Mashable

SAVE $200: As of Oct. 16, get the Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for just $1,399. That saves $200 off its list price of $1,599 for 13% savings. Not quite its lowest price ever, but still a good deal.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $200   Get Deal

A new product drop can only mean one thing — a price cut. On Oct. 15, Apple dropped three new products all loaded with the latest silicon, the M5 chip. Among the latest includes a MacBook Pro with M5 chip, a laptop that's sure to be one of the fastest, most advanced yet. But until we get our hands-on the new MacBook, we're still looking to the M4 model, which conveniently got a price cut.

As of Oct. 16, the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro with M4 chip, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD, is down to $1,399.99. That saves $200 off its list price of $1,599.99. Those 13% savings are pretty good, though admittedly not its lowest price ever.

The MacBook Pro with M4 chip, is the most advanced MacBook we've tested. It has a higher-res display, a mix of ports, better ports, and more efficient performance than the MacBook Air. Sure, it's a little more expensive, but it's a laptop made for professionals. Earning a 15,199 on the Geekbench 6 multi-core test, it's the sixth-fastest laptop we've ever tested, so if you're cautious about making the investment, just know it lives up to its price.

Get the Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for just $1,399 at Amazon.

SAVE $800: As of Oct. 16, the Bluetti Apex 300 portable power station is on sale for $1,599 instead of its usual $2,399 at Amazon. That's a savings of 33% or $800.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Apex 300 portable power station $1,599 at Amazon
$2,399 Save $800   Get Deal

In the golden age of camping and a time when extreme weather is becoming more prevalent, our need for power sources is becoming more complex. That's why portable power stations are having a moment. And as of Oct. 16, one of our favorites — the Bluetti Apex 300 — is on sale for $800 less than usual.

If you're in the market for a portable power station that can do more than just charge your phone or LED lights, the Bluetti Apex 300 is a beast that's down to just $1,599 at Amazon today. That's 33% off its usual cost of $2,399 and just a few bucks shy of its best price ever.

Recently named one of Time Magazine's best inventions of 2025, the Apex 300 offers 2,764.8Wh of power storage with 3,840W output, which is enough to power full-size refrigerators, AC units, and entire RVs. It packs four typical AC outlets and two more robust AC outlets (NEMA TT-30R and NEMA 14-50R output ports) and has a voltage switch to toggle between 120V and 240V depending on your needs. It's also designed to be expandable, so you can add to it to build a system to run your entire household.

It weighs almost 84 pounds on its own, so it's not exactly the most portable of power stations. As Mashable's reviewer states, "It’s certainly not something you want to move around often, honing in that the Apex 300 is ideal for RV trips, van life, off-grid homes, or for whole-home backup." For a quick weekend camping trip, it might be a bit of overkill, depending on what kind of shenanigans you see yourself getting into. But if you're into longer jaunts, it's probably the right call.

SAVE $500: As of Oct. 16, get the Dreame X50 Ultra for $1,099.99, down from its usual price of $1,599.99. That's a discount of 31%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Dreame X50 Ultra $1,099.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $500   Get Deal

Tired of spending all your time manually cleaning your home and keeping it tidy? You might want to go ahead and invest in a robot vacuum. You don't have to worry about doing absolutely everything when you have one, instead you can sit back, relax, and let it handle all the nitty-gritty of cleaning.

As of Oct. 16, get the Dreame X50 Ultra for $1,099.99, down from its usual price of $1,599.99. That's $500 off and a discount of 31%.

SEE ALSO: The best robot vacuums in 2025

The Dreame X50 Ultra just launched earlier this year after its initial announcement at CES. It's already on sale again, which means you can get this feature-rich robot vacuum for a great price. Not only can it use its lifting wheels to boost it off the ground for dealing with thicker carpeting and other obstacles of up to 2.36 inches, but it can handle getting over bigger thresholds as well.

It can also lower its height to 3.5 inches, which lets is clean under furniture. It uses an AI camera with LED lights and LiDAR to make sure it's not hitting obstacles and properly navigating through your home.

It's not just a vacuum, either. It's also a mop that can clean up messy hard floors when the vacuuming is all done, with special tailored modes to get through each cleaning task in the most efficient manner. And when it's done, it can return to its base to self-empty and clean itself up so you can get back to your cleaning schedule.

If you're ready for a quick and easy way to clean house, splurge on this robot vacuum and mop combo for an efficient setup.

This week, Apple unveiled a refreshed 14-inch MacBook Pro powered by the all-new M5 chip. Just like the preceding M4 model, it starts at $1,599 with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. Most of its specs are M4 holdovers, actually, but we'll get to that in a minute.

The M5 MacBook Pro is now available for preorder at Amazon, Best Buy, and in the Apple Store ahead of its formal launch on Wednesday, Oct. 22.

Everywhere you can preorder the 14-inch M5 Apple MacBook Pro: Amazon Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5) Starting at $1,599 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5) Starting at $1,599 Pre-Order Here The Apple Store Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5) Starting at $1,599 Pre-Order Here

The new MacBook Pro offers "3.5x the AI performance and up to 1.6x faster graphics than the previous generation" thanks to that M5 chip, Apple said in a press release. Its CPU is also faster, though the company didn't specify by how much.

The M5 MacBook Pro can be configured with up to 4TB of storage, up from a max of 1TB in the M4 model.

And that's pretty much it in the updates department. The M5 MacBook Pro is a carbon copy of its predecessor: It has the same 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display (with an optional nano-texture upgrade), 12MP Center Stage camera, six-speaker sound system, port setup, and 24-hour battery life rating. It comes in the same space black and silver colorways, too.

SEE ALSO: A $599 MacBook could land in 2025, report says

In the M5 model's defense, the MacBook Pro line hasn't seen a proper redesign since 2021, when Apple got rid of the Touch Bar, brought back MagSafe charging, and swapped its 13-inch model for a 14-incher. The next-generation M6 model will probably be a little more exciting — it's rumored to have an OLED display — but it's still a year away.

The M5 chip isn't available on the 16-inch MacBook Pro just yet. That bigger variant still comes with the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips.

SAVE $200: The 13-inch MacBook Air (512GB, Sky Blue) is on sale for $999 at Amazon. That's a 17% discount compared to the normal price of $1,199.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 512GB, Sky Blue) $999 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $200   Get Deal

Now that we're almost to Halloween, we can hardly say it's still back-to-school season. Despite that, you might be noticing that some of your intended tech for the school year isn't pulling its weight. If you've been dealing with a slow laptop at work, school, or for projects at home, it's likely time for an upgrade. There's a nice deal in store at Amazon today.

As of Oct. 16, the 13-inch MacBook Air (512GB, Sky Blue) is $999 at Amazon. That slices a solid $200 off the normal price from of $1,199 from a 17% discount.

Sure, the Sky Blue colorway is a bit subtle, but it's still a great option, especially with the sale. On Mashable's list of the best MacBooks, the Air earns the top spot. In part that's thanks to the powerful and zippy M4 chip. Mashable mentions the 15-inch version of this machine is great, but the 13-inch model could be even better for students or those who travel often: it's both smaller and lighter, coming in at just 2.7 pounds. If you're not absolutely sold on the 13-inch size, take into account the MacBook Air's ability to support two external displays.

SEE ALSO: Apple unveils the new 14‑inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip and 24-hour battery life

Today's sale price of $999 applies to the 512GB version. Considering the 256GB version is on sale for $899, spending an extra $100 to double the storage is a no-brainer. Apple says this MacBook can get up to 18 hours of battery life before it'll need a recharge, making it even better for spending all day on campus or long travel days for work.

While it's down to under $1,000, snag the Sky Blue MacBook Air. Consider it a nice treat for hurdling over the transition into fall.

Did you know that Dracula is the most portrayed character in popular culture? His pale, blood-thirsty mug has appeared in over 540 films, countless books, comics, stage plays and tv series? Inspiring countless other vampire stories and franchises. No matter how many times we kill him off, he keeps coming back from the dead, stronger and more popular than ever. We’re here to tell you why.

Despite Dracula reaching only moderate success in Stoker’s time, his themes of the societal fear of “The Foreign Other” (someone noticeably different than us) and female autonomy end up being a through-line across all the iterations to follow.

No matter how much our society has evolved over the last 130 years, so have our fears. It's how Dracula embodies these fears that I believe to be the most alluring aspects of the modern vampire, and what keeps him coming back over and over again in his various forms. For us humans, struggling with the daily existential crisis of our mortality, what’s more alluring than the option to cheat death and cash in on the promise of an eternal life of decadence and pleasure? 

SAVE OVER $20: As of Oct. 16, the Baseus Inspire XC1 open ear clip-on earbuds are on sale for $103.99 at Amazon. This is 20% off their list price of $129.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Baseus Baseus Inspire XC1 Open Ear Clip-On Earbuds $103.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $26.00   Get Deal

If you've been on the lookout for new earbuds, why wait for Black Friday to grab them? In between the October Prime Day and Black Friday sales, we're already finding some excellent deals to check out, including a price drop on the Baseus Inspire XC1 open ear clip-on earbuds. At the moment, they're down to their lowest-price yet.

While they usually have a price tag of $129.99, the Baseus Inspire XC1 open ear clip-on earbuds are marked down to $103.99 as of Oct. 16. This 20% discount saves you $26, and most importantly, it's their best price yet. What's even better is both the cosmic black and starlight off-white colors are on sale, so you can pick your favorite.

SEE ALSO: Mashable readers know best — here's what our readers bought during October Prime Day

The Baseus Inspire XC1s feature a clip-on design that goes around your ear rather than the usual earbud design that goes in it. They still boast great sound quality thanks to Sound by Bose and Dolby Spatial Audio, which can make you feel surrounded by the sounds you're listening to. They also have an excellent battery life that lasts up to eight hours on a charge or up to 40 hours with the case.

There's no need to worry about them being damaged too easily, either, as they're IP66 waterproof. So whether you're using them while working out or get caught in the rain with them, they're built to handle it.

Don't miss out on the Baseus Inspire XC1 open ear clip-on earbuds down to their best price at Amazon. And if you'd prefer to shop for in-ear earbuds instead, you can also score a sweet discount on the Apple AirPods Pro 2 right now at Amazon.

Amelia Dimoldenberg is a YouTube force to be reckoned with.

The host is best known for her viral Chicken Shop Date series in which she interviews celebrities over chicken nuggets and fries, but now she's branching out into new territory that's long proven fertile ground for web series: a show set entirely in a car.

Called Passenger Princess and with the first episode featuring racing driver George Russell, the tagline is simple enough: "Amelia Dimoldenberg can't drive, so she got F1 divers to teach her."

The end result is eight minutes of Dimoldenberg's trademark dry humor coupled with some (very) slow driving around a race track.

The top creators keeping the internet interesting in 2025. From meme-makers to movement-starters, these are the people powering our timelines today.

With Xbox seemingly focusing more on Windows-based gaming and everyone bar Nintendo bringing their games to Steam and the like, it's a great time to get into PC gaming or update your RTX 1000 outdated rig. Luckily, Walmart has some brilliant deals on prebuilt gaming PCs and laptops that come packed with the latest GPUs from Nvidia and AMD Radeon alongside high-end processors and DDR5 RAM to get you ready for the switch.

SEE ALSO: Walmart is running a mega PS5 sale — here are the best game and accessory deals

There's also plenty of deals for components to upgrade your existing build and a lot of discounted gaming peripherals. Need an upgraded hard drive, processor, mouse, keyboard, or monitor? I've found some of the best deals on Walmart that gets you the cream of the crop for less. I've also taken the liberty of breaking down these deals so you can find what you need with zero hassle. Let's jump straight in.

Best prebuilt gaming PC deals

• CyberPowerPC Gamer Supreme, AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, 32GB DDR5, 2TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti — $599 $1,049.99 (save $450.99)

• CyberPowerPC Gamer Master, AMD Ryzen 5 8400F, 16GB DDR5, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 — $799 $979.99 (save $180.99)

• Acer Nitro 60, Intel Core i7-14700F, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070Ti, 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD — $1,199 $1,549.99 (save $450.99)

• Acer Nitro 60 Gaming Desktop, Intel Core i7-14700F, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070Ti with 16GB GDRR7 VRAM, 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD — $1,499 $2,299.99 (save $800.99)

• Skytech Gaming King 95, Ryzen 7 9800X3D, NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti 16GB, 2TB SSD, 32GB DDR5 RAM, 850W GOLD, 360mm ARGB AIO — $2,466.64 $2,599.99 (save $133.35)

• OMEN 45L, Intel Core Ultra 9 285K 64GB 2TB SSD — $3,499 $4,499.99 (save $1,000)

Best gaming laptop deals

• HP Victus 15.6, Intel Core i5-13420H, 16GB RAM 512GB SSD, RTX 4050 — $599 $1,049.99 (save $450.99)

• SI GF63 Thin 15.6, 144Hz, Intel Core i5-11500H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD — $609 $703 (save $94)

• MSI Stealth 14 AI Studio, Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 1TB SSD — $609 $703 (save $94)

• Acer Nitro V 16 AI WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS 180Hz Gaming Laptop AI PC, AMD Ryzen 5 240 Processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 8GB GDDR7 VRAM, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD — $699 $899 (save $200)

• Acer Nitro V 16, AMD Ryzen 5 240 Processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 — $699 $899 (save $200)

• OMEN 16 inch, Intel Core Ultra 7 255H, 16GB RAM 1TB SSD Nvidia 5060 — $1,499 $1,599.99 (save $100)

• MSI Thin 15.6, Intel Core i5-13420H, 16GB DDR4, 512GB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 — $699 $799.99 (save $200.99)

• MSI Katana 15.6 (2025) Intel Core i7-14650HX, 16GB DDR5, 512GB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 — $999 $1,199.99 (save $200.99)

• ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025), AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 — $1,399 $1,599.99 (save $200.99)

• Lenovo Legion 5i 15.1, Intel Core i9 14900HX, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 — $1,649 $1,849.99 (save $200.99)

• ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2025) AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX, 32GB DDR5-5600 RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 — $1,799 $2,099.99 (save $300.99)

• MSI Vector A18 HX, AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, 32GB DDR5, 2TB SSD— $1,999 $2,699.99 (save $700.99)

• Lenovo Legion 5i 15.1, Intel Core i7 14700HX, 16GB, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 — $1,999 $1,499.99 (save $300.99)

• OMEN 16-inch 2K 165Hz, Intel Core Ultra 5 225H, Nvidia RTX 5050, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD — $1,999 $2,699.99 (save $700.99)

Best gaming monitor deals

• Acer Nitro 27-inch — $99 $179.99 (save $80.99)

• MSI Pro PRO MP275W E2 27-inch— $139.99 $249 (save $44)

• ASUS TUF Gaming 27-inch 1080P Curved Monitor — $139.99 $199.99 (save $60.99)

• Samsung 25-inch Odysseyc — $149 $279.99 (save $130.99)

• Acer Nitro 31.5-inch Curved Full HD — $159.99 $249.99 (save $90)

• Acer Nitro 29.5-inch Curved UWFHD — $169 $219.99 (save $50.99)

• Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G3 (G30D) — $169 $219.99 (save $50.99)

• Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G55C — $179 $249.99 (save $70)

  Acer Nitro 31.5-inch Curved WQHD — $185 $299.99 (save $114.99)

• MSI 31.5-inch Curved FHD — $205 $249 (save $44)

• Onn 49-inch 3840 x 1080p Curved Dual FHD — $499 $599 (save $100)

• Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 — $879.99 $1,299.99 (save $420)

Best gaming mouse deals

• Logitech G703 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse — $89.99 $99.99 (save $10)

• Logitech G Pro X Superlight Wireless Gaming Mouse — $94.99 $159.99 (save $65)

• Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro Wireless Esports Gaming Mouse — $104.99 $149.99 (save $45)

• Logitech G903 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse — $129.99 $149 (save $19.01)

Best gaming keyboard deals

• Logitech G413 SE Full-Size Corded Gaming Keyboard — $79.99 $89 (save $9.01)

• Logitech G713 Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard — $87.50 $169.99 (save $82.49)

• SteelSeries Apex 7 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard — $89.88 $159.99 (save $7.11)

Best gaming headset deals

• Nyko 87305 NS-2600 Wired Over-Ear Headset — $13.97 $24 (save $10.03)

• Razer BlackShark V2 SE Wired — $79 $89 (save $10)

• Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless — $156.99 $199.99 (save $43)

Best PC component deals

• AMD Ryzen 7 5700X 3.4 GHz 8-Core AM4 Processor — $279.99 $350.08 (save $70.09)

• AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D — $359 $399.99 (save $40)

• WD Black 1TB SN770 NVMe Internal Gaming SSD Solid State Drive — $359 $399.99 (save $40)

Today's Connections: Sports Edition requires expertise in women's tennis.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Audience reactions

• Green: Needed for a game of hockey

• Blue: Tennis winners down under

• Purple: Get your back into it

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Expression of Approval

• Green: Hockey Equipment

• Blue: Australian Open Singles Winner

• Purple: ____Back

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #388 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Expression of Approval - APPLAUSE, CLAPPING, HAND, OVATION

• Hockey Equipment - GLOVES, HELMET, SKATE, STICK

• Australian Open Singles Winner - GRAF, KEYS, OSAKA, PIERCE

• ____Back - BRUSH, STEP, TAIL, TOUCH

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

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

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

Happy Thursday and welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 11, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 15, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 16 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this red space must add to 6. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed horizontally.

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 6-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 16 Pips

Equal (1): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed horizontally; 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add to 6. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 2-3, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (21): Everything in this space must add to 21. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 4-5, placed vertically; 6-5, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 16 Pips

Less Than (4): Everything in this orange space must be less than 4. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (6): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 6. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 6-2, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed vertically; 0-2, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add to 2. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you have a sweet tooth.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for October 13, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Water games

• Green: Used in military comms

• Blue: Types of cars

• Purple: An adhesive

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Found in a bakery

• Green: Irritable

• Blue: Marine animals

• Purple: A yellow fruit

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #858 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Fruit desserts: COBBLER, CRISP, CRUMBLE, TART

• Crabby: CROSS, PRICKLY, SORE, SOUR

• Fish: CHAR, FLUKE, PIKE, SKATE

• Banana ___: BOAT, BREAD, SLUG, SPLIT

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 13, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you know a lot of fun facts.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

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

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 13, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 13, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: And the category is...

The words are related to a popular game.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things to test knowledge.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Trivia Night.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 16

• Sports

• Geography

• Movie

• Trivia Night

• Music

• History

• News

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you've seen Mean Girls.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 13, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for October 13, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Spiteful.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter T appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

CATTY

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 13, 2025

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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

SAVE OVER $200: As of Oct. 16, the Hisense 55-inch U8 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV has dropped to $795 at Amazon. This is $202.99 off its list price of $997.99

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 55-Inch Class U8 Mini-LED ULED 4K UHD TV $795 at Amazon
$997.99 Save $202.99   Get Deal

Considering how many great things there are to stream at the moment, it's nice when you have a TV that can keep up with everything you like to watch. If you've been feeling like it's time for an upgrade, there are thankfully some nice deals available at Amazon that you can score, even before the next big sale event hits. Right now, the Hisense 55-inch U8 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV has dropped to its best price yet at the retailer.

The Hisense 55-inch U8 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV is currently marked all the way down to $795, a 20% discount from its list price of $997.99. This marks a new all-time low price for the TV, so why wait until Black Friday to grab it? It's currently marked as a limited-time deal, so be quick to pick it up at this price.

SEE ALSO: Mashable readers know best — here's what our readers bought during October Prime Day

Since this Hisense TV is a Google smart TV, it can bring together all of your favorite streaming apps so you can bounce between different services to watch the shows and movies you enjoy. They'll look great, too, as this TV boasts 4K resolution, Mini-LED Pro technology, and QLED Color that'll make images look bright, vibrant, and crystal clear while you watch.

On top of that, this Hisense TV comes with Dolby Atmos audio and up to 82W 4.1.2 Multi-Channel Audio System, so you can feel fully immersed in what's happening on screen with high-quality sound as well. It even comes with Anti-Glare Low Reflection Pro panel technology, so you can minimize reflections on the screen.

This offer may not last for long, so don't miss out on the Hisense 55-inch U8 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV at its best price at Amazon. And if this TV is a bit too small for your liking, you can also score a great discount right now on the massive Hisense 98-inch QD5 QLED 4K TV at Amazon.

SAVE $423: As of Oct. 16, the VTOMAN Jump 1800 is on sale for $476.99 at Amazon. That's a 47% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: VTOMAN VTOMAN Jump 1800 $476.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $423   Get Deal

Whether it's connection on a camping trip or backup supply during a power cut, a portable power station is one of those devices that you're always grateful to have by your side. Models range from devices that can power a whole house for days, to smaller, more affordable options that keep your essentials running. The VTOMAN Jump 1800 falls somewhere in the middle. Usually priced at $899.99, as of Oct. 16 it's on sale for $476.99, almost a 50% discount.

It's an ideal power station for charging multiple devices in one go. It does so safely thanks to the battery with a built-in safety system to protect against overcharging, too much current, and other issues. You can easily plug in up to 12 devices at the same time using its AC outlets, DC ports, USB-A, and USB-C ports.

SEE ALSO: Save over $1,000 on the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus power station right now at Amazon

The battery can even be expanded from 1,548Wh to 3,096Wh with an extra battery if you need more power. You can also charge it with a solar panel, ideal for off-grid camping trips. On its own, it provides 1,800W of constant power, so it can run bigger appliances like heaters or ovens without shutting off. It also has 12V DC ports for things like car fridges, CPAP machines, or tire inflators.

VTOMAN states this model can handle around 3,000 cycles before dropping to 80% of its original capacity. So, if you're shopping for a power station to have on hand, check out this deal at Amazon while it lasts.

Sabrina Carpenter is hosting SNL this week, and in the promo clip above she channels every bit of her inner Carrie Bradshaw.

"New York is one Big Apple, and I'm taking my bite...at Saturday Night Live," says Carpenter's narration, over footage of the pop artist striding into the building and turning every cast and crew interaction into a fast-paced pun.

Based on Carpenter's acting in this brief segment alone, we're going to go out on a limb and say she may well have a lucrative side career in comedy ahead of her.

SAVE OVER $1,000: As of Oct. 16, the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus portable power station is on sale for $1,599 when you clip the coupon on Amazon. This is $1,200 off its list price of $2,799.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus Portable Power Station $1,599 at Amazon
$2,799 Save $1,200   Get Deal

Do you desperately need backup power at home? Do you love the great outdoors? A portable power station is a must. And while they can sometimes come with hefty price tags, great deals occasionally pop up that are worth checking out. Over at Amazon, you can score the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus for over $1,000 off right now.

Thanks to a coupon that can be clipped on the store page, the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus has dropped from its list price of $2,799 to $1,599. This makes for $1,200 in savings, which is an excellent discount to take advantage of while it's still available.

SEE ALSO: Mashable readers know best — here's what our readers bought during October Prime Day

The Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus boasts a 3,600W output and features four AC outputs (120V, 20A), a TT-30 RV port (120V, 30A), two USB-C ports (100W Max), and two USB-A ports (18W Max). It also has a convenient design with wheels and a handle, so you can easily roll it to new places around your home or take it on the go.

Don't miss out on this coupon that saves you over $1,000 on the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus portable power station at Amazon.

This isn't the only portable power station deal Amazon has at the moment, either. If you're not looking to drop as much cash on a model, you can also save on the Gendome Go 300 Portable Power Station right now, which has dropped to just $119.99.

Given that they have a therapist/patient dynamic in If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, it's only fitting that Conan O'Brien and Rose Byrne take part in a little therapy of their own in the A24 promo above.

The therapy in question involves the pair painting a picture before discussing it with a therapist, and – given O'Brien is involved – it isn't long before things go completely off the rails.

The highlight? O'Brien arguing with both Byrne and the therapist herself.

SAVE $20: As of Oct. 16, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is on sale for $79.95 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Inspire 3 $79.95 at Amazon
$99.95 Save $20   Get Deal

Fitness trackers can range from under $50 to almost $1,000. Some are so advanced they can predict race times, suggest recovery periods, and offer all manner of high-tech stats. But these models aren't for everyone, least of all because of the price. If you enjoy working out and want a watch that complements this without breaking the bank, check out the Fitbit Inspire 3.

And as of Oct. 16, it's on sale. Right now, you can take it home for just $79.95. All colors are discounted, so pick from midnight zen, lilac bliss, or morning glow.

SEE ALSO: Suunto has launched the Vertical 2 adventure watch — here's where to buy

This watch does a bit of everything. It tracks your activity, heart rate, sleep, and stress throughout the day and night. It comes with over 20 exercise modes, so whether you like to swim, run, or do yoga, it will monitor your performance. It also has automatic workout detection, so if you forget to press start, the watch will pick up your movement and track it anywhere. A lifesaver for the stats-obsessed among us.

It has great lifestyle features too, including Daily Readiness and Stress Management Scores. You can also monitor your sleep patterns, and use the smart wake alarm to get up more naturally. For more data, the watch comes with a six-month trial of Fitbit Premium. After the trial period it costs $9.99 a month.

Pick up this Fitbit deal from Amazon.