The Game Awards are losing their luster
It's Game Awards season, y'all. That special time of the year when we gather together to celebrate video games and the people who make them… by watching expensive commercials briefly punctuated by the odd awards speech or musical performance. For better or worse, The Game Awards is the biggest night on the video game event calendar. But with the way things have been going, lately it's been more "worse" than it has been "better."
Between host and industry hypeman Geoff Keighley's two video game vanity projects, The Game Awards is older and ostensibly more mature than Summer Game Fest. Conceived in 2014 as a way to celebrate both the people w …
Adobe sees a bright future as AI bet pays off
Entrenching generative AI into Adobe's creative software ecosystem is paying off, according to the company's latest earnings. While its share price has fallen by more than 37 percent this year at the time of writing, Adobe is reporting a bump in annual profits driven by record revenue of $23.77 billion for 2025 - an 11 percent increase year-over-year that it's largely attributing to AI.
"Adobe's record FY2025 results reflect our growing importance in the global AI ecosystem and the rapid adoption of our AI-driven tools," said Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen in the press release. The company is now targeting to increase annual recurring revenue ( …
Ayaneo’s first Android phone looks like a return of the Xperia Play
Retro gaming handheld manufacturer Ayaneo has finally revealed the design of its first Android phone, which has been teased since August. Fittingly, it too is a throwback - to 2011's Sony Ericcson Xperia Play.
The Pocket Play has a screen that slides up to reveal a full set of inset physical controls, including a D-pad, ABXY fact buttons, and two circular touch pads. There are twin sets of shoulder buttons round the back of the phone too, though no sign of a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Unfortunately, that's all we know. The Pocket Play is only confirmed to launch "soon," and the Kickstarter campaign page doesn't reveal a single spec.
It's actua …
Donald Trump reminds the entire world he has no idea what 6G means
When business leaders spout buzzwords like "AI," "8K" and "5G," sometimes in the same sentence, we often get a sneaking suspicion they don't know what they mean! With President Donald Trump, there's no need to wonder: he clearly has no idea. "What does [6G] do? Give you a little bit deeper view into somebody's skin?" he mused today, live on TV, right in front of Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, who did not bother to correct him.
Trump could introduce ‘mandatory’ social media reviews for travelers
The Trump administration could soon require tourists from dozens of nations to hand over their social media handles before entering the country. Under a proposal from US Customs and Border Protection, the agency would make social media history from the past five years a "mandatory" part of the screening process, as reported earlier by The New York Times.
Right now, travelers from 42 countries - including Australia, France, Germany, Japan, and the UK - can visit the US for up to 90 days without a visa. If the proposal becomes official, visitors would have to include their social media accounts when applying through the Electronic System for …
Spotify’s Prompted Playlists use AI to control your algorithm
A new beta feature on Spotify takes the idea behind the Discover Weekly playlist and puts the control in users' hands through AI prompts. Prompted Playlists, which are initially launching in New Zealand on Thursday, let users type out exactly what they want to listen to, with as much or little detail as they like. Then Spotify's AI curates a playlist based on those instructions and the user's listening history.
Users can also set Prompted Playlists to regularly refresh with new songs based on the same prompt, effectively allowing you to make a Discover Weekly playlist with an algorithm you control. Earlier this year, Discover Weekly playli …
Operation Bluebird wants to reclaim Twitter’s ‘abandoned’ trademarks for a new social network
A startup called Operation Bluebird is trying to reclaim Twitter's branding, as reported earlier by Ars Technica and Reuters. Last week, Operation Bluebird filed a petition that asks the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to cancel X Corp.'s ownership of the "Twitter" and "Tweet" trademarks, claiming they've been "abandoned" by the Elon Musk-owned company.
Operation Bluebird is led by founder Michael Peroff, an Illinois trademark and brand protection attorney, along with Stephen Coates, a trademark attorney who worked as Twitter's associate director of trademarks, domain names, and marketing from 2014 to 2016. The startup also filed a t …
The best budget robot vacuums
Today’s robot vacuums are becoming a bit like cars: with all the features, upgrades, and fancy trimmings available these days, it’s easy to forget that they can just be simple machines that get us from point A to point B. Yes, some bots blow hot air on their bums (mop pads), deftly navigate dog poop, and have arms to pick up your socks, but there are plenty of basic budget robot vacuums that just do a decent job of cleaning your floor autonomously — as long as you tidy up first.
Fancier models have obstacle recognition, and some even use AI-powered cameras to tell popcorn from poop and avoid the latter. If you want one of those, check out my best robot vacuum buying guide. But if you think you can manage the task of picking up after yourself (and your puppy), a budget bot will save you a lot of money and still do a good job cleaning your floor.
Best budget robot vacuum
Tapo RV30 Max Plus
A budget robot vacuum and mop with high-end features, including room-specific cleaning, carpet boost, and smart navigation, it also features an auto-empty dock for just $80 more.
Score: 8
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Suction power: 5,300Pa / Dustbin capacity: 300ml / Self-empty dock option: Yes / Mopping option: Yes / Mapping: Yes, lidar / Keep-out zones: Yes, virtual / Runtime: 100 mins, 2,600mAh battery/ Brush style: Single rubber bristle hybrid / Works with: Matter
For around $300, the Tapo RV30 Max Plus is a very capable robot vacuum and mop with some key features typically found only on vacuums that are more than twice its price. These include room-specific cleaning, multiple suction and water levels, smart lidar-based navigation, and an auto-empty dock. With brands like Roborock, you’re often paying double for the privilege of not having to empty the bot’s bin.
Thanks to lidar navigation, the RV30 did an excellent job of navigating my house, cleaning the perimeters of the rooms, and then using a mesh grid to clean inside the rooms. I did have to tidy up before it ran, though, as there’s no camera on board or AI-powered obstacle detection — so cables and socks will trip it up.
Its 5,200Pa suction power is impressive on a bot at this price, and ably sucked up Cheerios and dry oatmeal on hard flooring. It left some of the finer dust and debris, as its single bristle / rubber brush isn’t super effective. It fared less well on carpet. However, in the app, I could set it to clean a room three times for each job, after which it generally picked up all visible debris.
Mopping was better than average for a mop with no pressure or oscillation. It has a wide mop pad, and the bot has a big 300ml tank (which also incorporates a 300ml dustbin), so it applies enough water for a good surface clean.
Another unique feature for a budget robot is the ability to set customized cleaning for each room, choosing from five suction levels and three water levels as well as three rotations.
The Tapo app is very simple to use, with an easy-to-edit map that lets you add virtual walls and no-go zones, add furniture, and designate carpet areas. There’s no carpet sensing, so you need to tell it where carpets are if you don’t want it to mop them. You can also set the cleaning direction and build up to four maps — again, features usually only found on higher-end robots.
5,200Pa suction power is impressive on a bot at this price
It’s also easy to start a clean from the app, and I really like that you can tap on the map to send the robot to that spot.
The biggest downside of the Tapo is its tiny battery, which is just 2,600mAh. That is half the size of most vacs, and it couldn’t clean my entire 800-square-foot downstairs without needing to go back and recharge. It also takes a while to charge and occasionally has trouble repositioning itself on its dock.
You can get the RV30 without the auto-empty dock for around $80 less if you prefer an even simpler robot vacuum setup. This way, it will fit under a couch or bed, but you’ll have to manually empty its bin.
Best basic bump-and-roll bot
Shark Ion
A truly basic budget bot, the Shark has good suction power, a big bin, and a roller brush made of bristle and plastic that doesn’t get tangled up easily. There’s no mapping, keep out zones, or obstacle detection, but the bot does offer big wheels that easily roll over obstacles and high transitions between rooms. It’s easy to buy replacement parts, too, making this one that can go for years.
Score: 7
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Suction power: unknown / Dustbin capacity: 425ml / Runtime: 120 mins / Brush style: single bristle / rubber hybrid / Auto-empty dock option: no / Mapping: no / Keep-out zones: no / Works with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home
The Shark Ion’s big bin, simple app experience, decent battery life, repairability, and bullish nature make this an excellent bump-and-roll bot. It doesn’t map or have any special navigation features other than colliding with things and changing direction. It’s not fancy, but it gets the job done.
It’s a good one to stick under a bed or desk and set to run when you’re not home, as it’s loud and rattly and will bang into everything in its path. But its big wheels and 120-minute runtime mean it’s less prone to getting stuck or running out of juice than simpler $200 bots.
Unlike many budget bots, it uses a hybrid roller brush that’s both bristle and plastic and doesn’t get as tangled as standard bristle brushes. Its short, squat side brushes are surprisingly effective at getting debris into the robot’s path, and because they’re short, they’re less prone to getting tangled in stray cords.
But the best thing ‘bout this bot is its tank-like wheels that will roll right over anything in its path, including high transitions between rooms, obstacles like lounger chair legs, and other furniture traps that regularly stump other bots. That’s a good thing, as there’s no mapping, obstacle detection, or any way to set keep-out zones here. This bot just goes.
Another bonus: replacement parts are easily available, making it simple to repair and just keep going.
Shark doesn’t share suction power specs, but it ably handled all my tests, including the toughest: raw oatmeal. Those little flakes are hard to pick up; side brushes will spin them all over the floor. It did a good job on pet hair, too, although, like most robots I tested, it required at least two runs to get everything up effectively.
The app is super basic: just on / off, scheduling, and a choice of three power levels (all loud). Disappointingly, you can only schedule it once a day. Most robots can be programmed to do two to three passes, but in place of that, I like the option to schedule it to go out twice to make sure it gets the job done. I couldn’t do that with the Shark. Still, you can press its button or use the app to send it out again if needed.
Best budget robot vacuum without Wi-Fi
Eufy 11S Max
The Eufy 11S Max is a super slim, repairable bump-and-roll bot with a large 600ml bin and three cleaning levels. Its biggest selling point for some, however, is that it lacks Wi-Fi, meaning you don’t have to fiddle with an app.
Score: 8
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Suction power: 2,000Pa / Dustbin capacity: 600ml / Runtime: 100 mins / Brush style: single bristle / rubber hybrid / Auto-empty dock option: no / Mapping: no / Keep-out zones: no / Works with: n/a
The Eufy 11S Max is a rarity — a robot vacuum that doesn’t use Wi-Fi at all. There’s not even an app. Instead, you just press the button, and off it trundles. It also comes with a remote if you’d rather not get up off the couch, and you can use that to program it to clean at a specific time.
The 11S is super slim, 72.5mm high, with no lidar tower, so it will get under most couches. It has a big 600ml bin, and I was very impressed with how much it got up off my hardwood floors, even with its relatively small 2,000Pa of suction. There are three cleaning levels, and at the lowest, it registers around 55db, which is quiet enough to run in a home office.
It does have a smallish battery — only 100 minutes of runtime — but it will go back and recharge. For $200, this is the perfect budget bot for those wary of or who don’t want to deal with an app or Wi-Fi. It’s a bump-and-roll bot, meaning there are no real navigation skills. But it has plenty of replaceable parts, including the battery and wheels, so you can keep it going for a long time.
Other budget robot vacuums to consider
- The $239.99
$399.99Switchbot K11 Plus is a great option for small spaces. It’s tiny size lets it navigate around tight spaces with ease, and it even comes with a charging dock that’s shorter than a ruler. Despite its compact size, it offers 6,000Pa suction and does a good job of cleaning up both carpets and hardwood floors. Just note that its mopping is more of a light wipe than a true scrub, and there’s no AI-powered obstacle avoidance.
What we’re currently testing and what’s coming next
- In light of reports around iRobot’s uncertain future, we’ve removed the iRobot Roomba Combo i5 from our recommendations. While if the company goes out of business, Roombas should still work in offline mode, you may not be able to control them via the app or with voice commands. As for the company’s new budget robovacs — Roomba’s $169.99
$319.99Roomba 105 Combo and the $469.99 Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo — we’re still in the testing phase, but so far aren’t impressed. While both models can vacuum and mop, boast 7,000Pa of suction, and include other useful features, each has already run into notable issues during testing. For example, the 205 we received — which features an onboard debris and dust compactor that iRobot says goes eight weeks before having to be emptied — arrived with battery problems. - We’re also in the process of testing the $329.99
$549.99Roborock Q10 S5 Plus Robot Vacuum and Mop, and so far we’re fans. Along with 10,000Pa of suction power, it offers a 2.7-liter self-emptying base that can hold up to 70 days’ worth of debris. Its sonic mop lifts automatically when it detects carpet and can scrub floors 3,000 times per minute, and you can set specific rooms to clean, create no-go zones, and customize cleaning schedules. - Shark has launched a new line of budget robots under its Navigator line. We’ve started testing the Shark Navigator RV2110 and, so far, we’re impressed with its basic lidar navigation, which allows it to map your home so it doesn’t need to bump n’ roll like the Ion. At the current sale price of $179.99
$299.99, it’s a good option as you have more control of where it cleans, and it doesn’t miss areas. - The Shark RV2120AE is the same robot with an auto-empty dock, which, like all Shark auto-empty docks, doesn’t require replacement dust bags. However, at $249.99 ($150 off)
$499.99, the RV2120AE is more expensive than the Tapo, even when you consider that you have to purchase bags for the latter. The Shark RV2110AE is cheaper at $348, but it has a smaller battery and only one side brush, so it won’t run as long between charges. One benefit of Shark vacuums to consider over the Tapo is that they’re very repairable — you can buy replacement parts for almost everything on the bot, which you can’t with the Tapo.
Update, December 10th: Adjusted pricing and availability. Removed the Roborock Q5 Pro and added the Switchbot K11 Plus. Sheena Vasani also contributed to this post.
The Verge’s favorite holiday gifts under $100
Between all the new phones, smartwatches, and laptops we see throughout the year, it often feels like we're constantly being nudged toward shinier, more expensive gadgets. And I get it. As a self-professed gadget nerd, few things are more exciting than unboxing and setting up a new device.
But the truth is, you can still find plenty of great gifts for under $100. I use the Leatherman Free T4 every day, while Donkey Kong Bananza has provided me (and other Verge staffers) with hours of entertainment. If someone in your life loves the satisfaction of building and has shelves full of knickknacks, the Lego Game Boy is (as our reviewer termed it) …
The best smart rings for tracking sleep and health
So, you’re thinking of buying a smart ring. Well, some good news. Picking the best of the lot is incredibly easy right now. The “bad” news is that, as far as trustworthiness and reliability, your choices are somewhat limited, as this is still a niche and emerging gadget category.
Smart rings are in the middle of a resurgence. That means a lot of experimental ideas and newcomer tech brands you’ve probably never heard of. Enough competitors have cropped up that I spent the better part of last summer rocking six rings like a high-tech mafia don. While these aren’t necessarily bad products (some are pretty good), many aren’t as polished as what you’d see in more mature categories like smartwatches, headphones, and smartphones.
Speaking of which, there are a few things to know about the category. Currently, these devices are primarily health trackers. Their benefit is that they’re more discreet and better suited to sleep tracking than a smartwatch. However, the vast majority don’t include smart alarms or push notifications. This makes them best suited for casual athletes or more wellness-minded people. In most cases, hardcore athletes would be better served by a smartwatch or fitness tracker, with a smart ring serving as a supplementary source of data. (But that’s quite an expensive endeavor.) Smart rings are also ill-suited for weightlifters, as they can easily scratch against equipment.
With that in mind, here’s the best smart ring for most people in 2025 — and a handful of runners-up worth highlighting for the more tech-adventurous.
Best smart ring for most people
Oura Ring 4
The Oura Ring 4 has a new all-titanium design, improved battery life, and better accuracy thanks to a new sensor algorithm.
Score: 9
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Surprising no one, it’s the Oura Ring 4.
I can already hear some of you shouting, “But what about the subscription!” And I agree. Even Oura’s relatively affordable $5.99 monthly fee can feel more like $100 when you consider the sheer number of apps, gadgets, and services asking for a chunk of your monthly paycheck. However, Oura is still the best in terms of hardware, size range, features offered, app, dedication to research, and experience in the field. Many of the smart rings available today follow the example set by Oura over the past decade.
The upgrades from the Oura Ring Gen 3 to the Oura Ring 4 were mostly software-based, with minor hardware refinements. You can read more in my review, but the gist is a more accurate heart rate and blood oxygen algorithm, improved automatic activity detection, and an expanded range that spans size 4 to 15. The app has been redesigned to be less cluttered, and earlier this year, Oura added AI-powered meal logging and glucose tracking, the latter of which requires Oura users to purchase a Dexcom Stelo CGM ($99). Oura also launched an AI chatbot. (Of the AI chatbots in health trackers I’ve tested, this one is among the more polished implementations — though it often feels like Captain Obvious-level insights.)
More recently, Oura rolled out a new feature called Health Panels, which lets you schedule a blood test at a local Quest Diagnostics location for $99. Users can then view approximately 50 biomarkers within the app related to cardiovascular and metabolic health.
In addition to the metal versions introduced last year, Oura recently launched colorful ceramic versions of its fourth-gen ring, with prices starting at $499. One downside of the original metal version is that the coating can scuff or wear off with daily use. The new rings are more durable thanks to a zirconia ceramic exterior, which is harder than steel and more resistant to cracking or chipping from impact. However, the trade-off is that the ceramic version is both thicker and heavier, so it may not be as comfortable to wear over extended periods.
I’ve been long-term testing three iterations of the Oura Ring since 2018. Accuracy, design, and comfort have improved with each generation. The company continues to communicate research and scientific developments clearly and frequently. Third-party retail options have expanded, and I’ve seen investment pour into Oura. In an emerging category, these things matter. A lot. While I believe some of Oura’s newer competitors do some things better or have more creative ideas, Oura is the one I continually recommend for its combination of reliability, accuracy, and experience.
Read my full Oura Ring 4 review.
Honorable mentions
If subscriptions are an absolute dealbreaker, you’ll find zero protest here. In that case, here are the best alternatives to the Oura Ring.
Samsung Galaxy Ring
Score: 7
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The $400 Samsung Galaxy Ring nails the hardware. Its charging case is more elegant than the Oura Ring’s, and I prefer the slightly concave design for comfort. It also has the second widest size range. If you’re already all-in on a Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 or Ultra, you get the added benefit of extended battery life. If you have the latest Galaxy Z Flip 7 or Z Fold 7, Samsung also has gesture controls for the ring so you can control the camera.
There are a lot of interesting ecosystem-centric ideas that Samsung has for its Galaxy Ring, but while there’s no subscription (yet), it’ll cost you a pretty penny to unlock the ring’s full potential. Without discounts, we’re talking about $1,800 to nearly $3,000 for the phone, watch, and ring. The Galaxy Ring is also a first-gen device with some first-gen quirks, too. Samsung is still catching up with sleep tracking accuracy, and its Galaxy AI-powered health features are rather hit or miss.
I’m also keen on the $350 Ultrahuman Ring Air. It gave the Oura Ring an honest run for its money when I tested six smart rings at once last year. It’s not quite as good with accuracy, but it’s on par with comfort and design. The app has much more of a fitness focus than wellness. Instead of a subscription, it has “PowerPlugs.” You can think of them as add-on features. Some are free, like smart alarms and cycle tracking. Others will come with an additional fee, like a planned atrial fibrillation detection PowerPlug and a cardio adaptability metric, which currently costs $24 a year.
Lastly, I’ve been testing the RingConn Gen 2 Air, a slimmer, entry-level version of its Gen 2 ring. At $200, it’s the most affordable smart ring I’ve tested but looks and feels a lot nicer than the original RingConn I tested last summer. I had issues with the RingConn’s squarish shape, but it’s much less noticeable this time around and more comfortable. It’s broadly accurate, and the app goes heavy on AI, to middling effect. It has great battery life. I’ve gotten around eight to nine days on a single charge — far better than any other smart ring I’ve tested.
What’s coming next
- Sandbar, a company founded by former Meta employees, recently announced plans for the AI-powered Stream Ring, which you can preorder now ahead of its tentative release in the summer of 2026. The new smart ring will be available in silver for $249 and gold for $349; both are made of aluminum and feature a black resin band interior, along with an exterior button that users can press to capture voice notes. Additionally, the Stream Ring supports a personalized AI chatbot and promises “all-day battery life.”
- Pebble is getting into the smart ring game with the Index 01, which is available for preorder for $75 ahead of its March 2026 debut. Instead of focusing on health and wellness tracking, though, the ring is designed to capture voice notes, set timers and alarms, and create reminders. Whatever you record is sent to the Pebble app for iOS or Android, where you can see a feed of the audio and transcriptions you’ve collected. Pebble says the Index 01’s battery can last a couple of years; however, it can’t be recharged, so once it’s dead, that’s it.
Update, December 10th: Updated to reflect current pricing / availability and details about the new Pebble Index 01 and ceramic Oura Ring 4. Brandon Russell also contributed to this post.