Samsung Galaxy S26 series of smartphones, which is expected to debut in early 2026, could be equipped with multiple AI services. A senior executive told Bloomberg News that Samsung is discussing the integration of additional AI features from other firms on its upcoming smartphones, which will work alongside Google’s Gemini AI. An earlier report suggested that the company could replace Gemini as the default AI assistant on the Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup. Rival Motorola previously announced it had partnered with Microsoft, Perplexity, and Google to add new features to its Moto AI suite.

Samsung in Discussions With Multiple Vendors for AI Alternatives

During an interview with Bloomberg News, Samsung President and Mobile eXperience COO Choi Won-Joon said that Samsung wants to give customers more options with its upcoming flagship smartphoes, and is currently in talks with multiple vendors. He also added that the company is “open to any agent out there”.

These are said to include ChatGPT maker OpenAI, which partnered with Apple to offer AI features on recent iPhone models, and Perplexity. Other OEMs, such as Motorola, have partnered with Perplexity, Google, and Microsoft to add AI features to their handsets.

The revelation comes a month after a report indicated that Samsung was set to ink a deal with Perplexity. At the time, it was said that Samsung was planning to add support for Perplexity’s AI assistant on the successors to the Samsung Galaxy S25 series of smartphones, in place of the Gemini AI assistant.

Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, and Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE at a launch event held earlier this month. While the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip, the latest Galaxy Z Flip 7 handsets feature the company’s in-house Exynos processors.

According to the report, Samsung has yet to decide whether to equip the Samsung Galaxy S26 series with an Exynos 2600 SoC, or Qualcomm’s anticipated Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip, which is expected to be unveiled at the chipmaker’s annual launch event in September.

The South Korean tech conglomerate is expected to face competition from Apple next year, with the anticipated arrival of the first foldable iPhone. Analysts have claimed that Samsung Display and other vendors could stand to gain from Apple entering the fray, as the company could be the sole supplier of “crease-free” foldable screens for the purported iPhone Fold.

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I’ve been exercising since I was a young boy in the 80s, and never did I think I’d be running, cycling, and swimming with eyewear that displays personalized fitness data right in front of my eyes. 

Well, those days are here, and in my opinion, it’s awesome. Makers of premium swim tech, Form, recently released its latest generation of AR (augmented reality) swimming goggles, the Form Smart Swim 2 Pro, and I’ve been using them in the pool and at one of our local lakes here in Washington over the past year.

Also: I tested smart goggles and they have a game-changing feature for swimmers

I tested these goggles’ successors: the Smart Swim 2 goggles in early 2024, and there have been several software and hardware improvements released in that time. First and foremost: the Smart Swim 2 Pro is the first pair of swimming goggles made with Gorilla Glass 3 to stay scratch-free for years. 

The last generation goggles were plastic with a factory applied anti-fog coating so you never had to do anything to them to keep them clear. However, over extended periods of time and heavy usage, the plastic could scratch and detract from the AR experience. 

The new Smart Swim 2 Pro with Gorilla Glass 3 lenses requires application of an anti-fog spray before each swim to keep them clear. Form provides enough solution for up to 175 applications, but then provides the simple formula (the right mixture of 75% water and 25% baby shampoo — available at your local drug store) so that you can make your own spray when you run out.

Form includes five arched nose bridges to fit every face shape, and you can even flip these over if you want the AR view, right side by default, to appear in front of your left eye. The glass lenses have a mirror coating under the top layer of glass and block 98% of harmful UV rays. The Smart Swim 2 Pro has an advertised battery life of 14 hours, and that matches my experience during testing. 

While there is a subscription available, one month of premium service is available for free, you can use the core features of the glasses without a sub. Core features include the free smartphone application (available for iOS and Android) that let you set up the AR display on the goggles, the optical heart rate sensor, automatic stroke detection, sharing with services like Strava and TrainingPeaks, and open water swim tracking with support for connected GPS sports watches.

If you want to take advantage of coaching and powerful workouts, the $99 annual subscription is worth the price. It provides guided workouts, visual coaching in the glasses, open water swimming digital compass, training plans, and more. The HeadCoach Plans capability creates personalized training plans based on your own swim metrics and adjust based on your swimming routine.

Also: I finally found bone conduction headphones that stay on while swimming (and they sound great)

I love the idea behind Smart Set since swimming is not a part of my regular exercise routine. With the Smart Swim 2 Pro I can just jump in the pool and start swimming, then Form uses AI to analyze the swim and creates a workout structure you can then use to build workouts that for the future.

The data that appears in the Form app on your phone is impressive. It includes details on your form, distance, pace, stroke rate, and much more. Data collected by Form shows that premium subscribers improved by five seconds over 100 meters in just four months, so there are clearly measurable benefits to having coaching available to you. Just like the Engo PC glasses that improved my running performance, having the key metrics right in front of you without any distractions is vital to improving performance when seconds count.

I was worried a bit about the goggles being tough to use while swimming, but Form has perfected the user experience with two-button controls on one side and seamless connectivity to your smartphone and sports watch. The Smart Swim 2 Pro is very easy to adjust for the perfect fit and my swimming experience has changed forever thanks to the goggles. 

Also: These XR glasses gave me a 200-inch screen to work with – and now I might ditch my monitors

One thing to note is that with the A/R lens and design, you have limited peripheral vision, so open-water swimmers will appreciate the directional guidance, but may lament the visibility. Since pool swimmers are not as focused on visibility beyond their lanes, this won’t be an issue for most swimmers.

ZDNET’s buying advice

As a person who is very competitive and enjoys participating in a range of sports, AR wearables fascinate me and motivate me to improve. Form’s Smart Swim 2 Pro goggles are a great example of this, and the first to offer Gorilla Glass 3 lenses with advanced software to track your swimming progress both in the pool and in open water. 

The negatives include the cost and a potential loss of peripheral visibility, but they aren’t dealbreakers for me. The goggles’ benefits ultimately outweigh them, and I’m more motivated to swim than ever before.

Apple just released its latest Apple Watch software, the public beta for WatchOS 26, and one feature I was eager to try is finally available. Workout Buddy is an AI-powered feature that offers spoken encouragement, stats, and a host of metrics on the Apple Watch, and works in conjunction with Apple-owned earbuds like AirPods or Beats. 

It delivers sporadic bits of data, tries to motivate you, and announces when you’ve closed your Rings during your workout. Within 12 hours of installing the new software, I jumped at the chance to go on a morning run with it.   

Also: The best smartwatches 2025: I wore these for weeks and found the perfect one for your wrist

But Apple isn’t alone with this kind of feature. Samsung launched Running Coach, a similar AI-powered feature with the Galaxy Watch 8, its flagship smartwatch that launched earlier this summer. 

While they’re actually rather different in functionality, Running Coach and Workout Buddy share some similarities: they are both AI-powered, they guide you through your workout with stats, and they announce your fitness data back to you. I wore both watches on my morning run this morning to see which I preferred and which fitness companion worked better. Here’s what I found. 

What sets Samsung’s Running Coach apart

Let’s look at Samsung’s Running Coach on the Galaxy Watch 8 first. When you first use it, it establishes a baseline for your running ability with a 12-minute test. It then assigns you a score out of ten, and provides you with a personalized running plan you can follow to level up your score. 

After I took the test, Running Coach created a training plan for me that consisted of four runs per week with both low and high intensity interval training, hill running, and long jogs. During each session, Running Coach provides me with a target pace and duration and pings me when I’m behind, at, or ahead of that pace. After each training session, Running Coach scores out of 100 and provides me with detailed analytics of my run. 

What I liked better in Running Coach 

Running Coach seems designed for beginner runners, and provides them with plenty of guidance for getting on the pavement. It also does a good job at using data already being collected on the watch, including your energy score and heart rate data, for a more personalized fitness plan. 

Also: I tested Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8, and it kickstarted my motivation to get running again

The notifications that I was ahead, behind, or meeting my target pace were helpful motivators, especially for beginners who may not know what a 12-minute versus 10-minute pace feels like. Additionally, having all the heavy lifting of creating and following a training plan done for you on your smartwatch makes me more motivated to continue using it. 

After my run, I went into the Samsung Health app to see all the advanced metrics Samsung collected on my run. There are a lot, and they’re super helpful. I’m not talking just pace and distance, but asymmetry, contact time, flight time, regularity, vertical, and stiffness are all rated on a scale of Improve, Good, or Great, with accompanying drills for honing these skills. 

What sets Workout Buddy apart

Workout Buddy is available in the Fitness app on Apple’s WatchOS 26. It’s available for several workout types, including Outdoor and Indoor Run, Outdoor and Indoor Walk, Outdoor Cycle, HIIT, and Functional and Traditional Strength Training. While I ran this morning, Workout Buddy announced my pace per mile, my average heart rate, when I closed my Fitness Rings, congratulations on completing a workout, and how many miles I’ve run this year. It also sprinkled encouraging comments throughout my run. 

What I liked better in Workout Buddy 

I liked Workout Buddy’s notification delivery far more. Running Coach’s notifications are a bit more insistent — reminding me of my splits and when I was on or off my target pace in a way that was annoying while I’m already huffing and puffing. If I wasn’t on pace, it would notify me, which would then force me to speed up. Then it would tell me I’m running too fast, so I’d slow down, and on and on.

Also: Apple Watch Series 10 vs. Apple Watch Series 9: Should you upgrade to the latest model?

Conversely, Apple made Workout Buddy more customizable to notification delivery and puts the onus on the user to enable the feature and which stats they’d prefer Workout Buddy announce. 

Additionally, having Workout Buddy announce stats and reminders through earbuds is far more intuitive than the watch’s speaker. The earbud delivery makes every announcement clear and audible, in a way that wasn’t always the case with the Galaxy Watch 8. 

Lastly, I enjoyed the more human tone of Apple’s Workout Buddy, compared to Running Coach, whose voice sounded more robotic. I don’t want a robot to tell me to keep running, but a soft-spoken trainer? Well, that’s another story. 

Who I’d recommend Running Coach for

Maybe this goes without saying: but beginner runners would get the most use out of Running Coach. I would recommend it to Android users training for a race and want their sleep, vitals data, and fitness data all in one place. It’s a stellar feature that makes running, an already accessible activity, even more accessible. 

Also: The best Apple Watch of 2025: Here’s the best smartwatch for you

Who I’d recommend Workout Buddy for 

iOS users who want some additional stats and motivation delivered through their Apple earbuds will like Workout Buddy more. It’s a subtle, non-annoying way to receive your pace, splits, and heart rate data without constantly checking your watch. Plus, it’s available for eight different exercise types, so it’s a far broader use of this exercise companion tech than Samsung Running Coach. 

For a limited time, the Jmgo N1S Ultimate 4K projector is available on Amazon for a whopping $800 discount.

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Last September, laser TV manufacturer Jmgo released its 2024 flagship model, the N1S Ultimate 4K — the third in the N1 series. It comes with several upgrades from previous models, which you’ll notice as a discerning viewer of video quality.

Initially retailing for $2,899, you can currently find it on Amazon and Jmgo’s site for closer to $2,100. If you’re considering a new purchase for your home theater, how does the N1S Ultimate stack up to TVs in the same price range?

Also: My favorite projector from Samsung doubles as a gaming hub

I don’t mean to compare apples and guavas here; projectors and TVs are in wholly different metaphorical bushels (although inching closer together). If you want to go big, though, you can find exceptional quality in the N1S while massively magnifying your screen size — if you have room for it in your home.

Assuming you’re ready to make a purchase now, what can $2,900 get you? The top two TVs that come to mind are both 75-inch screens made by tech giants in a different league: the Samsung QN90D and the Sony Bravia 7 Mini LED. 

Both these TVs have amazing displays and, by nature, their picture quality has an intrinsic advantage over most projectors. The thing is, the N1S Ultimate can blow up its projection to a staggering 180 inches, and still look incredible.

Superb sharpness, brightness, and color

With 3,500 ANSI lumens, the N1S maintains its brightness without compromising its 1600:1 FOFO contrast ratio and 110% BT.2020 gamut coverage. I saw this first-hand, noting its vivid coloration and detail while testing on UHD footage of birds, coral reefs, and big jungle cats. With 4K content, individual feathers, scales, and hairs were discernible even from 14 feet away with a 150-inch projection. 

The brightness intensity of the N1S adjusts automatically based on the lighting in its environment, but as with many projectors, you’ll get the best results when running it in a dim room. During my testing in the dedicated viewing area of our lab, I modulated the rheostat of our ambient ceiling LEDs to see how truly ambient light affected the N1S’s picture. As it turns out, it didn’t affect it much at all.

Also: If you use a projector for presentations or movie nights, you need this app 

In that low-light environment, dark scenes featured deep blacks and detailed shadows — not equivalent to that of an OLED screen of course, but convincing enough. Simply shutting the door to the testing room so no exterior light could creep in made a notable difference in whether the projection’s full border was crisp and visible.

The N1S Ultimate employs a 0.47-inch digital micromirror device (DMD) chip with extended pixel resolution (XPR) technology to upscale 1080p resolution to 2160p, translating to a beautiful picture even when watching the 1998 throwback “Rush Hour”. The only place I noticed fuzziness or halo was around text (especially white text), such as on the menu screens.

The N1S Ultimate is equipped with high-resolution CMOS cameras and intelligent features like Smart Object Avoidance and Smart Eye Protection that help prevent being blinded by walking in front of the lens. It also offers Lossless Zoom and a Smart Wall Color Adaptation feature, which could prove highly useful in established viewing areas, like a basement or living room.

No focus and keystone adjustment required

Out of the box, I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the N1S automatically adjusted its focus and keystone. With multiple time-of-flight (ToF) sensors running on the Jmgo-developed Microstructure Adaptive Laser Control (MALC 2.0, in this case) and triple-color laser optics, I’ve never seen a more instantly appreciable picture quality from a projector.

Loading times were speedy with the N1S being powered by a MediaTek MT9629 processor, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. Those advanced ToF sensors, by the way, also allow for viewing Blue-Ray 3D videos. Jmgo even has a bundle option available that includes a set of rechargeable “Active 3D” shutter glasses.

Also: At last, I finally found a portable 4K projector worthy of replacing my TV

No matter where I placed it within its prescribed range (about 5 to 16 feet) and regardless of its lateral position in relation to the screen wall, the N1S immediately produced a perfect 16:9 frame that assumed the dimensions of its available throw space. 

There was no visible skew to the image frame, and no futzing around with settings to get a good picture. Being able to simply point and swivel a projector to get this result is partly what puts the N1S in its premium price range. Just note that the N1S Ultimate is not a UST projector. You’ll need at least five feet between the unit and your screen or wall, but you can push it as far back as almost 16 feet for a 180-inch screen throw.

Set up, portability, and form factor

The N1S is dense but extremely portable, and quite the looker. I don’t hesitate to name it the prettiest projector I’ve reviewed. I like its two-tone dark gray aesthetic and sleek, elegant, simple design. It blends in just fine with any modern décor. Its out-of-the-box gimbal construction makes it a breeze to set up and swiftly find your best angle.

Also: The best projector screens you can buy

The base hinge on the Jmgo N1S Ultimate can swivel vertically 135 degrees and it has a turntable at the bottom for horizontal orientation should you affix it to a stand. However, no affixing is required: any tabletop will do, as I found out. If you’re inclined to aim the lens at the ceiling, this worked fine in my testing; but if your ceiling has a popcorn or comb texture, you might get different results.

If you want the best audio, do this

Streaming content up to Wi-Fi 6 during testing, I watched shows on YouTube, Prime Video, and Netflix (which are built-in options on the remote). Linking the N1S to Google TV, I should mention, makes for speedy access to an array of apps. And if you happen to misplace your remote, Jmgo offers a complementary app for use on both Android and iOS.

As mentioned above, the visuals on the N1S Ultimate were impressive when cast up to 150 inches. Colors are rich, lumens are bright, and contrast is impressive, especially in a dark room. As for sound quality, though, I found its two 10-watt speakers with Dolby Audio and DTS to be adequate but not ideal for the price point. Volume isn’t a problem so much as clarity.

Also: I changed these 3 settings on my projector for the best picture quality

The much cheaper Yaber T2 Plus, for example, retained a pronounced clarity at high volume, whereas the N1S yielded some distortion. I might call the sound “borderline uncomfortable” when cranked up — a bit spacey and smothered — although it is loud. Without a doubt, the addition of an external speaker or soundbar would do it great justice.

That’s an easy fix because on the backside of the N1S Ultimate, you’ll find an HDMI 2.1 eARC port for that purpose. That’s in addition to another HDMI 2.1 port, a USB 2.0 port, and a 3.5mm jack, covering (most of) your peripheral and gaming needs.

ZDNET’s buying advice

Growing up with parents who reminded me that money doesn’t grow on trees, I’m always concerned about the return on investment (ROI) for any product — especially one that I recommend to others.

The Jmgo N1S Ultimate is well worth the price if you’re able to take full advantage of your wall space/screening area. Its triple-laser projection is on time with spectacular detail, exquisite color, and exceptional brightness. Take advantage of the price reduction while you can.

Jmgo N1S Ultimate tech specs

Technology	DLP (0.47″ DMD) w XPR
Displayed Resolution	3840 x 2160
Brightness	3,500 ANSI lumens (2,600 peak lumens)
Light Source	RGB triple laser
Contrast	1,600:1
Zoom Lens Ratio	Fixed
Lens Shift	No
Lamp Life	30,000 Hrs
Sound System	10w x2 stereo
HDR	HDR10, HLG

Bose’s SoundLink Max portable speaker is on sale for $299 at Amazon. This deal only applies to the Black color option.

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Decades ago, when I was working for an audio installation company, we used to have a saying: “No highs, no lows; it must be Bose.” Keep in mind that we were dealing with speakers that cost tens of thousands of dollars, so the idea of anything consumer-grade was laughable.

Also: The best Bluetooth speakers of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

Fast-forward to today, and Bose still makes speakers, headphones, and earbuds capable of producing rich, elegant sound with wide soundstages, punchy bass, and crisp highs. Such is the case with the Bose SoundLink Max Portable Speaker.

When listening to the SoundLink Max, I’m very much reminded of the original SoundLink, a great speaker from about a decade ago that I always felt was one of the best I’d ever used. This new iteration is even better, as it can push the volume to new heights without the slightest bit of distortion.

Although the sound might not satisfy the ears of a discerning audiophile, its big bass and powerful volume are certainly a crowd-pleaser. Let’s get into it.

Also: This waterproof speaker floats with you in the pool, but that isn’t its best feature

The first thing I noticed about this speaker was the typical Bose processing, which makes the sound seem a bit airy. This pairs very well with audio from popular genres that typically don’t demand too much from the hardware, and is due to how Bose processes midrange sounds for a stereo effect. Unfortunately, it can translate into imprecise midrange sounds that are slightly off-color. I’ve experienced that with almost every Bose speaker I’ve purchased or tested.

It’s not a bad thing; it’s just a Bose thing.

I also couldn’t help but notice this speaker’s lack of features. It allows two devices to connect simultaneously, has a three-band EQ (accessible from the minimal mobile app — Android/iOS), and includes a play/pause button. That’s it.

Here’s the thing: a quality portable speaker doesn’t need a deluge of features. I want the device to sound great, have plenty of battery life, and be simple to use. The Bose SoundLink Max easily checks all of those boxes.

Also: The viral Toniebox is exactly what both kids and parents want from a smart device

When I started testing this speaker, I changed up my usual testing strategy. Being familiar with the Bose sound, I decided to throw two different albums at it to see how it fared. The first was “Big Generator” by Yes. This album was recorded and mastered at a time that perfectly suited the Bose sound, and it sounded better than I expected. The mids were ideal for Jon Anderson’s chorus, the guitars were perfectly crunchy, and the soundstage was surprisingly wide.

Also: This soundbar delivers audio above its price point, and it’s not by Sonos or JBL

Next, I opted for a genre that isn’t quite suited for the Bose sound: classical. I was taken aback by how George Frideric Handel’s “Wassermusik” sounded. It was rich, lively, and not at all out of place. Of course, no party is complete without a Baroque masterpiece.

As far as the bass is concerned, the SoundLink Max does a great job to around 65Hz. Below that, the bass rolls off a bit, so you’re not going to feel the kick drum as you might with a bigger speaker. Given the size of this device, however, it holds its own on the low end.

ZDNET’s buying advice

If you’re a fan of the Bose sound and want a portable speaker that can fill a room (and then some), the $399 SoundLink Max is the obvious choice. If you’re iffy about the Bose sound or prefer more EQ options than three bands, then you should check out the Anker Soundcore Motion X500, which is also on sale for $80.

Ultimately, fans of the Bose sound will enjoy this speaker, and given that it’s built like a tank, you won’t have to worry about it at a crowded party.

Bose SoundLink Max tech specs

• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.4
• Weight: 4.9 lbs
• Dimensions: 4.73 x 10.42 x 4.13 inches
• Battery: Up to 20 hours
• Ports: USB-C, 3.5mm in
• Colors: Black, blue
• Buttons: Media controls along the top
• Water and dust resistance: IP67

Oppo’s A5 family launched in China in December and March with the A5 and A5 Pro, and the company is already rumored to be working on the upcoming A6 series, which will allegedly bring about some interesting changes.

While it’s unclear how many devices it will comprise, there will be two new, or at least differently named models: the A6 GT and A6 Max. These are both said to target the CNY 1,000 or thereabouts market – that’s approximately $139 or €119 at the current exchange rates.

Oppo A5 Pro for China

Despite the low price, we should apparently expect to see them sporting large flat LTPS OLED screens with “1.5K” resolution, dual rear cameras with a 50 MP main, and large batteries.

They will both be powered by Snapdragon 7 series chips, though possibly older ones to hit that price point. We’re looking forward to hearing more about these devices soon, and we’ll let you know when we do.

Source (in Chinese)

Samsung is currently working on the Galaxy A07, obvious successor to the A06 which launched back in August of last year. If the yearly release schedule holds, then this should arrive sometime next month.

In the meantime, it’s been spotted in the Google Play Console, which means we have the image of it below to gawk at.

The phone has a screen with 720×1600 resolution, 6GB of RAM, and the MediaTek Helio G99 SoC at the helm. It will rather disappointingly run Android 15 when it launches.

As you can see, it has a waterdrop notch and the new Samsung camera island design for everything except its flagship S series – it’s now an actual oval-shaped island onto which the cameras are set, no more separate circles.

The Google Play Console listing also tells us the upcoming Galaxy M07 will most likely just be a rebranded version of the A07, the latter having the model number SM-A075 (while the M07 is SM-M075).

No other specs have been outed yet, but we do expect to hear more about these phones soon, so stay tuned.

Samsung Galaxy A06

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Another day, another Pixel leak. This time, we’re getting some leaked promo images showing the Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel Watch 4, and Pixel Buds 2a, all in the same Moonstone colorway.

With these images, we can safely assume that Moonstone will be this year’s ‘hero’ color for the upcoming Pixel lineup. It’s definitely a grayish hue, but perhaps a tad more complex than you’d expect by just reading that.

Google Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL newly leaked images

The color matching between all these devices is interesting, and while the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold are missing from this set of leaked images, previous leaks have shown the latter clad in Moonstone as well. The ‘vanilla’ Pixel 10 model interestingly loses out on the hero color train, which is a weird decision to say the least.

Google Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL, Pixel Watch 4, and Pixel Buds 2a leaked images

Then again, it’s not the only one. While Google has finally given the entry-level non-a-series Pixel a telephoto camera, it’s rumored to have made the other two cameras on the rear worse – perhaps as a way to ensure it doesn’t really compete with the Pro despite having the same types of cameras included?

We don’t know, but the Pixel 10 will definitely be the odd one out this year, unless there is also a surprise Moonstone colorway for it, that just hasn’t been leaked yet. We’ll let you know if we find out more before the Pixel 10 lineup’s August 20 unveiling.

Source

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

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I read the Mini Crossword clue for 9-Across in Tom Hanks’ voice. I figured that one out pretty quick, which shows the value of my English degree. Thanks, University of Arkansas! Want an assist with today’s Mini Crossword? Keep reading. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: De bugs? 
Answer: INSECTS

8A clue: Make funnier, as jokes
Answer: PUNCHUP

9A clue: “Life is like a box of chocolates,” for example
Answer: ANALOGY

10A clue: Dot on a domino
Answer: PIP

11A clue: In an upbeat mood
Answer: CHIPPER

15A clue: Important topic in sex education
Answer: CONSENT

16A clue: Leaves the Union
Answer: SECEDES

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Hoppy order at a happy hour
Answer: IPA

2D clue: Convent member
Answer: NUN

3D clue: Tech company with a bright yellow color scheme and ghost logo
Answer: SNAPINC

4D clue: Sun block?
Answer: ECLIPSE

5D clue: Like many ingredients in a Cobb salad
Answer: CHOPPED

6D clue: Pull sharply
Answer: TUG

7D clue: One with a secret identity
Answer: SPY

11D clue: Syringe amts.
Answer: CCS

12D clue: Garden tool with a long handle
Answer: HOE

13D clue: Opposite of WSW
Answer: ENE

14D clue: Certain football linemen: Abbr.
Answer: RTS