is editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired.
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Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 107, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, hope you’re having a lovely and long weekend, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.)
I also have for you the biggest thing to hit Netflix this year, a rad-looking new comic series, the latest and greatest version of Claude, and much more. Short week, big stuff to get to! Let’s do it.
(As always, the best part of Installer is your ideas and tips. What are you playing / reading / watching / shopping for / baking at 400 degrees this week? Tell me everything: [email protected]. And if you know someone else who might enjoy Installer, forward it to them and tell them to subscribe here.)
The Drop
Gift guide
I love a gift guide, at any time of year. Most of my favorites (other than The Verge’s, of course, which is the all-time great and I will hear no other opinions) tend to be just a single person saying, “here’s some stuff I like!” Robin Sloan does great gift guides. So does Helen Rosner. Max Read, too. I’ve found so many things I love because people I like say they’re good.
In that spirit, I come to you with a gift guide that is not remotely scientific or representative of anything, but is instead just a bunch of stuff I like. This is all stuff I’ve paid for with my own money, not just tested with a loaner device from a company. It’s all stuff I like and recommend wholeheartedly. And for the most part, it’s all pretty affordable. So here’s my gift guide for 2025:
The Nintendo Switch 2 . Hands down the best gadget I bought this year. If this thing only played Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Kirby Air Riders, I’d probably still be happy with it. But the library is huge! And getting huger! I’m gaming every day in a way I haven’t in a long time. Hands down the best gadget I bought this year. If this thing only played Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Kirby Air Riders, I’d probably still be happy with it. But the library is huge! And getting huger! I’m gaming every day in a way I haven’t in a long time.
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