Tech
Review: The Dreame H15 Pro CarpetFlex is the first wet/dry vacuum I liked
I first tested a wet/dry vacuum when the technology was still new. It was an early Tineco model — and I hated it. The technology just wasn't ready yet. But the Dreame H15 Pro CarpetFlex is proof that that's no longer the case. When I first saw this wet/dry in operation at a Dreame event in New York City, I was amazed. And after reviewing dozens of vacuums in my career, I am not easily amazed by floor-cleaning technology.
If you've been looking for a wet/dry vacuum that actually works (and can clean on carpets as well), then the Dreame H15 Pro CarpetFlex is a smart pickup at $699.99. Dreame has made similar cordless wet/dry vacuums, but the addition of carpet cleaning sets this new flagship model apart. I took some before-and-after photos and videos to show you how it works.
The Dreame H15 Pro CarpetFlex: By the numbers
I should note that while the H15 Pro uses hot water to clean itself, it doesn't use hot water to clean your floors. I found it worked well as is, but if you want hot water cleaning, you'll have to spring for the $899.99 H15 Pro Heat Wet/Dry model.
Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable
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Type: Wet/dry vacuum and mop
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Cordless: Yes
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Suction: 23,000 Pa
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Self-cleaning: Yes (cleans with 212 degrees Fahrenheit water)
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Battery life: 60 minutes
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Charge time: 3 hours
The H15 Pro CarpetFlex Review: It easily passes the Swiffer test
Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable
When I first started reviewing 2-in-1 hybrid robot vacuums and mops, I asked a simple question with each review: Does it pass the Swiffer test? (Not to be confused with my colleague Leah Stodart's Graham Cracker test.) As in, does it mop better than a $20 Swiffer? Considering that flagship vacuums now cost $1,000 or more, they damn well better pass the Swiffer test.
The H15 Pro passes where other wet/dry vacuums and robot vacuums before it have failed. Don't judge me, but in these before-and-after videos, you can see a layer of set-in stains, which my army of robot vacuums has left behind over the years. You can clearly see where the H15 Pro has been to work, and you can watch as the stains disappear relatively quickly. This is a wet/dry vacuum that really can wipe away stains on hardwood floors (or, in my case, laminate flooring and tile flooring).
That's impressive on its own, but the H15 Pro can also make fresh spells disappear just as easily. I spread a swab of butter on the floor, and the H15 Pro gobbled it up faster than any vacuum I've ever tested. That's partly thanks to a scraper, which drops down when you pull back the vacuum. You can lock this scraper in place, and if you look closely, you'll also see a slightly confusing message: "No detach. Just attach — one machine for all floors."
Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable
The H15 Pro has one major flaw — don't make my mistake
OK, so that's the "wet" part of wet/dry, but what about carpets and other floor types? On paper, the H15 has a lot going for it. A filter to stop allergens, 23,000 Pa suction power, and a brush designed to comb through and clean carpet fibers. However, after rolling this vacuum brush across my hard floors to get to the area rugs in my bedroom, I found that this vacuum left behind a long trail of scuffs on my floor.
Now, I'm not sure if this comes from the scraper being locked in place or from the carpet brush itself. You could call this user error — no one made me lock the scraper in place or roll the carpet brush across laminate floors, but if it's user error, it's an incredibly easy error to make. Now, these scuffs aren't permanent, and I was able to use the H15 Pro to wipe them away, but it was annoying.
So, not great! Once I learned from my mistake, I found that this works fine as a carpet vacuum. It's not the best I've tested (that honor goes to a Dyson cordless vacuum — no surprise), but impressive enough for a 2-in-1.
Battery and self-cleaning work well
The Dreame offers one-button self-cleaning, which is very effective. The self-cleaning dock uses hot water cleaning (212 degrees Fahrenheit / 100 degrees Celsius) to thoroughly clean the roller brush of grease and debris, as well as hot air (194 degrees F / 90 degrees C). It's not as loud as I expected, and it cleans itself fairly quickly. As you can see, after a self-cleaning cycle, the scrubbing brush looks basically like new:
Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable
Is the Dreame H15 Pro worth it?
If you have a lot of hard floors to clean and don't want to put in any elbow grease, the Dreame H15 Pro actually fulfills the wet/dry promise. However, you need to watch for the scuffing that can be caused by the carpet attachment. As long as you don't repeat my mistake, this easily justifies its $699.99 price tag. I plan on updating this review after spending a bit more time with this cordless vacuum, but my initial review has been positive.
Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable
Would I have bought this wet/dry for my one-bedroom New York City apartment? No, but if you have more square footage and share my disdain for cleaning, this cordless wet/dry vacuum makes quick work of tough messes.
You can buy the Dreame H15 Pro CarpetFlex from Amazon and Dreame starting today for $699.99.
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Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love to make an entrance.
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: Knock, knock!
The words are related to passageways.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained
These words describe gateways.
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 Let Me In.
NYT Strands word list for November 8
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Entrance
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Portal
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Gate
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Let Me In
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Doorways
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Threshold
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Ingress
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.
Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're an early riser.
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:
To get up.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today's Wordle starts with the letter A.
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…
ARISE
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.
Rent or Buy on Prime Video
HBO Max (With Ads)
(save $21.89)
Max Standard
(save $36.89)
HBO Max Student
(save 50%)
HBO Max Basic With Ads
(save $10.99/month)
HBO Max Basic With Ads
(save $10.99 per month)
Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max
(save up to 41%)
In 2023, Celine Song made a name for herself as an emerging queen of relationship dramas with her Academy Award-nominated debut feature Past Lives. In 2025, her second movie, Materialists, has audiences swooning over yet another love triangle. This time around, we're given a cast that the internet is already obsessed with in Pedro Pascal, Chris Evans, and Dakota Johnson.
A24 gave us a masterclass in marketing over the summer with Materialists, which made it a surprising box office hit. If you missed the star-studded rom-com in theaters, it's now officially streaming. Here's what you need to know to tune in — including where and when to watch it, and the cheapest way to do so.
What is Materialists about?
The logline from A24 teases: "A young, ambitious New York City matchmaker finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex." Lucy (Johnson) is the matchmaker who helps other couples find their happily ever after, while dubbing herself an "eternal bachelorette." Of course, that's about to change when two potential suitors crash into her life: Harry (Pascal), a rich and attractive bachelor looking to sweep her off her feet, and John (Evans), Lucy's equally attractive ex-boyfriend, looking to give it another go.
Check out the gorgeous love triangle in the official trailer:
Is Materialists worth watching?
"On paper, Materialists is perfection," Mashable's Kristy Puchko writes in her review. "It's a love triangle romantic comedy, headlined by three movie stars with which the internet is absolutely obsessed: Chris Evans, Dakota Johnson, and Pedro Pascal." If you're a fan of those three, that's reason enough to tune in. However, as Puchko notes, it's hard to divorce the actors' larger-than-life personas from the characters they're trying to portray. "As grounded and real as Materialists aims to be, it's hard to overlook its big, shining stars to see that gritty authenticity," she writes.
Materialists did well at the worldwide box office, likely due to its star-studded cast, and the reviews are largely positive. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 78 percent critic rating and 66 percent audience rating, with a consensus that Song is a "modern master of relationship dramas."
Check out Mashable's full review of Materialists.
How to watch Materialists at home
Credit: A24
The A24 rom-com made its at-home debut via digital video-on-demand platforms like Prime Video and Fandango at Home back in July, following a successful summer theatrical run. After a few months of waiting, it's now made its streaming debut on HBO Max. See all the details below.
Buy or rent on digital
Materialists is available on digital video-on-demand platforms as of July 22. You can either buy the movie for your digital library or rent it for 30 days. Just note that although you'll have 30 days to watch, you'll only have 48 hours to finish watching once you begin.
You can purchase and rent the film at the following retailers:
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Prime Video — buy for $12.99, rent for $5.99
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Apple TV — buy for $12.99, rent for $5.99
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Fandango at Home (Vudu) — buy for $19.99, rent for $5.99
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YouTube — buy for $19.99, rent starting at $4.99
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Google Play — buy for $19.99, rent starting at $4.99
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Stream it on HBO Max
A24 has a multi-year output deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, which means new A24 theatrical releases exclusively stream on HBO Max before anywhere else. Materialists is no different. It made its streaming debut on HBO Max on Nov. 7, 2025.
HBO Max subscriptions now start at $10.99 per month (thanks to a recent price hike), but there are a few different ways to save some money on your plan. Check out the best HBO Max streaming deals below.
The best HBO Max streaming deals
Best for most people: Save 16% on HBO Max Basic annual subscription
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HBO Max Basic plans with ads usually cost $10.99 per month, but if you pay for an entire year upfront, that price drops down to just $9.17. You'll have to pay the full $109.99 all at once, but it ends up saving you about 16% compared to paying each month.
Best Max deal with no ads: Save up to 16% on HBO Max Standard annual subscription
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For those who need an ad-free viewing experience, the annual HBO Max Standard or Premium plans will also save you about 16% over the monthly plans. The Standard tier is $18.49 month-by-month or $184.99 per year, which breaks down to only $15.42 per month. Meanwhile, the Premium tier costs either $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year. That breaks down to just $19.17 per month. Both tiers will give you an ad-free experience, but the Premium tier also adds 4K Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos immersive audio, and the ability to download more offline content.
Get HBO Max for free: Get the Cricket Supreme Unlimited plan
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One way to get HBO Max for free in 2025 is by switching your phone plan to Cricket's $60 per month Supreme Unlimited plan. It includes HBO Max Basic with ads at no extra cost — that's a $10.99 per month value. When you open up the HBO Max app or website, you'll just choose Cricket as your provider and use your credentials to log in.
Get HBO Max for free: Sign up for DashPass annual plan
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Here's another way to get HBO Max for free in 2025: Sign up for the DoorDash DashPass annual plan for $96 per year ($8 per month). A DashPass membership includes $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders all year long, plus a complimentary HBO Max subscription (with ads). That means you'll pay just $8 per month for both DashPass and HBO Max, which is cheaper than a typical HBO Max with ads monthly subscription on its own.
Best HBO Max deal for students: Save 50% on HBO Max Basic with ads
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College students can get an entire year of HBO Max with ads for half price. Just verify your student status through UNiDAYS and retrieve the unique discount code to drop the price from $10.99 to $5.49 per month for 12 months.
Best bundle deal: Get HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 41% off
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Even with the rising costs, Disney's bundle deals are still the best streaming deals around. You can get Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max for just $19.99 per month with ads. That lineup of streamers separately would cost you $34.97, so you'll keep an extra $15 in your pocket each month by bundling them together. If you want to go ad-free, it'll cost you $32.99 per month for the bundle as opposed to paying $56.47 separately. That's up to 41% in savings for access to all three streaming libraries.
NYT Strands hints, answers for November 8, 2025
Helena City Commission Candidate That Left THREATENING Voicemail for GOP Senator Loses Race
Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 8, 2025
Review: The Dreame H15 Pro CarpetFlex is the first wet/dry vacuum I liked
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