Mashable

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from Idaho with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

There are restrictions and blockades all over the online world, stopping you from going where you want to go. It's a frustrating reality of the modern world, but it's not something you need to put up with.

The world of porn was rocked earlier this year after a number of states introduced laws that required visitors to upload ID before accessing pornography sites. As a result, Pornhub banned visitors from those states from accessing their website. There are complicated reasons for this ban, but the workaround is straightforward.

If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from Idaho, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Idaho

VPNs are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This straightforward process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 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 a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Visit Pornhub

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like Pornhub, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, 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 always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Unblock Pornhub for free in Idaho with ExpressVPN.

The popularity of Ninja and Shark appliances is undeniable. The brand touches nearly every room in your home. It makes vacuums to keep your floors clean, air purifiers to refresh the air, hair stylers for at-home blowouts, and an appliance for every step of the cooking process. But with such an expansive catalog, it can be hard to sort through the best of the brand.

We wanted to test our way through the best Ninja had to offer in kitchen appliances. We brought the most popular products from the brand into our kitchens to see how the Creami, Slushi, and Foodi stacked up.

Here are the best Ninja kitchen appliances we tested.

Why buy Ninja?

There are plenty of kitchen appliance brands out there, so why Ninja? Generally, we find its products to be some of the best value products. They tend to be the most affordable options on the market that still deliver excellent performance.

Plus, Ninja products are really beginner-friendly devices that are easy to use with minimal setup required. The appliances bring ease with delicious end products. The Creami is a perfect example of this. Traditional ice cream making requires a bit of skill, knowing how to cook custards to the right temperature with hours of churning. But the Creami simplifies ice cream making with a user-friendly product that still delivers a fantastic end result.

Just because they're beginner-friendly devices doesn't mean they're only for beginners. They're convenient devices with professional-level performance that help develop a more efficient kitchen.

Other products we tested

Having rounded up the best Ninja kitchen appliances means we tested a lot of products and not all of them made it to the list, two notable exceptions being the Ninja Creami Deluxe and Foodi Grill and Air Fryer.

The Ninja Deluxe was my introduction to the Creami lineup, and it is great. It spun up creamy frozen confections and even featured a frozen drink setting. However, compared to the Swirl, it required several re-spins to get the right texture.

Meanwhile, the Foodi Grill was another great multicooker from Ninja. The indoor grill made delicious, juicy chicken breasts with actual char marks. Plus, its air-frying capabilities were a little too good. It got things crispy fast, but often felt like it dried out food in the process. Plus, it was just so large that it didn't feel like a practical device for most people.

That being said, these devices are good, but not in our all-star line-up.

The Polestar 4 officially launched in the U.S., Europe and Australia last year, going head to head with Tesla's Model Y in the mid-sized electric SUV space. However, an alternate option for the Musk-averse consumer is far from all this EV has to offer. Polestar has also gotten creative, completely forgoing a rear window in favour of a camera feeding live footage to the driver.

It's an unexpected departure from the norm, which serves to distinguish the Polestar 4 from its competitors. However, it will certainly take some getting used to and may not be for everyone.

Why did the Polestar 4 get rid of the rear window? Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

The Polestar 4's rear-view camera is a collaboration with Gentex, who developed the technology. Mounted on the back of the Polestar 4's roof, the 2.5-megapixel camera sits within a small fin-like protrusion alongside the EV's Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).

Rather than displaying the camera feed on the Polestar 4's large navigation screen, or even the dashboard, the rear-view camera's footage is streamed directly to the rear-view mirror — or rather, rear-view screen. This narrow display is shaped and mounted like a traditional rear-view mirror, completely replacing its lower-tech counterpart.

It does seem like an unnecessary complication to a feature that already exists. However, Polestar's head of program management Henrik Svensson told Mashable that this technology actually adds more functionality and has been "well-tested," noting that Gentex's rear-view camera system has previously been used in racing cars as well.

"There's also a 360 view around the car, which helps it in more cramped situations, parking and stuff like that," said Svensson. "The rear visibility [of SUV coupes] today is quite limited, because it's all only a small screen that you can look through. And here we see that we actually improve the situation with the camera."

Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

Rear windows and rear cameras aren't necessarily mutually exclusive features in a car. Still, Polestar has decided to get rid of the Polestar 4's rear window and rely entirely on the rear-view camera system, prioritising aesthetic design and the passenger experience.

"The reason why we went this track without the rear window was that we would like to, number one, optimize the interior, number two, have a really nice design of the car — design was really important for us — and also, number three, there is also that we see that we can manage to do it with the technical solutions we have out on the market today," Svensson said.

To paraphrase Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park, the fact that something can be done isn't necessarily a reason that it should. Even so, Polestar is confident its rear-view camera is reliable enough to render rear windows optional.

The Polestar 4 ditches the rear window for a spacious passenger experience Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

Many drivers' instinctual reaction to the Polestar 4's virtual rear-view camera is likely to be apprehension at minimum. After all, rear-view mirrors and the ol' twist-in-your-seat have served drivers well for decades. Even considering that parking cameras are now commonplace, axing back window visibility renders useless a safety manoeuvre that is instinctual for the vast majority of drivers. 

The Polestar 4 does have a beautiful design, with spacious seats that feel like flying first class. Having spent a couple of hours riding in the EV as a passenger, I found it an enjoyable, fairly luxurious experience in both the front and back.

Despite this, the minimal enhancements and additional functionality don't necessarily feel worth the loss of the Polestar 4's rear window. While the back seats can be slightly adjusted, the maximum recline is so mild that passengers are unlikely to notice a difference at all. When looking at two seats side by side, you'd be hard pressed to tell which had been tilted back and which was upright. 

Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

Meanwhile, it was disconcerting to keep turning my head to verify what I was seeing in the rear-view screen, only to be met with the dark expanse of the Polestar 4's admittedly comfortable interior. Though not claustrophobic, it did feel unsettling to be forced to rely solely on the small rear-view display, even as a passenger who didn't get behind the wheel myself.

The Polestar 4's rear-view screen can be manually switched to function as a traditional mirror, but the lack of a rear window means you can't see both the rear view and the back seat at the same time. For parents, that will mean choosing between keeping an eye on the road or on their kids. Though to be fair, those with young, sticky-fingered children will probably think long and hard about investing in any car that feels as luxurious as the Polestar 4 anyway.

Polestar is aware that its rear-view system is a significant change, and is working hard to reassure drivers of its capability. The company argues that the camera system is worthwhile due to benefits such as the aforementioned 360-degree view and a 121-degree field of view — a wider viewing angle than a traditional rear-view mirror. However, considering the seemingly small benefit of losing the rear window, it raises the question of whether the Polestar 4 could have kept it and simply added the roof-mounted camera as well.

A rear-view mirror vs a rear-view camera Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

In addition to this, the Polestar 4's rear-view camera feels both familiar and uncanny. Though the display looks and in some ways acts like a mirror, the image initially felt strangely flat and lacking the depth that would help drivers more accurately judge their location in relation to other objects. This wasn't helped by the fact that, unlike standard rear-view mirrors, the Polestar 4's digital rear-view camera doesn't allow you to see the back seats' headrests to help you evaluate distance.

A likely contributor to this is the plastic effect, a known phenomenon where images seen in mirrors appear to have greater depth. Considering that drivers have been using mirrors for decades and grown accustomed to the depth they provide, it would be unsurprising if some are initially unsettled by the comparatively flatter image of a screen. It also seems theoretically possible that the screen may impact the drivers' experience of psychological distance, specifically concerning spatial and experiential issues (that is, assessment of physical location and personal proximity to events).

Viewing the Polestar 4's rear-view display, the screen simply didn't register in my brain the same way that a mirror would. While my eyes saw the surface image clearly, it was as though my brain refused to fully ingest what it meant. Drivers I spoke to had similar issues, though they did grow more accustomed to it after spending further time behind the wheel. It's also worth noting that while slightly moving your head can adjust your view in a mirror, such movements do nothing if you're looking at a screen.

These issues aren't necessarily entirely insurmountable, but like any change to a well-established norm, they will take time to adjust to. The question is whether drivers are interested in investing that time. 

Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

Svensson did acknowledge that people will always have varying opinions on new features, but claimed that Polestar hadn't received any major customer complaints about the rear-view camera. In fact, the company intends to continue along this design path in future models, asserting that customers have accepted the Polestar 4's missing rear window.

"In the development phase, we did a lot of testing of this technique, of course, to make sure that we didn't launch anything that we didn't think customers would appreciate," Svensson said.

The average driver may still need more convincing, reluctant to tamper so drastically with standard safety features or invest thousands in an EV that initially feels unsettling. Even so, these concerns may not be deal breakers for others. Early adopters and tech fiends will likely find the Polestar 4's digital rear-view camera fascinating, and it's certainly an intriguing talking point. While there are a few critics on the Polestar subreddit, the general consensus appears to be that it just takes getting used to.

Regardless of your (rear) view, it's at least exciting to know that car manufacturers are continuing to innovate, even if there wasn't necessarily anything that needed fixing here. The Polestar 4's rear-view camera is a large step in the continued march toward increasingly more high-tech solutions, and it seems the automaker has no interest in turning back.

Disclosure: Mashable travelled to Byron Bay as a guest of Polestar.

The best Windows laptops run an impressive gamut, from Qualcomm-powered workhorses that refuse to die to dual-display stunners and subtle gaming stations. (Some of them, dare we say, will tempt even the most devoted Apple MacBook disciples.) Users who need a new laptop for everyday productivity, creativity, or entertainment have no shortage of options. And that's for better or worse.

SEE ALSO: The best laptops for 2025, tested by our experts

To help you pick out your next PC from the crowded Windows market, we've broken out our best laptops rundown into this separate guide to the best Windows machines of 2025. All of these laptops have been thoroughly hands-on tested by members of the Mashable team for performance, build quality, and battery life, and we stand by their value — or at least think they're worth hunting down on sale.

Best Windows laptop to buy 2025

As of June 2025, Mashable's favorite Windows laptop is the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, an elegant workhorse powered by the impressive Snapdragon X Elite processor. It's got enough power to handle demanding workloads, a premium design, interesting AI features, and the best battery life out of all the laptops we've ever reviewed. Even the latest M4 MacBooks can't keep up.

Read on for Mashable's in-depth guide to the best Windows laptops of 2025. FYI: We've listed the pricing and specs of our testing units, which may not apply to each laptop's base model.

What's on deck

Our team has several Windows laptops in hand for testing, including two AI-ready gaming laptops:

• the latest Intel-powered Framework Laptop 13, an upgradable and repairable PC

• the new Asus ZenBook A14, the "world's lightest Copilot+ PC" (and the winner of Mashable's Best of CES award in the laptop category this year)

• the latest Asus VivoBook S 15, a Copilot+ PC that comes in just under $1,000

• the latest Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9), a mid-range Copilot+ PC with an OLED touchscreen

• the Acer Predator Helios 16, a 16-inch gaming laptop with a 240Hz display and an RTX 4080 GPU

• the MSI Stealth A16 AI+, another 16-inch gaming laptop with a 240Hz display and an RTX 4070 GPU

What we've tested lately (that didn't make the cut)

I recently tested the Dell XPS 13 (9350), a 13-inch Lunar Lake Copilot+ PC with an anti-reflective tandem OLED touchscreen display. Above all, it's a gorgeous laptop: That display is one of the nicest I've ever seen, and its edge-to-edge design gives it a super premium, minimalist look. It also lasted more than 13 hours in our battery life test, which is great when you factor in that power-sucking display. 

However, the XPS 13 favors prettiness over practicality in certain ways that make it a pain to use. Namely, its zero-lattic keyboard felt cramped, its glass touchpad often misbehaved, and its port selection was dire. (There are just two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports — that's too much minimalism, IMO.)

Those might've been more forgivable if the XPS 13 didn't cost so much. My testing unit with a firmly mid-range Intel Core Ultra 256V CPU, 16GB of RAM, and only 512GB of storage goes for $1,849.99. You can knock that down to $1,199.99 if you go without the OLED display upgrade, which feels way more reasonable, but at the same time, that was the one thing I liked most about it. I rated it a 3.8/5 overall.

Earlier this year, I tested the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14, a slick convertible with awesome build quality, an excellent 15-hour battery life, and a beautiful design that includes a 3K OLED touchscreen. It's a knockout, but its weird port placements and middling Geekbench 6 multi-core score kept it from earning a Mashable Choice Award. (I rated it a 4.4/5 overall — so close!)

To give more context to the latter point, my $1,899.99 testing unit had an Intel Core Ultra 258V processor with 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. (That's a brand-new upper mid-range CPU.) In our Geekbench 6 benchmark, it scored slightly worse than the 15-inch M2 Apple MacBook Air from 2023 and significantly worse than its predecessor, last year's HP Spectre x360 14, which had a mid-range Intel Core Series 1 CPU as tested. For nearly $2,000, I wanted way more oomph from the OmniBook.

I do think the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is a decent splurge for future-proofers, but it's not well-rounded enough to be one of our top picks. Stick with the Yoga 9i 14 if you're looking for the best hybrid laptop out there, or look into the Spectre x360 14 if you want to stay within the HP family — it offers better performance and audio quality for about the same price as the OmniBook model.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, June 10, 2025:

AcrossDisplays at a trailhead

• The answer is Maps.

Pulitzer-winning 2024 novel that reimagined "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" from the perspective of Jim

• The answer is James.

Invader in a sci-fi movie

• The answer is Alien

Thin strands

• The answer is Wisps.

'Tude

• The answer is Sass.

DownOne of Michelle Obama's daughters

• The answer is Malia.

A little out of whack

• The answer is Amiss.

Marshmallow treats in Easter baskets

• The answer is Peeps.

I.R.S. IDs

• The answer is SSNS.

1975 film with a 25-foot animatronic shark

• The answer is Jaws.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

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

SAVE $50.95: As of June 10, the Beats Pill speaker is on sale for $99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 34% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Pill $99 at Amazon
$149.95 Save $50.95 Get Deal

The Beats Pill speaker keeps crawling down in price, and for a powerhouse of a speaker, we're impressed. Yes, as of June 10 this portable device just got reduced again, now priced at $99. Not only is this a great deal, but it has never been this cheap at Amazon before. With this deal, you'll be saving $50.95, but be sure to choose either the champagne gold or matte black colors to get this discount.

This price is also excluding a power adapter and AppleCare+. For these add-ons you'll need to pay slightly more.

SEE ALSO: Grab the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 while they're back down at their lowest price ever

It's a small, nifty device, but don't let that fool you. As is the case with all Beats products, this model is robust and packs a serious audio punch. This is thanks to the bigger, bespoke racetrack woofer displacing 90% more air volume, meaning you get a much deeper, fuller bass.

This speaker also has IP67 water resistance, so it's safe from accidental splashes, whether at the beach or the pool, or any water-based accidents. For portable listening, the new 24-hour battery life will keep you going all day long and can even be used to charge your phone or other devices through a USB-C cable.

You can also pair two Beats Pill speakers at once, for twice the sound experience. Just use the Amplify or Stereo mode and enjoy the powerful sound.

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out.

The best tech deals right now, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen With MagSafe USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

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

• Beats Pill Bluetooth Speaker — $99.00 (List Price $149.95)

• Roborock Qrevo Master Robot Vacuum and Mop — $799.97 (List Price $1599.99)

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

TL;DR: Get a fresh perspective with these Mini Digital Night Vision Binoculars with 1080p HD Recording, now for only $89.99 (reg. $159.99).

Whether you’re out camping, exploring after sunset, or just curious about what’s moving in the distance, a solid pair of night vision binoculars really comes in handy. These Mini Digital Night Vision Binoculars allow you to see up to 1,000 feet away in the dark and even capture what you see in 1080p HD.

This handy gadget is on sale and ready to join your adventure tools for just $89.99 (reg. $159.99).

Explore after dark with HD night vision

Don’t let the nocturnal animals have all the fun — see what’s out there in the dark. They’re tiny enough to fit in your pocket and ready to help you see in the dark — whether you’re camping, exploring, hunting, or just on a late-night adventure. A 10x optical magnification lens makes sure you see everything in sharp detail.

These binoculars are equipped with seven adjustable brightness levels and four color effects — color, black and white, luminous green, or infrared. And if you see something you want to capture forever on the 2.4-inch HD screen, there’s a built-in HD camera that takes 1080p Full HD videos and photos.

A built-in lithium battery with a 2,260mAh capacity keeps you powered up on lengthy adventures, and you’ll also receive a 32 GB memory card to store all your footage.

Gear up for your next adventure with these Mini Digital Night Vision Binoculars with 1080p HD Recording, now only $89.99 (reg. $159.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: StackSocial Mini Digital Night Vision Binoculars with 1080p HD Recording $89.99
$159.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: Enjoy a nice bike ride without any of the workout thanks to this Vanpowers City Vanture 350W Commuter e-Bike, just $949 (reg. $1,749) with code VAN150.

What’s better than a bike ride in the summertime? If you’re craving a hit of childhood nostalgia, there’s now a bike ready to take you places as a big kid. This Vanpowers City Vanture 350W Commuter e-Bike offers a smooth and silent ride complete with a 350W motor, which is great if you don’t have the energy you used to. And it’s on sale for $949 (reg. $1,749) with code VAN150.

Built for smooth, fast rides

Go for a ride with the wind in your hair on the Vanpowers City Vanture. This sleek e-bike is made for city life, letting you cruise with pedal-assist at up to 20 miles per hour thanks to a 350W motor. It’s also lightweight, weighing just 34 pounds, and made from aerospace-grade aluminum, so you can easily lift it when needed.

A full charge takes you up to 20 miles, and an optional range extender (not included) takes that number to 80. You can check battery life on the minimalist LCD display, which also shows your speed and customizable assist level to match your pace, terrain, and ride style. And when you need to power back up, it fully charges in just two to three hours.

This stylish bike also prioritizes safety. Integrated front and rear lighting keeps you visible on day or night rides. The Tektro® hydraulic disc brakes give you a 2.6 m stopping distance from 23 km/h and an impressive 0.6-second response time, and Kenda 700x28C Tires offer dual-layer puncture protection and optimized tread.

Ride in style all summer long and beyond with this Vanpowers City Vanture 350W Commuter e-Bike, now just $949 (reg. $1,749) with code VAN150.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Vanpowers Vanpowers City Vanture 350W Commuter e-Bike $949
$1,749 Save $800 Get Deal

We're halfway through 2025, and we've already been blessed with some incredible TV.

Returning shows like Severance and Andor surpassed our highest expectations for them, which more than made up for the disappointing returns of some other high-profile series. (Looking at you, The White Lotus and The Last of Us.) Plus, where old favorites failed to wow us, new favorites rose in their place, like The Pitt and The Studio. But that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what 2025 TV has to offer. Luckily for you, we've compiled a list of the very best shows that have come out this year. Some might have taken over your social media feeds for months at a time, while others may be more off the beaten path, but trust us: All are worth watching.

SEE ALSO: Summer TV preview: All the TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them

From devastating crime dramas and sci-fi epics to college comedies and sex quests, here are the 10 best TV shows of 2025 so far, and where to stream them.

10. Game Changer, Season 7

Few shows on TV are as varied or fun as Game Changer, the ever-changing game show from comedy streamer Dropout. Hosted by Dropout CEO Sam Reich, each installment presents its contestants with a new challenge with rules they discover in real time. That built-in versatility means there's truly something for everyone, with previous seasons including lie detector tests, escape rooms, and Survivor parodies.

SEE ALSO: Inside 'Game Changer,' the internet's favorite game show

With Season 7, Game Changer leaps to a whole new level. The season kicks off with a highly ambitious, year-long scavenger hunt involving squids, jet skis, mind control, and so much more. That premiere alone would be enough to earn Game Changer a spot on this list, but the series doesn't let up from there. An episode focused on stand-up comedians' crowd work quickly becomes a showcase of empathy and comedic connection, while a drunken play on The Traitors devolves into glorious chaos and trickery. There's no telling what you'll get when you tune into an episode of Game Changer, but Season 7 proves that you'll always be in for a treat.

Starring: Sam Reich, Brennan Lee Mulligan, Vic Michaelis, Lisa Gilroy, Lou Wilson, Jacob Wysocki, Oscar Montoya, and more

How to watch: Game Changer is now streaming on Dropout, with a new episode every other Monday at 7 p.m. ET.

9. North of North

The small-town comedy genre gets a lovely new entry in Netflix's North of North, which transports viewers to the Arctic town of Ice Cove. There, young Inuk woman Siaja (Anna Lambe) decides to leave her stale marriage to local legend Ting (Kelly William) and start over. That's easier said than done in an isolated town of 2,200 people, but Siaja is determined to succeed — although things get complicated when her estranged father (Jay Ryan) returns to town.

Don't let the frigid setting fool you: North of North is as heartwarming as TV shows come. Siaja's journey to independence is equal parts inspiring and amusing, as it takes several ridiculous mishaps for her to learn what she wants. Also touching is her troubled relationship with her mother Neevee (Maika Harper), whose rocky past has led her to put up a tough exterior. These two flawed, lovable women head up a charming ensemble, with Ice Cove and its townspeople coming to life through detailed character work and specific town traditions like elders' night and walrus dick baseball. You read that right: walrus dick baseball. To watch how that plays out, and to fall in love with Lambe's wonderful turn as Siaja, be sure to journey North of North.

Starring: Anna Lambe, Maika Harper, Braeden Clarke, Jay Ryan, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Zorga Qaunaq, Bailey Poching, and Kelly William

How to watch: North of North is now streaming on Netflix.

8. Dying for Sex

When Molly Kochan (Michelle Williams) is diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer, she embarks on a quest to orgasm with another person for the first time. That means leaving her husband Steve (Jay Duplass), joining hookup apps, experimenting with sex toys, and trying to find what, exactly, gets her off.

SEE ALSO: 'Dying for Sex' review: Michelle Williams' horny miniseries will break your heart

Based on a true story, Dying for Sex takes a frank, judgment-free approach to Molly's sexual encounters, be they awkward, pleasurable, or downright hilarious. (Often, they're all three.) But it also proves to be a tender love story between Molly and her best friend Nikki (Jenny Slate), who becomes Molly's primary caretaker. As the two face down Molly's declining health, Dying for Sex explores the lengths this pair will go to to make each other happy and fulfilled. It's life-affirming and heart-shattering in equal measure, anchored by phenomenal performances from Williams and Slate. As I wrote in my review, "As a duo, they oscillate between gallows humor and genuine heartbreak at a moment's notice, a dichotomy that feels so natural you can't believe you've only been watching their takes on Molly and Nikki for a few episodes. You also can't believe that their friendship will one day come to an end, but Dying for Sex faces that inevitability head on, as honest about death as it is about sex."

Starring: Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Rob Delaney, Jay Duplass, Kelvin Yu, Sissy Spacek, David Rasche, and Esco Jouléy

How to watch: Dying for Sex is now streaming on Hulu.

7. Overcompensating

You may know Benito Skinner for his viral, pop culture-savvy sketches, but with Overcompensating, the comedian makes the jump from the internet to TV, delivering one of the best comedies of 2025 in the process. The semi-autobiographical series stars Skinner as Benny, a closeted college freshman who strikes up a fierce friendship with outsider Carmen (Wally Baram). Can the two reinvent themselves in college and discover who they really are? Or will they be pulled back into destructive patterns?

SEE ALSO: 'Overcompensating' review: Benito Skinner's college comedy is a raunchy, thoughtful laugh riot

These core questions make for the poignant heart of Overcompensating, but make no mistake: The show is downright hilarious. From a barrage of pop culture jokes and cameos (Charli XCX among them) to pitch-perfect cringe comedy, Overcompensating is the college comedy of your dreams. As I wrote in my review, "Overcompensating may emphasize its characters' struggles with identity, but that's not a struggle the show itself shares. Raunchy yet thoughtful, this is an immediately assured coming-of-age story bursting with laughs and comedic stars on the rise."

Starring: Benito Skinner, Wally Baram, Mary Beth Barone, Adam DiMarco, and Rish Shah

How to watch: Overcompensating is now streaming on Prime Video.

6. Mo, Season 2

Not only is Mo one of the best TV shows of 2025 — it's also essential viewing. Co-created by Mo Amer and Ramy Youssef, this semi-autobiographical series centers on Palestinian refugee Mo (Amer) and his family's lives in Houston. Season 2 opens with Mo struggling to get back to the U.S. from Mexico. Detention centers and perilous border crossings await, all sobering reflections of the real-life journeys of immigrants trying to make it across the U.S.-Mexico border.

SEE ALSO: 'Mo' Season 2 review: Here's why it's still one of TV's most important shows

As UK Editor Shannon Connellan wrote in her review, "Mo's second season comes at a volatile time for Palestinians and undocumented immigrants alike, with those in power enforcing heartless, brutal decisions from disengaged, lofty offices that impact real people. Somehow, beyond all belief, amid a sense of transience and fear, of stacked odds and starting from scratch, Mo finds levity, surrealism, and personal solidarity in the dark, while being a genuinely funny and moving show." 

Starring: Mo Amer, Farah Bsieso, Teresa Ruiz, Tobe Nwigwe, and Omar Elba

How to watch: Mo Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

5. The Pitt

ER's Noah Wyle jumps back into a TV hospital in The Pitt, the real-time medical drama that took the world by storm in early 2025. Wyle plays Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch, the chief attending physician in the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center's emergency department. He's about to embark on 15-hour shift, where he and his colleagues will train the next generation of doctors, weather personal troubles, and do everything in their power to treat the injuries and illnesses that come through their doors.

SEE ALSO: 'The Pitt' review: Noah Wyle medical drama is part 'ER,' part '24,' and all compelling

The Pitt's real-time structure and grounded cinematography turn the series into a veritable pressure cooker, immersing audiences in a world of exhausting, often overwhelming chaos. The series also thoughtfully tackles pressing medical issues, including understaffed hospitals, racial disparity in care, and hot-button topics like abortion. Leading us through it all is Wyle and The Pitt's exceptional ensemble cast, tasked with performing some of the most graphic, hyper-realistic TV surgeries in recent memory. Clock into The Pitt in order to see for yourself why I called it "TV's next great medical drama."

Starring: Noah Wyle, Tracy Ifeachor, Patrick Ball, Supriya Ganesh, Fiona Dourif, Taylor Dearden, Isa Briones, Gerran Howell, Shabana Azeez, and Katherine LaNasa

How to watch: The Pitt is now streaming on Max.

4. Adolescence

Likely to be the most harrowing viewing experience you'll have this year, Adolescence traps you in a nightmare over the course of its four episodes, each filmed in one take. Co-created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, and directed by Boiling Point's Philip Barantini, Netflix's much buzzed-about miniseries examines the aftermath of a chilling murder committed by 13-year-old Jamie (newcomer Owen Cooper). Each episode focuses on a different perspective around the case, from a detective (Ashley Walters) investigating Jamie's school to Jamie's family reckoning with his actions.

SEE ALSO: Netflix's 'Adolescence' review: One of the best, most devastating shows of 2025

These vignettes, coupled with Barantini's one-take technique, create an unflinching portrait of a crime that feels all too rooted in reality. As UK Deputy Editor Sam Haysom wrote in his review, "Adolescence's story isn't a crime mystery so much as a psychological study — it's an exploration of the manosphere culture that's having a real world affect on teenagers, and the societal and familial triggers that might lead to a seemingly ordinary 13-year-old doing something unthinkable. On this level, and on almost all others, the show is chillingly effective."

Starring: Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty, Owen Cooper, Faye Marsay, Christine Tremarco, and Amelie Pease

How to watch: Adolescence is now streaming on Netflix.

3. The Studio

Seth Rogen absolutely torches Hollywood in Apple TV+'s The Studio, where he plays new studio head Matt Remick. A cinephile tasked with creating a movie based on the Kool-Aid brand, Matt finds himself faced with the eternal question of art versus commerce. Can he make high-grossing movies with artistic merit? Or is he — along with the rest of Hollywood — doomed to make slop?

SEE ALSO: 'The Studio' review: Seth Rogen torches Hollywood in must-watch satire

The Studio approaches this question with razor-sharp satire and a healthy dose of cringe comedy, bludgeoning the egos of everyone from actors and directors to publicists and executives. But despite its Hollywood grievances, The Studio also serves as a love letter to film. On top of tributes to genres like film noir and zombie movies, the series often employs long takes in homage to Robert Altman's satire The Player. These create a high-energy wave of cinematic mayhem where everyone from Martin Scorsese to Zoë Kravitz could pop up at any given moment. The result is a show that's current, formally engaging, and, as I wrote in my full review, "full-on comedy gold."

Starring: Seth Rogen, Catherine O’Hara, Kathryn Hahn, Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, and Bryan Cranston

How to watch: The Studio is now streaming on Apple TV+.

2. Andor, Season 2

Star Wars' best TV show goes out with a brilliant bang in its second (and tragically final) season. Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) is now a full-fledged part of the Rebellion, joining Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) and Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly) in their fight against the Empire. But the Empire has plans of its own, setting its sights on the planet Ghorman in the lead-up to one of the most devastating plot lines in all of Star Wars.

SEE ALSO: 'Andor' Season 2 review: The best Star Wars show goes out with a brilliant bang

In showrunner Tony Gilroy's hands, Andor remains equal parts nail-biting spy thriller and astonishing rallying cry against fascism, pulling no punches when it comes to topics like Imperial propaganda or genocide. From its portrayal of revolutionary sacrifice to its chilling take on the machine of empire, Andor is so damn good it's a shame it's over. (And that we'll likely never get a Star Wars show this subversive again.) But on the bright side, as I wrote in my review, "Andor goes out on its own terms, leaving a brilliant, blistering look at fascism and those who fight it in its wake."

Starring: Diego Luna, Kyle Soller, Adria Arjona, Stellan Skarsgård, Fiona Shaw, Genevieve O'Reilly, Denise Gough, Faye Marsay, Varada Sethu, and Elizabeth Dulau

How to watch: Andor Season 2 is now streaming on Disney+.

1. Severance, Season 2

My expectations for Severance Season 2 were insurmountably high, especially after a three-year hiatus. But somehow, Dan Erickson's sci-fi workplace drama managed to surpass even my highest hopes, delivering a season that's deeper, stranger, and even more mysterious and important than Season 1.

Severance Season 2 furthers its examination of identity, with almost all of Lumon's Severed employees somehow at war with themselves. It also toys with the implications of what the severance procedure could mean for the rest of the world, resulting in the jaw-dropping reveals of the Gemma (Dichen Lachman)-focused "Chikhai Bardo" episode. That's just one of many standout installments Severance had to offer this season, including the Innies' bizarre odyssey through "Woe's Hollow" and a jaw-dropping finale that solved many questions, but left just enough mysteries for fans to puzzle over before Season 3.

SEE ALSO: I went to the 'Severance' pop-up at Bell Works. It was surreal.

But amid all its sci-fi twists and turns, Severance still manages to stay rooted in its characters' struggles for connection in a cold, corporate world. As I wrote in my review, "The show may throw everything from surreal workplace dance parties to precious baby goats at us, but at the end of the day, we're watching a man trying to reunite with his wife. We're watching Irving pining for Burt, and Dylan seeking crumbs of information about the family he may never know. We're watching workers fight to be recognized as humans instead of free labor. It's personal, it's universal, and it's absolutely astounding."

Starring: Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Zach Cherry, Jen Tullock, Michael Chernus, Dichen Lachman, John Turturro, Christopher Walken, Patricia Arquette, and Sarah Bock

How to watch: Severance Season 2 is now streaming on Apple TV+.

TL;DR: Take the first step into the world of cybersecurity with no prior tech skills required, thanks to The 2025 Ethical Hacking Bundle for Beginners, now just $19.99 (reg. $140) — less than $3 a course.

Opens in a new window Credit: The 2025 Ethical Hacking Bundle for Beginners The 2025 Ethical Hacking Bundle for Beginners $19.99
$140 Save $120.01 Get Deal

You don’t need to be a tech wizard to break into the world of cybersecurity. With the right training, even beginners can learn how to protect networks, outsmart cyber threats, and build real-world hacking skills (the ethical kind, of course).

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Opens in a new window Credit: Bibb Home 4-Piece Bamboo Blend Waffle Hem Sheet Set (Hunter Green/Queen) $28.99
$99 Save $70.01 Get Deal

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We're halfway through 2025, and the cinema has been outrageous!

If you love action, this year's delivered plenty already. Tom Cruise dazzled in Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning. Anthony Mackie and Florence Pugh returned to the MCU with Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*, respectively. Martial arts movie legends Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio joined forces with Ben Wang in the rousing Karate Kid: Legends. Then of course, Jack Black's A Minecraft Movie has action scenes so bonkers it drove audiences absolutely wild.

SEE ALSO: Teens are causing chaos in 'Minecraft' movie screenings

Other movies offered action with high doses of side-splitting buddy-comedy, like One of Them Days, starring Keke Palmer and SZA, and The Accountant 2, which reunited Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal. Meanwhile, horror offered plenty of new reasons to scream with Final Destination: Bloodlines, Heart Eyes, The Ugly Stepsister, and Ryan Coogler's epic vampire movie, Sinners. But of course, that's a movie that's more genre-fluid than just horror.

In fact, as Mashable's entertainment team looked over the movies hitting so far this year, we found a lot of our favorites didn't snugly fit into one genre. They could best be described as post-apocalyptic rom-com, espionage family-comedy, body horror fairy tale, sci-fi screwball comedy, and vampire historical drama/musical? But no matter how you categorize them, these films are absolutely awesome.

So with no further ado, here are the 10 best movies of the year so far, and where you can watch them.

10. The Phoenician Scheme

Wes Anderson reunites with The French Dispatch's Benicio del Toro for a father-daughter story unlike any you've seen before. Tapping into some elements of espionage thriller — spies! explosions! international intrigue! poisonous gas! — Anderson and company unfurl the story of manipulative and massively wealthy businessman Zsa-zsa Korda (del Toro) and his daughter Liesl (Mia Threapleton).

The subject of a U.S. government investigation and a flurry of assassination attempts, Korda decides to reach out to his estranged daughter, who is training to become a nun. He wants her to be his heir and aid in his "Phoenician Scheme." But her faith and his dastardly dealings quickly lead to conflict. Along their journey, they'll meet an array of colorful characters, allowing Anderson to fold in familiar faces from his recurring collaborators, as well as Michael Cera, who — as I wrote in my review — was born to be in a Wes Anderson movie.

While critics have been divided on this Anderson offering, I cheered the filmmaker's genre approach and wrote, "The Phoenician Scheme becomes a charmingly hopeful tale about how even with our flaws we might find love, family, and salvation."

Starring: Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Mathieu Amalric, Richard Ayoade, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Friend, and Hope Davis

How to watch: The Phoenician Scheme is now in theaters.

9. The Ugly Stepsister

2025 is proving a great year for great horror movies, and it kicked off with The Ugly Stepsister out of the Sundance Film Festival. This twisted fairytale plays like the grubby baby of Wicked and The Substance. Hear me out.

This gnarly body-horror movie reimagines Cinderella by focusing on the heroine's much-maligned stepsister Elvira (Lea Myren). Writer/director Emilie Blichfeldt delivers not only a deeply empathetic tale of a young girl grappling with a princely crush, sibling rivalry, and crippling societal pressures to conform to cruel beauty standards, but also the grisly scenes to back up its social critique. This one isn't for the faint of stomach.

SEE ALSO: 'Sinners,' 'Black Mirror,' and 'The Ugly Stepsister': Film critics weigh in on what's worth watching and what's skippable

In my review for Mashable out of Sundance, I cheered, "The Ugly Stepsister is a deranged and dizzying achievement, folding in a classic story with a bitingly modern satire and bold body horror. Blichfeldt weaves these elements together to make a film that feels both of this moment but aesthetically nostalgic... And yet, her journey, as gross and grim as it is, is threaded with a ribbon of exhilaration, rebellion, and even defiant joy. Simply put, The Ugly Stepsister is savagely brutal and yet strangely beautiful."* — K.P.

Starring: Lea Myren, Thea Sofie Loch Næss, Ane Dahl Torp, Flo Fagerli, Isac Calmroth, and Malte Gårdinger

How to watch: The Ugly Stepsister is now streaming on Shudder.

8. Love Me

While the debate of AI in work, education, and even our sex lives rages on, Love Me imagines a post-apocalyptic Earth in which AI is all that remains of humanity. And despite that very bleak setup, it's deeply sweet.

Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun star as will-they-won't-they lovers in this tale of buoy meets... satellite. She is a buoy, frozen in the ocean of a dead earth, programmed to learn from her surroundings. He is an orbiting satellite, left behind as a sort of time capsule of humanity's long-ago reign on the planet. She is entranced by him, but when looking to understand love finds cached videos of a pair of influencers, who who relish silly onesies, date night, Friends, and Blue Apron. So, these machines begin to mimic mankind. But can they find a love of their own?

Written and directed by Sam Zuchero and Andy Zuchero, Love Me is a strange sci-fi treasure. In my review, I praised Stewart and Yeun's performances, which begin as roboty voiceover and evolve into flesh and blood portrayals of identity crises and romance in peril. "As their characters shift from jaunty animated avatars to carefully crafted human forms — complete with flaws — the performances carry a new emotional weight, as both feel out the shift in tone," I wrote, adding, "Props to the Zucheros; however, who refuse to abandon the weirdness of their premise or online courtship. A satisfying steamy yet surreal sex scene creates a unique space for their self-actualizing characters to explore their desires and bodies. Moments like this, where their heroes' self-expression is a messy bramble of ideas, colliding imitation with their own impulses, sets Love Me apart from a sea of sweet but superficial rom-coms."

Starring: Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun

How to watch: Love Me is available for rental or purchase on Prime Video.

7. Mickey 17

As follow-up to his Best Picture-winning Parasite, Bong Joon Ho delivered a scathing and silly political satire with Mickey 17.

Robert Pattinson stars as the eponymous protagonist, a low-level criminal who flees earth by taking a pretty brutal gig on a colonizing spaceship. He's an expendable, meaning a human test dummy who dies over and over only to be human printed again to, well, die again. Despite all these deaths, Mickey makes a cozy life for himself on the ship, falling for the tough-as-nails Nasha (Naomi Ackie). But their love life is thrown into spin when human error leads to two Mickeys — 17 and 18 — existing at once. That's a threat to the snarling rich folk (Mark Ruffalo and Toni Collette) who rule the ship. And, man, we haven't even gotten to the "creeper" aliens who live on the surface of the humans new home world!

A film rich in plot and twists, Mickey 17 is a rollicking ride, mainly because its celebrated writer/director refuses to be predictable. The movie shifts tones and genres freely, reflecting the tumultuous life (or lives) of Mickey. And it's an absolutely mind-blowing blast. As I wrote in my review for Mashable, "The journey Mickey goes on is winding and wild, bucking the conventional flow of a sci-fi action movie, by being only gently sci-fi and barely action. Instead, Mickey 17 plays as a political comedy with cross-genre flare, ultimately urging the audience to see the similarities, and perhaps find our own inner Mickey 17."

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo

How to watch: Mickey 17 is now streaming on HBO Max.

6. The Life of Chuck

When people think of the works of Mike Flanagan (The Fall of the House of Usher, Midnight Mass) or Stephen King, they don't usually think life-affirming stories. But The Life of Chuck will change that.

Based on a King novella, this genre-bending wonder is post-apocalyptic thriller meets feel-good coming-of-age drama meets ghost story. And yet, it's more! Tom Hiddleston stars as Chuck Krantz, whose life, at a glance, might be considered average. But in this rapturous movie, filled with a wonderful ensemble cast, King and Flanagan weave a tale of love, loss, and dance that's sure to enthrall audiences.

SEE ALSO: Every single Stephen King movie adaptation, ranked

In Mashable's review out of the film's Toronto International Film Festival premiere, I cheered, "The Life of Chuck is masterfully told. Like King's most moving adaptations, it doesn't play by standard rules of structure or audience expectations. It demands we follow the winding road through playful dialogue, painful lows, and rollicking highs to an unknown beyond. It's surprising and upsetting, funny and profound. I laughed hard, cried 'til my eyes ached, and once gasped so loud that I heard it echo across a theater struck silent by a moment both shocking and tender." Simply put, see it theaters, or you'll be missing out.*

Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tom Hiddleston, Annalise Basso, Benjamin Pajak, Karen Gillan, Mia Sara, Matthew Lillard, Carl Lumbly, Samantha Sloyan, Harvey Guillén, Jacob Tremblay, Kate Siegel, and Mark Hamill

How to watch: The Life of Chuck is now playing in theaters.

5. Black Bag

Black Bag marks the third collaboration between director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter David Koepp, the first being the riveting techno-thriller Kimi, and the second being the superbly unique haunted house movie Presence. Both creators relish the opportunity to shake up a genre. With this movie they do that to the espionage thriller, with Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender.

SEE ALSO: 'Presence's Steven Soderbergh and David Koepp on ghosts, horror, and hating winks

When UK intelligence tells agent George Woodhouse (Fassbender) that his wife Kathryn (Blanchett) might be a turncoat, he does what any master spy might: He throws a dinner party, inviting all the suspected double agents. While Black Bag offers espionage standards like globe-trekking, covert surveillance, and lie detector tests, it's Koepp's dialogue over dinner that makes this movie absolutely electrifying. Soderberg's direction of a crackling cast makes the most of every cutting line.

In my review for Mashable, I was especially elated to see a portrayal or marriage that didn't fall into the tedious cliches of stagnation. I wrote, "As soon as Black Bag was over, I felt that dizzying high one gets from a proper spy thriller, the rush of vicarious adrenaline from the case cracked and the day saved. But I also had the deep urge to see this movie again immediately. Because as generous as the filmmaker and stars are with slathering this story in George and Kathryn's mutual attraction, I couldn't get enough. I wanted to go back to feel the thrill of their love for each other all over again."

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Regé-Jean Page, and Pierce Brosnan

How to watch: Black Bag is now streaming on Peacock.

4. Bring Her Back

In 2023, filmmaking duo Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou awed critics and horror fans with their haunted hand hit Talk to Me. Now, they return with a gnarly psycho-biddy horror offering starring two-time Academy Award–nominee Sally Hawkins. The result is a nail-biting film that might have you gagging, covering your eyes, or experiencing some hard-won catharsis.

SEE ALSO: Say More: Danny and Michael Philippou on 'Bring Her Back'

The Philippou brothers probe into grief once again, exploring how this unmooring feeling can make the world around us feel unreal, hostile, and strange. In Bring Her Back, Hawkins stars as a foster mom named Laura, who takes in young orphans like Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), and siblings Piper (Sora Wong) and Andy (Billy Barratt). But despite Laura's chipper demeanor, 17-year-old Andy realizes something is off in her remote forest home. But can he stop the hell that's coming?

In my review for Mashable, I wrote, "Bring Her Back is extraordinary. For those who found Talk to Me sensationally scary, this follow-up will thrill with its deeply deranged tale of heartache and body horror. But the Philippous went deeper, presenting a character-driven drama with flares of psycho-biddy and religious horror. That heady combination not only makes for a satisfyingly scary as hell movie, but also a profound one."

Starring: Sally Hawkins, Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, Jonah Wren Phillips, and Sally-Anne Upton

How to watch: Bring Her Back is now in theaters.

3. The Ballad of Wallis Island

You might have missed this feel-good movie when it hit theaters, but don't sleep on the chance to enjoy it at home. Perhaps while wearing a cozy sweater to be lavish in comfort.

Written and starring Tom Basden and Tim Key, this Focus Features gem imagines what would happen if a lonely but lovely folk-rock fan won the lottery. In The Ballad of Wallis Island, Charles (Key), who lives on the remote island, uses heaps of cash to reunite his favorite band, McGwyer Mortimer. There's just one problem. This folk duo — made up of Herb McGwyer (Basden) and Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan) — weren't just a band, but also a couple, who broke up hard. So, this reunion concert is socially awkward, to say the least.

Adapted from an award-winning short film Basden and Key made with director James Griffiths, The Ballad of Wallis Island creates an enveloping village atmosphere. Then it plops down a flailing rock star and his chipper ex to create some sparks and lots of laughs. In my review out of SXSW 2025, I cheered, "The Ballad of Wallis Island is not only deeply charming and laugh-out-loud funny for all its social foibles and comedy duo banter, but it's also cathartic....as Basden and Key strike their final chord of this masterfully charted comedy, you feel it reverberate warmly in your heart, carrying you out of the theater with a song still playing there."  

Starring: Tim Key, Tom Basden, Sian Clifford, Akemnji Ndifornyen, and Carey Mulligan

How to watch: The Ballad of Wallis Island is available for rental or purchase on Prime Video.

2. Pee-wee as Himself

Between Pee-wee's Playhouse and Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Pee-wee Herman was an '80s icon adored by kids and grown-ups alike. But a scandal in 1991 brought Paul Reubens, the man behind the children's show, into a cruel tabloid spotlight. Since then, Reubens rebuilt his reputation and broadened his career, appearing in movies like Mystery Men, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Matilda. But the scorch of scandal kept Reubens reluctant to be open with the public about his life and loves — that is, until documentarian Matt Wolf began collaborating with the comedian for Pee-wee as Himself.

SEE ALSO: Say More: R.L. Stine on 'Fear Street: Prom Queen' and Matt Wolf on 'Pee-wee as Himself'

Though Reubens died of cancer before the film was wrapped, Wolf has built an empathetic and comprehensive portrait of the man, the artist, and the enigma. Told in two parts, this HBO documentary explores not only Reuben's inspirations for his most popular character, but also his queerness, and why he chose to go back into the closet to pursue a career in Hollywood.

In my review out of Sundance, I wrote, "Pee-wee as Himself is not a simple love letter to the iconic character or Reubens. That would suggest Wolf goes easy on either, fawning over them without reservation. This is something greater...Thought-provoking, boldly funny, and emotionally riveting, Pee-wee as Himself is [Reuben's] gift to us as grown-ups, as it reveals how hard that lesson can be, and how we must keep pushing ourselves to learn it."

Starring: Paul Reubens, Lynne Marie Stewart, Laurence Fishburne, Natasha Lyonne, Cassandra Peterson (aka Elvira: Mistress of the Dark), Debi Mazar, and David Arquette

How to watch: Pee-wee as Himself is now streaming on HBO Max.

1. Sinners

Ryan Coogler reunited with Michael B. Jordan, star of his critically heralded films, Black Panther, Fruitvale Station, and Creed. With Sinners, the two set the bar against which every other 2025 movie would be compared — not to mention every vampire movie from here to eternity.

Jordan stars as the Smokestack Twins, gangsters turned juke joint-proprietors whose opening night is crashed by a vicious vampire (Jack O'Connell), who craves the blood of their magical bluesman (Miles Caton in a jaw-dropping debut). Weaving folk lore, hoodoo practices, and history into the vampire subgenre, Coogler, who wrote and directed, built a world so rich that it could only be properly appreciated in 70mm IMAX. And in a time where naysayers are ringing the bell for the death of movie theaters, audiences came in such numbers that Sinners got a 70mm IMAX re-release to meet demand.

TikTok has been exploding with fans digging into every detail of the film, and we got in on the fun too! Critics praised the epic scope Coogler applied to his genre-fluid drama — which might be a horror musical. And audiences swooned over the ensemble, who were radiant as they created characters complex and compelling.

In my review of the film, I cheered, "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. 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."

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Li Jun Li, Yao, Lola Kirke, and Delroy Lindo

How to watch: Sinners is now in theaters and is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

SAVE $55: As of June 10, the Amazon Fire Max 11 is on sale for $174.99 at Amazon. That's a 24% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Max 11 $174.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $55 Get Deal

The Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet is back on sale at Amazon, and this time it's at its lowest price in six months.

This impressive tablet is currently reduced to its lowest price this year, now just $174.99. This deal is for the 64GB option without lockscreen ads.

SEE ALSO: Save 41% on the kids-proof Fire 7 Kids tablet from Amazon

This tablet is one of the most advanced in the range, and is perfect for both work and play. The screen boasts an impressive 2000x1200 resolution and a bright display with over 2.4 million pixels. It's also certified for low blue light, so it's easy on the eyes, especially if you're looking at the screen for long periods of time.

You can add optional accessories to this tablet so you can adapt it to what you need. Accessories like a keyboard case and stylus pen can be purchased separately. It's even compatible with Microsoft 365, so you can download it onto the tablet for all your work or study needs.

For on-the-go use, the impressive battery life promises to last up to 14 hours. And with storage expandable to 1TB, it’s got plenty of room for all your favorite apps, movies, and documents.

This deal is stamped as "limited-time" only, so don't miss out.

The best tech deals right now, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen With MagSafe USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

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

• Beats Pill Bluetooth Speaker — $99.00 (List Price $149.95)

• Roborock Qrevo Master Robot Vacuum and Mop — $799.97 (List Price $1599.99)

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SAVE $120: As of June 10, the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are on sale for $228 at Amazon. That's a 34% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM4 $228 at Amazon
$348 Save $120 Get Deal

Amazon's Daily Deals is the place to go for great discounts on tech, and if a new set of headphones is high on your wishlist, you'll love this latest deal on the Sony XM4, currently at their cheapest price this year.

As of June 10, you can find Sony XM4 headphones for $228 at Amazon, saving you $120 on list price. They are available in three colors, black, blue, and silver, all at the same reduced price.

SEE ALSO: The Dyson OnTrac headphones received a rare $100 discount

These headphones are packed with features that make them worth every cent. Noise canceling is handled by dual sensors, so they’re great for cutting out all kinds of background noise. Battery life is also solid and promises to give you up to 30 hours of juice. And when this runs out, simply charge for 10 minutes and get an extra five hours of listening.

These headphones also have touch controls for playback, volume, calls, and your voice assistant, plus a speak-to-chat feature that lowers the volume automatically when you start talking. There are also five built-in mics and smart voice pickup tech to make sure your calls and voicenotes are nice and clear.

Grab this deal from Amazon.

The best tech deals right now, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen With MagSafe USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

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

• Beats Pill Bluetooth Speaker — $99.00 (List Price $149.95)

• Roborock Qrevo Master Robot Vacuum and Mop — $799.97 (List Price $1599.99)

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

During its opening WWDC keynote on Monday, Apple's presenters highlighted a striking new look for the iPhone's home screen: A clear look for all the icons, folders, and widgets on your screen, making it seem that everything is made of slightly curvy glass.

This is not, however, the default look on the iPhone in the new iOS 26, which is now available as a developer beta.

First, a quick name check-up: Apple calls its new design, which extends throughout all of its software, including iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, and macOS Tahoe, Liquid Glass. In this new design language, some of the elements, including some menus and notifications, are see-through, with an effect that slightly blurs the background design. It looks really cool, and has a visual effect of somehow freeing up space on your iPhone or iPad display.

But on the iPhone (and the iPad), the default look after you've installed iOS 26 isn't as striking, with most icons looking similar to how they did before.

The Liquid Glass elements show up everywhere, but if you want your phone to be fully glassified, read on. Credit: Apple

Fortunately, there are many ways to "glassify" your icons and widgets, some more obvious than others.

How to achieve the full Liquid Glass look in iOS 26: Total Time

• 5 min

What You Need

• iPhone
• iOS 26 Developer Beta

Step 1: Long press your home screen to get the Edit button in the top left corner.

Step 2: Tap Customise and choose a "Clear" look.

Step 3: Choose between Clear Dark and Clear Light look

From here, there are two options; the Clear Dark look will glassify your interface to a certain extent, but the icons will retain some of their original color. The Clear Light look turns everything into glass. Additionally, you can choose Auto, which means the look will switch from Light to Dark and vice versa depending on time of day.

Step 4: Glassify your widgets

Additionally, you can glassify or un-glassify (we're just making these words up as we go along) the elements on your lock screen. Go to Settings - Wallpaper - Customise. From there, tap on the big clock widget, and you'll get Font & Color options; in the bottom of the display, you'll see an option to make the look Glass or Solid. And if you want to make the look even glassier, slide the slider at the bottom all the way to the left, which will make the font more transparent.

Step 5: Tune-up your wallpaper

Finally, your choice of wallpaper can additionally enhance the clear look of your icons and widgets. I've found that nature panoramas and cityscapes work best for the home screen. Make sure to turn off the blur effect (click on Settings - Wallpaper - Customise and tap on "Blur" in the lower right corner) if you want the glassy icons and folders to slightly alter the details of your wallpaper in the background; the effect is really cool.

Apple's iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 are currently in the developer beta stage, with a public beta coming in about a month.

More glass! Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Most users should not attempt to install these new versions, as they will inevitably be buggy; they're primarily aimed for developers who need them for testing. If you do choose to sign up as a developer, you can do so here, after which you'll be able to download and install the developer betas. The developer program is not free; there's a $99 annual membership fee, but there's also a free tier which you can access by signing up here.

TL;DR: Upgrade your PC with Windows 11 Pro for only $14.97 (reg. $199) before codes sell out. Fewer than 50 are left in stock, and there's only one more day for this all-time low price.

If you haven't heard already, Microsoft has officially announced the countdown clock on Windows 10. Are you still running your PC on this dated operating system? Now might be the perfect time to finally upgrade your device's performance, because the latest operating system, Windows 11 Pro, is now less than $15. However, codes are limited.

With these Windows 11 Pro keys, you can completely revamp two compatible PCs, whether they're your personal or work computers. For starters, you'll enjoy a refreshed user interface that's been designed to be intuitive and aesthetically pleasing with rounded corners.

This updated operating system provides more than just an improved navigation experience. New productivity tools like snap layouts, easy redocking, and improved voice typing can help you complete personal and professional tasks, and you'll even have a more powerful search experience to get you further.

Digital safety is paramount for anyone online, which is why Windows 11 Pro is outfitted with enhanced security measures like Smart App Control, TPM 2.0, BitLocker device encryption, and more for greater peace of mind as you browse, stream, or game. And speaking of gaming, this operating system is designed to improve PC gaming graphics with DirectX12 Ultimate.

Since this is the Pro version of Windows 11, you'll additionally get remote work-friendly features, such as remote desktop access for viewing files and running programs from your mobile device. There's also Azure AD, Hyper-V, and Windows Sandbox for extra professional usage.

Act while the price is still at an all-time low, or before codes sell out for good.

StackSocial prices subject to change

Opens in a new window Credit: InterPlein Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $14.97
$199 Save $184.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from anywhere in the world with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

Pornhub is seemingly getting banned everywhere.

Early in 2025, more than a third of U.S. states introduced age verification laws. As a result, Pornhub banned visitors from those states from accessing their website (plus YouPorn and RedTube). And now the same situation is taking place in France. Could you be next?

The reasons for this ban are complicated, but the workaround is straightforward. If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from anywhere in the world, we have the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure server in another location. This process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 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 a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Visit Pornhub

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 unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to your favorite site, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing online restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, 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 always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Unblock Pornhub for free with ExpressVPN.

The perfect cup of tea or coffee doesn't come easy. It takes practice — even the supposedly simple act of boiling some water, adding a tea bag, and then dropping in milk. It's a true art form — a delicate process that's refined over years of hot brew making. We're not here to tell you how to master the art, because everyone follows a slightly different routine. Though anyone who puts the milk in first needs to take a long hard look at themselves. (Seriously, what's that mad behaviour all about?)

With that out of the way, we can focus on what you'll need to make the perfect brew. Mugs and tea bags are important, obviously, but the kettle is the true difference maker. Think of the kettle as the artist’s canvas. You won’t brew any tea without it. And if you’re an enthusiastic caffeine-quaffer, the kettle is going to be put through its paces.

All of which means you should invest in a kettle that can cope with intense tea-making demands. But where to start? Here's some useful information to, erm, brew over.

What makes a good kettle?

First and foremost, a kettle boils water. That's what it's made to do. But there are all kinds of features that modern kettles have, going from kitchen essential to luxury item. These can include temperature control settings, "keep warm" functions, LED lights, a nice interface, and fast-boiling technology. It's also good to think about how big each kettle is for managing kitchen space, plus the water capacity. Finally, consider whether you need a kettle with a base. If the kettle itself is corded, that limits movement in the kitchen. If it has a base you'll be able to move around without the restriction of a cord.

Are plastic kettles safe?

Many electric kettles boil in plastic, which you could probably guess is unsafe. When plastic is boiled, the chemicals held within it can seep into whatever you're preparing. Plastic kettles are cheaper and the options are bountiful, but in all honesty, it isn't worth it unless you can find one that's totally BPA-free or made from silicone. We generally recommend going for either a glass or stainless steel electric kettle. 

What is variable temperature control?

We’ve honed in on this feature because it’s increasingly relevant in the age of herbal teas, serious coffee habits, and everything else. It's true that certain teas and coffees unlock the perfect flavour at very specific temperatures. Or maybe you just have a favourite temperature for hot drinks — some people prefer them piping hot, others like nicely warmed. Variable temperature control allows you to set the water to heat to a temperature of your choosing. You won’t always find variable temperature control on cheaper kettles, though it’s increasingly common on more premium models.

How much does a kettle cost?

A kettle costs as much as you want it to — or as much as you’re willing to spend. You can pick up a kettle from as little as £20 if you want to go seriously basic. Or you can spend over £100 if you’re looking for something with lots of features. We’ve included a selection of kettles at every price point.

What is the best kettle?

We have tried to make the purchasing process a little easier by lining up a selection of the best electric kettles from top brands like Sage, Smeg, and Black & Decker. All you need to do is pick your favourite and provide the tea bag.

These are some of the best electric kettles in 2025.

Travelling usually means compromising. Limited luggage space and the need to prioritise practicality often relegates matters of style to an afterthought, if they're thought of at all. This can result in you finally arriving at your picturesque holiday destination only to feel like the most disorganised, dishevelled person on the face of the Earth.

You aren't the only one who's been left haggard by travelling, and hotel staff have likely seen it all before. Even so, a few thoughtful upgrades to your travel kit can help you feel more glamorous than gremlin. Incorporating a little luxury may also help you reframe your travel identity for yourself, transforming from a harried airport sprinter to a poised and put-together globetrotter. After all, it's hard to feel your best when you aren't looking your best.

Here are six essentials to help you travel in style.

SEE ALSO: 7 overlooked and underrated essential travel gadgets 1. July Checked Expandable and Carry On Light Expandable luggage Credit: July

An enjoyable trip starts with a reliable set of luggage. While a good suitcase must be big enough to hold your travel shopping and sturdy enough to protect your purchases, it also shouldn't eat into your weight limit too much.

July's Checked Expandable suitcase strikes an excellent balance between these competing concerns. Weighing 4.5 kilograms (9.9 pounds), July's hard shell luggage can be expanded to a 90-litre capacity, which should be more than enough to satisfy many globetrotting shopaholics. The Checked Expandable has an in-built TSA combination lock, telescopic handle, aluminium-reinforced corners to help protect it from bumps, and rolls smoothly on four wheels. Its interior further indicates thoughtful design, including a side pocket which holds an extremely useful nylon laundry bag, and a strong Y-strap compression system. This includes a flat, structured pocket placed under the Y-strap to compress your clothes, helping maximise your suitcase space.

If you aren't planning on checking a bag, July's Carry On Light Expandable suitcase also offers a lot of space for minimal weight. Small enough to easily fit in a plane's overhead storage compartments, this delightfully convenient suitcase weighs just 2.2 kilograms (4.9 pounds) and has a 40-litre capacity when expanded — half the size of the unexpanded Checked Expandable. While it doesn't have a laundry bag or Y-strap compression system, its two zipped interior segments help keep the Carry On Light Expandable in order instead.

Opens in a new window Credit: July July Checked Expandable $300 at July
$375 Save $75 Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: July July Carry On Light Expandable $220 at July
$275 Save $55 Shop Now 2. DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Credit: DJI

The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is the type of gadget that might sound excessive when you first hear about it. After all, do you really need a standalone video camera if you already have a smartphone in your pocket? The answer is yes, you very much do. In fact, once you try DJI's fantastic pocket-sized gimbal camera, there's a good chance you'll never want to record videos with your phone ever again. 

At just 5.5 inches long, the Osmo Pocket 3 is a great camera to slip in your bag when you're on the go. It's phenomenally simple to operate, turning on with a satisfying twist of its two-inch rotating display screen, while its facial tracking feature follows your subject for smooth, well-framed, professional-looking shots. Capable of filming 4K footage in landscape and 3K footage in TikTok-friendly portrait, this camera is much less unwieldy than recording on your phone, and turns out better results. In fact, the only reasons any vlogger or content creator wouldn't covet an Osmo Pocket 3 are either because they already have one, or because they haven't heard about it.

While you can just pick up the Osmo Pocket 3 by itself, it's well worth upgrading to the Creator Combo pack if you can afford it. This pack adds a few accessories such as a battery handle, mini tripod stand, and most significantly a DJI Mic 2 transmitter. It's ridiculously easy to connect the Mic 2 to your Pocket 3 — literally just turn it on — and it provides noticeably clearer audio than the Osmo Pocket 3's on-device mic. Just remember to set a bit of cash aside for a good microSD card as well, as the Pocket 3 doesn't have any internal storage.

You should also remember to treat your Osmo Pocket 3 with care, particularly its delicate gimbal. The camera does come with a hard carry case, but unfortunately it doesn't fit in the Creator Combo's soft carrying bag when in use, and the easy access design still leaves the Osmo Pocket 3 open to potential damage. Though considering the device's compact size and how fun it is to use, this is probably one you'll keep close by in your carry on anyway.

DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo $979 at Amazon
Shop Now 3. MAISON de SABRÉ Weekender bag Credit: MAISON de SABRÉ

MAISON de SABRÉ's Weekender Bag is the type of bag you travel with if you have your life together and don't mind if everyone knows it. Made of gorgeously supple full-grain leather, this beautiful 23-litre luggage option is both fashionable and functional, firmly establishing you as prime airport crush material.

The Weekender has six internal side pockets to help keep your belongings organised, including a padded sleeve for your laptop and a zipped option on the opposite side. It also has two external sleeve pockets, one of which can be zipped open at the bottom to turn into a luggage passthrough. Though even if you opt not to use the passthrough, The Weekender's structured base allows it to sit neatly on top of your suitcase without you having to worry about it sliding off. The bag also features shoulder carry handles, and comes with a detachable crossbody strap for an alternate carry option.

Featured Video For You One day you might be able to travel by water, land, and sky all in one vehicle – Future Blink

Weighing 1.45 kilograms (3.19 pounds), the Weekender is slightly heavier than MAISON de SABRÉ's 1.42-kilogram Duffle Bag, which also has a larger 35-litre capacity. However, this is because the Weekender is designed to be used more frequently, so has increased reinforcement. Considering how attractive this bag is, you'll probably be searching for any excuse to use it. Though on the other hand, the Weekender is also so pretty that subjecting it to the cruel rigours of travel almost feels like sacrilege regardless of whether it can take it.

Opens in a new window Credit: MAISON de SABRÉ MAISON de SABRÉ Weekender Bag $519
Shop Now 4. Sonos Ace headphones Credit: Sonos

A good pair of headphones is imperative to a good travel experience. Unless you're on a road trip and it's your turn to drive, there's a good chance you'll spend a significant amount of time watching the scenery go by during the travel part of travelling. A decent soundtrack can make these hours feel restorative rather than mundane.

Sonos' Ace headphones are the speaker company's highly anticipated first foray into wearables. With decades of audio experience behind its development, the Sonos Ace offers exceptional sound quality, long battery life, notable comfort, and a well-balanced transparency mode in a sleek, minimalist design. This includes removable magnetic ear cups, so you can swap them out if they get damaged rather than ditching the whole device. The headphones come with a handy carry case as well, so you don't have to worry about them getting tossed around in your bag. 

The Sonos Ace operates via Bluetooth, so that's something to keep in mind if you were hoping to be able to connect via WiFi. However, if you just want to listen to your Spotify playlist on your phone, these headphones should have you covered. Like other Bluetooth headphones, the Sonos Ace can also be used to listen to your plane's in-flight entertainment if you pair it with Twelve South's AirFly wireless adapter. They're a particularly good option if you already have a Sonos sound system at home as well, as you can pair it with the Ace to easily swap audio from your speakers to the headphones and vice versa.

Sonos Ace headphones $329 at Walmart
Shop Now 5. Solbari ultra wide cotton linen hat UPF50+ and Traveller broad brim sun hat UPF50+ Credit: Solbari

Hats are severely underrated travel items. Many people have never had a good quality hat, getting by with miscellaneous branded caps that offer mediocre coverage at best. Considering that a bad sunburn can completely derail a trip, it's an area that travellers would do well to consider more seriously.

Solbari is an Australian brand focused on sun protection — and if anyone knows about sun protection, it's Australians. The country is notorious for its powerfully damaging sun which is seven to 10 percent stronger than in the U.S., resulting in sun safety being baked into its national consciousness as a constant concern for all Australians.

Solbari's ultra wide cotton linen hat UPF50+ is a fashionable yet functional addition to your travel kit. Made of a breathable linen and cotton blend that feels luxurious to handle, this lightweight hat's wide five-inch brim extends even further to six inches at the back, offering fantastic protection against the sun while also looking stylish. The hat even has a small slot at the back for you to pull your ponytail through, so it isn't uncomfortably pressed against the back of your skull.

While Solbari doesn't offer linen in its men's styles, its popular Traveller broad brim sun hat UPF50+ includes four vents to help keep you cool. With a brim measuring three inches at the front and 3.5 at the back, the hat is made of thin, lightweight nylon that's both water- and stain-resistant, features which are always beneficial in travelling gear.

Both of these Solbari hats are UPF50+ rated, and have adjustable chin straps and drawstrings at the back to keep them safely on your head (though the former is removable if that's the look you prefer). The cotton linen hat does fold up more easily than the Traveller which has a stiffer rim, but the latter still packs flat for easy transport. You can always simply loop the chin strap around your luggage handle as well.

Solbari Ultra Wide Cotton Linen Hat UPF50+ $79 at Amazon
Shop Now Solbari Traveller Broad Brim Sun Hat UPF50+ $48.30 at Amazon
Shop Now 6. Insta360 Flow Pro Credit: Insta360

While DJI's Osmo Pocket 3 is a great camera, it definitely isn't in everyone's budget. As the famous saying goes, the best camera is the one that's with you — and more often than not, that's the one on your phone. This doesn't mean you couldn't use an extra gadget to upgrade your photography, though.

The Insta360 Flow Pro is a gimbal, tripod, and selfie stick all in one, helping you perfectly frame your holiday videos. In addition to compensating for shaky hands, the Flow Pro can use AI to track subjects, allowing you to film yourself in steady, cinematic panning shots even when travelling alone. The buttons on its handle also enable you to control your camera, whether you want to change your phone's orientation, switch between the front and back cameras, start and stop tracking and recording, or even zoom in.

Though the Flow Pro is considerably more chunky than the DJI Osmo Pocket 3, it boasts 360-degree tracking. An upgrade from the Insta360 Flow, the Flow Pro further adds one-tap NFC pairing for quick and easy setup, and a light to indicate when tracking is active. This severely souped-up selfie stick even has native tracking within the iPhone camera (though you should definitely update your iPhone to at least iOS 18 to ensure this works properly).

While Insta360 Flow Pro does have extra compatibility with iPhones, Android users can still benefit from this gadget as well. Green bubble adherents won't be able to use one-tap pairing or tracking in their phone's native camera, but will otherwise be able to enjoy the Insta360 Flow Pro's full functionality via the Insta360 app. You'll probably want to use the Insta360 app even if you do have an iPhone anyway, as it offers a smoother experience, improved tracking, and access to features such as 3x3 panoramic photos.

Insta360 Flow Pro $127.50 at Amazon
$149 Save $21.50 Shop Now

UPDATE: Jun. 10, 2025, 12:00 p.m. AEST This article was originally published September 2024, and has since been updated in June 2025.

Apple is increasingly caught between a rock and a hard place — and not just on Artificial Intelligence.

Here's the problem, one that may have been stretched to breaking point during CEO Tim Cook's 2025 WWDC keynote. There are people in the market for Apple products, who want and have always wanted technology that just works. They want gadgets that are intuitive to use, not intrusive. According to multiple surveys, consumers continue to be distrustful of anything with an AI label. According to the nonprofit IAPP, 57 percent of us believe AI poses a threat to our privacy.

Then there are investors who are in the market for Apple stock, who are always on the lookout for tech products that seem new. Overall, tech investors are still drinking the AI Kool-Aid despite abundant evidence — including a brand new paper from Apple researchers! — that AI's ability to reason, and to be useful in general, may have already hit a wall.

SEE ALSO: 'The illusion of thinking': Apple research finds AI models collapse and give up with hard puzzles

Apparently, Apple is trying to keep both of those groups happy. Result: a keynote that liberally sprinkles on mentions of "Apple Intelligence," a rebranding of many software services (including voice assistant Siri, which got just one shout-out compared to multiple mentions of ChatGPT), but failed to gin up any excitement about what Apple Intelligence can do for you.

Given privacy is a major concern for consumers, it's cool that Apple Intelligence won't send any of your queries to the company. But we already knew that from Cook's 2024 keynote that introduced Apple Intelligence. Without getting tough on dangers posed by other companies who are more reckless with your data when it comes to AI — the same way Cook once dared to call Android a "toxic hellstew" — mentions of privacy just fly by like an F1 race car.

More than anything else, Apple's updates were mere vibes. Apple Intelligence is a vibe. The "liquid glass" design refresh is a vibe. Craig Fedherigi is definitely a vibe. But tech stocks are coasting on a different vibe right now, the one OpenAI's Sam Altman has been nurturing for the last three years — including hiring Apple legend Jony Ive to create a screenless gadget. There are only so many F1 dad jokes Apple can make to compete with that alluring vision.

The Apple analyst who called the event a "yawner" because Apple did not "monetize on the AI front" spoke for the market, which drove Apple stock down from the minute the keynote began.

How Apple is being a people-pleaser "Yes. F1, baby." Credit: Apple keynote, Mashable screenshot

You'd think the interests of Apple consumers and Apple investors would not diverge, and for most of the past two decades they haven't. Thanks to the roaring success of the iPhone, Apple got millions of new customers for all its well-designed, highly-rated, premium price products. Investors rewarded that runaway growth by making Apple the first company ever with a market capitalization of more than $3 trillion.

But Apple is increasingly dealing with mature markets. Or in normal person-speak, its gadgets have solved most major problems and settled down into standard versions of themselves. The average user can buy an iPhone now and be reasonably confident that its superfast chipset and self-updating software will keep it future-proofed for the next five years or so. You can still rock an iPhone 11 from 2019 well into 2026; it's the oldest phone that officially supports the upcoming iOS 26.

And that's as it should be! Apple would not have earned its current level of love from consumers if it had gone any further with the obnoxious business strategy known as planned obsolescence, or if it wasn't trying to rein in the environmental impact of its gadgets. A business model that has nothing to do with selling user data means the company can crow about privacy on billboards.

But it also means Cook has to work extra hard to convince the market that incremental updates are something to be excited about — and risks looking extra in the process.

"Liquid Glass" is a case in point. Fedherigi described it as a "material" that sits atop the user interface in Apple OSes, as if the company had literally injected liquid glass into all its screens. Spoiler alert: it hasn't. Liquid Glass is just a design language that makes menus a bit more "see-through-y", in Mashable senior editor Stan Schroeder's memorable summary. Such obvious overhyping makes Apple marketing a bit more see-through-y too.

In search of a new look, Liquid Glass also adds a drop shadow to some icons — verboten at Apple back when Jony Ive was there. Former Apple executive Scott Forstall was ousted in 2012 in part because he championed this kind of design, known as skeumorphism, whereas Ive favored a flat look. Apparently Apple has extended its recycling program to include design ideas.

Apple's new call screening feature will positively affect more lives than Liquid Glass. But Android has taken the lead on that front, so Cook can't really claim credit for it; it's just listed as one of a grab bag of features in Apple Intelligence. Polls in group chats? That's also an Apple Intelligence feature. Order tracking in Apple Wallet? Sure, let's call that Apple Intelligence too.

But whether you fear AI or love it, that grab-bag approach to what Apple Intelligence actually is ain't going to cut it. Investors, who have already sent the market cap of AI-leveraged companies like Microsoft and Nvidia soaring higher than Apple's, aren't going to be satisfied with what seems like a weak commitment to the coming AI era. And so long as he refuses to explain what the market and other companies get wrong about AI, Cook will stay stuck between the rock and the hard place.