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Few nights in Hollywood's calendar year come close to the glitz and glamor of the Academy Awards. An Oscar statuette is a crowning achievement for anyone involved in the production of film, and those who garner one or more of the gold figurines win the right to label themselves "Academy Award–winning" for the rest of history. Plus, there's the career boost that comes with it. 

With the terrifically entertaining 96th Academy Awards behind us, let's look back at some of the more memorable past winners in various categories, or at least the ones that are currently streaming on Netflix (in no particular order).

Here are the best Oscar-winning movies now streaming on Netflix.

1. My Octopus Teacher Credit: Netflix

Won: Best Documentary Feature 

My Octopus Teacher may have a title that'll raise some eyebrows, but there's a more profound story of unexpected friendship waiting to surprise you. The documentary follows Craig Foster, a free diver who befriends a young octopus living in a bay near Cape Town, South Africa. We watch this young octopus grow fond of Foster as she plays around with him and invites him into her world. It's a gripping story of our relationship with nature and the lessons waiting to be learned from our many beautiful animal friends. — Yasmeen Hamadeh, Entertainment Intern 

How to watch: My Octopus Teacher is streaming on Netflix.

2. Roma Credit: Carlos Somonte / Netflix

Won: Best Director, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Cinematography

Alfonso Cuarón's Oscar-winning drama follows Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a housekeeper working for a wealthy family in Mexico City. Thanks to Cuarón's writing, direction, and cinematography (each of which garnered its own respective Oscar), the film is remarkably immersive, enveloping us in Cleo's world in a way most movies strive for and can never even touch. We feel the comfort in her mundane day-to-day, the sting of her boyfriend's betrayal, and blinding panic and trauma in the film's final act. It's a stunning piece of cinema that should be talked about for decades to come. — Proma Khosla, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Roma is streaming on Netflix.

3. American Factory Credit: Aubrey Keith / Netflix

Won: Best Documentary Feature

This 2020 Best Documentary Feature winner takes viewers inside a shuttered General Motors factory in Ohio, recently purchased and re-staffed by a Chinese billionaire, for a stunning look at worker exploitation in the modern age. A complex presentation of multiculturalism and its impacts on the global economy, American Factory is an uncomfortable watch that remains steadfastly objective from start to end but still manages to make its point. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: American Factory is streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: 10 documentaries to watch on Netflix if you want to learn something new 4. Marriage Story Credit: Wilson Webb / Netflix

Won: Best Supporting Actress (Laura Dern)

Writer/director Noah Baumbach’s tense tale of a couple ending their marriage divided audiences, with some viewers reporting they were surprised by whose "side" they ended up on. But critical reception for the film was almost universal in its praise of the story's execution and impact, with leads Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver singled out for their magnetic scene work.

At the 92nd Academy Awards, Marriage Story took home only one Oscar from the six categories in which it was nominated. Still, this artful depiction of intimacy remains a triumph of romantic storytelling, venturing far beyond the Happily Ever After audiences know so well. — A.F.

How to watch: Marriage Story is streaming on Netflix.

5. Darkest Hour Credit: Focus Features

Won: Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Actor (Gary Oldman)

Set in the early years of World War II, Darkest Hour follows Winston Churchill (remarkably played by Gary Oldman) as he navigates Britain's position in the ensuing war, along with the trials and tribulations that follow. On Oldman's Oscar–winning performance, Mashable's Angie Han writes, "Oldman knows the difference between packaging and performance… There's a living, breathing soul underneath all that makeup, at the center of all those tics, and Oldman makes him fascinating to watch." So come for a masterclass in acting by Oldman, and stay for the gripping story that follows; it's worth the watch. — Y.H. 

How to watch: Darkest Hour is streaming on Netflix.

6. The Imitation Game Credit: Screenshot Netflix

Won: Best Adapted Screenplay

This historical drama offers one of Benedict Cumberbatch's best performances. Based on the biography Alan Turing: The Enigma, by Andrew Hodges, The Imitation Game dramatizes the life of the British mathematician as he helps Britain's government decrypt German intelligence messages. The task is near-impossible, however, Turing (Cumberbatch) proves to be the man of the hour, but not without a series of tribulations. The drama has been praised for its raw portrayal of mental health and the harsh realities of being queer in the mid-20th century, but it's also been critiqued for some historical inaccuracy. It remains a stunning work of gripping drama nonetheless. Rather than expecting a history lesson, enjoy The Imitation Game's masterclass in acting provided by a star-studded cast that includes Charles Dance, Keira Knightley, and Mark Strong. — Y.H. 

How to watch: The Imitation Game is streaming on Netflix.

7. Everything Everywhere All At Once Credit: A24

Won: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Best Actress (Michelle Yeoh), Best Supporting Actress (Jamie Lee Curtis), Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), Best Editing

About as subtle as a heart attack, the Daniels' beloved 2022 multiverse masterwork Everything Everywhere All At Once inexplicably manages to be simultaneously epic and intimate, serious and goofy, sweet and obscene – it's everything to everyone all at once, basically. 

SEE ALSO: How a one-hit wonder became absolutely crucial to 'Everything Everywhere All At Once'

Nominally telling the story of a mother (Michelle Yeoh) and a daughter (Stephanie Hsu) who can't figure out how to relate to one another, their movie stretches itself across infinite time and space and bagels to desperately seek beauty out of unhinged mayhem. And it feels like the entirety of our madhouse moment distilled into 140 minutes. So let's do laundry and taxes and Netflix and chill. — Jason Adams, Contributing Writer

How to watch: Everything Everywhere All At Once is now streaming on Netflix.

8. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar

Won: Best Live Action Short Film

In 2023, Wes Anderson directed a series of short films based on Roald Dahl stories for Netflix. It was the longest and most substantial of the four that finally got the director his long-overdue Oscar statue. (Let's pretend it's an apology for the crime that was not giving his 2023 masterpiece Asteroid City a single nomination.) The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (taken from the 1977 collection of short stories with the same name) tells the tale of a disaffected gambler (Benedict Cumberbatch) who learns how to harness the power of his mind from a legendary yogi (Ben Kingsley) to win big. But what happens once you have everything? This 39-minute short hits that final mark beautifully. 

If you love Anderson's signature aesthetic, you'd be wise to watch all four of the ones Netflix commissioned. They're all wonderful. (My particular favorite is The Rat Catcher, which more than any of the other four really nails Dahl's nasty streak as we watch an hilariously aggressive Ralph Fiennes as a sharp-toothed rodent-hunter on the prowl.) — J.A.

How to watch: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is now streaming on Netflix.

9. Jurassic Park

Won: Best Sound, Best Sound Effects Editing, Best Visual Effects

Forget six million years ago — it was 1993 when dinosaurs really ruled the Earth, thanks to Steven Spielberg's legendary summer blockbuster. An adaptation of Michael Crichton's hit novel about scientists cloning the extinct creatures all in the name of a fun theme park for the kiddos, Jurassic Park shows what happens when innovation outpaces reason. Or, as Jeff Goldblum's iconic leather-clad chaotician Ian Malcolm puts it succinctly, "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, that they didn't stop to think if they should." (Take heed, AI creators.)

Naturally, all hell breaks loose, as it's been breaking loose in every Jurassic sequel since. But none quite compare to what Spielberg & Co. did a full 30-plus years back. Goldblum, Sam Neill, and Laura Dern delivered charisma alongside sexual tension and science chatter to enchanting effect. The special effects are a perfect mixture of animatronics by the legendary Stan Winston with newfangled computer generated imagery crafted by the fine folks at Industrial Light & Magic. They still hold up today. Honestly, they look better than the full CG ones in half of the sequels. I have watched the T-Rex attack those kids in that Explorer a thousand times, and I hold my breath every dang time. — J.A.

How to watch: Jurassic Park is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio Credit: Netflix

Won: Best Animated Feature

You know when hitting play on this movie that the fantastic horror visionary Guillermo del Toro isn't going to be telling Walt Disney's version of Pinocchio. Meaning no offense to that 1940 animated masterpiece, but del Toro took that classic's scattered-about scary moments – the donkeys, oh god, the donkeys! – and multiplied them by infinity. 

Setting the story of the little wooden boy who gets wished to life by his depressed carver Geppetto in WWII-era fascist Italy, del Toro slathers his version of the fairy tale in politics and righteously disturbing anti-war propaganda. And that's before he violently kills off our main character multiple times. Featuring voice acting by Ewan McGregor, Tilda Swinton, Cate Blanchett, and Christoph Waltz, plus revelatory stop-motion work from the animators at ShadowMachine, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio is like no other. — J.A.

How to watch: Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio is now streaming on Netflix.

11. L.A. Confidential

Won: Best Supporting Actress (Kim Basinger), Best Adapted Screenplay

This 1997 film from the deeply underrated director Curtis Hanson was a big hit at the Oscars, getting nominated for nine awards total. An adaptation of James Ellroy's 1990 crime novel, L.A. Confidential is basically about the war between some good cops and some bad cops in 1953 Los Angeles. Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, and James Cromwell all take to the suits and fedoras and hard-boiled dialogue extremely well. And Hanson provides a rock-solid foundation for Ellroy's intriguing dark mystery to play out upon. But it's Kim Basinger, playing a sex worker whose resemblance to Veronica Lake is her great blessing and curse, who steals the movie. And it was Basinger who walked away with its only acting statue. 

This movie would make for an ace double feature with Chinatown, though – a lovely night of L.A.-set neo-noirs showcasing the myriad ways that the Hollywood machine can grind people up in its gears. What a town! — J.A.

How to watch: L.A. Confidential is now streaming on Netflix.

12. Whiplash Credit: Sony Pictures Classics

Won: Best Supporting Actor (J.K. Simmons), Best Editing, Best Sound

When he was just 29 years old, writer/director Damien Chazelle's second feature film, 2014's Whiplash, took Sundance by storm. By the time he was 30, he had snagged himself a Best Adapted Screenplay nom, along with a slew of other honors for the adrenaline-fueled indie. Thank goodness he didn't let all of that early success go straight to his head and blow all his movie-making capital on a great big vanity project next! (He waited, making two more movies and winning a Best Director Oscar for La La Land before bestowing upon us the toxic epic that is Babylon.) 

Still, it's easy to see why everybody fell for Whiplash, a ferocious music school tale where we watch an overly determined drumming prodigy (Miles Teller) meet his match in an abusive teacher (J.K. Simmons). Asking questions about the dangerous lengths we're tempted to go to be the best, the film was ahead of its time in taking a hard look at the excuses we make for the sake of so-called genius. — J.A.

How to watch: Whiplash is now streaming on Netflix.

13. Joker

Won: Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Best Score

It's weird that it took a comic book movie to finally win Joaquin Phoenix Best Actor, right? With all the out-there choices with heralded directors he's made in his career, it was the role of the dancing clown supervillain — one that had already won a different actor an Oscar, at that! — that finally got our Phoenix over the finish line. 

Todd Phillips' 2019 film Joker went all out with its stabbing at seriousness, wallowing in the seediest corners of the comic book canon in order to prove its cinematic bonafides. This certainly ain't Cesar Romero. An origin story that sees a rage-fueled stand-up comic give in to his barely buried bloodlust after a relentless series of humiliations, Joker is misery porn slathered and smeared in technicolor make-up. But Joaquin Phoenix sure makes it dance. — J.A. 

How to watch: Joker is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Mank Credit: Netflix

Won: Best Production Design, Best Cinematography

Director David Fincher's father Jack had a decades-long obsession with the story of the making of Orson Welles' masterpiece Citizen Kane. Specifically, he was fascinated by screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (aka Mank) and how much credit he deserved for the final product, given the well-known fact that Mank was a fall-down drunk. And so Jack wrote a film script about the story, hoping he and his son could make the movie together. But the project languished and Jack passed away in 2003, never seeing it realized. 

David Fincher stayed determined though. In 2020 he finally delivered a film starring Gary Oldman as Mank that feels unlike almost anything else the Social Network director has done. Awash in nostalgia and a hard-fought sincerity, you can feel Fincher's love for his father thrumming through the movie — most especially in the ways the film itself side-eyes a creator's ability to twist truth into fiction. Amanda Seyfried, wonderful in the role of real-life actress Marion Davies, sees straight through to how Mank can spin truth into fiction with one clack of his typewriter key, and gives the movie its tremulous heart. — J.A. 

How to watch: Mank is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Erin Brockovich

Won: Best Actress (Julia Roberts)

Julia Roberts put her superpowered movie stardom to its best use yet (ever?) with Steven Soderbergh's legal thriller Erin Brockovitch. Here, our beloved Pretty Woman tackled a brash real-life role and knocked it out of the park. 

This Silkwood-esque dramatization of the true story follows a paralegal who uncovered a conspiracy involving a gas and electric company that had been poisoning the residents of a small town for decades. Erin Brockovitch is Soderbergh working at his mainstream best. It's a total stand-up-and-cheer, bring-down-dastardly-Goliath kinda movie, and Roberts' megawatt magnetism — plus an ace script from Susannah Grant — carries us through the darker aspects of it with wit and charm and heart to spare. It's a win in every aspect. — J.A. 

How to watch: Erin Brockovich is now streaming on Netflix.

16. The Power of the Dog Credit: Netflix

Won: Best Director (Jane Campion)

Adapted from Thomas Savage's 1967 novel, The Power of the Dog sees Benedict Cumberbatch slip his twisted beanpole self into a pair of dirty dungarees as Phil Burbank, a deeply closeted cowboy in 1925 Montana at the tail end of the time for such ranch-haunting relics. One day in town, Phil's brother George (Jesse Plemons) finds himself a wife named Rose (Kirsten Dunst), and Phil does not like that one bit! Once Rose and her weirdo son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) move in with the brothers, it's a war of the wills, and only one queer cowpoke's gonna be left standing. A psychotic marvel of a movie that only Jane Campion could've delivered. — J.A.

How to watch: The Power of the Dog is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: The (very) brief Oscars history of women nominated for Best Director 17. RRR

Won: Best Song

A Tollywood spectacle like they're only capable of making, this three-hour-plus epic from director S.S. Rajamouli tells the 1920s-set story of the best buddies Bheem (N. T. Rama Rao Jr.) and Raja (Ram Charan), who end up on opposite sides of the revolution against the British Raj. Will they fight? Will they make up? Will they sing and dance? Absolutely. 

All of these questions, many tigers, and much, much more make RRR's three hours an absolute breeze. A truly over-the-top spectacle of action and romance and several musical sequences, it was the latter which got the Academy's attention, with the unforgettable dance number "Naatu Naatu" stomping all its rivals out of the way for the little gold man statue in the end. — J.A.

How to watch: RRR is now streaming on Netflix.

18. The Sting

Won: Best Picture, Best Director (George Roy Hill), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Editing, Best Score

Four years after Paul Newman and Robert Redford Thelma-and-Louise'd themselves off that cliff together in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the prettiest American movie stars of their generation (give or take a Warren Beatty) reunited with their director George Roy Hill for another good time in snug pants with The Sting. And the Academy went absolutely bonkers for it, nominating the film for ten Oscars and ultimately giving it seven of them. Among the three losers that night was Robert Redford, who would win one in a few years for Best Director of Ordinary People, and who'd get an Honorary in 2002. But, fun fact, this remains his only acting nomination to date.

In The Sting, Redford plays Johnny Hooker, a gambling grifter on the lam who teams up with another one of his kind by the name of Henry Gondorff (Newman) in order to run an elaborate series of cons on a dangerous mob boss (Robert Shaw). And if any of that sounds dark, it plays as anything but. The Sting is light as air, a star-powered charm machine. Think of an Ocean's film set during the Great Depression and you'll get the gist of it. — J.A. 

How to watch: The Sting is now streaming on Netflix.

19. Minari Credit: A24

Won: Best Supporting Actress (Youn Yuh-jung)

Staring at the "American Dream" from a perspective somewhat askance — a view we're given far too infrequently — writer/director Lee Isaac Chung based Minari story loosely on his own childhood growing up in rural Arkansas in the 1980s. Steven Yeun plays Jacob, a South Korean immigrant, husband, and father of two who picks his family up from their comfortable life in California and plunks them down in the middle of Arkansas. Jacob has a dream of working the land, becoming a farmer, and uncovering an American market for Korean vegetables that hasn't been tapped. He just hasn't thought through all of the details yet.

SEE ALSO: The language of 'Minari' feels to me like coming home

His wife Monica (Han Ye-ri) tries to be supportive, while their kids Anne (Noel Kate Cho) and David (Alan Kim) feel mostly bewildered by the big change. Everybody agrees they need some help once they get there though, and so in comes Monica's colorful mother Soonja (Youn Yuh-jung) from the homeland, which causes its own wave of assimilation trials. Extraordinarily moving and intimate, with a gorgeous, Oscar-nominated score from composer Emile Mosseri, Minari is one of the great family dramas of our time. — J.A.

How to watch: Minari is now streaming on Netflix.

20. Phantom Thread

Won: Best Costume Design

Early on in the filmmaking process, very serious artists writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson and actor Daniel Day-Lewis were trying to figure out a name for the lead character in their next collaboration. Naturally, their text thread led to a dick joke that, in turn, birthed the moniker "Reynolds Woodcock."

That movie became Phantom Thread, a darkly hilarious romance about a stuffy fashion designer who meets his match in a blushing waitress (Vicky Krieps). There's something perfect about it all being built on a dick joke. Phantom Thread is ultimately a satire of male domination, and an ode to the armies of women who've trussed up the egos of pampered men and gotten the jobs done in spite of them. 

Pulling their female lead out of nowhere (aka Luxembourg), Anderson gave a role for the ages to the relative newcomer Krieps, who goes toe to toe with the greatest actor of his generation. And, much like Alma the blushing waitress does to Reynolds, she shows DDL how it's done. Incredibly, while both Day-Lewis and Lesley Manville, who played Reynolds' deliciously stern sister Cyril, got nods — Krieps was snubbed. It's a crime, considering the effortless way she steals the entire movie away from them all with just her Mona Lisa smile and a basket of suspicious mushrooms. — J.A. 

How to watch: Phantom Thread is now streaming on Netflix.

21. Out of Africa

Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Sydney Pollack), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Sound, Best Score

One of those enormous '80s epics that came to typify the idea of Oscar bait, Sydney Pollack's Out of Africa now seems the type of movie that Hollywood is, sadly, no longer particularly interested in making. It's a film about ideas and characters and adults, ones that takes its time with beautiful stars like Meryl Streep and Robert Redford and seemingly bottomless budgets. All this makes their exploits as grand as they should seem coming from the Dream Factory — we didn't know how good we had it!

An adaptation of an autobiography by the Danish writer Isak Dinesen (aka Karen Blixen), Out of Africa tells Blixen's story of being married off to a Swedish baron living in Kenya (then known as British East Africa) in 1913. Karen (Streep) slowly begins a love affair with the land itself, as well as with a big game hunter who dwells on that land, played by Redford. If you can deal with some of the dated perspectives being at the romance's heart — colonialism, white savior narratives, and big game hunting, just to name a few — this is some of Streep's loveliest work. Pollock and his DP David Watkin shoot the land spectacularly. — J.A.

How to watch: Out of Africa is now streaming on Netflix.

22. King Kong (2005)

Won: Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Visual Effects

Like Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, King Kong was a lifelong dream project for Lord of the Rings helmer Peter Jackson. And like Pinocchio, this passion shows in every overstuffed minute. Over three hours long, Jackson's film drips with love and ambition, as well as with a desire to take the genius of Merian C. Cooper's 1933 classic and update every square inch of it to the best of 2005's abilities. 

All these years later, some of the seams do show in the special effects, but there are no seams in its heartfelt retelling or wonderful performances. Naomi Watts as Ann Darrow, the starlet who screams and screams and screams her way from Skull Island to the top of the Empire State Building, gives what might still be the greatest performance opposite an entirely CG screen partner. Andy Serkis gives it right back as the great ape with a heart too big for this small world full of small men. — J.A.  

How to watch: King Kong is now streaming on Netflix.

23. All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) Credit: Reiner Bajo / Netflix

Won: Best International Feature, Best Score, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design

This is one of the rare instances where a remake of a classic film ended up being a terrific idea. The original 1930 All Quiet on the Western Front was one of the very first Best Picture winners, and it remains great to this day. So, how did they make a remake work? It was a pretty simple idea, actually. Director Edward Berger took the original story, which drops audiences down in the dirt with the German soldiers during World War I, and he filmed it in Germany with German actors. Wild, right? 

Still, the 90-year update on film techniques also helped in situating viewers in the middle of that maelstrom. Taking a page from Sam Mendes' 1917, Berger and his DP James Friend really make us feel like we're right there in the trenches, dodging the bullets and bombs as often as they hit their deadly mark. The anti-war message of the original comes through loud and clear, bolstered by the unforgettable drone of Volker Bertelmann's score. The baton-pass nature of the script, which introduces character after character only to see them get ground up in the horrible machinery of war, is a correctly unsubtle hammering home of combat's cruel dehumanization. — J.A. 

How to watch: All Quiet on the Western Front is now streaming on Netflix.

24. The Great Gatsby (2013)

Won: Best Costume Design, Best Production Design

Leonardo DiCaprio is Jay Gatsby, the mysterious self-made millionaire who's seized ahold of the 1920s society pages of the New York set through sheer force of will (not to mention much tossing of money). Tobey Maguire is Nick Carraway, a down-on-his-luck writer who gets pulled under Gatsby's spell. And there's Joel Edgerton as an old-money prick with tight hair and tighter jodhpurs named Tom. And Carey Mulligan as Tom's wife Daisy, the dapper flapper somehow at the center of it all. And is that Elizabeth Debicki swanning around as a sumptuous female golfer? 

Baz Luhrmann's filmmaking choices, as well as the script co-written with frequent collaborator Craig Pearce, blast away the more subtle beauties of writer F. Scott Fitzgerald's prose. However, Luhrmann has proven to be an inspired and prescient choice for the helm. If there's one thing we've become familiar with since Gatsby was released in 2013, it's the vulgar melodrama of a con man forcing his way into power far beyond his control for entirely selfish reasons, and all of the destruction that such an act leaves in its wake. — J.A.

How to watch: The Great Gatsby is now streaming on Netflix.

Asterisks (*) indicate the entry has been modified from a previous Mashable list.

UPDATE: Apr. 2, 2024, 4:52 p.m. EDT This list has been updated to reflect Netflix's current selection.

Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Netflix Watch Now

If you’re a college student, your laptop is your toolbox, your textbook, your everything — and you need a solid machine that’s going to last you from orientation to graduation. It’s an essential tool, and you need one that you can rely on. No one has the extra cash to replace a subpar laptop halfway through school, and you don’t want to be dealing with unexpected repairs when you have papers to write and parties to attend.

Luckily, there are a ton of affordable student laptops worth buying — as well as ones that (while a little pricier) are the specialized tools you need if you’re going into a field that requires specific hardware (think video game engineering). Better yet, even some pricier options are often on sale, like the Microsoft Surface Pro 9, our favorite 2-in-1 laptop on this list.

Whether you’re looking for a Mac or PC (and yes, you should definitely consider a PC), there’s something out there for any college student.

SEE ALSO: Here's when to buy a laptop, whether you need the latest specs or a great deal

Memory and processors are important when you’re looking for the best laptops for students: You’ll want something that can handle a ton of tabs and simultaneous programs, as well as enough storage to save downloaded lectures, textbooks, films, the dreaded term project, and other study materials. And that’s just speaking generally — if you’re studying graphic design, computer science, video production, or other computer-intensive subjects, you’ll need a laptop that has a little more oomph in the CPU department so you can power through those projects.

What's the best laptop for students?

If you plan to go into a graphics-heavy field like video game engineering or data visualization, you’re going to want to have a machine that’s a little more powerful than your average Chromebook to get you through your processor-intensive coursework. Keep an eye out for video editing laptops or even gaming laptops — you’ll want to look for features like 8-core or AMD Ryzen processors that deliver superior smoothness when there’s a lot going on, as well as souped-up graphics cards.

It’s hard to get over the fact that most quality laptops cost north of a grand, so think of this as an investment in your education. That being said, the broke student life is real, so we’ve included some budget options that balance not-eye-watering price tags with performance and durability. Here are our favorite student laptops for 2024.

Most people have at least one horror story about online dating. It's a rite of passage — one that single people love to hate.

But the horror stories look a little different for members of the LGBTQ+ community. For gay men, online dating throws a unique set of challenges into the mix. On top of the usual woes, such as ghosting and catfishing, you might encounter unnecessary questioning about your past, straight guys who shouldn't be in your feed, and even some not-so-subtle fetishization. Not exactly the butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling we're all after, right?

Despite the BS, the best gay dating apps have helped millions of men make meaningful connections (and saucy hookups too).

SEE ALSO: Archer is the new 'social-first' dating app for queer men

According to the Pew Research Center, one-quarter (approximately) of LGBTQ+ adults say they met their match through online dating. The problem? Not all apps are created equal, especially for the LGBTQ+ community.

What is the best gay dating app?

While Grindr is a big name, there are other options that cater to the specific needs and preferences of gay men.

"Grindr is a tried and true app that many queer men gravitate toward to find partners or for relationships that require lesser commitment, so it’s easy to point to it as the #1 app," Michelle Herzog, LMFT, AASECT-certified sex therapist, tells Mashable. "However, like Tinder, it’s gained a reputation as a hookup app – but that doesn’t mean there still aren’t men looking for long-term commitments, either."

Sometimes going for a popular dating app can be your best bet since that's where queer users tend to mingle in the biggest numbers. Keeping Tinder on the back burner isn't just a straight people thing (especially for those of us who live in less-populated areas where Grindr and Scruff offer slim pickings). You can also try niche dating sites if you tend to like a certain type of man, but in general, the more popular apps offer the greatest chance of success.

Plus, some mainstream apps deserve credit for trying to create a more inclusive atmosphere. OkCupid gets kudos for embracing change and making social justice a core part of its compatibility scoring.

Whether you're looking for something serious, a hookup, something that stays strictly online, or an altogether different definition of connection, there's an ideal queer dating app out there for you. Here's a breakdown of the best dating apps for gay men to help you find your perfect match.

Once upon a time, we had to rely on good old luck, wit, and charm to find love. Today, it's a little easier to woo potential partners without putting ourselves out there, out there. Thanks to the ever-evolving landscape of dating, sex, and technology, finding love or a quick fling is as simple as downloading an app.

The best dating apps give you the rare opportunity to connect with hundreds of people you wouldn't have otherwise met while also allowing you to explore your sexuality and find out what you want in a partner. Yes, that includes potentially connecting with hundreds of people you'd rather not have known, too, but we still think the pros outweigh the cons.

SEE ALSO: The dating app glossary: The A to Z of terms you need to know

Statista predicts that the online dating user base in the U.S. will grow to 53.3 million by 2025, a leap from 44.2 million users in 2020. It's also becoming more and more common to meet serious, long-term partners on apps. A 2022 survey from the Pew Research Center found that out of the nearly 6,000 respondents they heard from, one in 10 partnered adults (those who were married, in a long-term relationship, or living together) met through a dating app.

Which dating apps actually work?

With so many dating apps out there, it's easy to feel confused or overwhelmed by the options. While Match Group (Tinder, Match, Archer, OkCupid, Hinge, Plenty of Fish, and The League, among others) continues to dominate the market, you don't have to limit yourself to just one brand when looking for the best dating app.

SEE ALSO: How to stay safe on dating apps

First Round’s On Me (FROME), for example, is a newer dating app that's gained popularity for its date invitation feature. Choose a drink, date, time, and venue; the app will send a personalized invitation to your potential match. Once a date is confirmed, it's locked into both users' calendars, and the in-app chat feature is activated 12 hours before the date.

Other apps, like Pure and FetLife, cater to people open to ethical, non-monogamous relationships or threesomes. There really is something for everyone out there. There are even more traditional dating apps like eharmony, Facebook Dating (think Tinder Lite for your grandma), and Christian Mingle that swap endless scrolling for compatibility quizzes and faith-based connections.

The best dating apps of 2024

Finding the best dating app is purely subjective. To help you out, we've narrowed down some of the best dating apps of 2024 based on hands-on testing, customer reviews, overall functionality, availability (all are available on the App Store or Google Play), and user-friendliness:

TL;DR: A wide range of free AI and ChatGPT courses are available on Udemy. Learn how to boost your business, create search-friendly content, and so much more with this technology.

The possibilities are almost endless with AI, but do you really know how to harness the power of this technology? Most people don't know the ins and outs of artificial intelligence, so you could give yourself a serious advantage by better understanding this constantly-evolving world.

And the good news for anyone interested in learning about AI is that Udemy is offering a wide range of online courses on AI and ChatGPT for free. We've checked out everything on offer and lined up a selection of standout courses to get you started.

These are the best online AI and ChatGPT courses you can take for free this month:

• AI Art Generation Guide: Create AI Images For Free

• AI for Everyone

• AI-Powered Chatbot: Build Your Own with No Code

• AI Product Strategy

• Artificial Intelligence for Accountants

• Artificial Intelligence for Humans: AI Explained

• Artificial Intelligence: Preparing Your Career for AI

• Basics of ChatGPT and Generative AI for Software Engineers

• Become an AI Accelerated Engineer Using ChatGPT

• Become an AI-Powered Engineer: ChatGPT, Github Copilot

• Business Analyst: Digital Director for AI and Data Science

• ChatGPT 101: The Complete Beginner's Guide and Masterclass

• ChatGPT in 30 Minutes: New Prompt Engineering and AI Skills

• ChatGPT, Midjourney, Firefly, Bard, DALL-E, AI Crash Course

• ChatGPT Security: Privacy Risks and Data Protection Basics

• Create Faceless YouTube Videos Using Free AI Tools Only

• Deep Learning and AI with Python for Beginners

• Digital, Virtual and AI Photography

• Google Gemini AI with Python API

• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

• Kickstart Artificial Intelligence

• Learn Basics About AI

• Master Gemini AI

• Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals: Get Started with AI

• Midjourney and ChatGPT: Unleash AI for Unique Image Generation

• Prompt Engineering+: Master Speaking To AI

• Unleash your Creativity with Stable Diffusion AI

It's important to note that free online courses do not offer certificates of completion or direct instructor messaging, but you still get unrestricted access to all the video content. You can still learn at a pace that suits you, so what are you waiting for?

Find the best free AI and ChatGPT courses on Udemy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Udemy AI and ChatGPT Courses Free at Udemy Get Deal

TL;DR: The Ultimate Cybersecurity and IT Career Certification Pathway Training Bundle is on sale for £22.25 with the code SECURE20.

With so much of our lives entangled online, companies of varying sizes and industries are constantly on the lookout for skilled individuals who can protect their respective systems and make them virtually impenetrable. The good news is if you're interested in venturing into this career, you don't necessarily have to go back to school.

This Cybersecurity and IT Career Pathway Training Bundle offers ample training to get your foot in the door. It covers the basics of IT and helps you prepare for certification tests that employers typically look for in IT professionals. For a limited time, you can score the training for only £22.25 with the code SECURE20.

Put together by Cisco Certified Systems Instructor David Bombal and CompTIA Certification Pro Mike Meyers and his team, this expert-led bundle packs eight courses and 169 hours of training on cybersecurity fundamentals. Through beginner-friendly lectures, you can expect to get to grips with the fundamentals of ethical hacking, like cracking passwords and intercepting traffic, the ABCs of security, like risk management, risk mitigation, and threat management, and the building blocks of network management like designing and implementing functional networks and troubleshooting basic to advanced network problems.

In terms of certification prep, you can also expect to receive assistance with training for various tests, including CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA CySA+, and more. You also have the option to take the courses at your own pace, at your own time, and using just about any device.

Grab this Cybersecurity and IT Career Pathway Training Bundle on sale for £22.25 with the code SECURE20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Cisco The Ultimate Cybersecurity and IT Career Certification Pathway Training Bundle £22.25 with the code SECURE20 Get Deal

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for April 6'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.

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

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 used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

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:

A songbird.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. What's the answer to Wordle today?

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 Wordle #1022 is...

FINCH.

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.

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

Connections is the latest New York Times word game 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 April 6's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Motivations

• Green: Summertime Accessories

• Blue: A multitude

• Purple: Types of horses

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: Intrinsic Motivators

• Green: Summer Gear

• Blue: Collection

• Purple: Horse___

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 Connections #300 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Intrinsic Motivators: DESIRE, DRIVE, RESOLVE, WILL

• Summer Gear: HAT, SHORTS, SUNGLASSES, TEE

• Collection: ARRAY, BATTERY, SERIES, SET

• Horse___: FLY, POWER, RADISH, SHOE

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.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

A shocking story was promoted on the "front page" or main feed of Elon Musk's X on Thursday:

"Iran Strikes Tel Aviv with Heavy Missiles," read the headline. 

Captured trending on X on April 4, 2024. Credit: Mashable screenshot

This would certainly be a worrying world news development. Earlier that week, Israel had conducted an airstrike on Iran's embassy in Syria, killing two generals as well as other officers. Retaliation from Iran seemed like a plausible occurrence.

SEE ALSO: I’ve been forcibly blue-checked on Elon Musk's X. Here’s what it’s like.

But, there was one major problem: Iran did not attack Israel. The headline was fake.

Even more concerning, the fake headline was apparently generated by X's own official AI chatbot, Grok, and then promoted by X's trending news product, Explore, on the very first day of an updated version of the feature.

Tweet may have been deleted How Musk let this happen

A few years before Elon Musk acquired the platform then-known as Twitter, the company rolled out a new feature that provided written context for trending topics. The technology powering the written trend descriptions? Humans.

Previously when a story would break, Twitter's algorithms would catch the relevant keywords being posted and share the trend, but it sometimes wouldn't be obvious why a given set of words was trending.

But, in 2020, Twitter put together a team of human editors to curate news and put trends in context. In addition, the top tweets that showed up under a trending topic would no longer just be algorithmically ranked, but include human curation as well. One year later, Twitter partnered with AP and Reuters to further bolster its efforts to provide human-provided context to trending topics.

Shortly after Musk bought the company in October 2022, though, the written context on trending topics disappeared. Musk had laid off Twitter's human editors. As Reuters reported in November 2022, "Twitter's curation team, which was responsible for 'highlighting and contextualizing the best events and stories that unfold on Twitter,' had been axed."

X's newly updated Explore page

Earlier this week, some X fan accounts like @XDaily shared screenshots of X's upcoming Explore page relaunch. X's Explore page includes the platform's infamous trending topics list along with specific section breakouts like "News" and "Sports" to provide users with trending stories in each particular subject category.

Tweet may have been deleted

Musk's updated Explore page looked poised to bring back the written context provided to trending topics and stories.

On April 4, X began rolling out its newly updated Explore page. The update provides top user posts on each individual trending topic as well as an easy-to-digest summary of the subject matter above the user content. At the very top of the page, an X-created headline presents the information to readers much as if they were about to read an article on the topic. 

In addition, the update also gives Explore a new, prominent location on the platform. Explore's trending stories now appear embedded directly in the right-hand sidebar of the main X homepage, where the trending topics list used to be located, which hundreds of millions of X's daily users view everyday.

In a screenshot captured from popular Twitch user Hasan Piker's stream, the fake AI-generated X headline can be seen trending on the platform's homepage sidebar. Credit: Hasan Piker's Twitch

However, Musk has not brought back Twitter's curation team, nor has he hired new human editors to write the context X now provides.

The context is written by X's AI chatbot, Grok.

The danger of X depending on AI

We know that Grok, an AI feature heavily promoted by Musk, powers X's contextualized summaries because X says so itself in the fine print on every Explore page.

Tweet may have been deleted

"Grok is an early feature and can make mistakes," reads the tiny note from X underneath the written context provided on the Explore page. "Verify its outputs."

Mashable observed X's "Iran Strikes Tel Aviv with Heavy Missiles" page which spread fake news as it was trending on Thursday.

Based on our observations, it appears that the topic started trending because of a sudden uptick of blue checkmark accounts (users who pay a monthly subscription to X for Premium features including the verification badge) spamming the same copy-and-paste misinformation about Iran attacking Israel. The curated posts provided by X were full of these verified accounts spreading this fake news alongside an unverified video depicting explosions. 

A side-by-side comparison of two separate posts on the X Explore page showing fake news posts from blue check users that informed Grok. Credit: Mashable screenshot

From there, it appears X's algorithms noticed a potential story trend within these users' posts, and an Explore story page was created. We can deduce from X's own claims about its inner workings that Grok must have then created an official-looking written narrative, along with a catchy headline. It did all this based on select users sharing fake news, in an automated attempt to provide context for what the platform itself seemed to assume was a real story.

This wouldn't be the first time Grok provided users with misinformation. Previous reporting on the early versions of X's chatbot found that it often created fake news in private chats with the select few users who had access to it. However, this recent incident combined with the new Explore feature presents the first time X took Grok's misinformation, packaged it as a real trending news story, and promoted it to its entire user base, ostensibly as context for a real event.

Under Musk, disinformation has skyrocketed on the platform known as X. Thanks to the new Explore product, the company promoted a falsehood, disseminated by paying bad actors who stand to make money in exchange for generating engagements.

One day after Grok generated this fake story that X then promoted via its Explore page, the company rolled Grok out to all Premium-subscribed X users so they could use the misinformation-creating AI chatbot as well.

Tweet may have been deleted

Some Samsung Galaxy S23 users have been facing issues with their phone ever since Samsung released its new update last week.

The One UI 6.1 update came to the newer Samsung Galaxy S24 models earlier this year seemingly without a hitch. Yet, once this AI-filled update was rolled out to the older devices on March 28, users began experiencing issues where the touchscreen display was being unresponsive.

SEE ALSO: Is your Samsung Galaxy series phone unresponsive at times? You're not the only one.

Samsung has now responded to the issue, providing context on the cause of the problem. The company has also issued a temporary fix for the touchscreen issue and will soon roll out an update addressing it.

Samsung points blame at Google

Android news outlet Phandroid first noticed an official Samsung statement in the company's Korean community forum.

"Due to compatibility issues with some Google app features (Discover), the app developer is improving related servers and apps," reads a translation of Samsung's statement provided by Google Translate. "You can improve the problem by temporarily updating the Google app to the latest version, deleting the app's data, and then restarting your phone."

The issue does not seem to be related to new AI-focused features in the One UI 6.1 update as some had speculated. According to Samsung, the cause of the touchscreen issues is Google Discover, Google's tailored news feature. Samsung says Google is aware of the problem and working on a fix.

How to fix the issue

Samsung also provided a temporary solution for Galaxy users who are facing touchscreen issues due to the Google Discover bug. The company says users need to download the latest version of the Google app, then delete the app's data, and finally, restart the device.

The issue should be fixed, however, opening the Google app may once again cause the touchscreen issues. If that's the case, the user must go through these steps all over again.

Galaxy users facing the issue can update the Google app in the Google Play Store by searching for the app before tapping "Update." After the app is updated, go to the Settings option on Android, choose Applications, and then open the Google app. On that menu, tap on Storage, followed by the Delete data "dustpan" icon. Next, restart the device.

This should solve the touchscreen problem for Samsung Galaxy S23 owners for now, at least until a full-on fix is rolled out.

Android users are about to get a lot more options for how long their displays stay active before locking up.

In a first look at the latest Android 15 developer beta (via Android Authority), a new feature called "Adaptive Timeout" stands out. By going into your device's display settings, you'll be able to separately set times for how long it takes for your screen to timeout when you aren't using it, as well as how long after that it takes for the device to lock itself.

The former can range from 15 seconds to 30 minutes, while the latter ranges from "immediately" to 30 minutes.

SEE ALSO: Satellite texting may come to Android, with a big leg up over iPhone

Beyond that, there's an optional toggle that will stop your phone's screen from turning off while you're looking at it by using the front-facing camera. That's not strictly new, but there's a novel wrinkle to it: You'll be able to lock up early if you're not actively looking at it.

Obviously, anything that keeps your screen off will extend your phone's battery life. The only weird part of this is that some of it kind of sounds like how smartphones have always worked. For instance, iPhones can already set a screen auto-lock time. Perhaps there's some other angle to this that will rear its head once the feature is in people's hands, but it isn't the most revolutionary thing in the world.

It shouldn't be long now before we get a more thorough and official explanation of feature. Google is set to talk about Android 15 at Google I/O in May.

Amongst the swirl of iPhone 16 rumors, a new leak suggests we might see a bigger screen.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 16 rumors: Every single thing we know about it so far

According to South Korean publication The Elec, certain iPhone 16 models might have a thinner bezels due to something called Border Reduction Technology (BRS).

The report, brought to the English-speaking world by MacRumors, describes BRS as a technology that bends the circuits underneath the screen and places them more tightly, making the display bigger without taking up more space and compromising performance. The Korean outlet, which has been reliable for leaks at the manufacturing stage, says LG Display is ramping up its supply chain efforts to meet Apple's goal.

The iPhone 15, which was released in 2023, has the thinnest bezels yet — and this leak suggests Apple is inching closer to its rumored goal of achieving a completely bezel-less iPhone. However, that probably won't happen for a while.

The larger display would most likely be applied to the iPhone 16 Pro models. This lines up with previous reports that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max allegedly have slightly larger displays with an increase of 6.1 to 6.3 inches and 6.7 to 6.9 inches respectively.

Other recent leaks indicate the iPhone 16 will have some design changes in the button department. That reportedly includes a new "capture" button for taking photos and a programmable action button in addition to the power and volume buttons.

It's all speculation at this point (from reputable sources), so we'll just have to wait and see what Apple unveils at its September iPhone event.

SAVE $10: As of April 5, three-month memberships to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate are just $39.99 at Target. That's $10 off the usual price, and almost $20 less than you'd pay if you subscribed through Xbox's website.

Opens in a new window Credit: Xbox Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (3-month memberhship) $39.99 at Target
$49.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal

We've said it before and we'll say it again: Xbox Game Pass is a necessity if you own an Xbox. It's still one of the best deals in gaming, and we can't think of a single reason not to subscribe if you already own a Series X or S.

Thankfully, you can almost always find a good deal on a Game Pass subscription, and today is no exception. Target is currently offering three-month Game Pass Ultimate memberships for just $39.99, which is $10 cheaper than usual. Subscribing to Game Pass through Xbox for three months would normally run you about $50, so this deal is even better than it looks.

SEE ALSO: Gaming starter kit: All the gear you need to play like a real gamer

Xbox Game Pass almost sounds too good to be true, but it's exactly what it claims to be: A massive library of games that you can download and play at your leisure as long as you have an active subscription. That includes classic cross-platform titles, as well as day-one releases for Xbox-exclusive games. And with the Ultimate tier membership, you'll also be able to take advantage of the PC Game Pass library, online play, and cloud gaming support. That's way better than having to consistently buy new games at $70 a pop, if you ask us.

SAVE $40: Get an Insignia 32-inch HD Fire TV for just $89.99 at Amazon as of April 5. That's 31% off the list price of $129.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: INSIGNIA Insignia 32-inch HD Fire TV $89.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal

Buying a new smart TV is a big decision. You have to weigh so many factors such as size, special features, and how you'll stream from it. Most of all, though, you'll consider the potentially hefty price tag. Get everything you need with an HD TV on sale at Amazon today for under $100.

As of April 5, the Insignia 32-inch HD Fire TV is on sale for 31% off, bringing the price down from $129.99 to just $89.99 when you shop at Amazon. This puts $40 back in your wallet.

SEE ALSO: Today, you can score an Amazon Fire TV soundbar for under $100

With the Insignia 32-inch HD Fire TV you can experience your favorite shows in crisp 720p high definition. While we love the TV's clarity, we also love how easy it is to use. You can use Alexa Voice Remote technology to control your entertainment with your voice so you never have to fiddle around with tiresome remotes again. Thanks to Fire TV, you also have built-in access to over 1 million movies and shows, plus thousands of channels and apps.

Upgrade your entertainment for less today with this discounted Insignia 32-inch HD Fire TV.

Amazon deals of the day: OUR TOP PICK Dyson Ball Animal 3 upright vacuum $299 at Amazon (save $100.99) Get Deal BEST KITCHEN DEAL Chefman 12-Quart 6-in-1 Air Fryer Oven $99.99 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal BEST AT-HOME BAR DEAL Frigidaire Compact Countertop Ice Maker $74.99 at Amazon (save $15) Get Deal BEST SMART HOME DEAL Kasa Smart Light Bulbs 4-pack $24.99 at Amazon (save $15 with on-page coupon) Get Deal

Amazon truly delivers when it comes to deals. While its big shopping holidays like Prime Day and the recent Big Spring Sale are flooded with massive savings, the retail giant also drops discounts on practically any given day. Take today, for example. We've sorted through the pages and pages of listings and handpicked a few of the best deals you can shop on April 5.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. And don't forget to take a peek at our top picks from April 3 and April 4, as many of those discounts are still available.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Amazon deal of the day: Dyson Ball Animal 3 upright vacuum $299.00 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $100.99 Get Deal

While robot vacuums and cordless stick vacuums have taken over the cleaning world, there still comes a time when you need to whip out the trusty upright to get the job done. That's where the Dyson Ball Animal 3 truly shines. It may not be compact or cordless, but it's still easy to maneuver, thanks to the latest rendition of Dyson's iconic Ball technology. Plus, it offers three different cleaning modes, one-click dirt emptying, whole-machine filtration, a washable lifetime filter, a 1.7 liter dustbin, and 290AW of suction power. Translation: this thing is a beast. You'll only get two accessories (the stair tool and combination tool) with this base model, but it'll cost you just $299 on sale — that's 25% in savings and an all-time low price. As of April 5, it's also on sale at Dyson's website and Best Buy for just 99 cents more.

Opens in a new window Credit: Chefman Chefman 12-Quart 6-in-1 Air Fryer Oven $99.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

It's about time you jumped on the air fryer bandwagon. This 12-quart air fryer oven from Chefman features a dozen cooking presets, intuitive touch controls, and a temperature range from 95 to 450 degrees. The large capacity can fit an entire chicken or three entirely different courses on the included wire racks. It's also capable of roasting, baking, and dehydrating, making it a whole lot more than just an air fryer. As of April 5, it's on sale for 33% off and a new all-time low price of $99.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Frigidaire Frigidaire Compact Countertop Ice Maker $74.99 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal

A room-temperature margarita just doesn't have the same zest as a margarita on the rocks. Whether you're hosting guests or enjoying a drink after dinner, an ice maker is a necessity — and this compact one from Frigidaire conveniently sits on your countertop and pops out 26 pounds of bullet cubes per day. It's regularly $90, but you can snag it on sale as of April 5 for just $74.99, a new all-time low price.

Opens in a new window Credit: TP-Link Kasa Smart Light Bulbs 4-pack $24.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $15.00 with on-page coupon Get Deal

Set the mood in each room of your home with these Kasa smart multicolor light bulbs. They're WiFi-enabled and you can control them via app, voice control, or even set them on a schedule to adjust naturally. A four-pack is usually $40, but you can pick it up at Amazon as of April 5 for only $24.99. That's just $1 away from its lowest price ever.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

GET $80 OFF: Score a Google Pixel Watch (WiFi) for just $199.99 at Amazon, down from $279.99, or snag the LTE version for $249.99, down from $329.99.

Overview Best deal overall Google Pixel Watch (LTE) $249.99 at Amazon (save $80) Get Deal Best budget deal Google Pixel Watch (WiFi) $199.99 at Amazon (save $80) Get Deal

If you're not a fan of traditional watches or you need a smartwatch that can do a little bit more than tell time, the Google Pixel Watch offers a happy medium between functionality and affordability.

SEE ALSO: Google and Fitbit are building an AI personal trainer

As of April 5, you can score a Google Pixel Watch (WiFi) for less than $200 at Amazon. If you prefer to have constant connectivity, the Google Pixel Watch (LTE) is also available for $249.99.

Here are the details:

Best deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Watch (LTE) $249.99 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $80.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Google Pixel Watch (LTE) offers a great combination of functionality and affordability. The Google Pixel Watch (LTE) has a chic and ultra-modern design and comes in several colors, including champagne gold and matte black. It's also waterproof up to 50 meters, so you can wear it while swimming without worrying about damaging it.

This watch doubles as a fitness tracker and can monitor your heart rate, track your steps, and provide insights into how many calories you've burned throughout the day. It includes a free six-month trial to Fitbit Premium. Plus, it can also auto-alert your trusted contacts or call 911 with an emergency SOS feature whenever you feel unsafe or need assistance.

The only downside is that this watch doesn't work with an iPhone, so you'll need an Android device to use it.

Best budget deal Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Watch (WiFi) $199.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $80.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Google Pixel Watch (WiFi) offers the same functionality and color options as the model above. The only real difference between these two watches is that the WiFi model does not have LTE connectivity. This means you'll need your phone nearby in order to receive notifications and use certain features.

However, if you're looking for a more budget-friendly option and don't mind having your phone on you, the Google Pixel Watch (WiFi) is an affordable choice to consider that comes with a ton of functional and fitness-tracking features. Note that Amazon upped the MSRP on its site, so this is the discount per Google's original pricing.

SAVE $20: Today, April 5, you can get an Amazon Fire TV soundbar for its best price on Amazon. Today's deal gives shoppers a 17% markdown, taking the price down from $119.99 to $99.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV soundbar $99.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal

When you want to escape into your favorite shows, movies, or games, having immersive sound elevates your experience. Having a soundbar does just that. Today, you can score a high-quality soundbar for under $100.

The Amazon Fire TV soundbar is on sale today, April 5, for $99.99. This takes $20 (or 17%) off its usual list price of $119.99. This deal marks a return to the soundbar's lowest-ever price, which we saw back in February and over the winter holidays. While it will likely go on sale again, today is a smart time to buy.

With dual speakers and Dolby Atmos technology, the Amazon Fire TV soundbar produces a powerful experience that delivers crisp sound, clear voices, and deep bass. Picking a soundbar can be a big choice for audiophiles and cinema buffs. But going with the Amazon Fire TV soundbar is an easy choice for folks who already have an Amazon Fire TV, because you can control your Fire TV and soundbar with one remote.

Shop the Amazon Fire TV soundbar today, April 5 to take advantage of this all-time-low price.

GET UP TO $70 OFF: Get the Shark Portable StainStriker carpet cleaner for just $109.99, down from $139.99, and the Matrix Robot vacuum for $229.99, down from $299.99, at Amazon.

Overview Best Shark carpet cleaner deal Shark Portable StainStriker $109.99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal Best Shark robot vacuum deal Matrix Robot $229.99 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal

Dyson may be the "it" vacuum brand, but Shark isn't too far behind in popularity. (I have three Shark vacuums, and they've made my life much easier!) With an extensive line of vacuum cleaners, a rep for top-notch performance, and an affordable price range, Shark is a solid option for anyone who wants a clean house without breaking the bank.

SEE ALSO: The best vacuum cleaners for picking up pet hair

Right now, two of Shark's highly rated models, the Portable StainStriker (perfect for quick stain removal on upholstery and carpets) and the Matrix Robot (a robotic vacuum with a self-cleaning brush roll) are available at discounted prices at Amazon.

Here are the details:

Best portable vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Our pick: Shark Portable StainStriker $109.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Shark StainStriker portable carpet and upholstery cleaner doesn't just have a cool name; it delivers powerful stain removal capabilities. Its dual-activated tough stain eliminator (no premix required) can remove stains and odors on carpets, area rugs, couches, car seats, and more. Add Shark's special solution mix, and you've got the power of Oxy for 20 times more effective stain removal.

This portable vac is ideal for pet owners or new parents who often deal with spills and messes. It includes an integrated crevice tool for nooks and crannies in cushions and hard-to-reach areas, a reversible bristle tool, a pet tool, a hose clean tool, and one six-ounce Deep Clean Pro Formula and one 12-ounce Oxy Multiplier Formula.

Best robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Our pick: Matrix Robot $229.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it

My Shark robot (the Shark AI Ultra Robot) is the best purchase I've ever made, full stop — so this is a brand I trust and recommend. So, I don't think you'll regret investing in the Shark Matrix Robot.

Although the Matrix Robot doesn't come with an empty dustbin, it does feature a self-cleaning brush roll and Matrix Clean technology to ensure every inch of your home is spotless. With the Shark app, you can control and schedule cleaning sessions from anywhere (even if you're at dinner or shopping for groceries) and get real-time notifications on the cleaning progress.

If you prefer voice command, the Matrix Robot is compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It includes a charging dock and one side brush.

Northeast cities were rocked by a 4.8-magnitude earthquake around 10:20 a.m. on Friday, but if you spend any time on X, you probably already knew that.

The internet reacted swiftly, in a way that might have reminded you of the Twitter (X) of yore. There was a time when X was less about virality and more about sharing news right as it was happening — and that's what happened when the glasses started to shake in Northeast cabinets on Friday morning. Dozens of voices bounced through the halls of the social media platforms echoing: "Did you just feel that?"

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It's uncommon for New Yorkers to experience an earthquake, but it's not unheard of. This quake was centered near Lebanon, New Jersey, roughly 40 miles west of New York City. The Mashable culture and tech teams were in a video meeting discussing the merits of Beyonce's new album, Cowboy Carter, specifically her cover of Dolly Parton's "Jolene" when we felt it.

Beyond the most obvious observations ("we had an earthquake"), here are some of the best tweets about the disturbing phenomenon.

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From the Total Solar Eclipse to Gen Z reviving the Facebook 'Poke', host Josh Burstein takes us on a comedic journey through the week's top stories.

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