The Verge

Did you know that BG3 players exploit children? Are you aware that Qi2 slows older Pixels? If we wrote those misleading headlines, readers would rip us a new one - but Google is experimentally beginning to replace the original headlines on stories it serves with AI nonsense like that. I read a lot of my [...]

This is an excerpt of Sources by Alex Heath, a newsletter about AI and the tech industry, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week. Amazon's AI chief has a message for the model benchmark obsessives: Stop looking at the leaderboards. "I want real-world utility. None of these benchmarks are real," Rohit Prasad, Amazon's [...]

Hello and welcome to Regulator, a newsletter for Verge subscribers that covers the political intrigue and power struggles between Big Tech and Big Government. Subscribe here for a weekly dispatch of tech oligarchs fighting regular oligarchs. Prior to last week, only highly specialized political insiders knew the extent of David Sacks' influence in the Trump [...]

If you've been short on storage on your PC, the latest Helldivers 2 beta update might help. The developers said Tuesday they've managed to cut down the PC file size for Helldivers 2 by about 85 percent, freeing up enough space for at least one or two more large games. In a post on the [...]

Though HBO Max was very proud to announce that it would be the first platform to stream Mad Men in 4K, the show's new rollout has been an absolute mess. When HBO Max subscribers fired up the app yesterday hoping to see Don Draper and company in glorious 4K, many were dismayed to see that [...]

Black Friday and Cyber Monday brought some of the best deals of the year on robot vacuums. One of the handful of great discounts remaining is on the Roborock Saros 10, which we recently crowned the runner-up in our buying guide to the best robovac you can buy. This robovac and mop hybrid is still [...]

It's a big deal that Valve is making a game console. But I'm beginning to think the Steam Machine may end up a footnote in gaming history. What if Valve could bring PC games not just to its own living room consoles, but also to the Arm chips that billions of people have in their [...]

Android users will soon have an option to add an urgent" indicator to their calls, which shows up on the receiver's incoming call screen and in their call history if they don't pick up. It's a new feature in beta testing in the Phone by Google app, Call Reason, that will only work for people [...]

More Android phones will soon support AI-powered notification summaries. The feature comes bundled in the latest version of Android 16 and rolled out on Pixel devices last month, but now other phone makers like Samsung can begin adding it to their devices. Unlike Apple's version of the feature for iOS, Google is limiting it to [...]

The latest update for Android 16 has arrived, marking the official end to Google's annual release schedule. Compared to the major Android 16 launch in June, the new 16 QPR2 release is a minor update that expands features for notifications, icons, calling screens, and more, and signals the start of Google's long-awaited plans to release [...]

With Cyber Monday officially in the rearview mirror, it's easy to assume that you missed the last big shopping event of the year. While that might technically be the case, there are still plenty of leftover deals to choose from, some of which can still be had for well under $100. That makes now a [...]

Apple Music is getting ahead of Spotify Wrapped with the launch of its yearly recaps. This year's Apple Music Replay is available natively within the app and comes packed with even more listening stats, allowing you to review all the new artists you listened to, which ones you kept returning to, and who made a [...]

Anker has released a new docking station that eliminates the problem of having to choose between portability and a plethora of ports. The 13-in-1 Anker Nano Docking Station includes various USB and video ports so you can quickly connect a laptop to multiple monitors, but its most useful feature is a small, portable USB-C hub [...]

I was never a Boy Scout, but I have always embraced their be prepared" motto. When I leave the house it's never without my everyday carry kit that, among other things, includes wireless earbuds, a small battery, extra glasses - and a flashlight. In fact, I've long been on the hunt for what I consider [...]

One night in May 2020, during the height of lockdown, Deep Ganguli was worried. Ganguli, then research director at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI, had just been alerted to OpenAI's new paper on GPT-3, its latest large language model. This new AI model was potentially 10 times more advanced than any other of its [...]

Apple makes a lot of gadgets. Most of them are very good! You'd frankly be hard-pressed to find a company with a better track record, especially across so many categories. But only one Apple gadget can be the best Apple gadget, and it's time for us to decide which one it is. On this episode [...]

When Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is good, it's good. The latest in Nintendo's sci-fi exploration franchise, and the first since Metroid Dread in 2021, Beyond captures the moody sense of isolation and discovery that has been so core to Metroid since it debuted in 1986. Those quiet moments truly make you feel all alone on [...]

It's one thing to do a bit of online shopping during the Black Friday / Cyber Monday sales, but it's another to put your money where your mouth is. (Wheredidthat phrase come from, anyway?) If you're curious what our writers, editors, and reviewers bought for themselves, here are some of the items, many of which [...]

Apple is not planning to comply with an order from the Indian government directing phone manufacturers to preload a state-backed cybersecurity app, according to Reuters. Industry sources tell Reuters that Apple plans to tell India's government that they don't comply with requests like this due to privacy and security concerns. However, Apple won't go to [...]

Over the past couple of years, I've tried to switch to many different gaming keyboards and always ended up back with a Wooting 60HE. Wooting changed PC gaming with the 60HE, popularizing the use of Hall effect switches and a Rapid Trigger system that speeds up how quickly you can activate keys. Now it's back [...]

Amazon is starting to test ultra-fast deliveries that aim to drop household goods at your doorstep in 30 minutes or less. The Amazon Now service is launching now in parts of Seattle and Philadelphia, according to Amazon's announcement, allowing eligible customers to shop for items like fresh milk, eggs, produce, cosmetics, electronics, household essentials, over-the-counter [...]

Discord's adding a new commerce feature that will let users buy digital items for games they might not even play. Starting with Marvel Rivals, users will be able to search, buy, wishlist, and gift cosmetics without ever leaving the platform. It works like this. Starting today, Marvel Rivals will have a new store page accessible [...]

Raspberry Pi is increasing the price of several single-board computers in an attempt to offset soaring memory costs. The updates are being applied immediately and affect Raspberry Pi 4 and Raspberry Pi 5, with prices increasing by $5 to $25 depending on the model and amount of RAM. The 16GB memory variants of the Compute [...]

The tides are turning in the AI race, and the pressure is getting to OpenAI. Chief executive Sam Altman reportedly declared a code red" on Monday, urging staff to improve its flagship product ChatGPT, an indicator that the startup's once-unassailable lead is eroding as competitors like Google and Anthropic close in. In the memo, reported [...]

You can't make this up. Microsoft shipped a Windows 11 update yesterday that is supposed to make dark mode more consistent, with dialogs in File Explorer finally getting a dark mode for actions like copying, moving, or deleting files and folders. You get all that, but Microsoft will also treat you with a giant white [...]

If you're planning to gift an Apple device this holiday season - or treat yourself -time is now running out to take advantage of the latest Cyber Monday promos. The annual shopping holiday is already down to its final hours, and we're starting to see some items go up in price or out of stock. [...]

If you're hoping to whittle down your wish list before the holiday panic truly sets in, Cyber Monday presents a prime opportunity. Many of the tech-y gifts we recommend for Christmas, graduation, Mother's Day, and other celebratory events throughout the year are receiving their steepest discounts to date. These aren't random picks, either; they're items [...]

When the deals are flying fast and furious, it can be easy to overspend, especially when OLED TVs, laptops, and other great pieces of tech are cheaper than they've ever been. You don't have to spend a lot to find gift-worthy deals, though. If you're working with a tighter budget, we've found plenty of gadgets [...]

One of the pitfalls ofCyber Monday is getting overwhelmed by deep discounts on premium gadgets. After all, who wouldn't want to save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on a high-end gaming laptop or a spiffy OLED TV? But these luxury items, while great, can still easily set you back three or four figures. Luckily, [...]

Hoto makes some of our favorite tools, the kind that are not only functional but also look great. And thanks to an ongoing Cyber Monday promotion, you can save on the company's products through the end of today, December 1st, allowing you to grab an electric screwdriver or a great starter tool set for tackling [...]

Whether you're looking to liven up an upcoming holiday party or pick up a gift that will literally brighten your loved one's day, Govee's Table Lamp 2 Pro X Sound by JBL is a great option. It normally retails for $179.99; however, for Cyber Monday, the hybrid gadget is on sale for a new low [...]

Marques Brownlee's Panels wallpaper app is shutting down on December 31st, barely a year after its controversial launch. We made mistakes making our first app, and ultimately, we weren't able to turn it into the vision I had," Brownlee said in a video on the MKBHD YouTube channel. The Panels launch in September 2024 was [...]

Google and Amazon Web Services are teaming up to offer a link between their cloud services, as reported earlier by Reuters. With this tool, companies can establish a private connection between AWS and Google Cloud within minutes," giving online businesses a possible safety net if either of the providers experiences an outage. Though the tool [...]

If an Xbox Series console is your main gaming machine, you may have found yourself running out of storage and having to continually delete and re-download titles. Seagate's Storage Expansion Card is an easy way to upgrade your Xbox's storage, and the 2TB card is at its all-time low of around $184.76 ($75.23 off) at [...]

Cyber Monday is here in full force. It brings with it many of the same deals as we saw during Black Friday, along with a handful of new, limited-time sale prices on Verge-approved tech products. It's a great time to save on laptops, OLED TVs, noise-eliminating headphones, robot vacuums, and everything in between. If you [...]

Netflix has removed the ability to cast shows and movies from phones to TVs, unless subscribers are using older casting devices. An updated help page on Netflix's website, first reported by Android Authority, says that the streaming service no longer supports casting shows from a mobile device to most TVs and TV-streaming devices," and instead [...]

If you're planning to head out of town for the holidays, now is a good time to stock up on chargers so that your devices don't die in transit. Lucky for you, we've already rounded up some of the best charging accessory deals available for Cyber Monday, with Anker's Laptop Power Bank being one of [...]

Black Friday might have passed, but that doesn't mean the holiday deals are gone. You can still find low prices on excellent TVs, streaming devices, and soundbars through Cyber Monday. I've found the best of these deals to level up your home theater setup, and make sure that your holiday season (and every day after) [...]

The holidays are a great time to see family, exchange gifts, and enjoy a good meal. It's also the perfect time to gather around a TV and catch up on must-see shows and movies. Vince Gilligan's Pluribus is a fantastic new series on Apple TV, while Hulu is the only place you can catch the [...]

The last thing I need is a new Amazon Echo smart speaker. As The Verge's smart home reviewer, I currently have a dozen scattered around my home for testing. But when Amazon's Echo Frames smart glasses went on sale for $115 for Cyber Monday, down from $300, it was an offer my husband couldn't refuse. [...]

Anker's seriously small Soundcore Sleep A20 sleepbuds can be nabbed for $108 right now at Amazon, their best price since they launched on Kickstarter at $90 last year. They normally sell for $179.99, making this a standout deal for a pair of ultra-tiny sleep buds that I barely notice as I drift off to the [...]

I have a tendency to space out. A lot. Whether it's staring out the window on Amtrak or pausing at work to fixate on a blank spot on the wall instead of my screen, I often let my mind wander. When I was younger, I would often be derisively called a daydreamer, a space cadet, [...]

Tis the season to score some serious bargains on smart home gear. While Black Friday is behind us, Cyber Monday is coming up fast, so there is still time to grab a bargain on that smart lock you've been eyeing or take the plunge on a robot vacuum. Here I've rounded up the best deals [...]

If you've been waiting to upgrade your headphones or earbuds, your patience has been rewarded. Right now, models from Apple, Sony, Bose, Sonos, and other brands are down to their lowest prices to date, allowing you to save more than ever on both new and older releases. The AirPods Pro 3, for instance, have received [...]

If all you want is a way to talk to ChatGPT, you're practically spoiled for choice - there are countless ways to chat with the bots, and seemingly countless new ones every single day. But that's not the whole story of how we'll interact with large language models. It better not be. Thomas Paul Mann, [...]

Brad Smith said his decision to hook up a webcam to the computer he controls with his mind did not make sense to people at Neuralink, Elon Musk's brain-computer interface company. "Neuralink was really confused with the idea," Smith told The Verge. The decision came just six months after Smith's brain was implanted with a [...]

This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on internet culture, follow Stevie Bonifield. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started The indie web began a few years after the end of GeoCities, [...]

Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 107, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you're new here, welcome, hope you're having a lovely and long weekend, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I've been reading about Faker and Chinese EVs and [...]

Earlier this year, I decided to level up my travel game and invest in a charger to bring on trips, rather than raiding my desk outlets every time I packed. I needed a multitasker, something that could power my MacBook Air, charge my phone, and accommodate the random USB-A cord I always seem to need [...]

Earlier this year, I reviewed the Fractal Scape, a wireless gaming headset made for PC (also compatible with Switch 2) that really wowed me. Frankly, I wasn't expecting much in this debut headset from a company known mostly for making PC cases, but it's one of the most thoughtfully-designed models that I've tried recently. If [...]