The Morning After: Xbox console revenue fell off a cliff this year

Microsoft’s latest earnings report for the quarter ending on September 30 revealed that revenue from the Xbox hardware fell 30 percent year over year.

Worse, in a way, this revenue decline doesn’t reflect any dip in sales caused by the console’s $20 to $70 price hike, since that took effect on October 3 — after this earnings report. (Oh, and Microsoft raised the price for its Game Pass Ultimate subscription from $20 to $30 in October.)

Fortunately, revenue from Xbox content and services, specifically, remained relatively unchanged from the same period last year. That’s the Game Pass component of Microsoft’s gaming business.

When Microsoft started cutting down its global workforce earlier this year, Xbox was hit hard, with the company canceling games, like a modern reimagining of Perfect Dark, and even shutting the Xbox studio working on it.

More broadly, Microsoft’s revenue is up, with CEO Satya Nadella posting a few highlights about the company’s earnings call on X, which mostly focused on AI. He said the company will increase its AI capacity by 80 percent this year.

— Mat Smith

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1X Neo is a $20,000 home robot that will learn chores via teleoperation

Not nightmare fuel at all.

1X

Just in time for your Halloween nightmares, here comes Neo. From California-based AI and robotics company 1X, it’s designed to deal with everyday chores and tasks.

But not out of the box. At launch, it’ll be able to open doors, fetch items and turn lights on and off. More complicated tasks will require a human teleoperator to control the robot remotely, training the Neo to repeat the task. Horror movie premise? Tick.

1X CEO Bernt Børnich explained that the AI neural network inside the Neo has to learn from more real-world experiences. To do so, buyers will have to agree to a human operator seeing their houses through the robot’s camera, judging their cleanliness levels and interior decor decisions. (Probably.)

Continue reading.

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Finally, a proper trailer for the last season of Stranger Things

Questions!

Netflix

Three and a half years since season four of Stranger Things premiered, we get a true trailer for the fifth and final season. As Lawrence Bonk notes, it appears that the conclusion of the series will be an action-packed affair, heavy on emotion and light on the type of ’80s humor the show became known for. Poor Will, he’s getting some of the worst of it, again.

Watch here. 

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Engadget’s best tech of 2025

The highest-rated devices we reviewed this year in a variety of categories.

Halloween is almost over, so it’s time to assess the entire year, buy holiday presents and generally pretend there aren’t two whole months before the end of 2025. So we have compiled a list of the best gear we reviewed this year based on the highest review scores in each category. From Pixel to iPad and Switch 2 to Sony WH-1000XM6, our reviews team has spent thousands of hours testing new products this year to discover the best of the best. These are those! I ended up buying five of them — is that enough to keep my job?

Continue reading.

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50 percent off a year subscription to one of our favorite budgeting apps

A year for $50.

If you’re a former Mint user (RIP), Monarch Money is a great alternative. Monarch has a steeper learning curve than some other budget trackers, but it offers a great deal of customization and granularity, which outweighs the complexity. If you use the code MONARCHVIP at checkout, you can get an annual plan for 50 percent off. Some caveats, though: The discount is only for new users, and you can’t combine it with other offers. The code only works when you sign up through the web.

Continue reading.

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What's next for Vision Pro? Apple should take a cue from Xreal's smart glasses

Forget Samsung's $1,800 Galaxy XR, the Android XR device I'm actually intrigued to see is Xreal's Project Aura, an evolution of the company's existing smart glasses. Instead of being an expensive and bulky headset like the Galaxy XR and Apple Vision Pro, Xreal's devices are like over-sized sunglasses that project a virtual display atop transparent lenses. I genuinely loved Xreal's $649 One Pro for its comfort, screen size and relative affordability. 

Now that I'm testing the M5-equipped Vision Pro (full review to come soon!), it's clearer than ever that Apple should replicate Xreal's winning formula. It'll be a long while before we'll ever see a smaller Vision Pro-like device under $1,000, but Apple could easily build a similar set of comfortable smart glasses that more people could actually afford. And if they worked like Xreal's glasses, they'd also be far more useful than something like Meta's $800 Ray-Ban Display, which only has a small screen for notifications and quick tasks like video chats. 

Xreal One Pro smart glasses

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

While we don't have any pricing details for Project Aura yet, given Xreal's history of delivering devices between $200 and $649, I'd bet they'll come in cheaper than the Galaxy XR. Xreal's existing hardware is less complex than the Vision Pro and Galaxy XR, with smaller displays, a more limited field of view and no built-in battery. Project Aura differs a bit with its tethered computing puck, which will be used to power Android XR and presumably hold a battery. That component alone could drive its price up to $1,000 — but hey, that's better than $1,800.

During my time with the M5 Vision Pro, I couldn't help but imagine how Apple could bring visionOS to its own Xreal-like hardware, which I'll call the "Vision Air" for this thought experiment. The basic sunglasses design is easy enough to replicate, and I could see Apple leaning into lighter and more premium materials to make wearing the Vision Air even more comfortable than Xreal's devices. There's no doubt it would be lighter than the 1.6-pound Vision Pro, and since you'd still be seeing the real world, it also avoids the sense of being trapped in a dark VR headset. 

To power the Vision Air, Apple could repurpose the Vision Pro's battery pack and turn it into a computing puck like Project Aura's. It wouldn't need the full capabilities of the M5 chip, it would just have to be smart enough to juggle virtual windows, map objects in 3D space and run most visionOS apps. The Vision Air also wouldn't need the full array of cameras and sensors from the Vision Pro, just enough track your fingers and eyes. 

I could also see Apple matching, or even surpassing, Project Aura's 70-degree field of view, which is already a huge leap beyond the Xreal One Pro's 57-degree FOV. Xreal's earlier devices were severely limited by a small FOV, which meant that you could only see virtual screens through a tiny sliver. (That's a problem that also plagued early AR headsets like Microsoft's HoloLens.) While wearing the Xreal One Pro, though, I could see a huge 222-inch virtual display within my view. Pushing the FOV even higher would be even more immersive.

In my review of the original Vision Pro, I wrote, "If Apple just sold a headset that virtualized your Mac's screen for $1,000 this well, I'd imagine creative professionals and power users would be all over it." That may be an achievable goal for the Vision Air, especially if it's not chasing total XR immersion. And even if the Apple tax pushed the price up to $1,500, it would still be more sensible than the Vision Pro’s $3,500 cost. 

While I don’t have high hopes for Android XR, its mere existence should be enough to push Apple to double-down on visionOS and deliver something people can actually afford. If Xreal can design comfortable and functional smart glasses for a fraction of the Vision Pro’s cost, why can't Apple? 

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How to cancel your Surfshark subscription

I really like Surfshark VPN. Like I said in my full Surfshark review, it's the fastest VPN on the market, with download speeds that beat all the other best VPNs. It also gives you universal split tunneling, multi-hop with customizable endpoints and unlimited simultaneous connections.

Surfshark does have its flaws, though. The apps hang up on error messages a bit too often and features sometimes turn on when you don't need them. If anything about Surfshark is annoying you enough that you're ready to switch, here's how you can cancel your subscription, get a refund and (if you want) delete your account altogether.

How to cancel auto-renewal on Surfshark

To cancel Surfshark, all you need to do is stop your subscription from automatically renewing. After you cancel auto-renewal, you can keep using Surfshark for the rest of the period you paid for (unless you get the refund or delete your account entirely). Assuming you bought your subscription through the Surfshark website, follow these steps to cancel.

1. Go to Surfshark.com. At the top-right of the screen, click My account.

2. Enter your username and password, then log in. You'll be taken to your account dashboard at my.surfshark.com.

3. At the top-right of the screen, click your account email address. Click on Subscription in the drop-down menu.

4. Click the Payments tab under the words "Your subscription."

5. Scroll down to the "Subscription details" section. Next to your Surfshark subscription, click on Cancel auto-renewal.

Sam Chapman for Engadget

That's all there is to it. Remember that unless it's been 30 days or less since you subscribed, you won't be able to get a refund, and Surfshark doesn't offer prorating for unused time. Additionally, you can always cancel Surfshark by simply opening a live-chat window and asking the support team to do it for you — just be warned that you'll probably be asked to reconsider several times first.

How to cancel Surfshark if you subscribed through an app store

If you subscribed through an app store, the cancellation process is different. You'll have to stop your auto-renewal through the platform where you first bought the subscription. In this section, I'll cover how to cancel through the desktop versions of each app store, since requests submitted there are more likely to work. Just note that you can do the same thing by going to the subscriptions section of your profile on the appropriate mobile app store.

If you bought Surfshark through the Google Play Store, open play.google.com on a desktop computer. Click the circle at the top-right that contains your account's first initial, then click Payments & subscriptions in the menu that appears. On the new page, click the Subscriptions tab, then scroll down until you find Surfshark. Click Manage, click Cancel Subscription and follow the instructions.

If you went through the Apple App store, a desktop computer is also the easiest way to cancel. Open the App Store in macOS, click Sign In at the bottom-left, then enter your email and Apple ID password. After signing in, check the bottom-left again and click your name, then click Account Settings at the top-right. Click Subscriptions, find Surfshark, then click Edit and Cancel Subscription.

How to cancel Surfshark if you subscribed through Amazon

You can buy Surfshark through Amazon, but if you do, you'll also have to cancel through Amazon. Go to Amazon and log in to your account. At the top-right, click Account & Lists, then Membership & Subscriptions. Scroll until you find Surfshark and click Cancel Subscription. After that, follow the onscreen prompts.

How to delete your Surfshark account

It's possible to delete your Surfshark account and immediately end your association with every Surfshark app, but there's no direct method — your only option is to start a live chat conversation. To do that, go to support.surfshark.com, scroll to the bottom and click Chat with us. In the conversation window, tell the bot you want to delete your Surfshark account. Be prepared to fend off several requests for you to reconsider.

How to get a refund from Surfshark

Surfshark offers a full refund within 30 days of purchase. Live chat is the only way to request a refund. Go to support.surfshark.com and click Chat with us at the bottom of the page, then tell the live chat bot you want a full refund. It'll guide you from there.

Sam Chapman for Engadget

If you subscribed through Amazon or an app store, you'll need to request the refund through there instead. The typical refund policy for each platform applies, superseding Surfshark.

Surfshark alternatives

After you've cancelled Surfshark, I strongly recommend considering another VPN — it's not only a vital privacy precaution, but opens up worlds of streaming fun as well. My favorite for both price and performance is Proton VPN, but NordVPN is also a good choice, providing a similar experience to Surfshark but with apps that function a bit better. If you're prepared to pay a bit more for a service that works seamlessly, ExpressVPN may be for you.

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Saudi Arabia partners with Humain and Qualcomm to power next global AI frontier

A collaboration to deploy advanced AI infrastructure positions Saudi Arabia as a global hub for intelligent computing

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Saudi Arabia launches AI health coach to transform preventive care

Integrated into the national Sehaty app, the AI feature, developed with Lean Business Services and Google Cloud, marks a major step in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 journey toward smarter, more personalised healthcare

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The Morning After: Rivian spinoff Also made a modular e-bike with a virtual drivetrain

Spinning off from Rivian, the TM-B e-bike is Also’s attempt at a do-it-all e-bike. It’s pitching it as flexible enough for commuting, trail riding or kid- and cargo-hauling because its modular frame can swap in bench seats or cargo racks. But the frame only comes in a single size. Still, Also (hate that name) says the standard battery is good for 60 miles of riding and can be charged via USB-C.

Engadget

Besides the modularity, another unique feature is its drive system, called DreamRide. Instead of a mechanical connection between the bike’s rear wheel and the pedals, the TM-B uses “software-defined pedaling,” so pedaling transfers to the generator (and the battery) instead of simply pushing you forward. It’s a different take on e-bike riding, and I’m not entirely sold on it.

From the people that brought you Rivian vehicles, there are plenty more tech touches, including a 5-inch touchscreen display and a built-in security system that automatically locks the frame and rear wheel when you walk away, a la Cowboy and VanMoof.

The first model to ship will be the $4,500 TM-B Limited Launch Edition, which has a range of up to 100 miles. There’s also a $4,500 TM-B Performance model, with a slightly different color scheme, available in the “first half” of 2026. Finally, there’s a base-level TM-B model with a range of up to 60 miles, which only comes with standard ride modes. Also hasn’t announced an exact price but says it will cost less than $4,000 when it ships “later in 2026.”

— Mat Smith

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Google’s AI health coach will soon be available to some Fitbit Premium users

You’ll chat with a bot.

Google

A preview version of Google’s long-awaited AI health coach launches tomorrow for some Fitbit Premium users in the US. Google says it’ll incorporate user feedback to “add, change or improve features and capabilities.” The company warns users that “initially, there will be some gaps” as it sort of beta tests the coach. The coach can be a sounding board for personal health, fitness and sleep goals and also acts as a personal trainer. Google says it can check progress, create workouts, give advice on trends and review and adjust fitness plans.

Continue reading.

US Customs and Border Protection will photograph visitors for facial recognition database

Welcome to America.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) submitted a new measure that allows it — for facial recognition — to photograph any non-US citizen who enters or exits the country. CBP and the Department of Homeland Security want to crack down on threats of terrorism, fraudulent use of travel documents and anyone who exceeds their authorized stay, according to a filing with the government’s Federal Register. The government agency can already request photos and fingerprints from anyone entering the country, but this rule change would allow it to gather photos of anyone exiting as well.

Continue reading.

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CBP will photograph non-citizens entering and exiting the US for its facial recognition database

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) submitted a new measure that allows it to photograph any non-US citizen who enters or exits the country for facial recognition purposes. According to a filing with the government's Federal Register, CBP and the Department of Homeland Security are looking to crack down on threats of terrorism, fraudulent use of travel documents and anyone who overstays their authorized stay.

The filing detailed that CBP will "implement an integrated, automated entry and exit data system to match records, including biographic data and biometrics, of aliens entering and departing the United States." The government agency already has the ability to request photos and fingerprints from anyone entering the country, but this new rule change would allow for requiring photos of anyone exiting as well. These photos would "create galleries of images associated with individuals, including photos taken by border agents, and from passports or other travel documents," according to the filing, adding that these galleries would be compared to live photos at entry and exit points.

These new requirements are scheduled to go into effect on December 26, but CBP will need some time to implement a system to handle the extra demand. According to the filing, the agency said "a biometric entry-exit system can be fully implemented at all commercial airports and sea ports for both entry and exit within the next three to five years."

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Apple is reportedly getting ready to introduce ads to its Maps app

Opening Apple's Maps app just for directions may look a little different in the near future. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to introduce ads to Maps as soon as next year. While it won't be as annoying as unskippable YouTube ads, Apple wants to offer better visibility on Maps to restaurants and businesses that are willing to pay.

When looking for a new restaurant or relevant business, you may already be used to seeing ads on Google Maps or Yelp that highlight certain establishments. However, Gurman said that Apple is planning to lean on AI for better search results and offer a better interface than Google Maps. The introduction of ads across Apple's iOS ecosystem shouldn't be surprising since Gurman previously reported Apple's interest back in 2022. On top of that, Apple already offers ad slots within the App Store where developers can pay to appear in a more visible position for user searches. Beyond Maps, Apple could be looking at infusing ads into its News, Books, Podcasts and other apps to generate more revenue.

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The next iPad Pro could be the first to get vapor chamber cooling

The iterative upgrades for iPads may not be enticing enough to warrant a new purchase every year, but Apple may have a particularly cool upgrade to convince users to shell out for the next iPad Pro. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to include a vapor chamber for the upcoming iPad Pro that's due to ship with the M6 chip.

We've already seen the vapor chamber included in the iPhone 17 Pro models, helping to boost cooling and performance. While an iPad's larger surface area makes for greater heat dissipation than an iPhone, this cooling system should make the tablet more capable when it comes to demanding tasks, like gaming, video editing or AI apps. Gurman also predicts that Apple could market the vapor chamber cooling as another way to differentiate between the iPad models. 

Apple previously improved the cooling performance of iPad Pros with the M4 generation, which included a new copper heat sink. With the vapor chamber, Apple is borrowing a concept already found in other smartphones from Samsung and Google. Samsung has even included this style of liquid cooling in its Galaxy Tab S9, which came out in 2023. As for the first potential iPad Pro with a vapor chamber, Gurman said he expects Apple to follow its typical 18-month release schedule, meaning the M6 iPad Pro with improved heat performance could come out sometime in 2027.

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Google's Gemini will now generate presentations for you

Google is rolling out out a new feature for Gemini's Canvas, the free interactive workspace inside the AI chatbot's app, meant for students and employees who need to create presentations. Gemini is now capable of generating slides with just a prompt, though users can also upload files like documents, spreadsheets and research papers if they want a presentation based on a specific source. If the source doesn't matter, users can write a prompt, such as "Upload any source to create a presentation on [a specific topic]," for instance. But if the source is essential, they can upload the file first and then ask Gemini to create the presentation for them. 

5/ Up your presentation game in Canvas

Upload any source to create entire decks with images and data visualization. Export to Google Slides to add any finishing touches. Rolling out to Pro subscribers today and to Free users in the coming weeks pic.twitter.com/70qercWf4E

— Google Gemini App (@GeminiApp) October 24, 2025

The resulting decks already have a theme and images attached with the text. Users will be able to export them straight from the Gemini app into Google Slides, though, and will still be able to edit and refine the decks as needed or work on it in collaboration with a teammate. The capability is now making its way to both personal and Workspace accounts.

Google launched Canvas in March for people to use when they want to share their writing or code to Gemini for editing. If users put in code or prompts for projects like apps, web pages and infographics, Canvas will be able to show them a visual representation of their design. 

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Shuttered robot vacuum maker Neato is ending cloud services sooner than planned

Starting soon, Neato robovac owners will no longer be able to control their devices using the app. Neato Robotics, which shut down in 2023 due to declining sales, has notified customers that "cloud services are being phased out during Q4 2025," according to an email obtained by The Verge. 

While Neato's parent company Vorwerk Group initially said cloud support would continue for at least five years following its closure, the email now says "cybersecurity standards, compliance obligations, and regulations have advanced in ways that make it no longer possible to safely and sustainably operate these legacy systems." This doesn't mean existing Neato products will be completely bricked — there's still the option to start them manually by pressing a button — but they won't offer all the smart home conveniences expected from a robovac that cost hundreds of dollars. Without use of the app, customers won't be able to set cleaning schedules, remotely start the vacuums or assign No-go zones.

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Apple makes the M5 MacBook Pro's battery ever so slightly easier to replace

Just like a minor upgrade in specs, Apple's latest M5 MacBook Pro gets the slightest improvement when it comes to repairability. According to iFixit's teardown, the M5 MacBook Pro is the first of its kind that lets you replace the battery without having to remove the trackpad. However, Apple's official method of replacing the battery still requires navigating an arduous process that may steer most users away.

For anyone willing to tackle the DIY repair, Apple's Self Service Repair Store only offers a Top Case with Battery and Keyboard in its product parts catalog. Since the only option to replace the battery is buying this main chassis part with both the keyboard and battery pre-installed, MacBook Pro owners will also have to disassemble an irritating number of unrelated screws and hardware — except for the trackpad — just to replace a battery. However, iFixit confirmed that Apple included a slightly upgraded 72.6Wh battery with the latest MacBook Pro compared to its predecessor's 72.4Wh battery.

It's minor progress for battery replacement, so iFixit still gave the M5 MacBook Pro a four out of 10 repairability score, meaning it's possible to do yourself, but it's "tougher than it needs to be." The latest score is a bump down from the M1 MacBook Pro that earned a five out of 10, but Apple has made incremental steps towards making MacBook repairs more accessible.

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How to cancel your Spotify subscription

Spotify recently came under fire for running recruitment ads for ICE, which ask users to "join the mission to protect America" and to "fulfill [their] mission," in the US. Despite music labels calling on the streaming service to stop serving ICE recruitment ads, Spotify doubled down. A spokesperson for the company told The Independent that the ads are "part of a broad campaign" by the US government running across different channels and that they do not violate its policies. The spokesperson advised users to just mark ads with a thumbs up or down so that the app can learn their preferences. 

In addition, several artists have pulled their music from Spotify recently over its CEO's, Daniel EK's, investments in European defense tech firm Helsing. The defense company builds drones, aircraft and submarines, and it also sells AI software that can analyze sensor and weapons data from battlefields. Spotify has been facing backlash for its payout rates, which artists argue are unfair and lower than what other services pay, over the past few years as well. 

So if you want to cancel Spotify, whether for any those reasons or another one altogether, you can follow the instructions below. 

How to cancel via web:

1. Log into your Spotify account in your browser. 

2. Go to Account in the dropdown menu that shows up when you click on your Profile. 

3. Find Cancel Subscription under the Subscription section. 

4. Spotify will tell you that you'll hear ads every 15 minutes on a free account, along with the date when your premium access will end. Click "Continue to cancel" at the bottom of the screen. 

If you're on mobile, make sure to request the desktop site after you log into your account on your mobile browser. Take note that if you're part of a Spotify Family or Duo plan, only the plan manager will be able to cancel your subscription altogether. If you follow the same steps above as a member, you'll only remove your account from the plan, but the manager will continue paying for it. 

How to cancel via third-party provider:

If you pay for your subscription through third-party providers, you can follow these instructions instead.

Cancel via Google

1. Fire up the Google Play app and tap on the icon for the account you use. 

2. Go to Payments & subscriptions. 

3. Tap on Subscriptions. 

4. Find Spotify among your subscriptions and tap on it. 

5. Tap on Cancel Subscription at the bottom of the screen, select a reason for cancellation and confirm it. 

Cancel via Apple

1. Go to Settings in your iPhone or iPad. 

2. Tap on your name and go to Subscriptions. 

3. Find Spotify and go through the cancellation process. 

Cancel via carrier

Instructions for this may vary, depending on your carrier. Generally, however, you can follow these steps. 

1. Log into your carrier account on its website. 

2. Find the option to manage your subscriptions under your account. 

3. Find Spotify and go through the cancellation process. 

What happens after you cancel

You'll still have access to Spotify's premium features until your next billing cycle begins. That means you still won't encounter ads and will have access to offline downloads, as well as unlimited skips and higher audio quality. You'll be able to access your Spotify library even with a free account, but if you want to find another streaming service to pay for, you can check Engadget's list of best music streaming services in 2025. 

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How to unpair your Apple Watch from your iPhone

If you’re moving on to a new Apple Watch, selling your current one or fixing some software hiccups, you’ll probably need to disconnect it from your iPhone. Apple calls this unpairing; it’s the step that wipes your watch, breaks the connection to your phone and removes Activation Lock so the next person can use it. The good news is that unpairing is straightforward whether you have your iPhone nearby or not. Here’s how it works, along with why you might want to disconnect your watch in the first place.

How to disconnect Apple Watch using your iPhone

The simplest way to unpair your Apple Watch is through your iPhone.

1. Keep your iPhone and Apple Watch close together.

2. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.

3. Navigate to the My Watch tab, then All Watches at the top.

4. Tap the info button next to the watch you want to disconnect.

5. Select Unpair Apple Watch, then select Unpair [your Apple Watch name].

6. If you have a cellular model, choose whether to keep or remove your cellular plan. Remove it if you’re selling or giving away the watch. Keep it if you plan to pair it again later

7. Enter your Apple Account password when asked to turn off Activation Lock, then select Unpair.

Your iPhone will create a backup before erasing the watch. When you set up a new Apple Watch, you can choose to restore from that backup and carry on with your data and settings intact.

How to disconnect Apple Watch without your iPhone

If you don’t have your paired iPhone with you, you can still reset your Apple Watch directly. This will wipe your data, but won’t create a backup and Activation Lock will remain, so keep that in mind if you want to save your information.

• On your Apple Watch, open Settings.

• Select General, then scroll down and select Reset.

• Select Erase All Content and Settings.

• Enter your passcode if prompted.

• For cellular models, choose whether to keep or remove your plan.

Your watch will erase itself and restart as if it were brand new.

Why you should disconnect your Apple Watch

There are a few reasons you might want to unpair your Apple Watch. Maybe you’re upgrading to a new model and need to start fresh. Maybe you’re trading it in, selling it or handing it down to someone else. You might also need to disconnect your watch if you’re troubleshooting. Sometimes a clean reset is the easiest way to fix syncing issues, missed notifications or fitness data that isn’t updating.

Whatever the reason, unpairing keeps your data safe, makes sure a backup is stored and disables Activation Lock. That last step is important because if you skip it, the next owner won’t be able to use the watch.

What happens to your data when you disconnect your Apple Watch?

When you unpair your Apple Watch using your iPhone, the watch creates a backup that includes app data, settings and most health and fitness information. This backup is stored on your iPhone and will transfer to iCloud if you have backups turned on. That makes it easy to restore everything on a new watch.

If you reset from the watch without your iPhone, a backup is not created. Your data will be erased and the watch will be wiped clean, but Activation Lock remains.

Activation Lock is tied to your Apple Account and helps keep your watch secure if it’s lost or stolen. It turns on automatically when you pair your watch with your iPhone. That’s why unpairing isn’t the same as a simple reset. You need the Apple Account and password associated with the watch to turn off Activation Lock.

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The Morning After: Samsung’s Galaxy XR enters the chat

This week, Samsung showed off Galaxy XR, its Vision Pro-troubling headset, and you can bet we’ve done a deep dive. Sam Rutherford got one of these strapped to his head and has plenty of feelings about the new hardware.

The headset is lighter, more comfortable and easier to live with than Apple’s Vision Pro, even if it lacks many of its headline features. The software ecosystem is already pretty broad, thanks to Google making a real effort with Android XR, but dedicated apps are still a bit rare.

Samsung’s entry into the market might provide some much-needed impetus for this type of augmented reality headset. That it’s half the price of Apple’s Vision Pro may also loosen some wallets eager to get into this world.

But it’s hard not to see this as Samsung running down the same cul-de-sac Apple is now lurking at the end of. It has allowed other companies, like Meta, to waltz in and grab an early lead in the much more useful smart glasses market.

— Dan Cooper

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The news you might have missed

• The first e-bike from Rivian spinoff Also has a virtual drivetrain
  I’m more interested in its Bakfiets-esque quad bike for driving kids around.

• Amazon’s smart glasses with AI will help its drivers deliver packages faster
  It’s just like RoboCop, only with more peeing in bottles.

• ChatGPT in WhatsApp will stop working in January
  Meta is kicking its AI rival off its platform.

Apple MacBook Pro M5 14-inch review: A huge graphics upgrade for creators and gamers

The GPU is the star here.

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

Apple’s online-only announcement of the new vanilla M5 MacBooks might have been a sign the new models were no big deal. But Devindra Hardawar found these were, in fact, quite a big deal, and the M5’s faster GPU has the chops to go toe-to-toe with a gaming PC.

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Toyota’s new all-hybrid RAV4 has software you might actually want to use

It wants to offer a better alternative to your smartphone.

Tim Stevens for Engadget

Toyota isn’t happy folks just default to CarPlay or Android Auto for their in-car infotainment. That’s why it’s chosen to radically redesign its OS for the 2026 RAV4 to include voice and touch control. Tim Stevens has ridden the new whip and has plenty of opinions on whether it’s worth your time or, you know… you’ll just default to CarPlay or Android Auto.

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iPad Pro M5 review: Speed boost

We reviewed the iPad Pro M5 and had some feelings.

Nathan Ingraham for Engadget

As much as I may want an iPad Pro, it wouldn’t play a role in my life that would get anywhere near to justifying its extortionate price. Consequently, I shall just live vicariously through Nathan Ingraham, who reviewed the M5 edition and found it to be a work of art. But, you know, it has a price so eye-watering that nobody who’s on the fence about owning one should bother. Then, Nate pivoted to writing about how the iPad Pro has, at least, carved out its own identity.

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New report leaks Amazon’s proposed mass-automation plans

It plans to replace more than half a million employees.

Amazon may be planning to use automation to eliminate more than half a million jobs in the next few years. The New York Times claims to have seen internal documents outlining the plans and the PR operation that’ll get underway ahead of time to quell public anger.

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Binance founder Changpeng Zhao lands a Trump pardon

Nothing to see here, move along.

Maybe there’s nothing interesting about the fact Changpeng Zhao was just pardoned by President Trump despite pleading guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act. I mean, yes, Zhao has ties to World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency venture linked to the Trump family. But that’s not uncommon, is it? Surely everyone would use the privilege of high office to exonerate people with whom they potentially have fruitful relationships. Right?

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The best headphones for running in 2025

UAE’s datacentre boom powers AI ambitions and digital sovereignty

Surging investments in cloud infrastructure and hyperscale capacity position the UAE as a regional digital powerhouse and a magnet for global tech giants

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The best noise-canceling headphones for 2025

Container storage: Five key things you need to know

We look at container storage and backup, diving deep into how storage works in containers, container storage interface, container-native storage, and the management platforms storage suppliers offer

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Samsung Galaxy XR: Everything you need to know

The best wireless headphones for 2025: Bluetooth options for every budget

iOS 26.1 Beta 4 lets you make Liquid Glass frosted

If you're not a big fan of the, well, glass in iOS 26's Liquid Glass interface, Apple has apparently heard you. The latest iOS 26.1 Beta 4 has a new toggle that lets you apply a "tinted" setting to boost the opacity of elements and add contrast, making them stand out better against the background, MacRumors reported. "Choose your preferred look for Liquid Glass. Clear is more transparent, revealing the content beneath. Tinted increases opacity and adds more contrast," the description states.

The new toggle (Settings > Display and Brightness on iPhone or iPad and System Settings > Appearance macOS) is a rare instance of Apple altering course on a design based on user input. The company said the setting was added as many beta users desired a more opaque option for Liquid Glass. That's putting it mildly, as you may have noticed on social media or Reddit. 

Apple

The setting is more noticeable on some areas of iOS than others. Toggling it from clear to tinted changes everything throughout iOS and affects apps and lock screen notifications as well. Other new changes in the latest beta include a Camera swipe toggle, a new slide-to-stop feature for alarms and timers, Settings updates, new Apple Intelligence languages and a new Apple TV app icon. If you're in the beta program, you can download the latest version now. 

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The Morning After: Amazon broke the internet (for a bit)

A decent-sized chunk of the internet stopped working after a fairly massive Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage. This included Venmo, Snapchat, Canva and Fortnite — even Amazon’s own products went on the fritz. Your humble narrator’s Ring Chimes started turning their night lights on and off entirely at random, with no prompting from yours truly.

The company has already fixed the DNS issue that caused the outage, but a failure like this, which knocks out so damn much of the internet, should serve as a reminder. After all, having so many critical systems in the same basket means that when something goes wrong, a lot of the internet stops working. All at once.

— Dan Cooper

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The news you might have missed

• Atari just announced the Intellivision Spirit, a revamp of the iconic 1980s gaming console
  Complete with games you’ll probably try once then never again.

• 8BitDo drops an NES-inspired collection for the console’s 40th anniversary
  Including our favorite Switch controller.

• China claims the NSA conducted cyberattacks on its national time center
  This is fine, honestly, totally fine.

Meta Ray-Ban Display review: Chunky frames with impressive abilities

The next generation of smart glasses has arrived.

Karissa Bell for Engadget

It’s teeth-grindingly frustrating that Meta seems to be the company that has worked out how to make a truly transformative pair of smart glasses. Karissa Bell has reviewed its new Ray-Ban Display and has plenty of praise for so much of what it can do. You should read her exhaustive review to learn more, but the biggest barriers to adoption are size and price. But you can bet your bottom dollar the second or third generation of these are going to be a smash hit. At least until Meta gets rocked by another scandal that prompts people to deactivate their accounts.

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Amazon reveals what one of the US’ first modular nuclear reactors will look like

It’s an anonymous-looking warehouse.

Amazon

Last year, Amazon announced it would bankroll construction of a small nuclear reactor (SMR) plant in Washington state. Now, the company is showing off renders of the Hanford facility, which look like any other anonymous-looking modern warehouse. If you’re curious, the SMRs in question will use high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, each one with a maximum output of 80 megawatts.

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Beats Powerbeats Fit review: Déjà vu, in a good way

A few small tweaks add up to a nicer package.

Valentina Palladino for Engadget

Apple has updated the Beats Fit Pro with more flexible wingtips, a smaller charging case and the added benefits of Apple’s H1 chip. Valentina Palladino has been testing them out and can tell you the good, the bad and the ugly about these updated earbuds. And, if I’m honest, there’s not much that’s bad or ugly about them. Maybe the battery life could be a bit longer.

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Apple is the new home for F1 in the US starting in 2026

It’s a pretty sweet deal given what’s thrown in.

Apple

In what can only be described as the least surprising sports rights streaming TV deal ever, Apple TV is the new home of F1 in the US. The five-year pact starts next year, with every practice, qualifying, sprint and race streaming live on Apple TV. Even better is that F1’s own excellent streaming platform, F1 TV Premium, will be a free perk for Apple TV subscribers.

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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd gen) review: Impactful upgrades to a familiar formula

Sony finally has a worthy rival.

Billy Steele for Engadget

Bose opted for evolution over revolution for its 2025 series of QuietComfort Ultra products and is garnering rave reviews. Billy Steele is effusive with praise, calling them “the best noise canceling headphones you can buy right now.” It looks as if someone has finally been able to lay a finger on Sony’s previously imperious XM series, even if Bose’s glossy finish is a bit much.

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Samsung Galaxy S25 FE review: Iterative to a fault

A swing and a miss for Samsung.

Igor Bonafacic for Engadget

Samsung follows each flagship phone launch with a Fan Edition, which trims the spec list to get the price down. Igor Bonifacic has reviewed the S25 FE and found a phone designed for an older paradigm, before cheaper rivals like the Nothing 3a Pro and Pixel 10 came along. His recommendation? Buy last year’s full-fat model during a sale and swerve the compromises.

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Yelp is getting more AI, including an upgraded chatbot

AI is the star of Yelp's fall product update. The review site has updated Yelp Assistant, its chatbot to answer users' questions, rolling the tool out for all business categories. Its responses will draw on information from the business' website as well as posts by other Yelp users. The chatbot will also remember past queries and preferences when it's used for finding services. Saved information can be managed in the Yelp app under Yelp Assistant memory settings.

Yelp has been pushing more artificial intelligence into its platform, adding Review Insights in December and announcing calling features in April. The AI-powered calling is rolling out in the company's fall update as Yelp Host and Yelp Receptionist. Yelp Host is specifically for table-service restaurants, and promises the ability to take reservations, change bookings and capture special requests. It is available now starting at $149 a month, or $99 a month for customers with a Yelp Guest Manager plan. Yelp Receptionist can manage calls for any "eligible local businesses." Subscriptions to this AI-powered service start at $99 a month and will begin rolling out this week.

There are several other updates from Yelp, but one of the more interesting ones is Menu Vision. With this resource, pointing your camera at a restaurant's menu will show photos of the dish in question along with reviews about that particular item. Menu Vision will arrive on the iOS and Android apps this week.

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The best action cameras for 2025

Advent calendars for 2025: Our favorites from Lego, Pokémon, Funko Pop, Magna-Tiles and more

The Netherlands faces €12bn R&D investment gap as productivity stagnates

Dutch government unveils nine-point plan to meet European 3% GDP target after its competitiveness ranking plummeted

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This is how the new ranching system will work in Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven

We still have a few months to wait before the next Cult of the Lamb DLC, Woolhaven, arrives, but the Massive Monster team just shared a closer look at one of the new experiences the expansion will bring and, oh boy, I cannot wait to play this. In addition to adding a new mountain area with two new dungeons, Woolhaven will introduce ranching, so you can raise animals — the regular, non-anthropomorphic kind — to keep as pets, shear for wool or slaughter for meat (you know, if you have no heart).

Based on the overview video, we'll get to raise cows(ish), goats and sheep as well as some more unexpected critters like crabs, snails, spiders and turtles. I, personally, am very excited about the snails. You'll be able to form bonds with and name the animals, and you'll have to tend to their wellbeing, feeding them healthy foods and cleaning them. Followers will also be able to bond with the animals and have their own pets. As wholesome as that all sounds, this is Cult of the Lamb we're talking about, so I'm already bracing myself for the inevitable heartbreak of when some unruly follower kills my favorite animals at some point. The video notes that you'll have to keep them safe from predators.

Woolhaven will be a paid expansion, but we don't know yet how much it will cost or when exactly it drops. The team has so far only said early 2026.

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Mexico is considering slapping an eight percent tax on violent video games

Violent video games have found themselves in the crosshairs of politicians yet again, but this time with Mexico's government. Earlier this week, Mexico's Chamber of Deputies approved a comprehensive financial package that includes an eight percent tax on video games with mature content. As first reported by Insider Gaming, the proposed tax covers games that have a C or D rating under Mexico's video game age classification system, which is similar to ESRB in the US. The C rating is for players who are at least 18 years old and allows for extreme violence, bloodshed and moderate graphic sexual content, while the D rating is reserved for adults only and allows for prolonged scenes that include similar content.

The proposed law was first introduced in September, when the country's Treasury Department claimed that "recent studies have found a relationship between the use of violent video games and higher levels of aggression among adolescents, as well as negative social and psychological effects such as isolation and anxiety." The report cited a study from 2012 in a footnote, which also observed some positive associations with video games, including motor learning and building resilience.

The current interpretation of the proposal that's been approved by the Chamber of Deputies would apply to digital and physical copies of affected games, as well as any in-game purchases or microtransactions. The proposal still has to go through Mexico's other congressional chamber, the Senate, where it will be debated before a November 15 deadline to submit a budget proposal.

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The next game in the Halo franchise could be live service multiplayer

Nearly four years after the release of Halo: Infinite, the sixth installment in the franchise has failed to live up to its name. Instead, the studio behind the sci-fi series may be working on a "live service, long-term updating multiplayer" Halo game that could do just that. According to YouTuber Rebs Gaming, a source claimed that Halo Studios, previously known as 343 Industries, is working on a multiplayer Halo title that could borrow Fortnite's model of constantly pushing out content updates. The report also noted that there aren't any mentions of Fortnite's battle royale style for the upcoming game.

While live service games are becoming the norm, veterans of the Halo franchise may not have much faith in Halo Studios after failing to deliver on Halo: Infinite's longevity. Back in March, another report revealed that Halo: Infinite was meant to be supported with a 10-year plan of consistent updates, but this roadmap was scrapped following leadership issues and a switch to Unreal Engine. While Halo: Infinite's multiplayer mode has received notable updates since its initial release, the game still sits at a Mixed rating on Steam.

Along with this upcoming live service Halo title, the report claimed that the studio is working on a remake of the first game in the series, Halo: Combat Evolved. According to John Junyszek, the senior community manager at Halo Studios, we could hear more about either project during the Halo World Championship that takes place from October 24 to 26.

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Engadget review recap: New Pixel devices, Meta Ray-Ban Display, ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X and more

Court reduces damages Meta will get from spyware maker NSO Group but bans it from WhatsApp

US District Judge Phyllis Hamilton has reduced the damages Meta is getting from the NSO Group from $167 million to $4 million, but she has also ordered the Israeli spyware maker to stop targeting WhatsApp. If you'll recall, Meta sued the NSO Group in 2019 over its Pegasus spyware, which it said was used to spy on 1,400 people from 20 countries, including journalists and human rights activists. Meta said at the time that Pegasus can infect targets' devices even without their participation by sending text messages with malicious codes to WhatsApp. Even a missed call is enough to infect somebody's device. 

According to Courthouse News Service, Hamilton reduced the damages because they would need to follow a legal framework designed to proportionate damages. However, she has also handed down a permanent injunction on the NSO Group's efforts to break into WhatsApp. In her decision, she took note of statements made by NSO's lawyers and its own CEO revealing that it hasn't stopped collecting WhatsApp messages and trying to get around the messaging app's security measures. The defendants previously said that the injunction Meta was requesting would "put NSO’s entire enterprise at risk" and "force NSO out of business," since WhatsApp is one of the Pegasus spyware's main ways to infect targets' devices. 

"Today’s ruling bans spyware maker NSO from ever targeting WhatsApp and our global users again," said Will Cathcart, Head of WhatsApp. "We applaud this decision that comes after six years of litigation to hold NSO accountable for targeting members of civil society. It sets an important precedent that there are serious consequences to attacking an American company." 

Hamilton wrote that the proposed injunction requires the Israeli company to delete and destroy computer code related to Meta's platforms, and that she concluded that the provision is "necessary to prevent future violations, especially given the undetectable nature of defendants’ technology." It's not quite clear how Meta will ensure that the NSO Group doesn't use WhatsApp to infect its users' devices again. Notably, the NSO Group was recently acquired by an American investment group that invested tens of millions of dollars into it to take controlling ownership. 

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Google has killed Privacy Sandbox

Google's Privacy Sandbox is officially dead. In an update on the project's website, Google Vice President Anthony Chavez has announced that the company was sunsetting the remaining technologies developed for Sandbox due to their "low levels of adoption." A spokesperson has confirmed to AdWeek that Google isn't just killing those technologies, it's retiring the whole initiative altogether. "We will be continuing our work to improve privacy across Chrome, Android and the web, but moving away from the Privacy Sandbox branding," the spokesperson said. "We're grateful to everyone who contributed to this initiative, and will continue to collaborate with the industry to develop and advance platform technologies that help support a healthy and thriving web."

The company launched Privacy Sandbox in 2019 as a future replacement to third-party cookies. It's a set of open standards that are supposed to enable personalized ads without divulging identifying data. Over the years, Google's plans to deprecate third-party cookies got pushed back again and again due to a series of delays and regulatory hurdles. Specifically, both the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the US Department of Justice looked into the Privacy Sandbox out of concerns that it could harm smaller advertisers. 

In 2024, Google ultimately decided not to kill third-party cookies in Chrome and instead chose to roll out "a new experience in Chrome that lets people make an informed choice that applies across their web browsing." Just this April, Google announced that it wasn't going to make any to changes to how third-party cookies work on the Chrome browser at all, and that it was going to "maintain [its] current approach to offering users third-party cookie choice in Chrome." At the time, the company said that it was going to keep the Privacy Sandbox initiative alive, but things have clearly changed since then. Chavez wrote in the latest update that Google will "continue to utilize learnings from the retired Privacy Sandbox technologies."

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One of our favorite budgeting apps has 50 percent off annual plans right now

A spooky NES platformer, more N++ and other new indie games worth checking out

Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. I've reluctantly paused Ball x Pit for long enough to share some neat new releases and more details on upcoming games — some of which are arriving very soon. We've got a notable update for a classic as well. 

Steam Next Fest is taking place at the minute, and you still have until Monday to join in by checking out some of the many, many demos that have gone live for the event. Thanks partially (okay, almost entirely) to being unable to escape Ball x Pit, I've only tried a fewm Next Fest demos so far. 

I'm a fan of Aerial_Knight's Never Yield and after last year's sequel, it's cool to see solo developer Neil Jones (aka Aerial_Knight) trying something totally different. Aerial_Knight’s DropShot is a skydiving first-person shooter with finger guns and dragons. It’s a single-player game in which the aim is to take out your opponents and reach the ground first. Like Jones' previous games, it's stylish and fast-paced. I'm planning to check out the full game when it arrives down the line.

It certainly helps to be a fast, accurate typer when you put words together for a living, but I wasn't quick or precise enough to win any rounds in the Final Sentence demo. This is a battle royale for up to 100 players in which you're at a typewriter and have to bash out sentences (or other strings of letters, numbers and symbols) in a race to the finish. If you run out of time, make too many mistakes or don't win, it's lights out, courtesy of the masked figure with a revolver who’s standing in front of you. 

There are some nice touches here. Having to type out the rules in the first few rounds is a clever idea on the part of developer Button Mash. I haven't won a round myself yet (I finished in second place a couple of times), but watched some streamers play. It's very funny when the winning player flips the bird at the guy holding a revolver in front of them.

Final Sentence is coming to Steam later this year. Maybe I'll have learned how to spell "sphinx" by then.

There are a few other Next Fest demos I'd like to try this weekend, namely:

• Crashout Crew (Overcooked-style co-op chaos with forklifts)

• Reanimal (co-op horror from the team behind Little Nightmares and Little Nightmares 2)

• Slots & Daggers (as if I need another slot-machine-based roguelite in my life right now) 

• The Last Caretaker (sci-fi survival)

• Goodnight Universe (we'll get to that)

I've been looking forward to Skate Story for forever, but I think I'm going to skip that demo. I'm already sold and I'm fine with waiting a couple more months before playing the whole thing.

There are a couple of showcases coming up next week that might be worth keeping an eye on. The third annual edition of DreadXP's indie horror showcase is set for 1PM ET on October 23. You can catch that on the publisher's YouTube channel.

Two hours later, you'll be able to tune into the Galaxies Autumn showcase. This will feature more than 50 games, including world premieres, gameplay trailers and other announcements. Games that will be featured include PowerWash Simulator 2, Mouse: PI For Hire and Denshattack, all of which are firmly on my to-play list.

New releases

Mister Scary is a weird little guy. I love when you get to play a game as a weird little guy. The game of the same name is a spooky NES homebrew platformer from Calgames. 

Mister Scary can stomp on his enemies, or freeze or burn them after eating a snack. When Mister Scary ducks, he becomes immune to damage because he's taking a nap. I appreciate that. Nothing scary can happen while you're snoozing.

Mister Scary is $10 on Itch. You'll need to plug the ROM into a NES emulator to become Mister Scary.

The only reason I still have Flash Player installed on my PC is so I can open N, which sits on my desktop, once in a while. I've been playing that classic freeware platformer for a long time, and now there's a good reason for many people to revisit the third entry in the series. 

As a thank you to the N++ community, Metanet Software is releasing a free update to mark the 10th anniversary of the game's PS4 debut. TEN++ is said to include the developer's "most challenging levels yet." Given how darn tough these games are already, that's saying something. The update is available now on Steam and it's coming to the console versions of N++ soon.

The Cabin Factory is an anomaly-hunting (i.e. spot the difference) game in the style of The Exit 8. You'll examine horror-themed cabins that are built for use in movies and theme parks to make sure they aren't actually haunted. If you spot an anomaly, you'll want to get out of the cabin post haste.

This $3 horror walking sim from International Cat Studios and publisher Future Friends Games debuted on Steam last year, and it just hit consoles in time for Halloween. It's out now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch.

Upcoming 

After CloverPit and Ball x Pit, I was planning to take a break from roguelikes/roguelites before diving into Hades 2. Alas, the latest game from the legendary Ron Gilbert now has a release date, and it's very soon!

In Death by Scrolling, the aim is to collect enough gold to pay a ferryman so you can escape purgatory. However, there's a wall of fire coming after you the whole time, so you'll need to keep moving in order to try to stay alive. You'll also need to avoid or stun an unkillable grim reaper as you collect gold and gems that unlock upgrades. 

Death by Scrolling is from Gilbert's Terrible Toybox and MicroProse Software. It's coming to Steam on October 28.

There's a lot going on in Silly Polly Beast. It's safe to say this game is a shooter, but the release date trailer rapidly flits between perspectives and genres. There's an emphasis on survival horror, along with puzzles and stealth segments. Polly will even sometimes remove the board that's strapped to her back for some skateboarding sequences. 

This is said to have a story that morphs and evolves as much as the gameplay does. After escaping her hellish orphanage, Polly lands right in the underworld and has to navigate her way out of that too. 

Developer Andrei Chernyshov and publisher Top Hat Studios are behind Silly Polly Beast. It's coming to Steam, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch on October 28.

Also coming to Steam on October 28 is a project from Autoscopia Interactive that's designed to be played in a single sitting. As Long As You’re Here is a first-person game that places you in the role of a woman with Alzheimer’s disease. Her memories of the past, including her late brother, blend into the present as Annie settles into living with her family. 

As Long As You’re Here started as a student project by Marlène Delrive, who was trying to better understand what her grandmother was experiencing in her final years. "The aim is to create a mature and nuanced experience that shows the difficult repercussions of losing not only your memory, but also your agency and sense of time and place," the developers said.

Let's close things out with a new trailer for Goodnight Universe. This is a cinematic adventure in which you play as a six-month-old baby. This particular infant is incredibly intelligent and has psychic powers. Isaac simply desires familial love and acceptance but (shock horror!) a tech company wants to take away the tot.

As with Nice Dreams' last game (the stupendous Before Your Eyes), you control Goodnight Universe with your peepers via your device's camera. It seems fascinating, and I really have to check out the Next Fest demo. Publisher Skybound Games is bringing it to Steam, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 on November 11.

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