Hardware / Engadget
Verizon just revealed a new price lock policy that guarantees certain plans wont go up in cost for three years. This is for both new and existing customers. It was announced the day after President Trump decided to tariff the entire world , which put markets into a tailspin . Verizon didnt specifically mention this policy, but did say that the move was intended to give predictability to its customer base. However, there are some caveats. Customers have to be enrolled in one of the companys newer
This week's Nintendo Direct provided much more info about the Switch 2 but didn't go too deep into the nitty-gritty details of what powers the console. That left NVIDIA, the Mario maker's hardware partner on the console's processor and GPU, to fill in some blanks with a blog post published on Thursday including the first confirmation that it uses Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) tech . NVIDIA said the Switch 2's DLSS support helps to give the console en times the graphical performance of th
Sarah Wynn-Williams, the former Facebook policy director behind a best-selling memoir about her time at the company, will testify at a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing next week. The testimony will be Wynn-Williams first public remarks since Meta initiated emergency arbitration proceedings in an attempt to prevent her from promoting the book. Wynn-Williams upcoming appearance at Congress was confirmed by Senator Josh Hawley, who said in a statement that she would testify about allegations t
Googles Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds are on sale via Amazon for just $179 . This is a record-low price, as they normally cost $229. This deal is available for multiple colorways, including black, pink, beige and green. These little cuties easily made our list of the best wireless earbuds . We admired the comfortable and secure fit and the addition of the Tensor chip to handle audio and ANC processing. They also offer a hands-free way to initiate Gemini AI. However, the main reason we recommend these
The original Switch started a revolution when it combined the portability of handhelds with the ability to play games on your TV at home like a traditional console. But with the Nintendo Switch 2 , even though it's physically bigger, it feels like a sleeker, faster and more refined take on its predecessor to the point that Nintendo should have called it the Super Switch (which apparently almost happened ). And after getting a chance to try it out, I'm sold on its abilities, even with its signif
TikTok will reportedly face a fine of over 500 million ($553 million) for transferring Europeans' private data to China. Bloomberg said on Thursday that Ireland's data protection commission, which regulates TikTok owner ByteDance's EU operations, could dish out the penalty before the end of April. The fine results from a four-year investigation of TikTok's data handling practices. The probe reportedly concluded that ByteDance broke Europe's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) laws by trans
Engineers at Northwestern University have developed the worlds smallest pacemaker . Its so small, as a matter of fact, that it fits inside the tip of a syringe. This means that its injectable, so patients could potentially avoid a painful surgery. It safely dissolves into the bloodstream after a time, so its a temporary solution. Its designed for folks who need heart help on a short-term basis, like newborn babies with congenital defects. However, it can work with hearts of all sizes. Its also p
With Nintendo's April 2 Direct showcase over and done, we now know more about the Switch 2 than ever before, including its release date (June 5), price ($450!) and how to pre-order . Thanks to Nintendo's January 16 teaser trailer , we've long known what the Switch 2 will look like, and that it will arrive in 2025 over eight years after its predecessor. The Nintendo Switch 2 looks very similar to the original system, albeit with a larger display, magnetic Joy-Cons and a sleeker desig
The most recent Nintendo Direct went into great detail on the new Switch 2, including when fans will be able to get their hands on the console. According to Nintendo's press release , pre-orders for the Switch 2 open up on April 9 in North America, and the console will be widely available on June 5. The starting price is a whopping $450, and in addition to Nintendos online store, youll be able to get the Switch 2 at participating retailers. We expect those to include Amazon , Best Buy , GameStop
What do modern speakers need? Good sound quality? As little distortion as possible? Longevity? Well, yes. Plus, according to Bang & Olufsen , marble plinths. Bang & Olufsen is debuting a partnership with Italian marble and granite company Antolini at Milan Design Week. The Beosound Balance Natura speaker features a sculptural base from Antolini that the audio company says elevates the device to its optimal height. Apparently, the plinth isn't just there for aesthetic it's a functional audio ele
The original Switch started a revolution when it combined the portability of handhelds with the ability to play games on your TV at home like a traditional console. But with the Switch 2 , even though it's physically bigger, it feels like a sleeker, faster and more refined take on its predecessor to the point that Nintendo should have called it the Super Switch (which apparently almost happened ). And after getting a chance to try it out, I'm sold on its abilities, even with its significantly h
Mario Kart 8 and its Deluxe update have been around so long it's easy to forget that the game actually predates the Switch and can trace its origins way back to the Wii U. But every good run must come to an end, and with the forthcoming arrival of the Switch 2 on June 5, Mario Kart World is looking like the ideal launch partner. Now there hasn't really ever been a bad Mario Kart game, but World feels like Nintendo has jammed nitrous into every corner and crevice. Even during my demo ses
Following recent tests , Amazon is finally ready to launch its Project Kuiper space internet project in a bid to rival Elon Musk's Starlink, the company announced. The first batch of 27 satellites on the KA-01 (Kuiper Atlas 1) mission are set to launch into low earth orbit (LEO) aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on April 9th next week from Cape Canaveral if conditions allow. Amazon hopes to start offering the high-speed internet service later this year, it said. Amazon's net
Smartwatches do more than just track your steps and deliver phone alerts to your wrist. The best smartwatches go even further, giving you the ability to pay for a cup of coffee, take calls and connect to apps like Spotify all without whipping out your smartphone. Chances are, if youre reading this, you already know all of the benefits of a smartwatch. Youre ready to invest, or upgrade from an aging accessory, but we wouldnt blame you if you if you didnt know where to start. There are dozens of s
TikTok may be back online and in app stores, but its future in the United States is still far from certain. President Donald Trumps executive order delaying enforcement of the ban was only a temporary reprieve for the company and the clock is once again running out on a potential ban. While ByteDance was once resistant to the idea of selling TikToks US business, that seems to have changed since Trump took office. A ByteDance investor said early this year that striking a deal to keep TikTok in th
The Switch 2 is bigger, more powerful and more expensive than the original Switch, but the tech specs for the new console reveal at least one key way it's worse: The Switch 2's battery life is shorter. Nintendo says that battery life on the Switch 2 varies depending on the game you play, but that it estimates the console should last approximately 2 6.5 hours. That's notably shorter than the battery life you'll get out of a current Switch or Switch OLED, based on the company's support page . Nin
In 2002, Microsoft launched Xbox Live with built-in voice chat as one of the main selling points of the then new service. Now, nearly 25 years later, Nintendo is finally giving its fans an easy way to talk to their friends online over a friendly match of Mario Kart World . Considering some of the solutions Nintendo has offered in the past , GameChat is surprisingly elegant. A tap of the Switch 2 's new C button, conveniently located below the Home button on the right Joy-Con, brings up a ded
Sonos has given two of its audio products price cuts. The Era 100 smart speaker and Ray soundbar now retail for $199. The change offers new customers a $50 savings for the Era 100 and $80 on the Ray. Both speakers would frequently show up on sale, but Sonos has confirmed that this is a permanent pricing change for the products. These items have been available for a few years, so the price drop might signal that a refresh is in store for both. When it debuted in 2023, the Era 100 was an upgrade o
It seems fitting that Nintendo didnt reveal the Switch 2s $450 price during its Direct stream this morning it would have just bummed everyone out. After spending an hour hearing about how the Switch 2 practically fixes almost every problem we had with the original console, and seeing teasers for exciting games like Mario Kart World , why spoil the good vibes with the harsh reality of market economics? Instead, Nintendo revealed the consoles price in the lowliest of media communications: A simpl
The Nintendo Switch 2 had its big debut on Wednesday, and the new console looks to be a sizable, if mostly straightforward, upgrade over its mega-popular predecessor. Tucked between the new Donkey Kong and (pricier) Mario Kart games , mouse mode and overhauled party chat features, though, was another significant update: The device supports faster microSD Express cards. This may not be the sexiest feature, but it should bring quicker load times and generally improved storage performance to the up
Hear me out. I too rolled my eyes when A Minecraft Movie was announced. We're all tired of seeing Jack Black in video game movies he was fine in Super Mario Bros. , but good god Borderlands was a disaster . And the Minecraft film's trailers did it no favors, another soulless movie produced on a virtual set about a game that's completely open-ended and plotless. But it turns out A Minecraft Movie is actually good. Honestly, I'm as surprised as you are. A Minecraft Movie isn't
Following its big Switch 2 presentation , Nintendo revealed in an interview with the team behind the console that one of the (arguably better) names the company was considering before it landed on Switch 2 was Super Nintendo Switch. There were a lot of ideas for the name, and we really struggled to find the right one, Kouichi Kawamato, the producer on the Switch 2, says. We even considered ideas like 'Super Nintendo Switch.' The issue with the name was that even though drawing a parallel to the
The entry-level laptop from modular computing company Framework , which we first saw in February, is almost ready to roll. Founder and CEO Nirav Patel said on Wednesday that you can reserve the Framework Laptop 12 on April 9 at 11AM ET. The Framework Laptop 12 is a colorful 12.2-inch notebook with a 360-degree hinge that lets you fold it back into a (chunky) tablet. This zillionth iteration of that form factor stands out because of Framework's ethos of modular repairability. If you decide it's t
Amazon has reportedly joined the growing list of suitors angling to acquire TikTok as a new ban deadline approaches. According to The New York Times , the retailer has made a last-minute bid to buy the app, and has approached Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about the offer. Its not clear why Amazon is making an offer this late in the process. TikTok is currently facing an April 5 deadline to strike a deal, though President Donald Trump has said he would likely exten
Nintendo just dropped a boatload of Switch 2 news, including the release date, price and a launch title or two. It also announced a bevy of accessories thatll be available for the console on June 5. Lets go over the most notable of these doodads. For my money, the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is the highlight here. This was featured heavily in the companys livestream, as the Switch 2 will allow for in-game video chat . This is thanks to the magical C button on the right Joy-Con controller. The camer
With Nintendo's April 2 Direct showcase over and done, we now know more about the Switch 2 than ever before, including its release date (June 5) and price ($450!). Thanks to Nintendo's January 16 teaser trailer , we've long known what the Switch 2 will look like, and that it will arrive in 2025 over eight years after its predecessor. The Nintendo Switch 2 looks very similar to the original system, albeit with a larger display, magnetic Joy-Cons and a sleeker design. The company also
According to a recent Digital Education Council survey , as many as 86 percent of university students globally use artificial intelligence to assist with their coursework. Its a staggering statistic thats likely to have far-reaching consequences for years to come. So its not surprising to see a company like Anthropic announce Claude for Education , an initiative it says will equip universities to play a key role in actively shaping AI's role in society. At the heart of Claude for Education i
It's almost time to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2, now that we finally know how much it'll cost, when it comes out, some of the games it's getting, and the fact that you can use the new Joy-Con as a mouse, even on top of your pants . The Nintendo Switch 2 costs $450, it comes out on June 5, and pre-orders are set to go live on Wednesday, April 9. If you're pre-ordering from a third-party retailer, your best bet is to make an extra cup of coffee that morning and get your clicking fingers ready
Last spring, Ooni debuted the dual-zone Koda 2 Max outdoor oven that can cook lots of things, including pizzas up to 20 inches. Now the company is expanding the gas-powered Koda line with the new Koda 2 and Koda 2 Pro. Like the Max, these two models feature Ooni's latest burners, improved heat efficiency, a more resilient stone and compatibility with the Ooni Connect Digital Temperature Hub . The Koda 2 Pro will be the midrange option in Ooni's revamped gas-burning lineup. The oven can accommoda
Theres a trailer for the upcoming third season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and its absolutely filled with goodies. It looks like there will be an episode soaked in the 1960s retro vibes of the original show, complete with period-accurate costumes and sets. This is an episodic show, meaning that each episode is (more or less) standalone. The trailer shows off a few of the sci-fi concepts that will populate this third season. Theres a clip of the crew trying to connect dial-up phones to the s
England's top-tier soccer league will soon use optical tracking to automate portions of offside calls. The Premier League said on Tuesday it will adopt semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) in live matches beginning on April 12. The league said the new tech won't change the accuracy of offside calls, but it will make them 30 seconds faster on average. SAOT uses sensors from up to 30 cameras mounted high above the field in each Premier League stadium. They track the ball's precise location and
Mario Kart World is arriving exclusively alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 when it hits store shelves on June 5. The day-and-date release of the latest iteration in the series was confirmed in the company's Switch 2 Nintendo Direct , along with a totally new feature: off-road driving. That's right, Mario Kart World will allow you to drive virtually everywhere. That means you can grind down railings, jump off walls and even drive off the race track. You can also enter a mode called Free Roa
Its obvious that Apple products are some of the most sought-after in the tech world that means sales are fewer and farther between than other gadgets, and theyre often the first things to sell out when discounts do arrive. But it would be a mistake to assume youre doomed to always pay full price on things like iPads and Apple Watches . Apple deals to exist, if you know where to look. Engadget keeps track of deals like these on a regular basis, so we can help you there. Below, weve collected the
Samsung and LG got a headstart on Sony when they announced their new 2025 TVs a few months ago at CES . But now, the latter is catching up with the pending arrival of three new Bravia sets, including a refreshed flagship QD-OLED, a midrange mini LED option and an updated budget alternative. Before we get into the specific models, it's important to note that after revamping the naming scheme for all of its home theater gear last year , Sony isn't doing a full top-to-bottom overhaul of its
Last spring, Sony debuted its Bravia Theater line of soundbars and speakers, ditching its confusing product names in the process. The initial group consisted of the flagship Bar 9, Bar 8, Bravia Quad speaker set and a Theater U neck speaker. Now the company is looking to offer a more compact midrange option that's still capable of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio. With the new Bravia Theater Bar 6, Sony gives users a 3.1.2-channel option, and this time, it comes with a wireless subwoofer in the box.
The Switch 2 Nintendo Direct has officially come and gone, leaving in its wake some big news about the system and its upcoming games . One of arguably the cutest announcements came courtesy of Kirby Air Riders , a new game from Super Smash Bros . director Masahiro Sakurai. So, while there's sadly no new Smash game on the horizon, you can glide around with Kirby and friends. Kirby Air Riders comes over two decades after Sakurai designed Kirby Air Ride for the GameCube. Yes, you can now take a mom
At last, we have the critical info millions of gamers have awaited for years: the Nintendo Switch 2 release date, price and other details about the new system. The console will arrive on June 5 and it costs $450. Pre-orders will open on April 9 , so you have a week to break open your piggy bank. The June release date confirms the long-standing rumors that had percolated since Nintendo first revealed the details of the new console in January. As suspected, it dovetails with the series of roadshow
Silksong , the long-awaited to sequel to 2017's Hollow Knight , will arrive later this year, according to a brief sizzle reel Nintendo shared during today's Switch 2 Direct . In fact, the snippet was so short you might have missed it if you blinked, and featured the same section of gameplay we first saw during the game's announcement trailer back in 2019. Of course this being Silksong we're talking about, I wouldn't count on the game's developer, Team Cherry, sticking to
After months of anticipation and years of speculation, Nintendo is finally spilling all the beans about the Switch 2. In a Nintendo Direct presentation, the company is filling in questions we've had about the console since it was first officially revealed in a short teaser this past January . Switch 2 launch date and pricing We finally know when the console will be available: June 5, 2025. It'll cost $450 at launch, and pre-orders start on April 9. Switch 2 hardware The Switch 2 console has the
Nintendo just held a livestream to drop more details on the forthcoming Switch 2 console. At the very end, it revealed a brand-new 3D platformer starring Donkey Kong. This is the first game of its type since Donkey Kong 64 hit the Nintendo 64 all the way back in 1999. Its called Donkey Kong Bananza and launches exclusively for the Switch 2 on July 17, which is just over a month after the console hits store shelves. It looks cool! Much of the environment is destructible, so DK can get in there an
After months of anticipation and years of speculation, Nintendo is finally spilling all the beans about the Switch 2. In a Nintendo Direct presentation, the company is filling in questions we've had about the console since it was first officially revealed in a short teaser this past January . Switch 2 launch date and pricing We finally know when the console will be available: June 5, 2025. It'll cost $450 at launch, and pre-orders start on April 9. Switch 2 hardware The Switch 2 console has the
If you were hoping for Bloodborne 2 , it's good and bad news. This isn't that, because that's a Sony thing. However, FromSoftware's new game, coming to the Switch 2, looks to borrow a lot of the gothic cues and style of Bloodborne . The Duskbloods leans into a slightly more Steampunk style too, with what appears to be steam-powered automatons and a Victorian London setting. There are also vampire shenanigans, a man with an axe in a pyjama onesie, a dinosaur, and a rune-covered ro
Nintendo Switch Online is getting a Switch 2-exclusive upgrade. On June 5 , the same day the new console goes on sale, the service's Expansion Pack service will begin including GameCube games. At launch, Nintendo will offer The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Soulcaliber II and F-Zero GX , with more games to come following the Switch 2's release. Games that support multiplayer, including F-Zero GX , will offer online play, with support for up to four players. Additionally, the Switch 2
During today's Nintendo Direct all about the Switch 2 , the company shared how and when fans can finally get the handheld into their hands. After a long, long wait, pre-orders for the Switch 2 will begin on April 9. Its starting price tag is $450, and the console will be widely available on June 5. The console will be available from the usual lineup of retailers, which we expect to include Amazon , Best Buy , GameStop , Walmart and others. We knew from the teaser trailer for the Switch 2 that Ni
At last, we have the critical details millions of gamers have awaited for years: the Nintendo Switch 2 release date and other details about the new system. The console will arrive on June 5 and it costs $450. Pre-orders will open on April 9, so you have a week to prepare yourself. Long-standing rumors suggested that the console would go on sale in June. That lined up with a series of roadshow events Nintendo is holding around the globe to let folks try the Switch 2 for the first time . Those wra
Nintendo is today laying out the goodies for the Switch 2 , which includes the third-party titles available at launch. The roster may be small, but it includes a number of notable titles from the current generation, trimmed and polished to work on the new hardware. That includes Cyberpunk: 2077 , Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, Street Fighter 6, Hitman: World of Assassination and Split Fiction . EA has also committed to putting whatever the hell we pretend to call FIFA these days EA Sports FC as
We finally have all the answers about the Nintendo Switch 2 , including its games. The company used its Switch 2 Nintendo Direct to announce Mario Kart World , the latest iteration in the series, and one that is all about off-roading. That's right, Mario Kart World will allow you to drive virtually everywhere. That means you can grind down railings, jump off walls and even drive off the race track. You can also enter a mode called Free Roam which let's you simply drive around and enjoy the scene
Nintendo won't let you escape two of its most critically-acclaimed games ever. It's announced there will be Switch 2 versions of both Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Both titles will benefit from the next-gen console's increased power, with enhanced framerates and resolution during play, as well as HDR support for deeper colors and contrast. Nintendo wasn't specific on the difference between handheld and TV play just yet, but we know the new console
Nintendo just dropped a boatload of Switch 2 news. We got the release date, which is June 5, and plenty of details. The company also pulled the lid off a mysterious Joy-Con feature. The rumors were right . They can double as mouse-like controllers. One Joy-Con can be used as a traditional controller, held vertically, while the other slides along the table as a mouse. This could allow for near-perfect ports of Wii and Wii U games that relied on motion control, in addition to ports of PC titles. A
Voice chat was never easy on the Nintendo Switch. Thankfully, with the Switch 2, Nintendo is making it an essential part of the new console. By pressing the new C button, located on the right Joy-Con, players can jump into a GameChat with their friends and family. Nintendo demoed the feature during its recent Switch 2 Direct, alongside a new Switch 2 Camera that will go on sale on June 5 , the same day as the new handheld. If you've ever watched someone stream on Discord, you'll have an