I don't think much about my mousepad, and you probably don't either. Grab something cheap off of Amazon like the Corsair MM350, or maybe track down some unique art from a designer on Redbubble, and you're off to the races. But your mousepad can significantly change how it feels to play games on your PC.

I've long used Ubuntu on my laptops, switching to Fedora KDE late last year. I've since dabbled with Hyprland here and there, but went all-in last week with Arch Linux as the foundation and it has been a blast. After countless hours fine-tuning the installation with Waybar and other elements, I've finally achieved a stable environment with all the necessary bells and whistles to get as much out of the notebook as possible, including long-lasting battery life. Here's why the move to Hyprland and Arch Linux has been nothing short of perfection for my workflow.

The see-through Beats Studio Buds Plus are an even better buy at $99.95.From the Apple Watch Series 10 and Samsung’s new Galaxy S25 to the top-of-the-line Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Amazon’s Big Spring Sale has brought steep discounts on some of our favorite gadgets. There’s just one problem: a large chunk of them will set you back at least several hundred dollars, if not more. That can be a tough sell in a day and age when eggs are twice as expensive and tariffs loom large.We’re well aware of the current financial climate here at The Verge, so we’re highlighting some of our favorite budget-friendly picks alongside the best deals overall. These are gadgets and gizmos that are cheap-ish in price but not in quality. In fact, many of the items featured below, all of which can be had for $100 or less, are some of the best available.What’s more, many of them don’t require you to sign up for Amazon Prime, meaning everybody can join in on the savings.Headphone and earbud dealsBluetooth speaker dealsCharging accessory dealsSmart home dealsSmart security dealsOther Verge favoritesHeadphone and earbud dealsAnker’s Soundcore Sport X20 earbuds are on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart for $63.99 ($16 off), matching their second-best price to date. The fitness-friendly buds are a lot like the Sport X10 — which were once our favorite budget earbuds for the gym — only they offer longer battery life, a more robust IP68 water resistance rating, and multipoint support. They also supposedly offer better noise cancellation and continue to sport an adjustable ear hook, which is a boon if you’re someone who struggles with keeping traditional earbuds in during intense gym sessions.If you’re in the market for a pair of headphones, Sony’s WH-CH520 are on sale at Amazon starting at $35.95 (about $24 off), their lowest price to date. The over-ears offer a solid set of features for their price, including up to 50 hours of battery life, decent sound, and support for both Google Assistant and Siri.Bluetooth speaker dealsAmazon’s latest Echo Dot is down to $39.99 ($10 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Kohl’s. The tiny, orb-shaped smart speaker features onboard microphones and produces good sound for its size, making it a solid option for listening to music, issuing smart home commands, checking the weather, and making other various Alexa requests. It also includes a built-in temperature sensor, which can tell you the temperature in the room and trigger various Alexa Routines, if necessary. Read our review.The Echo Spot is also on sale for $64.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, which is a decent $15 discount. The Alexa-enabled smart alarm clock offers a customizable 2.83-inch screen that displays information like the weather; however, unlike Amazon’s larger smart displays, the Spot lacks a camera, so there’s less of a need to worry about privacy when you place it on your bedside table. Read our review.Sony’s SRS-XB100 speaker is available at Amazon and Best Buy for around $48 ($12 off) or at Target for $39.99 if you’re a member of the retailer’s free loyalty program. Despite the fact it’s tiny, the Bluetooth speaker delivers crisp, clear sound along with up to 16 hours of continuous battery life. It also sports IP67 dust and water resistance, so you can take it hiking or to the pool without worrying. Read our review.Soundcore’s Select 4 Go is on sale at Amazon starting at just $19.99 ($10 off), which matches its all-time low. The floatable Bluetooth speaker can last up to 20 hours on a single charge and can be paired with a second Select 4 Go for stereo sound.Charging accessory dealsIf you’re someone who owns (or, someday, envisions owning) USB-C gadgets that draw a lot of power, it’s wise to buy cables with high wattage passthrough, just so you’re ready for the future. Anker’s six-foot 240W USB-C cable is a great candidate, especially since it’s discounted to $16.99 ($8 off) at Amazon.Ugreen’s Uno lineup of charging accessories aims to be more personable. To that end, its 6.6-foot 1ooW USB-C cable — which is currently discounted to $10.39 ($2.61 off) at Amazon — has expressive, Tamagotchi-like eyes. The reason? There’s no reason — it’s just cute, okay?Power banks with built-in USB-C cables are the hot thing right now. As it turns out, having a battery pack that can charge your device in a jiffy and double as a lanyard is pretty great. Luckily, you can snag one of the most affordable 20,000mAh models out there, Anker’s 30W Zolo power bank, for $24.61 (about $11 off) at Amazon. While it’s not powerful enough to quickly charge a Steam Deck that’s running games, it’ll do just fine for charging it (as well as other USB-C devices) while they sleep.The Baseus Free2Pull Retractable USB-C Cable that changed how Verge editor-at-large David Pierce packs his tech bag is on sale at Amazon for just $10.39 ($7 off), its best price yet. The 3.3-foot cable supports 100W passthrough, and perhaps it’ll revolutionize your gadget loadout, too.The Sharge Retractable 65 is on sale for $36 at Amazon for Prime members, down from $49.99. The transparent 65W travel charger sports a classy look, while featuring a built-in retractable USB-C cable and USB-C port so you can charge laptops, phones, and other devices at the same time.If you’re not ready to pony up for a Qi2 charger, Ugreen’s Magnetic Wireless Charging Station has fallen to an all-time low of $21.99 ($14 off) at Amazon. Unlike the newer Qi2 offerings that provide 15W charging speeds, Ugreen’s charger can only supply 7.5W of power to MagSafe-compatible devices, or 5W to a pair of wireless earbuds or any Qi-ready device if you’re using the integrated charging stand located on the bottom.Smart home dealsGovee may be best known for its ambient TV backlighting, but it also makes lighting products to illuminate your entire living space in shades of RGB. One of its most stunning lights, the Smart Table Lamp 2, is on sale for $55.99 ($14 off) at Amazon. It can provide vibrant lights for a gathering, or you can adjust its color temperature to suit your bedtime and wake-up rituals better.Want a compact smart display for your nightstand? Amazon’s latest Echo Show 5 is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo for $69.99 ($20 off), which is a pretty typical discount. The Alexa-enabled smart display is Amazon’s smallest at 5.5 inches, though it’s still plenty big enough for managing smart home devices and controlling music playback. It also has a 2-megapixel camera (with an integrated privacy shutter), just in case you want to use it for more than a smart alarm clock.You can buy the Eve Energy Smart Plug and Power Meter at Amazon for $29.95 ($10 off), an all-time low. Like other smart plugs, Eve’s handy device can turn traditional indoor gadgets like lamps and fans into smart devices; it’s also capable of monitoring your energy use and works with all the major smart home platforms (Amazon Alexa, Google Home, etc.) thanks to its support for the newer Matter standard.You can grab a four-pack of Meross Smart Plug Minis on sale at Amazon for an all-time low of $28.99 ($15 off) when you clip the on-page coupon. That brings the handy, hubless smart plugs down to just over $7 a pop, allowing you to control a range of traditional devices via Apple Home, Google Home, or Amazon Alexa without breaking the bank.Amazon’s Smart Thermostat has returned to $61.99 ($18 off) at Amazon and Kohl’s, which has sort of become its base sale price in recent months. The modern, easy-to-use thermostat allows for easy control of your HVAC even while you’re not home and supports Alexa “hunches” to try and predict what changes you need based on your habits, which could help you save on your monthly bill. Read our review.Amazon’s Smart Air Quality Monitor is on sale for $54.99 ($15 off) at Amazon, which is $10 shy of its best price yet. Not only does the budget-friendly gadget let you know when your air quality is poor, it can also help improve it by automatically turning on Alexa-enabled devices — including smart thermostats and air purifiers — via Alexa Hunches. Read our original review.Smart security dealsRing’s latest Indoor Cam is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and The Home Depot for $39.99 ($20 off), matching its second-best price to date. The 1080p security camera boasts all the same features as the prior model — including two-way talk, color night vision, and a built-in siren — only it’s equipped with a redesigned mount that makes it easier to adjust. That said, you’ll need a Ring Protect Plan ($4.99 a month / $49.99 a year) to share or view video recordings.The Blink Wired Floodlight Camera is on sale for $69.99 ($20 off) at Amazon and The Home Depot, which is $20 shy of its all-time low and the best price we’ve seen since the holidays. The inexpensive, Alexa-compatible outdoor security camera offers decent 1080p video, sports a 105dB siren, and provides 2,600 lumens of brightness via two onboard floodlights. You can also mount it horizontally or vertically, and the camera provides local recording — assuming you opt for the optional Sync Module 2 and a USB stick.Other Verge favoritesPet owners who strive to keep pet hair to a minimum shouldn’t overlook the ChomChom Roller, especially since it’s currently on sale at Amazon for $19.59 ($5 off). This simple tool can de-fur your couch faster and more effectively than most vacuums, even if it’s not the best tool for ridding clothes of unwanted hair.The AeroPress Go is nearly matching its best price to date at Amazon, where you can pick it up for $31.95 ($18 off). It’s basically a lighter, more self-contained version of the original AeroPress, which has become a well-known staple amongst Verge staffers. It’s a simple way to make great coffee on the go, especially since it comes with a filter holder, a scoop, a mug, and other accessories designed to make life a little easier.The Blue Yeti microphone is on sale at Amazon in a myriad of colors starting at $90.99 ($39 off). That’s not the lowest price we’ve seen — it’s fallen to around $70 in the past — but it’s still a good deal on what has become a certifiable classic USB mic in the era of never-ending Zoom meetings. The versatile mic is easy to set up and simple to use, with a three-capsule microphone that can capture clear, warm sound that should appeal to both amateur podcasters and anyone wanting a more professional setup.Cagiwiru’s Cordless Air Blower / Duster is down to an all-time low of $18.04 ($7 off) at Amazon (at checkout). It might not be as powerful as a can of compressed air, but it’s close, and it’s much more versatile with its swappable tips, built-in light, and ability to recharge via USB-C.Having access to clean drinking water everywhere you are is a privilege, but not guaranteed. If you’ll be out in the wild, or if you’re vacationing but want to be cautious when it comes to water intake, the LifeStraw Peak is worth picking up at Amazon for its current price of $18.62 ($6 off). It’s essentially a thick straw outfitted with a filter that’s capable of removing 99.9 percent of bacteria, parasites, and microplastics from the water you’re drinking.

Elden Ring took the world by storm when it was launched back in 2022. It quickly rose through the ranks and became known as the best Souls game From Software has ever made. Many praised its larger build potential, beautiful open world, and amazing character design. Elden Ring got even more praise when the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC was released. Now, many are eagerly anticipating the release of the next Elden Ring experience, Elden Ring Nightreign — a game that focuses on a co-op experience with even greater movement mechanics and a randomized world. Before this game is released, it is a good idea to jump back into the original. Here are a few reasons you should restart Elden Ring.

Open-source 3D printing has grown steadily, offering dependable solutions for both beginners and experienced makers. By sharing ideas and designs freely, communities around these printers have helped newcomers learn the ropes quickly. This open exchange of knowledge has also encouraged fun modifications and specialized upgrades. In the following sections, we will examine several models that provide consistent performance and adaptable features. Each choice can simplify the process of turning innovative ideas into tangible projects.

Notion and Obsidian have been the go-to platform for countless individuals looking to organize their lives and work. But what if there was a new tool that could not only replace these two in critical areas but also significantly boost your productivity? Enter NotebookLM, an AI-driven workspace that aims to transform how you interact with information.

Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 77, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, don’t forget to make your Venmo private, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.)This week, I’ve been reading about RISC and Ben Affleck and Google’s new search boss, installing a SodaStream because my can situation is getting out of control, binge-watching How I Met Your Mother along with the new rewatch pod, watching Dead Talents Society after my colleagues raved about it, reliving a decade of great music through one Benny Blanco interview, enjoying a huge uptick in new friends on Signal, and doing a lot of retro racing in New Star GP.I also have for you a terrific new Apple TV Plus show, a deep dive into fax machines, the internet’s favorite new AI plaything, and much more. Kind of a light week this week, honestly, but still lots to dig into. Let’s do it.(As always, the best part of Installer is your ideas and tips. What do you want to know more about? What awesome tricks do you know that everyone else should? What app should everyone be using? Tell me everything: [email protected]. And if you know …Read the full story at The Verge.

There are several boring and redundant tasks you need to do on your Windows system during the day. For instance, renaming apps, moving files and folders, administration, database management, and reinstalling apps. A lot of these jobs can all be mundane when there are more important things (even gaming) to do. But wouldn’t you like an easier way to do things? If you are like me, you’re looking for ways to boost your productivity. PowerShell on Windows is a powerful CLI utility on Windows that can be utilized to automate several unexciting tasks.

Gaming has slowly but surely become a cornerstone of pop culture, earning its rightful place in the cultural zeitgeist. Over the past couple of decades, the industry has ballooned in popularity, drawing in bigger audiences — and with that, bigger names. While Hollywood stars lending their voices to video game characters isn’t exactly new, their presence has only become more prominent in recent years.

As Windows evolves, along with the rest of the tech world, many programs and features come and go. I've already recently talked about features I miss from old Windows versions, but today, I want to go over old Windows programs that are no longer available and that I dearly miss.

Whether you're hosting a game night playing Fibbage or having guests stay over, you’ll likely need to share your Wi-Fi password. Unfortunately, sharing your password can put your devices and home network at risk of potential data breaches or cybersecurity threats.

Using a single board computer (SBC) can be a viable choice for network-attached storage (NAS). It's compact, sips power compared to desktop-class hardware, and can be relatively affordable over purchasing a turnkey NAS server. Not all SBCs are built the same, however. They'll have an Arm, RISC-V, or x86 processor, and while you could technically build a NAS with any CPU, so long as you can attach storage and allow for remote connections, I'll round up some reasons why you should use one with an x86 CPU.