Sheena Vasani | 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.2026-05-02T00:09:10+00:00https://www.theverge.com/authors/sheena-vasani-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/rsshttps://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/verge-rss-large_80b47e.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1Sheena Vasani<![CDATA[Shokz’s bassy OpenRun Pro 2 are $40 off thanks to a new Mother’s Day promo]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9226162026-05-01T20:09:10-04:002026-05-03T11:00:00-04:00
The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 come in a variety of colors, including a traditional black hue. | Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge
If you’re looking to pick up a pair of open-ear headphones for yourself — or your mom — Shokz is running a Mother’s Day sale. Now through May 10th, the company’s best pair of bone conduction headphones, the OpenRun Pro 2, are available from Amazon, Best Buy, and Shokz for around $139.95 ($40 off), their lowest price of the year. If you purchase direct, you’ll also receive a free waist bag (a $29.99 value).
While traditional headphones tend to block out the world, open-style headphones provide a safer alternative, letting you listen to music and podcasts while remaining vigilant. After testing the OpenRun Pro 2, The Verge’sVictoria Song said using them felt “like the stars finally aligning.” Unlike many open-ear headphones, they don’t skimp on bass or clarity thanks to a dedicated air conduction speaker, though they still won’t rival a traditional pair of in-ears when it comes to sound quality. Still, they’re more comfortable than earlier Shokz models, with flexible ear hooks and a lightweight neckband that creates a secure, natural fit, even for those who wear glasses.
The fact that the Pro 2 vibrate significantly less than other models is another highlight, as is battery life. They offer up to 12 hours on a single charge, which was enough for us to go nearly a week without plugging them in (they charge incredibly fast via USB-C, too). They also include AI-powered noise cancellation for calls (though results were mixed in our testing) and an IP55 rating, making them well-suited for both sweaty workouts and outdoor use.
The OpenFit 2 Plus are nearly identical to the OpenFit 2 we tested in June. The wireless earbuds feature the same open-style design, a set of onboard controls, and dedicated bass speakers, but they also support wireless charging and Dolby Audio.
The standard OpenRun are a lighter option than the newer OpenRun Pro 2, with a streamlined wraparound design, up to eight hours of battery life, and an IP67 rating for better water resistance. However, they don’t offer the same bass performance or USB-C charging.
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Sheena Vasani<![CDATA[Aura’s delightful Aspen photo frame is on sale for $30 off this weekend]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9225132026-05-01T19:33:29-04:002026-05-02T13:00:00-04:00
The Aura Aspen offers a bright, vivid display that looks surprisingly lifelike for a digital photo frame. | Image: Aura
Aura’s digital frames are kind of like living photo albums that get better with time, which is why we often recommend them for Mother’s Day. They’re gifts that keep on giving, in a way, and right now, a number of Aura’s connected frames are on sale ahead of the holiday. One of the best deals is on the Aura Aspen, which is available for $199 ($30 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Aura, matching its all-time low.
Although you can preload Aura’s 12-inch LCD frame with photos before it arrives, what really makes the Aspen special is that loved ones around the world can add new images to the frame using the Aura app (or by text message). It also supports Live Photos and can play 30-second video clips — providing a personal touch that traditional frames and albums can’t offer — and allows you to add captions to each photo.
The digital frame is designed to make it easy to display and manage those memories, too. It features adjustable slideshow speeds, automatic brightness that adapts to the room, and an in-app scanner that lets you digitize older printed photos. There are no subscription fees either, meaning you can upload unlimited photos via the Aura app or sync albums from iCloud, Google Photos, and other cloud-based services.
Despite its connected functionality, the Aspen still looks and feels like a traditional picture frame, complete with an adjustable metal stand. The antiglare, paper-like display gives photos a more lifelike quality, and you can display images in either landscape or portrait mode. It’s 1600 x 1200 resolution and 4:3 aspect ratio match most smartphone photos, too, so images fill the screen naturally without awkward cropping.
The Aura Carver Mat features a 10.1-inch HD (1280 x 800) landscape display with a paper-like matted border. It displays photos, Live Photos, and 30-second video clips, all of which you can upload for free. It also includes portrait pairing, so you can showcase two vertical photos side by side.
The Walden is Aura’s largest digital photo frame, with a 15-inch HD (1600 x 1200) display. It uses a 4:3 aspect ratio and works in both portrait and landscape orientation. It also includes wall mounting and unlimited uploads via the Aura app and other services.
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Sheena Vasani<![CDATA[Birdfy’s smart bird feeder is down to its best-ever price for Mother’s Day]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9221652026-05-01T14:42:24-04:002026-05-01T14:42:24-04:00
From crafting machines to smart calendars, a number of unique gifts are already on sale in the run-up to Mother’s Day, May 10th. Birdfy smart feeders are another discounted option to consider, particularly the new Birdfy Feeder Metal 2 (4K), which is on sale for $259.99 ($50 off). If you’re looking to spend less, you can also grab the basic Birdfy Feeder for just $99.99 ($100 off) from Amazon or Birdfy, with the latter retailer throwing in a free botanical gift bag and greeting card.
Birdfy’s standard bird feeder uses a 1080p camera with a 155-degree field of view and color night vision to capture birds in clear detail as they stop by. It then sends real-time alerts to the Birdfy mobile app for Android and iOS, where you can watch live feeds or browse recorded clips, whether you’re at home or away. Birdfy saves 20-second clips in the cloud for free for up to 30 days, too, so you can revisit old footage or share your newfound observations with friends later.
The app also includes a handful of AI-powered features, which are free for a week, after which they require a premium Birdfy subscription ($4.99 a month or $69.99 for lifetime access). The tools allow you to identify more than 6,000 bird species, share fun facts, and receive daily highlights and monthly summaries. You can also set alerts for specific bird species, just in case you’re trying to capture that elusive summer tanager or the occasional gray flycatcher that happens to pass by.
What’s more, the Feeder is relatively easy to set up and maintain, given that it comes with a flip-up roof and all the mounting attachments you need for affixing it to a pole, wall, or tree. It offers an IP65 weather-resistant rating and features a large 50-ounce seed container, so you don’t need to refill it as often as some other models. It also runs on a 5,200mAh rechargeable battery that can last up to three months, or indefinitely with the optional solar panel, which starts at $29.99.
If you’re willing to spend more, the higher-end Birdfy Feeder Metal 2 (4K) takes things a step further with a sharper 4K camera and a more durable metal design. It also comes with a built-in solar cell and AI bird recognition, so you don’t need to pay extra for a subscription. It’s one of the first models to support Birdfy’s forthcoming advanced OrniSense AI system, too, which will provide additional information about visiting birds, including health insights and details such as gender.
Other Birdfy Mother’s Day deals
Birdfy Bath Pro with Stand
The Birdfy Bath Pro is a solar-powered smart birdbath with a built-in fountain and dual-lens camera system. It features a 1080p wide-angle lens, a 2K portrait lens, and AI-powered recognition software that can identify more than 6,000 species. Additional features include color night vision, two-way audio, and an IP66 waterproof rating.
The Birdfy Feeder Rookie is an entry-level feeder with a built-in 1080p camera that sends real-time alerts to your phone and displays live feeds. It can capture HD video in slow motion with color night vision, while a paid subscription lets you identify visiting bird species via AI. The feeder also holds up to 1.3 liters of seed and offers an IP66 rating.
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Sheena Vasani<![CDATA[The Verge’s 2026 Mother’s Day gift guide]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9070322026-05-01T10:09:19-04:002026-05-01T10:09:03-04:00
Whether it’s managing a busy home or looking out for everyone around them, moms spend a lot of time every day caring for others. Mother’s Day, May 10th, is an opportunity to return the favor, so we’ve rounded up practical gadgets and little luxuries that can lighten her load.
This year’s picks are designed to support moms in a variety of ways, regardless of their interests. Some of our recs, like Roborock’s mop-equipped Q10 Plus, can help save precious time, while smart screens like the Skylight Calendar 2 can help take the stress out of managing a busy family schedule. Other gifts are all about relaxation and self-care, whether through wellness tracking, massage, or a salon-like blowout.
As always, we’ve thrown in a few sentimental items — including a digital photo frame and an illustrated mug — just in case you want something a little more personal. No matter what she’s into, though, you’ll surely find something below that will make her special day even better.
Birdfy Feeder
Birdfy’s smart feeder lets mom appreciate each feathery friend as they stop by and eat. The feeder’s 1080p camera can record and identify birds that swing by for a snack, offering beautiful close-up views. Users will also receive alerts and video clips on their phones via the app, so they’ll never miss a moment.
The Shark FlexStyle Air is like getting multiple hair tools in one. It works as both a powerful hair dryer and a styling tool, with add-ons for curling, smoothing, and introducing volume. It’s lighter and often more affordable than comparable tools, but still delivers salon-like results at home for all types of hair.
The Quince Mulberry Silk Pillowcase can take care of mom’s skin and hair while she catches up on sleep. The smooth silk helps minimize frizz, tangles, and split ends while also being gentler on the skin, helping reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It’s also temperature-regulating, so it should keep her comfortable while she’s resting.
The Aura Carver is a modern twist on the physical photo albums of yore. The 10-inch digital frame can display both photos and short videos, and family and friends can easily add new memories via the mobile app, iCloud, or Google Photos. The app also lets you add captions to photos and scan printed photos to upload.
Govee’s color-changing smart lamp is an easy way to elevate the vibe of any room. It syncs with music and features over 60 lighting presets, from calming modes to help mom unwind to brighter settings that are perfect for getting work done. It also supports Matter, allowing you to integrate it with your smart home platforms of choice.
Moms who love to unwind with a good book will appreciate Amazon’s latest entry-level Kindle, which is both lighter and thinner than most paperbacks. The six-inch ebook reader can store thousands of books, and it features a sharp, glare-free display that’s comfortable to read at home or on the go.
The Ohom Ui 3 is perfect for moms who are tired of reheating their beverages. The elegant 12-ounce mug can keep drinks hot long after they’ve been poured, and its wireless charging pad can be used to top off a smartphone or a pair of earbuds. That makes Ohom’s ceramic set more convenient than other self-heating mugs, including Ember’s.
The Niimbot D110 makes organizing fun and easy, letting mom quickly bring order to her pantry, closet, or office. She can type labels out on her phone, and the pocket-sized printer connects over Bluetooth. Its companion app is loaded with templates, too, as well as fonts, borders, and icons for creating personalized labels.
The latest Apple Watch SE is the kind of gift mom will likely use every day. In addition to providing her with easy access to notifications and media playback, it can track a range of health metrics, including her menstrual cycle and heart rate. Its built-in safety features can also call for help, which may bring peace of mind to both the gift giver and recipient.
Linger is great for moms who are trying to eat healthier without sacrificing flavor. The terrific cookbook features more than 100 creative recipes that make me hungry just typing them out — including a caprese salad with grilled pineapple, a vegan dan dan noodle salad, and a tomato and kimchi pasta salad, to name a few.
Even moms who lack a green thumb can use the Gardyn Studio 2 to grow fresh herbs, greens, and veggies at home. The smart, AI-powered garden can take care of the watering on her behalf, and includes a camera so she can monitor plant health. The indoor hydroponic garden also features vertical grow lights so everything can thrive year-round.
Considering how little Ikea’s Kallsup speaker costs, there’s no reason mom should still be relying on her phone to play the latest K-pop tracks. The colorful Bluetooth cube looks adorable, and it’s cheap enough that you can gift more than one, letting her connect multiple speakers to play music throughout the house.
If mom wants fuller, smoother lips without injections, Buxom’s Plump Shot Lip Serum is the way to go. Made with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and jojoba oil, it smooths and visibly plumps lips in under a minute in a way that’s not over-the-top, while adding an attractive glossy sheen.
If your mom’s schedule is chockful of events, the Skylight Calendar 2 can bring a sense of order. The 15-inch display shows color-coded schedules at a glance, with built-in tools for assigning chores, meal planning, and more. It also syncs with multiple calendars and can import events from photos.
Lego’s new Hibiscus set is a creative, hands-on twist of what is often considered a classic Mother’s Day gift. The 660-piece set features lavender-colored petals and posable leaves, plus a nice blue pot that’ll look great as home decor once you and your mom put it together.
Mom can benefit from smart home tech without getting too into the weeds with the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim. The hub-less gadget lets her control her lights, coffee maker, and other devices with her phone, which she can also use to set schedules. The inexpensive plug also tracks energy use, helping her keep her electricity bills in check.
Moms often put others first, making Fierce Self-Compassion a useful resource for learning to put some focus on themselves, too. The book pairs research with real-life insights to illustrate how speaking up and setting boundaries is a form of self-compassion, one that’s essential for creating a healthier society for all women.
Ekrin Athletics’ quiet yet powerful B37 makes it easy for mom to get the deluxe treatment at home. The excellent massage gun features five speeds and four attachments for targeting everything from the neck to the feet, along with an angled handle to reach tricky spots, including her back.
Summer Day on the River offers something a little different for puzzle-loving moms. It’s a charming brainteaser with a gentle summer scene and plenty of cute animals, but it’s also surprisingly difficult. Nearly every piece is an edge piece, so there’s no clear starting point, making it a fun, challenging gift.
The Oura Ring 4 is a piece of modern tech masquerading as jewelry, the kind that lets you keep tabs on your health without sacrificing style. The smart, rechargeable ring can monitor all sorts of metrics — including your heart rate and menstrual cycle — and it’s more comfortable to wear at night for sleep tracking than a watch.
If mom enjoys journaling or even just making to-do lists the old-fashioned way, a JetPens bundle can make it all feel a little more special. Each set is color-coordinated and features a variety of stationery, including pens, notebooks, a highlighter, and a case to keep everything organized.
L’Oréal’s Colorsonic makes the messy process of at-home hair dying far less of a hassle — or it should, anyway. The device automatically mixes the color and distributes it evenly as it glides through your hair, speeding up the dye job, reducing mess, and simplifying the procedure overall.
The Iniu Carry P55 Power Bank makes for a useful gift if mom’s phone is constantly on the brink of death. The slim 10,000mAh charger can deliver 45W of power, letting you quickly charge an iPhone 17 or similarly sized phone to over 50 percent in under 30 minutes. It features two USB-C ports and a USB-A port, so she can charge up to three devices at the same time.
AirTags might be popular for tracking baggage at the airport, but they’re also handy for keeping tabs on EDC. Apple’s latest trackers can pinpoint items more precisely — and from farther away — than the OG model, and they have a louder speaker, so mom can quickly track down her keys or purse when she’s scrambling to get out the door in a hurry.
A mug isn’t necessarily the most exciting gift, but a personalized mug is certainly more fun than most. Shelly Klein’s custom 15-ounce vessels feature a playful illustration of your favorite family member, making them a practical everyday gift that might even elicit a chuckle from time to time.
The Pixel Buds 2A can help even the busiest of moms get a moment of peace. They offer great performance and plenty of features for the price, including solid ANC for tuning out distractions. The wireless earbuds also support Gemini AI with Pixel phones, letting her ask for directions, have it read out messages, and get answers to questions on her mind.
Mira Blackman’s hand-dyed beanies are a bit like two caps in one. Thanks to their hand-dyed process, one side is often more saturated than the other, giving it a slightly different feel. The thick cotton is also soft, warm, and breathable, and no two hats turn out exactly alike.
Hiromi Takeda’s Poppies card feels more like gifting a small piece of Japanese art than stationery. When opened, it reveals a beautiful set of pop-up flowers, with enough space around each paper bloom to leave a meaningful message. You can choose from other flowers as well, like roses, hibiscus, or orchids.
Whether mom grew up with a Nintendo Game Boy or not, GameSir’s Pocket Taco is a lot of fun. The wireless mobile controller clamps onto the bottom of your phone, turning it into a tiny handheld console with real buttons and a physical D-pad. It makes playing retro titles feel better than using a touchscreen.
Mom, I Want to Hear Your Story is a guided journal featuring 300 prompts designed to help her reflect on her life, from childhood memories to major life moments. The series was created by Jeffrey Mason after losing his father to Alzheimer’s, with a focus on preserving family stories, making this a gift you’ll both value long after it’s filled in.
The Camp Snap Pro brings back that classic point-and-shoot feel, but with a few modern touches. It’s screen-free, captures photos with a sharp 16-megapixel sensor, and features a simple dial for quickly swapping between four film-style filters. It’s rechargeable via USB-C, too, and lets you store photos on an SD card just like the good ol’ days.
Drybar’s Clean Sweep Detox Duo Kit is a great gift for busy moms who may not always have time for a full hair wash. The bundle includes two oil-absorbing dry shampoos with gentle scents that can refresh roots and add a bit of volume without leaving a noticeable residue.
If there’s one thing most moms could use more of, it’s time. The Roborock Q10 S5 Plus lets her focus on other things while it thoroughly scrubs her floors and hits them with 10,000Pa of suction power. The outstanding robot vacuum includes a self-emptying bin, too, and its AI-powered obstacle avoidance reduces the need for constant redirection.
W.I.T.C.H. Oracle: Woman In Total Control of Herself card set
The W.I.T.C.H. Oracle: Woman In Total Control of Herself card set is a meaningful gift for moms interested in spirituality and personal development. The set includes 44 beautifully illustrated (and diverse) cards featuring empowering messages, along with prompts that inspire self-reflection.
The Dyson HushJet Mini Cool is a powerful and quiet personal fan with adjustable speeds (and up to six hours of battery per charge), and it’s small enough to toss in a bag. It’s also one of the most fashionable options, so we wouldn’t blame mom for wearing it around her neck with the included strap.
The Cricut Joy 2 is a gift that can reconnect mom with her creative side. It’s beginner-friendly (and great for moms who already love to craft), with all the materials and tools she needs to make fun stickers, organize stuff with labels, or put together custom cards for friends and family.
The Glocusent LED Neck Reading Light is one of those “how did I manage without this?” gifts. It’s made to make nighttime reading easier, though its flexible, hands-free design is great for shining a light on a number of tasks, like crafting or making small repairs. There are three color temperatures and multiple brightness levels.
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Sheena Vasani<![CDATA[Cricut’s Joy 2 makes creating stickers easier for beginners, and it’s on sale]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9213552026-04-30T12:45:06-04:002026-04-30T12:45:06-04:00
The Cricut Joy 2 doesn’t take up much desk space and looks pretty cute. | Image: Cricut
If you’ve ever thought about making your own stickers for Etsy or just for fun but don’t know where to begin, I’d recommend taking a look at the Cricut Joy 2. I’ve been testing one for a couple of weeks now, and as someone completely new to the Cricut ecosystem, I’ve found it to be a relatively beginner-friendly way to get started. It also costs less than most Cricut models and is currently discounted as part of the company’s sale. While the machine itself is $99, the bundles offer better value right now: the Essentials Bundle starts at $119 ($20 off) at Amazon and Cricut and includes supplies for 35 projects, while the Ultimate Bundle is down to $169 ($50 off) at Amazon and Cricut, and adds extra tools — including an iron press — for over 75 projects right out of the box.
Designed for smaller, everyday projects, the Cricut Joy 2 brings the company’s Print Then Cut feature to its entry-level lineup. That means you can print full-color designs using your home printer and then have the machine precisely cut them out, making it possible to create sticker sheets. In my testing, that’s been one of the most satisfying activities — and once you get the hang of it, it’s fairly quick and straightforward. (Just note that while you can use a laser printer, you’ll need to supply your own compatible sticker paper, as Cricut’s are designed for inkjet printers.) Beyond stickers, it can also create custom cards, simple vinyl decals, labels, bookmarks, and iron-ons, which I’ve found useful for both creative projects and more practical things like planner templates and drawer labels.
Setup is relatively straightforward, though Design Space — Cricut’s app for creating your design — does come with a bit of a learning curve. I struggled to get the hang of it, but after a few days of tutorials and using pre-made templates, it started to click and projects came together much more quickly. A big part of that was the free 30-day trial of Cricut Access subscription, which I used to experiment with a much larger library of templates, images, and fonts than what’s available for free. Just keep in mind it auto-renews after the trial, starting at $9.99 per month unless you cancel.
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Sheena Vasani<![CDATA[The best deals we found during Amazon’s Gaming Week]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9196712026-04-29T18:46:11-04:002026-04-29T11:14:53-04:00
The Deluxe edition of Elden Ring Nightreign comes with DLC and is on sale. | Image: Bandai Namco
Amazon’s annual Gaming Week is bringing discounts on video games, accessories, and PC components through May 4th. This event is smaller than Amazon’s other sales, but there are some genuinely good deals. This year, we’ve found deals on popular titles like Elden Ring Nightreign, plus rare discounts on the Nex Playground console and on top-notch Nintendo Switch 2 controllers like the EasySMX S10. We’ve also found discounts on an assortment of laptops, monitors, and other gaming gear, some of which are happening at Amazon and other retailers, too.
Nex Playground
The Nex Playground is a motion-controlled console that uses its built-in camera to track your movements as you play on the TV. Designed for ages five and up, it comes with games like Fruit Ninja and Whack-a-Mole Deluxe. You can download more games, including titles featuring popular characters like Elmo, with a paid Play Pass subscription.
You can buy the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor for $324.99 ($125 off) at Amazon, which is its second-best price to date. The impressive eight-core processor can handle multitasking without slowing down, with fast clock speeds, surprising efficiency when under pressure, and a lot of cache memory compared to other models at this price point. AMD’s 3D V-Cache specializes in helping games run smoother and possibly faster, depending on the capabilities of your other components. Read our review.
Razer’s Basilisk V3 Pro wireless gaming mouse is on sale for $129.99 ($30 off), its second-best price, at Amazon and Best Buy. The accessory features a 35K DPI optical sensor, which lets gamers achieve more precise aim no matter their sensitivity preferences. It offers 13 programmable buttons, while Razer’s HyperScroll tilt wheel lets you lets you choose between controlled scrolling and quicker, free-spin scrolling. As a bonus, you also get customizable RGB lighting.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (PlayStation 5)
The middle game in Square Enix’s trilogy of remakes, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth continues the reimagining of the classic PS1 RPG with modern visuals, an expansive open world, new gameplay elements, and even better character development.
Resident Evil 7 BiohazardGold Edition for PlayStation 5 includes the base game and all major DLC for just $15.99 ($14 off) at Amazon. The game was the series’ first attempt at delivering scares in a first-person perspective, though it doesn’t betray its survival horror roots. Set partly in a rundown Louisiana home, players take on the role of Ethan Winters as he tries to find his missing wife. Read our Resident Evil 7 review.
The white Razer Raiju V3 Pro wireless controller is on sale for $169.99 ($50 off) at Amazon, marking its second-best price so far. Designed for the PlayStation 5 and PC, it’s built with competitive games in mind, offering low-latency wireless performance plus the ability to be wired for lower latency. It also features six remappable buttons and customizable triggers so you can tweak the controls to your liking, while the TMR magnetic joysticks are designed to resist drifting over time.
Elden Ring Nightreign (Deluxe Edition)
FromSoftware’s co-op title, Nightreign, pairs the visual flair and challenging combat of Elden Ring with a host of multiplayer elements, resulting in an ever-changing take on the beloved title. The Deluxe edition includes the game along with a digital artbook, The Forsaken Hollows DLC, and a soundtrack. If you buy it from Amazon, you also get a free poster. Read our review.
You can buy Kirby Star Allies at Amazon for $39.99 ($20 off) for $5 shy of its all-time low, making it one of the better prices we’ve seen for the whimsical Nintendo Switch title. Like most Kirby games, it’s simple and charming, with the co-op action and puzzles being the main draw. You can play with up to three other people, making it a great family-friendly option that’s easy to pick up and fun even for younger players. Read our review.
EasySMX S10
The EasySMX S10 is our favorite Switch 2 controller for people who don’t want to spend twice as much on Nintendo’s option. It offers an excellent take on HD rumble, along with amiibo support and the ability to wake the Switch remotely. It features a swappable eight-way (circular) D-pad, and can also work with PC, Steam Deck, and mobile devices.
Fire Emblem: Three Housesis available for $39.99 ($20 off) at Amazon. The strategy RPG combines thrilling turn-based battles with a more personal, story-driven approach compared to most of its predecessors. You play as a professor at a monastery, guiding students to become better in the classroom and on the battlefield, and it’s especially rewarding to build a bond with them over time (that is, unless you play on classic mode where your students die permanently in battle). Read our review.
Asus ROG Strix G16 (2025)
The Asus ROG Strix G16 should be able to run most games at high settings on its 1200p screen thanks to its Intel Core i7-14650HX processor and Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU. The laptop also offers a 16-inch 165Hz display, nine ports, and loads of RGB lighting.
The Razer Barracuda X is down to $64.99 ($35 off) at Amazon, which is one of the better prices we’ve seen on the wireless headset. In his hands-on impressions from 2021, my colleague Cameron Faulkner noted that it sounds great for the price, while its lightweight design and breathable ear pads make it comfortable to wear for hours. It doesn’t support Bluetooth, but it does include a USB-C wireless transmitter, making it easy to use with devices like PC, Nintendo Switch 2, or the PlayStation 5.
AOC’s Q27GAZD QD-OLED gaming monitor (27-inches)
AOC’s 27-inch QD-OLED display offers a sharp 1440p resolution with a snappy 240Hz refresh rate. Its panel delivers vibrant colors and deep blacks, while the fast 0.03ms response time helps reduce motion blur in games.
You can pick up the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16gaming laptop for $1,639.99 ($560 off) at Amazon, marking one of its better prices to date. Powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX chip and an Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti GPU, the duo can make short work of graphics-intensive games. The vibrant 16-inch WQXGA (1600p) display supports up to a snappy 240Hz refresh rate, and its 16GB of DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD deliver fast loading times and solid multitasking capabilities.
MSI Cyborg 17
MSI’s Cyborg 17 is a huge gaming laptop for those on a budget. It features a 17.3-inch display with a fast 144Hz refresh rate, along with an Intel Core 7 240H processor, RTX 5060 graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Like the smaller MSI Cyborg 14, it also sports MSI’s semi-transparent design.
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Sheena Vasani<![CDATA[The latest Kindle Paperwhite drops to its best price all year]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9196442026-04-28T12:59:13-04:002026-04-28T12:59:13-04:00
The latest Kindle Paperwhite adds waterproofing, so you can read by the pool. | Image: The Verge
Mother’s Day is coming up, and if you’re looking for a present, we recently published our gift guide with a range of ideas. One of those recommendations is the $109.99 entry-level Kindle, but right now you can buy the latest version of the higher-end Kindle Paperwhite with 16GB of storage and ads on sale starting at $134.99 ($25 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, making it the better buy. That’s its best price of the year, and $10 shy of the all-time low we last saw on Black Friday. The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, which adds wireless charging and double the base storage, is also on sale for $164.99 ($25 off) at Amazon and Best Buy.
For about $15 more, the Kindle Paperwhite adds waterproofing, so you (or mom) can read by the pool or in the bath without worrying. It also adds an adjustable warm frontlight that, in my experience, is easier on the eyes at night and less disruptive when you’re trying to wind down before bed. I also find its larger seven-inch display is slightly more comfortable to read, while battery life lasts months, so you won’t need to recharge it as often.
Like the base Kindle, the Paperwhite also offers a sharp 300ppi display and USB-C support. It weighs less than the iPhone 17 Pro Max with enough storage to hold thousands of books — though fewer if you’re downloading audiobooks — so you can easily take your library on the go. And when you want something new to read, it’s incredibly easy to browse, buy, and download books directly from Amazon’s Kindle store, which is why it’s my go-to pick for those embedded in Amazon’s ecosystem.
Newegg is selling the PC edition of Marathon for $26.99 ($13 off) with code EPF4475. Set in a strange sci-fi universe in 2850, the extraction shooter puts you in the role of a Runner, who is sent into dangerous areas to scavenge resources and escape alive. My colleague Andrew Webster described it as a weird game “in the best possible way,”one he was eager to keep playing after just a few hours, thanks to its captivating world and satisfying core action.
As a part of Moft’s Mother’s Day Sale, you can save 15 percent when you buy two or more items over $10 from this list. The promo includes Moft’s upcoming Trackable Tripod Wallet, which acts as a small tripod with tracking capabilities through Apple’s Find My network. It also comes with a wireless remote, so you can take photos without touching your phone. Moft is also taking 20 percent off other items with code STACKABLE, including the MagSafe-compatible Snap Case Movas for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, which is $39.99 ($10 off).
You can once again buy the 13-inch MacBook Air with an M5 chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD on sale for $949.99 ($150 off) at Amazon. The new Air builds on its predecessor with improved performance, double the base storage, and support for Wi-Fi 7. It also offers faster read and write speeds, so it’s much easier to transfer files quickly and multitask, while retaining long battery life that should last you well over a full work day. Read our review.
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Sheena Vasani<![CDATA[Skylight’s 15-inch smart calendar is down to its lowest price to date]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9185442026-04-26T10:05:03-04:002026-04-26T10:05:03-04:00
Skylight’s color-coded smart calendar supports two-way syncing with Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, and Apple’s iCloud calendar, among others. | Image: Skylight
When you’re juggling more than just your own calendar, staying organized can be overwhelming. Fortunately, the Skylight Calendar 2 can help simplify things by syncing multiple calendars in a single spot, and now through May 7th, it’s available directly from Skylight for $259.99 ($40 off), its best price to date.
Skylight’s 15-inch smart calendar improves upon the original with a brighter screen, faster performance, and a slimmer design with swappable magnetic frames. Otherwise, though, it offers the same core experience, making it easy for the whole family to see events at a glance, whether you mount it on a wall or place it on a kitchen counter using the included adjustable stand. It automatically syncs with Google, Apple, Yahoo, Outlook, and Cozi calendars, pulling them into a single shared space that updates automatically. Each household member gets their own color, too, so it’s easy to keep track of who’s doing what.
In addition to event planning, the Calendar 2 makes it easier to arrange and assign other day-to-day tasks. You can create and manage shared chore charts, grocery lists, and to-do lists directly on the touchscreen device or through the mobile app for Android and iOS, which makes it easy for everyone in your household to stay on track and contribute. Skylight also provides detailed weather forecasts for your events, so you know what to expect before heading out.
If you subscribe to Skylight’s Calendar Plus plan, the Calendar 2 takes even more of the work off your plate. You can forward emails, upload PDFs, or snap photos of flyers and automatically turn them into calendar events. You also get meal planning tools that let you plan breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for the week, as well as the ability to assign chores and reward kids for completing them. Plus, just for fun, there’s a screensaver mode that turns the display into an ad hoc digital photo frame when it’s not actively being used as a calendar.
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Sheena Vasani<![CDATA[The Govee smart lamp brightened up my room, and then my life]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9138542026-04-24T14:38:04-04:002026-04-25T09:30:00-04:00
I knew things were not quite right when I had to throw a towel over a broken Ikea lamp to block out its light. How did I get here? I cover fancy and capable tech for a living, and yet, it took me two years to get rid of a pair of old, broken Ikea lamps in my bedroom. Then I got some floor lamps from Govee that changed everything.
Those Ikea lamps were around for two years after I moved from Orange County to Los Angeles. Soon after that move, my mom’s Parkinson’s disease — a neurodegenerative condition with no cure — progressed quickly, my mental health took a hit, and most of my own to-do list quietly slid to the back burner as she lost mobility and more urgent things took over. So the big, ugly lamps just… stayed. They became part of the background, like everything else I wasn’t taking care of.
I didn’t even have them plugged into a smart plug — another small upgrade I kept meaning to add to my bedroom, despite having them all over the apartment — which meant I had to get up every time I wanted to turn one on.
One blasted harsh, overpoweringly bright light through a cracked shade. The other was warmer — but not warm enough — so I solved that problem one exhausted night by just throwing a towel over it. Yes, a fire hazard. Yes, I meant it as a temporary fix for a few days. But scattered caregiving brain means temporary fixes can turn into long-term solutions. At some point, it stopped feeling temporary and just became my new normal, even if it clearly wasn’t.
Then my brother bought my mom and me two separate Govee Uplighter Floor Lamps for Christmas, and my Ikea lamp troubles were over. I did not expect to develop an emotional attachment to a lamp. But I did, and now it’s one of my favorite gadgets.
The Govee was quick and easy to assemble, and much slimmer, taking up way less space than the old lamps. As I got rid of the old and set up the new, I felt an odd sense of relief and a small sense of control I hadn’t felt since the move.
Within a week, the old lamp was out of my room. That small shift gave me momentum. I started decluttering other corners that had quietly piled up, things I’d been stepping around for months without really seeing anymore.
The bedroom stopped feeling like an unfinished project I was merely surviving, and started feeling steadier. Calmer. Like a place I could finally exhale in. My days often feel structured around what my mom needs and what has to get done next. I don’t really think about my own space at all, except as something else I haven’t gotten to yet. Having a room that felt calm, even a little bit, made it easier to wind down at the end of the day instead of carrying that feeling of being “on” all the time into the night. It brought me back to myself, even if only a little.
I could relax in a way I hadn’t in a while, without feeling like I should be getting up to do something else. I could dim the lamp from my phone instead of standing up. I could shift from cool to warm without needing a towel and risking starting a fire. There’s a ripple effect that slowly moves across the wall and, for reasons I can’t fully explain, genuinely helps me fall asleep. Cycling through soft colors in the app and syncing it with ambient music is soothing. Sometimes, the changing colors feel a little bit like magic, and I find myself watching them the way I might have as a kid, reminded — briefly — that life can be more playful than it’s felt in a while. The warm, shifting light seems to have a similar effect on my mom, who lives with me, sometimes comforting and even dazzling her as she navigates some of the more difficult parts of the disease, like sundowning, along with her own quiet grief of losing pieces of herself.
And I love that it does all that and more without demanding much. Setup took about 15 to 20 minutes and didn’t require that I try to wrap my head around tools. You control it through the Govee app on your phone, and because it supports Matter, you can also pair it with platforms like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for voice control. It offers a wide range of colors, along with 80 preset scenes and seven music modes. At $179.99, it’s pricey, but it’s versatile, basically acting as three lights in one: a top section that casts a soft ripple onto the ceiling, a colorful middle light, and a regular white light at the bottom.
It’s an amazing gift, truly, and I am so grateful for it. Mine, however, had just one problem: It sometimes forgets to be a lamp. It doesn’t lose Wi-Fi. It doesn’t show as offline in the app. It just turns off randomly. The first time it happened, I was rewatching Stranger Things to prepare for the last season. The lights flickered on screen, and then my room went dark. The vibe went from relaxing to terrifying in a second, as I briefly wondered if reality and TV had merged (I might have also had too much wine). Once my brain rebooted, I opened the Govee app and turned it back on. No problem. I assumed it was a power or Wi-Fi issue. Govee sent me a new unit that worked perfectly.
When it works — which is most of the time — it quietly makes my life better. And somehow, that’s been enough to make it one of my new favorite gadgets. It didn’t fix everything, but it helped me start taking care of my space — and myself — again.
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Sheena Vasani<![CDATA[Keychron’s customizable V1 mechanical keyboard is back down to $45]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9167572026-04-24T13:33:12-04:002026-04-23T13:02:48-04:00
If you’ve ever wished your laptop keyboard was better tailored to your workflow, the Keychron V1 is a solid upgrade. It doesn’t cost as much as most other mechanical keyboards, but it still offers a lot of the same flexibility. And now through April 25th, you can buy the wired board for $44.99 ($30 off) with red switches from Woot, matching its all-time low price. Other models are also on sale at Amazon and directly from Keychron for about $25 more.
The V1 includes features you don’t always get at this price. It nearly matches the typing experience of more expensive keyboards, offering a sturdy build that feels nice to type on. The keyboard also offers a small 75 percent layout that mimics a laptop-style keyboard without the numpad.
It’s also customizable. The V1 supports hot-swappable switches, so you’re not stuck with the red ones that come with this discounted model and can easily change how it feels later on. It also works with VIA software, letting you customize keys and create shortcuts that fit how you actually use your keyboard, whether that’s for work or play. You also get customizable RGB backlighting if you want to add a bit more style to your work setup.
Beyond that, the keyboard offers double-shot PBT keycaps that are more durable than what you’ll find on cheaper boards, so they won’t wear down quickly. It also works with both Mac and Windows right out of the box. A switch on the back lets you toggle easily between the two.
More deals and discounts
Skullcandy’s Method 360 ANC are on sale for $77.99 ($52 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is $3 shy of their all-time low price. Created in partnership with Bose, the budget-friendly wireless earbuds feature sound tuning alongside a secure, comfortable fit, thanks to three ear gel and fin sizes that help block out noise. A four-mic hybrid ANC system helps tune out distractions, while a Stay-Aware mode lets in sound when needed. They also come with a sliding charging case and a built-in clip for attaching to things, along with extra conveniences like a low-latency mode.
You can buy the Lego Flowering Cactus for $29.99 ($5 off) at Amazon and Target, which matches its all-time low price. The 482-piece set lets you create two small cacti, one in full bloom with a pink-and-yellow flower and the other with smaller buds. Both sit in a pastel blue plant pot, and make for cute decor once built.
The 15.6-inch Espresso Lite 15 Portable Monitor is on sale for $219 ($30 off) at Amazon when you clip the on-page coupon, which is its best price to date. The 1080p panel is sharp and bright enough for everyday work, and the magnetic folding stand makes it easy to carry and prop up anywhere. The lightweight monitor’s also powered by a single USB-C cable, so you don’t need to worry about carrying a bunch of adapters.
