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SAVE $50: As of Feb. 3, you can get a two-pack of Kindle Paperwhite devices for just $269.99. That's 16% or $50 off the usual price of $319.98.

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Whether you're looking for a special way to celebrate Valentine's Day or you just want a new hobby in 2026, this Share the Love 2-pack Kindle Paperwhite bundle from Amazon is calling your name.

As of Feb. 3, you can get two Kindle Paperwhite devices for just $269.99 instead of the usual $319.98. That's $50 or 16% in savings, knocking the price of each e-reader down to only $134.99. It's the perfect deal for couples, families, or book club friends who want to read and discuss the same titles together. After all, reading is even more fun when you have someone to share it with.

Mashable shopping reporter Sam Mangino has tested every Kindle device and the Kindle Paperwhite comes out on top. "It's "as good as an e-reader can get," she writes. It's incredibly quick and turns pages without stuttering or slowing down. It features a vibrant seven-inch display with adjustable brightness and warmth to make reading as easy on the eyes as possible in any scenario. Plus, it's waterproof (unlike the basic Kindle), so you can read at the beach or in the tub without concern.

While we have seen the Kindle Paperwhite about $10 cheaper before, this is the second-best price on record when you break it down per device. Share the love this season and grab the two-pack deal while you can.

The Mazda Miata is an affordable and fun sports car beloved by enthusiasts from all walks of life. Although compact, there is enough room for most everyday things, from a gym bag and light luggage to a modest load of groceries. Standard safety features for the 2026 model include front and side airbags, side-impact door beams, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and lane departure warning.

The first major drama of the 2026 Winter Olympics has arrived before the opening ceremony, and the Minions are at the scene of the crime.

Spanish figure skater Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté said Tuesday that he received last-minute clearance from Universal to use music from the Minions in his short program after copyright concerns briefly derailed his Olympic program. While the situation is ongoing, and he doesn't have all of the music cleared, it's enough to officially say: The Minions are headed to the Olympics.

Why was Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté's Minions music initially blocked?

Just days earlier, Sabaté, 26, revealed on Instagram that he was no longer permitted to skate to the music in his Minions short program at the Milan-Cortina Games. The routine combines multiple songs and sound bites from the Minions franchise: It begins with the Universal theme sung by the Minions, includes Pharrell Williams' "Freedom" from Despicable Me 3, and ends with bass-heavy "Papaya (Vaya Papayas)," which features the Minions singing about bananas and papayas in Minion language.

Sabaté performed this program all season, and had submitted it for approval through the International Skating Union’s ClicknClear system back in August.

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Despite this, the skater said he was informed of the issue late last week, leaving him scrambling to consider reworking his routine on the eve of his Olympic debut.

"Finding this out last Friday, so close to the biggest competition of my life, was incredibly disappointing," Sabaté wrote. "Nevertheless, I will face this challenge head-on and do everything I can to make the best of this situation."

How did the Minions music get cleared for the Olympics?

The decision was reversed after people rallied online, questioning how the music could be blocked so close to the Games and urging the rights holder to intervene. (The people need their Minions — and, frankly, how dare laws and rules get in the way of whimsy?) On Tuesday, Sabaté confirmed via his Instagram Story that Universal had granted him permission to use the soundtrack for what he described as "this one special occasion."

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"Huge THANK YOU to everyone who reposted, shared, and supported," Sabaté wrote. "Because of you, Universal Studios reconsidered and officially granted the rights."

Figure skating analyst Jackie Wong, reporting from the Milan-Cortina Games, noted that while only two of the four musical cuts in Sabaté's program have been cleared so far, the most difficult hurdle has been resolved. "The Universal one at the beginning was the trickiest," he wrote on X, "and that was the one they got special clearance for."

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As for Sabaté, he's just relieved that the routine's centerpiece has been saved. "I'm so happy to see that the minions hitting Olympic ice is becoming real again!!" he wrote on IG. "I'll keep you posted."

How did fans influence Universal's decision to approve the music?

Simply, the internet did what it does best and bullied Universal into relenting. Figure skating fans and those fond of joy flooded social media with posts and pleas demanding that Sabaté get his Minions music back.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. What Minions song is Sabaté skating to?

There are multiple, actually. It begins with the Universal theme sung by the Minions, which should be a familiar sound to anyone who has ever seen a Minions film. The program also features Pharrell Williams' "Freedom" from Despicable Me 3 and ends with "Papaya (Vaya Papayas)" from Juan Alcaraz and The Minions — who share artist, writing, arranging, production, and engineering credits on the song, according to EW.

Why did Sabaté choose Minions music for his Olympic program?

Sabaté has skated to songs from the Minions animated film franchise all season, performing his short program in a yellow-and-blue costume inspired by the characters. He previously said the routine was designed to bring joy and a playful style to the ice while still meeting every required technical element.

"This season I competed with my Minions short program to bring joy and a playful style to the ice," Sabaté wrote earlier this week on Instagram, adding that the program was meant to show "that skating as a male Olympic figure skater can be fun."

When will Sabaté compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

While the Milan-Cortina Winter Games open on Friday, Feb. 6, the six-time Spanish men's champion is set to make his 2026 Winter Olympics debut alongside the Minions during the men's single skating short program competition on Feb. 10.

SAVE $549.81: As of Feb. 3, get the TCL 98-Inch Class X11K Series QD-Mini TV for $4,948.18 a Amazon, down from its usual price of $5,498. That's a discount of 10% and the lowest price we've seen.

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A new TV is a great way to treat yourself, especially if you're going from a small screen to a large one. And if you're looking for something that's large and in charge, shopping for a massive new display is definitely the move. You can get a massive display right now for a fantastic price right this minute, as long as you act quickly.

As of Feb. 3, get the TCL 98-Inch Class X11K Series QD-Mini TV for $4,948.18 a Amazon, down from its usual price of $5,498. That's $549.81 off and a discount of 10%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The best TVs for gaming to get you to next-level play

This massive 98-inch TV is the most affordable it's ever been, and would be a veritable giant in your home. It uses QLED and OLED tech to give you the best possible lighting, colors, and hues. It uses the TCL Halo Control System to supercharge its picture, with "halo-free" images that offer bi-directional 23-bit backlight controls and dynamic lighting. It also utilizes up to 14,000 dimming zones with pure black levels for additional realism.

It supports HDR for a brighter, more colorful picture, as well as a CrystGlow HVA panel that keeps reflections down. As far as audio goes, it has Bang & Olufsen support as well as Dolby Atmos, so your sound is even punchier, even without adding a soundbar into the mix. It's got everything you need for a significant change in your home entertainment system.

You can stop shopping for a new TV now with this mammoth price drop on your new centerpiece display. Just be sure to grab it while it's down and discounted this much.

The vinyl versus CD debate keeps popping up its head, which is something I find personally annoying given that, objectively, CDs are the superior format. But, over time, I've realized that the claims by vinyl fanatics about the supposed audio quality of their beloved medium have less to do with objectivity and almost everything to do with subjectivity.

Crunchyroll is raising prices again.

In an announcement on Monday, the anime streaming service said U.S. subscribers will see price hikes across all tiers starting with their next billing cycle after March 4, 2026. The Fan plan jumps from $7.99 to $9.99 a month, Mega Fan goes from $11.99 to $13.99, and Ultimate Fan rises from $15.99 to $17.99.

SEE ALSO: 'Gachiakuta' might be the most original shōnen anime in years

In the blog post, the company says this is the first price bump for the Fan tier since 2019 and that it’s meant to support continued investment in anime content, features, and member perks.

On paper, Crunchyroll is offering more. New perks include offline downloads on the Fan tier, expanded device support, profile controls, and deeper integration with its Game Vault and digital manga service. The company also points to its massive library of more than 50,000 episodes as justification for the higher cost.

Context matters here, though. Just weeks earlier, Crunchyroll quietly announced it was ending its free, ad-supported streaming plan entirely, officially closing the door on no-cost anime viewing starting Jan. 1, 2026. That move followed years of slowly stripping down what the free tier offered, making the paywall feel sort of inevitable at some point.

Put together, the changes point to a broader shift in how Crunchyroll is positioning itself. Crunchyroll is betting that expanded features, a growing content library, and additional perks will be enough to justify the higher cost as the platform moves further into 2026.

SAVE $35: TurboTax Deluxe 2025 desktop edition for filing state and federal taxes is on sale at Amazon for $44.99, down from the standard price of $79.99. That's a 44% discount and the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

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If you're always one to file your taxes as soon as possible, you're probably getting all of your paperwork in order this week. And if you like to file on your own with tax software, you could be looking for the latest edition of TurboTax. If that's the case, you'll want to check out this deal at Amazon.

As of Feb. 3, TurboTax Deluxe 2025 desktop edition for filing state and federal taxes is on sale at Amazon for $44.99, marked down from the usual price of $79.99. That works out to a savings of $35 from a 44% discount. It's also the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

If you have a solid grasp on your taxes or they aren't complicated, it can be a breeze to use tax software for filing. TurboTax is one of the biggest names around and the Deluxe version is on sale today at Amazon for a record-low price.

SEE ALSO: Snag the Kobo Clara Colour while it's on sale for the lowest price ever at Amazon

The Deluxe desktop version requires Windows 11 or macOS Sonoma 14 or newer. So long as your meet that requirement, TurboTax Deluxe can help you with filing both state and federal returns for the 2025 year. You'll be able to take advantage of over 375 deduction and credit options, and you can get access to live tax advice.

TurboTax recommends going with Deluxe if you need to file both state and federal for 2025, own a home, have charitable donations to add to your deductions, or have high medical expenses. Plus, this version allows you five federal returns and one state return, so you can share the federal option with others.

We all have until Wed., April 15 to file our 2025 returns, but somehow that date will creep up quickly. Instead of waiting until the last minute, get things done early this year thanks to today's deal on TurboTax Deluxe.

Typically, an SSD is better for data that you need to retrieve quickly, and not important files, which are relegated to hard drives that have more space.

There are many options for a mini PC, but not all of them have a Nintendo Entertainment System-inspired design. Acemagic wants to fix that with its new Retro X3 mini PC.

Apple still hasn't formally announced the foldable iPhone, but a new leak is giving us a better idea of how it'll feel in our hands.

The still-unannounced iPhone Fold will reportedly require regular iPhone users to remap their muscle memory as it relates to buttons, per a Weibo post from leaker Instant Digital. According to a machine translation of the Chinese post, the power and camera buttons will still be on the right side, as they are on recent iPhones, but the volume buttons are not on the left side of the device, as they usually are on iPhones. Instead, they'll be placed on the top of the device, on the right side, similar to an iPad.

SEE ALSO: The iPhone Flip might be real, you guys

Aside from button layout shenanigans, the post also shared some light specs for the device. The front camera is apparently of the punch-hole variety rather than set in a Dynamic Island like it is on other recent iPhones. Since the device allegedly only uses Touch ID and not Face ID, that makes sense. There are also allegedly two cameras on the back that are arranged horizontally rather than vertically, which is also divergent from how Apple usually does things. Interestingly, the post says the only device color they know about is white, but the rear camera module itself is black, so it'll stand out when viewed from behind.

Oh, and rather excitingly, the post said the iPhone Fold will have the biggest battery in any iPhone. That should be nice.

With each of these leaks, the overall picture of the iPhone Fold becomes a little bit clearer. However, the actual announcement might still be a ways off. According to recent reports, Apple will release the device in the latter half of 2026, so it might be shown off in September at the same time as the iPhone 18 lineup. Be patient, folks.

SAVE UP TO $40: As of Feb. 3, the new Amazon Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 are both on sale for their lowest prices to date. Grab the Echo Show 8 for just $149.99 (reg. $179.99) or the Echo Show 11 for $179.99 (reg. $219.99) — that's a savings of 17% and 18%, respectively.

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Amazon dropped four new Echo devices last fall that were built specifically for Alexa+, the new AI-enhanced version of the beloved voice assistant. The lineup includes two Death Star-like orb speakers and two upgraded smart displays — and the latter just dropped to their lowest prices since launch.

As of Feb. 3, you can grab the new Echo Show 8 for just $149.99 (reg. $179.99) or the Echo Show 11 for $179.99 (reg. $219.99) at Amazon. That's up to $40 in savings and the best price on record for both devices — even beating Black Friday.

Referred to as Amazon's "most advanced smart displays yet," both the Echo Show 8 and 11 feature the new in-house AZ3 Pro chips and Omnisense technology for AI-based, highly personalized experiences. They both include a new audio architecture with front-facing stereo speakers and a custom woofer for spatial audio. Not to mention, the combination of in-cell touch and the negative liquid crystal design make for the best viewing experience yet, with ambient visuals that adapt to the brightness of your environment. The built-in 13-megapixel camera can even recognize whoever walks up to it and show you the info you want to see.

Needless to say, both Echo Shows also act as smart home hubs for all of your devices as well as tiny entertainment centers. The only real difference between the two is the size — the Echo Show 8 features an 8.7-inch HD display, while the Echo Show 11 features an 11-inch full HD display. Either pick will give you the full Alexa+ experience.

There was a time when only geeky tech enthusiasts used Android phones. That’s certainly not the case anymore, but there’s still some jargon that the average person probably doesn’t know. You might not use these terms in your daily life, but knowledge is power.

FREE VALENTINE'S DAY LEGO: Through Feb. 6, spending $80 at Lego.com unlocks a free Penguins in Love set.

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$14.99 Save $14.99 Free with purchases of $80+ Shop Now

It's not up for discussion at this point. Legos are a universally elite Valentine's Day gift idea, for her or for him.

Building a set together could be a lighthearted way for a longtime couple to end an otherwise mushy night, or a sweet but not too serious date activity for the blossoming situationship. Opt for the classic bouquet of roses or prove how well you know them by gifting a Lego that speaks to their favorite movie or video game. Whatever you decide, just make sure to buy it from Lego.com directly by Feb 6. That's where you'll get a free Penguins in Love set just for spending $80 or more.

It features two lovebirds exchanging romantic gifts themselves (a fish and a pebble), plus three hearts hovering above their date. Free rizz tip: In the card, write: "Penguins mate for life, and I hope we do too."

If roses wouldn't be their flower of choice to receive, the Lego Botanicals collection has such a variety of pretty greenery options: a colorful wildflower bouquet, a potted orchid, a legitimately gorgeous framed landscape featuring Japanese cherry blossoms... there are countless options for a brick-able twist on the traditional V-Day gift.

SEE ALSO: Lego has dropped more Star Wars Smart Play sets, including a Millennium Falcon: Where to buy

Of course, other Lego gift ideas aren't hard to find if you know the person's passions. If they love art, get them a Lego Van Gogh painting. If they love Star Wars, pre-order a Smart Play set for them. (Yes, that still unlocks the penguin set.) Perhaps the very real Lego Crocs would be an immediate staple in their wardrobe.

NASA will forego a February launch for its Artemis II mission after engineers ran into leaks, cold-weather delays, and equipment problems during a key fueling test that ended early Tuesday morning.

The fuel-loading problems were reminiscent of the challenges the space agency faced in 2022 when it attempted to launch Artemis I, the uncrewed maiden voyage of the program. 

The decision pushes the earliest possible launch to March and underscores the technical challenges facing Artemis II, NASA's first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years and a critical step in the effort to return humans to the moon and possibly Mars. The mission will send four astronauts — Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch, and Jeremy Hansen — on a 10-day journey around the moon without landing, testing the Orion spaceship's life-support systems. It's a key test flight before NASA puts boots on the lunar surface in Artemis III. 

NASA concluded a so-called wet dress rehearsal that simulated launch countdown operations by loading 700,000 gallons of super-cold fuel into the 322-foot Space Launch System rocket, sending a team to the pad to complete closeout work on the capsule, and then safely draining propellant out of the rocket. The test is designed to expose problems before liftoff.

"Safety remains our top priority, for our astronauts, our workforce, our systems, and the public,"  said NASA administrator Jared Isaacman in a post on X. "We will only launch when we believe we are ready to undertake this historic mission."

SEE ALSO: No guarantees: Inside the biggest risks facing NASA's Artemis 2 crew

Engineers encountered several issues over the two-day countdown simulation that began Jan. 31 in Cape Canaveral, Florida, NASA said. The agency will review data from the rehearsal and conduct another fueling test before setting an official launch date.

Passing on the February launch window means the Artemis II astronauts will leave quarantine and not travel to Kennedy Space Center this week as planned. The crew has been waiting in Houston at Johnson Space Center since Jan. 21. 

NASA's Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, right, is the launch director for the Artemis II mission. Credit: NASA / Aubrey Gemignani

NASA said the astronauts will return for quarantine about two weeks before the next targeted launch opportunity. With February ruled out, the next window opens March 6 and continues through March 9, with one extra opportunity on March 11.

Cold weather at the launchpad slowed operations almost immediately, delaying the start of propellant loading while teams worked to warm hardware connections.

During tanking on Feb. 2, engineers spent several hours troubleshooting a liquid hydrogen leak where propellant feeds into the rocket’s core stage. Teams paused the flow of hydrogen, allowed the hardware to warm up to refit the seal, and adjusted flow rates.

Despite the delay, engineers ultimately filled all the tanks. A five-person team then went to the launchpad to complete Orion closeout operations as if the astronauts were there and boarding the ship.

The test ended prematurely with about five minutes remaining in the countdown. The ground launch sequencer automatically stopped after sensors detected a spike in the hydrogen leak.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Why hydrogen leaks plague rocket launches

Liquid hydrogen has been NASA's fuel of choice for decades because it has the lowest molecular weight. That's ideal for keeping the tanks as light as possible. It also helps that hydrogen burns with extreme intensity.

But the reason why hydrogen leaks seem to always stymie launches is that those little molecules are hard to wrangle, seeping out of any tiny crevice or crack. The super-cold temperature of the fuel can cause the rocket materials to contract and shrink, leaving minuscule gaps for the propellant to escape.

NASA reported several other problems during the test. A valve linked to pressurization of the Orion hatch required retightening after a recent replacement. Final checkouts took longer than expected. Cold temperatures disrupted multiple cameras and other equipment, which would have required extra attention if that had happened on launch day.

Engineers also experienced intermittent audio communication dropouts across ground teams, an issue they have been working on for weeks apparently. 

"Getting this mission right means returning to the Moon to stay," Isaacman said, "and a future to Artemis 100 and beyond."

SAVE $99.01: As of Feb. 3, get the iPad mini (A17 Pro) for $399.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $499. That's a discount of 20%.

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$499 Save $99.01   Get Deal

Looking for a new tablet, but don't want to spend an arm and a leg on one? The iPad mini is a great choice. And thanks to this deal from Amazon, you can get significant savings on your purchase, so now's the time to go ahead and invest.

As of Feb. 3, get the iPad mini (A17 Pro) for $399.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $499. That's a discount of 20%.

SEE ALSO: The 8 best tablets of 2026: I compared iPads, the Microsoft Surface Pro, and Amazon Fire

This iPad mini boasts the powerful A17 Pro chip, so it's capable of zippy performance and running multiple apps at once, if that's what you want to do. Its 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display gives you more screen real estate to work with than your phone, too. So you get more space to play around with, which is a big draw to tablets in general.

It has a 12MP Ultra wide front camera with Center Stage, USB-C connecivity, WiFi 6E support, and it's compatible with Apple Pencil Pro. That means it's good for play, but it's especially useful for taking notes, doodling, or working on presentations. You can draw pictures with all the art tools iPad has.

If you're ready to go ahead and pick up an iPad mini, be sure you catch it at this price. You'll be glad you have the miniature form factor of the iPad that can still handle many of the same tasks.

Ever found yourself juggling between your terminal and a grep command guide when you're deep inside a project? Meet Clapgrep, a sleek, modern utility that brings the speed of terminal search tools into a user-friendly graphical interface. It's how I turn complex queries into a simple "point and click" operation.

SAVE $20: The Kobo Clara Colour e-reader is on sale for $139.99 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $159.99. That's a 13% discount that matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

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Tis the season for reading non-stop. February tends to be a month marked by chilly temps and hibernation vibes. Instead of fighting those feelings, why not use this month to catch up on book titles you've been putting off for a later time? If you've been contemplating upgrading to an e-reader, one of Mashable's favorite models is on a great sale today.

As of Feb. 3, the Kobo Clara Colour is on sale for $139.99 at Amazon, marked down from the list price of $159.99. That's a 13% discount that takes $20 off the price. It also matches the record-low at Amazon.

On Mashable's list of the best e-readers, the Kobo Clara Colour earns the honor of our favorite Kobo model. Recently launched in white, the Kobo Clara Colour is an excellent e-reader if you're looking for a color-capable model in a compact size.

Mashable's review of the Kobo Clara Colour gives it points for having a matte, glare-free display with the perfect screen size. The Clara's six-inch display is smaller than the Paperwhite which means it might fit better in your hand. Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino wrote, "In testing the Kobo Clara Colour, I put away my Kindle Paperwhite for a few weeks and was surprised but how much I didn't miss it. It was refreshing to use a smaller e-reader that truly felt handheld," she wrote. "The six-inch screen is smaller than the Paperwhite's, but I didn't miss the extra real estate. In fact, it was a worthy sacrifice for how comfortable it felt to hold."

SEE ALSO: A new 'Heated Rivalry' book is on the way — preorder 'Unrivaled' by Rachel Reid now

The smaller size means this is also more travel friendly compared to the Amazon models. Plus, Kobo recently launched the Kobo remote, which makes it the only e-reader with a native remote. From personal experience, I can tell you it's ultra convenient to use the remote with the Clara Colour. Plus, it's only $29.99.

While it's on sale for Valentine's Day, grab the Kobo Clara Colour e-reader and take off on a reading journey for the rest of winter. Load it up with free books from Libby and you'll be set for months.

You've heard of sexting, but what about actually texting while in the middle of the act? It's apparently not so uncommon for young adults: 35 percent of Gen Z adults have admitted to texting or checking social media during sex, according to a survey of 100,000 students from the anonymous college app Yik Yak. (Twenty-four students actually said they've picked up Mom's call while in bed, too.)

The statistic comes at a time when more people are talking about addictive behavior on social media sites, combined with how Gen Z is having less sex than their older counterparts did when they were younger. It's undeniable that the internet impacts Gen Z's lives — even their sex lives — when 81 percent use social media every day, and half say they spend more than three hours on it per day.

SEE ALSO: How the internet made long-distance love a Gen Z relationship goal

As Mashable reported last year, the internet shaped Gen Z's relationship to sex, in some more positive ways (such as the ability to see sex education materials if they weren't taught it in school or at home), and others more negative, such as anxiety about the way they're perceived.

Now, as it turns out, connectivity literally impacts a third of Gen Z while having sex. They can't seem to stay present, though if you're interested in being more mindful during sex, Mashable has a story for you.

The survey also found that 23 percent of Gen Z said they had sex while their roommate was in the room, and eight percent didn't care that their roommate was wide awake.

Reliability is often the first thing buyers think about when choosing an SUV, and for decades, Japanese-built crossovers have dominated that conversation. Yet one American SUV has quietly edged past many of its Japanese rivals in dependability scores, surprising shoppers who assume domestic models can’t compete on long-term reliability. In 2025, its track record makes it a compelling choice for anyone who wants peace of mind without sacrificing practicality or everyday usability.

We've been introduced to quite a few promising new vacuum cleaners over the past few months, including a handful of cordless stick vacuums snuck in with the big CES robot vacuum announcements. None of them could have prepared you for what the new Dyson PencilVac looks like.

The Feb. 3 release of the $599.99 PencilVac kicks off a string of long-awaited new Dyson vacuums slated for 2026. This launch is pretty huge news — prior to this, Dyson hadn't released a new cordless vacuum since 2023, and even those weren't overly groundbreaking. (We've seen what happens when a once-prestige brand gives up on innovating, à la The Fall of the House of iRobot.) So I jumped at the opportunity to test the PencilVac at home for a few days before launch. Considering that the PencilVac is somewhat a successor to my absolute favorite cordless vacuum of the past three years, you can imagine that the initial thoughts and early comparisons are already flowing.

The PencilVac is so thin that it could be stored under virtually any piece of furniture. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Since 2022, I've been recommending the Dyson V12 Detect Slim nonstop for two main reasons: It's incredibly lightweight, and the dust-illuminating laser completely changed the way I clean. The Dyson PencilVac weighs even less and has two lasers instead of one. Is unseating the GOAT really that simple?

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson PencilVac $599.99 at Dyson
  Shop Now

Setting up the vacuum itself is incredibly easy because the PencilVac design is the definition of minimal. The box is compact and flat, and since it only comes with one attachment, you don't have to dig around through a ton of packaging. Just click the motor, wand, and cleaning head together and find a spot near an outlet for the charging stand. It actually took longer to connect the PencilVac to WiFi and the Dyson app.

SEE ALSO: Dreame doesn't just want to be a top vacuum brand. It wants to be a top everything brand.

OK, I'm not a huge fan of being forced to use an app with an appliance just for the sake of using an app. But since the PencilVac's screen is so tiny, I'm sure the app will come in handy for notifications about clogged airways or filter replacement.

Comparing the Dyson V12 Detect Slim (left) and PencilVac (right). Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Four "Fluffycones" give the PencilVac an unbelievably smooth sweep. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable What's special about the Dyson PencilVac?

The Dyson PencilVac is a stick vacuum in the most literal sense of the term. It's legitimately shaped like a pencil and measures less than 1.5 inches around. The battery, motor, and dustbin are built into the wand, lying completely flush. There's no main body with a handle or a trigger or anything. All controls can be found halfway down the wand. There's one on/off button and one button to switch between three suction power modes on the screen. The screen also displays battery life with a countdown timer.

Without a big cylindrical dustbin or heavy battery pack, the PencilVac weighs in at less than four pounds. That's more than a pound lighter than the V12 Detect Slim (that I already find incredibly ergonomic), and less than half of the weight of the heaviest Dyson stick vacuum.

Holding the PencilVac in the air doesn't feel like a workout. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The PencilVac can go as far back as I need it to in my Litter-Robot's waste drawer slot. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

One of my first orders of business with the PencilVac was to vacuum the ceiling corners and any cobwebs that I'd previously been pretending weren't there. Without the top-heaviness from a clunky dustbin, the PencilVac was comfortable to hold above my head with one hand. (I certainly can't say the same for the 8.6-pound Dyson Gen5outsize that my mom has.)

The wand doesn't bend, so you'll have to be awkwardly far away from certain nooks and crannies while you're detailing them. But the long wand also makes it easy to keep up with dusty baseboards without kneeling down, and that's huge news for my allergies and my back.

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The PencilVac also has two of my favorite Dyson feature ever, the dust-illuminating laser: One that lights the cleaning path ahead and one that lights the trail directly behind the cleaning head.

I've been religiously laser vacuuming since I got my V12 Detect Slim in 2023, so the concept of dual lasers is monumental to someone who can barely remember life B.L. (Before Laser). You truly have no concept of how much dust, dander, and hair accumulate on your floors within the span of a day. Barring any egregiously huge obvious crumbs, hardwood and tile always look pretty spotless to the naked eye... until the laser enlightens you. You can never go back after that.

I can easily see how much litter my cats tracked out of the bathroom. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable And this wasn't even on the strongest power setting. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

I love that the double-headed laser provides a 360-degree view of the floor before and after you sweep it. After making a pass with my V12 Detect Slim, I'd often turn around to shine the laser where I just cleaned to make sure no minuscule stragglers would get stuck to my bare feet later. The double-headed laser shows you where the dirty spots are, then provides real-time proof of its debris pickup in the path behind it. The first PencilVac clean under my dresser and nightstand is going to be an all-timer — I can't wait to meet what's been living under there for months.

And cleaning gets even more granular from there. The PencilVac fluffy brush head can swivel the entire way around to hit the specific angle you need for any super niche spot, like between furniture and the wall.

Features I'm keeping an eye on: Dustbin practicality and carpet use

Emptying the PencilVac is slightly trickier than emptying a classic point-and-empty dustbin. You still hold it over the trash and click a button to release debris. But any veteran stick vacuum user knows that a piece of the dust bunny will inevitably need to be pulled out by hand. Since it's so damn thin, I can already tell that the PencilVac dustbin and suction airway are going to be harder to keep clear. I realized that a water bottle sponge (one we will NOT be using to wash dishes) fits well enough to wipe out any fine hairs or dust stuck to the sides, but I'm not sure what to do when a wad of hair gets wrapped around up there.

The wand slides to push debris out the bottom. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The PencilVac's dustbin isn't as easy to wipe out as a regular Dyson vacuum dustbin. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

At this point, it's also hard to tell how worthwhile the PencilVac will be in homes that have a lot of carpeting. Dyson officially says that the four conical brush bars were designed to detangle hair, but will four fully fluffy brushrolls really work well on similarly fluffy carpet that's covered in pet hair? Can a motor small enough to fit in the handle even generate enough power for sufficient carpet cleaning? I have two cats and a ton of rugs, so that's what I'll be investigating in the coming weeks.

The PencilVac is also one of the only Dyson stick vacuums in recent memory that doesn't come with a mini motorized pet hair tool. It's possible that thick influxes of fur could simply be too much for the small dustbin and filter to handle. Still, that's another consideration for shoppers who are centering their vacuum purchase around pet hair pickup.

SEE ALSO: Robot vacuums vs. stick vacuums: Shopping advice from someone who has both

Similarly, since the battery has to be small enough to fit in a 1.5-inch diameter handle, it's not that surprising that the PencilVac's battery life isn't great. It's advertised as 30 minutes on one charge, and I definitely noticed it draining quickly in my first few days. Most of us probably don't often vacuum nonstop for a full half hour anyway, but still something to keep in mind for larger homes.

The Dyson PencilVac is available to buy now for $599.99.