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FREE SLURPEE: On Feb. 28, get a free small Slurpee at participating 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Stripes stores. Check participating locations here.

Opens in a new window Credit: 7-Eleven 7-Eleven: Free Slurpee on Feb. 28 Learn More

Every Friday in February, customers have had the opportunity to visit participating 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Stripes stores to get their hands on a small Slurpee for free. Go and check your calendar. This is your last call to drink for free.

You should check participating locations before you set off in search of your free Slurpee, but once you've confirmed that small detail, don't delay. This is almost definitely your last chance to get a free Slurpee until National Slurpee Day in July.

SEE ALSO: Domino’s is releasing a pepperoni perfume for Valentine’s Day. Here's how to get yours for free.

The only details to note are that each customer can get only one free small Slurpee each, and this free giveaway is only valid whilst supplies last. But there really isn't a catch here. This is one of those rare opportunities when customers can genuinely get something for nothing.

Make the most of this final chance to grab a Slurpee for free.

SAVE $100: As of Feb. 28, Bose QuietComfort headphones are on sale at Best Buy for $249. That's 28% off their list price of $349.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Wireless Headphones $249.00 at Best Buy
$349.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal

High-quality headphones often come with a hefty price tag. Thankfully, though, quite a few of these headphones receive some very nice discounts throughout the year so you can scoop them up while saving some cash. That's currently the case with the Bose QuietComfort headphones, which are down by $100 at Best Buy.

This has dropped their price from $349 to $249, which is a nice deal to take advantage of while it's still available. Not to mention, picking up these headphones also gets you YouTube Premium for free for three months if you're a new subscriber, so you can give them a test run on some exciting videos.

SEE ALSO: For gym rats and picky audiophiles alike, these are the 7 best headphones of 2025

If you've been looking to upgrade your current headphones, the Bose QuietComfort are worth every cent. Living up to their name, they boast a comfortable fit so you can listen to your favorite tunes, audiobooks, podcasts, and more for longer. And with excellent sound quality paired with noise-canceling technology, you'll be fully immersed in what you're listening to. You can even adjust the sound you're listening to through Adjustable EQ in the Bose app, making for a more personalized experience.

This deal may not stick around for long, so don't miss out on $100 off the Bose QuietComfort headphones at Best Buy.

There are quite a few more headphone deals floating around right now that are worth checking out. If you're an Apple user, you can score $50 off the AirPods Max (USB-C) at Best Buy. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones are also discounted there right now.

This modern-day space photo has it all.

There are currently three landers, on three different exploration missions, en route to the moon. One of them, Intuitive Machines' Athena, just looked back home, and captured more than just a glorious view of Earth. Also in the frame is the SpaceX rocket stage that helped propel the lander into space, along with three other payloads released by the rocket.

Another way of looking at this scene: It's a NASA-funded private moon lander released into orbit by a private company's workhorse rocket on a space rideshare with other companies. This is the modern space exploration paradigm.

"After liftoff on Feb. 26, Athena established a stable attitude, solar charging, and radio communications contact with our mission operations center in Houston," Intuitive Machines, which previously had a hard lunar touchdown in 2024, posted on X.

"The lander is in excellent health, sending selfies, and preparing for a series of planned main engine firings to refine her trajectory ahead of lunar orbit insertion, planned on March 3. Intuitive Machines is targeting a lunar landing opportunity on March 6," the company added.

SEE ALSO: Why landing a spaceship on the moon is still so challenging

On the right side of the image is the Athena lander and four of its landing legs. On the bottom is the second stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, surrounded by three other payloads (smaller white dots). And beyond that, of course, is our cloud-covered planet.

The legs of the Athena lander, a SpaceX rocket stage, and other payloads as viewed by the lander. Credit: Intuitive Machines Tweet may have been deleted

Intuitive Machines plans to land Athena in Mons Mouton, a lunar mountain near the moon's south pole. This southern region is rich in water ice, and is relatively close to where NASA intends to bring astronauts in mid-2027. "Intuitive Machines' IM-2 mission represents a significant leap forward in lunar exploration, ready to demonstrate water hunting infrastructure services on the Moon’s surface," the company explains on its website. The lander is equipped with a drill to investigate these south pole resources.

The mission is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, which is comprised of robotic technical and science endeavors that support the crewed missions that will soon return to the moon.

Also currently en route to the moon is Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander, which the Texas-based company intends to land on March 2. The other craft is Japanese company ispace's Resilience lander, which will attempt landing in late spring.

There's certainly lots of enthusiasm about these moon endeavors. But landing on the moon remains daunting, largely because it's a world with virtually no atmosphere to slow spacecraft down. A craft must plummet to the surface almost perfectly, as thrusters fire to slow its descent onto a surface teeming with pits and craters.

At 15, I downloaded Grindr, uploaded a photo of my bare chest, and created a profile with a fake alias. Initially uncomfortable, my curiosity grew as I encountered usernames like '"looking for young" and "discreet hookups only." Seeing LGBTQ+ sexuality displayed so openly was a relief and made me realize, Oh, there are gay people everywhere.

Months of deleting and redownloading Grindr culminated one night after a long day of school, dance and homework. The Grindr notification sounded, and the guy I chatted with the night before was back online, suggesting we meet. Despite my hesitation, his "now or never" pleas led me to crawl out of my bedroom window.

My parents were supportive and open-minded when raising my younger sister and me. They did almost everything right, according to many trusted parenting experts, by granting me freedom and lessening restrictions as I grew into an older teenager. I also know that the reverse of this, commonly known as helicopter parenting, can drive a wedge between kids and their parents, leading to rebellion. Because of these widely accepted truths, I believe the urge to explore sexuality as a teen is natural. 

So why do many LGBTQ+ kids seem to find that independent exploration online instead of offline? 

Teenagers who identify as heterosexual are not only allowed to explore their sexuality openly and comfortably but are celebrated for doing so (e.g., nearly every adolescent film and television show of the last 75 years). But in 2023, one-fourth of high schoolers in the U.S. identified as LGBTQ+, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. Of that one-fourth, many are likely in school environments that make them feel unsafe when exploring as openly as their heterosexual counterparts. And they are outnumbered. I believe this to be a large reason why LGBTQ+ teens turn to the online world for exploration and connection — like I was clearly craving when I snuck out of my house — leading to queer teens being 3 times more likely to experience unwanted or unsafe interactions online. 

That night ended when I saw the guy's truck turn down my street. I hid behind a bush, deleted the app after his messages and stayed off Grindr until college.

After hearing about experiences like this, most people feel lost and confused about who to blame. Was it Grindr’s fault for allowing a minor to weasel their way onto an adult hookup app? The parents that didn’t know the app was downloaded? What about Apple, which couldn’t prevent the adult-only app from being downloaded by a 15 year old? To answer this, I think about who I would blame if my puppy, Stormy, suddenly got sick from a chemical in her newest chew toy. I would first wonder why the toy didn’t go through thorough safety testing; then I would ask why a store allowed it on the shelves in the first place.

This logic is missing when tech executives continue to shift the blame back and forth between the app itself and the app marketplace. Both the Apple App Store and Grindr were responsible for my safety.

A lot has changed for better and worse about Grindr since my time on the app. Just this year, the company established new safety and privacy features. Grindr also has seen more users speaking openly about a diminished user experience. 

Apple just released new child safety features for the Apple App Store. But it is not enough. While not showing and advertising apps rated as inappropriate to kids is an important step, it does not account for developers who mis-rate their apps. Apple claims their app store is a “safe place for kids,” but in a report I worked on with my colleagues at Heat Initiative and ParentsTogether Action, we found 200+ risky or inappropriate apps in the Apple App Store rated as appropriate for kids as young as 4. What is the fix for this?

SEE ALSO: Apple's child safety changes put more of the onus on app developers

I still believe that Apple’s App Store will continue to be a risk for youth unless it implements third-party reviews of app ratings. Just like movies, television programs, and video games, these experts would assess the risk to children and give an age rating in the best interest of kids – not the best interest of Apple or the app developer.

Big Tech must be held accountable for building safe products and services. Clearly, app store marketplaces still have serious changes to make, but the tech companies developing these apps must design them with safety as the top priority. This includes thorough ways of verifying age, especially considering many of these apps are accessible without a mobile app. Lives depend on it.

So, whether it’s a mother, like Kristin Bride, who lost her son after he was cyberbullied on anonymous apps he got off of the App Store or the queer teens assaulted after sneaking out to meet someone they met on a hookup app, Big Tech’s negligence is contributing to harm, and it must stop.

Lennon Torres is an LGBTQ+ advocate who grew up in the public eye, gaining national recognition as a young dancer on television shows. With a deep passion for storytelling, advocacy, and politics, Lennon now works to center the lived experience of herself and others as she crafts her professional career in online child safety at Heat Initiative, aiming to bridge the gap between online safety and LGBTQ+ representation through intentionally inclusive strategies. Lennon’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennon-torres-325b791b4/

In deep space, far beyond our solar system, astronomers have spotted loads of super-Earths, mini-Neptunes, and hot Jupiters.

But only once have they found an "ultra-hot Neptune" — a Neptune-size world orbiting extremely close to its star. A year lasts under a day on this scorching planet, dubbed "LTT 9779 b." After discovering this curious world in 2020, scientists have now used the powerful James Webb Space Telescope to peer into the exoplanet's atmosphere and better grasp how such a world works.

"Finding a planet of this size so close to its host star is like finding a snowball that hasn't melted in a fire," Louis-Philippe Coulombe, a researcher at the Université de Montréal's Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets who led the study, said in a statement. "It's a testament to the diversity of planetary systems and offers a window into how planets evolve under extreme conditions."

SEE ALSO: A dramatic total lunar eclipse is coming. You don't want to miss it.

LTT 9779 b, nearly 30 times Earth's mass, is certainly extreme. It's tidally locked to its star — like the moon is locked to Earth — meaning that one side of it incessantly seared by its star, while the other is dark and cooler. LTT 9779 b is nearly 3,630 degrees Fahrenheit (2,000 Celsius) on its dayside. That's hotter than lava.

The research team peered at LTT 9779 b for 22 hours, using an instrument on the Webb telescope called a spectrograph to reveal the composition of the planet's exotic atmosphere. (Similar to a prism, spectrographs spread an object's light into a spectrum of colors, revealing what's present or not in a far-off place.)

They found clouds very unlike ours (which are made of water vapor) composed of silicates, which are minerals that make up rocks on Earth. These clouds were on the planet's western dayside, as opposed to its hotter eastern hemisphere, suggesting that strong winds on LTT 9779 b transport atmospheric elements around the planet.

A conception of LTT 9779 b, located 262 light-years from Earth in the Milky Way galaxy, can be seen below. It depicts how highly reflective mineral clouds condense on the "slightly cooler" western dayside, but then evaporate when the planet's potent winds push these clouds to the hotter eastern dayside.

An artist's conception of the "ultra-hot Neptune" LTT 9779 b. Credit: Benoit Gougeon / Université de Montréal

Scientific attempts to understand this profoundly rare — as far as we know — world are just beginning.

"We haven’t finished piecing together the information about this planet yet," Jake Taylor, a scientist in the Department of Physics at the University of Oxford who also worked on the study, explained. "We are currently using observations from the Hubble Space Telescope and the Very Large Telescope to study the dayside cloud structure in more detail to learn as much as possible."

To date, astronomers have confirmed 5,834 exoplanets, with thousands more awaiting confirmation.

The Webb telescope's powerful abilities

The Webb telescope — a scientific collaboration between NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency — is designed to peer into the deepest cosmos and reveal new insights about the early universe. It's also examining intriguing planets in our galaxy, along with the planets and moons in our solar system.

Here's how Webb is achieving unparalleled feats, and likely will for decades to come:

- Giant mirror: Webb's mirror, which captures light, is over 21 feet across. That's over two-and-a-half times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope's mirror, meaning Webb has six times the light-collecting area. Capturing more light allows Webb to see more distant, ancient objects. The telescope is peering at stars and galaxies that formed over 13 billion years ago, just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. "We're going to see the very first stars and galaxies that ever formed," Jean Creighton, an astronomer and the director of the Manfred Olson Planetarium at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, told Mashable in 2021.

- Infrared view: Unlike Hubble, which largely views light that's visible to us, Webb is primarily an infrared telescope, meaning it views light in the infrared spectrum. This allows us to see far more of the universe. Infrared has longer wavelengths than visible light, so the light waves more efficiently slip through cosmic clouds; the light doesn't as often collide with and get scattered by these densely packed particles. Ultimately, Webb's infrared eyesight can penetrate places Hubble can't.

"It lifts the veil," said Creighton.

- Peering into distant exoplanets: The Webb telescope carries specialized equipment called spectrographs that will revolutionize our understanding of these far-off worlds. The instruments can decipher what molecules (such as water, carbon dioxide, and methane) exist in the atmospheres of distant exoplanets — be they gas giants or smaller rocky worlds. Webb looks at exoplanets in the Milky Way galaxy. Who knows what we'll find?

"We might learn things we never thought about," Mercedes López-Morales, an exoplanet researcher and astrophysicist at the Center for Astrophysics-Harvard & Smithsonian, previously told Mashable.

TL;DR: This bundle of 14 online guitar lessons is on sale for $29.97 (reg. $39.99) — that’s just over $2 per course.

Picking up a guitar that makes you look like Jimi Hendrix is easy — the hard part is figuring out what to do next. Most people start with guitar books or YouTube tutorials but don’t stick with them because there’s no structure. If you want to become the next “Voodoo Child,” take real guitar classes.

Despite what most people think, you don’t have to trek to weekly classes or get lectured when you make a mistake — just sign up for online guitar lessons. The package we offer is completely asynchronous, meaning you can take it at your own pace. Lifetime access is currently on sale for $29.97 (reg. $39.99).

Make Jimi Hendrix proud

What you found is the perfect balance between structure and flexibility. It’s a good idea to set a goal — maybe something like taking one lesson each day or practicing for two hours weekly — but you choose when you set aside the time for it. 

The courses can be taken in any order, but you’ll notice there’s a logical progression if you look closely:

• Guitar Technique

• Beginner Guitar Lessons Crash Course

• Fingerstyle for the Curious Guitarist

• Songwriting for the Curious Guitarist

Feel free to skip around if you’re a fast learner and getting bored, or stray from our suggestion if there’s something you’d rather learn first. You build your learning plan and have lifetime access to all course materials for future reference.

Teach yourself guitar with a little help from this discounted course bundle, now $29.97 (reg. $39.99). No coupon is needed to get this price.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dan Dresnok The Complete Beginner to Expert Guitar Lessons Bundle $29.97
$2,800.00 Save $2,770.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: Get half off a Sam’s Club membership for just $25 (reg. $50) before codes sell out.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sam's Club Sam's Club 1-Year Membership $25.00
$50.00 Save $25.00 with Auto-Renew Get Deal

Prices for groceries are out of control. Eggs feel like a delicacy. When will things return to "normal?" Nobody can be sure, but we aren’t waiting around. Shoppers have been saving on groceries at Sam’s Club for decades, and now is an opportune time for you to see what the hype is about with 50% off an annual membership.

Until we sell out of discounted codes, you can join Sam’s Club for only $25 (reg. $50). This offer is only for new members or those with cards that have been expired for over six months. Bonus: You can share the membership with anyone in your household.

Getting through these uncertain times at Sam’s Club

You may have shied away from Sam’s Club because you think they only have wholesale groceries and household items, but that’s not true. Sure, some items are sold in large quantities, but others are individually packed.

Plus, have you ever considered that purchasing in bulk may still be more cost-effective, even if you’re a single person or a small family? You could freeze items for later use or share items with friends, family, or neighbors and split the cost.

And that’s just the grocery list items. Sam’s Club members also save on gas, which adds up no matter how frequently you have to fill your tank. You’ll earn your membership fee back in no time.

Take advantage of this Sam’s Club membership deal before codes are sold out: $25 (reg. $50).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: You can get a Windows 11 Pro upgrade key on sale for an all-time low price of $17.97 (reg. $199) — each upgrades two compatible PCs.

Your computer might be due for an upgrade — and not just because it’s been feeling slow. Windows is undergoing big changes, and holding out with version 10 will leave you behind in more ways than one. 

Here are just three reasons why you should upgrade to Windows 11 Pro (though we can think of so many that it’ll bore you):

1. Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 this year

If you’re stuck on Windows 10 like glue, does it change anything to know that Microsoft is ending free software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes later this year? They say your computer will still work, but even they recommend upgrading to the latest software for security reasons.

2. You’ll get AI integrated into your PC

As long as your computer is eligible for the free Windows 11 Home upgrade, you can get this Pro version. You’ll love paid-only features like BitLocker hard drive encryption and remote desktop access. But perhaps most importantly, Windows Copilot (available to all).

This AI-powered PC assistant can help you with anything from changing system settings to summarizing web pages and generating images and code. It’s like ChatGPT, except it’s fully integrated into your computer.

3. Enjoy the brand-new user design

Love it or hate it, Windows 11 Pro features a completely redesigned user interface. It’s reminiscent of Windows 10, except with fresh and useful tools like snap layouts and desktops, seamless redocking, and widgets to customize your work days.

Will you upgrade?

Windows 11 Pro is at its lowest price ever for a limited time, making right now the best time to upgrade. Get your key for $17.97 and upgrade two compatible PCs (reg. $199).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $17.97
$199.00 Save $181.03 Get Deal

FREE BOOKS: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on Feb. 28. Stuff With Fantasy is offering fantasy books in a variety of subgenres for free.

Stuff Your Kindle Day is back once again for its final appearance in February. Rejoice, bookworms.

We've been treated to a number of these popular events in 2025, but that doesn't mean we're any less excited for a new giveaway going live. You've probably seen the excitement building over on BookTok, with everyone counting down the days to the next Stuff Your Kindle Day.

SEE ALSO: The best Kindles in 2025

So what exactly is Stuff Your Kindle Day? This event provides an amazing opportunity to stock up on hundreds (or sometimes thousands) of books for free. And better yet, the books that you download are yours to keep. The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day is focused on fantasy.

Stuff With Fantasy is offering a long list of fantasy books in a variety of subgenres for free. Want to make the most of this popular event? We've lined up everything you need to know.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

The Stuff Your Kindle Day schedule has been exhausting in 2025. Exhausting in a good way. In February, Stuff Your Kindle Day has taken place on Feb. 10, Feb. 14, and Feb. 21, with everything from monster romance to indie titles on offer for free.

And now on Feb. 28, the Stuff With Fantasy event is offering free fantasy books all day.

Who can take part in Stuff Your Kindle Day?

There are many great things about Stuff Your Kindle Day, but arguably the best aspect is that anyone can participate.

You don't need to own a Kindle to get involved. Kindle, Kobo, and Nook readers can download these books for free. You can even download these books on your preferred app and read them straight from your phone, as you can also find these free titles on the Google Play and Apple Books apps.

Which e-books are free?

Sourcing all of these free books is made easy thanks to Stuff With Fantasy. There's a helpful hub page with everything organized by subgenre. You can find free fantasy books in subgenres like paranormal, dark, cozy, coming of age, urban, historical, romance, and so much more.

We've checked out everything on offer and lined up a selection of standout options from some popular subgenres:

• Contemporary Fantasy

• Coming Of Age Fantasy

• Cozy Fantasy

• Dystopian Fantasy

See something you like? There's nothing stopping you from stocking up for free, but Stuff With Fantasy does ask that you double check everything is the promised price before downloading.

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

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

Shop Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle (16GB) + 3 Months of Kindle Unlimited $109.99 at Amazon
$145.96 Save $35.97 Get Deal Why we like it

These super popular e-readers help you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle. They start at $109.99, a great price for those on a budget, but if you want to save even more, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited absolutely free during Stuff Your Kindle Day.

Kindle Unlimited costs $11.99 per month and allows you to borrow up to 20 months per month. For a limited time, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free, saving you $35.97.

When it comes to J.R.R. Tolkien adaptations, Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy is a tough act to follow. Look no further than the Hobbit movies, which floundered in their efforts to capture the original films' success. Then there's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, whose attempts to cram everything we love about Middle-earth into too-short seasons make for unwieldy (if still fun) TV.

Enter The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an anime prequel from director Kenji Kamiyama (Blade Runner: Black Lotus) that centers on the legendary kingdom of Rohan, 183 years before The Lord of the Rings. While certainly indebted to Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, The War of the Rohirrim doesn't just seek to replicate its predecessors' formula. Instead, it plays with tone and structure to forge a path that is far bleaker. That path starts with the medium of anime, which offers a new angle into Tolkien on a visual and thematic level.

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Kamiyama and screenwriters Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou frame The War of the Rohirrim as a historical tale told by The Lord of the Rings' Éowyn (Miranda Otto, returning in voiceover). Her voice acts as a bridge between the medium of live action and anime, with anime acting as a vehicle for live-action Éowyn's storytelling. While we never see any live action scenes, the hint of them becomes the film's baseline reality. Anime, with its heightened, stylized qualities, serves as a representation of legend.

And truly, there is no one better to tell this legend than Éowyn, as War of the Rohirrim's heroine Héra (voiced by Gaia Wise) is essentially Éowyn from 183 years in the past.

The War of the Rohirrim is what you'd get if Éowyn had a solo film. Héra in "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim." Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

The War of the Rohirrim is based on a short section of Tolkien's appendices, in which Héra is but an unnamed daughter. However, in fleshing her out, the film is able to add new depth to the story, all while making sure Héra is the kind of person Éowyn would actually be telling a story about.

Like Éowyn, Héra is the daughter of a king of Rohan: the formidable Helm Hammerhand (voiced by Succession's Brian Cox). She's also a headstrong rider and fierce fighter, one who aspires to be just like the shieldmaidens of old. It's not hard to see Éowyn looking up to her and using her story to inspire the next generation of shieldmaidens, years down the line.

That story kicks off in earnest when the Dunlending lord Freca (voiced by Shaun Dooley) proposes that Héra marry his son (and her childhood friend) Wulf (voiced by Luke Pasqualino). Yet that marriage is the last thing both Héra and Helm want. In fact, Helm sees the proposal as such an affront that he challenges Freca to a fight. Here, we see another benefit of incorporating Héra further into the story. Her presence and development add new layers to Helm, as we get a better sense of his relationship to his family. His protectiveness of Héra carries shades of Théoden's own protectiveness over Éowyn, but he has an added element of bloodthirsty bravado that carries over into his brawl with Freca.

SEE ALSO: The 'Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' cast debates whether Sauron is "brat"

That fight is the first of many skirmishes The War of the Rohirrim has to offer, and it's as uncompromising as one might expect when a man named "Hammerhand" is involved. All it takes is one mighty punch for Helm to kill Freca outright, but the feud between Helm's family and Freca's is far from over. Wulf, in his grief, vows revenge.

And revenge he'll get! Years later, Wulf has amassed enough of an army that he can march on Rohan. In the war that follows, Helm, Héra, and the Rohirrim must retreat to the Hornburg stronghold, where they'll make one last stand to save their people.

Sound familiar? That's because the story of Helm Hammerhand is basically the prototype for The Two Towers' Battle of Helm's Deep. After all, he's the reason the Hornburg comes to be known as Helm's Deep! Yet The War of the Rohirrim is no Helm's Deep retread. It's a brutal, lengthy siege that pushes everyone involved to new, desperate limits.

The War of the Rohirrim's siege sequence isn't just Helm's Deep 2.0. Helm Hammerhand in "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim." Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

While the battles in the Lord of the Rings trilogy are gargantuan undertakings, and unquestionably the best fantasy set pieces put to screen, they aren't particularly lengthy affairs. The Battle of Helm's Deep takes place over the course of one night, whereas the Siege of Gondor and the Battle of Pelennor Fields last a few days. The siege in The War of the Rohirrim lasts an entire winter, and the film makes sure you feel the impact of every one of those months spent in the cold.

Within the walls of the Hornburg, the remaining people of Rohan are confronted day in, day out with their impending doom — especially as Wulf's army constructs a siege tower that could break their last defense. Things are hardly better outside the walls, though. Wulf's encampment bears the brunt of the snowy elements, forcing his own people to consider whether this siege is really worth it. Of course, there's no question for Wulf, who remains resolute in his snarling, single-minded quest to tear Helm apart. But for everyone else involved (including the audience), The War of the Rohirrim's siege sequence is a tightly wound coil of dread. One side has to break — but which will it be?

SEE ALSO: How 'The War of the Rohirrim' connects to the original The Lord of the Rings trilogy

These psychological tensions only continue to rise when rumors spread of a ghostly figure tearing through Wulf's camp. Here, The War of the Rohirrim takes a turn into Gothic horror, with the hallowed halls of the Hornburg perhaps being home to some greater supernatural forces. The result is deliciously frightening for a time, then surprisingly sweet in its payoff.

The same is true for the rest of The War of the Rohirrim, which takes us from the depths of Rohan's despair to the heights of Héra's hope for the future. Her fervent belief that some good can still prosper in even the darkest of times is unmistakably Tolkien in nature, linking The War of the Rohirrim to the Jackson films through more than repeated locations and Easter eggs (some more heavy-handed than others). However, it's the ways in which The War of the Rohirrim stands out from Jackson's films — like the use of anime and the psychologically-focused siege sequence — that allows The War of the Rohirrim to truly carve out its own space in onscreen portrayals of Middle-earth.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is now streaming on Max.

UPDATE: Feb. 27, 2025, 5:07 p.m. EST This review has been updated with the latest streaming options for The War of the Rohirrim.

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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's The Mini crossword answers for February 28 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: Someone who can't make up their mind

• Green: Terms of endearment for someone sweet

• Blue: Clarity of thought

• Purple: Irreversible actions

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: Be Indecisive

• Green: Lovely Person

• Blue: Lucidity

• Purple: Components of Metaphors for Things That Can't Be Undone

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 #628 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Be Indecisive: HESITATE, WAFFLE, WAVER, YO-YO

• Lovely Person: ANGEL, DARK, DOLL, PEACH

• Lucidity: MARBLES, MIND, SENSE, WITS

• Components of Metaphors for Things That Can't Be Undone: BELL, EGG, GENIE, TOOTHPASTE

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 February 28

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 the latest Connections.

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.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for February 28 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's The Mini crossword answers for February 28, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Something unclear or covered in soft fibers.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter Z appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.

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...

FUZZY.

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 February 28

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 the latest Wordle.

SAVE OVER $400: As of Feb. 28, the Samsung 65-inch Q60CB QLED 4K Smart TV is available for $492.68 at Walmart — a $455.31 discount from its usual $947.99 price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65-inch Q60CB QLED 4K Smart TV $492.68 at Walmart
$947.99 Save $455.31 Get Deal

I’m not saying you need to drop everything and buy this TV immediately, but I’m also not saying you shouldn’t. Walmart has slashed the price of the Samsung 65-inch Q60CB QLED 4K Smart TV down to $492.68, which is borderline absurd for a big-name QLED TV packed with modern features. If you’re tired of watching movies on something that barely qualifies as a “smart” TV or want an upgrade that won’t financially ruin you, this deal is about as good as it gets.

So what’s the catch? Honestly, there isn’t one. The Q60CB might not be Samsung’s absolute top-tier QLED, but it still brings 100% Color Volume with Quantum Dot technology, so you’re getting billions of colors instead of the dull, washed-out hues that cheaper TVs struggle with. 4K upscaling means even non-4K content gets a noticeable boost in clarity, and Quantum HDR makes sure you’re not squinting at dark scenes trying to figure out what’s going on.

SEE ALSO: I have no excuse to skip workouts now that the Apple Watch Series 10 is $70 off

Motion Xcelerator keeps action-packed moments looking smooth for sports fans and gamers, which means no more blurry players or laggy gameplay. And if you’re really into gaming, Samsung Gaming Hub lets you stream games without needing a console, as long as you’ve got a fast internet connection and a compatible controller.

The audio is surprisingly decent, too, thanks to Object Tracking Sound Lite, which actually moves sound around based on what’s happening on screen. Plus, Q-Symphony 3.0 syncs up with Samsung soundbars if you want to take things to the next level. And for those who appreciate a minimalist setup, the AirSlim Design keeps things sleek without an obnoxiously thick frame.

The remote literally charges itself with sunlight. So if you’re the kind of person who can never find AA batteries when needed, Samsung just solved that problem for you. Snap this Walmart deal up before everybody else does.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new 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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

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: Important in poker

• Green: Recent hockey event

• Blue: One of the best NBA centers

• Purple: Share a mascot

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: High cards in poker

• Green: 4 Nations Face-off

• Blue: Related to Nikola Jokic

• Purple: Eagles

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 #158 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• High cards in poker - ACE, JACK, KING, QUEEN

• 4 Nations face-off - CANADA, FINLAND, SWEDEN, USA

• Associated with Nikola Jokic - JOKER, MVP, NUGGETS, SERBIA

• Eagles - BOSTON COLLEGE, IAN, MARQUETTE, PHILADELPHIA

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 the latest 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.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 28 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 28 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Nautical ink

These words are permanently on your body.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The words are tattoos that share the same ocean-related theme.

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 SailorTattoo.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for February 28

• Mermaid

• Anchor

• Ship

• Compass

• Eagle

• Swallow

• SailorTattoo

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 the latest Strands.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, February 28, 2025:

AcrossItalian tourist city you might be "inclined" to visit

• The answer is Pisa.

Pink/orange shade

• The answer is Coral.

Green/yellow shade

• The answer is Olive.

Red/pink shade

• The answer is Rose.

Silver/gray shade

• The answer is Ash.

DownMany collared golf shirts

• The answer is Polos.

From Dublin or Derry

• The answer is Irish.

Command+S, on a Mac

• The answer is Save.

Pint at a public house

• The answer is Ale.

___ Crawley, "Downton Abbey" countess

• The answer is Cora.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

SAVE $300: As of Feb. 28, the ASUS ROG Strix G16 gaming laptop is down to $1,099.99 at Amazon. That’s $300 off its usual price, and you’re getting a 16-inch 165Hz display, an Intel Core i7-13650HX, and an RTX 4060 GPU.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS ROG Strix G16 (RTX 4060) $1,099.99 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that gaming laptops are a dangerous game in themselves. Every year, new models drop, promising better specs, faster refresh rates, and GPUs that make last year’s machines look like they belong in a museum. So when a gaming laptop like the ASUS ROG Strix G16 drops to $1,099.99, my wallet starts sweating.

This 2024 Strix G16 model is stacked, featuring an Intel Core i7-13650HX processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU that can hit 140W max TGP. It’ll handle anything you throw at it, including AAA games, high-FPS shooters, video editing, or having 37 Chrome tabs open for no reason. Pair that with 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD, and you’ve got a machine that won’t slow down when things get intense.

SEE ALSO: I have no excuse to skip workouts now that the Apple Watch Series 10 is $70 off

The 165Hz Full HD display means buttery smooth gameplay, which is great if you care about winning (or don’t want to feel like you’re playing on a PowerPoint presentation). And because ASUS actually thought about thermals, the ROG Intelligent Cooling system uses Thermal Grizzly liquid metal and an extra intake fan to keep things from getting toasty (unlike my last laptop, which doubled as a space heater).

Here are the secifications that matter:

• Price: $1,099.99 (Was $1,399.99)

• Retailer: Amazon

• Display: 16-inch FHD, 165Hz, 100% sRGB

• Processor: Intel Core i7-13650HX

• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (140W Max TGP)

• RAM: 16GB DDR5-4800MHz

• Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD

• Cooling: ROG Intelligent Cooling, Liquid Metal, Extra Intake Fan

• Operating System: Windows 11 Home

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth

• Ports: USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet, Audio Jack

• Weight: 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)

• Special Features: Free 90-Day Xbox Game Pass, Pantone Validation, Adaptive Sync

If you’re an Xbox Game Pass subscriber, you get 90 days free, meaning you can instantly dive into over 100 games without spending extra. It’s almost like ASUS is actively encouraging my bad habits.

At $1,099.99 on Amazon, this is one of the better gaming laptop deals I’ve seen in a while, especially since most models with similar specs hover around $1,300 or more. If you’ve been looking for a mid-range gaming laptop that won’t need replacing in a year, this one’s worth a serious look.

AVAILABLE TODAY: As of Feb. 28, the Pokémon TCG: 151 six-pack booster bundle is available for $26.94 on the Best Buy app via a limited release drop. It’s part of their Pokémon Day drops, which means you can grab it at retail price if you’re fast enough.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon Pokémon TCG: 151 Six-Pack Booster Bundle Shop Now

I never thought I'd see the day when Pokémon TCG 151 booster packs were actually in stock and not marked up to oblivion. But Best Buy has them for $26.94 as part of their Pokémon Day restocks, and you won't have to deal with sketchy resellers or overpriced listings. The catch? It's an app-exclusive drop, so you'll need to download the Best Buy app if you haven't already.

If you somehow missed the 151 hype, this set is pure nostalgia, bringing back all original 151 Pokémon with updated cards, new Illustration Rares, and some genuinely stunning full-art designs. Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur all got Illustration Rare treatments, and they're some of the best-looking cards in the set. Charmander's card in particular tells a whole story, with the little guy staring up at the sky like it already knows it will soon turn into a full-blown fire-breathing monster. Meanwhile, Bulbasaur's artwork leans into the jungle vibes, with the art making it look like part of its natural environment.

SEE ALSO: Celebrate Pokémon Presents Day with savings on Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Zapdos ex is another stunning Illustration Rare, featuring all three Legendary Birds soaring through the sky. It's one of those cards that even non-players want, just for the art alone. Alakazam ex is another one of my favorites. It's very playable thanks to its ability to attack from the bench instead of taking the active slot like an absolute gent.

With six packs in each bundle, you at least have a decent shot at pulling something rare. There's always that one friend who gets absolute fire while you somehow end up with six Caterpies and a Trainer card you'll never use. Still, for $26.94 at retail price via Best Buy Drops, this is the best chance you'll get to open 151 packs without overpaying.

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. When it comes to finding the soundbar that can do that for you, however, the path is a little less straightforward. While it's entirely possible for you to dive into figuring out what exactly Dolby Atmos is or understanding the pros and cons of a subwoofer, you can save yourself a lot of time by seeing what the experts have to say.

SEE ALSO: 10 Sundance movies you should know about now

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 three of our top picks for the best soundbars.

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.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the Oscars this weekend: Which streaming service do you need?

Ultimately, opting for a soundbar lets you improve the audio experience of your TV, while costing significantly less than investing in an entire speaker system.

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).

Best soundbar for most people Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Smart Soundbar $499.00 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 upgrade pick Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Arc Ultra $999.00 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.

FREE BOOKS: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on Feb. 28. Stuff With Fantasy is offering dystopian fantasy books for free.

It's time for the final Stuff Your Kindle Day in February.

It been a really good month for book lovers. With several Stuff Your Kindle events, we've managed to fill our Kindles with all types of titles. Now it's all about fantasy, as Stuff With Fantasy hosts the next installment of free books.

If you've never come across Stuff Your Kindle Day before, it's essentially a day of free e-books. Stuff Your Kindle Days are popular events that give you the chance to download hundreds of books for free. And better yet, once you download the book, it's yours forever.

The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day is focused on fantasy and is hosted by Stuff With Fantasy. You can find all kinds of fantasy subgenres on offer, including dystopian fantasy.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

Stuff Your Kindle Days have already taken place this month on Feb. 10, Feb. 14, and Feb. 21, covering everything from monster romance to indie titles.

SEE ALSO: The best Kindles in 2025

And now on Feb. 28, the Stuff With Fantasy event is offering free fantasy books all day. Here's a pick of just some of the incredible dystopian fantasy e-books you can download for free.

Best dystopian fantasy to shop on Stuff Your Kindle Day

• Destiny by Shannon Pemrick— $0 $5.99

• The Darkness All Around Us by Megan Boley — $0 $0.99

• A Call For Blood by Natalie Colburn — $0 $4.99

• Afterglow Rising From The Ashes by Stacey LP — $0 $4.99

• The Legacies Of Traitors by C.M Leyva — $0 $5.99

• Seven Crowns by E.V. Everest — $0 $4.99

• Escape by L.S. O' Dea — $0 $2.99

• Veiled In The Dark by Kristy Perkins — $0 $3.99

• The Edge Of Hope by Trena Cannon — $0 $4.99

Shop Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle (16GB) + 3 Months of Kindle Unlimited $109.99 at Amazon
$145.96 Save $35.97 Get Deal Why we like it

These e-readers are perfect for taking hundreds of books on the go. It boasts weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, so you can read anywhere and in all brightness with the Kindle. Prices start at $109.99, a great price for those on a budget, but if you want to save even more, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited completely free during Stuff Your Kindle Day.

Kindle Unlimited costs $11.99 per month and allows you to borrow up to 20 months per month. For a limited time, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free, saving you $35.97.