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These 11 Prime Day gaming deals are wild and available now

Mashable - Tue, 10/07/2025 - 13:32

Prime Big Deal Days, the new October Amazon Prime Day sale event running until Oct. 8, features sweet gaming deals that players can grab right now. 

While there are some great deals at Amazon across all categories, games across PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X|S platforms have scored fantastic bargains to stock up your backlog with. 

Among a mix of very recent releases and those that have come out over the last few years, you’ll either find modern gems that have rarely gone down in price, fun adventures that have had so much taken off that they’re at an all-time low, or RPGs that will give you hundreds of hours of content for the time you’ve put in.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime ahead of Prime Big Deal Days

As Amazon Prime Big Deal Days rolls on, we’ve assembled the top 10 gaming deals across all three major console platforms so far. If the main event adds in some offers that are even better, we’ll immediately be updating this list accordingly. 

In the meantime, our best gaming deals so far includes an RPG with so much money taken off, it feels ridiculous.

Best gaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: SEGA Persona 3 Reload: Standard Edition - PlayStation 5 $19.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $50 Get Deal Why we like it

If you’re catching up on long RPGs that have come out over the years, being able to grab the amazing Persona 3 Reload for only $19.99 — 71% off its launch price — is the best gaming deal Amazon has going right now, ahead of the Prime Day sale. 

Launched in February 2024, this fantastic remake of the already great Persona 3 from 2006 has been a must-buy for fans of the long-running franchise and RPG fans alike. With its upgraded visuals and music remade from the ground up, enhanced turn-based & social-sim mechanics, and new voice-acting performed by a stellar cast, the original’s incredible story — about a group of high schoolers wielding titular Personas to battle Shadows and solve the mysterious Dark Hour — plays better than ever. 

Thankfully, I’m not alone in my praise, as Mashable eventually declared Persona 3 Reload as one of the best games of 2024 at the time. 

Persona games are especially known for their longer lengths amongst role-playing games, and P3R is no different, with a 70-hour minimum playtime to beat the campaign, with at least 100 hours required for completionists. For only $20 to buy the game physically on PS5, that’s at most 28 cents per hour for an incredible game. 

As shown through its pricing history on price tracker CamelCamelCamel, this particular game will likely go back to its higher price of $69.99 once stock allocation for the $20 sale price runs out. 

Persona 3 Reload is also available on Xbox Series X for $35.16, and its upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 port is available to pre-order for $59.99, making this sale on the PS5 version the best cost-effective way to play it if you own all consoles. 

More gaming deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones score a Prime Day deal worth tuning into

Mashable - Tue, 10/07/2025 - 13:32

SAVE 5%: As of Oct. 7, the Sony WH-1000XM6 Wireless Headphones are on sale for $428 at Amazon, down from $450 for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM6 The Best Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones $428 at Amazon
$450 Save $22 Get Deal

As of Oct. 7, the Sony WH-1000XM6, the latest iteration of Sony’s legendary noise-cancelling headphone series, are on sale for $428, down from its regular price of $450 on Amazon.

We’ve been seeing lots of the best Prime Day Deals already flooding Amazon, but these headphones being on sale is another undeniable highlight, even if it's only a 5% discount.

Sony’s WH-1000XM6s continue the brand’s reputation for best-in-class audio engineering. Equipped with Sony’s new HD Noise-Cancelling Processor QN3 and a sophisticated 12-microphone array, these headphones are built to hush even the busiest city streets, aeroplane cabins, or open offices. An updated Adaptive NC Optimizer fine-tunes noise cancellation automatically based on your surroundings, ensuring you get perfectly balanced silence anywhere you go.

SEE ALSO: Some of Amazon's early Prime Day Apple deals are already add-to-cart worthy

Beyond the silence, the sound quality is what sets these cans apart, and is part of what made Mashable give such a strong review for the WH-1000XM6s headphones altogether. What’s more, they’re studio-grade, tuned by Sony’s master engineers for precision and warmth. They support high-resolution audio via LDAC, offering a truly immersive listening experience whether you’re binging your favourite playlist or editing a podcast.

Battery life stretches up to 30 hours, and a quick 3-minute charge nets up to 3 hours of playback — ideal for those who constantly forget to plug in. The headphones also feature multi-device pairing, touch controls, speak-to-chat voice sensing, and wear detection that automatically pauses your music when you take them off.

If comfort matters, you’ll love the redesigned lightweight frame and soft pressure-relieving earcups. Add in a sleek midnight blue, black, or platinum silver finish, and these are arguably Sony’s most refined headphones yet.

With Prime Day rolling in harder than ever, this is a great time to snag one of the top headphones of 2025 before prices rise again. Whether you’re travelling, working, or just want to drown out the world, the WH-1000XM6s deliver audible tranquillity, one note at a time.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Take $900 off a Bluetti power station in this super-charged Prime Day deal

Mashable - Tue, 10/07/2025 - 13:28

SAVE 38%: As of Oct. 7, the Bluetti Apex 300 is on sale for $1,499 at Amazon, down from $2,399 for a limited time. That's $900 off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Apex 300 $1,499 at Amazon
$2,399 Save $900 Get Deal

Amazon's Prime Big Deals Day is here, running from Oct. 7 to Oct. 8, the first major date in the holiday shopping calendar. That means Black Friday-style discounts way ahead of Black Friday itself. Yes, Amazon is getting in early, and we are absolutely here for it.

These kinds of sale events are the perfect opportunity to pick up all those items you've always need but never quite had the cash to justifying buying. Case in point is the Bluetti Apex 300, a seriously powerful, multi-functional, power station and solar charger that usually costs $2,399.

As of Oct. 7, the Bluetti Apex 300 is on sale for $1,499, which means a massive saving of $900. That's 38% off overall.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Prime Day Apple deals are live and ready to snag

There are all kinds of reasons to stock up with a high-grade power station. Indeed, the Bluetti Apex 300 is great for taking on camping trips, for charging your electric car, RV appliances, electric cars, emergency situations, or general off-grid electricity needs.

Powering up via the mains or through solar charging (if you have a portable solar panel), it can give you enough juice to run a refrigerator for an entire 24 hours. It has six AC outputs so it can manage multiple power needs with a 7680W surge, delivering a 120V/240V simultaneous output. You can even control it via an app.

Stay fully powered with this electric deal on the Bluetti Apex 300 — now just $1,499 for the Prime Big Deals Day, a huge saving of $900. This October Prime Day event only lasts until Oct. 8 so don't miss the deal while it's still available.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Heres a Star Wars Lego deal thats very strong with the Force on October Prime Day — 30% off these rebel spaceships

Mashable - Tue, 10/07/2025 - 13:14

SAVE 30%: As of Oct. 7, the Lego Star Wars Ghost & Phantom II is on sale for $111.99 at Amazon, down from $159.99 for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Ghost & Phantom II $111.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $48.00 Get Deal

It's not quite Christmas, but it's never not a good time to stock up on toys. That's why we're loving the selection of discounted Legos currently available in Amazon's Prime Big Deals Day event. Running from Oct. 7 to Oct. 8, it's the first major sale event of the fall shopping season, so there are bargains you won't find anywhere else, including deals on items you've been waiting on coming down in price.

For Star Wars Lego fans, the Lego Star Wars Ghost & Phantom II is surely one of those items. It's one of the coolest sets of recent years but it's usually docked at the more expensive end of the range. But thanks to the October Prime Day deals, it's now available with a Death Star-sized discount.

From Oct. 7, the Lego Star Wars Ghost & Phantom II is on sale for $111.99, down from its standard list price of $159.99 on Amazon. That's an overall savings of $48.

SEE ALSO: Some of Amazon's early Prime Day Apple deals are already add-to-cart worthy

The Ghost spaceship was first seen in the hugely popular Rebels animated series and then the Disney+ show, Ahsoka. This set is essentially two ships in one and includes five minifigures that you won't find in any other Star Wars Lego set. That makes the Ghost & Phantom II a must-have for fans. It's also one of the best Star Wars ship designs to fly out of the landing bay since the Millennium Falcon.

The Prime Big Deals Day only runs until Oct. 8 so there's limited time to snap up this Lego Star Wars deal. It shouldn't take the Jedi mind trick to convince you that it's a fantastic price. Don't miss your chance to pick up the Lego Star Wars Ghost & Phantom II — discounted from $159.99 to $111.99.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Im shocked at how good Amazons Kindle deals are — get Kindles starting at $84.99

Mashable - Tue, 10/07/2025 - 13:11
Best Kindle deals Basic Kindle Deal Amazon Kindle $84.99 (Save $25) Get Deal Kindle Paperwhite deal Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 🔥 $124.99 (Save $35) Get Deal Best Kindle deal Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 🔥 $149.99 (Save $50) Get Deal Best Colorsoft Deal Amazon Colorsoft Signature Edition 🔥 $209.99 (Save $70) Get Deal Best Kindle Kids Deal Amazon Kindle Kids $94.99 (Save $35) Get Deal

This morning, I got a pleasant surprise: The best October Prime Day Kindle deals are even better than I expected.

Amazon loves to keep us on our toes. I've been covering Prime Day and testing Kindles for years, and one thing I've come to expect is great deals on Amazon's own devices during the sale event — except Kindles. During July Prime Day neither the Paperwhite or Paperwhite Signature Edition got a price cut.

Amazon's e-readers are extremely popular, and because of that, the retailer tends to be choosy about its sales on Kindles. Coming into Prime Big Deal Days, I didn't know what to expect out of Amazon's Kindle deals, but it's safe to say I woke up thrilled at these discounts.

Every Kindle e-reader is discounted during October Prime Day and not only that — multiple devices have hit their lowest price ever.

Here are all of the best Kindle deals to shop during Prime Big Deal Days.

Note: Deals marked with a 🔥 denote an all-time low price.

Best Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 🔥 $149.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $50 Get Deal Why I like it

Historically, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition hasn't been my top pick, due to its $200 price tag, which even its bonus features couldn't justify. October Prime Day swept in and dropped the price of the Signature Edition down to $149.99. That saves you $50 off of its $199.99 price tag for 25% off. And did I mention that's its lowest price ever?

Not only does this bring the Signature Edition to its lowest price ever, but it also makes it $10 cheaper than the standard Paperwhite — although we should note that also just hit its lowest price ever.

The biggest perk to the Signature Edition is its ad-free lock screen. Usually, I don't think it's worth the extra money, but with this record discount, I think it's an incredible value. For $149.99, you'll enjoy auto-adjusting brightness, 12 weeks of battery, wireless charging, and 32GB of storage.

If you're going to buy a Kindle during October Prime Day, let it be the Signature Edition. However, if you have your heart set on another model, plenty are also at their lowest prices.

Best Colorsoft deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition 🔥 $209.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $70 Get Deal Why I like it

In the past few weeks, it's never been more apparent how Amazon is investing in their color e-readers. On Sept. 30, the brand launched their redesigned Kindle Scribe that now comes with color.

Similar to Amazon's Paperwhite versus Paperwhite Signature Edition, the retailer has a Colorsoft and Colorsoft Signature Edition. Right now, the Colorsoft Signature Edition received its biggest price cut ever, bringing it down to $209.99. That knocks $70 off its $279.99 list price, for 25% off.

Similar to the Paperwhite Signature Edition, it comes with 32GB of storage, auto-adjusting brightness, an ad-free lockscreen, but it gets the exciting addition of color, too. The color accuracy on the Colorsoft Signature Edition is impressive. While the colors are more muted than they'd read in a physical book, they still remain accurate.

So if you're ready to dive into Amazon's color e-reader line-up, Prime Big Deal Days is the time to do so. Get the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition for $209.99 and save $70.

More Kindle deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

These October Prime Day earbuds deals are giving the July sale a run for its money

Mashable - Tue, 10/07/2025 - 13:11
Best earbuds deals ahead of October Prime Day Best Amazon deal Amazon Echo Buds with ANC $34.99 (save $85) Get Deal Best AriPods deal Apple AirPods 4 $89 (save $40) Get Deal Best Beats deal Beats Flex $39.95 (save $30) Get Deal Best Anker Soundcore deal Soundcore by Anker P20i $18.99 (save $21) Get Deal Best TREBLAB deal TREBLAB X3 Pro $47.97 (save $12) Get Deal Best Bose deal Bose QuietComfort with ANC $129 (save $50) Get Deal

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days (aka October Prime Day) is here, and the earbud deals are rolling in. The big sales event runs from Oct. 7–8, and we're already seeing great offers on both noise-canceling and open-earbud options.

As expected, Amazon has marked down its noise-canceling Echo Buds an impressive 71%. The Apple AirPods 4 have also dropped back down to a record low of $89. (The last time we saw them at this price was July's Prime Day event.)

SEE ALSO: October Prime Day 2025: Live updates on the top deals

You'll find these deals, plus more of the best we've seen so far, below. We'll be updating this list throughout the October Prime Day sales event.

Best October Prime Day noise-cancelling earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Buds with ANC $34.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $85 Get Deal Why we like it

A 71% discount is a biggie, and a deal this steep can only mean one thing: Prime Day. But even without the massive markdown, these are a great pair of earbuds. They're IPX4 sweat-resistant, have Alexa built-in, and offer up to 15 hours of battery life. The noise cancellation is top-notch thanks to the sealed in-ear design, and the seamless device switching is ideal for jumping between work calls on your laptop and music on your phone.

More October Prime Day earbuds deals

Lois Mackenzie contributed to this article.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Prime members can save big on the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE during Prime Big Deal Days

Mashable - Tue, 10/07/2025 - 13:09

SAVE $45: As of Oct. 7, the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE are on sale at Amazon for $54.99. This is 45% off their list price of $99.99, saving you $45.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds FE $54.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal

The Prime Big Deal Days sale event is officially underway, and Prime members have a treasure trove of excellent discounts to look through. Headphones and earbuds, in particular, have even seen some great price drops. If you've been on the hunt for the latter, this deal on the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE is one you certainly don't want to miss.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE are currently on sale for $54.99 for Prime members. This is 45% off their retail price of $99.99, which saves you $45. While the lowest price they dropped to back during July's Prime Day was $52.24 for Prime members, this is incredibly close and still worth jumping on while the deal is available.

SEE ALSO: The best October Prime Day tech deals, hand-picked by a tech editor

With a comfortable fit and Active Noise Cancellation, the Galaxy Buds FE are a great fit for those looking for new earbuds to use while working out or to take on a long trip. They even have a cool Interpreter feature that can be used through a Galaxy phone to hear real-time translations when you're speaking with someone who speaks a different language. And on top of that, they boast excellent battery life that can last up to 30 hours on a single charge.

If you're a Prime member, you have through tomorrow to score this sweet deal on the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE during Prime Big Deal Days. And if you're looking for even more earbud deals, check out our breakdown of the best earbuds deals for October Prime Day.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon devices are beating their July prices during October Prime Day: Save on Fire Tablets, Blink doorbells

Mashable - Tue, 10/07/2025 - 12:29

An Amazon event wouldn't be an Amazon event without the brand pushing its own devices. Several Echo deals, Fire Tablet deals, and Blink camera deals are live as Prime Big Deal Days kicks off on Oct. 7.

The best Prime Day Amazon device deals at a glance: BEST FIRE TABLET DEAL Amazon Fire HD 10 (64GB) $79.99 (save $100) Get Deal BEST FIRE TV DEAL Insignia 65-inch QF Series QLED 4K Fire TV $299.99 (save $200) Get Deal BEST ECHO DEAL Echo Buds with ANC $34.99 (save $85) Get Deal BEST KINDLE DEAL Kindle Scribe (16GB) $299.99 (save $100) Get Deal BEST BLINK DEAL Blink Video Doorbell $34.99 (save $35) Get Deal

A few devices are even beating their Prime Day prices from July: Particularly of note are the Echo Show 8 dropping to $99.99 (compared to $109.99 in July) and the Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation dropping to $34.99 — a 71% discount only matched during Black Friday 2024.

There are a ton of great Fire TV deals — they just happen to be on Fire TVs from non-Amazon brands, like Insignia and Hisense. There aren't a ton of great Kindle deals just yet, but we'll update this post immediately when more Kindles do go on sale at Amazon. But for now, you can prepare by signing up for three months of Kindle Unlimited for free if you've never subscribed before.

Before you buy, see if Amazon announced a new version of that device at its fall hardware event on Sept. 30 — maybe you'll want to wait for the refreshed model, or maybe the new prices are the justification you needed to grab a deal now.

SEE ALSO: What is Stuff Your Kindle Day? The best way to fill your e-reader with free books.

Below, we're keeping tabs on all of the best Amazon device deals before and throughout the end of October Prime Day on Oct. 8. The best Amazon device deals do tend to sell out toward the end of the sale, so if you see a good price drop now, hop on it. There's also a ton of stuff outside of Amazon devices on sale ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, so be sure to follow along with our carefully curated coverage of all of the best October Prime Day deals.

Note: Deals with a 🔥 next to them have dropped to new record-low prices, while struck-through deals were sold out or expired at the time of writing.

Best Amazon device deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation (newest model) 🔥 $34.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $85 Get Deal Why we like it

There's no way around it: A ton of people are going to buy AirPods this October Prime Day. But for those who aren't married to Apple's earbuds (or how often they seem to break), just know that the latest version of Amazon's Echo Buds with ANC are just $34.99 after a 71% discount. That beats their Prime Day price from July by $10, and you could get five pairs of Echo Buds for less than the $199.99 sale price of the AirPods Pro 2.

Amazon's noise cancellation doesn't level with the effectiveness of those AirPods or other top noise-cancelling earbuds, but casual music or podcast listeners may not care at this price point.

Fire tablet dealsEcho dealsKindle dealsFire TV dealsFire TV deals from non-Amazon brandsBlink home security dealsOther Amazon device deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for October 7, 2025

Mashable - Tue, 10/07/2025 - 12:18

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025:

AcrossAirport in Queens, familiarly

  • The answer is JFK.

Greek goddess of the earth

  • The answer is Gaia.

Lively and exciting

  • The answer is Buzzy.

Tease playfully

  • The answer is Stalk.

Minnesota senator Klobuchar

  • The answer is Amy.

DownD.J. ___ Jeff, onetime musical partner of Will Smith

  • The answer is Jazzy.

Emit bubbles

  • The answer is Fizz.

"Sure," slangily

  • The answer is Kay.

Westernmost territory of the U.S.

  • The answer is Guam.

Undergarment item

  • The answer is Bra.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 7, 2025

Mashable - Tue, 10/07/2025 - 12:09

The NYT Connections puzzle today shouldn't be hard to solve if you're chatty.

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.

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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.

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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 2, 2025 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: The scoop

  • Green: Seen on The Big Day

  • Blue: A squad

  • Purple: Found on Broadway

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Gossip

  • Green: Seen at a wedding

  • Blue: Team

  • Purple: Musicals plus starting letter

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

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 #850 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

  • Gossip: BUZZ, DIRT, DISH, TALK

  • Seen at a wedding: ALTAR, BOUQUET, CAKE, RING

  • Team: BUNCH, CREW, GROUP, PACK

  • Musicals plus starting letter: BRENT, CHAIR, FANNIE, SCATS

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 29, 2025

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

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Strands hints, answers for October 7, 2025

Mashable - Tue, 10/07/2025 - 12:09

Today's NYT Strands hints might not be allowed in a rental property.

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.

Today's NYT Strands puzzle should be easy to solve, provided that you're an animal lover.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 29, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 29, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Unusual companions

The words are related to animals.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe uncommon animals.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Exotic Pet.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 7

  • Chinchilla

  • Gecko

  • Skunk

  • Exotic Pet

  • Axolotl

  • Pyhton

  • Parrot

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Pips hints, answers for October 7, 2025

Mashable - Tue, 10/07/2025 - 12:08

Happy Tuesday and welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Today's games are harder than they initially seem, but we have all the tips you need to navigate them.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 4, 2025

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

  • Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

  • Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

  • Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

  • Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

  • Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 4, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 7 Pips

Number (9): Everything in this space must add to 9. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically.

Number (16): Everything in this space must add to 16. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed vertically.

Number (15): Everything in this space must add to 15. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 7 Pips

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 0-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this red space must be equal to 6. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 2-6, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 3-5, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add to 11. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 7 Pips

Number (0): Everything in this space must add to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add to 11. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add to 7. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this light blue space must add to 11. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 1-6, placed horizontally

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 7, 2025

Mashable - Tue, 10/07/2025 - 12:08

Today's Connections: Sports Edition features answers that would wreck your fantasy league team.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, 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 the latest 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: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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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.

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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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Worst things to see about your fantasy football starter

  • Green: Shoe names

  • Blue: All-time dinger leaders

  • Purple: Football players that play this hybrid offensive position

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: NFL Injury Report Designations

  • Green: Adidas Shoes

  • Blue: MLB Career Home Run Leaders, Familiarly

  • Purple: Current NFL Tight Ends

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

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: Sports Edition #379 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

  • NFL Injury Report Designations - DOUBTFUL, OUT, PROBABLE, QUESTIONABLE

  • Adidas Shoes - GAZELLE, SAMBA, SUPERSTAR, ULTRABOOST

  • MLB Career Home Run Leaders, Familiarly - ALBERT, BABE, BARRY, HANK

  • Current NFL Tight Ends - HENRY, LIKELY, PITTS, WARREN

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections 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.

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 7, 2025

Mashable - Tue, 10/07/2025 - 12:07

Today's Wordle answer has a letter placed in a spot that might throw you off.

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.

Today's NYT Wordle puzzle shouldn't be difficult to solve if you love undergarments.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 29, 2025 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 29, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A thin, elastic fabric.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter N appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter N.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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...

NYLON

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 2, 2025

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

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Jimmy Kimmel reacts to a poll saying hes more popular than Trump

Mashable - Tue, 10/07/2025 - 12:07

Jimmy Kimmel's ongoing feud with Donald Trump continues, with the late night host reacting on Monday to a recent YouGov poll that found his ratings to be better than those of the president.

"Remember the guy that keeps saying I have no ratings? Well, that makes two of us," says Kimmel. "They polled more than a thousand people and I lead Trump by 16 points — I'm at +3, he's at -13. It's nice, but it feels like considering I'm not a convicted felon friend of Jeffrey Epstein, and I've never paid off a porn star or sent a team of masked goons into a park to pull an old lady away from her grandchildren, I feel like my rating should be higher maybe?

"At this point finding a toenail in your salad has a seven-point lead over Donald Trump."

Categories: IT General, Technology

The orb-like Ocean-2 turns wave power into renewable energy

Mashable - Tue, 10/07/2025 - 12:00

Constant, powerful, and notoriously difficult to harness, wave energy has become a sort of holy grail in renewables over the years. Wave and tidal converters are used across the globe, from Sri Lanka and Ghana to France and the UK, which is currently the world’s leading producer of wave and tidal power. But wave harnessing comes with its challenges.

Wave converters have to withstand the ocean’s fury, survive rust and biogrowth, and operate in a way that doesn’t disturb the marine life around them. And that’s on top of having to be cost effective enough to compete with other sustainable sources, like solar or wind. 

Oregon-based Panthalassa’s Ocean-2 wave power converter wants to tackle all these issues, and so far it seems like it could. In this video, we look into the project, how it works, and what its success could mean for the future of renewable energy.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Razer Blackwidow V4 Tenkeyless Hyperspeed Review: It Gets the Fundamentals Right

How-To Geek - Tue, 10/07/2025 - 12:00

The Razer BlackWidow V4 Tenkeyless HyperSpeed is your archetypal mass-production mechanical keyboard. It has components of a reliable quality at a fair price, but cuts a few noticeable corners to get there. Put otherwise, this keyboard is unremarkably good enough, and that might be okay for the right person.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsungs Galaxy Watch 8 drops to its lowest-ever price for Prime members during October Prime Day

Mashable - Tue, 10/07/2025 - 11:57

SAVE OVER $30: As of Oct. 7, the 40mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is on sale at Amazon for Prime members for $314.98 during the Prime Big Deal Days sale. This is 10%, or $35.01, off its list price of $349.99 and marks its lowest price yet.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (2025) 40mm $314.98 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $35.01 Get Deal

Prime Big Deal Days has officially started, and there are plenty of exciting deals for Prime members to look through right now. If a smartwatch has been on your mind, there's already quite a few discounts available on various models. This includes the 40mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, which has dropped to its lowest-ever price for Prime members.

While it usually retails for $349.99, Prime members can scoop up the 40mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 for $314.98 right now as part of October Prime Day. This 10% discount saves you $35.01, but as mentioned before, it's also the lowest price its dropped to yet. So why wait to grab it? You can also choose between the graphite and silver models, which are both down to this price.

SEE ALSO: 75+ October Prime Day deals: Save on Apple, Sony, and Lego

Samsung's Galaxy Watch 8 smartwatch features a sleek, lightweight design that won't look too bulky while you're wearing it on your wrist. More importantly, though, it's filled with features to provide you with health and fitness insights. These include Advanced Sleep Coaching to help you find a steady sleeping routine, Vascular Load monitoring for tracking stress, and even a Running Coach for more fitness-focused individuals.

Our review found a lot to love in the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, with writer Adam Doud saying it's, "highly customizable, comes with Google Gemini AI, and offers a well-rounded suite of health, fitness, and sleep tracking features. Unless you already have a Watch 7, it's worth the upgrade for Android users."

Prime Big Deal Days only lasts through tomorrow, so now's your chance to score the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 at its lowest-ever price. And if you're looking for even more smartwatch deals available during the sale event, check out our breakdown of the best Apple Watch deals for Prime Day as well.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Moon phase today: What the moon will look like on October 7

Mashable - Tue, 10/07/2025 - 11:44

This month's full moon falls on different days, depending on where you are in the world. In E.T., the full moon will reach its peak late in the day, 11:47 p.m. on Oct. 6. However, in BST, the peak occurs at 4:47 a.m. on Oct. 7, according to Time And Date. The moon this month is the Harvest Moon, as it's the closest to the Autumn Equinox.

With such a big and bright moon in the sky tonight, there'll be lots to see. Keep reading to find out what you can see when you look up on Oct. 7.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Monday, Oct. 7, the moon phase is Full Moon; this means it is 100% lit up. NASA's Daily Moon Observation confirms this.

It's also a supermoon tonight, so it will be brighter and bigger than normal. With just your naked eye, there's plenty for you to spot, including the Mare Imbrium, the Mare Fecunditatis, and the Copernicus Crater. With binoculars, it is also possible to see the Gassendi Crater, the Mare Nectaris, and the Apennine Mountains.

Finally, if you add a telescope to your lineup, you'll see the Apollo 15 and 16 landing spots and the Rima Ariadaeus.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Nov. 5.

What are moon phases?

NASA explains that the moon goes through phases as it completes its 29.5-day orbit around Earth. The changing angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth cause the different phases we observe. From Earth, the moon can look full, partially lit, or even disappear entirely, but we always see the same side. What changes is the amount of sunlight reflected from its surface, depending on its position in orbit.

The eight main moon phases are as follows:

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.

Last Quarter (or Third 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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

In true air fryer fashion, October Prime Day deals on air fryers have heated up quickly

Mashable - Tue, 10/07/2025 - 11:39

So you've been putting off finally buying an air fryer — and then kicking yourself every time your food is taking forever in the oven. Amazon's October Prime Day is as good a time as any to find an air fryer on sale, especially if you're a connoisseur of fried snacks during football games. That'll give you several extra weekends to squeeze in new halftime recipes compared to waiting until Black Friday.

The best deals on air fryers ahead of Prime Big Deal Days Best basket air fryer deal Instant Pot Vortex Plus (4-quart) $64.99 (save $60) Get Deal Best air fryer oven deal Ninja Prestige 10-in-1 XL $229.99 (save $120) Get Deal

As Prime Big Deal Days kicked off on Oct. 7, almost all of the good air fryer deals we saw at Amazon during July's Prime Day were already live again. Instant Pot, Nuwave, and Ninja deals are all in the mix, with options from mini two-quart basket designs to XL convection oven combos for the countertop. We're tracking the best air fryer deals at Amazon through the end of October Prime Day on Oct. 8 and will be updating the list as more pop up (or sell out).

SEE ALSO: Target announced dates for its fall Target Circle Week. Duh, it's during Prime Day. Best October Prime Day air fryer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Instant Pot Vortex Plus (4-quart) $229.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $120 Get Deal Why we like it

Out of all of the Ninja air fryer deals that have sprouted, this one's the biggest — both discount-wise (34% off) and capacity-wise (20 quarts). It's even $20 cheaper than its $249.99 Prime Day sale price in July.

The 10-in-1 Ninja Prestige convection oven has such robust possibilities that you might just forget how to preheat your oven. It can bake up to 20 cookies or roast a 12-pound turkey, with an optional middle rack included to air fry two different 9x9-inch trays of snacks at once.

More air fryers on saleBasket air fryersAir fryer ovens and glass cooking systems
Categories: IT General, Technology
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