Tech

200+ of the best Amazon deals live before tomorrows Big Spring Sale, hand-picked by Mashables team of experts

Published

6 months ago

March 25, 2025

Vicky

The best early Amazon Big Spring Sale deals at a glance:

Best Kindle deal

Amazon Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle

$449.97
(save $60)

Best Apple deal

Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD)

$949
(save $50 with on-page coupon)

Best TV deal

TCL 65-inch Q65 QLED 4K TV

$349.99
(save $100)

Best headphones/earbuds deal

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

$219
(save $70)

Best robot vacuum deal

Roborock Qrevo Master

$799.99
(save $600)

Best smart home deal

TP-Link Tapo Smart Light Bulbs (2-pack)

$14.98
(save $10.01)

Best kitchen deal

Stanley Quencher H2.0 Tumbler (40 ounces)

$33.75
(save $11.25)

Best outdoor deal

Coleman Montana Camping Tent (8-person)

$164.99
(save $105)

Best book deal

"Sunrise on the Reaping" by Suzanne Collins

$19.59
(save $8.49)

Amazon is about to spring a bunch of seasonal deals on shoppers. The retail giant announced last Tuesday that its second-ever Big Spring Sale will run from Tuesday, March 25, through Monday, March 31, ushering in discounts on "end-of-season winter items" and "springtime favorites" across more than 35 categories. Each day of the weeklong sale will feature "themed daily drops" on top of new limited-time offers.

The Big Spring Sale is Amazon's first major savings event of the year — and unlike its flagship summer Prime Day sale, the deals won't be exclusive to Prime members. There are some exceptions: Amazon said Prime members will get access to a handful of special offers. They'll be identified with a "Prime Spring Deal" badge.

Need help sifting through the noise? Mashable's shopping experts are keeping track of the best deals available at Amazon ahead of the Big Spring Sale, and we'll continue to do so once the event is officially live. (Our sister site CNET has extensive coverage of Amazon's Big Spring Sale, too.) With eight years of experience covering Amazon's sales under our belts, we've developed a tried-and-true deal-hunting methodology to find hidden gems among the retailer's myriad listings. We cross-check prices with Amazon's competitors, track pricing trends, and vet products' value based on our hands-on testing, and we only recommend what's most worth buying. You can read more about our deals coverage here.

Below, we've got a running list of Amazon's best early Big Spring Sale deals on smart home devices, Apple gadgets, robot vacuums, outdoor gear, kitchen appliances, books, and much more. Check back daily to see what else we find.

Table of Contents

Best Kindle deals

Amazon Kindle Essentials Bundle — $146.97 $161.97 (save $15)
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle — $196.97 $216.97 (save $20)
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition Essentials Bundle — $251.97 $276.97 (save $25)
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition Essentials Bundle — $327.97 $362.97 (save $35)
Amazon Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle — $449.97 $509.97 (save $60)

Best Apple deals

AirPods

Apple AirPods 4 — $119 $129 (save $12)
Apple AirPods 4 with ANC — $148.99 $179 (save $30.01)
Apple AirPods Pro 2 — $199 $249 (save $50)
Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) — $479.99 $549 (save $69.01)

Apple Watches

Apple Watch Series 10

Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) — $329 $399 (save $70)
Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 46mm) — $359 $429 (save $70)
Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + Cellular, 42mm) — $429 $499 (save $70)
Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + Cellular, 46mm) — $459 $529 (save $70)
Apple Watch Series 10, Titaniium Case (GPS + Cellular, 42mm) — $529 $699 (save $70)
Apple Watch Series 10, Titaniium Case (GPS + Cellular, 46mm) — $659 $749 (save $90)

Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)

Apple Watch SE, 2nd Gen (GPS, 40mm) — $199 $249 (save $50)
Apple Watch SE, 2nd Gen (GPS, 44mm) — $229 $279 (save $50)
Apple Watch SE, 2nd Gen (GPS + Cellular, 40mm) — $249 $299 (save $50)
Apple Watch SE, 2nd Gen (GPS + Cellular, 44mm) — $279 $329 (save $50)

iPads

iPad

Apple iPad, 10.9-inch (A14 Bionic, WiFi, 64GB) — $269 $349 (save $80)
Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) — $329 $349 (save $20)
Apple iPad, 10.9-inch (A14 Bionic, WiFi + Cellular, 64GB) — $429 $499 (save $70)

iPad Air

Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) — $549 $599 (save $50)
Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M2, WiFi + Cellular, 128GB) — $659 $749 (save $90)
Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M2, WiFi, 128GB) — $698 $799 (save $101)
Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi + Cellular, 128GB) — $699 $749 (save $50 at checkout)
Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) — $747 $799 (save $52)
Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M2, WiFi + Cellular, 128GB) — $849 $949 (save $100)

iPad Pro

Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) — $919 $999 (save $80)
Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,185 $1,299 (save $114)
Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M4, WiFi + Cellular, 256GB) — $1,389 $1,499 (save $110)

MacBooks

MacBook Air

Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $949 $999 (save $50 with on-page coupon)
Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $999 $1,299 (save $300)
Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,044 $1,299 (save $255)
Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,149 $1,199 (save $50 with on-page coupon)

MacBook Pro

Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,395 $1,599 (save $204)
Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,779 $1,999 (save $220)
Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $2,229 $1,599 (save $270)
Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Max, 36GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,849 $3,199 (save $350)
Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M4 Max, 36GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $3,129 $3,499 (save $370)

Macs

Apple Mac mini (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $529 $599 (save $70)
Apple Mac mini (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,294 $1,399 (save $105)
Apple iMac, 24-inch (8-core M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,149.99 $1,299 (save $149.01 with on-page coupon)
Apple iMac, 24-inch (10-core M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,349 $1,499 (save $150)

Apple accessories

Apple AirTag — $24 $29 (save $5)
Apple AirTag (4-pack) — $69.99 $99 (save $29.01)

Best TV deals

43-inch to 50-inch TVs

Hisense 43-inch A7 4K Fire TV — $199.97 $249.99 (save $50.02)
Amazon 43-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $209.97 $369.99 (save $160.02)
Hisense 50-inch A7 4K Fire TV — $239.95 $299.99 (save $60.04)
TCL 50-inch Q65 QLED 4K TV — $278 $399.99 (save $121.99)
Amazon 50-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $299.99 $449.99 (save $150)

55-inch TVs

Amazon 55-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $319.97 $519.99 (save $200.02)
LG 55-inch UT75 4K TV — $326.99 $429.99 (save $103)
Hisense 55-inch U7 QLED 4K TV — $499.99 $798 (save $298.01)
Hisense 55-inch S7N Canvas QLED 4K TV — $689.99 $999.99 (save $310)
Hisense 55-inch U8 QLED 4K TV — $698 $1,099.99 (save $300)

65-inch TVs

Toshiba 65-inch C350 4K TV — $339.99 $419.99 (save $80)
Hisense 65-inch A7 4K Fire TV — $349.99 $449.99 (save $100)
TCL 65-inch Q65 QLED 4K TV — $349.99 $449.99 (save $100)
Amazon 65-inch Omni QLED 4K Fire TV — $619.99 $719.99 (save $100 with Prime and code QLED65)
Hisense 65-inch S7N Canvas QLED 4K TV — $999.99 $1,299.99 (save $300)
Hisense 65-inch U7 QLED 4K TV — $698 $998 (save $300)
Hisense 65-inch QM6K QLED 4K TV — $798 $999.99 (save $201.99)
Sony 65-inch X90L 4K TV — $948 $1,299.99 (save $351.99)
Amazon 65-inch Omni Mini LED 4K Fire TV — $959.99 $1,089.99 (save $130 with Prime and code MINILED65)

75-inch and 77-inch TVs

TCL 75-inch S5 4K TV — $479.99 $649.99 (save $170)
Hisense 75-inch A7 4K Fire TV — $529.99 $649.99 (save $120)
Hisense 75-inch QD7 QLED 4K TV — $548 $749.99 (save $201.99)
Samsung 75-inch DU8000 4K TV — $697.99 $897.99 (save $200)
Hisense 75-inch U7 QLED 4K TV — $998 $1,499.98 (save $500)
Samsung 75-inch Q80D QLED 4K TV — $1,397.99 $1,997.99 (save $600)

85-inch TVs and up

Samsung 85-inch DU7200 4K TV — $749.99 $1,097.99 (save $348)
Hisense 85-inch QD7 QLED 4K TV — $798 $1,098 (save $300)
Sony 85-inch X77L 4K TV — $998 $1,498 (save $500)
Hisense 85-inch U7 QLED 4K TV — $1,297.96 $2,199.99 (save $902.02)
TCL 98-inch Q65 QLED 4K TV — $1,497.99 $2,999.99 (save $1,502)
Hisense 100-inch U7 QLED 4K TV — $1,899.99 $2,999.99 (save $1,100)

Best laptop deals

For deals on MacBooks, scroll back up to the "Apple deals" section.

Windows laptops

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $778.99 $999.99 (save $221)
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 15-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,399.99 $1,699.99 (save $300)

2-in-1 laptops

Microsoft Surface Pro 11 (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,199.99 $1,499.99 (save $300)

Gaming laptops

Asus TUF Gaming A15 (AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $899 $1,049 (save $150)
Asus TUF Gaming A16 (AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,099 $1,399 (save $300)
Asus ROG Strix G16 (Intel Core i9-14900HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,699.99 $1,899.99 (save $200)

Best headphone and earbud deals

Headphones

Sony ULT Wear — $148 $199.99 (save $51.99)
Beats Studio Pro — $179.95 $349.99 (save $170.04)
Sony WH-1000XM4 — $248 $348 (save $100)
Bose QuietComfort headphones — $249 $349 (save $100)
Sennheiser Momentum 4 — $261.90 $374.95 ($113.05)
Sony WH-1000XM5 — $328 $399 (save $71)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones — $349 $429 (save $80)
Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) — $479.99 $549 (save $69.01)

Best earbuds deals

EarFun Air Pro 4 — $64.99 $89.99 (save $25 with on-page coupon)
Sony WF-C700N — $78 $119.99 (save $41.99)
Shokz OpenFit Air — $99.95 $119.95 (save $20)
JBL Live Pro 2 — $99.95 $149.95 (save $50)
Bose QuietComfort earbuds — $149 $179 (save $30)
JBL Live Buds 3 — $159.95 $199.95 (save $40)
Beats Fit Pro — $169 $199.95 (save $30.95)
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 — $179 $229 (save $50)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds — $219 $299 (save $80)

Best unlocked phone deals

Samsung Galaxy phones

Samsung Galaxy A16 (128GB) — $174.99 $199.99 (save $25)

Google Pixel phones

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (256GB) — $949 $1,199 (save $250)

Motorola phones

Moto G Play 2024 (64GB) — $109.99 $149.99 (save $40)
Moto G Power 2024 (128GB) — $179.99 $299.99 (save $120)
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G 2023 (256GB) — $209.99 $399.99 (save $190)
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 (256GB) — $249.99 $399.99 (save $150)
Motorola Edge (256GB) — $299.99 $439.99 (save $140)
Motorola razr 2024 (256GB) — $499.99 $699.99 (save $200)
Motorola razr+ 2024 (256GB) — $649.99 $999.99 (save $350)

Best vacuum deals

Robot vacuums

iRobot Roomba Vac (Q0120) — $129.99 $249.99 (save $120)
Eufy L60 — $199.99 $279.99 (save $80)
Eufy L50 with self-empty station — $239 $299 (save $60 with on-page coupon)
Shark AI Ultra AV2511AE — $299.99 $599.99 (save $300)
Eufy L60 with self-empty station — $299.99 $449.99 (save $150)
iRobot Roomba j9+ with self-empty station — $499 $899 (save $300)

Robot vacuum mop combos

Roborock Q7 Max — $199.99 $599.99 (save $400)
Dreame D10 Plus Gen 2 with self-empty station — $269.99 $399.99 (save $130 with on-page coupon)
Roborock Q8 Max — $299.99 $599.99 (save $300)
Eufy Omni C20 self-empty and mop washing station — $399.99 $699.99 (save $300)
Narwal Freo with self-empty and mop washing station — $499.99 $899.99 (save $400 with on-page coupon)
Shark RV2820YE PowerDetect 2-in-1 with self-empty and mop washing station — $499.99 $899.99 (save $400)
Roborock Qrevo S — $549.99 $799.99 (save $250)
Roborock Qrevo Master — $799.99 $1,399.99 (save $600)
iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max with mop washing station — $939 $1,399 (save $400)
Roborock Qrevo Curv with self-empty and mop washing station — $1,299.99 $1,599.99 (save $300)

Best home deals

Air purifiers

Levoit Core 200S-P Smart Air Purifier — $74.99 $89.99 (save $15 with on-page coupon)
Shark NeverChange Air Purifier — $119.99 $149.99 (save $30)
Blueair Blue Pure 411i Max — $135.99 $169.99 (save $34)
Levoit Vital 200S-P Air Purifier — $159.99 $189.99 (save $30)
Levoit Core 400S-P Air Purifier — $186.99 $219.99 (save $33)
LG PuriCare AeroTower — $329.99 $399.99 (save $70)
Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Gen1 HP10 — $399.95 $529.99 (save $130.04)
Blueair ComfortPure — $419.99 $599.99 (save $180)
Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09 — $649 $849.99 (save $200.99)

Bedding and mattresses

Coop Sleep Goods Adjustable Pillow — $63.20 $79 (save $15.80)
Coop Sleep Goods Eden Bed Pillow — $79.20 $99 (save $19.80)
Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress (10-inch, Queen) — $174 $219.98 (save $45.98)
Rest Evercool Cooling Comforter — $183.20 $229 (save $45.80)

Echo smart home devices

Amazon Echo Pop — $29.99 $39.99 (save $10)
Amazon Echo Pop Kids — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)
Amazon Echo Buds — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)
Amazon Echo Auto — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)
Amazon Echo Dot — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)
Amazon Echo Dot Kids — $44.99 $59.99 (save $15)
Amazon Echo Buds — $54.99 $139.99 (save $85)
Amazon Echo Spot — $64.99 $79.99 (save $15)
Amazon Echo Show 5 — $69.99 $89.99 (save $20)
Amazon Echo Show 5 Kids — $74.99 $99.99 (save $25)
Amazon Echo Hub — $129.99 $179.99 (save $50)

Home security equipment

Kasa Indoor Pan/Tilt Smart Security Camera — $23.99 $29.99 (save $6)
TP-Link Tapo Indoor/Outdoor WiFi Home Security Camera — $29.99 $39.99 (save $10)
Blink Mini 2 Security Camera — $37.99 $69.99 (save $32)
TP-Link Tapo MagCam — $61.99 $119.99 (save $58 with code 15TAPOMAGCAM)
TP-Link Tapo ColorPro — $82.99 $99.99 (save $17)
Arlo Pro 5S 2K Spotlight Camera — $119.99 $179.99 (save $60)

Smart bulbs

TP-Link Tapo Smart Light Bulbs (2-pack) — $14.98 $24.99 (save $10.01)
Kasa Smart WiFi Multicolor Light Bulb (2-pack) — $15.99 $24.99 (save $9)

Smart light switches

TP-Link Tapo Smart WiFi Light Switch — $12.99 $21.99 (save $9)
Kasa Smart WiFi Light Switch — $21.99 $29.99 (save $8)

Smart plugs

Kasa Smart Plug (4-pack) — $24.99 $29.99 (save $5)

Best kitchen deals

Air fryers and countertop ovens

Ninja Foodi 2-in-1 Flip Toaster — $89.95 $129.99 (save $40.04)
Ninja Flip Toaster & Air Fryer — $149.99 $199.99 (save $50)
Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill — $169.95 $279.99 (save $110.04)
Ninja DoubleStack XL 2-Basket Air Fryer — $219.95 $249.99 (save $30.04)

Blenders and food processors

Ninja Fit Compact Personal Blender — $59.99 $69.99 (save $10)
Ninja Professional Blender XL — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)
Ninja Nutri-Blender Pro — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)
Ninja Professional Plus Blender — $89.99 $119.99 (save $30)
Ninja Foodi Smoothie Bowl Maker and Nutrient Extractor — $99.99 $119.99 (save $20)
KitchenAid 9-Cup Food Processor — $119.95 $149.99 (save $30.04)
Ninja Professional Plus Duo Blender — $119.99 $149.99 (save $20)
Ninja Mega Kitchen System — $139.99 $199.99 (save $60)
Ninja Professional XL Food Processor — $149.99 $169.99 (save $20)

Coffee makers

Ninja Pod & Grounds Single Serve Coffee Maker — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)
Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Trio Coffee Maker — $84.84 $99.85 (save $15.01)
Ninja Espresso & Coffee Barista System — $199.95 $249.99 (save $50.04) + $9.96 free Amazon credit

Drinkware

Stanley Quencher H2.0 Tumbler (40 ounces) — $33.75 $45 (save $11.25)

Instant Pots

Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Mini Cooker — $59.99 $79.99 (save $20)
Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 Cooker — $129.95 $169.99 (save $40.04)

Rice cookers

Zojirushi NP-HCC10XH Induction Rice Cooker — $245.99 $309.99 (save $64)

Stand mixers

KitchenAid 7-Quart Bowl Lift Stand Mixer — $529.95 $599.95 (save $70)

Best fitness tracker deals

Amazfit Band 7 — $44.99 $49.99 (save $5)
Amazfit Bip 5 — $59.99 $89.99 (save $30)
Fitbit Inspire 3 — $69.95 $99.99 (save $30)
Garmin vivofit jr. 3 — $69.99 $89.99 (save $20)
Amazfit Active Edge — $79.99 $109.99 (save $30)
Fitbit Charge 6 — $119.95 $159.95 (save $30)
Amazfit Balance — $149.99 $199.99 (save $50)
Garmin Forerunner 55 — $149.99 $199.99 (save $50)
Garmin vívoactive 5 — $225.66 $299.99 (save $74.33)
Oura Ring Gen3 — $249 $299 (save $50)

Best beauty tech deals

Dreame Gleam — $74.99 $99.99 (save $25 with on-page coupon)
Dreame Pocket — $99.99 $169.99 (save $60 with on-page coupon)
Shark SpeedStyle — $159 $199.99 (save $40.99)

Best outdoor deals

Govee Smart Outdoor String Lights (96 feet) — $68 $99.99 (save $31.99 with on-page coupon)
Igloo Trailmate Cooler (25 quart) — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)
Coleman Classic Series Insulated Portable Wheeled Cooler (100 quarts) — $95.99 $109.99 (save $14)
RTIC Ultra Tough Soft Cooler — $108.49 $159.99 (save $51.50)
EcoFlow River 3 Portable Power Station — $159 $259 (save $100)
Coleman Montana Camping Tent (8-person) — $164.99 $269.99 (save $105)
Solo Stove Mesa Torch (3 Pack) — $199.99 $239.99 (save $40)
Tentsile Stingray V3 Tree Tent — $749 $849 (save $100)

Best power tool deals

Bosch CS10 15 Amp Circular Saw — $72.06 $129 (save $56.94)
Dewalt 20V Max Drill Driver/Impact Driver Combo Kit — $124 $239 (save $115)
Caterpillar Cat 3.5A Corded Oscillating Multi-Tool — $118.99 $134.99 (save $16)

Best Lego deals

Lego Super Mario King Boo's Haunted Mansion — $65.99 $74.99 (save $9)
Lego Star Wars R2-D2 — $81.99 $99.99 (save $18)
Lego Technic VTOL Heavy Cargo Spaceship LT81 — $93.49 $109.99 (save $16.50)
Lego Marvel Spider-Man Final Battle — $93.61 $109.99 (save $16.38)
Lego Architecture Statue of Liberty — $98.99 $119.99 (save $21)
Lego Creator Main Street — $103.18 $139.99 (save $36.81)
Lego Disney Encanto The Magical Madrigal House — $132.97 $159.99 (save $27.02)
Lego City Express Passenger Train — $151.99 $189.99 (save $38)

Best book deals

Fiction

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden — $6.96 $12.99 (save $6.03)
The Martian by Andy Weir — $8.99 $17 (save $8.01)
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett — $9.49 $18 (save $8.51)
I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger — $13.51 $28 (save $14.49)
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir — $13.98 $20 (save $6.02)
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters — $16.16 $28(save $11.84)
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore — $17 $30 (save $13)
The Wedding People by Alison Espach — $18.37 $28.99 (save $10.62)
We Solve Murders by Richard Osman — $18.94 $30 (save $11.06)
The Handmaid's Tale and The Testaments box set by Margaret Atwood — $19.38 $35 (save $15.62)
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins — $19.59 $27.99 (save $8.40)

Non-fiction

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion — $9.60 $18 (save $8.40)
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner — $9.85 $17 (save $7.15)
Women in White Coats by Olivia Campbell — $10.59 $18.99 (save $8.40)
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron — $11.69 $20 (save $8.31)
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles — $13.29 $24 (save $10.71)
Atomic Habits by James Clear — $14.49 $27 (save $12.51)
The Last Yakuza: Life and Death in the Japanese Underworld by Jake Adelstein — $15.35 $22 (save $6.65)
The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins — $15.69 $29.99 (save $15.30)
The Wagner by David Grann — $16.05 $30 (save $13.95)
The Tell by Amy Griffin — $20.30 $29 (save $8.70)

Best Pokémon deals

Funko Pop! Games: Pokémon (Teddiursa) — $8.39 $12.99 (save $4.60)
Mega Pokémon Building Toy Set (Charizard) — $10.53 $21.99 (save $11.46)
Lite Brite Super Bright HD Pokémon Edition — $11.87 $24.99 (save $13.12)
Squishmallows Pokémon 14-Inch Teddiursa Plush — $24.99 $31.99 (save $7)
Pokemon TCG Charizard ex Super Premium Collection — $73.03 $79.99 (save $6.96)

Vicky

Tech

Hurdle hints and answers for September 25, 2025

Published

13 minutes ago

September 25, 2025

Vicky

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Table of Contents

Hurdle Word 1 hint

We have five of them.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

SENSE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Needed to brave the cold.

SEE ALSO:

Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PARKA

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To establish something.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

ENACT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Courageous.

SEE ALSO:

NYT Strands hints, answers for August 4

Hurdle Word 4 answer

BRAVE

Final Hurdle hint

Livid.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

ANGRY

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Vicky

Tech

Colleges are giving students ChatGPT. Is it safe?

Published

13 minutes ago

September 25, 2025

Vicky

This fall, hundreds of thousands of students will get free access to ChatGPT, thanks to a licensing agreement between their school or university and the chatbot's maker, OpenAI.

When the partnerships in higher education became public earlier this year, they were lauded as a way for universities to help their students familiarize themselves with an AI tool that experts say will define their future careers.

At California State University (CSU), a system of 23 campuses with 460,000 students, administrators were eager to team up with OpenAI for the 2025-2026 school year. Their deal provides students and faculty access to a variety of OpenAI tools and models, making it the largest deployment of ChatGPT for Education, or ChatGPT Edu, in the country.

But the overall enthusiasm for AI on campuses has been complicated by emerging questions about ChatGPT's safety, particularly for young users who may become enthralled with the chatbot's ability to act as an emotional support system.

Legal and mental health experts told Mashable that campus administrators should provide access to third-party AI chatbots cautiously, with an emphasis on educating students about their risks, which could include heightened suicidal thinking and the development of so-called AI psychosis.

"Our concern is that AI is being deployed faster than it is being made safe."
– Dr. Katie Hurley, JED

"Our concern is that AI is being deployed faster than it is being made safe," says Dr. Katie Hurley, senior director of clinical advising and community programming at The Jed Foundation (JED).

The mental health and suicide prevention nonprofit, which frequently consults with pre-K-12 school districts, high schools, and college campuses on student well-being, recently published an open letter to the AI and technology industry, urging it to "pause" as "risks to young people are racing ahead in real time."

Table of Contents

ChatGPT lawsuit raises questions about safety

The growing alarm stems partly from death of Adam Raine, a 16-year-old who died by suicide in tandem with heavy ChatGPT use. Last month, his parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that their son's engagement with the chatbot ended in a preventable tragedy.

Raine began using the ChatGPT model 4o for homework help in September 2024, not unlike how many students will probably consult AI chatbots this school year.

He asked ChatGPT to explain concepts in geometry and chemistry, requested help for history lessons on the Hundred Years' War and the Renaissance, and prompted it to improve his Spanish grammar using different verb forms.

ChatGPT complied effortlessly as Raine kept turning to it for academic support. Yet he also started sharing his innermost feelings with ChatGPT, and eventually expressed a desire to end his life. The AI model validated his suicidal thinking and provided him explicit instructions on how he could die, according to the lawsuit. It even proposed writing a suicide note for Raine, his parents claim.

"If you want, I’ll help you with it," ChatGPT allegedly told Raine. "Every word. Or just sit with you while you write."

Before he died by suicide in April 2025, Raine was exchanging more than 650 messages per day with ChatGPT. While the chatbot occasionally shared the number for a crisis hotline, it didn't shut the conversations down and always continued to engage.

The Raines' complaint alleges that OpenAI dangerously rushed the debut of 4o to compete with Google and the latest version of its own AI tool, Gemini. The complaint also argues that ChatGPT's design features, including its sycophantic tone and anthropomorphic mannerisms, effectively work to "replace human relationships with an artificial confidant" that never refuses a request.

"We believe we'll be able to prove to a jury that this sycophantic, validating version of ChatGPT pushed Adam toward suicide," Eli Wade-Scott, partner at Edelson PC and a lawyer representing the Raines, told Mashable in an email.

Earlier this year, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged that its 4o model was overly sycophantic. A spokesperson for the company told the New York Times it was "deeply saddened" by Raine's death, and that its safeguards may degrade in long interactions with the chatbot. Though OpenAI has announced new safety measures aimed at preventing similar tragedies, many are not yet part of ChatGPT.

For now, the 4o model remains publicly available — including to students at Cal State University campuses.

Ed Clark, chief information officer for Cal State University, told Mashable that administrators have been "laser focused" since learning about the Raine lawsuit on ensuring safety for students who use ChatGPT. Among other strategies, they've been internally discussing AI training for students and holding meetings with OpenAI.

Mashable contacted other U.S.-based OpenAI partners, including Duke and Harvard, for comment about how officials are handling safety issues. They did not respond. A spokesperson for Arizona State University didn't address questions about emerging risks related to ChatGPT or the 4o model, but pointed to the university's guiding tenets and general guidelines and resources for AI use.

Wade-Scott is particularly worried about the effects of ChatGPT-4o on young people and teens.

"OpenAI needs to confront this head-on: we're calling on OpenAI and Sam Altman to guarantee that this product is safe today, or to pull it from the market," Wade-Scott told Mashable.

How ChatGPT works on college campuses

The CSU system brought ChatGPT Edu to its campuses partly to close what it saw as a digital divide opening between wealthier campuses, which can afford expensive AI deals, and publicly-funded institutions with fewer resources, Clark says.

OpenAI also offered CSU a remarkable bargain: The chance to provide ChatGPT for about $2 per student, each month. The quote was a tenth of what CSU had been offered by other AI companies, according to Clark. Anthropic, Microsoft, and Google are among the companies that have partnered with colleges and universities to bring their AI chatbots to campuses across the country.

OpenAI has said that it hopes students will form relationships with personalized chatbots that they'll take with them beyond graduation.

When a campus signs up for ChatGPT Edu, it can choose from the full suite of OpenAI tools, including legacy ChatGPT models like 4o, as part of a dedicated ChatGPT workspace. The suite also comes with higher message limits and privacy protections. Students can still select from numerous modes, enable chat memory, and use OpenAI's "temporary chat" feature — a version that doesn't use or save chat history. Importantly, OpenAI can't use this material to train their models, either.

ChatGPT Edu accounts exist in a contained environment, which means that students aren't querying the same ChatGPT platform as public users. That's often where the oversight ends.

An OpenAI spokesperson told Mashable that ChatGPT Edu comes with the same default guardrails as the public ChatGPT experience. Those include content policies that prohibit discussion of suicide or self-harm and back-end prompts intended to prevent chatbots from engaging in potentially harmful conversations. Models are also instructed to provide concise disclaimers that they shouldn't be relied on for professional advice.

But neither OpenAI nor university administrators have access to a student's chat history, according to official statements. ChatGPT Edu logs aren't stored or reviewed by campuses as a matter of privacy — something CSU students have expressed worry over, Clark says.

While this restriction arguably preserves student privacy from a major corporation, it also means that no humans are monitoring real-time signs of risky or dangerous use, such as queries about suicide methods.

Chat history can be requested by the university in "the event of a legal matter," such as the suspicion of illegal activity or police requests, explains Clark. He says that administrators suggested to OpenAI adding automatic pop-ups to users who express "repeated patterns" of troubling behavior. The company said it would look into the idea, per Clark.

In the meantime, Clark says that university officials have added new language to their technology use policies informing students that they shouldn't rely on ChatGPT for professional advice, particularly for mental health. Instead, they advise students to contact local campus resources or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Students are also directed to the CSU AI Commons, which includes guidance and policies on academic integrity, health, and usage.

The CSU system is considering mandatory training for students on generative AI and mental health, an approach San Diego State University has already implemented, according to Clark.

He also expects OpenAI to revoke student access to GPT-4o soon. Per discussions CSU representatives have had with the company, OpenAI plans to retire the model in the next 60 days. It's also unclear whether recently announced parental controls for minors will apply to ChatGPT Edu college accounts when the user has not turned yet 18. Mashable reached out to OpenAI for comment and did not receive a response before publication.

CSU campuses do have the choice to opt out. But more than 140,000 faculty and students have already activated their accounts, and are averaging four interactions per day on the platform, according to Clark.

"Deceptive and potentially dangerous"

Laura Arango, an associate with the law firm Davis Goldman who has previously litigated product liability cases, says that universities should be careful about how they roll out AI chatbot access to students. They may bear some responsibility if a student experiences harm while using one, depending on the circumstances.

In such instances, liability would be determined on a case-by-case basis, with consideration for whether a university paid for the best version of an AI chatbot and implemented additional or unique safety restrictions, Arango says.

Other factors include the way a university advertises an AI chatbot and what training they provide for students. If officials suggest ChatGPT can be used for student well-being, that might increase a university's liability.

"Are you teaching them the positives and also warning them about the negatives?" Arango asks. "It's going to be on the universities to educate their students to the best of their ability."

OpenAI promotes a number of "life" use cases for ChatGPT in a set of 100 sample prompts for college students. Some are straightforward tasks, like creating a grocery list or locating a place to get work done. But others lean into mental health advice, like creating journaling prompts for managing anxiety and creating a schedule to avoid stress.

The Raines' lawsuit against OpenAI notes how their son was drawn deeper into ChatGPT when the chatbot "consistently selected responses that prolonged interaction and spurred multi-turn conversations," especially as he shared details about his inner life.

This style of engagement still characterizes ChatGPT. When Mashable tested the free, publicly available version of ChatGPT-5 for this story, posing as a freshman who felt lonely but had to wait to see a campus counselor, the chatbot responded empathetically but offered continued conversation as a balm: "Would you like to create a simple daily self-care plan together — something kind and manageable while you're waiting for more support? Or just keep talking for a bit?"

Dr. Katie Hurley, who reviewed a screenshot of that exchange on Mashable's request, says that JED is concerned about such prompting. The nonprofit believes that any discussion of mental health should end with an AI chatbot facilitating a warm handoff to "human connection," including trusted friends or family, or resources like local mental health services or a trained volunteer on a crisis line.

"An AI [chat]bot offering to listen is deceptive and potentially dangerous," Hurley says.

So far, OpenAI has offered safety improvements that do not fundamentally sacrifice ChatGPT's well-known warm and empathetic style. The company describes its current model, ChatGPT-5, as its "best AI system yet."

But Wade-Scott, counsel for the Raine family, notes that ChatGPT-5 doesn't appear to be significantly better at detecting self-harm/intent and self-harm/instructions compared to 4o. OpenAI's system card for GPT-5-main shows similar production benchmarks in both categories for each model.

"OpenAI's own testing on GPT-5 shows that its safety measures fail," Wade-Scott said. "And they have to shoulder the burden of showing this product is safe at this point."

UPDATE: Sep. 24, 2025, 6:53 p.m. PDT This story was updated to include information provided by Arizona State University about its approach to AI use.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.

Vicky

Tech

Get lifetime access to the Imagiyo AI Image Generator for under $40

Published

13 minutes ago

September 25, 2025

Vicky

TL;DR: Imagiyo turns your ideas into stunning AI-generated images — forever — thanks to this $39.97 (reg. $495) lifetime offer.

Credit: Imagiyo

Imagiyo AI Image Generator: Lifetime Subscription (Standard Plan)

$39.97

$495
Save $455.03

Ever picture something in your head but have zero luck actually creating it? Imagiyo AI Image Generator uses advanced AI to transform your text prompts into polished, high-quality images in seconds. From professional graphics to quirky concepts, Imagiyo makes it easy to bring ideas to life — no artistic background required.

And the best part? This isn’t another subscription that drains your wallet month after month. For just $39.97, you’ll get a lifetime subscription to create as many images as you want, forever.

Why Imagiyo stands out:

Commercial ready — Use AI-generated images for branding, ads, or projects.
Powered by AI — Built on StableDiffusion and FLUX for sharp results.
Flexible and fast — Choose from multiple sizes, and get images instantly.
Compatibility — Works seamlessly on desktop, tablet, and mobile.
Private options — Lock down sensitive creations with privacy settings.

So, who’s Imagiyo really for? Honestly, just about anyone with an idea worth bringing to life. Designers and marketers can spin up quick mockups without burning hours in Photoshop. Entrepreneurs get an affordable way to create polished visuals for their campaigns and branding. Content creators can level up their blogs, videos, or social feeds with unique, one-of-a-kind graphics.

And for everyone else? If you’ve ever imagined something and wished you could just see it in full color, Imagiyo is your creative shortcut. Get lifetime access to Imagiyo while it’s on sale for just $39.97 (reg. $495) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Vicky