Here’s the Trump executive order that would ban state AI laws
President Donald Trump is considering signing an executive order as soon as Friday that would give the federal government unilateral power over regulating artificial intelligence, including the creation of an "AI Litigation Task Force" overseen by the attorney general, "whose sole responsibility shall be to challenge State AI laws."
According to a draft of the order obtained by The Verge, the Task Force would be able to sue states whose laws are deemed to obstruct the growth of the AI industry, citing California's recent laws on AI safety and "catastrophic risk" and a Colorado law that prevents "algorithmic discrimination." The task force …
The best iPhones
Editor’s note: Black Friday doesn’t officially take place until Friday, November 28th; however, if you want to shop ahead of time, we’ve rounded up the best early Black Friday deals you can already get.
If you’ve been holding off on getting a new iPhone, now’s the perfect time to size up your options. Apple’s 2025 iPhone lineup is now available, which includes the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and a brand-new model, the ultra-thin iPhone Air. These new phones offer a number of new features over their predecessors, such as upgraded cameras, faster chips, better battery life, and even better screens — Apple Intelligence, however, is still a work in progress.
Alongside the new hardware, Apple also launched iOS 26 (yes, the numbering system has changed and we’re jumping from iOS 18), which includes a new Liquid Glass user interface, live translation, wallpapers in messages, and more. The software marks Apple’s biggest visual redesign since iOS 7, and despite some very polarizing reactions, we think it looks fine.
If your current iPhone is humming along, there’s no need to rush out and get a new one. But if you’re questioning whether it’s the year to replace your iPhone that’s a few generations old, then I think the answer is an easy yes. There are real gains to be had this time around, especially in the basic iPhone 17, which features a higher-refresh-rate display than last year’s model for smoother-looking animations, plus double the base storage to 256GB — all without raising the price, despite the current tariff situation.
The best iPhone for most people
Apple iPhone 17
Score: 8
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Screen: 6.3-inch 2622 x 1206 OLED, 120Hz refresh rate / Processor: A19 / Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.6 main with sensor-shift IS; 48-megapixel ultrawide; 18-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not advertised / Charging: 40W wired, 25W wireless MagSafe / Qi2 / Weather-resistance rating: IP68
The iPhone 17 marks a turning point for the standard model. After years with a lower-quality screen, the cheapest model finally got two major upgrades for 2025: an always-on display and a high-refresh-rate panel. These features make it feel meaningfully better than the iPhone 16 and prior models in everyday use, bringing it closer than ever to the Pro models. And at the same $799 starting price as the previous generation, this year’s update is a no-brainer.
While the iPhone 17’s 48-megapixel main camera is carried over from last year, the ultrawide camera has been changed from a 12-megapixel sensor to a 48-megapixel sensor, and it delivers sharper and more vibrant photos. The device features an 18-megapixel Center Stage selfie camera, which is also in the Air and 17 Pro. Your selfies may not look materially better, but the front camera’s square sensor elevates the user experience, making it possible to take horizontal selfies while holding the device vertically (no need to rotate the phone).
Apple also gives you double the storage — 256GB versus 128GB in the base iPhone 16 — and improved battery life. The standard 17 still lacks a proper telephoto camera, and the A19 chip is slower than the A19 Pro found in the Pro models. Still, it’s a big step up in almost every way, even if it looks basically the same as every iPhone from the past six years.
Read our full iPhone 17 review.
The best high-end iPhone
iPhone 17 Pro
Score: 8
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Screen: 6.3-inch 2622 x 1206 OLED, 120Hz refresh rate / Processor: A19 Pro / Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.78 with sensor-shift IS; 48-megapixel 8x telephoto with OIS; 48-megapixel ultrawide; 18-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not advertised / Charging: 40W wired, 25W MagSafe / Qi2 / Weather-resistance rating: IP68
The iPhone 17 Pro introduces a bold redesign and a number of notable upgrades, including the lineup’s most advanced camera setup yet. It also features rounded edges, and similar to last year, it’s on equal footing with the 17 Pro Max in terms of performance. The biggest differences are that the Pro Max offers a larger display, a larger battery, and up to 2TB of storage.
Whereas the iPhone 17 is for most people, the 17 Pro is geared more toward creators. The device has three 48-megapixel cameras, including a 48-megapixel telephoto, and it offers several pro features aimed at those who want to take the best possible photos and videos. Some of those features include Genlock support, which lets videographers sync up timecodes across multiple cameras, and support for ProRes RAW recording. It also sports the upgraded Center Stage selfie camera found in other 2025 iPhone models.
Despite the additions and improvements, there’s little here that makes the 17 Pro an absolute must-upgrade. However, it comes in an irresistible orange, which is apparently the new “it” color.
Read our full iPhone 17 Pro review.
The iPhone with the best battery life
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Score: 8
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Screen: 6.9-inch 2868 x 1320 OLED, 120Hz refresh rate / Processor: A19 Pro / Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.78 with sensor-shift IS; 48-megapixel 8x telephoto with OIS; 48-megapixel ultrawide; 18-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not advertised / Charging: 40W wired, 25W MagSafe / Qi2 / Weather-resistance rating: IP68
The iPhone 17 Pro Max’s redesign isn’t just about looks. Apple hollowed out the device’s aluminum frame to fit in the biggest battery yet in an iPhone. Apple says the device offers up 39 hours of video playback, which is 12 more hours than last year’s iPhone 16 Plus, our previous battery champ. The device can easily push through a full day and then some, though your mileage will vary depending on how often you play mobile games, watch videos, and doomscroll on social media.
There are other benefits to going with the 17 Pro Max. It has the largest display among the latest iPhone lineup — 6.9 inches — and offers up to 2TB of storage, giving creators more room than ever for storing their media. If you want the most iPhone you can possibly get, including the longest battery life, then the 17 Pro Max is the way to go.
Read our full iPhone 17 Pro Max review.
The best iPhone for people who hate bulky phones
iPhone Air
Score: 7
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Screen: 6.5-inch 2736 x 1260 OLED, 120Hz refresh rate / Processor: A19 Pro / Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.6 main with sensor-shift IS; 18-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not advertised / Charging: 30W wired, 20W MagSafe / Qi2 / Weather-resistance rating: IP68
The iPhone Air is Apple’s biggest redesign since the iPhone X was released in 2017. It’s shockingly thin and light, at 5.6mm and 165 grams, respectively. Thanks to its titanium frame and Ceramic Shield 2 display, it’s more durable than you might expect, too. The device feels deceptively small, despite having a 6.5-inch display. You really have to see and feel the phone yourself to get the appeal.
But the thinner design comes with a few substantial compromises compared to the other models available this year. One of the biggest is that the Air features a single 48-megapixel camera on the back. That’s not to say the device’s camera is bad. But it’s a far less versatile system than even the far more affordable iPhone 17, which has a dual-camera setup. The second compromise is on battery life, which is just okay. It’s not terrible, but it’s not great, either.
At $999, you’re paying a lot for middling battery life and camera performance. Those who primarily care about design, though, may be more forgiving about those shortcomings.
Read our full iPhone Air review.
The best inexpensive-ish iPhone
iPhone 16E
Score: 7
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Screen: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR / Processor: A18 Cameras: 48MP Fusion with 1x and 2x optical zoom, 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not advertised / Charging: 20-watt wired, 7.5W Qi, no MagSafe/ Weather-resistance rating: IP68
This recommendation comes with a heavy sigh. Yes, the 16E is the cheapest new iPhone Apple sells. Yes, it’s a good phone. It has a capable camera, reliable performance, full water resistance, wireless charging, and will be supported with software updates for years to come. But its $599 price tag starts to feel like too much when you consider what it’s missing.
There’s no MagSafe, which you can kind of add by way of a MagSafe case, but it’s a bummer not to have it built in when it has basically become a standard iPhone feature. There’s no ultrawide camera, no Dynamic Island housing timely information, no camera control button (not a huge loss, honestly), and no Ultra Wideband for precise object tracking. It does support Apple Intelligence, but that doesn’t feel like much of a consolation, given that it’s very much still a work-in-progress.
The 16E will most likely receive more years of software support than a previous-gen model like the iPhone 14 or 15. And sure, Apple Intelligence might turn into something useful someday. The 16E is a good choice if you want the path of least resistance to blue bubbles and FaceTime at your fingertips. But if you’d like MagSafe, a more advanced camera, and some of the other bells and whistles that got lost on the way to the 16E, then it’s not a bad idea to look at one of the older iPhones.
Read my full Apple iPhone 16E review.
What’s coming next
Apple’s latest iPhone lineup is available now, but there are already reports about what’s next. One report suggests Apple is readying a book-style foldable iPhone for 2026, which allegedly looks like two iPhone Air models put side by side. Apple is reportedly still working to flatten the crease that appears when the phone is unfolded, but has otherwise settled on a design. Looking ahead to 2027, a report claims Apple is planning a redesigned “all-screen” iPhone to celebrate the device’s 20th anniversary. These upcoming releases are allegedly part of Apple’s three-year plan — starting with the new iPhone Air — that’s aimed at refreshing its smartphone lineup.
Update, November 19th: Updated to reflect current pricing / availability. Brandon Russell contributed to this article.
Netflix signs a three year deal to stream MLB live events and games
Today, Major League Baseball announced new media rights deals with ESPN, NBCUniversal, and Netflix that run for the next three seasons. The Netflix deal brings live MLB games to its platform and continues to grow its library of sports programming in an arrangement that Front Office Sports reports is worth about $50 million per year.
Netflix will stream a single game on Opening Night of each season, the Home Run Derby, and one “special event game” each year. In 2026, that will cover the “Field of Dreams” game broadcast from Dyersville, Iowa, on August 13th, 2026, between the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies.
The games signed up by all three networks cover a media deal that MLB previously had with ESPN alone, and on NBC’s end, gives it the Sunday Night Baseball game, as well as draft coverage and other games for its networks. According to the league, “Some Sunday night games will stream on Peacock and simulcast on NBCSN during weeks there is overlap with previously negotiated media rights deals on NBC,” while Peacock will also carry MLB’s Sunday Leadoff games that start around noon and simulcast on the newly relaunched NBC Sports Network.
And for ESPN, it has a 30-game broadcast package each season that will be exclusive to its channels and the ESPN app, 150 out-of-market games streaming (one per day) in the ESPN app, and the ability to sell MLB Network and some in-market games via the ESPN app.
Nvidia says some AI GPUs are ‘sold out,’ grows data center business by $10B in just three months
Nvidia just sold more AI chips than it's ever sold before, blowing past its own estimates in today's Q3 2026 earnings. Not only did it pull in a record $57 billion in revenue - and roughly $4,000 of pure profit per second - it grew its data center business by $10 billion in a single quarter alone. It reported a record $51.2 billion from that data center business, a 66 percent increase over last year.
A lot of eyes are on Nvidia's data center revenue right now as a bellwether for the "AI bubble" as a whole. Nvidia doesn't seem to expect its data center growth to slow down despite fears of that bubble popping - its Q4 outlook is a whopping $ …
Google’s new Scholar Labs search uses AI to find relevant studies
Google has announced it's testing a new AI-powered search tool, Scholar Labs, that's designed to answer detailed research questions. But its demonstration highlighted a bigger question about finding "good" science studies. How much will scientists trust a tool that forgoes typical ways of gauging a study's popularity with the scientific establishment in favor of reading the relationships between words to help surface good research?
The new search tool uses AI to identify the main topics and relationships in a user's query and is currently available to a limited set of logged-in users. The demo video from Scholar Labs featured a question abo …
The Verge’s 2025 holiday gift guide
The holidays have a way of sneaking up on us. One minute you're trick-or-treating with your kids, and the next you're panic shopping in a Buc-ee's gift aisle. But it doesn't have to be that way. With the right cheat sheet, you can keep the holiday spirit high and stress levels low.
Fortunately, we did some planning on your behalf. As much as we love playing with the latest gadgets and gizmos here at The Verge, we also love recommending them. That's why, after consulting with our expert team of writers and editors, we've compiled a medley of gift ideas that won't be regifted come this time next year - from noise-canceling earbuds and e-reade …
I’m out of reasons to recommend Apple’s M1 MacBook Air, even at $600
This is just a little public service announcement ahead of Black Friday. Walmart will once again tout the M1 MacBook Air as an unbeatable deal for laptop shoppers. It sure is tempting at $599, especially if you haven’t seen the deal before. It might even be the right choice for some people.
But for most Verge readers buying either for themselves or for someone who needs to get stuff done, it’s not a great value. Not when the 2025 M4 model, with its spec enhancements, design tweaks, and processing speed improvements, is just $150 more. You can currently get one of those on sale starting at $749.99 from Amazon and Best Buy.
13-inch Apple MacBook Air 13 (2025, M4)
The M4 MacBook Air has a speedy processor, and double the RAM of previous models. It has a thin and light design, all day battery life, and still starts with 256GB of storage. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Apple’s M-series processors have gotten more powerful every year, and the M4 represents the fourth generation. That’s not to say the M1 MacBook Air is a bad machine. You can do a lot worse with $600. Compared to some of Apple’s Intel-based laptops, the 2020 model raised the bar for performance and battery life. But its compromises become more apparent with each passing year. You should also just buy the laptop that will get more software updates.
The $599 M1 MacBook Air includes just 8GB of RAM, which is less than most flagship smartphones have these days. It’s surprisingly speedy when handling a light load, but my spouse owns one, and it’s a pretty sluggish experience when you load it with a lot of browser tabs. The newer MacBook Air comes with 16GB of RAM by default, and the M4 processor lets it fly through tasks faster. It has a similar array of ports (two USB-C ports, one headphone jack), though its USB-C ports are faster with Thunderbolt 4 support. It also has a dedicated MagSafe charging port, so you don’t have to sacrifice one of the precious USB-C ports for charging.
And those are just the biggest spec differences; Apple ditched the wedge-shaped design of the M1 and earlier MacBook Air models starting with the M2 model. They look more sophisticated, almost like a MacBook Pro. The screen is bigger thanks to smaller bezels, and there’s a notch that contains the 12-megapixel Center State webcam — another big improvement over the M1 model.
Look, I could go on and on. Our reviews do a great job of spelling out every little difference, including in-depth metrics from testing processing-intensive applications. But, in short, the M4 runs laps around the M1, and for just $150 more, the M4 MacBook Air is the clear winner if you’re looking for a semi-affordable MacBook this holiday.
The best Bluetooth trackers for Apple and Android phones
Editor’s note: Black Friday doesn’t officially take place until Friday, November 28th; however, if you want to shop ahead of time, we’ve rounded up the best early Black Friday deals you can already get.
Some people rarely lose things. Wallets are always exactly where they’re supposed to be, keys never go missing, and remotes never slip between the couch cushions. And then there’s the rest of us — the folks who can’t ever seem to find the thing that was right there a few seconds ago. For us, there are Bluetooth trackers.
Bluetooth trackers have been around for a long time, and they all generally work the same way. You stick the tracker onto an object, pair it with your phone, and then, when you lose said object, you can go into an app and ring the tracker. But these days, Bluetooth trackers can do a lot more. Some have ultra-wideband chips that enable precision tracking, so you can find exactly where in a room your item is. Increasingly, trackers also tap into large networks — like Apple’s and Google’s — making it easier to locate lost items outside the home. Many will notify you if they detect you’ve left the device behind or come with QR codes that link to your contact information so people can easily return lost devices.
These features are incredibly handy but also have the potential for misuse. Take AirTags. When Apple launched the trackers, it hadn’t anticipated they’d be used to track people or stolen items — but that’s exactly what happened. It’s since beefed up its anti-stalking features, and companies like Tile have also followed suit. Apple and Google have launched a standard that enables unwanted tracking alerts across both Android and iOS devices — and major players like Tile, Samsung, and Chipolo are on board. But until this standard is up and running, it pays to be aware of each tracker’s current approach when you’re deciding the best option for you.
As a consummate Loser of Things, I’ve tested my fair share of Bluetooth trackers on wallets, keys, and luggage. Here’s what I’d recommend if you, too, have a hard time finding things.
The best tracker for iPhone users
Apple AirTag
Apple’s AirTags can help you find your lost items with their ultra wideband technology. You’ll get the best compatibility with an iPhone, though Apple released an Android app that can detect an AirTag’s location and notify you if one seems to be following you.
Where to Buy:
When Apple launched AirTags in 2021, it really did shake up the category. That’s because AirTags are equipped with Apple’s Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip and tap into Apple’s vast Find My network. That’s a potent combo. And even though you can now get third-party accessories that work with the Find My network — including the Pebblebee trackers featured later in this guide — AirTags are still the best, thanks to UWB.
Basically, UWB enables precision tracking while Find My compatibility expands range far, far beyond Bluetooth’s limitations. With precision tracking, all you have to do is open the Find My app, tap “Find,” and you should see an arrow pointing you in the exact direction you need to go to find your item. Using the Find My network also means that so long as there’s an Apple device nearby, a lost AirTag can ping its location to Apple’s iCloud servers without notifying the owners of those other devices. And there are over a billion Apple products out there.
That accuracy is super convenient. My keys fell out of my pocket while running once, and I didn’t notice until my phone pinged me to say my keys were no longer with me. While I wasn’t able to use the precision tracking outdoors, I could see the last reported location in the Find My app. Twenty minutes had already passed, but I still was able to find my keys. I haven’t had that degree of success with any other item tracker.
However, this accuracy is a double-edged sword. In 2022, I ran a test to see whether I could track a friend and my spouse (with their consent) in real time. And I could, to a disturbing degree. While Apple’s unwanted tracking prevention measures worked, there were also inherent flaws. (You can read about our testing in full here.) However, Apple has since improved unwanted tracking alerts by shortening the time before you’re notified an unknown AirTag is in your vicinity, making chimes louder, and creating a separate app that lets Android users scan for unknown AirTags. Apple also now informs users during setup that unwanted tracking is a crime and that AirTags are “intended solely to track items that belong to you.”
Apple has also added more ways to share AirTag locations with trusted people. iOS 17 introduced AirTag sharing, which means shared items won’t trigger unwanted tracking alerts. As of iOS 18.2, you can also share the location of a lost AirTag with other people via a temporary link. So if an airline loses your luggage, you can send them a link that shows them an interactive map of your item’s last known location. (Apple is partnering with more than 15 airlines for this particular use case.)
The only thing I really don’t like about AirTags is they aren’t truly $29. They’re $29 plus the cost of whatever accessory is needed to attach them to the item you want to track. For example, you’ll need a holder to attach it to your keys or luggage. Thankfully, there’s a robust third-party accessory market, so you don’t have to pay Apple’s prices if you don’t want to. The fact that you can easily replace the battery with a regular CR2032 coin cell battery helps take the sting out, too. I just did it for two of my AirTags, and it was much, much cheaper than having to buy two new ones.
Read our original AirTags review.
The best Bluetooth tracker for Android users
Tile Pro
The Tile Pro is the company’s loudest Bluetooth tracker and has the widest range at 400 feet. It also has a user-replaceable battery, unlike other Tiles.
Where to Buy:
More and more trackers now support both Google’s and Apple’s Find My networks, but Tile’s trackers — especially the $34.99 Tile Pro — are still our top recommendation for Android users or mixed iOS / Android households. Functionally, the platform-agnostic trackers can do just about anything an AirTag can. Like AirTags, Tile devices can tap into a larger network — in this case, the Tile Network and Amazon Sidewalk — to help you find your devices outside of your phone’s Bluetooth range. While this network isn’t as expansive as Apple’s or Google’s, Amazon Sidewalk’s coverage has improved significantly. In our April 2025 testing of Google’s Find Hub-compatible trackers — including the Chipolo Pop, Pebblebee Clip Universal, and the Moto Tag — we found that Tile still did better at tracking items outside the home.
Unfortunately, Tile still can’t do true real-time tracking, and it still doesn’t offer a tracker with UWB, so it lacks the AirTag’s precision tracking. The company announced one back in 2021, but we’re still waiting, partly because Apple is effectively blocking UWB compatibility for third parties in iOS and because Tile’s priorities shifted once it was acquired by Life360.
A note about Google’s Find Hub network
Last year, Google finally launched its Find My Device network, which was recently renamed Find Hub. It works similarly to Apple’s Find My network: you’ll be able to share trackers with family members, and there are also unwanted tracking alerts.
Initially, the network lagged behind Apple’s, but it’s starting to catch up. After several weeks of testing Find Hub-compatible trackers — specifically the Chipolo Pop, Pebblebee Clip Universal, and Moto Tag — in April, we found the network’s improved significantly over the past year, more so in busy areas. Still, it’s clear Google prioritized privacy over precision.
Google is making some progress, though. In May, Google added UWB support for more precise tracking with Motorola’s Moto Tag and, eventually, other compatible phones and trackers. Google also plans to roll out satellite connectivity later in 2025, with the ability to share tracker locations with airline staff arriving in early 2026.
That said, Life360’s acquisition has brought some meaningful upgrades. Pressing a Tile button three times now sends an SOS alert to emergency contacts through Life360. You can also add others to your Circle so they can view and ring nearby Tiles on a shared Life360 map. More recently, Tile trackers have become fully integrated into Life360, letting users manage their trackers directly within the Life360 app. This merger unlocked a few premium features for free, including push alerts for forgotten items and two-day location history.
Still, most of the good stuff — like 30-day location history, unlimited sharing with friends and family, free replacements for damaged Tiles, and up to $100 reimbursement for lost items — sits behind a $29.99/year subscription. Fortunately, Tile offers new members a one-year free trial, and one subscription covers all your devices. You also still get a lot of core functionality without paying: you can find your Tile via Bluetooth, view its last known location on a map, ring your phone from the Tile, and share access with one other person for free.
Tile also stands out for its versatility. While AirTags come in a single puck-like design, Tile offers four distinct form factors to suit different needs. The card-shaped Tile Slim ($29.99), for example, is the best option if you’re constantly losing your wallet. The square Tile Mate ($24.99) comes with a hole so you can stick it on a key ring or carabiner, and is probably the most versatile. The $24.99 Tile Sticker, meanwhile, is a small disc that comes with a sticky backing so you can put it on remotes, pet collars, and anything else you can stick it on.
The best Tile will depend on what you’re looking to track. My personal favorite, however, is the $34.99 Tile Pro, which is shaped like a key fob, is larger than the Mate, and can also be attached to other items. Of the four, it has the longest Bluetooth range at 500 feet and the loudest ring. It’s also the only one that has a replaceable one-year CR2032 battery.
Last but not least, Tile may actually be better than AirTags for tracking stolen items. The company rolled out an anti-theft feature in 2023, which renders Tile devices invisible to unwanted tracking detection in the event someone steals your item. Just know that to use it, Tile requires you to submit a government ID for verification, agree to Tile working with law enforcement without a subpoena, and consent to a $1 million fine if you misuse this feature. For anti-stalking measures, Tile also has a “Scan and Secure” feature, which allows you to use the Tile app to scan for unknown Tile devices in your vicinity. While better than nothing, it’s a flawed measure, as it requires the potential victim to proactively scan their surroundings.
The best AirTag and Tile alternative
Pebblebee Clip Universal
The Pebblebee Clip Universal supports Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find Hub networks, but also has a 500-foot Bluetooth range, LEDs that flash to help you locate it, and a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 12 months on a single charge.
Where to Buy:
If you’re looking for an AirTag or Tile alternative, the Pebblebee Clip Universal is an excellent choice. It’s one of a growing number of trackers that support both Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find Hub networks, a major improvement over its predecessor. This makes setup seamless for both iOS and Android users, while also enabling more accurate and reliable tracking than Pebblebee’s own network could provide.
The thing I like best about the Pebblebee Clip Universal is its rechargeable battery. A single charge lasts up to one year, up from six months — though you may get longer than that depending on your usage. It has a USB-C port, too, so you don’t have to sweat it if you lose the charger it comes with. You love to see it.
The Pebblebee Clip Universal also has an LED strip at the bottom that lights up when you ring the tracker. That’s helped me spot my car keys more quickly when they’d fallen under the car seat or other dark areas. The ringtone is also quite loud, and the 500-foot Bluetooth range is actually about 100 feet more than the Tile Pro, our pick for Android users. And while larger than an AirTag, the Pebblebee Clip Universal also comes with a snap-on key ring so you don’t have to buy another accessory to attach it. It’s also IPX6-rated for water resistance.
Clip Universal owners can still use Pebblebee’s app to set voice tags and ask Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to help find their device. You can also use the “Find Phone” feature, which lets you double-tap to ring your phone.
Pebblebee recently added a free “panic alarm” safety feature that’s similar to Tile’s SOS alert. Compatible with both Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find Hub network, the Alert feature lets you press the Clip’s button to activate a loud 97-decibel siren and flashing light, which you can disable via Silent Mode. No matter what, the Pebblebee app will still text your location to a trusted contact — or up to five people, with live location sharing if you pay for the $2.99 monthly Alert Live subscription.
That said, Clip Universal owners can’t use the Pebblebee app for tracking, and so only last-gen Clip owners can take advantage of the Pebblebee app’s extensive customizable geofencing features. That means, for instance, Clip Universal owners can no longer set up custom areas on a map and be notified whenever a device enters or leaves the area. They also can’t use the app to designate safe zones, which was useful to avoid unnecessary “left behind” notifications in familiar places like home or work. The latter can be done in Apple’s Find My app, though Google’s Find Hub doesn’t yet have an equivalent feature.
The best AirTag alternatives for wallets
Pebblebee Card Universal
The Pebblebee Card has a rechargeable battery that lasts for up to 18 months. It supports Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find Hub, but you can also use the Pebblebee app for voice tagging.
Where to Buy:
You could be like my spouse, who stuffs an AirTag in their bifold wallet and then makes a surprised Pikachu face every time it falls out. Or, you could opt for a Find My-compatible alternative specifically designed for wallets, like the $34.99 Pebblebee Card Universal. It plays nice with both Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find Hub networks, giving you cross-platform flexibility and the benefits of each — all with a super loud ringtone. It doesn’t come with precision tracking because it lacks UWB, but it makes up for it with those loud ringtones. As part of the Find My network, it also supports unwanted tracking alerts.
The Pebblebee Card Universal also stands out because of its rechargeable battery, which lasts up to 18 months on a single charge. Like the Pebblebee Clip Universal, it works with the Pebblebee app to support voice tagging and even has a button you can press to locate your phone.
Other Bluetooth trackers to consider
Chipolo Pop
The $25 $29 Chipolo Pop offers a similar form factor to Apple’s AirTag in a lighter, more colorful package with a hole for a keychain or lanyard, a louder beep, and compatibility with both Apple’s Find My or Google’s Find Hub networks (though only one at a time). You can even use the Pop as a remote camera shutter and press the built-in button twice to find your lost phone. Unlike Chipolo’s other trackers, it boasts a wider 300-foot Bluetooth range, a more robust IP55 rating for water and dust resistance, and includes a user-replaceable battery that can last up to a year.
In my testing, tracking was accurate on both Apple’s and Google’s networks in most cases, Google’s struggled to track items outside my home as reliably as the Tile. And without UWB, the Pop couldn’t match the AirTag’s pinpoint precision. Still, the Chipolo app provides Android users with reliable out-of-range alerts and left-behind notifications — something Pebblebee and Moto Tag’s trackers lack —which, in my experience, triggered even faster than the AirTag and Tile. ~ Sheena Vasani, Commerce Writer
Samsung SmartTag2
If you’re a Samsung Galaxy phone user, the $17.80 $29.99 Samsung SmartTag2 gets you UWB tracking and can tap into the Galaxy Find network, which operates similarly to Apple’s Find My network. It’s a great AirTag alternative but isn’t our overall pick for Android because it’s limited to Samsung Galaxy users. But for Samsung users, the latest SmartTag2 includes an improved Compass View, longer battery life, and a better app experience. It’s also got a newer oblong design with a larger key ring than the original SmartTag.
Moto Tag
Motorola’s $19.99 $29 Moto Tag is the first tracker on Google’s Find My Device network to offer ultra wideband for locating lost items on phones equipped with a UWB chip, which is a feature Google only recently enabled via a firmware update. Like Apple’s AirTag, it can guide you directly to your missing item via directional cues in the Find My Device app. It worked well in my testing, helping me find the exact location of nearby items in my small apartment, though Apple’s AirTag was occasionally more precise when tracking objects farther away or through walls. The Moto Tag was also less effective than Tile’s trackers at locating items outside my home.
Still, if you want a tracker to find things around the house, the Moto Tag is a solid pick. It also fits most AirTag accessories, carries an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, and uses a replaceable CR2032 battery that lasts up to a year. It can ring your misplaced phone, too, and doubles as a remote shutter for Motorola phones. ~ Sheena Vasani, Commerce Writer
Eufy Security SmartTrack Card
The $16.88 $29.99 Eufy Security SmartTrack Card is another good option designed for wallets. It comes with a little clip attachment so it doesn’t have to be stuffed in your wallet; you could clip it onto a laptop case, for example. This also has the same benefits when used with the Find My network as the Pebblebee Card Universal. On the back, there’s also a QR code — similar to the ones Tile uses — that helps good samaritans return your item to you. Like the Pebblebee Card Universal, you can share it with multiple people if you set it up via the Eufy Security app. The bummer here is it doesn’t work with Android, lacks UWB and a replaceable battery, and isn’t rechargeable like its successor, Eufy’s $29.99 $34.99 SmartTrack Card E30. That said, though, the built-in battery should purportedly last you three years.
Chipolo Card Spot and Card Point
The $35 Chipolo Card Spot or $23 $35 Card Point is also a good option for wallets if you want something a bit simpler, though it lacks the QR code, and its battery only lasts two years. If you do opt for Chipolo, double-check that the specific tracker you’re buying works on the network you want to use. For example, the Chipolo Card and Chipolo Card Spot can both be used with iPhones, but the Chipolo Card only works with the Chipolo app, while the Card Spot only works with Find My. The Chipolo Card Point is for Android users and works with Google’s Find Hub network. Read my full Chipolo Card Spot review.
What’s coming next
- Pebblebee recently announced the $34.99 Clip 5, which replaces the Pebblebee Clip Universal. The Clip 5 has been redesigned so it’s a better panic alarm, featuring a louder buzzer and brighter LEDs along with improved durability. Plus, it comes in new color options thanks to Pebblebee’s new Evercolor program, which introduces and retires two limited-edition colors every two weeks (the first colors in the lineup are Emerald Storm and Amethyst Purple). I’ll be testing the tracker soon and will update this guide with my impressions. ~ Sheena Vasani, Commerce Writer
- Pebblebee also introduced the $34.99 Card 5, the successor to the wallet-friendly Pebblebee Card Universal. Measuring just 1.8mm thick, it’s about 30 percent slimmer than its predecessor. It can also last up to 18 months on a single charge and now supports wireless charging. I’ll also be testing this tracker soon and will share my thoughts once I’ve tried it. ~ Sheena Vasani, Commerce Writer
- Chipolo introduced two rechargeable trackers: the Chipolo Loop and the Chipolo Card. The $39 trackers work with Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find My Device networks, but the Loop charges via USB-C while the Card is compatible with Qi wireless chargers. They differ in design, with the Loop offering a built-in silicone ring that’s easy to attach to keys, bags, and other items. The Card, meanwhile, features a slim, credit card–like shape designed to slip neatly into wallets. I’m still testing both, but so far the Loop feels a lot like the Chipolo Pop and shares many of the same strengths and weaknesses. Aside from the rechargeable battery, the key difference is that, for $10 more, you get a silicone loop, a more durable IP67 rating, and an extra 100 feet of Bluetooth range — up to 400 feet total. ~ Sheena Vasani, Commerce Writer
- Ugreen released the $25.99 FineTrack Slim Smart G, which, at just 1.7mm thick, is slimmer than the 2.5mm Tile Slim. Ugreen claims that the tracker can last up to five years, but since it lacks both charging capabilities and a replaceable battery, you’ll need to replace the tracker entirely once it dies. It also works with Google’s Find My Device network and offers IP68 dust and waterproofing.
Update, November 19th: Adjusted prices and availability. Mentioned the new Pebblebee trackers and added some of our impressions of the Chipolo Loop. Sheena Vasani also contributed to this guide.
Future Google TV devices might come with a solar-powered remote
Epishine, a company that makes solar cells optimized for indoor lighting, has announced its technology is being used in a new remote control for Google TV devices, as spotted by 9to5Google. The remote will rely on rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones, and thanks to the use of solar cells on both sides it may only run out of power when it gets buried and forgotten in the dark abyss of your couch cushions.
The new remote is made by Ohsung Electronics, which is an official Google reference remote supplier. Companies making Google TV streaming boxes or dongles can design their own remote controls from scratch, but they can also use Google’s reference remote designs as a shortcut to accelerate their hardware development. Walmart’s Onn devices, for example, include remotes based on Google’s designs.
The new solar powered option using Epishine’s technology will be known as the G32 reference remote, but it’s not being bundled with any Google TV devices just yet, and you can’t purchase it on its own. Existing versions of Google’s reference remotes include the G10 with 22 buttons and the G20 with 38 buttons, but companies can customize these designs to provide quick access to streaming platforms besides popular options like Netflix and YouTube.
It’s not the first time a remote control has included a solar cell to keep it powered indefinitely. Last year Hama announced a universal remote using Exeger’s Powerfoyle solar cell technology, and years ago Samsung released a solar remote for its own TVs. But the technology could potentially become more commonplace now that Google has made it much easier for smaller companies to implement.
The Verge’s 2025 holiday gift guide for tinkerers
As AI tools continue to rise in popularity, it's easy to forget the satisfaction of using something that doesn't need an update or a prompt to help you get things done. I'm talking about tools. They're simple and rugged, and they don't make things needlessly complicated. And now that the holidays are approaching, these tools can help you tackle projects you didn't finish over the summer (or, let's be real, two summers ago).
If you're shopping for someone who would rather read a repair manual than scroll through a social media feed, you're in the right place. We've rounded up options ranging from a long-lasting cast-iron skillet to a versati …