AirPods are pretty much objectively the best wireless earbuds for Apple users. Not only do they offer an extensive set of high-quality features, but they also tie into the tight ecosystem on iOS and macOS. Consequently, AirPods are generally expensive, and you may want to be extra careful when investing in a pair. After all, many scammers sell counterfeit models for the same high price tags, and customers may not necessarily find out about it. If you're unsure how to identify a fake pair of AirPods or how to confirm that a unit is real, you can follow the instructions in this guide.

Windows 11 brings plenty of new features and a brand-new look compared to Windows 10, but sometimes, it's good to keep an older operating system around, since it's had more time to be refined and have any issues ironed out. If you want to try Windows 11's new features without giving up the reliability of Windows 10, dual-booting is an excellent way to do just that. This way, you can have both operating systems running at full native performance on your PC, as opposed to running Windows 11 in a VM, which can have some performance overhead.

Even the best Chromebooks won’t go far on a dead battery. You need a reliable charger that you can use to top up, whether you’re at home, sitting in a café, or on the road. Depending on your use case, you may prefer a more compact model that can charge multiple devices at once or even one designed to stay parked at your desk, allowing for ease of access. I've done research highlighting the best Chromebook chargers in 2023 to make the decision easier.

Before the hardcore PC fans chop my head off and toss it out for the crows to feed, hear me out. I know it's controversial to prefer a controller over a mechanical gaming keyboard and mouse when playing PC games, but both input devices have their own merits. However, for my needs, a gaming controller setup always tops a mouse and keyboard.

Illustration by The Verge More than 200 Substack authors asked the platform to explain why it’s “platforming and monetizing Nazis,” and now they have an answer straight from co-founder Hamish McKenzie:I just want to make it clear that we don’t like Nazis either—we wish no-one held those views. But some people do hold those and other extreme views. Given that, we don’t think that censorship (including through demonetizing publications) makes the problem go away—in fact, it makes it worse.While McKenzie offers no evidence to back these ideas, this tracks with the company’s previous stance on taking a hands-off approach to moderation. In April, Substack CEO Chris Best appeared on the Decoder podcast and refused to answer moderation questions. “We’re not going to... Continue reading…

Screenshot by Jay Peters / The Verge It’s no longer possible to buy Apple’s latest flagship smartwatches, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, from the company’s online store. Apple has removed the devices from sale due to a forthcoming import ban imposed by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) that’s due to take full effect on December 26th. Both watches will disappear from Apple’s brick-and-mortar stores after December 24th.The ban is the result of a patent dispute with medical device maker Masimo. The ITC has ruled that the SpO2 sensor in Apple’s smartwatches infringes upon Masimo’s patents. On Wednesday, the ITC denied Apple’s motion to stay the ban while awaiting an appeal.Because the patent dispute relates to the SpO2 sensor specifically, Apple... Continue reading…

The holiday shopping season is almost coming to a close, which means you have a little under a week to shop and save. Best Buy has been having some excellent deals over the past month, but it's cranking things up to the next level with its last-minute deals on some of our favorite products of the year.

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Not only has Apple halted online sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra Series 2 (with in-store sales to follow), but the company’s ongoing patent rift with medical device maker Masimo has another ripple effect: out-of-warranty hardware repairs for several Apple Watch models are now unavailable to customers. That’s according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who reports that Apple has informed customer service employees that out-of-warranty hardware repairs and whole unit replacements for the Apple Watch Series 6 onward (with the exception of the SE) will be unavailable for the duration of the ban imposed by the US International Trade Commission.If you own one of the models included in the ban and your device is out of... Continue reading…

The Verge Behold! Someone is investing in a podcast companyCould it be a sign that the tide is turning? Danish podcast and audiobook subscription service Podimo announced a new funding round worth €44 million ($48.4 million). Participants in the round include previous investors Augustinus Fabrikker and HighlandX, as well as the Danish Export and Investment Fund.“This investment allows Podimo to continue our strong growth trajectory while orienting the company towards profitability,” Morten Strunge, CEO of Podimo, said in a statement. “This funding isn’t solely about financial support. While profitability remains a key objective, our investment focus extends beyond financial milestones. We are resolutely committed to enhancing our product and... Continue reading…

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Discovery shows were set to be pulled from PlayStation libraries on December 31st, but that’s not happening now, thanks to “updated licensing arrangements,” as reported by GamesIndustry.biz.The original plan was one of two recent reminders from PlayStation that digital ownership sucks — especially because there were a lot of shows that were set to be removed from video libraries. You can see the full list on Sony’s website, which now contains the note about the changed policy. “Due to updated licensing arrangements, the Discovery content removal planned for December 31, 2023 is no longer occurring,” Sony says. “We appreciate your ongoing support and feedback.”However, while this is good news for people who have invested in Discovery... Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Google might finally start telling you when your Android phone has a degraded battery, Android expert Mishaal Rahman wrote in an article for Android Authority. Unlike iPhone users, who have been able to see their phone’s battery health stats from their settings for a long time, Android owners currently need a third-party app or must enter special command codes in order to check out their battery health. This month’s Pixel Feature Drop already added new battery information; currently, it shows the manufacture date of your battery and its cycle count. But the Android 14 QPR2 Beta 2 adds a hidden “battery health” page, Rahman says, and although it doesn’t yet include an actual battery health meter, code suggests that it could show... Continue reading…

Image: Hyperloop One Hyperloop One, the futuristic transportation startup that promised to whisk us through nearly airless tubes at airline speeds, is shutting down, according to Bloomberg. The company is selling off its assets, closing down its offices, and laying off employees. It will formally close at the end of the year, at which point all of its intellectual property will shift to its majority stakeholder, major Dubai port operator DP World. Whoever buys the test track in the Nevada desert will have one hell of a Slip ‘N Slide if they want it. Since its founding in 2014, the company raised around $450 million in venture capital funds and other investments. While there is still a small smattering of startups trying to build hyperloops, the demise of... Continue reading…