Cheap stuff that doesn’t suck, take 3

From fancy OLED TVs to robot vacuums with arms, we tend to cover a lot of cool stuff here at The Verge that, unfortunately, often costs as much as a month’s rent (or more). But with the ongoing tariff situation in the US and a global memory shortage pushing up the cost of, well, … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 39 minutes ago

Dyson’s handheld fan is more powerful and louder than I expected

Two years ago I attended a picturesque outdoor wedding in August where the hot and humid weather had guests occasionally ducking into their cars to enjoy a blast of AC. Dyson’s new $99.99 handheld fan would have provided some much-needed relief then, although I’m not sure I would … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 3 hours ago

The AI apps are coming for your PC

Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 124, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you're new here, welcome, send me your Coachella fits, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I've been reading about restaurant bre … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 4 hours ago

There’s nothing like an RPG over vacation

With a vacation comes a big choice: What game should I focus on during the trip? I thought about grinding out the harder levels of Super Meat Boy 3D, but I was looking for something more chill. I could have dabbled more with Slay the Spire II, but I already know that's a game I'l … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 4 hours ago

OpenAI’s former Sora boss is leaving

Last month, OpenAI gave up on its Sora video generation tool, and on Friday, the Sora team's leader, Bill Peebles, announced that he is leaving the company. OpenAI has been shifting its priorities as part of an effort to avoid "side quests," and Peebles' departure is just one of … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 18 hours ago

Should you stare into Sam Altman’s orb before your next date?

Tinder users who prove they're a real person by visiting an identity-verifying orb will soon be able to get five free boosts in the app - and it's just the latest service to embrace the orb. World, which was co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, initially tested Tinder verificatio … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 19 hours ago

Anthropic’s new cybersecurity model could get it back in the government’s good graces

The Trump administration has spent nearly two months fighting with AI company Anthropic. It's dubbed the company a "RADICAL LEFT, WOKE COMPANY" full of "Leftwing nut jobs" and a menace to national security. But some of the ice may reportedly be melting between the two, thanks to … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 19 hours ago

Betting on the news raises ethical questions for journalists

Prediction market exchanges have created an environment where just about any piece of information is potentially monetizable: How well will BTS's new song perform this week? How hot will Los Angeles get? Will Donald Trump be impeached? Users can wager on all of that and, on some … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 22 hours ago

This charming gadget writes bad AI poetry

I've never been as charmed and frustrated by one gadget as I have with the Poetry Camera. It's a delightful object. White and cherry red with a color-matched woven strap, it looks playful and adorably lo-fi. If I saw it on a store shelf, I'd absolutely pick it up. But aside from … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 22 hours ago

Our new favorite budget phones

Over the last few months, every phone maker under the sun has refreshed its lineups, especially at the affordable end, with no major budget phone launches now expected until next year. That made it the perfect time to go back and reassess The Verge's recommendations for the best … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

The best budget smartphones you can buy

Some of us take a kind of “eat to live” rather than a “live to eat” approach to gadgets. They’re tools that help you get things done, not something you want to invest a lot of time or money in. If that’s you — and there’s no judgment here from a certifiable gadget nerd — […] | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

Dairy Queen is putting an AI chatbot in its drive-thrus

Dairy Queen is becoming the latest fast food chain to get in on AI, as it's bringing a chatbot to dozens of its drive-thrus across the US and Canada. It aims to help speed up drive-thru service and "encourage customers to add more food to their orders," according to The Wall Stre … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

The AirPods Pro 3 are $50 off right now, nearly matching their best-ever price

From OLED TVs to smartphones, Best Buy’s Upgrade Sale has slashed prices on all kinds of tech, including a wide range of Apple devices. We’ve rounded up the best deals from the sale here, but one of the most notable is the AirPods Pro 3, which are down to $199.99 ($50 off) at Bes … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

Peloton, stay in your lane

This is Optimizer, a weekly newsletter sent every Friday from Verge senior reviewer Victoria Song that dissects and discusses the latest gizmos and potions that swear they're going to change your life. Opt in for Optimizer here. The camera zooms in on two well-formed cheeks clad … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

The South Korean president is doing quote-post diplomacy

"This is no different from Comfort Women or the Holocaust," wrote South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on X last week, quoting a post with a video of Israeli Defense Forces soldiers throwing a body off a rooftop in Gaza. The president's post kicked off an internet firestorm for a … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

Ghost orchid in the machine

Vacuum cleaners, personal massagers, electronic baby rockers, and walking pads: These are the secondhand machines Rachel Youn sources to create their kinetic sculptures. Made with artificial flowers, metal hardware, and these used electronic components, each one possesses a human … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

The ‘AI is inevitable’ trap

In the latest sign of AI silly season, Allbirds, the shoe company, told the world it was now an AI company and briefly managed to septuple its stock price. The Newbird AI story is really just one of a bunch of things this week that made us wonder: have we reached the peak of AI, … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

The creative software industry has declared war on Adobe

All empires eventually fall, and it seems the creative software industry has collectively decided that Adobe's time has come. The Creative Cloud provider's suite of design tools have been considered the industry standard for decades - despite unpopular decisions to fully embrace … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

A giant cell tower is going to space this weekend

This weekend's scheduled Blue Origin rocket launch is rather momentous. Success would signal an end to SpaceX's monopoly on reusable orbital launch vehicles, and set up a three-way race to make that "No Service" indicator on your phone disappear forever. On Sunday morning, Jeff B … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

YouTube’s mobile app finally lets you share timestamped videos

YouTube is making some changes that might affect how you share videos from the mobile app. From the app, you can finally share videos from a specific timestamp, which will make it easier to point someone to a part of a video you might want them to see while you're on your phone. … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

Gucci-branded Google smart glasses are coming next year

Google is reportedly partnering with Gucci to make a pair of AI smart glasses stylish enough people might actually want to wear them. According to Reuters, Gucci parent company Kering is planning to launch the glasses sometime in 2027. Google's first pair of Android XR glasses, " … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

Ballmer gives $80 million to NPR, with strings attached.

Connie Ballmer, wife of former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and co-founder of the Ballmer Group, has given $80 million to NPR. That's roughly seven years' worth of government funding ($11.2m) after Trump and Congress cut funds for public media, but only a fraction of NPR's full an … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

Netflix embraces vertical video with major mobile app update

Netflix announced on Thursday that it will be launching a redesigned mobile app, which will include a vertical video feed, at the end of April. "This redesign will better reflect our expanding entertainment offering and make it easier for members to engage how and when they want, … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings is officially leaving the company

Netflix co-founder and chairman Reed Hastings plans to leave the company after nearly 30 years. The news comes as part of Netflix's Q1 2026 earnings results released on Thursday, which says Hastings "will not stand for re-election to our Board when his current term expires at the … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

Live Nation says it will fight monopoly suit loss

After a jury found that Live Nation-Ticketmaster violated antitrust law on several counts, the company warns in a blog post that the verdict "is not the last word on this matter." The company plans to renew a motion for the judge to issue a ruling against the states, claiming tha … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

Ozlo’s comfy Sleepbuds are nearly 30 percent off in the run-up to Mother’s Day

If you’re struggling to get a full night of rest, a good pair of sleep earbuds can help you tune out unwanted distractions. The Ozlo Sleepbuds are one such option, and they’re currently available for $249 ($100 off) in the run-up to Mother’s Day at Amazon and Ozlo’s online storef … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

Teenage Engineering might be getting into instrument amps next

An unannounced Teenage Engineering device, the KO-Amp 35, can be found over at the FCC in a new filing. The label clearly marks it as a member of the mid-range EP family instruments, which currently includes the KO-II and its spinoffs, the Riddim and the Medieval. The name sugges … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

The only way to fight deepfakes is by making deepfakes

I was unsure if my parents would notice that the voice on the other end wasn't mine - or that it was mine, sort of, but it wasn't me. The voice said hello, asked my dad how he was doing, and asked again when he didn't respond quickly enough. "What is that, Gaby?" He realized […] | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

Casely has reannounced a power bank recall from 2025 following a fatality

Casely first recalled over 429,000 of its 5,000mAh Power Pods wireless power banks in April 2025 following 51 reports of their lithium-ion batteries "overheating, expanding or catching fire," resulting in six minor burn injuries. Both the company and the US Consumer Product Safet … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

The nine best ways to protect, customize, and accessorize your MacBook Neo

The MacBook Neo is poised to be a top-selling laptop in 2026, thanks in large part to its affordable $599 entry price. Despite launching at a more accessible price point than Apple’s $1,099 (though often discounted) 2026 MacBook Air, the Neo makes surprisingly few concessions in … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

OpenAI’s big Codex update is a direct shot at Anthropic’s Claude Code

OpenAI is beefing up its agentic coding and development system Codex with a suite of updates that let it use your computer, generate images, and remember from past experiences. Codex will now be able to operate desktop apps on your computer, OpenAI says in a blog post announcing … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

Google’s AI Mode update lets you open links without leaving the page

Google is upgrading AI Mode in Chrome with a new feature that will allow you to open links to sources alongside your chat. Now, instead of automatically opening a new tab, clicking a source will open the website side by side with AI Mode, allowing you to ask follow-up questions a … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

Microsoft planning Surface Laptop with an OLED display

Microsoft is preparing to launch new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop models in the coming months. Windows Central reports that the refreshed models will include both Intel and Qualcomm variants, with Microsoft opting for an OLED display option for the Surface Laptop this year. Mic … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

Gemini can now pull from Google Photos to generate personalized images

Google's Personal Intelligence feature, which lets Gemini pull data from apps like Google Photos to offer responses tailored to you, can now use that data and its Nano Banana 2 image model to create images based on your personal context. With the feature, you can use prompts like … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Microsoft’s new Xbox chief starts making her mark

Microsoft's new Xbox chief has had a busy couple of months after promising "the return of Xbox." Asha Sharma met with publishers at the Game Developers Conference in March, and has also been on the road visiting Microsoft's own game studios and product teams in recent weeks. Shar … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Anthropic releases a new Opus model amid Mythos Preview buzz

Anthropic has released its most powerful "generally available" model to date: Claude Opus 4.7. The company called it a step up from Opus 4.6 for advanced software engineering tasks, particularly in complex coding areas that in the past required more hand-holding. It's also suppos … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

How Netflix made us fall in love with K-dramas

This is Lowpass by Janko Roettgers, a newsletter on the ever-evolving intersection of tech and entertainment, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week. What do you get if you take a bunch of ripped, shirtless male K-pop idols in boxing gloves and have them spar in th … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

It’s slushy season, and Ninja’s frozen drink machine is nearly half off

Woot is making it more affordable to own a frozen drink machine. Ninja’s Slushi that has an 88-ounce container for storing your ice-cold creations is down to $184.99 at Woot, which is a whopping 47 percent off its list price. The Slushi requires no ice, just the liquid of your ch … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Roku hits a major milestone with 100 million users

Roku continues to solidify itself in a very busy streaming landscape. As of April, over 100 million households are streaming with Roku devices, including its streaming sticks and boxes and Roku TVs. Roku originally spun out of Netflix in 2008, where it was conceived as an in-hous … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Age verification is a mess but we’re doing it anyway

In the span of a few years, age verification went from an idea to standard practice on large parts of the internet. Seeking to prevent kids from accessing porn, other inappropriate content, or social media altogether, laws mandating age-gating have spread rapidly across the globe … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

The Cybertruck of e-bikes is here to replace your car

It was at about 36 miles per hour that I decided the Infinite Machine Olto is not a bike. Sure, it has pedals, you don't need a license to ride it in most (but not all!) places in the US, and the folks at Infinite Machine assured me it is allowed in the bike lane. […] | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Character.AI’s new Books mode turns reading into roleplay

Mired in controversy and legal woes over concerns about its chatbots' interactions with users, particularly teens, Character.AI seems to be playing it safer with a new "Books" mode. The new format lets users step inside familiar worlds for a more structured roleplaying experience … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Ronan Farrow on Sam Altman’s ‘unconstrained’ relationship with the truth

Today on Decoder, I’m talking with Ronan Farrow, one of the biggest stars of investigative reporting working today. He broke the Harvey Weinstein story, among many, many others. And just last week, he and co-author Andrew Marantz published an incredible deep-dive feature in The N … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Moft adds a tracker and shutter button to its magnetic tripod wallet

Moft's MagSafe wallets have long been overachievers with folding designs that double as smartphone stands. Its latest creation, the Moft Trackable Tripod Wallet, does even more. It carries forward the same functionality as Moft's original magnetic wallet that unfolds into a minia … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Canva’s AI 2.0 update goes all in on prompt-powered design tools

Canva has overhauled its design and workspace suite as it attempts to become the ultimate centralized hub for AI-powered content creation. The platform announced its Canva AI 2.0 update today, introducing updated tools and new prompt-based editing capabilities that allow users to … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Intel’s cheaper Panther Lake chips are for budget-friendly laptops

Intel is announcing a family of cheaper Panther Lake laptop processors called the Core Series 3 line. They're built on the same Intel 18A process as the higher-end Core Ultra Series 3 family of chips, but they have less of just about everything spec-wise. The Core Series 3 (non-U … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Meta blames RAM shortage for $100 Quest 3 price hike

Meta is the next tech company to hike up hardware prices due to the global memory shortage. Beginning April 19th, Meta's 128GB Quest 3S VR headset will cost $349.99, the 256GB Quest 3S will cost $449.99, and the Quest 3 will cost $599.99. Those are increases of $50 for both Quest … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Govee’s new LED Lightwall comes with its own self-standing frame

Govee has announced an upgraded version of its hanging Curtain Lights Pro that can instead be used nearly anywhere you have access to an outlet or large battery. At $449.99, Govee's new Lightwall is more than twice as expensive as the $199.99 Curtain Lights Pro, but comes with mo … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago