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Operators and DAWG scorestreak in action in Black Ops 7 Multiplayer.
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Black Ops 7 release date, platforms, early access, open beta, and gameplay reveal

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The official Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 release date has finally been confirmed, giving fans a clear look at when they can jump into the next chapter of Treyarch’s iconic series. Alongside the launch date, Activision has revealed key details about supported platforms, early access opportunities, and what players can expect based on the gameplay showcase.

From Campaign and Multiplayer to the return of Round-Based Zombies, Black Ops 7 promises to be an exciting entry in the subseries. Whether you’re a veteran of the franchise or a newcomer eager to dive in, here’s everything you need to know about BO7.

Black Ops 7 release date and platforms

Plenty of time to gear up. Image via Activision

As confirmed during the Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025, Black Ops 7 will officially launch on Nov. 14, 2025, marking the return of Treyarch and Raven’s collaborative development for the Black Ops subseries. The game will release across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Battle.net, Steam, and Xbox app). Players who subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass will be able to play the title from day one as part of the subscription service.

While there has been speculation about a possible launch on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, Activision has confirmed that the game will not be available for the console at release. However, the company has not ruled out future support for Nintendo’s hardware.

Black Ops 7 early access and open beta dates

Players eager to try the game ahead of launch will get their chance during the early access and open beta sessions taking place in early October. The early access beta begins on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 12pm CT and runs through Sunday, Oct. 5, lasting 72 hours. Immediately after, the open beta kicks off on Sunday, Oct. 5, at 12pm CT and continues until Wednesday, Oct. 8, also spanning 72 hours.

Get a firsthand experience. Image via Activision

Early access is reserved for those who pre-ordered the game on any platform, console or PC, as well as eligible Game Pass subscribers. The open beta, on the other hand, will be completely free and available to everyone across all platforms.

This testing phase will mark the first opportunity for players to explore the new maps and experience the updated gameplay systems firsthand.

Black Ops 7 gameplay reveal highlights

BO7 Co-op Campaign

Set in 2035, Black Ops 7 pushes the series forward with its signature mix of near-future combat, political tension, and psychological twists. Players take on the role of David “Section” Mason (reportedly portrayed by Milo Ventimiglia), now at the helm of a JSOC unit tasked with dismantling a covert organization known as The Guild. Along the way, the campaign revisits familiar and new characters such as the notorious Raul Menéndez and The Guild’s CEO Emma Kagan, while missions span diverse backdrops including futuristic Japan, the sunlit Mediterranean coast, and mind-bending sequences that blur the line between reality and the human psyche.

Jump into the campaign with your friends. Image via Activision

For the first time in Black Ops history, the Campaign supports both solo play and drop-in co-op for up to four players. Every kill, completed objective, and milestone contributes to a unified global XP progression system that seamlessly carries over between Campaign, Multiplayer, Zombies, as well as Warzone, ensuring that all modes feel interconnected and rewarding.

The Co-op Campaign concludes with Endgame, a bold new mode that goes beyond a traditional final mission. Designed as a replayable experience, Endgame challenges squads to survive relentless encounters, adapt to unpredictable scenarios, and fully utilize the personalized abilities unlocked throughout the campaign. With each run offering fresh progression and surprises, players can also explore the wider world of Avalon beyond the structured missions.

BO7 Multiplayer

Multiplayer continues to be the core of CoD, and Black Ops 7 delivers with a robust lineup of 16 brand-new maps built for classic 6v6 action, complemented by two expansive 20v20 Skirmish maps. 

Player movement has been overhauled with the enhanced Omnimovement system, giving matches a smoother, more responsive feel. While it avoids returning to the over-the-top sci-fi mechanics of past titles, like jetpacks and full wallrunning, it does include a wall jump mechanic for added mobility. Additionally, the removal of the default Tactical Sprint further refines pacing and balance on the battlefield.

You can also look forward to an arsenal of new weapons, scorestreaks, equipment, field upgrades, perks, and hybrid combat specialties designed to open up new strategies and ways to dominate Multiplayer.

BO7 Zombies

No Call of Duty entry feels whole without Zombies, and Black Ops 7 proudly revives the classic Round-Based Zombies format that first made the mode a fan favorite. Treyarch has teased this version as their most ambitious yet, promising larger, more intricate maps, hidden Easter eggs for dedicated hunters, and a narrative arc that runs deeper than ever before.

Beyond undead slaying, the game also reintroduces Survival maps and Dead Ops Arcade 4, while expanding customization with a wide arsenal of new weapons, attachments, and a robust camo progression system that seamlessly carries across every mode.

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Product Reviews

Cult of the Lamb’s next DLC is Woolhaven, out in early 2026

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Indie game hit Cult of the Lamb has been keeping players (fittingly) enthralled since its original launch in 2022 with several free content updates, such as Unholy Alliance and Sins of the Flesh. At the Opening Night Live of Gamescom 2025, the roguelike unveiled its next update, titled Woolhaven. The paid DLC will arrive early next year, but no price has been set yet.

Woolhaven introduces a dangerous new mountain zone to the game, where you’ll find two new dungeons to conquer and as well as a spreading corruption called Rot. And you’d expect from the main story, your choices about how to deal with the mountain’s denizens have no right or easy answers. Things will also get frosty for your settlement with the addition of blizzards and freezing temperatures that create new reasons for followers to doubt your all-knowing guidance. But you can also keep them happy with the new ranching system for raising rare animals that can provide your cult with wool, food and a pretty sweet ride.



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News Tower early access
Product Reviews

1930s media mogul sim News Tower leaves early access in November, letting you build your journalism empire on the shoulders of the Mafia

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Playing a game about being in the newspaper business sounds a bit like a busman’s holiday to me, though with News Tower being set in the 1930s, at least the bus won’t be at constant risk of breaking down or steering into a ravine.

In any case, I’m always up for a new spin of the management sim, and that goes double when your managerial duties also involve dealing with the Mafia. Such criminal complications is one of several new features News Tower will add when it publishes its 1.0 edition this November.

News Tower sees players don the waistcoat of a newly minted media mogul aiming to seize control of Noo Yoik Ciddy through the power of print. Starting with just your own willpower and, er, an entire skyscraper at your disposal, you’ll build a functioning newsroom by hiring journalists and photographers, assigning them leads, and assembling your paper article by article before sending it off the presses every Sunday.


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But News Tower is about more than what happens in the newsroom. Your magnate’s goal is to have total oversight of what the city reads. Your news tower exists in a larger overworld map where you can attempt to push two rival papers—The Jersey Beacon and the Empire Observer—out of other regions and claim their readers for yourself.

The 1.0 version will bring several extra layers to this. Within your tower, the perception system allows you to define your paper’s editorial voice, choosing between informational, moderate, or sensationalist styles. This decision will affect how readers view your paper, and enable you to boost your sales in as-yet unspecified ways.

News Tower – Release Date Announcement – YouTube

Watch On

In the streets, meanwhile, there are two new mechanics at play. The first is that competition system I already referred to, though there’s a lot more to it than what I summarised. Your competitors only appear once you already control a sizeable chunk of New York, which you achieve by rolling out your paper into new districts on a weekly basis.

Once your rivals appear, you can choose either to prioritise empty districts, or muscle in on a competitor’s turf. If you opt for the latter, this will trigger a journalistic scuffle over that region’s news, with both papers competing over time-sensitive stories and one-off scoops that can be nabbed by a carefully placed reporter.

Beyond this, News Tower’s release version will also introduce a faction system. Here, you can align your paper with one of several non-media organisations in the game. These are the mayor’s office, the military, high society, and the Mafia.

Developer Sparrow Night hasn’t explained this in as much detail as the competitor system yet, but it appears more narrative focused, with set quests you can take on to build your reputation with a given faction. Those objectives might oppose the interests of another faction, though, so you’ll need to choose your allies (and your enemies) carefully.

News Tower leaves early access on November 4. Alexander Chatziioannou proof-read the alpha version in February last year, and found its approach to building a virtual paper to be both characterful and smartly implemented. “Sparrow Night has come up with an array of unexpected flourishes and tactical dilemmas inject considerable depth into the process, meaningfully interweaving individual assignments with the overall progress of your organisation.”

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Here are 14 of our favorite deals from Amazon’s early Prime Day sale
Gaming Gear

Here are 14 of our favorite deals from Amazon’s early Prime Day sale

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Amazon’s next Prime Day event hasn’t officially kicked off yet, but in classic Amazon fashion, the retailer has already dropped a selection of early deals ahead of its four-day sale. While steeper discounts are not likely to arrive until next month, many of the current offers are already worth considering, especially if you’re a Prime member looking to score a deal on one of Amazon’s own devices or services.

From record lows on security gear and power stations to a solid deal on what was already an affordable streaming device, these early discounts offer a great chance to save before the real deluge arrives on July 8th. And while most of these offers are exclusive to Prime members, in some cases, other retailers are price-matching Amazon, meaning non-members can still take advantage of some of the same savings.

We’ll be updating this guide over the next week or two as new deals drop, so be sure to check back often if you want to stay on top of the latest deals and discounts. We also suggest bookmarking our main Prime Day hub for additional tips, tricks, and insight into what is likely going to be one of the biggest shopping events of the year.

Amazon-owned Blink is offering steep discounts on a number of security devices ahead of Prime Day. Right now, for example, you can buy the latest Blink Outdoor security camera for just $39.99 ($39.99 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, or two Blink Outdoor 4 XRs — which is the same camera but with a Sync Module XR — for $89.99 ($90 off) at Best Buy. The outdoor security camera offers person detection and a wider field of view than the third-gen Blink Outdoor, while retaining support for motion detection, night vision, and two-way audio. The Sync Module XR just extends the range by up to 400 feet.

The best deals, however, are on bundles. For instance, you can grab a Blink Outdoor 4 alongside Blink’s latest Video Doorbell for just $69.98 ($70 off). Alternatively, you can pick up a Blink Video Doorbell with a Blink Outdoor 4 XR for $89.98 ($109.99 off). Blink’s updated doorbell improves on its solid predecessor with a wider 150-degree field of view, sharper 1440p resolution, and a better 1:1 aspect ratio that allows for a head-to-toe view of your porch. It also offers IP65 waterproofing and support for two-way audio / night vision, not to mention an impressive two years of battery life. It even supports person detection, though only with a $3/month Blink subscription plan.

If you don’t need a doorbell, Amazon is also selling a Blink Outdoor 4 with a Blink Mini 2 starting at $64.98 ($75 off), or with the Blink Outdoor 4 XR for $79.98 ($99.99 off). The Mini 2 is a relatively compact 1080p camera that offers motion alerts, two-way audio, and other core features. It’s also a meaningful upgrade over its predecessor, thanks to improved low-light performance, a wider field of view, and USB-C support. You can even use it outdoors given it carries an IP65 rating, though you will need to purchase Blink’s optional Weather-Resistant Power Adapter ($9.99) to do so.

Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K is on sale for $24.99 ($24.99 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is its lowest price of the year. The Fire TV Stick 4K is an excellent streaming device that supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 Plus, allowing you to enjoy sharp, vibrant picture quality on compatible 4K TVs. It also offers support for Dolby Atmos, DTS, and other HDR and surround sound formats, so you can experience more immersive audio whether you’re watching movies or gaming. It integrates well with Alexa and comes with an Alexa Voice Remote, too, so you can search for shows or adjust the volume using your voice.

If you’re looking for better sound than your TV’s built-in speaker can provide, Amazon’s Fire TV Soundbar Plus is down to an all-time low of $174.99 ($75 off) at Amazon. At 37 inches wide, it’s small enough to fit under most TVs, making it a good option for apartments or smaller living rooms. Inside, it features three speakers, three tweeters, and two woofers, along with a dedicated center channel designed to enhance dialogue clarity. It also supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and DTS True Volume, allowing a more immersive listening experience. It features four different listening modes as well — Movie, Music, Sports, and Night — which adjust the sound profile to match what you’re watching, whether you’re after loud, booming sound or a quieter, late-night vibe.

Whether you’re juggling smart devices inside or working in the backyard, the Eero Max 7 router and new Eero Outdoor 7 deliver reliable, high-speed Wi-Fi wherever you are on your property. And right now, you can buy both at Amazon as a part of a bundle starting at $699.99 ($300 off), which is a new low price.

The Eero Max 7 is designed for high-performance streaming, gaming, and future-proofing your smart home setup. It features Wi-Fi 7 support and speeds up to 10Gbps, with coverage suitable for homes up to 2,500 sq. ft. per unit. For those looking to extend their reliable Wi-Fi signal beyond indoor walls, the Eero Outdoor 7 offers the same high-speed performance but is designed specifically for outdoor environments. It carries an IP66 weatherproof rating — ensuring it can withstand rain, dust, and extreme temperatures — while delivering coverage across up to 15,000 square feet.

If you don’t want to buy a Blink security camera, Ring also sells some great security devices that play well with both Alexa and other Ring gadgets. A few of these are on sale right now — including a notable deal that pairs a Ring Doorbell Battery with a Ring Indoor Cam 2, all for $69.99 ($70 off) at Amazon.

The battery-powered Ring Doorbell Battery is a basic 1080 buzzer that borrows a couple of features from the Battery Doorbell Plus, which is one of our favorite video doorbells. While it doesn’t have a removable battery, it improves on the older Ring Video Doorbell 2 with a 1:1 aspect ratio and a 150-degree field of view, giving you a full, top-to-bottom view of who or what is at the door. Like the Plus, it also supports color night vision and uses a PIR sensor for motion-activated recording.

The Ring Indoor Cam 2, meanwhile, is a basic 1080p camera that supports motion-activated recording, color night vision, and a built-in siren that can be triggered manually from the Ring app. One of its most notable features is the physical privacy shutter, which allows you to block the camera’s lens and disable the microphone. If you pay for a Ring Home subscription, which starts at $4.99 a month, you’ll also gain access to a host of other features, including an in-app SOS button that allows you to request police, fire, or medical help.

Normally $139.99, you can currently buy a refurbished Fire HD 10 tablet at Amazon with 32GB of storage and ads for $69.99. With its 10.1-inch HD display, octa-core processor, and 3GB of RAM, the Fire HD 10 is a solid budget slate for entertainment purposes. While it’s not as powerful as an iPad, it handles casual web browsing, reading, and light gaming well enough. Its 1080p screen is one of the best in Amazon’s lineup, too, while built-in stylus support and handwriting recognition mean you can also use it to take notes (though you’ll have to buy the optional Made for Amazon stylus separately).

If you’re looking for a portable power station for outdoor adventures or that inevitable power outage, the Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 is available for an all-time low of around $448.99 ($350 off) from Amazon and Jackery. The 23-pound power station is relatively lightweight and portable, with three AC outlets that can output up to 1,500W. It also boasts a pair of USB-C ports, a single USB-A port, and a DC car port, allowing you to charge phones, laptops, cameras, and even small appliances (including your mini fridge). It also charges significantly faster than prior models and boasts a handy LED light, making it a versatile companion for camping, road trips, and emergencies at home.

  • You can buy a Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam with a Ring Pet Tag for $44.99 ($44.99 off) at Amazon, which is a new low price. Ring’s Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam rotates 360 degrees on a motorized base, which you can control via the Ring app. The wired 1080p camera also offers a physical privacy cover — just like the second-gen Ring Indoor Cam — along with support for video and color night vision, two-way talk, motion detection, and a built-in siren. The Ring Pet Tag, on the other hand, attaches to your pet’s collar and links to a digital profile anyone can access via a QR code.
  • The Alexa Voice Remote Pro is now available for just $24.99 ($10 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, marking its lowest price to date. The backlit remote features a built-in remote finder, allowing you to quickly locate it using either Amazon’s Fire TV app or a compatible smart speaker. It also features customizable shortcut buttons that you can program to instantly launch your favorite apps, as well as compatibility with most Fire TV streaming devices and smart TVs. Read our review.
  • Amazon is selling the Eero 6 mesh router for $64.99 ($15 off), which is one of its best prices to date. While it lacks Wi-Fi 7 support and isn’t as fast as the newer Eero 7 models, it still delivers up to 900Mbps and covers up to 1,500 sq. ft. It’s a solid, budget-friendly choice for basic streaming, browsing, and smart home use.
  • You can buy an Echo Glow at Amazon for $19.99 ($10 off), which is $3 shy of its lowest price to date. The 100-lumen LED lamp is designed primarily for children, and as such, it can cycle through multiple colors with just a tap, function as a visual timer, and automatically dim when it’s time for bed. It’s also compatible with Alexa, meaning you can control it with your voice when paired with a compatible Echo device.
  • Right now, Amazon is offering a free month of Kindle Unlimited, which normally runs $11.99 a month. The subscription gives you access to more than four million e-books, along with thousands of audiobooks and digital magazines. Just remember to cancel our subscription before the trial period ends if you don’t want to be automatically charged at the end of the limited window.
  • Amazon’s Luna Controller is on sale for $39.99 ($30 off) at Amazon, which matches its best price to date. Although it was built primarily for Amazon’s cloud-gaming service, the gamepad offers support for both Bluetooth and USB-C connectivity, rendering it compatible with Android phones, Apple products, Fire TV devices, and PCs. It also integrates with Alexa, allowing you to issue voice commands directly through the controller when paired with a Fire TV device.





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31 Best Early Amazon Prime Day Deals On Products We Tested (2025)
Product Reviews

31 Best Early Amazon Prime Day Deals On Products We Tested (2025)

by admin


Amazon Prime Day 2025 is fast approaching, and the sale is already underway on some items. To help you find the best early Prime Day deals, we’ve scoured Amazon for deals on the tech we love. As always, every deal we recommend here is on a product our reviewers have personally tested and approved—you won’t find any shoddy dupes or mystery brands here.

This year Prime Day runs for four days, July 8-11, rather than the usual two. That means there’s twice as long to suffer save. Twice as long to score a great deal on a new Amazon Fire Tablet, some AirPods, or a KitchenAid stand mixer.

Be sure to read our explainer on all the Amazon Prime perks you should be taking advantage of.

WIRED Featured Deals

Amazon Device Deals

Photograph: Simon Hill

Amazon’s Eero Pro 6E (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a tri-band mesh that adds the 6-GHz band to the familiar 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz bands. If you have a 1 Gbps or faster connection and lots of devices, this is a great mesh system for you. It performed extremely well in our tests, though the 6-Ghz band is short-range.

Photograph: Amazon

This deal is for the Fire Max 11 (5/10, WIRED Review) bundle, with keyboard. The Fire Max 11 is Amazon’s nicest Fire tablet, but if you’re thinking of doing work, keep in mind that Google’s various office apps won’t work. If you don’t need those, this is a serviceable tablet. The screen is bright and sharp enough, the speakers aren’t bad, and the cameras are 1080p.

Photograph: Best Buy

Amazon

Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation)

If you tend to watch a ton of Amazon Prime content, get the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. It heavily promotes Prime content, though you do have access to other services. It has 16 gigabytes of storage, which should be enough for all your streaming apps and games. You can pull up your security camera feed and ask Alexa to do things, like order your pizza.

Photograph: Michael Melia/Alamy

Easily the best audiobook service, Amazon’s Audible Premium Plus gives you access to a library of Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts, one credit per month to use on any audiobook title you fancy, and regular exclusive deals and discounts. Prime members can have three months for free right now (one month for non-Prime members), after which it costs $15 per month.

It may not be the best music streaming service, but Amazon Music Unlimited earned an honorable mention in our guide. Four months of free service for Prime members (three months for non-Prime members) will be enough to tempt some folks to try it.

Apple Prime Day Deals

  • Photograph: Apple

  • Photograph: Brenda Stolyar

The iPad (A16) (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has a USB-C port, a Touch ID sensor integrated into the power button, a 12-megapixel rear camera, and a 12-MP selfie camera in landscape mode (with support for Center Stage). You also get 5G on the cellular model. The A16 chip is the same one in the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Plus. It’s plenty powerful, but there’s not enough RAM to support Apple Intelligence, making it the only iPad in the lineup without access to Apple’s artificial intelligence features (possibly a feature depending on your stance on AI).

Photograph: Luke Larsen

Apple

MacBook Air (M4, 2025)

Would it surprise you to know that this is the laptop I am typing on right now? Probably not. The Air is one of the most popular laptops around and for good reason. You get a powerful, portable laptop with outstanding battery life for under a grand. If your workload is graphics-intensive, you might want to go for the 14- or 16-inch MacBook Pro, but for the rest of us the Air is the Apple laptop to get.

Photograph: Christopher Null

Apple

AirPods Pro 2 (With USB-C)

Apple’s latest AirPods Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are ubiquitous for good reason. They’ve now got USB-C in the charging case, and this latest version sounds better than ever before. They have an IP54 sweat- and dust-resistance rating, and the noise-canceling is top-tier. Pair that with six hours of juice and a case with a speaker to help use Apple’s “Find My” feature, and you have a winning combo.

Photograph: Apple

The Watch Series 10 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is the best Apple Watch for most people. It does not have blood oxygen sensing, which is truly preposterous given that almost every other fitness tracker on the planet has it, but it can tell if you have sleep apnea, which otherwise requires a disruptive sleep test to diagnose. The Series 10 is thinner and lighter, so it’s more comfortable to wear while sleeping, and it has fast charging, so it can track more of your activities during the day.

Photograph: Apple

The gateway drug of Apple Watches, the entry-level SE is a compelling deal. It doesn’t have the latest standout health features, but it’s compatible with watchOS 11, so you’ll be able to take advantage of the new Vitals app, and it has the S8 chip, which offers support for features like Crash Detection. It remains the best Apple Watch for the money.

Photograph: Beats 

The Beats Flex are the best headphones for Apple users under $100. They feature quick pairing, easy access to Siri, and seamless Apple Music integration, thanks to Apple’s W1 chip, which ensures a rock-solid wireless connection to iOS devices. We were able to get 12-hour-plus battery life, which is good enough for a few workdays of tunes between trips to the wall charger.

Photograph: Simon Hill

Anker

MagGo Power Bank for Apple Watch

For those overnight trips it’s nice to have a power bank capable of charging up your Apple Watch. This Anker power bank has a handy pop-up Apple Watch charger that can deliver 5 watts and supports Nightstand mode. It also has a built-in USB-C cable and a USB-C port, so you can deliver up to 30 watts to your phone or another small device.

Tech Deals

Photograph: Luke-Larsen

Asus

Vivobook 14 (X1407QA)

Our favorite budget laptop, the Asus Vivobook 14 (6/10, WIRED Recommended) features an entry-level Snapdragon X processor with excellent battery life. This combo features a 512 GB SSD and 16 GB of memory. The Vivobook 14 is otherwise a fairly basic laptop—on the thicker side, and the display is dim with not-so-great color. Still, especially on sale, this is a solid budget laptop.

Photograph: Linksys

This Wi-Fi 7 mesh router offers expansive coverage and it very fast on all bands. You get a good selection of multi-gig Ethernet ports and it’s easy to set up and use. The downside is the price, but this deal helps out with that. You’ll need a HomeShield Pro subscription for online protection and full parental controls.

Photograph: Simon Hill

This little power bank has a 25,000-mAh capacity and can deliver up to 165 watts to two devices (it tops out at 100 watts for a single device connected via USB-C). The retractable cable is nice, and the clever braided 1-foot USB-C cable doubles as a carry loop. It has a display to show the remaining battery, charging rate in and out, battery temperature, and health.

Photograph: Ugreen

Ugreen’s 145-watt charger, with 25,000-mAh battery, is surprisingly compact for the power it provides. There are two USB-C ports and one USB-A port. What sets the Ugreen apart is that you can actually draw 145 watts while charging. That works out to one USB-C port at 100 W and the other at 45 W.

Photograph: Anker

Anker

711 Charger (Nano II 30W)

This Anker charger is very small (unfortunately, the plugs don’t fold, see below if you want folding plugs), and supports 30 watt charging. That’ll be enough for most phones, and can also handle tablets and even possibly low-power laptops.

Photograph: Anker

Anker

713 Charger (Nano II 45W)

This Anker plug is nice and compact, with a folding plug which makes it great for travel. If you have a phone that’s capable, this is a nice way to fast charge, and this will of course be perfect for laptops, tablets, and other devices.

Outdoor Prime Day Deals

Courtesy of Birdfy

Netvue

Birdfy Plastic Smart Bird Feeder

I’ve been testing smart bird feeders daily for almost a year now, and I can say definitively that no smart feeder is perfect. However, if you want something at the intersection of reliability, features, and affordability, this feeder, the top pick in our guide to the Best Smart Bird Feeders, is your best bet. This model is especially a great buy as it comes with both a lifetime subscription and a solar panel to keep it charged. —Kat Merck

Photograph: Dick’s Sporting Goods 

Hydro Flask

Standard Mouth Water Bottle

Hydro Flask has several types of bottles and caps available in a bunch of fun color options. You can choose one color for the bottle, another for the lid, and depending on which one you’re getting, yet another for the strap or straw. In our years of testing, this has proved the most durable water bottle.

Photograph: Adrienne So

Ninja

8-in-1 Woodfire Outdoor Oven

Ninja’s cute and compact outdoor oven (7/10, WIRED Review) is temperature accurate, versatile, and adds a touch of smokiness without you needing to mess with the complexity (or size) of a full smoker. It’s idiotproof and affordable, we love it for decks and those with limited outdoor cooking space, since you can do a lot of things with it.

Yeti reinvented the cooler, and we thank them for it. The rotomolded Tundra is built like a tank with 3-inch-thick insulated walls, and in our testing it kept ice frozen for six days in blazing 90-degree heat while stored in direct sunlight on Adrienne’s deck. I (Scott) have managed to get five days out of it in the insane humidity of Florida in the spring. A Yeti hard-sided cooler is the best cooler around. Note that this deal is only on the one, wine-colored Tundra.

Photograph: Weber

Of all the portable charcoal grills I’ve tested, the Weber Jumbo Joe remains my favorite. It strikes the best balance of affordability, features, and ease of use. It’s big enough (18.5 inches in diameter) to smoke two racks of ribs or to fit burgers and corn for six people (admittedly, this was crowded) but small enough that you’ll still have room in the trunk for a cooler and camping supplies.

Photograph: Biolite

BioLite

FirePit+ Smokeless Portable FirePit

Biolite’s FirePit+ is a sleek, portable, mesh box with removable legs, a hibachi-style grill, and an ash bin. It has a rechargeable 10,400 mAh battery that can power 51 air jets for up to 26 hours. This allows you to precisely control the flame, and to some extent, the heat of the fire. The FirePit+ can burn charcoal or wood and, thanks to the fans, you don’t need a charcoal chimney and you’ll never struggle to get a fire burning.

Photograph: Simon Hill

Jackery

Explorer 2000 Plus

Our favorite portable power station, the Explorer 2000 Plus has everything you need. It’s got plenty of ports, supports fast charging, and the 2,042-watt-hour capacity will keep you running for days. You can charge it speedily from your AC outlet, but it also works with solar panels, like Jackery’s SolarSaga 200-W Solar Panel. Just be aware that it weighs a hefty 62 pounds.

Best Home Deals

Photograph: Amazon

KitchenAid

Artisan Series 5 Quart Stand Mixer

The Artisan is a design classic, but it doesn’t just look great, it performs as well. It’s got plenty of power, and the tilt head lifts smoothly so you can change attachments. You get four attachments in total, including a dough hook, a wire whip, a pastry beater, and a flex edge beater that manages to get right up to the sides of the bowl so no cake mixture is left behind.

Courtesy of Dyson

The best budget Dyson vac, the Digital Slim is basic, but powerful. It lacks some of the newer features on nicer models. For example, instead of a single power button, it still has a trigger you have to hold down while vacuuming. You’ll do get a Motorbar cleaner head, combination tool, and crevice tool in the box. It’s not compatible with fancier accessories like the Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head that shoots out a green laser to spot microscopic dust. We have seen the price dip lower on sale, but this is still a solid deal.

Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro

Shark

NeverChange Air Purifier

As seen in our guide to the Best Air Purifiers, Shark’s NeverChange doesn’t sport a filter you never have to change, it just lasts up to five years. WIRED reviewer Lisa Wood Shapiro found that even this is only true in very small rooms, but no matter. It’s still a great deal on a decent air purifier, which now comes in fun colors like green and lavender. (Those ones aren’t on sale, though.) —Kat Merck

Photograph: Amazon

GHD has something of a cult following due to its reliability and unique features like single temperature setting (365 degrees Fahrenheit) and fun little chime to let you know it’s heated up. We tout it as a more affordable alternative to the popular GHD Chronos (7/10, WIRED Review) in our guide to the Best Hair Straighteners, and at $73 off, it’s about as good a deal as you’re going to find on a GHD. —Kat Merck

Photograph: Amazon

Waterpik

Cordless Advanced 2.0 Water Flosser

This cordless powerhouse is compact, waterproof (yes, you can use it in the shower), and charges fast in four hours. It offers three pressure settings, four tips, and a 360-degree rotating handle that gets into every nook of your mouth. The water reservoir runs for about 45 seconds per fill, just enough for a thorough clean. It also comes with a microfiber travel bag, tip case, water plug, and universal voltage. Ideal for neat freaks or frequent travelers. —Boutayna Chokrane

Photograph: Philips

Philips

Philips Sonicare 4100 Electric Toothbrush

There are countless Philips Sonicare electric toothbrushes to choose from, but I keep coming back to the trusty 4100. Its gentle vibrations are easier on gums than the more aggressive oscillating brushes. You get a two-minute timer, two intensity settings, and a pressure sensor to protect your enamel. Battery life is excellent, lasting about two weeks per charge, and the built-in BrushSync tech lets you know when it’s time to replace the head. It’s simple, smart, and under $50. —Boutayna Chokrane

  • Courtesy of Revlon

  • Photograph: Nena Farrell

  • Photograph: Nena Farrell

Revlon

Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus

We’ve loved the Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus (8/10, WIRED Recommends) for a while. It dries and styles in one go, with its 2-inch oval barrel and four heat modes (including a cool setting). The detachable head makes it easy to pack or stash in a drawer, and the ceramic titanium tech reduces heat exposure by 50 percent. It’s a smarter (and safer) upgrade from the original version—which had recall issues overseas—and a cheaper alternative to Drybar tools. —Boutayna Chokrane



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Why Pay for a DualSense When This Luna Controller Costs Half the Price for Early Prime Day?
Gaming Gear

Why Pay for a DualSense When This Luna Controller Costs Half the Price for Early Prime Day?

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Amazon may not be the first name that comes to mind for gaming, but it’s definitely a major player in the industry. With Twitch at the heart of streaming and its own cloud gaming service, Luna, Amazon is everywhere for gamers.

The company has also designed a controller specifically for Luna but it’s far more than just a cloud gaming accessory. In fact, most people use the Luna Controller as a universal gamepad for a wide range of devices—PCs, Sony PlayStation, Xbox, and more.

Right now, the Luna Controller is available at its lowest price ever on Amazon: For just $39, that’s a hefty discount from its $69 MSRP (43% off) and much less expensive than buying multiple Xbox or Sony DualSense controllers which cost between $50 to $100 per controller.

See at Amazon

Great Gaming Controller

The Luna Controller is a gaming controller with offset thumbsticks for gaming comfort, bumpers within easy reach, accurate triggers and responsive action buttons. The 4-way directional pad adds to its classic controller shape so it’ll be ideal for playing all types of games. The controller’s ergonomic design ensures that it will be comfortable to hold, even for long gaming sessions. It has a rugged construction with a premium finish that’s comparable to more expensive controllers.

Designed to work in perfect tandem with Amazon’s Luna cloud gaming service, it offers a direct connection to Amazon’s custom-built game servers using Cloud Direct technology. That provides for low-latency gaming which is important for responsive, lag-free gameplay. But the usefulness of the Luna Controller extends far beyond Luna: It can connect to pretty much any device via Bluetooth, from Windows and Mac computers to Fire TV, Fire tablets, iPhones, iPads, Chromebooks, and gaming consoles. If you prefer a wired connection, the controller also supports USB.

Amazon’s Luna Controller is proof that Amazon is serious about gaming. Do not miss the opportunity to have a multi-use controller in your hands before the sale ends.

See at Amazon



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Baseus Clip-On Earbuds Is Nearly Free Just Weeks After Launch, First Discount Hits for Early Prime Day
Gaming Gear

Baseus Clip-On Earbuds Is Nearly Free Just Weeks After Launch, First Discount Hits for Early Prime Day

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Noise-cancellation is a great addition on any premium pair of headphones or earbuds, but what it does is drive up the price way high. It’s not something that’s always needed. If you’re not frequently riding on airplanes or trying to drown out the sounds of a couple arguing in the apartment next door, you’ll probably be find just listening on the standard mode. So, you’d only be paying the standard price, not premium. And if you’re a runner listening to music while hitting the roads, noise-cancellation can be dangerous. You’ll want to be as aware as your surroundings as possible.

See at Amazon

Well, Baseus has a solid pair of wireless earbuds that get the job done and are crazy affordable. Normally they go for $40 which is already pretty reasonable. But for a limited time, you can secure yourself a pair for 28% off. At the time of writing this, the Baseus Bass BC1 open ear earbuds are just $29.

Earbuds That Stay in Place

The Baseus Bass open ear earbuds use a curved design which ergonomically fits around to the back of your ear and clipping it in place. As much as a lot of those in-ear earbud manufacturers like to boast how they have a secure fit, even offering differently sized ear tips, I never quite feel like they are going to stay in place. Baseus has found a much better solution that can actually adapt to various ear shapes without risk of falling out.

The open design is non-intrusive and pressure free. You can listen while wearing glasses without them getting in the way of each other. Plus, sound quality is spectacular with its punchy bass and 12mm driver.

These open ear earbuds are designed to keep up with your active lifestyle. They are rated IP55, staying safe from dust, water, sweat and splashes so don’t be afraid to get your workout done while listening to the latest Sabrina Carpenter hit.

The earbuds have physical buttons to with customizable functions like answering calls, skipping songs, or accessing your voice assistant. The fact that the buttons are physical is a huge bonus. Some earbuds that have touch features can be prone to accidental touches, frustratingly restarting a song or hanging up on a friend. Much smaller chance of that happening here.

The four onboard microphones work in unison to amplify your voice during calls while filtering out distracting background noises—ensuring you are always heard crystal clear on the other end.

You can score the Baseus Bass BC1 open ear earbuds for the reduced price of just $29 for a limited time.

See at Amazon



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Three Tips For The Early Game
Game Reviews

Three Tips For The Early Game

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Following the game’s relatively short introduction, in which you create your character and their background, you’re dumped into the desert unceremoniously; the world of Arrakis sprawls as far as the eye can see. It’s daunting. And it feels like everything and everyone you encounter wants to kill or consume you. (They do).

Disney+ Pulls The Abyss Over Controversial Rat Scene — Again

But if you’re going to live to see a grand-standing base of your own, wearing better armor and wielding powerful weapons, you need to survive the early game. Here are a few early game survival tips for Dune Awakening learned over multiple characters and servers.

Follow the main storyline

Screenshot: Funcom / Brandon Morgan / Kotaku

For some, the main story of Dune: Awakening will feel more like a tutorial, a distraction on the way to the genuine article: the endgame. In some ways, those opinions aren’t wrong. Dune: Awakening features numerous story missions, and they’ll introduce you to the basics. You’ll learn how to turn blood into water, how to construct a base, where to find rare crafting materials, and how to traverse the desert without perishing.

Overall, it’s an excellent way to level up your character, unlock additional skills, and prepare for the ultimate spice war in the Deep Desert. Don’t take this time lightly; farm resources and learn from Arrakis!

You can ignore sandworms…until you can’t

Screenshot: Funcom / Brandon Morgan / Kotaku

Anyone familiar with the lore of Frank Herbert’s Dune understands the threat of the sandworm. These monstrous creatures surf through the sands, following sound vibrations to hunt and eat prey. In this case, prey means you. If you’re running over the sand dunes, you may attract a worm. But the vibration mechanic is rather forgiving. It’s tense, to be sure, but not overly dangerous. Once the vibration meter turns red and starts flashing, that’s when you know a sandworm breach is coming. But even so, it’s generally not directly on your position, but is instead somewhere else nearby. So don’t panic; you’ll usually have time to traipse across the dunes until you reach the safety of a rocky outcropping.

Unfortunately, it’s not always that simple. Sometimes, because you’re using a ground vehicle or are too busy lobbing grenades, sandworms come fast and ferociously. I watched in glee as one of my friends ran for his life while a sandworm chased after him. Someone was tossing grenades from the cliffs above, taunting the sandworm. It was me. I was throwing grenades at him.

Don’t worry, you can respec your skill points

Screenshot: Funcom / Brandon Morgan / Kotaku

If you’re the indecisive type who likes to min-max your stats and skills in any game with RPG elements, then you’re going to love hearing about how Dune Awakening allows you to fully respec your skill tree completely for free, albeit with one caveat. You can’t do it frequently. There’s an arbitrary cooldown of 48 hours between respecs, meaning you’d better be satisfied with your choices on the second go-around.

Alternatively, you can always visit one of the game’s many trainers at safe locations, like trading outposts. Once you complete a quest for the specific trainer, you’ll unlock the other class skill trees and may then invest points elsewhere for a well-rounded character!

Dune: Awakening is available now for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows PCs.



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Crypto Trends

Athena Bitcoin Clears Way For Early Investors to Sell Shares

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In brief

  • The filing registers 473 million shares for resale by early investors, insiders, and former employees.
  • Athena said it plans to uplist to a higher OTC tier but offered no timeline or operational update.
  • The company gained early prominence for being the first to deploy Bitcoin ATMs in El Salvador.

Athena Bitcoin Global, a U.S.-based crypto ATM operator with a focus on Latin America, has filed to register hundreds of millions of shares for resale by former investors, marking a potential exit tied to earlier debt financing.

The S-1 filing appeared on the SEC archives Tuesday, detailing how Athena would register 473 million common shares for resale by more than two dozen shareholders, including early backers, company insiders, and former employees.

Many of its shares were issued following the conversion of a secured convertible debenture, a type of debt instrument that can be converted into equity at a later date.

Athena said the registration would increase its profile “as a leading company in the international operation of Bitcoin ATMs” and potentially “make it easier to attract additional equity capital,” which it needs to fund its expansion.

The operator did not immediately respond to Decrypt’s request for comment.

The move enables investors to exit their position by selling shares they acquired through a prior debt agreement. While it would provide liquidity, it may also impact shareholder value.

Athena gained prominence in 2021 when it became the first operator to deploy Bitcoin ATMs in El Salvador.



Its stock trades under the ticker ABIT on the OTC Pink Market, the lowest tier of U.S. public markets, known for minimal disclosure requirements, limited liquidity, and heightened investment risk.

Despite prior plans, Athena said it has not yet applied for an uplisting to OTCQB or OTCQX, which impose stricter disclosure requirements, per the filing.

While convertible debenture conversions are standard in distressed or early-stage financing, they may introduce selling pressure, especially in thinly traded securities like Athena’s.

To date, its daily volume has fluctuated wildly from as low as $160 to $112,280, with a 65-day average of $10,367, according to data from Yahoo Finance.  Despite the volatility, its stock has consistently traded below $0.10, closing at $0.0394 on Tuesday.

Broader headwinds and El Salvador pullbacks

In its filing, the company acknowledged broader headwinds stemming from crypto market turmoil, citing the collapse of platforms such as FTX, Celsius, and Voyager as indirect factors impacting transaction volumes. 

FTX, Celsius, and Voyager were severely impacted during the previous crypto bear market, which occurred more than two years ago.

Although Athena said it suffered no “material direct impact,” it noted that these bankruptcies led to declines in crypto prices, trading volume, and user sentiment.

The combination of these drivers “could have been a contributing factor” to the decreased volume that it experienced after the bankruptcies.

Athena gained international attention for deploying Bitcoin ATMs during El Salvador’s rollout of BTC as legal tender, though El Salvador’s broader crypto strategy has faced international scrutiny, with fiscal reforms aimed at easing pressure from the IMF despite President Bukele’s continued defiance.

Edited by Sebastian Sinclair

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Analysts forecast Cardano rally to $2 as Ripple and this new AI coin gain momentum
GameFi Guides

How a small $300 investment in this token could reach over $450k, just like early Cardano

by admin



Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

LILPEPE, a Layer 2 memecoin, hints at Cardano-like gains, turning $300 into $450k could be more than just a dream.

What if a tiny $300 investment today could blossom into over $450,000 by 2025? Sounds like a crypto fairy tale. Previously, Cardano (ADA) achieved a comparable feat, initiating at a mere $0.0024 and reaching a peak of over $3.

Now, LILPEPE, a blazing-hot memecoin backed by a powerful Layer 2 blockchain, is setting the stage for what could be crypto’s next legendary run. And the best part? It’s still early. Welcome to the birth of a new digital order. Welcome to LILPEPE, the newborn EVM Layer 2 Machine built for memes, speed, and unstoppable growth.

The Cardano blueprint: From pennies to millions

In 2017, Cardano was largely overlooked. It was just another coin with promises. But those who believed and bought ADA at fractions of a cent walked away with life-changing wealth. A $300 investment at $0.0024 would’ve multiplied to 125,000 ADA. When ADA peaked at $3.09, that was worth $386,250. Today, LILPEPE is bringing back memories.

LILPEPE: Not just a meme, a movement

LILPEPE is here to rewrite the playbook for memecoins. Forget coins with zero utility. LILPEPE comes fully loaded with:

  • A Lightning-Fast Layer 2 EVM Blockchain.
  • A zero-tax trading environment — friendly for whales and retail alike.
  • A meme launchpad fueling explosive community growth.
  • Anti-bot security to ensure fair access.
  • Long-term tokenomics with massive upside potential.

Little Pepe Chain is the low-cost, high-speed protocol built for the next-generation degenerate army at the intersection of meme power and scalable technology. It’s not just a coin, it’s a crypto revolution wrapped in memes.

Stage 3 presale: 69.99% filled, and time’s running out

Let’s talk numbers. Currently in Stage 3 of its presale, LILPEPE is priced at $0.0012, with over 1.57 billion tokens already sold. The goal? 2.25 billion. And guess what? 69.99% has already been filled in under 72 hours!

Stage 3 Price: $0.0012
Next Stage Price: $0.0013
Launch Price: $0.003

Interested investors who can buy now at $0.0012 will be up 150% once the token hits the market at $0.003. That’s without even factoring in the post-launch pump. Stage 2 of the presale only lasted two days, and with momentum this strong, Stage 3 could sell out before the weekend is over.

The path to $0.32: 266x gains are on the table

Let’s do some quick math for the dreamers (and future millionaires):

$300 at $0.0012 gets 250,000 LILPEPE tokens. If LILPEPE reaches $0.32 by the end of 2025 (a conservative estimate based on its roadmap and hype), that is now worth $80,000.

But that’s not all. Early-stage analysts are forecasting a possible surge past $1 — that’s an 833x move, turning $300 into over $250,000, or even $450,000 if someone jumps in early during Stage 1 at $0.0010.

Does buying DOGE in 2013 sound wild? So did buying SHIB in 2020. Yet history keeps rewarding those who get in early.

FOMO alert: Whales are already here

Let’s be real; deep-pocketed investors have been loading up on LILPEPE like it’s a golden ticket. The rapid filling of Stage 3 shows that FOMO is real and growing. Social chatter, wallet activity, and significant presale contributions are all spiking. The launch price of $0.003 is already baked into whale strategies, and they’re betting on LILPEPE soaring to $0.32 or beyond.

So, while others wait for a dip, the smart money is moving now.

Community power + $770,000 giveaway

LILPEPE isn’t just a token — it’s becoming a movement. And it’s giving back to its early believers in a massive way. The team is organizing an incredible $770,000 giveaway, where 10 lucky winners will each receive $77,000 worth of LILPEPE tokens.

This isn’t a drill. This is generational wealth in the making, and LILPEPE ensures its community wins alongside it.

The new world order starts with a meme

LILPEPE is the first of its kind: a memecoin with its Layer 2 blockchain, purpose-built for scalability, fairness, and ecosystem development. As the crypto world searches for the next ADA, the next SHIB, the next PEPE… the answer is hatching right in front of us.

It’s not too late. 

Buy at $0.0012.
Launch at $0.003.
Ride it past $1.
Turn $300 into $450,000.

Enter the new world order with LILPEPE.
In this new world order, memes are not just jokes; they represent the future of finance.

To learn more about Little Pepe, visit the website, Telegram, and X.

Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. crypto.news does not endorse any product mentioned on this page. Users must do their own research before taking any actions related to the company.



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