Hands-on

What if the 1989 Game Boy was designed today for nostalgic adults? The $199 ModRetro Chromatic is made of metal, covered in sapphire crystal, with PBT buttons and an incredible screen. 

As I explain, this Game Boy comes from Palmer Luckey, the controversial Oculus Rift founder who runs defense contractor Anduril... but if that’s not a dealbreaker, I’ll have a full review later this week.

The just-released PS5 Pro (here’s my review!) has a bunch of ways to amp visuals. But since Sony says most people prefer 60fps, we’re comparing the 2020 PS5’s 60fps “Performance” modes, and the new “Performance Pro” modes that give you higher detail at the same 60fps target. Plus Bloodborne for PS4.

Hopefully Meta doesn’t compress the video too much!

It’s been a very busy week for the Mac. Apple gave creators and select media a preview of its latest machines in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Here’s Vjeran’s video roundup on the new Mac Mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro. The more I see that nano-texture coating on the latter, the more I’m sold on it.

Stay tuned for our reviews.

The Twistsaber is exactly what it sounds like — a lightsaber prop you twist to extend and retract, with an ingenious nesting screw design that makes it open and close incredibly fast. The files aren’t free, and it doesn’t light up, but there’s nothing else quite like it.

Also see: the self-retracting Goliath Power Saber, which nearly became an official Star Wars toy.

A tiny $1200 laptop that doubles as a gaming handheld, with an incredible array of ports. Surprisingly easy to type on, plays games as well or better than a Legion Go, supports two kinds of eGPUs. Keyboard and touchpad make navigating Windows way easier than most handhelds.

But you might not enjoy holding its stiff metal frame, and it’s better paired with a mouse!

The OhSnap Snap 4 is thinner than a camera bump, yet there’s so many more ways to use it than a PopSocket. While the earlier Snap 3 broke on my colleague Victoria, this new model is holding up great for us both. Plus, Best Buy’s got it for $27.99 right now. Watch my video for caveats, though!

Note: If you buy something from these links, we might get affiliate revenue.

A quick hands-on comparison by The Verge’s action camera expert. It’s going to be hard to justify paying $50 more for the new GoPro flagship now that DJI’s rival is here.

I don’t need a lot in a folding Bluetooth keyboard. It just needs to support multiple wireless devices, plus USB-C direct connect, and not get all floppy on my lap! Would you believe there aren’t a lot of keyboards like that? 

$99 is pricey — and at 36Wh capacity and 40W PD output, it’s for small gadgets (1.5 charges for Z Flip, nearly full charge for Switch Lite). It only charged a Steam Deck 25 percent while playing 40 minutes of Animal Well. And the cable’s bead-like port covers kind of bang around.

But where else can you get charger, battery and cable in a single tangle-free package? Nice strong magnets, too.

I’m not saying you should go crowdfund a Bionic Bird X-Fly, as you’ll hear in my hands-on video below. I’m just saying that biomimetic ornithopters are surprisingly fun — and way less disruptive than your typical whiny quad-propeller drone!