IT General

Nintendo’s Switch 2 is finally here, and it’s time to put your money where your mouth is. Whether you put down a refundable preorder “just in case” or you’re determined to hunt down a unit during the launch window, it’s make-your-mind-up time.

Last week, Google quietly announced that it would be adding a visible watermark to AI-generated videos made using its new Veo 3 model.

And if you look really closely while scrolling through your social feeds, you might be able to see it.

The watermark can be seen in videos released by Google to promote the launch of Veo 3 in the UK and other countries.

Credit: Screenshot: Google

Google announced the change in an X thread by Josh Woodward, Vice President with Google Labs and Google Gemini.

According to Woodward's post, the company added the watermark to all Veo videos except for those generated in Google's Flow tool by users with a Google AI Ultra plan. The new watermark is in addition to the invisible SynthID watermark already embedded in all of Google's AI-generated content, as well as a SynthID detector, which recently rolled out to early testers but is not yet broadly available.

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The visible watermark "is a first step as we work to make our SynthID Detector available to more people in parallel," said Josh Woodward, VP of Google Labs and Gemini in his X post.

In the weeks after Google introduced Veo 3 at Google I/O 2025, the new AI video model has garnered lots of attention for its incredibly realistic videos, especially since it can also generate realistic audio and dialogue. The videos posted online aren't just fantastical renderings of animals acting like humans, although there's plenty of that, too. Veo 3 has also been used to generate more mundane clips, including man-on-the-street interviews, influencer ads, fake news segments, and unboxing videos.

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If you look closely, you can spot telltale signs of AI like overly-smooth skin and erroneous artifacts in the background. But if you're passively doomscrolling, you might not think to double-check whether the emotional support kangaroo casually holding a plane ticket is real or fake. People being duped by an AI-generated kangaroo is a relatively harmless example. But Veo 3's widespread availability and realism introduce a new level of risk for the spread of misinformation, according to AI experts interviewed by Mashable for this story.

The new watermark should reduce those risks, in theory. The only problem is that the visible watermark isn't that visible. In a video Mashable generated using Veo 3, you can see a "Veo" watermark in a pale shade of white in the bottom right-hand corner of the video. See it?

A Veo 3 video generated by Mashable includes the new watermark. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable

How about now?

Google's Veo watermark. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable

"This small watermark is unlikely to be apparent to most consumers who are moving through their social media feed at a break-neck clip," said digital forensics expert Hany Farid. Indeed, it took us a few seconds to find it, and we were looking for it. Unless users know to look for the watermark, they may not see it, especially if viewing content on their mobile devices.

A Google spokesperson told Mashable by email, "We're committed to developing AI responsibly and we have clear policies to protect users from harm and governing the use of our AI tools. Any content generated with Google AI has a SynthID watermark embedded and we also add a visible watermark to Veo videos too.”

"People are familiar with prominent watermarks like Getty Images, but this one is very small," said Negar Kamali, a researcher studying people's ability to detect AI-generated content at Kellogg School of Management. "So either the watermark needs to be more noticeable, or platforms that host images could include a note beside the image — something like 'Check for a watermark to verify whether the image is AI-generated,'" said Kamali. "Over time, people could learn to look for it."

However, visible watermarks aren't a perfect remedy. Both Farid and Kamali told us that videos with watermarks can easily be cropped or edited. "None of these small — visible — watermarks in images or video are sufficient because they are easy to remove," said Farid, who is also a professor at UC Berkeley School of Information.

But, he noted that Google's SynthID invisible watermark, "is quite resilient and difficult to remove." Farid added, "The downside is that the average user can’t see this [SynthID watermark] without a watermark reader so the goal now is to make it easier for the consumer to know if a piece of content contains this type of watermark."

While June isn't typically a month that PC gamers associate with high-profile game releases, this year's lineup holds a few big arrivals across different genres: action-adventures, MMORPGs, soccer, horror, and more.

On June 1, TikTok banned the #SkinnyTok trend and hashtag on the app worldwide after receiving pressure from European lawmakers, according to Euractiv.

SkinnyTok glamorizes eating disorders and could influence people — primarily young women — to emaciate themselves in order to access an unrealistic beauty standard.

Unfortunately, just because the hashtag is banned from TikTok doesn't mean the content is particularly difficult to find. As Mashable has previously reported, content moderation rarely changes the content of our conversations, even if it succeeds in changing some of our vocabulary. Instead of suicide, users say "unaliving;" instead of sex, they says "seggs;" and instead of porn, we get corn emojis. In the same way, though SkinnyTok may be gone, users can still find the same content under new names. Similar content is also constantly pushed on FitTok, TikTok's community for fitness content.

SEE ALSO: YouTube updates guidelines for eating disorder-related content

This ban comes after policymakers in Brussels and Paris looked into SkinnyTok and found it was full of young women, many of whom looked emaciated, posting extreme diets and weight-loss tips.

"[We] have blocked search results for #skinnytok since it has become linked to unhealthy weight loss content," TikTok spokesperson Paolo Ganino said in a statement Monday, according to Politico. Ganino added that the ban is part of a "regular review ... to address evolving risks" on TikTok.

Now, when you search for the hashtag, you'll be met with a page that reads: "You're not alone."

"If you or someone you know has questions about body image, food, or exercise — it is important to know that help is out there and you are not alone. If you feel comfortable, you can confide in someone you trust or check out the resources below. Please remember to take care of yourselves and each other." The page also includes a number for the National Alliance for Eating Disorders and a link that takes users to the TikTok Safety Center.

France’s Digital Minister Clara Chappaz called this a "collective victory" on Sunday, according to Politico.

The SkinnyTok ban comes after a piece in The Cut detailed a destructive community created by SkinnyTok's biggest influencer, Liv Schmidt. Online communities that glamorize extremely skinny physiques and celebrate disordered eating have been popular since the early days of the internet, and SkinnyTok is just the latest iteration of an old trend.

This trend of shrinking oneself to achieve ideal thinness is so devastating because it's rooted in real-life privilege afforded to thin people. Anti-fat bias affects people in work, finances, and relationships.

According to a LinkedIn survey, fat workers earn more than $2,000 less each year than thin people in the UK. Women in the U.S. and Germany experience "a negative weight-income relationship that is steepest at the thin end of the distribution," according to a study from the Journal of Applied Psychology. MIT researchers also found that managers who believed they would be training a fat worker "had lower expectations about the trainee’s success and work ethic prior to training." Thinner people are treated better in the doctor's office and have easier access to services like air travel.

Many activists believe the answer to fatphobia cannot be to encourage thinness, as trends like SkinnyTok do. Instead, they believe we should fight fatphobia itself. Likewise, many body positivity activists warn that fatphobia is compounded when other factors such as race, class, and disability are folded in.

A report by the Dove Self-Esteem Project shows that nine out of 10 girls follow social media accounts that make them feel less beautiful, and more than half of the respondents said they couldn't measure up to online beauty standards. Nearly 30 million Americans suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their life, and only 27 percent of women receive any treatment for it. Even worse, more than one person dies as a direct result of an eating disorder every hour, according to statistics from the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. And, according to Eating Recovery Center, "studies have shown a clear link between social media and eating disorders."

If you feel like you’d like to talk to someone about your eating behavior, text "NEDA" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected with a trained volunteer or visit the National Eating Disorder Association website for more information.

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat at crisischat.org. Here is a list of international resources.

Today is your lucky day if you’re an owner of Walmart’s Onn 4K or Onn 4K Pro streaming boxes. Android 14 is rolling out right now, and this update skips over Android 13 from Android 12, bringing your device (almost) fully up-to-date.

Misinformation, job loss, nonconsensual deepfakes – these are just a few of the issues state lawmakers have to contend with in a world where artificial intelligence becomes more and more prevalent in our daily lives.

However, there's one big problem. The federal budget reconciliation bill may make it impossible for state lawmakers to deal with the many issues brought about by AI.

Why? Because President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill (yes, that's really what it's called) includes a highly controversial provision that outright bans any AI regulation for 10 years at the state and local level.

That means the bill would tie lawmakers' hands in all 50 states, preventing them from taking any action to regulate this growing industry even as it affects their states' economies and their constituents' lives.

According to a new report from StateScoop, state lawmakers from all 50 states are now coming together to push back against this provision in the federal budget reconciliation bill. In total, more than 260 state legislators have signed on to a letter to Congress voicing their opposition to the 10-year ban on AI regulation.

The letter was spearheaded by both South Carolina Rep. Brandon Guffey and South Dakota Sen. Liz Larson. Notably, Rep. Guffey is a Republican and Sen. Larson is a Democrat, showing that the opposition to this AI regulation ban is a bipartisan one.

Supports of the AI regulation ban provision claim that its necessary in order to prevent a "fragmented regulatory landscape," which would harm the industry and give China an unfair advantage in the space over U.S. tech companies.

And it appears at least some of the president's supporters in Congress are changing their tune on the bill.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the far-right Republican Congresswoman from Georgia, announced on X that she opposes the AI regulation ban provision, though she already voted in favor of the big, beautiful bill.

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"Full transparency, I did not know about this section on pages 278-279 of the OBBB that strips states of the right to make laws or regulate AI for 10 years," Rep. Greene posted on X. "I am adamantly OPPOSED to this and it is a violation of state rights and I would have voted NO if I had known this was in there."

Rep. Greene went on to state that the effects of this bill can be "potentially dangerous" and said she will not vote for the bill when it comes back to the House of Representatives if this provision is still included.

Trump's big, beautiful bill passed the House and now heads to the Senate, where Rep. Greene said she hopes this provision is stripped.

The CEO of AI company Anthropic recently warned that governments aren't taking the threat of AI seriously enough and that there is a real lack of action in preparing for what's to come. In addition, a poll conducted last month by research firm Echelon Insights, on behalf of Common Sense Media, found that 59 percent of registered voters opposed banning AI regulation for states.

The LG 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor has dropped to its lowest price ever. Right now, you can get it for $749.99 on Amazon, which is a huge 25% discount off its original price of $999.99. This is a high-quality monitor, and you're not likely to see it any cheaper anytime soon.

You use your devices to listen to music, watch YouTube videos, or get work done—and primarily, that’s what they’re meant for. But you’re not the only one who can have fun with your tech.

There's nothing worse than losing luggage during a vacation. If you want a little peace of mind, you'll want to outfit your gear with a Bluetooth tracker. Whether you have upcoming summer travel plans or just need a few more trackers, the UGREEN FineTrack is currently on sale for only $9.99.

Dolphin Emulator's Release 2506 is a big step forward for GameCube and Wii emulation. The audio and visuals have been improved, and you can finally play games with Wii Speak without needing the Wii Speak accessory.

For anyone who enjoys gaming, few things compare to the hype that a new game announcement brings. But for fighting game enthusiasts like myself, nothing beats a new character reveal for a fighting game. There is a certain art to creating the perfect trailer, and the best in the business are as scream-inducing as they are memorable.

You can get a big brand-name TV without spending too much money. The 55-inch LG LED 4K TV is going for a very low price of $299.99 at Best Buy. This is a big discount compared to its regular price of $349.99 and an even bigger saving compared to the current Amazon price of $376.99.

Prosumer hardware is always really expensive, and it's no different for hardware such as the Apple Pro Display XDR—a monitor that, despite being six years old, still starts at a whopping $4,999. Newer technologies are coming to eat its lunch, though, and now, LG is launching a monitor that might look very appealing if you've been eyeing something like this.

TL;DR: Hurry and grab lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more with a Microsoft Office 2019 license for Windows at A$46 for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows AU$46
AU$355 Save AU$309 Get Deal

Your credit card is exhausted from all of today’s subscription fees. While you probably don’t want to cancel Peacock and never see the ending of Yellowstone or say goodbye to two-day shipping with Prime, you could swap your Microsoft 365 subscription for a Microsoft Office lifetime license.

Instead of spending A$10 monthly (or A$120 yearly), you can pay once and use the apps as much as you’d like. For a little while longer, the Windows software suite is on sale for A$46.

What apps are included?

Microsoft Office 2019 isn’t the newest version available, but it’s the cheaper one for people who just need to use the apps and don’t care about what they look like inside. However, it does have a classic, timeless design.

Here's a list of the apps you get:

• Word

• Excel

• PowerPoint

• Outlook

• OneNote

• Publisher

• Access

Differences between Microsoft 365 and a lifetime license

This purchase is a no-brainer if you aren’t taking full advantage of Microsoft 365’s OneDrive storage, mobile app access, and cloud-based backups. Those just wanting the apps should be more than comfortable with a Microsoft Office download.

You might actually like this license more than the subscription. The apps are downloaded directly onto your PC instead of hosted on the cloud. While this does mean there are no built-in cloud backups, you don’t have to worry about the hassle of trying to work offline.

Plus, now that Microsoft added Copilot’s AI features to Microsoft 365, you might be looking for a way to escape them. Not everyone is crazy about having a virtual robot interfere with their work, and these classic apps won’t ever bug you about it.

The price drop on this lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2019 for Windows runs for a limited time, so get your download for A$46 while supplies are available.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream Zverev vs. Djokovic in the 2025 French Open for free on 9Now, France TV, or Servus TV. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 French Open quarter finals are all huge games, but Zverev vs. Djokovic does stand out above the rest. It's the third seed against sixth, but it's much more than that: it's a question of whether or not Djokovic can still do it on the biggest stage. Zverev is going to push Djokovic to the limit.

If you want to watch Zverev vs. Djokovic in the 2025 French Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Zverev vs. Djokovic for free

Zverev vs. Djokovic in the 2025 French Open is available to live stream for free on a number of platforms:

• Australia — 9now

• Austria — ServusTV

• France — France TV

These services are geo-restricted, but anyone can access these free streaming platforms with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another country, meaning you can stream the 2025 French Open for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 French Open for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for 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 Australia, Austria, or France

4. Connect to 9Now, Servus TV, France TV

5. Watch the 2025 French Open for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Roland-Garros without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to live stream Zverev vs. Djokovic (plus the rest of the 2025 French Open) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for sport?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month subscription for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Zverev vs. Djokovic in the 2025 French Open for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Germany vs. Portugal in the UEFA Nations League semi final for free on ZDF. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League semi finals are finally here, with Germany taking on Portugal in the first matchup. Does this tournament really matter? We're not sure, but what every fan can agree on is that more big games between the best international sides is a good thing. And it doesn't get much bigger than Germany vs. Portugal.

The winner of this game will play France or Spain in the UEFA Nations League final on June 8.

If you want to watch Germany vs. Portugal in the UEFA Nations League semi final for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Germany vs. Portugal?

Germany vs. Portugal in the UEFA Nations League semi final kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on June 4. This fixture takes place at the Allianz Arena.

How to watch Germany vs. Portugal for free

Germany vs. Portugal in the UEFA Nations League semi final is available to live stream for free on ZDF.

ZDF is geo-restricted to Germany, 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 Germany, meaning you can access free live streams on ZDF from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Germany vs. Portugal 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 Germany

4. Visit ZDF

5. Live stream Germany vs. Portugal for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Germany vs. Portugal in the UEFA Nations League without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select UEFA Nations League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ZDF?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Germany

• 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month subscription for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Stream Germany vs. Portugal in the UEFA Nations League semi final for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $40: As of June 4, the Kindle Paperwhite Kids is on sale at Amazon once again for just $139.99, down from $179.99. That's a savings of 22% and matches its best price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Kindle Paperwhite Kids (16GB) $139.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $40 Get Deal

School's out for summer (or it's about to be), which means the kids are about to be reaching for their screens more often than usual. Swap the tablet or gaming console for screen time you can feel good about with the Kindle Paperwhite Kids. It's packed with kid-friendly books only — no notifications, apps, videos, or other distractions — and it's back on sale for its best-ever price at Amazon.

As of June 4, the Kindle Paperwhite Kids is on sale at Amazon for only $139.99, down from $179.99. That's a savings of 22% and matches its lowest price on record.

SEE ALSO: From the basic to the Paperwhite, these are Amazon's best Kindles

The Paperwhite Kids is our favorite Kindle for young readers, particularly because it has a waterproof build, unlike the regular Kindle Kids. Kids are unhinged, so a waterproof screen is a necessity. The Paperwhite Kids is also heftier than the adult Kindle Paperwhite, which makes it sturdier and able to withstand just about anything kids throw at it. If anything does manage to break it, however, Amazon will replace it within the first two years.

The newest rendition of the device was released last fall and comes in its thinnest, fastest form yet, as well as a variety of new designs. It features a seven-inch display with a higher contrast ratio and 25 percent faster page turns than its predecessor, which both help to keep kids engaged in the content.

We love that it comes with built-in parental controls and a free six-month subscription to Amazon Kids+, which is loaded with tons of age-appropriate books. That's plenty of time to get them through the lazy summer months. After the six-month trial period, it'll cost $5.99 per month. It's a good thing you'll be saving $40 on the device itself.

The best tech deals to shop this week

• Roku Ultra 4K Ultimate Streaming Player (2024 Release) — $79.99 (List Price $99.99)

• Beats Pill Bluetooth Speaker — $99.95 (List Price $149.95)

• Roborock Qrevo Master Robot Vacuum and Mop — $899.99 (List Price $1599.99)

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $74.99 (List Price $99.00)

• DualSense Edge Wireless Controller — $169.00 (List Price $199.99)

SAVE $316.80: As of June 4, get the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 (10-Core Snapdragon X Plus w/AI NPU, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) at Woot for $762.29, down from its usual price of $1,079.09. That's a discount of 29%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Woot Microsoft Surface Pro 11 (10-Core Snapdragon X Plus w/AI NPU, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $762.29 at Woot
$1,079.09 Save $316.80 Get Deal

Looking for a new laptop? If you’ve had your eye on a Surface Pro 11, this Woot deal is definitely worth a closer look. While the 16GB RAM / 256GB SSD base model originally retailed for $999.99, it’s no longer sold directly through the Microsoft Store, and it's currently unavailable at retailers like Best Buy. On Amazon, it's limited to third-party sellers. Woot appears to be one of the only places where you can still buy this base configuration new right now.

As of June 4, get the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 (10-Core Snapdragon X Plus w/AI NPU, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) at Woot for $762.29, down from its usual price of $1,079.09. That's $316.80 off for a discount of 29%. This model comes with a docking station that you can use to set up your laptop to an external monitor or other peripherals. You'll also get a 90-day limited warranty from Woot.

SEE ALSO: The best laptops under $500: All the budget-friendly options you should consider

The slightly higher price point is likely due to the included docking station (pictured), which does bump up the MSRP a bit. If you're set on this specific model, this might be one of your last chances to get it before it's gone for good.

Otherwise, this model comes paired with a 10-core Snapdragon X Plus processor, a 4K webcam, and Windows 11, so it's a great contender for working on the go or just chilling at home with your favorite shows and movies. This price is the lowest you'll get this model for, so you should snap it up while it's still here.

President Donald Trump's directive to rebrand the U.S AI Safety Institute will eliminate "safety" from its name. Instead, the AISI, which worked with private tech companies to asses the safety risks of AI, will be renamed the Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI).

According to Axios, which broke the news on May 29, the new CAISI will retain much of the same function, with an added focus on international coordination.

SEE ALSO: What is Palantir? The secretive tech company behind Trump's data collection efforts

Launched in 2023 by President Joe Biden, AISI was housed under the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology. Its original mandate was to assess the risks posed by systems like ChatGPT and Claude. Then, after Trump came back into office, and Elon Musk's “DOGE” team added to the mix, insiders expected the institute to be dissolved entirely.

In February, AISI was excluded from the Paris AI Summit hosted by Trump’s team. By March, researchers were told to prioritize audits that reduced "ideological bias" in the systems they reviewed.

What exactly CAISI will do now remains unclear. Per Axios, the former AISI's responsibilities won't deviate that much, but judging from its new name and comments from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the focus appears to be tilting toward acceleration, not caution.

"For far too long, censorship and regulations have been used under the guise of national security," Lutnick said in a statement. "Innovators will no longer be limited by these standards. CAISI will evaluate and enhance U.S. innovation of these rapidly developing commercial AI systems while ensuring they remain secure to our national security standards."

SAVE 25%: The Garmin inReach Mini 2 is on sale at Garmin for $299.99, down from the normal price of $399.99. That's a savings of $100.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin inReach Mini 2 $299.99 at Garmin
$399.99 Save $100 Get Deal

It's easy and inexpensive to pack along an emergency blanket, extra calories, and a water purification system for your hike, but adding a satellite communicator comes with a cost. That's why this deal on the Garmin inReach Mini 2 couldn't have come at a better time.

As of June 4, the Garmin inReach Mini 2 is on sale for $299.99 at Garmin, marked down from the normal price of $399.99. That's a 25% discount that works out to a savings of $100.

The lightweight and compact Garmin inReach gives you access to two-way messaging as well as global SOS should you find yourself in need of help. On a lighter note, the inReach is great for finding your route back to the starting point, and you can share your location. Plus, there's a digital compass.

SEE ALSO: The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE is back to its best-ever price at Amazon

The Garmin inReach Mini 2 also gives you access to weather updates where you currently are, but also locations along your route. In terms of battery life, expect to get about 14 days when using the inReach on the default 10-minuted tracking mode. If you switch that to the 30-minute tracking mode, you can get up to 30 days of battery life before a recharge.

Keep in mind that many of these features require a satellite subscription plan, which comes in at about $15 per month through Garmin.

Before you head out into the wilderness, snag the Garmin inReach Mini 2 while it's $100 off. It gives you essential information like routing and weather, while also giving your loved ones peace of mind.

The best home and kitchen deals to shop this week

• Skylight Frame 10-inch Digital Picture Frame — $139.99 (List Price $159.00)

• Ninja Crispi Air Fryer — $159.99 (List Price $179.99)

• Birdfy AI Smart Solar Powered Bird Feeder with Camera — $179.99 (List Price $249.99)

• KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer — $449.95

• Eufy Omni C20 Robot Vacuum and Mop With Self-Emptying Base — $499.99 (List Price $699.99)