Mashable

TL;DR: The Apple iPhone 17 is under $100 with T-Mobile. To claim this offer, switch and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed)

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for under $100   Shop Now

We're constantly tracking the best deals on smartphones. T-Mobile is usually one of the first places we look, because they generally offer free deals on new handsets like the Motorola Razr+, Google Pixel 11, and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8.

But what about the iPhone?

The only iPhone you can get for free right now with T-Mobile is the iPhone 17e. To claim this handset for free, you can switch to almost any T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required. The iPhone 17 is not free at the time of writing, but it's under $100 when you switch and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed). That's still a wild offer.

T-Mobile spreads your savings across 36 monthly bill credits, effectively locking you into a three-year agreement. If you cancel or switch carriers early, you will owe the remaining balance immediately. You will also need to cover state sales tax on the phone’s full retail value upfront, plus a standard $35 device connection fee per line at checkout.

This is one of the best ways to score a top-tier phone without taking a massive hit to your bank account.

Get the Apple iPhone 17 for under $100 this week with T-Mobile.

Jimmy Kimmel has incurred the wrath of the president once again, this time after comments he made about a recent Trump rally with empty seats.

In the clip above the host plays footage of the president moaning about his remarks before calling him a "loser".

"Of all the many things I said about him last week – of all the many moronic and criminal words and deeds I detailed – that's what bothers him? Me pointing out the fact that his rallies have empty seats? Well in that case, let's do it again!" says Kimmel, bringing up a photo of a Trump crowd peppered with empty seats. "So many empty seats! There were even empty seats at the rally where he complained about me saying he had empty seats at the rally.

"He keeps claiming the reason there are empty seats in the back and the top is because the people love him so much they make their way down to the front. Isn't it interesting that that never happens at a Lakers game? People just moving up to the front. But it does at an event controlled by the United States Secret Service."

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

Need a bunch of different products and services that are loosely connected under the umbrella of a space technology brand? We've got good news for you.

On Tuesday, SpaceXSI (that's the new name, because "artificial intelligence" is out of fashion in the U.S. these days) announced a new subscription tier called The X Subscription, which combines access to X Premium, Grok, Grok Bot, and Cursor.

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

There's a total of five plans. Free doesn't cost anything but offers only limited chat and agent requests on Grok and Cursor, and limited X functionality. Plus costs $8 per month and unlocks several additional Grok and Cursor features, including Grok Chat, Voice, Imagine, and Build, as well as access to the Grok API. At the same time, on X, you get fewer ads and a Premium checkmark, among other perks. Premium costs $30 per month, and adds 4x more AI usage compared to Plus, access to Grok Bot and the latest Grok models, faster Chat responses, and a few Cursor features such as code hosting and AI code reviews and cloud agents and automations; on the X side, it comes with ad-free scrolling "on most surfaces," a preferred @handle and a higher reply boost.

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

The $100-per-month Super tier is all that, plus 15x more usage than Plus and priority model access at peak times. Finally, Ultra gives you 50x more usage than Plus for $200 per month. Pricing for teams and enterprise is a little different; details are available over at x.ai/pricing.

SpaceXSI claims that "the X Subscription provides more usage-per-dollar of our own models than the comparable plan it replaces." Key words there are "our own models," as third-party model usage in Cursor is not included in the monthly subscription price and must be purchased separately. Cursor is a coding-specific AI agent that SpaceXSI acquired in June.

SEE ALSO: Trump's AI-powered America.gov is here. It was built by DOGE alumni and runs on Grok.

Other than that, this is a decent deal for folks who need both Grok and X Premium. For example, SuperGrok alone (a Grok tier comparable to the current Premium tier) used to cost $30 per month, while ad-free X Premium+ cost an additional $30 per month; now you get both for $30. The $30 per month is still a pretty big ask, given that Anthropic's Claude Pro Plan, OpenAI's ChatGPT Plus plan, and Google's AI Pro (which includes Gemini alongside cloud storage, YouTube Premium Lite, and other perks) all cost $20 per month.

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.

PREORDER TO SAVE $30: The Anker Sleep Earbuds 4 and Anker Sleep Earbuds 4 Pro are $30 off with preorders. The Sleep 4 earbuds are set to launch in October and the Sleep 4 Pro later in November.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Sleep Earbuds 4 $199.99 at Anker
$229.99 Save $30   Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Sleep Earbuds 4 Pro $319.99 at Anker
$349.99 Save $30   Get Deal

As much as we try to fight it, sleep is essential for life. For so many reasons, it can be a struggle to get good sleep. If you're not sleeping well because the environment is too noisy, there's help to be had. Sleep earbuds are designed to be comfortable enough for wearing all night while helping to mask noise that'll keep you awake. In more good news, there are two new Anker models coming soon and preorders get a special discount.

Sign up to reserve either the new Anker Sleep Earbuds 4 or the Anker Sleep Earbuds 4 Pro with a $1 deposit and save $30. That means you can get the Sleep 4 earbuds for $199.99, down from the normal price of $229.99 or the Sleep 4 Pro earbuds for $319.99, down from the list price of $349.99.

In Mashable's review of the best sleep earbuds, the Anker Sleep 30A Special earn the top spot. While Anker went in a new direction with naming, the new Sleep 4 Series will take over as the newest models. Both models come with an upgraded design for more comfort and smaller inner wingtips.

SEE ALSO: The fan-favorite Owala FreeSip Twist water bottle is down to $19.99 on Amazon — beating its Prime Day price

Both models also come with a built-in alarm, Bluetooth 6.0, and a Find Me feature from the app should you misplace an earbud under the bed. Anker rates noise reduction on both models as three to five decibels better than the previous Sleep A30 Special model when it comes to masking noise. Adding to their functionality, both support wireless charging.

The Sleep Earbuds 4 Plus come with some elevated features compared to the standard Sleep Earbuds 4. One of the most obvious is the AMOLED touch case. This'll give users instant access to sleep tracking metrics without looking at a phone. You can also set alarms and adjust the audio from the touchscreen. The Pro models also supports in-ear sleep tracking and insights.

As of the time of writing, Anker doesn't have firm launch dates set. The brand says the Sleep Earbuds 4 are coming in October and the advanced Sleep Earbuds 4 Pro will come in November. Whichever model you're eyeing, better sleep is just a few clicks away.

The Moon is starting to show up in the sky again, with just a small crescent visible at the moment. It'll get a little bigger each night as the week goes on.

What is today's Moon phase?

As of Tuesday, Oct. 13, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waxing Crescent phase, with 7% of its surface visible.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on October 25 or 26, depending on your timezone.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon takes around 29.5 days to travel around Earth, and its appearance changes throughout the month. As it moves around our planet, we see different amounts of its sunlit side, from a slim crescent to the quarter phases and eventually a Full Moon. It then begins the cycle again. As NASA explains, these phases are caused by the Moon's changing position relative to Earth and the Sun.

The eight phases are:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SAVE OVER $10: As of Oct. 13, the Xteink X4 Pro e-reader is down to its lowest-ever price of $84.15 at Amazon. That's $14.85 off its full price of $99.

Opens in a new window Credit: XTEINK Xteink X4 Pro $84.15 at Amazon
$99 Save $14.85   Get Deal

The Xteink X4 Pro, released this July, has received a nice discount on Amazon. For a limited time, it's down to its lowest-ever price. If this incredibly compact e-reader has caught your attention, this is an excellent time to add it to your shopping cart and save about $14.

As of Oct. 13, the price has been cut from $99 to $84.15, but it won't be this low for long. Amazon has a "limited time deal" tag, so the window is closing to snag it at this low price.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best e-readers we've ever tested

If you've been searching for an e-reader that's even smaller than a Kindle to slip in your pocket, the Xteink X4 Pro certainly ticks that box. It's incredibly lightweight at just 72g (2.5 oz), has a very slim 5.95mm profile, and features a 4.3-inch paper-feel display for reading. It even has a built-in magnetic back, so you can attach it to your phone for easy access.

When it comes to reading, the paper-feel display helps eliminate screen glare and eye fatigue, so you won't get a headache from staring at the screen for too long. It also features multi-level warm and cool front lights so you can find the best tone for reading in any environment.

Mashable's Samantha Mangino did write that the main issue with this e-reader "is its file support." All Xteink e-readers "support EPUB files, but only DRM-free ones." This means that "you'll have to seek out DRM-free EPUB files, which are pretty limited and mostly include classics in the public domain."

That being said, this is still a sleek e-reader to scoop up for less than $90 while it's still on sale at Amazon.

SAVE $502: As of Oct. 13, the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 is on sale for $797.99 at Amazon. That's a 39% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 $797.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $502   Get Deal

A good gaming monitor can completely transform your setup, especially when you want to reduce screen tearing or motion blur. If these are issues you regularly encounter, it's time for an upgrade.

As of Oct. 13, the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 is on sale at Amazon, so you're in luck. Normally $1,299.99, this curved gaming monitor is on sale for a limited time at $797.99. That's a saving of over $500, and a deal that's hard to ignore.

This Samsung gaming monitor is built to make gaming feel more immersive, thanks to its 1,000R curved Dual QHD display that wraps around your field of view. It's also designed to keep up with fast-paced graphics, with a 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms (GtG) response time.

Picture quality is a real selling point, too. The panel reaches up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness and offers a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. AMD FreeSync Premium Pro helps reduce screen tearing when things start moving fast.

And for comfort, the stand can be adjusted for tilt, swivel, and height to help you find a suitable viewing position. It also has TÜV-certified eye-comfort features that help reduce blue light and flicker during longer gaming sessions.

Find this gaming deal at Amazon now.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 13, 2026 Eye meaning

An organ used for seeing.

Lash meaning

To tie things together.

Lips meaning

A body part possessed by some vertebrates.

Jacket meaning

Outerwear designed to keep you warm, looking stylish, or both

Tie meaning

To lash things together.

Sense meaning

An awareness of something.

Change meaning

To alter the state or condition of something.

Belt meaning

A clothing item often used to hold up trousers.

Ring meaning

An item of jewelry, often worn on fingers.

Taste meaning

A sense that allows us to determine the flavor of something.

Cup meaning

An item used for beverages or as part of a trophy.

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.

Hitch meaning

A variety of knot.

Cannon meaning

An archaic weapon using gunpowder to fire a variety of ammo types at the enemy.

Tether meaning

To attach something to something else.

Flair meaning

To have style or do something with style.

Ends meaning

The limits of something.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

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

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 Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you've ever experienced an awkward moment.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 13, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Well, this is awkward

The words are related to uncomfortable experiences.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe awkward moments.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Cringeworthy.

NYT Strands word list for October 13

• Cringeworthy

• Embarrass

• Appall

• Chagrin

• Mortify

• Nonplus

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

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you know how to size things up.

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 13, 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:

Broader.

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 W.

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...

WIDER

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.

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to 20+ AI models, side-by-side comparisons, AI image generation, and unlimited monthly messages (subject to fair use) for $59.97 through Oct. 15.

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

One AI model might nail your prompt, while another offers a completely different approach. Why choose just one without seeing what the others can do? ChatPlayground AI’s Unlimited Plan is just $59.97 (reg. $619) through Oct. 15 during the extended Deal Days sale, giving you lifetime access to 20+ AI models in one workspace.

ChatPlayground AI brings ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, Llama, Perplexity, and more together in a single interface. Enter a prompt once, compare responses side by side, and decide which answer works best for your project.

That’s very useful when you’re drafting content, brainstorming ideas, writing code, or working through a complicated question. Rather than relying on one model’s response, you can see how several approach the same task.

And there’s more here than a collection of chatbots.

Upload PDFs and images to ask questions about your files, use built-in prompt engineering tools to refine your requests, or generate AI images without leaving the platform. Saved chat history also makes it easy to revisit previous conversations and pick up where you left off.

The Unlimited Plan includes unlimited monthly messages (subject to a fair-use policy), plus priority customer support and early access to new features and future models. Available models are regularly updated and may change.

For anyone who regularly experiments with different AI tools, having everything in one place is a practical way to simplify the process.

Get lifetime access to ChatPlayground AI’s Unlimited Plan for a one-time $59.97 payment (reg. $619) through Oct. 15 and put multiple AI perspectives to work with one purchase.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Tech creator Alberta Tech likes to be prepared for an idea to strike at any time.

The former software engineer recently left Google to pursue content creation full-time, making videos that use comedy to unpack some of the internet's most complicated tech topics, from generative AI to vibe coding.

SEE ALSO: Alberta Tech on what AI gets right and where it still falls short for creators

But despite the technical subject matter, her actual creator setup is surprisingly uncomplicated. "Phone and mics are all I need to be making stuff these days," Alberta told Mashable at VidCon.

The rest comes down to staying curious about what people are talking about — and being ready to hit record when inspiration strikes.

Her bag might be light on gear, but Alberta Tech never goes anywhere without the tools she needs to make a video. Credit: Ian Moore/Mashable/Getty Images Her phone Apple iPhone 17 Pro iPhone 17 Pro on Us With Trade-in and Qualifying Plan at T-Mobile
  See It at T-Mobile See It at Best Buy See It at AT&T Wireless

Like many creators, Alberta doesn't need an elaborate camera setup to make a video. Her phone does most of the heavy lifting.

It's particularly fitting for a creator whose career began on TikTok during the pandemic, when Alberta started posting jokes from her New York apartment before eventually finding her audience in the tech and software engineering communities.

These days, it's still one of the only devices she needs to make something.

Rode mics RØDE Wireless Micro (2 Mics + Case), USB-C for Smartphones, Orange $90 at Amazon
  See It at Amazon

The one piece of gear Alberta makes sure she has with her? "I always have my mics on me," she said. "They actually are Rode mics. Just in case inspiration strikes wherever I go."

That habit has already paid off. "I went to an event once in New York and saw a creator that I had been following for a long time online, but we had never met in person," she recalled. Rather than scheduling something for later, they made a video on the spot. "We were able to just make a video right then and there, no planning," Alberta said. "It was completely improv, which was so fun."

They had the idea. More importantly, they had the mics.

The news

Not everything in Alberta's creator toolkit can literally fit inside a bag. Her videos depend on being able to turn complicated developments in tech and AI into jokes people can actually understand, which means keeping up with a news cycle that moves incredibly quickly.

"I would say just reading the news," Alberta said of the other things that help her make content.

That information becomes the raw material for her videos — and sometimes the setup for the next joke.

Reddit

There's another place Alberta checks every morning. "Reading the top of Reddit every morning," she said.

For a creator who makes content about how people experience and talk about technology, knowing what happened isn't necessarily enough. She also wants to know what the internet thinks happened.

Which leads to her final essential.

The comments

Alberta reads the comments to "see what people really think about what is going on." That means paying attention not only to the people who love what she's making, but also the people who decidedly do not. "You have to listen to the people that are your biggest fans or your biggest haters," she said.

Phone. Mics. News. Reddit. Comments. The gear may be minimal. The curiosity is anything but.

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage and meet The Mashable 101 to discover the internet’s most exciting voices.

As we sift through the latest leaked gameplay videos for Grand Theft Auto VI, it's worth wondering: Which console will provide the most high-end experience when the game launches on Nov. 19?

The answer would usually be PC, but Rockstar has not announced a PC version of GTA 6 yet, and might not for a while. GTA V didn't launch on PC until two years later, after all. With that in mind, people are wondering if it's worth it to splurge on a PlayStation 5 Pro just to experience Vice City at the highest level of fidelity possible.

Rockstar has yet to share official visual and performance specs for any version of the game just yet, but let's investigate anyway with what little information we have.

SEE ALSO: Where to find the PS5 Pro in stock ahead of 'GTA 6' launch Will GTA VI be upgraded on PS5 Pro? A month ahead of the official launch, a lot of questions remain unanswered. Credit: Rockstar

This is the big question, and it's one we don't really have an answer to right now.

Rockstar's official marketing line for the last few months has been that GTA VI "plays best on PS5," but that tagline doesn't say anything about PS5 Pro. It also doesn't say much of anything in general, as we have no idea what the differences will be between the base PS5 and the Xbox Series X versions of GTA VI. It's not an exaggeration to say that we're operating with almost no useful information about the way this game performs on consoles right now, aside from the fact that the extended Netflix trailer was apparently captured on a base PS5.

SEE ALSO: GTA 6 Cyberleek update: Everything leaked so far, what could be next

There has been one recent little crumb of hope that the PS5 Pro version of the game is an upgrade over the base version, though. A recently released screenshot of a wet city street at night showcased high-quality reflections that don't seem to be present in the base PS5 build shown on Netflix or in any other marketing. Oliver Mackenzie of Digital Foundry, an outlet dedicated to technical analysis of game visuals, said on X that this screenshot may not represent regular PS5 gameplay.

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

Mackenzie estimates that these reflections use ray tracing, a relatively recent technology that generates real-time, high-quality lighting and reflections, while requiring a pretty intense amount of horsepower.

Base PS5 games technically can and do utilize ray tracing on occasion; the reflections in the Marvel's Spider-Man series on PS5 are a good go-to example. But given the extremely high level of graphical detail present in GTA 6, it stands to reason that the game might not be able to use ray tracing on a base PS5, but could possibly include that feature on PS5 Pro.

It must be emphasized that this is all speculation based on one measly screenshot, which might not even show the console version of the game at all. Rockstar very well could have captured it using an internal PC build, as Mackenzie noted on X. But there is plenty of precedent for games like Ghost of Yotei locking the best ray tracing features behind PS5 Pro-exclusive modes, so it's possible GTA VI could do the same.

Is the PS5 Pro worth it in general?

A PS5 Pro retails for $900 at the moment, and that's under the best of conditions, as a recent shortage has driven up the price on the secondary market considerably (as high as $1,300). It is perfectly reasonable to not want to spend that much money on a gaming device, no matter how powerful it is, and no matter how much better GTA 6 might look on it — emphasis on might.

But, as a PS5 Pro owner myself, I will say that games rarely (if ever) look or run worse on PS5 Pro, and big-budget AAA productions often benefit in some way from the added horsepower. A couple of my favorite games of this console generation, Dragon's Dogma 2 and Death Stranding 2, look and perform absolutely wonderfully on PS5 Pro, just to provide two examples.

If you care about having the best graphics in every game, a PC is the way to go. But if you don't want a PC — or if the game you want to play isn't being released on PC for the foreseeable future — then the PS5 Pro is your second-best option. Just try not to spend too much more than $900 on it.

In the meantime, you can pre-order Grand Theft Auto VI for Xbox Series X/S and PS5 for $79.99.

TL;DR: Block ads, reduce tracking, and get malware protection and parental controls on up to nine devices with AdGuard’s lifetime Family Plan for just $14.97 through Oct. 15.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $14.97
$169.99 Save $155.02   Get Deal

Tired of dodging pop-ups, dealing with slow-loading websites, and feeling like your every move online might be tracked? You’re not alone. The internet should be a safe, smooth, and private space. The AdGuard Family Plan can help you smooth things out, digitally speaking.

For just $14.97 through Oct. 15 (as part of an extended Deal Days sale), you’ll get lifetime protection for up to nine devices. Whether it’s your phone, tablet, or laptop, AdGuard blocks intrusive ads, prevents trackers from snooping on your data, and shields your family from possible malicious websites.

Ads aren’t just annoying; they slow down your browsing, eat up your data, and sometimes even carry malware. And if you’ve got kids online, you want to make sure they’re safe from inappropriate content. The AdGuard Family Plan does all that and more. With built-in parental controls, you can filter out harmful sites and ensure your family’s online experience is both secure and enjoyable.

With up to 9 devices covered, the AdGuard Family Plan is ideal for households where everyone’s connected. And because it’s a one-time payment for lifetime access, you’ll never have to worry about recurring fees or annoying subscription renewals.

So, whether you’re protecting your own devices or your whole family’s, AdGuard makes it easy to have a more peaceful online experience. Say goodbye to annoying ads and hello to a safer, faster internet.

Don’t miss the opportunity to save on a lifetime of AdGuard Family Plan protection while it’s just $14.97 (reg. $169.99) through Oct. 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT, as part of the extended Deal Days sale.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Host unlimited websites with a Hostdeal Unlimited lifetime subscription, now $119.97 (reg. $1,800).

Opens in a new window Credit: Light Speed Technologies Hostdeal Unlimited Plan: Lifetime Subscription $119.97
$1,800 Save $1,680.03   Get Deal

Web hosting is usually a monthly bill, and every new site or domain renewal raises it a little more. A Hostdeal Unlimited lifetime subscription replaces that bill with one payment for unlimited websites, unlimited NVMe SSD storage, and 54 free lifetime domains. It’s also on sale for $119.97 (reg $1,800).

Every site on this plan lives on NVMe SSD storage. NVMe drives connect over PCIe instead of the older SATA interface, so pages and databases read data faster than they would from a SATA drive or a spinning hard disk. Hostdeal pairs that storage with HTTP/2, IPv6, a CDN, and edge caching. A CDN keeps copies of your site on servers around the world, so a visitor in Tokyo isn’t waiting on a single server in Ohio. You can pick a home server location in the United States, United Kingdom, or Singapore.

Bandwidth is unlimited too, so a traffic spike won’t bring extra charges. Each site gets a free SSL certificate and up to five email accounts. Daily off-site backups mean you can restore a broken site quickly, and security includes DDoS protection, malware scanning, a web application firewall, brute-force protection, and two-factor authentication.

You can manage all of this through one simple panel you don’t need to be a tech pro to use. A 1-click installer sets up WordPress or more than 400 other web apps, while developers get MySQL databases, FTP, Git integration, cron jobs, and a PHP version selector.

Stop paying a monthly fee to keep your websites online. Until Oct. 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get a HostDeal Lifetime Subscription for just $119.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a refurbished M2 MacBook Air with a 512GB SSD and up to 18 hours of battery for $699.99 (reg. $1,299).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 2022 (Refurbished) $699.99
$1,299 Save $599.01   Get Deal

Laptops, phones, and most other electronics keep getting more expensive. A good new laptop can easily cost more than $1,000, but that’s not your only option. This refurbished 2022 MacBook Air with Apple’s M2 chip is a lightweight laptop that’s fast enough for work, school, and creative projects, and it’s on sale for $699.99.

This MacBook Air has an M2 chip with an 8-core CPU and an 8-core GPU. That’s enough performance for web browsing, documents, video calls, and photo editing. With 8GB of unified memory, switching between apps stays quick. Storage is a 512GB SSD, enough space for a large collection of photos, files, and apps.

Because the M2 chip runs cool, this laptop doesn’t need a fan. That keeps it silent during normal use, so you don’t have to turn up the volume on videos just to cover up the sound of your computer trying to work.

The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display has a resolution of 2560 by 1664. At 500 nits with P3 wide color and True Tone, the screen is bright and shows accurate colors. You also get a backlit Magic Keyboard, a Force Touch trackpad, Touch ID for fingerprint sign-in, a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, and a four-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio.

Apple rates the battery at up to 18 hours of movie playback and up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing. At 2.7 pounds and less than half an inch thick, this MacBook Air is easy to carry or toss into most laptop bags. Ports include MagSafe 3 for charging, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, and a headphone jack, and Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 handle wireless connections.

This model has a Grade B refurbished rating, meaning it may have light scuffing on the case or light scratches and dents on the body, but it still works great.

Pick up a refurbished MacBook Air while they’re still on sale for $699.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

SAVE $400: The 27-inch LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitor is back on sale for $499.99 at Amazon. That $400 discount (44% off) matches its lowest-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 27-inch UltraGear OLED Gaming Monitor (27GS93QE) $499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400   Get Deal

The 27-inch LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitor is currently down to $499.99 at Amazon. That drops the price by $400 — a massive 44% discount off its normal $899.99 list price — bringing this top-tier display back to its all-time low price.

Hitting a sub-$500 mark on a high-refresh OLED panel is rare, but the performance specs make it a steal for both PC and console setups. You are getting a sharp 1440p resolution, a silky 240Hz refresh rate, and a near-instant 0.03ms pixel response time. So fast-paced competitive shooters look fluid with practically zero motion blur, ghosting, or input lag ruining your tracking.

The real magic comes down to the self-lit OLED panel. Because each pixel turns off completely, dark scenes deliver true, pitch-black levels without that muddy gray glow common on standard IPS or VA screens. It handles wide color spaces effortlessly for single-player immersion, while a matte anti-glare finish keeps window light or desk lamps from turning your display into a mirror mid-game.

LG also loaded it with dual HDMI 2.1 ports and DisplayPort 1.4, letting you max out the 240Hz ceiling on PC or hook up a PS5 or Xbox Series X without losing smooth frame rates. You also get G-Sync and FreeSync support to eliminate screen tearing, a stand that swivels, tilts, and adjusts for height, and a two-year warranty covering burn-in and panel issues.

If you've been eyeing a high-refresh OLED upgrade, hit Amazon and grab this 27-inch display before the $400 discount disappears.

SAVE OVER $1,300: As of Oct. 13, the Hisense 100-inch E7 Cinema Series is on sale for $1,697.97 at Amazon. That's a 43% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 100-inch E7 Cinema Series $1,697.97 at Amazon
$2,999.99 Save $1,302.02   Get Deal

If you want to transform your living room into a home theater, take a look at this latest Amazon deal on the Hisense 100-inch E7 Cinema Series. Currently reduced to its lowest-ever price, this TV is the ideal choice for home movie nights and gaming sessions. Normally $2,999.99, it's down to $1,697.97, saving you over $1,300.

And it's more than just a big TV. This Hisense model is a 4K TV that uses AI tools to make the most out of whatever you're watching. It even has AI 4K upscaling technology that uses deep learning to improve lower-resolution content, sharpening details and improving textures to bring older films and shows closer to 4K quality.

There's plenty for gamers and sports fans, too. The native 144Hz refresh rate, Game Mode, and AI Smooth Motion with MEMC technology help keep fast-paced action looking smooth and reduce motion blur. AI Picture Processing also fine-tunes brightness, contrast, and color, and a built-in light sensor adjusts the screen's brightness to suit the room.

And as the name suggests, this TV gives you a cinema experience. When watching movies, Filmmaker Mode gives you a more authentic viewing experience by preserving the director's intended settings, including the original aspect ratio, color, and frame rate.

Get this huge TV deal from Amazon now.

Google is all-in on fitness trackers in 2026. In May, we got the Fitbit Air, followed by the Pixel Watch 5 in August. And now, in October, we're welcoming the new Fitbit Edge, a fitness tracker that feels like it lands in a nice middle ground.

Preorders are already live for the newest Fitbit model, but before you decide if you're all-in on the Edge, check out some of the specs below.

Highlights of the Google Fitbit Edge

Unlike the Fitbit Air, Google went with a design that offers plenty of on-display info on the Edge. The AMOLED color display measures 1.34 inches and only weighs 17.7 grams without the band. Google kept it slim with the Edge, which measures just 11.58 mm. Like the Air, it aims to offer a comfortable fit for wear 24/7. The watch face on the Edge marks the largest and brightest ever on a Fitbit.

Credit: Google

Google says the battery can last up to 7 days, with a recharge time of about 90 minutes. A five-minute recharge will earn you an additional day of use. A first for Fitbit, the Edge's battery is replaceable should you wish to extend your watch's lifespan.

While the Fitbit Air was a scaled-back fitness tracker focused on simplicity, the Fitbit Edge adds features I missed with the Air. For one, it has an onboard altimeter, so it'll track the floors climbed and give you elevation info on hikes.

The Fitbit Edge also has onboard GPS for tracking your runs, walks, and bike rides. By comparison, the Air lacks onboard GPS and instead relies on your smartphone's GPS.

The IP68 waterproof rating means this model is swim friendly, won't mind going on a rainy fall run, and you won't have to take it off to shower.

Like the Air and Google Pixel 5, the Fitbit Edge comes with the Google Health Coach. While I'm not one to lean into AI, I enjoy the Google Health Coach's insight. I especially like the sleep tracking metrics that come with Fitbits.

It looks like anything but a fitness tracker

Order the Fitbit Edge, and it'll come with the silicone Active Band, which Google designed to be extra breathable thanks to the large cutouts. But you can also swap out the band for other options like the Performance Loop band, my preferred option on the Fitbit Air. It's a micro-adjustable option that allows for ultimate comfort. And somehow, it's pretty resistant to dirt.

There are also the elevated Metal Links and Magnet bands that make the Edge look much more like a watch and less like a fitness tracker. Google also launched the Fitbit Edge with a special Stephen Curry edition. It comes with a custom basketball watch face and a Rye colorway band, similar to the Stephen Curry edition of the Fitbit Air.

The Stephen Curry edition of the Fitbit Edge has its own custom watch face option. Credit: Google How to preorder the Google Fitbit Edge

The Fitbit Edge is available for preorder at Amazon and Google for $179.99 with a launch date set for Oct. 27. It comes with free access to Google Health Premium for three months. The special Stephen Curry edition of the Fitbit Edge is also available for preorder for $219.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Fitbit Edge $179.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here

TL;DR: The Apple iPhone 17e is free when you switch to almost any T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required. The iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 Pro are heavily discounted for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Best deals on Apple iPhones   Get Deal

The 2026 Apple Event feels like it took place a long time ago, but the dust is still settling. Apple announced a wave of new hardware and software, headlined by its first foldable iPhone. We're still digging deep into all the new features and stylistic touches, but we know what you really want — deals.

We know that's the priority after new models launch. With this in mind, we've lined up the best deals this week so you can get your hands on the iPhone 18 Pro (or the iPhone 17) for the lowest possible rate.

These are the best iPhone deals from T-Mobile this week:

• iPhone 17e — free when you switch to almost any T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required.

• iPhone 17 — under $100 when you bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed)

• iPhone 17 Pro — under $100 when trading in an eligible phone on an Experience Beyond plan.

• iPhone 18 Pro — under $200 when you switch and bring your number or trade in an eligible phone in any condition on an Experience Beyond plan.

• iPhone 18 Pro Max — under $300 when you switch and bring your number or trade in an eligible phone in any condition on an Experience Beyond plan.

T-Mobile will charge taxes on these deals, as well as a $35 device connection fee.

If you’re still rocking an iPhone 12 or 13, you’re missing out on some genuinely game-changing features. The iPhone 17 is the first base model built specifically to handle Apple’s most advanced AI features. Mashable's Stan Schroeder said it's an "excellent phone that matches the iPhone Pro models in many ways that matter."

Of course, the iPhone 18 Pro takes things to another level. The iPhone 18 Pro features a new A20 Pro chip to better support AI features and Siri AI. This latest model also has major camera upgrades, including a physical variable aperture, smart focus tracking, cinematic video effects, and improved low-light photography.

Get the best deals on Apple iPhones this week with T-Mobile.