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The newly announced iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max officially went live from Sept. 18.

Retailers and mobile carriers have gone live with iPhone 18 Pro deals, with companies like T-Mobile offering the iPhone 18 Pro for free for qualifying customers.

If you have any questions before ordering the new iPhones, we're here to help. Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder was reporting live from Apple Park all week and going hands-on with the new devices, and we'll have full reviews to share in the weeks ahead.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro, 256GB Save up to $1,200 at T-Mobile
  Shop Now at T-Mobile Shop Now at AT&T Wireless Shop Now at Walmart iPhone 18 Pro Max, 256GB Save up to $1,200 at T-Mobile
  Shop Now at T-Mobile Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Apple.com How much do the new iPhones cost?

The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299. Both phones are $100 more expensive than last year's iPhone 17 Pro line, thanks to the global memory crisis.

When does the iPhone 18 Pro officially launch?

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max officially launched on Friday, Sept. 18. If you preordered, that's when your phone should arrive, and when you can go to your local Apple store to check them out for yourself.

What colors are available for the new iPhones?

The new Pro models come in four colors this year:

• Burgundy

• Glacier Blue

• Silver

• Black

When will the iPhone Duo be released?

If you're still deciding between the iPhone 18 Pro Max and the iPhone Duo, you have a bit more time to make a decision. The foldable iPhone Duo will be available for preorder on Oct. 16 and will hit store shelves Oct. 23. It will set you back $1,999.

How does the iPhone 18 Pro Max differ from the iPhone 17 Pro Max?

We'll be honest: The phones are very similar this year, but there are some key differences. (Read our full breakdown of the iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max.)

Here are the biggest changes:

• The new models introduce a physical aperture variable for professional-quality photographs and videos, as well as smart focus tracking, cinematic video effects, and improved low-light photography.

• The iPhone 18 Pro has a better battery life

• A new A20 Pro chip provides better support for AI tools

• The new iPhone 18 Pro models are more expensive and have new color options

What are the best iPhone 18 Pro deals?

All the big carriers are competing to attract new customers by offering big savings on the iPhone 18 Pro — if you meet certain terms and conditions, of course. Over at T-Mobile and AT&T, you can save $1,200 on the new phones, letting you get the new iPhone for free. Apple is also offering major trade-in credits.

• T-Mobile: Switch to T-Mobile and bring your existing phone number to get the iPhone 18 Pro for free. Alternatively, you can trade in an eligible phone on an Experience Beyond plan to score this deal.

• Apple: Get between $175 and $885 in trade-in credits.

• Apple Upgrade: Apple's new leasing program lets you pay as little as $34.99 per month for the Pro.

• AT&T: Save up to $1,200 on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max by trading in your iPhone 14 or newer device and activating an AT&T Premium 2.0 plan.

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

• Verizon: Get up to $1,020 off when you upgrade and bring an eligible trade-in on an existing myPlan.

• Visible: If you buy the iPhone 18 Pro through Visible+ Pro, you'll receive $480 in monthly service credits. Both new and existing members are eligible.

• Walmart: The big-box retailer doesn't offer any true order deals, but you can finance the new iPhone for $78/month through OnePay, a Klarna-backed service.

• Xfinity: With a qualifying trade-in and device payment plan on the Mobile Plus plan, you can save $1,200 on the Pro model.

When do iOS 27 and Siri AI come out?

Very soon! iOS 27 will be available before the new phones, and anyone with a compatible iPhone can set it up starting on Monday, Sept. 14. The new Siri AI app will arrive with it.

Can you buy the new iPhone 18 Pro at Amazon?

No, Amazon does not sell the new iPhone 18 Pro line. However, Amazon is a great place to pick up iPhone 18 Pro Max cases, grips, and accessories, as well as the new AirPods 5 and Apple Watch Series 12.

Amazon typically sells renewed and refurbished iPhones. You can buy the new iPhones from Walmart, however.

What are reviewers saying about the iPhone 18 Pro Max?

Mashable has received the new Pro and Pro Max phones for testing along with other tech journalists, and we've gone live with our iPhone 18 Max review. Early first impressions have been positive, and you can learn more in these reports:

• Video: I played with Apple’s new iPhones. Here’s what surprised me most.

• Video: Our first take on the iPhone 18 Pro: Intelligent photography

• iPhone Duo hands-on: I barely noticed the crease

Should I buy the iPhone 18 Pro Max?

Read what we think about the iPhone 18 Pro Max here. In general, Apple smartphones are very reliable, and we think you can purchase the devices with confidence.

We will say this for now: If you already have an iPhone 17 Pro Max, the new models don't make a super obvious case for upgrading. And there are good reasons to consider waiting for next year's iPhone 19/20.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Everywhere you can shop the new Apple Watches: Amazon Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) $389.99 Shop Now Apple Store Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) $399 Shop Now Best Buy Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) $399 Shop Now Walmart Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) $399 Shop Now Amazon Apple Watch Ultra 4 (GPS + cellular, 49mm) $799 Shop Now Apple Store Apple Watch Ultra 4 (GPS + cellular, 49mm) $799 Shop Now Best Buy Apple Watch Ultra 4 (GPS + cellular, 49mm) $799 Shop Now

New iPhones weren't the only devices Apple announced during its "Surprise and Shine." The company also revealed two upgraded smartwatches, and they're both available to shop from Sept. 18.

The lineup includes the new flagship Apple Watch Series 12 and the premium rugged Apple Watch Ultra 4. (Apple didn't revisit its budget Apple Watch SE 3 this time around.) Shoppers can order both watches through the Apple Store, Amazon, and Best Buy. The Series 12 is also available at Walmart.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 pricing The Apple Watch Series 12 is available with rubber, textile, and stainless steel band styles. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Notably, neither Apple Watch received a price hike from the previous generation:

• Apple Watch Series 12 — starting from $399 in two sizes (42mm or 46mm)

• Apple Watch Ultra 4 — starting from $799 in one size (49mm)

Like always, the Ultra model comes standard with cellular connectivity. It's an optional $100 upgrade on certain Series 12 variants, depending on the case style.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 features Apple calls the Ultra 4 "the ultimate sports and adventure watch." Credit: Apple

Both new Apple Watches run on the new S11 chip and include a new Health Sensing System with improved sensors. Apple said this system captures more accurate, continuous heart rate data and provides a "Readiness" score that indicates how intensely the user should exercise based on recent activities.

The S11 chip also enables "Audio Intelligence" features that utilize the watches' built-in microphones. Coming later this year, these include Sound Recognition alerts and Live Rewind conversation transcriptions. (To address privacy concerns, Apple said the watches don't record or store audio.)

The new Apple Watches' Readiness score tries to predict your bandwidth for future workouts. Credit: Apple

The Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will both work with Apple's newly redesigned Health app for iPhones, which also launches later this year.

The Series 12 is rated for up to 24 hours of battery life, while the Ultra 4 can last up to 50 hours per charge. That jumps to a whopping 84 hours in low power mode.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 colors Here's a closer look at the Apple Watch Series 12's new ceramic finish. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The Series 12's case will be available in three finishes and multiple colors:

• Aluminum (dark bronze, light gold, black, or space gray) starting from $399 with optional cellular connectivity

• Titanium (radiant gold or natural) starting from $699 with cellular connectivity

• Ceramic (pearl white or night blue) starting from $899 with cellular connectivity

Rubber, textile, and stainless steel bands are available for the Series 12.

The Ultra 4's case just comes in black titanium or natural titanium. It can be paired with an Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, Ocean Band, or Titanium Milanese Loop.

The Apple Store is also selling special-edition Hermès variants of both smartwatches, starting at $1,399 for the Series 12 and $1,499 for the Ultra 4. The latter is available with a new extendable Grand H titanium band for $3,149.

Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event brought the expected announcement of a new iPhone lineup, plus the first-ever foldable iPhone, but, true to the event's name, Apple had another release ready to go: the AirPods 5.

Apple AirPods 5 $124.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Apple.com Shop Now at Walmart Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging $149 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Target

The new earbuds are officially available on Sept. 18 at Amazon, Best Buy, Apple, and beyond. The earbuds are available in two models: the AirPods 5 and AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case. Both feature active noise cancellation (a departure from the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC) and lower price points than the AirPods 4, at $129 and $149, respectively.

What's new with the AirPods 5

The AirPods 5 come with several upgrades, including:

• 50 percent more active noise cancellation power than the AirPods 4 with ANC

• Lower price points, with the AirPods 5 starting at $129 (the same price as the non-ANC AirPods 4) and the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case starting at $149 ($30 less than the AirPods 4 with ANC)

• New multiport acoustic architecture for improved sound quality

• Battery life of up to five hours with ANC and an on-ear volume stem control on the more expensive AirPods 5

What's the difference between the two AirPods 5 models?

Pricing:

• AirPods 5 — $129

• AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case — $149

Both pairs of earbuds come with a new acoustic architecture, better noise cancellation than the AirPods 4, and an improved transparency mode. The AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case also offer one more hour of battery life with ANC over the previous generation (for a total of five hours), on-ear volume controls, and, of course, wireless charging with the case.

Though not new features compared to the previous generation, both earbuds also come with live translation and Conversation Awareness (which automatically adjusts the volume of your audio for easier awareness).

In comparison, the AirPods 4 retail for $129 and $179 for models with and without noise cancellation, meaning the AirPods 5 have notably reduced pricing — a trend that isn't common in the broader tech world, or even within Apple's event.

AirPods 5 vs. AirPods Pro 3

The AirPods Pro 3 remain Apple's most premium pair of earbuds, priced at $249. The in-ear design, compared to Apple's open-ear design, also means that the Pro 3 will have more effective ANC and more robust sound quality. That said, the new multiport acoustic architecture in the AirPods 5 was inspired by the AirPods Pro 3's design.

SEE ALSO: AirPods Pro 3 review: Without a doubt, one of the best products of the year

While both earbuds offer Live Translation, the Pro 3 also have a built-in heart rate monitor which can connect to Apple's Fitness app.

In case you missed Apple's Sept. 9 event, there are a few new iPhones in town. And the big carriers are already competing to offer the best iPhone deals and lock in new customers.

The best iPhone 18 deals at a glance: Shop at T-Mobile Get iPhone 18 Pro for free with qualifying trade-in or by switching Get Deal Shop at AT&T Get iPhone 18 Pro for free with qualifying trade-in Get Deal Shop at Visible Get $480 of monthly service credits with purchase Get Deal Shop at Total Wireless Take $600 off iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max Get Deal Shop at Apple Get up to $885 in credit with trade-in Get Deal

By now, the annual iPhone launch is basically the first indicator of fall. The foldable iPhone Duo has captured most of the hype this year, but the tried-and-true iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max flagship models also deliver exciting new updates. While the Duo won't be available until October, the 18 Pro and Pro Max hit shelves on Friday, Sept. 18.

The new Pro models come in four new colors: deep black, silver, burgundy, and glacier blue. The 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the Pro Max starts at $1,299 for the 256GB models (storage options go up to 2TB). That's a $100 price increase over last year, and new phones keep getting more expensive. Fortunately for our wallets, carriers like T-Mobile are offering up to $1,200 off, and you can also take advantage of the Apple Upgrade program if you don't mind leasing your iPhone.

SEE ALSO: Get an iPhone 18 Pro case to go along with your new phone Save up to $1,200 with iPhone 18 deals

If you're ready to order your new device but your wallet isn't quite keeping up with your enthusiasm, we've found a few ways to save money. To take advantage of most carriers' offers, you'll need to switch providers, trade in an older iPhone, or choose a specific phone plan. Smaller carriers like Visible and Total Wireless are also offering up to half off the new iPhone if you sign up for certain plans.

Here are the best deals for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max:

• T-Mobile: Get the iPhone 18 Pro for free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number or trade in an eligible phone on an Experience Beyond plan. You can also score up to $930 in trade-in credit when you switch a line to T-Mobile's Experience More or Go5G Plus plans.

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

• Apple: Trade in an iPhone 13 or later model and get between $175 and $885 in credit towards the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max. You can also score up to $1,200 in trade-in credit through specific carriers.

• AT&T: Get the iPhone 18 Pro for free or up to $1,200 off iPhone 18 Pro Max with qualifying trade-ins of iPhone 14 or later and activation on AT&T Premium 2.0 plan or higher. You can also get up to $800 in credit to pay off your current device just by switching to AT&T.

• Verizon: Get up to $1,200 off when you add a new line (with a qualified trade-in) on an eligible myPlan or up to $1,020 off when you upgrade with an eligible trade-in on an existing myPlan.

• Visible: Buy the iPhone 18 Pro with Visible+ Pro and receive $480 through monthly service credits. New and existing members are eligible.

• Walmart: The big box retailer doesn't have any deals just yet, but you can finance the new iPhone and pay as little as $78/month if you qualify through OnePay, a Klarna-backed service.

• Xfinity: Get the iPhone 18 Pro Max for free with a qualifying trade-in and device payment plan on the Mobile Plus plan.

What about Amazon iPhone deals?

As of this writing, Amazon's iPhone 18 Pro listings aren't live, and Amazon typically isn't the best place to shop for new Apple smartphones. However, we'll update this page if any iPhone 18 Pro Amazon deals appear in the days ahead. In the meantime, you can order the new AirPods 5 and Apple Watches at Amazon.

Apple AirPods 5 $124.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Apple.com Shop Now at Walmart Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) $399 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Walmart Apple iPhone 18 Pro, 256GB Save up to $1,200 at T-Mobile
  Shop Now at T-Mobile Shop Now at AT&T Wireless Shop Now at Walmart iPhone 18 Pro Max, 256GB Save up to $1,200 at T-Mobile
  Shop Now at T-Mobile Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Apple.com SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone Duo vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max: How to decide between them

SAVE $60: As of Sept. 18, the Asus ZenScreen 15.6-Inch portable monitor is on sale for $149 at Amazon. That's a $60 discount from its full price of $209.

Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus ZenScreen 15.6-Inch Portable Monitor $149 at Amazon
$209 Save $60   Get Deal

Having a little extra display space can go a long way if you frequently use a laptop or tablet with a compact screen. This is where a portable monitor can come in handy.

If you've been searching for a model to add to your setup, Amazon's dropped the Asus ZenScreen 15.6-Inch portable monitor down to $149 for a limited time. Compared to its list price of $209, this deal saves you $60 overall, though it won't be on sale for long. Right now, it's listed as a "limited time deal," so you'll want to act fast to add it to your cart and score this discount.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime in time for the next Prime Day

This Asus ZenScreen portable monitor boasts a 15.6-inch screen with Full HD 1080p resolution, delivering high-definition picture quality. It also features TÜV Rheinland-certified Flicker-free and Low Blue Light technologies, so your eyes won't feel too strained during marathon sessions.

Its slim design makes it easy to pack in a bag to take on the go, whether to the office or on a trip, and it even features a kickstand for propping it up in portrait or landscape mode. It's compatible with any laptop with a USB Type-C or Type A port.

This deal may not be available for long, so don't miss out on $60 off the Asus ZenScreen 15.6-Inch portable monitor at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

SAVE $20: As of Sept. 18, the DJI Mic Mini is on sale for $79 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mic Mini $79 at Amazon
$99 Save $20   Get Deal

If you make videos regularly, you'll already know just how important good audio is. While your phone microphone can do the job to an extent, it can only get you so far. If you really want to take your content to the next level, it's a good idea to invest in proper audio equipment, like the DJI Mic Mini.

This wireless microphone system is small enough to take with you anywhere, making it a great option for recording on the go. And as of Sept. 18, it's on sale at Amazon. Normally $99, right now you can save $20 with the deal price of $79.

SEE ALSO: The near-perfect, creator-favorite DJI Osmo Pocket 4 is over $100 off

And we weren't kidding when we said it was small; it weighs just 10 grams, making it easy to wear discreetly while filming. It records clear, detailed audio with 48kHz sampling, 120dB SPL, and a transmission range of up to 400 meters, so you don't have to film from right up close.

This DJI deal also includes a charging case that provides up to 48 hours of battery life, making it a good option for long recording sessions. Plus, you'll get two levels of noise cancellation to help keep vocals clear in both quiet and noisy environments. It can also connect directly to compatible DJI devices without a receiver, including the Osmo Nano, Osmo 360, Osmo Mobile 7P, Osmo Action 5 Pro, Osmo Action 4, and Osmo Pocket 3.

Get this DJI deal from Amazon now.

SAVE $50: As of Sept. 18, the UGREEN MagFlow Pro is on sale for $99.99 at Amazon. That's a 33% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: UGREEN UGREEN MagFlow Pro $99.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $50.00   Get Deal

If you're on your phone a lot, a power bank becomes your best friend. It's all too easy to drain your battery before the day is over, especially when you're out and about with no outlet in sight.

A power bank means you can keep your phone topped up wherever you are. And if you've been looking to buy a top model, the UGREEN MagFlow Pro is heavily discounted at Amazon right now. In fact, it's dropped right down to its lowest-ever price. As of Sept. 18, you'll save $50 with the new price of $99.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile is giving away the Apple iPhone 18 Pro for free — how to claim

And for your money, you're getting a smart power bank that combines Qi 2.2 wireless charging with liquid cooling to keep the charging surface temperature below 96.8°F, even when wirelessly charging at up to 25W. If you have an iPhone 17 Pro Max, it can reach 50% battery in just 38 minutes, and the 45W USB-C output can take it from 0 to 65% in 30 minutes.

It has dual USB-C ports and wireless charging, which lets you power up to three devices at once, and the built-in display shows you the battery percentage, charging power, and cycle count, so you know exactly the status of your devices.

This deal is available at Amazon right now, so don't miss out.

Chances are, if you've been to a concert in the past year, you've seen someone rocking a pair of Loop earplugs.

Considering the brand's origins, that's not surprising. The colorful earplugs first hit the scene in 2016, thanks to co-founders Dimitri O and Maarten Bowdes wanting to provide a solution for people who enjoy live music and loud spaces, without the side helping of tinnitus.

Ten years later, the brand has expanded its earplug options far beyond ear protection at concerts: their lineup includes earplugs to help people stay focused, sleep better, and generally exist more peacefully in overstimulating environments. They're reusable and cleanable, so they're less wasteful than swapping out a new pair of foam earplugs.

Which Loop earplugs are right for you? Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Sure, noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds can help in some of those situations, but then you become beholden to battery life — and you stay plugged in to digital distractions. A quality pair of earplugs can be a worthwhile alternative, and with Loop collaborating officially with Harry Styles, Paris Hilton, and McLaren Racing, it's clear these earbuds have staying power.

SEE ALSO: I tested sleep earbuds for months: Here are the 4 I'd buy, and the ones I'd skip

So then, which are the best Loop earplugs to buy? With eight different earplugs ranging from $24.95 to $59.95, it's a valid question. To find the answer, I tested out a selection of some of the most popular earplugs from the brand: I landed on the Quiet 2, Experience 2, Dream, Engage 2, and Switch 2. For now, I omitted the Plus versions (due to wanting to compare the base models head-to-head first), as well as the kids' versions (due to not being a child). I also kept the list strictly limited to earplugs, so I didn't try out the Loop Eclipse mask. I tested all of these earplugs personally, except for the Loop Experience 2, which were tested by my colleague Haley Henschel.

Which Loop earplugs are best for me?

The right Loop earplug match will depend on your reasons for seeking out earplugs in the first place, whether that be better sleep, finding focus, or saving your ears at live shows. Below, I break down the differences between five different Loop earplugs, and where each shines, to help you find the ones that suit you best.

Best for concerts: Loop Experience 2 The Loops Experience 2 earplugs dampened the sound of a roaring crowd at Beyoncé's latest tour. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

My colleague Haley Henschel put these earplugs to the test in possibly the way a person could: by taking them to the Cowboy Carter tour. Her report: "I could hear Beyoncé and her band perfectly, but the din of the stadium was almost completely suppressed. Curious to hear what I was missing, I removed my right earplug at one point during the set and was shocked to hear that the crowd was close to singing over Bey. The Loops were tuning out everyone else without making her sound muffled." That level of balance is what landed the Experience 2 our pick as the best Loop earplugs for concerts, even if they are the most obvious choice.

Henschel did note that they worked so well that she missed a couple of mid-song comments from her friend, but that's to be expected with earplugs. She also remarked that she was especially impressed with the fit — while she usually needs to wear a tight beanie to keep her Apple AirPods Pro from slipping out, the smallest size of the Experience 2 stayed in without a hitch. (Though I didn't test the Experience 2 personally, I also have a hard time finding earbuds that fit, and often have to go for the XS eartips. In Loops, I typically favor the S ear tip.)

As for their pricing, the Experience 2 clock in at $34.95 for their standard colorways, but during sales, we've seen them drop down to $27.95.

Decibels filtered: 17dB | Ear tips: Silicone, four sizes (XS-L) | Available colors: Silver, black, gold, rose gold, Loop x Tomorrowland Cosciencia Blue (costs extra), Loop x Tomrrowland Holographic Black (costs extra), Loop x Coachella (costs extra), Loop x Pleasing Love Enough (costs extra), Loop x Pleasing Loud Enough (costs extra)

Loop Experience 2 $27.95 at Amazon
$34.95 Save $7.00   Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Amazon Best for focus: Loop Quiet 2 The Quiet 2 earplugs are the perfect work companion. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The Quiet earplugs were my introduction to Loop a couple of years ago as I was looking for a solution to deal with a noisy neighbor. Though I used the original Quiet model then, the Quiet 2 hold up. For less than $30, the Quiet 2 earplugs are amazing for blocking out sound to focus, but also for getting the best bang for your buck. If you're not necessarily looking for something to wear to live events, these may be the best Loop earplugs for you. The silicone loop is soft enough to lie on with relative comfort, so they're as great for sleep as they are for working or reading. (Not to mention, they're $25 cheaper than the Loop Dream at full price). During this past October Prime Day, we saw the Quiet 2 earplugs drop down to $14.49 — their lowest price ever, and the lowest price among the recs on this list.

What does 24dB of blockage mean in practice? For me, it meant that I could work right next to my partner watching TV at a normal to low volume, and barely hear what he was watching. While I work in the office with my door closed, I can hear the sound of my own typing, but can only hear the murmur of someone in the other room talking behind a closed door (where, without earbuds, I can make out every word perfectly). Wearing these earbuds feels like turning the volume of the world around you not entirely off, but to low, making them a great option for when you need to focus or sleep, or even travel.

Decibels filtered: 24dB | Ear tips: Silicone, four sizes (XS-L) | Available colors: White, violet, black, mint

Loop Quiet 2 $19.95 at Amazon
$24.95 Save $5   Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Amazon Best for staying aware: Loop Engage 2 The Engage 2 are great for a coffee date, or a trip to the grocery store. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The Loop Engage 2 earplugs are very similar to the Experience 2: both are designed to let in more sound, both cost $34.95, and both come with four sizes of silicone ear tips. Though I didn't get to personally test them head-to-head, here's where I can tease out the differences.

According to Loop, the Engage 2 block 16 decibels to the Experience 2's 17 decibels. Henschel mentioned that when wearing the Experience 2 to a concert, she missed a few comments from her friend standing right next to her. That makes sense: the Experience 2 are designed to lower the volume overall (without distorting the sound quality of the music you're listening to), while the Engage 2 are designed to lower the volume on background noise (which tends to be at a higher pitch than human voices), but keep you in tune with voices around you, so you can hold up a conversation with more ease. Wearing the Engage 2 around my apartment, while ordering coffee in a loud coffee shop, and at the grocery stores proved that they worked without issue. I did hear my voice a little louder, but not distractingly so — it was certainly less distracting than the bangers my local H-Mart likes to bump on a Tuesday night. If you find yourself often overstimulated by sound when trying to socialize or simply live your life, the Engage 2 are a great way to turn down the volume, but still stay present.

At $34.95, they're the same price as the Experience 2 at full price, but their sale price has dropped ever so slightly lower. This past Prime Big Deal Days in October, they hit the record-low price of $24.95.

Decibels filtered: 16dB | Ear tips: Silicone, four sizes (XS-L) | Available colors: Clear, dusk, rose, Loop x Paris Hilton Collection Paris Pink (costs extra)

Loop Engage 2 $28.76 at Amazon
$35.95 Save $7.19   Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Amazon Best for sleep: Loop Dream Prioritizing a good night's sleep? Check out the Loop Dream. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

As a disclaimer, a family member gifted these earplugs to me after I told them how much I enjoyed using the original Quiet earbuds to sleep. And though the price is surprisingly steep compared to the rest of the line, I would happily buy these with my own money, as I primarily use earplugs to help me sleep.

Why? They're restless, side sleeper-approved. Though they block just a few more decibels than the Quiet 2, I find the Loop Dream to be even more comfortable to wear at night. The ear tip is a foam interior surrounded by a silicone exterior, which provides a slightly better (and more secure) fit than I experienced with the Quiet 2. (That's not to say the Quiet 2 aren't secure, but I move a lot when I sleep, so any extra features that help these earbuds stay in place are welcome by me. If, for whatever reason, you don't vibe with the foam tips, these earbuds also come with four sizes of Dream Double tips, which are a doubled-up silicone.

SEE ALSO: Elemind is the sleep headband that cured my insomnia

The Dreams also deviate from the rest of the Loop lineup with the closed-loop silicone shape, which is genuinely softer than the Quiets (and significantly more so than the Switches), making six to 10-hour wear incredibly reasonable. I experienced a slightly higher learning curve in putting them in my ears initially, but once I found the right fit, these fell out less than the Quiet earplugs. Finally, the case of the Dreams is ever so slightly larger, with a no-slip bottom that means they're far less likely to be knocked off your nightstand. The price may be steep, but if you anticipate mostly using your earplugs for sleep, the Dreams are worth it. Historically, they've gone on sale less frequently than other earplugs in Loop's lineup, so if you catch them marked down during a shopping holiday, they're worth grabbing. During October Prime Day, select colorways were on sale for $37.46.

Decibels filtered: 27db | Ear tips: Foam-silicone, eight different types in four sizes each (XS-L) | Available colors: Lilac, black, peach, blue

Loop Dream $39.96 at Amazon
$49.95 Save $9.99   Shop Now at Amazon Best for versatility: Loop Switch 2 The Loop Switch 2 live up to their name. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

If, after reading all of the above, you find yourself wanting the benefits for multiple pairs of Loops, the Switch 2 are your best bet. Impressively, a small switch allows you to toggle between noise blocking on 20dB, 23dB, and 26db, meaning they let enough sound through to hold up a conversation, but also can block out nearly as much as the Dreams for maximum peace. The only use case I don't see these working out great is for sleep, due to the hard plastic switch on the outer loop not being as comfortable as the Quiet 2 or Dream earplugs.

Throughout my testing period, I found myself reaching for these earplugs the most due to their flexibility. I could go from being locked in while working to having a conversation without taking them out. While by far the most expensive of all the available Loop earplugs, they're still cheaper than buying a pair of Experience and Quiet earplugs separately. They also got a decent discount during October's Amazon Prime Day sale, dropping all the way down to $44.95 from their $59.95 full price.

Decibels filtered: 20db, 23db, 26db | Ear tips: Silicone, four sizes (XS-L) | Available colors: Emerald, black, gold, silver, Loop x McLaren Racing McLaren Papaya (costs extra), Loop x Tomorrowland Holographic Black (costs extra)

Loop Switch 2 $47.96 at Amazon
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Fans of Dropout are no strangers to Vic Michaelis (Very Important People) and Jacquis Neal (Crowd Control). Both hosts of their own shows on the platform are also regulars on other Dropout series like Game Changer, Make Some Noise, Dirty Laundry, and Smarty Pants.

Michaelis and Neal came by Mashable's SXSW Say More studio for some conversation about some of Dropout's most mind-blowing moments, the development of Crowd Control, and Sam Reich's knack for knowing what and who will hit on Dropout.

In the video above, we also get some exclusive moments from the Dropout stars, such as: Michaelis' hot take on chiropractors, the musical instrument Neal most wants to learn, and do they each have a spiritual belief system?

For more Vic and Jacquis, check them out on Dropout.

This week, Snap held a launch event for Specs, the $2,195 augmented reality glasses coming later this fall, and revealed a lot more about the glasses' features.

But when Snap first announced Specs over the summer, the reaction probably didn't go as planned.

The glasses' design was mocked pretty hard on social media, and the price tag gave a lot of people sticker shock. But unlike Meta Ray-Bans, which start at $379 and are geared toward creators, Snap is targeting an entirely different type of customer.

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel told Mashable in June that the glasses were made for early adopters and developers, not the general public. "We're really gonna start with the developer community...And then we'll extend beyond that, with the early adopters and folks who see a lot of value in specific use cases — whether they're trying to improve their golf swing or whether they just want to work on the road and still bring the benefits of that large display or monitor."

Unfortunately for Snap, the Specs launch arrives at a very awkward time.

Meta's smart glasses have been heavily criticized over privacy concerns, and as Mashable has covered, the Meta Ray-Bans have been embraced by unscrupulous creators and creeps who harass and record strangers. That's sparked a backlash against the technology, and the criticism has been loud enough that Apple is reportedly delaying its own smart glasses launch.

But while I definitely can't afford Specs, I think the critics are missing the point. Snap said the company filed more than 7,000 patents in developing Specs, and I suspect that's where the real value is.

What are Snap Specs?

Snap Specs are AR display glasses. The dual-display glasses feature proprietary liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) technology and custom optical waveguides. When watching a movie on the glasses, it will look like you're watching a 115-inch screen about 10 feet away.

Credit: Snap

If you aren't familiar with AR glasses, they're fundamentally different from Meta Ray-Ban glasses, with their built-in cameras for content creation. AR glasses are more akin to virtual reality, and these devices are essentially wearable computers that can project a virtual screen into the world around you (for starters). However, unlike all other AR smart glasses, Specs aren't tethered to a phone or laptop by a USB-C cable. They're fully wireless.

I've tested about a dozen smart glasses (I'm still waiting to try Specs), but more than anything else on the market, the Specs remind me of the Apple Vision Pro, another pricey product that's received a lot of ridicule. Apple has reportedly backed away from its plans for a Vision Pro 2, and the device never really caught on (probably because of the $3,499 price tag). However, having tested the Vision Pro, I can tell you it's legitimately one of the coolest, most unique products I've ever used.

Snap repeatedly refers to the Specs as a computer, and that's really what they are. Like the Vision Pro, you can look through the lenses to see and interact with the world around you, but you can also project a giant virtual display into your field of vision. The AR technology can also project graphics into your environment, such as real-time navigation instructions. As another example, the Specs can perform live translation in up to 60 languages, so you can maintain eye contact with someone while translated closed captions appear in your field of vision.

Credit: Snap

Augmented reality done well always feels a little bit like stepping into a science-fiction movie, and the Specs are in a category of one right now.

Snap faces an uphill battle in selling Specs, but does it matter?

No, I'm not talking about the price tag. Or the privacy implications. I'm talking about the vibes.

For a computer, they're impressively light, compact, and wireless. But for glasses, they're undeniably chunky.

Snap must have heard the complaints about the product's design. In a video promoting its "Visionaries" collaboration with artists who designed custom apps and experiences for the glasses, two out of four of them praised the glasses' style.

"When I looked in the mirror, I wasn’t mad at how I looked. I thought they looked good on me,” said musician Jack Harlow in the promotional video.

"The first kind of impression of these glasses is, like, so fashion,” said Jung Ho-yeon (aka Hoyeon), a South Korean model and actress.

But selling the public on the design may be a tougher sell. There's a reason Samsung and Google are working with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker on their own smart display glasses, coming later this year.

However, in an interview with CNET's Scott Stein, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel emphasized these glasses probably won't be worn all day like regular glasses.

"I’d still think of them today as a computer, and it’s going to be more session-based," Spiegel told CNET. "Almost like a pair of reading glasses you put on to get something done. But I don’t think we’re far away from lighter, less expensive and far more capable versions."

And, as I mentioned above, Snap doesn't seem to be targeting the average customer. They're making a big bet that AR smart glasses will become the product of the future, and planting a flag (and more than 7,000 patents) in this space. At its September launch event, the company also announced the launch of Specs Intelligence, an agentic, personal AI tool for accomplishing everyday tasks and working across devices.

Of course, at least some people will need to buy the Specs.

To promote the new glasses, Snap hosted a big keynote-style event on Sept. 16, and the company will be opening a Specs showroom in Los Angeles where people can demo the product starting Oct. 1.

Snap said the glasses will ship later this fall in the United States, the UK, and France; you can preorder the glasses now for $2,195 with a $200 refundable deposit.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

A chunk of asteroid or comet whizzing through space slammed into the moon and left a 728-foot-wide pit, the largest known fresh crater in the solar system.

Nobody saw it happen. No alarm sounded. No telescope caught the flash. The rock hit the moon's eastern edge at roughly 33,000 mph, punching a hole 2 1/2 football fields wide into the lunar surface. Then, the moon went on about its business for more than a year.

The discovery came from housekeeping. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has photographed the entire moon month after month since 2010, and researchers periodically line up two images of the same terrain, shot under matching light, to see whether anything has changed. Robert Wagner, an image-processing specialist, ran that comparison and found something wholly unexpected in the spring 2024 images.

"I just stopped, dropped everything, and started looking into what that spot was," Wagner said in a statement.

But the crater is the least of it. The impact reached out roughly 30 times its own radius,  fluffing dust over an area you could see from orbit by looking at how the material cools at night. Beyond that, it scuffed the surface faintly for 75 miles. A strike that would barely register as a dot on a globe had the power to rearrange a region the size of a city.

SEE ALSO: This widdle biddy baby world is breaking planet formation theories

Astronomers have named this new crater McGetchin, in honor of lunar scientist Tom McGetchin, whose mathematical model in 1973 predicted how debris scatters after a major space collision. 

That ties into what scientists have learned from this crash. A thermal analysis shows the original impact left a sort of bruise that spans four miles across — a patch of ground that cools some 15 degrees Fahrenheit below its surroundings every lunar night. The cold spot occurs because the strike aerated the top powdery soil until it could no longer retain heat, according to research. Findings from the crater appear in two Science Advances papers.

The spray of rubble from a collision on the moon is visible as a bright dot, left. An archival Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter image, right, shows the impact is new. Credit: NASA Goddard / Intuitive Machines / Robert Wagner

When researchers checked the catalog of other recent craters, nearly every impact bigger than about 100 feet appeared to have done the same thing. If those events happen often, then the reach of these impacts loosens the moon's topsoil about as much as the impacts themselves. That means the things scientists have been counting — the holes in the ground — only cover a fraction of the damage that impacts actually inflict.

Within a few hundred feet around McGetchin, a blanket of pulverized rocks buried nearly every smaller existing crater, wiping out traces of older impacts in one fell swoop. Boulders the size of delivery trucks now ring the rim. At the first moment of contact, before the crater had even finished forming, material sprayed out sideways fast enough to clear a mountain ridge and mark the plain on the other side. 

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In retrospect, Apollo 16 provided evidence for what happened beyond the debris field. When the crew landed near South Ray crater in 1972, the astronauts' bootprints pressed deeper into the moondust than at other landing sites. The ground was softer there, for reasons unclear. Decades later, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter began mapping nighttime temperatures and found that the site sits inside a faded patch that cools faster than the land around it. 

Cold spots fade somewhere between 100,000 and 2 million years, so nearly every one available for study is already half-erased, buried under whatever has happened since. But McGetchin hands scientists a control case, with before and after pictures.

The boots of NASA astronaut Charles M. Duke Jr. sank deeper on the moon at the Apollo 16 landing site compared to the footprints made at previous mission locations. Credit: NASA

The research may have implications for other worlds in the solar system. Mars has patches like these around its young craters. Mercury is expected to have them, too, and a heat-sensing instrument aboard BepiColombo, the European and Japanese spacecraft now closing in on the planet, may be the first to spot one there. 

Meanwhile, McGetchin Crater, which sinks about 141 feet deep, is already beginning to age. Sunlight and the steady rain of micrometeorites will dull its brightness, and the cold spot will warm toward the temperature of the ground around it. 

As NASA maps out its future Artemis missions to the moon, some scientists might advocate for a future visit to McGetchin. The team would like to send a lunar rover to the site while there is still something left. A rover could evaluate how loose the soil is and how deep that fluffy layer goes. An orbiting spacecraft can only make inferences. 

The previous record-holder for largest fresh crater in the solar system measured about 230 feet, according to NASA, carrying roughly one-tenth the energy of the collision creating McGetchin. A lunar impact of McGetchin's scale is expected only about once every 132 years.

Since bursting onto the international stage in 1996 with Trainspotting, English filmmaker Danny Boyle has delivered exciting cinema that's thrilled audiences and critics alike, shifted the zombie horror subgenre (28 Days Later), and earned Academy Awards (Slumdog Millionaire). Last year, he had this critic positively gaga over his re-imagining of his fast-zombie franchise, 28 Years Later, which challenged expectations and delivered a compelling coming-of-age story studded with nightmare fuel.

This year, he's shifted away from genre and back into biopics. Following 2010's 127 Hours and 2015's Steve Jobs, here comes Ink, a drama about how Australian media mogul Rupert Murdoch and Yorkshire-born Larry Lamb transformed a failing UK rag into the powerful — and arguably dangerous — tabloid The Sun.

With a cast that boasts celebrated stars like Jack O'Connell, Guy Pearce, and Claire Foy, Ink had early buzz to be an Oscar contender. However, shortly after its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, Boyle unintentionally derailed award season discourse by revealing he employed generative AI for "about 30 seconds."

Those who oppose generative AI have been quick to denounce Ink sight unseen. Having now seen the film out of its Toronto International Film Festival premiere, I can confirm the AI scene that animates an old photograph is an eyesore and hurts the film as a whole.

Let's get into it.

Ink reveals the dirt behind The Sun.

Kicking off in 1969 London, Ink introduces Lamb (O'Connell) as a viciously ambitious newsman yearning to make his mark as an editor, and Murdoch (Pearce), who's years away from making Fox News a defining force in American democracy.

The two are posed like boxers ready for a fight, shoulders hunched in a dark, wood-paneled restaurant, which Lamb notes is the oldest in London. In Boyle's signature style, the film cuts swiftly to a dissonant image to underscore the scene. In this instance, it's a black-and-white photo of a line of men outside the restaurant, presumably celebrating its opening long, long ago. The implication is this old-hat establishment is storied but unpopular. Thus, it's the perfect place for these two to have a curious conversation away from the ears of Fleet Street's journalistic elite. Here, Murdoch reveals he wants to buy the failing paper The Sun and have Lamb turn it into a rival of the wildly popular Daily Mirror.

While the business of building a newspaper might seem dry, James Graham's screenplay treats Ink like a heist movie. A sequence of building the team is Boyle's spin on Ocean's Eleven, with punk rock playing over a montage of Lamb chasing down provocative reporters in a porn theater, a morgue, or a hotel bed, post-coital, in the case of saucy Jules (Foy).

The message is clear: Lamb sees himself as a punk shaking up the establishment, bringing sex, violence, and sport onto the front page.

Undeniably, Boyle's chosen a terrific leading man in O'Connell. The Irish actor who awed in Sinners, 28 Year Later, and Bone Temple, has a chaotic charisma that edges into wickedness. Here, that beguiling devil's charm is used to explore how Lamb chased scandal, flaunted female nudity, and exploited the fears of mankind to push his paper. When Murdoch pushes back, Lamb will argue he's only giving the people what they want — the truth, as ugly as it is.

However, in the film's final moments, this argument devolves into a montage that flashes images of Mark Zuckerberg, Elizabeth Holmes, and Elon Musk, with the graphics reading: "Move Fast and Break Things." This notorious Silicon Valley motto, coined by Zuckerberg, has arguably led to Facebook, Theranos, DOGE, and Grok, and, by extension, all the controversies that have arisen from them. But it feels too big an argument to make in the last 30 seconds of a 116-minute movie. So even if your politics might be aligned with Boyle's message, this conclusion feels like an afterthought — especially considering his use of AI.

What is AI in Ink? Credit: Photo by Anthony Dickenson / STUDlOCANAL

Out of Ink's debut at the Telluride Film Festival (after Venice, but before TIFF), Boyle said the mice that are shown running around The Sun's crusty newsroom in the first act are AI. He also admitted, "We animate[d] a couple of old photographs."

At a Q&A post-premiere at TIFF, he added, "We try to be very responsible and make sure no actors were out of work because of it, so we would always employ actors if we were going to use a bit of it. There was about 30 seconds of it."

Among those 30 seconds is a callback to the photograph from the opening scene. The black-and-white snapshot of men in suits posing proudly before the newly opened restaurant is later animated. In a montage sequence showing The Sun's growing success through outrageous headlines, and a dreamy shot in which Lamb imagines Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher yelling at him, the photo appears again, this time with the men in motion, dancing and celebrating.

The image is immediately jarring, not so much because of Boyle's frenetic montage style but because, to be frank, it looks off. It looks like generative AI. And to Boyle's defense that no actors were harmed in the inclusion, well, presumably, actors could have been hired to shoot this scene to better effect. But really, this shot isn't needed at all.

The callback to the first scene is clear. Perhaps this letting loose of these stodgy black-and-white gentlemen is meant to reflect The Sun's rebranding as an outlet that's abandoned the rules of formality for a more free-for-all, fun approach, consequences be damned. But considering the series of headlines that come before, boasting murders, royal scandals, and flashy sweepstakes prizes, this AI shot is at best a hat on a hat. At worst, it undercuts Ink's message.

Why the AI in Ink actually hurts the movie. Credit: Photo by Anthony Dickenson / STUDlOCANAL

In the climax, Boyle proposes that the Silicon Valley motto of "Move Fast and Break Things" might as well have been born from Lamb and Murdoch's rebrand of The Sun. Just because something is popular, Ink seems to argue, doesn't mean it's good, in quality or for mankind. Couldn't that also apply to generative AI?

Data centers used to fuel AI bots are harming the environment and the communities around them. Experts are saying AI Overviews on Google are failing kids in crisis. Hallucinations and inaccuracies are an intractable problem. And several Anthropic employees have come forward to warn that AI could lead to the end of humanity within 10 years. But none of this will be mentioned in Ink. Instead, Boyle uses the controversial tech for flourishes without commentary.

Ink is meant to play as a parable about blind ambition. Lamb is introduced as a small-town boy who desperately wants to prove himself to the posh London establishment that has long kept him on the fringe of real influence. Murdoch exploits this desire by handing him a tabloid and offering no rules. Within the film itself, Murdoch is paper-thin, his goals beyond wealth being vague at best. The man who would go on to inspire Succession is more an enabler here than a villain. So, Lamb's story is more about giving in to the temptation to exploit fears and our most primal desires for money.

Ink would have you believe such a path is deadly and possibly impossible to turn back from. The final barrage of controversial (and even criminal) tech giants was meant to urge the audience to think of this not as a story of the past, but as a reflection on our present. But how can that critique land when Boyle himself is falling to the temptation of generative AI? Spoilers: It won't.

Ink was reviewed out of the Toronto International Film Festival. Ink will play in select theaters Dec. 7 before hitting Netflix Dec. 11.

With Widow's Bay, British actress Kate O'Flynn has become an overnight star in the United States (after years of television and movies out of the UK). As the fiercely frustrated Patricia Moyer, O'Flynn made TV audiences howl with laughter and fright, whether she was fleeing a resurrected serial killer or enjoying the rhythm of the night at her sunset cocktail party.

It's little wonder then that genre fans began cosplaying Patricia, leading to an excellent meet-up of Widow's Bay fans at DragonCon. But O'Flynn's performance has made an impression on the industry as well, as she took home the Primetime Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy, one of the 14 trophies Katie Dippold's brilliant horror-comedy series won earlier this week.

Now, fans will have to wait for the much-anticipated second season of Widow's Bay. But in the meantime, they can enjoy O'Flynn's performance in Tender Loving Care, which has an echo of Patricia's moxie.

SEE ALSO: The 'Widow's Bay' cast breaks down their favorite scares from Season 1 Tender Loving Care is a warm and bittersweet drama about family.

Written and directed by British filmmaker Mike Leigh (Secrets & Lies, Hard Truths), Tender Loving Care centers on two social workers who have been best friends since childhood. Those unfamiliar with Leigh's profoundly humane filmmaking might assume this setup could veer into grim tragedy porn, exploiting the real-life neglect and abuse witness by social workers to jolt an audience into reaction. Instead, Leigh's story is about the resilience of two women who give their all to help others, even when it comes at great cost to themselves. Theirs is not a story of tragedy, but of love.

Amy (O'Flynn) has just been dumped by her crappy boyfriend, who's gone back to his wife. Thankfully, Amy's childhood bestie Rosie (Alice Bailey Johnson) is more than happy to take her in, restoring the roommate rhythm they created at university. At first, their shared activities seem cliched, as they pour out their gripes alongside glass after glass of wine. But Leigh's nuanced script, paired with O'Flynn and Johnson's eloquent chemistry, makes for scenes so intimate that it almost feels rude to eavesdrop on them.

In the day, these women stride into grubby environments, like a hoarder's home stacked high with debris, or the cluttered apartment of a single mom desperate to get her boy back. In these spaces, Amy and Rosie aim to be helpful and firm, without giving feigned smiles or false hope. At night, they pop a cork and set down the weight of their responsibilities to feel like girls again, together. They'll toss about a teddy bear, hype each other up, and vent about men and work with a joie de vivre that feels fragile in their shimmering eyes. Leaning on each other, they'll muster through each disappointment or heartache, be it a flaky firefighter or a dementia diagnosis.

Tender Loving Care offers a bracing and beautiful portrait of a family coping with dementia.

While the first act of Tender Loving Care sets up these friends' romantic troubles, the second introduces another throbbing concern of aging. Amy's father Geoff (a plucky Paul Jesson) is becoming confused. In early scenes with his wife Birdie (Marion Bailey), the two share a playful patter that reflects decades of depending on each other. But before long, this witty, loving man can't keep up. He mutters about swans and wanders away from the conversation when Amy and Rosie come to visit.

Leigh offers as soft a touch in depicting dementia as he does in presenting poverty. So, rather than tear-jerking, Tender Loving Care is quietly affecting. As someone who's seen loved ones transformed by dementia, Jesson's performance felt like a mirror, the alertness of his gaze dulling to a questioning stare. The once-jaunty step diminishing into a stilted shuffle.

Bailey is his staunch scene partner. The dynamic shift demanded when a partner becomes a caretaker is shown with, well, tender loving care. At the first signs of peculiar behavior, she's sharp with him, scolding Geoff for sitting out in the cold. But as she realizes what might be going on, her tone shifts to sweetness, the kind that might cajole a child.

A doctor is called, and some jolliness is made of the old-fashioned charm of a home visit. But the reality hits home as Amy touches her father's hand, a silent call for him to return to himself, an aching awareness that will happen less and less.

Kate O'Flynn is terrific in Tender Loving Care.

This film marks O'Flynn's fourth collaboration with Leigh, following Happy-Go-Lucky, Mr. Turner, and Peterloo. This starring role is her best collaboration with Leigh yet, as Amy gives her space to express unfettered joy, seething frustration, and earnest tenderness.

In Rosie's apartment, the friends, who might be the real love of each others' lives, express themselves with ribald jokes, a bouncy tone, and a fearless embrace of goofiness. In one scene, O'Flynn dances about to pop music with a comical jig. And while it's easy to recall her now Emmy–winning dance in Widow's Bay, these dances also offer a distinction. At sunset cocktails, Patricia is dancing like a goofball, but fully confident she is crushing it as a hostess that everyone adores. Amy's jig is meant to make her friend laugh, to allow both of them to let go of the unending ache of being human.

In scenes with her clients or co-workers, she's more stern but still loving. A hard tone is tough love, meant to stabilize a faltering person. Then, in moments with Amy's ailing father, that sternness brightens, creating the support her elderly parents need as they enter a new and terrifying chapter for all three of them.

In a scene Leigh could have plucked from my own life, Amy gently coaches her father to sing a song he once loved. His gaze remains indistinct, but his voice, sturdy and singing, knows the way. Together, they share a song, creating a simple scene that says so much about what it means to love someone through the thick of it, until the end.

Which is all to say, if Widow's Bay has you wanting to see more of the onscreen marvel that is Kate O'Flynn, see Tender Loving Care. It's certainly less silly, and the horrors more of the aching everyday. But within it, she gives another sensational performance, bringing dignity to a lonely woman who bravely finds joy even in the darkest moments.

Tender Loving Care was reviewed at the Toronto International Film Festival. The movie will open in theaters on Dec. 4.

TL;DR: To celebrate Batman Day 2026, Lego is hosting make-and-take events for limited-edition Batman Busts. This free event is for Lego Insiders only, but it's free to sign up.

Genuinely free Lego sets are almost non-existent. Usually, scoring an exclusive model or mini-build requires dropping some serious cash. That's usually the case, but not this weekend.

To celebrate Batman Day 2026, Lego is letting fans build and take home a limited-edition Batman Bust completely free of charge. The event is strictly limited to a two-hour window (Sept. 19 from 12-2 p.m.) and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Because this build cannot be bought off the shelf or ordered online, collectors and scalpers will likely line up before doors open.

Only a limited quantity of Batman Busts will be available, the event is intended for participants aged 6+ years, and you're limited to one build per customer.

How to claim the limited-edition Batman Bust

1. Sign up for Lego Insiders: This event is strictly exclusive to Lego Insiders, but it's free to sign up

2. Check store participation: Double-check your local store page here to verify their exact event window before making the drive

3. Arrive early: Quantities are strictly capped, and events like this often run dry before the end of the two-hour window

You have all the information you need. Now it's up to you to make sure you come home with this iconic Batman Bust.

TL;DR: Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus is down to $54.99 (reg. $249.99) for a lifetime license on one Windows PC. That’s Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, and Publisher, yours to keep, for less than seven months of a Microsoft 365 subscription.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows: Lifetime License $54.99
$249.99 Save $195   Get Deal

Subscriptions have become the way we pay for our digital lives, but they don’t have to be. Services like Microsoft 365 Personal run $99.99 a year, every year, for as long as you keep paying. But the days of owning your computer software aren’t gone — Office 2024 Professional Plus is just $54.99, and it will live on your computer.

Office for Windows 10 or 11 includes:

• Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, the core four for writing, spreadsheets, presentations, and email

• OneNote for notes that sync across your desktop

• Fluent Design visuals that match Windows 11, plus faster startup and a lighter memory footprint than older Office versions

None of the apps are cloud-dependent, so you have access both online and off, unlike the apps in Office 365. Activate it once, and it works for as long as your computer battery does.

Do the math, and it’s not close: a year of Microsoft 365 Personal costs $99.99. This entire suite costs $54.99 one time. Buy it in September, and you’re already ahead of where a 365 subscriber will be by spring.

Students, teachers, and freelancers get real Office tools on a budget without having to subscribe to use them.

Get Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for $54.99 (reg. $249.99), a one-time payment for a Windows license you’ll be using long after this year’s Microsoft 365 bill would’ve come due.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Make bookkeeping easier with a lifetime subscription to Argo Books Accounting Software Premium Plan, on sale now for just $59.99 (reg. $399).

Opens in a new window Credit: Argo Books Argo Books Accounting Software Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription $59.99
$399 Save $339.01   Get Deal

If you’ve been paying monthly for your accounting software, it’s time to meet Argo Books. It’s powerful software that makes handling your own accounting a whole lot easier — with convenient features like photographing receipts and having your books update instantly.

An Argo Books Accounting Software Premium Plan lifetime subscription lets you pay once and enjoy this helpful tool for life, and it’s on sale now for just $59.99.

Handling the books for a small business doesn’t have to be complicated. Argo Books Accounting Software Premium Plan embraces the power of AI to make updating your books as easy as snapping a photo with your smartphone. Receipt scanning really sets this tool apart, letting you photograph receipts as Argo Books automatically pulls the vendor, date, total, and line items.

Argo Books Accounting Software was designed to make accounting for small businesses much easier, helping you track income and expenses, send invoices, scan receipts, manage your inventory, and generate reports in one place.

This desktop app lets you import your CSV, Excel, or PDF files, so you can organize them as you transition to this simpler way to manage your finances. Your expense and revenue tracking also stays in one spot, with Argo Books Account Software offering predictive analytics that can forecast your upcoming cash flow to help you make better decisions.

You can rest easy knowing your company files are encrypted on your computer using AES-256. There’s also no logging into your bank account required — all you need is the downloaded statement file, which will be encrypted.

Lock in your own lifetime subscription to Argo Books Accounting Software Premium Plan for just $59.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Add Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more to your Mac with this lifetime license on sale for $90.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License $89.97
$219 Save $129.03   Get Deal

Paying monthly for software you’re going to be using forever doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

For a while, that was the only way to get apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on your Mac, but that’s finally changing. Instead of paying $99.99 every year for Microsoft 365, you can switch to a Microsoft Office lifetime license for $89.97 (reg. $219).

There’s no need to explain why an Office license still matters. Most people have been using Microsoft Office long before cloud apps and browser-based alternatives became the norm. With this deal, you can install the full Office suite on a single device for lifetime use at home or at work without worrying about monthly renewals, annual price hikes, or surprise charges down the line.

This license includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote. That means drafting documents, crunching numbers, building presentations, managing email, and organizing notes using the full desktop versions of each app. Unlike free alternatives or web-based tools, you get access to the complete feature sets, which makes a difference when you’re working on longer documents, detailed spreadsheets, or presentation-heavy projects.

Once you purchase, your license key and download links are delivered instantly, so there’s no waiting around to get started. Microsoft also includes lifetime customer support, which can be helpful if you ever need assistance with installation or troubleshooting.

Instead of committing to yet another recurring subscription, this one-time purchase lets you snag software you’ll likely keep using for years.

Stop paying a monthly fee for apps you’re going to be using for years. Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license for Mac for $89.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Even the most devoted comedy nerd may not realize how many truly iconic comedies of past and present might never have existed if it weren't for a single theatrical production. Everything from Only Murders in the Building and Schitt's Creek to SCTV and Saturday Night Live can be linked back to a 1972 Toronto production of Godspell, which boasted such not-yet-famous performers as Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Victor Garber, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas, Jayne Eastwood, and Paul Shaffer. 

Incredibly, over its much raved about (and protested) 14-month run, not a soul thought to video record this production for posterity. So, 53 years later, documentarian Nick Davis aims to bring us back to this pivotal time and place with the preposterously and perfectly titled You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That Changed the World (in a Canadian Kind of Way). 

For the sake of brevity (and sanity), we'll refer to the film simply as You Had to Be There going forward. As in, You Had to Be There is so stuffed with interviews with comedy icons, remarkable anecdotes, and cheeky revelations that it's manna from heaven for comedy nerds. 

You Had to Be There has an incredible obstacle and even more incredible interviews. 

With a dismaying dearth of footage of the show itself, Davis instead relies on a two-pronged approach to usher audiences down memory lane for a bevy of comedy legends. First off, he offers interviews with much of the cast from the show's run, including Short, Levy, Thomas, Garber, Martin, Eastwood, Shaffer, Avril Chown, Don Scardino, Valda Aviks, and Rudy Webb. 

Many of them are now in their 70s, and they have the refreshing give-no-fucks air that is perfect for documentaries, looking back with fondness and candor to a time when everything felt possible — and vaguely terrifying because of that. Davis' thoughtful collection of interviews takes us back to 1972 Toronto, where the stuffy culture of the Canadian city was set alight with the arguably sacrilegious clown show that was Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak's Godspell, a musical that depicted the story of Jesus Christ through parables and willfully silly theatrics.  

Short, who laid out a lot of this history in his addictive memoir, I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend, proves an especially great interview, in part because of his lifelong dedication to keeping records of his work. However, You Had to Be There is most fun when the cut leaps from one individual interview to another, creating the sense that we're at a dinner party with some of the coolest people on the planet — recounting a party we weren't invited to. It's enchanting and bittersweet, especially as they talk about those who can't join the fun anymore, like Gilda Radner. 

You Had to Be There is a movie for comedy lovers by comedy lovers, which means Davis won't spend extra screen time reminding audiences who his subjects are, or what they suffered. The expectation is that you know the broad strokes.

Radner's friends remember her, warts and all, but warmly, putting forth chiefly that even when she struggled with disordered eating and terminal cancer, she was a light for all around her. (For more — and and more complicated — stories of Radner, do read Martin's book, as they dated for years and remained close for decades after.) 

For a greater sense of history beyond the personal, Davis invites some famous faces inspired by these groundbreakers for interviews. These talking heads include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janeane Garofalo, Heidi Garner, and Mike Myers. This works to swiftly pave a path of legacy and brings some added star power without derailing the narrative.

You Had to Be There employs animation to fill the gaps. 

With little footage from the troupe's time in Toronto to pull from, Davis opts for animation in reenactments. This way, the audience won't be distracted by how well other actors are playing or impersonating modern comedy icons. By favoring a style of animation that's reminiscent of '70s cartoons like Schoolhouse Rock! and Scooby-Doo, Davis gifts us visuals that emotionally and artistically tie back to this era and its sense of free-love, optimism, and creative moxie.

Animators thoughtfully recreate the costumes from '72's Godspell, documented in promotional photos, and create caricatures of the twentysomething theater kids. This animation enhances the mischievous tone of many of the interviews. For instance, there's one story about how Levy's chest hair became a problem for producers, who feared a hirsute Jesus would be inappropriate for kids in the audience. (Remember how we noted 1972 Toronto was stuffy?) Well, as Short and Levy set up the story — one giddy, the other wry — the reveal of the compromise is illustrated through the cartoon as a sensationally silly punchline. 

You Had to Be There gets serious, too.

Of course, looking back not only on this production but on 50-some years in show business, not all the stories are funny. Props to Davis, who gives voice to one player in particular, actress/singer Avril Chown. She uses this platform to finally share her story, which includes a harrowing tale of abuse that came after Godspell's cast had taken their final bow. Before she recounts her heartbreaking experience, she asks simply, "How much blood do you want to give for something you love?"

Rather than feeling exploitative or like a tangent, this sequence provides a counterbalance to the more convivial stories of showbiz. Because of course, clowns make us laugh, but sometimes they cry. To show only one side of this would be to sanitize comedians, actors, and performers who built their careers and legacies on taking risks. 

Simply put, You Had to Be There gifts audiences plenty of laughs, and so much more. This is not some fluffy celebration of comedians or even Godspell. Davis and company have come together to craft a documentary that is both informative, historical, entertaining, and deeply humane.

These stars let us into this time of their lives in such a sublimely personal way that by the film's final revelation — a long lost clip of one song's performance —  the audience gasps with excitement — just as its subjects do. The most incredible thing about You Had to Be There is that this film makes you feel like you were there, and these friends are your friends too. 

How to watch: You Had to Be There opens in NY theaters on Sept. 18 and nationwide on Sept. 25.

UPDATE: Sep. 17, 2026, 9:52 a.m. You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That Changed the World (in a Canadian Kind of Way) was reviewed out its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. This review has been republished to toast its theatrical debut.

SAVE $100: As of Sept. 18, the 13-inch MacBook Air M5 is on sale for $1,449 at Amazon. That's a 9% discount on the list price.

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Apple's newest MacBook Air is on sale at Amazon for a limited time, with $100 off the list price. That's welcome news in the wake of Apple price bumps.

As of Sept. 18, the 13-inch model is down to $1,449 across all four colorways. This is for the 16GB option without AppleCare+, but you can pay extra to include three years of coverage.

This model is one of Apple's best. In fact, the 15-inch model made our list of the best laptops for 2026.

There are many reasons we love this MacBook. The M5-powered Air is designed to handle everything from everyday browsing and office work to more demanding creative tasks. The M5 chip is what makes it so impressive, giving you a faster CPU, unified memory, a Neural Engine, and a GPU with Neural Accelerators for AI workloads. Apple Intelligence is also supported.

The battery life is rated for up to 18 hours, so you're set for working all day away from a power outlet. More than one day, even. And if you take lots of video calls, you'll appreciate the 12MP Center Stage camera, three-microphone setup, and four speakers with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos.

If you've been waiting for a discount on the MacBook Air M5, don't miss out on this deal.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is on sale for $83.44 at Amazon — provided your invite request is accepted.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $83.44 at Amazon
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The Pokémon TCG’s 30th anniversary expansion finally arrived on Sept. 16, and you can now score the Elite Trainer Box for below market price. Amazon has knocked a few more dollars off its already competitive preorder price, although actually buying something still depends on getting through the retailer’s invite system. 

As of Sept. 18, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is $83.44 at Amazon. It’s shipped and sold directly by Amazon.

This is essentially a second price drop, since its current list price matches its previous sale price after being reduced from $200+ last week, and it is far lower than its current TCGplayer market price of $168.03.

There is still no guarantee you’ll actually get one, however. Because this is a high-demand item, Amazon requires potential buyers to submit an invitation request via its "request invite" button rather than checking out normally. If you are randomly selected, you’ll then get an email letting you know that you’re now able to buy Pokémon’s 30th Celebration ETB for a limited time (usually 24 hours). Amazon won’t be able to grant every request, but yours will be kept on file for the foreseeable future, so you could receive an invitation after a potential restock. 

Inside the Elite Trainer Box are nine titular Pokémon 30th Celebration boosters, a full-art foil Nidorina promo, 16 foil Basic Energy cards, 65 sleeves, dice, a coin, dividers, a player’s guide, and a Pokémon TCG Live code. 

If your priority is just getting one of these boxes right now rather than the cheapest deal possible, Pokémon’s 30th Celebration ETBs are readily available to buy right now for $167.94 at TCGplayer — much more expensive than Amazon, but still under market price. If there are any chase cards you’re after from this special anniversary expansion, including the $1,800 Mew ex, single Pokémon 30th Celebration cards are also available to shop at TCGplayer.