Gaming handhelds are amazing. They make it so much easier to fit all kinds of games into my day. Sadly, they’re less affordable than they’ve ever been — due to an unprecedented, AI-fueled shortage of memory chips, an unforced oil crisis, rampant inflation, fallout from tariffs, and more.
Technology
The Verge’s 2024 holiday gift guide
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Glocusent Bookmark Style Reading Light
Glocusent’s Bookmark Style Reading Light is the perfect gift for those who burn the midnight oil reading. The clip-on USB light offers a lightweight design and multiple brightness levels, providing a soft, warm glow that’s dim enough that it won’t disturb anyone else trying to get some shut-eye nearby.
Price: $10.99+
8BitDo Retro 18 Mechanical Numpad
Most people don’t need a number pad, but if they do, 8BitDo’s Retro 18 Mechanical Numpad may be the most charming data entry tool there is. It has hot-swappable mechanical switches and a satisfying clickiness, along with wireless support so you can use it either left- or right-handed. Best of all, it becomes a calculator with a single press, offering an old-timey seven-segment display when you need it most.
Price: $35.99+
Snow Peak Titanium French Press
Just because you’re romping around the backcountry doesn’t mean you have to settle for a cup of instant Folgers. Snow Peak’s luxe French press weighs a mere 6.3 ounces and uses single-walled Japanese titanium, meaning you can use it to boil water before loading it up with your favorite artisanal coffee grounds.
Price: $59.99+
Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition
With the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, you no longer need a smartphone or tablet to enjoy digital book covers and illustrations in full color. Amazon’s latest ebook reader adds new depth to the reading experience with nitride LEDs and a color E Ink display, making it an eye-popping upgrade for someone long entrenched in the monochromatic world of traditional e-readers.
Price: $279.99
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
The 2024 Motorola Razr Plus is the funnest flip phone you can buy, but if you want something reliable that will go the distance, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 is your best bet. The clamshell-style foldable features all-day battery life and a whopping seven years of software updates, along with a 3.4-inch OLED on the outside that’s actually useful this time around.
Price: $849.99+
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
Apple’s latest AirPods pack better sound, a USB-C charging case with a built-in speaker, and improved comfort. But their biggest upgrade over the standard AirPods 4 is the addition of active noise cancellation, which lets you tune out the outside world surprisingly well for a pair of open-style earbuds. That’s an extra $50 well spent.
Price: $168.99+
Blink Mini 2
The Blink Mini 2 is an inexpensive way for your giftee to keep an eye on valuables back home while out of town. The tiny 1080p camera features motion detection, two-way audio, and IP65 weatherproofing, the latter of which lets them monitor their back patio when paired with Blink’s optional outdoor adapter.
Price: $19.99
Twelve South AirFly Duo
Let’s face it: the wired earbuds airlines provide for you to use with in-flight entertainment systems aren’t exactly great. Thankfully, wireless adapters like Twelve South’s AirFly Duo let you use your own set of Bluetooth earbuds. The Duo also syncs with two pairs of headphones simultaneously, so you can binge up to 20 hours of Love Is Blind alongside your travel companion.
Price: $42.99+
Anbernic RG28XX
The six people still nostalgic for Game Boy Micro will absolutely love the Anbernic RG28XX. The handheld console is just as tiny and lets you play thousands of retro games via emulation, but it comes with a larger 2.83-inch IPS display that lets you game more comfortably on the go. And just look at those classic, Nintendo-inspired color combos.
Price: $37.91+
Nomad ChargeKey
Nomad’s keychain-friendly ChargeKey is perfect for frequent travelers who don’t want to lug a bulky charger around. The short braided cable comes in either a USB-C or Lightning-only configuration, both of which can deliver up to 60 watts of power. The cable tips even feature integrated magnets, allowing them to secure together when not in use.
Price: $19
Hatch Rest Go
White noise machines are great for the baby’s room, but one that goes from the crib to a stroller or car seat can help make the difference between a fussy baby and peaceful, quality naps on the go. The Hatch Rest Go offers 10 sounds to cycle through and easily lasts overnight on a single charge, with the ability to recharge via USB-C.
Price: $39.99
RTIC 52 Ultra-Light Cooler
Yeti, shmeti. RTIC’s spacious injection-molded ice chests cost two-thirds of the price of Yeti coolers and cut very few corners to get there. They’re sturdy, relatively lightweight, and can keep ice frozen for up to three or four days in the shade thanks to their well-insulated construction. Just don’t expect them to ward off a grizzly bear.
Price: $179.09+
Casio WS-B1000 watch
Psh. Who needs an onslaught of push notifications and heart rate monitoring, anyway? Casio’s retro, Y2K-styled WS-B1000 pairs with your phone via Bluetooth and lets you track steps, set timers, and perform only the most basic wristwatch functions imaginable. Nothing more, nothing less.
Price: $45.95+
Goliath Power Saber
The Goliath Power Saber is the first self-retracting and extending lightsaber — err, “power blade” — you can buy. The clever light-up toy uses a long screw to automatically raise a series of telescoping tubes, which safely collapse when pressed against something. That means your kid can channel their inner Obi-Wan without injuring others (fingers crossed).
Price: $43.99+
Astro Bot
Astro Bot places Sony’s newest mascot into a refreshing 3D platformer, one that sees the titular robot visiting a series of visually stunning worlds and using a trove of tools familiar to the genre. Some, including us, are calling it Game of the Year material given how inventive and fresh it feels — which isn’t easy to achieve for a game rooted in ’90s-era gameplay tropes.
Price: $49.97+
Lego Plum Blossom
Not everyone is a certified botanist — or can even take care of a cactus, for that matter. Thankfully, Lego’s 327-piece Plum Blossom set requires zero upkeep once constructed, allowing your giftee to add a splash of color and artificial life to their home without even the remote prospect of failure (we hope).
Price: $23.99+
Google TV Streamer (4K)
Now that the days are getting darker, chances are your giftee is about to spend a lot more time on Netflix. Thankfully, the new Google TV Streamer 4K boasts onboard Google Assistant, easy-to-use smart home controls, and the best interface of any streaming device available. The set-top box even features a handy button for pinging the remote, giving it an edge over your couch.
Price: $99.99
Endlessness (vinyl)
Nala Sinephro’s second album, Endlessness, is an exercise in both space and nuance. It’s a beautiful work of lush ambient jazz filled with pillowy strings and modular synths, one buoyed by an ace ensemble of London-based players (including the always-excellent Nubya Garcia on sax). It’s an album to get lost in, whether you’re familiar with the blips and bloops that define her electro-acoustic jazz or not.
Price: $33.94+
iFixit FixHub Power Series Smart Soldering Iron
Tinkerers will appreciate iFixit’s new 100W soldering iron, which can receive power from any USB-C connection and heats up within seconds. The sleek tool lets you make liquid metal connections just about anywhere and comes with a bevy of safety features that make it suitable for beginners and experienced DIYers alike, including a heat-resistant magnetic storage cap.
Price: $79.95
Road to Nikko print
No one has captured the exquisite beauty of the Japanese countryside quite like renowned 20th-century printmaker Hasui Kawase. The Road to Nikko remains a great example of his keen eye for detail and ability to capture natural lighting, which, in this instance, dapples ancient cedars on the famed road into the mountains north of Tokyo.
Price: $12.60+
Ember Mug 2
Coffee is the most important meal of the day, not breakfast, which makes finding the perfect drinking vessel all the more important. The Ember Mug 2 lets you lock in your desired temperature via a companion app for up to 90 minutes or indefinitely when using the included charging coaster, making your coffee taste great no matter when you drink it.
Price: $85.50+
Wildbird Linen Sling
The Wildbird Linen Sling may seem like a trendy choice of baby carriers among metropolitan parents, but there are good reasons to consider it. It’s a functional and lightweight way to carry your little one around, and the linen fabric offers a touch of luxuriousness. And frankly, you’ll look marvelous in it.
Price: $58+
Bambu Lab P1P 3D Printer
The hype around 3D printing is easily suppressed by the steep learning curve, not to mention both upfront and ongoing expenses. But if you know someone dying to hop in, the full-size Bambu Lab P1P is a safe bet. With practically no assembly required, breezy filament swapping, and quick printing speeds, your recipient can achieve their first print before they have time to completely give up on the hobby.
Price: $449
Flipper Zero
The Flipper Zero is an open-source wonder of a remote hacking tool. It features RFID, NFC, sub-GHz, Bluetooth, USB-C, and a row of GPIO ports, allowing it to interface with a boatload of hardware. It can control your garage door, store U2F keys for two-factor authentication, or carry out a host of actions that may be a bit more interesting than the multitool’s cheery, dolphin-adorned exterior lets on.
Price: $169
Cagiwiru Air Duster 4.0
If you’re still blowing money on cans of compressed air, just stop. A portable, rechargeable alternative like the Cagiwiru Air Duster 4.0 is an invaluable replacement for most needs. It’s great for maintaining upkeep on all kinds of electronics, from keyboards and dusty case fans to various PC components you’ve left unattended.
Price: $18.97+
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Princess Zelda is finally the star of the show in the latest Zelda title for the Nintendo Switch. The top-down adventure represents a fun, charming twist on the classic Zelda formula, trading the combat of previous titles for a more versatile approach to dungeon-crawling. It’s also insanely cute, as if playing as Nintendo’s titular heroine weren’t enough.
Price: $50.28+
Hoto 3.6V Screwdriver Kit (Classic)
Your average dollar-store screwdriver has nothing on Hoto’s tried-and-true electric model. The handy, cylindrical tool comes with 25 steel bits and offers three torque settings, providing you with everything you need to tackle Ikea furniture, holiday decor, and other medium-sized projects around the house. It packs a few modern conveniences, too, such as a built-in LED light and USB-C charging.
Price: $39.99+
The Bright Sword
There are a lot of Arthurian legends out there, though few tales are quite as enchanting as Lev Grossman’s most recent work. The lengthy novel centers around an aspiring knight and his motley crew of companions, all of whom set out to rebuild Camelot in the wake of King Arthur’s death. It’s classic sword and sorcery, only with a heaping of historical twists.
Price: $14.99+
Oura Ring Generation 4
Smartwatches might offer more advanced fitness tracking features than smart rings, but not everybody finds them comfortable to wear to sleep. The Oura Ring Gen 4 is a stylish and discreet alternative, one that’s as accurate as it is comfortable. While it shines as a sleep and recovery tracker, you can also use it to keep tabs on light exercise and other health metrics.
Price: $349+
Rothy’s The Point
Flats are an unsung godsend. They’re comfortable but still fashionable enough that you can wear them in casual and professional settings alike. Rothy’s makes a wide variety of washable, durable flats, with The Point being one of the most popular options. They also come in multiple colors and patterns, so you can style the shoes as you please.
Price: $89+
Star Wars Outlaws
Star Wars Outlaws is the best scoundrel simulator there is. The open-world sci-fi caper is steeped in the lore of a galaxy far, far away, one that lets you explore the bustling criminal underworlds of Canto Bight, Toshara, and — yes — Tatooine with a blaster on your hip and your adorable merqaal companion Nix by your side. Apparently, a bit of villainy ain’t so bad after all.
Price: $39.99+
Fellow Corvo EKG Electric Kettle
You don’t need to spend much to get a decent electric kettle. That being said, Fellow’s Corvo EKG Electric Kettle feels tailor-made for the hot beverage connoisseur who also has exquisite taste in gadget design. The classy kettle holds a generous 1.5 liters of water and features a wide mesh spout, which is a welcome reprieve from the gooseneck design on Fellow’s pour-over model.
Price: $132+
Apple AirTag
AirTags can function as a second set of eyes for iPhone owners, allowing you to keep tabs on everything from your car keys to your backpack. That’s because the ultra wideband location trackers tap into Apple’s extensive Find My network, which allows for impressively precise tracking and lets users share the tracker with up to five other people for even greater peace of mind.
Price: $24+
HoverAir X1 drone
Unless you’re filming cinematic shots in Hollywood, you don’t necessarily need a fancy quadcopter. HoverAir’s so-called “selfie drone” is a great budget alternative to more premium models from DJI, with top-mounted controls, excellent object tracking, and a max video resolution of 2.7K / 30fps. And did we mention it can fit in your pocket? Because it can.
Price: $299+
Distil Wando Sunglasses
It’s not the generous replacement policy or timeless, round look of Distil’s flexible Wando Sunglasses that makes them attractive — though they do look quite good. The real appeal lies in their hidden neodymium magnets, which let you effortlessly clip the polarized shades to your shirt or bag without having to worry about them falling off. That alone is worth the $69 price tag.
Price: $51.75+
Nintendo Sound Clock Alarmo
If your default alarm is triggering, Nintendo has your back with inklings and pikmin. The adorable motion-sensing Alarmo will first try gently waking you up with beloved characters and melodies from iconic Nintendo franchises like Mario and Zelda. If you snooze too long, though, you may get a loud visit from Bowser, which, frankly, is best avoided.
Price: $99.99
Wyrmspan
Wyrmspan is like Wingspan but with cold-blooded beasties instead of birds. The one-to-five-player tabletop game features many of the same systems and mechanics as the lauded engine-building game that inspired it; however, the fantastical setting and a handful of thoughtful gameplay tweaks make it a great alternative, particularly if you own neither.
Price: $59+
Anker 2-in-1 USB C to USB C Cable 140W
No one should have to deal with a rat’s nest behind their desk when devices like Anker’s 2-in-1 USB-C cable exist. The handy USB-C cable splits at the end, giving you the ability to charge up to two devices from a single port. That means you can split power between a phone and tablet or juice a 16-inch MacBook Pro to 50 percent in just 20 minutes using a single port.
Price: $18.99
Adidas x MLS Archive Collection jersey
Sadly, the MLS isn’t exactly known for producing good-looking kits, at least compared to soccer leagues in the UK. The Adidas x MLS Archive Collection is a bold step in the right direction, however. Each throwback jersey pairs nostalgia-inducing retro styling with a more modern aesthetic, resulting in an attractive third kit that pays homage to the city it represents.
Price: $79.99+
Bachan’s Japanese Barbecue Sauce
Bachan’s Japanese Barbecue Sauce should be a staple in every household. The savory-sweet condiment is pretty atypical compared to American BBQ sauces, which often rely heavily on brown sugar or molasses for taste. Instead, Bachan’s recipe offers a nice balance of ginger, soy, mirin, green onion, and other Japanese flavors that work great if you’re trying to add a kick of umami to your next meal.
Price: $7.98+
CRKD Atom Collectible Keychain Controller
What’s better than a keychain that resembles a controller? One that actually works. CRKD’s Atom is a tiny gamepad that features four face buttons, a D-pad, and four shoulder buttons. You’ll need decent dexterity to use one (if you feel cramped using a detached Joy-Con, the Atom is similar), but it’s a fun charm that offers quick utility for mobile gaming when you need to kill time.
Price: $14.99+
Ototo Jungle Spoon
No one said ladles have to be boring. The slotted Jungle Spoon is a leaf-shaped dipper that takes after a monstera stem, adding a touch of leafy character to your kitchen. The heat-resistant nylon spoon won’t scratch your nonstick pans, either, though we probably wouldn’t recommend it if you’ve been repeatedly traumatized by critters gnawing holes into your garden veggies.
Price: $16.95
Sushi Go!: Spin Some for Dim Sum
Our favorite thing about Sushi Go!: Spin Some for Dim Sum is the name, but the game itself is a close second. The fun tabletop is easy to learn and quick to play, especially once you figure out how to go about assembling the most valuable dish combos possible. It’s great for a family game night — well, assuming you and the fam aren’t hungry.
Price: $16.97+
VTech Bluey Bluey’s Keytar
If your child loves Bluey, then they’ll love playing Bluey’s Keytar, first featured in the “Fancy Restaurant” episode of the popular children’s show. The colorful musical toy features working keys with 10 different sets of instruments and sounds, which you can use to play your own songs or jam along to several built-in melodies (including the main Bluey theme).
Price: $17.99+
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Short of a new iPhone, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 might be one of the best things you can gift the ultimate Apple fan in your life. The display is considerably bigger than most other Apple Watch models, and the 36-hour battery is relatively extensive. It also has a ton of health sensors and military-grade durability, making it particularly great for adventurous types.
Price: $699.99+
UE Miniroll
Unsurprisingly, the term “Miniroll” aptly describes Ultimate Ears’ small, puck-like Bluetooth speaker. Its compact, bulbous design makes it easy to carry in your backpack or a roomier pocket, while an integrated strap allows you to attach it to your belt loop or a set of handlebars. It’s also water-resistant and comes in a few fun colors.
Price: $49.99
Trail of the Lost
In Andrea Lankford’s engrossing nonfiction narrative, Trail of the Lost, the Pacific Crest Trail is as pivotal a player as the three missing hikers the book centers on. Lankford’s prior experience as a seasoned park ranger allows her to paint a nuanced portrait of the 2,650-mile trek, as does her meticulous research and interviews with those involved with the initial search and rescue efforts.
Price: $16.10+
Pentax 17
Pentax’s new film camera is an absolute charmer for analog enthusiasts but is far from a toy or novelty. The compact point-and-shoot is fairly easy to use, and its 37mm-equivalent lens can render some stunning snapshots. Plus, its half-frame format actually makes film cheaper, since it takes twice as many shots on each roll.
Price: $496.95+
Google Nest Learning Thermostat (fourth-gen)
As temperatures dip, heating bills skyrocket. Thankfully, you can help your giftee save some money this winter with Google’s latest Nest Learning Thermostat. The fourth-gen smart thermostat can learn and adapt to your habits over time, but unlike prior models, it sports a handsome Pixel Watch-like design and native support for Apple Home thanks to Matter.
Price: $229.99+
Black Diamond Spot 400
You can “look ma, no hands” your lighting needs with Black Diamond’s handy 400-lumen headlamp. The low-profile light is a convenient way to illuminate your immediate vicinity, as it offers more than enough power to navigate your home or local hiking trail in the dark. Best of all, it’s dual-fuel compatible, meaning you can power it with either a rechargeable BD 1500 Li-ion battery or three AAAs.
Price: $37.39+
iRobot Roomba Combo i5
If you or someone you know could use some help cleaning up, the Roomba Combo i5 is a sensible budget pick. The robot vacuum excels at sucking up dirt and mopping hardwood floors, and it’s capable of mapping out your home so you can direct it to clean specific rooms using your phone or one of several voice assistants. It’s not a hands-free experience, but it sure is close.
Price: $229+
UGG Dasha Throw
The reversible UGG Dasha Throw is a cozy gift anyone would appreciate. Made from plush fabric on one side and microfleece on the other, the soft blanket is made to provide warmth and comfort anywhere you take it. The 50 x 70-inch cover comes in several attractive hues, too, so you can choose one that won’t look out of place in the living room or bedroom.
Price: $50.99
Echo Dot (fifth-gen)
Amazon’s latest Echo Dot offers a ton of value for less than 50 bucks. It’s both a good speaker and an alarm clock with access to plenty of Alexa-enabled skills, allowing you to effortlessly set reminders, check the weather, and play your favorite tracks. Hell, it can even boost your Wi-Fi coverage if you’re on an Eero mesh Wi-Fi network.
Price: $22.99+
Mini Ikebana Kit
A bouquet is nice, but Kikkerland’s DIY showpiece is a more unique gift for the flower lover in your life. The inexpensive kit revolves around the Japanese art of flower arrangement, Ikebana, which emphasizes minimalism and aims to capture the fleeting beauty of nature. It contains everything your giftee needs to build their own arrangement, including a ceramic vase, shears, a flower frog, and a towel.
Price: $14+
Little Corner
Cozy vibes can be a great stress reliever for a new parent. And one of the best delivery methods that doesn’t involve a screen in your face is an adorable coloring book — one that’s not overly simplified for little kids. Little Corner offers adults 40 illustrations of different decors to color in, and each is an adorable space worth admiring… or maybe even taking bits of design inspiration from.
Price: $7.99
ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger
ESR’s compact Qi2 charger is a handy way to mount and charge a MagSafe-compatible iPhone in your car, whether you prefer to rely on your dashboard or an air vent for installation. Once it’s set up and paired with a power adapter (you’ll need to supply your own), just slap your phone onto the magnetic pad to reap the benefits of 15W charging speeds.
Price: $21.83+
2004 Logo Stickers
Stickers are timeless, and so is this pack of four featuring an era-appropriate Verge logo. Our ode to 2004 — the golden years of the digital age, if you will — recalls fond memories of glitzy, overdone layouts and the sudden blaring of low-bitrate music on Myspace. Stick one anywhere you want to express your love for the web’s bygone era.
Price: $10
Microsoft Surface Laptop (seventh-gen)
The latest Surface Laptop uses an Arm-based Snapdragon X processor, resulting in Microsoft’s best MacBook Air competitor yet. Since it runs Windows on Arm, you just want to be sure all of your essential apps are supported. If so, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better combo of specs, build quality, and battery life for the money.
Price: $899.99+
Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Player’s Handbook
Much like Mad Max: Fury Road, the new D&D Player’s Handbook is a triumph mired in controversy. Despite its long and rocky production, the redesigned 384-page tome is an exceptional resource for fifth-edition D&D players, owing to a more streamlined structure, gorgeous artwork, and other quality-of-life updates that render it as robust as it is user-friendly.
Price: $44.99+
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony’s latest pair of noise-canceling headphones aren’t just a great gift for audiophiles — they’re ideal for anyone who craves peace and quiet while listening to music or traveling. While expensive, they offer great audio quality, long-lasting battery life, much-improved voice call quality, and ample customization through Sony’s mobile app. Now, if only they could still fold down…
Price: $298+
Apple MagSafe Charger (2m)
If you or a loved one recently picked up an iPhone 16-series phone, Apple’s updated MagSafe charger is the only device that’s capable of wirelessly charging it at up to 25W. But the best part of Apple’s latest magnetic puck, in addition to the higher throughput and Qi2 certification, is that you can get it with an extra-long 2m / 6.6ft cable. Just don’t forget the 30W USB-C adapter.
Price: $34.99+
Patagonia Go-To Shirt
Everyone loves a good staple, which is why Patagonia’s Go-To Shirt is such an easy recommendation. The comfy, slim-fit button-down is lightweight and extremely breathable, making it a great choice for a casual night out or a short jaunt on the trail. The cotton-polyester blend also prevents it from wrinkling too much, so travelers needn’t worry about finding the nearest iron upon arrival.
Price: $38.83+
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses
What’s better than gifting a slick pair of designer sunglasses? A stylish pair that also has smart capabilities. Ray-Ban’s lovely Meta Smart Glasses can perform all kinds of neat tricks, allowing you to take hands-free phone calls, snap photos and videos, and livestream to Instagram. They even support multimodal AI, so you can quickly identify plants, landmarks, and other objects when you’re out and about.
Price: $239+
Blundstone 500 Chelsea boot
Blundstone’s original 500 Chelsea boot has changed very little since it was introduced in the late 1960s, and for good reason. It’s got a classic silhouette with elastic sides and pull tabs for easy entry, not to mention a durable TPU outsole and weather-ready leather that makes it well suited for hitting the streets or the old dusty trail — whichever your giftee prefers.
Price: $189.95
PlayStation 5 Pro
The PlayStation 5 Pro is pricey, but we doubt you’ll hear any complaints if you were to gift it. Sony’s newest console plays all the same games as the standard PS5; however, it does so with upgraded hardware that makes fewer graphical compromises with performance. That means you’ll be able to experience higher frame rates, improved resolution, and better ray tracing in select titles.
Price: $699+
NeeDoh Groovy Glob stress ball
This past year might not have been as life-shattering for most as 2020, but we’d argue life doesn’t have to be pure chaos for a stress ball to come in handy. The NeeDoh Groovy Glob, like all of Schylling’s colorful dough-filled shapes, makes for an inexpensive release that can be squeezed, squashed, and pulled to your heart’s content.
Price: $3.44+
Fujifilm Instax Mini 12
Anyone nostalgic for the good ol’ days will appreciate the Instax Mini 12. Much like the iconic instant cameras from the Polaroid era, Fujifilm’s latest requires you to do little more than point and shoot to generate wallet-friendly snaps. It’s an entertaining gift, one that can help your friend or loved one reconnect with their inner child while capturing new keepsakes.
Price: $69+
Women of Science Tarot deck
Even if you don’t believe in divination, you have to admit the Women of Science Tarot deck is pretty fun. The unique set bridges the gap between spirituality and science with illustrations depicting inspirational STEM leaders, from computer scientist Annie Easley to chemist Rosalind Franklin. Each major arcana card also includes info on a foundational scientific concept, making for an educational, inspiring deck.
Price: $19.32+
Fitbit Inspire 3
The lightweight Fitbit Inspire 3 is a great gift for someone looking to dip their toes into wearables. The throwback fitness band is an affordable way to add heart rate monitoring, smartphone notifications, and sleep / workout tracking to your wrist. It’s basic, sure, but how many other wearables let you wear them as a clip and last up to 10 days on a single charge?
Price: $69.95
Royal Kludge F68 60% Foldable Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard
Foldable keyboards are extremely convenient for portable office setups, but many tend to be membrane-style. Royal Kludge’s wireless F68 is a mechanical, low-profile alternative that folds in half to free up space in your bag. It features an aluminum build with either linear red or tactile brown switches as well as a built-in stand to hold your tablet or phone.
Price: $39.99+
The Verge Wrapping Paper
We may be biased in this instance, but we consider wrapping paper to be as essential to gift-giving as the gift itself. That’s why we designed two sets of 8.75 × 19.75-inch wrapping paper for our gift guide shoot this year, both of which you can purchase in our store if you want to outfit your presents with a bit of colorful eye candy.
Price: $15
Ryobi 18V One Plus Performance Hand Vacuum Kit
Robot vacuums are a terrific investment… if you’re willing to pay. If not, Ryobi’s cordless handheld is a relatively inexpensive alternative with powerful suction, a pivoting dush brush, and a respectable 18 minutes of battery life. What’s more, it comes with a three-year warranty and a bin that’s large enough to accommodate cereal, dirt, and whatever else your kids leave in their wake.
Price: $89+
Loop Experience 2 earplugs
Regardless of what the hesher next door tells you, no concert is worth blowing out your eardrums. The Loop Experience 2 are a cheap way to cut back on unwanted decibels, as they offer a universal fit and a noise reduction rating of 12dB. The discreet earplugs are also available in an array of stylish colors, including a few seasonal shades to usher in the fall.
Price: $27.95+
GuliKit KK3 Pro Controller
Stick drift is the worst. Luckily, GuliKit’s new KK3 Pro Controller offers a remedy in the form of Hall effect sticks, which don’t succumb to the drifting issues that often plague Joy-Cons. The versatile Bluetooth gamepad also features rearward slots for up to four detachable back paddles, a 1,000Hz polling rate, and support for a variety of platforms — including the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and PC.
Price: $50.99
Te-Rich Weighted Jump Rope
The Te-Rich Weighted Jump Rope offers an easy way to get a full-body workout at home. Its weighted handles allow you to incorporate some minor strength training, while a built-in LCD display with a timer and jump counter help level up what is otherwise a basic piece of equipment. It even estimates calories burned, which isn’t bad for less than $20.
Price: $13.48+
Ordilend Keyboard and Laptop Cleaning Kit
A dirty keyboard and monitor can be unsightly, but if you let too much gunk build up under the keys, it can actually make your machine almost unusable. This 10-in-1 keyboard cleaning kit comes with everything you need to buff the scuffs and get rid of the dirt, including liquid cleaning solution, key removal tools, brushes, microfiber wipes and cloths, and cleaning pens.
Price: $16.98
Kendama
There’s something special about gifting an analog game like Kendama in the age of Fortnite — even more so when you consider that the Japanese toy has changed little since it was first developed hundreds of years ago. The cup-and-ball game remains easy to learn but difficult to master, too, making it a good fit for anyone looking to hone a skill over time.
Price: $12.22+
Sungboon Editor Deep Collagen Power Boosting Mask (four-pack)
Sungboon’s collagen mask is the rare TikTok sensation that actually lives up to the hype. Like magic, the face mask works overnight to improve elasticity, temporarily erasing fine lines and wrinkles. It also soothes, hydrates, and rejuvenates your skin, leaving you with a glowing complexion that should last far longer than the viral videos from which it sprang up.
Price: $12.35
Govee Christmas String Lights 2
Govee’s Christmas String Lights 2 add a touch of color and magic to any Christmas tree. The smart lights offer over 130 preset lighting effects that sync with music, and Govee also includes shape matching and AI features that let you create custom light displays. Plus, its IP65 rating means you can even hang them outside, and Matter support allows you to control them with any major smart home platform.
Price: $63.99+
Mechanism Gaming Pillow
If you’re going to succumb to marathon gaming sessions on the couch, you might as well make yourself as comfortable as possible. Mechanism’s malleable 12-inch bean bag is designed to cradle a variety of handhelds — including the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and PlayStation Portal — so you never have to worry about whether your arms will hold up in the next dungeon.
Price: $59+
Cuisinart Stainless Steel Smashed Burger Press
We’re not entirely sure when smash burgers became a capital-T Thing in the culinary world, but if your dad is into compressed beef and caramelized crust, Cuisinart’s stainless steel press will surely be a hit. The inexpensive six-inch contraption is more convenient than using a shoddy spatula or the bottom of a pan to crush patties, though it’s not any more difficult to clean.
Price: $19.25+
Ugreen Uno USB-C to USB-C Cable 100W
No cable is cuter than Ugreen’s new Uno USB-C to USB-C. The 100W braided cord supports up to 480Mbps transfer speeds and can power a multitude of devices, including your phone, laptop, and tablet. The built-in LED display is what makes it adorable, though, as it puts on a happy face whenever you plug it in.
Price: $10.39+
Fluxx
It will come as no surprise that Fluxx is a game in which everything, even the rules, is constantly in flux. It’s quick to learn and allows for up to six players, but choose your companions wisely. The randomness of it all often makes it feel more like an activity than a traditional card game built on strategy, meaning diehard tabletoppers would do well to keep their ambitions at bay.
Price: $19.95+
Satechi Vegan-Leather Magnetic Wallet Stand
Apple’s MagSafe technology ushered in a whole ecosystem of accessories, including god knows how many magnetic wallets. Satechi’s sleek four-card holder, while not particularly fancy or inventive, is an easy recommendation that doubles as a stand for propping up your phone in landscape or portrait orientation. Just make sure your dad owns an iPhone 12 or newer.
Price: $23.99+
Year of the Ring
Lord of the Rings is a monumental trilogy, so much so our friends over at Polygon dedicated an entire year to exploring Peter Jackson’s blockbuster adaptations and the original books that inspired them. Now that editorial package lives on an magnificent hardcover volume, allowing you to delve deeper into the series’ history and its undeniable impact on pop culture.
Price: $33.27+
Magnexpert Magnetic Wristband
I don’t know about you, but I’m getting tired of repurposing my spice containers as nail and screw holders while I’m building something. Magnexpert’s magnetic wristband is a convenient solution. It wraps 15 magnets in a nylon cover with visible separators, allowing you to keep the tiny steel bits organized and within reach with little risk of losing them in shaggy carpeting and couch cushions.
Price: $11.90+
Lego Insect Collection
A fun way to pass the time during the winter, Lego’s new insect kit is designed to bring a bit of the great outdoors inside. The 1,111-piece set lets you build life-size, posable replicas of several insects — a Chinese mantis, a Hercules beetle, and a blue morpho butterfly — all three of which can be displayed as home decor upon completion.
Price: $63.95+
2024 Mac Mini
Apple’s latest Mac Mini is as charming as it is capable — a remarkable feat for a desktop that starts under $600. It’s the best value in the current Mac lineup as a result of Apple’s zippy M4 silicon and the fact it now ships with 16GB of RAM by default, which should allow the adorable machine to perform a wide range of tasks for years to come.
Price: $559+
Gaiatop Hand Warmers (two-pack)
The chilly months have arrived for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, and these adorable avocado hand warmers are great to have around for when you need some much-needed comfort. The rechargeable, pocket-friendly gizmos heat up quickly and can last for hours, and their endearing expressions are likely to warm your heart a little, too.
Price: $12.99+
Disney Plus gift card
Looking to stuff someone’s stocking with the magic of Disney? Unless you’re Scrooge McDuck, we’d recommend a $25 Disney Plus gift card. That’s enough to stream Disney films and shows for two months, or you can put it toward a bundle that includes Hulu and either Max or ESPN Plus. Disney Plus has all the classics, too, along with modern blockbusters from Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and more.
Price: $25+
Continue Reading
But that’s not going to stop you. You’ve decided now’s the time to buy one, before the next shoe drops.
I won’t talk you out of it! I genuinely don’t know when or if prices might come back down. So instead of telling you to hold off, I’ll try to help you navigate this “new normal” I keep hearing so much about.
We’ll do this four ways:
- First, if you just want me to tell you what to buy and be done with it, grab an Xbox Ally X if it’s still $999 at the time you read these words. It’s the handheld I’d buy for myself if I were buying today. It’s the only top-tier handheld that hasn’t hiked its price, and it has a good mix of performance, comfort, and battery life.
- Second, let’s talk bargains. There are a few refurbished and open-box handhelds worth nabbing on closeout — if you can find them at all.
- Third, I’ll ask you some questions. Assuming you’re buying new, are you looking for the most powerful handheld? The one with the most battery life? The most affordable? The best screen? The easiest to pick up and play? Because all of those are different handhelds, and none are the Xbox Ally X. Click the links in this paragraph to find out which.
- Fourth, I’ll list every other handheld PC you’re likely to find when you shop around, and why you should probably skip them. I want you to know whether that seemingly good closeout deal is actually worth your money.
But before I go down the list, let’s talk Windows and Linux.
While I’ve dinged many of the handhelds I’ve reviewed for The Verge for Windows woes, that’s not as big a deal today — because you can install Bazzite or even SteamOS on many of them for a better pick-up-and-play experience. The same exact handheld is often more stable and performant with Linux, and you often get instant sleep and resume that’s hit-or-miss on the operating system they shipped with.
It’s still true many competitive online multiplayer games don’t work on Linux because of anti-cheat fears, though others do. It’s also true that Windows has gotten better at sleep and resume with certain handhelds like the Xbox Ally X. But it’s a misconception that Linux can’t play as many games as Windows. The reality is that Linux can play more — decades of Windows games work better on Linux thanks to Proton patches and community profiles that translate old mouse and keyboard controls to your gamepad.
Ready? Let’s go down each list, from least to most expensive.
Open box and refurb bargains
Refurbished Valve Steam Deck LCD (typically $279-$359)
If you ever see it in stock, do not hesitate: buy a refurbished Steam Deck LCD. Valve discontinued the original in December 2025, but Valve refurbs are now the best deal in town. The Steam Deck OLED meaningfully improved on the LCD model in many ways, but it is absolutely not worth $400 more than a certified refurbished LCD model.
Reddit is flooded with examples of Valve’s excellent customer support, so I wouldn’t be worried about getting a lemon, and the Steam Deck LCD is one of the easier handhelds to pick up and play thanks to preloaded SteamOS and well-placed controls. It has enough performance for games as intensive as Elden Ring, but expect to play higher-end titles at low settings, with lots of upscaling, for less than two hours on battery. Light fare can last longer.
Open-box Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme (typically $500-$550)
At $500, if you’re willing to install Bazzite, and if you don’t play far from a cord, I can genuinely recommend the ROG Ally Z1E in today’s economy. It’s one of the weaker devices to carry that chip, with one of the smallest batteries at 40 watt-hours, but it’s also got the same kind of smooth (if not colorful) 7-inch 120Hz VRR screen you’ll find in the Xbox Ally X. When plugged into the wall, or in short sessions on battery, its turbo mode gives you Steam Deck-beating performance.
Open-box Lenovo Legion Go (sometimes $600 open box, normally $850)
The original Legion Go is an acquired taste I’m never going to acquire: big, bulky, with extra buttons weirdly squishing under my hands when I grip. The battery’s only a little bigger than in the original ROG Ally, it doesn’t have a variable refresh rate screen, and the 2560×1600 resolution is far more than the chip can power in modern games. (Lightweight stuff can look good.)
But Bazzite works great, you get a big 8.8-inch screen for those who need it, detachable controllers with a mouse mode; a built-in kickstand; you can use it as a tablet in a pinch. I’d pick a Steam Deck over it any day, but the Z1 Extreme’s turbo mode makes it far faster for short sessions or plugged into the wall. Twin USB4 ports too. And you can add the Legion Go 2’s more ergonomic controllers for roughly $100. (Don’t forget you need left and right ones.)
As a $600 open-box deal, it’s worth it. But I wouldn’t pay much more.
Closeout Lenovo Legion Go S Z2 Go with Windows ($550 closeout, normally $1600)
Almost the polar opposite of the original Legion Go, with no detachable controls, a smooth variable refresh rate screen at a more sensible 1920×1200 resolution, comfortable grips — and a much slower AMD Z2 Go chip that couldn’t meaningfully compete with the Steam Deck in my Windows tests.
At $550 closeout like we saw the other day, sure, put Bazzite on it. It should slightly beat the Steam Deck in performance using its turbo modes after that. Please don’t pay much more. Also please don’t expect its tiny trackpad to be useful.
Refurbished Valve Steam Deck OLED 512GB ($629)
I hate to admit it, but if you ever see a refurbished Steam Deck OLED for $629, you might want to spend the money. Yes, Valve is charging $190 more for the refurb model than it did before RAMageddon, but it’s still a discount of $160 compared to what a Deck OLED costs brand-new today and “only” $80 more than what a new one cost before the price hikes. As I’ll explain a few paragraphs below, the Deck OLED is still one of the best handhelds you can buy.
So those are the closeouts. Here’s what I’d suggest if you’re buying brand-new:
The most affordable handheld you can actually find: Asus Xbox Ally
($600 MSRP, sometimes $500 on sale)
When the Steam Deck OLED could be had for $549, there was no way I’d have ever recommended a vanilla white Xbox Ally instead. Now that the Deck starts at $789, I have to reconsider. The Xbox Ally has very comfortable prong-shaped grips and effectively the same chip as the Steam Deck, only you can crank it up to 20 watts instead of 15 watts for more power, you get a smoother 120Hz VRR screen, and a slightly larger battery.
I’ve never been able to get the Windows version to sleep reliably — I retested this month — and the screen feels cramped and dull by comparison. But Bazzite fixes sleep and performance, making it more than a match for the Deck. The build feels a little cheap (I broke the top off an analog stick and had to superglue it back on) and it’s nowhere near as powerful as any handheld with a Z1 Extreme or better. The Xbox Ally X and MSI Claw 8 have larger batteries, too, and you don’t get the Steam Deck’s twin touchpads, four back buttons, and community controller profiles.
But I’d buy it if I didn’t want to spend more than $600.
The easiest to pick up and play: Steam Deck OLED
($789 for 512GB, $949 for 1TB, $629 or $759 refurbished)
When it comes to portable PC gaming, nothing “just works” like a Steam Deck OLED. You power it on, you scan a QR code to connect your Steam account, you download, you play, you get a solid two to eight hours of battery life on a fantastic screen without having to think about what performance mode to put your handheld in. The controls are infinitely customizable in ways the competition hasn’t even tried to match, and you can just browse community controller profiles instead of needing to roll your own.
At $789, it’s a way harder sell than at $549, because if your budget stretches to $1,000, the Xbox Ally X’s performance and battery life are much better — and you can put Bazzite or SteamOS on that one, too. But I’d still buy a refurb Steam Deck OLED at $629, and I could see some paying $789 for its ease of use and unprecedented support: no company ships updates like Valve ships updates, regularly making the Deck better.
The handheld I’d buy for myself: Xbox Ally X
Like the Steam Deck, the Xbox Ally X originally shipped half-baked. Now, it’s suddenly the best deal in handheld gaming. While the 7-inch IPS screen feels a lil claustrophobic and muted compared to 8-inch rivals, it’s now the most powerful handheld under $1,000 with its Z2 Extreme chip, one of the longest-lived with an 80 watt-hour battery, and (IMO) the most comfortable to hold with its huge prong grips.
It’s also the best-supported outside of Valve’s Steam Deck; Asus and Microsoft keep shipping a flurry of updates. I can finally trust the Xbox Ally X to sleep and wake reliably, picking up my game right where I left off, and I can control the virtual keyboard by joystick instead of smudging a touchscreen. I can now tap the triggers to scroll the long clickwrap agreements that pop up before some games, too.
Just know it’s not much more powerful than a Z1 Extreme or Z2 handheld, and the controls leave a few things to be desired. There’s no touchpad (and the joystick mouse mode is still finicky to enable), the ABXY buttons are very clacky, my triggers developed a noisy squeak, and I hate accidentally pressing the Library button thinking it’s Start and getting yanked out of a game. A future Ally fixes lots of these things, but it’ll be pricey.
The longest battery life: MSI Claw 8 AI Plus*
($1,300, often $1,120 on sale)
Frankly, I’m astonished how good the MSI Claw 8 can be. It’s got a bigger, better screen than the Xbox Ally X, and I find its Intel chip faster in the games I want to play — it gives me a smoother experience in 007: First Light and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. And, it lasts very slightly longer on the same capacity (80 watt-hour) battery, the longest I’ve tested so far.
There are only four reasons it’s not the one I’d buy for myself. The scalloped grips aren’t as comfortable, the controls aren’t as customizable (and gyro doesn’t work as well), MSI just isn’t offering the same level of support (I’ve had to manually download drivers several times, for example), and it now costs a good bit more. I’d pick it if it were $900.
*The newer EX version of the Claw 8 will come out this month with even better life, performance, and comfort, it seems — but it could cost much more. Read my preview.
The Best Screen: Legion Go 2 Z2
If your eyes are the priority, the Legion Go 2 has the best handheld screen money can buy today — not only is it the rare handheld with an OLED panel, with the inky blacks and gorgeous colors that can afford, it’s an HDR panel with 500-nit brightness and 1,000 nit peaks, plus variable refresh rate that goes all the way down to 30Hz and up to 144Hz for smoother gameplay. It’s a joy in person.
The grips are far more comfortable than the original Legion Go, you still get the unique kickstand and detachable gamepads with optical mouse mode, the controls are competent, it has top and bottom USB-C ports, and the 74 watt-hour battery’s only a little smaller than other flagships.
The things holding back Legion Go 2 at launch were a high price and Windows. And while the price has gone up, the Z2 variant’s price hike isn’t quite as ridiculous as that of the Z2 Extreme. And the Z2 Legion Go 2 is pretty close to the Z2 Extreme version in performance — you should watch ETA Prime’s whole comparison video to see just how close. As for Windows, Bazzite seems to work well on my review unit of the Z2 Extreme model, though the gyro and some of Lenovo’s unique buttons can be a chore to configure there.
The most powerful: GPD Win 5 or OneXPlayer Apex
I can’t afford a $2,500 handheld, but for those who want the ultimate in performance, AMD’s Strix Halo is the most powerful chip that fits between two hands. When I tested the GPD Win 5, it felt like a portable PS5, comfortably playing intensive games at 1080p resolution with ultra levels of detail.
But beyond price, you should consider just how “portable” the Win 5 and the rival OneXPlayer Apex truly are: to cram in that power, they rely on either bulky external battery backpacks that won’t last an hour at full power, or a big power cord plugged into the wall.
I also haven’t been offered full review units yet, so I don’t know whether GPD or OneXPlayer have nailed other fundamentals or are offering proper support. Proceed with caution.
What if you’re not finding any of those handhelds? Be careful before you buy these alternatives instead:
The handhelds you probably shouldn’t pay for
Open-box Asus ROG Ally Z1 (typically $380-$450)
Don’t be fooled: the Asus ROG Ally with a weaker AMD Z1 chip may look identical to the one with the Z1 Extreme, but this one’s less capable than a Steam Deck and less efficient last I checked. With one of the smallest batteries in a handheld (40 watt-hour, tied with the Steam Deck LCD) it’ll die quick, and it’s not as potent plugged in as the Z1E version. Unless you can find it for under $250 like ETA Prime did, leave it be.
MSI Claw 7 ($650 to $750)
Somehow, Target still has stock of the original MSI Claw for $100 less than its original asking price, while Best Buy still has it at MSRP. Here is what I wrote in 2024:
- “No one should buy an MSI Claw.”
- “[T[he $750 MSI Claw feels like an inferior clone of the Asus ROG Ally.”
- “The less expensive Steam Deck OLED all but completely wiped the floor with the MSI Claw in power and performance. “
I hear Bazzite doesn’t fix this one, either. Just skip it.
Lenovo Legion Go S Z2 Go with SteamOS ($990)
Another case of “don’t get fooled.” The Legion Go S with AMD’s Z2 Go is far weaker than the version with the older Z1 Extreme processor — or any other Z1 Extreme handheld. It can have a slight performance and battery advantage over the Steam Deck in more intensive games, but fall behind on battery in less demanding ones.
Nice large smooth variable refresh rate screen, comfy grips, comes with SteamOS, but it wasn’t a good pick even when it cost $50 more than a Steam Deck OLED — now that it costs $200 more, forget about it.
I have never been able to recommend an Ayaneo handheld PC, because the company tends to ship them before they’re ready and quickly move on to the next thing. As exciting as it sounded, the Ayaneo 3 seems no different; I never got its awesome-sounding swappable controls to stay connected reliably, and the company didn’t have a solution for me. $900 for an fancy OLED handheld sounded enticing in 2025, but I wouldn’t recommend my experience at $400 let alone the $1,183 asking price now.
MSI Claw A8 ($1,300, often $1,200 on sale)
I haven’t used this one myself, but it costs substantially more than an Xbox Ally X for basically same internals. Even used ones will cost you nearly $1K. Bigger grips and screen, though.
GPD Win Mini 2025 ($1317)
Haven’t used this one either, and I’m intrigued by the idea of a tiny handheld cyberdeck after my good experiences with the GPD Win Max 2 below. It’s got a 1080p VRR screen that should be better for gaming than the Win Max 2. But it also shot up in price from roughly $900 to over $1,300, and its Ryzen 7 8840U laptop chip will chew right through the small 44Wh battery in more than light-lift games.
The Win Max 2 is not a comfortable gaming experience with weird grip and a fixed 60Hz 1600p screen, and the nearly $1,500 pricetag hurts for something that cost $1,000 last year. But do you want maybe the tiniest laptop to ever have a keyboard this excellent, one that can double as an awkward gaming handheld in a pinch? I wouldn’t pay for it, but I will continue to hope a future version adds the bigger battery, VRR, vibration dampening, better mousing and better webcam it needs.
Lenovo Legion Go S Z1 Extreme with SteamOS ($1580) or Windows ($1680)
$1,600 for a handheld with less performance and smaller battery than the Xbox Ally X and MSI Claw 8? Get outta here. It’s a legitimately good handheld, but even back when it cost $830 I’d have picked a Steam Deck instead. Now it costs nearly double – even more than the Legion Go 2 with a far better screen.
This giant honking 11-inch rebranded Tencent handheld theoretically has the same Intel guts as the MSI Claw 8 AI Plus, but it certainly doesn’t feel that way. The autostereoscopic 3D screen is terrible for gaming in my tests. It’s not very smooth even at its fixed 60Hz refresh rate, and gets ridiculously choppy in 3D mode without even providing a convincing 3D effect, even in 3D native games like Trine 2. I saw all kinds of crosstalk that better 3D screens cracked ages ago. I’d rather play Nintendo 3DS.
Lenovo Legion Go 2 Z2 Extreme ($2,000 to $2,350)
Pretty much identical to the Legion Go Z2, save you’re paying $425 more for twice the RAM (32GB instead of 16GB) and slightly better battery life due to the more efficient chip. I wouldn’t.
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Your iPhone can feel nearly useless to a thief once you mark it as lost. Apple’s Activation Lock can help turn a stolen device into a locked brick. That should make phone theft less profitable. Yet thieves have found a nasty workaround.
According to new research from Infoblox Threat Intel, the cybersecurity research team at Infoblox, criminals are using fake Apple pages, smishing texts and Telegram-based unlocking tools to trick stolen iPhone owners into handing over their passcodes.
Infoblox Threat Intel tracks cybercriminal activity partly by studying DNS, the system that helps devices find websites online. Think of DNS as the internet’s phone book. By watching patterns in suspicious website names and traffic, researchers can spot fake domains, phishing pages and larger scam networks.
The scary part is how personal the scam can feel. The thief may already have your phone. The message may arrive right after the theft. The fake page may even show what looks like your iPhone moving on a map.
WHY IPHONE USERS ARE THE NEW PRIME SCAM TARGETS
Cybercriminals are using fake Apple pages and text messages to trick stolen iPhone owners into giving up their passcodes. (Kurt CyberGuy Knutsson)
Researchers found that many thieves care less about the data on the phone and more about turning the device into resale cash. Once they get your passcode, they can remove protections, wipe the device and sell it.
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- Your phone holds your email, passwords, photos, banking apps and personal data. In this free, live online class, Kurt the CyberGuy will walk you step by step through simple phone security fixes you can do in real time. You’ll learn how to improve your privacy settings, spot the latest phone scams, use trusted security tools and walk away with a simple checklist to stay protected. Register here: CyberGuyLive.com.
How the stolen iPhone passcode scam starts
Here is the part that feels especially cruel. When you lose an iPhone, you may put a message on the lock screen with a phone number to call. That feature can help a good person return your device. A scammer can use that same number to contact you.
In one case described by the researchers, a stolen iPhone owner received a text shortly after the theft. The message linked to a fake Apple-style website. The page showed what looked like a moving phone location on a map. Then it asked for the phone’s PIN code. Had the victim entered it, the thief would have gained control of the device. That is what makes this scam so believable. The thief may really have your phone. The message may arrive at the perfect moment. The fake page may look close enough to Apple’s real Find My experience to catch someone who is stressed and trying to recover an expensive device.
Why thieves want your iPhone passcode
A locked iPhone has limited resale value. An unlocked iPhone can be wiped, removed from an Apple account and sold for much more. The researchers found Telegram groups selling phone unlocking services. Some tools target older phones. Others help criminals collect information about newer devices so they can build a more convincing phishing attack. These services can include “Find My iPhone Off” kits, fake Apple login pages, AI voice call tools and prerecorded messages that impersonate Apple.
The pricing also makes this underground business easy to enter. Some unlocking attempts cost only a few dollars. According to the research, unlocking a recent iPhone can cost anywhere from $5 to $50, depending on the seller, with an average price below $10.
That low cost helps explain why this scam can spread. A thief no longer needs deep technical skills. They can buy a kit, follow instructions and send a polished scam message.
Fake Apple texts make the scam feel real
The scam does not stop with one generic text. Criminals can customize phishing pages with details pulled from the phone or from linked accounts. That can include the victim’s name, email address, device details and even whether the passcode has four or six digits. The fake page may also show a chosen location on a “lost iPhone” map. Then the scammer sends the link by text, WhatsApp or email.
Once the victim enters credentials or a passcode, the information can go straight back to the attacker through Telegram. From there, criminals can remove linked devices from the Apple Account and prepare the phone for resale. That is why the message can feel oddly personal. The scammer may know enough to make the alert feel urgent and official.
Stolen iPhone scams are growing fast
Researchers identified more than 10,000 domains tied to these phone unlocking tools and smishing campaigns. Many used Apple lookalike names or generic customer-support wording, such as fake location and phone-finding themes. They also found that traffic to verified smishing domains rose 350% in 2025 compared with the previous year.
Some tools even try to fight security blocks. The research found scripts that check whether smishing domains are blocked. Then those scripts submit fake explanations to try to get them removed from Google Safe Browsing warnings. That means criminals are not only building fake pages. They are also working to keep those pages online long enough to fool victims.
DON’T GET CAUGHT IN THE ‘APPLE ID SUSPENDED’ PHISHING SCAM
A stolen iPhone owner may receive a fake Find My alert that appears to show the device moving on a map. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What this iPhone scam means to you
If your phone gets stolen, the most dangerous message may arrive after the theft. You may be worried, angry and desperate to track your device. That is exactly the moment scammers want. A message claiming to be from Apple, Find My or customer support can feel helpful.
However, Apple will not ask you to enter your iPhone passcode through a random link sent by text or WhatsApp. The passcode is the prize. Once you give it up, you may help the thief turn your locked phone into a sellable device.
Ways to stay safe from stolen iPhone scams
If your iPhone goes missing, a few calm steps can help you avoid handing thieves the one thing they need most: your passcode.
1) Never enter your iPhone passcode through a text link
Your iPhone passcode should stay on your iPhone. Do not type it into a website that arrives by text, email or WhatsApp, even if the page looks like Apple.
2) Go directly to Find My
If your iPhone is missing, use the Find My app on another Apple device or go directly to iCloud through your browser. Do not use a link from a message.
3) Treat urgent recovery messages as suspicious
Scammers love pressure. A message may say your phone has been found, moved or scheduled for removal. Pause before you click. Open Apple’s tools yourself instead.
4) Use a strong iPhone passcode
Avoid simple codes such as birthdays, repeating numbers or easy patterns. A longer alphanumeric passcode gives thieves a much harder target.
5) Keep Activation Lock turned on
Make sure Find My is enabled before anything happens. On iPhone, go to Settings > your name > Find My > Find My iPhone and confirm that Find My iPhone is turned on.
6) Do not remove the stolen iPhone from your Apple Account too quickly
If your iPhone is stolen, keep it listed in Find My and your Apple Account. Removing it can also remove Activation Lock, which helps stop someone else from erasing, activating and reselling your phone. If you use Find My, select the stolen iPhone and choose Mark As Lost or Erase This Device if needed. Avoid Remove This Device unless Apple Support, your carrier or law enforcement tells you to do it.
FIND A LOST PHONE THAT IS OFF OR DEAD
Apple’s Activation Lock can make stolen iPhones harder to resell, but scammers are trying to trick victims into disabling protections. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
7) Use strong antivirus software on your devices
Strong antivirus software can help block malicious links, phishing pages and scam sites before they do damage. It can also warn you when a site looks unsafe. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.
8) Report the stolen iPhone
Report the stolen phone to local police and your wireless carrier. Your carrier may be able to suspend service or block the device from the network.
Yes. Android phones have their own anti-theft protections, but thieves may still try a similar trick. Instead of asking for an iPhone passcode, a scammer may send a fake Google, Find My Device, Find Hub, Samsung Find or carrier message after your Android phone is stolen.
The message may claim your phone was found, moved or ready to be recovered. Then it may send you to a fake page that asks for your Google account password, Samsung account password or screen lock PIN, password or pattern.
That information can help a thief get around protections that make a stolen Android phone harder to reset and resell. Google’s Factory Reset Protection can require the previous Google account or screen lock after an unauthorized reset. Samsung says Google Device Protection works on Galaxy phones when a Google account and lock screen are set up.
The advice is the same: do not use a link from a text, email or WhatsApp message to recover a stolen Android phone. Go directly to Google’s Find Hub, Samsung Find or your carrier’s official website yourself. Never type your phone’s screen lock or account password into a recovery page that arrived by message.
Kurt’s key takeaways
A stolen iPhone used to be a headache for thieves because Activation Lock made resale harder. Now, criminals are trying to make you part of the unlocking process. They do it with fake Apple pages, carefully timed texts and slick-looking maps that play on panic. The safest move is to slow down. If your phone disappears, use Apple’s official Find My tools and ignore any message that asks for your passcode. That very code may be the one thing standing between a locked brick and a payday for a thief.
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Should phone makers and wireless carriers do more to stop stolen phones from being resold, or is the responsibility mostly on users to lock down their devices? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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Amazon’s rolling out a free software update for Echo Hub devices that gives the home screen a much-needed update to the interface it launched with in 2024. It had already added Alex Plus AI support, but the new interface has a cleaner, fully customizable layout that fits more smart home info and controls on the screen than the previous version.
The Echo Hub is also getting access to Ring AI’s Video Search feature that lets you use natural language to search through your smart home camera footage, as well as Alexa Plus summaries of detected camera events.
These are the five new features Amazon highlighted for the Echo Hub:
Organize by r …
Read the full story at The Verge.
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