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X would like you to pay to promote your posts. And if you've managed to ignore the button offering that option, a giant hand may soon point it out for you.

Users across the Elon Musk-owned social media platform have been sharing screenshots of a hand appearing while they compose posts, directing their attention toward the Promote button. The animation is hard to miss, which appears to be the point.

"I just went to write a tweet and a massive hand popped up pointing to the promote button," The Verge’s Tom Warren wrote on X on Oct. 26.

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The button offers paid promotion, allowing users to spend money to get their posts in front of more people. X already offers tools for promoting posts without setting up an advertising campaign.

The hand is a particularly literal way of drawing attention to them. And it’s certainly getting noticed.

"Jumpscared the shit out of me," wrote one user. Another wrote, "I thought I’d been hacked!" describing his rather seasonal experience: "I wish I could explain how jarring this hand and animation was in the X app. It was truly shocking, almost like a Halloween gag, but I'm pretty sure it was real. I guess I see the promote button now."

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Others were less concerned with the hand's appearance than with where it was pointing. "The fact that it’s pointing at promote and not post is the real comedy here," wrote one user. Another account described the experience as getting "physically assaulted by the algorithm into buying ads." One put it plainly: "This should somehow be illegal."

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One startled user tagged @X and @grok to ask, "What is that hand? Is this a Halloween thing?" Grok replied, describing it as a new prompt encouraging users to pay for extra reach, adding that it was "Not confirmed as a Halloween prank, though the timing makes it feel like one."

That hand is a new X compose-screen nudge. A realistic (sometimes animated) arm pops up while drafting to point at the Promote button, encouraging you to boost the post for extra reach. It started rolling out in the last day or so and has jumped out at lots of people. Not confirmed as a Halloween prank, though the timing makes it feel like one. - Grok

One iOS user said the hand was more than a static graphic. "It’s animated, and you can move it around," they wrote, adding, "Hopefully it’s just a one-time popup."

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TBPN president Dylan Abruscato also shared his surprise at an arm appearing just as he was about to post. He called it the "most Nikita-coded thing I’ve ever seen," referring to the growth tactics associated with X's former product chief, Nikita Bier.

"So obstructive, yet so effective," Abruscato added.

The hand’s appearance coincides with a leadership change at X. Peter Sellis, a former product executive at Snapchat and Discord, announced on Oct. 26 that he was joining the company to lead product. (He hasn’t said whether he had a hand in this particular update. Get it?)

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It’s also unclear how widely the hand is appearing. One Android user said they hadn’t encountered it. Another user said it disappeared before they could capture it.

For now, the hand has succeeded in getting people to post about the Promote button. Getting them to actually pay to use it might require a different, more subtle approach.

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Gift giving is an art form. But picking a truly wonderful gift that the recipient is sure to love for years to come? Now that’s a science. 

Of all the products we’ve tested and loved this year, the following 15 are the ones that we’ve deemed as a Gift of the Year. Everything on this list was rigorously tested in a real world, at-home setting by a member of the Mashable staff. These are the products that sit at the top of our “best of” lists, the ones we gift to others — or may be coveting for ourselves.

In the world of tech gifts, you’ll find our favorite headphones, a laptop that won’t wipe out your gifting budget, and the season’s must-have gaming device. We have gifts that make your home smarter, your dinner faster, and your music louder. For the kids on your list, we’ve chosen the toys that will evolve and grow with them as they get bigger, and for the smartphone obsessed teen there’s the one piece of tech that will help them find some much-needed balance.

Our sibling tech sites are also hosting their own, unique selections for their own Gift of the Year awards. Check out the winners at CNET, Lifehacker, PCMag, Popular Science, and ZDNET.

Read on to discover which products made the cut for our inaugural Gift of the Year awards and consider this your must-have shopping list when it comes to Christmas gifts, Hanukkah presents, and beyond.

Best Tech for Teens Gift of the Year Credit: Rene Ramos/Mashable/Camp Snap Opens in a new window Credit: Camp Snap Camp Snap 2 Digital Camera $69.99 at Camp Snap
  Shop Now at Camp Snap Why we like it

Originally designed for summer campers who want a digital camera to capture camp memories, the Camp Snap is screen-free. However, the Camp Snap has attracted an audience beyond summer campers, thanks to its nostalgic-looking photos. The photos the camera takes are reminiscent of photos from a disposable camera, just digitized. It looks like film, but it has the convenience of digital. Don't expect crisp, detailed photos; everything has a slight fuzz to it, but that's part of the style to just embrace. —Samantha Mangino

Best Audio Player for Kids Gift of the Year Credit: Rene Ramos/Mashable/Yoto Opens in a new window Credit: Yoto Yoto Mini (2024 Edition) $79.99 at Yoto
  Shop Now at Yoto Why we like it

There is perhaps no device more universally beloved in my house than the Yoto Mini. Great for a wide range of kids, my 6-year-old and 3-year-old are particularly smitten. The Yoto is a screen-free audio player that puts the power into the hands of the kids. Compatible cards power up everything from chapter books and shorter stories to music and learning-based content and are available to check out at many local libraries. There’s also an ad-free, kid-friendly radio station built-in, as well as a daily podcast, plus others that are accessible via the compatible app. Custom cards allow you to create your own content, including mix tapes, books, family messages — whatever you can come up with. It’s great for little hands, will adapt and grow as kids get bigger, and is both rugged and travel-friendly. We love that this is the kind of device that keeps kids engaged and entertained — without a screen — and will adapt to the whims of our family for years to come. —Nicole Cammorata

Best Toy for Preschoolers Gift of the Year Credit: Rene Ramos/Mashable/Tonies Toniebox 2 $149.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Why we like it

As our kids have grown, we’ve noticed that compared to the Yoto Mini (above), the Toniebox is particularly well-suited for preschool-aged kids. We’ve had one in our family for the last couple of years and our kids have loved being able to listen to stories, choose their own content, and be in charge of their own entertainment. As parents, we love that it’s screen-free, keeps them entertained, travels well, and offers a wide library of content to choose from. The Toniebox is powered by a collection of Tonies — small figures preloaded with content from a multitude of beloved movies and TV shows, including those from Disney, Pixar, Bluey, Peppa Pig, National Geographic, and more. Our kids are often just as smitten with the characters as objects as they are with the content itself. —Nicole Cammorata

Best Headphones Gift of the Year Credit: Rene Ramos/Mashable/Bose Bose QuietComfort (Gen 2) $359 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Bose Why we like it

These headphones are nearly $100 cheaper than the Bose QC Ultra 2 headphones, but offer many of the same features. For starters, the comfort and noise cancellation are nearly on par with the significantly more expensive headphones, which is to say it's very, very good — like easily wearable for a full day of travel. The tactile controls are intuitive and functional, the colors are varied and unique while remaining appealing, and there's an Immersive Audio listening mode for changing up how you hear your music. In a time when most tech prices are rising, it's refreshing to see a brand release a pair of headphones that strive for ultra-premium performance, while sticking to a more mildly premium price. —Bethany Allard

Best Kitchen Gadget Gift of the Year Credit: Rene Ramos/Mashable/Ninja Ninja Crispi $179.95 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Ninja Kitchen Why we like it

Air fryers are great for anyone, but the Ninja Crispi is made for meal preppers. With its portable design, it stores nicely and can be used on the go. Plus, it actually works. The controls are simple, and the glass baskets come with storage lids for easy food storage. Since we originally tested this device, it's become a favorite of the Mashable shopping team. Not to mention, the Crispi has gotten quite a bit of attention online as folks seek a plastic-free air fryer, and the Crispi is really the best option available. —Samantha Mangino

Best Wellness Gift of the Year Credit: Rene Ramos/Mashable/Oura Oura Ring 5 $499 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Why we like it

Oura outdid itself with the Ring 5. Before its release, we rated the Oura Ring 4 the best smart ring available, but the Ring 5 blows it out of the water. It's the most comfortable, accurate, and well-designed smart ring we've tested. The new Oura Ring 5 still offers the same biometric data and in-app experience, but now it's 40 percent smaller. It's thinner and lighter, meaning the battery had to shrink. But it didn't sacrifice battery life, as it still lasts six to seven days on a single charge. The ring contains a red and infrared LED, a green and infrared LED, a movement-tracking accelerometer, and digital temperature monitors that all work together to calculate your biometrics, which are presented in the app. With a slim fit and rounded edges, it looks like a classic band that blends right into your wardrobe but remains comfortable without digging in or pinching your finger. —Samantha Mangino

Best Stocking Stuffer Gift of the Year Credit: Rene Ramos/Mashable/Brick Opens in a new window Credit: Brick Brick $59 at Brick
  Shop Now at Brick Why we like it

Sometimes the best tech is the device that helps us take a break from our tech. The Brick is a small, square device that does exactly that — and makes for an excellent stocking stuffer. A quick tap via the app will shut down all the apps you’ve deemed unnecessary, and the phone will stay that way until you re-tap it to the Brick. For anyone looking to break free from a phone addiction, get some mental clarity, or find more digital balance, it’s an incredible device that allows all of us to get a break from that tiny screen without losing the convenience of a mobile phone. I love that the app restrictions are customizable and that accessing the forbidden parts of my phone requires a physical action — a much-appreciated counterpoint to the mindless scrolling that comes with phone addiction. —Nicole Cammorata

Best Laptop Gift of the Year Credit: Rene Ramos/Mashable/Apple MacBook Neo $689 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Why we like it

Even after a $100 price bump this summer, the MacBook Neo is still an unrivaled value in the budget category. Most cheap Windows laptops and Chromebooks have plastic components, but this little guy has the same luxe, all-aluminum build quality as any other MacBook. The Neo's A18 Pro processor is technically a pared-down iPhone chip, but don't be fooled: It's extremely impressive for a budget laptop CPU. In simple single-core workloads (web browsing, word processing), the Neo is just as fast as a last-gen M4 MacBook Air. In such scenarios, it feels snappier than most Windows laptops we've tried lately, including 10 that cost $2,000 or more. —Haley Henschel

Best Robot Vacuum Gift of the Year Credit: Rene Ramos/Mashable/Eufy Eufy C28 $599.99 at Eufy
$799.99 Save $200   Shop Now at Eufy Shop Now at Amazon Why we like it

The C28 finally answers the call of spill-prone households who need something more heavy-duty (and less likely to smear). The HydroJet system rinses the mop nine times per second as it's mopping to prevent smearing. From catnip flakes to tufts of dryer lint to handfuls of crushed chips, I really had to squint to find a few tiny pieces that the C28 left behind. The Eufy C28 gets bonus points for its slow, deliberate vacuuming when spot-cleaning the tricky area where a rug changes to hardwood — its crumb pickup around rug edges has actually been more reliable than premium Roborock and Dreame models. Its performance on hardwood and tile has been even more stellar. The damp roller presses down firmly to wipe up dust and pet hair on hardwood that would stick to the floor during regular vacuuming. —Leah Stodart

Best Smartwatch Gift of the Year Credit: Rene Ramos/Mashable/Apple Apple Watch Series 12 $389.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Walmart Why we like it

The Series 12 has a new S11 chip that adds support for Audio Intelligence tools and offers more battery life during workouts (plus faster charging). 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 in order 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. —Haley Henschel

Best Smart Home Gift of the Year Credit: Rene Ramos/Mashable/Amazon Echo Show 8 $199.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Why we like it

It can act as a sous chef in the kitchen, serving up recipes while keeping your hands free, and it can just as easily make video calls to keep up with friends and family or stay productive while WFH. You can also "Drop-In" on any other Alexa devices in your household, including video chat with other Echo Shows. That's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Echo Show 8's visual feats, though, and the gorgeous display really opens up the door to an incredible amount of enhanced Alexa functionality. The Echo Show 8 can even function as a security camera, and you can check in on what it sees via the Alexa app on your phone while you're away. That said, you can close the camera shutter and shut off the mic for more privacy. —Samantha Mangino

Best Handheld Gaming Gift of the Year Credit: Rene Ramos/Mashable/Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 $499 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Walmart Why we like it

Those who want to stay on the cutting edge of handheld gaming consoles need to get a Nintendo Switch 2 at some point. It's the latest and greatest version of the handheld, with more power, improved features and accessories, and a constantly expanding slate of games that'll almost certainly induce FOMO if you don't hop on the bandwagon. If you're excited about playing the long-awaited The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, love all things Pokémon, or have a kiddo that needs to be introduced to the joys of Mario Kart, then the Switch 2 is a must-have. —Timothy Werth

Best TV Gift of the Year Credit: Rene Ramos/Mashable/TCL TCL 65-inch QM6K Mini LED 4K TV $647.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $152   Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Why we like it

The TCL QM6K is the quintessential beginner fancy TV between the absolute cheapest and most expensive QLEDs out there. Compared to regular LED TVs, the QM6K is brighter and sharper — better for daytime viewing and watching sports. Compared to more premium mini-LED TVs, the QM6K stays comfortably under the $1,000 mark. —Leah Stodart

Best Outdoor Gift of the Year Credit: Rene Ramos/Mashable/Bose Bose SoundLink Plus $269 at Walmart
  Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Amazon Why we like it

Bose's SoundLink line includes an array of excellent speakers, and we've found the Plus to be in that sweet Goldilocks spot between the SoundLink Flex and SoundLink Max. It's incredibly loud with crisp, clear audio. And its size makes it portable and not too heavy (though it does have some heft to it), while still producing room-filling sound. Whether you're at the beach, hosting a pool party, camping, or just hanging out at home, the Bose SoundLink Plus is a stellar Bluetooth speaker. It can also easily pair with other Bose SoundLink speakers for extended sound. —Miller Kern

Best Beauty Tech Gift of the Year Credit: Rene Ramos/Mashable/Shark Shark Cryoglow Mask $349 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Why we like it

It would be hard to argue that any mask is a better value or offers a more premium experience than the Shark CryoGlow. The Shark mask is lined with 160 evenly spaced tri-wick bulbs. Every single bulb can emit red, near-infrared, or blue light, and each bulb can emit all three light types simultaneously for 480 light sources total. That's true full-face coverage for the duration of any setting, compared to other masks that turn red light bulbs off completely if you're on the blue light setting. —Leah Stodart

Developers deserve to be compensated for their work, and "premium" apps usually offer a better experience. But sometimes, those same developers offer a way for loyal users to get their paid apps for free. No trial, no hidden paywall — just sideloading.

Apple's M6 Macs finally arrived on Tuesday, two weeks after the company's "Welcome Home" smart home launch. The announcement, part of another slate of press releases Apple dropped ahead of its private Pro and Tell event on Wednesday, Oct. 28, includes a new 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6, a refreshed iMac with M6, and a round of AI features for Apple Creator Studio, the company's subscription bundle of creative apps.

The timing isn't a surprise. When the M6 MacBooks were missing from the Oct. 13 home announcements, Mashable reported that Bloomberg's Mark Gurman still expected them in October. For the time being, though, outlets like MacRumors report that the expected touchscreen MacBook Pro won't be announced until Wednesday — so check back here after tomorrow for more details.

SEE ALSO: Apple massively increases trade-in values for iPads and Macs. See the list.

In the meantime, Apple's M6 chip is the main upgrade here. Both machines keep their existing designs, and Apple's pitch leans hard on running AI locally. According to Apple, M6 adds two CPU cores and two GPU cores over its predecessor, puts Neural Accelerators in every GPU core, and pairs them with a new dual 16-core Neural Engine and up to 170GB/s of memory bandwidth. Apple frames the result as a platform for running large language models (LLMs) on-device while keeping data private.

It’s the same AI push Apple made with its home devices. As Mashable noted earlier this month, Gurman has argued the AI boom caught Apple off guard. Both Macs ship with macOS 27 Golden Gate, which brings Siri AI, Apple’s rebuilt assistant. Apple says it can draw on personal context from messages, email, and photos, answer questions on virtually any topic, and act across apps.

Here's everything Apple announced for the Mac on Oct. 27:

14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 Credit: Apple

The headline product is the 14-inch MacBook Pro, which gets M6's 12-core CPU. Apple says M6 features the world’s fastest CPU core. Apple claims the 12-core GPU is up to 30 percent faster at graphics and up to 25 percent faster at AI workloads than M5, while the Neural Engine is up to 1.9x faster. Owners of an M1 model could see bigger jumps: Apple cites up to 11x faster graphics and up to 13x faster AI performance.

Apple's AI benchmarks are the more telling numbers. It says LLM prompt processing delivers a first token up to 1.3x faster than the M5 model, with similar gains in Blender rendering and Xcode builds.

Battery life is rated at up to 24 hours, which Apple calls the longest ever in a Mac, and fast charging reaches 50 percent in 30 minutes with a 96W adapter. Memory starts at 16GB and tops out at 32GB. Wireless connectivity upgrades to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and the laptop supports up to two external displays.

Speaking of displays, the MacBook Pro has a Liquid Retina XDR display (with up to 1,600 nits of peak HDR brightness and a nano-texture option), a 12MP Center Stage camera, six speakers, and the same ports, including HDMI, MagSafe 3, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, and an SDXC slot.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 starts at $1,999, or $1,899 with education pricing, and comes in space black and silver. Apple Upgrade leases start at $38.99 per month for 36 months. Pre-orders open Wednesday, Oct. 28, in the U.S. and 34 other countries and regions, with availability beginning Friday, Nov. 6.

iMac with M6

The iMac skips M5 entirely, jumping from M4 straight to M6. Apple says the CPU and GPU each gain two cores, with configurations offering up to 12 cores apiece, delivering up to 2x faster graphics than M4. Again, Apple’s big claim is the iMac’s ability to run AI locally. The company says the iMac runs on-device AI up to 5x faster than M4, including prompt processing in LM Studio. For anyone still on an Intel iMac, Apple reports an overall performance gain of up to 18x.

Connectivity gets some of the more practical upgrades. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 come standard, available 2.5Gb Ethernet is up to 2.5x faster than before, and Apple says SSD speeds have doubled. Up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports support two 6K external displays.

The rest of the iMac is unchanged, including the 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, 12MP Center Stage camera, color-matched accessories, and seven colors: blue, green, pink, yellow, purple, orange, and silver.

The iMac with M6 starts at $1,499 ($1,449 for education) with a 10-core CPU and GPU, and $1,699 ($1,599 for education) with a 12-core CPU and GPU. That base price matches what the M4 iMac currently sells for after a $200 increase in June, according to MacRumors. Apple Upgrade leases start at $28.99 per month for 36 months. Pre-orders open Wednesday, Oct. 28, with availability beginning Friday, Nov. 6.

Apple Creator Studio Credit: Apple

Apple also gave its new Macs more AI software to run. Apple Creator Studio adds intelligent assistants (in beta) to Logic Pro for Mac and to Keynote, Pages, and Numbers. Notably, Apple says those assistants are built on a combination of its own models and OpenAI’s. Keynote, Pages, and Numbers also gain Model Context Protocol (MCP) support, which lets third-party AI agents read documents, make edits, and run automated actions inside the apps.

Elsewhere, Final Cut Pro for Mac now includes MotionVFX's library of effects, transitions, and templates, and Pixelmator Pro adds Generate Fill for editing selected parts of an image using text prompts. Logic Pro's Stem Splitter can now separate drums.

The Creator Studio updates arrive in November at no additional cost for existing subscribers. The subscription costs $12.99 per month or $129 per year, with education pricing of $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year.

ICYMI: iPad mini with A20 Pro

Apple's week of announcements technically started Monday with the iPad mini, which Apple calls the tablet's "biggest update ever." The headline change is a larger 8.5-inch OLED display that fits in the same footprint, thanks to 24 percent thinner bezels. Apple says peak brightness reaches 1,200 nits, more than double that of the previous model, and a nano-texture option is available.

The A20 Pro chip follows the same local AI script as the M6. It has Neural Accelerators in each GPU core, and Apple claims up to 4.5x faster AI performance than the previous generation. The tablet is also thinner, at 5.4mm, and adds IP67 water and dust resistance, a 12MP front camera on the landscape edge, and Apple's N1 wireless and C2 cellular chips.

The iPad mini starts at $699 for Wi-Fi and $849 for Wi-Fi + Cellular (education pricing starts at $649), and comes in midnight and starlight. Pre-orders open Wednesday, Oct. 28, with availability beginning Friday, Nov. 6.

Touchscreen laptops don't come cheap, and quality models from reputable brands often cost thousands of dollars. However, savvy buyers never pay full price when they can get big discounts, like 40% off the Asus Vivobook S16 laptop, and save $1,000 to spend elsewhere.

I'm a PC builder with so much love for humongous desktops, but even my love gets tested at times. I recently tried a really high-quality GEEKOM mini PC, which made me re-evaluate the whole concept of owning those things, and how they can pretty much replace an actual desktop on many fronts.

Do you know someone who basically lives at the local climbing gym? Are you friends with a person whose only personality trait is taking their dog hiking? Or maybe your partner is obsessed with the idea of living in a van (#vanlife) and traveling the country?

If any of these groups sound like you or someone you know, you've been exposed to the granola lifestyle. Similar to gorpcore, folks who fit the granola aesthetic are typically into camping, hiking, and kayaking, and have probably talked about moving to Colorado one day (guilty). They love to be outdoors, sip craft beer, and of course, wear Patagonia fleece sweaters.

Outdoorsy folk have taken to TikTok with the hashtags #granolagirl, #granolaboy, and #granolacheck over the last few years to show off their adventurous, outdoor-oriented lifestyles. For many, getting into nature was a direct response to feeling cooped up during the lockdowns of the early pandemic. But that trend is here to stay.

How to shop for an outdoorsy gift

For people who are unsure about adventure gear themselves but still want to find the perfect granola gift this holiday season, we chatted with outdoor expert and REI soft goods Lead and Virtual Outfitter Mike Kreis for some outdoor gear shopping tips.

SEE ALSO: The best camping gear for dogs: We've tried (and loved) these 8 products

Kreis suggests that you consider how long your giftee has been into their activity, whether it's hiking, skiing, camping, or climbing. "The longer they have been doing the activity, the more gear they will have," he says.

If your gift recipient already owns some gear, Kreis says it's best to go for nonessentials. "I always like to go with items that aren't necessarily needed for the activity, as they most likely have that," he says. So opt for a portable charger, a cozy outdoor blanket, or extra camp cooking gadgets. Really, anything that can make outdoor life more comfortable will make a great gift.

If you find yourself shopping for the outdoorsy person in your life, look no further. We've rounded up 30 of the best presents out there, whether their version of adventure is having a picnic in the park or roughing it in the back country.

I remember when I was a child, the TV in the kitchen sat on the counter, not on the wall. It was small, portable, and had a charm that made it feel like part of the room rather than an electronic device taking up space on an already too-crowded counter.

Kai Cenat had barely gotten his hands on Apple's new iPhone Duo before another foldable caught his attention. The surprise? It was a Samsung.

During a livestream from Japan that accumulated millions of views, the streamer spotted a fan's folding phone and asked, "Is that the iPhone Duo?" When the owner explained that it was a Samsung, Cenat responded with a startled "What!"

"Wait, they been had this? I might have to switch to Samsung," he says in a viral clip.

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For Samsung users watching, the answer to that first question was an emphatic yes. And they were more than happy to catch him up.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone Duo review: This changes everything

"Apple fans watching Kai discover Samsung features that have existed for years are about to have a rough day" one user wrote on X. "It’s crazy how ignorant normies are," another wrote, while one user said, "everyone starting to realize Apple is washed and overpriced; Samsung actually feels like an upgrade worth the value and the features alone make it worth it."

"Just imagine when he finds out they have a trifold," another user pointed out.

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The snark comes with some history. Samsung unveiled its original Galaxy Fold in February 2019 and put it on sale that September, seven years before Apple’s first foldable arrived. Both follow the same basic idea — a phone with an outer screen that opens like a book to reveal a larger, tablet-like display, with room to run apps side by side. Samsung’s first Fold could already display three apps at once, while the iPhone Duo supports two side by side, with picture-in-picture video available too.

Samsung has released several generations since then, with its current lineup including the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra.

Comparing the Duo with the standard Fold 8, Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth noted that Samsung's phone is thinner, lighter, and $100 cheaper at its starting price. Cameras were his biggest complaint about the Samsung, particularly its 10MP selfie camera. But after testing the Duo, Senior Editor Stan Schroeder found that Apple’s under-display FaceTime camera produced heavily processed, smudgy selfies, too.

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Apple introducing more people to foldables could actually benefit Samsung, and Cenat's viral interaction is a prime example of how. Samsung says European sales of its Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra rose 45 percent compared with a year earlier, while Google search interest in Samsung foldables jumped 260 percent between Sept. 6 and 12 — the week Apple announced the Duo.

SEE ALSO: The iPhone Duo could be boosting Samsung Galaxy foldable sales

Whether Cenat actually switches remains to be seen. For now, he’s given Samsung fans something almost as satisfying as a new customer: an iPhone owner asking what he's been missing.

Apple is giving the public a taste of its new AI features and powerful devices ahead of tomorrow's "Pro And Tell" event.

The tech giant already announced a new M6-powered, 14-inch MacBook Pro and a new iPad Mini 8, complete with an OLED screen and an internal A20 Pro chip.

And for creators, Apple is sprucing up its Creator Studio to bring more integrated editing tools and even AI assistants to its creative app lineup.

SEE ALSO: The new Apple M6 Macbook Pro is live — how to preorder Apple adds MotionVFX to Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro will be getting a major upgrade with the addition of MotionVFX, a library of effects, templates, graphics, and tools for rotoscoping, tracking, and color grading, the company announced. Users will be able to access the Content Hub directly in Final Cut Pro, including "Apple-curated stock videos, photos, and backgrounds to fill gaps, add polish, or spark new ideas without leaving their workflow."

Final Cut Pro's workflow will be streamlined, too, including new keyframe editing options and the ability to combine edit sessions across multiple apps.

Logic Pro gets Liquid Glass, AI tools

Apple will bring its new Apple Intelligence model to its suite of creative apps, including Pixelmator Pro's new Generate Fill, which allows users to generate automatic edits and content fills with text-based prompts.

Music editors in Apple's Logic Pro should prepare for a new Liquid Glass interface and an OpenAI collaboration introducing a music-intelligent AI assistant.

The AI, a combination of Apple and OpenAI models, "automatically analyzes, classifies, and tags added sounds so creators can easily search their entire collection or drag in a loop to surface matching audio," Apple explains. There's a new Browser tool to match that centralizes clips, edits, and effects, as well as a new Voice Memos Studio Sound that automatically reduces ambient noise in iPhone recordings and uploads them to Logic Pro.

Apple is also adding new "Producer Packs" with clips and sounds from famed producers, like Sergio George.

Apple's AI assistant can help with graphic design

The company's AI assistant will also be available on Keynote, Pages, and Numbers to help design and animate slides, draft and edit written content, and build custom charts or graphs.

Credit: Apple

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Out of all the kitchen products we've put to the test, these 12 are the ones we'll always recommend — over and over again. Here's why we love them.

I’ve been dual-booting Linux and Windows for more than 10 years, and my current machine runs four different operating systems side by side. Over the years, I’ve made plenty of mistakes and seen newcomers and enthusiasts make many of the same ones. As such, to help you avoid these common pitfalls, here are three of the most common mistakes people make when setting up a Linux-Windows dual-boot PC.

Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Denis Villeneuve will bring his epic trilogy to a conclusion this December with Dune: Part Three. And the final trailer gives fans an intense look at Villeneuve's bold adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novels. Based on Dune Messiah, the film follows Timothée Chalamet's Paul Atreides as he confronts the consequences of becoming Emperor.

Mashable's resident Dune expert Belen Edwards wrote of the film's previous trailer, "Dune: Part Three takes place 17 years after the end of Dune: Part Two, which saw Paul become Emperor, meet his future wife Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh), and lose his lover Chani (Zendaya). In a huge deviation from Frank Herbert's novels, Chani fled into the desert after witnessing Paul's brutality, setting up a major rift between the two."

In the trailer above, Paul attacks Irulan, who confesses Chani is involved in an assassination attempt. The footage also features Robert Pattinson as Scytale, "a shape-shifting Face Dancer from the genetically altered Bene Tleilax order." Anya Taylor-Joy returns as Paul’s sister Alia, now grown up with powers of her own.

But that’s not all. Dune: Part Three promises pulse-pounding action, heart-wrenching drama, and a confrontation between former lovers that could change the future of their universe.

Dune: Part Three hits theaters and IMAX Dec. 18.

Apple is currently in the midst of releasing brand-new iPads and new Macs. Looking to upgrade to a new tablet or computer now? Then you're in luck.

Apple just bumped up the trade-in values for previous generations of iPads and Macs, as first noticed by MacRumors.

This week, just as Apple launched the new iPad mini, M6 MacBook Pro, and M6 iMac, the company also increased how much consumers could get back when trading in their old devices. Is Apple trying to sweeten the deal for customers in order to sell more new iPads and Macs? Possibly, though Apple hasn't said whether that factored into the higher trade-in offers.

But this is good news for Apple fans looking to upgrade.

So, how much can you get for trading in your current iPad or Mac model now? Here's a list of the previous and new maximum valuations for each device below. (Your actual offer depends on your device's model and condition.)

Macs

Macs and MacBooks received the largest increases in maximum trade-in value. Here's what you can get now.

• MacBook Pro: From up to $1,315 to up to $1,435

• MacBook Air: From up to $705 to up to $795

• iMac: From up to $385 to up to $440

• Mac mini: From up to $620 to up to $645

• Mac Studio: From up to $1,460 to up to $1,700

• Mac Pro: From up to $2,195 to up to $2,560

The iMac Pro remains the only listed Mac model unchanged, with a maximum trade-in value of $340.

iPads

The iPad trade-in values didn't increase by as much as those for Apple's computers. However, there was an increase in trade-in value nonetheless.

• iPad: From up to $280 to up to $300

• iPad mini: From up to $320 to up to $340

• iPad Air: From up to $510 to up to $525

• iPad Pro: From up to $905 to up to $915

As a general reminder, Apple's trade-in program is mostly about convenience. Even with the increase in trade-in value, you may be able to resell your device on resale marketplaces for a higher payout.

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

Pixel phones built their reputation on photos that looked better than their hardware should allow. Five years after the Pixel 6 Pro, that edge feels thinner, so it’s worth asking whether Pixel cameras are actually slipping or the competition simply sprinted ahead.

For years, Windows 11 has handled camera and microphone access for desktop apps like a master key—flip the switch and every program gets in, or none do. Microsoft is finally working on a solution for the latest Windows 11 Insider build. The new privacy controls allow you to decide which desktop apps get to use your camera and microphone, one at a time. If you use an Android phone, you'll find the per-app permission settings feel familiar. This matters because camera and microphone access can reveal more than you might expect across varied software.

Subway is attempting to hijack your midday break with an aggressive dose of 2014 nostalgia.

To celebrate National Sandwich Day (Nov. 3), Subway has officially launched a BOGO Footlong deal running until Nov. 8. Alongside this generous promo, Subway is resurrecting the cult-favorite Fritos Chicken Enchilada Sub. I've probably eaten at Subway a couple of times in my life, but free subs are enough to convince me to make a return.

The BOGO promo applies across most standard Footlong builds, including the returning Fritos Chicken Enchilada Sub. If you missed the original 2014 run, this viral sandwich packs rotisserie-style chicken drenched in enchilada sauce, melted Monterey Cheddar, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, a drizzle of smoky Baja Chipotle sauce, and a generous layer of crunchy original Fritos corn chips.

Credit: Subway

Qualifying for the BOGO deal is straightforward: Sub Club members can score a free Footlong of equal or lesser value with the purchase of another Footlong. You just need to order through the Subway app or online, and the offer will be automatically added to your app wallet.

The BOGO discount is only triggered on digital orders placed through the Subway app or Subway.com. If you turn up at a store expecting the free sub, you'll walk away disappointed.

Best early Black Friday Lego deals Best Lego Advent Calendar deal Lego Disney Princess Advent Calendar $30 (save $14.99) Get Deal Best Lego Icons deal Lego Icons Poinsettia $42.99 (save $7) Get Deal Best Lego Pokémon deal Lego Pokémon Eevee $47.99 (save $12) Get Deal Best Lego Botanicals deal Lego Botanicals Succulents $32.99 (save $17) Get Deal Best Lego stocking stuffer deal Lego Snowman Ornaments $10.28 (save $2.71) Get Deal Best Lego Star Wars deal Lego Star Wars Anzellan Starship $45.49 (save $29.50) Get Deal

Listen up, builders. We still have weeks to go before Black Friday, but Legos are already on sale. From Pokémon builds to stunning floral arrangements, there's something for everyone in the world of Lego.

SEE ALSO: Early Black Friday home improvement deals save big on power tools, smart lights, home security, and more.

If you've shopped for Legos in the past, you understand sales can vanish quickly, as does availability. Before prices and stock change, check out our favorite deals below.

Best Lego Advent calendar deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Disney Princess Advent Calendar $30 at Amazon
$44.99 Save $14.99   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

It's time to grab Advent Calendars for 2026. If you have a Lego princess in your life, snag the Lego Disney Princess Advent Calendar while it's on sale for just $30. This year's calendar comes with adored princesses like Moana, Cinderella, and Mulan.

More Lego Advent Calendar deals

• Lego Friends Advent Calendar — $25 $34.99 (save $9.99)

Best Lego Icons deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Poinsettia $42.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $7   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

During Prime Day in October, we all got treated to a great discount on the Lego Icons Project Hail Mary build. Consider yourself lucky if you managed to snag that deal before it went out of stock. While that set is currently sitting at full price, we do have the festive Lego Icons Poinsettia on sale as an early Black Friday treat.

The holiday centerpiece is a great Thanksgiving project for kids and adults that'll look great on display throughout the holiday season. The potted poinsettia measures about eight inches in height and width and about 6.5 inches deep.

More Lego Icons deals

• Lego Icons Tranquil Garden — $103.99 $109.99 (save $6)

• Lego Icons Tropical Aquarium — $446.82 $479.99 (save $33.17)

Best Lego Pokémon deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Pokémon Eevee $47.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $12   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

The Lego Pokémon collab only launched in early 2026, but we already have discounts. The undeniably adorable Lego Pokémon Eevee is the perfect holiday gift for any fan of building with small bricks who also loves Pokémon. That's probably something like 90% of the global population.

The Lego Pokémon Eevee is designed for more advanced builders, and Lego recommends it for those over the age of 18. It's also available for one to three builders to work together via the Lego Build Together feature.

More Lego Pokémon deals

• Lego Pokémon Pikachu and Poké Ball — $183.18 $199.99 (save $16.81)

Best Lego Botanicals deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Succulents $32.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $17   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Featuring nine succulents and buildable pots for each, the Lego Botanicals Succulents is a cheery addition to any space. Keep them all together or spread them around the house, the set has 771 pieces in total. One of Lego's most popular Botanicals builds, the set is on sale for the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon, and we're still well ahead of Black Friday.

More Lego Botanicals deals

• Lego Botanicals Rocking Plants — $19.97 $22.99 (save $3.02)

• Lego Botanicals Flowering Cactus — $27.95 $34.99 (save $7.04)

• Lego Botanicals Hibiscus Flower — $55.95 $69.99 (save $14.04)

• Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement — $62.04 $109.99 (save $47.95)

Best Lego stocking stuffer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Snowman Ornaments $10.28 at Amazon
$12.99 Save $2.71   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

For those who aren't looking for a giant build or something small that's perfect for a stocking, the Lego Snowman Ornaments are on sale for $10.28. The duo of snowmen are perfect for Lego beginners that can either hang on the Christmas tree or sit on a fireplace mantle as part of the holiday display. Since the set is small and not too spendy, it's already a great gift exchange item.

Best Lego Star Wars deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Anzellan Starship $45.49 at Amazon
$74.99 Save $29.50   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Down the to the best price we've ever seen at Amazon, the Lego Star Wars Anzellan Starship build is the perfect decor for any fan of the franchise. The 701-piece build is meant for kids (or adults) ages nine and up. Three Lego Star Wars mini figures will hop into the Starship and take flight.

More Lego Star Wars deals

• Lego Star Wars AT-RT Attack — $35.99 $44.99 (save $9)

• Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Mos Eisley Cantina — $53.99 $79.99 (save $26)

• Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter — $55.99 $69.99 (save $14)

• Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Millennium Falcon — $79.95 $99.99 (save $20.04)

• Lego Star Wars Grogu (Mandalorian Apprentice) — $103.99 $129.99 (save $26)

I'm the last person to defend Windows. There's no doubt in my mind that it's a bloated, slow, and unreliable mess of an operating system. The only thing I use Windows for anymore is as a dedicated gaming PC that never has a single mission-critical job.

The latest Colleen Hoover adaptation has arrived with a bang. After grossing $162 million in theaters, psychological thriller Verity is making its way into living rooms just in time for Halloween.

How to watch 'Verity' at home: Buy or rent 'Verity' at Prime Video $19.99 or $24.99 Shop Now Buy or rent 'Verity' at Fandango $19.99 or $24.99 Shop Now Buy or rent 'Verity' on Apple TV $19.99 or $24.99 Shop Now Stream 'Verity' at a later date starting at $7.99/month Shop Now

Adapted from Colleen Hoover's extremely popular 2018 novel of the same name, Verity stars Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway in what Mashable's entertainment editor calls her "wildest performance of 2026."

Critic reviews are mostly harsh, with the film only holding a 31% on Rotten Tomatoes, but audiences are loving the adaptation, leading to its box office success. Whether you're a Colleen Hoover fan waiting to compare the book with the film or you're just seeking a fun psycho-sexual thriller to watch this season, Verity is now available to watch at home. Here's everything you need to know.

What is Verity about?

Verity follows writer Lowen Ashleigh (Johnson) after she's hired as a ghostwriter by best-selling author Verity Crawford (Hathaway) to complete her book series. While staying at the Crawford home, Lowen discovers a disturbing manuscript revealing some of Verity's darkest secrets.

Peep the full trailer below.

How to watch Verity at home Credit: Amazon MGM Studios

As of Oct. 27, you can officially watch Verity at home one of two ways: rent it or buy it. A streaming option is still to come at an unknown date. See the details below.

Buy or rent it on digital

Verity will make its at-home debut on digital retail sites like Prime Video and Fandango at Home on Oct. 27, 2026. You can buy it forever at any of the retailers below or rent it for 30 days. If you choose the rental option, just note that once you start watching, you'll only have 48 hours to finish.

• Prime Video — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Apple TV — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Fandango at Home — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

Stream it on MGM+ (at a later date)

While no official streaming date has been announced yet, we know that as an Amazon MGM Studios film, Verity will likely make its streaming debut on Amazon's niche streaming service MGM+.

Previous Amazon MGM Studios films like Is God Is and Project Hail Mary graced MGM+ first before finally expanding to Prime Video. It is likely that as a box office success, Verity will follow the same formula.

The good news is that you likely won't have to wait too long. We'll update this story with new streaming information once Amazon MGM Studios makes the announcement.

Are there any MGM+ deals?

If you're new to MGM+, then you can score a seven-day trial and watch Verity for free once it's released. If not, there are a couple of ways to save on a subscription.

MGM+ annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: MGM+ MGM+ annual subscription $61.99
$95.88 Save $33.89   Get Deal

On any given day, the annual MGM+ subscription plan will save you about 35% or nearly $34. It costs $61.99 for a full year of streaming, which breaks down to $5.17 per month instead of the usual $7.99 per month. You'll have to pay up front, but the savings are ultimately worth it.

MGM+ Prime Video add-on Opens in a new window Credit: MGM+ MGM+ (Prime Video add-on) $1.99/month for 2 months Get Deal

You can also opt to sign up for MGM+ through Prime Video (if you're a Prime member or Prime Video subscriber). The prices for the monthly or annual subscription add-on are the same as subscribing directly from MGM+, but there are often deals that'll get you the streaming service for as low as 99 cents.

The current deal gets you two months of MGM+ for just $1.99 per month, but it's set to expire on Oct. 28. There's a good chance another discount will pop up around Black Friday, so stay tuned.