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Asus’ top-end 4K QD-OLED gaming monitor is $400 off

The discounted Asus QD-OLED in all its glory. | Image: The Verge

The Asus ROG Swift 32-inch 4K QD-OLED gaming monitor has almost everything I want in a high-end gaming monitor, most notably a QD-OLED panel for inky black levels and vivid colors that go beyond what’s possible on an LCD screen. Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo have this model on sale for $899.99 (usually $1,299.99). It’s particularly well-suited for fast-paced games with its 240Hz refresh rate, and G-Sync variable refresh rate to prevent screen tearing.

This monitor has been available for this price for most of July. We’re not sure how long the deal will stick around for, but Asus is likely trying to move units at a discount so it can put more focus on its newer $1,299.99 model that has a Tandem QD-OLED display and slightly better specs.

The port selection is good, comprised of a DisplayPort 2.1 input, a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports, and USB-C for video via DisplayPort alt mode (with 90W of charging power), plus a USB 3.2 Gen 1 hub with three Type-A ports. A unique feature is that this and several other Asus OLED monitors have a proximity sensor that let it turn off when you walk away to reduce the risk of burn-in. It has a three-year warranty that covers burn-in with normal use.


Other deals to consider

  • Newegg has Marathon for Steam on sale for $21.99 when you apply the coupon code EPF5365 at checkout. The notoriously difficult extraction shooter from Bungie is gorgeous and more inviting to new players in its second season that’s currently available. This is the cheapest price we’ve seen if you’re looking to start your career as a runner, and great timing ahead of the experimental PvE mode that’s launching on July 21st.
  • A perennial favorite in our deal coverage, the Anker Nano Smart Display Charger Block is on sale for $25.99 at Best Buy and Amazon. The compact 45W USB-C power adapter with foldable prongs comes in four fun colors, and has a display on the front with charging progress and speed and a cute, smiley face to accompany you as your device charges.
  • The Sennheiser Accentum Open Wireless Earbuds are $59.99 (usually $129.99) at Best Buy. They don’t have the same truly open design as other clip-on style earbuds like the Asus ROG Cetra Open Wireless, and instead fit in your ear without tips, similar to the standard Apple AirPods. They have an IPX4 rating, multipoint pairing, and up to 28 hours of runtime on a single charge, while still allowing outside noise to pass through. They’re a good, budget-friendly option if you’re looking for something to stay aware while working out or doing yardwork.

Samsung’s redesigned Z Fold 8 with a wide display just leaked

A leaked image of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 shared by Evan Blass

Leaker Evan Blass shared images of Samsung's redesigned Galaxy Z Fold 8 just days before the July 22nd launch event where Samsung is expected to officially announce the phone.

The leaked images show a shorter, wider foldable matching earlier leaks of the Z Fold 8. They also reveal some of its specs, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite For Galaxy processor, 50MP wide and 50MP ultra wide rear cameras, 10MP selfie cameras on the inside and outside screens, and an advertised battery life of "up to 26 hours of video playback."

Blass also posted images of the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and shared images of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra in an email receive …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Is America ready for this quirky Jeep-looking EV that can park itself?

Chip Motors

Are we living through a small car renaissance? There's the Slate Truck, Amble's dune buggy, and the Fiat Topolino, as well as a whole galaxy of kei cars and trucks from Japan that have their own built-in fan base. While microcar sales in the US are still as tiny as the vehicles themselves, there are some signs that Americans might not be as closed off to the idea of downsizing as you might think.

The latest example is the launch of Chip Motors, a Miami-based startup with an adorably boxy, open-air electric vehicle that defies easy categorization. Is it a golf cart? A Jeep Wrangler that got hit with a shrink ray? A bit of both?

The company …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Florida man arrested for allegedly stealing over $200,000 in crypto using Steam game malware

A shifty figure stealing a computer file.
A final hearing will take place in June. | The Verge / Beatrice Sala

Federal authorities have arrested a Florida man suspected of stealing at least $220,000 in crypto through malware-infected Steam games, as reported earlier by local news outlet Local10. In the complaint, officials accuse 21-year-old Zyaire Wilkins and co-conspirators of launching eight malware-embedded games from around May 2024 to February 2026, allowing them to infect about 8,000 devices and gain access to 80 crypto wallets.

Though the complaint doesn't specifically say the games were uploaded to Steam, it's likely referring to the Valve-owned gaming platform. As noted by Local10, the FBI put out a call for victim information in a "Steam …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Over half a million power tool batteries have been recalled due to a USB-C charging fire risk

A person saws through a branch using an electric Kobalt chainsaw.

Greenworks Tools has issued a recall for around 554,780 Kobalt-branded power tools designed for yard work because of a battery issue "posing a risk of serious injury from fire hazard." There have been 34 reports of the tool's batteries "producing smoke, sparking or catching fire while the batteries are inserted in the tool and charging with the USB-C port," according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC). No injuries or property damage have been reported.

The recall includes several models of Kobalt trimmers, blowers, chainsaws, mowers, and pruning saws that use 24V/48V lithium-ion batteries with a built-in USB-C charging po …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Bethesda teases Fallout 5 soon after Xbox’s mass layoffs

A still photo from the Amazon TV series Fallout.
The Fallout TV series. | Image: Amazon

Xbox is currently in a "reset" period that includes laying off around 3,200 employees over the next year, involving deep cuts at beloved studios like id Software and Obsidian Entertainment. Now, in an attempt to show that things are still running fine, the company has announced a slate of upcoming projects at Bethesda Game Studios - which itself was hit with layoffs - including official confirmation that Fallout 5 is in the works.

"We're investing more deeply in the worlds players love, giving creators a bigger role in shaping their experiences, and bringing our teams closer together so we can get our games into your hands sooner, support t …

Read the full story at The Verge.

The manosphere’s testosterone fever is coming for the troops

QUANTICO, VIRGINIA - SEPTEMBER 30: U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks to senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico on September 30, 2025 in Quantico, Virginia. In an unprecedented gathering, almost 800 generals, admirals and their senior enlisted leaders have been ordered into one location from around the world on short notice. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The Secretary of the High-T Department of War. | Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

This is Optimizer, a weekly newsletter sent from Verge senior reviewer Victoria Song that dissects and discusses the latest gizmos and potions that swear they're going to change your life. Opt in for Optimizer here.

I was in the middle of writing a different Optimizer column this week when I learned that Pete Hegseth is getting ready to roid out America's armed forces.

The announcement came in an X post, because of course it did. "The High-T Department of War," the post read. There was a two-minute, 30-second video underneath. As I hit play, my soul morphed into that meme of a screaming, crying cat.

"We have a sacred duty to maintain t …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Even Microsoft couldn’t make Windows 11 work well on 8GB of RAM

A Microsoft 13-inch Surface Laptop with performance monitoring in Task Manager open, showing the amount of memory in use.
Memory anxiety. | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge

Last year, Microsoft's 13-inch Surface Laptop quickly became one of my favorite thin-and-light Windows notebooks. At $900, it was easy to recommend to anyone wanting MacBook Air-like build quality and battery life on Windows - I even convinced my sister to buy one on sale.

But that was last year. This year, thanks to RAMageddon, that same laptop costs $950, and now that price gets you half as much RAM - just 8GB. It's the same great hardware on the outside, but it's not the same laptop on the inside.

It's been a long time since we tested a Windows laptop with so little RAM. We've been saying for years that 8GB isn't enough. But this is Mi …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Trump is selling high-speed access to his market-moving Truth Social posts

An image showing Trump

Trump Media, the company behind Truth Social, is selling Wall Street faster access to the "most market-moving" posts on the US President's social media platform. On Thursday, Trump Media announced plans to launch "Truth API," a licensed real time data feed for businesses that provides "the fastest access to Truth Social's most influential accounts." It goes live on August 1st.

Similar APIs are common across other social media networks, but those aren't as fraught with conflicts of interest. While Trump Media hasn't disclosed how much the API service will cost, it stands to benefit the Trump family, with them being the largest shareholder in …

Read the full story at The Verge.

The war on ‘woke science’ comes for space research

Milky Way galaxy

The Trump administration is waging a culture war on science, and the latest salvo is in the form of a dry, bureaucratic proposal from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that could threaten the future of US science as we know it.

The proposal would give political appointees unprecedented control over grant funding, the method through which scientists receive federal money to perform groundbreaking space research such as the search for evidence of organic compounds on Mars or the discovery of some of the earliest galaxies in the universe.

A typical proposed rule from the OMB garners less than 100 public comments. This rule has nette …

Read the full story at The Verge.