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Kindle users might be the most passionate sect of BookTok, coming up with hacks to maximize the device's potential, through page turners or Stuff Your Kindle Day events. And we get it, they're the best e-readers out there. In 2024, Amazon released a new line-up of Kindles that improved upon the previous generation, which we already loved.

I've tested the Kindle Paperwhite, and spoiler alert, I do think it's a better value than the Signature Edition. However, the SE isn't without its merits. Let's get into the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 12th generation, and if you should buy it over the basic Kindle or Kindle Paperwhite.

It has all the perks of the Paperwhite and more It's nearly impossible to tell the difference between the Kindle Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Kindle Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition are essentially the same device; the Signature Edition just has the addition of a few special features. You can read all the in-depth details about why we like the Paperwhite in my review, but here's the TL;DR.

The 2024 Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is lightning fast. In comparison to the 2021 edition, the difference is noticeable, with no hesitation when flipping through pages. However, the biggest improvement comes when switching between books in your library, as it zips through tasks.

With a 7-inch screen, the SE got a slight size increase, while the resolution of 300 ppi and maximum brightness of 94 nits remain the same between generations. That being said, the display on this generation looks higher contrast, making it sharper and easier to read. Plus, it remains waterproof, perfect for taking along to the bathtub, beach, or pool.

SEE ALSO: I've read hundreds of free Kindle books with this app. Here's how.

Not to mention it comes with 32GB of storage. If you're thinking in terms of phones or tablets, that amount of storage might seem small, but keep in mind that 32GB has the potential to hold up to 32,000 e-books.

You get all of these great features in both the Kindle Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition, so what makes the SE unique?

The same great battery life as the Kindle Paperwhite

Kindles are unbeatable on one front: battery life. The Kindle Paperwhite and Signature Edition boast the same battery life of up to 12 weeks. The Signature Edition can go months without charging, but it doesn't have a longer life than the standard Paperwhite. The only battery life bonus you get with the Signature Edition is its wireless charging capabilities.

The Paperwhite vs. Signature Edition: What does $40 extra get you?

The Paperwhite Signature Edition has several added features that come with its $40 increase in price. For $199.99, it comes with an ad-free lock screen, 32GB of storage, auto-adjusting brightness, and wireless charging. Plus it comes in metallic versions of the Kindle Paperwhite's black, jade, and raspberry.

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition offers a more vibrant twist on jade. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable No lockscreen ads

Among the added features, the lock screen is the biggest draw. On a standard Kindle, ads pop up on the lock screen, forcing Amazon's recommendations on you. Not necessarily a dealbreaker, but still plenty annoying. So the Signature Edition does away with the ads, freeing you from the chains of capitalism (sort of). However, this does come with one catch. The ad-free lock screen tends to unlock easily when tossing it into a bag since there's no 'swipe to unlock' mechanism that the ad-enabled devices have. So if you're going to get the Signature Edition, make sure to get a case with a cover.

Auto-adjusting brightness

In terms of the other features, I didn't think they were anything to write home about. The auto-adjusting brightness didn't work consistently, even when I went from reading next to a lamp to turning off the lights; the auto-adjustment didn't kick in, and I always had to manually turn the brightness down.

Wireless charging

The wireless charging, while nice, didn't feel like the most necessary addition since you need to charge the device every three months. Plus, with most devices using USB-C these days, I'm never in short supply of chargers.

Magsafe chargers even work on the Paperwhite Signature Edition. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable 32GB of storage — is it necessary?

Now let's address the 32GB in the room. For an e-reader, that is an exorbitant amount of storage. It's double the amount of the standard Kindle Paperwhite, and again, 32,000 books' worth of storage. That is a lot of books. Is that much necessary? In my professional opinion, no, especially when you can remove downloaded books from your device and redownload from the Kindle cloud at any time. So if you think you need all that storage, you probably don't, and it's not worth splurging an extra $40 on it.

Differences between the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 12th generation and 11th generation

If you already have the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 11th generation, you may be wondering if it's worth it to upgrade to the next generation. Short answer: Absolutely not. Unless your 11th-gen Signature Edition has kicked the bucket, the differences between the 11th generation and 12th generation are negligible. Both devices have all the premium features of 32GB of storage, wireless charging, auto-adjusting brightness, and no lockscreen ads.

The main differences between the two devices are faster processing and a slightly larger screen. Having used both devices, the processing speeds are extremely similar, but the 12th generation's extra speed is admittedly hard to notice. The larger screen size is nice, but it's only a difference of .2-inches.

All that to say, don't run to upgrade unless your old device is on its last leg.

Is the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition worth it? Is 32GB worth the $200 price tag? We're unconvinced. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

For the average user, I don't think the Signature Edition is a worthy upgrade. The Kindle Paperwhite is far better bang for your buck, packed with everything you need for the ultimate reading experience. It might be worth the splurge if you do have storage concerns — maybe you've maxed out on 16GB on previous Kindle models. Otherwise, 16GB will be fine. And if you're really put off by lock screen ads, then the Signature Edition is going to be your preferred device.

However, if you are going to swing for the Amazon Kindle Signature Edition, look for it on sale. During Black Friday 2024, the Signature Edition was down to $154.99, cheaper than the listing price of the standard Paperwhite.

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (2024 model, 12th generation) $199.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Mashable's reviews of the current Kindle line-up

• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2024: I’ve tried every Kindle and the Paperwhite is the only one you need

• Amazon Kindle 2024: Amazon's basic Kindle is the best e-reader on a budget

• Amazon Kindle Scribe 2024: Amazon's Kindle Scribe makes minor improvements but it's not enough

• Amazon Kindle Colorsoft: Is color really worth $250?

The federal government is preparing for what appears to be an imminent shutdown after President Donald Trump and congressional leaders failed to find budgetary compromise in meetings convened on Monday (Sept. 29).

The funding lapse would be the first under Trump's second term (but certainly not the first in the country's history). Under Trump's first term, the federal government experienced its longest shutdown ever (35 days) as leaders debated funding for Trump's plans to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the pause resulted in a $3 billion hit to the U.S. economy.  

SEE ALSO: President Trump finally inked a $14 billion TikTok deal to keep the app alive

This year's budget hinges on the two parties agreeing to terms on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies, something the Trump administration has taken a hard line on in its One Big Beautiful Bill. Senate Democrats have already once rejected a Republican-led temporary funding plan that would extend the current budget for another seven weeks, choosing to stand their ground on Medicaid.

Republican leaders, which hold a majority in the House and Senate, have plastered some government pages with claims that Democrats are holding the budget hostage. The homepage for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, for example, reads: "The Radical Left are going to shut down the government and inflict massive pain on the American people unless they get their $1.5 trillion wish list of demands."

If the pattern continues until the deadline (Sept. 30 at midnight), federal spending streams will be halted and services will have to operate with limited staff and funding.

What a shutdown means for federal agencies

In a departure from previous government shutdowns, the White House has also threatened to slash the federal workforce should the lapse occur, with Trump saying thousands of permanent jobs could be on the line if the two parties can't come to an agreement. The administration has already cut thousands of workers, including another 100,000 expected to resign today.

But most employees, barring lawmakers on Capitol Hill, will be furloughed or forced to work without pay. The paychecks of around 4 million federal employees, including millions of active service members and currently deployed National Guard troops, will be held in limbo until the new budget passes. Hundreds of thousands of employees will continue to work as unpaid essential staff — more than 300,000 government workers were furloughed during the last shutdown in early 2019. 

Essential services, like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, will continue to be doled out in the event of a shutdown, although individuals can expect slower turnarounds and potential application pauses. Regulatory agencies, including the health and safety operations of the FDA and CDC, will have to pause some of their work, as they reduce necessary staff. TSA and air traffic users will also be forced to work without pay. The U.S. Postal Service, border patrol, and law enforcement shouldn't be affected. 

Federal employee unions, including the AFGE, have warned that such a pause would put federal employees at risk of financial, medical, and food insecurity, and called the proposed mass firings an illegal tactic by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 

How a shutdown may impact individuals and online users

For the average citizen, a brief government shutdown will be more like a blip than a pressing worry. But an extended funding lapse — like that in 2019 — could have further-reaching repercussions. 

Most online services will continue to operate, including filing options for federal benefits, forms, and documents, like travel visas. But whether or not you'll receive those requests on time is another matter. SNAP and WIC recipients, for example, could have their benefits delayed if the USDA is slow to process new forms. Non-automated collections and refunds for the IRS would also be impacted, as the agency works with limited staff. Immigration and travel services, like the E-Verify process for new employees, could be shut down, as well. 

Other human services, like call centers and hotlines, could be put on pause, too. Offline, conservation groups have called to close National Parks if employees are furloughed following widespread vandalism during the 2019 shutdown. In the past, this has threatened the ever-popular Fat Bear Week, held at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Agencies like the National Park Service historically stop updating social media during a shutdown.

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In addition to beleaguered services and hits to federally subsidized programs, federal websites and national cyber security could also be strained by the lack of staff and funding. In 2019, security company Netcraft alleged that the lapse led to dozens of expired security certificates for .gov websites, rendering them "insecure or inaccessible." The Department of Homeland Security's cyber-security and infrastructure security agency was reduced to half staff, and cyber security experts warned that continued understaffing could pose risks to the general public, unable to verify federal websites. Previous lapses have also delayed election system security scans and cybersecurity research. 

This time around, the DHS's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) may be reduced even more, down to 35 percent of its current staff. Also on the chopping block for budget lawmakers is the 2015 Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act, a law that facilitates cyber threat sharing between private companies and the government, which is set to expire. 

Everyone has to upgrade their PC eventually, and that means having obsolete parts you don't need. You could throw them away or recycle them. You could try to sell them to someone. But you could also repurpose them for some nifty projects at home to give them a new lease on life.

Windows 11 offers a wide variety of features, and many of them—like the Windows Subsystem for Linux and language packs—aren't installed by default. You can also remove features that are installed by default. Here's how to do it, graphically or from the command line.

The best early October Prime Day laptop deals at a glance: Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $999 (save $200) Get Deal Best Windows laptop deal Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13.8-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $999.99 (save $400) Get Deal

Black Friday is the absolute best time to buy a laptop if you want a great deal. Retailers typically reserve their year-round lows for October through December to entice holiday shoppers, and to clear their shelves ahead of next-gen hardware launches in January. It's the perfect storm for PC bargain-hunting.

For its part, Amazon unofficially kicks off its Black Friday festivities well ahead of time with a Prime Big Deal Days sale in early fall. This "October Prime Day" event is scheduled for Oct. 7 and 8 this year, so I'm expecting a bunch of deep markdowns to pop up there in the very near future.

SEE ALSO: What is Prime Big Deal Days? Everything you need to know and what deals to expect.

You may have noticed that several Apple MacBooks and Microsoft Surface Copilot+ PCs are already discounted in the lead-up to Prime Big Deal Days, but I think the bulk of them are passable for now. Once the event begins, Amazon will probably put way more options on sale and lower the prices of the already-on-sale models even further. I saw this happen around the retailer's flagship Prime Day shindig in July — early birds had slim pickings compared to day-of shoppers.

My advice for most people is to keep your cart empty until Oct. 7 to make sure you lock in the best deal possible. That said, there are two early October Prime Day laptop deals that I think are worth considering because they're already at or very close to their all-time lows.

Best MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $999 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $200 Get Deal Why we like it

Apple's M4 MacBook Air is a sleek speed demon: In our CPU benchmark, it outperformed 89% of the models in our laptop testing database. (Compared to the last-gen M3 model, it's 24% faster.) It doesn't look all that different from older MacBooks with M-something chips, but its upgraded 12MP Center Stage camera was a welcome upgrade to our reviewer. We think the 13-inch model is the best MacBook for students and other users who value portability, and right now, Amazon has an upgraded configuration with 512GB of storage on sale for $999 — its lowest price on record. (Doubling its 256GB base capacity means you'll probably never need an external hard drive.) No other MacBook was on sale for an all-time low at the time of writing.

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

More MacBook Air deals

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $897 $999 (save $102)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,049 $1,199 (save $150)

MacBook Pro deals

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,399 $1,599 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $2,249 $2,499 (save $250)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Max, 36GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,869 $3,199 (save $330)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M4 Max, 36GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $3,099 $3,499 (save $400)

Best Windows laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13.8-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $999.99 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $400 Get Deal Why we like it

The 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 7 with a Snapdragon X Elite chip is our favorite Windows laptop for most people. It's beautiful, it's about as fast as an M4 MacBook Air, and it lasts for nearly 23 hours on a single charge — that's two longer than the M4 Pro-powered MacBook Pro, the longest-lasting MacBook we've tried. (Before you buy it, just double check that its powerful ARM-based CPU is compatible with your go-to apps.) The black variant with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage is marked down to $999.99 ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, which is a 29% discount on its $1,399.99 MSRP. It very briefly fell to $918.47 in late September, but this current offer beats its Prime Day deal in July.

Read Mashable's full review of the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.

More Windows laptop deals

• Asus Vivobook 16 (AMD Ryzen AI 5 340, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $679.99 $799.99 (save $120)

• Microsoft Surface Laptop, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $729.99 $899.99 (save $170)

• Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13.8-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $999 $1,199.99 (save $200.99)

• Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 15-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,619.99 $2,099.99 (save $480)

2-in-1 laptop deals

• Microsoft Surface Pro 11, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,299 $1,499.99 (save $200.99)

Gaming laptop deals

• Asus ROG Strix G16 (Intel Core i7-14650HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,399.99 $1,499.99 (save $100)

Amazon is rounding out its Colorsoft collection with a new e-reader. The Kindle Scribe, the only Kindle e-reader with writing abilities, is finally getting a color display. The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft was unveiled at Amazon's Devices & Services event on Tuesday, Sept. 30, in New York City. While we can't wait to get our hands on the device, the price is... nuts.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft $629.99 at Amazon
The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is not available for purchase yet, but is coming soon. Learn More

The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft follows the release of the Colorsoft Signature Edition, Colorsoft, and Colorsoft Essentials Kids, making it the fourth device in the lineup, but the first with writing abilities. It'll be a thin device, just 5.4 millimeters thick, with a precision-machined aluminum frame.

It'll have a new, more functional home screen, and while it will still have all the great benefits of a Kindle e-reader. It's also focused on drawing and writing capabilities. Using Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive, users will be able to import and export files to the Kindle Scribe, plus a new Kindle Workspace tool works on PDFs, files, notes, and textbooks.

We can't wait to get our hands on the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft and see if its lives up to its price tag. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

But we need to talk about the Scribe Colorsoft's price. When rumors were swirling about color coming to the Scribe, we expected it might be priced over $500, but Amazon shocked us with its actual price tag. The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is priced at $629.99, making it the most expensive Kindle yet. As my colleague put it, the price is uncalled for.

Other color e-readers on the market — with annotating abilities — cost much less than the Scribe Colorsoft. The Kobo Libra Colour, which does have a smaller screen than the Scribe but still has color and writing abilities, only costs $229.99. That's $400 less than Kindle's Scribe. It's even more expensive than an iPad, which start at $349. Even if you were to add on an Apple Pencil for $129, the combo is still $151.99 cheaper than the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft.

The new cases for the Kindle Scribe look luxe. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Despite its flagrant price, the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft could be a great value — we'll only know once we get our hands on a model and try it ourselves.

Hulu's sports comedy Chad Powers is chock-full of cameos from the football world.

Episode 1 kicks off with appearances by sports commentators Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler. Chad Powers' trailer confirms that former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is also slated to make an appearance. Manning is an executive producer on Chad Powers, alongside his brother Peyton Manning. The entire show is based on a segment from Manning's Eli's Places series, in which Manning joins walk-on football tryouts at Penn State in disguise.

SEE ALSO: 'Chad Powers' review: Glen Powell, the comedy star you are

However, Chad Powers' premiere episode also features an off-the-wall cameo not from the world of sports, but from the world of internet infamy. That cameo comes from none other than Haliey Welch, aka the "Hawk Tuah Girl."

Welch skyrocketed to fame over the summer of 2024, when her advice to "spit on that thang" in a Tim & Dee TV man-on-the-street interview went mega-viral. Welch spun that virality into a career, hawking merch, starting her podcast Talk Tuah, and securing a Chad Powers cameo spot that, by virtue of the speed of internet meme cycles, already feels a tad dated.

Welch appears less than five minutes into Chad Powers, when disgraced quarterback Russ Holliday (Glen Powell) runs into her in a club. He's stoked to meet her, howling, "Hawk tuah, spit on that thing!" with glee. Welch, on the other hand, is less than impressed, telling Russ, "Please don't tell people we met."

Welch's annoyance at Russ for yelling her catchphrase at her and not even knowing her actual name mirrors Russ' own experience with internet notoriety. After his championship loss meltdown went viral, Russ got labeled "scumbag quarterback" for all eternity. Similarly, Welch will forever be known as the "Hawk Tuah Girl."

Welch has also had a Russ Holliday-esque downfall of her own. In Dec. 2024, Welch launched her own cryptocurrency memecoin, $HAWK. While initially highly valuable, the coin quickly plummeted, leading people to accuse Welch and her team of a rug pull. Welch disappeared from the public eye after the controversy. When she did issue a statement about the rug pull, the internet lambasted her. The most recent episode of Talk Tuah, dated May 20, 2025, is titled, "Haliey Welch Tells All - Crypto Incident."

Welch also addressed $HAWK's crash at a live taping of Talk Tuah at VidCon 2025, saying that if a man had been behind the crypto rug pull, he "probably would have been promoted."

Between walkouts from the VidCon taping and the internet's roast of her crypto scandal, it's clear Welch has gone from unlikely internet star to viral disgrace. Clearly she's not disgraced enough to avoid making cameos in buzzy shows, though. While Chad Powers was mostly filmed between Aug. and Oct. of 2024, Welch reportedly filmed her cameo in Apr. of 2025, months after her crypto crash, according to TMZ.

Chad Powers is now streaming on Hulu.

UPDATE: Sep. 30, 2025, 12:46 p.m. EDT Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Welch filmed her cameo in 2024.

SAVE $70: As of Sept. 30, get the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE for $429.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $479.99. That's a discount of 14% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE $429.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $70 Get Deal

If you're looking to buy a new tablet but aren't interested in the iOS ecosystem, Samsung has a line of great options to choose from. And if you want the best you can get for the money, you can check out this deal at Amazon that gives you the lowest price we've seen on a formidable Samsung Galaxy Tab right now.

As of Sept. 30, get the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE for $429.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $479.99. That's $70 off and a discount of 14%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The best tablets in 2025

This tablet can handle just about anything you throw at it. It boasts an Exynos 1580 processor, a large, luscious screen with a 90 Hz refresh rate, and 128 GB of expandable storage, so if you happen to run out you can always get some more.

Its dual speakers mean you get great audio, and its water resistance makes it a good option to take wherever you go without having to worry about dropping it into a puddle. Plus, it comes with an S Pen so you can take notes or doodle while on the go.

All of this, plus a suite of AI features, including Circle to Search, make it a viable contender for your favorite piece of tech to get things done on.

If it's time to go ahead and lock in a tablet, be sure to grab this one before it's no longer on sale while you can still seal the deal at its lowest price yet.

Throughout the promotion for Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, Netflix has kept Jacob Elordi's appearance as the Creature a mystery.

The clearest look we've had yet is one promotional still, which shows the Creature standing in snowy darkness, wrapped almost completely in furs. Only the top half of his face is visible, revealing deathly pale skin crisscrossed by scars.

SEE ALSO: 'Frankenstein' review: Guillermo del Toro delivers a moving masterpiece of horror and romance

Now, though, Netflix has granted eager Frankenstein fans with a new Creature character poster for the film, giving us our best look yet at what to expect from del Toro's take on Frankenstein's monster.

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The poster shows the Creature's full face, which actually appears to be multiple faces sewn together. Adding to the medical gore of the Creature's look is his hand, which is mostly skinless, leaving his bones and muscles exposed. You can also catch a red eye peeking out from between strands of the Creature's long hair. The hair calls to mind not a monster, but a gothic, romantic hero, one you'd expect to find striding across the windswept moors. (Or maybe I'm just thinking of Elordi's role in Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights adaptation.)

If that poster wasn't enough to get you excited about Frankenstein, look no further than the positive critical response out of the film's world premiere at 2025's Venice International Film Festival, and its subsequent showing at the Toronto International Film Festival. Mashable's Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko called Frankenstein "a masterpiece" in her review.

Puchko also highlighted Elordi's performance, writing, "He wears a full body of prosthetic scars and putridly pale skin, but he suffuses every movement, every glance with purpose and emotion. Escaping his well-recognized handsomeness and the expectations that come with being a dashing leading man, Elordi is del Toro's perfect monster, wretched and wondrous."

Frankenstein opens in select theaters Oct. 17 and hits Netflix Nov. 7.

SAVE $40: As of Sept. 30, get the DJI Mic 2 for $179 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $219. That's a discount of 18% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DJI Mic 2 $179 at Amazon
$219 Save $40 Get Deal

If you thought DJI was solely for drones, you haven't met the company as of late. The brand has quickly transformed into a go-to name for creators seeking affordable gear, like microphones. But it can be tough to find DJI products in stock at the moment, especially as a potential ban looms as early as December. If you're looking for a DJI mic that's both affordable and in stock right now, Amazon is your best bet.

SEE ALSO: Beat the looming DJI drone ban: Get the DJI Mini 4K drone for $249 at Amazon

As of Sept. 30, get the DJI Mic 2 for $179 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $219. That's $40 off and a discount of 18%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

The DJI Mic 2 bundle comes with one transmitter, one receiver, a clip magnet, windscreen, and a carrying pouch as well as a few other goodies. According to DJI, you get "pro-level audio" with this model. It boasts up to 18 hours of battery life, and it's lightweight and portable at just 28 grams. It also features noise-cancelling features so you can cut down on outside noise.

With a range of 820 feet and 8GB of internal storage, it can hold up to 14 hours of uncompressed audio, so even if you've got several videos' worth of narration to edit or record, you know you're covered.

Amazon kicked off a round of new hardware at its Devices & Services event on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 10 a.m. in New York City. Based on the invite for the event, there was plenty of speculation around what Amazon would actually be announcing. We expected to see a new device in the Kindle Colorsoft lineup, a relaunched Echo Studio, and a new Fire TV — but did any of those devices actually make their debut?

Amazon is currently gearing up for Prime Big Deal Days, the brand's October Prime Day event. But ahead of the holiday season, Amazon is refreshing its lineup. Here's everything we learned at Amazon's fall hardware event.

Color is coming to the Kindle Scribe Color has finally come to the Kindle Scribe — but its $600+ price tag is tough. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

As we suspected, color is coming to the Kindle Scribe. Amazon says that 60 percent of Kindle sales are to brand-new customers, meaning that more and more are converting to the e-reader lifestyle.

The Kindle Scribe is getting a revamp, less than a year after its previous update. The new Kindle Scribe is ultra-thin and ultra-light, and it's just 5.4 mm thick and weighs 400 grams. It's priced at $429.99, or $499.99 with a front light. Not only is it lighter and thinner than the original model, but it comes with a new chip to make the device 40 percent faster — a much-needed upgrade since it was one of the slowest Kindles.

But the showstopper here is the new Kindle Scribe Colorsoft. It's designed as a notetaker, edging closer to a ReMarkable Paper Pro than an iPad. It features a new, more functional home screen and a new digital scratchpad called Quick Notes. Plus, it has a Kindle Workspace tool for PDFs, files, notes, and textbooks. All of these upgraded features come with the addition of the color e-ink currently found in the Kindle Colorsoft.

The big downer here is the price. The new Kindle Colorsoft is priced at $629.99, the most expensive Kindle yet, and almost $300 more than the cheapest iPad.

Updates to Ring devices Ring's new era is focused on protecting your family and neighborhood. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

At the event, Amazon introduced a ton of new Ring cameras:

• Wired Doorbell Plus 2K - $179.99

• Indoor Cam Plus 2K - $59.99

• Outdoor Cam Pro 4K - $179.99

• Spotlight Cam Pro 4K - $249.99

• Wired Doorbell Pro 4K - $249.99

• Floodlight Pro 4K - $279.99

Ring, which was acquired by Amazon in 2018, is going back to its roots. Founder Jamie Siminoff has rejoined the team to lead the brand's next chapter. The presentation was focused on families and neighborhoods, and Siminoff said this is “a new era in neighborhood security, and a new era for Ring.”

Amazon is also bringing new AI-powered features and camera improvements to the new Ring devices. All the new cameras will feature "Retinal Vision," which Amazon said will provide improved video quality in all conditions. Ring will also introduce a new "Familiar Faces" feature, which identifies your friends, family, and neighbors and can include their names in notifications when they're approaching the door. Plus, Alexa+ is joining the Ring party with Alexa+ Greetings, an intelligent tool that can provide specific instructions to visitors, such as "Leave the package at the side of the house."

Both Familiar Faces and Alexa+ Greetings will be available on the 2K and 4K cameras starting in December.

Plus, Ring introduced Search Party, a feature designed to find lost pets. Using multiple cameras throughout the neighborhood, Ring cameras can work together to identify a lost dog and help reunite it with its family.

Three new Blink cameras are coming Blink debuted three new cameras at the fall hardware event. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Amy Wiedemann, the Head of Marketing for Home Security, took to the stage to introduce three new cameras. First, the Blink Mini 2K+ ($49.99) and Blink Outdoor 2K+ ($89.99) have crystal-clear audio and two-way communication, as well as improved picture quality and a long-lasting battery.

Another camera is coming, too: the Blink Arc, priced at $99.99. It has two cameras, providing 180 degrees of coverage, and stitches two high-resolution video feeds into a single seamless view. The camera can be mounted in corners and eliminates blind spots.

The new Blink Arc combines two camera views into a single high-res feed to eliminate blind spots. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth

All three cameras are available for preorder today.

A refreshed line of Amazon Fire TVs Will the Amazon Fire TV 4K Select Streaming Stick improve its previously slow OS? Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

As expected, a new lineup of Amazon TVs is coming and available for preorder today. The new collection includes a Fire TV 4 series, Fire TV Omni QLED series, and Fire TV 2 series. The Fire TV Omni QLED starts at $479.99 for a 50-inch model and brightness that adjusts based on the room.

The Fire TV 4 series will feature 43-, 50-, and 55-inch models and start at $329.99. The 2 series will feature a 32- and 40-inch model and start at $259.99.

In addition to the new TVs, Amazon is offering a new Fire TV 4K Select Streaming Stick, priced at $39.99, which it claims will be the fastest 4K streaming stick under $40.

All of the new Fire TVs — and Echos, but we'll get to those later — will be powered by Amazon's new Vega OS.

New Echo devices built for Alexa+ The new Amazon Echo Studio is giving Death Star, no? Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

With Amazon launching Alexa+ last year, it's no surprise that the new Echo devices are built for it. The new Echos include:

• Echo Studio - $219.99

• Echo Dot Max - $99.99

• Echo Show 8 - $179.99

• Echo Show 11 - $219.99

The new Echo Show devices. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

All of the new Echos feature a new 3D knit fabric, which calls to mind the fabric on the AirPods Max headphones. The devices are now powered by two new chips, the AZ3 and AZ3 Pro. Amazon said the Echo Studio will be the most advanced and best-sounding Echo ever, according to Amazon, with three full-range drivers, a custom woofer to maximize bass, spatial audio, and Dolby Atmos.

All of the new Echo devices are available for preorder today.

Amazon is investing in Alexa+

The through line with most of Amazon's new devices is the incorporation of Alexa+, available on every product. It's designed to be "Ambient AI," a screen-free technology, so you can stay present.

The Alexa Home Theater is also coming, which uses a combination of Echo speakers to create a surround sound experience. This feature will be included on all of the Echo devices announced today.

Earlier this year, Amazon pulled the veil off of Alexa+, a new, AI-powered version of its voice assistant. Now, we have some devices that were purpose-built for Alexa+.

At an event in New York City on Tuesday, Amazon showed off four new Echo speakers. We'll get to the specifics of each speaker in a second, but the main thing to know is that they all use new in-house AZ3 chips (there's a regular AZ3 and an AZ3 Pro) to run their AI models. These devices also use Amazon's sensor platform Omnisense, which allows the Echo units to proactively respond to events occurring in your home. Examples given included alerts that a specific person has entered a room or that your garage door is unlocked at night.

Anyway, here are the four new devices and how much they cost. The first two launch on Oct. 29, and the latter two on Nov. 12:

• Echo Dot Max - $99.99

• Echo Studio - $219.99

• Echo Show 8 - $179.99

• Echo Show 11 - $219.99

The Echo Dot Max is the smallest and cheapest of the bunch, resembling a sphere but with a little indent with button controls on the front. Amazon says it has 3x the bass of the 5th gen Echo Dot, and was built with two speakers for the first time. The point is that this is a small, relatively affordable smart speaker that, according to Amazon, has big sound where it counts. Of course, you can also have conversations with Alexa+ on it, as is the case with the other three devices.

It's like a really advanced baby monitor. Credit: Amazon

Echo Studio visually looks like a bigger version of Echo Dot Max, though it's apparently 40 percent smaller than the last Echo Studio model. This one has Dolby Atmos and spatial audio support. It should be noted that up to five Echo Dot Max or Studio devices can be linked to Fire TV Sticks for something resembling a home theater audio setup.

SEE ALSO: The Amazon Halloween store is packed with spooky and haunted delights

Beyond that, the two Echo Show devices are similar in theory, though they both have touchscreens and cameras on them. The 8 and 11 refer to display sizes, presumably, in case you were confused as to why devices with those two numbers would launch simultaneously. Amazon says the new displays are better than previous models, and the camera can use AI to recognize whoever walks up to it and proactively show information they might want to see.

Needless to say, the Echo Show devices can also act as smart home hubs for all your devices, as well as small entertainment centers for listening to podcasts or audiobooks or what have you. You can even connect an Oura account and get health and wellness tips from the Echo Show.

Just don't get too caught up in conversation with Alexa+.

Roombas are more practically priced now than they have been in years. And that’s before discounts — during Prime Big Deal Days, many 2025 Roombas are already up to 44% off at Amazon for Prime Big Deal Days, making this a great year to invest.

October Prime Day (officially starting Tuesday, Oct. 7) is now the second Prime event we've experienced after iRobot's epiphany in March 2025. For years before that, Roombas were simply way too expensive for their own good. The other top robot vacuums out there were offering the same features, like smart mapping and small obstacle avoidance, at much lower prices. But that all changed when iRobot released a fleet of new Roombas that kept those same core robot vacuum features at more realistic prices.

Best early October Prime Day deals on Roombas Best cheap Roomba deal iRobot Roomba 104 Combo with AutoEmpty dock $249.99 (save $200) Get Deal Best Roomba with self-washing mopping pads deal iRobot Roomba 405 Combo with AutoWash Dock $399.99 (save $269.96) Get Deal

But we still love to see them get even cheaper during an Amazon sale event. You can squeeze so much more out of a few hundred bucks when Roomba shopping now than you could a few years ago. Back in the day, the sale price for a mopping Roomba that could self-wash its mopping pads was $999 — now, that kind of mopping Roomba is less than $500. There's even a Roomba with smart mapping on sale for $149.99 that wasn't present during Prime Day in July. The old cheap Roombas didn't do much more than bump around aimlessly, and they barely ever dipped below $200. With this intel in mind, feel free to rule out any i Series or Essential Series Roombas — they're not bangs for your buck like the others in this list.

I'm keeping track of the best Roomba deals at Amazon for Prime Big Deal Days below. But for comparison's sake, skim over my guide on how to choose a robot vacuum, then take a peek at the other great Prime Big Deal Days robot vacuum deals that I'm eyeing.

Note: Any deal marked with a 🔥 has dropped to a record-low price at Amazon.

Best budget Roomba deal ahead of October Prime Day Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba 104 Combo with AutoEmpty dock $249.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $200 Get Deal Why we like it

I wasn't sold on the idea of getting a Roomba as your budget-friendly robot vacuum until this year. The older entry-level Roombas, like the Roomba 694 and Essential series, completely skipped smart mapping — a feature that can make or break your robot vacuum experience. But now, several budget Roombas under $200 can remember a map of your home and clean specific rooms or zones on command. I'm highlighting the Roomba 104 Combo here, which is nearly identical to the Roomba Combo 105 that I tested at home.

The Roomba 105 cleaning my bedroom floor. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The Roomba 104 sweeps with 7,000 Pa of suction power, which is actually a quite commendable number compared to the 5,500 Pa seen on many cheap Roborock models. Not only is this a robot vacuum and mop combo, but its smart mapping capabilities help it to recognize carpet and keep it dry when mopping.

Up until the latest round of Roombas that hit the scene in spring 2025, I'd often actively advise against getting a Roomba. They didn't even have smart mapping, whereas the entry-level Shark robot vacuums did — often at a lower price point than the cheap Roombas. But after testing the new base-tier Roomba 105, I can finally give iRobot credit for actually putting effort into a cheap Roomba. The Roomba 104 Combo featured here is nearly identical to the 105, but also mops.

More Roomba deals at Amazon

• iRobot Roomba 104 — $149.99 $249.99 (save $100) 🔥

• iRobot Roomba 105 — $179 $299.99 (save $120.99) 🔥

• iRobot Roomba 105 Combo — $199.99 $319.99 (save $120) 🔥

• iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor — $259.99 $449.99 (save $190)

• iRobot Roomba 105 with self-empty station — $299.99 $449.99 (save $150)

• iRobot Roomba Plus 504 with self-empty station — $379.99 $749.99 (save $370) 🔥

• iRobot Roomba 405 Combo with self-empty and mop washing station — $399.99 $669.95 (save $269.96) 🔥

• iRobot Roomba Plus 405 Combo with self-empty and mop washing station — $499 $799.99 (save $300.99) 🔥

• iRobot Roomba Max 705 with self-empty station — $599.99 $899.99 (save $300)

• iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max with self-empty station and AutoWash dock — $599.99 $1,399.99 (save $799.01)

The dating app Breeze has added sign languages as an option to its "Date Languages."

Breeze removes the chat function of the app experience. If you match, you fill out a plan for a date, and then the app organizes it for you. The app has arranged over 400,000 dates in the U.S. and Europe since its launch in 2020.

SEE ALSO: Single after 40? These are the dating apps you need to be on in 2025.

As matches don't chit-chat before meeting in person, knowing you share a common means of communication is crucial — especially for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Breeze states in its press release that the sign language matching feature is baked into its matching algorithm, so that it prioritizes matches with overlapping languages.

Sign languages on Breeze. Credit: Breeze

Breeze users can add sign languages both when they create their initial profile and within the app's "Date Preferences" tab. It'll be featured at the top of profiles.

"Our 'no-chat' model is about creating genuine, in-person connections. This feature is a vital part of that mission, ensuring that a user's language preference and ability to communicate is established and matched before the date is even arranged," Breeze's head of business development, Marco van der Woude, stated in the press release. "Focusing only on the 'average' user means eventually our product won't work for anyone, because everyone is unique."

SAVE $19.99: Spend $120+ at Lego until Oct. 7 and get a free Lego Luminous Ghost set which ordinarily costs $19.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Luminous Ghost set $0 at Lego
$19.99 Save $19.99 free with $120+ purchase Get Deal

It's getting scary out there. We're talking about the Halloween season, of course. Neighborhoods are now filled with 12-foot tall skeletons and porches have decorative gourds. But when the temps drop and we head inside, it's time to build some Lego sets. If you've been eyeing a set, now is a great time to buy because Lego is adding on a free Halloween-themed set that you don't want to miss out on.

Until Oct. 7 or stock sells out, spend $120 or more at Lego and receive a free Luminous Ghost build, which ordinarily sells for $19.99. Free shipping kicks in on order over $35, so you're also in for no shipping fees. The $120 order can't be used to pre-order sets if you want to score the free ghost.

As a shock to no one, Lego has irresistible Halloween builds on offer. And as a little treat, the Danish brand is offering everyone a free Luminous Ghost build, so long as you spend $120 or more. The Luminous Ghost build features a ghost with illuminated red eyes (battery included) and it appears the little fella has a pet bat that tags along on the journey. There's also an adorable pumpkin in the build, too.

SEE ALSO: There are already some great Lego deals to check out ahead of October Prime Day

Spending $120 is easy to do at Lego when browsing the site. Halloween builds include the excellent Disney Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas which would put you over the $120 threshold. We also have to point out the new Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory set which has a chocolate waterfall, Oompa Loompas, and snozzberries that probably taste like Lego bricks and not snozzberries.

Whatever your Lego preference, there's a set just for you to score the free Luminous Ghost. Lego mentions this deal is good until Oct. 7 or supplies last, so it's best to hop to the buying and building soon. Just don't hop on the Lego bricks themselves.

Samsung's signature smart ring may have sent someone to the hospital, according to an experience shared by a popular tech YouTuber.

An X user named Daniel, who runs a YouTube channel called ZONEofTECH, posted photos on X on Monday that allegedly showed a Samsung Galaxy Ring having swollen to the point where he couldn't remove it from his finger. Daniel said in a follow-up post that this happened while he was boarding a plane, at which point he was denied entry due to the presence of a swollen lithium-ion battery. He also said he went to the hospital and had the ring removed there. It's not clear where this happened or which hospital he went to for treatment.

SEE ALSO: Samsung's Tri-Fold phone could come to the U.S. this year

Daniel shared on X that he obtained the ring in January, was unsure of the health of the battery but suspected it had an issue as the battery life "stopped lasting more than 1.5 days" rather than the advertised week. Daniel said the ring battery had no charge when it allegedly swelled.

Mashable has reached out to both Daniel and Samsung for comment. In the photos, it looks like the inner portion of the ring has expanded due to a swollen battery, and due to the way the ring is constructed, it swells inward rather than outward. That would certainly make it difficult to remove the ring from a finger. As 9to5Google pointed out, there have been previous reports of this happening with the Galaxy Ring, though not necessarily ones that ended in hospital visits.

Samsung UK reached out to Daniel directly on X, and also supplied the following statement to 9to5Google:

The safety of our customers is a top priority and we are in direct contact with this user to learn more about their concerns. While experiences like this are extremely rare, there are a few ways to attempt removing a stuck ring, including soap and water – or submerging your hand in cold water. If these methods do not work, additional information is provided on our Samsung Support page.

This is a developing story, check back at mashable.com for updates as they become available.

Spotify’s shuffle feature has been a common complaint among listeners for years. It never really feels as “random” as people want it to be, but it’s not as easy as you would think to make something feel truly random. Spotify is working on giving users more control over the shuffle feature to combat this.

TL;DR: Get your favorite Microsoft apps without breaking the bank — a lifetime subscription to Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 is on sale for just $19.97 (reg. $229).

If you’re someone who values digital organization, you don’t need to hop on the latest productivity trend or spend your hard-earned cash on monthly subscriptions. Keep it classic — and affordable — with a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows, now $19.97 (reg. $229).

What does a lifetime subscription entail? Well, you’ll get permanent, unlimited access to Microsoft’s beloved suite. This includes:

• Word: Draft comprehensive research studies, resumes, cover letters — whatever you need to type up, Word is where your stories live.

• Excel: Utilize formulas and workflows via Excel to create thorough spreadsheets and more.

• PowerPoint: Produce and revise compelling slide decks to promote your business, an upcoming project, or data.

• Outlook: Send emails on the fly with Outlook.

• OneNote: Sketch, annotate, and highlight your meeting notes.

• Publisher: Create professional-looking marketing materials for your business.

• Access: Create custom relational databases and manage large amounts of data with Microsoft Access.

With this deal, you’ll receive instant delivery of your license keys and download links, plus free customer service, on one Windows device. But wait! Don’t forget to redeem your code within 7 days of purchase.

Once you’re ready to download, know that all you’ll need is a Windows device that runs on Windows 10 or 11 with at least 1GB of RAM and 4GB of hard disk space. Don’t have enough storage? Then it might be time to do a digital declutter.

If you want unlimited access to apps you’ve utilized for years, skip the monthly subscription fees from Microsoft 365 and hop on this lifetime license. 

Grab Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows today for only $19.97 (reg. $229).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows $19.97
$229 Save $209.03 Get Deal

Honda’s CR-V Hybrid has long been the benchmark for efficient, family-friendly SUVs, but a new challenger is proving it doesn’t own the spotlight. This rival brings a sharp design, upscale interior, and impressive fuel economy to the table, giving shoppers a serious alternative in the hybrid compact SUV segment.

TL;DR: Get an education in cybersecurity for under $5 a course with The 2025 Cyber Security Career Foundations Course Bundle, on sale now for just $24.99 (reg. $120).

Want to wade into the world of cybersecurity, but don’t know where to start? The 2025 Cyber Security Career Foundations Course Bundle is a great introduction to this dynamic industry, and it’s designed for total beginners.

You’ll receive over 38 hours of instruction on topics ranging from ethical hacking to incident response and risk management, and right now, it can all be yours for just $24.99 (reg. $120) — less than $5 a course.

Build your cybersecurity skills from scratch with this comprehensive course bundle

If you’ve been curious about a career in cybersecurity, the 2025 Cyber Security Career Foundations Course Bundle is a great way to see which area might be the best fit for you.

This bundle is packed with six informative courses, with more than 38 hours of expert-led instruction taught by Oak Academy. This group of technology experts specializes in cybersecurity. They’ll walk you through the basics with Cyber Security Essentials: Master the Fundamentals.

Made for newbies, this course starts with topics like confidentiality, integrity, availability, and basic risk management. From there, it moves into essential tools and practices such as encryption, access control, authentication, and authorization.

Additional classes delve deeper into specific areas, such as Vulnerability Management: Build Strong Cybersecurity Defense and the AWS Security Management and AWS Security Specialist Course, which gives you the cloud skills you’ll need to thrive in this bustling area of the industry.

Take the first step towards a new career with The 2025 Cyber Security Career Foundations Course Bundle, on sale now for just $24.99 (reg. $120).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: StackSocial The 2025 Cyber Security Career Foundations Course Bundle $24.99
$120 Save $95.01 Get Deal