Gadgets

Marketing materials for the Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 have been shared online by leaker Evan Blass. The Galaxy Watch 9 reportedly features a Snapdragon Wear Elite chip, and is shown in three color options. The Watch Ultra 2 upgrades reportedly include a 800mAh battery and up to 5,000 nits of peak brightness.

There’s a Tascam Portastudio 424 MK III!

First announced at CES, the latest version of Samsung’s all-in-one home theater solution is finally available through Samsung’s online store for $1,199.99. That’s a bit steep for 430 ISO lumens and a 1080P resolution when Xgimi’s latest portable does 1,600 ISO lumens for $799, but Samsung’s can correct for distortions on uneven projection surfaces like curtains.

Online movie seller Gruv (operated by Universal Pictures, if you didn’t know) is capitalizing on The Odyssey hitting theaters by discounting many classic Ancient Rome films and Christopher Nolan movies. Dune also made the cut for some reason, giving you plenty of options if you want to hear that signature Hans Zimmer “BWAAAAAH” sound. First-time customers can save 15 percent off your order with code FIRSTGRUV15 at checkout.

Following the release of Anbernic’s RG34XX handheld last December, Ayaneo has revealed its own updated take on Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance. The company didn’t share any specs for its upcoming Konkr Pocket Advance, but like Anbernic’s it will include four action buttons and potentially rely on emulation instead of a cartridge slot.

For some users and indie developers, that’s a step too far. Now, they’re starting to fight back:

You can grab the noise-canceling AirPods 4 for $144.99 ($35 off) at Amazon and Walmart, which is the best price we’ve seen since earlier this year. While they don’t tune out noise quite as well as the AirPods Pro, we were impressed by how well they reduced sounds on planes and offices. They also sound great and offer Pro-like perks including wireless charging and Find My support. Read our review.

If you’re planning another Jurassic Park rewatch this week you’ll want to keep this detailed breakdown of all the computers featured in the film on hand. Developer Fabien Sanglard identifies and shares interesting details on all the fictional park’s hardware from SGI workstations to a full-on Thinking Machines CM-5 supercomputer.

MacBooks have hard, pointy edges. But would you take a hand file or sanding block to your laptop? Software engineer Max Bretschneider did just that, and the results look pretty good. The more heavily filed MacBook Pro he cites for inspiration from designer Kent Walters? Less so. (Yikes!)

The EU is excluding wearable devices, including smartwatches, fitness trackers, and smart glasses, from an incoming rule that will require a wide range of electronics to have user-replaceable batteries. The Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t exempt, though, and will come with a replaceable battery in the EU by the time the law goes into effect in February 2027.

Valve’s Steam Machine might be exactly the living room console you’ve been waiting for. Or it might be too expensive, totally pointless, a waste of everyone’s money and shelf space. The Verge’s Sean Hollister joins the show to talk through all the feedback we’ve been getting about our coverage and our review. Is Valve’s history a pro or a con? Is the price reasonable or ridiculous? Who is this device actually for? We have much to discuss.

Back-to-school shopping season is upon us, and you can check one item off your list by picking up the Texas Instruments TI-84 Evo at Amazon for $96.99 (usually $160). With a multi-color display, redesigned home screen and keypad, and USB-C charging, the TI-84 Evo is a huge leap from the TI-83 Plus I had to deal with in geometry class.

Everyone asks Verge reviewers if we get to keep the gadgets, and the answer is no — but I can give them to you! Our third Today I’m Toying With giveaway is live, and I’m making it a regular Wednesday thing. You have to enter to win each time; I do a weekly drawing. US residents only (sorry!)

The original 1080P Elfin Flip Plus mustered just 500 ISO lumens of brightness, but the two new models bump that to a more useable 1,600 ISO lumens thanks to an upgrade to a triple laser light source. The $799 Elfin Flip Laser is still limited to 1080P, but the $999 Elfin Flip 4K also gets a welcome boost in resolution.

Alongside an upgraded version of its towering Skelly, Home Depot is introducing several new animatronics this year, including a $179 six-foot-tall hipster bartender — err, mixologist — with tattoos and a well coiffed beard and mustache. John the Last Call Mixologist also stirs a drink in a hand while speaking one of five different prerecorded phrases.

If you are, Withings’ BodyScan 2 is available to buy starting today. Why is the scale $600? Well, it measures 60 biomarkers, and it’s positioned as a “longevity station.”