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Amazon

The Verge’s guide to Amazon Prime Day 2025: best deals, tips, and tricks

by admin June 22, 2025

Amazon’s mega sale is nearly upon us. This year, Prime Day will kick off on July 8th and run through July 11th, which, for those counting, is twice as long as previous years. Most everything else will likely be the same — well, aside from Amazon’s so-called “Today’s Big Deals” feature — making it a great time to stock up on essentials and save ahead of tentpole shopping events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

As usual, we’ll be here to highlight all the discounts, limited-time promos, and Prime-exclusive deals worth picking up. We’ll also be pulling together any early deals we stumble upon in the run-up to the main event, along with a selection of tips so you can stretch your dollar that much further on robot vacuums, OLED TVs, noise-canceling headphones, and a variety of other Verge-approved gadgets.

After all, every little bit counts, right?

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June 22, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Super Mario-Themed Switch 2 Controllers Up For Grabs At Amazon

by admin June 22, 2025

Officially licensed PowerA Nintendo Switch 2 controllers are now available to order from Amazon. The retailer currently has three different models to pick from, including Mushroom Kingdom and Mario Time editions featuring designs themed around Nintendo’s Super Mario franchise. The controllers have the Nintendo Switch 2 logo as well as the new GameChat button found on Nintendo’s Switch 2 Pro Controller and Joy-Con 2 Controllers.

PowerA’s new and upcoming controllers are budget-friendly options at $40 each, but they are wired controllers. That said, they have Hall Effect anti-drift sticks and remappable back buttons, so they offer solid features at this price point. Plus, both of the Super Mario designs look great.

Get Super Mario-themed Nintendo Switch 2 Controllers:

Mario Time | Mushroom Kingdom

PowerA’s controllers are listed as “temporarily out of stock” at Amazon, but you can still place your order as of June 20. Best Buy, meanwhile, is taking preorders for each model and expects to have them ready to ship in the coming weeks. You can take a look at all of the new PowerA Switch 2 controllers below. The accessory manufacturer also has an officially licensed carrying case and screen protector.

For wireless third-party Nintendo Switch 2 controllers, check out our roundup of the 8BitDo Ultimate and Pro Controllers that are now compatible with Nintendo’s new console.

$50 | Release Date TBA

This Advantage Wired Controller is a bit more expensive than the others, as it’s equipped with a series of RGB lights. Offering support for thousands of colors and five different lighting modes, it should be a cool way to personalize this standard white gamepad.

Beyond RGB lights, this is a pretty well-rounded controller. You’ll get Hall Effect sticks to prevent joystick drift, two mappable back buttons, and an ergonomic, wired design that’s responsive and good for long gaming sessions. Of course, you’ll also get the new C button–allowing you to dive into Nintendo’s GameChat feature and hang out with friends. There’s even a 3.5mm jack and on-controller audio controls.

Since this is an officially licensed product, you’ll find Switch 2 branding on the face of the controller.

$40

All the other Advantage Wired Controllers pack in the same features as the White model–minus the RGB lights. So if you’re looking for something with a bit more color (or want to save $10), the rest of the lineup is worth checking out.

This Mushroom Kingdom edition features a blue, purple, and red faceplate. Characters from the series are scattered throughout the design, including Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, Yoshi, and Bowser.

$40

The Mario Time edition has cartoonish, retro-inspired artwork depicting the Nintendo hero hopping through a side-scrolling level. It has classic Super Mario trappings, including a Warp Pipe, Question Block, coin, Super Mushroom, and brick-style blocks. The Mario Time model has black buttons and sticks, while the Mushroom Kingdom model has white controls.

$40

Want to keep it simple? This Switch 2 controller is entirely black. It’s not quite as festive as the other three gamepads in the lineup, but if you’re seeking a gadget that’ll blend in with the rest of your entertainment center, it’s hard to go wrong with a traditional all-black color scheme.

Slim Case: $20 | Screen Protectors: $13

Beyond controllers, preorders are also open for the PowerA Slim Case and PowerA Screen Protector (2-Pack). The former is pretty sleek, with a minimalist grey design and an interior pouch capable of holding up to 10 game cards plus your console. The screen protector pack, meanwhile, comes with a microfiber cloth and applicator for easy installation. Screen protectors are always a wise decision, especially if you plan to travel with your Switch, as they help reduce both scratches and fingerprints.

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June 22, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

This Air Purifier for Large Rooms Is Now Practically Free, Amazon Clears Out 4.5-Star Top Picks

by admin June 21, 2025

The air you breathe matters more than you might think. Between pollen, pet dander, dust, and whatever’s drifting in through open windows, it’s easy for indoor air to get a little stale or even irritating. That’s where a good air purifier comes in, and if you’ve been thinking about buying one, now’s a good time to jump in. You can get a great machine that can keep all the nasties out of your air at home while cleaning large spaces at a time. Because no one wants to have to buy multiple machines, if they can help it.

Head to Amazon right now to get the Ecoself Air Purifier, which is just $55, down from its usual price of $91. That’s $36 off and a discount of 40%.

See at Amazon

An affordable and efficient way to clean your home air

This unit is built to support spaces up to 700 square feet, so it’s good for bedrooms, home offices, small living rooms, or even dorm rooms. Its three-stage filtration system clears your air quickly and includes a pre-filter, a HEPA H13 filter, and an activated carbon filter. All of those components work together to trap dust, smoke, allergens, and odors floating around in the air. If you have pets or allergies, or just want your room to smell a little fresher, this is a good way to do it. Lingering odors are obviously no fun, and breathing in allergens can give you long-term, frustrating illnesses.

This air purifier can do all that and still run completely quietly. Even on higher fan speeds, the noise level stays low enough that it won’t interrupt a phone call or disturb your sleep. It also has a touch control panel that’s easy to use, and features like a timer, sleep mode, and real-time air quality monitoring to help you keep your space feeling clean and comfortable without expending a lot of unnecessary energy.

Plus, auto mode can detect changes in your air quality and adjust fan speed accordingly, so you don’t have to constantly tweak settings. That’s helpful if you’re cooking, cleaning, or just letting some fresh air in through an open window.

You’re getting all this for less than $100. For $55 (-40%), the Ecoself is an even better value. It’s a smart buy if you want cleaner air at home without overthinking it. Deals like this don’t stick around forever, so if you’ve been considering a purifier, now’s your chance. Or maybe you can gift it to someone else who needs cleaner air.

See at Amazon

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June 21, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

The best Apple deals you can shop ahead of Amazon Prime Day 2025

by admin June 20, 2025

If you want to get a head start on back-to-school shopping — or upgrade your Apple gear — there are already some great deals worth exploring ahead of Amazon Prime Day. From earbuds and laptops to tablets, the early deals are already starting to trickle in. Prices might drop even further during Amazon’s four-day sales event, sure, but gadgets like the latest AirPods and iPad Air are already matching their all-time low, giving you a solid chance to save before the four-day shopping event officially kicks off on July 8th. Even better, you don’t need to be an Amazon Prime member to take advantage of the current deals, as retailers other than Amazon are offering the same discounts across the board.

Below, we’ve gathered the best discounts across a variety of categories to make your shopping easier. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve also included notes on historical pricing trends, so you can see how they stack up against previous deals. We’ll be updating this guide as Prime Day approaches, too, so be sure to bookmark this page or keep an eye on all of our daily deals coverage.

The best earbud and headphone deals

The best iPad and Apple Pencil deals

The best Apple Watch deals

Air tags and other miscellaneous deals

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June 20, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Amazon Restocks the Dyson V8, Still at an Insanely Low All-Time Price

by admin June 20, 2025

Having a cordless stick vacuum is a game-changer for the modern home… but only if it’s powerful enough to handle daily messes. A weak cleaner can quickly become more hassle than it’s worth. That’s where Dyson comes in. With its track record for engineering expertise and design brilliance, Dyson has set the gold standard in home cleaning technology.

If you’re not looking to drop a thousand dollars on the latest Dyson model, you can still enjoy top-notch cleaning with a slightly older but still incredible machine like the V8 Plus. This model is the most affordable way to bring Dyson’s legendary power into your home, and it’s been flying off the shelves due to high demand. Amazon has just restocked, but with its popularity, another shortage could be just around the corner.

Right now, the Dyson V8 Plus cordless vacuum is on Amazon for just $349, which is a considerable drop from its regular retail price of $469. That’s over $120 in savings, so this is an excellent opportunity to upgrade your cleaning without spending a fortune.

See at Amazon

Why Buy a Dyson V8 Plus?

First off, it’s cordless and light, only weighing 2.6kg / 5.73lbs so you can carry it room to room with ease and no strain. The vacuum gives you up to 40 minutes of fade-free power so you can clean your entire home without needing to stress about losing suction midway. It features two cleaning modes: a normal mode for everyday use, which provides a balance of power and battery life, and a MAX mode for those really stubborn messes that need extra muscle.

You will also love the upgraded Motorbar cleaner head that is designed to deep clean all floor types – hardwood, tile, carpet, and beyond. It even detangles long hair and pet hair as you clean, and reduces the frustration of clogged brushes. The vacuum easily converts to a handheld which makes it perfect for cleaning cars, stairs and upholstery. There are four Dyson-engineered accessories in the box: a mini soft dusting brush, a crevice tool, a hair screw tool and a wall docking station for convenient storage and charging.

The Dyson V8 Plus also has improved whole-machine filtration which traps 99.99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. That means not only will it pick up dirt and dust but it will also work to expel cleaner air back into your home, making it a great choice for anyone with allergies or anyone who wants a healthier home. The vacuum is built with tough materials for strength and convenience and is supported by a two-year warranty and lifetime Dyson service.

With the Dyson V8 Plus, you’re buying a cleaner, healthier home and the peace of mind that comes with it.

See at Amazon

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June 20, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Massive DC Versus Marvel Omnibus Is Nearly 50% Off At Amazon

by admin June 19, 2025

DC Versus Marvel Omnibus was initially pitched as a “companion” to DC Versus Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus. Unfortunately, DC delayed The Amalgam Age last fall to an unspecified date. Preorders were turned off at Amazon and Walmart around the same time, and it’s unclear if and when fans will be able to order it again.

That said, it does appear that some lucky fans who preordered early actually received their copies over the past few months. Due to the extremely limited supply, resellers have listed it for more than double the original $150 price. Hopefully The Amalgam Age will get a proper release soon, but it’s worth noting we haven’t heard anything about it since its delay last fall.

This is a 1,024-page collection of wild one-shots. These zany stories threw characters from each publisher into a blender and fused them together, resulting in creations like Dark Claw (Batman and Wolverine), Iron Lantern (Iron Man and Green Lantern), and Lobo the Duck (Lobo and Howard the Duck, no really).

It also includes all four issues of the original Marvel vs. DC miniseries, which featured 11 colossal battles where the outcomes were decided by fan votes.

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June 19, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

All Four Discontinued Donkey Kong Lego Sets Restocked At Amazon

by admin June 19, 2025

With Donkey Kong Bananza shaping up to be the biggest and most ambitious game in franchise history, there’s bound to be increased interest in official merch in the coming weeks. Over the past few years, some of the coolest Nintendo collectibles have been produced by Lego. The building set manufacturer created four Donkey Kong-themed sets back in 2023 for its Lego Super Mario line. Earlier this year, Donkey Kong and his DK Jumbo ride became the fifth as part of the Lego Mario Kart launch lineup. Unfortunately, the original four sets were discontinued by Lego late last year. Here’s the good news, though: Amazon sometimes carries and restocks retired Lego sets months after every other retailer removes them from shelves. Fortunately, that has happened with Donkey Kong Lego sets, including the hard-to-find Donkey Kong Tree House.

Donkey Kong’s Tree House (555 pieces)

All five Donkey Kong Lego sets, including the four that are discontinued and sold out at other retailers, are currently in stock at Amazon. The most notable restock is Lego Donkey Kong’s Tree House, which had been sold out for months–we presumed it was never coming back. And considering that it’s the “main” Donkey Kong Lego set, it’s bound to be the most popular of the bunch when Bananza players start searching for DK Lego sets. Two of the four retired sets are discounted, with Dixie Kong’s Jungle Jam listed for 30% off and Diddy Kong’s Mine Cart Ride for 20% off. Rambi the Rhino isn’t on sale, but it only costs $11.

You can check the list of all five Donkey Kong Lego sets below. We’ve also included a link to a custom Amazon hub where you’ll find the Lego Super Mario, Luigi, and Peach Starter Sets for up to $10 off. Those interactive figures are compatible with all of the DK Lego sets. And if you want to pair the discounted Donkey Kong DK Jumbo set with other racers, you can get deals on several of his competitors at Amazon, too.

Kong family Lego figures

Take a closer look at each Donkey Kong Lego set below.

$60 | Retired November 2024

Donkey Kong’s Tree House Expansion Set lets you build the iconic treehouse that DK calls home. The 555-piece set isn’t a “level” with enemies like some other Lego Super Mario sets, though Cranky Kong will give Lego Mario, Luigi, or Peach coins. Any of the three interactive Lego Super Mario figures can attach to Donkey Kong’s back. Cranky Kong is also included in this set, along with a hammock, conga drums, palm trees, a Bowser flag, and a Warp Pipe.

Of the four Donkey Kong Lego sets that released in August 2023, Donkey Kong’s Tree House has been the hardest to find since Lego retired it. As mentioned, it had been sold out for most of 2025; Amazon restocked it within the past couple of weeks. It’s not available at other retailers.

$29.49 (was $35)

Donkey Kong & DK Jumbo is the only one of the bunch that’s not retired, and that’s because it’s part of the Lego Mario Kart line that launched at the beginning of 2025. The 387-piece build features a barrel-inspired kart that can fling red and green shells at a target that’s topped with a banana peel. Perhaps most importantly, it comes with a buildable Donkey Kong figure that’s very similar to the one included with the Tree House.

Donkey Kong & DK Jumbo is on sale for $29.49 at Amazon, which matches its all-time low price.

Rather fittingly, this is the largest figure/kart combo in the lineup of playsets–not including the Mario & Standard Kart display model for adults that launched in May on the Lego Store and releases July 1 at major retailers.

$90 (was $110) | Retired November 2024

Mine cart levels have always been some of the most challenging and dynamic course types in the Donkey Kong Country series, so this was always a fitting choice for a DK Lego set.

Diddy Kong’s Mine Cart Ride nods back to Mole Miner Max, a boss fight from Donkey Kong Country Returns. It’s the largest Donkey Kong-themed set, clocking in at 1,157 pieces. The kit comes with buildable figures of Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, Mole Miner, and Chomps.

In terms of the play aspect here, the mine cart will interact with Mario, Luigi, or Peach figures. Your job is fix the track and beat the Mole Miner at the end. In addition to the mine cart and rail system, you can build Funky Kong’s airplane, which is complete with the balloons he sells in the game and a barrel.

$18.89 (was $27) | Retired October 2024

Dixie Kong’s Jungle Jam is a stage for live music. Your Lego Mario figure can accompany Dixie, who is shredding on an electric guitar. Squawks is behind the mic, and we’d like to imagine Squawks is parroting a track sung by young Pauline from Donkey Kong Bananza.

Dixie Kong’s Jungle Jam is 174 pieces and is up for grabs for $18.89 at Amazon. This set is sold out at all other retailers.

$11 | Retired November 2024

Rambi the Rhino is a 106-piece set that features the beloved longtime character and a few stackable rocks to break–as long as DK doesn’t smash through them first. You can place the Donkey Kong and other Kong Lego figures on his back, but like most Lego Super Mario sets, Rambi was designed with Mario/Luigi/Peach figures in mind.

When you tap one of the figures against Rambi’s back, the figure’s speaker will play Donkey Kong Country music. Stomping and charging sound effects are made while riding around.

Rambi the Rhino is available for $11 at Amazon. This set is sold out at all other retailers.

If you haven’t preordered the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, check out our Donkey Kong Bananza preorder guide, which includes details about the physical edition as well as the new Donkey Kong & Pauline Amiibo.

And if you want to catch up on some of Donkey Kong’s past adventures before diving into Bananza, there are nice deals right now on DK’s fun side-scrolling platformers for Nintendo Switch. Earlier this year, Nintendo released a remaster of Donkey Kong Country Returns for Switch, and it’s available for $20 off at Woot or $15 off at Amazon. You can also save on the enhanced version of the Wii U adventure Tropical Freeze, as it’s $42 at Woot and $45 at Walmart.

And if you like puzzle-platformers, the remake of Mario vs. Donkey Kong, which sees DK return to his roots as a villain, is on sale for $40 (was $50).

Donkey Kong Plushies, Toys, and More

Donkey Kong Little Buddy Plush | Donkey Kong articulated action figure

We’ve put together a list of additional budget-friendly Donkey Kong merch below, including plushies, action figures, old Amiibo, Hot Wheels, officially licensed sweatshirts, and more.

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June 19, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Save Up To 76% On NordVPN And Get A Free Amazon Gift Card

by admin June 18, 2025

For a limited time, NordVPN is offering up to 76% off on two-year subscription plans. As a bonus, select plans also include an up to $50 Amazon gift card if you keep your subscription for at least 31 days. The deal only applies to NordVPN’s 2-year plans, which require you to pay in full at sign-up, and the discount and Amazon gift card amount change depending on which plan you buy. Here’s a look at the options:

NordVPN 2-Plan Deals

Basic — $81.36 for the first 24 months (normally $278.16 per 24 months)
Plus — $105.36 for the first 24 months (normally $359.76 per 24 months) – Also includes $20 Amazon gift card
Complete — $129.36 for the first 24 months (normally $439 per 24 months) – Also includes $40 Amazon gift card
Prime — $177.36 for the first 24 months (normally $743.76 per 24 months) – Also includes $50 Amazon gift card

While all four 2-year NordVPN plans are discounted, only the Plus, Complete, and Prime plans include Amazon gift cards. Each plan includes differing features, which we’ve outlined below.

Note that the discounted price only applies to the first 24-month purchase. After the promotional period, all subscriptions roll over to the full standard price unless you cancel ahead of time. NordVPN also offers a full 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you change your mind within the first month of service, you can cancel for a full refund. However, the Amazon gift card bonus is only delivered if you keep your 2-year Plus, Complete, or Prime plan for 31 days.

It’s worth mentioning that NordVPN also offers annual and monthly subscription options, although these plans aren’t as steeply discounted and do not include the Amazon gift card freebie.

NordVPN plan features

NordVPN

All four NordVPN plans include different features and benefits, starting with simple VPN and DNS services for the Basic plan, and up to 1TB of cloud storage and bonus cybersecurity protections for the more expensive plans. Here’s a look at everything included in each subscription plan. Note that these features are identical between the month, annual, and 24-month payment options.

Basic:

Access to NordVPN and DNS protection for up to 10 devices

Plus:

Access to NordVPN and DNS protection for up to 10 devices
Anti-malware protection
Advanced browsing protection
Ad and tracker blocker
Cross-platform password manager
Data breach scanner

Complete:

Access to NordVPN and DNS protection for up to 10 devices
Anti-malware protection
Advanced browsing protection
Ad and tracker blocker
Cross-platform password manager
Data breach scanner
1 TB of encrypted cloud storage

Prime:

The Prime plan also includes all the aforementioned features from the other tiers, plus NordVPN’s NordProtect cybersecurity suite, which offers the following services:

Dark Web Monitoring
1-Bureau credit monitoring
VantageScore 3.0 credit score by TransUnion
Credit freeze assistance
Identity theft insurance ($1M in coverage)
Cyber extortion insurance ($100K in coverage)

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June 18, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Amazon CEO says it will cut jobs due to AI’s ‘efficiency’

by admin June 18, 2025

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says advancements in AI will “reduce” the company’s corporate headcount over the next few years. In a memo to employees on Tuesday, Jassy writes that Amazon expects the change due to “efficiency gains from using AI extensively across the company,” without specifying how many employees would be affected.

“As we roll out more Generative AI and agents, it should change the way our work is done,” Jassy says. “We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today, and more people doing other types of jobs.”

He notes that workers should also “be curious about AI” and how to use it to “get more done with scrappier teams:

Those who embrace this change, become conversant in AI, help us build and improve our AI capabilities internally and deliver for customers, will be well-positioned to have high impact and help us reinvent the company.

Other companies have shared statements about how they expect AI to impact their workforce as well. In April, Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke told employees asking for more headcount or resources that they should explain why they “cannot get what they want done using AI.” Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn also stated that the company plans on replacing contract workers with AI as part of a new “AI-first” approach.

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June 18, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Amazon Clearing Out Smart TVs, This 42″ Full HD Model Sold for Peanuts Before Prime Day

by admin June 17, 2025

While OLED TVs are their own attraction, none of them will be under $1,000 and they’re not necessarily the most convenient for all parts of the house. For the majority of consumers, a smart TV like this Insignia 42-inch Fire TV is the perfect blend of quality and price (especially at the price tag it’s carrying).

Currently, this Insignia TV is available for only $119, having originally been priced at $179. That’s an fantastic 33% discount and one of the cheapest means of improving home entertainment. Whether you’re looking for a TV for a bedroom, a kids’ room or a secondary living area, this model delivers a lot for very little money.

See at Amazon

Amazon Fire TV

The Insignia Fire TV boasts a clear 1080p resolution so your must-see movies and games appear crisp and vivid. Though it’s not a 4K screen, the Full HD image quality is more than adequate for most viewing experiences, particularly at this screen size and budget. The anti-glare screen reduces reflections so it’s less of a problem to view in well-lit rooms or during the day.

One of the greatest benefits of this TV is the seamless way that it connects to Amazon’s Fire TV platform: Since the Fire TV experience is natively built in, you can enjoy over a million streaming movies and TV shows as well as tens of thousands of channels, and apps. The included Alexa Voice Remote lets you control your entertainment, and more—hands-free with your voice.

For Apple users, the Insignia Fire TV is AirPlay enabled which means you can easily share your videos, photos, music and more from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac with your TV using a single tap. Audio connectivity is also one area where this TV excels: It is HDMI ARC compatible which routes audio directly from the HDMI port to an AV receiver or compatible soundbar without using an additional cable.

The current sale price of $119 is an all-time low, and it’s a deal that’s hard to pass up.

See at Amazon

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June 17, 2025 0 comments