This 3D-scanned insole is another example of placebo tech
This is Optimizer, a weekly newsletter sent every Friday from Verge senior reviewer Victoria Song that dissects and discusses the latest phones, smartwatches, apps, and other gizmos that swear they're going to change your life. Optimizer arrives in our subscribers' inboxes at 10AM ET. Opt in for Optimizer here.
I take my feet seriously.
Which was why, in December, I found myself in an office, propping my leg up on a chair as a tech startup CEO used an iPhone to scan my bare tootsies from multiple angles. No, I wasn't angling to become a saucy Victorian ankle flasher for OnlyFans. I was there to get a set of insoles from Groov, a company th …
Siri is a Gemini
We know how the next-generation Siri is supposed to work. Apple showed it off in 2024, made commercials about it, and generally promised that AI would change the way we used our gadgets forever. And then, well, none of that came to pass. So Apple made a deal: It tapped Google's Gemini technology to help it turn Siri into the assistant we were promised. This deal's a big one, and it could change the landscape of the AI race going forward.
On this episode of The Vergecast, David and Nilay talk about the news that publishers are suing Google en masse on the heels of its adtech antitrust trial, including The Verge's parent company, Vox Media. T …
Sony, Anker, and other headphones have a serious Google Fast Pair security vulnerability
Several Bluetooth audio devices from companies like Sony, Anker, and Nothing are susceptible to a new flaw that can allow attackers to listen in on conversations or track devices that use Google's Find Hub network, as reported by Wired.
Researchers from KU Leuven University's Computer Security and Industrial Cryptography group in Belgium discovered several vulnerabilities in Google's Fast Pair protocol that can allow a hacker within Bluetooth range to secretly pair with some headphones, earbuds, and speakers. The attacks, which the researchers have collectively dubbed WhisperPair, can even be used on iPhone users with affected Bluetooth dev …
‘Sideshow’ concerns and billionaire dreams: What I learned from Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI
This is an excerpt of Sources by Alex Heath, a newsletter about AI and the tech industry, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week.
Elon Musk first sued OpenAI in February 2024. Despite OpenAI's repeated attempts to throw it out, the case is now headed to a jury trial on April 27th in Northern California federal court.
Musk's main allegation is that OpenAI and its leaders abandoned the company's original nonprofit mission that he funded. In turn, OpenAI has treated Musk's claims as sour grapes. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers recently decided that the case warranted going to trial, saying in court that "part of this …
Asus now claims it’s not dropping the RTX 5070 Ti amid memory shortages
The GPU market is turning into a mess again. Asus told Hardware Unboxed earlier this week that it was winding down production of its RTX 5070 Ti, but the PC maker is now walking back that claim and blaming "incomplete information" from its own Asus PR representatives.
"The GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB have not been discontinued or designated as end-of-life (EOL)," says an Asus statement. "Asus has no plans to stop selling these models."
That's quite the opposite of what Asus told Hardware Unboxed, with the YouTube channel reporting that Asus "explicitly told us this model is currently facing a supply shortage and, as s …
How to fireproof a city
Down the street from the Los Angeles Angels' stadium in Anaheim, a crowd gathers to watch two homes burn.
In less than 30 minutes, one structure is reduced to its smoldering, blackened wood frame, while the other, thanks to simple changes to its design, is remarkably unscathed. Of course, this was the point of the demonstration, which was held last June by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) at a firefighting training center.
The heat from the burning demo home is fierce as we stand outside under a bright, cloudless sky. The plume of thick, black smoke is what eventually pushes me back from the front of the audience. …
Casting is dead. Long live casting!
This is Lowpass by Janko Roettgers, a newsletter on the ever-evolving intersection of tech and entertainment, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week.
Last month, Netflix made the surprising decision to kill off a key feature: With no prior warning, the company removed the ability to cast videos from its mobile apps to a wide range of smart TVs and streaming devices. Casting is now only supported on older Chromecast streaming adapters that didn't ship with a remote, Nest Hub smart displays, and select Vizio and Compal smart TVs.
That's a stunning departure for the company. Prior to those changes, Netflix allowed casting to a …
Meta has discontinued its metaverse for work, too
Two months before it changed its name to "Meta," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally introduced us to his metaverse for work: Horizon Workrooms, envisioned as a virtual space for workers to collaborate. Today, the company announced it's shutting that space down: "Meta has made the decision to discontinue Workrooms as a standalone app, effective February 16, 2026," reads the note tucked away on a help page.
Meta will also no longer sell its headsets and software as a service for businesses, another help page reads: "We are stopping sales of Meta Horizon managed services and commercial SKUs of Meta Quest, effective February 20, 2026."
The best Sonos speakers to buy in 2026
After the self-induced tumult Sonos went through last year, I can understand why some people are reluctant to spend money on the company’s products. But newly appointed CEO Tom Conrad has shown that he’s determined to get back on track and revitalize Sonos as the leading whole-home audio brand. The contentious mobile app is in a much better place now than it was a couple of years ago, though some customers still encounter bugs and the frustration of speakers randomly vanishing from their system. It’s not all roses, but the situation is moving in the right direction — and I took Sonos’ decision to cancel its video player as a promising sign of renewed focus.
I’m not about to sell any of my Sonos gear. For one, the company’s whole-home platform offers conveniences that competitors don’t match — at least not without hassle. Most of the time, I’m streaming from Apple Music, Spotify, or YouTube Music. But if I’m watching a sports game on my TV, I can pipe the audio from my Sonos soundbar to a speaker in a different room to follow the action. Playing something over Bluetooth? With most of the company’s latest speakers, you can do the same thing and spread that music across your entire Sonos system.
Why you should trust my Sonos recommendations
I’ve covered Sonos extensively for several years at The Verge. This has included reporting on the company’s latest news, reviewing a lengthy list of Sonos products, and bringing attention to the app fiasco, which eventually led to the ouster of former CEO Patrick Spence. Audio and home theater are two of my primary focus areas in product reviews, so I’m well-versed when it comes to determining whether a speaker or soundbar is great — or just another also-ran product.
I wouldn’t fault anyone for waiting to see where Sonos and its app go from here, especially given that Sonos raised prices on a number of products last year — including soundbars and smart speakers — due to the ongoing tariff situation in the US. The company still makes some genuinely terrific hardware, however, so if you’re wondering which are the true standouts, I’ve got you covered.
The best Sonos speaker to start with
Sonos Era 100
Score: 8
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If you’re looking for a decent-sounding, compact speaker to put in the kitchen, office, or really anywhere in your home, the Era 100 is your best option. Sonos improved upon this speaker’s predecessors, the Play:1 and Sonos One, by upgrading to stereo drivers for richer, wider audio. Bluetooth playback is now supported, along with line-in audio (via an optional dongle). And the Era 100 also has reworked physical controls, including a volume bar you can slide your finger across and, finally, dedicated track controls.
The speaker has an elegant design, and you can use hands-free voice controls to summon Amazon Alexa or Sonos Voice Control to skip tracks or switch to a different playlist. Sonos dropped the Era 100’s price to $199 in April and then raised it again in September, though we’d argue that $219 is still fair for what you’re getting.
Read our full Sonos Era 100 review.
The best overall Sonos speaker
Sonos Five
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The Sonos Five isn’t just Sonos’ best-sounding speaker; it’s at the top of the pack compared to all competitors. From an audio quality perspective, it beats the HomePod, the latest Echo Studio, and other mass market speakers — both those that are smart and not. Can you find better hi-fi bookshelf speakers? Absolutely, but those aren’t natively tied into music services like Sonos gear is. The Five is a hefty unit and takes up a decent amount of desk space. But once you throw some music on, its powerful stereo output is enough to handle any dinner party or weekend get-together.
There’s nothing “smart” about the Five. It lacks microphones and voice assistant functionality. But that simplicity is appealing in its own right: you’re getting a damn good speaker that ties into the Sonos platform. The Five also features a 3.5mm aux input, making it a good turntable companion — especially if you spring for a stereo pair.
The best portable Sonos speaker
Sonos Move 2
Score: 9
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When it comes to portable speakers, the Move 2 is in a whole different league than Sonos’ smaller Roam 2. It’s bigger and heavier, but a built-in handle makes it easier to lug the Move 2 around your home or out to the backyard. There’s no comparison between the two when it comes to audio: the Move 2 smokes the far more compact Roam 2. And like the Era 100, it uses a stereo driver arrangement, whereas the Roam mixes everything down to mono and sounds more muffled.
The Move’s larger size gives it a clear advantage in terms of bass punch, and aside from playing music wirelessly, you’ve got the option of plugging in other devices over USB-C for line-in audio. I also continue to appreciate that the battery in the Move 2 is user-replaceable, which can’t be said of many Bluetooth speakers. You’ll be able to keep enjoying your investment for long, long into the future. And with a dust / water resistance rating of IP56, it can handle rain and splashes of water without problems; just don’t drop it into a pool.
I prefer the Move 2 over traditional portable speakers since, at least whenever I’m home, the Sonos lets me play music over Wi-Fi at a higher fidelity than Bluetooth can offer. Plus, the Move 2 also supports Apple AirPlay and Spotify Connect, so it’s easy to just skip the Sonos app altogether if you wish.
Read our full Sonos Move 2 review.
The best Sonos soundbar for home theater enthusiasts
Sonos Arc Ultra
The Arc Ultra surpasses the original Arc soundbar with more immersive Dolby Atmos surround sound, much better bass, and the ability to play music over Bluetooth.
Score: 8
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Introduced in late 2024, the Arc Ultra improves on the original Arc with significantly more powerful bass response. That’s largely thanks to the inclusion of Sonos’ newer SoundMotion technology, which manages to get a better low-end wallop from a soundbar that’s not much larger than the model it replaces. This means some buyers can get away with buying the Arc Ultra on its own without adding a subwoofer.
The Arc Ultra delivers Dolby Atmos surround sound that’s more convincing and immersive than any other Sonos soundbar to date, and it’s up there with the very best you can find from a single-enclosure speaker. Vocal clarity has also improved substantially thanks to better center channel performance. Another upgrade over the first Arc is the addition of Bluetooth audio support.
Read our full review of the Sonos Arc Ultra.
The best Sonos soundbar for smaller rooms
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
The Beam isn’t as powerful as the Sonos Arc, nor can it match the flagship soundbar’s Dolby Atmos immersion bubble. But you still get room-filling surround sound for less money — and the Beam ties into the Sonos ecosystem for added convenience.
Score: 8
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There are plenty of scenarios and TV rooms where the Arc Ultra might be too powerful. If you’re in a smaller space or don’t need the absolute best surround sound, the Beam (Gen 2) starts to make more sense. It still has Atmos, but the effect is virtualized since the Beam lacks the Arc Ultra’s upward-firing speakers. Even so, the home theater experience you’ll get from the Beam will blow away any speakers built into a TV.
Read our full Sonos Beam (Gen 2) review.
The best Sonos subwoofer for most people
Sonos Sub Mini
Score: 7
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In the same vein, unless you’re hell-bent on rumbling your walls, the $499 Sub Mini subwoofer is more than enough for layering some extra oomph and growl onto Hollywood blockbusters and your favorite TV shows. The $899 Sub 4 is Sonos’ flagship subwoofer, but plenty of people have saved hundreds of dollars by pairing the Sub Mini with any of the company’s soundbars — and they’ve been ecstatic with the results.
As its name suggests, the Sub Mini is more compact than the Sub 4, which makes it easier to find an inconspicuous spot to place it. Even if you’re the type to do a sub crawl and put it somewhere in plain sight, I’d argue it looks more stylish than the blocky Sub 4.
Read my full Sonos Sub Mini review.
The best budget Sonos speaker
Ikea Symfonisk Bookshelf Speaker (Gen 2)
Score: 7
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Sonos and Ikea might have ended their partnership in 2025, but that doesn’t mean you should sleep on the existing Symfonisk products before they’re completely phased out. The second-gen Symfonisk bookshelf speaker, in particular, remains one of the most affordable ways into the Sonos ecosystem, even if Ikea raised the price before discontinuing the speaker. Sound-wise, it’s not far off from the old Sonos One / Play:1 and is a very enjoyable speaker. Plus, the lower price tag makes it easier to convince yourself to scoop up two for a stereo pair. These — or the Symfonisk Picture Frame Speaker — make great rear surround speakers if you’re on a budget.
Read our full Ikea Symfonisk bookshelf speaker review.
The Sonos product worthy of a second chance
Sonos Ace
Score: 7
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Boy oh boy, did Sonos’ wireless headphones come right at the worst possible moment. The company’s app crisis completely sidelined the Ace headphones upon their debut in 2024. Some customers were also disappointed that the Ace can’t play music over Wi-Fi or be grouped with the company’s in-home speakers.
But here’s the thing: the Ace headphones are still fantastic. They’re comfortable, have a gorgeous design (with easily swappable ear pads), and sound detailed, powerful, and expressive. They support wired audio over USB-C in addition to Bluetooth. And the TV Audio Swap feature is a useful perk that I still often use late at night when my Arc Ultra would disturb others. You can route any audio that would normally come through the soundbar — from your TV, gaming console, or streaming device — through two pairs of headphones and listen privately (with spatial audio surround sound). The newer TrueCinema mode even lets you fine-tune the latter to better reflect the acoustics of your space.
No, the Ace headphones aren’t what I’d consider the ideal of a wearable product from Sonos. But they remain a wholly impressive debut that fell victim to the company’s poor software decisions.
Read our full Sonos Ace review.
Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge
Update, January 15th: Adjusted pricing and availability. Brandon Widder also contributed to this post.
Here are the best Apple Watch deals available right now
In September, Apple launched its latest fleet of smartwatches, including the Apple Watch Series 11, the SE 3, and the Ultra 3. Each wearable offers something a little different (their prices indicate their breadth of features), and we’re already starting to see big price drops. Additionally, we’re still recommending some recent predecessors in Apple’s portfolio, including the Series 10 and Ultra 2, for which discounts are fairly common.
But with all of those options, which one should you pick? Generally speaking, you want to buy the newest watch you can afford so that it continues to receive software updates from Apple. The latest update, watchOS 26, launched in September on the Series 6 and newer models. That means those still using a Series 5 or older — including the original Apple Watch SE — are getting left behind in terms of features.
Apple Watch Series 11 deals
Apple Watch Series 11 (42mm, GPS)
Where to Buy:
Apple Watch Series 11 (46mm, GPS)
Where to Buy:
The new Apple Watch Series 11 is a fairly iterative update of the Series 10, meaning those who already own Apple’s last-gen flagship may not necessarily feel compelled to upgrade. That being said, the newest model does tout a more power-efficient 5G modem and a more scratch-resistant display, as well as an additional 6 hours of battery life over the Series 10. It’s also the slimmest Apple Watch to date and the first to offer FDA-cleared hypertension notifications out of the gate, which you can also now leverage on both the Series 9 and Ultra 2.
If you’re looking to be an early adopter, however, you can pick up the Apple Watch Series 11 in the 42mm / GPS configuration at Amazon and Walmart starting at $379 ($20 off), which is significantly more expensive than its recent low of $299. If you prefer the larger 46mm / GPS model, it’s on sale at Walmart starting at $407.47 — a mere $22 off the MSRP and almost $80 more than its lowest price to date.
Read our full Apple Watch Series 11 review.
Apple Watch Series 10 deals
Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm, GPS)
Where to Buy:
If you’re looking for a real deal — and you’re not particularly tempted by what the Series 11 offers — the Series 10 still holds its own. The last-gen smartwatch packs the same S10 SiP chip that’s in the Series 11, as well as support for fast-charging, a gorgeous wide-angle OLED display, and a design that’s still significantly slimmer and lighter than previous models. It also features both depth and water temperature sensors, along with an FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection feature and the aforementioned hypertension notifications, courtesy of watchOS 26.
Thankfully, the Series 10 remains on sale at Walmart in the 42mm sizing with GPS starting at $249 ($150 off), while the larger 46mm GPS variant is available for an all-time low of $279 ($80 off) at Walmart.
Read our Apple Watch Series 10 review.
Apple Watch SE 3 deals
Apple Watch SE 3 (40mm, GPS)
Where to Buy:
Apple Watch SE 3 (44mm, GPS)
Where to Buy:
While the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 introduce a handful of iterative updates, the new Apple Watch SE 3 represents a significant upgrade over its 2022 predecessor. The entry-level watch features the same speedy S10 chip found in Apple’s flagship models, for one, letting you take advantage of Apple’s double tap feature, wrist flick gestures, and on-device Siri. The SE 3 also (finally) adds an always-on display, 5G connectivity, support for fast-charging, and audio playback so you can listen to music or podcasts directly from your wrist.
On the health front, the SE 3 introduces a wrist-temperature sensor for retrospective ovulation tracking, along with breathing disturbance alerts, sleep apnea notifications, and a new Sleep Score that breaks down time spent in each stage. What you won’t find are the Series 11’s EKG functionality, blood oxygen monitoring, or hypertension notifications — those are exclusive to the Series and Ultra models.
In terms of deals, the Apple Watch SE 3 is currently available at Amazon and Walmart in its 40mm base configuration with GPS for around $239 ($10 off), which is about $40 shy of its lowest price to date. You can also pick up the larger 44mm model at Amazon and Walmart starting at $269, a slight $10 discount.
Read our full Apple Watch SE 3 review.
Apple Watch SE (second-gen) deals
If you don’t need the latest upgrades, the last-gen SE remains a solid buy if you can pick it up at a significant discount. It has the same chipset as the Series 8, which still holds up well, but has fewer sensors (meaning fewer features), no always-on display, and a slightly outdated design compared to Apple’s newer watches. Those omissions might take it out of the running for some people, but it still may be exactly what you’re after.
Right now, the best deal on the last-gen SE can be found at Walmart, where you can pick up the 40mm model with GPS starting at $129 ($120 off), its best price to date. The 44mm / GPS configuration, meanwhile, is available at Walmart starting at $159 ($120 off), which remains an all-time low.
Read our Apple Watch SE (second-gen) review.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 deals
Apple Watch Ultra 3
Where to Buy:
Unsurprisingly, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 offers the most features, sensors, and ruggedness of any Apple Watch available thus far. It features a larger, wide-angle OLED display with a 1Hz refresh rate and thinner bezels, as well as both satellite and 5G connectivity. Better yet, battery life has been extended from 36 hours to 42 hours — a marginal improvement, but one that allows you to squeeze out a bit more life when necessary.
As far as deals are concerned, the Ultra 3 recently dropped to an all-time low of $699.99 ($100 off). That said, it’s currently only available at Amazon with either an Ocean Band, a Trail Loop, or an Alpine Loop starting at $779.99 (a mere $19 off).
Read our full Apple Watch Ultra 3 review.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 deals
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Where to Buy:
If the latest Ultra isn’t what you’re after, you can save some money by opting for an Apple Watch Ultra 2, which isn’t vastly different than Apple’s latest top-of-the-line model. The wearable runs on the older S9 SiP and features Apple’s second-gen ultra wideband chip, but that may not matter to you since it still offers precise GPS tracking, a range of diving-friendly sensors, and long-lasting battery life.
Right now, you can pick up the Apple Watch Ultra 2 at Amazon with an Alpine Loop or a Trail Loop starting at $549 ($250 off), which is its best price to date. Alternatively, you can grab it with an Ocean Band at Best Buy for $599 ($200 off), which remains a sizable discount.