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Another year is approaching, which means it's time to think about what you want to change or focus on in 2026. If you're simply aiming to stop spending so much money on takeout next year, we've rounded up some of the best kitchen deals to help you cook more at home.
The first step in any cooking journey is to make reasonable upgrades that actually encourage you to cook at home. It's a simple New Year's resolution with a simple solution. If your current tools aren't sparking inspiration in the kitchen, here are some essentials that might do the trick.
First and foremost: new cookware Opens in a new window Credit: Our Place Our pick: Our Place Always Pan (10.5-inch) $99 at AmazonBefore you can really start your 2026 cooking journey, you need to upgrade your cookware. That old, rusty pan that everything sticks to isn't doing you any favors. The Always Pan from Our Place is a crowd favorite and it's on sale for over 25% off in several color options at Amazon — just $4 shy of its best-ever price. It's constructed from 100 percent post-consumer recycled aluminum, features a toxin-free nonstick coating, and is oven safe up to 450 degrees. Besides the pan itself, it also comes with a spatula, modular lid, and a stainless steel colander and steamer.
More cookware dealsOur Place Mini Griddle Pan — $58 $69 (save $11)
Carote 14-piece pots and pans set — $66.49 $109.99 (save $43.50)
Our Place Mini Perfect Pot — $95 $125 (save $30)
All-Clad D3 stainless steel frying pan (10-inch) — $109.94 $139.99 (save $30.05)
Our Place Always Pan (12.5-inch) — $125 $159 (save $34)
Sur La Table Chef's Deck 10-piece stainless steel cookware set — $134.29 $169.99 (save $35.70)
The viral Ninja Crispi air fryer is a Mashable favorite — after testing a big batch of Ninja appliances, shopping reporter Sam Mangino crowned it one of the best. Unlike most air fryers, it features a portable design with glass containers that attach to an air-frying lid. Beyond heating and crisping food to perfection, it also doubles as storage for your leftovers. "The Ninja Crispi ... allows you to meal prep and store food directly into glass baskets, where you will then reheat it," Mangino writes. "The storage containers are all dishwasher safe, a rare trait in air fryer baskets." As of Dec. 30, it's also $40 off, which matches its Black Friday price.
More air fryer dealsNinja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1 (5-quart) — $89.99 $129.99 (save $30)
Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 DualZone air fryer (8-quart) — $119.98 $199.99 (save $80.01)
Our Place Wonder Oven — $155 $185 (save $30)
If you want to simplify mealtime, do yourself a favor and grab a multicooker. It's a more hands-off way to whip up delicious meals at home. CrockPot's Multimeal multicooker features a dual-pot design, so you can cook your main course and sides with the same appliance at the same time. It has separate temperature controls and cook functions, like slow cook, sear/sauté, bake, rice/steam, and keep warm. Plus, the removable cooking pots are oven safe up to 450 degrees.
More multicooker dealsInstant Pot Rio 7-in-1 (6-quart) — $79.99 $109.99 (save $30)
Ninja Foodi Everyday PossibleCooker Pro (6.5-quart) — $109.99 $129.99 (save $20)
Our Place Dream Cooker (6-quart) — $169 $199 (save $30)
The executive producer and actor on the Emmy Award-winning Hulu show The Bear, Matty Matheson, offers a definitive guide to mastering your kitchen in Home Style Cookery. The recipe-packed cookbook covers everything from pantry staples to creative party treats to go-to weeknight dinners. The hardcover book is usually $40, but you can grab it on sale for only $22.42 at Amazon.
More cookbook dealsFrom Crook to Cook by Snoop Dogg — $14.16 $24.95 (save $10.79)
Half Baked Harvest Super Simple by Tieghan Gerard — $15.73 $29.99 (save $14.26)
Bad B*tch in the Kitch by Cassie Yeung — $19.45 $35 (save $15.55)
What to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking by Caroline Chambers — $19.64 $35 (save $15.36)
Appetites: A Cookbook by Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever — $24.99 $45 (save $20.01)
KitchenAid gourmet multi-sided meat tenderizer — $12.99 $16.99 (save $4)
Astercook 13-piece knife set — $17.98 $49.99 (save $32.01)
KitchenAid food chopper (3.5-cup) — $44.99 $69.99 (save $25)
Gourmia indoor pizza oven — $119.99 $169.99 (save $50)
Drinkmate OmniFizz sparkling water maker — $124.99 $179.99 (save $55)
Ninja NC301 CREAMi Ice Cream Maker — $179.99 $229.99 (save $50)
Chefman Iceman Slush-Ease Max machine — $199.93 $349.99 (save $150.06)
Bartesian Professional cocktail machine — $348.99 $499 (save $150.01)
Ooni Koda 12 portable gas pizza oven bundle — $359.80 $514 (save $149.19)
Halo Versa 16 outdoor pizza oven — $399.99 $549.99 (save $150)
New year, new you. If you're looking to make 2026 less about spending time on your phone and doom-scrolling, there are plenty of great ways to cut your screen time and do more productive things with your days. But even though that resolution may sound like a simple one, it's not always as easy as you might think to go cold turkey when it comes to spending time in front of a screen, whether that's the TV, a monitor, your phone, or a console.
Because it's something you really need to make a valiant effort to accomplish, we've got your back. We've put together a few of our favorite options that you can lean on to help you cut down your screen time, even if only by a few minutes a day. There are tons of great alternatives out there that you can choose from, but these should at least get you to unplug for a short time, even if it's temporary.
Below, find our favorite picks for the best deals to help you fulfill your New Year's resolution to cut down on screen time.
Best productivity deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Brick The Brick $53.10 at BrickThis unassuming little gray block locks certain apps when you tap your phone to it. That means even if you feel like doom-scrolling, you won't be able to, which automatically keeps you out of the "using your phone too much" hot seat. It's quick and easy to use, Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino tried out The Brick in a bid to cut down on screen time, and came away finding it was absolutely worth it, praising it as her "favorite option" and "recommending it to everyone I know".
Best activity book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Thrift Books Puzzle Mania! Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, Minis and More! $27.85 at Thrift BooksSharpen your brain with this collection of Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, and other puzzles taken straight from The New York Times. It's a hardcover book with a lay-flat format that lets you easily puzzle things out alone or share with others, giving you plenty of reasons to skip the screen for the day and work on your focus and concentration with high-quality puzzles and brain-teasers.
Best camera deal Opens in a new window Credit: Camp Snap Camp Snap Camera $59.95 at Camp SnapThis screen-free digital camera can cut your screen time in a sneaky way: taking it away entirely. This is essentially a new-school point-and-shoot option that feels like taking pictures with a disposable camera. It's durable, supports storing up to 2,000 photos with its included SD memory card, and it's free of distractions so you can focus on what matters: being there and being present.
Best puzzle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bepuzzled Classic Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle $10.17 at AmazonThis 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle is more than just a puzzle. It's also a murder mystery that you work out while putting the puzzle together as there are clues to find within. You can solve the mystery as you search for the right puzzle pieces, and by the end of the puzzle you should know exactly "whodunnit" -- making this a fun way to keep you engaged and excited about what you're working on.
Best diamond painting kit Opens in a new window Credit: PaintGem PaintGem Butterfly Edition Diamond Painting Kit $29.90 at PaintGemGetting into diamond painting is a good way to keep yourself from staring at a screen, because you'll be creating decor and images that you can keep whenever you finish. This kit comes with 16 canvases, with 11,788 gems in total in 38 colors to create some absolutely gorgeous butterflies to display or give as gifts.
More deals on products to help cut down on screen timeCandle Making Kit — $52.99 $62.99 (save $10)
Vellostar Sewing Kit for Adults & Beginners — $17.97 $23.36 (save $5.39)
The Rider Tarot Deck — $19.99 $21.95 (save $1.96)
Gerute Crochet Kit for Beginners — $16.99 $23.99 (save $7)
SAVE $34.43: The CMF Nothing Watch 3 Pro (Ash Grey) is on sale at Amazon for $64.57, down from the normal price of $99. That's a 35% discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: CMF by Nothing CMF Nothing Watch 3 Pro (Ash Grey) $64.57 at AmazonWe're about to ring in 2026 and that means many of us are thinking about health and fitness goals. If your current fitness tracker is annoying or doesn't get the job done in the way you'd like, let me fill you in on a great upgrade that's on a major sale.
As of Dec. 30, the CMF Nothing Watch 3 Pro (Ash Grey) is on sale at Amazon for $64.57, down from the normal price of $99. That's a 35% discount that saves you $34.43. If you're like me and smitten with the Light Green colorway, that's also on sale for $67.68. It's only a 32% discount but the beauty could be worth the extra few dollars.
When I first saw the CMF Nothing Watch 3 Pro, I thought, "Damn, that looks sleek for coming in at under $100." After spending months testing it, I was left totally shocked that Nothing isn't trying to charge us way more for this smartwatch.
I have almost nothing negative to say about this smartwatch. I loved the numerous fitness tracking capabilities (over 130 sport modes) and that kite flying is listed. I also adored that I could quickly glance down at my wrist to see if I was in an aerobic workout or if I'd hit anaerobic. There's also an AI running coach if you're looking to get into a new routine in 2026.
SEE ALSO: Outdoor deals at Amazon include a 45% discount on the Garmin inReach MessengerOne of the standout highlights of the Nothing Watch 3 Pro is battery life. Apple Watch users are used to charging every other day, but those who go with the Watch 3 Pro as a fitness tracker could be in for weeks of life before you'll need to recharge. In testing, I got nearly two weeks of life. An astonishing feat for a smartwatch at this price.
I also found the sleep tracking features on the CMF Nothing Watch 3 Pro to be impressive. I was also testing the Eight Sleep Pod 5 at the same time and came up with shockingly similar sleep metrics each morning. That means this smartwatch, which is on sale for under $65, tracks sleep almost as well as a bed system that costs at least $3,000.
The CMF Nothing Watch 3 Pro is well worth its $99 standard price tag, but it's pretty common to find it on sale for $79. However, today's sale price of $64.57 makes this a seriously incredible deal. Snag one for yourself to help with 2026 fitness resolutions.
Tech outlet Wired is at the center of a potential data breach after a lone hacker claimed to have breached Condé Nast and is now threatening to leak the personal information of more than 2.3 million subscribers.
As first reported by Bleeping Computer, the alleged leaker, Lovely, posted on a hacking forum, accusing Condé Nast, the parent company of Wired, Vogue, Vanity Fair, and the New Yorker, of ignoring vulnerability reports and failing to take security concerns seriously. However, independent cybersecurity journalist Dissent Doe of DataBreaches.net alleges the hacker is simply a bad actor who can’t be trusted and is attempting to extract a payout from the media company rather than acting out of any legitimate security concern.
SEE ALSO: Ubisoft takes 'Rainbow Six Siege' offline after significant hackAccording to independent verification by Bleeping Computer and Infostealer, the breach appears to be legitimate and includes email addresses, along with optional fields such as first and last name, phone number, physical address, gender, and date of birth — although many of these fields appear to be empty.
Beyond Wired’s subscriber database, the hacker claims to have access to as many as 40 million additional records across Condé Nast’s portfolio. Lovely's post was found on multiple hacking forums, giving users on those sites access to the database for $2.30.
Condé Nast has not yet issued a public statement confirming the breach. Mashable reached out for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
Per Bleeping Computer, only 1,529 of the more than 2.3 million records appear to be complete profiles, containing full names, birthdays, phone numbers, physical addresses, and gender information. The database has also been added to Have I Been Pwned, allowing affected subscribers to check whether their email address was included in the breach.
A former Coinbase customer service agent in India who allegedly helped hackers steal sensitive customer information from its database was arrested in India.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said in a post on X on Dec. 26 that more arrests are to come.
"We have zero tolerance for bad behavior and will continue to work with law enforcement to bring bad actors to justice," Armstrong posted. "Thanks to the Hyderabad Police in India, an ex-Coinbase customer service agent was just arrested. Another one down and more still to come."
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: The 6 biggest cybersecurity breaches of 2025These support agents allegedly gave access to hackers as part of a May 2025 incident in which hackers demanded a $20 million ransom in exchange for not publicly leaking stolen customer data, according to Bleeping Computer.
As Mashable reported at the time, Coinbase said the hackers obtained names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, masked bank account numbers, photos of government IDs, and the last four digits of customers' social security numbers. On top of that, the hackers also accessed account data, including balance snapshots and transaction history.
Despite this, Coinbase refused to pay the $20 million ransom, instead offering a $20 million reward fund for anyone providing information on the people responsible for the breach. At this time, it's not clear if the reward fund played a role in the recent arrest in India.
"At Coinbase, we work directly with law enforcement, using blockchain tracing and other tools to help identify offenders and support prosecutions and we will not stop," a Coinbase spokesperson told BleepingComputer.
If you spend a decent amount of time online, you've probably heard of brainrot. But you'd be forgiven if it's unclear, really, what that is.
The first thing to understand is that it's everywhere — and has been for a while — and that it's increasingly a central part of the internet, for better or worse. Let's dig into it.
What is brainrot content?Brainrot, believe it or not, was Oxford's word of the year in 2024. The prestigious university defined it as "the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging. Also: something characterized as likely to lead to such deterioration."
Words change their meaning over time, and in the year that's passed since Oxford's honor, the internet has shifted more toward that second definition. In other words, brainrot is mostly used to describe something that will harm or damage your brain. It's meaningless drivel, often silly, that serves no purpose other than to cook your brain cells.
(Fun fact: Oxford noted the phrase "brain rot" first appeared in Henry David Thoreau's classic book Walden, in which he lamented the demise of complex thinking, writing society "will not any endeavour to cure the brain-rot." Touch grass, etc.)
For another definition, the internet researchers at Know Your Meme wrote:
"Brainrot is a slang term used to describe content that has little to no artistic, educational or substantive value, painting it as having a negative impact on the viewer and thus leading to the degradation and 'rot' of their brain. In relation, the term is used to refer to pieces of 'brain rot content' that a person cannot stop thinking about, leading to further brain rot, such as regularly repeating the Skibidi Toilet song."
Over the last few years, brainrot has proliferated, and the Skibidi Toilet nonsense is a great example. So brainrot content might be a bodyless, disturbing head singing in a toilet. Or it could be kids screaming "6-7" all day long. Or it could be AI-generated, strange animals given nonsensical Italian-sounding names like Tralalero Tralala.
Watch the TikTok embedded below and you'll immediately understand brainrot.
Why is brainrot inescapable?As with most things in 2025, part of the answer for brainrot's inescapability involves AI. Consider those ridiculous Italian animals — a few years ago, you'd need artistic or Photoshop skills to create that nonsense. Now you need only a few seconds to create that slop.
It's no shock that brainrot's rise has come in tandem with AI slop's popularity — one piece of content can be both, in fact. As I previously wrote for Mashable: "AI slop is everywhere because it's easy to create, and because 'slop' in this context describes content made fast, at scale, with little risk or care." A study by video-editing platform Kapwing found that about half of YouTube Shorts were slop or brainrot.
Brainrot doesn't necessarily always involve AI, but when it does, it's super easy to create. And kids really seem to find the whole idea funny, which probably helps account for brainrot's popularity. If young people find it funny to have their brains rotted — or at least act like it — then it's naturally going to become popular.
With the rise of TikTok, we've all gotten quite used to scrolling mindlessly — brainrot seems to be a natural extension of that inclination. It can be nice to check out and tune in to something entirely mindless.
Brainrot isn't going anywhere — and it's not the end of the world — but maybe mix in a book everywhere once in a while.
We're just days away from ringing in 2026. If you're like of us, we have intentions of being more active, heathy, and fit in the coming year. Cliche as it is, a new year is a great time for a fresh start with good-for-us habits. Getting fit is not only a gift for yourself, it's a gift to loved ones to keep yourself healthy and happy.
But workout resolutions tend to fall by the wayside quickly. In an attempt to stick to those new routines, it's helpful to have some fitness gear on hand that you love. Instead of dealing with headphones that fall out with every lift, a solid pair of workout earbuds can help with motivation. The same can be said for investing in a rowing machine or a workout app that you actually enjoy.
We've compiled the best fitness deals that we love ahead of the New Year. Upgrade to items that help you reach your goals from a great new water bottle to a shockingly inexpensive fitness tracker. Here are some great deals to snag today.
Best Apple fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 at AmazonRead our full review of the Apple Watch Series 11.
Why we like itA fitness tracker is one of the best ways to easily keep tabs on your health journey. Whether you walk the dog twice a day or have plans to train for a marathon in 2026, the Apple Watch 11 is perfect smartwatch that's loaded with fitness-tracking features. With GPS in a 41mm size, it usually sells for $399 but Amazon has it on sale for only $299 ahead of the New Year.
In Mashable's rating of the best fitness trackers, the Apple Watch 11 earns top marks thanks to its gorgeous design, comfortable fit, and speedy charging.
More fitness tracker dealsAmazfit Bip 6 — $64.99 $79.99 (save $15)
Fitbit Inspire 3 — $69.95 $99.95 (save $30)
Fitbit Charge 6 — $119.95 $159.95 (save $40)
Garmin Forerunner 55 — $149.99 $199.99 (save $50)
Garmin Venu Sq 2 — $149.99 $249.99 (save $100)
Garmin vívoactive 5 — $186.83 $299.99 (save $113.16)
Whoop 5.0/MG — $199 $239 (save $40)
Google Pixel Watch 4 (41mm) — $299.99 $349.99 (save $50)
Read our full review of the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 sports earbuds.
Why we like itA good set of earbuds can make a world of difference, whether you're rocking out while working hard at the gym or listening to a podcast while walking around the neighborhood. In Mashable's analysis of the best workout earbuds, the Beats Prowerbeats Pro 2 earn the top spot. Lucky for us, they're $50 off at Amazon right now.
They satisfy the brief on so many levels like being durable, having accessible controls, and being comfortable enough for extended wear. Plus, the 10 hours of battery life is a big bonus.
More workout earbuds dealsJLab Go Sport+ — $19.99 $29.88 (save $9.89)
Soundcore V20i — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)
JBL Endurance Peak 3 — $59.95 $99.95 (save $40)
Beats Fit Pro (1st Gen) — $149 $199.99 (save $50.95)
Soundcore AeroClip — $149.99 $169.99 (save $20)
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds — $229 $299 (save $70)
If you're not looking to join a gym this year but you still yearn for a great workout from home, it's hard to beat a Hydrow. A rowing workout is a full-body strengthening experience and its low-impact is great for folks of all ages. Hydrow does is right with the Origin Rowing Machine which has a 22-inch rotating screen so you can follow along with beginner-friendly workouts or intense strength exercises. Snagging it from Amazon today will put you in line for a $500 discount which is a solid start to the New Year.
More fitness equipment dealsMerach Water Rowing Machine — $269.99 $499.99 (save $230)
Merach R50 Rowing Machine — $449.99 $799.99 (save $350)
NordicTrack T Series Treadmill — $699 $999 (save $300)
Echelon Stride-6 Treadmill — $1,699.99 $1,999.99 (save $300)
Ergatta Luxe Rowing Machine — $1,899 $2,499 (save $600)
SAVE UP TO 30%: As of Dec. 30, Ruggable is holding an end of year sale featuring 15% off dog beds, 20% off select pillows and doormats, and between 25% and 30% off its machine washable rugs.
Opens in a new window Credit: Ruggable Ruggable end of year sale Save up to 30% Shop NowIf your New Year's Resolution is merely to get your shit together, start with your home — if your space feels chaotic, your brain tends to follow suit. Get inspired for a refresh with Ruggable's end of year sale. Shop more than 30 pages of machine washable rugs between 25% and 30% off, including already-cushioned options that don't require assembly.
SEE ALSO: My cats and I found the 8 best vacuums for pet owners, from powerful hair pickup to livestream camerasWith an extended return window through Jan. 31, you might as well finally investigate firsthand whether Ruggable is worth it. If you need extra encouragement to make the investment, just peep the reviews on each rug (most have five stars). Mashable's hands-on Ruggable review will tell you that Ruggable rugs are definitely worth it in any home with lots of foot traffic.
A new rug is the obvious jumping point for any home refresh. That's partly due to the opportunities to switch up the vibe or color scheme that you've gotten bored with. But when it's a washable rug specifically, "refresh" can be taken more literally — you'll no longer be living with the ghosts of dirty shoe bottoms, drink spills, or muddy paw prints past. You could fully revamp a bigger space with a one of several large area rug sizes, or opt to test the waters with a new runner for a hallway. Most holiday patterns are on sale, too. (Personal note: The Ruggable that I have, the best-selling Calabria rug as a kitchen runner, is 25% off. Just saying.)
Well, now we know why Samsung is only selling the new Galaxy Z TriFold in limited markets. According to a new report, the company is selling its groundbreaking new foldable at a loss.
In fact, Samsung reportedly isn't even trying to profit off of each Galaxy Z TriFold phone it sells just yet.
A new report from Korean publication The Bell (via 9to5google) indicated that Samsung is selling the device, which recently launched in the company's home country, at a loss. In South Korea, the TriFold retails for 3,594,000 won, or roughly $2,500 USD, making it the most expensive phone in the company's portfolio by a pretty considerable margin. Still, Samsung is reportedly losing money on each unit sold, raising the question of how future TriFold phones might be priced going forward.
“This is a special edition product, so rather than selling it in bulk, we prepared it so that those who want it can try it out,” said Samsung Electronics Korea Vice President Lim Sung-taek at a Z Trifold launch event, according to a translated version of The Bell’s report. “There were various issues, such as the memory price, but we made a grand decision to reduce it and achieve this difficult price.
Currently, a global memory shortage driven by the AI boom has left critical RAM hardware components in short supply, as Mashable has reported previously.
SEE ALSO: The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold is coming to America soon: Everything we know so farWhile it's unusual to sell a product like this at a loss, there is precedent in the world of luxury tech devices.
Products like high-end video game consoles, for example, have been sold at a loss in the past, with the idea being that they'll remain on the market long enough for parts and manufacturing costs to eventually decrease, and the manufacturer will find other ways to recoup those losses in the meantime. Still, $2,500 is a lot of money for a phone, so if Samsung is losing money even at that extremely high price point, one has to wonder what the phone would actually cost if it were designed to make a profit from day one.
At any rate, U.S. customers don't have to worry about this for a little while longer. The Galaxy Z TriFold is slated to launch stateside in the early months of 2026, and it'll probably be expensive here, too.
Netflix has released the trailer for the last episode in Stranger Things' fifth and final season, teasing the end of the Duffer Brothers' hit series after a decade-long run. We've come a long way since the vanishing of Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) in November 1983.
It's been four years since Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) first encountered Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and the Upside Down, and now their battle against Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) is finally coming to a head.
Having learned more about the Upside Down's true nature and Venca's ultimate plan, the Hawkins teens are on a mission to stop him once and for all, fighting alongside allies Joyce (Winona Ryder), Hopper (David Harbour), Max (Sadie Sink), Nancy (Natalia Dyer), Jonathan (Charlie Heaton), Steve (Joe Keery), and Robin (Maya Hawke). It won't be an easy task though, and victory may require painful sacrifices.
The series finale of Stranger Things premieres Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Netflix.
TCL just unveiled its latest tablet — the Note A1 NXTPAPER. The e-note tablet delivers a distraction-free workspace powered by AI so you can focus more on taking notes and less on organizing them.
Launching on Kickstarter first, the TCL Note A1 NXTPAPER is a tablet resembling the likes of ReMarkable's Paper Pro or the Kindle Scribe. It won't be the device for streaming or gaming, as it aims to keep you focused on note-taking or reading.
The TCL Note AI NXTPAPER comes with an 11.5-inch NXTPAPER Pure display, which delivers flicker-free visuals and paper-like clarity that's gentler on the eyes. TCL claims that the e-note tablet doesn't ghost (leaving remnants of erased pen marks or text on a previous page). It features color displays with a 16.7 million color range.
Record and transcribe meetings on the TCL A1 NXTPAPER. Credit: TCLWhere the tablet goes above and beyond is with its AI productivity tools. Wish your handwriting were neater? It'll "beautify" it. Plus, it can convert handwriting to text, do real-time transcription and translation with its included eight microphones.
The TCL Note AI NXTPAPER launches in late February of 2026, retailing for $549. Early access will be available through Kickstarter.
Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL Note AI NXTPAPER $549 at KickstarterSamsung's next journey into the foldable frontier is underway in the form of the Galaxy Z TriFold, a foldable smartphone featuring two folds instead of just one.
Just a few months after launching the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 foldables, Samsung has officially announced the TriFold, a smartphone that has two folding screens, resulting in three panels of usable phone. The internal screen measures a whopping 10 inches, comparable in size to a Galaxy Tab, while it folds down into a normal-sized 6.5-inch phone once fully closed.
SEE ALSO: Did the foldable iPhone just get leaked? Seems like it.So, what exactly do we know about the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold? Let's get into it.
Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold: Specs Credit: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesAccording to the official announcement, here are the specs coming on the Galaxy Z TriFold:
Cover screen: 6.5-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate.
Interior screen: 10-inch QXGA (2160 x 1584) Dynamic AMOLED 2X with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
RAM and Storage: 16GB of RAM and 512GB or 1TB of storage
Rear cameras: 12 MP ultra-wide / 200 MP wide-angle / 10 MP telephoto
Front cameras: 10 MP selfie camera (cover screen) / 10 MP selfie camera (main screen)
Battery size: 5,600 mAh three-cell battery
Dimensions (folded): 159.2 x 75.0 x 12.9mm
Dimensions (unfolded): 159.2 x 214.1 x 3.9mm / 4.2mm / 4.0mm (screen with SIM tray, center screen, and screen with side button, respectively)
Weight: 309 grams
In terms of processors, cameras, RAM, and all that other fun stuff, these specs are pretty similar to what you'd find in a Z Fold 7. The 6.5-inch cover display stands out especially, as the one on the Z Fold 7 is the exact same size. The 10-inch interior display, however, will be significantly larger than the 8-inch equivalent in the Z Fold 7. That's the big selling point here: When it's folded, this is sized like a bigger traditional smartphone, but when you unfold it, you're unlikely to find any phone with a bigger display.
Initially, thickness was a potential issue, as a trifold smartphone was bound to be a hair bit thicker than anything else on the market. At 12.9mm, it is a thick smartphone. For reference, the super-thin Galaxy Z Fold 7 is just 8.9mm when folded, which makes the Galaxy X TriFold about a third thicker than its closest sibling. Whether or not that’s a dealbreaker depends exclusively on how thick or thin you want your smartphone to be.
That’s about the only complaint in an otherwise stellar spec sheet. The battery is nice and big, with Samsung stuffing 5,600 mAh into its three-cell system we first saw in a Korean phone patent. Each cell is hidden in each screen of the display, and it's a 1,200 mAh improvement over the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
SEE ALSO: Samsung and LG preview new Micro RGB TVs. OK, but what are Micro RGB TVs? Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold: PricingIn terms of price, be prepared for this. Samsung announced that the price would be 3,594,000 won. This translates to roughly $2,450 (which Samsung will likely round up to $2,500). That’s quite a lot higher than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 at $1,999.99. For availability, Samsung states that it will be first introduced in South Korea, followed by China, Taiwan, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and then eventually the United States. Per Bloomberg, Samsung is expected to ship a very limited volume, so it won’t be widely available everywhere.
Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold: U.S. release dateSamsung officially released the Galaxy Z TriFold on Dec. 12 in South Korea, so it is in the wild now. The other regions where the phone is expected to launch, including the United States, are most likely going to see a launch in Q1 2026. That’s also when the Samsung Galaxy S26 is expected to launch, so the two may be released in tandem at an upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event.
If you can’t wait, there are plenty of unboxing videos on YouTube from the usual suspects, such as Mr. Who's the Boss and SuperSaf. The videos showcase the phone, including what it looks like when folded and unfolded, and demonstrate its general functionality, along with some other cool features.
What do people think of the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold?Despite the high price tag, the Galaxy Z TriFold quite literally sold out in minutes. In South Korea, at least, the hype train is real, and Samsung can barely put these things on the shelves fast enough. The next batch is scheduled for Dec. 17th on Samsung’s website, and after that, we don’t know if they’ll have to continue rationing these out like they are now.
Impressions online have been generally positive, with the few people who have actually had the opportunity to play with the smartphone stating that it’s certainly one of the most interesting smartphones in a while. Online and written impressions from publications are generally very positive, with complaints being fairly mild and often related to refinement, which is understandable given that this is a first-generation product.
Here's what tech YouTuber Mrwhosetheboss said after trying out the phone: "So, honestly, I don't think the Trifold is this experimental quirky phone option. I actually think that this phone has immediately become the definitive Samsung foldable. You will have to handle it with care and you'll definitely have to pay for the privilege."
Social impressions were mixed, with some folks saying that this is the coolest new smartphone in years, while others are a little more guarded.
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 is the true tablet killer," said one Redditor. Another stated that they were pleased to see Samsung innovating, and pontificated on when Apple would eventually release its first foldable. "Sign me up for one," another Redditor said. "[I’m] bored of my Folds." The most common sentiment among the excited was how absurd it would feel to be able to put a 10-inch tablet in your pocket.
In terms of complaints, they fell into two camps. Excited people from Europe who are currently experiencing difficulties measuring their disappointment at not receiving a release there, and those wondering how the first-generation device will hold up over the long term. Some expressed worry about screen durability, especially since Samsung is offering a 50 percent discount on the first screen repair. Others are concerned with battery life, believing that the 10-inch display will chew through the 5,600 mAh battery rather quickly.
With that said, very few people have gotten their hands on a Z TriFold, so we’ll have to wait a little bit longer to hear first-hand accounts on how it feels to use it day-to-day.
The New Year is right around the corner, which also means we’re already neck-deep in CES season. For 2026, the world’s largest consumer electronics show returns to Las Vegas and is expected to lean heavily into robots and "living with AI" — a direction car enthusiasts may not be thrilled about after last year’s vehicle-heavy spotlight.
SEE ALSO: LG to unveil a new home robot helper at CES 2026That said, the biggest car manufacturers on the planet will still be there as the industry continues its full-speed pivot toward AI, much like everyone else. As with last year, expect far more software reveals than actual new car announcements, which — depending on who you ask — is either encouraging progress or a major letdown.
So, here’s everything you need to know about cars heading into CES 2026.
Sony-Honda is back againAt CES 2025, we covered the debut of the Sony–Honda joint venture’s first EV, the AFEELA 1. While we didn’t get to see it in motion, Sony-Honda Mobility Group did walk us through a demo of the car’s infotainment system. For 2026, the company plans to return with what it’s calling a "pre-production" version of the AFEELA 1, alongside an all-new concept vehicle.
What’s less clear is what Sony-Honda actually considers pre-production at this point. The version shown in 2025 already looked fairly road-ready, at least from a visual standpoint, making the distinction feel more semantic than substantive.
According to the SHM Group, their EVs are expected to start production sometime in 2026 and will initially be available only in California.
Software-defined vehicles take center stage (again)If there’s one theme that will quietly dominate CES 2026, it’s the continued shift toward software-defined vehicles. This isn’t new, but it is becoming unavoidable. Automakers are less interested in showing off the vehicles themselves and more focused on proving their cars can evolve after they leave the factory.
That means operating systems, over-the-air updates, and modular software stacks will be everywhere. Companies like P3 are using CES to highlight Android Automotive — based platforms that let automakers roll out features, apps, and services long after a vehicle ships. For consumers, this could mean improved infotainment and enhanced features over time. For automakers, it’s about speed, flexibility, and, ultimately, new revenue streams.
The bigger shift is toward "agentic AI." For reference, these are AI systems that actively make decisions on behalf of the user, rather than just responding to commands.
At CES 2026, expect to see AI utilized for route planning, energy management, and driver assistance systems that adapt in real-time rather than follow fixed rules. On the surface, it's a meaningful attempt at innovation, but it raises some questions about privacy and how much control drivers are willing to relinquish.
Don't expect much spectacleIf CES 2025 was about big promises, CES 2026 looks more like a reality check. Several analysts have noted that automakers are now in the less glamorous phase of turning previous announcements into actual products. That's just how the state of the auto industry is right now, especially given the development of the EV industry in 2025.
Heading into CES 2026, the EV industry is in a noticeably more sober place than it was even a year ago. After years of aggressive timelines and all-in commitments, automakers are recalibrating as demand has proven softer and more uneven than expected. U.S. EV sales peaked in late 2025 ahead of the expiration of federal incentives, then dropped sharply, forcing companies like GM and Ford to pull back billions in planned EV spending while refocusing on hybrids, trucks, and SUVs that actually move volume.
Automakers are now operating in what industry analysts have called an era of "EV realism," where electrification is still the long-term goal, but the path there is slower, more fragmented, and far less ideological. Expect CES 2026 to reflect that shift.
That’s why the show may feel quieter from a car-news perspective, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. CES has always been a supplier-driven event, and this year will likely highlight chips, sensors, robotics, and manufacturing tech that won’t grab headlines.
A new year is almost here, and you know what that means: The world's largest annual tech event is starting in just a few days.
Yep, CES 2026 is scheduled to kick off on January 6 in Las Vegas, Nevada, gathering tens of thousands of enthusiasts to see what's new in the world of consumer tech. We'll see an entirely new breed of TVs, new foldable phones, self-driving cars, weird gadgets, powerful chips, and many, many AI and robotics-related announcements. Unsurprisingly, those are some of the top tech trends we're anticipating in 2026.
Mashable will be on the ground in Las Vegas to cover CES 2026 as it unfolds. For now, let's take a look at what we expect to see from the biggest exhibitors this year.
Micro RGB TVs Can these achieve OLED-like picture quality at a lower price? It remains to be seen. Credit: LGForget OLEDs and QLEDs – this year you'll mostly be hearing about Micro RGB TVs. Two TV giants, Samsung and LG, have pre-announced their lineups of Micro RGB TVs, which are hitting the market in a variety of sizes this year. We don't have a verdict on how good these are just yet, but you can read about the technology that drives them in our handy explainer.
Of course, all of the other major TV manufacturers will be at CES 2026 as well. Sony is likely to show off its True RGB TVs, a new take Mini-LED TVs that promises higher brightness and contrast with more accurate colors (don't they all?).
We're also likely to hear a lot of talk about new HDR formats; Samsung announced its HDR10+ Advanced, the company's answer to Dolby Vision 2, back in October, with a launch scheduled for early 2026.
Foldable phones Why fold a phone once when you can fold it twice? Credit: SamsungCES isn't exactly a phone show, with most major companies choosing to launch their flagships at standalone events. That doesn't mean we won't see a bunch of new devices, though, and we're betting that a lot of them will be foldable.
Samsung, for example, has freshly launched its first tri-folding phone, the Galaxy Z TriFold, but the company is rumored to be working on yet another foldable device that isn't a new iteration of its Galaxy Z Fold. We don't know whether that one will show up at CES 2026, but we're sure Samsung's booth will feature at least a couple new devices with folding displays.
Motorola is also rumored to launch a book-style foldable phone at CES; a first for the company (Motorola already sells the flip phone-style foldable Motorola Razr).
Robots, robots everywhere Roborock's Qrevo Curv 2 Flow already combines a vacuum with a self-cleaning roller mop, but we bet the company has something even more advanced up its sleeve. Credit: RoborockTesla CEO Elon Musk is banking on the company's Optimus robot to be the next big thing, and other tech companies are taking notice.
One major company that's already announced a new robot is LG. The company will launch its CLOiD home helper robot, designed to improve your quality of life by performing a "wide range of indoor household tasks". We don't have photos, specs, or a release date for this one, so forgive us for not being too enthusiastic until we find out more about CLOiD.
Samsung has a robot called Ballie which it keeps re-launching at CES (it originally launched in 2020, followed by a 2024 remake), and we wouldn't be too surprised if the company brought a new version to CES 2026.
Companies such as Roborock are likely to show off even more advanced robot vacuum cleaners. Since we're on the topic of smart home, we're also likely to see new, smarter home security cameras, among other clever house-bound gadgets.
And while we cannot reveal more at this stage, we definitely know there will be several companies bringing new, humanoid and non-humanoid robots to the show.
Self-driving cars These would look good in front of my garage. Credit: HondaLook, it's CES. There will be cars. And if you're launching a car these days, it better be capable of autonomous driving.
We already know that Sony and Honda's joint venture (Sony Honda Mobility or SHM) will bring its retro-futuristic electric cars to the show. These will feature Level 3 autonomy, and we'll likely find out more about specs such as range and charging times.
Autonomous driving powerhouse Mobileye will also have a keynote on January 6, with CEO Amnon Shashua talking about the company's tech roadmap going forward.
Overall, we expect a lot of announcements related to self-driving tech, be it in the form of new cars, new AI smarts and chips powering autonomous driving, or further expansion of robotaxi services.
Powerful new chips Intel's Core Ultra series 3 (codenamed Panther Lake) chips will go on sale in January 2026. Credit: IntelNvidia CEO Jensen Huang is delivering a keynote on January 5, and while that doesn't necessarily mean we'll see major new products, we're likely to find out more about Nvidia's strategy on powering the AI revolution going forward. One rumor claimed that Nvidia might launch new GeForce RTX 50 Super series graphics cards during CES, but later reports said the launch was delayed until later in the year.
AMD is probably introducing new Ryzen chips, including the new Ryzen 7 9850X3D. Intel has pre-announced the announcement of its Panther Lake chips, which will officially launch at CES. Qualcomm is launching its Snapdragon X Elite and X Elite Extreme chips inside laptops for the first time. In short, you shouldn't worry about your next computer, phone, or tablet being underpowered (if you can afford the RAM, that is).
AI everythingThis shouldn't come as a surprise. Every tech event in the past couple of years has had a strong artificial intelligence focus or at least undertone, and we expect to see even more of that this year. AI will be mentioned by the chip makers. It will be sworn on by the automakers. Every robot, phone, tablet and home security camera we see at CES 2026 will likely have a brand new AI brain powering it. Heck, even the news TVs will boast AI smarts for upscaling and intelligence picture enhancement.
New year, new love? Maybe not, according to Mashable's dating predictions for 2026.
With 2026 within kissing distance, many of us will be mulling over our resolutions for the year ahead. Will I fall in love this year? Will dating continue to be a dumpster fire? Will we enter a post-dating era? Will we all be dating chatbots by Christmas 2026?
Mashable's resident dating experts, journalists Rachel Thompson and Anna Iovine, have made five predictions for what lies ahead in the dating realm.
You can't spell dating without 'AI'2025 was a seminal year when it came to AI implementations in different industries, and dating is no exception. Dating apps like Hinge and Tinder have begun to bake AI into new features, like Hinge's Convo Starters, which uses AI to nudge users to send better first messages. Tinder is also testing an AI matchmaker called Chemistry.
Then there are the people actually dating chatbots. We saw AI used in dating and as "daters" themselves last year, and we can only guess it'll continue this year. There may be an AI bubble, but it's doubtful detractors can put the genie back into the bottle — especially when it comes to AI companions. Some adults have grown so attached to their ChatGPT-4 companions, for instance, that when OpenAI upgraded to GPT-5 they freaked out and sought to revert it back to the previous generation, which was more glazing and less analytical.
SEE ALSO: How many people think flirting with AI chatbots is actually cheating? People will turn away from dating entirelyDating? Tired. Daters? Exhausted. No, seriously: nearly 80 percent of all dating app users are feeling burnt out by the apps.
People — women who date men, in particular — are decentering dating from their lives, choosing instead to prioritize self-fulfilment, friendships, hobbies, and personal growth. Could this be the beginning of a post-dating era?
So, if you're single and loving it, you're officially an icon. As a lifelong single gal, this is not new information to me. But if you've ever felt pressured by your friends to "fix" your singleness and find yourself a partner, well, tell them that dating is terribly passé these days, donchaknow. Then there's the fact that posting your boyfriend on social media is basically loser behaviour now, according to a viral British Vogue article. Then there's the burgeoning single positivity movement, which Mashable has been reporting on for many years. If dating isn't sparking joy, then why bother?
Offline will be cooler than everWhile a faction of the population will be using AI in their everyday lives, including as one's partner, we predict that another faction will be so turned off by technology that they want to quit. Young adults have already started "luddite clubs," attended offline dating events, and weaned themselves off smartphones, and this trend may continue as life becomes more like science fiction daily.
SEE ALSO: 5 ways dating changed in 2025Because being online is so normal and frictionless that being offline might actually be cool and attractive. Not having an Instagram? So hot. Not being on any dating apps? Even hotter.
Dates on the cheapWith food and drink costs on the rise in the U.S., singles will be getting creative with their love lives to keep romance alive but costs to a minimum. We think that house parties and one-on-one setups will boom in 2026. Instead of expensive speed dating events or comedy shows with a two-drink minimum, you might try hosting your own flirting party. Tell your friends to bring a single pal. Perhaps you'll opt for a walk in the park as a cute first date (you might need your scarf and gloves in winter).
Looking for cheaper alternatives to pricey dating app subscriptions? Be sure to check out Mashable's guide to the best free dating apps.
Looks will matter even moreLet's face it: Perceived attractiveness has always been important in dating and our society as a whole. "Pretty privilege" is real! But in 2026, we think it'll, unfortunately, matter even more to daters. We're at a time when GLP-1 medications are all the rage, and there are also new innovations in hair loss treatments that may make men stop flying to Turkey to fix their hairlines. Combine that with social media shallowness as a whole as well as trends like "looksmaxxing" and women measuring their face lengths, and daters may be scrutinizing their matches' photos more than ever.
It's been a long year, but it's almost over.
And since January, a lot has happened in the tech world. It's a fickle, fast-paced industry, and some major products and services haven't survived 2025.
Some of the entries on our in memorium list lived long, fruitful lives and contributed lasting legacies to the ever-evolving technology space. (RIP, Skype.) Others were flash-in-the-pan features or straight-up flops (we're looking at you, Humane AI Pin), destined to meet an early death. Regardless, they're all worthy of remembering for the way they impacted our lives — even if that impact was just as a punchline.
Join us as we look back at the year so far and say goodbye (or good riddance) to the tech that died along the way.
TiVo boxesYes, TiVo was still making boxes and yes, the company did kill them off this year. It may feel hard to believe, but TiVO DVRs survived all the way into 2025, long past the product's heyday.
The company quietly removed the DVRs from its website in October. The company is not dead, however. It has pivoted to being a software company that is mostly used by TVs sold in Europe.
Microsoft passwordsMicrosoft really didn't want you using passwords in 2025. It killed off its password manager in stages, instead migrating its users to passkeys.
A passkey, for the uninitiated, is essentially a more secure way of logging in that combines a password and two-factor authentication into a single step. Often, that involves something like a thumbprint or secure PIN.
"It's the difference between using a codeword to open a door and using a physical key that only you have," Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Werth explained. "Passkeys are only stored on your devices, not a Microsoft server, and they also eliminate the kind of user errors that result in weak passwords. Plus, password managers are becoming a really popular target for hackers, so Microsoft is definitely onto something."
Humane AI PinOh, AI Pin, we hardly knew ye. After less than a year, Humane's attempt to replace the smartphone with a screenless, AI-powered wearable pin came to an untimely end. In theory, the concept of an AI assistant that projected a screen on your hand or a surface sounded pretty intriguing. But Humane's execution of the AI pin was all wrong. From the beginning, reviewers panned the $700 device for myriad reasons, including its faulty projector, finicky response to hand gestures, inaccurate AI responses, and overheating issues. Returns of the AI Pin soon flooded in, and Humane shut down support in February 2025.
Humane may have failed to develop a useful AI wearable, but OpenAI is taking a crack at it. Sam Altman was an investor in Humane, and under his direction, OpenAI announced a partnership with Jony Ive, the iconic designer of the iPhone, in May to create an AI device. That project, however, has reportedly hit delays already — producing a product at scale has proven difficult — and we might not see it until 2027.
SkypeUbiquitous video calling apps like Zoom and FaceTime owe a debt of gratitude to Skype. Twenty-two years ago, the only way to call someone was through an (often) expensive phone plan. Long-distance calls were an extravagance, only made for special occasions or emergencies.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Then, along came Skype in 2003, offering free calls between users over the internet. Not only did it disrupt the telecom industry, it made video calling a thing when it added video support in 2006. Eventually, Skype was acquired by Microsoft in 2011, and it lived an increasingly irrelevant existence as other video calling apps from Apple, Google, and the aforementioned Zoom came on the scene. In February, Microsoft announced that it would retire Skype by May and migrate users to its other video platform, Teams.
Forced retirement is a bittersweet ending. But Skype lived a good, long life, and we'll always have its legacy.
PocketThe OG bookmarking app said goodbye this year. Mozilla, which has owned Pocket since 2017, shut down the read-later platform in July.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Pocket launched in 2007 as Read It Later and grew to 30 million users, according to Mozilla. As Mashable's Matt Binder wrote, the app quickly became a popular service "just as social news and social bookmarking began to take off." But according to Mozilla, "the way people use the web has evolved, so we’re channeling our resources into projects that better match their browsing habits and online needs."
Change is hard, but if you want to keep your bookmarking habits, Binder recommended a bunch of great Pocket alternatives. Just think of Pocket every time you hit "save."
Zelle (kind of)The Venmo alternative shut down its mobile app in April, but it lives on through your bank. Announced in October 2024, Zelle said it would phase out the standalone app since it only facilitates around two percent of transactions. Instead, it will focus on its money exchange service through the many financial institutions it has partnered with.
"Today, the vast majority of people using Zelle to send money use it through their financial institution’s mobile app or online banking experience, and we believe this is the best place for Zelle transactions to occur," according to the 2024 press release. And now, this plan has gone into effect.
Meta fact-checking programAt the start of President Donald Trump's second non-consecutive term in office, Mark Zuckerberg launched his MAGA makeover. This began with ending Meta's fact-checking program for being "too politically biased," according to a video announcement on Facebook. President Trump has accused social media sites of censoring right-wing content, and Zuckerberg seemingly endorsed this viewpoint in killing the program. "What started as a movement to be more inclusive has increasingly been used to shut down opinions and shut out people with different ideas, and it’s gone too far," said Zuckerberg in the video.
Instead, Meta has implemented a crowd-sourced community notes approach, like Elon Musk's X. Meta began implementing community notes across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads in March.
TikTok Creator Marketplace (kind of)This is another entry that's not so much a true death but a reincarnation, if you will. TikTok shut down its Creator Marketplace, a valuable tool for creators to connect with brands for ad campaigns. Instead, it folded the marketplace into TikTok One, a new platform geared towards advertisers with a whole bunch of generative AI tools.
One of those tools is an AI avatar feature, which lets brands create AI-generated people showing off their products. How that impacts creators looking for partnerships remains to be seen. But creators have also proven to be resilient through the looming ban and trade wars.
Mr. DeepfakesDing dong, Mr. Deepfakes is dead. We'll gladly celebrate the shutdown of the notorious site known for hosting nonconsensual deepfake porn. As first spotted by 404 Media, the Mr. Deepfakes URL redirected to a "Shutdown Notice" in early May.
According to the message, the shutdown was forced by a service provider that "has terminated service permanently." It also said Mr. Deepfakes "will not be relaunching" and "this domain will eventually expire and we are not responsible for future use."
Just a week before, Congress passed the Take It Down Act, which made posting nonconsensual intimate imagery (NCII) a federal crime and gives stronger recourse for victims of such content. It's unclear if the shutdown was related, but regardless, regulators are paying attention to the widespread issue.
Google AssistantWe didn't quite say goodbye to Google Assistant in 2025, but we did learn the approximate day of its demise. An official Android Auto support forum revealed it'll be dropped in March 2026. This is just part of a much wider push from Google — and, to be fair, most tech giants — to integrate AI tools into products. So with that comes no more Google Assistant and, in its place, Gemini, the company's AI-powered tool.
The ChatGPT-powered teddy bearMaybe having ChatGPT power a children's toy was never a good idea, considering chatbots' propensity to hallucinate, give questionable advice, and delve into subject matter that's inappropriate for kids.
Toymaker FoloToy pulled its AI-powered teddy bear called Kumma from shelves in November. The decision followed a troubling report from the consumer watchdog organization Public Interest Research Group (PIRG). That report from PIRG found that the toy gave detailed instructions for lighting a match, talked about sexual kinks, and gave tips for "being a good kisser."
It feels like an obvious decision not to sell that product to children.
Twitter dot comObviously, Twitter was killed off a long time ago, replaced by Elon Musk's X. But X moved to cancel the Twitter domain this year, so much so that folks who used a security key had to migrate to X.com instead of remaining tied to Twitter.com. In short: It was a move to kill off the last vestiges of what was once Twitter. You can still access the social media site by typing, "Twitter.com" but, for all intents and purposes, that website is fully Elon Musk's X.
We've said goodbye to Twitter a thousand times at this point, but it is well and truly dead at the end of 2025.
Google Dark Web reportsGoogle is famous for experimenting with new products and unceremoniously sunsetting them. There's even a website dedicated to the Google Graveyard called Killed by Google, which includes classic Google fails like Google Glass as well as new casualties.
Most recently, Google decided to shut down its Dark Web Report, which gave Google users a heads-up if any of their personal information ever surfaced on the dark web. This service just launched in 2024, and it could have been a useful, common-sense cybersecurity tool.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.
TL;DR: Get 20TB of privacy-focused cloud storage with a one-time purchase — Internxt’s lifetime plan is on sale for $389.97 (reg. $4900) through Jan. 11 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription (20TB) $389.97Cloud storage subscriptions can add up before you realize it, especially if you have a lot of large files, backups, or multiple devices. If you’ve been thinking about getting a long-term alternative, the Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription (20TB) is currently price-dropped to $389.97 (reg. $4900) through Jan. 11 at 11:59 p.m. PT. It’s a stellar discount for a plan designed to cover years’ worth of storage needs in one purchase.
Internxt ranks itself as a privacy-first option in a space dominated by well-known names like Google Drive and Dropbox. The service uses end-to-end encryption and a zero-knowledge model, meaning files are encrypted before they leave your device and only you can access them. Internxt’s code is open source and publicly available on GitHub, and the platform is GDPR-compliant and audited by Securitum (helpful context for anyone deciding on added security alongside capacity).
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 20TB plan is ideal for people who work with large files or simply don’t want to deal with storage limits anymore. It’s also a practical option for anyone who’s tired of traditional cloud plans or doesn’t want another recurring bill.
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If a one-and-done cloud storage option has been something on your mental “to-buy” lists, this sale makes it easier to get long-term space without paying for another subscription.
Get the Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription (20TB) is currently price-dropped to $389.97 (reg. $4900) through Jan. 11 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
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TL;DR: ChatPlayground AI’s unlimited plan brings more than 25 popular AI models into one interface, available for $79 (reg. $619) for a limited time.
Opens in a new window Credit: ChatPlayground AI ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan) $79If you’ve ever tested the same prompt across multiple AI tools to see which one gives the most helpful response, ChatPlayground AI is the tool that does that process for you. The platform brings many popular AI models together, making side-by-side comparisons easier and more insightful. Right now, ChatPlayground AI’s lifetime unlimited plan is available for $79 (reg. $619), its lowest price to date.
Generative AI continues to find its way into our everyday work tasks, changing the way we approach projects across industries. ChatPlayground AI’s main feature is its vast comparison layout, which allows you to enter a single prompt and instantly see how different models respond side by side.
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 models include GPT-4o, Claude Sonnet 4, Gemini 1.5 Flash, DeepSeek V3, Llama, Perplexity, and more, covering the cutting edge of generative technology. Comparing outputs in a unified view not only saves time but also empowers users to choose the model that best fits a specific task, whether it’s creative writing, academic research, data analysis, or complex coding. These additional perspectives are invaluable for anyone looking to maximize the impact of generative AI in their day-to-day work.
ChatPlayground AI also functions as a multi-purpose platform. Users can generate images, analyze PDFs, upload pictures for context-aware responses, and save chat histories for ongoing projects. There’s also a Chrome browser extension that lets you pull the tool when researching or working online.
The unlimited plan is geared toward people who often experiment with AI, such as developers, startup teams, writers, and researchers, and includes unlimited messages per month, access across unlimited devices, priority support, and future updates. The plan is available only on desktop and is available to both new and existing users.
At $79 (reg. $619) for lifetime access, ChatPlayground AI may appeal to anyone who regularly switches between multiple AI tools or wants a single place to compare results before settling on one.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
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