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If you just want a way to read ebooks, you already have what you need in your pocket with your smartphone. But if you want something that’s less distracting and easier on your eyes, you may want to go with an ereader instead. As it stands, the market is currently dominated by two brands. Amazon’s Kindle has captured the largest share by far, but Rakuten Kobo devices are a winning alternative — in fact, the Kobo Clara Colour is our current top pick. Smaller companies like Onyx Boox and PocketBook produce Android tablets with e-paper screens that can do more than just display books.Other considerations, such as whether or not you need a color display or the ability to write on the screen for note-taking, will determine which ereader to buy. Factors like library size, compatibility with rights-managed content and more also come into play. Over the past two years, we’ve tested out more than a dozen devices to create a guide to help you pick the best ereader for you — and help you get the most out of your new gadget once you get it.

Table of contents

Best ereaders

What to look for in an ereader

How to get books for your ereader

How we test ereaders

Ereader FAQs

Recent updates

The best ebook readers for 2025

What to look for in an ereader

Plenty of apps, including the Kindle app, will let you download and read digital books on a phone or tablet. But what makes ebook readers different is the screen: nearly all of them use technology from a company called E Ink. It manufactures electronic paper displays (EPD) composed of three sheets: one containing millions of microcapsules filled with black and white ink particles sandwiched between transparent electrode layers. When a charge is applied, either the black or white particles shift to the top, forming letters and the whitespace around them.

Color ereaders add a color filter array on top of the standard black and white microcapsule layer. The result is two different resolutions on one screen — the color clarity is 150 dpi while black and white images and text are still 300 dpi.

Because these displays are so different from standard backlight LED panels, you can expect most ereaders to do a number of things well. They’ll be easier to stare at for long periods of time and easier to read in direct sunlight. Also, since E Ink displays only require power to rearrange the ink, these devices have much longer battery lives than even the best tablets: we’re talking weeks on a single charge, not days.

The ereader market is not as saturated as, say, the smartphone market, but there are still plenty of options out there and they do have small but important differences among them. They tend to range from around $100 to more than $400, though usually the higher end options are stylus-enabled read/write E Ink tablets like the Kindle Scribe. Beyond price, you should consider physical properties like buttons, lights, storage and resolution, as well as how the software lets you find and access books.

Reading features

With any ereader, you’ll navigate the OS via taps and swipes, and some add physical page-turn buttons. Most with built-in buttons have an auto-rotating screen so you can press with your right or left hand.

As E Ink technology has advanced, resolution has greatly improved – even the budget Kindle ereader has a 300 ppi display. You can still find models with lower resolution, but we don’t recommend them.

Some ereaders have front LEDs that support light temperature adjustment. That means you can switch to a warmer light after the sun goes down, which will feel easier on the eyes. If you’re concerned about blue light, you should go for a reader with that feature. Finally, dark mode is available on most later model ereaders, allowing you to invert the black and white text and background, which some people find easier to read in low-light settings.

Other features

The capabilities of these pocket libraries have advanced considerably since the early days. In addition to storing books, some let you browse the web, run apps and play music. The screen’s frame rate can’t handle gaming, but it’s good enough to show you the Wikipedia entry for Striver’s Row while you read Crook Manifesto.

If you listen to audiobooks, you may want a Bluetooth-enabled ereader capable of playing them. Most of the models we tested have that ability, with the notable exception of the Nook ereader we tried. Keep in mind that audiobook files can take up more space than print files so you'll probably want a device with a higher storage capacity if you plan on doing a lot of listening.

Above all, you should consider where and how you intend to find books to read. Most ereaders make it easiest to shop through their own digital bookstores, but all of them (even Kindles) will now let you download titles from other sources, like libraries, unaffiliated ebook sellers and free public domain sites.

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

How to get books for your ereader

Kindle, Nook and Kobo all have their own stores that you access directly from each brand’s devices. Prices are the same among all sellers, too. Publishers set the price of an ebook, not the retailer, so a title will cost the same at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, eBooks.com and the Kobo store.

Amazon offers Kindle Unlimited for $12 per month, and it includes four million titles from which you can pick your next read. It includes audio and ebooks, but you won’t find many big, new releases or older bestsellers. Kobo has a subscription called Kobo Plus with about 1.3 million titles: it goes for $8 per month for ebooks only, $8 for audiobooks only or $10 for both.

Buying a book from a proprietary store instantly delivers it to your device, provided you’re connected to WiFi. It also syncs your reading across devices and apps, so you can pick up where you left off on your phone if you forgot your ereader at home. It truly is the most convenient way to go, but if you don’t want to be locked into one brand’s store, or if you opt for an ereader without its own marketplace, you do have options.

How to upload ePubs onto an ereader

Stores like ebooks.com and Google Play have millions of ebooks for sale as digital rights-managed (DRM) ePub files, which Kobo, Nook and PocketBook readers can read in their native ereader apps. Kindles don’t support DRM ePub files at all and Boox devices require third party reading apps (of which there are many) to read those files. Titles from Apple Books are only readable in iOS devices.

Titles from some publishers like Tor and public domain classics from sites like Project Gutenberg are also sold as ePubs, but without the added DRM. Consequently, Kindles and the Boox Neoreader do support those files. Books you get from third-party sources will look just like ones you bought from a proprietary store, thanks to the flowable, formatted nature of ePub files. While these device-agnostic ebook collections give you extra options for finding your next read, they require a few additional steps to get the files onto your ereader.

To do so, you’ll typically need a computer running a free program called Adobe Digital Editions (ADE). After buying and downloading the ePub file, open ADE and plug your ereader into your computer (all readers here have a USB-C port for charging and data transfers). Your device should pop up in the left panel. Drag and drop the ePub file from your downloads folder into the main panel in ADE. The file will display as an image of the book cover. Drag that image onto your device on the left panel. If the file includes digital rights management (which protects against unauthorized copying) you’ll need to authorize your ereader, which requires using or creating a free Adobe ID. Once you’ve finished adding files to upload, eject the reader from your computer to complete the transfer process.

Kindles use a web-based uploader instead of the ADE method. But since Kindle uses its own proprietary DRM technology instead of Adobe's, the only files it can accept from third parties are non-DRM files, such as from Tor Publishing or Project Gutenberg. After downloading a compatible ePub file, drag and drop it into your browser with the Send to Kindle page open. As long as you’re signed into Amazon, this wirelessly transfers the files to your associated device.

Boox also uses a browser uploader called BooxDrop (along with many other methods) to deliver ePubs to the device. Open it from the Boox App menu and you’ll see a device-specific url. Type that into your browser to access a file delivery portal that uploads to your library. Boox’s built-in ereader app, NeoReader, also doesn’t support files with DRM, so you won’t be able to read current titles from most publishers using that app. Fortunately, Boox devices run nearly every ereader app out there, Kobo and Kindle included, letting you access ePubs any number of ways.

Recently, Bookshop.org, the online seller of physical books that supports indie bookstores, started selling ebooks and up to 100 percent of the profits will go to local booksellers. The company uses a different rights management system than ADE so, right now, you can only read titles you buy from them on the Bookshop.org app, but the company is working with the makers of both Kindle and Kobo to extend compatibility to those ereaders.

How to read library books on an ereader

Your local library card lets you borrow audio and ebooks through a program called Overdrive and its companion app Libby. On a Kobo, you have have built-in access to Overdrive in a separate tab. Once you’ve linked your public library card, the search function will include results for titles available from your local library system; a few taps will upload your selections to your device for the length of the loan. I personally find it easiest to borrow the title I want through the Libby app on my phone. After that, the book pops up on my Kobo’s home screen once the device syncs.

To read library books on a Kindle, you can either go through the Libby app or the Overdrive section of your library’s website. Once you click Borrow, you’ll see the option to “Read now with Kindle,” which takes you to Amazon’s site to sign in. After that, the book will be delivered to your device the next time it connects to WiFi.

For other ereaders, you’ll go through your library’s Overdrive portal and download the ePub after clicking the Borrow button. You can then use the ADE process we described above. Devices that run external apps, like Boox's Page, Go Color 7 or Palma, allow you to read library books via the Libby app, just as you would on a smartphone or iPad.

You can also use the Libby app to borrow audiobooks, but you won’t be able to access them through your ereader. (The exception is an ereader, like a Boox device, that allows external apps). I found it was easier to listen to an audiobook on my phone anyway, regardless of whether I borrowed it through Libby or bought it from Kindle or Kobo.

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

How we test ereaders

When putting together any guide, the first thing we do is spend hours researching the field. We look at what’s available, what’s new, and what shoppers and professional reviewers have to say. Then we narrow a list to the best candidates for hands-on testing.

Over the course of the past two years, I’ve tested just over a dozen ereaders, representing five different brands: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Boox and PocketBook. I bought, borrowed and uploaded books for each device using the methods above. I used each one for between a few days to a few months. I evaluated each one in the areas of book access, ease of reading, extra features and overall value. Here’s everything we tested so far:

Amazon Kindle (2022)

Amazon Kindle (2024)

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021)

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature (2024)

Boox Go Color 7

Boox Leaf 2

Boox Page

Boox Poke 5

Boox Palma

Kobo Libra 2

Kobo Libra Colour

Kobo Clara 2E

Kobo Clara Colour

Kobo Nia

NOOK GlowLight 4

PocketBook Era

Other ereaders we tested

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft

Amazon’s first color Kindle impressed with its quick page-turns and load times, auto-adjusting front light and, of course, a decently striking color E Ink display. But at $280, it’s more expensive than all of the other color ereaders in its size range, including the Kobo Libra Colour and the Boox Go Color 7.

Also, some Colorsoft owners reported seeing a yellow band at the bottom of their ereader’s display. This issue did not affect our first review unit during the original testing period, but it eventually appeared. An Amazon spokesperson told Engadget: "A small number of customers have reported a yellow band along the bottom of the display. We take the quality of our products seriously—customers who notice this can reach out to our customer service team for a replacement or refund, and we’re making the appropriate adjustments to ensure that new devices will not experience this issue moving forward."

Amazon sent us a new Colorsoft ereader at the end of 2024 and it does appear that the fixes the company made resolved the yellow-band issue. The screen on our second review unit appears warmer overall, but not overly so. It’s more akin to the screen on the Kobo Libra Colour, and that’s a good thing.

Ereader FAQs

Which ereaders can read Kindle books?

Amazon’s Kindle ereaders are the obvious answer, but other devices capable of running apps can also read titles from the Kindle store. For example, you can download the Kindle app on a Boox ereader through Google Play (the store comes standard in the Boox app menu). You can then sign into your Kindle account and access all the books in your library — the same way you’d read Kindle books on your phone or tablet.

Can you buy Kindle books without a Kindle?

Yes. You can buy Kindle books through the Kindle app or through Amazon’s website via a browser. You can read those titles on a Kindle or any device that can run the Kindle app, such as a smartphone, tablet or computer. Just be aware that Kindle titles can only be read through one of Amazon’s ereaders or the Kindle app. The company uses proprietary digital rights management on all ebooks it sells that can’t be read by other ereader apps like Kobo or Adobe ADE.

What's the difference between Kindle and Kobo?

Both Kindle and Kobo are brands of dedicated ereaders that support searching, buying, downloading and reading ebooks from their own stores. Both also support borrowing books from your local library via Overdrive and Libby.

The difference is that Kindle is owned by Amazon and uses the Kindle store, whereas Kobo is owned by Rakuten and its books come from the Kobo store. Both stores come pre-loaded as a tab on their respective ereader and both carry most in-print books. Each store also carries their own exclusive ebooks as well, but Amazon’s library of Kindle-only books is much larger than Kobo’s. Amazon also offers Amazon Original stories to read on the Kindle, which are free short fiction and nonfiction reads that are free to Prime members.

Which ereader is best for library books?

Both Kobos and Kindles have simple systems for borrowing library books. Other ereaders, like Boox, let you borrow books after downloading the Libby App. Only Kobo ereaders let you search for and borrow books directly on the ereader, with a dedicated Overdrive tab. Kindles, on the other hand, utilize a convenient “read on Kindle” function from the Libby app or website. You can send a borrowed book to your Kindle just by signing into your account. Both methods are pretty easy, so which is the best for you probably depends on other factors than just the library-book feature.

Recent updates

March 2025: Added news about Bookshop.org getting into the ebook market. Updated information about price-setting by publishers.

January 2025: Updated the "Others we tested" section to include impressions of the second Kindle Colorsoft review unit we received.

August 2024: Replaced our Android tablet pick with the new Go Color 7 ereader from Boox. Updated book titles to current examples. Added an FAQ section to explain the difference between Kobo and Kindle ereaders and further detail library-book support on different models.

November 2024: Following the release of Amazon's new Kindle ereaders, we tested and reviewed the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, the base-model Kindle and Amazon's new color ereader, the Kindle Colorsoft. Accordingly, we updated our budget pick, added a premium pick and noted our experience with the Colorsoft. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/best-ereader-130013808.html?src=rss

If you've been contemplating an E Ink tablet, one of our top picks has received a good discount thanks to Amazon's Spring Sale. The second-gen Kindle Scribe is on sale for $325, down from $399 — that's a 19 percent discount. Digital notebooks like the Scribe can give you the convenience of a connected device with the old-school feel of writing with pen and paper.

The new Amazon Kindle Scribe received an 86 in our review thanks to its nice design, AI enhancements and excellent reading and writing experience. It also comes with a Premium Pen that has a rubberized top to symbolize an eraser. Our biggest quip was its cost, but that's somewhat less concerning thanks to this discount.

The Scribe isn't the only Kindle discounted for the Amazon Spring Sale. You can grab the Kindle Colorsoft for $225 right now, which is 20 percent off its usual going rate. If you've been keen on getting a Kindle with a color display so you can better read comics, manga and the like, the Colorsoft is your only option. We enjoyed the colors that the screen can produce, plus its a zippy ereader a handy auto-adjusting front light and a solid 32GB of storage.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-spring-sale-kindle-deals-the-second-gen-scribe-drops-to-a-record-low-price-153010490.html?src=rss

It's your lucky day if you're looking for good deals on Apple devices. Thanks to the Amazon Spring Sale, the Apple Watch Series 10 has dropped to its lowest price to date. The smartwatch is back on sale for a record-low price of $299. That's a $100 discount. The Apple Watch SE got a discount too. The device typically retails for $249, but you can snap it up for $169.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is our pick for the best smartwatch overall. That may not necessarily apply if you're an Android user, since you need an iPhone to actually use an Apple Watch.

In any case, we gave the Apple Watch Series 10 a score of 90 in our review. Apple's current flagship smartwatch has a bigger screen, making it easier to see your notifications and health data (it's a pretty dang great device for wellness and fitness tracking). The thinner frame makes it more aesthetically pleasing too. On the downside, losing the blood oxygen feature from previous models is a bummer, but that issue was out of Apple's hands to a certain extent.

It's perhaps not quite worth an upgrade if you have a Series 8 or 9 already. Apple isn't exactly reinventing the wheel here. Plus the sleep apnea detection feature that debuted alongside the Series 10 is also available on the Series 9 and Ultra 2. Still, if you're an Apple Watch newcomer or upgrading from an even older model, the Series 10 is likely your best option, especially for the sake of future proofing.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-spring-sale-apple-deals-get-the-series-10-watch-for-100-off-184918072.html?src=rss

As the world turns, so do the console generations. The Nintendo Switch 2 will arrive in 2025, over eight years after its predecessor. Nintendo officially revealed the successor to its best-selling home console in a brief trailer on January 16.

The Switch 2 looks functionally very similar to the original system, albeit with a larger display, magnetic Joy-Cons and a sleeker design. The company also reaffirmed that the upcoming console will be backwards compatible with Switch games.

While the reveal did confirm some rumors and have a few interesting details for those who were paying close attention, Nintendo is still largely keeping its cards close to its chest. We'll have to wait until a special Nintendo Direct at 9AM ET on April 2 for all the juicy information. Before that, we'll just have to gaze at the sleeves on the Seattle Mariners' jerseys this year — Nintendo and the MLB team announced they'll have a Nintendo logo on the sleeve of the home jersey and a Switch 2 logo on the away jersey. If you can't trust a sports partnership to forecast a new console arriving soon, what can you trust?

The Nintendo Switch 2 was announced on January 16

The rumor mill had heavily suggested that Nintendo would pull back the curtain on the Switch 2 on January 16, and that turned out to be the case.

The company hasn't changed the core form factor. It's a portable console with detachable Joy-Cons. The Switch 2 can be placed in a dock for big-screen gaming. There are some significant differences from the original console, however.

The most obvious one is that the next-gen Joy-Cons will no longer slide into place mechanically. Instead, they appear to attach to the main unit magnetically. There is a small connector that's likely used to charge the controllers. It's unclear at this point if Joy-Cons from the original system will be compatible with the Switch 2.

One other big (and very welcome) change is the addition of a second USB-C port on the top of the device. That should make it much easier to plug in accessories while the Switch 2 is docked. FCC filings suggest that you'll be able to charge the console using either USB-C port, which is another nice quality-of-life change.

It's great to see that Nintendo has kept the headphone jack as well. Let's just hope that Bluetooth headphone support is live from the jump this time and Nintendo doesn't leave everyone waiting four years for that feature.

The kickstand is getting an upgrade. As with the Switch OLED, it spans the length of the console this time around. But, according to the reveal trailer, this one looks fully adjustable, so you can tweak the viewing angle to one that works for you.

There are still a great many unknowns regarding the upcoming console. We don't really know the specs yet, or what type of display it uses. We also don't know anything about battery life, the UI or launch games. We'll surely learn a whole lot on April 2.

When will the Nintendo Switch 2 come out?

2025. That's all we know for sure at this point.

It's highly unlikely that Nintendo will release the console before the dedicated Direct on April 2, and not only because that's at the start of Nintendo's next financial year. However, accessory manufacturer Genki, which has been a major source of leaks in recent months, claims the console will be released in April. Other reports have pegged June as the release window, as have several analysts.

In any case, we should learn the release date during the April 2 Direct.

When can I try the Nintendo Switch 2?

Nintendo is planning a worldwide roadshow to let gamers go hands-on with the console. These events start in New York and Paris on April 4-6, with others taking place throughout the following two months. That lends credence to some suggestions that Nintendo will release the Switch 2 in June.

Ticket registration for many of the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience events has closed, but waitlists are available. However, given that Nintendo is taking a first come, first served approach, your chances of attending the roadshow if you don't already have a ticket (or unless you signed up for the waitlist immediately) seem very small at this point.

The full list of Nintendo Switch 2 Experience dates is as follows:

North America:

New York, April 4-6, 2025

Los Angeles, April 11-13, 2025

Dallas, April 25-27, 2025

Toronto, April 25-27, 2025

Europe:

Paris, April 4-6, 2025

London, April 11-13, 2025

Milan, April 25-27, 2025

Berlin, April 25-27, 2025

Madrid, May 9-11, 2025

Amsterdam, May 9-11, 2025

Oceania:

Melbourne, May 10-11, 2025

Asia:

Tokyo (Makuhari), April 26-27, 2025

Seoul, May 31-June 1, 2025

Hong Kong, To be announced

Taipei, To be announced

Will the Nintendo Switch 2 have some weirdness?

Everything we've seen and so far about this console has been fairly, well, traditional. It looks like the original Switch, but better. That's awesome, but will there be any of that unpredictable Nintendo magic? Maybe! There are two puzzling additions that folks can't make hide nor hair of.

Genki, the accessories manufacturer, just published a landing page for their Nintendo Switch 2 accessories. This landing page features a video that includes a very detailed look at a Switch 2 mockup. pic.twitter.com/Db7RSk4YlQ— Bob Wulff (@BobWulff) January 8, 2025

Keen eyes will have noticed a new button on the bottom of the right Joy-Con. Promotional images for a new app called Nintendo Today!, which the company says will provide users with daily news updates about things like games and the Switch 2, confirmed that it is a C button.

However, it is not yet clear what this button does. Could it initiate voice chat during gameplay? Could it calibrate the controllers? Could it create a room-sized hologram of Bowser in your living room? We'll have to wait and see.

Now onto the updated Joy-Cons. There appears to be a new sensor on the connecting side of each controller. It looks a whole lot like an optical sensor, which is what a computer mouse uses. This has led to speculation that players will be able to flip the Joy-Con over and use it like a mouse. Of note: the trailer shows the Joy-Cons moving along a flat surface, connector side down and looking suspiciously like a mouse.

But why would anyone even want this? We can think of three words. New Mario Paint.

Genki reveal isnt a mockup, its straight up just the Switch 2, optical sensor is literally flashing in this shot @Stealth40k #Switch2 pic.twitter.com/COeLsonqMd— Ash  (@Ashinarii) January 8, 2025

Mouse control isn’t the only “too strange for any company but Nintendo” rumor floating around. A patent filed by the company suggests you can swap the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons, snapping them onto either side of the console. That would align with the magnetic Joy-Con attachment scheme.

But much like the weird mouse rumors, it doesn’t necessarily align with, well, any logical reason for why you’d want to do that. The patent suggests it could allow for more user choice in where the headphone jack is. But since it’s Nintendo, the company that brought us Labo cardboard peripherals and the Game Boy Advance e-reader attachment, we have to wonder if there are… quirkier designs at hand.

Is the Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatible?

The company confirmed in November 2024 that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be backwards compatible. It will also feature access to Nintendo Online, so users will be able to play all of those old retro titles.

In the initial Nintendo Switch 2 press release, Nintendo reiterated that physical and digital Switch games will work on the new system. However, it noted that "certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2." More details about which games those are will be revealed later.

During a Nintendo Direct on March 27, the company revealed a new system for loaning digital Switch games out to friends and family members. Virtual Game Cards are designed to make it easier to start a game on one console and continue on another as well. Although Nintendo's approach to this is not as simple as it perhaps should be, Virtual Game Cards will also be available on the Switch 2.

Will old games be enhanced in any way?

The original Switch has, to put it mildly, struggled to run some of the late-generation software that's come down the pike. Could these games be enhanced to take advantage of the increased horsepower of the Switch 2? We have no idea. We also don't know if any of these releases will receive graphical upgrades, perhaps taking advantage of upscaling tech.

What will the cartridges taste like?

You may remember that the original Switch cartridges taste absolutely awful. This was on purpose, to discourage folks from putting the games in their mouth. Will the successor follow suit and continue to dip cartridges in a foul-tasting bitter coating? Only time will tell.

What about specs?

The rumors regarding specs are all over the place, so it’s tough to pin down. We know one thing for sure: It’ll be more powerful than the ancient Switch hardware, which was already antiquated back in 2017. One analyst allegedly got a hold of a spec sheet from the Korean United Daily News that said the Switch 2 would boast an eight-core Cortex-A78AE processor, 8GB of RAM and 64GB of internal eMMC storage. This tracks, as these specs are about as underpowered now as the original Switch was in 2017. However, some reports do indicate that the console will include 12GB of RAM.

Another source suggests that the eight-core CPU will be packaged inside an NVIDIA-produced Tegra239 SoC (system on a chip). Given the current Switch runs on an NVIDIA chip, that makes a lot of sense. The CPU will be more powerful, but it's the Switch 2's new GPU that will be a major differentiator. It's all-but-confirmed that the Switch 2 will support DLSS, NVIDIA's "deep learning supersampling" upscaling tech, which would allow the console to render games at a low resolution internally while outputting a high-resolution image. (Fun fact: We actually wrote about how perfect DLSS was for the Nintendo Switch 2 when the technology was announced alongside the RTX 20 series back in 2018.)

There are still questions about the Switch 2 and DLSS: Will the system support newer DLSS features like frame generation? Will existing games be automatically tidied up by NVIDIA's algorithm? Regardless of the exact implementation, DLSS upscaling will be a huge leap over the rudimentary techniques available to Nintendo Switch developers.

As for the display, there are many conflicting rumors. Early reports from solid sources suggested the Switch 2 would have an 8-inch LCD screen. The Switch 2's display certainly looks larger than that of the original Switch in a side-by-side comparison in the reveal trailer. Some folks have worried that the Switch follow-up may actually be too big, especially for kids.

Certain analysts have suggested this would be an OLED screen, while others have said it would be a Mini-LED display. A Mini-LED display is basically an LCD display that has a backlight made of (surprise!) mini-LEDs rather than edge lighting. This allows for local dimming, making the blacks more black.

We're hedging our bets here. We think it’ll be a standard LCD, to cut costs, with an OLED or Mini-LED model coming later down the line. However, Mini-LED screens are slightly cheaper than OLED displays, so that’s certainly a possibility at launch.

As for resolution, recent reporting suggests that the console will output 1080p in handheld and 4K when docked. That's much better than the OG Switch.

More tenuous “leaks” have intimated that the Switch 2 could also support a faster microSD card standard known as microSD Express. This allows for significantly faster transfer rates than the common UHS-I cards supported by the Switch today. It’s technically been around for several years, but we’ve only recently started to see microSD cards that take advantage of the spec hit the market.

We actually tested one of them from SanDisk for our microSD card buying guide and found it could reach sequential read speeds up to around 900 MB/s. With the current Switch, microSD transfer speeds top out closer to 100 MB/s.

So, in theory, all of this could bring a sizable boost in load times and general storage performance for the Switch 2 (though it’s still not likely to be on par with the SSDs in the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S). But again, these rumors are far from concrete. It’s also worth noting that microSD Express cards cost significantly more than what we usually see today — the SanDisk card we tested, for instance, starts at $45 for just 128GB of storage.

Recently-unearthed FCC filings also indicate that the console will support Wi-Fi 6 and NFC. The latter indicates that the Switch 2 will continue Amiibo integration.

How much will the Nintendo Switch 2 cost?

We don't have too much information regarding price but we do have plenty of history to work with. The original Nintendo Switch launched at $300, which is pretty much the "magic number" when it comes to Nintendo console releases in recent years. The Wii U also came in at $300.

However, there are plenty of rumors circulating that Nintendo could be upping the asking price for the Switch 2. Several analysts are expecting Nintendo to hike the price to at least $400 and possibly even as much as $500. Rising costs of components and development, as well as US tariffs, are likely to mean that the Switch 2 is more expensive than its predecessor.

Dipping back into history, there is some precedence for a price uptick. The GameCube was $200 and the Wii was $250. The Wii U and Switch increased to $300 and, well, numbers like to go up. A $400 price tag would make the Switch 2 nearly as expensive as a PS5 and Xbox Series X. That would also put it at the same price as the 256GB LCD Steam Deck.

Again, we should get confirmation of the price during the April 2 Nintendo Direct.

How well will the Nintendo Switch 2 sell?

Even with an expected price increase, Nintendo is likely to sell boatloads of Switch 2 consoles. The company seems to be positioning itself to shatter sales records. Reports suggest that Nintendo wants to have as many units ready to sell as possible on release day. One analyst told Bloomberg that they expected Nintendo to have an inventory of between 6 million and 8 million units at the outset.

As Bloomberg notes, the company sold 2.7 million Switch units in that console's first month. Sony's PS4 and PS5 each sold 4.5 million units in their first quarter on the market, though it's worth noting the PS5's early momentum was hindered somewhat by shortages.

Nintendo has sold more than 150 million Switch units. Given that many fans are more than ready for an upgrade (and to perhaps give their old Switch to a young relative or sell it on the cheap), the Switch 2 is very likely to go gangbusters right out of the gate.

Do we know about any launch games?

Not so much. The reveal trailer offered a peek at a new Mario Kart game. Nintendo released Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U over a decade ago and it's been milking that cash cow ever since, having sold more than 64 million copies of the game across that console and the Switch. It's definitely time for a new entry!

It's certainly been a long time since we’ve gotten a proper 3D Mario adventure as well, so a new one could be a launch title. That would be one heck of a system seller. Other than that, your guess is as good as ours. Past as prologue, we can expect something from Ubisoft and an off-the-wall title like 1-2-Switch. One report suggested that PowerWash Simulator 2 is bound for the Switch 2, so that's something.

If there’s a gimmick or hook involved with the console, we’ll also get a game that takes advantage of that. A dual release of Metroid Prime 4, just like Breath of the Wild and Twilight Princess before that, is also a possibility.

It's all but nailed on that we'll learn much more about the Switch 2 launch lineup during the April 2 Nintendo Direct, which starts at 9AM ET. You'll definitely want to set your Alarmo for that one.

That's everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2 today. We'll update this article with rumors we trust and with information we gather directly from sources. Any changes made to the article after its initial publishing will be listed below.

Update, January 24, 2025, 12:36 PM ET: This story has been updated to include speculation about price, potential game enhancements and the taste of cartridges.

Update, February 5, 2025, 9:30AM ET: This story has been updated to note the time when the April 2 Nintendo Direct starts.

Update, February 24, 2025, 12:30 PM ET: This story has been updated to include speculation about storage and information about the new microSD Express standard.

Update, March 6, 2025, 2:30PM ET: This story has been updated to note recent FCC filings to indicate the presence of Wi-Fi 6 and NFC support.

Update, March 14, 2025, 12:15PM ET: This story has been updated to include pricing and sales speculation from analysts.

Update, March 20, 2025, 12:45PM ET: Updated to include a note about the Seattle Mariners new jersey patches featuring Nintendo and the Switch 2.

Update, March 27, 2025, 3:50PM ET: Updated to add details about the C button, Nintendo Today! and Virtual Game Cards.

Jeff Dunn contributed to this report.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-everything-we-know-about-specs-pricing-games-and-more-172120466.html?src=rss

There's a lot in the world to be angry about today. So, why not do like we did in the '90s and channel that aggression into beating the living hell out of bad guys in a delightfully loud and over-the-top arcade game? Marvel Cosmic Invasion takes characters like Spider-Man, Captain America and Wolverine and gives them a beat-'em-up that looks straight out of a grunge-era cabinet.

If this sounds like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, that's no coincidence. Marvel Cosmic Invasion is not only cut from the same cloth; it's from the same team (developer Tribute Games and publisher Dotemu). The idea is to recreate the look, sound and feel of side-scrolling '90s button-mashers like X-Men, The Simpsons and the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with modern touches.

Tribute Games / Dotemu

Like Shredder's Revenge, it exploits the advantages of modern graphical engines without betraying its muses' old-school pixel art. Appropriately, the characters' visual style is inspired by 90s-era Marvel comics.

You'll choose a team of two superheroes and can tag between them mid-fight. At launch, you can play as Captain America, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Storm, Phyla-Vell, Venom and Nova. The developers are mum about which characters we might see in the future, but it's hard to imagine Marvel stalwarts like Thor, Iron Man, Black Panther, Hulk and Black Widow not swooping in at some point.

Tribute Games / Dotemu

Its story sounds as extravagant as you'd want from a '90s-inspired Marvel beat-'em-up. "The immortal Super Villain Annihilus has launched an unprecedented attack across the galaxy, threatening all life as we know it," the description reads. "Fighters both Earth-born and cosmic must now join forces in a star-spanning adventure against the deadly Annihilation Wave. Brawl through the streets of New York City all the way to the depths of the Negative Zone to foil Annihilus' vow to spread death across the cosmos."

You can play with up to four players, local or online. (And it supports crossplay!)

Marvel Cosmic Invasion will be available for PC, Switch, PS5 / PS4 and Xbox. There's no word yet on pricing or an exact release date, but Dotemu says it will arrive later this year. In the meantime, you can check out the announcement trailer below.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/marvel-cosmic-invasion-is-a-90s-style-beat-em-up-in-the-mold-of-shredders-revenge-191110625.html?src=rss

In the final days of our pre-Switch 2 world, Nintendo is trying to rethink how sharing games works. The biggest announcement from the company's latest Direct was its upcoming Virtual Game Cards feature, a new approach to sharing digital games that improves on the company's current system, but still carries limitations that keep it from feeling truly modern.

Virtual Game Cards attempt to make digital games as easy to share as physical ones. That starts with the company visually representing games as "cards" and using the language of loading and ejecting them, and extends to how simple they are to share. Two Switch consoles logged into your Nintendo Account can share any digital game just by "ejecting" it from one and "loading" it on another. The only catch is that the consoles need to be connected over local wireless (as in, be physically near each other) when the trade happens, and be able to access the internet to download the game and run it for the first time.

You can similarly share a Virtual Game Card with anyone in the same Nintendo Account family group for two weeks, after which the game automatically returns. In both cases, saves for each game stay on the console where the game was played, making it simple to share the Virtual Game Card again and keep playing.

In comparison to Nintendo's current system, which requires defining a Switch console as "primary" and able to be used offline and other devices as a "secondary" and needing an internet connection to play shared games, Virtual Game Cards are a meaningful improvement. If you're a parent trying to share games with your kids or a super-fan with multiple Switches (something Nintendo no doubt wants to encourage), Virtual Game Cards have basically solved the problem — or at least made it much easier to manage and understand. The company isn't exactly leading the pack here, though.

If I own a game on PlayStation, I can download it on my Playstation 4 and PlayStation 5, and play on either console, without needing to go through the rigamarole of ejecting virtual cards. The same goes for Steam games. Valve even goes further and lets the vast majority of games be shared and played on accounts connected to the same Steam Family, without your computers needing to be near each other when you "hand-off" games.

People are highly sensitive to any kind of DRM. Just ask Xbox, which had big plans to change how loaning games work when the Xbox One was announced, but had to dramatically backtrack after basically everyone complained.

Nintendo isn't pulling an Xbox, per se, but it is pitching something adjacent. Virtual Game Cards are inarguably better than how things work now, but they require an internet connection and they still limit how many people can play a game at once. Nintendo came up with a better mental model for sharing games, but not necessarily a better way to do it.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendos-digital-switch-game-sharing-plan-could-be-so-much-simpler-190353732.html?src=rss

Shadow Labyrinth, an utterly bonkers riff on Pac-Man and sidescrolling Metroidvania games, will hit digital store shelves on July 18. It’ll be available for Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

The game casts players as Swordsman No. 8 as he befriends a yellow orb called Puck. For the gaming historians out there, Puck-Man was the original name for Pac-Man. The gameplay involves switching from the classic sword-wielding hero to Puck, with the latter able to crawl on walls and (surprise) gobble up yellow dots. There’s also a third form, a mecha construct called Gaia.

The gameplay looks frenetic and fairly violent, which seems like an odd choice for everyone’s favorite perpetually hungry orb. Bandai Namco is making the game, however, and it made the very first Pac-Man all of those decades ago. I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt here. In any event, it’s not as if developers haven’t experimented with Pac-Man in the past. The famished fiend has been featured in racing games, platformers, endless runners, puzzlers and more. What’s one more genre to add to the mix?

Shadow Labyrinth will be available in the original version and as a Digital Deluxe edition. That one comes with a digital artbook and the soundtrack.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/shadow-labyrinth-the-edgy-pac-man-metroidvania-arrives-on-july-18-185011811.html?src=rss

Ubisoft is continuing its efforts to course-correct after several challenging years. Today, the video game company announced that it will launch a subsidiary centered around three of its most familiar franchises: Assassin's Creed, Far Cry and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six. The as-yet-unnamed subsidiary will fold in the teams working on those three series, including Ubisoft studios in Montréal, Quebec, Sherbrooke, Saguenay, Barcelona and Sofia.

This new business will receive an investment of €1.16 billion (roughly $1.25 billion) from its longstanding partner Tencent, granting the conglomerate a minority ownership stake. Following the transaction, Ubisoft will narrow focus to its other franchises, such as The Division and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon.

"Today Ubisoft is opening a new chapter in its history," CEO and Co-Founder Yves Guillemot said. "As we accelerate the company’s transformation, this is a foundational step in changing Ubisoft’s operating model that will enable us to be both agile and ambitious."

Ubisoft has been cutting costs and jobs over the past several months after several of its new projects flopped. There have been hints for a while that the company's leaders were interested in either finding a buyer or exploring a joint venture with Tencent to help reverse its fortunes. It's encouraging that the recent Assassin's Creed: Shadows has already reached 3 million players, but Ubisoft will probably need a few more wins to fully stabilize.

There is some extra good news in the announcement. The description of the new subsidiary does specify that "it will drive further increases in quality of narrative solo experiences." So while we can expect to also see multiplayer and free-to-play offerings from the Ubisoft umbrella, they aren't giving up on single-player games.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ubisoft-spins-out-subsidiary-with-a-billion-dollar-investment-from-tencent-183516992.html?src=rss

Nvidia's new 572:xx Game Ready Drivers are reportedly causing issues in InZoi and The First Beserk: Khazan gamesIssues appear to occur on RTX 4000 and RTX 3000 GPUsGame developers have advised previous-gen GPU users to use driver version 566.36 instead

If it wasn't evident enough already, Nvidia's recent Game Ready Drivers have frustrated users with persistent black screens and performance issues: I've already suggested gamers stay away until a resolution is found. Now, there's arguably even more of a reason to do so.As reported by Wccftech, InZoi and The First Beserk: Khazan game developers on Steam are advising RTX 4000 and RTX 3000 series GPU users to avoid Nvidia's 572:xx drivers due to performance issues resulting in frame drops and stuttering. On Steam, both developers advise rolling back to driver version 566.36 if issues with the new drivers persist.This comes after several complaints from users with the new drivers installed, many of whom have had black screens occur when installing or booting into Windows 11. More importantly here, it's the performance in these games that has raised concerns from devs, which is a surprise, to say the least.It doesn't help that the latest driver version 572.83 offers DLSS 4 support for both games, so gamers won't be able to get the best out of them using Team Green's new technology for better image quality using the new super resolution transformer model.Seemingly, Nvidia RTX 5000 series users are in the clear: both notes from the game devs suggest RTX 5000 series users should stick with the latest driver, so it begs the question. Could the Blackwell GPU lineup be the culprit for recent Game Ready Driver hiccups?

(Image credit: Krafton)

This seems to happen with every new GPU lineup launch...

I recall purchasing an RTX 3080 Ti closer to Nvidia's RTX 4000 series launch, and I remember its new drivers leading to some performance issues at the time. With the new Blackwell lineup, it seems that this could be a pattern with every new GPU lineup.Now, before I continue, I must mention that this is purely speculative, but I believe the driver issues may stem from support for the RTX 5000 series GPUs. The problems appear to have begun from the very first driver release for the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, which also added DLSS 4 support for all RTX GPUs - and the current issues are notably affecting previous-gen GPUs.It's hard to believe that it's coincidental to see nearly system-breaking bugs suddenly crop up the moment support for a new GPU lineup arrives. We've reached out to Nvidia for a comment on the driver concerns, but we've yet to hear back from them. So, as I've mentioned before, just stick with a stable driver for now - or roll back to a previous version if you’ve already installed a 572 driver.

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The Atonemo Streamplayer is a Wi-Fi add-on for regular hi-fi systemsLooks like a Zippo lighter, and is similarly sized24-bit/192kHz DAC, and costs $99 / £99 (about AU$158)

If like many people you've got a really great sound system that doesn't have up-to-date streaming capabilities, the Atonemo Streamplayer was made for you. It's a tiny, affordable DAC that adds hi-res streaming audio to pretty much anything that can connect to its 3.5mm aux port.According to Atonemo CEO Leo Ballesteros, the Streamplayer was made to solve "a huge problem" in the audio industry: "Why was there no way to make any speaker smart? The way an Apple TV makes any TV smart?"(It's only fair to point out here that there have been quite a few products like this, including the WiiM Pro, Audio Pro Link2 and – back in the day – the Yamaha WX-AD10.)

(Image credit: Atonemo)

Atonemo Streamplayer: key features

One of the key selling points here is that you’re not getting locked into a particular ecosystem or made to depend on the whims or app quality control of a single manufacturer.The Streamplayer works with both AirPlay 2 and Google Cast, so you've got iOS and Android compatibility without requiring a standalone app: simply use whatever streaming app you prefer and send it to the Streamplayer. There's also Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect.Specs-wise you're looking at Wi-Fi 6 with Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast, a standard USB-C connector for power and lossless audio support of up to 24-bit/192kHz (although what you get will depend on the service you're streaming from).I like the philosophy here: Ballesteros says he wants to "let people choose the speakers they love, without worrying about connectivity, ecosystems, or brand lock-ins." If the Streamplayer does what it promises, this could be a really good way to add useful extra features to the best stereo speakers.The Streamplayer will ship this spring for $99 / £99 / about AU$158.

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We've reached the final day of Amazon's Spring Sale, but there are still plenty of great deals to shop. That list includes a $50 price cut on our pick for best MacBook overall this year, Apple's 2025 MacBook Air M4. The 13-inch, 16GB model is available for $949, down from $999.

Apple only released the new MacBook Air M4 in mid-March. It scored a 92 in our review, thanks to features like its M4 chip. The 13-inch base model boasts a 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine. It also has an excellent battery life, lasting more than 18 hours while playing HD video.

The 2025 MacBook Air M4 is also well done from an exterior standpoint. It has a 13.6-inch liquid retina display and it's very lightweight. The smaller model (it's also available, and on sale, in a 15-inch option) is 0.44 inches thick and weighs 2.7 pounds. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-m4-macbook-air-is-50-off-in-the-amazon-spring-sale-132413964.html?src=rss

A Minecraft Movie's director has defended its visuals amid fierce fan criticismPeople have reacted negatively to the film's art style in various trailersJared Hess said test screening audiences responded more positively to how it looks

Jared Hess has launched a staunch defense of A Minecraft Movie's visuals following fierce fan criticism of its art style.Speaking exclusively to TechRadar, Hess admitted he was always concerned that the live-action-animated hybrid film ran the risk of having its own "Ugly Sonic moment."The incident he's referring to, of course, is the nightmare fuel reveal of a humanoid-looking Sonic the Hedgehog in the first trailer for the Sega mascot's first movie. A vociferous backlash followed, and after Paramount Pictures saw sense and frantically raced to fix how Sonic looked in his big-screen debut, fans of the Blue Blur were much happier with the final product.

Minecraft fans formed an online mob after the first teaser for A Minecraft Movie dropped (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Mojang Studios)

Following the release of A Minecraft Movie's first teaser in September 2024, a similarly fierce fan campaign to overhaul the Warner Bros-produced film's horrifying visuals quickly gained traction online.In fact, some long-time fans of the world's best-selling video game took it upon themselves to fix its art style. Numerous fan-made videos, including ones from X/Twitter user Alumio and Redditor JustinIsNotWeird, remade the teaser with the franchise's signature pixel art.Unfortunately, Minecraft fans' calls to tweak the movie's actual aesthetic fell on deaf ears. Now, Hess has explained why A Minecraft Movie's visuals weren't overhauled in the seven months between the first trailer launch and one of 2025's new movies' forthcoming April 4 release.

Nope, kill it with fire, thank you (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Mojang Studios)

"You know, it's so funny because, ever since I boarded this project, people kept saying, 'Hey, we have to avoid an Ugly Sonic moment'," Hess told me. "That was something we talked about all the time."And then, you know, when the first teaser came out, there was so much that was taken out of context. Teasers tend to be short and visually blast you with content that doesn't have a lot of context."

People kept saying 'Hey, we have to avoid an Ugly Sonic moment'Jared Hess, A Minecraft Movie director

"For the record, there was a lot of stuff [in the teaser] that was unfinished," Hess continued. "A lot of trailers have the look of a film that hasn't been fully realized. You've still got months of work to do on it, so, when those reactions came in, we said 'Oh, that [the backlash] is just something we have to navigate.""But, we had such faith in the movie we were making. We'd started to screen it and, based on audience reactions, we knew we were on the right track. It's wild to be as a filmmaker as, even when you're test screening, you still have unfinished visual effect shots, so you're asking the audience to use their imagination as they watch it.""So, it's amazing to see it once it's finally complete and see all pf the hard work that's gone into everything and into bringing this world to life. To be able to share it with people, and see them enjoy it and have a blast. it's a dream come true for any filmmaker."I'll be *ahem* crafting more news exclusives from my chat with Jared Hess in the coming days, so make sure you check back in with me soon. And, don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for my review of A Minecraft Movie later this week to see what I made of Warner's take on Microsoft and Mojang's incredibly popular sandbox game.

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It's time to welcome Max – well, if you're Australian, anyway. Warner Bros Discovery's (WBD) super streamer replacement for HBO Max has officially launched Down Under. So, if you're curious about what one of the best streaming services has to offer, this guide has got you covered.Indeed, whether you're an Aussie native who's checking it out for the first time, or a US or Canadian national who's similarly considering signing up for an account, we've rounded up the latest information on Max. That includes our round-up of the best films and shows on offer, how much a subscription costs, news on last year's password crackdown, and more. So, dive in!

What is Max?

Max is the official home of The Last of Us season 2 in the US, Canada, and Australia (Image credit: HBO)

Max was born when WBD merged its streaming platforms – HBO Max and Discovery+ – in May 2023.Essentially, it's bigger and more streamlined streaming service than its predecessor. You;ll gain access to all of HBO Max's vast library (including most DC Comics content, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, and more) – and the best programs from Discovery Plus' TV brands, including TLC, Magnolia Network, and HGTV (NB: It's worth noting that Discovery+ is still available as a separate service).Here are some of the other big benefits that the Max service offers over its predecessor:

Smarter recommendationsImproved performanceEasier sign-in and useProfile PIN for adult profilesNew hubs and genres

To start viewing, you'll need to download the Max app on your device of choice (more on these later) or head to Max.com to begin streaming via a web browser.

Where is Max currently available?

You can set the 'Juice loose on Max in multiple territories around the world (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

HBO Max, which was been rebranded to Max in the US, was only available in that nation for a number of years.Then, in February 2024, Max rolled out in Latin American and Caribbean countries. A few months later, Max landed in Europe, meaning it's now available in 25 European nations. Before 2024 ended, Max also launched in Japan (via U-Next), New Zealand (via Sky), and in Southeast Asian nations, including Hong Kong and Singapore, too.Max's global roll out continued in March 2025 with WBD's streaming platform finally launching in Australia (NB: watch these five fantastic shows first if you've just signed up to Max Down Under). In mid-April, it'll arrive in Turkey (it'll replace BluTV, FYI), meaning it'll soon be available in 77 countries.Alright, but what about in countries where HBO Max is still unavailable, such as the UK? HBO-developed movies and TV shows still air on Sky. That licensing agreement isn't expected to end for some time, so WBD's HBO-based contract with Sky will continue.With Sky's WBD deal now running until early 2026, UK viewers will definitely have got another 12 months to wait for the service's potential arrival.Will Max finally launch on British shoes alongside the in-development Harry Potter TV show, which could make its debut on the platform sometime in 2026? We wouldn't rule it out.

Max price: how much does it cost?

The White Lotus is a big reason to sign up for a Max subscription (Image credit: HBO )

There are three main Max price points to choose from in the US and Canada, with the more expensive tiers offering extra perks over their cheaper cousins. All three are available for monthly and annual fees, with the 12-month deals offering significant savings of up to 20%.Here's a closer look at what's available:

If you're subscribed to HBO through your cable or satellite TV package, internet plan, or wireless plan, the Max home page explains that users may have access to Max at no extra cost. However, you'll need to head to the Max providers page to see if you're eligible.You can also add Max to your Hulu plan for $16.99 per month, or to your Prime Video subscription for $9.99 (ad-supported) or $16.99 (ad-free) per month. Alternatively, a Max, Disney Plus, and Hulu bundle is available that'll save you money in the long run with prices starting at just $16.99 per month.

Dune Part Two is available to all Max customers (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Pictures)

As for Australians, Max's Basic With Ads (the ad-supported tier and cheapest one available) will set you back AU$11.99 a month. The Standard plan (the cheapest tier without ads) costs AU$15.99 for a monthly subscription, while the Premium tier is at the high end from a price point perspective – indeed, it weighs in at a hefty AU$21.99 every 30 days.As long as you sign up before April 30, you'll get a discount on whatever subscription you pick, too. So, it's well worth checking out Max at the Premium level first and, if you're not happy with what you're offered, hop down to a cheaper tier or cancel your subscription entirely.Oh, and if you're currently a Foxtel subscriber, you'll gain access to Max at no additional cost. It might be worth keeping your Foxtel subscription, then, if it's cheaper than the alternative.

Is there a Max free trial?

WBD has no plans to revive its free trial period for Max anytime soon (Image credit: Max)

No. In the early days of HBO Max, potential subscribers could give the new platform a free seven-day spin before deciding whether to sign up. However, that hasn't been an option since December 2020 and remains the case with Max two years after the name change.WBD occasionally slashes the price across Max's various tiers but, as of March 31, 2025, there's no free trial to take advantage of.

Max password sharing crackdown explained

Want to let someone else watch Creature Commandos on your Max account? It'll cost you extra (Image credit: Max/DC Studios)

Like Netflix and Disney+, Max is taking steps to crackdown on password sharing. In December 2024, WBD confirmed it was in the early stages of implementing a crackdown on account sharing, with a view to rolling out a full-scale crackdown from early 2025 onwards.As of March 31, 2025, Max subscribers have only been politely informed that WBD is clamping down on sharing your account with people in a separate household to yours. Be sure to keep an eye our Max password sharing guide, though, for more details on when it'll actually take effect and how much it might cost you to share your password with other households.

Max movies: DC, A24, Studio Ghibli, and more

2023 megahit Barbie is available to stream on Max (Image credit: Dale Robinette/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Max is packed with plenty of critically-acclaimed and highly-rated movies. Netflix's library might contain notable highlights from other studios, but Max offers tons of amazing films from Warner Bros' impressive, 100-year-plus film library.So, what's on offer? For one, an eclectic range of movies based on DC Comics starring legendary superheroes like Batman and Superman.That includes a slate of movies in the now-defunct DC Extended Universe (DCEU) – find out how how to watch the DC movies in order while you're here – and soon-to-be new movies set in James Gunn and Peter Safran's rebooted DC Universe (DCU).

James Gunn's Superman movie will come to Max at a to-be-announced date (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures/James Gunn)

Genre movies are generally well represented, with The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, and the Dune duology also available. Take a look at our dedicated guide to the best Max movies for our top-tier choices and our new Max movies list, which is updated every month with the latest movies to hit the platform.One of Max's bespoke channels features Studio Ghibli movies, which gives subscribers access to every animated film from the legendary studio. There's plenty more for kids among the best Max family movies, too. Another channel – TCM (Turner Classic Movies) – delivers plenty more classics, such as Casablanca, and recently enjoyed an expansion to its catalog that brings even more unmissable flicks to this channel.Since December 2023, more than 100 A24 films have joined Max's library thanks to a new licensing deal between Max and A24 as well. WBD has also extended its licensing partnership with the Criterion Collection, so those films will stay on the service for years to come.

Max shows: The Pitt, The White Lotus, and more

The Penguin is an unmissable TV show set in Matt Reeves' Batman universe (Image credit: Macall Polay/HBO)

Max may have ditched the HBO from its branding but the cable behemoth's acclaimed content remains a key selling point of the streaming giant.That connection means few platforms can compete with the TV drama offering available on Max, with long-standing classics such as The Wire, The Sopranos, and Game of Thrones sitting alongside more recent (but similarly acclaimed) fare. Indeed, Succession, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, The Penguin, and The Pitt are just some of the recent global hits that Max has at its disposal.HBO isn't just known for its highly bingeworthy dramas. Smash-hit comedies including Veep, Flight of the Conchords, Friends, Curb Your Enthusiasm , and The Big Bang Theory are all on the platform. There are numerous stand-up comedy specials available at your fingertips, plus a plethora of highly-rated docuseries for fact-based fans to consume.

Euphoria has been one of Max's edgiest – and most acclaimed – dramas of recent years (Image credit: HBO)

Great animated shows from the ’90s like Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, and the more futuristic Batman Beyond can be beamed right into your living room, too. And, if you're after some anime, Crunchyroll has a channel on Max that offers a broad selection.Access to Cartoon Network encompasses shows like Steven Universe and Adventure Time, while the channel's more grown-up cousin, Adult Swim, supplies not-for-kids animated shows, like Rick and Morty, Robot Chicken and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Unfortunately, though, WBD has rang the death knell on its Looney Tunes line-up of programming, which frustratingly means it's on longer streamable on the service.Lastly, import shows include Italian crime drama Gomorrah, Brit hit I Hate Suzie, and the first 13 seasons of the BBC's successful 2005 Doctor Who reboot are notable TV library inclusions. For more recommendations encompassing Max's impressive suite of TV content, check out our comprehensive guide to the best Max shows.

Max vs HBO: what's the difference?

Is Max worth investing in over HBO? (Don't ask Jon Snow – he knows nothing) (Image credit: HBO)

The main difference between HBO and Max comes down to the range of programming you can access. Subscribing to HBO will allow you to stream every original series and movie that the premium channel has to offer.Signing up for Max, meanwhile, gets you more than triple the content. You won't only gain access to Max's originals line-up, but you'll get everything on HBO and numerous other channels, such as Adult Swim and the best of Discovery+'s back catalog. Essentially, there's no reason to get HBO over Max. They cost roughly the same, but you get way more stuff with the latter.

What devices is Max available on?

You can stream Challengers via Max on a whole host of devices (Image credit: MGM Pictures)

Want to know what devices support Max via web browsers or its app? Read on:

Amazon Fire tablets (4th generation or later)Amazon Fire TV (Fire OS 5 or later)Android (5.1 or later)Android TV (with TV OS 5.1 or later)Apple TV 4K or HD (with tvOS 14 or later)AirplayChromecastChrome/Firefox/Microsoft Edge (latest versions) and Safari (version 13 or later)Cox Contour 2 and Contour Stream PlayerHDMI cableiOS (14 or later)LG Smart TV (webOS 3.5 or later)PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5Roku (OS 11.0 and later)Samsung smart TVs (2016 models or later)VIZIO Smart TV (2016 models or later)Xbox One and Xbox Series S/XXClass TVXfinity X1 and Flex

Max app: what features are available?

There are plenty of ways to personalize your Max account (Image credit: Warner Bros. Discovery/Max)

Max lets you download content for offline viewing, except on its Ad-Lite tier. It also has a PIN system for parental control, personalized profiles, and brand-based content hubs similar to how Disney+ categorizes Star Wars content and Marvel films.Other features are also available for subscribers, including SharePlay. This is now available to Max subscribers globally with Ad-Free and Ultimate Ad-Free tiers with adult profiles, allowing users to watch shows and movies on Max alongside their friends and family over FaceTime and iMessage. There are also adult profile ratings and in player discovery for series.Max also comes packaged with a number of accessibility features, including Alexa voice commands, audio description and audio description quick access, close captions, keyboard navigation, and screen readers.Classic HBO channels are also now available on Max for users on Ad-Free or Ultimate Ad-Free plans in the United States. Max was testing HBO Channels, which is similar to the experience of watching cable. Following its successful test period, you can now tune into a channel that's essentially a stream of HBO programming, like HBO 2 and HBO Comedy.Max's features list continues to be updated, too. Recently, it received a big change to its user interface navigation menu, introduced new multiview functionality to 2025's Nascar Cup Series on TNT Sports, and retained its Live Sports and News output at no additional cost to Standard and Premium customers.Throw in other new additions like Audio in Hero for CTV and Web, movie and TV recommendations in-player, skip button functionality on Google Chrome, QR Code and Wi-Fi sign in improvements, and ad-based tweaks, and Max is becoming a better service all round.

Does Max support 4K streaming?

House of the Dragon can be streamed in 4K on compatible devices (Image credit: Theo Whiteman/HBO)

Yes. Max supports 4K streaming on a selection of compatible devices, with over 1000 movies and TV shows available to watch in 4K UHD. That's eight times (!) the quantity that was available on HBO Max, including a bunch of new movies that weren't supported previously.There are a couple of caveats, thoug. 4K UHD support is only offered as part of the Ultimate Ad-Free tier, which will set you back $20.99 a month / $209.99 per year. Additionally, Dolby Atmos and Vision are only supported on specific films and TV series (read the full list in this WBD blog post), as well as on certain devices, which you can see below:

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV CubeAndroid TVs, including AT&T Streaming BoxApple TV 4KGoogle Chromecast Ultra and Chromecast with Google TVPlayStation 5Roku Ultra 4800x, Roku 4k TVs, Roku Premiere, and Roku Streaming Stick PlusXbox Series XXfinity X1 (Xi6) and Flex

Is Max worth the money?

The Dark Knight is one of the best comic book movies ever made (Image credit: Warner Bros.)

There are some streamers that won't survive the ongoing content war, but Max has a lot of positives in its corner, especially with WBD's ongoing investment in blockbuster movies, HBO Originals the addition of the Discovery+ library, and more besides.HBO Max was already great, but Max has built upon the foundations laid by its predecessor in impressive style. However, it's unclear whether those Max originals make it stand out in the overpopulated streaming landscape, especially when the price of entry (particularly on its ad-free tiers) is higher than the equivalents on Disney Plus, Netflix, and Prime Video.For us, Max's superb movie and TV line-ups make it worth investing in even before all of its other features are accounted for, especially with the impressive raft of exclusive upcoming content already confirmed for the platform. Big hitters in the pipeline include new TV shows set in the worlds of The Conjuring and The Big Bang Theory, plus the new DCU Chapter One TV series like Lanterns and Peacemaker season 2.

Perhaps the most headline-grabbing news, however, is that Max will be the home of more Game of Thrones prequel shows – including A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – and a big-budget TV adaptation of JK Rowling's Harry Potter franchise.We're unsure how popular Max will prove to be in the long term – it only launched in 2023 – and WBD will need to ensure that any early teething problems are ironed out quickly. But, if Max can start to make a dent in Netflix's dominance of the landscape – as well as actively competing with other popular streamers, such as Disney Plus for audience attention – WBD's decision to merge its two platforms will become a justifiable expense. As always, however, the proof will be in how many new subscribers Max can entice in the coming months and years.

For more Max-based coverage, read our guides on The Last of Us season 2, Euphoria season 3, House of the Dragon season 3, and Creature Commandos season 2.

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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Monday, March 31 (game #1162).

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 #1163) - hint #1 - Vowels

How 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 #1163) - hint #2 - repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 3.

Quordle today (game #1163) - hint #3 - uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1163) - 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 #1163) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• H• B• W• E

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1163) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1163, are…

HUMUSBALMYWORRYERECT

I’m still surprised when I breeze through Quordle without any errors, especially when my guesses begin with some big gaps.Today, I got three words correct with three letters in each to guide me, but I was the most thrilled after getting HUMUS as it’s a word that’s most commonly spelled with a double M in the UK.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1163) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1163, are…

NOMADUNTILADULTSASSY

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #1162, Monday 31 March: RECUT, MOODY, WHERE, BRACEQuordle #1161, Sunday 30 March: CRIME, DRINK, CLOVE, TRUERQuordle #1160, Saturday 29 March: LATER, ODDLY, CUMIN, AGREEQuordle #1159, Friday 28 March: TERSE, MUSHY, PROVE, FRONDQuordle #1158, Thursday 27 March: CRONE, APNEA, LIGHT, AWOKEQuordle #1157, Wednesday 26 March: LEFTY, NOOSE, NOISE, TRIADQuordle #1156, Tuesday 25 March: SNEER, WATCH, FLORA, STAINQuordle #1155, Monday 24 March: FLOUT, SMASH, RAZOR, SMALLQuordle #1154, Sunday 23 March: ALLEY, GAMUT, GEESE, RADIIQuordle #1153, Saturday 22 March: PICKY, BRACE, BOOZE, SURLYQuordle #1152, Friday 21 March: DITTY, VALOR, TOWER, AMISSQuordle #1151, Thursday 20 March: RIPER, STILL, WAFER, NOTCHQuordle #1150, Wednesday 19 March: FLAME, CARAT, SPAWN, TUNICQuordle #1149, Tuesday 18 March: NAVEL, TREAT, COPSE, SLINKQuordle #1148, Monday 17 March: INFER, FLINT, CHUMP, SHEERQuordle #1147, Sunday 16 March: INPUT, RUMBA, ELUDE, BLANKQuordle #1146, Saturday 15 March: SPEED, CLASH, RISKY, GRATEQuordle #1145, Friday 14 March: BELIE, SPEAR, GROWL, ADOBEQuordle #1144, Thursday 13 March: AMISS, METAL, TEARY, SHORTQuordle #1143, Wednesday 12 March: AWASH, PUSHY, RALPH, PROOF

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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, March 31 (game #659).

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 #660) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

⊾&X)NP€→$(+£√R¥

NYT Connections today (game #660) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: MoneyGREEN: In additionBLUE: Pre-emoji commsPURPLE: Correct

Need 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 #660) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: CURRENCY SYMBOLSGREEN: AND/TOGETHER WITH BLUE: EMOTICON MOUTHS PURPLE: "RIGHT"

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #660) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #660, are…

YELLOW: CURRENCY SYMBOLS $, £, 7, €GREEN: AND/TOGETHER WITH &, +, N, XBLUE: EMOTICON MOUTHS (,), 0, РPURPLE: "RIGHT" R, →, ⊾, V

My rating: HardMy score: 3 mistakes

If the NYT was looking to make April Fools of us all then this was the perfect way to do it.Hopefully it’s an experimental one-off for Connections, though – because like many people I suspect/hope, I found today’s puzzle baffling beyond belief.The currencies were straightforward enough, but beyond that I struggled to find any links at all and wasted two mistakes thinking P, R, N and X were an acronym for something I didn’t know and that the ampersand along with the brackets and plus symbol were punctuation marks.After thinking more laterally and pondering alternative uses for brackets I got there, but not before guessing P and X instead of P and 0.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Monday, 31 March, game #659)

YELLOW: CONSUMED ATE, HAD, PUT AWAY, TOOK INGREEN: ALSO AS WELL, BESIDES, TO BOOT, TOOBLUE: ATM OPTIONS BALANCE, DEPOSIT, TRANSFER, WITHDRAWALPURPLE: __PLAY FORE, HORSE, SCREEN, WORD

What 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 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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, March 31 (game #393).

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 #394) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… It's a sign!

NYT Strands today (game #394) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

MOSSBITEBREWSHOESROOMSLING

NYT Strands today (game #394) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #394) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: bottom, 5th columnLast side: top, 4th column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #394) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #394, are…

SHOWERSBUDSROBINSPOLLENPUDDLESBLOSSOMSSPANGRAM: SPRINGTIME

My rating: EasyMy score: 1 hint

There are some interesting cultural differences in today’s Strands that make it a little strange for someone from the UK.ROBINS are something we associate with Christmas, while PUDDLES are a year-round phenomenon thanks to the combination of ceaseless rain, poor drainage and neglected street maintenance.BLOSSOMS, meanwhile, are a global sign of SPRINGTIME and now, for the few weeks when fruit trees burst into flower, are often accompanied by people taking selfies in front of them.I initially thought this was a tourist social media thing — over the weekend in London's Hyde Park I cycled past a queue of couples waiting for their turn to take snaps in front of a particularly fine cherry tree — but it’s spread everywhere. If they were in bloom year-round there’d be a lot less fuss.April also marks the return of wasps and their long-term campaign of terror against the human race.There are 120,000 different species of wasps in the world (the most common in the US are yellowjackets) and the only place on Earth where they don’t exist is Antarctica – a place where springtime doesn’t happen at all.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, 31 March, game #393)

ROANDAPPLEBUCKSKINCHESTNUTPALOMINOSPANGRAM: HORSE COLORINGS

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.

ChatGPT is currently down for many users, or at least behaving very erratically – and it isn't yet clear what's causing it or how long it'll last.The website Downdetector is showing a large spike in reports in both the US and UK, with the issues starting at around 9amET / 2pm BST. Most users are reporting either laggy performance or error messages like "something went wrong" on the desktop version and "upstream connect error" on the mobile app.We've also noticed some intermittent issues on the TechRadar team on both ChatGPT's mobile app and browser versions. So what's going on? Have too many Studio Ghibli image requests pushed OpenAI's over the edge, or is this (hopefully) just a short-term blip?Here's everything we know about the latest ChatGPT outage so far...

The latest news

ChatGPT is down for many users on both desktop and mobileThe issues started at around 9am ET / 2pm BSTThe problems include error messages and laggy performance

When did the problems start?

(Image credit: Downdetector)

According to Downdetector, the latest ChatGPT outage started at around 9am ET / 2pm BST, when we saw a big spike in reports in both the US and UK.The issues are seemingly intermittent, with the main problems including "something went wrong" error messages in ChatGPT's browser version and "upstream connect errors" in the mobile app.We've seen both issues on the TechRadar team, though it doesn't appear to be a complete outage that's affecting everyone equally...

Windows 11 has a new ‘Black Screen of Death’ that’s apparently rolling outIt’s way more streamlined than the ‘Blue Screen of Death’ we’re all used toHowever, Microsoft has gone too far with paring it back, and it now has an unfortunate resemblance to a Windows update reboot

Microsoft appears to be changing the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) for Windows 11, switching not just the color, but also majorly simplifying the look of the screen that appears when your PC locks up and crashes.The traditional BSOD in Windows 11 is blue (hence the name) and it’s also furnished with some bits of information on the error that has caused the crash (I’ll come back to that). Furthermore, there’s a sizeable frowny face on the screen to let you know that something has gone seriously wrong with the operating system.Windows Latest reports that the redesigned BSOD is apparently going live in Windows 11 24H2 already (or it’s at least rolling out to some users), as well as being spotted in testing. (Note that it’s a green screen, or GSOD, in testing, as that’s actually the color it’s always been for preview builds – but for anyone who isn’t a Windows tester, it’ll be black).The bigger change than the color of the background is that the screen is far plainer, only offering a message stating that: “Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart.”Microsoft has dispensed not only with the sad face, but also the QR code which you could scan with your phone (if you were quick) to try and get further details on the error that crashed your PC. You do still get a bit of error info at the bottom of the new black screen showing a stop code. (The URL shown for details on stop codes is also missing on the new screen.)

(Image credit: Windows Latest / Microsoft)

Analysis: Blank space overload and an unfortunate update similarity

What to make of the refreshed BSOD is somewhat tricky. Has Microsoft gone too far with its streamlining here, and made the error screen too basic and uninformative? Well, you could certainly argue that, but there’s a counterargument in that the details provided by the traditional, and still current blue screen setup, for most folks – as the change is seemingly only just starting to roll out – are generally unhelpful anyway.That QR code is unlikely to give you any joy if you do use it, as in my experience it just links to generic Microsoft support info, and nothing specific or relevant. (Although I fully admit, I’ve not used it in quite some time – or had many crashes in the recent past, to be fair to Microsoft). Overall, then, I don’t think it’s an element that’ll be missed. However, that said, the solution to this, at least longer-term, is not to dump it – but to make it more helpful. (The plan could be to return the code, though, or at least that’s possible).As for the frowny face being deleted, some think that it’s kind of childish or silly to have it plastered across the screen, and I get where that’s coming from. However, it does clearly mark the BSOD as an error screen and it gets the message quickly across that ‘something bad has happened.’As Windows Latest points out, the problem with the new black screen version of the BSOD is that it’s reminiscent of a Windows update running – with the plain black background, and completion percentage front and center – and that could be confusing for novices. They might not even notice the error message, tucked away in small text at the foot of the screen, and think their PC is somehow suddenly resetting to apply an update, perhaps. (That can happen, after all, in some unfortunate circumstances).Overall, then, I like the idea of streamlining the BSOD, and I don’t think we need the QR code anyway – not as it stands – but Microsoft needs to do better than this replacement Black Screen of Death. Make the error text larger, and more readable at a glance (because you may only get a glance). And make it very clear that this is an error message – I wouldn’t insist on a frowny face, but a large error icon or similar could be displayed (maybe an icon of a spanner in the works). Whatever the case, fill up the acres of blank space in the new black screen to bring added clarity to what’s happening – and to make it clear that what’s happening isn’t a system update.While this new BSOD is certainly present in test builds of Windows 11 – as a GSOD, as noted – I find it strange that Microsoft is pushing it out to finished versions of Windows 11 in this form, as Windows Latest asserts. But this does seem to be happening, given the screenshot the tech site has presented of the black – rather than green – screen of death (see above). So, I’d imagine this is a very limited rollout at this point, testing the waters with everyday users.Longer-term, I’d like to see more helpful error messages in general for Windows 11’s BSOD, so that as well as a technical description, there could be clues for PC novices as to what went wrong (even just vague clues, as I appreciate that this is something of an ask).

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Here's why you should reinstall Windows 11 every two months - no, I'm not kiddingWindows 11’s latest patch declares war on BIOS updates for some Lenovo laptops, blocking them as a security risk in a bizarre turn of eventsWindows 11 fully streamlined in just two clicks? Talon utility promises to rip all the bloatware out of Microsoft’s OS in a hassle-free way

Ransomware gang C10p appears to have claimed its latest victimSam's Club - Walmart wholesale club is investigating the breachThe breach is most likely part of an earlier exploitation of a Cleo File Transfer vulnerability

Infamous ransomware gang C10p has posted files it claims belong to Walmart-owned membership organization Sam’s Club. The group posted a message on a dark leak site claiming “the company doesn't care about its customers, it ignored their security!!!”This is the latest development in an earlier attack from late in 2024, where a vulnerability in Cleo File Transfer led to the compromise of at least two dozen organizations, with C10p claiming responsibility for stealing the information.Researchers from CyberNews discovered the leaked information, but were told by Sam’s Club that there is currently no evidence of a security incident or intrusion, although the issue is being investigated.

Ransomware resurgence

Sam’s club claims to have over 70 million members, and over 2 million employees, with locations across North and Central America.Sam’s Club customers can fill medical prescriptions and offer health screenings, which means the breach may have exposed extremely sensitive customer health information. Its suspected hackers intercepted the personal data of around 100,000 employees in the breach, although the scope of the compromise isn't yet known.C10P is a notorious ransomware gang, and has been so prolific that it is fuelling a resurgence in ransomware in 2025, claiming responsibility for 385 attacks in the first few weeks of the year."The Clop ransomware gang are still making hay while the vulnerable secure file transfer sun continues to shine for them, raking in around half a billion dollars to date – quite a staggering success story," confirmed Matt Aldridge, Senior Principal Solutions Consultant at OpenText Cybersecurity."This continues an increasing trend we are seeing of ransomware gangs focusing on extortion based on data theft rather than purely on denied access to data through the use of encryption."The group was formed in 2019, and has since been responsible for one of the biggest cyberattacks of 2023 - a breach that saw the data of over 600 organizations stolen, with more than 40 million customers affected.

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This year’s Amazon Spring Sale is nearly over, but there's still time to grab a bunch of household, fashion and outdoor gear for record-low prices. Tech isn’t a huge focus for this sale, but there are a decent number of devices on sale right now for some of the best prices we’ve seen all year. The selection may not be as good as that of Amazon Prime Day in July, but it still provides a good opportunity to save on things like headphones, robot vacuums, air purifiers and more. We’ve collected the best Amazon Spring Sale deals on tech gear here so you don’t have to go searching for them.

Best Amazon Spring Sale deals

Dyson AM09 heater and fan for $300 (36 percent off): The AM09 has been around for ages, and for good reason. It's an excellent heater during cold months and fan during warm months, so you can use it all year round. Jet Focus control lets you choose from Focused or Diffused for personal or whole-room heating or cooling, and the handy sleep timer lets you set when the device turns off in intervals from 15 minutes up to nine hours.

Dyson V15s Detect Submarine for $849 ($100 off): This Dyson cordless stick vacuum and mop is a top pick in our best cordless vacuums guide thanks to its sleek design and included mop attachment that easily swap in so you can clean tile, hardwood and other flooring with liquid solution. Yes, it's expensive, but you're essentially getting two cleaning machines in one — plus, when used as a vacuum, it has excellent suction power and great battery life.

Levoit Cordless Vacuum Cleaner (LVAC-200) for $150 ($50 off): The lowest price we’ve tracked on this stick vac is $130 but this matches the lowest price we’ve seen this year. It’s our runner up budget pick for a stick vac in our guide. It doesn’t have a storage base and the bin is smallish, but it’s lightweight and super affordable. It also disassembles easily for storage making its lack of base less of a deal breaker.

Sonos Ray for $179 ($100 off): This is our favorite midrange soundbar thanks to its compact, attractive design and easy setup. It's best for those who have a smaller living room or den they want to outfit with better TV sound. Also available at Sonos in their March Madness sale.

Bose QuietComfort headphones for $249 ($100 off): These Bose over-ear headphones provide excellent noise cancellation, a comfortable fit and up to 24 hours of listening time on a single charge. A quick-charge feature will net you 2.5 hours of battery life in just 15 minutes of charging, so you'll rarely have to go without them, too.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for $349 ($80 off): These hold the top spot in our best wireless headphones guide for excellent noise cancellation. These cans will give you a step up in ANC, blocking out most noise and chatter of those around you. General audio quality has been improved as well, and they have a comfy fit.

Beats Studio Pro for $180 (49 percent off): These Beats headphones have improved sound quality, good Transparency mode and USB-C charging, plus decent mic quality for phone calls. They support wired USB-C audio, plus they have solid ANC as well.

Beats Fit Pro for $169 (15 percent off): These are the best wireless earbuds for working out thanks to their comfortable, secure fit, good sound quality with thumping bass and handful of convenient features provided by Apple's H1 chipset. It provides quick-pairing and switching between Apple devices (and quick pairing with Android phones), Find My compatibility and hands-free Siri.

Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones for $318 (20 percent off): These top our list of the best wireless headphones you can get right now thanks to their supreme comfort, excellent sound quality and ANC, multipoint connectivity and 30-hour battery life.

Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer for $260 ($90 off): A version of one of our favorite air fryers, this air fryer toaster oven has 11 cooking modes including air fry, broil, bake, roast and more, and it has a large capacity that can fit up to six slices of bread at once or a 13-inch pizza. The Pro model is also on sale, down to $320 from $400.

Spigen Spring Sale deals: Spigen makes some of our favorite tech accessories, and a number of the brand's products have been discounted as part of the Spring Sale. Key among them is one of our favorite iPhone cases, the Spigen Ultra Hybrid MagFit case; Prime members can pick up an iPhone 16 case for only $12.

Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M4) for $949 ($50 off): The latest version of the MacBook Air tops our list of the best MacBooks you can get right now, period. It's plenty powerful for most people, plus it has a lightweight but sturdy design, a bright display and excellent battery life.

Apple Watch Series 10 for $329 ($70 off): Apple’s flagship wearable is the best smartwatch you can buy, period. While the Series 10 was an iterative update, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It sports a slightly longer battery life, a slimmer design and wide-angle OLED screen for better viewing angles. It tracks workouts accurately and delivers alerts to your wrist efficiently.

Apple Watch SE for $199 (20 percent off): Those on tighter budgets can opt for the Apple Watch SE and know they’re getting the core Apple wearable experience with few compromises. We consider it to be the best smartwatch for newbies.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 for $170 ($79 off): The AirPods Pro 2 remain Apple’s best set of wireless earbuds, as they offer the full set of Apple-focused features, strong ANC, onboard volume controls, a (generally) comfy in-ear design and a warm sound profile that most should find agreeable. They can even work as a hearing aid, though their six-hour battery life still isn’t the best, and you should only get them if you’re all-in on Apple hardware. If that’s the case, though, we call them the best choice for iPhone owners in our wireless earbuds buying guide. We saw this pair drop as low as $154 back in December, but this deal comes within a dollar of its best price since then.

iPad Air M3 for $549 ($50 off): The latest version of the iPad Air now runs on the M3 chipset, and it continues to hold the top spot in our best iPads guide. It has the best combination of power, design and extra features, so you can use it primarily as a media consumption device if you wish, or you can add iPad accessories like an Apple Pencil or a Magic Keyboard to turn it into a true workhorse.

10th-gen iPad for $279 (20 percent off): The previous version of most affordable iPad gives you an A14 Bionic chip, a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, TouchID built into the lock button and more. It’s compatible with the first-gen Apple Pencil and the keyboard folio, plus we found it to have solid performance and a matching battery life.

Chipolo One for $20 ($5 off): The Chipolo One is the top overall pick in our guide to the best Bluetooth trackers. While Apple’s AirTag can tap into a substantially larger crowd-sourcing network, we’ve found the One to send separation alerts faster when you’ve left an item behind and ring louder when you’re back in its vicinity.

Blink Mini 2 for $20 (50 percent off): Blink's latest wired, indoor security camera is one of our favorites, particularly if you're just starting out building a security camera system. It's easy to set up and use, and it works seamlessly with Amazon's Alexa. Plus, if you want a local storage option, you can buy the Blink Sync Module 2 and a thumb drive to store video clips locally.

Audible (three months) for $3 ($42 off): This deal gives you access to Audible Premium Plus, which includes one credit each month that you can spend on any book you'd like, along with listening access to thousands of other books, podcasts and Audible Originals. You also get to take part in Audible's exclusive member sales. Only US customers who are not already subscribed to Audible can take advantage of this deal.

Eufy 3-in-1 E20 robot vacuum for $400 ($200 off): If you can’t decide between a robot vacuum or a lightweight stick vac, you don’t have to. The new Eufy E20 combines a robo vac, cordless upright and handheld vacuum in one machine. Plus the automatically emptying base holds a lot of debris for its size. While we found the robot performance to be better than the stick vac suction, it’s still impressive and convenient for an all-in-one model.

Cosori 9-in-1 air fryer for $90 ($30 off): One of our favorites in our best air fryers guide, this Cosori model has nine preset cooking modes and a spacious cooking basket that can handle more food at once than you might expect. It's not too large, so it can sit on your countertop all the time, and the basket has a safety release button that prevents accidental pulls.

Levoit Core 400S air purifier for $190 ($30 off with coupon): Our top pick for the best air purifier for most people, the Core 400S has easy-to-use onboard controls, powerful filtering technology that isn't too loud and relatively affordable replacement filters. It reliably improved air quality in our testing, and even though its mobile app is a little overstuffed, it gives you another way to control and monitor the device.

TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro mesh Wi-Fi system for $280 (30 percent off): Our current pick for the best mesh Wi-Fi system you can get, this TP-Link bundle may be no-frills, but it gets the job done nicely. It's easy to set up and provides excellent Wi-Fi 6E performance, plus the three included nodes can cover up to 7,200 square feet.

Samsung Evo Select microSD card (512GB) for $35 ($5 off): A value pick in our best microSD cards guide, this Evo Select card provides respectable read and write speeds, and it comes with a full-sized adapter.

Samsung T7 portable SSD (2TB) for $140 (48 percent off): We're on the T9 series now, but if you're looking to save a bit of cash, the T7 remains a great option for on-the-go storage. It supports read and write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s and sports a pocket-friendly design.

Amazon Spring Sale FAQs

When is the Amazon Spring Sale?

The Amazon Spring Sale 2025 runs from March 25 through March 31.

What is Amazon's Spring Sale?

The Amazon Spring Sale is a multi-day sale event that has taken place at the end of March since 2024.

Do I have to be a Prime Member to shop the Amazon Spring Sale?

No, Amazon Spring Sale deals are available to all, including those who do not subscribe to Prime.

What types of deals can I expect to find during the Amazon Spring Sale?

In the past, we've seen a lot of spring cleaning and fashion items in sale during the Big Spring Sale. We expect this year to be no different. We at Engadget in particular will be on the lookout for discounts on our favorite spring cleaning tech, including robot vacuums, cordless vacuums and air purifiers, along with deals on kitchen and smart home gear.

Are there deals I can shop now ahead of the Amazon Spring Sale?

Yes, check out our list of the best Amazon Spring Sale deals you can get right now above.

How long does the Amazon Spring Sale last?

The Amazon Spring Sale lasts seven days this year, running from March 25 through March 31.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-spring-sale-tech-deals-the-best-sales-from-apple-bose-irobot-dyson-and-others-130607743.html?src=rss

Amazon’s latest Big Spring Sale is into its final day, and while the week-long event hasn't been as big on tech as Black Friday or Prime Day, it's still served up a few genuinely decent discounts on Apple devices. If you’re looking for a new iPad, pair of AirPods or Beats speaker, we’ve rounded up the best Apple deals going on right now below. In truth, most of these offers aren’t explicitly tied to the Spring Sale, and more than a few have expired since the sale began. Still, a number of Apple gadgets we recommend remain available for lower prices than usual. As a reminder, the deals below are not exclusive to Prime members.

Best Amazon Spring Sale Apple deals

Apple AirPods 4 with ANC for $149 ($30 off MSRP): This version of the AirPods 4 is nearly identical to the base model, only it supports active noise cancellation and comes with a wireless charging case. It also supports other listening modes like Adaptive Audio, and that case can tap into Apple’s Find My tracking network if you ever misplace it. The ANC isn’t as effective as what you can get with a pair that fully seals off the ear canal, but it makes the earbuds a little more useful in noisy environments all the same. We gave the device a score of 86 in our review. This discount is $11 higher than the best price we’ve seen, but it’s about as low as the earbuds have fallen outside of that.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 for $170 ($79 off): The AirPods Pro 2 remain Apple’s best set of wireless earbuds, as they offer the full set of Apple-focused features, strong ANC, onboard volume controls, a (generally) comfy in-ear design and a warm sound profile that most should find agreeable. They can even work as a hearing aid, though their six-hour battery life still isn’t the best, and you should only get them if you’re all-in on Apple hardware. If that’s the case, though, we call them the best choice for iPhone owners in our wireless earbuds buying guide. We saw this pair drop as low as $154 back in December, but this deal comes within a dollar of its best price since then.

Apple iPad (A16) for $329 ($20 off): The newest entry-level iPad only arrived three weeks ago, but Amazon is currently selling it for $20 less than Apple direct, which is a decent little savings if you planned on grabbing the tablet early anyway. This one is another small update, but it now comes with a faster A16 chip, more RAM and 128GB of storage as standard. It earned a score of 84 in our review — if you only need an iPad for media consumption and lighter work, it's still a fine value. Also at B&H and Best Buy.

The Apple iPad (A16).

Jeff Dunn for Engadget

Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) for $549 ($50 off): Much like the deal on the base iPad above, this isn’t a huge discount, but it’s a nice chance to save a few bucks compared to buying from Apple directly. The new iPad Air was released on the same day as the iPad (A16) and is a similarly minor update; the only big addition is a more powerful M3 chip. However, we still prefer the Air over the base model if you can swing it: Its display is more color-rich and better at fending off glare, its speakers are more robust, it works with Apple’s best accessories and its performance should hold up better in the years ahead. The older M2-powered model is an even better value if you can find it on sale, but either way the Air is the iPad we recommend to most people. Also at B&H, Best Buy and Walmart.

Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M3) for $738 ($61 off): We gave the 13-inch iPad Air a review score of 89 earlier this month. It has a bigger and slightly brighter display than its 11-inch counterpart; otherwise, the two slates are the same. If you plan to keep your iPad hooked up to a keyboard, the extra screen space is lovely for taking in movies and multitasking for work. This is the lowest price we’ve seen for the 128GB model. Also at Walmart.

Expired deals

Apple Mac mini (M4 Pro) for $1,199 ($200 off): It's still not cheap, but here's the lowest price we've seen for this higher-spec configuration of the latest Mac mini, which includes an M4 Pro chip, 24GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. This specific model is overkill for casual users, but it should be a decent buy for those with more professional needs who want a compact Mac but can’t spring for the top-end Mac Studio. We gave the Mac mini a score of 90 in our review last November, praising its performance, pint-sized design and port selection, though it can get noisy under load and it still lacks an SD card reader.

If you do only need a desktop for basic tasks, the entry-level model with a standard M4 chip, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD has also dropped back to $499. That $100 discount matches the best price we’ve tracked.

Apple Watch Series 10 for $299 ($70 off): The top pick in our guide to the best smartwatches, the Series 10 is a mostly iterative update, with faster charging, a slightly slimmer profile and a marginally larger display compared to the previous Series 9. That said, it remains a comprehensive fitness tracker, and no other smartwatch can integrate as neatly with iPhones and other Apple devices. It should be a welcome upgrade if you’re looking to upgrade from an older Apple Watch (think pre-Series 7) — just keep in mind a patent dispute has locked it out the blood oxygen detection features found on those older models. This $100 discount matches the lowest price we’ve seen for the non-cellular model with a 42mm case.

Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) for $1,099 ($200 off): The iPad Pro is more tablet than most people need, but it’s the ultimate iPad for those who can stomach its price tag. It’s wonderfully thin, its OLED display is one of the best we’ve seen on a consumer device and its M4 chip can handle virtually anything you’d ever do on an iPad. It’s also the only Apple tablet with Face ID, plus it has a better speaker setup than the iPad Air. We gave it a score of 84 in our review, with the only real drawback being how expensive it all is. This deal on doesn’t truly lessen that — and it’s another deal we’ve seen multiple times in recent months — but it still ties the 13-inch model’s all-time low.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-spring-sale-apple-deals-airpods-ipads-and-more-are-still-up-to-100-off-092050849.html?src=rss

Breville makes some of our favorite kitchen tech, and now thanks to the Amazon Spring Sale, you can get a top pick air fryer for much less than usual. The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer is currently on sale for $260, which is $90 off its usual price. That's the lowest price we've seen on this air fryer toaster oven this year, a version of which has been a top pick of ours for a long time.

Breville’s Smart Oven Air Fryer combines convection baking and air frying into a single, compact appliance. It features Element iQ system technology, which intelligently adjusts heat distribution to ensure precise and even cooking. Whether you’re roasting a chicken, crisping up fries or baking cookies, this oven is designed to handle it all. The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer has 11 cooking functions, including toast, bake, roast, broil, air fry, and pizza, making it a versatile tool for any kitchen. While throwing down close to $300 might seem steep, you have to consider how flexible this oven is, plus how good of a deal you can get right now.

Air fryers have become convenient alternatives to ovens thanks to the speed at which you can cook with them. The Breville Smart Air Fryer is no different; its super convection technology speeds up cooking times while delivering that golden, crispy finish we all love. The LCD display and easy-to-use dials make navigating the settings simple, while the spacious interior can fit a 13-inch pizza or six slices of toast at once — handy when you have a big family or crowd to feed.

If you want even more features and are prepared to part with a little more cash, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is also on sale for $320, down from its usual $400. In our roundup of the best air fryers, we consider it the best air fryer toaster oven thanks to its extra cooking presets, a larger capacity and dehydration capabilities, making it an even better choice for those who frequently cook in bulk.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-breville-smart-oven-air-fryer-is-down-to-260-during-the-amazon-spring-sale-145714684.html?src=rss

The Nintendo Switch 2 will arrive in 2025, over eight years after its predecessor. Nintendo officially revealed the successor to its best-selling home console in a brief trailer on January 16. Now it's time for the other shoe to drop: A special Nintendo Direct streaming on YouTube at 9AM ET on April 2 is expected to reveal the price, release date and pre-order details — and maybe even show off some new games, too.

Thanks to the January teaser trailer, we already know quite a lot about Nintendo's new console, however. The Switch 2 looks functionally very similar to the original system, albeit with a larger display, magnetic Joy-Cons and a sleeker design. The company also reaffirmed that the upcoming console will be backwards compatible with Switch games.

As we continue counting down the hours until Nintendo's big Wednesday reveal, Switch 2 anticipation is appearing in unusual places. Take the Seattle Mariners' jerseys this year — Nintendo and the MLB team announced they'll have a Nintendo logo on the sleeve of the home jersey and a Switch 2 logo on the away jersey.

Looking to catch up on everything we know — or think we know — about the Switch 2? Read on.

The Nintendo Switch 2 was announced on January 16

The rumor mill had heavily suggested that Nintendo would pull back the curtain on the Switch 2 on January 16, and that turned out to be the case.

The company hasn't changed the core form factor. It's a portable console with detachable Joy-Cons. The Switch 2 can be placed in a dock for big-screen gaming. There are some significant differences from the original console, however.

The most obvious one is that the next-gen Joy-Cons will no longer slide into place mechanically. Instead, they appear to attach to the main unit magnetically. There is a small connector that's likely used to charge the controllers. It's unclear at this point if Joy-Cons from the original system will be compatible with the Switch 2.

One other big (and very welcome) change is the addition of a second USB-C port on the top of the device. That should make it much easier to plug in accessories while the Switch 2 is docked. FCC filings suggest that you'll be able to charge the console using either USB-C port, which is another nice quality-of-life change.

It's great to see that Nintendo has kept the headphone jack as well. Let's just hope that Bluetooth headphone support is live from the jump this time and Nintendo doesn't leave everyone waiting four years for that feature.

The kickstand is getting an upgrade. As with the Switch OLED, it spans the length of the console this time around. But, according to the reveal trailer, this one looks fully adjustable, so you can tweak the viewing angle to one that works for you.

There are still a great many unknowns regarding the upcoming console. We don't really know the specs yet, or what type of display it uses. We also don't know anything about battery life, the UI or launch games. We'll surely learn a whole lot on April 2.

When will the Nintendo Switch 2 come out?

2025. That's all we know for sure at this point.

It's highly unlikely that Nintendo will release the console before the dedicated Direct on April 2, and not only because that's at the start of Nintendo's next financial year. Accessory manufacturer Genki, which had been a major source of leaks before Nintendo's January reveal, claimed the console would be released in April. Other reports have pegged June as the release window, as have several analysts.

In any case, we should learn the release date during the April 2 Direct.

When can I pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2?

As with the release date, we expect clarity on this during or after the April 2 presentation. A Best Buy Canada post spotted on Reddit (since deleted, but archived) states that pre-orders will open on that day, but that has yet to confirmed.

When can I try the Nintendo Switch 2?

Nintendo is planning a worldwide roadshow to let gamers go hands-on with the console. These events start in New York and Paris on April 4-6, with others taking place throughout the following two months. That lends credence to some suggestions that Nintendo will release the Switch 2 in June.

Ticket registration for many of the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience events has closed, but waitlists are available. However, given that Nintendo is taking a first come, first served approach, your chances of attending the roadshow if you don't already have a ticket (or unless you signed up for the waitlist immediately) seem very small at this point.

The full list of Nintendo Switch 2 Experience dates is as follows:

North America:

New York, April 4-6, 2025

Los Angeles, April 11-13, 2025

Dallas, April 25-27, 2025

Toronto, April 25-27, 2025

Europe:

Paris, April 4-6, 2025

London, April 11-13, 2025

Milan, April 25-27, 2025

Berlin, April 25-27, 2025

Madrid, May 9-11, 2025

Amsterdam, May 9-11, 2025

Oceania:

Melbourne, May 10-11, 2025

Asia:

Tokyo (Makuhari), April 26-27, 2025

Seoul, May 31-June 1, 2025

Hong Kong, To be announced

Taipei, To be announced

Will the Nintendo Switch 2 have some weirdness?

Everything we've seen and so far about this console has been fairly, well, traditional. It looks like the original Switch, but better. That's awesome, but will there be any of that unpredictable Nintendo magic? Maybe! There are two puzzling additions that folks can't make hide nor hair of.

Genki, the accessories manufacturer, just published a landing page for their Nintendo Switch 2 accessories. This landing page features a video that includes a very detailed look at a Switch 2 mockup. pic.twitter.com/Db7RSk4YlQ— Bob Wulff (@BobWulff) January 8, 2025

Keen eyes will have noticed a new button on the bottom of the right Joy-Con. Promotional images for a new app called Nintendo Today!, which the company says will provide users with daily news updates about things like games and the Switch 2, confirmed that it is a C button.

However, it is not yet clear what this button does. Could it initiate voice chat during gameplay? Could it calibrate the controllers? Could it create a room-sized hologram of Bowser in your living room? We'll have to wait and see.

Now onto the updated Joy-Cons. There appears to be a new sensor on the connecting side of each controller. It looks a whole lot like an optical sensor, which is what a computer mouse uses. This has led to speculation that players will be able to flip the Joy-Con over and use it like a mouse. Of note: the trailer shows the Joy-Cons moving along a flat surface, connector side down and looking suspiciously like a mouse.

But why would anyone even want this? We can think of three words. New Mario Paint.

Genki reveal isnt a mockup, its straight up just the Switch 2, optical sensor is literally flashing in this shot @Stealth40k #Switch2 pic.twitter.com/COeLsonqMd— Ash  (@Ashinarii) January 8, 2025

Mouse control isn’t the only “too strange for any company but Nintendo” rumor floating around. A patent filed by the company suggests you can swap the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons, snapping them onto either side of the console. That would align with the magnetic Joy-Con attachment scheme.

But much like the weird mouse rumors, it doesn’t necessarily align with, well, any logical reason for why you’d want to do that. The patent suggests it could allow for more user choice in where the headphone jack is. But since it’s Nintendo, the company that brought us Labo cardboard peripherals and the Game Boy Advance e-reader attachment, we have to wonder if there are… quirkier designs at hand.

Is the Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatible?

The company confirmed in November 2024 that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be backwards compatible. It will also feature access to Nintendo Online, so users will be able to play all of those old retro titles.

In the initial Nintendo Switch 2 press release, Nintendo reiterated that physical and digital Switch games will work on the new system. However, it noted that "certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2." More details about which games those are will be revealed later.

During a Nintendo Direct on March 27, the company revealed a new system for loaning digital Switch games out to friends and family members. Virtual Game Cards are designed to make it easier to start a game on one console and continue on another as well. Although Nintendo's approach to this is not as simple as it perhaps should be, Virtual Game Cards will also be available on the Switch 2.

Will old games be enhanced in any way?

The original Switch has, to put it mildly, struggled to run some of the late-generation software that's come down the pike. Could these games be enhanced to take advantage of the increased horsepower of the Switch 2? We have no idea. We also don't know if any of these releases will receive graphical upgrades, perhaps taking advantage of upscaling tech.

What will the cartridges taste like?

You may remember that the original Switch cartridges taste absolutely awful. This was on purpose, to discourage folks from putting the games in their mouth. Will the successor follow suit and continue to dip cartridges in a foul-tasting bitter coating? Only time will tell.

What about specs?

The rumors regarding specs are all over the place, so it’s tough to pin down. We know one thing for sure: It’ll be more powerful than the ancient Switch hardware, which was already antiquated back in 2017. One analyst allegedly got a hold of a spec sheet from the Korean United Daily News that said the Switch 2 would boast an eight-core Cortex-A78AE processor, 8GB of RAM and 64GB of internal eMMC storage. This tracks, as these specs are about as underpowered now as the original Switch was in 2017. However, some reports do indicate that the console will include 12GB of RAM.

Another source suggests that the eight-core CPU will be packaged inside an NVIDIA-produced Tegra239 SoC (system on a chip). Given the current Switch runs on an NVIDIA chip, that makes a lot of sense. The CPU will be more powerful, but it's the Switch 2's new GPU that will be a major differentiator. It's all-but-confirmed that the Switch 2 will support DLSS, NVIDIA's "deep learning supersampling" upscaling tech, which would allow the console to render games at a low resolution internally while outputting a high-resolution image. (Fun fact: We actually wrote about how perfect DLSS was for the Nintendo Switch 2 when the technology was announced alongside the RTX 20 series back in 2018.)

There are still questions about the Switch 2 and DLSS: Will the system support newer DLSS features like frame generation? Will existing games be automatically tidied up by NVIDIA's algorithm? Regardless of the exact implementation, DLSS upscaling will be a huge leap over the rudimentary techniques available to Nintendo Switch developers.

As for the display, there are many conflicting rumors. Early reports from solid sources suggested the Switch 2 would have an 8-inch LCD screen. The Switch 2's display certainly looks larger than that of the original Switch in a side-by-side comparison in the reveal trailer. Some folks have worried that the Switch follow-up may actually be too big, especially for kids.

Certain analysts have suggested this would be an OLED screen, while others have said it would be a Mini-LED display. A Mini-LED display is basically an LCD display that has a backlight made of (surprise!) mini-LEDs rather than edge lighting. This allows for local dimming, making the blacks more black.

We're hedging our bets here. We think it’ll be a standard LCD, to cut costs, with an OLED or Mini-LED model coming later down the line. However, Mini-LED screens are slightly cheaper than OLED displays, so that’s certainly a possibility at launch.

As for resolution, recent reporting suggests that the console will output 1080p in handheld and 4K when docked. That's much better than the OG Switch.

More tenuous “leaks” have intimated that the Switch 2 could also support a faster microSD card standard known as microSD Express. This allows for significantly faster transfer rates than the common UHS-I cards supported by the Switch today. It’s technically been around for several years, but we’ve only recently started to see microSD cards that take advantage of the spec hit the market.

We actually tested one of them from SanDisk for our microSD card buying guide and found it could reach sequential read speeds up to around 900 MB/s. With the current Switch, microSD transfer speeds top out closer to 100 MB/s.

So, in theory, all of this could bring a sizable boost in load times and general storage performance for the Switch 2 (though it’s still not likely to be on par with the SSDs in the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S). But again, these rumors are far from concrete. It’s also worth noting that microSD Express cards cost significantly more than what we usually see today — the SanDisk card we tested, for instance, starts at $45 for just 128GB of storage.

Recently-unearthed FCC filings also indicate that the console will support Wi-Fi 6 and NFC. The latter indicates that the Switch 2 will continue Amiibo integration.

How much will the Nintendo Switch 2 cost?

We don't have too much information regarding price but we do have plenty of history to work with. The original Nintendo Switch launched at $300, which is pretty much the "magic number" when it comes to Nintendo console releases in recent years. The Wii U also came in at $300.

However, there are plenty of rumors circulating that Nintendo could be upping the asking price for the Switch 2. Several analysts are expecting Nintendo to hike the price to at least $400 and possibly even as much as $500. Rising costs of components and development, as well as US tariffs, are likely to mean that the Switch 2 is more expensive than its predecessor.

Dipping back into history, there is some precedence for a price uptick. The GameCube was $200 and the Wii was $250. The Wii U and Switch increased to $300 and, well, numbers like to go up. A $400 price tag would make the Switch 2 nearly as expensive as a PS5 and Xbox Series X. That would also put it at the same price as the 256GB LCD Steam Deck.

Again, we should get confirmation of the price during the April 2 Nintendo Direct.

How well will the Nintendo Switch 2 sell?

Even with an expected price increase, Nintendo is likely to sell boatloads of Switch 2 consoles. The company seems to be positioning itself to shatter sales records. Reports suggest that Nintendo wants to have as many units ready to sell as possible on release day. One analyst told Bloomberg that they expected Nintendo to have an inventory of between 6 million and 8 million units at the outset.

As Bloomberg notes, the company sold 2.7 million Switch units in that console's first month. Sony's PS4 and PS5 each sold 4.5 million units in their first quarter on the market, though it's worth noting the PS5's early momentum was hindered somewhat by shortages.

Nintendo has sold more than 150 million Switch units. Given that many fans are more than ready for an upgrade (and to perhaps give their old Switch to a young relative or sell it on the cheap), the Switch 2 is very likely to go gangbusters right out of the gate.

Do we know about any launch games?

Not so much. The reveal trailer offered a peek at a new Mario Kart game. Nintendo released Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U over a decade ago and it's been milking that cash cow ever since, having sold more than 64 million copies of the game across that console and the Switch. It's definitely time for a new entry!

It's certainly been a long time since we’ve gotten a proper 3D Mario adventure as well, so a new one could be a launch title. That would be one heck of a system seller. Other than that, your guess is as good as ours. Past as prologue, we can expect something from Ubisoft and an off-the-wall title like 1-2-Switch. One report suggested that PowerWash Simulator 2 is bound for the Switch 2, so that's something.

If there’s a gimmick or hook involved with the console, we’ll also get a game that takes advantage of that. A dual release of Metroid Prime 4, just like Breath of the Wild and Twilight Princess before that, is also a possibility.

It's all but nailed on that we'll learn much more about the Switch 2 launch lineup during the April 2 Nintendo Direct, which starts at 9AM ET. You'll definitely want to set your Alarmo for that one.

That's everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2 today. We'll update this article with rumors we trust and with information we gather directly from sources. Any changes made to the article after its initial publishing will be listed below.

Update, January 24, 2025, 12:36 PM ET: This story has been updated to include speculation about price, potential game enhancements and the taste of cartridges.

Update, February 5, 2025, 9:30AM ET: This story has been updated to note the time when the April 2 Nintendo Direct starts.

Update, February 24, 2025, 12:30 PM ET: This story has been updated to include speculation about storage and information about the new microSD Express standard.

Update, March 6, 2025, 2:30PM ET: This story has been updated to note recent FCC filings to indicate the presence of Wi-Fi 6 and NFC support.

Update, March 14, 2025, 12:15PM ET: This story has been updated to include pricing and sales speculation from analysts.

Update, March 20, 2025, 12:45PM ET: Updated to include a note about the Seattle Mariners new jersey patches featuring Nintendo and the Switch 2.

Update, March 27, 2025, 3:50PM ET: Updated to add details about the C button, Nintendo Today! and Virtual Game Cards.

Jeff Dunn contributed to this report.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-everything-we-know-about-pre-order-plans-specs-pricing-games-and-more-195136485.html?src=rss

It's the last day of Amazon's week-long Big Spring Sale, and while the event has mostly focused on things like apparel and outdoor goods, it still does include a few noteworthy deals on electronics. We’ve been highlighting the best of those across Engadget, but if you’re on a tighter budget, we’ve also dug up a few decent discounts on gadgets and services we like that are available for less than $50. As a reminder, you don’t need to be an Amazon Prime subscriber to see most of the price drops.

Best Amazon Spring Sale deals under $50

Anker PowerConf C200 for $48 ($12 off MSRP): The PowerConf C200 is our favorite webcam for those on a tighter budget due to its crisp video quality, easy setup, solid microphones and built-in privacy cover. Its USB cable is on the shorter side, and it can’t match the overall accuracy of our top pick, but it’s still a clear upgrade over a built-in laptop camera for a much lower price. This is another deal we’ve seen numerous times in the last year, but it’s as low as the camera usually goes. Also at Anker.

The Anker 525 Charging Station.

Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

Anker 525 Charging Station for $30 ($36 off): We recommend this reliable desktop charging station in our remote worker gift guide. It can’t provide the absolute fastest charge to your smartphone or laptop (topping out at a quick enough 67W), but it packs four USB ports — two USB-C, two USB-A — and three AC outlets in a frame that’s small enough to fit on a crowded desk. This deal ties the lowest price we’ve seen. Also at Anker.

Anker Nano Charger 30W for $13 ($10 off): It’s hard to have too many portable wall chargers on standby. This one from Anker should be particularly useful for traveling: At just over an inch thick, it’s small enough to fit in a pocket, while its 30W USB-C port is enough to top up recent iPhones at full speed. (That’s not enough for some newer Android phones, though.) This discount matches the lowest price we’ve seen. Also at Anker.

Blink Mini 2 for $20 ($20 off): This deal ties the lowest price to date for the Blink Mini 2, which is the budget pick in our guide to the best security cameras. This one comes with its share of trade-offs for the low price — its image quality isn’t the best, it locks certain features behind a paywall and it won’t automatically arm when you leave the house — but it still provides functional 1080p video, color night vision, motion alerts and Alexa support in a weather-resistant frame. It’s fairly simple to set up, too, though you’ll need to buy an external module if you want to store clips locally. Also at Best Buy and The Home Depot.

The Blink Mini 2.

Amy Skorheim for Engadget

Amazon Fire TV Stick HD for $20 ($15 off): This is the budget pick in our guide to the best streaming devices. It can only play up to 1080p, so it’s really meant for older or smaller TVs that you want to modernize with streaming apps. It’s a bit more sluggish than Amazon’s higher-end 4K sticks, too, and all Fire TV devices tend to promote Amazon-owned services like Prime Video above all else. Still, it works with nearly all the major streaming apps, and its remote has Alexa built-in, so you can control your TV and certain smart home devices with voice commands. It also supports basic HDR10 — but not Dolby Vision — plus it can pass-through Dolby Atmos audio to a compatible soundbar or receiver. You could do worse if you just want the cheapest streamer possible. This deal is $2 higher than the all-time low we saw during the holidays, but it matches the best price we’ve tracked otherwise.

Amazon Music Unlimited 3-month trial for free ($24 off): Amazon is offering new subscribers three months of its Music Unlimited streaming service for free. Normally, it gives new users a one-month trial. Though Music Unlimited isn’t a top pick in our guide to the best music services, it still gets you lossless streaming quality and an extensive library of both music and podcasts. You could do worse if you just want to bum a few months of music streaming for no cost. Just note that your subscription will auto-renew once the trial period ends until you cancel.

Chipolo One for $20 ($5 off): The Chipolo One is the top overall pick in our guide to the best Bluetooth trackers. While Apple’s AirTag can tap into a substantially larger crowd-sourcing network, we’ve found the One to send separation alerts faster when you’ve left an item behind and ring louder when you’re back in its vicinity. Unlike the AirTag, it can also attach directly to a keychain. It probably isn’t the safest choice for long-distance travel, but it’s a convenient security blanket if you, say, leave your keys or wallet behind at a restaurant. This is another discount that’s been available for a few weeks, but it’s just 10 cents more the best price we’ve seen.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-spring-sale-tech-deals-under-50-the-best-discounts-you-can-still-get-on-chargers-earbuds-accessories-and-more-091512018.html?src=rss

Levoit's Core 400S air purifier is down to $190 from its usual $220 price, thanks to the Amazon Spring Sale. While it’s not the lowest price we’ve seen — the air purifier briefly hit $177 last year — it’s still a solid discount on one of the most convenient air purifiers for large spaces. Just clip the $30 on-page coupon to get the discount. This deal is part of a larger Levoit sale during the Spring Sale that includes other air purifiers, humidifiers and more.

We’ve featured Levoit in our list of the best air purifiers for its strong performance and smart features. The Core 400S can cover rooms up to 1,980 square feet using a three-stage filtration system to capture allergens, dust, pet dander and smoke. It also includes a smart sensor that adjusts fan speed based on air quality, so you’re not running it at full blast when you don’t need to.

One of the Levoit Core 400S’ biggest selling points is its low noise output, which makes it a good fit for bedrooms or home offices. If you need to knuckle down and get some work done without distraction whilst keeping your room’s air clean and fresh, even at higher speeds, it stays relatively quiet compared to bulkier purifiers. It also supports smart controls via the VeSync app, allowing you to tweak settings, set schedules or monitor air quality from your phone. If you have a smart home ecosystem in place, you can connect the purifier to third-party voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant — an added layer of convenience that allows you to control the Core 400S with simple voice commands.

Its 360-degree filtration system uses activated carbon to remove gases and odors, while an efficient middle filter captures 99.97 percent of pollutants as small as 0.3 microns. The built-in air quality sensor continuously monitors pollution levels, automatically adjusting performance as needed. You can track real-time air quality data on the LCD screen or through the VeSync app, which is handy (and interesting) to have access to at all times. At night, sleep mode keeps things extra quiet and subtle, dimming the display and operating at the lowest settings — or you can turn off the display completely for total darkness.

If you’ve been looking for an air purifier that can handle larger spaces without taking up too much room, this deal is worth considering, saving you over $30 on its usual price thanks to the Amazon Spring Sale.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/one-of-our-favorite-air-purifiers-is-still-down-to-a-near-record-low-price-for-the-amazon-spring-sale-133052953.html?src=rss

Amazon’s Big Spring Sale has finally reached its last day. Like last year, the deals are focused less on tech and gadgets and more on home, cleaning and fashion discounts. That's not Engadget's area of expertise — except when it comes to robot vacuums, where home cleaning and hi-tech neatly intersect. We’ve tested dozens of these handy automatic floor cleaners and put the results in two buying guides one for budget models and one covering the best of the best. We've also tried out a few cordless vacs, which make good spot-cleaners to supplement automated cleaning. Right now, a number of our picks and related models are on sale and we’ve rounded up the best deals on vacuums Amazon’s latest sale has to offer.

The best Amazon Spring Sale robot vacuum deals

Shark's Matrix Plus robovac for $400 ($350 off): In our testing, we’ve been consistently impressed with Shark vacuums — but they’re not cheap. This machine can mop in addition to vacuum and is nearly half price at 47 percent off.

Anker Eufy Robot Vacuum 11S MAX for $140 (44 percent off): The “S” in the model name stands for “slim” and it was one of the more low-profile machines we tried. It’s a pick in our guide to budget robot vacuums and has a long battery life and good suction power for its price. The main drawback is the lack of Wi-Fi, so instead of programming it with your phone, you’ll use the included remote.

Anker Eufy Robot Vacuum 3-in-1 E20 for $400 ($200 off): If you can’t decide between a robot vacuum or a lightweight stick vac, you don’t have to. The new Eufy E20 combines a robo vac, cordless upright and handheld vacuum in one machine. Plus the automatically emptying base holds a lot of debris for its size. While we found the robot performance to be better than the stick vac suction, it’s still impressive and convenient for an all-in-one model.

The best cordless vacuum deals

Levoit Cordless Vacuum Cleaner (LVAC-200) for $150 ($50 off): The lowest price we’ve tracked on this stick vac is $130 but this matches the lowest price we’ve seen this year. It’s our runner up budget pick for a stick vac in our guide. It doesn’t have a storage base and the bin is smallish, but it’s lightweight and super affordable. It also disassembles easily for storage making its lack of base less of a deal breaker.

Tineco Pure ONE Station 5 for $349 ($110 off): This vac earned an honorable mention in our tests. The self-emptying base is a big selling point. We also liked the auto-adjusting suction and single-button start feature. The fact that it doesn’t require proprietary bags helps keep down the long-term cost, too.

Tineco Pure ONE S11 cordless vacuum for $200 ($100 off with coupon): Click the coupon to get $95 off our top pick for a budget stick vac. We like that it automatically adjusts suction depending on what it's picking up and is relatively lightweight when you’re pushing it around your floors. The bin is on the small side and the battery life isn’t as good as on other models, but it’s an easy-to-use, no-frills way to clean floors.

Tineco Pure ONE Station FurFree for $400 ($300 off): Of all the stick vacs our reviewer tried for our guide, this is the one she wanted to use the most. It’s super convenient with a dock that charges and empties and cleans all parts of the machine — brush, tube and dustbin — after each use. Plus the suction power is great and the iLoop smart sensor kicks up the suction when needed.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-spring-sale-robot-vacuum-deals-the-best-sales-from-irobot-tineco-shark-and-anker-092652460.html?src=rss

DTS support seems to have been removed from 2025 LG TVsAlmost all streaming services are Dolby, not DTSYour AV streamer or soundbar may have a DTS decoder

History appears to be repeating: LG has removed DTS support from its 2025 OLED TVs, including the LG C5, just like it did in 2020.Noticed by TV reviewer Vincent Teoh (via FlatpanelsHD) reports, the EDID information on the LG G5 – the information that tells audio and video sources what formats a TV supports – doesn't include DTS audio.When LG brought DTS back in 2023, we said that it was good news for home theater lovers, as it would give them support for content that didn't use Dolby Atmos. But it seems that according to LG's internal data, there weren't many such users or much of that content being played on LG TVs: Dolby was by far the most-used surround sound format.That's largely because Dolby and Atmos is the preferred format of the best streaming services. The one notable DTS exception, the IMAX Enhanced streamed by Disney+, wasn't supported on LG TVs due to its particular variation on the format.The 2025 models will be Dolby-only – but that doesn't mean you can't still enjoy DTS soundtracks.

If DTS is a dealbreaker, there are tons of C4 and G4 OLEDs still available – and for amazing prices now. (Image credit: Future)

How to get around the lack of DTS on 2025 LG TVs

The issue here is all about decoding. DTS is a compressed audio format, and that means you need a device that can uncompress it and send it to one of the best soundbars, or your home theater speakers.If your TV is removed from the equation, then it doesn't matter if it's supports DTS, though.If your TV can't decode DTS, you may have other devices that can. So if your source device is connected to an AV receiver that's DTS-compatible, then you don't need to worry whether your TV has DTS: the decoding happens on your receiver, not on your TV.With soundbars it's a little more complex, because you'll need a soundbar that supports HDMI passthrough as well as DTS so that the soundbar can handle the audio and send the video to the TV.Many models don't offer that connectivity, though most high-end or mid-range models from Sony, Samsung and LG do. You can can connect one of the best 4K Blu-ray players or other DTS source directly to the soundbar's HDMI input and then connect the TV to the other port, and the soundbar will take and decode the DTS audio.If that's not an option, there's one more thing you can do: if your LG TV (or any other TV) doesn't have the ability to decode DTS, but your 4K Blu-ray players does, then you can usually set the player to decode the DTS and to output uncompressed audio.Try setting your player's audio output format to LPCM, often labelled Linear PCM. This format can be passed through the TV to your soundbar in surround sound without any concerns about format at all, though you'd lose the spatial sound of DTS:X.It's a shame that LG has dropped this format, and we're not sure that LG TVs likely adding Eclipsa Audio in the future will really make up for it.However, for the next few months, LG's 2024 TVs will remain on-sale, including the LG C4 and LG G4, and are arguably better value than its 2025 models – doubly so if you want DTS support…

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