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Apple's iPhone Duo is an important phone. The iPhone has been around for two decades, and this is the first time Apple has tried something completely different with its best-selling product. Other companies have had foldable phones for years, but none of those carry the weight of a foldable iPhone. Apple’s ecosystem of iPhone-related products, services, apps, and accessories is vast, and this is a massive new entry in that book.

After a week with the iPhone Duo, I’m happy to report that Apple has done an amazing job. The iPhone Duo is the most exciting iPhone since the first one. It’s not just an iPhone that turns into a small iPad when you unfold it. The form factor and the clever things Apple has done to the user interface open up new possibilities, and after a few days, I found myself doing stuff on the iPhone Duo that I don’t typically do on a regular iPhone: I’ve played games for hours at a time, I’ve tied apps together in a side-by-side view that enhanced my productivity; I’ve used the Duo as a secondary display, next to the MacBook on my desk.

It’s not all perfect. There are drawbacks, compromises, and there are bugs to iron out. But a week in, and I already feel like I couldn’t go back to the regular, non-foldable iPhone.

iPhone Duo review: By the numbers The inner matte display is gorgeous. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Here are the key specs for the iPhone Duo:

• Displays: 5.4-inch Super Retina OLED outer display with a 1,398 x 2,034 pixel resolution; 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 1,878 x 2,670 pixel resolution, nano-texture finish. Both displays support variable refresh rates up to 120Hz.

• Design: Titanium foldable design with Ceramic Shield 2 in the front and Ceramic Shield in the back

• Size and weight: 4.64 x 6.48 x 0.21 inches when open, 4.64 x 3.31 x 0.44 inches when closed; weight: 8.96 ounces (254 grams)

• Rear cameras: 48-megapixel Dual Fusion rear camera system; a 26mm, f/1.6 Fusion Main camera; and a 13mm, f/2.2 Fusion Ultra Wide camera — can also take 12-megapixel 2x digital zoom photos

• Front cameras: 12-megapixel, f/2.2 outer display selfie camera with Center Stage; under-display f/1.8 FaceTime camera

• Processor: A20 Pro chip (6-core CPU, 7-core GPU, and dual 16-core Neural Engine)

• Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB

• Battery life: Up to 24 hours of typical use, up to 44 hours of video playback on the outer display, and up to 31 hours on the inner display

• Fast charging: Up to 50 percent of charge in 20 minutes with a 60W adapter; MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W

• Software: iOS 27.1

• Water and dust resistance: IP68 rating

• Special features: Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the side button, eSIM-only with Dual eSIM support

The wow factor Fold the Duo a little bit, and the keyboard separates to make typing easier. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

If you care about having the fanciest phone, this is the one. It’s a neat little book-like iPhone when folded. But that inner display, once you open it, is the nicest phone display I’ve ever seen. It’s matte and has a 120Hz refresh rate, so when you lay the unfolded Duo on a table, a still image on the display appears solid, like a painting. With this phone, that cool wallpaper you have will finally get recognition. Browsing through photos on this big, beautiful screen is a joy. The transition effect Apple’s designers have conjured for opening and closing the phone does look a little bit like magic.

My iPhone Duo unit was in Night Sky; it’s an understated dark blue. The other available color, Star White, is flashier, but the Duo is flashy enough as it is. The edges of the phone and the outer display are a glossy black; it goes well with the rest of the phone, but I wouldn’t mind if it were all matte, either.

The Duo’s titanium shell is smooth to the touch from all sides and angles. The dual rear camera island rises from the back of the phone far more gently than on the iPhone 18 Pro. Details like that give the Duo a refined look, establishing it as a more luxurious, relaxed phone than the Pro models. Those are for work; the Duo is for enjoying a good book or browsing through your favorite business magazine.

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Optimized for the inner display When positioned like this, the iPhone Duo displays video controls on the bottom half, while the Netflix video plays in the top half. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Once I started using the Duo, I realized that some of my habits will change. The iPhone Duo is a regular, thicker, slightly wider, and shorter iPhone when closed. It’s not as nice as a regular iPhone, but the display is still pretty great, and it’s perfectly alright for phone things: Make a call, answer a call, check a message, glance at a notification or an app.

Unfold the Duo, and you get a beautiful, matte, high-resolution canvas for your apps. Anything lasting longer than a minute, and I wanted to do it on this display. It’s better than any iPad, because the iPhone Duo is thinner and lighter than any iPad, making it easier to hold and spend time with. It’s a two-handed display, but it’s still small enough that I could comfortably hold it with one hand when needed.

The Duo’s got round corners and edges, making it very comfortable in my hands. It weighs 21 grams more than my iPhone 17 Pro Max, but the extra weight wasn’t an issue for me. Unfolding it requires two hands, but that's easy to get used to. The hinge does the job smoothly, and there’s a satisfying snap when you fold or unfold the phone fully. The crease down the middle of the larger display is there, but it’s invisible unless you specifically look for it. Same goes for the under-display FaceTime camera, located somewhat awkwardly on top of the inner display, roughly one-third of its length from the right. It has a different texture than the matte display surrounding it, and it is visible under certain light, but most of the time I forgot it was there.

Put it on your desk like this and it can be a secondary display while you work. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

There’s a learning curve. The outer display required me to use my thumb for basic iPhone apps, positioned vertically, which took some getting used to. The inner display accommodated whichever way I flipped and turned the phone, but this often made me forget where the buttons on the sides are, exactly. Perhaps the biggest issue for me was the lack of Face ID, which was replaced by Touch ID on the side button. The Touch ID works well, but you do need to navigate your finger to it often, and having the phone simply recognize your face as it does on other iPhones would be easier.

Still, Apple got all of this mostly right. Some of these issues were very hard to avoid. Some will likely get ironed out in later variants. But as a first effort, this is by far the best foldable phone I ever used.

The user interface Widgets are typically in my way, but on the iPhone Duo I like having them, as I have so much extra space for folders and apps. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Apple is the best in the world when it comes to user interfaces on phones, computers, and tablets, and even Apple sometimes gets it wrong. For example, the company’s been trying to improve multitasking on the iPad for years, but I still use my iPad one app at a time.

On the Duo, Apple struck the right balance. The iPhone Duo is mostly a regular iPhone when closed, the biggest differences being the vertically laid out controls and Dynamic Island. But since the outer display is wider than your typical iPhone, it was the right move, as everything was easy to reach with my thumb.

The inner display offers a larger canvas for what is still very much an iPhone interface. Your apps, folders, and widgets are all there, only now you can see more of them at the same time. This, for example, makes widgets a lot more usable to me.

Apps like Apple Music take on a new life on the iPhone Duo. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Apple redesigned its apps to look great on the iPhone Duo. Even pedestrian apps like the Weather are suddenly cool to look at; the forecast spreads sharp and detailed over the Duo’s 7.6-inch inner display. Some third-party apps have been redesigned for the Duo; Netflix looks particularly great, with a vast selection of content spreading across the display, and cool features like a control board that pops up on the bottom half of the display when you fold the phone halfway and set it down on a table.

Left: On the Duo, you can have two apps opened in a side-by-side view. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Right: If you want, you can tie the two apps together so they remain connected; if you move to another app and then go back, the two apps will still appear together. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Consuming any type of content is so much nicer on the Duo. I can easily imagine myself watching a full-length movie, reading a book, a comic book, or playing a game on this thing. It’s crisp, sharp, beautiful to look at; it’s downright addictive.

This has an unintended downside that will, fortunately, get fixed over time: The apps that weren’t yet optimized for the Duo look like crap. Instead of that super-sharp, wide interface, on most apps I got a blurry little window that I could choose to upscale to fit better inside the big display. This helped a little, but still, using common apps like Gmail, Revolut, or X was almost painful on the Duo. Hopefully, Apple’s reach is big enough to make most developers update this as soon as possible. In the meantime, I’ve finally got a reason to use Apple Maps over Google Maps, as the former looks absolutely gorgeous on the Duo.

Finally, I can navigate on Apple Maps and watch a Mike Tyson documentary at the same time. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

It’s the little details that make the iPhone Duo experience great. Start folding the phone, and the content on the inner display will pull apart ever so slightly as it moves itself from the fold. Leave the phone slightly folded on a desk, and a new, richer StandBy will pop up, with photos, clock, and calendar. Slide up from an open app and place it into one side of the screen; then tap another app on the left side to get a side-by-side view. Tap the center “link” between the two apps, and they’re now connected and will stay that way until you unlink them (that, by the way, is the perfect amount of multitasking I need on this device). And it all feels fluid and natural, as if Apple’s been doing foldables for years.

Not everything is perfect. The camera interface left me confused, as the viewfinder window never goes into landscape mode, no matter how you turn the phone. Sometimes an app will get buggy and parts of its interface will be obscured or unreachable. QR code scanning in some apps wouldn’t work. There’s nothing here, though, that can’t be fixed with an update.

Performance and battery life The iPhone Duo has speakers on both sides, which is why it has decent stereo separation and Spatial Audio support. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The iPhone Duo has Apple’s new A20 Pro chip inside, and it performs great. Everything was snappy, even when I had two apps working in a side-by-side view.

Despite the steep price, you might want to consider how much storage you need on this one, though. Typically, 512GB is plenty for me. But the Duo beckons you to do more gaming and consume more content, and you might find you need more storage than you did on your previous phone.

Battery life was great, with one caveat. In normal use, I’d typically get a day and a half of battery life. But this phone does beckon you to do stuff on its large, inner display, and if you fire up a game like Diablo Immortal, as I did, and spend a few hours with it, you’ll drain that battery a lot faster than you would on a regular iPhone.

iPhone Duo camera review: The camera is alright, but not Pro-grade Lossless zoom only goes to 2x on this one. But the result can still be stunningly good. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The Duo has a camera that’s roughly on par with the one on the iPhone 17. It’s a dual camera setup that will produce beautiful photos in the daylight and decent nighttime photos, but without a dedicated telephoto camera, forget about zooming in past 2x.

The main camera on the iPhone Duo takes 24-megapixel photos by default, but you can turn it up to 48 megapixels to get more details when there's plenty of light. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

I tested the iPhone Duo’s camera against iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 18 Pro. As lighting conditions deteriorate, the iPhone Duo’s camera consistently has to work a little harder to produce a good photo, indicating that the main sensor simply gets less light to work with.

In this dark evening scene, the iPhone Duo's camera struggled to find focus; once it did, the photo turned out good, though the belfries in the distance are pretty badly burned. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

That doesn’t mean you can’t get a great night-time photo, but that Night Mode will have to kick in a little often, and your hand will have to be a little steadier.

Left: The iPhone Duo handles the complex lighting in this photo well, but zoom in and the details are blurry. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Right: The iPhone 17 Pro Max took a brighter photo, with sharper details and a wider dynamic range. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The selfie camera on the outer display is alright, but nothing to write home about. It has a 12-megapixel sensor, compared to the 18-megapixel sensors you get on all iPhones since the iPhone 17. You’ll get decent selfies out of it in good light, but the level of detail will decline sharply in anything other than perfect conditions.

The 12-megapixel outer selfie camera is a step backwards compared to other recent iPhones. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The FaceTime camera that’s hidden in the inner display is bad. Any attempt of taking a half-decent selfie will result in a very processed, smudgy, AI-looking photo. There’s a reason it’s called the FaceTime camera; its primary purpose is video calls, not selfies. The problem with that is that you need to be conscious about it. Often times, you’ll have the Duo unfolded and you’ll want to take a selfie, only to remember that you’ll get a far better photo if you fold the Duo and use the outer display’s selfie camera. It’s a compromise I can live with, but I do hope Apple figures out how to improve the inner camera’s quality in the next Duo.

The FaceTime camera hidden inside the inner display is best left for FaceTime. As you can see in this detail from a selfie, the heavy post-processing can result in a slightly cartoonish look. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

However, there's good news for selfie addicts. Because the Duo has two displays, you can take selfies with the main camera. The process is a bit involved, as the phone needs to be unfolded; then you have to turn it around and slide it to open the camera view on the smaller display to see a preview of your selfie. This also won't work if you have a case with a flap that goes over the main camera, like the Duo Folio case I tested. But the result is that you can ultimately get better selfies than you can on any other iPhone. Not only will they be in 24- or even 48-megapixel resolution, but you can also use the wide camera or zoom in digitally if needed.

The iPhone Duo took this photo all on its own. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Finally, the Duo's camera can do a few unique tricks, like Smart Take, which can automatically snap a photo when you're ready for it (thanks to the power of AI); just fold the phone halfway and leave it on a flat surface, then move in front of it and wait a few seconds until the phone does its thing. You can also display a preview of the photo you're taking on the outer display, or show your kids a funny animated cue to grab their attention for a photo.

These novelty features are fun, and the high-res selfies are pretty great, but pure camera performance and the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens will likely be the biggest hurdle for prospective Duo buyers. If you’re getting the priciest, flashiest new iPhone, why aren’t you getting the best camera? I don’t think it’s a case of Apple deliberately making the cameras on the Pro better than the ones on the Duo. More likely, the company just couldn’t squeeze all of the Pro camera features into a foldable device without making it awkwardly heavy. It’s a decision buyers will have to make: If you want the best iPhone camera you can get, go for the latest Pro. If you want the coolest new iPhone that’s best for gaming and enjoying videos, books, and music, get the Duo.

Accessories, cases, and other details You'd think a phone like this doesn't play well with a case, but the Duo Folio is a surprisingly good option. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

It’d be nice if I could just take all my old iPhone accessories and use them with the Duo. One look at it, and it’s obvious that this isn’t possible. Apple Wallet doesn’t fit, and neither do any of my MagSafe battery packs. Third-party options that fix this already exist, and the list will probably get longer once the Duo launches.

Apple offers two cases, both MagSafe compatible; the company sent me both to try out. The regular iPhone Duo Case, a two-part case that snaps on the phone and protects it from harm, costs $79 and is a decent, albeit not a very versatile option. The iPhone Duo Folio with Kickstand is pricier at $129, but it fully protects the outer display and has a thin, surprisingly usable kickstand on the back as well. No case at all is an option given the inner display is protected, but I suspect the cameras on the rear, and the outer display will get some scratches over time. My choice is the Kickstand case, though in the future I might go for something that also incorporates a wallet.

There are a few other details to consider. The iPhone Duo has stereo speakers on both sides, meaning you get a stereo sound no matter how you turn it. The sound is pretty great, better than on any other iPhone, with a very nice stereo separation.

The phone's design has some minor drawbacks when it comes to calls, though. When the Duo is unfolded, you can only use it in speaker mode; if you want to press it against your ear and talk as if you would into a regular phone, you'll have to fold it first. You'd look ridiculous having an unfolded Duo against your face, anyway, but it is something to consider.

Should you buy or wait? Just go for it (if you can afford it). Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Unfortunately, it’s not a choice at this point: You have to wait. Apple iPhone Duo has been sold out almost immediately, with waiting lists extending into next year if you order it now. It's not an entirely bad thing. Instead of an impulse buy, go check the Duo out in person at an Apple store, and then decide whether it's worth your money.

The iPhone Duo isn’t easily comparable with other iPhones. It has more to offer, and it’s new, cool, and versatile in ways that other iPhones can’t be. But it’s also incredibly pricey, starting at $1,999 and going up to $3,199 with maximum storage.

The question isn't so much whether the Duo is the better phone than the Pro; it's whether the Duo is a quality-made product with enough novelty to justify the high asking price. That it definitely is. If you can muster it, it’s worth it.

iPhone Duo Save $1,000 at T-Mobile
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Planning to upgrade your iPhone this year? If you want the most feature-packed device, the choice is usually easy: You'd buy the latest iPhone Pro Max, and this time around, that's the very impressive iPhone 18 Pro Max.

However, Apple decided to throw a curveball at iOS users this year with the release of its first-ever Apple foldable, the iPhone Duo.

Now, iPhone users have to make a difficult choice. I know because I'm one of them. Before the September iPhone event, I assumed I'd go with the new Pro Max, but the unveiling of the Duo had me second-guessing my decision.

So, should you go with the iPhone 18 Pro Max or the iPhone Duo? Each is powerful in its own right, as they both have Apple's new Apple Silicon chip A20 Pro. But both are missing important features that the other has.

Our first-hand experience: iPhone Duo vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Mashable has now had plenty of hands-on time with both devices.

Here's what we can say based on our real-world testing:

• If you want the most powerful iPhone on the market, get the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

• If you want a whole new iPhone experience, get the iPhone Duo.

As Mashable's Stan Schroeder wrote in his iPhone Duo review, the new foldable is "the most interesting iPhone since the first one." Apple has successfully pulled off its first foldable device, despite a few minor quirks. The user experience is excellent, and Apple really thought through all the ways a larger, foldable screen can benefit iOS. Schroeder scored the iPhone Duo more highly than the iPhone 18; ultimately, the cool factor was decisive.

With that said, the iPhone Duo does have a learning curve that will take some getting used to. The iPhone 18 Pro Max offers no such learning curve. In fact, it uses the same exact form factor as its predecessor, the iPhone 17 Pro Max. On top of that, the iPhone 18 Pro Max has all the bells and whistles, whereas Apple leaves some things out of the iPhone Duo in order to make it work. This is especially noticeable when it comes to the cameras, one of the main areas where the iPhone Duo is lacking.

And, of course, while neither phone is cheap, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is significantly less expensive than the Duo.

Still not sure which Apple phone you should get: the iPhone 18 Pro Max or the iPhone Duo? Instead of just comparing specs and throwing numbers at you, let's look at the use cases for each device.

If you want the biggest screen... Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

At 6.9 inches, the iPhone 18 Pro Max has the largest traditional smartphone display. When the iPhone Duo is closed and in its smartphone "form," it's smaller. The Duo's outer display is only 5.4 inches.

However, when the Duo is opened up, the inner display has 50 percent more screen space than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, measuring 7.6 inches. Ultimately, the Duo has more screen for you to work with.

The winner: The iPhone Duo

If you want the lightest phone... Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Honestly, if your priority is getting a lightweight smartphone, neither the iPhone 18 Pro Max nor the iPhone Duo is for you.

Both the iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo are rather heavy, weighing in at 8.78 ounces (249 grams) and 254 grams (8.96 ounces), respectively. That's right. If you've seen reviews of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, you'll see that one of the quibbles about the device is that its a heavyweight. And the iPhone Duo is even heavier.

I will say this. I upgraded from the iPhone 15 Pro Max to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the new iPhone is significantly heavier. But I can attest to the fact that you just get used to it. It no longer feels like a heavy phone. It's just the regular weight of my iPhone now. I'm sure the experience will be the same for the iPhone Duo. In the end, you'll just get used to it.

But if you must get one of the two phones and you must acquire the lightest option, you'll want the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

The winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max

If cameras are of the utmost importance Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The iPhone 18 Pro Max has a 48MP Pro Fusion camera system, a 48MP Fusion Main lens, a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide lens, and a 48MP Fusion Telephoto lens. It also introduces a physical variable aperture feature for the first time. The Duo has the same main lens but without the variable aperture, and the same ultra-wide lens. The iPhone Duo does not have a telephoto lens, but it does have a 12MP Center Stage selfie camera and an under-display FaceTime camera.

Apple introduced an 8x zoom with the telephoto lens with the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max and has carried that feature over with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Obviously, without a telephoto camera lens, the iPhone Duo does not have this feature. So, keep in mind if you're coming from an older iPhone that you're not only losing a 4x zoom telephoto lens with the iPhone Duo, but a new 8x zoom one too.

Hardware-wise, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is the superior smartphone camera when compared with the Duo. It has more rear camera lenses, and that variable physical aperture will provide users with plenty of control of lighting and depth of field.

For serious photographers or filmmakers looking for a smartphone to match your workflow, the iPhone 18 Pro Max's new software capabilities with Pro Controls are going to be a big plus too. With Pro Controls, users can adjust shutter speed, lens aperture, white balance, and more.

If you care about photography or videography above all, then the choice is clearly the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

The winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max

If you're a content creator Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

I just made the case that when it comes to smartphone cameras, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is superior to the iPhone Duo. And that's true…for the most part.

While filmmakers will want to go with the iPhone 18 Pro Max, online content creators may actually want to consider the iPhone Duo.

Yes, the iPhone 18 Pro Max has the extra lens and Pro Control features. Yes, the iPhone 18 Pro Max even has a better front-facing camera with its 18MP selfie camera compared to the iPhone Duo's 12MP selfie camera.

However, the foldable aspect of iPhone Duo opens up a whole world of creative use cases, especially for those who typically make social media-friendly content. 

The iPhone Duo can be folded in multiple ways to serve as its own stand or tripod, enabling full-body photos and videos when working solo. The iPhone Duo even has unique features like Smart Take, which leverages those capabilities to automatically snap photos of users without a countdown.

When opened, the iPhone Duo's outer display can be used as a monitor so users can take selfies with the better 48MP without just guessing if they're even in the frame.

If you're a content creator who never manually changes the settings on your camera and barely, if ever, utilizes the telephoto lens, the iPhone Duo may actually be better for you.

The winner: The iPhone Duo

Price matters

Finally, an easy one. 

If you're looking for the most powerful but also simultaneously the most affordable device, don't even look at the iPhone Duo. It's the most expensive iPhone ever.

The Duo starts at $2,000. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is $700 cheaper at $1,299. Get the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

The winner: The iPhone 18 Pro Max, duh

You're a mobile gamer

If mobile gaming is your thing, it seems like Apple may have finally created the perfect iPhone for you.

People who've already had a hands-on with the iPhone Duo are saying that the foldable is seemingly made for gamers. The full-sized inner screen provides a perfect balance of display real estate with mobility. In addition, when turned to its side, one screen can be used as a traditional landscape-mode display, while the other can be used as a full-sized game controller.

Now, there is one addendum to add here. It may be a while for most game developers to update their games to use these features or even create games specifically tailored to the iPhone Duo. But, when all is said and done, the iPhone Duo will clearly have the upper hand over the iPhone 18 Pro Max when it comes to gaming.

The winner: iPhone Duo

You're a multitasker

This is a no-brainer choice if you're a multitasker. Go with the iPhone Duo.

The Duo appears to work much like an iPad, with the ability to run multiple apps side by side. The inner screen will also provide an optimal experience when using features like picture-in-picture video.

The winner: iPhone Duo

You want an iPhone right now

Here's another easy one. iPhone Duo pre-orders sold out quickly and the device is currently backordered. Some customers say that Apple has provided them with an estimated December delivery date, although Apple appears to be in the midst of fulfilling those orders sooner.

However, if you want a new iPhone this very minute, you're going to have to wait at least some amount of time for the iPhone Duo to be restocked. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is available right now.

The winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max

You have too many iPhone accessories already Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Unless you're upgrading your iPhone 17 Pro Max to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, which is the same size as its predecessor, you're going to have to buy a new iPhone case if you're upgrading from an older iPhone.

However, most other accessories should still work! Rigs to utilize your iPhone as a professional camera, swappable camera lenses, attachable battery packs, selfie sticks, tripod mounts – all of those should be compatible with your iPhone 18 Pro Max. After all, the traditional iPhone design has been this way for some time.

That may not be so with a completely different-looking iPhone product like the iPhone Duo. While some accessories may still work with your Duo, they certainly weren't designed to fit or align perfectly with its design. Many accessories may just not be compatible at all.

So, if you rely on many essential third-party iPhone accessories, you may want to stick with the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

The winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max

You just really want a foldable device

Yeah, just buy the iPhone Duo.

You think foldables are dumb

Why are you even here? Get the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

SAVE OVER $20: As of Oct. 21, Soundcore Anker Space 2 headphones have dropped to a new low price of $106.49 at Amazon. That's $23.50 off their full price of $129.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Anker Space 2 $106.49 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $23.50   Get Deal at Amazon

Early Black Friday deals on headphones are already popping up at Amazon, and we've spotted our favorite budget noise-canceling headphones, the Soundcore Anker Space 2, among the discounts.

As of Oct. 21, these headphones have hit a brand-new low price at the retailer, making now the perfect time to pick them up before seasonal sales even begin.

Every color of the Soundcore Anker Space 2 has been marked down to $106.49. That's $23.50 off their usual list price, but keep in mind they're all marked as limited-time deals.

SEE ALSO: The 65+ absolute best stocking stuffers for 2026

Noise-canceling headphones don't always have to come with a premium price tag. That's what makes the Soundcore Anker Space 2 stand out. As mentioned before, they're our top budget pick in our roundup of the best noise-canceling headphones, with Mashable's Bethany Allard writing that they do "a solid job of blocking out people chatting around you, other music or audio playing, regular sounds of the neighborhood — in most situations, they'll have you covered."

Allard also wrote the review for these headphones and found the audio quality to be "balanced, clear, and generally pretty damn great." Plus, their battery life can last up to 50 hours with ANC on, or up to 70 hours with ANC off.

Act fast to save on the Soundcore Anker Space 2 at Amazon.

SAVE OVER $60: As of Oct. 21, the EF EcoFlow River 2 Pro portable power station is on sale for $368.99 at Amazon. That's $60.01 off its full price of $429.

Opens in a new window Credit: EF EcoFlow EF EcoFlow River 2 Pro $368.99 at Amazon
$429 Save $60.01   Get Deal at Amazon

Deals on portable power stations have been popping up quite frequently ahead of Black Friday, but some offers are only live for a limited time. The EF EcoFlow River 2 Pro is currently in that position, with less than 24 hours left to take advantage of its discounted price of $368.99 at Amazon.

With this deal, you'll save just over $60 on this power station. If its lightweight build of 17.2 pounds and 1,600W output has caught your eye, whether to have as home backup in case of a power outage or to use on your next camping trip, now is the time to pick it up.

SEE ALSO: The EcoFlow Titan 5000 home backup system just launched and preorders get a discount

With that 1,600W output, the EF EcoFlow River 2 Pro can power up a variety of different appliances without overloading. It also features 11 outlets — ranging from 800W AC outlets to USB-C ports — for giving various devices a boost. It charges via an AC outlet, and devices can reach a full charge in 70 minutes thanks to EcoFlow’s X-Stream fast-charging technology.

On top of that, its battery can last up to 10 years even with regular use. To assist with that, it includes advanced BMS protection which monitors voltage, current, and temperature to keep it running safely.

If the EF EcoFlow River 2 Pro sounds like a perfect fit for you, don't miss out on this chance to save at Amazon.

You exactly what to expect when Martin Short and Conan O'Brien get together, and that's a lot of roasting.

The Only Murders in the Building star appeared on the Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend podcast recently, and he didn't waste any time blasting O'Brien with zinger after zinger, starting with his recollection of a dinner the two shared recently in London.

"It's almost like I was seeing you in a new light, because that night I thought, 'He looks like the love-child between Lurch and Kathy Griffin', and I don't often feel that about people. Because you're very, you know, you're pale. You're very pale. You look like a cue tip with ketchup on it," says Short, while O'Brien cracks up laughing. "I mean, you're white. You look like a human surrender."

"Which I kind of am," O'Brien responds.

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The last place a 15-year-old wants to find himself is in a young offenders institution, where Animol shines its light.

In his feature directorial debut, acclaimed Top Boy star, recording artist, director, writer, and producer Ashley Walters explores the constant tension, threat, and camaraderie of boys whose lives have taken a serious turn. Co-written by Walters and Nick Love (Marching Powder) based on their experiences with such institutions, Animol boasts a talented young cast buoyed by an outstanding Tut Nyuot (The Long Walk), and supported by a characteristically brilliant Stephen Graham (Adolescence).

SEE ALSO: 'La Bola Negra' review: A magnificent gay epic that transcends time

With superb cinematography and production design, commendably interior performances from an impeccable young cast, and unflinching authenticity in its detail, Animol presents an experience of young offenders, where being real feels impossible and redemption's just a glimmer.

Animol takes you inside a young offenders institution with grit and humanity Stephen Graham as Claypole in "Animol." Credit: SLNDA

Awaiting incarceration in a young offenders institution, British teenager Troy prepares himself for the worst. Cast into a seriously adult situation, the 15-year-old instantly bonds with Polish boy Krystiyan (Ukrainian actor Vladyslav Baliuk). In the same breath, he's extorted into smuggling a burner phone by power player Dion (Boarders star Sekou Diaby). "You're stepping into my world now," Dion declares, and Troy soon finds out he's dead right. As soon as he moves in with mercurial cellmate Mason (The Jetty's Ryan Dean), Troy finds himself in a dangerous position between Dion and Mason, two very different ticking time bombs.

Trying to find his place while watching his back, Troy walks a knife's edge between security and exposure, with open assaults in the mess hall a regular occurrence and the idea of being his authentic self a laughable idea. However, in the midst of this constant suspicion, violence, and insomnia, Troy's tender bond with Krystiyan becomes a place of solace, of peace, of a yearning he's suppressed in himself.

Overseen by well-meaning welfare officer Claypole (Graham), Troy takes it day-by-day inside. Animol presents Troy's experience as one of constant self-doubt, isolation, hopelessness, and survival. His lifeline beyond the walls is his mother Joy (an impeccable Sharon Duncan Brewster), with their relationship strained under her struggle with addiction and sobriety. Over the course of the film, Troy and his fellow inmates grapple with a sense of identity behind bars, struggling to discern between friendship and manipulation, toxic masculine bravado and vulnerability, and the inability to communicate.

Animol uses unflinching cinematography to showcase a talented young cast Vladyslav Baliuk as Krystiyan and Tut Nyuot as Troy in "Animol." Credit: SLNDA

With Walters an actor's director, his connection with the cast is clear, allowing each to flourish in long close-up takes. Each scene of Animol, particularly Nyuot's intensely interior performance, is intimately shot by director of photography Tasha Back (In Camera) and edited by Danielle Palmer (Steve). The film allows silences to sit, unspoken words between characters to be amplified — a scene in which Diaby's Dion silently scrutinises Troy is an unsettling example. Nyuot finds balance between moments of adult survival and adolescent vulnerability, making tender scenes with Krystiyan a precious rarity, and scenes in which he's forced into brutality an anguish to watch. Troy holds so much, with no outlet safe.

As the two kings of the yard in Animol, Diaby and Dean bring contrasting approaches to Dion and Mason, hardened boys leaning into adult criminality and extreme violence to survive and dominate. Diaby's chilling veneer of composure and Dean's serpentine calculation make for formidable opposing forces, each a unique tinderbox for Troy.

Though seldom onscreen, it's a delight to see Graham reconnected with Walters, having worked together on A Thousand Blows and Adolescence. Drawing from his mother's experience as a social worker, Graham presents Claypole as a man not beaten by the system but finding humanity within it. An Animol highlight sees the empathetic welfare officer encouraging the boys to ditch their inhibitions and be themselves through unconventional action, a radically vulnerable scene in an institution where masks are key.

Notably, Animol doesn't sensationalise Troy's experience in the young offenders institute, with Swindle's sparing, impactful score and production designer Gini Godwin (Queenie, Champion) creating a world of state-run despair within dilapidated walls. Marks of previously incarcerated boys adorn the walls, reading "You are not animol," and giving the film its title. Sound designer Roland Heap builds a haunting, unsettling world around Troy, as Back's cinematography holds fast on his face night after night in his cell, enduring the taunts and rattles of the institution in his spartan bunk.

Ultimately, Walters crafts a compelling, harrowing, complex picture of life for young offenders, thrust into extreme survival mode in a place where toxic masculinity and homophobia run rife alongside loyalty and rare glimmers of friendship. What goes unsaid in Animol is its true power, with Walters allowing his talented cast to thrive in interior emotion and subtle action.

Animol was reviewed out of BFI London Film Festival and will be released in UK cinemas Oct. 30

TL;DR: Domino’s and Minecraft Dungeons II are launching a block-shaped pizza collab with free game giveaways.

Do your weekend plans involve grinding through local co-op dungeons with a slice of pizza in hand? Domino’s and Minecraft just dropped the ultimate collab for you.

Starting Oct. 26, Domino’s is teaming up with Minecraft Dungeons II for a limited-time nationwide partnership. Order a new block-shaped pizza to unlock collectible character boxes, digital in-game cosmetics, and a chance at claiming a free digital copy of Minecraft Dungeons II.

How to score a free game code and digital loot

We showcase a lot of these free giveaways from major brands, and it's always a little disappointing when you have to jump through a million hoops to qualify for the promotion. That's not the case here. It's refreshingly straightforward.

Customers who purchase a Domino's block-shaped pizza will receive one of six boxes, each featuring a different Minecraft Dungeons II character: Corrupted Creeper, Prime Enchanter, Valorie, Zombie, Pig, and Creeper.

Domino's Rewards members who purchase a Domino's online can also unlock one of three exclusive, randomly awarded in-game items to use in Minecraft Dungeons II. The order automatically generates a promo code in your "My Rewards" tab redeemable for one of the random items: the Domino’s Skin, the Slice Slayer Cape, or the Cheesy Cube Pet.

Credit: Domino's / Minecraft

That's exciting, but the real draw of this collab is the free game giveaway. Between Oct. 26 and Nov. 4, purchase a pizza and submit your receipt at dominos.com/minecraft-dungeons-ii for a chance to win one of 20,000 free Minecraft Dungeons II game codes (2,000 codes awarded daily for PC and Xbox).

We love the characters, and the in-game items are cool, but giving away 20,000 full-game downloads turns a brand collab into a genuinely high-value opportunity. With 2,000 game tokens up for grabs daily across the 10-day sweepstakes window, your odds of scoring a free PC or Xbox copy are surprisingly solid if you submit proof of purchase early in the day.

Just note that game codes are only valid on PC and Xbox, so PlayStation or Nintendo Switch players can only redeem cosmetic item codes.

If you could get an acting lesson from anyone in the world, you'd be hard-pushed to do better than Emmy-winning Adolescence star Stephen Graham.

In the clip, he gives Seth Meyers a brief bit of tuition mid-way through their interview, showing him a few of the different walks you can use to get into character.

Does Meyers struggle to know what to do with his arms? Absolutely. But you can't fault his effort.

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SAVE $300.09: As of Oct. 21, the Samsung SSD 990 PRO 4TB is on sale for $799.90 at Amazon. That's a 27% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung SSD 990 PRO 4TB $799.90 at Amazon
$1,099.99 Save $300.09   Get Deal at Amazon

If you're running out of storage space or want to speed up your PC or gaming setup, the Samsung SSD 990 PRO 4TB is a seriously impressive upgrade option. It offers plenty of room for games, files, and other heavy workloads, and it's on sale at Amazon.

As of Oct. 21, this SSD is down from $1,099.99 to $799.90, saving you $300.

The Samsung 990 PRO SSD is built for fast loading and smooth performance, whether you're gaming, editing videos, or working with large files. It offers read speeds of up to 7,450 MB/s and write speeds of up to 6,900 MB/s.

Compared with the 980 PRO, this SSD delivers more than 55% better random performance, helping speed up transfers and demanding tasks. It's also up to 50% more efficient in performance per watt, so you can get more out of your system while using less power.

And there are capacities ranging from 1TB to 4TB, so there's plenty of space for all of your games and files, as well as different price options. The 1TB and 2TB devices are also on sale at Amazon, down from $319.99 to $259.84 and $639.99 to $409.99, respectively.

Find this deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $11: As of Oct. 21, the Crest Whitening Strips are on sale for $34.99 at Amazon. That's a 24% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Crest Crest Whitening Strips $34.99 at Amazon
$45.99 Save $11   Get Deal at Amazon

Coffee lovers, tea drinkers, and red wine fans know that keeping teeth stain-free isn't always easy. At some point, even the strongest whitening toothpaste is no longer up to the job, and help from teeth whitening strips is needed. But not all strips are the same, and some are much more effective than others.

Crest's whitening strips are among the most popular brands, beloved for their at-home whitening that doesn't require booking a professional treatment.

And right now (as of Oct. 21), a box of Crest Whitening Strips costs just $34.99 at Amazon, down from $45.99. That's the same price the strips hit during Prime Day. Each box contains 22 treatments, so there are plenty of applications included.

Crest says its whitening strips can brighten teeth by up to 19 shades in 22 days. They use a whitening ingredient also used by dentists and are designed to be enamel-safe when used as directed. There's also Advanced Seal Technology to help the strips stay put during treatment, meaning you won't have to spend the entire application time worrying about them slipping out of place.

You can find this Crest deal on Amazon right now.

SAVE $112: As of Oct. 21, the Apple Watch Series 10 is on sale for $637 at Amazon. That's a 15% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 $637 at Amazon
$749 Save $112   Get Deal at Amazon

Looking for a premium fitness tracker but without the premium price? You're in luck, because the Apple Watch Series 10 is currently discounted at Amazon, dropping from $749 to $637. The deal applies to the 46mm model with GPS and cellular connectivity, but only the slate titanium case with black sport band is at this price.

For race training or for staying active in general, the Series 10 is a great fitness tracker for monitoring your progress. It monitors everything from running sessions to swims, with advanced workout metrics and training load insights to help you better understand your performance. Not to mention the classic Apple activity rings. This watch also comes with three months of Apple Fitness+ for free, so you'll have access to a library of guided workouts and fitness programs.

It's also equally useful as a smartwatch. Built-in safety features include Fall Detection, Crash Detection, Emergency SOS, and Check In notifications. For everyday health monitoring, you'll also get ECG readings, blood oxygen monitoring, heart rate alerts, sleep tracking, and menstrual cycle tracking.

This Amazon discount on the Apple Watch Series 10 is only available for a limited time, so don't miss out.

SAVE OVER $100: As of Oct. 21, the Roborock Q7 M5+ robot vacuum and mop is on sale for $249.98 at Amazon. That's $110.01 off its full price of $359.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Q7 M5+ Robot Vacuum and Mop $249.98 at Amazon
$359.99 Save $110.01   Get Deal at Amazon

Vacuuming is an important chore on a home cleaning to-do list, but carrying an upright vacuum from room to room can make it feel like a hassle. That's where a robot vacuum comes in handy. These devices take care of the cleanup for you, with some even able to mop the floor. The Roborock Q7 M5+ falls into that category, and it's even on sale right now on Amazon.

As of Oct. 21, Amazon has slashed $110.01 off the full cost of the Roborock Q7 M5+, bringing it down to $249.98. That's not far from its lowest-ever price at the retailer.

SEE ALSO: The 65+ absolute best stocking stuffers for 2026

The Roborock Q7 M5+ offers 10,000Pa of suction that lifts fur, dirt, debris, and more from carpets and hard floors. It even comes with dual anti-tangle brushes that help keep hair from wrapping up inside and slowing it down. Plus, its mopping system features three adjustable water flow settings for scrubbing.

When it comes to navigating your home, it uses PreciSense LiDAR technology to map each room, helping the robot vacuum find the best cleaning path. And on top of that, its 2.7-liter sealed dust bag can last 7-9 weeks before it needs to be emptied.

If you're in need of extra clean-up help ahead of the holidays, don't miss out on this deal on the Roborock Q7 M5+ at Amazon.

TL;DR: The Samsung 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9 gaming monitor is on sale for $1,499.99 at Amazon, down from its $2,099.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9 Gaming Monitor $1,499.99 at Amazon
$2,099.99 Save $600.00 Get Deal at Amazon

Having two 4K monitors on your desk is great for gaming and multitasking, but it's better when you’ve got the same amount of screen space across one enormous display. And you can have just that for less with a massive price drop on Samsung’s beast of a gaming monitor upgrade. 

As of Oct. 21, the Samsung 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9 (G95NC) is down to $1,499.99 at Amazon, taking $600 off its $2,099.99 list price.

With that 29% price cut, this monitor’s now only $50 from the $1,449.99 price we found in August, and $100 off its lowest-ever Amazon price (confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel). If you’re after an immediate upgrade so you’re ready for GTA 6 from the get-go — including whenever it’s out on PC — now’s a great time to pull the trigger. 

Samsung’s 57-inch panel for the Neo G9 delivers a whopping 7,680 x 2,160 resolution, equivalent to two 32-inch 4K monitors placed together. You won't have an irritating gap down the middle, whether you're playing an ultrawide-compatible game or juggling multiple applications.

SEE ALSO: This Samsung Odyssey gaming monitor is $1 away from its lowest-ever price on Amazon — save $100

All the while, Samsung's Quantum Mini-LED technology uses 2,392 local dimming zones to improve brightness and contrast, complemented by VESA DisplayHDR 1,000 certification. Plus, the 1,000R curve brings the edges closer to your field of view.

This monitor’s 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro should make for a responsive experience, provided your PC has enough power to handle the demanding resolution.

TL;DR: Walmart’s official 2026 Holiday Gift Guide is live. Shop top picks from the catalog — ranging from $50 off Apple AirPods Pro 3 and the $499 Nintendo Switch 2.

Walmart’s 2026 Holiday Gift Guide is officially live, giving shoppers an early look at what the retail giant expects to be the season’s biggest hits. Rather than a fast-moving doorbuster event, Walmart’s Gift Guide functions as a complete holiday roadmap — curating top picks across every age group and budget tier.

Whether you want to score major savings on flagship Apple gear, hunt down the new Nintendo Switch 2, or grab budget-friendly blind boxes under $15, the blog maps out the best places to spend your money wisely. You can check out the full ad scan directly over on BlackFriday.com to browse every page.

Below, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best picks from Walmart's lineup, ranging from budget stocking stuffers to premium, splurge-worthy tech.

The internet’s favorite stocking stuffer hits Walmart

Blind boxes are taking over TikTok for a reason, and the Sad Baby Animals figures are almost illegally cute. Each box holds a surprise palm-sized vinyl creature — featuring capybaras, highland cows, and axolotls — with big, dramatic eyes that beg you to adopt them all. They’re an instant serotonin hit, a perfect stocking stuffer, and a dangerously fun addiction if you end up hunting for that ultra-rare 1-in-128 secret figure.

Opens in a new window Credit: STARBOX Store Sad Baby Animals Series 1 Blind Box Figurine $12.97 at Walmart
  Shop Now at Walmart Ditch the Keurig: Fresh coffee for under $25

You don’t need to drop triple digits on a massive, space-hogging countertop appliance just to grab a quick cup of coffee before rushing out the door. The Mainstays Single-Serve Coffee Maker handles both standard K-Cups and loose grounds with its included reusable filter. It brews up to 14 ounces straight into a travel mug, automatically shuts off after every cycle, and takes up minimal counter space — making it an absolute no-brainer gift for college dorms, small apartment kitchens, or home office setups.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mainstays Mainstays Single Serve Coffee Maker $24.68 at Walmart
  Shop Now at Walmart Stop 'NeeDoh hunting': The viral fidget cube is right here

If you tried tracking down this squishy cube earlier this year, you know it was practically impossible to find. As we reported during the height of the craze, demand was so intense that Schylling sold through a year's supply in nine weeks — triggering long lines, sold-out shelves, and wild reseller prices. What makes the NeeDoh Squish Toy worth the hype is its unique texture: soft when squeezed slowly, firm when compressed quickly, and always snapping back to its original square shape. Snagging one at regular retail is an instant holiday win for kids and desk-bound adults alike.

Opens in a new window Credit: NeeDoh NeeDoh Nice Cube Squish Toy $29.99 at Walmart
  Shop Now at Walmart Self-care season made easy (and deeply discounted)

Gifting self-care shouldn't require a loan. For $45.99, this 24-day advent calendar gives you 24 individual daily treats packed with natural bath and body essentials that leave your skin feeling soft through the cold winter months. It takes all the guesswork out of holiday gifting for moms, friends, or co-workers — or gives you a perfect excuse for a little daily self-care as Christmas gets closer.

Opens in a new window Credit: Body & Earth store Body & Earth 2026 Beauty & Spa Advent Calendar (24 Days) $45.99 at Walmart
$89.99 Save $44.00   Get Deal at Walmart Physical photos are back (and this kit includes the film)

Instant cameras are a holiday staple for almost anyone, but buying the camera and film separately is annoying. This Walmart-exclusive bundle packages the sleek, pastel-hued Instax Mini SE together with a starter 10-pack of Instax Mini film. It features manual exposure control dials so you can tweak brightness for indoor lighting versus sunny outdoors, making it an easy, ready-to-shoot gift that lets anyone start printing physical memories the second they tear open the box.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fujifilm Fujifilm Instax Mini SE Instant Camera Value Pack (Pink) $64 at Walmart
  Shop Now at Walmart The sleekest co-op upgrade for your PS5 setup

Upgrading your console setup doesn't have to mean sticking to basic white. The Sony DualSense Cosmic Red Wireless Controller brings a sleek, vibrant look to your PlayStation 5 or PC setup while delivering the top-tier features that make the DualSense iconic. With precise haptic feedback, dynamic adaptive triggers, built-in motion sensors, and an integrated microphone, it offers incredible immersion whether you're picking up a secondary pad for local co-op or replacing a worn-out main controller.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony DualSense Cosmic Red Wireless Controller for PS5 $74 at Walmart
  Shop Now at Walmart Apple’s best earbuds are officially $50 off

Earning a 4.75-star Mashable Choice Award, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 are our top earbuds of 2025. In his review, Adam Doud found that the upgraded Active Noise Cancellation creates an unmatched "cone of silence" that shuts out background noise. Add in workout heart rate tracking, Live Translation via Apple Intelligence, and 8 hours of battery life, and catching them for $199 makes them an absolute slam-dunk holiday deal.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199 at Walmart
$249 Save $50   Get Deal at Walmart Salon-worthy blowouts without the Dyson price tag

Winning a Mashable Choice Award with a stellar 4.5-star rating, the Shark FlexStyle doesn't just copy the Dyson Airwrap — it actively outperforms it for a fraction of the cost. In our hands-on testing, we loved how the base physically twists to transform from a powerful multi-styler into an ultra-compact hair dryer. Packed with Coanda auto-wrap curlers, smoothing brushes, and heat monitoring that checks temperature 1,000 times per second, it delivers salon-worthy, heat-safe blowouts at home without requiring a huge investment.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle Air Styling and Drying System $349.99 at Walmart
  Shop Now at Walmart The ultimate $99 AI assistant for your living room

Moving past rigid, robotic commands, the Google Home Speaker brings conversational Gemini AI right onto your nightstand or kitchen counter. You can chat naturally with Gemini Live, brainstorm ideas, and control Matter-compatible smart devices in a single breath. Wrapped in room-filling 360-degree sound, a physical privacy mute switch, and a sleek underglow light, it delivers next-gen smart home help for under $100.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Home Speaker with Gemini $99 at Walmart
  Shop Now at Walmart Say hello to 4K Zelda and magnetic Joy-Cons for $499

The Nintendo Switch 2 takes everything we loved about the original hybrid console and gives it a massive hardware upgrade. You get a larger, stunning 7.9-inch 1080p display with HDR support up to 120Hz in handheld mode, crisp 4K TV output through the upgraded dock, and magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers with new mouse-like precision controls. With 256GB of internal storage and full backward compatibility for your existing Switch library, it’s the ultimate crown jewel gift for any gamer this holiday season.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Store Nintendo Switch 2 $499 at Walmart
  Shop Now at Walmart

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Secrets of Strixhaven Play Booster Box is on sale for $129.99 at Amazon, down from its $164.70 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Secrets of Strixhaven Play Booster Box $129.99 at Amazon
$164.70 Save $34.71 Get Deal at Amazon

It’s been almost six months since MTG’s Secret of Strixhaven came out, but you can now catch up for less money than ever thanks to Amazon knocking the 30-pack Play Booster Box under market price. 

As of Oct. 21, the Magic: The Gathering Secrets of Strixhaven Play Booster Box is down to $129.99 at Amazon, taking $34.71 off its $164.70 list price.

This 21% discount means you’re only paying around $4.33 per pack for the 30 included packs. That new price not only beats the $134.99 deal we covered in May, but it’s also the best price this box has ever seen on Amazon (confirmed by camelcamelcamel). 

SEE ALSO: Magic: The Gathering's Marvel Darkhold Destiny Arcanum Bundle is way below market price on Amazon

Unlike some trading card bargains that rely on third-party sellers, this one is sold and shipped directly by Amazon, with free delivery currently set for Oct. 30, or Oct. 23 for Prime members.

This deal is majorly beating Walmart’s price ($161.95), the lowest-priced TCGplayer listing ($139.58), and even the trading card selling platform’s estimated market price of $139.25. Now that's a good deal.

Each Secrets of Strixhaven Play Booster has 14 cards, including one to five rares or higher and at least one Traditional Foil. A fifth of packs also contain a Traditional Foil Land, while the set's biggest draw is a Mystical Archive card in every booster, featuring an instant or sorcery spell with special artwork and a showcase frame.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle is on sale for $44.63 at Amazon, down from its $59.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle $44.63 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $15.36   Get Deal at Amazon

If grabbing 30th Celebration cards or preordering the Pokémon TCG’s new Delta Reign expansion is out of your trading card budget right now, you can pick up cheap Perfect Order packs at Amazon. 

As of Oct. 21, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle now costs just $44.63 at Amazon. This 26% price drop means you’re now paying around $7.44 per booster pack, and it's even cheaper than the last deal we found for this box in September. This $44.63 option comes from third-party seller Bleacher Seats Sportscards & Collectibles, with free delivery set for Oct. 28. 

SEE ALSO: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Greninja ex Box hits best-ever price at Amazon — save over $20

Walmart has undercut Amazon’s Pokemon TCG price — letting you score the booster bundle for $39.95 with free shipping. TCGplayer is nearly identical at $39.99 including shipping for an unopened bundle, just $1.10 above its $38.89 market price.

Inside the box are six Perfect Order boosters, each with 10 trading cards, a Basic Energy, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card.

That gives you 60 cards from the Legends: Z-A-focused Mega Evolution lineup featuring the likes of Mega Zygarde ex, Mega Clefable ex, and Mega Starmie ex among its most popular chase cards (also available to buy individually at TCGplayer).

TL;DR: GameSir has teamed up with Epic Games to launch officially licensed Fortnite mobile controllers (starting at $49.99), featuring drift-resistant Hall Effect sticks, console ergonomics, and free digital in-game emotes or gliders with every purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: GameSir GameSir G8 Plus — Fortnite Edition $89.99 at GameSir
  Shop Now at GameSir Opens in a new window Credit: GameSir GameSir X5 Lite — Fortnite Edition $49.99 at GameSir
  Shop Now at GameSir

If you've ever lost a final-circle 1v1 on your phone because your thumb slipped off a greasy virtual joystick, you already know the pain of mobile touch controls. Touch controls have always held mobile Fortnite back from feeling like a proper competitive game, but GameSir is giving mobile players a legit way to fight back.

The peripheral brand partnered with Epic Games to launch an officially licensed Fortnite Mobile Controller Collection, bringing real console ergonomics and physical controls straight to your phone.

The lineup features two distinct models: the full-sized, feature-heavy GameSir G8 Plus Fortnite Edition and the compact, plug-and-play GameSir X5 Lite for Xbox Fortnite Edition. Both pads feature custom Fortnite artwork and come bundled with a digital code for a free in-game loot, so you can claim exclusive emotes or gliders while upgrading your setup.

GameSir G8 Plus — Fortnite Edition

If you treat mobile drops with the same intensity as a ranked console match, the G8 Plus is built for your playstyle. It uses an extendable spring-loaded bridge that stretches to fit standard smartphones and smaller tablets, with smart clearance built into the frame so oversized camera bumps won't force your device to sit at an awkward angle.

Credit: GameSir

The hardware inside is where this pad shines for competitive play. GameSir built it with Hall-effect thumbsticks and analog triggers, using magnetic sensors instead of traditional contact switches. That means zero stick drift over time, keeping your micro-adjustments sharp when you're tracking a target jumping out of a Launch Pad.

The two remappable back buttons are a massive upgrade, letting you bind jump, crouch, or build mode so you never have to lift your thumb off the right stick mid-fight. You can even swap out the magnetic faceplate, thumbstick caps, and ABXY buttons to tweak the physical feel, while built-in rumble motors and a 6-axis gyroscope give you precise motion-aiming support across iOS, Android, and PC.

GameSir X5 Lite for Xbox — Fortnite Edition

For players who want a lightweight, zero-fuss controller that easily fits in a backpack, the X5 Lite strips away extra bulk for pure portability. It plugs directly into your device via a built-in USB-C connector, eliminating Bluetooth pairing hassles and input lag, and delivers a fast 250 Hz polling rate.

Credit: GameSir

Being officially licensed by Xbox and MFi-certified means it works natively across iPhones, iPads, and Android devices, with an ultra-wide stretch design that expands up to 213mm to hold larger phones effortlessly. Even at its lower price point, GameSir kept the essential performance hardware intact by including drift-proof Hall Effect thumbsticks and precision analog triggers for smooth driving and weapon control.

While it trades away the G8 Plus's rumble motors, gyro controls, and wireless freedom, it gains massive travel points for being ultra-light and offering USB-C pass-through charging so your phone won't die right before the storm closes in.

Whether you need the rear paddles and wireless freedom of the G8 Plus or the zero-latency USB-C portability of the X5 Lite, both pads finally bring real console accuracy and free digital loot to mobile Fortnite.

SAVE $70.99: As of Oct. 21, get the Shark FlexStyle for $279 at Amazon. That's 20% off its $349.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle HD430 $279 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $70.99   Get Deal at Amazon

If you’ve been scrolling past the Shark FlexStyle and wondering whether it lives up to the hype, this is your sign to make the jump: the Shark FlexStyle HD430 Air Multi-Styler and Drying System is marked down to $279 at Amazon. That's a solid 20% savings off its usual $349.99 list price, and way cheaper than a Dyson Airwrap while delivering nearly identical salon-level results.

Unlike most generic beauty tools claiming to be "dupes," the FlexStyle actually matches the Airwrap where it counts. But Shark didn't just copy Dyson's homework; it added a clever swiveling base that bends into a traditional L-shaped blow dryer with a single quick twist. So you can rough-dry your roots in classic hair-dryer mode before clicking on your styling heads.

SEE ALSO: Dreame just launched a phone-sized travel hair dryer that's built for your carry-on — here's where to buy it

In her hands-on testing, Bethany Allard spent months putting both multi-stylers through their paces to see if the budget option could actually hold its own. She found that the performance gap between the two is virtually nonexistent. In a direct comparison between the Dyson Airwrap and the Shark FlexStyle, the FlexStyle shines by offering a built-in diffuser attachment that makes it more versatile for wavy and curly hair textures right out of the box — something Dyson completely overlooked in its original release.

The fully loaded HD430 kit comes stocked with two 1.25-inch auto-wrap Coanda curlers, an oval volumizing brush, a smoothing paddle brush, and a rotatable styling concentrator nozzle. The tool constantly measures its temperature 1,000 times per second to prevent extreme heat damage, giving you three airflow settings, four heat levels, and a cool shot button to set your style.

Grab the Shark FlexStyle HD430 to get high-velocity drying, auto-wrapping curls, and damage-free styling for less than half the cost of a Dyson.

You couldn't walk very far at New York Comic Con this year without running into Dungeon Crawler Carl. The bestselling fantasy series was everywhere on the convention floor, from merch booths to an author signing with Matt Dinniman. Even I couldn't resist picking up a Princess Donut sticker. And while the premise of a man and his ex-girlfriend's cat fighting their way through an apocalyptic, video game-inspired dungeon created by aliens might sound absurd, its popularity points to something much bigger happening in the world of books.

Welcome to LitRPG, a genre that combines the immersive storytelling of fantasy with the mechanics of role-playing games. Characters level up, earn experience points, and unlock new abilities, much like they would in World of Warcraft or Dungeons & Dragons. It's a genre that's been thriving in online communities for years, but now it's having a mainstream moment, thanks in part to the runaway success of Dungeon Crawler Carl.

According to The Atlantic, the first eight volumes of the series have sold more than 17 million copies, with a TV adaptation currently in development for Peacock.

SEE ALSO: Comic conventions are becoming content studios. NYCC is embracing the shift.

And the publishing industry is taking notice. After years of building audiences through self-publishing and online fiction platforms, LitRPG titles are now finding their way onto bookstore shelves.

Penguin Random House's Ace imprint began publishing Dungeon Crawler Carl in 2024, while Harper Voyager acquired four books in pirateaba's sprawling web serial The Wandering Inn earlier this year, bringing the series to print for the first time. Meanwhile, independent publisher Aethon Books partnered with Vault Comics to launch a new imprint dedicated to bringing popular indie fantasy titles into bookstores, including deluxe hardcover editions of He Who Fights with Monsters.

For years, the biggest trend in fantasy publishing has been romantasy, with dragons, shadow daddies, and morally gray love interests dominating bestseller lists and BookTok feeds. But LitRPG represents another side of fantasy's growing audience, one shaped as much by video games and internet communities as by traditional publishing.

It's also raising an interesting question about who's reading. Could a genre that feels so familiar to gamers be introducing an entirely different audience to books?

What is LitRPG, exactly?

LitRPG stands for Literary Role-Playing Game. At its most basic, it's fiction in which the rules and mechanics of a role-playing game are part of the story itself. If you've ever played World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy, or Dungeons & Dragons, the concept will probably sound familiar. Characters have levels, attributes, abilities, and inventories. They complete quests, defeat enemies, and earn experience points that help them become stronger.

What distinguishes LitRPG from the broader GameLit genre is that those mechanics are explicit parts of the narrative. A character might receive a notification that they've leveled up, discover a new ability, or inspect their stats to determine whether they're strong enough to survive their next encounter.

SEE ALSO: How 'Children of Blood and Bone' is bringing one of BookTok's biggest fantasy worlds to the big screen

In some stories, characters are literally trapped inside video games. In others, they're transported to fantasy worlds that operate according to game-like rules.

In Dungeon Crawler Carl, Carl and Princess Donut, his ex-girlfriend's cat, find themselves navigating an elaborate, alien-controlled dungeon after Earth is transformed into the setting for a brutal intergalactic reality show. They must fight monsters, collect loot, and level up while their increasingly absurd adventures are broadcast to an audience.

It's part science fiction, part fantasy, part dark comedy, and unmistakably influenced by video games. But LitRPG isn't necessarily about being good at games. Like any compelling fantasy story, its appeal ultimately depends on its characters, worldbuilding, and emotional stakes. The mechanics simply provide another way to tell that story.

LitRPG isn't new. So why is it suddenly everywhere?

Despite its growing mainstream visibility, LitRPG has been around for years. The genre draws inspiration from tabletop role-playing games, massively multiplayer online games, and Japanese and Korean fantasy fiction. But its recent popularity may have something to do with how familiar gaming language has become.

In an interview with Audible, Dungeon Crawler Carl author Matt Dinniman pointed to games like Baldur's Gate as helping introduce RPG mechanics to audiences beyond traditional gaming communities. "We saw a huge demographic shift with games like that, and we're seeing a similar shift among readers of LitRPG," he said. "We have more representation from all sorts of walks of life. My readers, I've noticed, are so much more diverse than they were just two years ago, so I think it's leaking out the edges of what people used to think LitRPG is, and that's fantastic."

Part of LitRPG's appeal is the satisfaction of watching characters grow stronger in ways readers can actually measure. During a 2025 New York Comic Con panel, Aethon Books president Steve Beaulieu described what makes that progression so satisfying.

"You actually get to watch the character progress tangibly throughout the series, as opposed to just reading that it happens," Beaulieu said. "We get to see things like stats, we get to see things like levels up, we get to see the tangible changes in the character. And that ends up being really fun for the reader."

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next.

But the appeal goes beyond watching numbers increase. In a September 2026 interview with Dragon Con's Daily Dragon, Magetank author Cornman compared the experience to playing a game — with considerably less responsibility.

"Playing the game requires active participation," Cornman said. "In LitRPG books, you're along for the ride, and there's this person, or these characters — this group — who are making these choices, and you’re getting the satisfaction of seeing them work on the world and synergize and do cool things without having to be wholly responsible for everything that's happening. It also feels like you’re there with a friend or are a part of the group."

The Dungeon Crawler Carl effect

If LitRPG has a breakout mainstream star, it's arguably Dungeon Crawler Carl.

Dinniman originally published the series independently, building an audience before transitioning to traditional print publishing through Ace, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Its success illustrates how a genre that developed largely outside the traditional publishing system can become a major commercial force.

There's something particularly interesting about the series' crossover appeal. Dungeon Crawler Carl is full of RPG mechanics, but it also has the qualities of an accessible, character-driven adventure, like humor, escalating stakes, memorable relationships, and an increasingly elaborate fictional universe.

A cosplayer poses as Princess Donut from "Dungeon Crawler Carl" during New York Comic Con 2026. Credit: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for ReedPop

And that fandom is moving beyond online reading communities, with fans showing up at conventions in cosplay, lining up for author signings, and collecting merch, much like they would for their favorite games or anime series. The series is also being developed for television, another indication of the entertainment industry's interest in LitRPG's crossover potential.

Why audiobooks are such a big part of LitRPG

You can't really talk about LitRPG's popularity without talking about audiobooks. The genre has developed an enthusiastic audio audience, with narrators becoming recognizable figures within its fandom. And as LitRPG reaches more readers, its popularity on audiobook platforms is skyrocketing.

According to data shared with Mashable, total listening hours for LitRPG titles on Audible grew more than 125 percent between September 2025 and September 2026. On Spotify, average daily global listening to LitRPG audiobooks is up a staggering 508 percent in 2026 compared with 2024.

Dungeon Crawler Carl is leading the charge. As of September 2026, the series had amassed more than 260 million listening hours and sold more than 10 million audiobook units on Audible alone. Total listening hours for the series on the platform also grew nearly 300 percent year over year.

Part of the appeal of LitRPG audiobooks is how naturally the genre lends itself to immersive performances. Jeff Hays, who narrates Dungeon Crawler Carl, is one particularly prominent example. His performances give the series' eccentric characters distinct voices, bringing the experience closer to an audio drama than a straightforward reading of a novel. Hays has become so closely associated with Princess Donut that he's been cast to voice the feline in the upcoming Peacock television adaptation.

Audiobooks have also played an important role in the series' journey. Dinniman originally self-published Dungeon Crawler Carl in 2020, with Soundbooth Theater producing its audiobook through Audible's Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX), a platform that allows independent creators to produce and distribute audiobooks. In 2024, Audible brought the series under its Audible Books publishing imprint, with plans to produce editions in six languages.

For listeners accustomed to podcasts, gaming streams, and other long-form audio entertainment, audiobooks may offer an accessible entry point to the genre. LitRPG stories can be extremely long, with elaborate worlds and sprawling character arcs. Plus, audio lets fans experience those adventures while commuting, exercising, or engaging in other activities.

And the audience isn't necessarily who you might expect. According to Spotify, listeners ages 35 and older accounted for 54 percent of Dungeon Crawler Carl's listening hours on the platform in 2026. It's a reminder that while much of the conversation around reading trends focuses on younger audiences and BookTok, LitRPG's appeal may extend well beyond those communities.

Are listeners discovering LitRPG because they already enjoy fantasy novels, or are they arriving through gaming, podcasts, and online creators? While the available data doesn't answer that question, the genre's explosive growth on audio platforms suggests that the way people discover and consume fantasy is indeed evolving.

Where to start reading LitRPG

The good news is that you don't need to understand every RPG mechanic to enjoy LitRPG. If you're curious about where to begin, here are a few popular entry points.

For readers who like dark comedy and chaotic adventures: Opens in a new window Credit: Ace/Penguin Random House Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman (Paperback) $12.48 at Amazon
$20 Save $7.52   Shop Now at Amazon

A man and a cat must survive a deadly, game-like dungeon while entertaining an intergalactic audience. It's absurd, violent, funny, and unexpectedly emotional.

For readers who love sprawling fantasy adventures: Opens in a new window Credit: AETHON: Vault He Who Fights with Monsters by Shirtaloon (Hardcover) $21.27 at Amazon
$35 Save $13.73   Shop Now at Amazon

An ordinary man finds himself in a magical world filled with monsters, complex abilities, and a progression system that shapes his journey.

For readers who prefer character-driven fantasy: Opens in a new window Credit: Harper Voyager/HarperCollins The Wandering Inn by pirateaba (Paperback) $17.99 at Amazon
$24 Save $6.01   Shop Now at Amazon

A young woman is transported to a fantasy world and becomes an innkeeper rather than a traditional adventurer. Its game-like class and leveling system provide the LitRPG framework, but its slice-of-life focus gives it a different feel.

For readers who want a more traditional gaming experience: Opens in a new window Credit: AETHON: Vault Awaken Online by Travis Bagwell (Hardcover) $30 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

A virtual-reality fantasy adventure that leans into the experience of entering and progressing through a game world.

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Buying a Kindle with lockscreen ads is a hotly debated topic on the Mashable shopping team. To be clear, none of us are pro-ad, but we are pro-saving money. Kindles without lockscreen ads cost $20 more than those with ads, and these days, we're all looking to save money where we can.

But if you buy a Kindle e-reader with lockscreen ads, you're not stuck with them. Perhaps you just bought a Kindle, or maybe you've had one for years; either way, it's not too late to free yourself from the lockscreen of capitalism. Unfortunately, it will mean spending $20, but it's a worthy investment.

How to remove lockscreen ads from your Kindle Total Time

• 5 min

What You Need

• Computer
• Internet browser
• Kindle

Step 1: Go to 'Manage Your Devices'

Log into your Amazon account and under the 'Account' tab, navigate to the device tab and pick your device.

Credit: Amazon / Mashable

Step 2: Select your device

After you find your device listing, click on it and find the special offers section.

Credit: Screenshot courtesy of Amazon

Step 3: Remove offers

You can unsubscribe from ads by clicking 'remove offers'. You will then pay a one time fee of $20 to remove ads.

Credit: Screenshot courtesy of Amazon

Step 4: Refresh your Kindle

Lockscreen ads will be removed immediately as long as it's connected to WiFi. Either restart or hit the 'Sync' button on your Kindle if ads are still appearing.

Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable