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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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NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 19, 2026

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition will be a little easier if you love baseball.

As we’ve shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, 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 the latest Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT‘s latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication’s sports coverage. The sports 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 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 before 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: Sports Edition categories

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

Here are today’s Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: AL East Teams

  • Green: First Words of Football Positions

  • Blue: Premier League Managers

  • Purple: Nicknames for the Dodgers Franchise, Over Time

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: Sports Edition #573 is…

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

  • AL East Teams — BLUE JAYS, ORIOLES, RAYS, YANKEES

  • First Words of Football Positions — DEFENSIVE, RUNNING, TIGHT, WIDE

  • Premier League Managers — EMERY, GUARDIOLA, MOYES, SLOT

  • Nicknames for the Dodgers Franchise, Over Time — BRIDEGROOMS, DODGERS, ROBINS, SUPERBAS

Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports 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? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.

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 Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 19, 2026

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you have a sweet tooth.

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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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:

  • Yellow: Lippy

  • Green: Gowns

  • Blue: Played in Vegas

  • Purple: Sweet treats

Here are today’s Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Cheeky

  • Green: Dress measurements

  • Blue: Cards in Texas Hold ‘Em

  • Purple: Last words of candy brands in the singular

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 #1043 is…

What is the answer to Connections today

  • Cheeky: ARCH, FRESH, SASSY, WISE

  • Dress measurements: BUST, HIPS, LENGTH, WAIST

  • Cards in Texas Hold ‘Em: FLOP, HOLE, RIVER, TURN

  • Last words of candy brands in the singular: CAP, DUD, KID, MINT

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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Entertainment

NYT Strands hints, answers for April 19, 2026

Today’s NYT Strands hints are easy if you’re constantly changing.

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: Small change

The words are related to changes.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe fine-tuning.

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 There I Fixed It.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

NYT Strands word list for April 19

  • There I Fixed It

  • Adjust

  • Modify

  • Alter

  • Improve

  • Tweak

  • Refine

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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