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Polaroid’s new Pokémon collection captures memories, not Pikachus

18 August 2026 at 15:00
A person standing in grass holds the Polaroid Go Gen 3 instant camera with a bright yellow Pikachu design.

Polaroid announced a new collection of cameras, instant film, and accessories all featuring limited-edition designs to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pokémon. The new collection goes a little harder than Fujifilm's Pokémon collaboration from five years ago with the introduction of Polaroid film printed with various characters around the frames, including Pikachu and Snorlax. The entire collection will be available for preorder starting on August 25th in the US, Canada, and the UK through the Polaroid and Pokémon Center websites. A global release is expected to follow on October 5th.

The three limited edition instant cameras part of Polaroid's new Pokémon collection.

The three cameras are existing models with new des …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Sonos finally added Live Activities controls for your iPhone lockscreen

17 August 2026 at 18:38
The Live Activities controls for the Sonos app appearing on the iOS lockscreen.

Sonos released an update to its mobile app that finally introduces support for iOS' Live Activities, giving iPhone users quick access to playback controls on their lockscreen. The added functionality is a "much requested, anticipated, and needed feature," according to a post Sonos shared to Reddit today that was spotted by 9to5Mac.

While some features like displaying album art are not available, the Sonos Live Activity provides basic details and controls when listening to music or podcasts through a Sonos system without having to fully unlock your iPhone and open the app.

Support for Live Activities and lockscreen controls similar to wha …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Xteink’s tiny e-readers are getting access to free books through Libby

15 August 2026 at 15:00
A person holding an Xteink X4 Pro e-reader over an Android phone accessing Libby sitting on a paper book.
New plugin support for CrossPoint Reader lets Xteink’s devices access DRM-protected ebooks.

One of the big tradeoffs with Xteink's pocket-friendly e-readers is a lack of easy access to ebooks. On a Kindle or Kobo you can download tens of thousands of titles through each device's respective online bookstores, but with Xteink's devices you have to source DRM-free ebooks on your own. That's about to change, as the developers of CrossPoint Reader, a free alternative firmware for the X3, X4, and X4 Pro, are introducing support for third-party plug-ins that will expand the e-readers' capabilities. One of the first from the community will give the devices access to DRM-protected ebooks borrowed through OverDrive's Libby library app, or pu …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Hoto’s new cordless soldering iron heats up in three seconds

14 August 2026 at 13:00
A person using Hoto’s soldering iron to repair a video game controller.

Hoto is introducing its first soldering iron through its modular Snapbloq collection that lets you assemble your own custom toolbox by stacking magnetic cases and tools together. The new I-A06 Cordless Soldering Iron can heat to just over 200 degrees Celsius in about three seconds and offers an adjustable temperature range from 100 to up to 450 degrees with customizable presets you can quickly jump to.

The full kit version of the soldering iron is available starting today for $99.99 and includes a C245 knife tip plus additional tips that can be used for other tasks such as wood burning. If you just want the tool you can buy it on its own fo …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Insta360’s next 360-degree action cam puts bigger sensors in a smaller design

12 August 2026 at 15:00
The Insta360 X6 360-degree action camera pictured from the front and back.

Insta360 announced the next iteration of its popular 360-degree action cameras that have helped the company expand its offerings. The new X6 introduces a design that's smaller than last year's X5 and X4 Air but with improved video capabilities thanks to an even larger pair of custom 1/1.1-inch square sensors from Sony. While last year's models offered 8K recording at up to 30fps, the new X6 can capture 8K at up to 50fps. It also carries forward the X5's replaceable lenses, which are now five times more scratch-resistant and 60 percent cheaper, according to the company.

The Insta360 X6 is available today in black or white through the company …

Read the full story at The Verge.

GuliKit’s new Switch controller features next-generation anti-drift thumbsticks

11 August 2026 at 15:00
The GuliKit ES Max wireless controller on a wooden desk next to a laptop.

GuliKit announced its first wireless controller to use an improved version of the anti-drift tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) thumbsticks featured in its budget-friendly ES Pro that debuted nearly a year ago. Available now for $49.99, the new GuliKit ES Max is more expensive than last year's $29.99 ES Pro, but still cheaper than Nintendo's Switch 2 Pro Controller, while offering more features and functionality without the risk of stick drift that plagued the original Switch.

The TMR thumbsticks in the ES Max don't feature a complete reimagining of the technology but measure stick movement in a slightly different way that improves performa …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Sony could release a cheaper version of its WH-1000XM4 headphones, according to leaks

7 August 2026 at 18:15
A photo of Sony’s WH-1000XM4, the best noise-canceling headphones for most people, resting on a table.

Following the release of its premium and very expensive $650 The Collexion headphones in May, Sony could be taking its 1000X line of wireless noise-canceling headphones in a cheaper direction next month. The company is reportedly planning a refreshed and more affordable version of its six-year-old WH-1000XM4 headphones that will feature similar performance and specs as the original but at a lower price point, according to reliable leaker billbil-kun.

The WH-1000XM4C are expected to launch in early September 2026 in black, silver, and lavender color options for €249.99 or £219.99, which is around $289 to $297 after currency conversion.

The …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Bose’s upgraded QuietComfort headphones add head-tracking immersive audio

6 August 2026 at 15:00
The second-generation Bose QuietComfort ANC headphones in green hanging off a stack of paper.

Bose announced a second-generation version of its entry-level QuietComfort noise-canceling headphones that were originally introduced in late 2023. The new headphones feature a refreshed design with a more comfortable headband that's easier to adjust and ANC that better adapts to changing noise environments. The second-gen QuietComfort are also getting Bose's TrueSpatial immersive audio technology that was previously only available on the company's pricier QuietComfort Ultra.

While the original version of the QuietComfort headphones debuted at $349 nearly three years ago, Bose's second-gen version is carrying forward a small price bump to $ …

Read the full story at The Verge.

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