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While Google has owned Waze since 2013, it only started incorporating Waze's best features into Maps in the last few years. Now, both navigation apps do many of the same things, but that doesn't mean they're the same. Here are a few of the differences, and why I still prefer Waze.

Before smartphones, keeping passengers entertained on a long road trip meant packing a case of CDs, hoping the AC held out, and answering "are we there yet?" every 45 minutes (or seconds).

Google AI Overviews hallucinated more than Ken Kesey when it first launched in 2024, fabricating facts about drizzling "glue on pizza," among other offences.

And though the Gemini-powered technology has improved its accuracy dramatically over the last two years (unfortunately for publishers), AI Overviews still gets basic questions wrong. And that includes spelling tests.

SEE ALSO: Google AI Overviews sparks antitrust probe for using publisher content

Google's AI tools remain abysmal at answering questions about spelling, having gone viral two years ago for responding to the question "how many r's are in the word strawberry?" incorrectly. But it's still bad. On Tuesday, X user Naomi Rohatyn tested the large language model's (LLM) current ability to answer to a spelling question.

"How many e's in the word astronomical?" they asked.

"There are exactly 2 'e's in the word "astronomical" (a-s-t-r-e-n-o-m-i-c-a-e-l)," replied AI Overview.

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We tried it ourselves, getting the same answer.

Uh, wrong. Credit: Google / Mashable

It appears to work for any word with four or more syllables:

Nope. Credit: Google / Mashable Incorrect. Credit: Google / Mashable

Suffice to say, people are having another gleeful round of testing the technology's spelling weakness, sharing their findings on social media.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Why can't Google AI Overviews spell correctly?

I don't want to be all Billy Madison spelling bee about this, but considering users are less likely to click on links when an AI summary appears in the results, surely the information provided in AI Overviews should be accurate. But it's complicated.

AI chatbots need exact context and specifics to answer as well as they can, so surely spelling words within their training data seems easy. However, things get knotty when you ask an LLM to consider words letter-by-letter, as the model will process text in chunks rather than individual characters (it's called tokenisation).

Featured Video For You 3 simple tips to optimise your ChatGPT search

I thought I'd ask Google's Gemini itself, to see what it had to say for itself. Defend your poor spelling!

"The short answer is that I don't look at or write text the way you do," Gemini told me. "When you write the word 'apple,' your brain processes five distinct letters. When I read or write text, I see the word as a single unit called a token (a numerical representation of a word or part of a word).

"Because I process words as whole blocks of meaning rather than strings of individual letters, I don't naturally 'spell' out words sequentially. I know exactly what 'apple' means and how it relates to other words, but I don't inherently focus on the fact that it contains two 'p's unless specifically asked to break it down."

Mashable has reached out to Google for human comment.

Personally, I use Winhance to create a custom Windows 11 ISO free of Windows bloatware, so I don't have to spend hours disabling and deleting superfluous apps and features after installing Windows. You can use Rufus instead if you'd like, since the utility not only allows you to install Windows 11 with a local account, but also to disable unwanted Microsoft apps and features such as Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Copilot, and so on.

Samsung unveiled a batch of next-generation monitors earlier this month, and right now, most of them are available for purchase. Over half cost well over $1,000 — you didn't think the world's first 6K gaming monitor would be a bargain, did you? — but Samsung is taking the edge off their prices with some freebies.

For a limited time, the new Samsung monitors come with your pick of a free credit worth up to $300 or a free bonus gadget worth up to $499.99. (The credit can be applied to any future purchase.) The latter options include Samsung's Music Studio 5 and Music Studio 7 smart speakers, valued at $299.99 and $499.99 apiece, as well as its latest Galaxy Buds4 Pro noise-cancelling earbuds. Those normally go for $249.99 on their own.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Shop Samsung's 2026 monitors Get up to $500 in rewards with your purchase. Shop Now

This offer is only available through Samsung's website, not at other tech retailers that carry them, so be sure to buy direct.

The lineup includes updated Odyssey, ViewFinity, and The Movingstyle Essential monitors that "push the boundaries of performance and visual quality," said Hun Lee, Samsung's Executive Vice President of Visual Display (VD) Business, in a press release. The star of the show is the new 32-inch Odyssey G8 ($1,599.99), the first-ever 6K gaming monitor, which our sister site PCMag called "pure overkill — in the best way." It's joined by a 27-inch Odyssey G8 with an almost-as-crisp 5K resolution ($949.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G8 G80HS 6K Gaming Monitor $1,599.99 at Samsung.com
Includes free $300 credit or Music Studio 7. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G8 G80HF 5K Gaming Monitor $949.99 at Samsung.com
Includes free $200 credit, Music Studio 5, or Galaxy Buds4 Pro. Shop Now

Samsung has also fleshed out its roster of OLED gaming monitors with the new Odyssey OLED G7 and G8 displays. The OLED G7 comes in one 32-inch size ($1,099.99), while the OLED G8 comes in 27- and 32-inch variants ($1,099.99 and $1,299.99, respectively) and adds a glare-free finish. The larger Odyssey OLED G8 also features VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification, which indicates elite brightness and contrast.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 32-inch Odyssey OLED G7 G73SH 4K Gaming Monitor $1,099.99 at Samsung.com
Includes free $200 credit, Music Studio 5, or Galaxy Buds4 Pro. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 32-inch Odyssey OLED G8 G80SH 4K Gaming Monitor $1,299.99 at Samsung.com
Includes free $300 credit or Music Studio 7. Shop Now

On the productivity side, Samsung has launched two new work-ready ViewFinity S8 monitors. A 40-inch model with a curved 1440p display is now available for $1,399.99. A 27-inch version with a sharper 5K resolution will arrive in July — stay tuned for its pricing.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 40-inch ViewFinity S8 S85TH 5K2K Curved Monitor $1,399.99 at Samsung.com
Includes free $300 credit or Music Studio 7. Shop Now

Last but not least is The Movingstyle Essential, Samsung's new 43-inch 4K monitor on an adjustable rolling stand. It's the cheapest of the bunch at $899.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 43-inch The Movingstyle Essential $899.99 at Samsung.com
Includes free $200 credit, Music Studio 5, or Galaxy Buds4 Pro. Shop Now

Read Mashable's launch coverage for more details about all of the new Samsung monitors.

SAVE OVER $50: As of May 27, the Soundcore AeroFit 2 by Anker open-ear earbuds are on sale for $79.98 at Amazon. This is $50.01 off their full price of $129.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore AeroFit 2 by Anker $79.98 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $50.01   Get Deal

Even though Memorial Day sales have officially come to an end, we've still spotted some excellent deals that are worth a look. If you've been searching for some new earbud , the Soundcore AeroFit 2 by Anker open-ear earbuds are still discounted at Amazon.

As of May 27, every color of the Soundcore AeroFit 2 is marked down to $79.98. This is just over $50 off their full price of $129.99, which is an excellent offer to jump on. They're one of our favorite pairs of open earbuds as well, so we certainly think they're worth picking up at this new low price.

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As for why they're one of our favorites? Well, we think they offer the best ear hook design, which is good news for those who like to listen to music while they're working out. Mashable's Bethany Allard writes in our roundup of the best open earbuds: "While most ear hook earbuds come with some degree of flexibility, the AeroFits offer four locked-in angles, making them the most comfortable (and snug) open-ear hook buds we've tried so far."

That's not all, though. They even offer "Solid sound quality for the price", per our best open earbuds roundup. Pair that with up to 10 hours of battery on a single charge (that can even be pushed up to 42 with the case), and the Soundcore AeroFit 2 are a worthy pick.

This deal may not last long beyond Memorial Day sales. If they've caught your eye, now is the time to make a move on the Soundcore AeroFit 2 while they're still on sale.

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

If you can spend a few hundred bucks on a 3D printer and some filament, you can afford to spend a little on a few upgrades to ensure that your hobby is a safe one.

SAVE $50: As of May 27, the Garmin Lily 2 is on sale for $199.99 at Amazon. This is $50 off its list price of $249.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Lily 2 $199.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $50   Get Deal

Retailers like Amazon have wrapped up their Memorial Day sales, but if you're quick, you can still score some excellent savings. The Garmin Lily 2 is one deal that's still hanging around, though not for long.

As of May 27, the Garmin Lily 2 is discounted to $199.99 at Amazon, but the countdown has already started on how long it'll stay at this price. Through the rest of May 27, shoppers can take advantage of this $50 discount before it goes back up to its full price of $249.99.

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What makes the Garmin Lily 2 stand out is it doesn't have the chunky design of most other smartwatches. It's much sleeker, and can blend in as more of a stylish watch on your wrist rather than a bulky tracker. Our review from writer RJ Andersen said it's "a great option for someone who wants a stylish, simple smartwatch to track activity without a ton of bells and whistles."

If you're just looking to track the basics, the Garmin Lily 2 still boasts plenty of features to help with your day-to-day routines. These include a sleep score, respiration tracking, hydration tracking, all-day stress tracking, heart rate monitoring, and a Body Battery energy monitor. It can even track a variety of activities like yoga, pilates, dance fitness, and more. Plus, it offers up to five days of battery life before it needs a recharge.

If you're not looking for a techy timepiece packed with advanced features, the Garmin Lily 2 is a stylish pick worth checking out.

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

There's a massive difference between a spreadsheet that looks good and one that actually works. Many beginner spreadsheet habits are secretly ticking time bombs for your data. Here are the core mistakes messing up your files, and the simple settings that fix them.

SAVE OVER $60: As of May 27, Beats Fit Pro are on sale for $134.99 at Amazon. That's a 32% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Fit Pro $134.99 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $64.96   Get Deal

The 1st generation edition of the Beats Fit Pro are back on sale, and according to camelcamelcamel, they're at their best-ever price at Amazon.

Beats audio is always impressive, and I've said before that the Fit Pro are my favorite earbuds of all time. Years down the line, that hasn't changed.

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There's a lot that makes these earbuds so good, but their secure-fit wingtips stand out for making them the perfect workout earbuds. This design helps keep them firmly in place during workouts of all intensities, as well as for general use.

The custom acoustic platform also delivers powerful sound, and you'll get Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking to create a more immersive listening experience for music. You'll also get three different listening modes: Active Noise Cancelling, Transparency Mode, and Adaptive EQ, so you can switch between blocking out noise completely or staying aware of your surroundings.

And for battery life, these will not let you down. They promise up to six hours of listening time on a single charge, extending to up to 24 hours with the charging case. Having used these for several years, I've never been let down by the battery.

Get this Beats deal at Amazon now.

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Triple Pack on sale for $37.72, which is $5.01 off its current $42.73 price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Triple Pack (3-Pack Blister) $37.72 at Amazon
$42.73 Save $5.01   Get Deal

Since its release last week, products across the Pokémon TCG’s Chaos Rising expansion have taken dips in market price — resulting in price drops that make it the best time to expand your trading card collection with more boosters for less. 

As of May 27, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Triple Pack (the 3-Pack Blister) available from $37.72, down from its usual $42.73 price. That knocks 12% off the sealed blister, with this lowest Amazon listing shipped and sold by Collectors Expedition for June 2-3 delivery. 

If you want your new Chaos Rising Blister as soon as possible, the $37.74 listing from TCG & MORE has an option for delivery as soon as May 29 at the time of writing. 

This 3-Pack Blister comes with three booster packs from the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution set’s Chaos Rising expansion, plus a special foil promo card featuring Charmeleon. Each booster pack includes 10 cards, one Basic Energy, and one Pokémon TCG Live code card.

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Chaos Rising is built around a city falling into havoc, featuring many Pokémon from the Pokémon Legends: Z-A game as valuable chase cards (available to buy separately) — including SIR Mega Greninja ex, the Mega Hyper Rare Mega Greninja ex, SIR Cinccino ex, SIR Mega Dragalage ex, and SIR Mega Floette ex. 

If you’re open to saving more money by shopping beyond Amazon, Walmart currently has the Chaos Rising 3-Pack Blister listed at $29.95 with free shipping, sold by Realgoodeal and fulfilled by Walmart, while TCGplayer listings start at $21.50 plus shipping.

Buying the 3-Pack Blister at Amazon will still save you 38 cents per pack compared to buying single Chaos Rising Boosters individually — with the Charmeleon promo card included as a great bonus.

To save even more money per pack, Amazon also has the Pokémon TCG’s 36-pack Chaos Rising Display Box for around $275. Meanwhile, a surprising Amazon price drop now has the Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box available for just under $95. 

The Pokémon TCG’s newly-announced Pitch Black expansion is available to pre-order at TCGplayer.

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The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're an avid reader.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 27, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: A collective

• Green: Game night picks

• Blue: To glare

• Purple: Classic literary characters

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Small community

• Green: Classic board games

• Blue: Homophones of ways of looking

• Purple: Ending in the "Little Women" March sisters

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1081 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Small community: COMMUNE, HAMLET, TOWNSHIP, VILLAGE

• Classic board games: BATTLESHIP, OPERATION, OTHELLO, TROUBLE

• Homophones of ways of looking: AYE, LEAR, PIER, STAIR

• Ending in the "Little Women" March sisters: BANJO, MACBETH, MONOGAMY, NUTMEG

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 27, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love a good dog.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

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

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 27, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Ketchup or mustard?

The words are related to food.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe a sausage.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Hot Diggity Dog.

NYT Strands word list for May 27

• Brat

• Banger

• Weenie

• Hot Diggity Dog

• Footlong

• Frankfurter

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you tend to overpack.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 27, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 27, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To cram.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter F appears twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

STUFF

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

Apple is reportedly working on a new iOS feature that will lock users' phones immediately should they get grabbed by a phone snatcher.

The new feature would leverage technology already on the iPhone, including its accelerometer as well as potentially its connection to an Apple Watch, to detect the snatching and immediately lock the device, according to 9to5Mac.

SEE ALSO: What is Lockdown Mode on iPhone and how do you enable it?

Phone snatchers in large metropolitan areas often use motorbikes to steal phones from the hands of the unwary. In addition to a quick escape, this strategy allows phone snatchers to potentially obtain unlocked phones. An unlocked phone can be worth up to $1,000 to a thief, about $800 more than a locked phone, according to a recent Wired report.

An unlocked device is more valuable because thieves can access users' personal data and apps and have a much easier route to the phone owner's bank account, the publisher wrote.

Featured Video For You How 6 generations of iPhone captured 20 years of motherhood in 'Motherboard'

This new feature would be the latest in Apple’s Stolen Device Protection features that include Activation Lock, which stops thieves from disabling tracking or resetting the phone without the correct Apple Account login, and the Find My app, which allows users to track their missing or stolen Apple devices.

Users already have access to features requiring biometric authentication to unlock their devices, as well as other security features like Security Delay, which forces anyone changing major passwords or performing similar actions to wait an hour and confirm the decision with an additional biometric authentication.

It’s unclear when Apple might debut this new feature if the 9to5Mac report proves accurate. The next opportunity would be at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Scheduled for June 8-12, this is where Apple often reveals details about the next iOS. So we may hear more about this feature sooner rather than later.

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 Wednesday, May 27, 2026:

AcrossRare U.S. bills

• The answer is Twos.

94-foot-long model at the American Museum of Natural History

• The answer is Whale.

"Cool it, okay!"

• The answer is Relax.

Bohemian

• The answer is Arty.

Candy in a dispenser

• The answer is Pez.

DownWhen repeated, "It'll be all right"

• The answer is There.

Classic ballroom dance

• The answer is Waltz.

Maker of the Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream

• The answer is Olay.

Reason for an R rating

• The answer is Sex.

Tortilla sandwich

• The answer is Wrap.

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 the latest Mini Crossword.

TL;DR: Watch the 2026 French Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The world of tennis is focused on clay courts right now. Top players sharpened up in the Barcelona Open and Madrid Open, and now it's time for the main event: Roland-Garros.

Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz will not defend his title, but this year's tournament is not short of star names. Expect the likes of Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka, and Iga Świątek to be battling it out in the latter stages. It's always a special tournament filled with huge moments.

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

What is the French Open?

The French Open, also known as Roland-Garros, is a major tennis tournament held over two weeks at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France. It's the only Grand Slam tournament held on a clay surface, and is the second of the four annual Grand Slam tournaments.

The current singles champions are Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff.

When is the 2026 French Open?

The 2026 French Open is the 131th edition of the competition. This year's event takes place from May 18 to June 7.

How to watch the 2026 French Open for free

The 2026 French Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can stream the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 French Open for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Connect to 9Now

5. Watch the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world

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

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

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

What is the best VPN for the French Open?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 French Open for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Royer vs. Djokovic in the 2026 French Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We're only a few days into the 2026 French Open but already it feels blockbuster, with a triple header today that sees Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and Iga Swiatek all take to the clay.

As always, Djokovic will be one of the most intriguing players of the tournament. Though he's almost 40-years-old, the Serbian remains world class and reached the final of this year's Australian Open. That said, it has been three years since he won the last of his 24 Grand Slam titles, so the No. 3 seed is sure to give everything he's got to make it 25 at Roland-Garros.

If you want to watch Royer vs. Djokovic in the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Royer vs. Djokovic for free

Royer vs. Djokovic in the 2026 French Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can stream the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 French Open for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Connect to 9Now

5. Watch the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world

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

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

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

What is the best VPN for sport?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Royer vs. Djokovic in the 2026 French Open for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Machac vs. Zverev in the 2026 French Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There's nothing quite like the sizzling excitement of a major tennis tournament, and the 2026 French Open is no exception.

Next up in men's singles action is Tomas Machac vs. Alexander Zverev. German star Zverev is the No. 2 seed, having bumped up a place due to the absence of Carlos Alcaraz, and he powered through the first round in straight sets.

Zverev has already ruffled some feathers at the tournament with comments about the gulf in quality between Jannik Sinner and the rest of the men's field, saying that Sinner is in a league of his own and that himself, Novak Djokovic, and Carlos Alcaraz are just a step behind. Now it's up to Zverev to prove he belongs in that group by claiming a trophy.

If you want to watch Machac vs. Zverev in the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Machac vs. Zverev for free

Machac vs. Zverev in the 2026 French Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can stream the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 French Open for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Connect to 9Now

5. Watch the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world

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

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

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

What is the best VPN for sport?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Machac vs. Zverev in the 2026 French Open for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Bejlek vs. Swiatek in the 2026 French Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

It's no surprise that Iga Swiatek is one to watch in the 2026 French Open. The Polish superstar is the world No. 3 and won last year's Wimbledon.

A tournament win at Roland-Garros would have special significance. At just 24-years-old, she's already a four-time French Open winner, and taking the title for a fifth time would put her in an elite bracket — something that hasn't been done since Steffi Graf became a five-time French Open Champion exactly 30 years ago.

But Swiatek must now get through a second-round match with Sara Bejlek, an unseeded 20-year-old from the Czech Republic. Bejlek exited in the second round last year, but she did win the Abu Dhabi Open in February.

If you want to watch Bejlek vs. Swiatek in the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Bejlek vs. Swiatek for free

Bejlek vs. Swiatek in the 2026 French Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can stream the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 French Open for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Connect to 9Now

5. Watch the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world

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

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

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

What is the best VPN for sport?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Bejlek vs. Swiatek in the 2026 French Open for free with ExpressVPN.