Entertainment
The Best Streaming Option Is So Overlooked, It's Scary
By TeeJay Small
| Published
When Netflix first made their pivot from DVDs-by-mail to home streaming, they revolutionized the way that people consume media. At the time, consumers were raving about a seemingly unlimited library of movies, TV shows, and even some proposed original programming. This came with zero ads, for a monthly subscription fee that cost less than the price of a single movie ticket. Streaming exploded in popularity, so much so that numerous studios and production companies rushed to develop platforms of their own.
In 2026, there are dozens of streamers, mostly offering small libraries of mindless junk sandwiched between more ad space than Times Square. The golden era of streaming might be dead for the likes of Netflix, but some streamers are still new and fresh, providing a glimpse into that short, sweet period when prices were low and production values were high. For my money, I’d say Apple TV+ is one of the best streaming services currently on the market.
A Worthwhile Loss Leader
Apple TV+ was first launched back in 2019. At the time, the streamer had very few original projects, and needed to quickly establish itself as a worthwhile investment. To do this, they priced their subscription at just $4.99 per month. They also included a free one-year subscription with the purchase of any new Apple hardware.
Over time, Apple producers began snatching up fresh, original IPs with reckless abandon, spending hundreds of millions on projects such as Oprah’s Book Club, The Banker, The Greatest Beer Run Ever, The Problem With Jon Stewart, Ted Lasso, and more. They even courted famed auteur directors like Martin Scorsese to opt for Apple exclusive premieres over the more traditional full theater release.
Today, Apple TV+ is rapidly becoming the premiere streamer for fresh new sci-fi shows. Severance is probably the most popular example of this, but Apple also has projects like Silo, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, and Pluribus, created by Vince Gilligan. While this suite of high-quality shows is impressive, Apple’s real value is in their propensity to reinvent what a streaming platform is capable of. They’ve integrated the now-defunct iTunes Store into the streamer, so you can rent or purchase movies that aren’t streaming anywhere else. They also host podcasts, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and myriad other forms of bonus content.
There’s a larger reason why Apple TV+ is so good right now, and unfortunately, it’s sort of doomed to disappear. The truth is, the entire service is a loss leader. This term usually refers to things like $5 rotisserie chickens or Costco’s $1.50 hot dog meal, but it applies just as well to the landscape of streaming media. Apple TV+ is designed to get you invested in other aspects of the tech company, and they can afford to take a loss on it because they sell millions of iPhones each year. Netflix was also capable of burning through capital in its infancy, which is why we all fondly remember when it didn’t have ads and didn’t cost twice as much as a trip to the theater.
Right now, Apple TV+ costs $12.99 per month. That’s still a great price when compared to other streamers, and it’s well worth the price for Severance alone. While I have no doubt that Apple execs will tighten the leash on the streamer down the line, the service is currently in its experimental era. The bottom line is that it’s always good to get in on the ground floor of something. Streaming services seem to have a distinct life cycle, and Apple is currently living in the sweet spot.
Entertainment
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker is at the lowest price weve seen all year
SAVE $75: The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $224 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $299. That’s a 25% discount.
$224
at Amazon
$299
Save $75
Packing up for an adventure means figuring out how to bring along a soundtrack. A trip to the cabin or a lakeside campground all deserve to be experienced with a great playlist. If you could use an upgrade before summer to get a waterproof Bluetooth speaker, check out this deal at Amazon.
As of April 22, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $224 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $299. That’s a 25% discount that takes $75 off the price. It’s also the lowest price we’ve seen at Amazon so far this year.
A compact speaker with a scratch-resistant aluminum shell is exactly what we should be packing on adventures. With an attached carabiner, the B&O Explore speaker is designed to clip onto your backpack when you hit the trail. Or you can utilize the rubber base to set it on a rock or even in the sand. It’s both waterproof and dustproof, adding to the durability.
Bang & Olufsen notes this model gets up to 27 hours of playtime before it needs to recharge. It weighs under 1.5 pounds, so it won’t add much bulk to your gear. It takes about two hours to recharge the Beosound Explore.
Mashable Deals
Before summer kicks into high gear, add the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore speaker to your pack. It’s ready for any adventure you have planned.
Entertainment
Get some new wrist candy with the CMF Watch Pro 2 at its lowest price ever
SAVE $39.01: As of April 22, get the CMF By Nothing Watch 2 Pro for $39.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $79. That’s a discount of 49% and the lowest price we’ve seen.
$39.99
at Amazon
$79
Save $39.01
There are tons of smartwatches on the market if you’re in need of one. But if you’re willing to look beyond the Apple Watches or Samsung devices out there, you’ll find an awesome alternative from the Nothing brand that’ll save you some serious cash. Not only is it more affordable than the competition, but it’s got everything you could want and then some. In fact, one of the models is on sale right now.
As of April 22, get the CMF By Nothing Watch 2 Pro for $39.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $79. That’s $39.01 off and a discount of 49%. It’s also the lowest price we’ve seen.
This affordable smartwatch not only comes in an attractive form factor, but it has just about everything you could ask for. It has your average comms tools like Bluetooth calling and gesture control, a built-in mic and speaker, contacts, message reminders, and music control. But from there, it offers a wide range of sensors and data to help you take control of your health.
It offers a portable blood oxygen saturation monitor, a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, and so much more. All of this data, including workout information, steps, and much more, can be synced across all your favorite fitness apps, including Apple Health and Google Health Connect. There are 120 sports modes to choose from, GPS positioning, and even a 3D warm-up exercise guide to help get you on your feet each day.
Mashable Deals
With interchangeable watch straps and an attractive face, this extremely reasonable smartwatch is definitely one to rival Apple and Samsung. You’ll want to grab yours while it’s still down to the lowest price we’ve seen.
Entertainment
Get Ankers 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock for $60 less at Amazon
SAVE 15%: As of April 22, you can get the Anker Prime 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock for $339.99, down from $399.99, at Amazon. That’s a 15% discount or $60 savings.
$339.99
at Amazon
$399.99
Save $60
Working off a laptop is great until you realize you only have two ports and need to plug something in. If you’re hooked up to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, you’re pretty much out of luck on the rest. Not only that, but your previously uncluttered desk will most likely look like a Best Buy exploded (a rat’s nest of cords isn’t cute or helpful for anyone getting work done).
If you literally hate mess and cords as much as I do, you need a docking station to hide all that chaos and protect your aesthetic. Right now, Anker’s Prime TB5 Docking Station is on sale for $339.99 at Amazon, down from $399.99. (That’s a $60 price cut.)
Mashable Deals
Are you going to use all 14 ports at the exact same time? Probably not, but you’ll never have to dig through your bag for a specific adapter again. You just plug a single cable into your laptop, and the dock handles the rest. It features a Thunderbolt 5 upstream port, two Thunderbolt 5 downstream ports, two USB-C ports, three USB-A ports, SD and TF card readers, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, an audio jack, and your choice of HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 2.1. It’s also fast enough to transfer a 150GB file in 25 seconds.
Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees shut out rival Red Sox to open trip
Thunder to read their 'menu' in anticipating Suns' Game 2 adjustments
