IT General

Let's get one thing out of the way early: Yes, I understand that voice chat in online console games has not only been possible, but has also been commonplace for two decades now. Nintendo is way behind the curve on this one.

That said, I got to try the new Switch 2's GameChat functionality at a recent event ahead of the console's June 5 launch, and I came away pretty impressed, all things considered. I also got to spend six hours playing Mario Kart World, so all in all, a pretty awesome day.

Nintendo hasn't really invented anything new here but rather has synthesized its family-friendly, intuitive sensibilities with the way people hang out with each other on Discord in 2025. Thanks to a dedicated button on every Switch 2 controller, a slick interface, and some pretty thoughtful accessibility features (that's new for Nintendo), I expect Switch gamers are going to love GameChat.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2 preorder guide: Track latest restocks, see our first-hand impressions Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat preview: Nintendo joins the 21st century

As originally outlined in the big Nintendo Switch 2 Direct livestream back in April, GameChat is Nintendo's version of something you've been able to do on Xbox consoles since I was roughly 10 years old and playing Halo 2. Put simply, it's a way to create voice chat parties for up to 12 Nintendo Switch Online users.

Take a moment to pick your jaw up from the floor. Nintendo is finally doing what Xbox Live users could do back in the Bush administration. Sarcasm aside, there are actually a couple of unique features that make GameChat stand out. One is that it's immediately accessible at any time via a new "C" button on every Switch 2 controller. This, of course, makes it very easy to bop in and out of chat rooms at will without having to go to the Home menu and spend a few seconds navigating a series of icons.

The interface for all of this could not be more straightforward, in a good way. There's a button for creating a room, a button for joining an existing room (made by someone you're friends with, not strangers), and some settings for you to fiddle with. It feels very Nintendo-like in its simplicity and elegance.

Another distinguishing characteristic of GameChat is that it's designed to be used with an open microphone that's built into the console itself. This has been, by far, my biggest worry with GameChat; some of us have to deal with noise complaints from neighbors, for example. I was also concerned this would inevitably create problems with game audio or miscellaneous real-life noises bleeding into voice chat.

Granted, I was in a demo environment set up by Nintendo, but it was a very loud room with a lot going on and I gotta say...it works. I could hear everyone clearly and, as far as I could tell, they could hear me without any problems. However, I'd like to acknowledge that I was told you can plug a regular headset into the Switch 2 Pro Controller's headphone jack and voice chat like you would on any other console. I will probably be doing that exclusively, to be honest.

It's like Discord on your TV. Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat: More first impressions

There are a few other odds and ends I noticed during the demo. One is that you can stream a live feed of your gameplay to anyone else in the GameChat room, and they can do the same for you. If you've seen any promotional footage of GameChat, you probably noticed that those video feeds are pretty blurry and run at a very low frame rate. You can blow one up to full-screen, but I wouldn't recommend it. Otherwise, they live in a horizontal row at the bottom of the screen.

I can confirm that they look like that in practice, not just in marketing videos. I'm not sure how much I want to use that feature, especially given that it reduces the total amount of the screen I get to use for my gameplay purposes. With that in mind, though, there's something nice about being able to discern what your friends are doing at a glance. Our demo involved playing through a co-op level in The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords for Game Boy Advance, and it was kinda cool to know that one of my partners was in another room collecting Rupees without me needing to ask where he was. This feature seems built for that sort of cooperation, those little moments when you want to quickly check a friend's feed.

I also noticed a pretty neat number of customization options for GameChat. You can turn off a friend's video feed, adjust the size of your gameplay window, adjust individual users' volume levels, and just play in a regular full-screen mode, if you want. Most surprising was the inclusion of a speech-to-text window you can optionally display on screen for users with hearing issues. In the very brief demo I got of that feature, it seemed pretty good at picking up what the demonstrator was saying, and it actually labeled individual speakers in the text window.

Look, all of this could completely fall apart once it's in the hands of regular goobers like my friends and I, outside of an ideal demo environment. I also expect that parents will have a lot of questions about safety and CamgeChat parental controls. But I came away from my short time with GameChat feeling a lot better about the feature. The open-mic stuff works better than expected, but I'm also glad you can opt out of it. Streaming gameplay to other users does seem to have genuine use cases, but again, it's totally optional and decently configurable. And the inclusion of the speech-to-text window is so much more cognizant of accessibility issues than Nintendo has been in the recent past.

In other words, Nintendo put a lot more thought into GameChat than I expected. This is just how people (gamers and otherwise) interact with each other now, and Nintendo is meeting folks where they are. I'm excited to try it out in real-world settings, at the very least.

Nothing, the company that makes affordable, semi-transparent smartphones, has a new flagship coming, and now we have the exact date.

In an invite sent to the media, the company revealed that Nothing Phone 3 will launch on July 1st at 6 p.m. BST (that's 1 p.m. ET).

The company also added a cryptic, pixelated image and shared an animation that tell us very little. However, we know a little bit about the phone from previous rumors and reports.

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First, the official stuff: Nothing CEO Carl Pei said last month that Nothing Phone 3 will cost around £800 (that's about €949 or $1,081 at today's exchange rate, but expect significantly different prices depending on the market). Besides that, Pei said that the phone will have "major performance upgrades," revamped software, and will be made of premium materials.

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More precisely (but less certainly), a leaker said yesterday that Nothing Phone 3 will be available in black or white (no surprise there, given previous Nothing phones mostly come in these colors), and in two variants: One with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and the other with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The same source says the pricing will be $799/$899, depending on the variant.

SEE ALSO: Nothing's new Phone 3a and 3a Pro are the coolest-looking phones you can get

We'll find out more in the weeks to come, and we'll follow the launch on July 1 to bring you all the news about Nothing's new flagship.

Did you know that a lot of the beautiful, custom-engraved products you see in the store can be made in your own home? The swell of consumer interest in personalized goods has caused a boom in the at-home creative market.

We hear that it saves energy to unplug devices, but it's easy to blow off this advice. Such usage is invisible and out of mind. Turns out, that energy wastage is actually quite easy to confirm.

TL;DR: Live stream Musetti vs. Tiafoe 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 finally here. We've entered the business end of the competition, with very remaining player dreaming of lifting the trophy.

Musetti meets Tiafoe in a fascinating quarter-final matchup. If you want to watch Musetti vs. Tiafoe in the 2025 French Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Musetti vs. Tiafoe for free

Musetti vs. Tiafoe 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 Musetti vs. Tiafoe (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 Musetti vs. Tiafoe in the 2025 French Open for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $80: As of June 3, the Apple Watch SE (GPS, 40mm) is on sale for $169 at Amazon. This is 32% off its list price of $249.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) $169 at Amazon
$249 Save $80 Get Deal

Some smartwatches come with very high price tags, but if you're looking for something that just covers the basics, there are quite a few budget-friendly options to look through. If you're an Apple user, the Apple Watch SE is a pick that's worth checking out. That's especially true now as it's currently discounted at Amazon.

The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen, GPS, 40mm) has received a 32% discount at Amazon, dropping its price from $249 to $169. This discount applies to multiple color options as well, so you can choose between the starlight aluminum case with a lake green sport loop, the silver aluminum case with denim sport band, the silver aluminum case with blue cloud sport loop, the midnight aluminum case with midnight sport band, the midnight aluminum case with ink sport loop, and the starlight aluminum case with starlight sport band.

SEE ALSO: The 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 chip) is back to its best-ever price at Amazon

The Apple Watch SE has plenty of features to help you out throughout the day. This includes health tracking for heart rate and sleep, safety features like Fall Detection, Crash Detection, and Emergency SOS, and activity tracking to help with your fitness goals. It also fits in perfectly with an Apple ecosystem, allowing you to send texts or take calls from your wrist.

Don't miss out on 32% off the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen, GPS, 40mm) at Amazon.

If you're hoping for a little bit more from your smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 10 is also on sale at Amazon right now. It's currently back down to its lowest-ever price, so there's no better time than now to grab it.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• 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)

There are many games that are well-known for being very difficult. Dark Souls, Sekiro, Cuphead, Battletoads... these games can be tough, but they're generally manageable with practice. Today, I want to talk about the real biggest challenges in gaming—the cruelest, most sadistic experiences possible.

SAVE $100: As of June 3, the Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) is on sale for $299 at Amazon. That's a 25% price drop from its list price of $399.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) $299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100 Get Deal

There have been a wide range of smartwatch deals popping up lately, which is good news if you've been looking to pick something up for outdoor adventures. If you're an Apple user, some of its smartwatches have even received some nice discounts, including the Apple Watch Series 10.

The Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) is on sale for $299 at Amazon. This is 25% off its list price of $399 and even marks a return to its lowest-ever price according to price tracker camelcamelcamel. If its caught your eye, there's no better time than now to scoop it up.

SEE ALSO: Everything we expect from WWDC 2025: an iOS overhaul, Apple Intelligence, and macOS

Whether you want it for workouts or just everyday use, the Apple Watch Series 10 boasts a variety of features to get you through the day. This includes heart rate tracking, sleep tracking, respiratory rate, advanced metrics for a variety of workouts, and safety features like Fall Detection, Crash Detection, and Emergency SOS. On top of all that, it fits perfectly into an Apple ecosystem so you can send texts and take calls right from your wrist.

If you've been on the lookout for a smartwatch upgrade, now is a great time to do it with this deal on the Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) at Amazon.

There are quite a few more Apple deals worth checking out right now, too. The 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 Chip) is back down to its best price at Amazon as is the M3 iPad Air.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• 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)

FREE LEGO: On June 8, build a Lego Paddle model at participating stores and take it home with you for free. Find participating stores here.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego: Free Paddle for Father's Day Learn More

Lego has been running make and take events all year, providing fans with the opportunity to build and take home exclusive models like the Steering Wheel, Valentine's Day Heart, Mother's Day Bouquet, and Grogu. These events always cause a stir in the brick-building community, so we feel the need to make some noise about any new announcements.

The next make and take event is confirmed for June 8. Visitors to select Lego Stores on June 8 (from 12-2 p.m.) will have the chance to participate in a Father's Day Paddle make and take event. During this special event, participants can build and take home a Paddle model for free. This event is intended for participants aged 6+ years, and the model will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis while supplies last. You can check participating stores here.

SEE ALSO: Building the 'Twilight' Lego set was the therapy session I didn’t know I needed

The Paddle model is not available for purchase, so participants are getting their hands on an exclusive item for free. The only catch is that you can't stock up on these exclusive items. You are limited to one build per participant, but that feels fair to us.

Build and take home an exclusive Lego Paddle model for free on June 8.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• 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)

Non-monogamy has entered popular consciousness in recent years, with terms like open relationship and polyamory becoming more visible online. But what about relationship anarchy?

Relationship anarchy (or RA) is a philosophy that regards all relationships as equally important and unique. In RA, no relationship should be bound by rules that aren't entirely agreed on by the involved parties. The phrase was coined by writer and activist Andie Nordgren and seeks to apply the principles of anarchism (which calls for abolishing authority and hierarchy) to relationships.

SEE ALSO: Is Feeld for normies now?

RA takes center stage in Feeld's (the app for kinky and non-monogamous people) latest State of Dating Report, which is co-written by sex educator and author Ruby Rare. The report states that RA could be the antidote for Gen Z's loneliness.

Both before and since the outbreak of COVID, Americans have felt lonely. In 2023, then-Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory about the loneliness epidemic. As the report cites, Gen Z is the loneliest generation, according to experts.

But relationship anarchists on Feeld report less loneliness and a higher likelihood of valuing deep and broad connections. RA practitioners on the app are 1.5 times more likely to say having a diverse range of connections helps with loneliness, 31 percent more likely to report feeling like they can shape their relationships to meet their personal needs, and 20 percent more likely to report having a reliable support network. (This is according to internal and external surveys of over 3,000 Feeld users and 6,000 non-users taken in February 2025.)

"RA is one of several possible avenues to develop emotional depth and resilience, and broaden your community: there’s no-one-size-fits-all approach here," the report states.

While relationship anarchy isn't as well-known a term as non-monogamy, polyamory, or swinging, one in five non-Feeld members realized they've practiced it (or are practicing) a relationship style that fits within its definition. The realization spiked to one in two people who are on Feeld.

But, as with any relationship style, there are challenges to RA. Negotiating relationship boundaries was 536 percent(!) more challenging for RA Feeld members than non-RA members. A reason for this could be the lack of a script to follow when practicing something like RA — anything other than monogamy, really. Those who practice RA were also 96 percent more likely to have experienced negative reactions from prioritizing seeing multiple partners over focusing on one partner. But as the recent dating scene has shown, daters have trouble being in communication with other people to begin with.

Last year, Feeld's State of Dating Report found that Gen Z actually fantasizes about monogamy (and kink). Guess that didn't last long. You can see all the findings in Feeld's State of Dating Report.

Are Nothing's CMF Buds 2 the best buds you can buy? No—but also, yes. When buds this good can be had at this price, it's hard to justify spending more.

The best streaming deals to watch "Presence" at a glance: BEST NON-STREAMING OPTION Rent "Presence" at Prime Video $5.99 Shop Now BEST OVERALL Hulu annual subscription $99.99 per year (save $19.89) Get Deal BEST BUNDLE DEAL Hulu and Disney+ $10.99 per month (save $8.99 per month) Get Deal BEST FOR STUDENTS Hulu Student $1.99 per month (save $8 per month) Get Deal BEST WAY TO GET HULU FOR FREE Hulu (with ads) free for T-Mobile Go5G Next plan subscribers (save $9.99 per month) Get Deal

If you missed out on seeing Presence in the theaters early this year, you now have the chance to experience one of the most unique films of 2025 from the comfort of your couch. Directed by the inventive Steven Soderbergh and written by David Koepp, Presence is an unconventional haunted house story. Though it's billed as a horror film, the genre-bender flips the traditional ghost story on its head, ultimately creating a story that is "sharply funny, beguiling, a bit chilling, and ultimately sweet," as Mashable Film Editor Kristy Puchko puts it.

Told from the viewpoint of a "presence" in the house, the film is shot entirely in first-person perspective. Puchko writes, "Soderbergh's steady hand is so mindful in its performance that you can practically feel the expressions of a face you cannot see." It's captivating and vulnerable and incredibly tense. And as of June 3, you can finally stream it. Here's what you need to know to watch Presence at home.

What is Presence about?

Presence follows the Payne family — mom Rebekah (Lucy Liu), dad Chris (Chris Sullivan), son Tyler (Eddy Maday), and daughter Chloe (Callina Liang) — who have just moved into a new house in the suburbs. While they appear to be the perfect nuclear family on paper, cracks start to form within their unit. All the while, strange and supernatural events begin to occur around the house. Who is the ghostly presence in the house, and what does it want from them?

Get a glimpse into the unique ghost story in the official trailer:

Is Presence worth watching?

With Soderbergh shouldering the camera, Presence is "a remarkable union of a clever concept and a superb execution," Mashable's reviewer writes. "I'll be absolutely shocked if Presence doesn't get a Best Cinematography Oscar nomination."

Of course, with that first-person perspective comes tension. Sullivan, one of the leads in the film, put it best: "This movie is going to wring you out before it releases any of that tension."

He adds that some people walked out of the theater due to the stomach-churning tension. If that's not your cup of tea, Presence might not be for you. For everyone else, Puchko calls it "a sublimely realized ghost story that is easily one of the best films of the year."

Other film critics largely agree, as it currently holds an 87 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences are more torn; it holds only a 52 percent audience rating. Of course, it's up to you to be the judge.

Check out our full review of Presence.

How to watch Presence at home Credit: NEON

Originally hitting theaters in January 2025 and then quickly heading to digital, Presence is finally making its streaming debut. That means you'll have three different ways to watch it at home: buy it on digital video-on-demand retailers, rent it at digital video-on-demand retailers, or stream it. See the details below.

Buy or rent on digital

Just a little over a month after its theatrical debut, the Soderbergh and Koepp ghost story officially became available to watch at home on Feb. 25. You can purchase the film at video-on-demand retailers like Prime Video and Apple TV or rent it for 30 days. If you choose to rent, just keep in mind that once you start watching, you'll only have 48 hours to finish.

Here are some quick links to buy the film on digital:

• Prime Video — $5.99 to rent, $19.99 to buy

• Google Play — $5.99 to rent, $19.99 to buy

• Fandango at Home — $5.99 to rent, $19.99 to buy

• Apple TV — $5.99 to rent, $19.99 to buy

Stream it on Hulu

Streamers can finally tune into Presence as well. It officially made its debut on Hulu on June 3, 2025. Hulu subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but there are a few different ways you can save. We've rounded up the best ongoing Hulu streaming deals below.

The best Hulu streaming dealsBest Hulu deal for most people: Hulu annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu (with ads) annual subscription $99.99 per year (save $19.89) Get Deal

The best way to cut back on Hulu's streaming cost is to opt for an annual plan instead of a monthly plan. If you pay for a year up front of Hulu with ads, it'll cost you $99.99 ($8.33 broken down monthly). Meanwhile, a $9.99 monthly plan would add up to $119.88 in a year. That means you'll save about 16% or just shy of $20 in the long run. It ain't much, but every dollar counts in this economy.

Best bundle deal: Get Hulu and Disney+ for 45% off Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney+ Hulu and Disney+ (with ads) $10.99 per month (save $8.99 per month) Get Deal

Disney's bundle plans remain the best way to slash costs of multiple streamers at once. You can bundle Hulu with Disney+ in the Disney Duo Basic bundle and get both streamers with ads for only $10.99 per month. That's only a dollar more than paying for one streamer on its own, saving you about 45%. You can also throw in HBO Max for just $16.99 per month total, which saves you about 44$ on all three.

Best for students: Hulu Student Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu Student (with ads) $1.99 per month (save $8 per month) Get Deal

College students can save 80% on a Hulu with ads subscription. Sign up through the Hulu Student promotional page and verify your college email address using SheerID, and the price will drop from $9.99 to just $1.99 per month.

Best for T-Mobile users: Hulu (with ads) included for Go5G Next customers Opens in a new window Credit: T-Mobile / Hulu Hulu (with ads) free for select T-Mobile customers Get Deal

Aside from the free trial, the only way you can get Hulu for free in 2025 is through T-Mobile's Go5G Next plan and Experience Beyond plan. Better yet, you'll also get Netflix and Apple TV+ for free. If you're already on one of these plans, head over to the T-Mobile promo page and choose "redeem now" to claim the offer. You'll just have to enter your T-Mobile number and account details to sign up for Hulu. Not on the Go5G Next plan or Experience Beyond plan? Switch your plan and start taking advantage of the best free streaming lineup around.

VPNs are seriously useful security tools that can protect your identity and data, bypass online restrictions to access extra content, and much more. If this is all very new to you, you've probably got a lot of questions. Don't worry, because we can help.

We've done all the hard work for you and thoroughly researched these services to provide the information that matters to you. Here's everything you need to know about VPNs.

What is a VPN?

VPNs (or Virtual Private Networks) provide important protection for your data and identity when you're online. They offer this online privacy and anonymity by creating a private network that hides your real IP address (digital location). This means that all of your activity is untraceable and secure.

Basically, you can think about VPNs as encrypted tunnels through which all of your online traffic passes through. Nobody can see into the tunnel, and everything inside the tunnel is protected against online threats like viruses, hackers, and malware.

Do you need a VPN?

Any sort of activity on an unsecured WiFi network leaves your private information and browsing habits exposed to the world, unless you're using a VPN. There's no need to panic, because whether you're sending important emails, doing some online shopping, or paying essential bills, VPNs make sure that everything remains private and anonymous.

SEE ALSO: The best VPNs for your iPhone

First and foremost, VPNs are designed to provide online security, but there is another reason that millions of people use these services: streaming more content from around the world. By hiding your real IP address and connecting you to a server in another location, you can trick your favourite streaming services into thinking that you are based in a different country. This means that you can watch all of the shows and films from global libraries, like all the extra content on U.S. Netflix. This is the quickest and easiest way of boosting your content options, without the need to rely on a dodgy stream.

What should you consider before subscribing to a VPN?

There are plenty of things that you should consider when it comes to VPNs, but we don't have all day. Instead of listing off every feature offered by the best VPNs, we have highlighted a selection of the most important things to think about.

Before you make any sort of decision, you should look out for connection speed, server network, number of logins, and more important features:

• Bandwidth — There are some VPNs out there that place monthly caps on network bandwidth, meaning you can only download a certain amount of data. You should avoid these services, unless you're on a free trial. If you're paying for a VPN, you should be able to download and upload as much as you want.

• Connection speed — Using a VPN is going to produce a drop in your connection speed, but you shouldn't accept a significant drop that is going to result in buffering. Be sure to select a VPN that doesn't negatively impact your connection speed to the point that you can't watch a film or download a file without frustration.

• Encryption — There are different levels of encryption, and whilst it's important to take note of the grade provided by your VPN, the best options will all offer powerful protection for your data. You are likely to come across terms like "military-grade" and "enterprise-grade," which just means that you can rely on it to do its job.

• Number of connections — Some VPNs let you connect an unlimited number of devices with the same account. Others limit you to just a single device. You should look out for a service that offers multiple simultaneous connections, so you can stay protected on all your devices at the same time.

• Server network — The very best VPNs provide access to literally thousands of geographically diverse servers. It's useful if a VPN has a lot of servers in key locations, because you should always be able to find a stable and speedy connection for streaming, shopping, or browsing anonymously. It's not a straightforward case of more is better, but it's always good to have options.

• Privacy policy — It's worth paying special attention to the data-handling, storage, and usage practices of the VPN you are planning on using. These practices should be laid out in a privacy policy, and if they aren't clear, it's best to avoid. Most VPNs require access to your IP address, online transactions, and browsing history, plus your personal details when you sign up. If privacy is the objective, it's absolutely essential that your VPN is not going to store these details. If it does, the whole thing is kind of pointless.

There are other things to consider, like price and subscription plans, but these features are a good place to start.

Should you use free VPNs?

There are plenty of free versions of popular VPNs, plus free trials of VPNs with full access to everything you get with a premium plan. So why would you ever pay for a VPN?

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for with VPNs. There tends to always be a catch with free versions, and it's normally in the form of limited data usage. If you're just an occasional user, these plans will work fine. But if you're going to be streaming or downloading, this isn't going to work. Free trials are a little bit different: they come with everything you get in a paid plan, but obviously they don't tend to last very long. Trials are great for testing out a service before committing, but this isn't a long-term solution.

What we're saying is that the best option for streaming securely and accessing the online world without restrictions is with a paid subscription to a VPN. To gain access to advanced security features without limitations on usage, you need to pay up. The best VPNs are generally the most expensive, but there are plenty of cheap plans out there, especially if you're willing to commit to a lengthy contract.

What is the best VPN?

There are a lot of VPN providers out there all offering different sets of features, with different pricing structures. We recommend taking some time to carefully access your options, and decide on what you really need from a VPN. Once you have established your priorities, you can check out this definitive list of the best VPNs this month.

We have tracked down everything on offer and lined up a selection of the very best VPNs for streaming, shopping, and everything else. We have tried to find something for everyone and every budget, and you can find popular services like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and CyberGhost VPN in this list. All you need to do is weigh up these options against your own set of priorities, and then pick a favourite from the bunch.

These are the best VPNs in 2025.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

In this age of on-demand everything, hookup apps are the go-to for casual dating. If we can stream movies (thank you, Netflix) and order a takeaway with just a few taps, why shouldn't we be able to find a potential partner the same way?

Sometimes all you want is a little fun, and there's an app for that.

How do you find a hookup?

It's still possible to find a connection in the real world. Meeting in bars, clubs, parks, and other real-life locations still happens, whether you believe it or not. You're simply shortening your odds by subscribing to a dating site.

Dating sites and sex apps allow you to get your information out there to a massive network of like-minded individuals. Plus, you can save a lot of time, energy, and cash by testing out a potential relationship on an app before meeting up. We know that some dating apps can be expensive, but just think about all those wasted coffees you could avoid by chatting through an app first.

SEE ALSO: The best sexting apps for sending naughty messages

Using dating apps and sites is also a whole lot less intimidating than meeting someone face to face. If you find the idea of meeting people slightly terrifying, these apps can help you dip your toe into the world of dating from the comfort of your own home.

Should you use free dating apps?

The good news is that there are a lot of free dating sites and apps out there, and the likes of Tinder and Hinge are popular options with massive networks of users. Plus, most of the biggest and best dating sites have free versions with limitations on certain features. So yes, you can easily enter the online dating game without spending anything. However, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for with dating apps. And sometimes free apps just don't cut it.

For the best experience with the greatest possibility of finding exactly what you're looking for, you are going to have to cough up some cash. We're sorry to break it to you, but the best dating sites don't come cheap. It all comes down to access to advanced and premium features. You can still find a hookup with a free app, but if you're looking for compatibility tests, chat rooms, videos, and a greater level of control, we recommend upgrading.

What makes an app good for hooking up?

There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to hookup apps. What works for your friends might not work for you. Your best bet is to download a handful of options and see which one clicks with your vibe.

Skip the apps that are all about romance and happily ever afters (we're looking at you, eharmony). Instead, keep an eye out for apps that get straight to the point. The best hookup apps make chatting quick and easy (messaging, video calls, all that good stuff), and even the free ones should have features like profile verification to help keep you safe.

If you really want to pay for a premium membership, that's up to you. But we recommend starting with the free versions of cult faves like Tinder, Grindr, and Hinge. These popular dating apps give you just enough functionality to connect with potential partners for casual encounters — all without spending anything.

What is the best sex and dating app for hooking up?

The good news is that there are absolutely loads of dating sites and sex apps out there for every type of dater and dating situation. The problem with this wealth of options is that deciding on the right site for you can be difficult. This is where we can help.

Whether you're looking to have a one-night stand, exchange nudes with strangers, or have some phone sex before you doze off, we've rounded up the most reliable hookup apps for every type of single. You can download them via Google Play or the App Store and start swiping in minutes.

These are the best hookup sites and apps in 2025.

Elon Musk is stepping back from running his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with the Tesla CEO attending a deeply strange press conference with Donald Trump in the Oval Office last week. On Monday night, The Late Show's Stephen Colbert unpacked the real elephant in the room: Musk's black eye, which he blamed on rough-housing with his son, X Æ A-12.

"The weirdest part of this weird, weird meeting was Elon's face, because for some reason he had a black eye," says Colbert in the clip above. "Oh no! If only someone in the White House had access to makeup!"

But Colbert wasn't convinced the tiny suspect was X, instead asking the audience to reconsider while wearing Sherlock Holmes props.

"Why the black eye? Who hates Elon Musk enough to punch him in the face? I'm not Sherlock Holmes but could it be...EVERYONE?"

Announced last week, Elon Musk is stepping back from his "special government employee" role running his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for Donald Trump. On Monday night, The Daily Show's Jon Stewart unpacked the Tesla CEO's decision with his signature gleeful gusto.

"DOGE has finally rooted out one of America's least efficient government workers and marked him for dismissal," Stewart says in the clip above. "He's leaving his job to make more family with his time."

Stewart noted it's only been four months since Musk mobilised his DOGE task force and all the ill-advised emails that went with it, with the group systematically seizing federal government computers and accessing databases, firing over 280,000 government workers, and entirely closing government agencies including USAID. But as Stewart wonders, was it worth it for Musk?

"Elon spent $300 million of his own money to get Trump elected, irreparably damaged his personal brand and almost all of his businesses, and is clearly suffering some kind of issue," Stewart said. "But don't worry, Trump made sure that Elon got something in return."

Stewart's talking about the golden key that Musk received from Trump in the Oval Office, presented by the president as a token he gives "to very special people" now including Musk — but notably, not only Musk.

"You couldn't just give him the f***ing key. You had to make sure that everybody knows you give 'em to a lot of people. It's just not that special," Stewart said before imitating Trump: "You know I've got a bunch of these. I give 'em to special people. Who's the guy who brings me my Diet Cokes? I give him one for every Diet Coke."

SAVE $50: As of June 3, the 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) is on sale for $299 at Amazon. That's 14% off its list price of $349.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad 11-inch (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) $299 at Amazon
$349 Save $50 Get Deal

If a new iPad has been at the top of your shopping list, you're in luck. The new 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) is back down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon.

The 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) has been marked down to $299 at Amazon. This is a 14% discount from its list price of $349 and marks a return to its lowest-ever price according to price tracker camelcamelcamel. If you've been waiting for a good time to pick up an iPad upgrade, now is a great time to do it.

SEE ALSO: Get the Apple Pencil Pro for under $100

This iPad is well worth the investment, too. It boasts a nice performance boost thanks to the A16 chip, a bright Liquid Retina display, speedy WiFi, and so much more. We even consider it the best iPad on a budget in our roundup of the best iPads, with Mashable's Samantha Mangino saying it, "doesn't possess the flair of the Pro or Air, but it is a testament that Apple can still produce good entry-level tech."

This deal may not stick around for long, so act fast to score the 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) for under $300.

It's not the only iPad deal that's caught our eye recently, though. If you don't mind spending a bit extra, the M3 iPad Air is back down to its lowest price ever as well.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• 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)

The best streaming deals to watch 'Sinners' at home: WATCH NOW Buy 'Sinners' on Prime Video $24.99 Get Deal WATCH NOW Rent 'Sinners' on Prime Video $19.99 Get Deal WATCH LATER Max (With Ads) annual subscription $99.99/year (save $19.89) Get Deal WATCH LATER Max Standard annual subscription $169.99/year (save $33.89) Get Deal WATCH LATER FOR FREE Max Basic With Ads for Cricket customers Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $9.99/month) Get Deal WATCH LATER FOR FREE Max Basic With Ads Free for DashPass annual plan subscribers (save $9.99 per month) Get Deal WATCH LATER Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months (save 50%) Get Deal WATCH LATER Disney+, Hulu, and Max $16.99 per month (with ads), $29.99 per month (no ads) (save up to 38%) Get Deal

Black Panther director Ryan Coogler is back with another smash hit. The third movie Warner Bros. has released in 2025 that features an A-lister playing dual roles, Sinners is "easily one of the best movies of the year," according to Mashable's head movie critic.

Besides Michael B. Jordan times two, it stars Hailee Steinfeld (Hawkeye), Jack O’Connell (Ferrari), Wunmi Mosaku (Passenger), Jayme Lawson (The Woman King), Omar Benson Miller (True Lies), and Delroy Lindo (Da 5 Bloods). With bits of horror, history, and musical theater all sprinkled in, it's a genre-fluid movie in every sense of the term.

If you haven't caught it in theaters yet, there's still time. However, if you'd rather watch it at home, it's now available on digital-on-demand services as of June 3. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Sinners at home.

What is Sinners about?

Set in the 1930s Jim Crow-era South, Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as Smoke and Stack, twin brothers who return to their hometown with the goal of setting up a juke joint — only for its grand opening to be disrupted by something supernaturally monstrous.

"There are vampires in the film, but it's really about a lot more than just that. It's one of many elements, and I think we're gonna surprise people with it," director Ryan Coogler explained at a press conference.

Check out the official trailer:

Is Sinners worth watching?

Sinners is a huge success story for original horror. It's only the second movie in 2025 to pass the $250 million domestic box office milestone and is one of the 10 highest-grossing horror movies to date. Not only has it been a smash hit at the box office, now climbing to over $338 million worldwide and $258 million domestically, but the reviews are outstanding. It currently holds a near-perfect 97 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 96 percent audience rating. That's no easy feat.

"Sinners is more than a hell of a thrilling vampire movie. Like Black Panther, it expands beyond the expectations of its genre to become a magnificent film, emanating with spirit, power, and purpose," Mashable's Kristy Puchko writes in her review of the film. "Smoothly blending vampire horror into a unique tale of regret, resilience, and redemption, Coogler and Jordan have made a cinematic marvel that is terrifying, satisfying, and unforgettable."

Read our full review of Sinners.

How to watch Sinners at home Credit: Warner Bros.

Sinners smashed into theaters on April 18, 2025, and is still floating around in select theaters nationwide. However, if you would rather watch it at home, there are now a couple of different options: purchasing via digital video-on-demand or renting via digital video-on-demand. It will also eventually be streaming, offering a third option.

Buy or rent Sinners on digital

As of June 3, Sinners is available to purchase or rent on digital video-on-demand platforms like Prime Video. You can purchase the movie for your digital collection or rent it for 30 days. If you choose to rent, just note that you'll have 30 days to watch, but only 48 hours to finish once you begin.

You can purchase and rent the film at the following retailers:

• Prime Video — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Apple TV — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Fandango at Home (Vudu) — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Rent or buy 'Sinners' at Prime Video $19.99 or $24.99 Get Deal Stream Sinners on Max

As a Warner Bros. Pictures film, we expect that Sinners will make its streaming debut on Max (soon to be called HBO Max once again) — the Warner Bros.-owned streaming service. While there is no official streaming date yet, we'll be keeping our eyes peeled. Based on the digital-to-streaming trajectory of other recent theatrical hits from Warner Bros. like Companion, Mickey 17, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, we expect that Sinners will make its streaming debut sometime around late July to mid-August.

Max subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but there are a few different ways to save some money on your plan. Check out the best Max streaming deals below.

The best HBO Max streaming dealsBest for most people: Save 16% on Max Basic annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Basic with ads yearly subscription $99.99 per year (save $19.89) Get Deal

The Max Basic plan with ads typically goes for $9.99 per month, but if you pay for the entire year up front, that cost drops down to $8.33 per month. An annual plan is just $99.99 total, which saves you about 16% compared to the monthly plan.

Best Max deal with no ads: Save up to 16% on a Max Standard annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Standard annual subscription $169.99 per year (save $33.89) Get Deal

Similarly, you can opt for the annual Max Standard or Premium plans and save about 16% if you'd rather go ad-free. The Standard tier costs either $16.99 per month or $169.99 per year (about $14.16 per month), while the Premium tier costs either $20.99 per month or $209.99 per year (about $17.50 per month). While both tiers offer ad-free viewing, the Premium tier goes a step further with 4K Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos immersive audio, and the ability to download more offline content.

Get HBO Max for free: Switch to Cricket's $60/month unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: Cricket / Max Max (with ads) Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month plan Get Deal

If you switch your phone plan to Cricket's $60 per month unlimited plan, you'll get HBO Max included for no extra cost. When you open up the HBO Max app, you'll just select Cricket as your provider and use your credentials to log in. That's all, folks.

Get HBO Max for free: Sign up for DashPass annual plan Opens in a new window Credit: DoorDash / Max Max (with ads) Free with DashPass annual plan ($8/month) Get Deal

Another way to get HBO Max for free in 2025 is by signing up for a DoorDash DashPass annual plan for $96 per year ($8 per month). A DashPass membership gets you $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders all year long. You'll just have to activate your HBO Max with ads subscription through your DoorDash account to get started. If you'd rather watch ad-free, you can upgrade for a discounted rate as well.

Best HBO Max deal for students: Save 50% on Max Basic with ads Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months Get Deal

College students looking to expand their movie horizons can get an entire year of HBO Max with ads for half price. Just verify your student status with UNiDAYS and retrieve the unique discount code to drop the price from $9.99 to $4.99 per month.

Best bundle deal: Get Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 38% off Opens in a new window Credit: Disney / Hulu / Max Disney+, Hulu, and Max $16.99 per month (with ads), $29.99 per month (no ads) Get Deal

For the most bang for your buck, check out the Disney+ bundle deal that includes Disney+, Hulu, and Max for just $16.99 per month with ads. That lineup of streamers would usually cost you $25.97 per month, so you'll keep an extra $9 in your pocket monthly.

If you'd rather go ad-free, the bundle will run you $29.99 per month as opposed to $48.97. That's up to 38% in savings for access to all three streaming libraries.

Astronomers have believed for decades that the Milky Way is on a collision course with our nearest big neighbor, Andromeda. They seemed all but certain the two galaxies were destined to smash in about 4 to 5 billion years, combining into one colossal galaxy in space. 

In that scenario, the merger would trigger a riot of star births and deaths and maybe even thrust the sun into a different orbit. We were told all this was inevitable. 

But new data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the Gaia spacecraft, run by the European Space Agency, suggests that the future of Earth's home galaxy is not that cut and dried. The study, which relied on 100,000 computer simulations stretching 10 billion years into the future, appears in the journal Nature Astronomy.  

"Based on the best available data, the fate of our Galaxy is still completely open," the scientists wrote.

SEE ALSO: Astronomers saw one galaxy impale another. The damage was an eye-opener. A close-up view of a prodigious number of stars in the Andromeda galaxy. Credit: NASA / ESA / B. Williams

The Milky Way and Andromeda are part of a cluster of about 100 galaxies, held together by gravity, known as the "local group." For more than a century, scientists have known Andromeda is creeping toward the Milky Way. That led many experts to believe a collision was unavoidable.

Turns out the future is much more murky. 

The researchers ran computer simulations with 22 different variables that tested different possible routes for the galaxies, trying to predict where they would end up. Their study found that the two galaxies would remain in the same plane as they circle each other.

"But this doesn't mean they need to crash," said Till Sawala, the lead author, who is based at University of Helsinki in Finland, in a statement. "They could still go past each other." 

These are possible scenarios for a future encounter between the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies. Credit: NASA / ESA / STScI / DSS / Till Sawala / Joseph DePasquale

The researchers found that two other nearby galaxies — the Large Magellanic Cloud and Messier 33 — could have significant influence on whether the Milky Way and Andromeda ultimately collide. Though these galaxies are smaller, they have enough mass to tip the scale. 

Here's where things get downright mind-blowing: When Messier 33, sometimes called M33 or the Triangulum galaxy, is included in the simulation, it makes a galactic merger more likely. But the Large Magellanic Cloud, whose orbit intersects those of the Milky Way and Andromeda, makes it less likely. 

In short, it's a real "will they, won't they?". With all of the data put together, the team arrived at a near-equal, 50-percent chance of the two galaxies hitting within the next 10 billion years. In about half of the possible outcomes tested, the two main galaxies skirted by each other, with a margin of 500,000 light-years between them or less: That's about five times the width of the Milky Way.

Sawala acknowledges the irony that with more precise Hubble data, scientists are less sure about what will happen. After all, they've only narrowed down the odds of a cosmic cataclysm to a coin toss. 

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"That’s because of the more complex analysis and because we consider a more complete system," Sawala said. "But the only way to get to a new prediction about the eventual fate of the Milky Way will be with even better data."

Galaxy mergers happen over an unfathomable timescale for humans to imagine, on the order of several hundred million years. Previous Hubble research has shown that these crashes were more common in the past when the universe was smaller. Regardless, collisions continue to occur because galaxies are thought to be bound by the gravity of so-called dark matter — invisible space material suspected to exist — surrounding them.

There are still a lot of unknown factors. In addition to dark matter, galaxies in the vicinity that have yet to be discovered could also influence whether Andromeda and the Milky Way merge. Future data releases from the Gaia mission, which is mapping the positions and movements of stars, could help improve predictions. 

"As it stands," the scientists wrote, "proclamations of the impending demise of our Galaxy seem greatly exaggerated."

TL;DR: Snag a pair of Sony WF-C510 True Wireless Earbuds for 40% off at just $34.99 (reg. $59.99) while supplies last.

Ready for a sound upgrade? These Sony WF-C510 True Wireless Earbuds provide up to 22 hours of immersive audio — and they’re comfortable enough to keep wearing that long, too. Right now, you can snag a pair for just $34.99 (reg. $59.99).

Earbuds are convenient, but they’re not exactly known for comfort. Sony’s WF-C510 True Wireless Earbuds aim to change that, delivering all-day comfort as you take on your daily routine thanks to a design that perfectly matches the human ear.

If you think these earbuds focus only on comfort and skimp on sound quality, think again. They’re powered by Sony’s Digital Sound Enhancement Engine, so you’ll enjoy clear, natural vocals and deep, punchy bass. Stable Bluetooth transmission also makes sure you don’t miss a beat.

You can rock these earbuds anywhere with peace of mind, as the ambient sound mode helps keep you aware of your surroundings. You can also perfect your preferred sound experience and save your own presets with EQ customization.

A single charge provides 11 hours of playback, and the included charging case gives you an extra 11 hours for a total of 22 hours of listening on the go. If you’re in a pinch, you can also do a 5-minute quick charge that gives you an hour of listening.

They’re IPX4 water resistant, so you can take them on intense workouts or runs in the rain worry-free. They also offer hands-free calling and a voice control option to get hands-free help from Google or Siri.

You’re scoring these earbuds for 40% off thanks to their grade A refurbished rating. That means they’ll arrive on your doorstep in near-mint condition, while you enjoy a deep discount.

Enjoy premium sound for a bargain price with these Sony WF-C510 True Wireless Earbuds for only $34.99 (reg. $59.99) while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WF-C510 True Wireless Earbuds (Refurbished) $34.99
$59.99 Save $25 Get Deal