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The best wireless earbuds range anywhere from $10 to $1,000, especially if you're going for professional-grade studio earphones. And if you care about active noise cancellation, you can easily spend $300 — that's the price of peace and quiet. You can also get hyperspecialized models like sleep earbuds, bone-conduction earbuds for working out, and open earbuds for transparency.

SEE ALSO: I replaced my $249 AirPods Pro with $19 wired EarPods

In 2026, our top picks for earbuds are the Sony WF-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen), and Panasonic Technics AZ100s, which provide outstanding sound quality and ANC. But keep in mind that these models will run you $299 to $329. While we stand by the value of everything on this list, we know that spending over $300 on a pair of earbuds is a lot to stomach. That's why we've also included more budget-friendly wireless earbuds under $100 that still deliver excellent performance.

Ready to start shopping now? Here are our favorite wireless and noise-cancelling earbuds as of October 2026.

Types of earbuds

There are two overarching types of earbuds: wireless and wired. While those descriptors are self-explanatory, let's get into the specifics of both.

Wireless

Wireless earbuds connect to devices via Bluetooth for cordless usage. These earbuds range from $20 budget models to high-end models with active noise cancellation. While they don't require a wire to connect to a device, some wireless earbuds still have a wire that might go around the back of the neck to connect the buds.

While earbuds traditionally don't provide the passive noise cancellation of over-the-ear headphones, wireless models often feature ANC, which electronically blocks out background noise. With wireless headphones, you need to consider the battery life. Most models should have an eight-hour or more battery life before they need to be recharged.

Wired

Wired earbuds are the original model: two buds connected by a wire to your audio source. While they once felt high-tech, they're pretty basic now. Wired earbuds with active noise cancellation are basically non-existent, and you won't find any on our list.

The biggest positive of wired headphones is that they don't need to be charged. They're a great backup option to keep in your bag in case your usual wireless headphones or earbuds run out of charge.

Newer additions to this guide

We added the new Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case to this guide in October following their September 2026 release as a cheaper alternative for Apple users, or for folks who don't prefer the ear tip fit of the AirPods Pro 3.

After extensive testing, Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard rounded up the best sleep earbuds. You can read her full guide, but as of February 2026, we've added the Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 Special to this guide, which Allard says are the best sleep earbuds for most people. Also in February 2026, we added the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds as our top pick for the best overall earbud, and removed the previous generation, the WF-1000XM5, as the best Sony earbud.

Latest earbuds news

Bose recently announced two new open earbuds: the Ultra Open (2nd gen) and Sport Open. We'll be testing them out to see how they compare to the Shokz earbuds in this guide. Bose also released a new pair of wired noise-cancelling earbuds, which are a breakthrough in the wired earbuds market.

What are the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds?

If you're just looking for a pair of everyday wireless earbuds, all but one of the models in this guide will check that box. (We formerly included the Marshall Mode earbuds for folks who preferred a wired option, but have since removed them from our guide as the version we tested is difficult to find in stock these days.)

If you're looking for the highest quality wireless earbuds, you can't go wrong with the Sony WF-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Apple AirPods Pro 3, and Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds, our most recent recommendations in 2026. All of these wireless earbuds feature elite noise cancellation, stellar sound, long battery life, and a comfortable fit for extended wear.

Every top brand has its own take on ANC earbuds, each with a unique style and a plethora of features. Since you can't possibly try all the latest earbuds, the Mashable team has taken on the task of reviewing the best ANC earbuds for you.

What are the best noise-cancelling earbuds? Not all earbuds are created equal — some are far more comfortable than others. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

While there are plenty of audio brands that provide good sound quality and noise cancellation, the best of the best ANC earbuds can elevate your listening experience. Not only do they offer phenomenal ANC, but they also make music and podcasts sound better. Trust us — on the right pair of earbuds, Olivia Rodrigo's latest album will have you singing along even louder, somehow.

Earbuds usually aren't as comfortable as over-the-ear headphones. I know this well, as I've found many pairs of earbuds that just plain don't fit in my ear. Others are downright uncomfortable. Once again, Bose offers the most comfortable headphones and earbuds. However, Bose and Sony aren't the only brands out there. That's why we set out to test the best the market offers and see what makes a great pair of wireless earbuds.

How do noise-cancelling earbuds work? Noise-cancelling earbuds are small enough to slip in your pocket. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

All noise-cancelling headphones, including earbuds, have some passive noise cancellation. While over-the-ear headphones naturally block out noise by wrapping around the ears, earbuds don't block sound as effectively. Instead of covering your ears, wireless earbuds deliver sound directly into the ear canal to drown out other noises. They rely more on active noise cancellation (ANC) to reduce environmental noise.

ANC is an electronic process within the headphones. Internal microphones listen to your surroundings and then invert the sound, effectively canceling it. Sometimes, with noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds, you'll hear a slight buzzing or humming in the background, and that's the ANC at work. The best ANC earbuds shouldn't have this buzzing, however.

What about wired noise-cancelling earbuds?

We focus on wireless earbuds in this guide, because historically, wired noise-cancelling earbuds haven't really existed. Until recently, that is. In late September, Bose dropped its Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds for $99 — we'll be evaluating them as a contender for a spot on this list, but Deputy Shopping Editor Miller Kern had positive initial thoughts on their performance.

Whether you're looking for a kid-friendly tablet or a compact laptop replacement, there are plenty of excellent options out there. If you're not exactly sure which tablet you should buy, we've got one simple question to help narrow down your search: Are you an Apple person? We tested the entire iPad lineup, and though iPads are our preferred tablets in 2026, we also love some of the best tablets from Lenovo, Samsung, and Microsoft. So, whatever your preferences, we've got a tablet to recommend.

It hasn't been the best year for tech prices either. With RAMaggedon, nearly all tech brands have raised prices on their products. Tablets have not been immune, and many of the models on this list were impacted. While we still stand by our picks, no one likes rising prices.

What's new in this guide?

• Amazon dropped three new tablets in October 2026. We're currently testing the new Alexa Tablets and will update this guide once we've vetted them.

• August 2026, we added the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 to this guide as the best tablet for gaming.

• June 2026, we added the Lenovo Yoga Tab as our new favorite Android tablet. The Amazon Fire HD 8 was also added as our favorite Amazon Fire tablet.

• March 2026, we updated this guide to include the iPad Air with M4 chip, replacing the previous Air model. We also added the iPad Pro (M5) as the best iPad for professionals, as well as the OnePlus Pad Go 2 as the best budget Android tablet.

Whether you need a smart speaker, a smart alarm clock, or a hub for all of your smart devices, there's an Echo to help you out. Amazon's list of devices is ever-growing, and we've tested as many as we could to find the best Echo devices for your smart home.

Amazon might have some new competition this year, as Apple announced a collection of smart home products, a new venture for the tech giant. The Apple HomeView is like an Echo Show for Apple enthusiasts, while the HomePod mini 2 acts as an Echo or Echo Dot counterpart.

If you're ready to invest in an Echo, you don't need to buy these devices at full price. They always go on sale during events like Prime Day and Black Friday, so it's worth holding out until the next big sale, which happens to be Black Friday on Nov. 27, 2026.

Echo device price increases

Thanks to the global memory crisis, widespread price increases are plaguing tech. As of August 2026, major price increases came to Amazon devices. This included Kindles and, unfortunately, Echos, too. Here are all of the Echo devices affected:

• Echo Dot — was $49.99, now $79.99 (+$30)

• Echo Dot Max — was $99.99, now $119.99 (+$20)

• Echo Spot — was $79.99, now $109.99 (+$30)

• Echo Show 5 — was $89.99, now $99.99 (+$10)

• Echo Show 8 — was $149.99, now $199.99 (+$50)

• Echo Show 11 — was $219.99, now $249.99 (+$30)

• Echo Show 15 — was $299.99, now $349.99 (+$50)

• Echo Show 21 — was $399.99, now $499.99 (+$100)

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Alexa is a Mashable Readers' Choice Award winner What can an Echo smart speaker do? Trying out the new Echo Spot smart alarm clock. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

All Echo devices utilize Amazon Alexa's AI superpowers — it's just a matter of which form you want your Echo to take. The Echo and Echo Dot are smart speakers that you can use for music, phone calls, calendar reminders, or news alerts. Amazon Echo Show devices, on the other hand, can do all of the aforementioned audio stuff, but they also boast colorful displays for making video calls, streaming entertainment, or managing your day. Think of Echo Shows as stationary, more affordable tablets, essentially.

Most Echo devices are designed to act as smart hubs within your home, but some Echo devices can also be taken on the road. Echo Auto brings hands-free Alexa functionality to the car, while Echo Buds and Echo Frames can travel with you anywhere.

What can Alexa+ do?

Alexa is to Amazon as Siri is to Apple, and is the driving force behind every Echo. But Alexa just got a big upgrade. Now there's Alexa+, an AI-powered version of Alexa introduced to Echo devices in March 2025. For Prime subscribers, Alexa+ will be included in membership, and non-subscribers will have to pay $19.99 per month for the service.

Alexa has an answer to almost anything you ask. Just by shouting out, you can play music, adjust the volume, and set an alarm or timer. And that's just naming a few options. On devices like the Echo Show, you can also ask Alexa to pull up recipes or answer questions that come up while cooking. With Alexa+, the AI agent doesn't just respond to commands but can actually engage in conversation.

Here's a short list of what Alexa+ can do:

• Provide a highlight reel of the day's security footage

• Read stories to kids

• Plan a date night

• Book restaurant reservations

• Control your smart home technology from one central hub

• Access your calendars and set reminders

• Get answers to any question you can think of

• Make phone calls (and video calls with an Echo Show)

• Get the latest weather and news

• Follow recipes

• Shop on Amazon

• Stream music (and video on an Amazon Echo Show)

• Play games

There are more than 100,000 Alexa skills that you can utilize via an Echo device, and Amazon is always adding more.

Alexa gets supercharged when other smart home tech comes into the picture. If you have a smart thermostat or smart light bulbs, as long as they're compatible with the Alexa system, you can create routines through your Echo. That can be as simple as telling Alexa to turn on the lights in one room or programming Alexa to turn the thermostat down before you come home.

At this point, iPads can do (almost) anything your laptop can do thanks to iPadOS 26. Not to mention, the iPad Air with M4 just got a memory boost up to 12GB, putting it a tier above some laptops. Whether you want to stream, browse the internet, illustrate, or edit videos, you can do it on the iPad.

The rapid pace of Apple's update schedule makes shopping for a tablet all the more difficult. Later this month, Apple is expected to announce a new iPad mini. We've tested every available model to help you find the best iPad for you.

2026 iPad price increases

With the global memory crisis, iPad pricing took a hit. Apple raised prices across the board. Here's a breakdown of the price increases.

Which iPad model should I buy?

The right iPad for you depends purely on your needs. Do you want something that has enough storage and speed for streaming? Do you want to use it to read? Do you want to use a tablet as your primary workstation? Your answers should factor into your decision.

To get you started, we believe the best iPad for most people is the M4 iPad Air (2026). It has exceptional performance but is also in the middle range for both price and capability.

1999 was an amazing year for movies, unleashing such truly iconic cinema as The Matrix, The Sixth Sense, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, and 10 Things I Hate About You.

You might scoff at such a comparison. But nearly 30 years since its debut, 10 Things I Hate About You is still regularly referenced online, be it Heath Ledger's wooing dance across stadium risers or Julia Stiles' eponymous final poem. Written by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith, this inventive and modern adaptation of William Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew has had us swooning for decades, and counting.

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If Dancing with the Stars, which Stiles is currently competing on, has got you nostalgic for truly terrific and totally entertaining teen movies, we've got you covered. Whether you want to brush up on your Shakespeare, plunge into more hilarious teen heroines' tales, revel in the star power of Ledger and Stiles, or want to remember the highs and lows of high school, we've got you covered with 10 movies like 10 Things I Hate About You.

SEE ALSO: How to watch '10 Things I Hate About You' for free 1. Romeo + Juliet

It's hard to imagine 10 Things I Hate About You would have been made without the runaway success of this Shakespearean adaptation. In 1996, Baz Luhrmann re-imagined the 1597 play in a modern context, where gun-toting, hot-blooded young men favored Hawaiian shirts, and teen love came with a killer soundtrack featuring songs from Garbage, Everclear, and Des'ree. But he kept the language to the original folios, unlike 10 Things.

Leonardo DiCaprio starred as young lover Romeo Montague, who falls hard for Juliet Capulet (Claire Danes), the daughter of a family he's sworn to loathe. But as their romance heats up, so do the tensions between their kinsmen. Blood will spill on both sides, culminating in one of the most tragic moments in all of literature. But props to Luhrmann, for making his Romeo + Juliet distinct, wild, and timelessly cool.

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, Brian Dennehy, John Leguizamo, Miriam Margolyes, Harold Perrineau, Pete Postlethwaite, Paul Sorvino, and Paul Rudd

How to watch: Romeo + Juliet is now streaming on Disney+.

2. She's the Man

Now this Shakespeare adaptation likely got greenlit because of the love for 10 Things I Hate About You. Based on Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night, She's the Man stars Amanda Bynes as Viola Hastings, who has dreams of getting a soccer scholarship to college. So, when her school's funding cuts the girls' team altogether, Viola masquerades as her twin brother Sebastian. What could go wrong? Well, for starters, her ruse gets complicated as she feelings grow for soccer team captain Duke Orsino (Channing Tatum).

Screenwriters Ewan Leslie, Karen McCullah Lutz, and Kirsten Smith transported Shakespeare's plot-line of mistaken identities and related shenanigans, but ditched the old-school dialogue in favor of more contemporary conversation. Unapologetically silly, this sports comedy offers lots of fun while you brush up on your Shakespeare. But the best bit is Bynes, who throws herself full-bodied into every gag.

Starring: Amanda Bynes, Channing Tatum, Laura Ramsey, Vinnie Jones, and David Cross

How to watch: She's the Man is streaming on YouTube, free with ads, and on Paramount+.

3. Clueless

Based on Jane Austen's Emma, Clueless is another beloved, '90s-set adaptation of classic literature. Alicia Silverstone stars as Cher Horowitz, the Los Angeles equivalent to an eligible, educated, and yet naive young heroine. At her high school, Cher is pretty, popular, and working hard to get straight A's — even if that means matchmaking her teachers. But her main quest is to turn a hapless and unhip new girl named Tai (Brittany Murphy) into a total Betty.

Rather than capture LA teens of the '90s as they were, writer/director Amy Heckerling dreamed up a fantasy world of enviable fashion, a high-tech closet, cool friends, hoppin' house parties, and truly swoon-worthy crushes. The result was a hit movie that proved aspirational and truly iconic. And for some fans, it was a fun introduction to the world of Austen. A true landmark in teen comedies, Clueless is funny, vibrant, and cool.

Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Dan Hedaya, Jeremy Sisto, Breckin Meyer, Twink Caplan, Donald Faison, Wallace Shawn, and Elisa Donovan

How to watch: Clueless is now streaming on Paramount+.

4. Easy A

Another book adaptation turned teen movie, Easy A is a 2010 re-imagining of Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1850 novel The Scarlet Letter. Emma Stone stars as Olive Penderghast, a whip-smart 17-year-old girl who gets slut shamed when a prudish classmate starts rumors about her sex life. Rather than denying the claims, Olive leans in, wearing bustiers to school with a red "A" plastered on them, and accepting gift cards in exchange for letting boys lie about hooking up with her.

Written by Bert V. Royal and directed by Will Gluck, Easy A harkens back to the teen sex comedies of the '80s — but with less problematic sexual politics. Stone is sensational in the lead role of a wise-cracking rebel. Penn Badgley pops up as a love interest in a woodchuck costume. And Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci play parents who are beautiful, funny, and cool in a way that's almost infuriating, because we want to go to there! Hilarious and heartwarming, Easy A is a great choice for a girls night in.

Starring: Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Thomas Haden Church, Patricia Clarkson, Cam Gigandet, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell, Aly Michalka, and Stanley Tucci

How to watch: Easy A is now streaming on Paramount+.

5. Save the Last Dance

If you want more of Julia Stiles dancing, you've got to see this 2001 teen drama, co-starring Sean Patrick Thomas (who yes, came out to support her tribute performance on Dancing With the Stars.)

Stiles stars as 17-year-old Sara Johnson, a white Midwestern girl who has ambitions to study ballet at Julliard. However, the unexpected death of her mother not only derails her dreams as she's hit hard by grief, but also forces her to move in with her estranged father, who lives in the South Side of Chicago. Adjusting to inner city life becomes easier when Sara meets Derek (Thomas), a Black classmate who introduces her to hip hop. Opposites attract and the relationship helps Sara get her groove back in this romance that was a smash hit.

Starring: Julia Stiles, Sean Patrick Thomas, Kerry Washington, Terry Kinney, and Fredro Starr

How to watch: Save the Last Dance is now streaming on Disney+.

6. A Knight's Tale

Want more of Ledger in a romantic role with a happy ending? Then, ye, merry lover, should look to A Knight's Tale. Writer/director Brian Helgeland put the rising star in the role of valiant knight, sort of.

Based on Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th-century anthology The Canterbury Tales, A Knight's Tale follows a destitute thatcher's son named William (Ledger) as he squires for a drunken knight. When his master unexpectedly dies, William takes his place in a tourney, chiefly to feed himself and his fellows (Mark Addy and Alan Tudyk). But soon, pretending to be a knight offers him not only fortune and honor, but also the attention of a beguiling noble lady (Shannyn Sossamon).

Blending a 14th century setting with a modern sensibility — including a gleefully anarchistic soundtrack of pop music — A Knight's Tale is terrifically entertaining. Ledger is brooding, beautiful, and solidly funny as the central underdog. Plus, Addy, Tudyk, and Paul Bettany bring solid laughs as William's closest friends.

Starring: Heath Ledger, Mark Addy, Rufus Sewell, Paul Bettany, Alan Tudyk, Shannyn Sossamon, Laura Fraser, Bérénice Bejo, Scott Handy, and James Purefoy

How to watch: A Knight's Tale is now streaming on Paramount+.

7. Josie and the Pussycats

The similarity between 10 Things I Hate About You and Josie and the Pussycats is basically vibes. Based on the Archie comics by Dan DeCarlo, this 2001 musical-comedy follows the titular band, made up of Josie McCoy (Rachel Leigh Cook), Melody Valentine (Tara Reid), and Valerie Brown (Rosario Dawson), as they go from playing a bowling alley to a televised concert that could change the world forever.

Written and directed by Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan, this comic book adaptation is totally bonkers, weaving in a parody of 2000s youth culture with a critique of capitalism. It utterly bombed at the box office, but has gone on to build a cult following in part because of its daffy and deranged sense of humor and a slamming soundtrack. Alan Cumming and Parker Posey pop up to play fabulous and scheming record execs. And songs from Letters to Cleo singer Kay Hanley will have 10 Things fans rocking out.

Starring: Rachael Leigh Cook, Tara Reid, Rosario Dawson, Alan Cumming, Parker Posey, Gabriel Mann, Paulo Costanzo, and Missi Pyle

How to watch: Josie and the Pussycats is available for rental or purchase on Prime Video.

8. Juno

In 2007, Elliot Page became a breakout star with his iconic turn as the titular pregnant teen. Written by Diablo Cody and directed by Jason Reitman, this coming-of-age comedy follows Juno MacGruff, a teen who's life is thrown into spin when she accidentally gets her eggo preggo by her crush, Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera). With the support of her less-than-pleased parents (Allison Janney, and J. K. Simmons), she meets with aspiring adoptive parents, Vanessa and Mark Loring (Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman). But over nine months, Juno learns a lot about this couple and even more about who she wants to be when she grows up.

Cody won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for Juno, and it's easy to see why. Rather than trying to encapsulate how teenagers in the '00s were using slang, she made up her own, building a unique world that invited all weirdos in warmly. From there, a vibrant color scheme, a terrific soundtrack from Kimya Dawson, and a cast exploding with chaotic charisma make Juno a timeless tale of growing up.

Starring: Elliot Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney, and J. K. Simmons

How to watch: Juno is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

9. The Edge of Seventeen

Named after the Stevie Nicks song, The Edge of Seventeen is a sidesplitting comedy about a 17-year-old girl having a comically rough time. Rocked by the death of her father four years before, Nadine Franklin (Hailee Steinfeld) is a socially awkward misfit who struggles to connect to her image-conscious mom (Kyra Sedgwick) and her popular brother, Darian (Blake Jenner). Plus, she's flailing at getting her crush to notice her. The one person she can depend on is her bestie, Krista (Haley Lu Richardson) — that is, until she catches Krista in bed with Darian.

Feeling betrayed, Nadine has an unhinged (and very funny) crash out, which involves turning to her sardonic teacher (Woody Harrelson) for help. Written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, The Edge of Seventeen is a wonderful movie that masterfully captures the agony and outrageousness of being a teen girl trying to make sense of life, loss, and the real meaning of friendship.

Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, Woody Harrelson, Kyra Sedgwick, Blake Jenner, Woody Harrelson, and Haley Lu Richardson

How to watch: The Edge of Seventeen is now streaming on Prime Video.

10. Heathers

If you want a darker spin on boy-meets-girl-and-then-upends-the-high-school-hierarchy, check out Heathers.

Set at Westerburg High School in Sherwood, Ohio, this 1989 dark comedy centers on Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder), who is a part of the popular clique of Heather Chandler (Kim Walker), Heather Duke (Shannen Doherty), and Heather McNamara (Lisanne Falk). But Veronica is growing to hate the Heathers for their vanity and cruelty. She finds a twin flame in bad boy J.D. (Christian Slater). Soon, trash talk turns into a comical killing spree.

Definitely darker than 10 Things About You, Heathers is rated R for scenes of violence and irreverent humor around homosexuality, sex, and suicide.

Starring: Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk, Kim Walker, and Penelope Milford

How to Watch: Heathers is now playing for free on Tubi.

TL;DR: Get a second opinion on AI answers with this lifetime subscription to Caveat AI Standard Plan, on sale now for $59.99 (reg. $179).

Opens in a new window Credit: Caveat AI Caveat AI Standard Plan: Lifetime Subscription $59.99
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AI can be incredibly helpful — until it confidently gives you a wrong answer. If you’re looking for a tool to give you second opinions on answers from ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and Copilot, it’s time to meet Caveat AI. This browser extension makes it easy to know which answers to rely on, and right now a lifetime subscription to Caveat AI Standard Plan is just $59.99.

If you’re relying on AI to tackle your daily tasks or even answer basic questions, you’ve probably already realized that it often gives wrong answers. Caveat AI sets out to bridge that gap — adding trust and confidence to your AI answers.

It’s not just another AI tool; Caveat AI works as a browser extension and serves as a fact-check layer for your AI conversations. It supports five platforms — ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and Copilot — and can detect mission context, flag caution alerts, and even show you a counter-argument AI didn’t mention.

Caveat AI is built on proprietary tech that taps into AI models, letting you rest easy knowing you can confidently work with AI responses. And since it’s an extension, you can review answers without switching tabs.

This lifetime subscription to the Standard Plan provides 20 critical reviews a month. If you need more, it’s easy to purchase extra.

Lock in this lifetime subscription to Caveat AI Standard Plan, on sale now for $59.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Given that Trump's administration recently placed fresh sanctions on the import of Russian oil and gas, it was something of a surprise when the US itself announced a diesel deal with Russia just weeks later.

Nobody was more baffled than Jon Stewart. Speaking in his Daily Show monologue above, the host digs into the reasons behind the deal using a Russian doll as a visual aid, removing a layer whenever he disagrees with something Energy Secretary Chris Wright says in its defence.

"Why would we motivate a group to sell diesel when we just put sanctions on them for selling diesel?" Stewart asks. "Doing the opposite within a month is insane, it's illogical, it's incoherent."

Stewart finishes with a mock call to Starlink customer service, in an attempt to get to the bottom of why the network recently slowed in Ukraine.

TL;DR: Catch recurring charges faster with this lifetime subscription to PocketWise Subscription Manager, on sale now for just $19 (reg. $59).

Opens in a new window Credit: Mind2Matter PocketWise Private Subscription Tracker: Lifetime Subscription $19
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We’ve all been there — scrolling through a credit card statement only to realize you’ve been paying for a ridiculous subscription for months without knowing it. PocketWise Subscription Manager aims to change that, offering an easier way to track recurring charges in one secure spot.

Right now, you can keep more of your money in your wallet where it belongs and lock in a lifetime subscription to PocketWise Subscription Manager for just $19.

It’s time to take control of your subscriptions once and for all. If you’re tired of accidental charges or double subscriptions, let PocketWise Subscription Manager help you track it all by keeping tabs on every recurring charge on your cards.

Since subscriptions are super easy to start and very tough to remember to cancel, PocketWise reviews your expenses carefully to identify services, memberships, apps, bills, and other recurring charges so you know where your money is going. It also helps you see how much all those small monthly charges add up to and which renewals are coming up next.

Curious how it works? Add your subscriptions in and let PocketWise manage them all. It provides a subscription calendar that lets you see upcoming charges on a convenient timeline, so you don’t have to remember renewal dates. It also shows you the changes in amounts over time.

Unlike the other subscriptions you’re being charged for, PocketWise is a one-time cost, and you can use this tool for life. It keeps your subscription data totally private, with no unnecessary cloud storage of your financial info. It also offers unique tools, like household splitting, if you’re trying to track shared subscription costs among family members or roommates.

This PocketWise lifetime license provides you with unlimited subscription entries. It works on both iOS and Android. Lock in your own lifetime subscription to PocketWise Subscription Manager for just $19 today.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Daily Red is a free, daily Pokémon battle game where everyone gets one chance a day to defeat Red on Mt. Silver. Red's team stays the same, but your lineup is randomly generated every 24 hours — forcing you to win with whatever random squad you're dealt.

If your morning browser routine already includes Wordle or the Mini Crossword, there is a new fan-made puzzle game making the rounds among Pokémon fans. Daily Red takes the most legendary boss encounter in franchise history and reimagines it as a fast-paced, tactical puzzle you can solve in under five minutes.

Instead of spending dozens of hours training a competitive squad, the game puts you right on top of Mt. Silver for a Level 100 showdown against Red. The catch? You do not get to pick your party. Every 24 hours, every player worldwide is handed the exact same randomly generated lineup of six Pokémon. Your job is to figure out how to pilot whatever unusual, bench-warming team you've been dealt to victory.

Is Daily Red an official Pokémon game?

No. Daily Red is an unofficial, free-to-play fan project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo, Game Freak, or The Pokémon Company. It runs entirely in your browser with no microtransactions, ads, or sign-ups required.

How to play Daily Red

Getting started takes zero downloads and no account registration. Here is the step-by-step breakdown:

1. Head to the site — Go to daily-red.com on your mobile device or desktop browser.

2. Inspect your squad — Click to begin your daily match at the peak of Mt. Silver. Once the fight starts, inspect your six assigned Level 100 Pokémon — checking their movesets, abilities, and type coverage — before locking in your first move against Red's lead Pikachu.

3. Outsmart Red — Defeat all six of Red's classic Level 100 Pokémon before he wipes your party out.

4. Share and track — Copy your spoiler-free results grid to share with friends, then return the next day to protect your streak.

Your win streaks and battle stats are saved directly to your browser's local cache. If you want to keep a long streak going, stick to the same device and browser for your daily battles. 

Daily Red relies on the same viral mechanics that made Wordle a massive hit: every player tackles the same daily puzzle, your wins are tracked through an ongoing streak, and you can share a color-coded grid of your results without spoiling the winning moves for others.

Knowing your enemy: Red's fixed team

While your party changes every single night, Red's team remains completely static. Knowing who he brings to the fight lets you plan your strategy before making your first move:

• Pikachu (Level 100 — always his starting lead)

• Espeon (Level 100)

• Snorlax (Level 100)

• Venusaur (Level 100)

• Charizard (Level 100)

• Blastoise (Level 100)

Because Red always leads with Pikachu, your first big tactical decision happens the second the match loads. Check your six assigned Pokémon to see who has the best matchup or immunity against an electric lead, then plan how you'll handle his bulkier threats like Snorlax later in the match.

The daily battle resets every night at midnight in your local time zone. A live countdown timer at the top of the site tracks how much time remains in the current window. Once the clock strikes midnight, everyone receives a brand-new randomized party to take on Red all over again.

SEE ALSO: Pokémon x Beats: Where to buy Pokémon collab that turns the Beats Pill into a Pikachu-themed speaker

Whether you get handed an overpowered legendary or find yourself trying to defeat a Level 100 Snorlax using a Luvdisc, it’s easy to see why Daily Red is blowing up across the Pokémon community right now.

If you have to be discreet about your quest for a hookup, you're probably going to put a lot of weight on a service that can protect your privacy and anonymity.

But in their quest to eliminate bots, spammers, and self-promoters, many modern dating apps have implemented verification technologies that make it harder to remain anonymous while you swipe left and right. That's where AdultFriendFinder and Pure come in. These two dating services, the first a website and the second an app, still allow their users a reasonable amount of anonymity while they search for like-minded singles.

Here's how AFF and Pure compare in their privacy features and the extent to which users can maintain their anonymity while using these services.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder   Learn More Opens in a new window Credit: Pure Pure   Learn More Signup requirements

When it comes to privacy concerns, the signup process is extremely significant, because it's the earliest stage at which a dating app or website can start collecting data from you. If privacy and anonymity are top concerns for you, it stands to reason that the less you have to divulge, the less you have to worry about. 

Both AdultFriendFinder and Pure allow faster sign-ins using either a Google account (AFF) or a Google, Facebook, or Apple account (Pure). If you're really concerned about privacy, the smart play here is to create a separate "burner" email account and use it during the sign-up process. 

For both services, the mandatory minimum data you must provide is very similar and is essential to ensuring your experience caters to your needs: date of birth (age), location, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Of course, any photos you upload or additional information you provide will also be stored on their servers.

SEE ALSO: Is AdultFriendFinder legit? Only if you can follow these 4 rules.

The one big difference between the two services is that, because Pure is an app and because it can access your phone's geolocation features, it can track you in real-time, either while you use the app or while you have it installed, depending on your phone's permission settings. While your exact location will never be disclosed to other Pure users, the app will know it, and other users will have a general idea of your proximity, but neither of these things should impose too much on your anonymity, especially if you live in a metropolitan area. 

Winner: Tie

Photo requirements

The next privacy concern comes from mandatory photo sharing. Both AFF and Pure require you to upload photos to your profile, but neither site forces you to show your face, so users who want to remain anonymous on both sites will often upload shots from the neck down or wear a hat and sunglasses to partially disguise their faces. 

The major difference here is that AFF allows nudity, including full-frontal nudity, while even suggested nudity on Pure can result in a temporary account ban. From a strictly privacy perspective, the less you share, the better, especially because if your anonymity is ever blown, the consequences would be worse if naked photos of you were part of the exposure, but sharing these is optional.

It should also be noted that both AFF and Pure offer optional photo verification, which involves sharing photos of your face, but AFF requires you to upload a government-issued ID, while Pure uses an AI-based verification system to match your photos to a live video of you taken from your phone's front-facing camera. From a privacy perspective, we prefer Pure's setup, but because this process is optional on both services, we're not prepared to give either service the edge in the photo requirements department. 

Winner: Tie

Messaging and communication 

If you're really privacy-minded, good news: Pure automatically deletes all chat communications between you and the person or people you're speaking to within 24 hours, unless both parties to the chat agree to turn off the timer. That same self-destruct feature applies to any media you send as well, so both photos and videos are erased within 24 hours. Additionally, you always have the option to manually Clear History or Leave Chat, both of which will instantly delete your chat history for both you and your speaking partner.

AdultFriendFinder is somewhat more complicated, as it offers both a one-on-one messaging platform like a standard dating site and forums, chat rooms, and live webcam feeds, so your security here is heavily dependent on how you use the site. 

SEE ALSO: 6 AdultFriendFinder features other hookup sites lack

One major difference between the two services is that if you delete your account on AFF, your entire chat history is still stored on the servers and remains visible to the people you were chatting with, whereas Pure deletes the chat history for both parties. Because of this, and its self-destructing messaging, we give the edge to the app. 

Winner: Pure

Premium account security

Privacy concerns heighten anytime you have to pay for something online, as not only are you at risk of being defrauded, but your personal information is often inextricably linked to your payment method. Worse still, both AFF and Pure really require premium accounts to get the most of these services, so you should expect to upgrade from the free account sooner rather than later.

Because Pure exists strictly in app form, however, you can only pay for the upgraded membership through your Google or Apple account, using whatever payment methods (debit or credit card) you have linked to your mobile device account. AdultFriendFinder, on the other hand, offers an expansive list of payment methods, including the usual (debit and credit cards) as well as money orders, gift cards, AirTM, and even SMS billing for UK residents. 

When it comes to protecting your privacy, paying with more anonymous options, such as gift cards, helps create an extra layer between your online activities and your data, compared to using your Google or Apple account. We give AFF the edge in this category.

Winner: AdultFriendFinder

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for people who like the San Francisco 49ers.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, 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 the latest 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: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise 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 before the game ends.

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

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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Get that outta here

• Green: Mountain West

• Blue: 49ers QBs

• Purple: Brodie

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Rejects a Shot

• Green: Mountain West Schools

• Blue: 49ers Career Passing Leaders

• Purple: Associated with Russell Westbrook

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: Sports Edition #757 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Rejects a Shot: BLOCKS, DENIES, STUFFS, SWATS

• Mountain West Schools: HAWAII, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, WYOMING

• 49ers Career Passing Leaders: BRODIE, GARCIA, MONTANA, YOUNG

• Associated with Russell Westbrook: 0, OKLAHOMA CITY, TRIPLE-DOUBLES, UCLA

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections 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.

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.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 20, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 20, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for October 20 Pips

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for October 20 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for October 20 Pips

Greater Than (8): Everything in this space must be greater than 8. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 3-0, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 20, 2026 Close meaning

The finishing point of a period, event or speech.

End meaning

The final part, limit or conclusion of something in time, space or action.

Stop meaning

To finish, cease or pause an activity, movement or operation

Wrap meaning

To cover, fold, or wind paper, cloth or material around an object or person.

Minion meaning

A humble subordinate, servant or follower who obeys the orders of a powerful boss or leader.

Poodle meaning

A person who is too willing to obey someone else's orders or act as a submissive too.

Puppet meaning

Bite-sized pieces of battered and fried chicken or fish.

Stooge meaning

A person who is used, manipulated,or paid by someone else to do an unpleasant, dishonest or secret task

Arial meaning

A popular sans-serif font.

Bell meaning

A hollow, cup-shaped metallic object that makes a ringing sound when struck or triggered.

Dock meaning

A raised platform at a warehouse or industrial building used to load and unload trucks or freight trains.

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

Mini meaning

Something that is very small, short or reduced in size, scope or importance compared to a standard version.

Chevron meaning

A V-shaped or inverted V-shaped figure, pattern or object.

Horseshoe meaning

A U-shaped metal plate, traditionally made of iron or steel.

Pencil meaning

A slender writing or drawing instrument with a solid pigment core.

Walrus meaning

A large marine mammal native to Arctic and subarctic waters.

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

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

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

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're obedient.

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.

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

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.

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

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 October 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: Cease

• Green: Servant

• Blue: Facial hair

• Purple: Animated roles

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

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Finish

• Green: Lackey

• Blue: Mustaches

• Purple: Homophones of Disney characters

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 #1226 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Finish: CLOSE, END, STOP, WRAP

• Lackey: MINION, PODDLE, PUPPET, STOOGE

• Mustaches: CHEVRON, HORESHOE, PENCIL, WALRUS

• Homophones of Disney characters: ARIAL, BELL, DOCK, MINI

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

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

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you like games.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 20, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: 🦆🦆...🪿

The words are related games.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe child's play.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Duck Duck Goose.

NYT Strands word list for October 20

• Walk

• Chase

• Select

• Duck Duck Goose

• Playground

• Circle

• Game

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

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a taker, not a giver.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 20, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

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

To snatch.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter W.

The Wordle answer today is...

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

WREST

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Suspicious.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

FISHY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Braid.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 20, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

WEAVE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Huge home.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 20, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 20, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

VILLA

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Contempt.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SCORN

Final Hurdle hint

Oyster gem.

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

PEARL

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

College athletes already have practice, classes, and games on the calendar. At the University of California, Berkeley, there’s now a place to fit in a Twitch stream, too.

Cal has opened an on-campus production studio where student-athletes across all sports can go live on the school’s StreamU channel. Announced Oct. 12, the space has 10 hours of weekly programming planned, including workouts, teammate challenges, gaming sessions, cooking contests, and campus tours.

The goal is to help athletes turn their personalities and interests into an audience — and potentially new business opportunities.

From the field to the livestream

The studio is the first on-campus facility from StreamU, a college athletics livestreaming network created by NIL platform TheLinkU in partnership with Twitch. UnlimitedIRL built the space, while TheLinkU handles contracts, fund distribution, and reporting for the network.

Athletes have access to professional cameras, lighting, audio, and a video switcher for multi-camera broadcasts. There’s also a PlayStation 5 gaming lounge and portable equipment for streaming around campus.

"Every athlete has a story worth streaming, and the barrier shouldn't be technical," said Taylor Webb, chief of operations at UnlimitedIRL, in the announcement. "We designed the Cal studio so student-athletes can share their story with fans and go live with a professional, multi-camera show. That's the model we're bringing to every StreamU campus."

Why a Twitch audience matters for college athletes

The business opportunity sits within NIL, short for name, image, and likeness. It allows athletes to earn compensation through sponsored posts, endorsements, and promotional appearances, among other activities. The NCAA adopted its interim NIL policy in 2021.

Some athletes have already demonstrated the value of an online following. Livvy Dunne built a huge social media audience while competing for LSU and signed partnerships with brands including Vuori. Basketball players Haley and Hanna Cavinder similarly paired their college careers with social media success, signing a multiyear Under Armour deal in 2024.

"College athletes are content creators," said StreamU chief revenue officer Landon Goesling in the announcement.

For StreamU, that overlap could even bring college rivalries into gaming. "Eventually, what we want to get to is: If Berkeley is getting ready to play UCLA, their starting wide receiver may be streaming against the football player over at UCLA and promoting to all fan bases," Goesling told NBC News.

Regular streams also offer a way to introduce fans to new players. "There’s new kids every year [in college sports]. There’s turnover," he added.

SEE ALSO: Appeals court says Ohio and Tennessee can regulate Kalshi under gambling laws

Cal is the starting point, with studios also planned at the University of Arkansas, Texas A&M University, Baylor University, and the University of Houston, according to the announcement.

That expansion raises a question about where content creation fits alongside athletes' existing commitments. Molly Harry, an assistant professor in the University of Florida’s Department of Sport Management, put it this way to NBC News:

"When does it become an opportunity and something that can be woven into more developmental components of who an athlete is, and when does it become this expectation or an informal norm that you have to be engaged in these spaces?"

Cal isn’t the first school to help athletes get comfortable in front of a camera. Clemson opened its Athletics Branding Institute in 2023, with photo and video studios, an audio suite, and space for media training. LSU's NILSU program offers "Content Days" where athletes learn to create for their social platforms.

Cal's approach puts that support into a regular livestreaming operation, with a dedicated Twitch channel and 10 hours of programming planned each week.

As more schools build out these spaces, it’ll be worth watching who takes the mic: athletes who already wanted to stream, or those who feel they can’t afford to sit it out.

You Can See Everything has made it through its first weekend in theaters, and the internet is giddy.

Since Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s documentary on Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes opened in the U.S. on Oct. 16, viewers have sent it climbing Letterboxd’s rankings, called it one of the best films they’ve ever seen, and even started making the case for a Best Picture Oscar.

The reactions are enthusiastic, to put it mildly. Even our entertainment editor Kristy Puchko called it, "mesmerizing and mind-bending."

SEE ALSO: Does 'You Can See Everything' live up to the hype?

Between the ratings, the posts, and an estimated $15 million opening weekend, here’s how the film is turning weeks of anticipation into an even bigger conversation.

Letterboxd ratings put it among the platform’s favorites

As of today (Oct. 19), You Can See Everything has reached a 4.71-out-of-five average on Letterboxd, overtaking the 1962 Japanese film Harakiri to become the platform’s highest-rated film.

Reception is similarly strong on Rotten Tomatoes, where the film holds a 98 percent critics' score from 126 reviews and a matching 98 percent verified audience score as of Oct. 19. And to complete the "ratings trilogy," its IMDb score reached 9.4 out of 10, making it the highest-scored movie in IMDb history.

But the written reviews give a more colorful picture of what’s driving that response.

"My mouth was agape for basically the entire last two hours," wrote one reviewer. Another added, "I genuinely don’t think I have ever had more fun watching a movie." As one reviewer wrote, "this is one of the most important works of art of the 21st century. I want more people to watch this than I want them to watch anything right now."

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Over on Threads, the recommendations are just as emphatic. "Holy shit 'You Can See Everything' is one of the best films I’ve seen in so long," one user wrote. "my mind is blown and left speechless," said another. And on X, one user wrote: "You Can See Everything is kind of like if a movie was the best movie of all time. A complete 3 hour electric factory, I was not bored for a moment. Entirely riveting storytelling."

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The three-hour runtime has also become part of the conversation. One Threads user described wondering whether they would stay focused for almost three hours, only to find that "the film becomes more riveting with every passing hour." Another X user praised the theater experience: "We were all locked tf in on it. And it’s 3 frickin hours long." One Threads user added, "the audience reacting the same way in the same moments made it that much better."

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Discussion isn’t all praise, of course. On Letterboxd, the 1/2-or-1-star reviewers found it "tedious and evil," "boring and painfully long," and a "mumbo jumbo, word salad, waste of time movie."

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The attention has also come with substantial ticket sales. You Can See Everything opened to an estimated $15 million from 855 theaters, according to Rotten Tomatoes' weekend box-office report. Excluding concert films, that makes it the second-biggest domestic documentary opening behind Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 in 2004.

With numbers and reviews like that, it makes sense You Can See Everything is getting some Oscar buzz. "It was a masterclass in film and SHOULD win best picture (not documentary)," one threads user wrote. "Not only should this be nominated for Best Picture, it should probably win," wrote a user on X. Awards site Next Best Picture ranks You Can See Everything No. 10 in its team’s Best Picture predictions, with seven of its 17 contributors predicting a nomination and one predicting a win.

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There's no rule stopping this from happening, necessarily. There is, however, a considerable historical hurdle: No documentary has ever been nominated for Best Picture. In The Playlist, awards writer Gregory Ellwood argues that enthusiasm alone may not overcome some voters' attitudes toward the format. "As with animated films, they believe those genres should be recognized in those categories," he writes.

The Oscar speculation has reached prediction markets, too. As of Oct. 19, Kalshi put You Can See Everything at an implied 18 percent chance of winning Best Picture and 76 percent for Best Documentary Feature.

SEE ALSO: Elizabeth Holmes prison sentence: When she might be released, latest case developments

We’ll have to wait to see whether Academy voters are as impressed as everyone on your feed. In the meantime, there’s already plenty to discuss — and almost three hours of movie to catch up on.

You Can See Everything is now playing in U.S. theaters.