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Driverless cars need to be more human, study finds

Mashable - 3 hours 16 min ago

Self-driving cars may need to act more like humans, new research has found.

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found autonomous cars with a greater focus on being "socially sensitive" would prove safer. What does being socially sensitive mean? In short, it seems that it's driving more like a person. The researchers found that autonomous vehicles would be safer if programmed to "incorporate ethical considerations" and focus on protecting more vulnerable people on the road such as pedestrians or cyclists.

The researchers wrote: "Empirical results show that our scheme enables safer and more ethical decisions, reducing overall risk by 26.3%, with a notable 22.9% decrease for vulnerable road users."

In other words, it's sort of like the famous trolley problem. The research showed autonomous vehicles would be safest if they're trained to reduce harm to the greatest extent possible.

Despite being a fact of American life, driving a cars can be incredibly dangerous. Nearly 45,000 people died in what the National Safety Council deemed "preventable traffic crashes" in 2024.

Autonomous vehicles have shown some promise as a safer alternative to human drivers. A recent report from robotaxi company Waymo showed a decrease in injury-causing crashes across all categories. It saw 92 percent fewer of such incidents with pedestrians, 82 percent fewer with cyclists, 82 percent fewer with motorcyclists, and 85 percent fewer crashes with suspected serious or worse injuries with other vehicles.

The best Memorial Day deals under $50: Soundcore earbuds, Fire TV Sticks, Blink cameras, and more

Mashable - 3 hours 19 min ago
The best Memorial Day deals under $50: BEST HEADPHONES DEAL Anker Soundcore P20i earbuds $19.98 (save $20.01) Get Deal BEST TECH DEAL Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $29.99 (save $30 with code MAX4KNEW) Get Deal BEST KITCHEN DEAL Chefman Roll n' Go food warming mat $39.95 (save $40.04) Get Deal BEST HOME SECURITY DEAL Blink Video Doorbell + Sync Module 2 $34.99 (save $35) Get Deal

The unofficial kickoff to summer — aka Memorial Day weekend — has almost arrived. And with it comes a lot of sales. Despite the rocky first half of 2025 with tariffs catapulting prices across the board, we're pleasantly surprised by the number of deals floating around. You can even snag a handful of gadgets for less than $50.

Whether you're looking to grab a pair of headphones for your summer travels, a Bluetooth speaker to jam out by the pool, a new streaming device to catch up on all your favorite shows, or a portable water bottle to up your hydration, there's a little something for everyone on sale for Memorial Day. Check out the best deals under $50 — we'll update this list as the weekend approaches, so stay tuned for more.

Best Memorial Day headphones deal under $50 Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore P20i earbuds $19.98 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $20.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Our favorite budget earbuds of 2025, the Soundcore P20is, are on sale for less than $20 at Amazon during their Memorial Day sale. That's half off the usual list price of $40. It's hard to expect a lot from a pair of earbuds at that price, but we're shocked at how impressive they actually are. The battery life outshines the AirPods at 10 hours per charge, and with the equalizer presets on the companion app, they can produce the kind of well-rounded sound you'd expect from earbuds three times the price. You can even set up to three touch controls on each bud, and use the "find device" feature to keep track of them.

Best Memorial Day streaming device deal under $50 Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $29.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $30.00 with code MAX4KNEW Get Deal Why we like it

If you're in the market for a new streaming device, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max offers the most bang for your buck. It's the first and only Fire TV Stick with Ambient Experience, which lets you turn your TV into artwork like Samsung's The Frame, but for a small fraction of the cost. It packs over 2,000 pieces of museum-quality images to choose from. Plus, it has the most storage of any Fire TV Stick at 16GB; features WiFi-6E, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos support; and lets you play Xbox games sans console. Just $59.99 on a regular day, it's only $29.99 for Memorial Day when you use the code MAX4KNEW at checkout.

Best Memorial Day home deal under $50 Opens in a new window Credit: Chefman Chefman Roll 'n' Go food warming mat $39.95 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $40.04 Get Deal Why we like it

Before your Memorial Day shenanigans, you might want to grab this Chefman Roll 'n' Go food warming mat to keep all your delicious goodies hot for your guests. It'll only cost you $39.95 on sale, which is 50% off its usual cost and its best price on record. Its convenient rollable design makes it easy to travel with and store when you're not using it. Just unroll it, select between three temperatures, and you're ready to go.

More headphones and speakers deals under $50More tech deals under $50More home and travel deals under $50

After a tariff price hike, our favorite laptop from CES 2025 is on sale for the first time

Mashable - 3 hours 28 min ago

SAVE $200: Normally $999.99, the Asus Zenbook A14 (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) is on sale for $799.99 at Best Buy through May 26 — a 20% savings and its best price to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus Zenbook A14 (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $799.99 at Best Buy
$999.99 Save $200 Get Deal

This year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was packed to the gills with impressive and innovative laptops, including one with a rollable screen and another made from oysters. But it was the Asus Zenbook A14, a lightweight 14-inch Copilot+ PC, that wound up taking home our Best of CES 2025 nod for the category: "It's effectively an Asus Zenbook Air," we wrote, "combining a feathery form factor with a long battery life," a durable, scratch-resistant chassis, and a reasonable starting price of just $899.99.

At least, the Zenbook A14 was supposed to start at $899.99. Tariffs bumped the base configuration up by $100 to $999.99 this spring, so we've been patiently waiting for it to go on sale ever since launch. This week, it finally happened.

Now through Monday, May 26, the Zabriskie Beige ZenBook A14 with a Snapdragon X Plus processor, 16GB of memory, and 512GB of storage is marked down to $799.99 at Best Buy during its Memorial Day sale. That's 20% off the laptop's new MSRP (or 11% off its original starting price), which is its biggest and only discount to date.

SEE ALSO: Hands on with the ultralight Asus Zenbook A14 at CES 2025: MacBook Airs should be scared

We haven't put the Zenbook A14 through the full paces of our laptop testing process just yet, but I briefly checked out its construction at CES and ran it through a CPU performance benchmark at home. It's impressed me on both fronts so far.

The Zenbook A14 has a bright 16:10 OLED display, a clicky keyboard, and a neutral-toned, smooth matte-texture chassis made from a magnesium-aluminum alloy that Asus calls Ceraluminum. Not only is it durable and 100-percent recyclable, but it's also amazingly light. At just 2.4 pounds (or 0.3 pounds lighter than a 13-inch M4 Apple MacBook Air), the base Zenbook A14 is great for travel and on-the-go work.

The Zenbook A14 isn't quite as fast as a current-gen MacBook — it's more on par with the M3 models — but it's peppy for its price point, securing a multi-core score of 11,256 in Primate Labs' Geekbench 6 performance test. That makes it the fastest sub-$1,000 Windows laptop we've ever tried. (I'll also add that it's faster than both Intel Core Ultra Series 2 models I've tested this year, both of which cost at least $1,850.)

I'm most excited to test the Zenbook A14's battery life: Asus has it rated at up to 32 hours per charge, which would mean it lasts about nine hours longer than our current battery life champ. (That would be the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 with a Snapdragon X Elite processor.) Laptop manufacturers' listed battery lives tend to be hyperbolic, but even if the Zenbook A14 surpasses the 20-hour mark in practice, I'll be wowed.

Elon Musk Suggests He Will Spend ‘a Lot Less’ on Political Donations

NYT Technology - 3 hours 33 min ago
The world’s richest person, who spent more money than anyone else last year as he helped elect President Trump, has indicated lately that he wants to turn back toward his business empire.

Shop Owalas Memorial Day Sale and save 30% on tumblers

Mashable - 3 hours 36 min ago

SAVE 30%: This Memorial Day, shop Owala's tumblers for 30% off. Get a 40 oz. tumbler for just $28 and save $11.99 or a 24 oz. tumbler for $21 and save $8.99.

Owala Memorial Day Deals Owala Owala 40 oz. tumbler $28 (Save $11.99) Get Deal Owala Owala 24 oz. tumbler $21 (Save $8.99) Get Deal Amazon Owala 40 oz. tumbler $27.99 (Save $22) Get Deal

As the warmer months creep in, it's time to get hydrated. Whether you just need a new water bottle for around the house or something to accompany you on your summer travels, we've got you covered. This year, you can find dozens and dozens of Memorial Day deals across retailers. One of our favorite sales is from Owala.

Maker of the FreeSip water bottle, Owala is offering Memorial Day savings of 30%. The deal is on the brand's 24 and 40 oz. tumblers and you don't need any code to access the savings. Just add the items to your cart and the discount is automatically applied.

With the 30% savings, get the 24 oz. tumbler for $21 and save $8.99 while the 40 oz. tumbler is $28 for $11.99 off. However, if you want a little extra savings (one cent to be exact), Amazon is matching Owala's Memorial Day sale pricing. You can find the 40 oz. tumbler on Amazon for $27.99, saving you $12.

But what makes Owala's tumblers so great? Well first, the color ways the tumblers come in are just pure fun, offering a nice pop of color as you stay hydrated this summer. It fits into cup holders, has triple-layer insulation, and the lid is dishwasher safe. Plus, like its FreeSip water bottle, you can sip or swig from from this tumbler.

Just add the tumblers to your cart at Owala and enjoy 30% savings through May 26.

The Divoom TimeBox Evo pixel art speaker just dropped to a record-low price at Amazon

Mashable - 3 hours 46 min ago

SAVE $23.91: The Divoom TimeBox Evo pixel art Bluetooth speaker is on sale at Amazon for only $45.99, down from the list price of $69.90. That's a 34% discount and the lowest price Amazon has ever offered.

Opens in a new window Credit: Divoom Divoom TimeBox Evo pixel art Bluetooth speaker $45.99 at Amazon
$69.90 Save $23.91 Get Deal

If we're all honest with ourselves, there isn't a single person out there who couldn't use a pick-me-up. Some of us turn to treating ourselves to a fancy cup of coffee, some of us book flights to a tropical beach, and some of us take the dog for a walk. If you're in the mood for something small that can you display at home that'll always bring joy, there's a fun deal in store today at Amazon.

As of May 20, the Divoom TimeBox Evo pixel art Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $45.99, marked down from the normal price of $69.90. That's a 34% discount that takes $23.91 off the price tag. It's also the lowest price Amazon has ever offered.

A customizable piece of art, an alarm clock, a timer, a portable Bluetooth speaker - The Divoom TimeBox Evo more than proves itself as a multi-tasking device. The 16 by 16 pixel display allows you to choose from tons of preset displays in the app or design your own. This freedom can offer tons of fun for kids or prove to be a worthy desk display for anyone who works at a computer.

The best tech deals to shop this week

The alarm clock function means you can also use this Bluetooth speaker on your nightstand which is pretty perfect since you could also play white noise. The clock comes equipped with 12 wake-up sounds and 24 sleep sound options.

Expect to get about six hours of playtime with the Divoom TimeBox Evo when it's fully charged. Plus, you can set a custom schedule in the app, choosing a new display for each of the day's activities.

While it's at the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon, snag the Divoom TimeBox Evo and brighten up any room in your house. Thinking ahead, it'll make a great Father's Day gift or the perfect stocking stuffer come December.

Report says giant foldables are coming soon from Apple, Amazon

Mashable - 4 hours 40 sec ago

It's no secret that Apple is working on at least one foldable device right now, but it may have a somewhat surprising competitor in that market soon.

This information comes courtesy of Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst for TF International Securities with a long history of Apple prognostication. According to Kuo, Apple is working on an 18.8-inch foldable device for mass production in 2027 or 2028. That part is not necessarily news; other sources have corroborated that information recently, with the idea being that the device is most likely a foldable iPad. However, one detail stands out: Amazon is allegedly also working on a similar product, with mass production planned for next year at the earliest.

SEE ALSO: AirPods Pro 3 seemingly confirmed in Apple leak This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Unfortunately, Kuo's tweet didn't provide any other information about the rumored Amazon foldable. If Kuo is correct and it's a "large-sized foldable," then it's almost certainly a Fire tablet of some kind and not a phone. For reference, Amazon hasn't made smartphones since the Fire Phone in 2014. This would be an interesting development in the sense that Amazon's Fire tablets tend to be on the affordable side of the tablet spectrum, but foldables are generally anything but affordable.

We'll see how much it costs in 2027, perhaps.

IT: Welcome to Derry teaser gives us our first glimpse of 1960s Pennywise

Mashable - 4 hours 2 min ago

Like it or not, we're going back to Derry.

On Tuesday HBO Max dropped its teaser for IT: Welcome to Derry, the much-anticipated IT prequel that takes us back to Stephen King's infamous town in the year 1962.

Just when you thought you'd gotten over that fear of clowns...

IT: Welcome to Derry is streaming on HBO Max "this fall".

Jurassic World Rebirth sees T-rex chasing a cheeky river snack

Mashable - 4 hours 2 min ago

The latest Jurassic World Rebirth trailer is full of snacks, including a raft of morsels frantically paddling down river from a casual T-rex.

Set five years after Jurassic World Dominion, Jurassic World Rebirth sees a crack team of experts (Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali, and Rupert Friend) sent to the research facility for the original Jurassic Park to procure dinosaur DNA. Judging by the trailer, they find it alright, but life has found a way in more ways than they bargained for.

Also...baby triceratops! In a backpack!

Directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla, Rogue One) and written by Jurassic Park's original screenwriter David Koepp, Jurassic World Rebirth looks like it's going to cram in as many dinos as prehistorically possible.

Jurassic World Rebirth hits cinemas July 2.

Finding a gift that kids actually like is tricky. This guide will make it easier.

Mashable - 4 hours 13 min ago

When it comes to gifting, kids can be particular. The things kids like change not just with age, but also with evolving trends from TV shows and new technology. If parents are lucky enough, their kid will write a long list of the precise items they'd like as a birthday or Christmas or Hannukkah gift and put it up on the fridge with pride. But sometimes, it can be as much of a crapshoot as coming up with a gift idea for someone else's kid. Without further ado, here are the best gifts for kids of all ages — including toy and non-toy gifts alike.

Nintendo raises Switch 2 sales forecast to 20 million units

Mashable - 4 hours 25 min ago

The Nintendo Switch 2, which already has record-breaking demand, is now projected to sell even more.

That's 20 million units to be exact, according to Bloomberg. The report says Nintendo has partnered with Samsung to make the main chips for the gaming console in order to meet the increasing demand. Initially, Nintendo expected to sell around 15 million Switch 2 consoles by March 2026, which is the end of the company's fiscal year. Now, sales projections are reportedly even higher.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2 preorder stock April 25: See the latest

Samsung is reportedly working on a customized chip using an 8-nanometer mode for the Switch 2. "The production pace should be fast enough for Nintendo to ship more than 20 million units of the console by March next year," according to Bloomberg sources.

The Switch 2 is the latest version of the original Switch, which was released in 2017. Given the fact that Nintendo hadn't released a new Switch for eight years, expectations were high. The Switch 2 won't be released until June 5, but Mashable's Alex Perry (who got early access) said those high expectations were firmly met.

Nintendo shared major updates to the gaming console including more horsepower, features for live-gaming with friends, and Joy-Cons that also work as computer mice. Pre-orders alone crashed retailer sites in April, and the Switch 2 completely sold out. Even with the $449.99 price tag, people really seem to want it.

Thankfully, the Switch 2 will be restocked, partly thanks to this new Samsung partnership.

Start gaming with Samsungs 2025 OLED TVs — now with Nvidia G-sync

Mashable - 4 hours 36 min ago

On May 19, Samsung dropped its 2025 OLED TVs that are built for better gaming. The new S95F OLED TVs come with Nvidia G-Sync for a smoother and more responsive experience.

Nvidia, the leader in GPUs, powers some of the top gaming laptops, but its G-Sync technology on Samsung TVs allows gamers to play on a bigger screen. It synchronizes the TV refresh rate with the GPU frame rate to prevent any lag or delay in gaming.

Nvidia G-Sync eliminates lag time while gaming on the 2025 Samsung OLED TVs. Credit: Samsung

Plus, Samsung's OLED television's now feature Motion Xcelerator, which supports refresh rates up to 165Hz. You'll also find Auto Low Latency Mode and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro for GPU support and better response rates. If you don't want to spend time fussing with the settings, AI Auto Game Mode will analyze your game and adjust levels accordingly.

Nvidia G-Sync is currently available in Samsung's S95F OLED TVs, with the feature coming to more OLED models later this year. The S95F models start at $2,299.99 for 55-inch models. 65-, 77-, and 83-inch models are also available.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung S95F OLED 4K Smart TV $2,299.99 at Samsung
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Meet the robot dog that stands, walks, and rolls through extreme environments

Mashable - 5 hours 31 min ago

The LYNX M20, built by DEEP Robotics, is a wheeled-legged robot designed for industrial and emergency environments. It’s used for inspections in power substations, tunnels, factories, and disaster zones, navigating challenging terrains with its hybrid design.

Roborock Saros Z70 review: If you think you need the robot vacuum with an arm, no you dont

Mashable - 5 hours 47 min ago

There has been one pressing question about the Roborock Saros Z70 since it was announced at CES 2025: Could a robot vacuum with a robotic arm possibly be a practical purchase for a normal person?

The Saros Z70 takes the "robot" in robot vacuum to a whole new level. Past referring to the brains of the automated cleaning operation, "robot" also refers to a whole ass robotic arm that unfolds from the vacuum to move pesky obstacles out of the way. This is cool in theory for anyone whose home has random stuff lying around on the floor at any given time, but the practicality bubble is quickly burst when you realize that the Saros Z70 costs $2,599.

SEE ALSO: As a Dyson stan, I wouldn't tell anyone to buy the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum

That's a full $1,000 more than Roborock's other two CES flagship releases, the Saros 10 and 10R, that I also happen to have at home right now. Multiple friends who have come over recently have literally laughed in my face when I told them that one of those three costs $2,599. And they're valid for that.

Naturally, I had to complete the Roborock Saros trifecta in my robot vacuum testing. The Saros Z70 has been living and cleaning in my apartment for almost a month now — the apartment whose monthly rent is half of what the Saros Z70 costs. In a time when most consumer electronics are getting more expensive because of tariffs, it's more important than ever to dissect whether these ultra-expensive robot vacuums are worth it.

First impressions of the Saros Z70

If you can't picture a robot vacuum with a "foldable five-axis mechanical arm" with a claw on the end, think of your average powerful robot vacuum but if it had limbs reminiscent of the robot dogs in that one episode of Evil, the adrenaline rush of a skating rink claw machine, and the harrowing sentience of a driverless Uber.

Via Giphy

I will not elaborate further, but it reminds me of the giant scorpion from Clash of the Titans.

When the arm's not exposed, the Saros Z70 looks much more chill and chic than you might expect. My living room is currently lined with the Roborock Saros 10, 10R, and Z70, and they all look very similar in design. The Saros Z70 looks nearly indistinguishable from the Saros 10R that I just reviewed, from the mirrored dock exterior to the exposed water tanks atop. The fact that the Z70 is casually wielding a folded two-foot-tall arm inside is clever from a design standpoint.

Sansa wanted to show you how mirrored the Saros S70's dock is. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

But if I may pause the arm fanfare for a second, I think the actual cleaning performance is the biggest decision maker in a robot vacuum. So I'm getting into the Saros Z70's cleaning skills first.

Is the Saros Z70 good at cleaning?

As one of the most powerful robot vacuums on the market, yes, the Roborock Saros is a pretty thorough robotic vacuum cleaner.

Clocking 22,000 Pa of suction power, it ties for the strongest robot vacuum on the market — one of its direct competitors being the (less expensive) Roborock Saros 10. Measuring just over three inches tall, it's also one of the slimmest robot vacuums on the market. The other two Saros models are just as slim, but they don't have a mechanical arm folded inside them. So that's impressive. It misses being able to squeeze under the dining room credenza by a smidge, but easily fits under the TV stand and lip of the refrigerator.

SEE ALSO: Shark vs. Roomba: Comparing top-rated robot vacuum lineups

But the Saros Z70's high suction power on paper hasn't left my hard floors completely spotless every time. Most dry cat food, most food crumbs, most dust bunnies, and most dirt or rocks tracked in by the door are swept up, but the Z70 always seems to leave behind some debris on the outskirts of its cleaning path.

Take the floor in front of one of my automatic litter boxes, for example. The mat in front of my Leo's Loo Too catches a lot of the litter tracking after my cats hop out, but a few specks almost always make it out. The bigger mess happens when I need to change the bag in the drawer and scoop fresh litter into the top. The Z70 did an OK job at sweeping up the most condensed part of the spill, but ended up pushing much of the litter pile out to the corners of the cleaning zone.

The Roborock Saroz Z70 did an OK job at cleaning up spilled kitty litter... Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable ...but it left a pile at the edge of the cleaning zone. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

To be fair, all robot vacuums have trouble sucking up the litter dust that gathers right at the edge of the mat. The Dyson with a laser ads write themselves.

The Saros Z70 seems to have a better grasp on rugs than on hard floors — the opposite of the case with most basic robot vacuums. It has sufficiently combed the crumbs and random salad leaves off the living room rug from eating at the coffee table. Said coffee table is round and shaped like an acorn, and the S70 skirts around it nicely. The pile of the kitchen runner rug is a similar height, and the Saros Z70 rarely misses the crumbs that always gather there.

SEE ALSO: Need a robot vacuum that actually works on carpet? These 3 performed the best in my home.

The 22,000 Pa of suction power was really flexed when vacuuming the faux fur Tumble rug in the hallway between bedrooms. It's the softest rug I've ever stepped on, and I was nervous to send a super powerful robot vacuum over something so nice and fluffy. The Saros Z70 was gentle enough while vacuuming to not pull out any fluff, but simultaneously vigorous enough to reach about 90 percent pet hair pickup on several occasions.

The Saros Z70 was tough on pet hair without messing up my fluffy rug. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

I even did the Shark PowerDetect cordless vacuum test on it — because that Shark empties itself every time, it starts each cleaning session with a clean slate. So, if I take it over a rug to test how well a robot vacuum did, I know just how much hair the robot vacuum missed. The Shark's canister was basically empty after cleaning where the Saros Z70 had just been.

The story wasn't as pleasant with medium-pile bath mats. Because they lift off the ground more easily, the Saros Z70 seemed too powerful to vacuum without loosening a thread or getting stuck on a sucked-up corner completely.

Mopping is the Saros Z70's cleaning specialty

The Saros Z70's automated mopping has fewer quirks than its vacuuming. I am so glad that Roborock opted to give the Z70 dual spinning mopping pads like the Saros 10R has. (The fact that it swapped those for one large, singular pad on the Saros 10 was a huge drawback for me.)

I'm a big fan of dual spinning mop pads on robot vacuums. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

After much snooping on Reddit to get an idea of other people's opinions on the top robot vacuum features, I know I'm not the only one who consistently sees better mopping results from the two spinning pads versus one large one. I personally have found that they provide better angles and floor agitation to scrub drier stains. My favorite sub-ability of the rotating mop design is corner mopping: One of the Z70's spinning pads is attached via hinge and can swing out from under the vacuum to scrub along edges when the Z70 senses a wall. I can't sleep at night if I know that there's a dried sauce spill under the counter or dust and hair collecting in the corners of the bathroom, so I definitely need a robot vacuum that won't skip out on mopping those.

SEE ALSO: The best robot vacuums and mops of 2025 so far, tested hands-on at home

For sopping up bigger wet spills, spinning mopping pads like these aren't quite as good at the singular vibrating pads like the Saros 10 has. But the Saros Z70 still wipes up most small puddles, as long as you keep your expectations in check. If you spilled an entire carton of milk or something, the Z70's mopping pads would definitely just spread that around — but it successfully cleaned up small wine spills on a hardwood floor. A thin layer of wine was left over after the first pass, but the Saros Z70 returned on its own to make a few extra passes where it noticed a soiled spot.

The Saros SZ70's dock automatically dispenses detergent into the tank when it refills, so your floors will be a little more sanitized than they would being mopped with just water.

Does the Saros Z70 arm actually work?

The mechanical arm does pick up most items it claims to be able to. The problem is, it doesn't claim to be able to pick up a whole lot.

I sent the Saros Z70 into a room with a sock, slipper, or sandal lying on the floor at least 20 times. The arm didn't have a 100 percent pickup rate with any of those. Socks had the highest success rate, only being missed once or twice after being mistaken for "fabric" (not on the list of grabbable items). The sandals variety included a super lightweight pair of Birkenstock dupes (these were picked up every time), a legit pair of heavier Birkenstocks with the cork bottom (picked up few times, mistaken as a "carry-out bag" once, and as "footwear that cannot be picked up" once), and a pair of foamy Air Jordan slides (picked up sometimes, identified as "footwear that cannot be picked up" other times).

The Saros Z70 tidying up the shoe obstacle course by the front door. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable VERY precise. Good job, buddy. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

I've watched the Saros Z70 parade around for several minutes with its arm raised but nothing in its grasp, seemingly not doing much other than looking ominous and trying to scare the cats. (It doesn't work. They don't care.)

The feeling of watching the Saros Z70 fumble a simple flip-flop is reminiscent of minor road rage. Given how short the Saros S70's list of arm-compatible items is, you'd think it would at least be an expert on the things it can pick up. And, though the arm is obviously the paramount feature here, setting the arm up to work automatically instead of manually was a little convoluted. The setting, surprisingly, isn't the default.

SEE ALSO: What's the best time of year to buy a TV? Yes, there's an answer.

Credit to it, the Saros Z70 did drop off almost every item picked up in the correct location. I designated socks and paper balls to go to the included Roborock trash bin by my bedroom door and for tidied up shoes to be put by the front door. This process is called "sorting," and you can make it automatic or select items to be moved on a case-by-case basis.

Now, I never said sorting was an overly expeditious process, either. After picking up an item, the Saros Z70 often drives around aimlessly for a minute or two to think about where it's going. I could pick up the shoe and unload the dishwasher in the two or three minutes it has taken to find the sorting drop-off. But if you're a busy parent with kids who constantly leave their shoes in the middle of the room, I guess the shoe being put away slowly is better than you having to do it yourself.

If there's an item in the path that the Saros Z70 isn't recognizing, there is a manual pickup mode where you can try to pick up the item claw machine style. The Saros Z70 has a camera that can stream whatever the vacuum's seeing to the Roborock app, and arrows will pop up that can be toggled to get the perfect pickup angle. The rush is similar to that of trying to win a stuffed animal at the arcade — until you remember that you're going after an item on the floor that you could have picked up in a second with your hand.

Alternatively, you can use the camera to spy on your pets while you're not home. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Though I'm disappointed at the Saros Z70's lack of dexterity, I'm not exactly surprised. My fellow Senior Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel first experienced it during a live demo at CES in January, where the Saros Z70 was almost acting... lost?

While some of the issues during CES were said to be related to the confines of that hotel, I've seen the Saros Z70 struggle to complete a mission in my apartment. It'll blurt out that it's "unable to reach the target" during a cleaning and return to the dock unprompted, or insist that "no item can be sorted" 30 seconds after I click on an item that it deems sortable in the app.

Is the arm really much better than small obstacle avoidance?

If the arm had more variety, maybe. But right now, the Saros Z70's mechanical arm does not drastically change the automatic cleaning experience. You know that episode of The Office where Kevin's trying to "save time" by cutting words out of his dialogue, but he just ends up confusing everyone? That's kind of the level of expectation vs. reality when it comes to Saros Z70's arm efficacy.

Arm aside, the Saros Z70's small obstacle avoidance is about 85 percent reliable. It uses StarSight 2.0 with 3D ToF (Time of Flight) technology for obstacle avoidance, just like the Saros 10R. StarSight was proposed as a slightly more precise alternative to the LiDAR laser system used by many robot vacuums with the circular tower on top (the Saros 10, for example). But I personally haven't noticed a huge change in accuracy either way. All three of my Saros units detect small objects accurately most of the time, but still struggle not to run over thin white cords, like iPhone or laptop chargers.

Is the Roborock Saros Z70 worth it?

No, you should not buy the Saros Z70 at this time. If Roborock follows through on updating the arm's software and expanding the list of grabbable items to items like shirts or pet toys, it'd be much more helpful.

But at this point in time, the arm has been so hit or miss for me that I'd probably just turn the feature off completely (if I weren't intentionally using it to test it). So then, you have a $2,599 robot vacuum with comparable small obstacle avoidance to a slew of significantly more affordable competing vacs. It's the same story with actual cleaning performance: The Saros Z70 has very powerful suction and advanced mopping techniques, but none of it does an exceptional enough job to cost that much. I actually think the $1,599.99 Roborock Saros 10R does a more thorough job.

The best way I can frame it is this: If I were a Pokémon trainer and I had the Saros 10, 10R, and Z70 in a Pokéball, I'd be saying "Saros Z70, I choose you" the least. In the month that I was testing all three of those simultaneously in my apartment, I wasn't opting for the Z70 unless it was for testing purposes. As someone who tests robot vacuums for a living, when I have multiple at my disposal at the same time, I think it speaks volumes when there's a certain robot vacuum that has performed so well in testing that I subconsciously reach for it over the others (or, in this case, don't reach for it).

Roborock Saros Z70 robot vacuum and mop $2,599 at Amazon
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Best National Streaming Day deals: Peacock, MGM+, Apple TV+, and more

Mashable - 9 hours 21 min ago
The best streaming deals on National Streaming Day: Best overall streaming deal Peacock Premium (Annual Subscription) $24.99 per year for one year (save $55 with code SPRINGSAVINGS) Get Deal Best streaming deal for movie lovers Mubi $3.99 per month for 4 months (save $44) Get Deal Best Roku Channel deal MGM+ (Roku Channel) $0.99 per month for 2 months (save $12) Get Deal Best free trial Apple TV+ free for one month (save $9.99) Get Deal

Happy National Streaming Day, folks. Coined by Roku back in 2014 as a way of self-promoting its streaming devices and subscriptions, National Streaming Day is now an unofficial holiday falling on May 20 every year. If you've been searching for streaming deals, now's a good opportunity to sign up for new services for a steal.

Although Roku created the holiday, we've seen other streamers throw their hats in the ring in years past — like this $1 per month Hulu deal from 2022 — and this year is no different. But Roku still has the biggest selection of streaming deals to choose from. This time around, the streaming device company is offering up to 90 percent off subscriptions to MGM+, Starz, Shudder, AMC+, and more. The only catch is you have to sign up through the Roku Channel, which is completely free and can be accessed through your web browser, a Roku streaming device, or an Amazon Fire TV device.

Without further ado, here are the best streaming deals on National Streaming Day 2025. Be sure to sign up ASAP, as most of the deals expire sooner than you think. For example, all the Roku Channel offers end May 21 at 2:59 a.m. ET.

Best National Streaming Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium (Annual Subscription) $24.99
$79.99 Save $55 with code SPRINGSAVINGS Get Deal

Technically this Peacock deal isn't exclusively for National Streaming Day, but we're including it because it's such an impressive deal. Through May 30, new and returning Peacock subscribers can get one year of Peacock Premium for only $24.99 with code SPRINGSAVINGS. That's 68% off the usual cost of $79.99 per year and breaks down to a little over $2 per month. We're big fans of Peacock; it's easy to use, always has great deals, and features a highly impressive catalog of movies and shows. It's where you'll find movies like Wicked, Nosferatu, and Black Bag, popular shows like The Office, New Girl, and Yellowstone, and Peacock Originals like Poker Face and Long Bright River.

Best National Streaming Day deal for movie lovers Opens in a new window Credit: MUBI Mubi $3.99/month for 4 months (save $44) Get Deal

Mubi is not your average streaming service. It's specifically made for cinephiles, with a library that's brimming with quality international cinema. It's home to Mubi originals like recent Oscar nominee The Substance, plus plenty of mainstream, classic, independent, and award-winning movies. It's also where you'll find The People's Joker and Bird, two more of our favorite movies of 2024. For a limited time, new and returning subscribers can get Mubi for only $3.99 per month for 4 months. That's a massive $44 in savings, as it usually costs $14.99 per month.

Best National Streaming Day deal on Roku Opens in a new window Credit: MGM+ MGM+ (Roku Channel) $0.99/month for 2 months (save $12) Get Deal

Roku's deals are aplenty this Streaming Day, but our favorite is this one on MGM+. Through May 22 at 2:59 a.m. ET, new and returning subscribers can sign up for MGM+ for only 99 cents per month for two months on the Roku Channel. Usually $6.99 per month, that saves you $12 total. MGM+ is home to a ton of movies we love, like Challengers, Better Man, Blink Twice, and Nickel Boys. The streamer also features its own original series like Godfather of Harlem, From, and Hotel Cocaine. Just be sure to cancel your subscription before your promotional period ends if you want to avoid paying full price.

Best National Streaming Day free trial deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple TV+ Apple TV+ free one-month trial Get Deal Why we like it

Free streaming? Yes, please. Through June 26, you can sign up for one month of Apple TV+ for free through Roku. Just install and open the app on your Roku device and follow the prompts to subscribe and you'll enjoy an entire month of free streaming, as opposed to the usual free seven-day trial. A month gives you more time to stream some Apple TV+ original series like Severance, Ted Lasso, and Palm Royale, and movies like The Gorge, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Echo Valley.

More National Streaming Day deals

The Soundcore C40i earbuds shouldnt be this cheap — get $30 off at Amazon for a limited time

Mashable - 9 hours 33 min ago

SAVE $30: As of May 20, the Soundcore C40i earbuds are $30 off for Prime members at Amazon. That's a 25% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore C40i $89.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $30 Get Deal

You can't go wrong with a good pair of earbuds. Especially a good pair that doesn't break the bank. And that's exactly what we've found with the Soundcore C40i earbuds. Not only are they at a great price (and currently on sale), but they also benefit from a handy open ear design. This means they sit just outside your ear, so you can listen to music and podcasts while still remaining aware of your surroundings.

As of May 20, these earbuds are only $89.99 for Prime members — a great deal for a brand as impressive as Soundcore. So, what's so special about them? Well, these earbuds are built for all-day comfort with an open-ear clip-on design. And they offer spatial awareness, keeping things airy and secure.

SEE ALSO: The Soundcore AeroClip earbuds are down to their lowest-ever price at Amazon

With soft TPU joints and memory titanium wire, they flex to fit your ears and stay put, even through intense workouts. Calls and voice notes will be clear with the AI-enhanced mic tech, and the physical buttons on each earbud makes changing tracks or adjusting the volume super easy.

All this for under $100? Head to Amazon to get this great earbud deal.

The best Memorial Day deals you can get right now, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

The Soundcore AeroClip earbuds are down to their lowest-ever price at Amazon

Mashable - 9 hours 38 min ago

SAVE $40: As of May 20, the Soundcore AeroClip earbuds are on sale for $129.98 at Amazon. That's a 24% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore AeroClip $129.98 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $40.01 Get Deal

We're always on the hunt for deals on some of the best earbuds and headphones here at Mashable, and this latest Amazon discount on the Soundcore AeroClip earbuds is something that really caught our eye. As of May 20, these earbuds are reduced by $40, down to $129.98. This is also the lowest price they have ever been. They come in three colors: rosy brown, midnight, and champagne mist.

If you're serious about good sound, then the Soundcore AeroClip earbuds are perfect. Boasting high-resolution audio, punchy bass, and a 12mm titanium-coated driver, they deliver a very rich sound for an open-ear design. Open-ear designs are perfect for outdoor use. They let you listen to music without blocking your ear canals, keeping you aware of your surroundings.

SEE ALSO: Ozlo Sleepbuds review: Can earbuds really improve your sleep?

They’re also built with comfort in mind, making sure there's no pressure in your ears, just a secure, clip-on fit. The open-ring design is flexible and durable, so they stay in place whether you’re out walking or just wearing them all day. And when it comes to calls, you’re covered. AI noise reduction keeps your voice clear, even with wind or background noise.

Top tip: For the best experience, make sure the Soundcore app is up to date.

Grab this great audio deal from Amazon.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

This budget-friendly robot vacuum just got even cheaper — save $230 on the eufy L60

Mashable - 9 hours 42 min ago

SAVE $230: As of May 20, the eufy L60 Robot Vacuum is on sale for $319.99 at Amazon. That's a 42% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: eufy Eufy L60 Robot Vacuum $319.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $230 Get Deal

Robot vacuums are massively helpful devices for any home. But to get something that actually does all the heavy lifting, you usually need to fork out a lot of money. That's where this Eufy L60 robot vacuum deal comes in. This impressive device has enough power to pick up the most stubborn dirt and pet hair, all with a lower price tag than you'd expect.

Oh, and did we mention that it's on sale right now? As of May 20, this robot vacuum is reduced to $319.99, saving you $230 on list price.

SEE ALSO: The best robot vacuums and mops of 2025 so far, tested hands-on at home

One of our favorite features of this robot vacuum is its low maintenance — it basically takes care of itself. It empties its own bin into a 2.5 litre dust bag at the self-empty station, which means you can go up to two months without thinking about vacuuming at all. With strong 5,000 Pa suction, it handles everything from crumbs to pet hair in a single pass, so your floors actually feel clean.

The navigation is also smart. Using laser mapping, it figures out the layout of your home and moves efficiently from room to room. Through the app, you can even tell it which rooms to clean, create no-go zones, or map multiple floors. It also handles hair without needing you to pull strands off the roller brush thanks to built-in detangling tech.

Grab this great deal from Amazon.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

Stephen Colbert hits back hard at Trump for Taylor Swift post

Mashable - 9 hours 42 min ago

Taylor Swift has become the latest celebrity for Donald Trump to have a tantrum about, and Stephen Colbert isn't having any of it.

During Monday's Late Show, the host brought up a recent Truth Social post in which the President of the United States wrote derogatory comments about the pop star.

"First of all, sir, keep my best friend Taylor Swift's name out of your filthy nugget hole. Second, it's possible people are talking about her a little less these days because her 149-day Eras Tour ended six months ago," says Colbert in the clip above, before launching into his trademark Trump impression. "Have you noticed how she hasn't gone to Kansas City Chiefs games since February? Am I the only one? Also, Taylor hasn't gotten a single Christmas present all spring. Santa hates you, Tay-Tay."

Gulf Deal-Making Spree Also Benefited Elon Musk and His Family

NYT Technology - 9 hours 45 min ago
The world’s richest man inked new deals as he tagged along on Trump’s tour of the Gulf.

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