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Pet hair pickup isn't the only bullet point to consider

While every pet parent needs a vacuum to quell the pet hair situation, some vacuums can take on even more pet-related responsibilities. There are robot vacuums that can avoid pet waste and toys, robot vacuums with livestream pet cameras, and a robot vacuum that comes with its own portable carpet cleaner (now we just need Roborock to expand the Saros Z70's robotic arm capabilities to pet toy cleanup). Manual cordless vacuums come with their own advantageous flexibility, like the option to go handheld and extend cleaning to furry furniture and staircases. I use both types of vacuums daily and wrote a whole buying guide for anyone stumped between a robot vacuum and a stick vacuum.

Other vacuums I've tested recently

I tested several other top robot vacuums in the past two years that didn't make the most recent cut for this list. Some, like the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Roborock Qrevo Master, Narwal Freo X Ultra, and various versions of the Roomba j7, were my top recommendations at one point, but have since been overshadowed by newer, more powerful models that are a better bang for your buck. Most recently, in the last few months of 2025, I was impressed by the Roomba Plus 505 Combo, Plus 405 Combo, and Narwal Freo Z10 Ultra. They ultimately just weren't the most thorough vacuum cleaners in their price range.

New robot vacuums announced at CES 2026

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

How to choose a robot vacuum for pet hair

Let's dive a little deeper into the features that could make or break your experience with trusting a robot vacuum to clean up after pets.

Suction power and brush rolls

I recommend vacuums with at least 8,000 Pa suction power for effective pet hair pickup, though homes with heavy carpeting and more than two pets should consider suction power of at least 12,000 Pa. But the brush roll system is nearly just as important when choosing a vacuum for pet fur. In my testing, vacuums with dual brush rolls are far more effective. For reference, the most powerful robot vacuums in 2025 ranged between 20,000 and 30,000 Pa of suction power, and new robot vacuums coming out in 2026 bump that up to 35,000 Pa.

Automatic emptying

Pet parents should definitely opt for a self-emptying robot vacuum — so much fur being sucked up will lead to a full dustbin faster, and you won't feel like emptying it yourself every day. Even with daily usage, an auto-empty robot vacuum can last between one and three months before you need to empty the dustbin.

Mopping

If hardwood or tile is prevalent in your home, the best robot vacuum and mop combo for pet hair will be able to sanitize the floor while mopping and then wash its own mops to rinse off any lingering hair. Mopping is also much more likely to effectively wipe up other minuscule pet-related debris, like pet dander and kitty litter dust, that are too small to be inhaled by a vacuum's suction power.

Smart mapping

Some rooms or spots on the floor within those rooms get furrier than others. A smart mapping robot vacuum learns the layout of your home and can head to specific zones on command, which you can queue up right from the app. In my opinion, smart mapping is the most worthwhile robot vacuum feature, and should be a baseline even when searching for a cheap model — cleaning performance is a moot point if the vacuum can't get where it needs to go in the first place.

Small obstacle avoidance

Some advanced robot vacuums use cameras and 3D sensors to pinpoint any small roadblocks in the cleaning path in front of them. When successful, these vacuums save themselves from eating most pet toys, cords, laundry, or socks or shoes, avoid ramming into pet bowls, and even dodge pet waste.

What's in a name? It turns out Cosori was right to call its new $249 air fryer the "Iconic." With a polished stainless steel design, versatile cooking functions, and generally useful smart features, it's basically the Cadillac of basket air fryers. But that's not the only reason I think it's worth the splurge after several months of testing.

Unlike many other air fryers, the Iconic doesn't contain any plastic components that can leach microplastics at high temperatures, and its basket isn't coated in harmful forever chemicals, or PFAS, including PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene, aka Teflon). As someone who's overly picky about kitchenware for the sake of myself and my pets — Teflon is super dangerous for my parrot — I have no qualms about firing up the Iconic on a regular basis.

Cosori Iconic Stainless Steel 6.5-quart Smart Air Fryer $249 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Cosori Shop Now at Best Buy Design and construction

Myriad air fryers have a stainless steel finish over black plastic construction, including other Cosori models, but the Iconic has a more premium build that's almost fully stainless steel inside and out. One exception is its basket handle, which is made from plastic only so you don't scorch your hand when you grab it. Most of its exterior gets hot to the touch when it runs on a higher setting for more than a few minutes.

There's no plastic in here. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Iconic's other non-stainless parts are its basket interior and metal crisper plate, both of which have a ceramic nonstick coating. According to a chemical disclosure statement by VeSync, Cosori's parent company, it doesn't contain any Teflon. (I'll mention here that Cosori's top-selling air fryer on Amazon, the $119.99 TurboBlaze, does use Teflon.) Anecdotally, I didn't notice any weird synthetic smells when the Iconic was running.

The Iconic has a tempered glass control panel. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Cleaner cooking aside, the Iconic's mainly stainless build makes a big aesthetic impact. It looks luxe and matches the other brushed stainless steel appliances in my kitchen. What's more, I was surprised to find that it doesn't cling to fingerprints very easily — unlike my stainless Samsung fridge, which is a smudge magnet. Any crumbs or food crud that gets on its surface is easy to erase with a dishcloth or a damp paper towel.

The Iconic's basket and crisper plate also wipe down nicely between food batches, and you can toss them in the dishwasher for a more thorough scrubbing at the end of a meal.

The Iconic STUNS in stainless steel. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

I'm usually very anti-countertop clutter, but the Iconic is so sleek that I can tolerate it sitting out. I also don't really have a choice because it's too big to fit in any of my cabinets. It weighs just over 14 pounds, stands about a foot tall, and has a footprint of about 15 by 12 inches, so it's a little bulky.

Cooking modes My Iconic creations. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

On the tippy-top of the Iconic, you'll find a glass touch control panel with six different cooking functions: Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Dry, Proof, and Reheat. Each function has its own temperature and time presets ranging from 90 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and one minute to 24 hours. They also have set fan speeds; Dry and Proof are basically inaudible, while Air Fry and Roast whir the loudest. I'd say they're still less than half as loud as my hair dryer, the Shark FlexStyle.

If you need a reminder to flip your food, you can press a separate Shake button that makes the Iconic beep a few times halfway through an Air Fry cycle. (It only works with that mode.)

I tried all of the Iconic's cooking functions, and they work wonderfully. Air Fry produced a slightly charred, still-pink cheeseburger and crispy fries without any oil. Roast caramelized a medley of broccoli and red onions without burning them. I used Bake to make some crusty-but-fluffy brownies, and Dry to dehydrate Honeycrisp apples and bell peppers (some snacks for the aforementioned parrot). Reheat warmed up leftovers without making them soggy; it's put my microwave out of business.

Sometimes you don't want to fire up the grill for a single burger. I literally get it. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

I even made whole wheat sourdough in the Iconic. The dough formed an unsightly crust on top after proofing for two hours, but it disappeared in the shaping/baking process and left me with a cute little loaf of very moist, very edible sandwich bread.

While ninety degrees is technically too hot for proofing sourdough, or really any kind of dough, this little loaf turned out fine. (Ugly and a bit over-proofed, but fine.) Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Iconic has a 6.5-quart basket, making it a good size for a small household. It comfortably fit a whole bag of fries, four single-serve brownies (in ramekins), and every sliced round of a fat apple (laid flat in one layer).

The Iconic is parrot-approved. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable Smart features

The Iconic supports smart controls via VeSync's mobile app if you connect it to WiFi, and they feel about 70 percent useful.

With the Cooking Functions feature, you can select settings from your phone and send them to the Iconic; they'll appear on its control panel in seconds. You can't actually start it remotely, but that's a safety feature. The app will show a timer once the cooking cycle begins and send you a notification when your food is ready.

The app will show you how much cook time is left. Credit: Screenshots via VeSync

If you're not sure how to cook a particular food, a Cooking Chart feature can suggest settings based on the serving size and "status" (i.e., whether a vegetable is chopped or meat is bone-in).

Get a little extra help from the app's Cooking Chart. Credit: Screenshots via VeSync

Hypothetically, you can also pull up settings by scanning bar codes on foods' packaging through the VeSync app, but it didn't work with most of the things I've tried. That includes Purdue popcorn chicken and every Trader Joe's snack I had in my freezer (hashbrown patties, falafel, breaded fish filets, and mozzarella sticks). I finally had luck with some frozen garlic breadsticks, which turned out well when I air fried them on the recommended settings — golden brown on the outside, soft on the inside.

Success. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The app contains a History list of your past cooking cycles in case you want to reuse settings. There's also an Achievements counter where you can see a weekly recap of your meals and any badges you've earned for cooking certain foods regularly. (I don't know anyone who would actually use this. Some things just don't need to be gamified!)

If you need some cooking inspo, there's a library of healthy air fryer recipes in the app under a Diet tab. It lets you add your own recipes and create shopping lists of ingredients.

Some alternatives

Other non-toxic, plastic-free air fryer options include the Ninja Crispi ($179.99), the Our Place Wonder Oven ($185 to $245, depending on the size), and the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer ($349.99). The Iconic is in the middle of the pack price-wise, but it has the best warranty: five years to everyone else's one.

For what it's worth, I also own and love the Crispi. It's easy to store and has glass baskets that double as storage containers for leftovers, though it has few settings and can't fit full bags of fries. Ninja's newer Crispi Pro has more settings, a bigger temperature range, and a larger basket than the original Crispi, but it costs $299.99. Neither model supports smart controls.

Cosori versus Crispi. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Our Place and Breville models are both oven-style air fryers that let you cook multiple trays of food at once, which is super convenient. But the Wonder Oven doesn't have a companion app, and the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer is expensive. Plus, its pizza pan has a Teflon coating.

If you're someone who likes traditional basket-style air fryers, wants smart features and recipe guidance, and you regularly feed at least two people, you'll probably prefer the Iconic over the competition.

Cosori Iconic Stainless Steel 6.5-quart Smart Air Fryer $249 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Cosori Shop Now at Best Buy

The leases on hundreds of thousands of battery-powered cars and trucks will end in the next three years, and many will end up on used-car lots.

Bungie is a world-class studio making some of the best first-person shooters in the world. In my initial hand-on piece on Marathon, I said the gunplay was impressive and the art direction enticing, but after fully playing through this title, I'm even more impressed — and that's no surprise.

From Halo all the way to Destiny, Bungie has a record of hits. For Marathon, the company brought back one of its older franchises to add to its shooter repertoire. It’s Bungie at its best and shows why the developer is still a top player in the video game space. From its incredible gunplay, level design, art direction, and soundscapes, there’s nothing quite like Marathon. 

Marathon takes place on the planet Tau Ceti IV, where human colonists have uploaded their consciousnesses to inhabit disposable cybernetic ones, turning them into “Runners.” As Runners, they constantly infiltrate Tau Ceti IV to scrounge up any resources, artifacts, and data to bring back to their factions. While Marathon doesn’t present its story front and center, the various factions are surprisingly interesting. It reminds me of Concord, where I actually found reading about its lore in the in-game encyclopedia much more fun than playing the actual game.

Credit: Bungie

In Marathon, there are six different factions to fulfill contracts with, and they all embody different aspects of Marathon’s universe. For example, the starting faction is Cyberacme, whose expertise is AI, while NuCaloric focuses on agricultural matters and basic needs. And the contracts that these factions dole out often have you playing Marathon in different ways. MIDA, the anarchist group, has you running around and triggering alarms. Sekiguchi, on the other hand, is the company behind the cybernetic shells and views Runners as experimental test subjects. Some of their contract requirements include taking a certain amount of fall damage. Marathon’s worldbuilding is told through clever gameplay and these factions.

Thankfully, Marathon has solid gameplay loops to back it up. It’s an extraction shooter, similar to ARC Raiders, where players jump into a map, collect items, and exfil out. If you’re an avid Destiny player, meaning that you’re used to going in guns blazing, Marathon will feel entirely foreign to you.

You’re limited in supplies, and any items that you bring with you or collect on the field will disappear if you die. You need to plan out your routes methodically and explore carefully in order to avoid fights at all costs. This creates a tense atmosphere of unpredictability that’s equally unnerving, yet exciting. Scattered across the field are both NPCs and other human players, and trust me, they’re hard. The robotic NPCs are durable, and other human players show absolutely no mercy. 

This makes Marathon feel so distinctly different from Halo, Destiny, and even ARC Raiders. If you try to take the NPCs in a gunfight, you’ll most likely get wiped, which is a stark difference from Bungie’s other shooters. In ARC Raiders, you’ll come across many friendly human players, but in Marathon, they won’t hesitate to just murk you. This contrast ultimately comes down to their themes. In ARC Raiders, humanity bands together to take on deadly machinations, while in Marathon, you’re at each other’s throats for scraps on Tau Ceti IV. It’s every Runner for themselves.

The way gunfights break out feels organic and leads to a lot of emergent moments, making Ceta Tau feel like such an oppressive but masochistically fun place to be. As expected of Bungie, the guns feel slick and impactful, making the moment-by-moment shootouts incredibly exhilarating.

Credit: Bungie

If you successfully exfil, then items that you bring back are automatically sold, and you can use the money to purchase guns and other equipment to give yourself an initial advantage when you deploy again. But don’t forget, you could very well die, even with your shiny new toys, and lose everything you brought with you.

This gives Marathon the “just one more fun” kind of loop. Even if you die, you never feel like you’re too far behind, and everyone feels like they’re on a level playing field. This is thanks to sponsored kits, which the factions provide to give you the most basic tools, like guns and healing supplies, to start a run. The downside is that you can’t use any other equipment. But even with the most rudimentary equipment, you can emerge successfully by playing well. Whenever that happens, there’s an immense sense of accomplishment when you exfil.

Looking at the Map Credit: Bunie Credit: Bungie

Marathon’s map design is impeccable as well. So far, there are four maps: Perimeter, Dire Marsh, Outpost, and Cryo Archive. Each of them is escalating in complexity, too. Perimeter is a fantastic starting point and is more beginner-friendly, as it has large, wide-open spaces. Dire Marsh increases the intensity a bit with fog and dense grasses, requiring you to be more careful. When a fight breaks out, it can be hard to figure out where bullets are raining down on you compared to playing in Perimeter. What I love about these two maps is that it’s easy to hop into them if you’re just looking to play a quick match.

Outpost is when things start to ramp up, as it's a smaller map with tighter corners. You’ll run into other human players much more often. Since players tend to have more valuable loot than the robot NPCs, the risk and reward ratio is higher. Plus, you’ll need to acquire special keyguards in order to get to the map’s center, the Pinwheel, where the most valuable loot is located. Unlike Perimeter and Dire Marsh, coming in with a communicative team will have you see higher levels of success than playing with randoms. If you’re really serious about Marathon, Outpost is a great way to test your skills — and your patience.

Credit: Bungie

But Marathon’s true test is its last available map, Cryo Archive. It's an unforgivingly cold and difficult labyrinth. To even access it, you need to equip gear with a total value of 5,000 credits, so you can’t just roll in there with a sponsored kit. And another kicker is that it’s only available to play on weekends. Basically, the idea of this is to play Marathon throughout the week to accumulate strong gear, and then head into the Cryo Archive when the weekend starts. And trust me, you’ll need to be as prepared as you can. Getting ready for this map shows how dedicated you are to Marathon, although the downside is that many casual players won’t ever get to feel how exhilarating and tense it is as the barrier to entry can be an issue.

In any case, Cryo Archive features an ingenious amount of level design. There are multiple clearance levels (up to level 5), and you’ll need to hack monitors and grab security tags off of players you kill. It’s such a complicated process that dwarfs anything you experience on Perimeter and Dire Marsh. You can’t even extract out the normal way as you would do in the other maps, either. You have to reach at least clearance level 3, and you’re also under a time limit. There’s a certain kind of satisfaction that goes into planning a Cryo Archive run. The winnings are astronomical, but the losses are just as extreme. Cryo Archive’s puzzle-like layout rivals that of Resident Evil Requiem’s care center puzzle-box. Even under a ton of pressure, I can’t help but marvel at the level design.

Going Back to the Future Credit: Bungie

What really ties Marathon together is the retro-futurism aesthetic that the game is going for. The font and menus look exactly like what Apple interfaces looked like in the ‘80s, deliberately referencing Marathon’s origins on Macintosh computers. The sound design is equally impressive. Audio cues are incredibly important in Marathon, as the ring of gunfire can give away your position. Even engaging in shootouts with the NPC robots is a risk. In the Cryo Archive, especially, you also need to be aware of the sound of your footsteps. Hearing the sound of glass breaking or the blaring alarms of a lockdown can really throw a wrench in your plans. Each run in Marathon is ever-changing, and it’s stunning how Bungie managed to pull this off with only four maps.

That being said, its biggest issues are its user interfaces and controls. They’re clunky as the similar actions don’t use the same input. For example, I’ll open up a box with the square button on my controller, yet I have to place the items from that box into my inventory with the X button. It messes with your brain and doesn’t feel intuitive. Even after dozens of hours playing, I still have to think about what to press sometimes. The font is hard to read too, even if you’re playing on a big screen. There are no options to increase the size or anything. Hopefully, that can be fixed in a later update.

According to Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead Games, “A game for everyone is a game for no one.” Marathon is the exact opposite of that. It won’t have the widespread appeal that Halo or Destiny does. But it showcases Bungie at its absolute best, putting all of its knowledge and skills to create something extraordinary.

The verdict: A satisfying slow burn

Marathon has exemplary gunplay, level and audio design, as well as top-tier aesthetics that keep your eyes glued to the screen. Even the lore got me interested in its factions and overall universe. It may not be for everyone. It’s a hardcore game, and if you can meet it on its own terms, you’ll have one hell of a time.

Marathon is now available on Steam, PS5, and Xbox.

NASA's Curiosity mission has found so many simple carbon-based molecules on Mars over the years that the discoveries may now seem altogether routine. 

Scientists know those ingredients matter because life on Earth depends on carbon, but the discoveries have often felt limited, like finding a few breadcrumbs without the loaf.

Now a new lab result from the rover suggests those earlier "crumbs" may have been fragments of something bigger: much more complex carbon material. That means a record of the planet's ancient, long-gone chemistry is locked inside Martian rocks, and scientists have a way to tap into it.

Curiosity ran a unique experiment on a rock sample it collected six years ago, using a special chemical and heat. The technique revealed 21 different organic molecules, the largest set found on the Red Planet so far, said Charles Malespin, the space agency's lead scientist for the rover’s chemistry lab.

The findings, published this week in Nature Communications, raise the stakes in the search for life on Mars. The study suggests the planet didn't just have scattered ingredients for biology on its surface. Mars actually managed to retain that material inside rocks for billions of years. That preservation doesn't prove the Red Planet was habitable, but it does point to past conditions gentle enough to protect complex carbon compounds — perhaps the same mild environment needed to support life itself.

"Before you can have life, you need an environment where that life can get what it needs to survive," Amy Williams, the paper's lead author from the University of Florida, told Mashable. "Our discovery not only expands the catalog of known molecules, but tells us that some of the building blocks for life as we know it on Earth were also present on Mars in the ancient past."

SEE ALSO: NASA's incredible new telescope will offer an 'atlas of the universe'

Among the cache were seven never-before-seen molecules on Mars, including a nitrogen heterocycle, a ring-shaped structure more complex than a simple carbon chain. Nitrogen stands out because it plays a central role in DNA and RNA on Earth, the molecules that carry genetic information for every organism.

These nitrogen heterocycles haven’t just been absent from previous Mars measurements — they've also never been found in Martian meteorites that fell to Earth, Williams said. She has called the discovery "profound."

NASA's Curiosity rover explores a clay-enriched area in Gale Crater on Mars. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS

Other detections included naphthalene and benzothiophene. Those compounds typically form when larger carbon structures break down, supporting the idea that the original material inside the rock was complex.

Living things could have produced these organic molecules, but scientists can't say that yet. Chemical reactions between water and rock can also create them. Still, researchers are encouraged because the detections show Mars' radiation, climate, and other harsh conditions didn't completely erase this raw material. That resilience bodes well for future experiments and missions: If life ever emerged on Mars, scientists may be able to detect molecules made by long-extinct alien microorganisms.

The sampled rock formed about 3.5 billion years ago in Gale Crater, a basin that once held water. If Mars ever developed life, or even came close, this kind of preserved material is where scientists would expect to find chemical traces of that attempt. The specimen came from a location nicknamed Mary Anning, after the English paleontologist.

The actual drill hole where Curiosity took the rock sample for the chemistry test is labeled Mary Anning 3 in this annotated image. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS

The rock’s clay-rich setting may explain how the chemicals survived. On Earth, clay can trap and protect organic material from breaking down. The same process appears to have worked on Mars.

For NASA to run the experiment, Curiosity used a solvent called tetramethylammonium hydroxide, or TMAH, in methanol. The rover mixed the liquid with powdered rock, allowing its instruments to more easily spot certain carbon-based compounds. The powerful testing technique gives scientists a closer look at subtle hints of life that standard tests might miss.

Curiosity’s onboard lab has carried only two small containers of this chemical for its entire mission. The team recently used the second and final cup, as Mashable previously reported. Between the first test in 2020 and the second one this year, scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center redesigned the experiment into a three-stage process to better mirror lab techniques used on Earth.

"We're really excited about seeing the results," Vasavada told Mashable in February. "These are quite complex analyses to interpret and understand, so it will take a few months for the team to be confident in knowing what they've found."

In a post-Omegle world, there are many one-on-one cam sites to consider. Thundr, OmeTV, Uhmegle — but none of these scratch the itch that a lot of users went to Omegle for: online sex. While most of these sites do have a large community of people utilizing them to bust a nut on the internet, they aren't marketed for that. DirtyRoulette is.

After its launch in 2010, DirtyRoulette quickly became a popular Omegle alternative for those looking to waste less time. Omegle became saturated with people who just wanted to chat, which was the site's intended use. Some just wanted to jerk off, which is why DirtyRoulette became a great space to do exactly that. And since its launch, DirtyRoulette has cemented itself as one of the most visited adult webcam sites on the internet.

SEE ALSO: I tried Sniffies and it made getting laid as a gay man almost too easy

But what is DirtyRoulette, and does it actually deliver on what it promises? It's time to find out.

How does DirtyRoulette work?

DirtyRoulette connects people from all over the world with one common desire: to get naked with strangers on webcam. The site doesn't pretend otherwise, either. Everything is branded for sex, which is honestly quite refreshing in comparison to other sites like Flingster, whose "About Us" section states the opposite when everyone on the site uses it for sex.

Funny enough, DirtyRoulette is actually powered by Flingster, so the format will feel familiar if you've ever used that site. Choose your gender, add tags if you want, and hit start. DirtyRoulette will pair you with a random stranger from around the world. And nine times out of ten, it will be a penis.

Because it is powered by Flingster, DirtyRoulette runs ads every few people. These ads aren't annoying and are easy to skip. You can sign up via Gmail or email, which, like Flingster, does nothing. If you want more, DirtyRoulette offers a paid VIP tier (found when you click the "Upgrade" button in the chat), the same account and pricing as Flingster:

• One week: $7.99/trial (rebills monthly at $29.99)

• One month: $19.99/month

• Six months: $14.99/month (rebills every six months at $89.94)

That said, accounts on DirtyRoulette are essentially pointless. The only change is that you will be able to filter by gender and country, which honestly doesn't change the game at all.

What gives DirtyRoulette the edge over Flingster is that this site is not intended for anything aside from sex. There's nothing confusing about it. Like, it's called DirtyRoulette. You'd have to live under a rock to not understand the context there.

Is DirtyRoulette free?

Yes, DirtyRoulette is free aside from the aforementioned service through Flingster VIP. DirtyRoulette works just as well without paying, and there's no real need to do so.

Is DirtyRoulette available on mobile?

Unlike Flingster, there is currently no way to download DirtyRoulette as an app on your phone. DirtyRoulette is fully accessible through your smartphone's browser, with everything available that you'd find on your desktop.

Is DirtyRoulette legal?

In the United States, yes, DirtyRoulette is legal for adults over the age of 18. That said, if you are trying to access DirtyRoulette in a different country, check your local laws first, as DirtyRoulette is not legal everywhere.

Keep in mind that although DirtyRoulette is an adult cam site intended for adults over the age of 18, there's a significant problem worth noting. DirtyRoulette prides itself on anonymity, meaning that there is no ID verification needed prior to accessing the site. Anyone can get on DirtyRoulette, and that's worth taking seriously. DirtyRoulette's FAQ states that if you suspect someone is underage, you can report it by clicking on the flag icon in a chat.

Is DirtyRoulette safe?

Generally, no, not really. But, when comparing DirtyRoulette versus Flingster, we'd say it has a slight edge over Flingster in that department. Why? As mentioned, DirtyRoulette is not trying to trick you into saying it's something else. It is an adult cam site. Essentially, it's porn. It doesn't pretend to be anything different, as Flingster does.

We have to reiterate that there is no ID verification, which keeps the site anonymous but does leave the door open for bad actors. You can be speaking to anybody.

Final thoughts on DirtyRoulette

Like any cam site, sexually-inclined or not, DirtyRoulette is to be accessed by those who are using their judgment. It's a simple site with a simple purpose, and for what it is, it does its job well. But the anonymity that makes it appealing is the same thing that makes it worth approaching with some common sense. If something feels off, it's off. Skip to the next person and continue having the fun you came there for. Just don't forget that there's a real person on the other side of that camera, for better or worse.

SAVE OVER $500: The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,049 at Amazon. That's over $500 off the list price of $1,599.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo $1,049 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $550   Get Deal

If someone tells you they know exactly what's going to happen with the drone market in 2026, they're lying.

There are so many uncertainties flying around right now, including legislative pressure on DJI imports. We expected stock issues by now, but you can still find DJI drones on Amazon. And better yet, some of the best models for content creation are at all-time low prices.

The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is down to $1,049 at Amazon. That's over $500 off and the record-low price on a beginner-friendly drone that offers everything you need to start shooting professional content.

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The DJI Mini 5 Pro offers a massive 1-inch CMOS sensor, so whether you’re shooting 50MP stills or 4K/120fps slow-motion, the dynamic range more than delivers. The DJI Mini 5 Pro also makes use of forward-facing LiDAR that powers the new Nightscape Omnidirectional Sensing, meaning it can dodge branches, power lines, and buildings even when you don't have eyes on your drone. That's one less thing to worry about.

This popular drone offers 42GB of internal storage, meaning you can actually capture a full session of 4K footage without needing an external card as backup. That's a seemingly insignificant feature that has a huge impact for content creators.

Save over $500 on the DJI Mini 5 Pro this weekend.

TL;DR: Score a free iPhone 17e when signing up for a T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required. The iPhone 17 is also available for free from T-Mobile when signing up for an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible device.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for free   Shop Now

March was massive for Apple. After months of anticipation, new iPhones, MacBooks, and iPads were finally released to the public.

So what now?

Is the expectation that we all just sit around and wait for the next announcement from Apple? No, this is the time for finding the best deals on this fresh lineup. And there's a special offer available right now for anyone interested in upgrading to the new iPhone 17.

For a limited time, you can switch to almost any T-Mobile plan and get a free iPhone 17e (no trade in required). Alternatively, you can claim the iPhone 17 for free when signing on for 24 months of an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible phone. It's important to note that T-Mobile will charge taxes on these deals and a $35 device connection fee, but that's pretty much always the case with these "free" deals.

SEE ALSO: How the iPhone Fold and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 differ, according to leaks

The Experience More plan is designed for power users who want 4K streaming, huge hotspot data, and international roaming that can keep up with even the most frequent flyers. You're therefore faced with a higher monthly bill than more limited plans. The Experience More plan does include perks like Apple TV+ and Netflix, which helps to offset some of that cost.

The iPhone 17 is the first base model built to handle Apple’s most advanced AI features. Mashable's Stan Schroeder said it's an "excellent phone that matches the iPhone Pro models in many ways that matter." Content creators should note that the camera is "almost as good as the one on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max."

Score the Apple iPhone 17 for free this weekend with T-Mobile.

SAVE OVER $70: As of April 23, the Jackery Explorer 300 is on sale for $188.99 at Amazon. That's a 27% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 300 $188.99 at Amazon
$259 Save $70.01   Get Deal

If you've been contemplating buying a portable power station for some time, now is a great time to buy because Amazon has a range of Jackery models heavily reduced.

From high power units to more compact devices, no matter the level of power you're looking for, we're confident you'll find a discount for you. And if you're looking for something affordable that can still pack a punch, meet the Jackery Explorer 300. As of April 23, this unit is $70 off at Amazon, bringing the price down from $259 to $188.99.

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This portable power station has a 293Wh lithium-ion battery and a 300W output with two pure sine wave AC outlets, USB-C, USB-A, and a DC car port. It’s a great option if you're looking for something lightweight and portable, as it weighs only 7.1 pounds (perfect for taking with you on camping vacations or road trips).

This deal is for the unit only, however it also supports recharging via multiple add-on methods, including compatible solar panels. But even without solar panels, it can reach around 80% charge in roughly two hours when combining AC and USB-C charging.

This Jackery deal is available at Amazon now.

TL;DR: Get a MacBook for less than the price of an iPad with this $259.99 MacBook Air (reg. $1,199) through May 10.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air (2018) 13" i5 1.6GHz 8GB RAM 128GB SSD Gray (Refurbished) $259.99
$1,199 Save $939.01   Get Deal

Want a Mac computer without the Mac price tag? Right now, that’s a real possibility with this MacBook Air. It offers all the power and portability people love from Apple’s lightest laptop, at a fraction of the usual price — just $259.99 (reg. $1,199) until May 10.

Every once in a while, a deal comes along that’s too good to pass up. This MacBook Air is just that, giving you the premium bells and whistles you’ve come to love from Apple at a not-so-premium price. And since this model weighs in at just 2.97 pounds, it’s easy to bring along anywhere. And Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity mean you can stay connected no matter where you end up.

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Equipped with a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, you can multitask the day away and tackle your entire to-do list. You don’t even have to charge it in the process — this MacBook Air has a battery that lasts 12 hours on a full charge.

There’s a 13.3-inch widescreen display with Intel HD Graphics 6000, so you can work and play with vibrant visuals. This MacBook Air also has 128GB of storage, making it convenient to save important files locally and still have enough room to download your go-to apps.

This model is $800 off the usual price tag because of its Grade A/B refurbished status. That means you might receive a device with light scratches, dents, or scuffs, but its functionality and quality are still ensured.

Bring home a MacBook Air for just $259.99 (reg. $1,199) now through May 10.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Score a lifetime license to Windows 11 Pro for just $9.97 (reg. $199) until May 3.

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

What if we told you that you could extend your PC’s life for less than the cost of your lunch? Right now, that’s a real possibility with this deal on a Microsoft Windows 11 Pro license. You can give your computer a total upgrade for just $9.97 (reg. $199) now through May 3.

You’d be surprised how much a new operating system can do. Your old PC may feel like an antique, but Windows 11 Pro will make it feel like you are opening it up for the first time.

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Windows 11 Pro was made with modern professionals in mind — from designers to data analysts — so everyone’s workflow will benefit from the new features. From a seamless, easy-to-use interface to a more powerful search experience, it’s made to improve your workflow.

You’ll enjoy easy redocking, snap layouts, and improved voice typing with this OS upgrade. It also includes Microsoft Teams so you can stay connected to friends, family, and coworkers.

It includes access to Copilot, Microsoft’s AI-powered on-screen assistant. It’s ready to answer your questions, help with tasks, change settings, summarize web pages, or even open apps for you.

This OS also takes your cybersecurity more seriously, offering improved security features. Keep your data safer with things like biometric logins, encrypted authentication, and enhanced antivirus protection.

If you’re a gamer, you can also take advantage of Windows 11 Pro’s DirectX 12 Ultimate and experience graphics that rival real life.

Enjoy an affordable upgrade with Windows 11 Pro for just $9.97 (reg. $199) until May 3.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Work smarter with AI, not harder, thanks to this lifetime subscription to 1min.AI’s Advanced Business Plan, now $79.97 (reg. $540) through tomorrow, April 26, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription $79.97
$540 Save $460.03   Get Deal

Working with one AI model is like playing checkers — working with 1min.AI is like playing chess. This tool makes it easy to see answers from dozens of models in one spot, saving you time and energy by hopping between tabs and keeping each model’s strengths straight.

Right now, you can score a lifetime subscription to the 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan for just $79.97 (reg. $540) until tomorrow, April 26, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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Your AI workflow is only as good as your tools. If you want to be more effective with this technology, you need 1min.AI. This platform lets you enter your prompt and sit back and relax as you’re served answers from dozens of AI models in one convenient window.

1min.AI gives you responses from major AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, Mistral, and more — with no tab-hopping required. Aside from allowing you to compare them all within one window, 1min.AI lets you pay just once and skip paying multiple subscription fees.

If you need help with coding, video editing, image generation, or simply want to ask a question, 1min.AI is there. Just make sure to always give your results a human once-over, as edits may be needed.

This lifetime subscription to the 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan gives you an unlimited prompt library, unlimited storage, unlimited brand voice options, and weekly updates.

It also includes 4 million credits per month. These can be used to write 1,112,500 words, research up to 5,933 SEO keywords, generate up to 1,186 images, or create up to 37 videos per month. If you ever need more credits, it’s easy to earn them for free by using the app, leaving a review, or referring friends.

Secure a lifetime subscription to 1min.AI’s Advanced Business Plan for $79.97 now through tomorrow, April 26, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets in the NBA Playoffs for free on YouTube. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first round of NBA Playoffs has already delivered some surprising results. Timberwolves vs. Nuggets always looked like one of the toughest first-round matchups, and that's proving to be true. They now meet in an all-important Game 4 at the Target Center.

If you want to watch Timberwolves vs. Nuggets in the NBA Playoffs for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Timberwolves vs. Nuggets?

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets in the NBA Playoffs starts at 8:30 p.m. ET on April 25. This game takes place at the Target Center.

How to watch Timberwolves vs. Nuggets for free

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets in the NBA Playoffs is available to live stream for free on YouTube.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to India, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in India, meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a VPN (we tested ExpressVPN and it worked great)

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 India

4. Visit YouTube

5. Watch the NBA for free 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) Learn More

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like YouTube, 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 secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% 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).

Live stream the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.

Almost everyone, at one time or another, gets the urge to find a fun fling, but not everyone wants to dish out money for the privilege. If you're strapped for cash or just want to keep your credit card information to yourself, know that there are a lot of great free hookup apps and sites out there that will work just fine without you paying a premium for membership. 

That having been said, not all these free services operate in the same way, or give you the same amount of freedom. They're businesses, after all, and still trying to turn a profit, so to entice you to upgrade they hide some of their best features behind a paywall while allowing you just enough freedom to experience a taste of what they offer. 

SEE ALSO: Adult Friend Finder vs. Tinder: How they compare as hookup apps

To help you navigate the world of hookup apps and sites as a non-paying user, we've put together this handy guide that breaks down each service's best features for free accounts.

Tinder

Tinder's mega-popularity probably has a lot to do with how well it has balanced its free and premium features. As a non-paying user, you can create an account, fill your profile with up to nine photos and videos plus a short bio, and swipe, match and chat with singles in your area.

In other words, you can use Tinder's basic features without reaching for your wallet. But restricting yourself to a free account also forces you to experience some serious frustrations, from an ad-laden UI to a limited number of swipes in 12 hours. That doesn't sound too bad on paper until you've spent an hour left-swiping through your local singles when you finally find the profile of your dreams, a person seemingly created to pique your interest, only to discover that you've run out of likes.

To get the most out of a free Tinder account, we recommend splitting up your swiping time into morning and evening sessions, to minimize the impact of their 12-hour right-swipe restriction. If you manage to get matches using this strategy, you're all set and probably don't need to upgrade your account, but if you're dissatisfied with how many matches you get, it might be time to explore Tinder's Gold and Platinum tiers, as these unlock some matchmaking cheat codes, including one monthly profile boost to increase your visibility, plus the ability to see who has liked your profile and even message accounts that you haven't already matched with. 

AdultFriendFinder

AdultFriendFinder is one of the most restrictive dating services when it comes to what it allows free members to do. Not only will you not be able to speak to another person one-on-one with a free account, you won't even be able to view other users' profiles without ponying up some cash on a monthly basis. 

Don't be deterred, though. If you're looking for fast thrills online, a free AFF account can get you plenty far. For one thing, AdultFriendFinder is less a dating service than an entire ecosystem, complete with live webcam shows, chat boards, adult-themed picture contests, and a whole lot of erotic storytelling. With a free account, you can access and even participate in almost all of these public-facing venues, so whether you want to passively observe the live webcam feeds or test your writing skills out in the fiction section, you have options.

On the other hand, if you want to use AFF to actually find a partner in your area of the world, you're probably going to need to upgrade to their paid subscription, which not only unlocks expanded search features and the ability to communicate one-on-one with other members, but also upgrades the quality of the photos and videos you see, which is a dramatic quality-of-life improvement well worth the investment.

Grindr

Like Tinder, Grindr is very generous in the functionality it extends to non-paying users. With a free account, you'll be able to create a profile, search out and chat with other nearby people, and even create a private photo album and send a single expiring photo per day. In one sense, Grindr is even more generous to its free users than Tinder: it allows you to match with one person outside of your immediate location per day, giving you a small taste of the app's reach.  

Best of all, for those desperately eager to connect, Grindr allows free users two Right Now sessions per week, which functions as a kind of temporary (one hour, max) status update to nearby users also in Right Now mode that you're looking for a fast hookup. 

It's not all upside, though. Like Tinder, Grindr subsidizes its free user features by serving them up a whole bunch of ads, which can definitely degrade the user experience, while also limiting their profile's reach to "local" Grindr users, which basically means accounts within your immediate vicinity. If you're in LA or Manhattan, that's not such a problem, but if you're using the app somewhere with less population density, it can be a serious impediment. 

If those limitations seem intolerable to you, you can opt for either the Grindr XTRA or Grindr Unlimited subscriptions to unlock quality-of-life features like the ability to send more expiring photos, a larger grid to explore, and even the ability to see who has liked your profile. 

Pure

In many ways, Pure is the most intriguing hookup app at this moment, a true innovator in design and interface, which makes it no surprise that it's the most popular app for Gen Z singles. Unfortunately, it's extremely restrictive in the scope it gives to free users — unless you're a woman, that is.

On Pure, male and non-binary users have to pay to unlock the app's most useful features, while women get unrestricted access to the app for free. Before you cry foul, though, remember that most dating apps skew heavily male (Tinder users may be 75 percent male, for example), so by enticing women with a free membership, Pure can keep a relatively even gender split among its users. 

As a free user, you'll be able to create a profile and fill out the requisite information, as well as a list of your kinks, but you won't be able to create or respond to ads or chat one-on-one with other users, which locks you out of the app's most fun and interactive features. 

Unlike with Tinder, Grindr or AFF, then, Pure really does require a paid subscription to be at all useful, at least if you're not a woman using the app. 

We can all agree that moms and mother figures deserve the world and a little bit more on Mother's Day. But let's be straight: Very few us can afford the kinds of gifts they truly deserve — the diamond necklaces, luxurious weekend trips, or designer gear. Sure, Mom is more than worthy of unwrapping something along those lines on Mother's Day but it's just not realistic.

But is that reason to send Mom a gift card from the grocery store checkout line, or to grab the first bouquet of barely adequate flowers? Absolutely not.

SEE ALSO: Best Mother's Day gifts: Show mom some love

With Mother's Day 2026 fast approaching, here are more than 20 ideas for inexpensive but thoughtful Mother's Day gifts — all under $50. You can make her feel special without breaking the bank with these gift ideas, which include several products recommended to us by our own moms and mom friends.

There's a lot of pressure when it comes to thinking up great gift ideas for your mom. She's done the hard wok of actually raising you, and it's time to throw some appreciation back her way. Part of our larger series dedicated to finding the best gifts for everyone, this list of gifts for your mom (or any mom or mother figure, for that matter, who all deserve something special) attempts to think outside of the same old generic suggestions that have plagued moms at major holidays for decades.

SEE ALSO: Best tech gifts, picked by professional gadget nerds

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

Mother's Day is fast approaching on May 10, so there's no better time to pick her a gift. The best gifts will make her feel listened to, valued, or straight-up pampered. Consider what she does when she has no one putting demands on her time — then shop for those moments. And if you get stuck, or your budget's tight, visit our guide to the best gifts under $50 for even more winning ideas.

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

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

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

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

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

Mushrooms.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

FUNGI

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Askew.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 25, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

WONKY

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Scam.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 25 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 25, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

FRAUD

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A red flower.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

POPPY

Final Hurdle hint

Sofa.

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

COUCH

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

We're now in the Moon's Waxing Gibbous phase, the last before we reach the Full Moon. There's plenty of its surface illuminated tonight, so keep reading to find out what you can see.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Saturday, April 25, the Moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. Tonight, 63% of the moon will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

If you're looking at the Moon with just your naked eye, you should be able to catch a glimpse of the Mares Crisium, Tranquillitatis, and Fecunditatis. If you have binoculars, the Mare Nectaris, Posidonius Crater, and Apennine Mountains should also come into view, appearing from halfway up the Moon to near the top. And, finally, with a telescope you'll see all this plus the Apollo 16 landing spot, Rupes Altai, and Rima Hyginus.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon is predicted to take place on May 1, the first of two in May.

What are Moon phases?

NASA says that the Moon completes a full orbit around Earth in about 29.5 days, during which it passes through eight stages. Although the same face of the Moon is always turned toward us, the portion illuminated by the Sun shifts as it travels along its path, producing the familiar cycle of full, half, and crescent shapes. These variations are referred to as lunar phases, and there are eight altogether:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will test your knowledge of multiple sports.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: We are not the champions

• Green: Keeping score

• Blue: Protect the net

• Purple: You play these at home

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: In the Lowest Position

• Green: NBA Teams on Scoreboards

• Blue: Hall of Fame Hockey Goaltenders

• Purple: Baseball Video Games

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #579 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• In the Lowest Position — BOTTOM, CELLAR, LAST, WORST

• NBA Teams on Scoreboards — DEN, OKC, SAC, WAS

• Hall of Fame Hockey Goaltenders — BRODEUR, FUHR, PARENT, ROY

• Baseball Video Games — BACKYARD, HIGH HEAT, SLUGFEST, THE SHOW

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 25, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 25, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for April 25 Pips

Greater Than (4): The domino half in this purple space must have more than 4 pips. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Every domino half in this red space must have 3 pips. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally; and 3-5, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Every domino half in this light blue space must have 1 pip. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically; and 1-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (6): The domino half in this yellow space must have less than 6 pips. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 25 Pips

Equal (1): Every domino half in this purple space must have 1 pip. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally.

Number (6): The domino half in this red space must have 6 pips. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (0): The domino half in this light blue space must have more than 0 pips. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this yellow space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this green space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): Everything in this purple space must add up to be less than 4. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 3-0, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 25 Pips

Number (5): Everything in this purple space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed vertically; and 1-4, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Every domino half in this red space must have 0 pips. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically; 6-0, placed horizontally; and 3-0, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 6-0, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (1): The domino half in this yellow space must have more than 1 pip. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Every domino half in this dark blue space must have 5 pips. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed vertically; and 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this green space must add up to 7. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (0): The domino half in this purple space must have more than 0 pips. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Every domino half in this red space must have 0 pips. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 0-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Every domino half in this blue space must have 4 pips. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

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