Mashable

Why are Windows laptops so expensive right now?

The ongoing memory crisis, aka "RAMageddon," is the main reason why Windows laptop prices have skyrocketed this year. But it also doesn't help that Microsoft reportedly raised its Windows 11 licensing fees by abnormally high rates. In other words, PC makers are spending more on both hardware and software right now, so they're making consumers eat the extra costs.

Some of our current picks have faced price hikes in recent months, including the Asus Zenbook A16, the Dell XPS 14, XPS 13, and 14S, and the Framework Laptop 13. We've re-evaluated them and decided that they're still worth recommending at their higher prices, but will remove them from this guide if we find better-value alternatives or if their prices keep climbing to exorbitant levels.

What's new this month

I made several updates to this guide in late September 2026:

• I added the Asus ProArt PZ14 as a new pick following our latest round of testing. It's now our favorite Windows laptop for creators.

• I added the Dell XPS 13's results from our battery life test. It lasted 18 hours and 56 minutes — more than four hours longer than its Apple counterpart, the MacBook Neo.

• I added some information about a new Surface Laptop that Microsoft just announced (see below under "What to look forward to").

I'm currently monitoring the availability of two of our existing picks: the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI and the Intel-powered Acer Swift X 14. Both were out of stock at the time of writing but could return, so I'm keeping them on this guide for now. If it turns out they've been fully discontinued, I'll replace them with other models. (As things stand, the Dell 14S would become my top choice for college students, and the AMD-powered Acer Swift X 14 AI would be my new pick for photo and video editing.)

SEE ALSO: Acer CEO says PC prices could drop in 2027

As a quick note before we get into the picks, Mashable tests laptops on the basis of performance, battery life, design/build quality, and value. We do so using a combination of synthetic benchmarking and real-world usage. You can read more about our testing process in the "How We Tested" section.

A note about ARM-based Windows laptops Asus' Zenbook A-series laptops are two of the best ARM-based laptops I've tried. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Qualcomm's Snapdragon X series chips use ARM-based architecture, not traditional x86 architecture like Intel and AMD chips. As such, their compatibility differs. ARM-based laptops don't work natively with certain specialty software (like AutoCAD), nor can they run as many PC games.

ARM compatibility issues are a non-concern for the majority of general-purpose Windows users, but they'll be dealbreakers for some demographics — PC gamers being an obvious one.

College students should also steer clear of ARM laptops. When I examined the 10 top public universities' hardware recommendations for the 2026 fall semester, I found that a couple schools explicitly advised their students against getting ARM-based laptops to make sure they can run all of their necessary coursework without emulation. (This is one big reason why I recommend the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI and Dell 14S for college students, in particular: They have x86-based Intel chips.)

The good news is that ARM compatibility has gotten better over the past couple years, and it will definitely continue to do so now that Nvidia is coming out with its own RTX Spark "superchips," which run on ARM.

What we're testing right now

The Mashable team has a bunch of other Windows laptops in hand for testing right now, including the Alienware 16 Area-51, Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i, Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1, Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition, Lenovo LOQ Essential 15, Lenovo Legion 5i, Lenovo Legion Pro 7i, MSI Prestige 16 AI+, Framework Laptop 13 Pro, Asus Zenbook Duo, and Acer Swift Air 14. Stay tuned to see if any of them make the cut for a future update to this guide.

What to look forward to

On Sept. 23, Microsoft announced a second-generation Surface Laptop 13-inch with the Snapdragon X2 Plus chip and a brighter display. It's a slightly cheaper and more portable version of the company's flagship Surface Laptop 8, which comes in two sizes and with Snapdragon X2 Plus or Elite chips.

Now available for preorder, the Surface Laptop 13-inch starts at $1,199.99 with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS storage. It launches Oct. 13 alongside the Surface Pro 12-inch (2nd edition), a detachable tablet that starts at $1,149.99 with the same specs.

Earlier in September, several other PC makers announced new laptops at IFA, a tech trade show in Berlin. The models confirmed for an eventual U.S. release are:

• Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe, a budget laptop that comes in two sizes and seven colors

• Lenovo Yoga Pro 5n and Yoga 9n 2-in-1, two creator laptops powered by Nvidia's RTX Spark platform

• Lenovo ThinkBook 14 Gen 9 and ThinkBook 14x Gen 2, two fresh business laptops

• Acer Swift Air 16, a slim 16-incher

• Another version of the Dell 14S with more colors, less powerful processors, and a cheaper price tag

America has a new generative AI chatbot. Well, not really, but President Trump is pushing for citizens to stop clicking through government websites and just ask a chatbot.

On Tuesday, the White House launched a revamped America.gov, an AI-powered portal meant to be a single front door to the federal government. Trump signed an executive order establishing America.gov during the event, describing the site as "a restoration of America's founding promise."

It works like most AI chatbots. You enter a query (strictly related to the federal government), and the chatbot searches it up. According to the site, America.gov searches information across roughly 29,000 government websites and returns answers based on official federal sources.

Ask America.gov what powers it has, and you won't get far. When Mashable asked which language models it runs on, the chatbot replied: "I do not publish which language models power America." (Yes, it calls itself "America.")

U.S. Chief Design Officer Joe Gebbia was more forthcoming on TV. He told CNBC's "Squawk Box" that the site is powered by artificial intelligence from Google's Gemini and Elon Musk's Grok.

How does America work?

While an ambitious search engine, there's not much you can do with it. The site's About page describes the launch as Phase 1, focused on making it faster to access government information. Phase 2 is slated for 2027 and will add the ability to apply, enroll and track progress directly in the chat. Every answer, the site says, links back to the official government page it came from.

Credit: Mashable screenshot

The administration plans to expand the tool so people can begin or complete tasks such as renewing passports, enrolling in Medicare, checking student-loan information and reserving federal campsites. The site also says it will eventually help users find federal jobs, and a mobile app is on the roadmap. Those features are all promised for next year.

For now, the site advertises a handful of features:

• Answers in English, Spanish, or French.

• Voice input through a microphone icon.

• Step-by-step guidance on tasks like passport renewals.

• Help reading government documents. Users can upload a PDF of a form or letter, and the site says personal information will be automatically removed.

Naturally, one might have privacy concerns with a Trump-admin-backed AI chatbot. The site's "Why you can trust" section on the About page says it doesn't retain conversations, though some answers may be cached for up to 2 hours. Additionally, you don't need an account, and it says that it doesn't save names or IP addresses.

Those privacy features are well and good. How safe the website will be when users can eventually input personal, identifiable information for passport and medicare applications remains to be seen. The Guardian found in June that sites already deployed by the team behind America.gov were using commercial tools to track user behavior and data. Those tools did not appear to comply with the Privacy Act.

What is America?

Speaking of who designed the website, America.gov is the flagship product of the National Design Studio (NDS). The studio was created by Executive Order 14338, which Trump signed on Aug. 21, 2025, to redesign how the public interacts with government online. The site itself is operated by the General Services Administration (GSA), the agency that handles much of the federal government's technology.

Both organizations have deep ties to Elon Musk's controversial "Department of Government Efficiency." That endeavor was quietly dissolved in May after Musk departed the executive office during a feud with Trump.

The GSA was one of DOGE's earliest and hardest-hit targets. The agency dismissed more than 1,000 employees and set a goal of cutting staff by 63 percent in its Public Buildings Service division. DOGE also shut down 18F, a technology consulting unit within the GSA. Ironically, 18F was a team of government technologists focused on making federal websites easier to use.

AI chatbots have been part of the GSA's story ever since. In early 2025, DOGE rolled out a custom AI-powered chatbot, GSAi, to around 1,500 government workers as it continued to slash the federal workforce. One employee at the time told WIRED the tool gave "generic and guessable answers."

NDS, meanwhile, has become what WIRED called a landing pad for DOGE veterans. The studio is led by Gebbia, the Airbnb cofounder and longtime Musk associate who joined DOGE in February 2025. Like DOGE, it sits inside the Executive Office of the President.

According to WIRED, NDS's head of engineering is Edward Coristine, the DOGE staffer known as "Big Balls," who was 19 when he joined the government. Akash Bobba, another young engineer from DOGE's early core, moved over as well. WIRED also reported that NDS jobs don't appear on USAJobs, the federal government's hiring portal.

One engineer interviewed by Coristine told WIRED the process felt like it had no real structure. According to the engineer, Coristine pitched the job as a search for "hardcore engineers who can ship." At the time, the engineer said, Coristine told them the roughly 30-person NDS team didn't include a machine-learning engineer.

What can America talk about?

The administration says Americans can trust America because every answer comes "straight from the source." But on its first day, the answers tend to avoid anything politically inconvenient.

In Mashable's testing, it declined to answer questions that weren't directly related to federal government topics.

When Mashable asked who won the 2020 election, the chatbot said Joe Biden did. When asked whether Trump is in the Epstein files, the answer was yes. PBS NewsHour got the same results, finding that the site confirmed Trump's name is in the Epstein files and that Biden beat him in 2020. Appearing in the files is not itself evidence of wrongdoing, and Trump has denied any. The chatbot declined to comment on the U.S. stance on Israel and Palestine.

What utter woke nonsense. Credit: Mashable screenshot

The AP notes that when Trump spoke at the launch event on Tuesday, the site was changing its answers. When asked again by the AP about the 2020 election, America replied that it couldn't answer "political questions."

PBS News wrote that America said Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration drew more people than Trump's first inauguration in 2017. On the election question, Mashable can confirm that the America chatbot still says Biden won the 2020 election. Regarding the inauguration attendance claim, America told Mashable that Obama drew 1.8 million people to his 2009 swearing-in, but would not provide an attendance figure for either of Trump's. "Trump’s January 20, 2025, swearing-in was held in the Capitol Rotunda, not on the Mall, so it is not comparable as an outdoor crowd," the chatbot said.

On abortion, the chatbot gave a detailed response pertaining to laws in Texas. When asked for websites to access abortion drugs — legal to mail to Texas under its "shield laws" — the chatbot refused, stating that it can't give legal advice.

With Phase 2 set to launch in 2027, the America chatbot's ambitions include handling Americans' personal information and documents, such as Social Security numbers and birth certificates, to help them apply for passports and medical care. Whether Americans hand that information to a chatbot built by DOGE alumni and powered in part by Musk's AI may depend on who they trust to run it.

TL;DR: Get a one-year Autodesk AutoCAD subscription for $338.97 (reg. $2,095) through Sept. 29. That’s a savings of more than $1,700.

Opens in a new window Credit: Autodesk Autodesk AutoCAD: 1-Year Subscription $338.97
$2,095 Save $1,756.03   Get Deal

AutoCAD doesn’t usually come cheap, which is why this flash sale is worth a look. For a limited time, a one-year subscription costs $338.97 (reg. $2,095). At 83% off, it’s a lot easier to justify, whether you’re a working architect, an engineering student, or someone who finally wants to draft that deck addition properly.

AutoCAD does both precise 2D drafting and 3D modeling. You get professional tools for dimensions, annotations, layers, and layouts, plus solid, surface, and mesh modeling for product, architecture, and engineering work. Native DWG support means you can open, edit, and share the file format most CAD teams already use.

SEE ALSO: 30+ early October Prime Day deals: We found live offers on Apple, Nintendo, and Garmin this weekend

The newer AI features are where it gets interesting. Smart Blocks detect, create, and replace reusable blocks, so you’re not redrawing the same elements over and over. Markup Assist interprets markups, and Activity Insights tracks drawing history. Both help when several people are revising the same project.

What else is included?

• Specialized toolsets for architecture, mechanical, electrical, MEP, Plant 3D, Map 3D, and Raster Design

• AutoLISP, scripts, APIs, and macros for automating repetitive tasks

• Cloud collaboration through Autodesk Docs

• Customizable tool palettes, workspaces, templates, and shortcuts

There are a few things to know before you buy.

This is a one-year subscription, not lifetime access, and it covers one device. It runs on Windows 10 and 11, and on Macs with macOS Ventura, Sonoma or Sequoia, so check the full system requirements first. It’s open to new and existing Autodesk users, and you’ll need to redeem your code within 30 days of purchase.

Get a one-year Autodesk AutoCAD subscription for $338.97 (reg. $2,095) through Sept. 29.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

First Meta gave us Jolly. Now, OpenAI is letting you name your own little AI guy.

Less than a week after Meta introduced the cheerful mascot for its Muse AI assistant, OpenAI introduced Dots at its 2026 DevDay conference. Dots is an always-on AI agent represented by your choice of various colorful little characters.

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

"Dots are frontier intelligence that have your back," OpenAI wrote in its announcement. "Powered by GPT‑6 Astra, they have their own cloud computer, learn from feedback over time, and can work towards your goals 24/7."

SEE ALSO: OpenAI introduces Dots, a new always-on AI agent, at Dev Day 2026 Meet the little guys doing the big jobs Credit: OpenAI

OpenAI’s launch materials show Dots in pink, blue, green, yellow, and purple, with different appearances. One dot wears glasses, while another headphones, and another a bow-tie. The examples are named Iggy, Felipe, Todd, Alfred, and Jojo, but you can give your own Dot whatever name you like.

The company calls Dots "an extension of you" and describes agents learning how you think and what good work looks like to you. Users can message them in ChatGPT, Slack, and Teams, or hop on a voice call.

For anyone juggling deadlines and unfinished projects, the appeal of having something that remembers the context and keeps the work moving. A familiar character gives that promise a cute face you can return to...and trust.

It also raises a question for the person connecting their accounts: How much confidence are they placing in the agent’s abilities, and how much comes from the feeling of familiarity? A name and a colorful avatar can make an interaction feel far more comfortable before a user has much experience actually judging the work.

SEE ALSO: From Clippy to Jolly: Why tech keeps putting a cute face on its products Dots still needs supervision Credit: OpenAI

OpenAI says users choose which apps their Dots can access and can set rules governing when they act independently or ask for approval. Users can inspect a Dot’s computer and follow its progress. The company says background "proactive research" uses read-only tools, and certain sensitive tasks, such as changing a password, remain with the user.

"Dots can still make mistakes, so always review consequential work," OpenAI writes.

Altman and OpenAI are pulling from a familiar strategy. After all, it’s a lot easier to ask users to trust an AI agent with their life when it looks like a little guy in a beret.

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.

Minecraft Dungeons II is now out for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and on Steam.

Unfortunately, based on Reddit posts and Google Search trends, some gamers trying to play the latest Minecraft action-RPG adventure are reportedly running into some issues on launch day. Specifically, error code 0064 may appear when attempting to boot up the game.

Users have speculated that it could be due to launch-day server overload or a Microsoft authentication issue. The good news? Google Search trends for the error code only spiked for a brief period of time on Sept. 29, so the issue may be resolved.

What could cause this type of error? As of now, it's unclear exactly what the cause of error 0064 is, but we can safely rule out some possibilities.

Gamers have reported the error 0064 issue across platforms, so it's likely not a bug specific to any one console.

Error 0064 is also reportedly hitting users as they attempt to sign in, so if you're already in the game, you should be safe.

However, if you're seeing the Error 0064 message, some gamers have shared that restarting the game or simply spamming the login button eventually worked for them.

Other potential fixes include logging in and out of your Microsoft account, or if you're on a PC, you can try repairing the Minecraft Launcher.

To repair the Minecraft Launcher on a Windows PC, follow these steps:

• Go to Windows Search and type in Minecraft Launcher

• Right-click on Minecraft Launcher when it shows up and select App Settings

• Press Terminate to close the launcher and then click on the Repair option

• When that's complete, reopen the Minecraft Launcher and select Minecraft Dungeons II

Users can also try uninstalling the game and reinstalling it, or contacting Minecraft Technical Support, if nothing else works.

Anthropic, one of the biggest AI companies in the world, is currently gearing up to go public. As the Claude-maker prepares for a potential blockbuster IPO later this year, Reuters has got its hands on the company's prospectus, which lays out Anthropic's financials and risks for investors.

According to the prospectus obtained by Reuters, Anthropic made $4.6 billion in revenue in 2025. That's twelve times its growth in the previous year.

But there's bad news, too: The AI company lost more than it brought in last year, Reuters reported. A lot more.

Anthropic reportedly lost a whopping $42 billion in 2025. Of that net loss, $8.06 billion was spent on operating costs in 2025, far higher than its 2024 operating costs of $2.98 billion, according to Reuters. In addition, the documents Reuters reviewed stated that compute and infrastructure costs from Anthropic's AI lab amounted to an additional $7.33 billion. 

Anthropic is hardly alone in spending more than it takes in, however. In July, after pouring money into AI development, Google reported its first quarter of negative cash flow since the company went public.

The AI industry is in the midst of a massive infrastructure build-out, with an estimated trillion dollars being spent on AI data centers, energy, and other resources in 2026 alone. Axios recently reported that the industry as a whole is expected to spend $10 trillion through 2032.

So, it's hardly surprising that Reuters reported that Anthropic's capital expenditures will only balloon in the years ahead. The IPO prospectus seen by Reuters stated that the company plans to spend $518 billion on "cloud, computing and infrastructure obligations" over the next few years. To make matters even more concerning for potential investors, about 80 percent of that $518 billion is allocated to non-cancelable deals.

Anthropic is currently eyeing a public offering that would put the company at a $2 trillion valuation.

SAVE $110: As of Sept. 29, the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G5 is available for $169.99 at Amazon. That's a 39% saving on the regular list price of $179.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 27-Inch Odyssey G5 $169.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $110   Get Deal

There's no better time to stock up on gaming hardware than one of the major sale events — one of the few times you'll find discounts on top-quality gaming gear. And you don't have to wait long for the next moment to shop, as Amazon launches its October Prime Day on Oct. 6.

In fact, you don't have to wait at all because we're seeing gaming deals crop up already, including a generous discount on a Samsung monitor.

As of Sept. 29, the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G5 is priced at $169.99. That's $110 off the regular list price of $279.99.

At 27 inches, this monitor is designed for modestly sized gaming setups. And it promises to bring that gaming space to life with plenty of visual-enhancing specs, including a QHD resolution, G-Sync compatibility for smooth gameplay, a Fast IPS panel, and an 180Hz refresh rate with a 1ms response time. It's also designed to improve your performance with its Virtual Aim Point feature — a crosshairs target that appears on the screen, allowing you to shoot with pinpoint accuracy.

If you're aiming for a gaming monitor upgrade, don't miss your chance to save $110 on the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G5 — now priced at just $169.99 ahead of Prime Day.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Apple iPhone 18 Pro — free at T-Mobile 

• Paramount+ — $0.99 for 2 months with code p2mcs26prem

• Pokémon 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box — $89.99 (save vs. market price)

• Apple iPad Pro — $1,899 $2,099 (save $200)

• TCL 85-Inch Class QM8L Series TV — $2,497.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,502)

The Brick is a trendy app-blocking device that makes it easier to stay off your phone; one Mashable writer used it to cut her screen time in half. It's a rather plain little gadget that's gray and blocky — pretty brick-like, some might say — but now, you can change that.

Brick has just launched Brick Cases, some colorful snap-on shells for its eponymous device. They're priced at $39 each and sold exclusively in the U.S. through Brick's website, the company announced on Instagram Sept. 22.

View this post on Instagram

There are four Brick Case styles available, each with names that reference activities you should be doing instead of staring at a screen:

• Catch Rays (butter yellow)

• Unwind (brick red)

• Look Up (a cloudy sky pattern)

• Get Outside (a mossy green color with a grass-textured surface)

According to an FAQ on Brick's website, the Brick Case is merely an aesthetic upgrade for the Brick and doesn't change how it functions. "Swap colors and textures to match your space or your style — because Bricking is personal and now it looks like it," it reads.

Personalize your screen time companion. Credit: Brick

Note that the Brick Case only works with the latest version of the Brick, not the original model. The device got a minor redesign with rounder edges and a new logo this summer. (Any Brick purchased from getbrick.com after July 30 of this year is considered an "upgraded Brick.")

The Brick contains an NFC chip that can block certain apps when you tap your phone to its surface. To "unbrick" your phone, you must tap it against the Brick again. Compared to traditional screen-time apps, "the physical limitation of the Brick adds an extra barrier," writes Mashable's Samantha Mangino, "making it especially effective at preventing you from overriding your screen time and staying truly distraction-free."

The Brick works with iPhones running iOS 17 or later and Android phones running Android 12 or newer. It's pricey for what it is at $59 — adding a case makes it almost $100 (!) — but sharing it between multiple users ups its value. Read Mangino's full review of the Brick for more.

Opens in a new window Credit: Brick Brick Case $39 at getbrick.com
  Shop Now

When it comes to watching sports, the playoffs are the best part of any season. That's also true for the WNBA, which kicked off with its first round on Sunday, with some star-studded Game 1 bouts. And even though the playoffs have only just begun, it's only taken 1 game for things to get weird already.

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

Three of the four higher seeds won as expected. The fourth result was the biggest upset the first round can produce: the No. 8 seed beating the No. 1 seed on its home floor. Add a historic performance from 4-time league MVP A'ja Wilson, a franchise-first win in the Bay, and a fresh round of league awards, and there's a lot to catch up on before the Game 2s tip off tonight.

Here's what happened on day one, and what to watch this week.

No. 8 Liberty makes history

The New York Liberty went into Minneapolis and beat the Minnesota Lynx 91-75 in a shocking blowout of the championship favorites. Per BK Reader, New York is now the first No. 8 seed in WNBA history to win a playoff game against a No. 1 seed. Before Sunday, the eighth seeds were 0-11 against the top seeds in the postseason.

Liberty Forward Breanna Stewart finished with 34 points and 12 rebounds, marking her third career 30-point playoff double-double, per ESPN. Stewart was given plenty of room to work as Lynx players Napheesa Collier, Natasha Howard, and Nia Brodie had each picked up four fouls. Plus, New York shooting 52 percent from three didn't hurt either.

On the other side, newly minted Rookie of the Year Olivia Miles had a rough playoff debut, finishing with 11 points on 3-of-12 shooting.

To be clear, the Liberty's win is not a case of the Lynx just having a bad day. The Liberty won the 2024 title (beating, yes, the Lynx in the Finals), and the roster is stacked with All-Stars and a former MVP in Stewart. With first-time head coach Chris DeMarco at the helm, the team had a bumpy year, plagued by injuries early in the season. In mid-July, with the team sitting at 13-12, the Liberty would finish the season 13-6, for an overall 26-18 record, to grab the W's final playoff spot. It was a crowded playoff race, too, with just four games separating the Liberty from fourth-place Atlanta.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. A'ja Wilson absolutely cooked the Fever

If you needed a reminder about who the real star of the WNBA is, the defending champion Las Vegas Aces delivered just that. Vegas beat the Indiana Fever 102-85 behind a performance from A'ja Wilson that, per ESPN, had never been done before in the league.

"The four-time MVP is the first player in WNBA postseason history to have 20-plus points, three-plus blocks and two-plus steals in a half, and the first player in WNBA history — regular season or postseason — with 35 points, 15 rebounds and a 75% FG." - ESPN's Kareem Copeland

Wilson finished with 38 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocks, including 22 points in the first half, where she won one-on-one matchups against Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston. Wilson's co-stars Jackie Young (21 points, 10 assists) and Chelsea Gray (14 points, eight assists) made sure Indiana couldn't just let Wilson get hers and lock down everyone else. The Aces dropped 62 points in the first half alone.

Indiana, despite its name, just couldn't find a rhythm. The Fever's backcourt — Clark with 15 and Mitchell with 12 — shot for a combined 10-for-33 from the field. Boston, listed as questionable with a lower leg injury, still put up 18 points and eight rebounds.

Fever fans, understandably, are not having a good week.

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

But a vocal chunk of the wider WNBA fandom is openly rooting for an Indiana exit, less out of dislike for the team than out of exhaustion with the Caitlin Clark discourse that has dominated the league's online conversation for three seasons running.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. The rest of Day 1:

(4) Atlanta Dream 92, (5) Washington Mystics 77: Atlanta won thanks to a lopsided third quarter, DeWanna Bonner's veteran scoring, and 26 points from Rhyne Howard. The Dream trailed 41-36 at the half, then outscored Washington 29-12 in the third, with Bonner scoring 11 of those. Washington also turned it over 22 times to Atlanta's seven, which undercut a 25-point night from Sonia Citron.

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

(2) Golden State Valkyries 104, (7) Dallas Wings 80: Golden State won thanks to hot three-point shooting, a balanced attack, and defense that kept everyone not named Paige Bueckers quiet. The Valkyries hit 16 threes at a 48.5 percent clip, led by four from Cecilia Zandalasini. Bueckers scored 21 in her playoff debut, but no other Wings player topped 11. It's the first playoff win in Valkyries history.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. How to watch the WNBA playoffs Game 2 matchups

Tuesday, Sept. 29

• Las Vegas Aces at Indiana Fever (Aces lead 1-0), 6:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video

• Minnesota Lynx at New York Liberty (Liberty lead 1-0), 8:30 p.m. ET, USA Network and CNBC

Wednesday, Sept. 30

• Atlanta Dream at Washington Mystics (Dream lead 1-0), 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

• Golden State Valkyries at Dallas Wings (Valkyries lead 1-0), 9 p.m., ET ESPN

Any necessary Game 3 matchups shift back to the higher seed's home court: Liberty-Lynx and Fever-Aces on Thursday, Oct. 1, and Mystics-Dream and Wings-Valkyries on Friday, Oct. 2, with times still to be announced. ESPN-network games stream on the ESPN app, and live TV services like YouTube TV, Fubo, and DirecTV carry ESPN, USA, and CNBC.

The semifinals start Sunday, Oct. 4, and the Finals tip off Saturday, Oct. 17, on NBC and Peacock.

How the WNBA playoffs work

New to the W, or just here because of the Liberty upset? Here's the quick version.

The top eight teams in the league make the playoffs, regardless of conference, and are seeded one through eight by record. The first round is a best-of-three series in a 1-1-1 format: the higher seed hosts Games 1 and 3, and the lower seed hosts Game 2. That's why the Liberty, despite being the 8-seed, gets to play at home on Tuesday.

The semifinals are best-of-five, and the Finals are best-of-seven. This will be the second year of the newly expanded WNBA Finals as a best-of-seven series, with 2025's Finals ending in a 4-0 sweep by the Las Vegas Aces over the Phoenix Mercury.

It's a different setup from the NBA, which sends eight teams from each conference (sorted in part by its play-in tournament) and plays every round as a best-of-seven series. The NBA did once have a shorter first round, though. From 1984 to 2002, the first round was best-of-five, then went to seven games in 2003. The change was seen as beneficial for higher-seeded teams as it decreased the likelihood of an upset.

A short series means there's very little room for a bad night, which is exactly why a single Game 1 like Sunday's can flip an entire bracket.

September is a big month for Big Tech events, where companies showcase their latest products. And now, OpenAI has just joined the party with DevDay 2026 in San Francisco.

The AI giant held its annual DevDay event on Tuesday and had a slew of announcements to make. OpenAI recently released GPT-6 Astra, an advanced new model, but it's also facing demands for much stricter regulation after its AI agents hacked third-party systems.

The biggest news of the day was the launch of Dots, a new AI agent to rival Meta's Muse AI.

Here are all the biggest announcements from OpenAI DevDay 2026.

Dots Credit: OpenAI

Apparently, every AI company needs cartoon mascots nowadays.

OpenAI is taking a page out of Meta's book, and it's not just the animated characters. Dots are OpenAI's always-on AI personal assistant product, a la Meta's Muse.

According to OpenAI, Dots work and complete tasks across existing context and connected applications. As users work with their Dots assistant, it will learn from user feedback and improve on said tasks over time. Being an always-on AI agent, Dots work in the background via a secure cloud computer as users go about their day, OpenAI said.

For now, Dots are available to users on the Pro and Business Premium enterprise plans. The new AI agents began rolling out to eligible users today.

GPT-6.1 Sol

OpenAI also announced an upgraded version of GPT-6 Sol, the model that can be viewed as a more cost-efficient version of GPT-6 Astra, OpenAI's most powerful model.

OpenAI says GPT-6.1 Sol has "exceptionally strong performance on agentic coding, computer use and professional work." It's nearly as intelligence as Astra but costs less than a quarter the price.

Here's how the pricing breaks down:

• GPT 6.1 Sol costs $2 per million input tokens

• $0.10 per million cached input tokens

• $10 per million output tokens

Pro 500 plan and Ultrafast

If you thought OpenAI's $200 per month plan was expensive, wait until you hear about Ultrafast.

OpenAI announced a new $500 per month plan called Pro 500. The new plan includes access to Ultrafast, a feature that allows OpenAI's Codex and Work apps to work on tasks faster. Ultrafast allows Codex and Work to generate up to 300 tokens per second, or 8 times faster.

"Ultrafast is our premium speed tier for workloads where speed matters most," OpenAI said.

The feature is also coming to the API, which will provide 6 times the standard speed.

ChatGPT Space

AI collaboration will now happen in a new dedicated space, aptly called ChatGPT Space. Colleagues can work together on ChatGPT Space, sharing context, and their Dot AI assistants can access this shared knowledge.

More of OpenAI's DevDay announcements can be found at the DevDay 2026 website.

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.

The Apple iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max were officially released on Sept. 18 (the foldable iPhone Duo won't be available until next month). And when you buy a new phone, that usually means buying a new phone case. The best iPhone 18 Pro cases will protect your phone when it inevitably slips out of your hands and tumbles to the ground, risking your $1,200 investment.

A lot of case companies started selling burgundy and glacier blue iPhone 18 Pro cases before the phones were even announced, and you can now find hundreds (thousands?) of stylish and cute iPhone 18 Pro cases for sale online. Whether you're looking for a cheap $12 clear case, a classic PopSockets grip case, or a more fashion-forward Velvet Caviar case, I've found the top options for iPhone shoppers. I also checked Apple's official collection of iPhone 18 Pro Max cases for you.

SEE ALSO: The best iPhones to buy in 2026: Our top pick might surprise you

If you're upgrading from the iPhone 17 Pro, there are two things you need to know. You can save up to $1,200 on the iPhone 18 Pro thanks to preorder deals, and your iPhone 17 Pro case will fit the 18 Pro just fine. Apple kept the measurements and button layouts exactly the same.

The best iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max cases so far Opens in a new window Credit: Pitaka Pitaka Edge iPhone 18 Pro Max Case $59.99 at Amazon
If you prefer razor-thin cases, then Pitaka makes some of the best iPhone cases around. The brand's Edge line is a good alternative to Apple's FineWoven tech cases, and it's just 0.04 inches thick and weighs 0.81 ounces. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: OtterBox OtterBox iPhone 18 Pro Profile Series Case $39.99 at Amazon
Let's start simple with this classic OtterBox iPhone 18 Pro Profile Series Case. It's not fancy or eye-catching, and that's exactly the point. The minimalist case is also MagSafe compatible. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Casetify Casetify iPhone 18 Pro Max MagSafe Case $64 at Amazon
Here's another classic option, available for both the Pro and Pro Max. It's shock and drop-proof, and incldues an opening for a phone lanyard or strap. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Casetify Casetify iPhone 18 Pro Max Ripple MagSafe Case $56 at Amazon
Looking for a case to match the new burgundy color? Casetify's MagSafe Ripple case provides extra protection — and extra color-matching. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Casetify Casetify Cloud case for iPhone 18 Pro $52 at Amazon
This Casetify iPhone 18 Pro Max case not only looks funky (that's a good thing), but it also has extra padding and bumpers to protect the phone's cameras and display. It comes in white, pink, and blue. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Torras Torras Clear iPhone 18 Pro Case $11.02 at Amazon
$13.99 Save $2.97 If you like the color of your new burgundy or glacier blue iPhone 18 Pro, then don't cover it up. This affordable iPhone case protects your phone without hurting your wallet, too. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: ESR ESR Clear MagSafe Compatible iPhone 18 Pro Case $14.99 at Amazon
Looking for an affordable clear case that works with MagSafe? Try ESR's straightforward clear case, which will still protect your phone against sudden drops. ESR promises military-grade drop protection. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: PopSockets PopSockets iPhone 18 Pro Case Mirror Abalone $40 at PopSockets
Looking for something a little funky? PopSockets has some of the best iPhone 18 Pro case designs, and they obviously fit great with PopSocket phone grips, too. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Pela Pela iPhone 18 Pro Case Navy Stripes $49.99 at Amazon
Pela has a huge selection of iPhone 18 cases on Amazon, and the company uses eco-friendly, plant-based materials in its phone cases. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Moft Moft Pink iPhone 18 Pro Max Case $42.49 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $7.50 Here at Mashable, we strongly believe that every new generation of iPhones should come with a pink color option. Until Apple hears our prayers, you can get this pink case, which will look great with the new glacier blue iPhone 18 Pro. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Velvet Caviar Velvet Caviar Jelly Glow Aura iPhone 18 Pro Case $39.99 at Amazon
It's giving pastel, it's giving Lisa Frank, it's giving 90s tie-dye. (It's also giving drop protection and MagSafe.) Shop Now SEE ALSO: T-Mobile is giving away the Apple iPhone 18 Pro for free — how to claim Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max Clear Case with MagSafe $49 at Amazon
Apple's official phone cases aren't always the most affordable, but they are some of the best, for obvious reasons. Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Apple.com iPhone 18 Pro Max TechWoven Case with MagSafe $59 at Amazon
Apple's TechWoven cases offer a firm grip and solid protection, and you can match the case to the color of your new phone. If you want the very best iPhone 18 Pro cases, this is a very safe bet. Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Apple.com Opens in a new window Credit: Mous Mous for iPhone 18 Pro Case, Limitless Purple $74.99 at Amazon
Mous's purple iPhone 18 Pro case is definitely a splurge (it's even pricier than Apple's own cases), but just imagine how good that deep purple will look with your new burgundy phone. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Popsockets PopSockets Low-Pro 3-in-1 Grip Case $60 at Amazon
PopSockets has integrated its popular Low-Pro grips into a new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max case. It provides extra-strength magnets, a telescoping grip, and a phone kickstand in one. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Casely Casely iPhone 18 Pro Case Shell Shocked $44.95 at Amazon
If you love the look of tortoise shell accessories, which, fortunately, are not made from actual tortoises, then try this Casely case on for size. Click the link to see dozens more styles from the brand. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Casetify Casetify Dark Cherry Jelly iPhone 18 Pro Case $64 at Casetify
Here's another burgundy-themed case to match your new iPhone. The dark cherry is a near perfect match for the new iPhone color. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Smartish Smartish iPhone 18 Pro Wallet Case $29.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $5.00 Save $5 on this convenient iPhone wallet case. This product has racked up more than 60,000 reviews on Amazon. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Bellroy Bellroy Shadow iPhone 18 Pro Max Case $49 at Amazon
Bellroy is an Australian EDC and bag brand known for its tasteful accessories. This iPhone 18 Pro Max case comes in a deep black and includes a polymer camera lens cover and an adjustable wrist strap for under $50. Shop Now The top iPhone 18 Pro accessories to buy

OK, so you've reviewed the best iPhone 18 Pro cases and picked out your favorite, but you're not done yet. Apple rolled out a bunch of new accessories and cases for the iPhone 18, and brands like PopSockets have hundreds of grips, stands, wallets, and accessories.

Here are some of the top phone grips, screen protectors, and other goodies to pair with your new iPhone.

Opens in a new window Credit: Spigen Spigen GlasTR EZ FIT Screen Protector for iPhone 18 Pro $19.99 at Amazon
This screen protector comes with its own applicator so you can get the alignment and fit just right. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: PopSockets PopSockets Phone Grips for MagSafe $28.99 at Amazon
PopSockets has a ton of MagSafe-compatible phone grips in a variety of styles and colors, all conveniently available via Amazon Prime. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Kate Spade New York Kate Spade New York Magnetic Card Holder/Wallet $40 at Amazon
This Kate Spade iPhone accessory has enough room for some cash and cards, and it attaches magnetically to your iPhone. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Torras Torras MiniMag Power Bank 10,000mAh for iPhone 18 Pro $49.99 at Amazon
If you watch a lot of video or use your cameras a lot, then this portable charger will be a lifesaver. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Octobuddy Octobuddy Magnet Suction Grip $29.99 at Amazon
The Octobuddy went mega-viral among creators filming their own content, and it's a very convenient way to capture the perfect hands-free shot. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: PopSockets PopSockets Suction Phone Grip for MagSafe $23.99 at Amazon
$35 Save $11.01 Pssst... PopSocket's answer to the Octobuddy is on sale over at Amazon. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Wrist Strap for iPhone $29 at Apple
This is one of the most affordable products you'll find on the Apple website. Match the color to your new iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone FineWoven Wallet with MagSafe $59 at Amazon
Apple's FineWoven MagSafe Wallet comes in nine different colors. Apple shows the bright pink magenta color with the new burgundy iPhone, but we're not sold on that color combo. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Hikawa Grip & Stand for iPhone (MagSafe Compatible) $54.95 at Apple
We've never been quite sure what to make of this Hikawa phone grip, available only at the Apple Store. It's definitely stylish. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Mkeke Mkeke Screen Protector for iPhone 18 Pro (3-Pack) $9.99 at Amazon
$16.99 Save $7.00 This screen protector pack features laser-cut 9H tempered glass. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Nano Magnetic Power Bank, 5,000mAh $54.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $5 Finally, we have one more recommendation: This mini magnetic power pank from Anker, on sale now. This device wirelessly charges your phone whenever you're suffering from low-battery anxiety. Get Deal

At Dev Day 2026, OpenAI's annual tech conference, the company made more than 20 announcements, but none bigger than the launch of Dots, always-on AI agents "built to handle everything."

The launch of Dots comes shortly after the launch of Apple's new Siri AI app and, more recently, Meta's Muse AI. Muse has jumped to the top of the app store charts. Like Muse, OpenAI said that each user's Dot runs on its own private and secure cloud computer, and also like Muse, Dots comes with cute little guys as its mascot.

"Dots are frontier intelligence that have your back," reads an announcement blog post from OpenAI. "Powered by GPT‑6 Astra, they have their own cloud computer, learn from feedback over time, and can work towards your goals 24/7. Through our ecosystem of plugins, they can readily connect to over 4,000 apps, giving them the tools to help wherever you need them."

Credit: OpenAI

In recent weeks, AI industry leaders have laid out a vision in which everyone will have their own personal AI agent handling all manner of tasks. Agentic AI has progressed rapidly in 2026 with the introduction of OpenClaw (originally known as Clawdbot, then Moltbot). As Mashable has reported, AI agents with control over a user's apps, devices, and data can accomplish a wide variety of tasks, but the greater their access, the greater the potential cybersecurity risk.

Just last week, a group of large banks warned that as customers hand over their devices and financial information to AI agents such as Dots, OpenClaw, and Muse, there is a growing risk of AI-enabled scams and fraud.

How do Dots work?

OpenAI announced that Dots will operate on its own private cloud, meaning users won't have to set up their AI agent on a local device.

"Dots can do nearly anything using their own cloud computer, their own browser, and the apps you’ve connected. You can open your dot’s computer at any time to inspect its work. Dots can connect to other devices in addition to their own, and you can also give your dot permission to connect and use your laptop, where it can then be useful directly alongside you."

OpenAI said that guardrails are built into the AI agents to protect users from "harmful behavior." In addition, OpenAI said that a monitoring system will be on guard of safety concerns, allowing the company to pause a Dot's work.

Before a Dot takes a sensitive action, such as changing a password, the company's auto-review⁠ system will check in with the user. Companies will also be able to create custom dots to serve their organization's needs.

Who can try Dots? Credit: OpenAI

OpenAI said that Dots would begin rolling out immediately, but the new AI agents will only be available on the company's $100/month Pro plan and for Business Premium users. Dots will not be available in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the UK, OpenAI said. (Siri AI faces similar geographic restrictions due to Europe's stricter AI regulations.)

Customers on Pro and Business Premium plans will have access to their first Dot at no extra cost. In addition, OpenAI said that conversations with Dots will not count toward users' ChatGPT usage limits. However, on an FAQ page, the company clarified this is only in effect "for the next month".

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.

Singapore's government is trying its hand at matchmaking again.

The country's Government Technology Agency (GovTech) has launched FirstDate, a pilot dating service for singles aged 21 to 35. For now, it's open only to public officers, according to the service's website. Applications close Oct. 5.

FirstDate is designed as an alternative to endless swiping. Instead of browsing a stream of profiles, users fill out a questionnaire about their interests, habits, values, and preferences. The service then sends them one match per cycle (the time it takes to mutually accept and presumably meet up). Each match includes a compatibility score, a brief description of the person, and a personal note.

SEE ALSO: The best hookup apps for 2026: I swiped until my thumb hurt

The matching relies on the Gale-Shapley algorithm, a well-known mathematical method for pairing people based on their ranked preferences. It's the same approach used in some school admissions and medical residency matching systems. Most notably, the Match Group-owned Hinge also uses a version of it for its app — and Hinge is the top dating app in Singapore, according to SimilarWeb, followed by Tinder and Bumble.

Once matched, both people receive a text message and have 72 hours to accept the match. Contact details are exchanged only if both say yes. Couples who meet up can try "Date Quests," suggested activities meant to break the ice. Afterward, users get a short survey asking how things went, including whether they actually met in person. GovTech's site acknowledges that compatibility on paper doesn't guarantee chemistry.

Every account is verified through Singpass, the national digital ID system, which is meant to weed out fake profiles. A user's profile is only visible to their match. GovTech says user data complies with government security standards and won't be sold or shared with third parties except where required or permitted by law. Users can deactivate their accounts and request that their data be deleted.

The pilot arrives as Singapore's birth rate hits a new low, according to the Singaporean newspaper The Straits Times. The country's total fertility rate fell to 0.87 children per woman in 2025, down from 1.24 a decade earlier. In April, the government announced a new workgroup tasked with addressing falling birth rates, which is expected to report its findings by early 2027, The Straits Times reported.

It's also not the first time the government has played matchmaker. In 1984, Singapore set up the Social Development Unit to help university graduates meet and marry. Its successor, the Social Development Network, shut down its website in 2023. More recently, the Ministry of Social and Family Development helped organize For Real Fest, a Gen Z friendship festival that started in 2024 and was pitched as a response to youth loneliness, according to The Straits Times.

Whether FirstDate expands beyond the civil service will likely depend on how the pilot goes. For now, GovTech is asking its early users to tell it whether anything sparked.

The retro aesthetic audio brand Nothing released its first pair of over-ear headphones just over a year ago, and already, they're back with improvements.

The brand announced its latest flagship product, the Nothing Headphone (1) Pro, on Sept. 28. This will be the second over-ear headphones release from Nothing this year, following March's budget-friendly Nothing Headphone (a), which I found to be a more well-rounded and better value pair of headphones than the initial launch.

The Headphone (1) Pro, though, show some serious potential. Though I've only spent a few days with the headphones so far, I have some initial thoughts, alongside everything else to know about Nothing's newest release.

Nothing Headphone (1) Pro $399 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Nothing Nothing Headphone (1) Pro: Price and specs

The Nothing Headphone (1) Pro cost $399, putting them $100 over the asking price of the Headphone (1) upon launch. The specs are as follows:

• Drivers: Bass dynamic driver, precision dynamic driver, and xMEMS driver

• Active noise cancellation: Adaptive, powered by 10 microphones

• Battery life: 30 hours with ANC on, 68 hours with ANC off

• Quick charge: Two hours of listening from a five-minute charge

• Spatial audio: Yes, five modes of dynamic spatial audio (standard, Studio B by Metropolis Studios, live house, club, concert hall)

• IP rating: IP52

• Multipoint: Yes

• Connection: Bluetooth 6.1, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair

• Colors: Black and white

Nothing Headphone (1) Pro vs. Nothing Headphone (1)

While the Nothing Headphone (1) Pro retain the same distinctive retro-rectangular look of the Headphone (1), the brand brought some updates that separate the newer model as the premium one. For instance, the transparent part of the ear cup is made of shatter- and scratch-resistant glass, while a combination of titanium and aluminum provides for a lighter overall product.

Last year's Nothing Headphone (1) are similar in appearances, but the brand made key changes for the update model. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Nothing also claims to have upped the noise cancellation power by 40 percent, thanks to the 10-microphone system with more optimally placed mics. Unlike the older headphones, all the microphones are placed inward on the ear cup, meaning less interference from wind and airflow.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best noise-cancelling headphones we use, love, and recommend

The headline with these headphones, however, likely lies with the broad listening experience. The triple driver architecture isn't one too common on headphones, but it's designed to provide the most robust listening experience. In the companion app, you have the option in the equalizer to tune the main drivers or the precision driver specifically.

In addition to the drivers, Nothing included five different modes of dynamic spatial audio, optimized for different genres of music.

If you're into audio editing, music mixing, or any aspect of audio production, Nothing also included a Flat EQ mode, which is designed to provide the most faithful reproduction of the original audio as possible. The headphones also feature an on-ear switch for this mode on the interior of the left ear cup.

Speaking of on-ear switches, it's worth noting that something that hasn't really changed between the two headphones is the excellent on-ear controls.

Nothing Headphone (1) Pro: First impressions The improved comfort on this design is a huge plus. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Though I haven't had much time with these headphones so far, immediately I could tell they were more comfortable than the Headphone (1), which I could not wear comfortably for more than an hour. Nothing claims the Pro headphones have 50 percent softer ear cushions and an overall lighter frame, both of which feel accurate and make the experience of using these headphones significantly more pleasant.

I've yet to put them through the wringer on the ANC front, but claims of improvements there also feel accurate so far — even the standard sounds of my apartment, like my own typing and the AC running, are basically impossible to hear when I'm streaming audio with the ANC on.

What I'm really looking forward to testing extensively is the robust sound profile. These headphones offer an impressive amount of customization, from the custom equalizer, presets, spatial audio options, and flat EQ mode. As a freelance podcast producer and editor, I'm particularly interested in trying out that last mode against my usual editing headphones.

Ultimately, I'm struggling to come up with critiques in my first days of testing, which I didn't experience with the Headphone (1) — we'll see how that develops over the rest of my testing period.

Nothing Headphone (1) Pro: Where to buy

The Nothing Headphone (1) are available to purchase for $399 at Nothing's website, Amazon, and Best Buy.

Where to buy the Nothing Headphone (1) Pro Amazon Nothing Headphone (1) Pro $399 Shop Now Best Buy Nothing Headphone (1) Pro $399 Shop Now Nothing.tech Nothing Headphone (1) Pro $399 Shop Now

TL;DR: Watch Mexico vs. Peru in an International Friendly for free on TV Azteca. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Mexico suffered a heartbreaking exit at this summer's World Cup at the hands of England, but now the focus switches to the next generation of stars. Gilberto Mora is probably the biggest talent in Mexico right now, and he helped his side secure a 1-1 draw with Colombia last week. Next, Mexico face Peru at the Sports Illustrated Stadium.

If you're interested in watching Mexico vs. Peru in an International Friendly from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Mexico vs. Peru?

Mexico vs. Peru in an International Friendly kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on Sept. 29. This fixture takes place at the Sports Illustrated Stadium.

How to watch Mexico vs. Peru for free

Mexico vs. Peru in an International Friendly is available to live stream for free on TV Azteca.

TV Azteca is geo-restricted to Mexico, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Mexico, meaning you can live stream Mexico vs. Peru for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Mexico vs. Peru for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit TV Azteca

5. Watch Mexico vs. Peru 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 they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Mexico vs. Peru without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for TV Azteca?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Mexico

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Mexico vs. Peru for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Earlier this September, Channel 4 released an NSFW clip from its upcoming comedy It Gets Worse that set the internet ablaze.

SEE ALSO: NSFW clip of 'daddy' Andrew Scott has internet in a chokehold

In the clip, series creator Leo Reich plays Ethan, an unsure 24-year-old who hooks up with a therapist (Andrew Scott). Scott's therapist tells Ethan "you're just a hole for daddy" before spitting in his mouth, reigniting every Fleabag viewer's Hot Priest thirst in the process. Immediately, the internet wanted to know: How could they watch more?

Where is It Gets Worse streaming?

It Gets Worse is set to premiere on Channel 4 in the UK on Oct. 14, coinciding with its premiere at the BFI London Film Festival. American audiences will have to wait a bit longer to catch it, as It Gets Worse hits Paramount+ in early November.

Produced by A24, the series follows three young people spiraling about their worsening adulthoods. In addition to Scott, it features a stacked list of guest stars, including Lena Dunham and Amelia Dimoldenberg.

It Gets Worse is one of three British series from A24 that will call Paramount+ home, the streaming service announced today. The other two series are Major Players, an original drama about two girls hoping to start a women's soccer team, and The Ministry of Time, an adaptation of Kaliane Bradley’s bestselling novel about a civil servant who must help a time-traveling Victorian-era polar explorer get used to the modern world. Neither series has a streaming date yet.

It Gets Worse premieres on Paramount+ in early November.

Updated on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 12:40 p.m. ET — Around 10:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday morning, Spotify confirmed that it was experiencing an outage. The company wrote on its X page: "We’re aware of some issues right now and are checking them out!"

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

No further information was available on the Spotify support site; however, a notice reads, "The wait time to speak to an advisor is longer than usual."

Meanwhile, DownDetector shows that user error reports for Spotify are still elevated but have been dropping steadily since around 12:15 p.m. ET.

If Spotify won’t play your morning playlist, you’re far from alone.

More than 15,000 people in the U.S. had reported problems with the streaming service by 10:06 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Sept. 29, according to DownDetector.

The problems appear to vary. Some users can play music but can’t search for songs or artists; others are seeing a "Something went wrong" message or having trouble logging in. Reports describe issues on both mobile and desktop, though the app may still work for some listeners.

Credit: Screenshot/Spotify

There’s no confirmed cause or estimated time for a fix yet. If Spotify isn’t working for you, trying its web player or another device may help, depending on which part of the service is affected. We’ll update this story as more information becomes available.

TL;DR: Watch Spain vs. Croatia in the Nations League for free on RTVE. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Spain kicked off their UEFA Nations League campaign with a victory over England. The World Cup winners now face Croatia at home. It's going to be another challenging fixture for Luis de la Fuente's side.

If you're interested in watching Spain vs. Croatia in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Spain vs. Croatia?

Spain vs. Croatia in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Sept. 29. This fixture takes place at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.

How to watch Spain vs. Croatia for free

Spain vs. Croatia in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on RTVE.

RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can live stream Spain vs. Croatia for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Spain vs. Croatia for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit RTVE

5. Watch Spain vs. Croatia 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 they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Spain vs. Croatia without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTVE?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Spain

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Spain vs. Croatia for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Czechia vs. England in the Nations League for free on ITVX. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League continues this week with the second round of fixtures, including Czechia vs. England. Both sides are looking to bounce back after losing their opening fixtures. England will be the favorites to win this matchup, but there are no easy fixtures in this competition.

If you're interested in watching Czechia vs. England in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Czechia vs. England?

Czechia vs. England in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Sept. 29. This fixture takes place at the Fortuna Arena.

How to watch Czechia vs. England for free

Czechia vs. England in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can live stream Czechia vs. England for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Czechia vs. England for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Czechia vs. England 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 they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Czechia vs. England without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport 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 secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Czechia vs. England for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Tom Cruise has built his long and wildly successful career as an A-list movie star on his irrefutable charisma, incredible stunt-work capabilities, and a refusal to age. From early dramas like Top Gun, A Few Good Men, and Jerry Maguire, he defined the American hero, fighting the good fight in the face of death, failure, and a bellowing Jack Nicholson. Across Mission: Impossible movies, he created a brand that would define his legacy as an unstoppable force at the box office worldwide. But one honor he hasn't yet earned is an Academy Award. 

Make no mistake. He's been nominated for an acting Oscar three times — twice for Best Actor (Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire) and once for Best Supporting Actor (Magnolia). (That he was snubbed completely for Interview with the Vampire is an outrage that still echoes across the decades.) And while the Academy gave him an Honorary Award in 2026, Digger feels intensely as if it's Cruise's big swing to win at last. And I cannot imagine Iñárritu's latest will earn Cruise Oscar gold. 

On paper, it could. Iñárritu's Biutiful, Birdman, and The Revenant led to Academy Award nominations for Javier Bardem and Michael Keaton, and a win for Leonardo DiCaprio. However, his last film, Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths, received less praise and only an Oscar nod for cinematography. And Digger, despite its energetic promotional campaign, has more in common with Bardo than Birdman in terms of the director's indulgences. 

Tom Cruise plays way against type in Digger.  Credit: Seoju Park / Warner Bros. Entertainment

To his credit, Cruise bounds out of his comfort zone in this role. His signature swagger and good looks are caked in head-to-toe prosthetics that make him look older, fatter, and balding. And to the credit of the hair, make-up, and visual effects team, the transformation is seamless. Reminiscent of his makeover as a surly producer in the showbiz satire Tropic Thunder, Cruise doesn't hold back in playing an American titan who is also a raging asshole. 

Digger Rockwell is an oil magnate who has earned unimaginable wealth and privilege through drilling. But when one of his sites in Greenland causes an ecological disaster that could have massive fallout, he's thrown into damage control with his green-energy-pushing sister Emma (Sandra Hüller), an ornery American president (John Goodman), a high-strung scientist (Riz Ahmed), and a barrage of wide-eyed yes-men played by celebrated character actors including Michael Stuhlbarg and Burn Gorman. 

Like Adam McKay's 2021 satire Don't Look Up, Digger becomes a satire about climate change, studded with famous faces, including Emma D'Arcy as a put-upon assistant and Jesse Plemons as a Digger admirer. Unfortunately, also like Don't Look Up, Digger thinks itself wildly clever, when it's really a preachy lecture with splashy cinema spectacle. Far from an effective argument about the graveness of our current situation, it plays as a finger-wagging scold of the common man for presumed apathy, while the film is doggedly not about the common man, but about the 1% who trades in the future of the planet for financial success now. 

However, even if the snag of snarling politics doesn't put off Academy voters, Cruise's attempts at comedy might. It's not that Cruise can't be funny. Again, look to Tropic Thunder, Interview with the Vampire, Risky Business, and even Rain Man. It's that Digger is astonishingly unfunny. It's a farce without jokes, save fart jokes. The screenplay — which lists a handful of screenwriters, including Iñárritu — achieves absurdity, but rarely laughs. For instance, the film begins with Digger caring for his very, very close-to-death cat Maggie, who is less an animal and more a body-horror puppet of festering wounds, clumpy fur, and a facial expression that meows, "Kill me." The prolonged attention Digger gives this cat as she defecates on his bed, his silk pajamas, and anything else he sets her near, is probably intended to be funny. But it's bizarre, as if the whimsy of Wes Anderson had rotted into a grotesque mockery or the brilliance of Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove were smothered in scatological humor. 

Tom Cruise is outshone by Digger's ensemble.  Credit: Seoju Park / Warner Bros. Entertainment

Aside from Digger being preachy, gross, and annoying in its cynicism, it's also afflicted by putting a leading man in a character actor role. Yes, Digger is the lead. Yes, Cruise slides into a thick Texan accent as earnestly as he does the prosthetics. But the churlishness that's meant to be both revolting and compelling in this clownish carnage machine rings false. It's hard to watch this and not imagine what Paul Giamatti or Stephen Root or even co-stars Goodman or Stuhlbarg might have done with such a role. 

In their bit parts, they are more engaging than Cruise manages to be. Goodman is in his comfort zone, hollering wrath and vengeance as he has in a slew of terrific Coen Bros movies. Stuhlbarg, who can break your heart with one monologue (as he did in Call Me by Your Name), brings subtle humor as a feckless vice president. Hüller is explosive as the only family member who can outshout Digger. Plemons is satisfyingly creepy, while D'Arcy brings screen presence and nuance to a barely written role. But Ahmed is outstanding. 

Perhaps no surprise as the British Pakistani actor has a fine ear for satire, as shown in Four Lions and Nightcrawler. Ahmed doesn't go too big, instead grounding Cruise's showy performance with his sturdy, silent disdain. When his Dr. Ganesh finally has a moment to deliver a monologue of his own, it's both funny, heartbreaking, and an excellent example of acting drunk. If there's an acting nom coming for Digger, my money would be on Ahmed (who was previously nominated in 2021 for his superb performance in Sound of Metal). 

Of course, there will be Cruise defenders who will argue the too-muchness of his Digger is exactly the point. Iñárritu's film tries to lampshade its own outrageousness with layers of jolting reveals that urge the audience to reconsider much of what they've seen. But Digger's convoluted construction ultimately mocks an art form that other contenders this season celebrate. It's a movie that works hard to be clever, and in doing so, loses sight of being interesting, entertaining, or even challenging. It just becomes a barrage of ideas, and monologues, and plot twists that try the audience's patience while chiding them for their presumed apathy. 

Credit: Seoju Park / Warner Bros. Entertainment

In the end, Digger will certainly bewilder and will likely prove polarizing. The one place where I suspect Digger's detractors and fans will agree is that its sound design and production design are incredible. 

In the sound design, Maximilian Behrens brings an eerie heightened humor into a war room scenario, where the sound of yes-men turning their chairs is full of the creaks of wood and the squeaks of metal. In a pivotal moment of human history, these men are so silent that the sounds of their luxurious setting echo loudly; it's a scathing and comedic condemnation. Later, the sound of eating sushi plays as a squishy reminder of mankind's recklessly ravenous domination of the planet. 

Production designer Dennis Gassner creates a world around Digger that is preposterously bedecked in signs of wealth and excess that also echo this theme. Taxidermied animals line not only his walls, but also his ceilings. His boots aren't leather but snakeskin, or perhaps something more exotic. His chosen paintings are of a lion mauling its prey. All of these keenly build the story of Digger Rockwell. 

This makes Digger so frustrating. Iñárritu clearly had a big budget to work with, and he used it toward a dazzling production design and assembling an incredible cast. But this revered director led his movie star astray in a self-indulgent, ugly, and cynical parable that's sure to irritate rather than educate, entertain, or ignite change. And actually, that might have been Iñárritu's point all along. And damn, I'd hate if that's the world we live in, where even one of the most celebrated living directors thinks art is useless in effecting change. 

Digger opens in theaters on Oct 2.