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.2026-07-24T14:59:09+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[Twelve South’s stylish charging tray now delivers more wireless power with a smaller footprint]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9699572026-07-23T10:52:28-04:002026-07-28T09:00:00-04:00
Following the original’s debut at CES earlier this year, Twelve South is introducing a new version of its leather-wrapped Valet charging tray designed for use in places where space is at a premium. While the original Valet was 7.5-inches deep and large enough to serve as a catchall for a couple of items like your wallet and keys, the new Valet nearly halves that to 4.5-inches deep, so it’s better suited for single items, like a pair of glasses.
Despite being smaller, the new Valet brings some welcome upgrades. The original’s wireless charger maxed out at 15W, but the smaller version bumps that to 25W. However, while the original could charge a second device through a USB-C port on the side at 15W, the smaller Valet limits power delivery there to just 10W while its Qi2 charger is in use.
At $129.99 the new 4.5-inch Twelve South Valet is cheaper than the larger $179.99 option, but it’s still considerably more expensive than other Qi2 wireless chargers as a result of its use of premium materials. It features a weighted zinc alloy base with the tray itself wrapped in black, brown, or taupe Nappa leather. The upper section of the Valet is also surrounded by a removable metal frame that can be swapped with alternate colors sold by Twelve South.
]]>
Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[You don’t need to splurge on an expensive handheld fan to beat the heat]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9700922026-07-24T10:59:09-04:002026-07-28T09:00:00-04:00
It’s not fancy, but it gets the job done for hours and hours on a single charge.
Despite what influencers may say, you don’t need to spend $99.99 on Dyson’s HushJet Mini Cool or $149.99 for the Shark ChillPill to survive the summer whenever you leave the comfort of air-conditioning. My family has found all the comfort it needs to survive humid baseball games, sweltering concerts, and sweaty hikes with a couple of affordable handheld fans from a Chinese company called JisuLife that has spent the past decade honing its hardware.
At the start of the summer, I impulse-purchased a pair of JisuLife Life10 S fans from Costco, which at CDN $25 each (or $32.99 through Amazon), are among the most basic offerings from the company. JisuLife’s extensive lineup includes some fan models costing close to $100 with features like reverse-charging to power your phone and 100 different speed settings. I want all those features, but my goal was to not spend several hundred dollars on personal cooling devices that could easily go missing or get damaged during the chaos of summer activities.
The Life10 S’ functionality is comparatively basic, but also easy to use. A sliding power switch on the back prevents it from accidentally turning on while banging around inside a backpack, and a single button on the front cycles through five different fan speeds. There’s also a basic LCD display showing the battery’s remaining charge when the fan is first powered on and the current speed setting. It’s simple, but the Life10 S does its one job quietly and for a surprisingly long time.
When Dyson announced its first handheld fan in April, I assumed the company that had developed an expertise in moving air had created a personal cooling device that would outperform everything else on the market. My spouse loves their Dyson hair dryer, and I was sure the HushJet Mini Cool would be my secret weapon for surviving hot and humid summers, even if at $99 it was a splurge. But having used both Dyson’s personal fan and JisuLife’s $25 alternative, I only reach for the latter when braving the world without AC.
Dyson’s HushJet Mini Cool wraps impressive engineering in an eye-catching design, and at its highest setting, it easily out blasts JisuLife’s even with the Life10 S set to full power. But even at its lowest setting, the HushJet is loud with a high-pitched whine reminiscent of Dyson’s vacuums. I don’t mind that sound when it’s limited to short bursts of cleaning at ground level, but not when coming from a tiny fan designed to be used close to your face and ears. The JisuLife fan produces sound at a much lower frequency, making it easier to tolerate for hours, even if it’s far from whisper quiet at full power.
What impresses me more about the JisuLife fan is how long its 5,000mAh battery keeps it running. At half power, which we find is strong enough to cool us down on even the hottest days, the fan ran for just over 16 hours before needing a charge. That’s far longer than my son lasted at the water park. For comparison, Dyson estimates the HushJet Mini Cool will run for up to six hours at its lowest setting, and at full power, I had it die after just over an hour.
I haven’t tested the even pricier Shark ChillPill that combines a fan with a metal cooling plate the company claims can lower skin temperature by up to 16 degrees Fahrenheit in seconds. You can cool down by pressing it all over your body, but it only cools for as long as the fan has power. SharkNinja estimates the ChillPill will run for up to 11 hours at its lowest setting, or just an hour-and-a-half at max power. That approach could be very effective, but I’m not spending $150 to find out.
I’ve also tested the wearable neck fans that seem to be very popular among the cashiers at my local Costco, but I didn’t find them to be as effective as I’d hoped. The breeze is spread out across the length of the fan and doesn’t feel as intense as a handheld fan, and wearing it positions the motor right below your ear at all times, so it’s a constant drone. I see why they’re useful, but it’s not an experience anyone in my family enjoyed.
After a successful summer with these fans, I’m already keeping an eye out for sales on other JisuLife models, including a hands-free version you wear hanging from your neck. But I’m also expecting these cheaper alternatives will continue to be the first thing we pack when heading out on adventures for the rest of the summer and probably for years to come.
Photography by Andrew Liszewski / The Verge
]]>
Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[Google now lets you sign in to your account using a selfie video]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9693612026-07-22T18:55:27-04:002026-07-23T06:00:00-04:00
Google announced yet another way to gain access to your account if you get locked out, forget your password, or don’t have access to the phone, computer, or two-factor authentication apps you typically use. As the name implies, selfie video lets you capture a short video of your face on a mobile device or PC, which is then compared to an earlier video that Google keeps on file to confirm you’re the account owner.
Setting up the selfie video feature simply requires you to look at your device’s camera and follow a series of onscreen prompts that guide you through simple head movements to ensure multiple angles of your face are captured. It’s similar to the setup procedures for security features like Apple’s Face ID, but without the need for added infrared light.
Google says the reference video is “recorded and securely stored” in the cloud using encryption, making it accessible to more than just the device where it was created. You can delete it at any time through your account, and while by default the saved selfie video is only used to help you sign in, Google says you can also “opt to share it for additional purposes.”
Logging in to your account has you capturing another short video of your face performing simple movements to prove it’s being recorded live and so it can be accurately compared to the stored reference video. Multiple layers of security are used to prevent impersonation attempts using photos or deepfake videos, Google says, along with the company’s “standard security practices” to prevent suspicious sign-in attempts from succeeding.
Google will gradually be introducing the feature to users through a phased global rollout, but you can check if your account is eligible and set up your selfie video at g.co/signin-selfie.
]]>
Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[Philips’ new smart toothbrush shows you where you didn’t properly brush]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9692712026-07-22T11:14:31-04:002026-07-22T11:09:44-04:00
The latest addition to Philips’ Sonicare line of smart electric toothbrushes could take the guesswork out of your brushing routine. The Next-Generation DiamondClean 9900 Prestige uses a third-generation AI model to provide real-time feedback on how you’re brushing through a glowing ring on its base, while a touchscreen highlights areas of your mouth that may need more attention when you think you’re done.
The Sonicare Next-Generation DiamondClean 9900 Prestige is expected to launch in Europe and the US this fall, with a wider global rollout coming in 2027. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but previous versions sell for $430, and you can expect this new one to be even more expensive.
The toothbrush’s touchscreen lets you swipe through eight cleaning modes including gum health, max clean, and sensitive options. To help ensure you’re not pressing too hard while you brush, causing damage, the glowing ring on the base of the brush changes color to indicate when you should be a little gentler. But the 9900 Prestige also uses pressure sensors to adjust its intensity when you’re pressing too hard so the bristles go easier on your gums.
The touchscreen also displays what Philips calls a mouth map representing your teeth and gums in 12 different segments that are highlighted in blue or orange indicating how effective your brushing was. The 9900 Prestige tracks its movements in your mouth while you brush and areas it deems in need of a little more attention glow orange so you know exactly what areas you need to target during a second pass.
]]>
Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[A touchscreen and light make the new X4 Pro the best version of Xteink’s tiny e-readers]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9665602026-07-21T13:08:23-04:002026-07-21T10:00:00-04:00
If you’ve been undecided on which Xteink device to get, the new X4 Pro is it.
The familiar story with Xteink’s tiny e-readers plays out once again with its new X4 Pro: upgraded hardware held back by frustrating software. The company’s latest tiny e-reader adds a touchscreen and lighting, so choosing it over a Kindle or a Kobo feels like less of a compromise — until you use it. The new touch controls and some welcome software updates do manage to make the X4 Pro easier to use, but frustrations still abound. There’s a happier ending to the story this time, however, as the team behind the excellent CrossPoint Reader software plan to have their alternative firmware ready for the new device at its launch. If you’ve been considering one of Xteink’s e-readers, the X4 Pro is the one to get, even if it’s the most expensive yet.
The X4 Pro is available for purchase today through Xteink’s online store for $99, making it slightly more expensive than the company’s $79 X3 and $69 X4 models. That also brings the X4 Pro closer in price to the $110 entry-level Kindle featuring Amazon’s polished e-reader experience and on-device access to a well-stocked digital bookstore. The X4 Pro lacks both of those things, but with a 4.26-inch, 800 x 480 E Ink screen, it’s another extremely pocketable device from Xteink that’s slightly smaller and thinner than the company’s first e-reader, and considerably smaller than Amazon’s 6-inch Kindle.
That thin profile means you’ll need to be prepared for a big compromise: There’s no longer an actual USB-C port. You can still benefit from USB-C functionality but will need an adapter to deal with an uncommon magnetic pogo-pin connection. The adapter is included, but I’d still opt for a slightly thicker device with an actual USB-C port.
On the back of the X4 Pro you’ll once again find embedded magnets so you can attach it to compatible smartphones like a wireless battery. The magnets feel stronger, but still not strong enough to make me confident the e-reader is going to remain stuck to my phone while jostling around in my pocket. The X4 Pro’s size also makes the tiny e-reader awkwardly extend past the bottom of my iPhone 16 Pro when attached, and at this point I think Xteink should just abandon promoting this functionality. Its e-readers are better as standalone devices.
The added touchscreen allows for a much simpler button layout on the X4 Pro, and I’m glad the company still includes dedicated page turn buttons on each side in addition to being able to tap the edges of the screen. There’s also a power/wake button and, for the first time, a touch button on the front of the e-reader below its screen for jumping back to the e-reader’s homescreen.
There’s been some debate about whether or not these tiny e-readers actually need a touchscreen, but after testing the X4 Pro for over a week I think it’s a welcome upgrade for these devices. Even after months of use, navigating the company’s other e-readers using just buttons has never felt intuitive or easy, and it’s held me back from wanting to carry them everywhere I go. Navigating the X4 Pro using screen taps (like we do with the rest of our mobile devices) finally makes it feel like I’m not fighting the e-reader to make it do what I want.
But the X4 Pro’s touchscreen doesn’t feel as sensitive or responsive as a Kindle or Kobo when tapping on the screen, and half the time it feels like I have to repeat a tap with a little more pressure for my finger to be detected. I’m hoping that’s something that can be improved through future software updates.
The added screen light is an excellent upgrade, and even though it’s a bit uneven and definitely a little brighter at the top of the display, you can adjust its intensity and color temperature using sliders that appear when you swipe down from the top of the screen. There are no automatic adjustments or scheduling available yet, but being able to finally use this e-reader in bed without having a lamp on is a game changer, and I can’t see myself going back to Xteink’s older devices that lack lighting.
Xteink has made a lot of improvements to its bundled software and UI to accommodate the X4 Pro’s touchscreen. The menus have been streamlined and are easier to navigate with touch, and accessing reading settings by tapping anywhere on the page now feels more intuitive. There’s also more flexibility with adjusting text spacing and layout, but out of the box you’re once again limited to just a single font in two different sizes unless you want to jump through hoops to install your own. But you don’t have to suffer with Xteink’s unpolished software.
Of all the X4 Pro’s improvements, the most compelling reason to get Xteink’s latest e-reader is that the easy-to-install CrossPoint Reader software will be available at launch. It’s a free firmware alternative that vastly improves the UI and reading experience of Xteink’s devices. When I tested Xteink’s last e-reader the team behind CrossPoint Reader wasn’t sure when support for the X3 would be released, but Justin Mitchell has since taken over as the core maintainer of the software and told The Verge that X4 Pro support will be available “before any customers are able to order and receive theirs in the states.” CrossPoint Reader is also now a part of Mitchell’s new Free Ink project that counts Xteink as one of its hardware partners, so the firmware should be compatible with all of the company’s future devices at launch.
If you’ve been on the fence about grabbing one of Xteink’s e-readers, even with a proprietary USB-C connector and a $99 price tag the X4 Pro is the one to get if you prioritize portability. It won’t match the Kindle or Kobo experience even after installing CrossPoint Reader, but even with its limitations it’s still the best tiny e-reader you can buy and a device I already won’t leave the house without.
Photography by Andrew Liszewski / The Verge
]]>
Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[Garmin’s new screen-free fitness tracker doesn’t require a subscription]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9685512026-07-21T09:52:06-04:002026-07-21T09:33:27-04:00
Garmin announced a new smart band today designed to track “advanced fitness and wellness features” without a screen to eliminate distractions and push its battery life to up to 10 days between charges. Similar to competing products like the Whoop 5.0 and Google’s recently announced Fitbit Air, the Cirqa uses a combination of heart rate, blood oxygen, skin temperature, and motion sensors to monitor your health and activities around the clock, but without any subscription fees.
The Garmin Cirqa is available now through the company’s online store for $199.99 and comes with an adjustable fabric strap in several different colors that can be worn on the wrist or as an armband. Google’s Fitbit Air is $99 with an optional $99/year annual Google Health Premium subscription that unlocks advanced features, while Whoop’s latest hardware is only available with subscriptions that start at $199/year.
The smart band can track more than 80 different activities such as running or yoga that are selectable through the accompanying Garmin Connect app or using its single side button as a shortcut to your favorite. Through the app, you can monitor your training progress including the effectiveness of a workout and whether your body is ready for your next training session or would benefit more from a rest day.
When worn day and night, the Circa can keep tabs on health metrics including your heart rate and blood oxygen saturation that can help detect conditions such as asthma and sleep apnea. In the morning it can provide a detailed breakdown of your sleep stages, breathing, and heart rate that contribute to an overall sleep score so you can compare the quality of your rest to previous nights. Women can also use the Cirqa’s skin temperature monitoring to track their menstrual cycles for “better period predictions and past ovulation estimates.”
]]>
Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[Over half a million power tool batteries have been recalled due to a USB-C charging fire risk]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9670492026-07-17T11:42:27-04:002026-07-17T10:05:29-04:00
Greenworks Tools has issued a recall for around 554,780 Kobalt-branded power tools designed for yard work because of a battery issue “posing a risk of serious injury from fire hazard.” There have been 34 reports of the tool’s batteries “producing smoke, sparking or catching fire while the batteries are inserted in the tool and charging with the USB-C port,” according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC). No injuries or property damage have been reported.
The recall includes several models of Kobalt trimmers, blowers, chainsaws, mowers, and pruning saws that use 24V/48V lithium-ion batteries with a built-in USB-C charging port. The full list of affected models is available on both the USCPSC’s website and a dedicated recall page on Greenworks’ website. The tools were sold through Lowe’s retail and online stores from January 2026 to May 2026 for between $20 and $482.
Although the risk of short-circuits and fires is limited to when the batteries are being charged over USB-C while still inserted into the tools, it’s still recommended that consumers with affected hardware contact Greenworks Tools through a registration form to receive a free replacement battery. The new batteries come with a charging adapter instead of a USB-C port, as well as an updated product manual, a warning sticker for the tool, and a prepaid shipping label for returning the original recalled battery, according to the USCPSC.
]]>
Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[Ninja’s microwave air fryer could be the fix for soggy reheated pizza]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9661752026-07-16T09:04:34-04:002026-07-16T09:30:00-04:00
Ninja has added everything from ice cream makers to double-decker toaster ovens to its extensive lineup of counter-clogging appliances, but it’s only now introducing its first microwave. What makes the new Ninja Crispi Microwave stand out among its many competitors is that it doubles as an air fryer. After heating your food using microwaves, you have the option to switch over to using superheated air so the results are crispy instead of soggy, while also potentially replacing two kitchen appliances with just one multitasker. It’s available starting today through SharkNinja’s online store for $449.
It comes with a bunch of standard microwave presets including popcorn, defrost, frozen dinner, and even a setting for softening butter. Instead of a turntable, the 1,000-watt Crispi Microwave has a flatbed design inside that Ninja claims offers 40 percent more usable cooking surface than a traditional microwave. You can squeeze two bags of popcorn in there, and its design is supposedly easier to clean.
Once food is sufficiently heated, the microwave switches over to air fryer mode, which has its own assortment of presets including air bake, max crisp, and air broil. To ensure the air that’s heated to up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit circulates all the way around your food for an even crispy finish, the air fryer mode relies on a 5.5-quart glass container with an insert allowing for air circulation beneath your food. That container has enough capacity for an 8-pound chicken Ninja claims, and it comes with two lids: one for storage and one with a vent for steaming vegetables.
]]>
Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[Skullcandy’s bass-boosting Crusher headphones now come with Bose’s ANC]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9660222026-07-15T13:38:37-04:002026-07-15T20:00:00-04:00
Skullcandy announced a new version of its Crusher wireless headphones today featuring a few of Bose’s audio technologies including its QuietControl ANC and head-tracking spatial audio. The Crusher headphone line differentiates itself from the competition through the use of both full-range and dedicated bass drivers in each ear cup to boost deeper frequencies. Skullcandy admits that approach can result in a loss of audio quality when the bass is heavily boosted, but its new Crusher 1080 ANC are meant to address and improve that with Bose’s help.
Available starting today for $279.99 in black, candy, primer, and cement color options, the new Crusher 1080 ANC feature redesigned drivers with a stiffer diaphragm material resulting in enhanced clarity and detail with less distortion at higher volume. As with previous models in the Crusher line, the bass boosting is entirely adjustable using Skullcandy’s mobile app or the on-headphone controls that now include a more prominent dial on the outside.
The Crusher 1080 ANC will be the first non-Bose headphones to feature that company’s TrueSpatial audio technology with head tracking that works whether you’re stationary or out for a run and its WaveForm audio engine that “keeps audio full, balanced, and smooth.” Skullcandy’s latest will also offer industry-leading noise cancellation with Bose’s six microphone QuietControl ANC tech that adapts as sounds around you get louder or quieter. The Crusher 1080ANC even features Bose’s SpeechClarity that reduces noise so your voice comes through clearly during a call, but they’re not the first third-party headphones to offer it.
Battery life is estimated to be up to 60 hours with ANC turned off, or 50 hours with it on, while a 10-minute rapid charge will keep the Crusher 1080 ANC going for up to four hours if they die. There’s multipoint pairing for connecting and switching between multiple devices, auto reconnect and wear detection that pauses music when you take the headphones off, and a design that folds flat for easier storage. The Crusher 1080 ANC supports Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio, low latency audio, and Auracast.
]]>
Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[8BitDo’s FlipPad is the most pocketable way to turn your phone into a Game Boy]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9646582026-07-15T08:31:10-04:002026-07-15T11:00:00-04:00
The FlipPad draws all the power it needs from your phone’s charging port.
Both 8BitDo and GameSir announced tiny gamepads designed to turn smartphones into Game Boy-inspired handhelds at CES 2026. GameSir released its Pocket Taco months ago, but the longer wait for 8BitDo’s FlipPad has been well worth it. While the Pocket Taco may be a better fit for some players and devices, the FlipPad is a thinner, lighter, cheaper, and smaller alternative that’s easier to keep on hand for occasional gaming on your phone without having to rely on an emulator’s touchscreen controls.
The FlipPad is one of 8BitDo’s smallest gamepads to date, but instead of using Bluetooth, it directly connects to and communicates with your smartphone using its USB-C charging port. That approach eliminates the need for a rechargeable battery, making the FlipPad thin enough to leave attached to your phone when slipped into your pocket.
The underside of the FlipPad is covered in a thin rubbery layer to prevent scratches where it makes contact with your phone’s screen and to add some grip and stability. However, because the gamepad is only secured to your phone using its USB-C connector, it does tend to wiggle back and forth by about a quarter of an inch while you’re playing.
The gamepad’s USB-C connector isn’t adjustable or extendable, and while I had no problem connecting it to OnePlus and Google Pixel phones protected by thin silicone cases, it was a no-go for my iPhone 16 Pro while it was inside one of Nomad’s thicker folio-style cases.
I like not having to charge the FlipPad or dig into Bluetooth settings to re-pair it when moving the gamepad between multiple phones, and its USB-C connector is hinged so when connected to your device the controls can be flipped out of the way, giving you complete access to your smartphone’s touchscreen. You don’t need to disconnect the FlipPad to unlock your device or jump between apps.
8BitDo has long been known for its excellent hardware, and the FlipPad looks and feels as premium as its most expensive console controllers, with button labels etched onto most of the buttons themselves. However, while 8BitDo confirmed that the FlipPad’s D-pad and ABXY buttons use silicone membranes, they’re stiffer and have more of a clicky feel than you’ll get with the company’s other controllers.
The buttons still feel very responsive but have much less travel. It’s not necessarily bad, just different. What could prove more divisive to gamers is the FlipPad’s two pairs of shoulder buttons that aren’t located on its top edge. You’ll instead find them lined up along the top of the front of the gamepad as a single row of four round buttons. It feels like a workaround to help keep the gamepad thin, but not a good one. Using your index fingers to press the FlipPad’s shoulder buttons while your thumbs handle the rest feels awkward and unnatural.
You’ll also want to be mindful of the controller’s limitations. You can only use it with games you play vertically and that won’t be blocked while the controls cover nearly half of your phone’s screen. I tested 8BitDo’s FlipPad with Game Boy, GBA, Super Nintendo, and Sega Genesis games using the Delta and RetroArch emulators on my iPhone. Delta centers games vertically when you’re using a controller and they get partially obscured by the FlipPad, but it’s easily fixed by turning on touch controls and using a skin that positions the game closer to the top of the screen.
Preorders for the FlipPad are now available through 8BitDo’s online store and Amazon, and the gamepad is expected to release on July 30th. It’s available for $29.99 in black or a version inspired by the original Game Boy’s colors.
With a price that’s slightly cheaper than the $34.99 Pocket Taco, the FlipPad may seem like the obvious better option, but there are a few things the Pocket Taco does better. While I prefer the FlipPad’s slim design, I’m also more of a casual gamer who doesn’t chase high scores and sticks to classic Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles. Others may prefer the larger D-pad and buttons on the Pocket Taco, which have more of a soft and squishy feel, or its shoulder buttons, which are positioned on the back of your phone where your index fingers can more comfortably reach them.
The Pocket Taco’s design makes it larger and heavier than the FlipPad, but its clamping mechanism feels more secure when attached to your phone, and it opens wide enough to accommodate devices inside a thick case. The Pocket Taco’s rechargeable battery also means it won’t drain your phone’s battery while you play, and it can function as a standalone wireless controller for a myriad of devices, including the Switch. As much as I like the FlipPad, for an extra $5 the Pocket Taco still makes a strong case for itself.
