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SAVE 50%: As of July 6, you can get the Roborock Saros Z70 for $999.99, down from $1,999.99 at Amazon. That's a 50% discount or $1,000 in savings.

Roborock Saros Z70 $999.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $1,000   Get Deal at Amazon

As the proud dog mom of two beagles, keeping my floors clean is a never-ending battle. But ever since I brought a robo vacuum-mop combo into my apartment, I've been able to handle the mess without stressing (too much). So if you've been trying to justify buying one for yourself, let this be your sign.

SEE ALSO: The Roborock Saros 20 handily beats 2025's Saros 10R. But hopefully, the Saros 20 Sonic is even better.

Right now, you can get the Roborock Saros Z70 for $999.99, down from $1,999.99 at Amazon. That's a 50% discount or $1,000 in savings. It's also the lowest price we've tracked on this model to date. (It's listed for $2,599.99 on the Roborock website, so it's technically $1,600 off.)

One of the coolest (and most unique) features about this vacuum is its OmniGrip mechanical arm. It folds out to pick up rogue socks, tissues, or whatever else is in the way, and moves them. That said, our Senior Shopping Reporter, Leah Stodart, says that the arm is basically decorative. But with a $1,000 discount, the 22,000Pa of suction power and auto washing and drying base more than make up for it.

SAVE $599.01: The Anker Solix S2000 is on sale for $599.99, down from the normal price of $1,199. That's a 50% discount, and just 99¢ more than the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Solix Anker Solix S2000 $599.99 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $599.01   Get Deal

When the power goes out at home, it poses some problems. First, we consider how much battery is left on our phone. After that, the concern often turns to all of the food in the fridge and freezer going bad. If none of that sound like a nice time, you've probably considered upgrading to a portable power station. Check out this worthy model that's on a major discount at Amazon.

As of July 6, the Anker Solix S2000 is on sale for $599.99, marked down from the normal price of $1,199. That's a 50% discount that shaves $599.01 off the price. It's also just 99¢ more than the lowest price Anker offered on this model during its launch back in May.

Plenty of portable power stations are designed to keep you going when out camping, but not all are perfect for using at home during a power outage. Anker designed the Solix S2000 specifically for use at home, and it excels at keeping your refrigerator working as it should despite a power outage.

Anker Solix states the S2000 can keep a typical household refrigerator cooling for up to 35 hours. The team put that to the test in a live YouTube stream and wound up with a final time of 38 hours and 52 minutes. Keep in mind, the indoor temperature of your home as well as your specific refrigerator can alter the exact time. But Anker's test proves the model worthy of keeping your food safe for well over a day.

SEE ALSO: Regularly $799, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 power station is $429 right now at Amazon

Getting into some specifics, the S2000 has 2,010Wh of battery capacity while only weighing about 36 pounds. I've tested dozens of power stations and can say that's lightweight for a battery that holds over 2,000Wh.

It's also compact, measuring 8.2 inches × 11.1 inches × 12.7 inches. Anker put eight outlets on this model on both the front and the back of the power station. It has three AC ports on the front and two on the rear. This configuration is great for using a rear AC port for the fridge while keeping the front open for other kitchen items like the kettle of a coffee maker. The front also houses two USB-C ports and a USB-A, so you can keep your phone and other small devices charged up.

Before the next power outage, upgrade your home with the Anker Solix S2000. It'll give you the reassurance your fridge can continue cooling despite grid power going down. It's on sale for $599.99 at Amazon for a limited time. It's quite possible the current contents of your fridge are worth more than that.

Aside from snowballs, swimming pools, and air conditioning, nothing keeps the summer vibe chill like a refreshing movie. They provide zen-like escapes to help lower stress levels and offer mental rejuvenation, leaving us feeling hopeful and relaxed.

My home is full of cheap Wi-Fi smart bulbs that were hard to ignore because of how little they cost and how easy they were to set up. But as I got more into home labbing, I started questioning how much of my own setup was dependent on cloud services just for basic functionality.

SAVE OVER $10: As of July 6, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is on sale for $21.99 at Amazon. That's $18 off its full price of $39.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $21.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $18.00   Get Deal

The Fire TV Stick 4K Select may have dropped to $10 during Prime Day, but if you missed out on that offer, you can actually still save right now at Amazon.

As of July 6, this streaming device is on sale for $21.99 at Amazon. It may be just over $10 more than Prime Day, but it's still a pretty solid discount to take advantage if you're wanting to upgrade to 4K streaming. In comparison to its full price of $39.99, you're saving $18. Overall, that's a 45% discount, which isn't bad at all. On top of that, it even comes with one month of Xbox Game Pass for free if you're a new user.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (July 3, 2026)

If you're looking to make the jump from HD to 4K without splashing out on the pricier 4K Fire TV Sticks, this is an excellent model to start with. The Fire TV Stick 4K Select supports 4K Ultra HD picture quality alongside HDR10+. It also supports WiFi 5 for streaming quality and comes with 8GB of storage for holding all of your favorite apps.

If you're curious what the differences are between each 4K Fire TV stick before buying, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select store page features a nice breakdown of each. That way, you can feel a bit more informed before dropping your cash.

Don't miss out on this great deal on the Fire TV Stick 4K Select at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Samsung is going to make a lot of money selling memory chips.

According to Reuters, the company is about to post a huge profit increase estimate for its Q2 profit, an 18-fold increase compared to the same period last year. That would be 86 trillion won ($56.35 billion) in profit for the quarter starting in April and ending in June, up from just 4.7 trillion won ($3 billion) in Q2 2025.

SEE ALSO: 7 ways the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra turns your next festival into content worth posting

The reported number comes from an estimate based on forecasts from 30 analysts, and reflects an ongoing memory chip supply crunch. The insatiable need for memory chip recently drove stock prices of memory chip makers such as Micron and Hynix through the roof. As the largest chip memory chipmaker in the world, Samsung will profit from the market imbalance too.

Samsung sells memory chips to numerous companies including tech giants such as Apple, Google, and Nvidia.

The global memory crisis, dubbed the RAMageddon, has helped memory chip makers lock in lucrative contracts and increase profits, but it also caused consumer tech prices to surge. In June, Apple announced significant price increases across numerous product categories, and gadgets such as the PlayStation, the Switch, phones like Motorola Razr, and laptops from Acer, Dell, Lenovo, and Microsoft have suffered a similar fate.

Featured Video For You Boys on the internet are telling me nicotine is a productivity hack

The term “MiniLED” has become a hot buzzword as this technology spreads across the entire price range of modern televisions. The average person buying a TV knows that MiniLED technology is the successor to older LCD backlighting solutions and is the best of them.

There are a ton of Linux distributions out there, and figuring out which one to use can get overwhelming fast. DistroWatch is a great place to start because it's the go-to hub for tracking what's popular in the Linux world. At the time of writing, it’s ranking CachyOS, Linux Mint, MX Linux, Pop!_OS, and Debian as the five most popular distros.

The Play Store is packed with millions of apps, which means there are alternatives to pretty much all of them. This is especially nice when it comes to paid apps—up-front or subscription. Sometimes, a free option is just as good.

TL;DR: Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Australian Open, French Open, and U.S. Open would all argue that they're the biggest tennis event on the schedule, but Wimbledon has that special something.

Maybe it's the fast-paced tennis on lush green surfaces? Maybe it's the crisp white outfits? Or maybe it's the copious amounts of champagne and strawberries consumed by fans? Whatever the reason, Wimbledon is hard to beat.

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

What is Wimbledon?

Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world. It is the third of four Grand Slam tennis events each year.

The defending singles champions are Jannik Sinner and Iga Świątek.

When is Wimbledon in 2026?

The 2026 Wimbledon Championships is the 139th edition of the tournament. This year's event takes place from June 29 to July 12.

How to watch Wimbledon 2026 for free

Wimbledon 2026 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer 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 free live streams on sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Wimbledon 2026 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 (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 BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Wimbledon 2026 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 money-back guarantees and free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to live stream Wimbledon 2026 before recovering your investment. It's a sneaky trick, but it works.

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 Wimbledon, 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 BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, 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 always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight 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 Wimbledon.

Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $598: As of July 6, the TCL 85-inch NXTVISION Frame TV is on sale for $1,399.96 at Amazon. That's down from $1,997.99, saving you $598.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL NXTVISION 85-Inch Frame TV $1,399.96 at Amazon
$1,997.99 Save $598.03   Get Deal

The TCL 85-inch NXTVISION Frame TV is now $1,399.96 at Amazon. That's down from $1,997.99, saving you $598 — the lowest price we’ve seen for this model and about $98 below its Prime Day low.

The TCL Frame TV sits directly against the wall, measuring just 1.1 inches thin. Instead of a bulky setup, the main hardware is built in, so there’s no separate external box. It comes with a light wood-style magnetic frame in the box, so you can change how it looks depending on your room — or keep the clean off-white bezel for a more minimal setup.

A flush wall mount is included to keep the TV close to the wall for a framed-art effect. Just note, it’s designed specifically for this setup and doesn’t work with standard VESA mounts.

The screen itself is matte and anti-glare, which helps it blend in more like framed artwork than a traditional TV. There’s also an art mode with a built-in library, AI-generated artwork options, and the ability to display your own photos. Installation is simple with an included template and mounting system, so it goes up cleanly, with no visible gaps or clutter.

Grab the TCL 85-inch NXTVISION Frame TV at Amazon while it's at its best-ever price.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 Tour de France for free on SBS on Demand. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We know there's a lot of sport taking place right now and your schedule is probably stacked with live action from the World Cup and Wimbledon, but can we suggest making a little time for the Tour de France? It is the world's most prestigious cycling race, after all.

This edition of the Tour de France is shaping up to be pretty special. Tadej Pogacar is seeking a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title, but he's going to face stiff competition from his rival Jonas Vingegaard and new star Paul Seixas. It's going to be a fascinating ride over the next few weeks.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Tour de France for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the Tour de France?

The Tour de France is an annual men's multi-stage bicycle race held in France (and often passing through nearby countries). This famous race forms part of the Grand Tours (alongside the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España).

The defending champion is Tadej Pogacar.

When is the 2026 Tour de France?

The 2026 Tour de France is the 113th edition of the event. This year's event takes place from July 4-26.

How to watch the 2026 Tour de France for free

The 2026 Tour de France is available to live stream for free on SBS on Demand.

SBS on Demand is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone from around the world 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 Australia, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the 2026 Tour de France from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 Tour de France 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 (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

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

4. Connect to SBS on Demand

5. Stream the 2026 Tour de France from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking streaming sites are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials and money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Tour de France without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you time to follow the 2026 Tour de France before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free live streams from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Tour de France?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for accessing free live streams from around the world, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, as well as platforms like Linux, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and routers

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight 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 Tour de France for free with ExpressVPN.

England beat Mexico 3-2 on Sunday, securing a spot in the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup — and if there was any doubt whatsoever in your mind as to how England Captain Harry Kane might be feeling about the victory, his post-match interview made it crystal clear.

Here he is speaking with the BBC about the game while struggling a bit to find his voice.

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"Yeah it was a crazy game," says Kane in that clip, rubbing his throat. "But yep, we had to find...we had to find something. Yeah I've just been saying in there, I can't really talk."

SEE ALSO: How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup online for free

The Bert from Sesame Street comparisons were inevitable.

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

He now has five days to rest that voice before England take on Norway in the quarter finals on Saturday.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're an online dater.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for July 6, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Mind-blowing

• Green: Experiment

• Blue: Iconic animated character

• Purple: Find your match

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

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Stunning news

• Green: Science fair model subjects

• Blue: Acme products used by Wile E. Coyote

• Purple: Starting with dating apps

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

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1121 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Stunning news: BOMBSHELL, REVELATION, SHOCKER, THUNDERBOLT

• Science fair model subjects: ATOM, DNA, SOLAR SYSTEM, VOLCANO

• Acme products used by Wile E. Coyote: EARTHQUAKE PILLS, IRON BIRD SEED, ROCKET SKATES, TNT

• Starting with dating apps: BUMBLEBEE, GRIND RAIL, MATCHA, TINDERBOX

What is "iron bird seed"?

"Iron bird seed" is a fictional ACME product from classic Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons, used by Wile E. Coyote in one of his many failed attempts to catch the Road Runner. The product is exactly what it sounds like: bird seed mixed with iron pellets. The Coyote’s plan is to feed it to the Road Runner, then use a giant magnet to pull the now-magnetic bird into a trap.

As usual, the scheme backfires. Instead of catching the Road Runner, the Coyote ends up becoming the victim of his own ACME setup.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 6, 2026

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you can take the heat.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 6, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: The growing season

The words are related to this time of year.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe a hot season.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Summertime.

NYT Strands word list for July 6

• Burgeon

• Thrive

• Bloom

• Summertime

• Expand

• Spread

• Flourish

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love a good drink.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 6, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for July 6, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An alcoholic drink.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter D appears twice.

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

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

TODDY

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

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

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you watch international soccer.

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

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

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

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

Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.

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

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

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

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

• Yellow: Leaving a team

• Green: Regionally specific

• Blue: Best sluggers

• Purple: Almost USA members

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Move on from a player

• Green: San Diego teams

• Blue: Members of the 600-HR club

• Purple: USMNT players, with the last letter removed

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

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #651 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Move on from a player: CUT, RELEASE, TRADE, WAIVE

• San Diego teams: AZTECS, PADRES, SAN DIEGO FC, WAVE

• Members of the 600-HR club: AARON, RUTH, SOSA, THOME

• USMNT players, with the last letter removed: ADAM, FREES, RICHARD TRUST

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

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

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

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

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Monday, July 6, 2026:

AcrossHalloween silhouette

• The answer is Bat.

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

Ron's assistant on "Parks and Recreation"

• The answer is April.

State that only borders one other state

• The answer is Maine.

Out of money

• The answer is Broke.

"___ all good!"

• The answer is Its.

DownDisney deer

• The answer is Bambi.

Split up

• The answer is Apart.

Groups of three

• The answer is Trios.

Octopus's defense against predators

• The answer is Ink.

Harper ___, author of "To Kill a Mockingbird"

• The answer is Lee.

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In the age of on-demand everything, it’s no surprise that we can get "dates" (and I use that term loosely) with the tap of a button. Thanks to classic hookup apps like Tinder and newcomers like Pure, finding a sexy new friend can be as straightforward as ordering a pizza. As for the quality? That’s about the same as your pizza — hit or miss, depending on the time of day, where you're located, and how hungry you are.

Fortunately, you’ve got me, your resident dating app expert (though I prefer modern-day Carrie Bradshaw), to guide you to the promised land, aka the best hookup apps.

I’ve spent the past three years (yes, years) researching, downloading, and testing dozens of the top dating apps to find the best ones for all kinds of daters, including the one-night-stand crowd. From discrete sexting apps to dating sites for serious relationships, I've swiped through them all. I also consulted a helpful panel of sex and relationship experts to make sure my picks are solid.

How to get the most out of hookup apps

My number one rule is to be brutally honest about what it is you want. You’re here for a good time? Own it. That means staying in your lane; don't go looking for a one-night stand on an app like eharmony.

"Hookup apps help prevent situations where people are on mainstream dating sites with the intention of having a casual hookup but are unclear about these intentions," Suzannah Weiss, resident sexologist for Biird and author of Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject, tells Mashable. "They also give women a space to be openly sexual creatures without judgment."

And here's a little secret I picked up from Alexander Liebisch, the CEO and founder of TinderProfile.ai: Timing is everything. He found that people messaging on Tinder's "free tonight" feature after 10 p.m. on a weekend had a 45 percent higher chance of hooking up.

So, whether you're looking for a one-night stand, a regular FWB situation, or just a space to explore your sexuality, I've got you covered. Based on all my hands-on testing and expert consultations, I’ve broken down the best hookup app for every type of person and mood.

Recent updates to this guide

• Hinge: Hinge just keeps getting better, so I’ve bumped it up higher on my list as of October 2025. In our most recent update in June 2026, it still earns the top spot. Its user base is growing, and my own recent tests on the app have been surprisingly positive.

• Sniffies (added September 2025): I've added Sniffies, the map-based app for queer men, because it's been gaining a lot of traction. (It got a little too spicy for Apple and was pulled from the App Store, so it's now technically a dating site.) Don't say I didn't warn you about the NSFW content.

• FetLife (added September 2025): FetLife is my new favorite "Honorable Mention." It's not your typical hookup app; it's more of a social network for the kink community (and, oddly enough, the best hookup app for gamers). Just remember: it's a community, so don't treat it like Tinder.

• Plenty of Fish (removed January 2025): POF went through a rebrand recently, and honestly, I'm not impressed. My latest tests showed they got rid of key features like free messaging for non-matches, and I kept running into the same old profiles.

• Match (removed August 2025): I know some people say they've found casual hookups on Match, but that's not what it's for. Match is where you go to find a serious, long-term relationship, and I still recommend it for that. But for a hookup? You're just fishing in the wrong pond.

Why some popular hookup apps didn't make the cut

You might notice a few apps that pop up in ads or other lists are missing here. That’s intentional. I swipe through the good, the bad, and the downright sketchy so you don’t have to. For an app to make my list, it has to be effective, safe, and worth your time.

Here's a shortlist of apps that didn't make the cut this year:

• Wild: You’ve probably seen ads for this one. On paper, Wild sounds like the perfect casual dating app. In practice, the paywalls are aggressive, the distance filter doesn't work, and you have to pay for anything that's even remotely useful. Unless you're willing to spend serious cash upfront (and hope for the best), the experience feels limited compared to more open apps like Tinder.

• DOWN: This app (formerly "Bang With Friends") is known for its simple "Get Down" vs. "Get Date" feature. It sounds clever, but in reality, the experience is messy at best. Many users report feeling scammed by subscriptions that don't deliver matches, or finding that the few real people on there are... let's say "odd." It’s hard to recommend an app when the main user complaint is "Is anyone real?" Hard pass.

• Facebook Dating: Yes, Facebook has a dating section, and it’s surprisingly massive (and completely free, which is huge). While it's a decent option for casual dating, the vibe tends to be a bit more "friends of friends" and "relationship-focused" than the anonymous, no-strings energy you get from apps like Pure or Feeld. (For Mashable's Chance Townsend, signing up was "the most uneventful dating experience" of his life.) It's worth a shot if you're already on Facebook, but it didn't quite crack my top tier for hookups specifically.

TL;DR: All 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup are available to watch for free on BBC iPlayer/ITVX. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The world is watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

16 cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada are welcoming the best international sides from around the world as they compete for arguably the biggest prize in sport. The knockout rounds are really heating up. We've already seen powerhouses like Germany and Brazil get dumped out, and it feels like there's so much more still to come from huge names like Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Lionel Messi.

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

What is the FIFA World Cup?

The World Cup is an international football competition between senior men's national teams. The 2026 World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, split into 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams in each group and the eight best third-placed teams will progress to the knockout rounds.

The defending champions are Argentina. They won their third title at the 2022 World Cup after defeating France in an epic final.

When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup is the 23rd edition of this famous competition. This year's tournament takes place from June 11 to July 19.

How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free

A number of streaming platforms are offering free coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

• Australia — SBS

• Austria — ORF and ServusTV

• Belgium — RTBF and VRT

• France — M6

• Germany — ARD and ZDF

• Ireland — RTÉ

• Italy — RAI

• Norway — NRK

• Netherlands — NOS

• Spain — RTVE

• UK — BBC iPlayer and ITVX (recommended)

These streaming services are geo-restricted, 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 another location, meaning you can livestream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream the 2026 FIFA World Cup 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 BBC iPlayer or ITVX (recommended)

5. Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup 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 FIFA World Cup without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this tournament 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 the FIFA World Cup?

ExpressVPN is the best choice 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 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.