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Our Samsung Galaxy phones get better with each update, but sometimes the best features are completely hidden or don't get talked about enough. A prime example is the powerful "Finder" app feature that apparently Samsung doesn't want you to know about. Better yet, you can now put it right on your home screen.

SAVE $10: As of Sept. 11, select colors of the Anker Nano Power Bank (45W, 10,000mAh) are on sale for $49.99 at Amazon. That's $10 off their list price of $59.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Nano Power Bank, 45W 10,000mAh Portable Charger $49.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $10   Get Deal

For those who are frequently on the go, or if you have big travel plans this fall, a portable charger is a very helpful tech item to have on hand. The Anker Nano Power Bank (45W, 10,000mAh) is one option to consider, especially since Amazon's knocked $10 off its list price. The deal won't last for much longer, though.

As of Sept. 11, select colors of this power bank (black, green, and white) have dropped from $59.99 to $49.99 at the retailer. However, each of these has a percentage bar on its store page indicating how much of the sale inventory has already been claimed, and some colors are selling fast. If you're hoping to grab it, be quick to pick up your favorite before the offer runs out.

SEE ALSO: Here's when you can preorder the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and foldable iPhone Duo

This Anker Nano Power Bank is a very compact charger, with the store page noting that it's 16% smaller than standard models (measuring 3.21 × 1.99 × 1.42 inches and weighing 8.2oz) and featuring a retractable charging cable that makes it easy to carry around. That built-in cable is quite durable as well, with the store page noting it can withstand over 20,000 bends. The power bank is also flight-approved, which is great for travelers.

In terms of power, it boasts a 10,000mAh capacity and 45W max fast charging, alongside pass-through technology and a smart display so you can keep an eye on your charging devices. If you need an extra battery boost when you're out and about, this power bank seems well worth picking up.

The deals are being claimed quickly, though, so be quick to score this discount on select colors of the Anker Nano Power Bank at Amazon.

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It's the New Moon tonight, which means the side we see is completely dark. This is because the Moon is positioned between Earth and the Sun, with the sunlit side facing away from us.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Friday, Sept. 11, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the New Moon phase, with 0% of its surface visible.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on September 26.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon's appearance gradually changes as it travels around Earth, completing a full lunar cycle in approximately 29.5 days, NASA tells us. What we see from Earth depends on the Moon's position in relation to the Sun, which affects how much of its illuminated side is visible. As the cycle progresses, the Moon passes through a series of phases, from a thin crescent to a half Moon and then a Full Moon, before starting over.

The eight phases are:

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

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

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

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

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

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

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

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

TL; DR: At IFA 2026 in Berlin, TCL officially unveiled a massive hardware showcase spanning smartphones, tablets, and TVs. Highlights include the TCL P80 Ultra and P80 Pro, the versatile TAB A1 tablet series, and the absurdly bright X11L SQD-Mini LED TV, which packs up to 10,000 nits of peak brightness.

TCL took the stage at IFA 2026 to reveal a massive wave of upcoming gear. Instead of just throwing tech specs at us, they focused on solving two real-world problems: stopping screen glare from frying your eyeballs, and building TVs so ridiculously bright your living room feels like a movie theater. Here is a quick breakdown of what’s coming down the pipe.

Smartphones: Vibrant colors that don't blind you

Leading the phone pack are the TCL P80 Ultra and P80 Pro. They're the first phones ever to mix AMOLED screen colors with TCL's matte, paper-like display tech. So you get rich, vivid colors without feeling like you're staring into a mirror under sunlight.

Both pack huge 6.83-inch screens, big batteries meant to last all day, and a physical button on the side that flips the screen into a muted reading mode or monochrome e-ink style. If you want serious zoom, the Ultra adds a periscope lens for long-range shots, while the base-model P80 keeps things simple with a super-thin profile.

Pricing and availability

European rollouts kick off Sept. 11, while US carrier and retail launches are still pending, so stateside buyers will have to hold tight a bit longer.

SEE ALSO: TCL just launched two ultra-slim 'art' TVs at IFA — and they are officially chasing Samsung’s crown Tablets: One for your bag, one for your couch

TCL also dropped four new tablets in its TAB A1 Series, split into two sizes. The 11-inch models (TAB A1 and TAB A1 NXTPAPER) are super light and easy to throw in a backpack for quick browsing or reading on a flight.

If you want something bigger to binge TV shows or doodle with a stylus, the 12.2-inch "Plus" models give you way more screen space, smoother scrolling, and a massive 10,000mAh battery so you aren't hunting for an outlet every five minutes.

Pricing and availability

The TAB A1 series is already rolling out globally, with prices hovering around $190 to $299 depending on screen size and configuration.

TVs: Absurdly bright screens and framed art

On the TV front, TCL is pushing Mini LED tech to its absolute limits. The standout TCL X11L comes in massive 75-, 85-, and 98-inch sizes and hits 110,000-nit peak brightness. That is tech-speak for "this TV is bright enough to cut through direct sunlight in your living room while keeping dark scenes ink-black." It even has high-end Bang & Olufsen sound built right in.

For living rooms where a giant black mirror ruins the aesthetic, TCL also introduced the A400 Pro NXTVISION TV. It uses a matte, anti-reflective display wrapped in a light walnut woodgrain frame, allowing it to seamlessly blend into your wall as a digital art display when you aren't binge-watching your favorite shows.

SEE ALSO: Best Labor Day TV deals: Our favorite deals on TCL, LG, Samsung, and more Pricing and availability

The flagship is already rolling out in Europe, and US listings for the X11L are already live, priced between $3,499 (discounted) for the 75-inch screen and $9,999 for the 98-inch model. Meanwhile, TCL has yet to confirm the exact release dates for the art-focused A400 Pro.

If your wallet can handle the hit, your eyes — and your living room setup — are definitely in for an upgrade. Learn more at TCL.

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TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution — Pitch Black 3 Booster Pack Blister is on sale for $21.88 at Amazon, down from its $29.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Pitch Black 3 Booster Pack Blister $21.88 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $8.11   Get Deal

Buying single Pokémon TCG: Pitch Black Boosters can still run you a good amount above MSRP, but Amazon’s new Blister price drop makes it so you soften the blow to your trading card budget. 

As of Sept. 11, the Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution — Pitch Black 3 Booster Pack Blister is $21.88 at Amazon through third-party seller reVend. Against the $29.99 list price, you’re saving $8.11, or 27%. 

Spread across the three included boosters, that works out to roughly $7.29 per pack. Compared to buying Pitch Black boosters a la carte for $8.95, this three-pack blister is saving you $1.66 per pack for a total of $4.98 — with the Binacle promo card essentially acting as a free bonus. 

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That said, TCGplayer is still slightly cheaper, with listings as low as $19.99, including shipping. Whichever way you go, though, you’re still getting a rare chance to grab this under market price — with the trading card selling platform currently valuing this one at $22.25. 

Grabbing packs for less money doesn’t mean there still aren’t valuable chase cards to pull, though. Amongst Pitch Blacks' most pricey cards, the biggest hits still include SIR Mega Darkrai ex, MHR Mega Darkrai ex, and SIR Morpeko ex — worth up to just under $195. 

If you’re after one card in particular, you can buy any single Pokémon card from Pitch Black right now on TCGplayer.

ESP32 boards are incredibly versatile tools. You can use them for a huge range of purposes, and they can also be an extremely cheap way to help you get started in a new creative tech hobby.

SAVE $60: As of Sept. 11, the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is on sale for $439 at Amazon. That's a 12% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Osmo Pocket 3 $439 at Amazon
$499 Save $60   Get Deal

Want to make your videos look a little more polished without lugging around a full-size camera? The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is the perfect product for exactly that, packing a proper camera and built-in gimbal into a tiny, pocket-sized frame. And as of Sept. 11, you can get it for less at Amazon. Normally priced at $499, there's now $60 off the list price, bringing the cost down to $439.

This vlogging camera from DJI has a 1-inch CMOS sensor that records in 4K at up to 120 fps, making it a great option for shooting everything from travel footage to sunsets and night scenes.

It has a rotating 2-inch touchscreen that lets you switch between horizontal and vertical shooting, and the 3-axis mechanical stabilization keeps footage steady as you move. Another bonus is the ActiveTrack 6. This can keep you centered in the frame as you film.

There's also built-in stereo recording, and DJI OsmoAudio lets you connect a DJI Mic 2 or Mic Mini transmitter directly to the camera for better sound.

Head to Amazon now to get this deal on the DJI Osmo Pocket 3.

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SAVE OVER $800: As of Sept. 11, the Sony 65-Inch BRAVIA 8 II QD OLED 4K TV is on sale for $2,498 at Amazon. That's $801.99 off its full price of $3,299.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony 65-Inch BRAVIA 8 II QD OLED 4K HDR Smart Google TV $2,498 at Amazon
$3,299.99 Save $801.99   Get Deal

With Labor Day in the rearview, there's a little bit of time to kill before the next wave of sale events hits. But if you're still hoping to save on high-quality tech in the time in between, Amazon has plenty to check out. This includes some great discounts on TVs. If you're in the market for a fall upgrade, the Sony 65-Inch BRAVIA 8 II QD OLED 4K TV has had over $800 slashed from its price tag there.

As of Sept. 11, this Sony TV's price has dropped from $3,299.99 to $2,498 at the retailer, for a total savings of $801.99. Though it's worth mentioning that it is marked as a 'limited time deal', so time is of the essence to snag it at the price while it's still on sale.

SEE ALSO: What to look for when buying a TV, as told through this uncomplicated TV specs guide

Sony's OLED display brings out vibrant colors and deep contrast in what you're watching, making the picture quality of movies and shows a rich treat for the eyes. Plus, 4K resolution helps sharpen that picture so you can see every detail as it unfolds. According to the store page, this TV's XR Processor with AI technology also boosts color, contrast, and clarity, so images can really shine on screen.

For those who are signed up to multiple streaming services, it's also a Google TV, so that you can jump into all of your favorite apps right from the home screen. And considering how much there is to look forward to this fall for streaming, that's a big positive. Its 65-inch screen size is also a great fit for those looking to buy a mid-range TV for their home, not stretching too big or squished too small.

The clock is ticking on this limited-time deal, though. So act fast to save on the Sony 65-Inch BRAVIA 8 II QD OLED 4K TV at Amazon.

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SAVE $57: As of Sept. 11, the Holy Stone HS600 is on sale for $242.99 at Amazon. That's an 19% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Holy Stone Holy Stone HS600 $249.99 at Amazon
$279.98 Save $29.99   Get Deal

Getting into drones doesn't have to mean spending hundreds on a high-end model. Models like the Holy Stone HS600 offer 4K video, a gimbal, and a great set of flight features without the hefty price tag. And as of Sept. 11, it's even cheaper at Amazon, with the drone now on sale for $242.99. This saves you $57 off the list price and is the lowest-ever price for this model.

For the price, the HS600 packs in plenty of useful kit. Its 4K camera uses a dual-axis gimbal and electronic image stabilization to help keep footage steady, and the Sony sensor can record at up to 30fps. It also has brushless motors designed to provide a more stable flight.

It has integrated FAA-compliant Remote ID, so there's no need to buy a separate module, and at 541g, it's relatively easy to take with you. It also comes with a carrying case, making it useful for travel and on-the-go use.

It's a great option for beginners, too. Follow Mode can automatically track a subject, and Waypoint Mode lets you map out a flight path rather than controlling every movement manually.

Head to Amazon to grab this Holy Stone drone deal while it's on sale.

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Trump held a midterm convention in Texas on Wednesday, and attendance levels were already looking a bit shaky based on the number of Republicans making excuses about why they wouldn't be able to go.

In the clip above, Jimmy Kimmel gleefully analyses the number of empty seats in the room, first playing a clip of Trump maintaining that the room was packed despite video footage to the contrary

"Could there be a better metaphor for this presidency than him bragging about the size of his crowd to a bunch of empty seats? I don't think so. When does the kid come out and inform the emperor that he has no clothes? That arena was as empty as a Waymo," Kimmel says. "This is what happens in North Korea. It is really terrifying that this is the news that some people are getting exclusively."

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SAVE $78: As of Sept. 11, the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is on sale for $76.99 at Amazon. That's a 50% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet $76.99 at Amazon
$154.99 Save $78.00   Get Deal

If you're in the market for an affordable tablet, Amazon currently has a great deal on the Amazon Fire HD 10. As of Sept. 11, it has dropped in price to just $76.99, saving you $78 off the list price. That's half off, and according to camelcamelcamel, the lowest-ever price for this device.

This tablet comes with a 10.1-inch 1080p Full HD display, so it's a great buy if you want a tablet for watching shows, playing games, or settling down with an e-book. It also promises up to 13 hours of battery life, meaning you shouldn't need to keep reaching for the charger during the day. It also comes with 32GB of storage, so there's plenty of room for streaming apps, games, and whatever else you need.

It's designed to be lightweight yet durable, with strengthened aluminosilicate glass, and it has a 5MP front-facing camera for video calls. You also get handy tools for drafting emails, summarizing webpages, and creating wallpapers, plus Alexa support and parental controls through Amazon Kids.

This tablet deal is available at Amazon now, but only for a limited time, so don't miss out.

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Planning to upgrade your iPhone this year? If you're someone looking to get the most feature-packed device, typically the choice would be easy: You'd buy the latest iPhone Pro Max model, and this time around, that's the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

However, Apple decided to throw a curveball at iOS users this year with the release of its first-ever Apple foldable, the iPhone Duo.

Now, iPhone users looking for a new smartphone have to make a difficult choice. I know. I'm one of those users who assumed I'd just go with the new Pro Max, but the unveiling of the Duo has me second-guessing that choice.

Do I go with the iPhone 18 Pro Max or the iPhone Duo? Each is powerful in its own right, as they both have Apple's new Apple Silicon chip A20 Pro. But, both are missing features that the other has.

So, instead of just comparing specs, let's look at the use cases for each device.

If you want the biggest screen... Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

At 6.9 inches, the iPhone 18 Pro Max has the largest traditional smartphone display. When the iPhone Duo is closed and in its smartphone "form," it's smaller. The Duo's outer display is only 5.4 inches.

However, when the Duo is opened up, the inner display has 50 percent more screen space than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, measuring 7.6 inches. Ultimately, the Duo has more screen for you to work with.

The winner: The iPhone Duo

If cameras are of the utmost importance Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The iPhone 18 Pro Max has a 48MP Pro Fusion camera system, a 48MP Fusion Main lens, a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide lens, and a 48MP Fusion Telephoto lens. It also introduces a physical variable aperture feature for the first time. The Duo has the same main lens but without the variable aperture, and the same ultra-wide lens. The iPhone Duo does not have a telephoto lens, but it does have a 12MP Center Stage selfie camera and an under-display FaceTime camera.

Hardware-wise, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is the superior smartphone camera when compared with the Duo. It has more rear camera lenses, and that physical variable aperture will provide users with plenty of control of lighting and depth of field.

For serious photographers or filmmakers looking for a smartphone to match your workflow, the iPhone 18 Pro Max's new software capabilities with Pro Controls is going to be a big plus too. With Pro Controls, users can adjust shutter speed, lens aperture, white balance, and more.

If you care about photography or videography above all, then the choice is clearly the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

The winner: iPhone 18 Pro max

If you're a content creator Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

I just made the case that when it comes to smartphone cameras, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is superior to the iPhone Duo. And that's true…for the most part.

While filmmakers will want to go with the iPhone 18 Pro Max, online content creators may actually want to consider the iPhone Duo.

Yes, the iPhone 18 Pro Max has the extra lens and pro control features. Yes, the iPhone 18 Pro Max even has a better front-facing camera with its 18MP selfie camera compared to the iPhone Duo's 12MP selfie camera.

However, the foldable aspect of iPhone Duo opens up a whole world of creative use cases, especially for those who typically make social media-friendly content. 

The iPhone Duo can be folded in numerous ways to act as its own stand or tripod in order to take full-body photos and videos when working solo. The iPhone Duo even has unique features like Smart Take that take advantage of those capabilities and automatically snap photos of users without having to utilize a countdown.

When opened, the iPhone Duo's outer display can be used as a monitor so users can take selfies with the better 48MP without just guessing if they're even in the frame.

If you're a content creator who never manually changes the settings on your camera and barely, if ever, utilizes the telephoto lens, the iPhone Duo may actually be better for you.

The winner: The iPhone Duo

Price matters

Finally, an easy one. 

If you're looking for the most powerful but also simultaneously the most affordable device, don't even look at the iPhone Duo. It's the most expensive iPhone ever.

The Duo starts at $2,000. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is $700 cheaper at $1,299. Get the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

The winner: The iPhone 18 Pro Max, duh

You're a mobile gamer

If mobile gaming is your thing, it seems like Apple may have finally created the perfect iPhone for you.

People who've already had a hands-on with the iPhone Duo are saying that the foldable is seemingly made for gamers. The full-sized inner screen provides a perfect balance of display real estate with mobility. In addition, when turned to its side, one screen can be used as a traditional landscape-mode display, while the other can be used as a full-sized game controller.

Now, there is one addendum to add here. It may be a while for most game developers to update their games to use these features or even create games specifically tailored to the iPhone Duo. But, when all is said and done, the iPhone Duo will clearly have the upper hand over the iPhone 18 Pro Max when it comes to gaming.

The winner: iPhone Duo

You're a multitasker

This is a no-brainer choice if you're a multitasker. Go with the iPhone Duo.

The Duo appears to work much like an iPad, with the ability to run multiple apps side by side. The inner screen will also provide an optimal experience when using features like picture-in-picture video.

The winner: iPhone Duo

You have too many iPhone accessories already Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Unless you're upgrading your iPhone 17 Pro Max to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, which is the same size as its predecessor, you're going to have to buy a new iPhone case.

However, most other accessories should still work! Rigs to utilize your iPhone as a professional camera, swappable camera lenses, attachable battery packs, selfie sticks, tripod mounts – all of those should be compatible with your iPhone 18 Pro Max. After all, the traditional iPhone design has been this way for some time.

That may not be so with a completely different-looking iPhone product like the iPhone Duo. While some accessories may still work with your Duo, they certainly weren't designed to fit or align perfectly with its design. Many accessories may just not be compatible at all.

So, if you rely on many essential third-party iPhone accessories, you may want to stick with the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

The winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max

You just really want a foldable device

Yeah, just buy the iPhone Duo.

You think foldables are dumb

Why are you even here? Get the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Top iPhone pre-order deals

The iPhone 18 Pro Max opens for pre-orders on Sept. 12, and the big carriers are rolling out their best offers:

• AT&T: Get the iPhone 18 Pro for free with qualifying trade-ins of iPhone 14 or later

• T-Mobile: Get the iPhone 18 Pro for free when you switch or trade-in an eligible phone on an Experience Beyond plan

• Total Wireless: Save $600 on iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max on the All Access plan

• Verizon: Get up to $1,200 off when you add a new line (with qualified trade-in) on eligible myPlan

• Visible: Buy the iPhone with Visible+ Pro and receive $480 through monthly credits

Astronomers have taken a patch of distant sky and turned it into a 3D map, revealing a colossal system with about 5,000 times more mass than the Milky Way in the early universe.

In previous space pictures, this area looked like a flat painted ceiling. Galaxies appeared close together simply because they lined up from our point of view, even if some were separated by billions of light‑years in depth.

Because of that optical illusion, astronomers couldn't say for sure whether they were looking at one gigantic galaxy cluster under construction or a corridor where many clusters were in development. 

The 3D map answered that. By measuring how far away the galaxies are, scientists watched that view transform into a chain of clumps. That new way of looking at the data showed this was not a construction zone for a regular galaxy cluster but a supercluster — a cluster of clusters. Rather than one heap of galaxies, they were looking at cities of clusters.

"I think the distance and sheer scale of the structures we are studying is really extraordinary. These are structures containing hundreds to thousands of galaxies," said Vandana Ramakrishnan, a graduate student at Purdue University in Indiana and lead author of the study, in a statement. "It brings home the vastness of the cosmos."

SEE ALSO: Small, icy worlds in the outer solar system barely changed since birth

The main system mapped is called COSMOS‑Z3.1‑A, and it's the earliest supercluster ever found. A second, smaller one, COSMOS‑Z3.1‑C, sits nearby in the same field. Both are so distant that we see them as they were when the universe was only about 2 or 3 billion years old, less than a quarter of its current age. 

Early surveys could only conclude that these were crowded locations for young galaxies. The clues came from a project called ODIN, which used the Dark Energy Camera on the U.S. National Science Foundation's Blanco 4‑meter telescope in Chile. In those images, the combined region stood out as a place where far‑off galaxies seemed tightly packed together.

The team turned to large telescopes in Chile, Hawaii, and Arizona, using instruments that spread each galaxy's light into a detailed rainbow. Because the universe is expanding, light from distant galaxies is stretched toward redder colors. Measuring that stretch reveals how long the light has traveled and how far away a galaxy lies.

In three dimensions, COSMOS‑Z3.1‑A broke down into 10 dense clumps of galaxies. COSMOS‑Z3.1‑C showed a similar pattern on a smaller scale, with about four. Each clump is massive and crowded enough to grow into its own galaxy cluster. 

Scientists say the new 3D view makes it easier to test the basic story of how the universe built its largest architecture. In computer models, groups of galaxies form first. They slide along highways, or filaments, under gravity, piling into chains of clumps. Over time, they merge into rounder, more settled clusters and superclusters. The results of the study were published in The Astrophysical Journal. 

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The 3D map also shows where these growing giants fit into the universe's larger cosmic web. Matter gathers into long highways that meet at intersections. Those hubs are where the clusters and superclusters tend to collect.

The Dark Energy Camera on the Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope in Chile helped astronomers find two unusually dense superclusters in the early universe. Credit: Nicole Firestone

"When we look at galaxy clusters in the nearby universe, we are seeing the finished product," said Eric Gawiser, a Rutgers University physics and astronomy professor, in a statement. But "This distant structure takes us back to a much earlier stage when the individual pieces were still coming together. It allows us to study how the universe built structures on its largest scales."

Once the galaxies were arranged in 3D, the researchers could estimate how much mass they have. They found both systems should eventually become more massive than the Coma Cluster, one of the largest known clusters in our area. In particular, COSMOS‑Z3.1‑A is head and shoulders above other heavyweights.

"We think there should be fewer than one such object for every 10,000 galaxy clusters," Ramakrishnan said.

The new Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile should make it possible to study more superclusters like this. Eventually, researchers hope to have enough data to compare how these systems look at different ages and track how galaxies evolve into dense cluster cores.

At the Google I/O event in May, CEO Sundar Pichai announced that the company's newest frontier model, Gemini 3.5 Pro, would launch in June.

"We are also excited for 3.5 Pro," Pichai said at a pre-Google I/O media briefing. "We are using it internally. It's showing great improvements. We are still testing and refining it, and it will roll out to everyone next month."

That never happened.

June eventually turned into July, and then August, and as of Sept. 10, there's still no sign of the model. The Google DeepMind website states, "3.5 Pro coming soon," as it has for months. Meanwhile, the long-time leader of Google DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, has been shuffled into a new position.

As Google stalls on Gemini 3.5 Pro, its chief AI rivals are releasing boundary-breaking new models. OpenAI recently released GPT-6 Astra, kicking off a new generation of GPT models, and Anthropic recently released Fable 5.1. Both models have made critical advances in cyber coding capabilities. They've also been used to resolve famous open questions in research-level mathematics, such as the Jacobian Conjecture and the Navier-Stokes problem (the latter was resolved with quite a bit of controversy, however). Chinese AI lab Moonshot also released Kimi K3, a massive open-source model with 2.8 trillion parameters.

Meanwhile, Google has rolled out a Gemini app for Windows and lighter-weight models such as Gemini 3.6 Flash.

It's been quite the turnaround for Google, which had raced forward in the AI arms race thanks to its massive user base and unprecedented access to training data.

So, where is Gemini 3.5 Pro?

At the Alphabet Q2 earnings call in July, Pichai said that "Gemini 3.5 Pro is currently in testing, and our team is already building the next generation of models."

Earlier that month, Bloomberg published a report on the delayed Gemini 3.5 Pro launch, with reporters Julia Love and Davey Alba writing that "The delay has caused frustration among Google engineers, AI researchers, and managers, who are concerned the company risks losing its edge in the market to rivals Anthropic and OpenAI."

At the time, Mashable reached out to Google with questions about the Gemini 3.5 Pro launch timeline, and the company provided the same statement it shared with Bloomberg: "We’re shipping quickly across a wide range of models while keeping them highly cost-effective for customers. We’re currently testing 3.5 Pro, an upgraded Flash model, and other models with partners, and we’re productively engaged with the U.S. government on model testing and broader frameworks."

The company did not respond to Mashable's most recent questions about the delay, and we will update this story if we receive more information.

Since the Bloomberg report, Google DeepMind has undergone a seismic leadership shakeup. In August, Pichai announced that Demis Hassabis, Google DeepMind's co-founder, will henceforth serve as the chairman of Google DeepMind and chief scientist of Alphabet, with AI researcher and longtime Googler Koray Kavukcuoglu leading the lab as the new senior vice president. The announcement also revealed that legendary AI researcher Jeff Dean would be leaving Google to start a new venture, along with several other researchers.

Crucially, Kavukcuoglu is based in Google's HQ in Mountain View, California, whereas Hassabis was based in London. An in-depth Fortune report said Google employees were "shocked" by the news, which raised concerns that Pichai was consolidating power in Mountain View.

So, is Hassabis's new role a promotion or a demotion? That's the billion-dollar question analysts have been asking ever since, though Google characterized the move as a promotion.

Fortune’s report on the “difficult year” at Google DeepMind also cited “delayed models, high-profile exits of talent, and a very public fight" among employees over military defense contracts. 

Bloomberg's July report suggested there were two other reasons driving the delay of Gemini 3.5 Pro. The first is bureaucratic. Given Google's organizational size and the number of products integrated with Gemini, delays are inevitable compared with leaner AI startups. Second, Bloomberg found that Google leaders were worried that Gemini 3.5 Pro may not be competitive with their rivals' recent releases.

Google continues to fall on AI leaderboards

Without a new frontier model, Google has tumbled down AI leaderboards. On the Arena leaderboard, Google is in 14th place as of this writing, behind models from Chinese labs such as DeepSeek and Moonshot. In Arena's coding leaderboard, the area where Anthropic and OpenAI have reported such rapid advancements, Google is currently ranked 25th.

Of course, the AI industry can and does change rapidly, and a new, highly advanced model could reverse Google's momentum overnight. The company still has some key advantages over other AI companies. Google not only has unprecedented access to the world's data, but it can also put its AI tools directly into the hands of billions of Android and Google Search users worldwide.

And even though Gemini 3.5 Pro is delayed, the company is already talking about Gemini 4.

"We are now training Gemini 4, and we're being very ambitious with it," Pichai said at the Q2 earnings call. "I am very excited by the progress I'm seeing internally on Gemini 4, and I'm confident that people will be pleased when we are putting it outside."

In response to a question about whether Google could still compete at the frontier level, Pichai sounded very optimistic.

"We are really focused, putting a lot of effort into Gemini 4. It's a very ambitious effort. We want to compete at the frontier level of where the frontier will be when Gemini 4 comes out, and so we are applying a lot of our compute and effort in that direction...And so, picking up pace and releasing models almost at a monthly cadence is part of our roadmap as we are building Gemini 4 as well."

But the longer Google waits to release Gemini 3.5 Pro, the higher the performance bar it will have to clear to maintain equal footing with its rivals.

There are a few things you expect to see when a crowd of college students takes over a fraternity lawn in broad daylight. People stretching on yoga mats before a group run probably aren't among them. Neither is a lineup of cold plunges.

But that’s the setup at a "wellness darty," a gathering that combines the social side of a college day party with activities you might otherwise associate with a fitness studio. A traditional "darty" — literally, a daytime party — usually revolves around drinking, music, and hanging out. At the wellness version, the agenda might include Pilates, a run, an ice bath, and a coffee or matcha afterward.

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These events have drawn students at the University of Miami, University of Florida, Florida State University, Syracuse University, and the University of Alabama, with local wellness groups organizing the gatherings. There’s still music and a crowd of people meeting up, but alcohol isn't the main event.

When I was in a sorority in 2017, our darties definitely didn't involve yoga mats...and I’m not the only one doing a double take. The trend has prompted TikTok users to share their own college party memories, with former students posting footage of nights out that looked very different from a group run.

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For the students attending, though, the idea may feel less surprising. As more young people look for ways to socialize that don’t revolve around drinking, a workout followed by coffee with friends fits into a broader idea of what a fun college weekend can look like.

The events gained widespread attention after Aydan Child, founder of Florida wellness community Peak Pulse, shared a TikTok of students gathering outside a University of Florida fraternity house to stretch and work out. "Imagine explaining a wellness darty to someone who went to college in 2012," the text over the video read. As White Claw commented on the post, "I just broke out in hives."

That gathering (with reportedly "hundreds" of attendees) was one of 20 wellness darties the club has hosted across Gainesville and Tallahassee, and they aren't alone: The charity and wellness group Sweat & Soak has organized events for University of Alabama students featuring workouts, cold plunges, and saunas, while The Wellness Society hosted an outdoor mat Pilates class at Syracuse University's fraternity DKE (yes, on their front lawn). The "global wellness community" now has chapters in high schools and on college campuses around the world, hosting similar events this month.

According to data from Eventbrite, seeing this type of event on campus may not surprise Gen Z much: morning raves have grown 20 percent. Coffee clubbing — along with sauna and ice bath events, which are also part of the "soft clubbing" movement — are up 478 percent and 256 percent, respectively.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Why are students showing up?

Pilates, run clubs, elaborate morning routines, and post-workout matcha are familiar parts of the wellness content young people encounter online. It only makes sense to put these digital trends together into a social event that would attract Gen Z-ers.

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Research hints at why. McKinsey's 2024 wellness report found that 56 percent of surveyed U.S. Gen Z consumers considered fitness a "very high priority," compared with 40 percent of U.S. consumers overall. And, its 2025 research also found that Gen Z and millennials accounted for more than 41 percent of annual U.S. wellness spending, despite making up 36 percent of the adult population.

That interest in wellness also overlaps with beauty and fashion trends among young women, with labels like "Pilates princess" turning a workout routine into an aspirational lifestyle online. I mean, ever heard of the "clean girl" aesthetic? Popularized by figures like Hailey Bieber, the look is associated with slicked-back hair, dewy skin, and minimal-looking makeup.

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In the broader lifestyle content surrounding it, you’ll also find matching workout sets, under-eye patches, Pilates classes, and matcha runs — all presented as parts of the same daily routine for looking and feeling good.

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Alongside the interest in wellness, younger people’s relationship with alcohol has been changing for years. A 2023 Gallup survey showed that the share of adults under 35 who reported drinking fell from 72 percent in 2001–2003 to 62 percent in 2021–2023. Plus, 52 percent of Gen Z-ers considered moderate drinking unhealthy in 2023, up from 34 percent five years earlier. Researchers have also documented declining youth drinking in countries including England, Sweden, Australia, and Iceland, suggesting the shift extends well beyond the U.S.

A growing number of young adults in the US are choosing to abstain from alcohol Credit: Statista

There isn’t one explanation for that change. Cost is one possible factor: In a 2023 study of young people in England, participants pointed to alcohol’s affordability as a reason their generation might be drinking less. A University of Michigan study found that young adults sometimes skipped drinking because of a recent hangover, alongside concerns about money and school or work commitments. The possibility of an embarrassing moment ending up online may also play a role.

As Northeastern University historian Malcolm Purinton told the Times Union, "People don’t want to go viral for intoxication, whether in high school or college." Another reason? According to a survey in 2021, 51.7 percent of young adults abstained from alcohol because they disliked the taste/smell.

Apparently, "you’ll acquire a taste for it" wasn’t a convincing sales pitch. Credit: Statista

Drinking less may also be connected to young people spending less time socializing in person. Wellness darties offer a reason to get together, with the turnout suggesting there’s still an appetite for shared plans — even when drinking isn’t the focus.

And for students who find socializing difficult, these events offer a way to ease into it through a shared love of fitness. University of Alabama sophomore Riley Meyer, who helped facilitate a Sweat & Soak event, told USA Today, "I think my generation… does have a problem with socialization, especially without the context of alcohol at a party, and I think that when you have an activity built in, it gives you something to do."

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

Online, the combination of college partying and wellness has prompted everything from amusement to disbelief.

One widely viewed X post described the footage as "truly bone chilling." Another asked why college students were "cosplaying as 30-something matcha/pilates/corporate warriors."

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The responses also reveal different expectations of what college is supposed to look like. In the r/GenZ discussion, one commenter identifying as a millennial explained that memories of partying were "strongly tied to the feelings of youth, self-discovery, and newfound freedom." One parent expressed nostalgia for her college experience: "There was a LOT of heavy laughter and dancing and hooking up, and it was fun."

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Others online questioned why a different kind of social event was attracting criticism at all. As the original poster asked, "Isn’t trying to be more health-conscious a generally GOOD thing?"

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For some, though, the concern centered on the pressure to make every experience an opportunity for self-improvement. "I think it’s generally because our generation is too fixated on optimizing everything," one commenter wrote. "There is beauty in imperfection."

There’s still a Saturday night

Students attending these events made the point to reporters that they are still partying.

Meyer, for example, said that she and her friends went home after their wellness darty, took a break, and went out later. "It’s not like it prohibited us from going out, it just gave us something else to do," she told USA Today.

Child, who is sober, told the publication that Peak Pulse’s events are open to everyone. Some end at a bar, where coffee and matcha are encouraged, but alcohol is also available. He told People that students can go out on Friday night and still make room for a run on Saturday. There is data that suggests Gen Z is in an alcohol resurgence — 74 percent of Gen Zers report having had a drink over the past six months, up from 66 percent three years ago, according to a July 2026 report.

Whether "wellness darties" become a campus tradition or eventually take on a new name, their appeal offers a glimpse of what students may want from their social lives beyond college: more ways to spend time together that fit their interests and routines, with drinking optional. For the clubs, bars, and event organizers hoping to attract them, a fraternity lawn full of yoga mats is a useful place to start paying attention.

TL;DR: Pay $49.99 (reg. $499) once for MusicMagic’s Starter Plan and get 100 lifetime AI music generations, unlimited distribution, commercial rights, and 100% royalty retention.

Opens in a new window Credit: MusicMagic MusicMagic Starter Plan: Lifetime Subscription $49.99
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Your shower-song career can finally leave the bathroom. MusicMagic turns a mood, topic, story, or your own lyrics into a fully produced track, with eight genres to choose from and tools for distributing your hard work to major streaming platforms. For a limited time, you can grab a lifetime subscription to its Starter Plan for only $49.99 (reg. $499).

You don’t necessarily need a recording studio, a band, or production experience to turn the song rattling around in your head into something you can actually release. MusicMagic Starter uses AI to handle much of the process, from writing lyrics and generating the track to creating cover art and distributing the finished song.

Give MusicMagic a mood, topic, or story, then choose from eight genres and let the AI turn that prompt into lyrics and a fully produced track. If you’ve already written lyrics of your own, you can bring those instead and have the AI build the music around them.

The available genres include pop, rock, electronic, lo-fi, classical, jazz, hip-hop, and R&B, giving you ample room to experiment with different sounds and styles. Finished songs can run up to 120 seconds and be downloaded as WAV or MP3 files, with previous creations saved to your MusicMagic library.

The platform also handles music distribution, letting you release tracks to major streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music without paying a per-release distribution fee. AI-generated cover art is included, too, knocking another item off the release checklist.

And if your experiment with AI music somehow turns into actual listeners, you keep 100% of your streaming royalties. The plan includes full commercial rights to the tracks you create, so they can also be monetized or used commercially without an additional MusicMagic licensing fee.

There is a limit to how prolific your imaginary record label can become. The Starter Plan includes 100 AI music generations for the lifetime of the account, rather than 100 new credits every month. But distribution itself is unlimited, so you aren’t restricted to a set number of releases from the music you’ve created.

Normally $499, you can grab the MusicMagic Starter Plan on sale for only $49.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a MagellanTV lifetime subscription for $149.97 (reg. $999), with access to more than 4,000 documentaries.

Opens in a new window Credit: MagellanTV MagellanTV Documentary Streaming Service: Lifetime Subscription $149.97
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If your streaming queue could use fewer scripted dramas and more engaging and educational content, MagellanTV is built around documentaries. The service offers over 4,000 movies and series across categories including history, science and technology, nature, space, true crime, travel and art and culture. You can get the MagellanTV lifetime subscription while it’s on sale for $149.97 (reg. $999).

MagellanTV is designed for viewers who want to learn about their favorite subject rather than watch whatever happens to be trending. Its library includes curated collections and playlists focused on people, places and events, with new documentaries added each week. Available titles can stream in 4K when that quality is offered, and there are no ads interrupting the programming.

The catalog covers a broad range of interests, from ancient history and biographies to space, science, Earth, nature and technology. There are also collections covering travel and adventure, historical drama, current history and social issues. This way, you can move from a documentary about the cosmos to one about an archaeological discovery without switching to a different streaming app.

MagellanTV works across TVs, laptops and mobile devices, and you can cast programs from a phone or tablet to compatible devices including Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast and smart TVs. Multiple-device streaming also makes it possible to watch from wherever you happen to be.

MagellanTV is ideal for anyone who regularly turns to documentaries for entertainment or wants a deeper library than the documentary selection offered by general-purpose streaming platforms. It’s also a straightforward option for households with people who have interests, given the range of categories available. Some titles have geographic restrictions, so the available library can vary depending on where you live.

For documentary programming and not just another general entertainment service, MagellanTV offers plenty to explore. Get your MagellanTV lifetime subscription for $149.97 (reg. $999).

StackSocial prices subject to change

Watching the showcase of impulsive and absolutely illegal decisions made in the film Bad Apples, I couldn't get the words of a doomed galactic senator out of my head: "If you lead your thoughts through to conclusion, it will lead you to a place we cannot go."

It's exactly this place of no return that the Saiorse Ronan-led dark comedy thriller relentlessly cannonballs into, with director Jonatan Etzler putting his protagonist down a dubious, desperate path. With Ronan's always-impeccable talents supported by a sublime young cast, Bad Apples leans into unethical impulses, all the while exposing home truths about the under-resourced education system and social disdain toward children with behavioural, emotional, and social difficulties. Plus, it's really funny.

SEE ALSO: How social media in the classroom is burning teachers out

Teachers, parents, you're going to want to watch this film (and I want to know what you think of it).

Bad Apples sees Saiorse Ronan as a teacher who meets her edge

Written by Jess O'Kane as an adaptation of Rasmus Andersson's novel De Oönskade, Bad Apples enrols you with Somerset-based primary school teacher Maria (Ronan), who has thought of nothing but a teaching career since childhood. Alas, the reality of an underfunded education system wears down her Miss Honey-drenched dreams and raises the stakes with a "difficult" student.

Beyond overwhelmed, Maria's all-too-real lack of institutional support comes to a head accommodating the needs of disruptive student Danny (excellent newcomer Eddie Waller). A boy with the shortest of fuses, he swears at his classmates, destroys their belongings, ruins excursions, and generally gives Maria hell. Here, young Waller delivers in spades, with O'Kane's script heaped with unapologetic expletives and violent threats. Despite her frazzled attempts to control the situation and the attempted assistance of teacher's pet Pauline (an outstanding Nia Brown), Maria is held accountable by concerned parents, denied professional support by the equally stressed principal (Rakie Ayola), and facing the school's dreaded regular Ofsted inspection. Suddenly, a moment of violence occurs.

With her job genuinely on the line, Maria takes action. How do you solve a problem like Danny? Reader, she locks this kid in her own basement. 

Featured Video For You NYCC Recap, Good Boy's Oscar Plea, and Best Book Adaptations from BFI LFF Saiorse Ronan gives a masterclass in unreliable protagonist

With full knowledge of the kidnapped child playing video games in her home, Maria keeps the ruse up — and Ronan plays the audience entirely with her inner insistence on her actions being justified. Practicing such deadpan statements aloud as "I've got your son in my basement" and lazily searching "how to control a large pet" online land with comedic finesse, as Maria digs herself deeper and deeper into a proverbial hole.

Notably, a large part of Bad Apples gives us an insight into Maria's real sense of loneliness. She retreats into her nightly sense of control in her cosy farming simulator game and never socialises outside of school. Adding stress to an already tempestuous working environment, Maria works with her ex, the man she moved to Somerset for, who then left her for another woman — an especially brutal move in a small town. So, with Danny kept in the basement, Maria not only controls a newfound peace in her classroom, but enjoys a warped sense of company in her primary-aged prisoner.

This sense of messed up perspective extends to Danny, who screams to go home to his absent father (Robert Emms) as much as he enjoys a Stockholm Syndrome-like existence learning his ABCs from Maria and being actually cared for (albeit while being incarcerated in a basement and shitting in a bucket). Over the course of the film, Maria and Danny develop a deeply strange, playful, and volatile bond. But is this genuine camaraderie, or is Danny merely trying to get the hell out of here? It's a dark dance of ethics, and one that draws wonderful moments of pure comedy from both Ronan and Waller. 

Bad Apples plays out a micro decision with macro implications

Maria's actions in Bad Apples aren't just unhinged, they're criminal. However, the film plays out the scenario anyway, just to see what might happen if you, say, shut a disruptive student in a basement the day of your school's Ofsted inspection, the day after he attacked a fellow student.

Beginning as a trope of a Difficult Student, Waller's Danny finds superb moments of vulnerability and humanity, especially through moving scenes with Ronan's Maria. In contrast, Brown's Pauline, the straight-A student, the ultimate teacher's sycophant, becomes the film's real power player.

Through the film's diabolical set-up, Etzler and O'Kane are able to pose ethical questions about overworked teachers and the lack of resources educators have to work with children with behavioural difficulties, as well as assumptions we make of "difficult" kids. Here, communities would rather sweep troubled kids like Danny under the rug (or into a basement) than begin to try to understand him. I honestly want to know what teachers and parents think of this film, as I'm neither myself.

Ultimately, who in this situation is actually the bad apple?

Bad Apples was reviewed out of BFI London Film Festival 2025. The film is showing in UK cinemas from Sept. 11, with international dates TBC.

SAVE $50: As of Sept. 11, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are on sale for $249 at Amazon. That's a 17% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds $249 at Amazon
$299 Save $50   Get Deal

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are back on sale at Amazon, so if you're looking for a premium pair of earbuds at a great price, look no further. As of Sept. 11, they have dropped to $249, knocking $50 off their usual price. The deal is available on all five colors: white smoke, deep plum, desert gold, midnight violet, and black.

Noise cancellation is a major selling point with these earbuds. Bose says these earbuds offer its most effective noise cancellation, as well as an ActiveSense feature that helps soften sudden changes in background noise when you switch to Aware Mode. There's also CustomTune, which uses the shape of your ears to personalize both the sound and noise cancellation.

They also come with nine combinations of eartips and stability bands, so getting a comfortable, secure fit should be easier. And for calls and voice notes, SpeechClarity uses noise-rejecting microphones to help reduce background noise and wind. Plus, you'll get up to six hours of battery life in Quiet or Aware Mode, or up to four hours with Immersive Audio.

Get this earbuds deal from Amazon now.

A new national study has revealed that women face a troubling double when it comes to carrying a key component of sexual health: condoms. 

When Australian women were asked about other women carrying condoms, the two most common answers were both about her sexual conduct: that she is planning to have sex (45.4%), and that she sleeps around (38.6%). Yet, the most common answer about men carrying condoms? “Is prepared” – at 43.9%. 

Credit: Moments Sexual Health Study 2026 Key findings from the 2026 Moments Sexual Wellness Study:

• Buying condoms has gotten easier for women, but being judged for carrying them has gotten worse

• Three in four Australian women have hidden, disguised or abandoned a condom purchase

• Two-thirds of Australian women have gone without a condom because neither person had one

More here.

Additionally, the study found that Australian women aged 18-45 are still uncomfortable buying or carrying condoms. And, while more women felt comfortable buying condoms than 10 years ago, feelings of judgement for carrying condoms has actually gotten worse. 

“The stigma [around condoms] didn’t dissolve. It relocated,” said sex educator Eleanor Hadley about the findings. “We’ve spent a decade making the public part of this easier – better shelf placement, self-checkouts, more open conversation – and by our own tracking, buying condoms has genuinely got easier. But nobody was working on the private part. That’s where it has settled, and that’s where women are now paying for it.”

With an overwhelming feeling of judgement running rampant across women even throwing a pack of condoms in their regular groceries, three in four Australian women are usually either hiding them via self-checkout or disguising them within other items. 

The study also found that “Other respondents had waited until a shop was quiet, bought online to avoid buying in person, asked somebody else to buy, or gone somewhere they were less likely to be known.” Some Australian women have simply abandoned their condom purchases altogether. This has prompted condom brands like Moments Wellness to offer services like discreet condom deliveries (and even subscriptions).

With public perception working against them, women are struggling to get to a place where, as Moments puts it, “A condom should be able to sit beside coffee, deodorant or lip balm without recruiting the rest of the basket as cover.” Though we’re yet to break the stigma completely, here’s hoping conversations created by projects like Moments Sexual Health Study can help normalise being assertive with one’s own sexual health, for women, as much as men. 

About the study: Moments Sexual Health Study 2026. 1,111 Australian women aged 18–45, weighted by age, state and region. Carrying behaviour, partner response and responsibility were measured for the first time in 2026 and have no prior comparison. The 2026 wave was fielded by a different provider to the 2017 and 2021 waves. More here.