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Apples next Vision Pro could look more like Meta VR Glasses
Apple's plans for the Vision Pro are shifting again as Meta's lightweight VR glasses shape the expectations of future VR headsets.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is exploring a redesigned headset that follows the same core philosophy as Meta's, i.e., moving the compute components out of the headset and into an external puck. But the project, code-named N224, is reportedly on life support. It's facing pushback from some senior executives and is unlikely to ship before late 2028, if it ships at all. For now, Apple's attention has moved toward simpler smart glasses without displays.
SEE ALSO: Apple to fix iPhone 18 Pro Face ID bugThe shift comes days after Meta unveiled its VR Glasses at Meta Connect 2026. The $1,299 headset, due in spring 2027, weighs about 100 grams. That's roughly a fifth of Meta's own Quest 3 and a small fraction of the Vision Pro. Gurman, who has used the Vision Pro since launch, argued in his Power On newsletter that Meta's glasses are what Apple's headset should have been.
When the Vision Pro launched in February 2024, it drew attention for its impressive displays and eye-and-hand controls. It also drew complaints about its weight, its price, and a shortage of reasons to wear it beyond watching videos. It was a striking proof of concept, much like Samsung's Galaxy Z TriFold, but more a showcase for enthusiasts than a device for everyday people.
Meta's ability to make their VR headset lighter was simply to move the heavy parts off your face. The processor and battery live in a separate module that clips onto your clothing and connects to the glasses by cable. Gurman reports that the module is about the size and weight of the Vision Pro's external battery pack.
The Vision Pro started at $3,499 and can weigh up to about 800 grams, depending on the headband. Meta chose comfort and price over high-end quality, which is always a winner for consumer buy-in.
Apple saw the problem coming, according to Gurman. Early in development, there was consideration in moving processing to a separate home device, but the team rejected the idea. Since launch, Apple has shelved at least three projects meant to fix the Vision Pro's biggest flaws:
N107: a headset that would have offloaded computing to a Mac or another device.
N100: a "Vision Air" that would have moved more components into an external pack.
N109: a lighter, cheaper model with a less powerful chip.
Gurman reports that some senior Apple leaders believe a separate puck leads to a poor experience and prefer an all-in-one design. However, as Gurman writes, new CEO John Ternus has long been privately skeptical of a headset this heavy and expensive, though he has spoken optimistically about it in public. The Vision hardware team has also been moved lower in Apple's org chart, its former hardware chief left for OpenAI, and the team recently went through layoffs.
Even if Apple does commit, a new headset likely wouldn't arrive before late 2028 or early 2029.
Wired earbuds are back, and Bose's new noise-cancelling pair shows they're not a gimmick
Wired earbuds are suddenly trendy, and Bose wants to seize the moment by launching its Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds. In theory, they offer the best features of true wireless earbuds without the hassles of Bluetooth connections or charging.
These 4 tiny Linux distros outperform Ubuntu on low-power hardware
Ubuntu's minimum system requirements—6GB of RAM and 25GB of storage space—are modest compared to Windows, but if you're working with an older PC, even that may be too much. If you've ever tried running the current release of Ubuntu on an old netbook or Optiplex, you've experienced it first hand.
I discovered these hidden Google Maps features while waiting for my kids after school
I love to drive. Driving is my safe place when I want to disconnect from the world for a while. No one asking me where something is, no one asking what’s for dinner, just me, my car, and whatever playlist I’ve decided to play for the hundredth time. So, of course, I use Google Maps more than I’d like to admit.
4 excellent movies and shows you'll enjoy more if you forget everything you know
Adaptations are a tricky endeavor. Many filmmakers and showrunners run into problems when adapting source material from, say, a book. While it can be helpful to have a blueprint for a movie or show, adaptations create numerous problems, especially when it comes to satisfying fans loyal to the book. One minor change to the book can cause an uproar. Just ask Benioff and Weiss about how fans reacted to their decisions in Game of Thrones.
I built a Raspberry Pi that composes music based on the weather
Once every hour, the Raspberry Pi sitting on my desk checks the weather and then plays a song about it. It is a bit like a cuckoo clock, except it tells me the weather instead of the time.
The Boox Picco is coming — heres how to preorder the tiny e-reader
PREORDER NOW: As of Sept. 28, preorder the Boox Picco, a 3.97-inch e-reader. You can purchase the tiny e-reader for $109.99 and get it as soon as it's released in November.
Opens in a new window Credit: Boox Boox Picco E-reader $109.99 at BooxPre-order Here
For months, Boox has been teasing its new tiny e-reader. The Boox Picco was first unveiled in July with an in-person debut at IFA 2026 in Berlin. Now, the device is officially available for preorder.
The Boox Picco is a 3.97-inch e-reader. It's part of the brand's new Tile collection. While Boox's other e-readers like the Palma and Go 6 are classified as tablets, the Picco is a Tile, likely to differentiate between operating systems.
Unlike Boox's tablets, the Picco Tile doesn't have an Android operating system, meaning you can't access any additional apps since there's no Google Play Store. Instead, you'll read from the Picco's native library. It does have some extra apps, including a Pomodoro timer and Todo (a to-do list app). We suspect it'll operate similarly to Xteink e-readers, which are best for DRM-free files. To get files on the Picco, upload them either with a USB-C cable or with the new Boox Tile app.
It's about the size of a deck of cards and can even attach to the back of an iPhone with MagSafe. It has a dual-tone front light so you can adjust both the warmth and brightness. It has a power button plus a page-turning button on the side. There's also a function switch on the side that swaps the device between front light and dark mode.
The Boox Picco retails for $109.99. It's now available for preorder on Boox's site. No exact ship date has been provided, but according to Boox's site, the device will ship in October. However, a Boox representative said it will ship by November.
If you're ready to extend your Boox e-reader collection, preorder the Boox Picco now for $109.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Boox Boox Picco E-reader $109.99 at BooxPre-order Here
Save hundreds on PC software and subscriptions on G2A.COM
G2A.COM may be best known for video games, but the marketplace offers much more than gaming. Alongside games, users can find a wide range of digital software offers, often at competitive prices across different platforms.
How to watch Turkey vs. Italy online for free
TL;DR: Watch Turkey vs. Italy in the Nations League for free on RaiPlay. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The UEFA Nations League action continues with another week of interesting matchups, including Turkey vs. Italy. The hosts are desperately looking to bounce back after a really disappointing summer. Italy didn't even qualify for the World Cup, so the only way is up for the Azzurri.
Both sides lost their opening games in this latest edition of the competition. That heaps the pressure on.
If you're interested in watching Turkey vs. Italy in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.
When is Turkey vs. Italy?Turkey vs. Italy in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Sept. 28. This fixture takes place at the Centennial Atatürk Stadium.
How to watch Turkey vs. Italy for freeTurkey vs. Italy in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on RaiPlay.
RaiPlay is geo-restricted to Italy, 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 Italy, meaning you can live stream Turkey vs. Italy for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Turkey vs. Italy for free by following these simple steps:
Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice
Open up the app and connect to a server in Italy
Visit RaiPlay
Watch Turkey vs. Italy for free from anywhere in the world
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 Turkey vs. Italy without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for RaiPlay?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RaiPlay, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries, including Italy
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $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 Turkey vs. Italy for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Honors new phone has cinema cameras the iPhone 18 Pro cant touch
Does the camera on your smartphone matter more than anything else that the device can do?
If so, you might want to check out Honor's new Magic 9 Pro Max.
Seriously. Just take a look at it. Have you ever seen the lenses on any smartphone’s camera bump extend the entire width of the phone?
The Honor Magic 9 Pro Max launch. Credit: HonorAs Phone Arena points out, the release of the Honor Magic 9 Pro Max marks the 10th anniversary of the company, which is a subsidiary of Huawei, so it appears they’re going all out.
The phone's camera system was created in partnership with ARRI, the professional cinema camera company that has long been a staple in major motion pictures. ARRI provided image science and camera expertise, which helped Honor develop the camera for the device.
Furthermore, the partnership brings ARRI’s touch to the camera software as well. The Honor Magic 9 Pro Max provides 14 ARRI filter presets along with support for 4K 60fps "Cinema Grade" recording, 10-bit color depth and ARRI Wide Gamut 3.
But, the Magic 9 Pro Max is more than just a partnership with a leading Hollywood camera-maker. The cameras themselves top any other smartphone in the market.
The Honor Magic 9 Pro Max sports a whopping 200 MP main camera with 1/1.28-inch sensor and a f/1.57 aperture, a 200 MP telephoto camera with 1/1.4-inch sensor and a f/2.6 aperture, and a 50 MP ultra-wide lens with f/2.0 aperture. In addition to that, the Magic 9 Pro Max boasts a 55 MP selfie camera as well.
To compare Honor’s latest smartphone with the newest iPhone 18 Pro Max, all three rear cameras on the Apple device top out at 48 MP. Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra probably comes the closest with its 200 MP main camera, but the phones’ camera specs differ beyond megapixel count.
SEE ALSO: iPhone 18 Pro hands-on: What's new with the camerasThe main camera on the Honor Magic 9 Pro Max has optical image stabilization rated to the Camera & Imaging Products Association’s CIPA 8.0 standard. In addition, it also boasts 3-degree gimbal-level stabilization, a feature in which the camera can actually move and tilt by up to 3 degrees.
It's not just cinema-grade cameras either. Honor claims that the Magic 9 Pro Max is the first smartphone with a "cinema-grade" directional microphone. The company says it can pick up sound from up to 20 meters away and has audio recording presets to help users capture the sounds that they want and reduce noise from its surroundings.
The phone’s full specs are as follows:
6.8-inch LTPO OLED display, 1–120Hz, 2,000 nits peak brightness
200 MP main camera with 1/1.28-inch sensor and a f/1.57 aperture, 200 MP telephoto camera with 1/1.4-inch sensor and a f/2.6 aperture, 50 MP ultra-wide lens with f/2.0 aperture, 55 MP selfie camera
Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6
Up to 16 GB RAM, up to 1 TB storage
8,800 mAh silicon-carbon battery
MagicOS 11 based on Android 17
The Honor Magic 9 Pro Max looks like a beast for smartphone camera aficionados. Unfortunately, however, Honor’s devices are not officially sold in the U.S. So, if you really want one, you’ll have to go through third parties and import it yourself.
The Honor Magic 9 Pro Max launches today in China and retails for approximately $970 USD.
Modders discover way to play PS5 games on Xbox consoles
If you've ever had a lingering curiosity wondering if PlayStation games can be played on an Xbox, well, they can. Technically.
A modder named Devran Cosmo Uenal has built an early version of a PS5 emulator for the Xbox Series X, according to Boy Genius Report. The project, called PS5X, can already run a small selection of PS5 games on Microsoft's console, though not especially smoothly.
For context, an emulator is software that imitates another device's hardware. Consoles are essentially specialized computers, and their games are built to run on that specific hardware. An emulator tricks a game into thinking it's running on the machine it was made for, even when it's actually on a PC, a phone, or, in this case, a rival console.
Emulation sits in murky legal territory. In the U.S., emulators themselves are generally legal because building software that emulates a console's hardware isn't illegal in itself. However, downloading copies of a video game you don't own is copyright infringement.
PS5X is a port of KytyPS5, an open-source PS5 emulator for PC. Uenal adapted it to run on the Xbox Series X. BGR reports that the Xbox version lags behind the PC original but already produces impressive results for such an early project.
SEE ALSO: Xbox lays off more than 250 employees amid studio restructuringsEarly is the keyword here, as the list of games PS5X can play is very short. Uenal's YouTube channel shows a PS5X game library that includes Gex Trilogy, Hellboy: Web of Wyrd, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, and Quake 2. These are smaller titles, which are usually the first to work on a new emulator. BGR says they're playable but not polished, with minor glitches and performance problems. In Uenal's footage, Quake 2 swings between roughly 20 and 40 frames per second, well short of the steady frame rate players expect.
BGR notes that bigger games may follow soon. A recent interface update from Uenal shows Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, Grand Theft Auto 5, and Gran Turismo 7 in his library, which BGR reads as evidence that the games are being tested. The biggest hurdle is graphics. KytyPS5 draws its visuals using Vulkan, a graphics system widely used on PCs. The Xbox doesn't support Vulkan. It uses Microsoft's own system, DirectX.
PS5X should improve as the PC version does, since it's built on KytyPS5. The PC emulator has advanced quickly in recent months. According to BGR, it can now run Astro Bot and Demon's Souls without crashing, though often at single-digit frame rates, and GTA 5 is fairly playable on high-end PCs.
PS5X hasn't been released to the public. When it is, BGR reports that Xbox owners will be able to install it by switching their console into developer mode, a setting Microsoft offers for testing homemade software.
Stop trusting Reddit's DNS recommendations—here's how to find the best one for your home
There's no denying that using a custom DNS server is a better choice than sticking with the one provided by your ISP, but the catch is that you shouldn't opt for the first DNS provider you find positive reviews of online, or the one everyone recommends on Reddit. There's a way to test which DNS server works best for you that only takes about a minute of your time, and it'll give you better results than blindly choosing from the most popular options.
Meta’s Muse reportedly sent a Facebook Marketplace buyer to a user’s home
Selling a keyboard on Facebook Marketplace can involve a lot of messages. That sounds like a reasonable job to hand to an AI assistant — until it reportedly agrees to a price, gives out your address, and tells the buyer you’re home, all without checking with you first.
That's what Matt J. Robb says happened after he let Meta's AI agent Muse handle a Marketplace listing. In a post on Threads, Robb said the agent accepted a low offer and shared his address without telling him. By the time he learned what had happened, the prospective buyer had already come to his building and left.
So muse handled my Facebook marketplace today. Just found out it told people my address and agreed a lowball price and then they showed up without it even telling me until late tonight that it messed up.
Absolutely wild.
A screenshot Robb shared shows Muse telling him the buyer arrived around 9:15 p.m. and waited for more than 20 minutes. According to the assistant’s own account, it sent an automatic reply saying "Yep, I’m here!" while Robb was unavailable. Muse said it had since apologized to the buyer from Robb's account and offered to try again another day. Robb responded by telling Muse never to arrange a pickup without checking with him first.
Credit: Screenshot/Threads: @matt.j.robbDavid Singleton of the Muse team said he had contacted Robb to investigate. "In the past, when we’ve worked with users to investigate similar reports, we’ve consistently learned that Muse was following direct instructions and correctly asked for permission," he wrote on X. "Would love to help and figure out what’s going on here!"
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Robb disputes the suggestion that Muse asked for permission in his case. In an update on X, he said Muse didn’t ask him about the sale until the buyer showed up. He added that he lives in a security-gated apartment building and warned others to be careful about giving an AI agent control over in-person transactions. The screenshots he shared show the buyer messaging to confirm Robb was available, then complaining that he had driven for half an hour and nobody had come down.
The account has made at least one other user reconsider trusting Muse. Gizmodo senior editor Ray Wong wrote on X that he deleted the app after seeing Robb's post, calling the situation "dangerous and creepy." Wong also raised the concern of what an unexpected visit to someone’s home could mean for a woman.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.And this isn't the first time someone has alleged Muse crossed a boundary they thought they’d set. Inc. columnist Jason Aten reported that Muse brought up a private conversation after he believed he had declined access to his messages. When he asked how Muse knew about the exchange, Aten said the agent’s explanation didn’t match what he found on his Mac. "Snooping through the private database of messages on my Mac doesn’t feel safe or private to me," he wrote. "Lying about it isn’t great either."
Meta introduced Muse earlier this month as a personal AI agent that can work across connected apps, negotiate on a user’s behalf, and continue working after the app is closed. The company says Muse checks with users before sensitive actions and gives them control over which services it can access.
SEE ALSO: 10 ways to use Meta's Muse AI app, from flight credits to outfit ideasThat promise is precisely why accounts like these are unsettling. Whatever an investigation finds about Muse’s permissions, an assistant arranging an in-person meeting surely needs to make sure the person it represents knows it’s happening, don't you think?
Starship reaches orbit for the first time ever but returns home early
UPDATE: Sep. 28, 2026, 11:46 a.m. EDT Starship splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii at about 11 a.m. CT on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. SpaceX officials have not yet said why controllers decided to bring the ship home early after a successful orbital insertion maneuver, a first for Starship. The test was supposed to last about 10 hours to see the ship complete six full orbits around Earth. Instead, the mission ran just three hours.
SpaceX's Starship reached orbit for the first time on Monday, surviving an early engine shutdown during ascent, before flight controllers opted to cut the test flight short.
The giant rocket lifted off at 7:48 a.m. local time from Starbase, Texas. Moments later, one of the six engines on Starship's upper stage, known as the ship, quit firing. At first, SpaceX seemed to be leaning toward calling off the push to orbit, with host Dan Huot providing live commentary as the team weighed the decision.
But after studying the data, controllers polled "go" for the orbital insertion engine burn. A single engine fired for a few seconds and pushed the ship fast enough to stay in space.
"That's the first time we've ever said that in this program: 'Go for orbit,'" said Jake Berkowitz, a SpaceX lead propulsion engineer. "That is a really, really cool thing to hear and obviously means quite a bit for the remainder of this mission."
Reaching orbit moves Starship toward sustained spaceflight. Until Monday, every Starship flight followed a short arc that used gravity to drop the ship back into the ocean. In orbit, a spacecraft moves so fast that Earth curves away beneath it as quickly as gravity pulls it down, keeping it aloft to circle the planet. The milestone advances Starship's development toward refueling in space and full reusability, which SpaceX needs for its plans to fly to the moon and Mars. But the test, which was supposed to see the ship circle Earth six times before returning, ended about three hours into flight, without a clear explanation.
SEE ALSO: A Mars crater wasn't just a lake. That could change the hunt for life.The engine shutdown was the first obstacle. Huot told viewers the team had decided "not to commit to orbit" and would send the ship down in the Indian Ocean instead. Then, he admitted he spoke too soon, saying the team was reassessing the situation.
Flight controllers focused on the ship's three center engines — the ones it specifically needed to reach orbit. Those engines continued to look healthy, Huot said, encouraging SpaceX to proceed.
Starship coasts through space around Earth before its orbital insertion engine burn on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. Credit: SpaceX / X screenshot"You're getting this in real time as I'm starting to see it," he said during the livestream, "so we are not giving up yet."
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Before the ship reached orbit, the rocket's first stage, a booster called Super Heavy, also did its job. It flipped, fired its engines, and made what the hosts called a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. That was an improvement over the previous flight this summer, in which the booster hit the water hard.
After reaching orbit, Starship deployed 26 Starlink internet satellites into space, marking its first real payload delivery, following lots of practice with dummy satellites.
Starship splashed dow in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii, rather than Chile as planned, at about 11 a.m. CT on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, during the 14th flight test. Credit: SpaceX / X screenshotThe test was meant to continue for about nine more hours. Instead, flight controllers took the first available deorbit opportunity to bring the ship back to Earth. The test lasted only about three hours versus the anticipated 10. Commentators did not immediately share a reason for that decision.
The ship plunged back through the atmosphere, where its exterior heated to thousands of degrees at its peak. It relied on heat-resistant tiles for protection. Recently, SpaceX added extra pins to hold tiles in place and closed gaps where superheated gas had slipped behind them on the last flight.
Starship splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii — rather than Chile, where it was supposed to touch down — at about 11 a.m. CT. At first, it appeared to be yet another soft water landing. A moment later, a fireball filled the air.
"Not quite an extra soft splashdown like we had on the last one, but Starship's in the water nonetheless," Huot said.
Despite the early return, hosts called the test "wildly successful."
5 new movies to watch this week across Netflix, HBO Max, and more (September 28-October 4)
October is on the horizon, which means new movies will be hitting streaming this week. Tyler Perry's latest directorial effort and one of Christopher Nolan's underrated movies hit Netflix. Meanwhile, Ari Aster's folk-horror movie heads to Hulu.
How to watch Belgium vs. France online for free
TL;DR: Watch Belgium vs. France in the Nations League for free on TF1. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The UEFA Nations League provides plenty of opportunities to see top international sides battle it out. We've been blessed by a number of high-profile matchups since the competition restarted last week, and the action continues with Belgium vs. France.
Belgium began this campaign with an impressive 2-0 victory over Italy. France secured three points with a narrow win over Turkey. Now the top two sides face each other at the King Baudouin Stadium.
If you're interested in watching Belgium vs. France in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.
When is Belgium vs. France?Belgium vs. France in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Sept. 28. This fixture takes place at the King Baudouin Stadium.
How to watch Belgium vs. France for freeBelgium vs. France in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on TF1.
TF1 is geo-restricted to France, 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 France, meaning you can live stream Belgium vs. France for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Belgium vs. France for free by following these simple steps:
Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice
Open up the app and connect to a server in France
Visit TF1
Watch Belgium vs. France for free from anywhere in the world
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 Belgium vs. France without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for TF1?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on TF1, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries, including France
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $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 Belgium vs. France for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The best early October Prime Day TV deals: Ive spotted at least a dozen TVs under $500
Another Amazon Prime Day is upon us. Well, kind of. Prime Big Deal Days, which runs from Oct. 6 through Oct. 7, isn't quite as massive as Amazon's flagship summer sale, but it serves as an unofficial kickoff to the holiday shopping season.
Casually called October Prime Day, the fall sale features deals on all sorts of tech — just like Prime Day proper. TVs, in particular, tend to see pretty big price drops now that new models have been on the market for about six months. In other words, if you're in need of a new TV, you can find a 2026 model for a steal during October Prime Day.
We've rounded up the best early October Prime Day TV deals from brands like LG, Hisense, Samsung, and Amazon Fire TV that you can shop now, including several options already under $500. But be sure to check back as the official Prime Big Deal Days sale nears for even more hefty discounts.
Best budget TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Ember 55-inch 4-Series 4K TV $279.99 at Amazon$459.99 Save $180 Get Deal Why we like it
As much as we might drool over Sony's new flagship Bravia 7 II True RGB TV, when it comes time to actually add a TV to our shopping cart, we often have to lower our expectations. The good news: TVs are among the few tech products that have gotten cheaper over the past five years, and even budget TVs offer fairly impressive displays and sound.
The Amazon Ember 4-Series is a good starter TV if you're on a budget, and that's why it's one of the best October Prime Day TV deals we've found so far. Despite clocking in at under $300, this 55-inch TV has a 4K HDR10+ display, WiFi 6 support, a speedy quad-core processor, and doubles as an Alexa smart speaker. If you're already in the Amazon ecosystem and OLEDs aren't in your budget, don't overthink this one.
Best OLED TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 65-inch C6 OLED 4K TV $1,499.99 at Amazon$2,699.99 Save $1,200.00 Get Deal Why we like it
OLED TVs are known for their elite contrast and often extreme price tags. However, the LG C6 is what Mashable's TV expert calls the "best affordable OLED TV," compared to competitors' prices. It's also her top pick for an OLED TV for most people. It features inky blacks, stark contrast (of course), improved audio, peak brightness, and a higher refresh rate than its predecessor, and overall, incredible picture quality. At just under $1,600, the 65-inch model is over $1,000 cheaper than its list price ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. We've actually seen it drop even lower before, so we'll be keeping an eye out as the official sale nears.
Best QLED TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch U7 Mini-LED Hi-QLED 4K TV $847.99 at Amazon$1,499.99 Save $652 Get Deal Why we like it
The Hisense U7 series delivers Mini-LED performance you'd expect on higher-priced models. It packs a 165Hz refresh rate, 2.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos audio, a Google TV with a Gemini interface, and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. Its backlighting features full-array local dimming as well, which means clusters of tiny LED bulbs precisely control brightness levels within specific sections of your screen for more accuracy and depth. The U7 is a step up from our favorite budget TV of 2026, but with this massive price drop, it's actually a much better deal. At $847.99, the 65-inch model is already $2 cheaper than it was on Prime Day proper back in June.
Best art TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Ember 55-inch Artline QLED 4K TV $499.99 at Amazon$899.99 Save $400 Get Deal Why we like it
If you want an aesthetic TV that doubles as artwork on your wall, but don't quite have the budget for Samsung's The Frame, Amazon's new Ember Artline TVs are a solid alternative. The 55-inch model is on sale for less than $500 ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, which is 44% off and its best price on record. While Amazon's art TV isn't quite as impressive in the specs department as Samsung's, it does offer a free art gallery and a wide selection of frame options at no extra cost. It's not our top pick at full price, but at $400 off? It's hard to pass up.
Best Roku TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku 65-inch Plus Series QLED 4K TV $449.99 at Amazon$649.99 Save $200 Get Deal Why we like it
Not everyone is a fan of the Fire TV ecosystem, and we get it. I'm a Roku fan, and this deal on the 65-inch Roku Plus Series TV shaves $200 off ahead of October Prime Day. While I do think we could see an even better price as the official sale nears, this is still a solid discount that puts a 65-inch Mini-LED QLED in your living room for less than $500. Mini-LED backlighting and local dimming enable finer tuning of the bright, detailed 4K QLED display. It also features Dolby Atmos sound, Roku Smart Picture, and a delightfully simple interface.
More early October Prime Day TV dealsUnder 50-inch TV dealsInsignia 40-inch F40 HD TV — $99 $119.99 (save $20.99)
Roku 43-Inch Select Series 4K TV — $179.99 $249.99 (save $70)
Amazon Ember 40-inch 2-Series HD TV — $179.99 $249.99 (save $70)
Amazon Ember 43-inch 4-Series 4K TV — $199.99 $329.99 (save $130)
Sony 48-inch Bravia 6 OLED 4K TV — $1,098 $1,299.99 (save $201.99)
Insignia 50-inch F50 4K TV — $159.99 $299.99 (save $140)
Samsung 55-inch M70H Mini-LED 4K TV — $299.99 $347.99 (save $48)
Hisense 55-inch E6 Hi-QLED 4K TV — $299.99 $429.99 (save $130)
Amazon Ember 55-inch Omni Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $449.99 $819.99 (save $370)
Hisense 50-inch E7 Mini-LED Hi-QLED 4K TV — $449.99 $699.99 (save $250)
Amazon Ember 55-inch Omni QLED 4K TV — $489.99 $589.99 (save $100)
Amazon Ember 55-inch Artline QLED 4K TV — $499.99 $899.99 (save $400)
Samsung 55-inch The Frame LS03F QLED 4K TV — $747.99 $1,097.99 (save $350)
Hisense 50-inch S7 Canvas Hi-QLED 4K TV — $797.99 $1,299.99 (save $502)
LG 55-inch LX7B Gallery Mini LED 4K TV — $899.99 $1,299.99 (save $400)
Insignia 65-inch QF Series QLED 4K TV — $299.99 $349.99 (save $50)
Roku 65-inch Plus Series QLED 4K TV — $449.99 $649.99 (save $200)
Hisense 65-inch E7 Mini-LED Hi-QLED 4K TV — $597.99 $999.99 (save $402)
Amazon Ember 65-inch Omni QLED 4K TV — $709.99 $849.99 (save $140)
Amazon Ember 65-inch Artline QLED 4K TV — $799.98 $1,099.99 (save $300.01)
Amazon Ember 65-inch Omni Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $799.99 $1,089.99 (save $290)
Toshiba 65-inch G700 ArtVision QLED 4K TV — $1,097.99 $1,999.99 (save $902)
LG 65-inch LX7B Gallery Mini LED 4K TV — $1,099.99 $1,799.99 (save $700)
Hisense 65-inch S7 Canvas Hi-QLED 4K TV — $1,197.99 $1,999.99 (save $802)
Samsung 65-inch S85H OLED 4K TV — $1,397.99 $1,999.99 (save $602)
TCL 65-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $1,697.99 $2,499.99 (save $802)
Sony 65-inch Bravia 8 II QD QLED 4K TV — $2,498 $3,299.99 (save $801.99)
Samsung 75-inch M70H Mini-LED 4K TV — $547.99 $729.99 (save $182)
Amazon Ember 75-inch Omni QLED 4K TV — $989.99 $1,199.99 (save $210)
Amazon Ember 75-inch Omni Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $999.99 $1,499.99 (save $500)
Hisense 85-inch U6 Pro Hi-QLED Mini-LED 4K TV — $1,297.99 $1,999.99 (save $702)
Amazon Ember 85-inch Omni Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $1,759.99 $2,099.99 (save $340)
Hisense 85-inch S7 Canvas Hi-QLED 4K TV — $1,998.99 $3,999.99 (save $2,001)
Hisense 100-inch E7 Mini-LED Hi-QLED 4K TV — $1,996.97 $2,999.99 (save $1,003.02)
Hisense 100-inch U7 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV — $2,497.99 $2,999.99 (save $502)
TCL 98-inch QM7L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $2,497.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,502)
TCL’s massive 85-inch QM6K Mini-LED 4K TV just hit its best-ever price — save $200 now
SAVE $200: As of Sept. 28, the 85-inch TCL QM6K Series Mini-LED 4K TV is on sale for $897.99 at Amazon. Down from its typical price of $1,097.99, that's its best-ever price.
Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 85-Inch Class QM6K Series Mini LED QLED 4K HDR TV $897.99 at Amazon$1,097.99 Save $200 Get Deal
If you have been waiting to turn your living room into a private movie theater, Amazon just dropped a record-low deal on a massive screen. The 85-inch TCL QM6K Series Mini-LED 4K Smart TV is currently marked down to $897.99 from its typical $1,097.99 price tag. That is an 18% discount that knocks $200 off, bringing this latest-model display down to its best price ever.
Getting an 85-inch screen under the $900 mark is already a steal, but what makes this deal special is that TCL didn't skimp on picture quality to keep the price low. Instead of using old-school giant backlights that make dark scenes look washed-out and grey, this model packs thousands of microscopic LEDs directly behind the glass. Because these tiny lights can dim or brighten independently, bright objects stay sharp while dark backgrounds remain genuinely dark, preventing bright light from leaking into the dark corners of the screen.
SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime in time for the next Prime DayIt is also built to handle fast movement without turning into a blurry mess. The screen can refresh its picture up to 144 times every second, which means fast-moving footballs, racing cars, and current-gen video games stay buttery smooth. Whatever you choose to watch, the TV automatically adjusts its picture settings to match the exact movie or show format you are streaming, making sure colors pop without looking fake or overly harsh.
Rounding out the package is built-in Google TV software, which means all your favorite streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube are on one easy-to-use home screen. You can control the TV using the included voice remote with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa commands, and the onboard speakers are tuned by audio brand Onkyo with spatial surround sound built right in, so dialogue stays clear without requiring an immediate soundbar purchase.
Head to Amazon to score TCL's massive 85-inch Mini-LED 4K TV at its record-low price before it sells out.
How to watch Brazil vs. Australia online for free
TL;DR: Watch Australia vs. Brazil in an International Friendly for free on Network 10. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Nations League action continues this week with a number of interesting fixtures, but there's another high-profile fixture taking place on the other side of the world. Australia are facing off against Brazil for the second time in a week, just days after they drew 1-1 at the Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
If you're interested in watching Australia vs. Brazil in an International Friendly from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.
When is Australia vs. Brazil?Australia vs. Brazil in an International Friendly kicks off at 6 a.m. ET on Sept. 29. This fixture takes place at the Suncorp Stadium.
How to watch Australia vs. Brazil for freeAustralia vs. Brazil in an International Friendly is available to live stream for free on Network 10.
Network 10 is geo-restricted to Australia, 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 Australia, meaning you can live stream Australia vs. Brazil for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Australia vs. Brazil for free by following these simple steps:
Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice
Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia
Visit Network 10
Watch Australia vs. Brazil for free from anywhere in the world
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 Australia vs. Brazil without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for Network 10?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Network 10, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries, including Australia
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $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 Australia vs. Brazil for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
McDonalds Happy Meal x Pokémon launch: Release date and how to collect all trading cards
TL;DR: According to reports, Pokémon cards will return to McDonald's Happy Meals from Nov. 5. Each Happy Meal order will include a four-card booster pack, with 15 cards available to collect in total.
It looks like Pokémon cards are officially returning to McDonald’s Happy Meals in the U.S. Mark your calendars for Nov. 5, because collectors have got a month to complete the latest 15-card set.
According to reports from PokéBeach, the limited-time promotion will run through Dec. 9. Each Happy Meal order will include a four-card booster pack featuring three standard cards and one guaranteed holofoil. It's going to be chaos.
Here's everything we know about the upcoming drop, what to expect in the packs, and how to score the cards.
When do Pokémon Happy Meals drop at McDonald's?If reports are true, the U.S. promotion will run from Nov. 5 to Dec. 9. If Target's recent Pokémon event was anything to go by, expect high demand from launch.
What will the Pokémon Happy Meal booster packs include?We don't expect McDonald’s to change a winning formula. As usual, each Happy Meal will contain three regular cards and one foil card. There will be 15 cards to collect, including six holo cards printed on confetti holofoil. Unfortunately, we don't know which cards will be featured just yet.
How to get the cards (without feeding the scalpers)If you are trying to complete a full 15-card binder set without buying 50 Happy Meals, keep these tips in mind:
Ask to buy extra booster packs separatelySome locations allow you to purchase additional Happy Meal toy/card packs individually at the register (typically around $1.99 to $2.99 each) without purchasing a full meal, though rules vary by location.
Avoid third-party reseller markupsComplete 15-card sets and individual holos usually flood secondary markets hours after launch, often dropping significantly in price after the initial opening-weekend hype cools down.
Shop online alternativesIf in-person stock dries up, official Pokémon 30th Anniversary TCG sets are actively restocking online. In fact, you can find Pokémon 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Boxes for under market price right now at Amazon.


