Blogroll

PREORDER ON OCT. 28: The new 14-inch M6 MacBook Pro goes live for preorders at 10:10 a.m. PT on Oct. 28 at Apple. Apple's latest MacBook is set to launch on Nov. 6 with prices starting at $1,999.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple M6 MacBook Pro $1,999 at Apple
  Learn More at Apple

The kids are excited about costumes and candy this week, but if you're an Apple fan, we have something that's equally special for you. There's a new MacBook Pro launching early next month, and it's equipped with the M6 Chip.

Preorders for the new 14-inch M6 MacBook Pro go live at Apple on Oct. 28 at 10:10 a.m. PT. Prices start at $1,999 for M6 MacBook Pro with 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and a standard display. Going with more RAM, storage, or upgrading to the nano-texture display are all options during preorder. Apple has the launch date set for Nov. 6.

For creatives who need top performance but also want portability, the the new MacBook Pro with M6 chip could be awesome. In Mashable's lineup of the best MacBooks, the previous M5 MacBook Pro won the award as being the best model for artists, content creators, and casual gamers.

SEE ALSO: Apple just announced a new iPad mini with an 8.5-inch OLED display — how to preorder

The upgrade to the M6 chip in the 2026 model means this machine is even more powerful. And as a bonus, the new M6 MacBook Pro didn't see a price hike compared to the M5 MacBook Pro. Both start at $1,999.

In great news, Apple says the M6 MacBook Pro can get up to 24 hours of battery life. While we haven't tested that, a true all-day battery life would be a major benefit for creators, students, or busy business people.

The base model of the M6 MacBook Pro comes with 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD, but you can make upgrades and go with the 24 or 32GB RAM and increase to up to 4TB SSD. An additional $150 gets you the nano-texture display which Apple says helps reduce glare and might be ideal for those who work outdoors often.

Get ready to preorder the powerful new M6 MacBook Pro on Oct. 28 at 10:10 a.m. PT. The new MacBook officially launches next Friday, Nov. 6.

Almost everything I do on my PC happens inside the browser, to the point that I feel like my operating system is basically a bootloader for my browser. Now, when you have an app that’s so central to your workflow, it’s natural to get a bit picky about it. Thankfully, Firefox has been more than enough as my daily driver for over a decade. Sure, I occasionally experiment with other browsers to see what’s out there, but I’ve always returned to Firefox — that is, until now.

SAVE $801.99: As of Oct. 27, the 65-inch Sony Bravia 6 OLED 4K HDR Smart Google TV is on sale for $1,198 at Amazon. That's down from its typical $1,999.99 list price — a 40% discount and its best price since launch.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony Bravia 6 $1,198 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $801.99   Get Deal at Amazon

Movie fans and console gamers looking for a flagship living room centerpiece just got a huge early holiday price break.

The 65-inch Sony Bravia 6 OLED 4K HDR Smart TV is on sale for $1,198 at Amazon, slashing $801.99 off its regular $1,999.99 list price. That steep 40% markdown marks the best price since launch for this fresh release.

The screen relies on over eight million individually calibrated, self-illuminating pixels to deliver pure blacks and striking contrast without backlight glow. Colors look remarkably natural and rich thanks to Sony’s Triluminos Pro technology, which unlocks a palette of over a billion shades. Built-in light sensors automatically adjust panel brightness to match the room, whether it is sunny midday or pitch-black midnight, while OLED's expansive viewing angles keep image quality consistent no matter where you are sitting on the couch.

SEE ALSO: Early Black Friday deals from Samsung include gaming monitors, TVs, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra

Film lovers get complete cinema support with Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X, delivering expansive, theater-grade sound and imagery to your living room. The TV also comes loaded with the Sony Pictures Core app, which includes 5 free movie credits and a 12-month subscription to stream from a massive library of IMAX Enhanced classics. Google TV now features built-in Gemini, letting you chat naturally to track down shows, ask questions, and run connected smart home gadgets without digging through endless nested menus.

Gamers are also well-covered here. Sony equipped the set with four full HDMI 2.1 ports, enabling 4K playback at 120Hz with VRR, ALLM, and SBTM support for lag-free console play. The physical frame keeps things minimal with a flush, narrow bezel, while the two-way adjustable stand lets you raise the display to easily slide a soundbar underneath without blocking the picture.

Snag the 65-inch Sony Bravia 6 OLED 4K TV while it's over $800 off.

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Play Booster Box is on sale for $122.95 at Amazon, down from its $132.99 typical price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Avatar Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Play Booster Box (30 Packs) $122.95 at Amazon
$132.99 Save $10.04 Get Deal at Amazon

If you've been holding off on getting into Magic: The Gathering's Avatar The Last Airbender expansion, Amazon has brought its 30-pack Play Booster Box down to a new low. 

As of Oct. 27, the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Play Booster Box is available for just $122.95 at Amazon. That knocks $10.04 off its typical $132.99 price, giving you an 8% discount and bringing the cost down to $4.10 per pack.

That is this 30-pack box’s lowest price so far — confirmed by price tracker camelcamelcamel. What’s more, that’s only $2.20 above its estimated market price on dedicated trading card platform TCGplayer.

SEE ALSO: The Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box is close to market price at Amazon — save over $70

Inside this massive display are 30 Play Boosters containing 14 cards apiece, giving you 420 cards altogether. Each pack includes at least one Traditional Foil card and between one and four cards of Rare rarity or higher, with a chance of pulling special borderless alternate-art cards.

Alongside familiar characters like Aang, Zuko, and Katara, the expansion brings the show's elemental bending abilities into iconic TCG’s gameplay. Whether you're building new decks, organizing a draft night with friends, or simply opening packs to expand your collection, there's plenty of themed content from the hit franchise to explore.

October and November are the best months to buy a TV

Unlike virtually every other piece of consumer technology, the best flatscreen TVs have actually gotten less expensive in recent years. It's actually pretty incredible how affordable these devices have gotten. That being said, a new flagship TV can still cost upward of $3,000. Fortunately, you don't have to pay full price.

During October and November, retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target all offer aggressive discounts on TVs. Starting on Oct. 6 with Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale, and continuing through Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you'll soon be able to save up to $1,200 on new TVs.

In addition, you can find big discounts by shopping directly with the manufacturers themselves. Samsung, in particular, hosts good sales during the fall and winter seasons.

SEE ALSO: The best October Prime Day TV deals, according to our experts: Shop best-ever prices ahead of the sale Recent TV news: TCL and Sony are going halvesies now

Sony has long been revered as one of the best TV brands, and its Bravia TVs have been no strangers to lists of the best TVs across the internet. But Sony as a TV brand is about to look a lot different.

As of January 2026, TCL is in charge of Sony's home entertainment business, which spans TVs and home audio. The "Bravia" family of TVs isn't going anywhere, at least as far as branding and picture processing — but TCL will be behind much of the manufacturing and pricing. Sony TVs often toe the line of being so premium that they're too expensive for the average person to consider. But paired with TCL's budget-friendly expertise, they could make a wicked pairing come 2027.

SEE ALSO: Comparing the best art TVs: How to decide between The Frame and its growing list of competitors

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Three-Booster Blister Pack is on sale for $36.98 at Amazon, down from its typical price of $41.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign 3-Pack Blister $37 at Amazon
$41.95 Save $4.95   Get Deal at Amazon

Preordering one of Pokemon’s upcoming Delta Reign Display Boxes costs over $200 for 30 packs, but the blister containing three boosters is a solid way to get into the Mega Rayquaza ex-themed expansion at a modest price compared to market value — and an Amazon seller has dropped theirs to the lowest price we’ve seen.

As of Oct. 27, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Three-Booster Blister Pack can be preordered for just $36.98 at Amazon. That's a $4.97 cut from its typical $41.95 price. Keep in mind that rather than being sold and shipped by Amazon, this is being sent from third-party seller Collectors Expedition, with free delivery currently estimated for Nov. 13 — seven days after the expansion's Nov. 6 release.

SEE ALSO: Walmart has dropped the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration ETB closer to market price — save over $100

This price is a nice undercut on Walmart (where the same Delta Reign blister is still priced at $39.99), where sellers on this platform usually try to beat Amazon on modern Pokemon TCG releases. 

TCGplayer is the cheapest place to buy, offering unopened Three-Booster Blisters for $33.29, including shipping, which is $1.28 below its estimated market price of $34.57.

Each blister comes with three Delta Reign booster packs containing 10 cards each, along with a promotional Seel card. That works out to approximately $12.33 per pack at Amazon before factoring in the extra promo.

The Apple news just keeps coming.

With just one day to go before the "Pro and Tell" event in Los Angeles, Apple is dripping out smaller announcements as appetizers. One of the announcements on Tuesday morning was the unveiling of a brand-new iMac with a more powerful M6 chip, a wide range of color options, and plenty of other features that might make it a very appealing all-in-one option for AI lovers.

Apple M6 iMac: Price and release date

Obviously, because it's a computer in the age of RAMageddon, the iMac is not going to be especially cheap. There are two versions: one with a 10-core CPU and GPU, and one with a 12-core CPU and GPU. The former starts at $1,499 and the latter at $1,699.

The device is available for pre-order starting Wednesday and will be generally available on Nov. 6. Your color options this time around are blue, purple, pink, orange, yellow, green, and silver.

Apple M6 iMac: Specs and features Look at that thing. Credit: Apple

Here are the specs you can expect when you pick up one of these:

• Display: 24-inch 4.5K retina display with 4480x2520 resolution and 500 nits peak brightness

• Processor: Apple M6

• RAM: 16/24GB

• Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB

• Ports: Up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports

Apple is positioning this as a one-stop shop for all your AI vibe coding needs, claiming the M6 chip delivers 5x faster on-device AI performance than the M4 chip. The whole Apple Intelligence and Siri AI suite is supported here, of course, while up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports provide enough flexibility with external displays to create a very large workspace for yourself.

It should also be a very powerful machine for non-AI applications. Apple claims it has up to 2x higher gaming performance than M4, and the SSD read and write performance is faster, too. Most importantly, it comes in pink, which is just great.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Smart rings monitor your health in a tiny, inconspicuous package. At first glance, they look like any other piece of jewelry, a simple gold or silver ring. But with tiny sensors, these rings track biometrics through your finger. Yes, they'll track your step count and calories burned, but more advanced technology allows them to track sleep and stress levels, all detected through heart rate and variability.

After extensive testing — including some epic marathon training — we selected the best smart rings of the year so far. This year, Oura debuted the Oura Ring 5, which is an exceptional ring for comfort, design, and overall health tracking. While it takes the top spot in our guide, we tried plenty more options.

This guide compares the top options for fitness-minded tech users who want a low-profile health tracker. To compare the rings, we dug into what actually separates these rings: design, battery life, health features, price, subscription costs, and device compatibility.

SEE ALSO: I ran the NYC Marathon wearing 7 fitness trackers and they all watched me throw up

Latest updates to this guide

As of August 2026, we've replaced the Oura Ring 4 with the Oura Ring 5. Yes, it's the latest model, but its smaller size has greatly improved its comfort, making it the best Oura Ring but also the best overall smart ring.

We've also removed the Evie Ring from this list as it appears to be out of stock. The website for the Evie Ring appears to be unavailable, and the product is no longer listed for sale. We've reached out to Evie for comment on whether the ring is officially discontinued and the status of the company.

We're in the process of testing the RingConn Gen 2 Air for inclusion in this guide. Currently, we've included the Ultrahuman Air in this guide, which is no longer being made but is still available for purchase. We'll update this guide with the Ultrahuman Ring Pro once we've completed testing.

What's the best smart ring?

The smart ring market is ever-growing, with new models debuting each year. Samsung launched a smart ring in 2024, and while Apple doesn't have a smart ring on the market yet, we're sure it will be here in a matter of time. But smart rings are synonymous with the Oura Ring, a leader in the field, and for good reason. Having tried multiple Oura rings (the Oura Ring 4 and Oura Ring 5), testing their hype, and comparing them to other devices, we can confidently say Oura makes the best smart ring in 2026.

Oura offers the most expansive biometric tracking, monitoring your health around the clock. It focuses on daily and long-term health goals more holistically than other rings.

However, the Oura Ring has downsides, like a monthly subscription fee. If you're not down for a monthly fee, we tested some popular alternatives to Oura rings.

Why should you buy a smart ring? So you think you want a smart ring? Here's what you need to know about the latest tech wearable. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Smart rings are not just another fitness tracker. Yes, they do track your activity, steps, and calories burned. However, they're really meant to offer a more holistic view of your health so you can gain deeper insights into your sleep habits, cardiovascular health, and more.

You're a good candidate for a smart ring if you hate the look of a smartwatch or fitness tracker with LED screens, which are categorically not cool. Smart rings are posed as a discreet option, looking like a regular piece of jewelry. However, to be frank, they don't blend in that well. In my weeks of testing, while wearing the rings during hangouts, someone would inevitably ask me, "What's that?"

Since a smart ring doesn't have a screen, you have to pull out your phone and open an app whenever you want to track activity. That's certainly not the end of the world, but if you convert from a smartwatch, you'll miss the convenience of tapping your wrist. That being said, I actually find a smart ring most useful when paired with a smartwatch. I ran all my testing while simultaneously wearing an Apple Watch, and I appreciated the smart rings that were compatible with my watch so I could receive push notifications.

Being prepared is a common survival tactic, but I can’t count how many times I needed something for a car breakdown or road emergency and didn’t have it. Beyond the basics, like an air inflator, a screwdriver set, a road emergency kit, jack stands, and paper towels, there are essential tools you should always keep on hand in case you need to repair your vehicle or someone else's. Here are six Harbor Freight mechanic tools I always keep in my car’s trunk so that I am ready when something goes wrong.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Poster Collection is on sale for $51.95 at Amazon, down from its typical price of $64.94.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Poster Collection $51.95 at Amazon
$64.98 Save $13.03   Get Deal at Amazon

Some Pokémon TCG expansions keep dropping in price over time, but the 30th Celebration poster collection has been stubbornly sticking to the $60-$65 range. Now, however, Amazon sellers are giving you a chance to pay just over $50 once again. 

As of Oct. 27, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Poster Collection is available for $51.95 at Amazon, saving you $12.99 on its $64.94 list price. Keep in mind that this lowest-price listing comes from third-party seller TCG & MORE, but still ships through Amazon, with free delivery currently estimated between Nov. 10-22.

For comparison, that's just 97 cents above the $50.98 Amazon deal we covered on Oct. 19, but is still below its average Amazon price of $53.66 (confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel). Those wanting their cards sooner can pay $53 through another Amazon seller, TszDirect, with free delivery set for Nov. 5 at the time of writing.

SEE ALSO: The Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Elite Trainer Box is close to market price at Amazon — buy for under $140

Inside the collection are three 30th Celebration booster packs, foil promo cards featuring Kanto's Legendary birds Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, and a double-sided poster measuring nearly 27 by 39 inches — bringing together artwork from more than 160 cards in the expansion.

Each booster contains five foil cards, one foil Basic Energy, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card. When comparing TCGplayer listings, be careful when checking the descriptions, as some of its much cheaper offers are for the poster alone rather than the full sealed collection.

It appears that Apple's "Pro and Tell" event, scheduled for tomorrow, Oct. 28, will be a busy one, as the company keeps launching products before the event even starts.

Yesterday, Apple introduced a new iPad mini; today, it's the new 14-inch MacBook Pro.

In terms of battery life, the new 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M6 chip is better than the same model with the M5 chip. Credit: Apple

The new MacBook Pro looks exactly the same as the last one but comes with Apple's powerful new M6 chip, delivering significant upgrades over last year's M5 chip. The M6 has a 12-core CPU, a 12-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine, delivering up to 30 percent faster graphics and up to 25 percent faster AI workloads compared to M5.

The new MacBook Pro is available with 16, 24, or 32GB of memory, and 1, 2, or 4TB of SSD storage. The display is a 14.2-inch mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display. In terms of connectivity, you get Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, and an SDXC card slot.

Three Thunderbolt ports, an HDMI port, and an SDXC card slot. Credit: Apple

Other highlights include improved battery life with up to 16 hours of web browsing and up to 24 hours of video streaming. The choice of colors is the same as before: Space Black or Silver.

The update doesn't extend to the 16-inch model, which still only comes with an M5 Pro or M5 Max chip, but that one will probably get updated tomorrow.

SEE ALSO: Apple's affordable iPhone is getting a new chip and selfie camera, report claims

Pre-orders for the new 14-inch MacBook Pro start tomorrow, Oct. 28, with pricing starting at $1,999. We wouldn't hurry, though; wait till you see what else Apple has in store for the "Pro and Tell" event.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

The best handheld gaming consoles are getting too expensive

Thanks to the AI industry hogging all the memory components, gaming consoles are getting more expensive. In the past 12 months, Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony all raised prices on their gaming consoles, and Windows laptops are seeing the same increases. It's not a good time to be a gamer. Even before the wave of price increases, handheld gaming PCs were already expensive. The Lenovo Legion Go 2 launched last year for $1,099, but costs $1,999 today. The Legion Go S with SteamOS was originally available for $749.99, but you'll have to pay $999 today at Best Buy — and that's with a $580 discount.

The Steam Deck has also been beset by price increases and has periodically gone out of stock. The Switch 2 has also gotten more expensive, though it's by far the most affordable option in the category.

So far, only one handheld gaming console has held steady at its original price — the ROG Xbox Ally X. We don't know how long it will continue to be available for $999, but we're not complaining.

Nintendo, Windows, or SteamOS?

When purchasing a handheld gaming PC, you generally have three options: Nintendo, Windows, or SteamOS. The right answer comes down entirely to personal preference. If you're a PC gamer who primarily buys games through Steam, then go with a Steam Deck or Lenovo Legion running SteamOS. If you're an Xbox or cloud gamer, then the Windows 11-based MSI Claw 8 or ROG Xbox Ally X will be more your speed.

What about the Lenovo Legion Go 2 and Lenovo Legion Go S?

Credit: Haley Hencschel / Mashable

We were impressed with the Lenovo Legion Go 2 when it launched last year, but it's since gotten a price hike that makes it a lot harder to justify the investment. Instead, we would recommend going with the more affordable Lenovo Legion Go S, which we previewed at CES 2025. Specifically, we recommend the Legion Go S that's powered by SteamOS.

If you're looking for the best alternative to the Steam Deck but don't want to go with a Windows-based gaming handheld, then the latest Legion Go S is a solid choice. However, after receiving a price increase, it's harder to recommend this device, especially now that the Steam Deck OLED is back in stock.

Whether you need a smart speaker, a smart alarm clock, or a hub for all of your smart devices, there's an Echo to help you out. Amazon's list of devices is ever-growing, and we've tested as many as we could to find the best Echo devices for your smart home.

Amazon might have some new competition this year, as Apple announced a collection of smart home products, a new venture for the tech giant. The Apple HomeView is like an Echo Show for Apple enthusiasts, while the HomePod mini 2 acts as an Echo or Echo Dot counterpart.

If you're ready to invest in an Echo, you don't need to buy these devices at full price. They always go on sale during events like Prime Day and Black Friday, so it's worth holding out until the next big sale, which happens to be Black Friday on Nov. 27, 2026.

Echo device price increases

Thanks to the global memory crisis, widespread price increases are plaguing tech. As of August 2026, major price increases came to Amazon devices. This included Kindles and, unfortunately, Echos, too. Here are all of the Echo devices affected:

• Echo Dot — was $49.99, now $79.99 (+$30)

• Echo Dot Max — was $99.99, now $119.99 (+$20)

• Echo Spot — was $79.99, now $109.99 (+$30)

• Echo Show 5 — was $89.99, now $99.99 (+$10)

• Echo Show 8 — was $149.99, now $199.99 (+$50)

• Echo Show 11 — was $219.99, now $249.99 (+$30)

• Echo Show 15 — was $299.99, now $349.99 (+$50)

• Echo Show 21 — was $399.99, now $499.99 (+$100)

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Alexa is a Mashable Readers' Choice Award winner What can an Echo smart speaker do? Trying out the new Echo Spot smart alarm clock. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

All Echo devices utilize Amazon Alexa's AI superpowers — it's just a matter of which form you want your Echo to take. The Echo and Echo Dot are smart speakers that you can use for music, phone calls, calendar reminders, or news alerts. Amazon Echo Show devices, on the other hand, can do all of the aforementioned audio stuff, but they also boast colorful displays for making video calls, streaming entertainment, or managing your day. Think of Echo Shows as stationary, more affordable tablets, essentially.

Most Echo devices are designed to act as smart hubs within your home, but some Echo devices can also be taken on the road. Echo Auto brings hands-free Alexa functionality to the car, while Echo Buds and Echo Frames can travel with you anywhere.

What can Alexa+ do?

Alexa is to Amazon as Siri is to Apple, and is the driving force behind every Echo. But Alexa just got a big upgrade. Now there's Alexa+, an AI-powered version of Alexa introduced to Echo devices in March 2025. For Prime subscribers, Alexa+ will be included in membership, and non-subscribers will have to pay $19.99 per month for the service.

Alexa has an answer to almost anything you ask. Just by shouting out, you can play music, adjust the volume, and set an alarm or timer. And that's just naming a few options. On devices like the Echo Show, you can also ask Alexa to pull up recipes or answer questions that come up while cooking. With Alexa+, the AI agent doesn't just respond to commands but can actually engage in conversation.

Here's a short list of what Alexa+ can do:

• Provide a highlight reel of the day's security footage

• Read stories to kids

• Plan a date night

• Book restaurant reservations

• Control your smart home technology from one central hub

• Access your calendars and set reminders

• Get answers to any question you can think of

• Make phone calls (and video calls with an Echo Show)

• Get the latest weather and news

• Follow recipes

• Shop on Amazon

• Stream music (and video on an Amazon Echo Show)

• Play games

There are more than 100,000 Alexa skills that you can utilize via an Echo device, and Amazon is always adding more.

Alexa gets supercharged when other smart home tech comes into the picture. If you have a smart thermostat or smart light bulbs, as long as they're compatible with the Alexa system, you can create routines through your Echo. That can be as simple as telling Alexa to turn on the lights in one room or programming Alexa to turn the thermostat down before you come home.

The best smartwatches make it easy to monitor your health, track your workout progress, and check your notifications on the go. Top brands like Apple, Garmin, Google, and Samsung have all launched new smartwatches in recent months, so whether you're team Apple or team Android, you have excellent choices for your wrist. Now that we've researched the biggest releases, tested a handful of them ourselves, and drawn upon the expertise of our Ziff Davis colleagues at CNET and PCMag to fill in the gaps, we're ready to name the best smartwatches of 2026. Spoiler: You really can't go wrong with any of the latest flagship models.

The best smartwatches at a glance: Best smartwatch for most iPhone users Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) $389.99 at Amazon Shop Now Best budget smartwatch for iPhone users Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $249.00 at Walmart Shop Now Best Android smartwatch Google Pixel Watch 5 (41mm, Bluetooth/WiFi) $399.99 at Amazon Shop Now Best budget Android smartwatch Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro $59.00 at Amazon Shop Now Best Samsung smartwatch Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 (40mm, Bluetooth) $377.99 at Amazon Shop Now The smartwatch market is crowded, and that's good news Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

In just the past few months, Samsung, Apple, Garmin, and Google have all rolled out new smartwatches. Later this month, Google will also debut the brand-new Fitbit Edge with a bright display and advanced fitness features. (The Venn diagram of the best smartwatches and the best fitness trackers is basically a perfect circle.) The competition intensifies when you factor in other wearables like smart rings and sleep trackers.

Price-wise, most of our favorite smartwatches cost somewhere between $250 and $400, though they're often on sale for much less. However, you don't have to spend very much to get a kick-ass smartwatch. In fact, we have an excellent option for folks with budgets capped at $100.

So, which watches deserve a spot on your wrist? (Say that five times fast.) Here's our definitive guide to the best smartwatches for 2026 shoppers.

The best smartwatch for iPhone users: Apple Watch Series 12 Credit: Rene Ramos/Mashable/Apple

If you're an iPhone user, we think you'll be very happy with Apple's latest smartwatch, the Series 12. Mashable's Stan Schroeder is in the process of testing it right now, and he said that while it may look similar to last year's model — other than some new ceramic case options — "it does bring a number of big improvements inside."

The Series 12 has a new S11 chip that adds support for Audio Intelligence tools. Moreover, it boasts "an entirely new electrical and optical heart sensor," and offers more battery life during workouts (plus faster charging), Schroeder said. He added, "The star of the show is the heart sensor array, which allows for far more frequent measurements and opens the door for new apps such as Readiness and an overhauled Vitals app."

It's worth pointing out that the Apple Watch Series 12's chip and sensors are the exact same ones you'll find inside the rugged Apple Watch Ultra 4, which costs twice as much. The Ultra 4 is awesome in its own right, especially if you prioritize battery life and durability, but this means you don't need to splash out on Apple's most expensive smartwatch to use its most advanced features. The mid-tier option has never been a smarter buy or a more worthwhile upgrade from an older model.

Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) $389.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Walmart The best budget smartwatch for iPhone users: Apple Watch SE 3 Credit: Apple

Apple hasn't updated its cheapest wearable for 2026, but we're not complaining. Last year's Apple Watch SE 3 is still an outstanding budget pick with all the necessary features you're probably looking for in a smartwatch, like a gorgeous always-on OLED display, heart rate tracking, sleep tracking, gesture controls, and a water-resistant design. (For all intents and purposes, it's a last-gen Series 11 with a shorter battery life and no blood oxygen monitoring.) The new Series 12 is the "better" iOS-friendly smartwatch overall, but it's obviously much pricier and might be considered overkill if you're not especially health-conscious.

CNET's wearable expert Vanessa Hand Orellana tested the SE 3 and deemed it a great option "for anyone new to the Apple Watch world or upgrading from a much older model (think Series 6 or earlier)." It would also make a good starter device for a kid, she noted, letting parents "hold off on a full-fledged smartphone while maintaining a direct line of communication with their child."

The extra-nice thing about the SE 3 is it's much easier to find on sale than Apple's newest smartwatches, since it's technically an "older" model. It's regularly marked down to $219 these days, and on Black Friday, we expect it to dip under $200.

Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $249 at Walmart
  Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy The best Android smartwatch for most people: Google Pixel Watch 5 Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Former Mashable senior reporter and marathon runner Christianna Silva gave the Google Pixel Watch 4 a 4.4/5 rating last year, calling it "a true runner's watch." They loved its immersive display, clear audio, repairable design, custom workouts, and "solid" battery life. It used to be our favorite Android smartwatch — until Google released the Pixel Watch 5 this summer. It justifies a $50 price bump with a faster processor, double the storage, improved GPS route tracking, faster charging, and better sleep tracking, including a new breathing emergency detection feature. It can also now monitor blood pressure and insulin resistance trends.

Those who are already using Google's Gemini AI assistant on their Android phones will appreciate its integration into the Pixel Watch 5, which is pretty extensive. Gemini "acts as a proactive companion" within the device, "surfacing your flight details on the way to the airport or suggesting a phone number while you text about dinner plans," writes PCMag's Andrew Gebhart. Plus, certain Gemini features now work offline.

All things considered, we think the Pixel Watch 5 is the best Android smartwatch for most people — though if you manage to find its predecessor in stock for way cheaper, it's still a stellar choice.

Google Pixel Watch 5 (41mm, Bluetooth/WiFi) $399.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Google Store The best budget Android smartwatch: Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

Mashable readers went a bit gaga for this budget smartwatch when it was announced last July — and after testing it out for ourselves, we get it. Mashable contributor and reviewer Lauren Allain gave it a 4.6/5 rating (earning it a Mashable Choice Award), writing that it "looks, feels, and functions like a smartwatch that costs hundreds more." If you're looking for the best smartwatch under $100, nothing else comes close. (It's priced at $99, but often available for $79 these days.)

The British brand Nothing is known for its unique designs, which somehow look both retro and futuristic at the same time. CMF is the company's budget line, but the Watch 3 Pro doesn't perform like most cheap smartwatches. For starters, it offers direct ChatGPT integration, which even the Apple Watch can't do. Samsung and Google are eager to make you use their own AI tools, but if you prefer ChatGPT, then you'll love this watch.

Other spec highlights include blood oxygen monitoring, stress tracking, precise heart-rate monitoring and location tracking, and an extra-long battery life. For a smartwatch this cheap, that's an impressive roster of features. (Remember: The cheapest Apple Watch still lacks blood oxygen monitoring.) Allain said it best when she wrote that the CMF Watch 3 Pro "feels like a pricing mistake."

Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro $59 at Amazon
$79 Save $20   Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Nothing The best smartwatch for Samsung fans: Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 is another great Android wearable packed with Gemini-powered features. While we prefer the Pixel Watch 5 a bit more, mainly because its battery life is much better, this is a sensible purchase for those who are already in the Samsung ecosystem. Its feature set includes a new Heart Health score, a Fitness Index score, a Daily Cardio Load metric, and a tool that monitors your vitals overnight. (Aptly, it's called Vitals.)

On the aesthetic side, Samsung retained "squircle" design of the older Galaxy Watch 8 — which really isn't as ugly as some people say, in our opinion. CNET's Katie Collins said it has a "relatively subtle look, which is useful for an accessory you’re just as likely to be wearing to the gym as into the office." She also found it quite comfortable to wear all day, even in the larger 44mm size. "I can’t imagine ever feeling the need to take this one off, except when it needs recharging," she wrote.

The Galaxy Watch 9 also marks a price hike over its predecessor, but only a small one ($30). The older Galaxy Watch 8 remains a good alternative if you find it at a steep discount.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 (40mm, Bluetooth) $377.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Samsung

I test new robot vacuums on a regular basis and compare them to the top performers from previous months, with all my evaluations taking place in my own home on various rugs, tile, and hardwood floors. As I test each robot vacuum and tweak its settings for optimal performance, I keep notes on its overall suction power vigor, scrubbing efficacy (if it's a robot vacuum and mop combo), pet hair pickup, the convenience of its automatic emptying and self-washing mopping pads, accuracy of smart mapping and small obstacle avoidance, and the overall user experience. But the final boss here is cost efficiency — I'll be the first one to point out when a cheap robot vacuum actually works well for the price, or when a high-end robot vacuum is actually worth the splurge or not.

SEE ALSO: Robot vacuums vs. stick vacuums: Shopping advice from someone who has both Recent changes to this guide

July 2026: I added the Narwal Flow 2 as the new pick for best roller mop robot vacuum overall, bumping the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow to the best roller mop robot vacuum under $1,000. The Narwal Flow 2 has stronger suction power and more advanced AI spill detection.

March 2026: I added the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow as the best roller mop robot vacuum, replacing the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller. Though the Dreame has more powerful suction on paper, the Curv 2 Flow demonstrated better edge mopping and comparable vacuuming. I also replaced the Eufy X10 Pro Omni with the Eufy C28 and shifted it to my budget roller mop pick. The X10 Pro Omni is two years old at this point, and the new C28 offers more advanced cleaning and obstacle avoidance.

January 2026: I added the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete as the best robot vacuum right now and shifted the Aqua10 Ultra to the best roller mop robot vacuum. The Roborock Saros 10R, which was listed as the best option for corner cleaning, has been removed from the list. It costs nearly the same amount as the X60 Max Ultra Complete, which has near-identical corner mopping abilities and much stronger suction power.

December 2025: I added a disclaimer to the pick for best Roomba value in light of iRobot's bankruptcy news.

October 2025: I added the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller as the best robot vacuum right now and shifted the Roborock Saros 10R (previously named the best robot vacuum right now) to the option for best corner cleaning.

July 2025: I removed the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 robot vacuum from this guide. While it was a solid budget mopping robot vacuum for its first year or so on the market, it's now a little bit too basic compared to other newer budget robot vacuums.

TL;DR: The Motorola Razr and Motorola Razr+ are available for free with T-Mobile. You do not need to trade in anything to qualify for these deals.

Opens in a new window Credit: Motorola Motorola Razr Free when you activate a new line on most T-Mobile plans. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Motorola Motorola Razr+ Free when you activate a new line on T-Mobile's Experience Beyond plan. Shop Now

We're well aware that Apple recently launched the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the iPhone Duo, but not everyone is totally obsessed with Apple. We know that's hard to believe, but there are people out there shopping for foldable phones from other brands.

Take a look around the live deals from T-Mobile, and you'll soon discover that the free iPhone deals have largely disappeared. That's a shame, but do not fear. You can still pick up Motorola's latest handsets for absolutely nothing. And the process of claiming these free phones is straightforward. You don't even need to trade anything in to qualify:

• Motorola Razr — free when you activate a new line on most T-Mobile plans.

• Motorola Razr+ — free when you activate a new line on T-Mobile's Experience Beyond plan.

The total cost is covered via 36 monthly bill credits. If you cancel or switch carriers before the three-year promotional period, you’ll owe the remaining balance on the phone’s full retail price. You will also need to pay taxes and a one-time $35 connection charge.

In the market for a new phone but aren't convinced by the iPhone Duo? T-Mobile has you sorted with free Motorola Razr deals this week.

When you need a power tool and head to the hardware store, you'll see options from Ryobi, DeWALT, RIGID, Makita, Milwaukee, and more displayed in a rainbow of colors. Once you choose a brand, you'll start stocking up on battery packs, chargers, and endless tools. Here's what you need to know about one of the most recognizable names, Milwaukee, and whether they're worth buying.

Mashable has been testing laptops for over 10 years. Over the past two years alone, the team and I have researched dozens of models and tried over 90 of the most promising configurations available. We use a meticulous testing procedure involving real-world stress tests and artificial benchmarks to evaluate our contenders on the basis of performance, battery life, design/build quality, and value.

This regularly updated guide serves as our laptop trophy case, highlighting the best-in-class models we've tried across different subcategories. For even more recommendations, check out my dedicated guides to the best MacBooks, the best Windows laptops, the best cheap laptops, and the best Chromebooks.

Why are laptops so expensive right now?

Laptop prices have skyrocketed in 2026 for several reasons. One is the recent boom in AI data center construction, which has caused a global shortage of RAM and SSD storage chips (often referred to as "RAMageddon"). As a result, many consumer tech devices that use these components, including the best laptops, have become vastly more expensive than they would've been otherwise. Most PC makers have been affected, including Apple, Dell, Lenovo, and Acer.

The memory crisis is expected to worsen and could last into 2028, driving up prices even further and making good values in the budget and mid-range tiers even scarcer. On top of that, the Trump administration is reportedly mulling new tariffs on semiconductors that would apply to laptops and other electronics.

SEE ALSO: RAMageddon is reportedly causing a MacBook Air shortage

Further complicating things is that Microsoft reportedly raised its Windows 11 licensing fees by higher-than-usual percentages. In other words, both hardware and software prices have gone up for PC makers this year, forcing them to pass on the extra costs to consumers. Lucky us.

The Mashable team is taking the current state of the market into consideration as we assess and select laptops to recommend to our readers. Moreover, we've gone back and re-evaluated several models that have gotten more expensive since we first tested them.

At the time of writing, only two previous top picks have gotten so pricey that we think they're no longer worth buying. That would be the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, which jumped from an already-high $750 to $1,000, and the Acer Chromebook Plus 516, which went from $479 to $649. We're currently testing some other Chromebook options and will update this guide with a new top pick soon.

Recent updates to this guide

• Mid-September 2026: I've added the Dell XPS 13 as a new pick following our latest round of testing. It's now the best budget Windows laptop we've tried. I also checked all of our current picks for any new pricing and availability updates; there are none to report at this time.

• Early September 2026: I added more information about the various factors affecting laptop prices right now. I also added a new section about some new laptops that shoppers can look forward to in the coming months. Finally, I updated three of our picks in the wake of recent pricing and availability changes. I removed the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 as our top Chromebook because of its value-zapping $170 price hike, and I'm now looking for its replacement. The Asus Zenbook A16 got a $300 price bump, but I'm keeping it as our best 16-inch laptop (for now) because it's still not a rip-off in the current market. Lastly, the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI was out of stock at the time of writing, but may not be sold out for good. I'll continue to monitor its listings over the next few weeks and will swap it for another model if it turns out it's actually been discontinued. In the meantime, a refurbished Swift Edge 14 AI is readily available.

• July 2026: The Acer Swift Edge 14 AI is officially the most portable laptop we've ever tested: It only weighs 2.18 pounds and measures 0.37 inches thin at its slimmest point. I added it as a new pick.

• June 2026: I made the Asus ExpertBook Ultra our new favorite business laptop and named the Asus Zenbook A16 the best 16-inch laptop. I also removed the Alienware 16X Aurora as our top gaming laptop because the configuration we tested has been discontinued. We're currently testing potential replacements.

What to look forward to

In early September, PC makers showed off a slew of new Windows laptops at IFA, an annual tech trade show in Berlin. Among them are the ultralight Acer Swift Blade 14, the very repairable Acer Swift Vero 16, two new Lenovo creator laptops running on Nvidia RTX Spark, and a pair of colorful MacBook Neo competitors: the Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe and the pared-down Dell 14S. The IdeaPad Vibe is confirmed to arrive this October, starting at $699.99, but most other IFA debutants don't have set prices or release dates just yet.

On the MacBook side, Apple is rumored to be working on a refreshed MacBook Pro with an M6 chip (first seen in this summer's new Mac mini), as well as a higher-end MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen. The latter might be called the "MacBook Ultra," if the gossip mill is correct. The M6 model is reportedly coming this fall, while the Ultra could debut at the end of this year or early next.

Read this before you buy a Windows laptop

Many great Windows laptops we've tried run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon X and X2 series chips, which use ARM-based architecture instead of standard x86 architecture like Intel and AMD chips. The Zenbook A14 and A16 are two great examples of outstanding ARM laptops.

These Qualcomm chips are great because they offer amazing performance and battery life, but they're not compatible with some specialty software and PC games. Having said that, ARM support is getting better and should dramatically improve in the near future. Right now, I would only avoid ARM laptops if you're a student or if gaming is the main thing you do on your PC. You can read more about this in my dedicated guides to the best Windows laptops and the best laptops for college.

To help you find the best pair of headphones possible, our experts test headphones year-round, from popular models to new releases to budget picks (you can learn more about our detailed testing standards below). The result of that vetting is this guide, which we keep updated regularly to give you the most accurate and current purchasing information possible.

How to choose the best headphones

We won't beat around the bush: There's no definitive "best" product here. Sure, elite audio brands put out high-quality products across the board, but even within each of those brands, you'll find different tiers of products. Some will deliver better value, and some will deliver better hardware and active noise cancellation.

All this to say, the best pair of earbuds or headphones largely comes down to personal preference and how you plan to use them. Some listeners swear by over-ear headphones, while others prefer the minimalism of earbuds — one is not necessarily better than the other. Athletes who like to use headphones at the gym will appreciate waterproof materials and the best open earbuds, while frequent fliers will prefer devices with long battery life, comfort, and portability. Finally, music lovers and audiophiles will want to invest in premium features like a custom equalizer, spatial audio, or best-in-class active noise cancellation.

To help you pick your pair, we tested all of the headphones in this guide (and a lot that didn't make the cut). Here, you'll find the top headphones of 2026 for noise cancellation, music, price, and wired connections.

What about wired headphones?

We focused primarily on the best wireless headphones for this guide. While wired headphones have their fans, wireless headphones are just more convenient for most of us, though some of us are also fans of Apple's EarPods. With the release of the new noise-cancelling wired earbuds from Bose, we will be keeping our testing pool open to more wired models and will update this guide accordingly, should any earn a spot.

Other headphones we've tested

Most recently, we tested the Marshall Monitor III, JBL Tour One M3 headphones, and the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC, and though they had their merits, they fell short of winning the best of the best spot on this guide.

We've also tested the Sonos Ace headphones and Dyson OnTrac headphones. And while we loved them both for sound quality and noise cancellation, they fare in the way of AirPods Max — left out of our recommendations for their high price points.

Recent updates to this guide

• August 2026: Following the release of the second generation Bose QuietComfort headphones, we've added them to our list as the best budget pick from Bose for headphones.

• March 2025: We've designated the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 earbuds as the most comfortable ANC earbuds and crowned the Sony XM6 earbuds as the new best noise-cancelling earbuds.

• December 2025: We replaced the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 earbuds, which are no longer available, with the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 sports earbuds.

• December 2025: We removed the Marshall Mode wired earbuds, as they're frequently out of stock.

• December 2025: We added the Sony WH-CH720N Noise-Canceling Headphones as the best headphones under $100.

• December 2025: We added the Sony XM5 headphones, originally released in 2022, as our new honorable mention pick.

• August 2026: We replaced the Sennheiser Momentum 4 with the Nothing Headphone (a) as our best battery life pick.

Latest headphones news

A few major headphone releases happened in September: Sony's mid-range WH-10000XM4C headphones, Sony's budget WH-CH730N headphones, and the Beats 360, the first pair of over-ear headphones from the brand in three years. From Bose, we've also recently seen new wired noise-cancelling earbuds, as well as two new pairs of open earbuds. We'll be comparing them against our current picks to see if they have a spot among our favorites.

Apple fans are infamous for defending the company's every decision. The notch, sticking with the Lightning cable for too long, the price of extra storage, etc. But bring up the iPhone keyboard in a room full of iPhone owners, and the mood quickly turns.