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SAVE $600: As of March 23, the EcoVacs Deebot X11 robot vacuum is on sale for $899 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: EcoVacs EcoVacs Deebot X11 Robot Vacuum $899 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $600.99   Get Deal

The Big Spring Sale kicks off at Amazon this week, running from March 25-31. During this week, the retail giant will be dropping huge discounts on all kinds of products, including iPads, drones, and even robot vacuums. But as always, some deals have started to drop early.

The EcoVacs Deebot X11 robot vacuum is down by $600 on list price, two days before the sale officially gets underway. If you're eager to upgrade your floor cleaning, you can find this robot vacuum for just $899 at Amazon, down from $1,499.99. That's the lowest-ever price for this impressive model.]

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This is a robot vacuum you won't regret purchasing. It's a vacuum and mop combo designed to make floor cleaning an absolute breeze. It has an OZMO Roller 2.0 system with TruEdge 3.0 that helps to improve mopping performance and edge coverage alongside BLAST 19,500Pa suction that leaves no dirt behind. It also has built-in anti-tangle brushes to help handle pet hair.

The navigation and movement on this device is next level thanks to the TruePass four-wheel system which allows it to cross thresholds, gaps, and steps with ease. The triple lift system adjusts automatically between wet and dry cleaning by lifting the mop on carpets and raising brushes when needed. AI-powered navigation (LiDAR and AIVI 3D) helps it to learn your floor layouts, so there's never any work for you to do.

Get this robot vacuum deal online at Amazon now.

SAVE $210: As of March 23, the Dyson V8 Plus is on sale for $329.99 at Amazon. That's a 39% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson V8 Plus $329.99 at Amazon
$539.99 Save $210   Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is just days away and the deals are already looking really strong. Popular products like TVs and robot vacuums are already seeing big discounts. If you're looking for a great deal on a cordless vacuum, the Dyson V8 Plus is discounted by over $200 right now. As of March 23, it's down from $539.99 to $329.99, but only for a limited time.

This model is a great choice if you're looking for a seriously powerful clean. It has a Motorbar cleaner head that's designed to deep clean all floor types and even detangle long hair and pet hair. It gives you up to 40 minutes of full powered suction, with two power modes to choose from: a standard mode for everyday cleaning and a Max mode for more intensive tasks.

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It can easily be converted into a handheld vacuum for cleaning cars, stairs, and upholstery — it's not just designed for floors. It also includes three attachments for different cleaning needs, along with a wall dock and charger, and a hair screw tool with an anti-tangle conical brush bar.

Get this vacuum deal at Amazon now.

There's a moment in BTS: The Return when the question shifts from finishing the album to defining it.

By that point, BTS already have a body of work, more than a dozen tracks they feel confident in. What they don’t have is a clear sense of what those songs mean together, or what they're meant to say about this next version of the group. This isn't just a comeback; it's a recalibration of what it means to be BTS now, after everything they've already built.

That question carries weight for a reason. Over the past decade, BTS have reshaped the boundaries of global pop, expanding what a Korean group can sound like, where they can reach, and how they can connect. Their legacy isn't hypothetical. It already exists. The challenge is how to move within it.

In a meeting with HYBE executives, that uncertainty is given language. Executive creative director Boyoung Lee frames legacy as something to be actively sustained, while Bang Si-hyuk, the group’s longtime producer and chairman of HYBE, pushes the idea further. He asks the members to consider how they are building toward that legacy as they work, and what it means to evaluate it in the process of making something new. The reference point becomes "Arirang," a traditional Korean folk song rooted in longing and collective memory, a lineage that stretches far beyond the scale of a singular pop album — and one they are now being asked to reinterpret for themselves.

It’s an ambitious proposition. Maybe too ambitious. "Are we really worthy enough to ask ourselves this question?" leader RM wonders aloud, laughing to soften the hesitation underneath.

From that point on, The Return is no longer about completing an album. It's about whether BTS — RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook — can define what they've already become and who they are still becoming.

Credit: Netflix A documentary about process, not performance

Directed by Bao Nguyen, BTS: The Return begins in August 2025, weeks into BTS's two-month stay in Los Angeles, where they have been working to complete their first full-group project in four years. By the time Jin arrives, exhausted after finishing a solo tour the night before, the process is already underway. The members are living together in a rented house, moving between the intimacy of shared domestic space and the iterative, often circular rhythms of the studio.

Nguyen's camera isn't interested in spectacle. It lingers instead on repetition, on the slow accumulation of attempts, revisions, and near-decisions that define creative work. Days pass in cycles: listening to demos, recording vocals, revisiting ideas that never quite settle. There is a looseness to how time is structured, but not to what is at stake.

Credit: Netflix

On paper, the album is close to finished. In practice, it feels suspended. The members, particularly RM and Suga, aren't entirely satisfied. They have songs in the bank but nothing that feels definitive. What they're stuck on isn't production, but decision-making. What to keep, what to change, and what those choices ultimately say about the group's future.

It's a creative rut, but not an entirely unproductive one. The work continues without settling into anything final. Ideas are tested, revised, and set aside as quickly as they come together. "We're doing a lot of experiments trying to figure out what makes us special and what makes up BTS," RM says.

The urgency never fully disappears. Once they leave the warm glow of Los Angeles, the process shifts to Seoul, where the album will be finalized and locked in. That looming endpoint adds a particular tension to their time in California. It's both a space to experiment — an "amusement park" of ideas, as V describes it — and a countdown. "I want to enjoy making music freely," J-Hope says over dinner with the members, pushing against the feeling of working in something closer to a factory than a studio. But that openness never quite resolves into clarity. As Suga puts it, what's missing isn't effort, but direction. That unifying idea that can hold everything together.

Credit: Netflix What it takes to be understood by everyone

That tension surfaces most clearly in the studio, where the act of making music is stripped of its polish and presented as labor.

Nguyen lets these sequences run longer than expected, resisting the urge to condense them into clean progress. Instead, we sit with the repetition: lines recorded and re-recorded, phrasing adjusted mid-take, producers offering notes that are at once technical and directional. The conversation keeps returning to the same question from different angles — how this album should sound, and who it needs to reach.

At one point, that question is made more explicit. A HYBE executive points to earlier tracks like "On" and "Black Swan," suggesting that, while ambitious, they weren't always easily relatable for broader audiences. The implication is that something more legible is needed. That line of thinking begins to shape the group's direction in real time, nudging them toward a lead single like "Swim," which feels designed to land more instinctively.

Part of that question is also linguistic. At various points, the group is encouraged to think about the album's global accessibility, about how certain lines will land for listeners outside Korea. English becomes part of that equation. The push toward a more global sound isn't abstract. It's articulated directly by an executive from HYBE.

The members don't resist the idea outright, but they do question what it requires. Suga feels like there's already too much English in the lyrics, particularly in the rap verses, while RM returns to the question of authenticity. For this album, he insists, that authenticity matters.

Credit: Netflix

The camera lingers as they work through English lines that don't quite sit naturally, repeating words, adjusting phrasing, worrying over pronunciation. "This is too hard," Jimin says at one point. V admits the frustration more bluntly: "It's killing me." Even Jin questions the verbosity of the English phrasing, wondering whether all those words can fit into a single lyric.

Time only heightens the pressure. There isn't space to fully settle into the language, to make it feel effortless. In one writing session for "Normal," RM turns to a collaborator for reassurance, asking whether a melody sounds awkward, acknowledging the limits of his own fluency. Even for the member most comfortable navigating that boundary, the process is not instinctive. It has to be worked through, line by line.

Credit: Netflix

If English expands the music outward, Korean anchors it in something more specific. The space between the two becomes something the group has to actively parse, take by take. What The Return makes clear is that "global" isn't a neutral goal. It's a process of constant adjustment, one that happens in the body as much as in the music.

SEE ALSO: BTS fans, Spotify has a quiz for you Arirang, and the weight of what BTS carry forward

That search for direction begins to take shape in the idea of "Arirang."

The film's most conceptually dense sequence unfolds around the introduction of the popular Korean folk song and the seven young Korean men who first brought it to the United States in 1896. The conversations slow, the tone becomes more deliberate, and the stakes expand beyond the album itself.

The idea originates in a meeting with HYBE's executive creative director, but it follows them back into the studio, where it becomes something they have to actually work through. Bang wants to sample "Arirang" in the album. What is being proposed isn't just a sonic reference, but a framework. It's a way of situating BTS within a longer cultural lineage, one that carries its own expectations and histories. What that looks like, in actuality, is far less resolved than the concept suggests.

The longer they sit with the idea, the less stable it becomes. This is where Pdogg, their trusted in-house producer, comes into focus. He doesn't push the group toward a solution so much as keep them moving through the uncertainty, reframing what might otherwise feel like stagnation. At the end of one long day in the studio, when the conversation has circled without resolution, and the members seem to be slowly losing focus after hours of trying and failing to bring this idea to life, his assessment is simple: "We failed just enough."

Credit: Netflix

It's a small moment, but it reframes everything that comes before it. The point isn't to arrive at a perfect articulation of "Arirang," or even to resolve what it means for BTS to carry it forward. It's to stay inside the process long enough for something to take shape, even if that shape remains incomplete.

Eventually, "Arirang" is folded into the track "Body To Body." A debate emerges over how much of "Arirang" should be present in the track, whether it should be foregrounded or folded into the production, and how it might be interpreted depending on who is listening. Would using the song be too overt for Korean listeners? They worry it might feel too traditional, too heavy-handed, even uncomfortably patriotic. The hesitation comes from within, from a shared understanding of how "Arirang" functions culturally, and how easily it could tip from meaningful into something that feels imposed.

Credit: Netflix

At the same time, they are thinking about a global audience that might respond very differently. What risks feeling excessive or overly symbolic to Korean listeners could register as striking or resonant elsewhere. The question isn't just how much of the sample to use, but what that choice signals depending on where it's heard.

In the studio, those tensions play out in real-time. Bang pushes for a more direct use of the "Arirang" sample, at times advocating keeping it uninterrupted, while the members weigh how far they're willing to go. J-Hope, animated in his conviction, argues for what he feels instinctively works, embodying the push and pull that defines these conversations with the label. That tension carries into a later meeting in Seoul, where the members listen to a new version of "Body To Body" with a more prominent "Arirang" sample — noteably, the one that makes the final cut on the album. RM's reaction lands lightly, but pointedly: "It feels like I'm eating kimchi fried rice in Paris Baguette."

The film lingers on these exchanges, offering a rare look at how those decisions are negotiated — the kind of access fans rarely get to see.

Credit: Netflix

There are technical questions to iron out — tempo, arrangement, placement — but they quickly give way to something more layered. How do you use something this culturally loaded without letting it overwhelm the song? How do you make it feel impactful rather than performative? What emerges isn't a clear answer, but a sharper sense of how differently the same choice can land. What resonates in one context might feel excessive in another. What reads as homage could just as easily be interpreted as obligation.

Intimacy by design

If the studio sequences are defined by pressure, the film's emotional center lies in the spaces Nguyen builds around them.

The decision to introduce handheld camcorders switches the film's visual language in a subtle but meaningful way. Perspective becomes fragmented, subjective. The members are no longer just being observed; they are observing each other and the spaces around them, shaping how their time together is documented. V takes to the camera most naturally, moving through the house with an ease that makes the footage feel less like documentation and more like memory.

Credit: Netflix

That allows Nguyen to linger on moments that might otherwise be cut: eating samgyeopsal together, pouring drinks, sitting around a table as conversations drift in and out. Outside, they pass time just as loosely — tossing a ball back and forth in the yard, slipping into the pool, moving between activity and stillness without clear structure. In one scene, RM picks up a saxophone and the others singing along without prompting, the moment unfolding without pretense.

These scenes aren't framed as relief from the work, but as part of it. These are the conditions that make the work possible. The time spent together, unstructured and unproductive on its surface, becomes a different kind of creative foundation.

The effect is cumulative. By the time the film moves away from Los Angeles, that shared space feels essential to how BTS function — not just as collaborators, but as something closer to a family.

What remains when they're not trying to define it

That sense of proximity becomes more fragile once the group returns to Seoul.

Nguyen doesn't dramatize the change so much as let it register through contrast in the absence of the collective energy that defined their time in Los Angeles. What once felt continuous now feels dispersed, each member moving through his own space again.

In one of the film's most intimate moments, Jimin sits alone, describing a life that has grown smaller, more contained in the aftermath of fame. The scene is unadorned: a meal, a screen, the low hum of routine. The camera holds on him just long enough for the weight of that admission to settle, not as a revelation, but as something quietly lived. It reframes what came before.

Credit: Netflix

In retrospect, the Los Angeles sessions begin to feel less like a production period and more like a rare alignment — a stretch of time defined not just by work, but by closeness. By the simple, increasingly uncommon experience of being together in the same place, moving through the same days.

RM gestures toward this in his philosophical reflections on time, drawing a distinction between what can be measured and what can be felt. The steady passage of days gives way, in those shared moments, to something more elastic, shaped by presence rather than schedule.

Nguyen doesn't underline the point. He doesn't need to. It's already embedded in the film's pulse, in what it lingers on, in what it refuses to resolve.

By the time BTS leave Los Angeles, the album remains unfinished. The questions that shaped it are still open. But what the film reveals, almost in spite of itself, is that the time they spent together was never just a means to an end.

It was the thing they were trying to hold onto.

BTS: The Return is streaming on Netflix on March 27.

The Bravo TV empire, which turns 20 this month, has also been a gold mine for the internet.

Amazon gift cards usually come with the starting balance printed on the physical card or mentioned in the email if you receive an eGift card. But what if you want to check the balance on a gift card that you previously redeemed to see if you have enough left over to splurge during Amazon's Big Spring Sale (which officially runs March 25-31 in 2026)? Or maybe you want to reload a gift card you've already used up to keep you on budget? Check the state of your gift cards before your shopping spree this spring by following the simple steps below. Happy shopping!

How to check your Amazon gift card balance on your desktop

Follow these quick steps to check or reload your Amazon gift card balance from your computer browser:

Total Time

• 2 minutes

What You Need

• Computer

Step 1: Navigate to Amazon

Open the Amazon website.

Step 2: Accounts & Lists

Click on Accounts & Lists in the top right corner of the screen.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon website

Step 3: Select Gift cards

A new menu page will open on the website. Select Gift cards.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon website

Step 4: Redeem or reload gift card

Once you click, you'll be able to see the existing balance on your gift card. If you are checking the balance on an unredeemed gift card and wish to redeem it, you can click on Redeem a Gift card. You can also opt to Reload your card in this menu or check your transaction history, which is listed below the gift card balance.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon website How to check your Amazon gift card balance in the app

Follow these simple steps to check or reload your Amazon gift card balance from your phone or tablet:

Total Time

• 2 minutes

What You Need

• Smartphone

Step 1: Go to Account

Open the app and click on the account icon at the bottom of the landing page (the little person illustration). Then choose Account at the top of the landing page.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Step 2: Navigate to Payments

Scroll down until you see the Payments section.

Step 3: Manage gift card balance

In the Payments section, click on Manage gift card balance.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Step 4: Check balance or reload

Use the new menu that opens to check your gift card balance, reload your gift card, or check past activity.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

The SNL UK cast probably dreamed of their first ever sketch being spoken about far and wide, but a share from the US president was likely the last thing they were expecting.

In the first ever cold open above, George Fouracres plays an extra nervous UK prime minister Keir Starmer, waiting with deputy prime minister David Lammy for a phone call from Donald Trump.

"Oh, golly," says Starmer/Fouracres in the sketch as the phone rings. "What if Donald shouts at me?"

Starmer is presented as both cowardly and obsessed with Trump in the sketch, which may have been what prompted the president to post the video on Truth Social on Sunday.

Samsung is adding AirDrop support to its Galaxy S26 phones, making its Quick Share file transfer feature compatible with iPhones.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra hands-on: Privacy Display is the coolest innovation by far

Rolling out from Monday, Samsung's Quick Share update will arrive on Galaxy S26 phones in South Korea first before expanding to other regions, including North America, Latin America, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan. Samsung also plans to add Airdrop compatibility to devices outside the S26 series at a later date, though exact models have yet to be announced.

Samsung's Quick Share debuted on the Galaxy S20 in 2020, seven years after Apple first introduced AirDrop to iOS. Quick Share subsequently merged with Google's Nearby Share feature in 2024, becoming available on non-Samsung Android devices, ChromeOS, and Windows PCs. Then in 2025, Quick Share gained AirDrop compatibility on Google Pixel 10 devices. Today's news sees Quick Share's iPhone support expand further, gradually making it easier to share files with friends regardless of the OS they use.

To send files to an iOS device via Quick Share, Samsung Galaxy S26 users will first have to toggle on "Share with Apple devices," found in the phone settings under "Connected devices" and "Quick Share."

Credit: Samsung

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 23, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for March 23, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for March 23 Pips

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 4-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for March 23 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally.

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

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for March 23 Pips

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

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed vertically.

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

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically.

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

Number (16): Everything in this space must add up to 16. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 3-3, placed vertically.

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is for people who know offensive schemes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Yellow: Tiebreaker

• Green: Offensive playbook

• Blue: Red bird teams

• Purple: SGA

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Used to Break a Tie

• Green: Offensive Formations in Football

• Blue: Cardinals

• Purple: Associated with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #546 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Used to Break a Tie - EXTRA END, EXTRA INNINGS, OVERTIME, SHOOTOUT

• Offensive Formations in Football - I, SHOTGUN, WILDCAT, WISHBONE

• Cardinals - ARIZONA, BALL STATE, LOUISVILLE, ST. LOUIS

• Associated with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - 2, KENTUCKY, MVP, THUNDER

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To enhance.

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

BOOST

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Restaurants have many of these.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 23, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

TABLE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Killed.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 23 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 23, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SLAIN

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Sound made during sleep.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SNORE

Final Hurdle hint

Jewish text.

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

TORAH

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

If the Moon looks different tonight than it did yesterday, that’s because it’s moving through the lunar cycle. As it orbits Earth, the Sun illuminates different portions of its surface, which is why its shape appears to change from night to night.

The full cycle takes about 29.5 days and includes eight unique phases. Keep reading to find out where the Moon is in that cycle today.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Monday, March 23, the Moon phase is Waxing Crescent. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 23% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

Tonight's Moon viewing is similar to last nights, with still only a small portion of the moon illuminated. With just your naked eye, you can spot the Mare Fecunditatis and the Mare Crisium, as well as the Edymion Crater, with the addition of binoculars or a telescope.

When is the next Full Moon?

In North America, the next Full Moon is predicted to take place on April 1.

What are Moon phases?

NASA says the Moon takes about 29.5 days to orbit Earth, going through eight different phases. We always see the same side, but the Sun lights up different portions as it moves, which is why it can look full, half, or just a thin sliver. These changing shapes are called the lunar phases, and there are eight in total:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you have a good heart.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for March 23, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Good character

• Green: Lifesavers

• Blue: Untainted

• Purple: Aka

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Principled

• Green: Game-changing inventions

• Blue: "Virgin" things

• Purple: Ending in nickname homophones

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1016 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Principled: DECENT, HONEST, MORAL, STAND-UP

• Game-changing inventions: LIGHT BULB, PRINTING PRESS, SLICED BREAD, WHEEL

• "Virgin" things: MARY, MOCKTAIL, OLIVE OIL, VIRGO

• Ending in nickname homophones: BRAIN STEW, BROCCOLI RABE, JUNGLE GYM, OPEN MIC

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 23, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're not put together.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 23, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: In pieces

The words are related to smashing.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things splitting.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Breakdown.

NYT Strands word list for March 23

• Rupture

• Crack

• Splinter

• Breakdown

• Fracture

• Shatter

• Snap

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you use Word often.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 23, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for March 23, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Decorative font.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

SERIF

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for just $12.97 (reg. $199) and upgrade your PC with better multitasking, security, and AI-powered tools.

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$199 Save $186.03   Get Deal

Operating system upgrades aren’t usually the most exciting purchase. Most people install them when they have to — often when their current version starts feeling outdated or loses support.

But every once in a while, an offer makes the decision a lot easier. Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is available for just $12.97 (reg. $199) for a limited time. That means upgrading to Microsoft’s newest operating system costs less than your average lunch.

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Windows 11 Pro introduces a cleaner, more modern interface, designed to make everyday computing a bit smoother. The centered taskbar, redesigned menus, and improved search features help streamline navigation.

It also adds productivity tools like Snap Layouts, which make multitasking easier by letting you organize multiple windows on screen quickly. If you regularly work across several apps at once — documents, spreadsheets, browser tabs — this can be a noticeable improvement.

On the security side, Windows 11 Pro includes BitLocker encryption, biometric login options, TPM 2.0 protection, and Smart App Control, helping protect devices from modern threats. The OS also integrates Copilot, Microsoft’s built-in AI assistant, which can help summarize webpages, answer questions, and even assist with writing or coding tasks.

For PCs that meet the compatibility requirements, upgrading to Windows 11 Pro for $12.97 (reg. $199) is an easy way to bring your system up to date without spending much.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

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TL;DR: Upgrade your Mac with a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021, on sale now for $59.97 through April 12.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License $59.97
$219 Save $159.03   Get Deal

If you want the best of both worlds, you can now get all the best Microsoft tools on your Mac with this Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021 lifetime license. This edition comes with six powerful tools you’ll get access to forever, and now you can get them all for just $59.97 — just $10 each — until April 12.

Mac users, listen up. You can now enjoy all the perks of Microsoft’s best tools, while still enjoying the power and comforts of your Apple device. This Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021 lifetime license equips your Mac with six essentials, and lets you own them outright for just $10 each.

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Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021 makes it easy to create documents with Word, build spreadsheets with Excel, manage your emails with Outlook, and design presentations with PowerPoint. You’ll also have access to newer staples like OneNote to help you modernize your note-taking and Teams to stay connected with friends, family, and coworkers.

You’ll receive an instant delivery and download with your purchase, so you can permanently access these tools for life with no cloud connectivity or subscription fees required. Just ensure your Mac is running macOS 14 Sonoma, macOS 15 Sequoia, or macOS 26 Tahoe.

Get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021, on sale now for $59.97 through April 12.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

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Nothing seemed amiss as NASA's experimental X-59 supersonic jet touched down after its second test in the air, smoothly coasting onto the runway. 

But the sleek, needle-nosed airplane had completed only nine minutes in the air on Friday, March 20, before a cockpit warning light forced an early landing. That warning was separate from a caution light that occurred during an earlier takeoff attempt just before 10 a.m. P.T., said Cathy Bahm, project manager at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center.

The brief flight left from Edwards Air Force Base in California at 10:54 a.m. P.T. marked only the second time the aircraft had flown. While the team originally planned for about an hour, leaders stressed that even short flights provide new data for moving the project forward. You can watch the landing in the video below. 

Bob Pearce, who heads NASA's aeronautics research, said the team made the right call to cut the flight short on Friday. The agency expects to find and fix issues at this stage of an X‑plane, an aircraft the U.S. builds to test new flight technologies and ideas.

"Sometimes it's easy to forget that building this kind of experimental aircraft means creating something that never existed before," Pearce said during a news conference. "As far as X-planes go, it's not unusual."

SEE ALSO: Mars evidence shows ancient river likely larger and faster than thought

The X-59 is part of a long-term effort to change how fast commercial airplanes fly over land. Traditional supersonic aircraft create a loud boom when they break the sound barrier, which is why the U.S. government bans routine supersonic passenger flights over populated areas. NASA and its contractor, Lockheed Martin, built the X-59 to fly faster than sound while producing only a "thump," with the goal of providing regulators and the industry with the evidence needed to reconsider the restrictions.

At the kind of supersonic speeds NASA wants to target for the X-59 — around 925 mph — a nonstop flight from New York to L.A. could take less than three hours. Today's commercial airlines typically cruise at about 550 mph on that route, so passengers tend to spend about 5 to 6 hours crossing the country.

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A sonic boom occurs when a plane flies faster than the speed of sound, compressing pressure waves into a single shock wave that hits the ground like a sudden explosion of air. NASA designed the X‑59 so its shape spreads those pressure changes out along the aircraft, turning that single sharp shock into a series of smaller pulses.

Residents below didn't hear the X-59's thump during either of the first two test flights — and they weren't supposed to. The plane never flew fast enough either time to make it. Both flights intentionally stayed at subsonic speeds. NASA is using these early tests to shake out systems and watch how the plane handles. 

During Friday's test, the aircraft was supposed to fly for roughly an hour, reaching a cruising speed of 230 mph at 12,000 feet before accelerating to 260 mph at 20,000 feet. The plane never exceeded 230 mph, officials said.

"I certainly hoped to have more to talk about than nine minutes of flight," said Less, who flew the X-59 for the first time on this mission. "Although I had not intended to have to land quite as urgently for my first landing, the plane performed beautifully."

NASA test pilot Jim 'Clue' Less sits inside the cockpit of the experimental X-59 quiet supersonic jet at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Credit: NASA / Jim Ross

He described the aircraft as handling just like its simulators. Over hundreds of hours of test runs in the simulator, Less and other test pilots had practiced with the unconventional vision system that combines images from cameras into a high-definition display. But this was his first time flying without the traditional front window. 

The long nose shape that helps soften the sonic boom doesn't leave room for a standard cockpit windscreen. But in some cases, the system offers better visibility than the naked eye, he said. If a pilot is facing into the sun, for example, image processing can reduce glare and improve contrast. 

"It really felt comfortable," he said. "Even though I wasn't seeing out the front, I could see out the sides and match that up." 

More than 100 test flights are planned. NASA intends to gradually push toward higher, faster flights before testing those muffled booms over towns.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 22, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for March 22, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for March 22 Pips

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

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 6-4, placed vertically.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for March 22 Pips

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this dark blue space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 0-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for March 22 Pips

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

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

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally.

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

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is for people who like a word game.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Yellow: Equal

• Green: Spelled the same, front and back

• Blue: Basketball bros

• Purple: Types of zones

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: All Square

• Green: Palindromes

• Blue: NBA Brothers, Past and Present

• Purple: ____Zone

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #545 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• All Square - DEADLOCKED, EVEN, LEVEL, TIED

• Palindromes - KAYAK, POP, RADAR, STATS

• NBA Brothers, Past and Present - ANTEKOUNMPO, BALL, CURRY, GASOL

• ____Zone - 2-3, NEUTRAL, RED, STRIKE

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

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

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

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

In 2023, the internet was ablaze with IKEA's Varmblixt lamp, aka the viral donut lamp. If you were among the crowd trekking to IKEA, attempting to find the donut lamp in stock, we've got some news for you — there's a new version of the lamp to covet. At CES 2026, IKEA unveiled a smart version of its viral donut lamp. Now you can enjoy the same shape lamp in a whole new array of colors.

As the owner of an OG Varmblixt lamp, I've been waiting for the smart version to drop, and it's finally here. And I got to go hands-on with the new donut lamp to see what it's all about.

Opens in a new window Credit: IKEA IKEA Varmblixt Smart Lamp $99.99 at Ikea
  Shop Now About the IKEA Varmblixt lamp The OG Varmblixt lamp has the donut design, encased in a warm orange glass shade. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The IKEA Varmblixt lamp first debuted in 2023, designed by Dutch artist Sabine Marcelis. Operating as either a table or wall lamp, the Varmblixt is crafted from orange glass, bringing gorgeous ambient glow to any room.

Differences between the OG and smart Varmblixt lamp The new Varmblixt lamp has a glowing white light, compared to the warm orange of the original lamp. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

With the Varmblixt lamp getting the smart upgrade, it's a slight departure from the original. The Varmblixt still has the same donut shape and can still be installed as a table or wall lamp. However, unlike the OG, it's no longer orange. Instead, the updated smart Varmblixt has a matte white glass finish. The color instead comes from the inside with a color-changing bulb. The old Varmblixt has a simple on/off switch, while the new version has a remote to adjust the lamp's color and brightness. Plus, the smart Varmblixt is a Matter device, meaning it will connect to any smart home hub.

How does the new Varmblixt lamp work?

The new Varmblixt doesn't look as exciting from the outside with its white base. But once you turn on the lamp, you can adjust the color and brightness with the included remote.

Using the Varmblixt required a bit more trial and error than I anticipated because, as I should have expected, IKEA's instructions were sparse. You don't need a smart home hub to operate the Varmblixt, although it will connect to yours if you have one.

In classic IKEA fashion, the remote didn't come with explanation of its controls. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

If you don't have a smart hub (or even if you do), use the included remote to turn the lamp on or off, adjust the color, and adjust the brightness. IKEA doesn't provide instructions on which remote buttons do what. Luckily for you, I struggled through some trial-and-error, so you don't need to.

The remote has two buttons, marked by a large dot and a small dot. To change the lamp's color, double-click the large or small button. The large button moves you forward through the color wheel, but you can move back if you skip over a color you like, using the small button. To dim the light, hold the small button; to increase the brightness, hold the large button.

You can swap the Varmblixt bases

A cool feature of all Varmblixt lamps is that the base and glass shades are swappable. So, potentially, I could move the smart base to my existing orange shade, a huge boon for smart home aficionados who want to turn on the Varmblixt with their smart home hub.

How does the new Varmblixt look?

While the OG Varmblixt lamp embraced the warm, orange tones, the new smart version is notably cooler. The matte white shade is quite stark and bright, so to warm it up, adjust the color toward orange or red hues.

The full smart Varmblixt color range. Credit: IKEA

The color palette of the Varmblixt is not as extensive as you'll find in other smart light bulbs that let you choose from millions of hues. The IKEA colors are preprogrammed and tend to be cooler pastel shades. It's a definite departure from the warmth of the original Varmblixt. Luckily, if you're not into the cool pastels, the OG orange lamp is available.

Will I be swapping the new Varmblixt for the old? While I don't love the cool tone of the new Varmblixt lamp, I see its potential. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The new smart Varmblixt lamp is a fun progression in the lamp's lineup, but will I be swapping out my own? Probably not. We're not big into smart home in my house, so I don't get the benefit of its Matter connectivity. And while I like the new colors, I still prefer the OG's warm orange shade that adds an ambient glow to my house. While I could see myself incorporating the new smart Varmblixt elsewhere in my home, it's not going to take the OG's spotlight.

Do I think the new light is worth it? Certainly. Especially for those excited about its smart home potential.