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Buick has spent the better part of a decade retooling its lineup and reputation, moving away from its dated image and toward near-luxury territory. Upscale interior materials, a more confident design language, and the addition of the range-topping Avenir trim across its lineup have all played a part in what has become an important and necessary shift for Buick.

Apple just rolled out a bunch of public betas for the next big iOS, macOS, watchOS, and iPadOS software upgrades, and you can try them now.

As expected, after several weeks of developer beta access, Apple has released the public beta for iOS 27, as well as the corresponding updates for Apple Watches, iPads, and Mac computers. While the full, official release of these updates is expected in September, public beta access means anyone with an Apple account and a compatible device can download the update and try it early.

So, starting today, you can go ahead and install:

• iOS 27

• macOS 27 Golden Gate

• iPadOS 27

• watchOS 27

• tvOS 27

• visionOS 27

Here's how to do exactly that.

Our big Guessing Game is back! Enter now for a chance to win.

SEE ALSO: Only iPhone 17 Pro users will get some of iOS 27's AI tools How to install Apple's public betas

Thanks to Apple's unified product ecosystem, you can follow similar steps to install all beta operating system updates on any device. In other words, with the exception of your Apple Watch (which I'll address in a moment), the process is generally the same across devices.

First, you'll need to sign up for a beta account using your Apple ID on Apple's beta website. This is completely free and carries no risk in and of itself, so feel free to go to town on it. Make sure your account is verified for beta access and enroll any devices you want to experiment with.

Second, make sure you create a device backup. This can come in handy if there's something wrong with the beta and you want to go back to a previous software version.

With a beta account created and a backup in hand, here are the final steps:

• Open the Settings app

• Go to General

• Go to Software Updates

• Go to Beta Updates, then select the public beta you wish to install

With the public betas for iOS, macOS, watchOS, and iPadOS 27 out, you should see them in the Beta Updates section of the Software Updates menu.

Request access to Siri AI and join the waitlist Siri AI in action on an iPad device. Credit: Apple

There's one big catch here, though: If you want to experiment with the new Siri AI, you'll have to request access to this beta as well. In addition, you'll need an iPhone 15 Pro phone or newer (or an iPhone Air). Even a base iPhone 15 won't cut it. Mac devices need an M3 chip or newer, and iPads require an M1 chip or newer to run Siri Ai.

To request access to the Siri AI beta, follow these steps:

• Update your device to iOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, visionOS 27, etc.

• Open the Settings app

• Go to Apple Intelligence & Siri

• Select Try New Siri and Join Waitlist

How to install watchOS 27

As for watchOS 27, the process is similar, but you can't actually do it on an Apple Watch device.

Follow these steps to set up and install watch OS 27 on your Apple smartwatch:

• Install the iOS 27 public beta on the iPhone associated with your Apple Watch

• On the iPhone, go to the Watch app

• Tap My Watch, then General, then Software Update, then Beta updates, just like you did with the iPhone

• Make sure your Apple Watch has at least a 50 percent charge and keep your iPhone nearby during the installation process

As always, be very careful when downloading beta software. It should be fine, but unexpected things can happen with unfinished software.

Microsoft is acting further on its promise to fix some of Windows 11's worst annoyances. The company is rolling out changes in the Windows Insider Experimental channel that promise a less cluttered search box that largely eliminates ads, although you'll need to tweak settings to get the best results.

California residents can get up to $3,500 off an electric vehicle if they're first-time buyers, as the state invests in its zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed in the new law, SB 168, today (July 13), reviving a previous state rebate program ended in 2023. It's also the first announced by California under the second Trump administration, which has axed federal clean vehicle tax credits and slashed at Biden-era funding for electric vehicle infrastructure across the country.

SEE ALSO: GLP-1s are inescapable online. Here's why that's a problem.

"Donald Trump is doing everything in his power to pollute our air and surrender the clean car industry to China on a silver platter," Newsom wrote in a press release. "As California leads the world toward a clean future, our message is clear: no one can stop Californians from choosing vehicles that are better for their wallets and better for the air they breathe."

Domestic electric vehicle sales are only just recovering after a drop in 2025 following the end of the federal tax credit program. The rise is partially owed to surging gas prices after President Trump launched a war on Iran, prompting many Americans to pivot back to electric and hybrid vehicles. Tesla accounted for almost 50 percent of total vehicle sales in California last year, Reuters reported, but the U.S. still lags behind other countries in ZEV purchases.

Funding for the state-wide ZEV instant rebate — estimated at around $270 million — comes from a $600 million allocation in California's latest fiscal budget. Buyers can get a $3,500 credit for new vehicles up to $50,000, or up to $1,750 for used vehicles with a value up to $25,000. Several states across the country offer electric vehicle rebate programs or other tax incentives, including Colorado, New York, and Vermont.

Netflix subscribers in the U.S. have had their hands full lately, between the thriller I Will Find You locking down the No. 1 spot on the TV side for a second straight week, the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender fighting its way up the charts, and a whole swath of new movies hitting the service that we’re still working our way through.

A team of researchers has demonstrated the role that floating robots inspired by Tinker Bell, Pokemon and Studio Ghibli might be able to play in our lives.

Waze just made it easier to warn fellow drivers of road snarls. An update to the Google-owned app on Android and iPhone uses Gemini for a host of new features, including more natural reporting for road conditions and map updates.

A new leak has revealed most of the remaining details about Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, according to Android Authority.

Ahead of the South Korean company's Galaxy Unpacked event scheduled for July 22, Android Authority reports that the 40mm Galaxy Watch 9 will feature a 438 x 438-pixel display, while the 44mm Watch 9 and the Watch Ultra 2 will use a larger 480 x 480-pixel display. RAM and storage will vary by model, with up to 2GB and 64GB, respectively.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Trifold 2 foldable could take a backseat to a ‘slideable’ phone

Citing a report from Winfuture, battery capacity appears to be one of the more notable upgrades, as it has been with recent Apple Watch releases. Android Authority also notes that the 44mm Watch 9 is expected to carry a 445mAh battery, matching last year's Watch 8 Classic, while the smaller 40mm model is said to retain its predecessor's 325mAh cell. The bigger jump is expected on the Watch Ultra 2, which the outlet said could reach 800mAh, up significantly from the 590mAh battery in the current Watch Ultra.

Other leaked details include Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, and dual-band WiFi across all models, along with the usual LTE variants. Android Authority also reported that the Watch Ultra 2 is expected to feature a titanium casing and 100-meter water resistance, while the standard Watch 9 will stick with aluminum and a 5 ATM rating. All models are said to ship with Wear OS 7 running on One UI 9 Watch.

Perhaps the most significant change under the hood is a shift away from Samsung's own Exynos W1000 chip in favor of the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite SW6100, a chipset Samsung announced earlier this year, according to the outlet. And, as Mashable has reported previously, Samsung Leaker Ice Universe recently revealed that the Watch Ultra 2's display could reach a peak brightness of 5,000 nits.

On pricing, Android Authority cited a separate leak indicating the Galaxy Watch 9 will start at €409 (about $468) for the 40mm Bluetooth model, with 44mm variants ranging up to €489 (about $560) for the LTE version. The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 LTE is expected to carry a €749 (about $857) price tag — figures the outlet said were partially corroborated by the Winfuture report.

To learn more about the upcoming Android smartwatches, check back for Mashable's live coverage of Galaxy Unpacked on July 22.

Paramount's bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery just hit a roadblock that could have a lasting impact on your choices in streaming services and content. An alliance of 12 state attorneys general has sued to block the merger over competitive concerns.

Cabo Verde’s World Cup run ended in extra time, but its tourism bump may just be getting started.

Since the African island nation (commonly called Cape Verde in English) made its World Cup debut, its national team, nicknamed the Blue Sharks after the Atlantic waters surrounding the country, became the smallest nation by population to reach the knockout stage — and picked up a global following along the way.

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The team advanced without winning a match, holding Spain scoreless and twice coming from behind against Uruguay. In the round of 32, Cabo Verde pushed defending champion Argentina into extra time before narrowly losing 3-2.

As the run unfolded, U.S. Google searches for “Cabo Verde vacation” jumped by more than 5,000 percent compared with the previous year. Expedia recorded a similar surge, with searches from American users increasing by more than 800 percent. The interest extended beyond the United States: European travel operator TUI reported that searches for the destination had doubled since June 2025, while searches from Japan rose by 110 percent.

For a country of roughly 525,000 people, the match placed Cabo Verde in front of an audience far larger than its population and prompted many viewers to ask two basic questions: Where exactly is it, and should I go there on vacation?

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Get to know Cabo Verde

Cabo Verde is an archipelago of 10 volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa. Nine of the islands are inhabited, and each offers its own distinct character — from the beach resorts of Sal and Boa Vista to the mountains of Santo Antão and the dramatic volcanic landscape of Fogo.

Initially uninhabited, Cabo Verde was first settled by the Portuguese in the 15th century (Portuguese is still commonly spoken there). In the intervening centuries, Portugal used the islands as a base for its shipping routes and the international slave trade, according to the Cape Verdean Museum. The nation gained independence from Portugal in 1975.

The country was already a major vacation destination before soccer fans began Googling it. In 2025 alone, its hotels welcomed nearly 1.25 million guests. During the first quarter of 2026, the country was up 16.8 percent in guest arrivals from the same period in 2025. Tourism accounts for roughly a quarter of the country’s economy, which had a GDP of about $3.1 billion in 2025.

American travelers remain a much smaller part of the industry. The United States accounted for only 1.1 percent of the country's foreign hotel guests in 2025, which makes the current search spike notable even if only a fraction of those searches turn into booked trips.

This kind of tourism boost is exactly what countries hope for when they spend lots of money to host or participate in global sporting events. Qatar invested an estimated $220 billion in stadiums, transportation, hotels, and other infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup, aiming to establish itself as an international destination. The strategy worked, at least partially — the country welcomed 4 million visitors in 2023 and is targeting more than 6 million annually by 2030.

Cabo Verde, by contrast, generated the same buzz with just four standout games and a handful of breakout stars, like goalkeeper Josimar José Évora Dias, better known as Vozinha, who gained roughly 20 million followers during the tournament.

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Cabo Verde wasn’t the only country to get a visibility boost from the World Cup. Norway’s run turned Erling Haaland into one of the tournament’s fan favorites, with Google searches for his name spiking 900 percent worldwide and over 5,000 percent in Canada.

That attention brought new fans to Norway’s team, its viral “Viking Row” celebration, and the country behind one of soccer’s biggest stars.

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Host cities benefited, too: during the tournament’s first two weeks, Boston-area hotel rooms and related tourism spending jumped 20 percent from the year before, while occupancy held steady at 87 percent.

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For Cabo Verde, the question is whether that surge of attention can extend beyond online searches and into its economy. For now, though, millions more people know the nation's name and have seen enough of its beaches, mountains, and soccer highlights to consider opening another browser tab.

Apple's iOS 27 beta brings massive changes like a smarter Siri, but there's a huge catch: You can't just uninstall it. Here is everything you need to know to safely install the beta without ruining your iPhone.

Having a pool in the summer is amazing, especially if you like to host World Cup watch parties and backyard hangs. The only downside? Keeping it clean is a chore. 

A Beatbot robotic pool cleaner is a serious summer upgrade. From AI-powered navigation and multi-surface cleaning capabilities to a handy app and a clarification system that keeps your water sparkling, Beatbot will keep your pool party-ready all summer, minus the manual labor. 

Now through July 19, you can even score up to 44% off a hard-working robot from the Beatbot lineup. Here are just a few standout devices, and find plenty more here. 

Beatbot iSkim keeps your surface sparkling 24/7 Opens in a new window Credit: Beatbot iSkim Robotic Pool Skimmer $319 at Beatbot
$499 Save $180   Get Deal

Forget about having to net out leaves 15 minutes before the World Cup halftime. The Beatbot iSkim (normally $499, now $319) floats on your pool’s surface, eating up everything from pollen particles to large debris. Edge-to-corner cleaning covers most pool shapes. The huge nine-liter basket means you can focus on browning the burgers instead of emptying the filter again and again. 

Thanks to a powerful battery backed by a 24-watt solar panel, this compact guy can skim for up to 28 hours on one charge.

Beatbot Sora 70 cleans below the surface  Opens in a new window Credit: Beatbot Sora 70 Robotic Pool Cleaner $1,149 at Beatbot
$1,499 Save $350   Get Deal

Featuring four-zone cleaning, the Sora 70 (normally $1,499, now $1,149) scrubs your pool’s floor, walls, water surface, and waterline with almost zero work required from you. It doesn’t miss anything, thanks to its AI-assisted sensors and intelligent path planning.

As an added flex, the Sora 70 can clean those unsightly tanning ledges in your pool’s shallow end, making it a solid pick for complex pools. It’s also a snap to retrieve, thanks to Smart Surface Parking. Drop it in and it goes up to seven hours per charge.

The Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra is the ultimate clean Opens in a new window Credit: Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra AI Robotic Pool Cleaner $2,199 at Beatbot
$3,150 Save $951   Get Deal

If you’re looking for Beatbot’s most advanced system, the five-zone AquaSense 2 Ultra (normally $3,150, now $2,199) is it. It slays at floor cleaning, wall scrubbing, surface skimming, and waterline scrubbing. HybridSense Pool Mapping utilizes 28 sensors—including an AI camera and ultrasonic and infrared sensors—to map your pool’s unique layout, scan for debris, and clean mercilessly.

It also features an exclusive ClearWater Clarification System that dispenses skin-friendly water. You’ll get up to 10 hours of runtime on one charge. 

Stop vacuuming your deep end and get the summer parties started. Score up to 38% off a Beatbox pool cleaner robot until July 19.

I love trying out productivity apps, but it's not often that I come across new gems. One app that has impressed me with its diverse feature set has snuck its way into being my regular task manager. It replaced Todoist, and I'm not looking back.

When it comes to Netflix, true crime documentaries are consistent wins for the streaming service. Netflix's newest July documentary, Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea, is currently No. 1 on the streamer's top 10 list. It's a thrilling documentary that many fans of the genre will enjoy.

At Samsung's expected July event, the company is set to show off its first Android XR glasses. It could be built around Gemini, with Gentle Monster behind the design. Will they make a splash?

Apple's time as the top smartphone maker in the world has come to an end for the time being.

According to a new report from tech market research firm Counterpoint, Samsung has reclaimed its title from Apple as the mobile industry's global leader in Q2 2026. And it seems Apple's loss is at least partially attributable to the ongoing global RAM shortage, which has led to fewer people buying phones.

"The outlook for the rest of 2026 remains challenging," Counterpoint says in its report. The research firm expects a roughly 14 percent decline in global smartphone shipments for the year, with price increases putting pressure on shoppers.

SEE ALSO: Thank the AI industry for these tech price increases: See the full list

Samsung and Apple have been neck-and-neck for years in the race as the world's most popular smartphone manufacturer. At the start of the year, Apple overcame Samsung to become the industry leader on the strength of record-breaking iPhone sales.

However, the latest data shows that Samsung has had a strong start in 2026, propelling the company back to the top. Samsung now has a 24 percent global mobile market share, the strongest of any of the top five brands in the category. Samsung’s Galaxy S26 line was the driver behind shipment growth, according to the report. Counterpoint says that the Galaxy S26 Ultra model released in March emerged as the "standout performer."

Although Apple dropped to second, the company's market share actually grew overall in Q2 2026. The Counterpoint report found that the company grew 3 percent year-over-year during the quarter and even achieved a record 20 percent global market share. The iPhone 17 remained as Apple's biggest product line and was the "top-shipped global model."

However, Apple did face some adversity due to global RAM shortage spurred by the AI boom.

Counterpoint's report says legacy iPhone models "faced softer demand, as component allocation prioritized current-generation devices amid memory-related supply constraints." The company also faced declining shipments within the Chinese market as "China remained a relative soft spot" for the company, according to Counterpoint.

As for the RAM shortage, Samsung's smartphone lines likely benefited, as the company is also a memory manufacturer itself. Still, the company did slightly raise its prices in February, and rumor has it the company could potentially raise mobile prices further in the near future (the company is expected to launch its new foldables at a July 22 event in London).

SEE ALSO: Samsung finally confirms Galaxy Unpacked for July 22

Notably, Samsung avoided price increases on its Ultra model, which did particularly well this quarter. Apple has so far managed to avoid price increases on its iPhone 17 line, despite hiking prices on its MacBooks and iPads in June.

It should also be noted that Samsung unveiled its latest Galaxy smartphone models in February of this year. The Galaxy S26 line, according to the report, was a major factor in Samsung regaining its top spot. Apple's new iPhone line, iPhone 18, isn't expected until September, and it will likely play a major role in Apple's future market share.

One of the internet's biggest food trends right now comes from a box that's been around for generations and costs less than a cup of coffee in New York City.

Cream of Wheat is suddenly all over TikTok, where users are posting recipes, taste tests, mukbangs (eating a large amount of food on camera), and carefully customized bowls of the hot cereal. Among the trend’s most visible creators is Rachel, who posts under @vintagegingerrr and has built a following of more than 112,000 with comfort-focused food content that frequently features Cream of Wheat.

SEE ALSO: GLP-1s are inescapable online. Here's why that's a problem.

She is far from the only creator giving the old-school breakfast new attention. User Queen of Wheat has been posting viral Cream of Wheat mukbangs since 2025, while other users have joined in with their own versions, debates over the best consistency, and first-time reactions to a cereal many had previously overlooked.

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For the uninitiated, Cream of Wheat is a brand of farina, a finely ground wheat cereal that is cooked with water or milk into a smooth porridge. The original version cooks on the stove in about 2.5 minutes and can be topped with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, fruit, nuts, or whatever else is already in the kitchen.

It's also cheap. As of July 13, Walmart listed a 28-ounce box for $4.82. The brand says a box that size contains about 24 servings, putting the dry cereal at roughly 20 cents per bowl before adding milk or toppings.

That price is particularly relevant as Americans continue to feel squeezed at the grocery store. Food prices increased 2.3 percent in 2024 and 2.9 percent in 2025, and are expected to rise 3.2 percent this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Consumer surveys reflect this pressure. In a May 2026 poll by Global Strategy Group, 63 percent of people named groceries and food as one of their biggest sources of financial strain, and 67 percent said they were paying unfair prices for groceries.

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The trend is part of a wider return to inexpensive pantry foods that can be stored for long periods and stretched across multiple meals.

Spam, which sells for just over $4 per can at most major retailers, has posted its highest sales in nine of the past ten years. Meanwhile, TikTok creators have shared recipes for Spam sandwiches, fried rice, eggs, and other meals that go far beyond simply opening the can.

Hamburger Helper has seen a similar comeback. Eagle Foods, the company behind the boxed meal, reported that year-over-year sales jumped 14.5 percent in Aug. 2025 as shoppers searched for affordable ways to stretch their ground beef. Beans, canned pasta, and other shelf-stable staples have also gained renewed attention as consumers look for groceries that won't break the bank or spoil quickly.

Cream of Wheat isn't the first overlooked grocery item that TikTok has transformed into a must-buy ingredient. Cottage cheese, once relegated to old-fashioned diet plates, has become the base for viral high-protein pasta sauces, smoothies, and ice cream. U.S. cottage cheese sales jumped 82 percent between 2022 and 2025, prompting producers to announce expansions to meet surging demand. Sardines have gotten a similar makeover through carefully arranged snack plates and claims that their omega-3 fatty acids can give you healthier-looking skin.

Most social media reactions to Cream of Wheat center on comfort, ease, and familiarity. One viewer said Rachel’s videos brought back childhood memories, while others described the cereal as nostalgic or mentioned they’d forgotten about it until it popped up on their feeds.

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At a time when even many forms of self-care come with their own price tags, a warm bowl made at home is one of the cheaper options available. I guess I know what I'm having for breakfast tomorrow.

UPDATE: Jul. 13, 2026, 1:45 p.m. EDT The launch of Tiny Vinyl's new record player and accessories appears to have been delayed. At the time of publication, none of their listings were live yet. Mashable has reached out to a company representative for more information. Our original story follows.

The miniature record maker Tiny Vinyl has announced some tiny accessories for its pocket-sized singles, including a new Tiny Vinyl Player ($49.99), crate ($19.99), and display frame ($14.99). The lineup is available exclusively at Target starting today, July 12.

Tiny Vinyl debuted last August as a new way for music lovers to enjoy some of their favorite artists' singles in physical format. (For my fellow Millennials out there, they're basically a new take on HitClips.) Each four-inch, fully functional Tiny Vinyl record has one song per side and is numbered, making them highly collectible. The current Tiny Vinyl catalog features releases from several dozen artists, including BTS, Chappell Roan, Doechii, Kid Cudi, Noah Kahan, and Zara Larsson.

In a press release, Tiny Vinyl co-founder Neil Kohler said the company's new accessories are a direct response to fan requests. Co-founder Jesse Mann added: "These new products give music fans and collectors everything they need to build out their own little Tiny Vinyl universe, a setup as fun and personal as the music they love."

Hands-on with Tiny Vinyl's new player and accessories Tiny Viny's new accessories range in price from $15 to $50. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Tiny Vinyl records are playable on many standard turntables at 33 1/3 RPM, making the Tiny Vinyl Player an inessential novelty purchase for most adults who are already into the vinyl-collecting hobby. I think it has much more appeal as a "baby's first record player" that parents buy for their kids. My younger self would've had her American Girl Dolls DJing with it. (American Girl actually sells a toy turntable for the same price already, but it's not functional.)

The player is a manual belt-drive turntable in a box with a faux leather exterior. It's about the size of a loaf of bread. Inside, there's a small storage pocket, a simple control panel, and built-in speakers. It has Bluetooth support if you'd prefer to pair it with a nicer wireless speaker or headphones instead. You can also plug in a wired speaker on the back.

The storage pocket can comfortably fit about six Tiny Vinyl records — preferably, ones you're not precious about. When the player's lid is shut, it hits the corners of their gatefolds unless they're pushed to the back of the pocket.

They are, indeed, tiny vinyl. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The player's control panel features a power button, an audio output selector with an LED indicator light, and a volume slider. When it's on, its silicon platter doesn't start spinning until you unlock its plastic tonearm, raise it with its cue lever, and move it over the platter. The tonearm and its lock are a little delicate; those are the only parts I'd be worried about a child accidentally breaking.

Tiny Vinyl sent me three different mini-records to test on the player. It offers the kind of audio quality you'd expect for $50: pretty tinny, muffled, and a little distorted. (I also played the records on my regular turntable for comparison's sake, and they sounded 10 times better.) On the upside, I couldn't hear the player's interior mechanisms at all when it was on — it runs really quietly.

The Tiny Vinyl Player supports Bluetooth and wired speakers. (That blue indicator light means it's paired with my JBL Charge 5.) Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Tiny Vinyl Player comes with a USB cord and power adapter. A company representative told me that it should only be plugged into an outlet, as hooking it up to a laptop or another device with a USB port won't give it enough juice to work.

The Tiny Vinyl Storage Crate can hold up to 30 Tiny Vinyl records. It has the same pebbled pleather finish as the player and is designed to sit beneath it. There are four indents on its surface where the player's feet are supposed to go.

The Tiny Vinyl Storage Crate can hold up to 30 mini-records. (I only had three on hand.) Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Tiny Vinyl's new 2x2 Display Frame is meant to showcase your four favorite Tiny Vinyl covers. Its build quality is also on par for the price: It's made with MDF (medium-density fiberboard) and an acrylic pane. Right out of the box, my initial review unit was splitting in several spots and had dried adhesive on some of its corners. (Update: It was probably a pre-production fluke. Tiny Viny's rep sent over two replacements that were both in perfect condition.)

The display frame comes with four clear plastic sleeves bearing the Tiny Vinyl logo. The company rep confirmed that these are made from polypropylene, which won't damage your records with off-gassing over time like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sleeves.

Vinyl is back in a not-tiny way Tiny Vinyl records work on many standard turntables. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The press release noted that Tiny Vinyl's inception was motivated by two recent trends: miniature collecting and vinyl collecting. The former gained popularity amid the COVID-19 pandemic, largely thanks to videos of miniature builds on social media. They tap into viewers' desire for control, fascination with craft, and penchant for the adorable, experts told NPR last spring.

The vinyl revival, meanwhile, has been brewing for nearly two decades now. According to a report from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), U.S. vinyl sales have seen 19 years of consecutive growth. Last year, they hit $1 billion in revenue for the first time. (That's not even counting pre-owned vinyl.) Call it the Taylor Swift effect: The singer-songwriter's 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, sold over 1.6 million copies on vinyl last year, per a report from Luminate, an entertainment industry analytics company. That's 5.5 times as many units as the second-bestselling vinyl release of 2025, Sabrina Carpenter's Man's Best Friend, which sold 292,000 copies.

There are several factors behind the vinyl resurgence, two being mere nostalgia and consumers' growing interest in owning physical media. Another is because popular artists like Swift (and their labels) are embracing the format alongside their fans.

In recent years, this has increasingly involved a strategy of releasing multiple vinyl variants of the same album as a means of driving sales, according to another Luminate report. These special, often limited-edition pressings boost the collectible factor and fuel fan FOMO. (For her part, Swift released 11 different vinyl variants of TLOAS, including nine webstore exclusives that were only available for a short time.) Tiny Vinyl records, which are chart-eligible with the RIAA and Billboard, are yet more variants to hunt down.

If you're an audio geek like me, one of the first things you do when your music doesn't sound quite right is reach for the equalizer. I did the same thing with Android Auto after getting a new car. To my surprise, there wasn't one, so I had to find a solution myself.

Not everyone is a flavored lube person (I have to be in the mood myself, like once a year maybe), but if you are, there's a brand-new flavor on the market that's giving major George Costanza vibes. (Seriously, go watch the "Pastrami" scene from Seinfeld and you'll see what I'm talking about).

SEE ALSO: I've tested 100+ sex toys. Here are the 15 most mind-blowing toys I've ever owned.

Earlier this month, LubeLife released a limited-edition Pickle Flavored Lubricant for $12.99. It’s a water-based, sugar-free formula that swaps out the usual fake-strawberry sweetness for a tangy, savory dill profile. (Remember the Good Head Numbing Strawberry Throat Spray at Spencers? This is the exact opposite of that.)

They sent me a mailer (with a very on-theme pickle vibrator) before it launched, and if I'm being honest, when I opened it, I felt like I was sniffing some kind of sandwich dressing. The scent is straight, unfiltered vinegar. I give them props for authenticity, but I couldn't imagine going down on someone with this in my mouth. I'd probably choke, but to each their own. (I'm not here to ick someone's yum!)

If you have a strong stomach and want to add a savory twist to your bedroom routine, LubeLife's Pickle Flavored Lubricant is water-based, non-sticky, and condom-compatible.

LubeLife Pickle Flavored Lubricant $12.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal at Amazon