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How do you describe the feeling you get when you revisit something you love, only to realize it's not as great as you thought it was? Is it disappointment, frustration, reverse nostalgia?

Whatever you want to call it, it's how I feel about Hacks Season 3.

SEE ALSO: Summer TV Preview: Every show you must see

This season the Emmy-winning comedy, starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, falls into a dull routine. Sure, on a surface level, it certainly goes bigger: Veteran comedian Deborah Vance (Smart) and young comedy writer Ava Daniels (Einbinder) reunite to try to make Deborah the next host of Late Night, the landmark show she almost hosted earlier in her career. But beneath the spectacle — including a lavish roast episode and Hacks' version of a Christmas special — the show's comedy is running in safe, repetitive circles.

Watching Hacks Season 3, it's hard not to wish it was more like The Other Two, another Max Original that satirized the entertainment industry. The Other Two constantly pushed itself to be riskier and stranger — take its surreal Pleasantville spoof, or a farce involving a fake Applebees built for a family night out. Ava and Deborah are meant to push each other to be better in a similar way, each making the other's jokes sharper and stronger. But when held up against The Other Two's brilliant third (and final) season, Hacks' own third outing just doesn't seem all that funny. It mostly feels safe.

Is Hacks past its prime? Jean Smart, Megan Stalter, and Paul W. Downs in "Hacks." Credit: Jake Giles Netter / Max

Ever since Hacks' first season, I thought it was hysterical. I loved Deborah and Ava's generational sparring, especially their love language of insulting one another. (Deborah frequently takes aim at Ava's hands, while Ava zings Deborah over her absurd wealth.) Yet in in watching the entirety of Season 3 — and even revisiting old episodes — I wonder if Smart's star power and chemistry with Einbinder blinded me to the truth: Hacks was never as funny at it was dazzling.

Looking back, none of Deborah's insult comedy is all that inspired, nor do the snippets of her confessional stand-up special — the one that essentially relaunches her career — seem that revelatory. There's stuff to chuckle at here to be sure, like a gag that sees Deborah trying to find a way to circumvent Ava's new "no more appearance insults" rule. But after all that repetition, this vein of humor begins to feel stale.

Elsewhere, Ava's horror at Deborah's more problematic punchlines has become a crutch. The offensive jokes lead to a mini-lecture from Ava, then a sharp reversal by Deborah that forces Ava to concede that she's a hypocrite — or to make a compromise in order to advance her career. How often can Hacks repeat this formula for laughs without altering it? Practically without end, according to Season 3.

SEE ALSO: 'Shardlake' review: Where buddy comedy meets Tudor murder mystery (and it works)

The same goes for interactions between Deborah and Ava's frantic manager Jimmy (Paul W. Downs) and his clueless assistant Kayla (Meg Stalter). Often, Kayla will put her foot in her mouth — saying she finds Jimmy's mom hot, for instance — and then people around her pause to push back on what she said. With this routine, any momentum crashes to a halt, any joke is shoved under a microscope until it isn't a joke anymore. Even a well-timed reaction shot would do twice the work of these longer bits.

With its drawn-out put-downs of Kayla's many errors or Deborah's politically incorrect jibes, Hacks is constantly apologizing for itself. Despite its bluster about bold humor, the show holds the audience's hand and let them know that a character has said something wrong, rather than letting the audience make that judgment for themselves and react to the absurdity in it. Instead of honing a joke, these moments soften them.

By contrast, The Other Two often leaned further into its jokes and the heightened horrors of its take on the entertainment industry. That's how we end up with a fake play titled 8 Gay Men With AIDS: A Poem In Many Hours. It's an impressive piece of satire that The Other Two pulls off spectacularly precisely because it commits to it, with a whole episode set throughout a days-long performance of the show.

Hacks certainly doesn't need to go to those particular lengths. But I wish it would find any new joke that could give it the same spark, specificity, and freshness The Other Two kept up throughout its run. Otherwise, it's just resting on its now-worn laurels.

Deborah and Ava are still a great TV pairing — just mostly when things get serious. Hannah Einbinder in "Hacks." Credit: Eddy Chen / Max

Hacks still has one major spark of inspiration up its sleeve. The relationship between Deborah and Ava remains as strangely chaotic, codependent, and compelling as ever. This season takes this pairing to some of their highest highs and lowest lows yet, from the pursuit of Late Night to a hiking trip from hell. And when they're not sniping each other with insults that feel rote at this point, these two women are having some pretty intense, frank conversations.

Take Deborah's constant battle with her aging. On a superficial level, this means she uses things like anti-aging straws to keep herself wrinkle-free. But on a deeper level, this means seeking out bigger and bigger shows, like Late Night, as she fears she won't have many shots left. Her discussions with Ava on this matter are poignant, taking the weight off of Ava's weaker personal relationship drama and allowing the two to continue to connect on how to succeed in comedy.

Season 3's focus on family is poignant as well, with Deborah trying to make amends with people like her daughter DJ (Kaitlin Olson). Elsewhere, Hacks tackles cancel culture in an episode that, while perhaps not entirely successful in its analysis of the matter, is at least taking interesting risks in reckoning with Deborah's comedic legacy. It's fascinating to watch Deborah squirm when she must confront her mistakes. And it's fascinating to see Ava's usual lectures actually take on more meaning than just setting up for an "Ava is performative" joke.

Hacks has never distanced itself from heavier, more dramatic themes. So much of the show deals with sexism in comedy, with Season 1 seeing Deborah confront a gross stand-up comedian for harassing female performers. Elsewhere, the show targets grief: Ava spends much of Season 2 mourning the death of her father in the previous season, while Deborah is still processing her lost relationship with her estranged sister Kathy. Despite all this, Season 3 is the first time I've thought to myself, "I like Hacks better when it's functioning as a drama."

Of course, comedy and drama don't always function on a binary: The Bear comes to mind, and even The Other Two could get very somber when it needed to. But Hacks is a comedy about comedians — is it too much to ask for it to deliver some laughs?

Hacks Season 3 premieres May 2 on Max, with new episodes every Thursday.

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The premise of The Idea of You might sound familiar: a middle-aged mother/creative and a twentysomething British boy-bander fall in love, much to the media and fans' chagrin. I am, of course, referring to the endlessly discussed romance between Harry Styles and Don't Worry Darling director Olivia Wilde. However, the source material, the Robinne Lee novel of the same name, dates back to 2017 — years before Spitgate, Miss Flo, and salad dressing Instagram Stories. But Styles did inspire Lee to write the novel.

SEE ALSO: 'The Idea of You' review: Anne Hathaway dazzles in rom-com inspired by Harry Styles fandom

The book garnered its own devout readers during the height of the pandemic, when Styles' popularity skyrocketed. It follows the romance between 39-year-old Los Angeles-based art gallerist and mother Solène and superstar Hayes Campbell.

What with all the fanfare around the similarities between the story and Styles and Wilde, fans of the book and beautiful people appreciators ran the trailer numbers for the film adaptation up to a record-breaking 125 million views, making it the most-watched trailer for a streaming movie to date.

Now, with the movie coming to Prime Video, you might be wondering how much screenwriters Jennifer Westfeldt and Michael Showalter (who also directed) strayed from the source material. Here are the biggest differences between The Idea of You's novel and movie.

How much of The Idea of You is inspired by Harry Styles?

In 2017, Lee told blogger Deborah Kalb, "I was up late surfing music videos on YouTube when I came across the face of a boy I’d never seen in a band I’d never paid attention to, and it was so aesthetically perfect, it took me by surprise. It was like … art." She told her husband about her newfound love and he encouraged to write a book about it. Later, during the book's pandemic resurgence — partially due to Styles' skyrocketing popularity — Lee told Vogue about the inspiration for the love interest, "I made him into my dream guy, like Prince Harry meets Harry [Styles]."

Hayes has a "wide mouth, full lips, perfect teeth, dimples" and is covered in tattoos that scream "This is how I'm spending my first-ever big paycheck!" His boy band, August Moon, is a quintet that doesn't dance, wears tight black jeans, engages in roughhousing on stage, and releases albums with questionable names, like Wise of Naked. Sounds similar to a band that starts with "one" and ends with "direction," no? The main difference is August Moon is a "posh boy band," while the members of One Direction all came from a working class background.

The movie not only handles the Harry elephant in the room, but Westfeldt and Showalter improve upon the book, transforming it into something anyone, not just horny Styles fans, can enjoy.

Aging up lead characters lessens the cringe

In the book, Hayes (Bottoms' Nicholas Galitzine) and Solène (Anne Hathaway) first meet when she brings her 12-year-old daughter Izzy to a meet-and-greet in Las Vegas for his band, August Moon. Their secret affair spans about a dozen August Moon tour stops, with time spent in Paris, Miami, and the Hamptons. The primary conflicts of the book are Solène's guilt over abandoning her tween daughter to have crazy sex with someone 20 years younger, and the stress when the band's fans and the media discover their relationship.

The adaptation outright fixes many of the book's problems, like Izzy's obsession with Hayes and comments about Hayes being "barely legal" by bumping both Hayes and Izzy's ages up four years to 24 and 16, respectively. By doing so, there's immediately less conflict between Solène and Izzy (played by Ella Rubin), because Izzy isn't harboring a schoolgirl crush on her mom's famous beau. Additionally, the film lingers on establishing their rock-solid mother-daughter bond through several heartwarming scenes where the duo sings along to August Moon and King Princess in the car together. 

Besties! Credit: Alisha Wetherill / Prime

The film also course-corrects some of the classicism inherent in Lee's book. For example, Lee wrote that the members of August Moon met at an Oxford/Cambridge feeder prep school. In the book, Solène and Hayes bond over their "good breeding."

Showalter and Westfeldt knew that wouldn't fly in 2024. So they set Solène's life in Silver Lake rather than Malibu; omitting all the luxury brand name-dropping also makes Solène much more down-to-earth, though still wealthy enough to be able to take a weeks-long break from running her gallery. Hathaway's natural charm elevates these changes. She turns Solène into a quirky rom-com heroine that you can't help but root for. 

The Idea of You isn't fan fiction; it's a rom-com.

Showalter and Westfeldt transform a wish-fulfillment fantasy about not-quite Harry Styles fingering an older woman in a series of glamorous locations (Rome! Paris!) into a bona fide rom-com, which means a charming "meet-cute" is required. This demands a stark change from the novel, where Hayes and Solène meet across the table in Vegas, with her tween daughter in tow.

In the book, Hayes asks during this brief encounter for Solène to bring her 12-year-old-daughter and her friends to the boy band's afterparty. It's later revealed when he saw Solène in line for the meet-and-greet, he whispered in his bandmate's ear, "I just want to fuck her mouth."

The movie takes a less sleazy approach, setting up a meet-cute away from Izzy altogether. In both the book and the film, Solène is not a fan of the boy band. She only takes Izzy and her friends to meet August Moon because her cheater ex-husband flakes at the last minute. Because of the age change, in the film, this gift is misguided because 16-year-old Izzy now finds August Moon "so seventh grade."

In the film, Solène barges into Hayes' trailer — thinking it's the VIP bathroom. And he's so charmed by her that — in true 24-year-old fashion — he asks, "Do you want to hang out?" But he's quickly caught up with his wardrobe team, and she slips out the door. Mere hours later, they reunite at the fan event, where he flirts and peppers her with questions. During August Moon's headlining set, Hayes announces, "I met someone tonight," and dedicates the band's song, "Closer" to her.

Hayes Campbell is not fanfic Harry Styles 

While movie Hayes is still British with a patchwork of ill-advised tattoos, he's decidedly not Styles. Hayes' characterization in the book relies on the sexed-up fan-created persona of Styles often found in fan fiction. Lucky for viewers, Showalter and Westfeldt's Hayes is entirely his own boy-bander. First of all, he can dance.

After Solène and Hayes finally have sex in the movie, the film cuts to Hayes ordering chicken fingers from room service. In perhaps the most charming scene of the film, he proceeds to dance around in his underwear with the chicken fingers, joined by Solène — something that would never happen in the book. Showalter and Westfeldt's writing chops add extra dimension to flat characters, and their leads' charisma certainly doesn't hurt.

Film Hayes is a guy whose biggest fear is that he's a joke to people, not that he'll get his DNA on an underaged girl. Yes, that's a genuine conversation Solène and Hayes have in the book. 

Izzy finds out... and the ending is dramatically different.

Solène and Hayes' whirlwind romance gets complicated in both the book and movie when Izzy — and the world — find out about it.

In the book, Izzy freaks out when she finds out about Solène and Hayes, because she is 12 and believes she is in love with him. In the movie, Hayes isn't even Izzy's favorite of the August Moon boys. After much consolation and Izzy moving back in with her dad, she accepts Solène and Hayes' relationship, only to be bullied at school.

The exact same incident is the breaking point for Solène in the book and movie: A group of older girls asks Izzy for a photo of Hayes' "dick," and her crush asks her to "tell her mom he's almost 18." After a final rendezvous with Hayes in Japan, Solène breaks it off for good and returns to her life at the gallery and with Izzy.

In the film, this older Izzy is more supportive. The news of their romance breaks the day Solène picks Izzy up from summer camp — after Solène has already broken up with Hayes. Izzy is disappointed that Solène lied to her, but quickly forgives her. She even encourages her mother to give Hayes another chance, urging, "Why would you break up with a talented, kind feminist?!"

However, the harassment of both Solène and Izzy by Hayes' rabid fanbase and Izzy's classmates — which is the same as in the book — becomes too much for their family. Solène breaks it off with Hayes again. However, he suggests that in five years, once Izzy is in college and "living her best life," they will give their romance another chance. 

Where in the book, Solène must choose between her love life and her child's well-being, the movie doesn't force her into such a corner. The novel includes lots of heavy-handed commentary about older women becoming invisible, and ends with the heroine returning to a quiet existence to protect herself and her family.

The movie rejects this theme of invisibility, perhaps because Hathaway (who also produces) is far from it. All the book's attempts at late 19th-century feminist messaging are undermined by its ending, which asserts mothers can't have it all. But the film's ending resists the idea that mothers must choose between their happiness and the happiness of their children. You can get the (famous) guy and a stable childhood for your daughter — at least in the movies.

The Idea of You will debut on Amazon Prime Video on May 2.

In Michael Showalter’s The Idea of You — which sees a middle-aged mother falling for a youthful pop star — fan-fiction fantasy collides with reality in clunky ways. The result, however, is breathtaking for one reason in particular: a career-highlight performance from Anne Hathaway, who also serves as the movie’s producer.

The rom-com is seldom considered a venue for such luminous on-screen work, but Showalter’s film (penned by Kissing Jessica Stein's Jennifer Westfeldt) affords the Oscar-winning actress a fun, freeing, and occasionally melodramatic part. While the movie too lazily expresses its social commentary through verbose declarations about double standards for women in the public spotlight, Hathaway frequently speaks with her eyes, bringing the story’s more complicated emotions and desires to the fore in silent, considered moments.

SEE ALSO: How 'The Idea of You' movie compares to the book

It's a rush of energy at times, and its weakest moments are only fleeting inconveniences. Bottoms' Nicholas Galitzine holds his own opposite Hathaway in a role that — though shallowly written — provides him with a star-making turn. But enough cannot be said about what a tremendous performance Hathaway delivers here, practically warping the movie around her blazing screen presence, until The Idea of You becomes a personal mission statement about the kind of roles she will very likely command in the near future. (In her own words: “I want to have fun, dammit. It speaks to me.”)

What is The Idea of You about?  

Based on the 2017 novel by actress Robinne Lee, The Idea of You expands on the burgeoning cottage industry of film based on lightly-disguised fan fiction of One Direction’s Harry Styles. Where the five-movie After series — released between 2019 and 2023, based on a series of 2014-15 novels — features international college student Hardin Scott (Hero Fiennes Tiffin), The Idea of You has the more straightforwardly Styles-esque Hayes Campbell (Galitzine), a 24-year-old English heartthrob who ostensibly leads the boy band August Moon.

The group, now nearly a decade old, is still popular with tweens and mothers, but to high-schooler Izzy (Ella Rubin) and her friends, they’re already a nostalgia act ("They’re so seventh grade," she groans). When Izzy’s father, Daniel (Reid Scott), splurges on VIP tickets to the band’s Coachella meet-and-greet, she politely agrees to attend — while her mother Solène (Hathaway) is unexpectedly called in to chaperone.

SEE ALSO: 'The Idea of You's August Moon gives us the boy band bops we deserve

Solène is a 40-year-old art dealer in Los Angeles's hipster chic Silver Lake, and isn’t particularly enthused about hordes of screaming fans of August Moon — a band she knows little about. However, a misunderstanding leads to a meet-cute in Hayes’ trailer, during which the young Brit is instantly smitten with the beguiling mom. Solène is more amused than swooning. But the fact that she doesn’t seem to really know who he is — and that she isn’t flustered or overwhelmed by his celebrity — is refreshing to Hayes.

He pursues her with oodles of charm, leading to a secretive whirlwind romance on his European tour. Unfortunately, a celebrity affair can only stay secret for so long. The dam inevitably breaks, revealing a flood of misogyny directed Solène’s way through social media. 

This leads to a somber detour, during which the film insists on stopping to explain its underlying social dynamics in broad, preachy statements for the camera, even when it doesn’t need to. Hathaway’s quiet responses to each evolving scenario carry enough nuance to get the point across, ensuring that The Idea of You remains tethered to its emotional core even when it verges on sermonizing. There’s rarely a moment where the actress isn’t utterly convincing as a woman trying to fend off venomous media scrutiny as she attempts to live her best life. It’s a fitting role for Hathaway, given what she’s been through herself — Hathahaters gonna hate — but this is just one of several elements that makes her performance so unmissable.

Anne Hathaway is absolutely stunning in The Idea of You.

The plot might seem run-of-the-mill, but the dramatic tensions between Hayes and Solène — stemming from their differing lifestyles, and the disparity in what they want and how they read various situations, given their 16-year age gap — are deftly expressed through wordless glances. You could watch the film on mute and still feel 100 percent of the electricity between its leads (though you’d miss out on the movie’s earworm soundtrack in the process, a fitting mix of classic rock and August Moon "originals").  As it's being released straight to Prime Video, it’s a shame The Idea of You won’t see a proper theatrical release, because listening to (and more importantly, feeling) an entire audience being swept up in the movie is one hell of a fun experience. It’s the kind of film that draws not only raucous laughter from a crowd, but excited hooting and hollering when things get hot and heavy. 

The couple’s hesitance is palpable, but so is their mutual lust and their deeper, more fulfilling connection. Showalter builds their respective desires through scenes of what they lack, or what they can’t find elsewhere. Hayes attempts to tune out the overzealous energy of screaming fans, and Solène tries her best not to be bogged down by the mundane, divorcé energy of men her age. He wants something more mature, and more stable, while she yearns for the kind of free-spirited adventure she never had as a young mother who married right after college. These desires are at odds, but can they meet perfectly in the middle?

Nicolas Galitzine is no Harry Styles. 

As a stage performer in The Idea of You, Galitzine lacks the pop prince's high level of panache. But he is committed to rounding out the character with hidden layers behind closed doors. However, he frequently brushes up against issues in the film’s writing and editing. 

We rarely see the deeper, non-celebrity self of which he frequently speaks, and which draws Solène to him in the first place. His interiority is more discussed than revealed. Still, their dynamic is immediately enrapturing because of Hathaway’s suppressed excitement. Even if you never feel a thing for Hayes during the movie’s 115 minutes, all you need is one look at Solène’s reactions to his longing stares in order to be convinced. The way she smiles with her eyes tells an entire story on its own: of a woman who yearns to be seen and adored, and who finally gets these things whenever Hayes walks into a room.

It's a thrilling performance, and it proves to be heartbreaking even when the movie speeds through its interpersonal drama to skip between rom-com tropes, including the inevitable rift between the lovers. Hathaway makes these rushed plot elements feel whole, turning Solène’s insecurities inward in the form of fear, and outward as impulsive, self-destructive decisions. It’s as though Solène, having been hurt by men in the past, is so terrified of love’s possibilities that she has no choice but to stop the movie dead. But no matter what direction it takes, Hathaway fills it with life.

How fantasy and reality collide in The Idea of You.

Showalter tends to lack visual flair as a filmmaker, which surprisingly (perhaps accidentally) works to his advantage in initial scenes. Before Hayes and Solène meet, the frame always seems noncommittal, both in its staging and its use of color. It’s never aesthetically offensive, but it doesn’t do much beyond take an unobtrusive, uninvolved, flatly lit look at Solène’s daily routine.

However, once Solène gives into temptation (after allowing herself to feel the giddy rush of youthful anticipation), she gets swept up in Hayes’ lifestyle, and cinematographer Jim Frohna turns the frame warm and intimate. His camera captures each arousing first — their first touch, their first kiss, and Solène’s steamy first orgasm — with ecstatic energy, as the characters get lost in passion. But they also simply enjoy each other’s company behind closed doors, and get swept up in joy and laughter far away from watchful eyes.

When the weight of reality comes crashing down on them, in the form of invasive celebrity gossip and online vitriol, the effects on Solène’s psyche are stark. But the impact of their relationship on Izzy ends up a key factor in the film’s trajectory. In aging Izzy up to 16 (she’s 12 years old in the book), she becomes a much more self-aware part of the story, with her own thoughts and her own conflicting objections and acceptance. The film employs her as a sly mouthpiece for its gender commentary — much like Barbie did with its opinionated teenager —but how seriously it takes her input seems to change from scene to scene.

On the plus side, The Idea of You never falls victim to the brash, reductive framing of art and artistry found in many mainstream films — especially romance films, where couples bond over their distaste for perceived pretentiousness. What starts out as a scene of Hayes and Solène making fun of modern, interpretive art takes on a much more meaningful tone as they find connection in the abstract. Solène loves art, after all, and Hayes even learns to take it as seriously as she does. Conversely, whenever Hayes’ artistic insecurities bubble to the surface, Solène takes him seriously too, despite his seemingly frivolous public persona. It helps that the music he produces — whether his soulful acoustic solos, or the group’s mainstream chart-toppers, which have a bit of a Maroon 5 kick — is genuinely worth listening to. 

The ideas these two people have of each other may be idealized at times, as is the case with any new relationship. But the movie reckons with this as well. It brushes up against the expectations of romantic comedies, at times subverting them by delving deeper than expected into its couple’s personal complications (in this case, stemming from Hayes’ dreamlike stardom). However, The Idea of You is also entirely unapologetic about its genre, despite verging on deconstructive in its final act. It wants to have its cake and eat it too, and it mostly succeeds.

Lee’s book was criticized by several readers for its sudden, arguably unpleasant ending. The movie doesn’t avoid this aspect of the source material, but it does expand on it in satisfying ways, which are anchored by Hathaway’s riveting performance, resulting in a final shot destined to be remembered among the actress’s career highlights. She’s consistently delivered during her 23-year career, whether in her Oscar-winning role in prestige musical Les Misérables, or in traditional dramas like Brokeback Mountain and Rachel Getting Married. However, her work in rom-coms isn’t remembered quite as fondly. While this may be understandable for less acclaimed films like Bride Wars and Valentine’s Day, even 2010’s Love & Other Drugs, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination, is seldom mentioned in the same breath as her strongest work. She hasn’t starred in a rom-com in nearly a decade and a half, so The Idea of You marks a triumphant return to a genre in which she hasn’t received her due, making it a crowning moment for someone who’s always had the potential to be a rom-com queen.

It’s a performance that not only works within the lighthearted confines of the rom-com, but one that demands more rigorous dramatic work as well: a cinematic synthesis that requires an actress of her caliber. She’s so phenomenally in-tune with the material that she practically transforms The Idea of You into a career rebirth, where she’s able to fashion a genre otherwise considered disposable fluff into something deeply moving, writing a new chapter for herself as a character who wrestles with whether or not she deserves a new lease on life. The answer, for both Hathaway and Solène, is an emphatic “yes,” and seeing them get everything they deserve is cinematic wish-fulfillment at its finest.

The Idea of You premieres on Prime Video May 2.

UPDATE: May. 1, 2024, 3:43 p.m. EDT "The Idea of You" was originally reviewed out of SXSW 2024.

There's no such thing as a universally best laptop. Whether a laptop works well for you — and there could be several that fit the bill — is a largely subjective decision that comes down to your primary use case(s), your preferred operating system, and your budget.

This is an annoying fact of life for both laptop shoppers and those of us doling out "best laptop" recommendations, since we can't make personalized judgment calls for every single individual in need of a new machine. (I would love to, but I've got a thing after this.) However, after spending countless hours reviewing popular laptops and identifying the specs that matter, we can confidently point you in the right direction. All of the standout models below tick those three aforementioned boxes. At the very least, we can narrow down your pool of options — don't start from square one if you don't have to.

Keep reading for Mashable's hands-on guide to the best laptops of 2024, including one new top pick: The HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch is our new favorite Chromebook.

FYI: We've listed the pricing and specs of our testing units, which may not apply to each laptop's base model.

Best deals on laptops this week

• Dell XPS 13 9315 Intel i7 512GB SSD 8GB RAM 13.4" Laptop — $629.10 With Code 10OFFCLEAR
• Dell Inspiron 16 5635 Ryzen 7 1TB SSD 16GB RAM Laptop — $539.99 With Code 10OFFCLEAR
• Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Intel i7 512GB SSD 16GB RAM 16" Laptop — $995.40 (List Price 1599.00)
• MSI Cyborg Intel i7 RTX 4060 512GB SSD 15.6" Laptop — $849.99 (List Price 1099.99)
• HP Pavilion 15t Intel i7 256GB SSD 16GB RAM 15.6" Laptop — $579.99 (List Price 1039.99)

The story so far: In July 2023, the Instagram-based app Threads exploded with a burst of enthusiasm from users desperate to flee Elon Musk's X, the app formerly known as Twitter. That faded in the first few months, when the number of daily active users (DAUs) halved. Still, Team Threads was working diligently to add many of the features a disgruntled Twitter user could desire — a web version, a reverse-chronological timeline — while Musk seemed to be doing his best to tank his own service.

"Don't be surprised if Threads becomes the go-to place for all things trending by the end of 2023," I wrote in August. This was a risky prediction. Musk himself mocked it, and that guy knows a thing or two about missing predictions.

Now here's what we learned this month: "Threads DAUs in the US passed X in December 2023 and it has not looked back," according to Apptopia, a company that tracks app usage. Had my prediction had come to pass, just under the wire? Not exactly, because the picture is a little more complicated: X is still ahead in monthly active users (MAUs) — even allowing for what researchers believe are inflated numbers from the now-private company — while DAUs are notoriously difficult to parse.

What is undeniable: it is springtime for Threads. Millions of users came back after the August dip. In Meta's earnings report in April, CEO Mark Zuckerberg trumpeted 150 million Threads MAUs, a 50% increase on the July high, and 30 million more than it saw in February. Zuck's service, unlike other Twitter alternatives, is picking up media buzz along with users: "Is Threads the Good Place?" the New York Times opinion page wondered in March.

Meanwhile, Musk's service has turned into a sleazy bot-filled soup of misinformation and dull promoted comments from pay-to-play "blue tick" accounts. Advertisers have fled as their content shows up on literal Nazi accounts reinstated by Musk, while the timeline for regular users who refuse to pay has never seen more misleading low-rent ads. It isn't working. Usage is declining, even by Musk's own admission; more unbiased reports suggest usage is down by a quarter since he took over. And the patient continues to bleed out.

Tweet may have been deleted

Equally undeniable: Threads, at least for partly-reformed Twitter addicts like me, isn't quite there yet.

On the surface, it is indeed the Good Place — a kind of heaven for some of the greatest accounts you might recall from the 2010s, back in the days of peak Twitter. And it is easier to share their output with friends: iPhones now recognize Threads links, so that witty meme or clever cat can be seen right there in Messages without clicking through.

But that doesn't mean the content itself is equally shareable. Look at both X and Threads over this past weekend, and there was no question which one had the most viral activity. Kristi Noem, the Republican governor of South Dakota, tried to explain away that whole puppy shooting thing on Twitter. If you wanted to tell the governor what a monster she was, that's where you had to go: the Bad Place.

Meanwhile, over in the schadenfreude section of the social media giant, Derek Guy, known as the menswear guy, took apart some tasteless influencer who thought he dressed like Cary Grant, nailing their stylistic differences in dozens of expertly-tailored tweets. Now, Guy does post on Threads — but only 10 times in all of April. He deconstructed his target on Twitter, because that's still where you go to do verbal battle in front of both friends and foes.

In an age when we are ever more siloed, Twitter is still the arena where all sides meet. Just about.

Drop the algorithm, Zuck

Why isn't Threads the arena with the must-read conversations? In part, the answer has to do with Zuckerberg's weird skittishness about centering news stories. But there's something else. The longer a Twitter veteran spends on Threads, the more they notice what might be described as big Meta energy — and that's not a good thing.

"Replies here feel way more like Facebook comments than Twitter replies," one user wrote this weekend, responding to another who complained about all the overly earnest responses she was receiving to half-baked thoughts on Threads. "Every time I post an idle thought or complaint I’m flooded with a ton of accounts I’ve never interacted with trying to give me unsolicited advice or tell me how it’s all my own fault."

A former colleague and social media veteran concurred, in more brusque terms: Threads users could do with understanding the concept of shitposting, she wrote. "I swear the majority of Threads users have only used normie internet and it shows."

There's something off, something very not-Twitter about the feel of the conversation, but why? In short, and a little more politely, too many Threads users are coming direct from Instagram and unwittingly relying on the Meta algorithm's pick of the Threads it wants them to read — regardless of whether they actually follow the accounts posting them. You may know it better as the "For You" tab.

Or you may not know it at all, because the current design of the Threads app on your phone hides the fact that you can switch to "Following," a.k.a. the classic reverse chronological timeline that made peak Twitter the must-read creative maelstrom it was. You have to know to tap the logo at the top of the page to reveal "For You" and "Following." And the damn app defaults to "For You" every time you open it. No wonder the writer of that Times piece seemed not to even know there was another option.

SEE ALSO: Algorithms control your online life. Here's how to reduce their influence.

Musk may be putting his fingers more heavily than Zuck on the scale within his "For You" option, an algorithm which often seems to center Musk's favored accounts — but at least on Musk's iPhone app, you can still see "For You" and "Following" by default.

It isn't rushing to judgment to say Zuck wants to center the algorithm in Threads. This is the Facebook playbook: let the algorithm grow large and in charge, let it learn all the ways we like to be engaged and outraged, let it be (or look like) the only option. For six years the algorithmic option swallowed the chronological option on Instagram, which became a tangle of ads and posts from "suggested accounts". Instagram restored the Following option in 2022 — but again, you don't know if you don't tap the logo.

If Threads becomes just another bloated, bland wasteland of provocative content from accounts you're not even choosing to follow, Threads will simply be Instagram with fewer pictures. It will never capture the elusive energy of peak Twitter. Creative Twitter types will simply give up on producing the constant stream of content that made the service compelling.

Musk will remain in control of the social media arena, even as it crumbles like the Colosseum. To choose another Roman metaphor for these hapless gladiators: it's time to see if at least one of Zuck's apps can cross the Rubicon into the risky territory of reverse-chronological news. If he can focus on Following, a permanent boost in users will follow.

This column reflects the opinion of the author.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for May 2 SEE ALSO: 'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for May 2

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, May 2, 2024:

AcrossFruit with a large, flat pit

• The answer is mango.

How storybooks are read to children

• The answer is aloud.

Super-enthusiastic, as a fan

• The answer is rabid.

Get a whiff of

• The answer is smell.

Like Crocs and Swiss cheese

• The answer is holey.

DownBoggy area

The answer is marsh.

Car rental agency

• The answer is Alamo.

Malala Yousafzai is the youngest person ever to win one (at age 17)

• The answer is Nobel.

Cunning intelligence

• The answer is guile.

In an unusual way

• The answer is oddly.

Stephen King often recommends shows he likes on X (formerly Twitter), but it's not often he writes a whole essay about them.

That's exactly what the horror master has done for Baby Reindeer, Richard Gadd's limited Netflix series based on his own experience of being stalked.

SEE ALSO: 'Baby Reindeer' has seen a wave of armchair detectives. The creator called a halt.

"I have an essay about BABY REINDEER in the London Times," posted King. "I can’t believe they paid me for writing about such a cool show, but they did."

Tweet may have been deleted

The essay sees King talking about how he discovered Baby Reindeer, which he goes on to compare and contrast with his own novel Misery.

"Unlike most streaming series’ episodes, which can feel bloated at 50 minutes — or even longer — the episodes of Baby Reindeer, each about 30 minutes, are like short, swift stabs administered by a very sharp knife," King writes.

The essay is essentially a very positive review, with King even saying that the penultimate episode is "one of the best things I’ve ever seen on television (or in the movies, for that matter)."

The show already has a very high score on Rotten Tomatoes and a large viewership — but a glowing essay from one of the world's most successful writers isn't something you get every day.

How to watch: Baby Reindeer is now streaming on Netflix.

Stephen King often recommends shows he likes on X (formerly Twitter), but it's not often he writes a whole essay about them.

That's exactly what the horror master has done for Baby Reindeer, Richard Gadd's limited Netflix series based on his own experience of being stalked.

SEE ALSO: 'Baby Reindeer' has seen a wave of armchair detectives. The creator called a halt.

"I have an essay about BABY REINDEER in the London Times," posted King. "I can’t believe they paid me for writing about such a cool show, but they did."

Tweet may have been deleted

The essay sees King talking about how he discovered Baby Reindeer, which he goes on to compare and contrast with his own novel Misery.

"Unlike most streaming series’ episodes, which can feel bloated at 50 minutes — or even longer — the episodes of Baby Reindeer, each about 30 minutes, are like short, swift stabs administered by a very sharp knife," King writes.

The essay is essentially a very positive review, with King even saying that the penultimate episode is "one of the best things I’ve ever seen on television (or in the movies, for that matter)."

The show already has a very high score on Rotten Tomatoes and a large viewership — but a glowing essay from one of the world's most successful writers isn't something you get every day.

How to watch: Baby Reindeer is now streaming on Netflix.

If you don’t feel like you have a career purpose, that’s okay; focus on finding meaning instead. While purpose represents an overarching goal, meaning is the feeling of satisfaction you get from your work. Here’s how to discover the meaning in your work. Start by identifying what brings you joy in the course of your […]

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TL;DR: Watch Marseille vs. Atalanta in the Europa League for free on ORF. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Anyone who has ever visited the Stade Vélodrome will tell you that the Marseille fans are electric. There aren't many stadiums that can match the passion on display from the dedicated supporters of this famous club.

We're not suggesting that you pack your bags just yet, because you can experience some of this impressive atmosphere without stepping foot outside. If you want to watch Marseille vs. Atalanta for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Marseille vs. Atalanta?

The first leg of the Europa League semi final between Marseille and Atalanta kicks off at 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. BST on May 2. This fixture takes place at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, France.

How to watch Marseille vs. Atalanta for free

Marseille vs. Atalanta is available to live stream for free on ORF.

ORF is geo-restricted to Austria, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These powerful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Austria, meaning you can access ORF from anywhere in the world.

Unblock ORF by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Austria

4. Visit ORF

5. Stream Marseille vs. Atalanta in the Europa League for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to provide free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to ORF without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Marseille vs. Atalanta before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ORF?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for streaming live sport on ORF, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Austria

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Marseille vs. Atalanta for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch AS Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League for free on ServusTV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Is it possible for anyone to actually beat Bayer Leverkusen this season? It doesn't look that way, as the Bundesliga champions just keep winning. And on the rare occasions that it does look like they might taste defeat, they somehow pull through with an equaliser right at the death.

They might look unbeatable, but AS Roma will still fancy their chances in the Europa League. If you want to watch AS Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is AS Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen?

AS Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen will begin their first-leg match at 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. BST on May 2. This fixture takes place at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy.

How to watch AS Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen for free

AS Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen is available to live stream for free on ServusTV.

ServusTV is geo-restricted to Austria, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These powerful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Austria, meaning you can access ServusTV from anywhere in the world.

Unblock ServusTV by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Austria

4. Visit ServusTV

5. Stream AS Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to provide free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to ServusTV without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream AS Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ServusTV?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for streaming live sport on ServusTV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Austria

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream AS Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: The Ultimate 2019 Microsoft Bundle (Office, Project, Visio, and Windows 11 Pro) is on sale for £63.88, saving you 91% on list price.

Whether you're using them for work or school, apps you have to pay for every month aren't exactly economical. It also means a missed payment could limit how you can use your computer. If you want to ditch the subscriptions and upgrade your computer while you're doing it, check out the Ultimate Microsoft 2019 Bundle. This four-part bundle comes with the 2019 versions of Microsoft Office, Project, and Visio, along with Windows 11 Pro. Each app can be installed on one computer once for life, and it's on sale for £63.88. 

Microsoft Office 2019 comes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. If you need Teams, then you may want to go for a newer version of Microsoft Office, but the rest of the apps still work great and could come in handy for school or work. 

Microsoft Project 2019 is a project management tool that lets you create timelines, access project templates, submit timesheets, and even visually represent complex schedules. 

Do you have some complex data you need to communicate with a quick, accessible image? Try Microsoft Visio. This data visualisation app comes with a huge library of images and templates so you can craft everything from charts and graphs to seating arrangements and furniture layouts. 

Don't forget to check out all the changes that come from upgrading to Windows 11 Pro. Those include security features like Bitlocker device encryption, support for biometric login, and wake and lock, among many other exciting changes. 

One software bundle could set your computer up for work, school, and more. For a limited time, get the Ultimate 2019 Microsoft Bundle including Microsoft Office, Project, and Visio along with Windows 11 Pro for just £63.88. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Ultimate 2019 Microsoft Bundle £63.88 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: Watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Rajasthan Royals in the IPL for free on JioCinema. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2024 season of the IPL is well underway, and there's still plenty of action to come. The next fixture will see the Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals face off in the 50th match of the league. The spotlight will be on team captains Pat Cummins and Sanju Samson as they prepare to go head-to-head.

Want to tune in? You can watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Rajasthan Royals for free from anywhere in the world, as we have all the information you need.

When is Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Rajasthan Royals?

Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Rajasthan Royals starts at 3 p.m. BST on May 2. This fixture will be played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, India.

How to watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Rajasthan Royals for free

You'll find live streams of every IPL cricket match this season in 4K resolution on the JioCinema app.

JioCinema is geo-restricted to India, but you can unblock this free streaming service with a VPN. A VPN is a tool that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in India, so you can access JioCinema from anywhere in the world and stream all the IPL fixtures you want.

Unblock JioCinema to stream the IPL 2024 by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in India

4. Visit JioCinema (you will need an Indian phone number to subscribe)

5. Watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Rajasthan Royals for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) Learn More

Most of the best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can watch IPL live streams without committing with your cash. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select IPL fixtures for free.

What is the best VPN for JioCinema?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking JioCinema, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including India

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream the IPL for free with ExpressVPN.

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 May 2'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 piece of pizza pie.

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 S.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #1048 is...

SLICE.

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 May 2'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: The GOAT

• Green: How to fix a flat

• Blue: Movies starring the famous Phoenix brother

• Purple: Music words that aren't music

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: Highly Skilled

• Green: Used To Fix A Flat

• Blue: Joaquin Phoenix Movies

• Purple: Words Starting with Music Genres

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 #326 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Highly Skilled: ACE, CRACKERJACK, EXPERT, HOTSHOT

• Used To Fix A Flat: CHOCK, JACK, TIRE, WRENCH

• Joaquin Phoenix Movies: GLADIATOR, HER, JOKER, SIGNS

• Words Starting with Music Genres: POPCORN, RAPTURE, ROCKETRY, SOULMATE

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.

In 2020, Apple banned the popular video game Fortnite from the App Store. The game's publisher, Epic Games, attempted to get around paying Apple its 30 percent commission for in-app purchases of the game's V-Bucks currency. In response to Fortnite's workaround that sent users outside of the App Store to make a purchase, Apple kicked the game out of the App Store.

Fast forward to 2024 and it looks like TikTok has now deployed a similar tactic in its iOS app. The question now though: is TikTok breaking Apple's rules?

As first reported by TechCrunch, developer David Tesler shared screenshots on X on Tuesday showing that TikTok was urging users to purchase coins through the app, but not via Apple's in-app store purchase system which would provide the iPhone-maker with a 30 percent commission. These screenshots show that TikTok is explicitly asking its users to make a purchase via its website, which it then sends users to within the app so that they can buy coins.

Tweet may have been deleted

"Try recharging on tiktok.com," reads the TikTok app pop-up prompt shown in the screenshot. "You can save the service fee and get access to popular payment methods."

TikTok users purchase these coins in order to send tips to their favorite creators.

SEE ALSO: Apple already unbans Epic Games, will allow Fortnite on iPhone in EU

When a user selects a coin purchase option, TikTok informs users that making this purchase through the website will enable them to save around 25 percent due to a "lower third-party service fee." Of course, TikTok means it's able to pass on the savings it makes to consumers due to not having to share 30 percent of its revenue with Apple.

Now, as previously mentioned, Fortnite was famously banned years ago from the App Store due to similar tactics from Epic Games. However, numerous lawsuits and policy changes over Apple's App Store rules have occurred between the nearly 4 years since Fortnite was given the boot. Since then, Apple has softened its rules pertaining to apps sending users to alternative payment methods.

As TechCrunch points out, certain "reader" apps can provide digital products without having to go through Apple's in-app purchase system with approval from Apple. However, if an app does this, it cannot also provide in-store purchases through Apple too. TikTok is currently still doing the latter.

Furthermore, as 9to5Mac reports, Apple has another fairly new policy which allows such external linking to alternative payment systems. However, this program still provides a commission to Apple, albeit, with a commission that drops from 30 percent to 27 percent for an app like TikTok — a savings on commissions for TikTok, if this is indeed what it's doing, but not a very impressive one.

Apple and TikTok did not offer any statement on this, but Mashable will update this piece if we hear back.

As Tesler explained, TikTok's prompt circumventing in-app purchases is not currently showing for all users. Is this a test from TikTok? Did it get permission from Apple? Or do we have another Fortnite situation on our hands? For now, it's unclear exactly what's going on here.

But, one thing is surely happening: TikTok is, in at least some cases, avoiding Apple's 30 percent commission fees.