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The Verge
a day ago
- Business
- The Verge
Posted Jun 2, 2025 at 12:24 PM EDT 0 Comments
Cameron Faulkner A surprising amount of power for something so small (and cheap). 30W charging speed in a USB-C battery isn't all that impressive, except when it comes in a compact package. Anker's 10,000mAh power bank seems like a great fit for anyone who needs to quickly fill up their phone or tablet without sacrificing bag space. And now, it's cheaper than ever at Amazon, where you can snag one for $12.94 in one of four colors. This battery's other big selling point is that it has a built-in USB-C charging cable that doubles as a handle, so no need to bring your own (and no worries if you forget one). If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission.
WIRED
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- WIRED
We Bought a ‘Peeing' Robot Attack Dog From Temu. It Was Even Weirder Than Expected
For less than the cost a round of drinks, a plasticized Boston Dynamics fever dream could be yours too. Courtesy of Esat Dedezade All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. In my 15 years of reviewing tech, this pellet-firing, story-telling, pretend-urinating robot attack dog is easily the strangest thing I've ever tested. Arriving in a slightly battered box following a series of questionable decisions on Temu, I'm immediately drawn to the words 'FIRE BULLETS PET' emblazoned on the box. And there, resting behind the protective plastic window with all the innocence of a newborn lamb, lies the plastic destroyer of worlds that my four-and-a-half-year-old immediately (and inexplicably), names Clippy. Clippy is a robot dog. Of sorts. And he (my son assures me that it's a he), is clearly influenced by the remarkable, and somewhat terrifying, robotic canine creations of Boston Dynamics—a renowned company that's leading the robot revolution. Naturally, given the $50 price tag (a little less if you don't want the—ahem—spinal-mounted pellet gun), I'm not expecting Clippy to perform miracles. But, given my track record, being served an Instagram ad promising all manner of animatronic wizardry for less than the cost of a round of drinks in a London bar, the opportunity was too tempting to pass up. What happened, almost inevitably, was a lesson in not taking the social media ads you are served at face value. But, actually? It was also a lot of ridiculous fun. Robot Attack Dog: Lab Notes After freeing Clippy from his box, I'm immediately met with some of the lightest, cheapest, glossiest plastic I've ever come across. I have nothing against plastic. Remember the Nokia Lumia 920? Its polycarbonate body remains one of my favourite phone designs to this day. Sturdy, solid, and light, it was everything an object clad in plastic should be. Clippy and his accompanying remote, on the other hand, provide a somewhat Christmas cracker toy-like level of confidence in their durability. Clippy's main body, filled with the bulk of the electronics, is weighty enough, but his four spindly legs do not give the impression that they're up to the task of supporting anything. Except, of course, that I am in ownership of the turret-toting model, which promises to lay waste to enemies by bombarding them with water-absorbent pellets (more on that in a bit). Overall, the entire ensemble resembles an elongated CCTV camera on legs, with a turret resting on top—suitably menacing, and genuinely not far off Boston Dynamic's bona fide offering, in looks, at least. Courtesy of Esat Dedezade Elsewhere, I can only assume that the controller has been pumped full of helium, such is its hollow, airy lightness. Heavily inspired by the shape of an Xbox controller, I particularly love the fact that its bumper buttons and triggers are simply formed from one immobile piece of moulded plastic. There's something quite beautiful in their utter uselessness that I enjoy very much. As for the business end, it's an ADHD nightmare. Littered with a chaotic array of buttons in seemingly no logical order, I give credit to the designers for creating a controller that laughs in the face of muscle memory. Initial attempts at turning Clippy on are unsuccessful. The on/off switch does nothing, and the charging light remains dead when the USB-C cable is plugged in. There are no instructions. Opening the battery compartment reveals the culprit—the battery is disconnected. Was this to avoid it draining in transit, or to reduce the risk of spontaneous combustion? Either way, it's plugged back in. Clippy lives. And wow, he's loud. The built-in speakers are beyond shrill. I desperately look through the carnage of controller buttons, hoping to find a volume or mute option. There isn't one. Naturally, I press 'urinate' first. Clippy's hind leg raises. That, I expected. What I didn't expect, was cheerful whistling, and the sound of water tinkling into a toilet bowl. I look, and happen upon the 'handstand' button. This, I feel, will be an impressive test of his dexterity. A handstand maneuver will surely call upon multiple gyroscopes and accelerometers, combining and crunching data from numerous sensors in real time to ensure that Clippy's body remains perfectly poised in balance. I press the button, and Clippy immediately—and rather violently—faceplants. The force of this manoeuvre takes me off guard, and the impact is loud. I am worried. A moment passes, his rear legs rise, and they begin to twitch. I presume this apparent seizure is meant to represent elegant scissor kicks. It's reminiscent of how ants communicate with their antennae, a form of silent communication. 'Don't blame me bro, did you really expect anything else?' I can almost hear him plead. But, somehow, Clippy does return to his feet and appears unscathed, ready for more. Me? I'm not so sure. Multitalented As I mentioned, the controller has many, many buttons—no less than 17 functions in fact—and I'm not going to bore you with overly gratuitous descriptions for each one. Instead, here's a quick rundown of the main buttons, to give you a general idea of some of Clippy's talents: Kung fu: Absolutely zero semblance of any martial art moves, or even a cheeky backflip. Instead (and completely inexplicably), some form of poolside, Lost Frequencies-esque lounge music blasts out. Clippy 'dances.' Swimming/Dance: I recently saw Usher perform live. Both of these buttons involve vigorous floor-humping that surpass even his most sexually charged efforts. A truly impressive feat. Oh, and a side note for any optimists out there, Clippy is not waterproof. Do not, I repeat do not, introduce him to water. Push-up: Clippy blasts out push-ups while playing the guitar riff from'Eye of the Tiger.' I have no further notes. Story: Buckle up, pressing this button results in very loud, tinny classical music blaring out over a spoken story. The narrator has an Eric Cartman-like twang to their voice, and the speaker quality means I can barely make out what's being said. The only plot I manage to grasp is about an old woman and an ageing cat. The woman scolds the cat for not being able to catch mice, as it has no teeth. The cat bestows a moral about respecting our elders for the contributions they used to make in their youth. The next story, I think, involves a pigeon. It may be injured. Courtesy of Esat Dedezade Despite this clearly incredible skillset, it is interesting that Clippy's ability to be controlled or steered via the remote is … flawed. Going forward is generally fine, and there are left and right buttons which cause him to turn very slowly, often toppling over in the process. There is no reverse, so I constantly have to pick him up before he collides with walls and furniture (no collision detection cameras appear to be present). He can, at least, shake hands (or "hadn-shake" on the remote) like any well-trained pup. It would also be remiss not to mention that there is an official app which lets you control your robot dog via Bluetooth. Once you figure out how to change the language to English, it's easy enough to navigate, and there are even some bonus features they couldn't squeeze onto the remote. For example, you can select different 'foods' for him to eat, ranging from a bone to 'Nuclear Energy Source'—all of which result in various forms of eating animations. There's also a voice command mode, which doesn't seem to work. Despite offering all the permissions asked for (including, against my better judgement, access to my phone and files), voice commands seem to fall on deaf ears. There's also a program mode which lets you set up custom actions, though all my attempts seem to end up in more faceplants. Munitions Report According to the product page, Clippy's back-mounted turret 'can be loaded with water bombs to launch for fun.' The image accompanying this description is impressive. Two blue projectiles appear to blast forth from the cannon. I immediately picture an autonomous robotic guard dog patrolling the house, scanning for threats, and dispensing justice as appropriate. The reality is a tiny packet of minuscule blue balls, about a millimetre in diameter. Once soaked in water for a few hours, they plump up, and you can load them into the turret, before firing away. The test takes place in the makeshift bathtub firing range. I drop a few of the blue gel-like pellets into what is presumably the correct slot in the turret (I once again remind you of the lack of any instructions), and tell my son to stand back, in case the velocity rebounds anything towards our eyes. I look down at the controller, and finally press the 'attack' button. Clippy walks forward a few steps, crouches to steady his aim, and two pellets dribble out with all the urgency of a clogged ketchup bottle. This method is repeated about ten times, with mixed results. At best, a pellet is fired relatively straight, but still not without any meaningful force—certainly not enough to even penetrate a wet square of toilet paper. We tried. After the ammo is spent, we decide that it's time to watch him faceplant again. But should you buy this thing, as (relatively) cheap as it is? I think the answer is obvious. But while it's all too easy to slate, playing around with Clippy has taken me back to my childhood, where toys like this were life. Clippy, as terrible as he is, has entertained my son daily, for the week that we've spent testing him. He brought him into our bedroom every morning, waking me up with a shrill, unintelligible story before blasting out a guitar riff with an enthusiasm that is already wearing thin. It won't be long, of course, before Clippy gathers dust in some corner, replaced by the Next Thing. I imagine he'll end up in a thrift store, awaiting a new family to dazzle and confuse in equal measure. I just hope, whoever they are, that they like Survivor.
Geeky Gadgets
19-05-2025
- Geeky Gadgets
Pixel 9a Durability: How Tough is Google's Mid-Ranger
The Google Pixel 9a, priced at $499, positions itself as a mid-range smartphone with a sleek, minimalist design and a focus on durability. While it offers solid performance and practical features, concerns about repairability and environmental impact cast a shadow over its appeal. The video below from JerryRigEverything gives us a detailed look at the Pixel 9a's design, durability, sustainability, and more. Watch this video on YouTube. Design and Build: Minimalist Aesthetic Meets Practicality The Pixel 9a adopts a clean, understated design that avoids the bulky camera bumps commonly seen in modern smartphones. Its aluminum side rails and plastic back panel strike a balance between durability and affordability, making it a practical choice for everyday use. The device features a 6.3-inch 1080p display with a smooth 120 Hz refresh rate, delivering a responsive and visually pleasing experience. With an impressive 2,700 nits of brightness, the screen ensures excellent visibility even in direct sunlight, making it suitable for outdoor use. However, the display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, which, while durable, offers less impact resistance compared to newer versions of Gorilla Glass, leaving it more vulnerable to drops. The phone's minimalist design extends to its overall build, with metal buttons integrated into the frame for a premium touch. While this design approach enhances usability and aesthetics, it does little to differentiate the Pixel 9a from competitors in the mid-range market. Durability: Solid Build with Minor Vulnerabilities In terms of durability, the Pixel 9a performs well for its price range. The Gorilla Glass 3 screen resists scratches at industry-standard levels, providing adequate protection against everyday wear and tear. The phone's structural rigidity is comparable to premium devices like the iPhone, making sure it can withstand moderate physical stress without bending or cracking. However, the design includes a large, unprotected speaker grill, which raises concerns about water resistance. This feature could allow moisture or debris to enter the device, potentially compromising its long-term reliability in harsher environments. While the Pixel 9a is not marketed as a rugged smartphone, this vulnerability may be a drawback for users who frequently expose their devices to challenging conditions. Camera Technology: Reliable but Unremarkable The Pixel 9a is equipped with a 48 MP main camera featuring optical image stabilization (OIS), which ensures sharp and stable images in various lighting conditions. This is complemented by a 13 MP ultrawide camera, which expands the phone's photographic capabilities. However, the ultrawide lens lacks OIS, which may limit its performance in low-light or fast-moving scenarios, resulting in less consistent image quality. Both cameras are housed under a single oval glass piece, providing adequate protection without adding unnecessary bulk to the phone's design. While the camera system is capable and reliable, it does not introduce any significant advancements in smartphone photography. For users seeking innovative camera technology, the Pixel 9a may fall short of expectations. Repairability: A Key Weakness One of the most significant drawbacks of the Pixel 9a is its repairability. While the screen can be replaced without removing the back panel, the battery removal process is notably challenging. Google has used a permanent adhesive to secure the battery, making replacement difficult and potentially hazardous. This design choice complicates repairs and raises concerns about the phone's environmental impact, as it hinders recycling efforts. For users who prioritize long-term usability and sustainability, this aspect of the Pixel 9a may be a dealbreaker. Critics argue that the use of permanent adhesive undermines Google's sustainability claims, despite the phone's use of recycled aluminum in its construction. This trade-off between durability and repairability highlights a significant limitation in the device's design. Additional Features: Practical but Uninspired The Pixel 9a includes a 23-watt USB-C 3.2 charging port, allowing fast and efficient charging for users on the go. However, the device lacks a microSD card slot, limiting options for storage expansion. This omission may be a drawback for users who require additional storage for photos, videos, or apps. Despite these limitations, the phone's metal buttons and integrated frame design add a touch of sophistication to its overall build. While these features enhance usability, they do little to set the Pixel 9a apart from its competitors in the crowded mid-range market. For users seeking innovative or standout features, the Pixel 9a may feel underwhelming. Environmental Impact: Sustainability Efforts Fall Short Google has made efforts to incorporate recycled aluminum into the Pixel 9a's construction, which is a commendable step toward sustainability. However, the use of permanent adhesive for the battery undermines these efforts. This design choice complicates recycling and raises questions about Google's commitment to environmental responsibility. For eco-conscious consumers, the inability to easily replace or recycle the battery may outweigh the phone's other merits. While the use of recycled materials is a positive step, the overall environmental impact of the Pixel 9a remains a concern, particularly when compared to devices that prioritize repairability and recyclability. A Balanced Offering with Notable Trade-Offs The Google Pixel 9a delivers a solid mid-range smartphone experience, offering a minimalist design, durable construction, and capable cameras. However, its repairability and environmental impact are significant drawbacks. The use of permanent adhesive for the battery not only complicates repairs but also detracts from the phone's sustainability. While the Pixel 9a may appeal to users seeking a functional and durable device, its design choices make it less suitable for environmentally conscious consumers or those who prioritize long-term repairability. For users willing to overlook these shortcomings, the Pixel 9a offers a reliable and practical option in the mid-range smartphone market. Expand your understanding of Google Pixel 9a Durability with additional resources from our extensive library of articles. Source & Image Credit: JerryRigEverything Filed Under: Android News, Mobile Phone News, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
Phone Arena
12-05-2025
- Phone Arena
I thought I found the PERFECT budget phone, until I noticed this
You would think that in 2025, nearly 20 years since the first smartphones arrived, we would finally be able to buy a no-compromise phone for a budget price. But that hasn't really been the case. In the past few years, smartphone prices have gone up, not down. And the quality of budget phones has honestly improved in very slow increments. Just look at devices like the $200 Samsung Galaxy A16 with a processor that still stutters and lags, making an easy argument to upgrade to a more expensive device. Even at the $300 price point, you have devices like the Moto G series that come with a compromised LCD screen rather than OLED. So you can see how I was really excited to test a new kind of budget phone that made very little of those adjustments. Big and beautiful OLED screen? Check. Fast and smoother performance. You've got it. Decent haptics? Surprisingly, yes! A good camera? Yes, indeed. Thin and lightweight? You bet! Solid battery life. Check again. And there are many other details that make this phone special, including just the sheer value of getting a phone with 256GB of storage for $280, while Samsung charges $300 for the Galaxy A26 that only has 128 GB on board. Not to mention the creativity of Nothing. You can add a screw-on case with custom lenses and it also adds MagSafe magnets to the back of the phone. And you can easily add a kickstand or a lanyard. Now, that's cool and creative. So… have I found the perfect budget phone? Well, those were my thoughts in the first few days of living with the CMF Phone 2 Pro, the latest creation by former OnePlus guru Carl Pei (now founder and CEO of London-based phone maker Nothing). There was really very little to dislike about the CMF Phone 2 Pro, even from a seasoned and occasionally grumpy phone reviewer like myself. But then I opened the YouTube Music app, played my favorite song and the moment I heard it, I knew that this was a deal-breaker. I had just stumbled upon the biggest flaw of this otherwise phenomenal budget phone. Yep, the loudspeaker quality kind of sucked. The sound was too quiet, but also the low frequencies were completely missing and even the mids sound muddy. It's just an incredibly dull listening experience, and I was so disappointed I had to turn off the song immediately. Now, I am the kind of person who listens to a lot of music, YouTube videos and podcasts on their phone, and if you are not like me, then great — consider the CMF Phone 2 Pro about as perfect as budget phones get. But if you like listening to music on your phone, too, then… curb your enthusiasm. And it's a bummer that most reviewers don't seem to ever mention that as if it was not something you bump into every day. I am not saying other budget phones in the sub-$300 price will give you much better sound quality. I would actually suggest going for at least a $400 phone for that, but I was hoping the CMF would be different in its new energy and vigor. After all, wouldn't it be the dream to finally have THE PERFECT budget phone? But let me know: do you care about the loudspeaker on your phone, and is that an important factor for you when you pick your next phone? Read more about in our in-depth CMF Phone 2 Pro review
Digital Trends
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Does Nothing's new CMF phone bend or break in durability test?
Nothing's new CMF Phone 2 Pro has been very warmly received since its launch last month, with many loving it for its fun design and decent specs for a handset costing just $279. A new Android phone like this was always going to attract the attention of YouTuber Zack Nelson — he of JerryRigEverything — who's just dropped a new durability video featuring Nothing's latest budget device. His infamous test subjects phones to an unrealistic amount of scratching, scraping, burning, and bending, but offers viewers a good idea of just how robust a handset is in the face of extreme pressure. The display on the CMF Phone 2 Pro, it turns out, offers a decent amount of scratch resistance, with Nelson noting that it's made of Panda Glass, which is similar to Corning's Gorilla Glass in that it's designed to offer not only scratch resistance but also drop protection and decent touch sensitivity. Next, out comes the box cutter, which the tech YouTuber then happily drags down the side of the device. It's no surprise that the CMF Phone 2 Pro's frame doesn't come out well here, with the plastic frame unable to offer any real protection against the bladed onslaught. So, you know, keep your box cutter away from this device. Nelson, who now has more than nine million followers, then uses the blade to carve out a drawing of a carrot on the phone's plastic orange back, demonstrating that the back is also plastic, and that he can draw a carrot. The naked flame test does what it says on the tin, testing the phone's 6.77-inch AMOLED display against the heat of a naked flame, and it actually holds up surprisingly well in the face of prolonged burning. Finally, the bend test. It's not scientific — Nelson simply bends it with his bare hands — but it gives you some idea of a phone's structural integrity. There have been handsets that have broken clean in two, but the CMF Phone 2 Pro suffers nothing more than a little flexing, and continues to operate normally. It's all very impressive. Commenting on the handset at the end, Nelson says: 'I'm a big fan of the innovation, and an extra big fan of the price point, and I'm looking forward to seeing what CMF comes out with next.'
