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It's already been a very busy year for Apple. Tim Cook announced he'll be stepping aside for John Ternus. Siri AI finally made its big debut (in beta form) at WWDC 2026. Apple launched a new budget MacBook, and then raised prices just months later.

But don't forget: We're still expecting the launch of the iPhone 18, the first folding iPhone, and a ton more Apple devices in the months ahead.

So, Mashable and the rest of the CNET Group (ZDNET, PCMag, CNET, and Lifehacker) are hosting the Big Guessing Game: Apple Edition to give our readers a chance to predict the biggest Apple news. Every correct answer earns you one chance to win the new Apple Watch announced in September. (Read the full content rules.) Ahead of the September iPhone launch event, we have our readers' answers from round two of the game.

Don't forget to keep checking back, as round three of the Big Guessing Game: Apple Edition is coming soon.

Question 1: Will Apple announce that a foldable iPhone will be released in 2026?

The foldable iPhone — rumored to be called the iPhone Ultra, or some variation thereof — is the biggest open secret in Silicon Valley right now, but Apple still hasn't confirmed its existence. However, 68 percent of respondents in Mashable's Big Guessing Game said they expect the phone to arrive this year, while just 32 percent answered in the negative.

Question 2: Will the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max include a black color option this year?

The lack of a black color option was a major disappointment for many Apple fans after the launch of the iPhone 17 Pro last year. (Scratchgate may have been the reason why.) Rumor has it we won't get a black phone this year either, though leaks suggest we are getting a dark grey that looks pretty close. So, what do Mashable readers think?

The breakdown here was almost identical to question one, with 68 percent of you expecting that we will get a black iPhone after all.

Question 3: Will Apple announce a touchscreen MacBook in 2026?

Rumors of MacBook Pros with OLED screens and touchscreens have been spreading for awhile, and it's very possible these high-end laptops will finally arrive in 2026.

We asked Mashable readers whether they expect to see the first-ever touchscreen MacBook this year, and our readers are almost evenly split on this question. In the end, 55 percent said yes, and 45 percent said no.

Question 4: Will Apple release new AirPods in 2026?

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who seems to have a direct line right into Apple Park, has reported that Apple is working on AirPods with built-in cameras. The cameras wouldn't be for photography, but to support new Siri AI features. Regardless, we were curious what you think: Will we get any new AirPods this year?

On this question, only 26 percent of our respondents said no, with the majority (74 percent) answering in the affirmative.

Question 5: Will an M6 series chip be announced in 2026?

An M6 chip is expected to arrive this fall, based on Apple's previous silicon release schedule. When we posed this question to Mashable readers, 35 percent predicted we would not see an M6 chip, while 65 percent believed that we will.

Enter our Big Guessing Game for a chance to win a new Apple Watch

Don't forget to participate in the third and final round of the Mashable Big Guessing Game for another chance at winning a new Apple Watch. The last round will take place in the weeks leading up to the iPhone launch event, which we believe will be in mid-September.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to enter or win the "CNET Group Big Guessing Game" Giveaway. Open to legal U.S. residents in the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18+ yrs of age. Other restrictions apply. Begins May 19, 2026 at 12:01 pm ET and ends Sept. 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET. Void where prohibited. Subject to Official Rules: https://www.mashable.com/article/mashable-big-guessing-game-apple-edition-official-contest-rules/. Sponsor: Ziff Davis, LLC.

Apple is not a sponsor of, affiliated with, or endorser of this sweepstakes. Apple Watch is a trademark of Apple Inc.

TL;DR: Get the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 (256GB, unlocked) for $1,199.99 at Amazon and a free $200 gift card bundled in — no trade-in required.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 + $200 Gift Card   Get Deal

Samsung didn't ease into its Unpacked event — phones, watches, and smartglasses were all unveiled in one go, which means there's a lot to sort through if you're trying to find the one deal that's actually worth your money.

And here's one worth grabbing: Amazon is currently bundling the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 with a free $200 gift card — no trade-in, no discount code, just the phone at $1,199.99 with a $200 gift card to use later.

SEE ALSO: The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 just launched — grab this stylish case for 30% off

The whole point of a flip phone is the cover screen, and Samsung's built around that here — FlexWindow lets you handle a range of AI tasks without opening the phone, so quick checks don't require unfolding it. When you're shooting photos, you can go hands-free for creative angles, or hold it steady and rely on Super Steady Video to keep the footage smooth.

The Flip 8 runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the same chip powering the Fold8, which means gaming and multitasking should hold up even on this smaller form factor.

Battery life is built to last through a full day, and when it runs low, Super Fast Charging gets you back up quickly. If you're switching from an iPhone, Samsung's made that transfer easier, too — your photos, contacts, alarms, and passwords come with you, and your messages stay encrypted the whole way.

The gift card isn't an instant perk, though — Samsung sends an email once it's ready to claim, and that only happens after the phone ships. The offer ends Aug. 6, so the earlier you pre-order, the safer you are before that window shuts.

Grab the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 before Aug. 6, and the $200 gift card is on its way to you.

SAVE 20%: From Aug. 2-8, Owala's Back-to-School Sale takes 20% off sitewide, including bottles, bags, and accessories.

Opens in a new window Credit: Owala Owala's Back-to-School Sale 20% off bottles, bags, and accessories until Aug. 8 Shop Now

Owala's Back-to-School Sale isn't just about the bottles you already own — the whole lineup is included, so it's worth looking beyond the FreeSip.

The sale covers everything from hydration essentials like water bottles and tumblers to insulated bags, totes, and crossbodies, plus accessories like lids, straws, and other add-ons. The original FreeSip is still the bestseller for a reason, and the FreeSip Sway is a solid pick if you want something more cupholder-friendly for the car. If coffee's more your thing, the SmoothSip Slider is built specifically for hot drinks on the go.

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And if you need something bigger than a bottle, the Sun-Day Tote is a collapsible bag that packs flat yet holds a lot, making it easy to toss in a backpack or bag during the actual back-to-school rush. They've also got a few small essentials — a Bottle Boot, cleaning accessories, stickers, and matching pet bowls.

With 20% off sitewide, this is a good time to stock up across categories rather than just grabbing one bottle — especially if you've got a household that goes through water bottles, lunch bags, or travel mugs regularly.

Shop Owala's Back-to-School Sale until Aug. 8 — stock is bound to run out.

TL;DR: Get a Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license for $32.97 through Aug. 9 and enjoy Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Publisher, OneNote, and Teams with a one-time purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $32.97
$219.99 Save $187.02   Get Deal

This is your last chance to ditch Microsoft 365’s subscription fees for good. Through Aug. 9, you can grab a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 for much less than its usual retail price. Simply pay once, download the full software suite, and never worry about renewals again.

We know what you’re thinking, but rest assured, this isn’t some stripped-down lite version either. It’s the real deal. Whether you’re writing reports, crunching numbers, building presentations, managing emails, or wrangling databases, the lifetime version of Microsoft Office has you covered.

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It’s a one-time download for one Windows PC, so once it’s yours, it’s yours. The full pro-level toolkit, minus the stress of a subscription. Plus, with instant license delivery and free customer support, getting started is as painless as your new spreadsheet workflow.

No more “trial expired” pop-ups. No more surprise charges. Just the latest versions of Microsoft’s best apps, ready to support all of your work and personal needs.

Download Microsoft Office for Windows while it’s on sale for $32.97 (reg. $219.99) until Aug. 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Pay $79 once (reg. $619) for ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Lifetime and compare 20+ leading AI models side by side, chat with PDFs and images, and generate AI art.

Opens in a new window Credit: ChatPlayground AI ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan) $79
$619 Save $540   Get Deal

If you’ve ever copied the same prompt into three different AI tools just to see which one gives the best answer, you’re not alone. Different models excel at different things — but juggling tabs and subscriptions gets old fast. 

ChatPlayground AI puts the top AI models in one place, so you can compare responses side by side without the back-and-forth. For a limited time, a lifetime subscription is on sale for $79 (reg. $619).

GPT-4o, Claude Sonnet, Gemini, DeepSeek, Llama, Perplexity, and more — all in one clean interface. It’s built for people who iterate fast, test variations, and actually care about optimizing results.

Beyond comparisons, ChatPlayground AI includes prompt engineering tools to refine outputs, image and PDF chat for context-aware responses, saved chat history for ongoing projects, and AI image generation powered by leading models. There’s even a Chrome extension to integrate it directly into your browsing workflow.

The Unlimited Plan means unlimited messages per month, making it ideal for startups, product teams, marketers, and prompt engineers who run experiments nonstop. You also get priority support and early access to new features and future models.

If you’re already paying for multiple AI tools — or constantly switching between them — this consolidates everything into one streamlined platform.

Grab lifetime access to ChatPlayground AI Unlimited for $79 (reg. $619) and stop juggling models for good.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

What is the best Dyson vacuum cleaner?

Regardless of your living situation, I believe the best Dyson vacuum cleaner is a cordless stick vacuum. Dyson hasn't made a new corded vacuum since 2018, and it doesn't plan on updating the line in the future. If you were waffling between a corded vs. cordless design, at least that part of the decision has been made for you.

For a while, Dyson Ball vacuums had such impressive suction that people simply put up with their bulkiness and the major inconvenience of being tethered to the wall. But in 2026, cordless Dyson vacuums are far too powerful and agile to make the old cumbersome design worth the hassle. In fact, the new Dyson V16 Piston Animal has officially surpassed the suction power of any corded Dyson vacuum.

Past that, the best Dyson cordless vacuum for one household may not be the best cordless Dyson for another household. The best fit is highly dependent on factors like the size of your home, your floor type, the number of pets that you have, and the amount of money you feel like spending. Do you need a full suite of attachments and dust-detecting lasers to match your (clean) freak, or would you prefer a more affordable version that just does the job? I have a solid idea of both ends of the Dyson spectrum from personal experience, and from comparing the value of the Dyson lineup to other top cordless vacuum cleaners from brands like Shark.

SEE ALSO: The best way to make your Dyson stick vacuum last? Clean it regularly. What about the Dyson robot vacuum?

You may have noticed that I've omitted the latest Dyson robot vacuum from this guide, and there's a good reason for that: it's a disappointment.

You could read my full review of the Dyson Spot+Scrub AI robovac. But, instead, skip straight to my regularly updated guide to the best robot vacuum and mops. Trust me — you can find a better robot vacuum for a lot less. Ultimately, the Dyson Spot+Scrub just isn't worth it.

The Moon is still in its waning gibbous phase following the Full Moon. Here's what you can see on its surface tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, Aug. 2, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in Waning Gibbous phase, with 87% of its surface visible.

You don't need to have lots of visual equipment to see features on the Moon's surface. In fact, with just your naked eye you can spot the Oceanus Procellarum, Kepler Crater, and Mare Vaporum tonight. However, visual aids do make the experience more advanced, so if you have a pair of binoculars, this will help you see the Alphonsus Crater, Mare Humorum, and the Mare Frigoris. Pull out your telescope (if you have one) to see see all clearer, plus the Apollo 15 landing spot, the Rima Ariadaeus, and the Schiller Crater.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on August 28.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon goes through a complete cycle of eight phases roughly every 29.5 days. As it travels around Earth, the angle between the Sun, Earth and Moon constantly changes, meaning we see different amounts of the Moon's sunlit side. This is what causes the familiar progression from a thin crescent to a half Moon, then a Full Moon, before the cycle repeats.

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult 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 August 2, 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: Um...

• Green: Across

• Blue: Setting

• Purple: Travel hubs

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Filler words

• Green: By means of

• Blue: __ Mode

• Purple: U.S. airport codes plus starting letter

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1148 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Filler words: ACTUALLY, LIKE, SO, WELL

• By means of: BY, PER, THROUGH, VIA

• __ Mode: AIRPLANE, BEAST, DARK, À LA

• U.S. airport codes plus starting letter: ASEA, FLAX, LORD, OLGA

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 2, 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 goal-driven.

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 August 2, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Eyes on the prize

The words are related to drive.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe aspiration.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is diagonal.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Aim High.

NYT Strands word list for August 2

• Ambition

• Plan

• Goal

• Purpose

• Aim High

• Objective

• Intention

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

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

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

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

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 August 2, 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 August 2, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Punishable.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

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...

PENAL

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.

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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

Meaner.

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

RUDER

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Peanut butter brand.

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

JIFFY

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Cozy restaurant.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 2 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 2, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

DINER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Junk.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SCRAP

Final Hurdle hint

Fad.

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

TREND

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

SAVE $100: The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is bundled with a $100 Amazon gift card for $699.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 + $100 Gift Card   Get Deal

Samsung Unpacked dropped a wave of new gear this month — new Samsung phones, new watches, and even Samsung Galaxy Glasses.

And here's the sweetener: Amazon is currently bundling the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 with a free $100 gift card, priced at $699.99.

SEE ALSO: Upgrade your Switch 2 storage for less: Samsung’s P9 Express microSD is on sale at Amazon

This one's built for the outdoors. On a run or hike, it acts as a trail guide — giving you path, elevation, and pace guidance along the way, plus hydration alerts to help you stay ahead of dehydration rather than catch up to it. Instead of making you check your health stats separately, it also combines them into a single Heart Health Score, giving you one clear number.

Durability-wise, it's rated IP69K and 10ATM, meaning it's dust-tight and can handle water down to 100 meters, so both rugged trails and open water are fair game. For actual diving, it comes with a built-in dive computer from Mares that tracks ascent and descent, depth limits, and safety stops in real-time.

To get the gift card, select the gift card bundle variation at checkout. Since the offer ends Aug. 6, you should consider grabbing the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 now while you still can.

TL;DR: Become a sign language expert with help from The All-in-One American Sign Language Bundle, on sale now for just $10.49 (reg. $104) with code COURSE30 until Aug. 2.

Opens in a new window Credit: The All-in-One American Sign Language Bundle The All-in-One American Sign Language Bundle $10.49
$104 Save $93.51   Get Deal

If you’ve always wanted to learn American Sign Language, consider this your sign that it’s finally time. This All-in-One American Sign Language Bundle gives you access to 13 informative courses on a wide range of topics from different instructors to help give you a comprehensive education.

Right now, you can score The All-in-One American Sign Language Bundle for only $10.49 with code COURSE30 until tomorrow at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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Learn a whole new language at your own pace, all from the comfort of your couch, with this All-in-One American Sign Language Bundle. This online course combo is packed with 13 different courses that will shape you into an ASL expert in no time.

Kick things off with American Sign Language: Beginner, taught by Intellezy Learning. This course walks you through the origins of ASL — from finger-spelling and the alphabet to learning how to say different colors and animals — over 25 lectures and two hours of content.

Able Lingo, an established English and American Sign Language teacher who is TESOL and TEFL certified, teaches ASL: Family and Adjectives and ASL: Color and Nouns, which walk you through things like 24 different family signs and how to sign possessive pronouns, adjectives, and colors.

From there, hop into more niche topics with courses like American Sign Language for Business: Beginner, also taught by Intellezy Learning. This course teaches you all the basic business terms and vocab, so you can communicate using a new language and reach a broader audience.

Grab The All-in-One American Sign Language Bundle for just $10.49 with code COURSE30 now through tomorrow night at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

OpenAI founder and CEO Sam Altman is trending on X for suggesting that parents use ChatGPT to generate podcasts about their children's lives in lieu of... listening to them.

"cool use case of chatgpt work i heard last night," he shared on X in all lowercase. "connect your family calendars and explain your kids' interests."

SEE ALSO: The OpenAI-Hugging Face hack was worse than we thought

He continued, "Every morning for the drive to school, have it make a podcast that talks about one kid's soccer game that afternoon, one kid's upcoming birthday, some news, etc."

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The post has amassed around 9,500 likes at the time of this writing, dwarfed by 120,000 likes on the reply, "What if you just talked to your children?" from Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch. (The same day, Hirsch also criticized Google's addition of its AI image generator into Google Earth, which it reversed.) Other popular replies have the same sentiment: That Altman is apparently encouraging users to disconnect from their families.

The backlash about AI tools has ramped up in recent years, for a myriad of reasons, including environmental impacts, surveillance, job loss, and fears of AI psychosis. The potential degrading of relationships is also a concern for some, as more people turn to chatbots to outsource relational conflicts or even seek to replace relationships themselves.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

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

Released in August 2025, 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 on to 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 with 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 August 1, 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 August 1, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 1 Pips

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed horizontally.

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

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 1 Pips

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

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Not Equal Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically.

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

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 1 Pips

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

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 6-3, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically; 2-0, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically.

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

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 1-5, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed horizontally.

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, 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.

After Google added its AI image generator, Nano Banana, to Google Earth on Thursday, it reversed its decision a day later.

Google announced the addition of Nano Banana 2 into its mapping platform, presumably to help users generate infographics about a site, see what it looked like historically, generate real estate ideas, and other use cases. Instead, as 404 Media observed, it made it very easy to inject misinformation into Google Earth, including making it appear like a nuclear strike had hit a location or that protests had taken over Google's offices.

SEE ALSO: Reminder: Don't use Google Maps for hiking

On Thursday, Google seemed to try to smooth out the kinks, sharing on Thursday night on X that "every image created with Nano Banana in Google Earth includes the SynthID digital watermark, so if someone is unsure about an image, they can ask the Gemini app or use Lens in Search to see if the image was AI-generated." It also stated that it prevents image creation on "harmful topics."

However, come Friday afternoon, Google announced on X that it was removing the feature:

We know that people uniquely trust Google Earth for a reliable view of the world. We've seen geospatial professionals using this feature for a range of useful purposes, however we've also seen people sharing screenshots of generated imagery that appear to violate our policies. So we're rolling back this feature in Google Earth while we work on implementing stronger guardrails. It's important to note that generated images didn’t appear in the main Google Earth experience for others to see and were watermarked as AI generated.

The backlash to the initial decision was quick. Replies to the rollback post on X include Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch saying, "You guys are living in a complete bubble. Step outside Silicon Valley for two seconds and you'll realize no actual human wants AI sludge crammed into every corner of every product. Touch grass. Talk to actual people."

Another top reply read, "There is 0 chance that no one on your development team didn't raise exactly this concern."

On Friday, New York state filed a lawsuit against prediction market platform Kalshi, claiming that it's operating as an "unlicensed gambling business."

The Office of Attorney General Letitia James found that Kalshi is an illegal prediction market that exposes New Yorkers to "serious personal and financial risk," according to a press release. The lawsuit seeks fines, the forfeit of all illegal gains, and restitution to members.

SEE ALSO: Kalshi gains 3 million users amid World Cup gambling

The suit claims that Kalshi's prediction markets meet the legal definition of gambling "because the outcomes of the events on which its users are betting are uncertain and outside the control of the bettor or hinge on a game of chance." But the platform hasn't obtained a license from the New York State Gaming Commission. It also states that Kalshi is available to adults aged 18-20, while New York law requires users to be at least 21 to bet on sports.

"Kalshi has chosen to ignore New York’s gaming laws, which exist to protect consumers, prevent problematic gambling, deliver funding for critical public services, and ensure that every company plays by the same rules," New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in the press release. "This choice has consequences, and working closely with Attorney General James, New York is taking action to stop this illegal behavior and bring Kalshi into compliance, because no company is above the law."

"No matter what they call themselves, prediction markets like Kalshi are gambling platforms, plain and simple. By ignoring our laws, Kalshi is running an illegal operation and harming New Yorkers in the process," James said in the press release. "We are taking them to court to uphold our laws and protect New Yorkers."

Friday's lawsuit comes after New York sued Coinbase and Gemini for similar allegations in April. It also comes after Kalshi sued New York state in Oct., according to CNBC, following New York's Gambling Commission's cease-and-desist letter to the company. A judge denied the company's request for a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order against the commission in July.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), an agency of the federal government, has now sued New York, as it considers prediction markets to fall within its jurisdiction. "Rather than seek reasoned answers from the courts, Letitia James and New York seek to force an unprecedented, sudden shutdown of prediction markets nationwide," CFTC chairman Mike Selig posted on X. "The [CFTC] has already sued to stop this and will continue to defend its jurisdiction."

"It's sad to see this type of political theater from the leadership in our own state," a Kalshi spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC. "States can’t just shut down a federally licensed exchange… We love New York, we love New Yorkers, and New Yorkers love our product."

Samsung just announced a bunch of fancy new phones, but don't relax just yet. Google has a big product launch just around the corner too, and we're keeping a close eye on the latest Pixel 11 leaks, rumors, and official teasers.

The Android maker has already confirmed that it will announce the next batch of Pixel phones in August. That means we have just a matter of weeks until the follow-up to the Pixel 10 lineup is unveiled, so you'd better get prepared in the meantime. Here is everything we know about the Google Pixel 11 right now.

SEE ALSO: Samsung unpacked: New foldable phones, watches and more Google Pixel 11: Release date and price

The first part of this is easy because Google isn't keeping the Pixel 11 launch window a secret. At 6 p.m. ET on Aug. 12 in New York City, Google is holding a Made By Google event where the Pixel 11 lineup will be shown off for the first time, and Mashable will be there reporting live.

Last year's event was hosted by Jimmy Fallon, for some reason, so you never know what to expect this time. You can watch Made By Google live on YouTube, or follow the news as it happens on Mashable. The phones should be on store shelves or in your hands less than a month after that.

As with last year, we expect to see four phones: the base Pixel 11, a Pro and Pro XL model, and a Pro Fold model.

Regarding price, we live in a RAMageddon world, so it sounds like there may be some mild price increases in the works. We don't know the official figures yet, but a recent Amazon leak (which we will return to throughout this piece because, holy mackerel, what a leak!) gave us these figures:

• Google Pixel 11: $899

• Google Pixel 11 Pro: $1,099

• Google Pixel 11 Pro XL: $1,299

• Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold: $1,899

Unfortunately, all of those are increases year over year compared to the Pixel 10. The Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pro XL are all $100 more to start than they were a year ago. Meanwhile, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, if this leak is to be believed, will cost $400 more than the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Ouch.

Google Pixel 11: What's up with Pixel Glow?

Before we get into detailed (and unconfirmed) specs for each device, there's basically one noteworthy design change that we expect to see across all four devices this year. According to both leaks and some imagery on Google's own pre-order page, Google is going all-in on something called Pixel Glow with the Pixel 11 series.

In terms of design, that means the horizontal camera bar seen on previous Pixel phones will change a little bit to accommodate a new multi-colored light module. This module will use lights of different shades to notify you of things like incoming messages, presumably while your phone is turned over and you don't feel like looking at a screen.

Google actually gave everyone an official sneak peek at Pixel Glow a couple of weeks before the event. In a brief teaser video that shows part of a Pixel 11 Pro, you can see a small, multi-colored light in the camera bar. While the video is very brief and vague, it's clear from the video that we are looking at Pixel Glow.

Google Pixel 11: Base model rumored specs This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The aforementioned Amazon leak included since-removed store pages for each device in the Pixel 11 family, with colors and specs galore. Let's start with the base Pixel 11, whose array of color options has been reported with different names, but basically comes out to black, gray, pink, and green. Another leaker called MysticLeaks posted a bunch of alleged specs on Telegram.

Based on both of these leaks, these could be the specs for the base Pixel 11:

• 6.3-inch OLED display with 2856x1280 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate

• Google Tensor G6 processor

• 8/12GB RAM

• 4,985mAh battery

• 50MP main camera

• 13MP selfie camera

It's worth noting that there are some small discrepancies between what Amazon posted and what MysticLeaks reported for all of these devices, especially regarding display resolution and battery size. When in doubt, this article is going by what was posted on Amazon.

The display, battery, and selfie camera specs all come from the Amazon leak, while the Tensor G6 chip would make sense as the natural follow-up to the Tensor G5 chip in last year's Pixel flagships. At the time of publication, there don't seem to be any credible leaks regarding the other camera specs for the base Pixel 11, aside from what's listed above.

None of the above is horribly surprising or all that different from the Pixel 10, either. All signs are pointing to a pretty incremental upgrade cycle in 2026, Pixel Glow aside.

Google Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL: Rumored specs

Google is also reportedly planning on two Pro variants, as in previous years. The color options here are reportedly called Olive, Obsidian, Canyon, and Fog. Here is what both Amazon and MysticLeaks had to say about the regular Pixel 11 Pro:

• 6.3-inch OLED display with 2856x1280 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate

• Google Tensor G6 processor

• 12/16GB RAM

• 4,850mAh battery

• 13MP selfie camera

And here are the reported specs for Pixel 11 Pro XL. The XL is usually just a bigger, slightly improved version of the Pro:

• 6.8-inch OLED display with 2992x1344 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate

• Google Tensor G6 Processor

• 12/16GB RAM

• 5,115mAh battery

• 13MP selfie camera

The main attraction here, at least as it relates to year-over-year changes, is that Google seems to be offering a new 12GB RAM variant of the Pro devices. Prior to this year, they just came with 16GB RAM. Perhaps models with less storage capacity will only come with 12GB this year as a way to save money on the manufacturing end of things.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold: Rumored specs Google isn't folding from the competition. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Lastly, Google is making another foldable this year, if every leak is to be believed. Here are the reported specs for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, which could have color variants called Obsidian and Olive:

• 6.5-inch outer display

• Google Tensor G6 processor

• 4,750mAh battery

• 13MP selfie camera

This is the one we know the least about, sadly. Given Samsung's recent excellence in the foldable field and the rumored price increase for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, it's going to have to do a lot to impress in a crowded market. We'll find out together on Aug. 12.

Remember: Mashable will be reporting live from the Made By Google event, so keep checking back for the latest Pixel 11 news, leaks, and rumors.

Before you know it, Google is going to announce some new Android flagship phones. Of course, there's already info out there about them. Time to brush up.

The Pixel 11 lineup launch is all set for Aug. 12. This year, as with last year, we expect four new phones:

• Pixel 11

• Pixel 11 Pro

• Pixel 11 Pro XL

• Pixel 11 Pro Fold

Let's focus on the Pixel 11 Pro for now, as it's going to be the more premium. What does Google have up its sleeve this year with the Pro-grade Pixel phone?

We asked you to predict what Apple will do next. See the results and find out how to get a shot at winning an Apple Watch!

Google Pixel 11 Pro: Release date, price, and that Amazon leak

As previously stated, Google is going to officially unveil all of these phones at an event in New York City on Aug. 12. Mashable will be attending the launch event — Jimmy Fallon hosted last year's event, you may remember — and we'll be reporting live. Presumably, as with past years, the phones will be on store shelves and in customers' hands just a couple of weeks afterward.

Thanks to RAMageddon, everyone is bracing for price increases with every major tech product, and rightfully so. Google has not yet told us the prices of these phones, but a recent and fairly extensive Amazon leak that seemed legitimate enough pointed to a $1,099 starting price for the Pixel 11 Pro. That would be a $100 price increase over the Pixel 10 Pro. Meanwhile, the Pixel 11 Pro XL (the XL model is usually basically the same phone, but bigger) is said to start at $1,299, another $100 price hike year-over-year.

Speaking of that Amazon leak: 9to5Google spotted draft Amazon listings for the Pixel 11 lineup, revealing a lot of early details:

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The listings could include placeholder information, but the overall gist looks legit.

What is Pixel Glow?

We don't expect any massive design changes this year. Google has helped keep expectations low by actually posting a short video that shows the phone, weeks before the Aug. 12 event.

One thing that stood out, however, is the presence of a small, colored light in the camera bar that wasn't there on the Pixel 10 Pro. This is rumored to be part of a new "Pixel Glow" system that will use colored lights to convey basic phone notifications while the Pixel is lying down on its face. If you want to know that someone texted you even though you're focusing on something else and would rather not look at the screen, that's what this is for.

Google Pixel 11 Pro: Design and colors

Ultimately, the short teaser video doesn't show much, but it does reveal one more fact: The Pixel 11 Pro's basic design hasn't changed much from last year. It still has a horizontal, oval-shaped camera bar on the back, and is still otherwise a normal-looking smartphone.

As for colors, leaks suggest the options this year will be:

• Olive

• Obsidian

• Canyon

• Fog

Those don't sound like the most vibrant colors in the world, but that sort of thing has become par for the course for "Pro" smartphones in recent years. If the Amazon leak spotted by 9to5Google proves true, the Pixel 11 will have more interesting color options, at least.

Google Pixel 11 Pro: Rumored specs

Between the Amazon listings and another leak on Telegram from an account called MysticLeaks, this is the best idea we have about the Pixel 11 Pro's specs prior to the unveiling:

• 6.3-inch OLED display with 2856x1280 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate

• Google Tensor G6 processor

• 12/16GB RAM

• 4,850mAh battery

The only real differences between the regular Pro and the XL, as far as leaks are concerned, are the display and battery size. Those same sources suggest a 6.9-inch display and a 5,115mAh battery on the XL, but everything else should be the same. That's how Google has done it in the past, too.

Believe it or not, those specs actually contain at least one notable downgrade from the Pixel 10 Pro. Prior Pixel Pro devices only came with 16GB RAM, so if Google is offering a 12GB variant, that would be a somewhat significant change. It's possible and perhaps even likely that the 12GB models will be tied to lower amounts of storage, so if you want 16GB, you may need to shell out for a 512GB or 1TB model this year.

Google Pixel 11 Pro: What about the cameras?

Last but not least, the Pixel Pro phones always have better camera specs than the base models. It's one of the main reasons to get the Pro, even though Google did start including a telephoto lens on the base model recently.

Last year, the Pixel 10 Pro had a 50MP main lens, with matching 48MP ultra-wide and telephoto lenses. We don't yet know what the camera modules for the Pixel 11 Pro will measure in at, but it would be a shock if they were downgraded at all from those figures.

Speaking of downgrades, though, the big Amazon leak suggested the Pixel 10 Pro will have a 13MP selfie camera. After the 48MP front camera on the Pixel 10 Pro, that would be an unpleasant surprise. We'll see if that actually pans out, or if the leak was wrong.

Remember: Mashable will be reporting live from Made By Google on Aug. 12, so check back for the latest Pixel 11 Pro news.

At a glance

Key specs: A speedy M5 chip, Touch ID, HDR Liquid Retina Display, and Neural Accelerators to support AI workloads — all in a body that's just 2.7 pounds and 0.44 inches thick

New starting price: 13-inch model is $1,299 (originally $1,099); 15-inch model is $1,499 (originally $1,299)

Colors: Midnight black, sky blue, silver, starlight

Our 100-word review: "The M5 MacBook Air is an impressive piece of machinery. It's incredibly thin and light, and I'm a big fan of macOS 26 Tahoe and Liquid Glass, no matter what the haters say. The default screensaver that plays is completely mesmerizing, and sometimes I find myself staring at it for minutes on end, enjoying a nice moment of zen in the middle of a workday. On top of that, you get all the premium features you expect in a modern MacBook. My one caveat: If I already had an M3 or M4 MacBook Air, I'd probably hold onto it for awhile longer."

Apple MacBook Air (M5): Our updated review

The newest MacBook Air from Apple is a damn near-perfect machine. And for a few glorious days in late May, when it was discounted to just $899 at Amazon, it was a true 10/10 product. Unfortunately, thanks to the global memory crisis, Apple has since increased the starting price of this laptop from $1,099 to $1,299, and that changes how we feel about this machine.

To be clear, from an engineering, user experience, performance, and design standpoint, the M5 MacBook Air is nearly flawless.

And as a long-time product reviewer, I try to avoid using words like "perfect" and "flawless" in my reviews at all costs. But after spending five months with this laptop, it keeps impressing me.

SEE ALSO: MacBook Neo review: Is this budget laptop still worth it after a price increase?

In my initial review of the M5 MacBook Air, I wondered whether this laptop was actually too powerful for its own good. I still think it's overpowered (and thus slightly overpriced) for the average Air customer — especially after the recent price increase — but this is undoubtedly one of the best laptops and MacBooks in the world right now.

So, after stress-testing the newest MacBook Air — and watching many hours of Dropout TV shows after work — I'm ready to lock in this product as a Mashable Choice Award winner.

The new MacBook Air (M5): By the numbers Liquid Glass looks particularly good on the MacBook Liquid Retina display. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

For this review, I tested the 15.3-inch version of the MacBook Air with 1TB of storage. You may see some slight variations in performance with the 13.6-inch model. Overall, this laptop has impressive specifications:

• Processor: M5 (10-core CPU, 8‑core GPU, Neural Accelerators)

• Colors: Sky blue, silver, starlight, midnight black

• Memory: 16GB (configurable to 24GB or 32GB)

• Storage: 512GB SSD (configurable to 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB)

• Display: 13.6 or 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display

• Video playback: HDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10+/HDR10, and HLG

• Resolution: 2,560 x 1,664

• Brightness: 500 nits

• Battery life: 17 hours, 40 minutes in video playback test

• Ports: MagSafe 3 charging port, 3.5 mm headphone jack, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 4, USB-C 4

• Connectivity: Apple N1 chip, WiFi 7, Bluetooth 6

• Webcam: 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View

• Dimensions: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches

• Weight: 2.7 pounds

The MacBook Air (M5) performs like a Pro Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Despite all the accolades I've given it, the new MacBook Air is definitely an iterative upgrade in many respects. Like its predecessor, it comes in 13.6 and 15.3-inch models, and you can choose from silver, sky blue, starlight, and midnight black. At a mere 0.44 inches thick and a measly 2.7 pounds, it's remarkably thin and lightweight, yet it never feels fragile or flimsy in the slightest. On the contrary, the MacBook's signature all-aluminum body makes it a very durable laptop.

The big difference, of course, is the M5 chip inside. When we put it through the Geekbench 6 benchmark test, it scored 16,099 on the multi-core test. On the single-core test, it scored 4,025, even higher than we expected. The multi-core score puts it within spitting distance of the M5 MacBook Pro released late last year. For almost all intents and purposes, it is a MacBook Pro. Minus the fans, of course.

The single-core score is a good proxy for everyday performance (what our laptop expert calls "snappiness"), and that lines up perfectly with my testing. When exporting or importing large files, it barely flinches. It can handle video editing software, complex Apple Shortcuts, and even some gaming.

Is the MacBook Air (M5) too powerful?

Apple introduced the M1 chip in 2020, its first in-house processor, kicking off a revolution in the laptop world. The M1 chip destroyed the competition, and the original M1 MacBook Air is probably the most award-winning laptop ever. It's a legendary device that was still popular six years later, an unheard-of feat.

As Apple introduced the M2, M3, M4, M5, and now M5 Pro and Pro Max chips, the MacBook Air and Pro laptops have become extremely powerful. The new M5 Max chip scored 29,000 on the Geekbench 6 test, making it so powerful that pro laptop reviewers struggled to test it properly. I know professional film editors who are still working on M1 and M2 laptops. And in 2024, my colleague Stan Schroeder wrote that "Apple's M series chips are too good for their own good." That's doubly true today.

SEE ALSO: Apple might launch a bunch of new MacBook Pro and iPad Pro devices in early 2027

The new MacBook Air also has a much higher starting price of $1,299, or $300 more than the previous generation. Yes, Apple doubled the starting storage, but Apple experts like Bloomberg's Mark Gurman say that's just Apple's way of softening the blow of a price increase.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Traditionally, the MacBook Air has been a popular laptop for college students, early-career professionals, and more casual users. If you're running complex programs like Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or Adobe Suite, then you opt for the Pro.

On the Geekbench 6 tests we ran, this laptop achieved 92.5 percent of the power of the latest MacBook Pro. Only hardcore superusers are going to come close to taxing the M5 Air, and those kinds of users will probably be buying a Pro or Mac Studio anyway.

So, in a world with the $699 MacBook Neo — a surprisingly capable laptop that matches the M1 Air in performance — I'm not quite sure we needed a newer, even more powerful Air. The recipe was already just right.

So, am I seriously telling you that this MacBook would be better if it were worse? Kind of! I may be in the minority on this one, but I think the average Air buyer would be better off with a slightly less powerful but more affordable device. I miss the days when the M3 and M4 Air went on sale for $799 or $899.

Unfortunately, laptops are getting more expensive across the board. The top alternatives to the MacBook Air have also gotten price increases in 2026.

MacBook Air (M5) review: Speakers, display, and design Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

As I mentioned earlier, I've been using this laptop to watch Dropout TV, which isn't available on my smart TV, sadly. Not only does it have enough processing power for most workloads, but it's also a great entertainment laptop. The HDR Liquid Retina Display looks fantastic, even if it's not quite at OLED level.

Similarly, the speakers sound strong and clear when listening to music or watching TV shows and movies. When using the four-speaker sound system, the laptop supports spatial audio and Dolby Atmos; spatial audio is also supported when listening with AirPods.

For video calls or voice recording, you'll benefit from a three-mic array, directional beamforming, voice isolation, and a 12MP Center Stage camera.

Of course, as strong as they are, none of these components has been upgraded from last year's M4 MacBook Air.

MacBook Air (M5) review: Battery life Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

When testing a laptop's battery, we evaluate how long it lasts while using the laptop as our daily driver — doing work, browsing the web, streaming music and TV. And we've been able to get consistent all-day performance out of this device. However, we also test the battery life during video playback. (We conduct a battery rundown test by playing the 1080p version of Tears of Steel on loop, at 50 percent brightness and 50 percent volume.) And this is the one area where the new MacBook Air didn't quite meet our expectations.

Typically, we expect new MacBooks to achieve 19 hours of battery life (the smaller and more affordable MacBook Neo is the exception). However, when running down the 15-inch MacBook Air (M5), the battery only lasted 17 hours and 40 minutes. That's more than enough power for virtually all use cases, but we have tested other MacBook and Windows laptops with better battery life.

The M5 Air has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a MagSafe charging port, and a headphones jack. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable M5 MacBook Air review: Is it worth it?

As much as I hate the new $1,299 price, this laptop is definitely still worth buying.

Sure, for $899, or even $949, I'd find this laptop irresistible, and it would get a perfect 5.0 score from me. But here's the bottom line: For the new $1,299 price — and with Windows laptops also getting price hikes — this laptop still justifies its price with premium components, the newest WiFi and Bluetooth tech, and a fast chip with no true competition in the Windows market.

Personally, I'd wait and see what this laptop's new sale price will be during events like Black Friday. Before the price hike, it was discounted to $899 to $949, but I suspect we won't see this laptop for under $1,000 for a long while, if ever. So, if you have the coin, and if you want near-MacBook-Pro-level performance but in a lighter and more portable body, then spring for the new and improved Air.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple MacBook Air 13.6 inches (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,049 at Amazon
$1,099 Save $50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple MacBook Air 15.3 inches (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,249 at Amazon
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