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Prime

Seagate’s 2TB Xbox Expansion Card Is Cheaper per TB Than the 1TB One, All-Time Low Ahead of Prime Day in October

by admin September 18, 2025

Video game files sizes have gotten ridiculous. As time goes on, they continue to balloon to astronomical levels that are frankly unreasonable. This is especially common among western AAA developers. Just this year, we saw Oblivion: Remastered reach a size of over 120GB. I don’t even want to think about just how much space Grand Theft Auto VI is going to take up. While these game files extending into the triple digits of gigabytes, our Xbox consoles still sit at their base internal storage of 1TB. If you intend to play more than just the same four games back and fourth, you’re going to have to do some regular maintenance of deleting and reinstalling games — but not one want to that. The better solution is to get yourself a dedicated expansion drive. Seagate has one made specifically for the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. For a limited time, you can grab it for a hefty discount.

See at Amazon

Right now, Amazon has three models of the Seagate expansion card for Xbox on sale. The 1TB model is down from $160 to just $130, saving you $30. The 2TB version comes down from $360 to just $218, a savings of $142. Then we have the massive 4TB model, normally priced at $500 but down to $430. That’s a savings of $70 with the deal. The best deal among the three at this time is for the 2TB version. That $142 savings accounts for a whopping 39% discount.

Since the Xbox Series X only starts with a single terabyte of storage, adding on one of these Seagate drives means you’ll be either doubling, tripling, or quintupling your storage capacity.

The Seagate expansion card is super easy to install. While the PS5 expansion SSDs require opening up the casing of your console, these ones for Xbox simply just plug into a dedicated slot in the back. No tools necessary. Once installed, you can choose to have the games you download save to either your internal storage or the new Seagate drive.

Play Games Seamlessly

Games saved to the Seagate drive receive the same benefits as those on your internal drive. One of the features of this generation Xbox that Microsoft likes to show off is Quick Resume. That allows you to suspend your game state of one game while you play another. You can hop from a race in Forza Horizon 5 into a quick Rocket League match with your buds, then pop back over to Forza to cross the finish line.

Well, Seagate officially-licensed the Xbox Velocity Architecture which is what makes Quick Resume possible. That means its supported on any game you have downloaded, whether its to your internals or to your new Seagate drive.

See at Amazon

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September 18, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

Apple’s 2025 M3 iPad Air Is Back at Its Lowest Price, Likely Gone Before Amazon Prime Big Deal Days

by admin September 17, 2025

As the weather starts cooling down and we start spending incrementally more time indoors week after week, there’s never been a better time to get yourself an iPad. Whether you plan on using it to catch up on emails, to doomscroll on your preferred social media app, or to just pour more hours into Balatro but on a larger screen than your phone, the Apple iPad Air might be what you’re looking for. This 2025 model iPad normally starts at $599, but Amazon is running a limited time deal that’s bringing the price down by 25%. This $150 savings means you’ll only have to pay as low as $449.

This $449 discounted price is for the Wi-Fi-only 128GB model. There are three other storage sizes available—each with their own $150 discount. You can get the 256GB model for just $549, the 512GB model for just $749, or the 1TB model for just $949. If you want to add on cellular, the discounts are slightly different. The 128GB, 256GB and 1TB models are down $150 still but the 512GB model is only down $84.

For all combinations of storage or cellular capabilities, you can choose between four stylish colors. Pick either blue, purple, space gray, or starlight.

See at Amazon

Powerful Performance

So AI has been a pretty big buzzword this past year. Will it be the future of consumer tech? Or is it just a speculative fixation like we went through with NFTs. We’ll find out in due time. Though for right now, Apple and companies like it have promised a ton to consumers with the inclusion of their own proprietary AI models they’re sticking into their products. Apple has Apple Intelligence which can be used to help you craft messages, generate images, and things of the like. The M3 chip is powerful enough to make local processing for Ai models such as this possible.

Beyond AI, the M3 chip allows for improved performance on power-hungry apps, letting you run them side-by-side with each other with no hiccups. Graphically intensive games also get a boost.

To get the full use out of your Apple iPad Air, you can pick up the Apple Pencil Pro (sold separately). Use it to quickly jot down notes, draw or edit photos, and more. It’s compatible with tons of productivity and art apps on the App Store.

Finally get yourself that iPad you’ve been telling yourself you would with the 2025 model iPad Ai powered by Apple’s M3 chipset. Most versions are on sale right now for $150 off.

See at Amazon

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September 17, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Amazon Prime Video joins Masters coverage for first, second round

by admin September 16, 2025

Sep 16, 2025, 10:57 AM ET

More Masters coverage, you want? More Masters coverage, you’ll get.

Amazon Prime Video is joining ESPN, CBS and Paramount+ as broadcast partners of the Masters in 2026, airing two hours of coverage — from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET — during the first and second rounds in April.

The 2026 Masters will have 27 total hours of broadcast coverage, which is 50% more than was broadcast in 2024.

“Working alongside Amazon in this capacity is an exciting opportunity for the Masters Tournament and its fans,” Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said in a release. “We are proud of our longstanding partnerships with CBS Sports and ESPN, who have set the highest standard for broadcast coverage of the Masters. The addition of Amazon will only further our abilities to expand and enhance how the Tournament is presented and enjoyed.”

The broadcast window for Prime Video will precede ESPN’s coverage during the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday. Paramount+ and CBS will air live coverage during the final two rounds on Saturday and Sunday.

“It’s an honor for all of us to become a broadcast partner of the Masters Tournament and to provide four additional hours of coverage,” said Jay Marine, head of Prime Video for U.S. and Global Sports. “We are humbled and proud to begin our relationship with Augusta National Golf Club and cannot wait to get started.”

CBS began its coverage of the Grand Slam event in 1956. ESPN started broadcasting the first and second rounds in 2008. Paramount+ streamed two hours of coverage for the first time earlier this year.

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September 16, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Apple M4 Mac Mini Drops Below Prime Day Pricing, A Rare Discount Likely Triggered by New Apple Launches

by admin September 16, 2025

The Mac Mini is an interesting little product. You get a full Mac computer but for significantly less than a MacBook or the iMac. So long as you got a screen to connect it to, you’re good to go. The 2024 Mac Mini powered by the M4 chip normally goes for $599, but right now Amazon has the miniature desktop Mac for $100 off. That 17% discount brings the price down to just $499.

That’s the starting price. The model down to $499 during this limited time deal comes with 16GB of RAM and an 256GB SSD. For $690, you can double your storage to 512GB. For $904, you can get the model with 24GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

See at Amazon

Tiny But Mighty

Apple has redesigned the Mac Mini with this 2024 iteration. The footprint is less than half the size of the previous design, measuring in at five by five by two inches. It fits comfortably on any desktop, taking up hardly any space at all. It’s carbon footprint is even smaller. Thanks to the ultracompact design, the Mac Mini is Apple’s first carbon neutral Mac.

A handful of connection options are conveniently found along the front and back of the Mac Mini. You get three thunderbolt ports, two front-facing USB-C ports, an HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet ports, and the headphone jack. That one may no longer be on our iPhones, but lives on at our desks.

MacOS can run all your favorite apps or whatever ones you need to get work done. You get full support for Microsoft 365 as well as the Adobe Creative Cloud software suite such as Photoshop and Premiere. With the M4 chipset, you can expect snappy and fluid performance in any of these applications. Apple’s MacOS employs a slew of privacy protections to keep your data from being accessed by anyone but you.

If you have an iPhone or other Apple products, you can get them all to work seamlessly together. View and control what’s on your iPhone from your Mac, or vice versa, with Mirroring. You can copy something from your iPhone and paste it on your Mac. Access you messages or answer FaceTime calls from either device.

For a limited time, you can save anywhere from $95 to $110 on the 2024 model of the Mac Mini powered by the M4 chipset. Get it for as low as $499 over at Amazon. This price reflects the 16GB of RAM and 256GB SSD model without AppleCare+ included.

See at Amazon

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September 16, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Amazon’s October Prime Day kicks off October 7th

by admin September 16, 2025

Amazon has announced its fall Prime Big Deal Days event. It starts at 12:01AM PT / 3:01AM ET on Tuesday, October 7th, and runs through Wednesday, October 8th. Of course, we’ll bring you all the best deals on Verge-approved gadgets once they become available.

Amazon’s latest Prime Big Deal Days sale is shorter than the extended four-day Prime Day in July. Even so, that should be plenty of time for Prime members to save ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The previous Prime Day delivered some of the lowest prices we’ve seen on popular devices like the iPad Air and AirPods 4, and we’re hoping for a similar caliber of deals this time around. In years past, we’ve seen deep discounts on big-name brands like Samsung, Apple, and Beats, plus all-time low prices on Amazon devices.

While Prime Day deals are exclusive to subscribers, Best Buy, Walmart, and other retailers often offer similar discounts, so you’ll have plenty of ways to shop. If you want to sign up for Prime, a subscription runs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. If you’re between the ages of 18 and 24, you can get a six-month subscription for free, with it renewing after that period for $7.49 per month (half the normal cost of Prime). Prime Big Deal Days will take place in the US, the UK, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, Spain, and Sweden, and for the first time, Colombia, Ireland, and Mexico.

Before Prime Big Deal Days gets underway, Amazon is holding a fall hardware event on September 30th. Amazon traditionally uses the annual event to reveal a slew of new products, including Echo smart speakers, Fire TV devices, Kindles, and more. Hopefully, we’ll see at least some of the new tech discounted during Amazon’s annual pre-Black Friday sale.

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September 16, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

How to Shop Like a Pro During Amazon Prime Day (2025)

by admin September 16, 2025

Ask Alexa’s Echo Dot for the time and weather, and to play music. Also, a pro tip: You can use it in the kitchen as a timer while cooking.

How Do I Know Whether a Deal Is Good?

ABC: Always be checking (prices, that is). Researching an item’s price is the most important aspect of determining the quality of a discount. Don’t fall prey to deceptive marketing language and inflated MSRP prices—our tips only take a few moments. The easiest step is to take a second to Google the items you’re considering so you can see the price across multiple stores.

One tool we like to use is Camelcamelcamel, which tracks Amazon’s prices over time. Paste the Amazon link or ASIN (found in the Product Information section on the Amazon product page) into Camelcamelcamel’s search bar and you’ll be able to see an item’s lowest recorded price, its average price, and how frequently the price fluctuates. Some deals, such as Lightning Deals, are excluded from the pricing history, but it’s useful to see what an item has sold for in the past. We also like Keepa, which has an extension (available for multiple browsers) that shows the recent price history for products directly on the Amazon page so you don’t have to open a new tab.

Keep in mind that these services may not work all the time. But being able to see how much a product costs right before the sale starts (and whether the MSRP happened to increase) can be helpful. Putting these tools together can help you deduce whether a deal is worth your money.

WIRED always fact-checks deals to determine their quality. You can check out our ongoing deals coverage to find roundups of the best discounts available—during Prime Day and year-round.

Amazon’s Kindles are the best e-readers around. Also, waterproof!

What’s a Lightning Deal?

Lightning Deals are limited-time deals that Amazon runs for only a few hours. They’re not restricted to Prime Day, but they’re especially prevalent during big sales events. Once an item sells out, you may be able to join a waiting list, but not always.

Put bluntly, the Lightning Deals selection is often full of impulse buys, like makeup and skin-care products or toys. Prime members can browse upcoming deals on Amazon’s website and in the mobile app. The app can also alert you before a Lightning Deal begins. We’ll share some of our favorite Lightning Deals in a live blog during the event this year.

How Does the Invite-Only Deals System Work?

The best deals sometimes sell out quickly. To get around this, Amazon launched an invite-only deals program during Prime Day. Prime members can request an invitation to purchase items that are expected to sell out. This feature is only available on select products, but it’s spread across a wide range of price points and categories—including kitchen, electronics, fashion, and beauty.

On the page, you’ll see a Request Invite button on the right-hand side. Click it to get a chance to buy it at the sale price, but there’s no guarantee you’ll be invited. According to an Amazon spokesperson, the company removes “botlike submissions” from the list of requests and selects from the remaining customers. However, it’s not clear how Amazon chooses from the remaining list of interested buyers.

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September 16, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Metroid Prime 4 Game And Samus Amiibo Preorders Available Now

by admin September 15, 2025

Metroid fans have been beyond ready for the fourth entry in the Metroid Prime series, and now we know when the more than 18-year wait comes to an end. Announced during September’s jam-packed Nintendo Direct, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond launches December 4 on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, and preorders are now open for both versions at major retailers. Metroid enthusiasts can also preorder three new Amiibo figures: A new Samus Amiibo and Samus on her Vi-O-La motorcycle launch November 6, and a Sylux Amiibo releases the same day as the game.

Check out all of the Metroid Prime 4 preorder details you need to know below. We’ve also included a look at the upcoming Metroid Prime Trilogy retrospective book and two recently released official Metroid gaming accessories, including a brand-new wireless controller for Switch 1/2.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Preorder Bonuses

Nintendo rarely offers preorder bonuses with its exclusives, but it’s fairly common for retailers to have exclusive bonuses for Nintendo games. No retailer has announced any bonuses just yet, but we’ll update this story if anything changes. It took over a month for Walmart and Best Buy to reveal Pokemon Legends: Z-A exclusive bonuses. Retailers typically add the bonus to your order if you preorder before it was announced.

$70 | Releases December 4

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for Nintendo Switch 2 includes the base Switch game and the Switch 2 Upgrade Pack for $70. Like other first-party Switch 2 games and select third-party titles, the full game is stored on the cartridge, so you won’t need to download any data beyond patches.

The Switch 2 version of Metroid Prime 4 has better visuals, enhanced resolutions in handheld and docked modes, and higher frame rates. Two different graphics modes will be available at launch. When the Switch 2 is docked, Quality mode renders Samus’ latest adventure in 4K at 60fps. Performance mode offers 1080p resolution at 120fps. Metroid Prime 4’s handheld experience offers 1080p resolution at 60fps in Quality mode and 720p at 120fps in Performance mode. High Dynamic Range is supported at all times.

Switch 2 players also have the option to use mouse controls with the Joy-Con 2 to aim Samus’ arm canon. Players can swap freely between dual stick, mouse, and gyro motion controls at any time.

$60 | Releases December 4

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond retails for 10 bucks less on original Switch hardware. Like other games with versions for both generations of Switch hardware, you can upgrade to the Switch 2 edition for $10. The upgrade is available for digital and physical owners of Prime 4 on Switch.

Metroid Prime 4 Amiibo Figures

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was initially revealed back at E3 2017, just a few months after the Nintendo Switch launched. Preorders actually opened at the same time. Many fans had an Amazon preorder for nearly eight years before the retailer finally canceled all existing orders earlier this year. Prime 4 was originally being developed by Bandai Namco, but the project was scrapped and restarted in 2019 by Retro Studios. The Nintendo subsidiary developed the previous three Prime games, and Beyond is led by the original producer Kensuke Tanabe. Gameplay footage shown so far has looked very promising.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond takes place after the events of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, though how far after remains unclear. What we do know is that it will see Samus explore an all-new planet, Viewros, populated by a new musical alien race called____ who have called on Samus to save the planet from an unknown threa. To aid in her adventure, the ____ imbue Samus with all-new psychic powers that will allow her to interface with the strange ruins and artifacts on Viewros and defend herself against the deadly creatures that live there.

As confirmed in an earlier gameplay trailer, Samus’ enigmatic rival, Sylux, will also appear and likely play a pivotable role in the storyline. Gameplay footage shown so far has looked very promising, and fans don’t have to wait much longer to explore the planet of Viewros through Samus’ iconic visor.

If you’re looking to play earlier Metroid Prime games before the Beyond arrives, unfortunately, the long-rumored Metroid Prime Trilogy for Switch never materialized. But you can at least play the gorgeous 2023 remaster of the original GameCube hit. Metroid Prime Remastered is a brilliant modernization of the 2002 classic. You can snag the physical edition for Nintendo Switch for $40 at Amazon. Samus’ 2021 side-scrolling adventure Metroid Dread is also well-worth playing.

In August, PowerA launched a pair of Metroid Prime-themed accessories. After initially selling out, the new PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller and wired gaming earbuds are back in stock at Amazon. Take a look at both of the stylish pieces of gear below.

$70

PowerA’s new Metroid-themed wireless controller is compatible with Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 via Bluetooth. The controller is officially licensed and has a traditional form factor similar to Nintendo’s Pro Controllers.

It has anti-friction joystick rings, motion controls, dual rumble motors, and two back buttons that can be remapped on the fly. The eye-catching design features Samus Aran wearing her Varia Suit and a space-themed background on the right. The Metroid Prime logo is on the left grip.

The controller can run for up to 30 hours between charges and comes with a 10-foot USB-C cable.

$25

PowerA’s Metroid Prime-themed gaming earbuds look pretty cool, but it’s worth noting upfront that the controller doesn’t have a 3.5mm headphone jack. The Switch 2 console, however, does support wired earbuds.

The $25 earbuds feature Metroid iconography on each side and three swappable silicone tips. It has an inline microphone for voice chat, 8mm dynamic audio drivers, and an adjustable slider to prevent the wires from becoming tangled.

Honestly, though, the coolest feature might be the drawstring storage bag, as it features three pieces of key art depicting Samus based on her appearances in the original trilogy.

$46.49 (was $50) | Releases October 28

Speaking of the Metroid Prime Trilogy, the highly anticipated, official visual retrospective is slated to release October 28. Made by the team behind the beautiful Legend of Zelda strategy guides, Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective is a 208-page cloth hardcover that sounds like a must-read book for fans.

The book includes concept art, sketches, and illustrations as well as commentary from Retro Studios developers and other behind-the-scenes materials such as producer’s notes from Nintendo’s archives. The book covers Metroid Prime, Prime 2: Echoes, Prime 3: Corruption, and Metroid Prime Remastered.

Series producer Kensuke Tanabe wrote the foreword for the book, and each game’s section is introduced by a developer from Retro Studios.

We have yet to see any of the pages, but the etched metallic-foil illustration of Samus on the cover looks awesome. Publisher Piggyback printed the book on premium art paper and stitched the pages to the binding. The hardcover is wrapped in cloth, which adds to the collectible-quality aesthetic.

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September 15, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Hits Nintendo Switch 2 And Switch This December

by admin September 14, 2025

Nintendo has revealed that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will launch this December. More specifically, it hits Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch on December 4, and that same day, a Sylux amiibo will hit stores, too. Before that, though, you can pick up a Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Samus amiibo and a Samus + Vi-0-La (motorcycle) amiibo on November 6.

Nintendo announced this news during today’s Nintendo Direct with a new gameplay trailer showcasing Samus in a desert biome, utilizing a new tool in her arsenal: a motorbike. Its official name is Vi-0-La, and it’s the bike featured in the aforementioned amiibo. The trailer also gives us a new cinematic look at Sylux, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond’s first-person gameplay, and more.

Check it out for yourself in the Metroid Prime 4: Beyond release date trailer below:

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond hits Switch 2 and Switch on December 4.

In the meantime, read Game Informer’s hands-on preview of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and then check out this Metroid Prime 4: Beyond gameplay trailer from earlier this year.

Are you picking up any of these Metroid Prime 4: Beyond amiibo? Let us know in the comments below!

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September 14, 2025 0 comments

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond officially ESRB rated, sparking hope for release date news

Game Reviews

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally gets release date, plus Samus on a motorbike

by admin September 13, 2025

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has finally received a release date from Nintendo, following months of speculation.

As revealed at today’s Nintendo Direct livestream, Metroid Prime 4 will release on 4th December across both Switch and Switch 2.

The announcement came with a fresh look at the game, including Samus on a motorbike. Yes, you read that correctly.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Nintendo Direct 9.12.2025Watch on YouTube

Back in June, an advertisement for the game was seen on the London Underground stating the game was “out now”, though this was swiftly debunked by Nintendo.

Still, while the game officially had a 2025 launch window, rumours of a delay intensified over the summer, though Nintendo remained committed to a release this year.

In July the game popped up on the Korean ratings board and then, a month later, was rated by the ESRB. As such, a proper release date has been hotly anticipated.

Metroid Prime 4 is the long-awaited latest entry in Nintendo’s sci-fi series, that once again follows bounty hunter Samus Aran in first-person. This time, though, she’s got psychic powers.

I went hands-on with Metroid Prime 4 at Nintendo’s Switch 2 launch event, but wasn’t completely convinced by its mouse controls.

This is a news-in-brief story. This is part of our vision to bring you all the big news as part of a daily live report.

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September 13, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Best VPN for Streaming in 2025: Unblock International Movies and TV Shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer and More

by admin September 13, 2025

Based on our years of experience using and testing VPNs, here’s what you should consider when choosing a VPN for streaming.

Streaming capabilities

Your VPN’s capacity to access streaming content is the top factor to consider in a VPN for streaming. If your VPN can’t access geo-restricted streaming content, it isn’t fit for this purpose. It’s also important to make sure that the VPN you choose works well for the specific streaming services you want to access. Think about the streaming services you want to watch like Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Max, Hulu, Peacock, Crunchyroll, YouTube TV and Sling — then try your VPN with those services to see if it works. We’ve found that ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Surfshark all work reliably with each of those streaming services across most platforms.

Keep in mind that a streaming service that works with a specific VPN today may not tomorrow (and vice versa). Sometimes a simple server switch can do the trick and get you access to the content you’re looking for. If not, you can alert your VPN’s support team to the issue and they may be able to get it resolved. Each of these VPNs will give you your money back within 30 days of purchase, so if it happens to not work as well as you want, you can get a refund. Check out the best VPNs for Netflix and the best VPNs for Amazon Prime Video for more information.

Speed

Your VPN’s speed performance plays a major role in the overall quality of your streaming experience. You’ll need a VPN that’s fast, especially if you’re streaming in 4K or if you’re accessing geo-blocked content from a region that’s a considerable distance from your physical location. Generally, you’ll need download speeds of 25Mbps at a bare minimum for 4K streaming, but you’ll want at least 50Mbps for reliable 4K streaming. You can get by with far less (10 to 20Mbps) for HD streaming. All VPNs will slow your speeds somewhat (sometimes by 50% or more), but if your VPN is slowing your connection too much, you may end up experiencing a lot of buffering or lower-quality video playback. A fast streaming VPN will only reduce your download speeds minimally — ideally by 25% or less on average. As long as your connection is fast enough to begin with, the speed loss shouldn’t be noticeable.

Privacy

Regardless of what you’re using your VPN for, privacy is a key consideration for any VPN service. Your VPN should have privacy measures in place, like DNS leak protection, a kill switch, modern encryption protocols and a no-logs policy (ideally one that’s been audited or tested in the wild). A VPN that provides the necessary privacy protections will ensure that your internet traffic is never leaked unencrypted.

Network

A good VPN for streaming should have a network of servers in locations across the globe. If you’re looking to fully optimize your streaming and get access to the largest selection of streaming content, then you’ll probably want to choose a VPN with servers located in the largest number of countries. If you’re looking to access content from a specific region, you should check to ensure the VPN you want to use has servers in the region(s) you need. You can check the VPN’s server page on its website to see what countries it has servers in before purchasing a subscription. Most of our top picks feature thousands of servers in 100-plus countries. To unblock streaming content from a specific country, all you need to do is use the VPN app to connect to a server located in the country from which you want to stream content. For example, to access the US Netflix library, ensure you’re connected to a server in the US. Or if you want to access content on BBC iPlayer, connect to a UK server.

Device compatibility

You’ll also want to make sure that the streaming VPN you choose is compatible with the device on which you want to stream content, whether that’s a mobile device, laptop, smart TV or streaming device. Most VPNs are compatible with a wide range of devices, but it’s always a good idea to confirm that the service you’re considering will work with your device. Many VPNs have apps for Fire TV and Android TV that work on streaming devices or smart TVs, but not every provider has an Apple TV app yet. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, PIA and IPVanish are a few of the providers that do have Apple TV apps. (Disclosure: IPVanish is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Luckily, you can use a VPN on your router if you want to use a VPN with devices like PlayStation 5 and Xbox consoles or Roku streaming devices that don’t support native VPN apps.

Router installation

It isn’t necessary to use a router to stream geo-blocked content with a VPN, but it can help if your smart TV or streaming device doesn’t natively support VPN apps. Also, with a VPN router setup, you can protect all of the devices on your network at once while using only one of your allotted simultaneous connections. Installing a VPN on a compatible router can be difficult and even risky if you try it yourself, so be sure you have the technical know-how to do so before proceeding. Alternatively, you can purchase a router with a VPN preinstalled from a company like FlashRouters. If you’re an ExpressVPN user, you can purchase the provider’s Aircove router or use its intuitive router app on your existing VPN-compatible router.

Cost

VPN prices can vary considerably from one provider to another. A monthly VPN subscription can range anywhere from about $5 to $15 per month. Longer-term VPN subscription plans often feature introductory pricing around $40 to $100 for the first year. But be aware that renewal prices can sometimes double or even quadruple — with VPN renewal pricing coming in anywhere from $50 to $150 or more per year after introductory term. If you’re on a budget, take a look at our list of the best cheap VPNs. You can even use a VPN to save money on your streaming subscriptions because a VPN can help you access more global content without you having to subscribe to as many streaming services.

Sports streaming

If you’re a sports fan, you can use a VPN to avoid regional blackouts and stream sports from anywhere. To do so, just connect to a VPN server in a location where the sporting event is accessible online — whether it’s a specific U.S. city, or a different country — and you should be able to stream all the sports you want. For instance, you can use a VPN to stream out-of-market NFL games or watch NFL matches while traveling abroad.

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September 13, 2025 0 comments