Technology

Stranger Things 5 begins with a frantic race to the finish line

Published

1 month ago

November 26, 2025

Stranger Things 5 begins with a frantic race to the finish line

It has been a decade since the Stranger Things phenomenon began, and the Duffer brothers had had ample time to craft a strong finish to their breakout hit series. But the beginning of the show’s fifth and final season feels like a frantic race to the end.

While Stranger Things wasn’t Netflix’s first breakout hit, it catapulted the streamer to a new level of pop cultural prominence by telling a wildly captivating story that got everyone talking. Modern day nostalgia for the ‘80s never really went away, but Stranger Things kicked off a new wave of shows and movies that made it feel like other studios were doing everything in their power to re-create the Duffer Brothers’ success. Stranger Things was a momentous phenomenon that didn’t show many signs of losing steam over the course of its first few seasons.

By season 4, though, the show’s new episodes were releasing at a much slower rate thanks to production delays caused by the covid-19 pandemic. While the larger Stranger Things franchise was growing with a stage show and plans for an animated spinoff, after the 2023 writers strike led to even more delays, it felt like Netflix might have a tough time getting everyone excited to go back to Hawkins for the core series’ final season.

In the first four episodes of Stranger Things 5, you can feel the Duffer Brothers trying to address past production issues that were beyond their control while also exploring narrative ideas they had mapped out long before the series began airing. Though this season picks right back up where the last left off, it’s peppered with details that emphasize how much time has passed in the real world since we last saw these characters.

The younger cast looks and feels much older in ways that can’t exactly be attributed to sudden growth spurts. And characters have a tendency to speak to each other in quippy bits of exposition as if they know that people who need their memories jogged are watching. Those elements of Stranger Things 5 call for a suspension of disbelief that feels reasonable given all the external factors that kept this season from debuting more quickly.

Though a lot has changed about Hawkins in the months since it was almost entirely torn apart by the Upside Down, most people are still able to go about their everyday lives. Everyone remembers how earth-shaking interdimensional energy cracked the streets wide open. But they try not to think about what went down now that the damage has been mostly covered with massive sheets of metal.

Aside from the compulsory medical checkups and a military-enforced quarantine that keeps civilians from leaving town, things feel relatively normal to people unfamiliar with Vecna.

(Jamie Campbell Bower) and his many Demogorgons. But for Eleven / Jane (Millie Bobby Brown), Hopper (David Harbour), and the rest of their crew, the unnatural calm is a sign of how much more dangerous things are about to become.

In order to remind you how this winding story began and to emphasize what kinds of monsters Stranger Things‘ heroes are up against, the new season spends much more time with Will Byers (Noah Schnapp). Will insists on playing a larger role in the teens’ plans to take their fight to Vecna in the present, but the show also jumps back to the past to explore what happened to the boy when he was first dragged into the Upside Down in season one. As disturbing (in a good way) and impressive as many of this season’s otherworldly set pieces and VFX are, the Will-focused flashbacks featuring a new child actor superimposed with Schnapp’s de-aged face undercut some of the show’s fantasy. Similar to the show’s previous experiments in de-aging its quickly growing stars, the effect doesn’t quite work on a visual level. But it does give you a sense that the Duffers really want this season to feel like it’s bringing certain characters’ stories full circle.

You can feel that same desire at work as the show cuts to missing child posters of a younger Eleven before revealing that she has actually been hiding out in the woods with Hopper and training to use her powers in combat. Hop — originally introduced as a drunken mess in season 1 — knows that his adoptive daughter isn’t a little girl anymore. He and Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) both understand that Eleven might be their only hope of defeating Vecna for good, but it’s hard for them to accept her willingness to risk her life.

(L to R) Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair, Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler, Joe Keery as Steve Harrington, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers, and Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson.

Image: Netflix

Stranger Things has always had a massive cast of lead characters and done a (mostly) solid job of weaving together their plotlines in ways that felt organic. But because this season is so focused on giving everyone one last hurrah, the show quickly starts to feel a little too busy for its own good.

The season bounces between Hopper family drama, school troubles for the Hellfire Club’s other remaining members (Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Priah Ferguson) and a fraught love triangle between some of the older teens. Beats like the growing friendship between Will and Robin (Maya Hawke) have to move relatively fast because the show only has so much time. And things get even more hectic as Stranger Things 5 gives new prominence to Mike’s younger sister Holly (Nell Fisher) and her foulmouthed classmate Derek (Jake Connelly).

While Stranger Things 5 tries to flesh out some of its players further, it often feels like the show is coasting on the assumption that you still know and love these characters enough that simply seeing their plots wrapped up is enough to make for a satisfying story. After all this time spent in the pipeline, though, what Stranger Things needs to really stick the landing is a final chapter that works as its own compelling narrative. The show might be able to pull that off in its final four episodes if it can slow down and really lean into the kind of emotional drama that made Stranger Things such a knockout in its earlier seasons. But with this season already halfway over, Stranger Things 5 is going to have its work cut out for it.

Stranger Things 5 also stars Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Brett Gelman, Cara Buono, Amybeth McNulty, and Linda Hamilton. The first four episodes are now streaming, the next three debut on December 25th, and the finale premieres on December 31st.

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Charles Pulliam-Moore

Related Topics:Entertainment Netflix streaming TV Show Reviews tv-shows

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Technology

Amazfit’s Active 2 tracker and Blu-rays are this week’s best deals

Published

4 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Amazfit’s Active 2 tracker and Blu-rays are this week’s best deals

The start of the year is typically a great time to snag deals on health and fitness gear, including trackers and wireless earbuds, and this week was no exception. We found plenty on sale and highlighted the best picks below. Not all of the deals are related to New Year’s resolutions, though; there are also a number of other worthwhile deals worth checking out. Despite the Consumer Electronics Show wrapping up earlier this week, we’re already seeing deals roll in, for example. And if your main goal is to unwind this weekend, we’ve spotted solid deals on Blu-rays to help you relax. Below, you’ll find all of our favorite deals from this week.

Of fitness trackers on sale right now, the deal on the Amazfit Active 2 is ideal, especially if you’re on a budget. It’s currently on sale for just $84.99 ($15 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, which is just $5 shy of its lowest price to date.

We think the Active 2 is one of the best fitness tracker you can currently buy, namely because it offers a feature set you don’t typically don’t find at this price point. It covers most of the health and fitness features people need and then some, with continuous heart rate and blood oxygen tracking, in addition to menstrual cycle tracking. You also get offline maps with turn-by-turn navigation and up to nine days of battery life — far longer than most smartwatches. It looks stylish, too, thanks to its stainless steel case and 2,000-nit OLED display that makes it seem more expensive than it is.

What makes the latest Nano Charger stand out from previous models its built-in display, which shows real-time charging details like power flow, charge level, and temperature at a glance. If you have an iPhone 15 or newer — or an iPad Pro released in 2020 or later — it can also adjust charging based on the device’s power needs. What’s more, it delivers up to 45W of power in a compact design with folding prongs that rotate 180 degrees, allowing you to squeeze it into smaller spaces.

Three more of this week’s best deals

Technology

CES 2026 showstoppers: 10 gadgets you have to see

Published

4 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

CES 2026 showstoppers: 10 gadgets you have to see

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Every January, the Consumer Electronics Show, better known as CES, takes over Las Vegas. It’s where tech companies show off what they’re building next, from products that are almost ready to buy to ideas that feel pulled from the future.

CES 2026 was packed with moments that made people stop and stare. Some of the tech felt practical. Some of it felt a bit wild. However, these 10 showstoppers were the ones everyone kept talking about on the show floor.

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1) LG Wallpaper TV

LG pushed TV design to the edge of invisibility once again at CES 2026. The latest Wallpaper TV, officially called the LG OLED evo W6, is just 9mm thin and sits completely flush against the wall. From the side, it looks more like glass than a television.

This version feels far more practical than earlier Wallpaper models. All inputs live in a separate Zero Connect Box, which wirelessly sends visually lossless 4K video and audio to the screen from up to 30 feet away. That keeps cables out of sight and gives you more freedom when placing the TV.

THIS EV HAS A FACE, AND IT TALKS BACK WITH AI

The LG CLOiD robot and the LG OLED evo AI Wallpaper TV are displayed onstage during an LG Electronics news conference at CES 2026, an annual consumer electronics trade show, in Las Vegas, Jan. 5, 2026. (REUTERS/Steve Marcus)

Picture quality also takes a major step forward. LG’s new Hyper Radiant Color Technology boosts brightness, improves color accuracy and deepens blacks while cutting screen reflections. With Brightness Booster Ultra, the Wallpaper TV reaches up to 3.9 times the brightness of conventional OLEDs and stays easy to watch even in bright rooms.

Powering it all is LG’s new Alpha 11 AI Processor Gen3. Its upgraded Dual AI Engine preserves natural detail while reducing noise, avoiding the overly sharp look that plagues some high-end TVs. Gamers also get plenty to like, including 4K at up to 165Hz, ultra-fast response times and support for NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium.

Availability: Expected later in 2026 through select retailers.

2) Dreame Cyber X Stair-Climbing Robot Vacuum

Dreame showed plenty of power at CES 2026, but the real jaw-dropper was the Cyber X concept. This robot vacuum uses a four-legged base that lets it climb stairs on its own, turning multi-level cleaning into something that finally feels automated.

The design looks unusual at first, almost like a robot pet. Once it starts moving, though, the idea clicks. A built-in water tank reduces trips back to the dock, which should help extend cleaning sessions and preserve battery life.

Dreame’s Cyber X concept uses a four-legged design to climb stairs on its own, hinting at a new era of autonomous home robots. (Dreame)

It’s still a concept, but Cyber X feels like a glimpse at where home robots are headed. Less rolling around. More real autonomy.

Availability: Concept product.

3) SwitchBot AI MindClip

SwitchBot joined the growing AI wearable trend with the MindClip, a tiny device designed to act like a second brain. It clips on easily, weighs just 18 grams and stays out of the way while quietly doing its job.

MindClip can record conversations and meetings, summarize calls and create AI-powered notes. It also supports more than 100 languages, making it useful for work, travel or multilingual households. Like similar devices, it lets you listen back to recordings and read transcriptions later.

Where MindClip aims to stand out is in memory. SwitchBot says users will be able to search past recordings and track down important details it captured earlier, turning everyday conversations into a searchable archive. That could be especially helpful for busy professionals and students who juggle calls, classes and meetings.

The tiny MindClip clips on discreetly while recording, transcribing and organizing conversations using AI. (SwitchBot)

Details are still limited, and no pricing has been announced. SwitchBot has hinted that many key features will require a subscription, which puts it in line with competing AI wearables.

Availability: Not yet available. Pricing and preorder details have not been released.

4) LG CLOiD Home Robot

LG didn’t just show off a concept robot at CES. It showed a glimpse of what a true AI-powered home might look like.

At LG Electronics’ booth at CES 2026, the company unveiled LG CLOiD, a home robot designed to handle real household chores as part of its “Zero Labor Home” vision. This isn’t just a rolling assistant. CLOiD can fold laundry, help in the kitchen and move safely around furniture.

The robot uses a stable, wheeled base inspired by robot vacuums, paired with a tilting torso and two articulated arms. Each arm has human-like movement and individual fingers, allowing CLOiD to grip, lift and place objects with surprising precision. In demos, it retrieved items from the fridge, loaded an oven and folded clothes after a laundry cycle.

CLOiD’s head acts as a mobile AI home hub, using cameras, sensors and voice-based AI to understand routines and control LG’s ThinQ-connected appliances. It still feels futuristic and a little unsettling, but the technology behind it is hard to ignore. If LG can make it practical and affordable, CLOiD could mark a real step toward AI doing the housework for us.

Availability: Concept and research-stage technology. Not planned for consumer sale at this time.

5) Glyde Smart Hair Clippers

Glyde is trying to solve one of the most frustrating parts of grooming: cutting your own hair without messing it up.

The company introduced AI-powered smart hair clippers designed to guide the cut for you. You wear a simple headband that marks where a fade should start, choose a style in the app and let the clippers do the rest. Built-in sensors track your speed, angle and movement in real time, automatically adjusting the blade to keep cuts even and fades smooth.

This is very much a trust exercise. You’re letting software guide sharp blades near your head, and that won’t be for everyone. But for people who skip the barber, hate appointments or just want a quick cleanup at home, the idea makes sense.

Glyde’s system is built to be “mistake-proof.” Move too fast, and the blade retracts. Tilt it the wrong way, and it trims less. Popular styles like buzz cuts, crew cuts and side parts are baked into the app, with step-by-step guidance that adapts as you cut.

It’s a one-time investment meant to replace repeat barber visits. If it works as promised, Glyde could turn haircuts into a 10-minute task you do on your own schedule.

Availability: Limited early access or direct sales may come later in 2026.

6) LEGO Smart Bricks

LEGO is adding a digital twist to its classic bricks, and surprisingly, it works. At CES, LEGO introduced LEGO Smart Play, a new line built around “Smart Bricks” that look like regular LEGO pieces but hide sensors, LEDs and speakers inside. The bricks can detect movement, distance and interaction, lighting up, changing color and producing sound effects in real time as kids play.

The launch leans heavily into Star Wars, including sets with Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, an X-Wing and a TIE fighter. In one demo, a Luke minifigure produced its own lightsaber sounds. In another, bricks made swooshing and crashing noises when attached to vehicles, while figures reacted when they were “hit.” It felt playful, immersive and instantly understandable.

A LEGO piece with a smart brick attached is displayed during a LEGO news conference ahead of the CES tech show Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Smart Tags snap into the bricks to control different behaviors, and a quick shake wakes everything up. Pricing starts around $70 and climbs to about $160, with Star Wars sets arriving in March. LEGO hasn’t shared details on battery life yet, but the goal is clear: add interactivity without pushing kids toward screens.

This feels like LEGO doing tech the right way. You still build with your hands, imagine the story and snap bricks together. The technology simply brings the play to life.

Availability: Launching March 2026. Expected to be sold through LEGO and major retailers.

7) Autoliv Foldable Steering Wheel

This might look like a small change, but it could completely reshape future car interiors.

Autoliv unveiled the world’s first foldable steering wheel designed for Level 4 autonomous vehicles. When the car switches into self-driving mode, the steering wheel retracts smoothly into the dashboard, opening up the cabin and giving occupants more space to relax, work or just stretch out.

What makes this impressive is that safety isn’t sacrificed. Autoliv built an adaptive airbag system that changes with the driving mode. When you’re driving manually, the airbag lives in the steering wheel as usual. Once the wheel folds away in autonomous mode, a separate airbag in the instrument panel takes over, keeping protection intact at all times.

It’s a smart, practical solution to a problem automakers are already facing. If cars don’t always need a steering wheel, why should it always be in the way? Autoliv’s design shows how autonomy isn’t just about software, it’s about rethinking the entire cabin experience.

Availability: Automotive supplier technology for future vehicles.

8) TDM Neo Hybrid Headphones

These might be the most interesting headphones at CES for one simple reason: they refuse to stay just headphones.

Tomorrow Doesn’t Matter, better known as TDM, unveiled Neo, a premium on-ear 2-in-1 hybrid headphone that physically twists into a compact Bluetooth speaker. No docking. No accessories. Just a quick rotation, and your personal audio turns into shared sound. Amazing, right?

The concept might sound a bit gimmicky, but the execution feels solid. The hinge mechanism is sturdy, the transformation is intuitive, and the idea makes a lot of sense in real life. You can listen privately on a train, then flip Neo into speaker mode the moment you meet up with friends.

TDM describes this as going from “solo to social,” and that’s exactly the appeal. It blurs the line between headphones and portable speakers in a way we haven’t really seen before. For travelers, outdoor users, or anyone who hates carrying multiple audio devices, Neo could be a genuinely very useful hybrid device.

Availability: TDM will be launching Neo on Kickstarter later this month and will begin shipping in July.

9) Jackery Solar Mars Bot

Jackery made waves at CES with the Solar Mars Bot, a mobile solar generator that can move, track sunlight and recharge itself without constant setup.

The Solar Mars Bot uses AI-enhanced computer vision to navigate on its own, follow its user and reposition throughout the day to capture the strongest available sunlight. Instead of manually adjusting panels or relocating gear, the system handles those decisions automatically. When not in use, its solar panels fold and retract, which helps make storage and transport more practical.

What sets this system apart is how it blends mobility with energy storage. Unlike fixed solar installations that stay in one place or portable generators that must be carried and recharged by hand, the Solar Mars Bot actively manages its own power intake. It tracks the sun, recharges itself using solar energy and delivers power where it is needed.

That makes it especially useful for extended power outages, off-grid living, emergency backup and outdoor adventures where access to electricity can change throughout the day. The Solar Mars Bot shows how portable power can become more intelligent, adaptable and hands-off when conditions are unpredictable.

Availability: Prototype showcased at CES.

10) Timeli Personal Safety Device

Timeli grabbed a lot of attention at CES 2026 with a simple, immediate approach to personal safety. By combining a flashlight, HD video recording, a loud alarm, GPS tracking and live emergency dispatch into one handheld device, it earned a CES 2026 Innovation Awards Honoree and plenty of interest on the show floor.

Instead of opening an app or tapping through menus, Timeli relies on muscle memory. A quick press turns on a powerful flashlight and starts recording video. If a situation escalates, pressing and holding the SOS button triggers a full safety sequence. The alarm sounds, live video begins streaming, GPS coordinates lock in and two-way communication connects directly to emergency dispatch over cellular service.

That live connection matters. Timeli works with RapidSOS to give dispatchers real-time video and location data. This added clarity helps responders understand what is happening faster and send the right help sooner. Studies show video verified emergencies can cut response times dramatically, while also reducing false alarms.

Timeli works even without a phone. Built-in cellular, GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth allow it to operate on its own or alongside the companion app for iOS and Android. Users can adjust video quality, light brightness and alarm volume to match their needs. Cloud video storage and alerts add another layer of reassurance.

WORLD’S THINNEST AI GLASSES FEATURE BUILT-IN AI ASSISTANT

The design stays practical. Timeli is about the size and weight of a smartphone, so it fits easily in a pocket, purse or backpack. Battery life supports long standby time, extended daily use and several hours of active protection. It even doubles as a power bank, while reserving enough charge to stay ready for emergencies.

Availability: Priced at $249 for preorder through timeli.com. Timeli includes a year of professional monitoring before transitioning to a monthly subscription.

Honorable mentions: CES 2026 products worth checking out

These products also stood out on the CES 2026 show floor, highlighting smart design choices and meaningful innovation that point to the future of consumer tech.

ASUS Zenbook Duo (2026)

ASUS reimagined portable productivity with the 2026 Zenbook Duo. This laptop snaps two 14-inch 3K ASUS Lumina OLED touchscreens together into a single mobile workstation you can carry with one hand.

The dual-screen setup lets you keep a main project open on one display while chats, calls or reference material live on the other. That alone cuts down on constant app switching. The OLED panels deliver rich color, deep blacks, smooth motion and built-in eye care that makes long sessions easier on your eyes.

ASUS also upgraded what you hear. A new six-speaker system replaces the previous two-speaker design, creating fuller, more immersive audio for movies, music, and calls. Everything is wrapped in a Ceraluminum ceramic finish that resists fingerprints and scratches while feeling premium in hand.

Availability: Expected early 2026. Pricing has not been announced.

SpotOn GPS Fence Nova Edition

SpotOn focused on precision and reliability with the launch of the SpotOn GPS Fence Nova Edition. This is a GPS dog fence system designed to create virtual fences anywhere, from small yards to massive rural properties, with no subscription required.

What sets Nova apart is its advanced antenna and receiver system. SpotOn uses a dual-band, dual-feed active antenna paired with a dual-band receiver that reduces GPS drift by up to 40% and delivers accuracy up to eight times better than competing systems. In third-party testing, it achieved 100% reliable containment.

Owners can create unlimited fences by walking boundaries, drawing them in the app, or placing GPS fenceposts automatically. The collar also includes intelligent audio cues, optional static correction, custom voice commands, LED prompts and sizing that grows with your dog. If a dog ever leaves the fence, tracking tools are available through the app or SpotOn support.

Availability: Available in the US and Canada for $999.

Lenovo Legion Go Powered by SteamOS

Lenovo took handheld gaming seriously with the Legion Go powered by SteamOS. This is the most powerful Legion handheld to ship natively with SteamOS, blending desktop-class performance with console-like simplicity.

It features an 8.8-inch PureSight OLED display and can be configured with up to an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor, up to 32GB of LPDDR5X memory, and up to 2TB of PCIe SSD storage with expansion via microSD. SteamOS is tuned for gamepad controls and quick access, with features like fast suspend and resume, cloud saves, Steam Chat and built-in game recording.

The result feels less like a mini PC and more like a true console you can carry. You get instant access to your Steam library without juggling operating systems or launchers.

Availability: On sale June 2026. Starting price is $1,199.

SanDisk Optimus GX 7100M NVMe SSD

SanDisk introduced a new internal drive brand at CES, and the Optimus GX 7100M is its first standout. Built for handheld gaming consoles and thin and light laptops, this PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD delivers speeds up to 7,250 MB per second.

The drive is available in capacities up to 2TB, giving gamers faster load times, more room for large libraries and smoother performance on the go. It is designed for devices that support an M.2 2230 slot, including popular handheld consoles and compact laptops.

This launch also marks the debut of the SanDisk Optimus name, which will replace the company’s internal SSD lineup for gamers, creators and professionals moving forward.

Availability: Expected early spring 2026. Pricing will be announced closer to release.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

CES 2026 made one thing clear. Tech companies are taking bigger swings than ever. Some of these products feel close to becoming part of everyday life. Others may stay experimental for years. That’s what makes CES so fascinating. It gives us an early look at where technology could be headed and sparks conversations about what we actually want in our homes, cars and daily routines.

Which CES 2026 showstopper impressed you the most? Why? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.