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When I set up my Pixel 10 for the first time, I was pretty happy with how smooth the process was. But then I hit something that didn’t feel right. My lock screen was only showing one notification in full, while the rest were shrunk down into a row of tiny app icons. This new compact style is part of Android 16 QPR1, which the Pixel 10 ships with by default, and it’s designed to keep things tidy.

The era of Logitech’s popular smart home control solution, the POP button system, is abruptly coming to an end. Logitech has announced the complete discontinuation of the service, in some emails to customers, stating that it is effective October 15, 2025.

The inability to understand the language used in a video shouldn't stop you from watching it. That's why Microsoft is testing a new AI audio translation feature in Edge that allows you to translate audio into your preferred language. However, as much as I want to love it, the feature isn't perfect and has a long way to go.

OpenAI launched Sora, its AI video app for iOS users, last week, and it quickly shot to the top position on the Apple App Store charts — despite the fact that the app is invite-only.

Powered by the Sora 2 video model, the Sora app lets users create and share AI videos in a TikTok-like feed. If you've gained access to Sora, you've probably noticed a common thread on the platform: There's a lot of copyrighted content being used for these AI-generated videos. Mashable's tech editor said over the weekend that the Sora app feed was dominated by popular characters from SpongeBob Squarepants, Rick & Morty, and various Nintendo franchises. CNBC also reported on one popular Sora video featuring OpenAI CEO Sam Altman standing alongside Pokémon characters.

"I hope Nintendo doesn't sue us," the AI-generated Altman says in the video.

If you assumed OpenAI cleared the use of intellectual property like Pokémon with copyright holders like The Pokémon Company or Nintendo, you'd be wrong.

An OpenAI representative told Mashable that the company is taking an opt-out approach when it comes to copyright, pointing to the company's Copyright Dispute form. This means intellectual property is fair game unless the copyright holder contacts OpenAI and opts-out from the platform. In fact, an OpenAI spokesperson told Mashable that copyright holders cannot request a blanket opt-out for their IPs. Instead, copyright holders must request specific characters be blocked or flag specific videos.

OpenAI appears to realize that it needs to work more with copyright holders, however. Over the weekend, users began sharing screenshots of "Content Violation" warnings. In the freewheeling days after the app's launch, users could make videos featuring all sorts of copyrighted material, but that seems to be changing fast.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: Sora 2 app: 7 weird AI videos people have already made with the new OpenAI tool

Interestingly, the Wall Street Journal reported that before Sora's launch, OpenAI reached out to talent agencies and film studios to notify them about Sora and that their copyrighted works could appear in the app.

In an Oct. 3 post on his personal blog, OpenAI CEO Altman told users to "expect a very high rate of change," and admitted that OpenAI would need to monetize Sora to cope with user demand.

"We are hearing from a lot of rightsholders who are very excited for this new kind of 'interactive fan fiction' and think this new kind of engagement will accrue a lot of value to them, but want the ability to specify how their characters can be used (including not at all)," Altman wrote.

In addition, in a post on X published on Sunday, OpenAI's Head of Sora Bill Peebles said that the company is going to put restrictions on the app's cameos feature. The cameos feature in Sora allows users to upload real video of themselves in order to enable Sora users to generate AI content with their likeness and image.

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

According to Peebles, Sora users will be able to choose exactly how their likeness is used. Peebles used the example of users putting restrictions such as "don't put me in videos that involve political commentary" or "don't let me say this word."

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

You've probably come across the Arch Linux memes, but are they doing it a disservice? Arch Linux is an excellent distribution, and I have five reasons why you should look past those labels and see for yourself.

The Lexar ES5 Magnetic Portable SSD, which was first announced in July, is officially available to buy now. Lexar is clearly targeting Apple users with the ability to magnetically stick the SSD right to the back of any iPhone that supports MagSafe accessories.

In a segment dominated by familiar names, one hybrid SUV has quietly pulled ahead with efficiency that even the most popular models can’t match. Its blend of fuel savings, smooth performance, and everyday practicality makes it a standout choice for families and commuters alike.

Getting proper sleep can help improve nearly every aspect of your health, but over a third of adults in the United States don't get enough of it, according to the CDC.

If a noisy environment is what's keeping you up at night, you've likely considered foam earplugs, but those are no longer the only option available on the market — reusable earplugs and sleep earbuds offer a more convenient alternative.

SEE ALSO: Dodow review: A simple sleep gadget that's best for back sleepers

I spent a month and a half trying out earplugs and earbuds ranging from $50 to $349 to find the best of what's out on the market — and to see if getting earbuds just for sleep is actually worth it.

With October Prime Day falling on Oct. 7 and 8, there's a strong potential for our top picks to go on sale, whether you're looking for earplugs or earbuds that can stream audio. Already ahead of the sale, our top pick — the Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds — is on sale for $43 off for Prime members. Our noise-cancelling pick, the Sleep A30 earbuds, just released in August, so they may or may not go on sale. However, Loop earplugs — which make our top earplug pick — tend to get markdowns during Amazon's sales.

Note: Following the Ozlo Sleepbuds price increase to $349, we have decided we can no longer recommend them, especially in comparison to other premium options like the Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds, which cost $229.99. If you're dead set on the Ozlo Sleepbuds, they did recently go on sale for $299, but we don't anticipate they'll drop much lower during Prime Big Deal Days, if they go on sale at all.

How are sleep earbuds different than normal earbuds?

First, a confession: I used to wear AirPods nearly every night to sleep. More accurately, I used to wear a single AirPod so I could actually sleep on my side.

After testing earbuds designed for sleeping, I can tell you that everyday earbuds don't match up to the sleep earbud experience. For starters, standard earbuds aren't designed to be worn while you're lying on your side, so they often stick out of your ears and put hard plastic in contact with your ear. Not to mention, earbuds typically cap out at six to seven hours of battery life per charge, so if you're getting at least eight hours of sleep, you run the risk of interrupting it with the sound of your earbuds powering off.

Sleep earbuds, like the Soundcore A20 ones pictured in the middle, have a much thinner profile than traditional earbuds. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Sleep earbuds, on the other hand, can offer white noise options, better battery life, and significantly more comfort (that actually allows you to wear more than one earbud at a time). The pairs I tested came without microphones and with touch controls that worked but were less sensitive than traditional earbuds, so you can lie on your side without activating them. When I initially tested options for this guide, there weren't really any with active noise cancellation, but that has since changed thanks to the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds. Still, you'd be surprised at how well passive noise cancellation, a good fit, and white noise work.

SEE ALSO: The 7 best earbuds to buy in 2025 from Bose, Sony, and more Is it safe to wear earbuds to sleep every night?

First and foremost, it's important to consider that sleep earbuds aren't the only way to approach nighttime noises that might be keeping you up.

I consulted Dr. Ashley Kita, an otolaryngologist and assistant professor in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at UCLA, to discuss any risks associated with wearing earbuds all night. While she didn't warn against using earbuds, she suggested that if what's keeping you up is a partner's snoring, you start looking for solutions there.

SEE ALSO: Bose's new earbuds are on sale, plus more of the best earbuds deals ahead of October Prime Day

"If you're doing all of this to avoid a partner who is snoring, sometimes gently encouraging that person to investigate why they're snoring is kind of an important consideration," Kita said. "Because we find that obstructive sleep apnea is really underdiagnosed, and snoring, for some people, is the only sign of it."

If, however, what's keeping you up is less in your control, then you do want to be aware of three main aspects of using earbuds all night: proper hygiene, safe noise levels, and your ear comfort.

Proper hygiene

When I started testing these earbuds, I realized I was now wearing earbuds uninterrupted for longer than I typically would in the course of a day, even as someone who tests headphones for a living. When I asked Dr. Kita how that wear time might raise someone's risk for infection, she drew a comparison to the wear time of hearing aids:

"Many individuals wear hearing aids for longer hours during the day than they sleep at night," she said. And yet, folks who wear hearing aids don't often have ear infections, though long wear times may increase their risk.

SEE ALSO: How to set up Hearing Aid mode on your AirPods

With the long wear times, Kita said the main concern she could anticipate was wax buildup since the natural path for wax to exit the ear canal would be blocked. However, she said it's not necessarily a cause for concern, as wax can typically exit the ear canal at other points during the day when you're not wearing earbuds (or blocking your ear canal in any other way).

As for any heightened infection risk, Kita shared that it can increase when there's greater wax buildup that can then trap bacteria. She recommended cleaning the buds with isopropyl alcohol and a cotton pad after each use, if possible. (One of the brands we tested, Ozlo, recommends a weekly cleaning.) With all that said, someone's risk for infection really comes down to personal susceptibility — some people are more prone to ear infections than others. If you fall into that category, being more proactive about cleaning your earbuds is a good practice.

Noise levels

Noise-induced hearing loss is the second most common type of hearing loss (behind age-related hearing loss), so it's important to be aware of the level of noise you expose yourself to. Kita pointed me in the direction of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) chart for how long people can be exposed to certain decibel levels safely.

In its FAQ, Ozlo also cites OSHA's recommendation, as well as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's recommendations, which top out at 90 decibels and 85 decibels for eight hours, respectively. We reached out to a rep from Soundcore to see if its earbuds have specific upper decibel limits, and will update this guide when we hear back. In general, though, Kita said the less noise, the better, recommending that you always try to use the lowest volume possible.

SEE ALSO: Video game industry makes it easier to find accessible games for disabled players

"While I don't necessarily love the idea of extra noise when you're not even conscious to appreciate it, if it's the thing that's keeping you asleep or letting you sleep, it just comes in this category of risks and benefits," Kita said. "Just make sure that it's quiet enough, then it really isn't that much different than using a white noise machine on your nightstand."

Comfort

Earbuds fitting comfortably is important for you to be able to fall asleep, but also for your ear health.

"Everyone's ear canal is shaped differently," Kita said. "And so something that might be really comfortable for your ears might really cause my ears to ache."

In other words, giving yourself earbuds-induced earaches every night can actually impact your ear health. If one of the below recommendations really isn't sitting right, even with adjustments to the ear tip sizes, don't be afraid to return them.

The best earbuds for sleeping

Below, I pulled three of the best sleep earbuds on the market. Between the overall, upgrade, and earplug picks, there's a wide range of price points, but as with any product, the most expensive of the bunch isn't necessarily the best overall. With that in mind, I highlighted where each earbud excelled, whether that be in comfort, noise cancellation, or ease of use, to help you pick the best sleep earbud possible.

UPDATE: Aug. 18, 2025, 9:45 a.m. EDT As of April 2024, the Ozlo Sleepbuds increased in price from $299 to $349 on Ozlo's website and Amazon in the United States due to tariffs. While we initially scaled back our recommendation to only grabbing them on sale, since testing the Soundcore Sleep A30s, which offer similar feature sets for far less, we no longer recommend the Ozlo Sleepbuds as one of our top pick sleep earbuds.

Other sleep earbuds we tested

At the end of the initial testing period, the one product that didn't make the cut was the 1More Sleeping Earbuds Z30, which, at $89.99, were the least expensive earbuds I tested. While significantly cheaper than the earbuds that did make the cut, their battery life, app features, and fit didn't quite match up to the other options on my list. However, if you're looking for very barebones low-profile earbuds (and don't mind hearing them die in the early hours of the morning), these aren't a bad option under $100.

1More Sleeping Earbuds Z30 $59.99 at Amazon
Shop Now

In keeping up with my value criteria, I decided to ultimately pull the Ozlo Sleepbuds as our best upgrade pick. After their price jumped up from $299 to $349 — far outpricing our existing picks (and most premium standard ANC earbuds, for that matter) — I determined their features didn't justify their price tag. The addition of sleep tracking (which is in the works) or ANC would make these earbuds much more competitive. On that note, the newly-released Soundcore Sleep A30 took their spot, as the only sleep earbuds with ANC on the market at the time of writing.

Ozlo Sleepbuds $299 at Amazon
$349 Save $50 Shop Now

OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman want ChatGPT to evolve beyond a conversational tool into a full-fledged digital assistant — one that can use other apps for you. The company announced a new initiative to create a "new generation of apps in ChatGPT," allowing users to connect and interact directly with third-party services inside the chatbot.

The new feature was unveiled during OpenAI’s Dev Day, during which the company showcased several live demos highlighting how this could work in practice. In one example, ChatGPT connected to Spotify to generate a playlist based on the user’s favorite songs, created and saved automatically within the Spotify app.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft launches Copilot Mode in Edge for agentic AI browsing. How to try it.

Another demo showed an OpenAI engineer tagging Canva in the chat to design a poster for a dog-walking business. After specifying that it should look whimsical and bright with a sans-serif font, ChatGPT returned multiple poster options generated through Canva. The system prompts users for permission the first time an app is connected, but once approved, it can use that app freely in future chats.

OpenAI also demonstrated educational and real estate integrations, like creating a machine learning lesson plan via Coursera and finding homes for sale in Pittsburgh through Zillow.

Starting today, ChatGPT users can connect to apps including Spotify, Canva, Booking.com, Expedia, Coursera, Zillow, and Figma. Altman added that more integrations, such as DoorDash and Uber, are coming later this year. Additionally, developers will soon be able to submit their own apps for review and publication within ChatGPT. OpenAI also plans to launch a dedicated app directory, giving users an easier way to discover and install integrations. As for monetization, Altman says the company will share more details in the near future.

This push marks a key step in OpenAI’s broader vision of agentic AI, especially after the company recently introduced Instant Checkout, a feature that lets users make purchases directly in chat.

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

SAVE $60: As of Oct. 6, you can pick up a Kindle Paperwhite at Woot for only $99.99. That's 38% off the usual list price and beats its best price ever on Amazon by $30. There's just one catch: they may have blemishes.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16GB) $99.99 at Woot
$159.99 Save $60.00 Get Deal

With Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event kicking off tomorrow, Oct. 7, we're expecting some of the best prices of the season on Kindle devices. But I'm fairly confident none of those deals will beat this Paperwhite deal at Amazon's daily deals site Woot (though I'm happy to be wrong).

As of Oct. 6, you can pick up a new Kindle Paperwhite (2024) at Woot for only $99.99. That's 38% or $60 off the usual list price of $159.99. The Paperwhite has only ever dropped as low as $129.99 at Amazon, so this is by far the best price we've seen on our favorite Kindle device. That's also cheaper than the most basic Kindle. But, of course, there's a slight catch.

While these Kindle Paperwhite devices are brand new, Woot writes that they "may have a slight blemish on the screen." If a tiny aesthetic imperfection is no big deal for you, then you're good to go. The device is still backed by a 90-day warranty at Woot, should any issue arise. Plus, you can always send it back if the blemish is too much of an eyesore.

As I mentioned above, the Kindle Paperwhite is our top pick for a Kindle (though I personally own the basic Kindle and also highly recommend it!). Mashable's e-reader expert Sam Mangino writes that it's "as good as an e-reader can get with its responsive interface, quick-turning pages, and lightweight design." It's also waterproof (unlike the basic Kindle), comes with adjustable screen warmth and brightness, and can last up to 12 weeks per charge.

The TL-WR3002X AX3000 travel router is one of the fastest and most powerful models TP-Link currently offers, and it’s an easy device to recommend. If your living space is small, this, frankly, could even be the only router you need.

The GIMP team has officially released the third micro-release for its stable branch, GIMP 3.0.6. While the team is hard at work on the much-anticipated GIMP 3.2, this new stable release was "really needed" because of how many bug fixes have accumulated.

October Prime Day is coming up quickly, but Apple AirPods deals are taking their time to trickle in.

The two-day sale, officially dubbed Prime Big Deal Days, doesn't start until Oct. 7, but we started to see early deals pop up a week in advance. There are a fair number of deals on Apple products, including AirPods — but the price cuts have been a little slower than expected.

SEE ALSO: What is Prime Big Deal Days? Everything you need to know and what deals to expect.

A day before the big sale, we're finally seeing a few significant discounts — particularly on the AirPods 4. While they haven't reached their record-low price, they're within a dollar of it. The AirPods Max have also finally dropped in price to $429.99. That's the biggest discount we've seen since Prime Day proper in July. Fingers crossed the price drops even further once the shopping event officially kicks off.

The AirPods Pro 2 are still $199 following the release of the AirPods Pro 3 — though they did very briefly fall to $169.99 for less than 24 hours. It's a little disappointing, considering the Pro 2 buds are down to $199 often enough that we consider it their standard market price. If you can, we recommend waiting until their price drops further. Historically, shopping events like Prime Day have brought the earbuds down to record-low prices.

The AirPods Pro 3, on the other hand, aren't on sale yet — though we have already seen a minor price dip following their recent release.

Below, find all the Apple AirPods deals available ahead of October Prime Day 2025.

Best AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $89.99 at Amazon
$129 Save $39.01 Get Deal Why we like it

A great value for the price, the AirPods 4 feature personalized spatial audio; voice isolation; Siri interactions; improved bass, mids, and highs; a comfortable and snug fit; and a more compact charging case that's easier to find. They come in two options: with or without active noise cancellation. Either option you choose, Mashable's reviewer noted that, "They sound like honey." Not to mention, they actually stay put in your ears when sprinting on a treadmill, which is no easy feat. Both options last up to five hours per charge (30 with the charging case), making them excellent daily drivers. If noise cancellation doesn't matter to you, the entry-level AirPods 4 are the best option for your wallet at just $89.99 ahead of October Prime Day. That's 99 cents shy of their best price on record. If you upgrade to the pair with ANC, it'll cost you an extra $50.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC.

More Apple AirPods deals

• Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation — $139.99 $179 (save $39.01)

• Apple AirPods Pro 2 — $199 $249 (save $50)

• Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) — $429.99 $549 (save $119.01)

Amazon can never run a sale all by itself. As the retail giant gears up for its annual Prime Big Deal Days event on Oct. 7 and 8, Best Buy has kicked off a competing "Techtober Sale" that's live through Oct. 12.

A Best Buy representative tells me via email that the weeklong event includes "some of the hottest deals this fall on tech like laptops, TVs, headphones, video games, electric bikes and more." New markdowns get added to the sale every day, and all featured deals are available online, in the Best Buy mobile app, and in stores.

Best Buy's best anti-Prime Day deals at a glance: Best Apple deal Apple AirTag $19.99 (save $9.01) Get Deal Best Windows laptop deal Asus Zenbook A14 (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $579.99 (save $420) Get Deal Best TV deal TCL 75-inch QM5K 4K QD-Mini LED TV $599.99 (save $600) Get Deal Best streaming device deal Google TV Streamer 4K $84.99 (save $15) Get Deal Best vacuum deal iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max + AutoWash Dock $599.99 (save $800) Get Deal

Amazon has been hosting a two-day fall savings event for members of its Prime program every year since 2022 — and every year since 2022, Best Buy has held its own concurrent sale. (Previously, it came in the form of a 48-Hour Flash Sale.) Best Buy also times a savings event to run alongside Amazon's big flagship Prime Day sale in July, so this sort of counter-programming is par for the course.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's October Prime Day is coming on October 7 — here are 30+ early deals to shop now

Best Buy isn't the only retailer giving Amazon a run for its money this month. Walmart is having a "Walmart Deals" event from Oct. 7 to 12, and Target is hosting one of its Circle Week sales from Oct. 5 to 11. Notably, Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days is the only event that locks its deals behind a paid membership.

I've spent several hours combing through the Techtober Sale to find the deals worth buying from Best Buy instead of Amazon this week. So far, I've identified over five dozen products that are either price-matched or cheaper at Best Buy, or only available on sale there. That's either because Amazon doesn't carry the item (see: my beloved Asus Zenbook A14, now just $580) or because it sold out on Amazon (see: the iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max + AutoWash Dock, now just $600).

I've listed my Techtober Sale findings below, and I'm planning on refreshing them as new deals pop up throughout the week; check back soon.

Apple dealsAirPods

• Apple AirPods 4 — $89.99 $129 (save $39.01)

• Apple AirPods 4 with ANC — $139.99 $129 (save $39.01)

• Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) — $429.99 $549 (save $119.01)

Apple Watches

• Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) — $329 $399 (save $70)

• Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + cellular, 46mm) — $479 $529 (save $50)

• Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS + cellular, 49mm) — $649 $799 (save $150)

iPads

• Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) — $299 $349 (save $50)

• Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) — $399 $499 (save $100)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) — $449 $599 (save $150)

• Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) — $649 $799 (save $150)

• Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200)

MacBooks

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4 chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $799 $999 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4 chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $999 $1,199 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,399 $1,599 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $2,249 $2,499 (save $250)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M4 Max, 36GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $3,099 $3,499 (save $400)

Apple accessories

• Apple AirTag — $19.99 $29 (save $9.01)

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $64.99 $99 (save $34.01)

Windows laptop deals

Note: Paid My Best Buy members (Plus and Total) get a $50 bonus reward when they spend at least $499 on select Windows laptops.

• Asus Zenbook A14 (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $579.99 $999.99 (save $420)

• HP OmniBook 5 16 (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $599.99 $799.99 (save $200)

• Microsoft Surface Laptop, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB UFS) — $849.99 $999.99 (save $150)

• HP OmniBook X 17 (Intel Core Ultra 7 256V, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $879.99 $1,349.99 (save $470)

• Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge, 16-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $899.99 $1,449.99 (save $550)

• Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13.8-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $949.99 $1,199.99 (save $250)

• Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,799.99 $2,399.99 (save $600)

2-in-1 laptops

• HP OmniBook 5 Flip 14 (Intel Core 7 150U, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $549.99 $799.99 (save $250)

• Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 16 (AMD Ryzen AI 5 340, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $599.99 $999.99 (save $400)

• Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 14 (AMD Ryzen AI 5 340, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $649.99 $1,049.99 (save $400)

• Dell Plus 2-in-1 14 (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $749.99 $999.99 (save $250)

• Microsoft Surface Pro 11, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) + Keyboard Bundle — $999.99 $1,349.99 (save $350)

• HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 (Intel Core Ultra 7 256V, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,099.99 $1,599.99 (save $500)

• Microsoft Surface Pro 11, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,149.99 $1,499.99 (save $350)

Gaming laptops

• Lenovo LOQ (AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 12GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $549.99 $879.99 (save $330)

• HP Victus 15 (Intel Core i7-13620H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,049.99 $1,369.99 (save $320)

• Asus TUF Gaming A16 (AMD Ryzen 9 270, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,349.99 $1,699.99 (save $350)

• Alienware 16X Aurora (Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, 32GB RAM, 1TB SDD) — $1,399.99 $1,799.99 (save $400)

TV deals43-inch TVs

• Hisense 43-inch QD6 QLED 4K Fire TV — $149.99 $299.99 (save $150)

• Samsung 43-inch Q7F QLED 4K TV — $349.99 $399.99 (save $50)

50- to 58-inch TVs

• Toshiba 50-inch C350 LED 4K Fire TV — $189 $349.99 (save $160.99)

• TCL 55-inch F35 4K LED Fire TV — $199.99 $329.99 (save $130)

• TCL 58-inch S5 4K LED Fire TV — $229.99 $379.99 (save $150)

• Hisense 50-inch QD6 QLED 4K Fire TV — $239.99 $329.99 (save $90)

• Hisense 55-inch QD6 QLED 4K Fire TV — $259.99 $379.99 (save $120)

• Samsung 55-inch Q7F QLED 4K TV — $399.99 $529.99 (save $130)

65-inch TVs

• TCL 65-inch F35 4K LED Fire TV — $299.99 $399.99 (save $100)

• LG 65-inch 70A QNED AI 4K TV — $449.99 $579.99 (save $130)

75-inch TVs and bigger

• Toshiba 75-inch C350 LED 4K Fire TV — $399 $729.99 (save $330.99)

• TCL 75-inch QM5K 4K QD-Mini LED TV — $599.99 $1,199.99 (save $600)

• LG 75-inch 70A QNED AI 4K TV — $649.99 $899.99 (save $250)

• Samsung 75-inch Q7F QLED 4K TV — $699.99 $999.99 (save $300)

• LG 77-inch B5 OLED AI 4K TV — $1,599.99 $2,999.99 (save $1,400)

Streaming device deals

• Roku Streaming Stick — $17.99 $29.99 (save $12)

• Roku Streaming Stick 4K — $29.99 $49.99 (save $20)

• Google TV Streamer 4K — $84.99 $99.99 (save $15)

Vacuum dealsRobot vacuums

• iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock — $279.99 $449.99 (save $170)

• Shark Matrix RV2320S — $299.99 $499.99 (save $200)

• iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock — $299.99 $469.99 (save $170)

• iRobot Roomba Max 705 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock — $599.99 $899.99 (save $300)

• iRobot Roomba Plus 505 Combo + AutoWash Dock — $599.99 $999.99 (save $400)

• iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max + AutoWash Dock — $599.99 $1,399.99 (save $800)

• Roborock Saros Z70 — $1,399.99 $2,599.99 (save $1,200)

Stick vacuums

• Dyson V11 Plus — $529.99 $629.99 (save $100)

You can snag the Corsair Void V2 Wireless Gaming Headset for a surprisingly low price of just $90 on Amazon right now. This is a massive 31% discount off its regular $130 price tag, which is incredible when you think about the 70 hours of battery life this headset offers.

The long-awaited widespread availability of the Windows 11 2025 Update, officially known as version 25H2, is finally set to release. While Microsoft technically shipped the update on September 30, 2025, the rollout has taken a while, but this frustrating holding pattern will finally end.

Early Prime Big Deal Days noise-cancelling headphone deals Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones Deal Sony Ult Wear $249.99 (Save $101.99) Get Deal Best noise-cancelling earbuds deal Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation (wired case) $35 (save $85) Get Deal

Audio fans, look alive — Amazon's October Prime Day sale is about to begin. From Oct. 7 through Oct. 8, you can score discounts on just about everything the retailer has to offer. This pre-Black Friday sale is known for offering up some historically low prices on goodies from tablets to laptops and everything in between, including headphones.

SEE ALSO: What is Prime Big Deal Days? Everything you need to know and what deals to expect.

But you don't have to wait until Oct. 7 to start shopping. Amazon already has tons of deals on offer ahead of the main event on everything from MacBooks to outdoor supplies and, of course, noise-cancelling headphones. Ahead of the sale, the Apple AirPods Max headphones have dropped nearly $120 in price, while some of our budget favorites like the JLab JBuds Lux ANC and Amazon Echo Buds with ANC have also taken steep price cuts.

Below, find some of our picks for our favorite early noise-cancelling headphone October Prime Day deals.

Best noise-cancelling headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Sony Ult Wear $148 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $101.99 Get Deal Why we like it

These cushy over-ear headphones are an excellent all-rounder choice if you want a good pair of noise-cancelling cans. Mashable's Miller Kern noted in her review that they "prioritize bass and provide punchy sound without sacrificing quality", and they rock 30 hours of battery life so you can listen for marathon sessions without having to charge up. Their boosted bass options, comfortable ear cups, and ability to supercharge your music, no matter what you listen to, can't be understated, and at this price, you're getting an excellent pair of headphones that can block out the world and keep you bopping too.

Check out our full review of the Sony ULT Wear headphones.

More early October Prime Day noise-cancelling headphones deals

• JLab JBuds Lux ANC — $48.99 $79.99 (save $31)

• Anker Soundcore Space Q45 — $129.99 $149.99 (save $20)

• Beats Studio Pro — $169.99 $349.99 (save $180)

• Sennheiser Momentum 4 — $249.95 $449.95 (save $200)

• Dyson OnTrac — $249.99 $499 (save $249.01)

• Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) — $429.99 $549 (save $119.01)

• Bowers & Wilkins Px8 — $529.99 $699 (save $169.01)

Best noise-cancelling earbuds deal Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation (wired case) $34.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $85 Get Deal Why we like it

While these aren't the newest earbuds on the market (they came out in 2021), at $35, they do offer some of the best bang for your buck on noise-cancelling earbuds. If you can put up with a middling battery life and overly sensitive touch panels, the Echo Buds with ANC are "a steal for anyone who wants to dip their toes into the world of ANC without setting their wallet on fire," as Mashable's Alex Perry wrote in his review. This deal is exclusive to Prime members.

Check out our full review of the Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation.

More early October Prime Day noise-cancelling earbuds deals

• Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation (wired case) — $34.99 $119.99 (save $85)

• Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation (wireless case) — $44.99 $139.99 (save $95)

• Apple AirPods 4 with ANC — $139.99 $179 (save $39.01)

• Renewed Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) — $139.99 $209.99 (save $70)

Best October Prime Day Dyson deals Best cordless vacuum deal Dyson V11 Origin Cordless Vacuum $399.99 (save $230) Get Deal Best upright vacuum deal Dyson Ball Animal Total Clean Upright Vacuum $659.99 (save $250) Get Deal

Whether you’re a Dyson stan or not, you’d probably still agree that Dyson products have become somewhat of a “gold standard” within the industry. (I mean, that 2023 New York Times article on how Dyson’s cordless stick vacuum became a “status symbol” still lives rent-free in my head.) But premium quality usually comes with a premium price tag to match.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime Day vs. Black Friday: When are the deals better?

That's why we recommend waiting for a major sales event to splurge. Amazon’s October Prime Day (officially “Prime Big Deal Days”) kicks off tomorrow, Oct. 7, but a bunch of early Dyson deals are already live. We're tracking the prices across Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Dyson's own store to find the absolute best savings. Here are the top early Prime Day Dyson deals you can shop right now:

Best cordless vacuum deal Dyson V11 Origin Cordless Vacuum $399.99 at Amazon
$629.99 Save $230 Get Deal Why we like it

If you’re trying to get into the Dyson fam for less than $500, then the Dyson V11 Origin Cordless Vacuum is a solid choice. Mashable’s vacuum cleaner queen and senior shopping reporter, Leah Stodart, says the V11 line offers a decent battery life (up to 60 minutes) for the price and a pretty good suction for tackling various household cleaning tasks.

The best price on this model is currently at Amazon. As of Oct. 6, you can get it for $399.99, down from $629.99. That's a 37% discount and $230 in savings.

• Amazon: $399.99 $629.99 (save $230)

• Walmart: $569 $629.99 (save $60.99) Note: This is technically on sale, but not officially "on sale" on the Walmart website.

• Dyson: $629.99 (not on sale)

• Target: $629.99 (not on sale)

More Dyson cordless vacuum deals

• Dyson V15 Detect Plus Cordless Vacuum — $569.99 $849.99 (save $280)

• Dyson V8 Origin Cordless Vacuum — $299.99 $439.99 (save $140 with Target Circle)

• Dyson Car+Boat Handheld Vacuum — $279.99 $299.99 (save $20)

Best upright vacuum deal Dyson Ball Animal Total Clean Upright Vacuum $409.99 at Amazon
$659.99 Save $250 Get Deal Why we like it

If you need the kind of deep clean that only an upright vacuum can provide, the Dyson Ball Animal Total Clean Upright Vacuum is the way to go. It's especially ideal for pet owners or anyone with a larger home, and it comes with eight different accessories to tackle any job. The vacuum features a self-adjusting cleaner head, a motorized brush bar, and whole-machine filtration to catch and destroy allergens on site. You’ll also get a five-year limited warranty and lifetime support when you register your vacuum on the MyDyson app.

The best price on this model is currently at Amazon. As of Oct. 6, you can get it for $409.99, down from $659.99. That's a 38% discount and $250 in savings.

• Amazon: $409.99 $659.99 (save $250)

• Walmart: $589.99 $659.99 (save $70)

• Dyson: $659.99 (not on sale)

• Target: Unavailable

Even more early Prime Day Dyson deals

• Dyson OnTrac™ Headphones — $249.99 $499 (save $249.01)

• Dyson Hot+Cool™ AM09 — $349.99 $499.99 (save $150)

• Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 — $399.99 $649.99 (save $250)

• Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool™ Gen1 HP10 — $429.98 $579.99 (save $150.01)

Despite Take Two's efforts to shut it down, the GTA modding community is still alive and kicking. Their latest effort is Fusion Fix for Grand Theft Auto IV, a massive community mod that gives the PC version of GTA IV an Ultimate Edition treatment. GTA IV on PC has never looked this good.

OpenAI's second-generation AI video model, Sora 2, is stirring up controversy, less than a week after the AI giant unveiled the highly anticipated tool and its corresponding app.

The hubbub stems from Sora 2's impressive but alarming ability to generate just about anything in precise detail. Shortly after its launch, users flooded the platform — pitched as a video-forward social media app in the likeness of TikTok or Reels — with alleged celebrity deepfakes, sensitive political content, and licensed characters.

SEE ALSO: Sora 2, Vibes, Feed: How much AI video do we need?

Sora 2's safeguards are seemingly more robust than its competitors — such as those on Grok — reported Mashable tech editor Timothy Beck Werth. Sora 2 has easy reporting mechanisms for sexual and violent content, harassment, and child endangerment. As a way to prevent deepfakes, Sora 2 is also supposed to block users from uploading content that features faces. In theory, Sora 2's face ban should prevent users from creating a deepfake of someone without their consent. But OpenAI's own solution to nonconsensual deepfakes, a feature known as Cameos, has posed its own problems.

Cameos are "reusable characters” modeled after users based on audio and video that they upload. Users have to opt-in to their own deepfake, and can then grant access to their digital likeness on four levels: Only you, people you approve, friends, or everyone. Until now, that was the extent to which Cameos could be controlled, meaning if you had your Cameo toggled to app-wide access, your likeness could be made to do just anything.

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Responding to user concerns, OpenAI has since acknowledged the safety issues free access to someone's digital likeness can pose, announcing new content restrictions for the Cameos. Here's what you need to know if you're trying to make your Cameo a star.

How to protect your Cameo

In an X post by Sora head Bill Peebles, users were directed to a thread by OpenAI technical staffer Thomas Dimson, explaining that the new Cameo settings include both content preferences and restrictions.

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To lock down your Cameo, go to your profile. Select "settings" and then "edit cameo." Tap on "Cameo preferences" and choose "restrictions."

From there, users can set more precise limits on what their Cameo can do and say using text prompts, like "Don't put me in videos that involve political commentary" or "Don't let me say this word," Peebles explained. You can also ensure that your Cameo appears with specific details, such as wearing an identifying clothing item.

If you want to make sure no one but you can use your likeness, make sure you've selected "only me" in the "Cameo rules" section. And if you don't want to make a Cameo at all, users can opt-out while signing up.

Peebles added that Sora 2 is still undergoing tweaks to its model safety, and will be making the Sora 2 watermark more distinct, acknowledging that users may be frustrated with "overmoderation" on the app. "We think it's important to be conservative here while the world is still adjusting to this new technology."