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We now know that the 2025 edition of Amazon's blockbuster Prime Day sales event will start on July 8, and it's set to be bigger than ever as it will run for four days. But you don't need to wait until then for tasty deals. There will be plenty in the lead up to the event, including this one for the Levoit Core 400S air purifier. At $183, the device is $37 off. It's not quite the lowest price we've seen for this model. However, it's not too far off that mark of $176.

The Levoit Core 400S is our current pick for the best air purifier overall. Sure, it might not have the prettiest design of all the options we have tested and the companion app might have a little too much going on. But the Core 400S does its job and does it well.

This smart air purifier is slated to clean the atmosphere in spaces of up to 1,733 square feet in as little as one hour. The Core 400S has a cylindrical shape with vents at the top and a touch display that shows air quality readings. You'll be able to get a sense of the current air quality in your space at a glance with a color-changing ring that will light up in blue, green, orange or red. The 360-degree filtration system is said to be capable of capturing over 99.9 percent of pollutants as small as 0.3 microns, such as dust, pet dander and pollen.

There is an auto mode that should suffice for maintaining air quality, but the Core 400S is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant voice controls too. The fan isn't too loud, even when it's operating at maximum speed — the volume topped out at 62dB in our testing. Meanwhile, at $50 each, the air filter replacements aren't too expensive compared with those from many of Levoit's competitors.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/our-favorite-levoit-air-purifier-is-37-off-in-this-early-prime-day-deal-143224402.html?src=rss

The Nintendo Switch 2 has been all the rage around the Engadget HQ for the last few weeks. Even the editors who didn't write the official review have had their hands glued to their new toys. Of course, we've been testing other things too, mainly a repairable laptop that's design for student use. Read on to catch up on the reviews you might've missed over the last two weeks.

Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo Switch 2 finally made its way to gamers this month and several of us have been putting the portable console through its paces. Senior reviews reporter Sam Rutherford wrote our full review, noting that the company managed to take everything that make the original model so good and make it better. However, there's still room for improvement, especially with regards to battery life. "The Switch 2 has everything that made the original so great, but now there's more of it to enjoy," he said. "Granted, Nintendo's latest console commands a higher price, but as the successor to the iconic system that revived handheld gaming, this thing is worth it."

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller

A new Switch means a new Pro Controller, so senior reviews reporter Devindra Hardawar took a deep dive on Nintendo's new accessory. Despite being "the most refined gampad" the company has ever made, he took offense to the price and the lack of advanced design features. "As much as I like the Switch 2 Pro Controller, it’s undoubtedly an extravagance at $85 when 8Bitdo’s Ultimate gamepad offers even more features for $50," he explained. "But if you’re a dedicated Nintendo fan, or you just can’t accept third-party controllers, it’s also one of the best gamepads you can buy today."

Framework Laptop 12

The Framework Laptop 12 takes the company's familiar spin on modular, repairable machines and puts it in a smaller body with students in mind. However, the price is an issue and overall performance isn't good enough. "The limited performance and battery life here gives me pause and I’m not sure a machine that, right now, needs a stretch to run Fortnite would be too popular," senior reporter Dan Cooper wrote. "My gut tells me Framework had intended to sell this for less before tariffs pushed the prices up beyond what made sense."

A Playdate Season 2 update

Weekend editor Cheyenne Macdonald recently proclaimed that there haven't been any flops at the halfway point of Playdate Season Two. The two newest additions are Long Puppy and Otto's Galactic Groove!!, two games that are fun but still offer a challenge. You can also revisit her thoughts on The Whiteout and Wheelsprung or the initial column on Fulcrum Defender and Blippo+.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-review-recap-switch-2-playdate-games-and-a-framework-laptop-130056621.html?src=rss

Earlier in this Playdate season, I commented in a review that I "love a game that pisses me off a little." Well, I may have shot myself in the foot with that one. Week four of Playdate Season Two brings us not one game that got my blood boiling, but two. CatchaDiablos is a roguelike with a unique movement mechanic that is both pretty cool and absolutely infuriating: running in circles with the crank. Shadowgate PD, on the other hand, is a remade-for-Playdate version of the classic point-and-click adventure that's filled with tricky puzzles and hidden death traps.

This week is not for the faint of heart. Am I having fun? Yes. Am I suffering? Also yes. I haven't yet had a chance to check out the latest update to Blippo+ because I've been fighting for my life with these two titles, but I sure am looking forward to turning my brain off soon and getting lost in that strange, strange world as a treat after all this.

CatchaDiablos

Amano

Amano, the developer behind CatchaDiablos, kind of has a knack for games featuring unusual methods of movement. Amano previously gave us Pullfrog Deluxe, a Tetris-like (that I highly recommend checking out) in which you rearrange falling blocks as a frog that pulls itself around using its tongue. In CatchaDiablos, things are a bit more complicated. You play as something of a demon wrangler on an unnamed moon, rounding up "Diablos" that are scattered all over the place. Of course, as any witch knows, the way to do this is by drawing a chalk circle around the entity, so that's exactly what you do. But, following the chalk line is also the only way you can move.

CatchaDiablos basically throws you right into the deep end. There is a very brief tutorial at the beginning to introduce you to the idea of traveling along an arc of pre-determined length, but then you're on your own to take on swarms of the little devils. To make a circle, you aim using the crank and, once you've got the outline placed where you want it, you hold the A button to draw. You have to draw a complete circle around a monster (or a group of monsters, for more points) in order to catch it, but when it comes to moving, you can stop the drawing at any point and you'll only move as far as the chalk extends.

Doing this while trying not to run into any Diablos — you take damage every time one touches you — is hard. It gets even harder when some of those Diablos start firing projectiles at you, and they're surrounding you in greater and greater numbers. Everything descends into chaos and it becomes really difficult to try and think fast enough to outmaneuver the Diablos while also trying to run in haphazard half-circles by swinging the crank. And after some time has passed (three eyes at the top of the screen will open), a boss will show up to make things even worse. This is a roguelike, so once your health is depleted, you're dead for good and have to start it all over.

I want to be clear: I really, really like this game. I found it hard to put down once I got going, and it's another fun example of how the crank can be used in unexpected ways. It's just kicking my ass. A lot. CatchaDiablos isn't entirely unforgiving, though. As you catch monsters, a status bar on the right side of the screen will start to fill up, and you'll eventually be rewarded with power-ups that can dramatically improve your odds. These come in the form of discs that will pop up in random places and bring perks like extra health spaces, the ability to draw a wider chalk circle and faster movement.

Roguelikes aren't for everyone, but if you are into them, this is a great one for the Playdate. As a plus, there's a "Diablory" bestiary of sorts where you can see drawings of every type of creature you've encountered so far. You can access this from the title menu, and it's really worth flipping through after you've sunk a good deal of time into the game.

Shadowgate PD

Pixel Ghost

"You seem to be wasting your time." It wasn't exactly a good sign for me when Shadowgate hit me with this message repeatedly in the first room of the damn game, where I found myself stuck for much longer than I'd like to admit and clicking on literally everything in my desperation. Anyone familiar with Shadowgate (1987) or the NES version (or the several other versions beyond that) might already have been braced for the difficult path forward from the get-go, but as someone who never played the original… let's just say we got off to a rougher start than expected. Such a rough start that I was forced to do something I generally avoid at all costs: look for a guide online.

So, I must concede that while I have navigated the treacherous castle halls, I had a good amount of help in doing so, which makes it feel like much less of an accomplishment. Bruised ego aside, though, Shadowgate makes for a really cool game on the Playdate. You must explore the castle room by room, solving puzzles, picking up keys and items to access locked areas along the way, defeating enemies and generally just trying not to die. It's a lesson in persistence, really.

There are many different ways to die, and much of the fun in games like these for me lies in keeping track of all those that I succumb to. There are the classic deaths, like plummeting after a floor suddenly drops away or getting incinerated by a dragon, and then the silly, unexpected ones, like tripping in the dark and falling flat on my face… fatally. (You really need to pay attention to your torch use). Thankfully, you'll be revived in the room where you died so you don't lose too much progress every time. The art and music really elevate the whole experience. The atmosphere is just right.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playdate-season-2-review-shadowgate-pd-and-catchadiablos-130020943.html?src=rss

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, June 21 (game #741).Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.NYT Connections today (game #742) - today's words(Image credit: New York Times)Today's NYT Connections words are…PORTPURSUITPROGRESSIVESUCCESSIONHAPPINESSDEPARTEDFLASHLIBERTYWIREEUPHORIAREMAININGENTOURAGEINSECUREBULLETINLIFEREPORTNYT Connections today (game #742) - hint #1 - group hintsWhat are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?YELLOW: Breaking!GREEN: We hold these truths to be self-evidentBLUE: Box-set staplesPURPLE: Not rightNeed more clues?We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…NYT Connections today (game #742) - hint #2 - group answersWhat are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?YELLOW: NEWS ANNOUNCEMENTGREEN: NOUNS FROM A FAMOUS LINE IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCEBLUE: HBO SHOWSPURPLE: WHAT “LEFT” MIGHT MEANRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.NYT Connections today (game #742) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Connections, game #742, are…YELLOW: NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT BULLETIN, FLASH, REPORT, WIREGREEN: NOUNS FROM A FAMOUS LINE IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE HAPPINESS, LIBERTY, LIFE, PURSUITBLUE: HBO SHOWS ENTOURAGE, EUPHORIA, INSECURE, SUCCESSIONPURPLE: WHAT “LEFT” MIGHT MEAN DEPARTED, PORT, PROGRESSIVE, REMAININGMy rating: ModerateMy score: 1 mistakeMy first thought on seeing the word board today was that surely ENTOURAGE, EUPHORIA and SUCCESSION went together as examples of glossy US TV shows. But what to add to them? The WIRE, maybe, but it was missing the definitive at the start, so seemed unlikely. Was there a show called DEPARTED maybe – or was that The Departed? Or it could be LIFE, as that's definitely a TV show – but a British one.In the end I got cold feet on that and looked elsewhere, spotting that LIFE, LIBERTY and the PURSUIT of HAPPINESS were all NOUNS FROM A FAMOUS LINE IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.That gave me an easy green, so I decided to next search for the supposedly easier still yellow. Yellow groups are almost always just straight groups of words with no subterfuge or misdirection, so I looked at the board with a clear mind and spotted FLASH, REPORT, WIRE and BULLETIN as examples of a NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT.With one more needed I looked again at the TV shows one, now shorn of LIFE and WIRE, and played those three with DEPARTED. That gave me 'one away', but I added INSECURE as another possible and got it right. Turns out they were all HBO shows.That just left purple and WHAT “LEFT” MIGHT MEAN, a nice oblique group with DEPARTED, PORT, PROGRESSIVE and REMAINING.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, June 21, game #741)YELLOW: STOCKY SOLID, SQUAT, STOUT, THICKGREEN: COMPANY CONCERN, FIRM, HOUSE, OUTFITBLUE: APPLE PRODUCTS BRANDY, BUTTER, CIDER, SAUCEPURPLE: STARTS OF EUROPEAN COUNTRIES GERM, LUXE, MALT, PORTWhat is NYT Connections?NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, June 21 (game #1244).Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.Quordle today (game #1245) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too). Quordle today (game #1245) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.Quordle today (game #1245) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.Quordle today (game #1245) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:Quordle today (game #1245) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• W• C• P• SRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.Quordle today (game #1245) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle, game #1245, are…WRESTCRAZEPAPALSCIONToday's Quordle gave us a difficult selection of words, and I duly struggled to uncover them, needing all nine guesses to complete the set.SCION was for sure a tricky one, although I got that first, helped by having all five letters in place. Likewise CRAZE, with its Z, was also difficult – and I lost a guess here playing CRAVE first.When I messed up WREST, playing TRESS first, I was down to my final attempt and was relieved with PAPAL proved to be correct even though when I played it I had only one green and two yellow letters.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Daily Sequence today (game #1245) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1245, are…DANDYOMBREGROVESTILLQuordle answers: The past 20Quordle #1244, Saturday, 21 June: BUDDY, GROUT, BEGIN, MADAMQuordle #1243, Friday, 20 June: BRAID, DULLY, HASTE, LURIDQuordle #1242, Thursday, 19 June: BRUSH, ISLET, FRUIT, PRIVYQuordle #1241, Wednesday, 18 June: MEDIA, SHARK, GUPPY, MOURNQuordle #1240, Tuesday, 17 June: LEAPT, PRISM, ADMIN, WHINEQuordle #1239, Monday, 16 June: RETRY, SCALD, DINGO, FEIGNQuordle #1238, Sunday, 15 June: SHOCK, STEIN, BROIL, COVENQuordle #1237, Saturday, 14 June: STICK, FERRY, THESE, IONICQuordle #1236, Friday, 13 June: REPEL, LARGE, SNIDE, CARRYQuordle #1235, Thursday, 12 June: SCANT, BATCH, UNDER, PARSEQuordle #1234, Wednesday, 11 June: CRAVE, ROOST, ANGLE, FLOODQuordle #1233, Tuesday, 10 June: DECRY, CHEEK, FILET, EASELQuordle #1232, Monday, 9 June: DERBY, LEMON, WRITE, HOVELQuordle #1231, Sunday, 8 June: REBAR, ALERT, PAYEE, FLUMEQuordle #1230, Saturday, 7 June: FLUNK, ESTER, SPITE, CHEAPQuordle #1229, Friday, 6 June: ELUDE, KHAKI, VISTA, SMOKYQuordle #1228, Thursday, 5 June: CHIDE, RABBI, GUSTY, LANCEQuordle #1227, Wednesday, 4 June: BANAL, STOUT, SEDAN, HIPPOQuordle #1226, Tuesday, 3 June: FUGUE, SYRUP, FLACK, WORSTQuordle #1225, Monday, 2 June: THINK, BELLE, CRONE, BOULE

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, June 21 (game #475).Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.NYT Strands today (game #476) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Fragrant abuseNYT Strands today (game #476) - hint #2 - clue wordsPlay any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.TIREKINGPENSSMALLSOURDOORNYT Strands today (game #476) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 10 lettersNYT Strands today (game #476) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: bottom, 5th columnLast side: top, 1st columnRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.NYT Strands today (game #476) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Strands, game #476, are…SMELLYPUNGENTREEKINGFOULRANKMALODOROUSSPANGRAM: THAT STINKSMy rating: ModerateMy score: 1 hintAs the owner of a lovely chocolate labrador, I am no stranger to SMELLY things, and have regularly shouted THAT STINKS at him – usually after he has rolled in something that I would really, really rather he had not rolled in.On these days he could definitely be described as REEKING, RANK, being FOUL or having a PUNGENT odor, so once I'd worked out what the concept was here it was not too hard to find the answers.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, June 21, game #475)NADAZERONOTHINGZILCHZIPPONAUGHTBUPKISSPANGRAM: DIDDLY SQUAT What is NYT Strands?Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Right now, I’m grateful for anything that offers even a small reprieve from the ever-dominant conversation about AI on smartphones, but I hate to burst Apple and Samsung’s bubble: this slim phone fad will never take off.Just in case you’re wondering what the heck I’m talking about, both Apple and Samsung are going big on new phone models this year that prioritize slimness above all else. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is no longer just a rumor, and while the iPhone 17 Air is still being kept behind closed doors, its announcement is a shoo-in for this year's iteration of Apple’s September product showcase.It's noteworthy that two of the biggest smartphone manufacturers have decided to get in on this trend at almost exactly the same time, and this will no doubt lead to similar slimline handsets from smaller companies. But unlike the best foldable phones, which arguably represent the last major innovation in this space, I simply don’t see this form factor taking off – and you only have to look at Apple’s recent history to understand why.Apple’s recent misses speak volumesThe iPhone 13 mini (above) struggled to take off (Image credit: TechRadar)As much as it pains me to say it, the iPhone mini and iPhone Plus series failed spectacularly, with both phones falling well behind their standard and Pro counterparts in terms of sales.It’s a shame, too, because I was absolutely obsessed with the value proposition of the iPhone 13 mini. It offered the same standard chipset and cameras as the regular iPhone 13, but at a reduced price, all within a body that was easy to use one-handed, which cannot be said for the majority of the best phones nowadays.More recently, I’ve been using the iPhone 16 Plus, and again, unlike others, I appreciate its positioning in the iPhone lineup. For those who want a larger display for reading and watching content, not to mention extra keyboard space for typing, I strongly believe that the iPhone 16 Plus is a better-value alternative to the expensive iPhone 16 Pro Max.Evidently, though, the majority of iPhone buyers don't (or didn't) share my feelings towards the iPhone mini and iPhone Plus series – and I think the same will be true of the iPhone 17 Air.Even though they were cheaper, the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini didn’t appeal to a broad enough set of buyers – their 5.4-inch displays were a niche preference. Similarly, the $100 / £100 / AU$200 premium demanded by Apple's Plus iPhones has so far proven too much for budget-conscious consumers, and it looks like the iPhone 17 Air will replace the iPhone 17 Plus in this year's lineup.There’s a sweet spot to be struck between price and functionality, and unfortunately, the iPhone 17 Air doesn't seem like it’ll hit that sweet spot, either.Why the iPhone 17 Air is going to failWhile the finer details will no doubt change once we get an official announcement, the word on the street (thanks to many leaks) is that the iPhone 17 Air, much like the cheaper iPhone 16e, will feature just one rear-facing camera.One can assume that the lesser camera tech is all part of the plan to make the Air as slim as possible, and from what we know so far, Apple’s definitely achieved greatness on that front. The latest rumors suggest the phone will be just 5.65mm thick and weigh only 145g in the hand. That’s quite impressive from an engineering point of view, but it will likely come at the expense of another key feature: the battery life.Apple needs to stop toying with size variations that don’t quite land and instead drop its long-awaited foldable phone.There’s a chance that the iPhone 17 Air might use a minuscule 2,800mAh cell, which is next to nothing on the modern market and could make it tricky to ensure that the phone reaches the end of the day on a single charge. If Apple decides to equip the iPhone 17 Air with a super-efficient silicon-carbon battery, then its battery life might not be something to worry about, but there will inevitably be some endurance compromises brought about by Apple's quest for ultimate thinness.At this rate, you might be thinking that with fewer cameras and a smaller battery, there might be a redeeming quality in the iPhone 17 Air's price, but you'll likely be wrong on that front, too.All signs point towards the iPhone 17 Air having a starting price of $899 / £899, which puts it back in the same predicament as the Plus range, except this time, it'll be lacking a few notable features that you'll likely be able to get on the cheaper, standard iPhone 17.In my opinion, Apple needs to stop toying with size variations that don’t quite land and instead drop its long-awaited foldable phone, which, at the very least, will offer a different experience that you can't get on other iPhones.You might also likeFoldable iPhone: latest rumors, news and everything we know so farApple is rumored to be working on haptic buttons for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple WatchThe best iPhone 2025: which Apple smartphone reigns supreme?