The iPhone Duo is the riskiest Apple product in years. It's a huge rethink of what an iPhone is and could be, and it contains the seeds of many fascinating ideas that might be great in the future.
But that future is yet to come. The iPhone Duo is also one of Apple's messiest first-generation products in a long time, and right now it will delight gadget nerds and early adopters and likely frustrate everyone else.
It's been a minute since the iPhone has looked or worked significantly differently. The last major change was the iPhone X, which dropped the home button almost a decade ago, and even that was a fairly subtle improvement. In fact, …
The Antigravity A1, with the new Follow Me Kit. | Photo by Sean Hollister / The Verge
Last year's Antigravity A1 is the best beginner drone I've ever tried. I put a friend who'd never flown into its virtual cockpit and didn't worry one bit. The A1's also nice for people who'd prefer to think about flying rather than filming, because you can reframe its 360-degree footage after.
But until today, that meant wearing the company's FPV goggles and spending upwards of $1,599 on the complete set. Now, Antigravity is halving the price of entry to $799 in the US with a new "Follow Me" kit that replaces the original headset and motion controller with a wristwatch and ring instead.
The idea is that Antigravity can be your robot cam …
When Square Enix announced earlier this year that it was making its first HD-2D Final Fantasy game, I was beyond excited. While I’m a massive fan of the 3D era of the series, as a child of the ’90s, I’ve been yearning for the franchise to return to its roots. Thankfully, I can say that Final Fantasy Resonance is not only one of the best JRPGs I’ve played in years, but it fully captures the magic of the early Square Enix games that many have been nostalgic for.
Final Fantasy Resonance Goes Beyond Its Mobile origins
Screenshot: Brent Koepp
One of my biggest questions going into Final Fantasy Resonance was how it would separate itself from Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. For those not in the know, Resonance is partly a reimagining of the 2015 mobile gacha game. However, my worries immediately melted away within the opening minutes of the game.
For starters, the new HD-2D graphics overhaul is a massive one. While Resonance largely follows Brave Exvius’ story, every scene has been completely re-created with new cinematic storytelling. So much so that the two games barely resemble each other visually or even narratively. As far as the graphics themselves go, I would actually go as far as to say this is Square Enix’s best-looking pixel game to date.
From the grand backdrops of massive cityscapes to dingy dungeons you explore throughout the region, Resonance is filled to the brim with gorgeously detailed levels that find a perfect balance between 3D and 2D retro graphics. It doesn’t just stop there, though. Square Enix has even crafted these new 3D-rendered, pixelated cutscenes that almost feel like early PlayStation-era CGI.
Screenshot: Brent Koepp
Suffice to say, if you missed the old-school Final Fantasy series, FF Resonance not only gives you that in spades, but it also presents it through a modern HD lens that is absolutely stunning.
Final Fantasy Resonance Recaptures the Magic of ’90s Turn-Based Combat
Screenshot: Brent Koepp
More importantly, though, Final Fantasy Resonance plays like a classic Square Enix JRPG from the ’90s with its return to turn-based combat. I know for many fans, this is specifically what they’ve been wanting from the franchise for over a decade now. And oh man, was it completely worth the wait.
In Resonance, you control a team of four party members on the battlefield at any given time. However, your team can actually expand to eight units, as each character can equip a Vision or Esper to join them in battle. Like classic Final Fantasy games, each encounter determines the attack order based on the player characters’ and enemies’ stats.
What adds a new twist is the action bar at the top that shows the attack order in real time. Because of this, players can strategically use elemental attacks to stagger enemies and prevent them from even having a turn. In Final Fantasy Resonance, the core gameplay loop centers around you filling up an enemy’s stagger meter. Staggering is based on enemy weaknesses, which you can exploit with elemental attacks.
Screenshot: Brent Koepp
On paper, this is all a pretty standard classic JRPG formula. However, Square Enix has gone to great lengths to really make the battles feel epic with the new Vision mechanic. Vision attacks trigger a powerful spell that is accompanied by a 3D-pixel cutscene that is mind-blowing every time you see it. Then there are Limit Burst attacks, which feature full HD-2D pixel cutscenes that are just as breathtaking.
A Familiar Story That Keeps You Hooked
Screenshot: Brent Koepp
There are times when you can feel the echoes of Final Fantasy Resonance’s mobile roots. Specifically, the main story, which is an adaptation of the first story arc in Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. However, I actually love this aspect of the game.
If you’ve played a gacha title like Genshin Impact, you know the drill. You discover a new region, spend an entire chapter resolving the story, and then move on to the next region. But I feel like this formula works really well in Resonance, as it almost has a TV-series quality to it.
For example, when you reach the end of each chapter, you are always left on a cliffhanger or a tease for the upcoming region. Which, yeah, makes sense for live-service mobile games that release new content in patch updates. But in Resonance, I found that it kept the story engaging throughout each section, and every arc had me hooked from beginning to end.
Visions Are Final Fantasy Resonance’s Best Feature
Screenshot: Square Enix
Final Fantasy Resonance’s Vision mechanic is its best feature. Throughout the game’s map are Sanctum of Lights locations, which you can enter to recruit heroes from previous Final Fantasy games. From Final Fantasy VII’s Cloud Strife to Final Fantasy X’s Tidus, you can literally add some of the franchise’s biggest characters to your party.
Although Visions are technically summons of previous heroes, they are equipped to each party member through an equipment slot. Interestingly, though, each Vision has its own class. For example, Lightning and Clive Rosfield are both Breakers, which means they are good for staggering enemy defenses.
There are around 26 Visions in Final Fantasy Resonance you can collect. They not only look flashy and are a nostalgia lover’s dream, but they add a lot of strategy to the game. When you equip a Vision, you actually add their powers and moves to the character they are attached to. So if, let’s say, Rain doesn’t have any ice attacks, you can equip a certain Vision to expand his arsenal of moves.
A Massive World With Plenty to Explore
Screenshot: Brent Koepp
Thankfully, I can also say that Final Fantasy Resonance is a massive game. It took me around 45 hours just to beat the main story campaign. And I was missing a lot of side content. Square Enix has packed this game with a lot of interesting side quests that really flesh out the game’s lore and side characters.
For example, there is one quest that has you hunting down specific monster spawns across the entire map, which then lets you unlock new parts for a Chocobo mech that one character brings into battle. No, it’s seriously as awesome as it sounds.
Screenshot: Brent Koepp
Although the game is HD-2D, Final Fantasy Resonance has a sprawling map that can be explored on foot or by summoning your trusty Chocobo mount with the press of a button. However, without getting into spoilers, the JRPG opens up even further as you progress, once you unlock an airship that lets you fly around the entire overworld.
Final Fantasy Resonance Review Verdict
Final Fantasy Resonance is not only a return to Square Enix’s ’90s roots, it’s a beautiful reimagining of what a classic Final Fantasy game would look like in the modern age. This is the Final Fantasy project many fans have been desperately wanting for decades.
Verdict: Best In Its Class (10/10)
Screenshot: Square Enix
Pros
Final Fantasy Resonance brings the series back to turn-based combat, and it’s instantly addicting.
Square Enix has pushed the HD-2D genre to the next level with incredible 3D CGI cutscenes, vision attacks, and pixel animated battle sequences that are jaw dropping.
A massive map that features side quests, hidden items, and unlocks.
Vison’s are an incredible feature that will have you geeking out over recruiting your favorite Final Fantasy hero.
Cons
If you played Brave Exvius, some of the story beats might be too familiar. However, the levels of depth Square Enix has gone to reimagine the title, makes it stand out its own game.
Enemy encounters that trigger when walking around the overworld map can sometimes get fatiguing. Especially if you are higher level and don’t need the XP, but then fail to escape the battle.
Final Fantasy Resonancereleases on PS5, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and PC on September 24, 2026. A code was provided by Square Enix for the sake of review. Reviewed on PlayStation 5Pro.
My 15-year-old daughter just got her learner's permit, so when I was pitched a new gadget tailored to teen drivers, I was intrigued. The Miles Plug is a small device that plugs into your car's OBD-II port and monitors location, driving habits, and vehicle health, along with emergency accident response and roadside assistance.
The idea is that knowing all these things should help me feel more comfortable when my daughter starts driving alone. I tested the (now discontinued) Ring Car Cam when my son was learning to drive, but he hated it and refused to turn it on; I wondered if the Miles could provide the same peace of mind without feeling a …
There's a fast-growing category of two-wheeled electric vehicles splitting the difference between high-end scooters and entry-level motorcycles, fresh bikes with avant-garde style but approachable performance.
I'm talking about offerings like the Infinite Machine P1 and BMW CE 02, similar concepts but with wildly different attitudes. Among this class, the Maeving RM2 stands out. It has a distinctly retrofuturistic flair, bringing together the vibe of classic British motorcycles like the Triumph Bonneville or Royal Enfield Continental GT, just without the literal vibes caused by internal combustion.
Part of the resurgence can be tied to the fact that they're cool now with younger generations - following the revival of tape decks and vinyl. Celebrities have been spotted wearing them, and there's even an Instagram account that follows the trend. Wired earbuds have real benefits. They don't need a battery, so they'll last longer than wireless ones that eventually die, and it's a lot ha …
Nvidia’s new SoC is available in Windows laptops from six different manufacturers. We’ve collectively tested four of them so far. | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge
Nvidia's RTX Spark N1X processor is finally here, and we've been collectively testing a small fortune's worth of powerful laptops sporting this new "superchip." RTX Spark is designed to be a high-performing Arm-based SoC for laptops and small desktop computers, rivaling the best from Apple, Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm. It has loads of cores, Nvidia RTX Blackwell graphics, and enough power and unified memory to run sizable local AI models.
The flagship placement is inside Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra with a staggering 128GB of unified memory, which our own Tom Warren fully reviewed. Sean Hollister has been testing a 64GB version of the Asus …
This MacBook Pro lookalike is designed for developers.
After setting up Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra, I spent five minutes just staring at it. I wasn't surprised by its MacBook Pro-like design or blown away by its bright display. I was trying to work out what I'd actually do with a $5,900 laptop.
This isn't just any regular Windows laptop. Microsoft has teamed up with Nvidia to build a high-end laptop to showcase Nvidia's new Arm-based RTX Spark chips. It's a big moment for Windows on Arm, as these chips can run demanding AI models locally, alongside the latest AAA games and creative apps. The promise is compelling, but the reality of local AI is much messier.
The Surface Laptop Ultra is a true MacBook Pro competitor for Windows, and Microsoft has never been so close to dethroning Apple—if only it weren't for the lack of battery life.
A top performer in both dark rooms and in bright sunshine, the AWOL Vision Aetherion Max RGB Laser UST Projector gives movie theaters a run for their money.
Music journalism is going to the wall, and places for sensible, well-informed, nuanced takes on the latest releases are dwindling. So we thought we might as well put the final nail in the coffin
Fontaines D.C. Dopamine Chamber XL After exhaustively touring the last Fontaines D.C. record, frontman Grian Chatten spent the springtime Europemaxxing. For most of us, this means you wake up without an alarm; meet friends for coffee; have lunch with the same friends; start day drinking; and do nothing else. Yet in his case, these travels on the continent resulted in lyrics for Dopamine Chamber, one of the most evocative, astute records of our new present. I mean, honestly, please take a break, mate—you’re making the rest of us look lazy and ignorant.
Across 11 tracks, we’re treated to a selection of audio selfies from his trip through the “world of old European beauty and terrible opulence”: a Viennese homage to Eyes Wide Shut—the paintings of Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt, Arthur Schnitzler’s Dream Story, Freud’s old home, and its prophetic vision of the perverted elite (now, don’t mind me, but I’ve deleted this next joke because I don’t want to be found dead in mysterious circumstances); Venice: transient, commodified, sinking—the only way to better reflect the city than through this album would be to place a naked woman in a glass tank filled with tourists’ urine; and Palermo, which I have absolutely nothing to say about, funny or otherwise, as, uncoincidentally, it’s the one destination which, to Grian, “felt like a place where people actually lived.” One can only imagine what that would be like.
Jaded, hungover, and—ironically—in dire need of a holiday (I know the feeling), this is the morning after 2024’s Romance, which captured these hungry, cultured young men as they left behind their home city of Dublin in pursuit of, err, romance. Fontaines D.C. are looking for an escape which might not even exist, but must be chased nonetheless, because what else is there? This will be in my headphones throughout the fall as I sit out on the café terrace with a black coffee, a ham baguette, and a pack of Marlboro Reds, waiting for the riot to begin.
10/10 ANTHONY BOREDAGAIN
The Avalanches No Bad Memories Modular This is tech people’s gospel music, and The Avalanches are the high priests of sampling. When I caught them live, there was a beardy guy in the front row (who looked like he definitely prayed in C++) doing the “we’re not worthy” gesture from Wayne’s World throughout the whole show. There’s a disposable euphoria to this new 31-track record, with nostalgia revealed as a religious experience, the humble floppy disk transformed into a kind of eternal reliquary. “Party on,” I whisper to myself as I enter the confession booth to confess all the ways I’ve sinned on this miracle device without ever leaving the comfort of my own home. “Excellent.” 9/10 STEVE JOBSEEKER
@ Autosmile 4AD In the age of search engine optimization, there is undoubtedly nothing cooler than an indecipherable band name. This Philadelphia duo, who are impossible to find on Google, make cryptic folk music that’s too poignant for you, a foolish appreciator of letters and words, to actually listen to. If you’re brave enough to try to hear these pristine songs, you’ll have to hunt for a series of mysterious symbols scribbled in water-damaged notebooks hidden in abandoned suburban basements (or, you know, just go straight to Spotify instead). This one is perfect for fans of hieroglyphics, Unicode character sets, and penis-shaped ASCII art.
7/10 (.)(.)
World Peace DMT Stick Around for Tea WPDMT There’s no amount of drugs in the world that can make me understand how the “South London Music Scene” has become a global brand. It would be the perfect cosmic joke if Worldpeace DMT ended up as Brixton’s own version of The Beatles. And listening to this skewed London duo’s spirited pop is like being sucked into a timeless realm, where you can imagine tourists visiting the Windmill as if it were Abbey Road or the Cavern Club, throwing tennis balls for an animatronic Roof Dog and searching the floor for fossilized mystery pills lost at the height of the roaring 2020s. So if any tech billionaire psychedelic enthusiasts are reading this, I’ve got a great business idea.
8/10 PAUL MCCARTNEY’S BIRTH TRAUMA
The Afters New Day New Life Fair Trade Services My mate told everyone I was “sound,” so I turned up to The Afters, which unexpectedly turned out to be a Christian rock band, and they really weren’t feeling it when I started racking up lines on their copy of the Bible, but then they started chatting about how “God Is with Us”—which I really felt in that moment, at least after a couple of bags. These guys might think that Jesus coming back from the dead after three days was impressive, well, just wait until you see me show up for work on Monday after this 72-hour session.
1/10 JUDAS ISCHEMIA
Two Shell Infinite Now Young Do you even know what music is if you didn’t grow up with the Now compilations? Either you jolted your parents out of their boomer complacency by administering a dose of 90s chart-hit shock therapy, or you have no aesthetic sensibility whatsoever. I’m sorry, I don’t make the rules; I leave that to Two Shell, who have just released their own rogue Now That’s What I Call… compilation. I locked my parents in a Zafira people carrier and kicked their chairs nonstop while blasting this lurid and delinquent record, for old time’s sake. By the time it was finished, they were begging me for the sweet relief of “Tequila” by Terrorvision.
7/10 GERI HALITOSIS
They Are Gutting a Body of Water KOOL FAITH / LOOSIES II ATO Records and Julia’s War If you’re between 20 and 30 and your main circle doesn’t include RKX Nephew, Hotline TNT, feeble little horse, Tony Bontana, Cooper B Handy, and DJ Manny, then what’s your excuse? It can’t be that you’ve spent all your time in your bedroom listening to shoegaze, weeping over the transcendent sadness of tape delay. As even with bleeding ears and a face full of tears, Douglas Dulgarian and his band have managed to put together a mixtape filled with their many, many talented friends. I don’t care how many homemade guitar pedals you have, at the end of the day, your network really is your net worth.
7/10 MARY BLOCKCHAIN
Max Richter While the Flood Rages Decca Records When it comes to video montages documenting our seemingly unfathomable inhumanity toward one another, there is now, thankfully, an official ban on the use of “This Bitter Earth / On the Nature of Daylight”. Enough is enough; we may never run out of enthusiasm for killing and torturing, but we’re tired of this song. Have no fear though, as Max Richter is back with fresh stock music for scoring the crimes of the future. If you’re not already feeling maudlin enough about the future of our species, maybe we should fire up AI Dinah Washington to lay down some fresh vocal takes?
6/10 RICHTER SCALE MIDNESS
Djrum DJ-Kicks: Djrum !K7 Records This pleasingly ballsy new addition to the long-running mix series, which finds the intense British electronic artist making good on his threat to keep things a “bit bumpy,” performing one of his famously unpredictable all-vinyl sets, and throwing in plenty of “ups and downs,” while using three decks, which is really one more than you actually need, as, like most of us, he only has two hands, that is unless, of course, you’re going to really “fuck with expectations” and pull out your… Oh God, no Djrum, not like that, please put it away, this is a family-friendly nightclub.
8/10 INSPECTAH DICK
Rick Wakeman and The English Rock Ensemble Return to the Red Planet Madfish Music If you look at photographs captured by NASA’s Viking 1 orbiter in 1976, you can clearly see the face of one of our gigantic humanoid ancestors who once inhabited Mars and the thing that’s immediately apparent is that he’s screaming in eternal agony, presumably because he’s having to endure the vast emptiness of prog titan Rick Wakeman’s sci-fi record inspired by the discoveries on the Red Planet. I never thought I’d say this, but Elon Musk really needs to hurry up and get out into deep space as soon as possible to put a stop to this sort of thing.
The Fairbuds 2 have had a total design revamp from the original pair.
Repairable, ethical phone brand Fairphone has released its second pair of earbuds. The Fairbuds 2 are just as repairable as the first generation, but deliver improved audio and almost twice the battery life. The Fairbuds 2 are out now in the UK and Europe from £99 / €119, and a US launch at $119 will follow on November 2nd.
The Fairbuds 2 have been redesigned from the ground up, moving to a stemmed design, available in black or green, and a case that's 37 percent smaller than the first generation. Despite that shrinking hardware, Fairphone has almost doubled the buds' battery life, which now totals 40 hours without active noise cancellation …
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