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Best early President's Day mattress deals at a glance: Best overall deal DreamCloud Premier Hybrid Mattress with free accessories (queen) $1,099 (save $1,397) Get Deal Best organic mattress deal Naturepedic Serenade Organic Hybrid Mattress (queen) $1,599.20 (save $399.80) Get Deal Best foam mattress deal Bear Original Mattress (queen) $649 (save $349) Get Deal

As much as we try to ignore it, sleep is a major part of life. Ask any parent of a young child or someone who's dealing with jet lag and they'll confirm that sleep makes a big difference. It impacts our mood, cognitive ability, and even the immune system.

We have tons of great tech that helps us get restorative slumber like sleep earbuds that are comfortable enough for side sleepers, smart beds that adjust temperature automatically, and air purifiers that help with breathing in healthy air. But those probably won't help all that much if your mattress is uncomfortable. A good bed is both supportive of your back, shoulders, and hips while also being comfortable enough to keep you sound asleep. If that's not happening, it might be time for a new bed.

Just like how there's a best time of the year to buy a new TV, mattresses have a few standout sale times. President's Day happens to be one of the best times to score a major discount on a new mattress, bedding, and pillows. If you bedroom or your guest room has been asking for a refresh, check out these deals.

Best overall mattress deal Opens in a new window Credit: DreamCloud DreamCloud Premier Hybrid Mattress (queen) $1,099 at DreamCloud
$2,496.01 Save $1,397.01 mattress protector, sheet set, and two cooling pillows included Get Deal Why we like it

Last spring when I tested the DreamCloud Premier Hybrid mattress, I was shocked by the quality to price ratio. It feels like a luxury mattress you'd encounter at a 5-star hotel, but its price falls into the affordable range. In fact, a single night's stay at some 5-star resorts would cost more than this mattress.

The DreamCloud Premier is a hybrid bed that combines a plush pillow-top with ultra supportive memory foam and coil layers. The edge-support is also noteworthy. When testing, I felt like this was a great option for couples thanks to the motion isolation or anyone who's a combination sleeper and needs support in several positions.

The DreamCloud Presidents Day Sale tosses in a mattress protector, bamboo sheet set, and two cooling pillows. If you're shopping for a queen-size, you'll be able to get the DreamCloud Premier Hybrid with these accessories for $1,099.

Best organic mattress deal Opens in a new window Credit: Naturepedic Naturepedic Serenade Organic Hybrid Mattress (queen) $1,599.20 at Naturepedic
$1,999 Save $399.80   Get Deal Why we like it

If you shop for organic food and look for clothing made of natural materials, you might want to opt for an organic mattress. The Naturepedic Serenade Organic Hybrid Mattress is on sale for 20% off during the brand's winter refresh sale. The eight-inch tall mattress uses certified organic latex, wool, and cotton, which eliminates the need to use chemical-derived foam or flame retardants.

Aside from the all-organic materials and glue-free design, one of the highlights of the Naturepedic Serenade Organic Hybrid Mattress is its customization options. You can get the mattress in plush, cushion-firm, or firm to best suit your sleeping style and needs. Plus, wool and cotton are naturally breathable materials, so this could be excellent if you tend to sleep hot.

Best foam mattress deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bear Bear Original Mattress (queen) $649 at Bear
$998 Save $349 mattress protector and two pillows included Get Deal Why we like it

An all-foam bed is a great option for tons of people, and Bear makes some of the best if you're looking for an excellent value. In a queen size, the Bear Original Mattress usually costs $998, but it's on sale for $649 during the Bear Presidents Day Sale. Plus, the brand is throwing in two free pillows and a free mattress protector.

Bear uses three layers of foam on the Bear Original that are designed to provide great support and comfort to pressure points. This could also be a great option for a kids' room thanks to its affordability. In a twin size, the Bear Original is on sale for $463.

More mattress and bedding deals

• Amerisleep — save $1,000 on a mattress with code PD2026

• Avocado — take up to 20% off organic mattresses and 10% off organic bedding and pillows

• Awara — save 50% on select mattresses

• Beautyrest — save up to $1,000 on select mattress and adjustable base sets

• Birch — take 25% off sitewide with code PRES25

• Brooklyn Bedding — save up to 35% on mattresses

• Casper — take up to 30% off on mattresses and 35% off bedding bundles and pillows

• Coop Sleep Goods — save up to 40% sitewide

• Helix — take 25% off sitewide with code PRES25

• Eight Sleep — save up to $350

• Essentia — take 21% off sitewide

• Nectar — save up to 60% on mattresses and 66% on bundles

• Nest — save up to 15% on mattresses and 20% on pillows

• Nolah — take 35% off sitewide with free in-home set-up and removal on qualifying orders

• Puffy — save up to $1,350

• Purple — take up to $500 off a mattress and earn up to $300 in gift credit

• Silk & Snow — get a free sleep bundle with mattress purchase

• Tempur-Pedic — save up to $500 and get $300 in free accessories; BOGO pillows and sheets bundles

You might think that SSDs are the perfect storage solution. They’re lightweight, compact, and offer blazing-fast read and write speeds. I do think they’re the perfect storage solution for everything but one use case. Here’s where traditional hard drives still reign supreme.

Save $109.99: As of Feb. 9, you can find brand-new Apple AirPods Pro 2 earbuds for just $139.99, slashing an impressive 44% off their $249 price tag. This puts them just 99 cents away from their lowest price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $139.99 at Woot
$249 Save $109.01   Get Deal

As a shopping reporter on the headphones and earbuds beat, I take notice when Apple earbuds drop down to record-low prices.

And while we're not quite back down to a record low, 99 cents away feels close enough — especially when it's on a previous generation model that can be harder to find brand new. That's exactly the case with the Apple AirPods Pro 2 at Woot, which are on sale for $139.99, knocking $109.99 off their $249 list price.

SEE ALSO: Sony’s new LinkBuds Clip open earbuds embrace pastel colors and a clip style design

Though Woot is often a retailer for refurbished products, these buds are brand new, which isn't a given considering their discontinued status: at the time of writing, they're sold out at Amazon and Walmart and more expensive than the Pro 3 earbuds at Target and Best Buy.

SEE ALSO: Apple AirPods Pro with USB-C review: About time

It is worth noting that the AirPods Pro 2 hit the market in 2022, with a USB-C port refresh in 2023. While they're not exactly top of the line anymore, they are a great option, especially for users in the Apple ecosystem who don't want to shell out $200 or more for the newer AirPods Pro 3 (with the Pro 3 being a 2025 release, I'm not holding my breath for price drops lower than that for at least the next few months).

These earbuds still have solid active noise cancellation, interchangeable silicone ear tips, personalized spatial audio, and house the same H2 chip as the Pro 3 earbuds. You'll sacrifice mostly on not having the best of the best — the battery life is six hours to the Pro 3's eight, the noise cancellation isn't as powerful, and features like heart rate monitoring and live translation aren't available on the older buds.

Still, for $140, they're a great buy if you're not looking to pay premium prices. You'll want to grab this deal while it's live for the next seven days on Woot — or until supplies last.

Having the right tools for the job can make all the difference in the world. But eventually, you'll have to deal with an odd angle or a tight space that slows you down. Not to mention having to stop, find another tool, swap the battery, and start again. That's where the weird Milwaukee Installation Driver comes to save the day.

LineageOS is a popular custom Android distribution, allowing many phones and tablets (even ancient ones) to run a clean version of Android with optional Google services. Now, LineageOS 23.2 has arrived with a fresh new design and updated applications.

If you were around in the late 90s and early 2000s, you remember how technology seemed to be getting smaller and smaller. Eventually, we expected cassette and CD players to be as small as the media themselves–but that didn't happen.

SAVE UP TO $30: Amazon has tons of gift cards on sale for up to 20% off, including Dave & Buster's, DoorDash, Ulta, and more.

Best gift card deals as of Feb. 9: Best dining deal DoorDash e-gift card $42.50 (save $7.50) Get Deal Best self-care deal Ulta Beauty physical gift card $45 (save $5) Get Deal Best date night deal Dave & Buster's e-gift card $40 (save $10) Get Deal

Valentine's Day is this Saturday, which means we have officially entered the "panic buy" window. If you're still scrambling to find a little something for your bestie or soulmate (or just want to treat yourself to what is essentially free money), Amazon is currently running a sale on digital and physical gift cards.

SEE ALSO: Best gift ideas for people in long-distance relationships

Right now, you can score 10% to 20% off brands like Uber, DoorDash, and Instacart. Since many of these are e-gift cards, they can be delivered instantly to your giftee's inbox. Just make sure you double-check which delivery method is selected before checkout; if you accidentally choose a physical card, you might be cutting it too close for the holiday. (Though most offer overnight delivery with Prime.)

More gift card deals at Amazon

• Bath & Body Works physical gift card — $40 $50 (save $10)

• Spafinder physical gift card — $40 $50 (save $10)

• Uber e-gift card — $45 $50 (save $5)

• Fanatics e-gift card — $85 $100 (save $15)

• Instacart e-gift card — $90 $100 (save $10)

Storage costs more now than it has in several years, and if you're short on space, you don't want apps eating up space without you noticing. Here are some apps that can use a ton of space in the background without telling you.

I had never been big on maintaining backups until an update recently broke my CachyOS setup. The computer was bricked, and I had no way to recover the OS or my data. Since then, I've made it a strict rule for myself to maintain regular backups of my Linux systems. Here's how you can do it too.

With the Microsoft 365 suite being such a comprehensive collection of complex programs, sometimes it's easy to miss some of the handiest tricks. I've brought together a few that I find the most useful, and hopefully, they'll make your Microsoft 365 experience more secure, efficient, and enjoyable.

Need a pick-me-up after Sunday's Big Game? Head to your local Starbucks: The coffee chain is giving out free drinks to its Starbucks Rewards members today (Monday, Feb. 9).

Members of the loyalty program can score a free tall (12-ounce) iced or brewed coffee with the purchase of any other beverage, so bring a friend — or your very tired, possibly hungover self. Note that any customizations you make to the free drink might cost extra, per a press release.

Opens in a new window Credit: Starbucks Starbucks Rewards Join for free Learn More

Starbucks is also debuting special-edition green paper cups and launching a new 1971 Roast coffee blend on Monday, according to the release. The cups will be available at participating U.S. Starbucks stores through February while supplies last.

This is the second year in a row that Starbucks has poured free coffee after the Big Game, marking what it's calling "Starbucks Monday."

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Last month, Starbucks announced that it was updating its Starbucks Rewards program with a new tiered membership structure — which isn't going over well with customers, judging by some Reddit threads. The changes won't go into effect until Tuesday, March 10.

How to sign up for Starbucks Rewards

If you're not a Starbucks Rewards member yet, you can join for free online or in the Starbucks app. Every purchase earns you "Stars" that you can redeem for free drinks, snacks, merch, and drink customizations. (Registering a gift card or preloading money on the app will earn you double the Stars per dollar.) Additionally, you'll get a free drink or food item on your birthday.

Some fine print: You had to be signed up for Starbucks Rewards before today in order to be eligible for your free tall coffee. You'll also need the Starbucks app on your phone. A coupon for the free coffee will appear in the "Offers" tab.

If you don't see the coupon, the company recommends ordering in-store and letting your barista know that you're a Starbucks Rewards member.

I currently own a 1TB iPhone 14 Pro, and even at the time I bought it I thought to myself "this is stupid", but because of circumstances it was the only option, and so now I have been living with this massive phone storage for about three years.

Long ago, back when I was single, I lamented — as those who are in the midst of unrequited love are wont to do — to some friends in a group chat.

It was one of those situations where I was sick of hearing myself (or reading myself, as it were) talk about this unrequited love, so I knew my friends had to be sick of me talking about it, too. It was to the point where I even curtailed myself talking about this person with my therapist for fear that she was sick of the subject, even though I pay her to listen to my problems.

“Sorry to bring this up again, but…” became a running refrain over iMessage and in real life.

SEE ALSO: What we're getting wrong about dating, according to a Kinsey scientist

My friends, being the angels that they are, did not complain about my “circling back” to this issue or about trying to suss out the reasons this relationship imploded. At the same time, they did not really know how to help me.

Until one day, a then-coworker of mine made a suggestion I would never forget.

“Dude,” she said over text, “Just write out a list of all the ways they suck. It really helps.”

It was so simple, and yet it had never crossed my mind before. I propose this as something to add to your “toolbelt of getting over someone who doesn’t deserve your grief,” along with blocking on social media and distracting yourself with movies or TV.

Writing down a list of someone’s flaws may sound petty. And that’s because it is — but when heartbroken, a simple exercise that enables one’s pettiness without actually reaching out to the person who deserves said pettiness is a win. When I want to text someone about how much they suck, about how they hurt me — me! A wonderfully unique, hot, gainfully employed person — do I actually text them?

No. No. That would be embarrassing and only exacerbate the heartbreak. Instead, I type it furiously in my Notes app or, better yet, I text it to my own number.

Writing down a list of your ex’s flaws is another iteration of that. You are releasing your rage into a flurry of bullet points, all about how, actually, this person’s breath smells, and they don’t change their sheets often enough, and they have terrible taste in music. By writing it down, you are not bottling up your emotions, but you’re also not involving the other person. You still care about this person, but the key is you’re not letting them know.

There’s evidence that journaling helps manage stress and anxiety. Just the act of getting your feelings out of your head helps — it’s one reason why talk therapy is so helpful for many. They become tangible, more real. Furthermore, writing by hand commits what you’re writing to memory more so than typing. While the Notes app is my go-to for lists — to-do lists, grocery lists — a “flaws list” is fun to actually write in a journal. Or both! Go nuts!

What’s more, there’s nothing wrong with performing self-improvement out of spite. It’s petty. It’s silly, and probably won’t “cure” you of your affliction overnight. But if nothing else, it’s a step in the right direction: of realizing this person is not deserving of your love. So get your favorite pen and your Muji notebook and get writing.

This article was originally published in 2020 and updated in 2026.

You know you've got it bad when you start crying in public.

It happened on the District Line as I made my way home, weary and emotionally bruised. Many moons ago, I boarded the train and sat in the end carriage on purpose, so I could have my emotional breakdown around fewer people. I tried to hide the tears as soon as they coursed down my cheeks, but I couldn't conceal the sharp intakes of breath that come when you're trying so hard not to weep audibly. My chin was doing that ugly uncontrollable wobble that happens when you're having a massive sobbing session.

Women sitting in the same carriage as me shot furtive, concerned glances my way. I wanted to tell them, "Don't worry, nothing terrible has happened, not really. I'm just crying over a man I never even dated." That last detail — the fact I couldn't even call this man my ex-boyfriend — made me feel I didn't have the right to feel heartbreak.

SEE ALSO: How to get over a breakup

It was a lonely time. A time where I felt I couldn't really talk about what had happened, a time where I felt I needed to apologise every instance I brought up my pain and the thoughts that paced back and forth through my mind. "Sorry to keep going on about this," was the caveat that preceded all statements concerning the heartbreak I deemed invalid.

During a habitual pre-bedtime scroll through TikTok, I stumbled across a glut of videos that put into words the lonely state of getting over someone you never dated. I hit the heart so fast. Finally! A TikTok trend that speaks to my soul! But watching these videos made me wonder why we don't talk about this type of heartache more.

As an anxiously attached girlie with a tendency to fall too hard, too soon, I've gone down the heartbreak-over-someone-I-never-dated road more times than I can remember. Whether it's a situationship, an intense fling, a friends-with-benefitship, or an unrequited crush, each occasion is accompanied by a low-level feeling of stupidity, a kind of "I can't believe I'm back here again" as if I should have learned my lesson by now. Perhaps I should have. But as I'm learning through therapy, beating myself up for feeling something deeply only amplifies the existing hurt. There's no need to add more pain to the mix.

In the run up to my 30th birthday, I found myself embroiled in a very confusing talking stage with a guy. We'd been emailing back and forth (very You've Got Mail of us, tbh) and eventually we started messaging over Instagram. While chatting to this person, and spending time with them IRL, I started to like the guy and wonder where things were headed. It eventually became clear that this talking stage would be where things were going to stay. Or rather, that's where things ended.

SEE ALSO: How to separate romantic rejection from your self-worth

I felt rejected, and began questioning my self-worth, and wondering what I needed to change about myself in order to be deemed lovable. Not only that, I felt naive and angry at myself for allowing myself to feel something without even so much as kissing the guy. I wondered how I could have possibly misread this situation so badly – had I read too much into the emails and messages? A few years later, and with a much better relationship with my self-worth, I know my feelings were real and valid. I'm not a mindreader and I can't speak to the other person's motivations for behaving in that way, but I know it has nothing to do with me.

SEE ALSO: I haven't had a boyfriend for a decade. Here's what I've learned.

As someone who's not had a long-term relationship for over a decade, my status as a perennial singleton who's actively dating doesn't mean I've been spared heartbreak during that time. Far from it. I know from my experience, and from that of my friends, that you can feel tremendous heartbreak, pain, and grief from any kind of relationship — be it in the very early stages of dating someone, the talking stage, or after sleeping with someone a couple of times. Just because you can't call them your boyfriend, girlfriend, partner, whatever, doesn't mean you don't have the right to feel sorrow and heartache over something ending. Your feelings are valid no matter the duration of that connection.

Match’s dating expert, Hayley Quinn, says short romances and flings are easy to invalidate, but grieving over situationships is becoming increasingly common. "Modern dating often means that commitment takes time to form, and it’s often found that by the time you have 'the conversation' about what you are, you're already attached — even if someone doesn't want the same level of relationship as you do," says Quinn. If you're in a situationship that suddenly ends, just remember that time will heal. "Even if you don't understand their reasons, and never get closure, the fact that they're no longer present in your life is telling enough about what they can offer you," she says. "Remember, you will grow out of believing this person is the only one for you, and there will be many other people who can give you the same level of connection as they did, whilst bringing more to the relationship, matching your wants and needs too."

SEE ALSO: Just in time for V-Day — the best dating apps for serious relationships

Rachael Lloyd, relationship expert at eharmony, says the amount of time spent together and the type of relationship are immaterial if you've caught feelings for someone that aren't reciprocated. "All too often we are presented with the narrative that ‘breakup blues’ are only valid if you’ve been with a partner for years, experienced significant milestones or if the relationship ended badly," says Lloyd.

"In my view, that’s nonsense. What about the guy you never heard from after two amazing dates? The girl who ghosted you despite the great sex, the funny back and forth online that suddenly becomes one sided. All still sting." Lloyd says it's important to acknowledge and sit with those emotions in order to get over such knock-backs. "It’s not silly to be sad about something that hurt you and dismissing these experiences could lead to you becoming more emotionally unavailable later down the line," says Lloyd. "As with any breakup — focus on self-care, look to your friends for support and go easy on yourself."

Recently I found myself saying the words "I hate myself for feeling this way" to my therapist. She stopped me in my tracks and told me, "What we resist persists." How can you move on from a feeling if you're fighting its very existence? With time, you'll feel differently. But just know, your feelings are valid and you have every right to feel sad.

This article was first published in 2021 and republished in 2026.

TL;DR: The LG UltraGear 27-inch QHD OLED gaming monitor is now down to $496.99 at Amazon. That's over $300 off its usual $799.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG Ultragear 27-Inch QHD OLED Gaming Monitor $496.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $303 Get Deal

If you’ve been eyeing an OLED gaming monitor but waiting for prices to cool off, this latest Amazon deal might be the ideal upgrade to your setup. As of Feb. 9, the LG UltraGear 27-inch QHD OLED gaming monitor is available for $496.99 at Amazon, shaving over $300 off its regular $799.99 list price. That puts a high-refresh OLED display firmly into mid-range monitor territory, which is no small feat considering the specs on offer.

At the center of the experience is a 2560x1440 QHD resolution OLED panel with a standard 16:9 aspect ratio, making it a natural fit for competitive gaming setups and everyday desktop use alike. OLED technology delivers near-perfect black levels, rich contrasts, and vibrant colors that give games a noticeable boost in visual depth compared to traditional LCD panels. This is great for immersive adventure titles like Red Dead Redemption 2, but also full-scale MMORPGs like Where Winds Meet. 

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Performance is where this UltraGear monitor really shines. A blazing-fast 240Hz refresh rate paired with a near-instant 0.03ms response time keeps motion smooth and responsive in fast-paced titles like Fortnite, while NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro helps eliminate screen tearing across a wide range of GPUs. Support for VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 also adds extra punch to highlights without sacrificing shadow detail.

Connectivity is well covered, with HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort support making this a solid option for both high-end PCs and current-gen consoles, like the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2.

If you’re willing to spend extra on a larger model, the 49-inch curved Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 gaming monitor is still $500 off. In the event you’re still set on a 27-inch model, but from a different brand, the Acer Nitro WQHD gaming monitor is at a record-low price at Amazon.

Luxury cars usually come with a side of stress—costly repairs, finicky gadgets, and bills that hit like a surprise pop quiz. Used ones only make that stereotype stick harder, but the 2017 Lexus ES proves the rule wrong.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 winter sports speedskating for free on streaming platforms like 9Now, CBC Gem, and BBC iPlayer. Access these free streaming services from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

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

We know you've got a lot on your schedule right now. It's an amazing time to be a fan of winter sports, but it's also stressful. How can you possibly find the time to watch the ice hockey, snowboarding, freestyle skiing, and everything else on your list? Fortunately, the speedskating is so electric that you won't need to dedicate a lot of time to watch. These athletes absolutely fly around the ice.

If you want to watch the 2026 winter sports speedskating for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is the 2026 winter sports speedskating?

The international speedskating schedule takes place from Feb. 7-21.

How to watch 2026 winter sports speedskating for free

The 2026 winter sports speedskating is available to live stream for free on a number of services:

• Australia — 9Now

• Austria — ORF

• Canada — CBC Gem

• France — France TV

• Germany — ARD

• Ireland — RTÉ Player

• Italy — RAI

• Spain — RTVE

• UK — BBC iPlayer

These free live streams are geo-restricted, but anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can access free live streams of the 2026 winter sports speedskating from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 winter sports speedskating by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like 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 a location with free access

4. Watch the 2026 winter sports speedskating for free from anywhere in the world

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the speedskating before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for live sport?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, 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 always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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 a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 winter sports speedskating for free with ExpressVPN.

Don’t worry—just because Valentine’s Day falls this week, I’m not going to overload you with sappy love stories, I promise. I do include a couple of choices for all you lovers out there, but I also have the haters covered as well—you're going to love these picks.

HBO Max has announced its launch date and pricing for the UK and Ireland.

On Monday, the company revealed HBO Max will begin streaming in the UK on Thursday, March 26. The platform will launch equipped with its slate of originals including A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, The Pitt, Heated Rivalry, and Euphoria, which UK viewers have been watching through Sky and NOW via licensing partnerships (Industry lovers, the HBO/BBC co-production is still streaming on BBC iPlayer).

HBO Max is launching in the UK and Ireland with content partners Sky and Prime Video, so expect that to reflect on the TV, movies, and sports available on day one.

SEE ALSO: The best HBO Max deals and bundles in January 2026

Three platforms dominate the UK's streaming arena right now; in its 2025 report, Ofcom (the UK's communications regulator) found that two-thirds of UK households subscribe to at least one of Netflix, Prime Video, or Disney+, with Netflix the most subscribed-to service (six in 10 households have it). And with Netflix set to acquire Warner Bros., including HBO, (yes, it's still happening and under review by the U.S. Department of Justice), rival streamers are looking at a tough challenge.

Featured Video For You Netflix and Paramount's bidding war over Warner Bros, explained

Notably, according to Ofcom, though broadcast TV still accounts for the majority of in-home viewing (56 percent) in the UK, YouTube is the second most-watched service in the UK, just behind the BBC.

How much will HBO Max cost in the UK and Ireland?

HBO Max will have four different plans available in the UK and Ireland; two with ads, two without.

Basic with ads (£4.99/month)

Stream on two devices in Full HD (except movies that have an exclusive "first stream" on HBO Max after showing in cinemas).

Standard with ads (£5.99/month)

Stream on two devices in Full HD (including movies that have an exclusive "first stream" on HBO Max after showing in cinemas). Plus, 30 downloads for offline viewing.

Standard (£9.99/month)

Everything you get with the "Standard with ads" subscription but without ads.

Premium (£14.99/month)

Stream on four devices in 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Atmos (where available) and 100 downloads. No ads.

In the UK, Netflix's ad-supported standard tier is £5.99 per month, while its Standard tier is £12.99 per month and Premium is £18.99 per month. Disney+ (where UK viewers can watch Hulu content), sits at £5.99 / £9.99 / £14.99 per month for the same tiers; Paramount+ (where Showtime lives for UK viewers) is £4.99 / £7.99 / £10.99. Prime Video costs £5.99 for ad-supported streaming and £8.99 for ad-free standard, while Apple TV is £9.99.

HBO Max in the UK will also allow people with a TNT Sports streaming subscription (£30.99 per month extra) to watch within the HBO Max app, which means Premier League, Emirates FA Cup, Adobe Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, etc.

Another day, another streaming service to fork out for — so, which one's actually worth it?

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Trainer’s Toolkit (2025) is down to $34.45 at Amazon. That’s $22 off its usual list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG: Trainer’s Toolkit (2025) $34.45 at Amazon
$56.99 Save $22.54   Get Deal

Build-ready Pokémon TCG products don’t usually see deep discounts once they’ve found their audience, which makes this latest price drop on the Pokémon TCG Trainer’s Toolkit worth a closer look. As of Feb. 9, Amazon has the 2025 edition of the Pokémon TCG Trainer’s Toolkit down to $34.45, shaving $22 off its $56.99 list price. 

This marks a new low price for the toolkit, as confirmed on price tracker camelcamelcamel. Unlike booster-heavy boxes aimed at collectors, the Trainer’s Toolkit is designed with playability in mind, as it has a mix of standard individual cards, promo cards, bonus accessories, and booster packs to get a collection started. 

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It’s a practical pickup for anyone looking to upgrade existing decks or start building competitive lists without hunting down individual Trainer cards. At this price, it’s also one of the more affordable ways to catch up on the modern meta of the trading card game.

Inside the box, you’ll find more than 50 useful cards to power up your decks, including dozens of Trainer cards, five promo cards, three ACE SPEC cards, and a copy of Fezandipiti ex. 

The toolkit also comes with four Pokémon TCG booster packs (two Mega Evolution and two Destined Rivals), 65 card sleeves, a strategy guide, and all the essential accessories needed for play, such as damage-counter dice, condition markers, and a competition-legal coin-flip die. There’s even a Pokémon TCG Live code card to round out the package.

For more Pokémon TCG deals, the Weavile edition of the Phantasmal Flames 3-Pack Blister is down to its best-ever price at Amazon. What’s more, you can still get at least $20 off eight packs of Phantasmal Flames boosters.