Two new wireless Samsung speakers for 2026 lean into aesthetics
For years, Samsung has made products that try to camouflage what they are by displaying works of art. The Frame TV is the most famous example, but the company also released the Music Frame, a speaker disguised as a picture frame, at last year's CES. Now, instead of hiding a speaker with a piece of art, Samsung worked with designer Erwan Bouroullec to make a speaker into a piece of art.
According to Samsung, the Music Studio line of speakers, debuting at CES 2026, draw inspiration from the "timeless dot concept" found throughout music and art. As a musician, the Music Studio 5 reminds me of a fermata, the symbol meant to hold a note or silen …
Sam Altman is hiring someone to worry about the dangers of AI
OpenAI is hiring a Head of Preparedness. Or, in other words, someone whose primary job is to think about all the ways AI could go horribly, horribly wrong. In a post on X, Sam Altman announced the position by acknowledging that the rapid improvement of AI models poses "some real challenges." The post goes on to specifically call out the potential impact on people's mental health and the dangers of AI-powered cybersecurity weapons.
The job listing says the person in the role would be responsible for:
"Tracking and preparing for frontier capabilities that create new risks of severe harm. You will be the directly responsible leader for bui …
Pixel 10 phones and Switch 2 games round out this week’s best deals
If you’re taking it easy during the slow, in-between week between Christmas and New Year’s, now’s a good time to catch up on deals you might’ve missed. Many of our favorite discounts from the past week are still hanging around, making this an especially convenient moment to shop. Whether you’re eyeing a new phone, gearing up for travel, or just looking to treat yourself before the year wraps up, we’re seeing notable price drops on Google’s Pixel 10 lineup, AirTags, and a wide selection of Nintendo Switch games, along with a handful of other Verge-approved picks worth grabbing now. Here are the best deals worth checking out before the year comes to a close.
Google Pixel 10
This model touts a 6.3-inch 1080p OLED that supports up to a 120Hz refresh rate. It has the same Tensor G5 processor found in all Pixel 10-series phones, but with a slightly lower 12GB RAM count compared to 16GB on the Pro. Verge reviewer Allison Johnson notes in her review that those who want to take great — not just good — photos should get the 10 Pro instead.
Where to Buy:
Google Pixel 10 Pro
In addition to have extra memory for handling tasks more swiftly than the Pixel 10, its cameras pack improvements, both in terms of hardware and AI-enhanced software, like the sometimes great, sometimes terrible Pro Res Zoom mode that’s powered by generative AI. Its portrait mode is improved, according to our review.
Where to Buy:
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL (256GB)
The Pixel 10 Pro XL is the larger version of Google’s flagship, with a 6.8-inch OLED screen, Google’s Tensor G5 chip, and support for Pixelsnap wireless charging at up to 25W.
Where to Buy:
Google’s Pixel 10 phones are among the best Android phones you can buy, and this week they’ve dropped to some of their lowest prices yet. Amazon is selling the Pixel 10 for $499 ($300 off) with promo code PIXEL10, marking its second-best price to date. If you want better cameras, Amazon is also offering record-low prices on the Pixel 10 Pro and 6.8-inch Pixel 10 Pro XL, down to $649 ($350 off) and $799 ($400 off), respectively, with the same code.
All three phones support Qi2 wireless charging with built-in magnets and run on Google’s snappy Tensor G5 chip. In her review, The Verge’s Allison Johnson called the Pixel 10 a great, basic Android phone with meaningful upgrades, including a bright 6.3-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness. It also adds a dedicated telephoto lens — a first for a non-Pro Pixel — which makes a noticeable difference for portraits.
If you’re aiming for great (not just good) photos, though, the 6.3-inch Pixel 10 Pro or 6.8-inch Pro XL are better picks. Both offer improved main and 48-megapixel ultrawide cameras, and additional AI-powered features like Pro Res Zoom and an upgraded portrait mode. They also come with extra memory for smoother multitasking along with sharper displays.
Read our Pixel 10 review.
Anker Laptop Power Bank
Anker’s 25,000mAh power bank sports two built-in USB-C cables (one of which is retractable), plus one USB-C and USB-A port. It tops out at 165W when charging two devices simultaneously, or 130W when charging three or four.
Where to Buy:
Anker’s Laptop Power Bank is once again on sale at Amazon and Walmart for $87.99 ($47 off), which matches the record-low price we last saw a month ago. A favorite among Verge staffers, the 25,000mAh / 90Wh power bank features a retractable USB-C cable along with a second built-in USB-C cable that doubles as a handle for easier portability. You also get a handy LCD screen that shows remaining battery life, total power output, and temperature at a glance. It includes a USB-A port and an extra USB-C port as well, letting you charge a MacBook Pro and up to three other devices at the same time. Power output tops out at 165W when charging two devices, or up to 130W with more plugged in — and since it’s carry-on compliant, you can bring the power bank along on flights.
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
CD Projekt Red has delivered on an incredibly ambitious vision: a vast virtual city with a complex narrative and roleplaying system. Read our review.
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Super Mario Odyssey
The first mainline Mario title for the Nintendo Switch, Super Mario Odyssey, doesn’t disappoint. The game brings plenty of fun, new mechanics, and ample charm. Read our review.
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The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Echoes of Wisdom finally lets you play as Nintendo’s titular heroine. The game mixes the top-down perspective of 2D Zelda games with gameplay from the series’ newer, open-world 3D entries. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
If you’re looking to stock up on Nintendo Switch games, now’s a great time to do it. Nintendo is currently taking up to 50 percent off some of its best-known titles. That includes a number of first-party Nintendo games like Super Mario Odyssey ($39.99 down from $59.99), along with Princess Peach: Showtime ($41.99 down from $59.99) and The Legend of Zelda, Echoes of Wisdom (also $41.99 down from $59.99).
The deals aren’t limited to Nintendo’s own catalog, either. A number of well-known third-party games are included as well, from popular releases like Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition ($39.99 down from $69.99) to game of the year contenders such as Hades 2 ($22.49, down from $29.99) and Hollow Knight: Silksong ($15.99, down from $19.99). Just mark your calendar — most of these deals run through January 4th.
A few more deals we’re digging:
- Right now, you can buy a single AirTag for $19 ($10 off) at Amazon, which is about $1 shy of its best price to date. We strongly recommend Apple’s Bluetooth tracker for iPhone owners, largely because it taps into Apple’s wide Find My network for reliable out-of-range tracking, with built-in UWB delivering an impressive level of precision. You can also share an AirTag’s location with up to five people or, in some cases, participating airlines. Read our review.
- The Twelve South AirFly Pro 2 Bluetooth transmitter / receiver is on sale for $49.99 ($10 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is its second-best price to date. The adapter adds Bluetooth support to any device with a 3.5mm headphone jack, whether you’re listening to in-flight entertainment or using older gym equipment and cars that lack built-in Bluetooth. You can even connect up to two sets of headphones or earbuds at once, making it a great option for watching a movie or listening to a playlist with a travel companion.
- If you missed out on Amazon’s Echo device sale, the retailer recently launched a new winter sale that basically is a continuation of its holiday sale. For example, you can still pick up the Amazon Echo Spot for $44.99 ($35 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. That matches the lowest price we’ve seen so far on the bedside smart speaker and alarm clock, which comes with a small display for checking things like the weather at a glance. Read our review.
8 great games for your Steam Deck from 2025
I played a lot of games on my Steam Deck this year. It seemed like there was a never-ending list of incredible indie games to try - The Verge wrote about a lot of them! - and many worked brilliantly on Valve's handheld gaming PC. Some bigger games made a splash on Steam Deck, too, and while they may not look as good as on a beefy PC, I'm usually happy to deal with that simply because I can play them on the couch or out of the house.
If you're unwrapping a Steam Deck for the holidays this year, or have some Steam gift cards burning a hole in your pocket, here are some of my recommendations of games released in 2025 that you might want to che …
Trump’s war on offshore wind faces another lawsuit
Dominion Energy, an offshore wind developer and utility serving Virginia's "data center alley," filed suit against the Trump administration this week over its decision to pause federal leases for large offshore wind projects. The move puts a sudden stop to five wind farms already under construction, including Dominion's Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project.
The complaint Dominion filed Tuesday alleges that a stop work order that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued Monday is unlawful, "arbitrary and capricious," and "infringes upon constitutional principles that limit actions by the Executive Branch." Dominion wants a fede …
Rodeo is an app for making plans with friends you already have
There are plenty of dating apps out there and apps that turn your chaos of work obligations into easily actionable lists. There is also a growing number of apps that help you make new friends. The pitch for Rodeo is a bit different in that it uses AI to help you schedule activities with your existing friends.
The company was started by a pair of former Hinge execs who felt it was more difficult than it should be to make plans with friends. Parenting, work, 37 different group chats - all of this can lead to things like maintaining your relationships falling by the wayside.
Rodeo can take social media posts for events or restaurants, or ev …
Framework announces another memory price hike — and it likely won’t be its last
The modular PC company Framework is adjusting the price of its DDR5 RAM modules once again as the cost of memory continues to surge. In an update on Wednesday, Framework said it will charge $10 per GB for 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB, with "slightly higher" prices for the 48GB and up.
Framework first announced a price hike on memory earlier this month, citing "substantially higher costs" from suppliers and distributors. With this most recent increase in place, the 8GB variation jumped from $60 to $80, the 16GB option increased from $120 to $160, and the 32GB variation went from $240 to $320. Meanwhile, the price tag of the 48GB option more than doub …
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition and other Switch games are up to 50 percent off
Unlike the day after Thanksgiving, when people are rushing online and to the stores to look for deals, the day after Christmas is usually a time to recover from the festivities and check your budget to see how much all that gifting has cost you. However, if you're in a shopping mood, or if you suddenly realized you forgot somebody important, there are still some deals out there.
For example, Nintendo is offering a bunch of its best-known games at deals ranging from 25 to 50 percent off. These include Princess Peach: Showtime ($41.99 down from $59.99), The Legend of Zelda, Echoes of Wisdom (also $41.99 down from $59.99), Super Mario Odyssey …
Google is letting some people change their @gmail address
If you've been saddled with some awful Gmail address you chose in high school (looking at you, LazySexyCool3030), help appears to be on the way. According to a Google account support page in Hindi the company is allowing some people to change their email address. According to the page (via Google Translate):
If your Google Account email address ends with gmail.com, you can replace it with one that ends with @gmail.com.
This appears to be more like adding a second address to your account than actually changing your email address, however. Email sent to your old address will still arrive in your inbox, and that address will still work to s …
The 10 best shows to stream on Amazon Prime Video from 2025
Aside from free shipping, Prime Video is the second-best perk that comes with an Amazon Prime subscription. This year, the streaming service delivered several strong installments to some of its biggest series like Reacher, Fallout, and Invincible - but it also premiered some great new shows and spinoffs to keep things fresh.
Here's a list of the best shows and new seasons released on Prime Video in 2025.
Reacher (season 3)
Reacher is one of my favorite series on Amazon Prime Video, and the latest installment doesn't disappoint. After winding up in Maine, Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) - the former military officer-turned-drifter - gets enta …