Tech
Amazons October Prime Day is coming on October 7 — here are 30+ early deals to shop now
Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) 🔥
(Save $200)

3 free months of Kindle Unlimited
(Save $35.97)

iRobot Roomba Plus 405 Robot Vacuum & Mop 🔥
(Save $269)

Beats Studio Buds
(Save $70)

Amazon Prime Day is no longer one glorious day of deals just for Prime members. The flagship Prime Day now spans four days in July, and Amazon has added another annual event in October, too. This year, Prime Big Deal Days returns on October 7 and 8. Amazon says its October Prime Day event will deliver millions of deals across categories, giving customers a head start on holiday shopping.
Before the sale begins, it’s worth mapping out what gifts you need to buy or which household goods need restocking. But if you're eager to get an even earlier jump on the holiday shopping, we have some good news. Early deals are already starting to creep in. While there aren't a ton of deals to shop yet, there are some real gems.
Note: Deals marked with a 🔥 denote an all-time low price.
Best early Prime Day Apple deal
Why we picked this
"In terms of laptops, our favorite is the Apple MacBook Air with M4 chip. With the M4 chip, the performance differences between the Air and Pro are negligible, meaning you can go for the more affordable option and still delight in a speedy, high-performing laptop.
$799 is the best price we've ever seen on the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch model. It's $200 off from its usual $999, saving you 20%." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter
More MacBook deals
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Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $999 $1,199 (save $200) 🔥
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Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,299 $1,599 (save $300) 🔥
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Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $2,249 $2,499 (save $250)
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Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Max, 36GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,869 $3,199 (save $330)
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Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M4 Max, 36GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $3,111.09 $3,499 (save $387.91)
AirPods deals
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Apple AirPods 4 — $119 $129 (save $10)
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Apple AirPods 4 with ANC — $168.99 $179 (save $10.01)
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Apple AirPods Pro 2 — $199 $249 (save $50)
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Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) — $519 $549 (save $30)
Apple Watch deals
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Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) — $329 $399 (save $70)
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Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) — $389 $399 (save $10) 🔥
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Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + cellular, 42mm) — $429 $499 (save $70)
iPad deals
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Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) — $299 $349 (save $50)
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Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi + cellular, 128GB) — $449 $499 (save $50)
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Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) — $449 $599 (save $150) 🔥
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Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) — $489 $499 (save $10)
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Apple iPad, 10.9-inch (A14 Bionic, WiFi + cellular, 256GB) — $499 $649 (save $150) 🔥
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Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi + cellular, 128GB) — $599 $749 (save $150) 🔥
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Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) — $649 $799 (save $150) 🔥
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Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M3, WiFi + cellular, 128GB) — $799 $949 (save $150) 🔥
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Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) — $896.03 $999 (save $102.97)
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Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M4, WiFi + cellular, 256GB) — $1,099 $1,199 (save $100)
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Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,193 $1,299 (save $106)
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Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M4, WiFi + cellular, 256GB) — $1,399 $1,499 (save $100)
Best early Prime Day headphone and earbud deal
Why we picked this
"In the lead up to Amazon's October Prime Day, we're looking across categories for the best early savings. One of our favorite categories — headphones and earbuds — is looking a little sparse when it comes to deals, but that's not to say that there are no good early deals. We've found a few great ones.
Ahead of Prime Day, find the Beats Studio Buds for 47% off. That saves you $70 off its typical $149.95 MSRP. The Beats Studio Buds deliver well-balanced sound and active noise cancellation in a small package. Plus, like AirPods, they have easy connectivity to iOS systems, but unlike AirPods, they're also well-suited for Android users." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter
More headphone and earbud deals
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EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds — $55.99 $79.99 (save $24)
-
Shokz OpenSwim Pro — $139.95 $179.95 (save $40)
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Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones — $228 $349.99 (save $121.99)
Early Prime Day Bluetooth speaker deals
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JBL Go 3 — $29.95 $39.95 (save $10)
-
JBL Go 4 — $39.95 $49.95 (save $10)
Best early Prime Day Kindle deal
Why we picked this
"The best Kindle deal isn't actually on one of Amazon's e-readers. Instead, Amazon is offering three months of Kindle Unlimited totally free. Think of it like a streaming service, except for e-books. Joining Kindle Unlimited gives you access to the Kindle Unlimited library, from which you can borrow. But unlike the library, there's no due date on these borrowed books; the only restriction is that you can borrow up to 20 books at a time.
Leading up to and during Prime Big Deal Days, you can join Kindle Unlimited for three months — totally free. The promotion is available to everyone, even if you've already used up your free trial. This is a $35.97 value that you can score without spending a penny. Plus, you don't actually need a Kindle to enjoy Kindle Unlimited. You can read from the Kindle library on your smartphone, tablet, or web browser." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter
Best early Prime Day Robot Vacuum deal
Why we picked this
"When it comes to robot vacuums, I always turn to Mashable's in-house robot vacuum expert, Leah Stodart. When I asked her about these deals, she pointed out that iRobot marked down the Roomba Plus 405 to $399.99, making it one of the most affordable combo robot vacuums and mops. That saves you $265.01 off its list price of $665 for 40% off.
The Roomba Plus 405 includes both vacuum and mopping abilities, featuring strong suction to really scrub at dirt and grime. It features four cleaning levels that you can adjust from the iRobot app. Plus, its dock not only empties the vacuum, but even cleans the mopping pads for a truly hands-free experience.
While we're not sure what other combo vacuum and mop deals are coming during Prime Big Deal Days, we can safely say that the Roomba Plus 405 is one of the best deals you can get ahead of the event." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter
More robot vacuum deals
-
iRobot Roomba 104 Robot Vacuum — $149.99 $249.99 (save $100) 🔥
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iRobot Roomba 104 Robot Vacuum and Mop — $249.99 $449.99 (save $200) 🔥
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iRobot Roomba Plus 504 Robot Vacuum — $379.99 $590 (save $210.01) 🔥
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Roborock S8 Max Ultra Robot Vacuum — $749.99 $1,299.99 (save $550) 🔥
Tech
NYT Strands hints, answers for April 24, 2026

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're rowdy.
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.
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.
NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Hullabaloo
The words are related to sound.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained
These words describe ruckus.
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 Lets Get Loud.
Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today
NYT Strands word list for April 24
-
Shout
-
Holler
-
Clamor
-
Lets Get Loud
-
Bellow
-
Whoop
-
Caterwaul
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 yesterday's Strands.
Tech
Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 24, 2026

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love a good drink.
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.
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.
Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:
Intoxicated.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.
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…
DRUNK
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.
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 yesterday's Wordle.
Tech
FCC challenges gender identity themes on kids TV

The Federal Communications Commission is using the presence of "controversial gender identity issues" in children's television programming as a pretense for questioning how TV ratings are developed and enforced, according to a notice published Wednesday by the federal agency.
The notice generally assesses TV ratings, but specifically points out that these industry guidelines have rated shows featuring "transgender and gender non-binary programming" as appropriate for children. It argues that parents aren't provided this information, "thereby undermining the ability of parents to make informed choices for their families."
In the document, the FCC poses a series of open-ended questions about TV ratings development, including whether the board responsible for the guidelines is "sufficiently balanced" with viewpoints outside of the entertainment industry and if faith-based organizations should be represented in the body.
"What more could the board do to include family-oriented perspectives — which are not well represented in the media industry — in its ratings process?" the notice asks.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced the public notice on X, explaining that "parents have raised concerns with the industry's approach." He added that these parents believe "New York & Hollywood programmers" promote objectionable content in kids programming without disclosing that to parents. Carr didn't mention gender identity in his X post.
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TV parents guidelines can include both a rating as well as descriptors for content that includes crude language, sexual situations, and violence.
LGBTQ+ advocates criticized the public notice, arguing that it amounted to discrimination and censorship.
"Trump's FCC is trying to turn transgender people into a warning label," Tyler Hack, executive director of the transgender rights advocacy group Christopher Street Project, said in a statement. "It is dehumanizing, and it is part of a broader political strategy to stigmatize LGBTQ+ people in every corner of public life."
Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, described the notice as government overreach.
"Media companies must be allowed to create and broadcast stories that reflect one-quarter of their audience without interference from a government agency with its own anti-transgender political agenda," Ellis said in a statement.
This isn't the first time Carr has been accused of censorship. Carr has claimed broadcasters air "hoaxes" and "news distortions" that also happen to be unfavorable to President Trump. Carr has suggested the licenses of such broadcasters won't be renewed.
In March, dozens of free speech experts argued in an open letter to Carr that his threats against broadcasters are "unlawful jawboning" and his vague characterization of "fake news" violates the First Amendment. The authors called on Carr to "withdraw" his threats.
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