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Dyson just dropped a new flagship cordless vacuum for the first time in forever. Launched in the U.S. on June 2, the Dyson V16 Piston Animal is the first new flagship Dyson in three years. Even then, the 2023 flagship Gen5absolute and Gen5outsize vacuums didn't feel overly innovative compared to the existing Dyson V15.

The Dyson V16 finally picks up where the Dyson V15 left off, and there's more than one upgrade to discuss. Does it automatically shake up my list of the best cordless stick vacuums? Here's how my first week with the V16 has gone.

The classic Dyson chrome has been replaced with black, but we didn't ditch the turquoise and orange. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The new compressor lever creates room for 30 days' worth of dust before emptying. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable What's special about the Dyson V16 Piston?

People have been asking for years: Can a cordless vacuum replace a corded vacuum? I've always been a hard "yes" based on convenience alone. But with the V16, you wouldn't be settling for slightly weaker suction power just to free yourself from the wall. The V16 Piston Animal is the first cordless Dyson vacuum to surpass 300 AW (Air Watts) of suction power. This means that a cordless Dyson vacuum is finally the strongest Dyson vacuum across the board, even beating out the corded upright models that once felt unsurpassable. The reigning most powerful Dyson option, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra, maxes out at 290 AW.

The V16 Piston Animal also comes with the Fluffy Optic head for hard floors and two handheld attachments. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The V16 Piston Animal (right) is significantly beefier than the V12 Detect Slim (left). Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Other big changes include a new compressing dustbin that can hold up to 30 days' worth of dust and a new anti-tangle conical cleaning head. It's more rounded than the previous Dyson Motorbar, featuring two side-by-side cone-shaped rollers that suck long hair up the middle to prevent wrapping. The V16's All Floor Cones Sense cleaner head uses alternating strips of stiff bristles and soft fibers to pick up debris and hair on hard and soft floors. I'm strictly focusing on this new cleaning head for my initial testing, as I'm already familiar with the Fluffy Optic cleaning head after three years with my Dyson V12 Detect Slim.

In auto mode, the V16 senses which type of floor it's cleaning and the level of debris it's dealing with, automatically adjusting suction and brush roll speed accordingly — you can hear this happen while you're cleaning. You can manually switch to eco or boost mode with a button on the handle that looks way too similar to the on/off button.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal on carpet: Super strong, a little bit stubborn

I don't have any fully carpeted rooms, but the V16 Piston Animal has been dishing out some potent suction on my area rugs and runners: a flat printed Ruggable with a pad underneath, a faux fur Tumble rug, and two medium pile tufted rugs that feel like traditional carpet.

I can really feel the brush rolls digging into the rug fibers, and the amount of cat hair and gray fluff that accumulated in the dustbin after the first day was proof enough. I particularly enjoyed watching the V16 snatch up stubborn fuzzies and little balls of shedded rug fibers from the tufted rug in my bedroom, considering most robot vacuums I test struggle with those.

This pattern is really good at hiding cat hair, but the V16 found it. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable I knew the V16 would ace its lint roller test when the rug lines were this crisp. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

For testing's sake, I also spilled panko bread crumbs and protein powder all over the flat kitchen runner and sprinkles on the plush fur rug. Almost all of the bread crumbs and sprinkles were picked up in a single forward pass. A few extra passes were needed to grab the breadcrumbs that the V16 blew out of its own cleaning path. The V16 only took a few passes to make the white powder spot disappear, which is impressive considering some of it probably fell down into the Ruggable's flatweave.

Going in, my biggest question about the V16's carpet cleaning wasn't even the pickup rate — it was whether or not it'd get stuck on rugs like the old Motorbar did. The V16 Piston Animal seems to get stuck less often than the previous four Dysons I've used. The new cleaning head must have an improved airflow system that better prevents the cyclonic power from creating that frustrating seal on the rug. The catch? This is only true if the V16 is in eco mode.

SEE ALSO: The Dreame FP10 air purifier cleans fur off its own filter. Just as crucially, it matches my living room aesthetic.

When I tried to vacuum a rug in auto or boost mode, the cone rollers almost immediately got jammed and stopped spinning. It's a bummer that you can't take full advantage of the 315 AW of suction power without running into this classic Dyson glitch. Even eco mode requires some elbow grease to push and pull the vac across a rug, though the glide is much smoother if I use my other hand to give the vacuum a bit of lift off the ground — this even went smoothly on my fluffy bath mats. Luckily, even the V16's weakest setting rarely leaves visible debris behind after the first pass or two.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal on hardwood: Highly efficient in a single pass

The V16 Piston Animal's performance on hardwood and tile has been pretty immaculate so far, specifically with the All Floor Cones Sense cleaning head. More times than not, the V16 Piston Animal's debris pickup on hard floors has been so thorough that a second pass after the first forward swipe technically isn't even necessary. I still do that back-and-forth motion out of habit, but it's usually not because the V16 keeps missing spots.

I dumped out more litter than my cats track out to really test the V16's power. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The trail behind the V16 was spotless after a single forward pass. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

On hard floors, you can really see what boost mode can do. It's been phenomenal for keeping up with different types of cat litter tracked out of two litter boxes, crumbs of all sorts lodged under the counter, and so much long hair that ends up on my bathroom floor every day. During the first week with the V16, someone in my household got a new fish tank and made a mess of aquarium substrate all over the hardwood kitchen floor. In boost mode, the V16 picked up the rocks so efficiently that cleanup took maybe a minute — that includes the tiny pieces that fell into the cracks of the hardwood.

I appreciate that Dyson added the green laser to the carpet-forward cleaning head. Basically every room in my apartment has both hard flooring and a rug, and my daily vacuuming routine is much faster without having to switch cleaning heads depending on floor type. With my Dyson V12 Detect Slim, I used the cleaning head with the laser 24/7 despite the fact that it's not ideal for deep rug cleaning. I didn't feel like digging the Motorbar out of the closet that badly, and emotionally, I needed access to LED dust detection at all times.

SEE ALSO: The Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones weighs nothing and fits everywhere. Don't get me started on the double lasers.

But the new cleaning head design isn't completely bulletproof. It's kind of bulky and doesn't fit as far under low-hanging dressers or credenzas as the Fluffy Optic head does. I'm most confused about why the front edge subtly comes to a point instead of being completely flat. It prevents the head from fully squeezing into a corner or up against a wall, where dust famously loves to gather. The Fluffy Optic head is elite for this exact reason, so thank goodness Dyson threw that in the box.

Why? Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Dyson V16 Piston Animal in handheld mode: Powerful but heavy

In terms of going handheld, the V16 Piston Animal isn't the most comfortable or the least comfortable stick vacuum I've ever had to hold in one hand. It makes the Dyson Gen5outsize feel like a brick and the Dyson V12 Detect Slim feel light enough that a toddler could use it.

The mini pet hair tool worked well on velvet upholstery and this fluffy material. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable I swear the base of the cat tree and nearby windowsill spawn new fur and dander every hour. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

In one session with the mini hair screw tool, I went over the whole couch and each cat tree level with a cushion. My arm got a little tired toward the end of those five minutes, but I was also pausing to take pictures for this review. The cat tree cushions aren't attached to the perches, but I was pleasantly surprised that the V16 could be gently dragged across without sucking them up. The thick layer of cat fur on the chaise of the couch was basically gone in one swipe.

Switching to the crevice tool, I used boost mode to pull kitty litter out from awkward spots behind the toilet and sticky air conditioner gunk right out of the vents. Though I wish the V16 were lighter in handheld mode, it does get tasks done super quickly.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal $979 at Amazon
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The Crewmates in Paramount+'s Among Us series spend half the show running from Impostors, and the other half showing off their surprisingly nice butts.

SEE ALSO: The 'Among Us' TV show is better than it has any right to be

According to series creator Owen Dennis, the deluge of butts in the show began with episode 1, appearing in a few shots of Crewmates walking out of the elevator, or a moment when Green (voiced by Elijah Wood) climbs into a chair.

"Butt was shown a few times," Dennis told Mashable in a video interview. "Because of this, what happened was that basically every artist on the show saw that I did not say no to the butt, and so from there on out they were like, 'Well, I'm gonna add some butt too.'"

(On Bluesky, Dennis posted: "Everyone agrees: We like them having little gumdrop booties.")

About midway through the season, the Among Us team received an email asking to tone down the number of butts in the show. (And looking at just how many butts are currently in the show, you can only imagine how many more were originally in it.)

"I was like, 'I'm not going to to be the one to say which butts to take out. I don't want to take them out!'" Dennis said.

Instead, he asked for a list of which butts could stay in the show and received a detailed, timestamped breakdown in return. From there, Dennis had to remove butts or find creative solutions to tone them down.

"There's one shot where it's a close up on Red's [(voiced by Randall Park)] butt as the camera zoomed out," Dennis explained. "In animation, you can't redo a shot. The shot exists as it exists, and we'd already gotten that shot back from animation. I couldn't redo the shot from the ground up, so instead what I did was I took out the butt, then I put the tiniest little upside-down V of the bottom of a butt cheek."

Upon seeing that solution, Dennis recalled Among Us co-executive producer and writer Madeline Queripel comparing Red's butt to another famed animated rear end: that of Hank Hill. So Among Us' Crewmates' butts (or lack thereof) are in good company.

Among Us is now streaming on Paramount+.

You can never just watch a whodunnit once. You have to go back and pick out all the clues you may have missed along the way and analyze the killer's every move.

The same goes for the TV adaptation of Among Us, which presents a horrifying space-set murder mystery.

SEE ALSO: The 'Among Us' TV show is better than it has any right to be

For creator Owen Dennis, "pretty much everything" changes when you rewatch the show knowing that (spoiler!) the Impostors are none other than Green (voiced by Elijah Wood) and Orange (voiced by Yvette Nicole Brown).

"I have seen people online be like, 'I didn't see any foreshadowing on any of these characters,' and I'm just like, 'Watch it again!'" Dennis told Mashable in a video interview. "If you watch it again, you'll see that every single interaction that Green ever has has something upsetting behind it... Same with Orange, and I find that to be a joyful thing."

What Easter eggs can you spot when you rewatch Among Us?

Upon rewatch, viewers will be able to catch even the smallest of details that hint at how Orange and especially Green (because let's be real, he carried the Impostor team) pulled off their murders. Take a close look at where the pair sit. If they're on a vent, you'll spot a glimpse of parasitic alien tendrils creeping through the grates, revealing how the Impostors are able to pull off murders in different rooms.

"I was afraid nobody was ever gonna find that stuff, but they did," Dennis said of the vent tendrils. "I personally animated the tiniest little triangles of stuff in them, because I was like, 'It can't be that obvious.' I don't want anyone to see it on the first go, but I do want someone to see it on the second or third. That's what I was hoping."

Dennis notes that in the first episode, eagle-eyed viewers will also be able to see the exact moment Green and Orange get infected by the alien parasite. Later episodes feature further clues at the Impostors and their weaknesses.

"Somebody also found out that there's a shadow on a wall that shows up when Black [(voiced by Liv Hewson)] steps into a salt circle. When they do, the shadow disappears because it didn't want to deal with the salt," Dennis said. "I'm just very happy people are going through, frame by frame, and trying to find what the differences are. There's still a few that people haven't found yet, which I think is fun."

For Dennis, Among Us' rich rewatch factor is a testament to the larger team that built the show.

"I keep seeing people ask, 'How did you figure out all these little clues?' I'm like, 'I didn't!' I thought of a few of them, but I work on a crew with 30 to 100 people at any given moment," Dennis explained. "Because everybody else is working towards the same goal, everybody figures out how to make a billion different clues all over the show that no one catches until later."

Among Us is now streaming on Paramount+.

It's Amazon Prime Day season again, aka the best time of year to score excellent deals on Apple gadgets (outside of Black Friday, at least). Amazon typically offers extra-low prices on Apple Watches, AirPods, iPads, and MacBooks during its members-only sale, making it less painful to splurge on a new device.

Full disclosure: There are already tons of Apple deals available on Amazon ahead of the sale, which doesn't technically start until June 23, and a lot of them are tempting. Some devices, including the Apple Watch Series 11, are currently sitting at record-low prices.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day is right around the corner: Here are 20+ early deals to start shopping now

Still, I wouldn't fill your cart just yet. Having covered Prime Day for Mashable for seven straight years now, I can tell you with 100 percent confidence that most of these offers will get even better in just a couple of weeks, once Prime Day formally begins. Amazon saves its very best deals for the main event.

I say "most of these offers," not "all," because there are two exceptional deals that I would in fact grab now. Based on past Prime Days, there's a very slim chance they'll get any cheaper in the coming weeks. Read on for my reasoning on both, plus the scoop on how low we expect prices to go on AirPods, MacBooks, iPads, and more Apple gadgets.

The only Apple deals I'd shop before Prime Day Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179 at Amazon
$249 Save $70   Get Deal Why I like it

Apple's premium noise-canceling earbuds, the AirPods Pro 3, only just went on sale for $179 (normally $249). That's a 28% savings and their lowest price to date. The older AirPods Pro 2 fell to $149 last Prime Day, or $100 off, but they were much further along in their life cycle at that point.

Read our full review of the AirPods Pro 3.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,099 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $200   Get Deal Why I like it

Last Prime Day, the M4 MacBook Airs only got discounts of $150 apiece. Ahead of this year's sale, the 15-inch M5 model is already a whopping $200 off. Its current record-low price of $1,099 (normally $1,299) is another seemingly unbeatable deal. The only reason you'd want to wait is if you prefer the sky blue, starlight, or silver finishes: This deal only applies to the midnight variant at the moment.

Read our full review of the M5 MacBook Air.

Prime Day AirPods deals to look for

• Apple AirPods 4: Apple's cheapest earbuds are now on sale for $99 (usually $129), but we've seen them hit $69 before. Dirt-cheap AirPods are a classic Prime Day sighting, so I'm expecting Amazon to revive that deal in the near future.

• Apple AirPods Max 2: These snazzy over-ear headphones have been hanging out at their record-low price of $499.99 since early June (normally $549). That's not bad, but the first-gen AirPods Max with USB-C charging were a full $100 off on their first Prime Day and $120 off last Black Friday. Let's see if Amazon can get these new ones down to around $449 at least.

Read our reviews of the AirPods 4 with ANC and the AirPods Max 2. Plus, see where they land on our guides to the best wireless earbuds and the best noise-canceling headphones.

The best early Prime Day AirPods deals for now: Apple AirPods 4 $99 (save $30) Get Deal Apple AirPods 4 with ANC $148.99 (save $30.01) Get Deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179 (save $70) Get Deal Apple AirPods Max 2 $499.99 (save $49.01) Get Deal Prime Day Apple Watch deals to look for

• Apple Watch Series 11: Apple's latest smartwatch is currently marked down to $299 (normally $399), which is its lowest price to date and a $100 savings. However, it's probably going to get even cheaper on Prime Day. Amazon has given flagship Apple Watches $120 discounts during past Prime events, so I can easily see it hitting $279 in the coming weeks.

• Apple Watch SE 3: Apple's budget wearable has hit $199 before, and its predecessor dipped down to $169 during last October's Prime Big Deal Days sale. It was on sale for $219 at the time of writing (typically $249), or only $30 off, so don't add it to your cart just yet.

• Apple Watch Ultra 3: This premium rugged smartwatch is only $20 off on Amazon right now, a measly discount that brings it down to $779 (normally $799). Wait for it to return or surpass its record-low Black Friday price of $679 come Prime Day.

Read our review of the Apple Watch Series 11. If you're not sure which model is right for you, check out our guide to the best smartwatches you can buy right now.

The best early Prime Day Apple Watch deals for now: Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 (save $100) Get Deal Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $219 (save $30) Get Deal Apple Watch Ultra 3 (GPS + Cellular, 49mm) $779 (save $20) Get Deal Prime Day iPad deals to look for

• Apple iPad: Apple's entry-level tablet is on sale for $299 right now, down $50 from its usual sticker price of $349. I'm thinking Amazon will revive its Prime Day 2025 price of $279 later this month.

• Apple iPad Air: The 11- and 13-inch M4 iPad Airs weren't around last Prime Day, but they've previously hit record lows of $519 and $699, respectively — a savings of up to $100. Ahead of this year's sale, they're $559 and $749 apiece (or just $40 and $50 off); hold out for better deals.

• Apple iPad Pro: The 11- and 13-inch sizes of the ultralight M5 iPad Pro are both at least $27 away from their all-time lows right now. Don't hit the buy button until you see them drop to $799 and $1,149, respectively (or lower, ideally). Their regular retail prices are $999 and $1,299.

• Apple iPad mini: The most compact Apple tablet is on sale for $474 in the lead-up to Prime Day (usually $499) — a hard skip. I'd be happy if it returned to last year's Prime Day price of $379, but hope Amazon can match its best-ever Black Friday price of $349.

Read our reviews of the M4 iPad Air, the M5 iPad Pro, and the iPad mini. Plus, find out which iPad you should buy.

The best early Prime Day iPad deals for now: Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $299 (save $50) Get Deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $559 (save $40) Get Deal Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $749 (save $50) Get Deal Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) $937.76 (save $61.24) Get Deal Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) $1,176 (save $123) Get Deal Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) $474 (save $25) Get Deal Prime Day MacBook deals to look for

• Apple MacBook Neo: Apple's new budget laptop has been enjoying a $9 discount on Amazon for a couple of months now (normally $599). It would be suuuper cool if the retailer managed to match Apple's $499 student pricing on Prime Day, but that's very wishful thinking. Realistically, it probably won't get any cheaper than $549, if it gets any cheaper at all. A sizable MacBook Neo discount is my white whale for Prime Day 2026.

• Apple MacBook Air: The 13-inch M5 MacBook Air is only $949 right now (normally $1,099), its lowest price yet. However, I'm thinking Amazon will give it the same $200 discount as its 15-inch sibling come Prime Day: They usually get matching deals during such sales. Hold steady until it hits $899.

• Apple MacBook Pro: The 14-inch base model with the vanilla M5 chip is going for $1,549 ahead of Prime Day (usually $1,699), but its record-low of $1,499 will probably return soon.

Read our reviews of the MacBook Neo, the M5 MacBook Air, and the M5 MacBook Pro. Plus, find out which MacBook is right for you.

The best early Prime Day MacBook deals for now: Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $589.99 (save $9.01) Get Deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $949.99 (save $149.01) Get Deal Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,099 (save $200) Get Deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,549 (save $150) Get Deal

The aristocratic art of hosting a dinner party becomes a bloody, pustulant battleground in Savage House, a riveting dark comedy so rich it'll make you sick.

An ostentatious political commentary on 18th-century English profligacy written and directed by Peter Glanz (Captain America: Brave New World), Savage House presents two households, both alike in dignity, living within one household. However, this is no fairytale of upstairs/downstairs benevolence like Downtown Abbey or Bridgerton. Instead, it's a brutal, bombastic tale of class and social climbing, in which extravagance and overindulgence can't cover the cracks forever.

SEE ALSO: 2026 Summer movie preview: Every film you need to know about now

With majestic performances from a theatrical Richard E. Grant and deadpan Claire Foy, pristine production design that literally and figuratively rots from within, and over-the-top direction from Glanz, Savage House is a hilarious cautionary tale, a testament to status-seeking by any means necessary.

Savage House makes a lavish meal of 18th-century class politics and paranoia.

Political suspicion and health paranoia hang heavy in Britain when we meet the Savages, a near disgraced family of nobility only plagued thus far by reckless spending. Smallpox is decimating the population, while the Jacobite uprising is in full swing, with the exiled House of Stuart attempting to overthrow the ruling House of Hanover in the background. Trust is scarce; pestilence abounds. 

With most of the aristocracy's travel plans abandoned, there's little opportunity for the histrionic Sir Chauncey Savage (Grant) and pragmatic Lady Savage (Foy) to reach higher on the coveted social ladder. However, in a moment of pure pox-related luck, the still-traveling Duke and Duchess of Devonshire find themselves in need of accommodation — and they want to dine with the Savages.

But this is no casual soirée; this is a production. And they've only 10 days to see this "march of folly" done by the evening of the impending solar eclipse.

Pooling every last resource and rallying their skeleton crew of a house staff, the Savages will host the Duke and Duchess, and they will savor the spoils of such a lofty connection. But a dinner such as this could also cost them everything, as debt collectors circle, servants plot, and hired professionals (from tailors to providores) know that having money doesn't mean you know how to spend it. 

Richard E. Grant and Claire Foy are shining comedy jewels in Savage House.

Opportunists united, the Savages feel simply made for each other. As the heads of this noble family, Grant and Foy's unique chemistry renders their long relationship one of utter frankness and admiration. Marriage being "hard work" lies at the core of many a film, and here, it reaches more match points than a Wimbledon final. But nothing, not even inflammatory arthritis or in-house adultery, seems to be able to rattle these two, both adorned in Alex Bovaird's exquisite period costumes.

As the magniloquent, simply pestilential Sir Chauncey, Grant is an outsider in the ruling class, more terrified of returning to his working class roots than losing a limb. In his cavalier "everything's fine" manner and an increasingly large powdered wig, he scorns the Jacobites as "seditious imbeciles masquerading as revolutionaries" while performing his own ruse as an aristocrat, rehearsing speeches of feigned hospitality. A maniacal smile plastered on his starchily decorated face, Grant's Chauncey crawls to the end of Savage House, a gangrenous, gout-ridden husk of a networker who refuses to say "when" — especially if you're pouring him another drink. "Like an undercooked soufflé," the film's narrator tells us, "he was collapsing into himself."

Featured Video For You Andrew Scott and Brendan Fraser talk 'Pressure' and competency porn

Meanwhile, as Lady Savage, Foy is a formidably bemused force who flourishes in a rare comedic role for The Crown star. Having actually come from wealth, the lady of the house married for love rather than social ambition, her rogue romantic choice rewarded with an undeniably compelling but unfortunately spendthrift husband. Knowing the fiscal reality of the duke and duchess' visit and their lack of means to deliver such a production, Lady Savage salvages every last glimmer of possibility, with Foy's fierce performance one of determinedly keeping up appearances while secretly relishing in the madness of it all. 

Neither have much time for their sweet, astronomy-loving daughter Fanny (Kíla Lord Cassidy), whose obsession with the incoming lunar eclipse and her mouse mansion makes for a fitting parallel with the main storyline. However, they should really keep a closer eye on the marvelous Bel Powley and Jack Farthing as their long-suffering servants, maid Dorothy Neville and valet Reginald Halifax.

These are the imperturbable working class people who empty the Savages' stinking bedpans and catch their hungover projectile vomit while lavishing praise upon them and fantasising about their demise. Notably, they're also their employers' confidantes, assisting them in various scams. A thieving brigand borne of gambling addiction, Sir Chauncey requires Reginald's help in his casual chicanery to keep his purse full, with no respect awarded in turn. "I care for you like a son…or an affectionate dog," Sir Chauncey tells his valet. When Dorothy feeds Fanny's mice and hungrily feasts on their crumbs, it's clear these rodents live better than the servants. The Savages might regret that.

Savage House's production design is so opulent it'll make you sick.

Visually, Savage House is at once magnificent and horrific, a triumph of meticulous period detail and visceral juiciness that makes you feel like you can actually smell the film. Production designer Gary Williamson deploys overt visual metaphors of rotting fruit around the mansion, routinely rotated by servants to hide the decay. 

A pendulum of lush, symmetrical wide shots and unwelcome close-ups of beheaded fowl and chewing mouths by director of photography Adriano Goldman, the film brilliantly balances abundance with disgust. Glanz, who also edited the film, delivers furious montages and quick cuts to up the drama over seven parts. As the Savage purse empties and the opulence of the estate increases, the film's set decoration follows suit. Elaborate rehearsal dinner spreads, ludicrous family portraits, a stream of auditioning entertainers, and customised fashions appear edited alongside shots of bloody pheasant bodies, trodden piles of ambiguous shit, festering sores, and grisly 18th-century medical treatments.

It's a gruesome portrait of maintaining hierarchy and influence. And it's this constant contrast between pain and pleasure, effort and guise, that makes Savage House such a compelling depiction of class politics, with the film decrying "perception is everything, especially among the ruling class."

Savage House will inevitably find itself compared to Yorgos Lanthimos' The Favourite, as two 18th-century dark comedies featuring gout-ridden aristocrats and underlings jostling for a sliver of power. However, Glanz's film finds its own inflamed, leech-dotted footing, as a rambunctious cautionary tale of the cost and moral quandaries of "rattling the social ladder."

Savage House was reviewed out of SXSW London and is now showing in UK cinemas and U.S. theaters.

As a toy company, Lego is simply built different.

Whether you're a kid or an adult, there's probably a Lego set that appeals to you. And with sets including everything from F1 race cars and Star Wars to house plants and classic art, there's more than a decent chance a Lego set exists that matches up with at least one of your interests. That kind of widespread appeal is what brought the company record profits in 2025, as well as high demand across a variety of audiences.

SEE ALSO: Our 15 favorite Lego sets, sourced from actual Lego fans

The brand also refuses to rest on its plastic brick laurels, and this year has been especially exciting. Lego introduced the Smart Brick and broke its record for the largest Lego set of all time with the 12,060-piece Sagrada Família set (since it doesn't come out until November, we haven't included it here). The company is always coming out with new product lines and collabs, and no matter your level of Lego knowledge, it's an overwhelming catalog. So, as someone who's been tracking the best Lego releases for the better part the past year, I decided to round up the best new Lego sets of 2026 so far.

To narrow down the pool, I only included sets that are currently available for purchase (so that means no preorders). Below, find my top nine picks in no particular order, plus one honorable mention.

Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Darth Vader's TIE Fighter Credit: Lego

Lego announced their first ever Smart Play series with three Star Wars sets at CES in January 2026. The sets brought a new level of interaction to Lego, working with smart bricks that prompt Smart Minifigures and Smart Tags to react to movement and positioning with sound and light. In other words, gone are the days of you having to create your own homegrown sound effects (though you can always add to the Smart Play symphony).

SEE ALSO: A parent's guide to Lego Smart Bricks Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter $69.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Lego Art Claude Monet Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies Credit: Lego

The Lego Art series isn't a 2026 release, but the plastic brick rendition of Claude Monet's impressionist Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies is, and it is, in fact, stunning. Given that it was created in collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, that shouldn't be too much of a surprise.

Among the existing line of Lego paintings, which includes the Mona Lisa, van Gogh's Sunflowers, and Hokusai's Great Wave, it's the most expensive. That said, it's also the most impressive in size and scope, coming out to a whopping 3,179 pieces and 21 by 17 by two inches. The result is a burst of color that can be hung on your walls as legit art, which probably helped it earn its spot as one of the current bestsellers on Lego's website.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Art Claude Monet Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies $249.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Lego Botanicals Magnolia Branches Credit: Lego

The Lego Botanicals doesn't miss, and while it was a challenge to narrow down which 2026 release deserved a spot on this list (the peace lily is huge for cat owners everywhere), the Magnolia Branches set exemplifies the best Lego Botanicals has to offer.

Plastic flower that'll never die? Check. A tasteful design that provides a pop of color and personality to a space? Check. A 435-piece build that takes some effort, but not so much that it ruins an afternoon? Kind of specific, but check! To top it all off, I especially appreciate that (as the reviews of this set on the Lego website show) the branch design encourages the builder to find the vase that suits them best, allowing for a fun personal touch.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Magnolia Branches $49.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Lego Pokémon Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise Credit: Lego

How Lego made it to the big year of 2026 without a Pokémon collaboration is actually a mystery to me, but if it took the 30th anniversary of the trading card game to get this match made, then so be it.

Obviously, a $650 is nothing to scoff at — but then again, neither are the plastic brick replicas of three Kanto region icons. At 6,838 pieces, this set is a commitment, but I'm betting if you're committed enough to grind to build up a team in the games or buy the trading cards at retail price, these Legos should be no problem. If you're looking for something a little more lowkey, the Evee and Pikachu sets are also very cute.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Pokémon Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise $649.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Lego Ideas Floating Sea Otters This set unlocks my maternal instincts. Credit: Lego

When it comes to adorable animal sets, you really do get your pick of the lot with Lego, but even among the fantastic work the brand has already done, the Floating Sea Otters are a standout. If you're viewing the image above, you probably don't need me to describe why.

Still, I'll do my job and justify its place on this list. First, sea otters are probably one of the most adorable creatures on the planet, and this Lego set captures that. That's enough of a reason for me, but there's also something to be said for being able to pose the otter pup and mom, or swap in a clam with a pearl, to give you some options in how you display it. But ultimately — Lego otters. How can you not love it?

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Ideas Floating Sea Otters $119.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal Lego Icons Project Hail Mary Credit: Lego

Obviously, Project Hail Mary was delightful, and obviously, the appropriate reaction upon walking away from a viewing is knowing in your heart of hearts that you would die for Rocky.

What better way to hold on to that feeling of movie magic by recreating a model of the ship that serves as one of the major settings of the movie? Complete with a mini Ryland Grace and Rocky, this is a set that screams 2026 excellence.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Project Hail Mary $99.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Lego Technic McLaren MCL39 F1 Credit: Lego

Calling all Lando Norris, Drive to Survive, F1, and fast cars doing cool things fans: this is your Lego set. Fans probably clocked it already, but this Lego models the exact car that Norris won the 2025 season in.

Along with being a great reminder of the feat, the classic Lego attention to detail comes through strong here. The removable engine cover lets you get a closer look at the V6 engine, or you can opt to check out the steering, or push-rod and pull-rod suspension.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Technic McLaren MCL39 F1 $229.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Lego Minecraft The Fox Credit: Lego

With the first Minecraft theme park in the works, clearly, there's an appetite for bringing one of the most popular games of all time into the real world. The virtual block world is a match made in heaven with the real blocks of Lego, and the design of The Fox set proves it.

Beyond this set looking like it came straight from the game, it has some pretty sweet functionality — the legs and head can move, so you can pose it however you prefer it, whether that be with a curious head tilt or fast asleep. At $39.99, it's one of the more affordable sets on this list and is sure to please any video game fan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Minecraft The Fox $39.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Lego Icons The Lord of the Rings: Minas Tirith Credit: Lego

A quick glance at this set instantly tells you that it's not for casual fans of Lego or The Lord of the Rings. And that's before looking at the $649.99 price tag.

This set is one of the more recently released on this list, and as such, is currently sold out. LotR fans will want to set up that restock notification, though. With 10 minifigures and 8,278 pieces that make up the capital city of Gondor, this is one of the more jaw-dropping sets from J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic series.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons The Lord of the Rings: Minas Tirth $649.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Honorable mention: Lego Pokémon Smart Play Credit: Shannon Connellan / Mashable

I know I said I wasn't going to include any Lego sets that weren't properly out yet, but it feels criminal to omit trainable Lego Pokémon. Hence, the Lego Pokémon Smart Play sets earned a spot as the somewhat unofficial, honorable mention, 10th best set of 2026 so far.

Lego announced the newest Smart Play line in early June at SXSW London, which includes 12 sets that allow you to battle IRL with Pokémon like Mewtwo, Garchomp, Bidoof, Gengar, and more. These sets are available for preorder now and will be available on August 1.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Pokémon Smart Play Starting at $14.99 per set Pre-order Here

Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you're seeking something brand new (or just new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

10. Find Your Friends

Embedded within writer/director Izabel Pakzad's Find Your Friends is an intriguing probing of the problem around demanding a "perfect victim" in order to believe women. But it takes nearly an hour to get to that point, and then the film does nothing all that interesting with it.

Instead, this grisly thriller focuses on a group of party girls who are so thinly developed they barely have personalities as they exchange gross sex stories and indulge in party drugs and drunken hook-ups. The protagonist Amber (Helena Howard) is defined by a sexual assault in the first act. She can't bear to tell her friends about it, so as she's acting out of trauma, they're annoyed she's bringing down the vibe of their girls trip. Then come dangerous men who only Amber sees for what they are.

Earnest while gory but thin and messy, Find Your Friends is more infuriating than thought-provoking or entertaining. And it's far from fun. — K.P.

Starring: Helena Howard, Bella Thorne, Zión Moreno, Chloe Cherry, and Sophia Ali

How to watch: Find Your Friends debuts on Shudder on June 12.

9. Michael

Upon its release in theaters, critics thrashed this Michael Jackson biopic. But it was a big hit at the box office. And now it's on digital, making it easier than ever to see for yourself what director Antoine Fuqua has created.

The late King of Pop's nephew Jaafar Jackson stars as his eponymous uncle. And the film offers Jackson's fans a chance to relive the big musical moments of his life — up until 1988. That's right, Michael cuts off 21 years before the death of the world-famous singer, so there's no mention of the child molestation allegations that came later. For that, you can look to Netflix's Michael Jackson: The Verdict. — K.P.

Starring: Jaafar Jackson, Nia Long, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Laura Harrier, Jessica Sula, Mike Myers, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo

How to watch: Michael is now available for rent or purchase on digital.

8. Sweet Magnolias, Season 5

Netflix drama Sweet Magnolias is leaving the Southern town of Serenity. Not for good, but for some of Season 5, which sees trio Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott), Helen (Heather Headley), and Maddie (Joanna Garcia Swisher) reuniting in New York City following Maddie's move there. A trip to the Big Apple isn't all that's on Season 5's docket. There's also Helen's wedding to Erik (Dion Johnstone) to look forward to. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Brooke Elliott, Heather Headley, Justin Bruening, Dion Johnstone, Brandon Quinn, Logan Allen, Anneliese Judge, and Jamie Lynn Spears

How to watch: Sweet Magnolias Season 5 is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Every Year After

The Summer I Turned Pretty may be over (until the film, that is), but Prime Video is not giving up its hold on summer-tinged YA romances. Enter Every Year After, based on Carley Fortune's bestselling 2022 novel Every Summer After. The series introduces Persephone "Percy" Fraser (Sadie Soverall) and Sam Florek (Matt Cornett), two friends who spent six summers growing inseparable, falling in love, then falling apart. Now, it's been years since they've seen one another, but when a tragedy brings them crashing back together, will they be able to rekindle the love they once shared? — B.E.

Starring: Sadie Soverall, Matt Cornett, Aurora Perrineau, Abigail Cowen, Michael Bradway, and Joseph Chiu

How to watch: Every Year After is now streaming on Prime Video.

6. The Listeners

What would you do if you were plagued by a constant humming noise that few others could hear? That's the question at the heart of STARZ's thriller miniseries The Listeners, in which English teacher Claire (Rebecca Hall) struggles to understand her mysterious auditory woes. Originally airing on BBC One in 2024, The Listeners earned critical acclaim from UK critics for its unsettling atmosphere and Hall's lead performance. — B.E.

Starring: Rebecca Hall

How to watch: The Listeners debuts June 12 on STARZ.

5. It's Dorothy!

Dorothy Gale is a character who's seen a wide range of incarnations, from Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz to Diana Ross in The Wiz, Fairuza Balk in Return to Oz, Ashanti in The Muppets' Wizard of Oz, and many, many more. What is it about Dorothy that makes her adventure with the Tin Man, Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and Toto get re-imagined again and again? What does she mean to us? What does it take to bring her to life onscreen? It's Dorothy! digs into that with a long list of celebrity interviews. — K.P.

Starring: Ashanti, Fairuza Balk, Danielle Hope, Nichelle Lewis, Shanice Shantay, Margaret Cho, Roxane Gay, Gregory Maguire, Walter Murch, Amber Ruffin, Lena Waithe, John Waters, and Rufus Wainwright

How to watch: It's Dorothy! comes to digital on June 12.

4. Maternal Instinct

This true crime documentary from director Jessica Dimmock is not for the faint of heart. It begins with a woman named Taylor Parker, who, when pulled over by police, claimed she'd given birth in her car and that the baby needed medical intervention. But something was off about her story: A doctor examined her and declared there was no way she'd given birth to the child. So what happened?

You could google to discover the heinous truth. Or you could watch Maternal Instinct, which begins with this question and then pulls back, talking to Parker's former friends, ex-boyfriend, and almost in-laws about who she was and what she did. This is a story of lies and manipulation that goes deep and deadly. And once it does, Dimmock gives space to the family of Parker's victims, to share who their loved one was beyond the shocking headlines.

In Netflix's library of true crime docs, Maternal Instinct is one with disturbing content that's respectfully uncovered. There'll be no "gotcha" twist, like in Don't F**k with Cats or Unknown Number: The High School Catfish. The story here is shocking enough without problematic theatrics. — K.P.

How to watch: Maternal Instinct debuts on Netflix on June 12.

3. I Am Frankelda

Looking for a dose of spooky stop-motion? Then check out the Mexican animated film I Am Frankelda, hitting Netflix this week. It tells the tale of aspiring Mexican horror writer Frankelda, who winds up as a nightmare maker in a world full of monsters. Based on the trailer alone, it's a feast for the eyes, bursting with lively, hand-crafted animation and a rogue's gallery of memorable creepy crawlies. — B.E.

Starring: Mireya Mendoza, Arturo Mercado Jr, Luis Leonardo Suárez, Fela Domínguez, Gabriela Cárdenas, and Beto Castillo

How to watch: I Am Frankelda is now streaming on Netflix.

2. My Adventures with Superman, Season 3

Sure, The Boys may have ended. But if you crave more super-powered action and comedy featuring Jack Quaid, you can take flight with My Adventures with Superman.

Now entering its third season, this animated series from Adult Swim follows the highs and lows of Clark Kent/Superman (voiced by Quaid). That includes his relationships with Lois Lane (Alice Lee), Jimmy Olsen (Ishmel Sahid), and Supergirl (Kiana Madeira) as well as his battles with villains like Primus Braniac, Lex Luthor, and more. We're not sure what's in store for Season 3. But ahead of the release of the Supergirl movie, it should satisfy your superhero craving. — K.P.

Starring: Jack Quaid, Alice Lee, Ishmel Sahid, Kiana Madeira

How to watch: My Adventures with Superman, Season 3 premieres June 13 at midnight on Toonami, then comes to HBO Max the next day.

Best of streaming this week: Alice and Steve

Brace yourselves for some sensational cringe comedy. Created by Sex Education's Sophie Goodhart and helmed by Tom Kingsley (UK's Ghosts), Alice and Steve asks what happens to 25 years of friendship when one friend starts sleeping with the other's daughter. ("Adult daughter!")

Nicola Walker stars as Alice, a 50-year-old mother of two. She may be married to a sweet younger fellow (Joel Fry), but her best friend has long been Steve (Jemaine Clement). A hair stylist to the stars, he's the person she can trust with her hottest takes and biggest secrets, and vice versa. That is, until Steve hooks up with Izzy (Yali Topol Margalith), Alice's 26-year-old daughter. From there, all bets are off. It's not enough to embarrass him in front of her daughter's Gen Z friends. Alice will burn Steve's life to the ground, and he'll do the same in exchange.

Over 6 episodes, this dark comedy plays like War of the Roses meets It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Which is to say that at first, the comedy might be so abrasive you cringe more than cackle. But by episode three, I assure you, you'll be hooked. By this season's fiery conclusion, you'll be giggling, aghast, and maybe thinking you need to call your bestie. Good news: It's all available now, so you can binge-watch in one go. But maybe have a glass of wine or a Xanax handy? Because Alice and Steve is anxiety-inducing. — K.P.

Starring: Nicola Walker and Jemaine Clement

How to watch: Alice and Steve is now streaming on Hulu.

(*) denotes a blurb came from a prior list.

TL;DR: If you’re just learning to code, you need Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026, on sale now for $34.97 (reg. $499.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 $34.97
$499.99 Save $465.02   Get Deal

Whether you’re new to coding or just looking for a more efficient way to get it done, Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 can help. This platform is a one-stop shop when it comes to coding, allowing you to build apps, create websites, and develop software in one spot.

Right now, you can get Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for just $34.97.

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Coding isn’t a walk in the park. If you’d like to avoid the headaches of snags and workflow bumps, it’s time to check out Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026. This tool comes packed with AI-powered features and advanced debugging tools that make coding more efficient and a whole lot easier.

From complicated projects to building a basic website, Visual Studio supports a range of languages and platforms so you can tackle your task. Build, debug, and test .NET and C++ apps targeting Windows, Linux, and containers. It also integrates with Azure, GitHub, and other DevOps workflows.

Visual Studio was built as a 64-bit IDE, too, so it’s ready to handle large solutions and complex workloads. Intellicode helps you type less and code more by understanding variable names, functions, and the type of code you’re trying to write.

As you type, Visual Studio surfaces ranked code suggestions, while AI-assisted refactoring tools help cut down on bugs and repetitive coding tasks.

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Snag Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for just $34.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Learning can be fun with this lifetime subscription to Pok Pok, on sale now for just $44.97 (reg. $250) through June 14.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pok Pok Pok Pok: Lifetime Subscription $44.98
$250 Save $205.02   Get Deal

If you have a little one at home, you’re likely navigating the stresses of screen time. It’s a difficult topic to navigate, but Pok Pok makes it a little easier. This award-winning app provides educational games for kids ages 2 to 8, offering a guilt-free and ad-free option.

Right now, a lifetime subscription to Pok Pok is available for $44.97 (reg. $250) until June 14.

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Pok Pok offers parents and caregivers a safe screen-time option for kiddos. It’s a Montessori-inspired learning app that takes a child-centered approach, offering hands-on learning and independence while focusing on a child’s natural development. Early childhood experts also weighed in on the app’s design to ensure the experience is enriching and supportive.

With Pok Pok, kids are in charge. Just open the app, tap a toy, and hand it over — your child can take over from there. There’s no winning or losing, and no rules, levels, or objectives, as it offers curiosity-driven learning that kids can discover on their own.

There are no ads, and Pok Pok was intentionally designed to offer a low-stimulation experience. There are hand-drawn animations, and the sound effects and music are made in-house, so the app offers a calm and gentle environment.

Let your kiddos pick from a playroom of possibilities — from space and dinosaurs to numbers, shapes, and dress-up. The open-ended play setup grows with your child, offering endless learning options for years.

This lifetime subscription includes access to regular updates, so there’s always something new and exciting to explore. You’ll also get family access across your household’s devices with a single account, and a gift will be mailed directly to your door for a fun surprise.

Lock in a lifetime subscription to Pok Pok for just $44.97 (reg. $250) now until June 14.

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Brennan Lee Mulligan is a fascinating figure on Dropout because of the comical duality he's cultivated across the subscription streaming platform's shows.

On Dimension 20, a tabletop role-playing show he created, he's the mighty Game Master, in charge of dreaming up the fantasy worlds his intrepid heroes — or, in this case, a gaggle of improv comedians — traverse. In this role, he plays villains, love interests, gods, and an army of NPCs, all to build out the stories of his co-stars in collaborative play. There is no winning or losing. And through his many characters, Mulligan has shown incredible patience and empathy toward everyone, from an angst-ridden tiefling to a grief-stricken candy king to a vampire who sees himself as a superhero.

SEE ALSO: The 'Dimension 20' cast improvises a 'Dungeons and Dragons' character from scratch

However, on Game Changer, where the game changes every episode, Mulligan's competitive side shines like a sword's edge, ready to cut down his competition. As the series enters Season 8, Mashable interviewed Mulligan about his work at Dropout. And when it comes to his role on Game Changer, he explained his on-camera dynamic with host Sam Reich.

"The me I play in Game Changer is most often the Daffy Duck to Sam Reich's Bugs Bunny," Mulligan said. "I don't beat Sam, right? Sam beats me, even in the Brennan revenge episode. Spoilers: Sam wins, right? I know deep down, people, there is no hunger in the world for a Brennan Lee Mulligan victory."

How "Samalamadingdong" could bring a win for Mulligan. Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

The "Brennan revenge episode" is officially titled "Samalamadingdong." The finale of Game Changer Season 7, this episode saw the contestants turn the tables on Reich, who was pranked with a fake photo shoot, then hauled off to a castle where a variety of puzzles awaited him. The episode featured scads of callbacks to past Game Changer gags, including those tied to Mulligan's wildest moments on the show.

For instance, the episode "Yes or No" from Season 2 had only one rule to discover: Brennan cannot win. Once Mulligan realized this, he unleashed a monologue that included this epic phrase, "The minotaur's escaped, and you're going to get the horns, buddy."

"Samalamadingdong" delivered on this promise, pitching Reich into a complicated labyrinth that culminates in him facing down Mulligan, dressed as a minotaur. And the only way out was for Reich to recall the declaration that Mulligan made in the very first episode of Game Changer, "Lie Detector." There, Mulligan gave a juicy personal confession, then declared, "There is no corner of my heart I would not turn over to the world for five points."

Of course, in the end of "Samalamadingdong," Reich wins, defeating the mighty minotaur that is Mulligan. But Reich, in a separate interview, joked that "Samalamadingdong" could give Mulligan an unexpected victory.

How could Brennan Lee Mulligan beat Sam Reich at his own game? Sam Reich on the set of Dropout's "Game Changer." Credit: Kate Elliott / Dropout

This Emmy season, Dropout has put forth several episodes of Game Changer and Very Important People for awards consideration. Reich spoke with Mashable about the difficulty of choosing which episodes to send to the nomination committee for consideration.

For Best Game Show, Reich was leaning toward "Rulette," where contestants had to improvise with ever-changing circumstances determined by a giant roulette wheel.

"'Rulette' is a pretty good bet," Reich said, "It's very funny, [a] very well-celebrated episode. It's very in the spirit of our show, despite even feeling a little bit basic for the show. It's like a great introduction to our show, and it's almost traditional enough that your average Emmy voter could look at it and go like, 'Oh, I understand how this is a game show like the game shows I'm used to, and how it's different.'"

In terms of production design, "Rulette" was considered, as was "Fool's Gold." For that Shark Tank parody, Dropout's team produced a string of aspiring viral videos that demanded a lot of creativity and craftsmanship, including the construction of tiny doll shoes for a video where Mulligan claims he's leaving the platform to become a cobbler for American Girl dolls.

"We did make those American Girl doll shoes," Reich noted, "Or is 'Rulette' [a better call] because, like, the big wheel and the Velcro costumes? The overall project feels a little bit more cohesive." 

Then, asked if "Samalamadingdong" might be submitted for consideration, Reich answered, "I think it's such a strong contender in so many categories. On the other hand, if Brennan gets nominated for this Emmy before I do, I am going to lose it. I am going to lose my mind."

Reich then clarified, "The truth is, he's an executive producer on the show as well. So when he wins, I win, and when I win, he wins. I'm just saying metaphorically, in terms of sheer symbolism: If the episode that I had nothing to do with before I showed up on set [wins]?"

Emmy nominations will be announced on July 8.

TL;DR: Live stream Mexico vs. South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

After years of patiently waiting for this day, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally here.

The most-watched sporting event in the world starts with an electric matchup between hosts Mexico and South Africa. The Estadio Azteca is going to be incredibly loud as Mexico aim to secure three points and take a step towards qualification from a tricky Group A. South Korea and Czechia will likely offer sterner tests than South Africa, so this opening game is abolutely vital for Javier Aguirre's side.

If you want to watch Mexico vs. South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Mexico vs. South Africa?

Mexico vs. South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on June 11. This fixture takes place at the Estadio Azteca.

How to watch Mexico vs. South Africa for free

Mexico vs. South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup 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 the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Mexico vs. South Africa 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 the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Mexico vs. South Africa 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 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Mexico vs. South Africa (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• 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 two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% 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 $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Mexico vs. South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, which recently announced it's an Official Tournament Supporter of the event in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

The world will stop this summer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

16 cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada will welcome the best international sides from around the world as they compete for arguably the biggest prize in sport. Huge names like Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Lamine Yamal are likely to steal the spotlight, but new stars always shine brightly in this prestigious competition. It's going to be a wild ride.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the FIFA World Cup?

The World Cup is an international football competition between senior men's national teams. The 2026 World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, split into 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams in each group and the eight best third-placed teams will progress to the knockout rounds.

The defending champions are Argentina. They won their third title at the 2022 World Cup after defeating France in an epic final.

When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup is the 23rd edition of this famous competition. This year's tournament takes place from June 11 to July 19.

How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free

A number of streaming platforms are offering free coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

• Australia — SBS

• Austria — ORF and ServusTV

• Belgium — RTBF and VRT

• France — M6

• Germany — ARD and ZDF

• Ireland — RTÉ

• Italy — RAI

• Norway — NRK

• Netherlands — NOS

• Spain — RTVE

• UK — BBC iPlayer and ITVX (recommended)

These streaming services are geo-restricted, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can livestream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

If you're looking for the best VPN to stream the FIFA World Cup, ExpressVPN recently announced that it's an Official Tournament Supporter of the event in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. ExpressVPN was already our go-to recommendation for sports streaming, and now it's also the exclusive VPN supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Livestream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer or ITVX (recommended)

5. Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this tournament before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for the FIFA World Cup?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for accessing live sports on free streaming platforms, 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 secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% 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 $12.99 (with a money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

In the age of on-demand everything, it’s no surprise that we can get "dates" (and I use that term loosely) with the tap of a button. Thanks to classic hookup apps like Tinder and newcomers like Pure, finding a sexy new friend can be as straightforward as ordering a pizza. As for the quality? That’s about the same as your pizza — hit or miss, depending on the time of day, where you're located, and how hungry you are.

Fortunately, you’ve got me, your resident dating app expert (though I prefer modern-day Carrie Bradshaw), to guide you to the promised land, aka the best hookup apps.

I’ve spent the past three years (yes, years) researching, downloading, and testing dozens of the top dating apps to find the best ones for all kinds of daters, including the one-night-stand crowd. From discrete sexting apps to dating sites for serious relationships, I've swiped through them all. I also consulted a panel of sex and relationship experts to make sure my picks are solid.

How to get the most out of hookup apps

My number one rule is to be brutally honest about what you’re looking for. You’re here for a good time — so own it. That means staying in your lane; don't go looking for a one-night stand on an app like eharmony.

"Hookup apps help prevent situations where people are on mainstream dating sites with the intention of having a casual hookup but are unclear about these intentions," Suzannah Weiss, resident sexologist for Biird and author of Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject, tells Mashable. "They also give women a space to be openly sexual creatures without judgment."

And here's a little insider secret I picked up from Alexander Liebisch, the CEO and founder of TinderProfile.ai: Timing is everything. He found that people messaging on Tinder's "free tonight" feature after 10 p.m. on a weekend had a 45 percent higher chance of hooking up.

So, whether you're looking for a one-night stand, a regular FWB situation, or just a space to explore your sexuality, I've got you covered. Based on all my hands-on testing and expert consultations, I’ve broken down the best hookup app for every type of person and mood.

Recent updates to this guide

• Hinge: Hinge just keeps getting better, so I’ve bumped it up higher on my list as of October 2025. In our most recent update in June 2026, it still earns the top spot. Its user base is growing, and my own recent tests on the app have been surprisingly positive.

• Sniffies (added September 2025): I've added Sniffies, the map-based app for queer men, because it's been gaining a lot of traction. (It got a little too spicy for Apple and was pulled from the App Store, so it's now technically a dating site.) Don't say I didn't warn you about the NSFW content.

• FetLife (added September 2025): FetLife is my new favorite "Honorable Mention." It's not your typical hookup app; it's more of a social network for the kink community (and, oddly enough, the best hookup app for gamers). Just remember: it's a community, so don't treat it like Tinder.

• Plenty of Fish (removed January 2025): POF went through a rebrand recently, and honestly, I'm not impressed. My latest tests showed they got rid of key features like free messaging for non-matches, and I kept running into the same old profiles.

• Match (removed August 2025): I know some people say they've found casual hookups on Match, but that's not what it's for. Match is where you go to find a serious, long-term relationship, and I still recommend it for that. But for a hookup? You're just fishing in the wrong pond.

Why some popular hookup apps didn't make the cut

You might notice a few apps that pop up in ads or other lists are missing here. That’s intentional. I swipe through the good, the bad, and the downright sketchy so you don’t have to. For an app to make my list, it has to be effective, safe, and worth your time.

Here's a shortlist of apps that didn't make the cut this year:

• Wild: You’ve probably seen ads for this one. On paper, Wild sounds like the perfect casual dating app. In practice, the paywalls are aggressive, the distance filter doesn't work, and you have to pay for anything that's even remotely useful. Unless you're willing to spend serious cash upfront (and hope for the best), the experience feels limited compared to more open apps like Tinder.

• DOWN: This app (formerly "Bang With Friends") is known for its simple "Get Down" vs. "Get Date" feature. It sounds clever, but in reality, the experience is messy at best. Many users report feeling scammed by subscriptions that don't deliver matches, or finding that the few real people on there are... let's say "odd." It’s hard to recommend an app when the main user complaint is "Is anyone real?" Hard pass.

• Facebook Dating: Yes, Facebook has a dating section, and it’s surprisingly massive (and completely free, which is huge). While it's a decent option for casual dating, the vibe tends to be a bit more "friends of friends" and "relationship-focused" than the anonymous, no-strings energy you get from apps like Pure or Feeld. (For Mashable's Chance Townsend, signing up was "the most uneventful dating experience" of his life.) It's worth a shot if you're already on Facebook, but it didn't quite crack my top tier for hookups specifically.

SAVE $40.05: As of June 11, the Braun IPL Silk·Expert is on sale for $279.94 at Amazon. That's a 13% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Braun Braun IPL Silk·Expert $279.94 at Amazon
$319.99 Save $40.05   Get Deal

Looking to spend less on beauty and salon appointments? An IPL device could be the answer. These at-home devices offer a long-term way to reduce unwanted hair, and a popular option is currently available at a discount on Amazon. As of June 11, it's currently down from its normal price of $319.99 to $279.94, saving you $40. And, with Prime Day around the corner, this has already dropped to its best-ever price.

IPL stands for intense pulsed light, and it uses flashes of light to target hair follicles and gradually reduce hair growth. While it's not the same as laser hair removal, it works similarly by targeting hair pigment. IPL is generally gentler than laser treatments, can be used at home, and offers a long-term solution for reducing unwanted hair.

With this model, you'll be able to use it on all parts of your body, thanks to the Smart Flex Head, which helps maintain coverage across different areas. The device also offers multiple intensity settings and attachments to tailor treatments to different body parts. It includes a skin-tone sensor that automatically adjusts light intensity for each flash.

Head to Amazon to grab this Braun deal.

Companies are racing to use AI to work faster and cut costs. But leaders who focus only on efficiency risk missing the larger opportunity: growth. Use these six questions to assess whether your AI strategy is creating short-term gains or long-term value.  Are you focusing too much on cost savings? Efficiency matters, but if your AI roadmap is […]

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TL;DR: Live stream South Korea vs. Czechia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is kicking off with a number of really interesting matchups, including South Korea vs. Czechia.

Group A is difficult to predict, with Mexico and South Africa also vying for a spot in the knockout rounds. There's not much to separate these sides on paper, so every team will be desperate to start with a positive result.

If you want to watch South Korea vs. Czechia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is South Korea vs. Czechia?

South Korea vs. Czechia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 10 p.m. ET on June 11. This fixture takes place at the Akron Stadium.

How to watch South Korea vs. Czechia for free

South Korea vs. Czechia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup 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 the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream South Korea vs. Czechia 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 the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch South Korea vs. Czechia for free from anywhere in the world

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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 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream South Korea vs. Czechia (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% 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 $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream South Korea vs. Czechia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 11, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for June 11, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for June 11 Pips

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for June 11 Pips

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 4-0, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 2-0, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for June 11 Pips

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically; 1-2, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

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

Dario Amodei, CEO and founder of Anthropic, just published an online essay that starts out by comparing AI to the Hobbits in the Lord of the Rings. And that may not be the only piece of fiction in it, if the system card from Anthropic's own Claude Mythos model is to be believed.

"The intersection of AI and our political institutions feels a bit like the Hobbits and Treebeard," Amodei writes — that is, Treebeard the Ent moves so slow that he can't even understand the speedy Hobbits. But then Amodei pivots to a controversial assertion — one that, to continue the Lord of the Rings analogy, would mean that Hobbits are moving exponentially faster all the time.

"AI's scaling laws, which predict an exponential increase in general cognitive capabilities with increasing computing power, now have over a decade of empirical evidence behind them," Amodei claims. "If these scaling laws continue for only a year or two longer, we are likely to get what I've called Powerful AI."

It's hardly a one-off reference; Amodei, who is about to cash in on a bonanza Anthropic IPO, uses the word "exponential" six times in the essay. That includes the title, "Policy on the AI exponential." But is it true?

Let's leave for one moment the dubious 2020 OpenAI paper Amodei links to prove his assertion, or the abundant evidence from other AI experts that the "cognitive capabilities" of most Large Language Models are not growing that fast, if at all. Amodei's essay appears to contradict the word of ... well, Anthropic itself.

SEE ALSO: The AI vibe shift is real: Why the backlash is growing

On the system card for the preview of Claude Mythos [PDF], the model that Amodei hypes up in the essay for the cybersecurity concerns it has caused, you'll find the following statement: "The [intelligence] gains we can identify are confidently attributable to human research, not AI assistance ... early claims of large AI-attributable wins have not held up." [Emphasis ours.]

You might think it can't get more definitive than that — unless you read the system card for Anthropic's other new frontier model, Fable 5. Using a test called the Epoch Capabilities Index, Anthropic researchers specifically set out to see if there was evidence of a feedback loop that would lead to what AI experts have variously called AGI or Digital Superintelligence. And the result couldn't be clearer.

"We do not observe a sustained, AI-attributable 2× acceleration in the pace of our AI progress," the Fable system card [PDF] says.

So, where is Amodei getting his exponential information from? We've reached out to Anthropic for clarification, but the citation the CEO uses is for a 2020 paper called Scaling Laws for Neural Language models, co-authored by Jared Kaplan (then with OpenAI, now a co-founder of Anthropic). The conclusion of that paper has been called into question by another leading AI researcher, Gary Marcus, for the past four years.

"There are serious holes in the scaling argument," Marcus wrote in 2022. "Indeed, we may already be running into scaling limits in deep learning, perhaps already approaching a point of diminishing returns." He cited research on OpenAI's GPT-3 model, which has "shown that scaling starts to falter on some measures, such as toxicity, truthfulness, reasoning, and common sense."

Marcus was pilloried by AI true believers at the time, but has since been vindicated — especially since the release of GPT-5, which was not the Superintelligence some of its users hoped for.

Finding evidence for AI exponential growth since then may be harder than simply walking into Mordor.

Additional reporting provided by Timothy Werth

Mitsubishi has revived the iconic Eclipse name once again, but this time it's neither the popular sports car nor the cheap-but-practical Eclipse Cross. The Japanese badge has introduced the 2027 Eclipse Sportback EV as its first purely electric crossover, and it's open about where the design comes from.

Apple's WWDC officially wraps on Friday, but we learned a lot from the opening keynote on Monday.

In 2026, Mashable and the rest of the CNET Group (ZDNET, PCMag, CNET, and Lifehacker) are hosting the Big Guessing Game: Apple Edition to give our readers a chance to predict the biggest Apple news from events like WWDC. Every correct answer earns you one chance to win the new Apple Watch announced in September. (Read the full content rules.) Round one of the game took place in the weeks leading up to WWDC. If you missed your chance to guess, round two will begin July 7, followed by round three before the September iPhone launch event.

In the meantime, we can tell you how many of our readers correctly guessed some of the biggest moments from the WWDC opening keynote. Incredibly, someone even correctly guessed the name of macOS 27 Golden Gate.

Question 1: Will Apple announce a standalone Siri app at WWDC 2026?

Apple finally announced Siri AI, which will be available as a standalone app in the next generation of Apple operating systems. For this warm-up question, 54 percent of Mashable readers said yes, answering correctly.

Question 2: The codename of MacOS 26 is Tahoe. What California landmark, city, or region will Apple choose for macOS 27?

When our tech editor first saw a Volkswagen bug and trippy visuals of California's psychedelic history appear on screen during the WWDC keynote, he wondered out loud if we were about to get macOS 27 Woodstock. Alas, the correct answer was macOS 27 Golden Gate.

One, and only one, Mashable reader correctly predicted macOS's new name. However, there were lots of other good guesses. The most popular wrong guesses were Redwood and Shasta. We also liked Venice, Big Bear, and Napa.

Question 3: WWDC is primarily a software show, but Apple loves a hardware surprise. Which of these devices will get a stage announcement during the keynote?

For this question, readers could guess from four multiple-choice options: Mac Studio M5 Ultra or Max, a redesigned Apple TV device, a foldable iPhone, or none of the above. Unfortunately, there were no hardware reveals at this particular event, and the 23 percent of our readers who guessed "none of the above" earned another entry for the chance to win an Apple Watch.

SEE ALSO: The latest iPhone Fold leaks, rumors, and renders: Everything we know Question 4: To the nearest minute, how long will the main WWDC 2026 Monday keynote last?

Mashable readers were incredibly accurate in guessing the length of WWDC. The average guess was 75 minutes, and the median guess was 74 minutes. We had people guess 77 minutes as well. Oddly, no one predicted the correct answer to the minute: 76 minutes.

Sorry, folks.

Question 5: In the new watchOS, will ChatGPT be directly available in an app or widget, i.e. not a third-party app or Shortcut?

Mashable readers were pretty evenly split here, with 51 percent guessing in the affirmative and 49 percent in the negative. The pessimists were correct on this one. New watchOS 27 features were barely mentioned during the keynote, but direct ChatGPT access or a dedicated widget are not available.

As a reminder, the next round of Mashable's Big Guessing Game: Apple Edition begins on July 7. Every correct answer will get you another chance at winning the latest Apple Watch released in September. 

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to enter or win the "CNET Group Big Guessing Game" Giveaway. Open to legal U.S. residents in the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18+ yrs of age. Other restrictions apply. Begins May 19, 2026 at 12:01 pm ET and ends Sept. 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET. Void where prohibited. Subject to Official Rules: https://www.mashable.com/article/mashable-big-guessing-game-apple-edition-official-contest-rules/. Sponsor: Ziff Davis, LLC.

Apple is not a sponsor of, affiliated with, or endorser of this sweepstakes. Apple Watch is a trademark of Apple Inc.