IT General

When creating a reference in a Microsoft Excel formula, two pairs of square brackets sometimes appear. If, like me, you like Excel formulas to be neat and concise, these double square brackets can look unsightly and cause frustration. However, there are good reasons why they happen.

The Internet Archive's Wayback Machine is an invaluable resource that does exactly what it says in the nonprofit organization's name: It archives the internet. The Internet Archive is responsible for archiving around 500 million webpages per day.

However, there has been a concerning change to the platform in recent months. According to a new report by Nieman Lab, the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine has been archiving certain websites much less lately. Even more concerning: Many of those websites are news-related.

According to the report by Neiman Lab, the Wayback Machine archived 1.2 million snapshots from 100 major news websites' homepages between Jan. 1 and May 15, 2025. Suddenly, though, in mid-May, this changed.

The Wayback Machine only took 148,628 snapshots from those same 100 news websites' homepages between May 17 and Oct. 1, 2025. That's a whopping 87 percent drop in the number of archived pages between the first four months of the year and the preceding five months.

CNN's homepage, for example, was archived by the Wayback Machine 34,524 times between Jan. 1 and May 15. Only 1,903 snapshots of the homepage since then are in the Wayback Machine.

SEE ALSO: The Internet Archive just became an official U.S. federal library

Mashable reported in July that, thanks to a new designation by California Senator Alex Padilla, the Internet Archive will join a network of more than 1,000 libraries around the country tasked with archiving government documents for public view.

Mark Graham, the director of the Wayback Machine, told Nieman Lab that "a breakdown in some specific archiving projects in May ... caused less archives to be created for some sites." According to Graham, some of the missing snapshots have just not had their index structure built yet and would be added to the Wayback Machine archive soon. 

As Nieman Lab pointed out, a five-month delay due to index issues is uncommon. According to Graham, the Internet Archive has been experiencing delays due to "various operational reasons" such as "resource allocation." The Internet Archive did not specify or provide any more information to Nieman Lab about the issue.

Newspapers have long been archived for the historical record. However, in the age of the internet, most newspapers, aside from the legacy media giants, have largely gone unarchived recently. News media websites have taken their place as the historical record. And, since 1996, the Internet Archive has taken up the responsibility of storing those webpage archives.

However, the nonprofit has seen difficulties in recent years. As Nieman Lab reports, the Internet Archive's 2023 expenses were $32.7 million. It takes a lot of resources to not only crawl the internet but store the data too. The nonprofit only brought in $23 million in revenue that same year.

In addition, the Internet Archive fell victim last October to a huge data breach which took the site, along with the Wayback Machine, offline. It took weeks for the site to be fully restored.

SAVE $540: The EcoFlow Smart Generator 4000 is on sale at Amazon for $1,259, down from the normal price of $1,799. That's a 30% discount and the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: EcoFlow EcoFlow Smart Generator 4000 $1,259 at Amazon
$1,799 Save $540   Get Deal

Storm season is here, and if you keep powered up with an EcoFlow Delta portable power station, you likely have several ways to recharge it. Solar and standard AC recharging are some of the easiest options, but if you want to recharge the station via propane or gasoline, there's a great deal on a dual-fuel option today.

As of Oct. 22, the EcoFlow Smart Generator 4000 is on sale for $1,259 at Amazon, marked down from the list price of $1,799. That's an overall savings of $540 and a 30% discount. It's also a new record-low at Amazon.

EcoFlow makes some great portable power stations, including the Delta lineup. These power stations come packed with power, plenty of ports, and a user-friendly app. The Delta power stations can recharge from solar panels or standard AC wall charging. But if you'd like to use propane or gasoline, you'll want to snag the EcoFlow Smart Generator 4000. This can be ideal for longer power outages or if you plan to take the EcoFlow Delta onto the jobsite for long days.

The Smart Generator 4000 comes with a 3,200W DC output with great safety alerts and an easy-to-read LCD screen. It also has durable wheels and a smart telescoping handle that makes it easier to transport. EcoFlow equipped the Smart Generator 4000 with five start-up methods: remote smart through the EcoFlow app, auto start, manual pull-cord, reverse charging from a portable power station, and a standard electric button start.

SEE ALSO: One of my favorite portable power stations just dipped to a record-low price at Amazon

In the box with the EcoFlow Smart Generator 4000 is everything you'll want for functionality, like an LPG hose, oil funnel, a battery connection cable, and more. The generator is compatible with the Delta Pro, Delta Pro 3, Delta 2 Max, and the Delta 3 Plus. EcoFlow says it will soon work with EcoFlow power kits.

Before the major storms hit, get a new way to recharge your EcoFlow portable power station by buying the EcoFlow Smart Generator 4000 while it's on sale for $1,259. But keep in mind, this model is not approved to be shipped to addresses in California due to local regulations.

SAVE 16%: As of Oct. 22, you can grab Anker's sleep headphones, the Soundcore Sleep A30, for $193.99, down from $229.99. That's a 16% discount and the lowest price we've seen since their launch.

Soundcore Sleep A30 $193.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $36   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Anker

Trying to find earbuds you can actually sleep in is tough, especially if you're a side sleeper. Most regular earbuds just aren't comfortable, and until recently, finding a pair specifically for sleep that also had active noise cancellation (ANC) was basically impossible. Soundcore changed that with their Sleep A30, and now they've hit their best price yet.

As of Oct. 22, you can grab the Soundcore Sleep A30 by Anker sleep headphones for $193.99, down from $229.99. That's a 16% discount and the lowest price we've seen since their launch.

SEE ALSO: Soundcore's Sleep A30 earbuds set the bar for premium sleep earbuds

When Mashable's lead shopping reporter Bethany Allard reviewed the Sleep A30s back in August, she called them the "new standard for premium sleep earbuds." The ANC "worked great" and reduced noise like AC hums and street sounds. While maybe not as powerful as what you'd find in high-end daytime earbuds, it's effective for typical nighttime disturbances.

The design has also improved. Compared to Soundcore's previous sleep buds (the A20), the A30 has a slimmer profile, so they're genuinely comfortable for side sleepers. You get plenty of ear tips (both silicone and memory foam) and wing options to get the fit just right. They also have smart features like adaptive snore masking that adjusts volume in real-time and a pretty slick companion app with lots of soundscape customization.

SAVE 17%: As of Oct. 22, you can get the Potensic Atom Fly More Combo for $299.99, down from $359.99, at Amazon. That's a 17% discount and $60 in savings.

Potensic Atom Fly More Combo $339.99 at Amazon
$359.99 Save $20   Get Deal at Amazon

Getting into drones can feel intimidating, and maybe even more so lately with all the news about potential bans on DJI. If you're looking for a capable alternative that won't break the bank (or worry about future restrictions), this deal on the Potensic Atom is worth checking out.

As of Oct. 22, you can get the Potensic Atom Fly More Combo for $299.99, down from $359.99, at Amazon. That's a $60 savings and the lowest price we've seen for this bundle.

SEE ALSO: Two Amazon delivery drones crashed, prompting federal regulators to step in

With this deal, you'll get a 4K camera equipped with a Sony sensor, mounted on a 3-axis gimbal for smooth, stable footage, even if it's a bit windy (it handles up to level 5 wind resistance). It includes three batteries that give you a total flight time of up to 96 minutes, plus a nifty parallel charging hub that'll get you to 100% in about 1.3 hours.

It's also super lightweight (under 249 grams), which is a big plus because it means you don't need to deal with FAA registration for recreational flying. And, if you're using it for photography, it has fun creative modes like visual subject tracking and automated QuickShots (like Boomerang and Rocket) to help you get those cinematic clips you've been seeing on TikTok. Given the uncertainty around DJI's future availability in the US, grabbing a well-reviewed alternative like the Potensic Atom at its best price ever seems like a smart move.

If you're looking for more clues about where Xbox plans to take its gaming ambitions, look no further than our recent interview with Xbox president Sarah Bond.

Speaking with Mashable about the newly released ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X, Bond revealed that Xbox's next console will be a "premium, high-end experience," but also that the concept of console exclusives is "antiquated." The Xbox exec said that the gaming world has evolved past this release strategy.

"We're really seeing people evolve way past [exclusives]," Bond said. "The biggest games in the world are available everywhere. You look at Call of Duty, you look at Minecraft, you look at Fortnite, you look at Roblox. That's actually what's really driving community in gaming. That's where people gather and they have experiences. And the idea of locking it to one store or one device is antiquated for most people."

For decades, exclusives were the backbone of console identity — the reason players chose one platform over another. They were the showcase titles that sold hardware on Day One, giving players a tangible justification for investing hundreds of dollars into a specific ecosystem. A new Halo meant you needed an Xbox; Uncharted or Spider-Man meant you needed a PlayStation. These games didn’t just sell consoles; they built loyalty, convincing players to stay within a brand’s ecosystem for years, even generations.

But as cross-platform play, digital storefronts, and subscription models like Xbox Game Pass have redefined what it means to "own" a game, exclusivity has started to lose its hold. Studios and publishers now see more value in expanding player bases and recurring revenue than in walling off access.

That philosophical shift isn't just talk — it's already happening. Several long-standing Xbox exclusives are crossing over to PlayStation, including a remaster of Gears of War, which ends 19 years of platform exclusivity. Even Halo: Combat Evolved, the game that cemented Xbox as a major player, is set to make the jump, marking the end of 24 years of exclusivity. Microsoft expanding its Game Pass subscription to include PC games in 2019 is another indicator.

The rest of the gaming industry seems to be following suit. Many of Sony's once-untouchable exclusives, including God of War, Marvel's Spider-Man, The Last of Us, and Horizon: Zero Dawn, have made their way to PC in recent years.

For some players, Xbox's current identity in the console space feels uncertain. Now that the company is shifting its focus away from hardware and strict exclusivity, it's not entirely clear what Xbox wants to be. A publisher? Not quite — the brand has only released five titles so far this year, all ironically limited to Xbox and Windows platforms (except the aforementioned Gears of War).

But based on Bond's comments, Xbox seems to be positioning itself as an ecosystem that expands further than just a console. Earlier this year, Microsoft VP Jason Ronald told The Verge that the next-generation Xbox will be "more PC than any Xbox console before," with planned support for multiple storefronts like Steam, Epic Games, and GOG.

When we asked Bond where Xbox fits into the console space, she said that "[it's] about a whole ecosystem and a whole system where you can have every option you want depending on how you want to play."

I’m not a big fan of speaking out loud to technology, and that’s true regardless of which voice assistant I’m trying to communicate with. As someone who is deeply immersed in the Apple ecosystem, Siri is my go-to voice assistant.

SAVE $300: As of Oct. 21, get the 40-inch Samsung Odyssey G7 gaming monitor for $899.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,199.99. That's a discount of 25%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Odyssey G7 gaming monitor $899.99 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $300   Get Deal

Looking for a quick and easy way to enhance your favorite games? You can't go wrong with a new monitor. Especially if you're looking to totally immerse yourself in the games you play. And right now, you can pick up one of the best immersive monitors at Amazon for a great price.

As of Oct. 21, get the 40-inch Samsung Odyssey G7 gaming monitor for $899.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,199.99. That's $300 off and a discount of 25%.

SEE ALSO: The best monitors in 2025

With an 180Hz refresh rate and 1ms GtG, this monitor is one of the best at translating action to the screen. Plus, it's curved, which makes it much easier for you to imagine yourself inside the game. Its 40-inch body means you can stare right into a panoramic view of your favorite new titles, putting you in the middle of what's happening so you feel like you're there. It also boasts a screen depth of 12 inches with a stand and 7 inches without.

Thanks to its size, adjustable stand, and the way it envelops you while you're playing, you can use this monitor with just about every game to feel like you're getting the most out of it. It even includes a picture-in-picture mode so you can watch something else while playing or check out a help video to get you past a difficult spot.

There's a lot to love about this monitor if you're a big gamer, and the price is undoubtedly one of them. Grab it while you can at this price.

TL;DR: Revisit the ’90s with the Retropian X Handheld Retro Gaming Console, now just $89.99 (reg. $129).

Opens in a new window Credit: Retropian Retropian X Handheld Retro Gaming Console $89.99
$129 Save $39.01   Get Deal

Feeling nostalgic? If you’re missing the simplicity of the ’80s and ’90s, back before the internet and social media hijacked our attention, it may be time to get in touch with your inner child via some retro gaming.

The Retropian X puts over 20,000 game titles in your hands — no WiFi required — and right now it’s on sale for $89.99 (reg. $129) for a limited time.

SEE ALSO: Immerse yourself in your favorite games with $300 off the 40-inch Samsung Odyssey G7 gaming monitor

Whether you were alive for the greatest time in gaming or you missed it and you want to try out these classic games, the Retropian X can serve as your very own pocket-sized gaming time machine. This handheld console comes packed with over 20,000 games pre-loaded.

Curious how it works? Just choose one of the nostalgic games, with options from over 30 different gaming systems in one convenient spot. Once you decide, you can play it on your Retropian X instantly. There are no cartridges to load, and no downloading required. There are easy controls, save states, and rewind functions that everyone in the family will be able to use.

If you ever get tired of the preloaded classics, you can load your own titles and even expand the storage on your Retropian X. It’s also awesome for traveling thanks to its portable, lightweight status and lengthy battery life.

Get over 20,000 games for one low price with the Retropian X Handheld Retro Gaming Console, on sale now for $89.99 (reg. $129).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Anyone who’s used a voice or AI assistant in the last decade or two has faced the same problem. You go to talk to the thing, you stop because your brain decided to pick that moment to shut down entirely for some reason, and the AI assumes you’re done and goes on to process half of what you wanted. Google is aiming to fix this problem with Gemini, at least potentially, with an upcoming update. 

Spotted by Android Authority, the new mic option is currently being tested in version 16.42.61 of the Google app. Once the setting is ticked, the user can long-press the microphone, causing the app to continuously listen until the user taps the stop button. As Android Authority notes, this is excellent for longer requests where the user may have to pause a couple of times to gather their thoughts or take a breath.

It’ll also fix the long-standing problem of Gemini going off to do its thing without waiting for you to finish, a bug-like problem that has plagued many users. Mashable's tech editor Timothy Werth says he's encountered this bug when talking to Gemini. The chatbot will rush to answer your question when you pause, even if you're not quite done with your question.

Users who also want to process multi-step automation and similar, more complex prompts will be grateful to be able to voice them all at once instead of getting interrupted. Gemini does have a free-flowing conversation mode for these sorts of use cases via Gemini Live. However, this is a separate overlay that you have to launch. Having the option to do it on the main interface is certainly helpful for some use cases. 

Per Android Authority, Google is also playing with some UI elements, including the aforementioned Gemini Overlay feature, but it’s unclear if those features will ever make it to production. There is no word yet as to the release date of the new Gemini mic mode, or whether it’ll make it out of testing at all. 

Samsung's answer to the Apple Vision Pro is finally here. The Samsung Galaxy XR virtual reality headset formally debuted Tuesday during a livestreamed Galaxy Event, ditching its "Project Moohan" code name after ten months and marking the first-ever Android XR headset. You can order it now for $1,799.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy XR $1,799.99 at Samsung.com
  Shop Now

The Galaxy XR is exclusively available for purchase on Samsung.com or in Samsung Experience Stores in the U.S. and South Korea. At the time of writing, Nov. 4 is the earliest delivery date for American shoppers.

While the Galaxy XR isn't cheap, it's worth noting that it's almost half the price of the $3,499 Vision Pro (which Apple happened to update with M5 silicon and a new band just last week). We'll have an in-depth breakdown of the differences between the Galaxy XR and Vision Pro in the coming days, but in the meantime, here's a quick overview of the former's specs:

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chip

• Memory: 16GB RAM

• Storage: 256GB storage

• Display type: Micro-OLED

• Resolution: 3,552 x 3,840 pixels

• Refresh rates: 60Hz, 72Hz (by default), up to 90Hz by request

• Video playback: UHD 8K (7680 x 4320 pixels) at 60fps

• Field of view: 109 degrees horizontal, 100 degrees vertical

• Camera: 6.5MP, supports 3D photo and video capture

• Sensors: Two high-res pass-through cameras, six world-facing tracking cameras, four eye-tracking cameras, five inertial measurement units (i.e. motion sensors), one depth sensor, and one flicker sensor

• Interpupillary Distance (IPD): 54~70mm  

• Battery: Up to two hours of general use, up to 2.5 hours of video playback

• Connectivity: WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4

• Weight: 1.2 pounds with its forehead cushion

• Color: Silver shadow

• Security: Supports iris recognition for unlocking and entering passwords

The Galaxy XR headset ships with several accessories, including a protective cover, a forehead cushion (plus adjusters), detachable light shields for improved immersion, a power cable, a battery pack, a wall charger, and a lens cleaning cloth. Anything else is going to cost you extra.

The Samsung Galaxy XR's controllers are priced at $250. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

The Galaxy XR's controllers and travel case retail separately for $249.99 apiece on Samsung's website, though the latter was sold out the last time I checked. You'll save 30% if you bundle them with the headset (as opposed to buying them later).

If you're a glasses-wearer, a pair of prescription lenses that magnetically attach to the Galaxy XR tacks on an extra $99.99. They're available through Eyebuydirect.

Wear glasses? You can add prescription lenses to the Samsung Galaxy XR for $100. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

At least Samsung isn't charging extra for the headset's XR experiences — not yet, at least. For a limited time, the Galaxy XR includes a free "Explorer Pack" of services that it supports, including 12 months of Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium, Google Play Pass, Calm Premium, and Adobe's Project Pulsar (a 3D video editing app). It's worth more than $1,140 altogether.

For more on the Galaxy XR and all it entails, check out Mashable's contributor Adam Dowd's initial hands-on review.

Buy the Samsung Galaxy XR and accessories: Samsung Galaxy XR $1,799.99 Shop Now Samsung Galaxy XR Controllers $174.99 (save $75 when you bundle with the Galaxy XR headset) Shop Now Samsung Galaxy XR Travel Case $174.99 (save $75 when you bundle with the Galaxy XR headset) Learn More Kodak Prescription Lenses For Galaxy XR $99.99 Shop Now

Apple has confirmed to TechCrunch that it has removed the controversial women's safety app Tea and its rival app for men, TeaOnHer, from the App Store in all markets.

The removal was first discovered by app insights platform Appfigures, TechCrunch reported.

SEE ALSO: Beware phony Sora apps on the Apple App Store

Tea was designed to help women stay safe when dating. It was an online whisper network, of sorts, for women to share negative experiences with men, akin to contentious "Are we dating the same guy?" Facebook groups.

Back in July, Tea became the target of a massive cyberattack, exposing images like drivers' licenses. Subsequently, it was discovered that personal chats and phone numbers stored on Tea were also exposed. TechCrunch found that TeaOnHer also had security issues.

Apple told TechCrunch that Tea (officially called Tea Dating Advice) and TeaOnHer didn't meet the company's content moderation and user privacy requirements, specifically App Review Guidelines Rules 1.2 (stating that apps with user-generated content should offer block and removal features) and 5.1.2 (the app can't use or share someone's personal information without permission). Apple also pointed TechCrunch to section 5.6, a section titled "Developer Code of Conduct."

Section 5.6 reads:

Please treat everyone with respect, whether in your responses to App Store reviews, customer support requests, or when communicating with Apple, including your responses in App Store Connect. Do not engage in harassment of any kind, discriminatory practices, intimidation, bullying, and don’t encourage others to engage in any of the above. Repeated manipulative or misleading behavior or other fraudulent conduct will lead to your removal from the Apple Developer Program.

On top of all that, Apple cited excessive complaints and negative reviews.

Apple apparently communicated these issues with the dating app developers, but they haven't been addressed.

Tea and TeaOnHer remain on the Android app store as of publication.

Lists tend to go viral. That fact defined an entire era of the internet.

Lately, though, a bizarre new type of list has been blowing up on TikTok. The best way to describe these lists is incoherent. Here's the formula, obviously generalized:

• An anonymous account with a username that consists of a mishmash of letters and numbers posts a clip of a TV show, movie, or similar piece of media.

• During that clip — which is typically longer than a minute — a numbered list is revealed one at a time.

• The listed text is utter nonsense. At best, it's vaguely related to the clip. Mostly, it's just words or phrases slowly being revealed.

These videos have insidiously wormed their way onto FYPs, in some cases racking up millions of views.

If your brain is half turned off, that TikTok might seem normal. But what does "compromise" or "question" have to do with the dialogue of that scene from This Is Us? These sorts of videos are everywhere, and they're racking up engagement with such stellar insight as, "1) going 2) no 3) have."

People are noticing the weird trend. Go to the comments, and you'll find folks wondering, "What is with the numbered words?" or "What are we ranking here?"

We're ranking nothing. The words mean nothing. People are simple creatures. We love lists. We love rankings. We want to know how the story ends, even if the story sucks or makes zero sense. The incoherent, nonsensical lists are a hook for your attention. It's an incredibly low-effort bait for engagement, and it works, even if it's silly.

If the clip doesn't catch your attention, maybe the unrelated list will. It's also a simple way to alter a video that clearly doesn't belong to the person posting it, perhaps working to hide it from platforms tracking that down.

And would it be surprising if these list-clip enterprises were at least partially AI-created slop? Of course not. It's 2025, and slop always muddies your FYP in one form or another. The latest version just happens to be incoherent lists.

If you are getting frustrated with generative AI features creeping into every corner of Windows, we have some bad news. Microsoft is adding yet another AI feature to Paint in Windows 11, intended to help you redesign images in various styles.

So you just got a Raspberry Pi device, and you want to christen it by recreating the meme: run Doom on that tiny computer. Luckily for you, you can start blasting demons with just a few commands in the Raspberry Pi terminal.

Rumors of a foldable iPhone and iPad have persisted for years now. In fact, the latest rumors say that a foldable iPhone is still on track for a 2026 release.

However, there's a new report from Bloomberg's Apple insider Mark Gurman that may rain on the parade of any Apple fan awaiting a foldable iPad. If you were holding your breath for a foldable iPad, please don't. Because, according to Gurman's report, that foldable iPad is at least four years away, which is a lifetime in tech years.

Apple has been working with Samsung to develop a panel for the foldable iPad. This panel, according to Gurman, would reportedly give the folding tablet a whopping 18-inch display when unfolded. However, there are some issues with the panel's development, namely its cost and weight.

The still-under-development foldable iPad is expected to weigh around 3.5 pounds, and Apple's projected cost for the device is in the $3,000 range.

SEE ALSO: Review: The new M5 iPad Pro is a victory lap for Apple

To put that into perspective, a foldable iPad would weigh more than double that of the current heaviest iPad Pro. In fact, the weight of a foldable iPad is currently around the same weight as a MacBook Pro. A foldable iPad could also cost consumers three times as much as the 13-inch iPad Pro, which costs $1,299, according to Gurman.

However, Gurman's report doesn't say that Apple has abandoned its plans for a refreshed iPad lineup with a new foldable. He says the company has been working with Samsung to develop a display with a minimal crease at the point where it folds. According to the report, Apple will use the same technology for the foldable iPhone, but has not run into the same issues with this smaller foldable smartphone.

The report says that the foldable iPad is being internally compared to Huawei's MateBook Fold, which is the China-based tech company's own version of an 18-inch foldable tablet. The MateBook fold was released in May of this year, retails for $3,400, and is only available in China. However, the MateBook Fold also weighs a pound less than Apple's current foldable prototype is said to weigh.

Apple was apparently aiming for a 2028 release for the foldable iPad. This blip in the development stage pushes that release back to 2029, if not even further

In a world where the Samsung Galaxy XR exists, Apple suddenly has some stiff competition in the XR headset space. Is the newly upgraded Vision Pro headset enough of an improvement to justify its still-enormous $3,500 price?

Mashable has not gotten proper hands-on time with the new Vision Pro with the M5 chip and some added comfort features yet (though we have been impressed with the M5 chip so far). But early reviews are rolling in. Without wasting any more time, let's find out if these seemingly modest upgrades are enough to make the Vision Pro less of a niche product two years after its launch.

What do critics have to say about Apple's expensive new headset?

It's got better performance and battery life

First things first, the biggest update to the new Vision Pro is the addition of an M5 chip powering it. This is Apple's latest in-house silicon, and every review I read noted that performance is improved on this new device. There are also a couple of related upgrades, including new 120Hz displays with higher pixel counts (they were 100Hz before) and longer battery life.

That said, the improved performance may not necessarily wow you. CNET's Scott Stein called the improvements "subtle," but the specific ones he mentioned do sound nice, at least.

"Hand tracking in games does feel faster, by a bit. Synth Riders, the closest Vision has to musical fitness, keeps the glowing balls glued to my hands more smoothly," Stein wrote. "Maybe it's that refresh rate. Apps and games load a lot faster, and the headset starts up far quicker. It should, since the M5 is several generations past the previous M2."

As for battery, the previous model was rated for only about two hours of general use. Apple has upped that by half an hour this time, and is also promising three hours of video playback. Mark Spoonauer of Tom's Guide noted that the upgrade is real, but it's still not the most convenient thing to use because of its relatively short battery life.

"After using the Vision Pro for an hour and a half I was down to 55%, which is pretty decent," Spoonauer wrote. "If you’re sitting down and near an outlet, you can keep the battery charged as you work and play, but it’s not fun feeling like you’re tethered."

The new strap provides added comfort The new knob for adjusting the new strap. Credit: Apple

Weirdly, the new Vision Pro is actually slightly heavier than its predecessor. That sounds problematic, especially considering weight was a common complaint about the first Vision Pro. Some added context is needed here, though: The new weight comes entirely from a new Dual Knit Band that sits both on the top and around the back of your head for provided comfort and stability during long sessions.

Chance Miller of 9to5Mac talked in their review about how much more comfortable it is to wear than the previous Vision Pro, which had multiple inadequate solutions for this problem. The new band is apparently simple as can be to adjust, as well.

"In practice, the Dual Knit Band is a huge upgrade over the Solo Knit Band and Dual Loop Band. It’s what Apple should’ve shipped from the start," Miller wrote. "It’s more comfortable and plush, it’s more adjustable, it’s easier to put on and take off, and it looks better than the Dual Loop Band. I’ve noticed that the counterweight in particular does a good job of taking pressure off my face when wearing Vision Pro for extended periods of time."

Still, it doesn't seem like Apple has quite perfected the comfort side of Vision Pro just yet. Kyle Barr of Gizmodo wrote that the new band is an upgrade over what came before, but it's still a heavy headset that will require frequent breaks from users.

"There’s no perfect way to alleviate the pressure of such a thick and heavy headset made to rest over your eyes. Even if you can stomach the discomfort, you’ll inevitably need to take the headset off to cure any lingering eyestrain," Barr wrote. "You know what? That’s fine. It’s good to have a reason to take yourself away from the computer and touch grass, or else just get away from every screen constantly demanding your attention. Just remember to take the external battery out of your pocket when you get up, or else your $3,500 headset will go skittering across the ground."

Not much else has changed

Despite the noticeable improvements to performance, battery life, and comfort, basically every review of the Vision Pro M5 comes to the same conclusion: This product is still in its infancy, and for $3,500, it's probably not a necessity for anyone yet.

There are some reasons for this. While Apple has made a couple of other changes with the new device, such as adding support for PlayStation VR2 controllers, there's still a glaring lack of custom, spatialized apps for Vision Pro. At CNET, Stein also wrote that it doesn't always play super nice with other Apple devices. In summary, there's still a lot of work to be done, per Stein.

"The Vision Pro still feels like a first-generation product. Apple needs to figure out how to make future headsets feel lighter, more like glasses," Stein wrote. "It needs to lean on processing and battery from connected Apple products like phones and Macs and iPads. The headset should have all the tools anyone needs to create, share and connect with whatever Apple device they want to use. And its unique app offerings need to be even better, its inputs even more fluid and flexible."

At Tom's Guide, Spoonauer also summed it up nicely. Apple's XR revolution doesn't seem to have a great deal of momentum right now.

"When I reviewed the original Vision Pro, I called it a “revolution in progress.” Well, now I feel like that revolution has stalled," Spoonauer wrote. "Yes, the Vision Pro M5 offers a faster chip and a comfier strap, but I expected much more hardware and software innovation from Apple for what’s supposed to be a category-defining product."

Home Assistant is the most powerful smart home platform. You can connect and control an almost endless array of smart home devices and build powerful automations that simply aren't possible with systems such as Alexa and Google Home.

We’ve seen plenty of good horror movies this year, but there’s one that’s been on the tip of everyone’s tongue since it was released in theaters this past summer. While its plot is admittedly terrifying, its messages and intentions will chill you to the bone. Now, 2025’s best and most-talked-about horror movie is coming to HBO Max, so you can finally join in on all the chatter.

If you’re shopping for a new car, you basically have two paths: buy and watch it lose value fast, or lease and know you’ll need a new ride in a few years. Hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and EVs drop in value even quicker than gas cars—just look at the Mazda CX-90 vs. the CX-90 PHEV.