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Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's 25 million monthly unique visitors and 10 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
Updated: 54 min 11 sec ago

The Roborock Qrevo S5V robot vacuum and mop is $350 off in Amazons Memorial Day sale — buy now for $549.99

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 14:33

SAVE OVER $300: As of May 19, the Roborock Qrevo S5V robot vacuum and mop has been discounted to $549.99 at Amazon. This is $350 off its list price of $899.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo S5V Robot Vacuum and Mop $549.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $350   Get Deal

Amazon has been dropping some great early Memorial Day deals, and that includes some solid price drops on robot vacuums. If you've been searching for a model to bring home for extra cleaning help ahead of the summer months, this offer on the Roborock Qrevo S5V robot vacuum and mop is well worth checking out.

As of May 19, the Roborock Qrevo S5V (in both black and white) is on sale for $549.99 at Amazon. Considering its full price is $899.99, this is a great opportunity to save $350 in Memorial Day sales. Amazon has it marked as a limited time deal right now, so this is the time to jump on it before the offer comes to an end.

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If you're dealing with pet hair scattered across your floors right now, dirt making its way inside, or food crumbs in the carpet, the Roborock Qrevo S5V features 12,000Pa suction to clear it all up. It even has a rubberized floating main brush and arc-shaped side brush that helps keep hair from getting tangled inside and slowing it down.

Pesky stains on harder surfaces in your home are handled thanks to the Roborock Qrevo S5V's dual spinning mops, which boast speeds of 200 rotations per minute. It even has an extendable mop arm that can reach into corners or around furniture legs. Plus, this robot vacuum also features obstacle avoidance technology that helps it navigate around any items in its way, from shoes to toys to cables and more.

If the Roborock Qrevo S5V has been on your radar, this is your chance to save at Amazon while Memorial Day sales are live.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

KPop Demon Hunters Trading Cards preorders are live on Amazon — score the 5-pack Energy Edition for $23

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 14:11

TL;DR: Amazon has the KPop Demon Hunters Collectible Trading Cards Energy Edition Collector Box available for preorder at $22.49. The box includes five individually wrapped packs, with eight cards per pack, working out to about $4.50 per pack before tax.

Opens in a new window Credit: KAYOU KPop Demon Hunters Collectible Trading Cards Energy Edition Collector Box (5 Packs) $22.49 at Amazon
Use the product page coupon for full discount. Get Deal

KPop Demon Hunters has already made the jump from Netflix hit to full-on collectibles craze, and now preorders for the official trading cards are starting to land at major retailers. 

As of May 19, Amazon has the KPop Demon Hunters Collectible Trading Cards Energy Edition Collector Box available for preorder at $22.49. That gets you five individually wrapped Energy Edition packs, with eight cards in each one, giving fans 40 cards in total across 11 rarity levels for just under $23 — releasing on Aug. 31. 

That works out to roughly $4.50 per pack before tax, which is a budget-friendly way to get into the new KAYOU set, if you don’t want to jump straight to the bigger 12-pack Energy Edition box for $53.99 (out on July 14). 

Unlike the Classic Edition that’s made for general trading card lovers (with eight rarities and five cards per pack), the 11-rarity and eight-cards-per-pack Energy Edition is designed with collectors in mind — including several serialized rarities designed for superfans chasing the biggest pulls. 

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The standout cards are the SE cards, inspired by the song Golden, featuring premium laser-etched finishes and serialized birthday numbering from 1 to 366. There are also BP cards numbered from 1 to 999, capturing HUNTR/X in all-black stage outfits before the spotlight hits.

If you’re a trading card fan who’s been exploring other TCGs, try out Magic: The Gathering with the Final Fantasy Starter Kit for $20 — after a $5 price drop on Amazon. Pokémon fans can also score packs of the Perfect Order expansion for under $9. The Pokémon TCG’s newly-announced Pitch Black expansion is also available to pre-order at TCGplayer.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

Marshall introduces noise cancellation in a new pair of on-ear headphones

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 14:00

There are few tech brands with as iconically cool branding as Marshall, and even fewer still with headphones that work as effectively as a fashion accessory as the Major V headphones. Yet, the on-ear headphones were missing a crucial feature: active noise cancellation.

As of May 19, Marshall is changing that, releasing a new pair of on-ear headphones with ANC: the Milton A.N.C. The headphones are available today for $229.99 on Marshall's website.

Opens in a new window Credit: Marshall Marshall Milton A.N.C. $229.99 at Marshall
  Shop Now Marshall Milton A.N.C.: What's new

Prior to the release of the Milton A.N.C., if you wanted a pair of noise-cancelling headphones from Marshall, you'd have to go for the more expensive Monitor IIIs, which clock in at $379.99 (though you can usually grab them on sale for under $300). While I found the Monitor IIIs to be a great pair of headphones, especially for a solid blend of style, portability, and impressive battery power, they do feature a slightly different design than Marshall's iconic on-ear headphones, and aren't quite as compact.

The Milton A.N.C. (center) compared to the Monitor III (left) and Major V (right). Credit: Marshall

That's where the Milton headphones aim to fill a gap. For starters, at $229.99, they're more firmly on the low end of mid-range headphones. According to Marshall, the ear cushions will be larger for better passive noise cancellation and made with softer memory foam for more comfortable periods of extended wear. As someone who's tried the Major V headphones, I'm curious to see how those changes stack up, as I certainly felt the on-ear difference (it wasn't the most positive experience). A huge advantage of the on-ear design is that they are smaller, so you'll get max portability.

SEE ALSO: The Marshall Major V headphones claim to have 100 hours of battery life, so I put them to the test

Of course, the hallmark feature here is the adaptive active noise cancellation that is designed to adjust to environmental noise in real time. Marshall also introduces a new driver system to enhance the bass and treble.

Welcome as a hold over from the existing Marshall headphones is an impressive battery life. Marshall estimates you'll get some 50 hours with ANC on, and 80 hours of playback with ANC turned off. For comparison, the Monitor IIIs boast 70 hours of battery with ANC, but seeing as those headphones have more physical space for the battery, it makes sense that the life of these is a bit less. On the high end is the Major V with 100 hours of battery life, but as those have no noise cancellation, the triple digits make sense.

The press release for the headphones also notes that the Milton A.N.C. are repairable with a replaceable battery, which, depending on its cost and efficacy, could provide huge value for the headphones over time.

Marshall Milton A.N.C.: Just the specs

As for what else to expect with the Milton A.N.C., here's the overview:

  • Battery: 50+ hours of playback with ANC, 80 hours without

  • Noise cancellation: Adaptive ANC

  • Microphones: 6 microphones for ANC and call quality

  • Spatial audio: Yes, soundstage spatial audio with Marshall app

  • On-ear controls: Customizable M button

  • Bluetooth connection: Bluetooth 6.0

  • Codecs: SBC, AAC, LC3, and LDAC

  • Colors: Black and gold

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazons AI-generated Alexa+ podcasts are utter podslop

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 13:38

It's a podcast, but make it hosted by two AI-generated hosts talking to each other about the game last night.

Reader, I hate it.

Announced on Tuesday, Alexa Podcasts is Amazon's latest venture for Alexa+, the company's rebooted AI-powered virtual assistant. Described by the company as "AI-generated audio episodes on any topic," these on-demand offerings essentially replace an entire team of human podcast producers and presenters with artificial intelligence — "no documents or prep work needed."

SEE ALSO: AI audiobooks are invading Libby. Here’s how I avoid them.

It's essentially a Big Tech-backed pile of "podslop" or AI-generated podcasts, which are on the rise along with other AI audio formats. A recent analysis by The Podcast Index found that 39 percent of recently uploaded podcasts were probably created using AI, with companies like Inception Point AI churning out the episodes.

Now, Amazon's joining the surge with Alexa Podcasts. Users (anyone with a Prime membership) can ask the AI assistant to cover any topic from news roundups to sports results to the consensus of movie reviews, "and let you adjust the length and direction conversationally." That means you can pick both the AI assistant's personality — these are dubbed "Alexa, Brief, Sweet, Chill, and Sassy" — and its "conversation style" — "from concise and efficient to warm and conversational."

Then, Alexa will generate a short episode with two AI hosts, which will be sent to your Echo device and the Alexa app.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favourite creator today.

Without a human research team, where is all this precious information coming from? According to Amazon, over 200 news publications have signed up as sources, including local U.S. newspapers as well as "Associated Press, Reuters, The Washington Post, TIME, Forbes, Business Insider, Politico, USA Today, and and publications from Condé Nast, Hearst, and Vox." Cool cool cool.

Everything about this makes me want to throw my tech in the sea, especially when you listen to...the examples Amazon has provided on Soundcloud (on Soundcloud!). Why listen to painstakingly researched history podcasts like Greg Jenner's You're Dead to Me and Marc Fennell's Stuff The British Stole when you can have two AI voices regurgitating generic Ancient Roman facts at you? Who needs groundbreaking investigative journalism at a time of casual convenience like this? Why be educated by music historians like Cole Cuchna on Dissect when you can have AI tell you what's good? Why listen to actual athletes and sports commentators present their analysis of the game when you can hear it generated?

Featured Video For You Is ChatGPT Changing the Way We Write?

I listen to podcasts for the hosts, whose personalities and production teams cannot be replicated by Alexa's "Sassy conversational" or "Brief efficient" settings — Ira Glass, Trixie and Katya; Hrishikesh Hirway; Kid Fury and Crissle West; Monét X Change and Bob The Drag Queen; Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang; Kara Swisher; Taylor Lorenz; Gabrielle de la Puente and Zarina Muhammad; Keke Palmer; Amy Poehler; Jon Lovett; Linda Holmes, Aisha Harris, Stephen Thompson, and Glen Weldon; Richard Osman and Marina Hyde; Louis Virtel, and so many more, not to mention the enormous amount of human news teams providing daily news podcasts from the BBC to CNN, and my colleagues at Mashable pouring their creativity and energy into the craft.

It's enough platforms like Spotify and Libby are feeling the creep of AI-generated music and audiobooks, now podcasters are two AI chatbots talking to each other? I don't want to, as Amazon suggests, "turn your dinner table conversations into learning opportunities." What, are we gathering 'round the Alexa for an AI-generated podcast on the Apollo 11 mission? I'm out of here.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Google I/O 2026 keynote livestream: Watch live today

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 13:11

Google I/O 2026 kicks off today, and you won't need a ticket to catch any of it. The entire two-day event is livestreamed, and you can register to watch for free at io.google/2026.

The main Google keynote starts at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m ET on May 19. The focus will be big-picture announcements, product reveals, and whatever CEO Sundar Pichai wants the world to walk away talking about (mostly Gemini, Google's AI product). You can find an embed to the YouTube stream of the keynote below:

In addition, our sister site CNET will be hosting a Google I/O live viewing party, also on YouTube, with live updates from reporters on the ground in Mountain View, California and a pre- and post-show. You can also ask questions and participate in the live chat.

A developer-focused keynote follows the same day at 1:30 p.m. PT / 4:30 p.m ET, which tends to focus on APIs, tools, and what's actually coming for builders. From there, breakout sessions run through May 20, covering Google AI, Android, Chrome, and cloud infrastructure, including one billed around agent-first workflows.

SEE ALSO: Google I/O 2026 live updates: See the latest reveals, including Gemini, Android XR, more

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creator today!

Based on everything that's leaked and quietly rolled out in the days leading up to the show — new Gemini Live models, a mysterious video generation tool called Gemini Omni, expanded thinking controls, and fresh third-party app integrations — Gemini is going to be at the center of almost everything. The smart glasses situation should get some stage time, too.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Jimmy Kimmel breaks down yet another bizarre Trump AI posting spree

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 13:02

This isn't the first time Jimmy Kimmel has offered a disturbing breakdown of Donald Trump's social media feed, and it probably won't be the last.

In the video above Kimmel recaps some of the president's recent AI slop posts, including a photo of himself walking with a handcuffed alien ("Why, we don't know," says Kimmel), a meme saying "President Trump ages in reverse" ("Wearing diapers does not mean you're ageing in revers," Kimmel quips), and another meme shared by the official White House account of Trump as James Bond ("I think 007 is his approval rating right now," Kimmel adds).

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creators today

The host's summary? "Imagine being a very unpopular president in the middle of a very unpopular war, and the cost of everything is sky rocketing, gas is very expensive, and you're spending your time posting online about how hot you are, about how you captured an alien and about how you should be the next James Bond."

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Categories: IT General, Technology

The Pokémon TCG Perfect Order Booster Bundle is under $50 at Amazon — now close to market price

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 12:51

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle available from $46.95 with free delivery. Since Amazon’s single Perfect Order booster pack is listed at $8.90, buying six individually would cost $53.40 — meaning the Booster Bundle saves you $6.45.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle $46.95 at Amazon
  Shop Now

Perfect Order continues its reputation in the Pokémon TCG as the most affordable modern expansion going right now, and you can save even more right now with Booster Bundles.

As of May 19, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle available from $46.95, with free delivery expected around June 1. That’s only $4.52 above its market price on TCGplayer.

That $46.95 price works out to roughly $7.83 per booster pack before tax. By comparison, Amazon’s single Perfect Order booster pack listing is sitting at $8.90. Buying six separately would cost $53.40 altogether, so grabbing the Booster Bundle saves you $6.45 while getting the same number of packs in one sealed box. 

This isn’t the absolute cheapest Perfect Order listing online right now. Walmart currently has the same Booster Bundle for $42.95, which comes out to about $7.16 per pack. TCGplayer’s lowest unopened listing starts at $35.99, but with shipping added.

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The Perfect Order Booster Bundle includes six booster packs from the Mega Evolution Perfect Order expansion. Each booster pack contains 10 trading cards, one Basic Energy, and one Pokémon TCG Live code card.

The set is built around Mega Zygarde ex, with Mega Clefable ex, Mega Starmie ex, and Meowth ex also among the headliner cards. 

To secure even more boosters at a reasonable price, you can also pre-order the Pokémon TCG Mega Zygarde ex Premium Collection for $70. For the hotly-anticipated Chaos Rising expansion, you can pre-order the Elite Trainer Box for just over $120. The Pokémon TCG’s newly-announced Pitch Black expansion is available to pre-order at TCGplayer.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Save over $20 on Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Bundles — get the best preorder price at Amazon

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 12:48

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Bundle up for preorder from $60.98 with free delivery. Since Amazon’s single Chaos Rising sleeved booster pack is currently listed at $14.95, buying six separately would cost $89.70.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokemon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Bundle $60.98 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here

Chaos Rising is almost here, and if you’ve been eyeing individual packs on Amazon, the new Pokémon TCG Booster Bundle preorder is a much better way to stack up on Boosters without buying them one by one. 

As of May 19, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising Booster Bundle available for $60.98 with free delivery. If you’re the type of trading card collector who likes to stock up on as many boosters from Amazon as possible, Pokémon Booster Bundles are a great way to save by buying a bunch all at once. 

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Amazon also has the Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising Sleeved Booster Pack listed at $14.95. Since the Booster Bundle includes six Chaos Rising booster packs (with 10 cards per pack), buying the same number of sleeved boosters individually would bring the total to $89.70. At the Booster Bundle’s current $60.98 price, that knocks almost $30 off the total.

The set follows the latest Mega Evolution wave, with Mega Floette ex (that appeared in Pokémon Legends: Z-A) causing chaos in the city and Mega Greninja ex teaming with other Mega Evolution Pokémon ex like Mega Pyroar ex and Mega Dragalge ex to fight back. 

Walmart currently has the Chaos Rising Booster Bundle listed for $64.99 with free shipping, while TCGplayer has presale listings starting at $54.52 with shipping included and a market price of $54.64.

Also out on May 22, you can pre-order the Pokémon TCG Mega Zygarde ex Premium Collection for only $70. For more from the new expansion, you can secure the new Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box for around $120

Although currently not available on Amazon, the Pokémon TCG’s newly-announced Pitch Black expansion is available to pre-order at TCGplayer.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

The new Narwal Flow 2 robot vacuum and mop is already on sale at Amazon — save $200 with on-page coupon

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 12:40

SAVE $200: As of May 19, the Narwal Flow 2 robot vacuum and mop is down to $1,299.99 at Amazon with the help of an on-page coupon. That's $200 off its list price of $1,499.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Narwal Narwal Flow 2 Robot Vacuum and Mop $1,299.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $200   Get Deal

Memorial Day deals have already started dropping, and for those who have had their eyes on a robot vacuum, there's already quite a few great offers to check out.

Over at Amazon, the brand new Narwal Flow 2 robot vacuum and mop is currently sitting with a $200 discount courtesy of a coupon that can be clipped on its store page. The Narwal Flow 2 usually has a full price of $1,499.99, so this coupon drops its price down to $1,299.99. This is $200 in savings overall, which is a pretty sweet deal on a robot vacuum we loved in our review.

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Alongside 31,000Pa suction and a self-cleaning mop for keeping floors tidy around your house, the Narwal Flow 2 also features "The most insightful AI mess detection yet for a decent price," according to Mashable's Leah Stodart in her review.

Stodart found that, "The Narwal Flow 2 holds its own against pricier 2026 Dreame and Roborock competitors. It's the only mainstream roller mop vacuum that mops with heated water, and its AI cameras provide reliable snapshot proof of the messes and obstacles they're facing. For this value, I can ignore some finicky settings."

Its base also features a 2.4 liter dust bag that can hold up to 120 days worth of dirt, hair, and debris. That gives you plenty of time to focus on other things that matter around your house rather than needing to keep consistent focus on maintaining this robot vacuum.

Who knows how long this coupon will be live. If it's caught your eye, this is an excellent opportunity to save on the Narwal Flow 2 robot vacuum and mop at Amazon.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on May 19

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 12:05

The Moon is starting to reappear on the right side, but there's still just a small sliver tonight. Can you see anything on its surface?

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Tuesday, May 19, the Moon phase is Waxing Crescent. Tonight, 9% of the moon will be be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

Unfortunately, too little of the Moon is illuminated at the moment to make out any noticeable surface features.

When is the next Full Moon?

There are two Full Moons in May, with the next due to take place on May 31.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes around 29.5 days to orbit Earth completely, passing through eight phases during that time. While the same side of the Moon always faces Earth, the way sunlight hits its surface changes throughout its orbit, creating the familiar full, half, and crescent appearances we see in the night sky. Altogether, the lunar cycle consists of eight main phases:

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 19, 2026

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 12:04

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you have a newborn.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 19, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow: Goo goo ga ga

  • Green: Suspicious tweak

  • Blue: Popular novels

  • Purple: Sea life

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creators today

Here are today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Things babies do

  • Green: Modify deceptively

  • Blue: Judy Blume books

  • Purple: Fish minus a letter

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1073 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Things babies do: BABBLE, CRY, NURSE, TEETHE

  • Modify deceptively: ALTER, COOK, DOCTOR, FUDGE

  • Judy Blume books: BLUBBER, DEENIE, FOREVER, SUPERFUDGE

  • Fish minus a letter: FOUNDER, SALON, SURGEON, TROT

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 19, 2026

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

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Strands hints, answers for May 19, 2026

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 12:04

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a climber.

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 May 19, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: On the rise

The words are related to ascension.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creators today

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe inclines.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Higher Ground.

NYT Strands word list for May 19
  • Mound

  • Hummock

  • Hill

  • Slope

  • Butte

  • Ridge

  • Knoll

  • Higher Ground

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 19, 2026

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 12:04

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're not a clean freak.

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 May 19, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 19, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Dirty.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creators today

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

DUSTY

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Summer vacation? Score 30% off Nomad eSIM data with this Mashable-exclusive code.

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 12:04

TL;DR: Registered Nomad users can get 30% off select Nomad eSIM plans with the Mashable-exclusive coupon code MASH30.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nomad Nomad eSIM: 30% off with code MASH30   Get Deal

When it comes to travel — particularly if you have big plans over the summer months ahead — it's important to make sure you have international data on hand to keep you connected. Your carrier's roaming plans can be expensive — this is where an eSIM is helpful.

An eSIM is the digital solution to a physical SIM card, and Nomad offers an excellent selection of eSIM international data plans to consider from over 200 locations worldwide. Even better, Mashable users who are registered users of Nomad can take advantage of 30% off select eSIM data plans right now by using the coupon code MASH30.

Rather than stacking up expensive roaming charges through your usual carrier, this is a fantastic way to save you some cash when heading out on your next adventure.

There are a few things to keep in mind with this offer. The first is that it only applies to registered users of Nomad. Second, it can't be applied towards Day Plans or plans that cost under $5. And third, it's also not eligible for add-on data.

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Nomad keeps things simple in a really helpful way. I can speak from experience here, as I recently used Nomad on an international trip. With their app downloaded, I was able to find a data plan that best suited where I was heading to, and how much data I thought I'd need for the time I was there. It then gave me a step-by-step guide for activating my eSIM once I landed, so I could text the people I cared about right away when I arrived.

This immediately took away any stress I was feeling about roaming charges, and it helps that Nomad's app is very approachable. It even shows you how much data you have left on your chosen plan while you're using it, so it never felt like I'd go overboard on spending.

It's worth double-checking to make sure your device will work with Nomad first before jumping into an eSIM data plan. Have a look at Nomad's page on eSIM-compatible devices before snagging this limited-time offer.

Once you've checked that, you can jump on this excellent 30% off deal.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Want to post over 50 times a day on X? Youll have to pay.

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 11:59

If you're posting over 50 times a day on X, you might need to both think about that and be aware that you'll now have to pay for it.

As detailed by Engadget, users reported seeing updates to the social media platform's Help Centre, with new post limits for free accounts "to alleviate some of the strain on the behind-the-scenes part of X and reduce downtime and error pages."

That means if you're not paying $3 per month for X's Premium blue checkmark subscription, your posts are now capped.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favourite creator today.

X users without verification are limited to 50 original posts, 200 replies, and 500 direct messages per day. As Engadget pointed out, cached versions of the Help Centre show the previous post limit was 2,400 per day.

That might sound like a lot of posts. And it is. Especially on a platform with major content flood problems and bots.

New rules. Credit: Mashable / X / Wayback Machine

"If you do reach a limit, we'll let you know with an error message telling you which limit you've hit," says X. "For limits that are time-based (like the Direct Messages, posts, changes to account email, and API request limits), you'll be able to try again after the time limit has elapsed." The company also said that "limits may be temporarily reduced during periods of heavy site usage."

Non-paying users are also limited to 400 follows per day, which hasn't changed.

Post limits aren't the only way X has been recently trying to get users to pay for Premium, with the company launching a TweetDeck-like feature called Custom Timelines for subscribers in April. But for X owner Elon Musk, there's been more pressing matters of late.

Want more tech news straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stephen Colbert wants to relaunch The Late Show on OnlyFans

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 11:30

With The Late Show ending this week, Stephen Colbert is being asked a lot of questions about what's next.

Aside from co-writing a new Lord of the Rings movie, though, he did have one idea which he shared with the other late night hosts in the behind-the-scenes video above filmed after their group interview last week.

"I actually thought it would be fun to like, just take my show and go do it on OnlyFans," says Colbert in the clip above. "It doesn't have to be porn, you don't have to take your clothes off. I mean I'd wear something revealing."

Given that there are many OnlyFans creators who make a lot of money without nudity, he might be on to something.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Memorial Day TV deals from Hisense, Samsung, LG: Get a 2026 model for $900 off

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 11:29
The best Memorial Day TV deals at a glance: Best TV deal overall Hisense 75-inch U6 Pro Mini-LED ULED 4K TV $849.99 (save $550) Get Deal Best art TV deal Hisense 65-inch S7 Canvas QLED 4K TV $1,099.99 (save $900) Get Deal Best small TV deal Hisense 43-inch E6 Cinema QLED 4K TV $209.99 (save $140) Get Deal Best splurge Samsung 65-inch S95F OLED 4K TV $2,199.99 (save $400) Get Deal

You probably expect great deals on mattresses and outdoor gear for Memorial Day, but it also happens to be a great time to upgrade your TV. Many of the new releases from CES 2026 are officially on shelves now, and some of those are actually already on sale.

If you prefer an even more budget-friendly option, there's also a ton of last-generation models getting the deal treatment to make way for the newer models. Regardless of your preference, you can definitely score a discount on TVs from top brands like Hisense, Samsung, and LG in all shapes and sizes.

I'm tracking all of the best Memorial Day TV deals leading up to the holiday weekend, so check back if there's a specific model you're hoping to bring home for cheaper than usual.

Best Memorial Day TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 75-inch U6 Pro Mini-LED ULED 4K TV $849.99 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $550   Get Deal Why we like it

The U6 Pro is one of Hisense's new mid-range models for 2026 and it's a perfect mashup of performance and value. It packs Mini-LED backlighting, quantum-dot color, AI-driven processing, a peak brightness of 1,200 nits, a 144Hz refresh rate, and 2.1-channel Dolby Atmos audio. Hisense markets it as an easy way to "step into a premium experience without moving into higher-priced tiers." And that's especially true now that the 75-inch model has received its second price drop since its launch earlier this month.

Best Memorial Day Art TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch S7 Canvas QLED 4K TV $1,099.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $900   Get Deal Why we like it

Hisense also launched a new version of the extremely popular Canvas TV for 2026, which features a Hi-QLED display with an AI RGB ambient light sensor. Not only is the display upgraded with deeper color accuracy and richer hues, but it can also adjust brightness and color temperature based on the lighting in the room. A new motion detection feature will also wake your display when you enter the room and fade when you walk away in order to save some energy. It still packs the same 144Hz refresh rate, Hi-Matte design, teak frame, and free digital art library to turn your TV into fancy artwork. Amazon and Best Buy both have the 65-inch model for $900 off for Memorial Day.

More Memorial Day TV deals

43-inch to 50-inch TVs

55-inch TVs

65-inch TVs

75-inch TVs and up

Categories: IT General, Technology

Best Memorial Day tech deals you can shop right now — save on headphones, laptops, and more

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 11:27
The best Memorial Day tech deals of 2026: Best headphone deal Sony ULT Wear $148 (save $101.99) Get Deal Best laptop deal 13-inch MacBook Air (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $999 (save $100) Get Deal Best TV deal Amazon Ember 50-inch 4-Series with Fire TV (2025) $309.99 (save $90) Get Deal

Replacing a busted laptop or losing your favorite earbuds is painful enough without having to pay full retail price to replace them. Memorial Day is historically a great weekend to score discounts on big-ticket electronics (and mattresses!), but finding a real deal among all the manufactured holiday markdowns can be confusing, and a little insulting (looking at you, inflated list prices!).

SEE ALSO: The best deals this week, according to Mashable's team of shopping experts

To help you find the biggest discounts, I sifted through the sales to round up the best tech deals happening this weekend. I prioritized Mashable's favorite tech — so you get genuinely good, vetted gear, not just whatever inventory retailers are trying to clear out of their warehouses.

Best Memorial Day headphone deal Sony ULT Wear $109.06 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $140.93   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

Read our full review of the Sony ULT Wear headphones.

The Sony ULT Wear headphones are a Mashable Choice Award winner, and they're on sale for $148 at Amazon, which is exactly how much they were during the Amazon Big Spring Sale. While this isn't the lowest we've seen them go for (they were $128 in December of 2024), it's still a great deal considering Amazon is matching the price of one of its biggest sales of the year. If you want something a little fancier, the Sony WH-1000XM6s are on sale for their Big Spring Sale price, too (which is their lowest price to date).

More Memorial Day headphone deals Best Memorial Day laptop deal 13-inch MacBook Air (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $999 at Amazon
$1,099 Save $100   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Read our full review of the M5 MacBook Air.

The MacBook Neo isn't on sale yet (it probably never will be because it's already at such an affordable price point), but the brand-new 13-inch MacBook Air (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) is $100 off on Amazon right now, meaning you can get it for just $999. This isn't the lowest price we've seen the M5 at, but it's close: It was $949 April 6. In our review, Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Werth said the new MacBook Air "takes everything good about the MacBook Air and adds the faster M5 chip."

More Memorial Day laptop dealsBest Memorial Day TV deal Amazon Ember 50-inch 4-Series with Fire TV (2025) $309.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $90   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Right now, you can get the Amazon Ember 50-inch 4-Series with Fire TV (2025) for $309.99. (If you're a new Xbox GamePass customer, you'll also get a month of the subscription for free.) That's a 23% discount and not too shabby of a deal for a 2025 TV.

More Memorial Day TV deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Memorial Day mattress deals to shop this week: Saatva, Nectar, and more

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 11:26
The best Memorial Day mattress deals at a glance: Best mattress deal overall DreamCloud Classic Hybrid (Queen) $649 (save $1,243) Get Deal Best mattress deal for people with back pain Saatva Rx (Queen) $2,799 (save $650) Get Deal Best organic mattress deal Avocado Green Mattress (Queen) $1,359 (save $240) Get Deal

Memorial Day is hands-down one of the best times of the year to buy a new mattress. Discounts during this holiday weekend typically drop prices by $400 (or more), and brands love to throw in free add-ons like pillows or sheet bundles. That's pretty good news, considering most bedding will cost you an arm and a leg nowadays.

SEE ALSO: Saatva is already taking $650 off luxury mattresses for Memorial Day

Your sleep is no place to skimp. I recently upgraded to the Saatva Rx, and getting it was easily the best decision I've made all year. But while investing in a good bed is important, there's no reason to pay full price when you can snag a holiday discount. If your current mattress is sagging or you're just tired of waking up with random back pain, I def recommend taking advantage of these sales.

Best Memorial Day mattress deal Opens in a new window Credit: DreamCloud DreamCloud Classic Hybrid (Queen) $649 at DreamCloud
$1,892 Save $1,243   Get Deal Why we like it

The best deal you can get right now is on a DreamCloud. The brand's top-rated hybrid Queen mattress — which features six layers, a CloudQuilt quilted cover, cooling fiber technology, and 1 inch of "pressure-relieving" memory foam — is on sale for just $649 (!!) right now. Or, if you need a base and all, the company's basically giving away bundles. You can score a bundle that includes the mattress, an adjustable bed frame, and a full sheet set (pillows and all) for under $2K.

More Memorial Day mattress dealsBest Memorial Day mattress deal for people with back pain Opens in a new window Credit: Saatva Saatva Rx (Queen) $2,799 at Saatva
$3,449 Save $650   Get Deal Why we like it

I'm only 32, but because I live with endometriosis and interstitial cystitis, I experience back pain on the reg. Like, chronic, can't sleep, going to rip my hair out, back pain. This month, I decided to switch from Purple (my former go-to mattress brand) to Saatva, and I couldn't be happier. For someone with chronic, debilitating back pain, the Saatva Rx is the mattress to get, and right now, you can get it (or any mattress on the Saatva site) for $650 off.

Best organic Memorial Day mattress deal Opens in a new window Credit: Avocado Avocado Green Mattress (Queen) $2,039 at Avocado
$2,399 Save $360   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're trying to be a little greener, Avocado is offering up to 20% off select mattresses, including its luxury mattress collection, and 15% off its Avocado Green Mattress (a best-seller). The Avocado Green Mattress is the "most certified organic mattress" and has a 4.5 average star rating with around 19,439 reviews. It's formaldehyde-free (you'd be surprised how many products contain this nasty stuff!), OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified, and is available in five comfort levels. Of course, the price will vary depending on the size you get, but a Queen with a "medium" top will cost you $2,039 with the discount.

More organic mattress deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

The Shark UV Reveals blacklight found stains that other robot vacuums missed, but I still have a gripe with its mop

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 11:00

UPDATE: May. 19, 2026, 5:00 a.m. EDT I initially wrote about my first impressions of the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 in March 2026 after a week of using it daily at home. This review was updated after two more months of testing.

The most iconic thing I've seen a Shark robot vacuum do in years is drive down the runway during the season finale of Canada's Drag Race in January 2025. That's partially the Drag Race mega fan in me speaking, but it's also the professional robot vacuum reviewer in me being bored with Shark's robot vacuum features lately.

So I was pleasantly surprised when Shark announced one of the coolest cleaning features I've ever heard with the launch of the Shark UV Reveal 2-in-1. I first started testing it at home in March 2026, and have been comparing its skills to the other top robot vacuums of 2026 for two months. Here's how it's been going.

After feeling meh about Shark's robot vacuum features for the past two years, I have one thing to say: You better work. Credit: World of Wonder What's special about the Shark UV Reveal?

It's in the name: The Shark UV Reveal uses a UV light to detect stains on the floor that we wouldn't see with a casual glance down. That could be anything from those super-faint water stains on the bathroom floor, to sticky residue from a kitchen spill you thought you wiped up, to invisible droplets of dried pet pee. If there were ever a robot vacuum for Dexter Morgan, it would be this one.

Apparently, the robot vacs I tested last week didn't fully clean up this cat puke. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The UV Reveal also lets you know that doors need to be wiped down every so often. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

UV stain detection is a first for the mainstream robot vacuum industry — the other best robot vacuum and mop combos of 2026 use some combination of LED light sensors and AI camera systems to detect stains. While LEDs are helpful when scoping out wet spills and tiny dry particles, a plain LED bulb won't make an invisible stain glow like it's under a black light. AI mess detection via cameras, like the before-and-after shots that Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai+ takes, can also only go so far if there's nothing visible to take a picture of. Good ol' homegrown UV proof feels much less subjective, much like the reason that I'm so obsessed with Dyson's stick vacuum laser.

Shark wasn't innovating as hard when designing the UV Reveal's self-empty dock. It's pretty similar to the docks of the Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro and Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged from 2025, without the transparent water tanks. I kind of expected a more style-forward dock for $1,299.99, but I will say that the white version does look less plasticky than the black one.

Leota appreciates that the self-empty dock is bagless (therefore less wasteful). Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The large mopping pad covers a lot of ground. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Flipping the UV Reveal over, there's another Shark classic underneath: The singular flat mopping pad... again. Shark is the only big robot vacuum brand that hasn't branched out to dual spinning mop pads (elite corner mopping) or a roller mop (elite spill soaking) in at least one model. But there are a few special features baked in to separate this Shark from the basic 2-in-1 robot vacuums.

Is the Shark UV Reveal good at mopping?

The Shark UV Reveal is a very thorough robot vacuum mop combo. Shark's HyperSonic mopping vibrates more than 100 times per minute while the vac is in motion, similar to the speedy back-and-forth motion you'd use to chip away at something sticky or dried on with a cloth. We've seen sonic mopping from Shark plenty of times before, but not this intense.

The turquoise lights kicking on mean the UV light has detected a stain. The UV Reveal sniffed out a few gross spots on my floor that I wouldn't have necessarily thought about otherwise, like the sticky puddle of soggy kibble and crusty dry food chunks near my cats' bowls and remnants of dried cat puke that I thought another robot vacuum mopped up last week.

The UV Reveal mopped up wet shoe grime, then went around again to ensure the area was clear. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The pad pops in and out every second or two. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The vacuum hovers and scrubs the same piece of floor for a while (almost 30 seconds sometimes) to make sure whatever stubborn grime is getting the extra attention it needs. Depending on the size of the stain, the whole vacuum will also swing back and forth in a half circle to come at the stain from more than one angle (the same idea as Shark's Matrix Cleaning system in previous vacuums). I sent the UV Reveal to deal with the muddy shoe storage zone near my front door, which was caked in both dried slush from the past two days and brown water that was just tracked in a few minutes prior. It left the whole area gleaming — there's not much arguing with a UV light checking the work for you.

After going back to the dock to charge, you might hear (and I quote), "I detected stains. I'm heading back out to aggressively attack them." Bad day to be a stain.

SEE ALSO: Dreame's X60 Max Ultra Complete is the best robot vacuum for pet hair I've tested. Sucks that it's so expensive.

But I was most psyched to see that the big mopping pad isn't restricted to the round circumference of the robot vac. Instead, the mopping pad pokes out from under the vacuum's body every second or two. In theory, that should solve a lot of the lazy edge mopping issues that I've experienced with past Shark robot mops. I mean, that design must be a good idea if Roborock thought of it, too — it's an incredibly similar setup to the $1,599.99 Roborock Saros 20 Sonic.

The UV Reveal's suction and large mop surface area worked well together when sent to clean up around both litter boxes. The litter box on a tile floor uses crystal litter, and the litter box on a hardwood floor uses finer, dustier grass litter. Both areas of heavy tracked litter were left around 97 percent clean (barring some pieces left near edges).

Is the Shark UV Reveal good on carpet?

The Shark UV Reveal is definitely a mopping-focused robot vacuum, I'll put it that way. It's probably not going to win any "best robot vacuum for pet hair" awards from me, but it's powerful enough for daily upkeep of your carpeted rooms or rugs.

The other flagship robot vacuum releases in 2026 so far clock between 30,000 and 35,000 Pa of suction power. How does the Shark UV Reveal compare to those, you ask? No one knows, at least on paper — Shark infamously does not provide suction power measurements in Pascals as other brands do. If I had to guess, I'd put the UV Reveal somewhere in the 20,000 to 25,000 Pa range.

Sansa is wondering why I keep wasting catnip on vacuum testing. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The Shark UV Reveal did leave some quinoa around the edge of the rug, but most robot vacs do. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The most intense rug test I gave the UV Reveal involved a heinous concoction on my fluffiest rug: Way more spilled quinoa than would ever be realistic on a fur rug, spilled catnip, and probably 10 tufts of lint and fur pulled directly from the ChomChom and strewn around the rug's fibers. The UV Reveal actually had the easiest time with the catnip flakes and large cat hair puffs, snatching up around 97 percent of either. More quinoa was left behind in the rug and around the edges where the rug hits the hardwood (though most robot vacuums struggle with that). The same thing happened with shredded cheese around the kitchen rug.

The UV Reveal didn't have as much success with deep cleaning carpet, especially when it came to embedded shedding. My lint roller and black socks often showed that the UV Reveal left behind a light layer of cat hair on the living room rug. If you want a Shark vacuum that's really wicked on pet hair, get the cordless Shark PowerDetect stick vacuum instead.

Shark is finally taking small obstacle avoidance seriously It's not every day that I see a Shark robot vacuum successfully dodge a cat toy. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

After way too long of seemingly non-existent small obstacle avoidance, Shark finally made a robot vacuum that can be trusted to clean around random clutter on the floor. The difference is really night and day — in my testing, the UV Reveal didn't run over any power cords or phone chargers, cat toys, or even the kitchen hand towel that always falls off the hook.

Factors to keep in mind

There's no doubt that its unique UV stain detection and meticulous scrubbing earn points in the sanitation department. But the Shark UV Reveal's mop doesn't rinse itself in real time, while the roller mops I've been testing do. Its frequency for returning to the dock to wash the mop can be toggled to as low as 15 minutes, but that's way too much time to spread something sticky or smelly across the whole room.

Having tested countless other hybrid robot vacuums in the same premium price range, I know that I'm valid to expect a robot vacuum to automatically head back to wash its mop if it senses that the mop is too dirty. Not that your UV Reveal should have the opportunity to smear large spills around, anyway. It's not really built for soaking up messes larger than a few droplets. (The instruction booklet specifically notes to avoid "liquids.")

SEE ALSO: I tried the Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai at home. I was cursing it out more often than I was cheering it on.

Back in March, I questioned whether the UV Reveal provides a premium enough experience to realistically compete with other robot vacuums in the $1,000+ price range. Things are slightly different in May — I've been catching the UV Reveal on sale for $849.99 lately, which does feel more appropriate for the feature set you're getting. But $849.99 is the exact same sale price of the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow that I tested around the same time, and the Roborock is a more well-rounded robot vacuum in my book.

I also think it's fair to expect a livestream pet camera from any flagship robot vacuum near $1,000, and the UV Reveal still doesn't have one. IDK, maybe you're pro no camera if you're paranoid that your robot vacuum camera could spy on you.

Finally, the SharkClean app is way too basic for this price point. It's not unusable by any means, but I've seen how granular and customizable robot vacuum apps can get.

The SharkClean app's home map doesn't offer much detail. Credit: Screenshot / Shark The Roborock app's home map is more comprehensive and easier to navigate. Credit: Screenshot / Shark

Shark's bare bones purple map is disorienting compared to the color-coded rooms of the Dreame and Roborock apps. Those apps also provide much more insight about the types of messes they're encountering (i.e., "large particle" detection and stronger suction when approaching scattered dry cat food or cat litter). I so badly wish that the attention to detail of the UV light were extended to vacuuming.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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