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What's the best iPhone to buy right now? That question just got a lot more interesting.

During its September "Surprise and Shine" event, Apple unveiled the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max with upgraded cameras, a revamped vapor chamber cooling system, longer battery life, and a fresh, AI-ready chipset. The company also "one more thinged" the iPhone Duo, its first-ever foldable phone, confirming nearly a decade's worth of rumors. The new Apple phones join (or will soon join) the flagship iPhone 17, the budget iPhone 17e, and the super slim iPhone Air to round out the 2026 iPhone roster, which now runs on iOS 27.

Best iPhones at a glance: Best iPhone for most people Apple iPhone 17 (256GB) $0 with trade-in on select Experience plans at T-Mobile Get Deal Budget pick Apple iPhone 17e (256GB) $0 with trade-in on Experience Beyond plan at T-Mobile Get Deal Best iPhone Cameras Apple iPhone 18 Pro (256GB) Save up to $1,200 at T-Mobile Get Deal Best Design Apple iPhone Air (256GB) $0 with trade-in on Experience Beyond plan at T-Mobile Get Deal Best for gaming and battery Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max (256GB) Save up to $1,200 at T-Mobile Get Deal

Apple's smartphones have never been more powerful, feature-rich, or diverse in their form factors. Alas, they've also never been pricier. Every current iPhone has gotten more expensive due to the ongoing global memory crisis, which has jacked up the cost of electronic components over the past year. (At least the Duo turned out to be slightly less of a splurge than the gossip mill predicted.) Unfortunately, all the best smartphones saw price increases this year, so there's no escaping higher prices unless you hold off on buying a new phone altogether.

SEE ALSO: Memory pricing suggests iPhones could get even more expensive in 2027

So, is it worth splashing out on one of the new Pro models? Or would you be perfectly happy with something less snazzy and more wallet-friendly, relatively speaking? After extensively testing every single iPhone, Mashable's experts have recommendations for all budgets and usage needs.

One more thing: Before you buy your new iPhone, be sure to check out our coverage of the latest carrier deals. If you trade in an older device and sign up for a new line or data plan, you could pay a fraction of the price — or nothing at all. The best iPhone deals are not to be missed.

Best iPhone for most people: iPhone 17 In addition to plain white (pictured), the iPhone 17 also comes in mist blue, sage, lavender, and black finishes. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

• Read our full review of the iPhone 17

• Who it's for: Most people! The iPhone 17 is the phone most iOS users should buy. It's also the most colorful iPhone on the market if you want a handset with a little personality.

If you put the iPhone 17 and the new iPhone 18 Pro Max head-to-head, the latter smartphone would win, handily. But last year's iPhone 17 is still the most well-rounded, "just right" phone in Apple's lineup. (We don't expect the new base model iPhone 18 to land until spring 2027.)

The iPhone 17 is a fast-enough, long-lasting-enough, nice-looking-enough smartphone that feels "Pro" where it counts for most people. Namely, it has a 120Hz, always-on display and an ultrawide camera with a dedicated macro mode, but none of the extra photography or thermal fixings intended for superusers. Compared to the budget iPhone 17e, which costs $200 less, it has a brighter, smoother screen, nicer cameras, and 15 percent more battery life.

Was the iPhone 17 an earth-shattering upgrade over the iPhone 16? Not really, but it got better in some crucial yet practical ways without straying over the $1,000 mark. Mashable senior editor Stan Schroeder christened it "the most compelling standard iPhone in years."

Apple iPhone 17 (256GB) $0 with trade-in on select Experience plans at T-Mobile
  Shop Now at T-Mobile Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Apple.com iPhone 17 specs

• Screen size and display: 6.3-inch OLED display with 2,622 x 1,206 resolution and 120Hz variable refresh rate

• Cameras: 48MP (wide), 48MP (ultrawide), and 18MP (front)

• Battery life (rated): Up to 30 hours of video playback

• Processor: Apple A19

• Storage: 256GB or 512GB

• Colors: Black, white, mist blue, sage, or lavender

• Dimensions: 5.89 x 2.81 x 0.31 inches

• Weight: 6.24 ounces

• Software: iOS 27

Best cheap iPhone: iPhone 17e The iPhone 17e is Apple's first budget smartphone with MagSafe support. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

• Read our full review of the iPhone 17e

• Who it's for: We recommend the iPhone 17e for frugal shoppers who just want the core iPhone experience, as well as those who like small, pocket-friendly phones. It would also make a great starter phone for a teenager.

The iPhone 17e delivers your go-to iOS features like FaceTime and Siri AI, plus the classically clean Apple look — now with MagSafe! — for the least amount of money. It's a compact little device with a sharp, if not super-smooth display, and a battery that should last you a day between charges. It runs on the same A19 chip as the regular iPhone 17 and starts with the same amount of storage (256GB), which makes it more future-proof than last year's iPhone 16e (which started with half that).

The cameras on the iPhone 17e aren't as "versatile" as the ones on the iPhone 17, Schroeder said; it lacks an ultrawide lens and has a noticeably inferior front camera. But at least it takes marginally better low-light pictures than its predecessor.

Apple iPhone 17e (256GB) $0 with trade-in on Experience Beyond plan at T-Mobile
  Shop Now at T-Mobile Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Best Buy iPhone 17e specs

• Screen size and display: 6.1-inch OLED display with 2,532 x 1,170 resolution and 60Hz refresh rate

• Cameras: 48MP (wide) and 12MP (front)

• Battery life (rated): Up to 26 hours of video playback

• Processor: Apple A19

• Storage: 256GB or 512GB

• Colors: Black, white, or soft pink

• Dimensions: 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches

• Weight: 5.96 ounces

• Software: iOS 27

Best iPhone for photography: iPhone 18 Pro Good riddance, cosmic orange. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

• Read our full review of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max

• Who it's for: Get the smaller Pro if you're a mobile photographer or creator looking for the iPhone with the best cameras. We also recommend upgrading if you have an iPhone 16 or 15 Pro, but it's probably not worth the upgrade for those with an iPhone 17 Pro.

Both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max feature the latest Apple camera technology, but the Pro model is more compact and less expensive. We also think it's way more attractive in the new burgundy, glacier blue, and black colors, especially compared to the iPhone 17 Pro's controversial cosmic orange finish.

What's new with the cameras? A new physical variable aperture on its main camera lens, for starters. This gives you more control over the exposure and depth of field of photos. It works automatically, but you can also adjust it manually via the Camera app. There, you'll find other new Pro controls for tweaking settings like white balance and shutter speed; new Photographic Styles; new Cinematic effects that can be applied to videos after they're recorded; and a new Focus Tracking tool that locks on moving subjects.

The average user might appreciate its camera upgrades, "but I do bet that the majority of people will try out the manual aperture setting once and then leave it on auto," wrote Mashable's Schroeder in his review. Power users will make the best use of them.

Besides the new camera features, the new A20 Pro chip also provides extra support for AI tasks, including the newer, smarter Siri AI. There's plenty of storage space, too: Unlike older iPhones, the 18 Pro supports up to 2TB of storage.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro (256GB) $0 with trade-in on Experience Beyond plan at T-Mobile
  Shop Now at T-Mobile Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Apple.com iPhone 18 Pro specs

• Screen size and display: 6.3-inch OLED display with 2,622 x 1,206 resolution and 120Hz variable refresh rate

• Cameras: 48MP (wide), 48MP (ultrawide), 48MP (4x telephoto), and 18MP (front)

• Battery life (rated): Up to 36 hours of video playback

• Processor: Apple A20 Pro

• Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB

• Colors: Black, silver, glacier, and burgundy

• Dimensions: 5.91 x 2.83 x 0.34 inches

• Weight: 7.44 ounces

• Software: iOS 27

Best iPhone for design snobs: iPhone Air Left: It's so thin. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable Right: Like, REALLY thin. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

• Read our full review of the iPhone Air

• Who it's for: This is the iPhone for minimalists and aesthetes who care more about their phone's looks than its performance. Its camera system, in particular, is pretty mediocre for the money.

People who bought the iPhone Air often say the same thing: Its thin and lightweight form factor ruins you for other phones.

The iPhone Air is the thinnest handset Apple has ever made — and arguably the "sexiest," said Schroeder. If you set it next to one of the iPhone Pros, "it feels like a Ford F-150 parked next to a Porsche," he wrote. "The Porsche may not have the utility that a pick-up has, but it turns heads." The bezels on its smooth, detailed display are virtually invisible, and its rear camera bump blends into the back of its chassis when you look at it straight-on. It's made from titanium, so it's not easy to scratch up, and it's super comfy to hold. It's peak Apple sleekness.

An A19 Pro chip makes the iPhone Air mildly faster than the A19-powered iPhone 17, though it doesn't last as long. (Apple makes a MagSafe battery that you can slap on the back of it, but costs $100 extra and works against the device's "ultra-thin" thing.) Camera-wise, it has better zoom than the iPhone 17, but it misses out on an ultrawide shooter à la the iPhone 17e. While you probably won't win any photography prizes with the Air, it's perfectly fine for selfies and everyday snapshots.

Apple iPhone Air (256GB) $0 with trade-in on Experience Beyond plan at T-Mobile
  Shop Now at T-Mobile Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Apple.com iPhone Air specs

• Screen size and display: 6.5-inch OLED display with 2,736 x 1,260 resolution and 120Hz variable refresh rate

• Cameras: 48MP (wide) and 18MP (front)

• Battery life (rated): Up to 27 hours of video playback

• Processor: A19 Pro

• Storage: 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB

• Colors: Space black, cloud white, light gold, and sky blue

• Dimensions: 6.15 x 2.94 x 0.22 inches

• Weight: 5.82 ounces

• Software: iOS 27

Best iPhone for gaming and battery life: iPhone 18 Pro Max The iPhone 18 Pro Max (left) is a slightly larger and even longer-lasting version of the iPhone 18 Pro (right). Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

• Read our full review of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max

• Who it's for: The latest iPhone Pro Max is geared toward battery life maximizers who hate being chained to an outlet, avid mobile gamers, and well-off Apple fans with large hands. That's not a euphemism for anything: This is a big ol' phone.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is rated for up to 45 hours of video playback per charge, making it the longest-lasting iPhone ever. (Its battery is so big that Apple had to come up with a way to get around shipping restrictions that limit battery sizes, according to MacRumors.) Inside, you'll find the powerful A20 Pro chip and an improved vapor chamber cooling system that helps prevent overheating during extended heavy use. Schroeder tried to push this new hardware to the limit "by playing a few games of PUBG: Battlegrounds on the highest settings for a full hour," he wrote, and "The phone barely got warm." What's more, its battery only fell by nine percent.

The regular iPhone 18 Pro has the same chipset and cooling system as the Max version, but it's shorter-lived and smaller. The iPhone 18 Pro Max's size is an advantage for mobile gamers and movie-watchers who value immersion. Its display is the biggest you can get on any iPhone — that is, until the iPhone Duo arrives.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max (256GB) $2.78/month for 36 months with trade-in on Experience Beyond plan at T-Mobile
  Shop Now at T-Mobile Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Apple.com iPhone 18 Pro Max specs

• Screen size and display: 6.9-inch OLED display with 2,868 x 1,320 resolution and 120Hz variable refresh rate

• Cameras: 48MP (wide), 48MP (ultrawide), 48MP (4x telephoto), and 18MP (front)

• Battery life (rated): Up to 45 hours of video playback

• Processor: Apple A20 Pro

• Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB

• Colors: Black, silver, glacier, and burgundy

• Dimensions: 6.43 x 3.07 x 0.34 inches

• Weight: 8.78 ounces

• Software: iOS 27

Where's the iPhone Duo? It's almost here. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The long-awaited iPhone Duo doesn't launch until Friday, Oct. 23. Preorders will open a week prior on Oct. 16.

The Duo will likely be a pick we relegate to loaded early adopters, given its steep price and first-gen status. (Again, this is Apple's very first attempt at a foldable.) That said, it does seem pretty polished right out of the gate. Check out our first hands-on impressions of it while you wait for preorders to go live.

Apple iPhone Duo (256GB) $1,999 at T-Mobile
  Learn More at T-Mobile Learn More at Apple.com Learn More at Walmart iPhone Duo specs

• Inner screen size and display: 7.6-inch OLED display with 1,878 x 2,670 resolution, 120Hz variable refresh rate, and nano-texture finish

• Outer screen size and display: 5.4-inch OLED display with 1,398 x 2,034 resolution and 120Hz variable refresh rate

• Cameras: 48MP (wide), 48MP (ultrawide), 12MP (front, outer), and an additional inner, under-display FaceTime camera (resolution TBA)

• Battery life (rated): Up to 44 hours of video playback when using the outer display; up to 31 hours of video playback when using the inner display

• Processor: Apple A20 Pro

• Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB

• Colors: Night sky and star white

• Unfolded dimensions: 4.64 x 6.48 x 0.21 inches

• Folded dimensions: 4.64 x 3.31 x 0.44 inches

• Weight: 8.96 ounces

• Software: iOS 27

Marriage Story stars Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson reunite in writer/director James Gray's Paper Tiger. But don't expect a desperate rehash of Noah Baumbach's divorce drama.

For one thing, Gray is a filmmaker less drawn to such wall-punching theatrics, as evident through films like Two Lovers, Ad Astra, and Armageddon Time. For another, Driver and Johansson are not lovers in this film, though they are in a love triangle of sorts, with Miles Teller at the center.

Gray gives Driver, Johansson, and Teller some unexpected roles, allowing each a place to display their range. But make no mistake, this is Driver's movie.

What's Paper Tiger about?

Set in 1986 New York City, Paper Tiger unfurls the story of a Jewish family from Queens that gets on the wrong side of the Russian mob. In a cozy home in Elmhurst, Irwin Pearl (Teller) raises his two sons, Benjamin (Roman Engel) and Scott (Gavin Goudey), with his dedicated housewife Linda (Johansson).

Far from the cocky persona Teller forged through performances in The Spectacular Now, Whiplash, and the Divergent film series, the 39-year-old actor now oozes doofy dad energy. Teller's signature smirk is swapped for an aw-shucks smile, and a patronizing eyebrow raise that insists, "Father knows best." A pair of oversized eyeglasses completes the look; it's is such an evocative detail of the era that the title card reading "1986" might be deemed egregious.

As Irwin, Teller is guileless, relishing every chance to play with his boys or annoy them with dad jokes. Still, he yearns for their respect, and wilts when his eldest huffs they only have "crappy" stuff because Irwin, an educated engineer, isn't bringing home bank like their uncle, Gary (Driver).

A former NYPD officer turned security consultant with City Hall connections, Gary Pearl is flashy, rich, and successful in a way his younger brother can only envy. He wears tailored suits and a debonair smile. He drives a luxury car, and brings Peter Luger Steak House takeout to family dinner. So, when Gary promises Irwin a business opportunity to make $10,000, his brother is practically drooling at the possibility.

Gary wants to create a consulting firm with Irwin that would advise Russian immigrants who own property alongside the Gowanus Canal on how to meet the city's building codes. The elder brother insists this legit business shouldn't run them afoul of the Russian mob, but an overeager Irwin makes a misstep that puts all of the Pearls at risk.

How is Paper Tiger a love triangle tale? Credit: NEON

At first, Irwin seems the protagonist of Paper Tiger, but Gray's clever script steadily shifts focus to Gary and Linda. Once Irwin has earned the ire of the Russian mafia, it's up to his brother and wife to fix it, because this family man with zero street smarts is incapable. And in this battle to protect Irwin (and the rest of his household), Gary and Linda become unexpected rivals, in part because they deal with Irwin the same way.

Paper Tiger becomes a story about the things we can't say to the person we love. Whether because we don't want to hurt them or we want to protect them, some truths are just too terrible to utter. For Gary, he tries to maintain a breezy exterior, promising Irwin he'll work it out with the mob. But in the meantime, thugs creep into the Pearl home and intimidate them by taking Polaroids of the parents and boys, defenseless in their beds. It's only when Irwin finds these pictures that he finally admits to Linda what's going on.

She's understandably furious, but she's got a big secret of her own: a fatal diagnosis she can't bring herself to share. With the mob threatening his life, Gary and Linda are in a similar situation: with an uncertain amount of time left to set Irwin up so he and the boys will be okay. But wife and brother are not allies, and so their paths lead in different directions, while Irwin spirals in impotent plans of his own.

The tragedy of the film is not so much what happens to Irwin's family, but that — as smart as he is — he can't see the troubles mounting before his very eyes.

Adam Driver is riveting in Paper Tiger. Credit: NEON

Gray's ensemble overall is strong. But Driver dominates the film, committing body and soul. The swagger he employs as Gary schmoozes cops and crooks alike is beguiling, recalling James Caan as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather. But in moments when that veneer cracks, Driver's fear is so sparking the screen itself might catch fire. When he reprimands his onscreen brother with love and radiant frustration, he evokes Al Pacino's Michael Corleone, specifically when he kisses the traitor Fredo. The masculinity and the heartache swell to a violent expression of love.

But Gary isn't as direct as Michael, and so Irwin gets to remain smugly self-righteous, unable to recognize his brother's sacrifices for him. Teller is smartly cast in this role. The bravado that carved his career at the start comes into play in the third act as a shield that Irwin carries to distance himself from his own failings. He is a beloved fool whose smile shocks the audience, because it displays his blissful ignorance.

Playing the desperate and dying housewife Linda, Johansson is urged by Gray to go into a space of melodrama the cool blonde has rarely tread. Big bouncy curls, thick eyeglasses, and a raspy Queens accent attempt to scrub the movie star glamour from Johansson's appearance. But it is a futile effort. As weary and mumsy as the costuming of housecoats and made-up eye bags tries to make her, the role of Linda might have been better realized by an actress with a mug, not the face of numerous luxury beauty brands. That might have more firmly grounded the Pearl family's blue-collar identity, and by extension, Linda's grit-teeth determination to secure their future. Johansson tries, but her ache and ire ring hollow.

Driver's performance recalls '70s gangster cinema, where toxic masculinity roared with a debonair allure. Teller's jolly blend of ego and ignorance makes his '80s dad a believable buffoon. But Johansson's (perhaps impossible to dim) glamour makes Linda feel like she's from a '50s melodrama, so beautiful and so sad! In this context, as grounded as she aims to make Linda, it still feels heightened, a performance of wifely limitations rather than a portrait of them.

Still, even with this tonal collision, Paper Tiger is a thoroughly engaging drama. Gray's dialogue shrewdly builds not only characters, but the barriers of what they can and won't share with each other. Like Conclave, Paper Tiger becomes as much about what's talked around as what's talked about. So, with each moment, in words spoken and unspoken, a labyrinth is built, daring the characters to escape it. And rather than calling us to relate to Irwin, the good guy and family man at the film's center, Gray urges us to share in the frustration of those who love him until the bitter end.

In this way, Paper Tiger is a uniquely thrilling and purposefully infuriating family drama. Because as we watch a final moment unfold that is undeniably sweet and tender, we are haunted by what lies beneath it. Gray challenges us to take that trembling awareness home, and look to our own families, lives, and lies.

Paper Tiger was reviewed out of the New York Film Festival, where it was the Opening Night selection. The film will open in theaters on Nov. 13.

As the divide between older and younger generations continues to dictate everything from politics to entertainment to social media, one thing should be obvious: Baby Boomers, those born between 1948 and 1964, aren't ready to go quietly into retirement or hand the reins to today's youth. In fact, many of them are keeping things fresh by rekindling their romantic flames. According to Pew research, a massive 20 percent of Boomers have tried dating apps, and they spend just under 40 minutes a day trying their luck at the dating game.

Don't expect to find the Baby Boomers on Tinder, though. For long-term dating, the Boomers are more likely to use age-appropriate dating services like OurTime or SeniorMatch, or larger, more general-purpose dating sites like eharmony, according to Axios. 

But there's an entire cohort of older daters who aren't focused on finding a long-term partner but still want to connect, and they're increasingly doing so on retro dating platforms such as AdultFriendFinder. 

Opens in a new window Credit: AFF AdultFriendFinder   Learn More

Here's why these services are winning back the Boomers:

No swiping games

Even senior citizens are feeling the burnout from swipe fatigue. In fact, according to research by Forbes Health, around 69 percent of Baby Boomers are experiencing frustrations with apps, particularly due to their "inability to find a good partner." We feel their pain — we're all for the swiping game, but you do ultimately want a result.

But what happens when you ditch the swiping mechanic entirely? The AdultFriendFinder experience doesn't rely on a matchmaking system, though it does offer one. Instead, AdultFriendFinder creates organic communities in chat rooms, discussion boards, story comment sections, and webcam rooms, where you can initiate a conversation with someone who catches your eye or impresses you with their writing, or you can be the one attracting others.

For Boomers tired of endlessly swiping with minimal results, retro dating directories such as AFF are an effective alternative.

Large Boomer representation

Dating sites and apps typically cater to a younger crowd, for the obvious reason that younger people are more likely to be single, but that can make life tough for older daters looking to match with people in their age range or generation. That's why apps such as Tinder skew younger than Boomers. It's a young(er) person's game.

AdultFriendFinder has been around since 1996, when the youngest Boomers were in their early 30s. The site has managed to retain or recapture a sizeable cohort of older singles, so you'll actually find results when you set your age filter to 55+, particularly if you live in a well-populated city.

AdultFriendFinder has been tight-lipped about its exact user demographics, but my current Online Now page gives a good representation of what you can expect to find in a large metropolitan area in North America: out of 12 featured profiles, six are over the age of 40, four are over the age of 50, and two are over the age of 60. 

Bare naked honesty

One major issue with dating apps, regardless of the age group, is how difficult it is to accurately assess other people's intentions — to know exactly what people want from their dating app connections. In a landmark article from earlier this year titled "Dating Burnout: Why the Apps Exhausted Everyone," the authors identified "evaluation labor" as a major causal factor. Does the person you're talking to really like you? Do they really want "something serious" or are they secretly chasing something casual? It would save a whole bunch of time and effort if we just got straight to the point.

If you've spent any time on Hinge, Bumble, or any of the popular dating sites like eharmony or PlentyOfFish, you know that people aren't always fully honest or straight-up about their intentions. In some cases, it's because even they don't know what they want. 

But AdultFriendFinder is a major exception. Users are encouraged to be totally transparent, so much so that it's entirely common to come across full frontal nudity in profile photos or extensive lists of kinks and turn-ons. For the generation that basically invented the Summer of Love and pushed the envelope of sexual freedoms, there's a lot of appeal in this naked honesty. 

Paid memberships filter out unserious daters & bots

The free dating apps definitely have a lot to recommend them, but there's a sneaky benefit to using a paid dating service like AdultFriendFinder: it's easier to filter out fake accounts or unserious daters. 

Sure, it's free to create an AFF account, but if you actually want to talk to people one-on-one, you need to upgrade to a paid subscription, and that extra step filters out many half-committed daters and would-be scammers. And considering approximately one in six Boomers has fallen victim to an online romance scam, this built-in filter adds some serious peace of mind.

In the end, the Baby Boomers are just as susceptible to swipe fatigue as the rest of us, and they're actively looking for a more community-based approach to online dating. AFF is a great place to do that.

Solawave BOGO sale deals: Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand $169 (buy one, get one free) Get Deal Solawave Neck & Chest Pro LED Mask $349 (buy one, get one free) Get Deal Solawave Wrinkle Retreat Pro LED Face Mask $399 (save $100 and BOGO) Get Deal

Red light therapy has officially crossed over from high-end dermatologist offices straight onto our TikTok feeds and bathroom vanities. But between glowing face masks and vibrating wands, stocking up on high-tech skincare devices can get expensive.

Solawave's latest BOGO sale gives you a solid entry point to stock up on your red light therapy essentials without burning a hole in your pocket. Whether you want to split the cost with a friend, stock up on holiday gifts early, or double down on your own targeted skin routine, the brand is letting you snag two of its top-rated LED tools for the price of one.

Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand Opens in a new window Credit: Solawave Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand $169 at Solawave
Buy one, get one free Get Deal

If you want targeted skin treatments without wearing a full face shield, Solawave’s flagship 4-in-1 Skincare Wand packs four technologies into one pocket-sized tool: 630nm red light therapy, galvanic current, gentle warmth, and facial massage. It is designed to de-puff, boost collagen, and smooth out fine lines around tricky spots like your under-eyes, jawline, and smile lines. The 180-degree rotating head pivots through every angle of your face, while built-in timers guide you through a quick three-minute treatment per zone (up to 12 minutes total).

Solawave Neck & Chest Pro LED Mask Opens in a new window Credit: Solawave Solawave Neck & Chest Pro LED Mask $349 at Solawave
Buy one, get one free Get Deal

Most skincare routines stop at the jawline, even though the delicate skin on your neck and chest often shows fine lines, sun damage, and sagging first. Solawave's Neck & Chest Pro addresses that exact gap with a quick, three-minute daily treatment. Made from flexible, medical-grade silicone, it uses 320 LEDs across four distinct wavelengths (Red, Deep Red, Amber, and Near-Infrared) to boost collagen, firm delicate skin, and brighten dull areas. The hands-free design makes it easy to wear while doing other things, and the battery lasts up to a full month — taking the guesswork out of building a consistent routine.

Solawave Wrinkle Retreat Pro LED Face Mask Opens in a new window Credit: Solawave Solawave Wrinkle Retreat Pro LED Face Mask $399 at Solawave
$499 Save $100 Buy one, get one free Get Deal

If you want the collagen-boosting perks of a professional LED facial without losing 20 minutes of your day, this wrinkle retreat pro LED face mask delivers high-dose red light therapy in super-quick, three-minute sessions. It packs 320 dual-core LEDs across four distinct light wavelengths (Red, Deep Red, Amber, and Near-Infrared) to smooth out fine lines, calm inflammation, and firm deeper skin layers. Because it delivers more than double the energy intensity of standard home masks, it yields results faster. The medical-grade silicone also flexes naturally to fit facial contours, and the built-in battery lasts up to a month on a single charge.

A BOGO deal on FDA-cleared red light therapy tools doesn't come around often. Grab your favorite mask or wand at Solawave and lock in two high-tech devices for the price of one.

The best October Prime Day noise-cancelling headphones deals: Best headphones deal Beats Studio Pro $169.95 (save $130.04) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199 (save $50) Get Deal Best budget headphones deal JLab JBuds Lux ANC $49.95 (save $50.04) Get Deal Best budget earbuds deal EarFun Air Pro 4 $62.99 (save $17) Get Deal

The rumors are true: another Prime Day is coming.

Officially, Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event runs from Oct. 6 through Oct. 7, but unofficially, it's already here. Amazon has dropped a ton of early deals on everything from TVs to outdoor gear to headphones. And we're trawling the pages and pages of listings to find the deals that are actually worth grabbing.

If a pair of noise-canceling headphones or earbuds is on your wishlist, we've got some good news. Plenty of excellent options are already on sale, including the Beats Studio Pro and Powerbeats Pro 2, the AirPods Max 2 and Pro 3, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 (headphones and earbuds). While none of the prices are the lowest we've ever seen, they are still worth checking out if you simply can't wait or just want to avoid the Prime Day madness. We'll be keeping a watchful eye on discounts in the lead up to the official sale, so keep checking back if you don't see the headphones or price you're looking for just yet.

For those who do want to shop early, here are the best October Prime Day noise-canceling headphones deals worth grabbing.

Best noise-canceling headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio Pro $169.95 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $130.04   Get Deal Why we like it

Mashable's headphones expert handpicked the Beats Studio Pro as the best early October Prime Day headphones deal overall. She notes that even though there are newer picks from the brand, "2023's Studio Pro are still worth a second look." These babies last up to 24 hours with ANC turned on and are "better engineered for sound quality" than the AirPods Max, according to our reviewer. And as far as ANC goes, they "hold their own against other luxury competitors."

Read Mashable's full review on the Beats Studio Pro.

More noise-canceling headphones deals

• Soundcore Q20i — $44.99 $69.99 (save $25)

• JLab JBuds Lux ANC — $49.95 $99.99 (save $50.04)

• Sony WH-CH720N — $103.99 $179.99 (save $76)

• Sony ULT headphones — $132.95 $249.99 (save $117.04)

• Soundcore Space One Pro — $160.99 $199.99 (save $39 with on-page coupon)

• Nothing Headphone (1) — $219 $299 (save $80)

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) — $399.99 $449 (save $49.01)

• Apple AirPods Max 2 — $479 $549 (save $70)

Best noise-canceling earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199 at Amazon
$249 Save $50   Get Deal Why we like it

Even though the AirPods Pro 3 were miraculously unaffected by Apple's price hike a few months ago, we still don't think you should buy them at full price. This early October Prime Day deal is the perfect excuse to add them to your cart, though. At $199, they're not the cheapest we've ever seen (they hit $169 around Prime Day in June). So, there's a chance they'll get even cheaper as the official sale nears. But even if they don't, $50 in savings ain't too shabby.

At just a year old, the AirPods Pro 3 are still some of our favorite noise-canceling earbuds overall (and we've tested a ton). Mashable's reviewer called them " a remarkable upgrade in functionality over their predecessors, with better battery life and ANC, as well as a new heart rate sensor."

Read Mashable's full review on the AirPods Pro 3.

More noise-canceling earbuds deals

• CMF By Nothing Buds 2 — $34 $49 (save $15)

• EarFun Air Pro 4 — $62.99 $79.99 (save $17)

• Nothing Ear (3) — $129 $149 (save $20)

• Beats Powerbeats Fit — $169.95 $199.99 (save $30.04)

• Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 — $199.95 $249.99 (save $50.04)

• Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 wireless earbuds — $247.99 $299.99 (save $52)

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) — $249.99 $299 (save $49.01)

Early October Prime Day tech deals at a glance: Best earbuds deal Apple AirPods 4 $99 (save $30) Get Deal Best Amazon device deal Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus $24.99 (save $45 with code STREAM4K) Get Deal Best smartwatch deal Garmin vívoactive 6 (42mm) $229.99 (save $70) Get Deal Best laptop deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) $3,499 (save $600) Get Deal Best TV deal TCL 85-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $2,497.99 (save $1,502) Get Deal Best gaming deal "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" (Nintendo Switch 2) $59.88 (save $10.11) Get Deal Best Memory Deal SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD $259.45 (save $40.54) Get Deal

Mashable's discerning reporters and editors are constantly testing the latest gadgets, from e-readers to headphones, laptops, phones, power stations, smart rings, and portable speakers. This year, many of our favorite products have been besieged by price hikes as a result of the ongoing memory crisis. Fortunately, Amazon is about to bring tech shoppers some relief in the form of Prime Big Deal Days, better known as October Prime Day.

Set for Oct. 6 and 7, Prime Big Deal Days is a 48-hour sale for members of Amazon's Prime program. Often referred to as "October Prime Day," it serves as Amazon's unofficial kickoff to the holiday shopping season. We've been covering the event since its inception in 2022, back when it was still called the Prime Early Access Sale. And this year, we'll be keeping an extra close eye on the best early Prime Day tech deals.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime in time for the next Prime Day

In the lead-up to the sale, Amazon is already offering some steep discounts on select devices from brands like Apple, TCL, Garmin, Beats, and Sony. After spending hours poring over these deals, we've identified the best early Prime Day deals that are so good, we'd buy them ourselves.

How do we pick these deals, you might ask? We look for products we recommend at record-low prices (or close to them). We use price-tracking tools like camelcamelcamel to see if Amazon's discounts are actually better than usual, then cross-check them with other retailers' listings to make sure they're not cheaper elsewhere. (Walmart and Target are both gearing up to host their own October sales, FYI.) You can add our picks to your cart with confidence.

Without any further ado, these are the best early October Prime Day deals we've spotted so far.

$99 AirPods (a Prime Day classic)

It wouldn't be an Amazon Prime event without some $99 AirPods. Apple's fourth-generation earbuds have excellent audio quality and a comfortable fit. and a five-hour battery life. The newer AirPods 5 sound even better and add ANC, but this pair is still a great option for iOS users on a budget. (Read Mashable's review.)

Note: The AirPods 4 dipped down to $69 last Black Friday, but $99 is their lowest price so far in 2026. Plus, they probably won't be in stock much longer now that their successors have launched; they already sold out once on Amazon earlier this week.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $99 at Amazon
$129 Save $30   Get Deal Take $600 off Apple's most powerful laptop

If you're a professional creative, developer, or AI enthusiast who needs a compact new laptop for work, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better option than the 14-inch, M5 Max-powered MacBook Pro. (The M5 Max is Apple's most powerful laptop chip to date.) The "base" configuration with 36GB of RAM and 2TB of storage got a $500 price increase back in June, which bumped it from $3,599 to $4,099. But right now, Amazon has it on sale for just $3,499 — a $600 savings. It's even cheaper than before.

I should mention that Amazon's MacBook Pro discounts have capped out around $400 during its past Prime events. Suffice to say, this is a very good deal that probably won't last long.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) $3,499 at Amazon
$4,099 Save $600   Get Deal Cheaper-than-ever Fire tablets

Two of Amazon's own Fire tablets are already on sale for record-low prices ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. Take your pick from the compact Fire HD 8 with 64GB of storage — our favorite Fire tablet overall — or the big-screened Fire HD 10 with 32GB of storage, nicer cameras, and a sharper display. (Both have 13-hour battery lives.) They're now up to 53% off for Prime members.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 (64GB) $79.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $50.00 Prime membership required. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 (32GB) $72.99
$154.99 Save $82.00 Prime membership required. Get Deal 64% off a 4K streaming stick

Amazon's Fire tablets have been safe from price hikes so far, but the retailer made all of its Fire TV streaming sticks at least $5 more expensive in August. For its part, the 4K Plus model went from $49.99 to $69.99. Nevertheless, Amazon will sell it to you for just $24.99 right now if you enter the code STREAM4K at checkout. That matches its all-time low price from this summer's Prime Day sale and Black Friday 2025. It used to equate to a $25 savings, but now you're getting a whopping $45 off.

FWIW, this is Amazon's cheapest media player with support for Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, Nvidia Geforce Now, and Alexa Home Theater (a surround sound feature that works with Echo devices).

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus $24.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $45 Enter code STREAM4K at checkout. Get Deal A new all-time low on an Apple Watch alternative

Garmin's vívoactive 6 is a lightweight fitness smartwatch with an AMOLED display and an 11-day battery life. It supports features like constant heart rate readings, stress tracking, and sleep coaching. Our friends over at Lifehacker, one of our sister sites, gave it a stellar 4.5/5 review, calling it "a great watch for somebody who wants to track their steps and activity."

The vívoactive 6 usually costs $50 more than Apple's entry-level smartwatch — the $249 Apple Watch SE 3 — but Amazon just put the pink dawn variant on sale for $229.99. At 23% off, it's never been cheaper before.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vívoactive 6 (42mm) $229.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $70   Get Deal A huge discount on a huge QLED TV

The 65-inch TCL QM8L is the best QLED TV for most people, according to Leah Stodart, our former TV expert. She praised its "superb peak brightness, detailed picture quality, and fantastic glare handling." (QLED TVs in general "are ideal for people whose TV usage happens mostly in the daytime, especially watching sports," to quote her TV specs guide.)

The 85-inch QM8L just hit a new all-time low of $2,497.99 on Amazon, which is 38% off its suggested sticker price of $3,999.99. For comparison's sake, it's currently $2 more expensive at Best Buy and on TCL's website.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 85-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $2,497.99 at Amazon
$3,999.99 Save $1,502   Get Deal An affordable Fire TV

The best early Prime Day tech deals always include savings on Amazon's own devices, like this affordable Ember Fire TV. This TV has a high-definition HDR10+ display and doubles as an Alexa smart speaker for your home. The 28% discount drops the price to a very affordable $179.99, its lowest-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Ember 40-inch 2-Series Fire TV $179.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $70   Get Deal Save $10 when you preorder the 'Ocarina of Time' remake

Nintendo's upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Switch 2 will be one of the year's biggest gaming releases (after GTA 6, obviously). Preordering the physical edition will normally cost you $69.99 — it's $10 more than the digital version — but Amazon has it on sale for $59.88 ahead of its Nov. 5 launch. The first print run has special packaging with foil cover art, so don't dawdle.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" (Nintendo Switch 2) $59.88 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $10.11   Get Deal Deals on SanDisk memory products

The global memory crisis has led to rising costs for smartphones, laptops, and gaming consoles, but it's been a disaster for SD cards and hard drives. So, while the discounts aren't as huge as they were in past years, you can find savings on these memory products during October Prime Big Deal Days. We've found a bunch of early Prime Day deals on portable SSDs and hard drives, and we expect even more savings to come.

Case in point: The SanDisk Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Card Express is currently $40 off. Likewise, you can save $40 on the popular SanDisk Extreme portable SSD with 1TB of storage.

Opens in a new window Credit: SanDisk SanDisk microSD Express Card for Switch 2, 512GB $159.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $40   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: SanDisk Sandisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD $259.45 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $40.54   Get Deal Bose QuietComfort headphones and earbuds on sale

We've made so secret of the fact that we love Bose headphones and earbuds here at Mashable. The brand makes the most comfortable headphones we've ever tested, and the brand's popular QuietComfort line recently got refreshed.

Right now, you can get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2) for $50 off. Keep in mind that the headphones are not at a record-low price, so there's a chance they could get bigger discounts when Prime Big Deal Days starts on Oct. 6.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) $249.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2) $399.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $50   Get Deal Shop the Nintendo Customer Appreciation Sale

Nintendo just got a massive tariff refund, and to pass along the savings, the brand is hosting a mega Customer Appreciation Sale through Sept. 26. So, while these aren't technically early Prime Day deals, they are a great opportunity to enjoy rare savings on Nintendo Switch games and hardware. Unfortunately, the Switch consoles and Switch 2 games aren't on sale, but we'll let you know if that changes when October Prime Day begins.

You can shop the sale at Amazon or Nintendo, but our top picks include the classic Metroid Dread and the wireless Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo 'Metroid Dread' for Nintendo Switch (digital download) $41.97 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $18.02   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch Pro Wireless Controller $55.97
$79.99 Save $24.02   Get Deal Early deals on iPads

Some of the best early Prime Day tech deals so far are on Apple's iPads, which are due for an upgrade any day now. If you don't mind a slightly older device and chip, you can pick up the Apple iPad Air (M4) with a cool $100 discount.

Check out all of the top October Prime Day iPad deals so far.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air (M4), 11 inches $649 at Amazon
$749 Save $100   Get Deal

TL;DR: Watch England vs. Spain in the Nations League for free on ITVX. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first round of UEFA Nations League fixtures showcases some really interesting matchups, but England vs. Spain might be the best of the bunch. It's the World Cup winners against a team that narrowly missed out on the final. A string of star names are expected to feature in this clash at Wembley Stadium.

If you're interested in watching England vs. Spain in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is England vs. Spain?

England vs. Spain in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Sept. 26. This fixture takes place at Wembley Stadium.

How to watch England vs. Spain for free

England vs. Spain in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can live stream England vs. Spain for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream England vs. Spain for free by following these simple steps:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch England vs. Spain 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 they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch England vs. Spain without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream England vs. Spain for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels to watch select F1 races for free. Watch the Azerbaijan GP for free with the Prime Video app.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple TV Prime Video Channel Watch the Azerbaijan GP for free with a 7-day trial Shop Now

Kimi Antonelli tops the F1 standings coming into an electric weekend of action in Azerbaijan. The talented Italian secured a dramatic victory in the Spanish GP, extending his lead over teammate George Russell.

McLaren continues to show pace after the last round of updates, but Norris now has a mountain to climb. The defending champion is over 100 points behind Antonelli, a margin that's probably too great. Still, Norris will be aiming to cut the deficit at the Baku City Circuit.

SEE ALSO: ExpressVPN review: A stylish VPN service with proven privacy and a large U.S. presence

If you want to watch F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the Azerbaijan GP?

The Azerbaijan GP is the 15th race of the 2026 F1 season. Here's the full schedule from the Baku City Circuit:

• Practice 1 — 4:30-5:30 a.m. ET on Sept. 24

• Practice 2 — 8-9 a.m. ET on Sept. 24

• Practice 3 — 4:30-5:30 a.m. ET on Sept. 25

• Qualifying — 8-9 a.m. ET on Sept. 25

• Race — 7 a.m. ET on Sept. 26

Fans can follow all the action from this race weekend without spending anything.

How to watch the Azerbaijan GP for free

Amazon Prime delivers fast shipping, Prime Day discounts, and access to the Prime Video library.

For F1 fans in the U.S., Prime Video is absolutely key this season. Apple TV holds exclusive U.S. broadcasting rights for F1, and you can sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV directly through Prime Video Channels.

That trial gives you access to select races for free, including this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The subscription rolls over to $12.99 per month after the seven-day trial, but you can disable the automatic renewal and still stream the entire race weekend for free.

Of course, if you're already paying for Amazon Prime, calling it "completely free" is questionable. But if you don't have an active membership, Amazon offers a 30-day free trial for new users. Stacking that Prime trial with the seven-day Apple TV channel trial means you're truly spending nothing to stream this weekend's race.

If you've already made use of this method, you still have a few workarounds:

• Apple TV: New standalone subscribers qualify for a direct seven-day free trial through Apple's app.

• Apple One: If you want more than just streaming, the Apple One tier packages Apple TV alongside Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple News+, and 50GB of iCloud storage — and it comes with a full one-month free trial ($19.95 per month after the promotional period).

• Apple: The most generous Apple TV offer is tied to new hardware purchases. Buying an eligible iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV grants new subscribers three months of free service. You obviously have to spend money on hardware, but if you were already planning an upgrade, it effectively unlocks a massive chunk of the F1 season for free.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A narcotic.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

OPIUM

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Trapped.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 26, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

STUCK

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Tightly packed

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 26, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Sept. 26, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

DENSE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Two cents.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

INPUT

Final Hurdle hint

Perch.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

ROOST

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

The Full Moon is finally here, and this one has a name you might recognize: the Harvest Moon. It reaches its fullest point on Saturday, September 26, but it'll look full for a couple of nights around that date too.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Saturday, Sept. 26, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Full Moon phase, with 100% of its surface visible.

There's so much to see tonight, with or without visual aids. With just your naked eye, you'll be able to see the Mare Crisium, Mare Fecunditatis, and the Oceanus Procellarum. If you have binoculars, they'll also help you see the Posidonius Crater, the Alphonsus Crater, and the Mare Frigoris. And, if you have access to a telescope, you'll see the Apollo 12 and 16 landing spots, and the Schiller Crater.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on October 25 or 26, depending on your timezone.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon goes through a repeating cycle as it orbits Earth, taking roughly 29.5 days to complete. During that time, the amount of its sunlit side visible from Earth changes, giving us the different lunar phases. It starts with a slim crescent, grows to a half Moon and eventually reaches the Full Moon, before beginning the cycle again. NASA explains that which phase we see depends on where the Moon is in relation to Earth and the Sun.

The eight phases are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 26, 2026 Fold meaning

To double a material over itself.

Press meaning

To push or apply force to something.

Starch meaning

A white carbohydrate found in foods like potatoes and rice.

Wash meaning

To clean something or someone using water and usually soap.

Burl meaning

A round, knobby growth on a tree where the grain has grown in a deformed pattern.

Grain meaning

The small, hard seed of a food grass.

Knots meaning

A fastening made by looping and tying cord, rope or fabric together.

Rings meaning

Circular lines or areas.

Gum meaning

A flavored, soft substance made for chewing over a long period without being swallowed.

Mint meaning

An aromatic green plant used in foods, teas and candies.

Mouthwash meaning

A liquid used to rinse the mouth, freshen breath and kill bacteria.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Spray meaning

Tiny drops of water near the air.

Beans meaning

The edible seed of various plants.

Cat meaning

A small, furry four-legged animal typical kept as a house pet.

Cucumber meaning

A long, rounded fruit with green skin and white flesh.

Customer meaning

A person who buys goods or service from another person or business in exchange for money.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a dentist.

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

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

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

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

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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

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

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 26, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Bad breath

• Green: Look presentable

• Blue: Knock on ___

• Purple: Chill out

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Breath fresheners

• Green: Things done to a dress shirt at the laundry

• Blue: Features of wood

• Purple: "Cool" things, in expressions

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1202 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Breath fresheners: GUM, MINT, MOUTHWASH, SPRAY

• Things done to a dress shirt at the laundry: FOLD, PRESS, STARCH, WASH

• Features of wood: BURL, GRAIN, KNOTS, RINGS

• "Cool" things, in expressions: BEANS, CAT, CUCUMBER, CUSTOMER

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you're light as a feather.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 26, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: A breath of fresh air

The words are related to weather.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe air movements.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Gentle Wind.

NYT Strands word list for September 26

• Gust

• Whiff

• Breeze

• Puff

• Gentle Wind

• Zephyr

• Current

• Flurry

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you have a way with words.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 26, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 26, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A sad poem.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

Yes, the letter E appears twice.

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Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter E.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

ELEGY

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

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

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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

If your desktop or laptop keeps lighting up in the middle of the night without you touching it, the cause is almost always traceable. It's a common complaint, and one that tends to get written off as a glitch or a haunted machine, when in reality Windows almost never wakes itself up without a specific trigger behind it.

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