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If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 1 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 1 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Center of attraction

The words are fun-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are popular rides.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Amusement Park

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for July 1

• Amusement Park

• Scrambler

• Slide

• Carousel

• Funhouse

• Train

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 1 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: To pilfer

• Green: To clean up one's appearance

• Blue: Trim

• Purple: The second half of these words is the same

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Steal

• Green: Do some grooming

• Blue: Dapper

• Purple: ___Stone

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #751 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Steal: NICK, PALM, PINCH, POCKET

• Do some grooming: BRUSH, DRESS, SHAVE, SHOWER

• Dapper: NEAT, SHARP, SMART, TIDY

• ___Stone: BIRTH, KEY, MILE, TOUCH

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 1

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

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

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

TL;DR: Live stream Yastremska vs. Gauff in Wimbledon 2025 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first round at Wimbledon showcases some interesting matchups, including Yastremska vs. Gauff. All eyes will be on the French Open champion as she looks to move through the rounds.

If you're interested in watching Yastremska vs. Gauff at Wimbledon 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

How to watch Yastremska vs. Gauff for free

Yastremska vs. Gauff in Wimbledon 2025 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another country, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Wimbledon 2025 for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Yastremska vs. Gauff for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees and free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Yastremska vs. Gauff (plus the rest of Wimbledon 2025) before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month subscription for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Yastremska vs. Gauff in Wimbledon 2025 for free with ExpressVPN.

A web page without any styling is like a blank canvas. The possibilities are endless, and it’s easy to waste time experimenting with different layouts, colors, and fonts. But the default browser styles are not ideal, so you need to put in the effort just to get started with a proper design.

TL;DR: Live stream Müller vs. Djokovic in Wimbledon 2025 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first round at Wimbledon showcases some interesting matchups, including Müller vs. Djokovic. Can the Serbian still go all the way at a Grand Slam? You can follow all of Djokovic's games this year without spending anything.

If you're interested in watching Müller vs. Djokovic at Wimbledon 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

How to watch Müller vs. Djokovic for free

Müller vs. Djokovic in Wimbledon 2025 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another country, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Wimbledon 2025 for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Müller vs. Djokovic for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees and free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Müller vs. Djokovic (plus the rest of Wimbledon 2025) before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month subscription for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Müller vs. Djokovic in Wimbledon 2025 for free with ExpressVPN.

Whenever Martin Short is being interviewed, you know the person asking the questions is in for a roast.

It's happened with Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and — indeed — Conan O'Brien, but in the one-hour live SiriusXM interview above, the latter takes even more shots than usual.

"Oh, you're not Jay Leno!" says Short as he hugs O'Brien, referring to the old feud between the late night hosts, before expressing surprise at seeing O'Brien because he assumed he'd be in Washington for Donald Trump's birthday parade. "It must have been so weird for you, that whole Elon/Trump fight. Kind of your Sophie's Choice, who do you pick?"

And that's just the first minute of a 45-minute interview.

TL;DR: Live stream Sinner vs. Nardi in Wimbledon 2025 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first round of games at Wimbledon includes some really interesting matchups, with fans eager to see how the top players perform on grass. Jannik Sinner lost the French Open final in a dramatic battle with Carlos Alcaraz, but the top seed will be confident of bouncing back at SW19.

If you're interested in watching Sinner vs. Nardi at Wimbledon 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

How to watch Sinner vs. Nardi for free

Sinner vs. Nardi in Wimbledon 2025 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another country, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Wimbledon 2025 for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Sinner vs. Nardi for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees and free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Sinner vs. Nardi (plus the rest of Wimbledon 2025) before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month subscription for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Sinner vs. Nardi in Wimbledon 2025 for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $14: As of July 1, the Renpho Smart Scale is just $20.99 at Amazon — 40% off its regular price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Renpho Renpho Smart Scale $20.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $14.00 Get Deal

For those whose fitness journey could use a little more data and a lot less guesswork, a good smart scale is an essential. Right now, the Renpho Smart Scale is on sale for just $20.99 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount from its regular $34.99 price, and a smart pickup ahead of Prime Day.

This Bluetooth-enabled digital scale doesn’t just tell you your weight — it serves up 13 essential body metrics, including BMI, body fat percentage, muscle mass, metabolic age, and more. Since the Renpho app can sync with Apple Health, Samsung Health, Fitbit, and Google Fit, it gives you an all-in-one hub for tracking your progress.

SEE ALSO: These Prime Day deals landed early — save on Apple, Ninja, and Samsung gadgets

Setting up is meant to be fast and beginner-friendly. Once you download the Renpho Health app (available on iOS and Android), you can start logging your data instantly — even from your Apple Watch (Series 2 or later). The app supports unlimited users, making it ideal for households or anyone sharing their wellness goals with a partner or coach.

Despite its budget price, the Renpho Smart Scale does not skimp on quality. It’s built with high-precision sensors, offers auto-calibration, and has a 400-pound capacity with accuracy down to 0.2 pounds. Four sensitive electrodes under a tempered glass surface help capture readings quickly — just step on and it gets to work.

One standout feature for families is the baby weighing mode, which lets you weigh small children or even pets — because progress isn’t just for adults.

With millions of happy users already on board, Renpho’s smart scale proves you don’t have to spend big to stay on top of your health metrics. For under $21, this early Prime Day deal gives you a smarter way to track your body and stay motivated.

To upgrade your workout audio setup whilst on a budget, the Q30 Soundcore Life headphones are now only $63.99. And you’re in the market for a cheap tablet, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A9+ is 23% off and one of the best wallet-friendly options around.

The best early Prime Day deals, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $74.99 (List Price $99.00)

• Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop — $849.00 (List Price $999.00)

• Hisense 55" Class QD6 Series (2025 Model) QLED 4K UHD TV — $257.99 (List Price $379.99)

• Soundcore Life Q30 Hybrid ANC Headphones (Black) — $63.99 (List Price $79.99)

• iRobot Roomba 105 — $219.99 (List Price $319.99)

SAVE $50: As of July 1, the 11-inch Apple iPad is on sale for $299 at Amazon. This is 14% off its list price of $349, saving you $50.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad 11-inch $299 at Amazon
$349 Save $50 Get Deal

Amazon has been dropping a lot of early Prime Day deals. If you've been looking for Apple products, quite a few have already been marked down. This includes the 11-inch Apple iPad, which has dropped below $300.

All colors of the 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) are on sale for $299 right now, 14% off their list price of $349. We last reported that only the pink model was marked down to this price, but now you can find the yellow, silver, and blue models at this low price as well.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime ahead of Prime Day

Thanks to the A16 chip, the new Apple iPad features a nice performance boost compared to its predecessors, and support for WiFi 6 helps keep your connection smooth and speedy. This model also comes with 128GB of storage so you have plenty of space to fill up with apps, photos, and more. On top of that, its 11-inch Liquid Retina display makes whatever you're seeing on the screen really shine with color and clarity.

If you've had your eye on a new iPad, there's no better time than now to pick up the 11-inch Apple iPad for under $300.

Amazon Prime Day is coming up soon on July 8, and if you're hoping to stock up on more Apple deals, check out our guide on everything you need to know about Amazon Prime Day 2025 to plan ahead.

The best early Prime Day deals, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $74.99 (List Price $99.00)

• Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop — $849.00 (List Price $999.00)

• Hisense 55" Class QD6 Series (2025 Model) QLED 4K UHD TV — $257.99 (List Price $379.99)

• Soundcore Life Q30 Hybrid ANC Headphones (Black) — $63.99 (List Price $79.99)

• iRobot Roomba 105 — $219.99 (List Price $319.99)

Jonathan Bailey is continuing his effortlessly charming publicity tour for Jurassic World Rebirth, this time answering random pre-recorded questions from small children.

In the BBC Radio 1 clip above, he responds to queries about whether or not he's "actually cool", reveals his celebrity crush, and plays a challenging game of "Snog, marry, avoid" with Zendaya, Tom Holland, and Kylie Jenner.

For more of Bailey being charming, please see his recent improv with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show.

Parts of 28 Years Later, the sequel to Danny Boyle’s genre-defining zombie film, were shot using the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It’s a deliberate throwback to the low-fi style of the original, which was filmed on a grainy consumer camcorder. This breakdown explores how the team used smartphones not as a gimmick, but as a creative tool.

SAVE $350: As of July 1, Hisense’s 85-inch QD7 Series Mini-LED QLED Smart Fire TV is just $949.99 at Amazon — 27% off its regular price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 85-inch QD7 TV $949.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $350 Get Deal

If your current TV feels more like a modest monitor than a cinematic centrepiece, Hisense just dropped a monster deal ahead of Prime Day — and it's something our expert thinks you should consider. The Hisense 85-inch Class QD7 Series Mini-LED QLED Smart Fire TV is now just $949.99 at Amazon, a hefty 27% discount off its usual $1,299.99 price tag.

This isn’t just a bigger screen. Hisense intends for this to be a full-blown entertainment upgrade. The QD7 packs Mini-LED backlighting for enhanced contrast, 600 nits of peak brightness, and Full Array Local Dimming to sharpen shadows and highlights. So, whether you're watching a gritty thriller or the big game, it’ll look vivid, dynamic, and halo-free.

SEE ALSO: These Prime Day deals landed early — save on Apple, Ninja, and Samsung gadgets

Under the hood, quantum dots power QLED colour, delivering over a billion shades for rich, realistic visuals. If you’re into fast action — such as sports or gaming — the Native 144Hz panel, Motion Rate 480, and Game Mode Pro with AMD FreeSync Premium give you ultra-smooth, blur-free performance with a variable refresh rate up to 144Hz. That’s a lot of speed for the price.

This 2025 model also features Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, creating what’s meant to be a one-two punch of cinematic-level picture and immersive surround sound. And with AI 4K upscaling and Filmmaker Mode, even your old DVD collection or classic favourites could get the red carpet treatment.

The built-in Fire TV interface keeps your apps front and centre as well, while Alexa voice control means you can search, launch, and adjust settings hands-free, or ask about tomorrow’s weather without leaving the couch.

At just under $1,000, this is a serious value for anyone looking to max out their screen real estate without maxing out their wallet. Whether you're building a home theatre or upgrading your weekend watch setup, the QD7 brings premium performance to your space — and just in time for Prime Day.

And if you need an additional smaller screen to complete your entertainment setup, the 55-inch The Frame TV by Samsung is $500 off ahead of Prime Day. For those needing something extra that’s cheap and portable, the $50 off deal on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ is one of the best early Prime Day deals on tablets.

The best early Prime Day deals, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $74.99 (List Price $99.00)

• Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop — $849.00 (List Price $999.00)

• Hisense 55" Class QD6 Series (2025 Model) QLED 4K UHD TV — $257.99 (List Price $379.99)

• Soundcore Life Q30 Hybrid ANC Headphones (Black) — $63.99 (List Price $79.99)

• iRobot Roomba 105 — $219.99 (List Price $319.99)

SAVE $400: As of July 1, the Bluetti AC180P Portable Power Station is on sale for $499 for Prime members. This is 44% off its list price of $899 and marks its lowest-ever price according to price tracker camelcamelcamel.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti AC180P Portable Power Station $499 at Amazon
$899 Save $400 Get Deal

Prime Day is coming up fast, but Amazon's already offering some early deals in the lead-up to the sale event. One such deal that has caught our eye is on the Bluetti AC180P Portable Power Station, which has dropped to its lowest-ever price for Prime members.

The Bluetti AC180P Portable Power Station is usually listed for $899, but it's currently marked down to $499 for Prime members. If you've been keeping your eye out for a power station to take on your camping adventures this summer, this one is well worth picking up.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime ahead of Prime Day

This power station features an 1800W output and 11 outlets to keep your favorite devices charged, including four AC outlets, one 100W USB-C, one car outlet, one wireless charging pad, and four USB-A outlets. It can even be charged through solar panels, which makes it a great fit for any outdoor adventures or camping trips you've got planned in the coming months.

If you're a Prime member, there's no better time than now to take advantage of this great deal on the Bluetti Portable Power Station AC180P at Amazon.

Planning ahead for Amazon Prime Day next week? Have a look at our breakdown of everything you need to know about Amazon Prime Day 2025 to learn more about when the sale event kicks off and more of our favorite early deals.

The best early Prime Day deals, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $74.99 (List Price $99.00)

• Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop — $849.00 (List Price $999.00)

• Hisense 55" Class QD6 Series (2025 Model) QLED 4K UHD TV — $257.99 (List Price $379.99)

• Soundcore Life Q30 Hybrid ANC Headphones (Black) — $63.99 (List Price $79.99)

• iRobot Roomba 105 — $219.99 (List Price $319.99)

Inexpensive robot vacuums are way smarter than they used to be. Even without all of the fancy features, they can absolutely shave some time off of your chore routine — if they work the way they're supposed to.

But many of the ultra-cheap robot vacuums floating around are so basic that they quickly go from helpers to agents of chaos. Let's say the low price stems from basic bumper car navigation instead of smart mapping, or from outdated sensors that get confused by table legs. Your chances of coming home to a vacuum stuck under the couch are probably higher than the chance of coming home to a fully-swept floor plan. Many low-budget robotic vacuum cleaners also cap suction power at 2,000 or 3,000 Pa, which simply can't compete with any remotely stubborn crumbs, hair, or dust. You'd be all but guaranteed to step on debris that the vacuum blew around and left behind.

SEE ALSO: Shark vs. Roomba: Comparing top-rated robot vacuum lineups

Long story short: Buying a certain robot vacuum just because it's cheap puts that glorious hands-off cleaning experience in jeopardy. But not all budget robot vacuums are disappointing. Compared to five years ago, the budget-friendly end of the robot vacuum spectrum has experienced just as much of a glow-up as the premium end has. Smart mapping and automatic emptying are incredibly common and affordable in 2025, especially when deals on robot vacuums happen year-round.

These cheap robot vacuums get even more affordable during savings events like Prime Day, which is running from July 8 through 11 this year. And we're staying on top of all the best robot vacuum deals before, during, and after the sale.

At the end of the day, the best way to ensure a cheap robot vacuum doesn't suck is to take a recommendation from someone who's tested some out before. I'm regularly testing budget robot vacuums in my own apartment, actively keeping the "bang for your buck" mentality in mind. Here are the best inexpensive robot vacuums to buy in 2025.

Other robot vacuums I've tested recently

I have tested several other inexpensive robot vacuums in the past that didn't make the most recent cut for this list. These include older models like the Roomba 694, the Roomba Combo Essential 2, and Shark Matrix RV2300, which have simply been overshadowed by newer vacuums that offer more suction power and smarter features in the same budget price range.

One comparison that sticks out is the Roomba 205 DustCompactor versus the 3i G10+, which both "self-empty" without a self-emptying dock. However, I wasn't psyched on my experience with the Roomba 205 — it got stuck on rug corners and got lost too often. Plus, the 3i G10+ offers more advanced features like small obstacle and pet waste avoidance and a livestream pet camera, whereas the Roomba 205 doesn't.

SAVE $70: As of July 1, the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is on sale for $69.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 50% on the list price, and the cheapest it has ever been.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet $69.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal

If you're on the hunt for an affordable tablet ahead of Prime Day deals, we've found the perfect deal that won't break the bank. The Amazon Fire HD 10 is back on sale, but it's now at its lowest-ever price. So there's no need to wait until Prime Day officially kicks off.

As of June 17, you can save $70 at the new price of $69.99. This discount is available on all colorways for the 32GB model (with ads).

SEE ALSO: Our expert loved this robot vacuum, and it's down to a record-low price ahead of Prime Day

For under $70, this tablet really can't go wrong. It has a 10.1-inch 1080p Full HD display screen, so it's perfect for streaming your favorite shows, reading, and searching the web. Like most Amazon devices, it comes with built-in Alexa for hands-free control and searching. It also has a 5MP front-facing camera so you can video chat, take selfies, or even film TikToks.

Battery life promises to last 13 hours, and memory can be enhanced up to 1 TB expandable storage with a micro-SD card. So it's perfect for both work and play on the go.

Get this great tablet deal before Prime Day.

The best early Prime Day deals, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $74.99 (List Price $99.00)

• Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop — $849.00 (List Price $999.00)

• Hisense 55" Class QD6 Series (2025 Model) QLED 4K UHD TV — $257.99 (List Price $379.99)

• Soundcore Life Q30 Hybrid ANC Headphones (Black) — $63.99 (List Price $79.99)

• iRobot Roomba 105 — $219.99 (List Price $319.99)

Getting back into the dating game in your 40s can feel like a big deal, but a new study shows it might be the best time to look for love. According to the 14th annual Singles in America study — the nation's most comprehensive survey of singles, funded by Match and conducted with The Kinsey Institute — people in their 40s are in their "sexual prime" and are dating with more confidence and clarity than ever before.

The data shows that for this age group, connection is key, with 93 percent saying sexual chemistry is essential for a romantic relationship. "By their 40s, many singles have outgrown the pressure to perform or conform," says Amanda Gesselman, Match's Director of Sex and Relationship Science. "They know what they like, and they're unapologetic about it."

So, if you're ready to find a partner who meets that standard, we've tested the top platforms to find the best dating sites for you.

SEE ALSO: We asked daters what dating in 2025 is like so far How to find a partner in your 40s

So, we’ve established that the over-40 dating pool is far from empty. Your next thought is likely, “OK, great, but where do I even start?" The answer is online dating, and it’s like stepping into a room full of people who are also looking to connect, all from the comfort of your couch.

But before you start downloading, it's worth taking a moment for self-reflection. As Kiana Reeves, Somatic Sex Educator and Chief Education Officer at Foria, recommends, "it’s important to identify the kind of connection you’re looking for before you join any dating sites."

To clarify your goals, Reeves suggests asking yourself a few key questions:

• Are you looking for a casual swipe-through site or something more serious?

• Do you prefer to make the first move?

• Are you looking for a partner who shares your same faith?

• How much time are you realistically willing to devote to making a connection?

Once you have a clearer picture, Reeves recommends "joining a couple [apps] to start out with, so you can feel out what kind of user experience makes the most sense for you." She adds that if you're feeling overwhelmed, it's perfectly fine to just start with one.

The best dating apps for singles over 40

Ready to find love after 40? Or maybe you're just looking for a no-strings-attached fling? We get it, and we're here to help. As dating site experts, we've combed through the best dating sites and best dating apps for people over 40, done the research, and even tried them out ourselves to find the best options for singles like you.

Marvel's Ironheart wrapped filming in Nov. of 2022 and didn't premiere until June of 2025, just under three years later. But for star and world-renowned drag queen Shea Couleé, the delay only helped make the series more relevant.

Millions know Couleé as the winner of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 5, as well as a finalist on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 9 and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 7. In Ironheart, they swap the Main Stage for the MCU, playing Slug, a gifted hacker and member of the criminal crew that genius inventor Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) joins forces with. The crew's goal? To disrupt the lives of Chicago's wealthiest, along with their business ventures that would harm local communities. For Couleé, the story rang true on both a personal and political level.

SEE ALSO: 'Ironheart' review: Grief and AI collide in Ryan Coogler's Marvel series

"I'm somebody who comes from humble beginnings, and I'm somebody who sees a lot of the unfair distribution of wealth and resources to the same one percent," Couleé told Mashable in a Zoom interview. "I feel like now, especially with our current political climate, it has become more evident how these people take away from the most vulnerable, and it was great to be able to step into this world and play this character that's just sticking it to the man."

They added: "It was so much fun for me because it, in many ways, healed a lot of the frustrations that I have as somebody who exists at multiple intersections of marginalized communities, and it just was really empowering to be able to tell a story where somebody like me could go and get their own reparations from the people who have been oppressing them for so long."

Ironheart tackles pressing modern-day concerns. Shea Couleé and the cast of "Ironheart." Credit: Jalen Marlowe

Discussions of wealth disparity aren't the only pertinent themes on display in Ironheart. Riri's new AI N.A.T.A.L.I.E. (Lyric Ross) looks and acts like her late best friend Natalie, raising questions about AI consciousness and ethics. That conversation hits differently in 2025 than it would have in 2022, with the vast increase in AI tools and usage since then helping Ironheart feel surprisingly current in a fast-moving tech landscape. Even a quick joke about economic inflation carries more weight now than it would have three years ago! It's almost as if Ironheart anticipated the world it would be released into, something that isn't lost on Couleé.

"I feel like it is a reminder for me that everything happens when it's supposed to happen," Couleé said of the show's delayed release. "I am a firm believer in divine timing, and at the time when we wrapped, 2025 felt so far in the future. To see how what we created back then feels more relevant now is affirming that it was meant to come out at this time."

SEE ALSO: Did 'Ironheart' just take a shot at Elon Musk?

But perhaps no element of Ironheart feels as if it's changed more in significance between 2022 and 2025 than the casting of Couleé themself.

In 2022, the casting of a drag performer in one of the largest franchises in the world was already a statement in itself, one of inclusivity and broadening the horizons of drag and LGBTQ representation on screen. But in 2025, as the Trump administration relentlessly attacks the LGBTQ community and Marvel owner Disney pulled a transgender storyline from Pixar series Win or Lose, seeing a drag queen take center stage in the MCU feels downright revolutionary.

Much of that comes down to Couleé's performance, a blend of take-no-prisoners sass, glam, and anarchy that's pure fun to watch. Amid all the armored suit fights and discussions of tech versus magic, Ironheart also delivers six episodes of Couleé bringing their "Black, queer self" to the screen — a process that began by shaping Slug's look.

Shea Couleé directly shaped Slug's appearance in Ironheart. Shea Couleé and the cast of "Ironheart." Credit: Jalen Marlowe

Couleé had quite a bit of input into how Slug would look, starting with what they wore to their Ironheart audition.

"In reading the character, I thought to myself, 'for this audition, I should probably turn a look,'" Couleé recalled.

And turn a look they did, sporting black leather tactical gear and a harness vest that doubled as a purse. (Perfect for the hacker on the go.) That's not far off from what Slug sports for the crew's heists. Nor were the long nails Couleé wore for the audition, which became a Slug signature. After all, if your character is a hacker, they're guaranteed to have close-up shots of their fingers clacking away on a keyboard. Why not add some flair?

Couleé brought in their usual nail artist, Zoe Kosmopoulos (@bbygirlnails) to craft their Ironheart nails, from darker marbled nails to a set dripping with small chains. Couleé also did their own makeup as a way to get more acquainted with the character of Slug, knowing the character would be doing their own makeup within the world of the show.

"The costume department was so open to my opinions and my thoughts and feeling about how the character should dress, and it really became such an incredible collaborative process," Couleé said. "I don't know if a lot of people know, but my background in school was costume design, and so it was really cool to not only get to act and perform on screen, but also have a lot of impact on how the character looked."

SEE ALSO: 9 LGBTQ creators discuss not backing down from Pride

A particularly striking element of Slug's look is their bright green hair. They share that character trait with Marvel Comics' Darkveil, a mutant who was inspired in part by Couleé. Ironheart doesn't confirm whether Slug is actually Darkveil, leaving their future in the MCU open-ended. However, both are drag performers, with Ironheart briefly touching on Slug's drag past in the fictional country of Madripoor.

In a quick flashback, and the only time viewers see Slug in full drag, they sit in a dressing room in an all-purple leather outfit, rocking a Grace Jones–inspired headpiece that covers up all of their hair.

"The trademark for Darkveil is that obvious green hair. We know that Slug has green hair too, but there was a conscious decision to not even show any hair for this flashback, because they wanted to maintain an element of mystery around Slug's drag past," Couleé explained.

(Couleé also mentioned they were "bummed" viewers missed out on seeing the shoes that accompanied the look, a pair of towering 3D-printed Windowsen boots. "They were honestly the coolest part of the whole outfit," they said.)

Shea Couleé brings Chicago drag excellence to Ironheart.

Since Slug is on the run in Ironheart, they no longer do drag. That's a shame, considering we miss out on any kind of Couleé performance. If we were to get one, though, Couleé envisions Slug performing a Doechii song.

"They give me Doechii vibes, just very alt Black girl," Couleé said. (Dare I say, "Alter Ego" is perfect for any character in a superhero show?)

Instead, Couleé imagines Slug visiting Chicago drag shows and fitting into the scene, even if they aren't necessarily performing.

"There is a really great drag and queer community here," Couleé said of Chicago, where they began their drag career and cemented themself as a Chicago legend. Look no further than their hot dog look on Drag Race Season 9 to get a sense of their Chicago pride.

Couleé being cast in Ironheart is one of the show's many Chicago-specific details. Others include Nancy's Pizza boxes (although Couleé says Slug is "a Lou Malnati's stan") and the brief flash of the State Street Preacher, a downtown Chicago mainstay, featured in an early sequence when Riri flies home. "The real Chicagoans, they know what's up," Couleé said of the moment.

But more than that, Ironheart showcases Chicago-based talent, like Ross, who plays N.A.T.A.L.I.E.; Matthew Elam, who plays Riri's friend and neighbor Xavier; and Anji White, who plays Riri's mother, Ronnie.

Couleé actually attended Chicago's Columbia College alongside White. In 2010, they costumed a show she was in: George C. Wolfe's The Colored Museum.

"It was so full circle when I walked onto set in Atlanta the first day and saw [White's] headshot up there," Couleé recalled. "I was like, 'No way. Girl, we have come so far, from that tiny little black box theater at Columbia College to now being on a Marvel series.'"

Couleé hopes this is only the beginning for Slug, saying, "Not many details have been given to me because they're very tight-lipped, but I am hopeful that we can see a really fun and interesting evolution for this character, and the possibility that there could be more to them than what we see."

Still, despite the uncertainty, Couleé has one definite wish for Slug's future: more fights.

"I would love to see Slug get their hands dirty and kick some ass. Slug hangs back and lets everyone get their hands dirty, which I understand because, girl, if you're going to be getting these nails done, you don't want to mess that up," Couleé laughed. "But you know, you can use your feet! A little roundhouse kick won't hurt nobody."

The first three episodes of Ironheart are now streaming on Disney+. The final three premiere July 1 at 9 p.m. ET.

Talent poaching doesn't often go viral, but this story has all the right ingredients: Meta, OpenAI, and $100 million signing bonuses.

Meta has been aggressively pursuing AI talent from top labs, mostly OpenAI, in an effort to get a leg up on its competition. The details of the developing story are so dramatic and foreign to the rest of the world that it's become stranger-than-fiction fodder for the internet watching it unfold in real time.

How the Meta poaching frenzy began

In case you haven't been following the saga, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is frustrated with his company's progress in the quest for AI supremacy. Earlier this month, reports surfaced of Zuckerberg personally recruiting talent for a superintelligence group to accelerate Meta's AI research and development efforts. This included snagging Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang to lead the team, which seemed to have stung OpenAI particularly badly, since it has had a longstanding partnership with Scale AI. OpenAI (and Google) reportedly cut ties with Scale AI after the Meta acquihire.

Meta's AI recruitment also included enticing OpenAI researchers with $100 million signing bonuses, according to CEO Sam Altman on a podcast interview with his brother, Jack Altman. Sam didn't seem phased: "I'm really happy that at least so far none of our best people have decided to take [Meta] up on that." Then, Altman and OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap took the offensive during a live show of the New York Times podcast, Hard Fork — the two execs were asked if they think Zuckerberg actually believes in superintelligence or whether he's just saying that as a recruiting tactic, with Lightcap responding, "I think [Zuckerberg] believes he's super intelligent." Days later, the Wall Street Journal would report that Meta had successfully poached three OpenAI staffers from its Zurich office.

It was all jokes for OpenAI, until it wasn't

Up until this point, Zuckerberg and Altman have had a Real Housewives kind of rivalry, or should we say Zuckerberg has a rivalry with Altman, who has publicly regarded the whole thing as kind of a joke. When it was reported that Meta was planning to develop a standalone app to compete with ChatGPT, Altman cheekily responded by posting, "ok fine maybe we'll do a social app." From the outside, it's all very high school.

But that was then. This week, things looked different for OpenAI. On Monday, an internal memo from Zuckerberg reported by Bloomberg revealed the scope of Meta's aggressive recruiting tactics. Based on the memo, Meta has gained 11 hires for his superintelligence team from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, including four employees from OpenAI.

An internal memo from within OpenAI (via Wired) painted a picture of a company in crisis. Chief Research Officer Mark Chen told staffers that the executive team was "working around the clock to talk to those with offers," and trying to retain talent. "[W]e’ve been more proactive than ever before, we’re recalibrating comp, and we’re scoping out creative ways to recognize and reward top talent," added Chen.

The situation is so intense that OpenAI is reportedly giving employees next week off to recharge from the grueling workload and pace, while leadership tries to get things under control.

Meta's aggressive poaching has gripped the AI corner of the internet

While two billionaire CEOs battle for top talent with outrageous financial incentives, the internet is doing its thing.

To put things in perspective, soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo was paid 80 million pounds to sign with Real Madrid in 2009, the largest transfer deal ever at the time. Posters on X compared that amount to Altman's claims of $100 million signing bonuses for his former AI staffers heading to Meta (one of the new Meta employees publicly disputes that number).

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Even if $100 million is an overstatement, the tech industry is looking more and more like the professional sports world to many.

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Others on Twitter are gobsmacked at the very lucrative AI brain race.

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...and the rumors of Zuckerberg's intense and expensive efforts at bringing the brightest AI minds to Menlo Park.

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Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

The Bullet Cluster, named for its distinctive shape, has long been considered a smoking gun for the existence of dark matter in space. 

(Sorry, couldn't resist the pun.) 

But the James Webb Space Telescope, a partnership of NASA and its European and Canadian counterparts, has now traced that hidden material with unprecedented precision. In new images, such as the one displayed at the top of this story, scientists have obtained the most detailed information yet on the notorious cosmic collision between two massive groups of galaxies, 3.8 billion light-years away in the Carina constellation. 

What makes this cluster famous isn’t the violence of it all. It’s that the crash stripped the visible matter, such as hot gas, from the dark matter, a mysterious-yet-abundant substance that doesn't shine or interact with light. This unseen material stealthily shapes galaxies. 

"Webb’s images dramatically improve what we can measure in this scene — including pinpointing the position of invisible particles known as dark matter," said Kyle Finner, a Caltech scientist involved in the research, in a statement.

SEE ALSO: Rubin Observatory's first images flaunt millions of galaxies. Take a look. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

With Webb, astronomers have discovered thousands of previously unknown faint and distant galaxies and used the data to map the region’s total weight.

Long ago when the two galaxy groups slammed into each other at ultra high speeds, the visible gas clouds slowed down and got dragged behind, while the dark matter kept going. This separation was partly captured in earlier images by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, but the latest Webb data reveals more subtle details.

In the new study, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, researchers combined measurements of strong and weak "gravitational lensing" to create a high-resolution mass map. 

When a massive object like a galaxy cluster sits in the foreground of a more distant galaxy, it bends and magnifies the background light in a process called gravitational lensing. NASA often uses the analogy of a bowling ball placed on a foam mattress or trampoline to illustrate how the fabric of spacetime bends: Light that would otherwise travel straight curves as it passes through the warped spacetime. The natural phenomenon creates a magnifying glass in the sky, allowing scientists to then see even more distant objects than would ordinarily be possible. 

The new map doesn't assume that light and mass must go hand in hand — a crucial consideration because dark matter doesn't shine. It instead tracks how the background galaxies appear warped. 

A new James Webb Space Telescope study of the Bullet Cluster has revealed unprecedented detail that could help scientists trace dark matter. Credit: NASA GSFC / CIL / Adriana Manrique Gutierrez illustration

To understand gravitational lensing and dark matter, James Jee, a professor at Yonsei University, says to think of a pond filled with clear water and pebbles. The water, in this case, is dark matter, and the pebbles are background galaxies.

"You cannot see the 'water' unless there is wind, which causes ripples," he said. "Those ripples distort the shapes of the pebbles below, causing the water to act like a lens." 

The real surprise was seeing a faint trail of mass extending from the subcluster — a possible "bridge" of material that could tell a deeper story about the cluster’s past. In that trail, researchers also found what’s called intracluster light — stars that have been stripped from their home galaxies and now drift freely, bound only by the cluster’s gravity. 

These stars seem to follow the dark matter closely. The researchers found the light and mass were aligned within just about 20,000 light-years. This means wandering stars could give scientists a new way to map invisible matter in future galaxy collisions.

The findings hint that the Bullet Cluster’s history may be messier than scientists thought. Rather than a simple two-object collision, the evidence points to a more complex chain of events, with other previous smashups. And even with all this new detail, researchers still haven’t captured the whole picture — Webb’s field of view only includes the "head of the giant," as one scientist put it. 

"Webb’s initial images allow us to extrapolate how heavy the whole 'giant' is," Jee said, "but we’ll need future observations of the giant’s whole 'body' for precise measurements."

TL;DR: Enjoy the suite of Microsoft Office apps and some courses to learn how to make the most out of them with this Microsoft Office Pro 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License and free Microsoft Training Bundle for $39.97 (reg. $239.99) through July 15.

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