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When it comes to shopping for the best budget laptops, you can do a lot for less than $1,000. (Heck, even $500 cuts some mustard nowadays.) But you'll probably have to make some compromises along the way to stay below that price point.

That doesn't mean you have to settle for a total clunker that doesn't tick any of the boxes on your must-have specs list. It just means you have to shop a little smarter than someone with unlimited funds.

SEE ALSO: The best laptops for 2025: Tested for performance, battery life, design, and value

That's where we come in. The Mashable team is constantly reviewing new laptops with different operating systems and use cases, and we recommend several budget-friendly options that meet most, if not all of our performance, battery life, and build quality standards.

Our top picks

As of July 2025, we believe the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air powered by the M4 chip is the best cheap MacBook for most people. It's seriously speedy, super quiet, equipped with a nice new camera, and priced at an almost unfathomable $999 to start.

Among Windows PCs, the Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 (Gen 9) is the best budget pick we've tried. It has a peppy processor and a good battery life, it doubles as a tablet, and it starts at just $899.99.

Where to find cheap laptops this Prime Day

Amazon's flagship Prime Day sale is slated for July 8 to 11 this year. Having covered the festivities since 2019, I expect Amazon to use it as an excuse to offer some year-round lows on MacBooks, Microsoft Surface devices, and entry-level gaming laptops from Asus and Acer. (I've already seen one variant of our beloved M4 MacBook Air fall to just $829 in the past few weeks — a $170 savings. At the time of writing, it's hanging out at $849.)

SEE ALSO: Help, I can't stop recommending Amazon's $849 M4 MacBook Air deal

Prime Day is also noteworthy because it prompts competing sales at other retailers. Best Buy's Black Friday in July sale from July 7 to 13 will give Amazon the biggest run for its money simply because the store stocks way more laptop brands and configurations. It's also known to match or one-up Amazon's pricing where their inventories overlap, so cross-checking deals between the two is key. Bookmark my guide to the best Prime Day laptop deals if you don't want to scour the myriad listings yourself.

Read on for Mashable's in-depth guide to the best budget laptops of 2025. FYI: We've listed the pricing and specs of our testing units, which may not apply to each laptop's base model.

A note about tariffs

President Donald Trump's tariffs on imported Chinese goods have made a mess of the tech market, causing several manufacturers to raise their laptop prices over the past few weeks. (The Trump administration recently moved to exempt laptops from some of its tariff plans, but that will probably change soon.) This is bad news for budget shoppers, according to our sister site PCMag, which reports that cheap laptops stand to see the most dramatic impact from tariffs.

None of the laptops that are currently featured in this guide have been affected by tariffs, but one model we have in hand for testing, the Asus ZenBook A14, has gotten $100 more expensive since launch because of them. We'll take this into account as we decide whether it's a new top pick: "Value" is one of our four big testing metrics.

Other cheap laptops on our radar

We're currently testing the Intel-powered Framework Laptop 13. While it comes in just over our "budget" threshold of $1,000 when purchased prebuilt (the DIY Edition starts at $899), the fact that it's upgradable and repairable makes it seem like a solid long-term value. We were big fans of an older version.

SEE ALSO: Laptop specs explained: A jargon-free guide to what's inside your computer

We'll soon review two sub-$1,000 Asus laptops. One is the aforementioned Asus ZenBook A14, which features an OLED display, a neutral-toned chassis made out of a durable yet lightweight material called "Ceraluminum," and an advertised battery life of up to 32 hours. (We briefly tried it in Asus' private showroom at CES 2025, and it left us extremely impressed.) The other is the Asus ZenBook S 15, a second-gen Copilot+ PC with a Snapdragon X Plus processor, a 3K OLED display, and an RGB keyboard. They start at $999.99 and $899.99, respectively.

What no longer makes the cut

We removed the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 from this list in May 2025, as it feels too overpriced and outdated to recommend for 2025 buyers. Plus, a (seemingly) better option just hit the market: Microsoft's new 13-inch Surface Laptop starts at $899.99.

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

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, July 4, 2025:

AcrossUncle ___

• The answer is Sam.

It's full of stars

• The answer is Space.

It's full of stripes

• The answer is Zebra.

Month when the American Revolutionary War began

• The answer is April.

4th of July sales promotions, e.g.

• The answer is Ads.

DownBig brand of hummus

• The answer is Sabra.

Foul-smelling

• The answer is Acrid.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

• The answer is Meals.

Singer who performed "All the Stars" at Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show

• The answer is SZA.

Lively energy

• The answer is Pep.

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

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

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

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

Best early Prime Day Apple Watch deals Best Series 10 deal Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS) $299 (save $100) Get Deal Best Ultra deal Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm, GPS + Cellular) $741.89 (save $57.11) Get Deal Best SE deal Apple Watch SE (44mm, GPS) $219 (save $60) Get Deal

You don't need a smartwatch to tell you that Prime Day is a great time to pick up an Apple Watch.

This year, the Prime member-exclusive sale runs a whopping four days, from July 8 to July 11. But if you want to score some savings Apple Watches (and Apple in general, for that matter), you don't have to wait. In fact, just days ahead of the sale, you can score some serious discounts on a range of Apple Watch models.

Typically, Apple deals aren't officially affiliated with the sale, which means that non-Prime members can enjoy the savings, too. While Prime Day proper does tend to bring a higher volume of record low prices, the weeks leading up to the sale have deals ranging from decent to great. Case in point: each model of the Apple Watch is available at a discounted price, with markdowns ranging from $60 to $150.

SEE ALSO: Walmart's anti-Prime Day sale is extra competitive this year

With Apple Watches, you'll tend to score the best savings if you're not picky about colorways. While none of the deals below are rare (in other words, necessary to jump on ASAP), it's a solid lineup for folks who don't want to wait for July 8.

Best Apple Watch deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple Watch Series 10 $299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Apple Watch Series 10.

Ready to take the plunge and get a new Apple Watch? This is your best bet ahead of Prime Day. The Apple Watch Series 10 is well worth investing in, especially at a 25% discount. At $100 off, this is a better deal than average, especially considering it's Mashable's top pick for a smartwatch fitness tracker.

We like the Series 10 thanks to its suite of health tracking capabilities, including a heart rate monitor, sleep tracker, menstrual cycle tracker, and pedometer (the blood oxygen sensor is the main feature that's missing). It also has an ultra bright and lightweight display.

Apple Watch Series 10 deals

• Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm, GPS) — $359 $429 (save $70)

• Apple Watch Series 10, Milanese loop (42mm, GPS + cellular) — $699 $749 (save $57.11)

Apple Watch Ultra deals

• Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm, GPS + cellular) — $741.89 $799 (save $69.01)

Apple Watch SE deals

• Apple Watch SE, 2nd Gen (44mm, GPS) — $219 $279 (save $60)

The best early Prime Day deals to shop this week

• Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) — $24.99 (List Price $49.99)

• Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 1070Wh Portable Power Station — $448.98 (List Price $799.00)

• Ring Indoor Cam 2nd Gen 1080p Camera With Cover (White, 2-Pack) — $59.98 (List Price $99.99)

• Blink Outdoor 4 XR 2 Camera Kit With Mini 2 Camera — $129.98 (List Price $219.98)

• Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — $269.00 (List Price $348.00)

• Shark AV2511AE AI Robot Vacuum With XL Self-Empty Base — $297.99 (List Price $599.00)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 32GB Tablet (2023 Release, Black) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99)

• Amazon Fire Max 11 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (2023 Model) — $139.99 (List Price $229.99)

• Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote (2023 Model) — $34.99 (List Price $59.99)

• Ring Battery Doorbell Pro With Ring Battery Outdoor Cam Plus — $329.98

• 55" Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series 4K QLED Smart TV (2024 Model) — $699.99 (List Price $819.99)

TL;DR: Live stream England vs. India (Test 2) for free on ICC.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first test match between England and India was absolutely incredible. It looked like India were in a dominant position until the fifth day when England chased down a huge score to seal an impressive victory.

India are looking to bounce back and tie the series at 1-1, and they've started very strongly. England have it all to do.

If you want to watch England vs. India (Test 2) for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is India's tour of England?

India's tour of England consists of five Test matches:

• England vs. India (Test 1) — June 20-24

• England vs. India (Test 2) — July 2-6

• England vs. India (Test 3) — July 10-14

• England vs. India (Test 4) — July 23-27

• England vs. India (Test 5) — July 31 to Aug. 4

It is possible to live stream every Test match from India's tour of England without spending anything.

How to watch England vs. India (Test 2) for free

England vs. India (Test 2) is available to live stream for free on ICC.TV.

This free live stream on ICC.TV is only available in select regions (see full list of territories here), but anyone can live stream India's tour of England for free with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with free access (like Italy). This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can live stream on ICC.TV from anywhere in the world.

Live stream England vs. India (Test 2) 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 a location with access (like Italy)

4. Visit ICC.TV

5. Live stream England vs. India (Test 2) 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 aren't free, but leading VPN providers do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you'll be able access free live streams without actually spending anything. This is a temporary fix, but it gives you enough time to stream England vs. India (Test 2) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free live streams from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live streaming sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for ICC.TV?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to live stream England vs. India (Test 2), for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months of coverage for free — 61% off list price. This deal includes a year of unlimited data backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month subscription for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream England vs. India (Test 2) for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $350: As of July 4, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is on sale for $448.98 at Amazon. That's a 44% saving on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 $448.98 at Amazon
$799 Save $350.02 Get Deal

Prime Day kicks off next week, but deals are already starting to ramp up. TV deals, Apple deals, and headphone deals are all underway — and so are portable power station deals (if that's your thing). As of July 4, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is heavily reduced, now priced at $448.98. That's a saving of $350 on list price.

Stay prepared for any power cuts or issues, and stay connected when road-tripping or camping.

SEE ALSO: Get the best-ever price on this Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV ahead of Prime Day

This particular model provides a 1,500W AC output (with a 3,000W surge), so it can run things like fridges, electric pots, and even AC units. It weighs just 23.8 lbs and features a foldable handle, so it’s perfect for camping trips. It charges up quickly, too. You'll only need one hour to go from 0 to 100%, with emergency charging enabled in the Jackery App (or 1.7 hours on the standard mode). It also benefits from a huge range of charging ports. This model benefits from USB-C, USB-A, AC outlets, a car port, and LED lights, and supports fast USB-C PD 100W charging.

It also has an incredible lifespan, equipped with a durable LFP battery, maintaining over 70% of its original capacity after 4,000 charge cycles, offering a lifespan of 10 years and more.

Grab this great deal at Amazon before Prime Day.

The best early Prime Day deals, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) — $24.99 (List Price $49.99)

• Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 1070Wh Portable Power Station — $448.98 (List Price $799.00)

• Ring Indoor Cam 2nd Gen 1080p Camera With Cover (White, 2-Pack) — $59.98 (List Price $99.99)

• Blink Outdoor 4 XR 2 Camera Kit With Mini 2 Camera — $129.98 (List Price $219.98)

• Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — $269.00 (List Price $348.00)

• Shark AV2511AE AI Robot Vacuum With XL Self-Empty Base — $297.99 (List Price $599.00)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 32GB Tablet (2023 Release, Black) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99)

• Amazon Fire Max 11 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (2023 Model) — $139.99 (List Price $229.99)

• Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote (2023 Model) — $34.99 (List Price $59.99)

• Ring Battery Doorbell Pro With Ring Battery Outdoor Cam Plus — $329.98

• 55" Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series 4K QLED Smart TV (2024 Model) — $699.99 (List Price $819.99)

SAVE $120: As of July 4, the Amazon Fire TV 55-inch Omni Mini-LED Series is on sale for $699.99 at Amazon. That's a 15% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV 55-Inch Omni Mini-LED Series $699.99 at Amazon
$819.99 Save $120 Get Deal

TV deals are already kicking off ahead of Prime Day. As of July 4, you can find a fantastic early deal on the Amazon Fire TV 55-inch Omni Mini-LED Series, saving you $120 on list price. The new price of $699.99 is its lowest-ever price.

You can't go wrong with an Amazon TV, and this one really knocks it out of the park. This TV combines 4K QLED mini-LED display with Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, and over a billion vibrant colors. It also benefits from the Fire TV Intelligent Picture feature, which adapts what you’re watching in real time to both the scene and your room’s lighting. And for sound quality, enjoy crisp audio with Dolby Atmos in a 2.1 setup.

SEE ALSO: The best early Prime Day steals for your kitchen — save on air fryers, blenders, and more

And as expected with all Amazon TVs, enjoy a smart display of art, widgets, and voice control to search through your streaming service libraries all at once.

If you're a gamer, it’s built for speed with 144Hz refresh, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and fluid, tear-free visuals during fast-paced play. Interactive Art adds a layer of movement-based engagement, and there are built-in privacy protections too, including a mic-off switch for peace of mind.

Head to Amazon to score this early Prime Day deal.

The best early Prime Day deals, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) — $24.99 (List Price $49.99)

• Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 1070Wh Portable Power Station — $448.98 (List Price $799.00)

• Ring Indoor Cam 2nd Gen 1080p Camera With Cover (White, 2-Pack) — $59.98 (List Price $99.99)

• Blink Outdoor 4 XR 2 Camera Kit With Mini 2 Camera — $129.98 (List Price $219.98)

• Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — $269.00 (List Price $348.00)

• Shark AV2511AE AI Robot Vacuum With XL Self-Empty Base — $297.99 (List Price $599.00)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 32GB Tablet (2023 Release, Black) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99)

• Amazon Fire Max 11 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (2023 Model) — $139.99 (List Price $229.99)

• Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote (2023 Model) — $34.99 (List Price $59.99)

• Ring Battery Doorbell Pro With Ring Battery Outdoor Cam Plus — $329.98

• 55" Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series 4K QLED Smart TV (2024 Model) — $699.99 (List Price $819.99)

U.S. EV manufacturer Slate has quietly revised previous claims that its made-in-America pickup truck will cost "under $20,000," increasing the upcoming vehicle's pricing. It seems like auto companies are already reacting to the elimination of EV tax credits under President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill."

SEE ALSO: Slate's $20K made-in-America electric truck is the opposite of a Cybertruck

As spotted by TechCrunch, Jeff Bezos-backed EV start-up Slate has updated language from its website concerning the cost of its Blank Slate truck.

"Great cars got too pricey," Slate's website declared when it was first unveiled in April. "We fixed that."

This phrase still remains on Slate's website, which also still claims that the Blank Slate will be "[m]ade in the USA at a price that’s actually affordable (no really, for real)." However, it was previously accompanied by an image of the Blank Slate truck with a badge stating its "expected price" to be "under $20,000 after federal incentives."

As of writing, the truck's anticipated pricing has now been tweaked to be in the "mid-twenties." Further disclaimers have also been added, stating that this price is "for U.S. market only."

Left: Slate's website as of April 25, stating that the truck's expected price will be "under $20,000 after federal incentives." Right: Slate's website on July 3, stating the truck's expected price will now be in the "mid-twenties." Credit: Slate

Considering both the timing and Slate's previous mention of federal incentives, the Blank Slate's pricing change appears to be linked to Trump's controversial spending bill passing on Thursday afternoon. This bill eliminates a $7,500 tax credit the U.S. government granted to drivers who purchased a new EV, which had encouraged drivers to adopt cleaner, more environmentally friendly vehicles. 

The tax break will now end on September 30, which will likely cause several EVs in the U.S. to jump in price. Even if drivers rush to buy an EV now while the tax credits are still available, they won't be able to get their hands on a Blank Slate. The automaker is only scheduled to begin delivery of its vehicles in late 2026, well after the U.S. government will stop offering the tax credit.

Slate's electric truck gained significant attention earlier this year, the start-up claiming that they'd received over 100,000 reservations within mere weeks of it being unveiled. This doesn't guarantee Slate has secured 100,000 sales, as a reservation is merely a $50 deposit in exchange for a place in the queue to buy a truck. Even so, those numbers do indicate some interest in the EV, particularly as drivers increasingly seek alternatives to Elon Musk's Tesla.

Whether such interest can be sustained in light of the Blank Slate's revised pricing remains to be seen. Whatever the case, the U.S. start-up's work just got much more difficult.

Trump has actively worked to dismantle incentives to adopt electric vehicles, repeatedly and incorrectly characterising them as part of an alleged "EV mandate." While there have been policies encouraging EV adoption, there has never been any law in the U.S. which made using an electric car mandatory.

Looking up at the sky is probably option No. 1 for viewing fireworks. But if, for some reason, you can't watch them in person, you're still in luck.

After all, the year is 2025, and everything is livestreamed. That's right: You can watch fireworks from the comfort of your couch. You won't even need to put down your hot dog.

Your best bet for streaming fireworks on July 4 is the iconic Macy's 4th of July Fireworks special. The special will air from 8 p.m. ET through 10 p.m. ET. You can stream the show on Peacock, NBC's streaming service, or tune in to your local NBC station, which will also televise the fireworks.

SEE ALSO: Hubble celebrates the Fourth of July with a gorgeous cosmic fireworks show

Broadway's Ariana DeBose is set to host the NBC program, which will feature musical guests Keke Palmer, Eric Church, Ava Max, the Jonas Brothers, Trisha Yearwood, and Lenny Kravitz.

If that isn't your cup of tea — or if you don't have access to NBC or Peacock — you can livestream PBS's fireworks program free on YouTube. The show will start at 8 p.m. ET and will be hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro, famous for playing Carlton on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

So this July 4, you can enjoy fireworks for free — and never leave your living room.

In today’s polarized environment, workplace conflict is inevitable—but it doesn’t have to be destructive. Leaders with high conflict intelligence know how to engage it constructively. Here’s how to apply seven proven principles. Lay the groundwork. Build trust and communication before conflict erupts. Strengthen your team’s culture and establish clear norms for how disagreement is handled. […]

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TL;DR: Watch Germany vs. Poland in Women's Euro 2025 for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Every group in Women's Euro 2025 is tough, but Group C might be the toughest. Denmark face off against Sweden in the first group-stage fixture from this group, and then Germany meet Poland. Germany are probably favorites to progress into the knockout rounds, but it's not going to be easy.

If you want to watch Germany vs. Poland in Women's Euro 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Germany vs. Poland?

Germany vs. Poland in Women's Euro 2025 kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on July 4. This fixture takes place at the AFG Arena.

How to watch Germany vs. Poland for free

Germany vs. Poland in Women's Euro 2025 is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 another country, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Germany vs. Poland in Women's Euro 2025 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 the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Stream Germany vs. Poland in Women's Euro 2025 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 leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch Germany vs. Poland (plus the rest of the tournament) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight 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 also 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 (including money-back guarantee).

Watch Germany vs. Poland in Women's Euro 2025 for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Denmark vs. Sweden in Women's Euro 2025 for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Women's Euro 2025 is kicking off with a number of high-profile fixtures, including Denmark vs. Sweden. This Scandinavian matchup is one of the most interesting group stage fixtures, as both teams will be looking to progress into the knockout rounds. Group C also includes Germany, so that's not going to be an easy task.

If you want to watch Denmark vs. Sweden in Women's Euro 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Denmark vs. Sweden?

Denmark vs. Sweden in Women's Euro 2025 kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on July 4. This fixture takes place at the Stade de Genève.

How to watch Denmark vs. Sweden for free

Denmark vs. Sweden in Women's Euro 2025 is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 another country, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Denmark vs. Sweden in Women's Euro 2025 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 the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Stream Denmark vs. Sweden in Women's Euro 2025 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 leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch Denmark vs. Sweden (plus the rest of the tournament) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight 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 also 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 (including money-back guarantee).

Watch Denmark vs. Sweden in Women's Euro 2025 for free with ExpressVPN.

We're moving closer and closer to the Full Moon, and tonight the moon is more than half lit. This is due to where we are in the current lunar cycle.

The lunar cycle is a recurring series of eight unique phases of the moon's visibility. The whole cycle takes about 29.5 days (according to NASA), and these different phases happen as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth. The moon is always there, but what we see on Earth changes depending on how much is lit up.

See what's happening with the moon tonight, July 4.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Friday, July 4, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. According to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, 66% of the moon will be lit up and visible to us on Earth. This is also day nine of the lunar cycle.

Tonight, there is plenty to see with the naked eye, the most notable being the Mare Vaporum, Mare Fecunditatis, and the Tycho crater.

If you have binoculars, you'll also spot the Endymion Crater, the Clavius Craters, and the Alps Mountains/Alpine Valley

With a telescope, you'll see even more tonight, with the Apollo 17 and Apollo 11 landing spots becoming visible. You'll also be able to spot the Rupes Altai.

When is the next full moon?

This month's full moon will take place on July 10. The last full moon was on June 11.

What are moon phases?

Moon phases are caused by the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Boredom.

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

ENNUI

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To seize.

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

USURP

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Alert.

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

AWAKE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Amazing.

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

GREAT

Final Hurdle hint

To leave quickly.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

SCRAM

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

Since its debut in 2022, The Bear has been a haunted show. The ghosts aren't paranormal visitors but a collection of regrets, fears, and traumas as diverse as the series' many characters. Each individual is trailed by a destructive shadow, ready to sabotage any progress toward being a less dysfunctional person.

Sometimes the haunting is an attempt at a pressure-relieving punchline; sometimes it's just a gut-punch. Either way, the way characters grapple with their never-quite-buried losses deftly teach the audience something about the trajectory of heartbreak, the punishing nature of anxiety, depression, and addiction, and what it takes to heal.

SEE ALSO: 'The Bear' Season 4's biggest problem is time: Full season review

Still, Season 3 pushed the conceit of haunting to its limit, leaning into a repetitive emotional deadlock over the course of 10 episodes. The audience watched as chef Carmy Berzatto, played by Jeremey Allen White, remained stuck in his head, and mired in memories of working for an abusive boss.

But Season 4 delivers the audience from this psychological spiral, and not just for Carmy.

Beyond Carmy's determined effort to make space for other people's feelings — hell, even their existence — numerous characters get a meaningful chance to confront the ghosts that haunt them.

An avoidant Syd (Ayo Edebiri) makes the decision (and the phone call) she's been dreading. Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) figures out his place in his own family as Tiff (Gillian Jacobs) marries Frank (Josh Hartnett). He also gets the chance to tell Carmy about the guilt he felt when Mikey (Jon Bernthal) died by suicide. Donna (Jamie Lee Curtis) makes a tearful apology to Carmy for decades of parental neglect, among other regrets.

Opportunities like these become key to the characters' healing, masterfully revealing how recovery from addiction, trauma, and emotional damage is possible.

Kassi Diwa-Kite, a licensed marriage and family therapist at BetterHelp who has watched all four seasons of The Bear, told Mashable that the series' latest outing "absolutely" felt less haunted. She says that's primarily because the characters are slowly embracing their personal and professional identities, which requires self-awareness and emotional regulation they didn't previously possess. She adds that the characters develop a curiosity about themselves and the patterns they seek to break that ultimately empowers them.

As a result, "that hauntedness has to start sliding away because they're coming more into themselves," says Diwa-Kite.

Not every character goes on the same journey as Carmy, Syd, Donna, and Richie. Mashable's Belen Edwards makes the convincing case that Season 4 failed Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas), who is mostly seen trying to cook a certain pasta dish in under three minutes.

Whether or not this makes for critically-acclaimed television is also a concern. Some critics felt Season 4 still stalled in terms of narrative momentum and lacked urgency, even if it was an improvement on the show's third installment.

Yet watching key players each chart a unique, if not straightforward, path toward happiness and redemption remains special to behold. It all happens in a world absent of therapy- and wellness-speak, too. There's nothing wrong with those conventions; they help countless people inch toward recovery every day. Still, there's something simple and relatable about Carmy's refrain throughout Season 4: "I'm trying."

After three seasons of focusing only on what he can accomplish in the kitchen, Carmy slogs through being fully present in his life, visibly uncomfortable with finding and saying the words people need to hear. He stutters and staggers, but manages to make progress.

Carmy shows up on Claire's (Molly Gordon) doorstep months after having literally ghosted her early in their romantic relationship. Pressed on why he became so fearful of intimacy, he finally blurts out an apology.

When Carmy realizes in a separate scene that it took weeks for him to meet his newborn niece, he more calmly summons an apology to his sister Sugar (Abby Elliott) for failing to show up.

Diwa-Kite particularly appreciated Carmy's arc in Season 4 because the character begins to make the connections that have long eluded him: He escaped to culinary school after growing up with an absent father and a mother addicted to alcohol, then found himself in an abusive professional relationship. Now that he wants a different future, it might not look pretty or feel easy.

"Recovery from trauma is going to be clumsy." - Kassi Diwa-Kite, licensed marriage and family therapist at BetterHelp

"Recovery from trauma is going to be clumsy," Diwa-Kite says, noting that she appreciated how the show depicts Carmy's process. "Just let it be messy. That's where the healing is happening."

While Season 4 is full of moments in which characters makes more fulfilling, grounded choices, there is perhaps none as beautiful as the scene that unfolds when Richie and Tiff's daughter, Eva (Annabelle Toomey), hides under a large table during the celebration of her mother's marriage to Frank.

Afraid to dance with Frank in front of an audience of adults, she refuses to come out. Soon every major character — and some minor ones, too — find themselves under the table with Eva, sharing their fears, one-by-one. Carmy admits that his is the "opposite of chaos," and math. Richie gets a chuckle by saying his fear is artificial intelligence, specifically the Singularity. Frank confesses that he's afraid of heights.

On it goes like that, as many adults with a history of trauma reassure a little girl about whom they care deeply that it's normal to feel fear.

"There was so much healing that you could see among all of those adults." - Kassi Diwa-Kite, licensed marriage and family therapist at BetterHelp

"There was so much healing that you could see among all of those adults," Diwa-Kite says.

The episode, entitled "Bears," is an unexpected bookend to Season 2's "Fishes," which depicted another family gathering that couldn't be more different.

"Fishes" was a tense hourlong observation of family dysfunction and the toll that it takes on everyone it touches. "Bears" demonstrates how loving relationships, even when they're imperfect, can sustain people who otherwise feel broken, and can possibly achieve generational healing.

"If this were a real girl, imagine the core memory that was created for her in that moment," Diwa-Kite says of Eva. "She will remember that forever. She will draw on that experience forever."

The impromptu community that came together for Eva during that scene echoes an overarching theme of Season 4: People heal in community and through the relationships they've built, Diwa-Kite says.

None of this means that Season 5 will be easy-going for any of the characters.

Indeed, the final episode of Season 4 was fraught as Carmy, Syd, and Richie spent a half-hour arguing, in close-ups, over Carmy's imminent departure from the restaurant. Carmy says he wants to learn who he is when he's not trying to escape his pain. Richie and Syd, though, suspect he's running away — again.

Whether or not Carmy will truly find himself might seem like a gamble. But, then again, Carmy spent the season repairing the relationships that matter most to him rather than severing those ties, and seems more than ready to instead walk away from his proverbial ghosts.

Viral racist and antisemitic TikTok videos appear to be made with Google's new AI video generator Veo 3, according to a new report from Media Matters.

The nonprofit research organization found that some of the hateful videos had racked up hundreds of thousands or millions of views.

A TikTok spokesperson told Mashable that the platform has firm policies against hate speech, and that it uses comprehensive technologies and moderation processes to implement them.

"We proactively enforce robust rules against hateful speech and behavior and have removed the accounts we identified in the report, many of which were already banned prior to the report publishing," the spokesperson told Mashable in an email.

One TikTok, labeled "Average Waffle House in Atlanta," featured a restaurant setting overrun by monkeys that throw watermelon and carry buckets of fried chicken. It had been viewed more than 622,000 times when Media Matters took a screenshot of the video.

SEE ALSO: Google's Veo 3 AI video generator is unlike anything you've ever seen. The world isn't ready.

Some of the commenters affirmed the video's racist stereotypes. One person said, "all their mannerisms…to the T…"

A different TikTok uploaded in mid June, with at least 835,000 views, came with the prompt, "i asked ai: 'average spirit airlines experience." The video featured monkeys as well, climbing all over the plane.

Media Matters said the videos it identified ran a maximum of eight seconds, the length of Veo 3's publicly available text-to-video clips. The videos were also labeled "Veo" in the corner, or used hashtags, captions, or usernames related to Veo 3 or AI. They also included errors, distortions, and nonsense text common to AI-generated videos.

Media Matters published a compilation of the clips it identified to its own YouTube account.

Mashable contacted Google for comment on the Media Matters report but hadn't received a response at the time of publication.

While Media Matters focused on videos that appeared on TikTok, some of the same objectionable clips have also been posted to YouTube and Instagram.

However, the examples Mashable viewed had far less engagement, sometimes receiving only a few hundred likes and a handful of comments, suggesting they have not been as widely viewed as the content that went viral on TikTok before it was removed.

In general, videos created with Veo 3 that feature hateful or racist content have become popular on other social media platforms, including Instagram.

When Veo 3 was released in late May, Mashable tech editor Timothy Beck Werth described its realism as both "impressive" and "scary." Google told Werth that Veo 3's safeguards against misinformation include digital watermarks, and that it employs AI safety guidelines.

The AI-generated videos identified by Media Matters included anti-Black stereotypes about criminality, food preferences, and absent fathers. Some featured police encounters with Black people, including one in which a white officer shoots a "Black one" from his car. That clip had been viewed more than 14 million times.

The clips also portrayed racist imagery against Asian and South Asian people, and depicted antisemitic stereotypes, including Jewish men chasing after a gold coin.

One clip, viewed a million times, featured a gaunt man standing in front of a crematorium, vlogging while at a Nazi concentration camp. "Well everyone is having a great time here," the man says. It's unclear if the minute-long video was made with Veo 3.

Another style of AI-generated videos seemed to focus on acting violently toward immigrants and protesters defending them.

The videos appear to violate Google's hate speech policies. Google's generative AI policy forbids users from generating or distributing content that facilitates hatred or hate speech; harassment and abuse of others, and violence or the incitement of violence.

TikTok prohibits hate speech and hateful behavior that "includes attacking, threatening, dehumanizing or degrading an individual or group based on their protected attributes."

UPDATE: Jul. 3, 2025, 1:02 p.m. PDT The story was updated to include a statement from TikTok.

TL;DR: Watch Spain vs. Portugal in Women's Euro 2025 for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Women's Euro 2025 is starting with a number of high-profile fixtures, but the biggest game from the first round is probably Spain vs. Portugal. Both sides will be looking to progress into the knockout rounds, but Group B is tough. Every point will be crucial.

If you want to watch Spain vs. Portugal in Women's Euro 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Spain vs. Portugal?

Spain vs. Portugal in Women's Euro 2025 kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on July 3. This fixture takes place at the Wankdorf Stadium.

How to watch Spain vs. Portugal for free

Spain vs. Portugal in Women's Euro 2025 is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 another country, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Spain vs. Portugal in Women's Euro 2025 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 the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Stream Spain vs. Portugal in Women's Euro 2025 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 leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch Spain vs. Portugal (plus the rest of the tournament) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight 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 also 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 (including money-back guarantee).

Watch Spain vs. Portugal in Women's Euro 2025 for free with ExpressVPN.

A day after reports surfaced of mass layoffs at Microsoft and its gaming division, Xbox, Sony-published video game Helldivers 2 announced it's coming to Xbox next month.

Where once game publishers kept their products exclusively available to their own gaming systems — e.g., Sony games on Playstation, Microsoft games on Xbox — that wall appears to be breaking down. Helldivers 2, one of the most popular games of 2024, will be available on Xbox Series X and S starting on August 26. The game premiered on PlayStation 5 and PC in February 2024 and was an instant smash, selling tens of millions of copies, according to IGN. Helldivers 2 still remains a favorite on Steam.

Helldivers 2 is a cooperative, third-person shooter set in the 22nd century, with human soldiers battling hordes of aliens to save Super Earth. With crossplay enabled, Xbox, PC, and PS5 players will all be able to play Helldivers 2 together.

The news of Helldivers 2's Xbox launch is even more surprising considering it happens the same day Microsoft releases Gears of War: Reloaded on PlayStation 5, the first time the once Xbox-exclusive series debuts on PlayStation. Meanwhile, Xbox's The Outer Worlds 2 arrives on PlayStation in October.

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer elaborated on his exclusivity (or, rather, non-exclusivity) plans earlier this year.

"We are finding that our games shipping on multiple platforms is a good thing for Xbox," Spencer told The Destin Channel podcast. "It makes Xbox stronger...give[s] our teams the time they need, for us to invest in platform, for us to invest in hardware. I think all of this is a part of what Xbox will be, going forward."

Australia’s search engines are about to have age restrictions similar to the ones in effect for Porn Hub in the UK. Starting at the end of 2025, Australians will have to verify their ages when surfing the web while logged into their Google or Microsoft accounts and using each company’s respective search engines. 

The new rules come as part of a new set of regulations put into effect earlier this week. According to the regulations, search engines will be required to verify the age of their account holders before allowing them to use search engines. Since Google and Microsoft are the two biggest search engines in the country, those are the two companies who are under the biggest fire to make this happen. 

Per the rules, search engines with account holders must “implement appropriate age assurance measures for account holders” and “apply tools and/or settings like ‘safe search’ functionality, at the highest safety setting by default for an account holder its age assurance systems indicate is likely to be an Australian child.”

SEE ALSO: Meta lobbies Apple and Google to take over age verification for young people online

The purpose of the legislation is to prevent children from running into pornographic content and “high-impact violence material” via search engines. Per the regulations, when the search engine is engaged in ‘safe search’ mode, such content must be filtered out entirely. In instances where age assurance cannot be done (like if the user isn’t logged in), such images and materials must be blurred. 

According to the Australian Computer Society, the measures are similar to what’s being considered for the country’s under-16 social media ban. The legislation, which was passed in Nov. 2024, has a 12-month clock when it goes into effect. That means the age assurance rules for search engines and the under-16 social media ban will happen within a month or two of each other. 

Whether or not age assurance laws like this will be effective is a matter of debate. Digital privacy experts and free speech advocates agree that children should not have access to materials intended for people of legal age. However, there’s growing concern that age verification laws don’t work. VPNs allow people to surf from other locations, bypassing location-specific rules while some porn sites aren’t based in the U.S. and therefore may simply choose not to follow the rules. 

Python is one of the most approachable languages to learn, thanks to its object-oriented-first approach and its minimal syntax. The standard library includes many useful modules that you can use to write all sorts of programs, big and small.

The best early Prime Day tablet deals Best iPad deal Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128 GB, WiFi) $299 (Save $28) Get Deal Best Android tablet deal Lenovo Tab M9 (32GB) $105.99 (Save $59) Get Deal Best Samsung tablet deal Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (64 GB) $169 (Save $50.99) Get Deal

Amazon is coming in hot this year with the longest Prime Day run ever. What was once a simple one day event will now span four days from July 8 to 11. Once the first day of the sale kicks off, the deals will pour in, but leading up to the event, it's more of a trickle of sales.

That's certainly the case with tablet deals right now. While there are is a pocketful of good deals right now, we're still holding out for more. Apple deals are especially lacking so if you're looking for an iPad, we say hold out.

But if you want to get a head start on Prime Day deals, here are all the best tablet offers that you can shop right now.

Best early Prime Day tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128 GB, WiFi) $299 at Amazon
$349 Save $50 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're in need of a new tablet for your summer adventures, the latest basic iPad just dropped in price. It's down to $299 from its usual $349, saving you $50 for 14% off. Apple's base tablet features the A16 chip and upgraded starting storage, now 128 GB. It's the most budget-friendly iPad that still provides plenty of power for streaming or working on the go.

Grab the Apple iPad with A16 chip and 128 GB storage for $299 ahead of Prime Day.

More early Prime Day dealsApple iPad deals

• Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128 GB, WiFi) — $299 $349 (save $50)

• Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, 128GB, WiFi) — $399 $499 (save $100)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3 chip, 128 GB, WiFi) — $549 $599 (save $50)

• Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M3 chip, 128 GB, WiFi) — $749 $799 (save $50)

Android tablet deals

• Lenovo Tab M9 (32 GB) — $105.99 $164.99 (save $59)

• Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (64 GB) — $169 $219.99 (save $50.99)

Amazon Fire tablet deals

• Amazon Fire HD 8 (32 GB) — $54.99 $99.99 (save $70)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 (32 GB) — $69.99 $139.99 (save $70)

• Like-New Amazon Fire Max 11 (64 GB) — $129.99 $199.99 (save $70)