ups Mario Odyssey in one key area Hey, I know that guy! Credit: Nintendo

I loved Mario Odyssey, but I had (and continue to have) a major hang-up with it: The pacing is nuts. Mario’s first trip through most of the game’s levels is generally linear and a little rushed, with the expectation that you’ll go back and clear them out later after you’ve left for the next story beat. It created a strange feeling of being pushed through the game faster than I would have liked.

Bonanza is not a significantly longer game by any stretch of the imagination, clocking in at 13 hours before I saw the end credits in my playthrough. But it feels much more satisfying to me because, for the most part, you can see all of a given level the first time you go there. There is a linear critical path through them all, but there are also tons of fun side activities to do and (almost) nothing feels like it’s off-limits or being held back for an endgame collectible hunt. 

As a result, I felt way more fulfilled when I saw those end credits, even though I knew I would continue playing the game because I have a sickness that can only be cured by collecting shiny things in 3D platformers. I’ll need more time to ruminate on whether or not I think Bananza is a better game overall than Odyssey, but in this regard, it certainly is. 

I should also note before we're finished here that Bananza does have one more tiny little problem: performance. For the most part, the game runs at a nearly locked 60 frames per second, but there are occasional bits of slowdown. In my experience, almost all of these occurred during moments when I didn't actually have control over DK, like during short transitional cutscenes. It does rear its head during some more intense gameplay sequences, though overall, I didn't find it horribly distracting at any point.

Is Donkey Kong Bananza worth it?

There’s so much I haven’t even gotten to, such as the outstanding soundtrack (Pauline’s vocal themes in particular are killer) or the abundance of incredibly fun one-off challenge levels that you can find scattered around each world. Honestly, I’d rather you all experience those things for yourselves because I think Bananza is absolutely a worthwhile investment for any Switch 2 owner. You likely already knew that and didn’t need me to tell you.

It’s not only the first good 3D platformer starring Donkey Kong, it’s just a damn good one in its own right thanks to a unique set of mechanics that make it more about punching than jumping. Combine that with clever level design and a wonderfully charming pair of heroes at the center of the story, and you get the Switch 2’s first stone-cold banger. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Donkey Kong Bananza $69.99 at Amazon
Get Deal

A laptop doesn't make a great impulse buy, like a pack of gum in the checkout line or a weird thingamajig you saw in a TikTok livestream.

Of course, if the computer you depend on for work, school, or entertainment randomly decides to kick the bucket, the best time to replace it is immediately (after recycling or repurposing it). But most people can — and should — strategize before investing in a new machine they hope to use for years to come.

First, decide what's most important to you: a laptop with minty-fresh specs, or a laptop that costs less than usual? From there, we can point you toward several key times to buy based on our historical knowledge of past laptop launches and deals.

If you want the latest specs

For future-proofers and shoppers with cash to spare, splurging on the laptop of the moment can be more appealing than buying an older model at a discount.

Best time to buy: At launch

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a tech industry trade show that happens every year in January, is basically ground zero for next-generation laptops. Major manufacturers like Asus, Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, MSI, and Razer treat their booths as runways for new computers with the latest processors, graphics cards, and/or cutting-edge features. (Think rollable displays, weird lid attachments, and touchpads with built-in media controls.) And while some of these showcase laptops are just prototypes, many are fully fleshed-out devices, and a batch of them are available for preorder or purchase shortly after the event wraps. The rest typically hit the market by March or April.

Billed as "the world's first rollable display AI PC," Lenovo's ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 made a splash at CES 2025. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

There are two lone alpha wolves who don't make appearances at CES, one being Apple, which is known to take a couple different approaches to new laptop launches. Apple usually hosts formal keynote events to mark an upgrade, which the public can watch via livestream. Sometimes, it just drops an unceremonious press release. That said, the company is pretty consistent about updating its MacBook Pro and Air lines annually or biannually. While its exact launch schedule is pretty arbitrary, you can usually count on seeing new models in the spring (March or April), at its yearly Worldwide Developers Conference in June, or in late fall (October or November).

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

Microsoft also opts out of CES in favor of holding its own Surface laptop launch events, which almost always happen every September. They're livestreamed as well.

If you want a good deal

Any opportunity to save money is ultimately a win, but certain times of the year feature more (and steeper) laptop discounts that can justify a postponed purchase for those in search of a stellar value.

Best time to buy: On or around Black Friday

The fourth Friday in November isn't treated with the same sort of reverence it once was: Ever since Amazon started hosting Prime savings events in the fall, prompting other retailers to jumpstart their own year-end sales, "Black Friday" has become an informal season that lasts from early October into late November. Still, it remains the best time of year to grab a laptop on sale at a steal — and it's not just because stores like to take advantage of the holiday shopping surge.

Laptops get extra cheap around Black Friday (to the tune of 20 to 50% off) because it syncs up with when retailers and manufacturers are trying to offload their inventories ahead of next-gen refreshes at CES. For laptops that debuted at the beginning of the year, which are about to age out of their "current-gen" moniker, this often translates to year-round lows that knock hundreds of dollars off their normal sticker prices. Older laptops that are at least one generation removed, meanwhile, can plummet to the lowest prices of their entire lifespan as they're priced to move. (We've encountered some ancient Chromebooks on sale for less than $100 on Black Fridays past.)

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 was $200 off a month after launch as part of Amazon's 2023 Black Friday sale. Credit: Microsoft

While Apple and Microsoft don't operate on the same product cycles as everyone else, they both still have a strong presence on Black Friday at third-party retailers. Amazon and Best Buy are really good about putting older MacBooks and Surface laptops on sale at rock-bottom prices while also offering some initial deals on newer models that have only just launched. On Black Friday 2023, for example, they took $200 off the Surface Laptop Go 3 and $150 off the M3 MacBook Pro, respectively; both laptops had debuted a month prior.

Apple and Microsoft technically host their own Black Friday sales, too, but they usually aren't much to write home about. The famously stingy Apple Store only doles out free gift cards with the purchase of older MacBooks, and the Microsoft Store's prices are often trounced by its third-party peers.

SEE ALSO: Now is one of the best times to buy a MacBook

The real debate concerning Black Friday laptop deals revolves around whether consumers should shop early or hold off on buying until Black Friday proper, in case prices get even cheaper, and the answer boils down to whether you're eyeing specific models or specs. Retailers still reserve some deals for the actual holiday (always the Friday after Thanksgiving) even if their sales are weeks or months long, so it can be worth waiting to see which laptops get featured in that primetime slot. The trouble is that we rarely know what those featured laptops are ahead of time — and by the time they're live, the model you really wanted may be backordered or back to full price.

If you're married to a certain spec sheet and don't just want a good deal, period, we generally recommend buying a laptop as soon as it gets added to a Black Friday sale's roster. In the off-chance its deal improves, you can always tap the retailer's holiday price-match guarantee and/or extended return policy as fallback plans.

Second best time to buy: During back-to-school season

Whether it's a multitasking MacBook for a college freshman or a basic Chromebook for a fifth-grader, a laptop is a given on most school supply shopping lists. As such, laptop prices dependably tank in the summer to tempt students, their parents, and teachers preparing for the upcoming semester — typically from mid-June to early September.

The back-to-school season is so major for laptop purchases that it's the only time outside of Black Friday when the Apple Store runs one of its "sales," throwing in free gift cards with MacBook purchases from early June through early October. That's in addition to its usual education pricing, which saves students, parents, and faculty $100 on select MacBooks year-round.

Apple runs one of its rare gift card promos during the back-to-school season; the other happens during Black Friday. Credit: Apple

It's worth mentioning that Amazon's flagship Prime Day sale falls smack-dab in the middle of back-to-school season in mid-July, and it's one of the only times when shoppers can source a slew of legitimately good laptop deals there besides Black Friday. (More on that later.) For instance, Prime Day 2023 featured a special invite-only deal that dropped the price of an Acer Swift X by over 40%.

Crucially, Prime Day can also be lucrative for laptop shoppers because it goads other retailers into running competing sales, which often match or beat Amazon's prices. (Best Buy's Prime Day counter-programming tends to be Amazon's toughest rival when it comes to tech deals.) Prices aren't quite as low as they are on Black Friday, but it's still enough to make Prime Day worth marking on your calendar.

Third best time to buy: Over holiday weekends

Retailers are partial to offering deals on big-ticket tech purchases like laptops over federal holiday weekends, the big ones being Presidents' Day weekend (in mid-February), Memorial Day weekend (in late May), the Fourth of July, and Labor Day (in early September, coinciding with the end of back-to-school season). You won't find extreme discounts like you do in the thick of back-to-school season or Black Friday, but they're above average for the "off season."

Honorable mention: Buy right after new models are announced

Pay attention to new laptop launches even if you don't want the latest tech, as they often trigger quiet sales or price drops on the older models they're replacing. For most laptop brands, this usually means deals start trickling out after the CES dust settles in late January and into February.

Apple's 13-inch M2 Apple MacBook Air got two permanent price drops during its lifespan. Credit: Molly Flores / Mashable

Apple and Microsoft refreshes are, again, a little less predictable timing-wise, but they're just as reliable when it comes to previous-gen discounts. You might recall the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air getting a permanent $100 price cut when its 15-inch counterpart debuted, then another $100 chop once the latest M3 version materialized. And the original Surface Laptop Studio went on sale for $500 off the week after its successor was announced.

Not all retailers are created equal

Shopping for a new laptop is as much a game of "when" as it is "where."

Between major online retailers, we typically find the most laptop configurations (and the best laptop deals) at Best Buy. That includes current- and previous-gen MacBooks, plus a broad range of Windows laptops, Chromebooks, and gaming laptops across all major brands; it's the exclusive retail partner for a slew of current-gen Copilot+ PCs.

Amazon comes next. It consistently stocks and discounts recent MacBooks as well as a more random selection of Copilot+ PCs, Chromebooks, and entry-level to mid-range gaming laptops. Walmart has the most limited inventory out of the three and mainly dabbles in older Windows laptops, gaming laptops, and low-end Chromebooks.

With that in mind, we want to flag some quirks about these retailers that can complicate shoppers' buying experience in some way or another. One is that Amazon and Best Buy intermittently inflate laptops' original sticker prices, which can make discounts look better than they actually are. This also sometimes happens in the reverse, where a deflated MSRP is concealing better-than-advertised savings. But getting duped into a lousy deal is a less happy surprise.

Amazon listed this Acer gaming laptop on sale for $769.99, down from $844.99. Credit: Screenshot: Amazon The exact same model had an original price of $779.99 on Acer's website. You're actually saving $10, not $65. Credit: Screenshot: Acer.com Best Buy listed this Acer gaming laptop on sale for $1,099.99, down from $1,499.99. Credit: Screenshot: Best Buy The exact same model had an original price of $1,449.99 on Acer's website. You're actually saving $350, not $400. Credit: Screenshot: Acer.com

Furthermore, Amazon and Walmart are teeming with laptop listings from third-party merchants that shoppers should approach with caution. (Best Buy doesn't host them yet, but that's set to change in mid-2025.) Amazon's third-party sellers may use different customer service policies than their hosts, while Walmart's MarketPlace Sellers may have different return policies or warranty terms. And let's not forget that counterfeit products are an ongoing issue for both retailers.

This isn't to say that all third-party sellers are evil scammers. (You can usually tell based on their reviews.) It's also important to note that Amazon and Walmart both have guarantees in place to offer recourse if shoppers have problems with third-party sellers, provided they're eligible. Still, we don't think it's worth the risk or the hassle when it comes to a big-ticket purchase like a laptop. Reddit is filled with enough horror stories to reinforce this caginess.

In March 2025, you could buy a configuration of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 from a third-party Amazon seller for $1,349.99 (and get a free stylus)... Credit: Screenshot: Amazon ...Or you could buy the same laptop directly from Amazon for $40 more. Go with Amazon for peace of mind. Credit: Screenshot: Amazon A third-party Walmart seller was selling this Asus Vivobook S 16 Flip for a hair less than Walmart itself in March 2025. Credit: Screenshot: Walmart Just get it from Walmart. You're not technically getting the lowest price, but you know exactly who you're buying from. (The difference is negligible, anyway). Credit: Screenshot: Walmart

We'll give the big A and W some credit, though: They usually clean up their acts for Prime Day and Black Friday; we see lots more retailer-direct laptop listings on both sites during those major sales. Look for "Ships from/Sold by Amazon.com" and "Sold and shipped by Walmart.com" labels below the "Add to cart" buttons on their product pages. You can also filter your Walmart searches by seller.

It's important to remember that you can avoid these issues entirely by buying from laptop manufacturers themselves, which maintain their own online storefronts offer their own discounts year-round. At the very least, these are extremely useful for price checks against Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart listings to make sure their discounts are worthwhile.

How to tell if you're getting a good laptop deal

Being wary of third-party sellers and cross-checking listings between laptop retailers and manufacturers are two of the best ways to ensure you're making a smart purchase. We also recommend appraising discounts using price-tracking tools like CamelCamelCamel and Google's Shopping Insights feature. They can tell you whether a laptop you're considering has ever gone on sale for cheaper, if at all.

Finally, consider bookmarking Mashable's shopping experts' deals coverage. In recommending laptop deals, we personally vet every single discount and stick with trusted sellers. Whether the computer you wind up buying is brand new or just new to you, we strive to make sure you can confidently say that your money was well spent.

It's my birthday and I'm sitting in a posh restaurant in the Cotswolds, UK, enjoying lunch with my parents. As I take a bite of my crab cocktail, my mother leans across to tell me something, but I can't hear a word. The hushed timbre of her voice is drowned out by the not-so-dulcet tones of a family on a speakerphone call at the next table.

The conversation at our table stops dead, our voices impossible to hear over the tinny sound of the caller whose voice is playing full-blast to an unwilling audience. None of us asked for this. Multiple diners at their table raise their voices to be heard over each other on the call. Not to be a diva on my birthday (if not today, when else?), but I didn't come to spend hundreds on a fancy lunch to sit and listen to strangers' family conference calls.

SEE ALSO: Why is everyone using their phones in movie theaters?

My next move? Well, I do as any passive aggressive Brit does: I sigh loudly to convey my exasperation. It doesn't work. I relent: I ask our lovely waitress if we can move to a table outside in the sunshine — success, she's just laid a table on the terrace. Crisis averted. Birthday celebrations firmly back on track (kind of). We won't talk about the man sitting in the middle of the restaurant lawn who also took a phone call on speakerphone to his doctor. Love to eat my £36 chicken in mushroom sauce to the soundtrack of your private medical information. By this point I was bemused, and two glasses of wine deep and ready to dissociate from reality.

Unless you've got Pedro Pascal on the line, I don't want to hear it.

In all seriousness: when did speakerphone conversations in restaurants become acceptable? Unless you've got Pedro Pascal on the line, I don't want to hear it.

Six days later, it's my dad's birthday and we're surveying the menu in our local restaurant when I hear familiar sound just behind my head. "Darlingholmahaan...Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday..."

This time, it's TikToks at full volume. Is this some sort of sick joke? I turn around to get a good look at the culprits: a table of two men who are idly scrolling through their phones, not an AirPod in sight. Not again. Another meal with the tinny sound of another person's phone irritating my eardrums. As my father announced, "What is the world coming to?"

Important caveat: d/Deaf people and people with disabilities who use speakerphone for accessibility reasons are, of course, excluded from this conversation on etiquette.

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Can we establish some ground rules for telephone etiquette while dining out?

1. Unless you have a very good reason, get the hell off speakerphone at the table. No one wants to hear your loud-ass phone call.

2. If you need to take a call, leave the table to minimise disruptions to your fellow diners.

3. If you can't tear yourself away from TikTok for longer than the duration of a dinner (and don't feel like talking to your companion), put your damn AirPods in.

4. No headphones? Scroll on silent mode and read the closed captions.

5. More broadly: consider whether the noise emanating your phone is a nuisance to others. Reflect on how you may feel?

Am I suddenly a curmudgeon? Am I Hugh Grant ranting about backpacks and water bottles? Maybe so! But, honestly, if this is the new normal in restaurants, I'm going to stay home.