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The PlayStation 5 is getting more expensive. On August 21st, the PS5's suggested retail pricing will leap to $550—a full $50 increase over the original launch price. Digital and Pro versions of the PS5 will also receive a $50 price hike.

Shopping for your first car in can feel like scrolling through a never-ending menu—everything looks tempting, but you have no idea what’s actually good. SUVs dominate the lots, EVs are dropping in price (but not exactly “budget-friendly”), and the used market still hasn’t fully recovered from its wild ride.

The Alien franchise doesn't have the best track record with relying on synths, from Ian Holm's Ash to Michael Fassbender's David. David Jonsson's Andy brought a little ethical nuance in Alien: Romulus. And in Noah Hawley's FX series, Alien: Earth, Timothy Olyphant finds a complex character in Kirsh.

Prodigy's chief scientist at the Neverland research facility and the overseer of The Lost Boys, the company's hybrid group of androids with human consciousness, Kirsh is tasked with protecting and guiding these literally childlike minds as they're deployed into disaster zones and begin to study alien life. As Mashable's Belen Edwards writes in her review, "His monitoring of the Lost Boys doesn't just read as very, very detached parenting, it also reads as him shepherding the next generation of tech that will make him obsolete. Tough gig."

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' episode 3: Inside the big Xenomorph fight

So, how does Olyphant himself see Kirsh?

"It appears to me that perhaps he sees in these Lost Boys a better humanity, a better world," Olyphant told Mashable. "I think he feels that he is above and beyond everyone around him and and these kids represent something even better than him. I think there's a part of him that is trying to get across to them that they can they can go beyond what I've been able to go beyond, what I've been able to do."

As we've seen in the first three episodes of Alien: Earth, Kirsh is a stoic synth who seems to hold a distinct opinion about humanity — that life inevitably ends in death, and attachment is folly. "All we can do is watch and take names," he says in episode 1.

We get a glimpse of Kirsh's frank thoughts about the plight of humans in his monologue to Marcy/Wendy (Sydney Chandler) in episode 1, in which he tells her frankly that her brother, Joe (Alex Lawther) will eventually die. "Used to be food, you know. Humanity," he says. "Your lives were short and filled with fear. Then your brains grew. You built tools and used them to conquer nature. You built impossible machines and went to space. You stopped being food. Or, I should say, you told yourself you weren't food anymore."

Adarsh Gourav, Timothy Olyphant, and Jonathan Ajayi in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Patrick Brown / FX

Notably, there's a frankly hilarious scene in Alien: Earth episode 3, in which Olyphant shows Kirsh's lack of understanding of the need for human connection with one sweeping motion. Kirsh, accompanied by hybrids Slightly (Adarsh Gourav) and Smee (Jonathan Ajayi), first encounters Weyland-Yutani vessel head of security Morrow (Babou Ceesay) aboard the crashed USCSS Maginot.

During this tense discussion, somehow the concept of friendship comes up amidst this alien-invested crash site. Standing defiantly behind Kirsh, Slightly proclaims in the most earnest way possible, "Everyone needs friends." Reader, when I tell you the slow-turn that Olyphant delivers as Kirsh in the most pained expression, filled with almost second-hand embarrassment (a rarity for a synth), is one of the best things you'll see on TV this year, I'm not kidding. "I have to admit, I don't remember doing that," says Olyphant.

But there's a side of Kirsh we haven't seen yet, which Olyphant only alludes to: "I think it's tricky to trust what he's really thinking."

Alien: Earth episodes drop weekly on Hulu and FX at 8pm E.T. on Tuesdays.

SAVE 25%: As of Aug. 20, you can get the Samsung Galaxy Ring for $299.99, down from $399.99, at Amazon. That's a 25% discount, or $100 off.

Samsung Galaxy Ring $299.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $100 Get Deal

If smartwatches aren’t your style, but you’re interested in tracking your steps, heart rate, and more, you’ve got another option: smart rings. They’re slim, stylish, and ideal for anyone who isn’t worried about answering phone calls or texts from their wrist.

Right now, a Mashable Choice Award winner, the Samsung Galaxy Ring, is on sale for its lowest price ever. As of Aug. 20, you can get it at Amazon for just $299.99. That’s a 25% discount and a $100 savings from its usual $399.99 price. While the price is the same for all sizes, it may vary depending on the color you choose.

SEE ALSO: We tested the top fitness trackers of 2025: See our favorite wearables and smart rings

According to Mashable’s former East Coast Tech Editor, Kimberly Gedeon, the Samsung Galaxy Ring outperformed her Apple Watch Series 9. “If I had to choose one over the other, I'd opt for Samsung's new darling device,” Gedeon writes in her review.

The ring is packed with health-tracking features and, as Gedeon notes, has a better battery life than the Apple Watch. It offers:

• Sleep and menstrual cycle tracking

• Heart rate and stress monitoring

• Blood oxygen level tracking

“The stress detector on the Galaxy Ring is the best feature on this wearable,” writes Gedeon.

The only major downside is that it’s not compatible with iOS. But if you have a Samsung Galaxy device, Gedeon says you’d be doing yourself a “disservice” by not making this purchase.

SAVE $20: As of Aug. 20, the JBL Charge 6 is on sale for $179.95 at Amazon and JBL's website. That's 10% off its suggested retail price of $199.95 and its best deal since launch.

Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Charge 6 $179.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $20 Get Deal

Out of all the Bluetooth speakers we've tried here at Mashable — and we've tried a lot over the years — we think the JBL Charge 6 is currently the best option for most people. It's "big enough to produce sound that will fill an outdoor party, yet still small enough to live on your bookshelf," our reviewer writes. "Plus, it can charge other devices with a USB-C connection."

One of the only things we don't love about the Charge 6 is its price. At $199.95, it's $20 more expensive than its predecessor, the Charge 5, and $50 pricier than JBL's popular Flip speakers. We think the Charge 6 still worth buying at its usual MSRP given its excellent sound quality and versatility, but it's even easier to recommend now that it's on sale: As of Aug. 20, Amazon and JBL have it listed for $179.95, or 10% off.

According to the Amazon price-tracking site CamelCamelCamel, this is the Charge 6's lowest price since launching in April. It also marks the first time its blue, pink, purple, red, white, and squad colorways have ever gone on sale.

The Charge 6 was also on sale at Best Buy at the time of writing, but it was four cents more.

SAVE $14: As of Aug. 20, get the Anker Prime charging station for $55.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $69.99. That's a 20% discount and its lowest price yet.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Anker Prime Charging Station $55.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $14.00 Get Deal

Do you always manage to run your phone or laptop out of battery and find yourself scrambling for a charger? We've all been there. Make a change by choosing a charger that can handle all your important devices at once, and keep everything you need in one place. Change up your charging life with a great discount on an Anker gadget that can make staying powered up much, much simpler.

As of Aug. 20, get the Anker Prime charging station for $55.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $69.99. That's $14 off for a discount of 20%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Anker's latest portable power station charges to 100% in less than an hour: Preorder now

This 6-port, 200W charger can power six devices at once, with each USB-C port supporting 100W max. When you use two at the same time, they can output that much with no sweat, meaning you can charge something like a 14-inch MacBook Pro back to max capacity in about a half hour. Beyond that, you've got slots for your phone, tablet, Kindle, or whatever you need to power back up to 100% in a flash.

This charging station uses Anker's MultiProtect and ActiveShield 3.0 system to keep it from burning up or otherwise malfunctioning while it manages fast charging, so you don't have to worry about leaving it alone to do its thing. Just plug in your favorite gadgets that you've drained and come back to fully-charged goodness.

If you're tired of fumbling around with multiple bricks and cables, this is for you. Grab one while it's down to its lowest price yet.

SAVE $370: The new Anker Solix C1000 v2 portable power station is on sale at Anker for preorder for only $429, down from the list price of $799. That's a massive 46% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C1000 v2 $429 at Anker
$799 Save $370 Pre-order Here

Portable power stations are the best new product that deserve a spot in your garage. They're wonderful for packing along on a camping weekend, and they can keep your home powered up during a power outage. Anker makes some of the most affordable models, and the brand just announced the new Anker Solix C1000 v2 with a super quick recharging ability. If you're interested in this new model, check out this awesome preorder deal.

As of Aug. 20, pre-order the new Anker Solix C1000 v2 at Anker for just $429, down from the normal price of $799. That works out to a shocking 46% discount that takes a massive $370 off the list price.

In Mashable's testing, the original Anker Solix C1000 portable power station earned itself a Mashable Choice Award. With this new version, Anker changed up a few aspects of the super versatile portable power station.

For starters, the new v2 of the Solix C1000 is lighter and smaller, which means it's now even easier to carry around the campground or move from room-to-room during a power outage. This model weighs under 25 pounds, compared to the original version's weight of about 28.5 pounds.

But where Anker really went hard is the recharging ability. The Solix C1000 v2 can go from 0 to 100 percent charged in just 49 minutes with standard AC wall charging. That means you only need an hour's notice that the power might cut out to get your portable power station in line to provide 1,024Wh of juice.

SEE ALSO: Take $1,500 off the major Bluetti Apex 300 power station with backup batteries and solar panels

In real-life conditions, 1,024Wh of power can keep a CPAP machine going for 15 hours or a refrigerator for up to 14 hours, plus recharge a phone over 67 times. During a power outage, the Solix C1000 v2 can keep your WiFi router going for 60 hours. Pair that with a fully charged cell phone, and you can keep in touch while also catching up on shows until the power returns.

Anker also mentions this model has super quiet operation, registering just 20 decibels when power under 200W, which is similar to the noise you'd expect from a whisper-quiet library setting.

While it's on a preorder deal that saves a whopping 46%, snag the new Anker Solix C1000 v2 for just $429. That sale price makes the v2 cheaper than the current sale price of $449 on the original Anker Solix C1000.

SAVE $100: As of Aug. 20, get the Google Pixel Watch 3 for $299.99, down from its usual price of $399.99. That's a discount of 25%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Google Pixel Watch 3 $299.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $100 Get Deal

Looking to pick up a new smartwatch? While both Apple and Samsung have tempting options, you shouldn't sleep on the Google Pixel line, especially if you're already invested in the Android ecosystem. It's a good time to capitalize on deals based on Google's current product line as well, especially as we're anticipating a new Pixel Watch to be announced during today's upcoming Made by Google event. Ahead of the news, you can save big on the Pixel Watch 3 at Amazon.

As of Aug. 20, get the Google Pixel Watch 3 for $299.99, down from its usual price of $399.99. That's $100 off and a discount of 25%.

SEE ALSO: All the best smartwatches for every wrist and interest

The Pixel Watch 3 boasts a sleeker, more lightweight design than its predecessor, as well as a screen that's 10% larger. It's twice as bright, too, with a slew of features that can help you plan and organize your day as well as stay on top of your fitness journey.

Not only does it offer ways to track heart rate, sleep quality, and a variety of other health metrics, but it can track your runs, other exercise, target cardio load, and much more to help keep you on track.

Beyond its health-centric features, it's got everything you'd expect from a smartwatch, from the ability to make and take calls, text, and keep up with your schedule. It has a battery life of 24 hours if you use its always-on display and 36 hours in Battery Saver mode too, so it doesn't need to be recharged often.

In short, it's just about everything you need from a smartwatch — that is, until a new model is announced. Get yours for a much more affordable price before that happens.

Good news for Verizon customers traveling abroad.

The telecom company has expanded access for international calling and texting with its prepaid brands Simple Mobile and Total Wireless. Starting on Aug. 28, customers get boosted coverage outside of the U.S. for their existing plans. Long gone are the days of swapping in local SIM cards or scavenging for WiFi, even with super cheap plans. With people traveling internationally now more than ever, the Simple Mobile and Total Wireless upgrades offer value for travelers on a budget.

SEE ALSO: The fastest mobile services have been ranked, and there’s a clear winner

For Simple Mobile customers, all plans get unlimited texting, unlimited calling, plus more high-speed data per plan. These are significant data upgrades from what was previously included, according to CNET (Note: Mashable and CNET are both owned by Ziff Davis).

Here's what the new offerings look like based on each plan compared to what was offered before, per CNET:

• $25 plan: 15GB high-speed data, unlimited calling to 100+ countries (previously 3GB)

• $30 plan: 20GB high-speed data, unlimited calling to 125+ countries (previously 5GB and 100 countries)

• $40 plan: 30GB high-speed data, unlimited calling to 125+ countries (previously 15GB and 100 countries)

• $50 Unlimited World plan: Unlimited data, talk and text. Unlimited calling to 200+ countries (previously 100 countries)

• $60 Unlimited World+ plan: Unlimited access to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband, with unlimited data, talk and text. Unlimited calling to 200+ countries from the U.S., plus international roaming access in 140+ countries (previously 100 countries and didn't have international roaming)

Total Wireless, Verizon's other brand that offers no-contract plans also upgraded its unlimited plans with expanded roaming access. Now, the cheapest plan for $40 a month has roaming in Canada and Mexico and unlimited calls in 85 countries. The higher tiers also have unlimited calling and roaming in more countries, plus the added perk of Disney Plus. Here's how these updates break down:

• Total Base 5G Unlimited ($40): 5GB Mobile Hotspot, roaming in Canada/Mexico, unlimited international calling to 85+ countries, and unlimited international texting to 200+ countries

• Total 5G Unlimited ($55): 15GB Mobile Hotspot, roaming in 30+ countries, unlimited international calling to 180 countries, unlimited international texting to 200+ countries, and 6 months Disney+ included

• Total 5G+ Unlimited ($65): Unlimited Mobile Hotspot, roaming in 30+ countries, unlimited international calling to 180 countries, unlimited international texting to 200+ countries, Disney+ included, and a $10 international calling credit

When Google launched its budget-friendly A-series earbuds back in 2021, Mashable's reviewer had a hard time thinking of earbuds that offered better value for what you get. Now, Google has revealed the Pixel Buds 2a, which arrive with the affordable price tag of $129. The new buds were announced ahead of the Made By Google event, where the company also unveiled the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and the new Pixel Watch 4.

With the announcement of the Google Pixel Buds 2a on Aug. 20, the mid-range earbuds are striving to stand out yet again: they will be the first earbuds in the A-series to come with active noise cancellation. Though they're $30 more than the launch price of Google Pixel Buds A, at this price, they're one of the most affordable options available for active noise-cancelling earbuds from a major brand. The earbuds are available for preorder at Google, Amazon, and Best Buy as of Aug. 20, and will be available starting Oct. 9. You'll have you pick between two colorways: hazel and iris.

Google Pixel Buds 2a $129 at Amazon
Pre-order Here Google Pixel Buds 2a features Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Though the active noise cancellation is the most major upgrade on the Pixel Buds 2a, it's far from the only one. Here's a breakdown of what to expect with these earbuds:

• Active noise cancellation with Silent Seal 1.5

• Transparency mode

• Seven hours of playback with ANC on, 20 hours of charge in case

• Tensor A1 chip for clearer audio and access to Google Gemini features

• 11mm dynamic speaker driver

• Stereo spatial audio

• Custom equalizer

• IP54 water and sweat resistance

• Twist-to-adjust stabilizer for earbud fit

• Replaceable batteries in charging case

As I mentioned above, these earbuds will cost $129, which is a price increase over the $99 Pixel Buds A. Of course, the Pixel Buds A only had passive noise cancellation, no spatial audio, and a shorter battery life at five hours per charge.

While $129 isn't the lowest price you can find on ANC earbuds — we've been impressed by what EarFun and Raycon have to offer for under $100 — it is on the low-to-mid end of the price range from a bigger brand. The Sony CF-710 earbuds, Amazon Echo Buds, and Samsung Galaxy Buds FE clock in at $130, $120, and $99, respectively.

What else is new with the Pixel Buds 2a? Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Compared to pricier Pixel Buds, the Buds 2a have ever-so-slightly worse battery life and do without wireless charging, same as the original Pixel Buds A. Minus a full color-wrapping on the earbuds, the design is aesthetically very similar. Ultimately, these look to be a promising pair of budget-friendlier earbuds — we'll see if they hold up in our incoming full review.

SEE ALSO: Samsung announces AI-powered Galaxy Buds3 FE Pixel Buds 2a: Where to preorder

As we mentioned up top, the Pixel Buds 2a won't be available until Oct. 9, but you can preorder them starting on Aug. 20. Here's everywhere they're available so far:

Where to preorder Google Pixel Buds 2a Amazon Google Pixel Buds 2a $129 Pre-Order Here Google Google Pixel Buds 2a $129 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Google Pixel Buds 2a $129 Pre-Order Here

UPDATE: Aug. 20, 2025, 1:13 p.m. EDT This article formerly stated that the Pixel 2a earbuds cost $129.99, instead of their actual price of $129. We apologize for the inaccuracy and have corrected all of the pricing above.

Google's pro-grade Pixel 10 is ready for its time in the spotlight.

At its Made by Google event on Wednesday, Google will officially reveal the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL phones. Like the rest of the Pixel 10 lineup, many of the upgrades this year are pretty incremental, but that doesn't mean some of them won't be extremely meaningful. Pixel 10 Pro starts at $999, and the Pro XL, which is essentially the same phone with a bigger display and battery, starts at $1,199.

We recently got the chance to preview the new Pixel 10 series, and we'll be publishing an in-depth review in the days ahead. While the Pixel 10 Pro does deliver improvements over last year's Pixel 9 Pro, they're definitely incremental improvements. We'll reserve judgment on whether it's worth the upgrade until we've finished testing the new Pixel 10 series, but until then, you can check out the specifications and decide for yourself.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 10 Pro $999 at Amazon
Get Deal Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL: Specifications The Pixel 10 Pro's somewhat muted color options. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Both the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL come in four colors: Moonstone, Jade, Porcelain, and Obsidian. They come with considerable RAM and storage upgrades over the base Pixel 10, though they have the same processor.

Here are the relevant specs for Pixel 10 Pro:

• 6.3-inch display with 1280x2856 resolution and 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate

• 3,300 nits peak brightness

• 16GB RAM

• 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB storage

• Google Tensor G5 chipset

• 4,870mAh battery

• Rear cameras: 50MP wide, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP telephoto

• Front camera: 42MP

Most of the Pixel 10 Pro XL's specs are exactly the same, with an obvious difference being a 6.8-inch display instead of 6.3 inches. Pro XL also has a very beefy 5,200mAh battery inside it, though Google is promising more than 30 hours of battery life on both devices. As with all other Pixel 10 phones, both of these handsets also support Qi2 wireless charging. One other minor thing to note is that the Pro XL's base storage is 256GB this year, so there isn't a 128GB option anymore.

The Pixel 10 Pro: What about the cameras? The big reason to opt for the 10 Pro? The superior camera array, front and back. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

The cameras this year haven't undergone huge (or any) changes in terms of megapixel counts, but one big thing Google did is increase Super Res Zoom capabilities from 30x all the way to 100x. We'll see how that works in practice, but given the excellent telephoto zoom quality on previous Pixel phones, this is potentially very exciting. The newer and bigger batteries are also a big plus, considering the fact that battery life was a common complaint with previous Pixel phones.

If you're interested in shooting 8K video, you'll need to purchase either the Pro or Pro XL, as the base model Pixel 10 doesn't have this capability.

Pixel 10 Pro: What else is new? Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Besides the 100x zoom, the biggest changes of note are the Qi2 wireless charging capabilities and new AI features powered by Google Gemini.

Google has also provided a smattering of new AI features to all of the Pixel 10 phones, including live translation during phone calls and a new "Magic Cue" feature that can do context-sensitive things like bring up your flight info while you call the airline. Daily Hub also provides a new, well, hub for all the information you might need in a day, including the weather forecast and your schedule. This seems very similar to the Now Brief feature from recent Samsung phones, so Google is keeping up with the Joneses here, so to speak.

Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL: Release date and preorder

Google Pixel 10 Pro ($999) and Pro XL ($1,199) launch on Aug. 28 and are available for preorder now.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 10 Pro $999 at Pixel
Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 10 Pro XL $1,199 at Pixel
Pre-order Here

At its Made by Google event on Wednesday, Google officially revealed the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. The follow-up to last year's excellent Pixel 9 Pro Fold isn't a huge, revolutionary jump, but the incremental changes Google did make are pretty important for fans of foldable phones. Case in point: This is the first foldable phone with an IP68 water and dust protection rating.

The device starts at $1,799 and arrives on Oct. 9, a bit later than the other new Pixel 10 phones. It also comes in just two colors, Moonstone and Jade. We recently got the chance to get an up-close look at the new Google foldable, and we've got all the details.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold: Specs

Here are the relevant specs for Pixel 10 Pro Fold:

• 6.4-inch external display with 1080x2364 resolution and 60-120Hz adaptive refresh rate

• 8-inch internal display with 2076x2152 resolution and 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate

• 3,000 nits of peak brightness on both displays

• 5,015mAh battery (30+ hours of expected battery life)

• 16GB RAM

• 256GB/512GB/1TB storage

• Google Tensor G5 chip

The new 10 Pro Fold is a smartphone with a tablet-sized display. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable Yep, that's a Pixel Fold. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

There are a few differences from last year's model that are worth noting. The external display is a tenth of an inch bigger, but more importantly, it has a smaller bezel this time. Brightness peaked at 2,700 nits last year, so the Pixel 10 Pro Fold should be better equipped to deal with sunlight. You'll also get a newer Tensor G5 chip for improved performance, as well as a significantly larger battery that should be more durable than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's battery was.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold $1,799 at Amazon
Pre-order Here Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold: Cameras Certainly not as thin as Samsung's latest. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

And here are the camera specs:

• Three rear cameras: 48MP wide, 10.5MP ultrawide, 10.8MP telephoto

• Front and inner selfie cameras: 10MP

You'll also get a trio of rear camera lenses, as usual, but they don't appear to be horribly different (if at all) from the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's camera array, at least according to the spec sheet. It seems like the Pixel 10 Pro will be the one to get if you're really into photography, at any rate.

What else is new? It's not quite as thin as Samsung's new Galaxy Z Fold 7 Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable But still, it looks nice. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Aside from the battery and display upgrades, Google has a few other things to look forward to. For starters, Google says it upgraded the hinge this year, and it promising 10 years of folding out of this phone. Beyond that, it has an IP68 water and dust protection rating, which is very good for a foldable.

Qi2 wireless charging is new here and will appeal to plenty of folks. Pixel 10 Pro Fold also has access to the same new AI features as the other Pixel 10 phones, including Daily Hub, a new one-stop-shop for your daily schedule, the weather, and any news you might want to read before you head out for the day. Also on the software side is Instant View, which lets you preview photos you've taken before taking them while the phone is unfolded.

How to pre-order the Pixel 10 Pro Fold

It's worth reiterating that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold will launch later than the other Pixel 10 devices, on Oct. 9. That said, you can pre-order it via the Google Store and Amazon now.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold $1,799 at Pixel
Pre-order Here

At the Made by Google 2025 event, Google officially unveiled the Pixel Watch 4. Thanks to a steady stream of Pixel leaks, we had a pretty good idea of what to expect. Mashable also got the chance to preview the new smartwatch at a recent event, and we can finally share a detailed first look at the new wearable.

We can also share some good news: The Pixel Watch 4 won't arrive with a price increase. The 41mm version starts at $349.99, and the 45mm version starts at $399.99. You can pre-order them now at the Pixel Store and Amazon.

Google’s sleek smartwatch line is back, and this year’s model brings a suite of upgrades designed to smooth over some of the rough edges from last year’s Pixel Watch 3. The Watch 4 promises longer battery life, noticeably faster charging, improved health and fitness features, and a fresh set of eye-catching color options to go with its minimalist design. It's a solid alternative to the recently released Galaxy Watch 8, with its love-it-or-hate-it "squircle" design.

Left: Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable Right: Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable SEE ALSO: Pixel 10 announced: Specs, pricing, preorder details

On paper, the Pixel Watch 4 looks like a clear step up from the Watch 3 — but it’s not a total reinvention. Much of the functionality remains the same, meaning last year’s model is still perfectly serviceable if you’re not itching to upgrade. That said, if you’re debating whether the Watch 4 is worth the leap, here’s a breakdown of what’s changed, and what hasn’t changed, with Google’s latest flagship smartwatch and fitness tracker.

New: Bigger display, longer life, faster charging

The Pixel Watch 4 is also getting a bump in display tech. Google says the new screen is roughly 10 percent larger than the Watch 3, with a nearly edge-to-edge design that makes the updated Wear OS 6 and Material 3 Expression UI look and feel more animated and lively. On top of that, brightness has been cranked up considerably, topping out at a dazzling 3,000 nits compared to the Pixel Watch 3’s 2,000. That means better visibility outdoors and sharper contrast when you’re checking notifications on the fly.

Battery life has also seen some fine-tuning. On the 45mm model, the Pixel Watch 4 promises up to 40 hours of runtime, while the smaller 41mm version manages about 30 hours. Kick in Battery Saver mode and you’re looking at 72 hours on the 45mm and 48 hours on the 41mm. Charging is faster too: Google claims the Watch 4 can jump from 0 to 50 percent in just 15 minutes, a nice improvement over the Watch 3, which took 24 minutes to hit the same mark.

Finally, if you're a fan of the Google Gemini AI chatbot, a Google press release says the Pixel Watch 4 is "our best watch for experiencing Gemini." Of course, Google would say that.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable SEE ALSO: Pixel 10 Pro & Pro XL announced: Specs, pricing, preorder details Not new: Fitness and health features

When it comes to health and fitness, the Pixel Watch 4 sticks to the same playbook as its predecessor. You’re still getting the deep Fitbit integration that tracks heart rate, sleep, SpO2, stress, and workouts, plus Google’s AI-powered Running Insights for performance feedback. ECG readings, irregular heart rhythm notifications, fall detection, and emergency SOS are also carried over unchanged.

The Pixel Watch 4 hasn’t introduced any groundbreaking new health sensors or fitness features this year — it’s largely refining the same Fitbit-driven ecosystem that debuted on the Pixel Watch 3. However, Google has added improved GPS tracking for more precise route mapping and distance measurement, particularly useful for runners, cyclists, and hikers.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable New: Colors

The Pixel Watch 4 is getting a fresh coat of paint when it comes to design. Google is offering the same two case sizes (41mm and 45mm), and both now come in four finishes: Matte Black, Polished Silver, Champagne Gold, and the all-new Rose Quartz.

Band options have also expanded, but you’ll still find staples like metal links, woven, leather, and stretch bands. Google is also adding new shades across the board to better complement the updated cases. It’s not a radical redesign, but the new colorways give buyers more flexibility to mix and match and lean into either sporty or luxury aesthetics.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable Pixel Watch 4: Release date, pricing, and pre-order

The Pixel Watch 4 is available for pre-order now, but a Google spokesperson told us the new smartwatch won't ship and appear on store shelves until Oct. 9. You can pre-order the watch at Amazon, the Pixel Store, and other retailers.

• Pixel Watch 4, 41mm: $349.99 for Wi-Fi and $449.99 for LTE

• Pixel Watch 4, 45mm: $399.99 for Wi-Fi and $499.99 for LTE

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Pixel Watch 4 (41mm) $349.99 at Amazon
Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Google Pixel Watch 4 (41mm) $349.99 at Pixel
Pre-order Here

In the age of incremental phone upgrades, Google just gave the Pixel 10 a leg up over a lot of other baseline flagship smartphones.

For its Made by Google event on Wednesday, Google lifted the veil off the Pixel 10 lineup today. The base model, which starts at $799, looks and seems very similar to its predecessor, the Pixel 9, with a similar design language to last year's phone. In the interest of not wasting time, the biggest upgrade Google gave the Pixel 10 this year is a third rear telephoto camera lens, which the base Pixel model has never had before.

We got an up-close look at the new Pixel 10 phones recently, and we've got a full breakdown for you. The new Pixel 10 smartphone also launches alongside a new Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel Watch 4, and Pixel Buds 2a.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 10 $799 at Amazon
Get Deal Pixel 10: By the numbers All the stars are here. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Pixel 10 comes in four colors: Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass, and Obsidian. Here are the most important specs to know:

• 6.3-inch display with 1080x2424 resolution and 60-120Hz adaptive refresh rate

• Up to 3,000 nits peak brightness

• 12GB RAM

• 128GB/256GB storage

• Google Tensor G5 chipset

• Rear cameras: 48MP wide, 13MP ultrawide, 10.8MP telephoto

• Front camera: 10.5MP

• 4,970mAh battery

Setting aside the camera changes for a second, many of those specs will look familiar to anyone who used a Pixel 9. The display is almost exactly the same, just with higher peak brightness. RAM and storage are unchanged, though the new Tensor G5 chip should theoretically provide performance boosts. One big thing to note is the battery, which Google says can last for more than 30 hours. Battery life has been a complaint with recent Pixel phones, so that will be something to watch once the Pixel 10 is out there in the wild.

Pixel 10 cameras: One step forward, two steps back Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Unfortunately, the addition of a telephoto camera seems to have impacted the other two rear lenses. Last year's Pixel 9 had 50MP wide and 48MP ultrawide modules on the back, but those have been downgraded in terms of megapixel count. They'll more than likely still be able to capture great photos (this has been a staple of the Pixel brand for years), but going purely by the numbers, that is a step down. However, the ability to capture high-quality zoom shots might make up for that.

Of course, there are some new AI features across the Pixel 10 lineup, as well. A new feature called "Magic Cue" can recognize what you're doing and pull up context-sensitive suggestions, with one example being pulling up flight information when you call an airline. Live Translate is coming to phone calls, while the new Daily Hub gives you a rundown of what your day is looking like, including scheduled activities, weather, and news that is relevant to your interests.

How does the Pixel 10 differ from the Pixel 10 Pro? Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

The Pixel 10 Pro comes with the usual step-up in key specs. Specifically, the base model comes with 12GB RAM and up to 256GB of storage, while the Pro starts with 16GB of RAM and goes up to 1TB of storage. The Pixel 10 does offer the same Google Tensor G5 processor as its big siblings

The Pixel 10 also sacrifices camera quality in the name of affordability. The Pixel 10 has a 10.5MP dual selfie camera, and its zoom lens maxes out at 20x. Compare that to the Pro's 42MP selfie cameras and 100x zoom. The Pro can also shoot up to 8K video, a feature the base Pixel 10 lacks.

Finally, there are different color options. If you liked the bubblegum pink available with the Pixel 9, there is a light pink available in the 10 Pro line.

Preorder details

Pixel 10 launches on Aug. 28 and is available for preorder now. The new Pixel smartphone is priced at $799, while the Pro model is priced at $999.

Where to pre-order the Pixel 10 GOOGLE Pixel 10 $799 Pre-Order Here AMAZON Pixel 10 $799 Pre-Order Here BEST BUY Pixel 10 $799 Pre-Order Here

A new research framework helps AI agents explore three-dimensional spaces they can’t directly detect. Called MindJourney, the approach addresses a key limitation in vision-language models (VLMs), which give AI agents their ability to interpret and describe visual scenes.  

While VLMs are strong at identifying objects in static images, they struggle to interpret the interactive 3D world behind 2D images. This gap shows up in spatial questions like “If I sit on the couch that is on my right and face the chairs, will the kitchen be to my right or left?”—tasks that require an agent to interpret its position and movement through space. 

People overcome this challenge by mentally exploring a space, imagining moving through it and combining those mental snapshots to work out where objects are. MindJourney applies the same process to AI agents, letting them roam a virtual space before answering spatial questions. 

How MindJourney navigates 3D space

To perform this type of spatial navigation, MindJourney uses a world model—in this case, a video generation system trained on a large collection of videos captured from a single moving viewpoint, showing actions such as going forward and turning left or right, much like a 3D cinematographer. From this, it learns to predict how a new scene would appear from different perspectives.

At inference time, the model can generate photo-realistic images of a scene based on possible movements from the agent’s current position. It generates multiple possible views of a scene while the VLM acts as a filter, selecting the constructed perspectives that are most likely to answer the user’s question.

These are kept and expanded in the next iteration, while less promising paths are discarded. This process, shown in Figure 1, avoids the need to generate and evaluate thousands of possible movement sequences by focusing only on the most informative perspectives.

Figure 1. Given a spatial reasoning query, MindJourney searches through the imagined 3D space using a world model and improves the VLM’s spatial interpretation through generated observations when encountering new challenges. 

 

To make its search through a simulated space both effective and efficient, MindJourney uses a spatial beam search—an algorithm that prioritizes the most promising paths. It works within a fixed number of steps, each representing a movement. By balancing breadth with depth, spatial beam search enables MindJourney to gather strong supporting evidence. This process is illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 2. The MindJourney workflow starts with a spatial beam search for a set number of steps before answering the query. The world model interactively generates new observations, while a VLM interprets the generated images, guiding the search throughout the process.

By iterating through simulation, evaluation, and integration, MindJourney can reason about spatial relationships far beyond what any single 2D image can convey, all without the need for additional training. On the Spatial Aptitude Training (SAT) benchmark, it improved the accuracy of VLMs by 8% over their baseline performance.

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MindJourney showed strong performance on multiple 3D spatial-reasoning benchmarks, and even advanced VLMs improved when paired with its imagination loop. This suggests that the spatial patterns that world models learn from raw images, combined with the symbolic capabilities of VLMs, create a more complete spatial capability for agents. Together, they enable agents to infer what lies beyond the visible frame and interpret the physical world more accurately. 

It also demonstrates that pretrained VLMs and trainable world models can work together in 3D without retraining either one—pointing toward general-purpose agents capable of interpreting and acting in real-world environments. This opens the way to possible applications in autonomous robotics, smart home technologies, and accessibility tools for people with visual impairments. 

By converting systems that simply describe static images into active agents that continually evaluate where to look next, MindJourney connects computer vision with planning. Because exploration occurs entirely within the model’s latent space—its internal representation of the scene—robots would be able to test multiple viewpoints before determining their next move, potentially reducing wear, energy use, and collision risk. 

Looking ahead, we plan to extend the framework to use world models that not only predict new viewpoints but also forecast how the scene might change over time. We envision MindJourney working alongside VLMs that interpret those predictions and use them to plan what to do next. This enhancement could enable agents more accurately interpret spatial relationships and physical dynamics, helping them to operate effectively in changing environments.

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We’re in the final stages before the official launch of the new ROG Xbox Ally and its even more powerful sibling, the ROG Xbox Ally X. As of Aug. 20, the official Best Buy product pages are live with specs for both models, but the price and preorder option are conveniently absent.

So, what’s the holdup? In an interview with IGN (our sister site), Microsoft and Asus said they still needed "more time to figure out the macro-economic impact to pricing.” Asus senior vice president Shawn Yen added that they expect to share more on pricing in September or October.

SEE ALSO: Asus ROG Ally X review: 3 ways it beats the Steam Deck

Price aside, Asus has confirmed plenty of other details. We know for sure that both handhelds are set to hit store shelves on Oct. 16. The public will also get its first chance to go hands-on with the devices this week at Gamescom 2025.

We also have a pretty good idea of the specs:

• The ROG Xbox Ally X will feature a new AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, 24GB of LPDDR5X-8000 RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an 80Wh battery. This model will also get exclusive AI-powered features early next year, like Automatic Super Resolution for upscaling games and AI-generated highlight reels of your gameplay.

• The standard ROG Xbox Ally will run on an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, with 16GB of LPDDR5X-6400 RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 60Wh battery.

For now, all we can do is head over to the new Best Buy pages to sign up for notifications. And while the retail site Dealabs has reported rumored U.S. prices of $899 for the Ally X and $549 for the standard Ally, those remain unconfirmed until Microsoft and Asus make the final call.

Sign up for notifications: ROG Xbox Ally Release Date: 10/16/2025 Learn More ROG Xbox Ally X Release Date: 10/16/2025 Learn More

SAVE $110: The Ninja Slushi Professional Frozen Drink Maker (factory reconditioned/refurbished) is on sale for $239.99 as one of Woot's daily deals on Aug. 20. That's a 31% discount on the Slushi's MSRP that matches the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Slushi Professional Frozen Drink Maker (factory reconditioned or refurbished) $239.99 at Woot
$349.99 Save $110 Get Deal

My colleague Leah Stodart isn't just an experienced reporter who can tell you everything there is to know about robot vacuums and TVs. She's also a noted frozen beverage connoisseur. So, when we needed someone to review the mega-viral Ninja Slushi last fall, it only made sense that Leah put it to work on her countertop.

After having the Slushi make a frozen version of every drink she could think of, Leah determined that the appliance is a little extra if you already own a blender, but ultimately a fun, worth-it splurge for her fellow frosé enthusiasts. Today, it's slightly less of a splurge thanks to a limited-time deal at Woot that brings it down to $239.99 (normally $349.99) — a 31% discount that matches a record-low price we haven't seen there since April. It'll hang around until midnight CT today, unless it sells out first.

SEE ALSO: We tested the most popular Ninja appliances in our own kitchens. Here's what we found.

There is one catch, which is that Woot's heavily reduced Slushis are only available in factory reconditioned or refurbished condition. (That's not entirely shocking: The Slushi is rare to find on sale brand-new.) According to Woot's refurb glossary, both terms effectively mean the same thing, which is that the product has been "returned, inspected, and restored to fully working condition." Either way, the Slushi is covered by Woot's 90-day warranty instead of Ninja's one-year warranty.

The factory reconditioned Slushis come in the standard Black finish, while the refurbished ones are available in Black/Teal or Light Blue.

For the uninitiated, the Slushi features "RapidChill Technology" that can slushi-fy drinks in under an hour without the help of any extra ice. It comes with a massive 88-ounce reservoir and preset buttons for making slush, spiked slush, frappés, milkshakes, and frozen juices. Plus, it disassembles into four parts that can be tossed in the dishwasher between uses for easy cleanup.

For more intel, read Leah's full Slushi review and check out our dedicated guide to the best Ninja kitchen appliances.

I have always cared about beans. Hank Green is exploiting that love to encourage me to spend time off my phone.

Green, who is famous for always working on many projects at once, created Focus Friend a few days ago. It's already the number one free app on the App Store, usurping ChatGPT, and has been downloaded over 100,000 times on the Google Play Store. All you do is spend time off your phone. The bean knits a sock, and you use that sock to decorate the bean's house. It's kind of like cozy gaming, but you don't spend much time actually gaming.

"It's an app that installs a bean in your phone. And the bean really wants to spend more time knitting," he explained in a TikTok video on Monday. "You can focus for an amount of time, and that will let the bean make socks or scarves, and you can trade those socks or scarves in for more furniture in the bean's room."

While the game is free, there are in-app purchases. For instance, if you spend a little money, your bean can be a cat bean or a coffee bean instead of the automatic pinto bean, or your bean can knit scarves instead of socks, which are worth more. Users have asked for more characters for free, but Green defends his use of in-app purchases because the app itself is completely ad-free, and the in-app purchases don't actually make the app run better; they just make it a bit more personalizable. He explains that he discussed adding advertisements with the developer, an indie app creator named Bria, because it would likely be incredibly lucrative and would allow them to further develop the app faster.

SEE ALSO: How 'cozy gaming' is taking mindfulness mainstream

"The app is about giving people their time back. It's about letting people be in control of their attention, not selling their attention to someone else," he said in another TikTok video. "So what we decided to do is a free app with no ads, and that means in-app purchases. And that doesn't break the app."

And, for the most part, people seem pretty pleased with that decision.

"I love the app!!! This is convincing me to get the paid version. Thank you for creating it!" one person commented.

"It not having ads is what made me download it. Thank you!" another person commented.

Of course, not everyone is totally pleased with every aspect of the app. For instance, @lucieeatsatl has beef with the currencies. "The regular currencies are socks and the premium currencies are scarves," she said in a TikTok video with more than 66,000 views. "However, as a knitter, it feels obvious that they should be switche[d]. Socks are generally considered to be a much harder project tha[n] scarves."

Jokes aside, this app is pretty nice. I love my bean and want to give him a good home.

Conversations with Grok, the chatbot from Elon Musk's xAI, can be publicly searched on Google depending on which buttons were pressed, a new report from Forbes revealed.

Grok's "share" button — what you might use to email or text a chatbot conversation — creates a unique URL that is made available to search engines like Google, the report states. That effectively means the "share" button publishes your conversation for the world.

Forbes reported there is no warning of this feature and that thus far more than 370,000 conversations have been indexed by Google. Some of the conversations reportedly contained sensitive information, such as medical questions, personal details, and, in at least one instance, a password.

Forbes noted it had not received a response to a request for comment. Mashable has reached out to xAI, too, and did not immediately receive a response, but will update the story accordingly if we hear back.

ChatGPT also made chats searchable on Google recently

Musk's Grok isn't the only AI chatbot to make chats public, however. As we covered at Mashable earlier this month, ChatGPT similarly made chats searchable on Google after users clicked the "share" button. OpenAI quickly reversed course, however, after a backlash.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI pulls ChatGPT feature that let user chats appear in Google Search results

"This was a short-lived experiment to help people discover useful conversations," OpenAI Chief Information Security Officer Dane Stuckey wrote on X at the time. "This feature required users to opt-in, first by picking a chat to share, then by clicking a checkbox for it to be shared with search engines (see below)."

Stuckey said they removed the feature over worries folks would accidentally share information with search engines. It appears, according to the report from Forbes, that Grok not only makes conversations searchable — it's also not an opt-in experience. In other words, the second you "share" a conversation, you share it with the world.

Musk — who is aggressively feuding with OpenAI these days — took a victory lap when the ChatGPT news broke. "Grok FTW," he wrote on X. Now it appears his company is having the exact same issue.

Will the next Amazon Fire tablet have a Android operating system? If that's the case, prepare for a major price hike.

According unnamed insiders that spoke to Reuters, Amazon is planning a strategic overhaul of its Fire tablets which would involve using an open source version of the Android operating system.

SEE ALSO: The best tablets in 2025

The project, internally dubbed "Kittyhawk," would offer a higher-end tablet to compete with the iPad and other more advanced tablets and, critically, appease consumers and app developers who are frustrated by Amazon's in-house operating system.

Currently, Amazon Fire's software is a custom version of the Android operating system that's been modified for simple functionality to fit the more budget-friendly consumer demand. Amazon's most expensive tablet, the Fire Max 11 costs $230, compared the cheapest iPad, which is $350. Amazon is reportedly discussing a $400 price point for the new Fire tablet, although further details are unknown.

Amazon has strategically sold cheaper tablets to appeal to budget-friendly consumers, but that reportedly makes the profit margins slim and the strategy has "held back sales, particularly among consumers who seek higher-performing devices," according to the report. Simpler tablets means compromising on features like battery life and screen quality.

Plus, because Amazon makes it own software for the Fire tablets, developers have to make versions of their apps that fit those specific requirements. Amazon has avoided relying on third-party software up to this point. But “consumers have always expressed a concern about not having access to the latest Android versions, not having access to some of their apps because Amazon used their own store,” IT researcher Jitesh Ubrani told Reuters.

The next Fire tablet is due next year, meaning we could see an Android-powered, more expensive Fire tablet very soon.