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Steve Jobs famously revealed the first iPhone as three devices in one: an iPod, a phone, and an internet communications device. While a smartphone can replace plenty of devices, there are some gadgets that a phone just can't match.

The best Prime Day Nintendo Switch deals Best Nintendo Switch Deal Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $549.99 (Save $37.97) Get Deal Best Prime Day Nintendo Switch Deal The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time $59.88 (Save $10.11) Get Deal Best Prime Day Nintendo Switch Controller Deal 8Bitdo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller $53.89 (Save $16.10) Get Deal Best Prime Day Nintendo eShop Deal $10 Nintendo eShop Gift Card $8.98 (Save $1.02) Get Deal

Have your eye on a new Nintendo Switch 2 console? October's Amazon Prime Day, happening Oct. 6 and 7, is the perfect time to pick one up or build out your game library for less.

Playing on Nintendo hardware got more expensive this year when Nintendo raised the Switch 2's U.S. price from $449.99 to $499.99 on Sept. 1, citing rising memory costs tied to the ongoing memory crisis. Nintendo consoles rarely go on sale, so Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event is a good chance to pick up a console bundle, games, or even some Nintendo eShop credit for less.

Here are the best Nintendo Switch deals we've spotted for Prime Big Deal Days so far.

Best Prime Day Nintendo Switch 2 deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $549.99 at Amazon
$587.97 Save $37.98   Get Deal Why we like it

True, this isn't technically a Prime Day deal, since $549.99 is Nintendo's regular price for the bundle, but there aren't any other Amazon discounts on the Switch 2 itself right now, so the bundle is the best way to save some money on the console and get a game while you're at it.

It comes with a Switch 2 console, a digital code for Mario Kart World, and a three-month Nintendo Switch Online individual membership, so you can race other players online as soon as you're set up. The Switch 2 has a 7.9-inch 1080p screen that refreshes at up to 120Hz in handheld mode, and it outputs up to 4K when you dock it to a TV. Its Joy-Con 2 controllers snap on magnetically and can work like a mouse in supported games.

If you're ready to upgrade from your original Switch and want to get a little more bang for your buck, this is a great way to do so.

Best Prime Day Nintendo Switch 2 game deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time $59.88 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $10.11   Get Deal Why we like it

Nintendo rebuilt this 1998 Nintendo 64 adventure from the ground up for Switch 2, with overhauled visuals, voiced cutscenes, expanded dialogue, and a symphonic orchestral score, plus reworked camera and movement controls. Oh, and of course, there are faster load times. Link still travels between childhood and adulthood to stop Ganondorf, and now you can play his ocarina in-game by humming or playing a real instrument into the Switch 2's microphone. But most importantly, you can save on the game before it's out by preordering now.

Best Prime Day Nintendo Switch controller deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 8Bitdo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller $53.89 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $16.10   Get Deal Why we like it

You don't have to use Joy-Con controllers to play every single Switch game, and in fact, there are some more comfortable, better options out there. This Ultimate 2 controller from 8BitDo works with the Switch 2, the original Switch, and PCs. It uses Nintendo's button layout, so A and B are in the same place. Plus, its TMR joysticks are designed to avoid stick drift, and you can flip the triggers between Hall effect and tactile modes depending on what you're playing.

Best Prime Day Nintendo eShop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon $10 Nintendo eShop Gift Card $8.98 at Amazon
$10 Save $1.02   Get Deal Why we like it

Shaving a buck or two off of your Nintendo eShop purchases is always a good idea. Once you redeem the code from this eShop gift card, the $10 goes into your Nintendo Account balance, and you can spend it in the eShop on a Switch 2 or an original Switch game, downloadable content, or a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Since the money sits in your account rather than on a specific console, it follows you to any system you sign into with that account. A gift card also lets kids buy their own games without a credit card attached to the account, and it works with U.S. Nintendo Accounts. Buy a few and stack them, and you'll save a little cash on digital purchases.

More Prime Day Nintendo Switch deals

• Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake — $23.74 $59.99 (save $36.25)

• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds — $29.99 $69.99 (save $40)

• Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S — $29.19 $39.99 (save $10.80)

• Assassin's Creed Shadows — $34.99 $59.99 (save $24)

• Yakuza 0: Directors' Cut — $37 $49.99 (save $12.99)

• Donkey Kong Country Returns HD — $53.88 $59.99 (save $6.11)

• Super Mario Bros. Wonder — $54.39 $59.99 (save $5.60)

• Metroid Ravenous — $59.88 $69.99 (save $10.11)

That scratchy throat you went to bed with has evolved into a full-on head cold the next morning—yep, you're sick. You've emailed your boss, set your Slack status to that cute emoji with the thermometer in its mouth, and have enough meds on your nightstand to take down a rhino. Now comes the one perk of being sick—a full day of guilt-free TV.

Pornhub is back in Australia — for certain users.

Aylo, Pornhub's parent company, blocked Pornhub from the country back in March due to an age-verification law that requires explicit websites to verify users' ages using personal data such as a facial scan and ID.

SEE ALSO: The UK is investigating Pornhub. Here's what Pornhub says about it.

Aylo has responded to many of these laws, including most in the United States, by blocking Pornhub from those regions due to the burden of complying. Aylo has also stated that these laws don't work because anyone can use a VPN to circumvent them or visit noncompliant websites instead.

But now, in Australia, Pornhub will be accessible to iOS users who have confirmed their age through Apple's Australian age-verification process.

"With their recent Australian update, Apple set a benchmark by enabling child safety features automatically for users who have not verified that they are adults, ultimately, making every phone or tablet kid-safe as a starting point. As a result, today Aylo welcomes eligible age-confirmed Australian iOS users back to Pornhub," Pornhub's vice president of brand and community, Alex Kekesi, said in a statement shared with Mashable.

The child safety update first rolled out in March in the UK, and Pornhub allowed access there again as well after initially blocking access.

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo could be the first devices that protect children by default, Kekesi continued. She praised Apple's new CEO, John Ternus, for making child safety Apple's "#1 priority."

The tube site urges Apple to expand these developments globally, and Google and Microsoft to implement the same solution as well, Kekesi continued.

"The technology exists. A precedent exists. The responsibility now lies with Apple and platforms, like ours, to pursue solutions that truly protect children across the entire internet," she said.

This is the latest time Pornhub and Aylo have advocated for device-level filters, which have long been the adult industry and free speech experts' preferred solution to minors accessing porn sites.

Device-level filters, such as the iOS update, put child locks on the device itself. Many laws in the U.S. and globally mandate platform-level filters, in which websites and apps implement their own filters. This results in privacy and safety concerns, experts have told Mashable, as visitors have to hand over their personal data to unknown handlers. It also forces them to verify their age with each visit. Filters on the device, however, occur once.

"This method protects minors without requiring adults to surrender unnecessary personal information to multiple apps and websites. It also avoids creating systems that are easily circumvented through tools like VPNs," Kekesi said.

In July, Pornhub sent a letter to U.S. lawmakers urging them to require Apple, Microsoft, and Google to enable device-level filters. It first sent a letter to the companies directly in Nov. 2025, calling on them to do it themselves.

SAVE $40: As of Oct. 6, the first day of Prime Big Deal Days, the Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds are down to just $159.99. That's their lowest price on record and $40 off their list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Sleep A30 Special $159.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $40   Get Deal

Whether you have noisy neighbors or live on a busy street, loud environments can often prevent a good night's sleep. While earplugs are a solid option, they're not the only option in 2026. If you like to listen to white noise, calming tunes, or even podcasts to fall asleep, sleep earbuds are a better alternative — and the Soundcore Sleep A30 Specials are our top choice.

Now that Prime Big Deal Days has kicked off, you can pick up the Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds for only $159.99. They're usually $199.99 at full price (as per the Soundcore website), so that's $40 or 20% in savings. That also happens to be their lowest price to date.

Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard tested the leading sleep earbuds on the market, and the Soundcore Sleep A30 Specials won by a landslide. Aside from their predecessor, they're the only sleep earbuds on the market with ANC. They also feature five different soundscapes to help you drift off to sleep, including AI audio brainwave, snore masking, white noise, Calm app sleep stories, and Calm app meditations. Within those soundscapes, there are also plenty of customization options.

The buds also track sleep data, have better battery life than the original Sleep A30s, and offer a slimmer profile than the Sleep A20s. And perhaps most importantly, they're comfortable for side sleepers, back sleepers, and belly sleepers, with plenty of wear options. As Allard puts it in her review, "The Sleep A30 Special earbuds aren't just better than their predecessors — they officially sit head and shoulders above all other available sleep earbuds."

Considering the competing Ozlo Sleepbuds 2's $279 price tag, the Sleep A30 Specials are a decent value at full price. But who can argue $40 off?

Best Prime Day Apple Watch deals: Best Apple Watch Series 12 deal Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) $349.99 (save $49.01) Get Deal Best Apple Watch Series 11 deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $259.99 (save $140) Get Deal Best Apple Watch SE 3 deal Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS + Cellular, 40mm) $249 (save $50) Get Deal

Do you feel that chill in the air? Fall is here, which means the holiday shopping season is too. Amazon’s October Prime Day sale kicked off today, Oct. 6, and we’ve found Apple Watch deals worth a look. The new Apple Watch Series 12 is down to $349.99 (normally $399), while the budget-friendly Apple Watch SE 3 is back at $199 (normally $249). And over at Target, the previous-generation Series 11 is $259.99.

Prime Big Deal Days runs through Oct. 7, and we’re tracking the best Apple Watch deals throughout the sale. Whether you’ve been waiting for a discount on the newest model or just want to keep your purchase under $200, here’s what’s worth shopping on day one.

Best Apple Watch Series 12 deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) $349.99 at Amazon
$399 Save $49.01   Get Deal Why we like it

If you’ve been holding out for a discount on Apple’s newest watch, Amazon just knocked $49.01 off the 42mm Apple Watch Series 12. That brings it down to $349.99 from $399 — not a huge markdown, but a welcome discount on a watch that just launched.

SEE ALSO: Apple Watch Series 12 vs. 11: Every upgrade, including one Apple didn't mention

The Series 12 has an S11 chip, redesigned health sensors with continuous heart-rate tracking, and a new readiness score. Our hands-on coverage takes a closer look at what’s new. If those upgrades are what you’ve been waiting for, you can pick up the newest model without paying full price.

Otherwise, take a look at the Series 11 deal at Target before checking out. At $259.99, it’s $90 less. And if $200 is your ceiling, the Apple Watch SE 3 is $199 at Amazon.

Best Apple Watch Series 11 deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $259.99 at Target
$399.99 Save $140   Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon isn’t the only place to find an Apple Watch deal today. Target has the Apple Watch Series 11 for $259.99 with Target Circle (which is free to join). Unless you’re set on Apple’s newest watch, this one deserves a look.

The biggest reason we like it? Battery life. In Mashable’s Apple Watch Series 11 review, Senior Editor Stan Schroeder found that it easily lasted a day and a half on a charge. In one test, he wore it overnight and still had 38 percent battery remaining after 24 hours. That’s useful breathing room if you want to track your sleep without squeezing in a charge before bed.

SEE ALSO: Apple Watch Ultra 4 Review: The smartwatch for the health-conscious

Schroeder also praised its comfortable fit and bright, vibrant display. The Series 11 wasn’t a dramatic reinvention of the Series 10, but the longer battery life made a real difference in his testing. At $259.99, that’s a much easier upgrade to consider than at full price.

More Apple Watch deals

• Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) — $199 $249 (save $50)

• Apple Watch Ultra 3 (GPS + Cellular, 49mm) — $699.97 $899 (save $199.03)

More smartwatch deals

• Google Fitbit Versa 4 — $165 $199.95 (save $34.95)

• Garmin Vivoactive 5, 42mm — $181.97 $299.99 (save $118.02)

• Garmin Forerunner 165, 43mm — $199.99 $249.99 (save $50)

• Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar, 45mm — $279.95 $449.99 (save $170.04)

• Garmin Venu 3, 45mm — $279.99 $449.99 (save $170)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, 47mm — $477.75 $649.99 (save $172.24)

Best deals from Best Buy's Techtober sale Best Apple deal Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation $119.99 (save $59.01) Get Deal Best headphones deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) $369 (save $80) Get Deal Best e-reader deal Amazon Kindle $103.99 (save $46) Get Deal Best creator deal DJI Osmo 3 Creator Combo $495 (save $54) Get Deal

Amazon's October Prime Day is here, so naturally, all the competing sales are too, including Best Buy's Techtober sale.

Though Amazon's sale is 48 hours from Oct. 6 to 7, Best Buy's sale is a weeklong affair, from Oct. 5 to Oct. 11. That said, the retailer stipulated that sale prices are liable to change during the sale dates and that only limited quantities are available. In other words, don't count on a deal you like lasting all week long.

SEE ALSO: October Prime Day 2026 is here: Live updates on the latest deals on AirPods, Kindles, and Yeti coolers

For the most part, you will find the best deals at Amazon. However, we've rounded up all the deals that are matched with Amazon's prices, slightly better, or within a buck or two of Amazon's sale prices for anyone who simply prefers to shop at Best Buy. All told, these are 22 of our favorite deals from Best Buy's Techtober sale (so far):

Best Techtober deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation $119.99 at Amazon
$179 Save $59.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Yes, the AirPods 5 are here, and yes, they are objectively the better Apple earbuds. However, with this deal, the AirPods 4 with ANC are officially the cheapest way to get noise cancellation and wireless charging from the AirPods line. And at the time of writing, they're completely sold out at Amazon.

Best Apple deals

• Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $179.99 $249 (save $69.01)

• Apple AirPods Max 2 — $429 $549 (save $120)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,299 $1,499 (save $200)

Best headphones and earbuds dealsHeadphones

• JLab JBuds Lux ANC — $39.90 $84.99 (save $45.09)

• Beats Studio Pro — $149.99 $299.99 (save $150)

• Sony WH-1000XM5 — $198 $398 (save $200)

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) — $369 $449 (save $80)

Earbuds

• Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 — $179.99 $249.99 (save $70)

• Sony WF-1000XM6 — $259.99 $329.99 (save $70)

Best TV deals

• TCL 75-inch Class M8LF Series 4K Mini LED Smart TV — $629.99 $1,299.99 (save $670)

• LG 65-inch Class C6 Series OLED evo AI Smart TV — $1,499.99 $2,699.99 (save $1,200)

Best e-reader deals

• Amazon Kindle — $103.99 $149.99 (save $46)

• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite — $149.99 $199.99 (save $50)

• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature — $169.99 $249.99 (save $80)

• Amazon Kindle Colorsoft — $189.99 $289.99 (save $100)

Even more deals

• Amazon Fire TV Stick HD — $15.99 $39.99 (save $24)

• Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 2 (4-pack) — $49.40 $99.99 (save $50.59)

• DJI Mic Mini — $79 $99 (save $20)

• Acer Nitro 31.5-inch Curved Gaming Monitor — $179.99 $459.99 (save $280)

• DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo — $495 $549 (save $54)

Back in the day, we did everything we could to avoid transcoding in our Plex libraries. The typical home server's hardware was very weak, so transcoding turned a simple playback request into a never-ending buffering nightmare. But now that even cheap PCs can transcode video with ease, it's become a surprisingly useful trick for saving storage without having to buy more storage drives.

You can't afford to have the wrong tools when you're out on a breakdown. That's why it makes sense to get a mechanic's tool set, like this one by DeWalt, with everything you need to do repairs efficiently and without unnecessary stress.

New observations from the Gemini North telescope on Maunakea in Hawai‘i reveal the most detailed view yet of Pa 30, a supernova remnant about 7,500 light-years away. Its distinctive streaks of gas look like sparks shooting outward. But zoom in, and those seemingly smooth trails turn out to be chains of knots, resembling pearls on a string. And these are some very big pearls.

"The planetary region of our solar system could fit in each knot about 10 times with room to spare," astrophysicist Ilaria Caiazzo, an assistant professor at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria, said in a statement. "The knots are quite strikingly uniform. We are excited to try to model them."

The findings, from a team co-led by Caiazzo and astrophysicist Tim Cunningham, are published in The Astrophysical Journal.

An explosion with a medieval paper trail

Researchers consider Pa 30 the likely remains of SN 1181, a supernova recorded by observers in Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic historical sources in 1181. It remained visible in the constellation Cassiopeia for 185 days.

But connecting those accounts to something astronomers could study today took centuries. Amateur astronomer Dana Patchick discovered Pa 30 in 2013 while examining data from NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer as part of a citizen science effort. The object turned out to have an especially unusual resident: a surviving stellar remnant at its center, nicknamed a "zombie star."

Pa 30 is considered the only known remnant of a Type Iax supernova in the Milky Way. These are relatively low-energy, incomplete stellar explosions that can leave a surviving star behind. A standard Type Ia supernova, by comparison, destroys the exploding white dwarf.

The Gemini North telescope’s laser guide star beams up into the atmosphere. The laser guide star is used to measure turbulence in the Earth’s atmosphere so the telescope can correct for it and achieve clear images of the night sky. Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab What the new image reveals

The Gemini observations reveal roughly 10 times as many filamentary features as earlier images showed. They also expose the chains of gas knots that make up those filaments, giving researchers new clues about how the debris took shape.

According to NOIRLab, differences in temperature or density in the material surrounding the star may have helped shape the expanding ejecta. Exactly how those remarkably uniform knots formed remains a question for researchers to investigate.

The team also found that the surviving star sits almost exactly at the remnant’s center. An uneven explosion can give a surviving star a "kick," sending it away from the center. Pa 30’s configuration indicates that its star received no large sideways kick, offering another clue about the blast.

Researchers hope to use Pa 30’s distinctive features to help find similar remnants in our galaxy and nearby ones. For now, this medieval light show is still giving astronomers something new to look at.

I don't think I've ever come across a rate limit and been fine. It normally comes right as I really need it to work. If you've burned time on Claude Code or Codex and hit the wall that keeps you from using it, you know how unfair it feels. Luckily, there's an open-source coding agent that connects to over 75 model providers, so when one shuts you out, you move to another.

The best Prime Day headphones deals under $100 at a glance: Best headphones deal under $50 JLab JBuds Lux $39.80 (save $60.19) Get Deal Best headphones deal under $100 Sony WH-CH720N $88 (save $91.99) Get Deal Best earbuds deal under $50 Soundcore P30i $23.68 (save $26.31) Get Deal best earbuds deal under $100 Apple AirPods 4 $79 (save $50.99) Get Deal

Believe it or not, headphones don't have to cost hundreds of dollars. In fact, there are plenty of worthy options with budget-friendly price tags. And now that Prime Big Deal Days has arrived, those prices are even better.

Amazon's October Prime Day event is overflowing with deals on headphones, including Mashable editor favorites and award winners. But even at 40% off or more, some of the most popular picks might be over your budget. That's fine; we found 20+ other options that are under $100 and still pretty dang great.

For those ballin' on a budget, check out some of our top October Prime Day picks for headphones and earbuds deals under $100.

Best October Prime Day headphones deal under $100 Opens in a new window Credit: JLab JLab JBuds Lux $39.80 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $60.19   Get Deal Why we like it

They may not be the most well-known headphones on the market, but they deserve more credit. We named them the best budget headphones of 2026, thanks to their well-balanced sound, decent comfort, functional ANC, and killer battery life. And despite the price, they don't feel cheap. On any given day, they're less than $100, but for October Prime Day, they're *checks notes* under $40.

More headphones deals under $100

• JLab Go Lux ANC — $29.50 $52.99 (save $23.49)

• Sony WH-CH520 — $33 $69.99 (save $36.99)

• Soundcore Q20i — $37.97 $69.99 (save $32.02)

• Soundcore Q31i — $69.99 $89.99 (save $20)

• Sony WH-CH720N — $88 $179.99 (save $91.99)

• Marshall Major V — $89.99 $129.99 (save $40)

• Skullcandy Crusher EVO — $89.99 $209.99 (save $120)

• Beats Solo 4 — $99.95 $199.95 (save $100)

• Soundcore Space 2 — $99.99 $129.99 (save $30)

Best October Prime Day earbuds deal under $100 Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $79 at Walmart
$129.99 Save $50.99   Get Deal Why we like it

While its Amazon's time to shine on Prime Big Deal Days, Walmart's Fall Deals event is not to be slept on. The AirPods 4 are down to just $79 at Walmart, while Amazon no longer has them in stock now that the AirPods 5 have arrived. These entry-level Apple earbuds might not have noise-cancellation, but they're still pretty great. They're also 39% cheaper than the newer model announced last month. Mashable's Bethany Allard notes that while they're still $10 away from their record-low price, they likely won't be around long enough to see that discount. Stock is already low, so you want the most affordable AirPods on the market, we recommend grabbing them now.

More earbuds deals under $100

• JBL Vibe Beam — $27.95 $54.95 (save $27)

• Soundcore P30i — $23.68 $49.99 (save $26.31)

• JBL Endurance Race 2 — $49.95 $89.95 (save $40)

• EarFun Air Pro 4 — $50.50 $79.99 (save $29.49)

• Nothing Ear (a) Earbuds — $55 $79 (save $24)

• JBL Soundgear Sense — $82.99 $164.95 (save $81.96)

• Beats Studio Buds+ — $89.95 $169.95 (save $80)

• Soundcore AeroClip — $94.99 $169.99 (save $75)

• JBL Tour Pro 2 — $99.95 $249.95 (save $150)

• Soundcore Sleep A20 — $99.99 $179.99 (save $80)

You don't have to buy an expensive dedicated camera (or repurpose an old phone) just to take timelapse photos of your garden. Reddit DIY engineer Atypicalworkshop has made a Raspberry Pi camera that captures timelapse footage from his backyard.

The best Samsung gaming monitor deals Best Samsung Gaming Monitor Deal Samsung 32" Odyssey OLED G8 $999.99 (Save $300) Get Deal Best Mid-Tier Samsung Gaming Monitor Deal Samsung 32" Odyssey OLED G7 $749.99 (Save $350) Get Deal Best Budget Samsung Gaming Monitor Deal Samsung 27-Inch Odyssey G50D $209.99 (Save $140) Get Deal

Mashable's reporters and editors are constantly testing the latest gaming gear, from headsets and controllers to handheld PCs and monitors. This year, upgrading a gaming PC has gotten a lot more expensive, with RAM and SSD prices climbing because of the ongoing memory crisis. If your rig's internals have to wait, Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days, better known as October Prime Day, has knocked down prices on the screen you play on, including several of Samsung's Odyssey gaming monitors.

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days is officially live, running Oct. 6 to 7. We've covered this fall shopping event since its 2022 debut, and this year we're tracking Samsung's gaming monitor discounts as they drop. We've found several options across different price points to choose from if you're ready to dive in and give your gaming setup a leg up on the competition. With games like Grand Theft Auto VI on the horizon, there's no better time than now to give your gaming battlestation a bit of a boost.

Here are the best Samsung gaming monitor deals we've spotted for October Prime Day so far.

Best Samsung gaming monitor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung 32" Odyssey OLED G8 $999.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $300   Get Deal Why we like it

Need some seriously crisp visuals? The Odyssey OLED G8 pairs a 4K QD-OLED panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, so you don't have to choose between sharp detail and smooth motion. Plus, its 0.03ms response time keeps fast action from smearing while you're trying to stay on top of the leaderboard. This premium-tier monitor also boasts a glare-free finish to cut down on reflections from lamps and windows, with an OLED Safeguard+ feature helps protect the panel from burn-in when static elements like HUDs and taskbars stay on screen for hours. If you're looking for a fantastic experience with your gaming monitor, this option should give you plenty of satisfying sessions.

Best mid-tier Samsung gaming monitor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung 32" Odyssey OLED G7 $749.99 at Amazon
$1,099.99 Save $350   Get Deal Why we like it

The Odyssey OLED G7 is no slouch when it comes to great visuals. It has a dual-mode panel, so you can play at 4K and 165Hz when you want a sharp picture in single-player games, then switch to 1080p at up to 330Hz for more fast-paced competitive rounds of games like Overwatch or Apex Legends. With a 0.03ms response time and support for both G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro, fast motion is free from screen tearing and looks the best it can. Plus, its DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification and Pantone-validated color means you get true-to-life hues. Raise, tilt, swivel, or pivot it on the included stand until it sits where you want it and get your game on.

Best budget Samsung gaming monitor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung 27-Inch Odyssey G50D $209.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $140   Get Deal Why we like it

This more wallet-friendly option pairs a 1440p resolution with a 180Hz refresh rate, which gives you sharper detail than a 1080p screen and smoother motion than a standard 60Hz or 144Hz monitor. It has a Fast IPS panel with a 1ms response time and 178-degree viewing angles. It even supports both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible to cut down on screen tearing, while VESA DisplayHDR 400 adds a contrast boost in HDR games. If you don't need the best of the best in terms of what money will get you, there's absolutely nothing wrong with going down this path with a budget gaming monitor that truly delivers.

More Samsung gaming monitor deals

• Samsung 27" Odyssey G3 (G30D) Series FHD Gaming Monitor — $129.99 $229.99 (save $100)

• Samsung 32" Odyssey (G55C) Series QHD 1000R Curved Gaming Monitor — $189.99 $329.99 (save $140)

• Samsung 49" Odyssey (G93SC) Series QD-OLED Curved Gaming Monitor — $899.99 $1,599.99 (save $700)

You don’t need to be a model to land a brand deal. You don’t need to step onstage to post a stand-up clip. And in the AI influencer business, the person attracting all that attention doesn’t even need to exist.

If you haven’t encountered one yet, an AI influencer is a character whose images or videos are created using artificial intelligence. A person or company gives it a face, a name, and a social media account, then posts as that character. It might appear to be a model, a lifestyle creator, or a stand-up comedian, with followers who can be directed toward brand promotions, products, or paid subscriptions.

The pitch is that you can do all this without getting in front of a camera. With tools that put AI characters into existing footage, you may not even need to film anything.

The people promoting the opportunity aren’t being especially subtle. "this is like ecom in 2016," one post declares, comparing it to an early opportunity in online retail. "these AI characters have gotten 100M+ views in only the last couple of days," he adds, "making them is SO easy it feels unfair." Another promises a "you can do it in 5min," ending with "hope you get millions of views with this one."

Credit: Screenshot: X

A growing industry supports all of this, from AI platforms that generate faces and voices to agencies managing fictional talent and people selling courses on how to get started. Here's how AI influencers are made, how they make money, and why real creators are pushing back.

SEE ALSO: Seen an ad with an AI influencer or actor? It may be against the law. How do you make an AI creator?

The tutorials circulating on social media break the process into a few steps. First, decide what your character looks like. Some recommend browsing Pinterest for inspiration and using ChatGPT or Claude to help develop the character. Next, make a "character sheet": a set of reference images showing the same fictional person from different angles. Those images give the video tool a guide to the character’s appearance.

Then, users bring those images into a tool such as Higgsfield’s Genjutsu, along with a video they want the character to appear in. Several promotional posts recommend downloading a viral video and keeping its movement, lighting, framing, and overall appearance while swapping out the performer. A sample prompt is:

"replace the person in @ video1 with the character from @ image1. keep the same motion, camera movement, color grading, lighting, framing, and overall video quality."

Another (seemingly sponsored) tutorial recommends using luxury lifestyle footage to make a character appear wealthy. "while everyone was busy making bizarre AI characters, this creator found a MUCH bigger angle. he made poor person look filthy RICH." The post added that "he grew this account to 280K+ followers in just two days posting multiple times a day."

Credit: Screenshot/Higgsfield AI Influencer Studio

Not everyone suggests that users should take someone else’s video. "Shoot on your phone, Genjutsu does the production: wardrobe, set, grade," Higgsfield says on its website. In that approach, you film yourself performing the movements, then use the tool to transfer them to your fictional character. The platform's AI Influencer builder allows users to choose features including age, ethnicity, hairstyle, and body proportions. A similar platform, HeyGen, offers talking AI avatars — digital characters that appear to speak on camera — while ElevenLabs supplies AI-generated speech. Together, these services let an account’s operator create the appearance of a person who can pose, move, and talk, without that person existing at all.

Over the past few years, but especially in recent weeks, these sort of accounts have gone viral, particularly in the sketch and stand up comedy spaces. Popular creators include Abu Shalab, Leopold Delarue, Jean Phil, and Percival Ashcroft.

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The business extends into beauty, fashion, and fitness, too. Examples include imma, a Japanese virtual influencer featured in an SK-II skincare ad, Shudu, a digital model who appeared in Balmain’s "Virtual Army," Hazel Delarose, who posts dating and GRWM content, and Lil Miquela, whose fictional life has included starring in a BMW campaign (she also has 2.2 million followers).

Credit: Screenshot: Instagram/@hazeldelarose How does a fictional person make real money?

An AI influencer can attract millions of views, but those views don’t come with a fixed paycheck. The person running the account can earn through platform payments, brand deals, or selling something to the audience.

On YouTube, the platform pays eligible creators a share of advertising revenue through its Partner Program; for Shorts, YouTube pools revenue from ads shown between clips and allocates money based on each creator’s share of eligible engaged views. AI-generated videos can qualify, but channels must join the program and meet its originality requirements. YouTube specifically lists "AI-generated content made with generic or unoriginal templates giving the impression of mass production without adding the creator’s original, authentic insights or perspective" as ineligible for monetization.

TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program, on the other hand, pays eligible creators for original, high-quality videos longer than one minute — but on that platform, along with Instagram, it's more likely that an AI clip could attract millions of views without earning anything. That's why, according to one post, "views alone pay little, the money is in what you put behind." That's why for some accounts, free videos are advertisements for paid subscriptions. Profile links send viewers to NSFW-subscription platforms like OnlyFans or Fanvue to purchase additional content. Fanvue, which explicitly welcomes AI creators, offers subscriptions, paid posts and messages, and tips.

Many of these influencers sell courses or guides on how to make this sort of content. For example, Aitana López, an AI fitness and lifestyle personality who has more than 400,000 Instagram followers and 1,000 YouTube subscribers, sells instructions to followers on how to create characters like her. Aitana’s Instagram links to AI community platform skool.com's AI Creator Aicademy, whose page promises: "Learn how to build, position, and monetize a profitable AI avatar through strategy, structure, and systems." The community lists a $9 monthly price and lessons on making AI content, developing advertising campaigns, and automating production.

Credit: Screenshot: Skool.com "AI stole my joke and outfit"

A recent case of a viral AI comedian shows what can happen when that strategy relies on a real creator’s work.

"Tiffany Sloane," posting on Instagram as @tiffany.bbyx, has about 377,000 followers and 118 posts (as of Oct. 6). Its earliest post appeared on Sept. 11, less than a month ago. Since then, Tiffany's AI has appeared in generated sitcom episodes and stand-up clips. Videos get a range of 10,000 views to millions. The profile describes Tiffany as an actress and discloses that she is AI generated (a change that developed while writing this story). Its Instagram highlights link to Tiffany's OnlyFans page, with a bio that reads "19, and yeah, the body’s real." Who operates that page, and whether it features a real woman, remains unconfirmed, and the Instagram account's page has since been seemingly deactivated.

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Of course, since Tiffany is not a real person, she also did not come up with the joke, or the mannerisms behind her character on stage. In an Oct. 4 Instagram video, comedian George Brett Olsen shared a side-by-side comparison showing himself and Tiffany wearing similar outfits, gestures, and telling the same joke. "AI stole my joke and outfit!" he declared.

"What’s crazy to me is you can’t report this. A bunch of people tried," Olson added. "This account has 300k followers, counting, and just full send stealing jokes from comics. What’s more, it’s scary that it’s either bots commenting, people who don’t know the difference or just don’t care. Also they screwed up my punchline."

A concerning aspect is how many people genuinely take the account seriously. Before all her videos were taken down, there were comments on posts like "she's the funniest!" and "When do you do live shows?" Though most people can see through the facade. "Ew. This thing gets follows for stealing jokes?? Who wants to see this?" Venture capital partner Justine Moore even posted on X that the tactic was a "genius marketing hack."

Other comedians have encountered the same problem as Olson. AI performer @aylenskye3000 delivered a joke by comedian Olivia Carter in a (now deleted) video about asking out her personal trainer — material the comedian had performed on Netflix and The Tonight Show. According to Carter, via Gizmodo, initially she couldn’t see one of the copied videos herself because the account had blocked her. Jokes by comedians Sarah Purdum and Julia Jasunas were also identified on the same bot account that connects to a Fanvue profile with close to 5,000 likes.

Purdum told Mashable she knew of one instance involving her own work, but that the comedy community had been discussing similar experiences, particularly among women. "It seems to be that female comedians work is being stolen and repurposed for sexy AI models," she said. "I feel annoyed that my work is being taken for the purpose of drawing in men, although I think the models could say anything and it would mean the same to a man that is there for unrealistic bodies."

Credit: Screenshots: TikTok

Purdum has a point: The AI women in these vides have exaggerated breasts and hips, tiny waists, and practically painted-on clothing. Serving a sexualized image attracts attention that can be directed toward paid subscriptions on platforms — or just to get views. Along the way, they put real women up against bodies designed to grab eyeballs, potentially feeding insecurities about how women are supposed to look. Sara Ziff, founder and executive director of the Model Alliance, warned that using AI to create idealized people who don’t exist risks "narrowing our definition of beauty instead of broadening it," according to the New York Times.

"I would hope platforms would take down work that has been plagiarized," she added. Mashable has reached out to Instagram and TikTok for comments.

There are real agencies for fake people

Beyond accounts repackaging viral videos, more and more companies are starting to build fictional personalities specifically for advertising and entertainment. Think of a talent agency where the agency also designs the talent. For example, The Clueless manages López, describing her as, "Born in Barcelona and 26 years old," with a "sporty style and a bold attitude." The fictional creator has appeared in an Amazon Black Friday campaign, and according to the agency, works with brands like L’Oréal and Coca-Cola.

Other companies have developed entire casts of fictional personalities. Inception Point AI’s roster has more than 100 characters covering subjects including gardening, cooking, and celebrity gossip, and are designed to host podcasts, appear in videos, and interact with followers.

As CEO Jeanine Wright told the Times in August, "As long as people like the content, we think they’ll accept that it comes from A.I.." Andreea Petrescu, who co-founded AI marketing agency Seraphinne Vallora, addded that: "With A.I., it’s like a clean slate: You can design it the way you want, she can be as gorgeous as you want, and she’s all yours."

"With A.I., it’s like a clean slate: You can design it the way you want, she can be as gorgeous as you want, and she’s all yours." - Andreea Petrescu, co-founder of AI marketing agency Seraphinne Vallora

Platforms have rules addressing parts of this. Fanvue permits AI content but prohibits deception and infringement of ownership rights, while OnlyFans requires it to clearly feature the verified creator and be identifiable as AI. Meta applies "AI info" labels, and TikTok introduced a similar AI-labeling tool back in 2023, and YouTube began rolling out its disclosure tool in 2024, with updates this past May. All of these require disclosures of realistic synthetic content, but a label doesn’t establish where the original performance came from or whether its creator agreed to its reuse in the first place.

TikTok prohibits certain synthetic depictions even when labeled, including likenesses of anyone under 18 and those of adult private individuals used without permission. In August, a source at TikTok told Mashable the company was testing certain AI tools like "AI Cast," which helps users create an "AI Self" that can appear in AI-generated videos. In response to various influencers and musician's content getting ripped off, the platform said, "We are testing strategies broadly to help protect AI likeness on the platform." YouTube, meanwhile, clarified in July 2025 that repetitive or mass-produced content cannot earn money through its Partner Program.

SEE ALSO: What happens when your AI self starts influencing without you?

Getting noticed in an already crowded entertainment and influencer economy is hard enough. But in an ecosystem where a stranger can put a new face on your performance and use it to build their own following, creators are now also left competing with a version of their own work.

Your phone apps define the tone of your entire experience. If every useful feature is hidden behind a subscription, using your phone can start to feel like a never-ending checkout page. I’ve definitely had moments where I wanted an app to do one simple thing, only to find a monthly plan waiting for me.

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Thanks to the global memory crisis known as "RAMageddon," prices on memory products like internal drives, external SSDs, and high-capacity flash storage have continued to climb. It’s been a relentless up, up, and up trajectory as AI demand squeezes consumer supply.

That makes finding genuine discounts during Prime Big Deal Days — Amazon's 48-hour fall savings event that kicks off today and runs through Oct. 7 — all the more crucial.

SEE ALSO: October Prime Day 2026: Live updates on Apple, Kindle, Lego, and Samsung deals

High-speed NVMe drives, rugged external SSDs, microSD cards, and HDDs are Prime Day staples that matter more than ever amid RAMageddon. We did some digging and found the best October Prime Day deals in the solid-state and hard drive categories right now. If you've been waiting to expand your PC build, give your PS5 some breathing room, or secure your off-site backups, now is the time to take advantage of these offers from top-tier brands like Samsung, Sandisk, and more.

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Pocket-sized, ridiculously fast, and virtually indestructible, the Sandisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD is engineered for harsh travel conditions that would destroy standard desktop drives. It nearly doubles the speed of previous generations, so you can back up thousands of photos in less than a minute, while offering full weather resistance to rain and spills, and hardware encryption to keep your private documents locked down tighter than a vault. Now $209.99 for October Prime Day (normally $299.99), it's never been cheaper before.

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The Samsung 990 Pro delivers top-tier sequential speeds up to 7,450 MB/s, effectively maxing out what a PCIe 4.0 slot can process. That translates directly to faster boot times, near-instant game loading on PC or PS5, and smooth handling of large 4K video renders. It also runs more power-efficiently than its predecessor, so it stays stable under heavy continuous workloads. With a solid five-year warranty and a huge price drop, it’s one of the best value-for-money storage upgrades you can buy right now.

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Nintendo's bestselling Switch 2 console comes with 256GB of built-in storage, which can fill up fast if you play a lot of AAA games. Sandisk's officially licensed 512GB microSD Express Card for the console has read speeds of up to 880 MB/s and comes with a lifetime warranty. If you're a Prime member, you can add it to your cart for just $129.99 during Prime Big Deal Days (typically $199.99). That's its lowest price ever.

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The Samsung T7 is built for life on the move. Weighing under two ounces and barely larger than a credit card, it slips into a pocket or backpack pouch without taking up space in your carry-on. Its solid aluminum unibody design handles the bumps of travel with ease, featuring shock resistance that withstands drops from up to 6 feet. With transfer speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s, you can offload massive 4K travel footage, photo backups, or offline media libraries in seconds. You can even plug it directly into an iPhone 15 Pro (or newer) to record high-res video straight to the drive while on location.

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Linux gives you plenty of control, but it also expects you to look after your own system. Most hardcore users do, but if you're coming from a more closed OS, it can feel daunting at first. These three tools handle the most common causes of trouble: broken updates, hostile login attempts, and missed patches.

TL;DR: Watch Argentina vs. Benin in an International Friendly for free on GE TV. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest player to ever play the game. He has won every personal accolade on offer, leading Barcelona and Argentina to famous victories and trophies over an incredible career.

The 39-year-old has now retired from international football after winning the World Cup and scoring 125 goals in 207 appearances.

Before he bids farewell, Argentina are set to play Benin at the Estadio Monumental. Lionel Messi is in the squad, giving devoted fans one last chance to see him play in the colors of La Albiceleste. And you can do the same.

If you're interested in watching Argentina vs. Benin in an International Friendly from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Argentina vs. Benin?

Argentina vs. Benin in an International Friendly kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on Oct. 6. This fixture takes place at the Estadio Monumental.

How to watch Argentina vs. Benin for free

Argentina vs. Benin in an International Friendly is available to live stream for free on GE TV.

GE TV is geo-restricted to Brazil, 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 Brazil, meaning you can live stream Argentina vs. Benin for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Argentina vs. Benin 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 Brazil

4. Visit GE TV

5. Watch Argentina vs. Benin for free from anywhere in the world

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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 Argentina vs. Benin 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 GE TV?

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

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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 Argentina vs. Benin for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

OpenAI's ChatGPT can't seem to shake its plagiarism problem.

Amid an ongoing battle with authors and publishers over its text-based outputs and continued criticism that the chatbot's creative mind is ripping off human artists, the chatbot is under fire again. This time because of poor imitations of New Yorker cartoons, complete with signatures of real, paid artists.

Recent viral outputs shared on social media seem to show a repeated pattern of the chatbot adding fake signatures of prominent New Yorker staff cartoonists to its artificially-generated images, reported Nieman Lab.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI is adding an invisible watermark to AI-generated text

ChatGPT was able to generate the signatures of more than a dozen professional cartoonist and affix them to the fake images, often rendered in the signature style of the publication, Nieman Lab reported. The artists were not asked permission or provided compensation.

"I can see the DNA of my work in there, but it still doesn’t look like something I drew. It’s kind of like seeing a distant cousin," contributor Emily Flake told Nieman Lab.

The New Yorker signatures are likely the result of two factors: The ubiquity and popularity of New Yorker cartoons across the internet and internet-wide scraping that aims to siphon content for model training.

Many publishers, including Condé Nast, are now pushing Congress to enact federal laws that would prevent unlicensed bot scraping. In recent years, these same publishers have signed deals with AI companies to recoup revenue lost from previously unlicensed data grabs, including a 2024 partnership between publisher Condé Nast and OpenAI. Under the deal, OpenAI paid for use of content from Condé Nast brands, including New Yorker, Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, and Bon Appétit.

However, a New Yorker spokesperson clarified that the deal did not grant OpenAI permission to train its models on cartoons or use its logo and art in image generation. In addition, the publication clarified that contributing cartoonists retain copyright of their work.

In response to reports of potential plagiarism, an OpenAI spokesperson said: "We believe the future of creativity is one that is fundamentally human, and our focus is on building tools that empower human creativity and creators. We very much appreciate the community flagging bugs and unintended behavior by our models, so we can address them."

The chatbot now warns users of potential content violations when prompted to generate New Yorker-style images. It reads, "This prompt may violate our guardrails concerning similarity to third-party content." However, ChatGPT will still generate images in the style, including signatures, the publication reported.