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5 expensive hobbies where owning a 3D printer actually saves you money

staff@engadget.com (Jonny Evans) — Sun, 01 Nov 2026 00:30:00 +0000

5 Expensive Hobbies Where Owning A 3D Printer Actually Saves You Money

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How owning a 3D printer can save you some big cash in your hobbies

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NASA's 3D printers hosted on the International Space Station (ISS) print tools and replacement parts on demand. Here on Earth, 3D printers can sometimes make expensive components and accessories for a more affordable price than you can find in stores. However, does that make one worth buying?

3D printing (sometimes called additive manufacturing) uses computer-aided design (CAD) models sourced online or created by you to build three-dimensional objects. Entry-level printers like the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE cost from about $170, while more advanced systems reach $700 or more. The most common 3D printers use filament, which costs from around $20 per kilogram. If you make 50 $10 items from a kilo of filament on a $170 machine, you save money. Combine the cost of materials and hardware to calculate the cost to identify where you may save. You may not even need to own a printer as some libraries and maker spaces provide access, while online services will print for a price.

Most home printers use FDM (fused deposition modeling), where plastic filament, usually polylactic acid (PLA), is pushed through a heated nozzle to make something. More expensive 3D printers use resin (SLA/DLP, resin-based stereolithography and digital light processing, respectively) or polymer powder (SLS, selective laser sintering). The following ideas focus on how FDM printers save you money within a series of popular hobbies, but you'll want to upgrade to SLA printers where fine detail matters to you.

1. Replacement parts for drones

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Drone or remote-controlled vehicle enthusiasts can save money printing spare parts for their machines — it's popular; some 3D modeling sites have entire sections for drone components. While you should not print flight-critical pieces (such as propellers) for your expensive drone until the material, design and strength have been validated, other parts (say, camera mounts, antenna guards and arm protectors) are fair game.

Anyone who has ever crash-landed their drone knows components require regular replacement, so if a part normally costs $10, a 3D printer that can churn it out for less will pay for itself over time. Not only that, but just like in the Space Station, the entire process may be cheaper and faster than ordering online.

2. 3D printing for gardeners and gearheads

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If you work with vehicles or run a busy garden, your 3D printer is a real reservoir of solutions. Mechanic or horticulturist, you probably go through a host of replaceable components that may be cheaper to print than buy; this is particularly true when some are sold in larger quantities than anyone needs or are expensive because they're highly specialized.

From garden signage to plastic clips, planters to soil dibbers — even bird feeders — you'll find you can print many useful items. In the garage, print hard-to-find car interior pieces, broken knobs, tool organizers, wrenches and a multi-axis vise. The convenience of printing just the right tool for the job should save money, time and frustration in any garden or garage.

3. Print your way to a smarter home

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The capacity to make the right tool for the job also makes 3D printers useful for home automation. You can print all the obvious things, including cable management systems, shelving for various hubs, wall mounts and small spare parts, but the tech also lets you indulge your taste for smart home projects.

For example, if you use near-field communication (NFC) stickers around your home to control smart devices, you can make them a lot less utilitarian and way more interesting by printing housings or button mechanisms for them. You can afford to be imaginative, like with a simple but useful Tap-for-Wi-Fi sign that uses NFC to provide guest access, but you may just want a desktop robot. If you want Apple-style home control, print the chassis for a Home Assistant touch screen at a fraction of the cost of Apple's $299 HomeView, or print a wall mount for almost any tablet.

4. 3D for photography and videography

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Photography and video enthusiasts complain about the price some camera manufacturers charge for highly replaceable items like lens caps, cable clamps and battery holders. That changes with 3D printing; after all, why should a branded lens cap cost so much when you can print a universal lens cap for a few cents? Seek, and you will find 3D printing files for so many useful camera accessories.

Beyond replacement, print mechanical V-lock battery plates, custom microphone and lighting mounts, selfie handles or compact and portable tripods. What's really useful is that you can make or tweak CAD files to create single-use custom tools to grab specific shots.

5. Dungeons, dragons and railroads

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Gamers, Dungeons & Dragons players, model railroad and scale modeling enthusiasts: 3D printing opens the doors to new fantasy experiences. Print new characters, monsters, buildings, trees, and terrain to make your next scenario sing, or boost your track layout with a railroad siding or long-lost logo. The vast trove of models at MyMiniFactory shows that a thriving trade in these things already exists. Tabletop gamers already print historically accurate uniformed troops for their next recreation — and likely need a resin printer for detail. Finally, and perhaps even more importantly, gamers may never lose their dice again.

While there are plenty of ways a 3D printer should make a difference, if you're considering investing in one for your hobby, do think about how often you'll use it, your skill when doing so, and the actual running costs before taking the leap. You also need space since 3D printers require plenty of ventilation, so don't use them in your lounge or bedroom. In most cases, the best place to begin is to work with someone else's printer to see if the tech is right for you.

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Amazon made the AUX input on older Alexa devices less useful

staff@engadget.com (Husain Parvez) — Sun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Amazon Made The AUX Input On Older Alexa Devices Less Useful

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The AUX jack survives on older Echo speakers. The voice commands that made it convenient don't.

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Amazon has disabled Alexa voice controls for the AUX input on several older Echo speakers. An Amazon email shared by a customer and reported by Ars Technica says that commands such as "Alexa, play from line in" and "Alexa, set AUX input" have stopped working. The change may seem minor, but it is frustrating for anyone who used those commands to switch to a wired audio source.

The affected devices are the second-generation Echo Plus (2018), third-generation Echo (2019), original Echo Studio (2019) and fourth-generation Echo (2020). Amazon confirmed the removal, and a spokesperson told The Verge that it had notified "the very small number of customers" who use voice requests for AUX playback. The company did not say why it removed the feature, though.

Fortunately, the physical AUX connection continues to work in more ways than one. Owners can still play audio through a cable and use the Alexa app to enable or disable AUX input on supported models.

What is the AUX port on older Echo speakers for?

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That small 3.5mm AUX jack on supported Echo speakers can serve two purposes, depending on the model. When used as an input, it allows the speaker to play audio from an external source, such as a phone or computer. As an output, it routes Alexa's audio to another speaker or amplifier. It's the same physical connection, simply operating in the opposite direction.

The third-generation Echo, fourth-generation Echo and second-generation Echo Plus support both input and output, while the original Echo Studio supports input only. Older Echo Dots, including the third- and fourth-generation models, have jacks that support output only. By contrast, the fifth-generation Dot removed a 3.5mm connection altogether.

There is still a solid reason to hold on to that older hardware. For example, an early-2000s Sony CD changer can send audio to an original Echo Studio through an RCA-to-3.5mm cable. You can continue playing those CDs through the Echo without purchasing a Bluetooth transmitter or replacing the player. The connection is unchanged, even if Alexa is now less cooperative about using it.

You can still use AUX, just with fewer conveniences

Husain Parvez for Engadget

If you have a compatible Echo that's connected to hardware using a 3.5mm audio cable, open the Alexa app, select the speaker under Devices, and find AUX Audio in its settings, then choose Line In to play audio from an external source through the Echo. On models that support both directions, Line Out instead sends the Echo's audio to a wired speaker or receiver. Depending on the app version, the setting may be listed under General.

After connecting the devices, use the source device's own controls to start playback or skip tracks. Alexa's discontinued voice commands managed the Echo's AUX input, not the connected equipment's playback functions.

Ultimately, you don't need to replace your Echo simply to keep using its AUX port, if one is present. Just keep in mind that upgrading Echo devices with a 3.5mm input will likely mean losing the feature. An example of this loss would be upgrading from a first-generation Echo Studio to the redesigned 2025 Echo Studio.

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How big and powerful is SpaceX's Starship rocket?

staff@engadget.com (Thomas Godwin) — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 23:45:00 +0000

How Big And Powerful Is SpaceX's Starship Rocket?

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Bigger isn't always better, but when it comes to space exploration, it just might be.

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With both stages stacked, the current SpaceX Starship launch vehicle stands at 407 feet. It's taller than the tallest known living tree, Hyperion, and one-third taller than the Statue of Liberty (pedestal included). It's the tallest rocket ever flown and the most powerful, with 18.1 million pounds-force of liftoff thrust. During its first full-stack launch in April 2023, the booster's exhaust shattered the concrete launch pad, excavating the earth beneath and flinging debris across 385 acres. That booster was rated at 16.7 million pounds of thrust, slightly less than the one on the September 28, 2026, launch.

Keep in mind that this height covers the complete two-stage vehicle. The bottom section, known as Super Heavy, is the 236.2-foot booster that provides the initial push from the launch pad. Above it sits the 170.6-foot Starship spacecraft. While it's immense in size and power, its dimensions serve a greater purpose than impressions alone. SpaceX designed the system to transport huge payloads and eventually carry people and cargo beyond Earth orbit. SpaceX also intends to recover and reuse both stages.

How much power does Starship produce?

The Super Heavy booster packs 33 Raptor engines, which burn liquid methane and liquid oxygen to generate 18.1 million pounds-force of booster thrust. For an interesting perspective, NASA's Space Launch System produces 8.8 million to 9.4 million pounds of max thrust. Once Super Heavy separates, Starship will go on, powered by three regular Raptor engines and three Raptor Vacuum engines designed to operate in space. SpaceX lists the upper stage's thrust at roughly 3.5 million pounds-force. Only the booster figure represents liftoff thrust.

The rocket's immense power has to do more than fight gravity to lift heavy payloads. Super Heavy has a listed propellant capacity of 3,650 metric tons, and Starship holds an additional 1,600 metric tons. That's 5,250 metric tons on top of everything else. With all of that weight, the world's most powerful rocket still depends on staging, very efficient engines and a considerable degree of careful pre-launch planning.

Can Starship go to the Moon without refueling?

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Despite all of today's technological advancements, Starship will still have to refuel in Earth orbit, at least as far as NASA's planned lunar-landing missions are concerned. The SpaceX lunar lander burns through a significant portion of its propellant just to reach orbit and will have to refuel.

SpaceX and NASA's game plan includes several specialized vehicles, including a propellant depot that launches first, followed by tanker Starships that deliver fuel. The lunar lander launches last, docks with the depot and takes on propellant.

All of this takes place before the crew launches aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft (part of the Artemis program), after which they will meet with the prepositioned Starship lander in Earth orbit before Starship pushes both spacecraft to lunar orbit. The Starship lander will then carry two crew members to the Moon's surface and back. Transporting and storing extremely cold propellants in space is a herculean technical challenge, so planned stages, refueling and a complicated support system are necessary to pull everything off successfully.

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Why your Apple AirPods' battery drains so fast and how to make it last longer

staff@engadget.com (Thomas Godwin) — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 23:30:00 +0000

Why Your Apple AirPods' Battery Drains So Fast And How To Make It Last Longer

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Short listening sessions don't mean your AirPods need to be replaced.

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One of the biggest challenges manufacturers face with wireless earbuds is battery longevity, and Apple is no exception. Lithium-ion batteries like the ones in AirPods typically get roughly 300 to 500 charge cycles before significant battery degradation kicks in — that's about two to three years. If your AirPods haven't hit that lifecycle stage yet, you need to check Apple's battery-life rating for your specific model. For instance, Apple rates AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation (ANC) at four hours of listening time with ANC on and five hours with it off.

If you have a habit of leaving the earbuds out of their case, that explains a lot. Each bud continues consuming power so long as it's connected to a device or searching for one. Get into the habit of putting them back in the case when you're done. Over time, the case's battery will wear out as well, losing a bit more capacity with every charge cycle, though your AirPods may still charge to 100 percent. The more features you have enabled, the more strain on the battery. Spatial Audio is a great listening experience, but it isn't energy-free.

How to fix AirPods that keep draining quickly

Before you dive headlong into Settings and start tapping toggles on and off, make sure the buds are charging. All it takes is a little bit of dust or earwax to block the tiny contact points inside the case. Then, even when your AirPods slide into place, the circuit won't close, and the earbuds won't charge. But junk doesn't build up in your case equally, at least not most of the time. With your earbuds in the case and charging, check each AirPod's charge level on your iPhone. If the contacts are blocked, the charge levels will likely be uneven (for example, one at 22 percent and the other at 65 percent).

Also, remember to keep your AirPods clean. You don't have to scrub them down every day, but the occasional lint-free cloth works wonders. Don't jam hard objects in there and attempt to scrape the contacts clean. The contacts are pretty delicate, and you can damage them easily. Apple says it's fine to wipe the case with a cloth slightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol. If you do, go very, very light with it, keep it out of the charging ports and make sure it's all dried out before attempting a charge. The company also advises AirPods owners to use a soft-bristled toothbrush dipped in micellar water, especially on the meshes, followed by a distilled-water rinse.

As with most electronics, there's always the reset option. The instructions for doing so depend on the model, but it's a fairly basic process regardless. Put your AirPods in their case, then navigate to Settings > Bluetooth > More Info > Forget This Device. From here, follow Apple's instructions specific to your AirPods model. Once you're done, reconnect them as if they just came out of the box. When they're up and running, reassess the charge time and how long they last on a charge.

Why do my AirPods run out of battery even when they start at 100 percent?

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A full battery is not necessarily a happy and healthy battery. The percentage indicates how full the battery is, sure, but 100 percent after 368 charge cycles isn't the same as 100 percent on the first charge cycle. Rechargeable batteries age and lose capacity, so an older pair will naturally deliver less listening time.

You can stretch things out a little by considering which features you need. If you listen to music or audiobooks in a quiet environment, ANC is unnecessary and turning it off saves power. Disabling Spatial Audio will do the same. The benefits depend on your AirPods and the current settings, and dropping a few features will only buy you a sliver of time. Turning off Spatial Audio may tack on an extra 30 minutes if you're rocking dinosaur-era AirPods.

With experience comes wisdom, and there's an important lesson here. Next time you purchase brand-new AirPods, check Optimized Battery Charging. Open your AirPods near your iPhone and go to Settings > Your AirPods > Battery. Then, if it's been switched off, toggle on Optimized Battery Charging (and, on newer models, Charging Notifications for low-battery alerts). Now, your AirPods will learn your charging routine and reduce the time spent fully charged. Last but not least, contact Apple if all of the above fails. With AppleCare+ coverage, Apple offers battery service at no extra charge when the battery holds less than 80 percent of its original capacity.

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The Slate vs Ford Fathom debate might be settled by this one key tech feature

staff@engadget.com (Husain Parvez) — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0000

The Slate Vs Ford Fathom Debate Might Be Settled By This One Key Tech Feature

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Ford keeps CarPlay and Android Auto in its affordable EV truck, while Slate expects you to bring the screen yourself.

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Both Ford and Slate are pursuing the same enticing goal: an electric pickup starting below $30,000. The Blank Slate Truck starts at $24,950 plus a $1,450 destination charge, while the Ford Fathom starts at $28,350 plus a $1,595 destination charge.

But things get more interesting once you look more closely. Ford says the Fathom will feature a large touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Slate forgoes a traditional infotainment system, instead giving you a place to mount and charge your phone. That's refreshingly simple for some, but it might seem too simple for anyone used to seeing maps, music and messages on a proper center display.

Slate makes your phone the infotainment system

Slate hasn't merely left CarPlay off the options sheet. Its approach is to have your phone or tablet do the work. Phone mounting and charging are standard, and buyers can opt for accessory speakers and a bracket that fits a larger tablet. Navigation, music and other compatible apps normally accessed through CarPlay or Android Auto remain on the device. Slate told InsideEVs that vehicle software updates can be downloaded onto a phone and transferred to the truck, avoiding the need for an embedded cellular connection.

There's a certain logic to it: if the infotainment hardware is in your pocket, it can't get hopelessly dated as the truck ages. There are compromises, however. A phone screen is smaller than a dedicated dashboard display. And although Slate left out the infotainment screen to keep things simple, some prospective owners online are already discussing aftermarket stereos, Raspberry Pi projects and other ways to get CarPlay or Android Auto into the truck.

Ford takes the more familiar route. The Fathom's built-in display will support CarPlay and Android Auto, and the truck will also get a digital key, bidirectional power and hardware for Ford's next-generation BlueCruise hands-free system — which requires activation. Ford hasn't yet announced the Fathom's projected range, towing capacity or payload. Preorders begin in early 2027.

Ford and Slate are cutting costs in very different places

That infotainment gap makes more sense when you consider how these companies are building a cheap EV.

Slate is starting from scratch, so it is ruthlessly questioning what needs to be included. Ford has been making vehicles for more than a century and its answer is to simplify engineering and assembly while keeping more familiar equipment in the cabin.

Ford is investing $2 billion to retool Louisville Assembly Plant around its Universal EV Production System. The automaker says the platform uses 20 percent fewer parts than a typical vehicle, 50 percent fewer cooling hoses and connections and a wiring harness more than 4,000 feet shorter than the one in its first-generation electric SUV, the Mustang Mach-E. Assembly is expected to net out at 15 percent faster than the plant's previous products. It's a lot of engineering aimed at cutting manufacturing costs without making the cabin look unfinished.

Smartphone integration isn't an afterthought for buyers. Deloitte's 2025 Global Automotive Consumer Study surveyed over 31,000 consumers in 30 countries and found that 63 percent of US respondents considered smartphone connectivity via CarPlay or Android Auto in their next vehicle somewhat or very important.

Slate's approach isn't necessarily wrong. A less expensive, two-door electric pickup with fewer electronics may be just what some buyers want. CarPlay or Android Auto could be one of those little features that feel much bigger after you've lived without them. The five-seat Fathom, meanwhile, is shaping up as a more conventional daily driver.

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4 important features you should know if you use Microsoft Teams

staff@engadget.com (Erin Carson) — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 22:45:00 +0000

4 Important Features You Should Know If You Use Microsoft Teams

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There's much more to the service than just chats and video calls.

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Though Microsoft Teams is the kind of platform you may use every day, especially if you have it for work, it regularly gets updated with new features that you might be unaware of. Some may have even slipped by you despite sitting around for a while. After all, the platform — which Microsoft says has more than 320 million monthly active users – has a variety of functions beyond messaging and video calls.

As more people adopt remote work and need to communicate with others who aren't just a cubicle away, there are features that might make the experience easier to deal with. This could be anything from keeping your meetings running on time to locating an unfinished message and getting back on track just a little faster after a disruption. So, in case you haven't discovered every last trick the platform has to offer, here are four important features you should know if you use Microsoft Teams.

Meeting countdown timer

There's a particular agony to a meeting that just keeps dragging on, especially if it's around lunch or the end of the day. It can also be hard to stay on time when there are several speakers scheduled. Someone is bound to run over.

In mid 2025, Microsoft Teams rolled out a countdown timer for meetings. If you select More in the top toolbar and then Timer, it will pull up a timer in the top left corner of the meeting. You can decide how much time you want or need (it can be set for up to 100 minutes) and start your countdown. The rest of the meeting attendees will also see the timer, as long as they have presenter capabilities in the meeting. It even turns red as the end of time approaches, and flashes when time is up.

Once you've set the timer, you can always change it or cancel it. However, you may want to note that it only works for scheduled meetings, not live events, webinars, or spontaneous calls.

Voice isolation

If you've ever worked in an open-concept office, or remember the chaos of having a full house during the pandemic, you know that you don't always have the benefit of a quiet space to take a meeting. Luckily, Microsoft Teams offers a voice isolation feature that uses AI to reduce background noise while you're speaking on a call or in a meeting.

To use the feature, you'll need to create a voice profile. It's a quick process. Go to the three dots in the toolbar at the top, and click into your settings. Select Recognition and then Create a voice profile. From there, you will select Start voice capture, read a short paragraph, and then hit End voice capture. If you're on a call and your dog is having a bit of a moment in the background, select the dropdown next to the microphone button in the top right, and you can toggle the voice isolation feature on or off.

Live transcription

Whether you're running late from another meeting or just zoned out while someone was talking, at some point you've probably wished you could rewind a meeting and catch whatever you missed. The good news is that Microsoft Teams offers a live transcription feature that lets you go back and read what was said.

Live transcription rolled out in 2021. According to Microsoft, it works in "near real time" and is also available when the meeting is over. Much like Meta's AI transcription model, it can also differentiate between speakers. A blog post from the feature's launch notes that Microsoft does not store the data or use it to train its own AI models.

As long as your admin has allowed it, the meeting organizer or presenter can turn on live transcription by pressing the button to do so under the three dots in the toolbar. Everyone in the meeting will be notified. As a participant, you can turn off speaker attribution in the accessibility section of your settings if you don't want to be identified.

Find your drafts easier

You probably get pinged more times in a day than you'd like to count. Emails, texts, messages — they might be important (well, some of them), but that doesn't mean they're not also distracting. You could be in the middle of drafting a message to a coworker and get pulled away, only to forget who you were writing to and why.

As of March 2026, Microsoft Teams has made it easier to find your unsent drafts. On the left panel of your Teams chat, you can access your drafts, which will pull up a list of any messages you started typing but didn't send. That means if you had been writing to someone and clicked away, leaving text in the box, you didn't lose it and you don't have to go hunting for it or start penning a brand-new message. Once you've found the draft you're looking for, you can discard it or navigate back to the original conversation to resume what you were doing earlier.

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The reason most electrical plug prongs have holes in them

staff@engadget.com (Thomas Godwin) — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 22:30:00 +0000

The Reason Most Electrical Plug Prongs Have Holes In Them

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Those little holes play more of a role in making the plug than they do in your home’s wall outlets

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Of all the things in the world to sit back and contemplate, holes in electrical plug prongs are one of those great mysteries. It's right up there with the hollow moon theory and underground military bases in Antarctica. Not really. The truth is, while these enigmatic holes once served an everyday purpose (more on that below), they are mainly useful in the manufacturing process today. They help manufacturers position the metal blades during manufacturing, but they aren't openings for electrical current or portals to another dimension.

Basically, a worker passes an alignment rod through the holes to hold the blades in position before plastic is molded around the assembly. The holes also serve as lockout tags, a necessary safety mechanism. A once sensible purpose in the home is now a holding, positioning and locking convenience for manufacturers. It's a simple way to keep components correctly aligned during production. That goes for ordinary plugs on a vacuum cleaner to smart plugs for smart home integration (just don't plug a power strip into your smart plug).

Of course, not every manufacturer uses the same process. It does answer the "why" of today's perforated plug prongs (say that three times really fast!), a feature that doesn't need to perform a specific job in your outlet, but is still useful in a factory.

The outlet-gripping explanation has a history

You've probably come across the "holes help an outlet grip the plug" explanation. It's a sensible answer that's no longer grounded in reality. According to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), the holes originally worked with a small raised feature inside the receptacle. That feature basically clicked into the hole to help retain the plug. The mechanism is known as a "detent."

Detents still have uses outside of ordinary household electrical plugs, but that deserves its own, separate article. Later, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) revised the standards on receptacles to hold plugs in place without the holes. Those requirements also limited how difficult a plug can be to remove, with a different test gauge that didn't have holes. Most manufacturers stopped adding the matching raised features because they did nothing to help meet minimum requirements and made the plugs more difficult to withdraw.

The detent design in wall outlets went away accordingly, but the holes in plug blades did not, leaving the design feature entirely optional, with most manufacturers continuing to use them. Outlets are now designed to hold the blades in place, and the holes are still compatible with older receptacles. It works either way, whether your household receptacles are ancient or just installed yesterday.

Can I use a plug without holes?

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You sure can. A plug without any holes isn't defective or anything, and it's not missing the required safety features, though some plugs, like extension cords, shouldn't be plugged in at all times for safety. If a manufacturer produces a plug with holes, it has to follow the specified size and lead-in shape to maintain compatibility with old and new receptacles. The burden is on the manufacturer, not the buyer.

A solid, hole-free blade will still make electrical contact and close the circuit in an appropriate outlet (including those with retractable prongs). Older receptacles use the detent, and newer receptacles must meet the minimum requirements for plugs without holes. Either way, you're good to go.

The only practical concern you have to worry about is the condition of the connection. If your plug is sliding back out with little resistance, it's probably wear and tear in the receptacle, not the plug prongs. You don't need to go out and hunt for a plug with holes. Instead, go find a new receptacle. Changing them out isn't too difficult; just make sure the power is cut off at the breaker. Fingertips and 15 to 20 amps don't mix well. Also, don't drill holes in the prongs if you have a plug with solid blades. The holes really aren't necessary.

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5 Netflix tips we all wish we knew sooner

staff@engadget.com (Christine Persaud) — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 22:00:00 +0000

5 Netflix Tips We All Wish We Knew Sooner

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Game-changing tricks to optimize your Netflix streaming.

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By now, you might think you know all the tricks of the trade for optimizing Netflix, one of the best streaming services. But there are plenty of hidden Easter eggs you might not know when it comes to settings, searches, customization options and other things you can do to make the experience more personalized and enjoyable. I'm not talking about obvious ones, like the option to download movies and TV shows for offline viewing, play games or adjust video quality. I'm talking about true hidden features that most people don't know exist. For example, did you know about secret sub-genre search codes, or how to view your entire watch history?

If you're looking for ways to get the most out of your Netflix experience, you might want to try these settings out, as they all fall into the "wow, I wish I knew about that sooner" category. Once you know about them, you'll be impressing friends and family with your insider knowledge of these secret menu options.

See everything you have ever watched

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You probably have a good idea of what you have watched on Netflix through the years, but do you really know? Especially if you've been a subscriber for years, it can be hard to remember every movie and TV episode you've viewed. Thankfully, there's an easy way to see your personal viewing history and everything you've ever watched on Netflix. Go to your Netflix account on a web browser, sign in to your profile, then select the down arrow beside your profile icon at the top right, and select 'Manage Profiles.' Select your profile from the list, then scroll down to 'Viewing Activity.' Here, you'll find a list of everything you have watched and the date you watched it.

However, going through it all can take some time; there's no search feature, so you need to endlessly click 'Show More' for pages and pages of viewing history. If you really want to go deep, select 'Download All' and review your entire viewing history. This is also a good way to make sure your child isn't watching content they're not supposed to under a non-restricted account. There's also a 'hide' icon, in case you don't want your partner to know that you snuck in a few episodes of a jointly watched show without them!

Micro-genre codes

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Sometimes you're in the mood for a specific genre, but it isn't one that Netflix highlights through its standard categories, like anime, comedies or action. There are Netflix codes you can input to drill things down more specifically and find exactly what type of show or movie you want to watch. The Netflix-Codes website provides a comprehensive list of these codes that can help you find everything from action comedies to martial arts movies and westerns. Once you know the four-, five-, six- or seven-digit code, it's easy to call up the corresponding content.

Open your browser and type in: http://netflix.com/browse/genre/, followed by the genre code you're interested in. For example, to search for Christmas children and family films from the 1990s (yes, you can get that specific), type http://netflix.com/browse/genre/1476024. I tried the code 8985 for martial arts films, and it worked, instantly bringing up movies like 60 Minutes and Kill Bill (in Canada, where I am based). With the film noir code 7687, I can see that The Game, Zodiac and The Departed are all available to stream in my country. Even if you aren't going to watch now, you can bookmark titles for later viewing so you don't forget about them.

Clean up your Continue Watching category

Christine Persaud for Engadget

You might choose a movie or TV show, then realize 15 minutes in that you don't like it, and switch to something else. Maybe it was something you were watching with a former partner and no longer plan to finish, or perhaps you're just not a fan. That title stays in your 'Continue Watching' row seemingly forever, a reminder that you abandoned it ages ago. Did you know you can manually remove it instead of waiting until you watch enough for it to disappear?

There are three ways to fix this depending on how you're watching. From a mobile device, find the title in question under 'Continue Watching,' tap the three dots under it, and select 'Remove from row.' On the big screen, go to the title in the 'Continue Watching' row, press and hold the select button on your remote, and choose 'Remove.' In a web browser, go to the title on this strip, hover your cursor over it, and tap the 'X.' Yes, it's that easy. You can then let out a sigh of relief that you no longer have a constant reminder of the show or movie you didn't finish and have no intention of ever going back to.

Disable autoplay previews

Christine Persaud for Engadget

This is a tip you might wish you knew sooner. When you open Netflix and scroll through titles, if you linger too long on one, a preview plays. This can be jarring if the volume is loud or annoying if you just want to read the description or scan the rest of the page. What if your child is in the next room and it's a preview for a steamy show? You'll end up red in the face because your little one can hear it and think you're actually watching. Or what if you're someone who prefers to avoid trailers of new shows so you can enjoy the element of total surprise?

Thankfully, no matter the reason why auto-previews drive you nuts, it's something you can disable. Under 'Account,' go to 'Playback Settings' and uncheck 'Autoplay next episode' and 'Autoplay previews.' If you're like me and these annoy you to no end, adjusting this simple setting will be game-changing.

Customizing subtitles and captions

Christine Persaud for Engadget

I'm a night owl, and to avoid disturbing the family, I have become used to watching TV with subtitles or captions on and the volume low. As anyone else in this situation knows, after relying on subtitles for so long, it can be hard to watch TV without them. But sometimes, they can be annoying when the text is too big or horribly placed, blocking crucial parts of the screen. While you can't change the positioning (Netflix is pretty good about keeping them at the bottom, center of view), you can customize other ways subtitles appear. Go to your account icon and click 'Manage Profiles,' select your profile, and then click on 'Subtitle Appearance.' From there, you can change font size, shadows, and backgrounds.

You can also adjust captions to only show dialogue and not descriptive text or sounds. While those descriptors are necessary for the hearing impaired (as are new ASL interpretations that are available for dozens of shows and movies for kids), they aren't necessary for someone who just wants captions because they keep the volume low. When your TV show or movie is playing, open the Subtitles menu and select English instead of English [CC]. It's that simple!

Whether you're one of the streaming service's millions of premium subscribers or count among Netflix's 250 million monthly ad tier subscribers, you can try any or all of these tips and tricks to improve the experience.

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Why your Apple AirPods won't connect to your iPhone and how can you fix it

staff@engadget.com (Filipe Espósito) — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 21:00:00 +0000

Why Your Apple AirPods Won't Connect To Your iPhone And How Can You Fix It

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Most connection problems come down to a few settings.

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Apple AirPods are usually very easy to pair with an iPhone, especially with features like quick pairing and auto-switch. However, it's not uncommon to run into some issues — your AirPods might not play any sound or might not connect at all. The good news is that connection and pairing issues often just require you to change a few settings and try again.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the most common reasons your AirPods won't connect, such as when only one AirPod is working, from a drained battery to outdated software to automatic switching errors. We'll also cover how to reset your AirPods if these steps don't work and when it makes sense to contact Apple Support. Most of these fixes are quick, so you'll be able to get back to listening to your tunes and podcasts before you know it.

The main reasons your AirPods won't connect to your iPhone

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AirPods can fail to connect to your iPhone for many reasons, but one of the main culprits is the battery. If the battery in the earbuds or the case is completely drained, the AirPods simply won't show up on your iPhone — not even to warn you about a low battery.

Put the earbuds in the charging case and plug it in for a few minutes to see if any lights come on and if they reconnect to your iPhone. Dirt and earwax on the charging contacts can also prevent AirPods from charging, even when they're in the case. If they still don't work, try cleaning your AirPods and the case with a soft cotton swab.

AirPods signed in to your Apple Account can also automatically switch between your iPhone, iPad and Mac depending on which device is playing audio. While this feature is quite convenient, your AirPods can end up connecting to the wrong device. Even a simple email notification on your Mac can cause your AirPods to switch to that device; hitting the play button on your iPhone usually brings them back.

AirPods also get firmware updates with new features and bug fixes, so outdated firmware or an older version of iOS may cause connection issues. To check if your AirPods and iPhone are running the latest software, go to Settings > General > Software Update.

Next, look for your AirPods in the AirPods menu in the Settings app, then scroll down until you find Version. Check this Apple webpage to see if the firmware on your AirPods matches what Apple says is the latest available. If not, plug your AirPods into the charger and wait about 30 minutes for them to update on their own.

How to fix AirPods that won't connect

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AirPods won't work if Bluetooth is turned off. Open the Settings app and look for Bluetooth, then turn on the toggle. Next, put your AirPods in your ears and see if they show up in the Bluetooth list. Tap them to connect, and look for your AirPods in the audio output list in Control Center — they're listed under the AirPlay button in the media controls.

If they don't show up with Bluetooth on, try resetting and re-pairing your AirPods. Place both earbuds inside the case, open the lid and enter pairing mode. For AirPods 4, AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3, double-tap the front of the case until a white light turns on. Double-tap again when it flashes white and a third time when it starts flashing faster. For older models, press and hold the button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds. For AirPods Max, press and hold the Digital Crown and the ANC button at the same time, also for 15 seconds. If you did it right, your iPhone will show you the instructions to finish pairing.

If none of this works, the problem may be a hardware failure. In that case, your best option is to contact Apple Support to request a replacement. Replacement may be free if your AirPods are still under the one-year warranty or if you have an AppleCare+ plan.

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Xbox manager says AI is already being used in game development

staff@engadget.com (Robin Bea) — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 20:00:00 +0000

Xbox Manager Says AI Is Already Being Used In Game Development

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Brandon Stirrup deleted his comments from X a day after saying that AI usage is widespread in the gaming industry.

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Generative AI is one of the most controversial topics in game development right now, and whether it's the future of the medium or a temporary blight on it depends on who you ask. Brandon Stirrup, a strategy manager at Xbox, recently waded into the debate, claiming that Xbox is currently using AI to develop games and those who say they aren't are merely "pretending." Stirrup deactivated his social media account shortly after (though his posts have been archived elsewhere), igniting conversations about what role generative AI actually has or should have in game development.

In some ways, it would be unsurprising to learn that Xbox is using AI to the extent that Stirrup implies. Xbox recently announced the formation of Xbox Labs at least in part as a response to a rising trend of AI-coded game ports; the announcement heavily implied that the new team would use AI as well but didn't say it outright. Xbox owner Microsoft is also a major player in AI development, a fact that's already made Xbox the target of a BDS boycott due to that AI's use by the Israeli military. While Xbox has yet to officially state a position on developing games with AI, other developers are drawing clear lines around where they stand on the practice.

Does everyone really use AI in game development?

Particularly among the largest game studios, there's an insistence that generative AI should be used to speed up game development. Developers including Capcom, Square Enix, Sega, Nexon and Activision have all either used AI in their games or pledged to do so. Fortnite developer Epic Games has been particularly up-front about its AI use, and CEO Tim Sweeney has aggressively promoted it on social media. Multiple game industry studies have also found extremely high adoption rates for AI (around 90 percent), though their limited participant pools and definitions of AI call into question just how representative their responses are.

On the other hand, there are large pockets of the game industry vocally opposed to generative AI. Notably, these tend to be smaller, independent studios without shareholders to impress by touting the cost-savings of AI. These studios include Tunic publisher Finji, Stardew Valley developer ConcernedApe and Clickolding developer Strange Scaffold, among many more. Due to the sheer number and variety of game studios, it's impossible to say just how much of the industry actually uses AI at this point, but claims that "everyone" is using it are clearly false.

There's a similar divide among players about whether generative AI should be embraced or avoided at all costs. While some simply accept AI as part of games going forward, others have pledged to avoid games that use the technology outright due to its environmental costs, labor issues or pure aesthetic preference. That's led to the popularity of tools like a browser extension that makes Steam's AI disclosures more visible and grassroots efforts by developers to implement labels certifying their games as AI-free.

What generative AI actually means for games

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The most controversial uses of AI come from generating assets that appear in the final game. Sometimes they're intentionally included, like The Finals' use of AI-generated voices. More commonly, developers claim that art assets found in finished games were meant to be used as placeholders and removed later, as was the case recently with Crimson Desert. Many players and developers alike justify the use of AI in generating code, even if they're opposed to it in other areas.

The effects of AI on game development at large are hard to pin down. While AI can't generate games worth playing without extensive support from skilled developers, there's still fear that executives could use the promise of AI to support laying off workers, and it's still an open question whether AI will ultimately make games easier to develop. One demonstrable trend is the proliferation of low-quality "slop" games, often copying directly from other projects, as seen by the massive increase of AI games in the Steam Next Fest demo event. It's clear that AI is changing the way many games are made, but what those changes actually look like are still to be seen.

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The best Roku Streaming Stick depends on your picture quality needs

staff@engadget.com (Robin Bea) — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 19:00:00 +0000

The Best Roku Streaming Stick Depends On Your Picture Quality Needs

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Fortunately, Roku only sells one streaming device that doesn't support 4K output.

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Even after a recent price increase, Roku streaming sticks are some of the most popular streaming hardware options out there. But even if you've settled on Roku, it might not be clear which streaming stick model is the best choice for you, or what the differences between them even are. While there are a few additional features on higher-end models, the biggest difference between the options is picture quality, and focusing on that makes choosing one much easier.

Roku offers five different streaming devices, but the only difference in picture quality you really need to pay attention to is whether they can stream in 4K. If that's all you're looking for, the choice is easy: Every Roku product except the lowest-priced streaming stick at $40 offers 4K streaming. The name might imply that you need the $80 Streaming Stick 4K for higher resolution, but the Streaming Stick Plus gets you there for $20 cheaper.

High-end streaming devices offer only a few real benefits

Beyond that, there are a few considerations you might still want to take into account in some situations. Moving from the Streaming Stick Plus to the Streaming Stick 4K adds support for Dolby Vision and a longer Wi-Fi range. Dolby Vision is a type of high-dynamic range that's supposedly a higher quality than the standard HDR available on both models, but users are divided on whether it actually makes a difference, and it's likely not worth the upgrade for most people. The longer Wi-Fi range could be useful if you need to plug the streaming stick into a TV that's a long way from your router.

For Roku's two $150 models, the Roku Ultra and Streambar SE, only the Ultra has Dolby Vision support, but the differences between them and the rest of the Roku range are more significant. The Roku Ultra is a small set-top box, while the Streambar SE is a soundbar that does double duty as a streaming device.

The Ultra is worth considering if you want the strongest internet connection possible — in addition to support for Wi-Fi 6, it also includes an Ethernet port. If you have a Wi-Fi 6 network at home or don't have a good Wi-Fi connection at all, that could mean the Ultra will give you a more stable connection, and thus a better picture quality.

The Streambar, on the other hand, is more about audio. It's the only Roku model that features built-in speakers, though it lacks the Dolby Atmos surround sound support that comes with the Ultra. That could make it a good choice if you want the benefits of a soundbar and a streaming stick in one, but it otherwise doesn't have any advantages over the Ultra. Of course, you'll need a compatible audio system to take advantage of the Doly Atmos capabilities on the Roku Ultra.

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Why your AirPods keep disconnecting without warning: These settings can fix it

staff@engadget.com (Thomas Godwin) — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 18:45:00 +0000

These Settings Can Fix It

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Before blaming Bluetooth, check where your AirPods are getting their orders from.

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If your AirPods keep disconnecting, it's doubtful the AirPods themselves are broken, though that's always a possibility. The best course of action is a process of elimination, starting with checking automatic switching. This feature is available on all AirPods Pro and AirPods Max models, plus AirPods 2 or later.

Let's say you have your iPhone, an iPad and a Mac. If you use your AirPods on all three, or have in the past, those bothersome disconnections may not be disconnections at all, but rather the AirPods trying to bounce back and forth among all three devices. It's aggravating, but you need to make changes on all three to put a stop to it.

The setting you want is called Connect to this iPhone/iPad/Mac. First, put your AirPods in your ears. On iPhone or iPad, you should see your AirPods appear near the top of the Settings app. There, select your AirPods > Audio & Routing > Connect to this iPhone/iPad and choose When Last Connected to This iPhone/iPad.

Alternatively, or in System Settings on a Mac, open Settings > Bluetooth and select the little i in a circle next to your AirPods. If the AirPods aren't currently connected, choose Connect to This [Device] > When Last Connected to This [Device]. If they are connected, open the same Audio & Routing menu first.

If you mostly use your AirPods with one device, leave this setting on Automatic there and switch it to When Last Connected on your other Apple devices. That way, your AirPods will automatically connect to your most-used device when you put them in, but won't connect to your other devices unless you manually choose to use them. This won't fix every connection problem, but it will correct a common issue with using AirPods across multiple Apple devices.

You can also fully remove your AirPods using the Forget This Device option in the Bluetooth menu on any devices you never use them with.

Automatic Ear Detection can interrupt playback

The next time your AirPods disconnect, check to make sure they've actually disconnected by looking in the Bluetooth menu. AirPods have a feature called Automatic Ear Detection, which is enabled by default. It does what its name implies: detects when you remove your earbuds and automatically halts playback. It's a handy feature when you need to pull a bud out to hear what someone is saying, but if the sensor is misbehaving, it will interrupt your music for seemingly no reason.

Before you turn this off, it's worth making sure your AirPods are fitting properly. With your AirPods in your ears, go to the same AirPods menu mentioned above and hit Ear Tip Fit Test in the list. This will run a quick check to see if your buds have a good seal; if the tips you're using are the wrong size for your ears, or dirty, they're more likely to slip out.

Clean your AirPods and consider upgrading your earbud tips so they stay in and comfortable for long periods. It's important to clean the case too, as bits of earwax or trapped lint can block the electrical contact points and prevent one or both of your AirPods from charging. Special troubleshooting applies if only one of your AirPods isn't working.

In case this doesn't help or you want to disable the feature anyway, put your AirPods in and go back to Settings > AirPods > Audio & Routing, then disable Automatic Ear Detection. The process is the same on a Mac or an iPad. Now that it's off, check to see if the disconnections continue. If they do, check the audio of a download versus a stream; if problems only happen on the latter, network issues are causing your audio to stutter. And if you spend a lot of time close to a microwave, many other Bluetooth devices or heavy Wi-Fi activity, interference could be causing your AirPods to misbehave.

Having Siri turned on can interrupt playback if the assistant kicks in for whatever reason. You can eliminate that by jumping into Settings > Siri > Requests and setting the top option to Off, though this turns Siri off for your entire device as there's no toggle for the AirPods alone.

My AirPods are disconnecting from my Mac. What can I do?

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Start by eliminating the automatic switching feature on your other devices, as explained above. It's a pain because it's convenient to let your AirPods bounce to whatever device you're currently using. But when another device turns on, it becomes a battle between which one started playing audio most recently. If you typically move from device to device but don't always close the last one, it's best to keep Automatically selected on your primary and When Last Connected to on all the others.

Also, open Control Center at the top-right of your Mac's screen. Select Sound and confirm the output is set to your AirPods. Make sure you quit any apps that are vying for control of your AirPods. Check if your Mac is up to date, and you can let your AirPods run any pending firmware updates as well. To do this, connect the case to power and put both earbuds inside, closing the lid afterward. Leave them within Bluetooth range of your Wi-Fi-connected Mac, iPhone or iPad for at least 30 minutes.

If the connection failures continue to happen, unpair your AirPods from your Mac, restart the Mac and pair the AirPods again. As a last resort, you may have to do a full reset on your AirPods. The sequence depends on the model, so follow Apple's AirPods reset guidance.

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How to use Claude Duet when it rolls out to you

staff@engadget.com (Igor Bonifacic) — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 18:30:00 +0000

How To Use Claude Duet When It Rolls Out To You

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For now, you'll need to first join a waitlist.

Anthropic

On October 21, following SpaceXSI, Meta and OpenAI, Anthropic became the latest AI lab to release a personal agent. Like its competitors, the company is billing Claude Duet as an always-on AI agent that can proactively complete tasks for you, even when you're away from your phone or computer. Duet runs on its own virtual machine, with access to a dedicated browser it can use to surf the web and complete jobs. It can also use any apps you've connected to your Claude account. If you're curious about Claude Duet, here's what you need to know about availability and how much it will cost you to run the agent.

How to join the Claude Duet waiting list

Anthropic

As of the writing of this article, Duet is currently in preview, with availability limited to Claude Pro and Max subscribers in the US. What's more, you'll need to join a waitlist before you can start using the agent. You can find that waitlist on Anthropic's website. The company asks you to enter your name, company and email address. You'll also need to indicate the type of phone you use, be it an Android or iPhone, and write a short description of the type of work you intend to hand off to Claude. Anthropic asks you to share what device you use because it offers a standalone Claude Duet app on Android and iOS.

What Anthropic plans include Claude Duet?

While things may change, Anthropic says it will include Duet as a perk of its $20 per month Pro plan and up. Notably, that differs from OpenAI's Dot agents, which you can currently only get by paying for one of the company's own Pro plans. That tier starts at $100, with OpenAI recently adding a $500 per month option. Anthropic isn't making Claude Duet available to Team and Enterprise customers just yet.

During the preview, Anthropic says Duet will share usage with all your other Claude apps, including Code and Cowork. I haven't had a chance to use it yet, so I can't speak to whether Duet is actually useable with a Pro plan, but Anthropic has said it designed the agent to check your connected accounts every few hours, "because checking nonstop would use up your plan's limits much faster." Part of the reason the company is previewing Duet before rolling it out more widely is so that it can collect feedback on how often it messages users.

What can you do with Claude Duet?

Anthropic

As I mentioned, Anthropic is advertising Duet as a proactive personal agent. Each day, it can generate a short briefing with a list of action items based on the apps you've connected to your Claude account. You can also delegate a variety of tasks to Claude Duet. For instance, you can ask it to schedule meetings for you, create forecasts, build web apps and more. For example, a business owner might task Duet with generating a weekly sales and cashflow dashboard, while a scientist could ask their agent to flag research papers related to their area of study as they're published.

"The Claude app waits for you to open a chat, and you work on something alongside Claude. Claude Duet comes to you," Anthropic says. "It tells you what needs your attention each morning, takes tasks you hand it by message, and reaches out when one is done or needs your approval."

Duet's proactivity is built on the data in your Claude account, including information the chatbot has written to its memory and any apps you've connected to your Anthropic account. For that reason, how useful you might find Duet will depend a lot on how much of your digital life you're willing to share with Anthropic. For some, the privacy tradeoff is not going to be worth it.

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4 drawbacks you should know before buying a PlayStation 5

staff@engadget.com (Dave Meikleham) — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 18:00:00 +0000

4 Drawbacks You Should Know Before Buying A PlayStation 5

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Now isn't the best time to buy a PS5, so know what you're in for first.

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There's arguably never been a worse time to be a PlayStation fan or buy a PS5, with systems more than half a decade old costing more now than they did at release. RAMageddon is screwing tech fans worldwide, and Sony seems dead-set on burning the goodwill it's built up. We're at a particularly bad point to invest in a game console.

While both the PS5 and upgraded PS5 Pro are great systems, neither represents decent value for money right now — especially when we don't have any idea when a PlayStation 6 is going to launch.

PlayStation's discless future is anti-consumer

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Sony won't put games on discs starting in 2028, which means when the PS6 eventually comes out, it won't support physical games. Sony is seemingly doubling down on killing disc-based media going forward, per FlatpanelsHD's reporting that the UBP-X700/K will be the last 4K Blu-ray player the company manufactures.

So as of 2028, Sony will end the PlayStation's legacy as a true media hub. That's frustrating given how many past consoles made strides in this area. The PS2's DVD playback was a huge part of its enormous popularity, while the PS3 was one of the most affordable Blu-ray players of its time. I stood in line to buy a PS2 on November 24, 2000 not just to play EA's snowboarding classic SSX, but also because that system let me play my brand-new DVD copy of Jurassic Park for the first time. Discovering chapter skip and DVD extras on what's still my favorite film of all time was an awesome moment.

That will all be gone soon. GTA VI will just be a code in a box if you buy the "physical" version, for example. Soon, there won't be an option to loan games to friends or take advantage of in-store sales.

I take a share of the blame for the switch to digital. During this generation, the only PS5 games I've bought on disc, out of my 36-title PS5 library, are Demon's Souls, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarök and Saros. That means I've purchased a mere 11 percent of my PlayStation 5 games physically over the six years I've owned the console, which feels wrong as a self-proclaimed defender of physical media.

No version of the PS5 is cheap

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Not only are the two launch models, supercharged Pro and svelte PS5 Slim not cheap, all four machines are significantly more expensive than when they first launched. In past generations, consoles have gotten cheaper the longer they're on the market. But in the era of extreme RAM shortages, where Sony is forced to hike up hardware costs because memory and SSD prices have never been more expensive, gamers' wallets are being hit hard.

When the original disc drive PlayStation 5 and cheaper Digital Edition launched in North America on November 12, 2020, their respective $499 and $399 price tags were pretty reasonable — especially considering the PS4's $400 launch price and the PS3's infamous $599 from 14 years prior.

Want to pick up either the disc drive PS5 or discless version now? It will cost you $649 for the disc-equipped system, or $599 if you don't care about physical games. That means the PS5 is now 30 percent (disc) and 50 percent (digital) more expensive than in 2020. Ouch. At least the disc model has 1TB of storage compared to 825GB at launch, though the Digital Slim has dropped to the lower storage amount again.

Not surprisingly, the PS5 Pro has seen its own increases. When the beefed-up console launched in Nov 7 2024, it cost $699. Now, it will put a massive $899 dent in your bank balance — if you can find one. We're in the middle of a PS5 Pro shortage because people are desperate for a mythic GTA VI 60 fps performance mode that neither Rockstar or Sony have confirmed ahead of launch. Still, that hasn't stopped cheeky third-party Amazon sellers from trying to charge $1,449 for a used PS5 Pro. But hey, at least the optional Slim/Pro disc drive still costs the same $79 as it did upon the upgraded console's arrival.

The PS5 Pro is powerful, but its CPU holds it back

Dave Meikleham for Engadget

The PlayStation 5 Pro is the most powerful video game console of all time. Yet as impressive as the Pro's specs are, it can't hold a candle to the most powerful gaming PCs. Even though it packs considerably more graphical grunt under the hood than the standard PS5, one key component somewhat holds back its full potential.

On the CPU front, the PS5 Pro's processor upgrade over the standard console is modest. Both consoles use AMD Zen 2 eight core/16 thread processors. The Pro upgrade is that its chip is clocked at 3.85GHz vs. the standard PS5's 3.5GHz clock. In real-world terms, that's just a 10 percent upgrade; such a measly bump is likely why we're not seeing 90 fps modes in CPU-intensive PS5 titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Dragon's Dogma 2 on the Pro.

From a GPU standpoint, the PS5 Pro's specs look a lot more robust next to the vanilla PS5. The Pro's graphical solution outputs 16.7 TFLOPS of GPU compute power, compared to the base PlayStation 5's (still respectable) 10.3 FLOPS. That's a polygon-pushing 45 percent boost. The number of GPU compute units is also heavily in favor of the Pro, with the newer system having a 60-36 advantage over the standard PS5.

PSSR 2.0 upscaling tech also makes Resident Evil Requiem and Saros look incredible on the Pro. Yet with Sony bringing AI upscaling to the base PS5 — in the form of Quick Spectral Super Resolution or "QSSR" — the gap between the two consoles has become thinner.

The PS5 is arguably the ugliest console Sony has ever made

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A few friends of mine who hadn't gamed since the PS2 era all bought PS5s during the pandemic, but none of them proudly show off their OG launch model. I'm sure this is in no small part due to their significant others who all see Sony's latest console for what it is: an eyesore. My pals' PS5s are all stuffed inside entertainment cabinets so their better halves don't have to look at them.

I can just about tolerate my PS5 Pro placed in a vertical position (courtesy of its optional stand). Then again, I'm a single gamer with very little design sense who has built his living room around a 77-inch OLED TV and clichéd reclining chair. I think every version of the PS5 is even more offensive when placed on its side, as they resemble misshapen Blu-ray players.

For folks with spouses and children, I completely understand why the bulky PS5 would look ghastly. All those jutting lines and the protruding disc tray are not easy on the eye. It's slightly better for the discless Digital Edition PS5 and the fact you don't have to attach a drive to either the Pro or PS5 Slim, as those console shapes are a little more uniform. Either way, no member of the PS5 family is an objectively good-looking piece of technology.

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Bolt Graphics powers on its first Zeus GPU

staff@engadget.com (Luke James) — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 17:30:00 +0000

Bolt Graphics Powers On Its First Zeus GPU

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The test chip ran fine but Bolt's Zeus GPU is still a long way from shipping.

Bolt Graphics

Bolt Graphics has powered on the first silicon for its Zeus GPU project, though the card it's building toward isn't expected to reach volume production until 2028. The California-based startup said in mid-October that its 12nm test chip, made by chipmaking giant TSMC, ran without issues when switched on. Bolt also said it had opened an office in Taipei to stay close to its manufacturing partners ahead of production. Two days later, Reuters reported that Bolt was trying to raise about $100 million at a valuation of around $700 million, citing three people familiar with the matter.

The test chip measures 6mm^2 and draws 1.4 watts, compared with the 35 watts used by the FPGA (a reprogrammable chip used for prototyping) that Bolt previously ran its design on. Its main feature is dedicated hardware for electromagnetic simulation, which helps design everything from radar sensors to camera lenses.

Bolt's CEO and founder Darwesh Singh told HPCwire that the chip shows Bolt can run "a highly complex physics algorithm, accelerated in hardware, which no one's done before." However, Bolt hasn't published any performance figures for the test chip, saying only that it beat the company's internal estimates. The Zeus GPU Bolt plans to debut is a completely separate chip that'll be made on TSMC's N5P process node. Bolt says it picked the 2020-era N5P process to avoid competing with other chipmakers for already limited wafer supplies.

What is Zeus, exactly?

Bolt's Zeus GPU is built around RISC-V processor cores, which use an open-standard instruction set, paired with Bolt's own path-tracing hardware. Its PCIe cards will combine soldered LPDDR5X memory with the DDR5 SO-DIMM slots you'll usually find in a laptop, letting owners expand the cards up to 384GB of memory. When Bolt announced Zeus in March 2025, it made lofty claims of 10 times the rendering performance of existing GPUs and 300 times the speed in electromagnetic simulation, saying Zeus could deliver up to 10 times the path tracing throughput (i.e., how many light rays a rendering system can process per second) of Nvidia's RTX 5090.

As is usually the case in situations like this, these claims have not been independently tested. Bolt is selling Zeus to studios, engineers and scientists first, with plans to expand into gaming and AI later. That'd put Zeus in the consumer GPU market against Nvidia and AMD. That will be an interesting move, given, as Reuters pointed out, the deep software support a gaming chip needs to run the thousands of games already on sale.

Bolt said back in April that more than 14,000 businesses, devs and individual users had signed up for its early access program, and that it had a product pipeline worth more than $500 million. It did not, however, name any customers. In the same announcement, Bolt also claimed that Zeus would cut compute costs by up to 17 times compared with current hardware.

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These Samsung Galaxy Watches won't be getting the new One UI update

staff@engadget.com (Antony Terence) — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 17:15:00 +0000

These Samsung Galaxy Watches Won't Be Getting The New One UI Update

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The list of Galaxy Watches not getting One UI 9 Watch is mercifully small.

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In August, Samsung released the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, which came with its latest One UI 9 Watch operating system. The company has also been releasing beta versions of the OS for the Galaxy Watch 7 and 8 lineups, with the sixth One UI 9 Watch beta update launching in late October for Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic Owners in South Korea. Most previous devices will also eventually get the update, but some are now too old to get the latest OS.

While Samsung has bumped up the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2's software support to five major OS upgrades, their predecessors in the Watch lineup only get four. That might mean it's time for an upgrade if you're rocking an especially old Samsung watch. While the lack of One UI 9 Watch won't affect performance, it does mean your watch won't get bug fixes, new features or security updates. Future app compatibility is another question mark. Thankfully, only a couple of products won't get One UI 9 Watch.

Which Galaxy Watch won't get One UI 9?

The Samsung Galaxy Watch devices that won't receive the One UI 9 Watch update are the Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Released in 2021, Samsung's Galaxy Watch 4 lineup has already received four major OS upgrades: One UI Watch 4.5, One UI 5 Watch, One UI 6 Watch and finally One UI 8 Watch. Naturally, this includes limited editions like the Galaxy Watch 4 Golf Edition and the pricey Galaxy Watch 4 Classic Thom Browne Edition. The lineup losing support also marks the end of an era, as the Galaxy Watch 4 heralded the transition from Tizen OS to a custom-skinned Wear OS, Google's smartwatch operating system.

Samsung's Galaxy Watch 5, Galaxy Watch 5 Pro and up will receive One UI 9 Watch by the end of 2026. New features include a refined visual interface, the ability to raise your wrist to activate an AI assistant and health metrics like Daily Cardio Load and a Heart Health Score.

Is it a good time to upgrade your Samsung Galaxy Watch?

If you're still rocking a Galaxy Watch 4 or a Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, it's worth upgrading to a newer device to get the latest OS upgrades. The Galaxy Watch 9 debuted in August and, alongside improved hardware and enhanced features like sleep apnea detection and skin temperature tracking, also promises five years of upgrades. This makes it a good long-term proposition, especially compared to the Pixel Watch 5, which only gets three years of guaranteed updates. And if you absolutely need the physical rotating bezel of the Watch 4 Classic, give the Watch 8 Classic a long, hard look.

Selling, recycling or trading in your legacy Galaxy Watch isn't your only option. You can also repurpose it into a dedicated sleep tracker, smart home dashboard, media remote or just hand it down to someone else. Overall, the One UI 9 Watch update isn't exactly life-changing, but it's a good time to think about that device on your wrist and replace it if it's starting to get long in the tooth.

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How to fix your phone screen when it's unresponsive to touch

staff@engadget.com (Isaac Egbon) — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 17:00:00 +0000

How To Fix Your Phone Screen When It's Unresponsive To Touch

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Most stuck screens have a simple fix.

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There are a number of reasons that can make your phone's screen unresponsive to your touch. Sometimes it's a simple thing, like an app freezing. Other times, it's something more serious, like your phone falling when you tried to take it out of your pocket (we've all been there). Regardless of the "why," most times, a simple fix can get your pocket's best friend ready for your next scrolling session.

How you fix the issue depends on why it happened in the first place. For example, if an app crashing is the cause, then a restart can do the trick. In case you're wondering, an app freezing or crashing can make your screen unresponsive because your touch input has to pass through the processor to reach the app.

A crash can jam the chains of that operation, halting the process. Just to be clear, not every unresponsive screen is a software issue; some need a professional repair.

Start with the basics

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If your phone's screen suddenly becomes unresponsive to touch, start by examining it for cracks or other damage. If you see any, you're likely dealing with a hardware issue, not software. Next, take off the screen protector, since it can hide damage and could also be the cause of your screen's unresponsiveness. If you're wearing gloves, take them off.

Check what's around your screen too. Remove the case, disconnect any USB-C or Lightning accessories, and peel off any stickers covering the screen or sensors. Use a slightly damp microfiber cloth to properly clean your screen of dirt or liquid, and make sure to avoid getting moisture in your phone's opening.

If none of that works, the next step is to restart your phone. A good restart can clear any software glitch and set your phone's head straight. Since a standard restart is likely out of the question due to the screen not responding, you need to force restart your device. On an iPhone with Face ID, press and quickly release the volume up button. Then do the same with the volume down button. Next, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. This could take longer than 10 seconds.

The process is different for older iPhone models. On an iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, press and hold the side and volume down button together. On an iPhone 6s and earlier, hold the Home button plus the side or top button.

On Android, the process can differ depending on the manufacturer, so you'll have to check for your specific device, but the standard process is to hold the power button for 30 seconds until it restarts.

Try safe mode and reset settings

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If none of the earlier fixes get your screen working again, you're likely facing a deeper hardware or software issue. On Android, you can use safe mode to check whether a third-party app is behind your screen's unresponsiveness, because it loads only the software your device shipped with. If your screen responds in safe mode, then a third-party app is the culprit. If not, it's likely a hardware issue or, in some cases, a fault in the system software.

To enter safe mode, force restart the device. When the manufacturer's logo appears, press and hold the volume down button until the phone starts up. If successful, "Safe mode" will appear in the bottom-left corner.

Before concluding it's a hardware fault, try resetting your settings and turning off Developer options on your Android if it's on. To reset your iPhone's settings, open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. Note that Android steps vary by device.

For Samsung users, open Settings > General management > Reset > Reset all settings > Reset settings. If this doesn't work either, a factory reset is the last resort. On iPhone and Samsung, it's in the same menu as Reset settings.

Performing a factory reset wipes all data on your phone, so unless you have everything backed up or don't need the data on the device, we wouldn't advise doing this yet. Instead, take your device to your manufacturer's service center or a credible independent repairer and let them check if your screen has a hardware fault.

Some of these steps need a screen that responds at least a little, but if that's not the case, you may need to try mirroring your device.

How to mirror your phone if the screen is unresponsive to touch

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Screen mirroring is a good way to get around an unresponsive screen, especially if it's damaged. Unfortunately, this method only works if you set it up earlier, when your screen was still responsive.

If you use the classic iPhone and Mac combo, then mirroring your iPhone is straightforward. Your iPhone needs to be locked and nearby, and your Mac needs macOS Sequoia or later, with either Apple silicon or an Apple T2 security chip. Both devices also need to have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on. Then, click iPhone Mirroring in your Mac's Dock.

With that, you can use your iPhone even while the screen is unresponsive. For iPhone users who rock Windows, there's no official way to mirror and control your iPhone on Windows. Sadly, most third-party solutions are limited to viewing and can't control the iPhone.

For Android x Windows users, the Phone Link app is your best choice. Open the Phone Link app on your PC, then click "Open Phone screen." You may be asked to unlock your device, and both devices need to be on the same Wi-Fi network.

Android and Mac users aren't left out. Although there's no official method, there are third-party tools that work well. Scrcpy is a free, open-source tool that works across macOS, Windows and Linux. It mirrors your Android device over USB or Wi-Fi and lets you control the device with your computer's keyboard and mouse. Just make sure you enable USB debugging beforehand.

Scrcpy also has an OTG mode that lets you control your phone with your computer's keyboard and mouse, no USB debugging needed. No computer? A USB OTG adapter lets you plug in and operate your device with a wired mouse.

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How building a cheap home server could save you money in the long run

staff@engadget.com (Maddie Fisher) — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 16:45:00 +0000

How Building A Cheap Home Server Could Save You Money In The Long Run

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That hunk of plastic collecting dust in the basement might be more useful than you realized.

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Being around technology or computers for any extended period of time means that you've likely accumulated a decent amount of hardware over the years. With new upgrades and changes to one's setup often comes a question about what to do with old stuff you don't use anymore, or what you can do with any new hardware you get your hands on.

It's a common question regarding what to do with old PCs or laptops, but one that has a few surprising answers. One that always springs to mind is the creation of a home server, which, if you're a family looking to build your own custom streaming hub or have your own free mass storage unit, is a fabulous bit of financial investment that could be immensely beneficial to you in the uncertain years ahead of us in the technology field.

Building a home server is also tantalizingly easy, as well, making the entire process one that is both painless and affordable. And in a time when things feel a bit more complex than they should, having something as straightforward as the construction of a media server that could save you money honestly feels like a slam dunk.

It can trim down your streaming services bill

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In addition to your regular bills, one thing that most of us spend a lot of money on during each calendar month is streaming services. There are a lot of them, and nearly every major company in the world has decided to put a plus symbol next to its name in order to enter the streaming service arms race.

It can add up to quite a bit of money over four weeks, and one way to combat that is to build your own home server. With one of these at your disposal, your server becomes something of a custom media machine, where you can stream your own shows and movies as you please. It can greatly cut down on the number of streaming services you have, making things a little lighter on your wallet.

It's sometimes shocking to see how many streaming services a family of any size is subscribed to, and using a home server to offset that can really help you keep your monthly bill down to a more manageable number. Thanks to media servers like Plex, Jellyfin and countless other alternatives, you can populate your device with anything you want.

Great cost-cutting measures on mass storage

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Huge parts of our personal lives are often stored in our digital archives, as so many of us have precious photos and videos logged on our devices. If you're someone who has a fairly hefty selection of files, or even just incredibly important documents, a home server can pull its weight by doubling as a mass storage device.

If you subscribe to any sort of cloud storage or data backup service, it can all start to add up over the year. With your own home server, you can cut those elements out, and the server itself can also be upgradeable over time. If you're ever in need of more storage, the act of buying more hard drives and installing them is a snap.

By resurrecting an old PC that's seen its last days as a daily, primary driver into a home server, you can save a fairly large chunk of cash on storage and home entertainment needs. It can also act as a sort of building block toward actual custom PC builds, and once you have a strong understanding of those things, you may find that you have quite a bit of extra cash in your account every month.

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Why your Spotify might be using so much storage

staff@engadget.com (Adnan Ahmed) — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 16:30:00 +0000

Why Your Spotify Might Be Using So Much Storage

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If you're running low on storage, it's worth checking to see if Spotify might be the culprit.

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We're all getting tired of subscription-based services, but when it comes to music streaming, it's a little harder to give up. You can still purchase individual tracks and albums, but it's often more economical to subscribe to Apple Music or Spotify if you listen to a wide variety of music. Furthermore, with how fast and reliable mobile data has become, you can stream virtually any song you want on the go. This saves you the hassle of managing a local library of music on your phone, not to mention the storage space you could otherwise use for other apps and media files.

If you've recently been hit by the low-storage warning on your phone, you can find out exactly what's taking up so much space. On iOS, navigate to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. If you're using Android, the exact menu labels may vary depending on your phone's manufacturer, and the easiest way to find this information may be to simply search your phone for "Storage." For Samsung, look under Settings > Device care > Storage. For other Android devices, you can usually locate it under Settings > Storage or Settings > About Phone > Storage. Your phone might automatically sort your apps by how much storage they're occupying. If you spot Spotify near the top, there's a good chance that downloaded music or cached data is what's eating away at your phone's storage.

Android lets you clear an app's cache in just a few taps. Navigate to something like Settings > Apps > See all apps > Spotify > Storage & cache and tap on Clear cache. Though you can nuke your entire offline music library by tapping on the Clear storage button, this will also sign you out of the app. Instead, the Spotify app offers a much better way to manage your downloads.

Manage your Spotify downloads

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In the Spotify app on Android and iOS, you can check what music you have downloaded by navigating to the Your Library tab and tapping on Downloaded at the top. Here, you can pick individual playlists or albums and tap on the green download button to remove them from your device. This is a good way to free up storage by deleting the songs you don't want available offline, while keeping the stuff you do listen to more frequently.

You can, however, delete all downloads if you want to reclaim as much storage on your phone as possible. In the Spotify app, tap on your profile picture in the top-left corner of the screen. Navigate to Settings and privacy > Data-saving and offline, scroll all the way down and tap on Remove next to the Remove all downloads option. You can also clear Spotify's cache here.

You might need to restart your phone if you don't immediately see the freed-up storage reflected in your phone's settings. Other streaming services like Apple Music and Netflix also let you remove downloads — you just have to look for the option within the app's settings.

If you're using the Spotify app on a Windows or macOS computer, you can clear downloads by clicking on your profile picture, navigating to Settings, scrolling all the way down to the Storage section and clicking on Remove all downloads. Those who use Spotify on the web shouldn't have to worry about downloads taking up device storage, since the browser version doesn't support offline listening to begin with.

Adjust media quality on Spotify

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If you do need an offline music library so you can listen to your tracks without an internet connection, you can still clear some storage space by adjusting the quality of your downloaded songs. On Android and iOS, launch Spotify and head to Settings and privacy > Media quality and scroll to the Download quality section. You can choose the Low option, then tap on the Download button next to the Update existing downloads option. Spotify says tracks downloaded or streamed in the Low quality setting are equivalent to around 24 kbps, which shouldn't be too bad for casual listening.

It's also worth noting that if you have the Lossless quality preset selected for your downloads, your offline music library is going to occupy significantly more storage. Lossless tracks are much larger than their compressed counterparts. While lossless audio can upgrade your music listening experience if you're using wired headphones and a DAC, the difference might not be noticeable if you usually opt for wireless earbuds.

I tested just how big of a difference downloading the same set of songs in different quality presets can make. With my music library downloaded in Lossless quality, Spotify was occupying around 22GB of space on my phone. When set to the Low preset, my entire music library fit in a little over 2GB — those are massive storage savings, and I didn't even have to give up offline listening. Periodically clearing Spotify's cache can also free up a noticeable amount of storage space.

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How long is too long for a USB cable?

staff@engadget.com (Robin Bea) — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 16:15:00 +0000

How Long Is Too Long For A USB Cable?

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One of the best things about USB is that you rarely need to think about it. Sure, there are some differences between USB generations, but no matter what, if you plug a USB cable into a compatible device, it will work without issues, as long as the cable isn't too long, that is. Of course, you're unlikely to need an extremely lengthy USB cable — unlike, say, HDMI cables — but if you ever do, there are limits to USB cable length that you should be aware of.

The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), which defines USB standards, has outlined maximum lengths for different types of USB cables. These range from about 16 feet to as low as 3 feet. The Forum is an industry group, not a regulatory body, so there's nothing stopping manufacturers from making longer cables. The limits are a guide to best practices, as exceeding the USB-IF's specifications could hamper a USB cable's performance.

USB transfer speeds suffer with longer cables

Each generation of USB cables can transfer data faster than the last, but later generations actually have a shorter recommended length. USB 1.0 and 2.0 cables have a recommended maximum of 16.4 feet. For USB 3.0 through 3.2, that drops to 9.8 feet. USB 4 cables are much more limited, with a maximum recommended length of just 2.6 feet. Whether you're using a USB-A or USB-C cable doesn't matter; the maximum length is the same either way.

It might seem odd that maximum cable length doesn't improve over time as transfer rate does, but it has to do with the physical limits of the cables. A signal traveling through a cable degrades over time due to electrical resistance. The farther a signal has to travel, the more cable it has to push through to get there, losing signal along the way. Longer cables are also more susceptible to damage, which can further slow transfer speeds.

A USB cable that's too long won't suddenly stop working. Instead, it simply won't function as well as one that's within spec. Data may transfer more slowly than you're used to, or connected devices won't receive as much power. The higher the potential transfer rate or power delivery, the more you're likely to notice the difference. That's why it's important to know the maximum length of your USB cables.

How to extend the range of a USB cable

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If you can, it's always best to reposition your devices so you don't need to exceed a USB cable's length limits, but that's not always possible. In those cases, you can purchase an active USB cable or an active USB extender, either of which will have built-in components to extend the signal's range. However, active USB cables are significantly more expensive than standard cables. They also draw extra power from the USB port, and thus might not be compatible with older ports.

Another potential solution is to use a powered USB hub and use the longest supported cable between the hub and your computer. Plugging too many devices into the same hub can slow them down, but as long as you don't exceed the USB port's bandwidth, you shouldn't encounter any noticeable performance difference. Powered hubs are preferable, since an unpowered hub can only draw power from the USB port, which can be unreliable.

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