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mercredi 6 mai 2026

This 10th Gen iPad Is on Sale for $240 Right Now

by mai 06, 2026

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

A discounted tablet from a couple of years ago usually comes down to one thing: how much performance you actually need. The 2022 Apple iPad is currently on sale for $239.99 in Grade-A refurbished condition on StackSocial—the 10th-generation model with 64GB of storage and wifi. Since it’s a 2022 release, it doesn’t have the latest hardware or the longest update runway ahead, but for basic, predictable use, the lower price can outweigh those trade-offs.

In regular use, this iPad feels familiar in a way that works to its advantage, with apps opening quickly, streaming staying smooth, and video calls running without friction. Its A14 Bionic chip may not be the latest, but it still handles everyday tasks comfortably, whether that’s switching between a few apps, editing documents, or keeping a YouTube video playing in the background while you browse. It has a 10.9-inch display that is sharp and bright, and the front-facing camera sits in landscape mode, which makes a noticeable difference when you use it on a table for Zoom or FaceTime. Battery life holds up through a workday of mixed use, too.

Where you might start to notice its limits is in storage. With just 64GB, you have to be mindful about what stays on the device, especially if you download shows or large apps instead of relying on cloud storage. File transfers over USB-C are also slower than those on newer iPads. And while it still runs current iPadOS versions, it won’t receive updates for as long as newer models do. None of this makes it a bad buy, but it helps set expectations: this 10th-gen iPad works well as a secondary device, a student tablet, or for everyday browsing and streaming.

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I'm a Runner, and This Is How I'm Training for a Hyrox Race

by mai 06, 2026

My fellow Lifehacker writer Beth Skwarecki is a weightlifter. I'm a marathon runner. Together, we make one reasonably competent Hyrox athlete—and in four weeks, we're going to find out if that's enough.

Beth and I are competing together in a Hyrox doubles race on May 29, in something of a joint experiment in just how little training you can get away with before showing up to one of these things. Hopefully, we can each bring our respective strengths to the floor, cover for each other's weaknesses, and survive. Hopefully.

What is Hyrox, anyway?

If you haven't encountered Hyrox yet, here's the short version: It's currently the trendiest fitness-race-sport-competition-lifestyle since Crossfit. You'll hear people compare the two, but they have some key differences. For instance, while Crossfit competitions may include just about anything in any format, the Hyrox format is standardized, which is part of its appeal.

You run a total of eight kilometers (around five miles), broken into eight one-kilometer segments. Between each run, you complete one functional fitness station, always in the same order: a SkiErg, sled push, sled pull, burpee broad jumps, rowing, farmers carry, sandbag lunges, and wall balls. The entire thing is timed. You're racing against yourself, your friends, and thousands of others who've done the exact same workout under the exact same conditions.

In the doubles format, two athletes share the workload—to an extent. All the 8x1km loops must be run side-by-side, but we can split the workload of the eight functional stations however we need. Right off the bat, I think I luck out more than Beth in this situation. I get a weightlifter to help me with the feats of strength (or "functional movement," to be more accurate), but she still has to run the same as me no matter what.

My strengths going into Hyrox

As of writing, I'm bringing a cardio engine sitting at a comfortable half-marathon level of fitness. For a race that's fundamentally built around eight kilometers of running, this is by far my greatest asset.

I also have hopes that my marathon experience in particular will provide me a certain "psychological toolkit." Marathon training teaches you to hurt for a long time and keep moving anyway. You learn to negotiate with your own suffering and to push through the wall—something that will no doubt come up for me on Hyrox race day. In theory, the running portions alone of Hyrox shouldn't break me. But I know what probably will.

My weaknesses going into Hyrox

Ironically, strength is my weakness. My resistance training is, generously speaking, inconsistent. The stations that require you to move heavy things—specifically the sled push and sled pull—are the ones I'm most afraid of. The sled push is station two, and the sled pull is station three. That means if I blow up my legs fighting those stations in the first quarter of the race, every single thing that comes after—the running, the lunges, the wall balls—is going to hurt in a completely different way than I'm used to. Marathon pain is a slow burn, but some of these functional stations sound like the pain will arrive fast—and last for the rest of the competition.

Beyond raw strength, I'm also concerned about technique and efficiency—and honestly, the injury risk that comes with poor form under fatigue. I've taken exactly one Hyrox class so far, at my local F45 gym. I'll be able to attend three more before race day, but as of right now, I know enough to know that I don't know enough.

Wall balls normally wouldn't scare me, but after eight rounds of running and seven other stations, the idea of repeatedly squatting and launching a weighted ball overhead sounds significantly less manageable. Beth and I have much to discuss when it comes to strategy and how we plan to conserve our strength.

How I'm training for Hyrox

Given that I have less than a month until race day and can't realistically build meaningful strength in that window, I'm prioritizing technique over everything else. I can't radically transform my power output in four weeks, but what I can do is learn to move efficiently, avoid compensating in ways that cause injury, and conserve energy by not fighting the movements.

For me, that means more time with a sandbag and sled than I'm used to, specifically focused on form rather than load. As I mentioned above, I'll be training at classes with Hyrox-specific stations in sequence. Still, these classes don't have the running portions, so I have yet to really know what it feels like to transition from a run into a strength station on tired legs.

I'm also exploring the official Hyrox training modes available for Garmin and Amazfit watches, along with some unofficial off-brand apps that have popped up for Hyrox-specific preparation.

The bottom line

Having Beth as my partner makes me feel significantly better about all of this. The one thing I'm slightly nervous about on her end is the cardio. Eight kilometers of running interspersed with eight stations might end up being a lot for someone who doesn't regularly train for endurance. In doubles, you can tag in and out, but there's a limit to how much you can cover for each other. My biggest fear is I burn out and leave her with way too much of the heavy lifting—quite literally.

We'll figure it out on May 29. Either we'll discover you need surprisingly little prep to survive a Hyrox doubles race, or we'll discover exactly what happens when a marathon runner and a weightlifter underestimate a fitness competition. At least both outcomes make for a good story.

The 2023 Google Pixel Fold Is 75% Off Right Now

by mai 06, 2026

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

The Google Pixel Fold launched in 2023 as Google’s first foldable, and while newer phones have come out since then, this current price changes how you might look at it. It is listed at $449.99 for the 256GB model, which is significantly lower than its earlier pricing and still below what you will find on places like Amazon. The deal is expected to run for the next ten days or until stock runs out. You also get free shipping if you are a Prime member (others pay $6), although it is worth noting that Woot does not ship to Alaska, Hawaii, PO boxes, or military addresses.

Google Pixel Fold
Google Pixel Fold
$449.99 at Woot
$1,799.00 Save $1,349.01

When it is closed, it works like a standard Pixel with a familiar Android interface and a smaller outer display. Open it up, and you get a 7.6-inch inner screen that gives you more room to work with—reading articles, watching videos, or browsing multiple tabs feels less cramped. Performance-wise, it runs on Google’s Tensor G2 chip with Android 13, so performance is steady for everyday use, even if it is not as fast as the latest flagships. It is also unlocked for 5G, so you can drop in a SIM from most major carriers and switch networks without much effort. That flexibility makes it easier to justify if you travel often or want a backup device ready with a different network.

Pixel phones have a reputation for great cameras, and that carries over here, too—you get a 48MP main sensor with additional lenses, and the image processing is consistent with other Pixel phones, which means photos tend to come out sharp with good color even in low light. You can also prop the phone halfway open to take hands-free shots or use the rear cameras for selfies, which is something slab phones cannot do as easily. As for its battery life, it lasts around eight hours (according to this PCMag review), which is enough for a full day of moderate use but not much more. This is not a budget phone in design or intent, but at this price, it works well as a secondary phone, a travel device, or something you use when you want a bigger screen without carrying a tablet.

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mardi 5 mai 2026

These Beats ANC EarBuds Are $75 Off Right Now

by mai 05, 2026

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The Beats Studio Buds+ have been around long enough to feel familiar, but this current deal adds a layer that makes them worth a second look. Right now, they are bundled with two years of AppleCare+ and listed at $123.95 (down from $198.95)—price trackers show this is the lowest this bundle has ever been. Wireless earbuds are easy to misplace, drop, or wear down over time. AppleCare+ extends repair coverage and adds accidental damage protection, which can save you from paying full replacement costs if something goes wrong. For a product that lives in your pocket or gym bag, that safety net has real value. Plus, they carry an IPX4 rating, so sweat or a bit of rain is not a concern.

Beats Studio Buds+
with AppleCare+ (2 years)
Beats Studio Buds + - Ivory with AppleCare+ (2 Years)
$123.95 at Amazon
$198.95 Save $75.00

The Studio Buds+ are a refinement over the older Studio Buds, and the upgrades show up in small but noticeable ways—battery life now stretches to nine hours on a single charge, with the case pushing the total to 36 hours. That means you can go several days without reaching for a charger. The active noise cancellation is also stronger this time, especially for steady background sounds like traffic or a gym environment. It will not block everything, but it does enough to make podcasts and music easier to focus on. Call quality is another area that sees a bump, with microphones that do a better job isolating your voice in busy surroundings, notes this PCMag review.

These earbuds also don't lock you into one type of phone/ecosystem. Apple users get quick pairing and seamless switching, while Android users get support for Google Fast Pair and a dedicated app for controls and updates. You can customize tap functions, switch between noise modes, and even track a misplaced pair. That flexibility makes them easier to recommend across different devices. The main limitation is that while the noise cancellation is strong for the price, it does not match premium models that cost significantly more. Still, at this price, with solid battery life, reliable call performance, and added AppleCare+ coverage, the Studio Buds+ make a great choice for anyone who wants a solid everyday pair of earbuds without spending top-tier money.

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This Bose Wireless Outdoor Speaker Is $50 Off Right Now

by mai 05, 2026

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A price drop always stands out more when the product in question already has a reputation for delivering above its size, and that’s the case with the Bose SoundLink Plus. It hasn’t been on the market for long, but it’s already earned strong reviews—CNET even labeled it “the Goldilocks of Bose Bluetooth speakers.” And right now, it’s down to $219 from $269, which price trackers show is the lowest it’s ever been.

Bose SoundLink Plus
Portable Bluetooth outdoor speaker
Bose SoundLink Plus
$219.00 at Amazon
$269.00 Save $50.00

Bose positions it right in the middle of the SoundLink lineup, and you feel that balance in how it’s built. It’s compact enough to clip onto a backpack using its built-in nylon strap, and tough enough to handle getting knocked around, and sealed against dust and full water submersion with an IP67 rating. Battery life can last up to 20 hours, depending on the volume, which is sufficient for full-day outings. However, the roughly five-hour recharge time means it’s better to charge it overnight than rely on a quick boost. On the connectivity side, there’s Bluetooth 5.4 with AAC and AptX Adaptive support, as well as the ability to keep two devices paired for smoother switching. What you don’t get is a microphone, aux port, or any voice assistant support, which might matter if you prefer wired options or use speakers for calls.

The sound profile of this Bluetooth speaker leans into mid- and high-bass, which gives electronic and pop tracks a lively pulse without turning everything muddy. It doesn’t reach into true low-bass territory, so anyone who wants thumping sub-bass may not get it here, but the punch it does deliver feels clean for its size, notes this PCMag review. Vocals sit a little behind the beat in denser tracks because the mid-range pulls back slightly, though you can adjust this with the app’s EQ tools. It’s also worth knowing that the speaker plays everything in mono, so you lose the space and width you’d hear in a stereo mix, but its directivity is good—you don’t have to stand directly in front of it to hear things clearly. That said, at higher volumes, there’s some compression, which is common in speakers this size.

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lundi 4 mai 2026

My Three Favorite Garmin Features to Use on Race Day

by mai 04, 2026

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This past weekend I ran a 10K while wearing both the Garmin Forerunner 970 and the Forerunner 165 Music, and while I'll be doing a full comparison soon, the experience made one thing immediately clear: Sometimes it's worth it to have a premium running watch. While both watches have excellent running features, the 970 has a few that the 165 lacks—and after putting them to use on race day, I can say that two of them in particular made a real difference.

Garmin Forerunner 970
Garmin® Forerunner® 970, Premium GPS Running and Triathlon Smartwatch, AMOLED Display, Built-in LED Flashlight, Titanium with Whitestone Case and Whitestone/Translucent Amp Yellow Band
$649.99 at Amazon
$749.99 Save $100.00

Master your "race pace" with Garmin's PacePro feature

I'd never tested Garmin's PacePro in real race-day conditions before this weekend. The selling point of this feature is that it analyzes the elevation profile of your course and generates "dynamic pace guidance" based on both the terrain and your personal preferences. Before the race, you set a goal time or pace in Garmin Connect, then tell the watch how you want to handle hills—your options are to push harder on the uphills, use the downhills to recover, or aim for a negative split in the second half. On race day, a data field on your watch shows your target pace for the current split and how you're tracking against it in real time.

I love PacePro because it takes the mental math out of racing. Instead of constantly doing pace calculations in your head, you can glance at your wrist and instantly know whether you're ahead, behind, or right on target. It's like running alongside a coach who already knows the course.

To set up PacePro, head to Garmin Connect > Training & Planning > PacePro, select or create your course, enter your goal time, and sync it to your watch before race day. The Forerunner 165 Music also supports PacePro, so this one isn't exclusive to the 970—but it's still an undersung feature, and worth calling out.

Stay accurate with a suggested finish line reminder

This feature, which is on the 970 but not the 165 Music, is beloved by many Garmin runners—and for good reason: When you cross the finish line, you're more focused on grabbing a banana than hitting the "stop" button on your watch. When, 20 minutes later, you realize your watch is still recording, you've screwed your stats. Congratulations, your 10K now says 10.8 miles, and your pace is completely borked.

If you have a course loaded on your compatible Garmin watch, the watch can detect when you've crossed the finish line and prompt you to trim your data to that point, even if you forgot to hit stop. It's one of those features that seems small until the moment you need it, and then it feels like a lifesaver for your post-race data.

Luckily, this feature works automatically once a course is active. To make sure it works, you’ll need to go to Garmin Connect app, select “Races & Events,” and double-check that your race is loaded onto your watch and ready to go before race day.

Ease your mind with "Auto Lap by Timing Gates"

Garmin Forerunner 970 auto lap feature.
Credit: Meredith Dietz

This is the feature I'm most excited to talk about, and it's likewise exclusive to the Forerunner 970 (the 165 doesn't have it). Here's the problem it solves: In any big city race, you end up weaving through crowds, cutting tangents imperfectly, and generally accumulating a little extra distance that GPS dutifully records. By mile three or four, your watch's splits probably won't line up perfectly with the mile markers on the course. You might feel like you're running a 9:00 pace, but the marker says something different, and now you're doing mental gymnastics mid-race to figure out what's real.

"Auto Lap by Timing Gates" solves this by triggering laps based on the actual course mile or kilometer markers rather than GPS-measured distance. So when you cross mile one on the course, your watch logs a lap, regardless of how much GPS drift has accumulated. Your splits reflect the race as it's actually measured, not the slightly off version your GPS recorded.

To enable this feature, you’ll need to go to the Garmin Connect app and find your specific race under the “Races & Events” menu. You can either select an existing race by searching for the name or location, or you can create your own event. Toggle on the "Timing Gate" option, then specify whether you want to use miles or kilometers. On race day, you'll start the official race as an activity on your watch, and your watch will automatically trigger laps as you pass the predefined official course marker, in addition to showing the actual distance run. This past race wasn't too crowded, so I'm excited to put this feature to the test during a popular Brooklyn half-marathon next weekend.

Here's How to Save Your Samsung Messages Conversations Before the App Shuts Down

by mai 04, 2026

If you're a long-time Samsung Galaxy user, your messaging app of choice might be Samsung Messages. Despite the company removing the app as a default several years ago, many still rely on it—though not for long. Samsung is shuttering the app in July, marking the end of an era for the Galaxy ecosystem. The app won't be completely useless after this date, as Samsung says that you'll still be able to contact both emergency services and emergency contacts. But aside from these limited scenarios, Samsung Messages will essentially be defunct.

As such, all Samsung Messages users need to plan for how they want to continue messaging on their Galaxy. While Samsung hasn't told us which day the app will shut down, we do know it will happen sometime in July. That gives Samsung Messages users just over two months to find other arrangements—including how to move existing texts from Samsung Messages over to a new home.

Samsung recommends moving to Google Messages

In the company's original announcement, Samsung strongly suggested that Samsung Messages users move to Google Messages instead. The company even took the opportunity to tout the advantages of Google Messages over Samsung Messages, including RCS support, AI features, cross-device functionality, and enhanced security features. It is a bit odd to see Samsung pushing a different company's product like this, but it makes sense: For one, Google develops Android, but Samsung has already distanced itself from its messaging app. If it had to plug one app, it might as well be Google's default.

Perhaps the biggest perk of choosing Google Messages, however, is that your existing Samsung Messages chats come along with the move. If you care about preserving your message history, this might be the simplest path forward—though it means going all-in on yet another Google product. If you tend to avoid Google apps and services, you have other options, but they might not be as convenient—especially if you're looking to move your messages.

How to move from Samsung Messages to Google Messages

According to Samsung, the move is relatively straightforward. First, make sure you have Google Messages installed on your Galaxy. When you open it, the app will ask you to make it your default messaging app. To do so, hit "Set default SMS app," choose "Google Messages," then tap "Set as default."

Now that the app is your default choice, your Galaxy should automatically begin moving texts from Samsung Messages to Google Messages. Samsung warns that this process can take some time, especially if you have a long message history saved on your device, so don't be alarmed if your messages don't transfer all at once.

Google Messages alternatives exist, but may not be as convenient

Google Messages is far from the only messaging app on Android. You can find any number of simple or feature-filled options on the Play Store, including, of course, Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp. For basic SMS messaging, however, a few names frequently pop up: Textra, Chomp SMS, and Handcent SMS. These apps should offer a similar basic messaging experience to Samsung Messages, without having to jump to another Google app. Setting any of these as your default messaging app is as simple as the steps for Google Messages above.

However, it's not clear if doing so will transfer your message history in the same way. While Google Messages supports an easy transfer, you might not have the same experience setting Textra or Handcent as your default app. As such, you may need to look into third-party backup and transfer services if you want your message history to move apps for certain. By far, SMS Backup & Restore is the app I see most recommended amongst Android users here. While Phone Arena's Aman Kumar found it helped when transferring messages on his Android device, the focus was on a scenario where Google Messages didn't migrate the messages on its own. It should be possible to back up your Samsung Messages with this app and import them to another messaging app, but it isn't as obvious as it should be.

I Let Alexa+ and Gemini Power My Smart Home, and They Were Both Great

by mai 04, 2026

The AI chatbots are coming for your smart home. Both Alexa+ and Gemini for Home are now rolling out to users who've opted in to the upgrades, replacing standard Alexa and Google Assistant, respectively.

Once you get access, they'll do everything we've become familiar with from these next-gen AI assistants—natural language conversations, complex queries and responses, various hallucinations—while retaining all the previous smart-home functionality, whether that's turning off lights or checking in on video doorbells.

I got access to these two upgrades within the space of a week, giving me the opportunity to test them against each other. With an Amazon Echo Show, a Google Nest Hub, and a selection of Philips Hue smart lights, I got to work.

Upgrading to Alexa+ and Gemini for Home

Upgrades to both Alexa+ and Gemini for Home appear in the relevant apps on your phone. You'll be prompted to set up the new AI assistant, then taken through a few basic configuration steps (like choosing a voice for the AI). With that done, it's a case of simply saying "hey Alexa" or "hey Google" to the app on your phone or one of the smart devices you've got, and talking.

Alexa+ does have one advantage in terms of its web app: If you use it via a browser, you get a smart home controls section you can switch to. Gemini on the web won't understand or implement any smart-home-related commands you give it, though rather confusingly it does sync chats you've had on your phone app, which will include these commands if you look back at them.

Alexa+ app
The Alexa app updated with Alexa+ Credit: Lifehacker

Both these AI apps only offer the basics for free when it comes to smart home controls (switching things on and off). With Alexa+, if you want the full conversational AI experience, it's going to cost you $19.99 per month—though it's also available as part of Amazon Prime, which is $14.99 a month. Note that this is separate from any Ring subscriptions you need to archive your video recordings.

With Gemini for Home, the conversational AI is paywalled, as is the video recording history. You can opt to pay $10 or $20 a month, depending on how much video history you want (these plans replace the old Nest Aware ones). The higher tier also gets you AI-powered event descriptions and summaries for what's happening in any recorded video clips ("a delivery driver arrived at 1pm" and so on), and if you already pay Google $19.99 or more a month for one of the other Gemini AI plans, you get Gemini for Home included.

How Alexa+ and Gemini for Home stack up against each other

With the AIs up and running, I asked about which days I'd need an umbrella. While both assistants accurately understood the question and told me the weather forecast for the week, I preferred Gemini's answer: It was more comprehensive, and actually answered the question about the umbrella for each day (Alexa+ just gave me the chance of rain each day, and left me to make my own mind up about an umbrella, though the graphics were nicer).

Google Home app
The Google Home app updated with Gemini. Credit: Lifehacker

I requested some tips on bathroom cleaning, and both Alexa+ and Gemini for Home gave me answers that were informed and free from errors (as far as I could tell). They both accurately summarized several movies for me without a hitch, too, though Alexa+ was more cautious when it came to spoilers.

These are the type of questions and prompts you can put through Alexa+ and Gemini—but it's the smart home integration I was most interested in looking at. When you update to Alexa+ or Gemini for Home, all of your existing devices with smart assistant access get the upgrade too.

How Alexa+ and Google for Home integrate with smart home devices

It's in controlling your smart home devices where things get trickier for Alexa+ and Gemini for Home, because they first have to recognize that you're providing a simple command—and then they must carry it out, rather than launching into a long answer about the features of smart lights or the best affordable smart cameras for families.

I was expecting a few mistakes and bugs here, but was pleasantly surprised by both AIs: I was able to easily change my smart-light settings with my voice, including their color and their brightness, as well as whether or not they were switched on.

Alexa+ app
Setting a smart light routine with Alexa+ Credit: Lifehacker

Scheduled actions worked well, too: I got Gemini for Home to turn on my smart lights at a certain time, and told Alexa+ to turn them back off at a later time, and my instructions were followed exactly. You can set up these routines to repeat across certain time periods too, and they get saved in the app if you need to make edits.

If you've got an Amazon or Google smart display, you can set up widgets for your smart home devices, and control them with a few taps. Both my Echo Show and my Nest Hub let me control light status, color, and brightness from the screen, and both worked flawlessly with barely any lag at all.

I also tested reminders and timers—two other features you're likely to want to access through your smart speakers or smart displays. Again, both Alexa+ and Gemini for Home did what they were told, correctly recognizing a direct command rather than a more complex AI prompt, and carrying out the instructions.

Google Home app
Setting a smart light routine with Gemini for Home. Credit: Lifehacker

With no smart home cameras or doorbells installed, I couldn't test out the video features offered by these AIs. Anecdotal evidence suggests they can be a bit hit-or-miss when identifying what's going on in a clip and summarizing it for you—so you shouldn't always expect them to be perfectly accurate. In general, I found Alexa+ and Gemini for Home to be reliable, smart, and useful.



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