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Hands-on

This smart home controller is literally a piece of wood

Mui’s long-gestating calm-tech board finally ships — and it’s a thoughtful, if very expensive, alternative to screens.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
These AA batteries charge over USB-C and genuinely impressed me.

What if you could charge double-As with the same cord as your phone? That’s a thing, and these 1.5V lithium-ion Zepath batteries are surprisingly good! Don’t throw away your Eneloops yet, as NiMH is likely safer and can last longer in low-current applications. But these last way longer in my modded GBA.

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Slab is the first MIDI controller built exclusively for Serato Studio

The sample-focused DAW gets an MPC-like hands-on interface.

Terrence O'Brien
A first look at Google’s Project Aura glasses built with Xreal

It’s kinda like a pair of chunky sunglasses that runs Android apps.

Victoria Song
Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
My friend who’s never flown a drone had a blast with the Antigravity A1.

I don’t have a full review of this awesome drone today, but I can’t get over how easy it is to fly (once you power everything on)! I’ve updated my story with some pros, cons, a few key specs, pricing and price comparisons, and impressions from other reviewers now that the embargo has lifted.

Photo by Sean Hollister / The Verge
BMW iX3 first drive: a ‘New Class’ is in session

BMW’s latest electric crossover SUV is about to put the rest of the segment to shame.

Tim Stevens
Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
Today I’m toying with the OhSnap MCON.

The viral sliding gamepad designed by a 19-year-old is nearly here — with big differences from last year! Satisfying snap, nice controls, pairs with lots of devices including Switch 2. But it’s $150, and thick. I also had slightly peeling magnets, but Ohsnap says that’s fixed for mass production.

Wooting’s 60HE v2 is a solid upgrade to the best gaming keyboard

Wooting has done a great job improving the sound and feel of its popular keyboard.

Tom Warren
Rivian’s software-powered e-bike won me over with its adaptability

I tend to like my e-bikes simple and uncomplicated — the Also TM-B is anything but.

Andrew J. Hawkins
Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
Steam Frame vs. Meta Quest 3.

I brought our Quest 3 to Valve’s offices just in case we’d be seeing the Steam Frame, formerly known as Deckard — and it paid off! I didn’t have time to directly compare optics, but I’d say comfort is superior. It’s noticeably smaller, with controllers that are bigger.

Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
Up close with the Steam Machine and Steam Controller.

Since people seem interested on our social media channels: Valve really does have a giant valve at HQ! A huge red wheel that spins in place on a huge screw, anyhow. It’s fun to throw, heavy, lots of inertia keeps it spinning. No word on what happens if you let the Steam out.

Our first look at the Steam Machine, Valve’s ambitious new game console

Can Valve’s tiny box take on Microsoft and Sony?

Sean Hollister
The Steam Frame is a surprising new twist on VR

This is what Valve’s new headset is all about.

Jay Peters
5 things I love about Amazon’s new Echo Shows — and 3 things I don’t

Amazon’s Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 launch this week, here are my first impressions

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
I let Gemini watch my family for the weekend — it got weird

Google’s Nest cams now use AI to tell you what they see, not just show you. Only sometimes it tells me about things that aren’t there.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
I had a bad weekend with Xbox Full Screen Experience preview on MSI Claw — but I’ll need to retest.

Correction: I originally wrote there was no way to bring up the task switcher on Claw — the best part of FSE — but that’s because MSI Center claimed I was on the latest BIOS when I wasn’t! With BIOS 10F, I can long-press Quick Settings to task-switch. Because that BIOS may have fixed other things too, I also need to re-test sleep (which wasn’t working for me).

Say it with me: Windows is the problem with Windows handhelds

The Xbox Ally is better with Bazzite.

Sean Hollister
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a gorgeous remake that debuts on PS5 and Xbox in 2026

Halo Studios has rebuilt Combat Evolved for a new generation of players.

Tom Warren
Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
I bought Hallmark’s light-and-sound Xbox 360 Christmas ornament and here it is.

That was fast! I slapped down my $29 the day we wrote about Hallmark’s new ornament and it’s already here. Watch when I press the power button — and see how it compares to my Sega Genesis one Hallmark released in 2022! There’s an NES, SNES and OG Xbox too.

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Samsung Galaxy XR hands-on: It’s like a cheaper Apple Vision Pro and launches today
Play

At $1,799 and with an impressive subscription bundle, Samsung is aggressively taking shots at the Vision Pro.

Victoria Song
Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
Does the gummy bear battery bank truly reign supreme?

When Liz wrote that an officially licensed Haribo gummy bear battery was taking over the ultralight backpacking world, I just knew I’d have to toy with it for you. What else am I supposed to do with my shiny new USB-C power meter, after all? Links: Haribo, Iniu, Nitecore.

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