Feed aggregator

Apple's Siri is becoming an app.

If that may sound strange to you, consider that Apple's smart assistant has always been available at the touch of button or a voice command, but it never really had the "body" of a standalone app you can launch and interact with. This, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, is changing in iOS 27.

The report claims that Apple is "testing" a standalone Siri app, as well as a new "Ask Siri" feature, which will be available across Apple apps.

The idea is to make Siri (which is codenamed Campo) more like chatbots from companies like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, which are all available as apps you can chat and interact with in other ways.

In particular, users will be able to keep a conversation with Siri through text and voice, just like you can with, say ChatGPT or Claude. Siri will also be able to use your personal data, including messages, emails, and notes, to fulfil user requests, as well as complete tasks within apps, search the web, and access the news.

Apple is reportedly planning to unveil the new features during the opening WWDC keynote on June 8. Apple itself said the keynote will introduce "AI advancements" on Apple platforms, without going into detail.

SEE ALSO: Apple WWDC 2026 is official, with iOS 27 and 'AI advancements' on the menu

Gurman previously said that Apple initially didn't intend to turn Siri into a chatbot with its own app, opting instead to weave Siri into its apps and services. But the popularity of chatbots, including those integrated into Android phones from Google, Samsung, and others, made Apple reconsider and go for a standalone Siri app.

As excellent as open earbuds are at letting you stay aware of the world while listening to music, they do come with the major trade off of offering no active noise cancellation. That is, until now.

Soundcore debuted the AeroFit 2 Pro earbuds at CES in January, marking the introduction of the first dual-form earbuds. Depending on the wear position, they let the user experience an open-ear bud or a noise-cancellation bud. In essence, they're the "¿Por qué no los dos?" of the earbud world.

SEE ALSO: The best open earbuds in 2026: These picks stay put, sound great, and keep you aware of the world

Of course, versatility can still come with trade-offs of its own. Namely, rather than excelling in one area, a product can be just OK in multiple areas. While I found that these Soundcore buds fell somewhat into that trap, the brand undeniably deserves its flowers for figuring out a way to combine an open and noise-cancelling earbud.

While they won't be for everyone, I do think there are people who will want to invest in this early iteration of an innovative design. Before we get into it and why, let's break down what these buds bring to the table.

Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro: Price and specs The AeroFit 2 Pro buds aren't like other open ear options out there. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Soundcore loves to make a quality product for a relatively affordable price, and the AeroFit 2 Pro earbuds are no exception. Through March 2026, they're available for a special intro price of $149.99, which will bump up to $179.99 following March 31.

Spec-wise, here's what you'll get:

• Battery life: Seven hours in open mode (34 hours in case), five hours with ANC mode (24 hours in case)

• ANC: Adaptive active noise cancellation

• Drivers: 11.8 mm composite material drivers

• Equalizer: 8 bands

• Spatial audio: Yes

• IP rating: IP55 water and dust resistance

• Connection: Bluetooth 6.1

• Mics: Four mics with AI

• Colors: Matte black, matte purple, gloss white

How dual-form open earbuds work

Dual-form earbuds sound like an obvious and great idea in principle, but how do they actually work in practice? Honestly, better than I expected.

The Soundcore companion app offers instructions on how to best wear the buds. Credit: Screenshot: Soundcore

The basic mechanism that makes these earbuds possible is an adjustable ear hook. In the first and second position, the body of the earbuds sits slightly above the ear canal, making them feel like a somewhat less obtrusive classic AirPods design. The ear hook helps keep them relatively secure in their position. When you're ready to switch to noise cancellation mode, you switch the ear hook into the four or five wear position, which brings the buds more flush against the ear canal.

At that point, they're still not a true in-ear bud — Soundcore calls them semi in-ear — but they're enough of one that active noise cancellation is actually possible. As such, the number three position for the ear hook can float the buds between being used in open or ANC mode.

Open versus... Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable ...in-ear wear looks almost indistinguishable. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The ear hook helpfully clicks into place, but I never quite got to the place where I could make these adjustments without thinking too hard. Still, at the longest, and the lowest point of my learning curve, it took all of roughly 45 seconds to get the earbuds into place. They felt slightly more secure in the ANC modes than the open ear modes, but they never straight-up fell out of place.

Surprisingly great sound

At this point, I've had my share of being pleasantly surprised by the sound quality on open earbuds, so while my expectations weren't low, I did have a couple of initial hesitations about this particular pair. For one, if the earbuds sounded markedly better on the ANC mode, I anticipated that contrast might reveal too many flaws in the open earbud mode, and using them in both forms would be less appealing

There was also the matter of the semi in-ear wear for the ANC mode, which made me feel less confident in the ability of these buds to produce robust, well-rounded sound that I would expect of $180 earbuds.

Thankfully, I was wrong on both counts. While the ANC mode is clearer and richer, it's also not so much better as to put the open ear mode to shame. When listening solely on the ANC mode, I found the quality to be solid out of the box, and even better once I started playing around with the companion app. Soundcore took a page out of Sony's book with an equalizer preference test that lets the user adjust to their preferred equalizer settings without having to know what each band on the custom EQ might be doing. As the open ear mode and ANC mode are slightly different listening experiences, Soundcore also lets you set custom EQs for each.

The ANC versatility comes with a catch

For all my unfounded worries about the sound quality, I did come into this testing experience with higher hopes for the ANC. After all, I've tested Soundcore products before, and found that their ANC often stacks up against much pricier brands.

Unfortunately, the noise cancellation most showed that the AeroFit 2 Pro buds are Soundcore's first attempt at a dual-form earbud. That's not to say it's bad — it's there, and it does the job — but it's not going to compare to ANC buds in a similar price range, or even more budget-friendly buds like the $80 Raycon Everyday Earbuds or $80 (and frequently on sale) EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds.

SEE ALSO: Don't break the bank: The best budget earbuds, tested by our audio experts

The main culprits of this ANC's lackluster status are a noticeably loud hissing sound and a fairly narrow limit on what it can block. While sitting on a patio with the ANC activated and no music playing, I could easily make out birds chirping, the sound of my own typing, and every word in a conversation taking place about 10 feet away from me. With music, naturally, more noise was dulled, but not completely blocked out. They still performed better at blocking out sound than the noise reduction feature of the Shokz OpenFit Pro, but didn't quite match up to most other noise-cancelling buds I've tried.

Still, it was convenient not having to carry around two different kinds of earbuds. If high-level noise cancellation isn't a top priority for you, the versatility of these buds does still carry a lot of mileage in how impressive they are.

Let's talk about the design

While the design is undeniably innovative, it's not seamless just yet. If you don't love the way standard AirPods wear (not the Pros with the silicone tips), you probably won't be a huge fan of these. It doesn't matter so much in the open earbuds mode, but when worn in their ANC positions, these earbuds don't provide that perfect seal.

To be fair, they don't claim to — as I mentioned above, Soundcore says these have a semi in-ear fit. The ear hook helps fight any annoyances with them falling out, but for true noise cancellation and the most secure wear possible, I prefer the ear hook/in-ear design of the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2.

Finally, the case on these earbuds is large. It's to be expected with this design, but even compared to other ear hook models, the case will have some bulk to it, which is something to be aware of if you were planning on slipping it in your pocket or taking it on the go.

The AeroFit 2 Pro (right) case is larger than their non-Pro counterpart. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable An excellent value

Regardless of their flaws, these earbuds wowed me, especially on the value front.

For comparison, Soundcore's regular AeroFit 2 buds — one of our favorite pairs of open earbuds (that feature zero noise cancellation) — run for $129.99. With the AeroFit 2 Pro priced at $179.99, the only way you could get a similar deal is by buying the older Soundcore AeroFits and $50 ANC buds. And you'd still lose out on the convenience factor of having a two-in-one product. Despite their middling ANC, I still consider these earbuds to be better than a $50 pair of ANC buds in their combination of sound performance, noise cancellation, and convenience.

The AeroFit 2 (left) vs the AeroFit 2 Pro (right). Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The next closest point of comparison is probably the noise-reducing Shokz OpenFit Pro, which will run you $249.95, while the viral Bose Ultra Open buds cost $299.99. And those aforementioned Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds? $249.99.

Are the Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro earbuds worth it?

For anyone interested in open earbuds, not quite ready to give up ANC buds altogether, and can't reasonably see themselves carrying around two pairs of earbuds, the Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pros are the best option available.

Sure, you make some concessions: the ANC won't be the best, and you're locked into an ear hook design. At the end of the day, I can't remember the last time I wore a pair of earbuds that felt this versatile — and I've tried my share of earbuds. While the early bird pricing of $149.99 is an absolute steal, I would still recommend these earbuds at their $179.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro $149.99 at Soundcore
$179.99 Save $30   Get Deal

What should be included in spring cleaning?

Most people can agree that a spring cleaning goes deeper than what's covered in a weekly tidying routine, even if there are differences in approach on a more granular level.

The list of corners in the home that haven't been touched in a while gets long quickly, and getting overwhelmed by your cleaning to-do list is a recipe for giving up on all of them. To avoid checklist decision paralysis, the first order of business in a spring cleaning is to clean up the checklist itself.

SEE ALSO: 'Why does my robot vacuum suck now?' Well, when's the last time you cleaned it?

Start by simply picking a task or two in each room that you know you've been putting off. The crusty inside of the microwave? The cat puke stain on the couch? The space underneath any piece of furniture? It could be as simple as de-cluttering your chaotic cabinet of cleaning products so that grabbing a cleaning spray or sponge isn't a big task in itself.

Astronomers are watching the birth of a solar system unfold right before them. 

A young nearby star has revealed a second giant planet forming inside its dusty space surroundings. Scientists confirmed the new exoplanet around the star, known as WISPIT 2, using powerful telescopes, including the European Southern Observatory, and advanced imaging techniques. 

The discovery adds to earlier evidence reported last year that the system already hosted one massive Jupiter-like gas giant. Together, the two worlds, WISPIT 2b and WISPIT 2c, sit inside a wide disk of gas and dust marked by bright rings and dark gaps — the kinds of features scientists often link to planet formation.

Directly spotting planets while they are developing is extremely difficult. By observing WISPIT 2, just 5 million years old, scientists have a case study to better understand how planetary systems — including our own — begin and evolve. Each new detection helps researchers test ideas about how giant planets grow and shape their environment.

"WISPIT 2 is the best look into our own past that we have to date," said Chloe Lawlor, lead author of the research at the University of Galway in Ireland, in a statement.  

SEE ALSO: Pilot didn't mind NASA's experimental plane doesn't have a front window

Following the discovery of PDS 70 and its orbiting worlds, WISPIT 2 is only the second system known where multiple giant planets are forming. 

In most cases, astronomers detect distant planets indirectly, by measuring how they tug on their stars or block starlight. Here, researchers can actually observe the planets themselves and study the light coming from them.

Astronomers have discovered a second exoplanet, WISPIT 2c, orbiting the young star, as shown in the inset image. Credit: ESO / C. Lawlor / R. F. van Capelleveen et al. composite image The discovery of WISPIT 2c

WISPIT 2c lies much closer to its star than the previously known planet. While the first planet sits at a distance roughly 57 times farther than Earth's distance from the sun, the second appears at about 14 times that distance. Even so, both remain far from their star compared to planets in our solar system.

They're also much heftier than anything in our own cosmic backyard. WISPIT 2b is five times more massive than Jupiter, and WISPIT 2c is double that, according to the new research, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.  

To confirm WISPIT 2c as a planet, the team used the Sphere instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope in Chile, which captured an image of the object, then followed up with the Gravity+ instrument on the VLT Interferometer: By splitting the planet's light into each color of the rainbow — a technique known as spectroscopy — scientists identified which gases were present.

The researchers saw signs of carbon monoxide, according to the paper. This chemical signature, along with the overall shape of the light spectrum, suggests the object is a young giant planet. It also makes it unlikely that what scientists have detected is just a random clump of cosmic dust.

Tracking the planet's position over time helped scientists rule out the possibility that it is a background object simply lining up by chance. Early measurements even hint at its movement, though more observations will be needed to confirm its orbit around the star.

"Finding two planets at such an early stage at the same time is almost like witnessing a rare twin birth," said Frank Eisenhauer, project leader of GRAVITY+, in a statement. "This shows that planetary systems do not develop one after the other, but in parallel — much like our own solar system once did."

Solar system in the making

The broader disk around WISPIT 2 adds to the intrigue. Multiple bright rings, gaps between them, and a central cavity all suggest that more planets could still be in the making. Some scientists speculate that systems like this may represent an early stage in the development of complex planetary families.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Researchers have noticed giant planets in several young systems seem to form at similar distances from their stars. This pattern raises the possibility of a Goldilocks region — i.e., not too hot or cold — where conditions favor the growth of massive worlds. For now, that idea remains tentative.

But future giant telescopes are expected to monitor WISPIT 2 closely, tracking planetary orbits, probing atmospheres, and watching the dusty disk's changes. A smaller gap farther out in the disk is another tempting place to look, Lawlor said.

"We suspect there may be a third planet carving out this gap," Lawlor said, "potentially of Saturn mass, owing to the gap's being much narrower and shallower."

TL;DR: Unblock Jerkmate from anywhere in the world with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

We can understand why some places would block access to porn sites. But sometimes, this feels a little unfair. Sometimes you simply want to access your favourite sites in peace, but you can't because the network doesn't allow it. This is frustrating, but you can bypass these online restrictions in just a few simple steps.

If you want to unblock porn sites like Jerkmate for free from anywhere in the world, we have the information you need.

How to unblock Jerkmate for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access porn sites like Jerkmate from anywhere in the world. Follow these simple steps to retain your online freedom:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Jerkmate

4. Access Jerkmate from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Jerkmate without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Jerkmate before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to your favorite site, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing online restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Jerkmate?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Jerkmate, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Unblock Jerkmate for free with ExpressVPN.

Cheers to BenDavid Grabinski. The writer/director of Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice takes a bold swing, combining elements of gangster movies and time-travel adventures to craft a comedy that's wildly unique. And he created the perfect way to introduce such an unexpected subgenre mash-up, with a high-energy performance from Ben Schwartz. 

The improv comedian reteams with his Sonic the Hedgehog co-star James Marsden in this dark sci-fi comedy. But the two won't share any scenes together. Instead, Schwartz channels his irrepressible verve into a full-throated performance of an undersung gem: "Why Should I Worry?" the Billy Joel single from Oliver & Company. Yes. This movie about gangsters and time travel begins with Ben Schwartz bopping around a warehouse, doing some sort of science-y stuff while singing his heart out to an upbeat track from the 1988 Disney adaptation of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, which reimagines all the characters as cats and dogs, most of them strays. 

Why? I had no idea. And that's actually the pleasure of Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice's opening. Even though I had a rough idea of the plot, I couldn't guess why this was the scene that kicked things off. It's inexplicable and funny. That was enough. And then the tone of the film shifts abruptly with a bit of jolting violence, and off we go on an adventure that is defiantly outside the box, and all the more thrilling for it. 

Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is a love-triangle thriller too.  Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, and Eiza González in "Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice." Credit: 20th Century Studios

Without any explanation of who the character played by Ben Schwartz is, this comedy surges forward to the welcome-home party for Jimmy Boy (Scream 7's Jimmy Tatro). The adored son of kingpin Sosa (Keith David) has just been released from a several-year stint in prison. But amid the festivities, resentments and secrets are festering. 

Mob wife Alice (I Love Boosters' Eiza González) tries to nuzzle up to her hitman husband Nick (Vince Vaughn), but he offers back only a low snarl. Little wonder she'll be ditching the party to hook up with Nick's longtime colleague Quick Draw Mike (Marsden). But their tryst will be interrupted by a surprise guest: Future Nick (Vaughn). You see, Present Nick has set in motion a plan for revenge that involves a masterful frame job and a hired gun known for eating his victims. But Future Nick regrets his choices, and so traveled back in time to prevent himself from committing this brutal payback. However, it's not just the aforementioned cannibal hitman that Nick and Mike and Alice have to face off against. It's also a legion of Saso's mobsters, and Present Nick, who is at best an inconsistent ally. 

BenDavid Grabinski shakes up a typical gangster tale with a smart application of science fiction.  Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, and Eiza González in "Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice." Credit: 20th Century Studios

This is perhaps less surprising considering that Grabinski developed Scott Pilgrim Takes Off alongside comic author Bryan Lee O'Malley. That sensational Netflix show used a time-travel plot twist to spin the familiar narrative of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World into a series of curious and hilarious alternate plot lines that uncovered unexpected aspects of the franchise's beloved and loathed characters. 

Now, in gangster dramas jealousy and infidelity are major themes, popping up in The Godfather Trilogy, Goodfellas, The Sopranos, The Departed, Gangs of New York, Casino, and many, many more. Within the genre, male mobsters are expected to have molls on the side. But if their wives even consider stepping out on their wedding vows, the assumed punishment is death and probably being buried in an unmarked grave.

Through the time-travel device, Grabinski not only inverts the standard plotline but also gives Nick space to face the consequences of his actions. What if playing into these macho ideas of revenge isn't actually what he wants? This brings an unexpected sense of reflection to the mobster tale, turning an internal conflict into an external one. Where Future Nick is looking to heal and not hurt others, Present Nick is still very in the feelings that push him into a murderous betrayal of his wife and friend. Vaughn plays both parts elegantly, bringing a scorching viciousness to Present Nick and a high-energy humility to Future Nick. There are moments where he is a one-man comedy duo, colliding with comedic conflict. 

Marsden and González take a back seat to Vaughn's double-act but offer terrific supporting turns. For Marsden, that means playing an adorable dum-dum who argues that "chloroform" is a too-fancy term for "the wet rag thing." When pitted against Vaughn in comically confusing fight scenes, Marsden masterfully matches his energy, turning each pratfall into a punchline. González's role is less ripe for comedy, as Alice too often becomes the nagging wife, poking holes in plans or snarking at bad logic. But González has great chemistry with Marsden, which elevates simple-on-paper scenes, like a meet-cute flashback that leads to a charming dance number. 

Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is stuffed with stellar supporting players.  Jimmy Tatro as Jimmy Boy in "Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice." Credit: 20th Century Studios

On top of his singing non sequitur setting up the buck wild nature of this comedy, Schwartz's opening scene also teases that Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice will deliver a terrific slate of comedy stars. Tatro is solidly funny as a dopey gangster whose fashion icon is Dwayne Johnson from his throwback fanny-pack era. David is delicious as a seething kingpin. Schitt's Creek's Emily Hampshire pops up as a dirty — and dirty-minded — cop, while Lewis Tan scores some laughs as a kinetic goon called Roid Rage Ryan. Arturo Castro, who stole scenes in Jake Gyllenhaal's Road House remake and Tron: Ares, is absolutely hilarious as a rambling mafioso, rightly nicknamed Dumbass Tony. Consummate character actor Stephen Root joins the fun for some mirthful mayhem, and even Dolph Lundgren pops by for a sprinkle of comically rich intensity. 

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Altogether, this crackling cast makes for an outrageous good time. Grabinski's screenplay smartly sets up not a familiar framework, but a sandbox where his ensemble is invited to play. What they collectively come up with is an action-comedy that delivers on laughs and thrills, but also does much more. The sci-fi elements shake up the standard gangster drama, allowing for mind-bending reveals and a surprisingly sophisticated psychological self-awareness about regret, grief, and love. By breaking from the typically stern tone of a gangster story, Grabinski is able to fold in unexpected and silly pop culture references, like Oliver & Co. and a prolonged debate about The Gilmore Girls. Rather than feeling random, these allusions build the world of Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice as one that's rich with possibility. So even as the final act takes an arguably cheap shot to a happy ending, you may well shrug it off with a "why not?" because it's just that fun. 

Debuting out of SXSW, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice played to critics among an array of audacious films, including the I Love Boosters, Hokum, and Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. Yet it stood its ground by smoothly blending genres to create a crowd-pleasing romp that's twisted, hilarious, and truly surprising.

Reviewed out of SXSW, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice debuts on Hulu on March 27. 

The best Big Spring Sale streaming deals at a glance: Best streaming deal Paramount+ Premium $2.99/month for 2 months (save $22) Get Deal Best music streaming deal Spotify Premium free for 3 months (save $38.97) Get Deal Best streaming device deal Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $17.99 (save $22) Get Deal

With the now regularly recurring price hikes across the board, we could all benefit from some discounts on streaming services. While the best time of year to score a great streaming deal is hands down Black Friday season, any major sale or shopping holiday tends to offer at least a few discounts. And Amazon's Big Spring Sale (officially running March 25-31 in 2026) is holding true to that notion. While the overall number of streaming deals is no match for Black Friday, we'll certainly take any discounts we can get.

I'll be keeping an eye out throughout the Big Spring Sale for any new deals that pop up and will update this story with the latest. For now, here are the best streaming deals live during the sale. I've also included deals on streaming devices like Fire TV Sticks, as well as some evergreen streaming deals I think are worth grabbing.

Best streaming deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ Premium $2.99/month for 2 months (save $22) Get Deal Why we like it

On the surface, this is the same offer as the streamer's Black Friday deal. However, because Paramount Plus hiked its prices in January, this Big Spring Sale discount actually saves you more money. It now costs $13.99 per month for the ad-free Premium plan and $8.99 per month for the ad-supported Essential plan. Through March 31, you can lock in two months of either plan for only $2.99 per month. That saves you $22 if you choose the Premium plan (why wouldn't you?). Both new and ex-subscribers are eligible for this deal and its valid on Paramount+ as a standalone service or on the Prime Video add-on.

Psst. It's also worth mentioning that an extra discount code is floating around that could potentially knock the price down to just 99 cents per month for two months. However, it appears to work for some folks and not others. Try adding the additional promo code BG2L7M at checkout to see if you're one of the lucky ones.

Best music streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Spotify Spotify Premium free for 3 months (save $38.97) Get Deal Why we like it

If you've never tried Spotify Premium before, you can snag three free months of the music streaming service through March 31. Typically, it costs $12.99 per month, so you'll keep nearly $40 in your pocket with this deal. A Premium account unlocks ad-free listening, the ability to download music for offline listening and collaborate with friends in real time, 15 hours of audiobook time, and lossless audio. Plus, you'll get weekly listening stats and, should you choose to keep your subscription, access to the famous Wrapped stats.

Already tried Spotify Premium? Amazon Music Unlimited is also offering three free months of its streaming service through March 31. It regularly goes for $11.99/month for Prime members and $12.99/month for non-Prime members, so you can save up to $38.97 with this deal. Besides unlimited music streaming, you'll also get access to one audiobook per month.

Best streaming device deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00   Get Deal Why we like it

The newest Fire TV Stick, the 4K Select, is the first streaming device in Amazon's lineup to shake things up in awhile. While it still offers the same plug-and-play design you know and love, it features a brand-new operating system called Vega. Given how laggy the previous operating system could be on Fire TV Sticks, we're pretty excited about this change. It also offers support for Alexa+, Amazon Kids+, Amazon Luna, Xbox Game Pass, and NordVPN, and delivers 4K quality with HDR10+ support. During the Big Spring Sale, it's already down to just $17.99 instead of $39.99. Although, it's worth noting that we saw this streaming stick drop to a surprisingly low $9.99 in the past.

More Amazon Big Spring Sale streaming deals

• Amazon Music Unlimited — free for 3 months $12.99/month (save $12.99/month)

• France Channel (Prime Video add-on) — $1.99/month for 2 months $7.99/month (save $6/month)

• Paramount+ Premium (Prime Video add-on) — $2.99/month for 2 months $13.99/month (save $11/month)

• Starz Semi-Annual Plan — $19.99 for 6 months $45.99 for 6 months (save $26)

• YouTube TV — $67.99/month for 3 months $82.99/month (save $15/month)

More Amazon Big Spring Sale streaming device deals

• Roku Streaming Stick HD — $17.99 $29.99 (save $12)

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — $24.99 $49.99 (save $25)

• Roku Streaming Stick Plus — $29 $39.99 (save $10.99)

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max — $34.99 $59.99 (save $25)

• Roku Streaming Stick 4K — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)

• Roku Ultra — $79 $99.99 (save $20.99)

• Google TV Streamer 4K — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)

• Amazon Fire TV Cube — $99.99 $139.99 (save $40)

Evergreen streaming deals worth grabbing

• Apple TV and Peacock Premium bundle — $14.99/month $23.98/month (save $8.99/month)

• Apple TV and Peacock Premium Plus bundle — $19.99/month $29.98/month (save $9.99/month)

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max (with ads) — $19.99/month $34.97 (save $14.98/month)

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max (no ads) — $32.99/month $56.47 (save $23.48/month)

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited — $35.99/month $53.97 (save $17.98/month)

• ESPN + Fox One bundle — $39.99/month $49.98/month (save $9.99/month)

• Fubo Sports — $45.99 for your first month $55.99 (save $10/month)

• MGM+, Starz, AMC+ (Prime Video add-ons) — $21.99/month $29.97/month (save $7.98/month)

• Peacock Premium — free with $98 Walmart+ subscription (save $109.99/year)

Last-chance deals on last-gen tech: Best Apple deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $999 (save $200) Get Deal Best headphones deal Sony WH-1000XM5 $278 (save $121.99) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Eufy X10 Pro Omni $499.99 (save $200) Get Deal Best Fitness Tracker Deal Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm) $499 (save $300) Get Deal

Got spring cleaning on your mind? So does Amazon: The retail giant is putting last-gen tech on sale at deep discounts during the Big Spring Sale (March 25 to 31), its main seasonal savings event, to clear out its remaining inventory.

Older versions of some of our favorite gadgets are currently on sale there for record-low prices (or close to them). The zippy M4 MacBook Air? Up to $150 cheaper than the iterative M5 version Apple announced this month. The superb Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones? Only $278, or $120 less than the newer, also-on-sale WH-1000XM6s, which just add folding ear cups and marginally better sound quality.

We'll be updating this list of past-gen tech deals with more offers as Amazon's Big Spring Sale continues, so check back soon. In the meantime, this is your chance to clean up with last-chance deals on last-gen gadgets.

Smartwatch and fitness tracker deals

• Garmin vívoactive 5 — $174.28 $299.99 (save $125.71)

• Google Pixel Watch 3 (WiFi, 45mm) — $179.99 $299.99 (save $120)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (Bluetooth, 40mm) — $199.99 $249.99 (save $50)

• Garmin Venu 3S — $357.99 $449.99 (save $92)

• Apple Watch Ultra 2 — $499 $799 (save $300)

Headphone and earbud deals

• Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds — $248 $329.99 (save $101.99)

• Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones — $278 $399.99 (save $121.99)

• Apple AirPods Max (1st Gen, USB-C) — $449.99 $549 (save $99.01)

Tablet deals

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi + Cellular, 128GB) — $549.99 $749 (save $199.01)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WIFi, 1TB) — $979 $1,099 (save $120)

Laptop deals

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $949 $1,199 (save $250)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $949 $1,199 (save $250)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,149 $1,399 (save $250)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,299 $1,599 (save $300)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,799 $1,999 (save $200)

• Asus ROG Strix G18 (AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,394.99 $1,699.99 (save $305) + free Crimson Desert code

Robot vacuum deals

• Eufy X10 Pro Omni — $429.99 $699.99 (save $270)

Refurbished deals

• Google Pixel Buds Pro — $114.99 $199 (save $84.01)

• Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Red Joy-Con — $215 $323.95 (save $108.95)

• Nintendo Switch OLED — $279.99 $364.99 (save $85)

• Google Pixel Fold (Renewed) — $419 $1,799 (save $1,380)

Have a Visa gift card that you keep forgetting to use? 'Tis the season to break that bad boy out. You'll be able to squeeze way more out of those free funds if you shop during Amazon's Big Spring Sale, which officially runs from March 25-31 in 2026. With major deals on everything from Amazon devices and Apple gadgets and TVs to laptops, you can stretch your Visa gift card and get more bang for your buck. But how do you actually use it to shop on Amazon?

Adding a Visa gift card on Amazon isn't the process that you'd expect. While it is technically a gift card, it can't be registered as a gift card like an official Amazon gift card would. Instead, you'll have to register the gift card like you would register a legit Visa debit or credit card to start using it as a payment method. If you're unsure how to go about it, we've got your back.

SEE ALSO: How to check or reload your Amazon gift card balance How to add a Visa gift card to make purchases on Amazon

The process might seem complicated, but follow these simple steps and you should have no issues:

1. Go to Amazon on your phone, tablet, or computer and find your Account tab. On the mobile app, your Account lives in the little person icon at the bottom of the screen and in the three horizontal lines at the bottom right side of the screen. On a web browser, hover over Accounts & Lists at the top right corner of the webpage, then select Account from the dropdown menu that appears.

2. Once there, scroll to find the Your Payments tab. This option will take you to your digital wallet where you can view your added payment methods.

3. Click on Add a payment method. Because the gift card is a Visa, it functions like a regular debit or credit card, so scroll down to the credit or debit cards category to add the new card.

4. You'll then be prompted to add the necessary card information like the card number and expiration date.

5. Then, it'll ask for the Billing Address. Prepaid Visa gift cards aren't tied to a name or address, so you won't actually receive a billing statement. You can add your own address to be quick, or call the customer service number to get the card issuer's address.

SEE ALSO: Walmart vs. Amazon: Which retail giant has the best deals?

There are a few caveats to consider when using a Visa gift card on Amazon. First, not all Visa gift cards may work as debit or credit cards on Amazon. Some may require users to use a CVV to authorize a purchase. Since Amazon doesn't ask for this information while adding payment methods, these Visa gift cards might not go through.

Also, Amazon doesn't allow users to combine multiple cards for a single transaction. This means that you can't cover your total with two Visa gift cards, or use up the remaining gift card balance as a partial payment and cover the rest with another credit or debit card. Be sure to keep an eye on your cart total as you chip away at it during your Black Friday shopping. Your total order cost (including shipping and taxes) can't exceed the gift card balance.

There is, thankfully, a workaround for tracking that Visa gift card balance. You can use the Visa gift card to add or reload funds on an Amazon gift card, which you can then apply toward future Amazon purchases. Once you add a Visa gift card as an Amazon payment method to your account by following the steps above, you can purchase an Amazon gift card for the full amount of the Visa gift card balance (taking into account any fees the Visa card may deduct upon use), or follow these steps to access your existing Amazon gift card balance and reload funds.

Opens in a new window Credit: Visa Add a Visa gift card to your Amazon account   Learn More

SAVE $80: As of March 25, the Kindle Colorsoft is on sale for $169.99 in the Amazon Spring Sale. That's a 32% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Kindle Colorsoft $169.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $80   Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale has officially kicked off and there are deals aplenty to be found, including on Amazon's own devices. There are plenty of great Kindle deals live right now (like this one on the classic Paperwhite), but if you've been eyeing up the Colorsoft, you're in luck.

As of March 25, this Kindle has dropped in price from $249.99 to $169.99. That's a saving of $80 on list price, and the lowest price this model has ever been. This price is for the black, 16GB Kindle, and it comes without any ads.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

This Kindle features a 7-inch high-contrast display designed for reading in color (as the name might suggest), as opposed to black and white like other devices. It has a paper-like finish that makes book covers and pages look as close to real as possible, while still remaining easy on your eyes.

It supports color highlighting in multiple shades, allowing you to mark your favorite passages and quotes as you read. The display can also be adjusted from white to amber to make reading comfortable in both bright and low-light conditions. One charge can last up to eight weeks, and because it's waterproof, it is safe for use in the bath or by the pool.

Get this Kindle deal at Amazon now.

At this point, iPads can do (almost) anything your laptop can do thanks to iPadOS 26. Not to mention, the iPad Air with M4 just got a memory boost up to 12GB, putting it a tier above some laptops. 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 M4 iPad Air (2026). It has exceptional performance but is also in the middle range for both price and capability.

SAVE UP TO $250: During Amazon's Big Spring Sale, M4 MacBook Airs start at just $899 at Amazon. Our recommendation? Grab the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) while it's only $949, a 21% discount and a record-low price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $899 at Amazon
$999 Save $100   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $949 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $250   Get Deal

Apple's new M5 MacBook Air is here, and it's very good, but very iterative (shocker). All variants of it are $50 off at Amazon during its Big Spring Sale, live through March 31. But if you want to save way more on an effectively identical laptop, grab last year's MacBook Air with the M4 chip instead. Amazon still has some configurations in stock, and they're on sale for up to $300 off right now.

One of the cheapest options that's still available is a 13-inch M4 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage (the same specs you get in the M5 base model, now $1,049). It usually retails for $1,199, but it's marked down to just $949, or $250 off. That's its lowest price on record; Amazon last offered the same deal in December, according to the price-tracking site camelcamelcamel.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Big Spring Sale is back: The best deals already live on Apple, robot vacuums, headphones, and more

Note that Amazon's $949 pricing only applies to the sky blue color (the others are sold out there), but Best Buy was price-matching it in silver at the time of writing. If you really want the midnight one, B&H Photo has it listed for $1,049 (or $150 off). You can also grab the version with 256GB of storage for $899 at Amazon, though that's not a record price.

So, what are you missing out on by choosing an M4 MacBook Air instead of the M5 version? Not much: In our testing, the newer model's chip was only seven percent faster than its predecessor in both single-and multi-core scenarios, a difference you won't notice IRL. (Single-core workloads involve basic tasks like web browsing, while multi-core workloads are heavier lifts like video editing.) The M5 MacBook Air also supports newer WiFi and Bluetooth standards, so it's a tad more future-proof.

But processor and wireless connectivity aside, the M4 MacBook Air is the same laptop for less money. Here's a quick rundown of its components:

• 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display with a 2,560 x 1,664-pixel resolution, 500 nits of brightness, and a 60Hz refresh rate

• Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID

• 12MP Center Stage webcam with Desk View support

• Four-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos support

• Three-mic array

• Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports plus a headphone jack

• Up to 18 hours of video playback per charge

Want a bigger screen or more RAM and storage? Check out my full list of the best MacBook deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale to see some other options.

SAVE $90: As of March 25, the DJI Mini 4K drone is down to its lowest-ever price of $209 at Amazon. That's $90 off the list price of $299.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 4K Drone $209 at Amazon
$299 Save $90   Get Deal

A drone is one of those awesome tech items that everyone wants to try, but the prices usually fly too far out of reach. That’s exactly why we love sale events like the Amazon Big Spring Sale — it’s a chance to pick up those desirables while they’re at unusually low prices.

One drone deal that’s caught our eye today is on the DJI Mini 4K, a super choice for beginners and casual flyers while also equipped for 4K photography and video. As part of the Amazon Spring Sale, the DJI Mini 4K is priced at just $209. That’s a generous $90 off the list price of $299. According to camelcamelcamel, it's a record-low price.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

The DJI Mini 4K is little but mighty. It has a 4K Ultra HD camera that’s set on a 3-axis gimbal, allowing you to capture stunning, cinema quality imagery. It also boasts excellent wind resistance, plus a 10km transmission range. 

You get one-touch takeoff and editing, and a range of snappy QuickShot features for innovative, on-the-go footage. Everything’s controlled via the DJI Fly app and you’ll never have to worry about losing this drone — it has an automatic Return to Home function.

Don't miss your chance to land a great deal on the DJI Mini 4K.

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG: Mega Charizard X ex Ultra-Premium Collection listed for $189.47, which is $60.52 off its $249.99 list price and just $2.42 above the current market value.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG: Mega Charizard X ex Ultra-Premium Collection $189.47 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $60.52   Get Deal

The Amazon Big Spring Sale has kicked off with tons of deals on Apple products, gaming, Samsung, and even Pokémon, with plenty of new TCG offers well underway — including one of its best recent collector boxes dropping to market price territory.

As of March 25, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Charizard X ex Ultra-Premium Collection marked down to $189.47. Against its $249.99 list price, that works out to a discount of $60.52. More importantly for serious Pokémon TCG shoppers, it lands only $2.42 above the current $187.05 market value on TCGplayer. 

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Inside, this is still very much a big-ticket Charizard-themed product, including 18 Pokémon TCG booster packs in the box, along with two foil promo trading cards featuring Mega Charizard X ex and Oricorio ex. You also get 65 Mega Charizard X card sleeves, a matching playmat, a deck box, a metal coin, six damage-counter dice, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

The mixture of included booster packs is four Phantasmal Flames, four Mega Evolution, four Destined Rivals, four Journey Together, and two Surging Sparks. 

Individual booster packs for most of these expansions land between $12 and $15, so you’re not only saving up to $80.53 compared to buying these separately, but you’re getting all the promo cards and accessories included as a bonus. 

For other new Pokémon TCG deals, you can still preorder the Perfect Order Booster Bundle for under $60. What’s more, the Perfect Order Chikorita 3-Pack Blister is available to preorder for under $33. 

SAVE $25: As of March 25, the Kindle Paperwhite is on sale for $134.99 in the Amazon Spring Sale. That's a saving of 16% on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Kindle Paperwhite $134.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $25   Get Deal

How's your yearly reading challenge looking? If it's looking a little light, and you need a boost to kickstart your motivation, why not check out this latest deal on the Kindle Paperwhite? As of March 25, Amazon has kicked off its Big Spring Sale, with discounts appearing on everything from gaming tech to everyday essentials, and of course, Kindles.

Right now, the Kindle Paperwhite is down to $134.99 from $159.99, a saving of $25 and its best price in three months. This price is for the 16GB option, and it is available in three colors: black, jade, and raspberry.

SEE ALSO: The 7 best e-readers to buy: Comparing Kindles, Kobos, iPads, and more

The Kindle Paperwhite is truly a reader's best friend, designed solely for reading, so you won't find any social media apps or notifications. It comes with a 7-inch display with a higher contrast ratio and faster page turns, along with an ultra-thin design for portability. And if you're heading off on a sunny holiday, the glare-free screen makes sure you can read clearly in all different lighting environments. The display can also be adjusted from white to amber for comfortable reading.

For battery life, one charge via USB-C can last up to 12 weeks, and the device is waterproof, making it suitable for a pool vacation or relaxing in the bath.

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is live now, so don't miss out on this great Kindle deal.

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, OnePlus, and Microsoft. So, whatever your preferences, we've got a tablet to recommend.

What's new in this guide?

With ever evolving technology, this guide is never done. We're continuing to test new tablets for inclusion in this guide. At the end of 2025, we added the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 and the Samsung Galaxy S11 Ultra to this guide.

As of March 2026, we've updated this guide to include the iPad Air with M4 chip, replacing the previous Air model. We also added the iPad Pro (M5) as the best iPad for professionals, as well as the OnePlus Pad Go 2 as the best budget Android tablet.

We have more tablets in the testing pipeline and will be updating this guide with any standouts.

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.

Opens in a new window 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 spring 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 more than a year.

SEE ALSO: I tested the best Dyson Airwrap dupes under $300: The Shark FlexStyle is no longer your only option 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.

SEE ALSO: All the best Dyson beauty dupes we've tested

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.

SEE ALSO: All the best skincare tech that we tested and loved, and some that we didn’t

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.

SEE ALSO: Honest review of Ruggable: Are the washable rugs worth the price?

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 similarly 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 a 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.

Fortnite developer Epic Games laid off over 1,000 employees on Wednesday, cutting a significant chunk of its workforce. In an open letter sent to employees, founder and CEO Tim Sweeney cited financial pressures on the popular multiplayer game as the reason for the layoffs. 

SEE ALSO: Inflation comes to Fortnite: V-Bucks prices increase

"The downturn in Fortnite engagement that started in 2025 means we're spending significantly more than we're making, and we have to make major cuts to keep the company funded," Sweeney wrote in Wednesday's open letter. "This layoff, together with over $500 million of identified cost savings in contracting, marketing, and closing some open roles puts us in a more stable place."

While Sweeney did not share Fortnite's exact engagement numbers, statistics trackers Fortnite.GG and ActivePlayer.io report that the game's player count has significantly slumped in recent months. For over two years Fortnite's average daily player count surpassed one million every month, reaching a peak of 3.1 million in December 2023. This number fell to approximately 835,000 last September, dropping its average below one million players per day for the first time since June 2023. Player numbers have remained lower than typical in the months since, now struggling to breach one million. 

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

In his open letter, Sweeney stated that while the entire games industry is currently under strain, Epic Games is also facing specific challenges regarding Fortnite's return to mobile. Both Apple and Google removed Fortnite from their app stores in 2020 amidst antitrust disputes regarding in-game payments. In 2024, a new EU law forced Apple to reinstate Fortnite on iOS in Europe, with the app also eventually returning to U.S. iPhones in May 2025. Fortnite just made its global return to the Google Play store earlier this month, six years after initially being kicked off.

"Despite Fortnite remaining one of the most successful games in the world, we’ve had challenges delivering consistent Fortnite magic with every season; we're only in the early stages of returning to mobile and optimizing Fortnite for the world's billions of smartphones; and in being the industry's vanguard we have taken a lot of bullets in a battle which is only in the early days of paying off for ourselves and all developers," said Sweeney.

News of Epic Games' layoffs arrives just two weeks after the company raised prices for Fortnite's in-game currency V-Bucks, stating that the change was "to help pay the bills" after substantial increases in the costs of running the game. 

Epic Games previously laid off around 830 employees at the end of 2023, or 16 percent of its workforce. At the time, Sweeney stated that there would be no more layoffs following this, and that the cuts would "financially stabilize the business." Sadly, this no longer seems to be the case. 

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

Sweeney specifically noted that Epic Games' most recent layoffs have nothing to do with AI, indicating that it isn't using the tech to replace employees. Developers and players alike have expressed concern about artificial intelligence in the video game industry, with a recent report finding that one in five new games on Steam use generative AI. In January, publisher Ubisoft announced it is making "accelerated investments behind player-facing Generative AI" amidst ongoing layoffs, while NVIDIA received severe backlash last week for an AI-powered rendering model which players labelled an "AI slop filter."

"Since it's a thing now, I should note that the layoffs aren't related to AI," said Sweeney. "To the extent it improves productivity, we want to have as many awesome developers developing great content and tech as we can."

Still, it's likely cold comfort for all the developers who have been suddenly put out of a job this week. Laid off Epic Games employees will receive at least four months' base pay, as well as extended healthcare coverage.

The video game industry has been plagued with layoffs in recent years, with big publishers such as Ubisoft, Electronic Arts, PlayStation, and Xbox all making significant cuts as well. Unfortunately, it seems as though the mass layoffs won't be easing off any time soon.

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

SAVE $400: As of March 25, the Apple Watch Series 9 is down to its lowest-ever price of $299 in the Amazon Spring Sale. That's $400 off the list price of $699.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 9 $299 at Amazon
$699 Save $400   Get Deal

If you’re looking for a tech upgrade — and let’s face it, who isn’t? — there’s no better time than the Amazon Spring Sale We’re scouring Amazon to help highlight the very best bargains. If it’s an upgraded smartwatch you’re after — specifically an Apple Watch — there’s a monster deal of the Apple Watch Series 9 right now.

The Apple Watch Series 9 is currently priced at just $299. That’s a massive $400 off the regular list price of $699. According to camelcamelcamel, that’s its lowest ever price by quite a way — more than $130 below its last record low price. But don't miss out: This Apple Watch Series 9 price is available for today only.

SEE ALSO: The best Apple Watch deals to shop ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale — save on Series 11 and SE 3 models

Though it's not the very latest generation of Apple Watch, the Series 9 isn’t far behind. For dedicated Apple users an Apple Watch is a no-brainer, of course, with seamless synchronicity and a fluid user experience across your Apple devices. 

The Series 9 is notable for introducing the brilliant Double Tap feature, giving you an all-new level of control over the watches many, many functions — which include on-board Siri and excellent health features — and boasts a souped-up S9 chip. The difference between this watch and its successor, the Series 10, generally rated as the best Apple Watch around, is marginal, so you can be sure that this Spring Sale discount really is a steal.

Don't miss out on this excellent deal at Amazon on the Apple Watch Series 9. For more Apple deals from the Amazon Spring Sale, check out our live hub.

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 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.

SEE ALSO: How we test headphones and earbuds 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

• March 2026: We removed the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds from this guide and added the Sony WF-1000XM6 as our new pick for the best noise-cancelling earbuds. The Bose QC Ultra 2 earbuds are now our most comfortable noise-cancelling earbuds pick.

• 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.