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Save up to 53% with the best Echo device deals ahead of October Prime Day

UPDATE: Oct. 7, 2024, 11:00 a.m. EDT Updated with current pricing and availability.

We’re just one day away from the official kickoff of Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event, but that doesn’t mean you need to wait around for the best deals. We’ve already spotted some nice discounts on Amazon Echo devices. Here are some of the best Echo deals to shop today:

Early October Prime Day deals on Echo devices


Best Echo deal overall


Echo Show 8

$84.99 at Amazon
(save $65)

a black amazon echo show 8 device

Best Echo deal for kids


Echo Dot Kids

$27.99 at Amazon
(save $32)

an amazon echo dot kids in the owl option

Best home organization deal


Echo Hub

$124.99 at Amazon
(save $35)

the amazon echo hub displays its home screen

Amazon is well-known for many things, but today’s deals combine a couple of our favorites: smart home tech and serious savings.

We’re on the cusp of Prime Big Deal Days, and you can already take up to 53% off Amazon Echo devices ahead of the retailer’s big event on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9. Amazon devices are one of Mashable’s top recommendations for items to buy during the sale (and check out what not to buy for good measure).

Here are some of our favorite choices if you’re shopping Echo devices:

Best Echo deal overall

Why we like it

If you’re interested in a smart display, the Amazon Echo Show 8 is a great option that offers tons of features. Video chat with your parents, cue up some jazzy music while cleaning, or pull up a dinner recipe on the Echo Show 8. You can also use it as a way to check your calendar, display the weather, or control other Alexa-enabled devices.

In Mashable’s review of the best Echo devices, the Echo Show 8 earns the top spot for those looking for a budget-friendly smart display. However, thanks to today’s sale price of just $84.99, the Echo Show 8 is 43% off its typical price of $149.99.

Best deal for kids

Why we like it

For the kiddo or grandkid in your life, the Echo Dot Kids is a great device that can help them with independence. Coming in two adorable designs that depict either an owl or a dragon, the Echo Dot Kids allows kids to stream music, ask Alexa questions, set an alarm clock, or tune into a bedtime story. The device also comes with a year of free access to Amazon Kids+ which includes kid-friendly Audible audiobooks, games, morning routines, and more.

Amazon also includes a two-year warranty on the Echo Dot Kids, which means if the device breaks, Amazon will replace it for free within the first two years of ownership.

Mashable Deals

Ahead of Prime Day, the Echo Dot Kids is a true bargain at just $27.99 for 53% off — some of the best savings you can find ahead of Prime Big Deal Days.

Best home organization deal

Why we like it

Busy family schedules can be hard to keep track of. If you’re tired of re-writing the weekly schedule on the white board each Sunday, the Amazon Echo Hub could be ideal. The eight-inch smart home control panel allow you to synch up your family’s schedule, display the weather, play music, and more. The Echo Hub is also designed to link up with your other Alexa-enabled smart home systems like lights, security alarms, a smart thermostat, and video doorbells.

Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, you can find the Echo Hub for $124.99. That’s $55 down from it’s listed $179.99.

More Echo device sales at Amazon


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Entertainment

Xiaomis new hyper car concept has the strangest cockpit weve ever seen

Xiaomi likes to bring cars to Barcelona; the company gave us the first glimpse of its SU7 Ultra supercar during last year’s MWC in March.

This year, however, Xiaomi has unveiled something that’s pretty far out there, even by its own standards. Called the Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo, it’s a hypercar that was designed to go really fast while slicing through the air in a way not many cars (or race cars, for that matter) can (Xiaomi says it’s been “sculpted by the wind”).

Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo

It feels kinda empty in there.
Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The company will bring the concept car to its MWC show floor in Barcelona on March 2, presumably when we’ll learn more about its powertrain, acceleration, battery, and other trivialities. Today, however, Xiaomi was mostly focused on how the air flows through the car, using a variety of wind tunnels and channels (and even a moving part on the car’s bottom) to make it more efficient.

Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo

The wheels and wheel covers are special, too.
Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Even the car’s wheels have special covers that are (somehow) magnetically set in place so they don’t rotate while the car moves, as that would also increase drag.

Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo

I bet your car doesn’t have a cocoon-shaped sofa.
Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Inside, it gets even nuttier. The seats are out; instead, you sit in a “cocoon-shaped sofa” with an x-wing steering wheel with five tiny displays, some of which apparently double as (contextual?) buttons. Most of the things you associate with a traditional car are gone; instead, it’s you in that sofa-shaped cockpit, that steering wheel, and the road. The car’s a two-seater, so don’t expect to bring your family on a trip in this one.

Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo

Fortunately, you might be able to get a cocoon-shaped sofa/cockpit for your home.
Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

In fact, most people probably won’t be able to afford a car like this, but Xiaomi’s got you covered, as it plans to release a gaming console/cockpit shaped just like the car’s cockpit, so you can race around in your own little cocoon in the relative safety of your home.

We don’t know how fast it goes. We don’t know where the batteries are, given that the car appears to be mostly wind tunnels under that cockpit. We don’t know if it’s ever going to make it to market. But boy, does it all look cool.

We’ll hopefully find out more on March 2 when that show floor opens, so stay tuned for pics and videos.

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NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 1, 2026

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you’re a frequent flyer.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that’s captured the public’s attention. The game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today’s Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT‘s latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications’ Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here’s a hint for today’s Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

Here are today’s Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:

Looking for Wordle today? Here’s the answer to today’s Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today’s Connections #994 is…

What is the answer to Connections today

  • Little bite: CANAPÉ, FINGER FOOD, HORS D’OEUVRE, TAPA

  • Construction equipment: HARD HAT, LADDER, NAIL GUN, TOOL BELT

  • Vacation emoji: AIRPLANE, LUGGAGE, PALM TREE, SMILING FACE WITH SUNGLASSES

  • Things you don’t eat that end in foods: COPYPASTA, JOHANNESBURGER, KNUCKLE SANDWICH, LICORICE PIZZA

Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today’s puzzle.

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

Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Connections.


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NYT Strands hints, answers for March 1, 2026

Today’s NYT Strands hints are easy if you’re not on. your best behavior.

Strands, the New York Times‘ elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There’s always a theme linking every solution, along with the “spangram,” a special, word or phrase that sums up that day’s theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you’re feeling stuck or just don’t have 10 or more minutes to figure out today’s puzzle, we’ve got all the NYT Strands hints for today’s puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Dressing down

The words are related to discipline.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe ways to chastise.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today’s NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today’s spangram is The Riot Act.

NYT Strands word list for March 1

  • Braidup

  • The Riot Act

  • Scold

  • Castigate

  • Reprimand

  • Admonish

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable’s Games page has more hints, and if you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Strands.

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