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SAVE $100: As of Jan. 9, get the Google Pixel Watch 4 LTE for $399.99, down from its usual price of $499.99. That's a discount of 50% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Google Pixel Watch 4 LTE $399.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $100   Get Deal

New year, new you? If you're looking to kick off 2026 on the right foot, one good resolution is getting on track with your fitness journey or planning to be better at organizing your day. One good way to do this is by picking up a new smartwatch. Thanks to this Amazon deal, you can do just that for a great price right now.

As of Jan. 9, get the Google Pixel Watch 4 LTE for $399.99, down from its usual price of $499.99. That's a discount of 50% and the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The 7 best smartwatches of 2025 include some surprises

The Pixel Watch 4 is an attractive wearable that features a bright and crisp Actua 360 domed display, which is 10% larger and 50% brighter than the Pixel Watch 3. It's meant to be extremely durable with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass, and it's super easy to read.

The watch also features Google's AI assistant Gemini built in, so you can ask questions and get answers straight from your wrist in addition to using it to organize your day, text and call, and use a variety of Android-centric apps. It's rife with fitness tracking options as well, wih over 40 exercise modes, health data, and real-time stats including a GPS, route tracking, and more.

It boasts over 40 hours of battery life and 72 hours in Battery Saver mode, and with its side charging dock, you can get 15 additional hours of battery in just 15 minutes in a pinch.

If you're ready to grab a new affordable smartwatch that's rife with bells and whistles, don't miss this deal while it's still live.

At this year's CES, automakers focused on showing us the future of cars; not so much the cars themselves.

OK, there were exceptions, such as Sony Honda Mobility's AFEELA 1 and the accompanying SUV prototype. Some automakers decided to launch new or refreshed models in the past couple of days, unrelated to CES.

SEE ALSO: Best of CES 2026 awards announced: See all the winners and nominees

At the CES 2026 show floor, however, the focus was on artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, safety tech, and the good old practice of throwing massive computing power at a car to make it smarter.

Let's recap the most important car and mobility trends that emerged from CES 2026.

Sony Honda Mobility is still dedicated to building EVs The AFEELA is real-a. Sorry about that. Credit: Caroline Brehman / Contributor via Getty Images

We're not going to pretend that Sony Honda's AFEELA 1 is new. The joint company first unveiled the AFEELA 1 prototype three years ago, at CES 2023, while the production version was shown last year. And this year's version was simply more refined in numerous little ways, though that refinement comes at a cost, as the AFEELA 1 starts at $89,900.

This year, the company also brought the AFEELA 1 Prototype, which the company says will likely reach production in 2028. The car itself is essentially a SUV variant of the AFEELA 1, but the big news is that Sony Honda still looks serious about this whole smart EV business, even as some competitors dial down on their EV plans.

Tensor's Robocar It should be able to drive itself, but you'll still have the option to sit behind the wheel and drive it if you so desire. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

The California-based Tensor Auto calls itself an "AI and RoboCar company," which tells you all you need to know about today's mobility trends: the AI element is as important as the car itself.

At CES 2026, the company brought its Robocar, a preposterously luxurious, extremely futuristic electric car that is basically a big smart robot that lugs you around — we had a close look at the Tensor Robocar at CES.

The Robocar, as the name suggests, is equal parts robot and car. You can talk to it, and it talks back. The vehicle can, for example, notify you about traffic conditions before you leave the house, and make contextual decisions as it drives you to your destination.

Featured Video For You Motorola is entering the wearable AI game

Oh, and did we mention that it's a real head-turner?

It's still early days for cars like these, as no personal car out there can autonomously drive you around without any user intervention (Tensor has designed the Robocar with Level 4 autonomy in mind). But Tensor is ramping up production in the second half of 2026, meaning you should be able to buy one relatively soon. Fingers crossed.

Nvidia's physical AI

One of Nvidia's obsessions at CES 2026 was "physical AI," which means AI systems that can perform complex actions in the physical world. This includes robots, smart spaces, but also autonomous vehicles, which have to process sensor data in real-time and then act upon it.

Mercedes-Benz was one of Nvidia's partners on the show floor, which showed its vision of AI-based driving, based on Nvidia's reasoning model for autonomous driving called Alpamayo. The company also announced plans to start testing a robotaxi service (with a partner) as soon as 2027.

So. Many. AI. Assistants.

In the past, the first things automakers bragged about were the acceleration, the space, the comfort. Now? It's all about who has the best AI assistant.

At CES 2026, BMW demoed its Amazon Alexa+-based assistant, built into the company's first Neue Klasse EV, the BMW iX3. The new AI companion, which is rolling out in the second half of 2026 in the U.S., is not just for navigation and turning on your seat heatings; it can also answer broader questions, including ones about the Mona Lisa.

Ford announced an intelligent assistant that will debut on smartphones first before launching in cars circa 2027. Sony's AFEELA 1 will feature a Microsoft Azure OpenAI-based AI assistant that should be able to keep up a conversation. And Tensor's AI Agent takes things a step further by analyzing data from all possible sensors as well as in-car entertainment systems and using long-term memory to learn and adapt to your preferences over time.

Good old EVs Not fully revealed yet, but the Volvo EX60 should have the best range in its class. Credit: Volvo

With Detroit Auto Show coming up next week, most automakers decided to show up there instead of at CES. But some, like Xiaomi and Volvo, launched or teased new models during CES (even if Xiaomi didn't have a big presence at the show).

These weren't as futuristic as the other stuff we've seen at the show, but the good news is that they're actual new models that will soon be available for purchase.

With the new XIaomi SU7, the focus is on safety. Credit: Xiaomi

Xiaomi's refreshed SU7 electric sedan focuses on safety, though it does also have improved range and powertrain, among other improvements.

Finally, Volvo will officially launch its electric SUV, the EX60, on Jan. 21, but the company teased the car with a few photos, and some very impressive range figures.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and updates from the biggest show in tech.

SAVE 28%: As of Jan. 9, you can get the Magic: The Gathering Innistrad Remastered Play Booster Box (504 MTG cards) for $181.89, down from $251.64. That's a 28% discount or $69.75 in savings.

Magic: The Gathering Innistrad Remastered Play Booster Box (504 MTG cards) $181.89 at Amazon
$251.64 Save $69.75   Get Deal at Amazon

If you’re ready to experience one of Magic’s most iconic settings, this is the best time to do it without overpaying for the nostalgia. Since the "Remastered" sets tend to have shorter print runs, catching a price dip on a full display is a solid win for any collector.

SEE ALSO: Acer debuted 3 new gaming monitors at CES 2026 — should you upgrade?

As of Jan. 9, the Magic: The Gathering Innistrad Remastered Play Booster Box (36 Packs) is on sale for $181.89, down from $251.64 at Amazon. That's a 28% discount and $69.75 in savings. While that’s already a great deal, the real context is the current market value, which is sitting at $179.99. Getting a box at essentially the exact market price (with the convenience and shipping speed of Amazon) makes this an easy choice over the usual secondary-market markups.

Each of the 36 Play Boosters contains 14 cards, and you're guaranteed to find a Retro-frame card in every single pack. These are the boosters designed specifically for drafting, so if you've been itching to host a horror-themed game night, this is the box you'll want.

Inside, you can expect between one and four Rares or Mythic Rares per pack, along with a traditional foil card. There’s also the tiny chance (less than 1%) of pulling a Foil Borderless Mythic Planeswalker.

SAVE $100: As of Jan. 9, the Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro, 128GB, WiFi) is down to just $399 at Amazon and Best Buy, down from $499. That's a savings of 20%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro, 128GB, WiFi) $399 at Amazon
$499 Save $100   Get Deal

Apple's smallest iPad packs a surprising amount of punch. It may not be the most exciting tablet in the brand's lineup, but we still think it's pretty great — especially when it's on sale for $100 off.

As of Jan. 9, you can get the Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro, 128GB, WiFi) on sale for just $399 at Amazon and Best Buy. That's a savings of 20% from its list price of $499.

The seventh-generation iPad Mini, released in fall 2024, packs some predictable (yet welcome) upgrades from its predecessor — including a new A17 Pro chip, a boost in RAM, a new starting storage capacity of 128GB, and of course, Apple Intelligence. At just 8.3 inches, it's compact enough to slip in your purse and whip out for on-the-go reading, streaming, and casual scrolling. In fact, if you prefer not to buy a separate e-reader, we think the iPad Mini is the best tablet for reading (it's just an inch bigger than a Kindle Paperwhite).

Mashable's reviewer Stan Schroeder writes, "If you're new to the iPad, and you want the most compact one around (or any compact tablet), the new iPad mini 7 is the best choice." It won't knock you off your feet or anything, but it is a very solid device for the price, particularly when it's on sale.

SAVE $140: As of Jan. 9, get the Eufy 11S Max robot vacuum for $139.99, down from its usual price of $279.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 50%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Eufy 11S Max robot vacuum $139.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $140   Get Deal

If you're looking to invest in a robot vacuum, you've got tons of options to choose from. As the tech has improved over the years, prices have also lowered, so even a budget robot vacuum can be a pro at cleaning your living room. If you want something that can get your home tidy without forcing you to drain your bank account, there are absolutely ways to achieve that, and we've found one robot vacuum you'll want to snap up now as it's on sale.

As of Jan. 9, get the Eufy 11S Max robot vacuum for $139.99, down from its usual price of $279.99 at Amazon. That's $140 off and a discount of 50%.

SEE ALSO: I found the best robot vacuums for every floor, budget, and level of laziness (after testing 30+ models)

The Eufy 11S Max has 2000Pa of suction power so it can breeze through any cleaning job with no issue. It has over 10 infrared sensors to keep it moving as well, with anti-collison and anti-drop tech to ensure it doesn't run into any snags. On top of that, it has a three-point cleaning system and a remote control, both of which can help you establish routines and cleaning zones.

While it does lack some of the more fleshed out features that some of its brethren do include, you can't really argue with a robot vacuum for under $200 that can still do the cleaning job that this one can. You get tons of ways to make sure your floors are as clean as possible for a price that you really can't beat. At the very least, it'll certainly shave some time off of your cleaning routine, and time is the most valuable currency of all, no matter how you slice it. Get yours while it's still on sale.

Parts of World Cup 2026 matches will be live-streamed on TikTok, FIFA announced on Thursday. As part of a "first-of-its-kind Preferred Platform agreement," the platform will also feature other original content created specifically for TikTok, as well as curated clips.

"FIFA's goal is to share the exhilaration of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with as many fans as possible, and we can't think of a better way to further that mission during the biggest event in sports history than to have TikTok as the tournament's first Preferred Platform," FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström said in the press release.

SEE ALSO: Why is TikTok so obsessed with 365 buttons?

FIFA and TikTok will also build a creator program, giving select TikTokkers access to behind-the-scenes moments like press conferences and training sessions. A wider group of creators will be able to use archival FIFA footage. (TikTok will apparently implement anti-piracy policies, per the announcement.)

A World Cup hub will live in the app, powered by TikTok GamePlan, a product suite for sports fans and creators announced in December. The suite includes a search hub and destination for fans to discover accounts, check schedules, add games to their calendars, buy tickets, and create their own content. The World Cup hub will also feature custom stickers, filters, and gamification features.

FIFA's partnership with TikTok runs until the end of 2026.

TikTok's global head of content, James Stafford, stated in the press release, "Football has experienced explosive global growth on TikTok over the past few years, and as FIFA's first-ever Preferred Platform, we're excited for fans to experience the FIFA World Cup 2026 beyond the 90 minutes, with exclusive content and unprecedented creator access."

Elon Musk's AI tool Grok says it is now restricted to X paid subscribers. The move comes after an outcry over sexualised and violent images reportedly generated by the platform's AI assistant.

Earlier this week, news emerged that Grok was digitally removing women's clothes in images without their consent, in response to user requests. X users were also reportedly asking the chatbot to manipulate women's photos to make them appear in swimsuits or even sexual situations.

Now, when users who aren't paying subscribers ask Grok to edit an image, Grok responds with the following message viewed by Mashable: "Image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers. You can subscribe to unlock these features," with a link to X's Premium sign-up page.

SEE ALSO: Grok under investigation for sexualized deepfake generation

While Grok is repeatedly stating that this feature is paywalled, The Verge noticed that "it no longer generates images as @grok replies for free, but Grok’s image editing tools remain readily available for any X user to churn out images, both sexualized and tame."

Grok responded to Mashable stating that "as of January 9, 2026, image generation and editing via Grok on X are restricted to paid subscribers following backlash over misuse." It added that some non-subscribers may be able to access it in the standalone Grok app, however.

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Mashable did receive a response from X, stating their current response was posted (albeit several days ago) on X's Safety account, stating: "Anyone using or prompting Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content." No additional clarifications were made regarding paywalling.

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This week, analysts at the Internet Watch Foundation charity in the UK said they had found "criminal imagery" including "sexualised and topless imagery" of children aged 11-13 on an unnamed "dark web forum," which users claimed were made using Grok. On Monday, the UK's communication regulator Ofcom said it had "made urgent contact" with X and xAI regarding "sexualised images of children" which had allegedly been generated by Grok.

Grok indeed admitted last week that generated images of "minors in minimal clothing" form part of a larger issue with deepfakes. "xAI has safeguards, but improvements are ongoing to block such requests entirely," read Grok's response.

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Grok is now being investigated by governments in France, India, and Malaysia for generating sexualised deepfakes in what appears to be the beginning of a global crackdown the AI assistant.

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The news that Grok will now only be available to paid subscribers does not go far enough, per a statement from UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer's official spokesperson, who called the move "insulting" to survivors of sexual violence and misogyny.

Downing Street told reporters that paywalling image generation "simply turns an AI feature that allows the creation of unlawful images into a premium service".

Earlier this week, Starmer said in an interview that Grok's generation of sexualised imagery of women and children is "disgraceful" and "disgusting," saying "It's not to be tolerated...Ofcom has our full support to take action in relation to this."

This could mean the UK government could ban X if adequate protections are not introduced by X owner Elon Musk on his platform. Regulator Ofcom has the power to block a website or app in the UK by court order, in addition to fining a company 10 percent of its global turnover.

At the time of publishing, X had not publicly commented on this matter.

If you have experienced sexual abuse, call the free, confidential National Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), or access the 24-7 help online by visiting online.rainn.org.

UPDATE: Jan. 9, 2026, 3:58 p.m. Updated with additional information.

SAVE $200: As of Jan. 9, shop the Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) at Amazon for just $999. That saves you $200 off its $1,199 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $999 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $200   Get Deal

New year new...computer? If a new laptop wasn't under the Christmas tree this year, then it's time to take matters into your own hands. If you're an Apple loyalists, our favorite MacBook, the one we think is the best option for most people, is the Apple MacBook Air with M4 chip. And to kick off 2026, Amazon just dropped the price on the MacBook Air.

As of Jan. 9, the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air is now just $999. That saves you $200 off its $1,199 list price for 17% savings. This MacBook comes with the M4 chip and has 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD.

The MacBook Air with M4 chip is 85% faster than all of the laptops we've tested. It scores 14,992 on the Geekbench 6 multi-core report, meaning it runs quickly, efficiently, and quietly. The 15-inch model has six speakers and a 12MP camera. It's also just an exceptionally well-valued laptop, delivering powerful computing in a slim package all for just $1,199. We'd tell you to buy it full price, so we definitely think you should buy it for $200 off.

The MacBook Air with M4 chip's lowest price is $949, so the current deal at Amazon is just $50 more. Not bad especially if you can't wait to buy until the next big sale.

SAVE 46%: As of Jan. 9, you can get the DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station on sale for $699, down from $1,299, at Amazon. That's a 46% discount or $600 in savings. It's also the best price we've tracked on this model.

DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station $699 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $600   Get Deal at Amazon

If you’ve been waiting for a reason to finally set up a home backup system, this DJI deal is definitely worth a look. It’s the kind of practical purchase that you’ll be glad you have when the power goes out, and you're the only one on the block who can still run the microwave.

SEE ALSO: The 4 best power stations for camping keep you both online and off-grid

As of Jan. 9, the DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station is on sale for $699 at Amazon. That's a 46% discount and $600 in savings. It's also the best price we've tracked on this model.

For a station with this much capacity, seeing the price drop under $700 is a big deal, especially since it's coming from a brand that's currently fighting for its right to even sell here. Because DJI was added to the FCC’s "Covered List" at the end of 2025, its ability to launch new products in the U.S. is basically on ice. This Power 2000 was cleared before those restrictions hit, so it’s still legal to own and operate, but it’s a reminder that the window to grab their hardware might not stay open forever.

The Power 2000 is built to handle the heavy stuff. It features a 2048Wh LFP battery and a 3000W stable output, which is plenty of juice to keep an air conditioner, a space heater, or a full-sized fridge running during an outage. If you do manage to drain it, DJI’s fast-charging can get it from 0 to 80 percent in about 55 minutes when you’re plugged into a wall outlet.

The hardware itself is surprisingly quiet and uses LFP cells rated for 3,000 cycles. That means even if you use it heavily, it should stay reliable for roughly a decade. It’s a straightforward, high-capacity backup that’s currently priced more like a mid-range unit.

"I did not come here to poke at your trauma," is not a thing I, Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko, expected to say to anyone, much less Scottish action star Gerard Butler. When we sat down to celebrate the release of Greenland 2: Migration with a game of "Slash or Pass," I'd prepped to talk about disaster movies, having no idea how many actual disaster scenarios Butler has faced off-screen.

"My life is a disaster," he laughed while playing the game. But you should watch for yourself to see Butler coolly explain all the stressful scenarios he's survived. Then you too will know that, when in danger, we should look for Gerard Butler.

In our round-up of disaster movies, we touched on Titanic, Airplane!, Geostorm, Twister, The Happening, and of course, Greenland and Greenland 2: Migration. The sequel sees Butler reprise the role of engineer/family man John Garrity, who successfully got his wife and son to safety as the world-threatening comet Clarke barreled to Earth. This time, he'll face natural disasters and man-made menace to get his loved ones to a new "green land," a place of peace, clean air, and the promise of a better tomorrow.

Greenland 2: Migration is now in theaters.

Eric and Wendy Schmidt are backing a start-up-like approach to building a giant space telescope and powerful ground observatories.

TL;DR: Unblock ePorner for free with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

More than a third of U.S. states have introduced restrictions for online adult content. After the introduction of these age verification laws, some porn sites blocked users from those locations. The same situation is now taking place in France.

So where does that leave frustrated users? Desperately seeking a solution, that's where. Fortunately, you can still access all your favorite porn sites in just a few simple steps. There's a quick and easy hack that can secure access to restricted content from any location or network.

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

How to unblock ePorner for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address and connect you to a secure server in another location. This simple process tricks porn sites into providing you with access even if there is a block in place over your network.

Unblock ePorner from anywhere in the world by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

4. Connect to ePorner from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most leading services do offer free trials or money-back guarantees.

By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like ePorner without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it means you can temporarily unblock porn sites like ePorner and then recover your investment.

What is the best VPN for ePorner?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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

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

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also 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 $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Unblock ePorner for free with ExpressVPN.

Late Thursday, Mr. Musk’s chatbot, Grok, limited requests for A.I.-generated images on X to paid subscribers of the social media site amid an outcry from victims and regulators.

TL;DR: Battlefield 6 is now 45% off at Amazon, available for only $39.97 for a limited time.

The best 'Battlefield 6' deals at a glance: Best PS5 Deal 'Battlefield 6' $39.97 (save $30.02) Get Deal Best XBOX SERIES X Deal 'Battlefield 6' $39.97 (save $30.02) Get Deal

It’s rare to see newly-released games with strong reviews get big discounts just a couple of months after release, but Battlefield 6 seems to be a delightful exception to the rule.

Both for PS5 and Xbox Series X, Battlefield 6 is now available to buy for only $39.97; that’s a 43% discount from its launch price of $69.99. While the game did briefly drop to $35 in December, according to camelcamelcamel, we believe this was due to trying to make the most of the Christmas rush and won’t be seeing level again for quite some time. 

Battlefield 6 has done so well — commercially, critically, and in terms of accolades — that getting it for three cents short of $40 feels like a steal. 

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Along with selling over seven million units within just three days of release and sitting at an 83 on OpenCritic, the series’ biggest launch, Battlefield 6 also earned a ton of nominations at the Golden Joystick Awards, The Game Awards (winning Best Audio Design), 16th Hollywood Music in Media Awards (winning Best Music Supervision), and The Steam Awards. 

If you’ve been on the fence about which multiplayer shooter to play with your friends this year, Battlefield 6 seems like it will definitely give you the best value for money.

For those aiming to upgrade their gaming setup for their PS5 or Xbox at the same time, the Samsung Odyssey G8 QD-OLED gaming monitor is available at its lowest price yet at Amazon. If your console is part of your living room space, the 50-inch Roku Smart TV is over $50 off at Amazon.

Sir Idris Elba may have been on Late Night to promote Season 2 of Apple TV show Hijack, but that didn't mean he was going to miss a key Premier League game.

The actor came out holding an iPad as he sat down opposite Seth Meyers, explaining that even though he was excited to be there, Arsenal were also 70 minutes into their crucial clash against Liverpool.

Meyers positioned the iPad on the desk so they could both watch, but soon the host was back to asking his pesky questions.

Elba's response? "Are you going to, um, talk the whole time?"

Spotify's ICE recruitment ads have been reportedly removed from the platform by the company, following months of backlash and boycotts.

Confirmed to Variety, Spotify has pulled advertisements encouraging Americans to sign up as deportation agents for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The news comes in the wake of the killing of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Wednesday.

"There are currently no ICE ads running on Spotify," a Spotify spokesperson told Variety. "The advertisements mentioned were part of a U.S. government recruitment campaign that ran across all major media and platforms."

Mashable has reached out to Spotify for further comment.

SEE ALSO: Jimmy Kimmel ridicules Trump response to ICE shooting: 'How stupid do you think we are?'

Since Oct. 2025, many Spotify users have boycotted the app for hosting these ICE recruitment ads — as well as for CEO Daniel Ek's investment in military AI defense company Helsing.

Spotify has been one tech platform among many — Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook — reportedly offered large financial incentives to run ICE ads, as part of the agency's $100 million marketing recruitment strategy. Variety's report notes that Spotify's ICE ads "were played between songs for users on the ad-supported free plan, offered $50,000 in signing bonuses."

Xreal, the augmented reality brand behind some of the leading smart glasses, is dealing with a lot of new competition at CES 2026. Smart glasses have been a big draw among the throngs of attendees on CES' packed convention floor this year, and I’ve probably tried on 12 different smart glasses since arriving in Las Vegas. Earlier at the event, I was impressed by the TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro (especially by its price).

So, how does Xreal respond to a more crowded playing field? By bringing out the big guns.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026 live updates: See the latest news, surprises, and strange tech from LG, Samsung, Lego, and new startups

Xreal debuted two new pairs of AR glasses for CES 2026: the Xreal 1S and the ROG Xreal R1 AR gaming glasses. The Xreal 1S offers some critical upgrades over its predecessor, not to mention a price drop to $449. Meanwhile, the company claims its upcoming ROG Xreal R1 AR gaming glasses are the world’s first-ever micro-LED smart glasses with a 240 Hz refresh rate (even the Apple Vision Pro can't do that). You can buy the Xreal 1S now, but the new ROG glasses won’t arrive until later this year, and likely with a hefty price tag.

On top of that, Xreal has a new innovation on display at CES — instant 3D conversion. Xreal calls it Real 3D, and it's available now on both the 1S and existing Xreal One Pro glasses as a free over-the-air update. This setting instantly transforms your display, photos, videos, games, and entertainment content from 2D to 3D, and it’s a damn neat trick. 

I’ve always been transparent about the fact that I’m extremely skeptical of smart glasses, especially if they have onboard cameras. Xreal smart glasses were the first to make me say, “Okay, I get it. That’s actually really cool.” The company’s spatial computing glasses project a huge screen into the environment around you, which mirrors your smartphone, tablet, or laptop display. So, if you’re working in a coffee shop or on an airplane, that means you can instantly see a massive screen floating in the air in front of you, while built-in Bose speakers provide audio.

I tried the ROG Xreal R1 AR gaming glasses at CES Credit: Mashable composite: Xreal / Asus ROG; Timothy Werth / Mashable

I got to try the unreleased R1 glasses during a demo at CES, tethered to the new ROG Xbox Ally X gaming handheld. This included using them to play Elden Ring while they were connected to a gaming PC. The results blew me away. As I'm fond of saying, they made me feel like I'm living in the future. They provided one of those rare "holy shit" moments, which is exactly what I'm looking for at CES.

The R1 display is mighty impressive, and the refresh rate was equally so. As previously mentioned, even the $3,499 Apple Vision Pro maxes out at 120 Hz, and while watching some movies on the Vision Pro, I didn’t feel like it was consistently achieving that rate. That wasn’t the case with the R1. The graphics were impressive, with strong color and clarity that compared to the nearby display. They aren't overly heavy on your face either, though I didn’t get to wear them for very long.

Playing 'Elden Ring' with the new R1 gaming glasses. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Unlike Xreal’s other glasses, the R1 don't just tether directly to your device. They also plug into an included dock, which sits on your desk and allows you to connect to multiple types of devices. This would make the R1 slightly less mobile; however, the dock is fairly compact, and you can always plug in directly to a gaming handheld.

Here’s what gamers will get with the R1:

• Display: 240Hz 1080p micro-OLED panels

• Resolution: 1920 x 1080

• Display size: 171-inch display from 4 meters away

• Field of view: 57 degrees

• Weight: 91 grams

• Sound by Bose

• Electrochromic lenses

• Includes the ROG Control Dock

• Connectivity: PCs, consoles, handhelds, Android, and iOS via USB-C

The Real 3D conversion feature works instantly

With Apple’s Vision Pro and Samsung’s Galaxy XR, users can transform their photos and videos into 3D content. This spatialization has been a big selling point with these futuristic headsets. However, this process always takes a few seconds, and it can be hit or miss.

However, Xreal’s 3D conversion feature is unlike anything I’ve tried before. With this setting turned on, every part of your virtual display is instantly transformed from 2D to 3D. The app icons on my iPhone display popped off the screen. Desktop backgrounds suddenly became three-dimensional. It even works on video content. I pulled up some recent 4K videos I shot during a Gwen Stefani performance at The Sphere, and the Xreal One Pro instantly turned them into surprisingly realistic 3D videos.

I don't love the marketing image for the Real 3D feature, which doesn't quite capture what the experience is like. It's a lot trippier — in a good way.

The Real 3D effect is cooler than this image, I promise. Credit: Xreal

These types of 3D conversions are never perfect, but I was impressed by how realistically it rendered 3D content — and how quickly. Real 3D can be activated with the push of a button, and the effect is instantaneous, as far as I could tell. Per Xreal, "it's all powered natively by the X1 spatial computing chip."

Even cooler is that this feature is available for free to existing Xreal glasses. It's available as an over-the-air software update, and I’m excited to keep playing around with it at home. (Head to the Xreal website to access the update.)

The Real 3D feature is very impressive. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable The Xreal eye attachment (pictured here) also enables recording and gesture control. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Likewise, when CES is over, I’m excited to try the new Xreal 1S glasses and pit them against newcomers from TCL and other brands. Xreal may not have the lowest prices, but that isn't the goal.

During my demo, an Xreal representative told me they’re not trying to compete on price, but on quality. And based on the brand’s CES offerings, they’re still several steps ahead of the competition.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

SAVE OVER $30: As of Jan. 9, the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE are on sale for $68.99 at Amazon. This is $31 off their list price of $99.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds FE $68.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $31   Get Deal

Amazon is offering a sweet deal on the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE for a limited time, dropping their price to $68.99. For those who have been hoping to pick up some new earbuds to take into the new year, but don't want to splash out on anything too expensive, these are worth a look.

Usually the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE are listed for $99.99, so this deal saves you $31 overall. Both colors are discounted as well, though the white pair cost just a cent more than the graphite pair, coming to $69. Keep in mind they're both marked as limited-time deals, so act fast to scoop up your favorite while the deal is still live.

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We very much enjoyed the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE. Our review from writer RJ Andersen said, "The sound quality from the Galaxy Buds FE is unmatched for earbuds at this price range. Even Apple users should consider buying them, though they do pair nicer with Android devices." Alongside great sound quality, they even feature Active Noise Cancellation, so you can stay focused on what you're listening to without surrounding sounds interrupting.

On top of that, they offer a battery life of up to six hours on a charge or up to 21 hours with the case when you have ANC on. If they sound like what you've been looking for, now is the time to make a move on the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE.

Looking for more earbud options? Our breakdown of the best earbuds highlights some of our top picks we think are worth investing in.

The late night hosts have all responded to the Trump administration's reaction to ICE fatally shooting Renee Good on Wednesday, with Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert and The Daily Show's Ronny Chieng condemning them for painting the 37-year-old mother as a "domestic terrorist" despite the video evidence.

In the Late Night video above, Seth Meyers weighs in too, finishing his "A Closer Look" segment with a sober address to camera.

"A 37-year-old mother in a Honda Pilot was shot dead on a residential street and they're calling her a terrorist," says Meyers. "The same people who called those who stormed the federal building 'heroes', the same people who supported pardoning those who beat Capitol police officers while ignoring their orders to stop, are telling us that a woman shot dead in her own car in her own community is a domestic terrorist. And when they do that, they're also telling us who they are. And it is our job to never forget what they've told us."

TL;DR: The Silent Hill 2 remake is now only $27.39 at Amazon. That's 45% off its original list price at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Konami 'Silent Hill 2' (PS5) $27.39 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $22.60 Get Deal

With Silent Hill f one of the best games of 2025, the long-running horror franchise has been enjoying a renaissance following the success of the 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake on PS5 — one of the best games of 2024. 

If you’ve been saving yourself to jump back in, you can now try the latter for a new low price. As of Jan. 9, the Silent Hill 2 remake is now available for only $27.39 on Amazon, thanks to a 45% price cut from its original $49.99 listing. Confirmed when checking price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is the lowest the Bloober Team-developed remake has been sold for on the store.

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This low sticker price definitely doesn’t mean you’re getting a poor game in return. In addition to being one of the finest releases of its year, getting a high score in our own Silent Hill 2 review at Mashable, this best-selling hit has received acclaim and awards recognition across the board.

For instance, alongside receiving six nominations at The Game Awards, it even won ‘Best Remake’ at the New York Game Awards. If you’ve got Silent Hill f burning up your 2025 backlog, the Silent Hill 2 remake is the perfect warmup. 

If you’re also keen to upgrade your PS5’s setup, you can get the Samsung Odyssey G8 QD-OLED gaming monitor for its lowest price yet at Woot. For those who are after a PlayStation 5 display that’s a bit bigger, the 50-inch Roku Smart TV is over $50 off at Amazon, part of a limited-time deal.