A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, June 26 (game #845).
Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #846) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Suite re-lease
NYT Strands today (game #846) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
TRACE
FATAL
DICE
STONE
TENT
CONFUSE
NYT Strands today (game #846) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 10 letters
NYT Strands today (game #846) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: left, 4th row
Last side: right, 4th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #846) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Strands, game #846, are…
PENTHOUSE
STUDIO
LOFT
FLAT
CONDO
EFFICIENCY
SPANGRAM: APARTMENTS
My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect
I was able to breeze around this board after spotting PENTHOUSE almost immediately — this isn’t strictly true, I spotted “house” first then saw the “pent” attached to it.
This game also featured some nice non-game words including an alternative form of accommodation for people who cannot afford APARTMENTS.
The only place I struggled was with EFFICIENCY — a term I wasn’t familiar with, as this type of small one-person apartment is called a “bedsit” in the UK, as featured in the superb 1981 synth pop hit Bedsitter by Soft Cell, which superbly sums up the single life of Bedsit Land.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, June 26, game #845)
PASS
HORNS
THREE
BROTHERS
TROLL
BRIDGE
SPANGRAM: BILLYGOATSGRUFF
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.
A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, June 26 (game #1614).
Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,400 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.
Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
Quordle today (game #1615) - hint #1 - Vowels
How many different vowels are in Quordle today?
• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
Quordle today (game #1615) - hint #2 - repeated letters
Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?
• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.
Quordle today (game #1615) - hint #3 - uncommon letters
Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?
• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.
Lenovo has said that RAM prices will likely "never" fall back to pre-crisis levels
The company also predicted a "new normal" for memory pricing from 2030 onwards
Microsoft expects the cost of memory to double in just over a year
If you were hoping we might get to the weekend without any more bad news on the RAM front, that hope is about to be crushed courtesy of Lenovo and Microsoft — and there's a side serving of blame for Apple, too.
First off, as German tech site ComputerBase reports (via Wccftech), over at ISC 2026 — the high-performance computing, AI, and quantum conference in Germany — Lenovo said that RAM prices will likely "never" fall back to the pre-crisis levels of a year ago, even after the bolstering of chip production output that's coming (from 2028 onwards).
Lenovo seemingly said "never," accompanied by some on-stage laughter, according to ComputerBase, and the tech site (bearing in mind translation nuances) clarifies that this is really referring to the next five years (or maybe a bit more) for the RAM industry, and not an 'absolute' future.
However, the report then goes on to mention that Lenovo sees a "new normal" from 2030 onwards with significantly higher prices than pre-crisis levels — even given increased production.
On top of that, Microsoft just announced hefty price increases for Xbox consoles driven by the RAM crisis. The firm stated, "Unfortunately, console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x, and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027."
Ouch. Microsoft underlined that the memory price hikes are especially painful for console makers, as these devices are typically sold at a (slight) loss, as the revenue is made up in game sales (and subscriptions).
Lastly, Wccftech also spotted that Micron has fired some flak at Apple, although the memory chip maker didn't name Tim Cook's firm specifically, but it's clear enough where the shot was aimed. As Rolfe Winkler, who reports for the Wall Street Journal, explains in a post on X: "Tim Cook says the memory guys are at fault for Apple raising prices. A Micron executive I interviewed last night pointed the finger right back."
Sumit Sadana, who is Chief Business Officer at Micron, informed Winkler, "We told a couple of the customers who were being very aggressive with pricing at that time that this is not constructive." The argument here might be that partners (presumably Apple) pressing Micron on the price of their RAM hurt Micron's bottom line and ability to invest in more production capacity.
Analysis: double, double toil and trouble
(Image credit: fizkes / Shutterstock)
Although it's difficult to weigh up the exact meaning of Lenovo's comments on the RAM crisis at ISC, it's clear enough that the PC giant believes the future looks very rocky. At best, pricing looks like it's in trouble until the early 2030s, and there's likely to be a 'new normal' coming into play here for that next decade.
While there appears to be some joking around prices "never" coming back down to the levels they were before the crisis, I think there's a fair chance that they actually won't. When the cost of a product goes up to such an extent as we've seen with RAM (and storage), it's feasible that it won't ever quite normalize. Okay, so maybe we'll see some curveballs that throw things out of whack — like the AI bubble bursting, or at least deflating a good deal — but I'm increasingly doubtful about the prospect of any relief.
Microsoft predicting a further doubling of memory pricing in not much more than a year is a painful prediction to hear, too.
I'm not going to dive full-tilt into the gloom here, though, because as I've said before, at least in the consumer space, RAM prices can only go so high before a ceiling is hit, which means most people will simply refuse to pay the asking prices. And thankfully, there have also been a couple of glimmers of hope this week: Asus predicted that its products won't be hiked by as much in the second half of 2026 (but they'll still go up), and there was a rumor aired that memory chip giant SK Hynix may switch production away from AI-targeted RAM (HBM) to conventional RAM sticks, at least to an extent.
I wouldn't get swept away with any optimism just yet, though, because for now, as these latest developments in the memory crisis underline, the pervading sentiment around the future remains largely negative.
NAIC confirmed a cyberattack exploiting an Oracle PeopleSoft zero‑day, with ShinyHunters claiming theft of 3.1TB of data
Stolen cache allegedly includes insurer filings, credit rating files, AWS logs, configs, and PII; NAIC says only financial reports and technical data were taken
Incident spotted June 11, disclosed June 17; files leaked online suggest NAIC did not pay ransom, as ShinyHunters continues exploiting the zero‑day across 100+ organizations
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) confirmed suffering a cyberattack that resulted in the stolen data being leaked on the dark web. While the company did not name the group responsible, or mentioned the size of the stolen cache, the infamous ShinyHunters claimed responsibility and stated they snatched around 3.1TB of information.
In a security notice published on the NAIC website, it was explained that the attackers managed to exploit a zero-day vulnerability in Oracle PeopleSoft. This is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software suite, designed to help businesses manage employees, finances, supply chains, and more. Citing Google Mandiant, Cybernews says ShinyHunters first started exploiting the zero-day on May 27, and managed to compromise more than 100 organizations and 300 individuals, before Oracle finally pushed an emergency update on June 10.
Among the victims, as we now know, is NAIC, whose PeopleSoft environment was compromised, and used to obtain credentials and move laterally to internal data storage locations.
ShinyHunters step forward
Based on NAIC’s investigation, the stolen information includes publicly available statutory financial reports, insurer investment credit rating data, and some technical information such as outdated logs and configuration files. There is no evidence that personal information, banking information, or payment data was accessed, it said.
NAIC spotted the attack on June 11 and immediately launched its incident response protocol, which includes notifying law enforcement, blocking malicious actors, and bringing in third-party security experts. The Commission disclosed the incident on June 17, a day before ShinyHunters went public.
The notorious ransomware gang claims to have taken more than 264,000 insurer regulatory filing documents, 2,000 customer and bulk orders containing personally identifiable information, some 45,000 files from major credit rating agencies, statutory annual and quarterly financial statements submitted by insurers, production AWS infrastructure logs, cloud configuration files, and workload automation data, and SQL scripts.
Since the files were seemingly leaked online, it’s safe to assume that NAIC did not (want to) pay the ransom demand.
Polymarket prediction platform was hacked via a compromised third‑party vendor dependency, injecting malicious scripts into its frontend
Around $3M in crypto stolen from ~11 users, according to PeckShield; Polymarket is refunding victims in full while removing the affected dependency
Community reactions on X were critical, with some blaming prior “taunting hackers”; one victim speculated the breach may have involved Xorek Cloud’s VPS
Polymarket, a prediction platform where people trade on the likelihood of different real-world events, got hacked and allegedly lost around $3 million in user funds. The company is now refunding the victims in full.
In a short post published on X earlier this week, Polymarket confirmed the news, saying it discovered that a third-party vendor had been compromised. Through that compromise, the attackers injected a malicious script “into our frontend for some users.”
Since then, Polymarket said it contained the incident and removed the affected dependency but did not say which dependency it was. It did not say which third-party vendor was compromised. Furthermore, it said it is currently contacting impacted users and refunding them in full, but did not state how many people were affected, or how much money is involved.
Context-dependent vulnerabilities
This morning we discovered a 3rd party vendor had been compromised, injecting a malicious script into our frontend for some users. We've contained it & removed the affected dependency. We're contacting impacted users & refunding them in full.June 25, 2026
In its write-up, TechCrunch cited blockchain monitoring firm PeckShield, which claims that around $3 million in cryptocurrency was stolen in the attack. The publication also reported that around 11 people were affected. Polymarket allows its users to be paid in crypto.
X users who left comments on Polymarket’s announcement seem utterly unsurprised by the breach. “I spent weeks telling you this and you ignored it,” one person said. “The next time l find a vulnerability, l will sell it to criminal gangs.” Three users suggested Polymarket deserved what had happened for “taunting hackers” in the past. One made a sly joke saying, “how did you not predict this?”
Polymarket did not say which third-party vendor was compromised, but one of the users who lost funds in this attack speculates it happened through Xorek Cloud’s VPS:
“I recently bought a VPS from Xorek Cloud and stored my private key on it,” they said on X. “I'm not sure how the compromise happened, but that's the only possible security risk I can think of.”
Apple has raised prices across multiple categories in Australia
The MacBook Neo has lost some of its entry-level appeal
The move follows rising RAM and storage costs
Australian shoppers looking for EOFY offers, or waiting for early Amazon Prime Day tech deals, now have another price shift to factor in. Apple has raised local prices across several major product categories, including the new MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, iPad range, Apple TV 4K, HomePod mini and more.
The timing is awkward, but it also hasn't come from nowhere. Apple has usually been better than most tech companies at absorbing supply chain pressure before it reaches shoppers, though the current RAM and component crunch has been dragging on for long enough to change that calculation.
The warning signs came last month, when Tim Cook flagged "significantly higher memory costs" on an earnings call, then said RAM prices would "drive an increasing impact" on Apple products from this month.
Australian buyers will feel this
One of the clearest examples is the new MacBook Neo, Apple's lower-cost MacBook model and the machine most likely to appeal to students, or anyone trying to get a new Apple laptop for less than MacBook Air money. In Australia it launched with a price from AU$899. It now starts at AU$1,049, so it has lost some of its entry-level appeal.
Sure, it’s still Apple's cheapest laptop, but the higher starting price makes it less competitive against Windows laptops that have been fighting to compete with the Neo. The 512GB model with Touch ID has also gone from AU$1,099 to AU$1,249.
The MacBook Air has lost some of its competitive edge, and the 13-inch model with the M5 chip (check out our MacBook Air 13-inch M5 review) has jumped from AU$1,799 to AU$2,099 to start.
The 15-inch model is up by the same AU$300 amount, from AU$2,199 to AU$2,499. For a laptop that often sits in the middle of Apple's consumer Mac range, that is a significant hit to its value proposition.
The MacBook Pro increases are especially notable in some configurations. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 now starts at AU$3,199, up from AU$2,699, and the higher-end M5 Max models have also moved up by several hundred dollars. Buyers looking at extra memory or storage were already dealing with expensive upgrades, so the higher base prices only make that decision harder.
The Mac mini is another notable hit. It has gone from AU$999 to AU$1,299, which is a 30% increase on a machine that has often been one of the easier Apple desktops to justify on price.
The iPad range is up, which matters for students, families and anyone who was looking at a new tablet for work, study, travel or general use. The 11-inch iPad Air now starts at AU$1,249, up from AU$999, while the standard iPad, iPad mini and iPad Pro models have also increased.
The rises are not limited to Macs and iPads. HomePod mini has gone from AU$149 to AU$199, HomePod is up from AU$479 to AU$549, and Apple TV 4K has jumped from AU$219 to AU$299. Vision Pro was already a niche product at AU$5,999, and the new AU$6,299 starting price certainly does not broaden its appeal.
Apple's iPhone lineup, Apple Watch and AirPods appear to have avoided this round of increases at least. That helps limit the pain for some buyers, but it doesn’t change the issue for anyone who was waiting to buy a Mac, iPad or other Apple device.
Aussie price changes
iPad price changes in Australia
Device
Old price
New price
Increase
iPad
AU$599
AU$749
AU$150 (25%)
iPad Air 11
AU$999
AU$1,249
AU$250 (25%)
iPad Air 13
AU$1,349
AU$1,599
AU$250 (19%)
iPad Pro 11
AU$1,699
AU$1,999
AU$300 (18%)
iPad Pro 13
AU$2,199
AU$2,599
AU$400 (18%)
iPad mini
AU$799
AU$949
AU$150 (19%)
MacBook price changes in Australia
Device
Old price
New price
Increase
MacBook Neo
AU$899
AU$1,049
AU$150 (17%)
MacBook Neo 512GB with Touch ID
AU$1,099
AU$1,249
AU$150 (14%)
MacBook Air 13
AU$1,799
AU$2,099
AU$300 (17%)
MacBook Air 15
AU$2,199
AU$2,499
AU$300 (14%)
MacBook Pro 14-inch M5
AU$2,699
AU$3,199
AU$500 (19%)
MacBook Pro 14-inch M5 Pro
AU$3,499
AU$3,999
AU$500 (14%)
MacBook Pro 16-inch M5 Pro
AU$4,299
AU$4,799
AU$500 (12%)
MacBook Pro 14-inch M5 Max
AU$5,799
AU$6,399
AU$600 (10%)
MacBook Pro 16-inch M5 Max
AU$6,299
AU$6,999
AU$700 (11%)
Mac mini
AU$999
AU$1,299
AU$300 (30%)
iMac
AU$1,999
AU$2,399
AU$400 (20%)
Mac Studio (M4 Max)
AU$3,499
AU$4,299
AU$800 (23%)
Mac Studio (M3 Ultra)
AU$6,999
AU$9,099
AU$2,100 (30%)
Other price changes in Australia
Device
Old price
New price
Increase
HomePod mini
AU$149
AU$199
AU$50 (34%)
HomePod
AU$479
AU$549
AU$70 (15%)
Apple TV 4K
AU$219
AU$299
AU$80 (37%)
Vision Pro
AU$5,999
AU$6,299
AU$300 (5%)
Of course, Apple is not the only company dealing with higher memory and storage costs, but the scale of these changes is still pretty notable. Price rises across one or two products are easy enough to explain. Price rises across most of Apple’s range are not something that’s easily avoided.
An Apple spokesperson said: “The consumer electronics industry is facing an unprecedented challenge. The rapid expansion of AI data centers has created an extraordinary surge in demand for memory and storage. We have never seen a component price increase this much, this quickly. We have shielded our customers from these increases so far, but we have now reached a point where we need to begin raising prices on a number of products, including today’s increases for iPad and Mac. We know this is not welcome news, and we are working tirelessly to find solutions.”
The main question is whether the Australian prices come back down if the RAM shortage eases, or whether these higher starting points become normal. We are hopeful, but Apple hasn’t promised a reversal.
For now, local retailers may be worth checking more closely, especially if older stock or short-term deal pricing remains available during EOFY and early Prime Day sales periods.
To help out, we have included some of the better remaining Apple deals below.
Best old price Apple deals
All these MacBook Neos on Amazon are currently listed as temporarily out of stock, but you can still order then from Amazon at this price to lock it in, and then Amazon will ship it out once available. With stock disappearing quickly, this might be one of your best ways to score the old price, as long as you don't mind waiting for delivery.
The MacBook Air M5 launched recently, so most of this saving comes from Apple's price hikes, but that means it's still a useful discount on Apple's newest lightweight laptop. In comparison, it's currently AU$2,099 from Apple. Want to know more? Check out our MacBook Air M5 review.
The 15-inch MacBook Air is currently AU$2,499 from Apple, so this is now a solid discount. Keep in mind that it is temporarily out of stock, so you can order now but delivery will be delayed.
This 16GB MacBook Pro currently has a great discount from Amazon compared to buying it for AU$3,199 from Apple. There's very limited stock though so it will likely sell out fast.View Deal
This is a tempting discount on the 11-inch iPad Air (base price was AU$999 yesterday) if you want a fast, lightweight tablet for streaming, study or work without stepping up to an iPad Pro. The M3 chip gives it plenty of headroom for multitasking and creative apps, and our iPad Air 11-inch (2025) review noted its excellent screen and impressive battery life.View Deal
Other Apple deals
These products haven't gone up in price, but they're still great deals. Want more? Check out our dedicated EOFY Apple sales page. Or for more laptops, take a look at our best EOFY laptop deals.
This four-pack is a decent buy if you want to cover keys, bags, wallets and luggage in one go, especially in an iPhone household. Our AirTag 2 hands-on found the new model easier to find from farther away and clearly louder than the original. View Deal
The AirPods 4 are a tempting buy if you want Apple’s latest open-fit earbuds without stepping up to the ANC model. Our AirPods 4 review found they sounded good and offered a secure, comfortable fit despite the lack of in-ear tips.View Deal
This is a tempting price for iPhone users who want a full-featured Apple Watch without jumping to the Ultra. The always-on display, ECG app, sleep score and fitness tracking make it a useful everyday smartwatch, while the 42mm case is the more manageable size. Our Apple Watch Series 11 review praised the improved battery life, though Series 10 owners have less reason to upgrade.View Deal
While this discount is small, the iPhone 16e is a decent buy if you’re after a lower-cost iPhone with Apple Intelligence support, especially if you’re upgrading from an older SE model. The A18 chip, 6.1-inch OLED display and USB-C port make it feel much more modern. Our iPhone 16e review praised its screen and performance, but the single rear camera and lack of MagSafe may matter to some people.View Deal
A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, June 25 (game #844).
Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #845) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… "I'll gobble you up!"
NYT Strands today (game #845) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
BEER
HEAP
GYRO
GOAT
ROAST
PRIDE
NYT Strands today (game #845) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 15 letters
NYT Strands today (game #845) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: top, 1st column
Last side: bottom, 5th column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #845) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Strands, game #845, are…
PASS
HORNS
THREE
BROTHERS
TROLL
BRIDGE
SPANGRAM: BILLYGOATSGRUFF
My rating: Hard
My score: 2 hints
Today I had to resist the temptation to go in search of things I might “gobble” up, like pizza, peanuts or chocolate (this was after spotting “beer” and “gyro”).
I tried to recall the children’s story that featured the phrase “I’ll gobble you up!” but completely failed due to the fact that virtually all of them do.
It is of course BILLYGOATSGRUFF, as I discovered after two hints gave me PASS and HORNS; a typically horrific tale where the phrase “I’ll gobble you up” is followed by “and put your bones in a sack!” Sleep well, kids!
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, June 25, game #844)
FACIAL
AROMATHERAPY
ACUPUNCTURE
MASSAGE
SPANGRAM: SPATREATMENT
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.
A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, June 25 (game #1613).
Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,400 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.
Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
Quordle today (game #1614) - hint #1 - Vowels
How many different vowels are in Quordle today?
• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
Quordle today (game #1614) - hint #2 - repeated letters
Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?
• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.
Quordle today (game #1614) - hint #3 - uncommon letters
Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?
• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I have absolutely terrible desk posture — and I know I’m not alone in hunching over my keyboard and mouse like an old man at the steering wheel.
The global workforce stands at around 3.7 billion people, and as much as 20% of that total are employed in desk-based jobs. In a recent survey of over 5,000 desk workers, 56% of respondents said they finish their workday experiencing pain or discomfort, and if we apply that figure to the entire planet, as many as 400 million people would say the same thing. Yikes.
Thankfully, there are several ways to alleviate desk-based pain, and while I’d recommend checking out our guides to the best office chairs and best standing desks if you’re struggling with neck and back discomfort, I can personally vouch for two inexpensive products that have genuinely improved my wrist pain: the Logitech Lift mouse and Wave Keys keyboard.
I’d originally planned to write about these two accessories, which I started using in May, in July (so I could say I’d tested them for a full two months), but I’m jumping the gun here because both are currently on sale for Amazon Prime Day.
I swapped the conventional Logitech Pop for the vertical Logitech Lift (Image credit: Future)
Let’s start with the Lift mouse. I didn’t have a problem with traditional mice for the best part of 20 years, but at the beginning of 2026, I began to notice aching pain in my elbow and wrist after using my mouse for only a few hours. A quick Google search revealed that palm-down mice force our forearms into a twisted, unnatural position, which can lead to repetitive strain injuries (RSIs), as well as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Cubital Tunnel Syndrome.
I definitely have a case of the latter — I’m always resting my elbow on the arm of my chair, compressing my ulnar nerve in the process — but I sought to avoid the constant torsion of my forearm by switching to a vertical mouse, hoping that this was the cause of at least some of my wrist pain.
Vertical mice like the Logitech Lift neutralize wrist and forearm alignment, putting your hand at a 57-degree angle and in what Logitech calls a “natural handshake position.” There’s definitely a learning curve to get used to this new position. Initially, I found myself subconsciously gripping the Lift in a palm-down orientation (yes, like a normal mouse), and I struggled with a perceived lack of clicker accuracy. I also worried that it was a little too small for my hands (Logitech recommends the Lift for “small to medium hands”).
But once I learned to move with my forearm, and not bend my wrist side-to-side, the Lift became objectively more comfortable to use than my regular mouse. I’m not going to sit here and say it’s eliminated all my wrist pain — again, I still (stupidly) rest my elbow on the arm of my chair, which messes with my ulnar nerve — but I’m definitely able to work for longer periods before needing to pull up a two-minute wrist stretch routine on YouTube.
I swapped the Logitech Pop Icon Keys for the Logitech Wave keys (Image credit: Future)
The Logitech Wave Keys keyboard is the perfect companion to the Lift mouse. It’s essentially a keyboard with a raised section (a ‘wave’) above the space bar and a width-spanning cushion for your wrists.
The idea is the same: the Wave’s design places your hands and forearms in a more natural typing position, and you can rest your wrists on a surface that’s much more comfortable than a hard desk. There’s also almost no learning curve with this accessory, since the change versus a normal keyboard is more subtle, but as such, I’d say it’s not as crucial a purchase as the Lift (so if you’re choosing between the two, go for the mouse).
Comfort aside, the Wave keyboard is genuinely satisfying to use. The keys have a nice level of feedback to them, and a nostalgic typewriter-style sound, but the keyboard as a whole is still very much built for modern wants and needs: the function keys, for instance, are customizable, and you can even create shortcuts for repetitive actions.
In other words, you can tweak the Wave keyboard to your specific working habits, and if you pair it with the Lift mouse, you’ll be working faster and more comfortably.
As a reminder, both products are on sale now in the US and UK for Prime members, and Amazon’s Prime Day sale ends at midnight on Friday, June 29, so you’ll need to move fast if you’re keen to add either to your basket. Happy shopping!
Today's best Logitech deals in the US
The Logitech Lift is a well-built ergonomic mouse with adjustable sensitivity settings between 400 and 4,000 DPI. So, while it won't be the best option for gamers, it's perfect for everyday use for work or study. It works very well via Bluetooth, but you can also connect via 2.4GHz wireless and set it up to work with three different devices.View Deal
Wrists ache after long periods at your keyboard? This deal on an accessory that earned five stars in our Logitech Wave Keys review is hard to ignore. This ergonomic wireless keyboard is comfortable to use, easy to connect to, and sports a wrist pad that actually works. $15 is a decent saving on an already affordable ergonomic peripheral, so this Prime Day deal is hard to ignore.View Deal
Today's best Logitech deals in the UK
The Logitech Lift is a well-built ergonomic mouse with adjustable sensitivity settings between 400 and 4,000 DPI. So, while it won't be the best option for gamers, it's perfect for everyday use for work or study. It works very well via Bluetooth, but you can also connect via 2.4GHz wireless and set it up to work with three different devices.View Deal
Wrists ache after long periods at your keyboard? This deal on an accessory that earned five stars in our Logitech Wave Keys review is hard to ignore. This ergonomic wireless keyboard is comfortable to use, easy to connect to, and sports a wrist pad that actually works. £18 is a decent saving on an already affordable ergonomic peripheral, so this Prime Day deal is hard to ignore.View Deal
In the current climate where tech devices seem to be rocketing in price due to the global memory shortage (Apple just annouced some pretty brutal hikes, as has Xbox), buying a new Wi-Fi router has now become one of the most affordable - and impactful - ways to upgrade the devices in your home, and for Prime Day, Amazon has cut the price on a number of its eero routers, including the three-pack eero 6+ mesh Wi-Fi system, which is now $194.99 (down from $299.99).
Mesh routers are fantastic devices for ensuring every device in your home can access your Wi-Fi. Unlike single routers, mesh routers consist of several units that wirelessly connect to one another and help spread their Wi-Fi signal throughout your home.
Because so many devices in our homes need internet connections these days, making sure you have fast, reliable Wi-Fi can boost the performance of a wide range of devices in your home.
And while the likes of laptops, tablets, graphics cards, and other memory-dependent devices are seeing price hikes, mesh routers aren't as affected. So, rather than despairing over constantly rising prices, check out these eero router deals below and upgrade your entire home's internet instead.
Today's best eero router deals
If you've already got an eero mesh system, you can expand it with this extender, which is now under $50. This is great for people who need extra coverage, but note that you need an existing eero network to add this to - it won't work on its own. According to Amazon, this will add 1,500 square feet to your coverage.View Deal
This two-pack eero 6 system features a router and extender, and is ideal for medium-sized homes, with coverage of up to 3,000 square feet. Many homes won't need more than two units, so you can save some money by getting this smaller pack. If you find you need more coverage, you can buy an extender (listed above).View Deal
This three-pack has had a $70 price cut, making it very tempting, and the perfect Wi-Fi solution for most large homes thanks to its 4,500 sq. ft coverage and support for over 75 simultaneous device connections. If you don't want, or need, Wi-Fi 7 support (the vast majority of your devices are likely Wi-Fi 6) this is a brilliant buy that can make a big difference to your home Wi-Fi.View Deal
If you have more modern devices in your home but haven't fully embraced Wi-Fi 7, then the eero 6+ Mesh Wi-Fi System is a great choice. Unlike the eero 6 systems, the eero 6+ uses an extra Wi-Fi radio channel, which means network congestion is reduced - and that means a potentially faster and more reliable internet connection for the devices around your home. This two-pack offers coverage of up to 3,000 square feet, and for $80 off, this is an excellent value.View Deal
Summer's here, the World Cup is on, so making sure your outdoor space has great Wi-Fi is essential, and eero's outdoor model connects to your existing eero network, whilst spreading super-fast Wi-Fi 7 wireless to the furthest reaches of your yard, and ensuring garages and summer houses all have solid, fast internet.View Deal
This three-pack features Amazon's latest and fastest eero mesh system, with Wi-Fi 7 support, so compatible devices will get maximum speeds from your Wi-Fi. It can handle internet speeds of up to 5 Gbps, cover up to 6,000 square feet, and cope with over 600 devices connecting to the Wi-Fi. As the name suggests, this is mainly aimed at professional environments, but big homes will benefit as well, and with the $150 price cut, it's more affordable than ever.View Deal
All of these eero systems benefit from an easy, app-based installation process, automatic updates to keep your home secure, and they also act as an Alexa smart home hub, allowing your smart devices to be controlled by an Alexa-capable smart speaker.
Not in the US? Check out these eero deals where you are:
The RAM crisis is gradually ruining PC and console gaming, with higher prices, notably with Microsoft increasing prices for its Xbox consoles. Gamers only have AI to blame, as data centers and their demand worsen memory availability.
Fortunately, OLED monitors are not in the category of hardware seeing price hikes as a result of the RAM crisis, and unsurprisingly so, since they don't require RAM.
The Alienware AW3425DW OLED ultrawide gaming monitor is an easy choice for any PC gamer looking to level up their visual experience. With an OLED panel and a 240Hz refresh rate, you'll be able to enjoy fantastic image quality with deep black levels and fast, smooth gameplay in motion.View Deal
This model is very similar to my former Alienware AW3424DWF ultrawide, but this AW3425DW model features a faster 240Hz refresh rate instead of 165Hz, and HDMI 2.1 compatibility.
There's so much to enjoy when upgrading from a regular LED display to an OLED, as it completely revitalizes the visual experience when gaming. Scenery that is supposed to be dark will indeed be entirely dark, making games like Resident Evil Requiem even more immersive with its horror.
I've still got my eye on Alienware's 5K2K display, but if you're out for something more affordable, the AW3425DW is the one to opt for.
ExtraHop’s Global Threat Landscape Report shows 49% of ransomware victims only detected attacks after data theft, up from 31% last year
Average dwell time before detection is 2.5 weeks; attackers exploit encrypted channels, valid accounts, and alert fatigue to evade defenses
Ransom payments fell from $3.6M to $2.8M, but payment frequency rose sharply, with 83% of surveyed victims paying in 2026 vs. 70% in 2025
Criminals are getting better at hiding within their victims’ infrastructure, lurking and stealing files without triggering any alarms whatsoever.
Earlier today, network detection and response experts ExtraHop released the “Global Threat Landscape Report”, based on a survey of more than 1,800 IT and security leaders worldwide. In it, it is said that roughly half (49%) of organizations that were struck by ransomware did not detect the threat until after the data was stolen.
This is up from 31% a year ago, ExtraHop stressed, showing the improvement criminals made within just 12 months.
Several factors
On average, cybercriminals have 2.5 weeks of quiet time before being spotted in ransomware incidents, the report stated. Furthermore, 14% of victims were unaware of an attack until receiving a ransom demand, which is also up from 6% a year ago.
“Prolonged dwell times often parallel a highly complex threat environment where critical alerts are obscured,” ExtraHop said in a press release shared with TechRadar Pro. The researchers uncovered several factors that led to delays in investigating critical alerts, including attackers using encrypted channels (41%), attacker activity mirroring legitimate workflows and processes (38%), using valid, high-privilege account permissions (34%), and alert fatigue (30%). Undermined baseline behavior also enabled anomalous actions to fly under the radar (27%).
The good news is that the average ransom payment dropped year-on-year, from $3.6 million down to $2.8 million. However, the bad news is that the payment frequency spiked. While in 2025 70% of respondents paid a ransom, this year 83% have done the same, at least among ExtraHop’s respondents.
When Chainalysis ran a similar survey recently, it said that in 2025 the number of successful ransomware attacks grew, while the number of payments remained relatively flat, meaning that in absolute numbers - there were fewer companies paying ransomware attackers.
Amazon's Prime Day has featured some of the best PC hardware deals for top-quality products. This ranges from SSD deals to Nvidia RTX-powered gaming laptops, and yet again, there's another one of the latter to join the party.
Powered by Nvidia's RTX 5060 laptop GPU, Intel's Core 7 240H processor, and 16GB of RAM, there's plenty to love about the 16 Aurora. While the GPU's VRAM is only 8GB, it can handle a large variety of triple-A games, even the most demanding when using DLSS 4.5 upscaling.
On sale, it's currently within the exact ballpark of the Steam Machine's price, and is ultimately a more powerful system, particularly for games, with better capabilities to handle ray tracing, and superior upscaling quality.
(Image credit: Dell / Alienware)
The Alienware 16 Aurora is a fantastic choice for any gamer looking to dive into the PC ecosystem. With the RTX 5060, expect solid performance at 1080p and even 1440p using DLSS 4.5.View Deal
The only major advantage the Steam Machine currently has over the 16 Aurora is that AMD hardware works much better on SteamOS. Nvidia GPUs are yet to be fully optimized, so major aspects such as game mode in SteamOS may not function well, and game performance may not be up to par.
However, Valve has already made significant efforts to improve the Linux operating system for a wider range of hardware — and SteamOS update 3.8 has opened the doors for any PC to install the OS without hassle.
We can only expect that this will eventually be the case for Nvidia GPUs, so if that's an obstacle when considering the 16 Aurora, it shouldn't be a permanent one.
The RTX 5060 in the 16 Aurora isn't a high-end GPU, but for consumers who are just joining the PC space, it's perfectly fine for 1080p or 1440p gaming.
Apple can be its own worst enemy sometimes. After shaking up the industry with both the MacBook Air M5 (slim, light and great value for money) and the MacBook Neo (which redefined what we should expect from an affordable laptop), it spurred its laptop-making rivals, such as Dell and Acer, to up their game and compete.
The result is a reinvigorated laptop market with huge amounts of choice, with Apple continuing to lead the pack due to price and quality.
Those increases, especially for the MacBook Air, are brutal, and make it a lot harder to justify. The MacBook Neo also becomes less of a no-brainer.
The problem for Apple is that these price hikes come at a time when its Windows 11 competitors are steadily bringing out brilliant alternatives - and it means they are now better value propositions in many cases, especially during Amazon Prime Day.
The reason behind Apple's price rises is the global memory shortage, but that means many Windows 11 laptops could see price rises as well (and some have risen in price already).
However, because of the huge variety of Windows laptops that are made by a range of manufacturers, there's a lot more choice for consumers to shop around for — and now Apple no longer has a lead when it comes to price, performance or design, those Windows laptops suddenly become a whole lot more tempting, as the current Prime Day sales prove.
Below, I've picked out some great US and UK deals for MacBook Neo, Air, and Pro alternatives. Fair warning: they do run Windows 11, so you'll need to put up with that, but to be fair, Microsoft's operating system is getting a steady stream of fixes and new features these days.
If you want to stick with Apple, then check out our collection of Apple Prime Day deals that can help you avoid the price rise.
Today's best MacBook Neo alternative deals in the US
This is a great price for a relatively modern laptop with a well-performing, efficient Core i3 CPU. On top of that, you get 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and a solid battery life of up to 12 hours, which represents good value for money overall. I like it as a capable, all-around, everyday machine. View Deal
The Acer Aspire Go 15 is a lightweight and surprisingly powerful laptop for the price, which is now less than the MacBook Neo, and offers more storage space and RAM. We reviewed it last year and scored it an impressive four stars out of five. Although it's not a high-end laptop by any stretch, it is very usable, lightweight, and features plenty of ports. This particular configuration features a Ryzen 7 chipset, meaning it's powerful enough to take on most applications.View Deal
This Dell 16 Plus laptop deal is a perfect example of why Apple is in trouble with these price rises. Thanks to an absolutely huge $800 price cut from Dell (can you ever imagine Apple offering a similar discount?) This 16-inch laptop is now less than the MacBook Neo, but it offers a bigger screen, a more powerful CPU, plus more RAM and SSD storage as well. This is a deal you don't want to miss, even if you're an Apple fan.View Deal
Processor: AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 RAM: 16GB Storage: 512GB
The Dell 14 Plus is one of our favorite mid-range Windows laptops thanks to its excellent design and competitive specs. If I were looking for a decent everyday laptop for everything from work to demanding productivity applications, then I'd be very tempted by this deal.View Deal
Today's best MacBook Air alternative deals in the US
Processor: AMD Ryzen AI 7 RAM: 16GB Storage: 1TB
This powerful and versatile Lenovo Yoga 7 offers impressive performance for the price, with high-end components such as a modern AMD Ryzen AI 7 processor, a healthy 16GB of RAM to boost performance, and a large 1TB SSD for storage. You can comfortably handle everyday tasks, demanding work, video calls, media streaming and more with this laptop, all with the option to flip it around to a 16-inch touchscreen tablet when the need arises, too.View Deal
Processor: AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 RAM: 16GB Storage: 1TB
The Dell 14 Plus is one of our favorite models from Dell in the past few years. It really surprised us when we reviewed it because it offers great performance and a well-thought-out design at an excellent price. Today's best deal is on this Ryzen 7-equipped configuration, which offers plenty of power in this machine's portable 14-inch form factor. View Deal
This HP Omnibook 7 hits the sweet spot between performance and price, thanks to a hefty discount at the official store today. Not only do you get a powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 chipset, but 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD mean you're not skimping on any other specs here, either. As a 2-in-1 laptop, this machine is also foldable, if you want to use it like a tablet - something that no MacBook offers.View Deal
Processor: Snapdragon X Elite RAM: 32GB Storage: 512GB
One of the best deals on the entire Dell site is undoubtedly this discount on the latest Snapdragon-equipped Dell XPS 13. This stylish and lightweight machine is perfect for those who want battery life and performance in a premium package. This particular configuration also includes 32GB of RAM, which is a very rare thing indeed these days at this price. Note, this is a Snapdragon chipset model, however, so make sure all your obscure apps are supported.View Deal
Today's best MacBook Pro alternative deals in the US
As I said in my Galaxy Book6 Ultra review, Samsung has come the closest to Apple's slick ecosystem. One of the best things about MacBooks is how they can easily integrate with iPads, iPhones and AirPods, and Samsung, which makes tablets, smartphones, headphones and more, has come up with a similar (if not quite as slick) system, which makes the (slightly older) Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 a brilliant MacBook Pro alternative, especially if you already have other Samsung devices. The specs also compare favorably to the MacBook Pro, especially with this discount.View Deal
With an RTX 5070 graphics card, Ultra 9 chipset, and a whopping 32GB of RAM, this one is all set for excellent performance right out of the box, while featuring a relatively discrete and slick design for a gaming laptop, and a price that undercuts the MacBook Pro.View Deal
Need a monster of a laptop? Forget Amazon, Best Buy has you covered: the MSI Vector 16 HX AI packs a mighty RTX 5080 GPU along with a cutting-edge Intel Core Ultra HX chip with built-in NPU for handling AI workloads as well as multitasking when gaming. This is a great MacBook Pro alternative for creative professionals, even if you don't play games.View Deal
Today's best MacBook Neo alternative deals in the UK
Processor: Intel Core i5 RAM: 16GB Storage: 512GB
This is a great price for a relatively modern laptop that comes with a well-performing Intel Core i5 CPU. On top of that, you get 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD for storage, and incredible battery life, which represents good value for money overall. It's slightly larger with the 16-inch display, which could hamper portability, but it's a solid everyday machine for the price, and it's now much cheaper than the MacBook Neo.View Deal
Processor: Snapdragon X RAM: 16GB Storage: 1TB
This is a great price with a well-performing and efficient Snapdragon X CPU. On top of that, you get 16GB of RAM, a surprisingly large 1TB SSD for storage, and incredible battery life, which represents good value for money overall. I like it as a light, portable and capable all-around everyday machine.View Deal
Today's best MacBook Air alternative deals in the UK
This is a fantastic price for one of the latest Samsung laptops with a modern Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and several other top-spec components. At £350 off, this is a great price for a laptop that's tailor-made for powerful performance and offers fantastic battery life of up to 18 hours. This is a particularly strong option if you want to combine power, performance, and style in one package.View Deal
Processor: Snapdragon X Plus RAM: 16GB Storage: 512GB
The latest Microsoft Surface Laptop is one of our favourite Windows devices and received a glowing five-stars in our Microsoft Surface Laptop review, so I'm obviously going to call out this solid saving at Amazon. This particular specification includes a powerful Snapdragon X Plus processor, a healthy 16GB of RAM and a reasonable 512GB SSD. That storage feels a little light for the price, but the levels of performance and battery life from the CPU are top-tier to go alongside the swish-looking display and keyboard.View Deal
Processor: AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 RAM: 16GB Storage: 1TB
The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is one of the best laptops students can buy, as it uses AMD's Ryzen AI 7 350 processor. It's capable of storming through intense CPU tasks, utilizing AI like Copilot+, and gaming thanks to its Radeon 860M integrated GPU.View Deal
Today's best MacBook Pro alternative deals in the UK
Thanks to a huge £300 saving, the Galaxy Book6 Pro is now a formidable MacBook Pro competitor, especially when you consider the performance, design and ecosystem integration this laptop offers. If you have a Samsung tablet, for example, you can quickly use it as a second screen, much like you can do with an iPad and MacBook. The rest of the Galaxy Book6 Pro's build quality is extremely high, and what we've come to expect from Samsung's high-end laptops.View Deal
Alienware gaming laptops never come cheap, but I actually rate this deal on the newest Aurora 16 model at the official Dell Store. With a stonking £550 off, you're paying a fair price here considering you're getting an RTX 5060 graphics card and 16GB of RAM. Couple that with a really nice design, and you've got an extremely solid 16-inch gaming laptop here, and it's a solid MacBook Pro alternative, as you can challenge the GPU with creative workloads. View Deal
This thin and light powerhouse of a laptop from MSI is a fantastic alternative to the base MacBook Pro model thanks to its stunning 2.8K OLED screen, 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD, which gives you the kind of performance you'd expect from the more expensive MacBook Pro. With a 14% price cut for Prime Day, it's an even more tempting alternative, and the overall design of this laptop is excellent.View Deal
Another great thing about Windows 11 laptops is that because of the range of manufacturers, there are some really interesting spins on the usual form factor. So, while Apple won't even consider putting a touchscreen on a MacBook, over on the other side we have weird and wonderful beauties like this, which features two touchscreens. It works well and can be a real boon for creative tasks, and it's also fitted with some of the most powerful mobile components on the market as well.View Deal
A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, June 24 (game #1612).
Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,400 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.
Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
Quordle today (game #1613) - hint #1 - Vowels
How many different vowels are in Quordle today?
• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
Quordle today (game #1613) - hint #2 - repeated letters
Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?
• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.
Quordle today (game #1613) - hint #3 - uncommon letters
Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?
• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.
A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, June 24 (game #843).
Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #844) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Just relax
NYT Strands today (game #844) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
SPACIAL
HEART
TRUE
PAGE
MATES
GAPPY
NYT Strands today (game #844) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 12 letters
NYT Strands today (game #844) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: left, 4th row
Last side: right, 8th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #844) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Strands, game #844, are…
FACIAL
AROMATHERAPY
ACUPUNCTURE
MASSAGE
SPANGRAM: SPATREATMENT
My rating: Hard
My score: Perfect
Yesterday we were chilling, today we’re relaxing. I wonder if someone at Strands Towers wants a break?
Fortunately, after congratulating myself for getting “spacial” as a non-game word I realized that FACIAL was hiding in plain sight and that our search was all about words connected to SPATREATMENT.
When I was training for the London Marathon about a decade ago I was in a permanent state of pain and would get massages from someone whose technique veered closer to the brutal than the relaxing – in fact, many of his clients called him “the massage terrorist”.
To be honest, it put me off any kind of treatment, but the knots I tied myself in trying to unravel today’s search had me daydreaming of some rejuvenating therapy.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, June 24, game #843)
BEER
SELTZER
KOMBUCHA
JUICE
WATER
SODA
SPANGRAM: BEVERAGECOOLERS
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.
Microsoft has cut the price of last year's Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch models
The freshly introduced entry-level models have 8GB of RAM and provide some relief from recent major price hikes
This isn't a compromise that some people are happy about, and they're arguing that 8GB isn't enough for a laptop these days
Microsoft has given us some more affordable Surface devices, models that are back under a grand in the US due to price cuts – but there's a catch, and that's the compromise made to achieve this pricing.
Windows Central reports that Microsoft's chosen tactic here is to push out new variants of the Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch from last year with just 8GB of RAM to cut the cost. Previously, the baseline models had 16GB of system memory.
These new 8GB versions are priced at $849 for the Surface Pro and $949 in the case of the Surface Laptop on the Microsoft store in the US.
Note that there aren't fresh 8GB models for the recently introduced new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, which remain with a 16GB loadout at the entry-level.
The new prices for last year's models follow major price hikes for those devices in April 2026. The Surface Pro 12-inch (with 16GB of RAM) was jacked up to $1,049 in the US, whereas previously it started at $799. And the Surface Laptop 13-inch rose to $1,149 versus the original base MSRP of $899.
Analysis: A Neo approach some are questioning
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
While the new prices are a fair old drop down from the painful hikes that happened a couple of months back, Microsoft has sacrificed half the system RAM to get that reduction. This means these Surface devices are no longer Copilot+ PCs with exclusive AI features, as 16GB of RAM is required for that (although not everyone will miss these AI trimmings).
What else is a bit of a downer here is that the new low prices for half the RAM loadout are still $50 more than the original MSRPs for these Surface products back at launch, when they packed 16GB of RAM.
The other potential aggravation for would-be buyers here is the worry over whether 8GB of RAM is enough these days, a concern that looms ever larger. I've written about this in the recent past, and while yes, you can get by on 8GB for everyday computing duties, I am worried about how future-proofing is going to pan out for Windows 11 laptops (or indeed MacBooks, by which I mean the Neo with 8GB).
Okay, granted, Microsoft is working to make Windows 11 more performant in general, and to ensure the OS is happier with a low allocation of RAM like 8GB — and it is low these days, if you were in any doubt — but what about in five years? I don't know about you, but I expect my laptop to last half a decade, if not longer, and a non-upgradable 8GB is, I fear, going to feel wonky before too long.
Still, I take the point that the option for a more affordable Surface is good to have, and more choice is good — plus that 8GB may remain tenable for longer than you expect if you're sticking to basic computing tasks.
As Windows Central's Zac Bowden points out on X: "Microsoft tells me that it's working behind the scenes to optimize Windows 11 to run better on 8GB RAM, and these devices will be more than capable enough for day-to-day productivity workflows, internet browsing, and media consumption tasks."
Other people are a lot more doubtful, though, as you can see in the replies on that thread, which range from: "8GB of RAM in Windows isn't going to run well regardless of optimizations. You can't stop modern software bloat" to the far more blunt: "8GB RAM in 2026 is a scam."
Amazon Prime Day is running throughout this week, and I've been checking Amazon, as well as its rivals, which are also running sales, for the best gaming laptop deals. As Managing Editor of Core Tech for TechRadar, I've spent nearly two decades writing about laptops and covering major sales events, so I have a pretty good idea of what makes a great gaming laptop deal — and it's not just about finding the very lowest price.
What you need is a gaming laptop that balances both price and performance. There's no point spending money on a cheap gaming laptop if it struggles to play modern games, so sometimes it's better to invest a little more.
All the gaming laptops I've picked below for both US and UK readers will be able to run modern games without issue, and they'll also set you up nicely for the inevitable PC version of GTA 6, which will hopefully be announced in the near future.
So, fellow PC gamers, let's not just sit and watch jealously while console gamers preorder GTA 6; let's go out and buy some exciting new rigs, safe in the knowledge that Rockstar's upcoming game will one day play best on PC.
It's been a long time since I've seen an RTX 5070 gaming laptop go for this cheap, but this Acer Nitro V Slim 16 is hitting a rock-bottom price at Best Buy today. Almost unbelievably, I believe this one is incorrectly listed with a "Ryzen 2000 series" chipset rather than a Ryzen 7-260, since you get 16GB of DDR5 RAM. Regardless, this is a rare example of a budget RTX 5070 gaming laptop. View Deal
Save $350 on the Alienware Aurora 15 gaming laptop. This system strikes a sensible balance between gaming proficiency and affordability. For less than $1,000, it's a capable workhorse for both casual and professional tasks.
This MSI Cyborg 15 at Walmart is one of the cheapest gaming laptops I've seen in recent months to feature an RTX 5070 graphics card. That's usually a pretty pricey component, but surprisingly, you're also getting a decent chipset and a 1TB SSD here. Annoyingly, you do only get 16GB of RAM, which will somewhat hamper your performance headroom.
A great choice if you're looking for a gaming laptop without completely blowing the budget, this Gigabyte A16 gets you everything you need for smooth gaming right out of the box. The combination of an RTX 5060 graphics card and Ryzen 7 chipset means decent chops for 1080p gaming, while a 1TB SSD also provides plenty of storage space. While not a super high-end laptop, this one is still a cut above the more budget-oriented sub-$1,000 machines.
The Acer Nitro V Slim 16 also comes in an Intel-based configuration, which is also a decent buy today. It's a little pricier, but you get an Intel Core 7 Series 2 chipset and 16GB of DDR5 RAM. These should, on paper at least, give you a decent boost in performance.View Deal
This Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S might seem like it's a little on the pricey side for a machine with an RTX 5060, but this is a great price on this premium model. Not only do you get a powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 chipset under the hood here, but this Predator Helios Neo 16S also features a high-end OLED display, which is a notch above the usual panels you find on cheaper machines.View Deal
I've seen a fair few deals on Lenovo Legion 5i gaming laptops over the past few weeks, but none of those touch this listing at B&H Photo. Not only are you getting a great price on this machine, considering it features an RTX 5070 graphics card and Ultra 9 chipset, but you also get a 1TB SSD and 32GB of RAM. Combined, this is one impressive deal indeed, thanks to the retailer's massive $500 price cut today.View Deal
It's a rare thing these days to see a gaming laptop for under £700, and better yet, this Acer Nitro V15 actually features a recent RTX 5050 graphics card. If you're looking for the basics, then this machine is definitely going to cover you well for a great price. The RTX 5050, in combination with the Core i7 chipset, is going to play all the latest games — and should do well, granted you're willing to tweak a few settings here and there on the most demanding titles.
The MSI Thin 15 RTX 4050 B13VE might be the most affordable gaming laptop anyone will come across during Prime Day. This is an entry-level gaming laptop, around the same price as a modern handheld such as Valve's Steam Deck, with much better performance using Nvidia's RTX 4050 GPU.
Moving up in price will get you a decent budget machine with the latest RTX 5050 graphics card — like this Medion Erazer, for example. You can expect a decent level of performance with this machine for the money, especially if you're just aiming to play on this laptop's modest 1080p display. Medion laptops tend to be quite workmanlike in terms of design, but they do provide decent performance for the money.View Deal
This mid-range RTX 5060 Acer Nitro gaming laptop is really hitting that sweet spot in terms of bang for the buck, in my opinion. The chipset is a little on the older side, and you're only getting 16GB of RAM, but I still think this one is a real bargain for £799. If you're just looking to play all the latest games smoothly at 1080p, then this particular listing is definitely worth considering. Getting a more spacious 1TB SSD is also a meaningful upgrade.
We've spotted an excellent price drop on the Alienware 16 Aurora with RTX 5060, Intel Core 7-240H, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and 16-inch WQXGA 120Hz display. Grab it now at Amazon before it's gone.View Deal
My favourite gaming laptop deal this week has to be this discounted Asus V16 at Amazon. Not only are you getting a great price for a machine with an RTX 5060 graphics card, but this one also features a spacious 1TB SSD and an Intel Core Ultra 7 chipset. If you want smooth gaming for a few years down the line, then this one is a decent choice, and great value thanks to today's discount.View Deal
Wow, it's been a while since I've seen an RTX 5070 gaming laptop with 32GB of RAM hit this kind of price. The Acer Nitro V15 is still a relatively budget machine, but in terms of specs, this higher-end configuration really ticks all the boxes today. You get a great GPU, an up-to-date chipset, and 32GB of RAM right out of the box.
There's an unwritten rule that when you hit 50, you start noticing birds. First, you hear their songs, and then you start spotting them in the trees and flying overhead. They've been there your whole life, but some part of your amygdala opens up at the half-century, and then you're on your way to becoming a birder like me.
This update to the popular Birdbuddy feeder and webcam ups the number of solar panels (you'll never have to plug in again), increases the image capture resolution (2k), and even adds slo-mo. It's the best way to feed and get up close with birds without actually getting too close.View Deal
The John Lewis deal on the Web Cam bird feeder might not be as good as Amazon's, but they are promising a price match. Of course, Amazon in the UK is not currently selling the Bird Buddy Pro. Even so, it's still an attractive price for the popular Birdbuddy feeder. This model ups the number of solar panels, and ups the image capture resolution (2k)View Deal
Back when my family gifted me a Birdbuddy (pre-Pro version), I called it my favorite gadget. Like this OG version, Birdbuddy Pro is a combo webcam and bird feeder.
The model on sale here is similar to mine in that it has a solar panel on the roof to keep the webcam charged up. The Pro version actually has two panels, one for each side of the roof. I have to say that, for as much as I love my Birdbuddy, I really wish it had two panels because every once in a while, mine gets stuck facing away from the sun for too long, and then I need to pull the webcam module and charge it indoors.
The Pro model also raises the video resolution to 2k and has a larger sensor for better photography. It can even shoot in slow motion.
The app helps you keep track of visitors, and the onboard AI automatically identifies most bird species. You can even pay a monthly subscription fee to have the system name and identify specific birds (among other perks like unlimited storage and sharing your Birdbuddy live feed with guests), so you know when Cara the Cardinal returns for more seed,
BirdBuddy Pro ships with a simple hook so you can hang it, but other accessories let you attach it to a pole or bolt it to, say, a shed. I have mine hanging from my shed and have captured (and shared) so many great images and videos of visiting cardinals (male and female), grackles, pigeons, mourning doves, blue jays, and house sparrows.
Squirrels sometimes drop in and dump most of the seed. In fact, if I had any criticisms of the device, it would be that the seed holder is too small (though the Pro enlarged it to 3.8 cups of seed, 0.3 cups more than what I get) and that there's no easy way to protect it from unwanted critters. But that's about it when it comes to any cons.
I’m sure this scenario is familiar to you — you buy an external hard drive for a certain capacity, thinking that it would have more than enough space to store all your current files, and many more in the future — but then you soon realise that you’ve filled it up in no time. You’re then forced to delete some files to make enough room for new ones that you need to back up or archive. And so it goes.
I can definitely relate, having filled up a couple of hard drives ranging from 2TB to 6TB containing photo libraries, videos and Steam game backups, then later finding myself auditing those files more often than I’d like to clear up storage space.
This deal can also benefit those who work with large files regularly, like content creators, video editors, data professionals, graphic artists and more, where they can focus on their work and not constantly worry about storage.
This listing is from Amazon Germany, so you may have to wait until at least early next month for delivery to Australia, but this is so far the lowest price we’ve seen for EOFY. The Seagate Expansion Desktop has USB 3.0 file transfers, Windows and Mac support (with automatic recognition for easy setup) and access to a data recovery service for that extra peace of mind.View Deal
In our best external hard drives buying guide, our reviewer called the Seagate Expansion Desktop the best-performing HDD they'd tested thanks to the read and write speeds of 242 MB/s and 237 MB/s, respectively, and for its relatively compact size compared to others in this category.
The main downsides the tester mentioned were the hard drive’s external power requirement — which is something I would certainly live with for a capacity of this size — and the expensive RRP, which this 32% discount handily takes care of.
While you can invest in some network attached storage (NAS) devices for your growing storage needs, the Seagate Expansion Desktop is an easier plug-and-play solution that won’t require much fiddling to set up — it’s as easy as plugging the drive in and moving files to it via Windows Explorer or macOS Finder. Plus, this deal is a much cheaper alternative as the NAS devices themselves without drives cost around the same or even more in some cases.
On the other hand, this external drive can be used in a NAS device (or your PC, even) through “shucking”, or removing the external casing and installing the bare drive into a hard drive bay to add more storage for redundancy or otherwise. Do note that this will void the drive’s warranty.
In any case, a deal like this in a period of storage component shortages is hard to pass up for anyone in need of extra storage space for backups, archiving or any work that involves large file sizes.
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