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Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a big deal.

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 October 9, 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.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

It's huge.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.

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...

MAJOR

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.

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

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 yesterday's Wordle.

One of the most anticipated panels at New York Comic Con 2026 was Marvel's "Up Next From Marvel Television and Marvel Animation" panel, and for good reason. Marvel announced new series, teased upcoming seasons of popular shows, and even surprised attendees with the entire first episode of VisionQuest.

Brad Winderbaum, head of Marvel Television and Marvel Animation, took the stage with moderator Brandon Davis to unleash a whole host of announcements, including projects stretching until 2029. From more Daredevil: Born Again to a sneak peek of X-Men '97 Season 3, here's everything Marvel Television and Marvel Animation announced at NYCC 2026.

SEE ALSO: We watched 'VisionQuest's first episode at New York Comic Con. It's a trip. Zodiac Credit: Marvel Television

Winderbaum revealed the logo for a new live-action spy thriller, Zodiac, set for a 2028 release. Winderbaum was tight-lipped about the show's plot and casting, but revealed that Zodiac would begin shooting in London this spring. He did urge fans to pay attention to the logo, saying: "If you're a fan of the comics, there is a lot hidden in that logo."

How to watch: Zodiac hits Disney+ in 2028.

Marvel Zombies

If you want more of Marvel's gory animated series Marvel Zombies, you're in luck. Winderbaum revealed that audiences are in for three new two-part specials of Marvel Zombies over the next three years, each premiering on Halloween. 2027's installment is titled Marvel Zombies: The Winter Soldier, all about Bucky Barnes. 2028's installment is Marvel Zombies: The Fist of Khonshu, hinting at a Moon Knight connection. Finally, 2029's installment is Marvel Zombies: The Last Guardian.

"I won't tell you who the Last Guardian is, but it's very, very exciting," Winderbaum said.

How to watch: Marvel Zombies is now streaming on Disney+, with new installments slated for Halloween of 2027, 2028, and 2029.

X-Men '97

Marvel's animated TV party continued with a teaser for X-Men '97 Season 3, which revealed that anti-mutant sentiments are at an all-time high.

In the teaser, a young mutant tries to cross a heavily guarded border, but she's denied entry due to not having papers. As she tries to find an alternate route, Sentinels attack her. Thankfully, she's saved by a group of mutants, but they're not the X-Men.

"We're the Brotherhood," they tell her.

The clip also showed Professor X and Storm driving to Rogue and Gambit's lavish Central Park wedding. On the way there, they talk about how President Graydon Creed has taken drastic anti-mutant measures that they'll have to fight tooth and nail against.

However, the atmosphere is much lighter at the wedding party, which featured cameos from Deadpool, She-Hulk, Daredevil, and many more.

How to watch: The first two seasons of X-Men '97 are now streaming on Disney+. Season 3 premieres in 2027.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2

Marvel couldn't make a New York appearance without talking about Queens' own Spider-Man, right? Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man showrunner Jeff Trammell took the stage to tease Season 2, saying that if Season 1 was about "setting the board," then Season 2 is about "playing the game."

Trammell revealed a poster as well as an extended clip, which introduced a fancy gala attended by Harry Osborne. First, he encounters gossip reporter Eddie Brock, aka Venom. Then, he's taken hostage by Dr. Otto Octavius, aka Doc Ock. Spider-Man shows up soon after and the two engage in a quippy fight that takes them out of the gala and into the New York skyline. After the clip, attendees watched a trailer for the upcoming season, which included appearances from Gwen Stacy and Daredevil, as well as a look at Peter Parker getting taken over by the alien symbiote.

How to watch: Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2 hits Disney+ Jan. 13.

Daredevil: Born Again Season 3

Another New York Marvel hero got his moment on the NYCC stage this year, as Charlie Cox arrived to promote the third and final season of Daredevil: Born Again.

Cox didn't arrive alone, as the panel also acted as a reunion for Marvel's The Defenders. Krysten Ritter, who plays Jessica Jones, and Finn Jones, who plays Danny Rand, aka the Iron Fist, joined Cox onstage to hype up their roles in Season 3. Mike Colter, who plays Luke Cage, was unable to attend NYCC, but he will also appear in the season.

Cox, Ritter, and Jones also unveiled the trailer for the upcoming season, which offered an action-packed look at Matt Murdock's (Cox) time in prison. At one point, he tears up his prison jumpsuit to make a new mask, then proceeds to beat down every other prisoner in his vicinity in what looks to be another standout Daredevil set piece.

When asked about what he hoped fans would take away from these final episodes, Cox emphasized that he didn't think this would be the end. "All I'll say is that I imagine the Save Daredevil campaign will be gearing up for round 2," he said.

How to watch: Daredevil: Born Again Seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming on Disney+. Season 3 is set for release in 2027.

VisionQuest

Marvel closed out its panel with a look at its next high-profile series, VisionQuest. The show concludes the WandaVision trilogy that kicked off with WandaVision and continued with Agatha All Along.

Showrunner Terry Matalas and series stars Paul Bettany, James Spader, Emily Hampshire, and Ruaridh Mollica took to the stage to discuss the mind-bending series, which sees synthezoid Vision (Bettany) undergoing a serious identity crisis. It also sees the return of Avengers: Age of Ultron villain Ultron (Spader), now appearing in a human avatar.

When asked about his experience returning to the MCU, Spader summed it up succinctly: "Fun."

Mollica also discussed his role as Vision and Wanda Maximoff's son, Tommy.

"Tommy Maximoff finally reunites with his father — and his grandfather!" he added, ribbing Spader.

As for what WandaVision questions fans could hope to see answered in VisionQuest? "Pretty much all of them," Matalas said.

The group showed off a trailer for the series, but that was small potatoes compared to what came next: a surprise screening of the whole first episode. For more specifics on that, you can read our reaction here.

How to watch: VisionQuest premieres Oct. 14 on Disney+.

There are several reasons why the fast-food chain In-N-Out Burger is a cult favorite, including immaculate restaurants, an affordable menu, secret items, and made-to-order burgers.

The insistence on serving fresh double-doubles, fries, and shakes is the reason In-N-Out doesn’t participate in online food delivery services like DoorDash or GrubHub. But, as reported by L.A. Material, a thriving Black Market exists for delivered In-N-Out, courtesy of Facebook Marketplace. The website found numerous drivers across Southern California who were willing to bring In-N-Out to one's doorstep, usually for an additional fee ranging from $20 to $50.

Some drivers demanded cash up front, which is far from ideal when purchasing goods on Facebook Marketplace.

SEE ALSO: Burger King Royal Perks members get Walmart+ for 40% off: How to claim this clever Peacock hack

When L.A. Material placed an In-N-Out order with someone named (or claiming to be named) Adrian Vazquez of Glendora, California, a far-flung suburb of Los Angeles, the purported driver demanded $50, with half of that upfront. The reporter sent the $25 via Zelle — and then was ghosted by the "driver."

In-N-Out — a private company primarily on the West Coast, and with a growing presence in the South — never responded to L.A. Material's request for comment on the Black Market burgers.

In-N-Out owner and CEO Lynsi Snyder recently reiterated her opposition to online ordering: "Part of what makes In-N-Out and the experience so special is the interaction and customer service we're able to give. And so the mobile ordering will definitely take a piece of that away."

Marvel screened the first episode of VisionQuest at New York Comic Con today, surprising attendees of its packed "Up Next From Marvel Television and Marvel Animation" panel.

The energy was electric as audiences got an early look at the MCU's latest show, which marks the end of the loosely connected WandaVision trilogy that began with WandaVision and Agatha All Along. VisionQuest reunites viewers with synthezoid Vision (Paul Bettany) — or at least, a version of him. The Vision at the heart of VisionQuest is not technically the same Vision who was introduced in Avengers: Age of Ultron, then killed in Avengers: Infinity War, then resurrected by wife Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) in WandaVision. That iteration of Vision disappeared when Wanda released her hex on the town of Westview.

SEE ALSO: 2026 fall TV preview: Every show you should know about

Instead, VisionQuest's lead is the rebuilt version of Vision. He was originally created by S.W.O.R.D. to use as a weapon. However, when he encountered Wanda's facsimile of Vision in the WandaVision finale, he gained all of Vision's memories — both those of the dead Vision, and the recreated one — and went rogue.

If that all sounds complicated and heady, I don't blame you! But based on the first episode screened at NYCC, VisionQuest manages to move past all that dense lore and jump into something far more fascinating: a deep dive into Vision's identity crisis. Mashable was on the ground at Marvel's NYCC panel, so we've got you covered on what to expect from VisionQuest — and what we're most excited about.

VisionQuest's AI squad is an absolute delight. Orla Brady, James D'Arcy, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Lewis in "VisionQuest." Credit: Marvel Studios

VisionQuest picks up several years after the end of WandaVision. Vision lives in disguised human form, working at a pub in Edinburgh that he and Wanda used to visit when they lived there. (Or really, Wanda and a past version of Vision.) He's trying to gain a better understanding of humanity, as well as his own inherited memories of living among them.

When he's not making awkward small talk with pub patrons, Vision retreats into his simulated mind palace: a vast mansion staffed by other AI from across the MCU, now appearing in human avatars. He's downloaded them and set them up in his own quantum processor, which basically means they live in his head rent-free. In return, they carry out jobs of their own. Iron Man's J.A.R.V.I.S. (James D'Arcy) is basically Vision's butler and security. Avengers: Age of Ultron's F.R.I.D.A.Y. (Orla Brady) gives him tips on how to socialize. Spider-Man: Far From Home's E.D.I.T.H. (Emily Hampshire) is in charge of educating Vision on how humans have fun. (It apparently involves a lot of daredevil stunts.)

SEE ALSO: 'Avengers: Endgame Encore' sets up 'Doomsday' with 4 new scenes. Here's what happens.

The resulting dynamic is downright charming, with Vision and his AI buddies coming across as friendly, if occasionally beleaguered, housemates. And what a house it is, full of eye-popping colors and a barrage of visual puns. (Vision stocks the house with simulated food, including bags of Microchips and jars of Visimite.) Thanks to its retro stylings, the house echoes the hyper-specific visual storytelling of WandaVision.

Ultron's return to the MCU is triumphant (and sassy). James Spader and Paul Bettany in "VisionQuest." Credit: Marvel Studios

One of the biggest headlines around VisionQuest is the return of Avengers villain Ultron (James Spader). Based on the first episode alone, that return does not disappoint.

Right from the jump, VisionQuest's Ultron is a sullen scene-stealer. He lives in the attic of Vision's house, blasting loud music to annoy everyone below, just like a moody teen. He hurls insults at simulated food delivery drivers, and when that's not enough, he hurls grenades. He's a fount of withering one-liners, at one point calling the house's decor "the psilocybin collection from IKEA," and he's also decided that his human avatar might be a "hat guy." That means Spader spends a good chunk of the first episode rocking a jaunty top hat, the perfect accessory to Ultron's malicious whimsy. With Ultron in human form, Spader gets free rein to chew VisionQuest's scenery, and the show is better for it.

SEE ALSO: Everything we know about Marvel's 'VisionQuest'

Ultron also pushes Vision to consider the more contemplative themes of the show: questions of free will, of the links between the old Visions' memories and this current Vision's identity, of Vision's complicated relationship with humanity. That's something Ultron himself still appears to be reckoning with. If he, like Vision, had a corporeal form and could walk among humans, he jokes that it would be a coin flip between whether he would visit the great museums of the world or launch all of humanity's missiles. It's a dark joke, but in the age of ever-accelerating AI, it certainly hits different.

VisionQuest reunites Vision with his son, Tommy. Ruaridh Mollica in "VisionQuest." Credit: Marvel Studios

Vision isn't the only WandaVision character struggling with the fallout from his time in Westview. So is one of his and Wanda's twin sons, speedster Tommy (Ruaridh Mollica).

In a storyline running parallel to Vision's quest for enlightenment, VisionQuest introduces Tommy as a roguish grifter who's able to slip into a new identity or total invisibility at a moment's notice. But when the world gets wind that Vision is still at large, he begins to experience strange flashes of a family he barely remembers, as well as glimpses of the Battle of Westview.

The fragments frighten Tommy and send him into a panic attack, marking a clear departure from how Vision processes his older selves' memories. (He watches them calmly in a home theater, although he can't bear to watch any from Westview.) Despite the contrast between how the pair reacts to their pasts, Tommy and Vision share the common experience of having strange memories that radically shift their perception of self. Based on the first episode, it will be a treat to see how VisionQuest brings these two back into one another's orbits.

VisionQuest proves Diane Morgan should be in everything.

Aside from Ultron, VisionQuest introduces another villain or two who deserve a quick shoutout. Mercenary Paladin (Todd Stashwick) makes an instant impression as a brash bounty hunter, but it's his remote handler (Diane Morgan of Philomena Cunk fame) who takes the cake. Her deadpan delivery rivals Spader's many meaty one-liners, especially when she has to say "Thanos" and "scrotum" in the same sentence, with a straight face. Forget Avengers: Doomsday; when are we getting her solo movie?

VisionQuest premieres Oct. 14 on Disney+.

TL;DR: During Deal Days, you can get an AcePDF Lifetime License for just $23.97. Sale ends Oct. 11.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acethinker AcePDF Converter & Editor: Lifetime License $23.97
$99.99 Save $76.02   Get Deal

Most PDF editors ask you to pay a monthly fee. It’s a hefty investment just to use one of the most popular file formats in the world, but there are other options. AcePDF is a popular new PDF editor that doesn’t require a monthly fee, but it usually costs $99.99 for a lifetime license.

Deal Days is a new alternative to Prime Day, and that’s how you can get an AcePDF Lifetime License on sale for just $23.97. No coupon needed.

Scanned documents are the hardest case for most PDF editors. A scanner saves each page as an image, so, to your computer, the words on it are just pixels. AcePDF uses OCR to read the shapes of those letters and turn them back into text you can select, search, and edit. Your original layout and graphics stay in place, and OCR reads text in multiple languages.

From there, you can turn a PDF into a Word, Excel, PowerPoint, HTML, text, JPG, or PNG file without breaking the layout, images, or hyperlinks. Going the other direction, you can combine Word files, spreadsheets, slides, and images into one PDF in a few clicks. For a big stack of files, batch conversion processes them together instead of one at a time.

You can also edit a PDF without converting it first. AcePDF lets you change text, add or remove images, fill in existing forms, and create new ones with text fields, checkboxes, and shapes. For reviewing drafts, you can add comments, stamps, watermarks, and arrows right on the page.

You can even reorganize existing PDFs, with tools to merge, split, rotate, and compress files. One click extracts every JPG and PNG from a document, and you can add a password to a file before sharing it or remove one you know.

PDFs can be easy. Through Oct. 11 at 11:59 p.m. PT, it’s only $23.97 to get an AcePDF Lifetime License.

Check out the rest of the Deal Days Collection before it ends.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: ChatPlayground AI Unlimited is $59.97 for life through Oct. 11, bringing 20+ AI models into one interface for side-by-side comparisons, unlimited messages, file chats, and AI image generation.

Opens in a new window Credit: ChatPlayground AI ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan) $59.97
$619 Save $559.03   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.

Through Oct. 11, a lifetime subscription is on sale for $59.97 (reg. $619) during this Deal Days sale, an alternative to Prime Day.

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 $59.97 through Oct. 11 for Deal Days and stop juggling models for good.

Click here to view more of the Deal Days collection.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Girl meets boy. Girl falls for boy's impeccable taste in music. Boy turns out to be a girl. That's the irresistible premise of The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All, the fan-favorite yuri manga making its anime debut in 2027.

At New York Comic Con on Thursday, Crunchyroll unveiled the adaptation's world premiere trailer, giving fans their first look at Aya and Mitsuki's budding romance.

Based on the manga by Sumiko Arai, The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All — affectionately called Green Yuri by its fans because of its neon color palette — follows Aya Osawa (voiced by Akari Kitō), a popular high schooler who develops a crush on the mysterious, effortlessly cool employee at her local CD shop. With his dark clothes, piercings, and encyclopedic knowledge of rock music, he's basically her dream guy. There's just one problem: He's not a guy at all.

The employee is actually Mitsuki Koga (voiced by Mariya Ise), Aya's quiet, unassuming classmate, whom she barely notices at school. Outside the classroom, however, Mitsuki has an entirely different look. And while Aya remains blissfully unaware of her crush's true identity, the two begin to bond over their shared love of music.

SEE ALSO: How social media changed what it means to be an anime fan

What starts as a case of mistaken identity gradually blossoms into something much sweeter, as Aya and Mitsuki navigate friendship, attraction, and the complicated business of figuring out their feelings.

The manga has become a favorite among romance fans, thanks in part to Arai's striking black-and-green artwork and its deep affection for rock music. Music isn't merely background noise in this story. It's the language through which Aya and Mitsuki first connect, with their shared tastes providing the foundation for a relationship neither quite knows how to define.

And fittingly for a love story built around a shared obsession with rock music, the anime has some serious grunge credentials. Nirvana's 1991 track "Breed" will serve as the opening theme, a collaboration that even has Dave Grohl's stamp of approval. In a special interview with Arai, the former Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman said he believed Kurt Cobain would have loved the series, citing its message, aesthetic, and overall vibe. After all, Cobain was never one for rigid gender norms.

Now, the question is how that distinctive visual and musical identity will translate to animation. For fans who have spent years imagining what Aya and Mitsuki's world might look and sound like in motion, the first trailer offers an exciting glimpse.

The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All is slated to premiere on January 8, 2027.

Just when you thought Apple was done with big events for the year after the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo announcement last month, the company has announced another special fête for later this month.

Apple Senior VP of Worldwide Marketing Greg Joswiak posted a video on his X account on Thursday which teased an upcoming Oct. 13 event. The video shows two women cross-stitching a rainbow Apple logo with the words "Welcome home" and the event date below it.

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

What products could Apple possibly be teasing for the event next week? It seems fairly clear that "welcome home" is referring to its Home products line. 

Some long-rumored products that will likely be unveiled at the event include the HomePad, which is an entirely new product from Apple. HomePad isn't the official name for the product, so Apple could change it. However, the product is largely called that when referring to Apple's upcoming smart display device. It's meant to act as a smart home hub, like the HomePod, but with a display. Siri AI will be a major feature on the device as well.

Apple is also expected to launch a new HomePod mini 2, its smart speaker with AI assistant features, as well as a new Apple TV 4K. There hasn't been a new HomePod device since 2023. The Apple TV streaming device line was last refreshed in 2022. So, obviously, both lines are in need of an update.

There's also a good chance that Apple will also unveil the smart home product line it has partnered with LG on.

One interesting aspect about the video Joswiak posted is the design choice for the Apple logo. The rainbow Apple logo certainly looks like a call back to the old Macintosh era. Are we looking into this too much? Or does Apple have something retro up its sleeve that it's planning to unveil too?

We'll find out on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

The best October Prime Day tech deals still live: Best AirPods deal Apple AirPods 4 $79 (save $50) Get Deal Best laptop deal Apple MacBook Air (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,099 (save $200) Get Deal Best 65-inch TV deal Hisense 65-inch E7 Cinema Series TV $579.99 (save $320) Get Deal Best Deal Under $25 Apple AirTag (2nd Gen) $24 (save $5) Get Deal Best Gaming Monitor Deal LG UltraGear 45-inch Curved Gaming Monitor $884.99 (save $815) Get Deal Best coffee machine deal Ninja Luxe Café Premier Espresso Machine $499.95 (save $100.05) Get Deal Best Fitness Tracker Deal Garmin Epix Pro Smartwatch $529.99 (save $470) Get Deal

Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale is officially over, but not all of the deals are. If you missed out, there's still time to find some great savings. Particularly with tech, because some of the best tech deals are still clinging on to those low prices, just waiting to be snagged by last-minute bargain-hunters.

Mashable’s reporters and editors test tech year-round. For Prime Big Deal Days, we paired those hands-on findings with price-history checks to help you decide what’s worth buying, which upgrades are worth paying for, and where a cheaper model will do the job. We’ve been looking for discounts on devices we’d actually recommend: earbuds that stay comfortable during a commute, e-readers with responsive page turns, and creator cameras that help you stand out from the crowd. And below is the best of what's left on offer.

SEE ALSO: The 20+ best Prime Day deals on MicroSDs, SSDs, and hard drives: Our favorite deals to beat RAMageddon

Our top picks include $79 AirPods, a MacBook that's $200 cheaper than usual, and $80 off Bose’s second-generation QuietComfort Headphones. With the sale now over, there's no time to lose — now's the moment to get those last-chance deals.

How do we pick deals? A low price doesn’t automatically make a good deal. We prioritize products recommended in Mashable’s reviews and buying guides, then use price-tracking tools such as camelcamelcamel to check whether the discount is unusually good. We also compare other retailers’ listings rather than assuming Amazon has the lowest price.

When we’ve tested a product, we explain what stood out in actual use. We also flag Prime membership requirements, third-party sellers, and other conditions that could change the value of an offer. With all this in mind, let's break down the top tech deals still available after the official close of Prime Day.

The best AirPods deals

The best AirPods deal is actually available at Walmart, not Amazon, as part of Walmart's competing deals. This for the AirPods 4, a budget pick for iPhone users who prefer earbuds without ANC.

Just to reiterate, this deal is for the version that doesn't have active noise cancellation. In our AirPods 4 review, we tested the ANC model, but the buds have the same design. We found they stayed secure through flights and a treadmill run, although our reviewer experienced some discomfort after roughly eight hours of wear. The AirPods 4 reached $69 last Black Friday, so $79 isn’t their all-time low. But it is the lowest price so far in 2026 — and a reasonable buy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $79.99
$129 Save $49.01   Get Deal Save on Apple's newest MacBooks

We've been waiting for good deals on Apple MacBooks, and Amazon has finally delivered over October Prime Day, with both the MacBook Air and Pro marked down.

If you're a professional creative, developer, or AI enthusiast who needs a compact new laptop for work, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better option than the 14-inch, M5 Max-powered MacBook Pro. The "base" configuration with 36GB of RAM and 2TB of storage got a $500 price increase back in June, which bumped it from $3,599 to $4,099. But right now, Amazon has it on sale for just $3,499 — a $600 savings.

If you don't need the powerful MacBook Pro's features or the price tag, you can go with the M5 MacBook Air while it's on sale for $1,099, or $200 off the normal price. Not only is it highly portable, but it also uses the M5 chip, and it stays in a moderate lane without going wild with features not everyone needs. It's a great buy for students or professionals.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,099 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $200   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) $3,499 at Amazon
$4,099 Save $600   Get Deal A tasty deal on a top-end espresso machine

Ninja is now well established as one of the most desirable brands in kitchen appliances. While you probably associate them with air fryers, this espresso machine is just as slick — a 3-in-1 coffee maker that serves up espresso, cold brew, and drip coffee, plus lots of variations in between (lattes, macchiatos, cappuccinos, and more).

It comes with a built-in frother for turning milk into creamy microfoam, as well as a conical grinder and smart technology that guides you through the coffee-making process.

At $499.95, it's just 95 cents from its lowest-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: SharkNinja Ninja Luxe Café Premier Espresso Machine $499.95
$599.99 Save $100.04   Get Deal Google Pixel 11 Pro on sale

Apple customers were out of luck with October Prime Day smartphone deals, but Android users have enjoyed plenty of options. If you're looking for the best deal on an Android smartphone, then it's an easy choice — the new Google Pixel 11 Pro is still marked down for Prime members, now at $849.

This sale marked the first time the new Google flagship phone had ever dropped below $1,000. In our recent Pixel 11 Pro review, we noted that this phone has an incredible set of cameras, which is no surprise. For creators — or anyone who loves documenting family memories — this is the best Android phone for photography right now.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 11 Pro, Unlocked (256GB) $849.57 at Amazon
$1,099 Save $249.43   Get Deal DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo

The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo is the more practical upgrade for creators who want steadier footage and better audio without building a full camera rig. The bundle includes a DJI Mic 2 transmitter, battery handle, and mini tripod — not just the camera.

The Pocket 3 combines a one-inch CMOS sensor with a three-axis mechanical gimbal, which stabilizes footage as you move. Its rotating two-inch touchscreen makes switching shooting orientation straightforward, while ActiveTrack 6.0 can keep you centered during a solo, talk-to-camera recording.

For creators who edit beyond basic cuts, support for 10-bit color and D-Log M provides more flexibility for color grading. That’s the reason to consider this older camera: the useful features are still here, even if a newer model exists. Read our review of the DJI Osmo Pocket 4.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo $495 at Amazon
$629 Save $134   Get Deal A high-spec smartwatch at almost half price

Garmin is the king of high-quality smartwatches with rugged outdoor features and fitness tracking. If you move fast, you can pick up a premium model with a discount of 47%.

It offers advanced health and training monitoring and in-depth metrics, along with 16 days of battery, a built-in flashlight, and trainer-like guidance.

We've seen it go as low as $499.99 before, but even with an extra $30 on top, the current sale price of $529.99 is much like the athletes who use this smartwatch: seriously competitive.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Epix Pro SmartWatch $529.99
$999.99 Save $470   Get Deal Best deal under $25: Apple AirTags

Apple released a new generation of AirTag trackers this year, the AirTag 2. The popular Apple tracker has fallen to an all-time low price, and we don't expect it to get any cheaper today. You can also grab the 4-pack on sale for $89.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag (2nd Gen) $24 at Amazon
$29 Save $5   Get Deal Gaming gear with over $800 off

Gamers know that sale events — even the aftermath — are the time to pick up new hardware. And for those on the hunt for a new monitor, this LG UltraGear OLED monitor has a massive 47% off its list price right now, savings of $815. At 45 inches, it boasts WQHD resolution and a curved display for a more immersive gaming experience. With a refresh rate of 240Hz and a lightning response time of just 0.03ms, it's built for high-speed gaming and winning performance.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG UltraGear 45-inch Curved Gaming Monitor $884.99
$1,699.99 Save $815   Get Deal Best Amazon subscription deal

This exclusive deal is for Prime members only, and it's a good one. For a limited time, Prime members can sign up for four months of Audible for just $0.99. You'll also get a $20 Audible credit to spend as you like.

Our advice? Take advantage of this deal and set a calendar reminder three months and 29 days in the future.

Opens in a new window Credit: Audible Audible $0.99 for 4 months + $20 Audible credit Get Deal Cheap wireless earbuds for under $25

If you're prone to losing earbuds and just need something simple for everyday use, the popular Anker Soundcore P30i Earbuds are sitting at $24.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore P30i Noise-Cancelling Earbuds $24.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $25.00   Get Deal The best iPad deals

Prime Big Deal Days cut $100 from the newest iPad Air, which is powered by the powerful M4 chip. It's our favorite tablet overall and won a Mashable Choice award earlier this year. (Read our full review if you're on the fence.)

If you want to upgrade to the M5 chip and a breathtaking OLED touchscreen, then you can also save $100 on the iPad Pro. Its display is incredibly bright, even in direct sunlight, and it has enough processing power to run video-editing software and handle 4K video files.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $649 at Amazon
$749 Save $100   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) $1,099.99 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $99.01   Get Deal Bose QuietComfort headphones on sale

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are $80 off, and their appeal is more specific than “premium sound”: Mashable’s testing highlights their comfort, adjustable active noise cancellation, and all-day battery life even with ANC enabled.

The second generation increases rated battery life from 24 to 30 hours and adds USB-C wired playback, which can charge the headphones while you listen. There’s also passive playback through an auxiliary cable. Those are useful upgrades if you wear headphones through a workday or want a wired option when the battery runs out.

Prefer earbuds? The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are under $130 after a 28% discount. According to our reviewer, "you'll be hard pressed to find earbuds with better sound quality and battery life than these."

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) $369 at Amazon
$449 Save $80   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Earbuds $129 at Amazon
$179 Save $50   Get Deal A 65-inch TV for under $600

It wouldn't be a major sale event without at least checking out the prices of massive smart TVs, would it? This is our top pick of what's still discounted, a huge Hisense TV with all the bells and whistles in glorious 4K. The E7 Cinema Series runs on Fire TV and more than lives up to its name. It's built for home cinema setups, boasting a stack of features — including Dolby Vision IQ, AI-enhanced visuals, motion smoothing, and Filmmaker Mode — to immerse you in your movies and shows. Throw in gaming features, and it really is the full package. And it's now just $32 off its lowest-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch E7 Cinema Series TV $579.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $420   Get Deal A super-affordable Android smartwatch

If you're looking for a tracker and smartwatch hybrid that's super affordable, then we have to point you to the Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro. We called this an almost-perfect smartwatch in our review, and we named it a Mashable Choice product.

Grab this budget Android tracker, which boasts weeks of battery life, for just $59.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro $59 at Amazon
$79 Save $20   Get Deal

The best October Prime Day deals still live: Best Outdoor deal Coleman 100-Quart Marine Cooler with UV Guard $99.99 (save $35) Get Deal Best home and kitchen deal Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ Deluxe Coffee Machine $133.99 (save $60.03) Get Deal Best headphone deal Bose QuietComfort Headphones (1st Gen) $169 (save $190) Get Deal Best Apple deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199 (save $50) Get Deal Best Beauty Deal Shark CryoGlow LED Face Mask $299.99 (save $50) Get Deal Best TV deal Toshiba 43-inch M450 Series QLED 4K Smart Fire TV $199.99 (save $130) Get Deal Best Deal Under $25 Apple AirTag (2nd Gen) $24 (save $5) Get Deal

Another huge Amazon sale for Prime members has officially come to a close. This year, Prime Big Deal Days (aka "October Prime Day") ran Oct. 6 and 7, and while the 48-hour event is officially over, a handful of lingering discounts are still up for grabs.

The best October Prime Day deals provided some much-needed relief from the RAMageddon price hikes impacting the tech industry. Amazon recently increased prices on nearly two dozen Kindles, Fire TV Sticks, Echo smart speakers, and eero routers because of rising component costs. Seasonal sales like Prime Big Deal Days (and later Black Friday) help cancel out some of those markups.

SEE ALSO: Try Amazon Prime for free for 30 days to get access to October Prime Day 2026

While the official event has wrapped up, we're keeping an eye out for any leftover post-Prime Day savings that haven't expired yet. You can also check out our guides to the best October Prime Day tech deals, kitchen deals, and outdoor deals to see what remaining discounts you can still score.

How we choose Prime Day deals

Mashable shopping reporters and editors regularly review the latest products from brands like Apple, Bose, Kindle, Ninja, Nintendo, Sony, and Samsung. We've also been covering major shopping events like Prime Big Deal Days for almost a decade.

Before recommending a deal, we use price-tracking tools like CamelCamelCamel to check its price history, and we prioritize record-low discounts. We also check prices at other retailers (big-box stores like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy are also hosting fall sales right now), so we can point you to the lowest price at any given moment, even if it's not at Amazon.

Deals marked with a ✅ are Mashable award winners and editor favorites. Deals marked with a strikethrough are no longer available.

Best audio deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Headphones (1st Gen) ✅ $169 at Amazon
$359 Save $190   Get Deal Why we like it

For October Prime Day, you can save 53% on the first-generation Bose QuietComfort Noise-Cancelling Headphones. Now, to be clear, these are not the newest version of these popular headphones, but it's really hard to argue with a discount like this. These headphones are incredibly comfy even after hours of use, and they offer true active noise-cancellation.

We also have to call out the first-ever deal on the new version of these headphones, the Bose QuietComfort (2nd Gen). Mashable's audio expert Bethany Allard says they offer the best possible combination of comfort, noise cancellation, sound quality, and value in the entire headphones category, full stop. Currently, they're $319, down from $359 — a $40 saving that makes them an even better value. Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen).

More headphone deals

• JBL Tune 730BT headphones — $59.95 $89.95 (save $30)

• Sony WH-CH720N — $88 $179.99 (save $91.99)

• Beats Solo 4 wireless headphones — $99.95 $199.95 (save $100)

• Nothing Headphone (a) — $129 $199 (save $70)

• Sony WH-CH730N ANC headphones — $148 $179.99 (save $31.99) ✅

• Beats Studio Pro — $149.95 $299.99 (save $150.04)

• Sony WH-1000XM5 ANC headphones — $198 $248 (save $50) ✅

• Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) — $319 $359 (save $40) ✅

• Sony WH-1000XM6 ANC headphones — $378 $459.99 (save $81.99) ✅

More wireless earbuds deals

• Anker Soundcore P30i noise-cancelling earbuds — $24.99 $49.99 (save $25) ✅

• Anker Soundcore AeroClip Open Earbuds — $105.99 $169.99 (save $64)

• Nothing Ear (3) — $99 $149 (save $50)

• Beats Fit Pro (1st Gen) sports earbuds — $124.95 $199.95 (save $75)

• Soundcore Sleep A30 Special — $168.99 $199.99 (save $31)

• Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 — $179 $229 (save $50) ✅

• Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 — $179.95 $249.95 (save $70)

• SHOKZ OpenFit Pro Open Earbuds with Noise Reduction — $199.45 $249.95 (save $50.50) ✅

• Technics EAH-AZ100 — $234.99 $299.99 (save $65) ✅

• Sony WF-1000XM6 ANC Earbuds — $258 $329.99 (save $71.99) ✅

Bluetooth speaker deals

• Anker Soundcore 2 Bluetooth Speaker — $33.99 $45.99 (save $12)

• JBL Go 4 Bluetooth Speaker — $34.95 $49.95 (save $15)

• Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 Portable Waterproof Speaker — $54.14 $99.99 (save $45.85) ✅

• Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Bluetooth Speaker — $91.99 $129.99 (save $38)

• Bose Soundlink Flex — $99 $159 (save $60)

• Bose SoundLink Plus Portable Bluetooth Speaker — $179 $269 (save $90) ✅

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 ✅ $199 at Amazon
$249 Save $50   Get Deal Why we like it

We found 21 Apple products at record-low prices for Prime Day, which is more than we expected to be frank! But our top pick was a Prime Day classic. The basic AirPods just got an upgrade with the new AirPods 5, but last year's Apple AirPods Pro 3 are back on sale. During the sale, the AirPods Pro 3 dropped to $179 — $70 off their $249 list price. Now that the sale is over, the price has risen to $199, now only $50 off the MSRP.

These famous Apple earbuds have ANC, a more comfortable fit, and support for live translation with a compatible iPhone. They're a good pick for commuters and even measure your heart rate during workouts.

Read our full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 3.

More Prime Day Apple deals

AirPods deals

• Apple AirPods 4 — $79 $129.99 (save $50.99)

• Apple AirPods Max 2 — $429 $549 (save $120)

Apple Watch deals

• Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) — $219 $249 (save $30) ✅

• Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) — $349.99 $399.99 (save $50) ✅

• Apple Watch Ultra 3 (GPS + Cellular, 46mm) — $699.97 $899 (save $199.03)

iPad deals

• Apple iPad (A16, 128GB, WiFi) — $399 $449 (save $50)

• Apple iPad Air (M4, 128GB, WiFi) — $649 $749 (save $100) ✅

• Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 512GB) — $1,299 $1,499 (save $200) ✅

• Apple iPad Pro, 11-Inch (M4, WiFi, 2TB, nano-texture glass) — $1,899 $2,099 (save $200)

MacBook deals

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200) ✅

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,399 $1,599 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,839 $1,999 (save $160) ✅

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,499 $4,099 (save $600) ✅

Mac deals

• Apple 2026 Mac mini Desktop (M6, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $779.99 $899 (save $119.01)

• Apple 2026 Mac mini Desktop (M6, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $949.99 $1,099 (save $149.01)

• Apple 2026 Mac mini Desktop (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,549.99 $1,699 (save $149.01)

• Apple 2026 Mac Studio Desktop (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $2,299.99 $2,499 (save $199.01)

Deals on Apple accessories

• Apple MagSafe Charger — $39.99 $49 (save $9.01) ✅

• Apple Pencil USB-C — $69 $79 (save $10)

• Apple AirTag 2 (4-pack) — $89 $99 (save $10)

Best TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Toshiba Toshiba 43-inch M450 Series QLED 4K Smart Fire TV ✅ $199.99 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $130   Get Deal Why we like it

Prime Big Deal Days is a 48-hour sale, and Amazon is dropping new deals throughout the event. And the latest “Today’s Big Deals” drop from Amazon includes one of the best Prime Day TV deals we've seen yet. If you're looking for a budget set, this Toshbia Fire TV has a 43-inch QLED display, and it's never been priced this low before.

As everything else gets more expensive, somehow flat-screen TVs keep getting cheaper. So, for those of us who can't afford to drop $1,500 on a premium OLED TV, we don't have to settle too much. This 4K TV features an HDR10+ display and supports Dolby Vision, which is pretty good for a TV under $200.

More TV deals

40 to 55-inch TV deals

• Amazon Ember 40-inch 2-Series Fire TV — $179.99 $249.99 (save $70) ✅

• Roku 43-inch Select Series 4K TV — $179.99 $249.99 (save $70)

• Amazon Ember 55-inch 4-Series Fire TV — $279.99 $459.99 (save $180) ✅

• Samsung 55-inch M70H Mini-LED 4K TV — $299.99 $347.99 (save $48)

• Amazon Ember 55-inch Artline QLED 4K TV — $499.99 $899.99 (save $400) ✅

• Hisense 50-inch S7 Canvas Hi-QLED 4K TV — $649.99 $1,299.99 (save $650)

• Samsung The Frame 55-inch LS03F 4K QLED Art TV — $797.99 $1,097.99 (save $300) ✅

• LG 55-inch LX7B Gallery Mini LED 4K TV — $699.99 $1,299.99 (save $600)

• Sony 48-inch Bravia 6 OLED 4K TV — $998 $1,299.99 (save $301)

65-inch TV deals

• Roku 65-inch Plus Series QLED 4K TV — $429.99 $649.99 (save $220)

• Hisense 65-inch E7 Mini-LED Hi-QLED 4K TV — $579.99 $999.99 (save $420)

• Hisense 65-inch S7 Canvas Hi-QLED 4K TV — $899.99 $1,999.99 (save $1,100)

• TCL 65-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $1,077.99 $2,499.99 (save $1,422) ✅

• LG C6 Series OLED 4K TV — $1,499.99 $2,699.99 (save $1,200) ✅

• Samsung 65-Inch S90H Series OLED 4K Smart TV — $1,497.99 $1,897.99 (save $400) ✅

• Samsung 65-Inch S95F Series OLED 4K Smart TV — $2,319 $2,499.99 (save $180.99) ✅

75 inches and above TV deals

• Samsung 75-inch M70H Mini-LED 4K TV — $547.99 $729.99 (save $182)

• Hisense 85-inch S7 Canvas Hi-QLED 4K TV — $1,797.99 $3,999.99 (save $2,202)

• Hisense 100-inch E7 Mini-LED Hi-QLED 4K TV — $1,697.99 $2,999.99 (save $1,302)

• TCL 98-inch QM7L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $2,197.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,802)

• TCL 85-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $2,147.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,852)

Best home and kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ Deluxe Coffee Machine $133.99 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $65.96   Get Deal

If your morning routine centers around iced lattes or a quick espresso shot, this bundle gives you a legit cafe-level setup without taking over your entire countertop. The Vertuo Pop+ Deluxe packs Nespresso's single-touch brewing into an ultra-compact footprint, spinning pods at high speeds to pull rich, crema-topped espresso or full-sized coffee mugs in seconds. Plus, the Deluxe version adds a bigger side water tank, so you're not constantly running to the sink between brews.

The real star here is the included Aeroccino3 milk frother. Instead of buying a frother separately to make lattes, this bundle gives you one-touch hot- or cold-foam for cappuccinos and iced drinks right out of the box. Grabbing the machine-and-frother combo in Matte Black Gold is an absolute steal for upgrading your morning coffee with zero hassle before this Prime deal vanishes.

More Prime Day home and kitchen deals

• Staub Ceramic 0.75-quart Petite Pumpkin Dish — $29.99 $59.99 (save $30)

• Caraway Non-Stick Ceramic Large Baking Sheet Duo — $110 $130 (save $20)

• Ninja PossibleCooker PRO Plus 9-in-1 slow cooker — $139.99 $179.99 (save $40)

• Vitamix 5-Speed Immersion Blender bundle — $174.95 $199.95 (save $25) ✅

• Viking PureGlide Pro 3-Ply Nonstick Frying Pans (9.5-inch and 11-inch) — $159.95 $239.99 (save $80)

• Levoit Sprout Smart Air Purifier — $170.98 $279.99 (save $109.01) ✅

• Ninja Crispi Pro Glass Air Fryer, 6 quarts — $249.90 $299.99 (save $50.09) ✅

• GE Profile Opal Mini Nugget Ice Maker — $269 $299 (save $30) ✅

• Vitamix Propel Series 510 Professional Blender — $389 $499.95 (save $110.95) ✅

Best outdoor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Coleman Coleman 100-Quart Marine Cooler with UV Guard $99.99 at Amazon
$134.99 Save $35.00   Get Deal Why we like it

Whether you're gearing up for tailgate season, a weekend fishing trip, or just need to keep a mountain of drinks icy for a backyard party, this massive Coleman cooler is a total workhorse. Its 100-quart capacity holds up to 160 cans, while the fully insulated body keeps ice frozen for up to five days. Plus, the outer shell has a built-in UV coating so it won't crack in the sun.

Built for rough outdoor use, it packs rust-resistant hardware, rugged 6-inch wheels for dragging across sand or dirt, and a leakproof drain plug. The reinforced lid even doubles as a seat that supports up to 250 pounds and comes with built-in cup holders. Getting this much heavy-duty cooler space for under $100 is an absolute steal before the discount vanishes.

More outdoor deals

Cooler deals

• Igloo Trailmate Cooler (50 quart) — $99.99 $119.99 (save $20)

• Igloo Maxcold Glide (110 quart) — $169.99 $179.99 (save $10)

• Ninja FrostVault (Spanish moss, 50 quart) — $199.99 $249.99 (save $50)

Camping deals

• LifeStraw Peak Series Personal Water Filter Straw — $23.50 $24.95 (save $1.45) ✅

• Breeo 40-inch Steel Fire Pit Poker — $55.20 $69 (save $13.80) ✅

• Coleman Sundome 4-Person Camping Tent — $81.68 $117.91 (save $38.31) ✅

• Coleman Triton 2-Burner Propane Stove — $89.99 $129.99 (save $40)

• Kelty Trash Pak — $90.93 $129.95 (save $39.02)

• Sea to Summit Frontier Ultralight One Pot Cook Set — $99.95 $114.95 (save $15)

• Jackery SolarSaga 40W Air — $99 $129 (save $30)

• Renogy 100W Portable Solar Panel — $109.99 $124.99 (save $15)

• Coleman 4-Person Instant Cabin — $149.99 $218.49 (save $68.50) ✅

• Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Camping Pad — $199.95 $239.95 (save $40)

• Coleman RoadTrip 225 portable propane grill — $259.99 $364.99 (save $105)

• Breeo Smokeless Fire Pit X Series 19 — $322.05 $399.99 (save $77.94) ✅

Best power station deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Elite 100 mini Portable Power Station ✅ $429.99 at Amazon
$699 Save $269.01   Get Deal Why we like it

"Bluetti is bringing out some of my favorite portable power stations lately. For starters, the Bluetti FridgePower can keep your refrigerator cooling for up to 20 hours during an outage. But I'm especially excited about the new Bluetti Elite 100 mini.

I love the single handle built into the side of this model. I find it much easier to carry compared to the pop-up handle that goes down the middle of many power stations. Plus, Bluetti's built-in LED light on the warm setting is perfect for evening illumination." — Lauren Allain, Mashable Contributor

More power station deals

• Jackery Explorer 300 — $239 $289 (save $50) ✅

• Anker SOLIX C800X Portable Power Station and 100W Solar Panel — $429.99 $509.99 (save $90)

• Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 — $469.99 $599 (save $129.01) ✅

• Jackery HomePower 1000 v2 — $499 $649 (save $150) ✅

• Bluetti Elite 100 V2 with 200W Solar Panel — $699 $999 (save $300)

• Ecoflow Delta 3 Classic with 220W Solar Panel — $699 $1,099 (save $400) ✅

• Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 and 200W Solar Panel — $664 $879 (save $215)

• Anker Solix S2000 — $649.98 $1,199 (save $549.02)

• Bluetti FridgePower — $949 $1,499 (save $550) ✅

• Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 — $864 $999 (save $135) ✅

• Bluetti Elite 200 V2 — $899 $1,199 (save $300) ✅

• Ecoflow Delta 2 Max — $1,029 $1,399 (save $370)

• Bluetti Elite 300 — $1,199.99 $1,499 (save $299)

• Jackery HomePower 3000 — $1,384 $1,499 (save $115)

• Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus — $1,538.04 $1,899 (save $390.06)

Best vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum $149.99 at SharkNinja
$299.99 Save $150   Get Deal

Note: This product is sold out at Amazon, but you can still find it for 50% off at the SharkNinja website.

Why we like it

"Year after year, this Shark stick vacuum is one of the best Prime Day deals on vacuums, and I'm glad to see it back on sale for Prime Big Deal Days. One of our former reporters swore by this vacuum, calling it a literal 'game-changer' for his dog-hair-filled New York City apartment. It has a brush head that's designed to make pet hair disappear, and you can't go wrong with a 50% discount, can you?" Timothy Werth, Mashable Tech Editor

More Prime Day vacuum deals

• Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum (2026 model) — $179.99 $299.99 (save $120) ✅

• Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum — $434.54 $599.99 (save $165.45) ✅

• Shark PowerDetect Robot Vacuum & Mop Combo — $399.99 $549.99 (save $150)

• Roborock 2026 New Qrevo S Pro Robot Vacuum and Mop — $399.99 $699.99 (save $300)

• Dyson V10 Konical Cordless Vacuum — $399.99 $499.99 (save $100)

• eufy C28 Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mop Combo — $499.99 $799.99 (save $300) ✅

• Dreame L40 Ultra Gen 2 Robot Vacuum and Mop — $569.98 $749.99 (save $180.01)

• Dyson V15 Detect Origin Cordless Vacuum — $589.99 $839.99 (save $250) ✅

Best memory and SSD deals Opens in a new window Credit: SanDisk SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD ✅ $249.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: SanDisk SanDisk 512GB microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 $153.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $46   Get Deal Why we like it

"SanDisk is a favorite of mine when buying memory products, and I use their Extreme portable SSDs to back up my own photo and video collection. (As a tech editor, I take a lot of photos and videos.) Thanks to RAMageddon, you have to take any opportunity you can find to save on portable SSDs, flash drives, microSD cards, and hard drives. Already, some of SanDisk's most popular memory products are on sale, like their microSD Express card for the Switch 2 and the new version of their popular Extreme drive." — Timothy Werth, Mashable Tech Editor

More SSD and hard drive deals

• SanDisk 64GB High Endurance Video microSDXC Card — $26.99 $44.99 (save $18)

• SanDisk 500GB Portable SSD — $109.99 $128.99 (save $19)

• Seagate 2TB Portable Hard Drive — $119.99 $149.99 (save $30)

• Samsung T7 Portable SSD 1TB — $229.90 $274.99 (save $45.09)

• Samsung SSD 990 PRO 2TB, PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 — $389.99 $639.99 (save $250) ✅

• Samsung T9 Portable SSD 2TB — $979.99 $1,144.99 (save $165)

Best fitness deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hpygn Hpygn Resistance Bands with Handles $19.79 at Amazon
$21.99 Save $2.20   Get Deal Why we like it

If you don't have the space (or cash) for a full set of dumbbells, this stackable Hpygn resistance band set gives you a portable home gym setup for under $20. It packs five latex bands ranging from 10 to 50 pounds each, allowing you to combine them with the heavy-duty steel buckles for up to 150 pounds of total resistance. The bundle comes fully loaded with cushioned non-slip handles, ankle straps, a door anchor, and a compact travel pouch so you can squeeze in a quick workout anywhere.

More fitness deals

• Bala Bangles Wrist & Ankle Weights — $44 $55 (save $11)

• CAP Neoprene Hex Dumbbell 100-Pound Set (10 weights) — $9.14 $9.99 (save $0.85)

• Hyperice Hypervolt Go 3 Percussion Massage Gun — $119 $149 (save $30)

• Theragun Therabody 3-Speed Massage Gun — $119.99 $159.99 (save $40)

• Renpho Thermacool 2-in-1 Foot Massager — $159.99 $199.99 (save $40)

More smartwatch deals

• Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro — $59 $79 (save $20) ✅

• Garmin Vivoactive 5 — $191.99 $299.99 (save $108) ✅

• Google Pixel Watch 5 (41mm) — $429.99 $499.99 (save $70)

• Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire — $529.99 $999.99 (save $370)

Best Lego deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars SMART Play: Millennium Falcon $79.95 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20.04   Get Deal Why we like it

Building the iconic Millennium Falcon is already a rite of passage for any Star Wars fan, but this 885-piece set upgrades the classic build with Lego's interactive Smart Play system. On its own, it’s a detailed, screen-accurate model featuring fold-out top panels for interior play, stud shooters, and four minifigures — Han Solo, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, and C-3PO.

What makes this release special are the built-in Smart Tags. When paired with a Lego Smart Brick (from an All-In-One set), the ship instantly responds with authentic sound effects and dynamic lights as kids play—bringing lightsaber duels and hyperdrive jumps to life.

More Lego deals

• Lego Super Mario: Mario Kart — Interactive Mario & Standard Kart — $29.39 $54.99 (save $25.60)

• Lego Disney Princess Advent Calendar 2026 — $31.49 $44.99 (save $12.50)

• Lego Botanicals Succulents — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)

• Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2026 — $35 $44.99 (save $9.99)

• Lego Marvel Advent Calendar 2026 — $35.99 $44.99 (save $9)

• Lego Star Wars Darth Vader Bust — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)

• Lego Star Wars SMART Play: Yoda’s Hut and Jedi Training — $47.49 $69.99 (save $22.5)

• Lego Botanicals Hibiscus Flower — $55.95 $69.99 (save $14.04)

• Lego Star Wars SMART Play: Mos Eisley Cantina — $63.95 $79.99 (save $16.04)

• Lego Super Mario: Mario Kart Baby Peach & Grand Prix Set Home Circuit — $62.12 $79.99 (save $17.87)

• Lego Star Wars: Andor K-2SO Security Droid — $71.99 $89.99 (save $18)

Best streaming and subscription deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Audible $0.99/month for four months + free $20 credit Get Deal Why we like it

Right now, eligible Prime members can get four months of Audible Standard for $0.99 per month — $3.96 total. On top of that, you get a free $20 credit to spend on the title(s) of your choice.

Your membership lets you download one audiobook per month. including classics, new releases, and BookTok faves like the ACOTAR series. And if 99 cents feels a little high, you can also sign up for a 30-day free trial.

More Amazon subscription deals

• Kindle Unlimited — 3 months free

• Amazon Music Unlimited — 4 months free with Prime

• Grubhub+ — Free with Prime. Enjoy unlimited $0 food delivery fees on eligible orders. Terms & additional fees apply.

• Buy or lease a new car, get a $1,500 gift card for free with Prime

Best beauty tech deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark CryoGlow LED Face Mask ✅ $299 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $50.99   Get Deal Why we like it

Shark's red light face mask not only costs half as much as the competition, but it also offers cooling therapy and blue light therapy for good measure. We spent 10 months testing this face mask to make sure it lived up to the hype, and in the end, we named it a Mashable Choice product.

During Prime Big Deal Days, you can get this Shark beauty mask at its lowest-ever price. Read our full review of the Shark CryoGlow LED Face Mask.

More beauty tech deals

• Revlon One-Step Volumizer — $40.49 $65.99 (save $25.50) ✅

• L'Ange Hair Le Volume Dryer Brush — $46.50 $69 (save $22.50)

• Revlon 3-in-1 Multi-Styler — $76.49 $89.99 (save $13.50)

• Laifen SE Lite Ionic Hair Dryer — $95.99 $119.99 (save $24) ✅

• Solawave 4-in-1 Red Light Therapy — $94.99 $169 (save $74.01) ✅

• L'Ange Hair Axia HaloRing Hair Dryer — $99 $129 (save $30)

• Shark SpeedStyle Hair Dryer — $129 $229.99 (save $100.99) ✅

• Therabody TheraFace Depuffing Wand — $134.99 $169.99 (save $35)

• Shark FlexFusion Ceramic Air Styler — $299.99 $399.99 (save $100) ✅

• T3 Aire 360 Multi-Styler — $284.99 $349.99 (save $65)

• TheraFace Therabody Mask Glo — $299.99 $379.99 (save $80) ✅

Best gaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G5 $219.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $130   Get Deal Why we like it

"Finding a 32-inch, 1,440p panel from a top-tier brand for around 37% off is nothing to scoff at. You're getting a 180Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time, plus G-Sync and FreeSync support to keep fast-paced action smooth and free of screen tearing. It also comes with a height-adjustable ergonomic stand right out of the box, so you can pivot, tilt, and swivel to your setup's needs — a practical feature most budget displays cut to trim costs." — Ben Williams, Mashable contributor

More gaming deals

• Save 40% on Switch 2 games at Amazon

• Red Dead Redemption — $24.99 $29.99 (save $5)

• Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 — $24.99 $49.99 (save $25)

• The Last of Us Part II Remastered — $37.49 $49.99 (save $12.50)

• The Last of Us Part 1 — $37.99 $69.99 (save $32)

• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 — $44.75 $69.99 (save $25.24)

• SteelSeries Apex 3 RGB Gaming Keyboard — $49.99 $54.99 (save $5)

• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time — $59.88 $69.99 (save $10.11) ✅

• Razer BlackWidow V4 X Mechanical Gaming Keyboard — $84.99 $129.99 (save $45)

• Samsung 27-inch Odyssey (G50F) QHD Gaming Monitor — $169.99 $279.99 (save $110) ✅

• Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Red Joy-Con (Renewed) — $199 $339 (save $140)

• Alienware 24.5-inch (AW2525HM) Full HD Gaming Monitor — $189.99 $249.99 (save $60)

• Samsung 32-inch Odyssey (G55C) Curved Gaming Monitor — $189.99 $329.99 (save $140) ✅

• LG 27-inch UltraGear OLED Gaming Monitor (27GS93QE-B) — $499.99 $899.99 (save $400) ✅

Best Anker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh $119.98 at Amazon
$134.99 Save $15.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Forget carrying a tangled mess of cords — this Anker power bank solves travel cable management by building two USB-C cables directly into the body, including a 2.3-foot retractable option.

It hits right under the airline 100Wh restriction, making it completely flight-approved despite packing a massive 25,000mAh capacity and a 165W total output. With three separate USB-C ports capable of up to 100W each, it can fast-charge a MacBook Pro and an iPhone simultaneously. It's an absolute essential for digital nomads, commuters, and heavy tech users looking for serious portable power on sale.

More mobile accessory deals

• Anker Nano Smart Display Charger — $29.99 $39.99 (save $10)

• Twelve South HiRise 2 Deluxe 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Station — $38.99 $79.99 (save $41)

• Anker MagGo Power Bank, 10,000mAh — $63.99 $79.99 (save $16)

Best board game deal Opens in a new window Credit: Days of Wonder Ticket to Ride $29.99
$39.99 Save $10.00   Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon is loaded with board game deals during October Prime Day, and if you have plans for a board-game Thanksgiving gathering, now's a great time to stock up.

"If you haven't yet dabbled in the joy of Ticket to Ride, I recommend this game for any group. I've played with friends, family, and even people I don't really like, but the game has made the gathering enjoyable. It's easy to learn gameplay, has a few fun twists, and it's a great geography lesson, too." — Lauren Allain, Mashable Contributor

More Prime Day board game deals

• Sushi Go! — $11.99 $14.15 (save $2.16)

• Bananagrams — $11.95 $15.99 (save $4.04)

• Blueberry Cat D&D Dice Set — $12.99 $19.99 (save $7)

• Dungeons & Dragons Young Adventurer's Collection Box Set — $13.32 $34.99 (save $21.67)

• Azul — $31.99 $39.99 (save $8)

• Splendor — $31.99 $39.99 (save $8)

• Dixit — $37.43 $44.99 (save $7.56)

• Trekking The National Parks — $34.99 $49.95 (save $15.96)

• Catan Board Game — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)

• Dungeons & Dragons Strategy Board — $29.99 $34.99 (save $5)

• Cascadia Board Game — $37.40 $39.99 (save $2.55)

• Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set: Heroes of the Borderlands — $39.95 $49.99 (save $10.04)

Time is running out for Prime members to shop Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale. Sign up for a Prime 30-day free trial if you want to save some cash, and follow Mashable’s guide to the best October Prime Day deals and live blog for the latest updates.

Since August, someone (or perhaps a group of people) called Cyberleek has been very busy sharing various gameplay clips of Grand Theft Auto 6. On Aug. 20, Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of GTA-maker Rockstar Games, filed subpoenas against Microsoft and Discord to try to unmask the leaker, followed soon after by subpoenas against Google and X Corp. Those filings specifically cited "stolen content," seemingly confirming that at least some of the Cyberleek videos are legitimate.

Prior to the August "Extended Look" on Netflix, the GTA 6 leaks represented the first real glimpse of gameplay from the hotly anticipated title. After the Netflix trailer, Cyberleek stopped for more than a month, before suddenly reappearing in October with a 24-minute gameplay video. We're not going to embed or link to any of these clips; however, they're easy enough to find on X or Reddit if you look hard enough.

SEE ALSO: What is Cyberleek? Everything we know about the alleged GTA 6 leakers. Every GTA 6 leak from Cyberleek so far

At the time of publication, more than a dozen gameplay clips and map screenshots have been posted by Cyberleek that show different aspects of GTA 6, including glimpses of cutscenes. The leaker did post some minor story spoilers in the most recent release, so be careful if you want to avoid them.

Here are the GTA 6 leaks Cyberleek has shared so far:

• Map sneak peek 1: A small, cropped portion of the in-game world map, showing a location called Dalton Island.

• Map sneak peek 2: Another cropped portion of the map showing locations called Tequesta Retreat, Gloriana Key, and Catalan Key.

• Basketball video: A clip of protagonist Jason Duval throwing a basketball into a hoop in a mini-game.

• Full map: An alleged view of the entire in-game map.

• Random video 1: A clip of Jason driving around for a little bit before beating up a truck driver.

• Taser video: A clip of Jason driving at night, stealing a security guard's taser, and using it on him. Jason then repeatedly kicks the guard while he is on the ground.

• Junkies video: A clip that appears to show a healing drug called Zombix. A tooltip indicates that Zombix's effects will weaken over time if the player uses it too much.

• Plane video: A clip of Jason flying a plane over Vice City, with much of the game world visible below. At the end, whoever is playing the game in the clip shoots the word "LEEK" into a wall with bullets, suggesting the leaker has a playable build of the game.

• Hypercar part 1: A clip of Jason driving a high-end sports car around Vice City.

• Hypercar part 2: A clip of Jason driving the sports car some more, before committing armed robbery.

• Strip club: Jason wanders around a strip club, then a short clip of an in-game cutscene is shown.

• Gas station: Jason causes trouble at a gas station, steals a truck with a bed full of gasoline, and crashes and dies; more of the previous cutscene is shown.

• Plane video 2: Jason flies a plane over Vice City at night.

• Nudist colony: Jason explores a nudist hangout spot (where the NPCs are, obviously, nude) and attacks NPCs.

• Nightclub: A pretty uneventful video of Jason walking around the interior of a nightclub.

• Beach cycling: Jason riding a bicycle on a beach full of NPCs.

• Video game store: Jason walking around a video game store with shelves full of fake video game boxes.

• How does Cyberleek drive?: Jason steals a hotrod and evades the police; the clip ends with a cutscene showing Lucia Caminos, the game's second playable character, for the first time. Caminos talks about someone who "drives like a bitch."

• Lucia prologue: A four-and-a-half-minute video of a prologue introducing Caminos; the clip includes minor story spoilers.

• 24-minute extended leak: A long video featuring multiple vehicular races, car customization, first-person gameplay, and both protagonists rendered in the nude.

What could Cyberleek release next?

The latest Cyberleek video ended with an allusion to some sort of long-term "project," the likes of which we know nothing about. It's not clear if more leaks are coming or not, but given the October dump, it's possible we'll see more from Cyberleek before the game launches in November.

You can see the game officially now

Speaking of the Netflix trailer, it's now on YouTube in all of its 26-minute glory. There were plenty of little details that Cyberleek never showed, such as gameplay footage of Lucia, among many other things. If you want a real idea of how GTA 6 works, you're probably better off watching the Netflix video than anything Cyberleek posted at this point.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Updated on Friday, Aug. 28 at 1:30 p.m. ET — We've updated this story with additional details.

Updated on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 3:20 p.m. ET — We've updated this story with details on Rockstar's statement and additional GTA 6 leaks.

Updated on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 11:40 a.m. ET — We've updated this story to reflect the latest Cyberleek videos.

Updated on Monday, Aug. 24 at 1:30 p.m. ET — We've updated this story to reflect the latest Cyberleek leaks.

Updated on Friday, Aug. 21 at 3:00 p.m. ET — Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., the parent company of Grand Theft Auto-maker Rockstar Games, has filed two subpoenas naming Microsoft and Discord as it hunts the leaker known as Cyberleek. The legal filings specifically cite "stolen content," seemingly confirming that the leaks are legitimate. Take-Two is also requesting the removal of leaked material that violates its copyrights, as well as information that could unmask the leakers. Read more about the Microsoft and Discord subpoenas.

Updated on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 2:15 p.m. ET — We've updated the story to reflect the latest Cyberleek leaks.

Save 50%: As of Oct. 8, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are on sale for $198 at Amazon, knocking $201.99 off their $399.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 $198 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $201.99   Get Deal

Just one month ago, Sony launched a pair of mid-tier headphones targeted toward the more budget conscious consumer who didn't want to sacrifice quality. Who knew that 30 days later, Sony would be offering a deal on its former flagship headphones that offered an even better value?

As of Oct. 8, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are on sale for $198, bringing them down to their lowest price ever, and slashing $201.99 off their total price of $399.99. At first glance, this already looks like a pretty great deal. The context behind it, however, makes it even better.

Let's start with how these headphones compare to the current flagship model, the WH-1000XM6 headphones. While the XM6s come with some minor upgrades, including improvements in sound and folding ear cups, in my head-to-head comparison, I didn't find any wild discrepancies between the two headphones. They're visually very similar and have the same exact battery life. While the XM6's eke out as a slightly better pair overall, they also retail for $459.99 at full price (and are currently on sale for $378). In other words, even on sale they're $180 more — expensive enough that you could nearly buy the XM5s on sale twice over.

SEE ALSO: The 13 best headphones of 2026: We tested the top contenders from Sony, Apple, Bose, and Beats

That's not all. The new WH-1000XM4C from Sony were designed for people who didn't need the best of the best, but still wanted a solid-performing pair of headphones that could stand the test of time. Being a newer pair, they didn't go on sale for October Prime Day and are currently available for their list price of $299.99. Considering they're still over $100 more expensive than the XM5s, the choice seems a no-brainer, unless you're really committed to the look of the XM4Cs or having folding ear cups (which the XM5s do not).

Amazon's flagged the pink XM5s as a "deal selling fast," and the only other color available, on sale, and still in stock is the midnight blue, so if you're interested, you'll want to act sooner rather than later.

When I read on NPR this week that people are turning to ChatGPT to tell them how to vote, I shook my head. Here we go again, I thought: another search for the easy way out. Voting is too serious of a right to turn over the thought process to AI.

Then I ran the experiment myself, and while I still stand by my old-world views of doing the homework yourself, I must admit that, barring just voting blindly, AI might be better than doing nothing at all.

Politics has been my obsession for as long as I can remember. In college, one of my top goals was to become a press secretary on Capitol Hill. I got there at 23, the youngest press secretary on the Hill at the time, and spent seven years there before moving into a career in public relations.

Now, in a bit of a full-circle moment, I'm an opinion columnist writing about politics for several sites. That’s why I have always taken the right to vote very seriously, and for most of my life, I prided myself on voting for the best person, not the party.

That self-imposed rule came undone in recent years. I won't pretend otherwise.

But my politics are beside the point here. Because of who I am, and my encyclopedic knowledge of politics, my friends, neighbors and family from all over the country reach out to ask who they should vote for in their districts and states.

SEE ALSO: Who are we expecting to save us from AI?

Until a few years ago, I never would have offered a name or a party. I'd tell them to pick the issues they care about most, go to each candidate's website, see where they stand, and decide who has the best point of view or gets the most done. I tried to be impartial.

So, to see if they, too, could be impartial, I asked ChatGPT and Claude, "Who should I vote for?"

Both gave me essentially the answer I give my friends. Neither gave recommendations. Both pointed me toward finding my ballot, choosing my issues and checking the candidates' records. When I listed the issues, both laid out a side-by-side comparison of where the candidates stand.

That is a shortcut, but it's a shortcut to the research, not around it. So, before I proceed, I won’t be using AI to help me cast my ballot, but if all else fails for you, then maybe it’s not such a bad idea.

I say this with a hint of reservation, and with consideration for how most voters get their information, and that’s through the impartiality of political ads. They begin running ad nauseam the Tuesday after Labor Day and repeat over and over and over again until Election Day.

When you mouth the words coming out of the candidate’s mouth as their ad runs, you know you’ve seen it one too many times.

That’s intentional. Drumming messaging into the heads of voters is a time-honored tradition. And those ads have an implicit call to action. They are built to make you angry or to make you cheer, to vow to vote with or against someone. They can also be misleading and downright mean-spirited.

For many Americans juggling jobs, kids, extracurriculars and managing budgets, those 30-second spots are the only contact they might have with the people asking for their vote. Relying on those ads is not the best way to determine who to vote for, but sometimes it’s the only option available.

Compared with that, an AI assistant that helps you map out a strategy and gives you a quick, organized take on where candidates stand looks like a step up.

I'm not suggesting this replaces the real work. It's still best to read the candidates' own platforms, do your own research and dig into the records. And sure, reach out to friends or acquaintances who might know a little more than you. 

I may be old-fashioned, but I still believe in carefully weighing every candidate. However, for those short on time, getting a little help from an AI tool is far better than being swayed by attack ads, guessing blindly, or closing your eyes and picking a name at random.

There is one condition, and it matters more than anything else. If you take the time to ask the question and figure out where the candidates stand, you must take the time to act on it. Vote. Whether you drop your ballot in the mail or step into a booth, nothing beats the pride of knowing you did your civic duty, and that you took the time to prepare and do it right.

Someday, as AI spreads into every corner of our lives, you may be able to tell an assistant who you want to vote for and it will handle the rest. Don’t laugh, because snail-mail ballots might be the last vestige of doing things the old-fashioned way.

Stranger things have happened. But if it ever comes to that, I'll do it the tried and true way, just as I prefer to research my candidates on my own.

This article represents the opinions of its writer.

John Casey is a columnist at Raw Story, the Advocate, Daily Beast, and Outsports. He's also the author of Love: The Heroic Stories of Marriage Equality.

If you haven't been able to get your hands on Nintendo's special-edition Legend of Zelda Switch 2 console yet, plan on camping out at your local Best Buy next month.

In a press release Thursday, the electronics chain confirmed that some of its stores will have the Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 available in limited quantities on Nov. 5, at its late-night launch events for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The system's matching Pro Controller will also be up for grabs while supplies last.

These launch events will kick off at 12 a.m. ET on Nov. 5 or the local equivalent. Best Buy stores in the Central Time Zone will open at 11 p.m., West Coast stores will open at 9 p.m., and so on. You can find participating stores near you using Best Buy's store locator tool.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 "The Legend of Zelda" 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Best Buy
  Learn More Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller "The Legend of Zelda" 40th Anniversary Edition $99.99 at Best Buy
  Learn More

Gamers who preorder a physical copy of Ocarina of Time from Best Buy will be able to pick it up in person during the festivities. If you already opted to have a preorder delivered, you can change it to store pickup on the Purchase History page of your My Best Buy account.

Featuring gold Triforce accents and green Joy-Con 2 controllers, the Zelda Switch 2 system has been extremely difficult to buy since it first went up for preorder on Sept. 8. (It's set for release on Oct. 29.) GameSpot reported that it sold out "immediately" and spotted reseller listings on eBay with 50% markups. Nintendo has randomly dropped restocks over the past few weeks, but they go fast. At the time of writing, it was out of stock everywhere.

The Zelda Switch 2 costs $519.99, or $30 more than the standard version of the console (which got a $50 price hike this fall amid "RAMageddon"). Of note, it does not include a copy of Nintendo's Ocarina of Time remake — you have to buy the game separately. The Zelda 40th Anniversary Pro Controller costs $99.99, and it's also sold out everywhere.

A physical copy of Ocarina of Time will set you back $69.99, though preorders have been discounted for the last few weeks at Amazon and Walmart (which both promise free release-day delivery). The digital version of the game costs $59.99 and can be pre-loaded on your Switch 2 console so you can play it as soon as it's out.

"The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" (Nintendo Switch 2) $59.88 at Walmart
  Pre-order Here at Walmart Pre-order Here at Amazon Pre-order Here at Best Buy "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" (Nintendo Switch 2 digital code) $59.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here at Amazon Pre-order Here at Best Buy Pre-order Here at Nintendo

Save 53%: As of Oct. 8, the Bose QuietComfort headphones are still down at their record-low Prime Big Deal Days price of $169 at Amazon. At full price, these headphones cost $359, saving you $190.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort headphones (1st gen) $169 at Amazon
$359 Save $190   Get Deal

Prime Big Deal Days may be over, but one of the best deals of the sale is very much still live.

The first-generation Bose QuietComfort headphones may not be the latest from the brand, but they dropped to an impressive record low of of $169 during the sale, slashing 53% off their $359 list price. As of Oct. 8, the deal is still available in six different colorways. In addition to Amazon, you can also find it live at Bose's website and Best Buy.

My colleague and fellow audio tester, Samantha Mangino, wrote earlier this year about how these headphones are her go-tos: they're comfortable enough to easily wear all day (with earrings and glasses on), sound great, offer excellent active noise cancellation, and have intuitive tactile controls on the ear cups. The battery life is OK at 24 hours, and the multipoint pairing can be less than consistent at times (a common problem with Bose), but for the most part, these headphones punch far above what I'd expect from a $170 price point.

SEE ALSO: We tested every pair of Bose headphones and earbuds. We found 5 we love, and 1 to buy on sale.

Though I'm a big fan of the recently released second-generation QuietComfort headphones, which come with a slightly different design and immersive audio, on sale those headphones are still $319. For getting the most bang for your buck, the original QuietComforts are still the way to go. And they have removable ear cushions, which helps for future-proofing. All in all, at this price point, these headphones offer an excellent value.

It doesn't always feel like Microsoft and Apple are heated rivals in the laptop space these days, but now and then, we get a glimpse of what used to be.

In this case, Microsoft just debuted its own take on Apple's MagSafe mechanism for charging laptops. It's a magnetic USB-C port on the newly announced Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra, and it works exactly as it sounds: once you get the connector close enough, it snaps right on with the power of magnets.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra is an AI supercomputer dressed as a laptop This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Microsoft is calling it "Magnetic Connect" and is touting it as the first built-in magnetic USB-C port on a laptop. There are similar options from third-party vendors, but they aren't built in. Meanwhile, Apple's MagSafe mechanism uses magnets, but it's not USB-C, so it seems like Microsoft's claim holds some water here.

Probably the most important detail here is that you can still plug any old USB-C connector into the port, which gives it a leg up over MagSafe. Apple's version of this uses a proprietary connector that isn't really useful for anything other than its intended use.

The biggest problem is that the Surface Laptop Ultra starts at a staggering $2,599. Maybe you can live without a magnetic USB-C connector, in that case.

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SAVE $1,302: The 100-inch Hisense E7 Cinema Series QLED TV is on sale for $1,697.99, down from the normal price of $2,999.99. That's a 43% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense 100-inch Hisense E7 Cinema Series QLED TV $1,697.99
$2,999.99 Save $1,302.00   Get Deal

October Prime Day is over according to the official dates, but that doesn't mean the deals are dry. If you forgot about the sale or got stuck in a purchase indecision loop, no sweat, because there's a TV deal in store at Amazon that is well worth some attention.

As of Oct. 8, the 100-inch Hisense E7 Cinema Series QLED TV is on sale for $1,697.99, down from the normal price of $2,999.99. That's a 43% discount that shaves a major $1,302 off the price and marks the best price we've ever spotted at Amazon.

A 100-inch TV is a real treat. Unless you want an art TV, going with a giant model is a great way to turn streaming sessions into an optimal experience. The 100-inch Hisense will be awesome for watching fall's best sporting events and streaming shows.

SEE ALSO: The 15+ best Prime Day tech deals still live: Last chance deals on MacBooks, TVs, headphones, and more

In addition to the QLED display, the TV hits a native refresh rate of 144Hz, which means you'll be able to game all winter on this model. Hisense also used AI Smooth Motion with this model, so your action movies will look better than ever.

Before this lingering Prime Day deal expires, snag the 100-inch Hisense E7 Cinema Series QLED TV while saving over $1,300.

Preorder the new Amazon Alexa Tablets Preorder now Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro $499.99 Pre-Order Here Preorder now Amazon Alexa Tablet 11 $329.99 Pre-Order Here Preorder now Amazon Alexa Tablet 8 $229.99 Pre-Order Here Preorder now Amazon Alexa Tablet Pro Pen $89.99 Pre-Order Here Preorder now Amazon Alexa Tablet Pro Keyboard $149.99 Pre-Order Here

In the aftermath of Prime Big Deal Days, Amazon quietly dropped a new line of tablets now powered by Android with access to the Google Play Store. The lineup includes three new tablets, all with an aluminum unibody construction, similar to the design of the new Kindles.

As you might guess from the name, Alexa Tablets are built to run on Alexa+, Amazon's most advanced voice assistant. This also marks the retailer's transition away from Fire Tablets, likely to be phased out in favor of the new Alexa Tablets.

Here's what we know about the new Amazon Alexa tablets.

Meet the new Amazon Alexa Tablets

The new Amazon Alexa tablets are available in three sizes: 12 inches, 11 inches, and 8.7 inches. The 12-inch unit, the Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, is Amazon's most advanced tablet yet while the 11 and 8, offer mid- and budget-range options.

All of the new tablets run on Android, an upgrade from the Fire Tablets, which ran on Amazon's native system. This means that the tablets finally have the Google Play Store, making millions of apps now available on Amazon's tablets.

Plus, Amazon has made the Alexa Tablets more functional for the tasks you do the most. Now, they have a built-in Kindle sanctuary on the devices. When you open the Kindle app, the tablet goes distraction-free by silencing notifications, reducing blue light, and stretching battery life.

Here's a breakdown of the tablet models and prices:

• Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro (available in standard or Nanomatte) — $499.99 to $679.99

• Amazon Alexa Tablet 11 (64GB or 128GB) — $329.99 to $379.99

• Amazon Alexa Tablet 8 (64GB or 128GB) — $229.99 to $279.99

The Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro: Amazon's most advanced tablet The Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro is built to rival the iPad Pro. Credit: Amazon

As Apple's iPad Pro features two different screen types, Amazon did something similar with the design of the Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro. The new premium tablet comes in a standard display or Nanomatte, a new precision-etched anti-glare technology. Amazon partnered with Corning to craft the process that makes the nearly undetectable textured glass. It allows you to read in any angle or light without glare.

Designed for the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro are two new accessories, the Alexa Tablet Pro Pen and Alexa Tablet Pro Keyboard. Both turn the tablet into a full work setup for a laptop-like experience.

It starts at $499.99 and is available for preorder now, shipping as soon as Oct. 14.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro $499.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Alexa Tablet Pro Pen $89.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Alexa Tablet Pro Keyboard $149.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here Meet the Alexa Tablet 11 and 8 Amazon is offering two Alexa Tablets at more affordable price points, the Alexa Tablet 11 and 8. Credit: Amazon / Mashable Photo Composite

In addition to the 12 Pro, Amazon has released the Alexa Tablet 11 and 8.

The Amazon Alexa Tablet 11 is an 11-inch tablet with a 16:10 aspect ratio. It comes with 8GB of RAM and dual Dolby Atmos speakers. Its new aluminum casing comes in matcha, amethyst, and graphite. It starts at $329.99.

For a more budget-friendly option, there's the Amazon Alexa Tablet 8. It's the best size for readers who want to log hours on the Kindle app. It weighs just 329g and is 7.95mm thin. It has 4GB of RAM and an 8-core processor. It comes in graphite, rosette, and teal. It starts at $229.99.

Both tablets are available for preorder now, to be released Oct. 14.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Alexa Tablet 11 $329.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Alexa Tablet 8 $229.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here

You can't scroll through TikTok without seeing someone using a pocket mic in their videos. These little gadgets have become a staple for content creators, and the UGC mic market continues to expand.

Our favorite brands are DJI and Rode, but a hot new bombshell has entered the scene. On Oct. 8, Sony introduced the ECM-AX10 spatial audio microphone.

Sony ECM-AX10 price and specs

Sony's new spatial audio microphone retails for $249.99 and is available for preorder now.

The ECM-AX10 comes with a wind screen to cut down outdoor noises. Credit: Sony

This is the first Eclipsa Audio-certified microphone for smartphones, and it features the following:

• Four omnidirectional microphone capsules

• USB-C connection

• Three recording modes: Ambisonics, binaural, stereo

• Weight: 24 grams

• Selfie mode for front and rear alignment

• 3.5mm headphone output

• Noise cut filter

• Included accessories: Wind screen, extension USB-C cable, cold-shoe microphone holder

Sony ECM-AX10 Spatial Audio Microphone $249.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here at Amazon Pre-order Here at Sony Pre-order Here at B&H Photo Video What makes the Sony ECM-AX10 different

Unlike most pocket mics, the Sony ECM-AX10 attaches directly to your phone — there aren't separate receivers or microphones. So, you don't have to hold anything or clip anything to your clothes.

It's designed to capture spatial audio, not just voice pickup. It's ideal for recording live concerts and shows, sporting events, travel, and city walks — any type of content where the background noise is part of the ambiance.

Capture the full sonic scene of a live music session with the ECM-AX10 mic. Credit: Sony

The ECM-AX10 houses four omnidirectional microphone capsules and has three recording formats. Ambisonics recording uses four mic capsules to capture spatial audio for immersive and Eclipsa Audio production, binaural recording captures audio best for two-channel headphone listening, and stereo recording is your standard two-channel audio for broad speaker compatibility. Sony has a dedicated Spatial Audio Video Tool app where you can edit the footage and sound that you capture.

The microphone has a built-in accelerometer that automatically detects the mic's tilt angle, so your audio is aligned with your video, no matter your phone's orientation. On the mic itself, you'll find a peak-level meter, a spatial/stereo mode switch, an ATT switch (loud-sound protection), a Noise Cut filter, a selfie mode switch, and a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack.

If you mostly make talking head content in your home, you're probably better off with a cheaper DJI Mic Mini or Rode Micro. But the Sony ECM-AX10 would be an awesome investment for creators whose content focuses on immersive, atmospheric, or spatial experiences, or those who just want rich, full sound in their videos.

Your iPad already has your inbox, shopping tabs, and unfinished to-do list. Now Meta wants to put an AI agent in charge of making some progress on them.

Meta’s Muse is now available on iPad, as announced in an Oct. 7 Threads post, following its Sept. 8 mobile debut. The free app’s latest update adds iPad support alongside more connections to the services people use for work and everyday tasks.

If you’ve missed Muse’s arrival, the pitch is an agentic AI assistant that can help you complete a variety of everyday tasks, such as booking reservations, ordering groceries, managing appointments, and making purchases. Users choose which accounts to connect, giving the agent access to particular parts of their digital lives.

There’s already considerable interest. Muse has surpassed an estimated 6.6 million installs.

SEE ALSO: 10 ways to use Meta's Muse AI app, from flight credits to outfit ideas An AI assistant with business ambitions

The update also makes Meta’s small-business ambitions pretty clear. Its App Store release notes list connectors for Asana, Canva, Dropbox, Figma, QuickBooks, GitHub, Klaviyo, Zoom, and Meta ad accounts, plus Granola and Notion.

Meta says users can give Muse a business goal and have it plan marketing content, build client pitches, and create product pages, with their approval. The company announced its small-business push on Sept. 29. That’s a fairly ambitious job description for an app that’s barely a month old.

Shopping is another part of the push. Meta announced more retail partners at Connect, including Best Buy, Gap, Sephora, Walmart, and Wayfair, expanding the places Muse can shop on users' behalf.

There’s a catch, though: Websites can mistake an AI assistant for an unwanted bot and block it. Meta says it’s working with industry partners on an open standard that would let personal agents identify themselves to businesses, but Amazon has already taken steps to block Muse altogether.

Handing an AI agent the keys to your digital life has already raised concerns.

As Mashable reported, one user said Muse shared his home address and arranged a Facebook Marketplace pickup without checking with him first. Separately, columnist Jason Aten alleged Muse accessed private messages he hadn’t authorized it to read. And on Oct. 3 Wired reportedly found instructions for Muse to compile profiles of users' friends, family, and colleagues. As Muse expands to more devices and services, Meta will have to make its boundaries as clear as its ambitions.

SEE ALSO: Big banks are worried AI agents could increase the risk of scams and fraud

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