Blogroll
Kodiaks self-driving trucks are hitting the highways, and I took a ride in one
Kodiak is gearing up to deploy its fully driverless semi trucks on highways later this year, starting with Ikea. I took a ride to see the autonomous tech in action.
Read more about autonomous vehicles: California announces AV regulation, fines for robotaxis that impede emergency responders
Can Waymo and Waze fix cities' potholes?
Timecode chapters
0:00 Intro
0:33 Kodiak AI
1:22 Ride along
3:00 Interview with Kodiak COO
3:30 Sensor pod
3:45 GigaFusionNet
5:18 Conclusion
Video credits
Host: Abrar Al-Heeti
Scripted by: Abrar Al-Heeti
Producer: Celso Bulgatti
Camera: Celso Bulgatti
Video editor: Celso Bulgatti
Thumbnail designer: Zooey Liao
Meet the first ever humanoid robot surgeon
We visited UCSD's Center for the Future of Surgery to learn about the first ever live surgery using humanoid robots.
Read more about AI in health care: ChatGPT Health is now available to all users
AI is changing health: Here's what you should know
Timecode chapters
0:00 Introduction: Humanoid robots in surgery
0:35 The need for remote and robotic surgery
0:59 Challenges of adapting humanoid robots
1:21 Testing the teleoperation setup
2:18 Why live animal surgeries are necessary
3:00 Performance and thermal management issues
3:32 Potential for AI autonomy in surgery
3:59 Key challenges and future outlook
Video credits
Host: Jesse Orrall
Scripted by: Jesse Orrall
Producer: Jesse Orrall, Jon Gomez, Owen Poole
Camera: Owen Poole
Video editor: Jon Gomez, Owen Poole
Thumbnail designer: Zooey Liao
Ive been waiting months for these October Prime Day MacBook deals: Save up to $600 on the Air and Pro
Genuinely good MacBook deals have been harder to come by in the wake of Apple's summer price hikes. Thanks to Prime Big Deal Days, that's finally changing.
Amazon's 48-hour fall savings event for Prime members serves as its unofficial kickoff to the holiday shopping season. (It's often referred to as "October Prime Day.") While the sale doesn't technically start until Oct. 6, it's already ushering in sizable MacBooks price cuts — the likes of which we haven't seen in months. Of special note is a $200 discount on the M5 MacBook Air that completely erases its price increase; this week marks the first time shoppers have been able to buy it for as low as $1,099 since June.
Check out my running list of the best October Prime Day MacBook deals below. I'll continue to update it as the sale continues through Oct. 7 at midnight PT.
How I picked the best October Prime Day MacBook dealsThe Mashable team has reviewed every current MacBook and monitors their prices continuously throughout the year. The deals I'm personally recommending here involve the lowest prices on select models in at least three months, which I vetted using the Amazon price-tracking tool camelcamelcamel and our past coverage of MacBook deals. Things are already looking a bit better than usual: MacBook Pro deals maxed out at $400 off last Prime Big Deal Days, but right now, select models are up to $600 off.
SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about October Prime Day, according to someone who covers it every yearIf you're willing to wait a little longer, I think some MacBook Pros could get even cheaper once Prime Big Deal Days officially starts. I've marked them as "MacBook deals to watch" for the time being. That's also the section where I've plopped the best live deals on the budget MacBook Neo, which is only $10 off on Amazon right now. (That's its biggest discount outside of the Apple Store's education pricing, but I'd like to see if Amazon gives us $25 to $50 off once the festivities begin. Hang tight, people!)
Finally, I'm keeping an eye on other retailers' MacBook deals this week to see if any of them manage to beat Amazon's prices. None of them have yet, though Best Buy was matching some of its offers at the time of writing. Check there if the configuration you want happens to sell out during Prime Big Deal Days.
Best MacBook Air deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,099$1,299 Save $200 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,299 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $200 Get Deal
The latest MacBook Air is a Mashable Choice Award winner and one of our top-reviewed products of the year. In his testing, Mashable tech editor Timothy Beck Werth found the M5 chip to be ridiculously powerful (probably more powerful than the average person really needs, TBH). It also has a fantastic display, a great-sounding speaker system, and a sharp Center Stage webcam.
The 13- and 15-inch sizes of the MacBook Air are both now $200 off on Amazon, starting at just $1,099 and $1,299, respectively. Best Buy was matching those deals the last time I checked.
More MacBook Air dealsApple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,399 $1,599 (save $200)
Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,599 $1,799 (save $200)
Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,599 $1,799 (save 200)
Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,799 $1,999 (save $200)
$3,199 Save $500 Get Deal
The M5 Pro chip is one of Apple's upgraded laptop CPUs. It's designed to handle the ultra-demanding workloads of "pro users — like data modelers, post-production sound designers, and STEM students — who require robust processing power and graphics," according to a company press release.
Right now, you can save $500 on a 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M5 Pro chip that has 18 CPU cores and 20 GPU cores, plus 24GB of RAM and a healthy 2TB of storage. This laptop typically retails for $3,199, but you'll pay $2,699 — a 16% savings. Best Buy is also price-matching Amazon here.
As mentioned up top, Amazon's October Prime Day MacBook Pro deals usually max out at $400ish. With that in mind, this is one deal that probably won't improve within the next two days. I also want to point out that it costs the same as a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the same amount of RAM and storage, but a lesser M5 Pro chip with 15 CPU cores and 16 GPU cores. If you're splurging on a new laptop for AI or creative work, this is more of a bargain.
More MacBook Pro dealsApple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,839 $1,999 (save $160)
Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,039 $2,199 (save $160)
Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,499 $4,099 (save $600)
Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $689 $699 (save $10), $599 in the Apple Store with student discount
Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $789.99 $799 (save $9.01), $699 in the Apple Store with student discount
Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,257 $2,399 (save $142), was $1,944 in July
Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,345 $2,499 (save $154), was $2,149.99 in July
Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro with 15-core CPU/16-core GPU, 24GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $2,699 $2,999 (save $300), was $2,499 in August
Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,749.99 $2,999 (save $249.01), was $2,649.99 in July
Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 48GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $3,369 $3,599 (save $230), was $3,049.99 in July
Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,899 $4,399 (save $500), was $3,799 in early October
Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Max, 48GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $4,499 $4,999 (save $500), was $4,349.99 in July
Your PC is lying to you: Why "more bars" doesn't always mean better Wi-Fi
Those little Wi-Fi bars in your taskbar might make you think you have the strongest signal in town, but they measure something far narrower than speed or reliability. Here is what the meter actually reads, why full bars can still mean a sluggish connection, and how to check what your network is doing.
3 newly added Netflix movies to watch this week (October 5-11)
It's October, and there's a chill in the air. This time of year, I can always hear Jodi and Betty from SNL's classic sketch Bronx Beat in my mind saying, in their Bronx accents, "It's sweata wetha." And for Netflix viewers, that means some new movies have arrived, with more than a few thrillers and horrors to start getting you prepped for spooky season.
Microsoft hid a DOOM clone in Microsoft Excel 31 years ago: here's how to play it today
In 1995, Microsoft tucked a first-person, Doom-like game inside Excel 95 to credit its developers. Three decades later, the hidden Hall of Tortured Souls still runs, if you know how to get it running. Here's how to set up a virtual machine and unlock it yourself.
Googles new Fitbit watch with a screen just leaked again
Google's next Fitbit device hasn't been officially announced, but as of Monday, we've possibly already seen it multiple times.
The latest leak comes courtesy of Android Headlines, which posted exclusive photos of a new device purportedly called "Fitbit Edge." It looks a lot like a Fitbit Air, but with an oval smartwatch display. According to Android Headlines, the new watch will launch in October for $149 to $199, with limited app support, Android and iOS compatibility, notifications, a seven-day battery life, and GPS. It'll also reportedly come in the same colors as the Pixel 11 Pro phone: Canyon, Olive, Fog, and Obsidian.
SEE ALSO: Google Gemini access is changing. Free users, take note.Other odds and ends include sensors on the back (presumably for tracking health metrics) and a long button along the side of the display. But this may not be the device's first appearance. Google actually included what appears to be the same watch in some photos of its upcoming product lineup around Made by Google in August. Reddit users noticed the mystery device pretty quickly at the time. Those earlier images came directly from Google, though the company hasn't confirmed the details in this latest leak.
Oh, OK! Credit: Google/Reddit Come on, guys. Credit: Google/RedditIf all of this is to be believed, the Fitbit Edge could offer a nice middle ground between the Fitbit Air and a more expensive smartwatch like the Google Pixel Watch 5. If that October launch holds, we should find out more soon.
25+ home improvement deals to shop before October Prime Day: Im tracking deals on power tools, yard care, and more
Amazon's October Prime Day is coming in hot, and it's already proving to be a good time to pick up home improvement gear at a discount. The sale officially runs Oct. 6–7, but Amazon never makes us wait for everything, so plenty of early deals are already live.
If you want to get ahead on fall yard cleanup, finally replace the drill that barely holds a charge, or add a few smart-home upgrades before the holiday season, there are already worthwhile discounts across tools, outdoor power equipment, robot lawn mowers, lights, air purifiers, and more.
These are the best live deals we have found so far, and we will keep updating this list as prices change and new offers appear.
Best tool deal Dewalt 20V Max Cordless Drill & Impact Driver Kit $149 at Amazon$239 Save $90 Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it
A good drill is one of those things you don't think about until you need it, and then suddenly it's the most useful thing in the house. This DeWalt combo kit gives you both a compact drill/driver for everyday jobs and an impact driver for the projects that need more muscle, like longer screws, tougher materials, or anything that has you fighting with a manual screwdriver.
It comes with two batteries, a charger, and a carrying bag, so you're not buying a tool only to realize you need to spend more before you can actually use it. Both tools also have built-in LED lights for darker corners, cabinets, and under-the-sink fixes.
At $149, down from $239, this kit saves you $90 and is a much better all-purpose pick for most homeowners than a single specialty tool.
More tool dealsDeWalt 45-Piece Screwdriver Bit Set with Tough Case — $9.98 $14.99 (save $5.01)
Craftsman 2-Piece Pliers Set — $16.98 $23.48 (save $6.50)
Craftsman 8-Piece Screwdriver Set — $24.98 $99 (save $4.17)
DeWalt Random Orbit Sander — $79 $99 (save $20)
DeWalt Oscillating Tool Kit — $157.80 $299 (save $141.20)
DeWalt Impact Driver and Hammer Drill Cordless Power Tool Combo Kit — $299 $349 (save $50)
$249.99 Save $110 Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it
Fall yard cleanup is enough work without dragging out an extension cord, mixing gas, or fighting with a pull start. The Greenworks 60V leaf blower is battery-powered, but it has enough power for the usual pile of wet leaves, driveway debris, and whatever else collects around the patio this time of year.
It has a variable-speed trigger, cruise control, and a Turbo mode that reaches up to 130 MPH when you need more power. The included 2.5Ah battery and rapid charger are a big part of why this deal is worth considering, especially if you're not already invested in a battery platform.
At $139.99, down from $249.99, it saves you $110. It's also compatible with more than 75 Greenworks 60V tools if you end up adding a mower, trimmer, or chainsaw later.
More outdoor power equipment dealsGreenworks 40V 12-Inch Cordless String Trimmer — $59.98 $89.99 (save $30.01)
Black+Decker String Trimmer and Edger — $79 $99.99 (save $20.99)
Black+Decker Leaf Blower Leaf Vacuum — $79 $99 (save $20)
Craftsman V20 String Trimmer and Lawn Edger Kit — $99 $139 (save $40)
Craftsman Cordless Leaf Blower — $119 $149 (save $30)
$799.99 Save $120 Get Deal Why we like it
Prime members are in line to snag a robot lawn mower at a shockingly good price ahead of October Prime Big Deal Days. Down from the normal price of $799.99, the Roborock RockNeo Q110H robot lawn mower is on sale for $679.99. It's designed to keep a lawn of up to a quarter of an acre freshly mowed and manicured. It comes with auto-mapping and advanced obstacle avoidance, and it's capable of mowing on slopes up to 45 degrees.
Since this is the lowest price we've spotted at Amazon for the Roborock RockNeo Q110H, it might be worth jumping on the discount before the sale officially begins.
More robot lawn mower dealsSegway Navimow i105N — $669 $799 (save $130)
Ecovacs Goat A2000 LiDAR Pro — $1,329.05 $1,999.99 (save $670.94)
Roborock RockMow X115H — $1,399.99 $2,299 (save $899.01)
Yarbo Y40 Core Robot Lawn Mower Pro — $5,499 $5,999 (save $500)
$329.99 Save $50 Get Deal Why we like it
If you like to put Christmas lights on the house before Thanksgiving, October Prime Day deals are your best bet for scoring a great sale price. Already 15% off, the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights 2 can display 16 million colors. If that feels overwhelming, choose between 100 preset modes.
The Govee lights come with an IP67 rating, which means they're safe to leave up year-round and they don't mind the rain. Plus, ordering soon means they'll arrive with enough time to make a neighborhood-favorite Halloween display.
More outdoor lights dealsLinkind Smart Solar Spot Lights (2-pack) — $28.49 $29.99 (save $1.50)
Philips Hue Outdoor Smart LED Light Strip (7-feet) — $89.41 $142.99 (save $53.58)
Govee Outdoor LED Strip Lights (98.4-feet) — $109.99 $159.99 (save $50)
Eufy Permanent Outdoor Lights E22 (150 feet) — $279.99 $489.99 (save $210)
$129.99 Save $49.00 *with extra 10% Prime savings* Get Deal Why we like it
Grabbing an air purifier isn't a bad idea in 2026, considering the quality of the air outside lately. This smart purifier from Govee features three-stage filtration that removes particles like hair, lint, and dust, as well as smoke, VOCs, and harmful gases. Its built-in sensor will alert you to the quality of air in your home and automatically turn on when the levels drop. It's usually $129.99, but with the current discount and extra savings for Prime members, it's just $80.99. That's a total of 38% in savings, and its best price all year.
More smart home dealsSmart home security
Philips WiFi Smart Door Lock — $79.99 $109.99 (save $30)
Philips WiFi Smart Door Lock with Door Levers — $109.99 $169.99 (save $60)
TP-Link Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Door Lock — $108.53 $149.99 (save $41.46)
SimpliSafe 11-piece Wireless Home Security System Gen 3 — $192.49 $333.80 (save $141.31)
Smart lighting
Govee Smart Bulbs H600D (Multicolor, 4-pack) — $37.99 $49.99 (save $12)
Govee Lantern Floor Lamp — $109.99 $129.99 (save $20)
Smart air purifiers and quality monitors
GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor — $39.99 $45.99 (save $6)
SwitchBot CO2 Detector — $59.49 $69.99 (save $10.50)
Dreo Air Purifier 338 — $59.99 $89.99 (save $30)
Blueair Mini Max Air Purifier — $60.49 $79.99 (save $19.50)
Levoit Core 200S-P Air Purifier — $69.99 $89.99 (save $20)
Shark NeverChange Compact Pro Air Purifier — $109.99 $159.99 (save $50)
Blueair Signature SP1i Air Purifier — $125.99 $179.99 (save $54)
Coway Airmega Mighty 1512HH Air Purifier — $154.99 $229.99 (save $75)
Why I always scan old gadgets and cables with Google Lens before throwing them away
I’ve accumulated an embarrassing amount of old tech over the years. Cables whose purpose I’ve long forgotten, gadgets I haven’t touched in years, and assorted bits of hardware have a habit of ending up in boxes rather than the trash. When it finally comes time to clear things out, though, I’ve learned not to throw anything away before checking it with Google Lens.
The 21 best October Prime Day tech deals, hand-picked by our gadget-obsessed experts: Save on Kindles, AirTags, and MacBook Air
Mashable's discerning reporters and editors are constantly testing the latest gadgets, from e-readers to headphones, laptops, phones, power stations, smart rings, and portable speakers. This year, many of our favorite products have been besieged by price hikes as a result of the ongoing memory crisis. Fortunately, Amazon is about to bring tech shoppers some relief in the form of Prime Big Deal Days, better known as October Prime Day.
Set for Oct. 6 and 7, Prime Big Deal Days is a 48-hour sale for members of Amazon's Prime program. Often referred to as "October Prime Day," it serves as Amazon's unofficial kickoff to the holiday shopping season. We've been covering the event since its inception in 2022, back when it was still called the Prime Early Access Sale. And this year, we'll be keeping an extra close eye on the best early Prime Day tech deals.
SEE ALSO: Try Amazon Prime for free for 30 days to get access to October Prime Day 2026In the lead-up to the sale, Amazon is already offering some steep discounts on select devices from brands like Apple, TCL, Garmin, Beats, and Sony. After spending hours poring over these deals, we've identified the best early Prime Day deals that are so good, we'd buy them ourselves.
How do we pick these deals? We look for products we recommend at record-low prices (or close to them). We use price-tracking tools like camelcamelcamel to see if Amazon's discounts are actually better than usual, then cross-check them with other retailers' listings to make sure they're not cheaper elsewhere. (Walmart and Target are both gearing up to host their own October sales, FYI.) You can add our picks to your cart with confidence. And if we expect prices to drop lower in the days ahead, we'll be sure to tell you that.
So, without any further ado, these are the best early October Prime Day deals we've spotted so far.
$79 AirPods (a Prime Day classic)It wouldn't be an Amazon Prime event without some heavily discounted AirPods. But, ironically, before the sale officially begins, you can also grab these earbuds for $79 at Walmart. That could change come Oct. 6, as Amazon may be holding back some inventory for Prime Big Deal Days.
Apple's fourth-generation earbuds have excellent audio quality, a comfortable fit, and a five-hour battery life. The newer AirPods 5 sound even better and add ANC, but this pair is still a great option for iOS users on a budget. (Read Mashable's review.)
Note: The AirPods 4 dipped down to $69 last Black Friday, but $79 is their lowest price so far in 2026. Plus, they probably won't be in stock much longer now that their successors have launched.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $79 at Walmart$129.99 Save $50.99 Get Deal A Kindle for just over $100
Amazon surprised us all with big price hikes across all Kindles, then dropped a collection of new Kindle models and accessories, including a page-turner. But if you're cool with a non-Paperwhite model, the 2024 Kindle is on sale for $103.99 for a nice 31% discount. Bundle it with three months of Kindle Unlimited for free.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 2024 Amazon Kindle (16GB) $103.99 at Amazon$149.99 Save $46.00 Get Deal Save on Apple's newest MacBooks
We've been waiting for good deals on Apple MacBooks, and Amazon has finally delivered, with both the MacBook Air and Pro on sale.
If you're a professional creative, developer, or AI enthusiast who needs a compact new laptop for work, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better option than the 14-inch, M5 Max-powered MacBook Pro. The "base" configuration with 36GB of RAM and 2TB of storage got a $500 price increase back in June, which bumped it from $3,599 to $4,099. But right now, Amazon has it on sale for just $3,499 — a $600 savings.
If you don't need the powerful MacBook Pro's features or the price tag, you can go with the M5 MacBook Air while it's on sale for $1,099, or $200 off the normal price. Not only is it highly portable, but it also uses the M5 chip, and it stays in a moderate lane without going wild with features not everyone needs. It's a great buy for students or professionals.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) $3,499 at Amazon$4,099 Save $600 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air (M5, 16GB RAM, 512 SSD) $1,099 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $200 Get Deal Cheaper-than-ever Fire tablets
Two of Amazon's own Fire tablets are already on sale for record-low prices ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. Take your pick from the compact Fire HD 8 with 64GB of storage — our favorite Fire tablet overall — or the big-screened Fire HD 10 with 32GB of storage, nicer cameras, and a sharper display. (Both have 13-hour battery lives.) They're now up to 53% off for Prime members.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 (64GB) $79.99 at Amazon$129.99 Save $50.00 Prime membership required. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 (32GB) $72.99
$154.99 Save $82.00 Prime membership required. Get Deal Get 46% off a 4K streaming stick
Amazon's Fire tablets have been safe from price hikes so far, but the retailer raised the prices of all its Fire TV streaming sticks by at least $5 in August. The 4K Plus model went from $49.99 to $69.99. Nevertheless, Amazon will sell it to you for just $37.99 right now. (You can also try the coupon code STREAM4K, as we've seen it work at times this week.)
FWIW, this is Amazon's cheapest media player with support for Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, Nvidia Geforce Now, and Alexa Home Theater (a surround sound feature that works with Echo devices).
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus $37.99 at Amazon$69.99 Save $32.00 Get Deal A new all-time low on an Apple Watch
Dropping to the lowest we've seen at Amazon, the Apple Watch SE 3 is down to $229. In Mashable's review of the best smartwatches, the Apple Watch SE 3 takes the cake as the best model for most people. The SE was the first Apple Watch to include an always-on display, and we're always thrilled to look down and see the stunning OLED display. Plus, the S10 chip is the same as the Ultra 3, which costs nearly $800 at full price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 44mm) $229 at Amazon$279 Save $50 Get Deal A huge discount on a huge QLED TV
The 65-inch TCL QM8L is the best QLED TV for most people, according to Leah Stodart, our former TV expert. She praised its "superb peak brightness, detailed picture quality, and fantastic glare handling." (QLED TVs in general "are ideal for people whose TV usage happens mostly in the daytime, especially watching sports," to quote her TV specs guide.)
Right now, the 85-inch QM8L is available for $2,797.99, which is a good price. However, we do expect this TV to go on sale for $2,497.99 or less once October Prime Day begins Oct. 6, so hold out if you can.
Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 85-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $2,497.99 at Amazon$3,999.99 Save $1,502 Get Deal Affordable Fire TVs
The best early Prime Day tech deals always include savings on Amazon's own devices, like the affordable 40-inch Ember Fire TV. This TV has a high-definition HDR10+ display and doubles as an Alexa smart speaker for your home. The 28% discount drops the price to a very affordable $179.99, its lowest-ever price.
And if you're looking for a cheap TV with a little bit more oomph, the 50-inch QLED Ember Fire TV is currently $100 off.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Ember 40-inch 2-Series Fire TV $179.99 at Amazon$249.99 Save $70 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Ember 55-inch QLED Series Fire TV $489.99 at Amazon
$589.99 Save $100 Get Deal Save $10 when you preorder the 'Ocarina of Time' remake
Nintendo's upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Switch 2 will be one of the year's biggest gaming releases (after GTA 6, obviously). Preordering the physical edition will normally cost you $69.99 — it's $10 more than the digital version — but Amazon has it on sale for $59.88 ahead of its Nov. 5 launch. The first print run has special packaging with foil cover art, so don't dawdle.
Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" (Nintendo Switch 2) $59.88 at Amazon$69.99 Save $10.11 Get Deal DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo
Our tech editor reviewed this classic DJI vlogging camera when it first came out. At the time, we called it the perfect camera for social creators, and we were right. Since then, this camera has become a very common sight at tech events, conferences, and anywhere else streamers and creators get together.
The new DJI Osmo Pocket 4 can be hard to find in the United States, but the previous-gen version is hardly out of date. This gimbal camera shoots gorgeous 4K vertical and horizontal video, and uses the built-in gimbal for tracking and motion stabilization.
Read our review of the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 camera.
Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo $549 at Amazon$629 Save $80 Get Deal Best deal under $50: Ugreen power bank
Whether you're on team Android or iOS, this power bank will give your smartphone a second life. This has not been a good year to buy a new phone, thanks to rising prices, so if your battery is holding on for dear life, just slip this power bank into your purse or backpack and avoid low-battery anxiety. It charges your phone via an included USB-C cable at a speedy 45W.
Opens in a new window Credit: Ugreen Ugreen Nexode Pro 10000mAh 45W Mini Power Bank $37.97 at Amazon$54.99 Save $17.02 Get Deal Best deal under $25: Apple AirTags
Apple released a new generation of AirTag trackers this year, the AirTag 2. The popular Apple tracker is already at an all-time low price, and we don't expect it to get any cheaper in the days ahead. You can also grab the 4-pack on sale for $89, though we're hoping that price drops to $79.99 soon.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag (2nd Gen) $24 at Amazon$29 Save $5 Get Deal Best deal under $15: Amazon smart plug
This little gadget always goes on sale during Amazon sales, and so we're hardly surprised that it's one of the retailer's early Prime Day deals for October 2026. You can add this smart plug to your cart for just $12.98, a nearly 50% discount. If you're trying to spend every last penny of an Amazon gift card, go ahead and add it to your shopping cart.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Smart Plug $12.98 at Amazon$24.99 Save $12.01 Get Deal Deals on SanDisk memory products
The global memory crisis has led to rising costs for smartphones, laptops, and gaming consoles, but it's been a disaster for SD cards and hard drives. So, while the discounts aren't as huge as they were in past years, you can find savings on these memory products during October Prime Big Deal Days. We've found a bunch of early Prime Day deals on portable SSDs and hard drives, and we expect even more savings to come.
Case in point: The SanDisk Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Card Express is currently $40 off. Likewise, you can save $40 on the popular SanDisk Extreme portable SSD with 1TB of storage.
Opens in a new window Credit: SanDisk SanDisk microSD Express Card for Switch 2, 512GB $159.99 at Amazon$199.99 Save $40 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: SanDisk Sandisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD $251.94 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $48.05 Get Deal Best Amazon subscription deal
This exclusive deal is for Prime members only, and it's a good one. For a limited time, Prime members can sign up for four months of Audible for just $0.99. You'll also get a $20 Audible credit to spend as you like.
Our advice? Take advantage of this deal and set a calendar reminder three months and 29 days in the future.
Opens in a new window Credit: Audible Audible $0.99 for 4 months + $20 Audible credit Get Deal Cheap wireless earbuds for under $25If you're hoping to buy flagship-quality noise-cancelling earbuds, then wait for Prime Big Deal Days to begin, as we're expecting big discounts on Apple, Sony, and Bose earbuds. However, if you're prone to losing earbuds and just need something simple for everyday use, the popular Anker Soundcore P30i Earbuds are already at a record-low price of $24.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore P30i Noise-Cancelling Earbuds $24.99 at Amazon$49.99 Save $25.00 Get Deal Save $100 on the iPad Air
In the lead-up to Prime Big Deal Days, the iPad Air has gone on sale, and then went back to full price, and then went back on sale. As of this writing, you can once again save $100 on the latest iPad Air, which is powered by the powerful M4 chip, is razor thin, and won a Mashable Choice award (read our full review if you're on the fence) earlier this year.
You can also check out all of the October Prime Day iPad deals we've spotted so far.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air (M4), 11 inches $649 at Amazon$749 Save $100 Get Deal Deals to watch: Bose QuietComfort headphones and earbuds on sale
We've made no secret of the fact that we love Bose headphones and earbuds here at Mashable. The brand makes the most comfortable headphones we've ever tested, and the brand's popular QuietComfort line recently got refreshed.
Earlier this week, you could get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) and the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2) for $50 off, but this deal has ended. However, we are very confident these products will get even bigger discounts when the Prime Big Deal Days sale starts on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) $249.99 at Amazon$299.99 Save $50 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2) $399.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $50 Get Deal
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The best early October Prime Day deals: $200 off MacBook Airs and $79 AirPods are already live
Prime Big Deal Days sale is just about here — and so are some excellent Apple deals. This 48-hour "October Prime Day" serves as Amazon's kickoff to the Black Friday/holiday shopping season, which is the best time to find discounts on popular Apple devices (among many other tech products we love). This year, it doubles as some year-end relief from RAMageddon price increases.
While Prime Big Deal Days isn't scheduled to begin until midnight PT on Oct. 6, Amazon is already rolling out some great early deals on AirPods, Apple Watches, iPads, and MacBooks. Some of them are even better than we expected. If you don't want to wait around to see if they further improve — doubtful, for the most part — read on to see what's up for grabs.
How we picked the best October Prime Day Apple dealsMashable tracks Apple prices year-round and has covered Prime Big Deal Days since it started in 2022 (back when it was still called the Prime Early Access Sale). We've reviewed every current Apple device except for the Apple Watch Series 12, which shares all of its new features with the Apple Watch Ultra 4; and the latest Mac desktops, which our sister site PCMag has already tested extensively.
SEE ALSO: 21 early October Prime Day tech deals, hand-picked by our gadget-obsessed expertsTo identify the very best October Prime Day Apple deals, we've compared Amazon's current prices with historical pricing data on camelcamelcamel, a popular price-tracking site, as well as our coverage of past Amazon Prime events. Many of the devices listed below are sitting at their lowest prices in three months. Those that have been cheaper recently have been marked as "deals to watch," while those marked with a 🔥 have fallen to all-time lows (as in, they've never been cheaper before).
I've cross-checked all of Amazon's live Apple deals with other major retailers to make sure no one else has even lower prices. Right now, the only devices I would buy elsewhere are the AirPods 4 with and without ANC: They're sold out on Amazon, but Best Buy and Walmart, respectively, still have them in stock at three-month lows. Stay tuned to see if Amazon brings them back at the same prices once Prime Big Deal Days starts — we'll continue to monitor deals and update this story as the sale progresses.
Best AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $79 at Walmart$129 Save $50 Get Deal
The entry-level AirPods 4 are now 39% cheaper than the AirPods 5 that Apple announced last month. (They're also only $10 away from their record-low price from last Black Friday.) They lack noise cancellation and don't sound quite as good as their successors, but this deal makes them a very smart pick for budget buyers. Mashable's Bethany Allard notes that "their availability may be limited as we get further into the shopping season," so best grab' em now while you still can.
Read Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPods 4.
More AirPods dealsApple AirPods 4 with ANC — $119.99 $169 (save $49.01)
Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $179 $249 (save $70)
Apple AirPods Max 2 — $429 $549 (save $120)
$399 Save $49.01 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS + cellular, 42mm) 🔥 $449.99 at Amazon
$499 Save $49.01 Get Deal
Apple's latest flagship smartwatch got its first proper discount for Prime Big Deal Days: a welcome $50-ish off. (That applies to the base model and the upgraded version with cellular connectivity, by the way.) Compared to the last-gen Series 11, the Series 12 has a faster processor, better heart rate sensors, quicker charging, and more durable glass. It also adds support for features like Readiness and Audio Intelligence tools like Siri Recap. No other retailer was matching Amazon's prices at the time of writing, FYI.
More Apple Watch dealsApple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) — $199 $249 (save $50)
Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS + cellular, 40mm) — $249 $299 (save $50)
Apple Watch Ultra 4 (GPS + cellular, 49mm) — $699.99 $799 (save $99.01) 🔥
$1,299 Save $200 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD $1,299 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $200 Get Deal
Finally: The 13- and 15-inch M5 MacBook Air are both $200 off for Prime Big Deal Days, a discount that completely erases their price hikes from late June. Mashable tech editor Timothy Beck Werth called Apple's ultraportable "a damn near-perfect machine" in his review, pointing to its elite design, amazing speakers, and incredibly fast performance. It's a Mashable Choice Award winner, and we think it's the best MacBook for most people who just need a dependable daily driver. If either size sells out on Amazon, look for the same deals at Best Buy.
Read Mashable's full review of the M5 Apple MacBook Air.
More MacBook dealsApple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $689.99 $699 (save $9.01)
Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $789.99 $799 (save $9.01)
Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,839 $1,999 (save $160)
Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,499 $4,099 (save $600)
Apple Mac mini (M6, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $779.99 $899 (save $119.01) 🔥
Apple Mac mini (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,549.99 $1,699 (save $149.01) 🔥
Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $2,299 $2,499 (save $200) 🔥
Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,345 $2,499 (save $154), was $2,149.99 in July
Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,749.99 $2,999 (save $249.01), was $2,649.99 in July
Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,899 $4,399 (save $500), was $3,799 in early October
$749 Save $100 Get Deal
The iPad mini is our favorite Apple tablet for reading. Mashable's Samantha Mangino was "delighted by its light weight" when she swapped her regular 10.2-inch iPad for this more compact 8.3-inch model; it only weighs 0.65 pounds. "Plus," she added, "unlike the [current] iPad 11th generation, it has an anti-reflective coating to help you read in any lighting." The 128GB base model with cellular connectivity is marked down to just $649 on Amazon — a $100 savings that negates its own June price increase.
The non-cellular iPad mini is also $100 off, though it was $10 cheaper in July. I would wait see if Amazon revives that deal within the next 48 hours or so.
Read Mashable's full review of the Apple iPad mini.
More iPad dealsApple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi + cellular, 128GB) — $799 $899 (save $100)
Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 512GB) — $1,299 $1,499 (save $200)
Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 2TB, nano-texture glass) — $1,899 $2,099 (save $200)
Apple iPad (A16, WiFi, 128GB) — $399 $449 (save $50), was $299 in July
Apple iPad (A16, WiFi + cellular, 128GB) — $549 $599 (save $50), was $499.99 in July
Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) — $499 $599 (save $100), was $489 in July
Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) — $649 $749 (save $100), was $559 in July
Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) — $849 $949 (save $100), was $749 in July
Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi + cellular, 128GB) — $999 $1,099 (save $100), was $949 in July
Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,099.99 $1,199 (save $99.01), was $949 in August
Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, WiFi + cellular, 512GB) — $1,499 $1,599 (save $100), was $1,299 in July
Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,399.99 $1,499 (save $99.01), was $1,249 in July
Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5, WiFi + cellular, 512GB) — $1,799 $1,899 (save $100), was $1,787.50 in August
The best early October Prime Day kitchen deals: We found live Ninja and Keurig deals worth grabbing
Cooking at home is supposed to save money, but between grocery prices and the cost of decent appliances, it doesn't always feel that way.
Amazon's October Prime Day, officially Prime Big Deal Days, runs Oct. 6–7, but many early kitchen deals are already live. If you need a new air fryer, want to upgrade your morning coffee station, or just need to replace a worn-out pan without spending a fortune, we found the best early discounts worth shopping right now.
The best deals so far include the Ninja Foodi 10-Quart DualZone Air Fryer at $149.99, $100 off the Ninja French Door Premier Air Fry Oven, $120 off the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer, and $300 off the De’Longhi Rivelia Automatic Espresso Machine. Prices can move fast during Prime Day, so we’ll keep checking and adding new deals as they go live.
Best kitchen deal Ninja Foodi Air Fryer (10-Quart) $149.99 at Amazon$229.99 Save $80 Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it
At $149.99 (down from $229.99), the Ninja Foodi 10-Quart DualZone is just 99 cents above its all-time low.
Instead of cooking in batches or relying on your oven, it gives you two separate 5-quart baskets that run at different temperatures at the same time. The Smart Finish setting automatically syncs the timers so both baskets finish cooking at the exact same time, while Match Cook lets you duplicate settings across both sides for full 10-quart meals. It also includes six standard functions — air fry, broil, roast, bake, dehydrate, and keep warm — and has enough total capacity to handle about eight pounds of wings.
More early Prime Day kitchen dealsAir fryers and countertop appliances
Crock-Pot 6 Quart Cook & Carry Programmable Slow Cooker — $59.99 $94.99 (save $35)
Instant Pot Vortex 6-in-1 — $61.75 $89.99 (save $28.24)
Chefman 6-quart Compact Air Fryer — $74.99 $119.99 (save $45)
Ninja HyperHeat 9-in-1 Pressure Cooker — $129.99 $169.99 (save $40)
Ninja Crispi Glass Air Fryer — $184.99 $219.99 (save $35)
Ninja French Door Premier Air Fry Oven with Cutting Board — $199.99 $299.99 (save $100)
Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill and Air Fryer — $199.99 $279.99 (save $80)
Ninja Crispi Pro Glass Air Fryer, 6-in-1 — $249.90 $299.99 (save $50.09)
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro — $319.95 $399.95 (save $80)
KitchenAid Artisan, 5-Qt Tilt Head Stand Mixer — $379.99 $499.99 (save $120)
Coffee and espresso makers
BLACK+DECKER One Touch Coffee Grinder — $19.82 $25.99 (save $6.17)
Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker — $71 $99.99 (save $28.99)
Keurig K-Express — $89.99 $109.99 (save $20)
Ninja Single Serve Coffee Maker — $99.94 $129.99 (save $30.05)
De'Longhi Stilosa Compact Manual Espresso Machine — $99.95 $149.95 (save $50)
Casabrews 3700 Espresso Machine with Steam Wand — $99.99 $109.99 (save $10)
Nespresso Vertuo Next Coffee & Espresso Maker by De'Longhi — $123 $189 (save $66)
Keurig K-Elite — $139 $209.99 (save $71.99)
Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine — $399.95 $499.95 (save $100)
De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo — $499.95 $699.95 (save $200)
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine — $499.95 $689.99 (save $190.04)
Ninja Luxe Café Premier Espresso & Rapid Cold Brew — $499.99 $599.99 (save $100)
De'Longhi Magnifica Evo — $599.95 $899.95 (save $300)
De'Longhi Magnifica Duo — $799.95 $999.95 (save $200)
De'Longhi Rivelia Automatic Espresso Machine — $999.95 $1,299.95 (save $300)
Cookware and bakeware
Carote Pots and Pans 21-Piece Set — $59.99 $99.99 (save $40)
Cuisinart Stainless Steel Pots and Pans 7-Piece Set — $84.95 $119.95 (save $35)
Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Stainless Steel Pots and Pans 11-Piece Set — $122.95 $179.95 (save $57)
Blenders and ice cream makers
Oster Vortex Glass Blender — $47.49 $59.99 (save $12.50)
Ninja Blast Max Portable Blender — $69.95 $99.99 (save $30.04)
Oster Extreme Mix Blender — $113.99 $189.99 (save $76)
Chefman Iceman Slush-Ease Slushie Machine — $179.93 $299.99 (save $120.06)
Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker (NC301) — $179.99 $229.99 (save $50)
These items aren't on sale just yet, but if past sales have taught us anything, they usually drop as soon as Prime Big Deal Days officially begins. If you've been eyeing any of these, add them to your cart now and hold off on buying until Oct. 6.
Our Place Wonder Oven — We typically see these get $60+ price cuts during major Amazon sales events.
Why Ryobi's biggest battery isn't worth the upgrade (and what to buy instead)
Bigger doesn't always mean better, and that's especially true in the world of power tools. Most Ryobi tools come with a 2Ah or 4Ah battery in the box, and when that's not enough for the job, many will end up looking for something bigger. Sure, that massive 12Ah battery sounds nice, but there's a good chance that's the wrong upgrade for you.
Harry Potter x Blvck Paris is back for another limited-edition drop — how to shop the all-black Wizarding World collection
TL;DR: Blvck Paris and Warner Bros. have teamed up for a second all-black Harry Potter collection featuring hoodies, a Slytherin baseball jacket, interchangeable wanted-poster sweatshirts, and home goods. Priced from $60 to $275, the drop lands Sept. 28 at 12 p.m. ET exclusively on Blvck.
Blvck Paris and the Wizarding World are teaming up for a second all-black Harry Potter collection that strips away bright house scarves and primary colors in favor of something darker.
Most Harry Potter apparel leans into bold yellow ties or crimson sweaters. Pairing the iconic fantasy franchise with Blvck’s signature all-black luxury aesthetic gives fans a way to rep their favorite Hogwarts house without looking like they are heading to a costume party.
Arriving right as hype builds for HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television series, the new line reinterprets Hogwarts emblems, house crests, and classic characters through dark, tonal embroidery and shadowy textures.
"With this second drop, we wanted to go deeper into the details fans recognize and love while staying true to Blvck’s monochrome identity," said Julian O’Hayon, founder of Blvck Paris. The second limited-edition collection launches Sept. 28 at 12 p.m. ET exclusively at Blvck Paris, with prices ranging from $60 to $275 in sizes XS through 3XL.
Credit: Blvck Paris / Warner Bros. Discovery What's dropping in the Blvck Paris x Harry Potter collectionTeddy Draco Malfoy Hoodie and Tee — Reworks Blvck’s signature teddy bear mascot in Slytherin-inspired styling and dark wizard accents.
Slytherin Baseball Jacket — Statement outerwear finished with detailed tonal serpent embroidery stretching across the shoulders and sleeves.
Zipped Wanted Hooded Sweatshirt — Built for custom styling with four interchangeable wanted-poster graphics featuring iconic characters like Sirius Black.
Tonal House Hoodies and Sweaters — Muted, dark-grey, and black designs covering Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff, layered with curated arrangements of story-inspired icons.
Slytherin and Gryffindor Jerseys — Sporty streetwear staples that pair Blvck’s all-black foundation with subtle house accent colors and crests.
Hogwarts Home Goods and Accessories — Expands beyond apparel with a Chamber of Secrets notebook, Slytherin jeans and beanie, Nagini and Wanted-Poster phone cases, hooded blankets, and plush Gryffindor and Slytherin teddy slippers.
Head over to Blvck on Sept. 28 to grab your favorite piece before the best sizes sell out for good.
The best early October Prime Day deals on iPads, according to Mashables tech experts
Fall has just begun, but the holiday shopping season is already heating up. No longer do things kick off on Black Friday: Amazon's annual Prime Big Deal Days on Oct. 6 and 7 is the start of end-of-year deals.
Now that October Prime Day is nearly here, we're looking for the best early price drops across top brands, especially Apple. Early deals were pretty hit-or-miss with baseline models seeing modest $20 to $30 markdowns. But now that we're a day away, there are actually some deals worth shopping.
SEE ALSO: October Prime Day Apple deals guide: Buy now or wait?We've rounded up the best October Prime Day iPad deals we could find. While none of the iPads here have dropped to new all-time lows, we're happy to take any savings considering Apple raised prices on iPads earlier this year. But if you want to see where current iPad prices fall, we've compiled the price history on current models.
Save up to $50 on the regular iPadThe standard iPad with the A16 chip is our favorite Apple tablet for budget shoppers. "Even though its tech is basic compared to the advanced iPad Air and Pro," writes Mashable's Samantha Mangino, "it's great for someone who wants a portable screen for streaming, playing games, and reading." It's rated for up to six hours of battery life.
The base iPad with 128GB of storage is now $50 off with or without cellular connectivity. That brings it down to $399, its lowest price since Amazon increased it to $449 earlier this year.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $399 at Amazon$449 Save $50 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad (A16, WiFi + cellular, 128GB) $549 at Amazon
$599 Save $50 Get Deal Take up to $100 off the iPad mini
If you wish e-readers were more powerful, more versatile, and equipped with way more storage, get Apple's smallest iPad instead. The iPad mini's compact size and anti-reflective display make it our favorite tablet for reading.
We hoped the iPad Mini would drop $70 during Prime Big Deal Days, but the deal is even sweeter. Right now, you can grab it $499, $100 off its $599 list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) $499 at Apple$599 Save $100 Get Deal Skip the pro pricing on Apple's newest M4 power tablet with $100 off
In his 4.5-star review, Mashable’s Timothy Beck Werth called the M4 iPad Air "a tablet that thinks it's an AI laptop," making it a great pick for students, artists, and creators. It has the same super-light aluminum body and bright Liquid Retina screen as last year's model.
Where it wins is speed: the new M4 processor and upgraded smart chip make AI tools like fast voice-note transcription and photo editing happen almost instantly. While Timothy pointed out that it only offers "iterative upgrades over last year's model" and can feel "overpowered for casual users", that is exactly why this price drop makes sense.
Paying full retail for an incremental spec bump can be a hard sell, but catching it on sale makes the extra speed, 256GB of storage, and creator-grade power completely worth the tag. Luckily, it's now $100 off, bringing it down to $649.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4, WiFi) $649 at Amazon$749 Save $100 Get Deal Save $200 on iPad Pros
If you're a professional creative in the market for an iPad, consider buying an iPad Pro. Leading up to the sale, we saw discounts up to $200 on last year's M4 model instead of the freshest M5 version. You can score an 11-inch iPad Pro with 2TB of storage and a nano-texture display. That brings the iPad Pro down to $1,899, which is still a steep price. If you want a Pro at a cheaper price (albeit, smaller discount,) go for the 11-inch iPad Pro with M5 chip and 256GB of storage, which is on sale for $60 off.
More iPad Pro dealsApple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,139 $1,199 (save $60)
Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,427 $1,499 (save $72)
Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 512GB) — $1,614 $1,699 (save $85)
Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 512GB Cellular) — $1,804 $1,899 (save $95)
October podcast guide: 8 shows to watch and listen to
You could spend yet another evening deciding what to watch...or you could let Ina Garten make you a drink. This month's podcast lineup includes an invitation to her New York apartment, a few awkward dates with Amelia Dimoldenberg, and ghost stories from Spooked for anyone ready to get into the Halloween spirit.
Whether you want a mystery to follow, strangers’ gossip to get invested in, or a conversation to keep you company while making dinner, there’s plenty to queue up. Here are eight podcasts and internet shows to watch and listen to this month.
SEE ALSO: Press play: 5 celeb-creator interviews the internet loved this week (Sept. 25) The Woman in the WoodsFor morning walks when you want a reported mystery to dig your teeth into, The Woman in the Woods offers a six-part investigation from 48 Hours correspondent Erin Moriarty into the death of Mindi Kassotis. Here's the story: Kassotis’s friends were told she had died in a hospital. Later, they were told her husband had died, too. But the discovery of a woman’s remains outside Savannah, Georgia, raised questions about those accounts. The series follows investigators’ efforts to uncover what happened, combining reporting with interviews.
Launched Sept. 16, it also has a video edition featuring previously unseen footage and photographs. Start at the beginning and make room for the full investigation.
How to watch/listen: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and other listening platforms.
Chicken Shop DateCuffing season is approaching, but Amelia Dimoldenberg is preparing to leave the dating scene. Her celebrity interview series Chicken Shop Date begins its final run on Oct. 2, bringing its famously awkward flirtations and chicken-shop encounters toward a close after 12 years. Dimoldenberg’s deadpan questions have a way of making even practiced interview subjects lose their footing, which is half the pleasure of watching. If you’ve somehow avoided her date with Andrew Garfield, start there before joining the farewell tour. Autumn already makes us a little sentimental; this won't help.
How to watch: YouTube
Happy Hour with Ina GartenSweater weather practically demands an invitation to Ina Garten’s apartment. Her new weekly interview show, which launched Sept. 16, brings guests from food, entertainment, sports, and the arts to her New York City home for drinks and conversation. The appeal is familiar to anyone who has watched Barefoot Contessa: Garten knows how to make having people over feel both special and entirely manageable. Kate McKinnon joins her in the first episode, making it an easy place to start. Put this on while preparing for your own fall dinner party, even if the guest list is just you.
How to watch/listen: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
Ominous ThrillIf your Halloween viewing plans already include slashers, ghosts, and body horror, Ominous Thrill can extend the program to your headphones. The fiction anthology uses full casts and immersive sound to bring its dark stories to life. Its newest season, "Her Horrorween," launched Oct. 1 with a collection of 15 stories celebrating horror written by women, spanning psychological, folk, supernatural, and other forms of terror. Start with the season’s introduction and choose a story that suits your appetite for scares. Those increasingly dark evenings should provide plenty of atmosphere.
How to listen: Apple Podcasts and Ominous Thrill’s website.
Normal GossipA long drive through the foliage is way better with gossip, even when you don’t know anyone involved. Normal Gossip turns listener-submitted stories about everyday people into funny, winding conversations, with host Rachelle Hampton and a guest unpacking strangers' questionable decisions. The show has been running since 2022, so there’s a substantial archive to explore. For an October starting point, try "Paranormal Activity" with Amber Singletary, featuring a blended family, a spectral presence, and a late-night witch hotline. Come for the seasonal intrigue; stay because you suddenly need to know how someone else’s business ends.
How to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
ICYMIYour screen time may creep up as the evenings get darker, but keeping up with the internet shouldn’t require spending all night scrolling. Slate’s ICYMI, hosted by Kate Lindsay, unpacks online trends, controversies, and the ways technology shapes everyday life twice a week. Recent discussions have covered vertical microdramas, AI doomsday predictions, and what happens when someone actually swaps their smartphone for a dumbphone. That last conversation, "No Phones? No Problem," is a good starting point if your fall reset includes putting your phone down more often. You can still be informed while taking a long walk with your hands in your coat pockets.
How to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
SpookedThe leaves are changing, the Halloween decorations are going up, and Spooked is returning with more reasons to keep a light on. Hosted by Glynn Washington, the series features people recounting experiences they believe were supernatural, putting the person who lived through each encounter at the center of the story. Its 11th season, "The Spooked Field Guide to the Shadow," begins Oct. 2, with new episodes scheduled weekly throughout the month. If you want to get acquainted before then, the archive has plenty of haunted homes, strange encounters, and unsettling journeys to choose from. Perhaps save the solitary evening walk for another show.
How to listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart.
GerbilOctober is urban-legend season, and Gerbil examines one that has followed a Hollywood star for decades. The new series from The Hollywood Reporter follows investigative journalist Allen Salkin as he traces the notorious, unsubstantiated Richard Gere rumor through documents and interviews, asking how it spread and why it endured. Launched Sept. 17, it offers an internet-culture angle on the stories people repeat because someone, somewhere, insists they know someone who was there. Queue it up for a rainy autumn afternoon when you have time to follow a rabbit hole — or, in this case, a different rodent entirely.
How to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
ChatGPT has new ad formats. Heres what they look like.
OpenAI is bringing visual ads to ChatGPT.
In a blog post published Monday, the company announced a new image-based ad format. It also announced expanded measurement partnerships for advertisers and pilots meant to show brands how its placement safeguards work. OpenAI said ChatGPT now reaches 1.2 billion people each week, and described advertising as a way to fund broader access to AI beyond what subscriptions alone can support.
The mockups in OpenAI's announcement show two layouts, both featuring a fictional brand called Heirloom Grocery. In the first, a single banner with a headline sits above a short product description and a "Learn more" button. In the second, a row of scrollable photos replaces the banner. In both versions, the ad carries an "Ad" label and appears beneath a progress indicator for an image ChatGPT is still generating.
That placement reflects how OpenAI plans to roll out the format. The company said it will first test the ads during image generation. It said the ads will be clearly labeled and kept separate from the image being created. OpenAI also repeated its position that advertising does not influence ChatGPT's answers.
Credit: OpenAI / Mashable screenshotOpenAI said its placement guardrails are designed to keep ads out of emotionally vulnerable or sensitive conversations. Qualifying advertisers can now use a feature called Negative Phrases to set their own placement exclusions.
The company is also running brand suitability pilots with DoubleVerify and Integral Ad Science. OpenAI said the pilots let these outside firms evaluate its safeguards in a controlled test environment without accessing real user conversations. IAS CEO Lidiane Jones said in the announcement that marketers need brand safety protections that are "durable, consistent, and built to operate at scale."
Testing begins later this month in the US with an initial group of advertisers.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.
The best early Prime Day deals on Pokémon, including Perfect Order Booster Bundle for under $45
Amazon’s October Prime Day is getting closer, and there are worthwhile Pokémon across the Pokémon trading card game, Nintendo Switch games, Lego sets, and books. Some of the earliest Pokémon TCG discounts have already sold out, so this list only includes products that were available when we last checked.
SEE ALSO: Lego's Pokémon Eevee is close to its best-ever price at Amazon — save $12 before October Prime DayPrime Big Deal Days runs from Oct. 6-7, but there’s no need to wait for the main event to start saving. The best Pokémon Prime Day deals available now include a Pokémon 30th Celebration Japanese Display Box for $265, LEGO Pokémon Eevee for $47.95, Pokémon Legends: Z-A for Nintendo Switch 2 for $50.99, and the Pokémon Deluxe Character Guide for $39.84. Pokémon TCG deals change quickly, so check current price and availability before buying.
A 30th Celebration Display Box at over $30 off Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon Card Game MEGA Expansion Pack 30th Celebration Display Box (Japanese) $265 at Amazon$313 Save $48 Get Deal
If you're the type of Pokémon collector who wants to appreciate the artwork as much as the cards themselves, this deal on the Japanese version of the 30th Celebration expansion’s display box is worth a look.
The 20-pack box is on sale for $265, down from $313, for a savings of $48, or about 15% off. That works out to $13.25 per pack.
English 30th Celebration booster packs are currently listed on TCGplayer for about $13.48 each, which would cost $269.60 for 20 packs. That means the Japanese display box is only about $4.60 cheaper on a per-pack comparison, but it's still a solid option for collectors who specifically want the sealed Japanese product and its distinct card treatment.
Best for: Collectors who want a sealed Japanese 30th Celebration display box rather than loose English packs.
More Pokémon TCG dealsPokémon TCG Mega Evolutions Perfect Order 3-Pack Blister (Chikorita) — $25.95 $29.99 (save $4.04)
Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Pitch Black 3 Booster Pack Blister (Binacle) — $26.99 $29.99 (save $3)
Pokémon TCG First Partner Illustration Collection — Series 2 — $34.40 $59.99 (save $25.59)
Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet Journey Together Booster Bundle — $53.95 $59.99 (save $6.04)
$59.99 Save $12.04 Get Deal
The 587-piece Lego Pokémon Eevee set is a posable display piece designed for adult builders. Unlike static figures, the ears, head, limbs, and angled tail are fully adjustable, so you can change up how it sits on your shelf. This is now back to its all-time low price for listings directly from Amazon (confirmed by the price tracker camelcamelcamel), making it a good time to grab it now rather than waiting to see if it drops further during the main sale.
Best for: Adult LEGO builders, Pokémon collectors, and gifts under $50.
Note: Eevee is currently the only set in the Lego Pokémon lineup receiving a discount ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, but we've listed the most popular sets below so you can keep an eye on them if Amazon drops prices during the event.
Pokémon Lego sets to watch during Prime Big Deal DaysLego Pokémon SMART Play: Charmander and Geodude's Cavern Clash — $19.99
Lego Pokémon SMART Play: Training House with Pikachu — $69.96
Lego Pokémon SMART Play: Umbreon vs. Garchomp Championship Battle — $79.96
Lego Pokémon SMART Play: Cubone and Gengar's Spooky Showdown — $89.96
Lego Pokémon Arcanine — $109.95
Lego Pokémon SMART Play: Charizard vs. Jolteon Ultimate Battle — $119.99
Lego Pokémon Rayquaza — $129.95
Lego Pokémon Pikachu and Poké Ball — $198.25
$69.99 Save $19.00 Get Deal
Set within Lumiose City, Pokémon Legends: Z-A lets you issue commands on the fly, compete in the nightly Z-A Royale tournament, and use the returning Mega Evolution mechanic to take down rampaging rogue Pokémon. A $19 discount on a major Nintendo Switch 2 title makes this an easy choice to pick up now rather than paying full retail.
More Pokémon Nintendo Switch game dealsDetective Pikachu Returns — $46.92 $49.99 (save $3.07)
Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Switch 1) — $49.44 $59.99 (save $10.55)
Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! — $53.99 $59.99 (save $6)
Pokémon Legends: Arceus — $54.26 $59.99 (save $5.73)
$59.99 Save $20.15 Get Deal
For a hardbound, 336-page reference book celebrating 30 years of the franchise, the 34% markdown puts the Pokémon Deluxe Character Guide at its lowest Amazon price ever (confirmed with camelcamelcamel) — making this a must-buy for diehard Pokémon collectors.
This book not only features a foreword from The Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara but also covers characters from every region in numerical order, with artwork from the games, anime, and trading card game. It works well as a coffee table display piece with its color-it-yourself cover, or just as a quick reference guide so you don't have to keep an online wiki open on your phone.
Best for: Longtime Pokémon fans, collectors, and gifts under $40.
More Pokémon book dealsPokémon Timelines: A Journey Through the Animated Series — $9.87 $29.99 (save $20.12)
Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology — $10.84 $14.99 (save $4.15)
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