It’s a new heyday for gas thanks to data centers
The US is now leading a global surge in new gas power plants being built in large part to satisfy growing energy demand for data centers. And more gas means more planet-heating pollution.
Gas-fired power generation in development globally rose by 31 percent in 2025. Almost a quarter of that added capacity is slated for the US, which has surpassed China with the biggest increase of any country. More than a third of that growth in the US is expected to directly power data centers, according to a recent analysis by the nonprofit Global Energy Monitor (GEM).
More gas means more planet-heating pollution
The rush to install more powerful hardwa …
Apple just had a record-breaking iPhone quarter
Apple says the iPhone had its "best-ever" quarter, with revenue hitting more than $85.3 billion over the past few months. The company announced the news as part of its Q1 2026 earnings report, which also revealed record-breaking revenue of $143.8 billion, up 16 percent when compared to the same time last year.
"The demand for iPhone was simply staggering, with revenue growing 23 percent year over year," Apple CEO Tim Cook says during a call with investors. "This is the strongest iPhone lineup we've ever had, and by far the most popular."
iPhone sales surged despite delays surrounding an AI-upgraded Siri, with the base iPhone 17 model offer …
The weirdest headphones at CES will launch on Kickstarter next month
There's never a shortage of weird tech debuting at CES every year. A new company called Tomorrow Doesn't Matter, or TDM, announced a peculiar pair of headphones at the show earlier this month with a feature no one has tried before. The Neo headphones can be rolled up like a hedgehog which turns them into a compact Bluetooth speaker for those times when you want to share a real banger with those around you. They were expected to launch through a Kickstarter slated for this month, but TDM now says the crowdfunding campaign will officially open on February 10th, 2026.
Pricing for the Neo is set to be $249 when they eventually launch in July 20 …
The best foldable phone you can buy
A foldable phone isn’t for the faint of heart. They’re generally heavier, pricier, and have less capable cameras than a standard slab-style phone. They’re also still not as durable as regular smartphones, though they’re not nearly as fragile as they once were. In fact, thanks to Google, we finally have a foldable phone we can take with us to the beach.
There are basically two kinds of foldables at the moment — the kind that fold like books and the ones that fold clamshell style, like your old flip phone. Here’s how I think of it: a book-style foldable is like a phone plus a tablet, and a flip-style foldable is a phone plus a smartwatch. The book foldables provide an outer screen for all your regular phone needs, and then a tablet-like inner screen when you want, well, more screen. Flip phones come with a smaller secondary display on the outer panel that’s useful for checking information quickly. When you need to do regular phone stuff, you unfold it.
So while they all fit in one category of folding tech, they’re suited to two very different kinds of people — someone who wants even more phone with their phone and someone who wants to be fully immersed a little less. Whichever category you fit into, you’d be wise to get the manufacturer’s extended warranty with your purchase; fixes can be expensive, and you won’t be able to walk into just any phone repair shop to get them. If you don’t opt for the warranty, you’ll want to be sure you can comfortably afford to replace your phone in the event of a sudden sand-related catastrophe. Death can come swiftly to a folding screen.
If I haven’t scared you off by this point, then you’re probably the kind of person who will have a heck of a good time with a foldable. I’ve used every phone under the sun, and folding phones are some of my favorite gadgets. Run four apps at once! Prop it up like a tiny laptop! Hold it like a camcorder when you shoot video! There are tons of possibilities, and the thrill you get when you fold your phone shut never fully wears off.
Best book-style foldable
Google Pixel Pro 10 Fold
Score: 8
| Pros | Cons |
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Where to Buy:
Screen: 8-inch, 2076p, 120Hz OLED inner screen; 6.4-inch, 1080p, 120Hz OLED cover screen / Processor: Google Tensor G5 / Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.7 main with OIS; 10.8-megapixel 5x telephoto with OIS; 10.5-megapixel ultrawide; 10-megapixel selfie (cover screen); 10-megapixel inner selfie camera / Battery: 5,015mAh / Charging: 30W wired, 15W wireless (Qi2) / Weather resistance: IP68
Durability has long been the North Star of the foldable category, and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold marks a real milestone in that journey. With an IP68 rating, it’s the first foldable to offer full water and dust resistance. That means you can take the $1,799 device on a hike or to the beach without worrying that a stray grain of sand will absolutely destroy it. Add in Qi2 support with built-in magnets for accessories and wireless charging — along with Google’s more powerful Tensor G5 chip — and you have the most well-rounded foldable available.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold isn’t without its shortcomings, though. It offers all-day battery life with minimal use of the inner display; however, if you spend most of your time using the inner screen, your battery will likely be in the red by bedtime. Also, while we love the device’s improved durability, its cameras fall short of Google’s other 10 Pro models, especially in low light. The foldable is a bit heavier and thicker than the Galaxy Z Fold 7, too, which is a fair trade for greater peace of mind.
Read our full Pixel 10 Pro Fold review.
Best flip-style foldable
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
Score: 8
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Where to Buy:
Screen: 6.9-inch, 1080p, 120Hz OLED inner screen; 4.1-inch, 948p, OLED cover screen / Processor: Samsung Exynos 2500 / Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.8 main with OIS; 12-megapixel ultrawide; 10-megapixel selfie (inner screen) / Battery: 4,300mAh / Charging: 25W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless / Weather-resistance rating: IP48
The latest Galaxy Z Flip may not be as fun as the newest Razr Ultra, but it does offer a few new tricks. Samsung ditched the old file-folder cover screen in favor of a glorious, 4.1-inch edge-to-edge panel that wraps around the cameras. The extra real estate means you have more room to quickly respond to messages or perform any task that doesn’t require you to open your phone (and risk getting lost in a digital rabbit hole).
In addition to the larger cover screen, the Flip 7 offers a couple of other thoughtful updates. It’s thinner than its predecessor and features a bigger 4,300mAh battery, which is a step up from the 4,000mAh battery found in the last-gen Flip 6. The camera system remains unchanged from last year’s model, too, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The 50-megapixel main shooter still produces great images, and you get all the versatility the flip form factor has to offer, including the ability to easily take selfies using the rear camera.
Despite some welcome changes, the Flip 7 carries the same IP48 rating as last year’s model, which means long-term durability against fine dust particles remains a concern. However, Samsung offers a great warranty and repair program, along with seven years of OS and security updates. The Flip 7 isn’t perfect, but it’s the most powerful and polished version yet — just don’t drop it while lounging on the beach.
Read our full Galaxy Z Flip 7 review.
The most fun foldable
Motorola Razr Ultra (2025)
Score: 7
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Where to Buy:
Screen: 7-inch 1224p OLED 165Hz inner screen; 4-inch 1080p OLED 165Hz outer screen / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite / Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.8 main with OIS; 50-megapixel f/2.0 ultrawide; 50-megapixel f/2.0 selfie / Battery: 4,700mAh / Charging: 68W wired, 30W wireless / Weather-resistance rating: IP48
The Razr Ultra is the newest and most advanced member of Motorola’s foldable lineup. Compared to the Razr Plus, it boasts a higher-resolution inner screen, Qualcomm’s most powerful mobile processor, double the storage space, and an upgraded selfie camera. The device is also one of the best-looking phones you can buy — the gold-bronze chassis and wooden back panel lend the Ultra a real elegance. When every phone tends to look the same — even in the foldable market — the Razr Ultra stands out in a crowd, which only adds to its charm.
Beyond its appearance, the Ultra is just plain fun to use. The 4-inch outer screen covers almost the entire front of the phone, making it perfect for checking notifications, responding to messages, and taking quick actions such as hailing an Uber. The titanium hinge is also an upgrade over the stainless steel found in the Razr Plus. While the Ultra is enjoyable, it can’t overcome the gripes we’ve had with previous Motorola foldables, like inconsistent camera processing. Meanwhile, Motorola is only promising three OS upgrades and four years of security updates, which is on the shorter side considering the $1,300 retail price.
Read our full Razr Ultra (2025) review.
The best battery life in a foldable
Oppo Find N5
Score: 8
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Where to Buy:
Screen: 8.12-inch, 2248p, 120Hz OLED inner screen; 6.62-inch, 1140p, 120Hz OLED outer screen size/ Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.9 main with OIS, 50-megapixel 3x telephoto with OIS, 8-megapixel ultrawide, 8-megapixel selfie cameras (inner and outer) / Battery: 5,600mAh / Charging: 80W wired, 50W wireless / Weather-resistance rating: IPX8/IPX9
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first: if you live in the US or Europe, you can’t buy the Oppo Find N5. That rules out, well, a lot of us. But if you live in China, Singapore, or any of the other Asian countries Oppo included in its so-called “global” release, then you’re in luck: you can pick up one of the world’s thinnest book-style folding phones, and the rest of us are all very jealous of you.
The Find N5 isn’t all about thinness, either. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset is highly capable, the phone is fully water-resistant, and battery life is excellent. It utilizes silicon-carbon battery technology to accommodate a large (by foldable standards) 5,600mAh battery, which easily holds up after a long day of heavy use. What’s even more impressive is that, like the aforementioned Z Fold 7, the Find N5 is still barely thicker than a standard slab-style phone and only slightly heavier. That matters when you’re using the phone via the cover screen for long periods of time or stashing it in the side pocket of your yoga pants. When a foldable is only about as heavy and bulky as a regular phone, using the inner screen feels like getting away with something fantastic — not a benefit you have to make many other sacrifices for. Oppo delivers this in spades, and I just wish more of us could… find it.
Read our full Oppo Find N5 review.
Other foldables to consider
- The latest Huawei Mate XTs gets an honorable mention for its sheer wow factor alone. It’s Huawei’s second trifold phone and features some minor upgrades over the original, which we found to be a great foldable that’s far too expensive. The second-gen Mate XTs is cheaper than the original at 17,999 yuan (about $2,520) and adds several new features, including stylus support, an upgraded Kirin 9020 chipset, and an improved 40-megapixel ultrawide.
- The Motorola Razr Plus 2025 is relatively new to the scene, replacing last year’s model. Although the two devices look identical, there are a few notable changes. The biggest difference is that the $999 Razr Plus 2025 now features a titanium hinge, rather than stainless steel, promising better durability and a less noticeable crease when the device is open. Additionally, the Razr Plus 2025 offers IP48 dust and water resistance, whereas last year’s model featured an IPX8 rating. While we haven’t tested the newest model, it appears to be a solid alternative to the Ultra.
- The standard Motorola Razr 2025 is a more affordable entry point into the world of foldables, starting at $699. The Razr 2025 offers improved performance, battery life, and durability — the kind of bumps we expect year after year. It boasts a smaller cover screen compared to the Razr Plus and Ultra, but still offers a spacious 6.9-inch internal display. We haven’t tested the Razr 2025, but its relatively budget-friendly price is a good option for jumping into the foldable market.
- The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is an excellent alternative to the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. The slim, lightweight foldable is just 8.9mm thick when folded shut, which is nearly as slim as standard slab-style devices. It has a spacious inner display that’s great for multitasking, and the battery can last a full day with moderate use. That being said, the Z Fold 7 has a starting price of $1,999 and doesn’t offer full dust and water resistance, making the hinge more susceptible to damage. Read our review.
What’s coming next
- The trifold foldable is nearly among us. Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold launches on January 30th for $2,899, with two hinges that open to reveal an inner screen measuring 10 inches diagonally. The outer display, meanwhile, measures 6.5 inches and features a normal 21:9 aspect ratio, which is similar to what you’d find in a standard smartphone. The upcoming foldable also features a ceramic-glass, fiber-reinforced polymer back panel that’s designed to resist cracking, plus an IP48 rating, meaning it’s fully water-resistant but not dust-tight. Expect to see a review for this one soon.
- Motorola’s Razr foldables are a fantastic evolution of the popular flip phone, yet they’re not the only direction the company is taking. At CES 2026, it announced a book-style foldable called the Motorola Razr Fold. The company hasn’t shared pricing details, but we hope it will be one of the more affordable options upon its release. It has a 6.6-inch outer screen, with an 8.1 2K LTPO inner display. It also sports three 50-megapixel rear cameras, a 32-megapixel selfie cam on the cover screen, and an additional 20-megapixel selfie camera on the inner screen. It’s coming this summer, so stay tuned for more info.
Update, January 29th: Adjusted pricing / availability and added info about the Motorola Razr Fold and Samsung’s Z TriFold to the “What’s coming next” section. Brandon Russell and Cameron Faulkner also contributed to this post.
Elon Musk might merge SpaceX with Tesla or xAI
Elon Musk-led SpaceX may merge with another company helmed by Elon Musk. Reuters initially reported Thursday that SpaceX and xAI are "in discussions to merge" ahead of SpaceX's IPO that's planned for later this year. The merger would help with SpaceX's plans to launch data centers into space, according to the publication. Later on Thursday, Bloomberg reported that SpaceX is "considering" a potential merger with Tesla or an "alternative combination" with xAI.
The specific timing and value of any potential merger are unclear. SpaceX is considering an IPO date in mid-June, the Financial Times reported this week. SpaceX, Tesla, and xAI didn't i …
Apple’s second biggest acquisition ever is an AI company that listens to ‘silent speech’
Apple's biggest acquisition ever is still its $3 billion Beats buy in 2014, but now the second biggest deal is bringing in Q.ai, a four-year-old AI audio startup. Apple did not disclose the terms, but Financial Times reports that Apple is spending $2 billion on the company. It also mentioned Q.ai patents for optical sensor technology that could be built into headphones or glasses to recognize "facial skin micro movements," allowing for non-verbal discussions with an AI assistant, for example.
The founders of Q.ai will join Apple, including CEO Aviad Maizels, who founded PrimeSense. Apple bought that company in 2013 and repurposed its Xbox …
Obsbot’s new gimbal webcam doesn’t justify its $350 price
Webcam company Obsbot recently launched two new gimbal-equipped webcams, the $349 Tiny 3 and the $199 Tiny 3 Lite. It claims that the priciest model is the smallest pan, tilt, zoom (PTZ) 4K webcam ever made, weighing 63 grams. Ironically, the Tiny 3 Lite is heavier and bigger. I've been testing the Tiny 3 for a couple of weeks, and here's what you should know about it.
Compared to Insta360's newish $249 Link 2 Pro, the Tiny 3 has a slightly bigger sensor and more AI-powered features, including voice control and voice tracking. It also has MEMS mics, which are supposedly better than condenser mics at filtering unwanted noise, and Obsbot clai …
Everything is gambling now: the latest news on prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi
Prediction markets will let you bet on just about anything, from how many tweets Elon Musk will post this week to the next president of the United States, with predictions sometimes showing shockingly (or suspiciously) spot-on accuracy. Polymarket’s CEO Shayne Copland has even claimed that prediction markets are “the most accurate thing we have as mankind right now.”
However, these platforms blur the lines — in terms of both function and regulation — between gambling and stock trading. As Bloomberg’s Joe Weisenthal said on The Vergecast, “All of the lines between trading, speculating, [and] gambling are just being completely torn apart.”
There are also ethical concerns surfacing around prediction markets, like whether it’s acceptable to be able to place a bet on virtually everything, along with concerns about insider trading. For instance, a newly-created Polymarket account made over $400,000 in January betting on the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
- Portugal orders Polymarket to shut down.
- Blood for stonks
- Someone made a ton of money betting on Maduro’s capture
- Kalshi and Polymarket keep partnering with fake newsbreaker accounts on X.
- Everything is gambling now
- Election night at Kalshi HQ
- Here’s the $2,000 fully AI-generated ad that aired during the NBA Finals
- Are prediction markets gambling? Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev is betting not
- Polymarket quietly raised more money before the FBI raided the CEO’s apartment.
- The FBI reportedly seized the phone of Polymarket’s CEO.
- Why Robinhood’s CEO thinks prediction markets are here to stay
- Presidential betting platform Kalshi loads up on debt.
- Robinhood admits it’s just a gambling app
Spotify’s new group chats share music with everyone in your circle
Spotify is expanding its in-app messaging feature with group chats. Now you can add up to 10 friends and family members to your discussion about your new favorite song, podcast, or audiobook, as reported earlier by TechCrunch.
The music streaming platform launched direct messaging last August, allowing you to share what you're listening to without leaving the app. As is the case with one-on-one messages, you can only add people to group chats if you've interacted with them through Spotify's other features before, such as joining their Jam session, Collaborative Playlists, or Blends.
Along with group chats, Spotify launched its Listening Ac …
Half of developers think gen AI is bad for the gaming industry
While generative AI is being adopted at various levels of game development, a new survey suggests that developers increasingly think the technology is bad for the industry. According to the most recent survey from the Game Developers Conference, 52 percent of respondents said that gen AI is having a "negative" impact on the games industry, versus just 7 percent who viewed the technology as "positive." Perhaps most startling is how the negative outlook has grown over the years: in 2024, just 18 percent of those surveyed viewed the tech as a negative, and that number jumped to 30 percent in 2025. Now it's up to more than half.
GDC surveyed 2, …