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Despite the improvements since it was released, Windows 11 still feels a bit rough around the edges—almost unfinished. It has few customization options, and several basic features that you'll find in competing operating systems are missing completely.

I love solar panels, but using them isn't as simple as plugging a rechargeable battery into the wall. 400W panels often provide 200 watts of power, and that number can get even lower if you're not using them properly. Fortunately, with the right knowledge, it's easy to give those panels a boost.

Amid the second phase of a high-profile child safety trial in New Mexico, Meta is announcing new measures designed to ensure teens on its platforms are subject to age-related protections.

Meta announced in a blog post Tuesday that parents in the U.S. on two of its social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, will receive a notification with details about how to check and confirm their teens' ages on the company's apps.

All users that Meta has identified as a parent, not just adults who supervise a Teen Account, will receive the notification. The notification will include a link to a blog post Meta published a year ago on how to talk to teens about the importance of providing their correct age.

Meta hopes to raise parent awareness of age confirmation on Instagram and Facebook. Credit: Meta

Meta also announced that age-detection technology will roll out to 27 countries in the European Union and Brazil. Additionally, the technology will apply to U.S. Facebook users for the first time.

In April 2025, Meta began using AI to identify teen users who listed an adult age in their account. The technology re-assigns those users to Meta's Teen Account product, which the company says has more stringent safety protections.

In the fall, independent experts who tested Teen Accounts published a report alleging that the product doesn't work as advertised. Among their findings, the researchers documented instances in which the guardrails failed to prevent inappropriate contact with strangers.

SEE ALSO: EU says Meta hasn't done enough to prevent minors under 13 from using Instagram and Facebook

On Tuesday, Meta said that its AI technology would begin to analyze user profiles for "contextual clues" of their age, simplify the process for reporting suspected underage accounts, and strengthen its ability to stop underage users from opening new accounts.

Meta noted in its blog post that it believes lawmakers should require app stores to verify user age and provide that information to apps and developers.

Meta back on trial

Meta lost the first phase of the New Mexico trial in March when a jury found the company liable for misleading consumers about the safety of its platforms and endangering children. The suit was filed by the state's attorney general.

Meta has been ordered to pay the maximum penalties for each violation of New Mexico’s consumer protection laws, amounting to $375 million. The company has said it plans to appeal the decision.

In the bench trial, New Mexico's Department of Justice is seeking injunctive relief requiring Meta to pay additional damages of $3.75 billion and implement specific changes to protect children.

The proposed policies include effective age verification, blocking children under 13, limits on end-to-end messaging encryption for minors, and permanent bans for adult users who engage in or facilitate child exploitation.

Last week, Meta threatened to shut its platforms down in New Mexico in response to the state's demands.

"Many of the requests are technologically or practically infeasible and would essentially force Meta to build entirely separate apps for use only in New Mexico," the company said in its court filing, according to The Guardian. "Therefore, granting onerous relief could compel Meta to entirely withdraw Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp from the state as the only feasible means of compliance."

In court on Monday, Meta's counsel Alex Parkinson reiterated that stance, arguing that granting the state's injunctive relief in full would "genuinely make it untenable to continue offering Meta's products" in New Mexico.

State Attorney General Raul Torrez said that Meta is putting advertising revenue and profit ahead of the "safety of children."

"We know Meta has the ability to make these changes," Torrez said in a statement. "This is not about technological capability."

Samsung's upcoming foldable phones have been revealed in a leak again, but this leak is different, because it comes directly from Samsung.

Android Authority dug through Samsung's new One UI 9 software and discovered images of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, as well as the entirely new foldable phone which will probably be called Samsung Wide Fold.

Don't expect photographs; the images are just simple graphics, but they do tell us a lot about these new phones. In particular, the Samsung Wide Fold looks significantly wider than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, which looks really skinny in comparison.

That's a large cover display. Credit: Samsung/Android Authority

The images also reveal that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will have a triple rear camera, while the Wide Fold will only have a dual camera on the back.

Hello, skinny. Credit: Samsung/Android Authority

The designs are in line with previous leaks, renders, and mockups, including the dummy units that surfaced in late April.

Samsung's Wide Fold is widely (no pun intended) expected to clash with Apple's rumored, upcoming foldable iPhone, which will likely have a similar, wide design. This design might make the phone feel a little clunkier in the hand, but should pay off when you unfold it, as you'll get something akin to a small tablet.

As for the Galaxy Z Fold 8, it looks more or less unchanged compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy A57 5G falls short of other mid-range options

The rumored specs for the Samsung Wide Fold include a dual, 200/50-megapixel camera, a 10-megapixel selfie camera, a 5.4-inch cover display, a 7.6-inch foldable display, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, and 12/16GB of RAM.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 will probably have similar specs as the Z Fold 7, but it should get a larger, 5,000mAh battery, as well as 45W charging.

Samsung is likely to unveil its new foldable phones in July.

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I spend a lot of time trawling through the depths of the online world to find deals that are genuinely worth your time and money. And no, I'm not talking about those heavily discounted products that have actually been stuck at that "low price" for months. I'm talking about limited-time discounts on the products that I'd actually recommend to a friend.

That's the aim of the game for Mashable's team of shopping experts. We're constantly scanning leading retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy to bring you new opportunities to save your precious cash. But we're not satisfied with the current state of affairs. We don't want you to miss a thing, and that's why we landed on the Mashable Deals text group.

Become a subscriber of the Mashable Deals text group and I'll send you the very best deals directly to your phone. You don't need to pay anything to get access to these deals. Simply sign up above and you'll be the first to know about huge savings on MacBooks, limited-time discounts on AirPods, price cuts on items under $50, and all of those other deals that drop throughout the week.

I'll send a Deal of the Day most days. During major shopping events like Prime Day and Black Friday, we may bump this up to a couple of sends per day. But that's only if we come across multiple offers that are truly worth the send. If we track down a bunch of impressively low prices during a busy shopping event, we'll drop those in a single text.

We're not going to spam you. The daily deals that we send to the Mashable Deals text group will have been researched and assessed by the team with the same level of care that we dedicate to the rest of our shopping content.

Signing up for the Mashable Deals text group is quick, safe, and totally free. You can also opt out anytime you like. I hope you give it a try.

Excel makes it easy to turn numbers into visuals, but "easy" doesn't always mean "accurate." Some chart types do more to hide your data than highlight it. If you want your reports to be readable and professional, stop using these confusing layouts right away.

SAVE $60: As of May 5, the DJI Neo is on sale for $139 at Amazon. That's a 30% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Neo $139 at Amazon
$199 Save $60   Get Deal

A drone for under $200 is always great deal, and a top drone for its best-ever price is even better. And that's exactly what you're getting right now with the DJI Neo at Amazon — on sale for $139 right now.

You may have heard about recent restrictions on DJI products in the U.S., but this only applies to future imports, so you can still purchase and use drones that are already available through retailers like Amazon. If you've been eyeing up a DJI drone for a while, take this as your sign to buy.

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This drone is a great choice for beginners. Not only is it an affordable option, but it weighs just 135g, meaning it's flexible and doesn't require FAA registration or Remote ID. It can take off and land from your palm with a single button and can be flown without a controller or via voice control, mobile app, or remote.

It uses subject tracking and includes eight QuickShots modes for capturing footage. It also benefits from DJI stabilization technology and level-4 wind resistance support for smoother filming during less than perfect conditions. The drone has full-coverage propeller guards for added protection during flight and comes with a battery and other essentials for use out of the box.

This drone deal is available right now at Amazon.

SAVE OVER $100: As of May 5, the Breville Barista Express Impress is on sale for $549.95 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Breville Breville Barista Express Impress $549.95 at Amazon
$688.99 Save $139.04   Get Deal

Life is too short to settle for average coffee, especially when the Breville Barista Express Impress espresso machine is on sale at Amazon.

As of May 5, this advanced machine is reduced by almost $140, bringing the price down to $549.95. You can choose from different colors to help it blend into your kitchen. The brushed stainless steel, black sesame, and black truffle are all at the same discounted price.

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This espresso machine is designed for a truly perfect coffee. It has a built-in conical burr grinder that grinds beans directly into the portafilter. It uses low pressure pre-infusion to gradually increase pressure during extraction, alongside digital temperature control to regulate water temperature. The machine includes a grind size dial and allows adjustment of grind amount, with options for single or double shots.

It also includes a steam wand for texturing milk, so it's the perfect choice if you prefer a latte over an espresso. And it comes with a wide range of accessories so you can start enjoying great coffee on delivery day. These include a 54 mm stainless steel portafilter, single and dual wall filter baskets, a razor dose trimming tool, coffee scoop, integrated tamper, stainless steel milk jug, cleaning disc, tablets, brush tool, Allen key, and a water filter with holder.

Get this Breville deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $50: As of May 5, Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are on sale for $199.95 at Amazon. That's a 20% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 $199.95 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $50.04   Get Deal

These days earbuds are beyond clever. With a new pair you won't just get the standard noise cancellation — many leading models now offer features like heart rate monitoring, including the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2. As of May 5, these earbuds are reduced from $249.99 to $199.99, saving you $50 and giving you the lowest price in almost a year.

These earbuds are the perfect choice for working out. They have a secure earhook fit, helping them stay in place even during intense training. In fact, they were developed with over 1,500 hours of athlete testing to make sure they give a comfortable and reliable fit. They include active noise cancelling and a transparency mode, along with heart rate monitoring sensors that track your pulse.

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They have an IPX4 rating, so they are both sweat and water resistant. And thanks to the Apple H2 chip, they offer up to 45 hours of battery life with the charging case. And this chip doesn't mean they are for Apple users only, these are compatible with both Apple and Android devices. With both types of device you'll get features such as one-touch pairing, device switching, and more that can be controlled in the Beats app.

These earbuds are only on sale for a limited time, so don't miss out.

The ASUS Zenbook A16 (2026) is so close to perfection that I'd buy one tomorrow and tell all my friends to do the same. Not only does it pack fantastic power into a feather-light chassis, but it also boasts a gorgeous OLED screen, AI features, and an impressive speaker system.

We already know that the cognitive test Trump keeps banging on about isn't actually meant to be hard, but nonetheless the president won't stop bragging about it — recently boasting that he's "the only president to take a cognitive test."

"You're the only president to take the cognitive test?" asks Jon Stewart in the Daily Show clip above. "Let me ask you a question: Why do you think that is? Why do you think that you're the only president that that happens to? That for some reason every time you go to the doctor, which is a lot, the doctor's always like, 'Hey while you're here...'"

Stewart then plays another clip of Trump talking about a complex mental arithmetic question that they apparently also asked him, and which he claims to have answered correctly.

"No, Trump is a regular Stephen Hawking," says Stewart. "That's what it is. Although I thought the only thing they had in common was being in the Epstein files."

SAVE $60: As of May 5, the Kindle Colorsoft is on sale for $189.99 at Amazon. That's a 24% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Kindle Colorsoft $189.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $60   Get Deal

If you need a boost to get through your reading list, how about a brand new e-reader? As of May 5, the Kindle Colorsoft is on sale, and it's the perfect motivator you need to start turning pages (digital ones, that is). Right now, you can save $60 on this model, currently priced at $189.99. This is for the device only in black with no ads.

With this Kindle you get a 7-inch color display as opposed to the standard black and white. This means book covers and content in your favorite reads are brought to life. You can highlight text in multiple colors, and the display can be adjusted from white to amber for comfortable reading in both bright sunlight and low light.

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Like all Kindles, the battery life is enough to see you through weeks of reading, with a single USB-C charge lasting up to eight weeks. Ideal for taking with you on vacation without extra charging cables. And speaking of vacation, the device is waterproof for use by the pool, in the bath, or on the beach.

And you won't run out of books to read. With the Colorsoft, you'll get access to over 15 million titles in the Kindle Store, with the option of a Kindle Unlimited subscription for access to a huge number of books at a monthly fee, rather than paying for each title individually.

How is that to-be-read list looking? Get this deal at Amazon now.

TL;DR: Amazon has the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box on sale for $20, down from its $34.99 list price. That saves you $14.99 and marks its lowest-ever price at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box $20 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $14.99 Get Deal

Whether you’re a new or seasoned Magic: The Gathering player, the Avatar Beginner Box is one of the best ways to get into the expansion. Now, you can grab this popular MTG entry point for less than ever on Amazon. 

As of May 5, Amazon has the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box listed for $20 as a limited-time deal, which is 43% off its $34.99 list price. That's the lowest price the Avatar Beginner Box has seen on Amazon (confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel). That also puts it below the current TCGplayer market price of $23, and close to TCGplayer’s lowest listing of $19.88 before shipping. 

Walmart listings go down to $18.99 at the lowest, but that listing is from a third-party marketplace seller. 

For a licensed starter set that is made to teach two people at once, $20 is a great price to get both you and a friend started in MTG. The box starts with a guided Aang versus Zuko battle using two 20-card tutorial decks, so you can learn the basic flow of Magic without having to build anything first. 

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After that, the Beginner Box opens up with eight 20-card Avatar-themed half-decks based around themes like Firebending, Earthbending, Waterbending, Allies, Big Creatures, Counters, Spells, and Attacking. Combine any two, and you have a full 40-card deck, giving the set more replay value than a one-and-done tutorial product.

Along with the cards, you also get two playboards, two Spindown life counters, two learn-to-play guides, five double-sided tokens, and a rules reference booklet.

Ready for when you’ve got the basics down, you can expand your Magic: The Gathering collection with the 24-pack Avatar: The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box on sale. Among other expansions, the newly-released MTG Secrets of Strixhaven Play Booster Box is on offer for just over $140.

TL;DR: Amazon sellers now have the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Build and Battle Box listed from $34.99. Walmart is at $42.95, while TCGplayer listings start at $39.82 shipped.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Build and Battle Box $38.98 at Amazon
$59.94 Save $20.96   Get Deal

Perfect Order is one of the best new Pokémon expansions for TCG players, since its products are so affordable compared to others like Ascended Heroes. And now you can get a battle-ready deck for under $40. 

As of May 5, Amazon’s cheapest third-party listing has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Build and Battle Box down to $34.99, before a $4.99 delivery charge for a $38.98 total. That’s nearly $20 below the $54.95 typical price shown on Amazon. That's the lowest-ever price on Amazon according to price tracker camelcamelcamel. 

This deal has a wide delivery window of May 12-27. For anyone who prefers speedier dispatch, another Amazon seller has the box at $45.89 with free delivery guaranteed for May 11 at the time of writing, which still takes 16% off the listed typical price. 

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Outside of Amazon, Walmart currently has the Build and Battle Box at $42.95 with free shipping. TCGplayer is slightly lower at $39.82 shipped for its cheapest unopened listing, while its market price is sitting at $38.31. If you’re the type of collector who prefers buying their cards through Amazon, you can take comfort knowing its cheapest option is close to market price — even with delivery included. 

Each box includes a 40-card ready-to-play deck, four Mega Evolution Perfect Order booster packs, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live. It also comes with one of four possible foil promo cards: Serperior, Barbaracle, Tyrantrum, or Doublade. 

If you’re keen on the other expansions, you can also pre-order the Pokémon TCG’s Chaos Rising Build and Battle Box at Amazon. Meanwhile, you can pre-order Chaos Rising Booster Packs for around $13 at Amazon.

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box listed for $79.69, down from $84.99. With over $5 off, that’s a 6% discount on an already low-priced ETB.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box $79.69 at Amazon
$84.99 Save $5.30   Shop Now

The closer we get to the launch of Pokémon’s Chaos Rising expansion, the more we’re seeing price drops on the already affordable Perfect Order range — making it one of the most budget-friendly expansions in the trading card game. 

As of May 5, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box on sale for $79.69, down from its $84.99 list price. It’s sold and shipped directly by Amazon, with Prime delivery available depending on your location. That still doesn’t make it the cheapest option overall, but it does make it a more convenient buy for Amazon shoppers who want fast shipping and don’t want to sort through third-party listings.

Walmart has come in with an even lower price, listing the same Perfect Order ETB for $69.77. Over on TCGplayer, the lowest shipped listing is currently $72.99, with the dedicated trading card selling site showing a $70.43 market price and a $77.82 listed median. While Amazon is no longer wildly out of range, Walmart and TCGplayer remain the better picks if price is the only thing you care about.

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Inside the box, you’re getting nine Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Perfect Order booster packs, one full-art foil Tyrunt promo card, 65 card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, a player’s guide, six damage-counter dice, a competition-legal coin-flip die, a plastic coin, a collector’s box with dividers, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

It’s a better time than ever to get into the Pokémon Legends: Z-A-centric expansion if you’ve not had a chance to dive in yet — built around featured Pokémon like Mega Zygarde ex, keeping the city in balance, with Mega Clefable ex, Mega Starmie ex, and Meowth ex also appearing in the 120+ card collection. 

You can still preorder the Pokémon TCG’s Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box on sale. Elsewhere, you can pre-order Chaos Rising Booster Packs for around $13 at Amazon.

TL;DR: Get the iPhone 17 for free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience Beyond or Better Value plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for free   Shop Now

Earlier this year we got new iPhones, MacBooks, and iPads. That was a lot to take in, but what are we all supposed to do until the next launch? We can't sit around and wait until the foldable iPhone arrives in late 2026.

Instead, we should be using this time to scout the best deals on Apple's latest lineup.

And there's some good news for anyone looking to upgrade to the Apple iPhone 17: For a limited time, you can claim the iPhone 17 for free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience Beyond or Better Value plan. You can also switch to almost any T-Mobile plan and get a free iPhone 17e. Neither of these offers requires a trade-in, but you do need to pay taxes and a $35 device connection fee.

SEE ALSO: iOS 27 could finally bring AI photo-editing to your iPhone

The iPhone 17 is the first base model built to handle Apple’s most advanced AI features. In Mashable's review, Stan Schroeder said it's an "excellent phone that matches the iPhone Pro models in many ways that matter." Potential buyers should also know that the camera is "almost as good as the one on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max." That's good news for all the budding content creators out there.

Score the Apple iPhone 17 for free with this latest offer from T-Mobile.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, May 5, 2026:

AcrossWord before "time" or "potatoes"

• The answer is Small.

Spot for a backyard grill

• The answer is Patio.

"Moving right ___ ..."

• The answer is Along.

Major or general

• The answer is Rank.

Sprouting part of a potato

• The answer is Eye.

DownWord before "time" or "ribs"

• The answer is Spare.

Language spoken in Kuala Lumpur

• The answer is Malay.

Make amends

• The answer is Atone.

Sausage segment

• The answer is Link.

Fuel for a firepit

• The answer is Log.

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

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

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

The Drama has been stirring up drama online since a teaser dropped back in December. A24's dark comedy about a wedding gone awry stars Zendaya and Robert Pattinson and promises an unexpected twist. If you've managed to steer clear of spoilers thus far, this isn't your typical "cold feet" romantic comedy. It's darker and heavier.

The best ways to watch 'The Drama' at home: Watch now Buy or rent 'The Drama' on Prime Video $24.99 or $19.99 Shop Now Watch now Buy or rent 'The Drama' on Apple TV $24.99 or $19.99 Get Deal Watch later HBO Max (With Ads) $109.99/year (save $21.89) Get Deal Watch later Max Standard $184.99/year (save $36.89) Get Deal Watch later HBO Max Student $5.49 per month for 12 months (save 50%) Get Deal Watch later HBO Max Basic With Ads Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $10.99/month) Get Deal Watch later Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max $19.99 per month (with ads), $32.99 per month (no ads) (save up to 42%) Get Deal Watch later Netflix and HBO Max bundle (with ads) $10/month with Verizon myPlan (save $9.98/month) Get Deal Watch later Netflix, Peacock, and HBO Max (with ads) $22/month with Xfinity StreamSaver (save $8.97/month) Get Deal

Directed by Kristoffer Borgli, The Drama makes you question whether you really know the person you're about to marry. It's done surprisingly well at the theaters, besting Zendaya's 2024 hit Challengers. If you missed it or can't wait to watch it again, here's everything you need to know to watch the actual drama unfold from your couch.

What is The Drama about?

The Drama follows Boston couple Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Pattinson) as they prepare for their wedding. At a food-and-wine tasting event, along with their best friends Rachel (Alana Haim) and Mike (Mamoudou Athie), they play a game where each person confesses the worst thing they've ever done. While it's all in good fun at first, the game takes a dark turn when Emma admits her truth. Her confession throws the whole wedding and her relationship as a whole into question.

Check out the official trailer for a taste of The Drama:

Is The Drama worth watching?

A24's The Drama has drawn in moviegoers around the globe, crossing the $100 million mark. It's only the studio's fifth film to ever hit the century mark in over a dozen years. So far, it's earned a 77 percent critic and 78 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which means people aren't just showing up for the film — they're actually enjoying it.

That being said, The Drama dabbles in some heavy themes and uncomfortable emotions, so it's certainly not for everyone. Whether it's worth a watch is debatable, as always, but one should certainly check trigger warnings before going in.

"Those tired of Hollywood happy endings or whimsical romances might appreciate A24's latest vision of the rocky road to commitment," writes Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko. Despite its flaws, she cheers on the film's ambiguity, hard-hitting ending, and acting performances.

Check out Mashable's full review of The Drama.

How to watch The Drama at home Credit: A24

As of May 5, there are a couple of ways you can watch The Drama at home: buy it or rent it via digital-on-demand retailers. It will also be streaming at a later date. We've broken down the details below.

Buy or rent on digital

The Drama makes its at-home debut via digital-on-demand retailers on May 5, 2026. You can buy the film for your digital library for $24.99 or rent it for $5 less. If you choose the rental option, you'll get access for 30 days, but only 48 hours once you start watching.

Quick links to buy/rent The Drama on digital:

• Apple TV — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Fandango at Home — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Prime Video — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

Stream it on HBO Max (at a later date)

There's no word yet on a specific streaming release date for The Drama, but we know that it will make its debut on HBO Max.

A24 recently renewed its output deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, which means new A24 theatrical releases will exclusively stream on HBO Max before anywhere else. If The Drama follows the same theater-to-streaming schedule as other recently released A24 movies, like Marty Supreme, Sorry, Baby, and Bring Her Back, we estimate that it will hit HBO Max in the back half of July 2026. We'll update this story once we know more.

If you want to prepare for its streaming release or check out other A24 films on HBO Max, subscriptions start at $10.99 per month. However, there are some ways you can save money on your plan. Check out the best HBO Max streaming deals below.

SEE ALSO: HBO Max and Paramount+ are combining into one streaming service The best HBO Max streaming dealsBest for most people: Save 16% on HBO Max annual subscriptions Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Basic with ads annual subscription $109.99 per year (save $21.89) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Standard annual subscription $184.99 per year (save $36.89) Get Deal

If you're ready to commit to an HBO Max subscription, the best way to save some money is to opt for the annual plan over the monthly plan. While a monthly plan with ads typically costs $10.99 per month, you can get a full year for $109.99, which breaks down the monthly cost to $9.17 (about 16% in savings).

Want to go ad-free? The annual HBO Max Standard or Premium plans will also save you about 16% over their monthly equivalents. Standard subscriptions cost either $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year (which breaks down to $15.42 per month). Premium subscriptions cost $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year (about $19.17 per month). While both are ad-free plans, only the Premium option will unlock 4K Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos, and the ability to download more offline content.

Get HBO Max for free: Switch to Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max / Cricket HBO Max (with ads) Free for Cricket customers on the Supreme Unlimited plan Get Deal

It may not be the most convenient option, but switching your phone plan to Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan for $60 per month will get you HBO Max for free. Once you're a Cricket customer, you can use your provider credentials to log in via the HBO Max app or website.

Best HBO Max deal for students: Save 50% on HBO Max Basic with ads Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Student $5.49 per month for 12 months Get Deal

College students can get an entire year of HBO Max with ads for half the price of a normal subscription. Just use UNiDAYS to prove your student status, and you'll receive a unique discount code that'll drop the price from $10.99 to $5.49 per month. Once the initial 12 months are up, the price will jump back to the full cost unless you cancel.

Best bundle deal: Get HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 42% off Opens in a new window Credit: Disney / Hulu / HBO Max Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max $19.99 per month (with ads), $32.99 per month (no ads) Get Deal

The Disney+ bundle deal, which includes HBO Max and Hulu, remains one of the best deals in streaming. For just $19.99 per month, you'll get all three streaming libraries with ads, which is about $15 cheaper than paying for each one separately. Prefer an ad-free viewing experience? It'll run you $32.99 per month as opposed to $56.47 for all three. That's up to 42% in savings.

Best for Verizon customers: Get Netflix and HBO Max for $10/month Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix / HBO Max HBO Max and Netflix (with ads) $10 per month for Verizon customers with myPlan (save $9.98 per month) Get Deal

If you're a Verizon customer on the Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, or Unlimited Ultimate plan, you can add the Netflix and HBO Max bundle (with ads) to your plan for only $10 per month. A $19.98 per month value, that's essentially like getting one streaming service for free each month. Once you enroll in the promo, you'll have to complete the account setup separately for each service. Check out Verizon's support page for all the eligibility details, terms, and FAQs.

Best for Xfinity customers: Bundle HBO Max, Peacock, and Netflix and save $10/month Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix / Peacock / HBO Max Netflix Standard with ads, Peacock Premium, and HBO Max $22/month with Xfinity StreamSaver (save $8.97/month) Get Deal

Xfinity Internet and TV customers can also get in on the bundle action with Xfinity StreamSaver packages. The package with Netflix Standard with ads ($8.99 per month), Peacock Premium ($10.99 per month), and HBO Max Basic with Ads ($10.99 per month) can be added to your existing Xfinity service for only $22 per month. It typically costs $30.97 for all three, so you'll save about $8.97 monthly.

Earlier this year, I found the Google Pixel 10a somewhat disappointing compared to previous Pixel A-series devices. Google's mid-range phone is almost always one of (if not the) best in the category every year, but the Pixel 10a felt compromised due to a lack of AI feature parity with the flagship Pixel phones and other noteworthy improvements.

Now, Google can rest easy because the Pixel 10a looks a good deal better now that the Samsung Galaxy A57 5G is here. The higher-end of two mid-range devices announced in late March, the A57 purports to bring a premium feel at a relatively modest $549 starting price. In some respects, it accomplishes this; the display is nice, and performance in most circumstances isn't bad.

However, in other respects, the A57 falls short not just of feeling like a premium device, but of competing with other mid-range devices, too. If you're an Android fan, you'd be better off with a Pixel 10a, which is $50 cheaper. If you're platform-agnostic, the $599 iPhone 17e is certainly worth the extra cash. And if you want something with a bit more personality, grab the new Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, only $499.

The A57 5G isn't an outright failure, but it doesn't provide many reasons to consider it over the competition.

SEE ALSO: Samsung warns memory shortage will be worse next year Samsung Galaxy A57 5G: Price and specs Looks a bit basic. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

As mentioned above, the A57 starts at $549. That's $50 more than the Pixel 10a and $50 cheaper than the iPhone 17e. Here are the basic specs:

• 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate

• Exynos 1680 chipset

• 6GB or 8GB RAM

• 128GB or 256GB storage

• 5,000mAh battery

• Three rear cameras: 50MP wide, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro

• 12MP selfie camera

The display is more or less unchanged from last year's Galaxy A56 device, which is fine. A big, 6.7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate is about as good as you can ask for from a phone in the $500 range, and it looks crisp, clear, and smooth in my experience. Those RAM and storage numbers are also pretty competitive in the category, though I should mention that the phone hits a price of $609 if you want 256GB of storage. At that point, you should probably just get an iPhone 17e.

One other point of interest is the processor. Rather than a top-end Snapdragon processor like you'd find in a Galaxy S26 Ultra, you get the less powerful Exynos 1680 instead. This comes with all sorts of compromises that we'll get into shortly. This is pretty disappointing compared to the Pixel 10a and iPhone 17e, which come with Google's Tensor G4 and Apple's A19 chips, respectively. While the Tensor G4 is not the same chip powering the regular Pixel 10, the A19 is what's inside a regular iPhone 17. Samsung's mid-range phone represents a larger step down, by comparison.

One last note: The A57 only comes in one color, called "Awesome Navy." I think it's pretty boring! There isn't really much else about its design that stands out to me. The vertical ringed housing for the three rear cameras looks a little generic, and like other phones of its size, I find it a little unwieldy to use with one hand. It's nice and light, though, and not too thick.

Samsung Galaxy A57 5G: Software At least it's pretty thin. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

It's to be expected that a mid-range device would not have access to all the same fancy software features as its more expensive brethren, but the A57 5G goes a little too far in this direction.

It runs Android 16 via One UI 8.5, like other current Samsung phones, but it's missing many of the more advanced AI features that you'd get on something like a Galaxy S26. Rather than harnessing the power of Galaxy AI, the A57 gets a more limited suite of features called "Awesome Intelligence." Like the phone's "awesome navy" color, the AI tools don't really earn that adjective.

You get a basic object eraser for photos, voice transcription for audio and phone call recordings, and other already existing basic AI features from other Samsung devices, like Best Face for group photos and Circle to Search. Of course, you can also talk to Gemini if you want.

That's not nothing, but it's a far cry from what's available on a Galaxy S26, software-wise. There's no AI image generation, and you can't use the object eraser to move objects around in a photo. On the non-AI front, it's also missing the privacy display feature from the Galaxy S26 Ultra, though that's not necessarily a surprise. Overall, this is a pretty middling set of AI features that's made worse by spotty performance.

Samsung Galaxy A57 5G: Performance The camera housing could be more handsome. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Performance on the A57 is a bit strange. On one hand, basic, everyday activities like scrolling through social media, watching YouTube videos, or sending messages work fine. Apps load quickly, and the phone never felt overloaded from too much multitasking in my time with it.

On the other hand, some basic performance features leave a lot to be desired. For instance, facial recognition for unlocking the phone is painfully inconsistent. Sometimes it works perfectly, opening the phone as soon as it sees your face. Most of the time, though, it either takes around four seconds to recognize you or simply fails to recognize you at all. This is a pretty maddening thing for a phone to get wrong in 2026.

I also had some issues getting the limited set of AI features to work properly. In particular, the object eraser simply would not work for me. I'd show it a simple photo of a beverage can on a table, tap the can, and then the phone would do nothing for minutes at a time. In my testing, I never actually got it to remove anything from a photo. I'm open to the possibility that I'm just missing something here and that other people won't encounter this, but I can only speak to what I experienced.

The object eraser just sat here doing this for several minutes and never ended up working. Credit: Screenshot: Alex Perry/Samsung

Another big problem I encountered was a spotty WiFi chip in the phone. This won't affect all or even most users, since my home's WiFi network is a bit awkward. To be specific, my bedroom is about three walls away from the router, meaning signal strength in here can be iffy.

In my testing, the A57 would very frequently lose WiFi signal in this room, to the point that it wouldn't or couldn't fall back to cellular data, leaving me effectively disconnected from the internet. The only way to fix this was to manually turn off WiFi and turn it on again, which would inevitably lead to the same thing happening a few minutes later. Cellular 5G signal was literally more reliable in my bedroom than WiFi.

Again, my network environment isn't ideal, but I live in this room. I use several WiFi-connected devices in it every day, and I have never once encountered this behavior on another device.

Samsung Galaxy A57 5G: Cameras

As stated above, you get a 50MP main lens, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 5MP macro lens on the back, with a 12MP selfie camera. It's best not to expect too much from cameras on a mid-range device, but I will say that this is another area where the Pixel 10a is a better value.

Under normal circumstances, though, it does take pretty decent daytime photos. Objects are crisp, colors are vivid, and everything looks about how it should, at least to my eyes.

During the day, the camera is fine. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Since there's no telephoto lens, you're left with just up to 10x digital zoom, which doesn't look especially great.

No zoom. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable 10x zoom. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Macro photography looks OK, if not a tad bit blurry, though I think I'd rather have a dedicated zoom lens instead of a macro lens.

Every macro photo I took was just a little bit blurry. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

I had a bit of a hard time getting nighttime photos to not look a bit blurry with the A57.

Left: Night mode off. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable Right: Night mode. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Like I said, you shouldn't expect too much from a mid-range set of cameras, but even so, there are better options in this price range.

Samsung Galaxy A57 5G: Battery life

One area where I can't find much at fault with the A57 is battery life. I was able to wring about 24 hours of solid use out of it on a single charge, which isn't remarkable, but is right in line with what I'd want or expect out of a phone at this price point in 2026. You can probably extend that by a few hours if you're really careful, too.

Samsung Galaxy A57 5G: Final thoughts

In case I haven't already made this abundantly clear, I don't think the Samsung Galaxy A57 5G is worth much consideration if you're in the market for a mid-range device. If you like Android, get a Pixel 10a. If you like iOS or don't care, consider an iPhone 17e.

Between janky software performance, missing AI features, and a middling camera array, this device is pretty hard to recommend. It's possible this phone is another victim of the ongoing memory crisis, with Samsung sacrificing features to offset higher RAM costs. Regardless, you could probably do worse, but you can definitely do better.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy A57 5G $549.99 at Samsung
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In April, Instagram removed sex toy shop Bellesa's account — and it appears to be part of a pattern of Meta removing posts and accounts that have to do with sex and LGBTQ issues, advocates warn.

Nonprofit Repro Uncensored told Mashable that last month it received over 130 reports on its website about social media platforms censoring accounts. In this context, "censored" includes account removal, post removal, or shadowbanning, in which a platform deprioritizes an account (such as not showing it in Search or Explore). 

SEE ALSO: Why Instagram was turning some users' photos black and white

The vast majority of these reports were about Instagram.

Repro Uncensored's executive director, Martha Dimitratou, confirmed to Mashable that the organization has received more reports in April 2026 than in any other month since it began collecting reports in early 2024. 

What's happening on Instagram?

The influx of reports is partly because people are now more aware of Repro Uncensored's project to monitor and track digital censorship and how to report it, Dimitratou said. But generally, there have been a lot of cases recently; at least five or six reports a day, she added.

Instagram banning or shadowbanning sex workers, sex educators, LGBTQ accounts, and others isn't exactly new. After the twin laws FOSTA/SESTA were passed in 2018, major social platforms began cracking down on sexual content — or content perceived as sexual — even more than previously. 

FOSTA/SESTA states that online platforms are liable for user content that enables sex trafficking or solicits prostitution. While supporters of FOSTA/SESTA claimed it would fight online sex trafficking, the reality is that there's one reported federal prosecution because of it (as of 2021, there doesn't appear to be another report since). 

Instead, platforms overcorrected and began wiping sexual content in general, including non-soliciting discussions of sex, sex education, and sexual expression. Due to sex workers and sex-adjacent accounts getting wiped from online spaces, the humans behind them are less safe, according to two studies, one from the Fordham Law Review and the other from the Anti Sex Trafficking Review.

While FOSTA/SESTA has been the law for about eight years now, Instagram's crackdown is intensifying, according to Repro Uncensored and others. Last year, porn performer Siri Dahl told Mashable she was on her eighth Instagram account, and the platform was getting more strict. OnlyFans model Lily Phillips's Instagram account was taken down in early May, and she told Mashable that she noticed fellow performers had their accounts taken down as well. 

A 2025 study by the Center for Intimacy Justice titled The Digital Gag found that of the sexual and reproductive health groups studied, 63 percent had organic content (not ads) removed from Meta platforms, and 84 percent of businesses and 76 percent of nonprofits had ads rejected by Meta.

Meta didn't respond to a question about whether it is removing more accounts now than in the past.

"It's very unfortunate," said Dimitratou of the account removals, "it's something we need to think of critically as a society." This is happening globally, she said, including the U.S. and Europe. These are "supposed to be places that are respectful of human rights and freedom of speech and freedom of expression," she said, "and presumably care about reproductive health and other issues."

Meta's policy response

Just weeks ago, head of Instagram Adam Mosseri told The Mirror why OnlyFans creators are getting booted off the platform: "They're promoting explicit content…You can't promote, you can't solicit, so you can certainly be on Instagram, but obviously, we have very clear rules about what is and what is not allowed on the platform."

In terms of Meta's rules, its rationale for adult sexual solicitation and sexually explicit language policy states:

"People use our services to discuss and draw attention to sexual violence and exploitation. We recognize the importance of and allow for this discussion. We also allow for the discussion of sex worker rights advocacy and sex work regulation. However, we draw the line…when content facilitates sexual encounters or commercial sexual services between adults or when content asks for or offers pornographic or sexual content. We do this to avoid facilitating transactions that may involve trafficking, coercion and non-consensual sexual acts."

A Meta spokesperson told Mashable, "Every organization and individual on our platforms is subject to the same set of rules, and any claims of enforcement based on group affiliation or advocacy are baseless. We also give people the opportunity to appeal decisions if they think we've got it wrong."

Meta also told Mashable that it's been clear it wants to allow more speech and reduce enforcement mistakes, and that it's committed to doing so.

A viral post shared by Repro Uncensored and the @feminist Instagram account included the handles of 51 accounts that reported censorship from Instagram. Meta told Mashable that of the 51, one was Bellesa (which Meta claims was correctly removed for multiple violations), three handles didn't exist, and the majority of the remaining accounts are fully active.

Some of the accounts and content were disabled in error and have been reinstated; others were correctly enforced, Meta said. 

Meta stated that it, of course, sometimes makes mistakes, but since some instances included content on the borderline of its policies, it's understandable that its systems flagged them.

Given the reinstatements, Dimitratou said it's concerning that Repro Uncensored has to run campaigns both digitally and in the press to gain attention and get accounts reinstated.

"We want citizens from any country to be able, on their own, to use the tools and mechanisms that are supposed to have been set in place to reinstate their accounts," she said. Often, account holders go through the standard appeals processes but don't get answers. 

Repro Uncensored is calling for improved appeals processes, as well as more transparent, accountable content moderation systems. Dimitratou says the group believes AI moderation often fails to account for context, particularly in discussions of women’s health and queer issues, and instead flags content based on keywords alone.

She also noted that coordinated reporting by bad actors, such as anti-rights groups, may play a role in account removals.

And the stakes of this kind of moderation extend beyond social media visibility. For activists and educators, losing access to platforms can directly affect how people find critical health information. Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, conservatives have been pushing to limit abortion access in the states. (As of May 4, the Supreme Court has restored access to the mail-order abortion pill.) 

"Access to reproductive health and abortion has been dramatically, even more so, under threat," she said. "There is a larger picture of how [our] rights are very much being threatened, and so censorship is the battleground of how a lot of this information is being accessed."

So these aren't isolated incidents, nor is it merely about posting online. According to Dimitratou, it's about the foundation of how we communicate, share information, and access healthcare.