Entertainment
Pre-order the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 at Amazon and get a free $200 gift card
GET A FREE $200 GIFT CARD: Pre-order the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 for $1,199.99 at Amazon by August 6 and get a $200 gift card for free.
Getting a new phone is almost never cheap. But if you’re already planning to upgrade to Samsung’s latest flip phone, you might as well get paid to do it.
Right now, if you pre-order the 256GB Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 in Graphite at Amazon for $1,199.99, they’ll throw in a $200 Amazon gift card. You just have to place your order by August 6 (its official release date is August 7).
The Z Flip 8 features a 6.7-inch main screen and a 4.1-inch cover screen (which Samsung calls the FlexWindow). It lets you check notifications and send messages without opening your phone. As for the cameras, you get a 50MP wide lens and a 12MP ultrawide lens on the back, plus a 10MP front camera. Thanks to the folding design, you can set it down half-open on a table to take hands-free photos or shoot Super Steady video — no tripod required.
Mashable Deals
Considering a $200 gift card basically covers your screen protectors, a durable case, and a few other things in your cart, this is a pretty good pre-order bonus.
Entertainment
New Music Friday July 24: Reba, Shania Twain, Pitbull, Charli xcx, JENNIE, Tyla, KATSEYE and More
Happy New Music Friday! The weekend is here, which means more streaming, new playlists and the best that music has to offer — and ET has you covered for everything in between.
Katy Perry has announced her concert film, Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour – Live from Paris will be out in theaters beginning September 2 for a limited time only. Designed to deliver the ultimate cinematic experience, the film will launch in cinemas and IMAX globally across 70 countries. It was filmed across two sold out nights in Paris during The Lifetimes Tour in November 2025 and was captured with a 60-camera set up. The film’s setlist spans Katy’s record-breaking career and features hits like “Teenage Dream,” “California Gurls,” “Dark Horse,” “Roar,” “Firework,” “The One That Go Away” and more.
After co-headlining the FIFA World Cup Halftime Show, Shakira returned to her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour with shows in New York. During her first night in Brooklyn, she brought out surprise guests Ed Sheeran for “Underneath Your Clothes,” Tyla for “Hips Don’t Lie”, and Burna Boy for “Dai Dai.” She brought out Wyclef Jean and the two performed “Hips Don’t Lie” during her second night in Brooklyn. Shakira continues to break records with “Dai Dai” as it has been #1 on Spotify’s Global Chart for 17 days, becoming the longest-running #1 song of 2026 by a female artist and the year’s biggest global hit by a female artist.
Spotify has introduced Music Video Charts Global, its first chart dedicated entirely to music videos. The new chart ranks the 50 most streamed music videos on Spotify globally and refreshes daily at 3pm PT. The inaugural Top 10 videos are Shakira’s “Dai Dai,” BTS’ “NORMAL,” LE SSERAFIM’s “ICONIC BY MISTAKE,” BTS’ “SWIM (Live at Pier 17) Presented by Spotify,” BTS’ “2.0 (Live at Pier 17) Presented by Spotify,” BTS’ “SWIM,” BTS’ “NORMAL (Live at Pier 17) Presented by Spotify,” BTS’ “Merry Go Round,” M4IA’s “Brasil com S,” and Shakira’s “Waka Waka (This Time For Africa) The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Song.”
The Edge made a surprise appearance during Martin Garrix’s set at Tomorrowland last weekend. The performance marked the live debut of Martin and U2’s new collaboration “Fireflies” which is out now. The collab marks the first time all four members of U2 have appeared on a track with Martin. Most recently, Martin produced “Scars” featured on U2’s latest EP, Easter Lily.
The 41st Stellar Gospel Music Awards have announced the first wave of performers and special honorees. Hosted by Kirk Franklin, gospel music’s greatest night will bring together the genre’s most celebrated artists, trailblazers and rising stars for an evening of worship, inspiration, and performances. Performers will include Aaron Cole, Childlike CiCi, Darrel Walls, Kierra Sheard, Jekalyn Carr, Jevon Dewand & The Trap Starz featuring Isaac Carree and Jazze Pha, JustCordell, John P. Kee, Le’Andria Johnson, Lisa Knowles-Smith & The Brown Singers, Melvin Crispell III, PJ Morton, Tye Tribbett featuring ABLAZE, and Vincent Bohanan & SOV. Tasha Cobbs Leonard will be presented with the Aretha Franklin Icon Award and Pastor Mike Jr. will receive the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award. The ceremony will take place August 15 in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Spectrum Center.
Fresh off a history making run that saw Pitbull earn a Guinness World Record at BST Hyde Park in London for the largest gathering of people wearing bald caps, Billboard has announced that Pitbull will headline an exclusive superstar Q&A at 2026 Billboard Latin Music Week. Taking place October 19-22 at Faena Forum Miami Beach, the event will celebrate the power, influence and future of Latin music and culture. Pitbull has reunited with Jason Derulo for a new single “PRIVACY.” This marks the latest collaboration between the longtime hitmakers.
Plus, new music from Reba, Shania Twain, Charli xcx, JENNIE, Tyla, KATSEYE, Sam Smith, Victoria Monét, FLO, Anitta, Mckenna Grace and more.
Ring Ring – Reba
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
Little Miss Twain – Shania Twain
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
“PRIVACY” – Pitbull & Jason Derulo
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
Music, Fashion, Film – Charli xcx
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
“Less than a Lover” – JENNIE
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
A*POP – Tyla
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
“Animal” – KATSEYE
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
“Oh Mother” – Sam Smith feat The TwoCity Chorus
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
“Reach Out” – Victoria Monét
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
EQUILIBRIVM II – Anitta
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
“Fireflies” – Martin Garrix & U2
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
“We Could Have It All” – Little Big Town
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
The Thread – Willow
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
“It’s so fine” – Mckenna Grace
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
“The light in the painting” – Lizzy McAlpine
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
Valley Girl Problems – Kylie Cantrall
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
“World Away” – GRYFFIN, BUNT. & Inéz
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
“Ain’t No Party” – Kevin Woo
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
“JUMPUPW!NYA” – Chad Hugo feat Tierra Whack & Leikeli47
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
“My Friends” – 3OH!3
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
Ego Ruins Everything – Kenyon Dixon
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
Made You Look – Patrick Droney
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
“loving you is” – GAYLE
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
“i’ve missed you longer” – Lexi Jayde
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
“Size Two” – VANITY
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
“Good Girl” – Cloonee and Prospa feat Tristan Henry & Melynda Randal
Stream it now: Apple / Spotify
“Up & Away” – TALK
Entertainment
I played with the adorable Lego Pokémon Smart Play Sets and my inner kid is losing its mind
Table of Contents
I recently got to spend a couple hours of my workday playing with the new Lego Pokémon Smart Play Sets, and my inner 8-year-old is still screaming. So, I’ll put this the way a child might: I love the new Lego Pokémon Smart Play Sets so much I want to marry them.
Seriously, though: These sets totally rule.
I’ll admit that I was underwhelmed by the Lego Smart Play Star Wars sets released earlier this year. So I was a bit skeptical when Mashable got the chance to demo the new Lego Pokémon sets ahead of their Aug. 1 launch. However, my Pokémon-loving colleagues and I had an absolute blast playing and geeking out over these sets.

Lego Charizard and Mewtwo in Battle Mode.
Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable
I’m excited to break down how they work, which sets are coming, and whether they’re worth adding to your Lego collection.
What are the Lego Pokémon Smart Play Sets?

Charizard in all its glory.
Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable
Mashable has been following the Lego Smart Play rollout closely. We were there for the Smart Brick’s big debut at CES 2026 and on hand for the London launch event for the Pokémon Smart Play Sets this summer.

The Smart Brick enables interacitivity with the Mewtwo’s Lab Break set.
Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable
The Smart Play system is built around a new Smart Brick, a modified 2×4 Lego piece. Lego crammed a lot of hardware into this brick, which features an accelerometer, microphones and speakers, LED lights, magnetic field sensors, a gyroscope, and a color sensor. The Smart Brick responds to Smart Tags included with the Smart Play sets, as well as various Smart Minifigures. An included wireless charger provides extra juice when the battery runs out.

Recharge your Smart Bricks with the included charging pad.
Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable
The end result is a Lego set that responds to your play. Now, your Lego Mini Figures can talk to each other. They also light up or make noises based on your movements.

Here’s the Lego Jolteon with a Smart Brick.
Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable
The Lego Pokémon Smart Play Sets take this even further: Your favorite Pokémon not only make adorable little noises, but also enter into a battle mode. You can charge up special powers, level up your Pokémon, and pit them against each other.
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The Smart Brick sits right in Charizard’s tummy.
Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable
The Lego Pokémon Smart Play Sets make incredibly cute noises
The real secret sauce behind the new smart Lego Pokémon sets? Pikachu, Squirtle, Bidoof, Geodude, Charmander, and Eevee make adorable little noises. They squeak and chatter back and forth when you place them near each other. When you push Squirtle’s buggy around, it makes little choo-choo engine noises.

Lego Smart Play Training House with Pikachu Set.
Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable
And the pièce de résistance? The Pikachu Treehouse Set contains a hidden Murphy Bed. Place Pikachu or one of its smart friends on the bed, and they fall asleep and snore.

Lego Smart Play Pikachu takes a nap in the Training House.
Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable
It’s enough to make you squeal at the cuteness overload, which is exactly what we did as we played with these little monsters at the Mashable office.
The aforementioned battle mode is also really cool. Some of the sets come with training stations, where you can level up Pokémon for a better chance at winning a match-up. You can power up your Pokémon’s special power (shake too hard, and the move fizzles out), dodge attacks, and generally just have fun.
These are just some of the primary interactive elements, and a lot of the fun here will be trying out new things. You can add the Smart Tags and Smart Bricks to different creatures to explore new ways to play.

Squirtle comes with a buggy and barbecue set, obviously.
Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable
Again, I’ve never been a huge Pokémon guy (I’m an OG Harry Potter nerd), and even I had a blast playing with these cute little dudes.
The Lego Pokémon sets arrive Aug. 1
There is one thing I don’t love about the Lego Smart Play sets: they don’t all come with a smart brick. That’s not as big of a deal here as it was with the pricey Star Wars sets, but check the product details carefully. You’ll need to buy at least one set with a smart brick and charger. From there, you can build your own collection. I appreciate that the add-on sets start at $19.99, and you can get all-in-one sets for $69.99. Lego’s prices aren’t always so friendly.

The Lego Pokémon Smart Play: Charizard vs. Jolteon Ultimate Battle set.
Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable
The adorable Training House with Pikachu and the Charizard vs. Jolteon Ultimate Battle sets are all-in-one kits that include Smart Bricks.

Geodude rocks!
Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable
You can also buy interactive “Smart Play Compatible” sets, which include:
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Mewtwo’s Lab Break
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Eevee and Lapras’s Treasure Hunt
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Berry Bash with Bulbasaur and Bidoof
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Trainer’s Buggy Adventure with Squirtle
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Charmander and Geodude’s Cavern Clash
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Cubone and Gengar’s Spooky Showdown
Three of the sets are available on Amazon, and the rest are available for preorder at the Lego online store. Presumably, more smart Pokémon sets will be coming in the future.
Are the Lego Pokémon Smart Play Sets worth it?
Absolutely! We had a blast playing with these sets, and we appreciate that there are a lot of sets available for under $75. If you love Lego and Pokémon, we think this one will be fun for all ages.
Entertainment
LGs 83-inch OLED evo 4K TV is $800 for a limited time — grab it before stock runs out
SAVE $800: As of July 24, LG’s 83-inch OLED evo AI 4K C6 Series Smart TV is down to $4,499.99 at Amazon. That’s a 15% discount off its usual $5,299.99 price.
$4,499.99
at Amazon
$5,299.99
Save $800
LG’s 83-inch OLED evo 4K TV just dropped to $4,499.99 at Amazon, a 15% discount that saves you $800. If a bigger screen has been on your radar, this one delivers — 83 inches of OLED, with AI upscaling that cleans up older or lower-res content too.
This TV can get up to 3.2x brighter in the highlights, and since it’s OLED, you still get deep, true blacks along with that brightness — over 8.3 million individually lit pixels mean the contrast looks accurate instead of washed out. The processor is fast too, so menus and streaming apps load and respond quickly.
For movies, you get Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, plus a Filmmaker Mode that shows the film the way it was actually shot, without extra picture enhancements added on top. If you game, this TV supports a 165Hz refresh rate, both NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, and a 0.1ms response time, so fast-moving games look smooth without lag.
The OLED Care feature is built to help protect the screen’s picture quality over time, and the TV runs on webOS, LG’s smart TV platform, which now includes Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot for AI-assisted searching and streaming.
Mashable Deals
83 inches of pure OLED confidence — grab LG’s evo 4K C6 Series Smart TV on Amazon before it goes back to full price.

