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I think we can all agree that headphone prices have gotten out of hand. Even if the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra are worth their price tags, the average person can't spend $400 to $500 on a pair of headphones. Affordable noise-cancelling headphones are widely available, but are they any good? Previously, we've loved the JLab Lux headphones, but what about Soundcore's lineup?

Soundcore's Space One and Space One Pro offer affordable and midrange options to the headphone game. And both are wildly popular: the Soundcore headphones have over 14,000 reviews on Amazon, and I see them everywhere. As a product reviewer, I'm always eyeing what people are wearing at the gym or coffee shop, and quickly, I noticed how many folks were wearing the Space One and Space One Pro headphones.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Space One Headphones $99.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Space One Pro Headphones $199.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Soundcore Space One and Space One Pro price and specs The biggest difference between the Soundcore Space One and Space One Pro headphones is their prices. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Soundcore's Space One and Space One Pro headphones are similar to Bose's headphone tiers, with the Bose QuietComfort and QuietComfort Ultra. While that means they exist at two different price points, it also means the headphones are similar with a few key differences.

The Soundcore Space One headphones are priced at $99.99 with the following features:

• Noise cancellation: Adaptive active noise cancellation

• Sound: Hi-Res

• Battery life: 40 hours with ANC or 55 hours without ANC

• Fast charging: 5 minutes of charging for 4 hours of playback

• Mics: 3 Mics

• Weight: 265 grams

• Colors: Cloud pink, latte cream, sky blue, and abyss black

The Soundcore Space One Pro headphones are priced at $199.99 with the following features:

• Noise cancellation: Adaptive active noise cancellation 3.0

• Sound: Hi-Res with lossless audio support

• Battery life: 40 hours with ANC or 60 hours without ANC

• Fast charging: 5 minutes of charging for 8 hours of playback

• Mics: 4 Mics

• Weight: 286.2 grams

• Colors: Cream white and jet black

The Soundcore Space One looks like Beats and Bose had a baby The Soundcore logo resembles the Beats logo, no? Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Soundcore Space One and Space One Pro both have a great look, especially for budget headphones. When I first spotted them out in the wild, I thought they were a pair of Beats because they looked like the Studio Pros. Turns out, the Soundcore and Beats logos just look remarkably similar.

The Soundcore Space One and Space One Pro headphones stand on their own, with sleek, shiny design elements and rounded features. Both are made from lightweight plastic, so while they look expensive, they do feel noticeably cheaper than higher-end brands. The Space One Pros have a little more heft, so they feel more expensive, earning their higher price tag.

The controls are the exact same. On the left ear cup is the power button and a button to control noise cancellation. On the right ear cup is the play/pause button and the volume controls. All the buttons work great, and I prefer them far more than the touch controls of higher-end headphones.

One pair is surprising more comfortable than the other Both the Space One and Space One Pro headphones have intuitive button controls. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

One odd design choice separating the Space One and Space One Pro is that the ear cups on the Space Ones have a slight eight-degree tilt for an adjustable fit.

Generally, the Space One headphones weren't as snug a fit as the Space One Pros. That being said, I preferred the comfort of the Space One headphones. I wear glasses and earrings daily, and while wearing the Space Ones, I was always comfortable with no pinching on my ears.

The Space One Pros have a tighter fit, which, on the one hand, means better passive noise cancellation. On the other hand, it is harder to get comfortable with the Space One Pro headphones. The tight fit on the headphones meant I was constantly adjusting to get them comfortable, and wearing them for an hour started to give me a headache.

So, on comfort alone, I prefer the Space Ones.

Middling audio quality and noise cancellation

I wasn't blown away by either the Soundcore Space One or Space One pro headphones — both were good but not great. On specs alone, the Space One and Space One Pro are incredibly similar, both with active noise cancellation and hi-res sound. Where the Pros have a leg up is a more advanced version of ANC and lossless audio. In my experience, the sound is virtually the same.

What it ultimately came down to was the headphones' fit. Since the Space One Pro headphones have a tighter fit, it created more passive noise cancellation. When I wore both out at a coffee shop to work, the Space One Pros were better at blocking out the cafe's buzz.

Battery life to last for days

Despite the $100 price difference between the two pairs of headphones, their battery life is fairly similar. The Space One headphones have 40 hours of battery life with ANC and 55 hours without, while the Space One Pro headphones have the same battery life with ANC but 60 hours without.

In my time testing the two pairs of headphones, I found similar results. When using the headphones for a couple of hours a day, I could go about two weeks before needing to recharge them — and that's with active noise cancellation on.

Unless you don't plan to use active noise cancellation on the headphones, the Pros aren't worth it given the battery life.

Go for the cheaper pair: The Soundcore Space One Having tested both, we prefer the Soundcore Space One headphones over the Pros. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Testing the Soundcore Space One and Space One Pro headphones side by side, the biggest difference is their price tags. Since that's the case, I say go for the cheaper option, the Soundcore Space One. The battery life is essentially the same as the Pros, plus, they're the more comfortable pair of headphones.

If you want to splurge and prioritize noise cancellation, go for the Soundcore Space One Pro headphones. They have a tighter fit, resulting in better noise cancellation. However, we're big fans of saving money where you can, and in this case, the cheaper Soundcore Space One are our preferred headphones.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Space One Headphones $99.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Space One Pro Headphones $199.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now

The company’s A.I.-generated answers look authoritative, but they draw on an array of sources, from trustworthy sites to Facebook posts.

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Stephen Colbert has reacted to President Donald Trump's threats to destroy Iran's power plants and bridges. Posting to Truth Social on Easter Sunday, Trump announced that the U.S. would attack Iran on Tuesday, stating that "There will be nothing like it!!!" As Colbert noted, Trump going "100 percent cage-free crazy on the internet" didn't make for a very festive Easter atmosphere.

"Open the Fuckin' Strait [of Hormuz], you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell — JUST WATCH!" Trump wrote (emphasis original). "Praise be to Allah."

"You know, it is not often that a network has to bleep the words of a sitting president," Colbert quipped. "Hasn't happened since [President Harry S.] Truman put that famous sign on his desk: The bleep stops bleep."

SEE ALSO: Watch a jar of Nutella make space history alongside Artemis II astronauts

Quickly running through Trump's recent history regarding his messaging on Iran, Colbert noted that just last week the president said reopening the Strait of Hormuz was not an issue the U.S. was interested in being involved in. Despite this, The U.S. president has since issued multiple deadlines for Iran to reopen the strait, threatening military strikes on the country's power plants if they do not comply. Thus far, Trump has moved these deadlines back each time they've arrived.

"At this point he's tried every tactic except passive aggressive parental guilt trip," joked Colbert. "'Well, I guess you won't open the Strait of Hormuz before I die. But that's fine. I mean, who needs oil when I'm clearly never going to have grandchildren? I don't need them. I have canasta, which would be a beautiful name for a girl.'"

Colbert also continued to follow NASA's historic Artemis II mission to the moon, which began experiencing various problems with its onboard toilet not long after launch.

"Luckily, the astronauts have trained extensively on NASA's broken toilet simulator: a Greyhound bus," Colbert quipped. "Apparently the problem was caused by a frozen waste plug in the toilet pipeline, which the crew solved by rotating the spacecraft so sunlight could warm the frozen pipe. Turns out the solution to their problem was to point it where the sun do shine."

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, April 7, 2026:

AcrossInformative commercial, for short

• The answer is PSA.

Something you trace to draw a Thanksgiving turkey

• The answer is Hand.

___ Johnson, former Prime Minister of the U.K.

• The answer is Boris.

Crosses (out)

• The answer is XES.

DownCity with the Notre-Dame Cathedral

• The answer is Paris.

Bad mood

• The answer is Snit.

About eight minutes of the average half-hour sitcom

• The answer is Ads.

Remote worker's office, perhaps

• The answer is Home.

Word that can follow each group of circled letters (and hints at its shape)

• The answer is Box.

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

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

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

Jimmy Kimmel has returned from a one-week break, diving straight back into our ongoing hellscape by addressing President Donald Trump's behaviour during the Easter holiday. On Easter Sunday, Trump published a post on Truth Social threatening a large-scale attack on Iran's power plants and bridges this Tuesday. He subsequently followed it up with a post that simply read, "Tuesday, 8 P.M. Eastern Time!"

"He's the only president who teases a bombing the same way ABC promotes new episodes of Will Trent," quipped Kimmel.

Trump was also his usual verbose self at the White House's annual Easter Egg Roll. In a moment Kimmel considered among the "most preposterous" in the event's history, Trump gave a speech about the U.S.' war with Iran while standing next to a person in an Easter Bunny costume. The president then griped about former president Joe Biden to a group of literal children.

"I want to assure you the words you are about to hear coming out of the president's mouth were not altered," said Kimmel. "We did not script this. This is not AI or a Donald Trump impersonator."

Specifically, Trump complained to the children about Joe Biden's use of an autopen, a machine that can sign documents on an individual's behalf. Though it is legal for presidents to sign bills with an autopen, last March Trump cited its use as justification for voiding pardons that Biden had issued. Under the U.S. Constitution, a pardon does not need to be written or signed to be effective.

"It's hard to believe it was only a week off," said Kimmel. "It seems like we've been gone for a year. So much stuff happened while we were off."

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 April 7, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 7, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for April 7 Pips

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

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 7 Pips

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

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

Number (7): Everything in this orange space must add up to 7. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 1-2, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically.

Less Than (7): Everything in this space must be less than 7. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 0-4, placed vertically.

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

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 7 Pips

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

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically; 2-3, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 5-4, 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 have played golf.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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: Points in golf

• Green: Teams from hockey's birthplace

• Blue: How's the weather?

• Purple: Food-related baseball entertainment

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Golf Scoring Teams

• Green: Canadian NHL Teams

• Blue: Weather-Themed Teams

• Purple: Things That Race at MLB Games

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #561 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Golf Scoring Teams - BIRDIE, BOGEY, RAGLE, PAR

• Canadian NHL Teams - CANADIENS, CANUCKS, OILERS, SENATORS

• Weather-Themed Teams - HURRICANES, LIGHTNING, STORM, THUNDER

• Things That Race at MLB Games - PIEROGIS, PRESIDENTS, SAUSAGES, THE FREEZE

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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

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

To grieve.

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

MOURN

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A pulling device.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 7, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

WINCH

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

An arm joint.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 7 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 7, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

ELBOW

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Fresh and cool.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

MINTY

Final Hurdle hint

Sweet treats.

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

CANDY

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're down for whatever.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 7, 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: Rivalry

• Green: Committed

• Blue: Unsure

• Purple: Part of the cycle

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Competition

• Green: On board

• Blue: Words for unspecified choices

• Purple: ___ Life

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 #1031 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Competition: BATTLE, CLASH, CONTEST, MATCH

• On board: DOWN, GAME, IN, WILLING

• Words for unspecified choices: ANOTHER, EITHER, NEITHER, ONE

• ___ Life: AFTER, LOW, NIGHT, WILD

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 April 7, 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 used to being out at sea.

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 April 7, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Taking the helm

The words are related to the sea

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe boat rides.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Smooth Sailing.

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NYT Strands word list for April 7

• Bearing

• Course

• Smooth Sailing

• Waypoint

• Fathom

• Knot

• Mark

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're slow-witted.

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 April 7, 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 April 7, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Thick.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.

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...

DENSE

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.

"Looksmaxxing" influencer Clavicular was recently approached by three trans women, prompting a discussion on which community — incels or trans women — really started the intense beauty movement.

In a viral video clipped from a recent Kick stream, Clavicular was seen eating at a Florida restaurant when his friend, Andrew Morales, aka the "Cuban Tarzan," spotted three attractive women and pushed the camera their way to show the "gooners."

Soon, the three women made their way to Clavicular’s table, with one asking, "Why am I mogging you right now?" Mogging is a term to describe outshining someone’s beauty.

"I’m dragqueenmaxxing right now, no shade," the unnamed woman added.

SEE ALSO: The Looksmaxxing Glossary: Every term you need to understand the internet's most unhinged subculture

The three women then told Clavicular, also known as 20-year-old Braden Peters, that they were trans. Clavicular responded by asking questions about the women’s anatomy.

The discussion changed when the woman who first approached the table told Clavicular, "You know that trans women are the OG looksmaxxers?"

Clavicular seemed to acknowledge trans women’s role in the beauty practice, which involves extreme skin, hair, fitness, and nutrition routines, as well as the use of steroids and hormones (and even surgery, like bonesmashing). The woman who first approached the table told Clavicular, "I do the peptides, I’m on reta."

Clavicular acknowledged that trans women on Reddit were using looksmaxxing terms back in the early 2020s.

But when one of the women said, "You’re like copying us," Clavicular demurred, shaking his head.

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The women then ask for Clavicular to judge their appearance, but he seems to have had enough of the exchange and refuses. While Clavicular expressed his usual boredom and superior attitude with the women, he didn’t insult them. Morales, on the other hand, expressed transphobic attitudes by repeatedly apologizing for finding the women attractive before discovering they were trans.

Clavicular's political philosophies aren't entirely clear, though he's done interviews and collaborated with right-wing influencers, manosphere figures, and white supremacists. He also expressed vaguely transphobic attitudes previously, according to Them.

As far as which community first embraced looksmaxxing, it's widely accepted that the incel (involuntarily celibate male) community of the early 2020s was the first to coin the phrase and base much of their personalities on maximizing their appearance.

Trans women, of course, have been around since people knew what "transgender" meant, and have a long history of altering their appearance to not only be more beautiful and powerful, but to more accurately align with their gender identity.

Netflix is doubling down on kids' content with a pretty big new offering — and it's free for Netflix subscribers.

On Monday, Netflix announced its new standalone kids app called Netflix Playground. The app isn't a video streaming app as you might expect; rather, it's an interactive gaming app designed for kids aged eight and under.

The app is available now for Netflix subscribers in the United States.

According to Netflix, the app doesn't have any ads and won't offer any in-app purchases, making it completely kid-friendly. In addition, the app works without any mobile or WiFi connection too.

Users simply need to download the app and sign in to their Netflix account. From there, users will be able to instantly access a library of offline games featuring Peppa Pig, Sesame Street, Storybots, an assortment of games based on Dr. Seuss titles, and more.

Netflix just recently acquired the distribution rights to Sesame Street last year after its previous deal with HBO expired. Netflix released the first new episode of the series' 56th season in November.

Mashable's Chase DiBenedetto recently reported on the pivot to video games and gaming apps from entities that produce children's programming. While Netflix has introduced games for its adult user base for its main Netflix platform, Netflix Playground points to the company following the latest move to standalone platforms for kids' gaming.

The new Netflix Playground app is available now in the U.S. on both iOS and Android devices. It will launch globally on April 28.

As NASA's Artemis II crew made history today by traveling farther from Earth than any humans ever have, another unexpected passenger quietly drifted into frame: a jar of Nutella.

During NASA's livestream of the mission, the hazelnut spread could be seen floating around the Orion spacecraft cabin just minutes before Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen broke the distance record previously set by Apollo 13 in 1970.

SEE ALSO: Going viral from space: NASA's tech-savvy Artemis II crew

The moment immediately went viral online, with users joking that Nutella had now technically traveled farther from Earth than anyone else in history.

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Others joked that Ferrero, the company behind Nutella, had just received the most valuable product placement imaginable — a free ad from space. (You could also say the same about Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max.)

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NASA, however, shut down any suggestion that the floating jar was part of a brand deal. In a statement to Futurism, agency press secretary Bethany Stevens said NASA "does not select crew meals or food in association with brand partnerships" and clarified that the Nutella appearance "was not a product placement."

The Artemis II crew has reportedly brought a surprisingly stacked menu into space, including barbecue beef brisket, cauliflower, macaroni and cheese, broccoli au gratin, tortillas, hot sauce, and coffee. The Nutella, naturally, seems destined for mid-flight snacking.

Yes, the mission is one of the most significant moments in modern space travel. But even astronauts breaking records on the way around the moon still want snacks.

Tonight, when the Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman's daughters go to bed, they can look at the moon and know both their father and mother are out there.

Wiseman and the rest of the NASA mission's crew flew around the lunar far side on Monday, April 6, marking the climactic moment in their 10-day spaceflight: their closest approach to the moon. Commander Wiseman, along with pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Jeremy Hansen and Christina Koch, spent their day in deep space observing the moon. 

A few hours before mission control's expected communication blackout with the Orion spacecraft, the crew announced they had seen two previously unnamed craters and would like to propose names for them. 

One was to honor Wiseman's late wife. 

"There's a feature in a really neat place on the moon," Hansen, whose voice trembled, told Houston. "It's a bright spot on the moon, and we'd like to call it Carroll."

SEE ALSO: The day Earth slipped behind the moon: the Artemis II crew's eclipse

Carroll Taylor Wiseman, who had two daughters with Wiseman, died of cancer in 2020. She was 46. Their children are Katie and Ellie. 

The fresh crater lies near the boundary between the moon's near side and far side — an area that, at certain times during the moon's orbit, can be seen from Earth. This feature is just northwest of Glushko crater.

Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman, right, wipes away tears as crew proposes the name 'Carroll' for a lunar crater to honor his late wife. Credit: NASA / Youtube screenshot

As Hansen spoke in the livestream, Wiseman could be seen in the spacecraft, dubbed Integrity, wiping his eyes and placing his hand on his crewmate's shoulder. Then, all four astronauts, who have trained together for the mission since 2023, floated toward each other for a group hug. Koch removed her glasses to wipe away tears. 

Before the emotional moment, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jenni Gibbons, serving as the communicator in mission control, told Wiseman that he had family in the viewing gallery. That was a surprise. After questioning if Gibbons was kidding, he made a heart with his hands toward the video camera and pointed to a bracelet on his wrist. 

In a 2023 interview with Mashable, Wiseman said he'd grappled with the what-if scenarios if something were to go wrong on the mission.

"I've got two teenage daughters. I love them to death. They're the best thing in my life," he said. "Life is filled with risks, so why would anybody choose to not live? Go out there and explore. Go do great things."

Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman makes a heart with his hands for his daughters during a livestream of the crew's lunar approach. Credit: NASA / Youtube screenshot

When the spacecraft wraps around the far side on Monday, the astronauts will lose contact with mission control for about 40 to 50 minutes. That blackout is caused by the moon blocking radio signals between them. Glover said he hopes the world will pray along with them at that time. The spacecraft is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10.

To honor their spacecraft, the crew also proposed naming another crater Integrity. This second landmark is located on the far side, sandwiched between Mare Orientale and the Ohm crater. 

Gibbons, who trained with the crew as an alternate, called back: "Integrity and Carroll crater, loud and clear." 

The Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup just dropped a couple of months ago, but we're already getting leaks about the Galaxy S27 lineup.

Korean news outlet ET News (via Phone Arena) reported that Samsung is considering adding a fourth model to the S27 lineup. For years, Samsung has launched three flagship Galaxy S phones every January or February: a base model, a Plus model, and an Ultra model. According to the ET News report, Samsung could add a Galaxy S27 Pro model to the mix next year, which would share a lot of the same flagship features as the Ultra, but presumably with some compromises to get the price down a bit.

As for which features will remain and which will not, the report is vague about that, possibly because we're so far out from these phones launching. The one big nugget ET News shares is that the new, lower-priced Pro would not include or support the S Pen, Samsung's trademark stylus that became a standard feature of Galaxy Ultra phones a few years ago. It could also include the Privacy Display feature that wound up being one of the main selling points of the S26 Ultra, per ET News.

SEE ALSO: Samsung's A37 and A57: midrange phones with some premium features

While this report suggests Samsung will launch four phones in the Galaxy S line next year, it's worth noting that as recently as last year, Samsung was reportedly going to replace the S26 Plus model with a thinner Edge model, inspired by the Galaxy S25 Edge. However, poor Edge sales scuttled that plan, leaving Samsung to launch three S26 phones that were pretty similar to the year before. Samsung could theoretically try that again by replacing the S27 Plus with an S27 Ultra, but based on this report, that's not going to be the case.

Sadly, we don't yet know a lot else about the S27 lineup. A previous leak a few months ago suggested the S27 Ultra could have an upgraded main rear camera sensor, but that report was vague about what the upgrades would actually be. Upgrades to performance, battery life, and AI features would also be reasonable to expect, but we haven't heard firm details about those just yet. It might be a while before we do.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) would like to remind Americans about the potential dangers of using foreign apps, particularly those based out of China.

In a recently released Public Service Announcement (PSA), the FBI warns mobile users about "many of the most downloaded and top-grossing apps in the United States," which are "developed and maintained by foreign companies, particularly those based in China."

As Forbes points out, China's National Intelligence Law requires that China-based companies provide their data to the government.

"All organizations and citizens shall support, assist, and cooperate with national intelligence efforts in accordance with law, and shall protect national intelligence work secrets they are aware of," reads Article 7 of China’s National Intelligence Law.

"National intelligence work institutions lawfully carrying out intelligence efforts may request that relevant organs, organizations, and citizens provide necessary support, assistance, and cooperation," reads Article 14 of the law.

While the FBI did not name any specific apps, a quick look at the top apps in both Apple's App Store and on Google Play suggests that the bureau is likely talking about apps like CapCut and Lemon8 from ByteDance and shopping apps like Temu and Shein.

"The apps that maintain digital infrastructure in China are subject to China's extensive national security laws, enabling the Chinese government to potentially access mobile app users' data," the FBI's warning says.

The FBI's security concerns about foreign apps echo the national security arguments that eventually led to the forced sale of TikTok. To continue operating in the U.S., the federal government required that ByteDance sell a majority of the company to a consortium of U.S. investors, including Oracle. ByeDance, however, still has minority ownership in the company now known as TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC.

Under President Donald Trump, the federal government has taken steps to shore up specific U.S. industries against competitors in China, particularly drones and routers. While the drone ban cited national security concerns, companies like DJI have said these efforts are merely an attempt to stifle competition.

SEE ALSO: The confusing U.S. router ban, explained: Which routers are banned?

The FBI's PSA warns about the data-collection permissions that users frequently grant to apps. For instance, many apps ask for permission to access users' contacts to invite their friends and family to use the same app. This frequently provides those platforms with names, phone numbers, email addresses, physical addresses, and more. This data can then be stored on a company's servers, which the FBI points out could be located in China. The PSA also states that location, photos, and messages could be compromised.

The FBI also warned users about downloading apps from third-party app stores, which could contain malware. This is mostly an issue for Android users, as Apple requires iPhone and iPad apps to be distributed through the official App Store in the U.S.

Regardless of whether you're an iOS or Android user, the FBI issued advice to protect your data. The FBI recommends that users disable unnecessary data sharing, frequently change passwords, and ensure their devices are up to date with the latest operating system and security updates.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

TL;DR: Live stream Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The next round of Champions League fixtures includes some really huge matchups. That's what you'd expect from the quarter finals, but Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich is still something special. Fans are getting to see some of the best players in the world battle it out over two legs. That's what the Champions League is all about.

If you want to watch Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich?

Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on April 7. This fixture takes place at the Estadio Bernabeu.

How to watch Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich for free

Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.