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.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? For me, 4-Down was a puzzler, but the other answers filled it in. Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

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: Soybeans or rice
Answer: CROP

5A clue: Bit of gossip
Answer: RUMOR

7A clue: South American flatbread made of ground maize
Answer: AREPA

8A clue: ___ 8 Ball
Answer: MAGIC

9A clue: Something a pirate might make you walk
Answer: PLANK

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Sudden muscle tightness
Answer: CRAMP

2D clue: Like the areas beyond suburbia
Answer: RURAL

3D clue: Luxury Swiss watch brand
Answer: OMEGA

4D clue: Stop by unannounced
Answer: POPIN

6D clue: Billiards triangle
Answer: RACK

Meta plans to spend up to $135bn this year to support its Meta Superintelligence Labs efforts as well as its core business.

Meta will reportedly spend billions of dollars on a multi-year partnership with Nvidia to use “millions” of its chips to support Meta’s data centre build-out, the two companies announced yesterday (17 February).

Commenting on the deal, Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang said that no other company deploys AI at Meta’s scale.

The announcement comes as the social media giant gears up to spend as much as $135bn this year to support its Meta Superintelligence Labs efforts as well as its core business, while competing chipmakers attempt to challenge Nvidia’s global dominance in AI.

Even Nvidia’s Big Tech customers, including Meta and OpenAI, are building their own in-house hardware.

As per the mega deal, Meta will deploy millions of Nvidia Blackwell and new Rubin GPUs to build “hyperscale” data centres optimised for both AI training and inference.

The company will also integrate Nvidia’s recently-announced Spectrum-X ethernet switches for Meta’s Facebook open switching system platform, and expand its usage of Nvidia’s confidential computing services beyond WhatsApp and into other offerings.

The companies said they will continue their partnership to deploy Arm-based Nvidia Grace CPUs for Meta’s data centre production applications, representing the first large-scale Nvidia Grace-only deployment.

They are also collaborating to deploy Nvidia’s Vera CPUs, with the potential for large-scale deployment next year. Meta is also tapping Nvidia’s GB300-based systems to continue developing its data centres.

It was reported yesterday that Nvidia sold off the last of its stake in Arm – a company it once tried to acquire. Last September, Huang announced a “giant” $100bn deal with OpenAI that has apparently not yet transpired.

“No one deploys AI at Meta’s scale – integrating frontier research with industrial-scale infrastructure to power the world’s largest personalisation and recommendation systems for billions of users,” said Huang.

“Through deep co-design across CPUs, GPUs, networking and software, we are bringing the full Nvidia platform to Meta’s researchers and engineers as they build the foundation for the next AI frontier.”

Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg added: “We’re excited to expand our partnership with Nvidia to build leading-edge clusters using their Vera Rubin platform to deliver personal superintelligence to everyone in the world.”

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Jensen Huang, World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, 2026. Image: World Economic Forum/Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

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.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed concerns about AI’s environmental impact this week while speaking at an event hosted by The Indian Express.

For one thing, Altman — who was in India for a major AI summit — said concerns about AI’s water usage are “totally fake,” though he acknowledged it was a real issue when “we used to do evaporative cooling in data centers.”

“Now that we don’t do that, you see these things on the internet where, ‘Don’t use ChatGPT, it’s 17 gallons of water for each query’ or whatever,” Altman said. “This is completely untrue, totally insane, no connection to reality.”

He added that it’s “fair” to be concerned about “the energy consumption — not per query, but in total, because the world is now using so much AI.” In his view, this means the world needs to “move towards nuclear or wind and solar very quickly.”

There’s no legal requirement for tech companies to disclose how much energy and water they use, so scientists have been trying to study it independently. Data centers have also been connected to rising electricity prices.

Citing a previous conversation with Bill Gates, the interviewer asked whether it’s accurate to say a single ChatGPT query currently uses the equivalent of 1.5 iPhone battery charges, to which Altman replied, “There’s no way it’s anything close to that much.”

Altman also complained that many discussions about ChatGPT’s energy usage are “unfair,” especially when they focus on “how much energy it takes to train an AI model, relative to how much it costs a human to do one inference query.”

“But it also takes a lot of energy to train a human,” Altman said. “It takes like 20 years of life and all of the food you eat during that time before you get smart. And not only that, it took the very widespread evolution of the 100 billion people that have ever lived and learned not to get eaten by predators and learned how to figure out science and whatever, to produce you.”

So in his view, the fair comparison is, “If you ask ChatGPT a question, how much energy does it take once its model is trained to answer that question versus a human? And probably, AI has already caught up on an energy efficiency basis, measured that way.”

You can watch the full interview below. The conversation about water and energy usage begins at around 26:35.

Intel’s long-term desktop roadmap may be moving faster than expected. New leaks suggest the company is already preparing its Nova Lake-S Core Ultra Series 4 processors, with a possible launch window shifting closer than earlier rumors indicated. According to reliable leaksters HXL and Golden Pig Upgrade, Intel’s next major desktop CPU family could arrive around CES 2027, potentially landing sooner than previous roadmaps suggested. That would position Nova Lake as Intel’s next big step after the current Arrow Lake and Panther Lake generations.

Nova Lake is expected to represent a significant architectural jump. The chips are rumored to use Intel’s next-generation CPU cores alongside new integrated graphics and stronger AI acceleration. The architecture is expected to combine Coyote Cove performance cores and Arctic Wolf efficiency cores, continuing Intel’s hybrid CPU design approach.

Additionally, the upcoming platform may also introduce a major hardware shift for desktop builders. Leaks point to a brand-new LGA 1954 socket and 900-series chipsets, meaning future CPUs will likely require new motherboards. This kind of platform reset usually signals a bigger generational change rather than a simple refresh.

A major platform shift could be coming

If these rumors prove accurate, Nova Lake could bring more than just faster CPUs. Reports suggest the platform may offer up to 48 PCIe lanes, improved cache design, and stronger integrated graphics powered by Intel’s next-gen Xe architecture. There are also expectations of a new NPU designed to push AI performance further, reflecting the industry’s growing focus on AI-accelerated workloads. This timeline also fits into the broader CPU race, as AMD is reportedly preparing its own next-generation desktop chips around the same period.

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For PC enthusiasts, the takeaway is fairly simple. A major platform shift could be on the horizon, and the next wave of desktop CPUs may bring bigger changes than usual. If a long-term PC build is on the cards, keeping an eye on Intel’s roadmap over the next year might be a smart move. After all, component prices don’t look ready to calm down anytime soon, so waiting could mean better performance and more time to save up for it.

Google has officially unveiled the Pixel 10a, its newest entry in the A-series lineup. On the surface, it looks like another compelling budget-friendly Pixel: minimalist design, fresh colours, a large battery, and Google’s well-known AI features. But dig a little deeper, and the excitement quickly fades. For many buyers, the Pixel 10a may feel like a déjà vu moment – a phone that looks new but behaves very much like last year’s Pixel 9a. In fact, the similarities run so deep that a growing number of users and reviewers are asking the same question: Why upgrade at all?

Despite its refreshed exterior and a few modern touches, the Pixel 10a delivers nearly identical core specifications to its predecessor, and in some areas, actually feels like a step backward. For anyone shopping in the sub-$500 bracket, the Pixel 10a’s value proposition becomes questionable, especially when several alternatives – some from Google’s own lineup – offer far better hardware at equal or lower prices.

Below, we break down why the Pixel 10a underwhelms and explore five smartphones that might be smarter buys.

Pixel 10a vs Pixel 9a: A shockingly small upgrade

Put the Pixel 9a and Pixel 10a side by side, and the differences almost vanish. The display size, refresh rate, RAM, storage, charging speeds, and primary camera setup remain functionally the same. The most controversial change? Google swapped out its flagship-level Tensor G5 expected for A-series phones, instead opting for the older Tensor G4. This marks the first time an A-series Pixel has launched without the newest processor. For a brand that built the A-series on value-driven flagship trickle-down, the decision is puzzling.

One of the most frustrating omissions is the complete lack of Pixel Snap support. Pixel Snap – Google’s magnetic accessory ecosystem – has become a standout feature on the Pixel 10 lineup. Yet the Pixel 10a gets no magnetic capabilities at all. Even Google’s official Pixel 10a cases lack magnets. As a result, buyers who want magnetic accessories must rely on third-party cases, relinquishing Google’s usual first-party ecosystem experience.

There are upgrades, but they’re small: slightly brighter display, faster wired charging, improved Bluetooth, updated Gorilla Glass 7i front protection, and one extra year of software support. While welcome, these refinements hardly justify the price jump when the Pixel 9a still exists – and continues to offer identical real-world performance.

Yes, we are slightly upset too. But don’t worry, we gotchu. Here are five smartphones you can buy instead of the Pixel 10a.

If You Want to Save Money: Buy the Pixel 9a

If your priority is value, the older Pixel 9a remains the smarter purchase. With the Pixel 10a now official, Pixel 9a pricing is expected to drop significantly – often $100 or more below the 10a. Since the two phones share the same core experience, opting for the 9a means saving money without sacrificing features.

The Pixel 9a’s only real shortcomings compared to the 10a include the older Gorilla Glass 3 display, slightly slower charging, and one fewer year of OS updates. None of these are dealbreakers for most users – especially those planning to upgrade again within three to four years.

Put simply, the Pixel 10a doesn’t justify its premium when last year’s model delivers nearly identical performance at a much lower cost.

If you’re willing to spend more: Buy the Pixel 10

The Pixel 10 lists at $799, but its real street price tells a different story. Six months after launch, the Pixel 10 can regularly be found for $649 new – and refurbished units frequently dip to the Pixel 10a’s $499 asking price. Trade-in bonuses and carrier deals drive the price even lower, making the Pixel 10 a substantially better value.

For the same or slightly higher cost as a Pixel 10a, you get Google’s superior Tensor G5 chip, a proper ultrawide + telephoto rear camera setup, 12GB RAM, tougher display glass, an ultrasonic fingerprint reader, and full Pixel Snap compatibility. In every meaningful way – performance, photography, ecosystem, feel, longevity – the Pixel 10 outclasses the Pixel 10a.

The trade-offs? A slightly smaller battery, a slightly heavier chassis, and a marginally weaker selfie camera. None outweigh the significant advantages. If you’re shopping around the Pixel 10a’s price bracket, the Pixel 10 is simply a better phone.

If the Google Pixel is not your jam, here are four other smartphones you can opt for instead.

Samsung Galaxy A55

The Samsung Galaxy A55 stands out as a far stronger mid-range option than the Pixel 10a, especially for US users on T-Mobile, Mint Mobile, or MetroPCS. Powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1480 octa-core chipset, it delivers faster, more stable performance than the Pixel 10a’s downgraded Tensor G4. The phone features a vibrant 6.6-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED 120Hz display, offering noticeably better brightness, colour accuracy, and smoothness.

Its camera system is more versatile too, with a 50MP OIS main camera, 12MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, and a 32MP front camera with 4K video, giving it an edge in flexibility and detail. Durability is another win, thanks to Gorilla Glass Victus+, an aluminum frame, and IP67 water and dust resistance – all superior to the Pixel 10a’s simpler build.

You also get microSD expansion, dual SIM, newer Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6, and a more premium overall experience. For most buyers, the A55 simply offers better long-term value than the Pixel 10a.

Motorola Moto G Stylus (2025)

Not every Pixel 10a alternative sits close in price. The Moto G Stylus starts at just $399, meaning you can save over $100 compared to Google’s new A-series device. It also comes with a built-in stylus, making it the only phone on this list with that capability. For note-takers, artists, or productivity-focused users, this may be a major selling point.

Despite its modest price, the Moto G Stylus impresses with 68W fast charging – the fastest among these alternatives – and expandable storage via microSD card. Those two features alone could sway many buyers.

Of course, its low price comes with sacrifices: outdated Gorilla Glass 3, slow UFS 2.2 storage, weak software support, and slower USB transfer speeds. This isn’t a phone for long-term users or performance-heavy workflows – but as a budget device, it offers tremendous value.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro

For buyers who want something visually distinctive and feature-rich, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro stands out. Surprisingly, it retails for $40 less than the Pixel 10a while offering twice the storage at 256GB. Hardware-wise, it’s stacked: a 50MP periscope telephoto lens, strong 50MP selfie camera, 50W wired charging, and a stunning display with symmetrical bezels and peak brightness matching the flagship Pixel 10.

Its weaknesses include no wireless charging, less powerful Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chip, and only an IP64 rating. Connectivity issues may arise for Verizon customers. Still, for the price, it’s an exceptional device – especially for buyers who value aesthetic flair and display quality.

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 FE serves as another compelling alternative. While its list price is higher than the Pixel 10a’s, real-world pricing – especially during sales – often brings it within striking distance. For users who value performance, the S25 FE easily outpaces the Tensor G4 in nearly every benchmark. The Exynos 2400 delivers superior CPU and GPU performance, which translates to faster daily operation and noticeably better gaming.

Camera hardware is also stronger on Samsung’s FE model, especially thanks to the inclusion of a telephoto lens – a feature missing from the Pixel 10a. You also get faster 45W wired charging and tougher display protection. On the flip side, Google’s computational photography still produces more consistent results, and the Pixel 10a has a larger battery and faster OS updates.

Still, for users already in Samsung’s ecosystem – or anyone prioritizing power – the Galaxy S25 FE deserves serious consideration.

Should anyone buy the Pixel 10a?

The Pixel 10a is not a bad phone. In isolation, it offers reliable performance, a clean design, Google’s trademark AI features, and a long update commitment. But it suffers from one major problem: the Pixel 9a exists, the Pixel 10 is discounted, and the competition in the sub-$500 market is fiercer than ever.

If your heart is set on the Pixel 10a, go for it – Google’s hardware and software consistency still make it a great everyday phone. But if you want the best possible value for your money, it’s hard to justify choosing the 10a over its alternatives. Whether it’s Google’s own Pixel 9a and Pixel 10 or competitive offerings from Samsung, Motorola, and Nothing, several devices offer more for your dollar.

In 2026, the Pixel 10a isn’t the obvious choice – it’s simply one option in a crowded field. And for many buyers, the alternatives may be a far better fit.