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Lexar NM1090 Pro 4TB SSD
Product Reviews

Lexar NM1090 Pro 4TB SSD Review: A ‘Budget’ High-End Drive

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Lexar needs no introduction. The previous-gen NM790 changed the landscape for capacious, budget SSDs when it came out at 4TB with an affordable price. The company also has other great memory products, but arguably the NM790 put them on the map in the PC storage space. We didn’t like the NM800 Pro quite as much, as it really wasn’t a budget drive, and the controller had issues in the long run. Now it has a successor: the NM1090 Pro, also available at that tasty 4TB point. Is this another winner, or will this drive end up forgotten?

We’re happy Lexar went for 4TB out of the gate on this one, and that’s the capacity we’re reviewing today. However, the drive is pretty well-priced at 2TB, too, and we can recommend either capacity. This drive has DRAM, unlike the NM790, following in the footsteps of the NM800 Pro. However, given the other high-end drives released recently, the NM1090 Pro has one foot on the budget side of the line. It uses older flash and is priced competitively, which works in its favor. This is not the only drive in this category – the Acer Predator GM9000 has the same hardware – and more competition is due from performance DRAM-less drives like the Biwin Black Opal X570, too.

This means you have to shop around. The NM1090 Pro, in our opinion, makes the most sense as a secondary drive at higher capacities. It’s not really the best option for laptops, and there are certainly faster drives out there. If your system has two or more PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots, though, this could be a roaring games drive that saves you some money without any real deficiencies for that type of usage. It also drops the drawbacks of high power consumption, including at idle, and poor power efficiency that early PCIe 5.0 drives had.

  • Lexar NM1090 Pro 4TB SSD at Amazon for $359.79

Lexar NM1090 Pro Specifications

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Product

1TB

2TB

4TB

Pricing

$139.99

$199.99

$379.99

Form Factor

M.2 2280 (Double-sided)

M.2 2280 (Double-sided)

M.2 2280 (Double-sided)

Interface / Protocol

PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe 2.0

PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe 2.0

PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe 2.0

Controller

SMI SM2508

SMI SM2508

SMI SM2508

DRAM

LPDDR4x

LPDDR4x

LPDDR4x

Flash Memory

Micron 232-Layer TLC

Micron 232-Layer TLC

Micron 232-Layer TLC

Sequential Read

14,000 MB/s

14,000 MB/s

14,000 MB/s

Sequential Write

10,000 MB/s

13,000 MB/s

13,000 MB/s

Random Read

1,650K IOPS

2,100K IOPS

2,100K IOPS

Random Write

1,800K IOPS

1,800K IOPS

1,700K IOPS

Security

N/A

N/A

N/A

Endurance (TBW)

700TB

1,400TB

2,800TB

Part Number

LNM109P001T-RNNNU

LNM109P002T-RNNNU

LNM109P004T-RNNNU

Warranty

5-Year

5-Year

5-Year

Today’s best Lexar NM1090 Pro 4TB SSD deals

The Lexar NM1090 Pro is available at 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB with current prices at $139.99, $199.99, and $379.99. This makes the 4TB the best deal and that is what we’re reviewing today. Peak performance can be hit at 2TB, though, with sequential reads and writes up to 14,000 / 13,000 MB/s and IOPS up to 2,100K / 1,800K for random reads and writes. Lexar offers a standard 5-year warranty with 700TB of writes per TB of capacity, which is more than the typical 600TB, but not a significant enough difference to be meaningful.

If the NM1090 Pro is to succeed, it needs to be priced right, and at the time of review, it mostly is. It offers a discount over the most common new high-end Gen 5 drives, such as the Crucial T710 and the WD_Black SN8100 from SanDisk, and the only drive that really comes close to it is the Samsung 9100 Pro. It’s bound to outperform the slower Phison E26-based drives, like the Crucial T700, and it’s also more efficient than the faster ones like the Crucial T705. This makes it an interesting “budget” high-end drive at 2TB and 4TB, possibly offering a second-drive solution for enthusiasts

Lexar NM1090 Pro Software and Accessories

Lexar has two downloads available for the NM1090 Pro: Lexar DiskMaster and Lexar DataShield. DiskMaster is your standard SSD toolbox application with S.M.A.R.T. disk health information, performance testing, diagnostics, firmware upgrades, a secure erase function, and data transfer functionality. This is pretty standard stuff but it’s nice to have convenient downloads. For alternatives we recommend CrystalDiskInfo for health tracking and MultiDrive for Windows-based cloning or imaging, or Clonezilla for a bootable imaging solution.

Lexar NM1090 Pro: A Closer Look

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

We regret to inform you that the Lexar NM1090 Pro is not single-sided, although that’s not as big a deal these days. Especially for high-end drives like this. Using more NAND flash packages means fewer dies stacked per package, which can be easier to manufacture. Signal integrity and timing can become issues with large die stacks, which are often alleviated by using specialized chips within the packages. Typically, the maximum is 16 dies per package (16DP), although 8 dies (8DP/ODP) is much more common. The possibility of stacking up to 32 (32DP) does exist, but is not something we’ve seen yet in consumer drives. The NM1090 Pro is using 1Tb TLC flash drives so, at 4TB, requires 8 dies per package.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

The NM1090 Pro uses the excellent SMI SM2508 controller. For more technical details, please refer to our original preview. It’s an eight-channel controller with 4 chip enable signals per channel, which means it should handle up to 8TB of flash without a problem and up to 16TB with 2Tb dies. It does have DRAM, which in this case is Foresee LPDDR4x. Using this type of DRAM can reduce power consumption.

The flash appears to be 232-Layer TLC from Micron, which is a generation behind at this point. This flash was used to good effect on the popular Crucial T705 and Crucial T500. Micron has since gone up to 276 layers with an iterative improvement, which, with this same SM2508 controller, has proven to be very power-efficient on the Crucial T710. We’ve seen this controller with older flash on the Acer Predator GM9000 as well, and the result was a drive that falls somewhere between the original Phison E26 and newer, higher-end controllers and flash, including the Phison E28 with BiCS8 TLC. The NM1090 Pro should perform similarly to the Acer, but the capacity change mixes things up a bit and is worth careful consideration if you’re looking for the largest drive possible.

MORE: Best SSDs

MORE: Best External SSDs

MORE: Best SSD for the Steam Deck

Lexar NM1090 Pro 4TB SSD: Price Comparison



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'Wednesday' Star Evie Templeton on Agnes' Progression From Stalker to Friend
Product Reviews

‘Wednesday’ Star Evie Templeton on Agnes’ Progression From Stalker to Friend

by admin


During a chat on the official Wednesday podcast—or rather, woecast—Nevermore newcomer Evie Templeton discussed Agnes coming into her own after being an unhinged stalker fan of Netflix’s favorite Addams.

After Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) lays into her at the end of the second season of the Tim Burton show, seemingly to push her to be herself in the meanest way possible, Agnes gets gutted emotionally in a way that could have been a villain origin but goes in a surprisingly positive direction.

“I think the important message in this episode is that it’s okay to stand out and it’s okay to be yourself and being yourself is the best version of yourself that you can be, it’s okay to stand in your individuality,” she said of the moment Wednesday stopped the pick-me energy dead in its tracks. “I think it’s just a moment of pure devastation. I mean, all of her efforts have really led to nothing and she’s tried so hard and put so much into this that it’s really just a moment of pure heartbreak; to be told by her idol that she’s failed and that she’s not good enough is really heart-wrenching for her.”

She noted, “I think it also acts as quite a pivotal moment because after this she sort of embraces her own individuality and she breaks out of her braids”—meaning the copycat hairstyle that made her look more like Wendy’s mascot than her idol.

Templeton’s hopes for Wednesday’s stalker-turned-crime-solving partner lie in her becoming friends with Enid (Emma Myers) instead of seeing her as competition. “Well, I think they have a lot in common. They both admire Wednesday so much, and I think they can both also recognize that beneath Wednesday’s stern, stony exterior that she has a lot of compassion inside, and she’s a very loyal friend.”

The new friendship gets solidified with their showstopping performance to Lady Gaga’s “The Dead Dance” at the gala.

“I think it’s in the moment where she’s obviously in her beautiful green dress, and she’s got her new hairstyle, that she sort of realizes that [Enid’s] be-your-own-psycho advice has really impacted her in the best way possible, and I think that’s a really important message, especially for my generation, to not feel like you have to conform, and to understand that you can break out of the mold and be yourself, and not to feel pressured into being what everyone else thinks you should be.”

Templeton continued to sing her dance partner’s praises, which is a great place for an Enid and Agnes team-up to start. “Emma is the sweetest girl. She’s so, so nice. I mean, we have a lot in common, which was great. That [Gaga dance sequence] was something that kind of connected us from the beginning.”

She hopes it solidifies Agnes’ place in the friend group as their invisibility-powered partner in mystery solving. “I really want to see that trio dynamic. I’d like to see how that progresses, like the Three Musketeers.”

Wednesday season two is now streaming on Netflix.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.



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Which iPhone 17 Model Should You Buy?
Product Reviews

Which iPhone 17 Model Should You Buy?

by admin


Apple’s 2025 iPhones are here, and things are quite different for the first time in a while. The base iPhone 17 will still feel familiar, but the iPhone 17 Pro models have a completely new look, and there’s a brand-new model called the iPhone Air. The “Air” branding has been somewhat diluted of late—the current-gen iPad Pro models are lighter than the iPad Air—but the iPhone Air brings meaning back to the original idea: a super-thin and ultra-lightweight device.

Preorders kick off September 12, and official sales start September 19. If you’re considering an upgrade, what model should you get? I’ll break down the key differences and similarities among the iPhone 17 lineup, so you can hopefully make a more informed choice on your next iPhone.

Table of Contents

AccordionItemContainerButton

You Don’t Need to Upgrade

If you have an iPhone from just a few years ago, you probably don’t need to upgrade to Apple’s latest, unless your device has issues. Even then, there are things you can do to fix your iPhone, like getting a battery replacement, or you can try some of these troubleshooting steps. The point is, you shouldn’t feel the need to upgrade just because Apple has a new model.

If you’re set on buying an iPhone 17 model, we have a guide on how to sell your iPhone so that it doesn’t just collect dust in a drawer. When your new device arrives, back up your old iPhone before switching to the new one, then follow our guide on factory resetting your device before selling or giving it away. We also have tips on how to set up your new iPhone and what settings to change to get the most out of it.

Which iPhone 17 Is Right for You?

Let’s quickly talk about the similarities across all the iPhone 17 models this year, and yes, that includes the iPhone Air, even if it doesn’t have “17” in the name.

  • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Apple

iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Pro

The Display

Although iPhones differ in screen size, they all feature an OLED screen (Apple refers to it as a Super Retina XDR display) and employ ProMotion technology. This is the first time the non-Pro models have ProMotion, which is essentially a 120-Hz refresh rate.

This has been a common feature on Android phones for a while, but it means your display refreshes 120 times per second rather than 60, like on the iPhone 16, so everything you do will feel smoother. (We have a broader explainer here.) These are adaptive refresh rates that can drop as low as 1 Hz when there’s little activity on the screen, which is why the new iPhone 17 and iPhone Air now support the always-on display.

Apple also says there’s a new Ceramic Shield 2 front glass that’s 3X more scratch-resistant than before, and a new antireflective coating to reduce glare. All of these screens can also hit up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, meaning it’ll be easier to read your iPhone screen on sunny days.

The Camera

The front-facing selfie camera is identical on all the iPhone 17 models. It’s a new square-shaped 18-megapixel sensor, and that means you can expect more detail out of your selfies. However, the square sensor also introduces a smarter way to capture group selfies. You can keep holding your phone in portrait orientation for the best grip, and it will automatically zoom out to make sure everyone fits in the frame, while also switching to a landscape orientation for the widest view. All of these models also support Dual Capture, which lets you shoot with both the front and rear cameras at the same time. You can read more about these features here.

The Usual Specs

All of the iPhones are IP68 water- and dust-resistant and have Face ID, the Camera Control button, Action Button, USB-C, and Qi2 magnetic wireless charging (MagSafe). All devices start at 256 GB of storage. There’s Apple Intelligence on these devices, the same Emergency SOS via Satellite and Crash Detection capabilities, and they utilize Apple’s new N1 wireless networking chip for Bluetooth 6, Wi-Fi 7, and Thread support.

The Differences

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Now, here’s where they diverge, which will help you better understand what model to buy.



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Product Reviews

It’s weird that esports is segregated by gender

by admin


Welcome to Video Games Weekly on Engadget. Expect a new story every Monday or Tuesday (Or, I dunno, Thursday), broken into two parts. The first is a space for short essays and ramblings about video game trends and related topics from me, Jess Conditt, a reporter who’s covered the industry for more than 13 years. The second contains the video game stories from the past week that you need to know about, including some headlines from outside of Engadget.

Please enjoy — and I’ll see you next week.

Earlier this week, FlyQuest top laner Bwipo (Gabriël Rau) was suspended for one series of the League of Legends LTA playoffs after saying some wild stuff during a livestream about women and their ability to play esports. Here’s a sampling of what he said:

  • “I think there’s just not enough support for female pro players… women’s anatomy and their monthly cycles are just extremely different from males, and there’s no proper support system for women to go through what they’re going through.”

  • “Even men just tilt out of their fucking minds when they’re playing League of Legends. So, when a woman is on the wrong part of the month and playing competitively, there is a time of the month where you should not be fucking playing competitive games as a woman, in my opinion.”

OK, Bwipo. His comments received an appropriate amount of ridicule from fellow players, casters and fans, and FlyQuest benched him during a pivotal moment in the race to Worlds. He has apologized and pledged to “reflect, listen, and do better.”

So, here we are yet again. It’s 2025 and it must be stated: Men are not biologically better at video games than women. Women, femmes and nonbinary people are not physiologically less interested in or skilled at competitive gaming than a player who lives as a dude. Gender on its own has no bearing on how quickly a person can click a mouse, scan a screen or strategize in high-intensity situations, and lines of code react the same no matter how an individual player identifies.

That said, I find myself agreeing with Bwipo’s initial statement, “There’s just not enough support for female pro players.” I understand, in a backward kind of way, the logical leaps he then tried to make in order to explain a situation that doesn’t make any sense — namely, the absence of non-guy players in mainstream, professional esports. His conclusion may have been laughably misguided, but the core conundrum still stands.

The professional esports scene is segregated by gender and dominated by men. There are no hard and fast rules barring women or gender nonconforming people from competing at a professional level in any major league, but there are vanishingly few women, femmes or non-male-presenting players participating in mainstream esports tournaments, and this tends to be the baseline. There are separate leagues and competitions established specifically for women and gender nonconforming players, and while I find these events to be extremely exciting, they’re siloed and receive far less financial, marketing and back-end support than mainstream tournaments. Women’s esports leagues exist in a bubble that, for some strange reason, seems to be modeled on the gender segregation practices of traditional sports, with matching gaps in pay, respect and opportunity.

A handful of women players have broken through on the main stage over the years, including Potter (Christine Chi, CS:GO), Karma (Jaime Bickford, Rocket League), Hafu (Rumay Wang, WoW, Hearthstone) and Scarlett (Sasha Hostyn, StarCraft II). Still, the earnings gap between men and women in esports is cavernous: According to Esports Earnings, the top male player on record is N0tail (Johan Sundstein, Dota 2), with $7,184,163 in prize money to his name. The top female player on that list is Scarlett, with $472,111 in total earnings. There are 619 male players ahead of her, and the totals don’t factor in the lucrative sponsorship deals available to elite gamers.

I have to say it again. Esports, an industry built around people playing video games really well, is segregated by gender. Isn’t that insane?

The natural question is, why? It’s not because only men are good at video games, since we’ve established that’s a steaming pile of horseshit. Nor is it because, as Bwipo suggested, some women menstruate. But the actual reason is just as clear.

It’s sexism. The gender makeup of the mainstream esports scene is the result of everyday, bog standard, garden variety, run of the mill misogyny. In the world of esports, it’s sponsored by Red Bull, drenched in LEDs and proudly hosted by your favorite streamer. At our current stage, when a veteran LoL player is openly trying to bring back the hysteria diagnosis rather than looking at the realities of a system that provides him privilege, I think we have to say it plainly. Put the pivotal issue on the table so we can look at how ugly, regressive and nasty it is. Only then can we start to change it.

There is a dearth of women, femmes and nonbinary people in mainstream esports because of the sexism that permeates society at large.

I understand why someone like Bwipo — or other players, coaches, presenters, managers, team owners, league organizers or game makers at the highest levels of esports — wouldn’t want to acknowledge this fact or how much power it holds over the entire scene. I get that some would rather twist themselves into knots trying to blame women for their own exclusion, instead of tackling an uncomfortable social issue that runs far deeper than just the gaming industry. I understand it, but I think it’s cowardly. Ostrich behavior.

So, let’s look at it. If misogyny in esports is the problem, I think a solution has to lie in the talent pipeline. During the scouting stages, when school-age players of all genders are streaming and climbing ranks from their bedrooms, boys naturally receive things from the community that girls don’t, like enthusiastic support, a welcoming attitude, respect, and, eventually, enough belief in their skills to risk investment. I’m not suggesting toxicity isn’t a thing for everyone, but these positive aspects are also built into the experience for many young men playing games. Young women have to earn these responses, generally by overperforming compared to their peers, and while being belittled, sexualized, threatened with violence, hyperanalyzed and othered, for years on end. It’s exhausting. It silently pushes some women out of video games and esports.

It’s also malleable. Sexism spawns from an embarrassing and irrational way of thinking, but people change their minds all the time. A simple but widespread shift in perception — oh right, it’s weird that esports is segregated by gender — can make an enormous impact especially on these early stages of esports play. How we think alters how we behave, how we speak and what we allow in social spaces. It really can be that simple, at least as a starting point.

I think about this each time I turn on a pro match, which is currently every day with LoL Worlds qualification tournaments in full swing (hi, FlyQuest). The esports gender disparity is face-smackingly obvious, especially in concert with the godlike presentation that existing players tend to receive: hype trailers with uber-masculine motifs, walk-out rituals, emotional behind-the-scenes documentaries and epic promotional spots depicting teams as otherwordly superheroes. Of course, most esports players are literal teenagers, which tends to make these macho presentations more adorable than anything — but the fact remains that male esports pros, even teenage ones, are taken extremely seriously as athletes (athletes!) and can find support for their goals at every level. I’d love to see this encouragement, faith and excitement extended to young women and nonbinary players as well.

The mental shift is the first step. As demonstrated by Bwipo’s offhand comments, it seems plenty of people in the esports scene are still in the early stages of critical thinking when it comes to gender and opportunity, so we’re starting with the basics. Remind yourself that men are not inherently skilled at playing video games and women aren’t naturally bad, and think about how ridiculous those suggestions sound in the first place. Remember that sexism is an artificial barrier limiting opportunities for everyone in esports. Next time you see an ad with a bunch of dude esports players surrounded by ladies in cosplay, take a second to notice how odd that is. Hear how many times the casters say “gentlemen,” “sir,” “boys” and other gendered terms during games, and recognize how daunting this space is for players who don’t fit those descriptions. Get comfortable with the idea that some humans can play video games really, really, really well, and this fact is completely divorced from how they look or identify. It’s easy to do because it’s true.

Additional reading and viewing

The news

007 First Light lands in March

IO Interactive’s James Bond game, 007 First Light, is heading to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Steam and the Epic Games Store on March 27, starting at $70. Engadget UK Bureau Chief Mat Smith got his hands on the preview at Gamescom earlier this month and he found it to be spectacular in the very literal sense.

There’s more Stardew Valley coming to Stardew Valley

What a lovely little surprise. Stardew Valley creator ConcernedApe (Eric Barone) announced another numbered update is on its way, adding significant bits of new content to the game more than nine years after its Steam debut. Update 1.7 will hit Stardew Valley at an unspecified time in the near future and Barone clarified that it won’t impact the release timeline for his next game, Haunted Chocolatier. Barone had the following to say about the whole thing:

“Haunted Chocolatier will be released at some point. And sure, the reality of my life is that I have a very popular 1st game that I still want to take care of, which means that my 2nd game might take a little longer. It is what it is. I didn’t have to make a 1.7 update for Stardew Valley, but the game is still so popular (in fact, still growing), that it’s hard to just stop improving it when there are still things that can be improved. But I hope the approach I am taking for Stardew Valley 1.7 will help keep Haunted Chocolatier on track.

“About the Stardew Valley team: they are awesome, all very talented, hard-working, and contribute unique things to the development process. We are a very small group, and I like it that way. Also, I am still working completely solo on Haunted Chocolatier without any plans to change that for the time being.”

Yooka-Replaylee will be here in October

Playtonic’s bright and shiny remaster of Yooka-Laylee will come to PS5, PC, Switch 2 and Xbox Series X/S on October 9. For the Switch 2 version, Playtonic has opted to release the full game on an actual cartridge, rather than relying on game-key card downloads, which is a heartwarming throwback to the way things were. Digital versions of the game cost $30, while the physical edition is $50.

Diablo developers vote to unionize

More than 450 developers with Blizzard Entertainment’s Diablo team have voted to form a union with the backing of the Communications Workers of America. The CWA is also overseeing the ZeniMax QA union, and is backing recent organization efforts by the Overwatch 2 crew and Blizzard’s Story and Franchise Development group. (Am I the only person who wants that to be Story and Song development? Probably.) The CWA says more than 3,500 Microsoft employees have organized under its banner.

Diablo producer Kelly Yeo is an organizing committee member of the latest Blizzard union and she said in a statement that multiple rounds of sweeping layoffs at Microsoft prompted the organization efforts.

“With every subsequent round of mass layoffs, I’ve witnessed the dread in my coworkers grow stronger because it feels like no amount of hard work is enough to protect us,” Yeo said. “This is just the first step for us joining a movement spreading across an industry that is tired of living in fear.”

Layoffs at Crystal Dynamics and Firaxis

It feels like nowadays, for every unionization story, there are at least two tales of layoffs. This was sadly true in recent weeks, with news of mass firings at Tomb Raider studio Crystal Dynamics and Civilization team Firaxis. An unknown number of people were fired from Crystal Dynamics and it’s unclear if the cuts were tied to the recent cancellation of The Initiative, which Crystal Dynamics was helping reboot. The Initiative was canceled as part of Microsoft’s huge cuts to its gaming segment in July (which followed similarly large losses the year before, and so on). Crystal Dynamics is still owned by Embracer Group and is working on a new Tomb Raider installment.

After unleashing Civilization VII on the masses in February, Firaxis has also laid off an undisclosed number of developers in the name of studio restructuring. Firaxis is owned by 2K, which recently canceled a remake of the original BioShock and sent Cloud Chamber’s new BioShock title back to an even-deeper circle of development hell. Meanwhile, Take-Two Interactive, the company that controls all of this, is reporting healthy financials and expectations to grow in the second half of 2025. Grand Theft Auto VI is on its way, after all.

Ju-DAS, Ju-da’as / Ju-DAS, Ju-da’as

I swear, if the release trailer for Ghost Story Games’ Judas doesn’t include the Lady Gaga song, I will riot by myself.

Following all of that weird BioShock news out of 2K, Ken Levine decided to remind everyone that his game Judas is still in development and even has key art. His post on the PlayStation Blog outlines some of the relationship mechanics in Judas, relating them partly to the Nemesis system from Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor, which has me all kinds of excited. And, yeah, the new picture looks cool, too.

The Silksong corner

The day of its release, Hollow Knight: Silksong singlehandedly crashed multiple game storefronts including Steam, the Nintendo eShop and the Xbox Store. The marketplaces recovered, but players haven’t — the bulk of the post-launch discourse has focused on whether the game is too hard, a suggestion that I find baffling as someone who does not enjoy punishing metroidvanias like Silksong. With this brand of game, I was under the impression that if it’s beatable, it’s not too hard. It’s mechanically precise, tricky, twitchy and super-duper challenging — isn’t that exactly what you masochists want?

Then again, Team Cherry’s first update for the game includes a “slight difficulty reduction in early game bosses” including Moorwing and Sister Splinter, so what do I know?

There’s a Nintendo Direct on Friday

Watch it here at 9AM ET.

Catch the end of the Flame Fatales speedrunning event

The Flame Fatales speedrunning event, which features women and femmes playing a bunch of awesome games very quickly, is underway and runs through Sunday, September 14. Check it out here!

Recent Engadget reviews and previews

Additional additional reading

Have a tip for Jessica? You can reach her by email, Bluesky or send a message to @jesscon.96 to chat confidentially on Signal.



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The best earbuds we’ve tested for 2025
Product Reviews

The best earbuds we’ve tested for 2025

by admin


It’s hard to buy a bad pair of wireless earbuds these days, and with constant discounts and deals wherever you look, now is as good a time as any to splurge on the pair you’ve been eyeing. The market has come a long way since the early era of true wireless earbuds when we had to deal with mediocre sound quality and unreliable performance, all for the sake of ditching cables. Things are much different now. After several product generations of learned lessons, companies like Sony, Apple, Samsung, and others are releasing their most impressive earbuds to date.

You can get phenomenal noise cancellation and sound quality in the premium tier of earbuds if you’re willing to spend big. But those aren’t always the most important criteria for everyone: maybe you’re looking for the perfect fitness earbuds or for a set that works just as well for Zoom calls as for playing your favorite playlists and podcasts.

Tech companies are increasingly making their earbuds work best with their own products through exclusive features and functionality, so that’s another thing to consider as you shop around. If you want a perk like head-tracking spatial audio, you’ll need to use AirPods with an iPhone, Samsung buds with a Samsung phone, and so on.

$213

Sony’s flagship wireless earbuds offer the company’s best noise cancellation, powerful and lively sound, and a comfortable fit.

Read More

$299

With dynamic, rich sound and the best ANC available, the QC Ultra Earbuds are a terrific pick if you want to listen to your music in peace.

Read More

What I’m looking for

How we test wireless earbuds

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Whether you’re using earbuds to check out a newly-released album on Spotify, as motivation at the gym, or to tune out distractions around the office, they must deliver on the key metrics of sound quality, noise cancellation, voice call performance, and more. We spend many hours putting our picks through the paces. This includes quiet listening sessions that reveal their full detail, overall fidelity, and dynamics. We also take these buds out into the real world — on rush hour subway commutes, around busy cities, and in crowded cafes — to gauge their connection strength and determine how effectively they can quiet the world around you. We test them on video calls at work and by calling friends and family, who provide blunt feedback on how their mics sound. And importantly, with earbud makers often reserving certain software tricks for their own preferred ecosystem, we see how the earbuds fare when used across multiple platforms.

Comfort

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No matter how they sound, what good are earbuds if you don’t enjoy wearing them? Ears come in all shapes and sizes, so the comfort factor is highly subjective. Most of our picks include several sizes of ear tips; usually they’re silicone, but some companies use foam (or both). Again, which you like better comes down to personal preference. Silicone tips are more common, but foam can expand to fill more of your ear for a better seal. The most important tip I can offer is to try different-sized tips in each ear: you might find that one of your ears needs something bigger or smaller than the other.

Good sound

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Just like with comfort, we all have our own inclinations for what we want from sound quality. Some people are bass-heads who can’t live without a thumping low end. Personally, I care more about dynamics, clarity, and definition from the music I’m listening to. I want vocals to ring through naturally and instruments to be well separated in the sound stage. I look for earbuds that can bring out the subtle details in my favorite songs.

Active noise cancellation

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What was once a luxury feature is now the status quo. Many of our top picks include active noise cancellation to help quiet the raucous outside world. Whether you’re trying to concentrate at the office or rest while traveling, noise cancellation can be a huge help. However, some people hate the “plugged up” feeling of earbuds and prefer open-style buds that help maintain full awareness of their surroundings.

Long battery life

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Most earbuds these days can reach between five and six hours of continuous battery life with ANC enabled. Some models can exceed that (and over-ear headphones tend to last much longer on a charge), but the convenience of being able to just pop your earbuds back into their case for more juice makes the tradeoff easier to live with.

Water resistance

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Even if you don’t intend to use your earbuds for fitness purposes, there’s always a chance of getting caught out in the rain while wearing them. At minimum, you should be looking for earbuds that offer IPX4 water resistance. This safeguards them from splashes of water (and sweat), so they should be cut out for the hazards of daily life.

The best overall wireless earbuds

$213

The Good

  • Smaller, more comfortable design
  • Upgrades to ANC and sound quality
  • Much clearer voice call performance

The Bad

  • Glossy texture can make them harder to remove from case
  • Sony’s bonus features aren’t as seamless as those of its competitors
  • Potential battery longevity concerns

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 8 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IPX4 / Bluetooth codecs: LDAC, AAC, SBC / Multipoint: Yes / Works best with: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Foam (XS, S, M, L)

Just like their predecessors, Sony’s WF-1000XM5 earbuds have again topped our recommendations for the overall best noise-canceling earbuds. Thanks to their larger drivers, the audio quality is more detailed and dynamic than before while still retaining the warmth and clarity that made the WF-1000XM4 so enjoyable. Sony has also further improved its ANC and is nearing the same territory as Bose’s QC Earbuds II. These earbuds do a terrific job of eliminating background noise. Battery life can stretch to eight hours of continuous listening with noise cancellation turned on.

Some people found the XM4 to be bulky and uncomfortable, so this time around, Sony has managed to shrink the XM5 by 25 percent. Like before, the company includes foam-style tips that expand in your ears to create an excellent seal — and now there’s a fourth (extra small) set of tips in the box.

The WF-1000XM5 are smaller and more comfortable than their M4 predecessors. Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

On Android phones, the 1000XM5 support Sony’s LDAC codec for higher-quality music playback. And they’re capable of dynamic head tracking spatial audio through supported video apps like Netflix. But even if you’re not using LDAC (or have an iPhone), these are up there with the very best audio-focused premium earbuds — including Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 4, only with substantially better noise cancellation. They’re also capable of multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, so you can pair them with two devices at the same time.

It’s worth noting that there were many reports of battery issues with the 1000XM4 over time as those earbuds aged, but Sony claims to have rectified that problem with the new model by tweaking the charging algorithm.

Read our full WF-1000XM5 review.

The best budget earbuds under $100

$89

The Good

  • Standout color and design
  • Very compact carrying case
  • Great performer for the price

The Bad

  • Limited retail availability
  • Plastic case can show scuffs

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 5.5 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IP54 / Bluetooth codecs: LDAC, AAC, SBC / Multipoint: Yes / Works best with: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Silicone (S, M, L)

When looking at Nothing’s Ear (a) earbuds, it’s easy to focus all your attention on the catchy yellow color or their fun, super compact carrying case. But at their $99 price, the company’s entry-level earbuds provide a ton of features, including active noise cancellation, a low-latency mode for gaming, multipoint Bluetooth pairing, and a decent IP54 dust and water resistance rating.

The Ear (a) are Nothing’s first earbuds that aren’t only offered black or white. Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

And the sound quality you get outperforms my usual expectations for this price point. They’re not quite on par with Nothing’s higher-end Ears, but you do get expressive, very enjoyable audio — and you can customize the EQ further in Nothing’s mobile app.

Read my full Nothing Ear (a) impressions.

The best noise-canceling earbuds

$299

The Good

  • Most powerful ANC you’ll find in earbuds
  • Lively, rich sound
  • Stabilizer fins are easier to apply

The Bad

  • Immersive Audio drains battery
  • Wireless charging requires $49 case

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 6 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IPX4 / Bluetooth codecs: AAC, SBC, aptX Adaptive / Multipoint: Yes / Works best with: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Silicone (S, M, L)

Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are the most powerful noise-canceling earbuds on the market. Of all our top picks, they do the best job of offering peace and quiet from the cacophony of daily life, putting you in a private bubble with your music playlists or favorite podcasts.

Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer the best noise cancellation of any pair of wireless buds. Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

The QC Ultra Earbuds are extremely similar to 2022’s QC Earbuds II in terms of design, fit, and sound. Audio quality is rich and dynamic, delivering more bass thump than, say, Apple’s AirPods Pro. And by switching to a two-piece ear tip / stabilizer fitting process, Bose’s latest flagship buds should fit a wider range of ears more comfortably. The Ultra also introduce a new Immersive Audio mode, which is Bose’s take on spatial audio.

That being said, it’s worth noting that Bose recently announced an updated version of the QC Ultra Earbuds, which, with the help of AI, supposedly offer improved call quality and enhanced adaptive ANC to help curb sudden spikes in noise. They’ll also retail for the same price as the current model and come with a wireless charging case when they launch later this year, preventing you from having to pay extra for what has essentially become a table-stakes feature.

Read our full QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review.

The best earbuds for sports and working out

$200

The Good

  • Huzzah! Wireless charging!
  • Adds ANC, transparency modes, spatial audio
  • Slimmer ear hook, smaller case
  • Adds heart rate
  • Great sound
  • No price hike

The Bad

  • Case is still a chonker
  • Heart rate is not that useful for iOS users

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 8 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IPX4 / Bluetooth codecs: AAC, SBC / Multipoint: No / Works best with: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Silicone (XS, S, M, L, XL)

After a long wait, Beats finally introduced the Powerbeats Pro 2 in early 2025. They carry forward the signature ear hook design of past Powerbeats earbuds, but improve upon the original Powerbeats Pro in several key ways. Beats added active noise cancellation and a natural-sounding transparency mode to the Pro 2; the first-generation pair lacked both. The earbuds themselves are lighter, too, and the charging case is noticeably smaller.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 also feature heart rate monitoring thanks to built-in sensors on each earbud. You might already have a fitness tracker, chest strap, or smartwatch for this purpose, but if not, you can use these with compatible apps like Nike Run Club, Runna, Ladder, Slopes, Open, Peloton, and YaoYao. The downside is that they can’t simultaneously play music and broadcast heart rate to gym equipment when paired to an iOS device, rendering the Pro 2 a better heart rate monitoring alternative for Android users than iPhone users.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 have an ear-hook design for maximum stability. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

The Powerbeats Pro 2 remain rated IPX4 for water resistance. While that’s not as robust as some other fitness-focused buds, it should be sufficient to survive sweat and outdoor runs in various conditions. The earbuds still offer easy-to-use physical buttons and a dedicated volume rocker, so it’s easy to control them in the middle of a workout.

If you’re an iPhone owner, the Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds include Apple-only features like dynamic head tracking for spatial audio, auto device switching, Find My integration, and more. For Android users, Beats has an app that packs in a smaller subset of these functions.

Read our full Powerbeats Pro 2 review.

The best earbuds for iPhone owners

$199

The Good

  • Much better noise cancellation
  • Improved sound quality and clarity
  • Unrivaled hearing health features

The Bad

  • Unchanged design
  • Sound is better but not top tier

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 6 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IPX4 / Bluetooth codecs: AAC, SBC / Multipoint: No / Works best with: iOS, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Silicone (XS, S, M, L)

For those invested in Apple’s ecosystem, the second-gen AirPods Pro bring an appealing mix of top-notch noise cancellation and refined sound compared to the original pair. As always, they also include numerous features (spatial audio, audio sharing, automatic syncing across iCloud devices, etc.) that make them an ideal companion to the company’s other devices. They’re also the only AirPods that come with different sizes of ear tips for a customizable fit — including an extra small option. Note: the introduction of the AirPods Pro 3 during Apple’s iPhone 17 event, that model features one additional size, XXS, totaling five ear tip options. They also bring a host of updates, including better battery life, a built-in heart rate sensor, and improved bass. This new model launches September 19th, and we’re working on a full review, so stay tuned.

The second-gen AirPods Pro remain the best choice for people who own Apple devices. Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

The AirPods Pro have a compact case that supports wireless charging. Setting them up is as simple as holding the open case near your iPhone. The earbuds are lightweight and fit snugly in most ears. Their force sensor pinch controls are easy to get down, and with the second-gen model, Apple added swipe-based volume controls. The AirPods Pro have traditionally ranked among the best wireless earbuds when it comes to voice call quality, and the second-gen earbuds don’t disappoint. Their ANC is improved over the original model and is now right up there with Sony, and their transparency mode has gained the ability to quickly damper sudden, loud noises that might happen around you.

Where the AirPods Pro stand out is with their Apple-only features like head tracking for spatial audio, automatic device switching, extensive Find My support, and so on. The charging case now features a built-in speaker and a U1 chip for pinpoint location tracking, and the latest AirPods Pro have better sound and noise canceling capabilities than the original model. Plus, they retain their deep integration with Apple’s hardware ecosystem.

Last year, Apple also rolled out an impressive set of hearing health features for the second-gen AirPods Pro. They’re now able to serve as clinical-grade hearing aids for people with mild to moderate hearing loss and protect your hearing in loud environments; you can even take a hearing test to assess your own level of hearing loss.

Read our original AirPods Pro (second-gen) review.

The best earbuds for Samsung Galaxy phone owners

$190

The Good

  • Terrific sound quality
  • Crisp, natural transparency / passthrough mode
  • Voice commands are simple and so useful
  • Good voice calls

The Bad

  • Uninspired design
  • Midtier noise cancellation performance
  • No true multipoint

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 6 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IP57 / Bluetooth codecs: Samsung seamless, AAC, SBC / Multipoint: No / Works best with: Android, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Silicone (S, M, L)

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 Pro ditch the company’s more discreet designs of the past for a stemmed style that’s similar to AirPods and any number of other wireless earbuds. Boring? Maybe, but thanks to that change, I’ve found them to be more comfortable and provide better stability than the Buds 2 Pro. The sound quality is even better than before — and it was already excellent. These are right up there with Sennheiser and Technics from an audio fidelity standpoint.

The Buds 3 Pro are an ideal match for Samsung’s latest phones. Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

The Buds 3 Pro are also a standout performer when it comes to call quality. And my favorite thing about these earbuds are the hands-free voice commands that don’t require you to say any specific wake phrase beforehand. You can just say “volume up” and / or “next song,” and it happens.

But they’re not perfect: the Buds 3 Pro lack multipoint connectivity, so they can’t connect to two devices at the same time. Just like Apple, Samsung prefers to automatically hop between products within its own walled garden ecosystem. Some people might consider this a dealbreaker, but I’ve still enjoyed the earbuds plenty without it.

Read our full Galaxy Buds 3 Pro review.

The best earbuds for Google Pixel phone owners

$225

The Good

  • Smaller and lighter design is supremely comfortable
  • More powerful noise cancellation
  • Crystal-clear transparency mode
  • Very pleasant and detailed sound quality

The Bad

  • ANC can’t quite match Bose
  • Google still refuses to add higher-quality Bluetooth codecs, limiting overall fidelity
  • Gemini Live feels more feeble than futuristic

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 8 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IP54 / Bluetooth codecs: AAC, SBC / Multipoint: Yes / Works best with: Android, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Silicone (XS, S, M, L)

With the Pixel Buds Pro 2, Google has addressed most of the downsides of the original pair. They’re far smaller and lighter than the chunky first-gen Pixel Buds Pro. And there’s a small nub on the buds to help lock them in place even during intensive activities like running or exercise.

Google’s active noise cancellation still isn’t on the same tier as Bose, but the transparency mode on the Buds Pro 2 is among the very best you’ll find. It offers a crisp, natural passthrough for the outside world when needed. Multipoint support is included, and Google’s latest earbuds eke out impressive battery life that surpasses most competitors.

Google really downsized the Pixel Buds Pro 2 (bottom) compared to the original pair (top). Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Got a Pixel phone? With the Pixel Buds Pro 2, you can have lengthy conversations with Google’s Gemini AI while your phone stays in your pocket. Features like head-tracking spatial audio and Clear Calling are also exclusive to those within the Pixel ecosystem. If that’s you, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are a big step up from the previous buds in a much smaller package.

Read our full Pixel Buds Pro 2 review.

The best earbuds if you own both Apple and Android devices

$100

The Good

  • Better sound, ANC, and battery life than Studio Buds
  • Standout translucent case option
  • Improved voice call performance

The Bad

  • ANC and transparency fall short of second-gen AirPods Pro
  • Doesn’t offer all Apple ecosystem tricks
  • No wireless charging or in-ear detection

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 6 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IPX4 / Bluetooth codecs: AAC, SBC / Multipoint: No / Works best with: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Silicone (XS, S, M, L)

Beats’ Studio Buds Plus are an upgraded, better-performing revision of the Studio Buds released in 2021. This time, the company has made the noise cancellation more powerful while also improving the quality of the transparency mode and extending battery life. If you’re going for style points, it doesn’t get much cooler than the translucent color option. These earbuds are very tiny and rank up with the best in terms of overall comfort.

The translucent color option has a very ‘90s vibe. Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

What’s interesting about the Studio Buds Plus is that they use a proprietary chip that allows them to support native software features on both iOS and Android. Plenty of earbuds offer companion apps on each platform, but in the case of the Beats, they work with both Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find My Device. You also get simple one-tap pairing, no matter which operating system you’re using.

The drawback to this dual-ecosystem life is that Apple customers don’t get all the usual bells and whistles that come with AirPods or even the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2; you lose out on audio sharing, head tracking spatial audio, and other tricks. Wireless charging and an ear detection sensor (for auto-pause when a bud is removed) are also MIA, which stings a bit considering the price.

Read our full Beats Studio Buds Plus review.

The best earbuds for sound quality

$280

The Good

  • Fantastic sound quality
  • Improved day-to-day reliability
  • Auracast-enabled

The Bad

  • Too pricey for some
  • Noise cancellation does the job, but isn’t anything special
  • Long-term durability remains to be seen

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 7.5 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IP54 / Bluetooth codecs: AptX Adaptive, AptX, AAC, SBC / Multipoint: Yes / Works best with: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Silicone (XS, S, M, L)

Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless earbuds have always sounded fantastic; that’s never been the issue. But previous models in the series have been tainted a bit by bugs, unsteady performance, and battery reliability problems. The fourth-gen pair finally gets that part right while continuing to offer tremendous, detailed sound quality that stands above nearly all competitors. They’re a joy to listen to. The active noise cancellation can’t compete with the likes of Apple, Sony, and Bose, but if you care more about lush, intricate sound, the MTW4 won’t disappoint in the slightest.

That copper finish is pretty nice. Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

These earbuds come with optional wing tips to help keep them securely locked in your ears. That could prove helpful for running or when hitting the gym. Sennheiser allows for plenty of EQ customization using its mobile app, and the Momentum True Wireless 4 support a range of Bluetooth codecs, including AAC, SBC, AptX, and AptX Adaptive. Sennheiser has also promised that they’re LE Audio and Auracast-ready for when those features become more widespread.

Read our full Momentum True Wireless 4 review.

The best earbuds for voice calls on iPhone

$116

The Good

  • Upgraded sound quality
  • Voice isolation can noticeably improve call clarity
  • Deep Apple ecosystem integration

The Bad

  • No wireless charging
  • No built-in speaker on the case
  • No proper multipoint

Noise cancellation: Optional / Battery life: 5 hours / Water resistance: IP54 / Bluetooth codecs: AAC, SBC / Multipoint: No / Works best with: iOS, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: None

Apple’s AirPods 4 come in two different versions, with a higher-priced option that includes active noise cancellation and wireless charging. But sound quality is identical on both sets, and equally as important in this case is that the same can be said of voice call clarity.

On the AirPods 4, there’s a new “voice isolation” feature — enabled by default — that uses machine learning both on the earbuds and your iPhone to eliminate distracting background noise on your end so that you come through clearly to whoever you’re speaking with.

Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Overall call quality is excellent with the AirPods 4. And beyond that, compared to the third-gen model, you can expect upgraded audio quality (with richer bass), new ways of interacting with Siri through head movements, and yes… there’s a USB-C connector on the included charging case, as opposed to a Lightning port.

The AirPods still have a one-size-fits-most hard plastic form factor, so I recommend trying them before committing to a purchase. However, Apple says it used more than 50 million data points to further refine the contours and overall stability of its latest earbuds. So, if previous models worked well for you, these seem like a safe bet. The only question is whether you feel like spending a little more to gain ANC, a transparency mode, wireless charging, and a built-in speaker for Find My location tracking.

Read our full AirPods 4 review.

The best earbuds for voice calls on Android

$190

The Good

  • Terrific sound quality
  • Crisp, natural transparency / passthrough mode
  • Voice commands are simple and so useful
  • Good voice calls

The Bad

  • Uninspired design
  • Midtier noise cancellation performance
  • No true multipoint

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 6 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IP57 / Bluetooth codecs: Samsung seamless, AAC, SBC / Multipoint: No / Works best with: Android, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Silicone (S, M, L)

Sony’s unconventional LinkBuds were our longtime pick for the clearest voice calls on Android, but we haven’t had the chance to review their successors. For now, the aforementioned Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are an easy-to-recommend choice. The built-in “voice pickup unit” detects the movement of your mouth to help isolate your voice from background noise and keep conversations clear.

The advantage of stemmed earbuds is that they position the mics closer to your mouth.

The Buds 3 Pro have proven dependable for me during video chats on Google Meet, and people have been able to hear me without issue, even when I’m answering a quick call on the street.

Read our full Galaxy Buds 3 Pro review.
  • Google’s August event saw the introduction of the Pixel Buds 2A, Google’s next pair of budget-friendly earbuds. They come out in October.
  • Apple debuted the AirPods Pro 3 wireless earbuds, which release on September 19th.
  • Nothing will reveal the Ear 3 earbuds on September 18th, and we’ll be testing those, too.

Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge except where specified

Update, September 11th: Updated to reflect current pricing / availability and mention the AirPods Pro 3 and the Nothing Ear 3 earbuds coming soon. Brandon Widder and Cameron Faulkner also contributed to this post.

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EA NHL 26
Product Reviews

NHL 26 is one of the best sports games you can buy right now, but it’s brutal for beginners

by admin



I’ve always loved sports, from football (soccer) to darts; if there’s some kind of competition on TV, I’ll be watching. It wasn’t until last year, however, that I got the hockey bug, and ever since I’ve been engulfed by the world of the NHL.

I’ve fallen in love with ice hockey so much that I’m now a season ticket holder for my local ice hockey team in Scotland, and while the level isn’t on par with the incredible abilities on display in the NHL, it captures the soul of the game.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Release date: September 12, 2025

Why am I talking about my newfound love for hockey, you ask? Well, the last EA NHL game I purchased was NHL 16, and despite playing trials sporadically over the years, I’ve never truly immersed myself in the world of Chel.

This all changed with NHL 26, the latest video game in the annual ice hockey series, and the first time I’ve ever played a hockey game with pretty good knowledge of the current teams and rosters.

This is my review of NHL 26, from the eyes of someone who’s found a new passion for ice hockey as the sport quickly becomes my go-to weekend television.

It’s in the game

For a little bit of extra background, I played the 10-hour free trial of NHL 25 when it launched last year, and while I enjoyed it, my lack of hockey interest at the time severely impacted my decision not to purchase the full game.

Fast forward 12 months, and everything has changed. I’ve got tickets to my first NHL game, I watched the whole of last season almost religiously, and I have a massive urge to get good at scoring slap shots from almost anywhere on the ice.

Like most sports video game franchises, each annual release brings new rosters, new jerseys (in the case of hockey, sweaters), and some improvements to gameplay to try and warrant a new full price tag. Compared to my previous experience with NHL 25, NHL 26 seems to build on everything that made that game an excellent sports simulation, while also adding new features to make the gameplay feel fresh.

(Image credit: EA / NHL)

NHL 26 introduces ICE-Q 2.0, a new engine that makes players feel more like their real-life skating counterparts. EA says ICE-Q 2.0 is “fueled by NHL EDGE positional data,” and real-world data has an impact on player attributes.

I noticed this first-hand when trying out Connor McDavid, who felt as quick and skillful in NHL 26 as he does while I’m watching him play for the Oilers on TV. Each player has specific tendencies pulled from the data, which means they perform more like themselves than ever before. Players like Leon Draisaitl hold their position like in real life, making him lethal from the right side of the net, able to smash the puck in from a tight angle.

I really appreciated the uniqueness of star players across the NHL, and combined with X-Factors (specific skills unique to the players in real-life), I found the gameplay incredibly engaging and layered. As someone who has grown up with FIFA (now EA FC 26), I found the complexity of the gameplay in NHL 26 very refreshing.

EA has put a big effort into improving the presentation of the game using ICE-Q 2.0, too, with new extended replays combined with insights and more immersive audio that makes the game feel as close to the real thing as possible.

(Image credit: EA / NHL)

Heading for the Stanley Cup

I played a lot of Franchise mode in the week or so I’ve spent with NHL 26, and I really enjoyed having an input into all of the elements that go into running an elite team. From working on your marketing budget to juggling salary caps with trades, I found myself playing the offline career mode far more than I’d ever have expected to.

I’ve taken fondly for the Montreal Canadiens, and considering the team’s huge prospects for success in the next decade, building the team and taking them on a late playoff run was really satisfying.

I decided to have lots of control over everything going on behind the scenes, but if you choose to, you can let the AI control everything and just focus on the performances on the ice.

Franchise mode was probably my favorite gamemode on NHL 26, but it’s only had small incremental improvements compared to the experience on its predecessor.

A lot of time has been put into revamping Be a Pro in NHL 26, where a new chapter-based progression system with all-new cutscenes and cinematics brings the feeling of being a future ice hockey star to life.

Best bit

(Image credit: EA / NHL)

NHL 26 is one of the most realistic sports games I’ve ever played, and as someone who’s trying to immerse themselves in the world of ice hockey as much as possible, it’s a joy to experience the slick and speedy action on the rink.

I’m not a huge fan of these kinds of game modes in sports games; in fact, FIFA 17’s The Journey completely turned me off wanting to experience the life of a player, but for those who do like focusing on building a star, the new changes here will scratch the itch.

Just like other sports games in EA’s portfolio, NHL 26 puts an emphasis on Ultimate Team, and love it or loathe it, it’s an incredibly popular game mode. This year, HUT has a Cup Chase game mode that allows you to progress offline to earn rewards to improve your team. There are also new team-building mechanics and salary caps to make the game more competitive online.

During my review period with NHL 26, I wasn’t able to play online, but I did enjoy building a somewhat respectable Ultimate Team. The problem with modes like this is the emphasis on blind boxes (packs) and spending real money to get the players you know and love. I have not played HUT for an extended period of time, so I don’t know how bad it is in NHL 26, but if it’s anything like my experience of EA FC Ultimate Team, it can be a dangerous game that leads to throwing cash away for minimal reward.

Face off

Ice hockey games have always shone when it comes to multiplayer, so I invited my friend round for some couch co-op to check out the modes in NHL 26.

Now, I want you to remember that I’m a massive novice when it comes to ice hockey games, and my friend, who’s also a huge NHL fan, hadn’t played one of these games for well over a decade.

I’d say, in general, I’m a pretty good gamer. I used to compete in FIFA tournaments when I was younger, and I’m currently bruteforcing my way through Hollow Knight: Silksong, despite backlash online with people crying it’s too hard.

That said, NHL 26 was impossibly hard for a beginner, and even after changing the speed and power of our shots, my friend and I really struggled to score goals on the ice.

It got so bad, in fact, that we tried training mode with 5 players against a goalie, and even then, nothing seemed to click. Now, obviously, this is a skill issue, and actually, I really appreciate there being a learning curve to get good at the game, but I have an issue with the lack of training and tips.

I turned on all the beginner trainer pop-ups for in-game, which showed me what to do and when, but even then, nothing seemed to click. And unlike games like Madden 26, there was no training facility to learn the ropes; NHL 26 just assumed that anyone playing the game was already familiar with it.

My friend and I had an 8-time overtime game that ended 1-0, and let’s just say the only way we were getting through the pain of being terrible at finishing our chances was by ingesting copious amounts of beer (We couldn’t score before the drinking).

Something is fascinating about how difficult NHL 26 is, however, and the need to really learn the ins and outs of ice hockey keeps me coming back for more. I was able to sneak my way into the playoffs in Franchise Mode, but if I want to win the Stanley Cup, I’m going to have to train harder and smarter to actually get good at scoring goals.

Should you play NHL 26?

Play it if…

You want to immerse yourself in the world of NHL
NHL 26 is the best ice hockey game on the market, and it does an excellent job at capturing what makes the sport one of the most exciting on the planet. If you’re into hockey or want to be, NHL 26 is the sports game for you.

You don’t own NHL 25
I can’t say for certain that NHL 26 is worth picking up if you own NHL 25 because, quite frankly, I dream of a world without annual sports video game releases. That said, NHL 26 is a damn good sports game, so if you love everything hockey or don’t own NHL 25, it’s a must-play.

Don’t play it if…

You’ve not got patience
Unless you’re a seasoned veteran, NHL 26 is not a pick-up and play experience. In fact, it’s probably one of the hardest sports games for a beginner I’ve ever tried. If you don’t have time to invest in learning the ropes, NHL 26 isn’t for you

Accessibility

NHL 26 is filled with accessibility features to set the game up exactly as you want it. With multiple control schemes and basic controller remapping, there are different ways to play depending on your needs and preferences.

Gameplay accessibility is supported via adjustable difficulty levels (with more granular “advanced” difficulty options) as well as control reminders (so players can see how to do certain moves or actions).

How I reviewed NHL 26

I played over 30 hours of NHL 26 on PS5 Pro connected to my Samsung S90D, one of the best OLED TVs on the market.

I tested all of the main game modes, spending most of my time in Franchise Mode and playing exhibition matches with my friend via couch co-op.

I’ve played a whole host of sports games over the years and have reviewed EA FC 25 and WWE 2K25 in recent months. While I’m a novice to NHL video games, I know quite a bit about the sport and used my experience to compare the real-life action with the gameplay on my PS5.

First reviewed September 2025



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Borderlands 4 close-up of the Psycho bandit mask. The character is gesturing toward the view with two fingers, like they're picking a fight, and stands out on a red background.
Product Reviews

Is it better to be a ‘patient gamer’ or is playing new games at launch just too enticing?

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Borderlands 4 just launched and, predictably, players on Steam are already criticizing its PC performance. Meanwhile, the just-released Hollow Knight: Silksong didn’t raise any performance concerns, but gamers in China were dismayed to discover that the Chinese translation was botched.

Those are just a couple of the reasons some gamers have chosen to reject launch day hype in favor of “patient gaming”: Waiting a year or more to play new games, which means getting them cheaper during a sale and playing them after a bunch of big performance and quality-of-life patches have likely made them much better than they were at launch.

There’s even a pretty active subreddit dedicated to the idea: the main rule is that you’re not allowed to post about games that are under a year old.


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But there’s also a reason HBO’s servers sometimes struggled with Sunday night demand at the height of Game of Thrones’ popularity. There’s something special about being there on day one (before they edit out the Starbucks cups) and reacting and emoting with the crowd. As I write, nearly 200,000 people are playing Borderlands 4 on Steam just hours after it released—on what is for me a Thursday morning.

Clearly, being a part of the launch day hubbub outweighs the benefits of waiting for a lot of people, and I don’t think it’s just because of publisher-manufactured FOMO.

I’m curious to know how PC Gamer readers feel about this trade-off. Do you usually take a wait-and-see approach to game launches, or are you preloading every time? Have you ever regretted playing a game at launch because it was later improved? Let us know in the comments below!



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Scientists Infuse Cement With Bacteria to Create Living Energy Device
Product Reviews

Scientists Infuse Cement With Bacteria to Create Living Energy Device

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Microbes are known for their remarkable survival abilities. And now, scientists have discovered another remarkable trait: Turning cement into an electricity storage device.

In a study published September 9 in Cell Reports Physical Science, researchers at Aarhus University in Denmark describe how they seeded a bacteria called Shewanella oneidensis into cement. These particular bacteria are known to be good at transferring electrons across surfaces, and the researchers wondered if they could act as an energy transporter in cement.

Indeed, the cement came to life, with the bacteria establishing a “network of charge carriers capable of both storing and releasing electrical energy,” the researchers explained in a statement. In other words, the cement could store and release electricity, a finding that could one day enable more sustainable buildings. Even better, the researchers found that even after the microbes died, the material could be reinvigorated by being fed nutrients.

An undead cement complex

When the microbes inevitably died, a simple trick literally brought them back to life. The team integrated a microfluidic network to supply the bacteria with nutrients, and the same channels could be used to “reawaken” the system, recovering up to 80% of the original energy capacity, according to the study.

“We’ve combined structure with function,” Qi Luo, study lead author and a civil engineer at Aarhus University, said.

“The result is a new kind of material that can both bear loads and store energy—and which is capable of regaining its performance when supplied with nutrients.”

The resulting material produces a hefty load of energy, the researchers said—even under stress. For instance, one stress test involved putting the cement in extreme temperature environments, which it endured with ease. And when the researchers connected six blocks of the cement, the structure generated enough power to switch on an LED light.

The future of sustainable building?

Cement is relatively cheap compared to most materials, making it easy to scale. The bacteria are also abundant in nature, meaning that the technology is sustainable at its core. That said, more work is needed to take what is a proof-of-concept paper through to being a market-ready material.

“We envision this technology being integrated into real buildings, in walls, foundations, or bridges, where it can support renewable energy sources like solar panels by providing local energy storage,” Luo said.

“Imagine a regular room built with bacteria-infused cement: even at a modest energy density of 5 Wh/kg, the walls alone could store about 10 kWh—enough to keep a standard enterprise server running for a whole day.”



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Product Reviews

Best Travel Cameras (2025), Tested and Reviewed

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If I were buying a camera today, this is the body I would get, travel or otherwise. The A7C R is one of the smallest full-frame, interchangeable-lens cameras on the market. This is why it’s our top pick for travelers in our guide to the Best Mirrorless Cameras. The 61-MP sensor offers amazing detail and very good dynamic range (14.7 EV). The autofocus is among the best you’ll find in mirrorless cameras, and there’s great subject tracking as well, making it perfect for shooting fast-moving scenes on the go.

The video specs here are top-notch as well, with support for 4K/60 fps video in full-frame mode (1.2X crop) or oversampled 4K/30 fps video. Both support 10-bit 4:2 color depth, various Log formats, and even 16-bit RAW output to an external recorder. My main gripe about the A7C R is the same as it was in my initial review. The viewfinder is cramped and low-resolution (2.36 million dots). It’s not a deal breaker for me, but it’s something to keep in mind and good reason to rent a camera before you invest.

The big question with this camera is, which lens do you pair it with for travel? There’s a compelling argument to be made for the Sony FE 24-105-mm f/4 G ($1,300), which gives you everything from wide to portrait with a little bit of extra reach as well. Another great option if you like primes is the Sony 40-mm f2.5 G ($748), which makes for a compact kit, and 40-mm is a surprisingly great focal length for travel in my experience.

★ Alternatives: At $2,198, Sony’s A7C II (note, no R) is a bit cheaper. It uses Sony’s smaller 33-MP sensor but is otherwise very close in size and capabilities.



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Product Reviews

MotoE, the electric bike world championship, is going on hiatus due to lack of interest

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The International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) and MotoGP are putting the MotoE electric bike world championship on hiatus following the 2025 season. The organizations cite a lack of viewership and an electric performance motorcycle market that “has not developed as expected.”

“Today we announce the suspension of the FIM MotoE World Championship,” FIM President Jorge Viegas said in a statement. “Despite all the best efforts to promote this innovative category together with (MotoGP rights holder) Dorna, the truth is that we haven’t reached our objectives, nor has the industry associated with performance electric bikes.”

There are two more races remaining in the 2025 MotoE season. The indefinite hiatus begins after that. MotoGP and the FIM said they would continue monitoring the industry to suss out when electric bikes become relevant enough to once again sustain a robust event schedule.

MotoE’s inaugural year was in 2019, starting with just six four-round races throughout the season. It had some buzz at the beginning, as the circuit expanded to 16 eight-round races. However, this was cut back to seven rounds in 2025.

Ducati provided the race bikes for all teams in the MotoE class after replacing Energica Ego Corsa in 2023. These electric bikes reached top speeds of 171 MPH and, obviously, had just enough range to complete a full race. Traditional MotoGP bikes hit speeds of up to 224 MPH.



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