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The best early Prime Day deals on fitness trackers: Best Fitbit deal Fitbit Sense 2 $199.95 (save $50) Get Deal Best Garmin deal Garmin vívoactive 5 $198.99 (Save $101) Get Deal Best Samsung deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 $185 (Save $64.99) Get Deal Best budget deal Fitbit Charge 6 $134.99 (Save $24.96) Get Deal

If a new fitness tracker is on your wishlist, Prime Big Deal Days is the perfect time to shop. Amazon has already started discounting popular models from Garmin, Fitbit, and other big-name brands ahead of its sale, so you can pick up a deal early.

The official event runs Oct. 6-7, with thousands of discounts reserved for Prime members, but there's no reason to wait if you spot a deal you like. We've rounded up the best fitness tracker offers available now, so you can save on a new wearable before the main event even gets underway.

Get a Garmin for under $200 Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vívoactive 5 $198.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $101   Get Deal

The Garmin vívoactive 5 packs a bright AMOLED display and up to 11 days of battery life into a fitness-focused smartwatch that covers the essentials for both fitness and lifestyle tracking. You'll get advanced health and sleep tracking, built-in GPS, more than 30 sports apps, and useful training and recovery features that were missing from the previous vivoactive watch. I was a big fan of the vivoactive 4, and the 5 only made this all-rounder smartwatch even better.

Like the Apple Watch look? Save $50 on this alternative. Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Sense 2 $199.95 at Amazon
$249.95 Save $50   Get Deal

The Fitbit Sense 2 comes with that stylish, squircle design, plus it's currently on sale for under $200. It tracks stress, sleep, and activity, with features 24/7 heart-rate monitoring, built-in GPS, and more than 40 exercise modes. If you want the Apple Watch look for less, this deal will save you some money.

Get the Samsung Galaxy 7 for more than $60 off Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 $185 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $64.99   Get Deal

With the release of newer models, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 has significantly dropped in price. It's packed with lots of clever features to assist you in training, including Galaxy AI which makes your fitness and health tracking feel more personal, from comparing your latest run or ride with previous performance to giving you an Energy Score for your day.

Save on a budget fitness tracker Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Charge 6 $134.99 at Amazon
$159.95 Save $24.96   Get Deal

For a compact, budget-friendly option, the Fitbit Charge 6 is a great choice. In fact, it even made it onto our guide of the best fitness trackers, excelling for those who want to "stay middle-of-the-road on budget without sacrificing a lot of features." With this watch, you'll get built-in GPS, 40+ exercise modes, and all-day activity and heart-rate tracking. It also keeps tabs on sleep, stress, and daily readiness.

Endurance athletes can save $300 on the fēnix 7X Pro Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin fēnix 7X Pro $674 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $325.99   Get Deal

This one is built for serious training and outdoor treks. This Garmin has a rugged 51mm design with solar charging for weeks of battery life. You'll get seriously advanced training and recovery insights, multi-band GPS, detailed navigation, and handy extras like a built-in LED flashlight. And a week before Prime Day gets underway, it's over $300 off at Amazon.

The only Apple Watch early Prime Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Ultra 3 $699.97 at Amazon
$899 Save $199.03   Get Deal

Apple Watch deals are few and far between in the lead-up to Prime Day, but just a few days out, and we've spotted a discount on the Apple Watch Ultra 3. This is a rugged design, with a tough titanium case and a strong sapphire crystal display, meaning it's built for serious adventures. It also packs advanced health and fitness tracking, including ECG, sleep, and heart-rate monitoring, dual-frequency GPS, custom workouts and training load, plus up to 42 hours of battery life.

With billions of users worldwide, TikTok is one of the most popular social media platforms on the planet. Viral trends, trending sounds, and popular dances, there's no limit to what can kick off on TikTok.

TikTok has been with us through a lot, from the lockdown dance days to last year's threats of a ban. But through all the ups and downs, some creators have managed to amass millions of loyal followers. Check out our list of the top TikTok content creators with the most followers, according to Social Blade.

1. Khaby Lame – 163 million followers

TikTok's most followed account is none other than the king of the deadpan facial expression, Khaby Lame. His video content primarily involves duets and stitches to over-complicated life "hacks."

2. Charli D'Amelio – 160.2 million followers

Charli D’Amelio rose to TikTok fame during lockdown for her viral dance videos. She very quickly became one of the platform’s most-followed creators and is still holding strong today.

3. MrBeast – 142.2 million followers

Also, one of the most-subscribed YouTube accounts, MrBeast, holds the number-three position on TikTok. His content is full of crazy challenges and huge giveaways. His over-the-top generosity has amassed him millions of followers. He also recently went viral for offering to buy TikTok.

4. TikTok – 95.9 million followers

Taking the 5th spot among the most-followed accounts is TikTok's own account. It posts celeb interviews and tips-and-tricks videos.

5. Bella Poarch – 91.6 million followers

Bella Poarch skyrocketed to TikTok fame during the 2020 lockdown when her lip-sync video to M to the B became the platform’s most-liked video. Since then, she has remained popular on the app, even releasing her own single in 2021, Build A B****.

6. Addison Rae – 87.7 million followers

Addison Rae is another TikToker who blew up during the 2020 lockdown. Her viral dance videos made her one of the platform's biggest stars, a position she still holds strong today. She's now better known for her hit songs, having released her debut single, "Obsessed," in 2021.

7. Willie Salim - 87.3 million followers

Willie Salim is an Indonesian TikToker known for his large-scale giveaways and viral challenges. He often shares videos highlighting acts of generosity.

8. Zach King – 86.9 million followers

Zach King's content is a must-watch if you love magic tricks, optical illusions, and clever editing. One of his videos even became the most viewed. The video made it appear as if he was flying on a broomstick. It became the most-viewed TikTok video in 2019.

9. Kimberly Loaiza – 83.4 million followers

Kimberly Loaiza is a popular Mexican influencer with tens of millions of followers across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Loaiza has also branched out into music, releasing multiple singles and touring.

10. domelipa - 75.3 million followers

Number 10 on the list of most-followed content creators is domelipa. She mostly shares content of choreographed dances, lip-sync videos, and other snippets of her lifestyle.

SAVE $11: As of Oct. 2, the Crest Whitening Strips are on sale for $34.99 at Amazon. That's a 24% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Crest Crest Whitening Strips $34.99 at Amazon
$45.99 Save $11   Get Deal

Whiter teeth doesn't always need an expensive professional treatment. If you suffer from a little staining from coffee, red wine, or even too many cups of tea, teeth whitening strips can do the job.

Crest's teeth whitening strips have long been famed for their impressive results, and with Prime Day just around the corner, you can now treat yourself to a box of these strips for less at Amazon.

As of Oct. 2, the Crest Whitening Strips have dropped in price from $45.99 to $34.99. You'll get 22 treatments in the box, so you won't need to purchase any from the drugstore for quite a while.

According to Crest, these whitening strips can make teeth up to 19 shades whiter in 22 days, using the same enamel-safe whitening ingredient dentists use. They're designed to safely remove stains while remaining comfortable to wear throughout the full application time.

They also have Advanced Seal Technology, which gives the strips a no-slip grip, helping them stay in place so you can get on with your day while wearing them. Crest also describes the strips as enamel-safe and effective.

Brighten your smile with this Crest deal available at Amazon.

SAVE $100: As of Oct. 2, the Anker Prime docking station is on sale for $169.99 at Amazon. That's a 37% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Prime Docking Station $169.99 at Amazon
$269.99 Save $100   Get Deal

If your desk is drowning in cables and ports, the Anker Prime docking station might just be the tidy-up you're looking for.

It packs a whole lot of connectivity into one compact, tidy hub, making it easier to hook up your devices without constantly moving cables. And as of Oct. 2, it's on sale on Amazon with $100 off the list price. This brings it down to its best-ever price, so this really is a great early Prime Day bargain.

SEE ALSO: The best laptop deals ahead of October Prime Day — save up to $900 on MacBooks and PCs

This Anker device is a 14-in-1 hub that is designed to bring your devices together more easily. It has a total power output of 160W and enough ports to charge up to four devices at once. Three USB-C ports can deliver up to 100W each, and a USB-A port provides up to 12W for additional devices.

For data transfers, it has 11 ports supporting up to 10 Gbps, plus dual HDMI ports that let you connect two external displays. It works with USB-C, USB4, and Thunderbolt connections, as well as Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and compatible laptops with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. On macOS, both external displays will show the same content, and the dock isn't compatible with Linux.

Get this Anker deal at Amazon now.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Mini Tin is available for $49.99 at Walmart. That's down from the list price of $69.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Mini Tin $50.04 at Walmart
$69.95 Save $19.91   Get Deal

Walmart has come a long way from the $68-plus Mini Tin prices we saw before release, with the retailer now selling the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Mini Tins for around market price.

As of Oct. 2, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Mini Tin is $59 at Amazon. That’s cheaper than the $68.40 preorder price we spotted at the retailer back in September. Walmart is the best place to buy. Walmart has dropped Mini Tins to $49.99 by chopping $19.96 off its previous $69.95 price. 

SEE ALSO: The best early Prime Day deals on Pokémon, including Perfect Order Booster Bundle for under $45

Walmart's price is close to market value. According to TCGplayer, the Espeon version is valued at $47.95, while the Moltres edition and Zapdos editions carry market prices of $51.08 and $51.27, respectively. 

As for what you’re getting inside, each 30th Celebration Mini Tin contains two booster packs of trading cards from the expansion — along with a ticker sheet, a Pokémon art card, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card. 

If you’re also looking for any particular chase cards, you can buy nearly any single Pokemon card from the 30th Celebration on TCGplayer.

It's always a fun time when the late night hosts interview each other, and when there are more than two of them chaos inevitably ensues.

In the clip above John Oliver and Seth Meyers sit down to chat with Jimmy Kimmel, with the conversation ranging from who would win in a fight between the Strike Force Five hosts to why the president seems to hate Kimmel more than the others.

16 minutes of enjoyably gleeful energy.

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TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is available for $159.99 at Amazon by invitation request, just $5.26 above its current TCGplayer market price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $159.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now

Amazon’s amazing $89.99 offer on the Pokémon TCG’s 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box has disappeared for now, but the retailer still has one of the closest prices we’ve seen to the box’s market value — provided you’re willing to take another chance on its invite system.

As of Oct. 2, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is $159.99 at Amazon, shipped and sold directly by Amazon. It’s marked as a high-demand item, so you’ll need to hit “request invite” and wait to see if you’re selected before you can check out. 

That puts Amazon just $5.26 above TCGplayer’s current $154.73 market price, or roughly 3% higher. If you’d rather skip the waiting game and go for the best that’s readily available, Amazon also has a separate $194.99 listing through third-party seller Mini Apple Ventures LLC, with only nine left in stock at the time of writing. 

SEE ALSO: The best early Prime Day deals on Pokémon, including Perfect Order Booster Bundle for under $45

Inside the ETB are nine titular 30th Celebration Pokémon booster packs, a full-art foil Nidorina promo, 16 foil Basic Energy trading cards, 65 sleeves, dice, a coin, dividers, a player’s guide, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card. 

To top up your collection, you can also buy almost any single Pokémon card from the 30th Celebration at TCGplayer. 

Around some young stars, primitive planets smash into each other so hard they vaporize rock, leaving behind clouds of glassy bits in space.

Softer glancing blows grind rock into something finer, like the green sand on some Hawaiian beaches. Astronomers found both types of crash debris while studying a sample of 21 young star systems.

Each of these stars carries an unusually heavy load of warm dust in the same zone where Earth and the other rocky planets — Mercury, Venus, and Mars — orbit the sun. Astronomers call these "extreme debris disks," the detritus left over from smashups between rocky worlds about the size of our moon or Mars.

These systems give scientists a window into the rough final stretch of building terrestrial planets, when scuffles between big bodies are common. By matching each system's dust to its age and behavior, researchers can learn when giant impacts happen, how violent they get, and which systems are still shuffling the positions of their planets. Our own solar system may have gone through this stage. Scientists think one of those collisions, involving a Mars-size world dubbed Theia, created the moon after slamming into early Earth. 

"How rocky planets formed and giant planets evolved are part of the broader story of the solar system’s formation," said Kate Su, first author of the study, in a statement. "Our work on extreme debris disks helps us bring together the big picture."

SEE ALSO: European spacecraft snaps stunning views of home and the moon

Scientists used two NASA observatories to find systems in this violent phase. The Spitzer Space Telescope, now retired, first noticed these odd disks near the end of its main mission. By then, astronomers had little time to collect examples.

But the James Webb Space Telescope, which NASA runs with the European and Canadian space agencies, recently picked up where Spitzer left off. With Webb, researchers were able to more than double the number of systems with detailed measurements. The larger sample size allowed scientists to study them as a group for the first time. 

By seeing their mid-infrared emissions and light patterns, the researchers were able to identify what was in the disks, said coauthor Agnes Kospal of Konkoly Observatory in Budapest. Their findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal. 

It turns out the dust mix splits the systems into two camps. About one-third brimmed with silica, the main ingredient in volcanic glass, like obsidian. The researchers tie that type of dust to the most violent crashes, between Mars-size objects, where the impact actually vaporizes rock. The other two-thirds have very little silica content and more of a green mineral, called forsterite, a form of olivine better known in its gem form as peridot. Those likely came from smaller crashes that only grazed the worlds involved.

The glassy debris appears only around stars younger than about 300 million years. That matches computer simulations suggesting that rocky planets like Earth take shape within the first few hundred million years of a system.

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To find the samples was incredibly challenging. Only about 1 percent of young stars show this dusty phase, far fewer than theories predicted, according to the paper.

A green sand beach at Ka Lae, or South Point, on Hawaii's Big Island gets its color from olivine, a mineral better known in its gem form as peridot. Credit: Ted Soqui / Corbis / Getty Images

The dust clouds also flicker — dimming and brightening over weeks, months, or years as the dust thickens and thins. The systems packed with the sandy dust flicker the most, and some of them circle stars that should have finished building planets long ago. 

Researchers suspect hidden planets in those systems keep shifting orbits and hurling smaller bodies into each other. If their hypothesis is correct, this kind of dust could help astronomers spot planetary systems in the middle of a critical juncture in their formation. Our solar system likely went through a similar upheaval in the ancient past, when its giant planets migrated and set off a wave of collisions like cosmic billiards.

But big questions remain. Though astronomers have more data to work with now, they still only have three examples with stars older than 300 million years, said Attila Moor, a coauthor from the Konkoly Observatory. More observations could show whether the high-energy crashes with glassy dust really die out after that age.

"There's many things we still don't know about these disks," Moor said.

Within hours of the iPhone 17 Pro launching last fall, users noticed that the new aluminum unibody was prone to scratching, a controversy later dubbed "Scratchgate" by tech reporters.

And now that the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max have been around for a couple of weeks, users are starting to notice all the little things they don't like about their new phone.

Here's a weird one: Some iPhone 18 Pro users are reporting mild discoloration on their devices, specifically around the rear camera lenses (as reported by the New York Post).

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

Furthermore, the fading has only been reported on the burgundy and black models of the phones; we haven't seen any complaints regarding the silver or glacier blue colors.

Mild discoloration around the camera lenses may be nitpicky, but customers will have high expectations for a device that costs $1,199 and up, especially when it's still less than two weeks old.

SEE ALSO: Review: Witht he Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max, it’s what’s on the inside that counts

Some users claimed they were able to fix the issue by cleaning the area with a Q-Tip; however, others insisted that it's an actual discoloration problem.

"Hey everyone, I noticed that the area around my camera lenses looks slightly lighter/pinkish compared with the surrounding camera housing," wrote one Reddit user. "There is no oil, residue, or dirt on the phone, and I’ve cleaned the area carefully. I’m also not seeing any scratches, dents, or physical damage."

Yesterday, Mashable reported on Reddit complaints that some iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max devices were suffering from popping and crackling speaker issues. As the owner of my own black iPhone 18 Pro Max, I noted that I haven't experienced any audio problems myself, nor have my colleagues with the same phone.

However, after seeing users complain about the discoloration issue, I took a closer look at my own smartphone, and I did notice some slight discoloring around the rear camera lenses. It looked like someone had touched the area with oily fingers. My attempts to clean the area with a Q-Tip did help… somewhat. The problem was less noticeable, but some faint discoloration along the edges of the lenses was still visible. So, perhaps this area is just more difficult to clean?

Based on user photos posted to Reddit, the problem seems more pronounced on the burgundy models. Last year's cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro had problems with scratching, but it was nothing a good iPhone case couldn't fix, and the same should be true here.

Mashable reached out to Apple to ask about this potential issue, and we will update this piece if we receive a response.

The best early October Prime Day laptop deals (for now): Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,449 at Amazon (save $150) Get Deal Best Windows laptop deal MSI Prestige 16 AI+ (Intel Core Ultra X7 358H, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,399 at Costco (save $400) Get Deal Best gaming laptop deal Lenovo Legion Pro 7 (AMD Ryzen 9000, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $3,374.99 at Best Buy (save $1,025) Get Deal

No pressure, Amazon, but I have high hopes for Prime Big Deal Days. The retailer's upcoming "October Prime Day" sale (set for Oct. 6 and 7) will be an opportunity to get the ball rolling on holiday tech deals that erase the steep price hikes we've seen so far this year amid the ongoing memory crisis. Laptops have been hit especially hard: Many of the models I've tested in the past nine months have gotten anywhere from $100 to $950 more expensive due to increased component costs.

With less than a week left before the sale, I'm not seeing a ton of noteworthy laptop deals on Amazon just yet (aside from some so-so MacBook discounts). Most of them involve no-name brands and third-party sellers that you should avoid. Fortunately, other retailers like Best Buy and Walmart are picking up the slack with savings of up to $900 on top Windows laptops and gaming PCs.

Below, I'm keeping a running list of the best early October Prime Day laptop deals I can find across the web. They'll probably get even better once the sale actually starts, but if you need to upgrade sooner rather than later, you've got a bunch of options already.

Best MacBook deal (for now) Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,449 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $150   Get Deal

The M5 MacBook Air is a fabulous all-rounder with incredibly fast performance, a premium haptic touchpad, a vibrant display, and a polished design. I like the 13-inch size for college students, in particular, because it's slightly cheaper and more portable than its 15-inch sibling. This upgraded model with 1TB of storage is $150 off on Amazon ahead of Prime Day. I think it could see a $200 discount once Prime Big Deal Days starts, based on its predecessor's pricing history, but this is still a solid deal in the age of RAMageddon. (If you need more memory, a 24GB RAM/1TB model is also $150 off right now.)

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple MacBook Air (M5).

More MacBook deals

• Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $689 $699 (save $10)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,727 $1,799 (save $72)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,839 $1,999 (save $160)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,814 $2,999 (save $185)

Best Windows laptop deal (for now) Opens in a new window Credit: MSI MSI Prestige 16 AI+ (Intel Core Ultra X7 358H, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,399.99 at Costco (no membership required)
$1,799.99 Save $400   Get Deal

Truth be told, this 16-inch MSI laptop is a great deal even at full price. It has a super sharp (2.8K) OLED touchscreen, a healthy 32GB of RAM, and a beefy Intel Core Ultra X7 358H processor with Intel Arc B390 graphics. The latter is an iGPU that performs on par with an entry-level dedicated GPU, meaning you can play AAA games on this thing. It's of average weight for a 16-inch PC, but it's exceptionally sleek for its size (more than a 10th of an inch thinner than a 16-inch MacBook Pro). Costco's $400 discount on it brings it to the lowest price I've ever seen, and better yet, it's not restricted to Costco members.

More Windows laptop deals

• HP OmniBook 3 16 (Snapdragon X, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $699.99 $1,149.99 (save $450)

• LG gram Max 17 (Intel Core Ultra 7 355, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,099.99 $1,749.99 (save $650)

• Microsoft Surface Laptop, 13.8-inch (Snapdragon X2 Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,399.99 $1,599.99 (save $200)

• Asus Zenbook A16 (Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme, 48GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,499.99 $1,899.99 (save $400)

Best gaming laptop deal (for now) Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Legion Pro 7 (AMD Ryzen 9000, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $3,374.99 at Best Buy
$4,399.99 Save $1,025   Get Deal

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7, with a high-end 2024 AMD CPU and an RTX 5080 GPU, is $1,025 off at Best Buy right now. The 16-inch 3K OLED display has a refresh rate of 240Hz with max brightness of 500 nits. Measuring about an inch in height, the Lenovo weighs about 5.6 pounds, making it an option that can come with you on trips or to a friend's house.

More gaming laptop deals

• Alienware Aurora 16 (Intel Core 7 240H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,099 $1,639.99 (save $540.99)

• HyperX Omen 15 (AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,199 $1,899 (save $700)

• Asus ROG Strix G16 (AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,749.99 $1,999.99 (save $349.99)

• Asus ROG Strix G18 (AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,849 $2,699.99 (save $850.99)

• Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 (Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,999.99 $2,649.99 (save $550)

• Acer Predator Neo 16 (Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,599.99 $3,199.99 (save $600)

• Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (Intel Core Ultra 9 Series 3, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, 1TB) — $3,649.99 $4,399.99 (save $750)

TL;DR: Until Oct. 4, you can get Windows 11 Pro for only $10.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $9.97
$199 Save $189.03   Get Deal

Windows 10 is more than a decade old, and it’s really starting to show. Whether it’s the outdated interface or the lackluster security, there’s more than one reason to leave Windows 10 behind, but here’s another. Instead of upgrading to Windows 11 Home, you can skip straight to Windows 11 Pro while it’s on sale for just $9.97 (reg. $199).

Pro adds a whole suite of upgrades Microsoft left out of Windows 11 Home. BitLocker encrypts your entire drive, so files on a lost or stolen laptop stay locked away from whoever picks it up. For anyone who likes to experiment, Hyper-V runs virtual machines, letting you try another operating system on the same PC. Windows Sandbox operates on a smaller scale, opening an isolated environment where you can test an unfamiliar app without it affecting your main system. Work PCs also receive Azure AD support to connect to business networks and Microsoft’s identity management platform.

Upgrading brings the rest of the Windows 11 core experience. Snap layouts arrange open windows side by side for multitasking, and DirectX 12 Ultimate lets new games use your graphics hardware at full capacity. Signing in with your face or fingerprint relies on TPM 2.0 for hardware-level security. Copilot appears in the taskbar, where it can answer questions, summarize web pages, generate images, and write code.

Before buying, run Microsoft’s PC Health Check app to confirm your hardware qualifies. Windows 11 requires a 1 GHz processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, UEFI firmware, and TPM 2.0.

Give your computer a well-earned upgrade. Through Oct. 4, you can get Windows 11 Pro for just $9.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Through Oct. 4 at 11:59 p.m. PT, a lifetime subscription to the AdGuard Family Plan is $11 (reg. $169.99), and it covers up to nine devices.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $11
$169.99 Save $158.99   Get Deal

Setting up an ad blocker on one browser is easy. Doing it on your laptop, your phone, your tablet, and everyone else’s devices in the house is a different story. The AdGuard Family Plan puts it all under one umbrella of protection with a $11 lifetime subscription until Oct. 4.

One plan covers up to nine devices across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. You can put it on your work laptop, your phone, and the family iPad without buying separate licenses. Everyone in the household gets the same level of protection from a single account.

Once it’s running, AdGuard helps block banner, pop-up, and video ads while you browse. It also helps hide your activity from trackers and can block known malware and phishing sites. Parental controls let you restrict adult content on your kids’ devices.

The Family Plan is cheaper than AdGuard’s Personal Plan on the same page, which is $19.97 and covers fewer devices. Updates are included with your subscription.

A few things to know before you buy. This plan is for new AdGuard users only. You’ll need to redeem your code within 30 days of purchase. Your devices will also need Windows 7 or later, macOS 10.15 or later, iOS 12 or later, or Android 7 or later.

If you’ve been meaning to set up ad blocking everywhere, this is an easy way to do it for less than the cost of lunch. Get a lifetime subscription to the AdGuard Family Plan for $11 (reg. $169.99) through Oct. 4 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Through Oct. 4 at 11:59 p.m. PT, get a lifetime subscription to ChatPlayground AI’s Unlimited Plan for $54.97 (reg. $619). You can compare responses from 20+ AI models in one place.

Opens in a new window Credit: ChatPlayground AI ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan) $54.97
$619 Save $564.03   Get Deal

Different AI models are good at different things. So you end up pasting the same prompt into three tabs to see which answer works best. Paying for several AI subscriptions makes it even harder to justify.

ChatPlayground AI brings those models into one dashboard. For a limited time, lifetime access is $54.97.

You can run a single prompt through ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, Llama, Perplexity, and more, then compare the responses side by side. That makes it easier to see which model handles writing, coding, or research the way you want. You won’t need to bounce between apps to find out.

Beyond comparing models, the prompt engineering tools help you refine your outputs.

Image and PDF chat let you upload files for context-aware answers. Your chat history saves automatically, so you can pick up ongoing projects where you left off. You also get AI image generation and a Chrome extension that brings ChatPlayground into your browser.

The Unlimited Plan includes unlimited messages per month, which is helpful if you run many experiments. Your membership allows for priority support and early access to new features and models as they arrive.

If you already pay for multiple AI tools, this could simplify your setup. Get a lifetime subscription to ChatPlayground AI’s Unlimited Plan for $54.97 (reg. $619) through Oct. 4 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Best early Prime Day iPhone deals: Best iPhone deal overall iPhone 18 Pro (256 GB) $0 (save $1,199.99) Get Deal Best iPhone 17 Pro deal iPhone 17 Pro (256 GB) $0 (save $1,299.99) Get Deal Best unlocked iPhone deal iPhone 16e (128GB) $539.99 (save $60) Get Deal Best refurbished iPhone deal Refurbished iPhone 14 (128 GB) $399.99 (save $20) Get Deal

Amazon hasn't released its latest early Prime Day iPhone deals page yet. (Right now, it's just filled with iPhone 16s that aren't on sale.) We don't usually see iPhone deals worth buying on Amazon unless they're "renewed," so if you're hoping to find a discount on a brand-new, unlocked iPhone from Bezos, you probably won't.

But that doesn't mean you can't find a good deal during the sale — it just won't be on Amazon. Right now, T-Mobile is offering new and existing customers a chance to get the iPhone 18 Pro for free (if you don't mind signing a contract). If you'd rather not be tied to a carrier, Best Buy and Amazon offer discounts on unlocked "refurbished" and "renewed" models.

SEE ALSO: The best iPhones to buy in 2026: Our top pick might surprise you

Now that you've heard my spiel, here are the best early Prime Day iPhone deals you can shop right now, and you can check out our Apple guide for discounts on AirPods and MacBooks.

Score Apple's brand-new $1,200 flagship for $0

Getting a $1,200 phone for nothing is a hard deal to pass up. Right now, T-Mobile is covering the full cost of the iPhone 18 Pro through 36 monthly bill credits. To get this deal, you'll need to either switch to an Experience Beyond 2.0 plan or trade in a relatively recent device, like an iPhone 16 or 15 Pro, on an eligible plan.

While T-Mobile says it accepts trade-ins in any condition, older phones like the iPhone 14 or 13 will bump you down to the $930 or $500 credit tiers. You'll also still have to pay the local sales tax on the full pre-credit retail price upfront, along with a $35 device connection fee. But if you're already planning to stick with T-Mobile for the next three years, it's an easy way to upgrade without paying full price.

Read our review of the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 18 Pro (256 GB) $0 at T-Mobile
$1,199.99 Save $1,199.99   Get Deal Trade in an older phone to grab the 17 Pro completely free

If you're not worried about having the latest and greatest, T-Mobile is giving away the iPhone 17 Pro using that exact same 36-month bill credit promo. You just need to switch to an Experience Beyond 2.0 plan or trade in an older phone.

The best part? Since last year's Pro model costs less upfront, trading in an older device like an iPhone 14 or 15 nearly covers the entire cost.

Read our review of the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 17 Pro (256 GB) $0 at T-Mobile
$1,299.99 Save $1,299.99   Get Deal Save $60 on an unlocked iPhone 16e — no contract required

Best Buy has the unlocked iPhone 16e marked down to $539.99 — a $60 discount. It comes with 128GB of storage and Apple Intelligence built right in. It's not a flagship Pro model, but it is one of the only brand-new, unlocked iPhones seeing an outright cash discount ahead of October's sale events.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 16e (128GB) $539.99 at Best Buy
$599.99 Save $60   Get Deal Snag a like-new unlocked iPhone 14 for under $400

If you want a reliable, no-nonsense iPhone without spending top-dollar, going refurbished is the smartest route. Best Buy has the unlocked 128GB iPhone 14 in "Refurbished Excellent" condition marked down to $399.99. It gives you a clean OLED display, solid camera setup, and long battery life for under $400 — no carrier sign-ups or monthly commitments attached.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Refurbished iPhone 14 (128 GB) $399 at Best Buy
$419.99 Save $20.99   Get Deal

IKEA's collaboration with Xbox is now live, offering nine new gaming-inspired furniture pieces and accessories. Called the YXSTABY collection, an IKEA spokesperson told Mashable the collaboration was named after a small locality in Sweden, which was chosen because it includes the four letters on the Xbox controller's buttons: X, Y, B, and A.

SEE ALSO: IKEA and Xbox have collaborated on a gaming furniture collection: Launch date, price, lineup

The YXSTABY collection was previously unveiled at Gamescom in August, showing off nine pieces co-designed by the teams at IKEA and Xbox. These range from an innocuous TV stand on castor wheels to a stool designed to look like a giant thumbstick from an Xbox controller. As such, there's a mix of products depending on how obvious you want the gaming references in your interior design choices to be. 

Credit: IKEA

One of the most attractive pieces is the YXSTABY Gaming D-pad controller platter, which is subtle enough that it doesn't immediately register as gaming-related. While intended to hold remote controls and gaming controllers, the platter could also be used for other items that need a dedicated tabletop space, such as fruit. The reflective stainless steel material does pick up fingerprints incredibly easily though, so it's best used for purposes that don't require too much handling.

Credit: IKEA

Another surprising item in the YXSTABY collection is the X-shaped green Gaming D-pad cushion. While its shape and colour may make it difficult to style in your home, Mashable's first impressions are that it's unexpectedly useful. The X configuration not only makes it comfortable and convenient to hug, but can also provide an excellent resting place for your arms. This offers great utility whether you're gaming, relaxing, or even if you have arm pain. (A family member with arm pain who tried out the Gaming D-pad cushion found it very helpful, and quickly expressed interest in getting one.)

The collection also includes the YXSTABY Gaming lounge chair, which bears design similarities to IKEA's popular POÄNG armchair. However, rather than wood veneer, the Xbox collaboration uses galvanised steel rods for its structure, features Xbox green stitching, and has a mesh pocket under the seat for stashing controllers. Mashable's brief testing during an IKEA event found that yes, if you pay attention you can feel stored items through the polyester padding when sitting on the chair, though fortunately it wasn't uncomfortable.

Credit: IKEA

While IKEA will carry most of the YXSTABY collection for a while, and has plans to expand its gaming-related offerings further, not all the products will be available for long. IKEA's spokesperson told Mashable that the YXSTABY Gaming thumb stick stool will only be available for a year, so it's a good idea to pick it up soon if you're interested.

IKEA and Xbox's YXSTABY collection is available from Oct. 1 in store at IKEA, and will be available online in the U.S. from Nov. 30. Availability varies by region, with Australians able to pick up the collection both in store and online now.

SAVE $900: As of Oct. 1, you can get $900 off the Dreame LiDAR robot lawn mower when you take advantage of an Amazon coupon. That brings the price down from $2,699.99 to $1,799.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dreame Dreame LiDAR Robot Lawn Mower $1,799.99 at Amazon
$2,699.99 Save $900.00   Get Deal

With October Prime Day (Oct. 6-7) just around the corner, Amazon is already stacked with early deals. There's so much happening around this event that you'd be forgiven for missing a huge coupon deal on one of the most desirable gadgets in tech-land right now, the robot lawn mower.

As of Oct. 1, the Dreame LiDAR robot lawn mower is available for $1,799.99 with an Amazon voucher. All you need to do is check the voucher box on the listing, and you'll save a total of $900 off the regular list price of $2,799.99. This deal also comes with the Dreame LiDAR robot lawn mower 4-piece ultimate care kit for free (worth $275).

According to the price tracker camelcamelcamel, it's the lowest-ever price for this model.

The Dreame LiDAR Robot Lawn Mower lives up to the name — it's an absolute dream for garden lovers. Particularly garden lovers who are short of time, energy, or enthusiasm for doing the hard work of cutting the grass themselves.

It's a powerful machine that combines LiDAR with advanced Binocular AI Vision to navigate your garden. It maps out the space and has the smarts to recognize and avoid over 300 obstacles. It has various modes, edge-cutting technology, and the ability to adjust to different types of grass. Everything's controlled by an app, which is another way of saying that the Dreame LiDAR robot lawn mower does the work so you don't have to.

Get the Dreame LiDAR Robot Lawn Mower for $1,799.99 with an Amazon voucher, saving you $900.

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

• Apple iPhone 18 Pro — free at T-Mobile 

• Paramount+ — $0.99 for 2 months with code p2mcs26prem

• Apple iPad Pro — $1,899 $2,099 (save $200)

• TCL 85-Inch Class QM8L Series TV — $2,497.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,502)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Idiot.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

MORON

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To inflict.

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

WREAK

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Determination.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 2, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 2, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

MOXIE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Old school dance.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

DISCO

Final Hurdle hint

Punctuation.

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

COMMA

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

If the divorce at the center of War is, as its title suggests, an all-out war, then the end of the show's first episode is one hell of an opening shot.

SEE ALSO: Yes, 'War's shocking episode 1 ending was inspired by Olivia Wilde's custody serving

Throughout the episode, actor Carla Duval (Sienna Miller) plots to serve her husband, tech mogul Morgan Henderson (Dominic West), with divorce papers. Little does she know, he's caught wind of her intentions and is planning a quick counter.

Carla's legal firm, Taylor & Byrne, decides to serve Morgan via email after the premiere of her latest film. However, Morgan's firm, Cathcarts & Sons, has something far more brutal in mind: serving Carla while she walks the red carpet at her premiere. It's a jaw-dropping moment, one that nods to how Jason Sudeikis' legal team served Olivia Wilde custody papers at CinemaCon.

"I was so excited to shoot that scene because of the level of hiding that she would have to do," Miller told Mashable in a junket interview. "It felt like acrobatics, to some degree. What a nightmare to be in that position, with everybody looking at you and having to hide how wounded you are."

West added: "It's delicious to play one thing when the audience knows something else is going on, and they're in on the secret. That's really fun to play, smiling while you're twisting a knife."

West and Miller dive deep into the scene in the interview above, along with series creator George Kay and director Ben Taylor.

New episodes of War premiere Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

At first glance, legal drama War is focused on the imploding marriage of actor Carla Duval (Sienna Miller) and tech mogul Morgan Henderson (Dominic West). But really, it's just as focused on the lawyers handling their divorce.

SEE ALSO: Yes, 'War's shocking episode 1 ending was inspired by Olivia Wilde's custody serving

War introduces two fictional rival law firms: Cathcarts & Sons and Taylor & Byrne. The former represents Morgan, while the latter represents Carla. Both firms come with an army of partners, each with their own agendas. It's a lot to keep track of, especially in the show's jam-packed first episode. But don't worry: We've got you covered with this guide to everything Cathcarts & Sons and Taylor & Byrne.

Who works at Cathcarts & Sons? Nina Sosanya, Pip Torrens, and Dominic West in "War." Credit: Sky / HBO

Cathcarts & Sons, mostly referred to as Cathcarts in War, is a true London institution. A storied past and deep pockets have helped it carve out a powerful space for itself in the legal world, and its partners are ready to put all that power to use in Morgan and Carla's divorce.

SEE ALSO: Archie Renaux breaks down 'War's game-changing mole twist

Heading up the charge are partners St. John Smallwood (Pip Torrens) and Beatrice Ubosi (Nina Sosanya). The former's caustic wit burns almost any opponent he cross paths with, while the latter's intimidating influence has earned her the nicknames of "Queen Bea" and "Her Majesty." More junior members of the firm involved in the case are David Schill (Miles Jupp) and Suzie Levitniik (Kartanya Maynard).

Who works at Taylor & Byrne? Phoebe Fox, James McArdle, and Sienna Miller in "War." Credit: Sally Mais / Sky / HBO

Taylor & Byrne is a far newer firm than Cathcarts, founded by married couple Nicholas Taylor (James McArdle) and Serena Byrne (Phoebe Fox). The pair is expecting a child, and they're hungry to make a true name for themselves. Carla's case could be the one that rockets them to legal stardom, or it could tank them financially. Those sleek offices cannot be cheap!

Adding to the pressure of the case is the fact that Serena used to work with Beatrice at Cathcarts, so she's got an extra chip on her shoulder when it comes to going up against them.

Nicholas and Serena aren't in this alone. Like the Cathcarts team, they've got several associates working with them, including Michael Stefano (Nick Mohammed) and Nora Okafor (Akiya Henry), both of whom are only briefly introduced in episode 1. Other key members of the team are barrister Budgie (Celia Imrie) and training associates Saeed Masood (Shaheen Jafargholi) and Molly Giordano (Emma Laird).

The newest addition to the team is junior associate Johnny Warren (Archie Renaux). However, as the end of episode 1 reveals, he doesn't really work for Taylor & Byrne. Instead, he's a mole for Cathcarts, hired to send them any information about Carla's case. It's a dangerous move by a clearly bloodthirsty firm. Will Taylor & Byrne try to match Cathcarts' level of ruthlessness? Or will they attempt to keep as much of a moral high ground as they can in the midst of a dirty divorce?

New episodes of War premiere Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

All's fair in love and War, including espionage.

SEE ALSO: Yes, 'War's shocking episode 1 ending was inspired by Olivia Wilde's custody serving

HBO and Sky's legal drama introduces ambitious lawyer Johnny Warren (Archie Renaux). He's just moved back to London after working at a Manhattan law firm, and he's on the hunt for a job in family law. However, as the first episode goes on, that job seems increasingly elusive. The firms he's interviewing at aren't impressed by his slick confidence or his time in New York. According to his references, his time there was far less successful than he claims it was.

Still, by the episode's end, Johnny somehow winds up with a prime job at law firm Taylor & Byrne, helping represent actor Carla Duval (Sienna Miller) in her divorce from tech mogul Morgan Henderson (Dominic West). Unfortunately for him, he didn't land the position on merit alone. His hiring was actually orchestrated by Morgan's law firm, Cathcarts & Sons.

Knowing Johnny would be interviewing with Taylor & Byrne, Cathcarts offered him a job — not to work directly for them, but to be a spy within Taylor & Byrne's team. To make sure Johnny landed the job, Cathcarts' partner St. John Smallwood (Pip Torrens) called a friend at Johnny's old law firm and asked them to give Taylor & Byrne a glowing recommendation. That recommendation plus Johnny's reveal he was entertaining an offer from Cathcarts were all law partners Nicholas Taylor (James McArdle) and Serena Byrne (Phoebe Fox) needed to bring him onboard.

SEE ALSO: From Cathcarts and Sons to Taylor and Byrne, here's your guide to 'War's rival law firms

Johnny's new status as a mole is bad news for Taylor & Byrne, but it could be even worse news for Johnny. If his secret gets out, he could be blackballed from the profession he claims to love so much. Why take the risk?

"Desperation is the more straightforward answer," Renaux told Mashable in a junket interview. After all, Johnny spends the whole episode being rejected, then is made a laughingstock by his girlfriend Bella's (Honor Swinton Byrne) posh friends.

"He's from a sort of background of just hustling and fighting by any means possible," Renaux continued. "'I'm going to achieve my goals, and if it's going to have to be this way, so be it.' He's moving so fast, and things happen so quickly that he hasn't really got time to think."

Cathcarts could also see major blowback should anyone discover their ruse. As Morgan so rightly asks his team: "Are you out of your mind?"

"If they get found out, they get struck off, basically, from the legal world," series creator George Kay told Mashable in a junket interview. "They've structured it in such a way that if they get discovered, they can say, 'Discovered about what? We know nothing about this guy.' There's little defense mechanisms in there."

War's creative team and cast consulted with a lawyers to get a real sense of the petty infighting that goes down between firms. Did the idea of Johnny's mole arc stem from any of those consultations?

"I don't think it has happened in real life, but it's the sort of idea lawyers have," Kay said. "It's where their mind would go, which is the real part of it."

New episodes of War premiere Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.