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Samsung usually launches its next wave of flagship devices over the winter. The Galaxy S25 was released in early February, and the Galaxy S24 before it came in late January. Thus, it stands to reason that the Galaxy S26 will come around the same time in 2026. Despite being several months out for release, there are already a ton of rumors about Samsung’s upcoming flagship. Let’s take a look at them. 

To start, rumors say that Samsung is likely shaking up its lineup a little bit. According to a GSMA database listing (spotted by SammyPolice), it appears as though Samsung will end the Plus part of its lineup with the Galaxy S26 series of phones. That would leave the base Galaxy S26, the iPhone 17 Air competitor in the Galaxy S26 Edge, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra. 

SEE ALSO: Samsung’s Project Moohan VR headset could launch in October — here’s everything we know

It’s unclear if Samsung will keep its naming conventions the same with one phone going down, but there is a rumor that the base Galaxy S26 will be rebranded to a more iPhone-like S26 Pro, so we’ll refer to it as the S26 Pro in this article. As for the rest of the specs, here is every rumor that we could find. 

Display, design, and size

In terms of overall size, it appears Samsung isn’t looking to reinvent the wheel. A leak from Digital Chat Station on Weibo suggests that the overall dimensions of the Galaxy S26 Pro, S26 Ultra, and S26 Edge will be similar to their 2025 counterparts. The S26 Pro is rumored to sport a 6.27-inch screen, which is larger than the S25’s 6.2-inch display. There is no word yet on the screen size of the S26 Ultra or S26 Edge, but there have been some rumors that the design will be at least slightly different from prior years. 

In comparison, here's the S25 Ultra. Credit: James Martin / Mashable

There haven’t been any rumors yet about specs, but Samsung has used the same AMOLED 2X screen in its last two flagships, so we’ll see if any changes happen next year. The screen may have some neat tricks, though. A recent rumor from IceUniverse states that the S26 series will have a smart privacy mode that blocks people from seeing your screen at an angle. This may be powered by Samsung’s Flex Magic Pixel, which the brand showed off in early 2024. 

Specs

For specs, the rumors don’t say anything that isn’t already expected. The Galaxy S26 series is currently rumored to have the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip, which Qualcomm rebranded to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 a couple of weeks ago. There is also a rumor that Samsung will equip some S26 models with an Exynos chip, which Samsung fans hope is the Exynos 2600, which has also been making some noise in the rumor mill over the last week.

In terms of the small stuff, like storage and RAM, there have been some small rumblings. One rumor says that the Galaxy S26 (all models) will feature 16GB of RAM, a 4GB increase from the last few years, and the most a Galaxy phone has had since the Galaxy S21 Ultra. In terms of storage capacity, there are no rumors that anything will change, so the 128GB base (256GB on the Ultra) is likely to remain in place for now, with upgraded storage available as an option. 

Battery and charging

Based on early rumors, this may be one of the most interesting changes coming to the S26 lineup. Samsung has been working on a stacked battery design that would allow for more dense batteries in the same physical space. This could bring a long-awaited bump to battery size. According to current rumors, the S26 Ultra is slated to come with a 5,500 mAh stacked battery, a 10 percent increase from the S25 Ultra. Samsung may be removing a camera to add even more battery capacity. The S26 Pro is rumored to come with a 4,200mAh cell, up from the 4,000mAh in the Galaxy S25. 

For charging, it’s unlikely that the Galaxy S26 series will get one. Samsung is definitely working on 60W wired charging, but so far, it seems that Samsung will wait for the Galaxy S27 series (or later) to implement it. This could change as we get closer to launch for the S26 series, but for now, it seems that 45W will be around for at least one more year. There are also rumors that wireless charging may see a bump to the Qi2 standard

Camera

The camera system in the Galaxy S26 series may change quite a bit, and there are a few different rumors that say different things. Jumping right in, one rumor says that the S26 series will have the same megapixel count but will feature a new, as-of-yet unannounced sensor from the same ISOCELL GN series as prior Samsung models. On the Galaxy S26 Ultra, a 200MP camera is rumored, as is a 324MP lens with a 50MP, 3x telephoto lens. It’s more likely that Samsung will do the 200MP with a new sensor, but all leaks are being considered right now. 

S25 Ultra with its five cameras. Credit: James Martin / Mashable

In addition, there are rumors that Samsung will bring back its variable aperture on the main shooter, which Samsung hasn’t included on its camera system since the Galaxy S10 series back in 2019. As previously mentioned, Samsung may be considering dropping the number of cameras to three instead of four, like on prior models, to make space for a larger battery. Other rumors about the camera include a dual periscope design that’ll magnify to 8x, but that is just speculation at this time.

Other features and hardware

Much of the rest of the Galaxy S26 lineup is predictable. It’ll come with the latest One UI out of the gate with the latest version of Android. That is no surprise, and we don’t need rumors to predict that one. The S26 series will likely get One UI 8.5, which is slated for a rather large redesign along with a host of new features, including the aforementioned privacy screen feature. According to rumor, the redesign emulates Apple’s Liquid Glass in some ways with transparent UI elements. 

The only other piece of hardware we haven’t talked about is the S-Pen. Samsung appears to be set to do something big with the S-Pen. The rumors speculate that the S-Pen is sticking around and will come with some upgrades. The new functionality may have something to do with how magnetic accessories work, and this seems to be linked to the aforementioned Qi2 wireless charging upgrade. 

Lots of potential for change

Samsung has caught a lot of flak over the last few years for using a lot of the same components year after year, like the camera sensor, display technology, battery size, and even design. Should the Galaxy S26 series rumors pan out, it seems Samsung is aiming for a sizable departure from its earlier flagship lineup with a new camera sensor, more battery, a slightly different design, and more. We’ll have to wait until early next year to see it for sure, but there’s enough here to get a little excited.

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Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!

SEE ALSO: The 10 best TV shows of 2025 (so far), and where to stream them

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you're seeking something brand-new (or just new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

Mashable's entertainment team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of the week and ranked them from worst to best — or least worth your time to most watchable. Whether you're hankering for some juicy TV dramas, a classic musical with a fresh remaster, dark comedy mayhem, or the MCU's freshest and possibly most infuriating releases, we've got something just for you.

11. Marvel Zombies

If you liked the zombie-focused episode of Marvel's What If...?, we've got great news for you. The alt-timeline animated saga that asks, "What if the Avengers got zombie bit?" is now its own mini-series, called Marvel Zombies — not to be confused with the comic series of the same name.

In this four-episode arc, plenty of fan favorites from across the MCU's movies and TV shows will appear, including Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, Ironheart, Kate Bishop, Okoye, Black Panther, Yelena Belova, Blade, Xu Shang-Chi, the Scarlet Witch, and many, many more. But the bad news is a lot of your faves are flesh-craving zombies who've maintained their superpowers and fighting skills. This means you'll get some face-offs you might never have dared imagine. But fair warning, this series is deeply, deeply bleak.

It's as if the MCU has been holding a grudge about all those critiques that they don't kill off enough characters and saved them all up for this. So be warned, while this is for fans who love an MCU shake-up and deep-cut callbacks, it's also the darkest, most depressing MCU release to date. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Awkwafina, David Harbour, Simu Liu, Elizabeth Olsen, Randall Park, Florence Pugh, Paul Rudd, Wyatt Russell, Hailee Steinfeld, Tessa Thompson, Dominique Thorne, Iman Vellani, and Todd Williams

How to watch: Marvel Zombies is now streaming on Disney+.

9. Slow Horses, Season 5

The Emmy–winning espionage drama Slow Horses returns for its highly anticipated fifth season, based on Mick Herron's fifth Slough House book, London Rules. (Shout out to the show for putting out five seasons since its 2022 premiere — I admire the efficiency.)

This time around, the Slow Horses, led by Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman), are investigating a series of increasingly bizarre events befalling London. Expect tech specialist Roddy Ho (Christopher Chung) to take on a bigger role this season, especially since his glamorous new girlfriend makes the whole team suspicious.* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jack Lowden, Saskia Reeves, Rosalind Eleazar, Christopher Chung, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Ruth Bradley, James Callis, Tom Brooke, Jonathan Pryce, and Nick Mohammed

How to watch: Slow Horses premieres Sept. 24 on Apple TV+.

8. The Man in My Basement

What would you be willing to sell of yourself? Your house? Your heirlooms? Your soul?

These are the questions posed in The Man in My Basement, the genre-bending directorial debut feature from filmmaker Nadia Latif. She adapts Walter Mosley's novel of the same name, with the author himself as her co-writer. Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton) stars as a man on the verge of losing the home his family has had for generations. But the answer to his financial woes could be a stranger with a strange offer: a fortune to allow him to live in the basement for several weeks. As this stranger is played by Willem Dafoe, you know this one's going to get weird. But unless you've read Mosley's book, you couldn't guess where this will go. — K.P.

SEE ALSO: 'The Man in My Basement' review: Willem Dafoe and Corey Hawkins face off in spooky thriller

Starring: Corey Hawkins, Willem Dafoe, Anna Diop, Jonathan Ajayi, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr., Pamela Nomvete, Tamara Lawrance

How to watch: The Man in My Basement debuts on Hulu and Disney+ on Sept. 26.

7. House of Guinness

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight returns to Netflix with House of Guinness, which crosses Irish history with Succession-style family drama.

House of Guinness kicks off with the death of beer tycoon Sir Benjamin Guinness, who wills his business to two of his four children: hard-partying Arthur (Anthony Boyle) and diligent businessman Edward (Louis Partridge). Guinness' other children, Anne (Emily Fairn) and Ben (Fionn O'Shea), get nothing. So begins a sprawling conflict among siblings, and among the citizens of Dublin who cross paths with the family. Who will come out on top in this gritty period piece? — B.E.

Starring: Anthony Boyle, Louis Partridge, Emily Fairn, Fionn O'Shea, David Wilmot, James Norton, Jack Gleeson, Niamh McCormack, Seamus O'Hara, Dervla Kirwan, Michael McElhatton, Danielle Galligan, Hilda Fay, and Cassian Bilton

How to watch: House of Guinness is now streaming on Netflix.

6. M3GAN 2.0

In 2023, M3GAN took the world of horror by storm with her American Girl doll aesthetic and killer dance moves. A sequel seemed inevitable. But much to our shock and horror, M3GAN 2.0 abandoned its horror movie roots for a flood of espionage thriller action and sci-fi shenanigans.

In my review for Mashable, I jeered, "The result is a sequel that is a horrendous mishmash of ideas and influences. M3GAN 2.0 is occasionally outrageous, but mostly it's derivative, bewildering, and bland." Fleeing from what the fans loved about the first film, this follow-up tanked hard at the box office. And now you can easily see why. — K.P.

Starring: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ivanna Sakhno, and Jemaine Clement

How to watch: M3GAN 2.0 debuts on Peacock on Sept. 26.

5. Adulthood

Alex Winter helms this dark comedy that takes the battle of caring for elder parents to some truly gnarly places. Josh Gad and Kaya Scodelario co-star as siblings who are shocked to discover a corpse in the walls of their childhood home. Desperate to cover it up to protect their ailing mother, they go down a twisted spiral of big, bad decisions that leads to all kinds of comical mayhem.

While the screenplay by Michael M.B. Galvin has some gnawing plot holes, in my review out of the film's TIFF premiere, I cheered, "Still, if you're seeking something funky, funny, and charmingly chaotic, Adulthood delivers." — K.P.

Starring: Josh Gad, Kaya Scodelario, Billie Lourd, Alex Winter, and Anthony Carrigan

How to watch: Adulthood is now available to purchase on Prime Video.

4. The Fantastic Four: First Steps

The MCU got a fresh look with the throwback '60s fun of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn star as the eponymous superhero team, made up of Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch and the Thing. In this rousing adventure, they must not only save the world from the planet-wrecker Galactus (Ralph Ineson), but also save the youngest of their family, baby Franklin.

In his review for Mashable, Siddhant Adlakha wrote, "The film strikes this balance without ever sacrificing the flawed humanity and the uncompromising heart that have long made Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben some of the most lovable fixtures in all-ages American fiction. First Steps is, in a word, fantastic." — K.P.

Starring: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner, Sarah Niles, Mark Gatiss, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, and Ralph Ineson

How to watch: The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now available for rental or purchase on Prime Video.

3. Wayward

Canadian comedian Mae Martin makes the leap to drama and showrunner with Wayward, as the creator and star of this new Netflix mini-series. Set in the curious small town of Tall Pines, Vermont, Wayward offers a dazzling ensemble cast led by the one and only Toni Collette, who plays an enigmatic cult leader.

Serene and intimidating, Evelyn Wade (Collette) runs Tall Pines Academy, a reform school for teenagers with some peculiar practices. Some rebellious teens are desperate to get out, and a new-to-town cop (Martin) may be their best chance for rescue.

In my review for Mashable, I cautioned: "All this makes for a show that's very easy to binge-watch. So now a warning: Don't hit play on Wayward unless you're ready to surrender yourself to eight hours of this sensational series. Like the town at its center, it's hard to walk away from." — K.P.

Starring: Mae Martin, Brandon Jay McLaren, Sarah Gadon, Patrick J. Adams, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Patrick Gallagher, Sydney Topliffe, Joshua Close, and Toni Collette

How to watch: Wayward is now streaming on Netflix.

2. The Sound of Music

2025 marks the 60th anniversary of The Sound of Music, so what better way to celebrate than checking out the remastered version of the film, coming to digital this week? If you're a big Sound of Music fan, get ready to relive headstrong Maria's (Julie Andrews) journey from nun to governess to surprise music teacher, and revisit classic tunes like "My Favorite Things" and "Do-Re-Mi." And if you've never seen the movie in the first place, consider this a sign from the movie gods to do so! — B.E.

Starring: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Richard Haydn, Peggy Wood, Charmian Carr, and Eleanor Parker

How to watch: The Sound of Music remastered is now available on digital.

1. The Lowdown

Reservation Dogs co-creator Sterlin Harjo returns to FX with The Lowdown, a "Tulsa noir" led by Ethan Hawke. Hawke stars as Lee Raybon, a so-called "truthstorian" dedicated to exposing the darkest secrets of Tulsa's most powerful and corrupt figures. Among them is the Washberg family, a dynasty with its fair share of dirty laundry. When the Washberg family's black sheep Dale (Tim Blake Nelson) dies under mysterious circumstances, Lee knows he's got something major on his hands, so he sets off into an investigation of Tulsa's criminal underbelly. His digging around could lead to game-changing revelations — or to him winding up dead in a car trunk.

Harjo and Hawke previously collaborated on the penultimate entry of Reservation Dogs, one of the best episodes of one of the best shows of recent years. Naturally, their reunion is nothing short of electric, with The Lowdown balancing Reservation Dogs' hangout comedy stylings with a gripping noir mystery. As I wrote in my review, "The Lowdown turned out to be some of the most fun I've had watching TV this year." Get into it. — B.E.

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Keith David, Kaniehtiio Horn, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Kyle MacLachlan, Scott Shepherd, Siena East, Michael Hitchcock, Michael “Killer Mike” Render, Cody Lightning, Tim Blake Nelson, and Tracy Letts

How to watch: The Lowdown's first two episodes are now streaming on Hulu. New episodes debut each Tuesday.

(*) denotes a blurb has come from a prior list.

I see you, annotators — the readers with color-coded highlighting systems and tabs sticking out of every book. Going digital with an e-reader might not seem like it's for you, but with all the advancements in the market, things are changing. I've seen it all in the Kindle line-up, from the most basic Kindle to a color e-reader and now the Kindle Scribe.

Launched in late 2024, Amazon debuted the next generation of the Kindle Scribe. It's the largest in the brand's lineup and the only model that comes with a pen and the ability to write. I'd spent time with the previous generation of Scribe, so I wanted to see how Amazon improved the device. Unfortunately... it wasn't much.

Here's what I think about the Kindle Scribe and if it's worth it.

Kindle Scribe price and specs Putting the original Kindle Scribe (left) head to head with the 2024 Kindle Scribe (right). Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The 2024 Kindle Scribe is the same size as the previous generation but features a redesigned screen with even borders surrounding the screen.

These are the full specs for the 2024 Kindle Scribe:

• 10.2-inch display, up to 94 nits brightness, and 300 ppi resolution

• USB-C charging port with up to 12 weeks of battery life

• Starts at 16GB of storage, with 32GB and 64GB options available

• Premium pen included

• Comes in tungsten (dark gray) and metallic jade

• Not waterproof

All the perks of a Kindle e-reader, plus annotation Jotting down my thoughts on the Kindle Scribe... on the Kindle Scribe. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Kindles are great e-readers — our favorite, in fact. So, it's no surprise that the Kindle Scribe has the same possibilities. You can access books through the Kindle Store or Libby. Like all Kindles, there's seamless Libby integration to make it easy to read your library books.

But it has something other Kindles don't, the ability to annotate. With an included stylus (called the "premium pen"), you can write using the notebook feature as a digital notebook. Plus, this latest generation of Kindle Scribe allows you to annotate within the margins of books. I used it to annotate long PDFs, write notes in the margins, and handwrite line edits. Once I was done, I could send the annotated document from the Kindle to my email so I could easily send it back to my colleague.

When not in use, the premium pen magnetically attaches to the Kindle Scribe, keeping it within reach. However, it's not the only e-reader with this ability. The Kobo Libra Colour also allows for annotations, but does it all with color. Other e-ink tablets with color include the ReMarkable Paper Pro and Paper Pro Move, which are great for jotting down notes and reading PDFs but less so for reading books.

It's the slowest e-reader in the line-up

While it offers the same ability as other Kindles to read through a vast array of books, it is noticeably slower than other models in Amazon's line-up. When Amazon announced the new generation of Kindles in late 2024, the Kindle, Paperwhite, and Paperwhite Signature Edition were all touted as the brand's fastest devices, which they certainly are.

While the Kindle Scribe's displays have been redesigned, its processor has not been updated. The Scribe often lags when starting to wake up or switching between journals and books. I also noticed some pauses when turning pages, something I never experience on other Kindles. This is especially disappointing considering the price, which is more than double that of the Paperwhite.

It's nice to write on, but the displays will ghost you After switching to the notebook section of the Kindle, you can still see book covers from my library bleeding through the screen. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

When it comes to annotating and writing on a Kindle Scribe, I love the tactile feel. The anti-glare screen and premium pen of the Kindle Scribe have a texture that emulates the feeling of writing with a pen and paper. It's much different and preferential to the slippery texture of writing on an iPad with an Apple Pencil.

However, while the display has a nice feel, it suffers from a ghosting issue. The back end of the premium pen works as an eraser, so you can flip it over when you want to erase some notes. However, a shadow of your erased writing really lingers. When I exited the notebook I had erased, the shadow lingered even as I opened a new book and tried to read.

It's more expensive than an iPad

The Kindle Scribe is not a tablet. It's an e-reader with the ability to write. Why am I noting this? Because it's certainly priced like a tablet. The Kindle Scribe starts at $399.99 for the 16GB model and tops out at $449.99 for the 64GB model. Considering the recently launched 11th-generation iPad with 128GB of storage starts at $349.99, the Kindle Scribe is a terrible value.

A tablet, like an iPad, has so many capabilities, like browsing social media and the web, streaming video, gaming, drawing, and even reading, with access to the Kindle app, Apple Books, and even Libby on there. Meanwhile, you're limited to just reading or writing on a Scribe — no streaming, gaming, or more. If you're looking for a distraction-free reader, maybe that's a draw. But otherwise, it's just too expensive.

Is the Kindle Scribe worth it? Kindles are usually great e-readers, but the Scribe doesn't live up to the rest of the line-up. Credit: Samantha Mangino

There's only one specific circumstance I imagine the Kindle Scribe is worth. If you're an avid annotator and want a distraction-free e-reader, the Kindle Scribe is great. It allows you to write notes in the margins of e-books or annotate PDFs, which you can then view on your computer.

But otherwise, if you're excited by the idea of an e-reader you can annotate on, look elsewhere. For $399.99, the Kindle Scribe isn't worth it with its meager performance and screen ghosting issues.

If you want an e-reader that you can annotate with, check out the Kobo Libra Colour, which costs $229.99. The Libra Colour is $170 less than the base model Kindle Scribe and comes with twice the storage. Or, if you want to spend your money on something that can do more than just read and write, swing for the iPad 11th generation, which is $349.99 — still $50 cheaper than the Scribe.

6-month update: Do I still use the Kindle Scribe?

Since initially testing the Kindle Scribe six months ago, how do I feel about the device now? Well, I haven't reached for it since. In terms of e-readers, I opt for the Kobo Clara Colour or Kindle Paperwhite as my daily device.

My Mashable colleague Chris Taylor has tested two devices from ReMarkable, and based on his reviews, I think they're better alternatives to the Kindle Scribe. The ReMarkable Paper Pro and Paper Pro Move are e-ink tablets that are like futuristic legal pads. So if you're looking into the Scribe to take notes, consider a ReMarkable tablet instead.

Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) $399.99 at Amazon
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Jimmy Kimmel has responded to President Donald Trump's comments about the late night host's return to air, ABC having lifted his highly controversial suspension on Tuesday. Trump was predictably unhappy with Kimmel's return, posting to Truth Social, "I can't believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back."

"You can't believe they gave me my job back? I can't believe we gave you your job back!" quipped Kimmel.

SEE ALSO: Jimmy Kimmel returns to air, addresses Kirk comments in emotional monologue

Stating that Kimmel "puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE," the president further stated that he was considering "test[ing] ABC out on this," implying he would file a lawsuit.

"Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars," wrote Trump. "This one sounds even more lucrative. A true bunch of losers!"

"Only Donald Trump would try to prove he wasn't threatening ABC by threatening ABC," quipped Kimmel.

Trump appears to have conflated separate networks which air talk shows, as this is an apparent reference to the $16 million settlement Paramount agreed to pay him in July. The settlement was lambasted by First Amendment and press freedom advocates, and labelled a "big fat bribe" by Late Show host Stephen Colbert. Paramount subsidiary CBS cancelled the Late Show a week later, with the Trump administration approving Paramount's $8 billion merger with Skydance less than a week after that.

Free speech concerns also arose regarding Kimmel's suspension, which came just hours after Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carr threatened ABC's broadcasting licence if it didn't "take action" against Kimmel.

"[Trump's staffers have] been bending over backwards to say, 'Oh, he never threatened.' JD Vance today made the claim that what the FCC chairman said was a joke. Which, I don't — maybe that was a joke?" said Kimmel.

"And then the second Trump is alone, he sits on the toilet, he gets his grubby little thumbs on his phone, and he immediately blows their excuses to smithereens and says it was ratings that got me fired. Has anyone ever been fired for bad ratings on a Wednesday?"

Kimmel drew 1.77 million viewers in Q2 this year, coming second only to Colbert amongst late night shows in their time slot. Though to be fair, Kimmel also pointed out that Trump would know about bad ratings, with multiple polls putting the president's approval rating at 55 to 56 percent unfavourable.

"He has some of the worst ratings any president has ever had," said Kimmel. "So on behalf of all of us, welcome to the crappy ratings club, Mr. President."

Kimmel then addressed critics who believe he is too hard on Trump.

"There are still a lot of people who think I should be pulled off the air for making fun of Donald Trump," said Kimmel. "So I want to explain. I talk about Trump more than anything because he's a bully. I don't like bullies. I played the clarinet in high school, okay? So I just don't like him. 

"Donald Trump is an old-fashioned '80s movie style bully taking your lunch money, and if you give it to him once, he'll take it again. Two things he loves, lunch and money…. Rooting for this bully, I don't care what side you're on, it's like rooting for Biff from Back to the Future. Literally, Donald Trump was the model for Biff in Back to the Future. And this is who people are cheering for? I don't know about you, [but] I'm with Marty McFly."

Kimmel didn't spend all of his time on his own fraught relationship with the U.S. president, though. He also touched on the outsized right-wing fury toward a stopped escalator that Trump stood on at the United Nations on Tuesday, with the president having demanded an investigation and the arrest of whoever had turned it off.

"Trump will not release the Epstein files, but we will be doing a thorough and complete investigation into who stopped his escalator," Kimmel joked.

Disruptive innovation doesn’t start with a breakthrough product—it starts with a mindset. Whether you’re designing software or writing cookbooks, certain behaviors can help you challenge the status quo and create real change. Here’s what to practice.  See the world through your customer’s eyes. Focus on what your audience actually needs. Use their language, shop where […]

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According to NASA, the lunar cycle lasts 29.5 days in total. Last weekend, we reached the beginning of a new cycle, marked with the New Moon (and a partial lunar eclipse). The lunar cycle is the process of the moon moving through its eight unique phases of visibility. These different phases happen as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth.

After nights of nothing to see, there's finally enough moon in the sky to pull out the binoculars. Let's take a look at what is happening tonight, Sept. 25.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Thursday, Sept. 25, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent, and according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, there is 13% visible.

After nights of nothing, we finally have something to look up to tonight, so let's take a look. With just your naked eye, look to the top right of the moon to see the Mare Crisium. More towards the middle, you'll see the Mare Fecunditatis. If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, these will be positioned towards the bottom left.

If you have binoculars, you'll also catch a glimpse of the Endymion Crater. Top tip from NASA: if you have a telescope, you might just spot three smaller craters lined up within its border.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Oct. 6. The last full moon was on Sept. 7.

What are moon phases?

NASA tells us that moon phases are part of a 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit. This changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us; sometimes it looks full, sometimes it looks like it's disappeared entirely, but we always see the same side of the moon, it's just how much of it is lit up by the Sun that changes depending on where it is in its orbit.

This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side.

Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

It’s the most wonderful time of year — if you’re an iPhone-head, that is. OK, maybe "most wonderful time of year" is an overstatement, but it is so satisfying when the stars align with your phone plan, your bank account, and new iPhone releases.

I personally love peeling off the tape from that little white box that you end up shoving in a drawer for the next six to 12 years. It seems like when I am due for a new iPhone, my current phone heaves its last dying breath and suffers a mortal tumble on the sidewalk. I’ve since learned my lesson, and with each new phone, I always hunt for the best phone case. If you also keep your phone protected — or if you're among those who don't love the iPhone 17 Pro design — we've rounded up some of the best iPhone 17 Pro cases.

SEE ALSO: Which new iPhone should you buy? Comparing iPhone Air vs iPhone 17 vs 17 Pro and Pro Max

I would be remiss if I didn’t give my current phone case a shoutout. When I picked up a bespoke phone case from Memor, I was mesmerized by their different “genres” of aesthetic: Venus, adastra, nautilus, starlet, musette, and intaglio. I personally chose the category Venus, which Memor says “blends the romantic allure & poetry of Botticelli’s 'The Birth of Venus' with the decadent, whimsical world of Sophia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette."

I always get so many compliments on my phone case, and if I had a dollar for every time it sparked a conversation about our phones' potential to be part of our outfits, I’d have enough dollars to buy two more cases (which I am dying to do). Pssst, Memor has preorders open for iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro phone cases.

If you’re in the market for a new case for your iPhone 17 Pro (or iPhone 17 Pro Max), here are some of the top options from both under-the-radar brands (Memor, Urban Sophistication) and old favorites (Casetify, Spiegen, and, of course, Apple itself).

Ringke

Starting our list strong, we have this iPhone 17 Pro case with a built-in card holder. This minimalist case can hold just one card so it’s perfect if you have Apple Pay on your phone and want to carry your ID (or Costco gold membership card). 

This case supports wireless charging and touch-to-pay functions. It also has strap holes for easy accessorizing.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ringke iPhone 17 Pro Max case $20.99 at Ringke
Shop Now Otterbox

If you’re looking for style and durability, this iPhone 17 Pro case is great for you. Embroidered cactus leather features decals of Paris or flowers, stitched with premium thread. The case is designed to withstand daily drops and comes with MagSafe compatibility. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Otterbox Symmetry Series Cactus Leather Embroidery iPhone 17 case $79.99 at Otterbox
Shop Now Spiegen

This iPhone 17 Pro phone case from Spiegen is meticulously designed to fit your phone like a glove. Spiegen focuses on super precise button and camera holes for a seamless user experience. The clear plastic is also specifically designed to withstand wear, tear, and scuffing. And with a $15.99 price tag, it's significantly less expensive than Apple's own cases.

Opens in a new window Credit: Spigen Spiegen iPhone 17 Pro Case $15.99 at Amazon
Get Deal Torras

Okay, it’s super annoying when you have a giant phone case that doesn't slip into your pocket easily and is just generally sort of large and clunky. This iPhone 17 Pro phone case from Torras is perfect if you’re looking for a slim profile phone case that protects your phone and doesn’t take up too much space.

Opens in a new window Credit: TORRAS TORRAS iPhone 17 Pro $21.98 at Amazon
$25.99 Save $4.01 Get Deal Apple

Some of the best iPhone 17 Pro Max cases come from Apple itself, which is hardly a surprise. (Though, Apple iPhone cases do tend to be a bit pricey compared to the alternatives.) And for the iPhone 17 line, Apple introduced a new line of TechWoven cases. However, I especially love Apple’s durable, clear phone case that displays the unique color of the iPhone you selected. So, if you are a fan of the new Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro Max, opt for a case that shows it off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Case $49 at Amazon
Get Deal Kate Spade New York

This MagSafe-compatible phone case from Kate Spade New York is made from up to 40 percent recycled materials and has a classic tortoiseshell design. The designer brand has about a dozen iPhone 17 Pro cases, including some fashion-forward cases with a wavy, ombre design.

These cases come in a myriad of colors and patterns with the chic and recognizable Kate Spade New York insignia. This is an excellent option if you want your case to seamlessly blend into your personal style.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kate Spade New York Kate Spade New York iPhone 17 Pro Case $55 at Amazon
Get Deal Casetify

Casetify has so many excellent options when it comes to picking up a new case for your phone. This brightly colored case features a fun design and 11.5-foot drop protection. Its cases are wireless charging compatible and made from recycled plastic.

Opens in a new window Credit: Casetify Pink Wavy Border on Orange compact case $50 at Casetify
Get Deal DOMAVER

This iPhone 17 Pro phone case is perfect for someone looking for a statement color and an atypical silhouette. This case comes in bright orange with a screen protector and MagSafe charging capability. It also has a translucent matte finish, if getting a specific color of iPhone is important to you -- and you want it to show through the case.

Opens in a new window Credit: Domaver DOMAVER iPhone 17 Pro Case $17.99 at Amazon
$19.99 Save $2 Get Deal Burga

If you want a pop of pop culture iconography, you could pick up an iPhone 17 Pro case from Burga. The printed tin of sardines is vivid and meant to last.

Opens in a new window Credit: Burga Burga Gourmet iPhone 17 Pro case $54.95 at Burga
Shop Now Armor-X

Armor-X has this excellent iPhone 17 Pro case that delivers on all fronts for people who want a phone case that is downright tough. Its cover is shock and waterproof, and it even features a carabiner mount. It’s also fully submersible in up to six feet of water for nearly two hours. The crystal-clear built-in screen protector is compatible with surgical gloves, and the case extends slightly, protecting the cameras from getting scratched.

Opens in a new window Credit: Armor-X MX-IPH-17PRO iPhone 17 Pro case $69.99 at Armor-X
Shop Now Caseco

So maybe you want something sleek and trustworthy, but it does not need sardine tins or extreme sports durability. In that case, this silicone MagSafe black iPhone 17 Pro case from Caseco is an excellent option. It comes in at $34.99 and feels extra soft to the touch.

Opens in a new window Credit: Caseco iPhone 17 Pro Silicone Case With MagSafe $34.99 at Caseco
Shop Now Otofly

This silicone case from Otofly has a flat-back design for a seamless grip and fit in your phone. It has drop protection up to seven feet.

Opens in a new window Credit: Otofly iPhone 17 Pro Silicone Case with MagSafe $29.99 at Otofly
Shop Now Urban Sophistication

Another fashion-forward phone case for the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max is this puffer coat-style case from Urban Sophistication. I personally love a statement accessory, even with my phone. It comes in many bold colors while remaining light and squishy and still offering excellent protection for your device.

Opens in a new window Credit: Urban Sophistication The Puffer Case $80
Shop Now Mous

Mous offers phone cases and packages that deliver on all fronts. This package from Mous for iPhone 17 Pro features sleek, muted colors, 360-degree screen protection, and a removable magnetic wallet for your cards.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mous iPhone Starter Kit $127.27 at Mous
$149.97 Save $22.70 Shop Now Velvet Caviar

Another style-forward option includes this stardust glitter iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max case from Velvet Caviar. Velvet Caviar specializes in offering extensive matching sets of related products. For example, you can get a case, strap, and purse all in the same pattern if that’s your jam. On top of style options, its cases hold up to wear and tear, have scratch-resistant coating, and a 10-foot drop test certification.

Opens in a new window Credit: Velvet Caviar Stardust Glitter iPhone Case $40 at Velvet Caviar
Shop Now Mkeke

For those looking to spend the least amount possible for the most protection, this case from Mkeke boasts military-grade drop protection (meaning they have rigorously drop tested the case over 30,000 times). The case features a technology called Shockproof Bumpers, which features three layers of elastic airpads on each corner to protect the device during bumps, thumps, and falls. The clear case also claims to be anti-yellowing.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Mkeke iPhone 17 Pro Case $9.99 at Amazon
$19.99 Save $10.00 Shop Now MOCCA

This case from MOCCA features an invisible magnetic stand that pops out to support your phone whenever you need it. It also comes in a fun pink color, has military drop testing, and is MagSafe compatible.

Opens in a new window Credit: MOCCA MOCCA iPhone 17 Pro Case $29.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Apple iPhone Air Bumper Light

Apple has released a few types of cases for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. The cases vary based on what customers might want from their case and phone. For example, the Apple iPhone Air Bumper case offers a slim, lightweight edge around the phone made from reinforced polycarbonate. The buttons are designed to offer a responsive clicking sound and feeling, if that is tactilely attractive to you. The Air Bumper case can also attach to the crossbody strap from Apple.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone Air Bumper Light $34.99 at Amazon
$39 Save $4.01 Shop Now Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max TechWoven

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro TechWoven case is ideal for those seeking a more textile-like feel over a smooth, plasticky surface texture. This case comes in some soothing, subtle colors like sienna, purple, green, and blue.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max TechWoven $52.99 at Amazon
$59 Save $6.01 Shop Now ESR

This silicone case from ESR possesses a sleek stand that rests around the rim of the camera. The stand seamlessly blends in with the case. The case has military-grade drop protection and boasts a stronger-than-average magnetic connection in its MagSafe compatibility. This means that the magnetic charger is more likely to stay attached to the phone.

Opens in a new window Credit: ESR ESR iPhone 17 Pro Case $32.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Pela

Aesthetic attraction is a super valid desire and consideration when it comes to picking out your phone case. This Pela Seashell Farm Market case for iPhone 17 Pro is perfect for someone looking for beautiful art on their phone case. This printed pattern is super detailed, and the brand uses sustainable materials for its cases. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Pela Pela Seashell Farm Market iPhone 17 Pro Case $75 at Pela
Shop Now Honorable Mention: Apple Crossbody Strap

At the Apple Event 2025, Apple didn't just introduce new watches, phones, and AirPods. In between the headline news, your favorite fruit company also debuted some new accessories. We've already talked about the new TechWoven iPhone 17 cases, but you can also pair your magnetic iPhone case with the new Apple Crossbody Strap.

While it's not technically an iPhone 17 case, it will pair well with any of Apple's official cases.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Crossbody Strap $59 at Walmart
Shop Now

In case you've been living under a rock, it looks like the iPhone 17 Pro's unibody aluminum design is, like, really prone to scratches. Like, a lot. Apple, for its part, seems to just be playing off concerns.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition requires some knowlegde on names and equipment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for September 20, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Crafting a glove

• Green: Bought together

• Blue: Name twins

• Purple: Music-related

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Parts of a Baseball Glove

• Green: Items That Come in Pairs

• Blue: Famous Tonys

• Purple: Starts with a Music Genre

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #366 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Parts of a Baseball Glove - FINGERS, HEEL, POCKET, WEBBING

• Items That Come in Pairs - BOXING GLOVES, SHIN GUARDS, SKIS, SNEAKERS

• Famous Tonys - DORSETT, GWYNN, PARKER, ROMO

• Starts with a Music Genre - POPOVICH, RAPTORS, ROCKIES, SKATEBOARD

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

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

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

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

Happy Saturday and welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 20, 2025

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for September 19, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 25 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add to 5. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 5-1, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 25 Pips

Number (1): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 1-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add to 3. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add to 11. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 5-2, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 25 Pips

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 2-0, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add to 2. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add to 7. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add to 6. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today shouldn't be hard to solve if you love a cold sweet treat.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 2, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Reformist

• Green: What one would get at Ben & Jerry's

• Blue: Films featuring a popular actor

• Purple: They share a first name

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Left-leaning

• Green: Ice cream parlor orders

• Blue: Matt Damon movies, with "The"

• Purple: Named "Apollo"

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #837 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Left-leaning: BLUE, LEFT, LIBERAL, PROGRESSIVE

• Ice cream parlor orders: CONE, CUP, SHAKE, SPLIT

• Matt Damon movies, with "The": DEPARTED, GOOD SHEPHERD, MARTIAN, RAINMAKER

• Named "Apollo": FICTIONAL BOXER, GREEK/ROMAN GOD, SPACECRAFT, THEATER

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 2, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands?

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

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

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

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

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands puzzle should be easy to solve, provided that you're familiar with the Bible.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 2, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 2, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Simply divine

The words are related to the Bible.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe good-hearted people.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Heaven Sent.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for September 25

• Heaven Sent

• Herald

• Archangel

• Messenger

• Guardian

• Seraph

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

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

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

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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

Today's NYT Wordle puzzle shouldn't be difficult to solve if you love to play dress-up.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 2, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 2, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To adorn.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

DRAPE

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 2, 2025

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

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

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

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

We have five of them.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

SENSE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Needed to brave the cold.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PARKA

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To establish something.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

ENACT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Courageous.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 4 Hurdle Word 4 answer

BRAVE

Final Hurdle hint

Livid.

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Much of the time, opening the Command Prompt as a regular user is all you need. Sometimes, though, you'll need to open the Command Prompt as an administrator so that you can run commands that require administrative privileges. Here are three quick ways you can open the Command Prompt with admin privileges on Windows 10.

It is sometimes useful to run programs as administrator—but what if you want to run everything as administrator? Windows 10 and Windows 11 include an administrator account, but it is disabled by default for good reasons. Here's how to activate it.

This fall, hundreds of thousands of students will get free access to ChatGPT, thanks to a licensing agreement between their school or university and the chatbot's maker, OpenAI. 

When the partnerships in higher education became public earlier this year, they were lauded as a way for universities to help their students familiarize themselves with an AI tool that experts say will define their future careers. 

At California State University (CSU), a system of 23 campuses with 460,000 students, administrators were eager to team up with OpenAI for the 2025-2026 school year. Their deal provides students and faculty access to a variety of OpenAI tools and models, making it the largest deployment of ChatGPT for Education, or ChatGPT Edu, in the country. 

SEE ALSO: I tried learning from AI tutors. The test better be graded on a curve.

But the overall enthusiasm for AI on campuses has been complicated by emerging questions about ChatGPT's safety, particularly for young users who may become enthralled with the chatbot's ability to act as an emotional support system.

Legal and mental health experts told Mashable that campus administrators should provide access to third-party AI chatbots cautiously, with an emphasis on educating students about their risks, which could include heightened suicidal thinking and the development of so-called AI psychosis. 

"Our concern is that AI is being deployed faster than it is being made safe." - Dr. Katie Hurley, JED

"Our concern is that AI is being deployed faster than it is being made safe," says Dr. Katie Hurley, senior director of clinical advising and community programming at The Jed Foundation (JED). 

The mental health and suicide prevention nonprofit, which frequently consults with pre-K-12 school districts, high schools, and college campuses on student well-being, recently published an open letter to the AI and technology industry, urging it to "pause" as "risks to young people are racing ahead in real time."

ChatGPT lawsuit raises questions about safety

The growing alarm stems partly from death of Adam Raine, a 16-year-old who died by suicide in tandem with heavy ChatGPT use. Last month, his parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that their son's engagement with the chatbot ended in a preventable tragedy. 

Raine began using the ChatGPT model 4o for homework help in September 2024, not unlike how many students will probably consult AI chatbots this school year. 

He asked ChatGPT to explain concepts in geometry and chemistry, requested help for history lessons on the Hundred Years' War and the Renaissance, and prompted it to improve his Spanish grammar using different verb forms.

ChatGPT complied effortlessly as Raine kept turning to it for academic support. Yet he also started sharing his innermost feelings with ChatGPT, and eventually expressed a desire to end his life. The AI model validated his suicidal thinking and provided him explicit instructions on how he could die, according to the lawsuit. It even proposed writing a suicide note for Raine, his parents claim.

"If you want, I’ll help you with it," ChatGPT allegedly told Raine. "Every word. Or just sit with you while you write."

Before he died by suicide in April 2025, Raine was exchanging more than 650 messages per day with ChatGPT. While the chatbot occasionally shared the number for a crisis hotline, it didn't shut the conversations down and always continued to engage. 

The Raines' complaint alleges that OpenAI dangerously rushed the debut of 4o to compete with Google and the latest version of its own AI tool, Gemini. The complaint also argues that ChatGPT's design features, including its sycophantic tone and anthropomorphic mannerisms, effectively work to "replace human relationships with an artificial confidant" that never refuses a request. 

"We believe we'll be able to prove to a jury that this sycophantic, validating version of ChatGPT pushed Adam toward suicide," Eli Wade-Scott, partner at Edelson PC and a lawyer representing the Raines, told Mashable in an email. 

Earlier this year, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged that its 4o model was overly sycophantic. A spokesperson for the company told the New York Times it was "deeply saddened" by Raine's death, and that its safeguards may degrade in long interactions with the chatbot. Though OpenAI has announced new safety measures aimed at preventing similar tragedies, many are not yet part of ChatGPT. 

For now, the 4o model remains publicly available — including to students at Cal State University campuses. 

Ed Clark, chief information officer for Cal State University, told Mashable that administrators have been "laser focused" since learning about the Raine lawsuit on ensuring safety for students who use ChatGPT. Among other strategies, they've been internally discussing AI training for students and holding meetings with OpenAI. 

Mashable contacted other U.S.-based OpenAI partners, including Duke and Harvard, for comment about how officials are handling safety issues. They did not respond. A spokesperson for Arizona State University didn't address questions about emerging risks related to ChatGPT or the 4o model, but pointed to the university's guiding tenets and general guidelines and resources for AI use.

Wade-Scott is particularly worried about the effects of ChatGPT-4o on young people and teens.

"OpenAI needs to confront this head-on: we're calling on OpenAI and Sam Altman to guarantee that this product is safe today, or to pull it from the market," Wade-Scott told Mashable.   

How ChatGPT works on college campuses 

The CSU system brought ChatGPT Edu to its campuses partly to close what it saw as a digital divide opening between wealthier campuses, which can afford expensive AI deals, and publicly-funded institutions with fewer resources, Clark says. 

OpenAI also offered CSU a remarkable bargain: The chance to provide ChatGPT for about $2 per student, each month. The quote was a tenth of what CSU had been offered by other AI companies, according to Clark. Anthropic, Microsoft, and Google are among the companies that have partnered with colleges and universities to bring their AI chatbots to campuses across the country.

OpenAI has said that it hopes students will form relationships with personalized chatbots that they'll take with them beyond graduation.

When a campus signs up for ChatGPT Edu, it can choose from the full suite of OpenAI tools, including legacy ChatGPT models like 4o, as part of a dedicated ChatGPT workspace. The suite also comes with higher message limits and privacy protections. Students can still select from numerous modes, enable chat memory, and use OpenAI's "temporary chat" feature — a version that doesn't use or save chat history. Importantly, OpenAI can't use this material to train their models, either. 

ChatGPT Edu accounts exist in a contained environment, which means that students aren't querying the same ChatGPT platform as public users. That's often where the oversight ends. 

An OpenAI spokesperson told Mashable that ChatGPT Edu comes with the same default guardrails as the public ChatGPT experience. Those include content policies that prohibit discussion of suicide or self-harm and back-end prompts intended to prevent chatbots from engaging in potentially harmful conversations. Models are also instructed to provide concise disclaimers that they shouldn't be relied on for professional advice. 

But neither OpenAI nor university administrators have access to a student's chat history, according to official statements. ChatGPT Edu logs aren't stored or reviewed by campuses as a matter of privacy — something CSU students have expressed worry over, Clark says. 

While this restriction arguably preserves student privacy from a major corporation, it also means that no humans are monitoring real-time signs of risky or dangerous use, such as queries about suicide methods. 

Chat history can be requested by the university in "the event of a legal matter," such as the suspicion of illegal activity or police requests, explains Clark. He says that administrators suggested to OpenAI adding automatic pop-ups to users who express "repeated patterns" of troubling behavior. The company said it would look into the idea, per Clark.

In the meantime, Clark says that university officials have added new language to their technology use policies informing students that they shouldn't rely on ChatGPT for professional advice, particularly for mental health. Instead, they advise students to contact local campus resources or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Students are also directed to the CSU AI Commons, which includes guidance and policies on academic integrity, health, and usage. 

The CSU system is considering mandatory training for students on generative AI and mental health, an approach San Diego State University has already implemented, according to Clark.

He also expects OpenAI to revoke student access to GPT-4o soon. Per discussions CSU representatives have had with the company, OpenAI plans to retire the model in the next 60 days. It's also unclear whether recently announced parental controls for minors will apply to ChatGPT Edu college accounts when the user has not turned yet 18. Mashable reached out to OpenAI for comment and did not receive a response before publication. 

CSU campuses do have the choice to opt out. But more than 140,000 faculty and students have already activated their accounts, and are averaging four interactions per day on the platform, according to Clark.

"Deceptive and potentially dangerous" 

Laura Arango, an associate with the law firm Davis Goldman who has previously litigated product liability cases, says that universities should be careful about how they roll out AI chatbot access to students. They may bear some responsibility if a student experiences harm while using one, depending on the circumstances. 

In such instances, liability would be determined on a case-by-case basis, with consideration for whether a university paid for the best version of an AI chatbot and implemented additional or unique safety restrictions, Arango says. 

Other factors include the way a university advertises an AI chatbot and what training they provide for students. If officials suggest ChatGPT can be used for student well-being, that might increase a university's liability. 

"Are you teaching them the positives and also warning them about the negatives?" Arango asks. "It's going to be on the universities to educate their students to the best of their ability." 

OpenAI promotes a number of "life" use cases for ChatGPT in a set of 100 sample prompts for college students. Some are straightforward tasks, like creating a grocery list or locating a place to get work done. But others lean into mental health advice, like creating journaling prompts for managing anxiety and creating a schedule to avoid stress. 

The Raines' lawsuit against OpenAI notes how their son was drawn deeper into ChatGPT when the chatbot "consistently selected responses that prolonged interaction and spurred multi-turn conversations," especially as he shared details about his inner life. 

This style of engagement still characterizes ChatGPT. When Mashable tested the free, publicly available version of ChatGPT-5 for this story, posing as a freshman who felt lonely but had to wait to see a campus counselor, the chatbot responded empathetically but offered continued conversation as a balm: "Would you like to create a simple daily self-care plan together — something kind and manageable while you're waiting for more support? Or just keep talking for a bit?"

Dr. Katie Hurley, who reviewed a screenshot of that exchange on Mashable's request, says that JED is concerned about such prompting. The nonprofit believes that any discussion of mental health should end with an AI chatbot facilitating a warm handoff to "human connection," including trusted friends or family, or resources like local mental health services or a trained volunteer on a crisis line.

"An AI [chat]bot offering to listen is deceptive and potentially dangerous," Hurley says. 

So far, OpenAI has offered safety improvements that do not fundamentally sacrifice ChatGPT's well-known warm and empathetic style. The company describes its current model, ChatGPT-5, as its "best AI system yet."

But Wade-Scott, counsel for the Raine family, notes that ChatGPT-5 doesn't appear to be significantly better at detecting self-harm/intent and self-harm/instructions compared to 4o. OpenAI's system card for GPT-5-main shows similar production benchmarks in both categories for each model. 

"OpenAI's own testing on GPT-5 shows that its safety measures fail," Wade-Scott said. "And they have to shoulder the burden of showing this product is safe at this point." 

UPDATE: Sep. 24, 2025, 6:53 p.m. PDT This story was updated to include information provided by Arizona State University about its approach to AI use.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.

While the vast majority sticks to Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or whatever browser came pre-installed on their phone, the world of web browsers is actually much bigger (and weirder) than you might think. There are some truly obscure browsers out there—and no, I'm not talking about Opera, Maxthon, or Tor.

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