Gaming demands a lot from a phone, and over all others, the RedMagic 10 Pro has what it takes, as I found when I reviewed it. The beating heart of the RedMagic 10 Pro is an actively cooled Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. I’d already seen this chip do wonders performance-wise in phones like the Asus ROG Phone 9 and OnePlus 13, but the RedMagic 10 Pro turns it up a notch with a cooling fan that lets the chip run all the more effectively for the kind of long-haul sessions that gaming requires. Any time the RedMagic 10 Pro wasn’t at the head of the pack in benchmarks, it was still very near the front, and it absolutely led the way where sustain was concerned. All that performance is only further backed by an astoundingly large 7,050mAh battery.

Naturally, the RedMagic 10 Pro has a few extras specifically for gamers. It includes two shoulder buttons, providing a way to get your index fingers in on the action. You can simply map these shoulder buttons to on-screen controls, good for pretty much any game. The display also has a fast touch-sampling rate, so it’ll detect inputs quickly. Depending on the game, you can also tap into supersampling and frame interpolation to sharpen visuals and smooth out the action.

RedMagic packs all of this capability into a good-looking phone, too. It’s not gaudy, but it still has style. There are a handful of looks, including clear backs, that give a peek at the layout of components. The display is also a winner. It has tiny bezels and stretches 6.85-inches across – and we’re talking a proper 6.85 inches, as the display is rectangular without large areas being cropped by corner curves. RedMagic even effectively hides the selfie camera beneath the display so that it doesn’t interrupt your view of games. The display is a brilliant AMOLED panel offering a 144Hz refresh rate, high peak brightness, and ample sharpness.

Truly, this phone is wonderfully geared up for gaming, and even with a commanding performance lead, it doesn’t cost as much as its competitors. The RedMagic 10 Pro starts at $649, which is almost absurd considering the price of competitors like the Asus ROG Phone 9 at $999.

If you’ve seen some of the ostentatious designs that come with “gamer” gear, you can be forgiven for wanting to steer clear of the typical gaming phones. Fortunately, you still have an excellent option available to you with the OnePlus 13. You’ll find plenty to love when it comes time to game, but for the rest of the time, you’ll get a much more tame-looking phone.

Inside the OnePlus 13 is a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. This pairs a blazing fast CPU and potent GPU that make for exceptional everyday performance and potent gaming speeds. In benchmarks, the OnePlus 13 readily rivaled the iPhone 16 Pro Max in CPU speeds and outstripped it in 3DMark’s graphics tests. The phone could even offer a decent amount of sustain. And when put to the test with Wuthering Waves at max settings, it didn’t struggle to keep up with the action. The phone’s 6,000mAh battery also helps out for those long gaming sessions.

OnePlus packs that speed into an elegant chassis. There are three designs, and each is more than a simple color swap, giving you a little more selection than you typically get from new phones. The design also has impressive water protections against submersion and hot water jets. The display on the OnePlus 13 is also excellent, providing a large, vibrant, and searingly bright platform for everyday use, movies, and gaming. And unlike most gaming phones, the OnePlus 13 doesn’t force you to sacrifice camera quality. You’ll find brilliant shooters on the back and front of the phone that capture great photos and video.

The OnePlus 13 comes in at $899 for a configuration with 256GB of storage and 12GB of memory, but if you want plenty of room for games, you can bump up to 512GB of storage and get 16GB of memory for $999.

I reviewed the iPhone 16 Pro Max and can safely say that it will get the job done when it comes time for gaming. The A18 Pro chip inside has an extra graphics core over the A18 chip inside the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, and that gives it a considerable boost in performance for graphics applications (i.e., games!). Then there’s the fact that the iPhone 16 Pro Max comes with a huge, 6.9-inch display that provides a much bigger surface for enjoying your games and using controls than the smaller iPhone 16 Pro.

You’re not only getting great gaming performance from the iPhone 16 Pro Max, though. It also has an excellent design, with a titanium frame and glass construction. It’s great to look at whether it’s on or off. The camera system is powerful, offering stunning photos from the main sensor and zoom capabilities to get closer to subjects. Plus, if you want to take video, the processing on the iPhone 16 Pro Max goes high resolution, recording in Dolby Vision, and capturing serious slow-mo.

Apple has also made inroads into a more serious tier of gaming. For instance, Ubisoft released Assassin’s Creed Mirage onto iOS and a number of Resident Evil games have come the platform as well. Access to more and better games goes a long way to making a device great for gaming.

While Apple did launch the new iPhone 16e in 2025 with budget-minded consumers in consideration, it didn’t provide as affordable a new model as it had with earlier iPhone SE devices. The $599 iPhone 16e has some advantages though. This new model runs on the A18 chip that powers the iPhone 16, and that’s a serious piece of hardware. Unfortunately, the iPhone 16e gets a trimmed-down GPU with 4 cores instead of 5. Fortunately, the A18 has performance to spare, so I don’t see that holding the iPhone 16e back from being a solid gaming phone for even demanding titles. Even though I haven’t had a chance to test the iPhone 16e yet, I think it’s safe to say it’ll still rip through everyday operation and games alike, and my colleague over at PCMag saw excellent performance from the phone in his review.

While it's a shame the iPhone 16e couldn’t get a $429 price tag like the prior iPhone SE, it doesn’t make the same sacrifices that phone did. The iPhone 16e gets a more modern design in line with what Apple’s been pushing since as early as the iPhone 12. The best part of this upgrade for gamers is the much greater screen size. The iPhone 16e has a 6.1-inch display without the beefy bezels of the iPhone SE. That’s more real estate to see games and use your thumbs for controls. Plus, the display is an OLED panel, which provides better image quality and contrast. The iPhone 16e also starts with more base storage at 128GB, which is huge compared to the 64GB Apple provided in the prior iPhone SE.

All of that sets up the iPhone 16e nicely for gamers. But I’ll caveat that it may not be the perfect choice for folks who just want a value-focused iPhone. It may be the cheapest Apple offers at the moment, but it does sacrifice quite a bit. For instance, you won’t get access to mmWave or UWB 5G networking, which tends to offer the fastest speeds. That lack of mmWave also means precise device tracking for items like AirTags won’t work. The iPhone 16e also lacks MagSafe support, so you’ll have to either go without it or rely on a case to enable compatibility with MagSafe accessories. The camera system is also rather limited with just one sensor. I’d recommend the iPhone 14 for most people, but the updated chip in the iPhone 16e will make more sense for gamers who can forgo the extra mentioned here.

See our guide to the best cheap smartphones.

Sometimes you just want more screen to see all the glory of your favorite games, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 that I reviewed is just the ticket. This foldable phone has an 8-inch interior display that stretches games across it, and while that may not work for everything, you can still use its exterior display for gaming too – that one is a more normal 21:9 display. Regardless of which you use, both screens will highlight the rich contrast and bold color of an AMOLED display, not to mention the smooth visuals that come with a 120Hz refresh rate.

To power your games, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 packs in a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. This is the same hardware you’ll see in many of the best gaming devices out of 2025. Between the powerful Oryon CPU cores and the Adreno GPU, this chip offers extreme performance for smartphones and tablets alike or, in the case of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, both types of devices in one device. If you really want to go all out, you still will be better off with a tailor-made gaming device. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 has bursty performance, but under heavy sustained loads, its thin design will heat up and see performance drop off by as much as 60%. Thankfully, plenty of Android games don’t take full advantage of the hardware just yet, so there’s a good chance you’ll get to game without feeling this specific shortcoming.

The flipside is that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is much more pocket-friendly than its predecessor. This folding phone sits at just over 4mm thick open and it folds shut to measure just 8.9mm thick. That’s the same thickness as the Asus ROG Phone 9.

While the Galaxy Z Fold 7 may not have the same gaming chops as dedicated gaming phones, it will provide a more well-rounded experience. So if you’re also looking for solid cameras and long-term software support, you can expect it here. Of course, with a $1,999 price tag, I’d still point anyone who didn’t need one device to serve as a gaming tablet and phone toward separate purchases of a OnePlus 13 and Redmagic Astra tablet, which will cost less combined.

The OnePlus 12 is a compelling value, offering top-tier qualities at the price of most base-tier flagships (think S24 Ultra at the price of an S24). But OnePlus wanted to make an even more budget-friendly option with the OnePlus 12R. This model offers the look and feel of the OnePlus 12, but it comes in at just $499. The star of the show is the 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display, which boasts a 1264x2780 and 120Hz refresh rate. It’s a stunner and a great platform for gaming. Put this next to the iPhone SE, and it’s no contest which has the better display.

Internally, the OnePlus 12R isn’t swinging for the fences. It packs 2023’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, but for most gaming, it still offers plenty of horsepower. With a 5,500mAh battery inside, the OnePlus 12R is also ready to stretch your gaming sessions out.

The OnePlus 12R did have to make some sacrifices, and its camera system is one area where it trimmed things. It doesn't have a setup that matches the OnePlus 12, but the camera system has little bearing on the phone’s ability to run games. So if you’re out here shopping for a cheaper gaming phone, the iPhone 12R is a great, value-focused option.

The iPhone 16 Pro gets major props for filling in the gap between the base iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Its more compact form factor will be more manageable for most users in one-handed use than the enormous Pro Max, but it doesn’t miss out any features or camera sensors – unlike previous iterations that had different cameras on the smaller Pro model. Of course, if you want the larger screen, you can simply upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro Max and count on getting an otherwise similar experience.

The iPhone 16 Pro gets all the latest from Apple, including the A18 Pro chip that’s exceedingly powerful for everyday operation and gaming. In the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the chip had the single fastest Geekbench 6 single-core score I’ve ever measured in a phone (and in a laptop for that matter). This also pairs with a GPU that rips. Playing the latest games, the chip is readily able to pump out high frame rates at max settings.

Apple’s build is great and feels luxurious, though it doesn't come in the most vibrant colors. The screen is brilliant, offering both the combination of high brightness and contrast with the more fluid motion of a higher refresh rate. While Apple hypes up the durability of the new phones Ceramic Shield glass, I found it’s still able to get scraped up easily, so it’s worth some protection.

The cameras on the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are strong. The main sensor is downright excellent, exhibiting its strength in low-light scenarios where smartphone cameras typically struggle. The ultra-wide successfully squeezes more into the shot, though struggled a bit with softness and noise in my testing, seemingly as a result with a focusing issue (which you could avoid with manual focus). There’s also a helpful 5x telephoto sensor that makes all the difference when you’re trying to capture portraits with natural bokeh or need to get closer to a subject you can’t physically get closer to. The new Camera Control also provides a way to navigate settings and shoot photos with a more shutter-button-like control, though I think Apple has some more work to do perfecting it in future updates and hardware iterations.

The iPhone 16 is a properly brilliant mid-range option in the iPhone lineup. The introduction of Apple Intelligence required more from the internals, which meant Apple couldn’t leave the base iPhone in the past on an outdated SoC like it has in previous years. As a result, the iPhone 16 ends up with the A18 chip, which puts up serious performance much like the A18 Pro chip in the phone’s Pro siblings. The A18 lagged behind the A18 Pro by a very small margin, but otherwise it readily blasted past the Geekbench 6 CPU performance I’d seen from every phone running a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset in Android devices. Single-core even remains enough to outdo what I’ve seen from the newer Snapdragon 8 Elite.

With all that performance, the iPhone 16 easily holds up in everyday use and can play demanding games like Wuthering Waves with ease. Even after long play sessions, the phone remains comfortable to hold.

This model has more colorful options for the hardware, should you like that, though you can also opt for a clean black or white design. The iPhone 16 also gets Ceramic Shield as protection, though I still recommend some extra protection for the phone. The size of the iPhone 16 is great in the pocket and in the hand, with its smaller width making it much more wieldy than the wide Pro Max models.

While you’ll miss out on the extra smoothness of the 120Hz refresh rate on the Pro models, the iPhone 16 still gets a great display. It’s plenty sharp for a 6.1-inch screen, and it offers a gorgeous OLED panel. That pairs with punchy speakers that make watching shows and movies on the phone all the more enjoyable.

The main camera on the iPhone 16 snaps lovely photos, capturing vibrant color and pulling in enough light to make do even in dim environments. The ultra-wide and selfie cameras aren’t bad, but they do struggle with some softness, seemingly a focus issue much like I encountered on the Pro. This is something Apple will hopefully remedy in an update.

If you’re looking for an iPhone on a budget, Apple isn’t making your selection process much easier. With the introduction of the iPhone 16e, Apple's offerings stepped even further away from affordable than before. The prior iPhone SE may not have been a very good phone, but it at least had a more palatable starting price at $429. The new iPhone 16e enters as Apple’s lowest-priced iPhone currently available, but it starts at $599. While it becomes the de facto budget iPhone, this recommendation comes with some caveats.

The iPhone 16e will give you a modern phone running on a potent chip in the A18 – the same chip you’ll find in the iPhone 16, albeit with one fewer GPU core. This means you’ll get a fast enough phone and access to Apple Intelligence features. The iPhone 16e thankfully updated away from the prior iPhone SE’s design, which was already incredibly dated when it launched in 2022. You’ll get a larger and sharper 6.1-inch OLED display. That updated design also brings with it an aluminum frame and tough Ceramic Shield glass on both sides. Apple has also raised the base storage to a more agreeable 128GB.

However, Apple took a lot away. Since the introduction of the iPhone 12, all of Apple’s non-SE models have had a few shared features. They all offered MagSafe for magnetically connected accessories and wireless charging. They all supported mmWave 5G. They all had UWB support, which allowed for precise location tracking on devices like the Apple AirTag and some other accessories. And they all included at least two cameras on the rear. The iPhone 16e omits all of these. That strips it of a lot of functionality and limits its camera capabilities. That may not be enough to make it a bad phone, but it’s all worth weighing.

Now, I won’t argue that you should just shell out for the $799 iPhone 16 instead. If you just need a simple phone and want it to be a new iPhone, you can go ahead with the iPhone 16e. But if you’re not loving the many things it omits and aren’t sold on Apple Intellgence’s AI features, it’s worth considering that there’s a world of refurbished and renewed devices out there offering serious discounts. Amazon has refurbished iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 units in excellent conditions for under $500, for instance. For my money, I’d take the refurbished iPhone 14 Pro deal over the iPhone 16e.

The iPhone is beloved for its easy-to-use software, solid cameras, and excellent performance. But if you’re not committed to the operating system or don’t want to pay the premiums to get some of the features locked away in the top tier of Apple’s phones, then the OnePlus 13 provides an exciting alternative. The OnePlus 13 comes in at $899, but rather than competing with the iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Plus at this price, it’s more of a rival to the $1199 iPhone 16 Pro Max. Where Apple’s top-line phone brings a bigger display, smoother refresh rate, more cameras, and upgraded processing to the table, the OnePlus 13 also delivers similarly.

It boasts a triple-camera setup on the back complete with a 50MP telephoto sensor that helps punch in on far-off subjects, and that’s backed up by a 50MP main sensor and 50MP ultra-wide sensor. Combined, these shoot great photos and video, and the selfie camera on the front is a knockout.

The display is iPhone-worthy. It stretches 6.82-inches across corner to corner and has a 3168x1440 resolution, just a hair shy of the iPhone 16 Pro Max. It also boasts a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth visuals, plus it can drop all the way down to 1Hz to save power when displaying static content. On top of that, it’s a brilliant OLED panel with ultra-bright peaks and inky blacks.

Performance had long been the area that even the best Android phones couldn’t quite touch Apple, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 started to shake that up in Android flagships in 2024, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the OnePlus 13 only moves the needle further. The OnePlus 13 nearly caught the iPhone 16 Pro Max in single-core performance, beat it in multi-core performance, and swept up in 3DMarks’ graphics tests. It’s a champ when gaming, too. And with a 6,000mAh battery, it’s ready for heavy use all day. Never mind that when the battery gets low, you can juice back up with 80W wired charging or 50W wireless charging.

Did I mention that the phone is also elegant? It gets a stylish design with either a silver and white colorway, a silver frame and vegan leather backing in a bold blue, or a blacked-out color scheme with the back glass etched to show a wood grain pattern. The phone also includes an alert slider akin to the old iPhones’ Ring/Silent switch. And while the iPhone 16 lineup has respectable water ingress protection, the OnePlus 13 steps it up with IP68 protection against submersion and IP69 protection that keeps the internals safe even against hot, high-pressure water jets.

The OnePlus 13 has so much going for it, and if you’re not dead set on an iPhone, it’s definitely worth considering.

The G923 is Logitech's mainstream racing wheel that replaces the venerable G920/G29 racing wheels. It's compatible with the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC platforms. New to the G923 is TrueForce technology, which can deciper the physics and audio of supported racing games and convert them to extra sensations and vibrations to the wheel rim and into your hands. The force feedback does a bang up job of making the driving experience feel real and immersive; if you want something better than this, you'd have to shell out a lot more money for a direct-drive or belt-driven wheel, like Logitech's own $1,000 G Pro direct-drive racing wheel we reviewed.

Other than that, it's pretty similar to the G29 (PlayStation) racing wheel. It features a hand-stitched leather racing wheel with 900 degrees of rotation, sturdy metal base, durable steel ball bearings in the shaft, gear-driven dual-force motor feedback, stainless shifter and pressure sensitive pedals. The Driving Force Shifter pairs seamlessly with your G923 wheel and pedals. It features a solid steel gear shaft, 6-speed short-throw gearbox, and leather knob and boot.

If you're a big fan of racing games like Gran Turismo 7 or Forza Horizon 5 and you've been using a DualSense controller or gamepad this entire time, then this price drop might be the excuse for you to step up your immersion to the next level.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Samsung makes some of the best smartphones, and while I can’t deny that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a great phone, it’s also just a little too boring this year to stand out, especially when it sells at such a premium price. Between that and OnePlus truly hitting its stride this year, the OnePlus 13 lands a huge victory in 2025. It delivers on design, performance, and value for a trifecta that helps it stand above the crowd.

On the face of the OnePlus 13, you’ll find a display that’s ready to rival the best around. The 6.82-inch OLED display offers everything you’d expect from a high-end phone: a sharp resolution, a fast and variable refresh rate, and a staggering peak brightness, which OnePlus claims hits 4,500 nits. While I couldn’t verify the exact degree of brightness, I can confirm it’s a gorgeous and dazzling display that doesn’t struggle with visibility.

Inside, the OnePlus 13 makes the most of the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. This comes with a powerful CPU and GPU combo that rivals the best iPhones and runs circles around them in 3DMarks’ graphics benchmarks. Whether it’s everyday performance or gaming brawn, the OnePlus 13 has it in heaps. Plus, the phone comes with 256GB of storage as a baseline, providing plenty of room for games and apps, and the 6,000mAh battery helps the phone run longer.

Circle around back, and you’ll find a triple-camera array. Each sensor offers a 50MP resolution for clear details. The sensors work together wonderfully, offering great colors, tons of flexibility, and even powerful video capture. The OnePlus 13 may not be quite as adept at zooming in, since it relies on a 3x telephoto sensor instead of the 5x you’d find in the iPhone 16 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro, or Galaxy S25 Ultra. But in just about every other aspect of photography, the OnePlus 13 is competitive with these other flagship phones.

All of this quality is packed into a phone that looks and feels great. OnePlus offers a few different styles, going beyond just changing colors and actually swapping out materials and textures. The exterior protects the guts of the phone with robust ingress protection that can keep out water when submerged or hit with pressurized jets.

Getting all of this in a phone is what you should expect from the best phone any given year. But OnePlus 13 really pulls a fast one by delivering it all for $899. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is the next closet phone that can compete reasonably, and that still costs $1,099 and has just half the storage. The iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S25 Ultra cost even more. It’s this lower price that really juices the value of the OnePlus 13 to push it to the top.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro is a brilliant phone when it comes to photography. It offers a triple-camera system on the rear that provides a ton of flexibility, and each sensor in the stack snaps quality photos, whether you want to punch in on a distant subject or zoom way out to capture a landscape. Even the selfie camera snaps vibrant, sharp photos.

The phone itself is no less pretty than the photos it takes. Google has refined the design of its Pixel line again, and the Pixel 9 Pro benefits greatly. It’s still somewhat tame with aluminum and glass, not opting for the titanium of Apple’s and Samsung’s flagships. But it comes together elegantly.

Thin bezels wrap around a modest 6.3" display, which is a bit of a star. It’s reasonably sized without making the Pixel 9 Pro an unwieldy behemoth like the iPhone 16 Pro Max or Galaxy S24 Ultra, though you can go that route by upgrading to the Pixel 9 Pro XL. The display is also excellent, with a super-bright OLED panel, smooth refresh rate, and poppy color.

The Pixel 9 Pro may not be the fastest phone on the market, as its Tensor G4 chip lags well behind the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Apple’s A18 Pro, but it’s plenty peppy for everyday use and works quickly with AI applications. And it still runs games reasonably well too. Google is also backing the phone up with longer-term software support than you’ll find on a lot of Android devices.

Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro is a well-rounded powerhouse starting off at $999. It has a staggering amount of overlap with the Google Pixel 9 Pro, right down to its display size, camera count, price, and weight. While I found the cameras more reliable on the Pixel 9 Pro, I won’t discount the excellent quality the iPhone 16 Pro is capable of with some tweaks (particularly for the ultra-wide and selfie sensors).

This year, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max get the same camera systems, so you can really think of them as the same phone at two different sizes. That’s good news if you’ve got smaller hands and want all the best capabilities but in a smaller phone, as I found the Pro Max hard to manage with one hand despite being a large person. Despite its smaller dimensions, the iPhone 16 Pro still gets a 6.3" display thanks to extra slim bezels. The Pro Max bumps that up to a beefy 6.9" display.

Performance is excellent on the iPhone 16 Pro. Its new A18 Pro chip easily keeps up with everyday operation and can smoothly run demanding games like Wuthering Waves without breaking a sweat. And with a 120Hz OLED display, gaming performance can come in handy.

It would be nice to see more storage in the base model, as 128GB is a little slim when it comes time to load up games and take advantage of the high-resolution photos and videos that iPhone 16 Pro can capture. On the bright side, the iPhone 16 Pro uses a USB 3.0 Type-C port that can help you back up your files more quickly to your computer in order to free up space.

The Pixel 8 might not be the best of the best or a new model in 2025, but it’s still got a lot to offer. The Tensor G3 chip inside improved on the G2 not only with increased performance but, critically, with better thermals. Since heat is the enemy of most phone components, being able to avoid it will help the longevity of the device.

The other big get for the Pixel 8 is that Google promised seven years of OS, security, and feature updates when it launched. That means it still has a long life ahead of it. Thanks to its age, the price of the phone has dropped considerably though. So you can snag the Pixel 8 for a mid-range price of $500. While many people may think the Pixel 8a is the smart mid-range option, the full-fat Pixel 8 at just $100 more is a smart pick thanks to the superior design, which includes Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and back, improved water resistance, and better cameras.

On the note of cameras, the Pixel 8 boasts an excellent 50MP main camera that snaps great shots in light or dark settings. The ultra-wide sensor is solid in daylight, but struggles in the dark. And the selfie camera is nice and sharp with a wide field of view. The Pixel 8 may not offer the best cameras out here, but it’s great for the price.

If your budget is tight, you can still get a surprisingly good phone with the Poco X5 5G. While it launched in 2023, it’s still offering a lot for just $220. It’s even received updates to Android 14 since its launch. That kind of support isn't always a given on a budget device. That said, there’s no saying how many more updates it might get going forward.

The Poco X5 5G immediately sets itself apart from other budget phones with its display. You’ll get a large, 6.67" display on the front, and it’s not really compromising on quality. That screen offers a sharp 1080x2400 resolution good for 395ppi. Better still, it’s an AMOLED panel running at 120Hz, making for smooth and punchy visuals. It may not be as bright an AMOLED panel as some flagship phones out there, but it’s great for the money.

The Poco X5 5G also runs a competent SoC in the Snapdragon 695 5G. It’s not winning any speed awards, but when I tested the phone, it kept up with everyday operation and even some gaming in Call of Duty Mobile. It also had enough memory to tackle some multitasking. With insufficient memory being one of the quick ways to end up with a device that doesn’t stand the test of time, it’s good to see Poco opted for a 6GB base.

Unfortunately, some corners had to be cut, and the cameras on the Poco X5 5G are simply not the best. The main sensor does OK in bright conditions, but the ultra-wide is seriously lacking. At least the selfie camera is half decent.

While most of the phones on this list have respectable gaming performance, the RedMagic 10 Pro goes above and beyond as I found in my review. It not only made the jump to the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which provided a considerable performance boost, but it also makes the most of that chip with its cooling performance. Since the RedMagic 10 Pro has an active cooling fan, effectively pulling air through a duct across that Snapdragon chip, it can let the processor run at extreme speeds for longer without running into as much thermal throttling as the competitors.

In my benchmarking, the RedMagic 10 Pro had some of the absolute fastest results of any phone I’ve tested, especially where gaming is concerned. And even if it was occasionally beaten in a single benchmark run, the RedMagic 10 Pro’s ability to sustain its performance ultimately makes it better suited to gaming. Factor in the stunning 7,050mAh battery, and this phone is geared up for gaming like very few others.

The 6.85-inch display on the RedMagic 10 Pro is also brilliant. It’s large, high-resolution, fast at 144Hz, and completely uninterrupted from corner to corner. That is to say, there’s no visible selfie camera cut out to interfere with your view of your games. The selfie camera is cleverly hidden underneath the display, and while that does reduce its quality, everything is secondary to gaming on this phone.

As a proper gaming phone, the RedMagic 10 Pro also has some enhancements for the experience. It features boosted touch responsiveness on the display so inputs are detected faster. It includes two remappable, capacitive shoulder buttons that are incredibly convenient to have while gaming, so you can move and aim with your thumbs and handle skills with your index fingers. For select games, the phone also supports upscaling and frame interpolation, effectively letting your game look sharper and smoother even if the game itself doesn’t natively run at higher resolutions and frame rates.

All of this comes packed into rather respectable hardware. The phone’s build and design are sturdy and elegant, not too gaudy for a gaming phone. You get quality stereo speakers and even a headphone jack. And RedMagic packs in a case with the phone. You don’t get the best cameras in the world, and network support won’t be a match for mainstream phones like the iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy S lineup, but if gaming is your focus, RedMagic stands apart. It’s all the more mind-blowing that the RedMagic 10 Pro costs just $649.

With its seventh generation of foldables, Samsung looked to radically change things up. And while the Z Flip 7 doesn't get the same kind of thinness that makes the Galaxy Z Fold 7 such a wonder to behold, that doesn't mean it didn't get the same amount of love.

The biggest change here is the outside display. It's larger now, covering an entire half of the backside of the phone, stretching from edge to edge when folded up. And while, yeah, it looks nicer, the bigger change is in what it can do. Now, you can run full apps on it, so you don't have to settle for the weird half-app widget things you had to use on the (admittedly incredible) Z Flip 6. Though, you will have to fiddle with some experimental settings to enable full apps on the smaller display.

The Flip 7 didn't get the same kind of chassis reduction that the Fold 7 did, but that doesn't mean Samsung just left it alone. While the device has larger screens both on the inside and the outside, Samsung maintained basically the same weight as the last generation, with the Flip 7 weighing in at 188g, compared to last year's 187g. That's basically not even a difference.

Powering the phone is the Exynos 2500, rather than the Snapdragon 8 Elite that powers the Fold 7. This is a pretty massive change, given the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 were both powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. It also marks a change of direction, with Samsung essentially positioning the Flip 7 as the device you get when you want long battery life, rather than the raw power offered by the more expensive (and bigger) Fold. In our review, this paid off, with the Flip 7 now lasting all day, which is something the small foldable has struggled with in past generations. Now, keep in mind that due to the size of this device battery life and performance are just something you're trading off for the portability – but at least that trade-off isn't as severe as it's been in past generations.

Samsung overhauled its top foldable this year, and it’s proven a worthy change. The new Galaxy Z Fold 7 has shrunk down by 26% compared to the earlier Fold 6. That makes it just over 4mm thick when unfolded and 8.9mm thick when folded. It's plenty to close to the thickness of other non-folding smartphones, like the 8.9mm-thick Asus ROG Phone 9, for example.

Even as Samsung managed to trim down the dimensions of the phone, it still kept the battery capacity from the prior model at 4,400mAh. While this doesn’t make it a two-day warrior, our reviewer found the Galaxy Z Fold 7 easily lasted through the day during testing, generally with some charge left the next morning. That's even after playing games for four hours one of the days.

While the Galaxy Z Fold 7 may not be specifically for gaming, it still can hold up. Part of the equation is the new screen sizes. The Z Fold 6 had a very tall outer display that wasn’t ideal for a lot of games that targeted different aspect ratios. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 has a more common 21:9 aspect ratio on the outer display. When combined with the thinness of the phone, it’s easy to use the Galaxy Z Fold 7 just the same as any ordinary smartphone. Of course, when you want to go big, you can unfold the device and use the 8-inch interior display for gaming, media, multitasking, or whatever else you feel like.

Another key aspect of the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s performance is the Snapdragon 8 Elite inside, a potent chip in every device I’ve seen it in so far. The device manages solid bursty speeds, and it has enough horsepower to run games like Honkai Star Rail. One downside of the thin design is that it will heat up considerably during long, sustained workloads like gaming, and its performance will sag. So you’ll still be better off with a gaming phone or even just something thicker if you’re planning to do a lot of gaming.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7’s $1,999 price tag may be a hard pill to swallow. It’s more than what you’d pay for a OnePlus 13 and Redmagic Astra – an excellent phone and great gaming tablet – combined. But if the convenience of one gadget that does it all is worth it to you, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a great device that fits the bill and stands out as the best foldable on the market right now.

What About the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge?

Having wrapped up testing, I've concluded the Galaxy S25 Edge won’t be joining the ranks of the best phones on the market. While it is a surprisingly thin phone, I wouldn’t go so far as to call it impressively thin. Phones have been this thin in the past, and I think there’s a reason they’ve gotten thicker over the years. The S25 Edge makes sacrifices to get that thin. It has a smaller battery than comparable phones. It may offer the same speedy Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset powering other great phones, but it quickly runs into thermal throttling when trying to take full advantage of that chip. And the S25 Edge only gets two rear-facing cameras when it’s priced like a phone that should have three or four quality cameras to offer. All of those trade-offs to shave a couple millimeters from the device just don’t work out in this phone’s favor.

The Radeon RX 7900 XT was released back in 2022, but its still a relevant card today, able to play pretty much any game at 4K with consistent framerates of 60fps and beyond. Compared to current generation cards, it's roughly 5%-10% behind the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and and the AMD Radeon 9070 XT in 4K rasterized (non ray-traced) performance. It's also 10%-20% less expensive, making it a very attractive alternative for those of you who are on a budget. The RX 7900 XT also comes equipped with 20GB VRAM, which is more than the 5070 T iand 9070 XT, which come with 16GB. The extra VRAM allows it to scale well in high-resolution gaming and it's also a good card for AI use.

If You Need Ray Tracing, Stick with NVIDIA

AMD Radeon cards are outstanding alternatives to the NVIDIA GeForce cards. For gamers who want to maximize their performance for their dollar, AMD GPUs are the way to go. However, if you're set on playing 4K games with ray tracing enabled, then you'll want to stick with NVIDIA. That's because the GeForce cards perform better than their Radeon counterparts when it comes to ray tracing. Ray tracing is a form of rendering that allows for more realstic lighting effects. It makes light sources and shadows look better, but at the steep cost of GPU resources.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

The LEGO Arkham Asylum is a classic 'Expert' modular building, which means it is enclosed on all sides rather than open in the back. The building consists of three layers: the first floor, the second floor, and the roof. To access the interiors, you unstack the building; each floor is easily detachable from the one below and above.

The closest comparable set would be the LEGO X-Men: The X-Mansion, which we built in November 2024. But where that set was longer (16 inches wide, 11 inches high), LEGO Arkham Asylum is taller (10 inches wide, 13 inches tall) with a comparable piece count. Arkham comes in 24 plastic bags with two sticker sheets (65 stickers!) and two instruction booklets. You build each layer as a separate entity, which means that two or three people can build at the same time and not worry about running into each other.

After building the medical transport van (which comes with a Hannibal Lecter-esque restraint system), you build Arkham's foundations. The entire set lies on a single square baseplate that appears, at first glance, like it's too small for its intended purpose – a perception that's enhanced by the L-shape of the building and a gated courtyard out front. This build is dense; every square inch has either a practical function or is an Easter egg for Batman's rogues' gallery.

There's a manhole with claw marks across it – a reference to Killer Croc, who prefers the sewers under Gotham. There's a green Riddler question mark vandalized on a heater. There's the chemical formula for photosynthesis – 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2 – written on an announcement board, a clear reference to Poison Ivy. On the same board, there's an alert for a missing spoon. You can find the spoon in a cell on the first floor, where an inmate was using it to tunnel out. Also on the same board is an escape map that leads from the second cell to the security door. The Riddler wrote down the door access code right next to the map.

The first floor's central area is a processing center for inmates, and it includes a full body scanner and a security console, displaying security camera footage of villains. Correspondingly, there are numerous 360-degree security cameras scattered throughout the building, which creates narrative consistency.

Elsewhere, there's a ketchup bottle and a mustard bottle side-by-side – a deep cut reference to the Condiment King – and a splattered yolk which references Egghead. There are dozens more Easter eggs, but my favorite is the 'Vote for Harvey Dent' campaign poster on the asylum's back wall. It's torn in half down the middle, a foreshadowing of what Dent will become.

This set depicts Arkham Asylum on a bad day; the inmates are running the asylum, and all of their eccentricities are on full display. But in case you want to show Arkham on a good day, several of the visual elements are reversible. On the angel statue for instance, you can either show the Joker-vandalized face with the Glasgow smile, or you can show the normal face, unspoiled.

The inmate pods have sliding door mechanisms that run on a rail, which allow you to open and close all the pods at the same time and initiate lockdown. There is also a high-security pod right near the processing area with a heavy vault door.

The second floor has another row of slidable pods and a psychiatrist's office. On the door, we see a placard for Dr. Harleen Quinzel, the civilian name of villainess Harley Quinn. In most continuities, Harley was a doctor at Arkham Asylum until the Joker manipulated her towards madness. Inside the office is a couch for Freudian analysis sessions. Hanging on the wall is the diploma of Hugo Strange, who is presumably the current office occupant.

Then you build the roof, with its dramatic spires and curled metal work. The arched windows are recessed into the cupolas, and they are very satisfying to fit together. The last element in the build is the arched sign over the iron gate that reads "ARKHAM ASYLUM." The arch is a bit of reappropriated roller coaster track from prior fairground builds.

The set comes with three hero minifigures: Batman, Robin, and Batwing. It comes with 10 villain/inmate minifigures: Mr. Freeze, The Riddler, Poison Ivy, Catwoman, Scarecrow, Harley Quinn, Bane, The Joker, The Penguin, and Killer Croc. And it comes with two Arkham guard minifigures, who are about to have the worst day of their lives. There is also the stone angel that caps the facility, if you consider that a minifigure.

Some of the villains are dressed in their Arkham inmate jumpsuits, and others are dressed in their trademark villain costumes. Oddly enough, Penguin is wearing an Arkham jumpsuit (doesn't he typically go to Blackgate?). But regardless, I'm happy that he comes with the set; it wouldn't feel like a complete rogues' gallery without him.

This is a set that gets better the more you look at it and the more you play with it. Every corner of this build tells a story. In one part of the building, the bricks are arranged in a crooked pattern, to give the impression that the wall is crumbling. All over the build, there are exposed connection points and holes – seams that the LEGO designers would typically cover over with tiles or hide with angles. The message is clear; this is an old, dilapidated building, and Arkham's directors do not take pride in its appearance.

You'll also notice modern facilities co-existing disharmoniously alongside ancient architecture. Right next to a plastic pod from a modern prison facility is a barred window from the turn of the century. The East Wing of the original 1800s mansion is missing (presumably destroyed decades ago). And in its place, attached directly to the classically-designed house, is a modern watchtower and sniper's nest. Aesthetically, it looks hideous. Inside, the asylum's hallways are narrow and angular, made more so by the addition of new structures that don't quite fit into the original floor plan.

I look at something like this, and I imagine the sequence of events that might have created this mess. Perhaps Arkham secured some funding – not enough to refurbish or modernize the entire facility, but enough to build something piecemeal. But then the budget got cut, and the designers either scaled down their plans or abandoned them outright.

Maybe a decade later, they got some more funding – again, not enough to make any real institutional change, but enough to install some cameras so the politicians could boast to the voters that they're "modernizing" the facility. And meanwhile, in spite of all these public-facing improvements, the literal walls are about to collapse.

This is a bureaucratic nightmare, captured in brick form. And I love it. The LEGO Arkham Asylum is cute, impressive, and darkly humorous, all in one. And the satire comes not from an on-the-nose reference, but from the build process itself. Of course, this is a set that you can admire after the fact. But you really have to build it, and see the dysfunction for yourself, to fully appreciate it.

LEGO Batman Arkham Asylum, Set #76300, retails for $299.99, and it is composed of 2953 pieces. It is available now, exclusively at the LEGO Store. For more, check out our picks for the best LEGO Batman sets.

Kevin Wong is a contributing freelancer for IGN, specializing in LEGO. He's also been published in Complex, Engadget, Gamespot, Kotaku, and more. Follow him on Twitter at @kevinjameswong.

The LEGO Darth Vader Helmet is part of LEGO's build-to-display Star Wars helmet collection that also includes Boba Fett, The Mandalorian, Stormtropper, and Luke Skywaker (Red Five). It measures 8" high, 5.5" wide, and 5.5" deep and is comprised of 834 brick pieces. The build is challenging yet enjoyable as you put together details like the internal life support system and breathing apparatus. The finished piece can be mounted on an included stand with placard. As a display piece, it is well worth a spot on your shelf.

The LEGO AT-ST Walker is part of the Ultimate Collector Series - or UCS - sets. The UCS models are the largest and most detailed Star Wars sets that LEGO produces and an obvious pick for collectors. They are also technically challenging build that are aimed at adult (18+) builders. The AT-ST measures 14.5" high, 8.5" long, and 8.5" wide and is comprised of 1,513 bricks. It has plenty of moveable elements for poseability, like a rotating turret head, working shutters over the viewports, and adjustable laser cannons. A unique AT-ST driver minifigure is also included.

LEGO announced a new Death Star set

LEGO recently unveiled its most expensive set yet. The new LEGO Star Wars Death Star (75419) comes in at a eye-watering sticker price of $1,000. It's comprised of 9,023 pieces and includes a whopping 38 minifigures. Unlike the original LEGO Death Star, the new set will be a more of a diorama-style cross section build that sits nicely on a shelf when completed. Not surprisingly it is part of LEGO's Ultimate Collector Series.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

The headlining feature of AirPods Pro 3 is noise cancellation. This new model has foam-infused ear tips to help keep out unwanted noise. Plus, Apple says, it has double the noise cancellation effectiveness of the previous model — and four times that of the original AirPods Pro. Apple promises “over-the-ear headphone performance” out of these things.

If you’ve found previous AirPods Pro uncomfortable to wear, or they tended to fall out of your ears while doing things like exercising, you should find AirPods Pro 3 to be a better fit. They’ve been designed to fit more snugly in more ear types. And they come with five sizes of ear tips, instead of the three in previous releases.

Additionally, Apple has upped the battery life on AirPods Pro 3 from six hours in the previous model to eight hours in the new model — and that’s while using active noise cancellation. If you’re listening in transparency mode, you can get up to 10 hours of batter life on a single charge.

If you have an iPhone to pair AirPods Pro 3 with, you’ll be able to use a live translation feature you can use during conversation with someone who speaks a different language. When enabled, it lowers the volume on the words coming into your ears, while Siri translates for you in real time. The translation is based on phrases, rather than individual words. And when you respond in your own language, your words are displayed on your iPhone in the receiver’s language. Your phone can read the translated message aloud as well.

For those who enjoy listening to music or podcasts while they work out, AirPods Pro 3 feature IP57 sweat and water resistance, so they shouldn’t become damaged in any way from normal encounters with water. AirPods Pro 3 also have heartbeat sensors, which can track your exercises in the Fitness app.

Every year, AirPods Pro are among the top-selling items for IGN’s commerce team. I own a pair of AirPods Pro 2, and I wouldn't want to live without them. They’re among my most-used pieces of technology. I use them every day. And while I don't think the improvements over the previous generation warrant me upgrading just yet, if I were to lose my AirPods Pro 2, I would absolutely and immediately replace them with AirPods Pro 3. They’re really great.

Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN's board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky.

After crossing $250 million at the global box office this past weekend, Weapons has become the 25th highest-grossing horror movie of all time (even without Pedro Pascal). While The Conjuring: Last Rites will climb for that top prize in the next couple weeks, it’s safe to say Cregger’s second film has been a big win for original horror in 2025.

Box office aside, Weapons has been very well-received. Tom Jorgenson's 9/10 review for IGN describes it as “a righteous, fully actualized genre-bender in which writer-director Zach Cregger hones Barbarian’s blend of unbearable tension and dark humor to a new level of razor-sharpness.” I'm sure you've seen the movie's iconic hot dog spread on your feed at one point or another, and it’s not surprising that ideas for a prequel are already being tossed around.

That hot dog moment from Weapons that went viral over the weekend actually has a heartfelt and subtle meaning for director Zach Cregger. https://t.co/7d3B97tKPb pic.twitter.com/DLS6wnMhQd

— IGN (@IGN) August 12, 2025

I personally loved Weapons, in large part because I had so little idea of what to expect. As such, I’d highly recommend checking this one out before it’s clipped into oblivion on X. If you’re already gunning for the rewatch, we spoke with Cregger about his approach to the film's story, which, in my opinion, adds some very cool context.

Physical Release October 14, Streaming Release Date TBD

While Cregger has discussed his struggle to get a physical release for his previous film Barbarian, the same can’t be said for Weapons. A spread of physical editions went up for preorder over the movie’s opening weekend, including a limited edition steelbook that quickly sold out. Preorders are still available for the standard 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD, all releasing October 14.

Streaming-wise, Weapons is being distributed by Warner Bros., and as such will eventually land on HBO Max. Recent Warner Bros. releases, like Final Destination: Bloodlines and A Minecraft Movie (what a combo), took a little over two months to arrive on streaming. My guess is we see Weapons on HBO Max by mid-November.

Blythe (she/her) is an SEO Coordinator at IGN who, when she isn't following streaming news, spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles.

There are two different Alienware RTX 5080 models that are on sale. The base model costs $1,999.99 and is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F CPU, GeForce RTX 5080 CPU, 16GB of DDR5-5600MHz RAM, and a 1TB M.2 SSD. This is a customizable system, so you can upgrade the CPU, RAM, and storage. The're also a pre-configured upgraded model that includes an Intel Core Ultra 9 258K CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 2TB M.2 SSD, for $630 more.

The Core Ultra 7 265F is part of Intel's newest Arrow Lake-S lineup released earlier this year and boasts a max turbo frequency of 5.3GHz with 20 cores and a 36MB L2 cache. This is a good all-around CPU for gaming, multi-tasking, and general workstation performance. For gaming, you won't see much of an improvement upgrading to a Core Ultra 9, especially if you plan to play at high resolutions where the GPU makes much more of an impact. However for multi-tasking and workstation and creator tasks, the Core Ultra 9 is superior because it has significantly more cores.

The GeForce RTX 5080 GPU will run any game in 4K

Performance-wise, the RTX 5080 is no slouch. It's one of the fastest cards on the market, bested only by the $2,000 RTX 5090 and the discontinued $1,600 RTX 4090. This is a phenomenal card for playing the latest, most demanding games in 4K resolution at high settings and ray tracing enabled. The RTX 5080 supports DLSS 4 with multi-frame generation, which means you can push even more frames out of games that support the technology with minimal visual compromise. Recent games that support it include Doom: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (after a recent update), Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, Stellar Blade, and upcoming titles like Borderlands 4 and Battlefield 6.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

The base configuration is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F processor, GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 16GB graphics card, 16GB of DDR5-5600MHz RAM, and a 1TB M.2 SSD. The system is powered by a 1000W 80Plus Platinum power supply. Note that this is a customizable system, so you can upgrade the CPU, cooling, RAM, and storage.

The Core Ultra 7 265F is part of Intel's newest Arrow Lake-S lineup released earlier this year and boasts a max turbo frequency of 5.3GHz with 20 cores and a 36MB L2 cache. This is a great all-around CPU for gaming, multi-tasking, and general workstation performance. It doesn't have as many cores as a Core Ultra 9 processor, but that doesn't matter for gaming since the vast majority of games will not be able to utilize more than 20 cores. By default the processor is air cooled by a tower heatsink and fan combo, but you can upgrade to 240mm all-in-one liquid cooling for an extra $20.

The RTX 5070 Ti GPU Has Excellent 4K Gaming Performance

Of all the Blackwell cards released thus far, the RTX 5070 Ti offers the best bang for your buck, especially when pitted against the previous generation GPUs. It performs neck-and-neck with the RTX 4080 Super and marginalizes the RTX 5080, which is only about 10%-15% faster but costs 33% more. Like all Blackwell cards, the RTX 5070 Ti supports DLSS 4 with multi-frame generation. This GPU is capable of high framerates in nearly all games, even at 4K resolution. If you plan on using this card for AI, the RTX 5070 Ti may be a better value since it has the same amount of VRAM as the RTX 5080.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Apple Watch SE 2 - September 16, 2022

Apple Watch SE 2 brough a refresh to the Apple Watch SE after two years. Overall, there are only a few minor upgrades from the Apple Watch SE, but the SE 2 is still an improvement. The main upgrade is a move to the newer S8 chip, offering a sizeable performance boost from the original SE model. Additionally, the SE 2 offers Crash Detection, which is powered by a new gyroscope. While this isn't a major feature, it's certainly nice to have as authorities and family members can be instantly notified if you are involved in an accident.

Apple Watch Ultra - September 23, 2022

Apple Watch Ultra was Apple's take on the ultimate Apple Watch. This is a device that is capable in any environment, whether you're on the bike, trail, or even underwater. Since it offers complete water resistance, you can take the device up to 130 feet underwater on a scuba dive. With the largest-ever display of 49mm, the Ultra offers extremely thin bezels with a rugged design. The new model launched with several unique options for Apple Watch Ultra bands for different lifestyles. The Ultra boasts up to 36 hours of battery life off of a single charge, which is a massive step up from any prior Apple Watch. Overall, no previous Apple Watch compares to the abilities and offerings of the Ultra.

Apple Watch Series 9 - September 22, 2023

Powered by the S9 chip, the Apple Watch Series 9 boasts 60% more transistors than the S8, leading to over twice the amount of performance for certain functions. Series 9 introduced Gestures, such as Double Tap, which allow you to control actions on Apple Watch by simply moving your fingers. Additionally, the brightness of the display is drastically improved, with a peak of 2000 nits and a minimum of 1 nit for areas like a movie theater. Finally, a new health sensor was added that can track your temperature while you are asleep.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 - September 22, 2023

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 offered a few key upgrades from the Apple Watch Ultra, starting with double the storage capacity. Additionally, the watch features a display that is 50% brighter than its predecessor, which is great for low light conditions. Besides these features, other new additions included on-board Siri, dual-band GPS, and increased water resistance.

Apple Watch Series 10 - September 20, 2024

The latest addition to the Apple Watch lineup has officially been announced. The Apple Watch Series 10 features a new wide-angle OLED display that is said to be 40% brigheter than the Series 9. It also includes a larger speaker for advanced sound and a larger charging coil that offers faster charging. The new Apple Watch Series 10 released on September 20.

Apple Watch Series 11 - September 19, 2025

Apple announced the latest Apple Watch generation during its big September event. The new watch includes a new glass that is supposed to be more scratch resistant, but the the biggest new addition is 5G support. Apple has also suggested that this new addition will lead to better battery life. The Apple Watch Series 11 is available to preorder starting today and will be available on September 19, 2025.

Apple Watch SE (3rd Generation) - September 19, 2025

Alongside the Series 11, Apple announced a refresh of its SE line. The Apple Watch SE 3 now includes always-on display and faster charging. Gestures and Sleap Apnea notifications have also been added, making the SE more in line with the standard Apple Watch models of the past. This new model is the cheapest in the new line at $249.

Apple Watch Ultra (3rd Generation) - September 19, 2025

The Apple Watch Ultra also got a refresh, with the main new feature being Satellite connectivity. The Ultra line is marketed as more of an "adventure" watch, so this addition will allow users to stay more connected in areas without cell coverage. At $749 it's the most expensive model in the new lineup.

When Are New Apple Watches Coming Out?

All of the latest Apple Watch models were just announced at Apple's September event. You can preorder the new smart watches now and they will be releasing on Septemeber 19. As for the next generation, we will likely have to wait for Fall 2026 for more details.

How Many Apple AirPods Generations Have There Been?

Apple has released a total of eight different Apple AirPods generations so far. The first model was released in 2016, with the latest arriving in 2025 with the AirPods Pro 3. We've included every AirPods release ever on this list, with the standard AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max all included.

Every Apple AirPods Generation in Order of Release

Apple AirPods (1st Generation) - December 13, 2016

The Apple AirPods (1st Generation) were the pair that started it all. Despite bundling in wired Apple EarPods with all iPhone models, this marked Apple's first jump into the wireless earbud space. The AirPods were brilliantly easy to use thanks to the Apple W1 Chip, which granted users the ability to flip open the AirPods and seamlessly connect them to any Apple device.

Apple AirPods (2nd Generation) - March 20, 2019

While Apple AirPods (2nd Generation) looked just like the original pair on the outside, numerous changes were made internally that paved the way for a significant upgrade. Apple first replaced the W1 chip with the H1, a chip that allowed for quicker connectivity overall. Additionally, while the battery life remained unchanged, Hey Siri functionality was added for users to quickly access Apple's AI assistant.

Apple AirPods Pro (1st Generation) - October 30, 2019

The AirPods Pro marked Apple's first foray into the premium wireless earbud market. Instead of an open-ear design, AirPods Pro has silicone tips that go inside your ear, which opened the door for both higher quality sound and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). Apple offered two ANC modes on AirPods Pro: Active Noise Cancellation & Transparency Mode. The latter allows for voices to enter and mix with the sound while keeping all other noises cancelled out.

Apple AirPods Max - December 15, 2020

In 2020, Apple released the AirPods Max, a brand-new take on Apple AirPods. This model has a complete over-ear design, which looks much closer to the Sony WH-1000MX5 or Bose QuietComfort 45. AirPods Max still offers the best sound quality to date on any AirPods model, with a great balance and quality bass performance. Apple did release an updated version of the AirPods Max in 2024, but the only change was a USB-C port.

Apple AirPods (3rd Generation) - October 26, 2021

Apple AirPods (3rd Generation) was a major shakeup in design compared to the last generation. This time, the design was much closer to Apple AirPods Pro, with the case much more rectangular, and the AirPods themselves having shorter stems. This generation also improved the battery life in a big way, with over six hours of additional listening time on Apple AirPods (3rd Generation).

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) - September 23, 2022

Three years after the release of AirPods Pro, Apple released AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) in 2022. This upgrade replaced the lightning port on the charging case with USB-C, increased water and dust resistance, and more. Sound quality was also much improved with this model, especially in regards to Active Noise Cancellation performance. Recently, Apple even added support for a clinically-validated hearing test to AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) that can gauge ear health and showcase listening habits to users.

Apple AirPods (4th Generation) - September 20, 2024

The most recent AirPods model, Apple AirPods (4th Generation) marked the first time that Apple offered multiple models for one AirPods gen. You can choose between either the standard model or a model equipped with Active Noise Cancellation. A new design was made specifically to fit in as many user's ears as possible, with a solid upgrade in sound quality offered as well.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 - September 19, 2025

The new AirPods Pro 3 were announced at Apple's September event this year. The new earbuds come with improved bass and 4x the noise cancelling performance of the original AirPods Pro. The battery life is also improved over the previous generation. You can preorder the new AirPods Pro 3 earbuds now.

When Are New Apple AirPods Coming Out?

Right now, the next Apple AirPods launch we can expect is the third generation of Apple AirPods Pro, which are coming out on September 19 this year. With the latest generation just announced, we don't yet know much about the next generation. It's likely the next iteration will be a new version of the AirPods Max or the fifth generation of the standard airpods.

Kicking off with a card that many were excited for when Fabled was revealed, Powerline - World's Greatest Rock Star is sitting at around $172.

Aside from the fact that he turns song cards into card draw and cheats out big cards, the artwork is awesome (and he’s the only Goofy Movie entrant on this list).

Circle of Life (Enchanted)

Sitting just above Powerline is the Enchanted version of Circle of Life, coming in at around $177.

The artwork is gorgeous, you can bring back a discarded card, and I’m always happy to see anything from The Lion King. Which brings us nicely to…

Scar - Finally King (Enchanted)

Sitting at around $205, Scar - Finally King’s Enchanted version has more amazing artwork showing the one-time ruler of Pride Rock chatting to a skull and smirking.

He buffs allies, then turns that into card draw, which is basically what you’d expect from the self-centred brother of Mufasa.

Winnie the Pooh - Hunny Wizard (Enchanted)

Reprints are great ways to lower the cost of cards, but this Fabled version of Winnie the Pooh - Hunny Wizard is going for $220.

And you know what? We get it. Look at him, all happy with his borderless treatment.

Hades - Infernal Schemer (Enchanted)

Laying my (Lorcana) cards on the table here, Hades - Infernal Schemer (Enchanted) might be my favorite card on this list.

He’s another reprint, and looks incredible. His value is rising, too, with a market value of $250 but already selling for more than that.

Lilo - Best Explorer Ever (Enchanted)

This adorable Lilo - Best Explorer Ever card isn’t a reprint, and grants Challenger to allies. The standard artwork, with Stitch lurking in the background, is great, but this one makes him even harder to spot so that Lilo can be the clear focus in her spacesuit.

The card is sitting at $255, marginally more than Hades, but it does seem to be dropping slightly.

Belle - Accomplished Mystic (Enchanted)

Belle - Accomplished Mystic marks the first of a quartet of ‘classic’ Disney characters that finish off this list, and she’s a reprint of a Super Rare that appeared in Ursula’s Return.

She’s at the $315 mark right now, but has sold for under $300.

Dumbo - Ninth Wonder of the Universe (Enchanted)

Another new card, Dumbo - Ninth Wonder of the Universe is currently sitting at around $365 and selling for around that, too.

He’s not only adorable in this picture, but he’s handy to have if you’re looking to rack up lore with his abilities.

Minnie Mouse - Sweetheart Princess (Iconic)

Surprising no one, it's the new Iconic artwork that takes the top two spots of our list, starting with Minnie Mouse - Sweetheart Princess.

She’ll set you back around $865 right now, but has sold for around $120 less than that. Will she climb further, or is that a sign of an imminent drop? We’ll know more in the coming days.

“Oh boy!” - Mickey Mouse, upon seeing that his Mickey Mouse - Brave Little Prince (Iconic) card has a market value of over $1000, presumably.

Mickey’s the most expensive card on this list by some distance, and will set you back $1,022. Still, he’s sold for just shy of $900, so there’s some wiggle room.

Being one of the first iconic cards, and an absolutely beautiful looking one at that, I'm not surprised this is demanding a pretty penny right now. At the time of writing, it's the most valuable Disney Lorcana card ever.

The Arkham Asylum set packs in Batman, Batwoman, and Robin alongside classic villains like The Joker, Catwoman, and Harley Quinn. The model is loaded with hidden features and references for DC fans. Purchases of $130 or more also include a SEGA Genesis controller gift through Sept. 17, adding extra value for collectors.

The Monster Energy Zero Sugar 16oz (15-pack) is on sale for $24.73 at Amazon (6% off). Along with the drinks, buyers receive bonus rewards tied to Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, a nice perk for anyone already playing Activision’s newest shooter.

Unicorn Overlord is available for $29.99 at Amazon, half off its usual $59.99 price. The tactical RPG from SEGA combines hand-drawn animation with strategic battles across five nations. Both the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 versions are included in this deal.

Amazon has the INIU 10,000mAh 45W portable charger marked down to $18.69 (38% off). The slim power bank features two USB-C ports and one USB-A, allowing three devices to charge simultaneously. Its compact build makes it practical for daily use or travel.

The LEGO City Advent Calendar 2025 is down to $25 from its regular $34.99 price. It includes 24 surprises ranging from Santa and Mrs. Claus minifigures to seasonal accessories. A fold-out playmat adds to the holiday display, making it a straightforward seasonal pickup.

Dan Brown’s latest thriller, The Secret of Secrets, launches today and is already on sale for $22.80 at Amazon (40% off). The story follows Robert Langdon through Prague, London, and New York as he races to uncover a manuscript tied to human consciousness, mythology, and a dangerous secret project.

James Gunn’s Superman arrives September 23, but Amazon has the 4K Ultra HD + Digital edition available for $29.95 (14% off). Preorders come with Amazon’s price guarantee, so the order will adjust to the lowest price between now and release.

The Dreamegg portable white noise machine is selling for $15.99 at Amazon. It offers 16 sound profiles, a long-lasting 1000mAh battery, and a pocket-sized design. With precise volume controls and timer settings, it’s built for both travel and home use.

Home to the MCU, Star Wars, Pixar, and every niche Disney Channel show you could have watched as a kid, Disney+ is one of the only streaming services to offer actual deals, though a free trial isn't one of them. Instead, Disney+ is all about the bundles, which are the most consistent opportunities for savings. The Disney+ bundle with Hulu and HBO Max is one of the best on the market, offering over $300 in savings a year for the ad-free plan.

For sports fans, Disney+ also just launched a new bundle with Hulu and ESPN Unlimited, which is available at a discounted price for new subscribers until January.

Otherwise, Disney+ with ads is $9.99, versus $15.99 for the ad-free plan, and Disney+ also allows adding "Extra Members" to an existing plan at discounted prices.

Other HBO Max Bundles and Deals

HBO Max is naturally home to HBO Originals like The Last of Us, The White Lotus, and Game of Thrones as well as the DC Universe (including all of the Batman movies). Right now, DoorDash's Dash Pass Annual memberships include an ad-supported HBO Max subscription, which can be upgraded to the ad-free version for $10.99/month, compared to the $16.99/month standard price. Students can sign up for HBO Max at a 50% discount.

Hulu Free Trials and Discounts

Hulu does offer a 7-day free trial for the standalone service. Students can sign up for Hulu at a 75% discount with the ads plan costing just $1.99/month, and they can also pair the Hulu benefit with Spotify Premium, getting both for $5.99/month. Eligible U.S. service members, veterans, and their dependents can also save 25% on Hulu with ads. Outside of these discounts, the best Hulu deal is still the bundle with Disney+ and Max.

Disney+ also recently announced a joint venture with Hulu, which the company already owns, making a bundle even more reasonable (for reference, the Disney+ bundle only costs $1 more than a standalone Hulu subscription).

Limited-Time Deal: Starz for $4.99/Month

Starz currently has a special offer that seemingly doesn't have a specific end date, at least not yet. New subscribers can sign up for a monthly plan at $4.99/month (for three months), 55% off the regular price of $10.99, or a full annual plan for just $29.99, 57% off the regular price of $69.99.

The already relatively affordable streaming option is home to Starz originals like Outlander, classic movies like Back to the Future and The Breakfast Club, and even recent horror hits like M3GAN and Five Nights and Freddy's. It's also where you'll find last year's Borderlands movie, if experiencing that's of any interest to you.

Limited-Time Deal: 50% Off Annual Paramount+ Subscriptions

Starting at $7.99/month, the ad-supported Paramount+ Essential plan is one of the cheaper subscriptions on the market. Live TV and Showtime aren’t available as a standalone subscription, so if you’re interested in watching, say, the newest season of Yellowjackets, you’ll have to check out the Paramount+ Premium bundle, which starts at $12.99/month.

Until September 18, both new and returning subscribers can get a 50% discount on either one of Paramount's annual subscription plans. The discount only applies to annual plans, so no free trials. Otherwise, Walmart+ memberships, which cost $12.95/month, include a Paramount+ subscription, though upgrades to the Premium bundle cost an additional $5.49/month. Walmart+ memberships also offer a 30-day free trial.

Best Peacock Deal: Bundle With Instacart+

NBC Universal's Peacock appeared on the scene back in 2020, but didn't really start to get any traction until the service reclaimed NBC-owned shows like The Office from Netflix. Peacock is also where you'll find Nickelodeon shows, Universal movies (most recently The Wild Robot), and plenty of live sports coverage. Peacock recently announced a new round of price hikes, which launched it from one of the more affordable streaming options to, well, prices a lot like the others.

Peacock itself doesn’t offer a free trial, but there are a couple of ways to get access to the service. Instacart+ subscriptions, which offer $0 delivery fees and additional InstaCart perks, are $9.99/month and include Peacock Premium. For reference, a standalone Peacock subscription now starts at $10.99/month, so you actually save money while getting the InstaCart perks.

Other Ways to Get Peacock

Like Hulu, Peacock offers a 75% discount for students. The NBC-owned service also offers lesser-known discounts for first responders and medical professionals, as well as teachers. To be eligible for these discounts, you’ll have to verify your identity and occupation.

Best Anime Streaming Deal: Crunchyroll Free Trials

As the ultimate streaming service for anime, Crunchyroll is where you'll find every episode of One Piece, the new Dragon Ball series, and pretty much any other anime you can think of.

As a starting point, Crunchyroll is one of the few services that still offers a free plan, albeit with limited viewing options. If you’re looking for the full experience, Crunchyroll offers a 7-day free trial for its Mega Fan subscription, which includes ad-free access to the service’s entire streaming library, free shipping on orders from the Crunchyroll store, and offline viewing.

Other Ways to Get Crunchyroll

While Crunchyroll itself offers a 7-day trial, the streamer has partnered with Best Buy to offer extended Crunchyroll trials on select purchases. For example, I got two months of Crunchyroll's Mega Fan streaming plan for free when I bought a ROG Ally X. A 30-day Crunchyroll trial is also included in My Best Buy memberships.

Apple TV+ Free Trials

Apple TV+ offers more random deals throughout the year than most streaming services, usually to support its own releases like Severance and Mythic Quest. Apple TV recently had a limited time deal where you only pay $2.99/month for your first three months, and we'll likely see that deal return.

In the meantime, AppleTV+ also offers, at minimum, a 7-day free trial to new subscribers. If you’re subscribed or have considered other Apple subscriptions, signing up for Apple One extends that free trial to 30 days. As a hub for Apple subscriptions, Apple One also includes AppleTV+ in its $19.95 monthly cost.

Other Ways to Get AppleTV+

Apple being Apple, one of the “most popular” ways to access AppleTV+ is by picking up an Apple device. A three-month Apple TV+ trial comes with new iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, and Macs. AppleTV+ subscriptions are also included in T-Mobile’s G50G plan, Sprint's Max plan, and Xfinity's StreamSaver bundle. Otherwise, for students, the Apple Music Student Plan includes an Apple TV+ subscription.

Prime Video Discounts

With a growing library of original shows like Reacher and Invincible, Prime Video is included in an Amazon Prime membership, which students and young adults can get with a 50% discount. Otherwise, you can sign up for Amazon’s 30-day free trial and you’ll have access to Prime Video. Amazon also currently offers a 50% discount on Prime for eligible recipients of EBT and other government assistance programs.

Other Deals on Prime Video

Besides being a streaming service, Prime Video is also a digital marketplace, with plenty of movies and shows outside of Amazon’s empire available to rent or buy. If you’re trying to avoid another streaming subscription, or can’t find a specific niche movie, sometimes it’s worth flipping through the Prime Video deals.

Streaming Deals FAQ

Does Netflix ever have deals?

You might have noticed one major streaming service missing from this list, and that’s for a reason. Netflix has never really offered deals; the streamer doesn't even offer a discounted "annual plan." One of the only ways to get around those prices is through phone and internet plans, as Netflix with ads plans are available through T-Mobile, Verizon, and Xfinity.

What’s the best streaming bundle right now?

The best streaming bundle depends on what services you already have and which ones you’ve been looking to join. For example, if you’re already paying for Paramount+, the "cheapest" streaming bundle would technically be adding a Showtime subscription.

That said, if you’re starting from scratch, I highly recommend one of the newest bundles that includes Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max. I pay for this bundle and pretty much nothing else, and between all three libraries, I can always find something good to watch. You can also check out our full list of streaming bundles for a full breakdown of what’s available.

Where can I find promo codes for streaming services?

Outside of specific deals, plenty of streaming services accept promo codes for particular events, sales, and from other vendor partners. These change frequently, but some regularly updated lists of streaming service promo codes can be found on Retailmenot and Coupons.com.

When do streaming services offer deals?

Streaming service deals can be a bit irregular, but there are some things to look out for. Streaming services may offer disounts or extended trials ahead of new exclusive releases, like the AppleTV+ deal ahead of Severance Season 2. Summer specials, holiday deals, and big TV events like the Super Bowl are also common times for new deals.

The best time to check for streaming deals is undoubtedly Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Last year’s Cyber Monday streaming deals were some of the best I’ve ever seen, including Hulu for less than $1/month and Paramount+ with Showtime for $2.99/month.

What phone and internet plans include streaming deals?

One of the best ways to save on streaming is to look for phone and internet plans that include specific services. T-Mobile offers plans that include Netflix with ads, Hulu with ads, and AppleTV+. Verizon offers plans that include the Disney+/Hulu/ESPN bundle as well as plans that come with Max and ad-supported Netflix. On the internet side, you can get Peacock, AppleTV+, and Netflix through Xfinity's StreamSaver bundle.