Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 151, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you're new here, welcome, get psyched because it's officially Bad Holiday Movie Season, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.)
Shure’s MV7 Plus is a popular podcasting and streaming mic. | Image: Shure
While the Shure Mv7 Plus is popular with streamers and podcasters, it’s equally good at impressing your friends and coworkers on meetings and Discord calls. It’s currently marked down to $255 at various retailers, including Amazon, Guitar Center, and directly from Shure. That’s almost $50 lower than its usual price, and just a few dollars off Amazon’s all-time low. If you don’t already have a stand, both Amazon and Shure are offering a bundle that includes the mic and a desktop stand for $269, and the white model is also discounted at Amazon.
Shure MV7 Plus
Shure’s MV7 Plus is an updated version of its popular USB microphone. The new version features a USB-C port, a customizable LED light panel, and several additional features available in the Motiv Mix app.
When our team shared some of our favorite audio gear in late 2024, we noted that the Mv7 Plus was the mic we send to podcast guests for remote interviews. It’s known for its crisp and clean audio quality, with auto-leveling and denoising, so you can use it without touching an equalizer.
The MV7’s unique shape and sonic profile is inspired by the Shure SM7B (also discounted), a microphone that’s often used in professional recording. This version is meant as a more budget-friendly variant for content creators looking for a simpler setup, with both an XLR output and USB-C, letting you wire into an audio interface or directly to a computer.
Kobo is launching a new monthly subscription service called Stack that lets you upload your own ebooks and documents to the company's servers where they'll be synced across multiple devices and apps, including your reading progress, highlights, and annotations. Kobo Stack is similar to Amazon's Send to Kindle feature that allows users to upload a wide variety of files to their Kindle libraries for free, but Kobo's version will cost a few dollars each month.
If you’re curious about virtual reality, Meta’s Quest 3S is a good entry-level headset for dipping your toes in, especially now it’s on sale in refurbished condition for $255.99 directly from Meta’s eBay storefront through November 8th when you use coupon code SAVE20TECH. For comparison, the headset recently dropped to $300 in new condition as part of Amazon’s fall Prime Day event, and currently retails for $349.99.
According to eBay, the certified refurbished headset is in “like-new” condition and has undergone professional inspection and cleaning by the manufacturer. More importantly, it comes with either original or new accessories — including a power adapter, a glasses spacer, wrist straps, etc. — alongside a two-year Allstate warranty.
The Quest 3S strikes a middle ground between the Quest 3 and Quest 2. Like the pricier Quest 3, it runs on the speedy Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip and supports the same library of games. It also comes with the same cameras for full-color passthrough, letting you interact with the world around you while wearing the headset. It comes with Meta’s Touch Plus controllers, though you can also use your hands to navigate menus and interact with some apps. And because it’s a standalone headset, you don’t need a PC or console to play games.
However, its display resolution and optics quality are closer to the Quest 2’s, which, while good, means visuals are narrower and less sharp. Still, as we noted in our review, those trade-offs are easy to overlook given the price, especially if you’re new to VR.
Philips Hue’s 80-inch Gradient Lightstrip is on sale for $83.16 ($115 off) when you buy it directly from Philips’ online storefront with code OUTLET58. The two-meter lightstrip can extend up to 10 meters and display multiple colors simultaneously, while delivering up to 1,800 lumens of brightness with customizable lighting effects. You can also control it via Alexa and Google Assistant, or using either Bluetooth or a Philips Hue Bridge.
Anker’s new Desktop USB-C Hub is currently available from both Amazon and Anker (with code WSPDV2ONVYED) for $79.99 ($20 off), which is $5 shy of its lowest price to date. The 10-in-1 hub features a built-in screen that not only displays charging speeds, but also doubles as a digital photo frame and customizable timer. It also sports an HDMI port, a DisplayPort connection, four USB ports, an ethernet jack, and SD and microSD card slots, letting you connect multiple accessories and external displays.
Speaking of gadgets with personality, Orico’s adorable PixCharge Plus is on sale at Amazon in several colors for $29.99 ($50 off), its best price to date. The small, 10,000mAh power bank has a customizable 16-by-16 pixel screen that displays animations, scrolling text, and pixel art using a companion app; it also supports up to 22.5W fast-charging and comes with a built-in USB-C cable that conveniently doubles as a strap.
Lutra, a South Korean startup, has debuted a new brand called Humans of Authenticity (HOA) that's launching another screen-free digital camera that incorporates a large open viewfinder into its design, as spotted by PetaPixel. The camera is reminiscent of the Godox C100 but the HOA A1 positions its lens and sensor close to the center of its large viewfinder window so that a photographer can maintain eye contact with their subject, or feel more in the moment while framing a shot without staring at a screen.
The HOA A1 First Edition is expected to launch on December 1st in a very limited run of just 100 units. Preorders haven't started yet, b …
Buying the 4K Blu-ray disc version of KPop Demon Hunters was already going to be a wise idea for some people, especially those who primarily keep their $26.99 Netflix Premium subscription just to watch the hit animated flick in 4K. But at just $24.99 from Barnes and Noble and Amazon instead of its original $49.95 price, it’s easier than ever to recommend.
The Criterion Collection version of the film recently launched, and comes with a bunch of extras in a gorgeous set. In addition to the 4K digital master, complete with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos sound, you also get two standard 1080p Blu-rays, one containing the film, and the other packed with special features (a full feature-length animatic, a making-of documentary, lyric videos, and more). It includes physical goodies, too, like collectible postcards, as well as an essay by Polygon alum Karen Han.
Kpop Demon Hunters was on my list of physical movies to buy, and this deal just turned it into a must-buy ahead of the holiday season.
Update, 4:50PM ET, November 6th: Previously, this deal was available for in-store pickup at Barnes and Noble, but it’s currently available online at both Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
Gift-giving isn't just about grabbing something solid under a determined spending limit. It's an expression of love, a way to show someone how well you really know them. That doesn't mean you have to do it all on your own, though. Sometimes you just need a push in the right direction to get things rolling.
This year, we spent hours collecting our favorites to help you get ahead of your holiday shopping. This list has everything: minimalist smart rings, Play-Doh flowers, sleek beat machines - you name it. Whatever your needs, no matter how demanding the recipient, you'll find something exceptional below for that special someone on your li …
These aren’t even all the foldables in my house right now.
When I first read Allison and Nilay's Verge review of the iPhone Duo, I was immediately struck by one of their complaints: that the cover display is too small. That's not how the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 feels, I thought. Had they got it wrong?
After a week and a half using the Duo, I know exactly what they mean - and it's not the screen's fault at all. Apps that feel comfortable on Samsung's short foldable and the similarly sized Xiaomi 18 Fold are often cramped and compact on the Duo's cover screen, robbed of screen space by a right-hand rail that most apps don't make use of anyway.
That's just one of the ways that Apple's first foldable …
I've been wanting to try 3D printing, people tell me. Which printer should I get?
I finally have a fairly easy answer: the Bambu Lab P2S Combo. The auto-loading, fully enclosed touchscreen printer is one of the very few I can recommend. It's the only one I'd buy for myself. It's on sale for $649 through December 1st, but I'd vouch for it even at its normal $749 price.
I've spent an entire year testing the P2S alongside several competitors, printing 40,000 whistles for ICE whistleblowers along the way. After racking up 6,770 hours of print time across four different printers, I'm sure of my recommendation.
Phones used to be this size, if you can believe it. | Photo: Enough Phone
It's a bad time and maybe also a great time to make a new smartphone.
Brennan Jordan and Austin Boer are two-thirds of the trio behind the Enough Phone, a small phone that will run your choice of stock Android or the minimalist OdysseyOS. They're currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, and just a day after launching, the project is over halfway to its $250,000 goal.
The Enough Phone's target specifications include a 5.3-inch display, 3,500mAh user-replaceable battery, MediaTek Dimensity 7500 chipset, a 50-megapixel Sony sensor in the rear camera, and 8GB of RAM. The dimensions listed on the Kickstarter page suggest an iPhone Mini-ish siz …
Android fans with a bit of iPhone Duo envy, take note: The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is discounted to $1,599.99 at both Amazon and Best Buy, a hefty $300 markdown from its usual price, and just $50 higher than the lowest we’ve seen. Considering the device only launched a few months ago, you’re saving a significant amount of cash on the unlocked device, and you can also opt for the 512GB model, doubling the storage, for just $200 more (Amazon, Best Buy). Best Buy currently has all three colors in stock, while the 256GB model is currently sold out on Amazon in cream.
The shorter and wider passport-style shape (similar to the iPhone Duo) quickly became natural and comfortable to handle, according to our reviewer Dominic Preston’s experience with the Z Fold 8. Despite its thin and light construction, it doesn’t skimp on battery life, with a 4,800mAh battery that still had 40 percent charge remaining after a full day of use. The interior 4:3 screen has the same ratio as most Apple iPads, which is great for watching movies or TV, but even better for reading. There’s no telephoto lens on this model (it’s present on the pricier Z Fold 8 Ultra), and it only has an IP48 rating, so you’ll want to be careful near the beach, but those are small compromises to make given the discounted price.
Both Amazon and Best Buy are selling the Beats Pill for a discounted $99.95 and $99.99 respectively, a sizable break from the usual $149.99 price point. The 2024 edition of this iconic Bluetooth speaker adds in lossless audio over USB-C, as well as native feature support for both iOS and Android devices. It’s rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, and comes in three different colors to match your other Beats devices. Read our review.
The Ring Battery Doorbell 2K is on sale for $39.99 at Amazon, over half off its $99.99 list price. This battery-powered doorbell camera is easy to install, and shoots clear 2K resolution video with a 140-degree field of view and up to 6X digital zoom. You’ll get real-time notifications on your phone for any activity the camera spots, with live view and two-way talk in case you need to have a chat with your neighbors or delivery folks without coming to the front door.
You can pick up the Lego Star Wars: Ahsoka Chopper set for just $66.99 at Amazon, the lowest price we’ve seen yet for this 1,039-piece building kit. This brick-based droid has great play features, like detachable arms and center wheel for different display positions, and a head that spins and bobs realistically. It stands at over 8.5 inches when fully built, making it a fun addition to your existing Lego display or bookshelf.
We’ve been fans of Ember’s temperature-controlled mugs for years, though given the price tag, we admit that they’re somewhat of a luxury purchase. Thankfully, if you’ve been looking for a more affordable option, Woot is selling the Ember Cup in black for $32.99 ($67 off) with a 90-day warranty through November 7th. You can potentially save even more as part of Woot’s larger Home and Kitchen Sale, which lets you save an additional $20 off orders of $100 or more when you use code COOK at checkout.
Granted, six ounces isn’t much, but the smaller, handle-free cup is well-suited for cappuccinos, cortados, flat whites, and other espresso-based drinks. It’s also a perfectly fine option if you don’t mind refilling your cup of coffee, cocoa, or tea throughout the day. I’m actually tempted to pick one up myself at this price, especially since I’ve been trying (with varying degrees of success) to cut back on coffee.
Like Ember’s larger mugs, the smart cup lets you choose and set your drinking temperature between 120 and 145 degrees Fahrenheit using a companion app, then remembers your setting for future drinks. It can then maintain that temperature for up to 95 minutes on a charge, up to four hours with a lid, or even all day if you leave it on the included charging dock. The cup also automatically enters sleep mode after two hours of inactivity to conserve power. Just keep in mind that, despite its IPX7 water-resistance rating, the cup is hand-wash only.
You can look, and you can touch. (Note: all the photos in this review are of the 16-inch PROLED Pro.) | Photo: Owen Grove / The Verge
I keep forgetting the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display has a touchscreen. I've been testing this new laptop, one of the most impressive Apple has ever created, for the better part of a week. I can't stop noticing some of its other features: the slimmer design, the improved display, the Dynamic Island that somehow catches my eye more than the notch ever did. But I keep forgetting that as I go about my day, I can now reach out and poke the screen.
Come to think of it, that might be exactly what Apple intended. Steve Jobs said touch laptops were a bad idea; some subset of users demanded one anyway. Now the MacBook Pro has one. But not in a …
Pictured: a great screen, best-in-class laptop, fine keyboard, and a very comfortable blanket (sold separately). | Photo: Nathan Edwards / The Verge
On November 6th, Apple will release an all-new MacBook Pro. It's thinner and lighter and has a beautiful OLED touchscreen. It is very likely what every new MacBook Pro will look like in a couple of years.
The M6 MacBook Pro, which is also out on the 6th, is not that laptop. Instead, it's a straightforward chip bump of Apple's entry-level MacBook Pro, in basically the same chassis Apple's been using since 2021. Everything that was great about the M5 MacBook Pro last year, and the M4 the year before, still applies. The M6 MacBook Pro is still a great all-around computer, and a nice step up from the MacBook Air. Processor, screen, speakers, po …
This green is so nice I can almost forgive the camera bump looking like a spider’s face. | Image: Motorola
Motorola is trying something it hasn't attempted in the modern smartphone era: to make an all-out flagship slab-style phone.
Previous high-end Edge devices never quite hit the mark, and lacked features that would put it in the highest flagship tiers. The company has had plenty of success with its Razr clamshell foldables, leaning on brand nostalgia and daring to make phones that actually look good. But it's trying something different with its new Signature line, which until now hasn't been available in the US. The Signature 27 goes a step further toward premium, daring to take on the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. Motorola is leanin …
Have a little treat. | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge
Much like a great recipe, it started with a stick of butter.
This wasn't real butter; it was a friend's new phone grip, complemented by a phone case with bold stripes. Butter is in vogue now, or at least that's what a 12-year-old told me a few months ago. This stick of butter was labeled "unsalty" and committed to the bit by including the appropriate tablespoon markings, just like the real thing. I was enamored. "Where did you get that?" I asked. It was a PopSocket-branded combo, and I found it so irresistible I ordered an equally eye-catching grip a few weeks later. After years of carrying buttoned-up, minimalist tech, I finally said, "To …
It’s not often that some of the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy are over half off. But right now, the first-gen Bose QuietComfort Headphones are on sale for $169.99 ($190 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Bose, matching its best price to date. The newer, second-generation version that launched in August is also down to $199 ($160 off) in multiple colors at Amazon, Best Buy, and directly from Bose, which is just $20 shy of the all-time low price.
While Bose’s original QuietComfort Headphones are no longer the latest model, they’re still a solid option for anyone seeking effective noise cancellation, good sound, and 24-hour battery life without spending a fortune. They also support multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, so you can connect to two devices simultaneously, and they feature a lightweight, foldable design that makes them easy to pack.
The second-generation QuietComfort Headphones build on that foundation with a few worthwhile upgrades for $30 more. Of note, our reviewer John Higgins considers their default sound profile to be the best he’s heard from Bose, even better than the flagship $449 QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2. They also support lossless audio via USB-C. While he thought that vocals sounded a bit muted, he was able to fix the issue by tweaking the three-band equalizer in Bose’s companion app. Higgins also considers the QuietComfort Headphones more comfortable than the Ultra thanks to their lack of “eardrum suck,” the unpleasant sensation of ear pressure from a strong active noise cancellation effect.
You can save a heck of lot of money on Google’s Pixel 11 phones through November 8th, whether you want the best-for-the-least Pixel 11, or the slightly pricier Pixel 11 Pro that takes better photos. Even the big Pixel 11 Pro XL with a longer-lasting battery is hundreds off its original price.
The Pixel 11 Pro deal is the most attractive of the bunch, as the $1,099.99 phone with 256GB storage and 12GB of RAM is down to just $799.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and at the Google Store, beating its October Prime Day price by $50. It’s $100 less than the base Pixel 11 model sold for at launch, and it’s the phone to get if you want great camera performance, plus extra features like HiLight that, while cool, weren’t really worth paying a premium to access. I’d be very surprised if the price dropped more for Black Friday.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with opting for the Pixel 11 instead, especially at its attractive $699.99 ($200 off) price that now matches the cost of the iPhone 17E, following Apple’s September price bump. The Pixel 11 is the most affordable phone that supports Google’s software features that are exclusive to this year’s phones, including Magic Capture, Camera Looks, and Proactive Assistance. It has fast 25W wireless charging (up from 15W with the Pixel 10), and has 12GB of RAM, like the Pixel 11 Pro.
I’m still happily rocking my Pixel 9 Pro, but if I were going to upgrade right now, I’d get the Pixel 11 Pro. Yes, I want the better cameras and HiLight. But really, the main reason I’m lured to the Pro is because the trade-in offers are really generous right now. It’s just $10 more to opt for the Pro over the base Pixel 11. My base Pixel 9 Pro with 128GB of storage can fetch $530 in trade-in credit at the Google Store and $525 at Best Buy, which seems great.
Nothing CEO Carl Pei said in a post on X that the company's launching its first AI device in December. That's just a little over a year after Pei announced plans for "AI-native" devices and an AI operating system. He didn't give away much about what exactly the new device is, only that one feature it won't have is a screen:
"Our first AI-native product ships next month. It's a tool, but one built with the personality and care that have come to define a Nothing product. It has no new screen, and it couldn't have been an app."
Pei shared an image with the post that says "NOTHING(R)" in the top left corner, above an ambiguous black rounded …
Also, can I just say this LED indicator light is way too small and unnoticeable?
This isOptimizer, a weekly newsletter sent from Verge senior reviewerVictoria Songthat dissects and discusses the latest gizmos and potions that swear they're going to change your life. Opt in for Optimizer here.
"How does that make you feel?"
I get asked this a lot in therapy. Plenty of life events, big and small, have triggered this question. Three weeks ago, it was the fact that I had to ask my therapist for her consent because I was wearing the Amazon Bee Frontier during our session.
That first week, I didn't really have an answer. A lot had changed since I first tested Bee, an always-recording AI wearable, early last year. The ele …
Login
