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Android reigns supreme over foldable phones at the moment. It has a lead stretching several years, with a wide range of designs and prices. You can get everything from an affordable flip phone like the Motorola Razr through to three-panel beasts like the Huawei Mate XT2.

Ryobi's 18V ONE+ power tool system is massive, but one thing that's often overlooked is the battery pack. In recent years, the biggest advancement isn't a tool, but the new "EDGE" battery technology that powers them. It's a pack that promises extra power, longer runtime, and more. If you're in the market for a new battery, here's what you need to know and whether it's worth buying.

Game Changer Season 8 ended with — not a bang — but buzzers!

In "Last Talent Standing," Dropout collided a talent show competition with Squid Game, where each axed contender means prize money is added to a hovering piggy bank. Host (and Mashable 101 honoree) Sam Reich not only welcomed 23 contestants on stage to compete, but also three celebrity judges, made up of celebrated stand-up comedians Gianmarco Soresi, Kumail Nanjiani, and Maria Bamford.

The results were a wildly entertaining and incredibly stressful finale, in which beloved Dropout contributors did everything from performing magic tricks and improvising a Disney musical number to feats of strength and celebrity impersonations, to taking some big, unpredictable swings.

How did this all come together? Was Soresi cast to play the heel? What mini-games got cut before cameras rolled? And when can fans purchase their own Sam Reich beach towel on the Dropout store?

SEE ALSO: 'Bluey' has an unexpected Dropout connection beyond the 'Game Changer' shock

Mashable Entertainment Editor, Kristy Puchko, sat down with Sam over a video call to dig into the secrets of "Last Talent Standing."

Here's what we learned:

Gianmarco Soresi was originally cast as a contestant.

In the "Last Talent Standing," Reich jokes that the comedian who's previously crushed on "Crowd Control" was intentional in the "Simon Cowell seat," alluding to the American Idol judge's reputation for being tough on contestants.

Speaking with Puchko, Reich explained, "[Soresi] was going to be a contestant in the episode and had no idea what the creative was. After we had booked Kumail and Maria, I realized that they were both very nice, and that I had almost like a creative problem I needed to solve for. Insofar as I needed someone there with a little bit more edge. And I knew that Gianmarco had what it took. So, he got upgraded from player to judge."

SEE ALSO: Dropout's Sam Reich offers advice for emerging content creators What mini-games were cut from "Last Talent Standing?"

As alluded to throughout the finale, this talent show took a lot of time to shoot. So, some ideas for the game were cut before the cameras rolled.

"The original game design here was that, in between every round, there was a mini-game where they all competed in the same talent," Reich told Mashable. "I think we had like a jazz scat off. We had best Scottish accent. So, producers were doing math in the days leading up to the shoot, and everyone was telling me this episode was going to be too long."

So, when two of the 25 intended contestants dropped out, it was decided not to replace them and to kill the mini-games.

What if the contestants found the boxes' contents before round 2?

Reich and Game Changer's team had planned for that.

"We were fully prepared for that to happen," Reich said of the boxes breaking, "And in fact, if it had been a natural discovery, we would have just allowed for them to start hauling things out of boxes earlier. Our cast, despite their chaotic tendencies, are so rooting for the show to be successful that many of them did break that paper in advance, not realizing that they were supposed to. And they were like sidebar-ing with our production designer Chloe [Badner], in between takes, being like, 'I'm so sorry, I hate to say this. Like, I I tore the paper. Is that okay?' And Chloe had to be like, 'Fine! It's fine.'"

Puchko asked if the design of the judges' podiums, which looked like boxes but were torn open, was meant as a clue to the contestants. Reich confirmed it was, adding, "That was like a little visual clue I was putting there for the cast in case they would take it as a clue."

Will Dropout sell the teased Sam Reich beach towel?

Game Changer production assistant-turned-contender Kaylin Mahoney revealed she's also worked as Sam's assistant. In that role, she revealed to the judges that she had once been tasked with making beach towels of the Dropout CEO.

Puchko asked what these beach towels looked like. Reich clarified the towels depict him "full head to toe, me and my suit," but noted, This is so important, and I'm so glad you bring this up. I did not have beach towels made with my image on them. Elaine [Caroll, Reich's wife and Game Changer writer/producer] had beach towels made with my image on them for my birthday. And I was not aware of this [in advance]."

As to whether this birthday bit will result in official Dropout merch, Reich responded, "I think if demand as a result of this episode and this conversation is enough, you can rest assured."

How to watch: Game Changer is now streaming on Dropout.

Beware: There's a new malware making the rounds and it's targeting your Android device.

Cybersecurity researchers at Zimperium recently discovered a new strain of Android malware, called RatHat, and have linked it to threat actors based out of China.

"RatHat incorporates novel techniques for persistence and leverages generative AI for operational control," Zimperium's zLabs researchers said in a report.

As the cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes explains, "RatHat gives a live AI assistant the keys to the accessibility tree of the infected device." This unique weaponization of AI allows the attacker to figure out "where to tap or scroll, rather than following a hardcoded script."

As with most malware, RatHat initially infects the device through social engineering tactics. The attacker convinces a target to download a seemingly legit app, such as Google Chrome, through a fake website posing as the Google Play Store. The user downloads the app but unknowingly installs the RatHat malware on their device.

SEE ALSO: Malware found hidden inside popular 'Meccha Chameleon' game maps

From there, RatHat requests accessibility permissions while still masked as a legitimate application.

Once the target provides RatHat with those permissions, the malware activates Wireless Debugging under Developer Options. RatHate weaponizes this actual Android developer feature to pair with the device. 

With this access, RatHat is able to capture text messages and create overlays on targeted apps, steal passwords, and multi-factor authentication codes in the process.

"RatHat uses AI to intelligently navigate and control the device interface in real-time, making its operations more adaptable and harder for security software to detect than traditional, scripted automation," Zimperium explains. 

However, the AI component isn't the only unique aspect of RatHat. The overlay acts like a keylogger, recording the user's raw touch inputs directly on the device.

Android users should protect themselves from RatHat by avoiding any downloads from untrustworthy sources. Unfortunately, once RatHat has infected a device, the only way to remove it is to factory reset the device.

This week's recommendation roundup for Paramount+ subscribers in the U.S. is a glorious mixed bag. Up top, it features a new addition to starring Russell Crowe that, despite it getting skewered by critics and a 45% on Rotten Tomatoes, remains the No. 1 movie on the service this week. Meanwhile, Joe Dirt, which we wrote about two weeks ago, is still hovering in the top 10.

Are you planning to record some professional audio but don't own a good microphone? Turns out, that old phone you've been keeping in your drawer for years is nearly as good, if not as good, as some of the cheap USB microphones out there. With some setup around your recording space, you can get good audio quality without compromising your wallet.

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for one Windows PC for $16.97 through Sept. 27, with seven Office apps and no recurring fees.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows $16.97
$229 Save $212.03   Get Deal

Microsoft Office doesn’t necessarily have to come with another recurring payment. Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows is $16.97 (reg. $229) through Sept. 27, giving you a lifetime license for one Windows PC.

• Lifetime license to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access

• One-time purchase for one Windows 10 or 11 PC — device-based activation

• Improved inking, new Excel analysis tools, upgraded PowerPoint features

• Outlook refinements for email and contact management

• Instant email with download link and license key — redeem within 7 days

• All languages supported, updates included for the 2019 version

If your to-do list needs serious tools without a serious bill, this is the easy win — install once, get to work, and keep moving. Grab a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows for $16.97 (reg. $229) through Sept. 27.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Excel is usually filed under spreadsheets, yet its formulas and macros can carry software that goes well beyond budgets and pivot tables. From schedulers to games to financial dashboards, these three kinds of programs show how far a workbook can stretch before it needs a separate application.

Ever wanted to hear your group chat's worst message set to a pop chorus? Snapchat can do that now.

Snap announced a batch of new AI features for Lens+, its premium tier, on Monday, and the headliner is Create Song. Press and hold a message in a chat, tap Create Song, and pick a genre such as pop or rock. Snapchat turns your message into a short original track, and you can preview it before sending it to your friend.

Credit: Snapchat

If your chats are more visual than musical, the rest of the update is for you. AI Photoshoot is built to rescue near-miss Snaps, fixing shots where someone blinked, looked away, made a funny face, or got caught in bad lighting.

Credit: Snapchat

And AI Remix lets subscribers take a Snap a friend sent and reimagine it in a new style as a reply. There's also a sticker tool that restyles custom, saved, or received Stickers, and AI-enhanced fonts that can turn captions into bubble letters, spray paint, foam, or fuzzy textures.

Credit: Snapchat Credit: Snapchat

For anyone who has lost track of Snap's subscription tiers, Lens+ launched last year as a tier within Snapchat+, which Snap says now has more than 25 million subscribers worldwide. It already gave subscribers exclusive Lenses and AR effects, along with generative tools like the Imagine Lens for image generation and AI Clips, which turns a single photo into a five-second video. Those tools run on a monthly generation allowance, and Lens+ costs $7.99 a month.

As for when you can try it, the new features are rolling out now in all markets where Lens+ is available, though Snap says access may vary by region over the coming weeks. This is the latest move in a busy few weeks for Snap; on Sept. 10, the company launched Snapchat Plans, an event-planning feature that puts it up against Partiful.

Put those moves next to today's news, and Snap's line gets easy to see. AI is welcome in your chats, where it's a premium perk. Fully AI-generated video won't get recommended in Spotlight, where strangers find you.

The real test comes after the novelty wears off. Snapchat+ has more than 25 million subscribers, and Snap is putting its most compute-heavy tools behind the $7.99 Lens+ tier, so it needs people to keep paying for AI that lives in their chats, similar to Meta One.

SEE ALSO: Meta One bundles creator and business tools — for a monthly fee

If Snap's approach works, expect the next round of Lens+ features to look a lot like this one: small, playful tools built around how friends already talk to each other.

There was a time when creating automations on your phone required powerful third-party apps with complex tools. Nowadays, most Android phones come with built-in automation features. You can easily set them up without much effort.

Microsoft replaced Battery Saver with Energy Saver in Windows 11 a couple of years ago. The new feature includes an always-on toggle that, if left enabled, can reduce your PC's performance without you even noticing. Combine that with a power mode set to favor efficiency, and your Windows PC might throttle itself even when it's plugged in.

My home network has grown into a small lab with computers, virtual machines, storage devices, and plenty of other things that occasionally decide to behave strangely. When something goes wrong, figuring out what happened can be difficult because the useful information may already be gone by the time I start investigating.

The Apple iPad is an exceptionally long-lived device. There's no reason to upgrade them frequently and in my personal experience these tablets don't show much battery wear over the years either.

Waze is one of the most popular navigation apps, thanks to its excellent live road alerts, traffic avoidance, and crowdsourced hazards and map corrections. If you use Waze for navigation, a few key settings are worth changing for the best experience.

Most people run a speed test the same way you check weight on a scale, as if one number tells the whole story. The number tends to look good, but it is a really narrow way to judge your connection quality. That Wi-Fi speed test has almost nothing to do with how a connection works in real conditions. It's better to know what it is doing before you assume it is correct.

It's a good time to be Guy Ritchie on Netflix. The Brit grit master has got a hit series, The Gentlemen, in its second season that's in the streamer's Top 10. Plus, the movie that series is based on is here, as is the recently added The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, both of which we have the details on below as part of this week's roundup that is decidedly savage.

For a single unit conversion, Google wins on convenience. But if I have a bunch of measurements to convert, I don't want a scrap of paper covered in random numbers, or to keep copying values out of a spreadsheet and back again. Excel's CONVERT function lets me keep the measurements, units, and results together, while reusing the same formula for as many conversions as I need.

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max come with Apple's latest mobile chip: the A20 Pro. The foldable iPhone Duo will also run on the new chip.

Built on a 2nm process, the A20 Pro has a 6-core CPU with two super cores and four efficiency cores, a 7-core GPU with Neural Accelerators, and a dual 16-core Neural Engine that handles AI tasks.

But does any of that techspeak translate into actual performance?

To find out, we put the iPhone 18 Pro (the Pro Max yields near-identical results) to the test. And yes, in synthetic benchmark tests, this thing blows everything else out of the water. The latest Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset in the Galaxy S26 Ultra, is the only one that comes close. To make sure I'm testing it right, I've run the Geekbench 6 and 7 tests on a perfectly clean, freshly activated iPhone 18 Pro with no third-party apps installed and nothing running in the background.

The A20 Pro proves Apple silicon is undefeated

In Geekbench 7's CPU test (the standard benchmark we use when reviewing laptops and smartphones), the iPhone 18 Pro achieved a 3,959 single-core score and a 10,854 multi-core score. And in the Geekbench 7 GPU test, it scored 61,194.

The benchmark results are quite clear: Apple's iPhone 18 Pro is the new performance king. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable GPU performance is amazing, too. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

We also ran Geekbench 6, an earlier version of this benchmarking tool, as the scores are easier to compare with older devices. The results here were even more impressive. The iPhone 18 Pro scored 4,673 in the single-core CPU test and 12,483 in the multi-core Geekbench 6 test.

The older Geekbench 6 test is similarly dominated by Apple's latest. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

For comparison, here are how some other recent flagship phones performed on Geekbench 6 in our testing:

• Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: 3,524 single-core, 10,827 multi-core

• Google's Pixel 11 Pro XL: 1,800 single-core, 5,000 multi-core

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: 3,097 single-core, 10,277 multi-core

• Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: 3,779 single-core, 9,778 multi-core

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: 2,800 single-core, 9,100 multi-core (we've gotten results as high as 10,049)

You get the idea: These phones are nowhere near Apple's new silicon, at least when it comes to synthetic test performance. (Transitioning Apple to its own in-house processors was one of John Ternus's biggest achievements before he was promoted to CEO.)

The performance improvement versus the iPhone 17 Pro Max is hardly surprising, but it's still notable that the iPhone 18 Pro beats its predecessor by roughly 25 percent across the board.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 18 Pro hands-on: What's new with the cameras

Will you feel the difference in real-world usage? Yes and no.

The new phones are undeniably faster than anything else out there. But, as noted in my iPhone 18 Pro review, it's not all that noticeable unless you're switching from a much older device. The thing is, Apple's iPhones have been incredibly fast and powerful for a while, so the fact that the latest phone is that much faster than the previous one is just icing on the cake. Unless you're an AI superuser, it's unlikely you'll push the new iPhones to the limit.

One last note: The iPhone Duo is also running the A20 Pro chip, and we're eager to see whether it scores higher or lower than the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. It's the same chip, yeah, but the rest of the device is different enough, starting with that enormous foldable display, for us to be intrigued about the Duo's scores. We'll have more on that once the iPhone Duo is in our hands next month.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro, 256GB Save up to $1,200 at T-Mobile
  See It at T-Mobile See It at AT&T Wireless See It at Walmart iPhone 18 Pro Max, 256GB Save up to $1,200 at T-Mobile
  See It at T-Mobile See It at Walmart See It at Apple.com

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Connecting your Android phone to a new Wi-Fi network is usually something you do without thinking. You find the network, enter the password, and get on with whatever you need an internet connection for. But that quick process can expose you to problems you might not notice until it's too late, especially when you're using networks you don't fully control.

Apple's product lineup typically consists of a "regular" product and a pricier, Pro variant that comes with a number of extra features, at least a few of them so good that most people will always go for the Pro version if they can afford it.

Apple's latest AirPods 5 are so good that they flip this dynamic on its head. They're an improved, yet significantly cheaper version of the AirPods 4 released in 2024. In many ways, they're as good as the AirPods Pro 3. In some ways, they're actually better. And that's saying a lot given that the AirPods Pro 3 are my favorite earbuds ever.

AirPods 5: Compact yet versatile ANC earbuds

A couple of years ago, Apple made a big leap by introducing two versions of the AirPods 4, one with ANC (active noise cancellation) and one without. I remember the company's briefings on those products, in which they put extra emphasis on how hard their engineers had to work to create proper active noise cancellation on earbuds that don't have an acoustic seal. That design choice was on purpose: Not everyone likes to have earbuds with foamy seals stuck in their ear canal (that's what the best noise-cancelling earbuds do to get additional passive noise cancellation).

Apple's AirPods 5 are a big upgrade over last year's model, and the price is even better. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

But the AirPods 4 with ANC cost $179, a significant price hike from the basic version that cost $129 (and often go on sale for only $99).

This year, Apple decided to completely forego that price premium by adding an improved version of ANC to the basic AirPods 5, which still start at $129. Even better, the premium AirPods 5 with a wireless charging case are actually cheaper than their predecessor at $149, even as Apple raises prices on the rest of its product line.

What's the difference between the two AirPods 5 models?

The biggest difference between the $129 and $149 Airpods 5 is the wireless charging case, but Apple also added another "Pro" feature to the AirPods 5 — a special area on the neck of the earbuds that you can swipe on to adjust volume. It's a nifty feature that I use all the time, though it does take some time to get used to.

So, are the more expensive AirPods 5 worth the investment? If it were just the case, I would say no, as wireless charging isn't essential for me; plugging a nearby USB-C cable into the case was almost always a more convenient option.

But you lose out on other features if you buy the cheaper variant. Battery life is shorter (four hours vs. five hours), and you don't get that volume swipe sensor.

So, I think you should definitely dish out those extra 20 bucks for the wireless charging variant, if you can.

Great sound has never been cheaper A lot of features packed into a small case. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The common wisdom about headphones and earbuds is that those with an "open" design will have a brighter, more airy sound, and that's pretty much the case here. The AirPods 5 have a clear sound with punchy drums and plenty of bass, but not so much to make it overwhelming. You won't get crazy levels of detail here, but for earbuds at this price range, they sound pretty great.

I was particularly interested in how they'll handle live performances, as that's where open-design earbuds should shine. One of my favorite tracks for this is Cage the Elephant's cover of The Stranglers' 'Golden Brown,' and it sounds excellent, with every instrument perfectly balanced in the mix. Arne Domnérus' legendary 'Jazz at the Pawnshop' album is another live favorite of mine. The AirPods 5 handled it well; I got a decent sense of the stage width (not so much the depth, though) and heard the clapping and the chatter of the people at that concert.

The AirPods 5 will struggle with very complex stuff such as large classical ensembles. Dense, heavy songs, like Meshuggah's 'Clockworks' can sound slightly muddled. But that's true of pretty much every pair of earbuds I've ever tested. On the flip side, intimate performances such as Portishead's 'Roseland NYC Live' sound wonderful.

You can swipe on the side of the earbuds to adjust volume; another feature inherited from the Pro model. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Comparing them to other Apple earbuds, they sound pretty much the same as the AirPods 4 to me, which isn't a bad thing. The AirPods Pro 3 do sound quite a bit better, with more details across the entire range, but again, some may prefer the slightly more open sound of the AirPods 5.

No tip, no problem

When it comes to noise cancellation, there's no comparison. The AirPods Pro 3 do it better. In fact, that particular model has such a strong passive/active noise cancellation combo that it beats Apple's own AirPods Max 2 headphones, and has basically reduced my need to carry larger headphones around to zero.

However, what Apple has done with the AirPods 5 in terms of ANC is impressive. During a briefing at Apple, I heard the AirPods 5 reduce (simulated) airplane engine noise, and it was just OK, probably because the room was dead quiet otherwise. But later, on an actual plane, I realized they did a pretty good job of reducing both the engines' drone and the passengers' chatter.

It's far from perfect. The AirPods 5 are pretty great at reducing the lower portion of the audio spectrum, but a higher-pitched hiss always remains audible. But for buds that just sit freely in your ear without a snug fit, turning on ANC and hearing it do its thing feels almost like magic.

Note to future users: The actual position of the buds in your ear matters a lot; if you feel the ANC isn't working as good as it should be, try adjusting the AirPods 5 in your ears a little and see if you can hear an improvement.

Battery life isn't great, but who cares The AirPods 5 come in two flavors: With or without a charging case. You can recognize the ones with the charging case by the tiny speaker grille on the bottom. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Battery life on the AirPods in general has never been a big issue for me. I don't think about it much, and both the buds and the case charge quickly enough that I just plug them in whenever it's convenient, and I almost never run out of battery.

That said, if you're a heavy user, have in mind that the AirPods 5 have four to five hours of battery life on their own (with ANC on), and up to 20 to 22 hours of battery life if you count the extra juice you get from the case (depending on the variant). The AirPods Pro 3, on the other hand, last eight hours on one change, and get up to 24 hours of battery life with the case.

Despite this drawback, the AirPods 5 have a big advantage over the AirPods Pro 3: Their case is a lot smaller and more likely to fit even in the tightest of pockets.

A few "pro" extras

The new AirPods 5 also inherit a few software features from the Pro model, including Conversation Awareness, Adaptive Audio, and Transparency. You also get Live Translation and Siri AI.

I use all of Apple's headphones and pretty much skip Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness completely. I'm just too used of switching noise cancellation on and off myself, as well as physically removing my earbuds/headphones when talking to someone. Transparency, however, is pretty great for those moments when you don't want to stop the music, but still need to hear what's happening around you.

Finally, thanks to iOS 27, you can now find a custom EQ equalizer for your AirPods, Pro or otherwise.

Credit: Screenshot by Stan Schroeder Credit: Apple

If you're counting, the list of features that the AirPods 5 get from the AirPods Pro 3 is long enough that it almost feels like Apple is undercutting its own pricier model. Somewhat unusual for Apple, but I'm not complaining.

As for the software features that remain exclusive for the Pro, this includes some health-related features such as Hearing Test and Hearing Protection, as well as a heart rate sensor for workouts. They're nice features to have, but not essential for music listening.

AirPods 5: Should you buy them?

The AirPods Pro 3 are still my favorite earbuds. They have better noise cancellation and better sound than the AirPods 5. But I don't mind the tight seal of their foamy tips in my ear.

If you want earbuds without such tips, or if you want earbuds under $150, then the AirPods 5 are actually a better option. They're smaller, have comparably great sound, a similar set of features, and decent noise cancellation despite the lack of a proper seal of your ear canal. Yes, the battery life is a little shorter, but they also come at half the price. At $129 (or $149 if you opt for the wireless charging case), the AirPods 5 are a no-brainer.

Now, fingers crossed, we'll see these buds go on sale during the upcoming October Prime Day or Black Friday events.

Apple AirPods 5 earbuds $129 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Apple.com Shop Now at Walmart Apple AirPods 5 (wireless charging) $149 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Target

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