Mashable

What are the best noise-cancelling headphones for flying?

Noise-cancelling headphones are at their most useful on airplanes. It's difficult to find a moment's peace when so much is going on around you. Frequent flyers may prefer to rest or work, and the best way to prepare for either is by using the best ANC headphones to block out the chaos. 

SEE ALSO: The best MacBooks in 2025: Which should you buy?

Because shopping for headphones shouldn't be as stressful as heading to the airport, we've done extensive testing to bring you the top options. Our top pick is the second-gen Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, but read on to see other great picks for the best noise-cancelling headphones for airplanes in 2026 — all based on Mashable's hands-on testing.

How much should I spend on noise-cancelling headphones?

If you want to find the best noise-cancelling headphones for flying, you should be prepared to pay $200 to $450 for most options. Premium headphones offer improved active noise cancellation, customizable settings, and transparency modes that allow you to hear those all-important gate announcements.

Many cheap headphones claim to offer "noise-cancelling" features, but a random pair of $50 over-ear headphones with passive noise cancellation will let a lot of sound through. They'll also struggle to connect and switch between devices easily, or simply feel uncomfortable.

SEE ALSO: What does Airplane Mode do?

At the end of the day, going for that good all-around pair is worth it, because on a flight, ANC on its own won't save the day — otherwise, we'd just direct you to our guide to the best noise-cancelling headphones. For long flights, comfort is also key. It won't matter if your headphones block sound if you only want to wear them for two out of five hours of your flight. And because this is a flying-focused roundup, we did give extra points to headphones with thoughtful design that makes storage easy.

If that $200-plus price range feels totally out of the question, we've included a couple of budget earbuds and headphones in the under-$100 category, but they come with tradeoffs. If you're okay with a mid-range pick, consider buying wireless earbuds with ANC instead of over-ear headphones.

If the cost of a pair of headphones is off-putting, you can always wait for a sale to start. We see headphones from Bose, Sony, and Apple get marked down year-round — if you don't want to keep your eyes peeled yourself, Mashable's deals coverage is a great place to find any noteworthy headphone deals.

SEE ALSO: The best gifts for people who love to travel Recent testing updates

In July 2025, we swapped the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones for the newer Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones.

After testing them for a few weeks, we decided in February 2025 that the EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds earned a spot on our guide as our top budget pick, knocking out the cheaper but inferior Anker Soundcore P3i earbuds. Shortly after, we added the Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones as one of our recommendations, thanks to their long battery life.

For September 2024, we didn't change our lineup, deciding against including the Dyson OnTrac headphones — although we really like their long battery life, the 55 hours of charge might be overkill for air travel. Plus, they're a little too bulky and expensive to recommend as travel headphones.

After finally making moves to stop its Grok AI from creating nonconsensual sexualized images and CSAM, Elon Musk's X has announced another major platform overhaul today.

X's head of product Nikita Bier announced on Thursday that the social media platform was going to ban apps that reward users for posting on the site. Bier specifically mentioned it was going to block "InfoFi" apps and developers from accessing its API. 

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InfoFi stands for Information Finance and has become popular in the Web3 space for rewarding users for engaging with online communities and posting on social media.

Why is X banning these types of apps? According to Bier, these apps were encouraging users to post low-quality content solely to receive crypto tokens.

"We are revising our developer API policies: We will no longer allow apps that reward users for posting on X (aka 'infofi')," Bier posted on X. "This has led to a tremendous amount of AI slop & reply spam on the platform."

According to X, many users of these InfoFi apps appeared to be posting spammy, low-quality AI-generated content solely to get paid in crypto tokens by these apps. The mass posting of this kind of content on a social network harms the platform's overall quality.  

SEE ALSO: AI slop is killing the internet

Bier went on to say that X has "revoked API access from these apps, so your X experience should start improving soon (once the bots realize they’re not getting paid anymore)." X's head of product then joked that if a developer had their account terminated, they could reach out, and X would help get them set up on competitor platforms like Threads and Bluesky.

X's Bier has recently butt heads with the cryptocurrency community on X over low-quality engagement. Earlier this month, Bier was critical of users who just mass reply "gm," a common phrase within the crypto community, and then complain that the X algorithm doesn't boost their content. 

This latest decision is likely to cause an uproar with X's crypto users as well. As Decrypt noted, the token for the popular InfoFi platform Kaito dropped by more than 15 percent shortly after Bier's announcement.

As a result of Bier's announcement, Kaito shared that it was sunsetting its Yaps app, which paid users to post on X.

TL;DR: Live stream Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Oklahoma City Thunder no longer look like an unstoppable force. They still look great, but they can bleed. And that's good news for the NBA.

Next, the defending champions take on the Houston Rockets. The Rockets have the talent to beat any team on their best day, but they've been steadily sliding down the standings lately. Can they produce a huge performance and beat the Thunder? You can find out without spending anything.

If you want to watch Rockets vs. Thunder in the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Rockets vs. Thunder?

Rockets vs. Thunder in the NBA starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 15. This game takes place at the Toyota Center.

How to watch Rockets vs. Thunder for free

Rockets vs. Thunder in the NBA is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the U.S. and UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S. or UK, meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

3. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S. or UK

5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Learn More

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.

There is not much that can stop a dedicated fandom.

Not paywalls, not cancellations, and certainly not even the source of their fan fervor itself, as was the case in several high profile instances of extreme parasocial behavior. And as queer hockey romance Heated Rivalry has dominated social feeds, it has once again proved that federal laws are not going to dissuade a fan from their idols of worship.

Fans of the show living in Russia, for example, have risked jail time in order to engage with the viral phenomenon, writes Russian reporter Mikhail Zygar for Vanity Fair (the show chronicles the same-sex love affair between a Russian hockey player and his Canadian rival). Fans have flooded dedicated Telegram channels to share encrypted links and bumped up its ratings to the top spot on Kinopoisk, a Russian media review site. They're leaning on VPNs to obscure their IP addresses and engaging in online piracy. You wouldn't steal an enemies-to-lovers romance, would you?

SEE ALSO: A new 'Heated Rivalry' book is on the way — preorder 'Unrivaled' by Rachel Reid now

Despite the collective joy attached to the series, the stakes are serious. The Russian Federation has some of the most extreme anti-LGBTQ laws on record, including an outright ban on LGBTQ content. Russian leaders have attacked and censored what they call the "International Public LGBT Movement," convicting more than 100 individuals for the crime in 2025 and imprisoning at least two. Violators can also face fines of 400,000 rubles ($5,111) to 5 million rubles ($63,898), PinkNews reported.

As of today (Jan. 15), the government has officially charged Russian streaming services with the crime of violating the country's propaganda laws, which prohibit the amplification of "nontraditional sexual relationships" to Russian citizens. The charges target domestic sites and cloud sharing services like Beeline TV, Kinopoisk, Wink, Ivi, Amediteka, 24TV, and Digital Television.

The determination of Russian fans to stream the hot new show mirrors a general trend in online fandom and among Heated Rivalry fans, specifically, who initially shared ways to torrent the series using VPN services and links pulled from its parent network, Crave Canada, and licensing network HBO Max US. HBO Max reportedly only signed on to the project after successful pitches from employees who were fans of the show's book series. They said they felt they needed to "do their civic duty" and get the show to the masses.

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The success of Heated Rivalry — and the formidable sports romance book industry from which its source material gained its following — lies partially in the compelling, often erotic, juxtaposition of an extremely masculine sport and the emotional stakes taken on by its characters. At large, cisgender male erotic fiction (also called slash fic, MLM romance, boylove, or yaoi, for anime lovers and the chronically online) has historically offered an outlet for sexual exploration, community, and LGBTQ acceptance. Fandom scholars and Heated Rivalry show runner Jacob Tierney have explained its popularity with cis women is due in part to the ability of writers to ignore the gendered power dynamics of heterosexual pairings and lean into the rarity of sexual partners being on equal footing — although much of the genre relies on stereotypical tropes that critics say still feeds into gender and racial binaries.

Hockey, in particular, is one of the most popular sports depicted in the genre. As of 2025, the National Hockey League has had no active, out LGBTQ players. So subverting that reality is particularly appealing to fans, especially those in restrictive, patriarchal environments.

One former hockey player, Jesse Kortuem, made headlines just this week, posting a statement about feeling empowered to come out after seeing the success of Heated Rivalry. Kortuem didn't compete for the NHL but told reporters that the homophobia rampant in the sport eventually led him to retire. "I know many closeted and gay men in the hockey world are being hit hard by Heated Rivalry's success," Kortuem told Out. "Never in my life did I think something so positive and loving could come from such a masculine sport."

It's 2016 all over again on Instagram. Well...if only.

There's been a bubbling nostalgia for 2016 for the past few weeks. Chance Townsend wrote here at Mashable about Gen Z growing especially nostalgic for 2016 as the last good year. Sure, it might not have felt that great at the time, but for Gen Z, it was their last great summer.

I'd argue that, in many ways, we've been living in late 2016 for a decade now — the political atmosphere, how social media became real life, crisis after crisis.

But, anyway, the internet has now exploded into a full-blown nostalgia bomb for 2016. It's an extension of the trend we spotted on TikTok earlier this month, paired with folks who want to show how much they've grown over the last 10 years. Yes, as if it were 2016, we're bringing back the humblebrag and self-deprecating-but-not-really posts. As with most trends, it's migrated from the kids on TikTok to the normies and celebs on Instagram, who're mostly using it as an excuse to post decade-old photo dumps. (Remember Snapchat filters?)

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Let me make it clear, 2016 wasn't all that great. It was super Not Chill to be starting a career and have the world order upended via elections, Brexit, celebrity deaths, and a climate agreement that seemed impossible to hold.

But things always seem rosier looking back. And it's fun to post your younger self, so naive and unaware of what was to come. Let's hope, however, that 2026 doesn't seem so great when we look back in 2036.

On the morning after a day of massive, countrywide outages for Verizon customers, the telecom giant has offered an apology and a little bit of credit to address the loss of service.

In an announcement posted on social media, Verizon announced that customers affected by the downed services can cash in on a $20 credit voucher. According to the company, that amount should cover multiple days of service, "on average." It followed other statements by Verizon that as soon as the issue was resolved, the company would "make it right" with affected users.

"This credit isn’t meant to make up for what happened. No credit really can. But it’s a way of acknowledging your time and showing that this matters to us," the company wrote.

SEE ALSO: Verizon outage map: How to check your area

Verizon had not yet issued a full explanation for the incident, but Mashable has now received confirmation from the company that the outage was caused by a software issue. The service drop was severe enough to grab the attention of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which said it was monitoring the situation. Its not the first service outage for the company over the past year.

Read the full statement below:

Yesterday, we did not meet the standard of excellence you expect and that we expect of ourselves. To help provide some relief, we are giving you a $20 account credit that can be easily redeemed by logging into the myVerizon app to accept. On average, this covers multiple days of service. Our business customers will be contacted directly about their credits.

This credit isn’t meant to make up for what happened. No credit really can. But it’s a way of acknowledging your time and showing that this matters to us.

If you’re still having trouble connecting, please restart your device (power down and power back on). This is the fastest way to reconnect your phone to the network.

We are sorry for what you experienced and will continue to work hard day and night to provide the outstanding network and service that you expect from Verizon.

Customers logging into their account on the myVerizon app should see an option to claim the offer, although some customers have reported the offer has yet to appear. Mashable reporters have also experienced problems logging onto the myVerizon app.

UPDATE: Jan. 15, 2026, 9:59 a.m. This story was updated to include Verizon's confirmation of a software issue causing the outage.

Verizon has confirmed that the extreme service outage was not caused by a cybersecurity breach but was some kind of software problem. Details are still being reported.

"This was a software issue and we are conducting a full review of what happened. As of now, there is no indication that this was a cyber security issue," the telecom giant said in a statement sent to Mashable.

SEE ALSO: Verizon outage today: Verizon reveals how to fix ongoing issues, offers $20 credit

Following a countrywide service outage that resulted in millions of error reports, prompted the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to respond, and could have impacted emergency services for costumers across states, some online speculated that the scale of the event could have been caused by a breach of its systems.

At the time, Verizon kept mum about the cause, instead saying it was focused on reinstating service as it had teams on the ground. The company didn't include any details on where Verizon teams were working. "We know this is a huge inconvenience, and our top priority is to get you back online and connected as fast as possible," the company said in a social media post.

Verizon then issued an apology and offered affected customers a $20 credit the morning after the outage, writing in a post on X: "

SAVE $600: As of Jan. 15, get the DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station for $699 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,299. That's a discount of 46% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station $699 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $600   Get Deal

Whether you live somewhere that's prone to losing power or you want to go off-grid, a portable power station is a great thing to have in your pocket. You never know when you could be without electricity, so make sure you never have to be with this DJI deal we found at Amazon.

As of Jan. 15, get the DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station for $699 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,299. That's $600 off and a discount of 46%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The EcoFlow Delta 3 1000 Air power station is under $310 for the first time

This massive power station comes from the same DJI that you know for its popular mics and drones, though it's having difficulty at the moment fighting for the right to launch new products in the U.S. It has a 2,048Wh LFP battery with a 3000W stable output that can power your laptop, refrigerator, space heater, or one of many other devices you may need in an emergency.

Once you've depleted the battery, this fast-charging power station can charge from 0 to 80 percent in just under an hour with a wall outlet, so you won't be left waiting when you need access to power, and fast. It's rated for 3,000 usage cycles as well, so even if you decide you're going to need to use this thing every day, you'll be covered for a long, long time to come.

If you want the peace of mind that you have electricity even during tough situations, this is a great buy either way. Get yours while it's still around and for this massive discount.

SAVE $75: The Ozlo Sleepbuds are on sale at Amazon for $274, down from the list price of $349. That's a 21% discount that matches the lowest on record at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ozlo Ozlo Sleepbuds $274 at Amazon
$349 Save $75   Get Deal

Now that we're halfway through January, lots of us are honing in on how we want this new year to look. Some people have fitness goals, some people have intentions of becoming a great home chef, and others are focused on self-care. But if you don't get good sleep, it'll be nearly impossible to reach any of those goals. Instead, make getting better sleep the number one goal, and this deal at Amazon could be a gamechanger.

As of Jan. 15, the Ozlo Sleepbuds are on sale at Amazon for $274, marked down from the normal price of $349. That's a 21% discount that shaves $75 off the price. It also matches the lowest on record at Amazon.

When it comes to sleep earbuds, comfort is a huge priority. But you also want them to sound great, which is convenient since ex-Bose employees designed the Ozlo Sleepbuds. Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard reviewed the Ozlo Sleepbuds and explained, "Ozlo Sleepbuds are basically the Bose Sleepbuds that allow you to stream audio. While they can't yet track sleep data, they are highly customizable sleep earbuds that work (mostly) as promised."

SEE ALSO: From Oura to Whoop, we tested the best sleep trackers of 2026

Of note, the list price of the Ozlo Sleepbuds feels off compared to the industry standard, but today's sale price helps ease that concern. Still, the new Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 Special come in at a more affordable price, if that's a priority.

However, if you're interested in the design and features on the Ozlo Sleepbuds, they could be a perfect match. Tap into the Ozlo app's range of sleepy sounds or stream your own sleep tracks to the sleep earbuds. The wingtip design on these sleep earbuds help ensure they stay snugly in place throughout the night. They're even designed to be comfortable enough for side sleepers. Plus, they track your sleep.

For anyone who wants to get better sleep this year, the Ozlo Sleepbuds could be a simple solution to getting higher-quality rest. Snag them while they're back on sale for $274 at Amazon.

If you pay for the $19.99 per month Google AI Pro plan or the whopping $250 monthly fee for a Google AI Ultra subscription, your account just received a big upgrade.

As noticed by 9to5Google, Google has announced that it is upgrading paying subscriber accounts to give them more daily Gemini prompts to work with. 

For those paying $20 per month for the Google AI Pro plan, they can now use 300 prompts per day with the Gemini Thinking model. Gemini's Pro model, which is for more advanced math problems and code, now allows up to 100 daily prompts.

If you're a hardcore Gemini user paying $250 per month, your new daily limits are 1,500 daily prompts for the Thinking model and 500 daily prompts for the Pro model.

Previously, when Gemini 3 launched last month, Google AI Pro users had a total of 100 monthly prompts per day to use across both of Gemini's Thinking and Pro models and AI ultra subscribers had a 500 daily prompt limit. The new credit limits separate the two models and give them distinct prompt limits. No more shared prompt pool limits.

Free Gemini users will also now have distinct daily limits, however, Google does not share what those are, simply noting that prompt limits for Gemini's free tier can change daily.

Google says that it received significant feedback from users who did not want a "shared pool" for model limits.

"We’ve heard your feedback!" Google said in its announcement. "Many of you want more precision and transparency when deciding which model to use for your daily tasks. To give you more flexibility and control, we are separating the model limits for 'Thinking' and 'Pro' models."

The move away from the shared pool of limits makes sense, especially if the two models require different levels of computing power. As AI companies continue to try to outdo each other, making paying customers happy with alterations to how subscription plans work seems like a rather easy thing to do in order to beat out the competition.

Apple — the world's number one smartphone maker — will retain a great deal of oversight on its Apple Intelligence-powered Siri upgrade, despite its headline-making deal with Google, according to a report by the Information.

Speaking to the publication under anonymity, project insiders say that under the competitive deal, Apple has reserved the right to tweak the model independently from Google and will not be incorporating any Google or Gemini branding. For now. Google's LLM will act more as a base for Apple's specific needs, the insider reports suggest, rather than a complete package.

SEE ALSO: Apple's iPhone 17e will get Dynamic Island, report claims

In addition to its general processing upgrade, the Gemini-powered Siri will be better at providing general knowledge and emotional support in a more conversational tone, similar to how other AI assistants operate, the Information reported. With Gemini's help boosting Siri's on-device technology, the assistant will also be able to contextualize requests that aren't so clear, such as searching through your messages to figure out what names you call your contacts, and generate content, like writing Notes with information pulled from the internet.

Earlier this week, the tech giant announced it would be relying on Google's Gemini AI models to power its mega upgraded Siri, following months of speculation as the company ebbed between other developers, including partners like OpenAI. Gemini, however, was rumored to be the top contender as the company headed into 2026. Despite this new partnership, Apple will continue its deal to route complex questions through ChatGPT, an Apple spokesperson told the Information, but the publication reports that OpenAI has seen minimal traffic directed to ChatGPT from Siri tests.

Under the partnership, Siri's new brain won't be hosted on Google servers, but will run directly on Apple devices or the company's Cloud server — this also means no data sharing. Insiders speaking to the publication say Google invested heavily in building a model version that could run on Apple servers to honor the company's commitments to on-device privacy.

SAVE $1,502: As of Jan. 15, the Samsung 77-inch S85F OLED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for $1,497.99. That's over $1,500 off its list price and matches its all-time low Black Friday price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 77-inch S85F OLED 4K TV $1,497.99 at Amazon
$2,999.99 Save $1,502.00   Get Deal

We just featured the Samsung's 77-inch entry-level OLED TV on Monday when it dropped to $1,597.99 — about $100 away from its record-low price from Black Friday. Well, turns out we jumped the gun, as a few days later, it plummeted down to that all-time low.

As of Jan. 15, you can upgrade your TV to the Samsung 77-inch S85F OLED 4K TV for only $1,497.99. That's over $1,500 in savings, which makes it a discount of over 50%. Best Buy also has the same TV for just $2 more as its deal of the day, if you prefer to purchase it there.

"It's not quite as impressive as its higher-end siblings, the S90F and S95F, but it's pretty snazzy and an excellent value," as I noted on Monday. Technically, the S85F is Samsung's entry-level OLED, but it still offers great specs. Its picture quality is brilliant, with vivid colors and deep contrast. Its gaming features are decent as well, with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDMI 2.1, and FreeSync Premium. Plus, it features the latest version of Samsung's smart TV platform, Tizen 9.0, which offers smooth and speedy navigation.

The star of the show with Samsung's 2025 OLED TVs is, of course, AI. The S85F includes AI tools like Click to Search, Live Translate, Adaptive Sound Pro, and Real Depth Enhancer to enhance your viewing experience. Not to mention, it will deliver tons of content recommendations.

If your TV requirements are a big screen and a brilliant picture, the 77-inch S85F OLED 4K TV certainly won't disappoint. And now that's it's half the price, it won't put quite as much of a dent in your wallet.

TL;DR: Live stream Orlando Magic vs. Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The NBA is going global this week. There's a lot of attention on the NBA London game taking place this weekend, but Orlando Magic vs. Memphis Grizzlies are first meeting in Berlin, Germany. The Uber Arena is going to be loud when these talented teams take to the court.

If you want to watch Magic vs. Grizzlies in the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Magic vs. Grizzlies?

Magic vs. Grizzlies in the NBA starts at 2 p.m. ET on Jan. 15. This game takes place at the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany.

How to watch Magic vs. Grizzlies for free

Magic vs. Grizzlies in the NBA is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the U.S. and UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S. or UK, meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

3. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S. or UK

5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Learn More

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $55.99: As of Jan. 15, the Ninja Foodi Everyday PossibleCooker (6.5 quart) is on sale for only $74 at Walmart. That's a savings of 43%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker (6.5 quart)   Get Deal

We're mega fans of Ninja appliances at Mashable. Not only do they deliver excellent performance with beginner-friendly designs, but they're also reasonably priced. And one of our favorites just got even more affordable.

As of Jan. 15, the 6.5-quart Ninja Foodi Everyday PossibleCooker is on sale for only $74 at Walmart. That's 43% or $55.99 cheaper than usual. For what it's worth, it's still full price over at Amazon (not to mention from a third-party seller) and Ninja's own website.

The Everday PossibleCooker — the smaller version of our favorite Ninja multicooker (the PossibleCooker Pro) — replaces up to 10 different appliances in your kitchen. Mashable shopping reporter Sam Mangino writes, "This device doesn't look like a lot, essentially a hot plate and non-stick pot, but it's incredible how much it can do."

Besides cooking up to four cups of rice in a flash, it's also capable of slow-cooking food to perfection, searing and sautéing, boiling up to a pound of pasta, or roasting a seven-pound chicken. The pot itself can be transferred directly to the oven (up to 500 degrees), essentially acting as a dutch oven, and be used as a serving dish. The 6.5-quart option is ideally sized for family meals and won't take up a ton of counter space. Plus, its cool-touch handles make it a breeze to bring to potlucks.

It's usually a solid deal at $129.99, but for only $74, it's a total steal.

SAVE $50: As of Jan. 15, get the Amazon Kindle Colorsoft for just $199.99. That saves you $500 off of Amazon's color e-reader for 20% savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (16GB) $199.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $50   Get Deal

Looking to up your reading goals in 2026? Maybe Heated Rivalry inspired you to read through the series on which it's based? Whatever your inspiration, it's time to put away your phone and crack open your next read. But before you get to that, how are you reading? If you've been vying for an e-reader, now's the time to shop. Kindles are on sale in the new year, even Colorsoft Kindles.

As of Jan. 15, the Kindle Colorsoft with 16GB of storage are back on sale. During Black Friday 2025, the Colorsoft dropped to its lowest price ever of $169.99. While it's not quite that discounted right now, its current sale price is pretty good. Grab the Kindle Colorsoft for $199.99 at Amazon, saving you $50 for 20% off.

The Kindle Colorsoft is a solid color e-reader. While we prefer Kobo's color e-readers, the Kindle Colorsoft offers the speed and convenience that Amazon's e-readers are best known for. It comes with 300ppi resolution in black and white and 150ppi color resolution. It has both adjustable brightness and warmth, and battery life that lasts up to two months.

Shop the Kindle Colorsoft at Amazon for $199.99 and save $50 on the color e-reader.

SAVE $15.34: The Mega Pokémon Kanto Region Trio build is on sale at Amazon for $19.62, down from the list price of $34.96. That's a 44% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mega Mega Pokémon Kanto Region Trio build $19.62 at Amazon
$34.96 Save $15.34   Get Deal

It's been an exciting January for toy brick builders. Lego debuted the new Smart Play Star Wars sets at CES 2026 and we also have the first ever Lego Pokémon builds coming next month. But if you're not in the mood to wait on a Lego Pokémon build and you don't feel like spending Lego prices, there's a nice deal in store today at Amazon.

As of Jan. 15, the Mega Pokémon Kanto Region Trio build is on sale for only $19.62 at Amazon, marked down from the usual price of $34.96. That's a 44% discount that shaves a solid $15.34 off the price. Since the set includes three character builds, that works out to just $6.54 per figure.

SEE ALSO: How to qualify for the new and exclusive Lego Mini Pokémon Center

Designed for builders and fans aged seven and up, the Mega Pokémon Kanto Region Trio build lets you create your very own Pikachu, Charmander, and Meowth figures. Each character stands at four inches tall once built, and you're able to pose them as you see fit during play. In total, the trio has 529 bricks that are compatible with other name-brand bricks.

While this trio build is on sale for a major discount, snag the set (or two) to have one for yourself and one to give as a gift. At this price, it might even be worth considering birthday presents in the upcoming year. You can't go wrong with the Mega Pokémon Kanto Region Trio build.

SAVE $24: As of Jan. 15, get the Renpho Smart Scale for $39.99, down from its usual price of $63.99. That's a discount of 38% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Renpho Smart Scale $39.99 at Amazon
$63.99 Save $24   Get Deal

If you're looking to meet some New Year's fitness goals or just planning to get in touch with important data about your body, a smart scale is a great way to do it. It's an even better route when you consider that you can snag a good one for less than $50 thanks to this Amazon deal.

As of Jan. 15, get the Renpho Smart Scale for $39.99, down from its usual price of $63.99. That's $24 off and a discount of 38%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Stick to your fitness New Year resolutions with the Renpho Smart Scale for its lowest price yet

This affordable scale has all the info you need to tap into what's going on with your body thanks to a variety of sensors. It has six different metrics that can track things like weight, body fat percentage, muscle percentage, visceral fat index, BMI, and a 20-day weight trend. All of this info shows up on the scale's 5.33-inch screen so it's easy to read as well.

You can create multiple profiles on the scale so that the whole household can use it, and your health data can sync automatically with the Renpho Health App to see all the information that's been collected. There are also additional body metrics that you can see by connecting to the app, with options to connect weekly, monthly, and yearly for updates.

If you're ready to take charge of your health data and want to learn more about your metrics, you can't go wrong with this affordable scale, especially at this price.

Best new customer mobile deals Mint Mobile Shop unlimited plans for $15/month $15/month (Save $15) Get Deal AT&T Switch to AT&T and get up to $800 per line to pay off your phone Save up to $800 per line Get Deal T-Mobile Switch to T-Mobile and get $800 per line to pay off your phone Save up to $800 per line Get Deal

Verizon users had an unpleasant Wednesday with the widespread outages clustered in major cities across America. As of 10:20 pm on Jan. 14, Verizon says that the outages have been resolved, but even if you're back online, it may have left a sour taste in your mouth. If you're looking to switch mobile carriers, now is the time as Verizon's competitors have some well-timed deals for new customers.

If your contract is up, that means switching is easier and you jump on some extremely cheap savings from newcomer Mint Mobile. If your contract isn't paid off though, AT&T and T-Mobile have enticing deals to make it worth your while.

Here are the best new customer deals at AT&T, Mint Mobile, and T-Mobile.

Best Mint Mobile new customer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Mint Mint Mobile $15 at Mint Mobile
$30 Save $15 Shop unlimited plans for $15/month Get Deal

Mint Mobile is T-Mobile's budget subsidiary and right now, they have an extremely affordable deal for new customers. The holiday deal is still live, offering 50% off unlimited deals. For just $15 a month, access Mint Mobile's 5G/4G LTE network. Normally $30 a month, this deal offers 50% off three, six, or 12-month plans. Up front payment is required so plan to pay between $45 and $180 to get started.

More new customer Mint Mobile deals

• Get $15 off any 3-month plan with code '15NOW'

• Get $450 off a Samsung Galaxy S25 phone with a 12-month unlimited plan

Best AT&T new customer deal Opens in a new window Credit: AT&T AT&T Switch to AT&T and get up to $800 per line to pay off your phone Get Deal

The biggest barrier to switching mobile carriers is your old contract. AT&T is helping you get around that with their latest new customer deal. When you switch to AT&T, the carrier will pay off your old phone balance. AT&T will send you a reward card providing you up to $800 per line to pay off your old plan. AT&T will even cover up to ten lines, meaning it could cover up to $8,000 of costs that come with switching plans.

More AT&T new customer deals

• Save up to $1,800 when you buy an iPhone 17 Pro with an Apple Watch SE3 and iPad together

• Get iPhone 17 Pro Max for up to $1,100 off

• Get Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for up to $1,000 off

• Get iPhone 17 Pro for $0

Best T-Mobile new customer deal Opens in a new window Credit: T-Mobile T-Mobile Switch to T-Mobile and get $800 per line to pay off your phone Get Deal

T-Mobile is following AT&T's lead in helping new customers pay off their old contract. T-Mobile is also offering customers up to $800 per line to pay off their old contract. It's not as expansive as AT&T's deal as T-Mobiles will only cover up to four lines. That being said, it's still a great deal if T-Mobile is the carrier you hope to switch to.

More T-Mobile new customer deals

• Get an iPhone 17 for free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your old number

• Save $800 on a Galaxy Z Flip 7 when you add a line on an Experience More or Experience Beyond Plan

SAVE $61.50: As of Jan. 15, the Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Play Booster Box is available to pre-order for $148.20 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $209.70. That's a discount of 29% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Play Booster Box $148.20 at Amazon
$209.70 Save $61.50   Get Deal

There have been a wide variety of Magic: The Gathering collections coming out as of late, and plenty of reasons to jump on each one. One of the most exciting for fans of both Magic and nostalgic toons is the Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Play Booster Box, which is set to arrive on March 6. If you've yet to lock yours in, now's the time to do it with this Amazon deal.

As of Jan. 15, the Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Play Booster Box is available to pre-order for $148.20 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $209.70. That's $61.50 off and a discount of 29%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The Magic: The Gathering Tarkir Dragonstorm Play Booster Box is now below market value on Amazon

You're guaranteed to get the booster box at this price thanks to Amazon's pre-order price guarantee, which means this is the deal you'll get. This is what's charged when your product actually ships, so you don't have to worry about buying early and seeing another outlet undercut your price point.

This booster box has 30 packs of cards featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, with 14 cards per pack. Each pack contains 1-4 Rares or Mythic rarities, 3-6 Uncommons, 6-9 Commons, and a potential Full Borderless or Mythic arc card.

If you're going to want to get in on this expansion, now's the time to do it. Get yours before it sells out at this price.

Bagel lovers, unite. Thursday, Jan. 15 is National Bagel Day. Don't act like you haven't had this date circled in your calendar. We know this is the highlight of your year. OK, maybe that's a bit much. Maybe it's the highlight of your month. There's not much else going on right now.

So how should you celebrate this special occasion? By eating as many bagels as possible, of course. And the good news is that there are plenty of promotions going live today to help you do exactly that. If you're looking to involved, check out some of the best freebies and discounts we found below.

National Bagel Day dealsAlbertsons

Buy one get one free on Thomas’ Bagels for National Bagel Day.

Bagel Boss

Get an extra 15% off on your Bagel Boss order when you use the promo code BD15 at the checkout. This offer is valid for purchases through Goldbelly.

Barry Bagels

Rewards Members can get a free bagel with cream cheese when purchasing a bagel with cream cheese or flavored cream cheese and any drink. There is a limit of one per customer.

Biggby Coffee

Get your hands on a bagel and cream cheese for just $1 on National Bagel Day at Biggby Coffee. To qualify, you need to purchase any 20-ounce or 24-ounce specialty beverage.

Bruegger’s Bagels

Bruegger's Rewards members can get a free bagel and cream cheese with any purchase on National Bagel Day.

Einstein Bros. Bagels

Get a free Bagel & Shmear with any purchase on National Bagel Day. To qualify, mention "National Bagel Day" when ordering in-store.

Essa Bagels

Buy 24 bagels get six free when you order through Goldbelly.

Goldbergs Fine Foods

Get a free bagel with cream cheese included with any purchase.

H&H Bagels

H&H Rewards members can get a free bagel and spread sandwich on National Bagel Day. Order online or in the app to qualify.

Kroger

Buy one get one free on Thomas’ Bagels for National Bagel Day.

Noah’s NY Bagels

Rewards Members can get a free bagel and shmear. Simply sign up for their rewards program to grab this freebie.

Panera Bread

For National Bagel Day, when you buy an Asiago Bagel Stack you can get a second stack of your choice for free with code BOGOSTACK.

Publix

Buy one get one free on Dave’s Killer Bread Bagels for National Bagel Day.

Stop & Shop

Get a free bagel when you check in on your GO Rewards account (limit of one bagel per household). Not already a member? Sign up for free in store.

Target

$1 off One Mighty Mill Bagels for National Bagel Day.

Western Bagel

Get a 13 bagels for $15 with this special National Bagel Day deal.