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The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're a frequent flyer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for March 1, 2026 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: Appetizers

• Green: Building gear

• Blue: Jetsetting

• Purple: Looks can be deceiving

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Little bite

• Green: Construction equipment

• Blue: Vacation emoji

• Purple: Things you don't eat that end in foods

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 #994 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Little bite: CANAPÉ, FINGER FOOD, HORS D'OEUVRE, TAPA

• Construction equipment: HARD HAT, LADDER, NAIL GUN, TOOL BELT

• Vacation emoji: AIRPLANE, LUGGAGE, PALM TREE, SMILING FACE WITH SUNGLASSES

• Things you don't eat that end in foods: COPYPASTA, JOHANNESBURGER, KNUCKLE SANDWICH, LICORICE PIZZA

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 February 28, 2026

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're not on. your best behavior.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 1, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 1, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Dressing down

The words are related to discipline.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe ways to chastise.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is The Riot Act.

NYT Strands word list for March 1

• Braidup

• The Riot Act

• Scold

• Castigate

• Reprimand

• Admonish

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you believe in coincidences.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 1, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for March 1, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A coincidence.

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 F.

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...

FLUKE

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.

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.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, March 1, 2026:

AcrossStereotypical wearer of a letterman jacket

• The answer is Jock.

Surrounding glows

• The answer is Auras.

Eschew a heavy meal in favor of light snacks

• The answer is Graze.

The white stuff?

• The answer is Snow.

M.M.A. fight enders, for short

• The answer is KOs.

DownJacksonville N.F.L. player, informally

• The answer is Jag.

"But this love is ___" (Taylor Swift lyric)

• The answer is Ours.

Grumbly sort

• The answer is Crank.

Instrument that buzzes

• The answer is Kazoo.

Uses needle and thread

• The answer is Sews.

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

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

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

Xiaomi likes to bring cars to Barcelona; the company gave us the first glimpse of its SU7 Ultra supercar during last year's MWC in March.

This year, however, Xiaomi has unveiled something that's pretty far out there, even by its own standards. Called the Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo, it's a hypercar that was designed to go really fast while slicing through the air in a way not many cars (or race cars, for that matter) can (Xiaomi says it's been "sculpted by the wind").

It feels kinda empty in there. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The company will bring the concept car to its MWC show floor in Barcelona on March 2, presumably when we'll learn more about its powertrain, acceleration, battery, and other trivialities. Today, however, Xiaomi was mostly focused on how the air flows through the car, using a variety of wind tunnels and channels (and even a moving part on the car's bottom) to make it more efficient.

The wheels and wheel covers are special, too. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Even the car's wheels have special covers that are (somehow) magnetically set in place so they don't rotate while the car moves, as that would also increase drag.

I bet your car doesn't have a cocoon-shaped sofa. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Inside, it gets even nuttier. The seats are out; instead, you sit in a "cocoon-shaped sofa" with an x-wing steering wheel with five tiny displays, some of which apparently double as (contextual?) buttons. Most of the things you associate with a traditional car are gone; instead, it's you in that sofa-shaped cockpit, that steering wheel, and the road. The car's a two-seater, so don't expect to bring your family on a trip in this one.

Fortunately, you might be able to get a cocoon-shaped sofa/cockpit for your home. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

In fact, most people probably won't be able to afford a car like this, but Xiaomi's got you covered, as it plans to release a gaming console/cockpit shaped just like the car's cockpit, so you can race around in your own little cocoon in the relative safety of your home.

SEE ALSO: Xiaomi 17 Ultra hands-on: The cameraphone with a monstrous zoom

We don't know how fast it goes. We don't know where the batteries are, given that the car appears to be mostly wind tunnels under that cockpit. We don't know if it's ever going to make it to market. But boy, does it all look cool.

We'll hopefully find out more on March 2 when that show floor opens, so stay tuned for pics and videos.

We knew that Honor is about to bring its oddball Robot Phone to this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

What we didn't know, however, that the company is also bringing its first-ever AI-powered humanoid robot to the show.

SEE ALSO: MWC 2026: What to expect at the world's largest phone show

Honor announced the news on Monday via a teaser video on X, featuring both the Robot Phone and its robotic camera, and the unnamed humanoid robot.

"Something revolutionary is about to step out of the shadows. We’ve combined cutting-edge robotics with the ultimate mobile experience. The result? Something you have to see to believe," the company wrote in a tweet.

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The video actually gives us a decent glimpse of the robot, which looks just like you'd expect: a humanoid clad in matte black with a glass face, and a light bar where its eyes should be (the robot also appears to have a single camera on its forehead). In another image (below), sent to Mashable by Honor, the robot is seen from the side.

Slightly odd head shape on this one, but we'll let it slide for now. Credit: Honor

Honor shared some details about the upcoming robot with Bloomberg. Apparently, the robot will be a "service robot" which should be able to help you out with shopping, among other tasks.

Other details are scarce, except that the robot will somehow be connected with Honor's Robot Phone, which will also be shown in Barcelona.

Mashable will be there to cover Honor's event in Barcelona, which kicks off at 7 a.m. ET on March 1, 2026, so stay tuned for more updates on the company's fast-expanding robotics portfolio of products.

Xiaomi's strategy when it comes to phones, tablets, and accompanying accessories, appears to be pretty simple: Make it as Apple-like as possible, while still using the best that the Android ecosystem has to offer.

The company's new Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro, launched during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, is no different. It's a powerful, 11.2-inch tablet with slim black bezels, a metallic unibody frame, and a set of accessories that can turn it into a compact, portable computer, including a pen and two different keyboards.

The Xiaomi Magic Keyboard Pro Focus. Sounds pretty familiar, doesn't it? Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Inside, you'll find a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, a 9,200mAh battery, 8/12GB of RAM, 128/256/512GB of storage, and quad speakers with Hi-Res audio and Dolby Atmos support. The 50-megapixel main camera on the back coupled with a 32-megapixel selfie camera sounds like overkill for a tablet, but then again, why not?

SEE ALSO: MWC 2026: What to expect at the world's largest phone show

All tablets look similar. But having spent some time with the device I can tell you that the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro really wears its influence on the sleeve. Its dimensions are nearly identical to the 11-inch iPad Pro, down to the thinness and weight (Xiaomi: 5.75mm and 485 grams, iPad Pro: 5.3mm and 444 grams), and Xiaomi's Magic Keyboard Pro Focus is a dead ringer for Apple's Magic Keyboard (XIaomi also offers a more portable version called the Xiaomi Magic Keyboard Pro). Heck, even the Xiaomi Focus Pen Pro looks pretty much exactly like Apple Pencil.

There's an optional pen, and another, lighter keyboard on offer as well. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The good news is that Xiaomi's tablet and accessories all quality-made, so if you don't mind the similarities with Apple, you don't have to worry about them not being good. In other words: It's not just a cheap knock-off.

In fact, Xiaomi's tablet beats its competitors in several regards. Both of its cameras are pretty amazing for a tablet. It has fast 67W charging. The 3.2K display is as crisp as they come. Battery seems to lasts forever if you're browsing or reading, or even using it as a secondary display (yes, you can do that even if you have a Mac). Sure, the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro not an absolute powerhouse like the iPad Pro, as it has a smartphone chip, but I think the vast majority of users don't need their tablet to be more powerful. For what it's worth, I've found Xiaomi's Pad 8 Pro to be very snappy in common everyday tasks.

Xiaomi's HyperOS software could use some work, though. It, too, is extraordinarily similar to Apple's iPadOS, down to the icon design. But sometimes you can tell it's an adaptation of a smartphone OS. For example, I was frustratingly enable to set up even the simplest of widgets the way I wanted them on the screen, as the widgets take up tons of empty space for no good reason. AI is baked in, of course, in the form of Google Gemini; you can invoke the assistant with a long press of the power button.

You can get the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro in Blue, Gray, and (pictured) Pine Green. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Depending on which keyboard you choose, you'll either get a slightly bulkier tablet that feels more like a tiny laptop, or a truly portable tablet that also happens to have a decent keyboard. I'd probably opt for the bulkier Magic Keyboard Pro Focus, simply because it has a touchpad.

Despite the fancy keyboards, this thing is not a great replacement for a laptop, but neither is the iPad. Instead, the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro is a pro-looking Android tablet that will excel at things tablets are for: Browsing, reading, gaming, and some light work.

Xiaomi's ecosystem of gadgets is expanding.

As is customary, the company brought its new flagship phones to Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, including the Xiaomi 17 and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.

Xiaomi also launched a new smartwatch called the Xiaomi Watch 5, a new pair of earbuds called the Redmi Buds 8 Pro and, for the first time, an AirTag-like tracking device called the Xiaomi Tag.

SEE ALSO: Xiaomi 17 Ultra hands-on: The cameraphone with a monstrous zoom Xiaomi Tag is here to compete with AirTag

Xiaomi Tag is as simple as they come: A white puck that you can attach to your keys and track via your phone. But the big deal with this one is that it works with Apple Find My, making it a very real competitor to Apple's AirTag. Xiaomi sent me one to test, and I can confirm that it's trackable via Find My just like any other Apple gadget (you don't get Apple's Precision Tracking, though).

Yes, Xiaomi brought a lot of new gadgets to Barcelona this year. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Xiaomi Watch 5 is ready for your wrist

Xiaomi's new Watch 5 was launched in December 2025 in China. It's a round smartwatch running Xiaomi's HyperOS 3, with a 1.54-inch AMOLED display inside a stainless steel frame, a Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chip inside, and a 930mAh battery.

SEE ALSO: MWC 2026: What to expect at the world's largest phone show

Xiaomi also has a different line of smartwatches called the Redmi Watch, and these are square and very resemblant of Apple Watch. The Xiaomi Watch 5 is more of a successor to 2024's Watch S4, which had a slightly smaller display, and a battery that was half the size.

The Xiaomi 5 Watch is a hefty, sturdy looking device that's more of a dress watch than a sports watch. It does, of course, come with various health and activity tracking features, including an EMG sensor and an ECG heart rate sensor.

Xiaomi Redmi Buds 8 Pro are packed with features

Launched a few weeks back, Redmi Buds 8 Pro are a pair of sleek-looking earbuds with hi-res audio support, active noise cancellation, and up to 36 hours of battery life.

The Buds 8 Pro also have a noise reduction system that should make calls clear in extremely noisy scenarios (up to 95dB of external noise), as well as very windy environments.

Other features of note include Dolby Audio support, dynamic head tracking, and IP54 dust and water resistance.

Xiaomi 17 brings all the megapixels Xiaomi 17 has a crisp, 6.3-inch display, and is just the right size for my hand. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Finally, the star of the show is the Xiaomi 17. It's Xiaomi's no-nonsense flagship, a powerful Android smartphone that sets its sights on Apple's non-Pro iPhone. It has a 6.3-inch, 120Hz OLED display, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, 12GB of RAM, 256/512GB of storage, and a hefty 6,330mAh battery with 100W fast charging (and 50W wireless charging).

On the back, you'll find a Leica-branded, triple camera system that consists of a 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel telephoto camera, and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera. There's also a 50-megapixel selfie camera on the front, hidden inside a punch-hole cutout at the top of the display. Yes, Xiaomi just slapped a bunch of 50-megapixel cameras onto this one, and we don't mind it one bit.

Having had some time with both the Xiaomi 17 and the 17 Ultra, I can say that I actually prefer the "regular," Xiaomi 17 variant, even though it has a less powerful camera system. It has a very clean design with glass on both front and back, and I love the Venture Green color my unit was in, as it covers both the back and the sides of the phone (other colors on offer are Black, Alpine Pink, and Ice Blue).

The Xiaomi 17 has a triple, 50-megapixel camera system on the back, and a 50-megapixel selfie camera on the front. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The phone sits in the hand perfectly as it's not top heavy like its Ultra brother. Xiaomi includes a see-through case which isn't bad, but the phone's color and feel is so nice that wrapping it up in plastic is a shame.

Other features of note are an in-display fingerprint sensor, Hi-Res audio support, and IP68 dust and water resistance. Xiaomi also offers a very simple and super-thin magnetic battery which wirelessly charges the phone when attached. Interestingly, it only works with the Xiaomi 17; the Xiaomi 17 Ultra has such a massive rear camera bump that the magnetic battery doesn't fit.

I've been writing about phones for a long time, and don't remember when I expected to see so many new phones in such a short time span. I'm talking late February to early March, when we could see more than a dozen new devices within a week or two.

Samsung typically launches its new Galaxy flagships in January, but this time it's probably happening in late February. This year, Apple is also reportedly launching its new iPhone 17e in that same time frame. And the Mobile World Congress, an annual mobile industry event taking place in Barcelona, Spain, kicks off on March 2, with some announcements probably coming a day or two earlier.

MWC is always about phones, with some tablets, laptops, and other gadgets thrown into the mix. So what's different this year? Well, there's just gonna be a little more of everything, we suspect.

This year marks the Mobile World Congress' 20th year in Barcelona. The event was badly hurt during the Covid pandemic years, but it managed to rebound, once again attracting numerous large phone manufacturers which will show their new devices in Barcelona for the first time.

Judging by the invites we have, and the reports we've seen, there will be a lot of those. Here's what we know right now.

Xiaomi could bring a surprise or two Remember when Xiaomi brought its SU7 Ultra supercar to Barcelona? Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Xiaomi is the largest consumer electronics company that typically unveils its entire new lineup of mobile products at MWC. Think phones, tablets, earbuds, watches, and a bunch of accessories.

In the past couple of years, Xiaomi also spiced things up by bringing its latest electric vehicles to the show, as well as showing off cool gadgets like this cute, back-flipping robotic dog. We've got big expectations for the company's MWC booth, and Xiaomi always manages to surpass them.

Honor's Robot phone highly anticipated The Honor Robot phone is real, and we'll probably get a closer look at it during MWC. Credit: Honor

Honor is a company that quietly ships devices with specs that beat most other phones out there. Last year, Honor mostly focused on strategy, which isn't the most exciting topic from the consumer's standpoint. This year, however, Honor's booth is going to be a lot more interesting.

First, the company is bringing a new foldable, the Honor Magic V6, to the show. It follows the Magic V5 which globally debuted in August 2025; hopefully, Honor's got a good reason to show us the V6 so much earlier in the year.

We'll also likely see new tablets and laptops from Honor at MWC. But the real star of the show could be the Honor Robot phone, a concept device with a robotic gimbal camera that extends from the rear of the phone. The idea extends a smartphone's functionality into a unique blend of a home smart companion, a tripod, and a baby monitor. The Robot Phone has been spotted in the wild before, but at this year's MWC, we could get a really close look at what it can do.

Samsung likely to bring Galaxy S phones Can Samsung top the Galaxy Z TriFold with something even crazier? Credit: Timothy Werth/Mashable

This is an odd one. In the past couple of years, Samsung has revealed its Galaxy S flagships in January, leaving a little space between the launch and MWC. This January the company showcased an entirely new category of devices with its triple-folding Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold, but the Galaxy phones are likely coming in late February.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked is set for Feb. 25, just days before MWC kicks off. We'll definitely cover Unpacked, but perhaps the MWC gives a chance to have a second look at some of the new Samsung phones, or maybe the company is saving a surprise or two for the Barcelona show. Remember the Samsung Galaxy Ring? We (unexpectedly) got a first glimpse of it in Barcelona, a few years back.

Lenovo/Motorola might bring a fun concept Last year, Lenovo brought a laptop with a see-through display. Can the company top that with something even wieirder? Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Lenovo likes to bring bold new concepts to MWC, and we're expecting something similar this year. Think laptops with rotating displays, flip laptops, laptops with transparent display...well, you get the idea.

Lenovo's phone brand Motorola probably won't launch anything major during MWC, but we'll be on the lookout for new concepts and prototypes.

TCL will likely bring it all TCL's NXTPAPER is still unique on the market. Credit: TCL

China's TCL keeps building on its interesting NXTPAPER tech, which turns a regular-looking smartphone's display into something much easier on the eyes and akin to an e-ink display.

The company typically brings its entire lineup to Barcelona. Often, these are phones that have already launched in China, but it's always cool to get an overview of what the company has in store (and when it plans to launch the latest devices globally).

Nothing expected to have a new phone to show off Nothing's phones were the coolest looking devices at last year's MWC. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Nothing, the brand that makes those see-throughy phones that look like nothing else on the market, launched its Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro during MWC last year.

We're not sure whether the company will follow up with successors this year, but we do know that it will have a presence in Barcelona. Fingers crossed.

Oppo, Vivo, Huawei, ZTE, Nubia, Tecno, and others to bring phones, cameras, more Long before the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold, there was Tecno Phantom Ultrimate 2 Credit: Christian de Looper/Mashable

Yes, a lot of Chinese companies have a strong presence at MWC, and a lot of them are bringing new devices to the show this year.

We're not aware of any specific major flagship that's about to launch in Barcelona this year, but that doesn't matter, because concept phones and prototypes that we see at these companies' booths often end up being more exciting than your standard candy bar phones. Think ultra-thin foldables, bendy displays, phones with incredibly powerful cameras, and other off-the-charts stuff. Will all of them ever actually make it to market, especially the U.S. market? Probably not, but they're really cool to look at.

Mobile World Congress 2026 is officially held in Barcelona from March 2 to 5, 2026, with press days starting on February 28. Mashable will be there to cover all the news coming out of the event.

Portable power stations are great to take camping, on van adventures, out on content creator assignments, or to the worksite. If you live in an area that’s prone to power outages, a portable power station can keep your phone charged, your CPAP machine on while sleeping, and some can even power the refrigerator, so you won’t have to worry about food spoilage. 

Portable power stations come in tons of varieties. Some are great for camping, while others weigh hundreds of pounds, powering up an entire house, and really push the limit of what we could consider portable. The market has seen serious expansion in the last few years, and we have tons of great models to choose from these days, so you're allowed to be as picky as you’d like in terms of power provided, port options, and nice extras. Here are Mashable’s favorite portable power stations.

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If you’ve got an old PC or Mac lying around, you can give it an easy upgrade with this Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business license. This lifetime license gives you permanent access to five of Microsoft’s must-haves, with no subscription costs needed.

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Want to cut back on your doom scrolling? If you’re looking for an app that can help you do something more productive on your phone, Headway is it. This app serves up summaries from nonfiction books in 15 minutes, and you can choose to read them or listen via professional audio summaries.

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Learn more about business strategies, personal development, health and wellness, and tons more topics. There are over 2,000 summaries currently available, with more added every month to keep exploring.

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TL;DR: Live stream Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free on ICC.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 T20 World Cup action this weekend is absolutely electric. A lot of fans will be tuning into the huge clash between India and West Indies later today, but for an exciting warm up, Zimbabwe face off against South Africa.

Zimbabwe did well to make this stage of the competition, but they've lost both their games in the second group stage. South Africa have looked formidable, and will want to continue their run of wins before the semi finals. Expect an action-packed contest between two talented sides.

If you want to watch Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Zimbabwe vs. South Africa?

Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the 2026 T20 World Cup starts at 4:30 a.m. ET on March 1. This game takes place at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium.

How to watch Zimbabwe vs. South Africa for free

Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup is available to live stream for free on ICC.TV.

This free live stream on ICC.TV is only available in select regions (see full list of territories here), but anyone can live stream the T20 Cricket World Cup for free with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with free access. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can live stream on ICC.TV from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit ICC.TV

5. Watch the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup 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 leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for ICC.TV?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ICC.TV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

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

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 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).

Watch the 2026 T20 World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

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

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

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

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

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

Mixed metals.

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

ALLOY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A popular board game.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 1, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CHESS

Hurdle Word 3 hint

The edge of the beach.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 1 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 1, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

COAST

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Milk-based.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

DAIRY

Final Hurdle hint

A Spanish character.

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

TILDE

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

It's a new month, and while the Moon may appear totally full, we're still a couple of days away from this yet. But in the meantime, there's still lots to spot on its surface.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, March 1, the Moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 94% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

With just your naked eye, tonight you'll be able to see the Mares Imbrium and Crisium, as well as the Tycho Crater. If you have binoculars hanging about, dust them off and pull them out to catch a glimpse of the Mares Nectaris and Frigoris, and the Endymion Crater. And proud telescope owners will see all this and more, including the Apollo 15 and 17 landing spots, and the Schiller Crater.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will be on March 3. The last Full Moon was on Feb. 1.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes about 29.5 days to orbit the Earth. Over the course of this period, it moves through eight recognisable phases, what we call the lunar cycle. While the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of its surface lit by the Sun changes as it continues along its path. The shifts in sunlight create the different appearances we see from Earth, ranging from a fully illuminated Moon to a thin sliver or near darkness. The eight phases are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

TL;DR: Live stream the Brit Awards 2026 for free on ITVX. Access this live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Some of the biggest names in music are performing at the Brit Awards this weekend. Sure, there are a lot of awards to be presented, but that's not really what the Brits is about. It's about incredible performances, risqué jokes from the host, and celebrities behaving very badly. It's always a messy night (in the best kind of way).

If you want to watch the Brit Awards 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What are the Brits?

The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual popular music awards. It's the highest profile music awards ceremony in the UK, with performances from some of the industry's biggest stars. In 2026, Jack Whitehall will host the ceremony for the sixth time. The likes of Olivia Dean, Mark Ronson, Harry Styles, and Rosalía are lined up to perform.

The Brit Awards have featured some of the most notable events in British popular culture, including the final public appearance of Freddie Mercury, the high-profile feud between Oasis and Blur, the Union Jack dress worn by Geri Halliwell of the Spice Girls, and so many more iconic moments.

When are the Brit Awards 2026?

The Brit Awards 2026 takes place on Feb. 28 at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester. The awards and performances will begin at 8:15 p.m. GMT.

How to watch the Brit Awards 2026 for free

The Brit Awards 2026 is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the Brit Awards 2026 from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the Brit Awards 2026 from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Live stream the Brit Awards 2026 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 leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the Brit Awards 2026 before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to access free live streams on ITVX, 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 always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 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).

Watch the Brit Awards 2026 from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $723: As of Feb. 28, Amazon has the 39-inch LG Ultragear curved gaming monitor on sale for $876, which is 45% its list price of 1,599.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 39GX90SA-W 39-inch Ultragear OLED Curved Gaming $876 at Amazon
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If you’ve been dreaming of putting together a gaming setup with a curved monitor or wishing to upgrade your current equipment, this weekend might be the time to do it. Amazon has the LG Ultragear 39-inch curved gaming monitor on sale for almost half off. This model is perfect for those who want a single-screen OLED monitor with a wicked-fast frame rate and an 800R curve for true immersion. The monitor has a thick, sturdy, white base for folks who don’t mind the look of noticeable hardware. 

Unlike other monitors meant only for running whatever you plug into them, this model has webOS 24 with access to your favorite streaming services built in. This means you could take a break from work or gaming and binge your favorite shows.

The screen is also expertly designed to reduce glare and reflections. This means you aren’t automatically required to find an extremely low-light location for your gaming monitor (although that can sometimes be a vibe). The sale price of this monitor makes this particular model size one of the lowest-priced OLED monitors you can buy on Amazon right now.

Legendary musician Buddy Guy brought the blues to NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series, with a guest appearance from Sinners actor Miles Caton.

SEE ALSO: 'Sinners' review: Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan deliver a vampire movie for the ages

The pair co-star in Ryan Coogler's Academy Award-nominated smash hit. Caton plays gifted blues singer Sammie "Preacher Boy" Moore, whose music is so brilliant it transcends time (and lures a crew of vampires right to him). Guy plays Sammie 60 years on, when he's deep into a successful blues career.

Guy kicks off his Tiny Desk Concert with his 1991 track "Damn Right, I've Got the Blues" before shifting to his cover of Muddy Waters' "Hoochie Coochie Man."

After these classic blues songs, Guy invites Caton to join him for two songs from the Sinners soundtrack. First up is "Travelin,'" which Sammie sings while driving around with Stack (Michael B. Jordan). Then, Guy and Caton launch into "I Lied to You," the song that brings the house down in Smoke (also Jordan) and Stack's juke joint. Nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song, "I Lied to You" was written by Raphael Saadiq and Sinners composter Ludwig Göransson.

Don't expect Guy and Caton to perform these songs exactly as they appear in Sinners, though. Their renditions here are full of blues improvisation and playful banter, with Guy adding his own spin throughout and inviting Caton to join in. For a great trip through the history of blues, this mini concert is a must watch.

SAVE $819: As of February 28, Amazon has this Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 curved gaming monitor on sale for $1,480, which is 36% off its list price of $2,299.

Opens in a new window Credit: Saumsung Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 curved gaming monitor $1,599 at Amazon
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If you’ve ever been tapping away at your laptop with a million tabs open, wishing you could drag them all out in the air and see everything at once, Amazon has a sale this weekend that you might be interested in. The 57” Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 curved gaming monitor is on sale right now. Although it can’t offer the futuristic (Apple Vision Pro-esque) feature of spreading all your windows out into thin air, it offers an amazing surface area for multitasking or gaming.

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 essentially gives you the workspace of two high-quality monitors set side by side. Instead of an awkward gap in the center, you get 57 inches of uninterrupted 4K resolution with a 240 Hz refresh rate.

Samsung's proprietary Quantum Matrix Technology with quantum mini-LEDs offers enhanced brightness and color contrast on this massive screen. This, paired with the aforementioned refresh rate, allows your media to be viewed in rich, crisp detail. Satisfied review writers praise the curvature of the screen’s ability to make you feel totally immersed in whatever you end up doing.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 28, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for February 28, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 28 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 28 Pips

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 2-1, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally.

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 28 Pips

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 2. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 3-2, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 1-4, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be greater than 6. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 2-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 1-4, placed vertically; 4-5, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.

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