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Kids aren't the only ones who get excited about birthday gifts. You can be a full-grown adult and still lose your shit when you open up the gift that topped your wish list. But as you get older, it does become a little more difficult to come up with a list of birthday gift ideas. You can't just ask for all the coolest new toys anymore. Well, you can if you want — we're not going to stop you.

SEE ALSO: Try Gift Lab: Our interactive gift guide

If your birthday is coming up and you're struggling to think of what you want, don't sweat it. We compiled the ultimate birthday wish list, with gifts ranging from tech to outdoor essentials to home goods. Read on for some birthday inspo and start casually dropping hints to your friends and family. And hey, happy birthday!

A stylish candle warmer lamp Credit: Geezo

Big candle fan? Then a candle warmer should be on your birthday list. It helps your candle last longer and you don't need an open flame burning in your home. And if you're going to ask for a candle warmer, make it a cute one. With glass lamp shade, this warmer blends seamlessly into your home decor.

Opens in a new window Credit: Geezo Candle warmer lamp $24.99
Shop Now A personalized Yeti mug Credit: Yeti

This Yeti Rambler 24-ounce mug is a great size for both true coffee lovers and beer drinkers. It can also hold two Moscow mules, according to Yeti, if that's more your speed. The Rambler is available in an array of fun and neutral colors. Plus, you can customize it with an etched design or monogram. For just $6 to $10, you can choose designs from Yeti's library or upload your own file. I personally own the king crab orange mug with a cowboy boot and flowers etched on the side.

Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Rambler 24-ounce mug $35.00 at Yeti
Shop Now Mini zodiac cupcakes Credit: Baked by Melissa

Birthday cake is the standard, but might we suggest this fun alternative: mini cupcakes selected by an astrologer specifically for your zodiac sign. This Baked by Melissa offering comes with 25 cupcakes and the flavors vary depending on your sign — though there are some fan-favorites that show up in each zodiac variation. These also make for a great last-minute ask if you're in Manhattan or Boston, as there's same-day delivery for select locations.

Opens in a new window Credit: Baked by Melissa Baked by Melissa zodiac cupcakes $37.00
Shop Now Sony's latest bass-heavy headphones Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Sony released its new ULT Power Sound lineup in April, and we adore the headphones. The ULT Wears have Sony's impressive sound quality and noise cancellation, and are made even more impressive by the addition of the ULT button, which punches up the bass two additional levels. These headphones are booming, and the best part is they're relatively budget-friendly.

Opens in a new window Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable Sony ULT Wear headphones $198.00 at Amazon
Shop Now A desk you can take anywhere Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

If you work remotely, you gotta get this portable desk from Logitech. The Casa Pop-Up Desk includes a wireless keyboard, wireless trackpad, and a desk stand that doubles as a discreet and stylish carrying case. It comes in three colors so you can match your aesthetic. This is an especially great tool if you like working from coffee shops or move around while you work.

Opens in a new window Credit: Logitech Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk $179.99 at Amazon
Shop Now A portable, smokeless fire pit Credit: Solo Stove

Whether you're a hardcore camper or you just like unwinding with a few beers by the fire, Solo Stove's Ranger fire pit is a fantastic gift to ask for. It's designed to be smokeless and portable, making it great for balconies, backyards, beach hangs, or camping trips. Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel reviewed the larger Solo Stove Bonfire and wrote that it burns "beautiful, clean fires when conditions are right." The best part? The Ranger is typically on sale for $199.99, so whoever gifts it has 30 extra dollars to spend on your birthday.

Opens in a new window Credit: Solo Stove Solo Stove Ranger 2.0 $199.99 at Solo Stove
$229.99 Save $30.00 Shop Now A fancy desk chair Credit: Branch

My favorite type of birthday gift is something I want to buy myself but just can't justify spending my own money on. The Verve chair is a prime example of that. It's super comfy and ergonomic, and it comes in really cute colors, but it's definitely on the luxury end of pricing. If you work from home or just spend a lot of time sitting at a desk, put this at the top of your wish list.

Opens in a new window Credit: Branch Verve Chair $549.00 at Branch
Shop Now Film vibes from a digital camera Credit: Paper Shoot Camera

Film photos are back in a big way, but not all of us have the patience to fill up an entire roll and then wait for it to get developed. Paper Shoot is a really neat camera that takes film-esque photos and stores them on an SD card so you can pull them to your computer or phone and post immediately. The design is super low-profile, making it easy to slip into your purse or pocket on a night out. Plus, there are a bunch of cute designs to choose from for the outside case.

Opens in a new window Credit: Paper Shoot Camera Paper Camera $139.00 at Paper Shoot
Shop Now A handheld gaming console that's not a Switch Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Mashable Tech Reporter Alex Perry described the Lenovo Legion Go as "beefier and more powerful" than the Nintendo Switch. It has a huge display, solid performance, and all-around great specs. It's not a one-to-one competitor of the Switch, but rather a portable way into PC gaming that's "really good at running all kinds of games."

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Legion Go $699.99 at Best Buy
Shop Now A Bluetooth record player Credit: Sony

Are your Spotify playlists just not cutting it anymore? Switch it up and go retro with a vinyl music collection. This turntable connects to Bluetooth speakers and headphones, or you can hook it up to a traditional sound system using cords. It costs $249.99 (but you can sometimes find it on sale for under $200).

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony Turntable $248.00 at Amazon
Shop Now A smart speaker Credit: Amazon

If you don't have a smart speaker by now, it's time to make a change. The Echo Dot is an affordable voice-controlled companion that'll keep you in the loop on the weather, current events, and keep track of your most important reminders. Also, they're great for playing music. Get one for $49.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker $39.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $10.00 Shop Now A pair of AirPods Pro Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

When you already own a pair of earbuds, it can be hard to justify splurging on a new pair — even if you really, really want to. And that's why the new AirPods Pro (Gen 2) earbuds are an ideal birthday present. For people still using lightning cables (gross), the new USB-C version will be a welcome upgrade. Apple stepped up its audio game with these buds, which feature improved sound quality and active noise cancellation. For a cheaper alternative, ask for the latest 3rd Gen AirPods, which start at $169.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple AirPods Pro 2 $189.00 at Amazon
$249.00 Save $60.00 Shop Now A massage gun Credit: TheraGun

Whether you're working at a desk all day, running around, or just inexplicably tense, a massage gun will get you limber and relaxed again. What better gift than the gift of painless movement? Our best recommendation? Go for the TheraGun. Their Prime model costs $299, but if that's not quite in your budget, then check out our gadget gift guide for more gifting inspiration.

Opens in a new window Credit: Theragun TheraGun $299.00 at Amazon
Shop Now A cool drone with a 12MP camera Credit: DJI

This drone is small and super lightweight, but it takes stunning photos and videos. It's great for traveling or for use at home. DJI is one of the top names in drones and the Mini 2 SE costs $339 with a remote control.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Magic Mini 2 SE $299.00 at Amazon
Shop Now A personal blender for smoothies Credit: Nutribullet

Make smoothies in your own kitchen with a NutriBullet personal blender — it's fast and easy. The NutriBullet Nutrient Extractor comes with the 600W motor base, blender blade, 24-ounce blending cup, travel lid, and lip ring, plus a recipe book if you're sick of the same old smoothies. It costs $58 at Walmart.

Opens in a new window Credit: NutriBullet NutriBullet $58.00 at Walmart
Shop Now A new phone Credit: Apple

Still living that single-camera iPhone 8 life? Don't spend your own money on an expensive phone — have someone who loves you spend their money! The new iPhone 15 starts at $799 while the iPhone 15 Plus retails at $899 and up. (Group gift, anyone?)

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 15 Starting at $799 at Best Buy Shop Now A camera to rival your phone Credit: Nikon

When giving your friends and family birthday gift ideas, it's usually best to look for gifts under $50. But if you have a partner or parent who really loves you, then it's okay to dream big.

An easy-to-use mirrorless camera designed with creators in mind, the Nikon Z 30 boasts video, camera, and live streaming capabilities at an affordable price. The camera body can be purchased alone or with one or two kit lenses. There’s also the creators’ accessory bundle which comes with a mic, tripod grip, and Bluetooth remote.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nikon Nikon Z 30 Mirrorless Digital Vlogging Camera Bundle $696.95 at Amazon
Shop Now Or a pack of disposable cameras Credit: Fujifilm

We mentioned the Paper Shoot Camera above, but sometimes you really just want that classic disposable camera experience. You'll capture some fun, in-the-moment memories with no do-overs. A three-pack of disposable cameras costs $79.99 (these have become kind of expensive since the invention of digital/phone cameras).

Opens in a new window Credit: Fujifilm Fujifilm disposable cameras $79.99 at Amazon
Shop Now An Apple Watch Credit: Apple

An Apple Watch lets you access smartphone features conveniently on your wrist. You can control your music, send and receive texts, monitor your health, and tons more. The Apple Watch Series 9 is $399 at Amazon, but you can usually find it on sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 9 $399.00 at Amazon
Shop Now A media streaming stick Credit: Amazon

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is one of the best streaming devices we've tested, and it's also one of our favorite birthday gift ideas. If you don't already have a smart TV but want to access Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Disney+, and all the other streaming apps directly from your TV, ask for a Fire TV Stick for your b-day. Amazon's streaming stick has better voice control than similar products from Roku, and the 4K version normally goes for $49.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K $39.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Cold hard cash Credit: Pixabay

You really can't beat the gift of cold, hard cash — or a gift card. A Visa card is a perfect birthday gift because you can spend it on literally whatever you want; buy yourself something fun or get some help with groceries. Best of all, you don't need to decide exactly what you want before your birthday. The gift card starts at $10.

Opens in a new window Credit: Visa Gift card Starting at $10 at Giftcards.com Shop Now A delicious-smelling candle Credit: Bonita Fierce

Candles are a timeless gift that you can ask for at every single gift-giving opportunity (and will likely receive anyway if you don't specify what you actually want). We are firm believers that you can never have too many candles. Add some sweet scents from Bonita Fierce, a Latina-owned small business, to your b-day wish list this year and every year. Candles start at $16. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Bonita Fierce Bonita Fierce candle Starting at $16 at Bonita Fierce Shop Now The delicious scent without the fire hazard Credit: Pura

If candles are a no-go, opt for a Bluetooth-enabled diffuser to make any room in your home smell divine. The Pura Smart Fragrance Diffuser ($49.99) holds two fragrances and is controlled entirely through the app. Schedule one smell to wake up to and one to fall asleep to with the in-app calendar feature. Pura collaborates with brands like NEST, Anthropologie, Disney, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City to source their scents, so whatever the occasion calls for, they’ve got your back.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pura Pura Smart Fragrance Diffuser $49.99 at Pura
Shop Now A cast iron skillet Credit: Lodge

A cast-iron skillet is the true sign that you're graduating from cheap nonstick cookware and all mismatched plates. It's something you probably want, but don't particularly want to spend the money on. Lodge has different sizes depending on what you're wanting to cook. A 10.25-inch skillet costs $40.75, but we've seen it drop below $25 recently.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lodge Lodge cast iron skillet $40.75 at Amazon
Shop Now A pressure cooker and air fryer in one Credit: Instant Pot

Maybe not quite as heavy duty as a cast-iron skillet but just as useful: a pressure cooker that can air fry, roast, bake, dehydrate, slow cook, prepare rice, steam, sauté, and more. Impress guests with your culinary skills (that are in fact just throwing all the ingredients listed in the recipe into this thing and then waiting a few hours). The Instant Pot 11-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker will cost your gift-giver $199.99, but they can reap the rewards when you cook for them with it.

Opens in a new window Credit: Instant Pot Instant Pot Duo Crisp $199.95 at Amazon
Shop Now A custom pet portrait Credit: LeFlore Studio

Sometimes, the best birthday gifts are the ones made just for you. If you're obsessed with your pet, these custom pet portraits need to be on your birthday list. There are many different styles to choose from, each one super freakin' adorable. Prices vary depending on size.

Opens in a new window Credit: LeFlore Studio Custom pet portrait Prices vary at LaFlore Studio on Etsy Shop Now Color-changing smart light bulbs Credit: Philips

Turn your bedroom into a party with these color-changing smart light bulbs. You can control the lights from your phone and set whatever mood you're feeling. This kit includes two smart Bluetooth bulbs for $99.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Philips Philips Hue Smart Bulbs $99.99 at Best Buy
Shop Now A portable projector The portable projector fits in the palm of your hands. Credit: Anker

All of your friends will start calling your home the "cool house" if movie nights involve this mini portable projector. Use it to play movies, shows, or games outside on a screen or indoors on a blank wall. The Anker Nebula Capsule in black costs $299.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Nebula Capsule Projector $299.99 at Amazon
Shop Now A new bike Credit: Schwinn

Head outdoors with this hybrid bike designed for both leisure and more adventurous rides. It comes in different colors and a couple of different styles for men and women. The 18-inch Schwinn GTX 2.0 bike normally goes for $549.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Schwinn Schwinn GTX bike $549.95 at Amazon
Shop Now An app for exploring Credit: AllTrails

Love to be outside, but can’t fold a map to save your life? Enter AllTrails+, the app designed to get you off your phone and into the wild. Featuring over 400,000 curated trails all over the world, the app allows you to download maps in case of a poor signal, record your hikes, create your own trails, and more. A yearly subscription costs $35.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: AllTrails AllTrails yearly subscription $35.99 at AllTrails
Shop Now A MacBook Air Credit: Apple

MacBook Airs are super nice computers, but they can definitely be a bit pricey... which is what makes them such a great addition to a birthday wish list. Someone who loves you can drop the big bucks for you! A 13.6-inch MacBook Air M2 with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD goes for $1,099 at Best Buy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple MacBook Air $1,099.00 at Best Buy
Shop Now A robot vacuum Credit: iRobot

Stop manually vacuuming your house every day and let a robot vacuum clean your floors for you. The Roomba 694 has WiFi connectivity for mobile and voice controls and it's tough on pet hair. This robot vacuum costs $274.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot Roomba 694 $274.99 at Amazon
Shop Now A more advanced robot vacuum Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

The Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni is a combination robot vacuum and mop that has a squared design for getting dust along walls and corners. It features spinning mop heads that don't just drag water along your floors but actually scrub and clean. After it's done cleaning, the vacuum returns to its charging dock where it empties its dustbin and cleans and dries its mop pads. The vacuum even has an onboard camera onboard so you can watch where it's cleaning.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ecovacs Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni robot vacuum and mop $999.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $500.00 Get Deal A weighted blanket Credit: Quilty

For what seems like an extraneous expense, an extra-heavy blanket can be a total game-changer. Besides providing all the comfort of a partner without the snoring, a weighted blanket can reduce tossing and turning and keep you extra warm. This one at Amazon comes in a bunch of colors, sizes, and weights, but the 60-inch by 80-inch 15-pound blanket (a good place to start) costs $76.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: quilty Quilty weighted blanket $76.99 at Amazon
Shop Now A new Kindle Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The Mashable team has tested every Kindle e-reader, and we think the Kindle Paperwhite is the right e-reader for most people. Instead of asking for a book, ask for a Kindle for your birthday and save yourself money and space. Yes, it doesn't smell the same as a new book, but now you'll have no excuses for not keeping up with your yearly reading resolutions. The newest Kindle Paperwhite with 16GB storage and onscreen writing is $149.99 at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite $149.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Something to make your life a little more eco-friendly Credit: Stasher

Whether you're packing your lunch or storing leftovers, using plastic bags should be your last resort. Heck, you should be trying to stay away from all single-use plastics if you're able to. But, if you want to start small, these Stasher bags are a great option to make your daily life more eco-friendly. These silicone bags are secure and completely reusable — either wash them by hand or stuff them in the dishwasher. Grab a starter pack for $99.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Stasher Stasher Bags starter kit $99.99 at Stasher
Shop Now A new comforter Credit: Buffy

Comforters, like a mattress, shouldn't be an item you cheap out on. They're supposed to last you a while, so why not have something a little more luxurious? The Buffy Cloud comforter is a sustainable comforter made from recycled fiber and eucalyptus. Mashable Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart reviewed it here, calling it "the first piece of bedding I've used that actually feels kind of dreamy." Snag a full/queen size comforter for $195 at Buffy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Buffy Buffy Comforter $195.00 at Buffy
Shop Now A trusty pet camera Credit: Furbo

If you're anything like us, you view your pet like it's your actual child. We support that. Now, you can up your pet parent game by picking up a Furbo pet camera. Not only does it livestream what your pet is up to while you aren't home straight to your phone, but it also has the ability to toss treats and produce two-way audio for quick check-ins. This pet camera is often on sale, so check for the latest price at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Furbo Furbo pet camera $210.00 at Amazon
Shop Now A reusable water bottle Credit: Hydroflask

It's always a good time to get more serious about hydration. A HydroFlask is a perfect way to make sure you have a cool (or hot) beverage on-hand, and they're super durable during outdoorsy activities. Grab one for $49.95 at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: HydroFlask Hydroflask $49.95 at Amazon
Shop Now Elegant chopsticks Credit: Pingto

Step up your take-out game and do right by the environment with a set of elegant, reusable chopsticks. The bundle of six bamboo chopsticks comes in two color palettes and retails for $32.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pingto Pingto Bamboo Chopstick Sets $32.00 at Amazon
Shop Now Local flavors delivered Credit: Goldbelly

Speaking of take-out: if you’ve maxed out your city’s culinary offerings, see what’s available from the rest of the country. Goldbelly makes it possible to order meals and gifts from restaurants around the United States. No matter your craving, a Goldbelly gift card at any price point is bound to satisfy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Goldbelly Goldbelly gift card starting at $50 at Goldbelly Shop Now A habit tracker Credit: MochiThings

You’re one year older, so it's time to get your shit in order and form some healthy habits. Whether there’s an exercise regimen you’re hoping to stick to, a project you want to finish, or a vice you’re trying to quit, this weekly habit tracker will keep you on track without judgment. It only costs $10.95 to become a better person. 

Opens in a new window Credit: MochiThings Good Habit Tracking Memo Pad $10.95 at MochiThings
Shop Now A tiny bag Credit: Nanobag

There’s running errands and there’s running errands. If you’re prone to getting in a few miles before you stop at the grocery store, ask for a Nanobag, a tote bag that can fold up into a pocket-size ball. The standard size starts at $13.95 and comes in ten different colors and patterns.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nanobag Nanobag $13.95 at Nanobag
Shop Now A photo printer Credit: Canon

Have some photos on your phone or Instagram that you want to pin to your fridge? Ask for the Canon SELPHY CP1500 Compact Photo Printer ($139). This sleek gadget connects to your Android or iPhone through WiFi, SD card, or USB stick and prints out your favorite pics in a layout design of your choosing. The printing isn’t instant (the color ink layers print one at a time), but the quality of the final product makes it worth the wait.

Opens in a new window Credit: Canon Canon SELPHY CP1500 Compact Photo Printer $138.97 at Amazon
Shop Now Stronger abs Credit: Plankpad

Who says ab workouts can’t be fun? (Most people). The Plankpad PRO ($129) turns core exercises into games through the specialty balance board and synchronized app. In addition to games, the app also has the standard exercise series if you’d prefer to suffer through it without some silly graphics to distract you. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Plankpad Plankpad PRO $129.00 at Amazon
Shop Now An inconspicuous fanny pack Credit: FlipBelt

Whether you’re going for a run or heading to a music festival, keep your necessities at the ready with a FlipBelt Zipper pack. This handy belt can hold your phone, money, credit card, keys, and all sorts of everyday necessities. Coming in multiple sizes, the FlipBelt doesn’t bounce or chafe and is machine washable. Choose a color or pattern you like and add it to your Amazon cart for $39.

Opens in a new window Credit: FlipBelt FlipBelt Zipper Running Belt $39.00 at Amazon
Shop Now A new kind of jump rope Credit: Crossrope

Turn traditional jump roping on its head with Crossrope. The weighted jump rope (available in 1/4, 1/2, one, and two-pound weight options) and associated app keep you on your toes and strengthen your entire body through guided workouts. For those with downstairs neighbors or curious pets, the weighted ropeless option provides a silent solution for an otherwise noisy activity. Upgrade to the Bluetooth-connected AMP handles for a more individualized experience.

Opens in a new window Credit: Crossrope AMP Jump Rope Set $199.00 at Crossrope
Shop Now A cookie cutter of your pet Credit: FormaCookieCutters

Celebrate your favorite furry creature by eating their face — in a good way. Send in a photo of your best pet friend to this Etsy store and get a four-inch-wide, food-safe PLA cookie cutter of their likeness in return. Whether you’re taking care of the baking or you’re leaving the prep work for the recipient, you’re going to be hailed as an absolute gift-giving wizard. Order these custom birthday gifts for $30 from Etsy seller the FormaCookieCutters.

Opens in a new window Credit: FormaCookieCutters Custom Pet Portrait Cookie Cutter $30.00 at Etsy
Shop Now Authentic chai Credit: Kolkata Chai

Not satisfied with supermarket-bought chai? Get the real thing from New York-based chai-preneurs at Kolkata Chai. This small business will send authentic chai straight to your door with the Chai Trio Variety Pack ($62) or the Chai Starter Kit ($45). For devoted chai drinkers, Kolkata Chai offers subscription packages to keep that tea coming.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kolkata Chai Kolkata Chai Starting at $45 at Kolkata Chai Shop Now New reading materials Credit: Getty Images / iStock / Extreme-Photographer

Support independent bookstores from around the country with a gift card to Bookshop. Starting at $10, the gift cards can either be used to buy books from a specific shop you love, or the purchase can feed the site’s profit-sharing pool to benefit all of Bookshop's partner stores. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Bookshop.org Bookshop.org Gift Cards Starting at $10 at Bookshop Shop Now A one-of-a-kind planner Credit: Papier

Are you a proud Type A over-planner and over-thinker? Or maybe your meticulously organized BFF is having a birthday soon? This planner can be customized with the recipient's name and three personal photos, and despite the personalization, this spiral-bound planner costs just $35.

Opens in a new window Credit: Papier Personalized Photo Strip 2024 Planner $35.00 at Papier
Shop Now A Lego set that doubles as decor Credit: LEGO

One of our favorite gifts under $50 is this Lego Orchid that's fun to build and adds a nice touch of greenery to your space that feels more unique than a plastic plant. This set is part of the Lego Icons line, which also features succulents, a bonsai tree, and a bouquet, in case orchids aren't your thing.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Orchid $49.99 at Amazon
Shop Now An endless supply of veggies and herbs Credit: AeroGarden

Whether you're an enthusiastic home chef, like a bit of greenery, or simply can't stand running to the grocery store every time a recipe calls for some cilantro, a hydroponic garden is a great way to keep veggies and herbs on hand, even if you don't have a green thumb. We're fans of AeroGarden, which has gardens that start at $57.72.

Opens in a new window Credit: AeroGarden AeroGarden Sprout $57.72 at Amazon
Shop Now The smart temperature-controlled mug Credit: Ember

There's a lot of debate about what makes a good gift, but getting something that is a) practical and b) something just extravagant enough that you'd never get it for yourself may be the infallibly perfect combo. We think for coffee and tea drinkers, that combo is found in the Ember Mug 2, which retails for $129.95. This temperature-controlled mug may be unnecessary (and expensive), but boy does it feel good to take a hot sip of coffee after forgetting you poured it an hour ago.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ember Ember Mug 2 $129.95 at Amazon
Shop Now Year-round spa days Credit: Molly Flores / Mashable

You can ask for a day at the spa, or you can ask for the gift of getting a facial whenever you want and from the comfort of your home. In her review of the device, Mashable's Deputy Reviews Editor Miller Kern wrote the TheraFace Pro is "a hell of a lot cheaper than getting regular professional facials, and I truly feel like I've received a spa treatment every time I use [it]."

Opens in a new window Credit: TheraGun TheraFace Pro $399.00 at Therabody
Shop Now Five hair tools in one Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Instead of asking for the $600 Dyson Airwrap, you can get a product that performs nearly identically for half the price in the Shark FlexStyle (trust us, we tested them head to head). Pick up a version for textured hair or straighter hair for $299.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle $299.99 at Amazon
Shop Now A necessary Nintendo Switch upgrade Credit: Nintendo

It's never too late to upgrade your Switch set up, and the Pro controller can help you do just that. This controller is perfect for when you connect your device to a larger display, and it has the added bonus of zero Joy-Con drift.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch Pro Controller $69.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Design-friendly humidifier Credit: Vitruvi

There's something to be said for a product that can marry form and function, and this Vitruvi humidifier does just that. Admittedly, $229 is probably a hefty price for a humidifier you're buying for yourself, but it's a great splurge gift if you prefer your household appliances not be eyesores.

Opens in a new window Credit: Vitruvi Vitruvi Cloud Humidifier $229.00 at Amazon
Shop Now A custom neon sign Credit: GITM Store

Pick out a funny phrase, inside joke, or a family name and get a custom sign in as little as one week. It might sound too good to be true, but Mashable editors have ordered from this Amazon storefront before and had a great experience. In fact, this is one of our favorite undiscovered gems on Amazon, and you can buy signs for as little as $53.96.

Opens in a new window Credit: GITM Store Custom Neon Sign $53.96 at Amazon
Shop Now A tea and coffee lover's best friend Credit: Cosori

There's a certain electric gooseneck kettle that's beloved by design nerds, but that's also a tad overpriced (more than a tad, really). Instead, make the smart choice and opt for the infinitely more practical Cosori Electric Gooseneck Kettle. It still has plenty of charm — not to mention pre-set buttons for tea, coffee, and boiling water — and it's available via Prime for $69.99 or less.

Opens in a new window Credit: Cosori Cosori Electric Gooseneck Kettle $69.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Enjoy artisanal cocktails at home Credit: Shaker & Spoon

Why go out for overpriced cocktails when you can make them at home? Shaker & Spoon sends you a new cocktail kit every month with all the ingredients you need to make 12 delicious cocktails. All you need to do is buy the alcohol and follow the recipes to recreate the same cocktails mixed up by award-winning bartenders. The company also makes it easy to give a subscription via email, so no excuses. Subscriptions start at $59 per month.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shaker & Spoon Shaker & Spoon Gift Subscription Starting at $59 per month at Shaker & Spoon Shop Now Learn something new Credit: Coursehorse

You’ve successfully completed one more trip around the sun, so to celebrate, develop a new skill or indulge a passion by taking an IRL class on the subject of your choice. Coursehorse partners with real-world instructors and schools in major cities to offer nearly 70,000 classes in subjects such as art, language, music, cooking, self-defense, gardening, and anything else you could possibly want.

Opens in a new window Credit: Coursehorse Coursehorse Gift Card Starting at $5 at Coursehorse Shop Now Affordable no-worry earbuds Credit: Anker

Worried your earbuds will fall out of your ears and be lost forever? Get peace of mind with the affordable Soundcore Sport X10 wireless earbuds ($79.99). Designed for athletes but perfect for anyone, these headphones hook around your ears and stay put no matter how sweaty or active you get (a fact we can personally attest to). Keep them in their case for on-the-go charging.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore Sport X10 Earbuds $79.99 at Amazon
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TL;DR: Watch the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup for free on Disney+ Hotstar. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Cricket in the United States? Something about that feels wrong, but the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup will be the first ICC World Cup tournament to feature matches played in the country. Maybe this could be the start of a beautiful love affair? After all, there is a lot to love about T20 cricket.

If you want to watch the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the T20 World Cup?

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup is a Twenty20 International cricket tournament organised by the International Cricket Council. The event is generally held every two years. Only the West Indies and England have won the tournament more than once, winning two titles each.

England are the reigning T20 World Cup champions, having beaten Pakistan in the 2022 final.

When is the 2024 T20 World Cup?

The 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup is the ninth edition of the competition, co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States. This year's event will take place from June 1 to June 29.

How to watch the 2024 T20 World Cup for free

Smartphone users in India will be able to watch the 2024 Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup for free on Disney+ Hotstar.

Anyone from around the world can access this free content with a VPN. These powerful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in India, meaning you can access this free content on the Disney+ Hotstar app from anywhere in the world.

Access free T20 Cricket World Cup live streams 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 India

4. Download the Disney+ Hotstar mobile app

5. Watch 2024 T20 Cricket World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

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 leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Disney+ Hotstar?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Disney+ Hotstar, 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 always 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.

Watch the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Shondaland and Netflix's Bridgerton has become synonymous with lively, romantic string covers of pop songs: Celeste's “Strange" from Season 1, Bollywood hit "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham" from Season 2, and Beyoncé's "Halo" from spin-off Queen Charlotte, for instance.

For Bridgerton's third season, new showrunner Jess Brownell takes over from Chris Van Dusen but continues the show's allegiance to matchmaking its Regency characters' capers with modern pop moments. Having led the music on Seasons 1 and 2, Kris Bowers returns, with music supervisor Justin Kamps ensuring the ballrooms and carriages of the Ton are filled with covers of BTS, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, and… Pitbull? It happens. Of course, many of the songs are by Bridgerton stalwarts Vitamin String Quartet.

SEE ALSO: 'Bridgerton' Season 3 characters, ranked by crush-worthiness

Here's every song in Bridgerton Season 3: Part 1, and which episode we heard it in.

"abcdefu" by GAYLE (episode 1)

At Lady Danbury's Four Seasons Ball, Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) debuts a verdant new palette to distance herself from her citrus-clad family. She's also reeling from Bridgerton drama: her fallout with Eloise and scorning by her crush, Colin. As she enters the room drawing every single eye, a Vitula cover of GAYLE's 2021 banger "​abcdefu" plays. Though the instrumental version doesn't include the song's not-quite-Regency lyrics — "Fuck you and your mom and your sister and your job" — we know Pen's got these words rampaging through her head.

"Dynamite" by BTS (episode 2)

The K-pop superstars' 2020 megahit plays during the ball in the second episode, as Eloise tells owl jokes to a group of ladies and Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) dances with Miss Stowell. It's super short and kind of random, but we love to hear it covered by Vitamin String Quartet.

"Jealous" by Nick Jonas (episode 2)

During the same ball, when Colin insists Penelope must try out her charm skills on one of the lords in attendance, she strikes gold with Whistledown fan Lord Remington. Colin can't help himself and watches the exchange as a Vitamin String Quartet cover of Nick Jonas' 2014 ode to envy makes it pretty obvious to the viewer what's going on in this Bridgerton's head. J'accuse!

"Cheap Thrills" by Sia (episode 3)

A Vitamin String Quartet cover of Sia's 2015 party anthem plays as Eloise and Colin arrive to this episode's ball. It's not that deep.

"Happier Than Ever" by Billie Eilish (episode 3)

YOU MADE ME HAAAATE THIS CIIIIITYYYYY. The perfect song for the perfect moment in the Ton. During a ball later in the episode, after Colin is about to finally ask Pen "a question", he's interrupted by Lord Debling (Sam Phillips), who leads her away. The Ton ain't big enough for these two friend-zoned lovers, and though technically Pen has talked shit about Colin on the Ton internet, she has waited long enough for her love to do something while Dreamy Debling's right there. So this Billie Eilish cover from Vitamin String Quartet can eat me up and spit me out. Don't waste the time I don't have.

"Snow on the Beach" by Taylor Swift feat. Lana Del Rey

Taylor Swift covers in Regency series can stay. Bridgerton's already featured "Wildest Dreams" in one of the best covers of Season 1. And in Season 3, episode 4, Swift's Midnights dream pop duet with Lana Del Rey, covered by Atwood Quartet, simmers as Penelope and Debling dance together and speak covertly of marriage — then Colin turns up in a grand romantic gesture that throws everyone. Swift herself says, "The song is about falling in love with someone at the same time as they're falling in love with you, in this cataclysmic, fated moment where you realize someone feels exactly the same way that you feel." Weird, but fuckin' beautiful.

"Give Me Everything" by Pitbull feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack, Nayer (episode 4)

OK, so this one's a Decision — and it works. Pitbull's major club rollick through hedonism and one-night-only indulgence matches the pure desire steaming up the carriage holding Penelope and Colin post-ball in episode 4. They might not get tomorrow, so...

How to watch: Bridgerton Seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming on Netflix. Season 3: Part 1 is streaming May 16 and Part 2 on June 13.

Gentle reader, it's high time for another season of long-game courting, unrequited desire, and merciless gossip in the Ton, as Bridgerton promenades back onto Netflix. Following two tremendously popular and deeply horny seasons, Shondaland's Regency smash promises more lusty dalliances, knife's-edge social plays, a veritable dessert menu of impeccable outfits, the show's signature string pop covers, and a dynamite new leading couple who've waited their damn turn.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to remember before 'Bridgerton' Season 3

Bridgerton Season 3: Part 1 plays to its established strengths under new showrunner Jess Brownell, finally letting mainstays and fan favourites Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) take the lead. And while the series gets slightly dry with somewhat benign supporting narratives, what we've seen of Season 3 is still brimming with suppressed desire and social scandal. It's sure to delight longtime fans earnestly awaiting their seasonal dose of crushing hard in polite society.

Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) have danced around each other for two seasons and counting. Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

In Season 1, the Ton's fine purveyor of scandal Lady Whistledown (who we've known for while now is Penelope) declares, "The brighter a lady shines, the faster she may burn." Penelope has endured just out of the spotlight, embodying the slow-burn game the show is known for, all the while yearning for her beloved Colin despite his consistent friend-zoning. But in Season 3, Pen steps into the light herself, all at the risk of catching aflame — and Coughlan is truly magnificent navigating this tension within.

Nicola Coughlan is Bridgerton's diamond. The Ton's secret literary queen. Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

Having heard Colin's scornful comments about the prospect of romancing her at the end of Season 2, Pen is looking elsewhere for love. She's fallen out with her best friend Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) over her Whistledown moonlighting and remains overlooked by her Featherington family. Penelope attempts to overcome her social isolation by amping up her search for a husband, but while she's more than adept at eviscerating members of society with her pen, real conversations with potential suitors prove awkward and discombobulating.

Coughlan is genuinely hilarious in such scenes as she scrambles to channel the eloquence of her literary pseudonym. Simultaneously, we watch Coughlan expertly attempt to quash Penelope's sheer panic over the Ton finding out her secret identity. Coughlan's acting prowess is well-proven, from teenage theatricality in Derry Girls to dramatic complexity in Big Mood. But unlike these characters, Penelope doesn't have the luxury of emotional outbursts, with Coughlan wielding subtle indications of anger, butterflies, or stone cold fear, all while maintaining the requisite 19th-century decorum. And above all, Coughlan's an exceptional romantic lead, as we're arm-in-arm with her amid cross-room yearning, secret midnight trysts, and ultimately, unbridled carriage-based passion.

Meanwhile, deemed "the prize of the season," Colin's newfound rakish "proportions" are swooned over by the Ton, with fan-waving women gathering around him at every turn. Shirts have little chance of remaining on Colin Bridgerton this season. Newton perfects Colin's vanity and newly dashing bravado without making an ass of the character — a fine line indeed to walk when you're delivering lines such as, "My stories from abroad are not suitable for such tender young ladies." 

Together, Coughlan and Newtown create an incredibly concupiscent and complex tension between our two leads, playing the ultimate long game that could crumble at any minute with the truth.

Eloise gets lost against Polin romance. "Society does not seek to forge affections between ourselves." Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

In Bridgerton's furious race between "marriage-minded misses," Season 3 also makes time to examine how patriarchal society pits women against each other with such competition. As Eloise says to frenemy Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen), "Society does not seek to forge affections between ourselves."

While Season 2 of Bridgerton was an ode to sisterhood, the complexities of female friendship (and friendship breakups in particular) is at the heart of Season 3. The reveal that Penelope is Lady Whistledown causes a rift between Pen and Eloise, but at the same time, they're lost without each other, yearning across ballrooms and courtyards for their old rapport — a task impossible without Eloise's forgiveness. 

It's deeply painful for the first few episodes, giving Coughlan and Jessie plenty of heart-wrenching moments. But their fractured friendship remains significantly one-note for this first half of the season. Where she once found rebellious love in a print shop and gloriously lamented society's oppression of women aloud, Eloise's character is somewhat relegated to this silent seething at her former best friend for most of Season 3. Hopefully, Eloise gets to diversify her time in the second half of the season, because Jessie's one of the strongest — and most hilarious — members of this cast.

Bridgerton Season 3 goes a little astray in the hedge maze of side quests Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) is also a leading lady this season. Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

While it's difficult to upstage the leading duo in a season of Bridgerton, it's definitely doable, bolstering the main storyline with playful interludes and rich social scandal. But so far in Season 3, the series struggles to conjure truly compelling subplots beyond Penelope and Colin's ever-bubbling romance and the introduction of a rival suitor, the delightful Lord Debling (Sam Phillips).

Not content with one leading lady this season, Bridgerton splits focus between Penelope's storyline and that of the latest Bridgerton to debut in the Ton: Francesca (Hannah Dodd, taking over from Ruby Stokes). Unfortunately, Francesca's defining traits are she loves playing piano and not talking. Introversion itself is an interesting character trait in Bridgerton, with Francesca finding solidarity in a scene with fellow "wallflower" Penelope. But Francesca's narrative drags as she literally courts by staring at a wall. Hopefully, the second half of the season will salvage this underwritten thread.

Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe) and Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) both need more to do. Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

As for the rest, I regret to use Jane Austen's own words to describe the show's supporting narratives: "a quick succession of busy nothings." As closeted artiste Benedict Bridgerton, Luke Thompson gives a continually delightful performance, though a random romance gives him little to do. The other Featheringtons, often fun for their awfulness, are mired in the repeated plot point of social-climbing — save for the absolute show-stealing sex advice from Portia Featherington (a straight-up hilarious Polly Walker) to her ghastly daughters.

Meanwhile, former boxer Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe) and his wife Alice (Emma Naomi) find themselves suddenly thrust into inherited wealth. Huzzah! But the only tension in this storyline involves sleeping arrangements and Will's insistence on maintaining his business — propriety be damned! Give them more!

Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), exquisite as ever. Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

Even Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) actively yawns at this year's lot. In fact, her quest to find society's "diamond" of the season is nearly abandoned, half-baking Bridgerton's core narrative tool with a demotion: In Season 3, she's looking instead for a real "sparkler." Luckily, any scene involving Rosheuvel as the Queen and Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury is a healthy serving of societal snark in glorious costumes, so the Queen can yawn all she likes.

Qualms aside, Bridgerton fans will likely have a ball in Season 3, with a full dance card of fan favourites returning, especially its two leads. With a deeply binge-worthy first half of the season awash with glorious costumes, electrifying sexual tension, and swoon-inducing romance, Bridgerton is playing to its strengths. And with another half of the season to come, perhaps there are more satisfying twists on the way.

How to watch: Bridgerton Seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming on Netflix. Season 3 will drop in two halves, with Part 1 streaming on May 16 and Part 2 on June 13.

Conflict on a team is inevitable, and it can manifest in four distinct ways. Here’s what each type of conflict looks like and how to resolve it. Individual-level conflict is when one team member is difficult, disengaged, loves playing devil’s advocate, or generally causes tension on the team. If your team experiences this kind of conflict, […]

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TL;DR: Stay safe online with a subscription to NordVPN, on sale for 54% off. As of May 13, get one year of virtual protection for only £35.47 (reg. £78.09).

You may lock up every door and window in your home, but intruders can still get in. And without a VPN, the devices you use every single day act like an open door to your most valuable digital information. Every time you browse, you're cracking a window for strangers and criminals to spy on your data.

Fortunately, you can get a one-year subscription to one of the highest-rated VPNs in the world for just £35.47 through May 22.

NordVPN has earned 5 out of 5 stars on TrustPilot, CNET, and PCMag as a bulletproof security solution. Mashable even raved about it in a review earlier this year, naming it our top pick among the best VPNS. Essentially, when you use NordVPN to browse the web, it runs your data through private, double-encrypted (double data SSL-based 2048-bit encryption) tunnels to ensure you’re untrackable online. Whether you’re working, streaming, gaming, or just Googling random celebrities while watching the telly, your internet use will be completely anonymous, with zero logs recorded.

You can choose to connect to any of the thousands of worldwide server locations in over 60 different countries, which lets you stream content from all over the world. You’ll also get high-speed connections, so your streaming won’t slow down as it makes its way through the encrypted tunnels. If somehow your VPN connection drops, your site will shut down automatically as well, so your data won’t be revealed. It’s like adding an extra deadbolt on top of an already secure door in your home.

A one-year subscription to NordVPN is typically £78.09, but for a limited time, you can slash over 50% off the price this deal and pay just £35.47. With a single subscription, you can secure six of your devices simultaneously and use unlimited data.

Opens in a new window Credit: NordVPN NordVPN: 1-Year Subscription £35.47 at at the Mashable Shop
£78.09 Save £42.62 Get Deal

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

We're approaching the end of the 2024 IPL season, and things are continuing to heat up. Next to the pitch are the Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans as captains Pat Cummins and Shubman Gill lead their teams as they prepare to go head-to-head.

You can stream Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Gujarat Titans for free from anywhere in the world, and we have all the information you need.

When is Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Gujarat Titans?

Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Gujarat Titans starts at 3 p.m. BST on May 16. This fixture will be played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad, India.

How to watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Gujarat Titans for free

JioCinema is offering free live streams of every IPL cricket match this season in 4K resolution on its app.

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

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. Gujarat Titans for free from anywhere in the world

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

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 $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.

Stream the IPL for free with ExpressVPN.

This iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro deep-dive comparative analysis will give you clarity on what, exactly, are the differences between the two phones. Don't worry; we'll explore how the cameras differ, too, a popular request among prospective iPhone 15 buyers.

The iPhone 15 costs $800, but the iPhone 15 Pro is more expensive at $1,000. That being said, I know what you're wondering. Does the iPhone 15 Pro really have features that are worth the extra $200?

No, I won't tell you which phone to get. Instead, I'm going to tell you the differences between the two and let you decide which device is best for your lifestyle. Let's dive into this iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro face-off, shall we?

(Note: Check out our iPhone 16 rumor hub. If you find that none of the models featured in the iPhone 15 series does it for you, you can always wait for the next iteration. Plus, if you're an iPhone user, you may be interested in our iOS 18 rumor hub, which details all the possible new iOS features that may hit your iPhone soon.)

SEE ALSO: iPhone 16 rumors: Release date, price, specs, features, and more iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: price

The iPhone 15 has a starting price of $800 via Apple's official website and it comes with the following specs:

• 128GB of storage

• 6GB of RAM

• A16 Bionic chipset

• 6.1-inch display

Keep in mind that you can get more storage, but it'll cost you. If you want 256GB of storage, the iPhone 15 will set you back $900. Speaking from experience, I'd recommend getting the 256GB variant, particularly if you love hoarding photos and videos. Otherwise, the 128GB model will haunt you with a "storage full" error, forcing you to delete your treasured media content within a year (or less) of use.

The base iPhone 15 model comes with 128GB of storage. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

If you're a big spender, you can get the iPhone 15 with 512GB of storage, which costs $1,100. But if you have enough money to spend on that, you'd be better off upgrading to the iPhone 15 Pro with 256GB of storage, which is exactly the same price.

Speaking of the iPhone 15 Pro, it has a starting price of $1,000 via Apple's official website and comes with the following specs:

• 128GB of storage

• 8GB of RAM

• A17 Pro

• 6.1-inch display

The most expensive iPhone 15 Pro, packed with 1TB of storage, will set you back $1,500. But again, if you have that kind of money to blow, you might as well upgrade to the iPhone 15 Pro Max with 512GB of storage, which costs $100 less at $1,400.

Again, I'd recommend upgrading to at least 256GB of storage if you have a treasure trove of media you'd like to store. However, if you don't mind deleting a few stuff along the way, or you have cloud storage, the 128GB variant should be fine.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 15 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Get Deal Featured Video For You A brief history of the iPhone iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: design

Cue Sia singing "Titanium" at the top of her lungs! The iPhone 15 Pro's biggest selling point is that it consists of a titanium frame, making it lighter and more durable than its predecessor's stainless-steel chassis.

The iPhone 15, wrapped in an aluminum enclosure, doesn't have a hint of titanium. Womp, womp! It is, however, a little lighter than its Pro sibling (6.03 ounces vs. 6.6 ounces).

As far as colors are concerned, I'd argue that the iPhone 15's colors are more fun.

The iPhone 15 comes in five fun colors. Credit: Apple

It comes in five colors:

• Pink

• Yellow

• Green

• Blue

• Black

The iPhone 15 Pro is a little bit more bougie — more mature and sophisticated.

The iPhone 15 Pro's colors are a lot more neutral. Credit: Apple

Its colors are more urbane, subtle, and minimalist:

• Natural Titanium

• Blue Titanium

• White Titanium

• Black Titanium

One subtle difference between the two phones is the iPhone 15 Pro's Action Button feature located on the left side of the chassis. The iPhone 15, on the other hand, still has a very boring mute switch instead. What's so great about the Action Button? You can customize it to launch any app or task you want.

For example, with my iPhone 15 Pro Max, I've set the Action Button to launch the Notes app since I use it so frequently, but the possibilities are endless. You can set up the Action Button to launch whatever app you want.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: display

The iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Pro actually share the same display size: 6.1 inches. If you want something bigger (e.g., 6.7 inches), consider getting the iPhone 15 Plus or the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Dynamic Island is here to stay. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

They also have the same resolution: 2,256 x 1,179 pixels

Although the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Max share the same screen size, they do not have the same display tech. The iPhone 15 does not have ProMotion technology nor does it have an Always-On display — but the Pro model has both of these perks.

What's ProMotion? It's just a fancy term for, "This phone has a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz." In other words, the iPhone 15 Pro has a zippier display that adapts to your workflow. If you're simply scrolling through an article, the refresh rate will slowdown. However, if you fire up a fast-paced mobile game, the refresh rate will pick up.

Conversely, the iPhone 15 has a refresh rate of 60Hz, which will feel slower only if you've ever owned a phone with a refresh rate of 90Hz or higher. And for the uninitiated, an Aways-On display lets you get information like time, widgets, and more at a glance because — well — the screen is always on. I can't say the same for the iPhone 15.

Both have the snazzy Dynamic Island featured at the top of the display, and plus, the duo can climb to a peak brightness of 2,000, according to Apple.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: cameras

Cameras are one of the biggest selling points smartphones, and as you might have guessed, the iPhone 15 Pro has an edge over the iPhone 15. Here's a break down of the camera specs:

iPhone 15

• Wide camera - 48MP

• Ultrawide camera - 12MP

• Selfie camera - 12MP

• No telephoto

iPhone 15 Pro

• Wide camera - 48MP

• Ultrawide camera - 12MP

• Selfie camera - 12MP

• Telephoto (3X optical zoom)

Unlike the iPhone 15 Pro, the iPhone 15 does not have a telephoto lens, which means that zoomed-in shots will have a dip in quality. It's also worth nothing that the iPhone 15 Pro's ultrawide lens has a slightly wider aperture, which means low-light shots should be better.

If you're a telephoto lens stan, you're going to want to go Pro. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The iPhone 15, unlike the iPhone 15 Pro, does not support macro photography, Apple ProRAW, nor Night Mode portraits. (This isn't to be confused with Night Mode, which the iPhone 15 does have.)

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: performance

The iPhone 15 Pro, without a doubt, is zippier and beastlier than the iPhone 15, thanks to its new A17 Pro Bionic chip. Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 sports the chipset featured inside the iPhone 14 Pro models: the A16 Bionic.

The iPhone 15 Pro is more of a powerhouse. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Truth be told, the A16 Bionic is still a stellar, breakneck chip that is actually overpowered for what's needed for mobile tasks, so imagine the herculean power behind the A17 Pro.

Without getting into the weeds of things, just know that the A17 Pro is capable of cutting-edge AI computations and graphics. So much so that high-fidelity games like Resident Evil Village, Death Stranding, and Assassin's Creed Mirage will be headed to the iPhone 15 Pro soon.

It's also worth noting that the iPhone 15 has 6GB of RAM while the iPhone 15 Pro has 8GB of RAM. This means that latter will do a better job at juggling multiple tasks simultaneously (e.g., switching between a bunch of apps should be faster).

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: battery life

Apple ran a video playback test on the iPhone 15 and it lasted 20 hours on a single charge. Compare that to the iPhone 15 Pro, which lasted 23 hours on the same test.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Which should you buy?

To sum it all up, the iPhone 15 Pro has an Action Button that I believe is totally underrated — the iPhone 15 doesn't have one. Plus, the iPhone 15 Pro has a better camera system. If taking better zoomed-in shots are important to you, it'd be worth it to shell out an extra $200.

If you enjoy mobile gaming, with the iPhone 15 Pro getting a GPU boost from its A17 Pro chipset, the upper-tier model is a better choice for you.

However, if neither of those bells and whistles tickle your fancy, you'll be fine with the entry-level iPhone 15.

If you've been scratching your head on how to split your screen on a Mac, don't worry, we've got the answers. Naturally, if you're someone who tends to multitask often, you'll want to split your screen.

Splitting screen on a Mac is one of the best ways to tap into your computer's multitasking capabilities. With the split screen feature, you can juggle several apps or Google Chrome tabs, allowing you to hop from one window to another.

Although the split-screen feature isn't the most apparent, conspicuous feature to launch on Mac, it's an easy one to use — you just need to know the steps to help you get started.

SEE ALSO: The best MacBooks: Which Apple laptop would we buy in 2024? How to use split screen on Mac

Before using split screen on Mac, you'll want to open the two apps or browser windows you'd like to use in the split-view feature. Once you have them opened, follow these steps:

1. Starting with the window you'd like stationed on the left, hover your mouse over the green circle. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable 2. Click on the words "Tile window to left of screen." This screen should now be placed on the left side. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable 3. Next, click on the second screen you'd like for the right side of the display. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable 4. Now, you have both windows sitting in split-screen view on your Mac Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

We told you it'd be easy.

Pressing play on a Conner O'Malley video is a disorienting experience.

Could it be a continuation of a previous character or universe? Could it be another installation of Truth Hunters host Mark Seevers, O'Malley's creation for the 2016 election that resembled Alex Jones if he were locked in a Wisconsin basement for two years, subsisting only on hot dog relish and stale buns? Sure. Could it be another video featuring the version of O'Malley hosting a late-night show on a bike, cruising through the streets of New York City while also in a blood feud with Greg Kinnear? Of course.

But the video could also be a one-off bit of brilliance, like "Endorphin Port," a perfect and bizarre send-up of tech's strange obsession with VR.

SEE ALSO: Conner O'Malley is the internet's unlikely oracle. And its most deranged comedian.

So when I saw O'Malley was dropping a stand-up special on his YouTube channel — an increasingly common move for comics — I had no clue what to expect. It was far from your average comedy special.

If you're unfamiliar with the background and lore of O'Malley's work, I've covered it for Mashable in the past. In general, his work is interested in the absurdity of the modern world. He often makes comedy centered on tech. But, instead of lampooning the companies or billionaires at the helm, he usually portrays a deranged everyman completely besotted by technocrats' promises. Frequently, these characters intersect with the weird, rightwing manosphere that exists online, the folks who cosplay being in the military, eat far too much meat, and treat capitalism as some sort of religion.

"Imagine Joe Rogan without the money," O'Malley's character says in his latest work, which was a surprise moment of crowd-work clarity.

SEE ALSO: Conner O'Malley is the internet's unlikely oracle. And its most deranged comedian.

In the traditional sense, Stand Up Solutions is hardly a stand-up special, even if it was filmed in front of a live Brooklyn audience. O'Malley plays a character named Richard Eagleton, who gives a presentation on a 5G-powered AI avatar he created to do stand-up. If that sounds boring, I promise it is anything but.

I cannot begin to explain the avenues this video takes. There are lamentations on the Toyota Rav-4, background info on Des Plaines, Illinois, and so much about McDonald's. There are some of the most vulgar images imaginable and a weird, somewhat touching backstory for why Eagleton embarked on his AI quest. There are moments of cultural criticism that somehow arise naturally from this deranged man onstage.

During the hour, O'Malley does a gonzo performance of stand-up, and there are moments where you feel like you're actually watching a small-time AI evangelist do a real investor pitch. And, as someone who writes about the internet and tech, there are moments where things sound a hell of a lot like, say, a two-hour presentation from a tech giant promising how great AI will be for everyone.

There is a pitch-perfect reveal of what O'Malley's character believes his AI tech could ultimately do — effectively force-feeding Americans AI politicians — and what it will do, which is help create prisons. And yes, again, I promise this special is funny as shit. It may also be the crassest you have ever watched.

Anyway, enough from me. I'll embed the special at the bottom of this post. But if you've looked at all the AI headlines lately and felt a bit skeptical, this special is for you.

There's a perfect little moment that totally sold me. O'Malley's character is talking to the crowd, asking them to guess a problem with the AI he created. "Nobody wants it," an audience member yells out.

O'Malley doesn't break from his evangelist character. "Well, you have a negative attitude," he answers. He then immediately goes on to eulogize a pair of Croatia's leading vaping artists. It's all nonsensical and exactly like the world we live in.

A bombastic wasteland folktale, George Miller's Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is an ingenious, eye-popping prequel to his near-perfect action romp Mad Max: Fury Road. While it revisits several characters and locations we've already seen, it's also a wildly different beast, one that replaces its predecessor's mile-a-minute chase structure with a years-spanning story that elevates the series' operatic imagery to the level of biblical myth.

Furiosa is vicious and pulsating despite taking its time. Like the four prior Mad Max movies, it isn't concerned with the confines of continuity, though it still makes for a satisfying coda to Fury Road. The nuances Charlize Theron brought to her angel of vengeance are enhanced by the prequel's story beats, and complemented by the two different actresses playing the character, much the way Tom Hardy took over the part of Max from Mel Gibson. Alyla Browne and Anya Taylor-Joy embody her as an adolescent and a young adult, respectively, while telling the macabre tale of how she was separated from her tribe, and how she lost her arm.

Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Across the movie's nearly two and a half hours, the character builds herself anew in a world of metallic mayhem and surreal desert madness. The result is major: an emotionally raw, physically tactile Hollywood picture with veins pumped full of adrenaline and gasoline. It's one of the best, most complete, and most affecting Hollywood action films in several years — probably since Fury Road itself. In short: Mad Miller has done it again.

What is Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga about?

Miller delivers an audacious mission statement by opening in the fabled "Green Place," a paradise mentioned in Fury Road but never seen. He presents a lush, inviting refuge from the desert wasteland that's almost immediately defiled by a gang of skull-masked scavengers, in an action scene rife with under-cranked push-ins, imbuing the frame with hyperactive jitters reminiscent of Silent-era classics. Miller's vision is clear from the get-go: Furiosa is a new perspective on a familiar story, told with uncontainable energy.  

A precocious young Furiosa (Browne) tries to protect her home, but is swiftly kidnapped by these savage bikers, who hope to use her as living proof of this place of abundance when reporting back to their rulers. Browne plays Furiosa for nearly the first hour of the movie, and deserves as much credit as Taylor-Joy — who takes over as our heroine in the second half — for her resilient performance at the tender age of 12. However, the star of the movie's initial act is arguably Charlee Fraser as Mary Jabassa, Furiosa's mother, though it never answers the question of whether she's Furiosa's biological or even adopted mother, or whether "mother" is simply an honorific used by their clan, the matriarchal Vuvalini. They were, of course, referred to as "The Many Mothers" in Fury Road, so the real answer is that it doesn't matter. They share a bond of love, embodied by Mary's tireless bike chase across the unforgiving desert to retrieve Furiosa.

SEE ALSO: Summer Movie Preview: Every film you oughta know

Where Fury Road felt like one long chase with occasional lulls, Furiosa immediately takes a different approach. Its introductory chase scene stops and starts at regular intervals, so that Mary can pause to gather equipment and exchange bike parts using the scraps left over by fallen scavengers. Each beat involves a moment of calculation — of taking something while leaving something else behind, micro-decisions that slowly inform the sequence as a whole. If Fury Road began with Furiosa having already made the most choice decision of her life — betraying the Immortan Joe by rescuing his captive wives — Furiosa is about the many decisions that led up to this moment, made by Furiosa herself, and by the small handful of people she came to trust.

Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

The heroic Mary is outnumbered and outgunned by the bikers, who eventually kill her and take Furiosa to their warlord: the Great Dementus (a nasally Chris Hemsworth, firing on all cylinders). Given the tragedies he's faced, it turns out the ambitious bandit leader has a soft spot for Furiosa, so he makes her his ward, though he forces her to bear witness to his cruelty. His foes and followers alike are thrust into brutal war games — his own little open-air Thunderdomes, which usually end in dismemberment — further enhancing the idea that surviving the wasteland is a matter of cunning calculus.

Eventually, Dementus passes through the Citadel from Fury Road, where Furiosa ends up in hiding as one of the Immortan's cultist War Boys — at which point a fierce and unwavering Taylor-Joy takes the character's reins, fleshing her out through stern, determined silence (Furiosa has no more than a few dozen lines). Stuck between a rock and a hard place, she's left with little choice but to serve the Immortan (played by Lachy Hulme, who replaces the late Hugh Keays-Byrne) in order to keep her long-term promise of returning home without anyone learning about the Green Place. All the while, she also plots her reprisal against Dementus, who enters into an uneasy business proposition with the Immortan. Her objectives of revenge and return occasionally align, but they eventually clash in ways that force her to make even more difficult decisions.

Much of the aforementioned plot can be gleaned from the trailers — that Furiosa is a prequel means she will inevitably end up the Immortan's right hand, his "Imperator" — but the movie's bygone conclusions never rob it of its ferocity. Instead, Miller enters into a sadistic game of expectations by playing with narrative point of view.

Furiosa is a fable narrated from the future.

Like the tribal children's "Tells" in Beyond Thunderdome, and the Feral Kid revealing himself to be narrator of Mad Max 2, Furiosa follows the series' adherence to oral tradition in the form of an elderly shaman (George Shevtsov) imprisoned by Dementus. Tattooed head to toe with stories, this "History Man" — a concept mentioned in Fury Road and detailed in its tie-in comics — is charged with recording and retelling events he witnesses firsthand, including Furiosa's arrival as a young girl, and her eventual revenge quest against her captors.

That the film is composed of the History Man's recollections leads to a number of intriguing narrative developments. It feels especially unpredictable despite its prequel status, since Furiosa doesn't have the same in-world "storyteller" as Fury Road, which was narrated by Max himself. One brief cameo in particular jumbles the timelines enough to magnify this discrepancy. The story of Furiosa is the visual embodiment of whispers and oral legends — likely told and retold until details become foggy — resulting in numerous narrative possibilities. 

Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

For instance: The map to the Green Place is tattooed on Furiosa's left arm, and given her strict instructions to never let anyone know of its location, it's hard not to wonder what (if any) part this might play in her eventual maiming before she dons her iconic claw prosthetic. Her mother’s sacrifice, in this way, ripples throughout the film in the form of a question: What is Furiosa willing to leave behind? Several action scenes and character beats place her arm in the path of danger, teasing the "how" and "why" of her dismemberment until they become disconcerting probabilities looming over the story. It's a masterstroke on par with the Final Destination series, with a pre-ordained outcome designed to keep viewers wincing in their seats.

Just as nerve-racking is the movie's most surprising development: Furiosa's romantic camaraderie with the Immortan's trusted "Praetorian" Jack (Tom Burke), a quietly magnetic war rig driver — the position Furiosa would eventually hold. There's a palpable chemistry between the star-crossed duo, forged amid propulsive action and buoyed by their mutual recognition of loneliness. Jack is the only person in whom she confides, and in return, he promises to teach her the skills she needs to return home safely, while asking nothing in return. In a film where the villain, Dementus, demands a frigid nihilism from his acolytes, the warmth Furiosa finds in the darkest of circumstances feels especially precious.

SEE ALSO: The 20 best action movies on Netflix right now

This secret romance — told through glances and held breaths, and set against sprawling landscapes — is beautiful to witness. It's also beautifully tragic. That there's no mention of her companion in Fury Road makes their romance doomed to fail for one reason or another, whether by death or betrayal. Given how deftly Miller endears us to Jack's principled stoicism, it's hard to say which outcome would be more painful.

However, the biggest reason these narrative developments strike such a major chord is that they also lay the groundwork for spectacular action filmmaking that rivals anything in the series.

George Miller's directing is as impeccable as ever.

Furiosa isn't the ceaseless action climax Fury Road was, nor does it try to be. Some of the latter's visual techniques became mainstream talking points in ways editing and framing rarely do — the much-discussed aesthetic approach of center-framing to ensure viewers can track the action during quick cuts, for example — but Miller, cinematographer Simon Duggan, and editors Eliot Knapman and Margaret Sixel shoot and assemble Furiosa in service of an entirely different action mindset.

The film is much more deliberately paced than its predecessor, with more breathing room during and between its action scenes, which allows a riveting intensity to seep through the corners of the frame. While part of a larger whole, each set piece also feels like a desperate final grasp. Furiosa uses the entirety of its widescreen, 2.39:1 aspect ratio to create remarkable dioramas, be it static or in motion, and whether the frame is littered with hundreds of extras or just a handful of characters. Compared to its predecessor, this fluidity of composition is permitted by shots that are framed wider and hold longer, as they build to nail-biting crescendos.  

SEE ALSO: 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga' trailer: Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth face off

In the movie's quieter, darker moments, this aesthetic approach yields a number of jaw-dropping tableaus reminiscent of religious iconography — from crucifixions and witch trials to demonic imagery (not to mention, a mother named Mary) — alongside character portraits enveloped by sand, fog, and flame. The result is an expressionistic hellscape that embraces Miller’s digital facade. It's as epic as the fiery sandstorm in Fury Road, but with a stunning degree of visual and emotional intimacy — the kind even a filmmaker like Miller has seldom accomplished. This is especially true when the movie reaches its darkly introspective denouement, which wrestles between the futility and catharsis of retribution. It can be argued that Furiosa is Miller's most well-rounded work to date, even before one takes his signature into account: inventive, madcap action that feels dangerous to watch, as limbs and bodies fly across the screen, and War Boys continue to sacrifice themselves in incendiary fashion.

Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

One chase scene in particular is shockingly effective, despite its unfortunate resemblance to recent real-world events. It involves a brand-new war rig — a silver, tank-like truck whose painstaking construction we see — in an action sequence so audaciously conceived that its spectacle unfolds not just laterally, but vertically, in a manner best left unspoiled. It's hard not to feel like you're levitating once it begins, but things only get crazier once the vehicle's full destructive potential is unveiled. It's one of a few times the movie fully satiates the desire for more Fury Road-esque action, seamlessly switching gears over an extended period between wide-screen spectacle and anxiety-inducing drama filmed up-close. 

Fury Road was a straight shot back and forth, but Furiosa diverges from its linear path as much as possible, with chases up and down sharp mountainsides and around the curved edges of enormous canyons. All the while, Miller draws on the grandiose Technicolor works of William Wyler — Ben Hur in particular. Not only does Dementus ride a chariot led by a trio of bikes, but like Wyler's approach to his famous horse race, Furiosa's soundscape uses a combination of Tom Holkenborg's blaring score, monstrous revving engines, and a rocky, earthy ambience to create a seat-shattering experience.

SEE ALSO: Things you (probably) didn't know about 'Mad Max: Fury Road'

The film has no shortage of typically Mad Max concepts: villains with ridiculous names like "Toe Jam," "Scrotus,” and "The Octoboss" adorned with everything from horned helmets to swimming goggles, riding rusted scrap vehicles that feel like mad science experiments. But what makes it especially reminiscent of Miller's filmography is how adroitly he outdoes himself in nearly every department. It's the reason he's so adept at crafting sequels, from Babe to Mad Max and even Happy Feet, and his first prequel is no exception. It not only rivals Fury Road but surpasses it in several ways, especially as a soul-stirring character drama steeped in loss and anger, a potency it translates into motion and momentum.

An explosive revenge epic rife with turns both poetic and surprising, Furiosa is a magnificent, pulse-pounding achievement unlike anything you'll see this year.

If staring at your phone in a moving vehicle is a puke-worthy or vertigo-inducing experience, Apple's new Vehicle Motion Cues might be a solution.

Announced along with a series of other new accessibility features, Vehicle Motion Cues turn built-in motion sensors in iPhone and iPads into anti-sickness aids.

SEE ALSO: Apple adds new accessibility features across the senses, including eye tracking

"Research shows that motion sickness is commonly caused by a sensory conflict between what a person sees and what they feel, which can prevent some users from comfortably using iPhone or iPad while riding in a moving vehicle," explained Apple.

Credit: Apple

When the new setting is turned on, a user's phone starts displaying animated black dots on the edges of the screen. The dots move along with the motion of the phone or vehicle to reduce the aforementioned sensory conflict, shifting across the screen as a vehicle turns right or left or suddenly stops, "without interfering with the main content."

As Meta continues its pivot to AI and the Metaverse, there will inevitably be countless products and features that the company sunsets as a result.

Meta has now confirmed one of those products that it is shutting down: Workplace, a private social network platform for companies. TechCrunch first reported the news on Tuesday and Meta has since confirmed it.

“We are discontinuing Workplace from Meta so we can focus on building AI and metaverse technologies that we believe will fundamentally reshape the way we work,” a Meta spokesperson said in a statement. “Over the next two years, we will provide our Workplace customers the option to transition to Zoom’s Workvivo product, Meta’s only preferred migration partner.”

SEE ALSO: Slack's new AI 'Recap' feature will send you a daily digest of important convos What is Workplace?

Workplace is a Slack or Microsoft Teams competitor, so there are other similar options out there for companies looking to use a compatible service. Workplace, however, basically imitated the Facebook feel and provided companies with a private social network-like platform to interact, something that those alternatives don't quite provide.

According to Meta, Workplace will continue to run as is until August 2025. At that point, Meta will move Workplace into a read-only mode where users can still access what has already been posted. At the end of May 2026, nearly two years from now, Workplace will be completely shuttered and all content will be removed.

When Workplace shuts down, it will mark a 10-year run for the product. The product launched in 2016 and was originally called Facebook at Work. In 2021, Meta announced that Workplace had seven million paying users. However, TechCrunch reports that Workplace struggled in recent years as the product no longer fit the AI and Metaverse-focused direction the company was headed in. 

Companies that have used Workplace for years likely have substantial data stored on the platform, which they may want to preserve. This seems to be why Meta is announcing the shutdown two years in advance.

People have had a fascination with famous people for eons — and in the age of the internet, it's only increased. Influencers, often online content creators, have made both the definition of "celebrity" and our relationships with them fuzzy. 

While it may seem like influencers are followers' friends due to how they interact with them online, this more than likely isn't the case. Instead, these relationships are parasocial — one-sided. But what are parasocial relationships exactly, and are they healthy?

SEE ALSO: Influencers aren't going anywhere. So what does that mean for today's teens? What is a parasocial relationship?

Parasocial relationships are one-sided relationships, typically with an everyday individual and a celebrity or fictional character, said assistant professor of communication studies at Colorado State University, Natalie Pennington. 

According to chief strategy officer at media tech company IMGN Media Noah Mallin, parasocial relationships are an assumed intimacy audience members feel even though they don't have an actual relationship with that person.

These relationships existed long before the internet — thousands of years ago. Researchers say ancient people had parasocial relationships with pharaohs and deities, for example. 

In the 20th century, early research on parasocial relationships dissected those of people and soap opera characters and other fictional TV characters. "People would watch TV shows and become really invested in, and feel like they had a relationship with…some of the leads on the shows," said Pennington. "So even though they may never meet, they were like, 'This person is my friend. I know them.'"

"Even though they may never meet, they were like, 'This person is my friend. I know them.'"

As media and technology has evolved, so have parasocial relationships. With the rise of the internet and social media in the past few decades, celebrities have disclosed more information about themselves online, allowing fans more insight. This previously-impossible-to-know knowledge has made these relationships seem real, as fans are learning more about the celebrity. It's still one-sided, however, as the celebrity may have no idea who the fan is. 

Examples of parasocial relationships

In a study on fan-celebrity interaction on Twitter Pennington published in 2016 with professor Jeffrey A. Hall and researcher Alex Hutchinson, the authors discussed the "illusion of closeness" social media interaction gives to fans when it comes to celebrity interaction. A celebrity "like" or retweet can not only boost one's own social status, but it's a perceived level of intimacy with the celeb.

Even the definition of "celebrity" is fuzzy these days due to the rise of social media and particularly influencers, who've blurred the parasocial lines even more because of increased interaction and the perception that an influencer is just a "normal person" like yourself. 

Because of engagement, social media blurs the line of parasocial relationships. Since that study, it's only increased — especially with TikTok, Pennington noted. Referring to the stitch feature of combining videos, she said, "TikTok with stitching, for example…it blurs the line on parasocial because someone may actually respond to you and then you can feel even more connected."

SEE ALSO: Is Instagram shadowbanning LGBTQ and sex ed accounts?

The rise of YouTube vlogging had a hand in modern parasocial relationships, said Mallin. Vloggers speak directly to camera (something not often done in previous forms of media) about specific personal issues they're dealing with, as if they're speaking to a friend. Now it's typical for an influencer to look directly at you during a video. There's a perceived level of authenticity there, even if a lot of work went into a video behind the scenes. 

Not only are influencers looking at you, but they're also interacting — sometimes in real time. "It feels like you've got more ability to access and interact," said Mallin. "A good creator will read the comments, and comment back."

Commenting back and forth can feel like you're having a conversation with an influencer (even if it's their team and not them responding). This helps foster the sense of "this is a real person," said Mallin, "but that can also foster the sense of, 'not only is this a real person, but we actually have a relationship with each other,'" even though you don't. 

"Again, [this is] still not a two sided relationship in most cases," Pennington said. "But because there's that extra level of interaction or potential for [interaction], it can strengthen that tie for someone."

How do parasocial relationships form and end?

Parasocial relationships are born out of parasocial interaction, or PSI. PSI is the process of engaging with a celebrity or influencer. You watch their content, perhaps even reach out to them. It's likely you relate to them in some way; maybe their identity aligns with yours, or maybe you share similar attitudes. 

Just as possible as it is for parasocial relationships to form, it's also possible for them to end. The most morbid of cases is when the public figure dies, but that's not the only way. 

One way is, as Mallin said, "the bubble has burst." This is especially the case of influencers when they reach a certain level of notoriety where they don't "feel real" anymore. Perhaps their follow count is in the millions, and they've entered the mainstream. "Once you get the sense that they're not really talking to just you anymore…it can start to feel like less of a relationship," said Mallin.

This can also be the case if an influencer starts doing too many sponsorships that feel misaligned with who they are (or, at least, who the fan believe them to be). "It starts to feel less authentic," said Mallin.

Or, maybe the influencer started in one niche that resonated with you and then they evolved and moved on. In that way, the end of a parasocial relationship can feel like a friendship that drifted apart. 

This doesn't happen with all fans, but parasocial relationships can fizzle when the illusion of intimacy is somehow broken. 

Are parasocial relationships healthy?

The simple answer is yes — but like most things, it's best in moderation. 

In the United States, people are pretty lonely, and the pandemic worsened the "loneliness epidemic." People have fewer close friends now than they did decades ago. At the same time, Pennington said, there's an innate human need to belong and thus a need for connection, and when we don't have that we'll seek it out. Humans evolved these needs over millions of years, because we needed to be part of groups in order to survive. While this isn't necessarily the case anymore, we're still social creatures who thrive with others.

So, it makes sense that people seek connection online and through celebrities and influencers. As long as they're not the only relationships in your life, parasocial relationships can be totally fine. You may get a "boost" of good-connection feelings — a hit of the feel-good chemical dopamine — when you engage with your favorite online personality, and that's a positive.

But if that's the only way you're connecting — or if you think your parasocial relationship is actually two-sided — that's when they can get problematic.

"We need people in our life that we actively talk to," Pennington said, "to help our wellbeing, whether that be loneliness, self esteem, belonging, connection, all that stuff."

Pennington continued, "There's nothing wrong with enjoying the content of a creator in any capacity and appreciating the work they do with the in-the-moment joy that that brings you." It's not a good idea to set expectations with the celebrity, however. "It's okay to reach out to tweet at and say 'hi,' but not anticipate or expect a response," Pennington said. 

Further, Mallin said, parasocial relationships can cross the line into being toxic, especially if the influencer/celebrity is of a marginalized identity. "Parasocial relationships can feel fairly benign," he said, "but for some groups that sometimes can be a little bit more sinister." 

During the worst of the pandemic, for example, influencers spoke out about increased harassment. Abuse can escalate from online to offline, such as Twitch "fans" stalking streamers. In these ways, the blurred line of interaction can be detrimental. 

When interacting with an influencer/celebrity, it's important to remember the relationship is indeed one-sided. It's okay to love a famous person — but keep your emotional and physical distance.

This article was first published in 2022 and republished in 2024.

This week, King Charles unveiled a new portrait of himself by the acclaimed painter Jonathan Yeo at Buckingham Palace.

Reactions to the very red, very raw-looking piece have been mixed. Many on social media note that the portrait is both intriguing and unflattering. Here's what people are saying about the art online.

SEE ALSO: Media agencies pulled a 'manipulated' photo of Kate Middleton. Here's what happened. Portrait of a colonizer

The British monarchy gained and retained power by colonizing indigenous nations for centuries. As a benefactor of that legacy and the modern representative of the monarchy's oppressive past, King Charles has been criticized for his inability to make appropriate reparations (or even apologize) for the pain the institution has caused around the world.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Echoes of "Tampongate"

In 1993, Charles made international news when tabloids published transcripts of phone calls he had made to now-wife Camilla Bowles while they were both married to other people.

The scandal became known as "Tampongate" because the transcripts included an exchange in which the duo discussed Charles' hope to be reincarnated as one of Camilla's tampons. Some online observers have noted that the portrait's color and texture resemble a used feminine hygiene product, leading to comparisons.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Is the painting very bad, excellent, or both?

A critic at The Guardian panned Yeo's painting as a "superficially observed and carelessly executed bland banality," and the artist himself acknowledged that viewers "might not agree with how I've done [the piece]." One thing is for sure: like all art, its appeal is subjective.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

ChatGPT, OpenAI's blockbuster generative AI application, has recently received a significant upgrade with the introduction of the new GPT-4o model unveiled at OpenAI's "Spring Update" event. GPT-4o is a multi-modal model, advertised as able to use logic not just in the generation of text, but with audio inputs and outputs, and by receiving live video — all in real time. And while the reveal wasn't a search engine as was rumored in the weeks leading up to the announcement, the GPT-4o-powered voice assistant mode demoed during the Spring Update was nothing to scoff at.

SEE ALSO: When will OpenAI's GPT-4o be available to try? How to get GPT-4o with ChatGPT's free tier This is what it looks like to select GPT-4o with a paid account. Credit: Mashable Screenshot / OpenAI

The exciting news for ChatGPT users is that the GPT-4o model is being made available to everyone, including those on the free tier — at least for generating text. To try and access GPT-4o, simply log into your ChatGPT account via a web browser. In the top left-hand corner, check the drop-down menu for the GPT-4o option, labeled as OpenAI's "newest and most advanced model."

SEE ALSO: OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever is leaving. But what did he see?

For now, the rollout is progressing slowly in the browser version, and for desktop and mobile apps. Users may not yet see GPT-4o on iOS or Android, and the new Mac desktop app is still being released. OpenAI plans to make the desktop app more broadly available in the coming weeks, while a Windows version is expected later this year.

Although the voice and vision capabilities of GPT-4o seen in the personal assistant mode demo are not yet widely available, developers can access these capabilities through the API. However, while OpenAI intends to release the voice features to ChatGPT Plus subscribers soon, there's no word on when — or if — that eye-popping assistant mode will be made available for free.

SCORE 57% OFF: As of May 15, the Kindle edition of Gabrielle Zevin's "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow: A Novel" is available for just $5.99 at Amazon, down from $13.99. That's a 57% discount or $8 off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Knopf Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow: A Novel $5.99 at Amazon
$13.99 Save $8.00 Get Deal

Amazon's throwing a massive book sale right now, and it's not one to miss. Through May 20, you can score major deals on everything from hardcover bestsellers to Fire Tablets (up to 40% off) and huge discounts on Kindle ebooks, including some of BookTok’s most popular titles.

Speaking of BookTok, one title that’s been making the rounds online since it was released is Gabrielle Zevin’s “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow: A Novel." This New York Times best-seller (and award-winner) is a love story unlike any other. Even John Green says it’s “utterly brilliant.”

SEE ALSO: We tried every Amazon Kindle to find the best e-reader for every bibliophile

As of May 15, you can get the Kindle edition of "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" for just $5.99. That’s 57% off the listing price. Or, if you prefer hardcover books, you can get it for $14.71 (47% off).

The story follows Sam and Sadie, two friends who meet as kids in a hospital video game room. Years later, they reunite at a train station, and their shared passion for video games leads them to create a wildly successful company. Although the plot is seemingly simple, this book tests the boundaries of friendship, love, and the creative process.

With more than 93,000 ratings on Amazon and 877,352 on Goodreads, this book has definitely made an impact since its release in July 2022. Some say it’s “enthralling,” while other readers (hardcore gamers) have issues with the mechanics and outdated gaming jargon. Either way, it’s a title that's got everyone talking on BookTok (with the hashtag #tomorrow3).

Google I/O 2024 was Android 15's time to shine.

The latest grand software update for Android devices got plenty of time in the spotlight at Google's annual developer showcase on Wednesday. It may not be the most sweeping Android revision of all time, but between a couple of cool privacy features and a neat addition to Google Wallet, there's still something to anticipate with the big Android update.

Here are the 3 best Android 15 features Google announced at I/O, per Google's blog post about it.

Theft Detection

Two of the three biggest additions to Android 15 have to do with privacy, but not necessarily in the "hackers are trying to steal your credit card information" kind of way. The new Theft Detection feature is instead meant to combat real-life brigands and ne'er-do-wells who would try to physically steal your phone from you.

Google didn't go into detail explaining exactly how Theft Detection works, but it apparently uses AI (what doesn't?) to determine if a "theft motion" (such as snatching a phone out of someone's hand and running away) has occurred. At that point, the phone will be totally locked down and theoretically unusable by the thief.

Of course, whether or not this works will depend heavily on Google's AI being able to properly detect a "theft motion" instead of locking the phone down every time the owner goes on a run.

Private space

The other new privacy addition should also help if someone other than you has access to your phone.

According to Google's blog post, private space allows you to hide entire apps behind some kind of authentication mechanism (like a fingerprint scan) before they can be accessed. You would ideally do this with things like banking apps that could contain important personal financial information.

Personally, my banking app already scans for my fingerprint when I open it, so this feature would make me do that twice just to check my balance. But hey, more security is always a good thing, and this is optional.

Add things to Google Wallet via photos

Lastly, Google Wallet is about to get a lot more convenient.

While smartphone wallets are generally useful for things with QR codes on them, Google Wallet will now let you add text-only documents to the app by taking photos of them. Google's examples included library cards and gym memberships as things you could potentially scan into your Google Wallet.

Android 15 is expected to start rolling out during Q3 of 2024.

SAVE 40%: The Heartstopper box set (books one through four) by Alice Oseman is just $36.24 during the Amazon Book Sale, marked down from the usual price of $59.96. That's a savings of $23.72.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Heartstopper box set by Alice Oseman (paperback, books 1-4) $36.24 at Amazon
$59.96 Save $23.72 Get Deal

Summer reading list looking a bit slim? Plump it up by adding a four-book illustrated novel series that's also a massive hit on Netflix. Thanks to the Amazon Book Sale, you'll be getting a great deal on the series that's sure to make summer reading thoroughly enjoyable.

As of May 15, the Heartstopper paperback box set (books one through four) by Alice Oseman is just $36.24, marked down from the typical price of $59.96. That's a 40% discount or a savings of $23.72.

What originally started as a webcomic on Tumblr has grown exponentially in recent years. A queer must-watch on Netflix, Heartstopper by Alice Oseman follows the life and relationship of Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson. Both attending Truham Grammar School, the two kindle a relationship that weaves through their experiences in high school, as well as their close-knit group of friends.

Oseman is both the author and illustrator for the Heartstopper books, which first released in 2018. The adaptation into the popular Netflix series has also been a hit, with Mashable editor Shannon Connellan praising both season one and season two in her reviews.

Add some endearing books to your summer reading collection during the Amazon Book Sale by snagging the four-book box set of Heartstopper by Alice Oseman.

HBO has released a first look at The Last of Us Season 2. The two new photos (below) show how Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) have adjusted to life in the aftermath of the Season 1 finale.

The first season of the celebrated zombie-centered series ended with Joel bringing Ellie to the Fireflies in hopes that her immunity to the Cordyceps fungus could help make a cure. However, he learned that creating a cure would require Ellie's death. Not willing to sacrifice his surrogate daughter, Joel killed the remaining Fireflies fled back to Jackson, Wyoming, with an unconscious Ellie in tow. He told her that the Fireflies died in a raid, and that the two of them barely made it out alive. It's a lie Ellie seems to accept, albeit hesitantly.

Season 2, which will premiere in 2025, picks up with Ellie and Joel living in the Jackson community along with Joel's brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and his wife Maria (Rutina Wesley). The first look at Ellie shows her hunting through a building with a flashlight and rifle.

Bella Ramsey as Ellie in "The Last of Us." Credit: Courtesy of HBO

And here's Joel, stoic as ever, with his hair grown out.

Pedro Pascal as Joel in "The Last of Us." Credit: Courtesy of HBO

While Pascal and Ramsey are both returning to The Last of Us, Season 2 will also introduce a handful of new faces.

Kaitlyn Dever (Booksmart) is stepping into the key role of Abby, a survivor with a link to the Fireflies. Isabela Merced (Turtles All the Way Down) will play Dina, Ellie's girlfriend, and Young Mazino (Beef) will play Jackson patrol leader Jesse. Schitt's Creek's Catherine O'Hara has also joined the cast, in an as-yet undisclosed role.

The Last of Us Season 1 is now streaming on Max. Season 2 premieres on HBO and Max in 2025.