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There's no getting around the fact that modern flat-panel TV sound is usually pretty awful. The thin bodies of these devices don't leave much room for decent speakers and audio components, so many manufacturers do the bare minimum to avoid having the device classified as a computer monitor for lack of speakers.

I've lost count of how many times someone has sent me an Excel spreadsheet that technically contains everything I need, but makes me work far too hard to find it. Maybe the data is crammed into the wrong columns, duplicate records are lurking everywhere, or the formulas look like they were designed to confuse the next person who opens the file. Over the years, I've settled on a handful of Excel tools that help me turn someone else's mess into something I can actually work with.

Samsung is rolling out its One UI 9 update in earnest, if later than expected. The custom take on Android 17 is starting to reach Galaxy S26 devices in the U.S. roughly a week after the launch was supposed to start.

At Meta Connect on Wednesday night, Mark Zuckerberg unveiled what could be the next frontier of VR hardware for the company: the Meta VR glasses.

These new specs blend the form factor of regular smart glasses with the stereoscopic 3D and virtual reality capabilities of a Quest headset. But how, exactly, do these glasses compare with the Quest 3? We can't directly test the glasses just yet, but even on paper, there are some notable differences to consider.

SEE ALSO: Meta's new VR glasses: We tried them, plus Muse on Meta's AI glasses Meta VR Glasses vs. Quest 3: Price

The most obvious difference between these two devices, aside from the way they look, is the price. The VR Glasses, when they launch in 2027, will start at $1,299. The Quest 3, meanwhile, can currently be had for just $599. One of these VR devices costs literally more than twice as much as the other, so set your expectations accordingly.

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Meta VR Glasses vs. Quest 3: Specs There's that puck. Credit: Meta

Despite the price difference, there are actually a couple of areas where the Quest 3 outperforms the VR Glasses on a specs level.

Here are the basic specs of the VR Glasses:

• Display: Micro-OLED display with 2412×2288 resolution per eye

• Field of view: 70 degrees by 66 degrees

• Processor: Snapdragon Reality Elite

• RAM: 12GB

• Starting storage: 128GB

• Controllers: Not included, but compatible

And here are the equivalent specs for the Quest 3:

• Display: LCD display with 2064×2208 resolution per eye

• Field of view: 110 degrees by 96 degrees

• Processor: Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2

• RAM: 8GB

• Starting storage: 512GB

• Controllers: Included

The VR Glasses have the Quest 3 beat on display resolution and RAM, as well as with a newer processor. But there are some areas in which the Quest 3 wins here, too. Its field of view is significantly larger, as you'd expect from something that completely covers your face. It also comes with significantly more starting storage and a pair of touch controllers. The VR Glasses have a microSD card slot for expandable storage, and the controllers are compatible, but not included.

Meta VR Glasses vs. Quest 3: Design That's a lot more bulky than the glasses. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon/Mashable

Well, this one's simple. One device is a pair of glasses, and the other is a full-on headset. Whichever you prefer is ultimately a matter of taste.

There are pros and cons to each. The VR Glasses allow the user a greater degree of spatial awareness because they don't cover as much of the face, but that might also make VR experiences less immersive. Meanwhile, the Quest 3 will probably be a bit more immersive, but it's heavier and more cumbersome because its computing hardware sits in the headset.

That last part is important, as the VR Glasses don't actually have any of the real computing hardware built into the glasses themselves. Instead, there's a computing puck attached to the device by wire, similar to the Apple Vision Pro. That's what allows the glasses to be as sleek as they are compared to the Quest 3, but it might also explain why the starting storage is so low in comparison.

Ultimately, the glasses weigh about 100 grams and the headset weighs 515 grams. That's a big enough difference to justify the use of a puck, but again, it's your call.

Meta VR Glasses vs. Quest 3: Software

There is some overlap in terms of available software features, but there are also some key differences between the VR Glasses and Quest 3. In general, it seems like the VR Glasses can do more.

Both devices run on the same operating system, and the glasses support all of the same content that is currently available on Quest 3. Things get more interesting when you look at what the VR Glasses can do that the Quest 3 can't. The glasses support eye tracking and face tracking in addition to hand tracking, while the headset supports hand tracking but not eye or face tracking.

As such, there are some VR Glasses-centric gaming experiences, like a new update to Beat Saber that allows the game to be played without controllers. Glasses owners will also be able to watch fully 3D movies from streaming services like Disney+, and the glasses are the first VR device to be IMAX certified, according to Meta. Meta also envisions the glasses being used as a work device, so they can connect to Macs or PCs using USB-C or wirelessly. That will give users the ability to create virtual displays for their workspace.

Last but not least is Hologram, a new method of video calling coming first to the VR Glasses. You'll be able to join WhatsApp video calls as a face-tracked avatar of yourself, appearing at true scale for the other participants. This feature won't fully render everyone in 3D at launch, but Meta says that's coming later. The metaverse is back, folks.

Given that the VR Glasses are newer and much more expensive, it's not surprising that they seem broadly more capable than the Quest 3. But, as you can tell, there might still be reasons to get a Quest 3 instead.

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Many tech fiends, myself included, feel the urge to constantly upgrade our gear even when it doesn't make much sense, and I completely understand why you'd want to ditch your old Android tablet for something newer. But the reality of the Android tablet market is that Google — and most OEMs, for that matter — stopped prioritizing tablets a while ago. Whatever your trusted old tablet does for you, a new one might not be enough of an upgrade to topple it, and in many cases, keeping your veteran machine is the more sensible choice.

Your Google smartwatch is now better at flagging health issues before there's a crisis. The company is rolling out its promised Health Guardian, a proactive Google Health tool whose passive tracking alerts you to concerning trends.

I've used Windows as my primary operating system since the release of Windows 3.1, but in 2019 I got a gig writing for 9to5Mac, which meant I actually needed a Mac to do the job!

Gas, groceries, smartphones, and your favorite streaming platform. The cost of all those things just continues to go up.

The latest streamer to roll out a price hike? Disney+ and Hulu.

Just one year after Disney last raised the price of Disney+ and Hulu monthly subscriptions, they're doing it again. Disney+ and Hulu will now cost $21.49 each per month for the ad-free tier and $12.49 per month for the tier with ads. That's an increase of $2.50 and 50 cents per month, respectively.

The Disney+/Hulu bundle subscription continues to be a bargain when compared to the individual service subscriptions, but even those bundled plans are going up in price, too.

The ad-free Disney+/Hulu bundle will now cost $21.99 per month, and the ad-supported bundle will cost $12.99. That's a bump of $2 per month and 50 cents per month, respectively.

How Disney+ and Hulu pricing compares to other streaming platforms

Virtually all streamers have raised prices in the last 12 months, but gas and groceries are necessities in a way that streaming platforms are not. (Well, maybe that's not the case for some binge watchers.) So, if one could only afford one or two streaming services per month, they may be wondering how they rank when it comes to affordability.

Netflix last raised its prices in March. Like Disney, Netflix also bumped the cost of its monthly subscription plans by $1 to $2. The price for a standard ad-free Netflix subscription is now $19.99 per month and $8.99 per month for the ad-supported plan. Netflix also offers a Premium subscription, which includes 4K and additional simultaneous viewing devices, for $26.99 per month.

Apple TV subscription prices just went up last month, but it still remains the lowest-priced ad-free offering if one opts for the annual plan. Apple bumped the price of its Apple TV streaming service from $12.99 to $14.99 per month. The annual plan went up as well, from $99 to $119 per year. Still, that annual price puts Apple TV at less than $10 per month.

HBO Max subscription last saw a price hike in October of last year, so it's very possible that we can see yet another increase next month for 2026. HBO Max's Standard ad-free plan went from $16.99 to $18.49 per month last time around. The annual plan also went up to $184.99 per year, which saved $36.89 from the monthly plan. HBO Max Basic with Ads went from $9.99 per month to $10.99 per month. The annual plan rose from $99.99 to $109.99, yet it remained the lowest cost ad-supported plan. The Premium tier of HBO Max rose from $20.99 per month to $22.99 per month, with the annual plan jumping to $229.99.

Disney will continue offering a Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max bundle option, which may be the best deal of all if you watch content on all three streaming platforms. The ad-supported Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle will cost $21.99 per month, and the ad-free bundle for all three services will cost $34.99 per month.

Before you hand over your inbox to an AI assistant, perhaps you’d like to meet a little guy.

His name is Jolly. He’s cute, cheerful-looking, and the default mascot for Meta’s Muse AI assistant. He also gives a friendly face to Meta’s much bigger ambition of making its AI part of your everyday life.

At Meta Connect on Sept. 23, Mark Zuckerberg showed off Muse and introduced Muse Charm, a Tamagotchi-like handheld device for interacting with the assistant on the go. With Jolly as its default avatar, it makes the idea of carrying around an AI assistant feel a little more like bringing along a tiny companion.

SEE ALSO: Meta gets metaphysical laying out vision for Muse AI assistant

Giving a product a cute face is a familiar move. Duolingo has an owl whose antics you can follow without ever finishing a Spanish lesson. LINE’s sticker characters became a brand people buy plush toys from. And Microsoft’s Clippy is still recognizable to anyone who remembers trying to get him to leave them alone. (Interestingly, Microsoft recently killed its newest mascot, Pico.)

Before Jolly settles onto anyone’s keychain, meet the other mascots that show what a little character can do for a big company.

Duo, Duolingo’s owl Credit: Noam Galai/Getty Images

You don’t have to be learning Spanish to know who Duo is. The green owl is the mascot of language-learning app Duolingo, where he encourages you to keep up with your lessons. But on social media, he’s better known for memes, petty feuds, and a willingness to make absolutely everything his business.

Duolingo has given its mascot plenty to do beyond reminding people to study. The brand is known to join in on trending conversations, joke with followers in social media comments, and once turned celebrity drama into a pretend feud with Google Translate. Following Duo has become its own form of entertainment, no vocabulary quiz required.

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

In 2025, the company went so far as to announce his death. His eventual comeback was part of the "Dead Duo" campaign, which generated 1.7 billion organic impressions and brought a meaningful increase in new and returning users. For an owl employed by a language-learning app, he has a busy social life. That personality keeps people interested even when studying isn’t on their agenda.

Meet Brown from LINE Friends This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Brown has a lot to say for a bear whose expression barely changes. This straight-faced character is part of LINE Friends, the cast that started as stickers on the messaging app LINE in 2011. Alongside characters like Cony the rabbit, Brown gave people another way to express themselves in their chats.

Brown eventually outgrew the chat window. LINE Friends expanded into merchandise, stores, and collaborations, turning characters from a messaging app into a brand people could wear, collect, and give as gifts. With Muse Charm, Meta is also giving people a way to carry a digital character around. Brown offers a glimpse of what can happen when people get attached enough to want a company’s character in their lives beyond the screen.

Grimace, McDonald’s big purple mascot Credit: Jeff Schear/Getty Images

Grimace is the big purple, vaguely blob-shaped character from McDonald’s (canonically defined as a giant taste bud), recognizable enough that he doesn’t need to be holding a burger for you to know which company he belongs to. With his rounded shape and easy smile, he looks like something you’d win at a carnival and immediately want to hug.

He also gives McDonald’s a familiar face to bring back for new generations. In 2023, the company built an entire birthday promotion around Grimace, complete with his own meal and purple shake. That’s a pretty good gig for a character who doesn’t have much to say.

Yes, the shake inspired a bizarre TikTok horror trend, but the jokes also introduced him to people who hadn’t grown up with McDonald’s cast of characters, and gives new generations other reasons to connect with it (beyond the french fries).

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

Enterprise software might not sound like the natural habitat of an adorable character. Salesforce would disagree.

Its mascot, Astro, grew out of a 2014 developer-event T-shirt design and became a guide to the company’s world. Salesforce explicitly describes its characters as a way to make technology accessible, friendly, and fun. They give newcomers a welcoming presence as they learn their way around.

It’s an understandable approach. When you’re already trying to figure out unfamiliar software, a cheerful guide can make the whole thing feel a little less intimidating. Jolly could serve a similar purpose for Meta. "Personal superintelligence" is a lot to introduce to someone. A smiling character gives them somewhere to start.

Clippy, Microsoft’s assistant Credit: Pavlo Gonchar/Getty Images

If you used Microsoft Office during Clippy’s time, you may remember having a complicated relationship with an animated paperclip.

Clippy was an assistant with a face, popping up to offer help while people worked. Unfortunately, those interventions weren’t always welcome. A paper hosted by Microsoft Research described how earlier software agents, such as Clippy, became disliked for being intrusive and annoying. But still, the paperclip made an impression. Microsoft brought Clippy back as an emoji in 2021, giving people a way to enjoy the character without having him interrupt a document.

Microsoft has since tried another friendly face with Mico, an optional character for its Copilot AI assistant. Microsoft recently killed the Copilot mascot, shortly before it came out against anthropomorphizing AI technology.

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

The company told the BBC that Mico was intended to make voice conversations feel more natural, and that users could turn it off. If Meta can learn anything from their experience, putting a face on an assistant gives people something to connect with, but it also gives their frustration somewhere to land. A character’s welcome depends on how helpful it actually is.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft ditches Copilot's mascot Mico (and cuts a few AI features) What does Meta want from Jolly?

There’s a reason companies keep hiring these little creatures. As marketing professor Anthony Patterson told the BBC, mascots give a company "a voice, a personality, a face even." Author and technology commentator Nathalie Nahai explained that big eyes and oversized heads tap into our instinctive responses to babies, while pointing out that their comeback coincides with growing mistrust of tech companies. It’s easier to warm up to a cuddly character than the enormous business behind it.

Of course, people can still recognize when they’re being sold something. A 2021 study found that cute characters could help when consumers felt a brand cared about them, but could backfire when they became more aware of its efforts to persuade them.

That matters for Meta, which wants Muse to handle shopping, email, and tasks on your computer. Those are fairly personal responsibilities to hand over to a product you’re still getting to know, so giving it a friendly face could make the prospect feel more comfortable. (Meta also outlined upcoming privacy protections, including Muse Confidential VM, which the company says will use encryption to prevent even Meta from accessing users’ data.)

Jolly could help get people interested enough to give Muse a try, but staying on their keychains will come down to whether they trust the assistant and find it useful once the novelty wears off.

Ryobi fans are a passionate bunch, and most of us own several of the company's tools. As many of you know, Ryobi products are sold almost exclusively at Home Depot in the U.S., but here are a few must-have tools you'll have to seek out elsewhere.

The official trailer for Musk, filmmaker Alex Gibney's documentary on Elon Musk, has arrived.

The two-minute and 24-second trailer was released today and, like the teaser from earlier this month, sets the tone for what to expect when the movie hits theaters next month.

"Elon Musk is one of the most controversial figures in the world," says Gibney in a voiceover that kicks off the trailer. "So, I decided to make him a subject of my next film."

"But it soon became clear, Elon would not participate," the filmmaker continues as posts from Elon Musk appear on the screen, calling Gibney a "douche" and declaring that the film is a "hit piece."

The trailer continues by touching on critiques of SpaceX, Tesla, Musk's acquisition of Twitter, his personal life and entrance into politics, DOGE, and much more. It truly looks like it's going to be a brutal exposé on Musk.

Musk hits select theaters in New York and Los Angeles on Oct. 9 and opens nationwide on Oct. 16.

Apple has a new iOS beta out for anyone who wants to test new iPhone features early.

This time, it's a public beta for iOS 27.2. You might be wondering: Where is iOS 27.1? The answer is a bit odd: Apple is launching the first big iOS 27 update with the iPhone Duo in October, so to keep iPhone Duo-specific features under wraps, the company is beta testing iOS 27.2 first. That means you're unlikely to find any nuggets of info about the iPhone Duo in the iOS 27.2 beta, but fret not, as there is still plenty to chew on.

SEE ALSO: If you have an iPhone, Apple might owe you money. Here's how to claim it. How to install iOS 27.2 beta

As always, Apple's beta process is pretty simple and requires only a modicum of effort on your part. Before getting started, though, make sure you have a recent device backup saved in the cloud. You never know what could happen with beta software.

Here's a basic rundown of how it works:

1. Go to Apple's beta software program page, sign up with your Apple account, and register whichever device you want to install the beta on.

2. On the device, go to Settings, then General, then Software Update.

3. Choose the iOS 27.2 beta as the software version you want to upgrade to.

After that, just wait for the update to download and install.

iOS 27.2 beta: What's up with the Health app? There's the new app. Credit: Apple

Earlier in September, Apple announced a revamped Health app coming to iPhones later this year. It's not actually going to launch with iOS 27.2, but you can test it out in the beta now to help Apple get it into shape for an eventual launch later this year.

Apple has redesigned the app so everything is sorted into three tabs: Insights, Longevity, and Browse. Insights will give you a broad overview of all your metrics in one place, updated throughout the day. There's also a For You section that'll recommend articles you might be interested in.

Longevity, meanwhile, includes a metric called Health Age that will analyze your health metrics relative to your actual age. The Longevity tab also tracks your health over long periods of time and provides insights based on that data. Lastly, Browse is most likely a way to find specific things within the app that might not be easy to find in the other tabs.

There are other odds and ends in the iOS 27.2 beta, like individual profiles in the mobile Apple TV app, but the upgraded Health app is the big headliner here.

TL;DR: Dunkin' is giving away 1 million free drinks on Sept. 24. The promo code has now dropped — use code JUST4U to claim.

Dunkin' is giving away 1 million free drinks, again. That seems like an absolutely wild promotion, but Dunkin' actually does this kind of thing fairly regularly. That doesn't make it any less exciting, and the process of claiming remains the same.

The code JUST4U went live on Sept. 24, and now everyone will rush to claim one of the free drinks. These freebies go quickly, but if you're one of the first million, you will get a free medium hot or iced coffee that's good through Sept. 27.

SEE ALSO: Starbucks just dropped a Snoopy cup for fall, and yes, I'm taking the bait

You'll need to enter the code in the "Offers & Rewards" section of your app. Yes, that does mean you need to be a Dunkin' Rewards member, but it's free to sign up, and this type of giveaway comes around pretty often. It's worth the hassle.

Did a fresh Linux install? You're not done yet. Whether you're new to Linux or a seasoned user, there are certain things you should do to configure your new Linux system. As a long-time Linux user myself, these are the 12 things I always do on my new Linux system to get a head start.

Google's big focus for Android this year has been "intelligence" features. As usual, most of its work has gone towards the Pixel series. Now, one of the best reasons to own a Pixel phone is about to get even better: the Phone app.

Cricut has made a name for itself in the crafting and DIY space. Its makers are huge on wedding planning TikTok, staples in craft rooms, and even inspired recreations of Taylor Swift's "Stevie Knicks" T-shirt.

As of Sept. 24, Cricut is adding two new machines to its lineup: The Cricut StickerPix Print + Cut and the Cricut StickerPix Print — both available now. Other Cricut machines can be used to make stickers, but these are the first dedicated sticker makers from the brand. I got to play around with both StickerPix machines for the last week, and they've earned a permanent spot in my craft supplies.

Let's break down the pricing, specs, and differences of both machines.

The larger Cricut StickerPix Print + Cut. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable The smaller Cricut StickerPix Print. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable Cricut StickerPix Print + Cut

The Cricut StickerPix Print + Cut is the more advanced of the two. It prints, laminates, and precision cuts all in one machine. Within Cricut's Design Space app, you can start with a template or a blank canvas for your sticker or photo prints. There are tons of preloaded designs and themes: If you want some cute, little ghost stickers, they've got them. If you want to put your friends' faces on different holiday sweaters, they've got that too.

I'm an avid junk journaler and also just had a birthday, so I wanted to make a sheet of stickers for my birthday spread in my journal.

I started with a blank canvas and dropped in a photo of my cake, plus pics of my friends and family celebrating with me. I also wanted some more generic birthday-themed stickers, so I browsed through Cricut's huge library of artist-made illustrations and found a cute happy birthday banner to add to my sheet. To finish it off, I added a striped background to the sticker sheet. This part doesn't affect the stickers, but it adds another level of fun and design to the experience. The Print + Cut machine cut around the outlines of my images, so I have a perfectly cake-shaped sticker for my spread.

All of this creation was done on my phone, but you can also use the desktop app.

What I designed in the Design Space app... Credit: Screenshot: Cricut ...versus the printed sticker sheet. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

The StickerPix Print + Cut retails for $299 but is available in a few bundle options. For the first seven days, the machine is available exclusively at Cricut.com and Michaels. After that, it'll be more widely available.

Cricut StickerPix Print + Cut $299 at Cricut
  Shop Now at Cricut Cricut StickerPix Print

The Cricut StickerPix Print is a smaller, pared-down version of the sticker maker. It prints 4x6 photos and prints and laminates pre-cut sticker sheets. My boyfriend and I took a trip to the Indiana State Fair this summer and haven't finished our journal spreads yet, so I used the circle pre-cut sheet to design some blue ribbon-worthy stickers. I paired illustrations with solid-colored and patterned backgrounds to create unique stickers that fit our State Fair experience.

My junk journal vision... Credit: Screenshot: Cricut ...brought to life. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

I also used the Print machine to print a collage of photos from my summer (I could have done this on either machine). There are templates for different types of photo and card prints. I will definitely be printing my own holiday cards this year. Cricut Senior Product Director Jana Lee said she thinks these machines will be direct competitors with printing services like Minted.

I chose a collage tempate in the app and changed the background color and text. Credit: Screenshot: Cricut Filling in the photos was as simple as tapping the empty boxes and selecting from my phone's camera roll. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

The StickerPix Print retails for $169, with bundle options available. Again, the machine is available exclusively at Cricut.com and Michaels for the first week, with wider availability later.

Cricut StickerPix Print $169 at Cricut
  Shop Now at Cricut

Many of us can't do without our iPhones in our fast-paced lives. They're essential tools for business, navigation, and communication, and running out of juice can cost us time and money.

The UK's communications regulator, Ofcom, has launched an investigation into the most well-known tube site, Pornhub.

The investigation, which opened Sept. 22 and was publicly announced yesterday, is under the country's age-verification law, the Online Safety Act. It requires explicit websites (and some non-explicit websites that contain content that is deemed "restricted to adults," such as about addiction) to install robust age checks that require inputting personal data, like a government ID, to pass.

SEE ALSO: Pornhub viewers left in droves to see Apple's foldable iPhone

The Online Safety Act went into effect in July 2025, and Pornhub stated ahead of the enactment that it would comply with the law. But in Jan. 2026, Pornhub stated that it would restrict access to unverified users due to the Online Safety Act's failures, including the presence of noncompliant sites. In May, however, Pornhub restored access for any adult who confirms their age through Apple's UK age-verification process — a new capability as of iOS 26.4.

This process is device-level age-verification, which is what Pornhub and other industry leaders have been calling for for years. Rather than verifying age each time someone wants to visit a certain website (which might mean repeatedly uploading sensitive information), device-level verification is one-time only and takes place on (in this case) one's iPhone. Advocates for device-level age verification state that it's less invasive and risky from a privacy and security standpoint. And, it doesn't impede free speech rights, advocates say.

A 'welcome' investigation

Now, Ofcom will investigate Aylo, Pornhub's parent company, to determine whether it has complied with the Online Safety Act. Specifically, Ofcom will look into whether Pornhub uses highly effective age assurance to prevent children from seeing porn, and it will also conduct a children's access assessment.

"Online age checks are a vital protection to prevent children from encountering inappropriate or harmful material, including pornography," Ofcom's director of enforcement, George Lusty, stated in Ofcom's announcement. "We expect tech firms to ensure age checks are highly effective before introducing them. Anything less could leave children at risk."

"We actually really welcome this," vice president of brand and community at Pornhub, Alex Kekesi, told Mashabe in a phone interview. "We've done our due diligence."

Kekesi stated that there's no 100 percent, bulletproof solution, but Pornhub is confident that Apple's process is the best, as of today. She told Mashable that Pornhub embraces this investigation and intends to be transparent and public about how it's going, its data and findings, and its interactions with Ofcom.

"We have over 130 million daily visitors," she said. "We're the perfect testing ground if you have anything really that stands to actually work to protect kids and to keep them off of age-inappropriate platforms."

Verified adults in the UK don't have to worry — Pornhub will function in the country as usual, Kekesi said.

In Kekesi's statement on Aylo's website, she mentioned that less than five percent of consumers go through age-verification for adult content, according to the adult industry trade organization, the Free Speech Coalition. Viewers — whether of age or not — can circumvent platform-based age checks by using VPNs or visiting noncompliant websites.

Ofcom itself acknowledged the shortcomings of the Online Safety Act, including the use of VPNs and noncompliant websites, in a report released a year after its enactment. In Nov. 2025, Pornhub urged tech giants Microsoft, Apple, and Google to enable device-level age verification and recently sent a letter to U.S. lawmakers calling for mandates that they do so.

This isn't the first inquiry of its kind. In Feb. 2026, the UK fined porn company 8579 LLC £1.35 million for lack of age verification following an investigation.

PCMag's Iyaz Akhtar leads a panel of tech experts from CNET, PCMag and Mashable to unpack all the news from the Meta Connect 2026 launch event.

Read more about Meta’s new smart glasses: Meet the Meta Ray-Ban Gen 3, starting at $249
Meta unveils camera-free audio glasses

Timecode chapters
00:00 Introduction and muse AI assistant
00:02:49 Event reactions and privacy concerns
05:08 Smart glasses, fashion, and collaborations
09:54 VR glasses and display technology
16:16 Final thoughts on Meta devices and privacy

Video credits
Host: Iyaz Akhtar
Guest host: Timothy Beck Werth
Guest host: Will Greenwald
Guest host: Angela Moscaritolo
Guest host: Scott Stein
Producer: Stephen Beacham
Video editor: Stephen Beacham
Thumbnail designer: Tharon Green

The best early October Prime Day DJI deals: Best drone deal DJI Mini 3 $369 (save $50) Get Deal Best camera deal DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo $549 (save $80) Get Deal Best mic deal DJI Mic 3 $259 (save $70) Get Deal Best power station deal DJI Power 2000 V2 $759.99 (save $550) Get Deal

As Mashable's Global Shopping Editor, I spend a lot of time trawling through the best deals on the web. And a good portion of that time is dedicated to sourcing the best deals on DJI. "Why?" I hear you ask. Because Mashable readers (like you) absolutely love the range of creator-friendly tools pumped out by the brand.

Apple remains the most popular brand with Mashable's tech-obsessed readership, but DJI isn't far behind. When we write about DJI's drones, vlogging cameras, mics, and power stations, you read about it and sometimes decide to buy. That data is like gold dust, baby. It tells me that you truly care about DJI. And that means I care.

So with that, I have trawled through hundreds of early October Prime Day deals to bring you the very best from DJI. Here you can find record lows, deals for under $100, and smart savings that could elevate your content.

The official Prime Big Deal Days savings event doesn't kick off until Oct. 6, but plenty of deals are already trickling in if you want to get a jump on shopping. If you don't see what you're looking for quite yet, keep checking back for more.

Best DJI drone deal Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 3 $369 at Amazon
$419 Save $50   Get Deal Why we like it

Right now, you can get the DJI Mini 3 for $369, down from $419. It's not the biggest discount we've ever seen. In fact, this popular drone has dropped as low as $299 on Amazon. But just in the last few days, it's already dropped $30 from its previous discount. Honestly, I would be surprised if we didn't see something even better as we move closer to October Prime Day. Will we see another all-time low price? That I'm not sure about. Will we see something better than a $50 discount? Probably.

More DJI drone deals

• DJI Neo — $169 $199 (save $30)

• DJI Neo Fly More Combo — $295 $349 (save $54)

• DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo — $499 $599 (save $100)

• DJI Mini 3 with DJI RC — $492 $549 (save $57)

• DJI Avata 360 — $719 $817.95 (save $98.95)

• DJI Air 3 — $999 $1,099 (save $100)

Best DJI camera deal Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo $549 at Amazon
$629 Save $80   Get Deal Why we like it

The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo is down to $549 ahead of October Prime Day. The record low for this stacked bundle is $512, so you're getting a real good price here with weeks still to go until the main event. We might see another price drop as we move closer to Prime Day, but in this case, we wouldn't be surprised if this were the lowest price we get.

The Osmo Pocket 3 vlogging camera features a 1-inch CMOS sensor and records in 4K resolution at 120fps. The Osmo Pocket 3's advanced 3-axis mechanical stabilization delivers impressive stability so you can shoot on the go.

More DJI camera deals

• DJI Osmo Action 4 Standard Combo — $239 $299 (save $60)

• DJI Osmo Nano Standard Combo — $349 $389 (save $40)

• DJI Osmo Pocket 3 — $439 $499 (save $60)

• DJI Osmo 360 Camera Adventure Combo — $594.99 $664.99 (save $70)

Best DJI mic deal Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mic 3 $259 at Amazon
$329 Save $70   Get Deal Why we like it

The DJI Mic 3 is on sale for $259, down from $329. We've seen better, but it's still a decent price drop. It's early days, OK?

The Mic 3 is a compact wireless microphone system designed for creators, podcasters, and interviewers who need quality audio and portability. It supports up to four transmitters, features adaptive gain control and selectable noise cancellation, and uses dual-band transmission for clear audio in busy environments. You'll also get up to 28 hours of battery life with the charging case, which is always handy.

More DJI mic deals

• DJI Mic Mini (2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case) — $79 $99 (save $20)

• DJI Mic 2 (1 TX + 1 RX) — $129 $179 (save $50)

• DJI Mic 2 (2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case) — $199 $269 (save $70)

Best DJI power station deal Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Power 2000 V2 $759.99 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $539.01   Get Deal

The DJI Power 2000 V2 is a popular pick here at Mashable, and it's on sale for under $800 ahead of October Prime Day.

Mashable's Lauren Allain tested this powerhouse last year and noted that it's a "beefy option that’s awesome for camping, backyard parties, or content creators out on projects." Allain added that the "power to physical size ratio is impressive," which is what really matters with these machines. It's all about finding that sweet spot between portability and enough power to keep you moving.

More DJI power station deals

• DJI Power 140W GaN Charger — $59.49 $69.99 (save $10.50)

• DJI Power 140W GaN Charging Combo — $67.99 $79.99 (save $12)

• DJI Power 1000 — $419.99 $449.99 (save $30)