Mashable

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're an original.

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 January 3, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 3, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: I've never seen that before!

The words are related to newness.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe originality.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Break New Ground.

NYT Strands word list for January 3

• Inventive

• Seminal

• Break New Ground

• Original

• Novel

• Fresh

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 today's Strands.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

To scold.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

CHIDE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Buzzed.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 3, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

TIPSY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Noiseless.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 3 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 3, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

QUIET

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Possessor.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for January 3 Hurdle Word 4 answer

OWNER

Final Hurdle hint

Real.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

LEGIT

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

The new year has barely begun, and already we have a strong contender for our annual dead tech list, 2026 edition — the Apple Vision Pro.

Not that the iPhone maker's Augmented Reality (AR) headset has passed on yet, exactly. The Apple Vision Pro (starting at $3,499) has been, to paraphrase Monty Python, just resting production at its Chinese manufacturer, Luxcorp. That's according to analysts at International Data Corp, which estimates Apple only sold 4,500 headsets worldwide in the holiday quarter of 2025 — new M5 chip version (which is reportedly made in Vietnam) included.

For comparison, that's less than one-tenth of the half-million Vision Pros analysts say were sold in its launch year, 2024.

Apple doesn't break out Vision Pro sales figures — but the company has all but given up on marketing the product, according to a scathing Financial Times report. Digital marketing for the device has been slashed by 95 percent. If you see a banner ad for a Vision Pro in the wilds of the internet, you might want to take a screenshot: You're looking at an increasingly endangered beast.

SEE ALSO: Meta AI glasses adds 'conversation focus' feature What went wrong with the Apple Vision Pro?

To be fair to Apple, slumping sales are a problem across the whole AR/virtual reality space — not to mention the whole U.S. retail space.

Analysts at Counterpoint saw a 14 percent drop in all AR/VR headset sales in the first half of 2025. The Vision Pro is clearly on the luxury end of the market — Meta's Quest 3S VR headset recently dropped its price to $250 — and luxury items tend to be the first to go when consumers are feeling the pinch of rising prices on necessities such as groceries and healthcare premiums.

Even if you're all-in on the idea of hefty AR headsets with battery packs attached, you might be sorely tempted to drop half the price tag of the Vision Pro on the new Galaxy XR headset ($1,800). As cool as the Vision Pro hands-on experience may be, no must-have "killer app" has yet been identified for the platform. The iPhone is an essential status symbol; the iPad helps you live your best creative life; your Mac is your workhorse; and the VisionPro ... does what, exactly?

From the outset, the company has struggled to explain why we should want a Vision Pro (as this weirdly Black Mirror-esque product demo showed). So it makes sense to pause those ad dollars, at least. For those of us who find the Vision Pro's EyeSight display eyes creepy, banner ads that display the feature may make us less likely to buy one.

Apple's AI glasses are the future.

Disappointing sales and paused production don't mean Apple has no clue what to do in this category. Quite the opposite, according to one well-sourced Oct. 2025 report — the company is already pulling employees away from its cheaper Vision Pro version, and on to a lighter, cheaper model of smart glasses that will compete with Meta's AI-powered Ray-Ban Display and Google's upcoming Android XR glasses.

That makes much more sense. Despite an extremely cringe Mark Zuckerberg demo fail, the $800 Meta Ray-Bans made for one of the more buzzworthy product launches of 2025. Early adopters and critics alike were positive, and investors clamored to buy shares in the company that makes Ray-Bans.

With live translation, directions, and voice search, the Meta Ray-Bans fulfilled many promises of augmented reality that have been with us all the way back to Google Glass (which also took a long time to officially die out); they also happen to be Ray-Bans and thus don't make you look like a nerd. (Well, unless you're indoors and the cool shades lighten to reveal, unfortunately, thick frames.)

If there's any company that understands the importance of design that appeals to non-nerdy customers, it's Apple. So while the bulky, costly, nerdy Vision Pro may be dead tech walking, don't count its maker out yet. Apple just may rebound from this sales slump to surprise us with something like a Vision Air — lightweight specs that work for way more than 45,000 new customers per quarter.

TL;DR: PDF Expert is a fast, full-featured PDF editor for Mac, and its lifetime license is on sale for $79.99 (reg. $139.99) — no subscriptions required.

Opens in a new window Credit: Readdle PDF Expert Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription (Mac) $79.99
$139.99 Save $60.00   Get Deal

PDFs aren’t going anywhere, and neither is the frustration that comes with dealing with them. Whether it’s a contract that needs signing, a form that won’t let you type anything, or a document that suddenly needs edits five minutes before a deadline, PDFs have a way of showing up at inconvenient times. If you’re going to need a PDF editor anyway, it helps to have one that actually makes the process easier. PDF Expert does exactly that — and its lifetime license for Mac is currently down to $79.99 (reg. $139.99).

At first glance, most PDF editors seem interchangeable. But as the youths would say, PDF Expert is not like the other girls. Used by more than 30 million people worldwide, it stands out for how fast, polished, and straightforward it is. The app was even a runner-up for Apple’s App of the Year back in the day — losing out to Periscope that year, which, well, time tells its own story. PDF Expert, meanwhile, is still very much here and doing what it does best.

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PDF Expert covers the basics most people need. You can edit text, insert images, add links, fill out forms, sign documents, and redact sensitive information. It also handles more advanced tasks, including merging and splitting PDFs, rearranging or deleting pages, adding stamps, and converting PDFs into formats like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, images, or editable text files. Conversely, you can go the other direction and turn files like JPGs, PNGs, Word documents, or spreadsheets into PDFs.

For anyone dealing with scanned documents, PDF Expert includes OCR (optical character recognition). That means scanned text becomes searchable, highlightable, and copyable.

The lifetime license removes ongoing costs entirely. You get unlimited use across your personal macOS devices, along with lifetime customer support if something ever goes sideways. So if PDFs are a regular part of your workflow — even occasionally — this deal makes sense.

PDF Expert’s lifetime Mac license is available for $79.99 (reg. $139.99) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Florida loves highways, so it may not come as a surprise that it's building a new one west of Orlando, connecting US Route 27 to State Road 429. The new highway, known as the Lake/Orange Expressway or State Road 516, is notable for its 21st-century features, which include technology that wirelessly powers electric vehicles.

A small portion of the freeway, approximately three-quarters of a mile, will feature inductive charging coils installed underneath the road, according to Techspot. The charging apparatus utilizes a magnetic field to send power upward and requires an attachable receiver that can transfer up to 200 kilowatts as the vehicle drives over the surface. The technology will allow vehicles — most likely EV trucks and buses — to extend their range, but will not allow a full charge. E-highways are not a new concept, but they typically require overhead wires and special (and expensive) infrastructure on the electric vehicles.

SEE ALSO: Chinese EVs are spreading across the globe, but not in the U.S.

While the forthcoming Lake/Orange Expressway will offer tangible benefits to EVs when it fully opens around 2029, it will also serve as a test run for similar projects that allow charging without stopping. If successful, it can also address other impediments to large-scale EV adoption, like the dependence on massive battery packs and the cost and complexity of building charging stations. States like California are investing billions in new charging stations, with over 200,000 already in place.

Besides wireless charging, State Road 516 will also feature solar panels for nearby infrastructure, wildlife crossings, and shared-use paths that carve out space for non-automobile travel.

When most TVs aren’t in use, they sit as an ugly black screen in the middle of the living room. With The Frame, Samsung invented an entirely new kind of TV — an art TV that complements your home decor instead of subtracting from it. Mashable's tech editor Timothy Werth has called The Frame the best TV in the world, and it's inspired a whole host of dupes and copycats. Ahead of CES 2026, LG is now following suit with an artwork TV of its own, dubbed the LG Gallery TV. 

Like The Frame, LG’s Gallery TV works like a typical TV most of the time, allowing you to watch TV, play video games, and stream movies as much as you want. Once you’re done using it, you can drop it into Gallery Mode, which will then cycle through famous pieces of artwork instead of leaving the screen blank. LG says the TV also reduces glare and optimizes color and brightness settings throughout the day to maintain clarity. 

SEE ALSO: The Frame isn't the only glamorous 32-inch QLED TV anymore: Meet the $299.99 Hisense S5 DécoTV

Per LG, users will also be able to display their own photos in Gallery Mode and create new artwork to look at with the help of generative AI. Even if you don’t add anything to it yourself, the Gallery TV will boast 4,500 pieces of artwork that the TV can play like a slideshow. 

The Gallery TV will be available starting in 2026 in 55-inch and 65-inch models, both of which will have a flush-mount design and a removable magnetic frame. For internals, the TV will house an a7 AI processor, which is most commonly seen in LG’s mid-range lineup, along with a matte-covered MiniLED panel. It is unclear if this is a true MiniLED panel or an edge-lit panel being called a MiniLED panel, like some of LG and Samsung’s other TVs. 

Pricing remains a mystery for now, but per Bloomberg, LG is aiming for a competitive price point with Samsung. Currently, the 55-inch Frame TV sells for $1,499.99, and the 65-inch model adds $500 to the price tag. LG’s TV will likely be in that same ballpark in terms of pricing. 

While the Gallery TV is new to LG’s lineup, it is the latest in an increasingly crowded space. In addition to Samsung, Hisense, TCL, and Skyworth are also competing in this space with the CanvasTV, NXTVision TV, and the Canvas Art TV, respectively. All three of those additional competitors also sell their TVs for hundreds less than Samsung, so LG has some stiff competition. 

So far, all of The Frame's copycats have tried to lure customers with a cheaper price tag, but LG seems to be billing the Gallery TV as a premium device. The Gallery TV may have one advantage over The Frame, too. The standard version of The Frame offers a QLED display, while the pricier Frame Pro offers a MiniLED display. However, LG Gallery TV features a MiniLED panel and thus may have a slightly improved display compared to Samsung.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

This week, X users noticed that the platform's AI chatbot Grok will readily generate nonconsensual sexualized images, including those of children.

Mashable reported on the lack of safeguards around sexual deepfakes when xAI first launched Grok Imagine in August. The generative AI tool creates images and short video clips, and it specifically includes a "spicy" mode for creating NSFW images.

While this isn't a new phenomenon, the building backlash forced the Grok team to respond.

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"There are isolated cases where users prompted for and received AI images depicting minors in minimal clothing," Grok's X account posted on Thursday. It also stated that the team has identified "lapses in safeguards" and is "urgently fixing them."

xAI technical staff member, Parsa Tajik, made a similar statement on his personal account: "The team is looking into further tightening our gaurdrails. [sic]"

Grok also acknowledged that child sex abuse material (CSAM) is illegal, and the platform itself could face criminal or civil penalties.

X users have also brought attention to the chatbot manipulating innocent images of women, often depicting them in less clothing. This includes private citizens as well as public figures, such as Momo, a member of the K-pop group TWICE, and Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: Here's everything Elon Musk promised in 2025 – and failed to deliver

Grok Imagine, the generative AI tool, has had a problem with sexual deepfakes since its launch in August 2025. It even reportedly created explicit deepfakes of Taylor Swift for some users without being prompted to do so.

AI-manipulated media detection platform Copyleaks conducted a brief observational review of Grok's publicly accessible photo tab and identified examples of seemingly real women, sexualized image manipulation (i.e., prompts asking to remove clothing or change body position), and no clear indication of consent. Copyleaks found roughly one nonconsensual sexualized image per minute in the observed image stream, the organization shared with Mashable.

Despite the xAI Acceptable Use Policy prohibiting users from "Depicting likenesses of persons in a pornographic manner," this doesn't necessarily include merely sexually suggestive material. The policy does, however, prohibit "the sexualization or exploitation of children."

In the first half of 2024, X sent more than 370,000 reports of child exploitation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)'s CyberTipline, as required by law. It also stated that it suspended more than two million accounts actively engaging with CSAM. Last year, NBC News reported that anonymous, seemingly automated X accounts were flooding some hashtags with child abuse content.

Grok has also been in the news in recent months for spreading misinformation about the Bondi Beach shooting and praising Hitler.

Mashable sent xAI questions and a request for comment and received the automated reply, "Legacy Media Lies."

If you have had intimate images shared without your consent, call the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative’s 24/7 hotline at 844-878-2274 for free, confidential support. The CCRI website also includes helpful information as well as a list of international resources.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're an instrumentalist.

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 January 3, 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 January 3, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An Indian instrument.

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 S.

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...

SITAR

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 3, 2026

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 today's Wordle.

There's a new pair of AI-powered AR glasses on the block — the Pickle 1. According to Pickle Inc., these AR glasses use cameras, microphones, sensors, and artificial intelligence to observe, remember, and even anticipate a user's daily life. It's intended to function as part traditional wearable, part AI companion. After learning about you, the Pickle 1 glasses will then serve up real-time information, reminders, and suggestions, according to Digit.

And here's how Pickle Inc. describes its futuristic AR glasses on its website: "For a life better in every dimension, we need an intelligence that sees with you, remembers your life, and learns to understand you. A new soul."

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

Giving birth to a new soul is a big enough claim on its own, but the promo video for the Pickle AR glasses also shows a level of augmented reality that's far ahead of brands like Meta and Xreal, which already make AR glasses.

So, for many social media users, the early videos and concept images of the glasses simply seem too good to be true. The Pickle Glasses are reminiscent of Iron Man's AI-powered visual display, and some experts say that users should be very skeptical while the product is still in development. The Pickle website states that users can put down a $200 deposit to preorder the Pickle 1, with deliveries starting in the second quarter of 2026.

"As someone who worked in AR/VR for over a decade please listen. The @pickle glasses are not real. It’s literally just a mold of glasses made in China," one user wrote on X. "The technology for AR glasses in this form factor isn’t possible yet. Not even Meta or Apple has glasses like this. 100% fake."

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

"For context on how insanely fake this is: Xreal is one of the leading AR glasses companies on Earth. Their flagship glasses model (Xreal One) without any cameras, compute, or battery weigh more than Pickle claims their 'full AR' glasses with 4 cameras do," another user posted.

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

Whether the glasses are up to the hype or not, it might be best to wait until they come out and reviewers can get their hands on them before putting down the $200 deposit — or at least until we see an actual product demo.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is scheduled to deliver a keynote address to help kick off CES 2026 in Las Vegas.

The tech world will certainly be watching as Huang delivers his speech, considering Nvidia is the primary hardware company that powers the AI boom. Not for nothing, the other major player in that space, AMD, will present a keynote address of its own.

Nvidia hasn't said what, exactly, will be revealed during Huang's keynote beyond "what’s next in AI." But anything Nvidia does is big news in 2026 — so tuning in is certainly a good idea.

The keynote is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 5. You can watch a livestream on CNET's YouTube page, which we've also embedded below. (Disclosure: CNET is owned by Ziff Davis, the same company that owns Mashable.)

Mashable will be on the ground at CES, covering all the news, gadgets, and interesting tidbits that come out of Las Vegas. Be sure to follow our coverage of one of tech's biggest events.

The best Prime Video add-on deals at a glance: Paramount+ Premium $3.99/month for 2 months (save $10/month) Get Deal Mubi $1.99/month for 2 months (save $13/month) Get Deal Starz $1.99/month for 2 months (save $9/month) Get Deal

The season of streaming deals is coming to an end. If you missed out on securing a streaming service for a discounted rate during Cyber Week or the holiday season, toady is the last day to score a deal.

Prime Video subscribers can still score a handful of different streaming add-on subscriptions for as low as $1.99 per month through the end of the day on Jan. 2. These include heavy hitters like Paramount+ and Mubi, as well as more obscure options like Acorn TV and Wonder Project. While they aren't the most impressive streaming deals of the season (those came on Black Friday), they're still pretty great. And in a time when streaming has become outrageously expensive, we could all use a little savings.

If you're not a Prime member or Prime Video subscriber, you can still sign up and secure these deals if you act fast. Already a subscriber? Just head to the Prime Video add-ons page or scroll down to shop the best streaming deals.

Best Prime Video add-on streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ Premium (Prime Video add-on) $3.99/month for 2 months (save $10/month) Get Deal Why we like it

Paramount+ is about to get pricier starting January 15. The Premium subscription (no ads) is going up to $13.99 per month, but this Prime Video add-on deal lets you avoid that price hike for two months and save $10 each month.

The price hike is due to programming investments in UFC matches, new Paramount+ originals and third-party catalog licensing, as well as a ramp-up of its film slate. So you can expect a ton of new content on Paramount+ in 2026, on top of its existing originals and Showtime hits like Landman, Mayor of Kingstown, Yellowjackets, and The Curse. The Premium tier gets you access to the entire Showtime catalog, as well as live TV and ad-free streaming. Just be sure to sign up by midnight tonight (Jan. 2) to lock in the savings.

More Prime Video add-on streaming deals

• Acorn TV — $1.99/month for 2 months $8.99/month (save $7/month)

• A&E Crime Central and Lifetime Movie Club bundle — $3.75/month $7.99/month (save $4.24)

• All Reality — $1.99/month for 2 months $4.99/month (save $3/month)

• BET+ — $1.99/month for 2 months $5.99/month (save $4/month)

• Discovery+ and Hallmark+ bundle — $3.75/month for 2 months $12.99/month (save $9.24/month)

• Hallmark+ — $1.99/month for 2 months $7.99/month (save $6/month)

• MGM+ — $1.99/month for 2 months $7.99/month (save $6/month)

• MovieSphere+ — $1.99/month for 2 months $4.99/month (save $3/month)

• Mubi — $1.99/month for 2 months $14.99/month (save $13/month)

• PBS Kids — $1.99/month for 2 months $4.99/month (save $3/month)

• PBS Masterpiece — $1.99/month for 2 months $6.99/month (save $5/month)

• Starz — $1.99/month for 2 months $10.99/month (save $9/month)

• ViX Premium — $1.99/month for 2 months $8.99/month (save $7/month)

• Wonder Project — $1.99/month for 2 months $8.99/month (save $7/month)

SAVE 80% OR MORE: Right now, Le Wand is offering all kinds of crazy deals, including up to 80% off select vibrators, up to 60% off bundles, freebies (with eligible purchases), and deals under $50.

Opens in a new window Credit: Le Wand Le Wand New Year Sale Get up to 80% off select vibrators, plus tons of other deals at Le Wand Shop Now

If there’s one New Year’s resolution I can get behind every year, it’s prioritizing pleasure and self-care — especially when you can do it on a budget.

Right now, Le Wand is offering some insanely good deals on luxe vibrators and bundles, including deals under $50 and freebies with qualifying purchases. Here’s everything you need to know about Le Wand’s New Year’s Sale and how to get the best bang for your buck.

Get up to 80% off select vibrators and dildos

Obviously, the most newsworthy nugget of info here is that you can score up to 80% off select vibrators and dildos, including The Rose Suction Vibrator (this little vibe is a customer fave and way more reliable than the sketch knockoffs on Amazon), the two-piece G-Spot Pleasure Glass Dildo Set (it’s only $21!), the Le Wand Blend (currently $95.99 off) and tons of other products.

Opens in a new window Credit: TRose Toy Officialhe The Rose Suction Vibrator (Mint) $14.99 at Le Wand
$99.99 Save $85   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Le Wand Le Wand Blend $79 at Le Wand
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Honestly, I'm shocked at how good these deals are. Some dildos are going for as low as $5.60! That’s insane. You don’t even need a promo code; add to cart, and the discount will automatically apply.

Get up to 60% off bundles

If you’re interested in buying in bulk or genuinely want to impress/surprise your partner, Le Wand also has a subsection of deals on curated bundles, including the Dive Into Wand Bundle (currently $124.80 off), the Le Wand Little Pleasures Set (currently $100 off), and the Le Wand $600 Wanderful Bliss Bundle (currently $425 off).

Deals under $50

If you’re on a tight budget, Le Wand has pages and pages of vibrators, butt plugs, dildos, and more, all listed for less than $50. Some standout deals include the Le Wand Point (for those who prefer pinpoint clitoral stimulation over penetration), the Glas Toy 7.5-inch Orange Tickler Glass Dildo (it’s only $9.90!), and the Rabbit Essentials Rabbit Vibrator with Rotating Beads (for those who want to experience a blended orgasm). You’ll want to move fast, though; tons of items are already marked as sold out.

Opens in a new window Credit: Le Wand Le Wand Point $36.99 at Le Wand
$129.99 Save $93   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Rabbit Essentials Rabbit Essentials Slim Shaft Vibrator with Rotating Beads   Get Deal Get a free storage bag or hands-free wand holder

As an added bonus, if you pick up any of the newest vibes from the Le Wand Classique Wands collection, you’ll get a freebie tossed in. Depending on what you grab, you'll score either a free storage bag or a hands-free wand holder with your purchase.

SAVE $50: As of Jan. 2, get the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) for $229.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $279.99. That's a discount of 18% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) $229.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $50   Get Deal

The winter chill has been taunting many of us for quite a few weeks now, and it's also translated into higher energy bills. If you're tired of spending an arm and a leg to heat your home, it might be time to look into a smart thermostat. Case in point: a Google Next smart thermostat that can not only help making heating your home less of a chore, but save you some serious cash. And it can only make your smart home better.

As of Jan. 2, get the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) for $229.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $279.99. That's a discount of 18% and the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Readers' Choice Awards 2025: Your favorite smart home brands

This newly-released smart thermostat, which debuted in August 2025, lets you set and adjust the temperature of your home manually or via connected app. It works with most systems and doesn't need a C-wire or a complicated install. It comes in a number of colors that can match just about any decor, too.

You can set the thermostat yourself, program times when it's off and on, or let it learn your routines to help you save money. It will eventually set up its own timing to optimize when you'll need cooling or heat so you don't have to do all the guesswork.

With a bright, easily readable display, ways to control it even when you're far away from home, and an affordable price, this is the best way to go about cutting those bills. And you can get the thermostat itself for a great price too.

SAVE $500: The Bluetti Pioneer Na(Sodium) portable power station is on sale for $799, down from the list price of $1,299. That's a 38% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Pioneer Na(Sodium) portable power station $799 at Bluetti
$1,299 Save $500   Get Deal

Winter temps are not for the weak. Spending time outdoors during winter months in some part of the country requires special gear. We layer up with merino wool, down jackets, and windproof hats to help combat the chill, but our tech can also suffer. Your phone's battery is likely to diminish quicker if you're outside in super cold temps while other devices simply aren't meant to be operated in the severe cold. That's true for most portable power stations, but Bluetti has a new model that's cool with a chill, and it's on sale today.

As of Jan. 2, the Bluetti Pioneer Na(Sodium) portable power station is on sale for $799, down from the list price of $1,299. That's a 38% discount that shaves $500 off the price.

While most portable power stations are not designed to operate or recharge in super cold temps, the Bluetti Pioneer Na(Sodium) is meant to work in temps as long as -13 degrees and be able to safely recharge in temps as low as 5 degrees. That means this is the perfect model if you'll be heading out for winter camping, ice fishing, or taking a power station along to the jobsite this winter.

Bluetti used sodium-ion battery cells in this model which gives it the ability to be unphased in cold temperatures. For comparison, the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 portable power station (one of my absolute favorites) is only safe to operate in temps as low as -4 degrees and can only recharge if the temperature is at least 32 degrees. That means the Bluetti has a huge advantage in both operating and recharging in the cold.

SEE ALSO: Outdoor deals at Amazon include a 45% discount on the Garmin inReach Messenger

Overall, the Bluetti Pioneer Na packs in 1,500Wh of power. With the Bluetti app, you can activate Power Lifting Mode which gives you the ability to get up to 2,250W of power for operating kettles, space heaters, or an electric blanket.

Of course, you can also put the Bluetti Pioneer Na to good use at home during a power outage. You'll be in line for keeping the refrigerator on for almost 20 hours or the WiFi router on for almost 44 hours.

Before your next outdoor job or ice fishing adventure this winter, get equipped with the cold-weather friendly Bluetti Pioneer Na(Sodium) portable power station. You'll be able to save $500 by taking advantage of this early 2026 sale price.

SAVE $50: As of Jan. 2, get Assassin's Creed Shadows (PS5) for $29.99 at Best Buy, down from its usual price of $69.99. That's a discount of 57% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Assassin's Creed Shadows $29.99 at Best Buy
$69.99 Save $40   Get Deal

The new year is here, and if you snagged a PlayStation 5 console or have some fresh gift cards to spend after the holidays, now's the time to get some shopping in. You can get some great deals in, especially if you want to pick up a few video games here and there. Case in point: the PS5 edition of Assassin's Creed Shadows, a 2025 release that you might have been thinking about adding to your backlog.

As of Jan. 2, get Assassin's Creed Shadows (PS5) for $29.99 at Best Buy, down from its usual price of $69.99. That's $50 off and a discount of 57%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The 11 best video games of 2025

Set in feudal Japan, this installment of the long-running Assassin's Creed series focuses on the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order, both organizations at odds with fighting for peace through their own very different means. This entry has dual protagonists once more: kunoichi Fujibayashi Naoe, and samurai Yasuke, both with different types of play styles.

This action RPG is a lot like the rest of the games in the Assassin's Creed series, but the first to fully delve into this time period and location, rewarding players with an open world to explore, tons of different non-linear missions to tackle, and the new ability to crawl and go prone as well as "Observe" mode to glean information about potential targets.

If you're ready to tackle a new gaming challenge, don't sleep on this deal and grab it while it's still available at Best Buy.

SAVE $178.95: As of Jan. 2, the Bose QuietComfort headphones are down to just $170.05 in the sandstone shade at Amazon. That's 51% in savings and their lowest price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort headphones $170.05 at Amazon
$349 Save $178.95   Get Deal

If you want above-average noise-cancelling headphones that you can wear all day and that won't cost you a few hundred bucks, the Bose QuietComfort headphones check all the right boxes. And as of Jan. 2, they're down to their best price ever.

You can pick up the Bose QuietComfort headphones for only $170.05 in the sandstone shade at Amazon. That's over half off and their lowest price on record in this color. We saw this same deal pop up in mid-December, then immediately disappear. So we recommend adding it to your cart ASAP if you want to secure the savings.

While the QuietComfort Ultras are the best noise-cancelling headphones we've ever tested, their more basic sibling — the QuietComforts — are still pretty awesome. They're currently also $229 cheaper in the same shade, for what it's worth. You'll still get impressive noise cancellation, a comfortable fit, rich audio, and up to 24 hours of battery life. The only drawbacks are that the app doesn't include those next-level AI features and they don't offer spatial audio.

"For the person looking for great sound, these fit the bill. While the audiophile might miss not having spatial audio, the average person will be more than satisfied with the headphone's full, rounded sound," Mashable's reviewer Sam Mangino writes. If you want to save a bit of money, they certainly won't disappoint.

SAVE $20: The Kindle (16GB) is on sale for $89.99 at Amazon, down from the list price of $109.99. That's an 18% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle (16GB) $89.99 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $20   Get Deal

A new year means a fresh start to work on health habits. If you're looking to cut down on time spent scrolling, you've got tons of options. Many of us turn to activities like puzzles, working out, cooking, or reading to help put the phone down. You can even enlisting the help of The Brick. But if your number one goal is 2026 is to read more, check out this deal.

As of Jan. 2, the Kindle (16GB) is on sale at Amazon for only $89.99, marked down from the standard price of $109.99. That's an 18% discount that takes $20 off the usual price.

In Mashable's review of the best Kindles, the original Kindle earns the spot as the best budget model. Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino likes this version because of its compact size, affordable price, and ample storage space of 16GB. It gets bonus points as being the lightest Kindle.

SEE ALSO: All 6 of the books that inspired "Heated Rivalry" are over half off at Amazon

In Mangino's full review of the basic Kindle, she wrote, "If you're shopping for an e-reader on a budget, the Amazon Kindle is the answer. It has 16GB of storage and a great display." The six-inch display screen is perfect for packing along on you next trip or for people with smaller hands.

Keep in mind the basic Kindle does lack a few elements that we love on most other Kindle models. Notably, it's not waterproof which means this isn't the right model if you like to read in the bathtub or plan to take it poolside. The battery life is also less impressive compared to other models. However, Mangino notes the six-week battery life is still solid.

If you're looking for the most affordable e-reader, you can't go wrong with the Amazon Kindle. Now that it's on sale for $89.99, go all-in on your 2026 reading goals. Remember to snag free e-books via the Libby app and take advantage of Stuff Your Kindle sales.

SAVE 22%: As of Jan. 2, you can get the Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Cooking System (FN101GD) for just $139.98, down from $179.99. That's a 22% discount or $40.01 savings.

Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Cooking System (FN101GD) $139.98 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $40.01   Get Deal at Amazon

If your 2026 goal is to eat more home-cooked meals and use fewer takeout containers, this deal is for you.

As of Jan. 2, the Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer is on sale for $139.98, down from $179.99, at Amazon. That's a 22% discount and the lowest price we've tracked on this model. While it hit this record low on Dec. 2, 2025, it beats out the $159.95 price we saw during the peak of Black Friday.

SEE ALSO: We tested the most popular Ninja appliances in our own kitchens. Here's what we found.

The Crispi is essentially a portable air-fryer lid that turns the included glass storage containers into a full cooking system. You can air-fry, bake, or reheat directly in the four-quart or six-cup glass containers. Once you're done, you just pop on the leak-proof storage lid and put it in the fridge. It’s the ideal kitchen gadget for meal preppers because it eliminates the "I don't want to wash another pan" excuse that usually leads to ordering a pizza.

The PowerPod delivers the heat of a full-sized air fryer in a unit that fits in the palm of your hand. Borosilicate glassware is thermal shock-resistant, meaning it can go from the freezer to being crispy in minutes. Plus, the containers, adapters, and lids are all dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.

SAVE $38.03: As of Jan. 2, the Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro is down to a new best-ever price at Amazon. Get it for just $60.97 in the light green colorway — a savings of 38%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro $60.97 at Amazon
$99 Save $38.03   Get Deal

Nobody was as surprised as we were that a sub-$100 smartwatch dominated the competition in 2025. Nothing's CMF Watch 3 Pro, which earned a near-perfect rating in our testing, is easily one of the best smartwatches of last year. And as of Jan. 2, it's hit a new record-low price.

An excellent value at its full cost of only $99, you can pick up the CMF Watch 3 Pro to kick off the new year for a best-ever price of $60.97 at Amazon. That's 38% in savings and even cheaper than it was earlier this week. The only catch? You'll have to go with the light green colorway (which is arguably the best choice anyways).

When Mashable Contributor Lauren Allain tested the watch for herself, she said it "looks, feels, and functions like a smartwatch that costs hundreds more." Not only can it last over two weeks on a charge, blowing the Apple Watch out of the water, but it is also packed with features like blood oxygen monitoring, stress tracking, and precise heart-rate monitoring. Runners will love the included running coach feature, while athletes of all kinds will appreciate the dual-band GPS tracing, which is so precise it can tell which side of the road you're on. The Watch 3 Pro's only drawbacks are that it's a little bulky for smaller wrists and that the ChatGPT integration only works if you also have a Nothing phone.

If you're not a fan of the light green, you can also grab the watch in dark gray, orange, or ash gray. While none of those colorways are quite as discounted as the green, they're all still on sale as of Jan. 2. You'll pay less than $90 no matter which option you choose.

GET $100 CREDIT: Sign up at Samsung for free to receive $100 in Samsung Credit toward select 2026 products.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Free $100 Credit Use toward select 2026 Samsung tech. Get Deal

It's finally 2026, and that means plenty of new tech is on the way. CES 2026 is around the corner, and as usual you'll be able to sample some of the latest and greatest from companies like Samsung. And because the newest gadgets are going to likely be pretty pricey, Samsung wants you prepped and ready to buy with a special deal of its own you can lock in now.

Right now, you can sign up at Samsung for free to receive $100 in Samsung Credit toward select 2026 products. All you need to do is provide your name, email, optional cell number, state, and zip code. In return you'll receive email updates from Samsung, and you'll be eligible to receive up to $100 off qualifying Samsung tech, all of which can be verified as eligible here.

SEE ALSO: What to expect from Samsung at CES 2026

Whether you're a regular Samsung die-hard or you just plan on picking up some new tech now that we're finally in 2026, a $100 credit is hard to beat, especially when you don't have to do much to get it.

Be sure to grab your qualifying signup as soon as possible, as CES 2026 is happening in just a few days, from Jan. 6 to Jan. 9. There, you'll get a look at some of the best Samsung will have to offer, and you'll be rest assured that at least some of it can be yours for up to $100 off. These days, as you're likely well aware, every little bit helps.