Blogroll

Audi has long been associated with sleek, conservative designs that emphasize understated luxury. But the Concept C challenges that perception, offering a bold vision that departs from the brand’s usual styling cues. Its futuristic lines and daring proportions showcase a side of Audi that feels fresh, edgy, and surprisingly different from what fans might expect.

Have you noticed everyone talking about CachyOS lately—seemingly surpassing Ubuntu and Linux Mint in popularity? Are you wondering what makes this Arch-based newcomer so special? Let me show you why this distro is capturing everyone's attention right now.

For a long time, iPhones and iPad treated all notifications the same. You could turn them all off or do it on an app-by-app basis. Now, some notifications will be "Time Sensitive" to give you more control.

The Micro-USB port on an Amazon Fire TV Stick is primarily designed to power the device. But with the right adapter, it can do a lot more. Here are some of the most useful things you can connect to your Fire Stick.

This week, Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 debuted in the Xiaomi 17, and it's pretty dang fast. Google updated the Pixel Buds Pro 2 and is trying to improve the Play Store search. Also, check out a critical OnePlus vulnerability and the new Google Photos AI editor.

I love e-ink displays. The tech behind them is fascinating, especially since they can continue displaying an image after losing power. There are a lot of fun DIY projects to do with e-ink displays, and here are three of my favorites.

SSH is a ubiquituous tool for connecting to remote servers, but there are a lot of things you can do with it. Here are some techniques to make your remote sessions easier.

With Windows 10 end of support rapidly approaching, I’ve been upgrading several PCs to Windows 11. One thing that I always find frustrating is the new abbreviated context menus. Part of the problem is that I’ve used the classic Windows context menu for a long time, and I’m very comfortable with it. But what really irritates me is regularly needing to click “Show more options,” to drill down to things like 7Zip and other menu items that get hidden.

3D audio, ANC, and practicality favor the AirPods Pro 2 Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

The AirPods Pro 2 have a pleasant soundstage that delivers crisp highs, striking mids, and thumpy lows. But that’s not their biggest selling point. Personalized Spatial Audio is. The 3D audio format makes Dolby Atmos content feel all-encompassing, and movies on compatible streaming services sound more immersive. 

Apple’s noise-cancelling technology eliminates a high amount of external sound to enjoy music peacefully in most environments. Transparency mode is even better and boosts awareness by making ambient noise sound more natural. The surplus of listening modes raises the AirPods Pro 2’s stock. Adaptive Audio terrifically blends both ANC modes to achieve the best sound performance possible. Conversation Awareness automatically lowers volume and increases voice capture for clearer communication. Then there are the multiple Hearing Health modes that transform the buds into hearing aids, which is crucial for those with mild or moderate hearing loss.

All these facets don’t work without a solid ecosystem at the helm, of course. How the AirPods Pro 2 seamlessly interconnect with all brand devices is nothing short of exceptional. Pairing is quick, range is strong within a 40-foot radius, and signature features like “Hey Siri” voice command are complementary. 

Some users complain about the fit of the AirPods Pro 2. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Spatial audio on the Powerbeats Pro 2 works fine, though the feature sounds clearer on the AirPods Pro 2. You should still be able to pick up on the increased acoustics and clarity when vibing out to Apple Music tracks. The Powerbeats Pro 2’s noise cancellation doesn’t measure up to competitors, or to other in-house releases like the Fit Pro. It struggles to drown out most mid- and high-frequency sounds. Wearing the buds around a crying baby or in a rowdy setting won’t grant much silence. 

Transparency mode is clutch for outdoor adventures. Whether it’s hiking in the woods or running through high-traffic areas, you’ll be able to keep tabs on your surroundings and talk to people without taking off the earbuds. The Powerbeats Pro 2 run on the same H2 processor as the AirPods Pro 2. Therefore, they’re programmed to instantly connect with all iOS/macOS devices and share many of their counterparts’ features, though not all. That’s a shame considering their steep MSRP.

Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2 | Read our full review of the AirPods Pro 2.

Battery life, standard sound, and versatility go to the Powerbeats Pro 2 Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Where the Powerbeats Pro 2 gain serious traction is in their conformity. Beats products have always been known for their long battery life and engaging audio output. We can now add multiplatform support to that list. These buds nail all three targets. 

Up to 10 hours per charge (8 hours with ANC) is the most listening time you’ll get from any Apple or Beats buds on the market. The AirPods Pro 2 max out at a measly 6 hours per charge. There is a significant difference in additional playtime between the two wireless charging cases. Beats’ case holds up to 45 hours and Apple’s case reaches a max of 30 hours. Fast-Fuel charging is stronger on the Powerbeats Pro 2: a 5-minute charge generates 30 minutes more playtime (total of 1.5 hours) than the AirPods Pro 2. 

Beats improved its soundstage to give listeners the bass-fueled sonic presentation they desire. There is a notable dip in midrange, but overall, the Powerbeats Pro 2 produce emphatic and resonant sound. Sound quality on Android devices is just as impressive.

Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

The Powerbeats Pro 2’s integrated earhooks form a comfy and incredibly secure fit. Full-on compatibility with iOS and Android makes these buds ideal for multiplatform enthusiasts. In addition, features like multipoint technology let you pair to two devices at the same time, no matter the operating system. Something else that makes the Powerbeats Pro 2 more distinctive is the built-in heart rate monitoring, which is only available with the new AirPods Pro 3. The feature isn’t the most accurate, but it’s a way to gauge activity when your Apple Watch isn’t available. 

Now you see what we mean by versatility.

Winner: Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 | Read our full review of the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2.

Apple’s absolute best wireless earbuds are… Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

The AirPods Pro 2. Considering they're almost always on sale, they offer the most bang for your buck. Access to newer listening modes, stronger ANC, and the guarantee of more updates via iOS are well worth the current asking price ($199 on Amazon). Not to mention their flawless functionality with brand devices and unrivaled spatial audio, at least when it comes to Apple earbuds.

Just because the Powerbeats Pro 2 lost this battle doesn’t mean you should overlook them. Sporty attributes like the earhook design and heart-rate monitoring make them the better workout buds. (However, the new AirPods Pro 3 do offer heart-rate monitoring now.) They also provide the longest playtime of any Apple or Beats true wireless model. Beats’ refined soundstage also stabilizes frequencies, while maintaining loud and energetic bass response. If only their ANC, feature set, and pricing matched the AirPods Pro 2.

Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2

Products in this guide The newcomer Apple AirPods Pro 3 $249.00 at Walmart Get Deal Best to save a few bucks Apple AirPods Pro 2 $199.00 at Amazon Get Deal Best for hardcore athletes Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 $199.95 at Amazon Get Deal

Being a woman on the internet can be tough, but trying to find a genuine connection on a dating app can feel even harder. Between the emboldened creeps, endless swiping, and surprisingly convincing AI profiles, it's enough to make you wonder if applying for Love Island is a more sane alternative. (Spoiler alert: it's not.)

The reality is, dating as a woman in 2025 comes with a unique set of challenges. There's the constant barrage of low-effort "hey" messages, the unsolicited dick pics, the men who are definitely married, and the underlying fear for our own safety that men just don't have to think about. It’s enough to make you want to swear off dating for good and just get another cat (which wouldn't exactly be the worst thing).

But despite the challenges, dating apps do work — millions of women have found a partner online. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found that one in 10 partnered adults met their significant other through online dating. The same survey found that young people and the LGBTQ community are even more likely to meet their partner on "the apps." The key isn't giving up and hoping for an old-fashioned meet-cute; it's finding the best dating apps for women that create a safer, more respectful experience and filter out the nonsense.

SEE ALSO: How to get over a breakup

That's where I come in. Over the past several years, I put the top dating platforms to the test — I faced the good, the bad, and the unsolicited DMs — to find the best dating app for women. From classics like eharmony to exciting newcomers like Pure, I tried them all. I swiped, I matched, I blocked. So, whether you're looking for a serious long-term relationship, a fun hookup, or just an app where you're in control of the conversation, we've found an option that's actually worth your time.

There's little ambiguity about the Apple iPhone 17 Pro this year. It gets a little bigger and heavier to make a show of putting function over form and separating itself from the iPhone Air. As such, there wasn't one specific feature— beit a 48MP telephoto lens, or extreme battery life—that makes this phone a Pro.

If you have strong preferences for your workout gear — and strong feelings on Hoka versus Brooks (we're not getting in the middle of that debate) — then finding the right pair of workout headphones can be extra challenging.

The best headphones for working out need to withstand movement, sweat, and the elements. Plus, you don't want something you're constantly fussing with; your headphones should help you stay focused during your exercises.

Mashable reviewers have tested many pairs of headphones and wireless earbuds, and we can tell you which products stay put during a workout, and which buds will go tumbling onto the sidewalk as soon as you break into a run. To make sure we're recommending the right products, we tested over a dozen of the best sports earbuds, headphones, and bone conduction headphones from brands like Bose, Beats, Apple, and Shokz.

How to pick headphones for working out

The right headphones for you depend significantly on the kinds of workouts you like to do and where you like to do them. If you like to run outdoors, you need headphones that keep you safe in busy areas with reliable noise transparency, such as bone conduction headphones or open earbuds. If you're pumping iron at the gym, you might prefer sports earbuds that block out the world with active noise cancellation so you can lock in for your reps. And some people just prefer the look and feel of traditional over-ear headphones. We found reliable options in each category, but in general, most athletes prefer the best wireless earbuds for working out.

For this guide, we looked for two universal specs in all of the headphones we tested. First, workout headphones need to be wireless, giving you a full range of movement. You don't want to get tied up on the stair climber.

Second, workout headphones need to be sweat- or water-resistant. This one is obvious. When you're working out, you're getting sweaty, and you want headphones that won't freak out at the first sign of moisture. Your gym earbuds don't have to be fully waterproof, but this will be helpful for outdoor athletes.

So, whether you're hitting the gym or the pavement, here are the best earbuds and headphones for working out.

Recent changes to this guide

For our most recent update in September 2025, we replaced the Apple AirPods Pro 2 with the newly released AirPods Pro 3. Likewise, we swapped out the previous-gen Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds for the QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) buds.

In a previous update, we removed the discontinued Jabra Elite 8 Active (Gen 2). These buds previously occupied the top spot and provided remarkable battery life, fit, and sound quality in a highly durable package. We still recommend it if you’re lucky enough to find a pair online at a reasonable price (they sell for $300 on eBay).

We also tested additional products that ultimately didn't make the cut, including the JBL Reflect Aero noise-cancelling earbuds. Despite appearing to have a similar design to the Beats Fit Pro — the earbuds themselves, not the ear tips — were so big they couldn't comfortably fit in the ear, a troubling design that caused them to fall out constantly.

Would it surprise you to learn that Pornhub pulls in enough eyeballs to rank among the most-visited websites on the entire planet?

According to SimilarWeb (an analytics platform for websites and apps), adult websites like Xvideos and Pornhub get a staggering number of monthly visitors, with Pornhub alone pulling in 1.7 billion visits in August 2025. To put that number in perspective, these porn giants often outrank sites like Netflix and Amazon (though not ChatGPT).

But if you're itching to take things a step further than just watching and want to live out some of those fantasies IRL, then exploring Pornhub alternatives like AdultFriendFinder and other NSFW dating sites could connect you with someone who's on the same page.

SEE ALSO: How to unblock and watch Pornhub for free

Before you dive in, let's be clear about what you're getting into. On these sites, "dating" usually means a one-night stand, a threesome, or a sex buddy — not a long-term partner. Likewise, platforms like Cams.com and SextPanther are paid platforms that connect you to online performers, which means no IRL connections. (Bringing up IRL meetings could get you permanently banned from these sites.) When navigating the best hookup apps, always be specific and honest about what you want on your profile to find someone who's on the same page. And remember the golden rule: consent, boundary-setting, and respect are non-negotiable.

Finally, one more warning: There are a lot of romance scammers and other cyber criminals looking to take advantage of people online. Please be cautious and use common sense.

While most of these sites are free to access, many offer paid memberships to unlock bonus features. So, if you're tired of your goon cave, here are our favorite X-rated dating sites as an alternative to Pornhub. (Be warned: NSFW content awaits.)

The Android versus iPhone debate has been largely settled, with both sides agreeing to just let people enjoy the things they want. That’s a great mindset to have, but there are still folks with iPhones out there who may be curious about what Android phones have to offer. After all, burnout is real and it’s natural to wonder what the other side's got.

As it turns out, it’s quite a lot. The iPhone 17 did a pretty good job of closing the gap in some places — like including vapor chamber cooling and high refresh rates on the whole lineup — something Android phones have had for years. But there are still some advantages to choosing an Android phone over an iPhone. Plus, with iOS 26 bringing a huge redesign and the the iPhone 17 Pro’s scratchgate controversy, there have certainly been some complaints among Apple users.

So, if you’re curious, here are some good reasons to switch to Android. 

Options, options, options

The biggest advantage when shopping for an Android phone is that there is more than one brand at your disposal. You have the Samsung Galaxy S25, the Google Pixel 10, and the upcoming OnePlus 15. Those are some of the well-known options, but there are plenty of others like the gamer-focused RedMagic 10S Pro and Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro, and the cool-looking Nothing Phone 3. 

The neat thing about having all of these options is that phone makers have shoved all kinds of cool stuff in them to differentiate from one another. For example, the RedMagic 10S Pro has a cooling fan to help keep the phone temperatures in check during long gaming sessions, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra houses a stylus in the body that you can use to write stuff. You also have more options in terms of price, as reasonably good budget Android phones can go for as low as a few hundred dollars.  

Foldables

Until the mystical foldable iPhone becomes real, your only chance to play with bendy glass comes with buying an Android phone. Not only have these phones evolved from being little more than a novelty act, but there are genuine fans of them out in the wild. Most of the major Android phone OEMs have one now, including Samsung, Google, OnePlus, and even Motorola, which brought back the iconic Razr phone branding for its foldable phone. 

In most cases, the foldables represent the highest Android phone tier. They are rather expensive, but usually come loaded with top-of-the-line specs. They also have vertical and horizontal folding phones, so you can emulate the old flip phones of the 1990s, or you can have a phone and a tablet in your pocket at the same time. The choice is yours. Regardless, Android is the only place where you can experience foldables for the time being. Although that will likely chance once Apple releases its rumored foldable. 

Foldables! Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable More customization

For the tinkerers out there, Android offers the ability to customize your phone in a manner just not available on an iPhone. And you don’t need to do anything super complicated to accomplish it. The biggest and most oft-mentioned method to customize your phone is with a launcher, which iPhones don’t have at all. There are many flavors, from near-stock experiences like Action Launcher or Lawnchair Launcher, to more minimal experiences like Niagara Launcher and Olauncher. 

The launcher can radically change what your home screen and app drawer look like, but there are some other things you can do, such as install custom icon packs to make those look different as well. Apps like KWGT let you make custom widgets, giving you even more options. One app I’ve always liked is TruePick’s, an app that shows you really cool home screen concepts and then shows you which apps you need to install to recreate the look. Some devices even let you change the font and yes, there are apps for that, too. 

SEE ALSO: Review: The incredibly thin Galaxy Z Fold 7 is my favorite Samsung foldable yet More freedom in organization

Apple likes to keep things in-house, so it’s no surprise that navigating through folders and files on your iPhone can be a little frustrating. Android has no such problem. Not only is it compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux without any special software, but there are myriad file browsers that you can download, giving you the opportunity to fully manage your storage space. 

This is a little more niche than other features, but specific types of users may enjoy this quite a lot. For example, video game emulators require ROMs, and having a special folder on an Android phone just for ROMs makes it much easier to stay organized. It’s a small thing, but when it comes to usability, Android can prove better than iOS for these types of menial tasks, especially if you do something out of the norm like the aforementioned emulator use. 

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable Better access to apps

Speaking of emulators, Android users generally enjoy a looser, more diverse ecosystem of apps than the Apple App Store. Granted, Apple does allow emulators in the App Store now, but for over a decade, that privilege was reserved for Android fans. Apple's App Store has approached reaching parity with Android in this area after EU regulations forced Apple to allow for third-party app stores. But even though the App Store allows torrenting apps now, Android has allowed them for many years. 

This extends to loads of stuff. Many modern Android phones let you run multiple copies of the same app for people who want to run the same app under different profiles. There are also hyper niche apps you can get on Android that don’t exist on iOS. I would mention sideloading here — accessing apps from unverified developers — but Google is likely killing that off. Until they do, though, sideloading is still relevant, giving you even more access to more apps. 

Faster charging

Apple has been stepping up its charging game in recent years, but it’s still far behind the leaders in the Android segment. The iPhone 17 Pro Max can charge at 40W wired or 25W wired. That’s not too bad in the grand scheme of things, but Android phones simply do it better. Plus, you have a choice based on which phone you go with. The Galaxy S25 Ultra charges at a slightly better 45W, while the OnePlus 13 can charge at a whopping 100W, giving you a full charge in less than an hour. 

The only Android phone that has slower charging than the latest iPhone is the Google Pixel 10, which can charge up to 30W, so if faster charging speeds appeal to you, you may want to avoid that one. In any case, if you consistently find yourself reaching for a charger at some point during the day, an Android phone will get you more juice in the same amount of time.

Pixel phones, IRL. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable OS features

Earlier, I talked about things that the iPhone 17 brought that Android fans have had for years, like high refresh rate displays on lower-end devices and vapor chamber cooling. Android devices have always been on the bleeding edge, dating back back well over a decade with things like NFC, and continuing with modern features like AI integration, which Android phones had for a year or two before Apple Intelligence came out. 

SEE ALSO: How to use Apple Intelligence

Several of these features have already been mentioned, like changing the launcher, superior file management, and running multiple copies of the same app at once. Some other features that Android has that iOS doesn’t is a built-in guest mode, support for multiple user accounts, split-screen mode, Bubbles (floating apps), an OS-level back button (or gesture), and, if you own a Samsung phone, the DeX mode is pretty cool for turning your phone into a PC.

In short, if you want more features faster and sooner, Android is typically the way to go. 

You can just do more

Most of the rest of the things that Android can do that iOS can’t are pretty niche. For example, since Android phones act like USB storage, it is entirely possible to install Windows to your PC from the internal storage of your Android phone. Is this a good enough reason to pick Android over iOS? No, but having that kind of freedom is nice.

Apple has its pros and cons as well, and if people didn’t like iPhones, then Apple wouldn’t sell them like hotcakes every year. However, while Google tightened-up Android over the years, there are still plenty of things that make it feel like the Wild West, and honestly, that may be the best part of owning an Android phone.

As its title suggests, Alien: Earth was always going to bring Alien's Xenomorphs to our home planet. So how would the series adapt the legendary movie monster to its new environment?

That was the challenge the staff at Wētā Workshop faced going into their work on Alien: Earth. Vaughan Flanagan, a supervising art director at Wētā, and Joe Dunckley, a senior art director at Wētā, walked Mashable through their process over a Zoom interview.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth's game-changing ending, explained

"We were very keen to explore Xenomorph design, but we were also very nervous about that, because within the creature design space, the Xenomorph is highly venerated amongst a lot of our artists," Flanagan said. "There's always that trepidation when it comes to messing with the perfect organism."

Wētā has worked in the Alien universe before, creating the Facehuggers for Alien: Romulus. "Romulus was an amazing experience in that [director] Fede [Álvarez] brought together people from shops all over the world," Dunckley explained. "But the Xenomorph for Alien: Earth, that was our opportunity."

Creatures from Earth inspired Alien: Earth's Xenomorph. Cameron Brown as the Xenomorph in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Screenshot: FX

When it came to bringing the Xenomorph to life, Wētā and Alien: Earth showrunner Noah Hawley didn't want to mess with artist H.R. Giger's original design too much.

"We really wanted to preserve that silhouette — the elongated head, the tail, the piping, all of those things," said Flanagan. "A lot of the areas in which we sought to innovate was within the details. This was a show set on Earth, and so Noah wanted to draw a lot of inspiration from terrestrial creatures: crustaceans, insects, beetles, and whatnot. A lot of that was integrated into the suit design."

At first, Alien: Earth's Xenomorphs weren't going to be suits. But when the show moved in that direction, Dunckley and his team took over the manufacture of the suits.

SEE ALSO: How practical prosthetics brought 'Alien: Earth's glorious gore to life

"We started with the performance requirements of the Xenomorph. The Xenomorph in Alien: Earth has to do a lot, so we needed someone who could bring the creature performance, but could also withstand the rigors of the action in the show, because Noah wanted to do as much as possible practical," Dunckley said.

For that, Wētā turned to stunt performer and actor Cameron Brown, who plays the Xenomorph from the Maginot over the first episodes of the season.

"Something that I really wanted to bring was the animalistic quality of the creature," Brown told Mashable in a Zoom interview. "A lot of inspiration for that came from watching the original films."

To figure out how the Xenomorph moved, Brown drew on his stunt performer background. "A lot of my pre-visualization was, 'How is this creature going to interact in different situations?'" Brown explained. "Like in the Maginot, for example, what's it like when there's no threat around and it's just exploring the space? Or what's it like when there is an immediate threat? How does it tackle that?"

How do you put a Xenomorph in the jungle? Jayde Rutene as Wendy's Xenomorph in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Screenshot: FX

In the latter half of Alien: Earth Season 1, stunt performer Jayde Rutene stepped into the role of the adolescent Xenomorph that Wendy (Sydney Chandler) learns to communicate with. (On set, the character is known as "Wendy's Xenomorph.") At this point, Brown stepped into an advisory role for Rutene.

"All of the exploration process at the start is, for me, the most joy in filmmaking," Brown said. "So then when it came to passing all of that on [to Rutene], I got to experience that a second time in the production, which was really exciting to me, sharing some of the discoveries I've made, and then watching my friend Jayde make her own discoveries."

SEE ALSO: Five burning questions we have for 'Alien: Earth' Season 2

Because Wendy's Xenomorph spends so much time stalking through the jungles of Neverland, Rutene and the Alien: Earth crew had to consider new ways to shoot the Xenomorph outdoors.

"A lot of difficulties with performing in a creature suit is trying to stay away from a human silhouette. You can put on this very elaborate and incredibly well-designed Xenomorph suit, but if you just stand there, it's still just a guy in a suit," Brown said. "Finding ways to break that inside a space like the Maginot, where it's all dark and you have the help of lighting and claustrophobic spaces and camera tricks to do that, lent itself to being a lot easier to than when we moved to the jungle. Knowing that Jayde was going to be in a lot more open spaces, we had to try and make sure that all of our movement was foolproof for that."

Wendy's Xenomorph looks different because of how it was raised. Jayde Rutene as Wendy's Xenomorph and Sydney Chandler as Wendy in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Screenshot: FX

Seeing the Xenomorph outdoors in an Earth jungle is a disarming image for the Alien franchise, and Alien: Earth worked to be make it even more disarming by visually separating Wendy's Xenomorph from other Xenomorphs. Wendy's Xenomorph is lighter than others fans have seen, and it comes with its own strange markings.

For Hawley and the artists at Wētā, these design changes reflect Wendy's Xenomorph's unconventional life cycle, as it grew within Hermit's (Alex Lawther) lung, instead of a full human body.

"The idea that Noah brought to us is that maybe because [Wendy's Xenomorph] has grown in this unnatural way, its development would have been altered," Flanagan explained. "We looked at piebalding and mottling for the skin texture. We also thought that maybe this Xenomorph is a little bit more stunted. Maybe it's not as tall as the 7-foot-tall Xenomorphs that we're used to seeing."

The result is a Xenomorph that's uniquely of Earth, one that's still in action by the end of Season 1. How could this Earthen Xenomorph evolve in the future of Alien: Earth?

Alien: Earth is now streaming on Hulu.

Being an NFL fan ain't cheap.

The average ticket to a game will run you $279 — the most expensive being the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles at $475, on average. (Go Birds.) (Editor's note: Go Bills!) But even if you prefer to watch the games at home, it's not exactly a more affordable option.

So, how much would it cost you to watch every single NFL game on TV in the 2025-2026 season? Last year, I estimated that it would cost $891.36 to watch every game, and the situation hasn't improved much in 2025. Let's break it down.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free Why NFL games are broadcast everywhere

Over the past few years, the NFL has sold its television and streaming rights in a piecemeal fashion — a game here, a package there, a day of the week here — in a way that's made it impossible to watch every game on TV via one, clean purchase. If you're a diehard football fan, you better be prepared to do some homework, and your wallet better be open.

That's a shame, because professional football is just about the only thing this country still agrees on. We will and have paid for it. I'd argue that NFL football is the most popular part of our shared U.S. culture, full stop. And it's not particularly close. Even Taylor Swift has her haters, famously so, in fact. Of the top 10 most-watched televised events last year, all ten were NFL games. Of the top 50, 32 were NFL games. It's guaranteed ratings, which means streamers and networks have fallen over themselves to get a piece.

To wit, here is every entity that owns exclusive rights to broadcast at least one NFL game this season:

• CBS

• FOX

• NBC

• ABC

• ESPN

• ESPN+

• Amazon

• Netflix

• Peacock

• NFL Network

• YouTube

Frankly, it'd be easier to break down which broadcasters don't have a piece of the NFL at this point.

SEE ALSO: How to watch NFL games without cable: Football streaming deals for 2025–2026 Which games does each channel and streaming service broadcast? Credit: Ishika Samant/Getty Images CBS

CBS has been the home of the AFC forever, as any NFL fan knows offhand. That means you get a local AFC team, a national game, or some combination of both, during the 1 p.m. ET and 4 p.m. ET windows.

FOX

In short: FOX is to the NFC what CBS is to the AFC. You get local and national games during the same windows.

NBC

Sunday Night Football, perhaps the marquee game each week, is owned by NBC. The network also televised the season opener (a Birds victory; go Birds) and will have a game on Thanksgiving.

ABC/ESPN

Disney is the parent company of both ABC and ESPN, which broadcast Monday Night Football, another marquee standalone product. Some games also air on ABC and, certain weeks, there are double headers with one game airing on each channel.

ESPN+

That's right, just ESPN wasn't enough; you might also need the company's premium streaming service to watch every NFL game. I write might because there is some confusion; Sports Media Watch reported in August that a planned Week 7 ESPN+ exclusive matchup had been moved to ESPN proper. The NFL's website lists ESPN as the broadcaster, too, but an ABC blog post updated this week lists the Week 7 matchup as an ESPN+ exclusive. Mashable has reached out to ESPN to clarify where the game will air but, for now, let's assume you'll still have to pay for ESPN+ to watch the Houston Texans play the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7.

Amazon Prime

Prime owns the rights to Thursday Night Football as well as a Wild Card round playoff game.

Netflix

Netflix will, once again, air two NFL games on Christmas.

Peacock

Yes, that's right, there is a Peacock exclusive matchup on top of NBC already airing games. The streamer will air a to-be-determined matchup in Week 17, on the Saturday after Christmas.

NFL Network

The NFL Network got six international games this season. Later in the season, some yet-to-be-determined games get moved to NFL Network, as well.

YouTube

YouTube, for the first time, had exclusive rights to the Week 1 Friday night game. It did not require a subscription, however, meaning it was free.

Breaking down the cost of watching every NFL game

TL;DR: It costs $810.86. There are 285 total NFL games in a season, meaning you'd pay about $2.85 per game in 2025.

But, of course, it is much more complicated than a nice, simple number. There are lots of assumptions I used to get to that figure. First, I assumed the consumer was starting from scratch. Consider this customer as someone who just moved — leaving behind an old school cable package — and made getting every single NFL game their top priority.

Second, I assumed this hypothetical customer would purchase each service as it was needed to watch a game then, importantly, cancel it once it was no longer needed. I felt it was a fair compromise to assume folks would 1) remember to cancel but 2) not perfectly time their free trials.

Third, I assumed this fan was not mooching off of others' subscriptions. Frankly, the crackdowns on shared passwords have grown so severe that I'd be surprised if you circumvented them, anyway.

So, in this hypothetical instance, you'd almost certainly buy YouTube TV + NFL Sunday Ticket. A diehard NFL fan would need Sunday Ticket to access out-of-market Sunday games. These are the games on CBS and FOX across the country that aren't the four games airing in your local market — Sunday Ticket is the only way to get those games. From there, YouTube TV covers most of the other networks you'll need: CBS, FOX, ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. For new customers, YouTube has a package where Sunday Ticket costs $276, while YouTubeTV costs $49.99 for two months, then $82.99 after that.

That leaves you needing Amazon Prime, Netflix, Peacock, and (maybe) ESPN+. Prime is the biggest expense because you'll need it from the start of the season through the first week of the playoffs. That's five months at $14.99 a pop, or $74.95 total. Netflix came in at just $7.99 — assuming you purchased the cheapest tier — for the Christmas games. Ditto for Peacock. The final expense is ESPN+ at $11.99 for its October game, though, again, it's unclear where that game will air. The total, then, came in at $810.86. Here's how that looks in a simple spreadsheet.

Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / Google Sheets

We did this exercise last year and, in total, it seems the cost actually got a smidge cheaper in 2025 (about 9 percent cheaper YoY). But, it's worth noting, most people would pay more than $810 to watch every NFL game. Most folks already have a number of subscriptions — streamer, cable, or otherwise — which means we aren't starting from that ideal blank slate. It's likely lots of folks have an expensive cable package, for instance, but still have to spring for NFL Sunday Ticket at $276 to get out-of-market games. Or take returning YouTube TV customers, who have to pay $480 for Sunday Ticket. It doesn't pay to be loyal because all these broadcasters — YouTube included — know that Americans love their football and will pay handsomely to get access.

SEE ALSO: The popular sports piracy network Streameast shut down, and sports fans are not OK

Of course, not every NFL fan will want to watch every single game. Most Americans already have some combination of network broadcasters, cable channels, and streaming services. You've likely already got some of the games covered and can stand missing out on the rest.

Heck, you can see lots of games with just FOX, CBS, and NBC, the old-school networks. Throw in Amazon Prime and ESPN, and you've got access to tons of games. Oh, and Netflix, too, because are you really going to miss the Christmas games? And, well, at that point, you might as well get Peacock, too, right? What's $7.99? And, shoot, are you really going to miss that Colts vs. Rams game just because it's out of market? So maybe Sunday Ticket is a good deal...

Man, it really ain't cheap to be an NFL fan.

FREE BOOKS: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on Sept. 27. Enchant Your Kindle Day, hosted by Enchanted Realm Co., is offering free dark and cozy fantasy reads for e-readers.

Opens in a new window Credit: Enchanted Realm Co. Enchant Your Kindle Day (Sept. 27) Learn More

The nights are getting longer, the temperatures are dropping, and you're probably feeling an overwhelming urge to lock yourself away and tackle that reading list that has been staring at you for months. There's no need to feel guilty about that growing list. The sun has been shining, and naturally, you've had big plans. But that's in the past now. It's time to celebrate the season and get cozy.

And there really couldn't be a better time to make the shift, because the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day goes live on Sept. 27. Enchant Your Kindle Day, hosted by Enchanted Realm Co., is offering free (or heavily discounted) dark and cozy fantasy reads for one day only. And better yet, the books that you download are yours to keep forever.

SEE ALSO: The best Kindle accessories for reading in luxury

Looking to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

Enchant Your Kindle Day takes place on Sept. 27. A lot of recent Stuff Your Kindle Days have stretched out over a few days, giving bookworms the chance to properly peruse their options. This latest event starts 6 a.m. ET and only lasts through the day, so you'll need to act fast to stock up on everything you want to read.

Who can take part in Stuff Your Kindle Day?

The beautiful thing about Stuff Your Kindle Days is that anyone can participate. Kindle, Kobo, and Nook readers can download these books for free. You can even download these books on your preferred app and read them straight from your phone. Everyone is welcome, even you.

Which e-books are free?

Finding all of these free (or heavily discounted) dark and cozy fantasy books is straightforward thanks to Enchanted Realm Co.'s helpful hub page that clearly lists everything included in this generous event.

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep forever, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow at the same time. So don't hold back.

The best Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite + Kindle Unlimited (3-Month Plan) Get Deal Why we like it

These popular e-readers help you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle Paperwhite. Prices start at $159.99, but if you want to secure a better deal, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free during Stuff Your Kindle Day.

TL;DR: Learn 14 different languages at your own pace with this lifetime subscription to Babbel Language Learning for $159 (reg. $249) with code LEARN until Oct. 2.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $159
$299 Save $140 Get Deal

Have you been a little jealous of all the back-to-school mayhem? You don’t have to stop learning after graduation. In fact, you can keep the learning going forever with Babbel Language Learning.

This app’s technology-driven approach to language learning can fit into any schedule, and right now you can secure lifetime access to all 14 language options for only $159 (reg. $249) with code LEARN until Oct. 2.

SEE ALSO: Master the conversations that matter in 14 languages with Babbel

Ready to open the door to new cultures and experiences? Learning new languages gives you access to whole new worlds, and Babbel makes the process a lot more accessible in today’s world. Babbel’s 10-to-15-minute lessons can fit seamlessly into even the busiest schedules, and you never have to step foot into a classroom.

Babbel puts language learning at your fingertips, allowing you to open the app on your smartphone at any time. This deal gives you access to more than 10,000 hours of online language learning lessons. Choose from 14 different language options, and hop into any of them at beginner, intermediate, or advanced levels.

You’ll learn to converse about real-life topics you’ll actually use, like dining, shopping, making friends, and business. And the app’s advanced speech recognition technology allows you to improve your pronunciation as you go. There’s even an AI conversation partner that allows you to practice conversing in real time.

You can use Babbel on all your devices, with your progress syncing across devices. It’s also easy to download lessons and study offline if you have a trip planned or plan to go off the grid.

Take advantage of this exclusive StackSocial deal on a lifetime subscription to Babbel Language Learning for $159 (reg. $249) with code LEARN until Oct. 2.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Give yourself a much needed productivity boost this fall with a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021, now just $69.97 (reg. $219).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License $69.97
$219 Save $149.03 Get Deal

Even if you’re a devoted Apple user, you don’t have to miss out on Microsoft’s best tools. In fact, you can now outfit your Mac with the helpful suite of Microsoft Office apps. And if you act fast, you can do it for a fraction of the usual price — a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021 is now just $69.97 (reg. $219).

Want to give your Mac a Microsoft upgrade? A lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021 gives you permanent access to six helpful apps ready to assist you with work, school, and more. And you’re probably familiar with more than half of them, as they’re the old standbys we all knew and loved from the ’90s.

SEE ALSO: Score Microsoft Office for Windows as a lifetime license for under $50

This Microsoft Office suite comes packed with old classics like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. It also includes new staples like Teams and OneNote, so you can get a taste of Microsoft’s latest offerings.

When you purchase, you’ll get an instant delivery and download so you can start using them right away. You’ll never have to pay the monthly fees again, and you don’t have to worry about cloud connectivity. You can work offline as needed, as the apps are downloaded to your device.

This license requires macOS 13 or later, at least 4GB of RAM, and 10GB of available storage. Upgrade your Apple device with a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021, now just $69.97 (reg. $219).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Normally, if your boss asked you to tear a body in half for work, you'd run for the hills (and also to HR). But for Steve Painter, Alien: Earth's lead prosthetics supervisor and designer, ripping fake bodies in half at a moment's notice was all part of a day's work.

In an interview with Mashable over Zoom, Painter recalled tearing apart one body in particular: that of Maginot engineer Shmuel (Michael Smiley). The corpse appears briefly in scenes where Prodigy soldiers and the Lost Boy hybrids explore the wreckage. Originally, it lay whole on the ground. However, when Alien: Earth showrunner Noah Hawley requested that Shmuel be torn apart and his halves scattered across the room, Painter and his team jumped into action.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth's game-changing ending, explained

"I just ripped his body in half," Painter told Mashable. "Then we had minutes, literally minutes as they were setting up cameras, to gore up his top half and his bottom half."

(Thankfully, Alien: Earth always had a bucket of fake guts on set.)

Shmuel's halved body is only on screen for a few seconds of Alien: Earth, but the story behind it is proof of the show's dedication to getting as gory as possible through practical effects, which Hawley committed to from the beginning. Some of the show's most gruesome background details came as day-of requests from Hawley, but the majority of Alien: Earth's showstopping body horror was carefully planned. Painter walked Mashable through three of Alien: Earth's goriest moments, from gnarly Xenomorph attacks to open chest cavities.

Alien: Earth makes a statement with an early Xenomorph attack. Alex Lawther in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Patrick Brown / FX

From a visual standpoint, one of Painter's favorite prosthetic moments from Alien: Earth came in episode 2, when the Xenomorph from the Maginot attacks Prodigy soldier Bergerfeld (Dean Alexandrou).

As one of the Xenomorph's first kills on Earth, Bergerfeld's death had to make a statement, and Alien: Earth delivers. The Xenomorph yanks Bergerfeld up by his face and thrashes him around before throwing him at Hermit (Alex Lawther). A bloody Bergerfeld rolls off of Hermit, revealing how the Xenomorph has rent his face to shreds.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' episode 3: Inside the big Xenomorph fight

"That was quite a cool effect to do on Dean," Painter told Mashable. "We had some green areas on his face, and a prosthetic all the way around where the Xeno had torn his face away. So his jaw's hanging off, his tongue's in there, his top teeth, stuff like that. We did that for every day for about a week, and that was quite enjoyable to do."

Alexandrou posted a video of the prosthetic application process on Instagram, so you can get an even clearer look at Bergerfeld's ruined face than you do in the brief moments it's onscreen in Alien: Earth.

Alien: Earth revisits John Hurt's Chestburster scene. David Rysdahl in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Patrick Brown / FX

One of the most daunting challenges for Painter came in episode 7, when Arthur Sylvia (David Rysdahl) dies by Chestburster. As with any scene involving a Chestburster, the sequence calls to mind Kane's (John Hurt) death in Ridley Scott's original Alien. Painter did not take the connection lightly.

"It's such a lot of pressure on my shoulders to provide what the fans want and expect," Painter said.

Painter, an Alien fan since he first saw it at age 13, watched Hurt's iconic death scene over and over to prepare, picking it apart in order to get Alien: Earth's take on the Chestburster right. In the end, Alien: Earth winds up using the same techniques from the original film to pull off Arthur's demise, albeit with updated materials like silicon.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' continues an 'Alien' tradition with its surprise synthetic reveal

Still, there are some major differences between Kane and Arthur's death. Painter wanted to expand on the scene, opting to show how the Chestburster's emergence would impact Arthur's body in its entirety. That's where the nightmarish image of Arthur's twitching legs came in.

The location of Arthur's death also sets it apart. He's on a beach in broad daylight, as opposed to the closed-off Nostromo dining hall. "From a technical point of view, that kept me up a few nights," Painter recalled.

Malachite's death in Alien: Earth is an Alien fanboy's dream. Jamie Bisping, Karen Aldridge, and Michael Smiley in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Patrick Brown / FX

While Xenomorphs are responsible for many of Alien: Earth's goriest moments, you can't count out any of the four new alien species introduced in the series. They all have standout moments, but a special shoutout is in order for the blood ticks. When Maginot engineering apprentice Malachite (Jamie Bisping) unknowingly drinks tick tadpoles in episode 5, they latch onto his insides and begin to drain him dry. To try to curb the damage, medical officer Rahim (Amir Boutros) cuts his chest open, giving us a full, horrifying view of his insides... and the ticks lurking within.

The effect was quite involved. Painter and his team created a full replica of Bisping's body with the open chest and silicon body parts within. (Painter estimates he currently has 16 silicon bodies from the show in storage.) Creating the body was only the beginning of the effect though, as Painter also had to find a way to create motion within the body.

"We built a little pod that goes into that body. It's quite technical, but it could breathe on bellows and syringes and stuff like that," Painter explained. "So it was a fully pumping, working, practical body that's on the table."

For a shot of Malachite convulsing as the blood ticks release poison gas, Painter and his team created a prosthetic to put directly on Bisping's chest. However, in the final cut of episode 5, Painter said, "90 percent of it is our body that they're operating on."

The Malachite sequence in particular was a dream come true for Painter, to the point that he thanked Hawley for writing it.

"I went up to Noah and I said, 'Look, thank you for writing this stuff, because this is straight up my street,'" Painter recalled. "I grew up watching horror films, and I was 13 when Alien came out, and this is a payoff to me, on a personal level. It's just fantastic. I loved every, every ounce of it."

Alien: Earth is now streaming on Hulu.