Crimson Desert dev apologizes for use of AI art
Reviews of Crimson Desert have been mixed, but the bigger issue for the game has been the discovery of what appeared to be AI-generated assets in the final release. Now the developer has acknowledged that AI art was indeed used during the game's creation, but says that it was intended to be replaced before release. In a statement on X, the company said it was conducting a "comprehensive audit" to identify and replace any AI-generated content.
The company apologized for both its inclusion in the final release and for not being more transparent about its use during development. "We should have clearly disclosed our use of AI," it said.
The …
The best early deals you can already grab from Amazon’s Big Spring Sale
Amazon’s Prime Day sale may arrive earlier than usual this year, but there’s a deal event happening much sooner: Amazon’s annual Big Spring Sale, which is happening March 25th through the 31st. While it won’t be as big as Prime Day or Black Friday, it does offer you a chance to save money at a time when US tariffs have effectively increased the price of many gadgets and goods over the course of the past year.
Dozens of excellent deals — some of which we haven’t seen in months — are already starting to pop up. Some items, like Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max, have dropped to their best price since Black Friday, while a few others, like the new Echo Dot Max and Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni, have fallen to new low prices.
You don’t need a Prime membership to take advantage of many of these deals, either. Retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and Target are also matching Amazon’s pricing in many instances, so you can choose where you want to shop. We’ve rounded up some of the best deals we’ve spotted so far and will continue updating this post as more arrive.
Speaker deals
Echo Dot Max
The Echo Dot Max features a flat design and a redesigned sound system, which delivers nearly three times the bass as its predecessor. It also offers improved conversation detection and better noise filtering, thanks to Amazon’s new AZ3 chip. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Sonos Move 2
With double the battery life of its predecessor and better-sounding stereo audio, the Sonos Move 2’s improvements don’t stop there. It supports line-in audio, can stream Bluetooth audio to other Sonos speakers, and more. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
- The Amazon Echo Studio is on sale for $189.99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, which matches its all-time low price. Like the smallerr Echo Dot Max, the Echo Studio supports Alexa Plus and is compatible with Matter, Thread, and Zigbee so it can double as a smart home hub. Unlike the Dot Max, though, it supports spatial audio and Dolby Atmos, delivering fuller, room-filling sound. In our tests, it even sounded better than Apple’s second-gen HomePod. Read our review.
- If you’re looking for a relatively affordable Bluetooth speaker, you can pick up Soundcore’s tiny Select 4 Go at Amazon, Best Buy, and directly from Soundcore (with code WS24A31X1USC) starting at $24.99, which is $5 shy of its best price to date. The portable, IP67-rated waterproof and dustproof speaker can float in a pool and lasts up to 20 hours on a single charge. You can also charge it via USB-C or pair it with a second Go speaker for richer, stereo sound.
Ultimate Ears Miniroll
The UE Miniroll is a funky, disc-shaped Bluetooth speaker that can get surprisingly loud — especially if you make use of its support for Auracast, which lets you pair it with other Miniroll speakers. It provides up to 12 hours of continuous playback, and thanks to its IP67 rating, it’s ready for your next pool session.
Where to Buy:
Sonos Roam 2
The Sonos Roam 2 is a compact and travel-friendly Bluetooth speaker that easily syncs up with Sonos’ home audio ecosystem via Wi-Fi. While it looks much like the original, the Roam 2 has some small quality-of-life improvements, like a separate button for Bluetooth connections.
Where to Buy:
Headphone and earbud deals
Sonos Ace
The Sonos Ace are the company’s first set of wireless headphones. They feature a premium, comfortable build and active noise cancellation, along with compatibility with Sonos Arc and other Sonos soundbars. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Beats Studio Pro
The latest Beats Studio Pro feature improved noise cancellation, sound quality, and comfort. They also support lossless audio over USB-C, making them the first Apple headphones to do so. Plus, like other Beats headphones, they offer native support for a range of iOS and Android features. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
- The Beats Studio Buds Plus are on sale in several colors for $99.95 ($70 off) at Amazon, which is one of the better prices we’ve seen. In addition to offering a stylish translucent option, the noise-canceling wireless earbuds come with four swappable ear tips for a more secure, comfortable fit. They’re platform-agnostic, too, and can last up to nine hours on a single charge. They also offer IPX4 water resistance, making them suitable for workouts and light rain. Read our review.
- The Beats Solo 4 are down to $129.99 ($70 off) at Amazon in several colors. This is the best price we’ve seen so far this year, though it’s nowhere near the best-ever price of $79 we saw during the holidays. These wireless headphones lack active noise cancellation, but they do support lossless playback over USB-C (or 3.5mm) for detailed, clear sound, along with spatial audio. They’re also platform-agnostic, and can last a whopping 50 hours on a single charge. Read our review.
AirPods Pro 3
The recently released AirPods Pro 3 have a new design that improves their fit, superior noise cancellation, better bass, and fairly accurate heart rate sensors. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Significantly smaller and lighter than their predecessors, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 also offer stronger noise cancellation, a crystal clear transparency mode, and lengthy battery life. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
- You can currently purchase Sony’s WH-1000XM5 for $278 ($122 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. Although we saw them drop to as low as $205 in recent months, that’s still one of the better deals we’ve seen on the over-ear headphones, which still offer terrific sound and great noise cancellation despite being a last-gen model. The newer XM6 improve on both fronts and feature a foldable design, but the XM5 remain a great investment when you can find them on sale. Read our review.
- Sony’s WF-C510 are on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo for around $48 ($20 off), which is the best price we’ve seen. The IPX4-rated buds offer up 11 hours of playback, multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, and a helpful transparency mode, which is a nice perk given that most cheap pairs of closed-style earbuds skip out on the latter feature in attempt to keep costs down.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (second-gen)
Bose’s redesigned QuietComfort Earbuds deliver terrific active noise cancellation that outperforms most competitors. They also offer wireless charging and multipoint support right out of the box. Read hands-on impressions.
Where to Buy:
Smart home deals
Echo Show 8 (2025)
The updated Echo Show 8 features an 8.7-inch display with 720p resolution, wider viewing angles, and higher contrast. It includes a 13-megapixel camera, new stereo speakers, and supports Alexa Plus, while doubling as a smart home hub with support for Zigbee, Matter, and Thread. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Echo Show 11 (2025)
The Echo Show 11 features an 11-inch screen and 1080p resolution. It includes Alexa Plus and can be used as a smart home hub with support Thread, Matter, and Zigbee smart home protocols. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
- The Echo Spot is on sale for $49.99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, which is $5 more than its best price to date. The tiny, Alexa-enabled gadget features a customizable 2.83-inch screen that can display a slew of info at a glance, such as the weather and various reminders, and it serves as a handy alarm clock for your bedside, should you need one. It also sounds surprisingly good for its size and lets you control compatible smart home devices with your voice, including your lights. Read our review.
- You can buy two Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim smart plugs on sale for $21.99 ($8 off) at Amazon, which is $2 shy of the bundle’s all-time low price. The basic plug lets you add smart features to traditional gadgets like fans and lamps, and it offers energy monitoring, so you can keep tabs on how much power you’re consuming — which is helpful if you’re trying to cut down on your electricity bill. It’s also compatible with Matter, meaning you can connect it to multiple smart home platforms for voice control.
Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip
Kasa’s aptly titled Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip features six smart outlets with surge protection, each of which can be individually controlled via Amazon Alexa or Google Home. It also has three non-smart USB-A ports for powering phone chargers and other small devices.
Where to Buy:
Deebot X8 Pro Omni
The Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni features an extendable mop that can clean itself and 18,000Pa of suction power. It also comes with a multifunction dock that can refill the robovac using an integrated water tank and move dirty water into a separate waste tank to prevent it from dragging stains across your home.
Where to Buy:
- The newer Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni is also available from Amazon, Best Buy, and Ecovacs for $679 ($621 off), which is its best price to date. It’s very similar to the aforementioned X8 Pro Omni, but it’s able to capitalize on Ecovacs’ Boosted Large-Airflow Suction Technology, which can suck up dust and debris more easily for a more thorough clean.
- The Dreame L10s Pro Ultra is on sale for around $349.98 ($50 off) at Amazon and directly from Dreame with coupon code L10PUXM. The robovac / mop hybrid offers a respectable 7,000Pa of suction along with an extendable mop that can reach closer to edges. Its self-cleaning dock washes the mop pads with hot water and dries them with hot air. Plus, it can empty its own dustbin, refill its own water tank, and even automatically dispense cleaning solution.
Google Nest Thermostat
Google’s Matter-compatible Nest Thermostat is a simple thermostat with a minimalist, mirrored-finish screen. It doesn’t automatically adjust to your habits, but it’s easy to install, controllable with your phone, and compatible with most HVAC systems. It also supports the new Matter standard, unlike the Nest Learning Thermostat. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Streaming and soundbar deals
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (second-gen)
Amazon’s highest-end streaming stick supports Wi-Fi 6E and offers double the storage of its predecessor. It also displays widgets and artwork when idle, while continuing to offer a terrific selection of streaming apps. Plus, it runs on the new and improved Fire TV OS, which makes it easier to find something to watch.
Where to Buy:
Sonos Beam (second-gen)
The Sonos Beam (second-gen) is a compact soundbar that supports Dolby Atmos and can stream music from a plethora of services. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
- The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus is also on sale for $24.99 ($20 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, which matches its lowest price to date. Like the 4K Max above, Amazon’s mid-tier streaming stick runs on the redesigned Fire TV OS and supports Dolby Atmos, but it offers only half the storage (8GB) and supports Wi-Fi 6 instead of Wi-Fi 6E.
- The latest Amazon Fire TV Cube is also on sale for $99.99 ($40 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. The fast streaming device supports Wi-Fi 6E along with Dolby Atmos and all the major HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, and features an HDMI input that lets you connect devices like a cable box or game console. It also pulls double duty as a decent sounding speaker with support for Amazon Alexa, so you can control smart home devices and even navigate the Fire TV interface with your voice. Read our review.
Other Verge-approved deals
Amazfit Active 2
The Amazfit Active 2 delivers outsized value for the price. It looks spiffy and has a wide array of health tracking features, plus built-in GPS and AI chatbots to provide extra context to your data. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Hoto 3.6V Electric Screwdriver Kit Pro
Hoto’s rechargeable screwdriver is ideal for small repairs. It offers three torque modes, a rotational speed of up to 220rpm, and a helpful circular LED for illuminating dark spaces. Meanwhile, the durable case holds all 25 steel bits and an extension bar for getting into hard-to-reach places.
Where to Buy:
- Insta360’s Antigravity A1 is available starting at $1,279 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Antigravity’s online storefront through April 16th for the “Standard” set, which includes Vision Goggles, a remote control, a battery, a carrying case, and four spare propellers. The 360-degree drone can shoot 8K video at 30 frames per second, with the goggles letting you see exactly what the drone sees while it’s flying, providing you with a first-person view. As of February, you can use the goggles to practice flying without sending the drone into the air. In April, additional software updates will add voice controls, timelapse photography, and fun virtual effects.
- Google’s Pixel 10 is on sale starting at $549 ($250 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is its best price so far this year and $100 more than its all-time low. Compared to the recently released Pixel 10A, the 6.3-inch Pixel 10 offers a more advanced camera system that includes a telephoto lens, as well as support for Qi2 wireless charging with built-in magnets. It also features a 120Hz display and runs on Google’s Tensor G5 processor while offering 12GB of RAM. The phone also offers additional AI features like Magic Cue, which can offer relevant suggestions depending on what you’re doing on your phone.Read our review.
Hoto PixelDrive
Hoto’s latest electric screwdriver delivers an adjustable 6Nm of torque, along with a built-in pixelated display that lets you check the battery life and other info.
Where to Buy:
Fitbit Ace LTE
The Ace LTE sports some of the same hardware found on the Google Pixel Watch 2 and a variety of step-activated games, which can help motivate your child to keep moving. It also offers calling, messaging, and location sharing when you sign up for a monthly or annual data plan. Read our hands-on impressions.
Where to Buy:
- The Epicka Universal Travel Adapter is on sale for $15.99 ($7 off) at Amazon, which is its best price in months. The adapter features four built-in plugs that work in more than 200 countries and regions, along with four USB-A ports, a USB-C port, and an AC socket so you can charge laptops, phones, cameras, and more.
- The Hoto Mini Bike Tire Pump is on sale for $41.98 ($18 off) at Amazon and The Home Depot, which matches its best price to date. The palm-sized device can quickly refill bike tires up to 150 PSI, inflating a 700×23C tire from flat to 80 PSI in about a minute. Powered by a 2,000mAh battery, it can inflate up to eight flat tires per charge, and it automatically shuts off once it reaches your preset pressure.
- The Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker (6-Quart) is on sale for $99.99 ($40 off) at Amazon, which is $40 more than its all-time low but still the best price we’ve seen in months. The versatile multicooker can pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, steam, and more, and the six-quart capacity is large enough for family meals or to do a ton of meal prep. It also offers 15 one-touch cooking programs and an easy-to-read display that shows cooking time, temperature, and pressure.
Anker 621 Magnetic Battery (MagGo)
Anker’s 621 Magnetic Battery is a slim, 5,000mAh charger that can attach magnetically to the back of any MagSafe-ready iPhone.
Where to Buy:
PDP Riffmaster
PDP’s Riffmaster is a wireless guitar accessory compatible with Rock Band 4 and Fortnite: Festival. It has two sets of color-coded buttons you can press to hit notes as they appear on the screen, a built-in 3.5mm audio jack for connecting headphones, and an analog stick to help you easily navigate through each game’s menus.
Where to Buy:
- The PDP Afterglow Wave controller is on sale for $39.99 ($20 off) at Amazon, which matches its all-time low. The wireless Nintendo Switch gamepad is a colorful (and affordable) alternative to Nintendo’s Switch Pro Controller, featuring eight customizable RGB lighting zones and four preset lighting modes. It also offers a pair of programmable rear buttons and built-in motion controls, along with a battery that lasts up to 20 hours on a single charge.
- The DJI Osmo Mobile 7P gimbal stabilizer is on sale for around $99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Adorama, which is also its best price to date. The smartphone gimbal doubles as a selfie stick with a built-in tripod and telescoping arm. It can automatically follow you, adjust framing of your shots, and even start or stop recording with a wave of your hand. You can also pair it with one of DJI’s wireless mics, making it a handy tool for vlogging or filming on the go.
Xbox Wireless Controller
The official Xbox Wireless Controller has a dedicated share button for saving clips and screenshots and sharing them online, Bluetooth support, and a USB-C port for charging up Microsoft’s play-and-charge rechargeable battery.
Where to Buy:
Carrera Smart Glasses with Alexa
Amazon’s smart glasses let you play music, make hands-free calls, and use the Alexa voice assistant on the go. They don’t sound as good as the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, and Alexa can be a bit hit-or-miss, but they still look stylish and at least offer solid call quality. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Update, March 22nd: Updated to reflect current pricing / availability and several new deals, including those for the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and Google’s entry-level Nest Thermostat. Brandon Widder also contributed to this post.
Musk says he’s building Terafab chip plant in Austin, Texas
Elon Musk announced plans to build a Terafab plant in Austin, Texas, that will be jointly run by Tesla and SpaceX. The goal is to eventually build chips at scale for robotics, artificial intelligence, and space-based data centers for Musk's various companies.
Musk has expressed concern, as have other executives, about the chip industry's ability to keep up with demand as the AI industry has boomed. But building a chip fabrication plant is complex, requires billions of dollars, many years, and a ton of specialized equipment. And, as Bloomberg points out, Musk "has no background in semiconductor production and a history of over-promising on g …
The secret story of the vocoder, the military tech that changed music forever
The vocoder was never supposed to be a revolution in music. It wasn't supposed to be anything in music, really. Its development began a century ago, when an engineer at Bell Labs was looking for a simpler way to send phone calls across copper telephone lines. The engineer, Homer Dudley, built some pretty neat technology that could both capture and synthesize the human voice.
As so much great tech does, the vocoder immediately took on a life of its own. It played a key role in World War II, enabling secret communications across the ocean. And then, only a few years later, it started to become a musical phenomenon. At first a few artists were …
The pint-sized Sonos Roam 2 is more than 20 percent off this weekend
Sonos is no stranger to the occasional sale. The iconic audio company routinely runs sales around Black Friday, Amazon Prime Day, and the Super Bowl, though it’s rare to see substantial discounts on its portable speakers outside of tentpole shopping events. Fortunately, if you have no interest in the Sonos Move 2 or forthcoming Sonos Play, the Sonos Roam 2 is currently available from Amazon, Walmart, and Sonos for $139 ($40 off), which is just $5 shy of its lowest price to date.
The original Sonos Roam was by no means a bad speaker, but the quality-of-life updates on the Roam 2 are genuinely meaningful, particularly if you were the kind of person who constantly struggled to pair the first-gen model with anything via Bluetooth (guilty as charged). The latest Roam has a dedicated pairing button on the back — meaning you don’t have to hold down the power button for a set period of time just to sync it with a new phone — while still letting you tap into Sonos’ larger ecosystem of products via your home’s Wi-Fi network.
Sound quality remains unchanged, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The first-gen Roam was one of the best-sounding speakers in its class, with pleasantly crisp vocal performance and enough depth to satiate most folks, especially when Sonos’s automatic Trueplay room optimization tool did its job. It’s a bit of a bummer that the USB-C port remains strictly for power, and that battery life tops out at 10 hours, but I’d venture that most folks are simply going to be using it at the park or simply for an afternoon at the pool. After all, it has IP67 waterproofing, which means it can withstand up to 30 minutes in 3 feet of water.
Perhaps best of all, though, Sons claims to have made some tweaks and optimizations under the hood to ensure battery performance holds up in the long run, which was a crux of the original model. I haven’t had the Roam 2 long enough to say for sure, but so far, so good.
Other Sonos deals to consider
AI was everywhere at gaming’s big developer conference — except the games
AI was everywhere at the GDC Festival of Gaming this year. Vendors at the event pitched generative AI tools for things like making AI-driven NPCs and even entire games from a chat box. On the show floor, I spent 10 minutes playing a demo of a pixel-art fantasy world generated by Tencent's AI tools. In a briefing with Razer, I watched an AI assistant for QA automatically log issues in a shooter game. And there were many talks about AI, including a standing-room only presentation by Google DeepMind researchers about playable AI-generated spaces.
But there was one key place where AI was missing: the games themselves. Of the many developers I s …
Online age checks came first — a VPN crackdown could be next
This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more news about online age verification and your privacy, follow Emma Roth. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here.
How it started
Virtual private networks, or VPNs, weren't always used to access region-locked Netflix streams, bypass censorship online, or to prevent your internet service provider (ISP) from tracking your browsing history. It took years for VPNs to become the technology we know today, which provides an encrypted connection between your device and a private server, while conce …
Halide co-founder is suing former partner for bringing source code to Apple
Lux Optics co-founder Sebastiaan de With made headlines when he joined Apple in late January. The company was behind Halide, one of the most popular photography apps for the iPhone, which gained a cult following for its robust pro-level controls.
Apple was apparently a big enough fan that it tried to acquire the developer last summer. Those talks never bore fruit, and eventually the company simply hired de With. At the time, it was widely believed that Apple had poached him from Lux. But new allegations from a lawsuit filed by co-founder Ben Sandofsky in the California Superior Court of Santa Cruz claim de With was fired for financial misc …
The AirPods Pro 3 are $50 off right now, nearly matching their best-ever price
Less than a week ago, Apple announced the forthcoming AirPods Max 2, a pair of over-ear headphones that leverage the company’s H2 chip for AI-powered live translation, conversation awareness, and a host of newer features. However, if you’re okay with a pair of earbuds, the AirPods Pro 3 offer access to all the same features for less — especially given they’re currently on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for $199.99 ($50 off), matching their second-best price to date.
AirPods Pro 3
Where to Buy:
For iPhone owners, nothing else really compares to the AirPods Pro 3. Apple’s latest pair of premium earbuds deliver the best active noise cancellation and richest sound of any AirPods model to date, combined with a more comfortable, angled design that fits securely and naturally in your ear canal. They also feature a new XXS ear tip size and a more robust IP57 rating for sweat and water resistance, making them better suited for long-distance runs and various gym activities.
Speaking of workouts, the Pro 3 can also pull double duty as a fitness tracker, thanks to a built-in heart rate sensor that works with Apple’s Fitness app to track calories burned across more than 50 workout types. It’s a welcome addition if you don’t use an Apple Watch; however, it may not be as useful for those who already own and rely on Apple’s wearable for its health tracking and wellness features.
Lastly, as mentioned up top, the AirPods Pro 3 also boast an H2 chip, allowing for the aforementioned real-time translation features and Apple’s newer Voice Isolation tech, which uses machine learning to isolate and enhance voice quality by removing unwanted background noise. That’s on top of their seamless integration with other Apple devices, mind you, which lets you take advantage of automatic device switching and a Find My-compatible charging case.
Read our full AirPods Pro 3 review.
Other AirPods deals
AirPods 4
Where to Buy:
Apple AirPods Max
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Here are 20 of our favorite outdoor deals from REI’s Member Days Sale
REI’s latest sale is in full swing. The outdoor retailer’s exclusive shopping event runs through Monday, March 23rd, bringing with it a batch of discounts on Garmin watches, tents, portable stoves, and a slew of Verge-approved goodies. As expected, most deals are available only to REI members; however, you can still join the co-op for $30. Members will also receive 20 percent off one full-priced item — or 20 percent off one REI Outlet item — with promo code MEMBER26, meaning you can essentially save on just about any piece of gear.
With the exception of a few, the deals themselves aren’t quite as steep or as all-encompassing as what we might see during the retailer’s bigger Labor Day and Memorial Day sales. But with warmer weather already hitting many parts of the US, reservations opening up, and summer fast approaching, it’s never a bad idea to plan ahead.
Garmin Forerunner 165 Music
The Garmin Forerunner 165 Music lets you download songs from Spotify, Amazon Music, and more. It also provides in-depth training metrics; however, it leaves out some of the more advanced features in exchange for a more affordable price. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
DJI Osmo Pocket 3
The Pocket 3 features a 1-inch CMOS sensor, three built-in microphones, and a 2-inch rotatable screen. If you’re unhappy with the video your phone captures, DJI’s compact cam makes it easy to get high-quality, stabilized footage, whether you’re vlogging your adventures or filming a wedding. Read our impressions.
Where to Buy:
- No REI guide would be complete without a sleeping bag. While there are plenty of great options on sale, REI Co-op’s Trailmade 20 Sleeping Bag is down to just $82.93 (about $36 off) at REI. The sleeping bag is rated to keep you warm in temperatures as low as 21 degrees Fahrenheit, with a quilt construction, face muffler and draft tube, and a contoured hood that fits snuggly over your head. It also features a durable water repellent finish and includes a stuff sack, so you can pack it down and throw it in your bag.
- You can get the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol for as low as $37.39 (about $13 off) at REI right now. It’s a relatively lightweight, compact sleeping pad with an accordion-style design that lets you attach it to your backpack. The closed-cell foam also provides comfort after a long day of hiking, while the sleeping pad’s surface helps reflect radiant heat back to your body, so you can stay warm in the fall.
Mpowerd Luci Solar String Lights: Color
Mpowerd’s solar-powered string lights are perfect for camping or a backyard shindig. The 18-foot string can display six colors and last up to 15 hours on a single charge; the case also doubles as a charger, allowing you to top off your phone in a pinch.
Where to Buy:
JetBoil MiniMo Cooking System
JetBoil’s cooking systems aren’t for ultra-light backpackers; however, the MiniMo is incredibly straightforward to use, comes with a 1-liter pot, and heats water in as little as two minutes, making it suitable for everything from freeze-dried meals to a well-deserved cup of cocoa.
Where to Buy:
- If you’re looking for a picnic-friendly Bluetooth speaker, then consider the JBL Flip 7, which has returned to $109.95 ($40 off) — its second-best price to date — at Amazon, Best Buy, and REI. The portable gadget features several upgrades over its predecessor, including a more rugged design, an enhanced tweeter, and an additional two hours of playtime. It also features JBL’s AI Sound Boost technology, which can boost the speaker’s volume without introducing distortion. An IP68 rating, meanwhile, means you can use it by the pool, while a PushLock system lets you attach interchangeable accessories like the included wrist strap.
- A small, compact chair is nice to have for lounging by the campfire. REI’s Flexlite Camp Chair is a great option now that it’s down to $66.93 (about $23 off) at REI. It features an aluminum frame, a stable four-leg design, and a ripstop polyester seat with water and stain resistance. When you’re done, it can also quickly fold down into a drawstring bag, so you can throw it in your car or tent.
JBL Charge 6
The Charge 6 is a robust, IP68-rated portable speaker with up to 28 hours of battery life and support for lossless audio over USB-C. Like the JBL Flip 7, it can also analyze your audio to deliver clearer, louder sound and reduce distortion at higher volumes.
Where to Buy:
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 70L
Patagonia’s Black Hole Duffel features a spacious 70-liter capacity, making it an ideal choice for extended trips. The bag features a durable construction that can withstand everyday wear and tear, while padded shoulder straps allow you to carry the bag like a backpack.
Where to Buy:
Shokz OpenSwim Pro
The OpenSwim Pro offers up to nine hours of battery life, a robust IP68 rating, and a unique triple-sealed design that lets you use the open-style headphones both above the water or up to 2 meters below.
Where to Buy:
- The JBL Vibe Beam 2 have returned to around $39.95 ($25 off) at REI, Amazon, and Best Buy, matching their all-time low. The affordable pair of wireless earbuds feature active noise cancellation and a helpful transparency mode that allows outside noise to pass through, so you can remain aware of your surroundings. Meanwhile, their IP54 rating provides water and dust resistance, while the wireless earbuds promise up to 10 hours of continuous listening, or 30 hours with the included charging case.
- Everyone could use a reliable light source to navigate their campsite at night. The Nite Ize Radiant 314 — which is currently down to $31.73 (about $13 off) at REI — provides 314 lumens of brightness, an impact-resistant design, and an IPX4 rating for water resistance. The rechargeable lantern can also last up to 96 hours on a single charge, while the built-in power bank can provide an extra boost of power to your phone in a pinch.
Zippo HeatBank 6 Pro Rechargeable Hand Warmer
Zippo’s rechargeable, IP57-rated hand warmer offers three heat settings and up to six hours of runtime. It can also serve as a 24-lumen flashlight or a 5,200 mAh power bank in a pinch, though, unlike most warmers, it’s only sold as a single unit.
Where to Buy:
REI Wonderland 6 Tent
REI’s Wonderland 6 is a no-frills, family-friendly tent with a large awning, a partial fly, and enough room to sleep six people. It also features a room divider, just in case you’d like some privacy.
Where to Buy:
- If you own an older iPhone with a Lightning port, you can grab InfinityLab’s InstantGo 10,000 Power Bank for just $41.93 (about $28 off) at REI. The portable battery features a 10,000mAh capacity and a built-in Lightning cable, making it a solid all-in-one option for days when you won’t be near an outlet. It also supports passthrough charging, allowing you to charge your phone and the power bank simultaneously.
- If you’re planning to go on a night hike, you’re going to need a headlamp. Luckily, the Petzl Tikka Headlamp is on sale at REI for $27.73 (about $7 off). The headlamp is a great basic option that features a max output of 350 lumens, tilt functionality, and an IPX4 rating, making it safe to use in light rain. It also features a lock function that prevents it from accidentally turning on when packed.
- It’s not the most exciting thing in the world, but the GoBites Bio-Uno Long spork is on sale at REI in multiple colors for a cool $5.93 (about $3 off). I’ve used the sturdy, BPA-free utensil in the backcountry numerous times over the years, mainly because it’s relatively lightweight and saves you from having to pack more than one tool for devouring whatever freeze-dried concoction you opted for.
Yeti Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler
The Hopper Flip is a waterproof, soft-sided cooler that can hold up to 24 cans or 16 pounds of ice, making it the perfect companion for a day at the beach.
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Insta360 X5
The Insta360 X5 is a powerful 360-degree camera that offers a larger sensor and new image processing. It can capture 4K footage at up to 120fps or 8K footage at up to 30fps, producing sharp video with rich colors. It also features more durable lenses than prior models, which you can swap out if they get damaged. Read our review.
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Former commerce writer Brandon Russell also contributed to this post.