Sony’s new WF-1000XM6 earbuds are already on sale for $30 off
Sony’s WF-1000XM6 are the best noise-canceling wireless earbuds you can buy, but they’ve been hard to recommend over the last-gen model because of the price. While the older version is often on sale for $248, the update costs $329 — and has never before been marked down. That’s why this deal is worth paying attention to: right now, Sony’s WF-1000XM6 are on sale for about $298 ($31 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and directly from Sony, marking their first discount.
Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds
Where to Buy:
Sony’s WF-1000XM lineup has long been among our favorite wireless earbuds, and the latest model simply builds upon what already works so well. In his review, my colleague John Higgins noted they block out noise even more effectively, outperforming both the Bose Ultra Earbuds and AirPods Pro when it comes to tuning out nearby conversations. They also sound as impressive as ever, delivering clean, well-balanced audio with richer bass than their predecessor, along with continued support for Sony’s LDAC codec so music retains more detail. Sony has added a new listening mode designed to make audio less distracting by mimicking the effect of background music in a cafe, which is helpful if you rely on music to help you focus.
Beyond sound and noise cancellation, the buds remain well-suited for everyday use. Battery life remains top-notch, lasting up to eight hours on a single charge or up to 24 hours with the wireless charging case. For comfort, Sony continues to include swappable foam ear tips in multiple sizes, and will send silicone tips for free if the foam ones don’t work for you. That said, getting the best noise cancellation and sounds depends on achieving a secure fit with one of the included foam ear tips, which our reviewer struggled with.
Read our Sony WF-1000XM6 review.
Marc Andreessen is a philosophical zombie
I admit, this is an innovation I did not see coming: Silicon Valley has invented the philosophical zombie from the classic thought experiment "lol how crazy would it be if there were a philosophical zombie."
Until recently, the philosophical zombie was a concept closely associated with Australian philosopher David Chalmers, who defines it as "someone or something physically identical to me (or to any other conscious being), but lacking conscious experiences altogether." Chalmers' zombie twin is identical to him functionally and psychologically - except that he feels nothing. This is different from a Hollywood zombie, which has "little capac …
The coolest game controller for your phone is $50 off
The MCON is the closest to a Swiss army knife that a controller can be. No, it doesn’t contain a can opener, but it makes up for it with a surprising array of features. Once you attach your MagSafe- or Pixelsnap-ready phone to the top plate, pressing a button along its top edge satisfyingly pops your phone up to reveal a full suite of controls, including TMR sticks made by GameSir. The MCON launched for $150, but you can get it for $99.99 through its manufacturer, OhSnap — the same amount that backers paid for the “super early bird” discount during the MCON’s 2025 Kickstarter campaign.
I only recently received an MCON controller for testing, but it didn’t take long to appreciate that its button layout is a bit more ergonomically-friendly than other phone controllers I’ve tried. I’m also a fan of the MCON’s two fold-out palm grips because they make it easier to use the shoulder buttons.
You can use the MCON with devices that don’t have magnets, too. OhSnap includes an adhesive-backed ring that you can stick to the back of any iPhone or Android phone.
Hermès doesn’t include a power adapter with its $5,150 charging case
Over a decade after Apple first partnered with Hermès for a special Apple Watch collaboration, the French luxury goods maker has released a new collection of leather-wrapped charging accessories for Apple's mobile devices. The most expensive option is a multi-device wireless charger in a case made from the brand's signature gold-colored calfskin leather that will set you back $5,150. For comparison, a 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,699.
At the other end of the collection's pricing spectrum - which is still far from cheap - is the $1,250 Hermès Paddock Solo charger featuring a wireless charging puck wrapped in the same calfskin leather and …
A rogue AI led to a serious security incident at Meta
For almost two hours last week, Meta employees had unauthorized access to company and user data thanks to an AI agent that gave an employee inaccurate technical advice, as previously reported by The Information. Meta spokesperson Tracy Clayton said in a statement to The Verge that "no user data was mishandled" during the incident.
A Meta engineer was using an internal AI agent, which Clayton described as "similar in nature to OpenClaw within a secure development environment," to analyze a technical question another employee posted on an internal company forum. But the agent also independently publicly replied to the question after analyzin …
Microsoft’s go-to Xbox controller is selling at its best price of the year
Microsoft’s Xbox console strategy needs work, but its Bluetooth-ready controller that shipped alongside the Xbox Series X and Series S is fantastic. We think it’s one of the best Xbox controllers out there, thanks to its comfortable design, multiplatform compatibility (it works great on the Steam Deck and PC, too), and its textured grips and triggers, which prevent your fingers from slipping during intense games.
Thankfully, the Xbox Wireless Controller is discounted in a couple of different colors in the lead-up to Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. The black version is currently available for the lowest price we’ve seen this year at Amazon, Walmart, and Target. Originally $64.99, it’s now just $43.49. The white version is $0.49 cents cheaper at Amazon and Walmart. There’s also a discount on a bundle that includes the black-colored model and a USB-C cable to connect it to a device of your choosing, eliminating the need for AA batteries. It costs $2 more, and you can buy it for $44.99 (down from $64.99) at Amazon.
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:
The Xbox controller is also a great Nintendo Switch 2 controller — hear me out! Instead of buying a costly Switch 2 Pro controller, you can buy 8BitDo’s $20 USB Adapter 2, plug it into your console’s dock, then easily connect the Xbox controller to it. It works in a pinch, though the adapter only supports one paired controller at a time.
All the wrong EVs are getting canceled
These past few weeks have been particularly brutal for the EV industry - and anyone who believes that electric vehicles are the future. Thanks to slowing demand and policy whiplashes, automakers are on an EV murder spree, killing a host of promising new models. The EV graveyard grows bigger by the minute.
And unfortunately, as is often the case, much of the focus seems to be on affordable models that had the potential to attract new customers. Meanwhile, ugly EVs that cost too much and do nothing to move the needle on EV adoption continue to darken our highways.
First, the cheap ones whose bodies have not yet gone cold. The Volvo EX30, a …
Prediction markets are trying to lure journalists with partnership deals
Prediction markets are working to ingratiate themselves with mainstream news and culture: The Golden Globes broadcast in January was plastered with Polymarket odds, the AP is licensing election data to Kalshi, and a partnership between Polymarket and Substack means more prediction market data in newsletters.
Some prediction market exchanges are now attempting to strike deals with individual reporters. Rick Ellis, an independent entertainment journalist who runs AllYourScreens.com and writes a newsletter on Substack about TV and streaming, told The Verge he received an offer this week.
The deal involved producing two stories a week based on …
Google reveals its solution for true Android sideloading: a mandatory waiting period
Google has revealed the "advanced flow" that will be required to install certain Android apps once the company introduces mandatory developer verification later this year. The company had initially announced that it would no longer be possible to install apps from unverified developers, and the process announced today is its concession to critics who accused it of killing off app sideloading and making Android less open.
The good news is the new advanced flow is a one-off process that won't need to be repeated every time a user wants to sideload an app; the bad news is that part of that process includes a mandatory one-day waiting period.
…Meta is actually keeping its VR metaverse running, for now
Meta is reversing its plans to shut down its VR metaverse - sort of.
On Monday, the company announced that it would be shutting down the VR version of its 3D social platform Horizon Worlds on June 15th in favor of a new focus on the mobile version of the app. But in a Wednesday AMA on his Instagram, Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth said the company has decided that existing VR worlds would remain available and that the Horizon Worlds VR app will be available to download "for the foreseeable future."
Meta is keeping VR Horizon Worlds experiences around as a way to support "the fans who reached out, like yourself, who really care about that," Boswor …