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SAVE $70: As of July 1, the Roku 50-inch Smart TV is on sale for $229.99 at Amazon. That's a 23% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku 50-inch Smart TV $229.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $70   Get Deal

If you missed out on last week's Prime Day, all is not lost. There are still a number of live discounts. If you've been looking to upgrade to a new TV, the Roku 50-inch Smart TV is still on saler for $70 off the list price.

It combines impressive picture quality with an easy-to-use smart TV experience, so it's easy to dive straight into your latest binge-watch or comfort movie. Its 4K resolution, QLED display, and HDR10 support deliver bright, vibrant colors and the Roku Smart Picture automatically optimizes picture settings based on what you're watching.

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Unsurprisingly, it runs on the Roku OS, so you'll have quick access to all the major streaming platforms, plus a range of apps and free TV channels. You can even customize the home screen so that your most used apps are easiest to launch.

Not to mention, it has a whole host of smart features like voice control through Roku Voice, Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, as well as Apple AirPlay for sharing content from compatible Apple devices. The voice remote even comes with a lost remote finder.

Get this Roku TV deal at Amazon.

SAVE $50: As of July 1, the Bose Soundlink Flex is on sale for $99 at Amazon. That's a $50 discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Soundlink Flex $99 at Amazon
$149 Save $50   Get Deal

The Bose SoundLink Flex is on sale at Amazon. This Bose speaker is down to $99 for a limited time, saving you $50 on list price. There are several colors to choose from, including sandstone, black, blue dust, and more.

It uses PositionIQ technology to automatically adjust the sound based on how the speaker is placed, whether it's standing upright, lying flat, or hanging from a hook. You can even create a bigger sound by pairing additional Bose devices through Stereo or Party Mode.

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It's robust too, and built for taking with you on the go thanks to its IP67 rating for water and dust resistance. It even has a durable silicone-wrapped body, so it's designed to withstand drops and rust.

This Bose deal is available at Amazon right now.

SAVE $300: As of July 1, the Anker Solix F3800 portable power station is available for $1,699.99 at Amazon. That's down from $1,999.99 — a 15% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker SOLIX F3800 Portable Power Station $1,699.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $300   Get Deal

The Anker Solix F3800 is meant for running household gear, not just keeping a few small devices alive. It has enough output to handle larger appliances and enough battery capacity to keep essential home systems running longer when you need them.

And while the current $1,699.99 price is about $100 higher than its Prime Day-exclusive low, it’s still sitting near the lowest pricing we’ve seen for this model since launch,. That makes this an interesting deal for anyone who’s been waiting on a large-capacity power setup for the summer.

Featured Video For You Portable power stations explained

The Anker Solix F3800 is also designed to scale if your power needs get bigger. You can add extra battery packs to increase the total capacity, giving you more runtime for longer outages or heavier-use setups. The unit can also directly support EV charging and RV connections without needing extra accessories.

Anker says the system uses LFP batteries, lasting longer and holding up better over years of regular use compared with many standard battery systems. There’s also app support over WiFi or Bluetooth, so you can check battery levels, track power usage, and adjust settings remotely instead of walking over to the unit every time.

Grab the Anker Solix F3800 at Amazon.

Vacuums aren't designed to be stored out of reach anymore. If you want to take full advantage of the most convenient modern feature — a self-emptying charging dock — your vacuum kind of has to be stored out in the open, not shoved in a closet. In a sea of gray and black cordless stick vacuums that scream "I'm made of plastic," the Shark Luxe Home Collection brings you one of Shark's top cordless stick vacuums in four chic earth tones that will actually match your home decor.

I'm not sure how it took until 2026 for stick vacuums to get cute, but as a member of the cliché Green Velvet Couch Club, I needed the sage green Shark PowerDetect Speed vacuum in my space immediately. Here's how my first week with it has gone.

The Luxe Collection PowerDetect Speed comes in walnut, oatstone, sagewood, and harbor slate. Credit: Shark The Luxe models have a metallic sheen that doesn't look plasticky. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable What's special about the Shark PowerDetect Speed?

The Shark PowerDetect Speed is a sleeker, lighter version of the original Shark PowerDetect cordless vacuum that I had crowned the best stick vacuum for carpet and rugs since 2024. Weighing around seven pounds, the PowerDetect Speed weighs about a pound less than the original and has a more compact self-empty charging dock.

The sagewood colorway high-key matches my living room rug. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Sansa pestering a dried bouquet — demonstrating why I need to vacuum every day. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Shark's Dirt Detect and Floor Detect technologies sense the debris level and floor type at hand, automatically adjusting suction power and brush roll speed for the most streamlined clean. (You can also manually switch between Eco, Detect, and Boost modes using the button and screen.) The PowerDetect Speed cleans with full power going forward or in reverse.

The PowerDetect Speed's pricing is special in itself. The 2024 PowerDetect Clean & Empty was already generously priced at $549.99, and Shark knocked off $50 for those who wanted to downsize a bit with the Speed model — $499.99 is an incredible value for such a mighty stick vacuum that also empties itself. I wouldn't have been shocked if Shark was charging a tiny bit more for the stylish shades and premium finishes, but nope — the Shark PowerDetect Speed Luxe Collection costs the exact same $499.99. You really can't go wrong.

Shark PowerDetect Speed on carpet: Vigorous with visible proof

As expected after using the original PowerDetect vacuum, the PowerDetect Speed sucks the life out of the three main rugs in my apartment. It's one of those vacuums that feels like it's truly digging past the surface — like you can feel the cyclonic oomph as you guide it across the floor. Stick vacuums this powerful do require a little bit of muscle to push and pull, but I haven't experienced the PowerDetect Speed being so sucky that it jams like the new Dyson V16 Piston Animal.

The first test was my tufted living room rug. With the never-been-used dustbin, I did a single lap of back-and-forth sweeping around the 9 x 12-foot area. The PowerDetect Speed put in some serious work in that two-minute window.

Before vacuuming... Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable ...after one pass on my living room rug Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The rug pattern makes it hard to see how thick the layer of cat hair really is, and it's generally harder to tell how well a vacuum is working on a rug or carpet than on hard floors. So it was equally satisfying and sickening to see how much fluff the PowerDetect managed to pull out when the rug truly didn't look furry to the naked eye.

This tangible proof is exactly why I love the transparent dust bin and self-emptying dock combo. When a vacuum automatically empties its dustbin every time it hangs up to charge, you start each new cleaning session with a clear bin. Whatever the size of the dust bunny in the bin when you're done, you know for a fact that it came from the most recent room.

SEE ALSO: These are the top 4 robot vacuums for carpet after passing the cat hair test on my rugs

The Shark PowerDetect Speed's self-empty cycle lasts for less than 30 seconds. The whoosh alternates a few times between a deeper roar and a higher-pitched hiss, but none of it is any louder than other self-emptying vacuums I've tested. Shark says that the dock bin should last at least 45 days before you have to manually empty it.

The patterned Ruggable rug in my kitchen is also really good at camouflaging crumbs, often even when the vacuum's headlight is shining. The PowerDetect Speed's debris sensor really comes in handy. The ring around the edge of the screen switches from white to purple when heavy debris is encountered, so I know to make a few extra passes over those spots until the light goes back to white.

Shark PowerDetect Speed on hard floors/hardwood and tile

The first thing I noticed when vacuuming my hardwood floor with the PowerDetect Speed was the headlight. When a hard floor is sensed, the light automatically switches from the classic bright white LED to a deep blue. And that deep blue is much better at illuminating dust and debris in its path than the constant white light on the older PowerDetect model.

The purple ring always lights up near the Litter-Robot. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The hinged wand makes it easy to sweep under my bed. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Dyson's green laser is still elite in my book, especially when it comes to lighting up hair. I also prefer the full microfiber roller of Dyson's Fluffy Optic cleaning head for sweeping up microscopic dust and dander off of hard floors.

But that's just me splitting hairs — the PowerDetect Speed is still really effective on hardwood and tile. The automatic boost in suction power is audible when gliding over the litter tracking zone near the Litter-Robot or crumbs in the kitchen, including giant pieces of pita crackers that were stepped on. My cat, Sansa, refuses to leave this one vase of dried flowers alone, continuously making a mess of leaves and crunchy petals on the credenza top. I just push them on the floor, and the PowerDetect Speed grabs 'em in two seconds.

Left: The Shark PowerDetect Speed's debris illumination is decent. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Right: The Dyson V16 Piston Animal's debris illumination is better. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

I've gotten so much use out of the PowerDetect Speed's hinged wand. Rather than getting down on the floor to make the vacuum parallel to the floor, there's a button on the side that allows the wand to bend for easy cleaning under furniture.

I can't really see what's being swept up under there when I do this — all I know is that the suction power sensor went wild the first time I cleaned under my bed and the TV stand.

SEE ALSO: I found the best robot vacuums for every floor, budget, and level of laziness Considerations: The one annoying design flaw isn't a dealbreaker

Any cordless Shark vacuum that charges upright on a dock has a tendency to lock into its standing position during vacuuming. The rest of the internet and I were annoyed when that happened with the old 2024 PowerDetect model, and it's unfortunately still the case with the 2026 model.

In my regular back-and-forth vacuuming motion, if I pull the PowerDetect Speed backward even before it passes my leg, it clicks into the L shape. Sometimes, I don't even realize the cleaning head isn't touching the floor for a minute. Surely there should be an easy way to lock the ability to lock when the vacuum is in use.

Shark's furniture and fur attachment isn't motorized like Dyson's. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable This happens multiple times during every single cleaning session. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The PowerDetect Speed comes with two handheld attachments: a long crevice tool and a bristled device for furniture. The furniture tool has worked pretty well on the velvet couch so far. It's not as thorough on thick layers of cat hair on the pet tree as Dyson's anti-tangle screw tool, which has a mini motor that I swear is powerful enough to clean a whole rug.

I'm always initially shocked that Shark doesn't include its motorized pet tool in the box as Dyson does, but then I remember that Shark's tool is literally less than $40. Add that to the $499.99 PowerDetect Speed cost, and you're still looking at a cheaper setup than most Dyson vacuums — and none of those come with self-empty docks yet.

Shark PowerDetect Speed — Luxe Collection $399.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $100   Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at SharkNinja

TL;DR: Live stream Belgium vs. Senegal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage was frustrating for Belgium — at first, anyway. They drew against Egypt and Iran before thrashing New Zealand 5-1.

Now Belgium face Senegal in the Round of 32. Senegal had a similarly frustrating run of group games, taking losses against France and Norway before also scoring five goals in their final group match. That was a convincing win over Iraq.

If you want to watch Belgium vs. Senegal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Belgium vs. Senegal?

Belgium vs. Senegal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on July 1. This fixture takes place at Seattle Stadium.

How to watch Belgium vs. Senegal for free

Belgium vs. Senegal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

1. ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Belgium vs. Senegal for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Belgium vs. Senegal for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Belgium vs. Senegal (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Belgium vs. Senegal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

The simple truth about Prime Video's Legally Blonde prequel series Elle is that it shouldn't exist in the first place. It's an IP grab of the highest degree: a prequel to a beloved movie that really doesn't need one.

SEE ALSO: 2026 Summer TV preview: Every TV show you need to know about now

In Legally Blonde, Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) proves herself as a Harvard Law student without sacrificing an ounce of her bubbly pink femininity. To get to that point, she has to push beyond her cushy Los Angeles comfort zone and brave an unfamiliar environment. That she does this is the defining element of her story. What came before was simply the status quo the movie is so eager to break from.

Now, Elle posits, Elle (Lexi Minetree) actually went through a similar fish-out-of-water experience in her high school years. That repetition winds up cheapening the value of Elle's decision to attend and eventually thrive at Harvard Law, meaning this prequel winds up clashing with its source material instead of complementing it. That's a shame, because there's a lot of bubbly teen drama fun to be had in Elle, if you can only get past the forced Legally Blonde connection.

What's Elle about? Lexi Minetree and Zac Looker in "Elle." Credit: Jessica Brooks / Prime

If Harvard Law is the last place people would expect to find a pink-loving, fashion-idolizing person like Elle Woods, then Elle drops her in the second to last place you'd expect to find her: Seattle, circa 1995. Grungy and perpetually rain-soaked, Seattle is the Woods' new home after Elle's plastic surgeon father, Wyatt (Tom Everett Scott), botched up a high-profile nose job.

A new home means a new school, and Elle has quite a bit of fun stranding its cheery lead in a sea of flannel. One scene riffs nicely on the high school cafeteria clique trope, with everyone from nerds to popular kids sporting the school's unofficial plaid uniform.

SEE ALSO: 'Elle' teaser: Who was Elle Woods before 'Legally Blonde'? Elle treads too-familiar ground. Lexi Minetree in "Elle." Credit: Jessica Brooks / Prime

From here, Elle spins a familiar story of Elle Woods trying to fit in while still standing out, which we've already seen executed to the best of its abilities in Legally Blonde. It doesn't help that Elle is hell-bent on reminding us of the original film. (Every episode is named after a classic Elle Woods quote.) At one point, Elle tells her new teacher that she wasn't aware of the school's summer reading list, an echo of her failure to do the required reading for her first day at Harvard Law. At another, she shows up to a party in a wildly different outfit than everyone else, recalling Legally Blonde's infamous Playboy Bunny incident. Instead of these being cute tributes, they cause confusion. If Elle has faced these kinds of problems before, why hasn't she grown and learned from them by the time Legally Blonde rolls around?

There are still some bright spots in Elle. Minetree, for one, is stellar. She manages to embody the effervescence of Witherspoon's original turn without simply aping her mannerisms, which helps make this younger version of Elle her own. Elsewhere, Elle's burgeoning friendships with ultra-cool loner Liz (Gabrielle Policano) and fellow fashion enthusiast Shannon (Danielle Chand) offer genuinely sweet moments of bonding. And while a love triangle between Elle, boy-next-door Miles (Jacob Moskovitz), and impassioned activist Dustin (Zac Looker) is predictable, it's not without its fair share of squee-inducing teen romance. (Of course, it's all for nothing given that we already know who Elle marries, and it's neither of these guys!)

Elle's relationship with her mother, Eva (June Diane Raphael), is another highlight, as Elle dives into how Eva feels as penned-in by the Seattle move as her daughter. Do the pair fight to escape their new lives, or embrace the change? The ways in which Eva and Elle overlap or differ here wind up creating some of Elle's most emotionally resonant beats.

These story threads of friendship, romance, and parental connection are foundational building blocks of any good teen drama, and Elle pulls off them off solidly without needing the Legally Blonde connection to resonate. In fact, I felt myself enjoying the show more whenever it wasn't referencing the original movie and was just letting Elle exist as her own person, not the predecessor to a now-iconic character. (Her parents and L.A. friends keep telling her that she's Elle freaking Woods, but these pep talks feel less rooted in the show and more like reminders of Elle's legend status within pop culture.)

With that in mind, it's tough not to imagine what Elle could have been were it not tied to preexisting IP. Maybe we could have had the beginnings of our next fun high school series, complete with an exciting new heroine for viewers to obsess over. (And, you know, a love triangle with actual endgame stakes.) Instead, we're stuck with an uneven mix of great performances, solid high school dynamics, and too many shoehorned Legally Blonde references for the show's own good. Try not to think of it as a Legally Blonde companion piece, though, and you might actually have a lovely time.

Elle is now streaming on Prime Video.

SAVE 50 CENTS PER GALLON: Amazon Prime members can save 50 cents per gallon at BP, Amoco, and participating ampm and Thorntons gas stations. Here’s how to claim your fuel discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime / Earnify Save 50 cents per gallon at select gas stations   Learn More

If you're an Amazon Prime member, the perks don't end just because Prime Day is dead and gone. The party continues this 4th of July weekend with fuel savings.

From July 2-5, Prime members can save 50 cents per gallon at over 7,500 participating BP, Amoco, ampm, and Thorntons gas stations across the country. The discount is only valid on one purchase throughout the weekend, so choose wisely which car you want to fuel up.

Credit: Amazon

So, how do you lock in the savings? Well, obviously you'll need a Prime membership (if you're not already a member, sign up here). Next you'll need an Earnify account (don't worry it's free to create). You must link your accounts through the activation landing page, which will give Earnify your Prime membership status, name, and email in order to redeem the offer. While not required, the Earnify app can help you locate participating gas stations nearby as well.

Even better, once your accounts are linked, not only will you save 50 cents per gallon this weekend on gas, but you'll continue to save 10 cents per gallon at participating stations throughout the year. It may not be the most exciting task on your 4th of July to-do list, but it's certainly one that will pay off when your Monday commute rolls around.

Restaurant chains across the country are celebrating America's 250th birthday with July 4 food deals, discounts, and freebies. These are a few of our favorite things.

If you don't want to tend to the grill or babysit the barbecue all day during 4th of July weekend, we've rounded up plenty of spots you can score some food specials. The usual suspects like Burger King, Krispy Kreme, and Firehouse Subs are on the list, along with some wildcards like Fazoli's, Jack in the Box, and Jason's Deli. In other words, there's a deal or a freebie for whatever you're craving.

Arby's

Arby's is offering $1.99 sliders in restaurants, online, and in the app for a limited time. Slider options include Roast Beef, Buffalo Chicken, Chicken, and Ham.

Burger King

Burger King Royal Perks members can get a Whopper Jr. for just $2.50 on July 4 only — exclusively in the BK App or on BK.com.

The burger chain is also offering limited-edition Firecracker Cookie Pies while supplies last.

Carl's Jr.

From July 3-5, Carl's Jr rewards members can get a Double Cheeseburger for just $2.50 in the Carl's Jr. app, at Carlsjr.com, or by scanning the QR code in stores.

Checkers & Rally’s

Checkers and Rally's are offering an All-American $2.50 Duo on July 4 only, which includes an All-American Hamburger with pickles, ketchup, and mustard plus a warm apple pie.

Fazoli's

Purchase any Family Meal at Fazoli's from July 3-7 and get a free Whole Pizza using the code FIREWORKS26.

Firehouse Subs

From June 29 through July 4, customers who purchase a small or medium sub can get a second for just $2.50. Note that the offer excludes Steak & Cheese Melts and Smokehouse Beef & Cheddar Brisket subs.

Hardee's

Hardee's rewards members can score a free Star-Spangled Biscuit in the Hardee's app from July 3-5.

The Greene Turtle

Select Greene Turtle locations will have $2.50 domestic pints available on July 4 only. The offer is available for dine-in customers who purchase an entrée or handheld.

Jack in the Box

Jack in the Box is offering its Jack Pack Rewards members a free fry (any size/shape) with any in-app purchase of $1 or more from July 3-5.

Jason’s Deli

Jason's Deli is offering its Deli Dollars Rewards members a free slice with any purchase from July 1-5. Plus, the chain has a limited-time Red, White, and Blueberry Cake available.

Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme customers who rock the country's colors in stores on July 4 get a free Original Glazed donut (one per guest). Plus, customers can score an Original Glazed dozen for only $2.50 with the purchase of any dozen or 16-count Minis at regular price from July 2-5.

Krystal

Get a free Bomb Pop on July 4 with any in-store purchase at Krystal while supplies last. The fast-food chain is also offering rotating daily deals for members of its Club Krystal loyalty program in the Krystal app all summer long.

Logan's Roadhouse

Logan's Roadhouse is offering $25 digital gift cards for only $17.76 exclusively online from July 3-5. You can also grab a limited-time Red, White, and Blue Cake in stores and get complimentary Red, White, and Blue Butter served with the signature rolls when you dine in.

Sonic

Sonic has a limited-time $2.50 menu through July 12 that includes an All-American 6-inch Hot Dog, medium Onion Rings, Jr. Double Cheeseburger, and Red, White, and Blue Slush Float. The discount applies automatically online, in the app, or at the restaurant itself.

TGI Fridays

On July 4 only, TGI Fridays customers can get a free dessert with the purchase of any entrée.

TL;DR: All fixtures of the 2026 Nations Championship are available to watch for free on ITVX. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

This is shaping up to be a special year for sport.

The schedule has been ridiculously busy this year. We've hardly had time to breathe between the Winter Olympics, T20 World Cup, and World Cup, and now the world of rugby has dropped a totally new competition to grab its share of the spotlight.

The Nations Championship is changing the game. This fresh tournament promises to deliver six rounds of elite matchups between top international sides followed by a blockbuster Finals Weekend. It feels like the Rugby World Cup without the filler.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Nations Championship from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the Nations Championship?

The 2026 Nations Championship is an international rugby union competition featuring 12 men's teams. The teams are divided into two pools of six (Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere). Over two international windows, each team plays all the teams in the opposite pool once. Every team plays three games at home and three away.

After six rounds, a finals series will be contested over three days with each team matched against the same ranked team in the other pool to decide final placements.

When is the 2026 Nations Championship?

The 2026 Nations Championship is the first edition of this competition. This year's tournament runs from the first round of fixtures on July 4 to the final on Nov. 29. The first round of fixtures is as follows:

• New Zealand vs. France — 3:10 a.m. ET on July 4

• Japan vs. Italy — 4:40 a.m. ET on July 4

• Australia vs. Ireland — 6:10 a.m. ET on July 4

• Fiji vs. Wales — 9:10 a.m. ET on July 4

• South Africa vs. England — 11:10 a.m. ET on July 4

• Argentina vs. Scotland — 3:10 p.m. ET on July 4

How to watch the 2026 Nations Championship for free

The 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Nations Championship without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream multiple weekends before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate until that offer comes back into play. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: 1min.AI gives you lifetime access to AI models like GPT, Gemini, and Claude, and it’s only $70 for life through the end of the day today.

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription $69.97
$540 Save $470.03   Get Deal

Paying separate monthly fees for ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro, and Gemini Advanced runs about $60 a month, and that’s basically just for generating text and basic images. 1min.AI bundles dozens of major AI models into one platform that you only have to pay for once. During Deal Days, a lifetime subscription is only $69.97 (reg. $540).

1min.AI gives you access to a wide range of AI models so you’re not locked into one tool’s strengths or blind spots. On the writing side, you’ll get access to AI for blog generation, keyword research, rewriting, summarizing, paraphrasing, grammar checking, and social media comment generation across LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

Image tools go well beyond a basic generator, with editing and manipulation capabilities that cover tasks even a professional designer would reach for a separate app to do. Audio handles voice, music, and translation work. Video covers both creation and editing, including tools specifically for YouTube content. Documents can be chatted with, translated, or turned into presentations without leaving the platform.

This plan includes 4,000,000 credits per month, plus the option to earn up to 450,000 additional credits each month for free by logging in daily, leaving reviews, or referring people. That works out to roughly 1.1 million words generated, around 1,186 images, and 37 videos per month, with team sharing for up to 20 members.

Stop paying a different subscription for every AI model you use. Through July 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get a 1min.AI lifetime subscription on sale for $69.97.

Remember to browse the rest of the Deal Days catalog.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a lifetime Microsoft Office Professional 2021 license for $29.97 (reg. $219.99) through July 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $29.97
$219.99 Save $190.02   Get Deal

This is your last chance to ditch Microsoft 365’s subscription fees for good. Until tonight at 11:59 p.m., you can grab a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 for much less than its usual retail price. This is part of our extended Deal Days event. Simply pay once, download the full software suite, and never worry about renewals again.

We know what you’re thinking, but rest assured, this isn’t some stripped-down lite version either. It’s the real deal. Whether you’re writing reports, crunching numbers, building presentations, managing emails, or wrangling databases, the lifetime version of Microsoft Office has you covered.

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It’s a one-time download for one Windows PC, so once it’s yours, it’s yours. The full pro-level toolkit, minus the stress of a subscription. Plus, with instant license delivery and free customer support, getting started is as painless as your new spreadsheet workflow.

No more “trial expired” pop-ups. No more surprise charges. Just the latest versions of Microsoft’s best apps, ready to support all of your work and personal needs.

Download Microsoft Office for Windows while it’s on sale for $29.97 until July 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT (reg. $219.99). No coupon is needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a near-mint Apple MacBook Pro (2020) with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD for $394.97 (reg. $1,799).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Macbook Pro 2020 (Refurbished) $394.97
$1,799 Save $1,404.03   Get Deal

Could your laptop use an upgrade? If you’re tired of limping along an old device, let this deal be your sign to treat yourself to a new (to you) MacBook Pro. This sleek model offers impressive power and performance, and right now you can grab it for only $394.97 — over $1,400 off the usual price — until July 1.

There’s a reason MacBook Pros have amassed such a cult following. Apple‘s most powerful and portable device lets you tackle your workload from anywhere without slowing down. This particular model offers a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor with a 2GHz base speed and Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz, so it can keep up with your daily multitasking and heavy-duty tasks, too.

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This model offers some awesome Apple features, like a Magic Keyboard with Touch Bar, which provides comfortable typing and easy access to shortcuts. You’ll also have boosted security with Touch ID, so you can log in with just your finger.

Four Thunderbolt 3 ports offer plenty of connectivity options. And speaking of connecting, you can get through a full workday without needing to find an electrical outlet, thanks to the 10 hours of battery life on a single charge.

You’re saving big thanks to this model’s Grade A refurbished rating. That means it will arrive in near-mint condition, with minimal to zero scuffing, while you enjoy the deep discount.

Get this MacBook Pro for just $394.97 (reg. $1,799) until July 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT, while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box is on sale for $19.17 at Amazon, down from its $34.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box $19.17 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $15.82 Get Deal

Magic: The Gathering can be a lot to take in if you’re just starting out, but the Avatar: The Last Airbender Beginner Box is built to make that first step much easier. What makes said box even better right now is that Amazon has dropped it under $20.

As of July 1, the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box is on sale for $19.17 at Amazon. That's 45% off its $34.99 list price, saving you $15.82 on this starter-friendly two-player box. 

That price puts Amazon well below TCGplayer’s current market price of $25.64. By comparison, the lowest TCGplayer listing is $25.80 with shipping included, which means Amazon is now more than $6 cheaper than both the market value and the lowest available listing on the dedicated trading card marketplace. 

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The Beginner Box is designed for two players — starting with a guided Aang versus Zuko match using two 20-card tutorial decks. Each deck comes with a step-by-step guide, so you can learn Magic’s basic flow without needing to build your own deck first. 

Once that first game is done, the box opens up into eight more 20-card Avatar-themed half-decks. These cover Firebending, Earthbending, Waterbending, Allies, Big Creatures, Counters, Spells, and Attacking. Combine any two, and you’ll have a 40-card deck ready for another casual match.

You also get two playboards, two Spindown life counters, five double-sided tokens, two learn-to-play guides, and a rules reference booklet, so there’s enough here to sit down and start playing without buying anything else first.

You can also grab the 30-pack Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box for only $125.95. As for what’s coming soon, you can pre-order the 30-pack Reality Fracture Play Booster Box for $154.99.

TL;DR: The Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 gaming monitor is on sale for $399.99 at Amazon, down from its $599.99 list price. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 27-Inch Odyssey OLED G6 (G61SH) Gaming Monitor $399.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $200 Get Deal

OLED gaming monitors are among the priciest peripheral upgrades you can buy, but you can save $200 on a top-level Samsung model right now.

As of July 1, the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 gaming monitor is on sale for $399.99 at Amazon. That's 33% off the $599.99 list price of this QD-OLED display. 

This is the 240Hz Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 G61SH model, with a 27-inch QHD screen, 2560x1440 resolution, and a rapid 0.03ms response time. In layman’s terms, I’d recommend this as a fantastic OLED boost for PC players who understandably want fast-moving visuals without paying more for the 360Hz version. 

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For competitive games like Fortnite, League of Legends, or even a round of Fall Guys, the 240Hz refresh rate gives you much smoother motion than a standard 60Hz or 144Hz display, while AMD FreeSync Premium helps keep the monitor and GPU in sync to reduce screen tearing, lag, and choppy-looking action. 

As for the Odyssey G6’s OLED panel, the QD-OLED display is built for high brightness and a wide colour range, with HDR10 support adding brighter highlights and more detailed shadows. It’s also Pantone Validated, with support for over 2,100 colours and more than 110 skin tone shades — making all manner of visuals pop when you’re playing cinematic adventure games like Pragmata or the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced.

For those who are worried about potential drawbacks of OLED, Samsung has even included OLED Safeguard tech, which uses a thermal modulation system to help reduce the risk of burn-in. 

If you’re shopping for other brands, LG’s Ultragear QHD monitor is on sale at $300 off. For another option from Samsung, the 27-inch G5 monitor is now $100 off.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Scarlet and Violet Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box is on sale for $182.55 at Amazon, down from its $191.13 market price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Scarlet and Violet Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box $182.55 at Amazon
  Get Deal

Prismatic Evolutions has remained one of the Pokémon TCG’s most stubbornly expensive Scarlet and Violet expansions, thanks in no small part to its Eevee-heavy lineup and continued demand from collectors since its launch in January 2025. However, Amazon has now dropped the Elite Trainer Box to under its market price. 

As of July 1, the Pokémon TCG Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box from the Scarlet and Violet set is available at Amazon for $182.55. Compared to TCGplayer’s current $191.13 market price, that saves you $8.58 on the sealed nine-pack collector box. 

Walmart is the cheapest of all, now only $174.88. That's $55.07 off its original $229.95 list price. 

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Inside the Pokémon TCG’s Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box, you’ll get nine titular booster packs from the Scarlet and Violet expansion, one full-art foil promo card featuring Eevee, 65 card sleeves featuring Eevee as a Stellar Tera Pokémon, 45 Energy cards, a player’s guide, six damage-counter dice, one competition-legal coin-flip die, two plastic condition markers, a collector’s box with four dividers, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card. 

Since launching early last year, Prismatic Evolution has become one of the most expensive and sought-after expansions both in the modern Pokémon TCG and wider trading card market. A large reason for this is its incredibly valuable Eeveelution chase cards that are now worth up to $1,500 (available to buy separately on TCGplayer) — including Umbreon ex, SIR Sylveon ex, SIR Leafeon ex, SIR Espeon ex, SIR Glaceon ex, SIR Flareon ex, SIR Jolteon ex, and SIR Eevee ex. 

You can now buy the Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box for under $90 on Amazon. You can also grab the six-pack Chaos Rising Booster Bundle for just over $50. 

SAVE OVER $250: As of July 1, the De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus espresso machine is on sale for its lowest-ever price of $249 at Amazon. That's $250.95 off its full price of $499.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: De'Longhi De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus Espresso Machine $249 at Amazon
$499.95 Save $250.95   Get Deal

If the rising summer sun has you getting up earlier these days, a tasty cup of espresso can help boost your energy. If you've been thinking about buying a machine to handle that, the good news is Amazon still has some solid discounts available on select models post-Prime Day.

The De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus espresso machine is down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon, so there's no better time to grab it.

As of July 1, the De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus is down from $499.95 to $249. You'll want to be quick — it currently has a limited time deal tag, so this excellent offer may not be around much longer.

SEE ALSO: Get ready to fight for your life: Starbucks is dropping a new Pink Drink Bearista Cup

If you're worried about how much countertop space the De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus takes up, the good news is it's actually quite compact. This model comes in at 8.15-inches wide, so you don't have to worry about a chunky new addition to your kitchen.

It features a 15 bar professional pump that provides optimal pressure for brewing, and thanks to Advanced Thermoblock technology it works quickly. Plus, it comes with an automatic steam wand which helps create milk foam for drinks and latte art, if you enjoy that.

Now is your chance to score this great deal on the De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus espresso machine at Amazon.

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Fable and Mythos are back, baby.

Anthropic has announced it will restore access to its most powerful models, Claude Fable 5, and Claude Mythos 5, to users worldwide on Wednesday July 1.

The decision comes after the U.S. government lifted the worldwide export ban on the models, as it deemed them too powerful to be used by foreign nationals.

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"We’ve received notice that the Department of Commerce has lifted export controls on Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5. We'll begin restoring access tomorrow (...) We’re grateful to our users for their patience, and to everyone who worked with us on redeploying the models," the company said in a tweet.

In a blog post published late on Tuesday, the company said Fable 5 will be available for users globally on the Claude Platform, Claude.ai, Claude Code, and Claude Cowork. For Pro, Max, Team, and select Enterprise team, Fable 5 will be included for up to 50 percent of weekly usage limits through July 7; after that, it will be available via usage credits. Fable 5 will not be immediately available on AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Foundry, but Anthropic says that's coming "as quickly as possible."

SEE ALSO: Anthropic to provide California government with AI tools

Mythos 5, which is exceptionally good at finding security vulnerabilities, was never widely available, with Anthropic giving access only to select companies and organizations. Those, too, were cut off after Trump's administration intervened. Anthropic restored access to Mythos 5 following the government's approval on June 26. The company says it's coordinating with the government to expand access to more partners, both domestic and international, through its Glasswing program.

In its post, Anthropic once again provided a timeline of events which led to the government ban. It all started with a vulnerability, found by Amazon researchers, which enabled users to bypass Fable 5 safeguards, prompting the U.S. government to ban the models altogether. Anthropic says this vulnerability could not have been used to provide Mythos-level hacking techniques, but it's now fixed with a new safeguard that blocks any dangerous requests.

"The new classifier also comes at the cost of flagging benign requests more often during routine coding and debugging tasks. As with all our safeguards, we’ll continue to refine this to better distinguish genuine misuse from legitimate requests and reduce false positives," said the blog post.

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

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 July 1, 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 July 1, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 1 Pips

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

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically.

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

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 0-5, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 1 Pips

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

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

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 5-4, placed vertically; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally.

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

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 1-6, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 1 Pips

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 3-4, placed horizontally.

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

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 3-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 2-0, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed vertically; 1-4, placed vertically; 6-1, 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.

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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators 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

Foreshadow.

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

AUGUR

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To delete.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for Juy 1, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

ERASE

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A long, pointy weapon.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 1 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 30, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SPEAR

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Lotion.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

CREAM

Final Hurdle hint

Unsectured.

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

LOOSE

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

It should come as no surprise, but modern Australian households have long evolved past the point of a ”family computer”. That relic of a bygone millennial era – the family’s sole access point to riding the information superhighway. Back when people used to say things like “surfing the web” and for that matter, the phrase “riding the information superhighway”. Today, your typical Australian family manages an entire ecosystem of connected infrastructure: smartphones, remote work laptops, school-issued tablets, gaming consoles, and an expanding list of smart home IoT (Internet of Things) devices. This can make creating watertight digital security for an entire household tricky. As these multi-device ecosystems scale, they introduce a wider attack surface for external threats while complicating internal privacy management.

This is why at PCMag, we recommend trying to consolidate your household’s digital security into a single suite as much as possible. Look for trusted security suites that offer specialised family plans. Something with parental controls, preferably a VPN, room to grow as new devices are added, and a tiered account system that allows administrator privileges. You want your entire family to have access to essential services such as antivirus, password managers, identity theft protection and encrypted backup. But you also need to be conscious of the dangers of a single access point holding the “keys to the kingdom” when it comes to your entire family's personal information. Having a single administrator avoids needing to leave passwords just laying around the house, and a high device-count limit means you don’t pay for countless different individual subscriptions for everyone.

Managing the multidevice household ecosystem

On top of your standard personal devices, as more and more smart home technology integrates into local networks, securing the whole home requires more than just antivirus on your laptop. In a modern home, every single device connected to your Wi-Fi is a door. Bitdefender handles this by providing high-volume licensing via their Family Plans — covering up to 15 or 25 devices under a single subscription, depending on the selected tier. Dedicated local clients provide automated threat detection across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android systems, preventing a compromise on a single mobile device from pivoting laterally across the home Wi-Fi network.

Maintaining individual digital spaces

A common point of contention in shared household security plans is data overlap. When multiple family members share a single account configuration, personal data boundaries can become blurred. For this, we need security software that treats household members as distinct digital entities. Rather than forcing the family to share a single administrative profile or master password, each member should receive their own isolated digital space.

As an example, Bitdefender Family Plans generally handle this well. With a structural isolation ensures that a teenager's personal logs, search queries, and credentials remain private, utilising unique vaults within the Password Manager and separate Anti-Tracker configurations. Concurrently, parents can secure sensitive work emails, financial profiles, and banking credentials using the isolated, sandboxed Safepay browser environment without exposing administrative keys to the rest of the household.

Content and screen time management

The modern internet can be a hostile environment for a child, filled with social media pressures, cyberbullying, explicit content, and algorithmically optimised apps designed to maximise screen time. No parent has the time or the energy to hover over their child’s shoulder every minute they are using a screen. It ruins the relationship and is practically impossible when kids need devices for schoolwork. Instead, modern digital parenting requires a shift toward automation—setting healthy, invisible boundaries that run passively in the background.

For example, Bitdefender integrates a Parental Control module directly into its central management console, Bitdefender Central, allowing parents to configure distinct rulesets customised to each child's age group. The objective is to create a safe digital playground. You want a system that automatically filters out explicit web categories, enforces a hard bedtime by pausing internet access, and flags suspicious links or phishing scams before a child can click them, all while giving them the freedom to explore the web safely within those borders.

Finding the right solution

When you look at this massive list of requirements—protecting smart TVs, isolating work from play, giving teens their privacy, and keeping children safe—doing it manually on a device-by-device basis is a recipe for burnout. This is exactly where a centralised system like what is found within the Bitdefender Family Plans comes into play.

Rather than buying individual antivirus licenses or trying to configure separate parental control apps, Bitdefender’s Family Plans (available across Total Security, Premium Security, and Ultimate Security tiers) scale up drastically, offering high-volume licensing that covers up to 15 or 25 devices under a single subscription. This allows you to protect the main computers, every family member's phone, the school tablets, and importantly, use Network Threat Prevention to stop threats trying to exploit unsecured smart home IoT hardware at the traffic level. A Bitdefender Ultimate Security Family plan gives your entire household access to:

• Parental Controls

• Scam Protection Pro

• Unlimited VPN traffic

• Encrypted Password Manager

• Continuous Dark Web Monitoring

• Security Advice from Bitdefender Experts

• Licencing for up to 25 devices (Windows, macOS, Android and iOS)

Ultimately, securing a modern home in the digital age is about building a resilient infrastructure that silently handles the heavy lifting of network security and content filtering in the background, giving everyone in the household the freedom to navigate the digital world safely. As a PCMag Editors’ Choice, we can safely recommend Bitdefender to solve many of these key issues facing larger households. But for more information, check out our entire guide to the Best Security Suites in 2026.