Mashable

Syndicate content
Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's 25 million monthly unique visitors and 10 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
Updated: 13 min 32 sec ago

Let this $40 platform be your digital command and organization center

Mon, 09/22/2025 - 23:00

TL;DR: Pagico is your all-in-one productivity hub — pay $39.99 once (reg. $137) and organize tasks, notes, and projects for life.

Opens in a new window Credit: Notes 17 Pagico Personal Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription $39.99
$137 Save $97.01 Get Deal

Between work deadlines, personal goals, and the little tasks you keep promising yourself you’ll get to “later,” life can start to feel like a juggling act with too many balls in the air. The Pagico platform was created to help you with that. And right now, you can grab lifetime access for just $39.99 (reg. $137).

Pagico is like your productivity headquarters. Instead of bouncing between five different apps for notes, reminders, tasks, and project tracking, everything lives in one intuitive platform. The result is less chaos, more clarity, and a lot more done.

SEE ALSO: Score Microsoft Office for Windows as a lifetime license for under $50

Here’s why users love Pagico:

  • All-in-one workspace — Store tasks, notes, files, projects, and contacts in one organized hub.

  • Visual project timelines — Turn messy lists into clear pipelines that make progress visible.

  • Daily focus tools — Built-in day planner (using the Ivy Lee Method) to keep you focused.

  • Interactive widgets — Add Pomodoro timers, world clocks, quotes, or even maps to projects.

  • Work anywhere — Sync across macOS, Windows, Ubuntu, or mobile apps

  • Private and secure — Data is encrypted, with SSL/TLS transfers and AES-256 storage.

For business leaders, freelancers, and professionals drowning in scattered docs and endless notifications, Pagico is more than a task manager — it’s peace of mind. Imagine opening your laptop and instantly seeing your day, week, and projects laid out clearly. That’s the kind of focus that saves time, lowers stress, and keeps your business (and your brain) running smoothly.

And because this deal is lifetime, there are no recurring fees. Get a lifetime of Pagico Premium support for just $39.99 (reg. $137).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Don’t miss Office 2021 and Windows 11 Pro for just $55

Mon, 09/22/2025 - 23:00

TL;DR: Get the Ultimate Microsoft Office 2021 + Windows 11 Pro Bundle for just $54.97 (reg. $418.99) and enjoy lifetime productivity and security in one shot.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle $54.97
$418.99 Save $364.02 Get Deal

Running your business (or even just your household budget) gets a lot easier when your computer is fast, secure, and packed with the right tools. That’s why this bundle of Microsoft Office Professional 2021 and Windows 11 Pro is such a smart pickup — especially at just $54.97 (reg. $418.99) for lifetime access.

Microsoft Office Pro 2021 gives you so many ways to stay productive: Word for documents, Excel for spreadsheets, PowerPoint for presentations, Outlook for email, plus Access, Publisher, Teams, and OneNote. No monthly subscription fees — just a permanent license that works on one Windows PC at home or the office.

SEE ALSO: Score Microsoft Office for Windows as a lifetime license for under $50

On the other hand, Windows 11 Pro brings modern polish, upgraded security, and AI-driven help via Copilot. That means better multitasking with snap layouts, advanced encryption with BitLocker, improved antivirus defenses, and even AI tools that can summarize web pages or help you generate text. It’s the operating system designed for both business leaders and everyday users who want their machines running at peak performance.

Here’s what you’re getting:

  • Lifetime Office 2021 Pro: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Publisher, OneNote, and Teams.

  • Windows 11 Pro Upgrade: Secure, sleek, and ready for today’s workflows.

  • AI Copilot Built-In: Your new virtual assistant for tasks and writing.

  • One-Time Payment: Forget recurring fees — pay once, use forever.

For entrepreneurs, business leaders, and anyone managing a busy digital life, this bundle checks every box: productivity, security, and long-term value.

Pick up the Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 and Windows 11 Pro bundle while it’s just $54.97 (reg. $418.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to cancel your Disney+ subscription on your desktop or your phone

Mon, 09/22/2025 - 22:46

Maybe you've watched everything there is to watch on Disney+. Or maybe you want to consolidate the number of streaming services you use.

Whatever the reason, you've decided to cancel your Disney+ subscription, and we're here to help guide you through the process. Below, you'll find instructions on how to cancel your Disney+ subscription on a desktop browser or in the Disney+ app.

SEE ALSO: Pedro Pascal, Meryl Streep, and hundreds more celebrities sign open letter supporting Jimmy Kimmel How to cancel Disney+ on desktop

The easiest way to cancel your Disney+ account is on desktop. Here's how.

Total Time
  • 2 min
What You Need
  • Computer or laptop
  • Disney+ account

Step 1: Log in to your Disney+ account and click on your profile icon in the top right corner of the window.

Step 2: Select "Account" from the drop-down menu that appears.

This will take you to your "Manage Your Account" page.

Credit: Screenshot: Timothy Beck Werth/Disney+

Step 3: Select your subscription plan.

This will take you to your "Subscription Details" page.

Credit: Screenshot: Timothy Beck Werth/Disney+

Step 4: Click "Cancel Subscription."

Credit: Screenshot: Timothy Beck Werth/Disney+

Step 5: Click "Cancel Subscription" again.

Disney+ will offer you one last chance to keep your subscription. Press "Cancel Subscription" again to finish the cancellation.

Credit: Screenshot: Timothy Beck Werth/Disney+

You will have access to your Disney+ account until the end of your billing period. If you ever want to restart your subscription, log into Disney+ with the e-mail associated with your canceled account and choose "Restart subscription."

How to cancel Disney+ in the app

You can't actually cancel Disney+ directly in its phone app. However, you can go through the entire process above on your mobile browser.

You can also begin the process from your Disney+ app, which we'll outline for you below.

Total Time
  • 2 min
What You Need
  • iPhone
  • Disney+ app
  • Disney+ account

Step 1: Open the Disney+ app and click on your profile icon.

Step 2: Select "Account."

Credit: Screenshot: Timothy Beck Werth/Disney+

Step 3: Choose the subscription you will be ending.

Credit: Screenshot: Timothy Beck Werth/Disney+

Step 4: Press "Continue" to leave the Disney+ app.

This will take you to your mobile browser.

Credit: Screenshot: Timothy Beck Werth/Disney+

Step 5: Select "Manage Account."

Credit: Screenshot: Timothy Beck Werth/Disney+

Step 6: Choose the subscription you will be ending.

Credit: Screenshot: Timothy Beck Werth/Disney+

Step 7: Press "Cancel Subscription."

Credit: Screenshot: Timothy Beck Werth/Disney+

Step 8: Press"Continue to Cancel."

Disney+ will offer you other plan options. Continue to choose cancellation options to move forward.

Credit: Screenshot: Timothy Beck Werth/Disney+

Step 9: Press "Cancel Subscription" one last time.

Credit: Screenshot: Timothy Beck Werth/Disney+

You will have access to your Disney+ account until the end of your billing period. If you ever want to restart your subscription, log into Disney+ with the e-mail associated with your canceled account and choose "Restart subscription."

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

UPDATE: Sep. 22, 2025, 5:40 p.m. EDT This article was originally published June 18, 2021. It has since been updated.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best iPhone 17 cases you can buy for your new phone, including some on sale already

Mon, 09/22/2025 - 22:30

Happy new iPhone month. ICYMI, Apple unveiled the iPhone 17 family on Sept. 9 during its "Awe Dropping" event out of Cupertino, showcasing the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. If you're due for an upgrade, they're now available at major retailers and carriers starting at $799.

Next on your shopping list should be a protective case, which will help your new iPhone withstand years of use. For those buying the base model, a clear case might be the way to go: The standard iPhone 17 introduces fresh color options like lavender, sage, and mist blue, which are almost too pretty to cover up.

SEE ALSO: What is ‘scratchgate’? Unpacking the iPhone 17 Pro scratching problem.

The opposite is probably true for those buying one of the two Pro models. They have a divisive design that's supposedly so scratch-prone, Apple's in-store demo units got scuffed up on release day (an incident that will henceforth be known as "scratchgate"). Either way, there's an iPhone 17 case for that.

Below, I've rounded up a list of popular mobile accessory brands that are now selling cases for the entire iPhone 17 series — some of which are on sale already.

Apple itself

The tech giant has made its usual clear and silicone cases for the entire iPhone 17 lineup ($49 each). The silicone options come in a rainbow of new eye-catching colors like purple fog, neon yellow, and terra cotta. Apple has also introduced new "TechWoven" cases for the Pro and Pro Max models ($59), which are made with interwoven multicolored yarn that's protected by a scratch- and stain-resistant coating. All of them are compatible with MagSafe wireless chargers and accessories, by the way.

At the time of writing, Amazon had a bunch of Apple's iPhone 17 cases on sale for 10% off. They're also available through Best Buy and the Apple Store itself, but at full price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone 17 cases Starting at $43.99 (save up to $7) Shop Now Beats

The Apple-owned audio brand debuted three new MagSafe iPhone 17 cases this month. One is a classic hardshell case with impact-absorbing sidewalls ($45). The more "rugged" version has a grippy matte exterior and a microfiber lining ($79). The third option is a hardshell case with a removable lanyard that can be used as a kickstand ($59) — convenient for watching movies. All three styles work with every model in the iPhone 17 lineup and come in earthy hues like Everest black, lime stone, and pebble pink.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats iPhone 17 cases Starting at $45 Shop Now Case-Mate

If you don't want to commit to the fully clear look, Case-Mate has some fun transparent iPhone 17 cases with patterned, ombre, and shifting glitter overlays (plus UV protection that should prevent them from yellowing over time). They've all been drop-tested and equipped with MagSafe support. Prices range from $45 for a plain, clear case to $70 for a reinforced carbon fiber case with a built-in stand.

Opens in a new window Credit: Case-Mate Case-Mate iPhone 17 cases Starting at $45 Shop Now Casetify

Casetify's iPhone 17 styles include some attractive semi-transparent styles, too, but its customization options are what really set it apart. Shoppers can basically make their own MagSafe iPhone 17 case from scratch with their choice of color, text, photos, and degree of protection starting from $50. The Pro and Pro Max versions can also be fitted with "ring stands" that encircle their camera modules.

Opens in a new window Credit: Casetify Casetify iPhone 17 cases Starting at $50 Shop Now Caudabe

For something a little more minimalist, go with an iPhone 17 case in one of Caudabe's four sleek styles. There's Sheath (tight-fitting, pebbled, $52); Paragon (smooth, pearlescent, $55); Synthesis (grippy, can be frosted on the back, $50); and Veil (thin, matte, $35). The first two can be configured with or without camera cutouts for the Pro and Pro Max. They were all still in their preorder phase the last time I checked, and are scheduled to ship by late September to mid-October.

Opens in a new window Credit: Caudabe Caudabe iPhone 17 cases Starting at $35 Shop Now Otterbox

Otterbox added iPhone 17 options to its popular Profile, Symmetry, Commuter, Sole, and Defender series this month, starting from just $29. (I've listed them in order from least to most durable.) Of note, the Symmetry collection comes in cactus leather styles that you can upgrade with three embroidery patterns for $79.99 a pop. I'm not sure how well they'll hold up over time, but they look extremely cool.

Opens in a new window Credit: Otterbox Otterbox iPhone 17 cases Starting at $29 Shop Now PopSockets

The brand behind your favorite phone grips has MagSafe cases for iPhone 17 owners of all stripes, from Bookstagrammers to Star Wars fans, Pokémon fans, Disney adults, Halloween lovers, and so much more. (Truly, there's an obscene amount of niche options in its collection. I'd go with the tomatoey "Campari" one, personally.)

PopSockets' cases start at $40 at Amazon, but if you buy one directly from its website, you can save 30% on a new MagSafe Grip.

Opens in a new window Credit: PopSockets PopSockets iPhone 17 cases Starting at $40; save 30% on a MagSafe Grip with your purchase Shop Now Society6

Society6's iPhone 17 cases sport prints of original collages, photos, paintings, and drawings by independent artists. They come in three styles: Slim ($30), a lightweight hardshell number; Tough ($35), which is lined with silicone for a little more cushioning; and MagSafe Tough ($45), which tacks on MagSafe compatibility.

All of Society6's case options are 25% off for a limited time (starting at only $22.50), which is the best deal I've encountered so far this iPhone cycle.

Opens in a new window Credit: fast foop / Society6 Society6 iPhone 17 cases Starting at $22.50 (save up to $11.25) Shop Now Speck

Speck's drop-tested iPhone 17 cases come in clear, glittery, and grippy varieties starting from $34.99. Some sport a "ClickLock" interlock, which is special Speck technology that prevents the case from falling off different kinds of MagSafe accessories. (That includes a portable charger and various mounts, which go for $29.99 apiece.)

Opens in a new window Credit: Speck Speck iPhone 17 cases Starting at $34.99 Shop Now Spigen

For the true diehards, Spigen's technophilic cases include designs inspired by Apple's iMac G3 and the iPhone 17's internals. Add one to your cart at some point through Sept. 25, and you'll automatically get 20% off. Prices start from just $24 (normally $29.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Spigen Spigen iPhone 17 cases Starting from $24 (save up to $13.99) Shop Now Twelve South

The makers of my beloved Bluetooth dongle have launched new iPhone 17 MagSafe cases with soft-touch "liquid silicon" shells and microfiber linings. They're priced at $49.99 each and come in three matte colors (slate, dune, and coastal), which match Twelve South's new bands for the just-announced Apple Watch Ultra 3 and SE 3. If you bundle your new phone case with one of those bands, you'll save $10.

Opens in a new window Credit: Twelve South Twelve South iPhone 17 cases $49.99; save $10 on an Apple Watch band with your purchase Shop Now Wildflower Cases

Wildflower's whimsical, limited-edition cases are popular among Gen Z celebrities (and $37 apiece). Its iPhone 17 collection features 26 different patterns, including four made in collaboration with model Bella Hadid, singer Laufey, and influencers Taylor Giavasis and Kensington Tillo.

Opens in a new window Credit: Wildflower Cases Wildflower Cases iPhone 17 cases $37 Shop Now
Categories: IT General, Technology

I guess we have to talk about the Rapture side of TikTok

Mon, 09/22/2025 - 22:00

People have been predicting the end of the world for about as long as humanity's existed. This week, parts of TikTok are convinced they've got the date just right for the Rapture: Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025. (As in tomorrow, or today, or yesterday, or, you know, weeks ago, depending on when you're reading this.)

Spend enough time on the app, and you're likely to see folks prepping for the Rapture or, perhaps more likely, other people reacting to #RaptureTok. To be clear, there does seem to be a very real side of TikTok preparing for, in their minds, a very real rapture. They've gone as far as to offer advice on how to be raptured, giving advice on things like prepping others for their sudden departure or leaving their belongings accessible for the non-raptured.

People are also reacting to #RaptureTok, mostly with a mocking tone. Some are joking about what they'll do to get raptured (become a Pokémon master) or what they'll grab once the raptured leave (a nice car, maybe?).

There are also videos breaking down #RaptureTok and its many tentacles. Some believers, for instance, have even claimed to have sold off their earthly possessions and posted a goodbye video — though this is the internet, and people will lie for attention. So keep that in mind as you scroll.

How did this all start? It seems to stem from South African pastor Joshua Mhlakela, who claimed in a viral YouTube video that Jesus revealed to him that the Rapture would come on Sept. 23 and 24. Those dates happen to also correspond to this year's Rosh Hashanah — the Jewish new year — which is also known as the Feast of Trumpets, which some are taking as the trumpet call of God bringing the Christians to heaven.

That's the belief behind the Christian Rapture: The saved will ascend, disappearing from earth, leaving everyone else behind. TikTok, as it is wont to do, has run with the prediction and added to it, with lots of folks sharing their "research" or prep.

It's worth noting that end-of-the-world predictions are quite common. Remember 2000, or 2012, or 1844, or 1524? It's something human beings seem hard-wired to do. So maybe Tuesday will be the rapture, but I wouldn't go and sell your car.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return Tuesday, Disney announces

Mon, 09/22/2025 - 21:40

Disney announced Monday that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would return to ABC Tuesday night, reversing the company's Sept. 17 decision to suspend the late night show indefinitely.

SEE ALSO: Pedro Pascal, Meryl Streep, and hundreds more celebrities sign open letter supporting Jimmy Kimmel

The suspension came after host Jimmy Kimmel faced Republican backlash for a monologue about far-right commentator Charlie Kirk's killer, which led Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr to pressure ABC to punish Kimmel. Objecting to Kimmel's comments, Nexstar Media Group announced that its ABC affiliates would pre-empt Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Disney explained its reasoning for Kimmel's suspension and the move's subsequent reversal in a statement to press, saying, "Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive."

The statement continues: "We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday."

The backlash to Kimmel's suspension was considerable. Kimmel's fellow late night hosts and hundreds of Hollywood celebrities decried Disney's decision as a threat to free speech, and Disney+ and Hulu users canceled their subscriptions in protest.

According to CNBC, Kimmel will address his show's suspension in his Sept. 23 return.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Everything we know about the TikTok deal so far

Mon, 09/22/2025 - 21:40

After years — yes, literal years — of debating, posturing, and signing executive orders, it seems we're on the precipice of a deal that would officially allow TikTok to operate in the United States.

ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, has been on a timeline to either find a new owner or get banned in the U.S. due to hotly debated security reasons. The timeline is ever-changing — each time we get close to an outright ban, President Donald Trump extends the deadline (in a very questionably legal process). This past week, the president extended the latest Sept. 16 deadline and set a new deadline for Dec. 16. There's a difference this time, though: A deal actually seems to be on the horizon.

Here's everything you need to know about a potential U.S.-China TikTok deal.

What's the deal with this TikTok deal?

President Trump said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke about a deal over the phone on Friday, according to NBC News. On Saturday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that six members of the seven-seat board controlling the company would be Americans. Crucially, Leavitt also said that the U.S. would maintain control of the algorithm for American users, also according to NBC News.

"This deal does put America first," Leavitt told Fox News' "Saturday in America," according to NBC News. "And let me just be very clear. This deal means that TikTok will be majority-owned by Americans in the United States. There will be seven seats on the board that controls the app in the United States, and six of those seats will be Americans."

At first, the White House wanted one board member to be designated by the U.S. government, but that's still up for debate and may not be part of the final deal, according to a Bloomberg report from earlier today.

Why was TikTok banned in the first place?

Previously, a bipartisan group of lawmakers joined together to ban TikTok as a potential threat to national security, a claim that ByteDance strongly rejected. Lawmakers also cited privacy risks as well as the app’s potential to serve as a vector for Chinese propaganda. The U.S. Supreme Court quickly and unanimously upheld that ban. After taking office, President Trump repeatedly extended the ban through executive orders. (The U.S. president cannot unilaterally override federal law or Supreme Court rulings, at least, according to the Constitution.)

When will the TikTok deal go into effect?

BBC News reported that while Leavitt said a deal could be signed "in the coming days," there's no word from Beijing on timing. All the while, Bloomberg reported that Trump is expected to sign an executive order this week that would give investors — whose names have yet to be finalized — 120 days to actually complete the sale.

No matter what, a deal will have to be made before the December 16 deadline or Trump will have to extend it yet again.

Who will own TikTok?

In short, U.S.-based companies will own the majority of the app — if this deal goes through. Oracle will lead data and privacy for the app, according to Leavitt, who called Oracle one "of America's greatest tech companies," BBC News reported. Officials told Bloomberg that the rest of the investors have yet to be finalized.

Trump told reporters on Friday that the investors are "all very well-known people, very famous people actually, financially."

"It’s also controlled by very powerful and very substantial American people, all American, by the way, all American people," he said, according to NBC News.

And, on Sunday, the President said in an interview on Fox News that Lachlan Murdoch "is involved" and that his father, Rupert Murdoch, "is probably gonna be in the group, I think they’re going to be in the group," according to CNBC.

What's happening with the algorithm?

At the center of this debate is TikTok's precious algorithm. That algorithm might be a bit different under new ownership with this deal — it will be copied and retrained specifically using U.S. user data, a White House official said on Monday, according to BBC News. Previously, the TikTok algorithm has been critizied for

It's important to note that, as of this writing, nothing has actually been signed. And while the White House says it is confident a deal will go through, China's approval isn't set in stone.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to cancel your Hulu subscription on desktop and on your phone

Mon, 09/22/2025 - 21:26

In a world where new streaming services seem to be announced every day, it can be exhausting to keep track of your subscriptions and what's streaming where. We get it: Sometimes you just have to consolidate.

SEE ALSO: John Oliver reacts to Kimmel's suspension with a direct message to Disney's CEO

If your next steps to consolidate include canceling your Hulu subscription, you've come to the right place. There are several ways to end your Hulu subscription, depending on what device or operating system you're using. We've assembled a guide on the three different ways you can cancel Hulu: from your desktop, your iOS device, and your Android device. Check them out below.

How to cancel Hulu on desktop Total Time
  • 2 minutes
What You Need
  • Laptop or computer
  • Hulu account

Step 1: Log into your Hulu account. Click on your profile icon in the top right of the screen.

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Hulu

Step 2: Select "Account" from the drop-down menu that appears.

Doing this will bring you to your account page.

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Hulu

Step 3: Scroll to the bottom until you find "Cancel Your Subscription."

Then, hit the "Cancel" button.

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Hulu

Step 4: Press "Cancel Subscription" again.

Hulu may offer you the chance to pause your subscription instead of canceling it completely. Simply press "continue to cancel" to keep canceling your account. To finish, select the reason why you are canceling the account, and click "continue to cancel."

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Hulu

You will have access to your account until the end of your billing period. You can reactivate your subscription by returning to your account page and resubscribing.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

How to cancel Hulu on iOS

If you are an iOS user, you won't be able to cancel your subscription in the Hulu app. However, you can cancel your subscription on your desktop browser using the above set of instructions, or you can cancel it through your iPhone's subscriptions.

Total Time
  • 2 min
What You Need
  • iPhone

Step 1: Open your "Settings" app and select your Apple ID.

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards

Step 2: Select "Subscriptions."

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards

Step 3: Choose your Hulu subscription.

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards

Step 4: Select "cancel your subscription."

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards

Step 5: Confirm the cancellation one last time.

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards

You will have access to your account until the end of your billing period. If you want to resubscribe, you can return to your subscriptions page and choose to renew your subscription.

How to cancel Hulu in the app on Android

Unlike iOS users, Android users can cancel Hulu subscriptions in-app. First, open the app. Click on your profile icon in the bottom right corner of the screen. You may have to re-enter your password.

Once you're on your account screen, scroll down until you see "Cancel your subscription," and select "Cancel."

Hulu will offer you the option to pause your account instead of canceling it completely. You can set the length of time you'd like to pause your account, or you can choose "continue to cancel."

To finish the cancellation, select the reason why you are canceling the account. Click "continue to cancel."

You will have access to your Hulu account until the end of your billing period. You can reactivate your subscription by returning to your account page and resubscribing.

UPDATE: Sep. 22, 2025, 3:51 p.m. EDT This article was originally published on Oct. 14, 2021. It has since been updated.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Pedro Pascal, Meryl Streep, and hundreds more celebrities sign open letter supporting Jimmy Kimmel

Mon, 09/22/2025 - 20:37

Over 400 Hollywood artists have signed an open letter from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) denouncing ABC and its parent company Disney's decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The suspension followed Republican criticism of Kimmel's monologue about far-right commentator Charlie Kirk's killer, including Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr's threats to punish ABC.

SEE ALSO: Late show hosts react to Jimmy Kimmel being pulled off air

Backlash to Kimmel's suspension has been swift, with everyone from current late night hosts to former Disney CEO Michael Eisner criticizing the move as a violation of free speech. Celebrities like Tatiana Maslany and Cynthia Nixon have called for Disney+ subscribers to cancel their subscriptions and boycott Disney.

Now, even more Hollywood figures, including Jennifer Aniston, Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Regina King, and Olivia Rodrigo, have lent their voices to the uproar with the ACLU's letter, which calls Kimmel's suspension "a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation."

Many of the letter's signers are currently involved in Disney projects. Pedro Pascal starred in Marvel's The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and has a lead role in the upcoming Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, the trailer for which dropped on the same day as the letter. Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Meryl Streep star in the currently running Only Murders in the Building Season 5, while Jamie Lee Curtis headed up this summer's Freakier Friday.

The full letter reads:

We the people must never accept government threats to our freedom of speech. Efforts by leaders to pressure artists, journalists, and companies with retaliation for their speech strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country.

Last week, Jimmy Kimmel was taken off the air after the government threatened a private company with retaliation, marking a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation. In an attempt to silence its critics, our government has resorted to threatening the livelihoods of journalists, talk show hosts, artists, creatives, and entertainers across the board. This runs counter to the values our nation was built upon, and our Constitution guarantees.

We know this moment is bigger than us and our industry. Teachers, government employees, law firms, researchers, universities, students and so many more are also facing direct attacks on their freedom of expression.

Regardless of our political affiliation, or whether we engage in politics or not, we all love our country. We also share the belief that our voices should never be silenced by those in power — because if it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us.

This is the moment to defend free speech across our nation. We encourage all Americans to join us, along with the ACLU, in the fight to defend and preserve our constitutionally protected rights.

The full list of signers is as follows:

Aasif Mandvi
Abbi Jacobson
Abby McEnany 
Adam Chanler-Berat
Adam Goldberg
Adam Horovitz
Adam Scott
Adina Porter
Adrienne Warren
A.J. Shively
Alan Cumming
Aldis Hodge
Alex Serino
Alfred Molina
Alia Shawkat
Alison Brie
Allana Harkin
Allie Re
Allison Tolman
Ally Sheedy
Al Yankovic
Alysia Reiner
Alyssa Milano
Amber Ruffin
Amber Sealey
Amber Tamblyn
America Ferrera
Amy Landecker
Ana Gasteyer
Andrea Savage
Angie Pontani
Anjali Bhimani
Ann Harada
Anna Baryshnikov
Anna Camp
Annabel Oakes
Annette Bening
Annette O’Toole
Annie Murphy
Anthony Anderson
Anthony Jeselnik
Aria Mia Loberti
Arian Moayed
Ariana DeBose
Arlen Escarpeta 
Art Linson
Ashlie Atkinson
Ashly Burch
Atsuko Okatsuka
Auli’i Cravalho
Barry Levinson
Ben Platt
Ben Stiller 
Benito Skinner
Betty Gilpin
Billy Crystal
Billy Eichner
Bitsie Tulloch
Bob Martin
Bonnie Milligan
Brad Hall
Bradley Bredeweg
Brandon Uranowitz
Bradley Whitford
Brian Newman
Brian Usifer 
Briana Evigan
Bridget Everett
Bryan Cranston
Busy Philipps
Camryn Manheim
Carrie Coon
Carrie Preston
Cecily Strong
Celia Keenan-Bolger
Chazz Palminteri
Chelsea Handler
Chelsea Peretti
Cherry Jones
Chris Chalk
Chris Henry Coffey
Christian Borle
Christina Applegate
Christine Baranski
Christine Jones
Christine Lahti
Christine Taylor
Claire Danes
Corey Hawkins
Craig Johnson
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Nixon
Dallas Roberts
Dan Gilroy
Danny Burstein
Daphne Rubin-Vega
D’Arcy Carden
Dave Quay
Daveed Diggs
David Alan Basche
David Arquette
David Cross
David Giuntoli 
David Harewood
David Rysdahl
Debbie Gibson
Debra Messing
Demián Bichir
Denis O’Hare
Derrick Eason
Desi Lydic
Diego Luna
Donna Murphy
Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Eden Espinosa
Edie Falco
Edwin Hodge
Eliot Glazer
Elizabeth Banks
Ellen Adair 
Ellen Fairey
Emily Hampshire
Emily Spivey
Emily V. Gordon
Emma Geer
Eric Bogosian
Eric Christian Olsen
Eric Newman
Erik Christopher Peterson
Eunice Bae
Ever Carradine
Florence Pugh
Frances Fisher
Frances McDormand
Gabe Liedman
Gabriel Luna
George Takei
Gianmarco Soresi
Gideon Glick
Gina Gershon
Gloria Steinem
Griffin Dunne
Gus Halper
Hank Azaria 
Hannah Bos
Harvey Keitel
Holly Robinson Peete
Ike Barinholtz
Ilana Glazer
Irwin Winkler
Isis King
J. Smith Cameron
Jack Gilpin
Jack Schlossberg
Jacqueline Toboni
Jaime King
James Monroe Iglehart
Jamie Lee Curtis
Jane Fonda
Jane Krakowski
Jane Rosenthal
Janet Hubert
Jason Alexander 
Jason Bateman & Amanda Anka
Jason George
Jay Gonzalez
Jean Smart
Jeff Hiller
Jen Statsky
Jen Tullock
Jenn Lyon 
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Ehle
Jennifer Hale 
Jennifer Mudge 
Jenny Slate
Jeremy Pope
Jesse Peretz
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Jessy Hodges
Jill Eikenberry
Jill Kargman
Jim Parsons
Jim True-Frost
Jodi Balfour
Jodie Sweetin
Joe Keery
Joel Coen
Joel Kim Booster
John Cho
John Ellison Conlee
John Hamburg
Jon Cryer
Jon Huertas
Jonathan Groff
Jonathan Tropper
Jordan Gelber
Jordan Klepper
Jose Llana
Josh Hamilton
Josh Radnor
Josh Singer
Josh Zuckerman
Joshua Jackson
Judd Apatow
Judy Gold
Judy Kuhn
Julia Knitel 
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julianne Nicholson
Julie Halston
June Squibb
Justin Theroux
Kate Hamill
Katherine LaNasa
Kathleen Chalfant
Kathleen Hanna
Kathryn Erbe
Kathryn Gallagher
Kathryn Grody
Kathryn Hahn
Katie Finneran
Katrina Bowden
Katy O’Brian
Keith Cotton
Keith Powell
Kelley Curran
Kelli O’Hara
Kellie Overbey 
Kelly Carlin-McCall
Kelly Jenrette
Kenneth Lonergan
Kerry Washington
Kevin Bacon
Kevin Cahoon
Kirsten Dunst
Kristen Johnston
Kristin Davis
Kristine Nielsen
Kumail Nanjiani
Kyra Sedgwick
Lake Bell
LaToya Tonodeo 
Laura Benanti
Laura Dave
Laura Linney 
Lee Rose
Lena Dunham
Lennon Parham
Lesli Linka Glatter
Lewis Black
Lilah Richcreek Estrada
Lilly Wachowski
Linda Emond
Linda Powell
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lisa Guerrero
Lisa Kron
Lucy Freyer
Luis & Luz Miranda
Maddie Corman
Madeline Weinstein
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Maia Mitchell
Malachi Weir
Marc Kudisch
Marcia Cross
Maria Dizzia
Marin Ireland
Marjan Neshat 
Mark Duplass
Mark Ruffalo
Martha Plimpton
Martin Short
Mary Beth Barone
Mary Catherine Garrison
Mary Elizabeth Ellis
Mary-Louise Parker
Matt Walsh
Maude Apatow
Max Silvestri
Maya Rudolph 
Megan Byrne
Melissa Benoist
Melissa Fumero
Melissa Gilbert
Melissa Villaseñor
Meredith Salenger
Merrin Dungey
Meryl Streep
Michael Cerveris
Michael Ian Black
Michael Keaton 
Michael Kosta
Michael McKean
Michael Nouri
Michae Shannon
Michael Sucsy
Michael Tucker
Michaela Watkins
Michelle Visage
Miriam Shor
Miriam Silverman
Misha Collins
Molly Bernard
Molly Gordon
Molly Ringwald
Murray Hill 
Naomi Watts & Billy Crudup
Natalie Portman 
Nathan Lane
Neal Brennan
Nia DaCosta
Nicole Brydon Bloom
Nicole Eggert
Nicole Maines
Nicolette Robinson
Nimesh Patel
Nnamdi Asomugha
Noah Galvin
Noah Wyle
Olivia Rodrigo
Olli Haaskivi
Orfeh
Padma Lakshmi
Paige Hurd
Pamela Adlon
Parker Posey
Patricia Clarkson
Patton Oswalt
Paul Feig
Paul McCrane
Paul Scheer
Paul Thureen
Paul W. Downs & Lucia Aniello
Pauline Chalamet
Pedro Pascal
Pete Holmes
Peter Friedman
Peter Gallagher
Piper Perabo
Punkie Johnson
Rachel Bloom
Rachel Dratch
Rachel Morrison
Rafael Casal
Rainn Wilson
Ramy Youssef
Raoul Peck
Regina Hall
Regina King
Retta
Richard Kind
Richard Schiff
Rick Barrio Dill
Rita Wilson
Rob Delaney
Rob Morrow
Robert DeNiro
Robert Horn
Roma Maffia
Ronny Chieng
Rooney Mara & Joaquin Phoenix
Rosario Dawson
Rosemary Harris 
Rosie O’Donnell
Roy Wood Jr.
Rufus Wainwright
Ruth Negga
Rutina Wesley
Sally Kohn
Sam Means
Sam Morril
Sam Pinkleton
Sam Richardson
Sandy Rustin
Sarah Adina Smith
Sarah Killough
Sarah Paulson
Sarah Ramos
Sarah Sophie Flicker
Sarah Steele
Sasheer Zamata
Scott Ellis 
Scott Silver
Selena Gomez
Sharon Horgan
Sharon Stone
Shawn Hatosy
Sherri Saum
Sheryl Crow
Shoshana Bean
Skye P. Marshall
Sofia Black-D’Elia
Spencer Garrett
Stephen Kay
Stephen Spinella
T.R. Knight
Tala Ashe 
Taylor Schilling 
Taylor Tomlinson
Terry Kinney
Tessa Thompson
Tig Notaro 
Tim Bagley
Tim Matheson
Timothy Olyphant
Tom Bergeron
Tom Hanks
Tom Morello
Tony Gilroy
Tony Goldwyn
Tonya Pinkins
Trinidad James
Troian Bellisario
Tzi Ma
Uzo Aduba
Veanne Cox
Vince Nappo
W. Kamau Bell
Wallace Shawn
Warren Adams
Wil Wheaton
Will Harrison
Wilson Cruz
Yasmeen Fletcher
Yvette Nicole Brown
Zazie Beetz
Zoë Chao
Zoë Winters
Zooey Deschanel
Zosia Mamet

Categories: IT General, Technology

Tired of cookie consent pop-ups? You soon may see less of them.

Mon, 09/22/2025 - 19:56

Are you tired of the never-ending pop-ups requiring your consent to cookies every time you visit a website? Well, internet users may soon get a reprieve from cookie consent prompts.

The European Commission is currently looking into relaxing a 2009 EU law that has inadvertently led to the endless cookie consent pop-ups around the web.

The law, called the e-Privacy Directive, requires websites to request consent from users before loading cookies on their computer or mobile device. 

Cookies are a small text file that websites use to store a user's information and preferences. Cookies were originally introduced to simplify things for the user. For example, cookies are the reason a user can stay logged into a social media account without having to sign in every time they open up the website. Cookies are also why a user is able to return to an e-commerce shop and their shopping cart items remain in their cart from their last session.

The e-Privacy Directive was passed with the intent to protect users' privacy, as cookies can also be used for invasive marketing purposes or shared with third-parties without a users' consent. While the law provides an exception for cookies that are "strictly necessary" to provide a service, many platforms still serve the cookies' consent pop-ups to ensure they are not violating the law.

According to POLITICO, the European Commission is currently considering how to deal with cookie pop-up overload.

The EU could add additional exceptions to the existing law, or allow users to set their consent preferences in advance in their web browser settings.

Industry lobbyists have pushed for cookie consent-related laws to be included in the EU’s broader General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). As POLITICO points out, the GDPR uses a "risk-based approach" where companies have more control over privacy safety measures. 

Privacy advocates, however, are warning against giving the industry too much power over cookie consent, as any changes could be used to give away more user data for advertising and marketing purposes.

It does appear that countries within the EU want some sort of change that deals with how many times internet users have to see cookie consent pop-ups. Denmark, for example, suggested that collecting data “for technically necessary functions” or “simple statistics" should not require a users' consent.

It's important to note that the EU law requiring cookie consent resulted in websites implementing the same pop-ups for users around the world, so what the EU decides here will affect countries outside of Europe as well.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Would you buy a $1,000 Anthropologie rock? The viral trend explained.

Mon, 09/22/2025 - 19:54

If you haven’t seen the viral Anthropologie rock video, are you even on the internet? (Is it possible I’m too online? That's definitely up for debate.)

I’ll be the first to admit that I am an “Anthropologie Woman.” (If you haven’t read Anna Haines’s Substack on the topic, I’m urging you to go ahead and do that now.) But I also know its prices are absolutely ridiculous on most, if not all, of its decor — and yet, I still want everything it sells.

SEE ALSO: The best memes of 2025 (so far)

The coolest thing about Anthropologie, and possibly why I’m so OK with its exorbitant prices, is that the brand knows exactly what it's doing. The employees are so self-aware that they’ve recently embraced becoming a meme, just in time for all the Instagram girlies’ fall reset.

It all started with a now-viral TikTok from Phoebe Adams. In the video, she's unboxing a rock that she tells her partner, Dan, she bought from Anthropologie. In reality, the rock is just one she grabbed from outside. He has an admittedly valid crashout after learning she "spent" $150 on the rock.

In a follow-up video, the pair is in an Anthropologie store, where Adams pretends to be shocked that the Anthro rocks are back in stock. “It’s only $1,000,” she says in the video. By this point, it looks like Dan is about to pass out from the sheer ludicrousness of the situation. He says, “There’s no way this is real.”

Since Adams posted the original video, it’s gotten more than 11 million views. The trend has exploded, with hundreds of others pranking their partners (and their moms) with "unboxing" videos of their own Anthropologie rocks. Even Anthropologie itself has gotten in on the joke, making its own marketing videos in response to the meme and helping Adams pull off the prank in-store.

Anthropologie’s latest video shows a woman walking into the store and asking, “Excuse me, do you have the Anthropologie rocks?” The employee then shows her a collection of seemingly ordinary rocks, some of which are priced in the four-figure range. There’s even a little sign that says “50% off,” because of course there is.

View this post on Instagram

The best part is how much exposure this prank has generated. Instead of being sore losers, Anthropologie capitalized on the joke and created a full-blown viral moment.

Of course, the whole thing works because it’s so believable. Anthropologie is known for selling quirky, bizarrely priced items (like this Iron Stag sculpture for $2,998 or this super-simple $488 “To Do” Wall Art that you could probably make on Canva), and “bougie wellness” has only gained momentum since Goop’s crystal fiasco (among others).

So no, you can't actually buy a $1,000 rock from Anthropologie. But the fact that we all collectively shrugged and said, yeah, that tracks? That's priceless.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple Watch Series 11 review: The same, but better

Mon, 09/22/2025 - 18:57

The Apple Watch Series 11 is perhaps the easiest review I’ve ever had. The new Apple smartwatch is largely the same as last year’s Series 10 (which I also reviewed). It looks the same, performs similarly, and has almost the same functionality (with a few exclusive additions; more on that later).

But it has one extremely important improvement: Longer battery life.

And if you’ve ever used an Apple Watch, you know how huge that is.

Apple Watch Series 11: Price and specs

The specs for the Series 11 are eerily similar to the specifications of the previous model, the Apple Watch Series 10. The dimensions, chip, storage, display — everything is the same except for minute differences in weight (the new model is ever so slightly heavier). The only real difference you’ll notice is the addition of a new color (for the Aluminum case), Space Gray.

Here are the highlights:

  • Display size: 42/46mm

  • Chip: S10

  • Storage: 64GB

  • Display resolution: 416x496 pixels

  • Colors: Rose Gold, Silver, Space Gray, Jet Black (Aluminum), Gold, Natural, Slate (Titanium)

  • Water resistance: 50m

  • Dust resistance: IP6X

Apple Watch Series 11: Design and display

The display is exactly the same size as before, as is the design. The Watch Series 11 is still incredibly comfy, practically disappearing as soon as you put it on. The added weight (which is minute) makes no difference. The only way I’d be able to tell the Series 11 from my old Series 10 Watch is the color. Apple sent me the review unit in the new Space Gray Aluminum finish. I’ve always been a sucker for Apple’s Space Gray color, and the contrast between the case and the black display is nice, though I reckon not vastly different from the previously available Silver finish.

The Space Gray color is a nice change from my previous all-black Watch. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable SEE ALSO: Apple Watch Ultra 3 battery life gets massive boost over Ultra 2

To go with the new Watch, Apple sent me a Space Black Sport Band. It’s alright, but I prefer the less-rubbery feel of Apple’s Sport Loop. Apple makes enough different wristbands (not to mention the thousands of third-party options) that everyone will surely find something they like.

Apple says the new display is two times more scratch-resistant than the previous one, thanks to something Apple calls Ion-X glass. While that’s hard to test without damaging the watch, it’s a nice improvement, especially since I do tend to hit various objects (such as walls and closets) with my hand, including with the new Series 11.

Even though the display isn’t particularly new, it’s still incredibly sharp and vibrant, even when viewed from an angle. It’s the best display I’ve ever seen on a smartwatch, and one of the key reasons why I’d have a hard time switching to a non-Apple smartwatch like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8.

Apple Watch Series 11: Performance

Don't worry, the Apple Watch is still snappy, thanks to the S10 chip inside. I've never had to worry about memory on an Apple Watch (64GB is included). Various measurements, such as blood oxygen monitoring and heart rate measurements, still work fairly accurately, as far as I can tell.

However, there are a couple of entirely new features, such as hypertension notifications and Sleep Score, but those are also available on several older models now with watchOS 26. I didn’t receive any hypertension notifications while wearing the watch, which is a good thing for me personally, but perhaps not so good for this review. As for the new Sleep Score, I enjoyed having a detailed overview of just how abysmally poorly I slept, thanks to the tiny person (my son) waking me up every hour or two during the night.

Excellent, but only when compared with my typically abysmal sleep quality. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Workout Buddy is another new feature, an AI-powered, virtual workout coach and companion. It doesn't really work for my workouts, which involve calisthenics and strength training; in fact, I couldn't get it to say anything of interest at all. Apple's promotional materials mostly focus on activities like running, and the Workout Buddy might be a better fit for those.

As far as new watch faces go, Apple's watchOS 26 brings two new ones: the colorful Flow and the Exactograph. I didn't like Flow much at first as it made time barely legible, but playing with the settings (try removing the background, for example) can make it a lot nicer. The Exactograph is a geeky triple chronograph, with separate dials for hours, minutes, and seconds. Tap on it once or twice to "explode" the minutes and the seconds dial — it's really cool.

Apple Watch Series 11: Battery life

Last year’s Apple Watch had 18 hours of battery life. Apple says the Series 11 has 24 hours of battery life. For a device that’s with you (on you) most of the time, this is a big step up in performance. But how do Apple’s figures translate into real life use?

The Series 11 now tracks your heart rate, blood oxygen, blood pressure, and temperature, among other metrics. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

I’m happy to report that Apple wasn’t lying about the increased battery life. When I got my unit, I charged it to 100 percent and started wearing it at about 4 p.m. I wore it during the night (my sleep score was 81, which sounds a lot better than it felt), and the next day at 4 p.m. it was still at 38 percent. That day, I charged it to full power late in the evening, and I only had to charge it again two days later. After nearly a full week of use, I can say that the Apple Watch Series 11 is easily a one-and-a-half-day smartwatch now, and it's possible to extend that to a full weekend if you carefully use Low Power mode.

My old Apple Watch Series 10 would sometimes last a full 24 hours, but mostly not. Often, it would switch to power-saving mode just before I went to bed — goodbye, precise sleep tracking. Most annoying were short weekend trips, which I do very often. I’d have to bring a charger every single time, even if I was careful to use the Low Power setting often.

Flow is one of the two new watch faces you get with the Series 11 (or, more precisely, with watchOS 26). Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The Series 11 is a significant upgrade in this regard. My sleep was tracked every night, and even a weekend away from a charger seemed possible (though, not if I used GPS a lot). Honestly, I’d still prefer if Apple somehow found a way to make these things last a week, but at least now the company’s claims of a full-day battery life aren’t ridiculous anymore.

Is the Apple Watch Series 11 worth it?

Yes. Even if you already have a Series 10, which has nearly all the same features, the new Apple Watch Series 11 doesn’t require you to charge it mid-day in order to keep it going through the night. With the new Sleep Score feature, this is more important than ever. And in my testing, the battery life improvements were absolutely real. It’s simple: Trade your old Watch in, and get the new one, especially if you use your Apple Watch as a sleep tracker or fitness tracker.

The improved battery life makes this one a winner. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

There is one exception, however. If you’re into sports such as long-distance running, swimming, or diving, you should also consider Apple’s new Ultra 3 over the Series 11. It, too, has even longer battery life this year, and you’ll feel the difference. It’s also a lot heavier and bulkier than the Series 11, which may or may not be a tradeoff.

You can buy the new Apple Watch (starting at $399) at Amazon, the Apple Store, or anywhere Apple Watches are sold.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $399 at Amazon
Shop Now
Categories: IT General, Technology

LMArena has some competition: Scale AI launches Seal Showdown, a new benchmarking tool

Mon, 09/22/2025 - 18:36

In the years since OpenAI launched ChatGPT to the world, kicking off the generative AI boom, developers have relied on LMArena (previously Chatbot Arena) as the default AI leaderboard. Now, Scale AI is bringing some much-needed competition to the AI benchmarking space with its new Seal Showdown benchmarking tool.

Like LMAerna, Seal Showdown allows users to test various AI models head-to-head and vote on which one performs better. However, Scale AI says that unlike LMAerna, Seal Showdown will more closely reflect how everyday users feel about various models. In an X post, Scale CEO Jason Droege said that Seal Showdown "actually captures real preferences, powered by a platform used by real people."

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

"Most benchmarks rely on synthetic tests (coding puzzles, math problems) or feedback from a small slice of people," said Scale AI’s head of product, Janie Gu, in a blog post. "They miss the full spectrum of how real people actually use models in their daily lives. By treating diverse users as a monolith and lumping all feedback into one generalized score, critical nuance is lost."

Scale AI launched its Safety, Evaluations, and Alignment Lab (SEAL) leaderboards last year, but these leaderboards relied on expert evaluations. Now, ScaleAI will offer leaderboards based on user testing, offering an alternative to the LMArena.

The startup says its new benchmarking tool is based on real-world use and feedback from "users spanning over 100 countries, 70 languages, and 200 professional domains." (The company also provided the precise methodology for Seal Showdown.)

"Showdown introduces something never before seen in public leaderboards: rich user segmentation," Gu wrote in the blog post announcing the project. "Because rankings are derived from conversations that contributors have on Scale’s Outlier platform, Scale is able to verify each user’s country, education level, profession, language, and age — enabling anyone to see how models perform for people like them."

Because of this demographic information, Scale AI will be able to show which models are most popular according to specific regions, languages, ages, or use cases.

The criticism that Scale AI has with existing leaderboards is that they “rely heavily on hobbyist participation” and that current rankings are “based on a narrow group of users and their interests,” which leads to a misrepresentation of how those LLMs perform in general use.

LMArena has also been criticized for bias against open models. Critics say that LMArena's system favors frontier models from big AI companies like Google, xAI, and OpenAI. However, Scale AI's solution may not be ideal, either. The initial leaderboard results overwhelmingly rank GPT-5 the highest, which may merely reflect user preference rather than objective performance.

The updated SEAL leaderboards are live now. Currently, GPT-5 tops all of the benchmark categories, a stark contrast to LMArena, where Google's Gemini 2.5 Pro, 2.5 Flash, and Veo 3 lead most of the leaderboard categories. 

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Tons of Nvidia gaming tech is on sale during Walmarts GeForce Week

Mon, 09/22/2025 - 18:13

Best deals of GeForce Week Best gaming laptop deal Lenovo Legion 5i $1,199 (Save $300.99) Get Deal Best graphics card deal PNY Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Overclocked Triple Fan Graphics DLSS 4 Video Card $499.99 (Save $49.01) Get Deal Best PC deal MSI Aegis R2 (Intel i7 14700F, Nvidia RTX 5060Ti, 32GB DDR5 RAM, 2TB SSD) $1,199 (Save $400.99) Get Deal

Anyone who games likely agrees that the least fun part of the hobby is trying not to break the bank when upgrading, or starting, a setup.

Whether you're the type to build your own PC, buy a prebuilt, or prefer the portability of a gaming laptop, costs can add up quick. But, from Sept. 22 to Sept. 28, Walmart's GeForce Week eases the financial burden with markdowns on Nvidia graphics cards, as well as Nvidia-powered PCs and gaming laptops.

SEE ALSO: Nvidia vs. AMD: Putting the GPU giants side-by-side

Below, we've selected some of our favorite deals from the sale so far — you'll find laptops as low as $599, triple fan graphics cards, and pre-built PCs. We'll be updating this post as the sale goes on, so if you don't see anything that catches your eye just yet, be sure to check back.

Best gaming laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Legion 5i $1,199 at Walmart
$1,499.99 Save $300.99 Get Deal Why we like it

This Lenovo gaming laptop isn't going to be the option for gamers who want something top of the line, but it is a solid pick for someone who wants something a step above the most basic budget models. For example, you'll get an OLED display, 1TB of storage, and of course, a GeForce RTX 5060 display. The trade off comes in the form of limited RAM and according to reviews online, a short battery life, but for $1,199, the value of this laptop is still impressive. It's unsurprising — the previous gen of this laptop was deemed by our sister site PC Mag (also owned by Ziff Davis) as a great, all-around budget option.

More GeForce Week deals

Laptops

Graphics cards

PCs

Categories: IT General, Technology

What is ‘scratchgate’? Unpacking the iPhone 17 Pro scratching problem.

Mon, 09/22/2025 - 17:53

The iPhone 17 has been officially released, and this is usually a happy time of year for Apple fans jonesing for a new smartphone. Overall, the early iPhone 17 Pro reviews are very positive, but this year’s model does have some issues, one of which is that the new iPhone 17 can be pretty easily scratched. 

As Apple Stores put the new iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max on display, shoppers noticed that the demo units were already getting scratched. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also reported that the new aluminum unibody frame was especially prone to scratching, particularly on the darker colors like Deep Blue. (Gurman and others speculated that this is actually why Apple didn't release the Pro models in black.) The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max had a more scratch-resistant titanium body, and many new iPhone 17 Pro owners were surprised by how quickly their new phones showed wear and tear.

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

So far, it seems the affected phones are the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max with the anodized aluminum shell. 

What is Scratchgate?

The tsunami of scratch-related complaints flooding social media has been dubbed "scratchgate." About 24 hours after iPhone Day, early adopters had already settled on this term. Some users have even found scratches on the aluminum body after leaving their phones in the same pocket as coins or keys. The scratches reveal the silver-colored aluminum underneath, which contrasts greatly with the bright orange or dark blue colors in particular.

Why does this happen? Anodized aluminum has a top layer that acts like the candy shell around an M&M. Once you scratch off the shell, you’re left with what’s underneath, and what’s underneath is your everyday silver-colored aluminum. Thus, even after a couple of days, people who rock their iPhone 17 Pro models without a case have noticed some surface damage. YouTubers like JerryRigEverything, known for breaking down phones, literally, are already sharing videos of the problem, which doesn't occur with the iPhone Air, thanks to its titanium enclosure.

The problem manifests in an even worse way around the back of the phone. Per JerryRigEverything, the camera bump on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max was designed with a sharp corner instead of a chamfered edge. This design choice, mixed with how anodizing works, makes the camera bump on the new iPhone 17 Pro models prone to chipping, the YouTuber says. This problem can’t be solved and never goes away. We recommend watching the video in full to properly understand the phenomenom.

“The ISO standard says that sharp edges should be machined into a radius 10 times the intended thickness (of the anodized layer),” says JerryRigEverything. “Which if Apple is using 25 micrometer thick anodizing, the minimum radius would be between a quarter and half a millimeter. The U.S. military standard says about the same thing. But Apple just didn’t follow any of those public suggestions.”

So, in short, the candy coating-like anodized aluminum layer around the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are not only prone to scratching, but the camera bump on the back is prone to chipping, and it’s completely unfixable for the end user. 

Of course, there is a simple solution to scratchgate...

How to avoid scratches on iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max phones

The only way to reduce the likelihood scratchgate? Slap a case on your new iPhone ASAP. This will protect the aluminum frame as well as that sharp edge on the camera bump. This should also help keep larger digs and scratches from coming out if you drop the phone. Fortunately, you can find tons of iPhone 17 Pro cases (plus cases for the iPhone 17), with MagSafe-compatible options starting at $14.99.

Of course, the “relic” look is pretty popular among musicians these days, who intentionally age their guitars to make them look like road-worn antiques. If you dig that vibe, then leave your phone out of a case, and it’ll get there in pretty short order.

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone 17 cases you can buy for your new phone, including some on sale already
Categories: IT General, Technology

Target announced dates for its fall Target Circle Week. Duh, its during Prime Day.

Mon, 09/22/2025 - 17:45

UPDATE: Sep. 22, 2025, 12:25 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with new details about the categories of deals to expect during Target Circle Week, as announced through a second press release from Target on Sept. 22.

Target is holding a second Target Circle Week in 2025. The fall version of Target Circle Week will start on Oct. 5 and end on Oct. 11, overlapping with Prime Big Deal Days on Oct. 7 and 8. Circle Week deals will span categories like kitchen appliances, floor care, skincare, LEGO, denim, kids' clothing, books, and bedding.

If you think Halloween decor hitting shelves in August is bad, imagine seeing the words "holiday magic" in a shopping-related press release in mid-September. That's how Target announced that it would be holding its second Target Circle Week of 2025, just a few months after holding an event with the same name in July.

When is Target Circle Week 2025? (Fall version)

The fall Target Circle Week 2025 will run between Oct. 5 and Oct. 11 in 2025, Target confirmed on Sept. 16.

It's a hectic little practice, this one: Holding a giant shopping event in October even though the same retailers will be in full Black Friday mode before November even starts. Naturally, it was Amazon that originally decided a big pre-Black Friday sale was necessary back in 2022 — it was called the Prime Early Access Sale for the first year, but is now Prime Big Deal Days (colloquially, October Prime Day). As with Prime Day in July, other big retailers like Target now hold competing sales that often overlap with Amazon's sale window.

Is Target Circle Week worth it?

Yep, it's quite the solid savings opportunity. Most notably, Target Circle Week rocks because it's a much more accessible sale than any Prime event. Access to Target Circle Week deals is free because the Target Circle membership needed to unlock the deals is free — unlike participation Prime Day, which requires a paid Prime membership.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime shipping perk is changing. Here’s what you’re losing.

Target Circle Week will also set itself apart by running significantly longer than October Prime Day. It starts two days earlier, and lasts three days longer. It's always nice to have some extra time to strategize the best deals to take advantage of rather than panic-buying just because the deals are fleeting.

What goes on sale for Target Circle Week?

Target Circle Week deals consist of direct discounts on big name items from Shark, Ninja, Apple, and more, plus savings on general categories like kitchen, laundry, or beauty. Target is also known for its free gift card deals — the store will often throw in $5 or $10 for free just for buying household or self-care items you would have purchased anyway.

A Sept. 22 press release gave more specific intel about some of the categories these deals will fall under:

  • Deal of the Day: Offers starting at 40% off or more, with three or more new discounts revealed daily including on national brands like Apple, Bissell, Champion, Crocs, and Heydude

  • Holiday: 40% off Halloween costumes, BOGO 50% off trick-or-treat candy

  • Apparel and accessories: 30% off denim for adults, 30% off women's sweatshirts and sweatpants, 20% off Converse, and 20% off kids' apparel

  • Home: Up to 50% off kitchen appliances and vacuums, up to 30% off bedding, up to 40% off storage

  • Beauty and essentials: 20% off select skincare, BOGO 50% off Method, OLLY, Nature Made, or Quest products, BOGO 25% off laundry products

  • Fun and entertainment: 30% off select Lego products, buy two, get one free books, movies, music, and Funko, plus $10 off when you spend $40 on toys

  • Food and beverage: BOGO 50% off cereal, granola, coffee, and trail mix

Like Prime Day, Target Circle Week will also run a Deal of the Day promo. Each day, at least three new deals will be revealed from big brands like Apple, Bissell, Crocs, and GE, with discounts starting at 40% off.

All of the above deals will be open to anyone who has a free Target Circle membership. However, those who pay for Target Circle 360 will get deals access 24 hours before Target Circle Week starts (online and in-store). Target Circle 360 members will also get a first chance to shop big only-at-Target drops, including Nintendo accessories in a Target-exclusive color. For every $100 spent, Target Circle 360 members will get $10 back in Circle Rewards. The $99 per year Target Circle 360 membership is worth it if you do a lot of your shopping online — it unlocks free two-day shipping on nearly everything, plus unlimited, no-markup, same-day delivery on orders over $35.

Note that Target has formally ended its price match policy as of July 2025.

Opens in a new window Credit: Target Sign up for Target Circle for free Learn More Opens in a new window Credit: Target Sign up for Target Circle 360 $99/year Learn More
Categories: IT General, Technology

The 55-inch Hisense U65QF Mini-LED TV is under $500 at Amazon

Mon, 09/22/2025 - 17:37

SAVE $330: As of Sept. 22, you can get the Hisense 55-inch U65QF Mini-LED TV for $469.99 at Amazon. That's a savings of 41%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 55-inch U65QF Mini-LED TV $469.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $330 Get Deal

A premium viewing experience doesn't have to break the bank. The latest budget-friendly Hisense U6 Mini-LED TV has a picture quality that rivals much pricier models — and it's on sale for less than $500.

As of Sept. 22, you can get the Hisense 55-inch U65QF Mini-LED Fire TV for just $469.99 at Amazon. That's 41% or $330 in savings — just about $20 shy of its best price on record.

Our sister site PCMag (also owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) spent some time with the Hisense U65QF — released in March 2025 — and called it "easily the brightest and most colorful budget-friendly TV we've tested."

It uses the same interface as Amazon's own Fire TV Omni Mini-LED, which is a seamless (yet ad-heavy) smart platform that makes watching all of your favorite streaming services a breeze. It's also equipped with Alexa, although you'll have to press a button and speak into the remote to use it. No biggie. Specs-wise, the U65QF is a QLED TV with a Mini-LED backlight system, which means it uses smaller LEDs to deliver a brighter, more detailed picture. It also packs a 144Hz native refresh rate, WiFi 6 connectivity, an ATSC 1.0 tuner under the hood, and support for HDR in Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. Translation: for the price, the Hisense U65QF checks all the right boxes.

If you're in the market for a new TV, but don't want to spend a fortune, we highly recommend grabbing the latest budget-friendly Hisense U6 TV while it's down to just $469.99 at Amazon.

Categories: IT General, Technology

iOS 26 problems: User complaints include lag and clunky app redesigns

Mon, 09/22/2025 - 17:29

Apple’s new iOS 26 update is finally rolling out to the masses after a months-long beta. Paired with the launch of the iPhone 17 lineup, you’d expect fireworks. But so far, the reception to Apple’s so-called “biggest iOS update in years” has been… meh. To be fair, that’s par for the course with iOS updates. Apple can never please everyone. But if you’re staring at that update notification wondering whether to pull the trigger, here’s what you should know.

What Mashable is saying

As the proud owner of a battered iPhone 13 Pro, I went ahead and upgraded. My biggest gripe has been the battery life. It feels shorter than usual — though, to be fair, that might just be the "new iOS tax" while my phone re-indexes and chews through storage. I’m hoping a few days (and maybe a little spring cleaning) will fix that. Beyond that, iOS 26 feels… fine. Nothing groundbreaking, just some quality-of-life tweaks dressed up as revolution. Apple’s obsession with rearranging the furniture and calling it progress is, as always, a little maddening.

I’m not alone, either. Tim Marcin, our associate digital culture editor, loves the new charging feature that tells you how long it’ll take to hit 80% — and he swears his phone charges more efficiently now. But he also finds the Safari redesign clunky and irritating.

Meanwhile, Tech Reporter Alex Perry summed up his feelings bluntly: to him, iOS 26 is basically Apple “just changing some colors.”

What the internet is saying

Over on Reddit, opinions on iOS 26 are mixed but leaning positive. Scroll through threads in the iPhone and iOS subreddits and you’ll find the full spectrum: some users swear the update feels half-baked and laggy, while others report everything running smoothly and say they’re loving it. As always, it kind of depends on who you ask — and whether they’ve been living with the beta for weeks already.

"I’m honestly disappointed with nearly every design decision they made. It seems Apple prioritized flashy mimicry over actual functionality, which feels like the least Apple-like direction I’ve ever seen," one user said. Another on the same thread stated that "My screen time has been cut in half with the same amount of drainage."

In other threads, plenty of users were less than impressed. Some complained the update "feels almost exactly the same," while others roasted the redesign, saying the "visual style was designed and approved by a bunch of people who don’t use dark mode."

Still, it’s not all grumbling. A chunk of users say they’re genuinely enjoying iOS 26. And honestly, that tracks: with any big iOS overhaul, a lot of the frustration just comes down to retraining your muscle memory. Give it time, and what feels jarring today usually becomes second nature tomorrow.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Capture winter adventures on the DJI Osmo Action 4 combo while its on sale for $50 off at Amazon

Mon, 09/22/2025 - 17:29

SAVE $50: The DJI Osmo Action 4 essential combo is on sale at Amazon for $239, down from the list price of $289. That's a 17% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Osmo Action 4 Essential Combo $239 at Amazon
$289 Save $50 Get Deal

We're only a handful of weeks away from the mountains opening for snowy winter sports and that means it's time to check on your recording set-up. Even if you're not a professional YouTuber or TikTok creator, it's likely you'll want to capture footage of adventures. One of the best ways to do just that is with a DJI camera, and a great model is on sale today.

As of Sept 22, the DJI Osmo Action 4 essential combo is on sale for $239 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $289. That's a 17% discount that takes $50 off.

If you're looking to make life easier, the DJI Osmo Action 4 essential combo is perfect since it's a one-click purchase that includes everything you'll need for recording. The bundle includes the DJI Osmo Action 4 camera, the Osmo locking screw, anti-slip pads, the action lens hood, a protective frame, the Osmo Action Extreme battery, and a quick-release adapter mount.

SEE ALSO: DJI has a new mini drone coming soon — and you can't have it

The DJI Osmo Action 4 is ready for all sorts of adventures from underwater exploration that goes as deep as 18 meters to cycling during autumn foliage to skiing this winter. The Osmo Action 4 can record in temperatures as low as -4 Fahrenheit and it's also designed to be great in low-light settings.

While DJI does have a camera coming soon that'll record in 8K, the Osmo Action 4 records in 4K at 120fps with a 155-degree ultra-wide field of view. It also has stabilization features that makes for smoother footage while filming is done while moving.

Before winter sports begin, snag the DJI Osmo Action 4 essential combo is on sale for $239 at Amazon. It comes with all the accessories to get you started on a content creation journey as we head into the end of 2025.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 laptop review: Marvellous battery life and impressive performance for under $1,000

Mon, 09/22/2025 - 17:24

The AMD-powered Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 had me asking myself, “Is this illegal? It feels illegal.” TikTok trends aside, this laptop seamlessly merges affordability with great performance and stellar battery life, all wrapped up in a beautiful navy blue chassis.

Additionally, it has an excellent variety of ports (albeit both USB-C ports reside on the laptop’s left side), boasts a fairly comfortable keyboard, and it’s well-built, which is essential for convertible laptops that are constantly utilizing the hinges to flip between laptop, tent, and tablet modes.

The Dell 14 Plus in tent mode. Credit: Sarah Chaney

That said, a budget-friendly laptop has to cut corners somewhere to preserve its affordability. This laptop lacks a decent webcam, comes with a set of bottom-firing speakers that leave you searching for bass, and features a display that’s unfortunately capped at a 60Hz refresh rate. Even with those minor negatives, the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 is still one of the best cheap laptops when you consider how many fantastic features it offers at such a low price.

Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (AMD) price and specs

Intel has dominated the laptop space for quite a while, but I’ve always had a slight preference for AMD processors. They’re just as powerful in most scenarios, offer excellent battery efficiency, and usually stay budget-friendly. The Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 highlights those strengths at an impressive price.

Our Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 review unit is $949.99 via Dell and comes with the following specs: 

  • AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor

  • Integrated Radeon 860M graphics

  • 16GB RAM

  • 512GB of SSD storage 

  • 14-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) touch display

There’s another AMD-powered Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 configuration for $999.99 at Best Buy that bumps SSD storage up to 1TB and downgrades slightly to Radeon 840M integrated graphics. With both the Best Buy configuration and our review unit configuration at Dell, I’d highly recommend waiting for a sale because I’ve seen them dip to $599.99 and $699.99, respectively.

An aluminum-plastic mix for an affordable, yet durable build

Despite being a budget-friendly laptop, Dell’s 14 Plus 2-in-1 avoids the typical boring gray or black colorway. Instead, its chassis comes in an attractive deep navy finish called midnight blue, which covers the lid, base, edges, keyboard, and trackpad.

The laptop has an attractive design. Credit: Sarah Chaney

The lid features a subtle Dell logo and, along with the base, is made with aluminum to help resist fingerprints. Opening the laptop, however, the palm rest area is plastic, which can get greasy during use and feels like a budget-friendly material with slight give when pushed.

The laptop’s hinges are smooth and sturdy when flipping between tablet and laptop modes. Combining this durable, convertible form factor with its compact dimensions (12.4 x 8.9 x 0.7 inches) and a fairly light weight of 3.5 pounds, the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 is a great companion laptop for frequent travelers or commuters.

A great display for a budget-friendly laptop

The Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 features a 14-inch FHD+ (1920 × 1200) touch display that's best described as passable. It’s a decent display, but it won’t blow you away with vivid colors or deep blacks, which isn’t surprising for a budget-friendly config.

The screen delivers a sharp, well-lit picture, but colors come across muted and blacks appear more gray. Using the touchscreen to download Spotify and type with the on-screen keyboard, response time was excellent, though the display’s refresh rate is capped at 60Hz.

Overall, for consuming content and browsing the web, the display works great. But if you need high color accuracy for graphic design or creative work, this laptop’s display won’t be up to the task.

Great port variety, but it’s missing one vital feature

For a budget laptop, Dell’s 14 Plus 2-in-1 offers a solid port selection — with one big caveat.

On the left, you’ll find:

  • HDMI 1.4 port

  • Two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports

The left side ports. Credit: Sarah Chaney

And on the right:

  • Audio jack

  • USB-A Gen 1 port

The right side ports. Credit: Sarah Chaney

From a laptop at this price, I’m not complaining about the lack of an Ethernet port, a higher quality HDMI port, or even multiple USB-A ports. However, what really gets my goat is Dell failing to divvy up this laptop’s USB-C ports between the left and right sides. C’mon, we’re almost in 2026. Shouldn’t all laptops have USB-C ports on both sides for charging convenience?

Bottom-firing speakers are no bueno

A budget-friendly laptop, unfortunately, can’t have it all, and one of the areas where Dell sacrificed quality for affordability with the 14 Plus 2-in-1 is with the speakers. The laptop features two 2.5-watt, bottom-firing speakers that have zero bass and can be muffled, depending on where you set the laptop down.

I fired up “cliché” by MGK in the Spotify app, and the bass was nonexistent. All the atmospheric hums in the intro and punchy bass notes in the chorus were gone, leaving the audio feeling very empty and one-note.

The one perk these speakers do have is volume. They can get pretty loud with minimal distortion up until around 80% volume — it’s just not high-quality audio.

A relatively comfortable keyboard paired with a mid trackpad

I wouldn’t necessarily say the 14 Plus 2-in-1 has a stellar keyboard, but there are pleasant elements to it that I wasn’t expecting from an affordable laptop. 

The keys are large, well-spaced, and feel as though they have a decent amount of travel, providing a fairly good, comfortable typing experience overall. However, as a self-proclaimed keyboard snob, the keys are a little mushy for me and don’t deliver quite as much clickiness as I’d like.

It features a comfortable keyboard and a mid trackpad. Credit: Sarah Chaney

Moving on to the trackpad, it failed to impress, to say the least. 

Dell’s 14 Plus 2-in-1 has a mylar trackpad, which is naturally less smooth than glass trackpads, but this laptop’s trackpad was worse than other mylar trackpads I’ve tried. My fingers stutter across its surface awkwardly, unless I’m deliberately trying to move my fingers super lightly, and clicking feels wimpier than I’d like. In short, the trackpad is usable, but I didn’t love using it.

Its webcam delivers muted colors and a grainy picture

The Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 falls victim to a problem far too many laptops share: having a terrible webcam. 

It’s equipped with a 1080p camera that has the potential to look fine in the right lighting, but in practice, it delivers grainy images with poor color accuracy. My light green eyes may as well have been gray in all of the selfies I snapped.

The Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1's webcam delivers grainy images with poor color accuracy. Credit: Sarah Chaney

I also noticed pesky motion blur, with a trailing effect behind my face and objects as I moved the laptop around. While this effect can look artistic when intentional, it’s not something I want in a video call or work presentation.

Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (AMD) benchmarks and performance

Powered by an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor, the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 delivers reliable performance, easily handling a daily workload of flipping between 20+ Chrome tabs with Spotify streaming music in the background.

Even with all those Chrome tabs open — including two YouTube videos running on mute — I experienced no lag when typing in Google Docs or loading new pages. While this laptop can’t handle intense video editing or native gaming, it can tackle daily internet-based tasks with grace.

When loading up multiple new pages, the fans do kick up, but they’re pretty quiet, and they die down once tabs are fully loaded. That said, expect slightly noisier fans and increased surface temperature when the laptop is plugged in.

Like all review laptops, we put this laptop through a standard performance benchmark. On the Geekbench 6 test, Dell’s 14 Plus 2-in-1 churned out a multi-core score of 11,301, which I’d say is pretty impressive at its affordable price. 

It’s a higher score than what we’ve seen on a few of Dell’s more expensive, older models, like the Dell XPS 13 9350, but pales slightly in comparison to modern laptops with Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H processor, which generally deliver scores of 12,000 to 13,000. For example, the Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9) and the HP Spectre x360 14 earned scores of 12,345 and 12,955, respectively.

Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (AMD) battery life

The Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 lasted a jaw-dropping 20 hours and 52 minutes on a full charge during our battery test, which consists of looping a 1080p video at 50% brightness and 50% speaker volume. 

Even the new 15-inch M4 MacBook Air pales in comparison, notching just over 10 hours on the same battery test. AI-powered processors are finally allowing Windows laptops to deliver better battery results, and the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 is proof.

Is the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (AMD) worth it?

For everything this laptop offers at just $949.99 full price (and often even less if you catch it on sale), the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 is absolutely worth it for those looking to get the best bang for their buck. 

Sure, it has a lousy webcam, middling speakers, and a trackpad that gives me the ick. But it’s powered by an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor that provides impressive performance and assists in delivering jaw-dropping battery life — and those two features alone are objectively more important than a good webcam, set of speakers, or trackpad.

Stellar performance and efficiency aren’t the only two things the 14 Plus 2-in-1 has going for it, either. During testing, I enjoyed typing at my normal lightning-fast pace on its keyboard, found its plentiful ports to my liking (though I wished one of the left-side USB-C ports would scooch over to the right side), and loved how sturdy the hinges felt, even after multiple mode switches.

All in all, this budget-friendly laptop is a fantastic option for students, frequent travelers, or anyone who simply needs a reliable performer for daily productivity tasks.

Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM) $699.99 at Dell
$949.99 Save $250 Shop Now
Categories: IT General, Technology

eXTReMe Tracker