Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for June 2, #456

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle No. 456 for June 2.

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

Gardeners and cooks, today’s NYT Strands puzzle is for you. If you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: On the vine

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Pasta sauce.

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

HOME, LOOM, ROOM, STEAK, ROOMER, BORE, SEEK, PEEK, PEEKS, BILE, HEIR, CHUB, LUNCH, BEEF

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:

PLUM, CHERRY, JUBILEE, HEIRLOOM, BEEFSTEAK, LUNCHBOX

Today’s Strands spangram

Today’s Strands spangram is TOMATO. To find it, start with the T that’s four letters down on the far-left row, and wind across.

Technologies

iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 16: How Apple’s Budget Phone Compares to the Baseline Model

The $599 iPhone 16E offers a notable discount over the $799 iPhone 16, but there are some key differences. Here’s what to know before choosing your next phone.

The $599 iPhone 16E is Apple’s most affordable iPhone, and it shares many features with the $799 iPhone 16. But there are also some sacrifices you’ll need to make for that $200 discount.

While some core components like the A18 chip, iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence are the same for both devices, there are notable differences across the phones’ cameras, designs and batteries.

Here’s how the more budget-friendly iPhone 16E compares to the baseline iPhone 16.

Display and build

The iPhone 16E and iPhone 16 both have a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate. The 16E has a peak brightness of 1,200 nits, while the 16 reaches 2,000 nits. A ceramic shield front and glass back are featured on each phone.

The devices have an aluminum design and are about as heavy as each other, with the iPhone 16E weighing in at 167 grams and the iPhone 16 at 170 grams.

Both phones also have an Action button, but only the iPhone 16 has a Camera Control button. The Dynamic Island feature is also limited to the pricier model. The devices each have an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

Apple drops the home button on its new budget phone in favor of Face ID, just like the iPhone 16. Both devices also have a USB-C port, and neither has a headphone jack.

The iPhone 16E comes in black and white, while the iPhone 16 comes in black, white, pink, teal and ultramarine.

Apple’s New iPhone 16E in 8 Photos

+5 More

See all photos

Battery and storage

Both the iPhone 16E and 16 come in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB options. Apple boasts that the 16E can get up to 26 hours of video playback and 21 hours of streamed video playback, while the 16 will last for up to 22 hours of video playback and 18 hours of streamed video playback.

One of the reasons behind the cheaper iPhone’s longer battery life is because it runs on Apple’s very first 5G modem, called C1. The company says its C1 modem is the «most power-efficient modem ever in an iPhone» and as a result helps increase the phone’s battery life.

They each support 20-watt wired charging. The iPhone 16E supports 7.5W Qi wireless charging, while the iPhone 16 is capable of 15W Qi2 charging, as well as MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W with a 30W adapter or higher.

Cameras at a glance

You’ll find a 48-megapixel wide camera on both the iPhone 16E and iPhone 16, as well as a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera on the 16. To make up for its lower camera count, the 16E uses sensor cropping to get a 2x magnification for better zoomed-in shots (as does the iPhone 16). Both phones have a 12-megapixel front-facing camera.

You can shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second on each device. On the iPhone 16, you can shoot 1080p spatial video, but only at 30 frames per second.

Apple Intelligence for all

One of the biggest upgrades to Apple’s lower-priced iPhone is the inclusion of Apple Intelligence, which was previously confined to iPhone 15 Pro models and the iPhone 16 lineup. Now you can spend less and still get access to features like a smarter Siri, writing tools and the Clean Up tool in photos.

This move signals Apple’s eagerness to get its AI suite into more people’s hands, and indicates that AI is now a core component of any iPhone, from the cheapest option to the most premium.

Check out the spec chart below for more details on each phone.

Apple iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 16

	Apple iPhone 16E	Apple iPhone 16
Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate	6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display; 2,532×1,170 pixels; 60Hz refresh rate	6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display; 2,556×1,179 pixels; 60Hz refresh rate
Pixel density	460ppi	460ppi
Dimensions (inches)	5.78×2.82×0.31	5.81×2.82×0.31
Dimensions (millimeters)	146.7×71.5×7.8	147.6×71.6×7.8
Weight	167 grams (5.88 ounces)	170 grams (6 ounces)
Mobile software	iOS 18	iOS 18
Camera	48 megapixel (wide)	48 megapixel (wide), 12 megapixel (ultrawide)
Front-facing camera	12 megapixel	12 megapixel
Video capture	4K at 60fps	4K at 60fps; spatial video at 1080p at 30fps
Processor	A18	A18
RAM/storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Expandable storage	No	No
Battery	Up to 26 hours video playback, 21 hours streamed video playback, 90 hours of audio playback. 20-watt wired charging, 7.5-watt Qi wireless charging	Up to 22 hours video playback; up to 18 hours video playback (streamed). 20-watt wired charging. MagSafe wireless charging up to 25 watts with 30-watt adapter or higher; Qi2 up to 15 watts
Fingerprint sensor	None (Face ID)	None (Face ID)
Connector	USB-C	USB-C
Headphone jack	No	No
Special features	Action button, Apple C1 5G modem, Apple Intelligence, Ceramic Shield, Emergency SOS, satellite connectivity, IP68 resistance. Colors: black and white.	Apple Intelligence, Action button, Camera Control button, Dynamic Island, 1 to 2,000 nits display brightness range, IP68 resistance, Ceramic Shield. Colors: black, white, pink, teal, ultramarine.
US price starts at	$599 (128GB), $699 (256GB), $899 (512GB)	$799 (128GB), $899 (256GB), $1,099 (512GB)
UK price starts at	£599 (128GB), £699 (256GB), £899 (512GB)	£799 (128GB), £899 (256GB), £1,099 (512GB)
Australia price starts at	AU$999 (128GB), AU$1,199 (256GB), AU$1,549 (512GB)	AU$1,399 (128GB), AU$1,599 (256GB), AU$1,949 (512GB)

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Monday, June 2

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for June 2.

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.

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword was a nice easy one. As a Minnesotan, I’m a huge fan of the movie in 1-Across. Also, is anyone else noticing recent Wordle answers showing up in the Mini Crossword? 6-Across, for one. Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. 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 at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Film by the Coen brothers set almost entirely in Minnesota (not North Dakota)
Answer: FARGO

6A clue: Phrase that’s tough to translate, maybe
Answer: IDIOM

7A clue: Skirts often worn with pointe shoes
Answer: TUTUS

8A clue: Was in front
Answer: LED

9A clue: Org. now checking for Real IDs
Answer: TSA

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: In shape
Answer: FIT

2D clue: Kind of content that might require age verification online
Answer: ADULT

3D clue: Baptisms and bat mitzvahs
Answer: RITES

4D clue: Cheese that’s frequently smoked
Answer: GOUDA

5D clue: Sounds from meditators
Answer: OMS

How to play more Mini Crosswords

The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for June 2, #252

Hints and answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 252, for June 2.

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

Connections: Sports Edition has a mix of difficulty levels today. Read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta now, making its debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That’s a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but now appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can continue to play it free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Not offense.

Green group hint: Leave home in baseball.

Blue group hint: Football stars.

Purple group hint: Song by the Pointer Sisters.