Andrew Liszewski | 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.2026-06-17T15:34:29+00:00https://www.theverge.com/authors/andrew-liszewski-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-3/rsshttps://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/verge-rss-large_80b47e.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[SanDisk’s new PlayStation 5 SSD will cost you more than three PS5 Pros]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9515272026-06-17T11:34:29-04:002026-06-17T11:34:29-04:00
SanDisk has announced an expensive way to boost the PlayStation 5’s storage capacity. The company’s new Optimus GX PRO 850P NVMe SSD is an officially licensed PS5 accessory in capacities ranging from 1TB to 8TB. The largest option can store up to 200 PS5 games (based on average installation sizes) SanDisk claims, but thanks to the global memory shortage, it will cost you $2,959.99 when it’s eventually available through the company’s online store, discounted from $3,699.99.
Even after you take into account Sony’s recent console price hikes, you can buy three PS5 Pro consoles for the price of just one of these 8TB sticks. But the smaller capacities are similarly expensive. The 4TB version is $1,499.99 (discounted from $1,874.99), while the 2TB option is $759.99 (down from $949.99) — still $100 more expensive than the standard PS5.
The new SSD features an “optimized heatsink built specifically for the PS5 and PS5 Pro M.2 slot” and has been tested for both consoles so gamers can “store more and play more with confidence,” according to SanDisk. A Western Digital SSD (SanDisk’s parent brand) with similar specs to the new $3,000 option is currently available on Amazon for $1,470. And as VGC points out, according to the price comparison site PC Part Picker, that Western Digital SSD sold through retailers like Best Buy and Newegg for around $640 last year. When compared to this new SSD, that’s over a 360 percent price increase for the same capacity. So while AI is potentially making games worse, it’s also making them more expensive to play.
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Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[GuliKit’s new mobile Switch 2 dock lets you play with or without a TV]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9508272026-06-16T16:43:28-04:002026-06-17T09:00:00-04:00
The dock is much smaller and lighter than Nintendo’s, and cheaper than other mobile solutions. | Image: GuliKit
After teasing it on X last week, GuliKit announced a new version of its TV Docking Station today that now supports the Switch 2 as well as previous versions of the console, including the original Switch and OLED model. The new version of the dock carries forward a similar design as the original and looks like a tiny streaming box with a magnetic dust cover that flips over to become a support for a docked Switch. It’s available starting today through GuliKit retailers including Amazon for $29.99, so it’s cheaper than Jsaux’s $46 OmniCentro Dock and Genki’s $69.99 Covert Dock 3 while adding a bit more functionality.
At 105 grams, GuliKit’s TV Docking Station for Switch 2 is considerably lighter than the 381-gram dock that Nintendo ships with its latest console. It’s also got a much smaller footprint, measuring 3.4 inches on each side and less than an inch tall. It might be a bit larger than other mobile docks that plug directly into a wall (GuliKit’s uses the Switch 2’s included AC adapter), but it’s also designed to hold your console while it’s connected to a TV, even if it’s in a protective case. On the underside of GuliKit’s dock is a sliding switch that raises the USB-C connector to accommodate most cases.
On the back of the dock is an HDMI port supporting 4K / 60Hz, 2K / 120Hz, and 1080p / 240Hz resolutions, which is well beyond the capabilities of Nintendo’s handhelds. There’s also a USB-C port for power delivery, a USB-A port for charging accessories like controllers, and a button that switches the dock between TV Docking Mode and Desktop Charging Mode. The latter mode lets you play on your Switch’s own screen while it charges in the dock instead of sending video to a TV.
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Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[We now know how DJI’s dual camera Osmo Pocket 4P compares to Insta360’s]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9505912026-06-16T11:25:26-04:002026-06-16T11:25:26-04:00
After a brief debut at the Cannes film festival last month, DJI announced all the details of its Osmo Pocket 4P stabilized camera today as part of its initial launch in China. While it doesn’t match the 8K capabilities of the Insta360 Luna Ultra, the Pocket 4P features a new 1-inch sensor with improved dynamic range and impressive 4K slow-mo capabilities.
The primary wide-angle camera on the Pocket 4P features a new 1-inch 4K sensor paired with a 20mm-equivalent focal length f/2.0 lens offering 17-stops of dynamic range. That’s a small but useful bump over the cheaper Pocket 4’s 14-stops of range when capturing footage using DJI’s D-Log 2 color profile. The Pocket 4P’s secondary camera pairs a much smaller 1/1.28-inch sensor with a 60mm-equivalent f/1.8 telephoto lens with 3X optical zoom, 6X lossless zoom using sensor cropping, and 12X zoom using digital enhancements.
The Luna Ultra’s primary camera features a 1-inch 8K sensor and a secondary telephoto camera with similar zoom capabilities but a 1/1.3-inch sensor that’s slightly smaller than what the Pocket 4P uses. While the Luna Ultra has an advantage when it comes to overall resolution (allowing for more freedom in post production when it comes to cropping or stabilizing footage) it can only capture 8K footage at 30fps, and 4K footage at up to 120fps. The Pocket 4P is limited to 4K but at up to 240fps using its primary camera, potentially making it a better option for capturing slow motion footage. Both devices can capture still images at up to 37-megapixels.
DJI Osmo Pocket 4P
Insta360 Luna Ultra
Primary camera
1-inch 4K sensor (17 stops) with a 20mm equivalent f/2.0 wide-angle lens
1-inch 8K sensor (14 stops) with a 20mm equivalent f/1.8 wide-angle lens
Secondary camera
1/1.28-inch sensor with a 60mm equivalent f/1.8 telephoto lens
1/1.3-inch sensor with a 60mm equivalent f/2.0 telephoto lens
Zoom capabilities
3X optical, 6X with cropping, 12X digital
6X lossless, 12X digital
Maximum framerate
4K at 240FPS
8K at 30fps, 4K at 120fps, 1080P at 240fps
Photos
37-megapixel
37-megapixel
Storage
103GB built-in that can be expanded with a microSD card up to 1TB in size
47GB built-in that can be expanded with a microSD card up to 1TB in size
Wireless remote
Pairs with DJI’s optional FrameTap viewfinder remote
The Luna Ultra’s touchscreen and controls can be detached and used as a remote
DJI includes 103GB of built-in storage with the Pocket 4P, which is more than twice the 47GB of storage included with the Luna Ultra. You can expand the 4P’s storage with a microSD card, but with 103GB you can capture over 200 minutes of 4K/60fps footage, so an extra card may not be necessary.
Both devices are nearly identical in weight without accessories attached, with the Pocket 4P weighing 230 grams, and the lightest version of the Luna Ultra weighing 233 grams. They also each offer advanced tracking capabilities including the ability to reframe and zoom to keep individuals or groups of people in the shot, but DJI has been refining the tracking capabilities of its stabilized cameras for a decade now, and the Pocket 4P comes with its latest ActiveTrack/Smart Follow 8.0 technology.
The most innovative feature on Insta360’s Luna Ultra is its touchscreen and controls that can be removed and used as a wireless remote with livestreamed previews. The entry-level version of the Pocket 4P can’t do that, but DJI is offering the camera in a pricier ¥4299 ($636) “Vlog Kit” bundle that includes the wireless Osmo FrameTap viewfinder remote that was introduced with the Osmo Mobile 8 Pro smartphone gimbal last April. Like the Luna Ultra’s remote, the FrameTap includes a touchscreen for selecting what the camera should focus on and track plus controls for manually controlling the camera and recording.
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Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[The new PopSockets grip is so thin you’ll forget it’s even there]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9493052026-06-16T13:33:42-04:002026-06-16T09:30:00-04:00
The PopSockets Low-Pro Grip is 2.6mm thick when collapsed.
If you had asked me a week ago to recommend a thinner alternative to PopSockets’ magnetic phone grips, I would have told you to buy the OhSnap Snap Grip 5. Ask me now and I’ll redirect you right back to the company that accidentally invented the phone grip in 2012 when trying to come up with a better way to wrangle Apple EarPods. PopSockets’ new Low-Pro is its slimmest phone grip yet, and it’s not only thinner than OhSnap’s latest, it’s also more functional and more comfortable to hold.
Available starting today exclusively through Apple in four colors (it will be available from PopSockets’ online store and other retailers starting on July 29th), the $39.99 Low-Pro Grip is launching at the same price as the Snap Grip 5. I’ve been a devoted fan of OhSnap’s grips for the past few years and recently upgraded to the Grip 5, but after testing the PopSockets Low-Pro for just a week, I’m ready to jump ship.
The last PopSockets grip I used was the Kick-Out Grip and Stand that debuted last year and did a better job than the OhSnap Grip 4 as a phone stand that worked well in both portrait and landscape mode. But at 7mm thick when collapsed, I found the Kick-Out Grip would occasionally get snagged when slipping my phone into my pocket. I’ve never had that problem with either the 2.5mm-thick Snap Grip 4 or the 3mm-thick Grip 5.
The new PopSockets Low-Pro falls somewhere between OhSnap’s last two offerings at 2.6mm, which the company compares to the thickness of a pair of dimes or a toothpick. It’s definitely thin, but you have to look incredibly close to see the height difference when comparing the Low-Pro and Snap Grip 5 side by side. If you were going by touch alone the difference in thickness is imperceivable.
Far more noticeable is how the two grips feel between your fingers when you’re holding your phone. The Snap Grip 5 carries forward a design that uses a set of interlocking flexible arms that attach the base of the grip to an extending disc. It’s a unique approach that OhSnap has improved and strengthened since The Verge’s Victoria Song had a Snap 3 Pro break nearly three years ago. But while the durability is better, the Snap Grip 5’s flexible arms still aren’t the most comfortable. They’re not painful by any means, but using the Snap Grip 5 has always felt to me like I’m sacrificing the comfort of a PopSockets grip for something more svelte.
With the Low-Pro, you get the best of both worlds. Instead of plastic arms or the traditional PopSockets design that features a collapsing squishy cone, the Low-Pro uses what the company describes as a “one-piece polymer” expansion layer connecting a pop-out disc to the grip’s base. It looks like a tube that’s been sliced full of diamond-shaped holes to help it collapse compactly, but it’s made out of a squishy material that makes the Low-Pro feel softer and more comfortable to hold at any angle. My fingers occasionally get sore during prolonged one-handed doomscrolling sessions using the Snap Grip 5, but that hasn’t been an issue with the Low-Pro.
Both grips double as a phone stand, but the Low-Pro does it better. With the Snap Grip 5 you can tuck one edge of its extending disc into a notch on the base and use it to prop your phone up. But it’s limited to just one angle, and it works better with your phone laying sideways than standing up vertically. Surrounding the base of the Low-Pro is a hinged metal ring that folds out at any angle, so it works as a stand in either orientation. The base of the Low-Pro is a little wider than the Snap Grip 5 as a result, but the size difference is negligible.
There is a reason to still consider OhSnap’s Snap Grip 5 over PopSockets’ Low-Pro. Both accessories allow your phone to stick to metal surfaces, magnetic mounts, and wireless chargers with the grips attached, but the magnets on the Snap Grip 5 are stronger than those in the Low-Pro. The Snap Grip 5 always remained securely attached to the back of my iPhone 16 Pro when removing it from a magnetic wireless charging stand, but the Low-Pro consistently remained behind stuck to the stand.
If you regularly mount your phone to magnetic accessories like this, such as relying on a car mount to use your phone as a GPS device, there’s a very good chance the Low-Pro could get frequently left behind and forgotten. If you don’t, then PopSockets’ new Low-Pro Grip is a worthy alternative. It’s not the thinnest grip ever created, but PopSockets has improved on OhSnap’s design in a few important areas that make a grip a tempting accessory, even if you’re trying to keep your phone as thin as possible.
Photography by Andrew Liszewski / The Verge
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Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[Lenovo’s next tablet has a thick speaker bump and an upgraded kickstand]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9496172026-06-15T16:14:16-04:002026-06-16T07:01:00-04:00
A large speaker bump on the back of the Tab Plus Gen 2 contributes to the tablet’s upgraded sound. | Photo: Sean Hollister / The Verge
Lenovo announced a new version of its chonky speaker-filled Tab Plus tablet that once again puts a strong focus on audio. While the original Tab Plus launched two years ago with eight built-in speakers requiring a 13.58mm rear bulge to squeeze them all in, the new Tab Plus Gen 2 bumps that to nine speakers with a circular bump on the back that’s now 22.7mm thick. To help justify the thicker addition, the Gen 2’s speaker bump integrates a fold-out kickstand that rotates 360 degrees to support the tablet in portrait and landscape modes.
Lenovo hasn’t confirmed exactly where or when the Tab Plus Gen 2 is expected to launch, but it says it will be “available soon in select global markets.” The original saw a wide global release including the US, where it launched for $289.99, but the new model will start at $399.99. The Gen 2 is now powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7400 octa-core processor in several configurations that pair it with 6GB to 12GB of RAM and 128GB to 256GB of storage that’s expandable using a microSD card up to 2TB.
As with the first-generation Tab Plus, the Gen 2’s Dolby Atmos-tuned speaker array features a mix of tweeters and woofers to boost its bass performance. There are also multiple modes with EQ customizations for movies and music, and you can use the Tab Plus Gen 2 as a standalone Bluetooth speaker with audio streamed from another device.
The tablet features an upgraded 12.1-inch 120Hz 2.5K LCD display and a larger 10,200mAh rechargeable battery that Lenovo estimates will let you watch YouTube for up to 15 hours before needing a charge. The Gen 2’s front camera is still limited to 8 megapixels, but the rear camera gets a bump from 8 to 13 megapixels. Out of the box it will come with Android 16, but the company promises two years of Android OS updates and four years of security patches to keep users protected until 2030.
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Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[Kodak’s collectible Charmera camera is getting new Y2K-inspired designs]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9496642026-06-15T12:02:31-04:002026-06-16T07:00:00-04:00
Despite being an objectively terrible digital camera, the Kodak Charmera has been incredibly popular thanks to a cheap price tag and several fun retro designs inspired by the iconic 1987 single-use Kodak Fling. Instead of entirely rethinking that formula, Reto, the company licensing the Kodak brand, is following up on the original Charmera with a Millennium Edition. The seven shiny new designs draw inspiration from the tech and aesthetics of the early 2000s, and at $34.99 each, these will probably once again fly off camera store shelves.
The Charmera Millennium Edition isn’t just about a Y2K facelift. Reto has updated its software with a total of seven photo filters and four new frames that can be applied to images as they’re snapped. While the original Charmera had a black-and-white mode as well as four high-contrast color “pixel” filters, the Millennium Edition expands those filters with four new options including coral, honey, teal, and violet.
Inside the new version of the camera, you’ll find the same hardware as the original, which is disappointing. It still uses a 1.6-megapixel ¼-inch sensor that captures photos at a resolution of just 1,440×1,080 pixels, while videos recorded as AVI files max out at 30fps. That allows you to store thousands of snaps on a microSD card up to 128GB in size, but even in the year 2000, point-and-shoot cameras from companies like Canon and Sony had sensors capturing more than 2-megapixels. Reto isn’t positioning the Charmera as anything other than a photography toy, but moving forward, it will need more than cosmetic refreshes to keep it interesting.
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Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[Google Earth’s flight simulator is now available in your browser]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9497492026-06-15T09:13:23-04:002026-06-15T09:13:23-04:00
On Friday Google announced it was making a relatively unknown feature of Google Earth available to a wider audience. The desktop version of Google Earth has had a hidden flight simulator mode since 2007, but it’s now easily accessible through a web browser without having to download or install any apps.
To take to the virtual skies you’ll need to open the Google Earth website and then click on the “Explore Earth” button found near the top right corner of the page. From there you’ll find the “Flight Simulator” mode accessible as the last option in the Tool’s section of the site’s top menu bar. For the best experience you’ll first want to find an interesting part of the world to explore as the first locale that loaded for me was in the middle of a featureless ocean. You’ll also want to make sure you change Google Earth’s basemap type from Map to Satellite for a photorealistic experience.
Google has shared a help page detailing how to use your keyboard or mouse to control your aircraft. While the experience isn’t as complex or realistic as you’ll get in games like Microsoft Flight Simulator, the Google Earth simulator will still require a bit of practice to point your aircraft where you want it to go without crashing. But should your flight end with an unplanned impact with the terrain the simulator will pause and give you the option to reset your aircraft to a safe altitude again.
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Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[All the gear a 20-year gadget blogging veteran packs when traveling]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9473102026-06-15T12:03:46-04:002026-06-15T07:30:00-04:00
Through more than two decades of travel for both work and leisure, my packing list has evolved from a random assortment of gadgets and accessories thrown together at the last minute into a refined checklist of gear honed by trial and error. The right packing list, I’ve found, can be the difference between a good trip and a great one. Or at least the difference between hectic trips to the local Best Buy and some extra time by the pool.
My family’s summer vacation this year will involve lots of hiking and exploring the great outdoors, but it will by no means be an attempt to disconnect from our favorite devices. Convenience, comfort, and peace of mind are our priorities.
With that in mind, here’s a rundown of all the gear I’ll be packing this summer to ensure our travels will be as smooth and comfortable as we want them to be. It includes everything we need to help pass the time on long flights and drives, capture memories of exotic locales we may never see again, and ensure all our gear is charged up and ready to use every morning.
If I’m flying for more than an hour, I always pack a pair of Sony’s WH-1000XM4 headphones. They’re now nearly six years old and a couple of generations behind Sony’s latest ANC tech, but the XM4 remains one of the most comfortable pairs of headphones I’ve ever worn and still do an admirable job at quieting a plane cabin. If you can find them on sale, I still recommend the WH-1000XM4. Otherwise, the newer WH-1000XM6 fix some of the design flaws I didn’t like on the WH-1000XM5, which lacked folding earcups.
Shokz OpenFit headphones
For many years it was a given that somewhere in my backpack would be a pair of AirPods Pro, but I’ve since switched to the Shokz OpenFit 2. They have an open design that lets me clearly hear what’s going on around me when I’m out exploring, even while listening to music or audiobooks, and I find them more comfortable to wear for long periods since they’re not squeezed into my ear canal.
iPhone 16 Pro
I upgraded to an iPhone 16 Pro in late 2024 for the simple reason that my aging iPhone 12 Pro’s battery life was suffering. There’s nothing about the 16 Pro that makes it better suited for traveling than other smartphones, but it comes with a few features I appreciate while on the road. In particular, MagSafe continues to be something I rely on for accessories like the PopSockets Kick-Out Grip, which I use as a camera stand for grabbing family photos. And there’s definitely some peace of mind in knowing that should I find myself in an emergency outside of cellphone coverage range, I can still reach out for help using my iPhone’s Emergency SOS via Satellite feature.
iPad Pro with Smart Keyboard Folio
I still travel with a MacBook Air for work trips, but the day iPadOS 26 was released was the day I stopped dragging a laptop along on vacation. I instead bring an older iPad Pro wrapped in one of Apple’s Smart Keyboard folio cases along with a compact Logitech wireless mouse. It’s an excellent laptop alternative that’s lighter and easier to use in a cramped airplane seat. I can use it to back up photos from my camera and quickly share highlights with family, plan daily adventures, stream to a hotel TV, and even play digital board games like Ticket to Ride.
The North Face Surge backpack and Alpaka bags
Over the past two decades I’ve spent more money on bags than I care to admit, but I’ve managed to find a few I regularly travel with. For years I’ve relied on an older version of The North Face’s Surge backpack, which has a small assortment of useful pockets that don’t crowd its large interior spaces. It’s also one of the most comfortable backpacks I’ve ever worn, and its two exterior water bottle pockets are frequently useful for quickly stashing other items. When I prefer something smaller, I’ll rotate between Alpaka’s Flight Sling, the 2-liter version of its Flow Satchel when I want to carry a water bottle, or the 4-liter Flow Satchel when I’ve got my camera.
Apple AirTags and Nomad Tracking Card
To help improve the odds of our checked luggage finding its way to our destination, or to ensure bags and backpacks aren’t accidentally abandoned during the chaos of travel, I keep an Apple AirTag tucked away in all of them. To keep tabs on our passport wallet I instead use a Nomad Tracking Card that easily slips into a credit card slot.
Owala FreeSip water bottle
Any reusable water bottle is better than a disposable one, but the 24oz Owala FreeSip is my hands-down favorite. It fits in all the car cup holders and backpack bottle pockets I regularly use, and its unique cap design that lets you sip or chug water is simple but brilliant. I’ve lost count of how many Owala bottles I’ve gifted to friends and family over the past few years, but it probably rivals the number piled in our kitchen cabinet.
Nitecore izzCool 10 Pro fan
Summer travels often mean enduring scorching temperatures while waiting in long lines or “enjoying” a meal on a patio. I like the refillable water reservoir on Nitecore’s izzCool 10 Pro fan, which it uses to blast you with a fine mist that’s a more effective way to cool down. You can also swap that reservoir for a larger plastic water bottle with enough capacity to use the fan’s misting mode all night long as a makeshift humidifier. I’ve spent enough time in Las Vegas to know the agony of dry sinuses.
Traveling with an e-reader is a must. I personally hate reading on my phone, and no one wants to be the person on a plane with their reading light on when the cabin is dark. The latest version of the Kindle Paperwhite or the Kobo Clara BW will serve you well. They’re both lightweight, have excellent battery life, and provide easy access to extensive online bookstores in case you finish a book faster than expected and need a replacement. Physical page turn buttons on an e-reader is my hill to die on, and while the Kobo Libra 2 I use is no longer available, you can still get buttons on the Libra Colour if you don’t mind paying a premium for its color E Ink screen.
Nintendo Switch 2
When staring down a five-hour flight with a 10-year-old, the Switch 2 is a no-brainer. A few rounds of Mario Kart World or nine innings of MLB The Show 26 (despite it being a real eyesore) help battle boredom. And when rain or exhaustion finds you trapped in a hotel room, a game of Super Mario Party Jamboree is an excellent alternative to local cable TV.
Jsaux OmniCentro Dock
If you’re traveling with the Switch, a compact USB-C dock is a better alternative to Nintendo’s chonky dock for connecting the console to a TV. There are a few on the market now, including Genki’s Covert Dock 3, but Jsaux’s dock is nearly identical in size and functionality while being more than $20 cheaper.
Anbernic RG28XX handheld
In addition to the Switch 2 that’s usually monopolized by our son, I always pack a smaller handheld emulator for shorter gaming sessions. My current favorite is the Anbernic RG28XX. It’s compact, but its 2.83-inch screen doesn’t feel small, and the handheld has more than enough power to emulate the roster of Game Boy Advance and Super Nintendo titles I still regularly enjoy.
Belkin ConnectAir Wireless HDMI Display Adapter
My days of packing a 10-foot HDMI cable and a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter are finally over. Belkin’s wireless HDMI adapter is a lighter and easier way to connect our phones and tablets to hotel TVs that also eliminates a recurring tripping hazard in the process. At the end of a long day we like to browse the photos and videos we captured or watch movies without having to log into someone else’s TV.
I like to charge all of our gadgets in one organized place every night, but more often than not the place I choose is not close to an outlet. The easy solution has been to pack a power strip with a long cord, and over the years I’ve narrowed down my needs to three important features. The cord must be at least 6 feet long, the plug must have a flat and angled design that can easily fit behind furniture without blocking other outlets, and the power strip on the other end must have at least three outlets. Something like this would fit the bill, but finding an alternative with built-in cable management is a bonus.
Multi-port USB chargers
Wall warts that can each charge multiple gadgets is a must. Our family travels with a trio of Anker chargers that each has three USB ports for powering up a revolving mix of smartphones, tablets, headphones, watches, and consoles. As most of our devices charge overnight I’ve never felt the need to splurge on more powerful adapters, but one feature I do prioritize is a design and prongs that won’t easily slip out of an overused outlet. This was something Anker addressed a couple of years ago, and why I recommend something like this 100W Prime charger.
Nomad Universal Cable for Apple Watch
A tangled nest of USB cables is an inevitable part of traveling, and while I find Velcro ties an essential way to keep my cables tidy, minimizing the number I need to pack also helps. Nomad’s 2-in-1 USB-C cable can be used to charge any device and an Apple Watch at the same time, so between my wife’s multi-port charger and mine we can free up two valuable USB-C ports for other devices by packing a pair of these cables.
Multi-port power bank
My travels never take me off the grid or away from a power outlet for too long, but I still carry a power bank everywhere I go. Constantly messaging photos to family and hunting for interesting places to eat can drain a phone faster than you realize. I currently use a compact 10,000mAh power bank from Anker with three USB ports to top off both the phones I carry. While 5,000mAh power banks are much cheaper now, if you’re hoping to fully replenish a couple of devices you’ll want to splurge for at least a 10,000mAh model like this.
Baseus Retractable Car Charger
I treat every car ride as a valuable opportunity to charge phones and cameras, but since I’m never 100 percent sure what kind of rental car I’ll end up with, Baseus’ car charger is a solid backup. It plugs into a vehicle’s auxiliary power outlet (which are still common) and features a pair of pivoting 31-inch retractable USB-C cables plus an additional USB port on its base.
Here’s an underrated photography option: Bring a second phone. Even with an iPhone 16 Pro in my pocket, I still carry a OnePlus 12 for outings when I want a lightweight camera. Its zoom capabilities outperform my iPhone, I prefer the results from the OnePlus 12’s portrait mode, and its low-light capabilities still impress me.
Sony A6700
For the first time in over six years I plan to travel with a camera that’s not built into a phone. Although I’ve enjoyed the freedom of shooting with smartphones and not being weighed down with lenses and extra batteries, this summer I’ll be capturing my family’s adventures with Sony’s A6700 hanging around my neck. It’s been a welcome upgrade to my aging A6500, and after struggling to photograph humpback whales with a smartphone last summer, I’m looking forward to seeing what I can capture with a 200mm zoom lens.
USB-C camera batteries
The best camera is the one that’s not dead. I may be getting that quote wrong, but modern shooters take a real toll on batteries when you heavily rely on their excellent autofocus and tracking capabilities. I pack an extra pair of these Nitecore camera batteries that have nearly the same capacity as Sony’s NP-FZ100 but with the added convenience of a built-in USB-C port so I don’t need to travel with a separate dock to charge them. Nitecore’s USB-C battery line appears to be discontinued, but you can find alternatives for various Fuji, Sony, Canon, and Nikon battery types — just be sure to check the reviews before trying a new battery brand.
Flexible camera wrap
I’ve never found a camera bag I want to carry all day, but I also don’t want my camera getting scratched and dinged as it jostles around with other gear in my shoulder bag. My easy solution has been to wrap it in one of these Stickit Wrappers from Nitecore. It works like a big flexible sheet of Velcro with one side sticking to the other so the wrapping doesn’t come undone. But unlike Velcro, both sides feel soft to the touch, so I’m confident it’s not scratching up my camera while trying to protect it. Nitecore’s version seems to be unavailable now, but there are alternative brands that offer the same thing.
Insta360 Go 3S
I still have a soft spot for the DJI Action 2 and its magnetic modular approach to action cameras, but it’s starting to show its age, so I’ve replaced it with Insta360’s Go 3S. It’s not a camera I regularly use, but its tiny size and multiple mounting options make it great for capturing fun footage of impromptu zip line adventures or dashboard timelapses of long drives.
Crucial 2TB SSD drive
Photos and videos are the only souvenirs I care about, and the thought of losing them before I get them home, processed, and backed up, stresses me out. In addition to carrying spare SD cards so that all my travel photos aren’t stored on one card, every night I ensure they’re all backed up to an iPad Pro and an external SSD. For the past few years I’ve relied on a 2TB Crucial SSD that feels only slightly larger than a matchbook. It’s not the fastest SSD you can buy, but its size makes up for its performance.
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Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[The Weather Channel app now predicts bad allergy days]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9483632026-06-11T13:19:57-04:002026-06-11T11:02:33-04:00
The Weather Company announced an “enhanced allergy experience” now available through its The Weather Channel app designed to help allergy sufferers better understand when their symptoms might flare up and what’s causing them. While the app already provides static pollen counts, its “Health & Wellness” section is being expanded to take into account other factors such as how changing weather conditions could result in you experiencing more symptoms despite the counts not actually rising.
The new features now available in the free version of The Weather Channel app include “weather aggravator insights” that analyze how conditions like high winds or humidity levels can make airborne allergens feel like they’re having a greater affect, and a daily forecast of expected peak pollen levels so you’ll know when they’ll be at their highest.
Hyperlocal pollen forecasts based on your ZIP code reveal expected levels in your specific neighborhood while the app will share easy to understand graphics indicating if allergy risks are higher, lower, or the same as yesterday. Pollen tracking is also being added to the app’s five-day weather forecasts so you have a better understanding of how comfortable your week will be, and you’ll also be able to compare recent allergy forecasts to a past decade of historical pollen count data in your area.
Those paying the $4.99/per month or $29.99/year subscription for The Weather Channel app’s premium features will get even more details about allergens. Instead of the app providing vague tree pollen warnings, later this summer it will identify specific species such as cedar or oak to help you better understand what plants are actually causing your symptoms. The app will also add hourly pollen radar layers, hourly pollen forecasts for the next 24 hours, plus a symptom tracker so you can potentially correlate how you’re feeling to what’s going on outside.
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Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[Boox’s new e-reader could replace your Kindle, Kobo, and digital notepad]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9477692026-06-11T08:08:51-04:002026-06-11T08:00:00-04:00
The Go 6 now supports Boox’s stylus. | Image: Boox
Boox has announced a new version of its smallest e-reader that expands the Go 6’s functionality to now include note-taking. The new Go 6 (Gen II) sticks with a 6-inch, 300PPI E Ink screen like its predecessor but gets a bump from 2GB to 3GB of RAM and now supports Boox’s InkSense Plus stylus, which can be used for sketching, annotating documents, or making handwritten notes.
The Boox Go 6 (Gen II) is now available for preorder for $199.99 and is expected to start shipping on June 17th. The $45.99 InkSense Plus stylus isn’t included, but you can bundle it with the e-reader for $232.99. That’s more expensive than the entry-level Amazon Kindle and the Kobo Clara BW that also feature 6-inch screens, but the new Go 6 gives you the best of both worlds. It runs Android 11 and supports the Google Play Store so you can install both Amazon and Kobo’s mobile apps, giving you access to both platforms’ ebook stores.
The new e-reader’s writing experience might not be as polished as what you’ll get from alternatives like the $449 Remarkable Paper Pro Move, but with Android you’ll be able to choose from a wide variety of note-taking apps and potentially more options for how you can sync notes across platforms.
The Boox Go 6 (Gen II) matches other features of Kindle and Kobo e-readers, including a screen light with color temperature adjustments, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a 1,500mAh battery that should last for weeks — unless you try to turn the e-reader into a gaming device. But unlike its competition, Boox includes 32GB of built-in storage with the option to expand that considerably using a microSD card.
