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TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is available for $159.99 at Amazon. That's close to market price, but does require shoppers to request an invite to buy.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $159.99 at Amazon
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Amazon’s $89.99 deal on the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box sold out fast, but the retailer still offers one of the most reasonable routes to securing this high-demand set — if you're willing to join the waitlist.

The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is currently listed at $159.99 on Amazon, with shipping and sale handled directly by the retailer. Because inventory remains extremely tight on Prime Big Deal Days, Amazon is routing orders through its "request invite" lottery system. Submitting an invite request reserves your spot in line to purchase the box at list price, without paying inflated secondary-market rates.

At $159.99, Amazon’s price sits close to TCGplayer’s market price. It's also considerably cheaper than Walmart, so even though it hurts to miss out on the $89.99 deal that Amazon was offering a couple of weeks ago, this is still a strong option for collectors.

The 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is the premier display piece for this milestone expansion. Each ETB comes packed with nine 30th Celebration booster packs, an exclusive full-art foil Nidorina promo card, 16 foil Basic Energy cards, 65 custom card sleeves, damage-counter dice, a condition marker, card dividers, a collector’s player guide, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Fire Stick 4K Select — $17.99 $49.99 (save $32)

• AirPods Pro 3 — $179 $249 (save $70)

• Bose QuietComfort Gen 2 — $319 $359 (save $40)

• iPad mini — $499 $599 (save $100)

• MacBook Air M5 — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200)

SAVE $70: As of Oct. 6, the AirPods Pro 3 are on sale for $179 at Amazon on October Prime Day. That's $70 off their full price of $249.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179 at Amazon
$249 Save $70   Get Deal

Discounts on Apple products are already popping up on Amazon now that Prime Big Deal Days is live, including the AirPods Pro 3. As of Oct. 6, these earbuds are $179 at Amazon, which isn't far from their lowest-ever price of $169.

We saw them hit that low point just before June's Prime Day sale, but this offer is still mighty close if you've been hoping to grab them for a low price. Compared to paying the full $249, this deal saves you $70 overall, but it's only available for a limited time. There's no telling just how long that will be, so don't wait too long to scoop them up on sale.

SEE ALSO: We've scoured hundreds of sales to find the 35+ best early October Prime Day deals: Bose, Lego, Apple

While new AirPods may be out in the wild, we still have a lot of love for the AirPods Pro 3. They remain on our list of the best wireless earbuds as our favorite pick for Apple users, as their "sound profile is robust and clear, the noise cancellation truly silences the world around you, and they pair easily to Apple devices."

They also feature built-in heart rate sensors. With these, you can track your heart rate and calories burned while you're working out, which our reviewer Adam Doud said "worked perfectly." They also offer a strong battery life that can last you up to 8 hours with ANC on, or up to 10 in Transparency mode.

This deal is well worth grabbing on Prime Big Deal Days. Don't miss out on $70 off the AirPods Pro 3 right now at Amazon.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Fire Stick 4K Select — $17.99 $49.99 (save $32)

• AirPods Pro 3 — $179 $249 (save $70)

• Bose QuietComfort Gen 2 — $319 $359 (save $40)

• iPad mini — $499 $599 (save $100)

• MacBook Air M5 — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200)

SAVE OVER $149: As of Oct. 6, the 2026 Apple Mac mini M5 Pro is available for $1,549.99 on October Prime Day. That's a $149.01 savings off the regular list price of $1,699.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Mac mini M5 Pro $1,549.99 at Amazon
$1,699 Save $149.01   Get Deal

Everybody loves a good Apple deal. Let's face it: they don't come around all that often. That's why sale events such as October Prime Day are always such a treat.

As ever, Amazon has built anticipation with a bunch of early deals, including markdowns on MacBooks, iPads, AirPods, and Apple Watches. But an Apple deal that deserves your attention is on the Apple Mac mini M5 Pro, an Apple device that often flies under the radar

As of Oct. 6, the Apple Mac mini M5 Pro is down from $1,699 to $1,549.99, which saves you $149.01 — a decent saving on any Apple product.

If you've never heard of this device, it's essentially all the power and brilliance of a Mac packed into a little silver box. All you need to do is hook it up to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. It runs on the M5 Pro chip, which means it's among the smartest, fastest, most powerful Apple devices out there. It has Apple Intelligence, 512GB of storage, and WiFi 7 support.

Get the Apple Mini Mac Desktop as part of the October Prime Day deals — now just $1,549.99 at Amazon.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Fire Stick 4K Select — $17.99 $49.99 (save $32)

• AirPods Pro 3 — $179 $249 (save $70)

• Bose QuietComfort Gen 2 — $319 $359 (save $40)

• iPad mini — $499 $599 (save $100)

• MacBook Air M5 — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200)

SAVE $200: As of Oct. 6, the Apple 2026 MacBook Air M5 is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon. That's a $200 discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple 2026 MacBook Air M5 $1,099 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $200   Get Deal

It's officially Prime Day. The early discounts have been popping up for weeks, and we're now seeing some stunning deals on Apple products.

We didn't expect this latest MacBook deal, but we're so glad to see it. If the latest MacBook Air has been in your sights, you're in luck. As of Oct. 6, the 13-inch, 512GB model is on sale for $1,099, down from $1,299. This deal applies to all colorways, so you're not stuck with one option.

If you want a laptop that can handle everyday work with ease, the MacBook Air with the M5 chip is a great choice. It's no wonder it's one of our best laptops for 2026. It has the performance to handle creative projects and AI-assisted tasks, and its slim, lightweight design makes it a convenient pick if you work on the go. You'll also get Apple Intelligence built in and 512GB of SSD storage.

It has all the basics you need too. Apple says the battery can last for up to 18 hours, and the 12MP Center Stage camera is ideal for video calls. There's also a three-microphone setup and a four-speaker system with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, so you've got great audio at all times.

This MacBook deal is available at Amazon right now.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Fire Stick 4K Select — $17.99 $49.99 (save $32)

• AirPods Pro 3 — $179 $249 (save $70)

• Bose QuietComfort Gen 2 — $319 $359 (save $40)

• iPad mini — $499 $599 (save $100)

• MacBook Air M5 — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200)

The Draconid meteor shower peaks this week, and skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere won't need to stay up late to catch it.

The shower is active from Oct. 6 to 10. According to EarthSky, which cites predictions from the American Meteor Society, the peak is expected around 1 UTC on Oct. 9. That's 9 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Oct. 8. EarthSky recommends watching from nightfall on Oct. 8 into the early hours of Oct. 9.

Best time to see the Draconids

Most meteor showers are best after midnight, but the Draconids are an exception. Their radiant, the point in the sky where the meteors appear to originate, sits near the stars Eltanin and Rastaban in the head of the constellation Draco the Dragon. EarthSky notes that this radiant stands highest in the sky as darkness falls and sinks lower as the night goes on, so more meteors tend to appear in the evening.

SEE ALSO: Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on October 6, 2026

A viewing table for Chicago shows the radiant at about 75-76 degrees above the horizon at 6 p.m. on Oct. 8. By 1 a.m., it has dropped below 20 degrees.

How many meteors are expected

The Draconids are usually a modest shower. Star Walk estimates about five meteors per hour at the peak under ideal conditions. EarthSky says observers under a dark sky might see up to 10. Star Walk also notes that Draconid meteors move unusually slowly, often leaving lingering streaks across the sky.

This year's conditions are favorable. The new moon falls on Oct. 10, so only a thin waning crescent will be in the sky, and it doesn't rise until shortly before dawn.

How to watch the Draconids meteor shower

You don't need a telescope or binoculars. Find a dark spot away from city lights, give your eyes 15 to 20 minutes to adjust, and lie back to take in as much of the sky as possible. Star Walk advises against staring directly at the radiant, because meteors close to it have shorter trails. Draconids can appear anywhere in the sky.

Viewers in the Southern Hemisphere will have a harder time. From those latitudes, Draco sits low and sets early, so EarthSky suggests looking as soon as it gets dark and keeping expectations low.

We're once again at the part of the lunar cycle where the Moon is almost completely out of view. This is the end stage of the lunar cycle, and when we approach the New Moon.

What is today's Moon phase?

As of Tuesday, Oct. 6, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waning Crescent phase, with 21% of its surface visible.

Visibility is decreasing each night, but for now there is still a chance to spot the Aristarchus Plateau and the Kepler Crater without any visual aids. If you have binoculars or a telescope, you'll also see the Grimaldi Basin and the Gassendi Crater.

When is the next Full Moon?

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

What are Moon phases?

The Moon completes an orbit around Earth in roughly 29.5 days. During that time, its position changes relative to the Earth and Sun, altering how much of the Moon's illuminated surface is visible to us. This produces the familiar lunar phases, beginning with a thin crescent and progressing through the quarter phases before reaching a Full Moon. The sequence then repeats as the Moon continues its orbit. According to NASA, the phase visible from Earth is determined by the Moon's changing position in relation to both Earth and the Sun.

The eight phases are:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TL;DR: Physical preorders for Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake are already $10 off at Amazon. Preorder for $59.99 and get a preorder price guarantee.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' (Digital) $59.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' (Physical) $59.88 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $10.11   Get Deal

We're edging closer and closer to the Nintendo Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The official release date is Nov. 5, but Zelda fans are already buzzing thanks to the first-look gameplay footage.

Preorders for both the digital and physical copies are already available at Amazon. The digital version costs $59.99, while the physical edition was initially priced at $69.99 but has been reduced to $59.88 — great news for those of us who prefer to have the actual game in our hands.

There's another good reason to order from Amazon, as the retailer is offering a preorder price guarantee. That means if the preorder changes between now and when you're charged, you'll pay the lowest price point between when you order and when you receive the game.

If you're a serious Zelda fan, it's worth getting that preorder in soon.

Nintendo has revealed that the first print run of the physical edition will come with "special packaging that features textured foil cover art." That's one for the collectors, who will also love the Legend of Zelda-themed hardware coming this fall to mark the franchise's 40th anniversary. That will include a special-edition Switch 2 console, a Pro Controller, and a carrying case, all out Oct. 29.

The best October Prime Day Hisense TV deals: Best 55-inch Hisense TV deal Hisense 55-inch U7 Mini-LED Hi-QLED 4K TV $647.99 (save $652) Get Deal Best 65-inch Hisense TV deal Hisense 65-inch U7 Mini-LED Hi-QLED 4K TV $827.99 (save $672) Get Deal Best 75-inch Hisense TV Deal Hisense 75-inch U7 Mini-LED Hi-QLED 4K TV $997.99 (save $1,002) Get Deal Best 85-inch Hisense TV deal Hisense 85-inch U7 Mini-LED Hi-QLED 4K TV $1,697.99 (save $802) Get Deal Best 100-inch Hisense TV Deal Hisense 100-inch U7 Mini-LED Hi-QLED 4K TV $2,497.97 (save $2002.02) Get Deal

Prime Big Deal Days is finally here. It’s one of those major shopping events that cuts prices across the board, with deals on all kinds of products and categories. But there’s one thing that every shopper likes to keep an eye on during these sale events: huge TVs. 

A huge TV at a bargain price has long been the mark of a good sale — there’s a reason that shoppers once wrestled in the TV aisles during Black Friday sales — and Prime Big Deal Days, which runs today and tomorrow (Oct. 6-7), has delivered with up to $2,000 off the Hisense U7 range.

Hisense is known for delivering above its price point, with high-spec TVs at relatively affordable prices. So you’re getting even more of a bargain with these Prime Day price cuts on a range of sizes, from 55 inches all the way to 100 inches. Some of these deals give you a 50% discount, depending on the size you buy.

The best Hisense TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch U7 Mini-LED Hi-QLED 4K TV $827.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $672   Get Deal Why we like it

The Hisense U7 is a Mini LED TV built as an all-rounder, whether you want to level up your home cinema setup, your gaming, or your live sports nights.

It runs on the Google TV operating system, among the most reliable platforms for smart TVs at the moment, and boasts razor-sharp 4K visuals. It has thousands of Mini LED backlights that deliver deep, sumptuous blacks and bright highlights, while an AI-enabled processor fine-tunes color and contrast as you watch.

If home cinema is your thing, the Hisense U7 is IMAX Enhanced and supports both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. For gamers, it offers a native 165Hz refresh rate and AMD Premium Pro Motion technology, delivering butter-smooth gameplay. There's also a dedicated games bar, which allows you to optimize your game's settings and boost your overall performance. The refresh rate and motion technology also ensure fluid motion when you're watching live sports, which puts you in the thick of the action.

If you’re looking to upgrade your TV, this is the moment to grab a deal on the Hisense U7 range and save up to $2,000.

SAVE $100: As of Oct. 6, the Kindle Colorsoft is on sale for $189.99 at Amazon. That's a 34% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Kindle Colorsoft $189.99 at Amazon
$289.88 Save $99.89   Get Deal

Prime Day is finally here, and deals on Amazon devices are definitely stealing the show. You can find discounts on Fire TV Sticks, Echo speakers, and if you need a boost to help you through your reading list, Kindles are also on sale.

As of Oct. 6, Amazon's color edition, the Kindle Colorsoft, is down to $189.99. According to the listing, this is a $100 discount. However, price tracker camelcamelcamel notes that the list price jumped to $289.99 in recent weeks (this can happen near sales events), so the true discount is more likely around $60.

This is still a strong price, especially for a color display e-reader. This means that book covers and illustrations appear in color, and you can use different highlight colors when marking up your favorite quotes in books. There's also an adjustable front light, including warmer amber tones, so you can make the screen easier on your eyes, whether you're reading outside during the day or cozied up at night.

It's also built with travel in mind. The battery can last up to eight weeks on a single USB-C charge, so you shouldn't have to think about charging it every few days. Plus, the waterproof design means you can take it to the beach, by the pool, or into the bath without worrying about a few splashes.

Ready to tackle the best books of 2026? Head to Amazon to grab this Kindle deal now.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Fire Stick 4K Select — $17.99 $49.99 (save $32)

• AirPods Pro 3 — $179 $249 (save $70)

• Bose QuietComfort Gen 2 — $319 $359 (save $40)

• iPad mini — $499 $599 (save $100)

• MacBook Air M5 — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200)

Choosing a Kindle is just the start. Once you have your Kindle, there's so much you can do to make the most of it. For avid readers, Stuff Your Kindle Day and Libby let you cross every last item off your annual reading list. You can even buy Kindle accessories like remote page-turners and gooseneck stands so you don't have to hold your Kindle while reading.

So, after extensive testing, reading so many books, and attending BookCon, I created this guide to the best Kindles to buy in 2026.

Meet the new 2026 Kindles

On Oct. 1, Amazon announced a redesign of the entire Kindle collection. Before the launch, Mashable's tech editor, Timothy Beck Werth, went hands-on with the devices, seeing their vivid new colors like ube, as well as the new aluminum casings on some of the e-readers. Here are all the new Kindle e-readers:

• Kindle (16GB) — $149.99 to $169.99

• Kindle, Aluminum (32GB) — $189.99

• Kindle Paperwhite (16GB) — $199.99 to $219.99

• Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (32GB) — $249.99

• Kindle Colorsoft (16GB) — $289.99

• Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32GB) — $319.99

• Kindle Kids (16GB) — $179.99

• Kindle Kids Paperwhite (16GB) — $229.99

• Kindle Kids Colorsoft (16GB) — $299.99

• Kindle Click page turner — $34.99

• Kindle Page Turn Cover — $79.99

2026 Kindle price increases

For years, Kindle prices have stayed stable, but in August 2026, they finally got an increase. Every model except the Kindle Scribe received a price increase. We can thank RAMageddon, as an Amazon spokesperson said that the increased prices are a result of "significant increases in memory and storage component costs." Here's a breakdown of all the new Kindle prices

With the new prices on Kindles, sale prices on Amazon's e-readers may not be what they once were. With Prime Big Deal Days, we took a look back at the most recent sale prices on Kindles. Don't expect to see record-low prices during the Oct. 6 and 7 sale.

More 2026 Kindle updates

As of May 20, 2026, Amazon no longer lend software updates or provide web services to devices released in 2012 or earlier, essentially bricking them. Users will still be able to read currently downloaded books on the device, but to add new books, they will need to connect the device to a computer. This is a huge hit, especially to Libby users who need web service access to read borrowed books.

The affected Kindles include:

• Kindle (1st generation)

• Kindle (2nd generation)

• Kindle DX

• Kindle DX Graphite

• Kindle Keyboard

• Kindle 4

• Kindle Touch

• Kindle 5

• Kindle Paperwhite (1st generation)

Owners of these Kindle models are obviously upset, as it means they'll need to purchase a new device to maintain access to all features. While some are considering switching to a different e-reader, like a Kobo, Amazon still makes great e-readers, and it's a testament to the brand that devices that are at least 14 years old are still going strong.

Which Kindle is right for you?

If you're concerned about buying the newest tech, that's not an issue. There are six updated Kindle models for sale, as well as older editions still in stock.

Before you choose a Kindle, you need to ask one question first: Do you want it to be waterproof? If you prefer reading near a body of water — whether in the bath, by the pool, or at the beach — that immediately narrows down your options. Since the Kindle Oasis is no longer available, your waterproof options are the Kindle Paperwhite, Paperwhite Signature Edition, Colorsoft Signature Edition, and Paperwhite Kids.

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition settings screen. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Beyond water resistance, here are a few other features to consider:

• Display size: The basic Kindle has a 6-inch display, while the largest has a 10.2-inch display.

• Storage capacity: Kindles range from 16GB to 32GB of storage capacity.

• Battery life: The new Kindles generally have outstanding batteries. On the low end, they last up to six weeks per charge, while others last up to 12 weeks.

• Writing capability: The Kindle Scribe is the only model that allows you to write with the included stylus. 

The latest Kindles all boast a maximum brightness of 94 nits and a 300 ppi, high-resolution display with zero glare, so you can enjoy sharp text and images at any viewing angle. Kindles are also equipped with WiFi connectivity, allowing you to download all the reading material you could ever want. Plus, you can listen to audiobooks on Audible via the built-in Bluetooth connection.

Not to mention, out of all the e-readers I've tested, Kindles have the best compatibility with Libby. I love the digital platform because I can read for free and support my local library. Some other e-readers require you to download your library e-book to a computer and then upload it to an e-reader, but with Kindles, your e-books are sent straight to your device with a click.

And if you were a die-hard Kindle Oasis fan and are attached to page-turning buttons, you may need to stray from the Kindle line-up. Now, your best bet will be the Kobo Libra Colour.

SEE ALSO: I read over 50 books a year. Here are my favorite e-readers. How to get free e-books on Kindle With just a click, transfer your Libby e-book to your Kindle device. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable Your Libby ebook will automatically populate in your Kindle library. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The best way to read free e-books on a Kindle is with Libby. Libby allows you to borrow e-books through libraries, and all you need is a library card. Through the Libby app, borrow books and then select the "read with Kindle" option, which allows you to send these e-books to your Kindle library.

Another option for finding free e-books is through Stuff Your Kindle events. These are author-driven events that offer limited-time deals on e-books, often making them heavily discounted or totally free.

How to make the most of your Kindle

Through our testing and daily use, we've spent a lot of time with Kindles, learning how to make the most of them. We've written extensively on all the ways to maximize your Kindle, so be sure to browse through our guides and explainers:

• How to make the most of your Kindle: 8 features you need to use

• The best Kindle accessories for reading in luxury

• What is Stuff Your Kindle Day? The best way to fill your e-reader with free books

• I've read hundreds of free Kindle books with Libby. Here's how.

• What is Kindle Rewards? Earn free credits when shopping the Kindle store

• What is Kindle Unlimited? A library of books at your fingertips for just $12 a month

• Where to get free e-books: Load up your e-reader without spending a dime

• Prime members can get a free e-book every month with Amazon First Reads

• How to download EPUB files on your Kindle

• 8 Kindle features you should be using

• How to delete books from Kindle
  

Amazon will host its annual Prime Big Deal Days sale on Oct. 6 and 7. If you're looking to save on fall essentials — or yearning for a break from this year's tech price hikes — the event will be a good opportunity to get some shopping done ahead of the busy holidays.

I've covered Prime Big Deal Days every year since its inception. Here's what you should know about the sale before it starts. (Plus, check out my team's dedicated guide to the best early deals you can score already.)

The best early October Prime Day deals at a glance: Best Prime-exclusive deal Audible (Standard) $0.99/month + free $20 credit with Prime (save $32) Get Deal Best free deal Kindle Unlimited (3 Months) $0/month (save $35.97) Get Deal Best deal under $25 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $17.99 (save $32) Get Deal Best deal under $50 Amazon Echo Dot $39.99 (save $40) Get Deal Best Apple deal Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 512GB) $1,299 (save $200) Get Deal Best headphones deal Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) $319 (save $40) Get Deal Best TV deal Amazon 55-inch Ember Artline 4K QLED TV $499.99 (save $400) Get Deal Best Lego deal Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement $62.04 (save $47.95) Get Deal Best SSD deal Samsung SSD 990 Pro (2TB) $389.99 (save $250) Get Deal Best gaming deal The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo Switch 2) $59.88 (save $10.11) Get Deal What is Prime Big Deal Days?

Prime Big Deal Days is a 48-hour sale that Amazon has put on every year since 2022 in early October, about a month and a half before Black Friday. (Fun fact: It was originally called the Prime Early Access Sale.) It's often referred to as "October Prime Day" because its deals are exclusively for Amazon Prime members, just like the retailer's flagship Prime Day sale.

Prime Big Deal Days serves as Amazon's unofficial kickoff to the holiday shopping season.

When does Prime Big Deal Days start?

Prime Big Deal Days 2026 will officially begin at 3:01 a.m. ET (12:01 a.m. PT) on Tuesday, Oct. 6. It will end at 2:59 a.m ET on Wednesday, Oct. 8 (11:59 p.m. PT on Oct. 7).

How is Prime Big Deal Days different from Prime Day?

Prime Big Deal Days is a two-day event in the fall, while Prime Day is a four-day event in the summer. (It's usually in July, but Amazon moved it up to June this year because of the timing of the FIFA World Cup and the U.S. 250th anniversary, a company exec told Reuters.)

What are the best early October Prime Day deals? Credit: Amazon

You don't need to wait until Oct. 6 to start filling your cart. Prime members can score the following deals on Amazon devices and services in the lead-up to Prime Big Deal Days:

• Save up to 65% on select Amazon gadgets, including Fire TV Sticks and Echo smart speakers

• Get a free $30 credit when you buy select Echo devices on sale

• Get a free $5 Prime Big Deal Days credit for every Amazon Now order of $25 or more through Oct. 3 (up to $25 total)

• Get four free months of Amazon Music Unlimited (three months for non-members)

• Get four months of Audible Standard for 99 cents/month plus a free $20 Audible credit

• Save $20 on Grubhub orders of $30 or more with code DEALS20 through Oct. 5

• Get a free $1,500 gift card when you buy or lease a new car with Amazon Autos through Oct. 7

All shoppers can get three months' worth of Kindle Unlimited for free ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, regardless of their Prime status.

SEE ALSO: October Prime Day Apple deals guide: Buy now or wait?

My fellow Mashable reporters and I are also tracking early October Prime Day deals on popular tech gadgets, including Apple devices, headphones, speakers, TVs, laptops, robot vacuums, smartwatches, power stations, and SSDs. Many of those products are on sale already, but keep in mind that their prices will likely drop further once Prime Big Deal Days starts.

What deals will be available during Prime Big Deal Days 2026?

Prime Big Deal Days will feature "millions of deals across fashion, electronics, beauty, toys, and more," according to a company blog post. Some of them will be special, limited-time offers called "Today's Big Deals" that involve discounts of "up to 50% or more" on "trending products and new releases," the retailer said (think $2,000 off a big-screen Sony TV, it added). Today's Big Deals will drop daily at 3 a.m., 11 a.m., and 4 p.m. ET during the sale, so keep a lookout. They're only available while supplies last.

Here are the other sorts of deals you can expect to see once Prime Big Deal Days starts, per Amazon's blog post:

• Over $500 off select cameras from Canon and Nikon

• Up to $500 off select Breville espresso machines

• Up to 50% off select headphones and earbuds from Beats, Bose, and Anker's Soundcore line

• Up to 40% off select TVs and streaming devices from Sony, TCL, and Toshiba

• Up to 40% off select PCs and laptops from Asus, Dell, and HP

• Up to 40% off select floorcare from Dyson, iRobot, and Ninja

• Up to 40% off select kitchen appliances from Crock-Pot, Keurig, and Ninja

• Up to 40% off select power tools from Bosch, Craftsman, and Dewalt

• Up to 40% off select collectibles and toys from Funko and Miniverse

• Up to 40% off select sensory toys from Kinetic Sand and Play-Doh

• Up to 40% off select party supplies and decorations

• Up to 35% off Halloween costumes

• Up to 30% off select thermostats from ecobee, Honeywell, and Google

• Up to 30% off select LED lighting and smart plugs from GE, Philips Hue, and TP-Link

• Up to 30% off toys from Barbie, Hasbro Games, Hot Wheels, and Mattel Games

• UP to 30% off select building sets from Lego and Magna-Tiles

• Up to 30% off select cleaning products from Lysol, Scott, and Tide

Which offers better deals, October Prime Day or Black Friday? Credit: Amazon

Black Friday generally features better deals than October Prime Day. There are several reasons for this:

1. Basically every retailer runs a Black Friday sale, so there's a wider selection of deals available; the festivities aren't limited to Amazon and its immediate competitors (more on them momentarily).

2. Black Friday deals are open to everyone, not just Prime members.

3. Retailers really want to clear their shelves of old inventory ahead of the new year, so they're inclined to offer record-low prices during Black Friday.

That said, there is a lot of overlap between October Prime Day and Black Friday deals, especially when it comes to Amazon devices. (Most of the Echo, Kindle, and Fire TV deals we'll see during Prime Big Deal Days will probably pop back up in November.) You should definitely still check out Prime Big Deal Days if:

1. You're a Prime member who wants to maximize the benefits of your subscription.

2. You want to avoid the chaos of Black Friday and get your holiday shopping over with.

3. You're worried about an item on your wishlist selling out before the holidays.

4. You need an item sooner than late November or early December for gifting purposes.

Will any retailers be competing with Prime Big Deal Days?

Target and Walmart are both planning to run their own sales alongside Prime Big Deal Days. (Target's Circle Deal Days is also set for Oct. 6 and 7, while Walmart's Fall Deals event runs for a whole week from Oct. 5 to 11.) Best Buy previously said that its "[holiday] Savings start in October," but it hasn't confirmed anything yet.

How many times a year is Prime Day? Credit: Amazon

Prime Day technically only happens once a year in mid-summer, but Amazon puts on two other Prime-exclusive events throughout the year that function similarly. One is Prime Big Deal Days in early October; the other is the Big Spring Sale in late March.

Do you need to be a Prime member to shop Prime Big Deal Days?

Amazon's October Prime Day deals are reserved for members of its Prime program, but you don't need to pay for a subscription to participate. Shoppers who haven't had an active Prime membership within the past 12 months can score a free 30-day trial. Just remember to cancel your membership before your trial period ends, or else you'll get charged. (Prime normally costs $14.99 per month or $139 annually.)

If you're between the ages of 18 and 24 or a college student, you're eligible for a free six-month trial via Amazon's Prime for Young Adults program. At the end of your trial period, you can upgrade to a paid membership for 50% off the usual rate.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Prime (30-Day Trial)   Learn More Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Prime for Young Adults (6-Month Trial)   Learn More

SAVE $71: As of Oct. 6, Sony XM6 earbuds are on sale for $258 at Amazon. That's a 22% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony XM6 earbuds $258 at Amazon
$329 Save $71   Get Deal

Prime Day is a great excuse to upgrade your tech, and if a pair of new earbuds is high on your wishlist, this new deal on the Sony XM6 earbuds is definitely worth checking out. Currently reduced from $329 to $258, you won't just be saving $71 with this deal; you'll be getting them for their best-ever price.

These are also our best overall earbuds after thorough testing, so we can confidently recommend this deal.

These earbuds are incredibly intelligent, using dual processors and eight adaptive microphones to give you the best possible noise cancellation that adjusts to your surroundings in real time. According to Sony, these are developed in collaboration with "mastering audio engineers," so they're designed to deliver studio-quality sound.

For calls and voice notes, dual-beamforming microphones, a bone-conduction sensor, and AI-powered noise reduction help isolate your voice while reducing background and wind noise.

The battery life lasts up to 24 hours, including eight hours from the earbuds and 16 hours from the charging case. Plus, they come with a quick-charge feature that gives you an hour of playback from just a 5-minute charge.

Find this Prime Day earbuds deal at Amazon right now.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Fire Stick 4K Select — $17.99 $49.99 (save $32)

• AirPods Pro 3 — $179 $249 (save $70)

• Bose QuietComfort Gen 2 — $319 $359 (save $40)

• iPad mini — $499 $599 (save $100)

• MacBook Air M5 — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200)

SAVE $134: As of Oct. 6, the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo is on sale for $495 at Amazon. That's a 21% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo $495 at Amazon
$629 Save $134   Get Deal

If you've been keeping an eye on vlogging equipment, Prime Day has kicked off with a bang, with a brand-new low price on the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo. This is a creator favorite, and as of Oct. 6, it is now priced at $495, saving you $134.

The bundle includes a DJI Mic 2 transmitter, a battery handle, an Osmo mini tripod, and the Pocket 3 itself, so you're ready to start creating great content as soon as your package arrives.

As the name suggests, this DJI camera has a pocket-friendly design. Despite this, the Osmo Pocket 3 packs a 1-inch CMOS sensor capable of recording 4K video at up to 120 fps. Its 2-inch touchscreen can rotate between horizontal and vertical orientations, and the 3-axis mechanical gimbal helps keep your footage steady as you move. Small but powerful definitely comes to mind.

If you're filming a talk-to-camera piece, the ActiveTrack 6.0 can automatically follow and keep you centered. The camera also supports 10-bit color and D-Log M, giving you more flexibility when you're ready to edit and color-grade your footage.

And you don't need to worry about audio. The camera has built-in stereo recording, and if you're a DJI fan, it supports direct connection to compatible DJI wireless transmitters.

Prime Day runs from Oct. 6-7, so if you're interested in this DJI deal, head to Amazon now.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Fire Stick 4K Select — $17.99 $49.99 (save $32)

• AirPods Pro 3 — $179 $249 (save $70)

• Bose QuietComfort Gen 2 — $319 $359 (save $40)

• iPad mini — $499 $599 (save $100)

• MacBook Air M5 — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200)

SAVE $40: As of Oct. 6, the Apple Watch Series 12 is on sale for $349.99 at Amazon. That's a 12% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 12 $349.99 at Amazon
$399 Save $49.01   Get Deal

Prime Day is finally here, and over the next two days, we can expect a wide range of deals across all tech and home essentials. And just a few hours into the sale, this deal on the Apple Watch Series 12 has caught our eye. Only released last month, seeing any discount is exciting, but right now, you can save $50 with the new price of $349.99.

It's available in a number of colors, with all the sport band options at this new lower price.

Similar to the 11 we know and love, the Apple Watch Series 12 offers advanced health tracking, with background heart rate readings every 5 seconds. It also measures heart rate variability every 5 minutes to give you more accurate insights into your stress and recovery.

In the Vitals app, you'll get an overview of your overnight health metrics, and you can also track your sleep score, menstrual cycle, and blood oxygen levels.

For training, there's also the readiness experience. This analyzes your recent activity, vitals, and sleep to help you decide when to rest or push yourself in your training. Alongside fitness features such as Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, and Workout Buddy, the Series 12 makes for a great training support for activities including running, hiking, and strength training.

You can find this Apple Watch Prime Day deal at Amazon right now.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Fire Stick 4K Select — $17.99 $49.99 (save $32)

• AirPods Pro 3 — $179 $249 (save $70)

• Bose QuietComfort Gen 2 — $319 $359 (save $40)

• iPad mini — $499 $599 (save $100)

• MacBook Air M5 — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200)

Best Prime Day deals on 2026 Advent calendars Best Lego Advent Calendar deal Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2026 $35 (save $9.99) Get Deal Best puzzle Advent calendar deal Galison 12 Days of Christmas Holiday Puzzle Countdown $20.99 (save $6) Get Deal Best Advent calendar deal for young kids Little Golden Books Advent Calendar with 24 Winter Holiday Books $26.97 (save $3.02) Get Deal

It's only October, but somehow it's time to start thinking about the holidays. If you're one to celebrate with an Advent calendar, you know the rush is real, and plenty of popular models sell out well before December begins.

Amazingly, Amazon has tons of models on sale for October Prime Day. Almost all of the Lego Advent calendars are about $10 off (and in stock), while plenty of other models for both kids and adults are included in early sales.

SEE ALSO: 15 early Prime Day deals on Lego: We found rare deals on Lego Star Wars, Lego Pokémon, and more

We've listed some of our favorite options below, but check back as we continue to update this article.

Best Lego Advent calendar deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2026 $35 at Amazon
$44.99 Save $9.99   Get Deal Why we like it

A top-seller every year and one that's very likely to sell out, the Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar is a classic. On October Prime Day, secure yours for $35, marked down from the normal price of $44.99. This year's model features icons from The Mandalorian and Grogu. In total, the 24 days of surprises has 293 pieces to display on the included winery diorama.

More Lego Advent calendar deals

• Lego City Advent Calendar — $25 $34.99 (save $9.99)

• Lego Friends Advent Calendar — $25 $34.99 (save $9.99)

• Lego Disney Princess Advent Calendar — $35 $44.99 (save $9.99)

• Lego Marvel Advent Calendar — $35 $44.99 (save $9.99)

Best puzzle Advent calendar Opens in a new window Credit: Galison Galison 12 Days of Christmas Holiday Puzzle Countdown $20.99 at Amazon
$26.99 Save $6   Get Deal Why we like it

Featuring 12 mini 80-piece puzzles, the Galison Holiday Puzzle Countdown is a great way to celebrate the season or a fun gift. All 12 days feature a wintry design by artist Michael Storrings. Galison used recycled paper to make these no-dust puzzle pieces, and each puzzle measures five by seven inches.

More puzzle Advent calendar deals

• Galison Meowy Christmas 12 Days of Puzzles — $22 $26.99 (save $4.99)

• Galison Winter Lights 12 Days of Puzzles — $24.99 $26.99 (save $2)

• Galison Home for the Holidays Puzzle Countdown — $24.99 $26.99 (save $2)

• Freshcut Paper Winter Paradise Advent Calendar Puzzle — $44 $49 (save $5 with on-page coupon)

• Exit: The Game Advent Calendar — $44.96 $49.95 (save $4.99)

Best Advent calendar for young kids Opens in a new window Credit: Golden Books Little Golden Books Advent Calendar with 24 Winter Holiday Books $26.97 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $3.02   Get Deal Why we like it

With 24 mini paperback Little Golden Books, any kid would be thrilled to open each of the 24 days on this calendar. In total, the calendar holds 576 pages of holiday magic from books like Richard Scarry's Christmas Mice and classics like The Night Before Christmas. On sale for just under $27, this Prime Day deal brings each book down to about $1.13. For quality time with classic books, this deal is one to hop on quickly.

More Advent calendar deals for young kids

• Bluey: The Most Amazing Advent Calendar Book Bundle — $12.67 $29.99 (save $17.32)

• Paw Patrol Advent Calendar — $19.89 $28.99 (save $9.01)

• Richard Scarry's Best Advent Calendar Ever! — $25.97 $30 (save $4.03)

More Advent calendar deals

• Minecraft Advent Calendar: Book Collection — $12.33 $28.99 (save $16.66)

• Furbys Minis Advent Calendar — $13.99 $19.99 (save $6)

• Pantone Advent Calendar — $21.42 $30 (save $8.58)

• Star Wars Micro Figures & Vehicles Advent Calendar — $22.99 $30.28 (save $7.29)

• Funko Pop! Bitty Countdown Calendar: Disney Princess — $25.62 $34.99 (save $9.37)

• Walker’s 2026 Advent Calendar with Shortbread Cookies — $25.84 $31.99 (save $6.15)

• John Deere Mini Movers Advent Calendar — $25.99 $29.99 (save $4)

• Funko Pop! Bitty Countdown Calendar: Marvel Comics — $32.68 $34.99 (save $2.31)

• Schleich Harry Potter Figurines Advent Calendar — $46.49 $54.99 (save $8.50)

OpenAI is adding an invisible watermark to text generated by ChatGPT and programming agent Codex, making it easier for machines to identify that it was written by AI. Announced on Monday, the change will be mandatory in the EU, and is currently opt-in for API customers across the rest of the world.

SEE ALSO: ChatGPT has new ad formats. Here's what they look like.

Large language models work by generating text one word at a time, determining what the next will be by looking at the ones that came before it. OpenAI's new text watermarking system textGrain influences this by changing how AI models choose words, having them consider both preceding text and pseudorandom values determined by a secret key. 

This leaves a statistical signal in the generated content, allowing AI detection machines to determine what these pseudorandom values are and establish whether the text is dependent upon them. If it is, then it is flagged as AI-generated.

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OpenAI's text watermarking will roll out across ChatGPT and Codex in the EU over the next few weeks. It is also available to API customers globally across select models, though they'll have to opt in as it's off by default.

However, OpenAI's text watermark detection tool will only be available to researchers and experts who apply for access. OpenAI stated that this restriction is partly due to limitations in its text watermarking, particularly concerning shorter passages. In testing, the tool only caught watermarks in 80 percent of 200-word AI-generated passages, with detection rates even lower when said text was on topics with rigid lexicons such as mathematics.

Editing AI-generated text can also significantly reduce the efficacy of OpenAI's detection tool. The company stated that changing just 10 percent of words in a 400-word passage reduced detection to 66 percent, while replacing 25 percent of words lowered it even further to 17 percent.

"Text watermarking and detection remain early technologies with significant limitations, and views about their benefits and responsible uses are still developing," OpenAI said in its announcement.

OpenAI further stressed that text watermarks cannot establish ownership of generated content, prove its accuracy, or identify the person who prompted it. The absence of a watermark isn't proof that content has been created by humans either.

Credit: OpenAI

OpenAI's new text watermarks are in response to the EU's Artificial Intelligence Act. Originally signed in 2024, the regulation aims to "protect fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of law, and environmental sustainability from high-risk AI," according to a press release at the time. The EU AI Act has gradually come into force since 2025, with most of the articles now applicable as of Aug. 2 this year.

This includes Article 50(2), which requires AI system providers to "ensure that the outputs of the AI system are marked in a machine-readable format and detectable as artificially generated or manipulated." Providers such as OpenAI who released their AI models before Aug. 2 have until Dec. 2 to comply with Article 50(2), or could be fined up to three percent of their worldwide annual turnover. 

Last week, Reuters reported that OpenAI's annualised recurring revenue is nearing $70 billion (though they also acknowledged that such calculations can be misleading). As such, a violation of Article 50(2) could potentially net OpenAI with a fine of over $2 billion.

Earlier this year, Anthropic also announced that its AI chatbot Claude would watermark generated content in accordance with the EU's rules. Unlike OpenAI, Anthropic's watermarks are being made available worldwide to all users, not just to those in the EU.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

The highest grossing film of 2026 is about to enter households everywhere. Spider-Man: Brand New Day has earned nearly $2.5 billion worldwide, which doesn't just put it at the top of the charts for the year, but for all time. As of the time of writing, it's the third highest-grossing movie ever.

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Sony Pictures’ Spider-Man: Brand New Day brings back its stars from the previous three films, plus characters from other Marvel franchises. That includes Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Zendaya as MJ, Jacob Batalon as Ned, Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/Punisher, Michael Mando as Mac Gargan/Scorpion, and Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/Hulk, just to name a few. It also includes some fresh new faces, like Sadie Sink.

The best Netflix deals at a glance (to watch at a later date): BEST FOR T-MOBILE CUSTOMERS Netflix Standard (with ads) Free for those on Go5G, Experience Beyond and Experience More plans (save $8.99/month) Learn More BEST BUNDLE DEAL Netflix and HBO Max bundle (with ads) $13 per month for Verizon customers with select plans (save $9.98 per month) Learn More BEST FOR XFINITY CUSTOMERS Netflix Standard with ads, HBO Max, and Peacock Premium $22/month with Xfinity StreamSaver (save $10.97/month) Get Deal MOST AFFORDABLE PLAN Netflix Standard with ads $8.99 per month Learn More

If you still haven't seen it or you're anxious to watch it again, here are all the streaming details you need to know about Spider-Man: Brand New Day — including ways to watch for less.

What is Spider-Man: Brand New Day about?

The film picks up four years after the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, where Peter Parker continues to fight crime as Spider-Man in a world that doesn't remember him. He's also dealing with body mutations, migraines, and blackouts. Not to mention, a new threat to New York City that "possesses" people like puppets. Fun stuff.

Check out the trailer below:

How to watch Spider-Man: Brand New Day at home Credit: Sony Pictures

Although it's still bopping around in theaters, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now officially available to watch at home. There are a couple of different ways to tune in, with a streaming option still to come. We've outlined the details below.

Buy or rent it on digital

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is available as of Oct. 6 to buy or rent at digital-on-demand retailers. Make note that if you choose to rent, you'll get 30 days to watch the film, but only 48 hours to finish it once you start. If you choose to buy it, then it's yours to keep.

You can rent or purchase the film at the retailers below. Pro tip: If you wait a few weeks to buy or rent it, the prices will drop significantly.

• Apple TV — buy for $29.99, rent for $24.99

• Fandango at Home — buy for $29.99, rent for $24.99

• Prime Video — buy for $29.99, rent for $24.99

Stream it on Netflix (at a later date)

Given Sony Pictures' and Netflix's agreement that gives the streamer first dibs, we're expecting Spider-Man: Brand New Day to make its streaming debut on Netflix. Though we don't know exactly when it will hit the streaming world, we can make an educated guess based on other Sony Pictures films that it will likely be sometime in late November or early December.

Netflix doesn't offer free trials, nor does it allow you to share an account (unless you pay for an extra user), so you'll need your own Netflix subscription to stream Brand New Day. Fortunately, Netflix has a few different tiers to choose from.

Watching Netflix with ads is the most affordable option at $8.99 per month. If you want to watch ad-free, the price jumps up to $19.99 for a Standard subscription. Finally, there's a third tier called Netflix Premium that costs a steep $26.99 per month and will let you watch on four household devices at once (as opposed to the other plans' two devices) in 4K Ultra HD + HDR with no ads.

Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Netflix subscription Starting at $8.99 per month Learn More The best Netflix deals

Before you sign up for Netflix, check the deals below to see if you're eligible to score a subscription at a discount — or maybe even for free.

Best Netflix deal for T-Mobile customers Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Netflix Standard (with ads) Free for select T-Mobile customers Get Deal

T-Mobile customers on most Go5G plans, as well as Experience Beyond and Experience More plans, get ad-supported Netflix Standard for free (reg. $8.99 per month) as long as their account remains in good standing. You need to have two or more lines of any type of Go5G or Magenta plan, or at least one line of Go5G Next, Go5G Plus, Magenta MAX, Experience More, or Experience Beyond plan.

If you're eligible, you'll have to manually activate your subscription by navigating to the T-Life app and selecting Manage > See plans > Manage add-ons. From there, scroll down to select the Netflix streaming benefit and click continue. Then follow the prompts to link an existing account or create a new one. For help, head to the Netflix support page.

Best Netflix deal for Verizon customers Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix / HBO Max Netflix and HBO Max bundle (with ads) $13 per month for Verizon customers on select plans (save $6.98/month) Get Deal

Verizon customers on select plans can get a Netflix and HBO Max bundle (with ads) for just $13 per month ($6.98 per month in savings). A $19.98 value, that almost gets you Netflix Standard with ads for free. Eligible Verizon customers include those on the Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, or Unlimited Ultimate plans. After enrolling in the promo, you'll have to complete the account setup separately for each service. Verizon's support page has all the eligibility details, terms, and FAQs.

Best Netflix deal for Xfinity customers Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix / Peacock / HBO Max Netflix Standard with ads, Peacock Premium, and HBO Max $22/month with Xfinity StreamSaver (save $10.97/month) Get Deal

Comcast offers new and current Xfinity Internet and TV customers a Xfinity StreamSaver package, which includes Netflix Standard with ads ($8.99 per month), Peacock Premium ($12.99 per month), and HBO Max ($10.99 per month). You can add the StreamSaver bundle to your existing services for only $22 per month. Usually, it costs $32.97 per month for all three subscriptions, so you'll save about $10.97 monthly with this package deal.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bird call.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

TWEET

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Presented.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 6, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SHOWN

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A burial chamber.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 6, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 6, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

CRYPT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

More mature.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

OLDER

Final Hurdle hint

Mountainous.

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

HILLY

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for who watch baseball.

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. The sports 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 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 before the game ends.

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

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

SEE ALSO: 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: Field day activities

• Green: US soccer

• Blue: Big hitters

• Purple: Sometimes "Y"

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Track and Field Equipment

• Green: Original MLS Teams

• Blue: Members of the 3,000-Hits Club

• Purple: Words in Which Y is the Only Vowel

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 #743 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Track and Field Equipment: HURDLE, JAVELIN, POLE, STARTING BLOCK

• Original MLS Teams: CREW, GALAXY, RAPIDS, REVOLUTION

• Members of the 3,000-Hits Club: GWYNN, MAYS, SUZUKI, WINFIELD

• Words in Which Y is the Only Vowel: FLY, GYM, LYNX, SKY

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 yesterday's Connections.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, 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 on to 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 with 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 6, 2026

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 6, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for October 6 Pips

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 5-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for October 6 Pips

Less than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed horizontally.

Less than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for October 6 Pips

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 4-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

Number (24): Everything in this space must add up to 24. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically.

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.

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

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally.

Less than (7): Everything in this space must be less than 7. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 2-2, placed horizontally.

Less than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

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

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