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The floppy ruled removable storage for decades, but it quickly became too small and spurred on many pretenders to the throne. Yet while many tried to topple the floppy from its throne, it clung on far longer than you'd expect.

Samsung once again has major competition for the Galaxy Watch Ultra in the Android world. Motorola has unveiled the Moto Watch Ultra, its most advanced Wear OS smartwatch yet — and with a few advantages over its Korean counterpart.

Lenovo is finally sharing details of its first PCs based on Nvidia's first consumer PC processor, the RTX Spark. The brand has shared first details of the Yoga 9n 2-in-1 and Yoga Pro 9n, both of which are aimed at creators and developers—and in some cases, gamers. I've had hands-on time with both ahead of IFA 2026, with a catch.

Lenovo is taking its turn at fighting the MacBook Neo by borrowing its colorful design for a potentially more capable laptop. The company has introduced the IdeaPad Vibe as a more powerful Windows alternative, and I've had hands-on time with it at IFA 2026.

Lenovo showed off its first two Windows laptops powered by Nvidia's RTX Spark platform today at IFA, Berlin's annual tech expo, but their pricing and release details are still a mystery.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang previously described the RTX Spark as a "superchip" designed to power "personal AI computers" capable of running AI agents and models on-device. The chip provides up to 1 petaflop of compute and up to 128GB of memory, and Nvidia says it was purpose-built for slim Windows laptops.

One of the laptops is the Yoga Pro 9n, a 15-inch clamshell model that Lenovo first unveiled at the Computex trade show in Taiwan back in June. The PC giant has finally shared its official images and spec sheet, which includes up to 128GB of RAM, up to 4TB of storage across two SSD slots, a 2.5K OLED display with a variable 165Hz refresh rate, and a haptic touchpad with stylus support.

Credit: Lenovo

The other laptop is a previously unannounced 16-inch convertible called the Yoga 9n 2-in-1. (Pictures of it leaked back in July, but Lenovo hasn't confirmed its existence until now.) It's the second hybrid RTX Spark laptop after the MSI Prestige N16 Flip AI+, another Computex debutant.

The Yoga 9n 2-in-1 features up to 64GB of memory, up to 2TB of SSD storage, a 2.8K OLED touchscreen with a 120Hz variable refresh rate, and a rotating soundbar. Its touchpad is also compatible with a stylus.

Both laptops are set to compete with the Apple MacBook Pro, Microsoft Surface Ultra, and other premium creator laptops. Their pricing and availability "will be announced at launch," according a press release shared with Mashable. Anyone familiar with the current state of the tech industry will expect them to be splurges, especially the upper-end configurations. (For reference, a 16-inch MacBook Pro with 128GB of RAM costs a cool $6,999.)

Lenovo Yoga Pro 9n specs Credit: Lenovo Credit: Lenovo

In its press release, Lenovo said the Yoga Pro 9n is geared toward "creators and developers whose work demands substantial local computing capability in a premium, portable design." It's positioning the device as an all-in-one mobile workstation that can run resource-intensive tasks during the workday (think 3D rendering, video editing, and AI app development), then graphically taxing games after hours.

Here's a full rundown of the Yoga Pro 9n's specs and features:

• Chipset: Nvidia RTX Spark (includes Nvidia Grace CPU with up to 20 cores and Nvidia Blackwell RTX GPU with up to 6,144 cores)

• Memory: Up to 128GB RAM

• Storage: Up to 4TB total SSD

• Display: 15.3-inch 2.5K (2,560 × 1,600 pixel) OLED display with 48 to 165Hz refresh rate and 1,100 nits of peak HDR brightness

• Keyboard: Island-style backlit keyboard with 1.5mm key travel

• Touchpad: Haptic Force Pad with pen support

• Webcam: 9.2MP camera

• Audio: Four speakers with Dolby Atmos

• Battery: 92.5Whr

• Ports: Two USB-A ports, two USB4 ports, HDMI port, UHS-II SD card slot, and a headphone jack

• Wireless tech: WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4

• Weight: Starting at 3.64 pounds

• Dimensions: 13.66 × 9.53 × 0.66 inches (at its thinnest point)

The Yoga Pro 9n has an all-aluminum chassis that comes in a Thunder Gray finish. It doesn't ship with a stylus, so if you want one for drawing on its touchpad, you'll have it buy it separately.

Lenovo Yoga 9n 2-in-1 specs Credit: Joseph Maldonado / CNET Group

The convertible Yoga 9n 2-in-1 is built "for creators who need substantial local performance together with the flexibility to sketch, annotate, edit, present, and collaborate in different ways," Lenovo said. Its 360-degree hinge lets it flip between Laptop, Tablet, Tent, Stand, and Canvas modes.

The Yoga 9n 2-in-1's specs and features are as follows:

• Chipset: Nvidia RTX Spark (includes Nvidia Grace CPU with up to 20 cores and Nvidia Blackwell RTX GPU with up to 6,144 cores)

• Memory: Up to 64GB RAM

• Storage: Up to 2TB SSD

• Display: 16-inch 2.8K (2,880 x 1,800 pixel) OLED touchscreen display with 30 to 120Hz refresh rate and 1,100 nits of peak HDR brightness

• Keyboard: Island-style backlit keyboard with 1.5mm key travel and a "silk-touch" finish

• Touchpad: Haptic Force Pad with pen support

• Webcam: 9.2MP camera

• Audio: Six speakers (two tweeters, four woofers) with Dolby Atmos, plus a rotating soundbar (two tweeters)

• Battery: 99.9Whr

• Ports: Two USB-A ports, two USB4 ports, HDMI port, UHS-II SD card slot, and a headphone jack

• Wireless tech: WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4

• Weight: Starting at 4.28 pounds

• Dimensions: 14.17 × 9.57 × 0.69 inches

The fully aluminum Yoga 9n 2-in-1 comes in Lenovo's classic Cosmic Blue finish and includes a Yoga Pen. The pen's case can be attached to the back of the device's lid to enable Canvas mode.

These new RTX Spark-powered Yoga laptops are just two of many devices that Lenovo brought to IFA. Other highlights include two new concept laptops and a new budget laptop that will compete with Apple's mega-popular MacBook Neo. Check out the full roster on Lenovo's news site.

What makes the Nvidia RTX Spark unique? Credit: Lenovo

Announced at Computex this summer, RTX Spark is Nvidia's new do-it all "superchip" platform (combining a CPU and GPU) that's specially made for thin Windows laptops and compact desktop PCs. The chip giant claims that RTX Spark devices will have elite graphics capabilities and advanced AI processing power, enabling them to run autonomous AI models locally, on top of all-day battery life. In the computer world, supercharged performance has always come at the cost of stamina — until now, potentially.

Besides Lenovo, Asus, Dell, HP, Microsoft, and MSI are also working on RTX Spark laptops. Nvidia believes the superchips will usher in a new era of portable AI supercomputers.

Yet another Windows alternative to the MacBook Neo lands this fall.

Announced today at IFA, an annual tech trade show in Berlin, Lenovo's IdeaPad Vibe is a new premium-built budget laptop with a full rainbow of colorways and a plethora of configuration and customization options. The new laptop also comes in two screen sizes, multiple processor flavors, and has upgradable RAM and storage. Its reveal confirms a leak from mid-August.

The IdeaPad Vibe measures 0.59 inches thin, making it less than a tenth of an inch thicker than a MacBook Neo. Credit: Lenovo

The IdeaPad Vibe launches this October with AMD Ryzen AI 400 series processors and in November with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X chips starting at $699.99, according to a company press release. More models with Intel processors are in the works.

In its release, Lenovo billed the IdeaPad Vibe as "an AI PC that is ready to perform and designed to stand out, no matter what a person’s vibe is."

Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe specs and features The IdeaPad Vibe has customizable keycaps (sold separately). Credit: Lenovo

The IdeaPad Vibe will come in 14- and 15-inch sizes that start at 2.87 pounds and 3.31 pounds, respectively, making it slightly bigger than the 13-inch, 2.7-pound MacBook Neo, Apple's mega-popular $699 notebook. Both sizes will be available with AMD or Qualcomm CPU offerings at the $700 price point; there's no upcharge for a bigger screen.

The IdeaPad Vibe will come in seven hues that Lenovo developed with the help of the Pantone Color Institute:

• Chill Blue

• Moody Blue

• Dreamy Violet

• Lowkey Grey

• Radiant Coral

• Spicy Gold

• Zen Green

Lenovo will sell swappable keycaps that make it even more personalizable.

Credit: Joseph Maldonado / CNET Group

Most configurations of the IdeaPad Vibe will have a fully metal chassis in the vein of the Neo, though some AMD models will have metal housing with ridged plastic bottom covers. When asked whether there were any pricing or spec differences between each build type, a Lenovo spokesperson told Mashable that "a lot of that is hard to determine right now." We should get more details at launch.

Left: The bottom cover of the IdeaPad Vibe in metal... Credit: Lenovo Right: ... versus plastic. Credit: Lenovo

The IdeaPad Vibe will come standard with a 120Hz IPS display. Both sizes of the Lowkey Grey and Moody Blue variants will have OLED upgrade options, including an OLED touchscreen option for the 15-inchers.

Like the Neo, the IdeaPad Vibe will start with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. Unlike the Neo, you can max it out with up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage — single-handedly, if you have the means. Qualcomm-powered IdeaPad Vibes will have user-upgradable SSDs, while AMD models will have expandable SSDs and RAM. If equipped with at least 16GB of memory, they can run Windows' Copilot+ PC AI features.

The IdeaPad Vibe has expandable storage and (on AMD models) upgradable RAM. Credit: Lenovo

Here's a quick rundown of the rest of the IdeaPad Vibe's specs and features. Note how it's packed with ports:

• Integrated graphics

• 5MP webcam with privacy shutter

• Two 2W speakers with Dolby Audio

• Island-style keyboard with optional backlighting

• Mylar touchpad

• Two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, one HDMI port, a microSD card reader, and a headphone jack

• WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4

The IdeaPad Vibe marks the latest in a series of premium-feeling budget laptop launches amid the global memory crisis, starting with the MacBook Neo's market-rattling debut in March. Before the colorful, all-aluminum Neo arrived, cheap laptops were known for having bland plastic builds.

Other new MacBook Neo competitors include the Dell XPS 13 and Acer Swift Air 14. They have the same starting price as the Neo (and now the IdeaPad Vibe), but double the starting storage.

The IdeaPad Vibe is just one of many new devices Lenovo showcased at IFA, among them its first two Nvidia RTX Spark-powered laptops. See the full lineup on Lenovo's news site.

Being a tech aficionado was never the cheapest hobby out there, but these days, it's even worse than usual. That's why I tend to advocate looking for cheap upgrades instead of spending lots of money, with tips on how to avoid needing to buy a new router, for instance.

While the list of new Netflix movies in September is impressive, the group of new and returning shows this month is equally impressive. The first show on the list is the second season of a crime comedy by Guy Ritchie. The next show is a coming-of-age story set in the unfamiliar world of high school rowing.

Feminist activist and journalist Gloria Steinem died on Wednesday, according to a post shared on her Instagram account. She was 92.

The news, shared early Thursday, included a recent photo of Steinem and a statement about her life. "Yesterday, Gloria Steinem passed away peacefully at her home in New York City, surrounded by some of the many who loved her. Gloria's near-century on earth were years well-lived, and she continued working for equality until the very end," it began. No cause of death was given.

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Steinem was a key figure in the feminist movement in the United States, beginning in the 1960s with second-wave feminism. She spoke about gender equality and issues like abortion. She first gained national attention in 1963 when she went undercover as a Playboy bunny and wrote about the experience. Steinem went on to co-found Ms. magazine and remained a prominent voice on gender parity and reproductive rights. Former President Obama awarded Steinhem with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.

"Gloria's greatest gift was her ability to listen to others, to make others feel seen and heard. Her words, actions, and example gave people permission to be their truest selves. Gloria lived true to her independent spirit, always with curiosity and a great sense of humor," the statement read.

Almost immediately upon the news, fellow feminists, as well as politicians and celebrities, began sharing tributes online.

Writer Roxane Gay commented on the Instagram post, "Gloria was one of a kind. Genuine, generous, curious, thoughtful. She lived a staggering life and her passing is a staggering loss tempered only by the ferocity of her legacy."

"She was our leader," actor and comedian Amy Sedaris commented. "We have to be more like her. Carry her fight."

TV producer Shonda Rhimes commented, "She was fierce and kind and full of grace. What a loss for the world."

"As we elders, our daughters, and our granddaughters continue the fight for power, equality, and respect, we hold you in our hearts with love and gratitude," musician Carole King wrote on Instagram.

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Actor and comedian Sandra Bernhard shared a photo with her and Steinem, writing, "It was an honor to have a conversation with the great [Gloria Steinem.] classy funny she didn't take any punches she had no time to suffer fools & baby she encountered a whole lot of them! Let's honor her life & work & re dedicate it to reclaiming our reproductive rights!"

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A Well-Trained Wife author, Tia Levings, wrote on Instagram, "If you, like me, grew up hearing that Gloria Steinem was evil, please use this time of her visible impact to educate yourself on her extraordinary life and fight for all women."

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"Gloria Steinem was a fearless trailblazer who transformed the fight for equality in America and inspired generations of women to know their power," Rep. Nancy Pelosi wrote on X.

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"Meeting heroes always risks disappointment, but knowing Gloria was an honor, where her humor and kindness were matched by a relentless belief that we could be better," former Rep. Stacey Abrams posted on X.

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CNN's chief international anchor, Christiane Amanpour, wrote on X, "Gloria Steinem will go down in history as one of the most important activists of all time, leading a movement for the equality of half the world: its women."

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Steinhem's activism continued later in life, according to the statement. "She spent her recent years doing the two things she loved most: being in community with others and writing. She has welcomed hundreds of guests into her living room for Talking Circles, a tradition she insisted will continue long after she is no longer with us." Her Instagram account features photos of these Talking Circles, including one from less than two months ago.

President of Run For Something, Amanda Litman, wrote about the Talking Circles in her tribute to Steinem on X: "The two talking circles I went to at her home — the first in August 2024, when I was sweating my ass off 8 months pregnant with my second daughter as we talked about the possibility (again!) of electing the first woman president & the second earlier this year, where after a long convo on the future, I got to give her a copy of my book — were experiences I'll never forget."

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"Gloria loved the tradition of lighting signal fires on hills to light the way to the other side of the mountain. Lighting your own candle for Gloria makes you part of this global and celestial community circle," the statement read. It also noted that, in lieu of flowers, Steinem asked that anyone wishing to honor her make a donation to Gloria's Foundation, which, among providing fellowships and residencies to people working on social justice projects, also facilitates the Talking Circles.

The death of the prominent feminist comes shortly after the deaths of other beloved figures like Dolly Parton. The last post on the Gloria's Foundation Instagram account prior to today's announcement was an archival photo of her and Parton.

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TikTok's comment section is about to get a lot more chaotic.

The platform is rolling out a slate of new ways to interact beneath videos, including voice comments, polls, photo carousels, and Live Photos. The four new features expand what users can post beyond text and single image replies, giving TikTok's famously active comment sections even more ways to become part of the content itself.

Those comment sections are already busy. According to the company, more than 1.7 billion comments are posted on the platform every day.

TikTok is bringing voice notes to the comments TikTok's comment section is becoming a group chat. Credit: TikTok

Perhaps the biggest change is Voice Comments, which allow users to record and post audio messages up to 60 seconds long directly beneath a video.

That means instead of typing "I'm screaming," you could, theoretically, let everyone hear you scream.

TikTok imagines people using the feature to leave spoken reactions, laugh along with a meme, or even sing back to a music creator. But anyone who's ever opened the comments on a viral TikTok can probably imagine plenty of other possibilities.

Of course, giving TikTok users 60 seconds to say whatever they want could open up new opportunities for harassment and other harmful behavior. TikTok says Voice Comments will be subject to the same Community Guidelines as other content on the platform. The company will use a combination of human and automated moderation tools, including speech-to-text transcription, to detect and remove violations.

Voice Comments will roll out globally over the next month to users 18 and older.

Creators can now poll their comment sections Take it to a vote. Credit: TikTok

TikTok is also introducing Comment Polls, which allow creators to launch a poll directly in the comment sections of their videos.

Creators could use them to ask followers what they should post next, settle a debate sparked by a video, or let viewers vote on anything from an outfit to a favorite character.

Unlike Voice Comments, there's no waiting for this one: Comment Polls are available globally starting Sept. 3.

Photo comments are becoming photo dumps Why post one reaction photo when you can post nine? Credit: TikTok

TikTok's photo comments are getting an upgrade, too.

With Photo Carousel Comments, users can attach up to nine photos in a single comment. Instead of choosing a single reaction image, commenters can drop an entire photo dump under someone else's video. Photo Carousel Comments will roll out globally over the next month.

There's also Live Photo Comments, which allow users to upload Live Photos directly from their camera rolls. The feature gives viewers a brief glimpse of the movement captured in the image rather than limiting photo replies to static shots. Live Photo Comments are available globally starting Sept. 3.

TikTok wants the comments to be content, too

If you've spent any time on TikTok, none of this feels entirely surprising. "Opening the comments" has practically become part of the viewing experience.

A video's joke gets extended through hundreds of replies. Viewers add context, tell stories, post reaction images, answer questions, and occasionally write something that becomes more memorable than the original TikTok. Creators, meanwhile, routinely turn comments into prompts for their next videos.

These updates give that behavior even more room to grow. TikTok's comment section can now contain text, photos, photo dumps, Live Photos, polls, and, soon, minute-long voice notes.

It's another sign that TikTok doesn't necessarily see comments as something that happens after the content. Increasingly, the comments are part of the content.

And they're about to get a whole lot louder.

The best Costco Labor Day deals: Best Costco Apple Deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 chip, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,849.99 (Save $149.01) Get Deal Best Costco Samsung deal Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ $239.99 (Save $60) Get Deal Best Costco audio deal Bose Ultra Open-Ear True Wireless Earbuds $199.99 (Save $100) Get Deal Best Labor Day laptop deal HP OmniBook 3, 16-inch (Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $799.99 (Save $400) Get Deal

Costco is getting a head start on Labor Day savings, with members already able to find discounts across everything from laptops and Apple products to groceries and everyday essentials. This year, Labor Day falls on Sept. 7, but there’s no need to wait for the official holiday weekend to start shopping for discounts.

If you're planning a Costco run anyway, you might as well save some money while you're there. We've rounded up the best Labor Day deals worth checking out right now. But make sure to act fast, as these deals are only live through Sept. 7.

Best Labor Day Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 chip, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,849.99 at Costco
$1,999 Save $149.01   Get Deal Why we like it

With RAMageddon still plaguing the tech industry, we're tuned into all the price drops on laptops. Right now, get the Apple MacBook Pro (M5 chip, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) for just $1,849.99 at Costco. That's the same low price being offered at Amazon.

The MacBook Pro is one of the most powerful laptops you can buy right now with its M5 chip. It has 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD, so it can execute high-demand tasks like photo and video editing.

More Labor Day Apple deals

• Apple Pencil Pro — $99.99 $129 (save $29.01)

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

• Apple AirPods Pro 3 (Two years of AppleCare+ included) — $229.99 $249 (save $19.01)

• Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) — $399.99 $449 (save $49.01)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4 chip, 128GB, WiFi) — $649.99 $749 (save $99.01)

• Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5 chip, 256GB, WiFi) — $1,399.99 $1,499 (save $99.01)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro chip, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,759.99 $2,999 (save $239.01)

Best Labor Day Samsung deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ $239.99 at Costco
$299.99 Save $60   Get Deal Why we like it

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ has an 11-inch WUXGA display, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage, with support for up to 2TB of expandable storage. Its 7,040mAh battery is rated for up to 15 hours of use, while USB-C fast charging, Bluetooth 5.3, and WiFi cover the basics.

More Labor Day Samsung deals

• Samsung HW-Q60CF 3.1.2 Ch Soundbar — $349.99 $499.99 (save $150)

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE — $449.99 $549.99 (save $100)

• Galaxy Book4 Edge — $899.99 $1,299.99 (save $400)

Best Labor Day audio deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Ultra Open-Ear True Wireless Earbuds $199.99 at Costco
$299.99 Save $100   Get Deal Why we like it

The Bose open-ear headphones are designed to let you stay aware of your surroundings while listening, without covering your ears. They have water resistance, up to seven hours of battery life, and a wireless range of 30 feet. The deal also includes a $50 gift card with purchase, with options including Apple and Google Play.

More Labor Day audio deals

• Bose SoundLink Home Bluetooth Speaker — $129.99 $179.99 (save $50)

• Bose QuietComfort SC Noise Canceling Headphones — $199.99 $329.99 (save $130)

• Sonos Arc Ultra 9.1.4 Ch Soundbar Bundle — $899.99 $1,099.99 (save $200)

Best Labor Day laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP OmniBook 3, 16-inch (Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $799.99 at Costco
$1,199.99 Save $400   Get Deal Why we like it

There is no question that the best laptop battery life we've ever tested was the astounding 40 hours on the HP OmniBook 3. It's an exceptional value for budget-conscious frequent travelers and commuters.

Normally $1,199.99, the HP OmniBook 3 is down to $799.99 at Costco, saving you $400. That's a whole lot of savings on a laptop with 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD.

More Labor Day laptop deals

• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, 16-inch (Intel Core Ultra 5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $699.99 $899.99 (save $200)

• Dell Touchscreen, 15.6-inch (Intel Core Ultra 7 255U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $799.99 $1,099.99 (save $300)

• Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge, 14-inch (Snapdragon X Elite 12 Core, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $899.99 $1,299.99 (save $400)

• Asus Vivobook Flip, 16-inch (Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,099.99 $1,499.99 (save $400)

SAVE $102: As of Sept. 3, Samsung's 43-inch QN70H Mini-LED Neo QLED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for $497.99. That's 17% or over $100 off its list price of $599.99 and its lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 43-inch QN70H Mini-LED Neo QLED 4K TV $497.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $102   Get Deal

Labor Day 2026 is proving to be one of the best times of the year to buy a new TV. If you've been waiting for prices to drop before the new NFL season kicks off and don't want to wait until Black Friday, now's the time to pull the trigger. For those looking to upgrade their bedroom TV or seeking a smaller screen for another room in your home, the 43-inch Samsung QN70H should do the trick.

As of Sept. 3, the Samsung 43-inch QN70H Mini-LED Neo QLED 4K TV is only $497.99 during Amazon's Labor Day Sale. That's not only over $100 off its list price of $599.99, but it's also its lowest price on record.

The QN70H is Samsung's mid-range Neo QLED model, falling in between the QN80H and M80H. It features mini LEDs with quantum dots for a vast range of colors and, paired with its matte display, is a vibrant choice with deep contrast for a bright room. It has Motion Xcelerator 144Hz technology, which makes it a buttery-smooth pick for gamers. Plus, thanks to Samsung Vision AI Companion with Bixby, you'll be able to tailor your picture and elevate the sound to your liking. Want the background noises at a minimum and the dialogue boosted? Done.

While the QN70H is not quite the fanciest TV in Samsung's lineup, it certainly won't disappoint. It's still a Samsung, after all, which is one of our favorite TV brands. And for less than $500, it's an incredible value.

If you’re someone who uses local AI, you’ve probably heard of LM Studio. It's the app that lets you easily download open-source AI models locally, manage them, and talk to them in a fairly basic chat window. It was cool when it launched, but right now, the way people are using LLMs has evolved.

The best Labor Day laptop deals at a glance: Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,699 (save $100) Get Deal Best Windows laptop deal HP OmniBook 3 16 (Snapdragon X, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $599.99 (save $550) Get Deal Best Chromebook deal Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 (MediaTek Kompanio Ultra, 12GB RAM, 256GB UFS) $579 (save $170) Get Deal

The ongoing memory crisis means higher prices for the tech we've come to depend on. Laptops have been hit especially hard by "RAMageddon," with PC makers like Dell, Lenovo, and Acer raising prices to reflect rising component costs. Even Apple marked up its MacBooks by at least $100 apiece this summer. (Gone are the days of the $599 MacBook Neo.)

The current state of the market makes shopping sales feel all the more important. Your last big chance to snag a deeply discounted laptop before Black Friday comes with this weekend's Labor Day sales. Below, we've rounded up the best Labor Day laptop deals we could find, including discounts on MacBooks, Windows laptops, and a very nice Chromebook we've tested.

Best MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,699 at Amazon and Best Buy
$1,799 Save $100   Get Deal

The 13-inch M5 MacBook Air is our favorite MacBook for college students, as it's super portable and a little cheaper than its 15-inch brother. It's a fabulous ultraportable with a crisp, colorful display, amazing speakers, and blazing-fast performance. This upgraded model, with 24GB of RAM and a terabyte of storage, should last you well past graduation. Amazon and Best Buy currently have it on sale for $1,699, or $100 off.

Heads up: If you have a valid student ID, you'll get $100 off and a free $100 gift card if you buy this MacBook directly through the Apple Store during its Back to School sale (live through Sept. 24). However, it won't ship until late September or early October. If you need it sooner, Amazon (with Prime) and Best Buy were both advertising next- or two-day shipping at the time of writing.

Read Mashable's full review of the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M5).

More MacBook deals

• Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $689.99 $699 (save $9.01)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,849.99 $1,999 (save $149.01)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,759.99 $2,999 (save $239.01)

Best Windows laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP OmniBook 3 16 (Snapdragon X, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $599.99 at Staples
$1,149.99 Save $550   Get Deal

The OmniBook 3 16 is a slim, big-screened laptop with a mind-blowing battery life of over 40 hours per charge. It's the longest-lasting laptop we've ever tested in more than a decade of reviewing laptops. Just note that its Snapdragon X processor is best for everyday productivity tasks, not intensive app usage. This configuration with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage (a good daily driver combo) is 48% off at Staples for Labor Day. For reference, HP's website lists the same model at $90 more.

Read Mashable's full review of the HP OmniBook 3 16.

More Windows laptop deals

• HP OmniBook Ultra 14 (Snapdragon X2 Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,799.99 $2,249.99 (save $450)

• Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S (Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070Ti, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,899.99 $2,199.99 (save $300)

• Dell XPS 14 (Intel Core Ultra X7 358H, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,699.99 $3,149.99 (save $450)

Best Chromebook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 (MediaTek Kompanio Ultra, 12GB RAM, 256GB UFS) $579 at Best Buy
$749 Save $170   Get Deal

This premium Chromebook boasts an 18-hour battery life and a silky-smooth touchscreen display that can flip around 360 degrees. It makes a great MacBook Neo alternative for ultra-casual users who want a laptop that doubles as a tablet. Ahead of Labor Day, it's significantly cheaper than the Neo: Best Buy has it marked down to $579, or 23% off. That more than erases its $50 price hike from May.

Read Mashable's full review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514.

You don't have to look very far on the internet to find someone, somewhere, who is really upset about Final Fantasy games not having turn-based combat anymore.

Final Fantasy games haven’t had it for 25 years, to be clear, but that doesn't stop people from yearning for a time before you had to get good at combos to finish a Final Fantasy. I totally get it, too, as turn-based combat kicks ass. On top of that, the recent success of games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is, if nothing else, a sign that people still vibe with it on some level.

Final Fantasy Resonance, which launches on every major platform on Oct. 22, feels like it exists for two reasons: to please longtime FF fans and to make sure the mobile game Brave Exvius — which Resonance is based on — lives on in some form.

I have not played Brave Exvius, but after playing roughly an hour of Resonance at a preview event a couple of weeks ago, I can confirm that the foundations on which Final Fantasy was originally built are still structurally sound. As to whether or not it can transcend its mobile game origins, well, we'll have to wait and see.

SEE ALSO: 'Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave' feels like the true follow-up to 'Three Houses' Final Fantasy Resonance has all your favorite guys in it You've got four people in your party, but really, you've got eight. Credit: Square Enix

First, some context is in order. Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius came out on mobile devices about a decade ago, and it's one of those phone games where you use currency to do fake slot machine pulls to unlock characters, many — but not all — of whom are plucked from the rest of the FF series. My understanding is that Resonance is largely an new game built like a traditional console RPG, but it's definitely been built using some assets and systems from Brave Exvius.

The demo I played didn't give me a great idea of what to expect from the story, but from what I can tell, the main character is a blonde dude with a big sword named Rain. That's the most Final Fantasy thing possible. They should start naming characters in the mainline games after weather again.

Anyway, you have a conventional party of original characters, but characters from older games in the series are present in spirit form. You can unlock them by finding shrines in the overworld and completing little trivia challenges based on the game each character comes from. In the demo, I unlocked Noctis from Final Fantasy XV, but looking through the menus, I could see that they have characters from good games in there, too.

Yep, that's an overworld. Credit: Square Enix

When you're not fighting — we'll get to that shortly — Resonance plays like an RPG from yesteryear. You run around an overworld full of towns, dungeons, and random battles. There are side quests to complete and a big icon that always points toward the next story objective. I played through one major story dungeon that was fairly linear and simplistic, but the demo also seemed to take place early in the game, so I imagine the dungeons aren’t all like that.

Resonance is also rendered in Square Enix's now-signature "HD2D" look, which was most recently used in Octopath Traveler 0 and The Adventures of Elliot. Based on what I played, this is one of the better-looking HD2D games, but there's one caveat: There are pre-rendered CG cutscenes in combat that very clearly come from the mobile game.

On the one hand, I think it's kind of cool for the game to briefly play a video in a completely different art style during fights, but on the other, the cutscenes really look like they came from a phone game. They don't even have English voice acting, despite the rest of the game having it. The transition from mobile free-to-play RPG to console game isn’t totally seamless here. That's forgivable, but it is noticeable.

The combat mixes old-school sensibilities with modern design conventions

Let's talk about fights, which seem like they will make up the bulk of Resonance's gameplay. That's a good thing because I really dug what I played at the preview.

If you've ever played Final Fantasy VI or one of the other games from that era, you'll be right at home here. Fights are turn-based with zero real-time elements, so you have all the time in the world to strategize and make decisions. Each fight is an exercise in figuring out which elemental spells your enemies are weak against. This requires either a slow trial-and-error process, or using a turn to cast Assess and just have the game tell you.

One of my favorite details is that Resonance lets you use every single offensive or restorative spell either on individual characters or groups. That's a holdover from the old games that fell out of favor decades ago, but I always thought it was cool that you could use a healing spell on every ally instead of just one, at the expense of some potency.

As for why all of those old FF characters are in this game, their main function is to provide statistical buffs and additional combat skills to your core party members. You can, for example, assign Cloud from Final Fantasy VII to any character, such as Rain. Cloud has his own set of skills and stat bonuses that will be available to Rain for as long as Cloud is attached to him. Each classic FF character can be freely swapped among the new party members, so figuring out the best fit for each encounter seems like it's going to be a major part of the combat experience.

This guy was a real jerk. Credit: Square Enix

Lastly, because it's a modern Square Enix RPG, enemies all have stagger meters that fill up when you attack their weaknesses. Stagger an enemy and they'll be stunned for a turn while taking more damage than usual. Stagger every enemy in an enounter simultaneously, and you can unleash a big, screen-filling super attack from one of the classic FF characters, which triggers the CG cutscenes I mentioned earlier. I like this feature in pretty much every Square Enix game that has it, but it definitely stands out as a modern idea inserted into an otherwise old-school game.

The best thing I can say about Resonance's combat is that it seems genuinely challenging. I fought a story boss that took around 15 minutes to kill, and there were some close calls throughout the fight. I like a turn-based battle that makes me sweat a little bit.

My time with Final Fantasy Resonance was largely positive, but there are still some unanswered questions. Is the story any good? Will I find myself caring at all about Rain and his friends? Will it overstay its welcome with a bloated runtime like some modern RPGs, or will it be more akin to its 8 and 16-bit inspirations in that regard? We'll find out together in October.

It's no secret that the Milwaukee PACKOUT system is the king of modular storage for all your tools, and users everywhere swear by it. If you're tired of wasting half the day hunting for tools, digging through random bins, or having a cluttered mess in the garage, you need a PACKOUT. Here are a few kits that'll save you hours in the garage or shop, letting you focus on the job at hand.

Since the first lightbulb was invented, technology has evolved to the point where there’s almost nothing a typical modern LED light can’t do. Dimming is a basic feature, but altering the color temperature and actual color, and even creating unique patterns, are also possible. This creates the opportunity for some truly amazing lighting scenes, but getting it all to work can be a challenge. Thankfully, Govee thinks there’s a better way.

When it comes to learning cybersecurity, there's a way to do it that feels less like studying and more like a high-stakes game. I'm talking about Capture the Flag competitions. Out of curiosity, I dived into this interesting world and, before I realized it, I got totally hooked.

SAVE $30: As of Sept. 3, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is on sale for $19.99 at Amazon. That's a $30 discount from its full price of $49.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $19.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal

Labor Day sales are a real treat for shoppers who don't want to wait until Black Friday and the holidays to score some good deals. Amazon's been particularly great with discounts so far, including devices like the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, which recently saw a price hike. As of Sept. 3, this streaming stick has been slashed to just $19.99.

Compared to its newly increased full price of $49.99, that means you save $30 overall. Price tracker camelcamelcamel even shows that this deal price is just a couple of dollars away from the retailer's lowest-ever price of $17.99, so this is an excellent time to grab it if your streaming setup is in need of an upgrade.

SEE ALSO: Best Buy's Labor Day 2026 Sale is live: Shop deals on Apple, headphones, laptops, and more

Amazon's streaming sticks offer several 4K options, but the 4K Select is the line's entry-level pick. If you're making the jump from HD streaming, this device can deliver a higher-quality picture with support for 4K Ultra HD resolution and High Dynamic Range 10+. It also supports WiFi 5 for smooth streaming and comes with 8GB of storage to store your favorite apps.

You can even play Xbox games via cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass, though you will need a subscription and a compatible controller to fully jump in on the action. On top of that, the Alexa Voice Remote makes searching for your next favorite show or movie simple and easy, just by using your voice.

As we head into the Labor Day weekend, deals like this may not be around for long. If this Fire TV Stick 4K Select has caught your eye, be quick to save on it at Amazon.

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I’ve never been very interested in smart glasses. The idea of having a hands-free camera on my face sounds great, but there’s always so much extra stuff that goes along with it. However, my Android brain perked up when I heard HTC was releasing a pair of smart glasses. I’ve been using the Vive Eagle for several weeks, and I have a lot of thoughts.