Tech
Users claim they accidentally received Xbox ROG Ally X weeks before its launch
Yesterday, rumors started to spread in the tech world that a gamer had accidentally received the upcoming Xbox ROG Ally X gaming handheld weeks before its official launch. The gamer even took to Reddit to post an early review of the device, in a now-deleted thread.
If you hang around the tech space long enough, you'll eventually hear stories of unsuspecting customers getting new devices ahead of schedule. Case in point: Earlier this year, some folks who pre-ordered the Samsung Galaxy S25 received their units a few days before launch thanks to expedited shipping error. Usually, these surprises happen a few days early at the most, which makes it very interesting that someone is claiming they received the Xbox ROG Ally X more than two weeks early.
The story started to spread thanks to the deleted Reddit post titled "WTFF ALMOST 3 WEEK BEFORE!" from a user named Technical_Fun77. The Redditor expressed their very great surprise that they received the unit so early, an apparent mistake on the part of Amazon France, they said. The post, which was saved in a screenshot by Windows Central, shows that the user did a quick review of the alleged ROG Ally X, praising its lightweight design and the Xbox Full Screen Experience.
The post garnered hundreds of responses that were a mixture of congratulations and jealousy. However, because we can't independently verify these reports, some skepticism is also in order.
So, what's really going on with the case of the early Xbox ROG Ally X?
The early release was traced to an Amazon France listing. A screenshot circulating online shows that the device would be delivered as early as Oct. 1, a full 15 days before the official release date of Oct. 16. We checked the listing, which you can view online, shows no available delivery options or dates, as of this writing. A Wayback Machine screenshot of that listing from September does show an early delivery time, but the product is listed for sale from a dubious-looking third-party seller, and pre-orders weren't even available at that time. (You can pre-order the Xbox ROG Ally now, however.) That means the users may have unknowingly purchased a counterfeit unit from a third-party seller on Amazon.
And there's yet another reason to be skeptical: the original Reddit post didn’t contain any image. So, would Amazon France have really shipped the long-awaited handheld gaming console more than two weeks early? While it seems very unlikely, after the news initially popped, other Redditors have come forward with their own early deliver stories, this time with pictures
As of this writing, there are now a couple of additional user posts in the ROG Ally X subreddit from gamers claiming that Amazon France also sent them units by mistake. These newer posts all have pictures as well, with users showing the alleged units in and out of the packaging. Mashable reached out to these users and Amazon for more information, and we'll update this post if we learn anything new.
We should note that thanks to generative AI image makers, it's now trivially easy to create fake images and screenshots. However, based on these reports, it seems there's a non-zero chance that someone at Amazon France royally flubbed something.
You can pre-order the new console for yourself; it's scheduled to launch on Oct. 16.
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TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 Masters Tournament for free on Masters.com. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The wait for the first major golf championship of the year is over.
The Masters is here to deliver top-quality action from the Augusta National Golf Club. Expect the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Rory McIlroy to be battling it out for the green jacket at the end of the weekend. It's always a special occasion with a number of incredible storylines to follow.
If you want to watch the 2026 Masters Tournament for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
What is the Masters?
The Masters is one of the four men's major championships in professional golf. The tournament takes place in the first full week in April, making the Masters the first major golf tournament of the year.
The Masters is always held at the Augusta National Golf Club, a private course in the city of Augusta, Georgia.
When is the 2026 Masters Tournament?
The 2026 Masters Tournament will take place from April 9-12. Practice rounds began on April 6.
How to watch the 2026 Masters Tournament for free
The 2026 Masters Tournament is available to live stream for free on Masters.com.
This free live stream is geo-restricted to the U.S., but anyone can access for free with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock this free live stream from anywhere in the world.
Access free Masters live streams by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Live stream the 2026 Masters Tournament for free from anywhere in the world
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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2026 Masters before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for live sport?
ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan 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 $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Watch the 2026 Masters Tournament for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
A number of interesting NHL fixtures are taking place this weekend, including Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning. Both sides are well positioned in the Atlantic Division, but both need a win to end a concerning run of losses. We're expecting a evenly-matched contest at TD Garden.
If you want to watch Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning?
Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL starts at 12:30 p.m. ET on April 11. This fixture takes place at TD Garden.
How to watch Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning for free
Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL is available to live stream for free on ITVX.
ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the NHL for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL for free by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
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Visit ITVX
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Watch Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning for free from anywhere in the world
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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the NHL without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL (plus more NHL fixtures) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for ITVX?
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries including the UK
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
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Fast connection speeds free from throttling
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Up to 10 simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% off for a limited time. This plan 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 $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Watch Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Score a free iPhone 17e when signing up for a T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required. Alternatively, you can get the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when signing up for an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible device.
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In the mobile world, the word "free" is usually followed by a list of caveats that make you wish you never started looking for a deal. You usually need to sign up for the most expensive plan or trade-in a premium phone to get your hands on what you really want. But that's not the case with the latest T-Mobile offer.
T-Mobile is offering a rare deal on the newly-released Apple iPhone 17e. For a limited time, you can pick up this A19-powered device for free by simply opening a new line.
You’ll need to activate a new line on T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond or Experience More plans to get the iPhone 17e. The phone’s full retail price is covered via 24 monthly bill credits, and since you aren't trading in your old phone, you can keep it as a backup, give it to a kid, or sell it on a third-party site to actually make money on this deal. We did say this was a rare opportunity to save.
Mashable's Stan Shroeder got his hands on the iPhone 17e and said "The combination of having Apple's latest chip and a decent amount of storage means this phone will be relevant for at least four to five years." That's an impressive lifespan for a budget-friendly phone, particularly when it's free.
If you need something a little more powerful, you can also pick up the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when signing on for 24 months of an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible phone. That gets you unthrottled 5G data, 4K streaming, and enough international roaming for even the most adventurous of travellers.
It's important to note that T-Mobile will charge taxes on these free deals and a $35 device connection fee. Is this really "free" when you need to sign up to something or pay an upfront fee? It's a gray area, OK? We're doing our best.
Score an iPhone 17 for free this weekend with T-Mobile.
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