Deals | The VergeThe Verge is about technology and how it makes us feel. Founded in 2011, we offer our audience everything from breaking news to reviews to award-winning features and investigations, on our site, in video, and in podcasts.2026-04-22T17:58:23+00:00https://www.theverge.com/rss/good-deals/index.xmlhttps://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/verge-rss-large_80b47e.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1Sheena Vasani<![CDATA[Ember’s self-heating smart mug is more than $50 off ahead of Mother’s Day]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9168182026-04-22T13:58:23-04:002026-04-22T13:58:23-04:00
The Mug 2 can keep coffee, tea, cocoa, and other drinks warm for as long as you’d like. | Image: Ember
Coffee is what gets many of us through the workday, and a proper smart mug can keep it hot for hours so you can maintain your focus without constantly getting up to reheat your cup. Thankfully, if you don’t own one, the 14-ounce Ember Mug 2 is now available for $97.49 ($52 off) from Amazon, Target, and Ember as part of Ember’s ongoing Mother’s Day sale. You can also buy the smaller 10-ounce model for $84.47 ($46 off) from the same retailers (Amazon, Target, Ember).
Using the Ember app, the Mug 2 lets you set an exact drinking temperature between 120 and 145 degrees Fahrenheit, which it can maintain for up to 90 minutes or all day using the included charging coaster. You don’t have to worry about the battery draining unnecessarily, either, thanks to an automatic sleep function, which powers down the smart mug when it’s empty or hasn’t been used for several hours.
The smart mug offers a fair amount of control beyond that, too. Within the Android / iOS app, you can also create and save preset temperatures for different beverages and set up notifications for when your drink reaches your preferred temperature. Meanwhile, a customizable LED indicator on the coaster lets you quickly check heating and battery status at a glance.
As a bonus, the Ember Mug 2 is also relatively easy to care for. It features a scratch-resistant coating to help prevent wear over time and carries an IPX7 water-resistance rating, so it can be safely hand-washed (just don’t put it in the dishwasher).
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Cameron Faulkner<![CDATA[Sony’s PlayStation 5 is $200 off for the first time since December]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9166102026-04-22T10:47:21-04:002026-04-22T10:38:51-04:00
When the price increases for PlayStation 5 consoles went into effect on April 2nd, we weren’t sure when the next time a good discount would happen. Surely, not for at least a couple months, right? Well, now just a few weeks later, Sony’s direct-to-consumer site is offering the slim PS5 console with no disc drive for $399. That’s a whopping $200 less than it costs at other retailers. It wasn’t uncommon to see this price in late 2025, but it’s rare these days.
The particular bundle that’s discounted is just like other slim digital PlayStation 5 consoles. You’ll get a PS5, a DualSense controller, a power cord, and an HDMI cord (the vertical stand is sold separately). However, it also includes some Fortnite cosmetics that you can redeem in the free-to-play third-person shooter. As mentioned earlier, the digital-only console doesn’t include a disc drive, but an add-on can be purchased for $79.99 and attached to it for playing discs, be it a game or a 4K Blu-ray.
Some other great Verge-approved deals
The Fitbit Charge 6 is a well-rounded fitness tracker that we continue to recommend despite it launching in late 2023. It’s full of features, including robust health tracking and gym equipment integration (a first for a Fitbit), along with a slick design that has a colorful screen and a haptic-based side button that’s satisfying to click. If you’re considering a new wearable, it won’t cost you a ton now at Wellbots. The retailer is offering Verge readers a discount that drops the Charge 6 to $109.95 (usually $159.95) with the code VERGECHARGE50. Read our full review of the Fitbit Charge 6.
In the mix with Sony’s other InZone announcements last week, which included an open-back gaming headset and a 540Hz OLED monitor, it debuted a new transparent purple variant of its excellent InZone Buds wireless gaming earbuds. Those launched for $239.99, but you can already find them discounted to $178 at Amazon (or $179.99 at Best Buy), the lowest price so far this year. They’re currently a better value than the closest competitor, the SteelSeries Arctis Buds, which are $199.99. Both offer active noise cancellation, as well as compatibility with PC, mobile, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch (among other platforms). However, the Arctis Buds’ case supports wireless charging while Sony’s doesn’t.
Last for today, there’s an interesting deal happening on the LTE version of Google’s Pixel Watch 4, which offers more features and apps than the aforementioned Fitbit Charge 6. The 41mm and 45mm sizes are the same price — $389.99 at Amazon — and include two years of data at no extra charge for texting and other use cases via Google Fi (but not voice calls over LTE). These watches originally sold for $449.99 and $499.99, respectively, so this is a good value if you want to take the smartwatch on-the-go and leave your phone at home.
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Sheena Vasani<![CDATA[Twelve South’s magnetic PowerBug charger is down to just $35]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9159782026-04-21T13:36:49-04:002026-04-21T13:30:00-04:00
Twelve South’s PowerBug supports Apple’s Standby mode, which allows you to turn your phone into an ad hoc smart display. | Image: Twelve South
If you’re tired of dealing with a cluttered desk or nightstand, the Twelve South PowerBugcuts down on cables by plugging directly into the wall and handling multiple devices at once. And right now, it’s down to a new low price, starting at $35.05 ($15 off) at Amazon.
All you need to do is plug it in, and it turns any wall outlet into a charger that can power two devices at once, without the clutter of loose cables and bulky wall chargers. The 15W Qi2 pad wirelessly charges MagSafe-compatible iPhones and other Qi2 devices, while a 35W USB-C Power Delivery port underneath simultaneously handles a second gadget. That means you can stick it next to your bed and charge your phone overnight while topping up your AirPods, or use it at your desk to keep your phone in view while your tablet charges underneath.
Aside from charging, it also doubles as a phone stand with support for Apple’s StandBy mode, letting you use your iPhone to display the time or upcoming calendar events at a glance. Because it holds your phone in place, it’s also convenient for hands-free FaceTime calls, keeping an eye on notifications, or following along with a workout or recipe without having to hold it.
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Brandon Widder<![CDATA[Dyson’s newest floor scrubber is already on sale for 20 percent off]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9151372026-04-21T12:10:39-04:002026-04-21T12:09:00-04:00
Unlike most Dyson models, its latest hard floor cleaner doesn’t rely on suction. Instead, it uses hydration and a four-speed motorized brush bar — along with nylon bristles — to agitate tough stains and pet hair, allowing you to remove both without clogging the machine with gunk. An anti-tangle comb helps prevent unwanted wrapping, while the self-cleaning roller is continuously fed fresh water as you maneuver around your home. The added benefit of its lack of suction is that, theoretically, it should hold up better in the long term, as most vacuums see their performance decline after five years or so due to wear and tear.
Additionally, the Clean+Wash Hygiene comes with a hot-air drying dock that charges the cleaner and flushes the microfiber roller after each cycle, helping reduce bacterial growth and odors. It should last up to 45 minutes on a single charge — though we have yet to confirm the exact runtime — and the water tank is large enough to clean 3,767 square feet of floor before needing to be emptied. Thankfully, the latter isn’t all that difficult, given that it can be done in a single action in 20 seconds or so. Just don’t expect disposal to be as odorless as the dock itself, even if the water and debris are automatically separated.
More ways to save today
If you’re a Pixel phone owner hellbent on using Google gear, the company’s 45W USB-C Power Charger is on sale at Amazon for $17.99 ($12 off), nearly matching its best price to date. I wouldn’t normally recommend it given that companies like Anker often sell competing wall adapters for far less (ahem), though, at this price, Google’s first-party offering is a lot easier to sign off on.
Now through April 29th, Nintendo is running a Spotlight Sale in the My Nintendo Shop, allowing you to save on a host of Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 games. There’s quite a bit on offer — from cel-shaded puzzlers to Bethesda classics that refuse to die — but Hades II ($23.99$29.99) is probably the standout. I only recently started pouring time into the Greek-y roguelike, which, so far, is just as enthralling as the original. I probably should have taken our own Jay Peter’s word for it when he said as much in September.
TCL’s midrange Tab A1 Plus is on sale at Amazon for $229.99 ($70 off) through April 27th, which remains the best price we’ve seen on the Android tablet to date. The newer, 12.2-inch slate features a 2.4K display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a four-speaker sound array, and all-day battery life. It also features a host of Google Gemini-powered features (including Circle to Search) and a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor, which, while certainly not the fastest chipset available, should be enough to power most everyday tasks.
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Sheena Vasani<![CDATA[You can grab a Sonos Era 100 for $85 off thanks to Sonos’ latest refurb sale]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9149002026-04-20T14:05:33-04:002026-04-20T14:05:33-04:00
The new Sonos Era 100 SL keeps costs down by dropping the mics, but if you’d rather keep hands-free voice controls, picking up a refurbished, non-SL model is the way to go. Thankfully, Sonos is taking up to 25 percent off a range of refurbished gear through April 24th, dropping the price of the Sonos Era 100 to $134 with a one-year warranty. That’s $85 cheaper than buying a new model, and still $55 less than the mic-less SL. If you want bigger, more immersive sound, the Era 300 is also available for $329, which is $150 less than buying it new.
Equipped with dual tweeters and a larger midwoofer, Sonos’ midrange smart speaker produces rich, detailed sound that handles bass surprisingly well. It also supports Bluetooth and line-in audio via an optional USB-C adapter, so you can connect external sources such as turntables. You can also use the Era 100 as a reliable assistant, thanks to built-in mics that let you play music, adjust the volume, and perform other hands-free actions via Amazon Alexa or Sonos Voice Control (there’s also a switch on the back to disable the mics entirely).
Like other Sonos speakers, the Era 100 also integrates well with the broader Sonos ecosystem. You can pair two Era 100s for stereo sound, or pair them with a Sonos soundbar. It also supports Apple’s AirPlay 2 and Sonos’ Trueplay tuning, which optimizes sound based on your space.
The Era 300, meanwhile, offers many of the same features — including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and line-in support — but is a larger, more powerful speaker designed for spatial audio. It delivers more robust sound than the Era 100 thanks to its six drivers and support for Dolby Atmos, making it a better choice if you want a more immersive listening experience, especially in larger rooms or as part of a home theater setup.
Anker’s latest Nano Charger is available from Amazon and Anker (with promo code WS7DV2W3RHK1) for $27.99 ($12 off), its best price to date. The compact charger delivers up to 45W of power and can intelligently adjust charging speeds for iPhone 15-series phones and newer, as well as more recent iPad models. It also features a built-in smart display that shows charging status, power output, and the temperature of the device you’re charging.
Amazon is currently throwing in a $50 gift card when you buy the 128GB Galaxy A37 5G starting at $449.99. Samsung’s new budget phone covers the basics well, with an OLED display, an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, a speedy Exynos 1480 chipset, and fast 45W wired charging (alas, there’s no wireless charging). It also stands out for its long-term support, which includes six years of Android OS upgrades and six years of security updates.
You can buy Lego’s Retro Camera at Amazon, Target, and Walmart for $15.99 ($4 off), which is its best price so far this year. The 261-piece set lets you build a retro-inspired camera, a video camera, or a TV. Each build includes fun details, like a moving lens on the camera, an opening flap on the camcorder, and an antenna on the TV. It also comes with stickers, and once built, each can be displayed on a shelf or desk.
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Brandon Widder<![CDATA[Nothing’s modular CMF Headphone Pro are down to their lowest price to date]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9139892026-04-19T10:21:23-04:002026-04-19T10:30:00-04:00
Over the past several years, Nothing’s budget-centric subsidiary, CMF, has built a reputation for producing attractive, inexpensive products with features often reserved for gadgets that cost twice the price. The CMF Headphone Pro — the company’s first pair of over-ear wireless headphones — fit precisely in that lane, especially now that they’re on sale at Amazon in both light gray and a subtle green shade for an all-time low of $69 ($30 off).
Although the Headphone Pro eschew the retro-transparent design found on Nothing wares like the Headphone 1, I wouldn’t necessarily say that’s a bad thing given the polarizing, squared-off design of the latter. Instead, the Pro go all in on the curves, with circular earcups, cushions, and a plush headband. You can also add an additional pop of color with CMF’s $25 interchangeable cushions, which, as of now, are available in either orange or the aforementioned green hue.
Unlike many premium pairs of noise-canceling headphones, the Pro ditch touch-capacitive controls for physical buttons — a plus, as far as I’m concerned — allowing you to control playback, adjust the volume, and tweak a range of other settings using a customizable action button and a multi-function roller. Nothing also includes something called an Energy Slider, so you can adjust the treble and bass balance on the fly without digging into Nothing’s app to make EQ adjustments.
The biggest draw of the Headphone Pro, aside from their adaptive ANC, is that they offer a whopping 100 hours of battery life per charge, ensuring you can travel just about anywhere without having to top them off. That number drops to 50 hours with active noise cancellation enabled; however, that’s still 10 hours more than what you’d get with a higher-end pair like Sony’s WH-1000XM6 and 20 hours more than the latest Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. The fact that they support Google Fast Pair and the higher-quality LDAC codec is just a plus.
Other alternatives to consider
Beats Solo 4
With lossless USB-C audio, 50 hours of battery life, Find My support, spatial audio, and comfy ear cups, the Beats Solo 4 offer significant quality-of-life improvements over their predecessors. They still deliver that bass-rich Beats sound, too. Read our review.
The Sony WH-CH520 offer a lot for very little. The on-ear Bluetooth headphones provide 50 hours of battery life and support hands-free voice assistants, including Google Assistant and Siri. They also offer multipoint Bluetooth support and can tap into Google’s Find Hub network.
So, as we did last year, we asked The Verge staff to share some of their favorite gadgets under $50. These are the gizmos that don’t fall apart after a few weeks, as cheap stuff often does, and quietly improve our lives. Some are practical purchases, like portable power banks and backup bulbs, while the rest are useful in other ways. After all, who doesn’t want a dirt-cheap Bluetooth speaker, a feature-packed pair of earbuds, or a fitness tracker that punches well above its weight?
If you’re curious, you can check out our favorites below.
This keychain thingy costs less than seven bucks, is about the size of an actual key, and clips onto your keyring with a built-in carabiner latch. It’s perfectly suited for opening boxes, popping bottlecaps, or tightening a screw or a bolt in a pinch. While it’s not as good as a dedicated tool — or even a larger multitool like a Leatherman — at any of those things, I’m also way more likely to have it on me when I need it. — Nathan Edwards, senior reviews editor
When it comes to earbuds, my daily drivers are a pair of AirPods Pro 3. However, given how often I find myself sitting in my car due to my extracurriculars (I volunteer with search and rescue), I decided to pick up a pair of Nothing’s CMF Buds 2A as a backup for my bag. The budget earbuds are often on sale for a tenth of what the Pro 3 cost, and while they certainly can’t compete with Apple’s high-end earbuds, their pack-in features and overall performance make them a terrific value.
For $49, you get decent sound and customizable touch controls, along with up to eight hours of playback on a single charge (or up to 35.5 hours with the included USB-C charging case). They also support Google’s Fast Pair feature, carry an IP54 rating for water and dust resistance, and offer a touch of active noise cancellation. They’re not going to drown out sharper sounds or all subway chatter — you only get about 42 decibels of noise reduction — but it’s a hell of a lot better than going it alone. — Brandon Widder, senior commerce editor
Want a more secure grip on your phone? You can find countless rings that magnetically snap onto your phone, then physically slip onto your finger. But the Syncwire AirGrip is better than that — it’s got magnets on both sides of the ring, so it can snap your device to any ferrous metal surface: your car mount, your fridge, your filing cabinet, you name it. Depending on which design you buy, I’ve found it has the right amount of magnet strength for these tasks, and while you can’t wirelessly charge through it like its OhSnap competition, it also costs much less. The best part might be the built-in ratchet, though: you can securely spin the inner ring 360 degrees while it makes an incredibly satisfying clicking sound. — Sean Hollister, senior editor
Before I moved closer to the coast, I relied on Vornado fans to survive inland Southern Californian summers, where temperatures regularly push past 100 degrees for much of the summer and early fall. I’ve used them through intense heat waves, buying multiple when my AC stopped working entirely for a week, and they’ve never let me down. The Vornado 133 is one of the smaller models I own, but it’s still impressively powerful. It’s ideal for placing on a desk or a nightstand when you need a strong, focused blast of cool air during those ridiculously hot days when a fan across the room just isn’t enough. — Sheena Vasani, commerce writer
If you’re searching for a thin, magnetic wireless power bank that’s among the fastest out there (both in terms of wireless and wired output), Iniu’s P781 Magnetic Portable Charger is worth $49.99. It can deliver up to 25W wireless charging to iPhone 16 and newer phones, as well as the Pixel 10 Pro XL. What’s more, its braided USB-C cable — which doubles as a lanyard — supports up to 45W, and it can simultaneously charge devices both wired and wirelessly with the press of a button. There are a number of similar wireless power banks out there, but this one delivers good specs at a more digestible price point. —Cameron Faulkner, commerce editor
There are many better-sounding Bluetooth speakers on the market that also offer upgraded features, from dedicated woofers and tweeters to waterproofing, stereo pairing, and even solar-powered charging. What Ikea’s wireless Kallsup speaker has going for it is a simple design, bright colors, and a $10 price tag. The Verge‘s John Higgins preferred the sound from the Kallsup over the “thin-sounding built-in speakers” in his MacBook Air, and if you need to crank the volume, you can pair up to 100 of them together to better fill a room with sound. — Andrew Liszewski, senior reporter
The beauty of a cheap knife is that I never fear using it for dirty jobs — like cutting through the endless strips of box tape and cardboard boxes that wind their way to my door. But my favorite knives are lightweight and effortless to open and close one-handed, and cheap utility knives usually aren’t!
That’s why I love my dirt-cheap Workpro EDC: one push of the side-mounted button, and I can flick it into or out of action. It takes standard utility knife blades, and one pull of a spring-loaded plate lets you swap for a new razor-sharp blade after the old one gums up. (I don’t want to dull my SOG Ultra C-Ti or A.G. Russell FeatherLite’s Japanese steel on all that cardboard!) You can make the Workpro even easier to open if you replace the money clip with a small washer or two: just push the button and let gravity do the rest.
Just know the push button isn’t easily reversible for left-handers, since its spring is held in by a rivet. I also haven’t tried the newer version with a thicker comfort handle; let me know if that one’s even better? —Sean Hollister, senior editor
Given that our own Sean Hollister recently did a deep dive into Zepath’s rechargeable lithium-ion AAs, I won’t wax poetic here. What I will say is that I actually prefer Zepath’s option over more traditional integrated USB-C batteries, which I’ve always found to become somewhat finicky to charge over time. When you need to top them off, Zepath’s 1.5V batteries easily slot into the included clamshell charger, a la a pair of wireless earbuds, letting you charge up to eight batteries at once with a single connection. I wouldn’t necessarily want to take the case with me on the go — it’s bulkier than a multi-headed USB-C cable — but I’m perfectly content with it sitting on my laundry room shelf alongside the rest of my tools. — Brandon Widder, senior commerce editor
For several years, I kept losing the power cable for our baby monitor behind a shelf whenever I unplugged it, which meant I had to fish for it before plugging it back in. The same thing happened every day. I knew that cord wrangling devices existed, but I was wary about sticking an adhesive-backed gizmo to my furniture. I eventually got a couple of eight-packs of Lamicall’s magnetic-clasping cord catchers, which were under $10 a pop, and I haven’t looked back. Now, my cords don’t fall, and I don’t have to bend over as much. I’m extremely late to the party here, but you don’t have to be. — Cameron Faulkner, commerce editor
I’ll be the first to admit I buy more flashlights than I’ll ever need, and the problem has only gotten worse as flashlight makers pack more features into smaller designs. The most recent addition to my stockpile, the Wuben G5, squeezes a lot of functionality into a Zippo-sized flashlight that’s just $25. It’s got a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 65 hours at the lowest setting, or the G5 can be maxed out at up to 400 lumens using a wheel to dial in an exact brightness. Its lamp rotates 180-degrees, there’s an adjustable clip and a magnetic base for hands-free use, and a second LED that cycles through or flashes multiple colors. —Andrew Liszewski, senior reporter
I picked up the Amazfit Band 7 after my colleague Victoria Song recommended it as a budget fitness tracker back in 2023, and it has lasted me far longer than I expected. I’ve mostly used it for basics like tracking steps, heart rate, and sleep quality, but it offers far more than that. It can alert you to abnormal heart rates, integrates with Amazon Alexa, tracks your menstrual cycles, includes a random Pomodoro timer, and features a colorful OLED display with some genuinely cute watch faces.
The only real downside is the strap, which started to feel flimsy after a few months and eventually fell off after a year and a half of use. The good news is that it’s easy and relatively cheap to replace. Still, for something that held up for a couple of years and still works to this day, it’s hard to complain. I eventually upgraded to a Fitbit Charge 6 after getting one as a birthday gift last year, but I still have the Amazfit Band 7 lying around as a backup. — Sheena Vasani, commerce writer
Do you have Game Boy cartridges (and savegames) from childhood like me? Either way, the GB Operator has become one of my favorite gadgets for connecting those carts to a Windows PC, a Mac, or even a Linux machine like my Steam Deck. You can play carts “directly” on those computers (it’ll technically dump the ROMs first), back up old battery-backed Pokémon save games before the battery dies (except most Gold, Silver, and Crystal carts whose batteries infamously died too soon), and rip games so you can use them in emulators on your PC or other handhelds. You can even transfer savegames back to your genuine cartridges and pick up where you left off on original hardware.
It supports Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance carts, up to and including things like the Game Boy Camera, which you can even turn into a PC webcam using an OBS screen capture trick. —Sean Hollister, senior editor
Power outages have started happening frequently enough in my neighborhood for me to start seriously looking into a whole home backup power solution. Until I choose one and sign a big check, Globe’s 800-lumen LED light bulbs have at least been a useful way to avoid stubbing my toe when the power goes out. They’re slightly more expensive than a basic LED bulb at $35 for six, but they feature built-in backup batteries that recharge whenever a lamp or light socket is turned on. When the power goes bye-bye, the bulbs automatically turn on and will glow for up to 10 hours straight. They also work without being screwed into a socket and can be attached to the included handles so you can carry them around like a flashlight. —Andrew Liszewski, senior reporter
We’ve got this power outlet near our fridge that has just one spare outlet for a USB-C wall adapter to charge our laptops and iPad. Now, I could get a speedy, new adapter that has multiple USB-C ports so I can charge them all at once. Or you could do as I did: buy Anker’s affordable 2-in-1 USB-C cable that can charge two devices at once. The six-foot cable costs $19.99 (sometimes less) and is capped at 140W of peak passthrough charging speeds with the right wall adapter. It can automatically divvy up the power from your adapter or battery to deliver the optimal amount of juice to your devices, too, making it the perfect cable for overnight charging. —Cameron Faulkner, commerce editor
I keep thinking a new notebook would fix me. It hasn’t worked yet, but I still really like this one. Like other Mnemosyne notebooks, it has really nice paper that’s great for my intermittent fountain pen experimentation because there’s very little feathering and less bleedthrough than, say, a Leichtturm or Moleskine. It’s meant as a bullet journal, and it has all the features you’d want there: a four-page index at the front, page numbers, multiple bookmarks, and dot grid markings with guide marks so you can easily divide pages by thirds or quarters, horizontally or vertically. It also just looks good. — Nathan Edwards, senior reviews editor
If you play a lot of games on the Nintendo Switch 2 or Steam Deck, you’re likely all too aware of how long it can take to download titles over Wi-Fi. Like “I need to find another activity to keep myself busy” long. Luckily, there’s another way if you don’t mind welcoming another dongle into your life. Ugreen’s ethernet to USB-C adapters (which usually retail for less than $15) connect to an ethernet cable, then plug it directly into your handheld to get the fastest-possible download speeds. I’ve had what would have been 30-minute wireless downloads take around two minutes when wired up with this dongle. —Cameron Faulkner, commerce editor
I originally bought the Glocusent Rechargeable LED Neck Reading Light for my mom, whose eyesight isn’t great and lives with me in a very dim apartment. She only used it a couple of times while reading and attempting to knit before abandoning it, so I picked it up, and now it’s like my go-to hands-free flashlight. I like that it offers both warm and cool lighting, and while it’s great for nighttime reading, I’ve also found it useful during power outages, walking down the dark hallway to the bathroom at night, while traveling, or really just anytime I need a little extra light. — Sheena Vasani, commerce writer
For $35, you can turn your smartphone into a Game Boy-like handheld so you can play retro titles without the frustrations of finicky touchscreen controls. GameSir’s Pocket Taco is a wireless Bluetooth controller, but instead of functioning as a standalone gamepad, it clamps onto the bottom of your phone, adding a physical D-pad and action buttons to the bottom half of the screen. The lack of thumbsticks makes it better suited for playing games on older consoles predating the PS1. It also has its own battery, so while it is another accessory you’ll need to remember to charge, it won’t drain your phone’s battery while you play. — Andrew Liszewski, senior reporter
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Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[Dyson’s handheld fan is more powerful and louder than I expected]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9089622026-04-18T11:34:47-04:002026-04-18T09:00:00-04:00
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 have been comfortable powering it up during the service or reception. The HushJet Mini Cool is as slim and sleek as Dyson’s recent thin vacuum and hair dryer, but it’s not quiet enough to earn the name “Hush.”
That’s unfortunate because the HushJet Mini Cool is yet another product Dyson has redesigned to look and perform better than what’s already on the market. All of its components — including the motor, 5,000mAh rechargeable battery, and spinning blades — are safely contained inside a cylindrical body 38mm in diameter that’s easy to slip into a pocket. Many handheld fans use flexible or folding blades that are left exposed and not ideal for kids, or they stuff the moving parts into a bulbous section on top that limits pocketability.
At 208 grams the HushJet Mini Cool is about the same weight as an iPhone 17 Pro, so it’s not a terrible burden to schlep around when temperatures soar, and it’s incredibly easy to use. A toggle switch turns the fan on and off, while a rocker button lets you step up and down through five different fan speeds indicated by a strip of five small white LEDs. There’s also an even stronger Boost Mode that’s only activated while you’re holding down the “plus” side of that rocker button.
The only learning curve was remembering to grip the fan above the vent that wraps around its base so as not to block the airflow. Some added texture on the outside of the HushJet Mini Cool to naturally guide where your hand should grip it would be welcome.
Dyson claims up to six hours of battery life at the fan’s lowest setting, but at its highest speed (not Boost Mode) it died after 62 minutes. I was still impressed, because I didn’t expect the fan to last that long at full power. The remaining battery life is displayed using the fan’s five white LEDs, but only when it’s turned off. Being able to track how fast the battery level drops with the fan running would be a useful way to estimate how much cooling time you have left.
The HushJet Mini Cool is bottom-heavy and can be used as a self-standing fan, and Dyson includes an accessory to widen the base and improve its stability. It helps, but it’s also an accessory that’s easy to lose. And while you can power the fan indefinitely by connecting it to a power source over USB-C, you’re limited to the lowest speed setting. At that setting you’ll need to stay within about 5 feet of the fan to feel anything.
Dyson’s marketing for the fan, including the HushJet branding, emphasizes how it’s engineered to be quiet. “Dyson’s obsession with acoustics means tonal comfort: with the HushJet nozzle, we’ve lowered frequencies, eliminated high-pitched whirring, and silenced the sound of whining motors,” the company said in a press release. But it was definitely not as quiet as I expected it to be.
It doesn’t get anywhere near as loud as Dyson’s cordless vacuums or hair dryers, but the HushJet Mini Cool isn’t whisper-quiet, even at its lowest setting. The handheld fan also has a similar high-pitched whine as those other Dyson devices, despite its tiny electric motor spinning at less than half the speed of theirs.
For the past year my family has been using Nitecore’s izzCool 10 Pro fan to beat the heat whenever AC isn’t available. Its design makes it harder to slip into a pocket, and at full power its blast is nowhere near as strong as Dyson’s — even at half power. While both fans were similarly loud at their lowest settings (measured using the NIOSH Sound Level Meter app on my iPhone), Dyson’s was well over 10 decibels louder at full power. That’s not surprising given Dyson’s fan far outperforms Nitecore’s, but the sound of the HushJet Mini Cool was generally far more noticeable, since it produced noise at higher frequencies.
At a noisy outdoor music festival, crowded carnival, or bustling state fair I can see myself comfortably pushing the fan’s speed to its third or fourth speed setting without worrying about getting too many annoyed looks. But in quieter settings, like that stifling-hot outdoor wedding I attended, I would be hesitant to fire up the HushJet Mini Cool. At least until the wedding DJ took over.
Compact electric air dusters like the Wolfbox MF100 are stronger and cheaper than the HushJet Mini Cool, but they’re typically much louder because they’re designed to be pointed at keyboards covered in Doritos crumbs, while fans are designed to be pointed at your head. Dyson’s HushJet Mini Cool is better at balancing size, performance, and battery life. If used nonstop it can last half a day at an amusement park. You can definitely find a quieter alternative, but I doubt you’ll find a more powerful one this size.
Photography by Andrew Liszewski / The Verge
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Sheena Vasani<![CDATA[The AirPods Pro 3 are $50 off right now, nearly matching their best-ever price]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9138572026-04-17T12:18:59-04:002026-04-17T11:07:50-04:00
The latest AirPods Pro $50 off at multiple retailers, which is their second-best price to date.
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 Best Buy, with Amazon and Walmart matching said price. That’s their second-best price to date and just $15 shy of their all-time low.
The AirPods Pro are Apple’s high-end wireless earbuds, and as such, they offer the best sound quality and most effective active noise cancellation you can get in a pair of earbuds. They’re also more versatile than prior models, thanks to a built-in heart rate sensor that works with Apple’s Fitness app to monitor calories burned across more than 50 workout types. You also get access to a number of more advanced features courtesy of Apple’s newer H2 chip, including real-time translation and conversation awareness, which automatically lowers the volume when you start speaking to someone nearby. You can even use your AirPods as a camera remote, letting you snap photos or start recording video on your iPhone with the press of a stem.
In addition, the third-gen AirPods Pro come with a fifth ear tip size (XXS) and an IP57 rating for sweat and water resistance, making them a better fit for a wider range of users and improving durability. Their angled design helps them fit more securely in your ear, too, while subtle improvements in battery life let them last up to eight hours with active noise cancellation enabled. Unsurprisingly, they also offer clear call quality and integrate well with the rest of the Apple ecosystem, so you can easily switch between your phone and Mac or easily track your earbuds using their Find My-compatible charging case.
Blink’s latest Video Doorbell is on sale at Amazon with a Blink Outdoor 4 camera and a Sync Module Core for an all-time low of $43.99 ($96 off), which means you’re basically getting the outdoor cam for free. Both cameras capture 1080p video and support motion alerts, two-way audio, and Amazon Alexa; however, the battery-powered buzzer is meant for monitoring your front door, while the weather-resistant Outdoor 4 gives you a bit more flexibility for keeping tabs on other areas outside your home.
Now through Sunday, April 19th, Verge readers can use promo code 15VERGEVAC at Wellbots to grab a Dreame X40 Ultra for $458.15 ($192 off), which is a new low for what was once our favorite robot vacuum / mop for hard floors and carpets. While it’s not as powerful as the newer X50 Ultra and lacks its motorized swing arm, the X40’s dual oscillating mop pads still do a great job of scrubbing floors. It can also empty its own dustbin, refill its own water tank, clean the base, and wash and dry its own mop pads.
Okay, this isn’t technically a deal, but if you’re looking to save on the Meta Quest 3S or Quest 3, now might be a good time to buy. Starting April 19th, Meta is raising prices by $50 for the Quest 3S and $100 for the Quest 3. For now, though, you can still pick up the 128GB Quest 3S for about $299.95 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, and the 512GB Quest 3 starting at about $499 (Amazon, Best Buy, and Target). Both VR headsets can play the same games, though the Quest 3 offers better display resolution and optics quality.
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Sheena Vasani<![CDATA[Ozlo’s comfy Sleepbuds are nearly 30 percent off in the run-up to Mother’s Day]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9133522026-04-16T14:10:53-04:002026-04-16T15:00:00-04:00
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 storefront, which is easily the lowest price we’ve seen.
Made by former Bose engineers, Ozlo’s Sleepbuds are extremely similar to Bose’s discontinued Sleepbuds. They work well as a white noise machine and helped our reviewer, Victoria Song, get better sleep during her testing. The biggest upgrade over the Bose Sleepbuds II is that you’re no longer limited to a small library of white noise sounds. The Ozlo buds let you play your own audio, then switch back to white noise once you’ve fallen asleep. In our experience, that feature is a bit hit-or-miss, but when it does work, it’s helpful. In November, Ozlo added a host of sleep tracking features to both the earbuds and their charging case as part of a beta, allowing you to track your sleeping habits and the factors that might disrupt your cycle (we’ve yet to test them).
Otherwise, the Ozlo Sleepbuds are largely similar to the last-gen Bose. They’re lightweight, comfortable for side sleepers, and stay put overnight. Battery life still lasts up to 10 hours, which is enough for a full night, and you can set private alarms that won’t disturb anybody else. They’re not quite as advanced as Soundcore’s newer Sleep A30 earbuds — which offer active noise cancellation and an adaptive snore masking feature — but if you just want a comfortable pair of earbuds built specifically to help you sleep, they do the job quite nicely.
