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Samsung's 2025 The Frame Pro QLED Mini LED Smart TV is on sale for a record-low price. The 65-inch model that normally retails for $2,200 is on sale for $1,760, which is the lowest we've ever seen it.

The 1-inch-thick "art" TV uses Samsung's impressive 4K Neo QLED panel, which is a quantum dot LCD panel with a Mini LED backlight array. The Frame Pro can display lifelike art pieces when the TV isn't in use, while its sleek design means it also looks great when turned off.

The Frame Pro comes with Samsung's new Wireless One Connect Box, which is supposed to help with cable management by putting the TV's inputs in a separate box that then wirelessly transmits the feed from your external device to the TV. It does require its own power supply, though, so that's one more plug needed if you are connecting a console or a streaming device.

The TV also carries the NQ4 AI Gen3 Processor, which imbues the Frame Pro with AI-enhanced picture and sound. This model also comes with Samsung Vision AI, which works to upscale the image on screen, create personalized experiences and more.

This 2025 model was just made available to order earlier this year, and the current sale price is surprisingly lower than it was during last week's Prime Day event, proving sometimes good things come to those who wait.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/samsungs-2025-frame-pro-qled-tv-is-on-sale-for-a-record-low-price-155913911.html?src=rss

Newegg is selling three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $52, which is a fantastic deal. The list price is $60, but drops down to $52 by entering the code SSE2589 at checkout. The sale ends soon, so don't dilly-dally.

This is a discount of $38, thanks to Microsoft mandating a price hike that brought a single month of Game Pass Ultimate up to $30. That controversial move has irked fans of the subscription service. In other words, make sure to cancel at the end of the three months to avoid getting slammed in the bank account.

Despite the absolutely bonkers move to raise the price by 50 percent in one fell swoop, Game Pass Ultimate is still a fantastic service with over 400 games to choose from. It's home to plenty of standout titles, including recent hits like Clair Obscur Expedition 33 and the indie darling that's currently wrecking productivity across the world, Ball x Pit.

The platform recently integrated with Ubisoft+, which offers access to dozens more games in franchises like Far Cry and Assassin's Creed. A subscription also signs up users with Fortnite Crew, which gives access to the game's battle pass, 1,000 V-Bucks each month and other perks.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-three-months-of-xbox-game-pass-ultimate-for-only-52-right-now-152331537.html?src=rss

Bose took a different approach with its new products in 2025. Instead of entirely redesigning  its QuietComfort Ultra lineup, the company unveiled upgraded second-generation models of the flagship-level earbuds and headphones. Like the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds that debuted earlier this year, the new Quiet Comfort Ultra headphones ($449) don’t offer a comprehensive overhaul. However, the changes provide enough performance improvements to further cement these as the best noise-canceling headphones that you can buy right now. Trust me, we’re much better off with this revamped version than we would be with a year (or longer) wait for something brand new with the 2023 model.

What’s new on the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?

Bose debuted a few new features on the second-gen QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds in August that it carried over to these new headphones. First, the company improved its already stellar active noise cancelation (ANC) with tweaks to its ActiveSense technology. Specifically, the system can respond to sudden spikes in environmental noise by adapting more precisely. It’s not something you’ll notice all the time, but when you need it, you’ll be glad it's there. Otherwise, the excellent ANC performance here is just as effective as it was on the previous model. More on that in a bit.

The immersive Cinema Mode that Bose added to the QC Ultra Earbuds is also available on these headphones. It’s a sound profile that enhances dialogue clarity while keeping the rest of the soundstage as wide and enveloping as possible. I like it best for movies and TV, as the name suggests, but per Bose’s suggestion I also tried it with podcasts and audiobooks. Cinema Mode is probably overkill for those types of content, unless you’re listening to shows or titles with lots of background effects. 

One of the biggest changes on the second-gen QC Ultra Headphones is how Bose decided to handle power management. Most importantly, the company extended battery life in all use cases. With ANC on (and Immersive Audio off), you’ll get up to 30 hours of listening time. Turn off ANC and that jumps to 45 hours. When you decide to enable both ANC and Bose’s spatial Immersive Audio, you can expect up to 23 hours on a charge. Compared to those on the first-generation model, all of these numbers are up by at least five hours, which is a significant boost. 

These headphones rotate flat and fold in for compact transport. Billy Steele for Engadget

Like the previous QC Ultra Headphones, this model has an automatic disconnection feature after 10 minutes of standby . But the company went a step further on this version by adding a low-power mode that the headphones enter after 30 minutes of idle time. And if you want to disconnect them quickly, you can rotate the earcups and lay them on a flat surface. That’ll make them go into a deeper standby mode that Bose says can run “for months.” All of this means you can effectively turn the new QuietComfort Ultra Headphones on and off by putting them on and taking them off. If you’re using them regularly, you’ll never have to press the power button. 

Sound-wise, the big upgrade on these headphones is the addition of lossless audio over USB-C. Like the AirPods Max, this model can be connected with a cable to your phone, tablet, laptop or desktop to stream or play higher-quality tunes from compatible services or your library. Bose says you can expect 16-bit 44.1kHz or 48kHz audio depending on your source. It’s yet another nice-to-have feature that’s becoming standard fare on premium wireless headphones. 

What else is good about the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?

Like most Bose over-ear headphones, the second-gen QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are supremely comfortable. Even for long periods of time, they never become a burden, and that’s thanks in large part to the soft, pillowy ear pads. I could easily wear these for an entire trans-Atlantic flight with minimal discomfort and I’ve been wearing them for entire workdays at home. 

As I already mentioned, the ANC performance here is still top-tier. In fact, these QC Ultra Headphones will soon replace the first-gen model on our best noise-canceling headphones list. Both the Immersion (ANC + spatial audio) and Quiet (just ANC) modes provide robust noise blocking that surpasses those by Sony, Sennheiser and others. If you’re making your buying decision based solely on ANC performance, this is the best option. You’ll enjoy relief from constant ambient noise sources like fans and sound machines, plus the QC Ultra Headphones do a respectable job with human voices. Heck, I couldn’t even hear my dog barking at the imminent threat from falling leaves outside. 

Lastly, Bose’s take on spatial audio is still quite good. The company calls it Immersive Audio and the feature doesn’t rely on specialized content like other headphones. Music sounds obviously fuller and slightly louder when the sound profile is active thanks to Bose’s method for upscaling stereo content. There’s also enhanced vocal clarity and elements like percussion and synths are less compressed than usual. The headphones lend a particularly airy feel to the tracks of Ruston Kelly’s Pale, Through the Window, an acoustic-driven collection of soulful, country-tinged tunes. His vocals float atop enveloping acoustic guitars and tight, punchy drums.

What’s not so good about the QC Ultra Headphones? The Bose app gives you access to controls and customization. Billy Steele for Engadget

The biggest issue with the second-gen QuietComfort Ultra Headphones is the price. To be clear, the likes of Sony, Apple and others charge around the same amount for their top-of-the-line models, but $449 is still a significant investment. If that’s too steep for you, Bose has the highly capable QuietComfort Headphones in its arsenal for a slightly more palatable $359.

My other gripe is that the only real design change Bose made for the updated QC Ultra Headphones is that the metal headband yokes now have a gloss finish. Depending on your personal preference, this might be a dealbreaker for you. It’s least noticeable on the black and violet colorways, since these have a tone-on-tone look. After a few weeks with the bronze and tan Driftwood Sand hue, I’m not a fan of the more stylized aesthetic. It’s flashy, for sure, but it’s a tweak I could’ve done without. 

Wrap-up

Similar to the second-gen QC Ultra Earbuds over the summer, Bose didn’t make huge upgrades for the updated version of the QC Ultra Headphones. But what you do get here is a decent improvement over its predecessor. The company devised an intuitive setup for power management and even addressed one of my main gripes with the original by adding support for lossless audio over USB-C. Plus, the extended battery life is significant in all sound modes, and not just by an hour or two here or there. To top it all off, the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones remain the best option for pure noise-blocking ability, and that’s not likely to change any time soon.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/bose-quietcomfort-ultra-headphones-2nd-gen-review-impactful-upgrades-to-a-familiar-formula-150000709.html?src=rss

Apple has secured an exclusive deal for the US broadcast rights to Formula 1 racing. Under the terms of a five-year pact with F1 parent company Liberty Media, Apple TV will air every F1 race starting in 2026.

The company says subscribers to the newly rebranded Apple TV will be able to watch every Grand Prix, along with each practice, qualifying and sprint session. Non-subscribers will be able to watch "select races" for free in the Apple TV app. You won't have to pony up to watch practice sessions.

Through the Apple Sports app, F1 fans can get live updates on qualifying and sprint sessions as well as Grands Prix. Expect real-time leaderboards (including for the driver and constructor championships), along with an iPhone home screen widget and Live Activities on the lock screen.

Apple will bring F1-related features to its News, Music, Maps and Fitness+ apps as well. The company will reveal more about "production details, product enhancements and all the ways fans will be able to enjoy F1 content across Apple products and services" in the lead up to the 2026 season, which starts with the Australian Grand Prix in March.

Formula 1 has its own dedicated streaming service and that's not going away entirely in the US, but F1 TV Premium will be exclusively available through Apple TV. In fact, F1 TV Premium (which currently costs $130 per year) will be a free perk for Apple TV subscribers in the US. You'll just need to link your F1 TV account to an Apple Account that has an active Apple TV subscription.

F1 TV Premium includes access to features like multiview, driver cams and team radio chatter, along with live telemetry and tire usage data. Live F2, F3, F1 Academy and Porsche Supercup coverage is included too.

The F1 deal will diversify Apple's sports offerings. The company already has a long-term pact with MLS for exclusive rights to air games from North America's top soccer league. However, the future of baseball on Apple TV is murky, with reports suggesting that Apple is set to cut ties with MLB.

It was rumored in July that Apple might be looking to add the driving event to its sports programming. The company allegedly bid between $120 million and $150 million a year for access to F1, which lapped the $90 million a year offered by ESPN, which previously had the US rights. The company may also be looking to capitalize on the success of its F1 the Movie project, which Engadget's Devindra Hardawar found to be an excellent racing film, a flashy summer blockbuster and an ostentatious commercial for Apple in his review.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/apple-is-the-new-home-for-f1-racing-in-the-us-starting-in-2026-133619412.html?src=rss

Wikimedia is sounding the alarm on the impact AI is having on reliable knowledge and information on the internet. In a blog post, Wikimedia's senior director of product, Marshall Miller, lays out the impact on page views that the foundation attributes to the rise of LLM chatbots and AI-generated summaries in search results. 

"We believe that these declines reflect the impact of generative AI and social media on how people seek information, especially with search engines providing answers directly to searchers, often based on Wikipedia content," said Miller.

The foundation has increasingly faced AI bot crawlers whose sophistication has made it difficult to parse human traffic from bots. After improving bot detection to yield more accurate metrics, Wikipedia's data shows an 8 percent drop in page views year over year.

Miller paints a picture of an existential risk greater than that of a website's page views. He posits that if Wikipedia's traffic continues to decline, it could threaten what he calls "the only site of its scale with standards of verifiability, neutrality and transparency powering information all over the internet." He warns that fewer visits to Wikipedia would lead to fewer volunteers, less funding and ultimately less reliable content.

The solution he offers is for LLMs and search results to be more intentional in giving users the opportunity to interact directly with the source for the information being presented. "For people to trust information shared on the internet, platforms should make it clear where the information is sourced from and elevate opportunities to visit and participate in those sources," Miller writes.

Earlier this summer, Wikipedia floated the idea of AI-generated summaries that would appear at the top of articles. The project was ultimately dropped before it began after fierce backlash from the site's volunteer editors.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/wikimedia-says-ai-bots-and-summaries-are-hurting-wikipedias-traffic-134331033.html?src=rss

AT&T has been sending out emails to its home internet subscribers, notifying them that their plans will cost $5 more a month starting on December 1. The company has confirmed the price hike to The Verge, who noted that it already raised its prices by $5 a month in November 2024 and that it's raising prices again despite earning $4.9 billion in profit last quarter. AT&T wrote in its email that it's charging $5 more for its its home internet plans "[t]o ensure [it continues] providing the quality service and support [customers] deserve."

"As we work to meet the evolving needs of our business and manage increasing operational costs, we’re adjusting our internet plan rates to help maintain the high-quality service our customers expect," AT&T spokesperson Jim Kimberly told The Verge. The company is providing customers the chance to offset the additional charges, however, by giving them a $10 monthly discount if they enroll an eligible bank account in Autopay and Paperless Billing if they haven't yet. If they enroll a debit card, they will get a discount of $5 a month. 

It's not quite clear how long the discounts will last. And for customers who've enabled Autopay in the past, well, tough luck. The price hike will not apply to new customers who've only signed up over the past year, though, and those under AT&T's Access program for qualifying low-income households.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/atts-home-internet-is-getting-a-5-price-hike-130010486.html?src=rss

Nintendo has asked suppliers to build 25 million Switch 2 console by the end of March 2026, Bloomberg reported. According to people familiar with the matter, the company has requested the boost because it believes the console will continue its torrid sales pace through the holiday season. Nintendo could easily exceed its own forecast of 15 million Switch 2 units sold within its first fiscal year (ending March 30, 2026) and beat first year sales of the original Switch, which was the fastest selling console of all time. 

If sales pan out as it expects, Nintendo could sell around 20 million Switch 2 units this fiscal year, according to the report. The 25 million production goal would allow it to satisfy sales demand and have enough in inventory to start the next fiscal year. 

The original Switch sold 17.79 million units in its first 13 months, so the Switch 2 could exceed that over a considerably shorter time frame. As a reminder, Switch 2 pre-orders started in April 2025 and the global release was on June 5, so it only started shipping four and a half months ago.  

Despite fears over tariffs, Switch 2 sales in the US are way ahead of the original Switch at the same time frame, according to market researcher Circana. During its last earnings report, the company said it had also sold 8.67 million Switch 2 games along with 24.4 million games designed for the original Switch, thanks in part to the new console's backward compatibility. Game sales should get a further boost with the launch of Pokémon Legends: Z-A coming later this month.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-reportedly-wants-to-build-25-million-switch-2s-by-march-2026-120006050.html?src=rss

OpenAI has paused video generations of Martin Luther King Jr. on Sora at the request of King Inc., the estate that manages his legacy. The company said in an announcement on X that it worked with the estate to address how his "likeness is represented in Sora generations" after people used the app to create disrespectful depictions of the American civil rights leader. It's not quite clear if OpenAI intends to restore Sora's ability to generate videos with MLK in the future, but it's wording implies it does and that it has only suspended the capability as it "strengthens guardrails for historical figures."

After OpenAI launched the Sora app, users generated videos with likenesses of dead public figures, including Michael Jackson, Robin Williams and MLK. Williams' daughter, Zelda Williams, had to beg people to stop sending her AI videos of her father. "To watch the legacies of real people be condensed down to ‘this vaguely looks and sounds like them so that's enough’, just so other people can churn out horrible TikTok slop puppeteering them is maddening," she wrote on Instagram. MLK's daughter, Bernice A. King, wrote on Threads that she agreed and also asked people to stop sending her videos of her father. 

According to a report by The Washington Post, the Sora-made videos that were posted online included King making monkey noises while he was giving his "I Have a Dream" speech. Another video showed King wrestling with Malcolm X, whose daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, questioned why AI developers weren't acting "with the same morality, conscience, and care... that they'd want for their own families" in a statement made to The Post. 

OpenAI said that while there are "strong free speech interests in depicting historical figures," it believes "public figures and their families should ultimately have control over how their likeness is used." It also said that the estate owners of other historical figures and their representatives can ask the company for their likenesses not to be used in Sora videos, as well. 

Statement from OpenAI and King Estate, Inc.

The Estate of Martin Luther King, Jr., Inc. (King, Inc.) and OpenAI have worked together to address how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s likeness is represented in Sora generations. Some users generated disrespectful depictions of Dr.…

— OpenAI Newsroom (@OpenAINewsroom) October 17, 2025

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-suspends-sora-depictions-of-martin-luther-king-jr-following-a-request-from-his-family-110100581.html?src=rss

Apple just announced its fall slate of devices powered by its new M5 chip: A 14-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Pro and revamped Vision Pro. In this episode, Devindra and Sam Rutherford dive into what's actually new this time around. (Spoiler: It’s really all about the new GPU.) Also, Sam goes deep on his review of the ROG Xbox Ally X, Microsoft’s first stab at a portable “Xbox.”

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Topics

• Apple refreshes of the Macbook Pro, Vision Pro and iPad Pro with M5 chips – 1:24

• Sam Rutherford’s review of the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X – 18:45

• Microsoft makes big promises with Copilot Voice, can it follow through? – 39:00

• OpenAI’s Sora app reaches 1M downloads in less than 5 days, faster than ChatGPT – 50:42

• Sam Altman announces you’ll be able to sext with ChatGPT starting in December – 54:00

• Working on – 1:06:50

• Pop culture picks – 1:09:41 

Credits

Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Sam Rutherford
Producer: Ben Ellman
Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/engadget-podcast-diving-into-apples-m5-devices-and-the-rog-xbox-ally-x-113000324.html?src=rss

This week, Apple announced fall hardware updates across multiple devices — pretty much every major category, besides iPhones and AirPods. Don’t get too excited: It’s not a redesign reveal, but we’re expecting a tangible performance jump for both the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro.

With the new M5 chip (no Pro or Max versions so far), Apple used the same 3-nanometer fabrication process for the M5 as it did for the M4. The new chip has 10 GPU cores and 10 CPU cores, along with a 16-core Neural Engine. Apple claims the M5 has the “world’s fastest CPU core” with up to 20 percent faster multithreaded performance compared to the M4 chip of the previous MacBook Pro. Graphics performance also gets a significant boost too. The M5 MacBook Pro ($1,599), otherwise, has identical specs to its M4 predecessor, right down to the same dimensions, weight and 70-watt power adapter.

Meanwhile, inside the iPad Pro, Apple claims it has more than four times the peak GPU compute performance of the M4. If you’re looking to use the new iPad Pro for video tasks, Apple says that video transcoding is six times faster than the old M1 iPad Pro from 2021. The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $999 for the 11-inch model and $1,299 for the 13-inch model.

And it seems to have a lot of M5 chips to use: The Vision Pro gets one and a seemingly more comfortable Dual Knit Band. The M5 Vision Pro should last half an hour longer than the original model, as well, according to Apple.

— Mat Smith

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The Honor ‘robot’ phone Less robot, more arm. Honor

Chinese phone maker Honor says its next phone will feature a camera on a pop-out mechanical arm. Talking to CNBC, Honor said it will be a robot phone, framing it around AI innovation — something the company is throwing millions of dollars at. I enjoy that its camera arm reminds me of the ubiquitous DJI Osmo Pocket 3, beloved by bloggers, creators and tourists that get in my way. If its foldout camera can track, stabilize video footage and focus on its own, it could be a cool feature. The camera seems to fold away inside the back of the future device, but can it be used while tucked away there? We don’t know. What are these amazing future AI experiences? No idea. Questions, questions, questions. Honor said it plans to share more details at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona early next year.

Continue reading.

ROG Xbox Ally X handheld gaming PC review Not sure if this is an Xbox. Engadget

The co-creation handheld from ASUS ROG and Xbox is here. The Ally X is arguably the best handheld console for Xbox games yet. It’s not just bigger grips and familiar button layouts, but they do help. No, the bigger evolution is how Microsoft has finessed the UI and software, making it more console-like and less like you need a mouse to navigate everything.

Perhaps most importantly, when the ROG Xbox Ally X costs $1,000, the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip offers a lot of power, enough to handle rich flagship games, with some setting tinkering. If you want the best performance from the Ally X, you’ll need to plug it into the wall.

Check out our detailed review.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-111523653.html?src=rss

As expected, CNN has unveiled its new All Access subscription streaming service that will cost $6.99 per month or $69.99 annually. The new tier will include a "selection" of CNN's live programming along with originals and more — but it doesn't appear to offer a live CNN feed. 

"No one covers the world like CNN," said VP of digital products Alex MacCallum. "This is an essential step in CNN's evolution, providing a comprehensive experience that meets how audiences consume news today."

Along with the selection of live programming, the All Access tier will open up 1,000 hours of programming from CNN's Originals library, access to the latest CNN Original Series and CNN Films a day after they air on TV, video-on-demand programming, special features, exclusive live events and all CNN.com articles and subscriber-only content. 

CNN recently announced that its CNN Max 24/7 live news stream would removed from HBO Max in the United States due to the planned launch of the All Access product. It has now rebranded its existing $3.99 digital subscription as the Basic tier, which provides unlimited access to CNN.com articles and select subscriber features while excluding video content.

CNN likely doesn't include the live feed in order not to upset cable TV providers, but the lack of that may deter some users from purchasing the $6.99 subscription. CNN+ was $5.99 per month and didn't include CNN live either, though it also lacked the digital content available on All Access. It was pulled just 32 days after it launched.  

CNN All Access launches on October 28. If you're interested, you'll pay just $41.99 for the first year provided you sign up before January 5th, 2026. The service will be free for existing pay TV subscribers, CNN said, but those users won't get the digital content (CNN.com articles and interactive features) available to All Access subscribers. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/cnns-new-all-access-streaming-service-still-doesnt-seem-to-include-cnn-110013821.html?src=rss

Meta is working on new supervision controls that will allow parents to cut off their teens' access to AI chatbots on its platforms completely. While the tools can remove teens' ability to engage AI characters on one-on-one chats, they'll still be able to access the general Meta AI chatbot. If parents don't want to block their teens from being able to access AI bots altogether, they can also just block specific AI characters. In addition, parents will be able to get insights into the topics their children are discussing with Meta's AI bots. The company is currently building these controls and will start rolling them out on Instagram early next year in English in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Take note that the images above are just illustrations, and the tools' interfaces could still change. 

The company has been under fire since an internal Meta document was leaked a few months ago, showing that it allowed its chatbots to have "sensual" conversations with children. In one example, a Meta chatbot told a shirtless eight-year-old that "every inch of you is a masterpiece — a treasure I cherish deeply." The US Attorneys General of 44 jurisdictions urged companies to protect children "from exploitation by predatory artificial intelligence products" after that information came out. The Senate Committee Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, chaired by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), will investigate the company, as well. 

Shortly after the internal documents leaked, Meta started retraining its AI and added new protections to prevent younger users from accessing user-made AI characters that might engage in inappropriate conversations. It also introduced age-appropriate protections so that its AIs will give teens responses guided by PG-13 movie ratings. Plus, it now only allows teens to interact with a limited group of AI characters, focused on age-appropriate topics. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/meta-is-adding-ai-chatbot-focused-parental-controls-to-instagram-100027229.html?src=rss

Choosing the best Android phone can feel overwhelming as there are so many options from so many brands, it’s hard to know where to start. Unlike Apple, which sticks to its sleek lineup of iPhones, Android offers a world of variety. Whether you're eyeing the latest flagship from Samsung, a budget-friendly smartphone from Motorola or something unique with a foldable design, there’s an Android device out there to suit your needs.

The beauty of Android is its flexibility. You’ll find phones with different screen sizes, camera setups, battery life and even quirky extras like stylus support or rugged builds. Plus, Android lets you customize your device to your heart's content – something Apple fans might envy. We’ve tested and researched the top Android phones to help you find the right one for your budget, lifestyle, and tech preferences.

Best Android phones for 2025

Other Android phones we tested Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold

While the design and performance of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is so good that we had to pick it as our favorite foldable of this generation, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold isn’t that far behind. Sure, it’s bigger and bulkier, but it still has the best cameras on any foldable phone along with better software and a larger battery. But perhaps most importantly, it now has a proper IP68 rating for dust and water resistance — something you won’t find on any of its rivals. This could save the phone from an early demise and prevent a lot of headaches if you frequent the beach or pretty much anywhere with little particles that could threaten the insides of your device.

What to look for in a new Android phone Performance

When it comes to picking our favorite Android phones, the main things we look for are pretty straightforward: good performance (both compute and AI), a nice display, solid design, sharp cameras, long battery life and a significant commitment to ongoing software support. For performance, not only do we look at benchmarks and other metrics, but we also evaluate phones based on responsiveness. Regardless of whether you’re reading, text messaging, scrolling through social media or playing a game, no one wants a gadget that feels sluggish.

Display

When it comes to displays, we generally prefer OLED panels that can produce rich, saturated colors with at least 600 nits of brightness, though many of our top mid-range and high-end phones can hit 1,000 nits or more. And more recently, most of our favorite devices also support screens with fast refresh rates of 90Hz or 120Hz, which adds an extra level of smoothness and fluidity.

Design

Now we will admit there is a bit of subjectivity when deciding which phones look the best, but there are other design aspects like dust and water resistance or screen durability that can make a big difference to long-term survival. It’s also important to consider things like support for wireless charging, power sharing (aka reverse wireless charging) and UWB connectivity, which can have an impact on how your phone interacts with your other devices.

Cameras

Obviously, for photos we’re looking for sharp, colorful shots in both bright and low-light conditions. And we want video clips with high dynamic range, rich audio and smooth image stabilization. Extra cameras for ultra-wide and telephoto lenses are a plus. The best cameras should also include features like dedicated night modes, support for various video recording resolutions, and additional photo modes like timelapse, slow motion and more.

Battery and software

Finally, in terms of longevity, we’re looking for all-day battery life on devices that also delivered great results on our local video rundown test (at least 16 hours on a charge, but more is obviously better). Wireless charging capabilities have become almost ubiquitous over the past few years, and most of our top picks have this extra perk. Fast-charging is available on some Android phones, too. Finally, with people holding onto their phones longer than ever, we like to see companies commit to at least three years of software support, upgrades and regular security updates.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/best-android-phone-130030805.html?src=rss

We've seen artificial intelligence give some pretty bizarre responses to queries as chatbots become more common. Today, Reddit Answers is in the spotlight after a moderator flagged the AI tool for providing dangerous medical advice that they were unable to disable or hide from view. 

The mod saw Reddit Answers suggest that people experiencing chronic pain stop taking their current prescriptions and take high-dose kratom, which is an unregulated substance that is illegal in some states. The user said they then asked Reddit Answers about other medical questions. They received potentially dangerous advice for treating neo-natal fever alongside some accurate actions as well as suggestions that heroin could be used for chronic pain relief. Several other mods, particularly from health-focused subreddits, replied to the original post adding their concerns that they have no way to turn off or flag a problem when Reddit Answers has provided inaccurate or dangerous information in their communities.

A representative from Reddit told 404 Media that Reddit Answers had been updated to address some of the mods' concerns. "This update ensures that ‘Related Answers’ to sensitive topics, which may have been previously visible on the post detail page (also known as the conversation page), will no longer be displayed," the spokesperson told the publication. "This change has been implemented to enhance user experience and maintain appropriate content visibility within the platform." We've reached out to Reddit for additional comment about what topics are being excluded but have not received a reply at this time. 

While the rep told 404 Media that Reddit Answers "excludes content from private, quarantined and NSFW communities, as well as some mature topics," the AI tool clearly doesn't seem equipped to properly deliver medical information, much less to handle the snark, sarcasm or potential bad advice that may be given by other Redditors. Aside from the latest move to not appear on “sensitive topics,” it doesn't seem like Reddit plans to provide any tools to control how or when AI is being shown in subreddits, which could make the already-challenging task of moderation nearly impossible.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/moderators-call-for-ai-controls-after-reddit-answers-suggests-heroin-for-pain-relief-230749515.html?src=rss

Waymo has announced a new partnership with DoorDash that will make the company's self-driving cars a delivery option for users in Phoenix, Arizona. You can already hail a ride in Waymo’s Arizona service area, but this new partnership will give the company's cars something to do when they're not transporting human cargo.

To start, Waymo says that deliveries will be limited to things you can order through DashMart, DoorDash's storefront for convenience and grocery stores. Eventually, though, deliveries will "include more local Phoenix merchants and a wider variety of offerings." 

Phoenix, your next delivery just took a step into the future! We’re partnering with @DoorDash to bring the safety and convenience of the Waymo Driver to grocery runs and meal orders. More at https://t.co/qDKGER0wsR pic.twitter.com/y7nIo6pnNB

— Waymo (@Waymo) October 16, 2025

In order to try out a Waymo delivery, you'll have to place your order through DoorDash and "opt in to autonomous delivery" during checkout. Once Waymo's car arrives, much like DoorDash's Dot robot, you'll then have to physically leave your home and collect your order from the car's trunk to complete the delivery. Part of the convenience (and complication) of DoorDash is getting what you ordered brought to your door. A Waymo delivery might turn some people off, since it makes that option impossible.

Of course, this isn't the first time Waymo has delivered food in Phoenix. In 2024 the company partnered with Uber Eats for a similar program, with similar limitations around how deliveries were completed and where food could be ordered from. Waymo runs its own robotaxi service in Arizona, Waymo One, but depending on the region, it's also offered rides through third-party partners like Uber. Its partnerships with Uber Eats and DoorDash seem like variations on the same idea.

In 2020, Waymo was exploring using self-driving long-haul trucks for deliveries. The company abandoned those plans in 2023 to prioritize robotaxis and the Waymo Driver software, but these tests with DoorDash and Uber Eats could be a signal that Waymo is interested in pursuing deliveries on a smaller scale.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/waymo-will-also-drive-for-doordash-in-phoenix-213535127.html?src=rss

The Crew 2 was updated today to include Hybrid Mode, adding an offline mode to the driving game. Online and offline modes are separate saves, so if you snag a sweet ride while playing offline, it won't be available the next time you join an online session. Players will have the option to re-export their online save to the offline one, but it will overwrite and erase all offline-only progress. Multiplayer content, user-generated content, LIVE Summits and Crew Credits purchases will not be available in the offline mode. 

It's a bare-bones option, but the addition of offline mode is a welcome move from Ubisoft. The company's decision to delete The Crew from players' libraries after servers for the online game shut down sparked some big debates about ownership and preservation. One of the notable voices emerging from that conversation was the Stop Killing Games movement, which is pushing for EU legislation to ensure access to games even after their devs stop supporting a project.

Having a way to continue accessing The Crew 2 even if (or more likely when) the game loses online support was something the developer had promised, so it's nice to have Ubisoft follow through. "Whether you're looking to preserve your progression for the future or simply enjoy the freedom of playing without a connection, Hybrid Mode ensures The Crew 2 remains accessible for years to come," the company said in the blog post.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-crew-2-is-now-playable-offline-211629508.html?src=rss

Apple insiders are pointing to a tactile new future for the company's laptops. Last month, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that Apple would incorporate touchscreens into MacBooks some time in the next few years, "further blurring the line with the iPad." Today, Mark Gurman at Bloomberg confirmed that prediction, sharing even more specifics about the touchscreen approach for a MacBook Pro that is currently projected for release in late 2026 or early 2027. 

Gurman reports that the touchscreen laptops are internally known as K114 and K116, and will run on M6 chips; Apple just introduced the M5 generation of its silicon for this year's iteration of the MacBook Pro and iPad Pro. His sources also say that the laptops will have OLED screens and will boast "a reinforced hinge and screen hardware" so that the display portion doesn't move when being used. The laptops will still have a trackpad and keyboard for non-touchscreen control, and will be housed in "thinner and lighter frames." Finally, this laptop will reportedly abandon the notch housing for the MacBook Pro's camera in favor of a hole-punch design that leaves a display area around that sensor.

Longtime Apple leader Steve Jobs was adamantly opposed to touchscreen computers. But most other computer companies have had touchscreen models available for about a decade, so Apple did adhere to that philosophy for a really long time. Rather than bring touch to a laptop, for a while Apple was trying to position the iPad as being capable of doing all the tasks you'd use a laptop for, as epitomized in the notorious "what's a computer?" ad. It should be interesting to see how touch MacBooks and iPads will coexist.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/apples-m6-macbook-pro-generation-will-reportedly-offer-touchscreens-203029809.html?src=rss

Meta is shutting down its Messenger app for macOS and Windows and pushing users to the web. Meta confirmed over email to Engadget that the app will be fully shutdown on December 15, after which the easiest ways to access Messenger chats when you're not on your phone will be the Facebook app on Windows, or the Facebook and Messenger websites.

The company hasn't provided an explanation for why it's abandoning its desktop Messenger apps, but Meta's support article does say that users will receive a notification informing them of the shutdown, and will be blocked from accessing the app after December 15.

In order for your chats to be saved going forward, the company says you'll have to turn on secure storage and add a pin code to your account. To make sure your chats will be archived:

1. Click on the gear icon above your profile picture.

2. Click on Privacy & Safety, and then End-to-end encrypted chats.

3. Click on Message storage, and then make sure Turn on secure storage is toggled on.

Meta officially cut Messenger out of Facebook in 2014 to create a focused messaging experience separate from the tangle of features the social media platform offered at the time. The company later tried to connect Messenger and Instagram Direct Messaging into one communication platform, but backed away from the idea in 2023. Rather than Meta’s interest in messaging suddenly waning, abandoning the desktop apps likely reflects the fact that most people prefer to use the company’s mobile apps or websites.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-is-shutting-down-its-desktop-messenger-app-202539375.html?src=rss

One of Google's Gemini-powered photo features is MIA in Texas and Illinois. The company confirmed to Engadget that Ask Photos is currently unavailable in the two states. It didn't say why. Google Photos' Conversational Editing is reportedly missing in those states, too.

"The ability to ask Photos to edit your images is not available to users in Texas and Illinois at this time," Google's statement to Engadget reads. "We are working to determine how to make Ask Photos available to more users."

As for why that is, we don't have confirmation. But the Houston Chronicle, which first reported the news, pointed to a pair of lawsuit settlements as a likely culprit. In 2022, Google settled an Illinois class action suit over Google Photos data privacy concerns for $200 million. Earlier this year, it settled one with Texas for $1.4 billion over collecting user data without permission.

The common theme in both settlements was biometric data collection. Lo and behold, both of the missing AI features require "face grouping" to be turned on. That Google Photos feature uses automated facial recognition to cluster pictures of the same person.

The tricky part comes when state laws require informed consent for data collection. 9to5Google notes that only the photographer — and not the many subjects of their pictures — have typically agreed to Google's terms and conditions. That creates a head-spinning legal conundrum that could have easily led Google to play it safe.

Ask Google Photos lets you type or speak queries about your picture library. For example, you could say, "What are all the cities I visited last year?" or "Show me the best photo from each national park I've visited." Meanwhile, Conversational Editing lets you tweak images using natural language. It launched with the Pixel 10 series in August and expanded to other Android phones in September.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/googles-ask-photos-feature-isnt-available-in-texas-and-illinois-200536477.html?src=rss

Tesla has added another brazenly stupid new entry to its dubious safety record. The latest update to Tesla's Full Self-Driving System adds a mode called Mad Max, "which comes with higher speeds and more frequent lane changes" than the system's Hurry mode. This feature isn't new; it was part of the Autopilot mode in 2018 that pre-dated FSD. According to Electrek, the re-introduction of Mad Max mode is going exactly as well as you'd expect: "It hasn’t been out for 24 hours, and it has already been spotted rolling stop signs and driving more than 15 mph (24 km/h) over the speed limit."

Everything about this is a comically bad idea, or it would be comic if it wasn't so downright dangerous. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration just opened an investigation into the company's FSD system last week after receiving more than 50 reports of traffic safety violations in addition to numerous crashes. And this is just the most recent time the regulator has put FSD in its crosshairs. Choosing this moment to reintroduce an automated driving mode based on a post-apocalyptic wasteland where life is meaningless is a level of arrogance that does feel on brand for Tesla.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tesla-reintroduces-mad-max-full-self-driving-mode-that-breaks-speed-limits-190659583.html?src=rss