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SAVE OVER $15: As of March 4, the Lego Super Mario Piranha Plant (71426) is down to $41.99 at Amazon. That's $18 off its list price of $59.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Super Mario Piranha Plant (71426) $41.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $18   Get Deal

Mario Day — otherwise known as MAR10 Day, since it lands on March 10 — is coming up, and Amazon already has some nice discounts for Nintendo fans to make a move on. The Lego Super Mario Piranha Plant set (71426) is one that caught our eye at the retailer, as it's currently on sale for $41.99.

The Lego Super Mario Piranha Plant set usually etails for $59.99, so this deal gives you a chance to grab it for $18 less. If you're an adult Lego fan, this 540-piece set looks like a fantastic project to piece together, especially ahead of Mario Day.

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The Lego Super Mario Piranha Plant set comes together to create the Piranha Plant in a green pipe, complete with two coins. The plant's head, mouth, stalk, and leaves are all posable, which makes for fun detailing once you put it on display. And even though the box says it's recommended for those ages 18 and over, a younger fan that's interested can tackle this set with help.

Don't miss out on this great chance to save on the Lego Super Mario Piranha Plant set (71426) at Amazon. Alternatively, if you're wondering what new releases Lego has dropped so far this year, have a look at our breakdown of the best new Lego sets.

Despite all the hubbub about dating app fatigue, new apps still pop up to compete with the household names. In order to duke it out with the likes of Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge, these startups must try something new — even if it's technically not. 

One example is the dating app Cerca, which is about to turn a year old. Taking its name from the Spanish word for "near," Cerca aims to connect mutual friends. At a time when the major apps are trying to increase shareholder value and shove in AI features, focusing on human connection is a novel idea. (Almost.)

SEE ALSO: The 11 best dating apps for women who want real connections in 2026 What is Cerca?

Cerca is a dating app you might not have heard of yet, but it's already gotten the media treatment, from college newspapers to the New York Times. Launched in March 2025, according to an article in Business Insider, Cerca seeks to combine mutual friends with privacy.

The tagline? "Date Mutuals, Not Strangers." 

But what's old is new again on Cerca. The "friends of friends" tactic was originally what Hinge was built on. Back in 2014, founder Justin McLeod (who recently left Hinge to start an AI dating service, Overtone), told Bloomberg, "We're introducing you to people through your friends like you would in real life when you go to house parties and dinners and weddings and the kind of places that you forge great relationships."

SEE ALSO: App fatigue is real. I tested the best dating apps of 2026 to find the ones that really work.

While Hinge eventually moved away from this model, this ethos makes sense for a new app. People are increasingly frustrated with major apps. If you scroll the dating side of TikTok, you'll see users quick to bemoan "The Apps" to their selfie camera. Last year, several daters expressed this sentiment, telling Mashable they wanted to meet potential partners in person. 

Meanwhile, major apps are rapidly implementing AI-based features. In the last year alone, Hinge has introduced Convo Starters, Tinder's AI personas, and Bumble announced AI-driven Profile Guidance and AI Photo Feedback features last week. 

It's not all AI, though, and it seems at least Tinder has picked up on the "mutual friends" angle. Tinder's latest CEO, Spencer Rascoff, said last year he wanted to move away from its hookup reputation to attract Gen Z users. Soon after, Tinder introduced Double Date, a feature to swipe with your friend.

How Cerca works

Cerca works differently from Tinder and other apps, however. According to its website, you first create your profile and sync your contacts. (Your contacts aren't notified that you're joining yet another dating app, thankfully.) Then, Circa only surfaces matches with a first or second-degree connection — aka, friends of friends. 

You're then free to "like" profiles, but the likes remain anonymous until both people have liked each other. As is written on Cerca's website, "We prioritize trust and safety — that's why we only pair you with mutuals. No unsolicited messages or catfishing. Because when it comes to dating, you deserve privacy, context, and confidence in who you're talking to."

As of this publication, Cerca has an average of 4.4 out of 5 rating on Apple's App Store, based on 1,300 ratings. It touts 170,000 singles — a far cry from Tinder's 50 million monthly users, but if you're sick of the biggest dating apps in the game yet don't want to totally throw your luck to bars and clubs, there are newer apps like Cerca. 

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Mini Tin Display Unit (10 Mini Tins) is down to about $234 at Walmart, undercutting Amazon’s $261.95 listing by roughly $28 for the same 10-tin display.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution: Ascended Heroes Mini Tin Display (10 Units) $233.95 at Walmart
  Shop Now

The Ascended Heroes Mini Tins have been seeing some of the wildest pricing since the Pokémon TCG expansion came out, but the latest pricing at Walmart has made it so you’re saving money when buying more. As of March 4, display units of 10 Pokémon TCG Ascended Heroes Mini Tins are now available at Walmart for $233.95, a notable dip from the $261.95 price on Amazon. 

Each tin contains two Ascended Heroes booster packs, a sticker sheet, and an art card — with five different art cards to collect and combine. Ascended Heroes is also the latest in the trading card game’s Mega Evolution-era lineup, leaning hard into big-name Pokémon Mega Evolution card — including Mega Dragonite ex, a set stuffed with Trainer’s Pokémon, and Stellar Tera Pokémon ex cards.

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Although Amazon’s new $261.95 price comes after a price cut (25% off from $349.99), Walmart is giving you the best value for money compared to buying Mini Tins individually. Ascended Heroes Mini Tins will cost you between $32 and $50 on Amazon. At $233.95 for 10, Walmart’s listing means you’re paying the equivalent of $23.39 per Mini Tin — hitting the market price for each version on TCGplayer.

Pokémon TCG: Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Boxes are still available at Amazon for under $117. What's more, Perfect Order Booster Bundles are available to preorder for a new low price of $43.13 at Amazon.

Jigsaw has a new streaming home this month. All 10 movies in the Saw franchise arrive on March 19, 2026, on Netflix. There are nine main installments in the Saw franchise and one spin-off, Spiral. However, all 10 exist in the same twisted universe and headline Netflix's new movies arriving this month.

SAVE OVER $100: As of March 4, the 13-inch iPad Air (M3, 512GB, WiFi) is back to its lowest-ever price of $949 at Amazon. That's $150 off its list price of $1,099.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air 13-inch M3 $949 at Amazon
$1,099 Save $150   Get Deal

The release of the new M4 iPad Air is exciting news for a couple of different reasons. Of course, it means a brand-new iPad model is available to get our hands on, but it also means that some of the previous generations go on sale. This is the case right now for the 13-inch iPad Air (M3, 512GB, WiFi), which has dropped to $949 at Amazon.

This model of iPad Air usually retails for $1,099, so this deal saves you $150 overall. Not to mention, it marks a return to its lowest price point at the retailer. No better time to scoop it up.

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This sleek iPad Air features a high-quality 13-inch Liquid Retina display with P3 wide color, True Tone, and ultralow reflectivity that offers up great picture quality, no matter if you're streaming or scrolling. And on the inside, it boasts fast performance thanks to the M3 chip. This model even comes with 512GB of storage, which is perfect if you have a lot of apps, photos, or videos you're hoping to load.

The M3 iPad Air is our favorite iPad model for most people. Mashable's Samantha Mangino says in our roundup of the best iPads that, "It will be your new go-to device for streaming, reading, or creative projects. And if you plan on using your tablet as a substitute for a laptop, it'll work for that, too, especially when paired with the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air or Apple Pencil. It's fast, moves smoothly between apps, and has a stunning high-definition display."

If you've been searching for a new tablet, treat yourself to this great deal on the 13-inch iPad Air at Amazon.

TikTok doesn't encrypt your direct messages like other platforms including Instagram, Messenger, and X, which offer the privacy option.

According to a report by the BBC, TikTok will not add end-to-end encryption to DMs. It's not an update, but users might not know this about their messages. The company told the news outlet it believes encryption puts users at risk, as it stops law enforcement and safety teams from accessing private messages.

SEE ALSO: AI has made us all surveillance targets. This tool helps you fight back.

This argument has come under scrutiny with Big Tech companies when it comes to users handing over their private chats, as companies including Meta have been required to turn data, including DMs, over to police.

TikTok told Mashable its direct messages are encrypted, though not end-to-end encrypted. The difference? On its public safety page, TikTok reiterates that "your direct messages on TikTok are kept safe through encryption as they're being sent and stored. However, at the moment, end-to-end encryption isn't currently available."

The company also said that access to message content is limited to trained staff with a proven need to view them, whether part of compliance with law enforcement or safety investigations.

Featured Video For You Is U.S. TikTok censoring its users? So, what is end-to-encryption and why is it important?

A means of securing up your communication online, end-to-end encryption ensures that only you and your recipient can see your messages. Christianna Silva summarises it for Mashable:

End-to-end encryption means no one — not hackers, not government officials, not the company that owns your device — can read your message while it's being sent. It basically takes your message, jumbles it up, sends it, and unjumbles it once it reaches your recipient. So anyone who tries to intercept your message in between you and your recipient just gets a bunch of mess instead of the message itself. This is important because messages can pass through loads of hands on their way from sender to recipient, such as the service you use to send the message, the internet service providers involved, and servers that store the message data for any amount of time.

Apps and platforms like Signal, iMessage, and WhatsApp all provide end-to-end encryption, but it's not that straightforward — and the technology's backdoors and compliance with authorities can lead to major problems.

Apple's iMessage kicked off the party in 2011 as the first messaging service with end-to-end encryption enabled by default — Apple boosted it in 2024 with post-quantum encryption key PQ3. Law enforcement can request data from Apple with a search warrant, but they've been foiled before.

SEE ALSO: What is Lockdown Mode on iPhone and how do you enable it?

Meta has had a rollercoaster ride through end-to-end encryption, slowly adding it to platforms like Facebook and Instagram. WhatsApp switched it on in 2016, but law enforcement can request access to your metadata. As for Facebook and Messenger, between January and June 2025, over 374,000 data requests were logged by government sources with Meta, of which the company says 78 percent had data supplied. Some of these have made headlines; in the immediate aftermath of the reversal of Roe v. Wade, police used Facebook chat logs to prosecute a person seeking an abortion.

Signal has long been associated with its end-to-end encryption, becoming a communication method of choice for activists, journalists, and those worried about privacy. Signal says its services "do not provide access to emergency service providers like the police, fire department, hospitals, or other public safety organizations," though the FBI has found ways to spy on users.

Telegram, which has been around since 2013, doesn't have end-to-end encryption on by default. There are two types of encryption in Telegram, one for private and group chats and one for "Secret Chats" which adds another layer of encryption (that has to be enabled). But Telegram has had multiple controversies over the years, including a colossal revenge porn problem and a case of human rights violation.

Elon Musk's X replaced its DMs with Chat, which is end-to-end encrypted but not by default. Users must set up a private-public key pair when they first use the feature and X says it uses "a combination of strong cryptographic schemes to encrypt every single message, link, and reaction that are part of an encrypted conversation before they leave the sender’s device and remain encrypted while stored on X's infrastructure. Once messages are received by the recipient devices, they are decrypted so that they can be read by the user." It's not watertight though.

Zoom, meanwhile, straight-up lied about its encryption in 2020, resulting in a class-action lawsuit and an $85 million settlement.

There are plenty more apps and platforms using end-to-end encryption, which makes TikTok's decision stand out. And it's not the only reason TikTok is raising concerns with users.

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UPDATE: Mar. 4, 2026, 4:40 p.m. UTC Added information from TikTok provided to Mashable after request for comment.

If you think shells are limited to just Bash and Zsh, think again. True to the Linux philosophy, a shell is just another program that you can swap in and out; in some cases, with remarkable effects.

The U.S. may have launched "major combat operations" in Iran, but Trump is being surprisingly candid about the things that might go wrong.

"He was asked about what the war's 'worst case scenario' might be, and his answer was not the best," says Stephen Colbert in the Late Show clip above, playing footage of Trump telling reporters the worst case would be "we do this, then someone takes over who's as bad as the previous person."

"Yeah. Yeah, that could happen," says Colbert. "Because sometimes, you get a really bad guy out of office and then like four years later you get the same guy back. And he's somehow worse."

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SAVE $200: As of March 4, the Apple 15-Inch MacBook Air M4 is on sale for $999 at Amazon. That's a 17% discount off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple 15-inch MacBook Air M4 $999 at Amazon
$1,119 Save $120   Get Deal

It’s a big week for Apple products, and if you’ve been waiting for a MacBook deal, now might be the perfect time to grab something for less.

As of March 4, the Apple 15-inch MacBook Air M4 is sporting a $200 discount, bringing the price down from $1,199 to $999. This deal is only available for the starlight color.

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This is a seriously powerful laptop, and we even ranked it as our favorite laptop of 2025 and 2026. Thanks to the M4 chip, you'll get a super fast performance alongside an all-day battery life, no matter what tasks you're tackling. It's great to bring on the go thanks to its sleek, ultra-portable design.

This MacBook also benefits from Apple Intelligence features. These help you work and create more efficiently, with tools to help you write, edit, and more. There's also a 12MP camera with Center Stage, so your video calls will always be in incredible quality, and you'll be kept front and center throughout.

The benefits don't end there: this model also has a six-speaker system, Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe, WiFi 6E, and seamless integration with your iPhone and any other Apple devices.

Pick up this great MacBook deal at Amazon now.

xTool has been a staple of the laser engraving industry for many years, but, until now, they’ve only focused on the hobby space. 2025 marked the year that xTool decided to step into the industrial space, starting with the xTool P3—and it’s their most powerful, yet easiest to use laser the company has ever released.

TL;DR: Live stream South Africa vs. New Zealand in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free on ICC.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 T20 World Cup action is coming to a dramatic conclusion. South Africa vs. New Zealand is the first semi final on the schedule.

South Africa have been totally dominant in this tournament, beating the likes of India, West Indies, and Zimbabwe to reach this stage. They also beat New Zealand back in the initial group stage, so they'll be coming into this clash with a lot of confidence.

New Zealand bounced back from that defeat to South Africa, but they've not hit top form just yet. They lost out to England and had their all-important match with Pakistan abandoned due to rain, so we've not seen the Black Caps at their best. Could that change in this massive semi-final matchup? You can find out without spending anything at all.

If you want to watch South Africa vs. New Zealand in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is South Africa vs. New Zealand?

South Africa vs. New Zealand in the 2026 T20 World Cup starts at 8:30 a.m. ET on March 4. This game takes place at the Eden Gardens.

How to watch South Africa vs. New Zealand for free

South Africa vs. New Zealand in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup is available to live stream for free on ICC.TV.

This free live stream on ICC.TV is only available in select regions (see full list of territories here), but anyone can live stream the T20 Cricket World Cup for free with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with free access. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can live stream on ICC.TV from anywhere in the world.

Live stream South Africa vs. New Zealand in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to 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 a location with access

4. Visit ICC.TV

5. Watch the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup 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 live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for ICC.TV?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ICC.TV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• 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 connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch the 2026 T20 World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE OVER $30: As of March 4, the Garmin Forerunner 55 is on sale for $169 at Amazon. This deal saves you $30.99 on its list price of $199.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Forerunner 55 $169 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $30.99   Get Deal

If you have running goals you're hoping to hit in 2026, it's worth investing in a fitness tracker. While some can come with very high price tags, there are quite a few on the more affordable side, including the Garmin Forerunner 55. If this model has caught your eye, now is a great time to check it out as it's dropped to $169 at Amazon.

This is a 15% discount from the Garmin Forerunner 55's regular list price of $199.99, allowing you to save just over $30. All of the available colors are down to this price right now as well, so you can have your pick of the black, aqua, or white models.

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For those with a steady running routine, the Garmin Forerunner 55 is worth grabbing thanks to features like PacePro for GPS-based pace guidance, training tools like race time predictions and finish time estimates, and its heart rate monitor. Plus, it boasts a battery life that lasts up to two weeks in smartwatch mode or up to 20 hours in GPS mode.

In our breakdown looking at whether the Garmin Forerunner 55 can replace a personal coach for half-marathon prep, writer Lois Mackenzie highlighted that, even if this watch can't replace a dedicated coach, it's still a great pick for everyday workouts. She said that, "For those with a more ambitious running goal, a running coach can provide personalized guidance, tailored workouts, and personal adjustments that a watch can’t replicate. For most casual or beginner runners, the Forerunner 55 is more than enough to shave seconds off your PR."

Don't miss out on the chance to grab the Garmin Forerunner 55 on sale for $169 right now at Amazon.

Donald Trump has announced that he's planning to attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner for the first time as U.S. president, but rather than a comedian — who traditionally makes jokes about the sitting president — it'll be hosted by mentalist Oz Pearlman.

Jimmy Kimmel is unimpressed, but in the clip above he does suggest a possible solution.

"This feels like a cop-out to me, and I want to address the president directly on this," says Kimmel, turning to face a side camera. "Mr President, please: Let me host this dinner. I've never asked you for anything before. Can you imagine you, me, the commissioner of the FCC, all at a table together? Think of the ratings! I'll even throw in an award."

In fairness, people would definitely tune in.

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SAVE $330: As of March 4, the Acer Aspire 14 is on sale for $499.99 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Aspire 14 $499.99 at Amazon
$829.99 Save $330   Get Deal

If you've been looking for an affordable laptop that still delivers strong performance, head to Amazon and take a look at the latest deal on the Acer Aspire 14. As of March 4, this model is down to $499.99 from $829.99 — a saving of over $300 on list price.

Despite the low price, this is a seriously impressive laptop. It's built with an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor (Series 2), so it can handle multitasking and creative work with ease, and no lagging. Plus, the 14-inch WUXGA display means everything you do will be displayed in sharp, vibrant quality.

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For work on the go, it more than performs thanks to its 22 hours of battery life. It's lightweight too, ideal for taking with you on travels or a commute.

Built-in AI tools will help make your daily tasks easier. Things like Copilot plus PC features and AcerSense make things quicker and smoother. These tools are easy to access too, just press the AcerSense key on the backlit keyboard to enjoy all the benefits.

Get this laptop deal at Amazon now.

Apple's latest budget iPhone is here, and you're faced with a classic dilemma: Do you splurge on the iPhone 17 (starting at $799), or is the more wallet-friendly iPhone 17e ($599) good enough?

Sure, they share some DNA — including the exact same A19 chip — but make no mistake: these two devices have key differences that could make or break your decision. We're talking price, design, display tech, battery life, and, of course, camera prowess.

SEE ALSO: How to preorder the iPhone 17e, Apple's new budget phone

At $599, the iPhone 17e is the budget-friendly model that delivers a surprising number of flagship features, while the iPhone 17 gets you some real upgrades — but are those upgrades actually worth $200?

Let's break it all down.

iPhone 17e vs iPhone 17: Price and specs The iPhone 17. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

At $799, the iPhone 17 comes with the following specs:

• A19 chip with 5-core GPU

• 256GB of storage

• 6.3-inch display with ProMotion (120Hz)

• Always-On display

• Dynamic Island

• Camera Control button

• Action button

• MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W

Meanwhile, the iPhone 17e packs nearly the same internals at $599. Here are the specs:

• A19 chip with 4-core GPU

• 256GB of storage

• 6.1-inch display (60Hz)

• Standard notch

• Action button

• MagSafe wireless charging up to 15W

Featured Video For You Finally: Apple's iPhone 17E gets MagSafe -- and a fun color iPhone 17e vs iPhone 17: Design

The most immediate difference between the iPhone 17e and iPhone 17 is the color selection — and it's significant. The iPhone 17 comes in five colors:

• Black

• White

• Mist Blue

• Sage

• Lavender

The 17e is limited to:

• Black

• White

• Soft Pink

If variety matters to you, the 17 has the clear edge.

Both phones share an aluminum design with Ceramic Shield 2 on the front, but the iPhone 17 weighs slightly more at 6.24 ounces versus the 17e's 5.96 ounces. The 17e is also a touch more compact overall (6.1 inches versus 6.3 inches), which some people will actually prefer.

The bigger design story, though, is what the 17e is missing: Dynamic Island. The iPhone 17e sticks with the traditional notch, while the iPhone 17 features Apple's pill-shaped interactive cutout that doubles as a live notification hub. If Dynamic Island has become something you rely on, that's a real trade-off.

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iPhone 17e vs iPhone 17: Display The iPhone 17e lock screen and Dynamic Island. Credit: Apple The iPhone 17 cut-out design. Credit: Apple

When it comes to displays, the gap is more noticeable than it looks on paper. Both phones feature a Super Retina XDR OLED panel with 460 ppi and standard Apple perks like True Tone, Wide Color (P3), and Haptic Touch. But the similarities start to fade fast.

The iPhone 17 has a larger 6.3-inch screen with ProMotion adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz and an Always-On display — features the 17e simply doesn't have. The 17e runs at a standard 60Hz on its 6.1-inch panel.

Brightness is another gap. The 17e tops out at 800 nits typical and 1,200 nits HDR. The iPhone 17 cranks up to 1,000 nits typical, 1,600 nits HDR, and a blazing 3,000 nits outdoors. If you spend a lot of time in bright sunlight, that difference is very real.

If you're all about a smoother, brighter, more dynamic display, the iPhone 17 has a meaningful edge. Otherwise, the 17e's screen is still excellent by any standard.

iPhone 17e vs iPhone 17: Cameras

This is where things get interesting — and a little complicated. The iPhone 17e has a single lens on the back but uses Apple's 2-in-1 camera system, combining a 48MP wide-angle and a 12MP 2x Telephoto in one.

iPhone 17e:

• 48MP Fusion Main camera (26mm, f/1.6)

• 12MP 2x Telephoto

• Digital zoom up to 10x

• Night mode, Portrait mode, Photographic Styles

• 12MP TrueDepth front camera

iPhone 17:

• 48MP Fusion Main camera (26mm, f/1.6)

• 12MP optical-quality 2x Telephoto (52mm)

• 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide (13mm, 120° FOV)

• 4x optical zoom range

• Digital zoom up to 10x

• 48MP macro photography

• Spatial photos and Spatial video

• 18MP Center Stage front camera with autofocus

The iPhone 17's 48MP Ultra Wide lens is a meaningful upgrade — you get macro photography, spatial video recording, and a much wider field of view that the 17e simply can't match. The 17 also packs a next-gen 18MP front camera with Center Stage, compared to the 17e's 12MP TrueDepth. If photography is a priority, the iPhone 17 is the stronger pick.

That said, the 17e is no slouch. For most everyday shooting — portraits, landscapes, and social media — it delivers results that would have been considered flagship-quality not long ago.

iPhone 17e vs iPhone 17: Performance Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Here's a genuine surprise: the iPhone 17e and iPhone 17 are powered by the exact same A19 chip with a 6-core CPU and 16-core Neural Engine. The only difference is the GPU — the iPhone 17 has a 5-core GPU, while the 17e has a 4-core GPU.

In real-world use, you're unlikely to notice that gap unless you're doing heavy gaming or GPU-intensive tasks. Day-to-day performance — app launches, multitasking, Apple Intelligence features — will feel essentially identical on both devices.

The 17e also packs Apple's new C1X modem, which is reportedly twice as fast as the C1 found in its predecessor, the iPhone 16e. Both phones support 5G, though the iPhone 17 adds mmWave 5G support and Wi-Fi 7, while the 17e tops out at Wi-Fi 6.

iPhone 17e vs iPhone 17: Battery Life

Apple's battery test clocked the iPhone 17e at up to 26 hours of video playback. The iPhone 17, despite its larger size, comes in at up to 30 hours. So the 17 does have the edge here, but the 17e's 26 hours is genuinely impressive and likely more than enough for most users.

Fast charging also differs slightly. The iPhone 17 can hit 50 percent in 20 minutes with a 40W adapter, while the 17e reaches 50 percent in 30 minutes with a 20W adapter. Both are MagSafe-enabled — a first for the budget line — but the 17 supports faster MagSafe charging at 25W versus the 17e's 15W.

If you spend any time online — regardless of whether you've wanted to — you've encountered AI. Whether AI is an interest or a concern, it's hard to avoid it either way. For those choosing to be a little more analog and spend more time with their head in a book rather than online, you may think you can easily avoid AI, but we have some bad news. AI is coming for your books, too.

AI-written books are flooding the e-book and audiobook markets on both Libby and the Kindle Store. Luckily, AI-narrated audiobooks are easy to spot once you know what to look for. E-books, on the other hand, that's when things get a little tricky. If you want to keep AI out of your Kindle or e-reader library, here's how to spot AI-generated e-books and audiobooks in the Kindle Store and beyond.

How to identify AI-written books

Identifying AI-written books requires a bit of sleuthing since that information isn't disclosed. Kindle Direct Publishing, the platform on which indie and self-published authors directly upload their books to the Kindle Store, does require authors to disclose if their book has AI-generated or -assisted content; however, that disclosure is not shared publicly.

So what are you to do? Here's how we recommend identifying AI-written books.

Search the author's name Investigating the author, Devendra Singh on GoodReads shows an expansive but certainly unrealistic collection of titles. Credit: Screenshot / GoodReads

If you find a book online and have your suspicions around AI, the best thing you can do is search the author's name. An internet search should direct you to a website or publisher information, but if the search isn't turning up anything, then it's probably AI.

Some AI-authored content does appear somewhat legit, with a GoodReads page, but look carefully at the listings. If the author seems to have a random assortment of titles or more published work than realistically possible, that's another sign that it's AI and not a person penning them.

Look for typos in the title and description "We do promise" and "We are promise to you" are the obvious signs of AI-written content. Credit: Screenshot / Amazon

A common tactic of AI-generated books is to copy popular titles, so if you're looking at a title and it seems a little off, then there's probably a reason for that. AI-written content often gives itself away with awkward phrasing and typos. Read through the title and descriptions carefully for errors, as that often means it's AI-generated and didn't get a human edit.

Examine the cover for AI-generated images We ran one of Devendra Singh's book covers through AI or Not, and it's likely AI-generated. Credit: Screenshot / AI or Not

If you don't want AI anywhere in your book, then you should also check the cover. AI art is getting a little too good these days, and because of that, you might not recognize it immediately. We've tested several tools to detect AI art, and AI or Not has an 80 percent success rate.

How to spot AI-read audiobooksCheck the narrator AI-narrated audiobooks will have virtual voice, digital voice, or synthesized voice listed narrator. Credit: Screenshot / Amazon

Even if a book isn't written with AI, that doesn't mean the audiobook is safe. AI-narrated audiobooks are becoming all too common, with Libby users spotting books with a digital voice or synthesized voice listed as the narrator. Unlike with AI authorship, AI narration is openly disclosed and easy to spot.

In the age of on-demand everything, it’s no surprise that we can get "dates" (and I use that term loosely) hot to go with the tap of a button. Thanks to classic hookup apps like Tinder and newcomers like Pure, finding a sexy new friend can be just as easy as ordering a pizza. As for the quality, well, that’s about the same as your pizza — hit or miss, depending on the time of day, where you're located, and how hungry you are.

Fortunately, you’ve got me, your resident dating app expert (though I prefer modern-day Carrie Bradshaw), to guide you to the promised land, aka the best hookup apps.

I’ve spent the past three years (yes, years) researching, downloading, and testing dozens of the top dating apps to find the best ones for all kinds of daters, including the one-night-stand crowd. From discrete sexting apps to dating sites for serious relationships, I've swiped through them all. I also consulted a panel of sex and relationship experts to make sure my picks are solid.

How to get the most out of hookup apps

My number one rule is to be brutally honest about what you’re looking for. You’re here for a good time — so own it. That means staying in your lane; don't go looking for a one-night stand on an app like eharmony.

"Hookup apps help prevent situations where people are on mainstream dating sites with the intention of having a casual hookup but are unclear about these intentions," Suzannah Weiss, resident sexologist for Biird and author of Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject, tells Mashable. "They also give women a space to be openly sexual creatures without judgment."

And here's a little insider secret I picked up from Alexander Liebisch, the CEO and founder of TinderProfile.ai: Timing is everything. He found that people messaging on Tinder's "free tonight" feature after 10 p.m. on a weekend had a 45 percent higher chance of hooking up.

So, whether you're looking for a one-night stand, a regular FWB situation, or just a space to explore your sexuality, I've got you covered. Based on all my hands-on testing and expert consultations, I’ve broken down the best hookup app for every type of person and mood.

Recent updates to this guide

• Hinge: Hinge just keeps getting better, so I’ve bumped it up higher on my list as of October 2025. Its user base is growing, and my own recent tests on the app have been surprisingly positive.

• Sniffies (added September 2025): I've added Sniffies, the map-based app for queer men, because it's been gaining a lot of traction. (It got a little too spicy for Apple and was pulled from the App Store, so it's now technically a dating site.) Don't say I didn't warn you about the NSFW content.

• FetLife (added September 2025): FetLife is my new favorite "Honorable Mention." It's not your typical hookup app; it's more of a social network for the kink community (and, oddly enough, the best hookup app for gamers). Just remember: it's a community, so don't treat it like Tinder.

Why some popular hookup apps didn't make the cut

You might notice a few apps that pop up in ads or other lists are missing here. That’s intentional. I swipe through the good, the bad, and the downright sketchy so you don’t have to. For an app to make my list, it has to be effective, safe, and worth your time.

Here's a shortlist of apps that didn't make the cut this year:

• Wild: You’ve probably seen ads for this one. On paper, Wild sounds like the perfect casual dating app. In practice, the paywalls are aggressive, the distance filter doesn't work, and you have to pay for anything that's even remotely useful. Unless you're willing to spend serious cash upfront (and hope for the best), the experience feels limited compared to more open apps like Tinder.

• DOWN: This app (formerly "Bang With Friends") is known for its simple "Get Down" vs. "Get Date" feature. It sounds clever, but in reality, the experience is messy at best. Many users report feeling scammed by subscriptions that don't deliver matches, or finding that the few real people on there are... let's say "odd." It’s hard to recommend an app when the main user complaint is "Is anyone real?" Hard pass.

• Facebook Dating: Yes, Facebook has a dating section, and it’s surprisingly massive (and completely free, which is huge). While it's a decent option for casual dating, the vibe tends to be a bit more "friends of friends" and "relationship-focused" than the anonymous, no-strings energy you get from apps like Pure or Feeld. (For Mashable's Chance Townsend, signing up was "the most uneventful dating experience" of his life.) It's worth a shot if you're already on Facebook, but it didn't quite crack my top tier for hookups specifically.

Apps I've cut from the list

• Plenty of Fish (removed January 2025): POF went through a rebrand recently, and honestly, I'm not impressed. My latest tests showed they got rid of key features like free messaging for non-matches, and I kept running into the same old profiles. At the end of the day, it just doesn't offer anything special that other apps aren't already doing better, so it's off the list.

• Match (removed August 2025): I know some people say they've found casual hookups on Match, but that's not what it's for. Match is where you go to find a serious, long-term relationship, and I still recommend it for that. But for a hookup? You're just fishing in the wrong pond, so I've removed it from this guide to avoid any confusion.

SAVE $500: As of March 4, Amazon has the DJI Mini 5 Pro drone on sale for 30% off at $1,099, down from its list price of $1,599. 

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo $1,099 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $500   Get Deal

If you’ve been wanting to upgrade your aerial photography setup, this week might be a great chance to do so. Amazon has DJI’s Mini 5 Pro on sale for almost a third off its list price, which is a pretty good deal. The Mini 5 Pro is an excellent sidekick for outdoor adventurers, aerial photography hobbyists, and professionals who want a compact, portable device.

The drone is palm-sized when folded and fits easily into a pocket. This model comes replete with 42GB of internal storage, so you can film your adventure or venture entirely uninterrupted. Its portability and compactness do not compromise its ability to capture high-quality video, either. As previously mentioned, the drone records 4k footage with a 60fps (frames per second) frame rate. DJI claims this drone will render your content in crisp, clear, highly defined detail.

The drone also comes with the DJI RC 2 (the remote control) that has a large screen in the center to see what you’re filming in real time. 

Buy the TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro AR glasses Best Deal RayNeo Air 4 Pro AR/XR Glasses $249 (save $50 at Amazon) Shop Now Buy direct RayNeo Air 4 Pro AR/XR Glasses $249 (save $50 at RayNeo) Shop Now Limited-Edition RayNeo Air 4 Pro × Batman Limited Edition $269 (save $50 at Amazon) Shop Now

TCL has finally released its RayNeo Air 4 Pro smart glasses, alongside two limited-edition Batman-themed models. These AR glasses are the world's first smart glasses with an HDR display, and they're designed for watching movies and playing video games. While most smart glasses are priced at $500 or more, the new RayNeo AR glasses are priced at $299, which could shake up this emerging market.

On top of that, early buyers can also save $50 when they purchase the glasses from TCL or Amazon, bringing the price to $249 for a limited time.

When TCL showed off its RayNeo Air 4 Pro smart glasses at CES 2026, I was impressed, and I wrote at the time that competitors like Xreal should be worried. Despite the relatively affordable price tag, the glasses have super-bright OLED displays that support HDR10, something never seen before in smart glasses. TCL describes them as "head-mounted TVs," and that's what they feel like.

I've been testing the glasses over the past few weeks, and overall, I'm still impressed, despite their quirks. Like other AR glasses, you connect them to a compatible laptop, smartphone, or gaming device via the included USB-C cable.

SEE ALSO: Hands-on: The RayNeo Air 4 Pro smart glasses are like wearing an OLED TV on my face Introducing the RayNeo Air 4 Pro smart glasses Take a look under the hood. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

The RayNeo Air 4 Pro smart glasses launched today. The base version is priced at $299, but TCL also released two limited-edition, Batman versions of the glasses, the Limited Justice and Limited Chaos Editions. The Batman glasses come with additional accessories like a Batman cowl that attaches to the frames; they have an MSRP of $319, though they're also discounted at launch to $269.

The RayNeo Air 4 Pro smart glasses have an impressive list of specs. While they're priced like a pair of budget smart glasses, they have a premium display.

• Style: Augmented reality smart glasses

• Display: 0.6-inch micro-OLED display

• Screen size: 201 inches

• Brightness: Up to 1,200 nits

• Resolution: 1920x1080 (3840x1080 for 3D)

• Refresh rate: Up to 120 Hz

• Color accuracy: ΔE

• Sound: Bang & Olufsen surround sound (4 speakers)

Using a Vision 4000 processor and dual OLED displays, the Air 4 Pro glasses can create a virtual screen up to 201 inches in size. I wore them to watch Mad Max: Fury Road and The Hobbit (not to mention countless YouTube videos), and the display is gorgeous, though it has some problems, too. As I noted in my initial review, the display has a flickering problem and lacks the 3D features Xreal recently introduced.

SEE ALSO: These color-changing sunglasses are like something out of a sci-fi movie Are the RayNeo Air 4 Pro smart glasses worth it? These AR/XR glasses have a huge price advantage over their rivals. Credit: TCL

If you're an early adopter looking to try out AR glasses, it's hard to argue with the $299 price tag. For reference, Xreal recently launched a more affordable version of its glasses called the Xreal 1S, priced at $449.

There's no doubt that the RayNeo Air 4 Pro smart glasses have a better display. The Xreal 1S has a peak brightness of 700 nits, compared to 1,200 with the RayNeo. In addition, the micro-OLED displays on the Air 4 Pro are noticeably more vibrant, ideal for watching movies and gaming.

However, before you get too excited, Xreal glasses still have some big advantages. First off, Xreal can project much larger virtual screens. You can also control the screen distance and angle for optimum viewing, and set the display to anchor in a specific spot in your eyeline or move with your head. There's no anchor feature with the RayNeo glasses.

If you're looking for AR glasses that can be used as a productivity tool, giving you an extra screen while you work, then Xreal is by far the better choice. But for entertainment, the Air 4 Pros are going to be hard to beat, especially for the price. If money is no object, then check out the ROG Xreal R1 AR Gaming Glasses.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro AR/XR Glasses $249 at Amazon
$299 Save $50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro × Batman Limited Edition $269 at Amazon
$319 Save $50   Get Deal

Gas streams gush into the Milky Way's center and pile up into thick clouds, but for some reason, those ingredients don't materialize into as many stars as astronomers would expect.

An international team has mapped nearly the entire 650 light-year span of the galaxy's core to try to figure out why. Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array in Chile, the researchers took the most detailed image of its kind — and the facility's largest mosaic picture to date. The effort, called the ALMA Central Molecular Zone Exploration Survey, traces the cold gas and dust that fuel star birth in space.

The survey targets the so-called Central Molecular Zone, which contains tens of millions of times the sun's mass in dense material, surrounding the supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*. The region runs warmer and far more chaotic than most of the Milky Way's disk. By standard estimates, that much dense gas should produce stars at a steady pace. Instead, the region forms them about 10 times slower than predicted.

That mismatch has puzzled astronomers for years. Getting answers would inform how researchers understand galaxies more broadly, and the heart of the Milky Way offers the only galactic center close enough for this type of intricate study.

"It's a place of extremes, invisible to our eyes, but now revealed in extraordinary detail," said Ashley Barnes, a European Southern Observatory astronomer who helped obtain the new data, in a statement.

SEE ALSO: NASA no longer plans to land on the moon in the next Artemis mission

The researchers' findings are laid out in five papers accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, with a sixth on the way. 

The new survey stands out because prior ones forced a tradeoff. Some covered wide areas but blurred the small structures that matter most. Others zoomed in on a handful of clouds but lost sight of how those clouds connect to the bigger picture.

But the ALMA survey, called ACES for short, accomplishes both in one fell swoop. It reveals structures small enough to pinpoint dense clumps that could host developing stars — while still spanning almost the entire star-forming gas supply in the core.

The team also measured more than 70 chemical fingerprints in the gas, such as silicon monoxide, methanol, and acetone. Each responds to different physical conditions, so by comparing them, researchers can assess density, temperature, and motion, and identify where shocks ripple through clouds or where young stars add energy.

Those measurements allow scientists to trace how gas flows inward, where it bunches up, and where it finally collapses into stars. Or, where it fails to.

"The [core] hosts some of the most massive stars known in our galaxy, many of which live fast and die young," said ACES leader Steve Longmore, an astrophysics professor at Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom, in a statement. 

Several ALMA antennas in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile point toward the central regions of the Milky Way above. Credit: ESO / B. Tafreshi

Some of those enormous stars end their lives in hypernovas, sometimes called super-supernovas, Longmore said, releasing more than 10 times the energy of a normal supernova. Those colossal star explosions usually collapse into black holes and are thought to produce long gamma-ray bursts, the universe's most powerful explosions. 

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The researchers paired the observations with computer simulations that follow gas as it streams along the galactic bar, forms clouds, and reacts to radiation and explosions. They turn those simulations into mockups and compare them directly with the survey data to test which scenarios best match what they actually see.

Armed with the full data, the team will now probe where star formation switches on and off along the gas stream, whether certain orbital points trigger collapse, and how gravity and other factors compete to control the rate of star birth.

"We believe the region shares many features with galaxies in the early universe," Longmore said, "where stars were forming in chaotic, extreme environments."