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This weekend, I challenge you to try at least one of these homelab projects. You don’t have to deploy all three, but I’m sure you could benefit from a more private search engine, a “works anywhere” code server, or a self-hosted private budget system.

If you've been patiently awaiting Nintendo's pastel purple and green Switch 2 Joy-Con controllers since their unveiling last month, you can now officially add them to your cart.

Officially called "Light Purple" and "Light Green" — though the green is definitely more of a pastel teal — the new set is available for $99.99 as of Feb. 12. Aside from the color, the controllers are an exact match to the ones that come with the Switch 2. They feature the same magnetic connectors, wrist straps, HD rumble, C button for GameChat, and can be used as a mouse for compatible games.

Credit: Nintendo

Many are already criticizing the controller variant online, as the purple and green shades are only visible on the inner rails. In other words, you can't even see the colors when connected to a Switch 2 console, unlike previous Joy-Con variants that covered the whole shell. Still, if you have $100 to spare and want to give your Switch 2 some new life, the pastel controllers add a fun (yet subtle) pop of color. You can officially purchase them at Nintendo, Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and GameStop, as of Feb. 12.

Where to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con color variant: Nintendo Nintendo Joy-Con 2 Light Purple / Light Green $99.99 Shop Now Amazon Nintendo Joy-Con 2 Light Purple / Light Green $99.99 Shop Now Best Buy Nintendo Joy-Con 2 Light Purple / Light Green $99.99 Shop Now Target Nintendo Joy-Con 2 Light Purple / Light Green $99.99 Shop Now GameStop Nintendo Joy-Con 2 Light Purple / Light Green $99.99 Shop Now

It's been a big week for Sony. The brand just launched the new XM6 earbuds which have proven to be some of the most well-rounded noise-cancelling earbuds Mashable has ever tested. But if you're more of an over-the-ear headphones type of person, Sony has something exciting in store for you.

If you're a fan of pink, the new colorway can do no wrong. Credit: Sony

On Feb. 12, Sony introduced the Sand Pink colorway to the lineup of XM6 headphone options. Previous colorway options included Black, Midnight Blue, and Platinum Silver, so this pink addition adds nice variety to the much-adored headphones.

The Sand Pink stands out among the other options for the XM6 heaphones. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

In Mashable's testing, the Sony XM6 headphones got major points for overall sound quality and noise-cancellation. Plus, Sony added a foldable earcup designed to this model, making them more travel friendly compared to the previous XM5 headphones. The XM5 colorway options include a Smoky Pink, but the new Sand Pink XM6 has a warmer and brighter pink hue.

Sony XM5 on the left in Smoky Pink with the new Sand Pink XM6 on the right. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable Sony XM5 on the left in Smoky Pink with the new Sand Pink XM6 on the right. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Maybe best of all, the new Sand Pink is already on sale at Amazon. The XM6 headphones come with a list price of $459.99, but they're already on sale for $398, or a 13% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony XM6 headphones (Sand Pink) $398 at Amazon
$459.99 Save $61.99   Get Deal

If you're not one who likes to sport black or white headphones, this new Sand Pink option adds a major pop of color to the lineup. Plus, we're pretty obsessed with it as spring rolls around with Valentine's Day right around the corner.

The future is here for the Toyota Highlander, which made its original debut at the 2000 New York International Auto Show in April of that year. By 2005, the Highlander would debut again, this time as a hybrid for the 2006 model year. And now, 26 years later, the Highlander returns for another grand entrance, this time as Toyota’s first three‑row, battery‑electric vehicle.

Now would be a good time to ensure your Windows OS is up to date. Microsoft recently patched a serious vulnerability in Windows 11 related to Notepad, its text-editing tool.

The company said it fixed a "remote code execution" vulnerability. As technology website Techradar noted, the vulnerability had to do with Markdown — in which users can employ symbols to format text (e.g., asterisks to create italics) — which could allow bad actors to insert a dangerous link.

"An attacker could trick a user into clicking a malicious link inside a Markdown file opened in Notepad, causing the application to launch unverified protocols that load and execute remote files," Microsoft wrote in a security bulletin. "The malicious code would execute in the security context of the user who opened the Markdown file, giving the attacker the same permissions as that user."

Tech site Bleeping Computer tested the vulnerability and found that Microsoft now displays a warning before allowing such a link to be clicked. It's pretty much the standard "this link may be unsafe" message most users have seen before.

The vulnerability should have been automatically fixed via a patch, but it's worth double-checking to ensure Windows 11 has been updated recently on your device.

There are hundreds of cheap Bluetooth speakers on the market, but if you want one that's rugged, sounds good, and runs on your power tool battery pack, Milwaukee has you covered. Yes, the tool brand makes several excellent speakers, and having the logo and color that match all your gear is just icing on the cake.

It’s no secret that there are tons of settings on your phone. The question is, which ones are most important? One that you may have never heard about is called "DNS," and it’s not an exaggeration to say it can make a huge impact (for the better).

TL;DR: Live stream Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona in the Copa del Rey for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Copa del Rey final is calling for the four remaining teams in contention. Athletic Club and Real Sociedad have already met in the first leg of their semi-final matchup, and now it's the turn of Atlético Madrid and Barcelona. This fascinating game is the ultimate clash of cultures. Diego Simeone will relish the chance to stop the attacking talents of Barcelona.

The good news for fans of Spanish football is that it's possible to live stream this game without spending anything. If you want to watch Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona in the Copa del Rey from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona?

Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona in the Copa del Rey kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Feb. 12. This fixture takes place at the Metropolitano Stadium.

How to watch Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona for free

Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona in the Copa del Rey is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to stream the Copa del Rey for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona in the Copa del Rey for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Copa del Rey without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona in the Copa del Rey before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona in the Copa del Rey for free with ExpressVPN.

Focus Features is coming to freak you out. While Obsession doesn't hit theaters until May, the movie's promotional team is taking advantage of Valentine's Day fervor (or loathing) to zero in on the film's creepy premise.

Yesterday, Mashable shared in our Instagram stories the unnerving Valentine's Day surprises that Obsession sent our way, ranging from traditional gifts like roses, chocolates, and valentines, to less conventional romantic gifts, like a hank of hair and a brick. Just a real heavy brick. Today, we've got a new look at Obsession, and the twisted relationship at the heart of it.

Obsession begins with a lonely guy (Michael Johnston) who's crushing hard on his friend Nikki (Inde Navarrette). Dare we say he's obsessed? So, when he gets his hands on a "One Wish Willow" that promises to make one dream come true, he wishes for her to love him more than anyone in the entire world. But be careful what you wish for. Based on the love tokens we got and the latest trailer, Obsession doesn't seem like the kind of love story most couples will want to revisit on Valentine's Day. But horror fans may fall hard for this twisted tale.

Obsession opens nationwide on May 15.

SAVE $100: As of Feb. 12, get the iPad mini (A17 Pro) for $399 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $499. That's a discount of 20%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon iPad mini (A17 Pro) $399 at Amazon
$499 Save $100   Get Deal

Time to pick up a new tablet? You've got plenty to choose from out there, especially with President's Day around the corner. But as you're probably well aware by now, iPads are sometimes your best options, depending on what you want to get done. And even better than that is the fun little iPad mini, which gives you what you like in the iPad in a smaller form factor.

As of Feb. 12, get the iPad mini (A17 Pro) for $399 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $499. That's $100 off and a discount of 20%.

SEE ALSO: The best Presidents' Day Apple deals — huge discounts on AirPods, iPads, Apple Watches, and more

This iPad mini comes packing the A17 Pro chip, so it gives you plenty of power in a smaller package. Not only can you work or play on the go, but it suppors multitasking and gives you the ability to get a lot done at once, all on a great-looking screen. The 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display has plenty of real estate, and more than your phone, so you've got a ton of room to utilize.

Additionally, it has a 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with CenterStage, WiFi 6E compatibility, and USB-C connectivity. If you have an Apple Pencil and want to doodle or take notes, you can do that with this smaller form factor iPad as well. It makes a great tablet for doing all that on the go, especially for creative types.

If all that sounds up your alley, go ahead and pick up your iPad mini while it's on sale now. Saving $100 is a great reason to lock in.

SAVE $550: The Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller robot vacuum and mop is on sale at Amazon for $1,049.99, down from the normal price of $1,599.99. That's a 34% discount and the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dreame Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller $1,049.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $550   Get Deal

It used to be that robot vacuums got lost with every cleaning session. Even worse, some of them tumbled down stairs. But we now have little cleaning helpers that are super smart, and more and more models are coming with the ability to both vacuum and mop. If you're hoping to grab a combo model and don't want to mess around with lesser-than models, check out this deal at Amazon.

As of Feb. 12, the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller robot vacuum and mop is on sale at Amazon for $1,049.99, down from the normal price of $1,599.99. Today's sale shaves $550 off the price thanks to a 34% discount. It's also the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Presidents' Day sales are notorious for being a great time to make home upgrades. From espresso machines to mattresses, it's an ideal time to snag sale prices that co-inside with the beginning of spring cleaning season. Amazon's Presidents' Day sale is loaded with home improvements and the all-time low price on the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller is especially exciting.

Mashable's resident vacuum tester Leah Stodart has tested dozens of models and says the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller is her current top recommendation. For starters, it comes with 30,000 Pa of suction power which is the highest in the industry, for now.

SEE ALSO: The Eufy X10 Pro Omni robot vacuum has dropped to its lowest-ever price — save $250 at Amazon

When putting the Dreame to the test, Stodart wrote, "The Aqua10 Ultra Roller's strength has really translated to pet hair pickup, large crumb pickup, and even fine powder pickup across various rugs in my apartment," she said. "It fully cleared a mess I made on purpose on my plush Tumble fur rug involving crushed Goldfish crackers, spilled dry rice, and tough tufts of cat hair collected from the cat tree. I think the parallel spinning roller brushes underneath really help its efficacy on dry debris."

Stodart also gives the Dreame points for having relatively quiet cleaning and self-emptying noise levels. There's also the 3.15-inch threshold level which means it shouldn't have issues getting over taller thresholds in your home.

If you've been thinking about getting a robot vacuum and mop, today's sale price on the only model to come with 30,000 Pa of suction power is surely a sign that it's time to make the upgrade. You'll be saving a hefty $550 by snagging today's deal on the Dream Aqua10 Ultra Roller at Amazon.

When I was writing an article on tiny Linux distros, I needed one to try out. Instead of having to hunt for one, the best solution I thought would be one that I already had.

Apple's big Gemini-powered upgrade for Siri won't be ready for the next iOS update.

According to a new report from Bloomberg, Apple may have internally pushed back the release of the AI-enhanced Siri, which was supposed to at least partially launch with iOS 26.4 in March. This is a bit of a surprise because, as recently as a couple of weeks ago, Bloomberg also reported that Apple would reveal the new Siri in February. Per the newest report, we might have to wait until May or September to see the beginnings of Siri's AI journey.

SEE ALSO: Siri might become an AI chatbot in iOS 27

This is all apparently due to problems that keep occurring in internal testing. The new Siri is supposed to be able to use personal data like text messages to answer queries from users, but, per Bloomberg, Apple is running into issues with that. It is supposedly sometimes slow to respond or doesn't respond properly, and it can even run into problems when a query is spoken too quickly. Sometimes it even falls back on Siri's existing ChatGPT integration, which it is not supposed to do in these circumstances.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Presidents' Day sale is live — score huge deals on Apple, Lego, Roborock, and more

Apple's struggles with making an AI-enhanced Siri work are a bit surprising given that this initiative was announced almost two years ago, in the summer of 2024.

It's not typical of Apple to publicly announce a product or service that then undergoes significant delays; there's an AirPower every now and then, but for the most part, when Apple reveals something, that means it's going to happen on something resembling a normal schedule.

SAVE $150: As of Feb. 12, the base model Apple M5 MacBook Pro with 16GB RAM and 512GB of storage is on sale for $1,449 instead of $1,599. That's just shy of 10% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,449 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $150   Get Deal

Apple's M5 chip arrived in all its glory towards the end of 2025 and we're still reeling over its speed and performance. Where it really shines is the MacBook Pro, which Mashable's tech editor says "doesn't just surpass the competition; it actually laps the competition." Even at full price, we think it's worth it for the right user, but on sale, it's an even better value.

As of Feb. 12, you can upgrade to the base model 2025 Apple MacBook Pro (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for just $1,449 instead of $1,599. That's $150 or just shy of 10% in savings.

Yes, the M5 MacBook Pro is a whole lot like its predecessor (that's the case with most upgrades in recent years). It features the same 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, 24-hour battery life, 12MP Center Stage camera, and six-speaker sound system. Its only major upgrade is, of course, the super-charged M5 chip, which absolutely dazzles in performance. In its Geekbench GPU test, it scored a 17,470 compared to the M4's 15,199 and the Surface Laptop 7's 14,548. As Mashable's laptop specialist noted, "The only models in our database that outperform it are the 16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro and a few gaming laptops."

If you're a more casual laptop user looking to save money, we'd personally recommend the M4 MacBook Air, but for power users looking for the best laptop Apple has to offer, there's no denying the M5 MacBook Pro is it.

The 2026 Oscar nominations have been unveiled, and Netflix has emerged as one of the strongest competing companies this year. Despite being behind two of the most talked-about movies of 2025, the streaming company shouldn't take this recognition for granted, especially as it sets its sights on becoming one of the biggest entertainment entities in the world.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 is one of the best pairs of wireless earbuds around, especially for ANC and cross-platform support. Now, Sony has introduced a sequel with a redesigned case and sound quality improvements.

Are you ready for another few Raspberry Pi projects to tackle? From making wired USB devices wireless to building your own Cyberdeck, and even automatically archiving your favorite YouTube channels, here are three Raspberry Pi projects for you to try this weekend.

One of the many, many highlights of 2018's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was hearing Nicolas Cage go full grizzled detective mode as Spider-Man Noir.

Cage's scene-stealing Spider-Man variant showed up in black and white, with the wind following him wherever he went. As he revealed in his backstory, he's a private eye with a passion for egg creams and punching Nazis. What more do you need to be obsessed?

SEE ALSO: 2026 TV preview: All the TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them

While audiences tragically didn't get to hear Cage in 2023's Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, as Spider-Noir only showed up at the end in a non-speaking role, we do get to reunite with the character before Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse comes out. Cage takes on a new version of the role in Prime Video's live-action series Spider-Noir. From the looks of the trailer, Cage, Spider-Man, and film noir remain a match made in heaven.

Just like in Into the Spider-Verse, Spider-Noir sees Cage playing Ben Reilly, a down-on-his-luck private investigator in 1930s New York City. After a personal tragedy strikes, he's forced to reckon with his past, all while serving as New York's only superhero.

That sounds heavy, but the Spider-Noir trailer itself is nonstop fun. Cage swings across the New York skyline in a trench coat and fedora, snaps and claps while fighting goons in a bar, then delivers the single best reading of the word "plastered" I have heard in my life.

The trailer is also full of sumptuous black and white cinematography, but you can also view it in color below. The series will be presented in both formats.

In addition to Cage, Spider-Noir also stars Lamorne Morris, Li Jun Li, Karen Rodriguez, Abraham Popoola, Jack Huston, and Brendan Gleeson.

Spider-Noir premieres May 27 on Prime Video.

UPDATE: Feb. 12, 2026, 11:37 a.m. EST An earlier version of this article said that Cage would be reprising his role from "Into the Spider-Verse." Cage's role in "Spider-Noir" is different from that of the film.

Earbuds and headphones aren't getting any cheaper, folks.

Audio brands keep proving it: over the past year, Bose, Sony, and Bowers & Wilkins matched or beat record-high list prices with their flagship launches.

The Sony WF-1000XM6 are the latest addition to that list, launching Feb. 12 at $329.99. Yes, they're really expensive — just $20 cheaper than the Bose QuietComfort headphones. And while my budget-buy-loving heart is loathe to admit it, they're also unfortunately really excellent earbuds.

SEE ALSO: I tested sleep earbuds for months: Here are the 3 I'd buy, and the one I'd skip

Upfront, I want to make it clear — Sony didn't exactly reinvent the wheel here. In fact, the brand pretty much took a page out of its own playbook. Like their XM6 headphones counterparts, the upgrades on these earbuds come down to some design changes and small boosts to noise cancellation and sound quality. Sprinkle in a few quality of life updates and, well, you've got the XM6 earbuds. By improving on an already-great product, Sony has created a standout pair of earbuds — if you can shell out.

Before we get into the specifics of what exactly makes them so great, I do want to note that I was only granted access to the companion app one day before they launched, so I didn't get to test all the features on these buds as extensively as I usually do. I'll be testing the earbuds further and updating my thoughts ASAP. So, without further ado, allow me to introduce the new XM6 earbuds.

Sony WF-1000XM6: Price and specs The XM6 are Sony's new flagship wireless earbuds. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

The Sony WF-1000XM6 are $329.99, the highest-ever launch price for a pair of Sony earbuds.

For comparison, the Sony WF-1000XM5 launched in 2023 at a price of $299, but jumped late last year to $329.99. While expensive, the XM5s have almost always been marked down to about $250 (or lower).

I doubt the XM6 earbuds will get the same generous discount off the bat, making them some of the most expensive flagship earbuds. Bose and Technics aren't too far behind, with the second-gen QuietComfort Ultra and EAH-AZ1000 earbuds retailing for $299 and $299.99, respectively. Apple's AirPods Pro 3 are the surprising affordable option at $249.

• Processor: QN3e

• Equalizer: 10-band custom equalizer with app

• Battery life: 8 hours per charge, 24 hours with case

• Microphones: 8 mics

• IP rating: IPX4

• Charging: USB-C and Qi wireless charging

• Bluetooth codecs: SBC/AAC/LDAC/LC3

• Colors: Platinum silver and black

In the box, in addition to the earbuds and case, you'll get a USB-A to USB-C charging cable and four sizes of earbud tips, ranging from XS to L. The earbuds also have redesigned drivers for improved bass, high-frequency, and clarity.

The Sony sound difference These earbuds are equally great for listening to on the go as they are for sitting at your desk all day. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

I've tested the XM5 earbuds, the XM5 headphones, and the XM6 headphones — each of them was a standout in audio performance, but so far the WF-1000XM6 are the most impressive of the bunch.

Having tested my fair share of premium earbuds, I know that most new earbuds sound really good these days, and that the gap between earbuds and over-ear headphones is shrinking. Still, I couldn't believe the depth of sound produced by the XM6 earbuds, the richness of quality across genres, and how immersive it all felt. And that was my listening experience out of the box.

Once I toggled on settings to prioritize audio quality and set the equalizer to my liking, I found myself legitimately distracted by how good the music sounded. Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" feels like a good benchmark of how dynamic these earbuds can sound — shrieking guitar rifts put the highs of these earbuds to good use, yet they just as adeptly handle perfectly compressed and isolated vocals. Somehow, they handled the operatic background vocals and soft piano at the end of the song just as well.

The sound will not disappoint you. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable SEE ALSO: The 11 best noise-cancelling headphones we use, love, and recommend

Daft Punk's live performance of "One More Time/Aerodynamic" proved how big these earbuds could make music sound. The iconic guitar riffs could've sounded crunchy, or the bass blown out; instead, both elements came through clearly, with an excellent blend. The result? I felt like I was as close as I could be to being in the middle of a crowd of screaming fans, without actually being there.

I also tested these earbuds as the 2026 Winter Olympics aired, and as a figure skating fan, I don't know that there's a pair of earbuds better suited for hours of listening to the music of iconic programs from the past and present. These earbuds helped me appreciate the swelling strings in Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op.43: Variation 18" and the hits of the orchestra in Stravinsky's "The Firebird," both of which came through with equal precision and clarity.

All this to say, I'm confident the XM6 earbuds can handle whatever genre you throw at them, and they're certainly the best-sounding earbuds I've ever tested. My editor, Timothy Beck Werth, also agreed that the sound on these buds is "really darn good," but he maintained that the clarity of the Technics EAH-AZ1000 earbuds is better on balance. Still, I'm sure even picky audiophiles won't be disappointed with the XM6s.

The best noise cancellation you can find in earbuds Four microphones in each earbud help provide the best noise cancellation possible. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

In their press materials, Sony claimed that the active noise cancellation on these wireless earbuds is 25 percent better than the XM5 earbuds. In my experience, Sony headphones and earbuds have great ANC, but not necessarily the best of the best. With these earbuds, though, it's clear Sony is making some changes.

While I've considered the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds the best of the best for ANC, the Sony XM6 earbuds provide a real challenge to Bose's supremacy. Like the Bose buds, Sony's come packed with eight microphones (four in each bud) for adaptive noise cancellation, and it shows.

The ANC worked well in all the typical scenarios — on walks, working in crowded areas, and in my home office while my family goes about their day. Whenever I took the earbuds out or toggled off the ANC, I was pleasantly surprised by how much sound I wasn't hearing from the world around me. Still, it wasn't until I worked on a café patio about 100 feet away from a train track that I realized just how good the ANC on these earbuds was. Forget the sound of the other customers or music from the café — I could barely hear the arrival of a literal Amtrak. Of course, some sound came through — I could still hear the crossing bell and the muffled rumble of the train — but it was significantly less than I expected to hear, even with the best noise-cancelling earbuds.

The redesigned charging case may be a bit awkward in your pocket. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Compared to the Bose buds, the noise cancellation of the XM6s felt less noticeable. As much as I love the QC Ultras, I have noticed some hissing with the ANC activated, especially when I wasn't playing music. Though it's not totally absent on the XM6s, I have to listen for it. When playing music, the XM6s create a perfect cocoon of silence, just for me and my music. My only real critique? I wish the ANC was manually adjustable at this price point, but for how well it works without any adjustability, I'm not really complaining.

The transparency mode also worked well enough, not over-amplifying or peaking the sounds of the environment. They still fell prey to that hissing sound you find on most transparency modes, but that's not necessarily a Sony-specific issue.

While I'm not finished testing their sound, I can back these buds as the best new noise-cancelling option out there.

The redesign was the right choice The XM6 earbuds have a longer, more oval-shaped design. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Sony deviated from the design of the previous generation, making the charging case taller, with more defined edges. The earbuds themselves also got a narrower, more oval shape compared to the circle design of the XM5 earbuds.

Despite the earbuds themselves having roughly the same profile, they stuck out less from my ear than the XM5s. Sony went with a slimmer shape to better fit the inner ear. While I had no real issues with the XM5 buds, I do feel like I get an even closer fit with the XM6s, which helps both in improving sound quality and noise cancellation.

The redesigned earbuds and charging case. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable SEE ALSO: Sony WH-1000XM6 vs. Sony WH-1000XM5: Is it worth the upgrade?

The charging case is slightly bigger, but I didn't find that it took up that much more room in my bag (you may notice the difference in your pockets, however). If anything, I think the bigger flaw of the new design is the learning curve of the touch controls. While the smaller surface area of the earbuds allows for a sleeker look and better fit, I struggled to find the right spot to activate the touch controls, unlike with the XM5s. Once I figured it out, I had minimal difficultly (though sometimes the double-tap to switch songs didn't always register). Yes, this feels nitpicky, but these earbuds are $330, so I find the nitpicking justified.

On the comfort front, I could wear these earbuds for hours on end easily. On some occasions, I felt minor soreness for maybe a minute when I took them out, but it was very manageable, and they still felt comfortable than most other earbuds (full disclosure: I find over-ear headphones more comfortable). Bose still takes the comfort cake here, with the QC Ultras' stability band providing a really nice seal, without sacrificing wearability, but Sony is certainly a close second.

Sony XM5 vs. XM6 earbuds A battle of the buds. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

I'll have a more in-depth comparison of these two earbuds coming soon, so I'll keep this brief. Here's a basic rundown of their major differences and similarities:

• Sound and ANC: The XM6s are not leaps and bounds better, but they're noticeably better on both fronts. More sound is blocked out, and audio is richer, fuller, and warmer.

• Wear and design: The aesthetics between the two is up to user preference, but the XM6 earbuds definitely fit better in my ears. I notice myself adjusting the XM5 earbuds frequently to get a tighter seal, whereas the XM6s stay in place once I put them in.

• Companion app experience: Again, I haven't spent much time with the app on the XM6s, but from a quick look, it's largely the same.

• Battery life: You get the same battery life on both buds — eight hours per charge and 24 hours with the case. Not the best we've seen on flagship ANC earbuds, and not the worst.

Are the Sony WF-1000XM6 worth it?

While I wouldn't say you need to upgrade from the WF-1000XM5 model, if you're in the market for a brand-new pair of premium wireless earbuds, I'm struggling to think of a better all-around performer than the WF-1000XM6 earbuds.

The keyword here, of course, is premium — these earbuds don't come cheap, and there are plenty of budget options you could choose instead and still get a really solid experience. For Apple users, the $250 price point of the latest AirPods Pro 3 feels a lot more reasonable.

However, if the priority is to experience the best possible noise cancellation and stellar audio quality, well, I don't hesitate to recommend these earbuds.

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When Ryan Murphy gets his hands on a landmark event in American history, you can never be quite sure how it will translate to TV. Will it be a canny re-examination of how the moment shaped American culture, in the vein of The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story? Or will it follow the more exploitative path of Netflix's Monster anthology? 

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That's the question facing Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, the beginning of a new anthology series created by Connor Hines and executive produced by Murphy. Over the course of nine episodes (eight of which were given to critics for review), Love Story offers viewers an intimate look at the rise of one of the most iconic '90s It Couples, as well as the extensive media pressure they faced. The show crafts a fittingly whirlwind romance, but the latter element hangs over said romance at all times. Because of this, the real fascination of Love Story becomes watching how the series avoids — and sometimes falls right into — the very pitfalls of obsessive media coverage it's trying to critique.

Love Story dramatizes the relationship between JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. Paul Anthony Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon in "Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette." Credit: FX

From its opening moments, Love Story had me worried that it would veer into the callous depictions of tragic past events that often plague Murphy productions.

The series begins on July 16, 1999, as John F. Kennedy Jr. (Paul Anthony Kelly), his wife Carolyn Bessette (Sarah Pidgeon), and her sister Lauren Bessette (Sydney Lemmon) prepare to take off in the plane flight that will eventually take their lives. Thankfully, the show cuts away before dramatizing the actual crash, but the hint of tragedy (and concerns over how Love Story might eventually handle it) do persist as the show continues.

From here, Love Story flashes back to John and Carolyn's lives before they met. He's the presumed next in line to continue the Kennedys' political dynasty, not to mention America's most sought-after bachelor. She's the ultra-confident, self-assured Calvin Klein publicist who doesn't immediately fall at his feet.

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While it takes a while for the pair to begin dating in earnest, their chemistry is palpable from the start. Newcomer Kelly brings a nervy charm to John's early flirtations with Carolyn, rarely slipping into Kennedy caricature. (Naomi Watts' Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis voice fits that criteria far more.) Pidgeon anchors the relationship in a pragmatic cool, although at a certain point her constantly deployed hair tousles and lip bites read less as natural mannerisms and more as an actor's heightened performance of a cool girl archetype.

Where Pidgeon really shines is the show's latter half, when John and Carolyn may be committed to one another, but the press is committed to hounding them. Here, Pidgeon turns every moment Carolyn spends in public into a kind of social calculus. You can see her working out just how much her presence is impacting those around her, and almost always making the heartbreaking call that she's too much of a burden.

Love Story critiques the media frenzy around JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette — but isn't it part of it? Sarah Pidgeon and Paul Anthony Kelly in "Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette." Credit: Kurt Iswarienko / FX

Carolyn's struggles with the press drive much of Love Story, and the result is undeniably compelling. The series may as well be called American Horror Story at parts thanks to the way it turns the paparazzi into a zombie-like horde. Once friendly enough to trade jokes with John (or even jump into a football game with him and his friends), they become vicious when Carolyn is in the mix. They swarm over the Kennedys' car and camp outside their building, even going as far as to try to buzz into their loft. In one scene, the buzzer rings out like a jump scare. In others, the creeping flash of camera bulbs serve a similar purpose.

But as much as Love Story highlights the strain all this press attention put on Carolyn, it still occupies a similar space to that same media circus, just 30 years later.

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After all, the paparazzi were trying to expose some inner workings of Carolyn and John's relationship to the public, to offer up their marriage as entertainment to the masses. Is that not Love Story's goal too? Even though the show emphasizes it's a fictionalized account of history, it still painstakingly recreates several public moments from its subjects' lives, including a 1996 fight that was caught on camera. At times, it also uses footage of the actual Kennedy family, blurring the line between fiction and reality.

Given how today's media landscape works, it won't be long before viewers are searching up the specifics of these moments, leading them down a rabbit hole of articles and TikToks dissecting the minutiae of the show's historical accuracy. It's the media frenzy of the '90s, resurrected in a new form. (The Kennedy family was not consulted about the series.)

To its credit, Love Story approaches its leads with far more empathy than the paparazzi. The show rejects salaciousness in favor of glossy romance, while also focusing on Carolyn's struggles to define herself beyond her husband and on John's efforts to define himself beyond his father. These choices help make for a better, more well-rounded portrait of the couple, but crucially, they also allow Love Story to avoid becoming a downright villain in its own story.

Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette premieres Feb. 12 at 9 p.m. ET on FX and Hulu.