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Get 3 books for the price of 2, plus more of the best Prime Day book deals to shop now

Mashable - Wed, 07/09/2025 - 16:39
The best Prime Day book deals at a glance: BEST BOOK DEAL OVERALL Get 3 books for the price of 2 Select hardcovers, paperbacks, and Kindle editions Get Deal BEST HARDCOVER DEAL "Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins Reid $21 (save $9) Get Deal BEST PAPERBACK DEAL "Just for the Summer" by Abby Jimenez $7.61 (save $10.38) Get Deal BEST KINDLE BOOK DEAL "Such Quiet Girls" by Noelle W. Ihli $5.99 (save $9) Get Deal

Amazon Prime Day is finally here (officially running from July 8 through 11), and we're being blessed with tons of deals. If you're looking to stack your summer reading list with books, it's time to get going.

On top of Amazon offering three free months of Kindle Unlimited and Audible to new members, we're also seeing some pretty sweet discounts on books themselves. Whether you want to load up your Kindle with e-books or you prefer physical books in your hands, there are a ton of deals waiting for you on Amazon Prime Day. Kindles themselves are seeing some massive discounts as well. This comes as no surprise, considering Amazon owns Kindle. (If you're looking for those discounts, check out our list of the best Kindle deals.)

From bestsellers to hidden treasures, we'll be tracking all the best Prime Day book deals below and updating the list with the latest and greatest price drops throughout the shopping event.

Note: Struck-through deals were sold out or expired at the time of writing.

Best Prime Day book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Get 3 for the price of 2 Get Deal Why we like it

Physical page turning holds a special, untouchable place in our hearts, but physical copies of books are not cheap. For Prime Day, however, Amazon is giving shoppers the ability to pick up three books for the price of two. That means you can finally add to your physical TBR list without breaking the bank. It also helps, of course, that most of the books are already discounted as well. There are tons of bestsellers, new releases, and BookTok favorites included in the sale, including Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Just add three books to your cart from the promo page and the deal will automatically be applied at checkout.

Best Prime Day hardcover book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ballantine Books Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid $21 at Amazon
$30 Save $9 Get Deal Why we like it

Atmosphere is the latest from the New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six, Taylor Jenkins Reid. Just released last month, it's already listed as one of Goodreads' most popular books of the year. It follows Joan Goodwin, a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University, who is selected as one of the first women scientists to join NASA’s Space Shuttle program in the 1980s. The hardcover copy is already on sale on Prime Day for $21, down 30% from its list price.

Hardcover book dealsPaperback book dealsKindle book deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Our 5 favorite expert-tested soundbars to upgrade your TV setup

Mashable - Wed, 07/09/2025 - 16:39

Building a home entertainment system that checks all the boxes takes time. Likely, if you're reading this, you've found the right TV for you, set up smart lights for ambiance, and now, you're ready for the next step: investing in a soundbar.

A good soundbar can make watching a movie in your living room feel more, for lack of a better word, cinematic. If you're feeling lost reading about Dolby Atmos and the pros and cons of a subwoofer, you can save yourself a lot of time by seeing what the experts have to say. Not only have Mashable tech reporters tested some of the top soundbars from brands like Samsung, Sonos, and Bose, but we've also consulted a bevy of experts.

Ty Pendlebury tests and researches TVs and home entertainment tech for CNET, a sister site of Mashable also owned by Ziff Davis. He's been testing audio-visual equipment, including soundbars, for over 20 years.

"I reckon I’ve reviewed over 100 soundbars in my time," Pendlebury wrote to Mashable.

When creating CNET's guide for the best soundbars, he tested soundbars in the CNET AV Lab, using several different types of media including movies, music, and games, to determine which soundbars sound the best.

Below, we've combined Pendlebury's testing results and expertise alongside Mashable's most recent soundbar reviews to select five of our top picks for the best soundbars. And as a bonus, almost all of these soundbars are on sale during Prime Day, which runs through July 11.

Is it worth getting a soundbar?

Built-in TV speakers are typically located at the back of the TV, pointing down, which isn't the best position for optimal sound quality. At the most basic level, soundbars fix the issue by directing the sound outward toward the room.

So what does that fix cost? Soundbars can run anywhere from as low as $75 to easily over $1,500. Obviously, that's a wide range, but most of the selections in Pendlebury's guide, and the soundbars we've tested at Mashable in past years, fall in the the $200 to $700 range. To simplify your search, we'll be pulling picks that sit roughly in the low, middle, and high points of that range.

Best soundbar for most people Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Smart Soundbar $499 at Amazon
Shop Now Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Bose Smart Soundbar.

The Bose Smart Soundbar isn't the cheapest option out there, but for folks who want more than the bare minimum features, it's a great option with powerful sound that doesn't demand a ton of space on your media console. "For most users, I think this soundbar hits the sweet spot in terms of features, sound, and value for the dollar," wrote Mashable contributor Timothy Beck Werth in his review of the soundbar.

Beck Werth tested the soundbar with TV shows, music, and movies, and found that the Bose soundbar offered a far superior experience than the built-in speakers on his TV. The bass sounded pronounced without losing clarity, while everything from music to F1 races sounded balanced. Perhaps best of all, Beck Werth reported, "For TV shows, I was able to turn off closed captions for all but the most accent-heavy shows." Bose's AI Dialogue Assist feature also helped clarify vocals even more, offering hope to anyone who's become a little more reliant than they would like on closed captions.

SEE ALSO: The Bose QuietComfort earbuds are a decent budget option from the premium brand

This performance is thanks to the five different transducers (including two that point upwards to bounce sound off the ceiling) and central tweeter. Again, if you're looking for more than the bare minimum, you'll find that in the inclusion of Dolby Atmos, which Beck Werth said made the sound quality "really [sing]," where it was available. While there's a lot to praise, it is worth noting this soundbar doesn't come with a subwoofer, but you can connect your own or purchase one down the line, giving it some solid upgrade potential.

As for your connection options, this mid-range pick offers plenty, with connectivity available through HDMI, WiFi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, and Spotify Connect. And as it's a smart speaker, it also works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

The previous generation of this soundbar, the Bose Smart Soundbar 600, is CNET's top pick for the best compact Dolby Atmos soundbar. As it was phased out last fall with the release of this soundbar, we recommend opting for the newer version, which is easier to find in stock.

Best budget pick Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Streambar $129.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Why we like it

Check out CNET's full review of the Roku Streambar.

The Roku Streambar is CNET's top pick overall for the best soundbar (and an Editors' Choice award recipient), but despite the accolades, it's available at an incredibly budget-friendly price. If you're shopping for your first soundbar or simply looking to upgrade your sound system while spending less than $150, the Roku Streambar is your best bet.

Alongside an upgraded sound system, opting for this soundbar will give you access to the 4K Roku streaming interface, giving you an easy way to watch all your favorite streaming services, from Netflix and YouTube to Disney+ and Hulu. The included remote makes navigating the Roku interface especially easy, and it can work to turn your TV on and off.

While combo products often mean that something is sacrificed in the process, Pendlebury called the Roku Streambar the answer "if you want to be able to hear your TV better, particularly vocals, and also enhance its streaming capabilities," especially if you don't already have a streaming device in your setup. (If you do already own a streaming device, the Vizio 2.1 soundbar is another great option that clocks in under $200 and comes with a subwoofer).

The four internal speakers may not offer absolute top-of-the-line sound (the bass could be better on this soundbar), but you'll find that it offers a noticeable boost to the quality and depth of the sound from your TV, especially with dialogue. The Streambar's compact size (it clocks in at 14-inches wide) means that while it can't compete with soundbars that simply have the space to create a fuller sound, it's not a bad trade off for folks who are short on real estate for speakers in their TV setup. Plus, if you decide you want to upgrade the sound profile, you can purchase a Roku subwoofer for $130 (and still be spending nearly $250 less than you would on the also subwoofer-less Bose Smart Soundbar).

Alongside the HDMI connection that works with your TV's HDMI ARC or Optical outputs, the Roku Streambar is also compatible with Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, Google Home, Alexa, and of course, Roku Smart Home.

Best for Sonos households Sonos Beam Gen 2 Dolby Atmos Soundbar $499 at Best Buy
Get Deal Why we like it

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 has been on the market for a while, and when it goes on sale (like it does for Prime Day), it offers impressive value for the money. For customers who are already in the Sonos smart home ecosystem, it's an easy and affordable way to give your TV setup an instant boost. The Beam is incredibly easy to set up, and because it can sync with your other Sonos products, it's easy to build a genuine home theater surround sound system.

While it will make movies and TV shows pop, you can also use this soundbar for streaming music, one of the most underrated perks of having a TV soundbar in your living room.

In CNET's guide to the top soundbars, Pendlebury noted that the more affordable Sony HT-S2000 offered stronger bass; however, on balance, we'd still recommend the Beam for Sonos fans in particular.

Best upgrade pick Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Arc Ultra $999 at Amazon
Shop Now Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Sonos Arc Ultra.

We know — this soundbar sits firmly on the high end of the price spectrum, but we wouldn't be including it if we didn't think it was worth the price. The Sonos Arc Ultra is a true upgrade pick, offering some of the highest-quality sound for under $1,000 you can get. As Mashable contributor Timothy Beck Werth put it in his review: "While a single soundbar can't compete with the booming speakers you'll hear in a movie theater, this speaker gave me the closest match to that experience I've ever had in my living room."

The Arc Ultra achieves that feat through its impressive hardware, which includes 14 drivers and 15 Class-D digital amplifiers. Of course, it also comes equipped with Dolby Atmos and the brand's Sound Motion technology. All of this comes packed in a package much bigger — and much more sleek looking — than something like the Roku soundbar, meaning that you'll want to make sure you have space cleared on your media console. The result is that even without a subwoofer or any peripheral speakers, Beck Werth said he could "feel the bass in my chest. It really felt like sandworms were exploding out of the desert all around me," as he watched Dune.

SEE ALSO: How to watch 'Dune: Part Two' at home: Where is it streaming?

This is the level of sound quality you'd expect from a soundbar that's twice the price of our top pick for most people and nearly eight times the price of our budget pick. But naturally, that's not where our praise for it stops. Despite delivering top-of-the-line performance, it's incredibly easy to use, plugging and playing via HDMI just as well as our less expensive picks. With "a single tap on my phone screen," Beck Werth was able to sync the soundbar to his TV and remote, with the Sonos app helping him connect Spotify, Amazon Music, and Alexa with just a bit more effort.

Beyond the initial setup, the Sonos app can also be used to activate Trueplay, which helps you get the absolute most out of your speaker by adjusting the audio based on the layout and acoustics of the room the speaker is in, so you don't have to fiddle endlessly with audio settings. And when your TV is off, you can use the Arc Ultra as a smart speaker via voice control. But if you'd rather not have the mic on 24/7, Sonos also included an option to toggle that off.

So what's the catch? Obviously, you're paying for what you get, but beyond that, we really didn't have many issues with the Arc Ultra. The last thing we can stipulate is that even for as good as it sounds, it won't replace a setup with dedicated speakers and subwoofers to create true surround sound, but that's less a knock against Sonos and more a reality of any audio setup.

Best for Samsung TVs Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung HW-Q990C 11.1.4ch Soundbar $710.40 at Amazon
$899 Save $188.60 Get Deal Why we like it

If you don't want to build a home audio system from the floor up — and especially if you have a Samsung TV — then we recommend a premium Samsung soundbar like this. While this particular soundbar didn't make Pendlebury's list, we think Samsung fans will appreciate this audio system's balance of features. The soundbar itself contains 11 front-facing speakers and a built-in subwoofer; however, it also comes with two additional rear speakers for even richer, fuller sound.

And if you have a Samsung TV, you can take advantage of the company's Q-Symphony feature, which ensures your TV and your soundbar sync perfectly. Even if you don't, this soundbar can be calibrated to your living room or home theater, ensuring it fills every nook and cranny in your space with booming yet balanced sound. Naturally, it has Dolby Audio features as well.

The main downside here is the price tag. However, for a premium audio experience, you'll need to plan on paying at least $500 for a soundbar. Unfortunately, that's just the price of admission.

How to choose a soundbar

Beyond price, soundbars have a few more features worth considering, but that doesn't mean the buying process requires you to be versed in a ton of tech terminology. In fact, Pendlebury told Mashable, "Thankfully, buying a soundbar is a lot easier now than it used to be," due in large part to most having an HDMI connection, which allows for the easiest plug-and-play experience with your TV.

Along with connections, here are a few more features you'll see highlighted with soundbars on the market these days:

Dolby Atmos

Dolby Atmos is essentially the name of a type of spatial audio designed to deliver a three-dimensional audio experience. To clear up a couple of misconceptions off the bat: In the same way not all headphones with active noise cancellation perform equally, not all soundbars with Dolby Atmos will give the same sound performance across the board.

Our upgrade pick, the Sonos Arc Ultra, comes with Dolby Atmos. Credit: Sonos

Perhaps even more important to note is that while Dolby Atmos offers a more immersive sound, it's not exactly the same experience as getting true surround sound. "The biggest misnomer about soundbars right now is that if it has a Dolby Atmos sticker, it can do surround sound, especially if the soundbar is only $200," Pendlebury explained. "It needs dedicated speakers if it’s going to do surround sound. While height is easy to replicate, sound is literally bounced off the ceiling. I’ve never heard sounds coming from behind me in a speaker that sits under the TV. Dedicated surrounds provide the best experience."

Subwoofers and surround sound

As Pendlebury explained, to achieve true surround sound or exemplary bass sound, you'll need dedicated equipment. Simply put, you'll need multiple speakers. If you want true surround sound, you'll want to take that into account when determining where your budget may sit for a soundbar. For instance, even though our upgrade pick, the Sonos Arc Ultra, provides excellent sound designed to be immersive, it can't achieve the same surround sound that it would without dedicated speakers to help it out.

SEE ALSO: Razer BlackShark V2 Pro review: The best gaming headset I've ever used

The same goes for subwoofers — a soundbar on its own can have great bass playback, but the best way to achieve the home theater experience is to get a subwoofer. While none of our picks below have one included, they all have compatible ones available for additional purchase. That said, our alternative budget pick, the Vizio 2.1 soundbar, does come with a six-inch subwoofer and two wired satellite speakers.

Connection types

As mentioned above, most soundbars these days offer HDMI connections, making it incredibly easy to get your setup going. However, you might prefer to also have Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity. As with many other device types, Bluetooth offers a simple way for you to connect to a soundbar and stream audio from devices like your phone, but as Pendlebury explains, WiFi offers a distinct benefit "as it means you can stream Spotify, for example, without running your battery down -- like you would with Bluetooth." 

Smart features

Smart features, like voice assistance integration, are also relatively commonplace these days (see: our Bose pick literally having smart in the name). Still, the execution isn't all the same. While even the most budget-friendly picks can work with AirPlay, more mid-range options may give you flexibility on how your soundbar is integrated into your smart home, and even, as with the Sonos Arc Ultra, can be used independently as smart speakers, even when the TV isn't on.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

We also want to note that soundbars exist for computer setups, but for the purposes of this guide, we chose our top picks based on TV selections. (If you're looking for some audio options for your computer, you can check out our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers).

Categories: IT General, Technology

Our 5 favorite expert-tested soundbars to upgrade your TV setup

Mashable - Wed, 07/09/2025 - 16:39

Building a home entertainment system that checks all the boxes takes time. Likely, if you're reading this, you've found the right TV for you, set up smart lights for ambiance, and now, you're ready for the next step: investing in a soundbar.

A good soundbar can make watching a movie in your living room feel more, for lack of a better word, cinematic. If you're feeling lost reading about Dolby Atmos and the pros and cons of a subwoofer, you can save yourself a lot of time by seeing what the experts have to say. Not only have Mashable tech reporters tested some of the top soundbars from brands like Samsung, Sonos, and Bose, but we've also consulted a bevy of experts.

Ty Pendlebury tests and researches TVs and home entertainment tech for CNET, a sister site of Mashable also owned by Ziff Davis. He's been testing audio-visual equipment, including soundbars, for over 20 years.

"I reckon I’ve reviewed over 100 soundbars in my time," Pendlebury wrote to Mashable.

When creating CNET's guide for the best soundbars, he tested soundbars in the CNET AV Lab, using several different types of media including movies, music, and games, to determine which soundbars sound the best.

Below, we've combined Pendlebury's testing results and expertise alongside Mashable's most recent soundbar reviews to select five of our top picks for the best soundbars. And as a bonus, almost all of these soundbars are on sale during Prime Day, which runs through July 11.

Is it worth getting a soundbar?

Built-in TV speakers are typically located at the back of the TV, pointing down, which isn't the best position for optimal sound quality. At the most basic level, soundbars fix the issue by directing the sound outward toward the room.

So what does that fix cost? Soundbars can run anywhere from as low as $75 to easily over $1,500. Obviously, that's a wide range, but most of the selections in Pendlebury's guide, and the soundbars we've tested at Mashable in past years, fall in the the $200 to $700 range. To simplify your search, we'll be pulling picks that sit roughly in the low, middle, and high points of that range.

Best soundbar for most people Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Smart Soundbar $499 at Amazon
Shop Now Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Bose Smart Soundbar.

The Bose Smart Soundbar isn't the cheapest option out there, but for folks who want more than the bare minimum features, it's a great option with powerful sound that doesn't demand a ton of space on your media console. "For most users, I think this soundbar hits the sweet spot in terms of features, sound, and value for the dollar," wrote Mashable contributor Timothy Beck Werth in his review of the soundbar.

Beck Werth tested the soundbar with TV shows, music, and movies, and found that the Bose soundbar offered a far superior experience than the built-in speakers on his TV. The bass sounded pronounced without losing clarity, while everything from music to F1 races sounded balanced. Perhaps best of all, Beck Werth reported, "For TV shows, I was able to turn off closed captions for all but the most accent-heavy shows." Bose's AI Dialogue Assist feature also helped clarify vocals even more, offering hope to anyone who's become a little more reliant than they would like on closed captions.

SEE ALSO: The Bose QuietComfort earbuds are a decent budget option from the premium brand

This performance is thanks to the five different transducers (including two that point upwards to bounce sound off the ceiling) and central tweeter. Again, if you're looking for more than the bare minimum, you'll find that in the inclusion of Dolby Atmos, which Beck Werth said made the sound quality "really [sing]," where it was available. While there's a lot to praise, it is worth noting this soundbar doesn't come with a subwoofer, but you can connect your own or purchase one down the line, giving it some solid upgrade potential.

As for your connection options, this mid-range pick offers plenty, with connectivity available through HDMI, WiFi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, and Spotify Connect. And as it's a smart speaker, it also works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

The previous generation of this soundbar, the Bose Smart Soundbar 600, is CNET's top pick for the best compact Dolby Atmos soundbar. As it was phased out last fall with the release of this soundbar, we recommend opting for the newer version, which is easier to find in stock.

Best budget pick Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Streambar $129.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Why we like it

Check out CNET's full review of the Roku Streambar.

The Roku Streambar is CNET's top pick overall for the best soundbar (and an Editors' Choice award recipient), but despite the accolades, it's available at an incredibly budget-friendly price. If you're shopping for your first soundbar or simply looking to upgrade your sound system while spending less than $150, the Roku Streambar is your best bet.

Alongside an upgraded sound system, opting for this soundbar will give you access to the 4K Roku streaming interface, giving you an easy way to watch all your favorite streaming services, from Netflix and YouTube to Disney+ and Hulu. The included remote makes navigating the Roku interface especially easy, and it can work to turn your TV on and off.

While combo products often mean that something is sacrificed in the process, Pendlebury called the Roku Streambar the answer "if you want to be able to hear your TV better, particularly vocals, and also enhance its streaming capabilities," especially if you don't already have a streaming device in your setup. (If you do already own a streaming device, the Vizio 2.1 soundbar is another great option that clocks in under $200 and comes with a subwoofer).

The four internal speakers may not offer absolute top-of-the-line sound (the bass could be better on this soundbar), but you'll find that it offers a noticeable boost to the quality and depth of the sound from your TV, especially with dialogue. The Streambar's compact size (it clocks in at 14-inches wide) means that while it can't compete with soundbars that simply have the space to create a fuller sound, it's not a bad trade off for folks who are short on real estate for speakers in their TV setup. Plus, if you decide you want to upgrade the sound profile, you can purchase a Roku subwoofer for $130 (and still be spending nearly $250 less than you would on the also subwoofer-less Bose Smart Soundbar).

Alongside the HDMI connection that works with your TV's HDMI ARC or Optical outputs, the Roku Streambar is also compatible with Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, Google Home, Alexa, and of course, Roku Smart Home.

Best for Sonos households Sonos Beam Gen 2 Dolby Atmos Soundbar $499 at Best Buy
Get Deal Why we like it

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 has been on the market for a while, and when it goes on sale (like it does for Prime Day), it offers impressive value for the money. For customers who are already in the Sonos smart home ecosystem, it's an easy and affordable way to give your TV setup an instant boost. The Beam is incredibly easy to set up, and because it can sync with your other Sonos products, it's easy to build a genuine home theater surround sound system.

While it will make movies and TV shows pop, you can also use this soundbar for streaming music, one of the most underrated perks of having a TV soundbar in your living room.

In CNET's guide to the top soundbars, Pendlebury noted that the more affordable Sony HT-S2000 offered stronger bass; however, on balance, we'd still recommend the Beam for Sonos fans in particular.

Best upgrade pick Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Arc Ultra $999 at Amazon
Shop Now Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Sonos Arc Ultra.

We know — this soundbar sits firmly on the high end of the price spectrum, but we wouldn't be including it if we didn't think it was worth the price. The Sonos Arc Ultra is a true upgrade pick, offering some of the highest-quality sound for under $1,000 you can get. As Mashable contributor Timothy Beck Werth put it in his review: "While a single soundbar can't compete with the booming speakers you'll hear in a movie theater, this speaker gave me the closest match to that experience I've ever had in my living room."

The Arc Ultra achieves that feat through its impressive hardware, which includes 14 drivers and 15 Class-D digital amplifiers. Of course, it also comes equipped with Dolby Atmos and the brand's Sound Motion technology. All of this comes packed in a package much bigger — and much more sleek looking — than something like the Roku soundbar, meaning that you'll want to make sure you have space cleared on your media console. The result is that even without a subwoofer or any peripheral speakers, Beck Werth said he could "feel the bass in my chest. It really felt like sandworms were exploding out of the desert all around me," as he watched Dune.

SEE ALSO: How to watch 'Dune: Part Two' at home: Where is it streaming?

This is the level of sound quality you'd expect from a soundbar that's twice the price of our top pick for most people and nearly eight times the price of our budget pick. But naturally, that's not where our praise for it stops. Despite delivering top-of-the-line performance, it's incredibly easy to use, plugging and playing via HDMI just as well as our less expensive picks. With "a single tap on my phone screen," Beck Werth was able to sync the soundbar to his TV and remote, with the Sonos app helping him connect Spotify, Amazon Music, and Alexa with just a bit more effort.

Beyond the initial setup, the Sonos app can also be used to activate Trueplay, which helps you get the absolute most out of your speaker by adjusting the audio based on the layout and acoustics of the room the speaker is in, so you don't have to fiddle endlessly with audio settings. And when your TV is off, you can use the Arc Ultra as a smart speaker via voice control. But if you'd rather not have the mic on 24/7, Sonos also included an option to toggle that off.

So what's the catch? Obviously, you're paying for what you get, but beyond that, we really didn't have many issues with the Arc Ultra. The last thing we can stipulate is that even for as good as it sounds, it won't replace a setup with dedicated speakers and subwoofers to create true surround sound, but that's less a knock against Sonos and more a reality of any audio setup.

Best for Samsung TVs Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung HW-Q990C 11.1.4ch Soundbar $710.40 at Amazon
$899 Save $188.60 Get Deal Why we like it

If you don't want to build a home audio system from the floor up — and especially if you have a Samsung TV — then we recommend a premium Samsung soundbar like this. While this particular soundbar didn't make Pendlebury's list, we think Samsung fans will appreciate this audio system's balance of features. The soundbar itself contains 11 front-facing speakers and a built-in subwoofer; however, it also comes with two additional rear speakers for even richer, fuller sound.

And if you have a Samsung TV, you can take advantage of the company's Q-Symphony feature, which ensures your TV and your soundbar sync perfectly. Even if you don't, this soundbar can be calibrated to your living room or home theater, ensuring it fills every nook and cranny in your space with booming yet balanced sound. Naturally, it has Dolby Audio features as well.

The main downside here is the price tag. However, for a premium audio experience, you'll need to plan on paying at least $500 for a soundbar. Unfortunately, that's just the price of admission.

How to choose a soundbar

Beyond price, soundbars have a few more features worth considering, but that doesn't mean the buying process requires you to be versed in a ton of tech terminology. In fact, Pendlebury told Mashable, "Thankfully, buying a soundbar is a lot easier now than it used to be," due in large part to most having an HDMI connection, which allows for the easiest plug-and-play experience with your TV.

Along with connections, here are a few more features you'll see highlighted with soundbars on the market these days:

Dolby Atmos

Dolby Atmos is essentially the name of a type of spatial audio designed to deliver a three-dimensional audio experience. To clear up a couple of misconceptions off the bat: In the same way not all headphones with active noise cancellation perform equally, not all soundbars with Dolby Atmos will give the same sound performance across the board.

Our upgrade pick, the Sonos Arc Ultra, comes with Dolby Atmos. Credit: Sonos

Perhaps even more important to note is that while Dolby Atmos offers a more immersive sound, it's not exactly the same experience as getting true surround sound. "The biggest misnomer about soundbars right now is that if it has a Dolby Atmos sticker, it can do surround sound, especially if the soundbar is only $200," Pendlebury explained. "It needs dedicated speakers if it’s going to do surround sound. While height is easy to replicate, sound is literally bounced off the ceiling. I’ve never heard sounds coming from behind me in a speaker that sits under the TV. Dedicated surrounds provide the best experience."

Subwoofers and surround sound

As Pendlebury explained, to achieve true surround sound or exemplary bass sound, you'll need dedicated equipment. Simply put, you'll need multiple speakers. If you want true surround sound, you'll want to take that into account when determining where your budget may sit for a soundbar. For instance, even though our upgrade pick, the Sonos Arc Ultra, provides excellent sound designed to be immersive, it can't achieve the same surround sound that it would without dedicated speakers to help it out.

SEE ALSO: Razer BlackShark V2 Pro review: The best gaming headset I've ever used

The same goes for subwoofers — a soundbar on its own can have great bass playback, but the best way to achieve the home theater experience is to get a subwoofer. While none of our picks below have one included, they all have compatible ones available for additional purchase. That said, our alternative budget pick, the Vizio 2.1 soundbar, does come with a six-inch subwoofer and two wired satellite speakers.

Connection types

As mentioned above, most soundbars these days offer HDMI connections, making it incredibly easy to get your setup going. However, you might prefer to also have Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity. As with many other device types, Bluetooth offers a simple way for you to connect to a soundbar and stream audio from devices like your phone, but as Pendlebury explains, WiFi offers a distinct benefit "as it means you can stream Spotify, for example, without running your battery down -- like you would with Bluetooth." 

Smart features

Smart features, like voice assistance integration, are also relatively commonplace these days (see: our Bose pick literally having smart in the name). Still, the execution isn't all the same. While even the most budget-friendly picks can work with AirPlay, more mid-range options may give you flexibility on how your soundbar is integrated into your smart home, and even, as with the Sonos Arc Ultra, can be used independently as smart speakers, even when the TV isn't on.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

We also want to note that soundbars exist for computer setups, but for the purposes of this guide, we chose our top picks based on TV selections. (If you're looking for some audio options for your computer, you can check out our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers).

Categories: IT General, Technology

I used to air fry for a living and my favorite one is just $65 for Prime Day

Mashable - Wed, 07/09/2025 - 16:38

TL;DR: The Instant Pot Vortex Plus four-quart air fryer is 50% off for Prime Day, priced at $64.99. It's a reliable, easy-to-clean air fryer.

Opens in a new window Credit: Instant Pot Instant Pot Vortex Plus 4QT Air Fryer $64.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $65.00 Get Deal

For a few years, I air-fried food for a living. Well, at least as part of my job.

I wrote and hosted a video series for Mashable called AirFryDay, which involved filming a new recipe at least once per week. This was during peak air fryer mania, right after the COVID pandemic hit. I used a number of different air fryers in the series and, during that process, learned what really makes a good air fryer, well, good.

SEE ALSO: The best Prime Day deals on air fryers — we recommend checking out Instant Pot and Ninja

And right now, my favorite air fryer, the Instant Pot Vortex Plus, is 50% off for Amazon's 2025 Prime Day. The four-quart version of the air fryer is priced at just $64.99. This is the model I still use at home, and I really like it for a few reasons. First, it has an open basket, rather than a tray, which I find more convenient. Second, it cooks food quickly and evenly. Third, it's tremendously easy to clean.

And at just $64.99, it's priced close to its lowest figure ever.

In addition to being my personal air fryer of choice, the Vortex Plus is also a best-seller on Amazon, where it's been named an "Amazon's Choice" product.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I used to air fry for a living and my favorite one is just $65 for Prime Day

Mashable - Wed, 07/09/2025 - 16:38

TL;DR: The Instant Pot Vortex Plus four-quart air fryer is 50% off for Prime Day, priced at $64.99. It's a reliable, easy-to-clean air fryer.

Opens in a new window Credit: Instant Pot Instant Pot Vortex Plus 4QT Air Fryer $64.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $65.00 Get Deal

For a few years, I air-fried food for a living. Well, at least as part of my job.

I wrote and hosted a video series for Mashable called AirFryDay, which involved filming a new recipe at least once per week. This was during peak air fryer mania, right after the COVID pandemic hit. I used a number of different air fryers in the series and, during that process, learned what really makes a good air fryer, well, good.

SEE ALSO: The best Prime Day deals on air fryers — we recommend checking out Instant Pot and Ninja

And right now, my favorite air fryer, the Instant Pot Vortex Plus, is 50% off for Amazon's 2025 Prime Day. The four-quart version of the air fryer is priced at just $64.99. This is the model I still use at home, and I really like it for a few reasons. First, it has an open basket, rather than a tray, which I find more convenient. Second, it cooks food quickly and evenly. Third, it's tremendously easy to clean.

And at just $64.99, it's priced close to its lowest figure ever.

In addition to being my personal air fryer of choice, the Vortex Plus is also a best-seller on Amazon, where it's been named an "Amazon's Choice" product.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I found all the best Prime Day deals on Lego sets: Shop Star Wars, Marvel, Disney, and more

Mashable - Wed, 07/09/2025 - 16:23
Best Prime Day Lego deals Best Lego deal Lego Classic Medium Creative Brick Box $15.29 (Save $19.70) Get Deal Best Lego deal for kids Lego Duplo Town F1 Team Race Cars and Drivers kit $35.99 (Save $9) Get Deal Best Lego splurge deal Lego Ideas Vincent Van Gogh 'The Starry Night' kit $146.99 (Save $23) Get Deal

Happy Prime Day to all who celebrate! It's officially on through July 11. If you're looking for a creative way to kill some time and beat the heat this summer, or a fun gift for practically anyone in your life (kids and adults), you really can't go wrong with a Lego set. There's something for everyone, from kits that help toddlers build critical thinking skills to gorgeous floral kits that double as decor. The best part is you don't have to pay full price right now. Here are a few of the great deals available for Prime Day.

SEE ALSO: 100+ deals are live on Prime Day — get record-low prices on Apple, Ninja, and Samsung

Make note that many Lego sets may seem like a good deal, but they've actually been sitting at the same "deal" price for five months or more. For example, this Lego Creator 3-in-1 Flowers in Watering Can set looks appealing at 20% off, but according to price-tracking site Camelcamelcamel, it's been chilling at $23.99 since last spring. On that note, we've only chosen Lego sets that are newly discounted — so you can be sure you're actually getting a good deal.

We're keeping a running list of the best Prime Day Lego deals below, and we'll update it with any new deals as they pop up.

Note: Deals with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price.

Best Prime Day Lego deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Classic Medium Creative Brick Box 🔥 $15.29 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $19.70 Get Deal Why we like it

If you prefer building with no agenda, the Classic Creative Brick Box is down to just $15.29 this Prime Day. There's no need to wait to pull the trigger — it's already at its best price ever. It includes 484 pieces, including bricks, windows, eyes, tires, wheel rims, and more, in 35 different colors, so you can build pretty much anything you can think up.

Best Prime Day Lego splurge deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Ideas: Vincent van Gogh 'The Starry Night' $146.99 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $23 Get Deal Why we like it

While it's not down to its lowest price ever, the Lego Ideas Vincent van Gogh "The Starry Night" building set is one of those Lego sets that rarely gets discounted. We're hoping to see the price drop even further, but at over $20 off, it's already a pretty solid deal for what you get: a 2,316-piece building set that constructs a 3D Lego wall art homage to one of the most beloved paintings. The set is a collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and really captures Van Gogh's colors and brushstrokes through creative building techniques. When you finish building, you'll have a gorgeous piece of art for your home — all for just under $150.

More Prime Day Lego deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is the cheapest new Samsung foldable

Mashable - Wed, 07/09/2025 - 16:00

Samsung's plan for this Samsung Unpacked event, it seems, is to reveal a foldable phone for everyone.

Case in point: The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, a cheaper variant of the Galaxy Z Flip 7.

The two phones share a similar, flip-phone design, and a number of specifications and features, but the key word here is price: While the regular Galaxy Z Flip 7 starts at $1,099.99, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE can be had for $899.99.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked liveblog: See the latest announcements

So what do you lose by going for the more affordable model? Both phones have a 6.9-inch AMOLED main display, but the FE has a slightly smaller, 3.4-inch display (compared to the Z Flip 7's 4.1-inch display. Both phones have a duo of 50/12-megapixel cameras on the back, plus a 10-megapixel selfie camera. The FE has a slightly less powerful chip inside, less RAM and storage, and a slightly smaller battery.

The differences aren't negligible, so potential buyers will have to weigh whether they'd rather have the more powerful version or save two hundred bucks.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: Specifications

Display: 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED main display + 3.4-inch Super AMOLED cover display

Chip: Exynos 2400

Cameras: 50/12-megapixel main camera, 10-megapixel selfie camera

Memory & Storage: 8GB of RAM, 128/256GB of storage

Battery: 4,000mAh

Software: Android 16, One UI 8

Colors: Black, White

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: How to pre-order

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is available for pre-order now at Samsung.com as well as carriers and retailers in the U.S. General availability starts on July 25, and pricing starts at $899.99. Colors on offer are Black and White.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is the cheapest new Samsung foldable

Mashable - Wed, 07/09/2025 - 16:00

Samsung's plan for this Samsung Unpacked event, it seems, is to reveal a foldable phone for everyone.

Case in point: The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, a cheaper variant of the Galaxy Z Flip 7.

The two phones share a similar, flip-phone design, and a number of specifications and features, but the key word here is price: While the regular Galaxy Z Flip 7 starts at $1,099.99, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE can be had for $899.99.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked liveblog: See the latest announcements

So what do you lose by going for the more affordable model? Both phones have a 6.9-inch AMOLED main display, but the FE has a slightly smaller, 3.4-inch display (compared to the Z Flip 7's 4.1-inch display. Both phones have a duo of 50/12-megapixel cameras on the back, plus a 10-megapixel selfie camera. The FE has a slightly less powerful chip inside, less RAM and storage, and a slightly smaller battery.

The differences aren't negligible, so potential buyers will have to weigh whether they'd rather have the more powerful version or save two hundred bucks.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: Specifications

Display: 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED main display + 3.4-inch Super AMOLED cover display

Chip: Exynos 2400

Cameras: 50/12-megapixel main camera, 10-megapixel selfie camera

Memory & Storage: 8GB of RAM, 128/256GB of storage

Battery: 4,000mAh

Software: Android 16, One UI 8

Colors: Black, White

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: How to pre-order

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is available for pre-order now at Samsung.com as well as carriers and retailers in the U.S. General availability starts on July 25, and pricing starts at $899.99. Colors on offer are Black and White.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 gets an Ultra-like design. See price, specs, preorder details

Mashable - Wed, 07/09/2025 - 16:00

Samsung just made its Galaxy Watch 8 series more...Ultra.

On Wednesday, at its Samsung Unpacked event, the company announced two new watches: The Galaxy Watch 8, and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.

The biggest change is one that's also immediately recognizable: The Galaxy Watch 8 now has a squircle design, with a circular dial placed on a square-ish case. That's right, it's very similar to the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra; Samsung obviously liked the design and decided to make it a bit more mainstream.

You'd expect Samsung to make the Classic variant a bit more...classic in terms of design, but the company opted to make it quite similar to the Watch 8 and the Ultra. In other words, if you don't like the squircle design, tough luck.

Samsung says the Galaxy Watch 8 is the thinnest, and most comfortable watch in its lineup yet. Other highlights include brightness of up to 3,000 nits, and the new Exynos W1000 chip powering both the Watch 8 and the Watch 8 Classic.

In terms of features, highlights include Bedtime Guidance, which measures your circadian rhythm and tells you when is the optimal time to go to sleep, Vascular Load, which monitors the stress levels on your vascular system during sleep, and Antioxidant Index, which measures your carotenoid levels.

As fas as AI smarts goes, all the Galaxy Watch 8 devices come preloaded with Google's Wear OS 6 and Gemini, meaning you can ask Google's AI assistant to find you a nearby restaurant or tell it to start a specific workout.

Besides these new models, Samsung also made a small update to its Galaxy Watch Ultra, which now comes with 64GB of storage memory.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic: Specifications

  • Dimensions: Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: 40/44mm, Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: 46mm

  • Display size: Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: 1.34/1.47 inches, Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: 1.34 inches

  • Chip: All models: 5-core Exynos W1000

  • Memory and storage: Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: 2GB memory, 32GB storage, Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: 2GB memory, 64GB storage

  • Battery: Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: 325/435mAh, Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: 445mAh

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic: How to pre-order

Both new models, as well as the slightly updated Galaxy Watch Ultra, are available for pre-order starting today at carriers and retailers in the U.S. General availability starts on July 25.

Pricing starts at $349.99 for the Bluetooth version of the Galaxy Watch 8 (that's $399.99 for the LTE model), $499.99 for the Bluetooth version of the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic ($549.99 for the LTE model). The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra starts at $649.99.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 gets an Ultra-like design. See price, specs, preorder details

Mashable - Wed, 07/09/2025 - 16:00

Samsung just made its Galaxy Watch 8 series more...Ultra.

On Wednesday, at its Samsung Unpacked event, the company announced two new watches: The Galaxy Watch 8, and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.

The biggest change is one that's also immediately recognizable: The Galaxy Watch 8 now has a squircle design, with a circular dial placed on a square-ish case. That's right, it's very similar to the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra; Samsung obviously liked the design and decided to make it a bit more mainstream.

You'd expect Samsung to make the Classic variant a bit more...classic in terms of design, but the company opted to make it quite similar to the Watch 8 and the Ultra. In other words, if you don't like the squircle design, tough luck.

Samsung says the Galaxy Watch 8 is the thinnest, and most comfortable watch in its lineup yet. Other highlights include brightness of up to 3,000 nits, and the new Exynos W1000 chip powering both the Watch 8 and the Watch 8 Classic.

In terms of features, highlights include Bedtime Guidance, which measures your circadian rhythm and tells you when is the optimal time to go to sleep, Vascular Load, which monitors the stress levels on your vascular system during sleep, and Antioxidant Index, which measures your carotenoid levels.

As fas as AI smarts goes, all the Galaxy Watch 8 devices come preloaded with Google's Wear OS 6 and Gemini, meaning you can ask Google's AI assistant to find you a nearby restaurant or tell it to start a specific workout.

Besides these new models, Samsung also made a small update to its Galaxy Watch Ultra, which now comes with 64GB of storage memory.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic: Specifications

  • Dimensions: Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: 40/44mm, Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: 46mm

  • Display size: Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: 1.34/1.47 inches, Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: 1.34 inches

  • Chip: All models: 5-core Exynos W1000

  • Memory and storage: Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: 2GB memory, 32GB storage, Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: 2GB memory, 64GB storage

  • Battery: Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: 325/435mAh, Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: 445mAh

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic: How to pre-order

Both new models, as well as the slightly updated Galaxy Watch Ultra, are available for pre-order starting today at carriers and retailers in the U.S. General availability starts on July 25.

Pricing starts at $349.99 for the Bluetooth version of the Galaxy Watch 8 (that's $399.99 for the LTE model), $499.99 for the Bluetooth version of the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic ($549.99 for the LTE model). The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra starts at $649.99.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked: Every phone announced, including Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7

Mashable - Wed, 07/09/2025 - 16:00

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked has come and gone, and with it Samsung has raised the temperature in the room considerably with all new designs and refreshes of its foldable lineup.

Unveiling the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, and the new budget-friendly Z Flip 7 FE, Samsung implemented a lot of needed changes to its lineup, spurred on by its competitors Motorola and Google. Samsung is once again pushing at the boundaries of what's possible with these form factors. Significant changes signal a major shift in philosophy moving forward — "playing it safe" is no longer on the menu.

That's huge because there's one company who may yet enter the foldables space — Apple, and it's going to have a lot to contend with once it finally does. In the meantime, here's what Samsung just launched, how it compares to last year's models, and what it means for the industry as a whole.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Size, colors, price, preorder details

Samsung's latest Z Fold 7 is a huge leap forward in design. The company shaved off almost a third of the Z Fold 6's thickness, slimming down the Z Fold 7 to just 8.9mm. For context, that's only .7 mm thicker than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which by the way doesn't fold at all. That's also .65 mm thicker than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. On top of that, at 215 grams, the Z Fold 7 weighs less than the iPhone 16 Pro Max's 227 grams.

When you open the phone, the chassis is just a hair's breadth thicker than the USB-C port it needs for charging and data transfer. Inside, the phone sports an eight-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen, which is the largest available today, and really takes advantage of Samsung's multi-tasking chops. You can have side-by-side windows, floating windows, and use Gemini Live on the inside screen to give it more context to what you're discussing. 

The phone has five cameras throughout. The main camera is the same 200-megapixel sensor as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge — in fact the entire backplate is evocative of the S25 Edge. It's joined by the same 12-megapixel ultrawide camera with autofocus and a 10-megapixel 3x telephoto lens.  The selfie cameras are both 10-megapixel shooters, but the one on the inside has a 100-degree field of view which will make it easier to keep a subject in the frame. That is certainly something I can see Apple doing as well, considering it already has its Center Stage feature to do just that.

Samsung also packs its foldable with the same 4,400 mAh battery pack as last year, which sounds disappointing until you remember how crazy-thin this phone is. All the same, the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor on the inside should make the phone efficient enough to stay alive longer.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 will be available for preorder today and launch for general availability on July 25. It will come in Blue Shadow, Silver Shadow, Jet Black, and Mint colorways (the latter exclusive to Samsung.com orders) and start at 1,999.99.

Samsung Galaxy Flip 7 and Flip 7 FE: Size, colors, price, preorder details

The other half of this equation is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7. The halo feature of this new foldable is the Flex screen, which is what Samsung calls the cover screen. Now the screen takes up the entire front of the phone, interrupted by its two cameras (which we will discuss in a moment). The cover screen is 4.1 inches in size; that's 0.1 inches larger than the Moto Razr Ultra's cover screen.

Samsung is still curating the experience on that cover screen, limiting interactions to widgets and the five apps it has deemed will work well on it. Those include Netflix, Youtube, Google Maps, Google Messages, and Samsung Messages. Previously, you had to download and install two apps and go through about 20 steps to get other apps to work on the cover screen. Samsung also streamlined that process, which is good.

Credit: Adam Doud

The cameras on the flip include a 50-megapixel main camera along with a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. You can zoom in and out and even access filters from the cover screen without opening the phone.

New to the Flip series is Gemini Live on the cover screen, allowing us to have a conversation with our phone, and Samsung Dex. Samsung's Windows-style interface is a great way to work with the content on your phone in a familiar windowed environment.

Powering the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 will be Samsung's Exynos 2500 processor which is not ideal. Exynos processors have typically powered overseas models of the Flip, with Qualcomm's flagship processor residing in U.S. models. That is no longer the case, and that's not amazing since Exynos processors often don't compare favorably to Snapdragon processors. Time will tell on this. 

Also coming to the Flip series is the first flip to bear the "FE" moniker. This is meant to be a more accessible foldable for those who are interested in the category but balk at four-digit price tags. The Flip 7 FE will have the same cover screen as the Flip5 and Flip6 and an Exynos 2400 processor inside. It will have the same 50-megapixel camera which is a nice bonus.

The Flip 7 will be available for preorder today and ship on July 25. It will come in Blue Shadow, Jet Black, Coral Red and Mint (the latter available as an exclusive Samsung.com colorway). It will start at 1099.99. The Flip 7 FE will preorder and ship on the same dates and start at 899.99. It will be available in black or white.

Overall, this is a very positive step forward for the Samsung foldable lineup. Both of these phones are significant improvements over the previous generation. It moves the entire conversation forward which is bad news for a company like Apple that hasn't even entered the space yet.

Typically, Apple waits until a concept is a proven commodity and then it improves it and makes it a superior feature to what's out there. In this case, I'm not sure how Apple can plus up it's own offerings to make it a clearly superior product. It's already pretty amazing, and Samsung is setting a very high bar with this release. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked: Every phone announced, including Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7

Mashable - Wed, 07/09/2025 - 16:00

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked has come and gone, and with it Samsung has raised the temperature in the room considerably with all new designs and refreshes of its foldable lineup.

Unveiling the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, and the new budget-friendly Z Flip 7 FE, Samsung implemented a lot of needed changes to its lineup, spurred on by its competitors Motorola and Google. Samsung is once again pushing at the boundaries of what's possible with these form factors. Significant changes signal a major shift in philosophy moving forward — "playing it safe" is no longer on the menu.

That's huge because there's one company who may yet enter the foldables space — Apple, and it's going to have a lot to contend with once it finally does. In the meantime, here's what Samsung just launched, how it compares to last year's models, and what it means for the industry as a whole.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Size, colors, price, preorder details

Samsung's latest Z Fold 7 is a huge leap forward in design. The company shaved off almost a third of the Z Fold 6's thickness, slimming down the Z Fold 7 to just 8.9mm. For context, that's only .7 mm thicker than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which by the way doesn't fold at all. That's also .65 mm thicker than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. On top of that, at 215 grams, the Z Fold 7 weighs less than the iPhone 16 Pro Max's 227 grams.

When you open the phone, the chassis is just a hair's breadth thicker than the USB-C port it needs for charging and data transfer. Inside, the phone sports an eight-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen, which is the largest available today, and really takes advantage of Samsung's multi-tasking chops. You can have side-by-side windows, floating windows, and use Gemini Live on the inside screen to give it more context to what you're discussing. 

The phone has five cameras throughout. The main camera is the same 200-megapixel sensor as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge — in fact the entire backplate is evocative of the S25 Edge. It's joined by the same 12-megapixel ultrawide camera with autofocus and a 10-megapixel 3x telephoto lens.  The selfie cameras are both 10-megapixel shooters, but the one on the inside has a 100-degree field of view which will make it easier to keep a subject in the frame. That is certainly something I can see Apple doing as well, considering it already has its Center Stage feature to do just that.

Samsung also packs its foldable with the same 4,400 mAh battery pack as last year, which sounds disappointing until you remember how crazy-thin this phone is. All the same, the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor on the inside should make the phone efficient enough to stay alive longer.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 will be available for preorder today and launch for general availability on July 25. It will come in Blue Shadow, Silver Shadow, Jet Black, and Mint colorways (the latter exclusive to Samsung.com orders) and start at 1,999.99.

Samsung Galaxy Flip 7 and Flip 7 FE: Size, colors, price, preorder details

The other half of this equation is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7. The halo feature of this new foldable is the Flex screen, which is what Samsung calls the cover screen. Now the screen takes up the entire front of the phone, interrupted by its two cameras (which we will discuss in a moment). The cover screen is 4.1 inches in size; that's 0.1 inches larger than the Moto Razr Ultra's cover screen.

Samsung is still curating the experience on that cover screen, limiting interactions to widgets and the five apps it has deemed will work well on it. Those include Netflix, Youtube, Google Maps, Google Messages, and Samsung Messages. Previously, you had to download and install two apps and go through about 20 steps to get other apps to work on the cover screen. Samsung also streamlined that process, which is good.

Credit: Adam Doud

The cameras on the flip include a 50-megapixel main camera along with a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. You can zoom in and out and even access filters from the cover screen without opening the phone.

New to the Flip series is Gemini Live on the cover screen, allowing us to have a conversation with our phone, and Samsung Dex. Samsung's Windows-style interface is a great way to work with the content on your phone in a familiar windowed environment.

Powering the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 will be Samsung's Exynos 2500 processor which is not ideal. Exynos processors have typically powered overseas models of the Flip, with Qualcomm's flagship processor residing in U.S. models. That is no longer the case, and that's not amazing since Exynos processors often don't compare favorably to Snapdragon processors. Time will tell on this. 

Also coming to the Flip series is the first flip to bear the "FE" moniker. This is meant to be a more accessible foldable for those who are interested in the category but balk at four-digit price tags. The Flip 7 FE will have the same cover screen as the Flip5 and Flip6 and an Exynos 2400 processor inside. It will have the same 50-megapixel camera which is a nice bonus.

The Flip 7 will be available for preorder today and ship on July 25. It will come in Blue Shadow, Jet Black, Coral Red and Mint (the latter available as an exclusive Samsung.com colorway). It will start at 1099.99. The Flip 7 FE will preorder and ship on the same dates and start at 899.99. It will be available in black or white.

Overall, this is a very positive step forward for the Samsung foldable lineup. Both of these phones are significant improvements over the previous generation. It moves the entire conversation forward which is bad news for a company like Apple that hasn't even entered the space yet.

Typically, Apple waits until a concept is a proven commodity and then it improves it and makes it a superior feature to what's out there. In this case, I'm not sure how Apple can plus up it's own offerings to make it a clearly superior product. It's already pretty amazing, and Samsung is setting a very high bar with this release. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 brings a much-improved cover display

Mashable - Wed, 07/09/2025 - 16:00

Samsung's smaller foldable got a big upgrade this year.

The Korean tech giant finally unveiled the long-rumored Galaxy Z Flip 7 on Wednesday morning during its latest Unpacked livestream.

Like the last six models, it's a clamshell-style foldable with a flagship phone-sized unfolded inner display, and a smaller exterior display that can provide useful information without asking you to unfold the phone.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S26 leak reveals potential camera upgrades Those are big cover screens. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable Samsung Z Flip 7 specs, price, and preorder details

Here are the other relevant specs:

  • 6.9-inch AMOLED main display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

  • 4.1-inch Super AMOLED cover display with 120Hz refresh rate

  • Exynos2500 processor

  • 12GB RAM

  • 256GB/512GB storage

  • Rear cameras: 50MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide

  • Selfie camera: 10MP

  • 4,300mAh battery

The biggest year-over-year improvement from the Z Flip 6 will undoubtedly be the new exterior cover display, which is much bigger than before and goes from edge-to-edge for the first time. It's also got a new 120Hz refresh rate and the ability to interface with AI features like Gemini Live and Samsung's Now Brief, both of which can be used without opening up the phone now. You can also use the camera to show things to the onboard AI, in case you want fashion advice from a large language model or something like that.

It starts at $1,099 and comes in three colors: Jet-black, blue shadow, and coral red. It'll be released on July 25, and you can preorder the phone now at Samsung.com.

The Z Flip 7 certainly makes a good first impression. We'll have a full review on the site in the near future.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 brings a much-improved cover display

Mashable - Wed, 07/09/2025 - 16:00

Samsung's smaller foldable got a big upgrade this year.

The Korean tech giant finally unveiled the long-rumored Galaxy Z Flip 7 on Wednesday morning during its latest Unpacked livestream.

Like the last six models, it's a clamshell-style foldable with a flagship phone-sized unfolded inner display, and a smaller exterior display that can provide useful information without asking you to unfold the phone.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S26 leak reveals potential camera upgrades Those are big cover screens. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable Samsung Z Flip 7 specs, price, and preorder details

Here are the other relevant specs:

  • 6.9-inch AMOLED main display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

  • 4.1-inch Super AMOLED cover display with 120Hz refresh rate

  • Exynos2500 processor

  • 12GB RAM

  • 256GB/512GB storage

  • Rear cameras: 50MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide

  • Selfie camera: 10MP

  • 4,300mAh battery

The biggest year-over-year improvement from the Z Flip 6 will undoubtedly be the new exterior cover display, which is much bigger than before and goes from edge-to-edge for the first time. It's also got a new 120Hz refresh rate and the ability to interface with AI features like Gemini Live and Samsung's Now Brief, both of which can be used without opening up the phone now. You can also use the camera to show things to the onboard AI, in case you want fashion advice from a large language model or something like that.

It starts at $1,099 and comes in three colors: Jet-black, blue shadow, and coral red. It'll be released on July 25, and you can preorder the phone now at Samsung.com.

The Z Flip 7 certainly makes a good first impression. We'll have a full review on the site in the near future.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung announces the Galaxy Z Fold 7. See price, specs, preorder details.

Mashable - Wed, 07/09/2025 - 16:00

We can finally put all those rumors to rest: The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is real and it's here.

In its latest Galaxy Unpacked livestream on Wednesday morning, Samsung revealed its new flagship foldable. The Z Fold 7 looks remarkably thin, as Samsung promised it would. It's only 8.9mm thick when folded and a mere 4.2mm thick when unfolded, and it only weighs 215g on top of that, making it lighter than the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 specs

The camera array is worth talking about. Both the cover screen and main display selfie cams measure in at 10MP, but the one hidden underneath the main display actually has a wider 100-degree field of view, making it more adept at taking group selfies. Let's be real, though, the main selling point in the camera array is the new 200MP main shooter on the rear, a big upgrade from 50MP a year ago. It's joined by a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 10MP telephoto lens.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked: Every phone announced

Beyond that, Samsung is seemingly bringing all of the same AI features that were present in the Galaxy S phones released earlier this year to the foldables, but with some extra bonuses. For instance, you can edit photos side-by-side using the inner display when unfolded, or drag AI creations from one app to another in split-screen view. Gemini Live is also supported.

It's thinner than a pencil when unfolded. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Other important specs include:

  • 8-inch AMOLED main display with 2184x1968 resolution and 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

  • 6.5-inch cover display with a new 21:9 aspect ratio and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

  • Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset

  • 12GB/16GB RAM

  • 256GB/512GB/1TB storage

  • 4,400mAh battery

  • Three colors: Blue Shadow, Silver Shadow, Jet-black

SEE ALSO: 100+ Prime Day deals — get record-low prices on Apple, Ninja, and Samsung

Starting at $1,999, the Z Fold 7 will be released on July 25, and you can preorder the phone now at Samsung.com.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung announces the Galaxy Z Fold 7. See price, specs, preorder details.

Mashable - Wed, 07/09/2025 - 16:00

We can finally put all those rumors to rest: The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is real and it's here.

In its latest Galaxy Unpacked livestream on Wednesday morning, Samsung revealed its new flagship foldable. The Z Fold 7 looks remarkably thin, as Samsung promised it would. It's only 8.9mm thick when folded and a mere 4.2mm thick when unfolded, and it only weighs 215g on top of that, making it lighter than the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 specs

The camera array is worth talking about. Both the cover screen and main display selfie cams measure in at 10MP, but the one hidden underneath the main display actually has a wider 100-degree field of view, making it more adept at taking group selfies. Let's be real, though, the main selling point in the camera array is the new 200MP main shooter on the rear, a big upgrade from 50MP a year ago. It's joined by a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 10MP telephoto lens.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked: Every phone announced

Beyond that, Samsung is seemingly bringing all of the same AI features that were present in the Galaxy S phones released earlier this year to the foldables, but with some extra bonuses. For instance, you can edit photos side-by-side using the inner display when unfolded, or drag AI creations from one app to another in split-screen view. Gemini Live is also supported.

It's thinner than a pencil when unfolded. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Other important specs include:

  • 8-inch AMOLED main display with 2184x1968 resolution and 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

  • 6.5-inch cover display with a new 21:9 aspect ratio and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

  • Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset

  • 12GB/16GB RAM

  • 256GB/512GB/1TB storage

  • 4,400mAh battery

  • Three colors: Blue Shadow, Silver Shadow, Jet-black

SEE ALSO: 100+ Prime Day deals — get record-low prices on Apple, Ninja, and Samsung

Starting at $1,999, the Z Fold 7 will be released on July 25, and you can preorder the phone now at Samsung.com.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Somehow, Amazon Fire Tablets start at $54 for Prime Day

Mashable - Wed, 07/09/2025 - 15:59
The best Prime Day Fire tablet deals at a glance: Our top pick Amazon Fire HD 10 (32GB) $69.99 (save $70) Get Deal Best budget pick Amazon Fire HD 8 (32GB) $54.99 (save $45) Get Deal Best Fire Kids tablet deal for ages 3-7 Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids (32GB) $104.99 (save $85) Get Deal Best Fire Kids tablet deal for ages 6-12 Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (32GB) $64.99 (save $70) Get Deal Best Fire tablet bundle deal Amazon Fire Max 11 (64GB) Productivity Bundle $220.99 (save $135.98) Get Deal

It's a known fact that Amazon loves to discount its own devices during its Prime events. As such, it's no surprise that some of the best tablet deals of Prime Day 2025 are going to Amazon's Fire line. On the second day of the sale (live through Friday, July 11), we're seeing discounts of up to 56% off Fire tablets for the whole family, with prices starting at just $54.99. In fact, all but one model have fallen to record-low prices. Not too shabby, indeed.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day 2025: Live updates on the top deals

Below, Mashable's team of shopping experts has compiled a list of the best Prime Day Fire tablet deals that Amazon's mustered up. (You'll see any all-time lows marked with a 🔥.) Remember: These deep discounts are only for Team Prime, though trial members are eligible.

Best Fire tablet deal Amazon Fire HD 10 (32GB) 🔥 $69.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Amazon Fire HD 10.

The 10-inch Fire HD 10 is a Mashable Choice Award winner, earning high praise from our reviewer for its lightweight build, sharp display, "surprisingly decent" sound quality, long battery life, and 5MP selfie camera. It's "probably is a good purchase for most people on the market for an entertainment tablet," she wrote. That's especially true at its Prime Day price of just $69.99, which is half off its $139.99 MSRP — an unprecedented deal that beats its previous record low by $5.

If you need more storage — the base model comes with 32GB — the 64GB Fire HD 10 is on sale for $79.99 this week (normally $179.99). At 56% off, it has the biggest Prime Day discount out of all the Fire tablets.

More Fire tablet dealsFire Kids tablet deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Wednesday Season 2 trailer: Jenna Ortega must save Emma Myers in new gothic mystery

Mashable - Wed, 07/09/2025 - 15:48

Wednesday fans, I've got some good news and some bad news.

The good news? Netflix has released a new trailer for Season 2 of Tim Burton's Wednesday, which sees Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) return to Nevermore Academy as a full-fledged celebrity following her heroism at the end of Season 1. Her fellow students beg for her autograph (which she'll only sign in blood, obviously) and hang up fan art on her doorway. Even Nevermore's new principal, Barry Dort (Steve Buscemi), is a fan, labeling her the "savior of Nevermore."

SEE ALSO: 'Wednesday' Season 2 trailer is full of murder, mayhem, and a failed airport security check

The bad news? Wednesday's peppy roommate Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers) is going to die, and it's all Wednesday's fault.

At least, that's what Wednesday sees in a horrifying vision, accompanied by black tears that would really complement her look if they weren't teasing the death of her best friend.

Now, Wednesday finds herself in a race against time to save Enid and once again avert disaster at Nevermore. The rest of the trailer is characteristically creepy and kooky, teasing new monsters, new mysteries, and a lavish masquerade ball, all set to the organ-heavy banger "The Phantom of the Opera."

(Could that needle drop be a hint at a musical episode, or is that just wishful thinking? I mean, if you've got Lady Gaga as a guest star, what better place to put her?)

Season 1 of Wednesday was a smash hit, becoming Netflix's second most-streamed show of all time (behind Squid Game). It earned Emmy nominations for Best Comedy and for Best Actress in a Comedy for Ortega's performance. And of course, it went mega-viral thanks to Wednesday's now-iconic dance scene. Can Season 2 top those highs and give us some bold new moves to try out? We'll have to wait until Aug. to find out. (In the meantime, you can watch the first six minutes of Season 2.)

Wednesday Season 2 also stars Catherine Zeta-Jones, Joy Sunday, Luis Guzmán, Hunter Doohan, Billie Piper, Isaac Ordonez, Victor Dorobantu, Georgie Farmer, Moosa Mostafa, Evie Templeton, Owen Painter, Noah Taylor, and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo.

Wednesday Season 2 Part 1 premieres Aug. 6 on Netflix, with Part 2 premiering Sept. 3.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked live: See the debut of Samsungs next-gen Galaxy devices

Mashable - Wed, 07/09/2025 - 15:41

After a bit of a lull, we're back with some big tech announcements this week, courtesy of Samsung. That's right, it's time for the next Samsung Unpacked event.

The Korean tech giant is hosting a Samsung Galaxy Unpacked announcement event on Wednesday, July 9, at 10 a.m. ET. It's in Brooklyn this year, but for the vast majority of people reading this, the more pertinent piece of information is that you can watch it live from wherever you are. Just head to either Samsung's website or Samsung's YouTube channel on Wednesday morning, and you'll be good to go.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S26 leak reveals potential camera upgrades

As for what to expect from Unpacked this time around, the smart money is on foldable devices. Samsung has made a habit of refreshing its Z Flip and Z Fold lines around this time annually, and we're due for the Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7, assuming that's what they're called. In typical Samsung fashion, we've been getting a steady stream of leaks and rumors in recent weeks (more like a deluge of leaks).

There have also been persistent rumors of some kind of "ultra" foldable, but there's no guarantee that such a device will appear at this Unpacked. We may also hear more about wearables, such as a new Galaxy Watch or even Samsung's upcoming Project Moohan XR headset, but expect foldables to be the focus.

It's close, folks. Just be patient and you will be rewarded...assuming you really like foldable phones, anyway.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I Gave This Netgear Router a 9/10, and It's on Sale for Prime Day

How-To Geek - Wed, 07/09/2025 - 15:30

A few years ago, I reviewed a Netgear router with Wi-Fi 6E capabilities and gave it 9 stars out of 10, recommending it to just about anyone looking to upgrade. Now, for Prime Day, it's an eye-catching 50% off its MSRP.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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