When shopping for a Valentine's Day gift for the woman in your life, remember that romance doesn't stem from the amount of money you spend (or the number of stems in the bouquet).

The real sparks fly when your gift shows that you pay attention. Think about what type of gift could satisfy her latest obsession, or what type of gift could alleviate her latest pet peeve. Of course, heart-shaped or romantic Valentine's Day gifts are never a bad idea — we're just here to make sure they're not too cliché. Here are our picks for the best Valentine's Day gifts for her in 2026. Thoughtful, practical, whimsical, or appropriately mushy, these unique gift ideas go beyond the classic flowers and jewelry that you've already thought of.

At present, I think the best Windows laptop for most people is the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 powered by the Snapdragon X Elite chip. It's a stylish workhorse with enough power to handle demanding workloads and has a premium build as well as an amazing all-day battery life (outdone by just two other models). Even the M4 MacBooks can't keep up. Beyond that, I have other picks for users with different budgets, use cases, and design preferences.

I chose my picks based on hands-on testing conducted by myself and other Mashable staff and contributors. We've reviewed dozens of PCs on the basis of performance, build quality, battery life, and value over the years, and the ones I'm recommending are the cream of recent-gen crops. Most of them scored high enough to secure a Mashable Choice Award, the highest honor we give to the gadgets we review.

New Windows laptops are coming soon — and so are higher prices (maybe)

Every major PC maker announced new Windows laptops at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in early January. They'll all be powered by new Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm processors, and many of them feature modular or ultra-ultraportable designs. Six of them will succeed some of the current top picks on this list (noted above). We'll be testing as many as possible in the coming months to see what's worthy of our recommendation, so stay tuned.

Relatedly, a word of caution: Next-gen Windows laptops could be significantly more expensive than their predecessors. It's because AI data centers have gobbled up DDR5 RAM and SSDs in recent months, leading to a shortage of such components for laptops and other consumer devices. Experts predict that PCs will get pricier over the coming months or ship with lesser specs, as Mashable's Alex Perry reported.

Very few PC makers have confirmed pricing and availability for their 2026 Windows laptops, so we don't know exactly how the shortage affects them just yet. The good news is that it might be up to a year before we see prices start to skyrocket. In a recent interview with Tom's Guide, a higher-up at Intel said that PC makers have “about nine to 12 months of inventory" on hand as a buffer.

Whether you're buying one of the excellent past-gen models on this list or sticking it out for something newer, I would strongly recommend upgrading your device with as much RAM and storage as your budget allows. You'll add some extra future-proofing while avoiding any potential price hikes down the road.

Color e-readers are the future of the e-reader market. Every brand is coming out with its own iterations — Amazon has a whole slew of Kindles now with color displays. But if you're looking to avoid Amazon, look to Kobo. We already know and love the Kobo Libra Colour, but what about the smaller, more affordable Kobo Clara Colour?

Even after testing dozens of e-readers, I still stand in awe of the occasional e-reader. The Clara took me by surprise, a perfectly handheld e-reader that's an incredible value considering its color display. I've already put the Kobo Clara Colour head-to-head with the Kindle Paperwhite, but today I'm focusing on the Kobo Clara Colour. Is it worth it? And what are the device's downfalls? Here's everything to know about the Kobo Clara Colour.

Kobo Clara Colour price and specs

The Kobo Clara Colour is the same price as the Kindle Paperwhite. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Kobo Clara Colour costs $159.99. It comes in two different colors, black or white, but let's get into what's inside.

• 6-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 display

• 300 ppi black and white resolution and 150 ppi color resolution

• USB-C charging port with up to 6 weeks of battery life

• 16GB of storage

• IPX8 waterproof rating can be fully submerged in water for up to one hour

• Night mode available

Why go for a Kobo?

Kindles are by far the most popular e-readers out there, so why should you swing for a Kobo instead? Kindles are Amazon devices, so if you're avoiding shopping on Amazon, you'll need to look elsewhere. Having tested our way through e-readers, we find Kobos equally great. They're just as fast and user-friendly as Kindles, but they're free of Amazon.

Your borrowed Libby books automatically populate on Kobo e-readers. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Another huge perk across Kobo devices is OverDrive integration. If you're using Libby, that's part of Overdrive's system. With Kobo's Overdrive integration, any book you borrow through Libby will auto-populate on your e-reader. While Kindle also has a Libby integration, it's not nearly as smooth as Kobo's.

The most affordable color e-reader

At $159.99, the Kobo Clara Colour is the most affordable color e-reader. It's more expensive than the basic Kindle, which costs $109.99, but it's the same price as the Kindle Paperwhite. Its affordability is key here, as color e-readers are typically expensive, so a price below $200 makes it more budget-friendly.

The Clara Colour is, in fact, colorful but also muted

Expect accurate but muted colors on the Kobo Clara Colour. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

With color e-readers, manage your expectations on just how vibrant they can be. On the Kobo Clara Colour, its colors are accurate but muted compared to a physical book or even an e-book on a tablet. This is the case with most color e-readers, since they have such low color resolution. The Kobo's color resolution is 150 ppi, half its black-and-white resolution. If you're reading a standard book, you won't fault the lower color resolution, but it might be a bummer for those reading graphic novels.

The perfect handheld size

The Kobo Clara Colour is perfectly palm-sized. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

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. 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.

Rather than the Kindle Paperwhite's screen that sits flush with the chassis, the Clara's screen is surrounded by a raised edge. This follows the same design as the basic Kindle. The Clara is also the same size as the basic Kindle, which, in my review of the Kindle, I noted would be the perfect e-reader if it were waterproof. Well, the Kobo Clara delivers a near-identical design and is waterproof.

Compatible with the Kobo remote

Kobo is the only e-reader brand with a remote for their devices. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Another reason to love the Kobo Clara Colour is its compatibility with the Kobo remote. Kobo is the only e-reader brand with a native remote. It connects to the Clara via Bluetooth so you can move forward (or backward) in the book with just the press of a button. Just prop up the Clara on a stand, get out the remote, and prepare for the coziest winter reading setup.

It needs better battery life

The biggest issue I have with the Kobo Clara Colour is its battery life. It lasts up to six weeks, which, compared to a phone or laptop, might seem like plenty. The issue is that the bar is high for e-reader battery life, with Kindles lasting up to 12 weeks. In the months I've had the Kobo Clara, I've needed to recharge it twice as often as the Kindle Paperwhite. If Kobo wants to one-up Kindle, it needs to improve the device's battery life.

Is the Kobo Clara Colour worth it?

Want an e-reader but don't want to shop at Amazon? Try the Kobo Clara Colour. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

If you're seeking a new e-reader and want to avoid Amazon, go for the Kobo Clara Colour. It's an incredible value at $159.99, the same price as the Kindle Paperwhite, but the Clara comes with color displays and a better handheld size. It's a worthy competitor to Amazon's Kindles, but there is room for improvement, especially around its battery life.

Recent TV news: TCL and Sony are going halvesies now

Sony has long been revered as one of the best TV brands, and its Bravia TVs have been no stranger to lists of the best TVs across the internet. But Sony as a TV brand is about to look a lot different. As of January 2026, TCL is in charge of Sony's home entertainment business, which spans TVs and home audio. The "Bravia" family of TVs isn't going anywhere, at least as far as branding and picture processing — but TCL will be behind much of the manufacturing and pricing. Sony TVs often toe the line of being so premium that they're too expensive for the average person to consider. But paired with TCL's budget-friendly expertise, they could make a wicked pairing come 2027.

New TVs announced at CES 2026

CES 2026 introduced a number of new TVs from the top TV brands, ranging from new and improved OLED and QLED models to first shots at RGB TVs. Upcoming 2026 models include the LG W6 Wallpaper OLED, Samsung Micro RGB, Hisense UR9 RGB, and Amazon Ember Artline QLED. This guide will be updated accordingly as each model officially becomes available for public purchase (and as long as their sizing options include 65 inches). Most CES-announced TVs are typically out by April of that year.

What to know before you swipe

My number one rule is to be brutally honest about what you’re looking for. You’re here for a good time, not a long time — so own it. That also means staying in your lane; don't go looking for a one-night stand on an app like eharmony.

"Hookup apps help prevent situations where people are on mainstream dating sites with the intention of having a casual hookup but are unclear about these intentions," Suzannah Weiss, resident sexologist for Biird and author of Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject, tells Mashable. "They also give women a space to be openly sexual creatures without judgment."

This safe space is more important than ever. According to Feeld, "heteroflexible" is the fastest-growing sexuality (up 193 percent), and interest in kinks like pegging has surged by 200 percent. People are getting more curious, and these apps are the playground where you can explore those specific desires without the awkwardness of bringing them up at a bar.

And here's a little insider secret I picked up from Alexander Liebisch, the CEO and founder of TinderProfile.ai: Timing is everything. He found that people messaging on Tinder's "free tonight" feature after 10 p.m. on a weekend had a 45 percent higher chance of hooking up.

So, whether you're looking for a one-night stand, a regular FWB situation, or just a space to explore your sexuality, I've got you covered. Based on all my hands-on testing and expert consultations, I’ve broken down the best hookup app for every type of person and mood.

Recent updates to this guide

• Hinge: Hinge just keeps getting better, so I’ve bumped it up higher on my list as of October 2025. Its user base is growing, and my own recent tests on the app have been surprisingly positive.

• Sniffies (added September 2025): I've added Sniffies, the map-based app for queer men, because it's been gaining a lot of traction. (It got a little too spicy for Apple and was pulled from the App Store, so it's now technically a dating site.) Don't say I didn't warn you about the NSFW content.

• FetLife (added September 2025): FetLife is my new favorite "Honorable Mention." It's not your typical hookup app; it's more of a social network for the kink community (and, oddly enough, the best hookup app for gamers). Just remember: it's a community, so don't treat it like Tinder.

Why some popular hookup apps didn't make the cut

You might notice a few apps that pop up in ads or other lists are missing here. That’s intentional. I swipe through the good, the bad, and the downright sketchy so you don’t have to. For an app to make my list, it has to be effective, safe, and worth your time.

Here's a shortlist of apps that didn't make the cut this year:

• Wild: You’ve probably seen ads for this one. On paper, Wild sounds like the perfect casual dating app. In practice, the paywalls are aggressive, the distance filter doesn't work, and you have to pay for anything that's even remotely useful. Unless you're willing to spend serious cash upfront (and hope for the best), the experience feels limited compared to more open apps like Tinder.

• DOWN: This app (formerly "Bang With Friends") is known for its simple "Get Down" vs. "Get Date" feature. It sounds clever, but in reality, the experience is messy at best. Many users report feeling scammed by subscriptions that don't deliver matches, or finding that the few real people on there are... let's say "odd." It’s hard to recommend an app when the main user complaint is "Is anyone real?" Hard pass.

• Facebook Dating: Yes, Facebook has a dating section, and it’s surprisingly massive (and completely free, which is huge). While it's a decent option for casual dating, the vibe tends to be a bit more "friends of friends" and "relationship-focused" than the anonymous, no-strings energy you get from apps like Pure or Feeld. (For Mashable's Chance Townsend, signing up was "the most uneventful dating experience" of his life.) It's worth a shot if you're already on Facebook, but it didn't quite crack my top tier for hookups specifically.

Apps I've cut from the list

• Plenty of Fish (removed January 2025): POF went through a rebrand recently, and honestly, I'm not impressed. My latest tests showed they got rid of key features like free messaging for non-matches, and I kept running into the same old profiles. At the end of the day, it just doesn't offer anything special that other apps aren't already doing better, so it's off the list.

• Match (removed August 2025): I know some people say they've found casual hookups on Match, but that's not what it's for. Match is where you go to find a serious, long-term relationship, and I still recommend it for that. But for a hookup? You're just fishing in the wrong pond, so I've removed it from this guide to avoid any confusion.

By now, you’ve probably heard that a portable power station is the new must-have item. Unlike plenty of new tech, power stations are, in fact, useful for almost every home. Essentially, they’re a large, reliable battery that’ll keep your gadgets and even appliances operating without standard wall power.

Portable power stations are great to take camping, on van adventures, out on content creator assignments, or to the worksite. If you live in an area that’s prone to power outages, a portable power station can keep your phone charged, your CPAP machine on while sleeping, and some can even power the refrigerator, so you won’t have to worry about food spoilage. 

Portable power stations come in tons of varieties. Some are great for camping, while others weigh hundreds of pounds, powering up an entire house, and really push the limit of what we could consider portable. The market has seen serious expansion in the last few years, and we have tons of great models to choose from these days, so you're allowed to be as picky as you’d like in terms of power provided, port options, and nice extras. Here are Mashable’s favorite portable power stations.

I can't say reviewing the Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds was particularly challenging.

After all, it was just about four months ago that I reviewed the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds upon their release. Those were the earbuds that added active noise cancellation to sleep earbuds — a feature not available on any other options on the market at the time. Their performance impressed me enough that I considered them the standard for premium sleep earbuds, despite their few flaws.

That is, until now. With the Sleep A30 Special earbuds, Soundcore doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel, but the few changes they do make are noticeable improvements over the original Sleep A30 buds.

The Sleep A30 Special earbuds look identical to their predecessors, but have a couple of key differences. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The result is that the Sleep A30 Special earbuds aren't just better than their predecessors — they officially sit head and shoulders above all other available sleep earbuds. Let's get into what makes them the best.

What's new about the Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds?

The Special earbuds came as a surprise to me, as Soundcore's addition of ANC already felt like a big enough upgrade to tide them over for at least a year, especially considering their complete lack of competition on that particular front.

Better battery life

That said, the ANC didn't come without a cost. The 14-hour battery life of the Sleep A20 earbuds — Soundcore's 2024 release — dropped all the way down to about seven-and-a-half hours with ANC on the Sleep A30 buds.

While that's more than enough for some people, it's not impossible to imagine a scenario where someone whose environment is loud enough that they want sleep earbuds with active noise cancellation might also want a full eight hours of coverage with that noise cancellation. Especially if you're relying on the earbuds' built-in alarm at the end of those eight hours. For earbuds that cost $229.99, it felt like a surprisingly limiting factor.

Soundcore directly addresses this issue by adding an hour of battery life to the Special earbuds, giving you anywhere from around eight to 10 hours of battery life. The variation depends on your settings, but in my week testing the earbuds, I found that leaving the ANC on and switching to local audio (without ANC) or leaving ANC and Bluetooth audio on all night comfortably got me through eight hours, which wasn't consistently the case when I tested the regular A30 buds.

The auto-switch options of playing local audio, pausing Bluetooth audio, and keeping Bluetooth audio on affect the battery life of the earbuds differently. Credit: Soundcore / Screenshot

A lower, and very competitive, price point

Typically, better features mean a higher price point, but Soundcore surprises again on this front. Rather than tacking on to the $229.99 price point of the Sleep A30 earbuds, the brand lowered the price to a more reasonable $199.99. While this is still not exactly chump change, it's an asking price that suits these single-purpose earbuds better.

In my original review of the A30 earbuds, I wrote:

I do need to acknowledge that $229.99 is a lot to ask for earbuds used just for sleep. Granted, they're far cheaper than the $349 Ozlo Sleepbuds, and they do come with ANC — the price makes sense. However, it's still steep, and far from your only option for effective noise blocking. The Sleep A20 are still a great (more) affordable option at $179.99.

Not only does the $199.99 price point widen the gap between Soundcore's ANC earbuds and the Ozlo Sleepbuds (which offer no ANC), but it also shortens it between the 2022-released Sleep A20 earbuds. Though those buds are still a great value (when on sale), at full price the Sleep A30 Specials are worth the additional $20.

Calm app integration

As a final bonus, the Sleep A30 Special earbuds also feature a Calm app integration within their companion app, giving users the choice between 20 sleep stories and five sleep-focused meditations to listen to as they drift off to bed. Among the sleep stories, you'll get options from categories including fiction, train and travel, and nature.

Listen to a bedtime story... Credit: Soundcore / Screenshot

...or a meditation with the Calm on the Soundcore app. Credit: Soundcore / Screenshot

This feature is less notable, as thanks to an update, it's also available via the Soundcore companion app for the regular Sleep A30 earbuds.

As for the content itself, I was a little disappointed that there was no option to change the voice of the narrator. I could also see the options getting repetitive (though that might not be the most pressing issue, as they're intended to help you get to sleep). The lack of options does stand out more when you consider the partnership between Ozlo and Calm, which gives users a year free of the $80 meditation service. But, again, the Ozlo buds cost $349 — you could buy the A30 Special buds, purchase a Calm subscription separately, and still have about $69 left over.

Small issues aside, the integration itself feels like a natural pairing between the two brands. And as someone with a brain that likes to think every thought possible the second my head hits the pillow, the addition of more white noise-style options is always welcome.

Soundcore Sleep A30 Special: Sound, noise cancellation, and performance

Excluding the upgrades mentioned above, the Sleep A30 Special earbuds perform nearly identical to the Sleep A30 earbuds. The Sleep A30 buds have had some firmware updates since their release in August, which improved the touch control accuracy, sleep detection options, and ANC.

All in all, that adds up to a pair of sleep earbuds that perform very well. The triple noise reduction system (Soundcore's term for the combination of ANC, passive noise reduction, and their snore masking tech) works well on all fronts, the battery life of the case and earbuds feel reasonable for daily use, they're comfortable with plenty of wear options, the app easy to navigate, the white noise varied, the sleep tracking a neat feature, and the touch controls didn't fail me once during my week of testing (which I appreciated extra while snoozing my alarm). The lower price point from the previous generation makes all of these features stand out even more.

Are they absolute perfection? Not quite yet. It would be nice to be able to set more than five alarms, and I find that the sleep tracking doesn't always work accurately — it occasionally detected an earlier bedtime than I had, or registered an especially early wakeup time if one of my earbuds loosened during the night (which, granted, really only happened as I tested out ear tip sizes).

However, those gripes are relatively minor and do very little to detract from the overall experience of using the earbuds.

Soundcore Sleep A30 Special specs

As a final roundup, here's everything you'll be getting on the Sleep A30 Special earbuds:

• Active noise cancellation

• Adaptive snore masking powered by microphones in charging case

• Approximately eight to ten hours of battery life per use, depending on settings

• Approximately five days of battery life in case per charge

• Seven total ear tip options (four sizes of silicone ear tips and three sizes of memory foam), plus three sizes of ear wings

• Customizable soundscapes for white noise, including Calm app sleep stories and meditations

• Customizable touch controls

• Built-in alarm with snooze

• Sleep tracking

• Two colorways: mist lilac and lunar white

Should you get the Soundcore Sleep A30 or Sleep A30 Special?

As much as I love the Sleep A30 Special earbuds, there's no need to upgrade if you already own the Sleep A30 buds, unless you're very, very unhappy with the battery life.

Minus their colorways, the Sleep A30 and Sleep A30 special buds are identical. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

For anyone who's yet to purchase either pair, both are currently available for $199.99 (with the Sleep A30 earbuds technically on a markdown from their list price). With that, there's no reason not to opt for the better earbuds.

All of that said, don't sleep on the Sleep A20 earbuds sale prices if you're looking for a more affordable option. Ask yourself if you actually need ANC. If at most, you're trying to block out the sound of an air conditioning unit or simply prefer to fall asleep to videos titled things like "Deep Sleep Music ★︎ FALL ASLEEP IMMEDIATELY ★︎ Melatonin Release," likely you don't actually need any additional noise cancellation. I personally picked up a pair of the Sleep A20 buds over Black Friday as a gift for my dad, and spent all of a whopping $107.99.

Are the Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds worth it?

The Soundcore Sleep A30 Specials are, without a doubt, the best sleep earbuds to get if you need the maximum possible noise cancellation. (Even though they are really your only option on the ANC front).

Despite providing a unique feature in their ANC, at $199.99, they're priced fairly, and much more competitively than the $350 Ozlo Sleepbuds, the other major contender for premium sleep earbuds.

Though they have some very minor quirks here and there, they ultimately set the bar for other sleep bud brands to beat. Though it seems Soundcore's intentions are to just keep improving on a good thing.

Soundcore Sleep A30 Special sleep earbuds

$199.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Soundcore

Amid a slew of modern tech designed to be outdated within a few years (a.k.a. planned obsolescence), the Framework Laptop 16 is a welcome innovation. It’s a DIY laptop that you can easily repair and upgrade over time, and it very well could be the last ‘new laptop’ you ever purchase. 

Before you let the concept of a ‘DIY laptop’ scare you away, let me explain. It’s really not that difficult to put together. Framework makes the process superbly easy, so it’s no more difficult than putting together a piece of IKEA furniture… er, scratch that. It’s like putting a simple jigsaw puzzle together with step-by-step images to guide you. 

I love Framework’s mission to “remake consumer electronics to respect people and the planet” immensely, but I was objective when testing and scrutinizing every element of the Framework Laptop 16. I definitely noticed ways in which this laptop could improve, like having more colors to choose from, a lighter chassis, or a more satisfyingly clicky keyboard option. 

But that’s the beauty of an upgradeable, repairable laptop, isn’t it? Any upgrades you want could become a reality eventually, and the Framework Laptop 16 is ready to accept those upgrades if that time comes.

This laptop is pricey, but man, it delivers a lot for that price. I’d consider the Framework Laptop 16 to be one of the best laptops available today, and it’ll likely only get better with time. 

The buildable and repairable laptop is ready for any upgrades you want. Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

Framework Laptop 16 price and specs 

The Framework Laptop 16 can be customized to your heart’s content directly through the Framework website. Our DIY review unit costs $2,961 and comes with the following specs: 

• Mainboard with AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor — $1,499

• Graphics Module with Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 GPU — $650

• 32GB RAM (Two sticks of 16GB RAM) — $120

• 1TB of SN7100 SSD storage — $135

• 16-inch (2560 x 1600) display

• Windows 11 Home OS — $139

• Lavender bezel — $20

• 2nd Gen RGB US English keyboard — $50

• Two Black input modules — $20

• One USB-C input module — $11

• Two USB-A input modules — $22

• One HDMI input module — $22

• One audio input module — $19

• One 250GB Storage Expansion module — $45

• 240W power adapter — $109

If you already have a power cable or any other components, or you want to create a temporary bootable USB with Windows 11 for free, that could save you quite a bit upfront. 

Through the configuration page, Framework says this laptop starts at $1,499, but that’s only if you’re purchasing the mainboard with an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor by itself. To get the Framework Laptop 16 with the minimum specs (Ryzen AI 7 350, integrated graphics, 8GB RAM, 500GB SSD, 6 of the cheapest ports, Windows 11 Home, and a power cable), it’d cost you $1,922. Bumping that configuration up to 16GB of RAM (which should be the minimum, in my opinion), you’d be spending $1,982.

The price may seem steep compared to many pre-built laptops available right now, but you’re essentially paying for a laptop you can perpetually fix and/or upgrade with one of Framework’s DIY models, saving you money in the long run.

Wildly innovative design, though not very portable

If you value repairability (or simply the ability to change up your specs now and then), the Framework Laptop 16 is perhaps the best laptop you can buy right now. 

You can change up pretty much everything besides the display and certain elements of the chassis on Framework’s 16-inch laptop. Externally, this includes the trackpad, the keyboard, the display bezel, the expansion bay (with or without a GPU), and all the ports. Inside, you can add more RAM, upgrade to a bigger SSD or add an extra one, or change up the mainboard if it’s time for a better processor.

The Framework Laptop 16 is super customizable. Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

It's pretty straightforward to build. Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

This PC-building process can be intimidating for beginners, but it’s honestly just like putting a puzzle or a piece of furniture together. Framework does a great job outlining exactly which part you need to install next and how to do it, with pictures to make it even easier. Framework’s Windows 11 installation instructions are simple to follow, but I thought the instructions for Linux were confusing and found it was easier to follow the official Ubuntu/Canonical guide instead.

Despite all its easily swappable parts, the Framework Laptop 16 feels well-built and quite sturdy. The spacers next to the keyboard are a tad rattly when they’re tapped, but unless you’re currently inspecting the build quality of the laptop, it’s not really noticeable. 

The chassis has a CNC aluminum top cover and a magnesium-alloy, thixomolded bottom cover, both of which do a great job resisting fingerprints. At the time of writing, it’s only available in a silver colorway. The Framework Laptop 12 has multiple chassis colors to choose from, but the Laptop 13 and 16 don’t yet. 

Right now, the only colored elements you can customize are the display bezel, the keyboard spacers, and specifically the USB-C ports, which come in a variety of different colors and styles, but no other ports do. 

This laptop’s biggest design downfall is its weight. Without a GPU module, the Framework Laptop 16 weighs 4.6 pounds and measures 14 x 10.6 x 0.7 inches. Expecting a 16-inch laptop to rival an ultralight Chromebook is unfair, but it’d be nice to see it get closer to the weight of one of the lightest large-screen laptops out there, the LG Gram 17, which only weighs about 3.2 pounds.

Our review unit, which has a graphics module at the back with an RTX 5070 GPU inside, is even heavier and larger. It weighs 5.3 pounds and has dimensions of 14 x 11.4 x 0.8 inches, and it’s quite hefty to carry around in a backpack.

I love this laptop’s large, high-res matte display

Framework’s Laptop 16 is equipped with a 16-inch, 2560 x 1600-pixel, anti-glare matte display with a 165Hz refresh rate. I love how much sharp screen real estate this laptop offers, despite its hefty bottom bezel, and its matte, anti-glare properties actually work. Even below its max brightness of 500 nits, I was able to work outside in the sun and easily see my screen.

The screen fared well in bright outdoor light. Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

After streaming Klaus and playing Cyberpunk 2077, I can confidently say colors appear vibrant and accurate, though contrast isn’t the best. Along with many others in the Framework community, I think this laptop would benefit from an OLED display option, as it would greatly help with richer contrast. Hopefully, the company adds this as an optional upgrade in the future.

Craft your own dream port setup

The Framework Laptop 16 comes with six open port slots, and it’s completely up to you to decide which ports you want in the laptop, past at least one USB-C port that you’ll need to charge the laptop.

Our review unit is equipped with a USB-C port, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, an audio jack, and 250GB of extra storage, and because we have the RTX 5070 Graphics Module, there’s also a USB-C port in the back. 

Our review unit's left-side ports. Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

Our review unit's right-side ports. Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

Here are all your available port options for this laptop, as well as their cost: 

• $11 — USB-C port (customizable color), USB-A port

• $19 — DisplayPort (2nd Gen), MicroSD slot (2nd Gen), Audio jack

• $22 — HDMI port (3rd Gen)

• $25 — SD card slot

• $39 — Ethernet port

• $45 — 250GB (2nd Gen) Storage Expansion card

• $125 — 1TB (1st Gen) Storage Expansion card

Each port connects via USB-C to the mainboard, and you can swap any of the ports at any time within a few seconds. 

For laptop speakers, the audio quality is impressive

The speakers on Framework’s Laptop 16 aren’t rivaling any standalone Bluetooth speaker worth its salt, but compared to most other laptop speakers, they’re fantastic — at least, after tweaking the settings a little.

At their default settings (zero across the equalizer), vocals come through crisp, and both music and dialogue sound decent, but not great. After playing around with Windows’ built-in Realtek Audio Console, I was able to amp up the bass quite a bit, which was great for rounding out the songs I was jamming out to and making video games more immersive.

Listening to Kelsea Ballerini’s "Emerald City" after adjusting the settings, I could clearly hear the bass thumps keeping the beat throughout the song. Before, these thumps were nonexistent. The same goes for my go-to testing song "Real" by Unprocessed (ft. Polyphia’s Tim Henson and Clay Gober). After playing with the EQ settings, I could hear the bass guitar plucks and synth sounds crystal-clear in this song. 

A good keyboard and a solid trackpad

Our review unit comes with an RGB US English (2nd Gen) keyboard that tacks an extra $50 onto the purchase price, but there are also blank ANSI and ISO options, an RGB option with clear keys, and plenty of choices in other languages that cost nothing or much less. 

All keyboards are hot-swappable, offer 1.5mm key travel, can run QMK firmware, support NKRO, and any non-RGB options still come with a basic white backlight. Each keyboard also comes with a fingerprint reader that’s compatible with both Windows Hello and libfprint in Linux.  

You can customize the color of the spacers on either side of the keyboard or opt for a 10-key number pad instead, and there’s no need to commit to anything upfront. You can always change your mind later.

You can even customize your keyboard setup. Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

While I love this laptop’s customizability, the actual typing experience is only good, not great. The sound with each keypress isn’t as punchy as I’d like, and the membrane feels slightly mushy under my fingers. 

That said, it’s certainly not the worst keyboard I’ve ever typed on by any means. Plus, there’s always the possibility that when mechanical laptop keyboards become more widespread, Framework could launch its own that you could upgrade to.

The trackpad looks small for such a large laptop like this one, but it measures 4.8 x 3 inches, and it feels great. Its matte glass surface is smooth to operate and highly responsive, clicking feels solid, and there aren’t any big gaps when pushing around the trackpad’s edges or corners.

An alright webcam in a pinch

I don’t know if I’m ever going to expect a laptop to have an exceptional webcam, though the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i does come close. But for the majority of laptops, including the Framework Laptop 16, you’ll need to invest in one of the best webcams available if you want a high-quality picture.

This laptop is equipped with a 1080p webcam with an 87-degree field of view, and it’s slightly above average. 

At first glance, my webcam selfie looks great, but look closer and you'll see some grain and blur. Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

From a distance, my selfie looks great. The red brick wall behind me, my light blue eyeliner, and my complexion come through accurately colored and not overly saturated, and the overall picture looks pretty sharp. But when you zoom in, you can see just how grainy it is, especially around my face, and my hair sort of blurs together.

In its favor, this laptop’s webcam does come with a physical privacy switch that you can cover the camera with. Next to it, there’s a physical privacy switch for the microphone as well.

The laptop is equipped with physical privacy switches. Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

Framework Laptop 16 benchmarks and performance

For daily productivity tasks, the Framework Laptop 16 is a masterful performer. 

With 30 open Chrome tabs (two of which were playing YouTube videos), a running stopwatch in the Clock app, and music playing through Spotify, this DIY laptop and its AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor showed no signs of slowing down. There wasn’t any stuttering or lag when switching apps or loading new pages, and the laptop didn’t get too hot or start noisily spinning its fans.

On the Geekbench 6 performance benchmark, the Framework Laptop 16 notched a score of 13,593. Compared to other laptops in this price range using an Intel processor equivalent, this score is a bit lackluster. However, compared to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor in MSI’s Stealth A16 AI+ laptop, which earned a score of 14,399, this processor holds its own well. 

Because our review unit came with a Graphics Module featuring Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5070 GPU, we also ran a few gaming tests. Before getting into our results, it’s important to note this laptop isn’t necessarily a ‘gaming’ laptop by design, but its DIY nature with replaceable and upgradeable components inherently draws gamers to it.

On 3DMark’s Time Spy benchmark, the Framework Laptop 16 earned a score of 12,808. Running the Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark at 1080p resolution, High presets, and with DLSS off, it generated 104.9 fps; switching DLSS on bumped that up to 118.1 fps. 

We haven’t tested a gaming laptop with this CPU/GPU pairing yet, but we can compare it to a few other laptops with the same GPU and a different processor: 

I played Cyberpunk 2077 for an hour and, considering the Framework Laptop 16 isn’t technically a gaming laptop, I think it performed beautifully. 

Driving, running, shooting, and everything else felt incredibly smooth at both native and 1080p resolutions. That said, do expect some fan noise and a very hot bottom chassis.

The fan noise is certainly noticeable, especially when it’s plugged in while gaming, but it was never so loud that I couldn’t easily hear the game through the laptop’s speakers, set at only 30 percent volume. 

More concerning than the fan noise is the heat generated while gaming. If you use this laptop to play AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077, you’ll need to have it on a solid surface, like a desk, to maximize its ability to cool itself off. It gets quite hot on the underside, though it never got uncomfortably hot where it mattered most when gaming, like under the keys I needed most frequently.

Unlike more conventional gaming laptops, you can actually unplug the Framework Laptop 16 to help lower fan noise and heat buildup, without needing to worry about it dying for at least an hour or more, depending on the type of game you’re playing.

Framework Laptop 16 battery life

If you opt for Framework’s Laptop 16 with a discrete GPU over a traditional gaming laptop, you’ll be happy with its longer-than-average battery life. The Framework Laptop 16 lasted 6 hours and 52 minutes on our battery test, which involves looping a 1080p video at 50 percent brightness until it shuts off. 

Compared to other modern Windows laptops, like the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition that lasted 23 hours and 34 minutes, the Framework’s battery life doesn’t seem all that great. However, when you compare it to our current median for gaming laptops, which is about 5.5 hours, the Framework Laptop 16’s battery test results instantly become more impressive.

Plus, if you know you won’t need the discrete GPU on an upcoming trip, you could spend an extra $99 to add the default Expansion Bay shell to your order and quickly swap it out before your trip. Without a dedicated GPU, the laptop’s battery will last longer, and it won’t add as much weight to your bag.

Is the Framework Laptop 16 worth it?

The Framework Laptop 16 is absolutely worth it for anyone who wants to invest in an upgradeable, repairable laptop that could easily last a decade or two (or even three, who knows?). Bonus points if you want a laptop you can play AAA games on. 

However, you have to be comfortable enough to make the necessary upgrades when the time comes, or at the very least, know someone who could do it for you. This could include adding more storage, identifying and replacing a bad stick of RAM, upgrading the mainboard when the processor gets sluggish, or swapping out ports that don’t suit your needs anymore.

If you’re on the fence, I’d highly recommend taking a look at the Quick Start Guide for the DIY Edition of Framework’s Laptop 16. You can see just how clearly explained each step is, often complete with multiple photos to ensure that not even beginners are confused.

The only group of people the Framework Laptop 16 isn’t ideal for are those looking for a lightweight laptop that’s easy to travel with. Whether you get a configuration with or without a discrete GPU, this laptop is quite heavy and has a large footprint. That said, I love this laptop so much that I’d travel with it despite its heft.

Ultimately, the Framework Laptop 16 is designed to be the last laptop you ever buy, and that’s an exciting idea to behold in the modern tech world.

Framework Laptop 16 (AMD)

$1,799 at Framework

 

Shop Now at Framework

Which MacBook should you buy?

As of January 2026, I think the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air is the best choice for most people. It offers quiet, Pro-level power in a more portable design and at a more reasonable price point. Better yet, it's frequently on sale for under $1,000 at Amazon and Best Buy.

The new 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro is the superior pick if you want a nicer 120Hz display, cooler multitasking performance, a better variety of ports, and the best battery life — and you've got some wiggle room in your budget. Its predecessor is still worth considering if you can find it on sale.

Below, I've detailed all of my recommendations for the best MacBooks to buy in 2026, including more options for students, bargain hunters, and creative professionals who can splurge.

What's on deck: Apple's rumored 2026 MacBook lineup

Based on its usual update cycle, Apple's 2026 launches will almost certainly include new MacBook Airs in 13- and 15-inch sizes and new MacBook Pros in 14- and 16-inch variants. The Airs will likely come with the base M5 chip (the same one found in the existing 14-inch MacBook Pro), while the new Pros will probably be powered by high-end M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.

Word has it that we're also getting a brand-new entry-level MacBook that runs on the A18 chip, the same processor that powered the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus from late 2024. This is according to 9to5Mac, which also reports that the device could start at $699 — the same price point as high-end Chromebooks.

Rumors of a redesigned MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen have been floating around for some time, but that probably won't arrive until late 2026 in the M6 generation at the very earliest, per Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Mashable staff and contributors have tested nearly a dozen popular Chromebooks over the course of the past two years, and as of early 2026, there are six I recommend in particular. My top pick for most people is the Lenovo 5i Flex Chromebook Plus, a mid-range convertible with excellent build quality, upper-level performance, and an all-day battery life. It's priced at $599.99 in two configurations, and one is usually on sale for well under $400.

My complete guide to the best Chromebooks includes other picks for budget shoppers, splurgers, kids, and casual gamers, so keep scrolling. (And if you aren't sure whether a Chromebook is right for you, check out my explainer on how they're different from regular Windows laptops and MacBooks.)

What's on deck

Acer, Asus, HP, and Lenovo all announced new Chromebooks for 2026 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in early January. None of them have set pricing or release dates for their devices yet, but we plan on testing them as soon as they're available. Here's the full lineup:

• The 15-inch Acer Chromebook 315 will be powered by MediaTek's new Kompanio 540 chip, a lesser version of its powerful Kompanio Ultra 910 chip (as seen in the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 and the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14).

• The Asus Chromebook CM14 and CM15 are clamshell-style models that will come in six color options, though not all of them will be available in the U.S. They'll run on the Kompanio 540 chip, too.

• The Asus Chromebook CM32 Detachable has a 2.5K 120Hz display, a removable keyboard, and that same Kompanio 540 processor. I saw this one in person at CES and thought it looked a lot like an iPad.

• The HP Chromebook 14 and Chromebook Plus 14 are entry-level options with 2K displays and basic Intel processors. The HP Chromebook x360 14 and Chromebook Plus x360 14 are their convertible counterparts. These will probably be some of the cheapest options available.

• Lenovo Chromebook Plus 15 i is a 15-incher with an Intel Core i3 processor (hence the "15 i" in its name). It will have a 2K display, a 5MP webcam, and a fingerprint reader, making it a higher-end variant.

Shark vacuums shine at spot cleaning, but have a big blind spot

Scheduled full-room cleanings are a huge part of the convenience of a robot vacuum. The other half has to do with unexpected messes that need to be dealt with right now with as little clicking around in an app as possible.

In my at-home testing, Shark robot vacuums are extremely straightforward and reliable spot cleaners. Setting a zone for a one-time clean in the Shark app is as black and white as dragging a square in the designated spot cleaning tab. The Shark knows to shift itself into Matrix cleaning mode for any spot cleaning situations, and automatically goes over the spot multiple times from multiple angles. Many other budget robot vacuums won't take a second look unless you remember to toggle the number of cleaning passes from one to two. Matrix cleaning automatically covers one of my tips for making your robot vacuum work better.

Is dependable spot cleaning a Shark-only skill? Of course not. But Shark robot vacuums still get credit for do it while staying firmly in the budget robot vacuum category, and they're on sale frequently.

On the other hand, Shark's one big blind spot (literally) is small obstacle avoidance technology. Shark is forever being upstaged by frequent new releases from iRobot, Roborock, Eufy, and Dreame, who all have models at Shark prices that can steer clear of obstacles like cords and pet waste. Based on my experience, Shark hasn't mastered this skill yet. But Shark is due for a major update to its lineup, and has been due for a while — Shark takes forever to release new robot vacuums. A highly-agile Shark robot vacuum has to be on the way in 2026... right?

New robot vacuums announced at CES 2026

Shark didn't participate in CES 2026. But several other top robot vacuum brands did, and their new flagship robot vacuum and mop combos are going to create major room for improvement for Shark's flagship PowerDetect robot vacuums, which desperately need a successor. The top robovacs to look out for are the Roborock Saros 20 Sonic and Qrevo Curv 2 Flow, the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete, and the Narwal Flow 2. I will be testing these at home as soon as possible and will update this guide accordingly once all are officially available for purchase.

What is the best laptop for 2026?

My answer ultimately boils down to your operating system preference: Windows or macOS?

As of January 2026, I think the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M4) is the best MacBook for most people. It's a sleek-as-ever notebook featuring impressive performance, open-lid support for two external displays, a great 12MP Center Stage camera, and an extremely reasonable starting price of $1,199 (making it $100 cheaper than its M3 predecessor).

The best Windows laptop for most people is the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, a sophisticated and snappy Copilot+ PC boasting a stellar battery life of nearly 23 hours. Note that Microsoft makes an Intel version that may appeal to users wary of Windows on ARM for app compatibility reasons, but it's a business-oriented model with a significant markup.

Need something different? I've selected ten other options that are ideal for strict budgets, ultra-basic workloads, frequent travelers, content creation, PC gaming, and beyond.

A quick note before we get into the full list: Five of my picks received next-gen updates at CES 2026, and while most of their successors don't have official release dates or prices yet, the ongoing memory shortage is expected to make most new laptops more expensive later this year. Because of this, I'd strongly consider buying a last-gen model and springing for a RAM or SSD upgrade if possible. (More on this below.)

If you'd rather roll the dice and see how the latest laptops fare in testing, stay tuned. We'll be putting them through our extensive review process as soon as they start trickling out.

A note about laptop prices

Over the past 12 months, laptop prices have remained largely reasonable and stable despite a tumultuous economic climate. Last spring's tariff-related price increases wound up being minimal, and we saw affected models go on sale frequently throughout the year. In one impressive anomaly, Apple managed to release faster-than-ever MacBook Airs that were $100 cheaper than their 2024 predecessors, and ever since they turned five months old, they've enjoyed regular $200 discounts at major retailers.

Unfortunately, 2026 is probably going to look a lot different. As Mashable's Alex Perry reported, the global surge of AI data centers has created huge demand for DDR5 RAM and SSDs. Laptop manufacturers who put those same components in their PCs are now facing a shortage, and experts say this could lead to significant laptop price hikes or more limited configuration options. (Read: We might be going back to the days of 8GB RAM in mid-range laptops. It's so over.)

Since most manufacturers have yet to confirm price and availability details for the 2026 models they unveiled at CES, we have yet to see exactly how this RAM famine shakes out in reality. For their part, Windows laptops might be fine in the short term. Intel told Tom's Guide that PC makers have “about nine to 12 months of inventory" in stock as a buffer from the shortage. But what happens if it lasts beyond a year, as one Micron exec predicts?

This is all to say that if you're currently in the market for a new laptop, I'd buy one soon and equip it with as much storage and memory as you can afford. For what it's worth, the last-gen models I currently recommend won't feel outdated for years, and they've all held steady at their current prices so far.

What dating apps are completely free?

Mainstream dating apps like Tinder, OkCupid, and Hinge all have robust free membership tiers that compete with paid subscriptions. Some free, more niche dating apps, like Archer and Lex, are also worth checking out. It just depends on what you're looking for and how much work you're willing to put in to get it.

These days, some people argue that big-name dating apps (read: Match Group apps, such as Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge) are all the same and have formed a single, amorphous dating platform. However, these apps still have distinct differences between them, as you can see below. 

And even though a lot of daters want to meet someone IRL, let's face it: Dating apps aren't going anywhere. Whether you're an introvert, a college student, or just looking for some steamy sexting action, we've got you covered.

Below, find our top picks for the best free dating apps. Use them to find your forever partner, a casual encounter, or something in between — all without paying a dime.

Note: All the free dating sites listed below offer a free membership option that allows you to talk and match with people at no cost. Though most offer paid premium memberships, these aren't apps like Match or eharmony, where you need to pay to match or chat with other users.

Though open earbuds share the common feature of sitting on the exterior of the ear, they come in many shapes and sizes, from clip models to ear hook models. Some are more geared toward working out, while others are better for everyday use. The Bose Ultra Open earbuds are an especially popular pick thanks to their sound quality and many colorways, but they're far from your only option (or the most affordable, at $299).

Below, we've compiled some of the best open earbud models available in 2026.

Note: This guide is a work in progress, so we'll possibly be shifting (or expanding) our recommendations as we continue to test pairs, including those that were announced at CES 2026.

What are open earbuds?

Open earbuds allow you to get as close as you possibly can to the feeling of not wearing earbuds at all. Unlike in-ear earbuds which sit in your ear canal (as the name states), open earbuds sit just outside your ears. Some models hold the speaker component in place with an ear hook while others opt for an ear cuff.

People generally opt for open earbuds for three main reasons:

1. They provide a private listening experience while leaving you almost completely aware of the world around you. It's like the best transparency mode you've ever used.

2. For some people, not having an earbud physically in their ear is generally more comfortable.

3. The hooks and cuffs (along with the general awareness of your surroundings) make them a great option for keeping them in place, and keeping you alert, while you're working out.

What are the drawbacks of open earbuds?

As you may have gathered from the section above, open earbuds don't generally come with active noise cancellation. That's mostly thanks to how much sound they let in (by design) and the difficulty of cancelling out sound without having the device covering your actual ear canal.

Also thanks to the whole open ear-canal situation, these aren't going to be the earbuds for audiophiles. That's not to say open earbuds sound bad — if you've never tried them, we promise they sound much better than you're imagining — but you will lose out on some of the nuance of a song without having the earbud actually in your ear.

That said, many pairs still have equalizers on their companion apps to help you make them sound their best. Our upgrade pick, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds, even have a spatial audio feature that worked surprisingly well.

Most open earbuds will also boast some form of special technology that keeps them from leaking too much sound. While these pairs do pretty well in keeping the sound just to you, most pairs (including our picks) while be prone to some leakage, especially at higher volumes.

Finally, some open earbuds — mainly those with ear hooks — tend to have slightly bulkier cases. If you like to travel light, it's something to be aware of.

What about bone conduction headphones?

Bone conduction earbuds work exactly like the name implies they do — they use your skull to conduct sound waves, instead of projecting the sound into your ear, like most of the picks are on list. Typically, a band runs from either side of the users head to help hold the headphones in place.

Shokz, the brand behind our top pick, is a popular maker of these kinds of headphones. While we do consider them open earbuds, we have yet to test any bone conduction earbuds — look out in the future for that update. On that note:

What's next in our testing pipeline

The open earbuds market is rapidly expanding, so we'll be testing more as we can get our hands on them. Up next, we'll be trying out budget pairs of open earbuds under $100, as well as more pairs from Shokz.

In addition to the earbuds that made our final guide in May 2025, we tested out the Nothing Ear (Open) earbuds ($149), the Sony Linkbuds Open ($199.99), the Anker Soundcore AeroClip earbuds ($169.99), and the Shokz OpenFit Air ($119.95). While none of the above were bad earbuds by any means, we found our picks to outshine them in their comfort and sound quality, especially when considering their respective prices.

What are the best noise-cancelling headphones of 2026?

Even the best value headphones will feel lacking if they don't come equipped with halfway decent noise cancellation. Besides, there are simply too many headphones on the market (our testing pool gets bigger by the month) for you to pay hundreds only to get subpar ANC. So, which brand comes out on top?

For most people, we think the new Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) offer the best overall value, with the ideal blend of comfort, sound quality, and ANC. However, if you're looking for the best active noise-cancellation overall, we have to give it up to the Sony XM6 headphones. Fortunately, there are no bad choices here.

To help you wade through the top options from brands like Apple, Beats, Bose, Sony, and Sonos, Mashable editors and reviewers tested dozens of headphones and earbuds. From flagship models to budget buds, we picked out the best options at every price range.

How do noise-cancelling headphones actually work?

Even cheap headphones can block some noise from the outside world. And you can always blast your music loud enough to drown out nearby conversations and street noise via passive noise cancellation. However, if you really want to turn the volume of the world down to the limit, then you need headphones with active noise cancellation.

Active noise-cancelling headphones electronically cover up the sounds coming from your surroundings. They use internal microphones to listen to the world around you, then invert the noise and send it to the speakers. The idea is that both the output and the input will cancel out, leaving you with near-silence. The best over-ear headphones also create a tight seal around your ears, providing an extra layer of passive sound blocking.

Testing the Apple AirPods Max headphones, which didn't make the final cut for this guide. Credit: Zlata Ivleva / Mashable

Getting up close and personal with Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling headphones. Credit: Molly Flores / Mashable

If you've tried a pair of noise-cancelling headphones before and haven't been impressed, don't be discouraged, as not all ANC performs equally. For instance, cheaper ANC headphones may have a more noticeable hissing sound that you'll hear when the noise cancellation is turned on, which can be distracting for some folks.

Other headphones may be great at blocking low tones, but more prone to letting in high-pitched tones. Typically, premium headphones will yield better results all around, but we have budget picks below that still do a solid job.

In the past, not many wireless earbuds featured active noise cancellation that was comparable to over-ear headphones, but newer iterations like the AirPods Pro and Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds hold their own in the ANC space. However, even these earbuds can't quite get the same seal (or fit as many mics) that headphones can, so if you're looking for maximum silence, stick with over-ear headphones.

Recent testing updates

• December 2025: We removed the Dyson On-Trac headphones from this guide. While they had unbeatable battery life when they were first released, that's no longer the case.

• December 2025: We added the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 as the best sports earbuds.

• December 2025: We added the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones as the best splurge.

• September 2025: We replaced the original Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds with the updated second-gen model.

• July 2025: We added the new Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones.

• February 2025: We added the EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds as our favorite earbuds pick under $100, replacing the Beats Studio Buds+.

• August 2024: With a heavy heart, we said goodbye to the Bose 700 headphones as our recommendation for the best noise-cancelling headphones with adjustable ANC.

At this point, iPads can do (almost) anything your laptop can do thanks to iPadOS 26. Whether you want to stream, browse the internet, illustrate, or edit videos, you can do it on the iPad. Recent developments in the Pro and Air models also set them up as gaming devices.

The rapid pace of Apple's update schedule makes shopping for a tablet all the more difficult. So, we tested every model to help you find the best iPad for you.

Which iPad model should I buy?

The right iPad for you depends purely on your needs. Do you want something that has enough storage and speed for streaming? Do you want to use it to read? Do you want to use a tablet as your primary workstation? Your answers should factor into your decision.

To get you started, we believe the best iPad for most people is the new M3 iPad Air (2025). It has exceptional performance but is also in the middle range for both price and capability.

In the Venn diagram of tablets and books, our favorite e-readers fall perfectly in the middle. They're thin and portable like a tablet, but without the distraction of the internet. The best Kindles and e-readers stuff thousands of books — a full library, really — into a tiny frame.

And having tested a lot of e-readers and tablets for Mashable, I can tell you the Amazon Kindle lineup comes closest to perfecting the devices. All over the internet, you'll find TikTok users enthusiastically singing the praises of the Kindle and how to make the most of it. For parents, Kindles are a screen you don't have to feel guilty about. For avid readers, Stuff Your Kindle Day and Libby let you cross every last item off your annual reading list. You can even buy Kindle accessories like remote page-turners and gooseneck stands so you don't have to hold your Kindle while reading.

So, if you're ready to invest in an e-reader, I can help you find the best Kindle for your reading list.

Meet the newest generation of Kindle e-readers

Can't decide between the Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite? We put them head-to-head.. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

A lot has changed since the Kindle first debuted in 2007. While it was released just a few months after the first iPhone, the Amazon Kindle has received fewer updates. Kindle's first color e-reader arrived in late 2024, and as of September 2025, the Colorsoft lineup includes four models. The Colorsoft Kindles are the most expensive options among Amazon's e-readers, and after finally getting our hands on a model, we've added it to this guide.

As of Sept. 30, 2025, Amazon also announced a revamped Kindle Scribe. The new model is exceptionally thin and has a front light for a brighter display. Plus, the new Colorsoft edition of the Scribe lets you annotate, journal, or sketch in color. However, as of January 2026, we've yet to test either the new Kindle Scribe or Kindle Scribe Colorsoft. We'll update this guide once we've fully tested the devices.

No matter which model you choose, all of the latest Kindles are lightweight, easy to use, and compatible with Libby, so you can support your local library (and get free books, of course). Basically, it's hard to make a bad decision in this product category.

So, what's the best Kindle for you? Let me help you decide.

Which Kindle is right for you?

If you're concerned about buying the newest tech, that's not an issue. There are six updated Kindle models for sale, as well as older editions still in stock.

Before you choose a Kindle, you need to ask one question first: Do you want it to be waterproof? If you prefer reading near a body of water — whether in the bath, by the pool, or at the beach — that immediately narrows down your options. Since the Kindle Oasis is no longer available, your waterproof options are the Kindle Paperwhite, Paperwhite Signature Edition, Colorsoft Signature Edition, and Paperwhite Kids.

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition settings screen. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Beyond water resistance, here are a few other features to consider:

• Display size: The basic Kindle has a 6-inch display, while the largest has a 10.2-inch display.

• Storage capacity: Kindles range from 16GB to 32GB of storage capacity.

• Battery life: The new Kindles generally have outstanding batteries. On the low end, they last up to six weeks per charge, while others last up to 12 weeks.

• Writing capability: The Kindle Scribe is the only model that allows you to write with the included stylus. 

The latest Kindles all boast a maximum brightness of 94 nits and a 300 ppi, high-resolution display with zero glare, so you can enjoy sharp text and images at any viewing angle. Kindles are also equipped with WiFi connectivity, allowing you to download all the reading material you could ever want. Plus, you can listen to audiobooks on Audible via the built-in Bluetooth connection.

Not to mention, out of all the e-readers I've tested, Kindles have the best compatibility with Libby. I love the digital platform because I can read for free and support my local library. Some other e-readers require you to download your library e-book to a computer and then upload it to an e-reader, but with Kindles, your e-books are sent straight to your device with a click.

And if you were a die-hard Kindle Oasis fan and are attached to page-turning buttons, you may need to stray from the Kindle line-up. Now, your best bet will be the Kobo Libra Colour.

How to get free e-books on Kindle

With just a click, transfer your Libby e-book to your Kindle device. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Your Libby ebook will automatically populate in your Kindle library. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The best way to read free e-books on a Kindle is with Libby. Libby allows you to borrow e-books through libraries, and all you need is a library card. Through the Libby app, borrow books and then select the "read with Kindle" option, which allows you to send these e-books to your Kindle library.

Another option for finding free e-books is through Stuff Your Kindle events. These are author-driven events that offer limited-time deals on e-books, often making them heavily discounted or totally free.

How to make the most of your Kindle

Through our testing and daily use, we've spent a lot of time with Kindles, learning how to make the most of them. We've written extensively on all the ways to maximize your Kindle, so be sure to browse through our guides and explainers:

• How to make the most of your Kindle: 8 features you need to use

• The best Kindle accessories for reading in luxury

• What is Stuff Your Kindle Day? The best way to fill your e-reader with free books

• I've read hundreds of free Kindle books with Libby. Here's how.

• What is Kindle Rewards? Earn free credits when shopping the Kindle store

• What is Kindle Unlimited? A library of books at your fingertips for just $12 a month

• Where to get free e-books: Load up your e-reader without spending a dime

• Prime members can get a free e-book every month with Amazon First Reads

• How to download EPUB files on your Kindle

• 8 Kindle features you should be using

• How to delete books from Kindle
  

How to choose the best headphones

We won't beat around the bush: There's no definitive "best" product here. Sure, elite audio brands put out high-quality products across the board, but even within each of those brands, you'll find different tiers of products. Some will deliver better value, and some will deliver better hardware and active noise cancellation.

All this to say, the best pair of earbuds or headphones largely comes down to personal preference and how you plan to use them. Some listeners swear by over-ear headphones, while others prefer the minimalism of earbuds — one is not necessarily better than the other. Athletes who like to use headphones at the gym will appreciate waterproof materials and the best open earbuds, while frequent fliers will prefer devices with long battery life, comfort, and portability. Finally, music lovers and audiophiles will want to invest in premium features like a custom equalizer, spatial audio, or best-in-class active noise cancellation.

To help you pick your pair, we tested all of the headphones in this guide (and a lot that didn't make the cut). Here, you'll find the top headphones of 2026 for noise cancellation, music, price, and wired connections.

What about wired headphones?

We focused primarily on the best wireless headphones for this guide. While wired headphones have their fans, wireless headphones are just more convenient for most of us. If we had to pick, we'd recommend the Marshall Mode earbuds as our top wired pick. Some of us are also fans of Apple's EarPods.

Other headphones we've tested

Most recently, we tested the JBL Tour One M3 headphones and the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC, and we may add them to this guide in a future update. We also tested the Marshall Major V headphones and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 headphones, both of which had excellent sound profiles and easy-to-navigate custom equalizers on their companion apps. Ultimately, they didn't make the cut on our final list for a couple of reasons. With the Major V headphones, we love that their claim of 100+ hours of battery life held up under our testing, but we found them to get uncomfortable after a couple of hours. We also would have appreciated ANC at their $149 price point.

For the B&W headphones, we loved their design and premium feel in addition to their truly impressive sound, but we found that their ANC was only so-so. If you're willing to spend $399, you can find a better balance of sound and ANC in the Sony XM5 headphones.

We've also tested the Sonos Ace headphones and Dyson OnTrac headphones. And while we loved them both for sound quality and noise cancellation, they fare in the way of AirPods Max — left out of our recommendations for their high price points.

In the testing pipeline

For our future updates, we're testing out more budget noise-cancelling earbuds and headphones.

Recent updates to this guide

• December 2025: We replaced the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 earbuds, which are no longer available, with the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 sports earbuds.

• December 2025: We removed the Marshall Mode wired earbuds, as they're frequently out of stock.

• December 2025: We added the Sony WH-CH720N Noise-Canceling Headphones as the best headphones under $100.

• December 2025: We added the Sony XM5 headphones, originally released in 2022, as our new honorable mention pick.

The often-imitated hair dryer has a lot of copycats that dupe Dyson's signature look but skimp on quality. A good rule of thumb: Avoid the $40 Amazon knockoffs that copy Dyson's signature fuchsia and nickel design. I promise they won't perform the same, and you'll be lucky if they last six months. However, in recent years, a handful of competitors have released Dyson Supersonic alternatives that truly offer similar results.

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Credit: Dyson

Dyson Supersonic hair dryer (with 3 attachments)

$329.99 at Dyson
$449.99 Save $120

 

Get Deal

So, what's the best Dyson Supersonic dupe?

To answer that question, I tested a bunch of hair dryers. Some look similar to the Supersonic, and some look nothing like it. I wanted to find the best alternatives to the Dyson Supersonic that replicate the experience: That is to say, they dry your hair in a way that feels quick, easy, and at least a little luxurious.

My top recommendation as of January 2026? The Laifen Swift. Not only does it look like the real thing, but it utilizes ions to minimize damage and has a powerful 110,000 RPM high-speed motor. Plus, it's affordable, which is why it's held the top spot in this guide for nearly a year.

What makes the Dyson Supersonic special? 

The Supersonic has stood the test of time because with it, Dyson reimagined the hair dryer. Instead of a bulky, loud dryer, the Supersonic is sleek and compact yet more powerful than other dryers on the market (and a little less loud, too).

Dyson is known for this futuristic aesthetic on its products, but the look of this dryer also has a function. The ring-shaped head ditches the vented and coiled model of the traditional hair dryer and houses the tiny V9 motor in the handle. The combination of the V9 motor and the Air Multiplier technology makes for a dryer that clocks in at only 1.8 pounds yet still delivers a powerful airflow that’s notably quieter than the roar of a traditional dryer. That extra strong airflow also makes this dryer less reliant on heat and keeps hair damage to a minimum.

To further mitigate any heat damage, the Supersonic also measures the air temperature up to 20 times per second and uses a built-in ionizer to minimize static and give hair a sleek finish, which brings us to a quick ionizer science lesson.

Ionizers are pretty common in higher-end air dryers. Why? They blow negative ions at wet hair to reduce static electricity by sealing the hair cuticle and taking down the power of that positive ionic charge (aka what's causing that annoying frizz). As negative ions make contact with hair, they're also dispersing the positive ions of water, therefore cutting down on your drying time and reducing damage in the process.

Basically, it's one of the reasons the Dyson Supersonic provides such quick and excellent results and why hair dryers with ionizers cost more money — they do more than simply dry hair.

Magnetic attachments designed to easily snap onto the blow dryer round out the futuristic feel of the Supersonic. Five are included: a styling concentrator, a flyaway attachment, a diffuser, a gentle air attachment, and a wide-tooth comb. It's a nice array of included nozzles, even for high-end dryers, which might typically include three or four attachments at the most.

Why is the Dyson Supersonic so expensive?

At $519, the Supersonic is definitely an investment. However, you're paying for a high-end motor that's built to last, multiple heat settings to protect hair, an innovative design, and of course, the ionic tech. Other dryers from popular hot tool brands like T3, ghd, and Harry Josh boast some similar features and run you anywhere from $150 to $350, but none quite capture the magic of the Supersonic.

When I tested the Supersonic, I found that it had a luxe feel that stands out from other hair dryers. But don't forget: the Dyson Supersonic is now almost 10 years old.

Last year, Dyson released the updated Supersonic Nural (which you can find more info on in the FAQ section of this article), but it's not a drastically different product, with the main upgrade coming in the form of smart features, including improved temperature regulation and attachment detection. I tested it for a few weeks and found the upgrades nice, but by no means game-changing, especially for a $549 hair dryer. I also tested it against other smart hair dryers and found that the T3 Aire IQ offered the best intelligent features for the price point (more on that below, too).

Even with the original Supersonic being an older model, there is something to be said about it standing the test of time, and for providing a luxurious (yet efficient) drying experience, especially for folks with thick hair. On the other hand, Dyson competitors have had plenty of time to develop alternatives, all at a fraction of the price.

Recent testing updates

I'm in the process of testing newer hair dryers from Dreame, including the Dreame Miracle Pro.

The newest addition is the Supersonic Nural dupe, the T3 Aire IQ dryer, which I added in April 2025. Prior to that, I added the Dreame Gleam hair dryer, the Dreame Pocket, and the Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex in November 2024. In the same month, I removed the Shark HyperAIR from my recommendations as it's largely been phased out from store shelves after Shark discontinued it. If you're still especially keen to get it, a version with just one attachment is available at Walmart.

I also replaced the BaBylissPRO with the Dreame Gleam as the best pick under $100 — though the BaByliss is still a solid hair dryer, it felt more like a standard blow dryer than a Supersonic dupe. Plus, it's less widely available these days.

In February 2025, I tested the L'Oréal Airlight Pro, which at $475 costs even more than the original Supersonic and almost as much as the Supersonic Nural. The Airlight Pro looked and functioned very similar to the Zuvi Halo, which makes sense — the hair dryer was developed in partnership with Zuvi. At the time, I didn't include it as it wasn't that different than the Zuvi Halo, and cost significantly more. However, since then, the Zuvi Halo appears to be discontinued — it's been sold out for months on Zuvi's website after a drastic price hike to $634. I reached out to a representative from Zuvi to confirm the discontinuation, but didn't hear back. As I result, I've decided to remove the Zuvi Halo from our list of recommendations, and am reconsidering the inclusion of the Airlight Pro.

Finally, Dreame recently released the Dreame Pocket Ultra, an upgrade to one of our current recommendations, as well as the Dreame Miracle Pro, another Supersonic dupe contender. I'll be testing both for potential inclusion in this guide.

Every top brand has its own take on ANC earbuds, each with a unique style and a plethora of features. Since you can't possibly try all the latest earbuds, the Mashable team has taken on the task of reviewing the best ANC earbuds for you.

We've recently updated this guide with our new favorite picks, including the Apple AirPods Pro 3 and second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds. The latter have already gone on sale ahead of Black Friday, but don't worry if the others haven't just yet — our team will be tracking the best headphones and earbuds deals all the way up to and through the shopping holiday.

What are the best noise-cancelling earbuds?

Not all earbuds are created equal — some are far more comfortable than others. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

While there are plenty of audio brands that provide good sound quality and noise cancellation, audio leaders Bose and Sony are in a league of their own. Not only do they offer phenomenal ANC, but they also make music and podcasts sound better. On a good pair of headphones, "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter sounds even catchier, somehow.

Earbuds usually aren't as comfortable as over-the-ear headphones. I know this well, as I've found many pairs of earbuds that just plain don't fit in my ear. Others are downright uncomfortable. Once again, Bose offers the most comfortable headphones and earbuds. However, Bose and Sony aren't the only brands out there. That's why we set out to test the best the market offers and see what makes a great pair of wireless earbuds.

How do noise-cancelling earbuds work?

Noise-cancelling earbuds are small enough to slip in your pocket. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

All noise-cancelling headphones, including earbuds, have some passive noise cancellation. While over-the-ear headphones naturally block out noise by wrapping around the ears, earbuds don't block sound as effectively. Instead of covering your ears, wireless earbuds deliver sound directly into the ear canal to drown out other noises. They rely more on active noise cancellation (ANC) to reduce environmental noise.

ANC is an electronic process within the headphones. Internal microphones listen to your surroundings and then invert the sound, effectively canceling it. Sometimes, with noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds, you'll hear a slight buzzing or humming in the background, and that's the ANC at work. The best ANC earbuds shouldn't have this buzzing, however.

A pair of cheap earbuds is a compact alternative to over-the-ear headphones, but let's be clear, just because these earbuds are affordable, it doesn't mean they skimp on features. Two of the best earbuds we've tested are nearly $300 — Apple AirPods Pro costs $249.95, and Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds come in at $299 — but we've found models for even less. You don't need to spend $300 on a pair of great earbuds; in fact, you don't even need to spend $100.

Among all the earbuds we've tested, which is an extensive list, these are the best budget earbuds.

What's considered budget?

Budget is a relative term, so for this list, we're looking at earbuds under $200, but mostly under $100. Our top pick is the EarFun Air Pro 4, which have a list price of $79.99, and have the noise cancellation of a much more expensive pair of earbuds. Going the budget route might mean making compromises, but not sacrifices. For under $100, you can still get active noise cancellation and self-charging cases.

We do include a couple of models closer to $200, which we get isn't exactly everyone's idea of budget-friendly. For those models, the Bose QuietComfort earbuds and the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC, we consider them budget pairs, relatively speaking. Compared to premium options, the Bose QC earbuds offer an awfully similar experience for significantly cheaper. In the case of Apple, AirPods' entire line runs at higher price points than most of the consumer audio market. That's why we recommend the AirPods 4 both with and without ANC for folks who want to stay in the Apple ecosystem, enjoy AirPods' quality sound, but aren't quite ready to make the jump to the Pros.

Currently testing

Another pair of earbuds that are currently in consideration for this list are the CMF Buds 2. We're currently testing these earbuds and will update this guide once complete.

Other models we've tested

The models on this list are pulled from our extensive testing here at Mashable. Our previous top pick on this list was the Apple AirPods 3; however, the AirPods 4 have replaced them, making them more expensive, and they also lack great Android compatibility.

Another pair of headphones we considered for this list were the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds with sound by Bose. We tested these buds, and while they're pretty good for $100, they have a bad case design and just aren't that comfortable compared to other models on this list — plus, the $100 introductory price went up to $129.99.

What are the best noise-cancelling headphones for flying?

Noise-cancelling headphones are at their most useful on airplanes. It's difficult to find a moment's peace when so much is going on around you. Frequent flyers may prefer to rest or work, and the best way to prepare for either is by using the best ANC headphones to block out the chaos. 

Because shopping for headphones shouldn't be as stressful as heading to the airport, we've done extensive testing to bring you the top options. Our top pick is the second-gen Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, but read on to see other great picks for the best noise-cancelling headphones for airplanes in 2026 — all based on Mashable's hands-on testing.

How much should I spend on noise-cancelling headphones?

If you want to find the best noise-cancelling headphones for flying, you should be prepared to pay $200 to $450 for most options. Premium headphones offer improved active noise cancellation, customizable settings, and transparency modes that allow you to hear those all-important gate announcements.

Many cheap headphones claim to offer "noise-cancelling" features, but a random pair of $50 over-ear headphones with passive noise cancellation will let a lot of sound through. They'll also struggle to connect and switch between devices easily, or simply feel uncomfortable.

At the end of the day, going for that good all-around pair is worth it, because on a flight, ANC on its own won't save the day — otherwise, we'd just direct you to our guide to the best noise-cancelling headphones. For long flights, comfort is also key. It won't matter if your headphones block sound if you only want to wear them for two out of five hours of your flight. And because this is a flying-focused roundup, we did give extra points to headphones with thoughtful design that makes storage easy.

If that $200-plus price range feels totally out of the question, we've included a couple of budget earbuds and headphones in the under-$100 category, but they come with tradeoffs. If you're okay with a mid-range pick, consider buying wireless earbuds with ANC instead of over-ear headphones.

If the cost of a pair of headphones is off-putting, you can always wait for a sale to start. We see headphones from Bose, Sony, and Apple get marked down year-round — if you don't want to keep your eyes peeled yourself, Mashable's deals coverage is a great place to find any noteworthy headphone deals.

Recent testing updates

In July 2025, we swapped the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones for the newer Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones.

After testing them for a few weeks, we decided in February 2025 that the EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds earned a spot on our guide as our top budget pick, knocking out the cheaper but inferior Anker Soundcore P3i earbuds. Shortly after, we added the Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones as one of our recommendations, thanks to their long battery life.

For September 2024, we didn't change our lineup, deciding against including the Dyson OnTrac headphones — although we really like their long battery life, the 55 hours of charge might be overkill for air travel. Plus, they're a little too bulky and expensive to recommend as travel headphones.

So, what is the best e-reader for 2026? I'm regularly testing new e-readers (and tablets) and cycling through different models to stay up to date on the best options available. So, if you're gearing up to read more books this year, I can recommend a model you'll love.

Other e-readers we've tested

From left to right: Kindle Paperwhite, Nook GlowLight 4 Plus, Kindle Scribe Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Most recently, we've tested the Remarkable PaperPro and Onyx Boox Go 7 as contenders for this list. After several weeks of testing, both devices proved to be pretty good but not quite list-worthy.

Whenever you search for e-readers, Remarkable's tablets will always pop up in the search results, but unfortunately, it's hard to obtain ePUB files on the Remarkable. With Remarkable, you can access files within Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. If you have any locked ePUB files — like from Libby — you won't be able to access them on a Remarkable tablet. So, after testing the Remarkable tablet myself, it proved to be a better document reader or digital journal than an e-reader.

The Onyx Boox Go 7 is a better e-reader option than the Remarkable. It's the same size as the Kobo Libra or Amazon Kindle, but it really lags on processing speed. To read ePUB files from Libby required downloading the Adobe Digital Editions app onto the Boox Go 7, and there was so much lag while opening and closing the app. While it was an easier process than getting library books on a Nook, it was still a major pain compared to Kindle or Kobo's integrations. The Boox Go 7 lagged and took ages to load files. I was most looking forward to testing this Boox because of its page-turning buttons, but unfortunately, I found that they didn't work on my device.

An e-reader we haven't gotten around to testing is the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, which is now available for purchase. We're trying out some newer names in the e-reader game, including the Xteink X4 and DuRoBo Krono.

What about the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition?

If you're familiar with the Kindle lineup, it may come as a surprise that the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition isn't on this list. Don't get me wrong, it's great, but I think there are better options. The Signature Edition is an upgraded version of the Paperwhite, and we've compared the devices head-to-head. The short version? The Paperwhite is a better value, even with the SE's added features like auto-adjusting brightness and 32GB of storage.

If you are prepared to spend $200 on an e-reader, though, I say skip the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition and go for the Kobo Libra Colour.

Where's the Nook on this list?

In terms of big-name e-readers, you might notice one omission from this list: the Barnes & Noble Nook. I have tested this e-reader, and it was previously featured on this list. However, after testing more devices, it no longer makes the cut. In comparison to any of the Kindles or the Kobo Libra, the Nook has sloth-like performance, making it frustrating to use.

Plus, getting my library books onto the Nook was a nightmare, as it was a multi-step process that required downloading to a computer before uploading to a Nook. Its only redeeming quality was the buttons on either side of the device, which made page turning a breeze. However, unless you are a loyal buyer of Barnes & Noble books, I recommend steering clear of the Nook.

Where to get e-reader books for free

Once you get an e-reader, it's time to fill it up with books, and that doesn't necessarily mean spending money. In fact, you can load up your e-reader without spending a dime; you just need to be a bit resourceful.

The best way to read nearly any book — a classic or hot new release — is with Libby. I have read hundreds of free books with the Libby app — I wouldn't have been able to test for this guide without it. It connects with your library card, allowing you to borrow from your local library's digital collection. Plus, both Kobo and Kindle have exceptional Libby integrations.

Another way to build your library is through Stuff Your Kindle Day events. These are 24-hour opportunities led by authors that make books discounted or free.

If you're a fan of the classics or looking to discover a treasure lost to time, an online resource like Project Gutenberg has more than 75,000 books in the public domain that you can download and read on an e-reader.

Whether you're looking for a kid-friendly tablet or a compact laptop replacement, there are plenty of excellent options out there. If you're not exactly sure which tablet you should buy, we've got one simple question to help narrow down your search: Are you an Apple person? We tested the entire iPad lineup, and though iPads are our preferred tablets in 2026, we also love some of the best tablets from Samsung, Lenovo, and Microsoft. So, whatever your preferences, we've got a tablet to recommend.

Recent additions to this guide:

• Oct. 28, 2025: We've added the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 tablet to this guide; it's an excellent Android gaming tablet, but is suitable for anyone in the market for an Android tablet.

• Nov. 5, 2025: After spending several weeks with the Samsung Galaxy S11 Ultra, we were impressed by its performance. We've added it to this guide as the best Android tablet for professionals, as its oversized screen is overkill for the average tablet user.

If you're in the market for a new pair of earbuds, we have good news: You have a lot of options. The bad news? You have a lot of options, and your decision can get overwhelming, fast. Wasn't life easier when iPhones came with a free pair of earbuds?

While you can still find wired earbuds that plug in and go (you'll even find a pair on this list), the market is flooded with wireless options. Now, you'll find models with advanced noise cancellation to block out the sounds of busy coffee shops and commutes. Plus, a good pair should have a quality microphone so you can take calls on the go.

Prices on earbuds range anywhere from $10 to $1,000, especially if you're going for professional-grade studio earphones. And if you care about noise cancellation, you can easily spend $300 — that's the price of peace and quiet. These days, you can even get hyperspecialized models like sleep earbuds. Our guide also includes our picks for the best earbuds for working out and the best open earbuds.

Our top picks for earbuds are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) and Panasonic Technics AZ100s, which provide outstanding sound quality — but keep in mind, both of these models cost $299. While we stand by the value of everything on this list, we know that spending $300 on a pair of headphones is a lot to stomach. That's also why we recommend shopping for earbuds during Black Friday season. As sales start to kick off, the QC Ultra earbuds are down $50 (their lowest price since their September release date). As we approach the actual day of Black Friday on Nov. 28, we expect to see even more markdowns on our favorite earbuds.

Ready to start shopping now? Here are our top earbud picks of 2026.

Types of earbuds

There are two types of earbuds: wireless and wired. While those descriptors are self-explanatory, let's get into the specifics of both.

Wireless

Wireless earbuds connect to devices via Bluetooth for cordless usage. These earbuds range from $20 budget models to high-end models with active noise cancellation. While they don't require a wire to connect to a device, some wireless earbuds still have a wire that might go around the back of the neck to connect the buds.

While earbuds traditionally don't provide the passive noise cancellation of over-the-ear headphones, wireless models often feature ANC, which electronically blocks out background noise. With wireless headphones, you need to consider the battery life. Most models should have an eight-hour or more battery life before they need to be recharged.

Wired

Wired earbuds are the original model: two buds connected by a wire to your audio source. While they once felt high tech, they're pretty basic now. Wired earbuds with active noise cancellation are basically non-existent, and you won't find any on our list.

The biggest positive to wired headphones is that they don't need to be charged. They're a great backup option to keep in your bag in case your usual wireless headphones or earbuds run out of charge.

New additions to this guide

After extensive testing, Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard rounded up the best sleep earbuds. You can read her full guide, but as of May 2025, we've added the Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 to this guide, which Allard says are the best sleep earbuds for most people.

As of August 2025, we also updated the best earbuds for working out to the Powerbeats Pro 2 and added the Shokz OpenDots One as the best open earbuds.

What are the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds?

If you're just looking for a pair of everyday wireless earbuds, all but one of the models in this guide will check that box. (We also included the Marshall Mode wired earbuds as an option for folks who don't want to worry about battery.) If you're looking for the highest quality wireless earbuds, you can't go wrong with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds, our most recent recommendation in 2026. Both of these wireless earbuds feature elite noise-cancellation, stellar sound, long battery life, and a comfortable fit for extended wear.

Still, this guide includes several other earbuds we stand behind. Apple users may prefer the AirPods Pro, while shoppers on a budget may prefer buds from Marshall or Anker Soundcore. If you need help picking the perfect pair, read on.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra launched in September 2025, ushering in the next generation of the brand's tablets. The S11 Ultra is a beefy model, one of the largest tablets we've had in our hands. With a 14.6-inch screen, it dwarfs the tablets we're used to, even Apple's 13-inch models.

With its large size, we expected a lot from this device and ultimately wondered if it lives up to the performance and power of elite tablets like Apple's iPad Pro.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is a mixed bag, offering stellar battery life but with more to be desired in terms of performance. Here's everything you need to know about the device and if it's worth its $1,319.99 price.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra Specs and Price

Let's take a closer look at the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is a pricey model at $1,319.99. In contrast, the more affordable Galaxy Tab S11 with an 11-inch display is available for $979.99.

• Memory: 12GB

• Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

• Processor: Octa-Core

• Cameras: 13.0 MP + 8.0 MP rear camera, 12.0 MP front camera, and UHD 4K video recording.

• Audio: Quad speakers

• Ports: One USB-C

• Display: Dynamic AMOLED 2X

Great displays with split screens

With split screens, I can watch a show and color at the same time. Unfortunately, the screenshot blocked out my show. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Since tablets are all screen, it's essential that a device has displays that are actually impressive. The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra's 14.6-inch display offers ample space for entertainment or work needs. Its resolution is 2960 x 1848, powered by Dynamic AMOLED.

While watching shows on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, the content looks just as good on the tablet as it does on my Samsung OLED 4K TV, just in a smaller format.

Additionally, it maximizes its surface area. With split-screen capabilities, you can open and view multiple apps at once. For work productivity, this means being able to view documents and work on emails simultaneously. Alternatively, a more enjoyable use is to catch up on shows while playing your favorite mobile games.

It's got some power, but not nearly enough as we want

For its size, I expected the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra to be a powerful unit, rivaling the likes of Apple's iPad Pro. It certainly surprised us, but maybe not in the way we hoped. Don't get it wrong, this is still a robust model. It handled streaming and internet browsing like a pro. Plus, it didn't falter when running multiple applications simultaneously.

Using the tablet's multi-window function, I watched The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City on the Peacock app while playing Subway Surfers. The show streamed in 4K while Subway Surfers ran without a glitch.

But when it comes to actual numbers, we look to the Geekbench 6 test. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra has a multi-core score of 8,797, which is far superior to that of a Chromebook, but can't compare to higher-end laptops. In fact, it can't really compare to Apple's tablets. The iPad Pro scores over 16,000 on its multi-core score, while the iPad Air scores 10,498, meaning the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra doesn't quite measure up. That being said, it does score higher than the basic iPad.

For its price tag, at $1,319.99, it should perform better. You can find a 13-inch iPad with the same specs and a better Geekbench 6 multi-core score for $1,099.

Impressive battery life that goes for days

The standout feature on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is one you can't see. We conducted Mashable's standard battery life test, looping the 1080p version of "Tears of Steel," a short open-source Blender movie, at 50 percent brightness and 50 percent volume until the tablet ran out. The results astounded us, the battery lasting for 16 hours and 6 minutes, which is about how long we hope the very best laptops run for.

It comes with a nice, lightweight stylus

The lightweight S Pen is a dream to write with, emulating the feel of an actual pencil. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

In a world where Apple forces you to buy a stylus to accompany its tablets, Samsung includes a stylus with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. The S pen has a hexagonal shape, emulating the feel of a classic pencil. It moves easily, and while I'm not an artist, I did love using it to write. It feels practically weightless in your hand, so you can move quickly across the page. It magnetically clings to the tablet, although I wouldn't say it has a particularly strong hold, as it can be easily knocked off.

An oversized screen for professionals, but awkward for everyone else

The biggest drawback of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is that it's too large. Compared to other tablets, this 14.6-inch model is a behemoth, wider than even my MacBook Pro. Its size makes it awkward to hold, and it would be best used with the keyboard cover, especially if you're planning on working.

For the average user, having that much space is overkill and potentially a hindrance. If you're taking the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra on a plane, it will occupy most of the space on the tray table. On the other hand, for artists, a larger screen means more space to design and illustrate.

Is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra worth it?

It may not look like it, but the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is a robust tablet — but it might be too big. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra isn't for everyone. If you're a professional or creative individual looking for an Android tablet with ample power, then this is a worthwhile investment. I think it's priced a little too high compared to other tablets with similar specs, but the included S Pen makes it a better value.

However, if you're open to tablets of all operating systems, I think you have better options. For a large tablet with similar specs, Apple's 13-inch iPad Air with M3 chip offers better performance at a lower price of $1,099. If you're looking for a compact, travel-friendly Android tablet, consider the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 instead.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra

$1,130 at Amazon

 

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I test new robot vacuums on a regular basis and compare them to the top performers from previous months, with all my evaluations taking place in my own home on various rugs, tile, and hardwood floors. As I test each robot vacuum and tweak its settings for optimal performance, I keep notes on its overall suction power and scrubbing efficacy (if it's a robot vacuum and mop combo), pet hair pickup, the convenience of its automatic emptying and self-washing mopping pads, accuracy of smart mapping and small obstacle avoidance, and the overall user experience. But the final boss here is cost efficiency — I'll be the first one to point out when a cheap robot vacuum actually works well for the price, or when a high-end robot vacuum is actually worth the splurge or not.

Recent changes to this guide

December 2025: I added a disclaimer to the pick for best Roomba value in light of iRobot's bankruptcy news.

October 2025: I added the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller as the best robot vacuum right now and shifted the Roborock Saros 10R (previously named the best robot vacuum right now) to the option for best corner cleaning.

July 2025: I removed the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 robot vacuum from this guide. While it was a solid budget mopping robot vacuum for its first year or so on the market, it's now a little bit too basic compared to other newer budget robot vacuums.

Other robot vacuums I've tested recently

I tested several other top robot vacuums in the past that didn't make the most recent cut for this list. Some, like the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Roborock Qrevo Master, Narwal Freo X Ultra, and various versions of the Roomba j7 were my top recommendations at one point, but have since been overshadowed by newer, more powerful models that are a better bang for your buck.

I've also tested some 2025 robot vacuum releases that were OK, but ultimately aren't a top pick for me. The Dreame X50 Ultra grabbed attention during its CES 2025 debut for its ability to "climb," though the fine print is that it can't scale thresholds taller than 6 millimeters (about 2.36 inches). A slew of new Dreame robot vacuums are slated to come out in fall 2025, among them a model with improved climbing abilities and a model whose self-empty dock can hold three sets of mopping pads. I'll be getting my hands on these as soon as possible and updating my top picks for this list accordingly.

New robot vacuums announced at CES 2026

Several top robot vacuum brands unveiled new flagship models at CES in early January. These include the Roborock Saros 20 Sonic and Qrevo Curv 2 Flow, the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete, and the Narwal Flow 2. I will be testing these at home as soon as possible and will update this guide accordingly once all are officially available for purchase.

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

As a note, we generally no longer recommend the Ozlo Sleepbuds as their price point isn't on par with the features offered by their competitors. At their full price point, I'd say to skip them. However, if you're especially intrigued by their design (and have no qualms with the lack of ANC), grabbing them for $299 instead of their usual $349 is the absolute most we'd recommend paying for these earbuds to get true value.

The best earbuds for sleeping

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

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

How are sleep earbuds different than normal earbuds?

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

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

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

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

Is it safe to wear earbuds to sleep every night?

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

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

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

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

Proper hygiene

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

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

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

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

Noise levels

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

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

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

Comfort

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

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

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

Other sleep earbuds we tested

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

1More Sleeping Earbuds Z30

$59.99 at Amazon

 

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

Ozlo Sleepbuds

$274 at Amazon
$349 Save $75

 

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Next up in our testing pipeline is the Sleep A30 Special earbuds from Soundcore, announced at CES 2026. The model is an upgrade to one of our existing picks, the Sleep A30 earbuds, with improved battery life and a lower price point at $199.

And don't give up. Despite the burnout, apps are still one of the main ways people connect. A 2025 SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus found that 65 percent of people aged 18 to 29 have used a dating app, and a 2023 Pew Research Center report found that one in 10 partnered adults met their significant other on one.

You just need the right tool. That's why I've put in the hours, the swipes, and the subscription fees to find the best options for every kind of single person. To help you find your match, these are the best dating apps worth downloading in 2026.

If you need even more personalized advice, check out our guides to the best dating apps for men, women, and the LGBTQ community.

The dating apps I'd skip (and why)

You'll probably notice a few popular apps are missing from my list. That’s intentional. Part of my job is to filter out the platforms that aren't worth your time, money, or sanity. An app doesn't get my recommendation just because it's well-known — it has to be effective and safe.

Here are a few popular dating apps I'd skip:

• Plenty of Fish (POF): I know this one shows up on a lot of lists, but in my opinion, it's a dating app ghost town. POF launched as a dating site back in 2003, and it shows. In my experience (and based on widespread user feedback), the platform is filled with bots and scams, and the odds of finding a quality connection are stacked against you. Unless you enjoy sifting through fake profiles, I think your time is better spent elsewhere.

• Raya: Raya is basically the Soho House of dating apps. It's exclusive, expensive, and not for the average person. You have to fill out an application to use it, and the vetting process can take anywhere from a few days to a few years. While it might be great for networking or bagging an influencer, it's just not a practical recommendation for most people who are simply looking for a date. (See also: The League.)

• Niche "hookup" sites (like BeNaughty, Fling, etc.): There's a chance you've seen ads for sites like these, which promise quick, no-strings-attached fun. Based on my research and countless user reviews, I'd advise you to steer clear. These platforms are notorious for being overrun with bots and having questionable billing practices, with users reporting unexpected and hard-to-cancel subscription charges.

Online dating as a lesbian can be a joyous experience, but it can also involve having your space invaded by straight people or seeing your ex-girlfriends (and your ex-girlfriends' ex-girlfriends) show up in your feed over and over.

Over the decades, queer women have turned to personal ads, frequented bars, and relied on word of mouth to find love. These days, it's not too different. From trying to find a date on WLW TikTok to entrapranureal lesbians creating new apps just for them, LGBTQ women are down to get creative to find their special someone.

Thankfully, in 2026, there are both niche and general apps where queer women can find a partner — whether for one night or for life. Which ones are the best dating apps for lesbians? We tested the most popular dating sites and apps and got some insight from our Dating & Relationships writers to find out.

How to find the best dating apps for lesbians

Niche lesbian dating apps aren't your only option for finding love. Credit: Stacey Zhu / Mashable

Mainstream dating apps attract the most users — including queer users. That means niche lesbian dating apps aren't your only options for finding love. These days, Hinge, Bumble, OkCupid, and even eharmony all have clear filters to help you match with people of the same gender (or any gender at all), as well as filters that acknowledge the existence of non-traditional relationships (like polyamory). Especially if you don't live in a densely populated area, going for the more popular dating apps over lesbian dating sites can often lead to more results.

With that said, there is one dating app lesbian women should try. HER is an app by and for queer women, and it's grown to have a strong user base. According to its website, the app has more than 15 million registered users worldwide. The app also emphasizes finding community and making friends, in addition to dating, providing you with numerous ways to connect with other queer women and non-binary users.

Check out our guide below for the full rundown of our recommendations and dating app reviews.

Gone are the days when people balk at you if you say you met your partner online. Dating apps have irrevocably changed the way we date — much like social media platforms have changed the way we interact with each other overall. With so many apps, from Bumble to eharmony, it can be challenging to determine which ones to invest in, especially if you're looking for that special someone.

According to 2023 findings from the Pew Research Center, one in ten partnered adults (married, living with a partner, or in a committed relationship) met their partner on a dating app or site. If you're a younger adult and/or LGBTQ, you're more likely to have met your significant other online: one in five adults under 30 and nearly one in four for LGBTQ adults.

The same study found that almost half (44 percent) of dating app users said a major reason for using them was to meet a long-term partner. So, if that's you, you're certainly not alone, despite what you might see people lament on TikTok. 

The discourse on dating app culture can be unrelenting. Singles told Mashable earlier this year they'd rather meet a potential partner in person, but they're begrudgingly on the apps. Some, like Tinder, have seen their revenue decrease in recent quarters, while Hinge is growing. Even then, though, daters bemoan even the most popular of apps. After Zohran Mamdani's win for New York City mayor in November, for example, Hinge users complained that it was somehow "not the same app" where he had met his wife four years prior.

Despite the frustration over The Apps™, it's undeniable that if you want to date from the comfort and safety of your home, they're the way to do it. If you're, say, introverted or have difficulty approaching someone in person, an app does have its uses.

What is the #1 best dating app?

Considering the variation in experiences on all the dating apps, it's difficult to quantify which ones are the "best." Some people find their spouses on Tinder, while others are disappointed that their matches are only looking for hookups. 

That being said, if you're looking for something serious, your best bet is likely an app with a large user base, options for you to indicate what you're looking for in your bio, and filters to weed out who you really want to partner with. There are also apps whose branding is geared towards finding one's ultimate match — like eharmony and Match, both decades-old sites with reputations for helping users find their spouse. Hinge, Bumble, and Coffee Meets Bagel also have a reputation for more "serious" connections.

Depending on the type of relationship you're seeking, you may also benefit from a more niche app. Take one app on our list, SilverSingles, for people over 50. Sure, there are older adults on apps like Tinder and Bumble as well, but you may have more luck finding someone age-appropriate if you're in a space meant just for you.

Which dating site is best for serious relationships?

Mashable has researched to pick out a few from the plethora of dating sites (and apps) out there. These options are available for both Android and Apple users, so the type of phone you have won't determine your options. In terms of monetary investment, you can use some of these for free (like Tinder and Bumble), while others are more pay-to-play. We've also included some "niche" options, like the aforementioned SilverSingles and Elite Singles, so you have more than the standard buffet of dating apps.

Here are the best dating apps for serious relationships:

I’ve been testing dating apps for a long time now, and the question my friends ask me most isn't "how does the algorithm work?" but rather "which app is actually the best?"

Lately, as we've all gotten older (and more willing to settle down), eharmony has snuck into the conversation more often than I’d like to admit. It’s known for being the go-to for the over-50 crowd, but its "hip" new commercials suggest the company is desperate to attract a younger user base.

Whatever their marketing strategy, the claim that "every 14 minutes, someone finds love on eharmony" piqued my interest. So, I decided to give it a real college try to see whether its infamous questionnaire and algorithm-based matching system actually work. Below is my detailed experience with eharmony, from sign-up to connecting with other users.

Getting started on eharmony

Once you download the app, you have two choices: “Join now” or “Log in.” There isn't an option to sign in with Facebook or Google on this screen. (Given the app's older demographic, I honestly expected a Facebook login to be front and center.)

Next, you select your country and your gender. You have three options: woman, man, or nonbinary.

After you pick one, a note pops up letting you know you can "update your gender at any time." This is cool considering eharmony’s history of being less-than-welcoming to gay and nonbinary folks. But that feeling of progress evaporates when you’re asked, “Who are you open to meeting?” While you can technically select multiple options (e.g., men and women), the interface makes it appear to be a single-choice question at first glance, which can be confusing.

If you decide to keep going, you’ll share what you're looking for (casual, serious, or just browsing) and then get smacked in the face with a massive consent pop-up.

The "Your Consent" pop-up that appears during eharmony's sign-up process. Credit: Screenshot: eharmony

I didn't click “accept all,” and it still let me move forward, so at least there’s no gatekeeping there. Finally, the app asks you to sign up with your email address, Apple, or Google account. It’s weird that they bury this step so deep in the onboarding process instead of putting it at the very beginning, but I eventually chose Google — it’s just easier that way.

You’re in. Now what?

After successfully getting through the initial registration, you’ll get a cute little welcome message: “Congrats — you’re taking the first step towards finding someone who gets you. Now, let’s see what’s next for you.”

This is the part we’ve all been complaining about for years. This extensive questionnaire is a hallmark of eharmony, and it’s what the company claims is the "secret sauce" to its matchmaking success. The first screen is just an intro that basically says to find someone right for you, the best place to look is within yourself. (I think this makes total sense.)

Clicking “continue” brings you to a screen with two tips: Spend 10 to 20 minutes taking the quiz, and go with your gut. (I am curious if the upcoming questions are based on whether you chose man, woman, or nonbinary for your gender preference. It would be interesting to see if a male user gets different phrasing than a female or nonbinary user.)

The welcome screen for eharmony's famous Compatibility Quiz, which takes about 20 minutes to complete. Credit: Screenshot: eharmomy

I’m not going to list every single question, but here’s a quick rundown of the first 15 percent:

• Where is your ideal place to live? (Regardless of where you are now.)

• Why do you want a relationship? You can choose three options, including things like “emotional security,” “so I’m not alone,” and “frequent intimacy” (go eharmony for including that one!).

• Why are you single? (First of all, rude. Also, not sure some of you are ready to go down that rabbit hole.)

• Would you sleep in one bed or separate bedrooms?

One thing I didn’t love is that if you change your mind about an answer, there isn’t a “back” button to revise it. Once you click, you’re committed.

Moving on… the next set of questions focuses on specific interests. Some are multiple choice, while others demand "exactly two answers required." It covers the basics like smoking and drinking, plus lifestyle questions like whether you prefer cooking or going out to eat (again, wondering if they ask the guys this, too). I appreciated that you could choose “none” for sports, but it was weird that it asked if I played an instrument, but never asked which one.

Honestly, by this point, I was ready to tap out, but I’m doing this for all of you singletons out there who are ready to find your forever person.

A glimpse at the "personality" section of the eharmony quiz, which includes abstract shape preferences and situational questions to gauge your reactions. Credit: Screenshot: eharmony

The next section is picture-based and starts to feel a little like a Rorschach test. It gives you two shapes and asks which appeals to you more. Once that’s over, you get an encouraging pop-up: “Halfway there — keep it up!” Then, more pictures — this time of homes, flowers, and nature scenes.

The most interesting part of this section was a question about your “immediate reaction” if someone close to you upsets you. When I picked my first choice, I got a little pop-up scolding me: “Most people tend to pick this answer because it seems the most logical. Please take a moment and make sure you are picking the right answer that applies to you.” OK, eharmony.

It randomly hits you with a climate change question, and then things get serious. However, the marriage question didn’t sit right with me. Not because of what it asked (“What do you think about marriage as an institution?”) but because of the answers it didn’t offer. It felt limited. It also places a question about whether “sex sells” right underneath a question about set mealtimes, which is... a choice.

Once you finally finish, you’re met with a congratulations screen. You made it.

Even more details, if you can believe it

OK, so you’ve made it this far — congrats! Now, you have to fill out your full name, birthday, occupation, height, education level, annual income, whether you have children, religion, and ethnicity. I literally felt like I was filling out a loan application.

They also ask for your marital status. The only options are single, separated, divorced, and widowed. At first, I thought this was weird for a "forever love" app, but then it clicked. Since so many eharmony users are older, knowing if someone is divorced or widowed is actually helpful context. (That said, bad news for the poly crowd: there is absolutely no option for ethical non-monogamy here.)

Next, you choose two required prompts to answer (500 characters max) and write a short bio. Then comes the photo section. Wildly enough, eharmony lets you “skip” this step entirely. If you try, a pop-up gently nudges you to reconsider because you’ll "stand out more," but you can proceed without a face. For a site this serious, that feels like a loophole for catfish.

eharmony is notorious for being pricey, so when a “Welcome Gift” screen popped up, I braced myself for what was to come. Sure enough, clicking “unwrap gift” reveals a 50% off premium subscription offer.

The "Welcome Gift" screen that appears at the end of the sign-up process — spoiler: it's a discount on a paid subscription. Credit: Screenshot: eharmomy

Warning: If you click "Next" on this screen, it immediately asks for payment info. It looks like a paywall, but don’t be fooled — you can hit the “back” button to bypass it and get to the free version. Don't let them trick you.

How much will dating on eharmony cost you?

While you can sign up for eharmony for free, the app really pushes you to get a paid subscription. (The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has actually sued the company for auto-renewals people didn’t consent to, so... proceed with caution.)

Anyway, here's the pricing structure I was offered. Note that yours may differ depending on where you live, when you sign up, etc.

Premium light: $14.90 per month

• Unlimited messaging with 15 matches monthly

• See one photo of each profile

• Unique personality profile

• Search near you

Premium plus: $16.90 per month

• Unlimited messaging with 30 matches monthly

• See all photos

• Unique personality profile

• Search near you

• See who’s seen you

Premium unlimited: $18.90 per month

• Unlimited messaging with all matches

• See all photos

• Unique personality profile

• Search near you

• See who’s seen you

• Filter new members first

The matching process (finally!)

After all that data entry and the predatory subscription BS, the app tells you it's finally ready to show you your “featured profiles” — basically three members you’re supposed to rate. You can skip this section, but I moved forward so I could tell you what happens.

Clicking “Let’s go” brought me to my first profile. I couldn't even view her photo; tapping it immediately triggered a request for payment.

Then I looked at the details. She was a solid two hours and 30 minutes away from me. She was also seven years younger than me (weird, since the app never asked for my age preference earlier). The only good thing? It said she was "online yesterday," which suggests she’s an active user — if she’s real.

The profile did show some info, like height, sports, and our "common trait" (we both "seek comfort when things go wrong," apparently). You get the option to "Like" or "Skip." If you click "Like," it lets you send a message, and I assume it notifies them. My other two "featured" options were also over an hour away, despite the app knowing my zip code.

Once you get through that, it says “See who’s here” and dumps you into a feed of BLURRED PHOTOS. There’s also a bright orange banner at the top, constantly trying to force you into buying a subscription. It feels aggressive.

Is eharmony worth the download?

To be blunt, I think you should try literally any of our other top-recommended apps before considering eharmony. Yes, I often rate it as the "best for marriage," but that’s almost entirely because of the sheer volume of data it collects. (Even after "finishing" the quiz, I found there were still 24 more questions waiting for me in my profile, plus tons of sections to add interests.)

The person who should be on this app is Charlotte York, in every sense. She’s focused on finding her knight in shining armor, she lives in NYC (so she’d have way more options than I do in a small Virginia town), and she has disposable income.

If you fit that profile, then cool — this might actually be the best place to find your soulmate, provided you can dodge the aggressive ads for a premium subscription (though if you’re Charlotte, you can afford it).

But if you’re not willing to shell out any cash and you know you’re not looking for anything serious, I’d say it’s probably fine if you never download the eharmony app.

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Credit: eharmony

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As one of Mashable’s sex, dating, and relationships writers, I’ve tested dozens of apps over the past few years, and Hinge is easily the one I get asked about most. Why? Because it’s the landing spot for everyone who's too horny to admit it (and wouldn't be caught dead on Tinder) and for the people who are genuinely ready to swap keys and get a dog together. It’s the app famously "designed to be deleted," and for better or worse, it’s where people go when they want to have an actual conversation IRL.

Some of my closest friends — and some Mashable staff members — have found love on Hinge (one is even engaged to her match now), so I know it can work. To help you decide if it’s worth the download for you, I’ve broken down everything you need to know about the app, from the sign-up process to the features that actually help you connect.

Getting started on Hinge

The onboarding process for Hinge is super easy. Once you've downloaded the app, just click “Create Account,” enter your phone number, and type in the verification code. There isn’t a Facebook login or any kind of Google or Apple login option right upfront, but I think that’s OK. It’s not like your phone number is viewable anywhere on the platform.

The first screen that pops up says, “You’re one of a kind. Your profile should be, too.” This immediately shows that Hinge is serious about getting to know you a little better than most mainstream dating apps.

The first question? What’s your name? Easy enough. There’s a little note at the top that says “NO BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE CONDUCTED,” which is honestly a little weird, but reassuring, I guess? There’s also a note that says your last name is optional, so if you’re wary about sharing your full identity, you can opt to omit it.

(After entering your name, you do get the option to connect a Google or Apple account. I’m not sure why this isn’t an option on the main login screen, but nevertheless, it’s there if you want it.)

Next, Hinge requests your email and asks for a verification code again. The fact that the app does two-step verification twice is pretty impressive; it makes it much less likely for someone to create a fake profile.

Defining who you are

Of course, your birth date (which Hinge says is only used to “calculate your age"), location, and gender identity are standard questions. Hinge lets you select up to four pronouns (e.g., they/them, she/her).

It offers “Man,” Woman,” and “Nonbinary” gender options, and from there you can add your gender identity, which includes a comprehensive list like genderfluid, genderqueer, trans, and others. If you don’t see yours, you can request it using the “Tell us if we’re missing something” button. You can also toggle whether or not these are visible on your profile.

Following this, you’ll be able to choose your sexuality. The options include:

• Straight

• Gay

• Lesbian

• Bisexual

• Allosexual

• Androsexual

• Asexual

• Autosexual

This is also optional to show on your profile. You’ll then be asked who you want to date, and nicely, you can select multiple options (some apps restrict you to just one).

The app asks for your relationship type next. You can choose from “Monogamy,” “Non-monogamy,” and “Figuring out my relationship type.” If you choose “figuring out,” you’ll be prompted to write up to 160 characters describing exactly what you’re looking for.

Within your profile, you can select your gender, sexuality, and who you're looking to meet. Credit: Screenshot: Hinge

Dating intentions

Next are your intentions, and Hinge lists several options to choose from. One of the things I noticed here is that if you choose “prefer not to say,” a little note appears: “This will limit who sees your profile.” This is a good reminder of just how serious Hinge is about helping you meet the right match. If someone can’t share their intentions, they’re probably shady AF, and Hinge is recognizing this out loud.

Once you’ve gotten through that, you’ll be asked to fill in more details about yourself, including:

• Height (which is always visible on your profile)

• Ethnicity

• Children (another answer that will limit your profile if you don’t disclose this info)

• Family Plans (yet another answer that’ll limit who sees you)

• Virtues: Hometown, workplace, job title, school, education level, religious beliefs, and political views

Finally, it hits you with the vices: Do you drink, smoke tobacco, smoke weed, or use drugs? Note that for almost all of these, choosing “prefer not to say” will limit who sees your profile.

While it may seem a little invasive to limit profile views based on your answers, I think this is a really good way for people to meet the ones they’re actually meant to be with. This screening process is way more in-depth than most. It also makes it a good option for people who are sober or conscious about their alcohol intake (which a good chunk of Gen Z are).

Creating your profile

OK, now that you’ve gotten through the basic info, Hinge wants you to “show off” the person behind the screen.

Photos

First up: profile pics and videos. (It’s pretty cool that the app lets you upload videos, too.) There are six spaces for images or videos, and if you’re unsure of what to upload, Hinge offers a “see what works based on research” feature that guides you.

You're required to submit all six photos to move forward. I didn’t love this because I hate photos of myself, but I did love it for filtering others. The fact that users have to do this is a pretty good sign that there will be fewer bots and catfish on this app (and honestly, in my past testing, I never encountered a bot).

Fill out your profile with photos/videos and prompts. Credit: Screenshot: Hinge

Prompts

After you’ve uploaded all six images/videos, you’ll be asked to write profile answers. You need to pick three prompts to start.

Some options include:

• This year, I really want to...

• I go crazy for...

• Give me travel tips for...

• Do you agree or disagree that...

• Don’t hate me if I...

• My last journal entry was about...

• Together, we could...

There are tons more across different categories, such as “self-care” and “date vibes.” You can write up to 225 characters for each. Once you fill out a prompt from one category, Hinge suggests filling out prompts from other categories to mix it up. And if your content is thin, Hinge’s AI will nudge you to “go a little deeper.”

You can also add an optional voice prompt to record up to 30 seconds of audio.

After all of that, Hinge gives you your first “Subscriber” pop-up. You can “Check it out” or click “Maybe later.” I’m super appreciative that this is the first time I’ve seen a push toward a paid subscription. Some apps (cough, eharmony) constantly push paid subscriptions.

And, voila! You’re finally finished setting up your profile.

Matching on Hinge

Whether you decide to keep going with your profile is up to you. You can see potential matches after the initial setup, or you can go back and edit details, add more, and see where things go. Of course, the app notes that to improve your match quality, you should complete more sections of your profile.

If you click “edit profile,” you’ll find the option to add a “Match Note,” which is a private message you can share with matches before you start chatting. Examples of what could go in here include things like whether you’re just getting out of a divorce, are recently sober, or are looking for a polyamorous relationship. It’s a dedicated space for the "need-to-know" info you might not want on your public profile.

Hinge also lets you add a poll, a video prompt, a voice prompt, and additional photos. If you’re wondering, the bare minimum we did above gets you to an 89 percent complete profile.

Unlike some other apps, Hinge lets you see full profiles and photos of potential matches for free. You can filter matches by gender, age, height, dating intentions, and more. This helps narrow your search down. More advanced filtering options are available only to paid subscribers (which I’ll cover in a bit).

On the main dashboard, you’ll have a home feed and a “Standouts” section (the star icon). These are people whom Hinge’s algorithm thinks you’d “be most excited about,” based on who’s getting the most attention, your dealbreakers, and your recent activity. “Standouts” are refreshed every 24 hours, so you can always browse new people the next day.

You’ll also see a “Likes You” section (the heart icon) where you can view profiles that have “liked” you. The cool thing here is that these people cannot connect with you unless you give the go-ahead. However, there’s a catch: free users can only view one incoming “like” at a time. You have to make a decision (match or skip) before you can see the next one. (If you have a paid subscription, you can see everyone who’s “liked” you at once.)

Also, once you send a “like,” you won’t see that profile again until they choose to match with you. And, you can only send eight "likes" per day. To prevent ghosting, Hinge also enforces "Your Turn Limits." If you have eight or more conversations where it's your turn to reply, you won't be able to send any new "likes" until you message back or unmatch.

It’s all part of Hinge’s “intentional” philosophy: If you’re forced to really think about who you’re matching with, you’re less likely to just mindlessly swipe on everyone just because (looking at you, Tinder).

Safety and security

In addition to the standard chat features, Hinge has a surprisingly robust safety suite designed to keep the scammers (and creeps) at bay.

Selfie verification

If you click on your profile photo and hit the “Safety” tab, you’ll see “Selfie Verification” first. To get that coveted checkmark, you have to take a quick video selfie to prove you’re a real person. Hinge promises the video is private, but here’s the fine print: according to the pop-up, Hinge keeps three screenshots from that video for the life of your account to audit the feature. It also keeps the results, whether you pass or fail.

Verify your profile to let people know that you're real. Credit: Screenshot: Hinge

Comment filter

The comment filter is another safety option that even free Hinge users can activate. You can set an “auto” filter to catch disrespectful comments, or use "Hidden Words" to block specific words, phrases, and emoji from ever appearing in your notifications. (Goodbye, eggplant emoji.)

Hinge tucks these away in a “Hidden Likes” section, so you can still view them if you really want to check if the algorithm got it right. I like that it gives you the final say without forcing you to see the trash upfront.

Block list

You can also sync your phone contacts to your "Block List." This is a must-have feature if you want to preemptively ensure you never see your ex, your boss, or your cousin on the app.

Underneath these features, there’s a direct button to contact the Crisis Text Line and a Help Center with safety tips. It feels comprehensive without being too in-your-face.

How much does Hinge cost?

OK, so I’m pretty impressed with the free features, but if you’re interested in seeing what else this app has to offer, Hinge+ and HingeX are the paid subscription tiers that’ll get you extra perks and advanced filtering.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what you’ll get with each:

Hinge+

Cost: Starts at $19.99 per week

What you get:

• Unlimited “likes”

• See everyone who “likes” you at once (no blurring)

• Additional dating preferences (height, family plans, politics, vices)

• Sort all incoming “likes” by compatibility or recent activity

If you live in a big city and are overwhelmed by likes, this is worth it just to see everyone at once.

HingeX

Cost: Starts at $24.99 per week

What you get: Everything in Hinge+, plus:

• Enhanced recommendations: Better quality profiles in your Discover feed.

• Skip the Line: Your profile is shown to people you like sooner.

• Priority Likes: Your "likes" stay at the top of potential matches’ lists (so they see you first).

You can also buy à la carte options like "Boosts" (which increase who sees you by 11 times) and "Roses" (which, according to Hinge, are two times more likely to land you a date).

Is downloading Hinge worth it?

If you’re looking for a relationship (and not just a late-night “u up?” text), yes, Hinge is absolutely worth the download. There are so many features that come standard for free users, which is rare. Plus, the app’s clear focus on helping people actually meet someone right for them (and its dedication to making you feel safe and supported) is unmatched.

I’ve tested this app in multiple towns, from small suburbs to big cities, and I’ve consistently had better results here than anywhere else. As a bisexual person, I also appreciate that it doesn't pigeonhole me; I always have plenty of options across the board. If you're ready to delete an app for the right reasons (i.e., actually meeting someone), Hinge is still your best bet.

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Credit: Hinge

Hinge

Hinge has a comprehensive free version, but paid subscriptions start at $19.99 per week

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If your pup could talk, what would they tell you? That they want to play fetch 24/7 and love it when you feed her people food? Yes, and yes.

As you’re setting healthy New Year’s resolutions for yourself, maybe it’s time to make some positive changes in your best buddy’s life, too. Right now, you can save 50% off your first box of human-grade The Farmer’s Dog pet food, so that’s a great start. Here’s how a fresh-food diet and healthy lifestyle can help keep their tail wagging for years to come. 

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Credit: The Farmer's Dog

The Farmer's Dog

Take 50% off your first box of human-grade pet food

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Fresh food vs. processed kibble

While the picture on your go-to bag of dog food might suggest the kibble inside was made with a juicy chicken breast, the reality is likely different. Pet food production in the U.S. is held to alarmingly low quality standards, and even “premium” kibble brands can contain diseased chicken parts and starchy fillers. Yuck.

If that isn’t enough for you to switch from kibble to fresh, a new study from The Farmer’s Dog shows that fresh food can support healthier aging in dogs — and who doesn’t want more good years with their pup? 

What’s in The Farmer’s Dog?

The Farmer’s Dog makes fresh dog food that’s formulated by on-staff, board-certified veterinary nutritionists. Each batch is made from gently cooked, human-grade meats and vegetables, has no added fillers or preservatives, and is quickly frozen to lock in nutrients. 

Unlike bagged kibble that can sit on the shelf for months, The Farmer’s Dog is shipped right to your door while it’s still fresh and nutrient-dense.

Personalized plans and portions

Keeping your pup at a weight that your vet deems healthy is another way to support your dog’s well-being — and The Farmer’s Dog plans can help you with that. Each plan is tailored to meet your pup’s particular needs, based on their weight, body condition, activity level, and other factors. The food is also delivered in pre-portioned packs, so there’s no guesstimating on your part.  

Want to help your pup feel their best in 2026 and beyond? Start by saving 50% on your first box of The Farmer’s Dog, then give them fresh veggies like mini-carrots as healthy treats, take them on plenty of walks, and always remind them they’re a very good dog.

Sure, you might have your eyes on the class-leading Sony WH-1000xM6 headphones — unveiled at the start of summer — but those things will cost you $450. Don't bother dishing out that much money when you can get headphones for a fraction of the price (with much of the same functionality) or, better yet, noise-cancelling headphones that carry longer battery life and a stronger sonic punch than the AirPods Max. Speaking of which, did you know that users were previously reporting that their Apple headphones suffered "condensation death" after being exposed to moisture buildup? Fortunately, our wireless headphones suggestions are all models you can wear for lengthy stretches — without stressing about their impending expiration date.

What are the best budget headphones?

If you're still an Apple loyalist when it comes to headphones, stick with us for a sec. You'll soon discover that these top picks from popular budget audio brands like 1More, Anker, and JBL are giving the market’s best a run for their money. We even have a bargain entry from Sony that’s well worth a look.

Don't believe it? You'll want to see for yourself by reading our reviews of the best headphones under $100 below.

What differentiates budget vs. higher-end headphones?

In case we weren't clear enough before, cheaper does not mean worse by any means (and vice versa) when it comes to headphones. Not always, at least.

Yet, the general trend still stands that the "higher-end" a pair of headphones is, the more likely you are to get better sound quality (aka undistorted bass), more playtime, and state-of-the-art features like adaptive ANC.

Budget headphones are known to leak sound more often than their pricier alternatives, and they'll likely have fewer extras, like spatial audio for immersive 3D sound and TalkThru technology (which amplifies your convo buddy's voice while reducing music volume instantly) featured in some of JBL’s flagship headphones.

Nonetheless, we made it our mission to find headphones — both on-ear and over-ear models — that aren't "higher-end" in price and borrow a lot of standout functionality from their more expensive counterparts.

I've had a Solawave red light therapy wand in one of my bathroom organizers for probably two years now. I really wanted to love it, but it just didn't provide noticeable enough results for me to remember to use it. So it should say something that I never forgot to use the Shark CryoGlow red light mask in the few months that I was testing it — and beyond.

The Shark CryoGlow mask's $349.99 price tag isn't exactly cheap, but it isn't expensive compared to the other top red light masks on the market. The price feels much fairer when the CryoGlow has a few unique flexes that separate it from popular competitors like the $395 Omnilux mask and $349 Solawave mask.

Shark hair tools like the FlexStyle have cemented themselves as formidable fixtures in the hair care world for years now. But the CryoGlow is Shark's first attempt at esthetics — one carefully designed over time after input from dermatologists, evidence from clinical trials, and customer feedback about other red light devices on the market. I learned all about its lore at SharkBeauty's launch event for the mask in January 2025, then brought one home to test for myself.

What does the Shark CryoGlow mask do?

The Shark face mask targets fine lines, acne, dark circles, and generally uneven skin texture. These are the main benefits of red light therapy (and blue light and infrared light), often yearned for when even the most devout skincare routines aren't doing enough.

The CryoMask is lined with 160 interlocking tri-wick LED bulbs, spanning all corners of the face and even a little under the jaw. Everyone calls it an LED mask, but if you want to get fancy, it's technically iQLED.

The Shark CryoGlow mask weighs around 1.5 pounds. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The pink glow is achieved when blue and red light are shining simultaneously. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

That 160 beats the 132 LEDs of the Omnilux mask or the 14 LEDs of the Solawave wand, so that's noteworthy on its own — but the "tri-wick" thing is crucial, too. Tri-wick means that every single one of those bulbs can emit each wavelength, so you're getting full-face light coverage regardless of the setting. Scientifically, this would be clocked in terms of irradiance: a measurement of power density at the source of the LED. The Shark CryoGlow hits a maximum radiance of 128mW/cm² compared to the 30mW/cm² of the Omnilux.

(The bulbs in several competing masks can't all illuminate simultaneously because they're either single-wick or bi-wick, meaning half turn off when their designated color isn't being used.)

The nanometer measurement of each wavelength plays a huge role in skin penetration. The Shark CryoGlow uses a 415nm blue light targeting the skin's surface layer and 630nm red light with 830nm infrared to travel to the deeper, cellular layer of skin.

So, what's the difference between red light and blue light? All you really need to determine is the skincare concern you'd like to target, then scroll through the CryoGlow remote's settings to choose one. Shark designed the two main settings to be used for an initial eight-week session with daily use.

Better Aging mode: This mode stimulates collagen production and promotes plumping under the skin, making it the best setting for targeting fine lines and wrinkles. Here, the mask administers a combination of red and infrared light simultaneously for six minutes.

Blemish Repair mode: This is used to kill acne-causing bacteria and improve skin clarity and texture on the top layer of the skin. Here, the mask administers a consecutive concoction of blue light with infrared for a few minutes, then blue and red light together for a few minutes, then red light + infrared for a few minutes. It takes eight minutes total.

Skin Sustain mode: This is used to maintain your results and get a daily boost of brightness after your initial eight-week cycle is over. Skin Sustain administers blue light, red light, and infrared light simultaneously for a total of four minutes.

After each session is completed, the Shark mask turns off by itself. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The remote keeps track of how many sessions you've completed. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Each cycle's timing was calculated based on the wavelength combination of that setting — it's a much more precise approach than Googling "how long you should use red light therapy for." During the science part of the discussion at the launch event, it clicked for me: The momentary swipe of a red light wand with a one-inch surface is a really small amount of true LED exposure. This cleared up a lot of my confusion about my lack of Solawave wand results when it worked well for other people.

The Shark mask isn't overly chill to wear, but it's quick

I doubt there's anyone out there researching the best red light mask to buy and expecting to not look like Dwight in that episode of The Office where he cuts off the CPR dummy's face. It's just part of the game.

Still, the Shark mask definitely isn't the chicest or slimmest mask I've seen. It's not foldable like some other models, and is also a little clunky when it comes to storage. The heavy packer in me could not take this thing in a suitcase, even though it comes with a carrying pouch.

I wish the remote were wireless, but it does have a pants clip. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

My cat isn't scared of the mask. I kind of am. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

There's definitely no answering the door like this, but you know what? The horror fanatic in me does not mind casually walking around the apartment looking like Jason Voorhees for a few minutes (though I am a proud Michael Myers girlie at heart — argue with yourself).

The CryoGlow doesn't necessarily feel heavy if you're just scrolling on your phone while wearing it. But it does start to feel a little bulky if you're performing a real task that requires looking down. I kept trying to feed my cats during morning CryoGlow sessions and had to strain my neck to accurately scoop the wet food into the bowls on the counter.

The mask itself is rechargeable and doesn't need to be plugged into the wall while being used; instead, it needs to be charged about every three days. Though the remote and its cord mostly stay out of the way, it would be sick if it were cordless.

The CryoGlow takes a few hours to fully recharge. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The thing is, no Shark CryoGlow session lasts longer than eight minutes. You're not really being inconvenienced for long. The fans are whooshing right in your ear, but it's not so loud that you can't hear a conversation or watch TV. Honestly, the hardest part of wearing it is sitting there with air-dried skin without something moisturizing on it — Shark recommends a clean, dry face for light to best penetrate, but the itchy feeling post-cleansing makes me want to tear my whole face off.

Shark CryoGlow results: First three months, then a 10-month update

I kind of stopped giving a shit about how I look without makeup after my frontal lobe developed. But the CryoGlow marks a time in my life when I genuinely feel cute bare-faced. I truly feel like there's more of an inherent glow and evenness to my skin after my full CryoGlow session than I've ever had before.

But I know everyone is most interested in the full transformation, so fine, I'll give you a "before" picture. But before I expose myself like that, I'm entitled to show the "after" picture first.

My skin after completing the full CryoGlow session. (Peep the sticker in the phone case — I TOLD YOU I was a Michael Myers girlie.) Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

I promise my skin is smooth in this photo — the only leftover "spots" are discoloration from previous giant pimples. I've accepted the fact that I need to pay for more microneedling to uproot those.

Does the Shark mask work on acne?

Every little kid dreams of growing up, having a mental breakdown about adult acne at age 30, and publishing a close-up photo of it in an online article for work. But I have to showcase the full transformation to show that yes, the Shark CryoGlow mask really does keep acne formation at bay.

Before: No concealer/foundation combo was hiding these. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

After: No makeup, just morning skincare! Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

For context, I'm 30 years old and never really struggled with acne... up until about four years ago. It's been a battle to keep my chin, jawline, and cheeks clear since then. I was living in fear of waking up with a new pimple cooking after I had just gotten the last one to simmer down. Mine were in areas typically associated with fluctuating hormones.

All of that was happening while never skipping my nighttime skincare routine and attending a few microneedling appointments, my last of which was three months before I started testing the Shark mask. While I do believe my religious Tretinoin use has improved the texture of my skin, it was outnumbered by hellbent acne. The only true slowdown of pimples I experienced started a month into using the CryoGlow. I went from a new painful crater popping up almost every day to maybe one or two every two weeks.

(The only other changes I recently made were spritzes of hypochlorous acid after waking up or going outside, and taking a Zinc supplement after TikTok suggested that could help with acne.)

The CryoGlow is excellent at fighting bacteria that causes acne and reducing redness of the ones that do exist, it doesn't really reduce acne scars or deep leftover red spots — and doesn't claim to. Those just seem to be stubborn little marks that probably require an in-office facial treatment.

Does the Shark mask work on fine lines?

Yes, the Shark mask made the fine lines in some areas of my face less noticeable.

The needlelike presence of my forehead wrinkles had become increasingly prominent in the last few years of my 20s. Makeup was making the texture even more noticeable, especially when it began creasing after a few hours. I finally started getting occasional forehead Botox about two years ago, and let me tell you: Botox is that girl. But the baby wrinkles soon creep back in, and keeping up with it gets expensive.

I'm fully convinced that the Shark CryoGlow mask was key in mellowing out my forehead lines enough to keep me out of the Botox chair for months longer than I'm "supposed" to. (For context: My last Botox appointment was five months before testing the Shark CryoGlow, and I did not get any Botox treatments while testing the mask.)

Concealer and powder were blending more seamlessly than they previously did when I was overdue. There's nothing like that post-Botox forehead plumpness, but the CryoGlow provided the next best thing for me — a smoothness that no serums in targeted Instagram ads are going to achieve.

Unfortunately, the CryoGlow didn't have the same blurring effect around my crow's feet. God forbid you're someone who LAUGHS.

Does the Shark mask work on under eyes?

I definitely think I look less like a corpse on the days when I use the CryoGlow's under-eye chill pads. This is where the "Cryo" part of the title comes in: the mask is mimics cryotherapy, which can lower inflammation of the tissue using targeted low temperatures. The chill pads can cool at three different levels of chilly during an LED session, or can be used without lights.

The CryoGlow's de-puffing effects don't feel super long-lasting — keep in mind that this is more of an elevated ice roller routine each morning than a heavy-duty under-eye treatment. You can't expect hollowness to permanently fill out, but I can vouch for the brightening effect. At any rate, the cool metal plates feel amazing when you're a zombie in the morning. If this sounds enticing to you but not enticing enough to spend $349.99, keep an eye out for when Shark releases the heating and cooling DePuffi device by itself in early 2026.

After almost a year, the Shark mask is still the mother of all skincare devices to me

Fast forward from May (when this review originally published) to December, I have since tested another top red light mask (the CurrentBody Skin Series 2 mask) as well as Shark's newest skincare device, the Shark FacialPro Glow. The FacialPro Glow isn't a direct comparison, since it targets clogged pores, dead skin, and sebaceous filaments, which aren't really on the radar of red light therapy. I think the FacialPro Glow is a great gift idea for a teenage girl, though.

In terms of which red light mask is the best, my resounding recommendation is the Shark mask over the CurrentBody mask. While the CurrentBody mask gets a few points for its flexible, more portable build, it's much more basic than the Shark mask.

A look at the LED bulb situation between the CurrentBody and Shark face masks. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The CurrentBody Skin Series 2 doesn't offer blue light at all, so some pimples popped up when I paused CryoGlow usage to test the CurrentBody. There's no customizing based on your current skin concern with the CurrentBody mask either — it doesn't have settings (just on and off), and there's no screen on the remote to provide a countdown timer. It's just an overall less luxurious experience that costs $120 more than the CryoGlow.

When researching other people's thoughts on both of these masks, the most common CryoGlow mask disadvantage I've seen is the lack of red lights around the eye (instead, the cooling pads are there). If fine lines around the eye are a much bigger concern for you than acne, then yes, you'd absolutely be better off going the CurrentBody route. I personally found the CurrentBody's eye-centric red lights blinding, to the point where I didn't want to wear the mask every day.

Is the Shark CryoGlow Mask worth it?

Shark's face mask continues to prove its worth in my skincare routine, and I'd recommend it to just about anyone.

The way my acne cleared up during the eight-week period was easily the most palpable result, and near-daily Shark mask usage has worked wonders on my skin's overall texture (and appearance without makeup) for almost a year now. I'm not saying you'll never get a pimple while using the mask, but I do think the CryoGlow's red, blue, and infrared concoction is extremely effective at mitigating the amount of acne popping up. Similarly, because its wavelengths can dig further into the skin than topical skincare, it's a more powerful tool for dulling fine lines than any retinols or retinoids I've tried. With less-dead under eyes in the morning as the cherry on top, I am glowier and more comfortable bare-faced now than I was pre-mask.

The Shark CryoGlow mask may or may not be able to accomplish these exact results for everyone from scratch. It probably depends on the skin you're working with to start, and the consistency of the rest of your skincare routine. The CryoGlow is definitely a slight financial investment up front, but most people deep in skincare mode know that no route to glass skin is cheap. Plus, regular CryoGlow use could end up saving you money over time.

Shark CryoGlow LED face mask

$349.99 at Shark

 

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SAVE $30: As of Dec. 22, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ coffee and espresso machine is down to just $99 at Amazon. That's a 23% discount from its usual $129.

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Nespresso Vertuo Pop+

$99 at Amazon
$129 Save $30

 

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Last-minute shoppers, if you're looking for a gift idea for under $100, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ just slid below that threshold.

As of Dec. 22, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ is on sale for only $99 instead of its usual $129. That's 23% or $30 in savings. There's a ton of color options, but only the pacific blue, pastel yellow, and candy pink have dropped below the $100 mark.

The Vertuo Pop+ delivers on-demand espresso shots at any time of day. But that's not all it does — it can also brew coffee in several other ways. Choose from single shots, double shots, five-, eight, or 12-ounce cups. Just pop in Nespresso pods, fill up the 25-ounce water tank, wait about 30 seconds for it to heat up, and it's ready to rock and roll.

It's just 8.5 inches wide, but the water tank can also be removed for an even slimmer build that can slide into small spaces. It's the smallest Nespresso machine on the market, but it still offers the same massive flavor. The Pop+ is a particularly good fit for dorms, small apartments, or even cubicles. As the name suggests, it adds a pop of color to any space, rather than the standard stainless steel look of most appliances.

At the time of writing, you can still order the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ on time for Christmas — but you'll have to act fast. Save 23% while you can.

"Elite gift giver" is a title we all strive to achieve in life. But I'd argue that finding a unique eco-friendly gift is the final boss of thoughtful gifting — thoughtful because you clearly carefully considered what'd make them happy, and because you made a conscious effort to not fall into the wasteful overconsumption trap.

I mean, consumerism really puts a damper on holiday cheer, particularly as it applies to waste and ethics. Consider how much non-recyclable packaging will be used, how many old tech devices will be trashed to make room for new ones, or how many underpaid workers put in extra hours to get those Shein prices so sketchily low. Of course, there's always the question of whether your giftee will even use that gift you bought in a hasty scramble, or if they'll gift it to the trash can to keep the peace in their junk drawer.

Outside of voting, using your dollar to shop and gift sustainably is a tangible way to get involved at the individual level. I've gathered a list of the best unique sustainable gift ideas below, including several items that I personally use and tell loved ones about. This isn't your average list of fancy reusable grocery bags and succulent gift boxes: There are affordable stocking stuffers that simply act as a less-wasteful version of something people already use regularly, as well as more creative, premium eco-friendly gifts like comfiest comforter ever that happens to be made from recycled plastic bottles. There's a gift for every point (and budget) on the journey to create less waste.

We all have a loved one who treats their pet like their literal baby — as it should be. These pet parents would probably be more than happy to receive a gift that doubles as a gift for their pet. (In fact, they might just prefer that.) And with the holidays right around the corner, we know a lot of you are searching for Christmas gifts for pets — and pet parents.

The best gifts for pet owners range from useful pet tech like pet cameras and GPS collars to enrichment toys, unique pet furniture, and enticing scratchers. Anything that introduces a new way to give treats is a guaranteed home run, of course.

We've pulled together a really fun list of unique gifts for dog lovers and cat lovers in 2025. You'll find some of the most-recommended pet products on the internet, recommendations from pet owners or foster parents on TiKTok, and several suggestions from Mashable's own pet parents and product reviewers.

There's a lot of pressure when brainstorming good gift ideas for your mom. She sacrificed a lot for you, and you'd like to show some appreciation back. Part of our larger series dedicated to finding the best gifts for everyone, this list of gifts for your mom (or any mom or mother figure, for that matter) attempts to think outside of the same old generic suggestions that have plagued moms at major holidays for decades.

Does she have a unique interest or pastime that's a huge part of her life? You could look for hyper-specific items that speak directly to her passions, or pick up an item to finally get her started on that dream hobby. If she'd appreciate a more practical gift, rack your brain for a frustration that she's mentioned more than once — perhaps her coffee machine sucks or she's having trouble sleeping. You can't go wrong with gifting something that'll make her life easier.

Either way, the best Christmas gifts for mom will make her feel listened to, valued, or straight-up pampered. Consider what she does when she has no one putting demands on her time — then shop for those moments. And if you get stuck, visit our guide to the best gifts under $50 for even more winning ideas.

Some people possess an innate talent for finding gifts on a budget. No matter the occasion (Christmas, anniversary, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day) or recipient (wife, husband, boyfriend, teens, in-laws), they somehow nail it every time — winning the unofficial "best gift-giver" award among those who are lucky to know them. If you're not the most intuitive gift-giver, fear not. We've put together a list of the best gift ideas for under $50, from expected-but-useful stocking stuffers to cool items they definitely don't have yet. These unique budget-friendly gift ideas span such a variety of categories that you're bound to find something up their alley. You might even catch a few on sale.

After an unprofitable 2025, it might be the end of an era for iRobot

Roombas, as we know them, might cease to exist at this time next year. It sounds like iRobot is planning on continuing the product line under Picea ownership, but we don't know when the next new Roombas can be expected. Here's how we got here.

Amazon and iRobot called it quits with their pending acquisition back in 2024, and things have only gone downhill for iRobot from there. Soon after that, iRobot randomly overhauled the Roomba lineup in March 2025 — an interesting deviation from its usual release schedule, in which the biggest Roombas of the year typically come out in August. It felt like a last-ditch effort to keep the company afloat after struggling to profit in 2024.

More than 20 Roombas have come out since the first Roomba hit homes in 2002, but the newest wave of Roombas saw the ingenuity that made its predecessors stand out. As someone who tests robot vacuums for a living, I've been saying for a year now that Roombas were struggling to stay relevant in a sea of smarter, stronger, more fairly-priced robot vacs from the likes of Roborock and iRobot's biggest Google search competition, Shark. Like sure, it's great to finally see a mopping Roomba with spinning mopping pads or a Roomba self-washing and -drying mopping pad dock that's relatively affordable. But the best robot vacuum mop combos from other brands have been on top of that for years.

If there's any hope for the Roomba's reputation, iRobot and Picea need to find a way to be more realistic about price points. If new Roombas are ever released, they need to be much more affordable in relation to other robot vacuums on the market that offer the same features. If iRobot and Picea insist on maintaining premium prices, they really do need to "innovate" as mentioned in the Dec. 15 press release — as in, find a way to stand out from all of the incredible robot vacuum advancements that we'll be seeing from competing brands at CES 2026.

How to tell the difference between the Roomba models

The iRobot Roomba 105. The Roomba Combo i5+. The Roomba Combo j7+ (not to be confused with the Roomba j7). The arbitrary numbers and letters of the Roomba family tree are confusing at face value, but we can teach you.

When shopping for a Roomba, you'll choose from what I call iRobot's core lineup: the group of three to five Roomba series sold on iRobot's website. Any Roomba whose title includes a letter and a number (like j9+ or i5) or the word Max is more advanced than a Roomba with just numbers in the title (like 105, 205, or 692) or just words (like Roomba Vac or Essential).

A plus sign (like j9+) denotes that the model comes with a self-emptying dock, and Roombas that mop will have "Combo" in the title. "Max" is a new Roomba term introduced with the Roomba Combo 10 Max — it refers to the ability of a hybrid Roomba to wash and dry its own mopping pad within the self-empty dock. On the other end of the spectrum, "Essential" means "most basic" in the Roomba family, meaning no smart mapping.

Other Roombas I've tested

I've tested several Roombas that are no longer main players in the Roomba guide for 2025. The Roomba Combo j9+ doesn't wash or dry its mopping pad, and is simply too expensive to be worth buying over its siblings like the Roomba Combo 10 Max, Roomba Plus 505. or Roomba Max 705. Plus, the j9's increasing obsoleteness has pretty much halted its ability to get a noteworthy discount nowadays.

I have also removed any 600 series Roombas from this guide for a similar reason: They just can't compete with the newer cheap Roombas that have stronger suction and smart mapping. When I tested the Roomba 694, it pissed me off more than it impressed. The Roomba 694 and Roomba 692 are hard to find in stock, anyway, and it's rarely for less than the Roomba 105 (my new top pick for the best cheap Roomba).

The Beats Powerbeats Fit are a perplexing release. They’re essentially a sequel to one of the best wireless earbuds ever made, the Fit Pro, yet come with a less powerful processor and a misleading name that has people confusing them for the flagship Powerbeats Pro 2. 

Outstanding active noise cancellation, sound, and wearability serve the buds well. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough upgrades to warrant the investment. Here are my full thoughts on the Powerbeats Fit.

Beats Powerbeats Fit earbuds review: By the numbers

Check the specs below:

• Type: In-ear wireless earbuds

• Processor: Apple H1 chip

• Battery life: Up to 7 hours (per charge), 30 hours with charging case

• Fast charging: 5 minutes equals 1 hour of use (USB-C charging)

• Ear-tip sizes: XS, S, M, L

• Colors: Black, blue, cappuccino, pink, white, yellow

• Noise cancellation: ANC

• Spatial Audio: Yes

• Water resistance: IPX4-rated

• Weight: 5.78 grams (per bud), 61.3 grams (buds + case)

Everything the Beats Powerbeats Fit earbuds get right

In terms of sound, the Powerbeats Fit are equal to the Powerbeats Pro 2. You’re guaranteed warm and well-balanced audio with some kick to it. Workout tracks best highlight the product’s lively soundstage. 

Bass is punchy on these buds. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

The monstrous bass on Clipse’s “P.O.V.” bangs heavy and is nicely controlled, resulting in high-octane reverberation that kickstarts intense workouts. I noticed the uptick in midrange on these buds compared to their upscaled sibling; vocals are crisper and more pronounced. The Fits also deliver sonic goodness on more delicate-sounding recordings. Instrumental separation on Miles Davis’ “So What” was very impressive. The smooth double bass, steady hi-hats, and vibrant horns put my body at ease during recovery. 

Turning on Personalized Spatial Audio boosted bass levels. Lows had more punch to them. Dynamic headtracking brought an immersive presence to all Dolby Atmos content.

Maintaining a tight seal is key to maximizing sound. The redesigned wingtips nestle gently on the ear and form a snug, secure fit. This provides solid noise isolation for fuller output.

Speaking of which, Beats’ noise cancellation is far better on the Powerbeats Fit than the Powerbeats Pro 2. Chatter, weight machines, and the humming noises from an AC were always noticeable when using the Powerbeats Pro 2 at the gym. The Powerbeats Fit kept me focused on workouts and let me enjoy music peacefully during leisure time. They block out mid- and high-frequency sounds at a higher level. Transparency mode was clutch for raising situational awareness. Running outdoors felt safer since I could hear cars and pedestrians loudly and clearly.

The Powerbeats Fit have a nice, secure fit that creates passive noise cancellation. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

The smaller charging case looks nice and holds more juice (up to 30 hours). A full charge gets you seven hours of use. ANC brings playtime down to six hours. Fast-Fuel charging generates one hour of listening time on a five-minute charge. 

Lastly, the buds pair seamlessly with iOS/macOS and Android devices.

What the Beats Powerbeats Fit earbuds get wrong

The Powerbeats Fit simply lack modernization. I’m shocked as to why they operate on Apple’s H1 processor. This limits their upgradability, meaning you won’t get the latest Apple listening modes (e.g., Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness) or many other upcoming features via software update.

Not having the Powerbeats Pro 2’s killer feature — heart rate monitoring — is another huge blow. Even worse is the absence of both multipoint pairing and wireless charging, which are two major features available on most other wireless earbuds. 

Are the Beats Powerbeats Fit earbuds worth it?

Not really. The missing features and older specs make them feel like last-gen mid-range buds, which is insulting to the Fit Pro since they carried the flagship banner for nearly three years. 

There are some redeeming qualities. Strong noise cancellation blends beautifully with resonant sound. Small touches to the design help optimize fit and portability. The increase in playtime is appreciated as well. In the end, quality performance is overshadowed by glaring flaws.

A price cut to the $200 tag may compel budget-conscious exercisers to purchase the buds. Until then, I strongly recommend splurging on futureproof Apple-based models that come with all the bells and whistles, such as the excellent AirPods Pro 3 or Powerbeats Pro 2. There’s also the original Fit Pro that still provide plenty of value at a more attainable MSRP ($139 at Amazon at the time of writing).

Beats Powerbeats Fit

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Whatever the occasion that has you looking for dad gifts (Father's Day, Christmas, Hanukkah), stay far away from clichés like whiskey stones and pocket knives. Unless your dad is an avid tie collector and seriously *lives* for ties, then avoid this played-out gift too. Instead, the best gifts for dads say, “I see your hobbies and I respect them." We've even got some unique ideas you may not have seen before. (We have two words for you: Fire. Harpoon.) From the latest gadgets from Apple, Sony, and Vizio to hip menswear finds, we think you'll find something your old man will love.

Look, we all know impossible guys who say they don't need anything. It's why finding Christmas gifts for dads is so notoriously difficult. But here at Mashable, we take gift-giving very seriously, and we're up for the challenge. We've spent the year testing the latest gadgets and reporting on the latest trends, from retro-themed Legos to new flagship noise-cancelling headphones. We've also got some unique gifts for men that probably wouldn't occur to you — one of the benefits of scouring the internet for a living.

Remember: The best gifts for men should make your guy feel seen. They should make him feel like you truly get him. So, before you click “buy” on something that will definitely require a gift receipt, let us take the wheel and show you some of the year's best gift ideas for men that are sure to make an impression — whether it's for Christmas, Father's Day, Valentine's Day, birthdays, or something else. And if you need even more gift ideas, check out some of our favorite gifts for boyfriends.

Do dating apps still work in 2025?

We get it, though. Dating as a man in 2025 is tough. It's not just the pressure to make or the fear of rejection if you do — it's the endless swiping through fake profiles, scammers, AI-generated thirst traps, bots posing as potential matches, relentless Instagram models trying to lure you into their OnlyFans scam, and matches with impossibly high expectations (yes, the "6-6-6 rule" is a real thing).

But despite the challenges, dating apps do work. A 2025 SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus survey found that nearly 39 percent of all U.S. adults have used a dating app at some point. The numbers are even higher for young people and the LGBTQ+ community.

While the experience isn't always perfect, plenty of guys find success. According to an older, 2023 Pew Research survey, 53 percent of people who've used a dating app said they had a positive experience, with 14 percent rating it as "very positive." And there's more good news — 57 percent of guys reported positive experiences and results compared to 48 percent of women.

The best dating apps for guys who know what they want

This guide is your cheat sheet for the best dating apps for men in 2025. We've done the research and found the apps that are actually worth your time. Whether you're looking for something casual or something serious, we have a dating app to recommend.

Pro tip: Don't be afraid to experiment. Try out a few different apps and see what works for you. And most importantly, don't get discouraged! Sometimes, the occasional bad date or disappointing flirtation is just the price you pay to meet the match of a lifetime.

DJI launched its latest smartphone gimbal, the Osmo Mobile 8, in November, in markets across (most of) the globe. It's a decent option for budding content creators on a budget, offering straightforward controls and smooth performance that can also help jazz up home movies.

The DJI Osmo Mobile 8 is a solidly built phone gimbal

Credit: A. Yeo

DJI's Osmo Mobile 8 has solid build quality, largely made of a sturdy-feeling black plastic — but it also comes with a slightly textured rubberised grip on the handle's rear. This addition seems unnecessary, as the material feels barely different to the rest of the handle and adds little in terms of grip.

The seams interrupt the smooth, ergonomic feel of it in the hand. Making the handle's body a single piece may have been preferable; the micro-channel around the grip seems likely to collect dead skin and grime. Still, the Osmo Mobile 8 feels good overall.

The Osmo Mobile 8 comes with its multifunctional module, a clamp to hold your phone, and a fabric storage pouch. The phone clamp connects to the gimbal arm via a magnet, which is reassuringly strong enough to give users peace of mind. There are also two USB-C cables: A longer one for charging the Mobile 8, and a shorter one which connects the module to your phone when using a mic. 

Credit: A. Yeo

In addition to these accessories, the Osmo Mobile 8 has an inbuilt telescopic extension rod and a tripod, both of which are solidly built. Though the extension rod only adds around 8.5 inches, it's enough to get crowd shots or a decent selfie, and packs away so well that you're likely to forget it's there. You can fully extend it while using the tripod as well, though it feels just precarious enough that you wouldn't want to if there's much of a breeze.

Tripod legs stow away in the Osmo Mobile 8's handle, making for a very compact and elegant design solution. These legs pull out from the bottom and then fold out, attached with metal hardware that feels durable.

There is a nice amount of flex when you apply downward pressure to the Osmo Mobile 8, while the tripod is set up. It has the kind of bounce that makes it feel it's unlikely to break.

The bottoms of the tripod prongs end in relatively sizable rubber feet, which provide a good amount of stability and grip, as well as scratch protection for the surface you place it on. It does a decent job of standing on uneven surfaces, though isn't designed for anything extreme.

DJI recommends picking up its separately sold Grip Tripod accessory if you want to set up your Osmo Mobile 8 in less even, more windy conditions.

Travelling with the Osmo Mobile 8 isn't smooth

Credit: A. Yeo

Unfortunately, even with its smart tripod storage, the Osmo Mobile 8 is bulky enough that carrying it around to shoot on the go feels like a hassle. The gimbal is over twice as heavy as DJI's popular Osmo Pocket 3 gimbal camera, weighing in at around 370g, and while the mobile phone arm folds down, it still leaves the Mobile 8 an awkward shape for transport.

The Osmo Mobile 8's included fabric storage bag offers little protection, alas, and doesn't feel sufficient for carrying it around. Realistically, many users are likely to leave the Osmo Mobile 8's magnetic phone clamp attached to the gimbal when not in use. (While DJI does have a flat quick-release mount accessory for MagSafe compatible iPhones, it's sold separately and isn't compatible with the multifunction module.)

The clamp can still be rotated even while the Osmo Mobile 8 is powered off, which can cause it to get caught in the storage bag's opening when being taken out or stowed. This part doesn't spin freely either, as the gimbal's mechanical range doesn't have a 360-degree roll. You wouldn't want to force it too far, which doesn't feel like an impossible mishap that might occur in the bottom of your bag.

The DJI Osmo Mobile 8 is best when used hands-free

Credit: A. Yeo

While the DJI Osmo Mobile 8's build is a bit clunky, it makes up for it with impressive performance. In addition to offering a fill light with eight levels of brightness and color temperature settings, the Osmo Mobile 8's incredibly handy multifunction module acts as a microphone receiver for compatible DJI transmitters as well as enables tracking of people or animals.

Subject tracking is smooth, easy to operate, and works well. When using the DJI Mimo app, users choose a subject to lock on to simply by tapping them while they're in frame. (Subjects are automatically tracked instead when using AppleDockKit in the iPhone camera app — more on that later.)

The gimbal will then follow the selected subject as long as they move at a moderate, reasonable speed, making it suitable for vlogging. We did successfully dodge it when attempting to do so, meaning people can duck out of frame when needed.

The Osmo Mobile 8 is great if you want to set up your gimbal for hands-free filming. Aside from the built-in tripod and heavier weight helping to keep it sturdy, the large phone screen enables you to check your framing from a further distance (provided you're using your phone's front camera).

Unfortunately, its weight acts against it when used as a handheld device. DJI's smaller and lighter Osmo Pocket 3 is a far superior handheld gimbal experience, though it's also three times the price and has a comparatively tiny inbuilt screen which makes filming from a distance trickier.

Credit: A. Yeo

When you've finished filming, turning the Osmo Mobile 8 off feels a bit like putting it in a sleeper hold. Powering it off involves folding down the gimbal arm and rotating it so that it locks in place, aligning the small, subtle indicators to guide you. At first it feels as though you're doing something you aren't supposed to, as the unit will struggle against you, twitching and turning as you force it into position.

When using the Osmo Mobile 8, the camera quality depends on the phone you use. The DJI Mimo app supplements this by offering a few basic beauty filter options. All of these work quite well, and can be adjusted in strength if you prefer more subtle touchups.

However, the iOS app applies face slimming by default, even if you move its slider down to zero. You'll have to completely turn off all beauty filters to disable it, meaning you can't just smooth your skin or get rid of your dark circles. In contrast, Android offers more beauty filter options, and doesn't apply face slimming automatically.

DJI Osmo Mobile 8 vs 7P: What are the differences?

Credit: A. Yeo

The Osmo Mobile 8 is the same size and roughly the same weight as its predecessor, the Osmo Mobile 7P. DJI also states that both models have 10-hour run times and charge in about 2.5 hours. The primary upgrades between the DJI Osmo Mobile 8 and Osmo Mobile 7P are the mechanical range of the gimbal and AppleDockKit support. 

While the Osmo Mobile 7P's mechanical range limited it to -109 to 222 degrees of panning, the Osmo Mobile 8 allows for full 360-degree pan rotation. This means that you can set it to track you via DJI's Mimo app, then walk in circles around the gimbal and have the camera follow you. Such a wide range of motion makes the Osmo Mobile 8 much easier to set and forget, for when you want to catch moments like running around with the kids at a family picnic.

The Osmo Mobile 8 also introduces AppleDockKit support, enabling iPhone users to track subjects in the native iPhone camera app. Pairing is easy, simply requiring you to tap your phone to the NFC tag on the side of the gimbal's handle. Even so, you can't directly choose what AppleDockKit tracks, making it most suitable for less busy shots where there's a higher chance it will lock on to your desired subject.

AppleDockKit tracking works with the Osmo Mobile 8's phone clamp, but won't activate if you have the multifunction module attached. It's far more practical to use the gimbal's quick-release mount instead if you have it, as its AppleDockKit tracking doesn't use the multifunction module anyway. 

Native iPhone camera tracking isn't necessarily a groundbreaking new addition to the Osmo Mobile 8, as tracking in the DJI Mimo app works well. However, it may improve workflow for people who prefer to film footage directly to their camera roll instead of via the app.

Should you buy the DJI Osmo Mobile 8?

Credit: A. Yeo

With compact gimbal cameras such as DJI's Osmo Pocket 3 available, comparatively bulky gadgets like the Osmo Mobile 8 can be a harder sell even for those willing to pay a premium. The Osmo Pocket 3 is notably more compact and lightweight, and doesn't require you to relinquish your phone to use it.

Even so, the Osmo Mobile 8's significantly lower price makes it a much more attractive option for those who dabble in content creation, primarily film at home, and are curious to find out how a gimbal might upgrade their setup.

If you're after smooth subject tracking on a budget, the DJI Osmo Mobile 8 is a versatile, well-built gimbal that will likely suit your needs.

Unfortunately, while the Osmo Mobile 8 is currently available in many markets, the U.S. remains a notable exception. DJI continues to deal with notable obstacles from the U.S. federal government, which have hindered its business stateside. For now, getting your hands on DJI's Osmo Mobile 8 in the U.S. may require going through third parties.

Shopping for gifts for gamers is a double-edged Master Sword. On the one hand, there are so many cool games, consoles, and accessories to choose from. But that's also the tricky part: There is so much gaming-related merchandise to choose from, to the point where you might feel under-leveled for the "simple" task of picking that just-right gift — especially if they're a long-time player who already has all of the obvious gaming gear. That's where we come in.

To help you on your side quest to find a respectable present for someone who loves video games, we've compiled a massive list of more than 50 gamer gift ideas for 2025 — including a bunch of games we've played and products we've tested ourselves. If you're gifting on a budget, you'll do well with a few months' worth of their favorite video game subscription service or a copy of one of the best video games of 2025 (recommended by Mashable's own Alex Perry). Leveling up over the $100 mark expands your options to high-end peripherals, while $200 and above unlocks current-gen consoles, or if you're really nice, a whole new PC.

Of course, mega fans of specific franchises can never get too much displayable merch. We've peppered in some collectibles, stocking stuffers, and Christmas gifts that they may not have yet, like Nintendo-themed LEGOs or a Diablo-themed Tarot deck.

Like it or not, sleep is a non-negotiable aspect of being alive. We human beings require sleep to continue functioning. The problem is, for plenty of people, sleep is an elusive beast. For a gigantic list of reasons, people struggle to get enough high-quality sleep and keep that sleep schedule consistent. 

One of the main sleep disruptors is temperature. Some of us can sweat through the sheets in January, while others cannot warm up no matter how many wool duvets they add to the bed. The Eight Sleep Pod 5 aims to remedy temperature as a reason why you cannot get restorative sleep. It does this, primarily, with the Pod’s Cover, which slips over your mattress like a fitted sheet. You get to set your ideal Cover temperature, or you can let the Eight Sleep Autopilot take the wheel, which will make adjustments throughout the night.

Plenty of us have gone to great lengths to find the secret to getting great sleep, but the Eight Sleep Pod 5 has a glaring factor — it’s really, really expensive. We’re talking between $3,000 and $6,000+ for a queen-size setup, depending on how luxurious you want to go. Since that number is not one most people find easy to swallow, I slept on the Eight Sleep Pod 5 for several months to decide if I think it’s worth the price. In the end, I’ve come to love almost everything about the Pod 5, and I miss it when I’m not sleeping at home, but I did find some aspects frustrating. My detailed adventure with the Eight Sleep Pod 5 takes off from here.

Disclaimer: If you deal with chronic sleep issues, please seek out professional medical guidance before turning to any type of physical product for relief.

How does the Eight Sleep Pod 5 system work?

It’s helpful to get the whole overview of how the Pod works before I dive into what my experience was like sleeping on the system. At its core, the Eight Sleep Pod 5 is a cover that slips over your mattress much like a fitted sheet. But this cover contains a network of small tubes that pump either hot or cold water throughout. The aim here is to either warm you up or cool you down, and therefore, help you get better sleep.

The brains of this water system sit in the Eight Sleep Pod Hub, which sits next to your bed and attaches to the cover via a thick cord. Sleepers control the cover’s temperature through the Eight Sleep app or with three buttons located on the side of the cover. There’s also an autopilot mode that hands off temperature control to the app, and it’ll adjust throughout the night to what it thinks will help you sleep best.

The Pod Cover connects to the Hub, which sits near the bed. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

Besides heating and cooling, the cover has some serious smarts in the name of sleep metrics. It detects heart rate and breathing patterns, and monitors sleep stages. All of that info gets sent to the app, which then gives a detailed nightly report on sleep quality. It also has a vibration function, allowing you to set an alarm to wake you up via vibration every morning, which is really snazzy and infinitely better than a cellphone alarm.

The blanket

In addition to the cover, sleepers can add the Eight Sleep Pod 5 blanket to the setup. It works in a similar fashion to the cover with small water tubing throughout that sends either warm or cool water through the channels. The blanket connects to the cover via cords to the ports located at the foot of the cover. Conveniently, the cords tuck under your mattress, so there’s little risk of kicking the blanket cords while you sleep.

An easy click-to-connect system attaches the blanket to the cover. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

The temperature for the blanket is also controlled in the app. Since the Hub controls the temperature of both the cover and the blanket, you’ll need to select one temperature for both products.

The base

For an extra luxurious slumber, Eight Sleep sells an adjustable base to pair with your mattress, the Pod’s cover, and the blanket. The adjustable base articulates at the head and the foot, so you’re free to adjust either area to find your perfect combo. In the app, you can move the base into pre-set positions for reading, relaxing, or sleeping, or keep it flat. Getting more particular, you can adjust the head and foot to the specific degree of your liking.

At times during testing, I found the reading position to feel too upright, but the lower relax position to be too close to lying down, so I adjusted the degree of incline, which is super easy to do in the app. The Eight Sleep base also has a built-in speaker that can lull you off to sleep with the soothing sounds of a rainforest and awaken you with soft beach waves. You can also go with pink noise, white noise, or brown noise.

Choose your favorite degree on the adjustable base. Credit: Screenshot: Eight Sleep app

The base can listen for snoring and adjust the head to help mitigate. Credit: Screenshot: Eight Sleep app

Another major benefit of the base is its snoring mitigation function. When the base detects snoring, it’ll raise the head area slightly. This small adjustment is undetectable, and its aim is to prop sleepers up in a better position to open their air passages, hopefully putting an end to snoring.

Since plenty of us get poor sleep on account of a partner snoring, myself included, this automatic adjustment is a lifesaver. I haven’t noticed my partner snoring in months, aside from the times we’ve been staying at a friend’s house where there was no Eight Sleep Pod provided in the guest room. Sigh.

Surprise! Setting up the Eight Sleep Pod 5 is super easy.

Since I tested the entire Eight Sleep Pod 5, which includes the cover, blanket, adjustable base, and legs for the base, I had a total of eight boxes. To say I was intimidated by the setup is an understatement. But to my absolute delight, it was super easy. Yes, it was a lengthy process that took several hours, but it was all straightforward. I had the help of my partner, but none of the elements would have been unmanageable by myself. The adjustable base is split into two sides, which makes it easier to carry into the bedroom. Perhaps best of all, the setup requires zero tools. 

Setting up the cover, blanket, and adjustable base was straightforward, thanks to the app's instructions. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

All you need to set up any and all elements of the Eight Sleep Pod 5 system is distilled water, a WiFi connection, the app up and running, and some time. I’ve assembled simple platform mattress bases that were far more complicated than the Pod 5. Phew. The app takes you through detailed setup instructions in a way that makes the entire process a cinch.

What I loved about sleeping with the Eight Sleep Pod 5

In truth, I loved a lot about the Eight Sleep Pod 5. Seattle summers have followed the global trend of getting way too hot, and most of us don’t have AC. I sleep hot to begin with, so summers have felt especially evil to me. The Eight Sleep Pod 5 made me forget what it was like to sweat the bed every single night. In my several months of testing, I woke up sweaty exactly once. Just one time I woke up drenched. Before the Pod 5, it was a rare occurrence if I didn’t wake up soaked. The difference was shocking. I also deal with migraines from dehydration, so having a sleep solution that keeps me from sweating a ton and losing a bunch of water at night has been a miracle.

Controls on each side of the bed means you don't have to look at your phone to make temperature adjustments in the middle of the night. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

My testing continued into the fall, and once the weather turned rainy and gray, I found comfort and pleasure in crawling into a pre-warmed bed each night. Napping on a pre-warmed bed also felt like I had unearthed some kind of hidden level of enjoyment in life that I didn’t have access to before the Pod 5.

The Pod 5’s base also changed my partner’s proclivity for snoring. In fact, it stopped it entirely. Not once did I wake up to shake him. I have to assume that not only did I sleep way better because of this, but he did, too.

Things I didn't love about the Eight Sleep Pod 5

Sleeping on the Pod 5 for the first two weeks or so was a journey, and I often wanted to get off the Pod train. Some nights, I woke up too cold and had to reach for my phone to bump up the temperature. (My partner preferred to make temperature adjustments with the Cover’s side controls, but I always went into the app.) Other nights, I woke up too hot and had to lower the temperature. All of that disrupted my sleep, probably more than getting sweaty would have.

In the app, select your ideal temperature for bedtime, night, and dawn. Autopilot will make adjustments, if you'd like. Credit: Screenshot: Eight Sleep app

A nightly look at how autopilot adjusted the cover's temperature. Credit: Screenshot: Eight Sleep app

It took several weeks for me to get acquainted with the Pod 5 and for it to get used to my preferences. On occasion, the bed would decide a toasty +7 was optimal for my bedtime temperature, which felt like I was sleeping on the sun itself. Other nights it went with a more moderate +5. I told it +3 was my preference, but the cover did what it wanted at times. To this day, it still spurts out bedtime temperatures seemingly at random. This, however, is easy to adjust in the app.

Because the Eight Sleep Pod 5’s Blanket has water channels, it’s heavier than your normal duvet insert and cover. Personally, I love a weighted blanket, so the Pod 5’s blanket is heaven for me. My partner, however, does not like weighted blankets and is not in love with the hefty feel of the blanket. The Blanket is an add-on to the Pod’s Cover, so I only recommend going for it if you enjoy the feel of a weighted blanket.

I love the weight of the Eight Sleep blanket. My partner doesn't. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

Who might love the Eight Sleep Pod 5

After sleeping on the Pod 5 for months through several seasons, I’ve compiled a list of people who I think would get significant benefit from the Sleep Pod 5 and might be able to justify the price. They include:

• Especially hot sleepers who don’t find relief with bedding or a breathable mattress

• Cold sleepers who can’t warm up with bedding

• Those who live in a warm environment without AC

• People with persistent aches and pains

• Couples who prefer to sleep at different temperatures

• Sleepers who are dealing with hot flashes

• Those who are super interested in detailed sleep metrics

In essence, if you want better control of temperature paired with detailed sleep metrics but you don’t want a wearable sleep tracker, the Eight Sleep Pod 5 could be ideal. 

Sizing options for the Eight Sleep Pod 5

Eight Sleep offers the Pod 5 in full, queen, king, and California king sizes. All of these sizes are capable of supporting two sleepers, with separate temperature controls on each side. However, if you sleep alone, you can indicate that during the initial setup to have the entire bed set for one sleeper.

The separate sides make the Pod easier for couples to use since temperature preferences tend to vary. It’s also ideal for when one person is napping and the other isn’t, or if your bedtimes vary. But the lack of a twin-size is a miss, in my opinion. After testing the Pod for months, I think older people who deal with pain or lower mobility are great candidates for the Pod 5, but they’ll have to be in a full-size bed or larger. The lack of a twin also means you can’t use the Pod 5 for a split king set-up, which is identical to two twins in a side-by-side arrangement. I love the idea of a split king adjustable base with the Eight Sleep Pod since this would allow each sleeper to choose their ideal base position, in addition to the temperature.

The Autopilot membership is extra

When you buy the Eight Sleep Pod 5, you’ll also need to select your Autopilot plan for the first year of ownership. The options include standard, enhanced, and elite, with varying levels of metrics and functions attached to each plan. These memberships provide access to Pod 5’s Autopilot feature, which enables your Cover to adjust the temperature throughout the night to what it deems most comfortable. Here’s the pricing breakdown for the first year:

• Standard: $199

• Enhanced: $299

• Elite: $399

Each Autopilot membership gives two users access to the plan, so you only need one plan per bed. And here’s what’s included:

• Standard: Autopilot temperature adjustments, sleep and health reports, vibrating and thermal alarms, snoring detection, and a two-year warranty

• Enhanced: Everything in Standard, but with a five-year warranty

• Elite: Everything in Enhanced plus advanced wellbeing monitoring, cardiovascular monitoring, and respiratory monitoring, like abnormal heart rates or breathing patterns.

It’s not possible to purchase the Pod 5 without signing up for one of these plans. However, after your first year, you can bail on the plan. But that means the Pod Cover will not automatically adjust temperature at night, and you’ll need to set it manually. You’ll also lose access to vibrating and thermal alarms, and you won’t get sleep tracking metrics, either. Boiled down, without the Autopilot plan, the Cover is pretty much just a fancy heated or cooling mattress cover. I fail to see much allure in using the Pod 5 Cover without the plan, so I’d factor the annual price into the overall cost of ownership.

An always-improving app that’s hungry for details

I’ll hand it to Eight Sleep — the developers put so much thoughtful design into the Pod 5 that it’s complicated to explain every feature of the bed and the app. Even a month after sleeping on the Pod 5, I would open the app to find a new area with new metrics and controls that I did not know existed.

The app is a complex beast, and I think data-driven folks will love it. Each morning, you get a comprehensive look at how you slept the previous night, including time spent in REM, deep sleep, and overview numbers that include how much time you spent asleep and how long sleep interruptions lasted.

The app also lets you see sleep biometrics, like resting heart rate, heart rate variability, snoring time, and breath rate. In addition to these detailed metrics, the app has some functions I’m pretty smitten with, like nap mode and a jet lag protocol. There’s also a special function that those who are transitioning into menopause will be thrilled about.

Hot flash mode could be a savior for those who deal with disrupted sleep from them. Credit: Screenshot: Eight Sleep app

The away function in the Eight Sleep app is snazzy. Credit: Screenshot: Eight Sleep app

Hot Flash Mode

About a month into my testing journey, Eight Sleep launched a new Hot Flash Mode. Once enabled, this mode lets sleepers alert the Cover about a hot flash, which will send the cover into a super quick cooling mode for a set amount of time. You get to choose the temperature drop and the duration. To make this easier than heading into the app when experiencing a hot flash, you can assign Hot Flash Mode to a button on the cover’s side.

I got to chat with Dr. Nicole Moyen, Eight Sleep’s Director of Science & Clinical Research, about Hot Flash Mode. She explained that about 80 percent of people in perimenopause will experience hot flashes, and many will go through several each night. Not only is this uncomfortable temperature spike disruptive to sleep, but Dr. Moyen also said it’s basically impossible to predict when a hot flash will occur. 

She said Eight’s Sleep’s own research has shown that simply sleeping on the Pod itself can cut the normal instance rate in half, even without using Hot Flash Mode. “We’re lowering people’s core body temperature and therefore keeping them within a narrow thermostat range that the brain needs,” she explained over our video call. But with Hot Flash Mode, sleepers can access rapid cooling in an attempt to mitigate the hot flash. Plus, the Pod will warm back up after the set time. Dr. Moyen explained that this experience is a stark contrast to how most people experience a hot flash, which involves intense heat, sweating, and getting out of bed to cool down — not to mention this is often followed by chills on account of the now sweaty bed.

I haven’t experienced the joy of hot flashes yet, but I tested out the function, and it does exactly what it should: cools you like you’re on fire. For people who deal with interrupted sleep each night for years on account of hot flashes, I can see how this feature could offer great relief. Plus, it could mean less disruption to a partner.

Away mode

When you head off on vacation or leave for the weekend and won't be around to sleep on the Pod 5, the app has an away mode. It takes you into a calendar to select when you'll be leaving and when you're returning. When setting up this schedule, you can indicate if both sleepers will be gone or just one. This'll put the bed in a dormant mode until your return. If you happen to come back earlier than expected, it's easy to push the "I'm back" option, and the Pod 5 will resume its normal schedule.

A bed that lives on WiFi

We all love WiFi, but the Eight Sleep Pod 5 is really, really in love with that connection. In fact, it hardly works without access to WiFi. That means the AWS outage took every Eight Sleep Pod offline. My bed went cold, but I was fine once I put on warmer pajamas and grabbed an extra blanket. Other users were in worse shape, and some took to the internet to complain of missing work because the bed’s alarm didn’t go off or struggling to sleep because it was too hot or too cold.

The following day, the brand's CEO, Matteo Franceschetti, posted on his X account that Eight Sleep would roll out Backup Mode, making some of the bed’s functions available via Bluetooth, bypassing the need for WiFi. If AWS crashes or your WiFi goes out, you can still adjust temperature and elevation. Some features won’t work, like the bed’s Autopilot adjustments, and the bed won’t turn on automatically at bedtime like it usually does, but you can manually set the temperature.

Eight Sleep said this new feature’s rollout would be “gradual,” and I haven’t seen any update on my Pod. But this update gives potential owners reassurance that their beds will still be able to heat or cool in the event of an outage. Keep in mind you’re still kinda screwed if the power goes out, unless you own a portable power station or have a generator for home backup.

A sad note about cleaning

You’re probably wondering how you’d go about cleaning a mattress cover that includes a network of water tubing. I sure was while I was testing. The answer is a pretty big letdown — you can’t. The Eight Sleep Pod 5 cover is not safe to clean in the washing machine. Instead, you’ll need to spot clean it as necessary with water and a smidge of soap. The Pod’s blanket is also not machine washable, and the tag notes instructions to “spot clean with a damp cloth only.

This brings me to urge caution to anyone who has pets or small kids from investing in the Pod 5. Any accident from pets, kids, or yourself (like spilled coffee or wine) could be near impossible to thoroughly and hygienically clean. Should you sweat at night (hopefully not, thanks to the temperature control), that could also soak into the non-cleanable cover.

Pair this with the premium price of the Eight Sleep Pod 5, and I’m not feeling like this is a wise splurge for those who share a bed with kids or pets. In theory, you could add a waterproof mattress protector over the Pod 5 Cover, but that could also create a barrier between you and the cooling or heating effects that cost top-dollar.

Is the Eight Sleep Pod 5 worth the price?

In a queen-size, the Eight Sleep Pod 5 with Hub and Cover sells for $3,248 with the Standard Autopilot plan. If you add the blanket and adjustable base to the setup and go with the Elite Autopilot plan, the queen-size price shoots up to $6,497. That’s a heavy lift for most people, especially considering you have to bring your own mattress to the party. 

But before I say I think the Pod 5 is too expensive, I have to point out that sleep is one of the most important pillars for us human beings. Sacrificing sleep is not smart, and the CDC mentions it's a large player in how our immune system functions and a major player in overall heart health and brain function.

With that in mind, if you cannot sleep because you’re too hot or too cold, the Eight Sleep Pod 5 might very well be worth the high price tag. If the Pod 5 allows you to get better sleep even for just one year, it works out to about $8 per night in the queen size. If we up the time frame to five years, it works out to just $1.67 per night. That’s not much for an investment in wellbeing and health.

I don’t think the Eight Sleep Pod 5 is a good investment for all sleepers, but it could be a life-changer for some. Considering some people drop more than the price of the entire Eight Sleep Pod 5 setup to spend one week on a cruise ship with Mickey Mouse (no shade — those Disney cruises look incredible), I don’t think the $3,049 price tag or even the $6,395 price for the cover, blanket, and base is all that wild. 

Sleep has the power to make a dramatic difference in almost every aspect of our waking hours, and if the Eight Sleep Pod 5 helps you get better sleep, I think it’s well worth the price. Keep in mind, Eight Sleep offers a 30-day trial, so you have some reassurance knowing you have a month of sleeping on the Pod 5 to decide if it’s a worthwhile investment.

It took me a while to fall in love with the Pod 5, but now that we’ve gotten to know each other better, I’m a big fan.

A parting note: You deserve an adjustable base

When testing the entire Eight Sleep Pod 5 setup with the temperature-regulating cover and blanket with the adjustable base, something stuck out to me: an adjustable base is a next-level sleep accessory that you need. Adding an adjustable base to your bedroom setup makes it feel like you splurged to book the first-class suite every single night. The pleasure of hanging out in bed to watch shows, read, or reply to emails while cozy in an elevated position is something I underestimated.

Sleeping with the head slightly elevated is great for those who deal with light snoring, and raising the feet is optimal for athletes or those who work on their feet all day, since it can help with blood flow. But the simple luxury of reading in bed while sitting up on a stable surface (instead of an unstable pillow pile) is a life upgrade I wholeheartedly recommend. Temperature-adjusting Eight Sleep Pod or not, an adjustable base is a life changer.

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Credit: Eight Sleep

Eight Sleep Pod 5

$3,048 at Eight Sleep

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Buying gifts for the special woman in your life can be tricky. What do you buy a person who has everything? What should you gift to someone who's picky about their products? Our advice is to curate a gift according to her interests and personality.

A gift for the lady in your life should be just that: A gift for her. Part of our bigger series on the Best Gifts For Everyone, we’ve put together this comprehensive list to guide you on your important mission. And if it happens to be a teen girl you're shopping for, then we have a list for that, too.

So whether she's a techie, runner, or pet owner, these are the best gifts for her.

Octopath Traveler 0 had every excuse to be half-assed. It could have been smaller, leaner, and less compelling than its predecessors, just by virtue of where it came from. It is a minor miracle that it’s none of those things.

The latest throwback-style turn-based RPG from Square Enix, in case you don’t know, is a $50 console and PC adaptation of a free-to-play mobile game from 2020. The developers took a bunch of existing characters, enemies, storylines, mechanics, and music, and reconstituted them into an entirely different and wholly welcome new format. Given that mobile games are inherently fleeting, as they rely on storefronts, servers, and payment processes that will cease to exist someday, I think this is kind of incredible.

It also helps that the end result is just a real, real good RPG. Octopath Traveler 0 takes a foundation that could’ve produced something awkward and rickety and turns it into a game that keeps expanding and becoming more compelling the more time you invest into it. It might not feel as premium as the other console games in the series, but that doesn’t stop Octopath Traveler 0 from being one of the best RPGs of 2025, and a worthy addition to what is quickly becoming a very good series.

Humble beginnings

Making your own dude is cool. Credit: Square Enix/Steam

Octopath Traveler 0 is different from the first two console entries in the series in a number of ways, largely owing to the fact that it’s reformed from components of Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent, a free-to-play phone spin-off. That means the very design fabric that made those first two games stand out is gone here.

Specifically, you no longer choose from one of eight pre-designed characters and spend the rest of your journey recruiting the other seven. That format produced games that felt more like short story collections than grand adventures, as each character had their own distinct arcs that largely didn’t involve the other characters. In Octopath 0, you instead create your own character, choose a starting class, and set off into the same prologue that every other player will see.

Soon enough, your humble hometown gets burnt down by some nefarious evildoers, and it’s up to you and a handful of other survivors to rebuild and seek revenge. There are several bespoke story arcs that rarely touch each other here, as in previous Octopath games, but they’re centered around heroes rather than villains. You can do them in whatever order you want, but you’ll have to do them all eventually.

Your party starts out small and gets much, much bigger later. Credit: Square Enix/Steam

Perhaps the biggest change, which comes directly from the mobile game, is that there are multiple dozens of playable party members in Octopath 0, as opposed to just eight in each of the previous two games. You don’t have to pay money to participate in slot machine pulls to unlock them anymore, as they’re now doled out at a reasonable pace over the course of the story, and many of them are optional to recruit. 

Structurally, Octopath 0 is substantially more appealing to me than Champions of the Continent could ever hope to be. I don’t like free-to-play gacha games, but I like narrative RPGs. I think it is an act of near-genius to adapt a mobile game to a console game in the way the developers have here. While Octopath 0 feels different from its brethren, it rarely feels lesser than those other games. There are fewer combat animations for each character, to be sure, and it’s noticeable to fans of the other games that much of the music is reused. But Octopath 0 does not cut corners. This is, for all intents and purposes, a big, new, fully-featured RPG built using the bones of a mobile game. In a world where new games take forever to get made and budgets are ballooning, I can’t help but applaud this novel approach to filling the gap between 2023’s Octopath Traveler II and whatever comes next.

Octopath Traveler 0 takes a while to get going

You'll do plenty of this, at least for a while. Credit: Square Enix/Steam

As a non-full-priced game with such a strange origin story, it would be reasonable to expect a game with less going on than its higher-budget counterparts in the same series. That expectation could not be farther off the mark, though.

I’ll just state it bluntly: This game took me about 80 hours to finish. It’s a massive investment, and it’s an investment that requires a degree of patience. Many of the early first 20 hours or so are spent setting the table for what comes later. You will spend a lot of that time recruiting a full party and starting the process of rebuilding your hometown, which is done in a fairly substantial town-building minigame. There are essential, game-changing battle mechanics that are hidden behind building certain structures that don’t unlock until you hit that 20-hour mark, approximately. 

Do not misunderstand me; I am not saying Octopath Traveler 0 takes 20 hours to get good. I am saying, however, that it saves its best for later. Like I said, it’s an investment, and I think it’s a rewarding one to make.

But once it starts rolling, it becomes unstoppable

Fights with a full party are thrilling. Credit: Square Enix/Steam

That reward takes a few different forms. One of them is excellent turn-based combat, which is some of the most fun in any game released this year.

Unlike previous Octopath games, in which you had four party members on screen at once, Octopath 0 lets you work with eight homies on the field at any given time. They’re arranged into a front row and back row. Those in the front can attack and take damage, while those in the back are guarded from hits and slowly recover resources with each passing turn. You can instantly switch between one character and another character who is in the same horizontal slot as them on the formation screen, and figuring out who plays second fiddle to whom is a huge part of build-crafting in this game.

This works exceptionally well with the main battle conceit of every Octopath game, which is the Boost system. At the start of each turn, every character earns one Boost Point, and they can hold up to five at a time. You can use as many as three in one turn to power up whatever you’re about to do, whether it’s a big attack or a healing spell. In previous games, you had to be a little stingy with Boost Points, but not here. Having a whole backup crew gradually building up points means you’re incentivized to use more of them more often, and the combat is balanced accordingly. It’s an exciting and different challenge from something like Octopath II.

Building up your hometown is plugged into your progression, as well. As I said earlier, you have to build certain structures and house them with certain recruitable NPCs to unlock many key features of the battle system. Building requires resources, but collecting them is generally painless as long as you’re observant and make sure to pick things up on the road. Perhaps a bit annoyingly, there are also important quality-of-life features like fast travel that are locked behind building and upgrading structures.

I do have one complaint about town-building, which is that you can essentially “finish” your town (that is, build every essential gameplay structure) halfway through the main story, at which point there’s no longer much need to think about it. I would have preferred more hooks for the endgame, but I suppose there’s also something to like about just focusing on exploring and fighting as the game winds towards its conclusion.

The story gets better later

This dude is the best character in the game. Credit: Square Enix/Steam

Speaking of which, the other main vector of satisfaction if you choose to invest your time in Octopath Traveler 0 is the narrative. This game is all about how greed is bad, and each villain represents a different kind of greed. Some want fame, some want wealth, some want power, but they all want, and that is where they end up harming those around them.

At first, it feels very heavy-handed and predictable. Stick with the story long enough, however, and you’ll find that the early predictability gives way to later twists that actually have weight to them. Octopath Traveler 0 is an exceptionally earnest game, never trying to trick or outsmart the player. It just wants you to care about this world and these people, and I think it does a fine job of extracting those feelings from the player by the time it’s done.

Part of that is a lengthy finale chapter, which amounts to maybe a quarter of the game by itself. This is where every other previously-disconnected storyline comes together, and all the characters you’ve met up to that point start interacting with each other for the first time. The game’s biggest narrative swings all happen in the finale, including a villain reveal for the ages. This is easily the best antagonist of any Octopath game, but to say any more would ruin the fun for you.

Just sit with it for a while

Before we’re done here, I’d be remiss not to mention that Square Enix’s “HD-2D” art style that started with the first Octopath game is still great here. I really dig the intentionally low-fidelity look of the sprites and 3D assets, combined with modern lighting and depth-of-field effects. It doesn’t really look like an old game, but it looks awesome, nonetheless. Yasunori Nishiki’s music is also a standout element of Octopath 0, as he has become one of the finest RPG composers working right now. One of the boss fight themes is such a smoking hot banger that I’ve been listening to it for a week straight in my free time.

Unfortunately, performance in the Nintendo Switch 2 version (which is what I played) isn’t great. It targets and comes close to hitting 60 frames per second most of the time, but there's a noticeable stutter that seems most prevalent during the first few seconds after entering a new area. Not unplayable by any means, but certainly a little disappointing.

Still, Octopath Traveler 0 is a remarkably long and generally worth-the-effort experience, especially for anyone who vibes with the other games in the series. This is the kind of game that you’d yearn for as a teenager on summer break with nothing else to do. You can sink into it for dozens of hours, and it just keeps getting better the more you play it, thanks to excellent combat and a story that finds its best self in its later stages.

I understand not everyone has time for that kind of thing in their adult lives, but if you can create a window in your life for Octopath Traveler 0, your patience will largely be rewarded.

Octobpath Traveler 0 is available for Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X, and PlayStation 5 for $49.99.

OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 (Nintendo Switch 2)

$54.52 at Walmart

 

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Christmas stocking stuffers have long been the afterthoughts of gift-giving, mere "Let's just get this out of the way" or "Oh no, I forgot again" presents. Think: tacky socks, bulk chocolate candy from the clearance aisle, and Chapstick. (And do not get us started on wh*skey st*nes.) Most of these last-minute gift ideas are just begging to be tossed in a junk drawer or the donation pile, never to see the light of day again. Granted, it's a fate they probably deserve.

That's a shame, because unpacking your stocking should be the perfect start to the happiest day of the year. So, we consulted our deep bench of shopping reporters, deal hunters, and product reviewers to gather the very best stocking stuffers of the season.

We've gathered our favorite tiny-but-impressive gift ideas that can work for everyone on your list. So, whether you're searching for stocking stuffer ideas under $25 or something fancier that will catch them by surprise on Christmas morning, we have more than 60 unique gifts to inspire you.

Let the holiday shopping commence.

Among Amazon's flagship gadgets, like Kindles and Fire TVs, Echos are the stars of the show. These multitasking smart home devices do a little bit of everything in nearly every room in the house. (Plus, with this year's rollout of Alexa+, they're now supercharged with extra AI features.) Whether you need a smart speaker, alarm clock, or hub for your other smart devices, there's an Echo to help you out. Amazon's list of devices is ever-growing, so we've tested them to find the best Echo devices for your smart home.

If you're ready to invest in an Echo, you don't need to buy these devices at full price. They always go on sale during events like Prime Day and Black Friday, so it's worth holding out until the next sale.

New Echos in 2025

On Sept. 30, 2025, Amazon debuted several new Echo devices. We've yet to test the new Amazon Echo Dot Max or the refreshed Echo Studio, however, once we've completed testing, we'll add them to this guide.

Changes to existing Echo devices in 2025

For existing Echo owners, or those looking to become ones, a major change happened in 2025 that affects user privacy. Amazon sent out an email to users saying the "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" feature on the device will no longer be available as of March 28, 2025. But what does that mean?

Previously, the "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" setting allowed the devices to process requests locally without sending them to Amazon servers. However, with that setting no longer supported, all requests will now go through Amazon servers. Plus, if you do have that setting turned on after the change goes into effect, you'll lose access to the Voice ID feature as well.

While Amazon promises that all information requests are encrypted and secure, it still means that the retailer has access to all of that data.

What can an Echo smart speaker do?

Trying out the new Echo Spot smart alarm clock. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

All Echo devices utilize Amazon Alexa's AI superpowers — it's just a matter of which form you want your Echo to take. The Echo and Echo Dot are smart speakers that you can use for music, phone calls, calendar reminders, or news alerts. Amazon Echo Show devices, on the other hand, can do all of the aforementioned audio stuff, but they also boast colorful displays for making video calls, streaming entertainment, or managing your day. Think of Echo Shows as stationary, more affordable tablets, essentially.

Most Echo devices are designed to act as smart hubs within your home, but some Echo devices can also be taken on the road. Echo Auto brings hands-free Alexa functionality to the car, while Echo Buds and Echo Frames can travel with you anywhere.

What can Alexa+ do?

Alexa is to Amazon as Siri is to Apple, and is the driving force behind every Echo. But Alexa just got a big upgrade. Now there's Alexa+, a new AI-powered version of Alexa introduced to Echo devices in March 2025. For Prime subscribers, Alexa+ will be included in membership, and non-subscribers will have to pay $19.99 per month for the service.

Alexa has an answer to almost anything you ask. Just by shouting out, you can play music, adjust the volume, and set an alarm or timer. And that's just naming a few options. On devices like the Echo Show, you can also ask Alexa to pull up recipes or answer questions that come up while cooking. With Alexa+, the AI agent doesn't just respond to commands but can actually engage in conversation.

Here's a short list of what Alexa+ can do:

• Provide a highlight reel of the day's security footage

• Read stories to kids

• Plan a date night

• Book restaurant reservations

• Control your smart home technology from one central hub

• Access your calendars and set reminders

• Get answers to any question you can think of

• Make phone calls (and video calls with an Echo Show)

• Get the latest weather and news

• Follow recipes

• Shop on Amazon

• Stream music (and video on an Amazon Echo Show)

• Play games

There are more than 100,000 Alexa skills that you can utilize via an Echo device, and Amazon is always adding more.

Alexa gets supercharged when other smart home tech comes into the picture. If you have a smart thermostat or smart light bulbs, as long as they're compatible with the Alexa system, you can create routines through your Echo. That can be as simple as telling Alexa to turn on the lights in one room or programming Alexa to turn the thermostat down before you come home.

If you're ready for an Alexa-powered home, read on for the 10 best Amazon Echo devices of 2025.

I'm not saying that you can expect every robot vacuum that mops to scrub your kitchen grout with the same tenacity as you could by hand with a toothbrush. But the best robot vacuum and mop combos have gotten much closer to true deep cleaning versus the ol' wet light dusting of the cheap mopping robot vacuums of the early 2020s.

Many have smart mopping settings that unleash deeper scrubbing on specified spills or stains, and some even use AI sensors to assess whether a mess has been sufficiently cleaned. The mopping mechanisms themselves are also just more physically able to do a better job — from downward-pressing dual rotating mops that can actually get close to the wall or sturdy roller mops that rinse themselves as they go, automated mopping involves more elbow grease and brainpower than you may be expecting.

You can also set your robot vacuum to take multiple passes over dirty floors in the app's settings — one of my go-to tips for making your vacuum work better.

The self-emptying docks of 2-in-1 robot vacuums are far more advanced than they were a few years ago. The best robot mop combos will also self-dispense detergent, automatically wash and dry their mopping pads, and then refill themselves with clean water. In theory, mopping pad maintenance should be nearly as automated as the cleaning itself.

Recent changes to this guide

• Narwal Freo Z10 Ultra: This is the newest recommendation in this list, added on Nov. 13, 2025. I've named it the "best robot vacuum mop combo under $1,000," a mark that it hits when on sale. The Eufy X10 Pro Omni got a similar update: It's now named the "best robot vacuum mop combo under $500," which refers to a sale price it hits quite often.

• Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller: I've added this new vacuum as of Oct. 18, 2025. For now, I've named it the "best roller mop robot vacuum," but it's a frontrunner to be my "best overall" pick.

• Roborock Saros 10R: Previously our top pick as the best robot vacuum and mop, I've now named this the "best corner mopping" vacuum, also as of October 2025.

Other robot vacuums I've tested recently

I've also tested several other robot vacuum hybrids in the past few years that didn't make the latest cut. The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Roborock Qrevo Master, Dreame X50 Ultra, and Narwal Freo X Ultra were all top considerations for this list at one point, but were merely upstaged in power and price tag value by newer models.

New robot vacuums announced at CES 2026

Several top robot vacuum brands unveiled new flagship models at CES in early January. These include the Roborock Saros 20 Sonic and Qrevo Curv 2 Flow, the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete, and the Narwal Flow 2. I will be testing these at home as soon as possible and will update this guide accordingly once all are officially available for purchase.

As someone who has been flying drones for years, it takes a lot to impress me. For the longest time, if you wanted a drone in the U.S., there was DJI, then there was a 50 yards of nothing, then there was everyone else. I'm happy to say that is no longer the case. In the past year, new contenders have started to emerge, which is good timing since DJI is possibly/probably/almost definitely going to get banned in the U.S., and soon.

One alternative has emerged with a very compelling offering in the form of Antigravity A1 drone. Antigravity is an offshoot of Insta360, a fact that will become important (and obvious) once you learn more about this drone. While most drones are cameras that you can fly, the Antigravity A1 is a 360-degree camera that you can fly.

Put simply, you can put this drone up in the sky and fly it like any regular drone, but instead of capturing what's ahead of you, or under you, or over you, it captures all of it in 8K. This has several advantages, but first, let's talk about the hardware.

Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

The Antigravity A1 8K 360 Drone comes in three bundles, available starting Dec. 4 at Antigravity and Best Buy:

• Antigravity A1 8K 360 Drone Starter Bundle — $1,599

• Antigravity A1 8K 360 Drone Explorer Bundle — $1,899

• Antigravity A1 8K 360 Drone Infinity Bundle — $1,999

What's in the box

Unboxing the Antigravity A1 Drone. Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

It's not entirely clear which bundle I received, but I believe I got the Infinity bundle, which includes a carrying case that carries the drone, a one-handed controller, the goggles, four drone batteries, and a battery for the goggles. There were also a bunch of other accessories — extra blades, screwdrivers, and importantly, four batteries and a charging dock that can handle three of them. The drone itself weighs in at 249 grams, which means there are fewer regulations you need to follow to fly. It's a classic folding drone with four extendable arms. There's also an automatic landing gear which flips down automatically when you land — it's neat.

The controller has a trigger and all sorts of buttons and switches that control the drone. The basics you need to know are the up and down toggle, which increases and decreases altitude, a roller wheel, which turns the drone in place, and a trigger, which makes it go forward. 

Then there are the fancy remote control goggles, which have dual Micro-OLED displays with a resolution of 2,560 x 2,560 pixels. There's also an exterior display, which is handy for a few different reasons. One of the first things I had to do was update the software on the various pieces of equipment, and the display on the outside of the goggles could show me the progress. The display also allows you to share what you're seeing with outside observers, which is pretty cool.

One nice thing about the goggles is that they offload the battery to a lanyard you wear around your neck. This removes the weight of the battery from your face, which is very welcome indeed. The battery attaches to the headset with a cable that has a USB-C connector on one end and a barrel plug on the other. The headset itself also has a USB-C plug on it, but that plug doesn't accept power — it's for data only. I would prefer to have the option to use either the barrel plug or the USB-C port for power, but that is sadly not an option.

When folded up, the drone is smaller than a 16" softball, and it can fit into a jacket pocket — at least a jacket pocket for a guy my size. It's extremely portable, though of course, the goggles and the controller also take up a fair amount of space.

Flying the Antigravity AI 360 drone

Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

One of my favorite drones to fly up until this point has been the DJI Avata 2, which is an FPV drone. To fly it, you wear a set of goggles and use a one-handed controller, which allows you to fly in, around, and through obstacles with aplomb. It's like those drone videos you see of flying through a bowling alley or Wrigley Field. It's intuitive and simple to learn.

The Antigravity A1 is very similar to that — you wear a headset and use a one-handed controller to fly in the direction you want to go. The only difference is that you're capturing everything around you using top and bottom-mounted sensors. The really trippy part is where the headset comes in, because as you're flying, you can turn your head and look around you. You can turn in a complete circle and look up and down and see everything, including straight down, a view that's not for the faint of heart.

If you turn your head away from the direction you're flying, you get a small picture-in-picture (PIP) that pops up to show you where you're going while you look around. It's brilliant, and I love that part of it. It gives drone pilots a freedom we didn't have before.

The remote control glasses have dual microOLED displays, not unlike a VR headset. Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

The control interface is similar as well — there's a small square that you point with the controller to control the direction of flight. One thing that Antigravity does differently from the Avata is that it asks you to move your entire arm in order to direct the drone, as opposed to the wrist movements the Avata relies on.

Speaking of which, there are a lot more controls on the controller for the A1, which makes it less intuitive and a bit harder to learn. It's also very possible and indeed likely that my muscle memory — developed from flying the Avata for over two years — made it harder for me to wrap my mind around the controls of the A1. It's not a lot harder to learn, but it is more complicated.

The anti-collision sensors on the A1 also made the drone harder to fly — at least in my backyard. I have a tree that complicates maneuvers greatly, but the sensors tend to be extremely conservative. While the Avata is capable of flying through the rungs of a ladder, the A1 freaked out when I tried to fly it through the four-foot gap between tree branches and my fence. This is with default settings, mind.

I tested the drone over the past couple of weeks in the latter part of the fall and early winter. In Chicago, that means in windy conditions and cold temperatures, neither of which are great for flying. Antigravity suggests you can get up to 24 minutes of flight time on a charge. That seems about right, under optimal conditions. I got closer to 18 to 20 minutes in my testing, but again, that's in suboptimal conditions.

Capturing everything all at once

Flying the drone and being able to look all around you is fun, and an incredible experience on its own. You can fly up to 400 feet in the air (the maximum allowed by the FAA) and just turn your head to look around and see what's going on around you. But where this really becomes beneficial is when you are capturing the footage as a creator.

With a "normal" drone, you almost need two different operators — one to fly the drone and the other to aim the camera. In fact, many professional-grade drones actually require that. The Antigravity A1 eliminates that issue by capturing a full sphere of footage around it at all times. All you have to do as a pilot is fly in proximity to what you want to capture, and you can focus the camera later when you're sitting at your computer.

That's at the heart of the Antigravity A1 experience — freedom. As a casual user, you can fly this intuitive drone anywhere you want in the sky and look around and see whatever you want to see without having to manipulate and maneuver the drone just right. As a content creator, all you have to focus on is putting the drone near the event you want to capture, and it takes care of the rest.

Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

While the technology isn't all the way there yet, imagine having a drone with a 360 camera on it to film Tom Cruise's cliff diving stunt in Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning. Needless to say — don't try that at home — but rather than worrying about drone positioning and camera angle, you eliminate a variable by just flying the drone next to the motorcycle and capturing everything.

While we're on the subject of capturing with the device, this would be a great time to talk about the fact that I wasn't able to actually retrieve what I captured from the device.

You may have noticed this review doesn't feature any photos or videos taken by the drone, which is its main job. That's because explorting my files has proven impossible. I don't know if that's because I'm testing the drone before its official launch, or some unknown technical problem, but it's certainly frustrating.

I'm working with Antigravtiy as we speak to address this issue, and we'll be sure to update this review — with photos! — once we get that resolved.

It all comes at a cost

All that being said, one of the reasons DJI has been so successful in the U.S. market is how inexpensive its drones have been. The DJI Mini 3 currently starts at $419. The DJI Avata 2 Fly More combo, which comes with a similar set of accessories as the A1, is $1,199. Meanwhile, the Antigravity A1 starts at $1,599. That price includes the drone, goggles, and grip controller. There are also various accessories that can bump the price up to $1,999 at its highest level. 

That's not terrible, but it's also not very accessible. You have to really want to fly a 360-degree camera to buy this drone. It's a very cool experience, and it takes an enormous burden off your shoulders if you're a content creator. 

It's also important to remember that this is a Gen-1 product. It's very well built and designed, but there are still a few kinks to work out. I'd like to see the controller itself get a little tighter with fewer buttons, so it's easier to fly. I'd also like the default settings of the collision sensors to tone down a little so I don't need to find an open field to fly in.

But for a first effort that solves a lot of problems, there is a lot to like here. I keep coming back to the idea of freedom, because that's what flight is supposed to feel like. It's great to just get up in the air and take everything in without having to worry about which way the drone is pointed. It sounds like a minor thing, but this drone changes your relationship with flight on a fundamental level.

Is the Antigravity A1 drone worth it?

While I had a positive experience actually unboxing and piloting this innovative new drone, because I've been unable to export my files, I can't give a proper recommendation yet. Check back as I update this review after spending some additional time with the product. Hopefully, you'll be able to see all the photos and videos I took.

I can say that the Antigravity A1 does look like a viable alternative to DJI drones, albeit without any budget-friendly options for beginners. And considering that Insta360 is also a Chinese company, I'm a little worried they'll also face a ban eventually, too.

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Credit: Antigravity

Antigravity A1 8K 360 Drone Starter Bundle

$1,599 at Best Buy

 

Learn More

Antigravity A1 360 8K Camera Drone: Specifications

• Takeoff weight: 249 grams with Flight Battery

• Folded dimensions: 141.3 × 96.2 × 81.4 mm

• Unfolded dimensions: 308.6 × 382.3 × 89.2 mm

• Flight time: 24 minutes with Flight Battery; 39 minutes with High-Capacity Flight Battery

• Max flight distance: 8.0 miles with Flight Battery; 14.3 miles with High-Capacity Flight Battery

• Max wind speed resistance: 24 mph (Level 5)

• Global Navigation Satellite System: GPS + Galileo + Beidou

• Storage: 20GB (also supports microSD)

• Camera sensor: 1/1.28-inch

• Lens aperture: F2.2

• Maximum video resolution: 8K (7680×3840) @ 30/25/24 fps

• Maximum photo resolution: 55MP (10496×5248)

• Maximum video bitrate: 170Mbps

• ISO range: 100-6400

• Live view quality: 2K @ 30 fps

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

It might come as a surprise to cocktail fans but blenders can be used for more than just frozen margaritas. They can also be used for healthy living. Shocking, right?

You can make hot soup without a hob, coffee without a coffee maker, and whipped cream without a whisk. That's just a little taster of what a multitasking blender can tackle. Indeed, a blender can expand your meal repertoire tenfold, and without needing multiple kitchen-cluttering machines. It's an all-in-one marvel.

But where to start when actually choosing a blender? Each model has its own selection of features, which means different will suit different blending needs. So unless you’re a blender expert, it can be difficult to know what’s what and which machine is best for you. This is where we can help. Here's some useful information and a selection of the best blenders available right now.

Is a blender and food processor the same thing?

As a general rule, blenders are for liquids — juice, smoothies, shakes, soups, and purees — whereas food processors will slice, chop, grate, shred, and dice. However, you’ll find some blenders have attachments, such as detachable food mixing bowls, that allow them to double up as a blender/food processor combo.

Why do you need a blender?

The ability to make your own juice, smoothies, and protein shakes isn't the only reason to invest in a blender. These devices can also help you to establish healthy habits. Blenders simplify meeting your nutrient goal by squeezing everything into a 30-second meal replacement. With thousands of recipes online, you're bound to find a balanced combo of greens and fruits that you actually look forward to drinking.

Being completely in charge of the contents lets you closely monitor portion size, stick to dietary restrictions, and track macronutrients to stay on track with diet goals. You'll never need to buy sickeningly expensive juice again.

Do blenders have smart features?

Blenders can be as basic or as advanced as you want (depending on what you’re willing to spend, of course). There are simple blenders that cost next to nothing and have a simple on/off switch, or tech-savvy blenders that connect to an app via Bluetooth. These apps might provide recipes or keep records of nutrition or health goals. There are other features to look out for, such as pre-set blending programs. These can be geared to specifically make soup, smoothies, or frozen desserts. Some blenders can automatically detect the load and adjust their motors and settings accordingly.

What is the best blender capacity?

The capacity of a blender will vary. There are personal-use blenders, which have a container big enough for one person (around 700ml), and multi-serve blenders, which have a much bigger container (2 litres or more). But many blenders come with different sized containers, allowing you to switch between sizes as required. We especially like blenders that have a sports bottle attachment, which can be used to make a smoothie or juice. Simply detach the bottle, pop a lid on, and off you go.

What is the best blender?

That’s up to you. We can’t make the decision on your behalf. That's kind of the point of a blender — you know the ingredients you like and you can make the smoothie or meal exactly how you want it. That's also true when choosing the machine. It has to be one that suits your needs, routine, and kitchen. What we can do, however, is draw up a list of the best blenders for everyone, to help you find something that's perfect for you.

These are the best blenders in 2025.

The coolest tech gifts may look like the most boring box in the present pile... until they're unwrapped. But in a second, you'll both unlock a new favorite memory: They get to gush over owning one of the most sought-after gadgets of the year, and you get to watch their face light up.

Our tech gift guide for 2025 includes some of the best new releases of the year from Apple, Nintendo, Shark, Razer, and GoPro, most of which we personally reviewed. We're obviously loving the latest upgrades, like the AirPods Pro 3 and the long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2. But even if you're not shopping for an early adopter, we've still found some awesome under-the-radar gadgets that'll speak to their niche interests. The skincare enthusiast on your list may not care about the new fleet of Echos that Amazon just announced, but they will freak over the Shark LED face mask.

To find the best holiday gifts for the techies in your life, Mashable's tech and shopping reporters have come together to curate a guide to our favorite gift-worthy gadgets of the year — the true 'I can't believe you got this for me' gifts. So, whether you're splurging on an iPad or searching for stocking stuffers, here are the best tech gifts for 2025.

A lot has happened in the 18 years since Metroid Prime 3: Corruption launched.

A generation-defining financial crisis, Donald Trump somehow getting elected president twice, and the entire existence of the Marvel Cinematic Universe come to mind. Most pertinent to Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, however, is the way big-budget video games have evolved. 

Unless you’re Dark Souls, it’s broadly unacceptable for players to get lost or feel too alone, two things that are generally considered key to the Metroid experience. Metroid Prime 4 feels, at times, like it’s trying to fit a square peg into a round hole; it’s got all the major ingredients you want from the series, but also small doses of quippy, overly helpful sidekicks and open-world traversal.

And the craziest part is that, dangit, it actually works pretty well. After an abrasive and uncomfortable opening hour, Metroid Prime 4 rounds into form, feeling like the Metroid Prime of old for a large majority of its 15 to 20 hour runtime. Even with the presence of chatty human NPCs, Metroid Prime 4 is a worthy addition to your Nintendo Switch 2 library, thanks to gorgeous art direction, adequately satisfying exploration, and a totally kick-ass motorcycle.

Yes, Myles McKenzie sucks

As much as I like Metroid Prime 4, it really needs to be stated that the first hour or so plays like a tribute to the “we’re so back/it’s so over” meme. 

Samus Aran’s first mainline 3D adventure since the Bush administration opens with a combat-and-setpiece-heavy intro that doesn’t really feel like Metroid. Twenty minutes later, however, Samus is walking around a desolate alien planet called Viewros that’s full of beautiful, awe-inspiring ruins of a dead civilization, which very much feels like Metroid. Before long, you’re exploring a visually resplendent jungle and acquiring new powers to aid in exploration.

And then Galactic Federation engineer Myles McKenzie enters the picture. I and many others have already covered how discordant it feels for a stumbling, bumbling, and goofy voice-acted sidekick to be in Samus’s ear for any amount of time. It flatly isn’t good, and is the primary thing holding me back from wholeheartedly praising Metroid Prime 4. There are other human NPCs you’ll meet throughout the adventure, all of whom fit into pretty basic fictional soldier archetypes. Most of them aren’t as annoying as McKenzie, but their presence is still generally a little burdensome.

Having said all of that...there are moments that are legitimately kind of charming, here and there, even if I can't always tell if they're intentional or not. I particularly enjoy how everyone around Samus thinks she's really cool (correctly so) and wants to be her friend, but all she ever does is stare at them and occasionally nod in response. That made me laugh numerous times, if nothing else.

But it’s a smooth ride after that early speed bump

Some of the environments are stunning. Credit: Nintendo

I imagine some of you will read that, decide Metroid Prime 4 is beyond saving, and move on with your life. I can’t stop you. Go with God, as they say. This is a matter of personal priorities; to some, Metroid is about loneliness first and foremost. To me, it’s about seeing an odd-colored door, making a mental note of it, and coming back later when you have the weapon or item that opens said door.

If you’re like me and can grin and bear the early stages of the game, before McKenzie sets up a base camp and only sparingly chimes in over comms for the rest of its duration, you’ll find that Metroid Prime 4 is largely the Metroid Prime you remember. 

That means the overwhelming majority of your time will be spent trawling through abandoned research facilities, scanning computer terminals, finding the occasional power-up, and taking on a collection of generally excellent boss fights. When nobody is talking at you (which, I must stress, is most of the time), the sense of atmosphere is a delight, assisted by percussive music and perhaps the best visuals on Switch 2 so far, including a flawless frame rate.

I particularly liked the Ice Belt, a haunting, frozen-over facility where Samus’s arm cannon gradually gathers a coat of frost as you explore. While a couple of the areas in Prime 4 are a little more linear than I’d like, Ice Belt feels like Metroid Prime at its best, with level design that incentivizes careful observation and fun Morph Ball shortcuts that make the entire area satisfyingly fold in on itself over time. 

All of Prime 4’s bespoke levels really shine on your second run through them, once you’ve gotten all the abilities and can freely unlock every secret there is to find. I think the most fun I had with this game was when I did this, right before setting off for the climactic final confrontation. I am very pleased to report that this game still has the Metroid juice most of the time.

Zooming around the desert

Vi-O-La rocks. Credit: Nintendo

That said, Metroid Prime 4 also finds time to carve out its own space in the series, and the main way it does that is through the Sol Valley, a big desert area that acts as a hub connecting the levels, and Vi-O-La, a super sick motorcycle you unlock early on to traverse the wastes.

You’ll spend a decent chunk of Prime 4 speeding across the desert, which, well, looks like a desert. I imagine this will ruffle some feathers out there, but I’m in favor of it for a few reasons. One is that Sol Valley is easily the loneliest area in the game, as it’s the one place where (for the most part) Samus is free to operate at her leisure without needing to link up with any of her new allies. Vi-O-La itself is also a lot of fun to drive, especially once you unlock auxiliary boost charges that let you really zoom around the place.

Yes, a lot of it is empty, though that doesn’t mean it’s without secrets to find. I actually dig this because I’m a sucker for vast spaces in games where every inch isn’t necessarily meant to be interacted with. So often, video game worlds feel like theme parks where everything exists for the enjoyment of the player. Sol Valley uses its big empty spaces to communicate the desolation that Viewros has suffered pretty well, I think. As a bonus, even though it’s shaped like an open-world map, it’s mostly bereft of the kind of map icon vomit you’d find in something like Assassin’s Creed. There aren’t a million disposable side activities and collectibles here. When you find something, it really feels like you’ve found something.

It’s also a cleaner way to link together the various levels than in Prime 3, a game whose various zones felt disconnected from one another. Everything feels fairly contiguous here, even if it’s not quite as Metroid-y as the elevator-based travel in the original Prime. 

It doesn’t approach the OG Metroid Prime, but that’s fine

Look at the frost on the gun. Credit: Nintendo

One detail that might drag Prime 4 down in the eyes of some players is that it’s not the first game, which is legitimately one of the finest 3D action-adventure games ever made. That’s a really lofty and, I would argue, unfair standard to hold anything to, especially considering the rocky development cycle Prime 4 went through. 

I am here to tell you that Prime 4 is not as good as the original. It’s not as lonely and the level design isn’t quite as elaborate. I have a couple of other small quibbles, too, like a relative lack of cool suit changes and the fact that too many of the abilities you unlock are things that have been in previous Metroid games.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth your time. It’s easy and reasonable to be apprehensive about the first Prime game in nearly two decades. I get it, I really do, especially considering the pre-release whiplash of finding out Myles McKenzie exists. But if you can find it within yourself to give Prime 4 an earnest shot, like I did, you might just find that hopping into Samus’s power suit is every bit as enjoyable as it was on the GameCube and Wii. 

It’s good to have Samus back, if nothing else.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond launches on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 on Dec. 4.

SAVE $260.96: The 13-inch M4 Apple MacBook Air is on sale for just $738.04 (normally $999) during Amazon's Cyber Monday sale. That’s a 26% savings and its lowest price ever — it's cheaper now than it was on Black Friday.

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Credit: Amazon

Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB), Midnight

$738.04 at Amazon
$999 Save $260.96

 

Get Deal

It's a Cyber Weekend miracle: The 13-inch M4 Apple MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is now on sale for just $738.04 during Amazon's already-live Cyber Monday sale. That's 26% off its $999 MSRP, which is its biggest discount ever. (This deal only applies to the midnight variant, by the way — all other colors are still $749.)

Anyone who bought this same laptop on Black Friday paid $10.96 more. If that's you, you'll have to return it and rebuy it in order to take advantage of this new lower price, since Amazon doesn't do post-purchase price adjustments.

If you’re looking to pick up a new laptop during Cyber Monday, you can’t go wrong with Apple's M4 MacBook Air. It sports 18 hours of battery life and is lightweight, making it ideal for students or workers who need to move around. The M4 chip makes everyday tasks quick and efficient, whether it's working with multiple apps or playing games

The gorgeous 13.6-inch liquid retina display makes colors bold and bright. It supports up to 1 billion different colors, ensuring that you get the richest contrast and detail no matter what you watch. With four speakers using spatial audio, you’re bound to be immersed.

In our M4 Apple MacBook Air review, we said, “The new MacBook Air is great. It's powerful, silent, and comes with a couple of much-needed upgrades. It's also cheaper than before, making it the best-buy Apple laptop, period.”

For comparison's sake, the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air is still stuck at $749 in all colorways at Best Buy. It's not discounted in the Apple Store, but it comes with a free $175 gift card if you buy it there.

If you’re looking for a gentle method to aid with sleep regulation, tension and stress, take a closer look at Pulsetto. It’s an interesting device with some impressive claims behind it, and right now it’s at an all time low price on Amazon for Black Friday.

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Credit: Pulsetto

Pulsetto Vagal Nerve Stimulator

AU$320 at Amazon AU

(was $499, save $179)

Get Deal

This lightweight device utilises electrical impulses to the neck, designed to stimulate the vagus nerve. This, in turn, is a process that activates the parasympathetic nervous system. According to the manufacturer, this mechanism can reduce stress levels by approximately 28%, and anxiety levels by up to 26%, potentially giving a few moments of respite during high-activity periods.

Additionally, the device aims to support sleep regulation, with Pulsetto claiming an 18% improvement in sleep quality for its users. To use the device before bed, apply the provided conductive gel (also sold separately) and wear the device for a four-minute session, which is intended to balance the nervous system and improve focus upon waking. The device pairs with a mobile app to track biometric data, such as Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and sleep metrics.

It’s important to remember as well, that while devices such as the Pulsetto can be fantastic stress relievers, if you are suffering from a medical condition, chronic pain, or anxiety disorders, it should not be used as a replacement for medical treatment as recommended by your health care professional.

At such a huge discount, it’s a great opportunity to pick up a stress-reliever either for yourself, or for someone else in your life who could really use it.

When I first lifted the lid of the Dell 16 Premium, I let out a small gasp. This is unquestionably one of the most attractive clamshell Windows laptops I’ve seen, with a gorgeous silver and off-white color scheme, a fingerprint-resistant aluminum lid, and smooth glass above and below the zero-lattice keyboard.

And here’s the kicker: it’s not just a pretty face. The Dell 16 Premium has wildly powerful internals that run Cyberpunk 2077 like a dream, a speaker system that slaps, and fairly decent battery life considering how draining its 4K OLED display and dedicated GPU are.

Of course, it’s too much to expect perfection from a single laptop. The Dell 16 Premium’s keyboard ultimately disappointed me, but I am a self-proclaimed keyboard snob, so take that as you will. Looking past that minor hangup, the Dell 16 Premium might just be one of the best Windows laptops I’ve tested to date, as long as you have the money to splurge on it.

Dell 16 Premium price and specs 

As its name implies, the Dell 16 Premium is a high-end laptop, and it has quite an exorbitant price to match. That said, it’s been on sale up to $400 off recently, and Dell has a price match policy that will refund you the difference if it goes on sale within 30 days of purchase. 

Our Dell 16 Premium review unit is $3,199 at Dell and comes with the following specs: 

• Intel Core Ultra 7 255H CPU

• Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 GPU

• 32GB RAM

• 1TB of SSD storage

• 16-inch 4K (3840 x 2400) OLED touch display

The base configuration for the Dell 16 Premium is $1,799 at Dell and features the same processor listed above, but opts for integrated Intel Arc 140T graphics, half the RAM and storage, and a non-touch, non-OLED 2K display. There are also options for an RTX 5050 or 5060 GPU instead of a 5070, along with an Ultra 9 285H processor instead of an Ultra 7 255H processor.

Sleek, MacBook-rivaling design for the win

The Dell 16 Premium is, hands down, one of the most attractive Windows laptops I’ve ever tested. It even rivals the MacBook’s aesthetic. The laptop is covered with machined aluminum that gives off a silvery sheen, and the keyboard and trackpad area inside is a beautiful off-white, light gray shade. Our review unit’s color scheme is platinum, but there’s a gray graphite colorway if that’s more your vibe.

The Dell 16 Premium has a gorgeous, finger print-resistant lid. Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

It’s cool to the touch, resists fingerprints wonderfully, and exudes luxury. Despite how delicate it looks, Dell’s 16 Premium is a solidly constructed laptop. There’s no give or creaking in the bottom chassis when pushed, and the hinge operates strongly and smoothly.

That durable construction translates to quite a hefty footprint, so this might not be the best laptop for you if you want something lightweight to travel with. The Dell 16 Premium measures 14.1 x 9.4 x 0.8 inches, so it’s fairly thin albeit long, and it weighs 4.7 pounds.

This display is made for royalty

The Dell 16 Premium features a 16.3-inch, 4K (3840 x 2400) OLED touch display with thin bezels, and it’s nearly perfect. Its OLED panel looks stunning, delivering rich, vivid colors and deep, accurate blacks, and its 4K resolution is crystal-clear icing on the proverbial cake. 

Whether you’re streaming the latest season of Wednesday, doing a bit of online shopping, or even playing a beautiful AAA game, this display makes the experience better. For gaming specifically, the display is fitted with a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz, a step up from its predecessor’s 90Hz max refresh rate.

The colors look vivid and accurate on this laptop's display. Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

My only minor gripe with the Dell 16 Premium’s display is its max brightness of 400 nits. Don’t get me wrong, it’s bright enough to comfortably work in a fully lit room or even sunlight, but at this laptop’s steep price, a max brightness of 500 nits would have been better.

This laptop’s display also has smooth and responsive touch functionality, though, because it’s not a 2-in-1 laptop, it might not get a ton of use.

Only USB-C ports, but at least they’re conveniently placed

I appreciate the Dell 16 Premium sporting USB-C ports on both its left and right edges. With this design, you don’t have to worry about awkwardly finagling a cable around the laptop when your charging port is on the ‘wrong’ side. That said, I wish this laptop had a greater variety of ports.

Left side: Two USB-C ports. Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

Right side: One USB-C port, an audio jack, and a microSDXC card reader. Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

On the left, you’ll find: 

• Two USB-C ports (Thunderbolt 4 Gen 2, DisplayPort 2.1, and power delivery)

And on the right: 

• One USB-C port (Thunderbolt 4 Gen 2, DisplayPort 2.1, and power delivery)

• Audio jack

• A microSDXC card reader

Considering this laptop’s premium price and its discrete GPU, it would have been nice to see an HDMI port or a USB-A port added. Many modern peripherals connect via Bluetooth or via USB-C (or at least come with an adapter), but for those who already have a collection of USB-A peripherals, a native USB-A port would be great.

A speaker setup other laptops should aspire to

The Dell 16 Premium is equipped with a quad-speaker design, and put simply, it sounds amazing.

Diving into the details, every song I listened to came through well-balanced, with crisp vocals, punchy bass that resonates (as opposed to sounding clipped or short), and definable high notes. I played my go-to song for testing speakers, “Real” by Unprocessed (feat. Tim Henson and Clay Gober), and these speakers surprised me with how well they were able to capture the tiny details you can typically only hear with a great standalone speaker.

The speakers are loud enough for casual, personal use at only 20 to 30 percent volume. Turning the volume up to max, they’re loud enough to fill a large room without any distortion or tinny-sounding vocals.

For some odd reason, the Dell 16 Premium doesn’t come with the Dolby Access app pre-installed, but it’s available through the Microsoft Store for free. After downloading it, the quality noticeably improves slightly, and there are preset profiles available for switching between music, movies, games, and more.

A so-so keyboard paired with a glamorous haptic touchpad

There’s no denying the keyboard and trackpad design of Dell’s 16 Premium laptop is eye-catching. Both the keyboard and trackpad are a beautiful off-white shade, the trackpad is nestled within a seamless glass area that spans the entire length of the laptop, and a fancy touch-controlled function bar sits above a sleek, zero-lattice keyboard. 

The keyboard leaves something to be desired for keyboard snobs like me. Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

The zero-lattice design isn’t for everyone, but I don’t mind it. What bothers me is how typing on this keyboard feels. There’s minimal travel, so it doesn’t take much for the keys to fully depress, and there’s no satisfying feel or sound with each keypress, which results in a disappointing typing experience, at least for a keyboard snob like me.

I also didn’t like how the keyboard’s matte surface felt under my fingers. All of the keys feel like this, but the spacebar is the worst, with an audibly scratchy, sort of nails-on-a-chalkboard sound when I rub my thumb over it. That said, this could simply be something that only affects people sensitive to specific sounds and certain textures.

One feature that may be more universally disliked is the touch-controlled function bar above the keyboard. It’s a unique, good-looking attribute of the Dell 16 Premium, but in practice, it can be a bit annoying for frequently used keys, like the Delete key while typing in Google Docs and the Escape key when gaming. Whereas I can usually hit these keys without looking, thanks to muscle memory, I had to stop typing and actively look for these keys to make sure I pressed the right one.

The touch-controlled function bar took some getting used to. Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

Moving on, the seamless glass area below the keyboard is one of my favorite parts of this laptop. The smooth glass stretches from left to right, but the trackpad is only in the center. It feels great to operate, especially with built-in, customizable haptics that make clicking much more satisfying.

There aren’t any lines to indicate where the trackpad starts and stops, but that didn’t impact ease of use for me. After a while, you just remember where the trackpad is without looking, even for left- and right-clicking as well.

An above-average webcam for this premium laptop

The Dell 16 Premium has an above-average webcam, but for built-in laptop webcams, that’s not saying much. 

Through its 1080p RGB-IR camera, my complexion and sky blue hoodie come through accurately shaded, and the overall picture looks fairly sharp at first glance. Closer inspection reveals a blurry background, a smoothed face, and a lack of fine details with defined edges, like individual strands of hair.

Like most webcams, this one blurs and smooths, leaving a lack of fine details. Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

Dell 16 Premium benchmarks and performance

Equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H and an Nvidia RTX 5070 GPU, the Dell 16 Premium is set up well for performance success. 

It sailed smoothly through our traditional stress test, which involves opening multiple apps and 20 RAM-hungry Chrome tabs. With all these tabs open, I had no issue loading new pages, typing in Google Docs, or switching between apps. The fans also stayed insanely quiet. They were definitely on, but I had to turn off my music and lean toward the laptop to make sure. 

After hours of use, the laptop’s underside is only warm, not hot. The only activity that made the underside get hot was playing Cyberpunk 2077 for about an hour, and even then, it was never too hot to touch. In that hour of play, the fans were noticeably louder than during the traditional stress test, but still shockingly quiet compared to most gaming laptops. I was able to clearly hear the game over the fans with the volume set to only 20 percent.

In addition to real-world performance tests, we also run a few standard benchmarks on our laptops. The Dell 16 Premium delivered a highly impressive Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 16,881 and a decent 3DMark TimeSpy score of 10,129. For comparison, the Acer Predator Helios 16, a gaming laptop, earned scores of 17,462 and 16,837 on the same tests, respectively.

Although Dell’s 16 Premium isn’t technically a gaming laptop, it does have a discrete GPU, and it ran Cyberpunk 2077 like a dream. For a decent frame rate, I wouldn’t recommend playing at this laptop’s native 4K resolution, but if you drop it to just 2560 x 1600, it runs beautifully. 

We also ran the in-game benchmark for Cyberpunk 2077 at 1920 x 1080 resolution with High presets and DLSS turned off, and the laptop averaged 87.98 frames per second (fps). Keeping the same settings and turning DLSS on resulted in an average of 106.35 fps. Considering this isn’t a laptop designed with gaming in mind, those results are pretty great.

Lastly, if you want a laptop with AI features that’ll supercharge your work experience, I’d go with a Copilot+ PC instead of the Dell 16 Premium. This laptop features built-in Copilot, so you’ll have easy access to your own AI chatbot, but it lacks a lot of the perks reserved solely for Copilot+ laptops.  

Dell 16 Premium battery life

Every laptop we test endures the same battery rundown test, which involves looping a 1080p video at 50 percent brightness until the laptop dies. The Dell 16 Premium lasted 13 hours and 49 minutes on this battery test. That’s an impressive feat for a laptop with a 16-inch OLED display and a discrete GPU.

If you’re trying to find the best laptop for battery life from Dell, there are better options out there, like the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 that lasted 20 hours and 52 minutes on the same battery test. But if you’re trying to find a good middle ground between top-tier battery life and jaw-dropping specs, the Dell 16 Premium delivers.

Is the Dell 16 Premium worth it?

Whether the Dell 16 Premium is worth it depends entirely on what you’re looking for in your next laptop. There are quite a few objectively great features of the Dell 16 Premium, like its colorful and sharp OLED display, well-balanced speaker setup, and solid all-around performance, capable of running AAA titles with ease, answering emails, and everything in between. If you’re looking for a laptop with premium looks and plenty of power, Dell’s 16 Premium is an excellent choice.

However, one of the biggest drawbacks of the Dell 16 Premium is its price, which could be an instant dealbreaker if you’re shopping on a budget. At full price, our review unit is $3,199. For an inconspicuous gaming laptop, that price might be worth it to some people; though, I’d recommend waiting for it to go on sale for $2,799 if you can.

If you don’t need your laptop to play games, edit videos, or perform any other graphically intensive tasks, here’s the configuration I’d opt for instead: an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H processor, integrated graphics, 16GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and the same beautiful 4K OLED display as our review unit, for only $2,099 at Dell full price. Or, check out the best laptops we’ve reviewed to date if that’s still too far out of your price range.

Dell 16 Premium laptop

$3,199.99 at Dell

 

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Kids aren't the only ones who get excited about birthday gifts. You can be a full-grown adult and still lose your shit when you open up the gift that topped your wish list. But as you get older, it does become a little more difficult to come up with a list of birthday gift ideas. You can't just ask for all the coolest new toys anymore. Well, you can if you want — we're not going to stop you.

If your birthday is coming up and you're struggling to think of what you want, don't sweat it. We compiled the ultimate birthday wish list, with gifts ranging from tech to outdoor essentials to home goods. To make your search easier, we've separated our gift ideas into categories: Our current favorite birthday gifts, gifts under $25, gifts under $50, gifts $50 to $150, and gifts $150+.

Read on for some birthday inspo and start casually dropping hints to your friends and family. And hey, happy birthday!

Our top picks

Color-changing smart light bulbs

Credit: Philips

Deputy Shopping and Reviews Editor Miller Kern here. I have put a Hue light bulb in every lamp in my apartment, and it's so rare that I use the Big Light now. These color-changing bulbs let me dim the lights when I want to relax or emit fun colors while I'm watching a movie. And the best part is, I don't have to get out of bed to turn the lights off at night.

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Credit: Philips

Philips Hue Smart Bulbs

$99.99 at Best Buy

 

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A digital camera that captures film-style photos

Credit: Camp Snap

I love taking and having film photos, but 1) film is expensive, and 2) all of the film cameras I have are chunky. The Camp Snap camera is an amazing alternative. It's digital and incredibly lightweight — and the pictures truly do look like they were taken on film. They're clear yet stylized enough to give that vintage feel. And you can take multiple versions of the same shot without feeling like you're wasting film.

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Credit: Camp Snap

Camp Snap camera

$69.95 at Camp Snap

 

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Coffee from around the world

Credit: Atlas Coffee Club

I personally don't drink coffee, but my dad is a big coffee guy. I got him and his wife a three-month subscription to Atlas Coffee Club for Christmas and they freakin' loved it. They sent me a text every month to let me know where their coffee came from, and they love trying new roasts from around the world. Each month, you get coffee beans and a postcard from different countries, so you get to try beans you can't get from your grocery store. You can select from whole beans, grounds, Keurig pods, and Nespresso pods. Subscriptions can be three, six, or 12 months.

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Credit: Atlas Coffee Club

Atlas Coffee Club gift subscription

Starting at $55

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A new Kindle

Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Listen, I used to be such a physical books-only kind of person. Then I bought a Kindle Paperwhite, and it changed my reading game for good. I'm able to easily take the e-reader on the plane, to the beach, or even in the bathtub (shoutout to the Paperwhite being waterproof). Plus, I can read library books for free from the Libby app. If you're a reader, trust me when I say a Kindle should be at the top of your birthday list this year.

Kindle Paperwhite (2024)

$159.99 at Amazon

 

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A gorgeous TV that doubles as art

Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

Samsung's The Frame TV made waves when it came out a few years ago, but the price is just not attainable for everyone. The Hisense CanvasTV is an amazing, budget-friendly (well, friendlier) alternative if you want an art TV for your birthday. The Google TV interface is amazing, and the TV truly does blend in with your art and decor. This is a bougie birthday ask, but one that's worth it.

Hisense CanvasTV (55-inch, QLED)

$697.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $302

 

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Birthday gifts under $25

Elevate your cooking game

Oil dispenser and sprayer

$9.99 at Amazon

 

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This 2-in-1 oil dispenser pours and sprays so you won't have to buy separate olive oil and Pam cooking spray. This is a practical gift to put on your list whether you're a home chef or use an air fryer for every meal.

Whatever you want from Amazon

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Credit: Amazon / Mashable composite

Amazon e-gift card

 

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If your Amazon wish list is calling your name, ask for an Amazon gift card for your birthday. Get the present you've been dreaming of on someone else's dime.

Learn something new

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Credit: Coursehorse

Coursehorse Gift Card

Starting at $5 at Coursehorse

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You’ve successfully completed one more trip around the sun, so to celebrate, develop a new skill or indulge a passion by taking an IRL class on the subject of your choice. Coursehorse partners with real-world instructors and schools in major cities to offer nearly 70,000 classes in subjects such as art, language, music, cooking, self-defense, gardening, and anything else you could possibly want.

Simple Lego flowers

Lego Roses building kit

$9.91 at Walmart
$45 Save $35.09

 

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Lego sets can be pretty freakin' expensive, but if you're looking for some more budget-friendly building kits for your birthday list, we've found a fun one. It includes two buildable roses that you can display after you've put them together. Wilting not included!

A delicious-smelling candle

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Credit: Bonita Fierce

Bonita Fierce candle

Starting at $16 at Bonita Fierce

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Candles are a timeless gift that you can ask for at every single gift-giving opportunity (and will likely receive anyway if you don't specify what you actually want). We are firm believers that you can never have too many candles. Add some sweet scents from Bonita Fierce, a Latina-owned small business, to your b-day wish list this year and every year. Candles start at $16. 

A puzzle with a few tricks up its sleeve

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Credit: Magic Puzzle Company

Magic Puzzle Company (Big Rock City puzzle)

$22.99 at Amazon

 

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Magic Puzzle Company makes incredibly fun 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles that have a secret envelope for you to open when you're done. This surprise envelope unlocks a "magical twist ending," so placing that final piece will be even more exciting. The intricate designs feature tons of little Easter eggs, like puzzle pieces in the shape of items in the scene. The Big Rock City puzzle has a hot dog-shaped piece and music note-shaped piece to name a couple.

Somewhere to put your headphones

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Credit: Coreminded

Universal headphone stand

$23.99 at Amazon

 

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Rather than laying your headphones throughout your home or having them clutter up your desk, ask for a universal headphone stand for your birthday. This one is compatible with almost any pair of over-ear headphones or gaming headsets — and it has a pretty sleek look, too.

A stylish candle warmer lamp

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Credit: Geezo

Candle warmer lamp

$24.99

 

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Big candle fan? Then a candle warmer should be on your birthday list. It helps your candle last longer and you don't need an open flame burning in your home. And if you're going to ask for a candle warmer, make it a cute one. With a glass lamp shade, this warmer blends seamlessly into your home decor.

Backup battery for your phone

Anker portable charger

$25.99 at Amazon

 

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This portable charger from Anker is great for travel or being out on the town all day. It has enough juice to recharge your phone a couple of times, and it comes in four colors.

Cold hard cash

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Credit: Visa

Gift card

Starting at $10 at Giftcards.com

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You really can't beat the gift of cold, hard cash — or a gift card. A Visa card is a perfect birthday gift because you can spend it on literally whatever you want; buy yourself something fun or get some help with groceries. Best of all, you don't need to decide exactly what you want before your birthday. The gift card starts at $10.

New reading materials

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Credit: Bookshop.org

Bookshop.org Gift Cards

Starting at $10 at Bookshop

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Support independent bookstores from around the country with a gift card to Bookshop. Starting at $10, the gift cards can either be used to buy books from a specific shop you love, or the purchase can feed the site’s profit-sharing pool to benefit all of Bookshop's partner stores. 

Gifts $25 to $50

A way to keep track of your keys

Apple AirTag

$25.99 at Amazon
$29 Save $3.01

 

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In our opinion, the first thing you add to your keyring should be an AirTag. You can monitor where they are in Apple's Find My app, and you'll get an alert on your phone if you ever leave them behind somewhere.

The viral Owala FreeSip reusable water bottle

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Credit: Owala

Owala FreeSip insulated water bottle

$29.99 at Amazon

 

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The Owala FreeSip is a fan-favorite and Mashable staff-favorite reusable water bottle. The innovative spout lets you sip like a straw or chug like a cup. Plus, the bottles come in super cute color combinations.

A personalized Yeti mug

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Credit: Yeti

Yeti Rambler 24-ounce mug

$35 at Yeti

 

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This Yeti Rambler 24-ounce mug is a great size for both true coffee lovers and beer drinkers. It can also hold two Moscow mules, according to Yeti, if that's more your speed. The Rambler is available in an array of fun and neutral colors. Plus, you can customize it with an etched design or monogram. For just $6 to $10, you can choose designs from Yeti's library or upload your own file.

Our favorite incense

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Credit: Houseplant

Houseplant x ripple incense droplets

$35 at ripple

 

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I'll admit, I'm not a big fan of the incense smell you'd experience in your local Earth Magic shop. However, I've become obsessed with Seth Rogen's incense droplets from the Houseplant x ripple collab. The scents are room-filling without being overpowering, and they smell amazing. My apartment feels so cozy every time I light one of these little incense cones. I'll definitely be buying more once I run out, and giving these as gifts to everyone I know.

An app for exploring

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Credit: AllTrails

AllTrails yearly subscription

$35.99 at AllTrails

 

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Love to be outside, but can’t fold a map to save your life? Enter AllTrails+, the app designed to get you off your phone and into the wild. Featuring over 400,000 curated trails all over the world, the app allows you to download maps in case of a poor signal, record your hikes, create your own trails, and more. A yearly subscription costs $35.99.

Mini zodiac cupcakes

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Credit: Baked by Melissa

Baked by Melissa zodiac cupcakes

$37

 

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Birthday cake is the standard, but might we suggest this fun alternative: mini cupcakes selected by an astrologer specifically for your zodiac sign. This Baked by Melissa offering comes with 25 cupcakes, and the flavors vary depending on your sign — though there are some fan-favorites that show up in each zodiac variation. These also make for a great last-minute ask if you're in Manhattan or Boston, as there's same-day delivery for select locations.

A custom pet portrait

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Credit: LeFlore Studio

Custom pet portrait

Prices vary at LaFlore Studio on Etsy

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Sometimes, the best birthday gifts are the ones made just for you. If you're obsessed with your pet, these custom pet portraits need to be on your birthday list. There are many different styles to choose from, each one super freakin' adorable. Prices vary depending on size.

An inconspicuous fanny pack

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Credit: FlipBelt

FlipBelt Zipper Running Belt

$39 at Amazon

 

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Whether you’re going for a run or heading to a music festival, keep your necessities at the ready with a FlipBelt Zipper pack. This handy belt can hold your phone, money, credit card, keys, and all sorts of everyday necessities. Coming in multiple sizes, the FlipBelt doesn’t bounce or chafe and is machine washable.

A cast iron skillet

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Credit: Lodge

Lodge cast iron skillet

$40.75 at Amazon

 

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A cast-iron skillet is the true sign that you're graduating from cheap nonstick cookware and all mismatched plates. It's something you probably want, but don't particularly want to spend the money on. Lodge has different sizes depending on what you want to cook.

Authentic chai

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Credit: Kolkata Chai

Kolkata Chai

Starting at $45 at Kolkata Chai

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Not satisfied with supermarket-bought chai? Get the real thing from New York-based chai-preneurs at Kolkata Chai. This small business will send authentic chai straight to your door with the Chai Trio Variety Pack ($62) or the Chai Starter Kit ($45). For devoted chai drinkers, Kolkata Chai offers subscription packages to keep that tea coming.

A Lego set that doubles as decor

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Credit: LEGO

Lego Orchid

$49.99 at Amazon

 

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One of our favorite gifts under $50 is this Lego Orchid that's fun to build and adds a nice touch of greenery to your space that feels more unique than a plastic plant. This set is part of the Lego Icons line, which also features succulents, a bonsai tree, and a bouquet, in case orchids aren't your thing.

A smart speaker

Echo Dot smart speaker

$31.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $18.00

 

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If you don't have a smart speaker by now, it's time to make a change. The Echo Dot is an affordable voice-controlled companion that'll keep you in the loop on the weather and current events and keep track of your most important reminders. Also, they're great for playing music.

A media streaming stick

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

$49.99 at Amazon

 

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The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is one of the best streaming devices we've tested, and it's also one of our favorite birthday gift ideas. If you don't already have a smart TV but want to access Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Disney+, and all the other streaming apps directly from your TV, ask for a Fire TV Stick for your b-day. Amazon's streaming stick has better voice control than similar products from Roku, and the 4K version normally goes for $49.99.

The delicious scent without the fire hazard

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Credit: Pura

Pura Smart Fragrance Diffuser

$49.99 at Amazon

 

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If candles are a no-go, opt for a Bluetooth-enabled diffuser to make any room in your home smell divine. The Pura Smart Fragrance Diffuser ($49.99) holds two fragrances and is controlled entirely through the app. Schedule one smell to wake up to and one to fall asleep to with the in-app calendar feature. Pura collaborates with brands like NEST, Anthropologie, Disney, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City to source their scents, so whatever the occasion calls for, they’ve got your back.

Gifts $50 to $150

Local flavors delivered

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Credit: Goldbelly

Goldbelly gift card

Starting at $50 at Goldbelly

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Speaking of take-out: if you’ve maxed out your city’s culinary offerings, see what’s available from the rest of the country. Goldbelly makes it possible to order meals and gifts from restaurants around the United States. No matter your craving, a Goldbelly gift card at any price point is bound to satisfy.

A custom neon sign

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Credit: GITM Store

Custom Neon Sign

$53.96 at Amazon

 

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Pick out a funny phrase, inside joke, or family name and get a custom sign in as little as one week. It might sound too good to be true, but Mashable editors have ordered from this Amazon storefront before and had a great experience. In fact, this is one of our favorite undiscovered gems on Amazon, and you can buy signs for as little as $53.96.

Coffee from around the world

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Credit: Atlas Coffee Club

Atlas Coffee Club gift subscription

Starting at $55

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Atlas Coffee Club is a coffee subscription that sends you coffee beans and postcards from a different country each month. So, you get to try roasts you probably can't get from your grocery store, and you get to learn about a new place — and maybe get some travel inspo. You can select from whole beans, grounds, Keurig pods, and Nespresso pods. Subscriptions can be three, six, or 12 months.

A personal blender for smoothies

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Credit: Nutribullet

NutriBullet

$58 at Walmart

 

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Make smoothies in your own kitchen with a NutriBullet personal blender — it's fast and easy. The NutriBullet Nutrient Extractor comes with the 600W motor base, blender blade, 24-ounce blending cup, travel lid, and lip ring, plus a recipe book if you're sick of the same old smoothies.

An endless supply of veggies and herbs

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Credit: AeroGarden

AeroGarden Sprout

$52.80 at Amazon

 

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Whether you're an enthusiastic home chef, like a bit of greenery, or simply can't stand running to the grocery store every time a recipe calls for some cilantro, a hydroponic garden is a great way to keep veggies and herbs on hand, even if you don't have a green thumb. We're fans of AeroGarden, which has gardens that start at $52.80.

A weighted blanket

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Credit: Quilty

Quilty weighted blanket

Starting at $63.99

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For what seems like an extraneous expense, an extra-heavy blanket can be a total game-changer. Besides providing all the comfort of a partner without the snoring, a weighted blanket can reduce tossing and turning and keep you extra warm. This one at Amazon comes in a bunch of colors, sizes, and weights.

Film vibes from a digital camera

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Credit: Camp Snap

Camp Snap camera

$65 at Camp Snap

 

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Film photos are back in a big way, but not all of us have the patience to fill up an entire roll and then wait for it to get developed. Camp Snap is a really neat camera that takes film-esque photos and stores them on an SD card so you can pull them to your computer or phone and post them immediately. It's super lightweight and has a pretty low profile compared to film cameras, making it easy to slip into your purse or pocket on a night out.

A necessary Nintendo Switch upgrade

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Credit: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

$69.99 at Amazon

 

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It's never too late to upgrade your Switch setup, and the Pro controller can help you do just that. This controller is perfect for when you connect your device to a larger display, and it has the added bonus of zero Joy-Con drift.

A tea and coffee lover's best friend

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Credit: Cosori

Cosori Electric Gooseneck Kettle

$69.99 at Amazon

 

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There's a certain electric gooseneck kettle that's beloved by design nerds, but that's also a tad overpriced (more than a tad, really). Instead, make the smart choice and opt for the infinitely more practical Cosori Electric Gooseneck Kettle. It still has plenty of charm — not to mention pre-set buttons for tea, coffee, and boiling water.

A pack of disposable cameras

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Credit: Fujifilm

Fujifilm disposable cameras

$53.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $26.00

 

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We have a couple of camera options on this list, but sometimes you really just want that classic disposable camera experience. You'll capture some fun, in-the-moment memories with no do-overs. A three-pack of disposable cameras costs $79.99 (these have become kind of expensive since the invention of digital/phone cameras).

Affordable no-worry earbuds

Anker Soundcore Sport X10 Earbuds

$49.95 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $30.04

 

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Worried your earbuds will fall out of your ears and be lost forever? Get peace of mind with the affordable Soundcore Sport X10 wireless earbuds. Designed for athletes but great for anyone, these headphones hook around your ears and stay put no matter how sweaty or active you get (a fact we can personally attest to). Keep them in their case for on-the-go charging.

Fancy olive oils

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Credit: Brightland

Brightland olive oil Mini Artist Series

$85 at Brightland

 

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This is one of our favorite gifts to give someone who's difficult to shop for, so it also makes a great gift to ask for when you aren't sure what you want. Brightland makes infused olive oils that come in super cute bottles. This set includes four mini bottles of chili, garlic, lemon, and basil-flavored olive oils. Your kitchen will feel elevated with these on display and in your cooking rotation.

Our favorite creator mic

DJI Mic Mini

$45 at Amazon
$89 Save $44

 

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The DJI Mic Mini is wildly popular amongst creators on TikTok, and for good reason. It's easy to use and actually sounds great. It's maybe not ideal for large productions, but for social video, it's awesome.

Color-changing smart light bulbs

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Credit: Philips

Philips Hue Smart Bulbs

$99.99 at Best Buy

 

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Turn your bedroom into a party with these color-changing smart light bulbs. You can control the lights from your phone and set whatever mood you're feeling. This kit includes two smart Bluetooth bulbs for $99.99.

Something to make your life a little more eco-friendly

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Credit: Stasher

Stasher Bags starter kit

$99.99 at Stasher

 

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Whether you're packing your lunch or storing leftovers, using plastic bags should be your last resort. Heck, you should be trying to stay away from all single-use plastics if you're able to. But, if you want to start small, these Stasher bags are a great option to make your daily life more eco-friendly. These silicone bags are secure and completely reusable — either wash them by hand or stuff them in the dishwasher. Grab a starter pack for $99.99.

A beginner-friendly sewing machine

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Credit: Singer

Singer M1150 sewing machine

$119.98 at Amazon

 

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Sewing has become a popular hobby amongst TikTokkers, and whether you've never touched a sewing machine in your life or you're just in need of a new one, the Singer M1150 is a solid machine for sewists of all levels. It hits all your basics at a reasonable price point.

A year of ad-free music

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Credit: Spotify

Spotify Premium 12-month subscription e-gift card

$120

 

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Maybe a Spotify Premium membership isn't in your budget this year, or maybe it's a monthly bill you'd just rather have someone else foot for you. Whatever the case, add a 12-month Spotify subscription gift card to your bday list. It's especially great if you've got someone shopping for you who notoriously waits until the last minute to buy gifts, since it can be delivered via email or text.

Luxurious towels

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Credit: Brooklinen

Brooklinen Super-Plush Turkish Cotton Bath Sheets

$129 at Brooklinen

 

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Multiple Mashable staff members revere Brooklinen towels as the softest towels ever. The brand's bath sheets are bigger than a standard bath towel, meaning you feel more coziness and less cold air as you step out of the shower.

The smart temperature-controlled mug

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Credit: Ember

Ember Mug 2

$129.95 at Amazon

 

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There's a lot of debate about what makes a good gift, but getting something that is a) practical and b) something just extravagant enough that you'd never get it for yourself may be the infallibly perfect combo. We think for coffee and tea drinkers, that combo is found in the Ember Mug 2, which retails for $129.95. This temperature-controlled mug may be unnecessary (and expensive), but boy does it feel good to take a hot sip of coffee after forgetting you poured it an hour ago.

A photo printer

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Credit: Canon

Canon SELPHY CP1500 Compact Photo Printer

$139.99 at Amazon

 

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Have some photos on your phone or Instagram that you want to pin to your fridge? Ask for the Canon SELPHY CP1500 Compact Photo Printer. This sleek gadget connects to your Android or iPhone through WiFi, SD card, or USB stick and prints out your favorite pics in a layout design of your choosing. The printing isn’t instant (the color ink layers print one at a time), but the quality of the final product makes it worth the wait.

A cute travel bag

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Baboon to the Moon

$145 at Amazon

 

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You've probably seen Baboon to the Moon bags if you've been online in the last half-decade. They're bright and colorful (or muted and neutral if you'd rather), and come in three sizes to fit your travel needs.

The gift of clean air

Levoit Core 300S smart air purifier

$119.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $30.00

 

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We know, we know, an air purifier is not the sexiest gift, but it is a practical one. The Levoit Core 300S is a smart air purifier with a companion app that lets you control the device and see real-time stats about your home's air quality. It's suitable for spaces up to 1,095 square feet.

A portable, waterproof speaker

Bose SoundLink Flex

$154.99 at Amazon

 

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Beach days and outdoor adventures are made complete with your favorite playlist. The Bose SoundLink Flex is a portable speaker that can handle the elements while still providing stellar sound quality. It's waterproof, rust- and drop-resistant, and even floats. Plus, it comes in five fun colors. For even bigger sound, try the Bose SoundLink Max.

Gifts $150+

A new Kindle

Kindle Paperwhite (2024)

$159.99 at Amazon

 

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The Mashable team has tested every Kindle e-reader, and we think the Kindle Paperwhite is the right e-reader for most people. Instead of asking for a book, ask for a Kindle for your birthday and save yourself money and space. Sure, it doesn't smell the same as a new book, but now you'll have no excuses for not keeping up with your yearly reading resolutions. (P.s. A new Kindle Paperwhite was released in October 2024.)

The viral Hatch alarm clock

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Credit: Hatch

Hatch Restore 3 sunrise alarm clock

$169.99 at Amazon

 

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Intrigued by sleepmaxxing? The Hatch Restore 3 sunrise alarm clock could help you get a better night's rest. It's designed to help you create a bedtime routine to help you fall asleep more easily. It's packed with different sleep sounds and light levels to ease you in and out of sleep.

Sleep earbuds that also track your sleep

Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 sleep earbuds

$149.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $30

 

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The Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds are our top pick for the best sleep earbuds. Our tester liked their battery life, comfort and fit, reliable performance, and sleep data. The sleep tracking was more accurate than data from a sleep-tracking phone app.

Or, upgrade to the newer noise-cancelling Sleep A30 sleep buds.

A desk you can take anywhere

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Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk

$179.99 at Amazon

 

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If you work remotely, you gotta get this portable desk from Logitech. The Casa Pop-Up Desk includes a wireless keyboard, wireless trackpad, and a desk stand that doubles as a discreet and stylish carrying case. It comes in three colors so you can match your aesthetic. This is an especially great tool if you like working from coffee shops or moving around while you work.

A new comforter

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Buffy Comforter

$195 at Buffy

 

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Comforters, like a mattress, shouldn't be an item you cheap out on. They're supposed to last you a while, so why not have something a little more luxurious? The Buffy Cloud comforter is a sustainable comforter made from recycled fiber and eucalyptus. Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart reviewed it, calling it "the first piece of bedding I've used that actually feels kind of dreamy."

Sony's latest bass-heavy headphones

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Sony ULT Wear headphones

$198 at Amazon

 

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Sony released its new ULT Power Sound lineup in April, and we adore the headphones. The ULT Wears have Sony's impressive sound quality and noise cancellation and are made even more impressive by the addition of the ULT button, which punches up the bass two additional levels. These headphones are booming, and the best part is they're relatively budget-friendly.

A pressure cooker and air fryer in one

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Instant Pot Duo Crisp

$199.95 at Amazon

 

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Your new favorite kitchen appliance: a pressure cooker that can air fry, roast, bake, dehydrate, slow cook, prepare rice, steam, sauté, and more. Impress guests with your culinary skills (that are in fact just throwing all the ingredients listed in the recipe into this thing and then waiting a few hours).

A trusty pet camera

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Credit: Furbo

Furbo pet camera

$129 at Amazon
$210 Save $81

 

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If you're anything like us, you view your pet like it's your actual child. We support that. Now, you can up your pet parent game by picking up a Furbo pet camera. Not only does it livestream what your pet is up to while you aren't home straight to your phone, but it also has the ability to toss treats and produce two-way audio for quick check-ins.

Design-friendly humidifier

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Vitruvi Cloud Humidifier

$229 at Amazon

 

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There's something to be said for a product that can marry form and function, and this Vitruvi humidifier does just that. Admittedly, $229 is probably a hefty price for a humidifier you're buying for yourself, but it's a great splurge gift if you prefer your household appliances not be eyesores.

Your own personal ice cream maker

Ninja Creami

$199.95 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $30.04

 

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If you're as chronically online as we are, you've likely seen people whipping up frozen treat concoctions with the Ninja Creami. The countertop ice cream maker has presets for gelato, ice cream, sorbet, smoothie bowls, milkshakes, and mix-ins if you want to channel your inner Dairy Queen. You do need to freeze your ingredients beforehand, so it's not an instantaneous sweet treat fix, but you have creative freedom to try out whichever flavors your sweet tooth desires.

A portable, smokeless fire pit

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Credit: Solo Stove

Solo Stove Ranger 2.0

$199.99 at Solo Stove
$229.99 Save $30

 

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Whether you're a hardcore camper or you just like unwinding with a few beers by the fire, Solo Stove's Ranger fire pit is a fantastic gift to ask for. It's designed to be smokeless and portable, making it great for balconies, backyards, beach hangs, or camping trips. Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel reviewed the larger Solo Stove Bonfire and wrote that it burns "beautiful, clean fires when conditions are right." The best part? The Ranger is typically on sale for $199.99, so whoever gifts it has 30 extra dollars to spend on your birthday.

A Bluetooth record player

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Sony Turntable

$248 at Amazon

 

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Are your Spotify playlists just not cutting it anymore? Switch it up and go retro with a vinyl music collection. This turntable connects to Bluetooth speakers and headphones, or you can hook it up to a traditional sound system using cords.

A pair of AirPods Pro

AirPods Pro 3

$239.95 at Amazon

 

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When you already own a pair of earbuds, it can be hard to justify splurging on a new pair — even if you really, really want to. And that's why the AirPods Pro (Gen 3) earbuds are an ideal birthday present. Apple stepped up its audio game with these buds, which feature improved sound quality and active noise cancellation. For a cheaper alternative, ask for the latest 4th Gen AirPods, which are $129 without ANC or $179 with ANC.

A robot vacuum

Shark Matrix RV2300

$249 at Walmart

 

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Stop manually vacuuming your house every day and let a robot vacuum clean your floors for you. The Shark RV2300 is budget-friendly and tough on dirt. Our robot vacuum expert called it "the most reliable cheap robot vacuum that I've tested."

A cool drone with a 12MP camera

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DJI Magic Mini 2 SE

$279 at Amazon

 

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This drone is small and super lightweight, but it takes stunning photos and videos. It's great for traveling or for use at home. DJI is one of the top names in drones, and the Mini 2 SE costs $279 with a remote control.

A massage gun

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TheraGun

$299 at Amazon

 

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Whether you're working at a desk all day, running around, or just inexplicably tense, a massage gun will get you limber and relaxed again. What better gift than the gift of painless movement? Our best recommendation? Go for the TheraGun. The Prime model costs $299, but if that's not quite in your budget, then check out our gadget gift guide for more gifting inspiration.

Five hair tools in one

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Shark FlexStyle

$299.99 at Amazon

 

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Instead of asking for the $600 Dyson Airwrap, you can get a product that performs nearly identically for half the price in the Shark FlexStyle (trust us, we tested them head-to-head). Pick up a version for textured hair or straighter hair for $299.99.

A portable projector

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Anker Nebula Capsule Projector

$299.99 at Amazon

 

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All of your friends will start calling your home the "cool house" if movie nights involve this mini portable projector. Use it to play movies, shows, or games outside on a screen or indoors on a blank wall. The Anker Nebula Capsule in black costs $299.99.

An Apple Watch

Apple Watch Series 10

$299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100

 

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An Apple Watch lets you access smartphone features conveniently on your wrist. You can control your music, send and receive texts, monitor your health, and tons more. The latest Apple Watch isn't too different from the previous model, but it has a significantly longer battery life, which we love.

Year-round spa days

TheraFace Pro

$299.99 at Amazon
$419.99 Save $120

 

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You can ask for a day at the spa, or you can ask for the gift of getting a facial whenever you want and from the comfort of your home. In her review of the device, Mashable Deputy Shopping Editor Miller Kern wrote that the TheraFace Pro is "a hell of a lot cheaper than getting regular professional facials, and I truly feel like I've received a spa treatment every time I use [it]."

An indoor garden

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Gardyn Studio

$499 at Gardyn

 

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Yard space is not easy to come by, but you can still have the garden of your dreams. Gardyn is an indoor hydroponic system that lets even the most notorious plant killers grow a thriving harvest. There are three starter kits to choose from: salad lover, budding florist, and chef faves. The smaller Gardyn Studio houses 16 plants, while the larger Gardyn Home holds 30.

The newest iPad mini

Apple iPad mini (2024, 7th generation, A17 Pro chip)

$620.19 at Amazon
$649 Save $28.81

 

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Our reviewer called the iPad mini 7 the "best choice" if you want a compact tablet, and said it looks better and is a lot more powerful than previous-generation iPad minis. It supports the Apple Pencil Pro and we named it the best tablet for reading.

A fancy desk chair

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Verve Chair

$549 at Branch

 

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Our favorite type of birthday gift is something you want to buy yourself but just can't justify spending your own money on. The Verve chair is a prime example of that. It's super comfy and ergonomic, and it comes in really cute colors, but it's definitely on the luxury end of pricing. If you work from home or just spend a lot of time sitting at a desk, put this at the top of your birthday wish list.

A new bike

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Schwinn GTX bike

$549.95 at Amazon

 

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Head outdoors with this hybrid bike designed for both leisure and more adventurous rides. It comes in different colors and a couple of different styles for men and women. The 18-inch Schwinn GTX 2.0 bike normally goes for $549.99.

A camera to rival your phone

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Nikon Z 30 Mirrorless Digital Vlogging Camera Bundle

$696.95 at Amazon

 

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When giving your friends and family birthday gift ideas, it's usually best to look for gifts under $50. But if you have a partner or parent who really loves you, then it's okay to dream big.

An easy-to-use mirrorless camera designed with creators in mind, the Nikon Z 30 boasts video, camera, and live streaming capabilities at an affordable price. The camera body can be purchased alone or with one or two kit lenses. There’s also the creators’ accessory bundle, which comes with a mic, tripod grip, and Bluetooth remote.

A handheld gaming console that's not a Switch

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Lenovo Legion Go

$699.99 at Best Buy

 

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Mashable Tech Reporter Alex Perry described the Lenovo Legion Go as "beefier and more powerful" than the Nintendo Switch. It has a huge display, solid performance, and all-around great specs. It's not a one-to-one competitor of the Switch, but rather a portable way into PC gaming that's "really good at running all kinds of games."

A new phone

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iPhone 17

Starting at $799

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Thinking of upgrading from an iPhone that has a Lightning port? Don't spend your own money on an expensive phone — have someone who loves you spend their money! The new iPhone 17 starts at $799, while the iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1099. (Group gift, anyone?)

A robot vacuum that also mops

Eufy X10 Pro Omni

$494.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $405

 

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Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart called the Eufy X10 Pro Omni the catchall answer to the question, "Which robot vacuum should I get?" It vacuums and mops — and empties its own dust bin, refills its water tank, and washes and dries its mop pads. The Eufy is a true hands-off cleaning device.

A TV that blends into your decor

Hisense CanvasTV (55-inch, QLED)

$697.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $302

 

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Samsung's The Frame TV made waves when it came out a few years ago, but the price is just not attainable for everyone. The Hisense CanvasTV is an amazing, budget-friendly (well, friendlier) alternative if you want an art TV for your birthday. The Google TV interface is amazing, and the TV truly does blend in with your art and decor. This is a bougie birthday ask, but one that's worth it.

A MacBook Air

Apple MacBook Air (M4, 13-inch)

$749 at Amazon
$999 Save $250

 

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MacBook Airs are super nice computers, but they can definitely be a bit pricey... which is what makes them such a great addition to a birthday wish list. Someone who loves you can drop the big bucks for you! The new 13-inch M4 MacBook Air starts at $999, but we've seen it dip down to $849 on sale.

DJI's Mic 2 and Mic Mini quickly became standard gear for content creators after their release last year. The beloved lapel mics are simple to use, versatile, and provide a significant audio upgrade at a reasonable cost. 

Now DJI has upgraded its offerings with the Mic 3, combining some of the previous models' best features. However, it also trims away a few significant ones, which could be a dealbreaker for certain advanced users. 

The DJI Mic 3 packs a lot into a tiny package

Left to right: The DJI Mic 2, Mic 3, and Mic Mini. Credit: A. Yeo

The DJI Mic 3's stamp-sized transmitter has a magnetic back which allows it to be affixed to clothes by either sandwiching the cloth between the transmitter and included magnet, or using the clip attachment. It's an elegant design, with the clip cradling the transmitter and holding it in place with notches. This provides a sturdy base when squeezing the clip open, and is incredibly quick and easy to deploy. 

Using the magnets to attach the transmitter is slightly more fiddly, but it adds the benefit of making the Mic 3 extremely light to wear. Though Mashable didn't have any issues with the Mic 3 detaching from our clothes, it's worth noting that both of its attachment methods ultimately rely on magnets. A more secure option would certainly have been appreciated for greater peace of mind, particularly as the transmitter contains the microphone, so it needs to be placed close to the audio source rather than safely in a pocket.

Unlike the Mic 2, the Mic 3 transmitter unfortunately doesn't have an onboard USB-C port. As such, users are reliant on either the case or DJI's proprietary magnetic charging cable, which is only available in some of the Mic 3 bundles. This may cause issues, as it's easy to lose such accessories or just not have them on hand when needed, and it doesn't appear as though DJI sells replacements separately. The Mic 3's lack of a USB-C port makes grabbing files off the transmitters more difficult as well. 

Fortunately, actually recording with the Mic 3 is relatively straightforward, as it's easy to navigate menus and view information on the receiver for the most part. Even as a fan of physical buttons and dials, Mashable typically defaulted to using the receiver's touch screen, which was responsive and simple to navigate.

DJI Mic 3's charging case keeps everything neatly organised

The DJI Mic 3's carrying case stores almost everything. Credit: A. Yeo

DJI's Mic 3 comes in a few different bundle configurations, offering different accessories according to users' needs. Mashable looked at its most popular option, which includes two microphone transmitters, one receiver, and a charging case. It also comes with a USB-C adapter, four fluffy windscreens, two clips, two magnets, a 3.5mm cable, and a USB-C cable. 

All of these except the USB-C cable can be stored in the Mic 3's charging case, which in turn fits within an included padded carrying pouch. This case is somewhat bulky, especially when compared to the tiny units. Thankfully, its clever design keeps everything organised and streamlined, ensuring the Mic 3 is easy to pick up and use in whatever manner best suits you. You can have a USB-C adapter attached to the receiver, a Lightning adapter (purchased separately) on standby, and the receiver's protective cover stowed neatly away — ready for anything without the risk of losing anything.

That isn't to say that the Mic 3's charging case couldn't be improved. It would have been nice to have a reassuring click when storing the 3.5mm cable, but instead it slips into little notches and seems to be held in place with hidden magnets. The cable also has to be removed to access the magnetic clips behind it, which requires a little wrangling since they tend to snap together. They are only magnets, after all. Even so, these are relatively minor gripes considering the charging case's overall excellent functionality.

DJI further claims that the charging case extends the Mic 3's operating time to 28 hours, with the transmitters otherwise lasting eight hours and the receiver lasting 10. Most users are unlikely to need that kind of run time, though it's nice to know you'll always be charged up, with a five-minute charge reportedly providing two hours of use.

The DJI Mic 3 trades external lav mic functionality for onboard recording

The DJI Mic 3 ultimately relies on magnets to attach to clothing. Credit: A. Yeo

The Mic 3's smaller form factor and loss of the USB-C port aren't the only notable changes DJI made when compared to the Mic 2. Perhaps controversially, the Mic 3 has removed the option to plug an external lav mic into its transmitter, a feature which had been available in its predecessor.

This is an unexpected and surprising change. While visible mic transmitters are now commonplace in social media content, broadcast shoots generally still use subtle or even hidden lapel mics. Removing this option may alienate a segment of the market that the Mic 3's features seem to court — those that hang in the increasingly blurred space between content creation and professional production. The loss of such functionality is even more confusing considering that DJI has introduced timecode support, which pushes the Mic 3 further toward a professional market.

Of course, DJI had to make some trade-offs to keep its units so small while still including on-board recording. Each Mic 3 transmitter has a sizable 32GB of storage, which can accommodate everything from the default 24-bit recordings through to larger 32-bit float files. (32-bit float is a file format that can capture a wider dynamic range, enabling you to recover audio that would otherwise clip if too loud or hiss if too quiet.)

There's even enough space for dual file recording, which is a somewhat unique feature in the Mic 3. Dual file recording enables the transmitter to record and store two different audio tracks simultaneously: both a raw recording and an "algorithm-enhanced version." This is just a version with whichever on-board effects you've turned on, such as voice tone presets, adaptive gain control, noise cancellation, and low cut. 

Such functionality makes the Mic 3 stand out, offering the potential to streamline your workflow while still keeping the flexibility of lossless recording. Lossless files provide the scope to manually tweak the sound of your audio, but having a version that's already gone through some basic processing could be a real time saver if the effects are to your liking. While having a lossless file to fall back on is always a great backup, all most creators need is for their audio to sound good. 

The DJI Mic 3's sound quality delivers

The DJI Mic 3's reciever can be directly attached to your camera. Credit: A. Yeo

Like its predecessors, the DJI Mic 3 offers solid sound quality. The microphone is surprisingly sensitive and can pick up everything with clarity, though this does include background noise. Fortunately, the Mic 3's on-board effects include two levels of noise cancellation, which work impressively well. The strong setting can cause artefacts from time to time, but it's still good enough for quick and easy shooting. 

Choice and flexibility seem to be the name of the game for the Mic 3, with a wide range of settings and effects available. The three voice tone presents (regular, rich, and bright) are relatively simple and subtle, and feel more suited for stylistic tweaking rather than corrective equalisation. 

Meanwhile, the Mic 3's adaptive gain control offers two modes: automatic and dynamic. This is basically compression, with automatic turning down sudden bursts in volume to prevent clipping, while dynamic also increases the gain on quieter sounds to make everything more level. 

Like all of the Mic 3's effects, its adaptive gain control works very solidly. It also seems like a more useful baked-in "safety" option than the Mic 2's safety track, which simply used the right channel to record a version at -6dB in case of clipping. This made for a messy workflow, requiring users to separate the channels and splice in the -6dB version wherever there was clipping. In contrast, the Mic 3's adaptive gain control automates the process to deliver a single track that should be good to go (or very close to), while dual file recording provides a clean backup.

The Mic 3 is set to internally record 24-bit single files by default. When asked why, DJI told Mashable that 24-bit is more commonly used, uses smaller files, and is more user-friendly for beginners, while utilizing 32-bit requires more post-production and technical skill. It's another example of the Mic 3 seeking to offer as close to set-and-forget as possible, while still giving plenty of options for flexibility. 

Of course, all this is only good if you actually remember to hit record on the Mic 3 transmitters, as internal recording isn't triggered by camera recording. If you're likely to forget, the receiver screen clearly highlights when a transmitter is recording internally, and you can set them to automatically start recording as soon as they turn on.

For those who prefer not to marry video and audio files in post but are still chasing high res, you can also opt to send the receiver 48kHz 24-bit lossless audio. Otherwise, the Mic 3 transmitter sends encoded 24-bit when lossless audio is turned off, with 32-bit float reserved for internal recording. DJI states that lossless audio reduces the transmitter's battery life by approximately two hours, and its 400m (1312ft) maximum transmission range by 50 percent.

Should you buy the DJI Mic 3?

The DJI Mic 3's charging case is neat, but still has room for improvement. Credit: A. Yeo

If you only film content on your phone, you'll likely be better off picking up the DJI Mic Mini and saving yourself some cash. It still has some form of noise cancellation and adaptive gain control — the Mic 3's two most useful effects — and is a fraction of the cost. You will have to sacrifice internal recording, though most people who record and edit on their phones are less likely to need it anyway.

However, if you shoot anything more complex, and particularly if you film with both a phone and a dedicated camera, then you'll greatly benefit from what the DJI Mic 3 has to offer. The receiver's touchscreen makes functionality quick and easy, with information ready at a glance, while the 32-bit float internal recording is a valuable backup. The timecode support will be very welcome for multicam shoots as well. 

The DJI Mic 3 is a beautifully designed, well-made lapel mic that provides impressive audio quality, while also offering significant versatility regardless of what you're using to film.

DJI's products have become more difficult to get your hands on in the U.S., as the federal government poses significant challenges to the company's business stateside. Even so, those in the U.S. may still be able to procure the Mic 3 via unofficial third parties, and of course it's still easily available in other parts of the world.

DJI Mic 3 (2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case)

$259 at Amazon
$329 Save $70

 

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Sleep trackers — wearable devices that monitor all your vitals — provide detailed summaries of your sleep cycle so you know how many hours of REM, deep, and light sleep you're getting. Most fitness trackers come equipped with sleep tracking these days, but choosing the best from that bunch is not as straightforward. These days, sleep trackers come in all shapes and sizes, and fortunately, our experts here at Mashable have tested them all.

If your sleepmaxxing routine of magnesium supplements and pillow sprays isn't cutting it, here are the best sleep trackers of 2026.

Black Friday brings amazing deals on the strongest robot vacuums

The stronger the robot vacuum, the more expensive — that's the general rule that can make it tricky to find a robot vacuum that actually works on pet hair and a robot vacuum that actually works for your budget. Black Friday has the power to make those ultra-premium robot vacuums, including the best robot vacuum mop combos, significantly more affordable.

As many robot vacuum brands gear up to release their new models for the year in January, top vacuums from the past year tend to hit new record-low prices in the last half of November (and we're keeping track of the best robot vacuum deals as they drop). Suddenly, a robot vacuum with 20,000 Pa of suction power is the same price as the model with 10,000 Pa that you were eyeing a few weeks ago. Maybe a built-in livestream pet camera isn't just a dream feature anymore.

How to find a robot vacuum that works on pet hair

You've probably gathered that suction power is one major determinant of how well a robot vacuum works on pet hair. But the brush roll system is nearly just as important when choosing a robot vacuum to deal with pet fur. Two spinning brush rolls are far more effective than one at loosening fur embedded in carpet, and the separation between the two acts as an exit door for hair that'd start wrapping otherwise. Pet parents should definitely opt for a self-emptying robot vacuum — so much fur being sucked up will lead to a full dustbin faster, and you won't feel like emptying it yourself every day.

If hardwood or tile is prevalent in your home, the best robot vacuum and mop combo for pet hair will be able to sanitize the floor while mopping and then wash its own mops to rinse off any lingering hair

If your home zoo seriously needs the utmost fur-fighting power, though, I'd have a good cordless stick vacuum on standby — stick vacuums are just more powerful than robot vacuums in general.

Other robot vacuums we've tested recently

I tested several other top robot vacuums in the past that didn't make the most recent cut for this list. Some, like the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Roborock Qrevo Master, Narwal Freo X Ultra, and various versions of the Roomba j7, were my top recommendations at one point, but have since been overshadowed by newer, more powerful models that are a better bang for your buck. I recently tested and was impressed by the Roomba Plus 505 Combo, which isn't in this list just because its more powerful sibling is the obvious pick for pet parents.

I've also tested some 2025 robot vacuum releases that were OK, but ultimately aren't a top pick for me. The Dreame X50 Ultra grabbed attention during its CES 2025 debut for its ability to "climb," though the fine print is that it can't scale thresholds taller than 6 millimeters (about 2.36 inches). A slew of new Dreame robot vacuums are slated to come out in fall 2025, among them a model with improved climbing abilities and a model whose self-empty dock can hold three sets of mopping pads. I'll be getting my hands on these as soon as possible and updating my top picks for this list accordingly.

Whether you should get a robot vacuum or a stick vacuum boils down to one question: How picky are you about cleaning?

Everyone can probably acknowledge the appeal of not lifting a finger to clean their floors. But to some, that convenience may not be worth the cringe sparked by watching a robot vacuum ignore a crumb or eat a phone charger. Despite notable upgrades in smart mapping and cleaning performance over the past half-decade, even the best robot vacuums of 2026 can't match the precision of the best cordless stick vacuums operated by, you know, an actual human with a brain.

Cordless vacuums also just have the physical advantage in a lot of tricky spots. If you'd like to keep up with couch cushions, car seats, stairs, or the dusty abyss lying behind every door, a stick vacuum that can go handheld (and go outside) is the only option with that flexibility.

But to be real, your willingness to do all the cleaning yourself also matters — if you dread vacuuming by hand so much that you'll just put off doing it, your floors might actually be cleaner with a robot vacuum. I personally have both at the ready at all times and can argue for the value and practicality on either side, depending on the situation. And while the convenience of a robot vacuum is undeniable, I still reach for a cordless vacuum in more cases than not.

Other cordless vacuums I've tested

I've tested several other vacuum cleaners that didn't make the most recent cut for this list. Some, like the Shark Detect Pro with auto-empty station and LG All-in-One Cord Zero with auto-empty station, were a top recommendation at one point, but have since been overshadowed by newer, more powerful models that are a better bang for your buck.

There are also a few Dyson vacuums from years past that still garner substantial search interest, but that I no longer think are worth your money compared to what else is out there. The Dyson V8 and (seemingly discontinued) Dyson V10 that my parents have lying around have a tendency to push large debris like cat food and rocks around, and leave behind a layer of pet hair on many dark rugs. While these Dysons may have been powerhouses in the late 2010s, $300 could get you a more powerful option — maybe even automatic emptying, like with the Shark Detect Pro I just mentioned. The only upside would be that Dyson includes the motorized hair screw tool with the V8 and V10.

I also bumped the Dyson V15 Detect Submarine out of the list. The Roborock 2-in-1 cordless mop that took its place just offers a more seamless mopping system all around. The swappable wet roller head that turns the V15 Detect into a "mop" completely cuts off airflow to the dust bin of the vacuum, meaning there's no real wet suction going on. During my testing, this just pushed liquid around instead of soaking up spills, which then led to a soggy manual cleaning process that was super prone to leaks and weird smells. It just required way too much maintenance by hand, compared to the self-cleaning features of the Roborock F25 Ace Combo.

I also test robot vacuums. Are they as powerful?

I also test a ton of robot vacuums at home. While I think the convenience of robot vacuums is worth for, say, keeping up with the layer of dust and crumbs that accumulate during the work week, I have found that cordless vacuums are consistently tougher on elusive debris like pet hair or fine powders. This is especially when they've been pressed down into rug fibers or have been caked into corners.

Cordless stick vacuums are generally more powerful than robot vacuums. The upright design is optimal for airflow and has the real estate to house larger motors and more complex cyclone systems that create extra force on top of suction power alone. A robot vacuum's motor can't exceed the three or four-inch clearance that the vac needs to scoot its whole body under furniture. The motor of an upright vacuum typically lives completely separately from the vacuum head and roller brush and is thus under fewer constraints.

Physics aside, you could argue that a cordless vacuum is less likely to leave debris behind because a person is actively assessing where the suction needs to be focused. This includes tricky spots that aren't even on a robot vacuum's radar, like staircases or cars.

There are some one-to-one comparisons where a robot vacuum could be as powerful or more powerful than a stick vacuum. For instance, I've tested both the Roborock Saros 10R robot vacuum and Roborock F25 Ace cordless vacuum, and both offer 20,000 Pa suction power. But robot vacuums with that kind of power typically reside in the $1,000+ category, while it's much more affordable to hit that number with a stick vacuum. Even with identical stats on paper, the cordless vacuum would probably have a higher pickup rate over time just because the person operating it can see when more passes are necessary.

A Bluetooth speaker is one of those devices that, once you find one you like, you won't be able to imagine how you lived without it. And since both Bluetooth and speakers aren't exactly new technology, you'll find that this is one of the more expansive product categories in the tech world (admittedly, this feels like the case for almost anything you buy these days). Enter: the Mashable tech and shopping teams. We stay on top of the latest Bluetooth speaker releases from brands like Sony, JBL, Bose, and Marshall, while also applying our audio and product testing expertise to determine when old favorites are the better choice. We spend time testing the speakers in our own homes, evaluating the balance in their sound, portability, and of course, their prices.

As of November 2025, our top picks include the near-indestructible JBL Charge 6, the smart home-integrated Sonos Move 2, and the charmingly retro Marshall Emberton III. You'll also find the best small Bluetooth speakers, the most portable speakers, and bass-thumping party speakers.

Recent additions to this guide:

• November 2025: We've selected the Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Generation) as our best travel speaker, replacing the IKEA Vappeby (our new honorable mention pick).

• November 2025: We've added the JBL PartyBox Stage 320 as the best party speaker, replacing the older Ultimate Ears Hyperboom.

• November 2025: We've added the Sony ULT Field 7 as the best boombox-style speaker.

One of the distinct joys of art is that sometimes you get to feel like you truly grasp something in a way other people don’t. This is the driving force behind "cult classics," those rare movies or games that get a lukewarm reception at release but turn out to be misunderstood gems. It’s fun to feel like you were right all along, but even more fun to feel like other people were wrong.

Take Kirby Air Ride, a vehicle-based action game starring Nintendo’s spherical pink icon Kirby, originally released for GameCube in 2003. One glance at its Metacritic page tells the whole story: Reviewers didn’t much care for it, but lots of gamers loved it, judging by the user score.

As someone who did play the original and found it kind of forgettable, I went into its Nintendo Switch 2 sequel Kirby Air Riders hoping to be won over. I so badly wanted to believe the critics got it wrong, and expanding the game with more characters, abilities, and modes would give Kirby a triumphant return that proved the haters wrong. 

That didn’t happen. Kirby Air Riders may have more going for it than its predecessor, but that’s not saying much. This is still a thin racing action game with one cool mode and a whole lot of "bleh" around it, including a miserable single-player experience.

For Nintendo nerds, it’s cool that Air Riders exists at all

Most of the racing tracks look fantastic. Credit: Nintendo

Before I get to all the stuff that bums me out about Air Riders, I want to make one thing clear: I’m happy this game exists, if for no other reason than it’s the first big Kirby game directed by series creator Masahiro Sakurai in more than 20 years. You may or may not know Sakurai from being the public face of the Super Smash Bros. series, but Kirby is his baby, and it makes me happy to know that he got to make something of a passion project for himself before presumably getting back into the Smash mines.

Air Riders also feels like a much-deserved celebration of Kirby in general. It’s full of playable characters who range from basic Kirby enemies to Kirby’s friends or even major villains from throughout the series. The soundtrack mixes great original tracks with fresh re-arrangements of classic Kirby songs, and I would say the music is probably the best thing about Air Riders in general. It’s also a visual feast for the young Switch 2 console, with an exceptionally vibrant color palette, racetracks with awesome-looking setpieces and scenery, and a (from what I can tell) flawless 60 frames per second frame rate holding it all together.

Air Riders looks and sounds great, but then you have to actually play it.

But there’s ultimately almost no meat on the bone here

Same, homies. Credit: Nintendo

In case you never played the original Air Ride or missed the marketing or public beta weekends for Air Riders, the key thing to know about it mechanically is that there’s no accelerate button. You are always accelerating automatically. There are only two buttons, one that slams the brakes (while also charging up a speed boost that activates once you let go), and another that activates your chosen character’s special ability once a meter is full.

Add in a spin attack that you can do by wiggling the left stick back and forth, and that’s your entire moveset. Air Riders is, to its credit, very easy to learn thanks to its inherent simplicity as well as a series of playable tutorials that make sure none of the nuances (which mostly exist in the form of vehicles that all control and behave pretty differently) get past the player. Unlike most driving games, vehicles in Air Riders can fly, so doing the tutorials is at least worth it to learn how that all works.

The problem is that there just isn’t a whole lot to do once you’ve finished the tutorials. You can compete against CPUs or friends in the racing-based Air Ride mode, the top-down Top Ride mode, and the more open-ended action mode City Trial, or check out Road Trip, which technically counts as a single-player story mode. More on that later.

City Trial was the highlight of the GameCube original, and it’s still the main reason to play its sequel. This mode places up to 16 players in a big city map for exactly five minutes, during which time they have to find vehicles and power them up by collecting items that spawn in a variety of ways. You can destroy boxes to juice up your car, but random challenges like short races or even boss fights will appear from time to time, each coming with the opportunity to collect a lot of power-ups simply by participating in them.

I love this guy. Credit: Nintendo

Once those five minutes are up, players are cordoned off into Stadiums, which are basically just mini-games. Some of them prioritize speed, others prioritize flight or combat ability. City Trial is all about embracing whatever machine you ended up with and whatever stats it has at the end of the match, and just trying your best in whichever Stadium you do. There are technically winners and losers, but really, the joy here is in zooming around a map for five minutes and collecting floating icons that make numbers go up. 

Air Riders is at its best when City Trial is at its most hectic, with meteors raining from the sky or some wacky boss wrecking the place while everyone is just trying to power up their ride. I do find some joy in getting to the point where my vehicle is so fast that it’s barely controllable, but that also makes completing specific challenges not especially fun at times. Still, City Trial (especially online, and especially with people you know) is a good time. 

I wish I felt the same about Air Ride, the racing mode. These races aren’t terrible by any means, but they’re usually exceedingly short and insubstantial. City Trial works as well as it does largely because it’s full of random nonsense that can throw you off your game or work to your benefit. Air Ride races, meanwhile, are kind of the same every time, unless you really get into trying different combinations of characters and vehicles. I appreciate that every character can suck up enemies on the road and copy their powers like Kirby can, but even those abilities only add a tiny bit of variety to the proceedings. 

Top Ride is also barely worth talking about. These mechanics don't translate super well to a top-down perspective, and making turns can be more of a chore than I'd like. It feels like a Mario Party mini-game.

City Trial and (to a lesser extent) Air Ride are where you’ll spend most of your time in Air Riders, as they both support local and online multiplayer. Speaking of online, you can host a bunch of friends in a paddock, which works as a social lobby where you can show off your characters or rides, which can be customized using unlockable parts and decals. It’s fun to jump around and do dumb emotes for a while before a City Trail match.

Road Trip is a bust

Imagine doing this for 90 minutes. Credit: Nintendo

Unfortunately, there is also a single-player side of Air Riders. Road Trip is an approximation of a solo adventure mode in which you choose a rider and spend somewhere between 60 and 90 minutes completing challenges, collecting machines, powering up said machines, and occasionally fighting bosses. Most of the challenges are plucked from the other modes; short races on Air Ride tracks or Stadium sessions against CPUs make up the bulk of Road Trip’s runtime. Every now and then, you see an uninteresting cutscene as a reward for your efforts, too.

In theory, I’m sort of into a roguelike mode where, by the end, you have a big roster of souped-up machines. Sadly, Road Trip is immeasurably dull. Challenges quickly become repetitive, as you might find yourself doing the same race on the same slice of the same Air Ride track half a dozen times during one Road Trip. I also found that the challenge level stayed pretty much the same throughout. Challenges only got more difficult near the end of a run for me, and only because my machines were so powered up that they became more difficult to control. I actively disliked the late-game boss fights that required a slight modicum of precision, which is not really what Air Riders is good at.

I just can’t personally see myself playing any more of Road Trip than I had to for the purposes of writing this review. At best, it’s somewhat pleasant and boring. At worst, it’s actively frustrating and, again, felt like a chore. I did, on occasion, get a small dopamine rush from completing in-game achievements to fill out a big checklist, which sometimes rewarded me with new characters to play as or new machines to use. The problem with this is that a huge majority of those achievements reward you with stickers or other cosmetic items instead. I can see younger players finding that more satisfying than I do, but that doesn't really do a lot for me personally.

Kirby Air Riders, in that sense, simultaneously has a lot to do and next to nothing to do. You can theoretically pump hours and hours into this game to unlock everything, but the process of doing that isn’t particularly enjoyable beyond the satisfaction of completing something. Air Riders is overflowing with stuff, but most of it is truly just “stuff,” if you catch my drift. 

Critics in 2003 were right

I was not reviewing video games in 2003 because I was nine years old. Playing Kirby Air Riders in this capacity made me feel some solidarity with reviewers from back then, though, as I think this game is roughly as good in a 2025 context as that one was in a 2003 context. Unfortunately, the 2025 version costs $69, and it's just not worth that much.

Yes, the sequel has more playable characters, machines, ways to customize both of those things, and tons of other crap to unlock. The new and improved City Trial mode is genuinely a lot of fun at times, too, and Air Riders is a gorgeous game both visually and aurally. Longtime Kirby aficionados will also surely enjoy the amount of fan service at work here.

But Air Riders still feels woefully thin to me. If you aren’t playing City Trial online, you might as well just play something else. Air Ride mode wears out its welcome pretty quickly, and Road Trip is only marginally more fun than driving across Kansas in real life. 

I just don’t think there’s enough hidden depth here to make even City Trial interesting for more than a couple of weeks. All I wanted out of this game was to be persuaded that the original Air Ride was secretly great and just needed a second chance to truly shine. Needless to say, I remain unconvinced.

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Credit: Nintendo

'Kirby Air Riders'

$69 at Amazon

 

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My pro tip: Take advantage of Black Friday deals on Sony headphones

Whether you’re looking for an AirPods alternative, budget cans under $50, or a wireless headphones with a wider sound range than the best Bose headphones, Sony has you covered on all fronts.

And with Black Friday just around the corner, you can get almost all of these headphones for even cheaper than usual. In the weeks leading up to the shopping event, the flagship XM6s received a small $20 discount, the mid-range WH-CH720 headphones are on sale for under $100, the CH-520 headphones are all the way back down to $38, and the noise-cancelling WF-C710N are just $79. We're also watching the XM4 and XM5 models very closely. In other words, the sale prices are starting off strong.

So which should you buy? I spent the past several months testing and re-testing all of Sony's most popular headphones and earbuds (and the better part of a decade reviewing headphones) to help you decide.

Now, let’s check out the best Sony headphones of 2025.

How to choose the best Sony headphones

Sony headphones and earbuds juggle several priorities, including ANC, battery life, hi-res sound, and multipoint pairing. However, you may need to compromise on some of these features if you're not willing to spend $300 or more, the minimum price for flagship headphones in 2025.

If you want audio you can tailor to your liking, look for headphones carrying Sony’s adaptive sound features: 360 Reality Audio, DSEE, and Find My Equalizer. Travelers and road warriors need a model with ANC powerful enough to eliminate sounds across the entire frequency spectrum, not just airplane engines. Those who live active lifestyles or exercise regularly can find buds with a transparency mode that keeps them aware of their surroundings. Lengthy playtimes and wireless perks (e.g., Bluetooth multipoint, mobile app) have their benefits as well. And while Sony doesn't specialize in sports earbuds like Beats (and increasingly Apple as well), the Sony LinkBuds Fit let you stay in the Sony ecosystem while you work out.

As in all shopping decisions, it all comes down to preference and budget.

Recent changes to this guide

The Sony XM5 and XM6 headphones. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

• Sony WH-CH520 on-ear headphones: We added these headphones in September 2025 after re-reviewing them and having a positive experience. We've named them our new "Budget pick."

• Sony WH-CH720N noise-cancelling headphones: Previously our "Budget pick," we named them the "Best Sony headphones under $100" in our most recent update.

Smart rings monitor your health in a tiny, inconspicuous package. At first glance, they look like any other piece of jewelry, a simple gold or silver ring. But with tiny sensors, these rings track biometrics through your finger. Yes, they'll track your step count and calories burned, but more advanced technology allows them to track sleep and stress levels, all detected through heart rate and variability.

If you're looking to gain deeper insights into your health, a smart ring will help you do that, and we've vetted the most popular models on the market through weeks of testing to find the best smart ring.

What's the best smart ring?

The smart ring market is ever-growing, with new models debuting each year. Samsung just launched a smart ring in 2024, and while Apple doesn't have a smart ring on the market yet, we're sure it will be here in a matter of time. But smart rings are synonymous with the Oura Ring, a leader in the field, and for good reason. After spending weeks with the device, testing its hype, and comparing it to other devices, we can confidently say Oura makes the best smart ring in 2026.

Oura offers the most expansive biometric tracking, monitoring your health around the clock. It focuses on daily and long-term health goals more holistically than other rings.

However, the Oura Ring has downsides, like a monthly subscription fee. If you're not down for a monthly fee, we tested some popular alternatives to Oura rings.

Why should you buy a smart ring?

So you think you want a smart ring? Here's what you need to know about the latest tech wearable. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Smart rings are not just another fitness tracker. Yes, they do track your activity, steps, and calories burned. However, they're really meant to offer a more holistic view of your health so you can gain deeper insights into your sleep habits, cardiovascular health, and more.

You're a good candidate for a smart ring if you hate the look of a smartwatch or fitness tracker with LED screens, which are categorically not cool. Smart rings are posed as a discreet option, looking like a regular piece of jewelry. However, to be frank, they don't blend in that well. In my weeks of testing, while wearing the rings during hangouts, someone would inevitably ask me, "What's that?"

Since a smart ring doesn't have a screen, you have to pull out your phone and open an app whenever you want to track activity. That's certainly not the end of the world, but if you convert from a smartwatch, you'll miss the convenience of tapping your wrist. That being said, I actually find a smart ring most useful when paired with a smartwatch. I ran all my testing while simultaneously wearing an Apple Watch, and I appreciated the smart rings that were compatible with my watch so I could receive push notifications.

The latest smart ring news

If I were to assign the superlative of 'Most Dramatic' to any tech product, it would be to smart rings. In between new product and feature launches, the smart ring beat is abuzz with brand conflicts, privacy concerns, and swelling batteries.

Oura ring: New ceramic rings, blood tests, and Palantir

In early September, the internet was swirling with concerns around data privacy with Oura. After an announcement of Oura's continued partnership with the United States Military as well as the use of Palantir software being used in this venture, users were concerned about their data. Oura has clarified that Palantir has no access to user data.

Things have since settled down since Oura clarified its partnership. The brand recently launched the Oura Ring 4 in ceramic, which comes in four new colors. Plus, the brand launched multi-device pairing as well as health panels, which analyze users blood work through a Quest Diagnostics partnership.

Ultrahuman: Are they still available in the United States?

Earlier this year, Oura won a patent dispute against Ultrahuman and Ringcon, claiming its competitors purchased Oura rings to reverse engineer the curved battery. The International Trade Commission ruled in Oura's favor, resulting in Ultrahuman and Ringcon no longer being able to import to the US as of October 21, 2025. But does that mean the devices are going away? Not really.

In an email with Ultrahuman representation, they clarified that the brand can no longer import to the U.S. or sell the ring via Ultrahuman's website after October 21. However, other retailers such as Amazon or Best Buy can still sell the product past that date and as of Jan. 2026, you can still find the Ring Air available to buy. This ruling only applies to the Ultrahuman Ring Air, and the brand has implied that a new device may be on the way.

Samsung: Reports of battery swelling on the rise

The Samsung Galaxy Ring, which we recommend to those already in the Samsung ecosystem, has also been in the news lately. A YouTuber named Daniel, who runs the channel ZONEofTECH, alleged that his Samsung Galaxy Ring began swelling as he was boarding a plane. Daniel reportedly had to go to the hospital to get the ring removed. The swelling appears to come from the Samsung ring's battery, which tends to swell inward, preventing users from being able to remove it. This is not the first report of a Samsung ring's battery swelling, but it is the first where a user had to go to the hospital.

Anker Solix makes some of the best portable power stations. The brand consistently combines top-notch functions with thoughtful design, and they continue to get more compact and lightweight with each new model. Anker also offers some of the best value-to-features ratios throughout the lineup of portable power stations and smaller electronic charging devices. The brand also makes a lineup of electric coolers, with the latest model being the Anker Solix EverFrost 2.

What’s to love about the Anker Solix EverFrost 2

Opting for an electric cooler over your standard model comes with some awesome advantages. For starters, you don’t have to mess around with ice. That means no more soggy food or packaging or general mess that comes with everything being wet. An electric cooler also gives you precise temperature control, and on the Anker Solix Everfrost 2, you can select a specific temperature between -4 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Use it as a portable freezer for the drive to the campground and then switch it to a refrigerator temperature for beverages after cooking up the frozen goods.

An ice-free electric cooler with a prep station that can charge your phone? Campsite dreams do come true. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

Anker says the EverFrost 2 has 2.4-inch walls designed for optimal cooling, and it has the brand’s FrostFlow technology. This mixes coil-wrapped evaporator walls with the lid-mounted fan that helps with the circulation of chilled air, aiming to remove temperature differences within the cooler.

There are also all-terrain wheels, a prep table that doubles as a roller handle, and measurements on the lid that’ll be handy when fishing. Here are some important specs for the Anker Solix EverFrost 2:

• Sizes available: 23, 40, and 58 liters

• Holding temperature range: -4 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit

• Ambient temperature range: 32 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit

• Battery capacity: 288Wh each (option to use two)

• Battery output: 60W USB-C and 12W USB-A

• Recharging options: solar panel (max 100W), car socket, wall outlet, or USB-C

• Weight: 37 pounds (23 liters), 50.7 pounds (40 liters), 63.7 pounds (58 liters)

One battery or two; charge the cooler or charge your phone

Each of the three EverFrost 2 sizes comes with one 288Wh battery. You can double this by purchasing an additional 288Wh battery to fill the additional built-in battery slot on the electric cooler. This’ll double the run-time on the cooler, which will be great for longer trips or if you’ll be in conditions that don’t work well for recharging. At the time of writing, the additional battery goes for $249. 

One of my favorite aspects of the EverFrost 2 is the ability to use the cooler’s battery to recharge electronics. Each battery has a USB-A and a USB-C port that can be used to recharge phones or small tech devices while camping. In a way, this means the EverFrost 2 is both an electric cooler and a small portable power station.

The EverFrost 2 batteries include a USB-A and USB-C port for recharging devices on the go. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

The chill sets in quickly

When testing the EverFrost 2, I was wowed by its ability to get cold quickly. Anker says it can go from 77 degrees down to 32 in 15 minutes in Max mode. At one point, I was transporting important frozen goods in the EverFrost cooler — six pints of Graeter’s ice cream. I’ve never felt confident transporting ice cream on long car rides in a standard cooler, but given the promises of the EverFrost 2, I was willing to take the chance on this crucial ice cream cargo. I kept a close eye on the cooler’s internal temperature through the app and was shocked by how quickly it cooled.

I put all my faith into the EverFrost 2 to keep my important foods frozen (read: ice cream). Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

I didn’t bother with Max mode and instead kept it on Smart mode. Within 10 minutes, the cooler went from its ambient garage temperature of 55 degrees down to 23. After that initial chill, I kept the app open and noticed it continued to drop by one degree about every minute. All of that checks out with Anker’s initial claims of taking 26 minutes to drop from 77 to 32 degrees in Smart mode. But if you’re in a super hurry, you can speed that up to just 15 minutes. I packed up my ice cream and set off for a three-hour car ride, and found the ice cream to be in perfect frozen condition after those three hours.

This is great news for forgetful people who will be using the EverFrost for frozen goods and can’t remember to pre-chill the cooler. It’ll take under half an hour to get it down to optimal temperature. In addition to setting the temperature on the Anker app, you can also use the controls on the cooler itself.

On-cooler controls mean you don't have to use the app to control the cooler. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

Recharging options aplenty

One of the nicest elements about the Anker Solix EverFrost 2 is its recharging versatility. You have standard AC wall recharging thanks to the included charger, but you can also recharge with a solar panel or even USB-C. While testing, I haphazardly removed an Anker cable from my camping backpack, assuming it was for a portable power station I wasn’t bringing. Of course, it was the AC recharging cable for the EverFrost 2, which made my heart sink once I realized my mistake. But once I remembered I had a USB-C cable and my beloved Anker GaN charger that I use to charge my phone and laptop, I was set to recharge the cooler. That also made me realize how awesome it is to have a single cable and charger that works for my important tech devices and the electric cooler.

You can also recharge the Solix EverFrost 2 with solar. There’s something especially satisfying about using something as hot as the sun, which measures 10,000 degrees on its coldest point, to keep food cold. And it always feels like using a cheat code to get free power from the sun, minus the initial cost of a solar panel. But keep in mind the EverFrost 2 only likes a little bit of solar power, and it maxes out with a relatively small 100W solar panel. 

Each EverFrost 2 comes with one battery but has room for an additional. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

Anker included easy access to the USB-C and USB-A ports on the battery. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

If you’re having an extra forgetful day and take off for a camping trip with a dead electric cooler, you can recharge it while you drive, thanks to the car socket. Anker kindly includes that charging cable with the cooler.

Recharging times for the EverFrost are pretty slow, though, especially considering Anker’s focus on whizzing-quick recharging on the brand’s portable power stations. These are Anker’s listed recharging times for all sizes of the EverFrost 2:

• 100W solar panel: 3.6 hours

• AC wall outlet: 3.6 hours

• Car charger: 3.6 hours

• USB-C: 5.5 hours

Sizing versatility is great

The Anker Solix EverFrost 2 comes in three size options: a 23-liter, 40-liter, and a 58-liter. Both the 23- and 40-liter options have a singular cooling compartment, so you’ll need to decide if you want it to serve as a freezer or a refrigerator and set the temperature accordingly. The 58-liter comes with the major benefit of having dual compartments. That means you can head off with one side serving as a refrigerator for fresh foods and drinks, and the other working as a freezer.

Anker’s app is a joy to use

Every portable power station I’ve ever tested syncs up to an associated app. These tend to be awesome if you love looking at data and stats. Anker’s app is one of my favorites because it allows you to skip all account setup and simply connect the app to nearby Anker portable power stations or coolers with Bluetooth. 

The sliding temperature dial in the app is a breeze to use. Credit: Screenshot: Anker

Full stats in the app with the ability to change temp, mode, and check on battery life. Credit: Screenshot: Anker

After finding the EverFrost 2 cooler, the app allows users to control the temperature and settings of the cooler. I found using the Anker app with the electric cooler to be especially useful during road trips, since the cooler is usually packed into the back of the car and inaccessible. I could quickly check on the temperature from the passenger seat to make sure my ice cream was safely chilled. It’s also convenient to peek at remaining battery life and adjust the temperature on the sliding dial.

An awkward lift, but the wheels are plenty capable

In a sense, it’s unfair to say lifting the Anker EverFrost 2 is a chore because all coolers of this size are weird to carry. The inherent shape makes lifting and carrying a less-than-perfect experience. The EverFrost 2 has some extra inconvenience since there’s extra weight compared to a standard cooler. Each EverFrost 2 battery weighs about 5.5 pounds, and they slot into the electric cooler on the same side, which means the cooler is heavier on one side. It’s not an unmanageable lift, but it’s not great fun. I made sure to open doors, pop the car trunk, and clear the path before I needed to relocate the cooler. 

We're going places with these durable wheels. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

Anker’s designs tend to be thoughtful, so of course, they added some elements of respite to the awkward nature of carrying and lifting the cooler. The six-inch wheels are, in fact, all-terrain, and they do a great job on pavement, trails, and even deep gravel. In my testing, I always found the wheels could roll along well on any terrain.

Is the Anker EverFrost 2 worth buying?

If you rely on a cooler to keep your food safely chilled, the Anker EverFrost 2 is an awesome electric model. It’s better suited for long trips or off-grid adventures compared to your standard cooler. It can also be used as a substitute for a full-on van refrigerator. Pair it with solar power, and you have a mini portable refrigerator and/or freezer.

I also think it’s great for campers who don’t love dealing with the mess of ice, and it can also be useful during power outages if you don’t feel like using juice from your portable power station to keep the refrigerator running. 

Anker loves a sale as much as we do, and if your schedule allows for it, consider waiting to buy until the Anker Solix EverFrost 2 goes on sale. We’ve seen sale prices that shave several hundred dollars off the list price, so it might be worth waiting for a sale (like Black Friday or Prime Day).

Anker Solix EverFrost 2 electric cooler

$699 at Amazon
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Many of the suspiciously inexpensive robot vacuums cut corners too close to the sun, quickly shifting from helpers around the house to agents of chaos. Let's say that their low price stems from basic bumper car navigation instead of smart mapping, or from outdated obstacle sensors that get confused by table legs. Your chances of coming home to a vacuum stuck under the couch are higher than the chance of coming home to a fully-swept floor plan.

It's also more likely than not that any old cheap robot vacuum caps suction power at 3,000 or 4,000 Pa. And that's simply not enough to challenge any remotely stubborn crumbs, dust, or pet hair baked into carpet. That mediocrity extends to many robot vacuum and mop combo models, which often don't "scrub" so much as feebly glide a damp cloth around. A few steps in your bare feet, and you're all but guaranteed to step on debris the vacuum left behind. At that point, it'd be less of a bother to get a decent stick vacuum and do it yourself.

Long story short: Buying a robot vacuum just because it's cheap puts that glorious hands-off cleaning experience in jeopardy. But not all super-affordable robot vacuums are disappointing. Compared to five years ago, the affordable end of the robot vacuum spectrum has experienced just as much of a glow-up as the premium end. Smart mapping and self-emptying docks are both common and affordable in 2026, especially when deals on robot vacuums happen year-round.

Other robot vacuums I've tested recently

I have tested several other inexpensive robot vacuums in the past that didn't make the most recent cut for this list. These include older models like the Eufy L60, Roomba 694, the Roomba Combo Essential 2, and Shark Matrix RV2300, which have simply been overshadowed by other (often newer) vacuums that offer more suction power and smarter features in the same budget price range.

One comparison that sticks out is the Roomba 205 DustCompactor versus the 3i G10+, which both "self-empty" without a self-emptying dock. However, I wasn't psyched on my experience with the Roomba 205 — it got stuck on rug corners and got lost too often. Plus, the 3i G10+ offers more advanced features like small obstacle and pet waste avoidance and a livestream pet camera, whereas the Roomba 205 doesn't.

How to choose the best Bose headphones

Overall, Bose's headphones prioritize comfort and audio quality, and you really can't go wrong with any model. There are truly no bad products here. Having tested every product in this guide (and plenty more high-end audio products), we can verify that they're all high-performing options. And with Black Friday and the holiday season just around the corner, it's good to get a sense of which might best suit your needs before you add a pair to your cart simply because it's on sale.

So, the bulk of your decision comes down to your personal preferences and budget. If you care deeply about audio quality and want a personalized experience, you'll want a pair of headphones that offers adaptive noise cancellation and spatial audio. For athletes or commuters who need to be aware of their surroundings, a pair of open earbuds that provide rich audio while letting you hear the world around you is great. And if you don't want to spend $450 on flagship headphones, Bose still has a few great options for a lot less.

So, here are the best Bose headphones of 2025, hands-on tested by Mashable staff:

Almost a year ago, OnePlus released the OnePlus 13, a quality flagship smartphone with high-end specs and a lower starting price than its competitors in the U.S. It also did the same thing the year before, as well as the year before that. This is pretty normal, in other words.

What is surprising about the new OnePlus 15 (aside from the fact that they skipped 14, presumably for cultural reasons) is that it's coming out in November instead of January. OnePlus may have accelerated its release schedule for this year's flagship, but not much else has changed. The OnePlus 15 is a very solid Android handset with glossy specs, including a super high refresh rate and the biggest battery you'll currently find in a smartphone of this caliber.

And with an $899 starting price, it's at least $100 cheaper than the flagship models from Google, Apple, and Samsung.

OnePlus 15: Price and specs

It's got a good display. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

I've already explained that you can get a OnePlus 15 for $899 (compared to $1,099 for the iPhone 17 Pro). Here's what you get for that price:

• 6.8-inch display with 2772x1272 resolution and up to 165Hz refresh rate

• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 mobile chip

• 12GB RAM

• 256GB storage

• 7,300mAh battery

• Three rear cameras: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto

• 32MP front camera

There is only one other variant of the OnePlus 15. For an extra $100, you can get a version of it with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. I personally don't love that anyone who opts for the slightly cheaper phone is getting less RAM, but that's also pretty unlikely to affect most people's daily lives in any meaningful way. The lack of a 1TB storage option also stands out among other recent flagship smartphones, like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Still, compared to the competition, OnePlus comes out looking like a winner here. No other flagship from the Apple-Google-Samsung triumvirate has a 165Hz display, and the OnePlus 15 is the first smartphone to hit the U.S. with the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. At 7,300mAh, the battery is also larger than the ones found in the S25 Ultra, Google Pixel 10 Pro, or iPhone 17 Pro. And while the higher-end OnePlus 15 costs the same as a base Pixel 10 Pro, none of those other devices can be had for $899.

This is a pretty good deal, is what I'm saying.

OnePlus 15: Design

This looked cooler last year. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

However, there are a couple of areas where OnePlus didn't really bring the wow factor this year, and the design of the phone is one of them.

It's not bad, but it is boring. Your three available colors are Infinite Black, Sand Storm, and Ultra Violet. So, in other words, two of the most uninteresting colors imaginable, and a third, more eye-catching one that OnePlus says will only be available in limited quantities. Bleh.

My other issue with the OnePlus 15 is that the rear camera bump is now a fairly safe-looking square (with rounded corners), rather than the more visually distinctive circular bump found on the OnePlus 13. At a glance (at least to the eyes of people who don't look at phones every day for their jobs), it just kinda looks like an off-brand iPhone. It's perfectly functional and inoffensive, but I wish it had a more unique look.

Other than that, though, the phone is at least comfortable to hold and the bezels around the display are very thin. This isn't a total boondoggle by any means; it's just a little boring.

OnePlus 15: Performance

It charges fast, too. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

One area where OnePlus very much did not drop the ball is performance.

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is probably one of the best chips you can get in a phone in the U.S. right now, or at least that's what the marketing says. I'm inclined to believe it, though, as the OnePlus 15 performs like a dream. Everything is smooth as silk, and even when running benchmarks or playing intensive games, it doesn't get too hot to the touch.

Speaking of games, those are what benefit the most from the maximum refresh rate of 165Hz. PUBG Mobile, in particular, is astoundingly smooth on this thing. I'm not a big mobile gamer at all, but if I was and I needed a new phone, I'd take a close look at this one.

And if you want numerical proof that this phone is powerful, I ran it through the Geekbench 6 benchmark test. Its multi-core score of 10,560 is about 500 points higher than the S25 Ultra, and about 700 points higher than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Again, this phone is cheaper than both of those. Geekbench numbers aren't necessarily the definitive word on a phone's performance, but I can more or less promise that you won't find any performance issues here.

OnePlus 15: AI features

Like any other high-end smartphone these days, the OnePlus 15 has some AI features. For the most part, it's pretty normal stuff, including integration with Google's Gemini chatbot. It's got automatic voice transcription in the sound recorder app and the ability to scan images and turn them into PDFs, both of which are nice and convenient, if not especially novel.

Mind Space is probably the most unique AI feature on the OnePlus 15. It's a pre-installed app that stores anything you ask the phone to analyze using Plus Mind. Plus Mind is something you activate by either pressing the Plus Key on the phone or swiping up on the screen with three fingers. Doing so will basically take a screenshot and use AI to analyze whatever is in it. For instance, I took a screenshot of some movie listings on a website for a theater near me. After doing that, I can go to Mind Space and look at a text analysis of what's in the screenshot, including the names of the movies and showtimes, and I can make calendar entries for them.

This is not bad, per se, but its usefulness is a little muted, in my opinion. It's nice that I can take a screenshot and automatically turn that into a calendar entry, I suppose, but an app that tells me what's on my screen feels a little redundant when I could simply look at the screen myself. I just don't know that this is doing anything that I can't already easily do with my brain.

OnePlus 15: Battery life

Battery life is, without a doubt, the standout feature of the OnePlus 15.

The 7,300mAh cell is, as previously noted, bigger than what you get in some other flagships. But that doesn't necessarily guarantee anything on its own. That said, I can confirm that this thing lasts a while. I would estimate that I could go about 30 hours between charges on the OnePlus 15, depending on what I'm using it for. My testing involved playing 3D games at high frame rates and streaming basketball on YouTube TV, so I might have been able to squeeze even more juice out of a charge without doing that.

In other words, the battery's real good, folks.

OnePlus 15: Camera

As I said in the specs section earlier, you get a trio of 50MP lenses on the rear end of the OnePlus 15. I love even numbers. They make my job easier.

Anyway, photos taken on the new OnePlus 15 look nice. Colors really pop and images are sharp and clear.

NYC is a little gloomy these days. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

As for nighttime shots, I don't have too many complaints here. You can brighten up the image without making them look too fake.

Left: No night photography here. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Right: Night mode turned on here. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

For what it's worth, you do only get 3.5x optical zoom here, as opposed to slightly higher counts on some of the other flagship phones from big companies. You also get 7x "optical-quality" zoom, which is slightly lower than the 8x count on the iPhone 17 Pro. If you stick within those parameters, zoom shots look nice and sharp.

No zoom. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

7x zoom. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Macro photography is always a plus for photographers who love taking photos of tiny things.

Tiny. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

And lastly, portrait mode works as you'd expect, too.

Portrait mode. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

OnePlus 15: Final thoughts

OnePlus phones are honestly a little boring to talk about because they're quietly very good, fairly no-frills devices that you can get for a marginally more agreeable price than an iPhone. The OnePlus 15 is no different.

A quality display, a powerful processor, and a huge battery make this a perfectly acceptable handset for anyone in the market for an Android upgrade. I'd definitely take it over a Galaxy S25 Ultra, and maybe even over a Pixel 10 Pro. I wish it looked a little more interesting, but that's so far down the list of concerns with a smartphone that I can't hold it against OnePlus too much here.

The best vacuum cleaner setup is subjective, heavily hinging on how badly you want to do the vacuuming yourself or if you'd rather have a reliable robot vacuum cleaner vacuum for you.

If your vacuum is a pain to clean with, you won't feel like using it at all — whether it's an upright vacuum that's too clunky to get out of the closet or a robot vacuum that gets stuck more often than not. Regardless of the type of vacuum you choose, there's still a ton of nuance between brands and models in both of those categories. Your best bet is to get some recommendations from someone who uses both every day (like me).

Black Friday vacuum deals are going to pop off

You're lucky to be doing your vacuum shopping in November — vacuum cleaner deals are a pillar of Black Friday. If you were previously ruling out a more premium Dyson vacuum or a robot vacuum and mop combo with self-washing mopping pads, this might be your chance to grab one at a less scary price. In fact, every single robot and cordless vacuum in this guide has already been on sale at some point in 2025. They're bound to beat their own sale prices this month.

After several years of pitting the top robot and stick vacuums against each other in my own home, I've pulled a few of each to create Mashable's ultimate mashup of all of the best vacuum cleaners of 2025.

Should I get an upright or robot vacuum?

I could argue for both sides. Ideally, I'd recommend shopping strategically and splitting your budget between one of each type of vacuum. But if you're only choosing one, consider what your main priority for this new vacuum is. Is your ideal vacuum cleaner one that automates the most steps to give you as little work as possible, or is it one that does the absolute most meticulous job, even if you still have to do the work?

Trusting a robot vacuum to do this chore comes with the fine print that the robot vacuum is probably going to piss you off sometimes. Autonomy-related features like smart mapping, small obstacle avoidance, automatic floor type recognition, and debris level sensors have gotten quite perceptive over the past few years. But even the smartest robot vacuums I've tested are still inanimate objects, not humans with real brains.

The obvious downside of an upright vacuum is that you have to have enough free time to use it, and be OK with spending some of that free time off the couch. Granted, the better the cordless vacuum is at cleaning, the less you'll have to get it out, and the less of a pain it'll be to whip around. But at the end of the day, if you detest getting your vacuum out, you probably won't vacuum too often — and that defeats the purpose of spending your money on a nice, new vacuum in the first place.

Vacuums I'm testing soon

The next vacuums slated for at-home testing are the Shark Stratos 2-in-1 NeverTouch, the Roborock H60 Hub Ultra, and eventually, the Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai. I'll be getting my hands on these as soon as possible and updating my top picks for pet owners accordingly.

The Dyson Airwrap may be the blueprint for multi-stylers, but these days, it's far from your only option.

Just three years ago, if you didn't have $600 to shell out on the Airwrap, your only option for a dupe that mimicked both the results and tech of the Airwrap was the Shark FlexStyle. While I stand by it as an absolutely incredible dupe, more choices mean you can invest in the multi-styler that truly addresses your styling needs.

How to choose the best Airwrap dupe

Before 2022, if you wanted one hair tool to blow dry your hair, as well as help you achieve a blowout, more defined waves, or pin-straight hair, you were basically limited to the $600 Dyson Airwrap.

In 2025, there are more Airwrap models on the market than ever, but the price points are higher. There's the $549.99 Airwrap Origin, the $649.99 Airwrap i.d., and the $749.99 Co-anda 2x. There are some differences in performance abilities between the three models, but for the purposes of this guide, I'll be focusing on dupes that can achieve similar styling results first and foremost, and ideally use similar tech (including multiple attachments, auto-wrap curling barrels, and the airflow "grabbing" the hair known as the Coanda effect) to get to those results. You can learn more about the specific differences between the Dyson models in the FAQ below.

These days, typing "Airwrap dupe" into Google will get you plenty of results that can deliver on the Coanda effect — but naturally, not all these dupes are made equal. That's why I spent time testing out options from brands like T3, Sharper Image, and FoxyBae to see how well they stacked up against the FlexStyle (which I consider a gold standard dupe) and the Airwrap models themselves. I came away with some new favorites — and new opinions on what makes a good Airwrap dupe. Below, you'll find Mashable's updated list of recommendations for the best Airwraps as of 2025.

When deciding whether or not you need an air purifier at home, you're not off the hook just because you don't check The Big Boxes like having intense allergies or living in a wildfire-prone area. There are pollutants and respiratory system irritants accumulating in everyone's home simply from living there. Like the air quality index in your weather app but for inside, the new Dyson HushJet air purifier tells you exactly how much invisible gunk is floating around in the room (then captures it).

For the past few months, I've noticed sporadic recurring cold symptoms, like a constant runny nose and sneezing a lot. I work from home, and while I try to go for a walk every day, there are admittedly days that I don't go outside at all — telling me that the call is coming from inside the house. Pair that with my recent plunge down a TikTok rabbit hole about microscopic mold at home, and you've got yourself a full-blown spiral about needing to breathe cleaner air.

The timing lined up well with the September 2025 release of Dyson's most powerful and quietest air purifier for small spaces. That'd make any apartment-dwelling pet owner's ears perk up, and I had to try it and validate my own concerns. After just a week with the Dyson HushJet running 24/7 in my apartment, things are a lot less stuffy around here — both my sinuses and the air in the apartment itself.

Dust and mold spores love living rent-free in your home

Indoor air isn't clean by default just because there aren't giant smoke stacks puffing out gray fumes right outside your window. It's probably common knowledge that dust forms from the dead skin cells that we shed every day, as well as pollen brought in from outside, fibers from rugs or clothes, dander and fur from pets, and other yucky, random tidbits. That's what you're breathing in every day, and it can build up in your lungs over time, even if the effects aren't blatant right at this moment.

Given that I review robot vacuums for a living and given how often I get roasted for my chronic daily vacuuming habits, I'm fairly certain that I vacuum far more often than most people do. I use a cordless Dyson stick vacuum with a laser that quite literally points out where the dust is, and my floors still accumulate a layer of dust over a mere 24-hour period.

Mold spores are similarly invisible and similarly inevitable. These natural fungi thrive around moisture and tend to hang out in humid spots like AC units or near the washing machine. Different people may be more or less sensitive to mold spores, but again, not great to inhale all the time.

My apartment has particularly poor airflow due to zero windows in the kitchen, poor ventilation, and absolutely useless bathroom fans. Then, the mugginess seems to make odors linger longer than they normally would. If someone makes food, the smell hangs around. If I need to empty the drawer in the automatic litter box, you can smell it the second you walk in the door — and it's my biggest fear to be one of those cat owners whose house smells like a litter box.

The Dyson HushJet's 360-degree Electrostatic filter and Activated Carbon filter can deal with all of these, capturing particles as small as 0.3 microns. For reference, a strand of human hair is about 70 microns wide, while the tiniest mold spores and specks of dust can be less than 1 micron.

How is the Dyson HushJet different from other air purifiers?

The Dyson HushJet strictly projects air upwards from a funky nozzle on top, rather than from around the sides like most canister air purifiers. Like the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, the concentrated flow of air allows for higher velocity (and subsequently, faster purification). In true Dyson fashion, the HushJet has the futuristic, mechanical vibe that its stick vacuums do. If the top reminds you of an engine, you're right — the star-shaped design mimics jet engine hush kits to produce high-powered "wind" while dulling the roar.

The air purifier's design allows for powerful airflow at a low volume. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The filter can last up to five years. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Air pollutants in the room are captured from every angle, though (not just through the top). While you can personally adjust the HushJet's settings to the noise level and purification strength that you want, you can also opt for auto mode. Dyson's Autoreact technology adjusts airflow based on the amount of pollutants sensed every few seconds.

The cylindrical filter is nearly as big as the whole machine itself, which you can reveal by pressing the two buttons on the side to lift the top part of the purifier off. It'd be really easy to change the filter in this thing, but you won't have to worry about that for a while — the Dyson HushJet's Electromagnetic filter is supposed to last for five years.

Does the Dyson HushJet work?

I sensed a decrease in stuffiness very soon after plugging in the HushJet. While I developed some nose blindness to the apartment's stale air while sitting in there all day, I definitely noticed it when coming back inside after a long walk. But even 24 hours of constant HushJet usage made it feel fresher in here. Since I've been trying to cut back on candle usage due to some paraffin paranoia, my home simply smelling like nothing is kind of a dream. Now, a week later, every roommate in the apartment has agreed that cooking smells and cat smells aren't loitering like they used to. The one roommate who eats meat can make bacon without the two vegetarians (who sorely miss BLTs, BTW) having to smell bacon for the next 12 hours.

But you don't just have to base the HushJet's performance on vibes alone. You can see the scientific proof through the live particle tracker, both in the app and on a little LCD screen on the front of the machine. The screenshots below just reflect the progress in my living room within the HushJet's first day.

My apartment's air quality right after setting up the HushJet. Credit: Screenshot: Dyson

My apartment's air quality within a day of using the HushJet. Credit: Screenshot: Dyson

I knew I wasn't overreacting. I KNEW OUR AIR QUALITY WAS VERY POOR.

I also appreciate that airflow adjustment can be done from my phone or with physical buttons on the purifier, depending on which gadget I'm closer to. It's way better than having another remote lying around.

Just how hushed is the Dyson HushJet?

To fully live up to the "hush" in HushJet, I think that the purifier should be unobtrusive during daily activities, even on full power. Because otherwise, yeah, any air purifier can technically be hushed if you leave it on the lowest setting — at $349.99, you should be able to take advantage of the machine's full purification potential without having to put up with a constant drone in the background.

Well, Dyson wasn't fronting with this name. The Dyson HushJet is seriously very quiet. Like, I've had to check and make sure it didn't come unplugged or something.

From airflow levels one through four or five, the HushJet is essentially silent. Unless I were to put my ear directly up to the machine in a totally noise-isolated room in a completely unnatural, fabricated situation, I can barely tell a difference between the noise levels of the lower half of the spectrum. If you drag the bar in the app up to levels six through 10, a very faint hum fades in. But even level 10 is notably quieter than the highest setting on the Molekule Air Mini that I've tried, and a world of difference between the airplane takeoff rumble of my parents' Coway Airmega Mighty.

How is this floor air purifier significantly quieter than... Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

...this mini wall air purifier? Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

I set my HushJet up in the living room corner right by the couch to see how noticeable it was while watching TV or working at my desk, which is right behind the couch. I never even noticed the noise during the day unless I was specifically listening for it. As any horror fan would during October, I watched a shit ton of scary movies from the couch during my first week with the HushJet. At airflow level five, the sound didn't drown out any dialogue or ruin any pre-jump scare ambiance.

I also brought the HushJet into my room before bed a few times. I'm a major white noise person, and leaving the HushJet on overnight felt like a much healthier alternative to turning my wall AC unit on (and probably blowing dander and dust around) just for the noise of the fan. It's also way better than using my phone to play thunderstorm sounds all night — I really don't want "white noise for babies" to be my top song in Spotify Wrapped again.

The HushJet's 10 levels of airflow offer a lot of noise level customization. I'm not a parent, but air levels one through five are genuinely so soft — dare I say soothing — that I think it'd be great for a quiet nursery.

I used the Decibel X app to measure the noise level of the Dyson HushJet compared to the dishwasher murmur. When holding my phone right up beside each, the HushJet gave off 38 decibels on level three (just slightly louder than a whisper), 45 decibels on level five (equivalent to a quiet library), and 60 decibels on level 10 (equivalent to normal conversation). The dishwasher hit 57 decibels up close. If you have a robot vacuum, those HushJet numbers are way quieter than the average roar of suction power (between 65 and 70 decibels) and a self-emptying dust bin (between 70 and 75 decibels).

And remember, these numbers just reflect how loud these devices would be if your ear was less than an inch away. You'd obviously usually be a few feet away from the HushJet.

Downsides: The HushJet just works for one room at a time

The Dyson HushJet has a relatively small coverage area for the price. The HushJet's 203 square foot max is really only purifying a single room for $349.99. The Shark NeverChange Compact Pro that we tested can cover 250 square feet for $179.99, while the popular Levoit Core 600S can cover nearly 3,000 square feet in an hour for $319.99. Granted, more high-capacity purifiers definitely don't have the quiet aspect going for them. The Coway Airmega Mighty sounds like a plane taking off sometimes, and it's nice that the HushJet doesn't make you sacrifice peace and quiet.

The Dyson HushJet is also nearly as expensive as the $379.99 Blueair Comfort Pure 3-in-1 that we tested and loved. They're similar in size, but the Blueair can also cool or heat the room.

Since the HushJet can only tackle one room at a time, many people will probably want to move it back and forth between rooms as needed, like I did. But unlike many compact floor purifiers that have handles or a strap, there's no great way to pick the HushJet up. You just have to lift from the bottom, but at least it's super lightweight — it only weighs about seven pounds.

Is the Dyson HushJet worth it?

I think the Dyson HushJet is worth the splurge, especially for small spaces. I genuinely noticed fresher air in my stuffy apartment within the first day, and less sneezing for no reason after a full week of use. After giving up on the Molekule Air Mini+ for being unforgivably loud on the highest setting, the Dyson HushJet's quiet operation has been blissful. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for an air purifier for a nursery or to double as a white noise machine overnight.

Because the HushJet's filter lasts for up to five years, it's the first air purifier I can see myself using long-term. If you don't trust yourself to buy new filters every six months, the Dyson HushJet is the perfect lazy person air purifier.

Dyson Hushjet Purifier Compact (White/Silver)

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Pet hair pickup isn't the only bullet point to consider

While every pet parent needs a vacuum to quell the pet hair situation, some vacuums can take on even more pet-related responsibilities. There are robot vacuums that can avoid pet waste, robot vacuums with livestream pet cameras, and a robot vacuum that comes with its own portable carpet cleaner — now we just need Roborock to expand the Saros Z70's robotic arm capabilities to pet toy cleanup. Manual cordless vacuums come with their own advantageous flexibility, like the option to go handheld and extend cleaning to furry furniture and staircases. I use both types of vacuums daily and wrote a whole buying guide for anyone stumped between a robot vacuum and a stick vacuum.

Other vacuums I've tested recently

I tested several other top robot vacuums in the past two years that didn't make the most recent cut for this list. Some, like the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Roborock Qrevo Master, Narwal Freo X Ultra, and various versions of the Roomba j7, were my top recommendations at one point, but have since been overshadowed by newer, more powerful models that are a better bang for your buck. Most recently, in the last few months of 2025, I was impressed by the Roomba Plus 505 Combo, Plus 405 Combo, and Narwal Freo Z10 Ultra. They ultimately just weren't the most thorough vacuum cleaners in their price range.

New robot vacuums announced at CES 2026

Several top robot vacuum brands unveiled new flagship models at CES in early January. These include the Roborock Saros 20 Sonic and Qrevo Curv 2 Flow, the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete, and the Narwal Flow 2. I will be testing these at home as soon as possible and will update this guide accordingly once all are officially available for purchase.

How to choose a robot vacuum for pet hair

Let's dive a little deeper into the features that could make or break your experience with trusting a robot vacuum to clean up after pets.

Suction power and brush rolls

I recommend vacuums with at least 8,000 Pa suction power for effective pet hair pickup, though homes with heavy carpeting and more than two pets should consider suction power of at least 12,000 Pa. But the brush roll system is nearly just as important when choosing a vacuum for pet fur. In my testing, vacuums with dual brush rolls are far more effective. For reference, the most powerful robot vacuums in 2025 ranged between 20,000 and 30,000 Pa of suction power, and new robot vacuums coming out in 2026 bump that up to 35,000 Pa.

Automatic emptying

Pet parents should definitely opt for a self-emptying robot vacuum — so much fur being sucked up will lead to a full dustbin faster, and you won't feel like emptying it yourself every day. Even with daily usage, an auto-empty robot vacuum can last between one and three months before you need to empty the dustbin.

Mopping

If hardwood or tile is prevalent in your home, the best robot vacuum and mop combo for pet hair will be able to sanitize the floor while mopping and then wash its own mops to rinse off any lingering hair. Mopping is also much more likely to effectively wipe up other minuscule pet-related debris, like pet dander and kitty litter dust, that are too small to be inhaled by a vacuum's suction power.

Smart mapping

Some rooms or spots on the floor within those rooms get furrier than others. A smart mapping robot vacuum learns the layout of your home and can head to specific zones on command, which you can queue up right from the app. In my opinion, smart mapping is the most worthwhile robot vacuum feature, and should be a baseline even when searching for a cheap model — cleaning performance is a moot point if the vacuum can't get where it needs to go in the first place.

Small obstacle avoidance

Some advanced robot vacuums use cameras and 3D sensors to pinpoint any small roadblocks in the cleaning path in front of them. When successful, these vacuums save themselves from eating most pet toys, cords, laundry, or socks or shoes, avoid ramming into pet bowls, and even dodge pet waste.

In the past, we could only dream of staying online while camping off-grid. Instead, we told a family member or friend where we planned to be and when we planned to be back in the real world with a charged-up cell phone. But thanks to the best power stations for camping, those days are over. We now have the magical convenience of portable power stations. Some models are gigantic beasts that can keep an entire house going during an emergency power outage. Others focus on portability and can fit inside a backpack for a hiking and camping weekend. 

Regardless of the model’s size or features, portable power stations are excellent for keeping your phone charged while camping, keeping the string lights on to set the vibe at night, and powering up the induction cooker come dinner time.

Your ideal portable power station for camping depends on your overall power needs, how long you’ll be in the great outdoors, and whether you’ll be utilizing solar power to recharge. And after months of testing some of the top models, I'm finally ready to pick the best portable power station for camping in 2025.

Finding the best gifts for teen girls is not for the faint of heart. Trends among teen girls are an ever-changing hellscape. Even millennials — people who are not that old, thank you very much — can have trouble navigating the world predominantly ruled by TikTok and content creators. Funneling those trends into a gift that she’ll like and use for longer than a month is tricky.

Rule number one when brainstorming a good gift for a teenager: Don't just wing it. Gen Z girls are clearly loyal to a defined handful of brands and have very specific aesthetic goals. Goals that could be torched by the honest mistake of grabbing generic white earbuds instead of the new AirPods or buying a Lafufu instead of a Labubu. (And what if she actually hates Labubus?)

But you know who does know what teenage girls want this year? Other teenage girls. I've been tracking viral TikTok products amongst young girls for months, compiling the most popular stuff with items that the high school girls in my own life have requested. The 2025 edition of Google's Holiday 100 list (literally based on the most-searched products of the year) inspired a few ideas, too.

So, whether you need Christmas gifts or birthday presents, here are 30+ of the best gift ideas for teen girls in 2025:

Sexting can open up a whole new frontier for your sex life. In my experience, it’s an exciting form of digital foreplay that builds anticipation like nothing else. But you can't just slide into someone's DMs on a random dating app and start a spicy conversation (unless you're on a site like AdultFriendFinder, where that's the whole point). Real sexting requires more thought, especially when it comes to your privacy.

As Mashable's resident dating app expert for the last three years, I've tested dozens of platforms to find the best and most discreet apps for the job. My highest priority is always user safety. I spoke with security expert Gary Orenstein, who stressed that for sharing intimate content, "privacy features cannot be optional — they’re essential." He recommends looking for apps with three key features: end-to-end encryption, disappearing messages, and screenshot detection.

After all, if you believe in safe sex, you should practice safe sexting, too. Based on my hands-on testing and these expert criteria, I’ve picked the best sexting apps that will keep your chats private.

Recent updates to this guide:

We regularly test new apps and dating platforms. For our most recent update to this guide in November 2025, we made the following changes:

• Added a new section explaining why some apps (especially those using paid chat operators) didn't make our list of recommendations.

• Confide: We've once again named this the best overall sexting app, replacing Signal as the top pick. We still recommend Signal as the best free secure messaging app. On balance, we think Confide's security and privacy tools give it the edge.

• Lovesense Remote: We added Lovesense Remote as the app that's "Best for Group Sexting." Lovesense Remote is also a fun way for couples (and polyamorous folks) to incorporate sexting and Bluetooth sex toys to their love life.

• FetLife: We named FetLife "Best for Niche Kinks & Fetishes." This social networking platform is popular in the kinkster community and can be a good way to connect with sexy new friends.

What about other sexting sites?

You've probably seen other "best of" lists that include apps I've left off. As Mashable's dating expert, I've tested dozens of platforms, and my goal is to recommend apps for genuine connections that prioritize your safety. Here's why some popular platforms didn't make the cut.

• A note on "paid operator" sites: Many platforms marketed for sexting (like InstaBang, Arousr, SweetSext, and SextLocal) don't primarily connect you with other real users. Instead, they often use "paid operators" or "professional chat partners" to provide a fantasy-driven, transactional experience. While there's nothing wrong with that, it's a paid fantasy service, not mutual sexting. My list (with the clear exception of SextPanther, which we've labeled as the "Best Sexting Service" for connecting with actual adult performers) focuses on apps for genuine, user-to-user interaction.

• Couple's apps: You also won't find apps like Between on this list. While it's a private messenger for couples, it's not really a sexting app. For couples who want to enhance their digital intimacy, our picks (like We-Vibe and Lovesense Remote) offer a much more interactive experience by integrating with teledildonics.

Up until now, Xbox was the only major platform left out of the gaming handheld space. Valve’s Steam Deck lets players play their Steam library on the go. Nintendo has the hugely successful Switch and Switch 2. And Sony recently made a comeback into the handheld space — harkening back to the PSP and Vita days — with the disappointing PlayStation Portal.

Now, Microsoft has finally stepped up to the plate with the ROG Xbox Ally X, the long-awaited collaboration between ASUS ROG and Microsoft’s Xbox division. The new Xbox handheld promises to let you play your Xbox and PC games on the go, and it even features a new processor, the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, which offers more power than previous ROG models. It’s also a whopping $1,000 — $350 more than the Steam Deck and $550 more than the Nintendo Switch. However, it’s still cheaper than the starting price of the new Lenovo Legion Go 2 at $1,099, which is also a Windows handheld.

So, after all the hype, is the ROG Xbox Ally X worth it? Here’s our in-depth review of the ROG Xbox Ally X after spending over two weeks with it. You can also check out our interview with Sarah Bond, the President of Xbox, who told Mashable the new handheld is a preview of the future of Xbox consoles.

How does the ROG Xbox Ally X feel?

Right way, the ROG Xbox Ally X feels like an Xbox device. Credit: Matt Fornwald / Mashable

I love the ergonomics of the ROG Xbox Ally X, and I'm sure Xbox gamers will agree. The integrated grips simulate the feel and comfort of a standard Xbox controller. Previous ROG Ally iterations didn’t have these kinds of grips, so that makes this a step up already in that aspect.

Right out of the box, the ROG Xbox Ally X is a bit on the heavier side at 1.5 pounds, more similar to the Steam Deck rather than the lighter Switch 2 or PS Portal. Its dimensions are comparable to the Steam Deck and PS Portal. However, the Switch 2 is superior with its slightly more compact design, especially when its Joy-Cons are detached.

Clockwise, from top left: ROG Xbox Ally X, Nintendo Switch 2, Playstation Portal, Steam Deck Credit: George Yang / Mashable

The buttons are perfectly spaced out and have a satisfying, clicky feeling when pressed. The direction pad is excellent as well, which makes this gaming handheld a great way to play platformers. The thumbsticks are slightly diagonal from each other, similar to an Xbox controller.

The RGB lighting beneath the thumbsticks is a nice aesthetic touch as well, adding a splash of color against the all-black exterior.

Overall, the ROG Ally X will feel very familiar to gamers in the Xbox camp, in a good way. The device even has a fingerprint reader, adding a layer of security while providing an easy way to jump right back in and play. Overall, we loved the design, ergonomics, and controllers.

Setting up the ROG Xbox Ally X

Credit: Matt Fornwald / Mashable

When booting up the Ally X, it wastes no time telling you that it’s primarily a Windows PC handheld. The familiar blue Windows user interface had me select a language, install some updates, and then finally took me to the Xbox app called the “Xbox Full-Screen.” It’s a new interface for the handheld that is designed to be more streamlined, like a console, but it looks strikingly similar to the Xbox app on PC. I wish it were more unique to the Ally X, something the Steam Deck does well.

The Xbox UI is easy to navigate, but it seems to suffer from a bit of lag and is prone to freezing. Sometimes, I’d try to open up the Microsoft Store or Xbox Game Pass App, and the handheld would remain unresponsive.

In the menu on the right, you’ll see your three primary sources of games: Game Pass, your current library, and Cloud Gaming. Game Pass is Xbox’s signature gaming subscription model, which recently saw a price hike. I’m an Ultimate tier subscriber, so I have access to Microsoft's first-party games. Through it, I downloaded several games, including Doom: The Dark Ages, Avowed, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I also downloaded several games I already own — Lies of P and Hotel Barcelona — both of which are Play Anywhere games.

'Indiana Jones and the Great Circle' played flawlessly for me. Credit: George Yang / Mashable

It’s important to note that the only games that can be directly downloaded are ones available through Game Pass and Play Anywhere titles. The latter is a program that allows you to buy a digital game once through Microsoft, and play it on both an Xbox console and a Windows PC. Normally, you’d have to have to pay twice if you want to play a game on different platforms, but the Play Anywhere program is a convenient and consumer-friendly initiative. Unlike the Steam Deck, you can’t carry your entire library on the go, unfortunately. 

On the left side of the device, there’s a button with the Xbox logo on it. By pressing it down, you can switch between different launchers, including Xbox, Steam, and Epic. As a Windows-based handheld, it supports all PC launchers so if you want to play launcher games like Steam’s Counterstrike 2 or Epic Games’s Fortnite, you’re able to do so. Having access to all of these different launchers greatly expands the Xbox ROG Ally X’s library of games compared to its competitors.

For example, the Steam Deck is Linux-based, meaning the only access it has to Xbox games is through Xbox Cloud Streaming through a web browser in its Desktop mode. This gives the Xbox ROG Ally X a huge leg up, being able to download both Xbox and Steam games natively, whereas the Steam Deck can only do the latter. 

Playing games on the ROG Xbox Ally X

Credit: Matt Fornwald / Mashable

When it comes to playing games, I've found so far that performance between titles is inconsistent. Doom: The Dark Ages and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle performed flawlessly. Doom is the fastest-paced game out of all of the ones I’ve tried on the handheld so far, and having the power to kill demons in the palm of my hands felt immensely gratifying. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s framerate held steady and was buttery smooth, making it the most immersive experience I’ve had yet.

Lies of P played impressively well. Despite some initial lag when transporting and loading through different areas, my gameplay eventually smoothed over. There are plenty of challenging Soulslike games on Xbox, as their fast-paced nature and difficult fights demand precise performance. So Lies of P running in top shape really demonstrated how much power the Xbox ROG Ally X had.

On the other hand, games like Expedition 33 and Avowed had framerate and stuttering issues. Expedition 33’s battles require precise timing to dodge enemy attacks, so when I missed button presses due to these performance problems, it negatively impacted my gameplay. Avowed is a real-time action game, where a more stable framerate would allow me to react faster.

While it’s a bit of a disappointment that the ROG Xbox Ally X has an LED screen instead of an OLED one, that doesn’t mean games don’t look great. I booted up Metaphor: ReFantazio, and the game’s incredible art direction and bright color palette really pop through the device’s display. I also played A Plague Tale: Innocence, and the game’s more muted and dark tones were richly saturated. The thousands of generated rats crawling around looked menacing, even through a handheld screen.

Credit: Matt Fornwald / Mashable

This is where the Lenovo Legion Go 2 outshines the ROG Xbox Ally X. It features an OLED screen that makes colors more vibrant, which helps justify its higher price tag compared to the ROG Xbox Ally X.

I also tried out the Cloud Gaming capabilities for a bit and played about 30 minutes of Borderlands 4. With a solid WiFi connection, Borderlands 4 performed just fine with minimal hiccups. Borderlands 4 is not available on Game Pass, and it’s also not a Play Anywhere title. If you’re a Game Pass subscriber, using Cloud Gaming is a fantastic way to circumvent the ROG Xbox Ally X’s library limitations by letting you directly stream games from your Xbox account. However, the caveat here is that cloud functionality is only available on a case-by-case basis, so you’ll need to check whether the game you want to play through Cloud Gaming is possible by checking its page on the Microsoft Store.

As for the battery life, it really depends on the game you’re playing. More graphically intensive games will drain the battery faster. I left Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 continually running on the device’s Performance mode (17W), and it came around to be just around 3 hours. You can also go into the Armoury Crate, ASUS’s software managing app, and enable the ROG Xbox Ally X’s Turbo mode (25W) to squeeze the maximum amount of graphical fidelity out of it. Doing so cuts down the device’s battery life (with Expedition: 33 playing in the background) down to about two hours.

Credit: Matt Fornwald / Mashable

Earlier this year, Microsoft introduced Copilot for Gaming, an AI-powered assistant for Xbox players. It’s still in beta testing, but its purpose is to help guide players through the games they play in case they get stuck. It’s a helpful tool for beginner gamers, as it can provide instructions or advice without having to close the game or open another device to search for a guide. For example, when I was playing A Plague Tale: Innocence, I was navigating a cave. When I asked Copilot what to do next, it simply told me to continue forward and make my way out of the cave. It’s sometimes rather vague and general, but offers just enough guidance.

However, if you’re experienced or a seasoned gamer, I'm not sure you'll get as much mileage from it. If you need very specific instructions on how to defeat a boss, then the general tips that Copilot delivers may not be very helpful. Of course, this could change as Copilot improves, and your mileage may vary.

What can the Xbox ROG Ally X improve on?

The biggest caveat to the Xbox ROG Ally X is that it doesn’t play every Xbox game, despite what the marketing material says. You can only download games that are on Game Pass or the Play Anywhere program. This means that even if you bought a digital game through the Microsoft Store, there’s no guarantee that it’s a Play Anywhere title. For example, if you purchased Monster Hunter Wilds on the Microsoft Store, you can’t play it on the Xbox ROG Ally X since it’s not part of the program. Other handheld devices like Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch 2 have it beat here, as you can download every game bought through their respective ecosystems. While Xbox Cloud Gaming can be a workaround, the gaming experience is dependent on your internet connection. Playing games natively will always be the better option.

Because of this library limitation, this also means you’re unable to download any backward-compatible Xbox 360 and original Xbox games. Backwards compatibility is one of the most enticing aspects of Xbox’s ecosystem, and it’s a shame that it’s not part of the Xbox ROG Ally X. Hopefully, a future software update can remedy this. If you’re able to download any Xbox game from your library, then the ROG Xbox Ally X would be a handheld behemoth.

Still, the ROG Xbox Ally X has an impressive library for a device that just launched. There are numerous indie and mid-tier games to play, and you also have other launchers like Steam and Epic Games at your fingertips on the Windows side. For Xbox gamers, it’s a bit of a mixed bag, but there's no shortage of titles you can download or play via the cloud. Just remember that only Xbox Game Pass and Play Anywhere games can be downloaded directly to the handheld, so check to see if your digitally purchased games are compatible.

The Windows 11 experience

You can switch between the Windows OS and an Xbox gaming UI. Credit: Matt Fornwald / Mashable

As it stands, the ROG Xbox Ally still feels too much like a Windows PC experience. The Xbox Full Screen has stuttering issues. The reason why people gravitate towards consoles is that they’re easy to use. You don’t have to deal with updating drivers or figuring out what’s preventing your game from booting up. It just works.

I actually experienced this issue with Doom: The Dark Ages. I had installed the game through the Xbox app, but Windows error pop-ups kept occurring. For some unbeknownst reason, the game ended up booting up and playing fine, but those errors aren’t what I expect for this kind of experience.

For a staggering $1000, I expected a smoother experience navigating a premium handheld device. The frustrating lag impedes the flow of downloading games and updates, which ends up feeling like some time wasted.

Is the ROG Xbox Ally X worth it?

The ROG Xbox Ally X marks Microsoft’s long-awaited entry into the handheld gaming space. The ergonomics, build quality, and performance of many games are impressive, and the design feels comfortable and familiar to Xbox players. However, the overall experience is let down by software issues, such as interface lag, bugs, and Windows-related errors. Despite its great power and content variety, the price tag and limited Xbox library access make it feel like something of a work in progress.

If you love Xbox's Play Anywhere titles or want to play games on a long flight, then it may well be worth the splurge, especially as an alternative to an expensive Windows gaming laptop or PC. But $999 will be tough sell for a lot of gamers.

The new ROG Xbox Ally X launched on Oct. 16 for $999.99. You can purchase the handheld at Best Buy, Microsoft, and ASUS, though it's been hard to find in stock at times.

Asus ROG Xbox Ally X

$999.99 at Best Buy

 

Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Asus

ROG Xbox Ally X gaming handheld: By the numbers

This gaming handheld has some impressive specs:

• Processor: New AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor

• RAM: 24GB

• Storage: 1TB SSD

• Operating System: Windows 11

• Refresh rate: 120Hz

• Ports: Dual USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack, microSD

• Display: 1080p LED

• Weight: 1.58 pounds

Our initial review of the ROG Xbox Ally X was published on Oct. 16; we've now published this full review after spending additional time testing the device.

For the past two years, recommending the most comfortable pair of noise-cancelling headphones has been an easy task: I pointed people right to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones.

Though not an absolutely perfect pair of over-ear headphones, they did feel well on their way to that title, with excellent ANC, all-day wear, and a sound profile that could tackle most genres with ease. My wishlist for them? Even better (and more customizable) sound, improved battery life, more reliable connection and on-ear controls, and the option for passive playback.

With the second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, which officially hit the market in October 2025, Bose has checked the box in two of those categories.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) specs and pricing

The Bose QC Ultra 2 headphones, in driftwood sand. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) headphones will cost you $449, putting them at the same price as the first-gen QC Ultras prior to the release of the second-gen headphones. The first-gen headphones did initially cost $429, but earlier this year, Bose raised prices across its lineup, bringing them to the $449 we've seen for much of this year. Here's what you'll get at that price point:

• 30 hours of battery life (23 hours with Immersive Audio, 45 with ANC off)

• Aware, Quiet, and Immersive listening modes

• New immersive audio Cinema Mode

• Adjustable ANC levels via app

• Adjustable three-band equalizer in app

• Wired lossless playback with USB-C

• Passive playback support with wired auxiliary cable

• SBC, AAC, and aptX Adaptive codec support

• Bluetooth 5.4

• Google Fast Pair and Spotify Tap

• Removable ear cups

• 10 microphones for ANC and calls

• Lay flat for low power mode

• 0.583 pounds

• Five available colorways: Black, desert gold, driftwood sand, midnight violet, white

This spec lineup is on par with other premium options, as is the headphones' pricing. The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones, released earlier this year, are available for $449.99, and the JBL Tour M3, which hit shelves shortly before the Sonys, are $449.95. Of course, there are also more expensive options, like Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 at $479 (and another 2025 release), while the ever-popular Apple AirPods Max are still $549 at full price.

The comfort is still the star of the show

I wore these headphones for a couple hours, for entire workdays, for walks around the block, with my glasses, with earrings on — there was simply not a scenario where the fit didn't feel excellent.

The QC Ultras once again live up to their name. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Granted, that wasn't much of a surprise. The first-generation QC Ultra headphones were deemed the most comfortable headphones by three separate Mashable staffers. Considering how personal a pair of headphones' fit can be, I consider that a pretty impressive endorsement.

Between the first gen and these headphones, I don't notice a massive difference in fit, but the ear cushion feels slightly firmer, while still remaining plush. I don't know how Bose managed that contradiction, but it offered the same amount of comfort while feeling more future-proof, but of course, only time will tell.

Speaking of future-proofing, much like the previous gen, the Bose ear cushions are also removable, meaning you can replace them as they start to lose any plushness or start to peel after years of use.

As for the rest of the design, it's largely the same as the first-generation headphones, with a power/Bluetooth button, multifunction button, and volume bar. The controls are nothing really to write home about, but they get the job done. On a pure aesthetic note, the shiny metal accent is a strong design choice (in my humble opinion) that helps these headphones stand out even more from their cheaper counterparts in Bose's lineup.

The best noise cancellation from Bose, but...

Bose tends to be at the top of the pack when it comes to active noise cancellation, and while these headphones are no exception, it's hard to say that they're definitively offering some of the best noise cancellation available right now.

It certainly doesn't help that the competition is stiff these days — Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth said the ANC on Sony's WH-1000XM6 headphones is "as good as or better than any I've ever heard."

Having tested the XM6s myself, I can agree with that assessment, and while I think their ANC ekes out a small win over Bose is providing just a little more silence (and handling higher-pitched sounds better), Bose has a notable one-up in the form of its adjustable ANC. With the companion app, you can change your ANC level on a sliding scale, a feature that's completely absent from Sony headphones.

Adjustable ANC on headphones isn't a given. Credit: Bose / Screenshot

It works well. During days when I wanted to focus while working but was home alone, I used a lower ANC level to balance locking in with not feeling totally unaware of my surroundings. However, on days when a leaf blower or the sound of some vacuuming fought to break my focus, the highest levels of noise cancelling did the trick, though higher-pitched sounds, like the family dog barking, would break through. Even though that's to be expected, I do think the Sony XM^ headphones were more adept at handling sudden spikes in noise.

The sound is great, but could be even better

Generally, I'm happy with the way Bose headphones sound, and the second-gen QC Ultras are no exception. However, whereas these headphones are neck and neck with Sony in terms of having the best noise cancellation, the Sony XM6s are a full step ahead of the Bose headphones when it comes to sound quality.

That's not to say these headphones don't sound really, really good. They pick up details well across the spectrum of lows to highs, with different genres sounding rich. Whether I was listening to Chappell Roan's classic-rock sounding "The Subway," Tomorrow x Together's synth and bass-heavy "Danger," or the sweeping orchestral and rock arrangements of the Demon Slayer soundtrack (I'm still in my Infinity Castle era), these headphones never sounded muddied.

The Bose equalizer is limited compared to other brands. Credit: Bose / Screenshot

Still, I can't shake the sense that they could (and should) sound even better than they do. Part of the issue feels like the rather limited three-band equalizer and four equalizer presets, which, at $449, feel like they perform below what I expect at this price point (especially in direct comparison to what Sony offers).

When taken in conjunction with the excellent wear and ANC, the sound stands out less egregiously, but on its own, this is one area where I hope to see more improvement from Bose in the future.

As for the other ways you can customize the listening experience, these headphones come with a Quiet, Immersive, and Aware mode. My most used mode by far was quiet, which was excellent. The aware, or transparency, mode had less of a noticeable hiss in the background than the first-gen headphones, but I still just prefer to take the headphones off when I need to hear someone talking (something about talking to someone with over-ear headphones on simply feels wrong to me!). Finally, although I think the spatial audio (or immersive audio, as Bose calls it) is also improved over the first gen, I can't help but feel like it sounds too echoey, losing some of the richness of Bose's sound profile. However, it's worth noting that I tend not to be a huge fan of spatial audio.

Cinema mode

Bose also introduced Cinema Mode with these headphones, which is a new immersive audio setting designed to enhance your movie listening experience. I watched scenes from Jaws, Star Wars, and Interstellar, and while there was slightly more resonance, overall I found myself underwhelmed — this mode mainly felt louder above all else.

The most noticeable changes

In my several years of testing and using Bose headphones, I've had two major gripes: one specific to the QC Ultra line, and one a more general observation with Bose headphones as a whole.

Wired playback

Specific to the QC Ultras, the first gen of the headphones didn't offer passive playback. While you could use the 2.5mm aux cable to play music back, you had to have the headphones turned on. While I get that most of us (myself included) don't use wired playback on a regular basis, this just felt like a weird oversight I hadn't really encountered on other headphones, and one that I didn't expect to pop up on headphones that cost this much.

With the second-gen, Bose not only fixed this issue but also added playback via the USB-C cable, which can also be used to charge the headphones while they're in use. Now, you can plug them in on a flight, even if you're totally out of juice, either with the aux cable or to charge them up with the USB-C cable. (Note that you will need some battery life for the latter option – I had to make sure the headphones were powered on in order for them to work).

The USB-C connection lets you charge your headphones and stream audio simultaneously. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Connection and wear detection

As a brand, I find that Bose's pairing can generally be less consistent than that of other brands. That often applies to its multipoint connection: when more than one device is connected, despite all of its headphones technically being multipoint-enabled, the audio stream can sound choppy, or in egregious cases, require reconnecting to the device in order to properly play. With Bose devices that feature wear detection, their functionality could suffer due to lag.

With these headphones, Bose addressed both of these issues head-on, and well. I didn't experience a single instance of choppy connection (despite leaving the multipoint connection toggled on throughout the entire testing period), which on its own had me floored. Not one to be impressed by a premium brand finally meeting the bare minimum standards, I have to give Bose its flowers when it comes to the wear detection.

The low power mode lay flat mode was a surprisingly useful feature. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The headphones have two different kinds of wear detection: a standard on-head detection and a lay flat mode. The on-head detection can be toggled to automatically play and pause music or answer calls. I didn't experience I single instance where I took the headphones off and my music didn't pause shortly after. I was even more impressed with the lay flat mode, which automatically disconnects the headphones from Bluetooth and puts them in a low power mode when you lay them flat. Obviously, this wouldn't be a very functional mode if the headphones didn't easily reconnect after being laid down, but thankfully, they reliably disconnected and reconnected every time I tested this feature.

Better battery life

Though not so much a gripe of mine in the past, Bose did upgrade the battery life from 24 hours on the first-gen QC Ultras to 30 hours on the second-gen model. The extra six hours do help for anyone who hasn't yet made plugging in their headphones a habit, and is basically the standard for premium headphones these days, so this was a welcome improvement. You can also get up to three hours of battery after 15 minutes of charging.

Are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) headphones worth it?

Though these aren't the most exciting launch of the year, they are undeniably a well-rounded pair of headphones. I definitely wouldn't recommend an upgrade to any existing QC Ultra headphones users, but if you're buying into the line for the first time, the blend of comfort, noise cancellation, and sound is hard to beat, especially if you're keen on all-day wear. However, if you're an audiophile first and foremost, I recommend checking out other options, like the Sony WH-1000XM6.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd Gen)

$399 at Amazon
$449 Save $50

 

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Since I was a kid, I’ve been obsessed with sports management simulation games — to an absurd degree. Whether it was Total Extreme Wrestling, Out of the Park Baseball, Draft Day Sports: College Basketball, World of Mixed Martial Arts, Eastside Hockey Manager, or Front Office Football Nine, I’ve played (or at least tried to play) them all.

All that to say: this micro-genre of very niche video games is my true love. Football Manager is no different. I’ve poured thousands of hours into various editions of Sports Interactive's iconic series and formed hundreds of parasocial bonds with players who, technically speaking, don’t exist. (They’re real to me, dammit.)

Despite what you might think of a glorified spreadsheet simulator, these games aren’t grindy — they’re meditative. They reward patience and planning, demanding long-term vision, whether you’re clawing your way up from the lower leagues or assembling a squad for a run in Europe.

But Football Manager 26 demands a different kind of patience, one that asks longtime fans like me to accept unnecessary change to get to the good stuff. There’s brilliance here, buried somewhere under the clutter, but finding it requires faith bordering on masochism. In other words, the new UI/UX overhaul makes it harder to enjoy what’s otherwise an exciting evolution in gameday presentation.

After around 20 hours, I’m left wanting more — or at least wanting to look at something else. Which brings me to the question no fan wants to ask after a two-year wait: was this really worth it? Don’t we, the faithful, deserve something better?

Football Manager 26 has a new engine, new look

Credit: Screenshot: Chance Townsend / Sports Interactive

On build alone, Football Manager 26 is a massive upgrade — it’s the first in the series to run on the Unity engine. That shift, though, came with major internal challenges, which is why the originally planned Football Manager 25 was scrapped in February last year. It marked the first true cancellation in the series' history, something we hadn’t seen since Championship Manager 4’s delay decades ago, which, fittingly, was also caused by an engine change.

So, after two long years since Football Manager 24, we’ve finally arrived at the Unity-powered future of the franchise. And it looks...fine. You’d expect that extra development time to deliver flashy new bells and whistles — and yes, there are some, particularly in the new Match Day presentation. But beyond that? The rest feels, well, kinda meh.

Let’s start with the 3D manager and player models, a weak spot that has haunted the series for years, and sadly, that hasn’t changed. When creating my manager, the models are still rough around the edges, and the hairstyles appear to have been hastily sculpted in Blender. I’m not expecting EA FC levels of hair physics or texture, but could we at least get more than three Black hairstyles — Fade, Dreadlocks, and Afro — all with identical, receding hairlines? The same issue plagues the creation of female managers, where options boil down to 10 variations of the same middle-parted bob and maybe two natural styles for Black women — one of which looks suspiciously like a stretched-out rectangle glued to the model’s head.

Minor gripes, sure, but this stuff matters because immersion is what makes Football Manager special. It’s the beating heart of the experience, the thing that turns a spreadsheet simulator into a living football world.

Credit: Screenshot: Chance Townsend / Sports Interactive

Speaking of immersion, I genuinely appreciate how Football Manager 26’s revamped manager creation system leans harder into your character’s lore to shape their stats. In previous editions, you’d simply select your coaching badges, level of playing experience, and management style focus — choices that translated into skill points to distribute across attributes like Attacking, Motivating, or People Management. It was a precise, hands-on way to define your manager’s identity and, more importantly, their reputation, which influenced everything from which jobs you could land to how the board responded to requests and even how players approached contract negotiations.

Now, that sense of control is gone. You can't manually allocate points anymore; attributes are locked in based on the reputation presets you choose. The familiar 1–20 numerical scale has been replaced by circular icons that fade from red ("unsuited") to green ("outstanding"). Reputation is now determined through a three-step process: first, selecting the peak of your playing career, from Global Superstar to Amateur; second, identifying any non-playing roles within the football world, whether as a coach, scout, or pundit; and third, deciding how well-known you are in that space. These decisions set your baseline Coaching and Mental attributes, though the latter has been pared back — "Level of Discipline" is now "Authority," while "Player Knowledge" and "Youngster Knowledge" have been quietly removed.

To further tweak your manager's strengths, you then select “Tendencies,” which is a nice touch — I like having more narrative context behind my avatar. But the trade-off is a loss of flexibility. It feels like SI has simplified an already simple system. If immersion is what defines why I love Football Manager, then simplification is what defines my growing frustration with Football Manager 26’s new UI.

Credit: Screenshot: Chance Townsend / Sports Interactive

It’s not just that the new UI is bad to look at — though, for the record, I'm not exactly a fan of the purple and blue gradient either — it's that you can feel the design philosophy behind it. This isn't a UI made for longtime players; it's one built to simplify things for newcomers. That philosophy has been in motion since the first reveal of the now-cancelled Football Manager 25, which aimed to unify the series across all platforms. Now that FM has fully embraced its mobile and console ambitions, the result is an interface that looks and feels like it was made for a tablet first, PC second.

Everything has that iPad app aesthetic — modular pop-up windows, tiny text, oversized spacing — and on a larger monitor, it's straight-up punishing on the eyes. Many of the player and agent interactions now are styled as text messages. The intent is clear: make the game more accessible. However, in doing so, Football Manager 26 has compromised the identity of a series that once prided itself on depth and detail.

If I were to hand out thrones and roses for Football Manager 26, I’d start by giving credit where it’s due: I like that the developers took a more modern approach to the UI design. It’s clean, sleek, and visually in step with other contemporary sims. I also appreciate the intent behind it — a genuine effort to streamline the experience and get players onto the pitch faster.

And…that’s about it for the roses.

Football Manager offers death by a thousand dropdowns

I'm trying not to sound hyperbolic when I say the new UI changes kind of ruin what I love about Football Manager. For many of us, calling FM a "spreadsheet simulator" isn’t an insult — it’s the point. The joy comes from immersion: years upon years of data, history, statistics, and stories. I want to live in that data, to get lost in the archives of players and clubs and see how football's alternate history unfolds. But the new interface makes that harder. The game now feels actively resistant to exploration, bogged down by redundant windows, tabs, and submenus that bury simple information behind too many clicks.

Credit: Screenshot: Chance Townsend / Sports Interactive

Case in point: in one of my saves managing Cheonan in the South Korean K League 2, I wanted to check the K League 1 table. In FM 2024, this was easy — just click the arrow next to the league logo and jump straight up to K League 1. In FM 26, that quick action has turned into a labyrinth. I now have to hover over "Competitions" → "Asia" → "South Korea" → "Men's" and then select "K League 1."

It’s death by a thousand dropdowns.

Things that were once instantly accessible on the left-hand panel — competitions, scouting, finances — are now buried behind layered menus and pop-up windows, making me wonder what exactly was happening in the design meetings. Even viewing the competitions your team is involved in, once a one-click affair under "Competitions," now requires a trek through Portal > Overview > Stages before you can even search for the competition you want.

A lot of what made FM’s interface efficient and customizable is simply gone in Football Manager 26. Basic functions like reloading skins, clearing cache, or changing attribute colors have vanished, along with small quality-of-life settings that let players decide how menus behaved — like where the back button led or what default screen club, nation, or player pages opened to. Even long-standing visual tools like the attribute graph, passmaps, heatmaps, and scatter plot numbers have either been buried behind tiny pop-ups or removed entirely. The same goes for player comparison, role attribute highlights, staff comparison, and several key finance and training options.

Match Day and squad management haven’t escaped either. Essential navigation tools, such as the spacebar-to-messages shortcut, Match Day calendar, and standings, as well as the normal sideline camera, are gone. You can't filter or toggle replays like before, match stats during highlights are limited, and useful interface details — the little "i" next to player names, the quick fitness hearts, or the "Best XI" and "Where Are They Now?" features — have all disappeared. Even staples like the Development Centre, loan and international reports, and deadline day have been watered down.

When a game built on data suddenly hides that data behind friction, it loses its soul. And for a series as detail-obsessed as Football Manager, that’s not just a UI issue — that’s an identity crisis.

Match Day Experience still sings in Football Manager 26

Credit: Screenshot: Chance Townsend / Sports Interactive

Sorry you had to hear me bitch and moan about navigating the UI, but it had to be done. Now, let's move on to the meat and bones of the Football Manager experience.

If half the fun of FM is getting buried in data to build the perfect squad, then the other half is crafting the perfect tactic. And thankfully, in Football Manager 26, that part still sings. After lamenting the lack of granularity in manager creation, it's refreshing to see that tactical customization has instead been expanded. The new In- and Out-of-Possession tactics system provides players with far greater control over shape, structure, and tactical fluidity, along with more streamlined (yet deeper) player roles.

In previous editions, both phases of play were baked into a single tactic. Player roles had fixed "modifiers" such as Defend, Support, or Attack, and these came with hidden, unchangeable instructions. So if you wanted a full-back who attacked aggressively but still challenged for the ball defensively, you had to settle for Full-Back (Attack) or Wing-Back (Attack) and hope everything behaved roughly the way you envisioned.

Now, that's changed. You can assign dual roles — one for when your team is in possession, and another for when they're not. That means your Full-Back (Attack) on offense can become a Pressing Full-Back out of possession. It's a meaningful shift that makes your tactics feel alive, adapting dynamically to the game's flow.

As someone who's not exactly a tactical savant, I love this system. I'm a simple man who runs a 4-3-3 and calls it a day — but now, when defending, I can drop my three central midfielders into defensive midfield roles to add extra cover, especially since my full-backs love to bomb forward. It feels intuitive, flexible, and genuinely rewarding.

Credit: Screenshot: Chance Townsend / Sports Interactive

New to Match Day is the Instant Result button, a longtime feature of custom skin mods that were often buggy or unstable. In past games, you couldn’t actually simulate matches unless you took a "vacation," and even then, those wins were credited to your assistant coach. Personally, I’ve always been an Instant Result user — without it, playing through a single season could easily take 20–25 hours. With it, that drops to around eight–10 hours, and depending on how deep the addiction runs, I can crank out two full seasons in a week.

That said, I might be rethinking my stance now that the new Unity engine makes the in-game action genuinely pleasant to watch. "Pretty" might be overstating it, but FM 26 looks significantly better.

Credit: Screenshot: Chance Townsend / Sports Interactive

Lighting is improved, camera angles are more dynamic, and player animations have been overhauled. Granted, those animations can still be janky — it’s painfully clear that these are 3D models with limited physics whenever there’s physical contact. Players clipping through each other during tackles or dribbles remains a jarring sight.

Still, I don’t have many major complaints when it comes to actually sitting through a match. Compared to older editions, FM 26 is easily the best-looking entry yet — for both the men's and women's sides of the game. Even better is during moments where the game is simming the action, there's a 2D match engine that shows the flow of the game, making it easier to see what's going on between highlights.

Women's Leagues are here in Football Manager 26

Credit: Screenshot: Chance Townsend / Sports Interactive

One major thing I haven’t mentioned yet is the inclusion of Women’s Football in the game for the first time. It's been teased since 2021, with SI acknowledging it would take years to integrate the women's game properly — and now, it's finally here. I quite like it. As with any new league, the challenge lies in learning how this side of the football world operates compared to what you already know. The database of players is completely new to me, but I appreciate how FM handles it: the stats system treats men’s and women’s attributes on equal footing. A "20" in any skill means the same thing, regardless of gender — it's not scaled down or adjusted to make women appear inferior.

Both men's and women's leagues load into the game together and can't be separated. So if you start a save in countries like England or France, you'll automatically have both their domestic leagues running simultaneously. That said, there are differences between the two experiences. SI clearly tried to reflect the real-world dynamics of women’s football — lower transfer fees, smaller budgets, more player movement, and shorter contracts. Even injury trends are represented realistically, with women being more prone to long-term ACL injuries compared to men.

Beyond that, though, much remains the same. The familiar issues persist: broken player interactions ("What do you mean this player wants a new contract with four years left on his deal?") and repetitive press conferences that start to feel like déjà vu after your tenth match week. I have over 1,000 hours in FM 24, and it's the same conversations. Please, lord, make it stop.

Is Football Manager 26 worth it?

Yes — but with an asterisk the size of a Match Day tactics board. The foundation here is undeniably strong. The move to Unity has given FM its biggest technical leap in years; the in-match presentation is genuinely improved, and the inclusion of women’s football finally delivers on a promise SI made long ago. Tactics feel smarter and more flexible, and there’s a level of polish under the hood that suggests real ambition for where the series is headed.

However, for every step forward, FM 26 takes a step sideways — largely due to a frustrating new UI that prioritizes simplicity over depth. The new UI is sleek, much like an empty apartment, but it strips away the intuitive complexity that made FM such a joy to get lost in. Longtime players will feel that friction immediately; the sense of immersion that once pulled you into its spreadsheets and stat lines now feels diluted, hidden behind extra clicks and menus that just don’t need to exist.

And yet, despite my complaints, I know I’ll keep playing. Because that’s the thing about Football Manager: it gets its hooks in you. You can gripe about the interface all day, but the moment you find that one wonderkid or pull off a last-minute equalizer in a cup final, the magic returns.

So yes, Football Manager 26 is worth it — not because it's perfect, but because even at its most frustrating, it still captures the beauty, chaos, and heartbreak of football better than anything else out there.

While there's been some disappointment online with the Nintendo Switch 2's early lineup, I think history will mostly exonerate it. Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza are both a step above what you normally get in the first six months of a new platform's existence, and Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a good time, too.

Unfortunately, it's just a fact of gaming life that there will always be at least one relative disappointment in any console's launch window, and this time it's Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. It's nothing personal, but this is how it always goes. The latest Nintendo-fied spinoff of the long-running Dynasty Warriors franchise builds up some goodwill in its opening hours with substantially better visuals and performance than any of its predecessors, as well as the general novelty of seeing Princess Zelda murder like 10,000 identical enemies with one attack.

But that's kind of all it has going for it. Age of Imprisonment's mechanical foundation fails to meaningfully evolve over the 20-30 hours it takes to finish the story, leaving us with a game that plateaus in quality way too early.

Maybe Age of Imprisonment's story didn't need to be told

Remember all these guys from 'Tears of the Kingdom'? I kind of don't either. Credit: Nintendo

Age of Imprisonment carries the torch from 2020's Age of Calamity, in that it serves as a prequel to the most recent mainline The Legend of Zelda title. While Age of Calamity was set 100 years before Breath of the Wild, this game brings players to an ancient version of Hyrule, millennia before Tears of the Kingdom. Princess Zelda has unwillingly spirited away to the distant past and has to help the leaders of ancient Hyrule fend off the demon king Ganondorf, all of which is covered vaguely in flashbacks in Tears of the Kingdom.

The point of Age of Imprisonment, I guess, is to give us a deeper and more nuanced look at the events of the frame story in Tears. This is somewhat interesting in theory, but in practice, there just isn't much to chew on. I'll keep this as vague as I possibly can, but most of the characters besides Zelda herself are paper-thin and don't really feel like they're going to become series mainstays anytime soon. Its premise is also, simply, that there's a war to be fought, so you gotta go fight the war.

Age of Imprisonment never really manages to find much of a hook to keep things interesting. I will give it points for the introduction of a playable Korok (the little plant guys you find dotted all over the last two Zelda games), as well as one or two other characters that I can't really talk about. But overall, the tone of the cutscenes is so dry (and the things occurring in them so uninteresting) that it's hard not to grab your phone while they're happening. Even as a guy who cares about Zelda lore, I didn't find much to care about here.

Speaking of tone, I have a real gripe with this game and Age of Calamity: They're way too buttoned-up. Other Warriors-branded games like Dynasty Warriors proper, or even the Fire Emblem ones, are full of shredding electric guitar and other stylistic flair that make up for fairly basic narratives. That's not really the case here. Aside from a handful of fun finishing move animations, Age of Imprisonment could really stand to loosen its tie and have a little more fun with itself. At least give me some shredding, guys. Come on.

The part where you play Age of Imprisonment can be enjoyable

Some of the attacks look very cool. Credit: Nintendo

Like every other Warriors game, Age of Imprisonment starts with the premise that it's fun to kill literal hundreds of enemies with one combo and goes from there. For the most part, that stuff works.

In case you've never played one of these, here's a bit more context. You get access to a large, varied cast of playable characters, and you use them to defeat massive hordes of enemies across sprawling levels that include outposts to capture, hidden treasures to find, and bosses to kill. Combat is as simple as alternating between light and heavy attack buttons to take down waves of cannon fodder enemies, while occasionally sparring with a bigger miniboss-style enemy that usually requires that you deplete a stun meter in order to deploy a big finisher on it to end the fight.

The folks at Koei Tecmo (stewards of the Warriors franchise and credited co-developers on this game) have honed this down to a science. It's innately satisfying and fun to use ludicrous-looking attacks to mow down scores of bokoblins, for a while, at least. Age of Imprisonment seems like a pretty good game for the first five to 10 hours, but after about that long, I started to realize that everything I just described is basically all this game has going for it. Yes, there's a between-mission map screen where you can invest items and money you've amassed to upgrade characters and weapons, as well as dozens of incredibly dull optional missions to assist in collecting said items and money, but that's about it, outside of the main story missions.

Using Zonai devices in combat is sorta fun. Credit: Nintendo

Even those story missions rarely offer anything beyond running to the next objective marker and killing whatever miniboss happens to be there. As a bonus, it's probably something you've already fought 50 times, and the 51st time isn't going to be much more engaging or challenging than the first time. One of the popular knocks on Dynasty Warriors and its spinoffs by detractors has always been that the games are repetitious and simple, but plenty of them offer at least some tactical depth or between-mission nuance that just feel missing here. You technically can order your allies around on the map, but there's rarely any reason to do so. I'd also contrast it with Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, which had an entire base you could run around between missions, complete with allies to hang out with and a bunch of layered upgrade systems that fed into the action more satisfyingly than anything does here.

Age of Imprisonment simply lacks meat on the bone compared to some of its contemporaries. I kept waiting for it to expand and become a more difficult game that required just a tiny bit more brainpower, but it never did. What you do in hour 20 feels almost exactly the same as what you were doing in hour two.

At least it runs well

Most of the game looks like this. Credit: Nintendo

While Age of Imprisonment never fulfills its narrative or mechanical potential, it is a fairly compelling showpiece for the Switch 2. I don't normally like to factor technical performance too much when evaluating a game, as games are art and not products, but this is worth talking about. Age of Calamity on the OG Nintendo Switch was a nightmare from a performance standpoint, frequently running well below 30 frames per second anytime the action got too hot. It didn't run at a very high resolution either, creating a blurry, jerky experience.

By contrast, Age of Imprisonment runs at something resembling a real HD resolution with nearly flawless 60 frames per second performance. I wasn't playing with a frame counter on or anything, so I can only go by what my eyes told me. But I never noticed anything more than a very mild, momentary drop when there were hundreds of guys on screen with combat effects going off all over the place. There are certainly no performance problems that impact playability here, and given the history of the Hyrule Warriors sub-series in this regard, I think that's worth commendation. The load times are snappy, too, as a nice bonus.

I just wish there were more to discuss here. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment feels like someone built a decent foundation for a house and then forgot to build the rest of it. It's fun in short doses, and certain levels and sequences are outright good, but the experience is just too thin overall. It might be time to try this formula out with a different Nintendo series.

Some gifts aren't just thoughtful — they're unforgettable. We've curated a selection of luxurious, high-impact gifts that will wow your loved ones this holiday. From cutting-edge tech to timeless keepsakes, these splurge-worthy gifts go above and beyond.

Online dating as a gay man is a rite of passage, from the Craigslist m4m era to today's endless scroll. But for all the high rewards, even the best dating apps come with a unique set of challenges for gay men: ghosting, catfishing, straight guys who shouldn't be in your feed, and even some not-so-subtle fetishization. It's a lot to take in when you're just trying to find a genuine connection.

Yet, despite the BS, the best gay dating apps are still one of the main ways to meet new people, especially if you're gay or bisexual. Pew Research found that about one in four LGBTQ+ adults met their partner online, a much higher rate than for straight people.

Of course, we can't talk about gay dating without talking about Grindr. It's still the undisputed king of gay dating apps, even if the user experience has been suffering of late. The free version of Grindr is now stuffed full of ads, leaving many guys longing for an alternative. Plus, because of its well-deserved reputation as one of the top hookup apps, it's not always the best option for making a love connection.

"Grindr is a tried and true app that many queer men gravitate toward to find partners or for relationships that require lesser commitment, so it’s easy to point to it as the No. 1 app," Michelle Herzog, LMFT, AASECT-certified sex therapist, tells Mashable. "However, like Tinder, it’s gained a reputation as a hookup app — but that doesn’t mean there still aren’t men looking for long-term commitments, either."

The good news is that the gay dating app landscape is bigger than Grindr. Mainstream apps like Hinge and OkCupid have made huge strides in inclusivity, while niche apps like Scruff and Feeld cater to specific communities, kinks, and desires. The key is figuring out which one is actually worth your time. So, here's our authoritative guide to the best dating apps for gay men in 2025.

Recent additions to this dating app guide include:

• Feeld: As of October 2025, we've added Feeld to this guide as our top pick for "Best for Kink and Threesomes."

• Hinge: As of October 2025, we've added Hinge as another alternative to Archer, as it's also great for finding serious relationships. We've selected it as the best gay dating app for younger guys as well, due to its popularity with Gen Z.

Which gay dating apps didn't make the cut?

You'll notice a few well-known apps are missing from our main list. Here's why they didn't make our "best of" guide.

• Raya: We know, Raya is the "celebrity dating app," but we're not recommending it. Why? Because, as our own Chance Townsend discovered, its exclusivity is "a bit overhyped." After shelling out $25 per month, he found the vibe "so Tinder-esque," and the user pool wasn't A-list celebs but "consultants, aspiring actors, medical professionals, recruiters, and even students." The consensus: Raya is basically "an expensive Tinder with a better PR team." Save your money.

• Recon: Recon has a reputation as the app for the kink community, but we've opted to leave it off the list. User reviews on Reddit are brutal. One thread described the app as "really buggy" and "not much activity on there anymore." Users in that thread complained that the app is a "waste of time," full of flakes, "catfish," and "fake doms wanting you to be their slave or boy." Other users noted that "a lot of kink/fetish guys have moved on to Instagram, Twitter/X, [or] OnlyFans" or that mainstream apps like Scruff are now "more open and welcoming spaces" for the community.

• Planet Romeo (now Romeo): Planet Romeo (which took over the old Guys4Men, or g4m, site ) is another legacy app we didn't include. While it was once a go-to for finding meaningful relationships, particularly in India and parts of Europe, it's now mostly seen as an app from a bygone era. Reddit threads on the topic are full of nostalgia for the "age of Planet Romeo" and the "slow communication" of the early 2000s. It's just not a primary app for most guys in 2025.

You can’t talk headphones without bringing Beats into the conversation. The house that Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine built revolutionized the product category. Its influence on the headphones market became even stronger once Apple acquired the audio electronics staple. Their partnership has led to many acclaimed releases.

At the top of the list are the Studio Pro headphones and Fit Pro earbuds. These two selections embody the brand’s sleek craftsmanship, which is highlighted by appealing designs and elite functionality via Apple’s and Beats’ proprietary technologies. The company has also released great entry-level and mid-range models that don’t deny consumers the Beats audio experience.

The headphones and earbuds I’m referring to aren’t just terrific AirPods alternatives — they’re some of the best headphones out there. We’ve tested all of Beats’ popular entries and narrowed down the top picks to help you find the right pair.

How to choose the best Beats headphones

Beats headphones and earbuds are known for their bass response, battery life, connectivity, and, of course, style. The products we’re showcasing are all solid choices that have been thoroughly tested for high performance assurance.

If you’re someone who desires versatile sound, look for Beats headphones that come with built-in EQs and USB-C lossless audio. Those who want active noise cancellation and spatial audio can find them on headphones and earbuds at different price points. Something else to know is that most Beats models support many of the same features as the AirPods and AirPods Pro series. We’re talking everything from audio sharing to quick charging, Find My (Buds) integration to “Hey Siri” voice activation.