Tech
Why compromise when refurbished tech is the smartest upgrade available?

In today’s fast-moving digital world, where shiny new tech seems to hit shelves every other week, there’s a growing savvy shift towards refurbished electronics. Far from being hand-me-downs, some bargains, like eBay’s Refurbished devices, can provide pristine looks and brilliant performance, minus the premium price tag.
No matter what turns your head, be it a snappier processor, a crisper display, or a longer-lasting battery, today we can find you some sweet secondhand gear without breaking your bank. Let’s dive into it.
The value of performance
Imagine getting the latest smartphone, laptop, or tablet without paying full retail. Refurbished devices are typically tested and restored to meet manufacturer-like standards, so performance and aesthetics often rival brand-new counterparts. For many, the allure lies in that sweet spot between quality and cost.
If you’re after a high-performing laptop but don’t want to shell out thousands, a refurbished model can deliver the same speed, storage, and visuals you crave (just at a fraction of the cost). To make that search easier, eBay’s Refurb program has a few grading conditions from Certified, Excellent, Very Good and Good which basically act as a pricing scale. So you can shop easily by condition on a budget that works for you.
And because demand for tech keeps climbing, prices on new gear can skyrocket overnight. Refurbs let you sidestep that cost inflation, securing top-tier specs without the sticker shock.
How eBay’s refurbished program ensures trust
Not all refurbished offerings are created equal, though. That’s where eBay’s Refurbished platform stands out. Every eBay seller is held accountable through rigorous performance standards: if a device arrives in less-than-promised condition, you’re protected. In fact, eBay’s Money Back Guarantee* provides a safety net—so if your refurbished purchase doesn’t match its description, you can get a refund. By combining seller oversight with a buyer-first guarantee, eBay helps customers shop refurbished with real confidence.
Added perks: Shipping, returns, and warranty
Beyond finance-conscious perks, eBay’s Refurbished program often includes extras like free shipping and 30-day returns***, plus a 1-year warranty**, all of which underscore the platform’s commitment to quality. Imagine this: you find a refurbished monitor that checks every box with a vibrant display, slim bezels, and energy-efficient panels but costs hundreds less than a brand-new model.
And while technology evolves fast, the underlying components (i.e.: processors, RAM, and storage) can often stay relevant for years. That means your refurbished device can stay capable and responsive, handling everyday tasks, streaming videos, or even tackling light creative work.
A refurbished range for every need
Speaking of selections, eBay’s categories span across nearly every tech niche. Are you in search of a refurbished laptop that's perfect for your work or studies? The Refurbished Laptops page offers everything from ultraportable solutions for on-the-go work to beefier notebooks with considerable graphical grunt.
Perhaps you’re setting up a home office on a budget. Time to browse Refurbished Monitors to find crisp resolutions and wide colour gamuts that rival brand-new displays.
On the go? Refurbished Tablets & E-Book Readers blend convenience with performance, helping you read, stream, or sketch without breaking the bank. Because eBay aggregates offerings from multiple trusted refurbishers, you get access to a vast inventory that’s continually updated.
Future-proofing your tech investments
But aside from cost savings, there’s another reason why refurbished tech is increasingly seen as future-proof. In a world where new releases are par for the course, owning a device that’s just a generation or two old doesn’t necessarily feel outdated.
In many cases, software updates and general usage demands remain well within the capabilities of these devices for years. Plus, with a budget freed up by choosing refurbished, you might even afford higher-end specs than you would if buying new. Say goodbye to cringe-worthy compromises on screen resolution or build quality; now you can opt for a refurbished model that checks all the boxes.
For those who like to swap devices regularly, refurbished gear also removes the “cost trap” of rapid upgrades. Instead of losing a big chunk of value trading in a brand-new device after only a few months, you can buy refurbished, enjoy peak performance, and then sell or trade it later without severe depreciation anxiety.
Who benefits most from refurbished tech?
Educational buyers, freelancers, and entrepreneurs often find this approach especially appealing. Students might have tight budgets but still crave robust laptops. Freelancers can reinvest savings into software or tools that enhance their workflow. Small-business owners can equip staff with reliable devices without sacrificing quality. Across the board, adopting refurbished tech just makes financial sense.
Of course, lingering doubts around refurbished goods often centres on trust: Will a “used” device really hold up? That’s why eBay’s Refurbished program is built on transparency. Every product listing clearly states its condition, and seller ratings provide real-world feedback. Should any issue arise, you have recourse through eBay’s return policies and purchase protections. The bottom line: these safeguards aren’t just marketing fluff; they’re real commitments to ensure you’re satisfied.
Your next steps
In a world brimming with tech temptations, why pay full price when you can invest in intelligent upgrades? Embrace refurbished electronics and discover a future-proof way to stay equipped without paying a premium. There’s never been a better time to take a smarter path to digital innovation.
Learn & shop more:
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Browse Refurbished Electronics on eBay
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Discover Refurbished Monitors
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Explore Refurbished Laptops
Disclaimers:
For full eligibility criteria and all terms and conditions, read eBay’s Money Back Guarantee Policy.
eBay money-back guarantee = "Refurbished Program T&Cs apply"
1 year warranty = "Refurbished Program T&Cs apply"
30 day returns = "Refurbished Program T&Cs apply"
eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the brands mentioned
Tech
Hurdle hints and answers for September 24, 2025

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.
Hurdle Word 1 hint
To creep around.
Hurdle Word 1 answer
SNEAK
Hurdle Word 2 hint
A long-legged bird.
Hurdle Word 2 Answer
STORK
Hurdle Word 3 hint
To throw.
Hurdle Word 3 answer
CHUCK
Hurdle Word 4 hint
More accurate.
Hurdle Word 4 answer
TRUER
Final Hurdle hint
They show when one smiles.
Hurdle Word 5 answer
TEETH
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Tech
Five burning questions we have for Alien: Earth Season 2

This summer, FX's Alien: Earth latched onto my brain like a Facehugger latches onto a new host.
Now, with the release of the show's Season 1 finale, you'd think that Facehugger would drop off and leave me be. You'd be wrong! Instead, the Season 1 finale leaves viewers with some major questions we'll be puzzling over until the show's potential return.
Here are the five biggest questions we have for Alien: Earth Season 2.
What does a Neverland run by hybrids look like?
Season 1 of Alien: Earth ends with the group of hybrids known as the Lost Boys in total control over the Neverland research facility. They've imprisoned Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin), Kirsh (Timothy Olyphant), Morrow (Babou Ceesay), Dame Sylvia (Essie Davis), and Atom Eins (Adrian Edmondson). Now, with the adults out of the way, Wendy (Sydney Chandler) declares it's time for the hybrids to "rule."
But what will their rule entail? Will they stay on Neverland, or will they try to extend their authority to the rest of the world? Will they remain fast allies, or will they turn against one another and go full Lord of the Flies on their new island kingdom?
How will Weyland-Yutani and Alien: Earth's other corporations react to Boy Kavalier's plight?

Credit: Patrick Brown / FX
By the end of Alien: Earth Season 1, Weyland-Yutani is closing in on Neverland in order to take back the specimens Boy Kavalier stole. But will Yutani (Sandra Yi Sencindiver) change tack when she realizes her rival is being held captive? Will she leave the island alone or try to stage a hostile takeover? Perhaps her priorities will change entirely, shifting from trying to capture the alien specimens to trying to perfect Boy Kavalier's revolutionary hybrid tech. Either way, her looming presence does not bode well for the newly independent hybrids.
Weyland-Yutani isn't the only other major corporation on the board in Alien: Earth, though. There are three other corporations we haven't truly met yet: Dynamic, Lynch, and Threshold. Could they be joining the party in Alien: Earth's future?
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What's next for the loose orchid and eyeball aliens?
While the Xenomorph may be under Wendy's control, there are still several alien threats running wild on the island. In the Season 1 finale, the orchid alien (aka D. Plumbicare) revealed that it could turn into a floating, octopus-like creature and got loose in Neverland. I would not want to be walking around the island with that out there, that's for sure.
But that's not all: Alien: Earth's breakout star, the eyeball alien T. Ocellus, found a new host in the corpse of Arthur Sylvia (David Rysdahl). We've seen T. Ocellus take over a cat corpse and a human body, but now we get to see it go full zombie mode in what might be Alien: Earth's coolest development yet. But what's T. Ocellus's plan while in Arthur's body? Will it try to find a new, stronger host in, say, a hybrid? (And what would that look like?) Will it finally have a conversation with its biggest fan, Boy Kavalier? And how in the world will Dame react when she sees her beloved husband with a massive new eyeball and a burst-open chest? Bring on the zombie shenanigans!
Will the Xenomorph continue serving Wendy, or will it rebel?

Credit: Patrick Brown / FX
For now, Wendy and her Xenomorph seem pretty tight. But what happens if the Xenomorph goes through a rebellious teenage phase and decides it doesn't want to serve its human mother figure anymore? Could the hybrids lose their grip on Neverland if the apex predator at their disposal decides to turn on them?
Wendy's Xenomorph also isn't the only Xenomorph on the island. There's also the specimen that burst out of Arthur's chest. As it grows, will it become territorial with Wendy's Xenomorph, or will it join the hybrid-Xeno family and view Wendy as its queen? If so, what are the odds Wendy tries to build a whole Xenomorph army?
How will Alien: Earth tie back to Alien?
The question hanging over any prequel is "how will this tie back to the original?" and with Alien: Earth, that question is especially pressing, given that it takes place two years before the events of Alien. By that point, there are no mentions of hybrid technology, nor are there any mentions of them in the sequels. So what will happen to the hybrids between then and now to render them obsolete? It's a daunting question, but it's one that Alien: Earth will certainly have to contend with as it closes in on the original films.
Alien: Earth is now streaming on Hulu.
Tech
Alien: Earths game-changing ending, explained

After eight episodes of terrifying new creatures, Alien homages, and existential questions about the future of humanity, Alien: Earth Season 1 has come to a close. And what a close it was.
The finale, titled "The Real Monsters," flips the power dynamic that's been in place for the entire season. By the end of the episode, the hybrid Lost Boys, led by Wendy (Sydney Chandler), have gained total control over their keepers, including Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin) and Dame Sylvia (Essie Davis). This power shift has been in the cards since Alien: Earth's first episode, but how do we get here? Let's break it down.
Alien: Earth's hybrids finally realize how strong they are.

Credit: Patrick Brown / FX
From the first moment Alien: Earth introduces Wendy in her super-strong, super-fast, super-durable hybrid body, it's clear that she and her fellow Lost Boys could absolutely wreck Prodigy's Neverland security team if they wanted to. That idea doesn't cross their minds, though. Instead, the Lost Boys are still children in consciousness, and they believe Neverland to be a safe paradise for them.
However, this idea erodes over the course of Alien: Earth's first season, as the Lost Boys lose confidence in the people they've been told to trust. They're endangered and experimented on. Nibs' (Lily Newmark) traumatic memories were manipulated. Isaac (Kit Young) died while tending to the alien specimens. Morrow (Babou Ceesay) threatened to kill Slightly's (Adarsh Gourav) family. Each horrifying incident wears away at the Lost Boys' childlike innocence, turning the idyllic Neverland into a hell on Earth.
Ironically, these incidents only increase the Lost Boys' feelings of powerlessness, even though they're the most powerful beings on Prodigy's remote island. But it's also in one of those scenes of powerlessness — when Prodigy forces corner Nibs, Wendy, and her brother Joe aka Hermit (Alex Lawther) on their escape boat in episode 7 — that the Lost Boys begin to realize their power. Nibs fully rips a soldier's jaw off, leaving Hermit to shoot (but not kill) her. Here, a horrified Wendy learns two things. First: Humans, including her brother, are terrified of the hybrids. Second: They have good reason to be. The hybrids are extremely dangerous. So why not embrace that?
That's the realization Wendy comes to in Alien: Earth's Season 1 finale. "All this time, we've been afraid of them," she tells the Lost Boys as they sit trapped in a Neverland cage. "But I think they should be afraid of us."
The Peter Pan allegories come to a head in the Alien: Earth Season 1 finale.

Credit: Patrick Brown/FX
Embracing the Neverland staffers' fear of them is the final stage in the Lost Boys' loss of their childish innocence. Or, in terms of Boy Kavalier's relentless Peter Pan references, this is them finally "growing up." However, that's exactly what the Prodigy founder and the rest of Neverland don't want to happen. As Wendy puts it, "We're all in this cell because we can't be kids anymore, but they won't let us be adults."
Nibs has another suggestion for what they are, one that's especially fitting after seeing the graves of their dead human bodies. "We're all ghosts," she says.
So what do these ghosts do? They turn Neverland into a haunted house, with Wendy using her in-built connection to the facility to manipulate video feeds, elevators, and doors to terrify every last soldier and scientist. Of course, having a Xenomorph at your beck and call helps too.
The entire episode serves as both a liberation for the Lost Boys and an identity crisis for Wendy, otherwise known by her human name, Marcy. She tells her brother, "I don't know what I am. I'm not a child. I'm not a grown-up. I'm not Marcy. I'm not Wendy. And I can't be what everyone wants me to be."
(Earlier in the season, Joe even questions whether Wendy truly holds his sister's consciousness, yet another blow to one of the pillars of Wendy's identity.)
Wendy's statement reflects the binaries in the world of Alien: Earth. Child and adult. Human and synthetic. Hybrids exist somewhere in between, blurring boundaries and creating a new kind of personhood. Wendy and the Lost Boys have spent the entire series having not just new names but entirely new identities imposed on them by exterior forces. Now, they get to make their own. Fellow hybrid Curly (Erana James) embraces her former name, Jane, as Wendy reminds each of the Lost Boys of theirs — a move the late Isaac, formerly Tootles, only enjoyed for an afternoon.
Wendy's identity crisis also explains her affinity for the Maginot aliens, whom she considers "honest." These creatures are wholly themselves, unlike liars such as Boy Kavalier. As Wendy points out, he considers himself Peter Pan, but he was never truly a boy. He was always a "mean, angry little man," just like his abusive father. Ouch. I'm not sure he'll be picking up a copy of Peter Pan any time soon after that.
"Now we rule."

Credit: Patrick Brown / FX
"The Real Monsters" ends with Wendy and the Lost Boys holding all of the authority figures in their lives hostage in the same cage they were formerly incarcerated in, prompting Wendy's declaration that, "now, we rule." Even Kirsh (Timothy Olyphant), their Prodigy synth senior, and Morrow, their cyborg antagonist, now answer to them.
The hybrids finally taking control is undoubtedly worthy of Alien: Earth's last hard-rocking needle drop. But it's certainly not the end of the Lost Boys' story. After all, the Weyland-Yutani forces are still encroaching on the island with numerous Prodigy forces still left, hinting at more conflict ahead. Plus, the alien orchid is loose, and T. Ocellus has found a new host in the chestburst corpse of Arthur Sylvia (David Rysdahl). That's a lot of threats for these still-young hybrids to deal with. How will they be able to fight off their enemies and learn how to rule their island?
That question of what it will look like for hybrids to "rule" hints at an intriguing new literary reference point for a possible Alien: Earth Season 2. If Season 1 was the Lost Boys growing up in the style of Peter Pan, then Season 2 might just see them learning to survive on an island in the vein of Lord of the Flies. With that in mind, who's Piggy, who's Ralph, and will the Xenomorph's head somehow wind up on the end of a pointy stick?
Alien: Earth is now streaming on Hulu.
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