More from Today I’m toying with
That’s the big question online — because the unique bicycle-spoke folding drone isn’t smaller or more powerful than DJI’s Mini drones. But it’s inexpensive, does do a few things they don’t — yet — and it’s fun to fold and unfold! Check it out in my video:
Ever wanted to have dinner with The Verge’s staff, shooting the shit about gadgets? Here’s the next best thing: we filmed a roundtable chat over our actual team dinner at CES in Las Vegas; this clip is just a taste.
If you’d rather have more photos and not-quite-details about this prototype, find ‘em here.
The SteamOS and/or Windows-toting Lenovo Legion Go S was the best handheld of CES 2025, but it wasn’t the only Lenovo portable I took for a spin! The third time was the charm for this detachable-controller and kickstand Legion Go 2 prototype, which I found working at the third venue I encountered it.
Just before Christmas, I told you how the company behind those awesome Popsocket alternatives had rescued the coolest-looking gamepad phone attachment I’ve ever seen.
Here at CES, my colleague Chris Welch got a quick demo that answers the biggest question: can this snappy spring-loaded gadget fling your phone around without yeeting it to the ground?
It’s not the most technologically advanced thing ever, no butt-kicking haptics inside. Just a comfy mesh chair that can cool me when I inevitably run hot or warm me on chilly days, with near-silent jets of conditioned air. I really hope Razer actually sells this Project Arielle.
I showed you the AutoKeybo right after I tried it, but here’s a video that gives you a better idea of how it works!
I think they need to build a proper cyberdeck out of this, something a bit more Ghost in the Shell. Maybe an Angry Miao collab?
Physically, and on paper, I would pick this one over the original Legion Go in a heartbeat. It feels so much better — and it’s the first third-party handheld with SteamOS, which vastly improves that feel.
Sorry I couldn’t provide any performance or battery impressions, though: this unit has an old Z1 Extreme chip inside, no intensive games on display, not even a Portal 2 savegame.
The original GBA is tough to use indoors, so I tried fixing mine with a new screen! No soldering required, just ten screws and a few snips with flush cutters.
Here, I’m installing the $59 Hispeedido V5 “drop-in” kit I bought from Hand Held Legend; easier still would be dropping my motherboard into a new “laminated ready” shell and adding a laminated screen!
The arms dealer’s Game Boy is surprisingly durable — I dropped the ModRetro Chromatic twice on rough concrete with only dents and scratches!
But the company advertises “a handheld that’s indestructible” and literally shows a car wheel on top of it. Such a fun thing to test! Here’s how it worked out for me:
What if the 1989 Game Boy was designed today for nostalgic adults? The $199 ModRetro Chromatic is made of metal, covered in sapphire crystal, with PBT buttons and an incredible screen.
As I explain, this Game Boy comes from Palmer Luckey, the controversial Oculus Rift founder who runs defense contractor Anduril... but if that’s not a dealbreaker, I’ll have a full review later this week.
I’ve got a whole series of these hands-on gadget videos — find more on my Threads — but with the PS5 Pro, it’s only now I’ve been able to make one! At Sony’s preview event, journalists couldn’t touch the final hardware so I focused on what it’s like to play; at review time, my video tried to show off the graphics.
Speaking of...
The just-released PS5 Pro (here’s my review!) has a bunch of ways to amp visuals. But since Sony says most people prefer 60fps, we’re comparing the 2020 PS5’s 60fps “Performance” modes, and the new “Performance Pro” modes that give you higher detail at the same 60fps target. Plus Bloodborne for PS4.
Hopefully Meta doesn’t compress the video too much!
The Twistsaber is exactly what it sounds like — a lightsaber prop you twist to extend and retract, with an ingenious nesting screw design that makes it open and close incredibly fast. The files aren’t free, and it doesn’t light up, but there’s nothing else quite like it.
Also see: the self-retracting Goliath Power Saber, which nearly became an official Star Wars toy.
A tiny $1200 laptop that doubles as a gaming handheld, with an incredible array of ports. Surprisingly easy to type on, plays games as well or better than a Legion Go, supports two kinds of eGPUs. Keyboard and touchpad make navigating Windows way easier than most handhelds.
But you might not enjoy holding its stiff metal frame, and it’s better paired with a mouse!
Robosen, maker of self-transforming Transformers, has teamed up with Disney to bring its Space Ranger toy to life.
It’s got 23 servo motors, working buttons (save the laser, weirdly!) and even has Buzz’s Spanish mode — plus new “first-of-its-kind micro-servos” to move its eyes and mouth. Mine has a bit of a lazy eye, though! 3.7 pounds, 14.6 inches tall, on sale today.
I’m in a love-hate relationship with these smart shades. This’ll be the second time I’ve returned a pair! I gave them another chance because the see-through model looks fantastic... I’d use them almost every day if I could ditch these dealbreakers.
The OhSnap Snap 4 is thinner than a camera bump, yet there’s so many more ways to use it than a PopSocket. While the earlier Snap 3 broke on my colleague Victoria, this new model is holding up great for us both. Plus, Best Buy’s got it for $27.99 right now. Watch my video for caveats, though!
Note: If you buy something from these links, we might get affiliate revenue.
Was it too good to be true? Perhaps if you’re a pro — but when I slapped Anker’s $35 MagSafe gadget to the back of an iPhone 15 Pro and shot in ProRes Log, I did get several consecutive minutes of usable 4K60 footage.
For most of us, it’s just a fast SD reader that makes for an awkward grip on the phone.
I already showed you my hands-off photos, but here’s some video of Sony’s PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection and normal PS5 Pro too. You’ll see two different PS5 Pros in here, plus a throwback grey PlayStation Portal, DualSense, DualSense Edge, and PS5 Slim. No retro USB-C cable though; I asked!
Nothing’s $200 CMF Phone 1 only shipped with swappable cases and a stand to start, but this Bambu Lab contest inspired makers to put all kinds of awesome 3D printed contraptions on the back of the phone.
Maybe we don’t need Project Ara — just user-replaceable batteries (pretty please) and some user-facing screws!
We wrote about it in July, but the 45Wh, 45W battery is here in all its Super Famicom glory (find a photo next to a mini Super Famicom in my gallery).
For the early-bird price of $40, I like it, but wish they’d fit charging prongs... or magnets... or done a little more with the screen... or avoided dipping to 5V when you use both ports.
There’s never been a cheaper, easier-to-use DJI drone than the $200 Neo for self-flying selfies.
But I’m so torn. The foldable $350 HoverAir X1 seems better for my social video needs. It filmed my opening shot below! But I love soaring with FPV goggles, which Hover can’t do. Maybe I’ll wait and see if DJI sells a budget FPV bundle.