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Apple season / Catch up on everything iPhone before Apple’s big event this week.

What to expect at Apple’s September 9th launch eventWhat to expect at Apple’s September 9th launch event

Apple’s expected to announce a new lineup of iPhones, which could include its first foldable phone.

Stevie Bonifield
iPhone Handoff will seamlessly share one number between two phones

The feature is expected to launch as part of iOS 27 later this month.

Terrence O'Brien
Get ready for a really busy month of smartphones

Xiaomi, Apple, Huawei, and more are all launching flagship phones this month.

Dominic Preston
It looks like Apple’s iPhone 18 really will skip the fall launch this year

A supplier’s earnings call supports rumors that Apple will stick to launching high-end phones like the Pro series this fall.

Stevie Bonifield

Everything under the sun / Solar is cheaper and more powerful than ever.

Solar power is having its toaster momentSolar power is having its toaster moment

The US is finally reclassifying plug-in solar as a household appliance to offset high energy costs.

Thomas Ricker
EcoFlow’s $200 PowerStream is so clever, you might buy a $4,000 solar generator

A mini power plant that turns a standard power outlet into a solar power inlet.

Thomas Ricker
Bluetti’s Sora 500 solar panel is incredibly powerful for its size

Too bad this 500W N-Type panel isn’t bifacial.

Thomas Ricker
DJI’s latest power station is proof that good things come in mini packages

The Power 1000 Mini is the smallest 1kWh power station you can buy.

Thomas Ricker

Staff picks / Our favorite stories you don’t want to miss.

Robotaxis enter their villain era Robotaxis enter their villain era 

Road Rage is a new short film in production that casts a murderous autonomous car as the bad guy — and taps into everything people already fear about AI on the road.

Rani Molla
Why AI food looks like that

Worms, holes, and cracks reveal the technical weaknesses of image generators.

Robert Hart
Is this the future of America?

If you want to know what the data center occupation looks like, visit sleepy Loudoun County, Virginia.

Lauren Feiner
OpenAI’s next big AI model has ‘entered the AGI era’

It emphasized stronger guardrails for GPT-6 Astra after the company’s models hacked Hugging Face.

Hayden Field

Review roulette / A selection of our latest reviews, from phones to headphones.

The Fairphone 6 Plus is the midrange phone we desperately neededThe Fairphone 6 Plus is the midrange phone we desperately needed

8

Verge Score

Fairphone’s proper US debut feels like a triumph in the middle of RAMageddon.

Allison Johnson
Bentley’s Torcal EV tries to balance authenticity with fake V8 sounds

The British automaker is on the hunt for a new demographic with its first electric vehicle.

Peter Nelson
The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is at its best when there’s friction

The cover screen feels more like a phone than ever, but the limitations are still what makes it.

Dominic Preston
The second-generation Bose QuietComfort Headphones are good, but don’t stand out

There’s nothing really wrong with the QuietComfort Headphones 2nd Gen, but there’s nothing exciting about them, either.

John Higgins

The KickerSeptember 8

The VergeThe Verge logo.
Dominic Preston
Dominic Preston
Google is changing search in the EU, and it sure is mad about it.

Searches related to hotels and flights will now more prominently display results linking to price comparison sites, after the EU found Google was breaking antitrust rules by prioritizing its own Shopping, Flights, and Hotels tools, fining it €460 million. Google told Reuters it’s the largest reduction in search quality for 29 years.

LG TVs caught spying even when offline or on standbyLG TVs caught spying even when offline or on standby

Gamers Nexus gives you another reason to never connect your smart TV to the internet.

Dominic Preston
Tom Warren
Tom Warren
Logitech’s Stream Deck competitor is now optimized for developers.

Logitech is launching a standalone version of its MX Keypad for developers. Previously bundled in the MX Creative Console, the miniature keypad has customizable keys that can be configured to control apps. Logitech has worked with GitHub to launch the MX Keypad with native integration for VS Code and GitHub’s Copilot app. Logitech’s keypad is available today, priced at $99.99.

Dominic Preston
Dominic Preston
To boldly go into the kitchen cabinet.

On sale today to mark Star Trek’s 60th anniversary (though it’s not live on their US store just yet), Le Creuset’s Starfleet-inspired set is a joyous celebration of the original series that follows similar crossovers with Star Wars and Pokémon in the past. With apologies to my fiancée, I want all of it.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

<em>September 8th is Star Trek’s official anniversary, hence the drop today.</em>
<em>The Communi-Grater is hands-down the best bit of the whole kit, and I will not be taking questions.</em>
<em>Though I’m also sorely tempted by this Galileo shuttle dish.</em>
<em>There’s a Klingon dish to match the Starfleet one, and the knobs for each are also sold separately if you just want to customize your existing Dutch oven.</em>
<em>The Vulcan mug looks a little unwieldy, I’ll admit.</em>
<em>And I’m not sure how much grip the Spock oven mitt gives you, but it might be worth risking a spill or two.</em>
1/6
September 8th is Star Trek’s official anniversary, hence the drop today.
Image: Le Creuset
Xiaomi’s wide foldable promises more power than Samsung’sXiaomi’s wide foldable promises more power than Samsung’s

A triple camera, big battery, and new Arm GPU make the 18 Fold a phone to be reckoned with.

Dominic Preston
Phone gaming is getting a huge graphics boostPhone gaming is getting a huge graphics boost

Arm’s DLSS for Android is imminent.

Sean Hollister
TC Sottek
TC Sottek
Musk, teased.

Alex Gibney’s three-hour-plus documentary on Elon Musk is closer than the Moon. It’ll premiere at the Venice International Film Festival on September 8th. Here’s the first teaser:

Audi’s new A2 E-tron is its most affordable and efficient EV yetAudi’s new A2 E-tron is its most affordable and efficient EV yet

Unfortunately, it won’t be making it’s way to North America any time soon.

Andrew J. Hawkins
TC Sottek
TC Sottek
The Matrix 5 is waiting on a blessing.

The Matrix was said to be coming back for a fifth time back in 2024, with director Drew Goddard at the helm. We haven’t heard much since then, until Matrix co-creator and co-director Lilly Wachowski told KCRW last week that Goddard was waiting on the Wachowski sisters’ blessing to move forward. Lilly seems over the whole affair, saying that she “doesn’t want to play in that sandbox anymore.” Here’s the rest of what she said about moving forward for Matrix 5:

He doesn’t wanna go forward unless he gets our blessing, and so, it becomes this complicated situation that maybe we’re gonna stick our noses in a tiny bit and see how we feel and if we wanna pass on our blessing to Drew or not.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Watch this Roomba spit out another Roomba.

The Roomba Duo is a new concept from iRobot. Two vacuums in one: the larger robot is a vacuum and steam mop (I watched it suck up pasta from carpet) and the smaller one sits on top. When the Duo finds areas it can’t reach, it uses a mechanical arm to lower the second bot to the floor.

It feels like an overly complex solution to the traditional limitations of robot vacuums, but it’s nice to see some ambition from iRobot.

Dominic Preston
Dominic Preston
Hunter Biden is turning his laptop into a meme coin.

$LAPTOP plays on the infamous device that dragged him into the political spotlight. It also takes aim at Donald Trump’s similar crypto currency by distributing tokens to wallets that have lost money on $TRUMP, and pledging more if the Democrats win in 2028 or Biden’s crypto market cap overtakes the Trump coin’s.

Six years later, Sony revisits its legendary XM4 headphonesSix years later, Sony revisits its legendary XM4 headphones

After the WH-1000XM4 were discontinued in 2025, Sony is bringing them back as the WH-1000XM4C.

John Higgins
EcoFlow makes the miniature power station even smallerEcoFlow makes the miniature power station even smaller

More energy packed into far less space makes these batteries ideal for day trips or weekend getaways.

Thomas Ricker
Tom Warren
Tom Warren
Windows 11 is getting a new battery widget.

Most Windows 11 widgets haven’t been all that useful so far, but a new battery option is reportedly coming soon that looks like something I’d use daily. Much like Apple and Google’s batteries widgets, it tracks battery levels for any devices connected to a PC. Once it’s officially rolled out, you should be able to use it on the lock screen or widgets board.

<em>Light mode battery status widget.</em>
<em>The dark mode version.</em>
1/2
Light mode battery status widget.
one.shiningstar / Discord
Dominic Preston
Dominic Preston
Xiaomi’s 18 Fold is the perfect phone for watching The Odyssey.

Released today in China after last week’s IFA appearance, it pushes the new wide fold form factor just a touch further than Samsung did. It’s both shorter and wider, with a roughly 1.4:1 aspect ratio on both screens — about the same proportions as international paper standards or a 1.43:1 IMAX screen. Finally, a phone designed for The Odyssey.

<em>Both screens have roughly the same aspect ratio and can hit 4,000 nits of peak brightness.</em>
<em>It’s powered by Xiaomi’s Xring O3 chip, with a big 6,000mAh battery too.</em>
<em>Like Samsung, Xiaomi is keen to compare the phone to the passport form factor.</em>
<em>Unlike the Z Fold 8, it has a triple rear camera, including a 50-megapixel, 3.5x periscope telephoto.</em>
<em>It comes in red, black, or white, plus a pink ceramic special edition.</em>
<em>The Xiaomi 18 Fold launched today in China from ¥10,999 (about $1,600), but we don’t know if it will ever go on sale elsewhere.</em>
1/6
Both screens have roughly the same aspect ratio and can hit 4,000 nits of peak brightness.
Image: Xiaomi
Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
Why is this trailer for the Elizabeth Holmes docudrama so freaky?

The new flick about the disgraced Theranos founder, directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, got a surprise screening at the Telluride Film Festival ahead of its October release. Here’s how A24 describes it:

“Thirty-four days before she’s sent to prison, notorious Silicon Valley founder Elizabeth Holmes invites a skeptical film crew to document her every move. What begins as an intimate portrait of an enigmatic felon becomes a mind-bending three-year journey into the abyss.”

Bentley’s Torcal EV tries to balance authenticity with fake V8 soundsBentley’s Torcal EV tries to balance authenticity with fake V8 sounds

The British automaker is on the hunt for a new demographic with its first electric vehicle.

Peter Nelson
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
SwitchBot made an AI Furby that’s also a smart home controller.

The Kata Mini is one of those weird AI companions that have little purpose other than to be cute and creepy — speaker and microphone on your keychain plushie, anyone?

But the Mini, a portable, camera-less version of a Kata Friend companion, can also control SwitchBot smart home products. That’s a new way to turn on the lights. It’s coming later this year.

Huawei copies Samsung’s privacy display in its latest trifoldHuawei copies Samsung’s privacy display in its latest trifold

The Mate XT 2 also borrows Samsung’s inward-folding design.

Dominic Preston
Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
4 out of 5 EU smartphones fail to provide repair information.

Self-reporting isn’t working, based upon an investigation by Right to Repair Europe. For the last year, tablet and phone manufacturers (and importers) have been required to provide repair instructions and prices for spare parts on a website, but over 80 percent fail to do so. Some leave the field blank, or worse: provide a generic link to temu.com or Aliexpress.com.

This Shenzen I17 tablet shows a perfect repair score but refers prospective owners to Temu.com for spare parts info and repair instructions.
This Shenzen I17 tablet shows a perfect repair score but refers prospective owners to Temu.com for spare parts info and repair instructions.
Image: Right to Repair Europe
Seattle Times and Newsday sue OpenAI and Microsoft for infringementSeattle Times and Newsday sue OpenAI and Microsoft for infringement

They want the AI models built on their works destroyed.

Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
Behold a man who has never asked himself, “Am I the asshole?”

Frequent Martin Scorsese collaborator and the screenwriter behind Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, and The Last Temptation of Christ, Paul Schrader, is turning to AI to make the crime noir Three Guns At Dawn. He’s been trying to make the movie about three criminal brothers for a long time, but nobody wanted to star in it. When asked why, he gave The Playlist a… let’s say, revealing answer.

“We sent it out to actors, and no Black actors wanted to play in a movie where there are no good Black people,” he said. “And it sort of died. But then AI came along, and I didn’t need Black actors.”

An Amazon cargo plane crashed at Miami International AirportAn Amazon cargo plane crashed at Miami International Airport

The Boeing 767-300 overran the runway during landing.

Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
What do you want to see from Apple’s foldable iPhone Ultra?

We’re expecting the reveal of an all-new iPhone form factor on Wednesday. It will undoubtedly be an expensive beast. So what will it take to make you consider spending your hard-earned money? What features are you hoping to see? What would be a deal-breaker if it were missing?

Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
I don’t think Trump knows who the good guys are in Star Wars.

The president posted an image that purports to show the next generation of United States Space Force dress uniforms and, well… they sure look a lot like Imperial officer garb. (Which itself is inspired in part by German SS uniforms.)

Europe has its first commercial orbital rocketEurope has its first commercial orbital rocket

Isar Aerospace gives the continent more options to “buy European” for space launches.

Terrence O'Brien
Boox’s tiny Picco e-reader should land in NovemberBoox’s tiny Picco e-reader should land in November

There won’t be magnets and there’s still no word on price, though.

Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
GPT-6 Astra beat Portal, and it only cost $571.18

The latest model from OpenAI proved its mettle by tackling Valve’s iconic first-person puzzler. User cozyblaze got the AI to beat the full game in under 24 hours for less than $600! And it probably only required a small swimming pool’s worth of water to boot. There’s a video of a condensed version of the run.

Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
What if your 14-inch laptop literally stretched to become a 17-inch Netflix machine?

Lenovo’s Project Swan has a screen that literally unrolls. The prototype could use better speakers and some weight balancing, but I love watching it in motion!

Competitive Pokémon is on phones now, but you still need a Switch to become a championCompetitive Pokémon is on phones now, but you still need a Switch to become a champion

The mobile version of Pokémon Champions isn’t allowed at high-level tournaments, but it’s unclear why.

Kallie Plagge
Explore the globe in field recordingsExplore the globe in field recordings

Earth Garden takes you around the world using environmental audio from Freesound.

Terrence O'Brien
iPhone Handoff will seamlessly share one number between two phonesiPhone Handoff will seamlessly share one number between two phones

The feature is expected to launch as part of iOS 27 later this month.

Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
Dolly Parton’s sister lashes out against the “tremendous amount of AI and endless garbage.”

Unsurprisingly, while there has been an incredible outpouring of support following Dolly’s passing, there have also been a lot of people trying to exploit it. Stella Parton has finally had enough of the “insensitivity from strangers,” which she said has “been challenging to absorb and or ignore.”

TC Sottek
TC Sottek
164-1.

That’s the vote tally at the United Nations to adopt a new world map, the “Equal Earth projection”, that corrects distortions in the centuries-old and well-known Mercator projection. The Mercator map was prized during the era of European imperialism. (This is also a subject in a great episode of The West Wing.) The proposed new map more accurately portrays the relative size of continents.

You can probably guess the only nation that voted against it. Yes, it was the United States, which called this “a radical ideological project.” Perhaps the new map should depict us as an island standing alone against the world’s nations. If you really want to find a radical ideological project in mapping, just look at Trump’s “Lake America” designation.

The Equal Earth projection.
The Equal Earth projection.
CD sales are booming as physical media continues its resurgenceCD sales are booming as physical media continues its resurgence

But don’t think that means people are abandoning streaming.

Terrence O'Brien
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