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This portable battery saved my last camping trip (and goes everywhere with me)

ZDNET's key takeaways The EcoFlow River 3 is a new compact portable battery It is available for $239. It's portable and lightweight, making it easy to carry, it features fast charging, going from 0% to 100% in 55 minutes, and has a 245Wh output capacity Since portability is a priority for the River series of portable batteries, they're much less powerful than alternatives and best suited for smaller tasks or shorter use times. $239 at Amazon EcoFlow announced the addition of three new portab

The best rugged phones in 2025 (including Samsung and Oukitel)

The best mainstream smartphones like the Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones offer sharp displays, powerful performance, and versatile cameras. They are IP-rated for dust and water resistance, but most of them won't be enough if you're an adventurer. If you like hiking or camping, you should consider buying one of the top rugged phones. They are meant to withstand rough elements. The top contenders on this list are tested for military-standard durability, so you don't have to w

DC Comics at Theme Parks Has Had a Bizarre History but ‘Superman’ Could Change That

There’s nostalgia for the Batman movie era at Six Flags as we head toward a new DC Studios era with Superman, On a recent visit to Magic Mountain, I found myself reminiscing fondly about the stunt shows from the ’90s. Both Batman Forever and Batman & Robin were draws as WB movie-inspired attractions for folks who didn’t want to only do roller coasters. The most vivid memory I have is Batman swinging into action and riding in the Batmobile for the explosive, stunt-heavy Magic Mountain version of

Behold, a Script for ‘The Batman Part II’

It feels like the only thing we’ve heard about The Batman Part II for years now is that various people are waiting on a script to be delivered. Now, with all the energy of a schoolboy rushing to file homework that was due earlier in the week, Reeves has provided evidence: some words that will potentially be in The Batman Part II exist. Reeves took to social media this afternoon to seemingly confirm that the latest version of his sequel to the 2022 DC film was finally ready to be sent off to Jam

Marvel May Have Plans for Even More Thor After ‘Doomsday’ and ‘Secret Wars’

Jensen Ackles discusses those DCU Batman rumors. Elijah Wood watches the latest Toxic Avenger trailer. Plus, what’s coming on the next Beth-centric episode of Rick & Morty. Spoilers get! Project Hail Mary A new poster for the Ryan Gosling movie, based on the Andy Weir novel about a science teacher tasked with figuring out a mysterious substance causing the sun to die out, has dropped. Thor 5: Thor Quest Entertainment insider Daniel Richtman (via SuperheroHype) suggests Marvel’s next Thor pro

This Card-Slim MagSafe Portable Power Bank Is Going for Peanuts, Limited Stock for This Early Prime Day Deal

The summer is here which means way more time spent outside and far, far away from a outlet where you can charger your phone. Thankfully, you have plenty of options for portable chargers that can extend the battery life of your devices while you’re out and about. This deal on the LISEN magnetic battery could be your saving grace. If you have an iPhone that supports magnetic wireless charging, this charging portable charger is down 27% right now so you can scoop it up for just $22. That’s a saving

I’ll only upgrade to the Galaxy Watch 8 if it focuses on these 2 features

Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority I’ve used several smartwatches throughout my career, switching between devices to match my changing priorities. However, the one smartwatch I always return to is my Galaxy Watch 4. Now paired with a Galaxy smartphone, it’s become the center of my ecosystem. Samsung’s first new-generation Wear OS watch launched in 2021. Now, nearly four years later, I still feel little temptation to upgrade. While the watch is starting to show its age, as its chipped exterior

This battery recycling company is now cleaning up AI data centers

The event marked the launch of the company's new business line, Redwood Energy, which will repurpose (rather than recycle) batteries with years of remaining life to create renewable-powered microgrids. Such small-scale energy systems can operate on or off the larger electricity grid, providing electricity for businesses or communities. Redwood Materials says many of the batteries it takes in for processing retain more than half their capacity. “We can extract a lot more value from that materia

Collections: Nitpicking Gladiator's Iconic Opening Battle, Part I

This week, we’re going to take a close look at arguably the most famous and recognizable Roman battle sequence in film: the iconic opening battle from Gladiator (2000). Despite being a relatively short sequence (about ten minutes), there’s actually enough to talk about here that we’re going to split it over two weeks, talking about the setup – the battlefield, army composition, equipment and battle plan – this week and then the actual conduct of the battle next week. The iconic opening battle,

Redwood Materials is giving old EV batteries a second life as microgrids

is transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in The New York Daily News and City & State. Redwood Materials is repurposing old EV batteries into energy storage systems that cost “substantially less” than brand new storage projects, the company said Thursday. The electric vehicle battery recycling and manufacturing venture, which was founded by Tesla’s former chief technologist, has created a new division called

Redwood Materials launches energy storage business and its first target is AI data centers

Tucked between two massive buildings in the hills of the Nevada desert, 805 retired EV batteries lie in neat formation, each one wrapped in nondescript white tarps — and hiding in plain sight. A passerby might not realize this unassuming array is the largest microgrid in North America, that it’s powering a 2,000 GPU modular data center for AI infrastructure company Crusoe, or that it represents the next big act of JB Straubel, the co-founder and CEO of Redwood Materials. Redwood Materials anno

Best Alkaline Batteries for Your Devices in 2025

For this round of testing, we gathered four of the most popular battery brands and tested five battery categories, including AAA, AA, C, D and 9-volt. Our objective was to find out which battery manufacturer offered the best value for your money. To assess battery performance, we used our custom-built battery test rig and timed the longevity of each battery, paying attention to their voltage output over time, and compared the difference in price per unit. Battery performance and voltage drop M

The best HP laptops of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

A new laptop is an investment, and making it last is essential to maximizing its value. To care for your new laptop, you'll want to minimize the amount of bumps and vibrations it's exposed to and keep it closed when not in use to protect the keys and screen, which can be fragile. Maximizing your laptop's battery life is also part of its longevity, as it's best to keep it between 30% and 80% to optimize battery life. Besides these obvious factors, you'll want to keep the software and drivers up

Finally, a smart ring worthy of replacing my Oura 4 - and with no subscription fees

ZDNET's key takeaways The RingConn Gen 2 is a subscription-free smart ring that retails for $300. It monitors your sleep, activity, stress, and vitals, and it's got a marathon battery life. The only downside is the user interface feels underdeveloped. View now at Amazon View now at Ringconn more buying choices Most smart rings these days claim to offer marathon battery lives, but often fall short of their promise. Many smart rings claim to last a week's worth of battery, but only make it to f

Take the CUKTECH 10 Power Bank home for a mere $27.99

Paul Jones / Android Authority It used to happen to me all the time. I’d go about my day, and when I most needed my phone, it would die on me! No more! Now I carry around a handy battery pack with me, and my phone can make it through a day or two without breaking a sweat. If you want this peace of mind, and would rather not spend much, the CUKTECH 10 Power Bank is among our favorites, and it is only $27.99 right now! Buy the CUKTECH 10 Power Bank for just $27.99 ($12 off) This offer is availab

The best Garmin watches of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

Garmin is very popular with those who enjoy outdoor activities and the new Forerunner 970 is a perfect option for runners. Garmin appeals to multi-sport athletes, outdoor adventurers, and weekend warriors, so you can hike with a Garmin Instinct 3 or golf with the Approach S70. Garmin offers a sports watch for everyone with a price range from $200 to $1,600. Garmin's smartwatches stand out with precise location accuracy. Its watches provide health and fitness tracker data for all smartphone owne

AirTag 2 rumor highlights what Android’s trackers could do better

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Apple’s AirTag 2 may offer both low and very low battery alerts. Most Android trackers still rely on a single vague low-battery warning. The AirTag 2 is expected to launch in the fall, likely alongside the next iPhone. Bluetooth trackers are supposed to give you peace of mind, but there’s always the risk that they’ll silently die on you when you need them most. That’s why one rumored battery management upgrade to Apple’s upcoming AirTag 2 could be a s

How to safely maintain, use, and dispose of your power banks

is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid. The lithium-ion battery inside your power bank isn’t designed to run forever. After years of use and hundreds of charges, its performance and capacity will decline, while the risk of more severe issues increases. There are things you can do to prolong your power bank’s lifespan, while also ensuring you can use it safely. And if it’s already a few

Belkin Charging Case for Switch 2 review: Simple but effective

Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . Aside from a screen protector, the best accessory to keep your Switch 2 safe is a carrying case. And with the increased price of Nintendo’s latest console compared to the original, there are even more reasons (about $150 of them) to figure out a way to shelter your console. But why sto

The best noise-canceling earbuds of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

When did everything become so noisy? The best noise-canceling earbuds don't just improve your music-listening experience, they also offer up complete silence when you need zero distractions. Active noise-cancelation (ANC) is a highly coveted feature in the current earbud market. With the help of tiny microphones on the earbuds' exterior, ANC earbuds actively cancel out incoming sound waves, preserving quiet while amplifying in-ear sound. No matter how strong a pair's noise-canceling powers are,

The best phones for kids in 2025

Whether or not to give your kids a phone is a tricky decision for every parent. The fact remains that our kids are growing up in a technology-driven world. Instead of viewing a phone for your child as a negative thing, you can gain peace of mind with the ability to track their location and contact them directly no matter where they are. While the decision to get your kid a phone can be complicated, we've broken it down for you to make the most informed purchase. Also: The best kids' tablets W

How Synthflow AI is cutting through the noise in a loud AI voice category

The conversational AI market has exploded since ChatGPT was released in November 2022 and is predicted to grow into a nearly $50 billion global industry by 2031, according to MarketsAndMarkets. Synthflow AI is just one of many companies building in this space that hopes to stand out from the pack because of its focus on being enterprise-grade and easy to set up. Berlin-based Synthflow is a no-code platform that lets enterprises build and deploy customized white-labeled voice AI customer servic

iOS 18.6 code hints at AirTag 2, but when is it coming?

When leaker Kosutami claimed that Apple was planning a May or June launch of the next-generation AirTag, that broadly tracked with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman’s earlier report from November that Apple was aiming for a “around the middle” of 2025 release. But now that we’re fast approaching the end of June and there are still no new AirTag, we have an update on Apple’s new release target for the long-awaited next generation of its tracker. When is AirTag 2 coming? We have some good news and some b

Could Apple's New Adaptive Power Feature Extend Your iPhone's Battery Life?

Usually, I'm the one adapting my behavior based on the power remaining in my iPhone, but starting this fall, I can ask my iPhone to do more of the adapting. A new Adaptive Power setting in iOS 26 can extend battery power by intelligently trimming energy usage in small ways that add up to extend the time before you need to recharge. See also: Adaptive Power in iOS 26 Could Save the iPhone 17 Air From This Major Pitfall Currently, the iPhone uses as much power as it needs to perform its tasks. Y

Better than Ring? This video security doorbell has similar features and no monthly fees

ZDNET's key takeaways The Lorex 2K Wi-Fi video doorbell is available for $180. The doorbell comes in wired and wireless installations, communicates reliably, and includes a preinstalled 32GB microSD card for local storage so you can bypass subscription fees. Although it has a 2K resolution, the image is so wide angle that objects look distorted. $199.99 at Amazon Video doorbells are among the best ways to start your smart home journey. They are easy to use and often easy to install, and provi

I changed 7 Samsung phone settings to instantly improve the battery life

Kerry Wan/ZDNET Samsung's Galaxy smartphones are some of the best Android phones available today, thanks to their responsive and feature-rich software. But most Samsung phones -- especially the flagships like the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Z Flip 6 -- come with over-the-top features that you might not use daily. If your new Galaxy phone isn't lasting an entire day on a single charge, there are ways to make the most of what you have without hindering the user experience. Also: The

A solid-state battery breakthrough may be taking shape in Maryland

Forward-looking: In a quiet corner of Beltsville, Maryland, a new chapter in battery technology is unfolding. Ion Storage Systems, a company that began as a university research project, has emerged as a leading contender in the race to commercialize solid-state batteries – a technology long promised but rarely delivered at scale. After a recent visit to the company's Maryland facility, The Wall Street Journal concluded that Ion Storage Systems stands out as a company with a real chance of achie

MagSafe Monday: PITAKA delivers a new MagSafe battery pack with Qi2 and a stylish design

I’ve tested more MagSafe battery packs than I can count over the past few years. Some are too bulky, while others have weak magnets. Some of the designs are also somewhat dull. PITAKA’s new Aramid Fiber Magnetic Power Bank manages to avoid all those issues while checking all the boxes for a great MagSafe battery. Some of my favorite gear eufyCam 2C Upgrade your home security with wireless cameras that includes HomeKit compatibility. MagSafe Monday: Every Monday, Bradley Chambers looks at the l

Ford Will Keep Battery Factory Even If Republicans Ax Tax Break

In addition to giving tax breaks to consumers who buy or lease electric cars and trucks, the Inflation Reduction Act provides tax credits for automakers and suppliers that build battery plants in the United States. If the credits survive, they could offset about a quarter of the cost of the plant in Marshall, Ford executives said. The House version of the Republican bill would eliminate credits for plants that were built with materials or technology from China, Iran, North Korea or Russia. The

Forget Anker, Baseus MagSafe Portable Charger Is Practically Free as Amazon Offers It at Almost 50% Off

If you’ve ever found yourself juggling a low phone battery, a tangle of cords, and a bulky power bank, you know how frustrating on-the-go charging can be. First you have to make sure your charger is ready to go. Then you have to make sure you actually have a cable. Because chances are when you need one, it’s nowhere to be found. That’s exactly the kind of daily headache this currently discounted charger was made specifically to resolve. And you can act fast to get one right now for a great price