Blogroll

Perfect automation is the ultimate goal for my smart home, but until I reach that point, there are times when I need to make things happen manually. I've used smart buttons in my home, but I often prefer NFC tags, which can do the job for a fraction of the price.

If you've spent any time consuming dating content lately, you've almost certainly encountered the vocabulary: high value, alpha, body count, Chad. Terms that, not long ago, were esoterically confined to misogynistic, racist incel ("involuntarily celibate") forums and have now migrated wholesale into mainstream culture — repackaged as self-improvement content, dating advice, and meme language for Twitter-poisoned 20-somethings. The far right "manosphere," as we've reported multiple times before, is no longer a fringe phenomenon. It's in your For You Page.

Incel communities first took root in the early 2000s on 4chan and Reddit, largely invisible to anyone outside their orbit. They gained their first brush of mainstream notoriety in the mid-2010s — when Reddit banned r/incels in 2017, and a string of high-profile domestic terror attacks carried out by self-identified incels forced the broader public to reckon with what had been quietly festering online. When "incel" entered the popular lexicon, its accompanying vocabulary was considered icky at best and flatly dehumanizing at worst.

SEE ALSO: Who is Clavicular, and why is he everywhere right now?

But the language never went away. Chad, alpha male, high-value man, Stacy — these terms didn't disappear when the subreddits got banned. They dispersed, seeping into fitness content, dating advice, meme pages, and self-help guides.

Studies from the University of Portsmouth and reporting from The Guardian show how gaming and social media content focused on dating advice, hustle culture, and gym tips can often serve as a gateway to exposing young boys to incel and right-wing content.

So, just like our Looksmaxxing glossary, consider this your field guide to the terms, communities, and ideologies infiltrating the way a generation talks about dating — and themselves.

80/20 rule

In the context of dating, incels believe that 80 percent of women are only romantically available to the top 20 percent of men — leaving the remaining 80 percent of men to compete for whatever's left.

The theory is borrowed from the Pareto Principle, a power law originally used in business management, which states that roughly 80 percent of outcomes stem from 20 percent of causes.

Alpha Male

A domineering, aggressive man who is perceived to sit atop the male social hierarchy. The concept draws on animal behavioral science — specifically, studies of captive wolf packs — as a framework for understanding male dominance. The term is borrowed from the Greek alphabet, where alpha (α) denotes the first and highest rank.

The researchers behind that original work have long since walked it back, calling it an oversimplification that doesn't hold up to scrutiny, let alone translate cleanly to human behavior.

AWALT ("All Women Are Like That")

An acronym for "All Women Are Like That." The assumption that "all women" are driven by the same hypergamous, self-serving instincts.

In red pill and incel spaces, AWALT is a thought-terminating cliché to preemptively dismiss any evidence that complicates their worldview, and that any woman who appears otherwise is either an exception to the rule (like moms or sisters) or simply hasn't been tested yet.

Becky

The general population of women who are below the status of Stacy's — highly attractive, hyperfeminine women who have sex with Chads. Whereas a Stacy is seen as unattainable to an incel, the community feels owed sex and attention from Becky's for their perceived lower status in the SMV (see below).

Beta Male

Unremarkable men who are subservient to alphas. Believed to lack the physical presence, charisma, and confidence of the Alpha male.

Beta Orbiter

A man who circles a woman he's attracted to — attending to her emotionally, defending her online, laughing at all her jokes — in the hopes of getting into a romantic relationship. Incels use the term as a pejorative to describe a man so deep in the "friendzone" that he's essentially providing all the benefits of a relationship for none of the rewards.

Betabux

A derogatory term for men in relationships with women who have settled and seek financial stability. Also known as a "beta provider," the term expresses the belief that women have their fun with Chads in their prime, and now that she's hit "the Wall" (see below), she's traded down to a financially stable but romantically unexciting beta to foot the bill.

The term itself is 4chan leetspeak (internet slang originating in early hacker and gaming communities that substitutes numbers and symbols for letters) — a compression of "beta" and "bucks," distilled from the phrase "alpha fux, beta bux." Meaning women sleep with Chads and spend a beta's money.

Black Pill

Blackpilling is a nihilistic offshoot of incel ideology and the manosphere that believes that, in the heterosexual dating market, physical attractiveness is the only thing that matters.

This worldview is propped up by pseudoscientific frameworks and cherry-picked data. It's the ideological bedrock from which practices like looksmaxxing grow. To "take the black pill" is to accept this as truth.

Blue Pill

A willful refusal to acknowledge what incels believe is the observable reality — that modern society is structurally rigged against men. Borrowed from the famous choice in The Matrix, "swallowing the blue pill" means choosing comfortable ignorance over the hard truth.

Body Count

A person's total number of sexual partners. Incels use this as a measure of a woman's long-term relationship viability — the higher the number, the lower her perceived value.

Briffault's Law

Credited to French surgeon and social anthropologist Robert Briffault, it states: "The female, not the male, determines all the conditions of the animal family. Where the female can derive no benefit from association with the male, no such association takes place."

In the view of incels, they use Briffault's Law to assert that women are selfish and only use men for their own personal gain.

Chad

Incel slang for typically white, physically attractive, and sexually successful men. Chads represent the top 1 percent of men that women seek in the dating marketplace. Chads are often depicted in memes as a strong-jawed, blonde Übermensch. Incels have racist variations of Chad, including Tyrone (Black), Chaddam (Arab), Chang (East Asian), and Chadpreet (Indian).

Chadlite is used to describe men who are above average in looks, but not to the level of a Chad.

Cuck

In incel spaces, a cuck is any man perceived to have surrendered his masculine authority. It's a shortening of cuckold — historically, a man who derives sexual pleasure from watching his partner sleep with someone else.

ELO Score

A ranking algorithm developed for competitive chess to measure and compare player skill levels. Dating apps like Tinder have used a variation of it in the past to do essentially the same thing.

Femcel

A portmanteau of "female" and "incel" — women who claim to experience involuntary celibacy on the same terms as their male counterparts. The male-dominated incel community is largely dismissive of the category altogether.

Femoid

A portmanteau of "female" and "humanoid" (or "female humanoid organism," according to the UN), this is one of many pejorative terms incels use to refer to women. Sometimes shortened to Foid.

Friendzone

A metaphorical relationship purgatory in which a man pursues romantic interest in a woman who wants to keep things strictly platonic.

The concept broke into mainstream culture largely through shows like Friends and has since become a fixture of how people talk about unrequited attraction. For incels, the term expresses the belief that women are exploiting emotionally available men for attention while reserving genuine interest exclusively for Chads.

Game

A term for techniques used by Pick Up Artists to hit on women. These techniques include negging (backhanded compliments to undermine a woman's confidence), peacocking (dressing loudly to invite attention), and push-pull (alternating interest and withdrawal to manufacture tension).

High Value Man

A man deemed desirable by society at large and, more specifically, by women. These values range from some combination of wealth, status, physical dominance, and social clout.

High Value Woman

The female counterpart to the High Value Man (see above), though the criteria are considerably narrower. Where a man's value is assessed across wealth, status, physique, and social clout, a woman's value in manosphere spaces is evaluated almost exclusively on physical attractiveness, hyperfemininity, youth, and sexual history.

Hypergamy

The belief that women are hardwired to date and marry up — gravitating toward men of higher status, wealth, and physical dominance than themselves.

Incel

Short for "involuntarily celibate," the incel community has its origins in a niche blog created in the late 1990s. Alana's Involuntary Celibacy Project began as a genuine support group for people of all genders struggling to find romantic connections.

Over time, the male incel community grew more extreme, placing the blame for their struggles squarely on women. These groups migrated to 4chan and Reddit — first to r/incels, then to r/Braincels after the former was banned in 2017. In the 2020s, the ideology was associated with various terror attacks carried out by self-described incels.

Looksmatch

To date someone at a perceived level of equal attractiveness.

Manlet

A pejorative for a short man — typically any male under 5'10", though the cutoff shifts depending on who you ask.

Manosphere

A loosely connected ecosystem of online communities, forums, podcasts, blogs, and influencers united by a shared pro-male, anti-feminist, and misogynistic ideology. The through line is a belief that men are the aggrieved party in modern society, and that feminism, dating culture, and mainstream institutions have been rigged against them.

MRA

Short for Men's Rights Activists. A subset of the manosphere focused on advocating for issues they believe disproportionately harm men, like custody battles, military conscription, and male suicide rates. MRA spaces frequently devolve into anti-feminist grievance politics, treating any advancement of women's rights as a direct attack on men.

Nice Guy

Nice Guy or "Nice Guy Syndrome" is a label for a man who believes basic acts of kindness and decency entitle him to a romantic partner.

Normie

Average-looking, boring person. One who doesn't participate in the incel community or interact with the manosphere.

NPC

Short for Non-Player Character. Used in the context of video games to refer to background characters encountered in the game that are not controlled by the player.

Used by incels to describe someone who is devoid of any original thought or individuality. The term is now popular as Gen Z/Alpha internet slang to refer to inoffensive, mindless trend followers.

Pink and Blue roles

The association of pink and blue with traditional heteronormative gender roles in a relationship. Pink for domestic and emotionally supportive roles like cooking, cleaning, and childcare. Blue for provider roles like financial support, physical protection, and household maintenance.

Proximity principle

A psychological theory suggesting that people in close physical proximity are more likely to form interpersonal relationships. The principle has a more cynical standing in incel circles as it's reframed as relationships made out of convenience.

PSL rating

A pseudoscientific attractiveness ranking system built by the looksmaxxing community to put an empirical number on your face. The acronym is an amalgamation of three defunct incel forums — PUAhate, SlutHate, and Lookism.

The scale runs from 0.25 to 8 (some versions go from 1 to 8), though in practice, no one actually scores an 8. It measures facial features like eye shape, canthal tilt ("the angle or slant of the outer corners of the eyes"), nose angles, jaw size, and lip thickness. Proponents of the scale can be found on sites like Looksmax.org and on Reddit, in r/rateme and r/truerateme.

PUA

"Pick Up Artist." The ecosystem and community of grifters and self-appointed coaches who sell self-help content to sexually inexperienced young men. Originally, the term was a self-applied label for members who treated seducing women as a learnable skill set.

At its peak in the mid-2000s, the PUA community built a cottage industry of boot camps, forums, and bestselling books.

Want our dating and relationships stories and more in your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter today.

Purple Pill

Used derogatorily by incels for those who have a neutral stance towards "the truth" of gender relations.

r/MGTOW

MGTOW stands for "Men Going Their Own Way." r/MGTOW is a now-banned subreddit and broader online subsection of the manosphere built around the philosophy of male self-prioritization in what its members view as an inherently "gynocentric" — the belief that society is structurally organized around female interests at the direct expense of men. In practice, that philosophy manifests as a deliberate withdrawal from romantic relationships, marriage, and fatherhood altogether.

Red Pill

The central ideological pillar of the manosphere. To "swallow the red pill" is to reject the mainstream social narrative and accept that modern society is structurally discriminatory toward men.

Roastie

A derogatory term for sexually active women.

Sexual Market Value

An individual's measure of sexual attractiveness is scored on a decile scale of 1 to 10. The formula shifts depending on gender. For women, SMV is almost entirely physical. For men, the calculus is broader: physique, income, career status, social clout, and personality can all push the number up or down.

Sigma

Introverted, solitary alpha males. The term borrows from the lowercase Greek letter σ, used in mathematics and statistics to denote standard deviation — a measure of how far something falls outside the norm.

The concept is taken seriously in some corners of the manosphere, though it has been so thoroughly absorbed by meme culture that it's become nearly impossible to deploy without irony.

Simp

A man who performs excessive deference toward a woman in hopes of romantic return. In incel spaces, any visible effort is enough to earn the label.

Soyboy

A pejorative for men perceived as soft, effeminate, or insufficiently masculine. Typically applied to liberal, progressive, or emotionally expressive men. The "soy" refers to a debunked theory that soy products lower testosterone levels.

Stacy

The female equivalent of a Chad (i.e., physically attractive, sexually successful men). A Stacy is hyperfeminine, attractive, socially popular, and — crucially, to the incels — sexually active.

The term carries an implicit resentment: Stacy's represent everything incels want and, by their own logic, everything they'll never have access to.

The Wall

The age (usually 25 to 27) at which a woman's physical attractiveness is believed to peak and then begin to decline. In incel spaces, hitting the Wall is when women supposedly lose access to high-value men and begin settling for betabux (see above).

Trad Wife

Short for traditional wife. A woman who embraces conventional domestic gender roles — homemaking, childcare, deference to a male partner — either by personal conviction or ideological alignment with the manosphere's preferred social order.

SEE ALSO: 'We're all sinners': the Conservative tradwife who does OnlyFans White Knighting

The act of defending a woman (or women's rights) online or in-person typically attributed to ulterior romantic motives rather than genuine principle. Viewed by incels as simps in armor.

A quick look at the best Amazon TV deals ahead of the Big Spring Sale Best 55-inch TV deal Hisense 55-inch Canvas QLED 4K TV $687.99 at Amazon (save $306) Get Deal Best 65-inch TV deal TCL 65-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV $999.99 at Amazon (save $500) Get Deal Best 75-inch TV deal Hisense 75-inch U7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV $897.96 at Amazon (save $398) Get Deal

Most of the year's major flagship TVs announced in January are typically out by the end of March, cueing retailers to push deals on last year's TVs even harder. March was further established as one of the best months to buy a TV when Amazon started holding a massive annual spring sale. This year, it's longer than ever: The 2026 Big Spring Sale runs from March 25 through 31. And a ton of TVs are already on sale.

SEE ALSO: What to look for when buying a TV, as told through this easy TV specs guide

It's not just Amazon's in-house Fire TVs that see big discounts during the Big Spring Sale — they're hardly the best TVs you can get for the money right now. The most worthwhile Amazon TV deals are from solid budget brands like TCL and Hisense, with a few premium options like Samsung's The Frame thrown in. To find deals on premium 2025 OLEDs, Best Buy tends to have way more options.

We’re tracking the strongest Amazon TV deals leading up to the Big Spring Sale, with a rolling list updated as prices change. Every model featured here is at, or lower than, its previous best price based on data from camelcamelcamel, so these are genuinely competitive offers. We’re also watching for fresh discounts across the models we've picked as the best 65-inch TVs you can buy this year.

Best early Big Spring Sale TV deal Hisense 75-inch U7 QLED 4K TV $897.96 at Amazon
$1,297.99 Save $400.03   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

One TV that's actually beating its previous record-low sale price is the 2025 75-inch Hisense U7. Currently 31 percent off, it's $103 cheaper than it was just a month ago during Presidents' Day sales.

The 2026 version of the same TV was just unveiled on March 6, so a new price drop on the predecessor model certainly tracks. The 2026 75-inch U7 will cost $1,999.99 — more than $1,000 steeper than the 2025 model's $899.99 sale price. Those are the kind of steals we were talking about.

This mini LED model packs a serious punch for the price. Its brightness in SDR and HDR gets consistently great notes across the internet, with glare handling strong enough for most sunlit rooms. You don't always see a 165 Hz refresh rate in budget to mid-range TVs, so the Hisense U7 is a top contender for an XL gaming TV under $1,000.

Deals on 43-inch TVs and under

• Hisense 32-inch S5 Déco QLED FHD TV — $194.99 $299.99 (save $105)

• Insignia 43-inch Class F50 Series 4K Fire TV — $132.99 $199.99 (save $67)

• Toshiba 43-inch Class C350 Series — $159.99 $299.99 (save $140)

• Amazon 43-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV (newest model) — $199.97 $329.99 (save $130.02)

• Samsung 43-inch Q8F QLED 4K TV — $397.99 $547.99 (save $150)

Deals on 50- to 55-inch TVs

• Amazon 50-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $239.97 $399.99 (save $160.02)

• Amazon 55-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV (newest model) — $279.97 $459.99 (save $180.02)

• LG 50-inch QNED82 4K TV — $396.99 $466.99 (save $70)

• Hisense 55-inch U6 Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV — $398 $549.99 (save $151.99)

• Amazon 55-inch Omni QLED 4K Fire TV — $439.99 $499.99 (save $60)

• Hisense 55-Inch S7N Canvas QLED 4K TV — $687.99 $999.99 (save $312)

• Hisense 55-inch U8 Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV — $737.96 $898 (save $160.04)

• Samsung 55-inch S90F OLED 4K TV — $1,097.99 $1,597.99 (save $400)

Deals on 65-inch TVs

• TCL 65-inch T7 QLED 4K Fire TV — $477.15 $699.99 (save $221.85)

• Hisense 65-inch U8 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $847.96 $2,199.99 (save $1,353.03)

• Hisense 65-Inch S7N Canvas QLED 4K TV — $887.99 $1,097.99 (save $210)

• TCL 65-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $997.97 $1,499.99 (save $502.02)

Deals on 75-inch TVs and up

• TCL 75-inch QM6K Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $797.99 $999.99 (save $202)

• TCL 75-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $1,497.97 $1,999.99 (save $502.02)

• Samsung 77-inch S90F OLED 4K TV — $1,997.99 $2,497.99 (save $500)

• Hisense 85-inch U8 Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV — $1,687.96 $2,297.99 (save $610.03)

With Linux, especially if you're new, it can be confusing when the operating system slows down—seemingly out of the blue. It can happen with any OS, but you might know how to pinpoint it on Windows, yet not Linux.

Wikipedia, the beloved online encyclopedia, has debated for a while on how to handle the use of large language models (LLMs) in articles. Now, the practice is officially banned, save for a few exceptions in editing and translation.

A quick look at the best early Amazon Spring Sale AirPods deals: Best AirPods 4 Deal Apple AirPods 4 $99 (save $30) Get Deal Best AirPods Pro Deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199.99 (save $49.01) Get Deal Best AirPods Max deal AirPods Max (1st Gen, USB-C) $449.99 (save $99.01) Get Deal

It's official: Amazon's Big Spring Sale is back and ready to deliver another batch of deals for shoppers. If you're itching to see what the retailer has available for this year's event, the good news is you don't have to wait for its start date (it runs from March 25 to 31). Already, we've spotted quite a few offers worth checking out, including some stellar deals on Apple AirPods.

The AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4 (both with and without ANC), and first-gen AirPods Max are already on sale at Amazon. If you've been looking to score new earbuds or headphones to pair with your Apple tech this year, we've gathered up our favorite early AirPods deals below.

SEE ALSO: The best Apple deals to shop ahead of the Amazon Big Spring Sale — save on AirPods, iPads, and MacBooks

Note that no AirPods have returned to their lowest prices on record yet, so there's always a chance they could get cheaper. We'll be sure to update this page if new deals go live once the sale starts.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

FYI: You don't need to be an Amazon Prime member to shop the sale, but members will receive exclusive deals on a variety of items.

Best AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $99 at Amazon
$129 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're not looking to drop a ton of cash on new earbuds, one of our favorite early deals is on the AirPods 4 without Active Noise Cancellation. These AirPods have dropped to just $99 at Amazon, saving you $30 on list price. We think these are the best budget earbuds for Apple users.

If you had your eye on the AirPods 4 with ANC, the good news is those are also on sale right now. They are currently marked down to just $148.99 at Amazon, or about $30 off their original list price of $179. So no matter which option you choose, you can save some cash right now.

Best AirPods Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $49.01   Get Deal Why we like it

The AirPods Pro 3 are some of our favorite earbuds for Apple users, earning spots on both our lists of the best headphones and best earbuds. Our review had high praise for them, with writer Adam Doud calling them, "a remarkable upgrade in functionality over their predecessors, with better battery life and ANC, as well as a new heart rate sensor."

Boasting great sound quality and noise-cancelling features, alongside a hefty battery life that can last up to eight hours (with ANC) on a single charge, these AirPods are a nice upgrade indeed. Ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale, they're marked down to $199.99.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 3.

Best AirPods Max deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max (1st Gen, USB-C) $449.99 at Amazon
$549 Save $99.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Premium noise-canceling headphones from brands like Sony and Bose are a much better value, but AirPods Max remain a popular pick nonetheless. (If nothing else, they're super stylish.) Apple announced the AirPods Max 2 with better ANC and smart features earlier this month, and now the first-gen models with USB-C charging are on sale on Amazon for $449.99. That's about $100 off their regular retail price of $549.

Read Mashable's full review of the first-generation Apple AirPods Max.

Best Amazon Big Spring Sale Apple iPad deals: Best iPad deal overall Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) $349 (save $50) Get Deal Best iPad Air deal Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4 $559 (save $40) Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is just a few days away, running from March 25-31. This event typically sees of all kinds of products with heavy discounts, giving you an early-year treat before the major sales events get going later in the year.

The Amazon Spring Sale is a good time to pick up pricier buys, whether that’s a robot vacuum, a TV or an Apple product. And if you’ve been eyeing up an iPad, some models have already dropped in price ahead of next week’s sale. We’ve pulled together the best live deals to make things easier.

Best iPad deal overall Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) $299 at Walmart
$349 Save $50   Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy Why we like it

The 11-inch iPad packs a serious punch thanks to the A16 chip, Liquid Retina display, and fast Wi‑Fi, making it perfect for everything from streaming to editing. We've even ranked it as our favorite budget iPad for 2026. It has iPadOS, support for Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard, and a 12MP Center Stage front camera, so it really is a perfect all rounder.

More iPad deals

• Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) — $299 $349 (save $50)

• Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) — $559 $599 (save $40)

• Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) — $564 $599 (save $35)

• Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) — $597 $699 (save $102)

• Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) — $649.99 $699 (save $50)

• Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) — $1,199 $1,299 (save $100)

• Apple iPad Pro 13-Inch (M4) — $1,299 $1,499 (save $200)

Back when SSDs were a distant future, and we were all using hard drives, there wasn't really much speed to choose other than 5400 rpm and 7200 rpm. So we had to rely on sloppy hacks and tricks to get our drives working faster. One common trick was short-stroking.

A quick look at Amazon's best MacBook deals ahead of the Big Spring Sale: Best MacBook Air deal (to grab now) Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,299 (save $300) Get Deal Best MacBook Pro deal (that will probably get better soon) Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,799 (save $200) Get Deal Best MacBook Neo deal (that's barely a deal) Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $689.99 (save $9.01) Get Deal

Amazon is gearing up to host its third annual Big Spring Sale from March 25 to 31. The event mainly revolves around seasonal essentials like cleaning supplies and outdoor gear, but in the past, it's also featured deals on tech — including flagship Apple products. Since the company just refreshed (and expanded) its MacBook lineup earlier this month, I'm thinking Amazon will put a big focus on clearing out its remaining inventory of last-gen laptops.

In the days leading up to the sale, I'm already seeing some pretty great deals on M4 MacBook Airs. Amazon's biggest discount thus far is going to a 15-inch model with 24GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, which is now $300 off — its lowest price ever. (No other MacBook is more than $250 off right now.) That's one deal I would definitely grab ahead of time, before the Big Spring Sale officially starts, in case it sells out. Apple has discontinued the M4 MacBooks, so once third-party retailers' supplies dry up, they'll only be available on the refurbished market.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Big Spring Sale is back: The best deals already live on Apple, robot vacuums, headphones, and more

Less exciting are Amazon's early Big Spring Sale deals on M4-era MacBook Pros. There's only one model left in stock at the moment, and it's on sale, but it's still a full $200 away from its lowest price on record. I wouldn't add it to my cart until the sale starts in case it gets cheaper then. (It only has 512GB of storage, anyway — its succesors now start with 1TB.)

The brand-new M5 MacBook Airs and M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pros are all $50 off ahead of the Big Spring Sale, and that's probably going to be as cheap as they get for now. The then-new M4 models got the same discount during last year's sale. Look for better deals in a couple months around Amazon's summer Prime Day sale.

The same applies to the MacBook Neo, Apple's all-new budget laptop. The variant with 512GB of storage and Touch ID is $689.99 on Amazon right now (or $9 off), which is technically its lowest price there ever, but that's not worth pouncing on when the Apple Store's $100 education discount exists.

Note: Deals marked with a 🔥 have dropped to a record-low price.

Best MacBook Air deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) 🔥 $1,299 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $300   Get Deal Why we like it

The 15-inch M4 MacBook Air may be a last-gen laptop, but it's still an incredibly capable ultraportable. In multitasking scenarios and heavier tasks like video editing, it's faster than nearly 80 percent of the models in our current testing database (including much pricier Windows laptops). It has the same 12MP Center Stage webcam, Liquid Retina display, and 18-hour battery life as its fresher M5 counterpart, which just offers slightly faster performance and newer wireless connectivity. This particular model is well future-proofed amid the ongoing RAM crunch — thanks, AI.

Read Mashable's full review of the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M4).

More MacBook Air deals

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $949 $1,199 (save $250) 🔥

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $949 $1,199 (save $250) 🔥

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,049 $1,099 (save $50) 🔥

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200) 🔥

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,149 $1,399 (save $250) 🔥

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,249 $1,299 (save $50) 🔥

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,249 $1,299 (save $50) 🔥

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,449.99 $1,499 (save $49.01) 🔥

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,449.99 $1,499 (save $49.01) 🔥

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,649.99 $1,699 (save $49.01) 🔥

MacBook Pro deals

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,649 $1,699 (save $50)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,799 $1,999 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,799 $1,899 (save $100)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,149 $2,199 (save $50) 🔥

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro with 15-core CPU/16-core GPU, 24GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $2,549.99 $2,599 (save $49.01) 🔥

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,649 $2,699 (save $50) 🔥

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro with 18-core CPU/20-core GPU, 24GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $2,749.99 $2,799 (save $49.01) 🔥

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 48GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $3,049 $3,099 (save $50) 🔥

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,549.99 $3,599 (save $49.01) 🔥

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,849 $3,899 (save $50) 🔥

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Max, 48GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $4,349.99 $4,399 (save $49.01) 🔥

MacBook Neo deals

• Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $689.99 $699 (save $9.01) 🔥

The web began by empowering users, serving us with static content that could be repurposed and tailored to whichever device was in use. But, slowly, websites have wrestled back control, enforcing their own preferences for style and behavior.

While mobile devices are fine for chatting, reading, and watching, sometimes you need a real computer to get work done. But, it's become expensive to keep Windows PC up to date. Switching to Linux means you can keep using your old PC, and save money in other ways, too.

Alas, spring has sprung, and as we roll through this last week of March, we’re doing so with some of the trending movies on Amazon Prime Video this week.

The best early Amazon Big Spring Sale Apple Watch deals: Best Apple Watch Series 11 Deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299.00 (save $100) Get Deal Best Apple Watch SE 3 Deal Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $219.00 (save $30) Get Deal

We're just a few days away from Amazon's Big Spring Sale — which kicks off on March 25 and runs all the way to March 31 — but quite a few deals have already begun to appear. For Apple users, this includes some very nice discounts on Apple Watches. If you've been hoping to pick up one of these sleek smartwatches, without dropping the full amount on them, both Series 11 and SE 3 models are on sale right now.

We've gathered up just a few of our favorite early Apple Watch deals available at Amazon right now, so you can save on the ones that catch your eye. As we get closer to the sale's official start, we'll update this with more deals and price adjustments as they happen, too.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Note: You don't need to be a Prime member to shop the sale, but Prime members will receive exclusive deals on a variety of items.

Best early Apple Watch Series 11 deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100   Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple Watch Series 11 is a smartwatch we think very highly of, earning a spot on our list of the best smartwatches as the 'Best Apple Upgrade', and this $100 discount on the 42mm with GPS model is well worth taking advantage of. It marks its lowest-ever price point at the retailer, so what better time to grab it?

Mashable's Stan Schroeder, who reviewed it, said it's worth upgrading to for the battery life alone. He said, "Even if you already have a Series 10, which has nearly all the same features, the new Apple Watch Series 11 doesn’t require you to charge it mid-day in order to keep it going through the night. With the new Sleep Score feature, this is more important than ever." Multiple versions of this smartwatch are on sale right now as well, which you can see below.

More Apple Watch Series 11 deals

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) — $329 $429 (save $100)

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS + Cellular, 42mm) — $399 $499 (save $100)

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS + Cellular, 46mm) — $699 $799 (save $100)

Best early Apple Watch SE 3 deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $219 at Amazon
$249 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple Watch SE 3 is a great choice for those who just want the basics of a smartwatch. It landed on our list of the best smartwatches as the 'Best for most people' because, "In addition to its gorgeous OLED display, it has the same S10 chip inside the Ultra 3, the same water resistance as the Series 11, and all the necessary features you're looking for in a smartwatch — all for $150 less than the Series 11."

Ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale, its 40mm model has dropped down to $219. That saves you $30. It's not the only one on sale right now, though. Below we've included a few more versions of the SE 3 that have been discounted at the retailer, so you can scoop up your preferred model and save some cash.

More Apple Watch SE 3 deals

• Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 44mm) — $249 $279 (save $30)

• Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS + Cellular, 40mm) — $269 $299 (save $30)

• Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS + Cellular, 44mm) — $299 $329 (save $30)

Niagara Launcher is famous for reinventing the Android home screen. I love the concept, but I’ve never been able to fully stick with it. Recently, I decided to install Niagara again, and this time it feels different for a few reasons.

The best Amazon Big Spring Sale Apple deals at a glance: Best AirPods deal AirPods Pro 3 $199.99 (save $49.01) Get Deal Best iPad deal Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $735.49 (save $63.51) Get Deal Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $949 (save $250) Get Deal Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 (save $100) Get Deal Best AirTag deal Apple AirTag (1st Gen, 4-Pack) $59.99 (save $39.01) Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale has been confirmed for its third year, running from March 25-31. The retailer is set to roll out wide-ranging discounts across multiple categories, with prices dropping on items like robot vacuums, TVs, and even daily essentials. And while they didn't come right out and say it, if there's one thing we can all but guarantee, it's that the sale will feature plenty of discounts on top Apple products.

Apple has had a busy month, with the launch of its first-ever budget MacBook, upgraded MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros, a new iPad Air, the iPhone 17e, and even AirPods Max 2. This means we could not only see first-time discounts on the new slate of products, but also new record-low prices on the previous generations during the Big Spring Sale. We'll be tracking prices leading up to and throughout the official event, so keep an eye on this page for the latest and greatest deals.

If you don’t want to wait, early discounts have already started to land. We’ve rounded up the best Apple deals you can shop right now ahead of the sale.

Best Amazon Big Spring Sale AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $49.01   Get Deal Why we like it

We've always been fans of the AirPods Pro, but the third generation really takes them to new heights. Mashable's reviewer called them, "without a doubt, one of the best products of the year" in 2025. The latest premium buds feature outstanding noise cancellation (twice as good as the Pro 2s), a solid eight hours of battery life with ANC on, and new foam-infused tips that come in five sizes to find the perfect fit. Apple also brought the heart rate monitoring tech from the Powerbeats Pro 2 (our favorite earbuds for working out) and Fitness app compatibility to the Pro 3s, and introduced a live translation feature.

While we've seen the buds drop as low as $184 in the past, this discount is still worth grabbing.

More AirPods deals

• Apple AirPods 4 — $99 $129 (save $30)

• Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) — $148.99 $179 (save $30.01)

• Apple AirPods Max — $449.99 $549 (save $99.01)

Best Amazon Big Spring Sale iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $735.49 at Amazon
$799 Save $63.51   Get Deal Why we like it

Just launched earlier this month, the 13-inch M4 iPad Air is already on sale for $66 off. The base configuration with WiFi connectivity and 128GB of storage is now just $735.49 (normally $799). Mashable's tech editor took the M4 iPad Air for a spin and found it pretty impressive — too impressive for the average user, even. "It delivers iterative updates that improve an already stellar tablet," he writes in his review.

More iPad deals

• Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) — $299 $349 (save $50)

• Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) — $399 $499 (save $100)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) — $559 $599 (save $40)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi + Cellular, 128GB) — $549.99 $749 (save $199.01)

• Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M3, WiFi + Cellular, 1TB) — $1,238 $1,398 (save $100)

• Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,199 $1,299 (save $100)

Best Amazon Big Spring Sale MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $949 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $250   Get Deal Why we like it

Apple released its new MacBook Air with the M5 chip this month, but honestly, they're not a whole lot different than the M4 Airs. The main differences are the upgraded processor and a new wireless chip. You can save some money by grabbing the M4 model with 16GB RAM and 512GB of storage, which is currently down to just $949 at Amazon. We're keeping our eyes on this laptop, as we expect to see it drop further as the sale nears. But make note that since it is now an older model, it could sell out fast.

More MacBook deals

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $949 $1,199 (save $250)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $949 $1,199 (save $250)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,049 $1,099 (save $50)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,079 $1,399 (save $320)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,297 $1,299 (save $2)

• Apple 2025 MacBook Pro 14.2-inch (M5, 6GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,399.99 $1,699 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,499.99 $1,699 (save $199.01)

Best Amazon Big Spring Sale Apple Watch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100   Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple Watch Series 11 offers significant battery improvements over its predecessor. For that reason alone, it's worth the upgrade. It also features a tougher build with durable glass that's twice as resistant to scratches, 5G capability for quicker connectivity, and a Sleep Score and hypertension tool that can flag chronic high blood pressure. It's not a major upgrade (is anything in 2026?), but as Mashable's reviewer put it: "Buy it for the battery life." Now $100 cheaper, it's an even better value.

More Apple Watch deals

• Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) — $219 $249 (save $30)

• Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS + Cellular, 40mm) — $269 $299 (save $30)

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS + Cellular, 42mm) — $399 $499 (save $100)

Power tool brands offer a wide range of tools and accessories, giving us more choices than ever these days. Big names like Ryobi and Milwaukee make all the common items, like drills and drivers, but they also make some tools you've probably never heard of. Earlier this year, I bought an oddball Ryobi "bucket top" tool on a whim, and now I wish I had one sooner.

SNL UK pulled out all the stops for its first ever episode, with Tina Fey as guest host (supported in her monologue by a few household names) and a cold open that somehow managed to get shared by Donald Trump.

In the first ever Weekend Update feature above, anchors Ania Magliano and Paddy Young run through a big headlines — with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor being an inevitable target.

"Renovations to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's new home, Marsh Farm, have been taking place for the past month, including the installation of Sky TV," says Magliano. "So, if you're watching Andrew: Hello! You're not going to like this next bit. Also, I'm older than I look."

Elsewhere there's also an entertainingly silly joke about helium.

Are you still running your servers with Linux installed bare metal? It’s time to upgrade and move to a hypervisor, especially if you want to start working toward a more professional homelab.

The best Apple AirTag deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale: Best deal overall Apple AirTag (1st Gen, 4-Pack) $59.99 (save $39.01) Get Deal Best runner-up deal Apple AirTag (1st Gen) $24 (save $5) Get Deal

Amazon’s Big Spring Sale isn’t officially underway until March 25, but we’re already seeing some pretty promising price drops across multiple categories. Of course, we’re holding out to see if Amazon’s going to gift us with additional Apple deals (we’re seeing $250 price cuts on MacBooks and $100 off Apple Watches, after all), but there’s no denying the Apple AirTag deals are worth jumping on.

Best deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag (1st Gen, 4-Pack) $59.99 at Amazon
$99 Save $39.01   Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple AirTag (2nd Gen) is still at full price ($29 each or $99 for a four-pack), but you can get a four-pack of 1st Gen AirTags for just $59.99 right now. This is a big deal because last year (during the actual sale), this bundle was $69.99. With the current discount, you'll be getting each tag for around $15 a pop.

These little trackers are total lifesavers for anyone who's always misplacing their keys or wants some peace of mind by stashing one in their checked luggage. (I use them to keep tabs on my dogs when I'm visiting my parents.) You can track your stuff directly in the Find My app, and if you’re nearby, your iPhone can lead you straight to the exact cushion your wallet is hiding under.

The best Apple AirTag accessory deals

• QyQa Airtag Holder (4-Pack) — $8.98 $9.98 (save $1)

• MOLOSLEEVE Airtag Holder Air Tag Case with Keychain (4-Pack) — $9.99 $12.99 (save $3)

• Belkin Apple AirTag Secure Holder with Carabiner — $14.99 $19.99 (save $5)

• SPGUARD AirTag Holder Case with Keychain (4-Pack) — $22.99 $28.99 (save $6)

The best Apple AirTag alternative deals

• Ultrabeka Ultra-Thin Wallet Tracker — $15.99 $19.99 (save $4)

• UGREEN FineTrack Tracker Tags (iOS Only) (4-Pack) — $19.98 $25.99 (save $6.01)

• Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 — $20.99 $29.99 (save $9)

Most of the time when you stay at an AirBnB, some kind of Wi-Fi is included. However, you have no control over the security settings and you may run into restrictions on how many or what kind of devices you can connect.