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Sony was one of the first companies to champion the idea of open-ear earbuds when it released its first LinkBuds model in 2022, an in-ear design with a distinctive donut-shaped speaker module. Since then, it has stuck to this formula — with a small tweak to 2024’s LinkBuds Open — while most open-ear competitors like Shokz, Bose, and Soundcore have chosen earhook and clip-style designs.

Today, that changes with the debut of the Sony LinkBuds Clip ($229.99), available now in four different colors (lavender, black, green, and greige). At the time of writing, the earbuds are available at Amazon and directly from Sony.

Sony LinkBuds Clip $229.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

The LinkBuds Clip, as its name suggests, follows in the footsteps of the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds and Shokz OpenDots One, with a U-shaped clip design that wraps around the side of the ear instead of sitting inside it.

Left: The Sony LinkBuds Open have a distinctive donut-style shape. Credit: Sony Right: The new LinkBuds Clip have a cuff-style shape. Credit: Sony

I got to briefly try the new Sony LinkBuds Clip at a demo ahead of their launch, and I've got all the details on these new wireless earbuds.

SEE ALSO: I tested the best Sony headphones and earbuds for ANC, sound, and cool factor: See my top 7 picks Sony embraces a new design for the LinkBuds

Sony says its research revealed that fit and comfort are among buyers’ top concerns in choosing open-ear earbuds. And while Sony stopped short of saying that users found the LinkBuds and LinkBuds Open uncomfortable, the LinkBuds Clip seems like an acknowledgement that not everyone was able to get a comfortable fit with the company’s in-ear models.

A soft, flexible band connects the in-ear speaker pod with a battery module that sits behind the ear. Sony includes a set of small silicone “air fitting cushions” to help users with smaller ears get a secure fit. Like the rest of the LinkBuds family, the new Sony LinkBuds Clips have an IPX4 splash-proof rating.

Credit: Sony

As with the LinkBuds Open, Sony will sell accessory silicone top and bottom covers (with ring carabiners) for the charging case in the same five colors as the earbuds. The tops come with a color-matched set of air cushions, and you’ll be able to mix and match top and bottom colors. They cost $24.99 for a set and will only be available on Sony’s website.

Speaking of the charging case, its size and shape are nearly identical to the LinkBuds Open, with a clamshell design that unfortunately lacks wireless charging.

SEE ALSO: Open earbuds guide: What they are, who should buy them, and why they're popping up everywhere What else is new with the Sony LinkBuds Clip earbuds?

Sony says it has upped the battery life on the LinkBuds Clip by an hour versus the Open model, claiming a 9-hour per charge play time, and a total of 37 hours when you include the case’s capacity. A fast-charge system promises an additional one hour of play time after just three minutes of charging.

Sound-wise, Sony has added a new voice mode that attempts to keep spoken audio content clear and intelligible in noisy environments, while a sound leakage mode works to prevent your music and voice calls from being heard by others.

The company also says that a future firmware update will bring adaptive volume control, which will sense the noise level of your surroundings and boost or lower the LinkBuds Clip’s volume to match.

Credit: Sony Credit: Sony

The Clips support Bluetooth Multipoint, along with SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs, but unlike the LinkBuds Open, you don’t get LC3 codec support. Perhaps more disappointingly, Sony has no plans to add Bluetooth Auracast.

The earbuds use tap controls instead of physical buttons, but Sony hasn’t included the wide-area tap feature from the LinkBuds Open, which lets you tap near the earbuds instead of directly on them. Moreover, customization of the controls with Sony’s Sound Connect app will be limited to a set of pre-configured control groups.

Call quality, which has always been a big selling point for open earbuds, could see a significant improvement on the LinkBuds Clip. Sony says it has leveraged AI-powered noise reduction, combined with a new bone-conduction sensor, to eliminate background noise during calls. During my briefing, Sony played some example recordings to illustrate the difference these new technologies make, and if they prove to be as effective in real life, the Clips should be excellent for calls.

The Beauty is Ryan Murphy at his Ryan Murphy-est, which is to say that it's maximalist, deranged chaos.

For proof, look no further than the show's opening. Over five minutes, The Beauty puts Bella Hadid through body horror hell. As fictional model Ruby, Hadid struts a muddy Paris catwalk. She's gleaming — not with supermodel shine, mind you, but with a concerning layer of sweat. It's a symptom of a mysterious affliction that's burning her up from within, one so unbearable she begins snapping onlookers' necks in order to steal their water bottles.

SEE ALSO: 2026 TV preview: All the TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them

That's just the start of Ruby's quest for hydration, which soon spirals into a motorcycle chase involving shredded skin, broken bones, and Hadid splashing herself with toilet water. It all culminates in Ruby self-destructing in an impressive shower of blood, guts, and gore that left me cackling and wondering, as I do after watching most Murphy shows, "What the hell did I just witness?"

What's The Beauty about? Rebecca Hall and Evan Peters in "The Beauty." Credit: Philippe Antonello/FX

FBI agents Cooper Madsen (Evan Peters) and Jordan Bennett (Rebecca Hall) are trying to answer that very same question, albeit with far less cackling. Turns out, Ruby isn't the first supermodel to spontaneously combust. She's the latest in a string of grisly deaths, the culprit of which is a nightmarish new virus described as "the fucked-up love child of HIV and rabies, but neither."

Meet the Beauty, a sexually transmitted disease that turns its hosts into absolute bombshells — after a hideously painful transformation, that is. The virus was initially engineered as a product for the wealthiest man alive, known simply as the Corporation (Ashton Kutcher). While it's currently running rampant in the wild, he hopes to one day market it as the shot that makes you hot.

No, The Beauty is not (entirely) a Substance rip-off. Jeremy Pope and Anthony Ramos in "The Beauty." Credit: Eric Liebowitz/FX

If the concept of an injectable beauty serum reminds you of Coralie Fargeat's 2024 film The Substance, I don't blame you. But The Beauty is actually based on Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley's graphic novel series of the same name, which began its run in 2015.

However, the show does take major liberties with its source material. (Hurley still serves as a consultant.) That includes the intense focus on the Corporation and the injectable aspect of the Beauty, which screams The Substance. It's tough not to see the latter's influence in The Beauty's many transformation sequences either.

SEE ALSO: 'All's Fair's most WTF lines of dialogue

These scenes are showstoppers: body convulsions straight out of The Exorcist, swaths of melting skin, and bone cracks so loud you'll think twice about watching any ASMR chiropractor videos. When a victim's "beautiful" self is ready to emerge, it does so by hatching from the goopiest cocoons you've ever seen.

After watching The Substance's Sue crawl out out Elisabeth's split back, these skin sac rebirths may feel tame by comparison. Plus, as The Beauty sees more and more of its characters transforming, the pattern of body horror risks becoming stale. Thankfully, the show's astounding prosthetics work, and the Beauty's increasing mutations keep things feeling fresh instead of punishingly rote. New transformations focus on new body parts, from teeth to fingernails to rib cages, ushering in a new wave of WTF-ery every episode.

The Beauty is at its best when it's unhinged. Ashton Kutcher in "The Beauty." Credit: FX

Granted, "WTF" is the reaction so much of The Beauty wants you to have. The show oozes with twists, transformations, and out-of-pocket one-liners that feel, like the virus at the show's heart, as if they've been lab-engineered for maximum shock value. But Murphy and Hodgson also aim for introspection, trying to prompt greater conversations around beauty standards and the extreme lengths people go to in order to look "beautiful."

The latter elements are unfortunately skin-deep. As part of their thoroughly unconvincing love story, Detectives Madsen and Bennett discuss why people would want to take the Beauty in the first place, debating breast augmentation and monologuing about people's desire for sexual validation. Elsewhere, a plastic surgeon (Jon Jon Briones) tells a prospective patient (Jaquel Spivey) that he's an "incel" when he should be a "chad." Of course, the patient is extremely online and found the doctor thanks to a dark web chat room, meaning he'd definitely know what an incel is. This explanation is just one example of The Beauty's clumsy, on-the-nose attempts to be a part of current discourse around beauty standards. Of course, when the show itself caves to said beauty standards, with its cast of Instagram-perfect faces and bodies and a lens that ogles them incessantly, it's tough to believe that The Beauty buys what it's selling.

It's when The Beauty gets less earnest and more straight-up unhinged in its messaging that it works best. Forget metaphors about the Japanese art of kintsugi and embracing our physical flaws. I want the Corporation's Assassin (Anthony Ramos) ranting about the career of Christopher Cross on the way to a kill. I want Isabella Rossellini (whose casting is a delightful Death Becomes Her nod) reading Kutcher to filth for his superficial behavior. If you're going to somehow be less subtle than The Substance when it comes to commentary on beauty standards, I want you to make it flat-out fun!

The Beauty manages to do so as it begins to focus less on the detectives and their fight for justice, and more on the Corporation and just how darn evil he is. (It helps that both Kutcher and Ramos know exactly the kind of over-the-top villainy their roles demand.) There are some exceptions to the rule, though. At several points, The Beauty peers beyond both its detectives' investigations and the Corporation's wrongdoings, examining the many use cases for the Beauty beyond just looking stunning. Gender-affirming care and life-saving medicine are at the center of two of these moving storylines. The show also examines how the Beauty and social media make for a potent mix, especially for high school girls whose self-esteem already takes enough of a beating without the world telling them they need a hotness superdrug.

The ground-level storytelling in these vignettes is the closest the series has to holding up a mirror to our own world, no on-the-nose monologue necessary. Of course, it's not long before The Beauty reverts back to its main, extremely heightened plotline, full of jet-setting, corporate conspiracy, and yes, explosions. It's some of the most ridiculous TV I've watched in ages, and this being a Murphy show, you can bet I mean "ridiculous" in both the best and worst sense.

The first three episodes of The Beauty premiere on FX and Hulu at 9 p.m. ET on Jan. 21, with a new episode every Wednesday.

As a professional headphones tester, the question people around me have asked me the most this past year is some version of: What exactly are open earbuds? That often gets followed up with: Are they better than regular noise-cancelling earbuds?

SEE ALSO: How we test headphones and earbuds

The (somewhat) short answer to the first part: They're one of the most popular earbuds trends. If you haven't heard of them yet, you might have seen their other names: open-ear earbuds or open-ear headphones. This earbud type is unique in that no part of the earbud sits in your ear canal. Chances are, if you've seen one pair, you've seen the Bose Ultra Open earbuds, which, though great (I recommend them as one of the best open earbuds), are just one option of many on the market.

The Bose Ultra Open earbuds are part earbud, part fashion accessory, and one of the most popular options available. Credit: Bose

In addition the the cuff-designed Bose earbuds that focus on the listening experience first and foremost, there are open buds that use ear hooks to stay in place, designs made for exercise, and even open headphones.

Major audio brands seem to be going all in on the rising popularity of this design. In 2026 alone, JBL announced five new styles of open earbuds at CES, Soundcore revealed an open earbud that can also be used as a noise-cancelling earbud, Shokz introduced noise reduction into the open earbud space, and Sony revamped their donut open earbuds in favor of a pastel clip design.

So to that second question — are any of those options better than in-ear noise-cancelling earbuds? As always, it depends on what you're looking for in a pair of earbuds. So let's start with the basics:

What are open earbuds?

Open earbuds are any earbuds that don't sit directly in your ear canal. Generally, this means they use air conduction to transmit the sound to your ears. Some folks also consider bone conduction headphones, like the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, to be a type of open earbud, as they don't sit in the ear canal and send vibrations to the bones of your head, which then transmit as sound in your inner-ear canal. However, for the purposes of this guide, I'll be speaking primarily about the air conduction open earbuds.

Bone conduction headphones also leave the ear canal open, but use different tech to transmit sound. Credit: Shokz

A significant part of open earbuds' appeal is that they essentially provide a permanent transparency mode, without any annoying hissing or weird amplification of environmental sound. Some folks also find them more comfortable, suited for exercise, and a good alternative to traditional earbuds (if they don't like the feeling of earbuds in their ears).

Do open earbuds offer noise cancellation?

Open earbuds sit outside of the ear canal and don't encompass the ear (like a traditional over-ear headphone), so it's essentially impossible for any open earbuds to provide active noise cancellation.

Instead, open earbuds rely on using music to drown out the world around you, to an extent (though they will be noticeably less effective than a pair of ANC buds). Still, this is the point of an open earbud — they're designed for excellent noise transparency, not noise cancellation.

SEE ALSO: I tested sleep earbuds for months: Here are the 3 I'd buy, and the one I'd skip

What exactly does that mean? It means that in the best pairs of open earbuds, you'll find a balance between external sounds and the audio you're streaming. You'll be able to hear a barista calling your name clearly, cars driving along the road next to you, or yourself singing along. Frequently, transparency modes on traditional in-ear earbuds can amplify environmental sounds to an unnatural degree — because the transparency mode is built into the design, open earbuds essentially give you the experience of having your own personal speakers. They're an excellent solution for anyone who frequently finds themselves wearing only one earbud or sliding one ear cup slightly off their ear with over-ear headphones.

If the lack of ANC turns you off from using open earbuds, I wouldn't check out just yet. As I mentioned briefly up top, Soundcore recently introduced a pair of open earbuds that can also be used as ANC buds. Granted, when using the noise cancellation feature, you do wear the earbuds as in-ear buds, but they can be adjusted back to their open wear form. The Shokz OpenFit Pro are another new release that are worn solely as open earbuds, and provide noise reduction — you'll still hear the world around you well, but it will be dampened in an effort to make the audio you stream easier to listen to.

Can other people hear open earbuds?

Ideally, the sound leakage from open ear headphones is minimal to nonexistent, but that's not always the reality. While it won't be like you're actually using small Bluetooth speakers, certain models, especially at higher volumes, might play music clearly enough that someone standing within a couple feet of you might be able to make out the lyrics of what you're listening to.

Though I didn't have a pair on hand to confirm this theory, the sound leakage felt somewhat reminiscent of what you'd experience with the early 2000s on-ear headphones that often came with portable CD players.

The main benefits of open earbuds, summarized

Open earbuds won't appeal to everyone's taste, but anyone looking for their earbuds to give them the following is much more likely to be pleased:

• Comfortable wear: Open earbuds don't obstruct your ear canal, and can generally be much lighter on the ear than traditional earbuds and headphones.

• General awareness: You can still hear the world around you the entire time you're wearing open earbuds, making them great for taking out in public, whether on a run or for a stroll in the park.

• Exercise-friendly: Many open earbuds have IP scores that deem them water resistant or even waterproof, meaning they're okay to sweat in. Awareness of the world around you can come in handy when you're running down the street or want to stay alert at the gym. Finally, the ear hook design can help hold earbuds in place, making them ideal for use during more movement.

Beyond the lack of ANC, open earbuds have two major cons. For one, the audio itself won't sound as robust, because they're sitting outside your ears — hearing finer details or well-rounded bass is less likely across the board, even with the best-sounding earbuds. Some brands may also be prone to more audio leakage, meaning using them in already quiet settings (like studying at the library) could pose some risk of disturbing others.

How to wear open earbuds

How exactly you'll wear an open earbud depends somewhat on the design and the brand. Ear hook designs tend to take a little more finessing to situate comfortably, while ear cuff buds can be more straightforward to put on.

The EarFun Clip earbuds cuff around the ears (and can be worn with an earring stack). Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

However, with both styles, you'll likely spend some time during your first wears adjusting where exactly the earbud sits on your ear. Though this is something you'll do to some extent with all earbuds, it's especially important with open earbuds, as the sound quality can legitimately be affected by where the earbud is situated. Finding the right spot is simple: While playing music, slightly adjust the earbuds until they sit where they sound best.

Our favorite open earbuds

Like regular earbuds, open earbuds can run you anywhere from $25 to $300 — below, I've included tried and tested open earbuds models from across the price spectrum.

Best open earbuds Best budget option EarFun Clip $69.99 Shop Now Best ear hook design soundcore AeroFit 2 $129.99 Shop Now Best for most people Shokz OpenDots One $199.95 Shop Now Best upgrade pick Bose Ultra Open earbuds $299 Shop Now

Check out Mashable's full roundup of the best open earbuds.

System76 released version 1.0.3 of its fresh, Rust-based COSMIC desktop environment this week, bringing with it several fixes and improvements for Linux fans running it. In particular, the file browser is getting some essential features.

YouTube TV is kicking off the new year with a couple of features that are long overdue. The first is a much-needed expansion of the excellent “Multiview” feature, and the second marks a return to the original promise of streaming live TV services.

Worried about seeing a bunch of ads in your favorite AI assistant? If you're using Google Gemini, you probably won't — at least not in the foreseeable future.

During an interview in Davos, Switzerland, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis told Alex Heath that the company doesn’t have “any plans” to put ads in Gemini. In contrast, OpenAI is about to start testing ads in ChatGPT, causing outrage from many of its users.

SEE ALSO: Google increases Gemini usage limit. How it will work.

Plans can and do sometimes change, of course, and Google could still integrate ads into its AI assistant one day, but at least we know it's not happening soon. (Though we should note that Google is currently the largest advertising company on the planet; in 2023, the company generated $175 trillion in ad revenue.)

In discussing AI ads at Davos, Hassabis also seemed to take a subtle shot at his chief AI rival, telling Axios he was "surprised" that OpenAI was turning to ads so quickly.

In a tweet, OpenAI said that ChatGPT ads will only show up in ChatGPT free and Go tiers, and explained that ChatGPT's responses will not be influenced by ads and that users' conversations will remain private from advertisers.

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The company said that its mission is "to ensure AGI benefits all of humanity," and that its pursuit of advertising is "always in support of that mission," as well as "making AI more accessible.

It probably isn't that simple, though. In 2024, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said ads were a "last resort" for the company, and recent reports describe how Altman internally declared "code red," prioritizing efforts to make sure ChatGPT doesn't fall behind competitors, including Gemini.

Anyone who grew up in the '80s is in for a treat, with Amazon MGM Studios dropping the first glimpse of live-action He-Man (Nicholas Galitzine) in a teaser for Masters of the Universe.

The teaser itself gives little away — it's pretty much a 30-second promo for the actual trailer dropping tomorrow — but we do see some brief glimpses of the heroes based on Mattel's famous action fantasy franchise.

SEE ALSO: 2026 movie preview: All the films you need to know about right now

Camila Mendes, Alison Brie, James Purefoy, Morena Baccarin, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Charlotte Riley, Kristin Wiig, Jared Leto, and Idris Elba make up the incredibly stacked cast.

Masters of the Universe is in theaters on June 5.

SAVE $1,502: As of Jan. 21, the TCL 65-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV is down to just $997.99 at Amazon. That's 60% in savings based on its full list price of $2,499.99 and just $98 away from its best-ever price from Black Friday.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 65-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV $997.99 at Amazon
$2,499.99 Save $1,502.00   Get Deal

Unsure what size TV to get? We think 65 inches is the sweet spot for most people. And our top pick for a 65-incher is TCL's QM8K TV. It's a particularly worthwhile choice when it's on sale and as of Jan. 21, it's more than half off.

Typically listed at $2,499.99, you can grab the TCL 65-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV for only $997.99 at Amazon this week. That's more than $1,500 or 60% in savings based on its full list price (Amazon's current list price is deflated). That's also only $98 away from its best-ever price from Black Friday. Best Buy also has a great deal on the TV if you prefer to shop there — it's just $2 more than Amazon.

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The internet practically unanimously agrees that the TCL QM8K is the best QLED TV for most folks, thanks to its highly impressive brightness and stellar picture quality, contrast, and shadow detail. "While this intensity of brightness makes the QM8K a solid choice for watching TV in daylight, its more-precise-than-usual backlights keep details crisp in a dark room. The new anti-halo effect is an effective fix for some of the blooming its predecessor experienced," Mashable's Leah Stodart notes.

It's also equipped with a 2.2-channel Bang & Olufsen-designed speaker array with Dolby Atmos spatial audio, a 144Hz native refresh rate with VRR and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, a low 12.9ms input lag, ATSC 3.0, Wi-Fi 6, and plenty of ports for all of your peripherals.

If you're looking to upgrade your TV this season, you certainly won't be disappointed with this pick — and your wallet will be pleased with the price. And BTW: If you're not sure what to do with your old TV, you can recycle it at most Best Buy stores for free.

SAVE UP TO 14%: Select configurations of the Apple MacBook Air (M4) are on sale on Amazon for $200 off as of Jan. 21, with prices starting at $1,199 (normally $1,399). Each variant comes with at least 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,199 at Amazon
$1,399 Save $200   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,199 at Amazon
$1,399 Save $200   Get Deal

Amazon puts latest M4 MacBook Airs on sale for $200 off so often, Apple might as well edit their MSRPs. Indeed, data from the price-tracking site camelcamelcamel shows that every configuration was enjoying that discount since the start of the year, up until earlier this week. However, only a few upper-end variants are still holding onto it at the time of writing.

This isn't a sign to panic yet, but the ongoing RAM shortage makes one wonder if sizable discounts on the cheapest base models are going to be rarities going forward. (They're currently just $100 off; Mashable's deals team will be watching them closely.) Regardless, it's never a bad idea to splurge on some extra memory and storage for future-proofing's sake if your budget allows.

SEE ALSO: The best MacBooks to buy in 2026

As of Jan. 21, Amazon's $200 discount is still live for the following sizes, colors, and configurations:

• 13-inch M4 MacBook Air (24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) in midnight and silver — $1,199 $1,399 (save $200)

• 15-inch M4 MacBook Air (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) in silver — $1,199 $1,399 (save $200)

• 15-inch M4 MacBook Air (24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) in midnight and silver — $1,399 $1,599 (save $200)

Amazon's deals weren't matched anywhere else the last time I checked — including Best Buy, which usually gives the retail giant some competition. All of the aforementioned configurations were still full price there.

I'd steer most people towards the 15-inch model, which has two extra speakers and a GPU with two extra cores (read: it's a little bit better at handling heavier workloads). However, students and those who prioritize portability will be served well by the 13-inch version. Check out my complete guide to the best MacBooks for 2026 buyers if you need more intel.

Do you still use email services like Yahoo! Mail and AOL? If so, they're probably not working, and you're not alone. Yahoo, Yahoo Mail, and AOL are all having a nationwide outage right now.

DeWALT is a popular brand among enthusiasts and professionals thanks to its wide array of tools, with more arriving all the time. If you have a few DeWALT 20V tools and battery packs and go to buy another tool, you'll see models like the 20V MAX, XR, and Atomic—but what does that actually mean?

SAVE 60%: As of Jan. 21, the Starlink Mini Kit AC Dual Band WiFi System is on sale for $199.99 at Best Buy. That's a 60% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Starlink Starlink Mini Kit AC Dual Band WiFi System $199.99 at Best Buy
$499.99 Save $300   Get Deal

No matter how you feel about Elon Musk, it's hard to deny that Starlink has changed the game for getting online (no matter where you are). Whether you're working from a van or just want Netflix at a remote campsite, this backpack-sized kit is a serious upgrade from trying to find a single bar of 5G.

As of Jan. 21, the Starlink Mini Kit AC Dual Band WiFi System is on sale for $199.99 at Best Buy, down from $499.99. That's a 60% discount or $300 in savings. You can also save an additional 15% (plus 15% off Geek Squad Home Wi-Fi Setup) when you bring in an old router or modem/router combo for recycling.

SEE ALSO: Your Samsung phone has a hidden WiFi menu. Here's how to access it

The "Mini" lives up to its name: It's compact enough to fit in a backpack, yet delivers max speeds over 100 Mbps and features an integrated WiFi 5 router, so you don't need to haul extra gear to get a signal. Plus, it's designed to be plug-and-play. Just set it up with a clear view of the sky, plug it in, and you’re online in minutes.

Just keep in mind that while the hardware is yours, a service plan is required to actually connect, though there are no long-term contracts to lock you in.

Vinyl records are one of those nostalgic technologies that everyone loves, and they've recently seen a resurgence of popularity. However, if you're looking for quality—especially if you're using a modern amplifier—there is a cheaper, better option.

TL;DR: Live stream Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League is back this week with a bunch of exciting fixtures. We've already seen some huge performances from Europe's elite, and the fascinating matchups keep coming this evening. Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid is one of the most interesting fixtures on the schedule today.

With two group stage games left to play, Atletico Madrid are very much in the mix to secure a top eight position. Galatasaray, meanwhile, look more likely to move into the playoffs. That being said, there's only three points separating these sides going into this match. So it's all to play for.

If you want to watch Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid?

Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. GMT on Jan. 21. This fixture takes place at Rams Park.

How to watch Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid for free

Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE OVER $1,000: The Jackery HomePower 3000 with two SolarSaga 200W solar panels is on sale for $1,598.99 at Amazon. That's down from the standard price of $2,999.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery HomePower 3000 with SolarSaga 200W SolaPanels $1,598.99 at Amazon
$2,999 Save $1,400.01   Get Deal

No one loves a power outage. The idea of cozy blankets, no WiFi, no phones, and sitting down with a Lego set or a puzzle seems magical at first, but the joy can wear off quickly. Once you realize the refrigerator is no longer running, things get less magical. Instead of dealing with the inconvenience of no power, a portable power station offers a great solution. There's a solid model on sale today at Amazon that even comes with solar panels to help with recharging.

As of Jan. 21, the Jackery HomePower 3000 with two 200W solar panels is on sale at Amazon for $1,598.99, marked down from the normal price of $2,999. In total, that works out a savings of $1,400.01 from a massive 47% discount.

Like the name suggests, the Jackery HomePower 3000 comes packed with 3,072Wh of battery capacity. In simpler terms, that means you can keep the refrigerator cooling for one or two days, the WiFi router on for 66 hours, or a light on for up to 10 days. All of those will be useful during a power outage. Of course, you'll also be able to recharge your phone, Kindle, or your Nintendo Switch 2 to stay entertained.

SEE ALSO: Last chance to score the DJI Power 2000 power station for its best-ever price at Amazon — save $600

Once we get back into camping season, the Jackery HomePower 3000 should get an invite to the campground. You'll be able to pack along the air fryer, lights, projector, and speakers thanks to the portable power of the Jackery.

Since today's deal includes two 200W SolarSaga solar panels, you'll be in great shape for recharging the HomePower 3000. With the 400W combined solar input, Jackery says this model will get back to 100% charged after 11 hours. An 80% charge is possible with nine hours of solar charging.

Useful in all season, upgrade to the Jackery HomePower 3000 this year while it's on sale for a major 47% off. You'll be endlessly thankful during the next power outage when you have a fully charged phone and working refrigerator.

Microsoft 365 is not the only suite around, and it doesn't have the best tools on the market. Yet, many professionals, students, and casual users are completely tied to it. However, before you commit to another payment cycle, it's smart to hit the brakes and seriously look at alternatives that are free, open source, and may work better.

Internet outages are incredibly disruptive in our modern world. We don’t realize just how much is actually connected until everything goes down. While massive outages are uncommon, they do happen—here are 10 of the worst.

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TL;DR: The Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 curved gaming monitor has dropped to $699.99 at Amazon, hitting its lowest-ever price. That’s $300 off its $999.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 Curved Gaming Monitor $699.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $300 Get Deal

Samsung has been going strong with deals lately, but the latest gaming monitor offer might be the best of the bunch.

As of Jan. 21, the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 (G91F) is down to $699.99 at Amazon, marking a full $300 off its $999.99 list price and its lowest price to date — confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel. For anyone dreaming of an ultra-wide, wraparound setup without juggling multiple screens, this monitor’s truly worth considering.

At a massive 49 inches, the Odyssey G9 is built to dominate your desk; a 32:9 curved display of that size is essentially the equivalent of two 27-inch monitors fused together, minus the annoying bezel gap. With a Dual QHD resolution (5120 x 1440) and an aggressive 1,000R curve, it fills your peripheral vision and pulls you straight into the action, whether you’re racing in Forza Horizon 5, flying in Microsoft Flight Simulator, or exploring open worlds like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

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Performance doesn’t take a back seat, either. You’re getting a 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, helping fast-paced games like Battlefield 6 stay smooth and tear-free. Add VESA DisplayHDR 600, and darker scenes gain extra contrast without washing out highlights — a noticeable upgrade for cinematic titles and late-night gaming sessions.

Beyond gaming, this monitor shines as a productivity powerhouse for work, too. Picture-by-Picture and Picture-in-Picture modes make multitasking easy, while the ergonomic stand lets you fine-tune height and tilt for marathon sessions.

If you’re shopping around across different brands, LG’s 32-inch UltraGear QHD monitor is still $100 off. As for more from Samsung, the OLED version of the G9 monitor is also on sale at almost $400 off.

The 2026 Kia K4 Hatchback is like the playful cousin of the K4 Sedan—a bit sportier, a bit more compact, but still full of personality.