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Articles by Scott Stein
iPad Mini vs. All the Other iPads: How to Decide
Apple has a new iPad Mini arriving soon, its first upgrade in two years. But what about all the other tablets from Apple, including the iPad Air M4 update released this spring? I haven’t reviewed the iPad Mini yet, but I do want to help put the whole lineup in perspective at the tail end of 2026. And to help you think about whether you should wait for an update to the entry-level iPad that might be coming early next year.
Apple’s New iPad Mini Gets OLED and Water Resistance
The new iPhone Duo, unfolded, almost feels like an iPad Mini. But if you want the real thing, Apple also has a new iPad Mini coming on Nov. 6. The upgrade, which starts at $699, adds a larger OLED screen and water resistance for the first time. The new iPad Mini has been expected for months, and it was announced two days ahead of an expected showcase of new Macs on Wednesday.
Best iPad of 2026: How to Choose, and Should You Wait?
There are a lot of iPads in the world, and Apple doesn’t always update them at the same time. The current lineup alone has six model choices, and previous models are still available new and used. All of the iPads have strong suits and different capabilities too, making choosing the right one for your needs tricky. CNET has been testing and reviewing iPads since the original version, and we’ve tested every model since.
Apple iPad Mini 2024 Review: Tiny Changes to a Tiny Tablet
The iPad Mini is still very much the same product as three years ago, just a little faster. Plus, it’s got AI and Pencil capabilities. You’re either a Mini person, or you aren’t. Apple’s smallest iPad has been around for years and it has its fans. The advantages of a smaller tablet include a lower price and easier portability. It can slide into big jacket pockets or small bags, or be installed on dashboards, used by pilots or at a store as a point-of-sale screen.
Meta’s ‘AI Tamagotchi’ Looks to Me Like a Smartwatch Preview for 2027
I was in the audience at Meta’s Connect conference in late September when Mark Zuckerberg held up a pendant in his hands and surprise announced the Muse Charm, a little novelty-like device with Meta’s disarmingly adorable Muse AI agent onboard. Muse Charm is coming as soon as December this year. But the funny thing is, while most people called it an AI Tamagotchi, all I saw was a strapless Apple Watch. Is that what the Muse Charm could be, eventually? A watch as well as a pendant?
The iPhone Duo Isn’t the Pocket iPad… or Is It?
I’m having deja vu after Apple’s “Surprise and shine” event, which introduced the company’s first folding phone, the iPhone Duo. It’s on two levels: Back in 2020, Microsoft introduced its take on a folding phone, also called the Duo. I remember talking about it with Panos Panay, at that time Microsoft’s chief product officer, and realizing that a hinged, dual-screen phone was in some ways the phone of my dreams, but not in all the ways I wanted. But that’s not all.
Don't sleep on Apple's audio intelligence. It reveals a lot about where we're headed
The first five minutes of John Ternus' first keynote as Apple CEO weren't a product unveiling or a recap of Apple's history. Instead, they were a redefinition of the iPhone as an “intelligent personal hub.” Of all the devices Apple makes, the iPhone doesn't need to be described or explained to anyone.
iPad Air M3 Review: Once Again, the Pro iPad for Most
The iPad Air is nicely made, but it's not the thinnest iPad. / Scott Stein/CNET iPad Air (2025, M3) 8.5 Fast M3 processor Price hasn't increased New, less expensive Magic Keyboard option Lacks OLED display of Pro model Configs can get expensive fast Apple Intelligence still doesn't feel necessary The newest iPad sitting in front of me is purple. It’s big-screened. It has an M3 chip inside. It’s an iPad Air. But you’d never tell, from any casual glance, that it was new at all.
iPad Pro 2024 Review: Why Not Make This a Mac?
The iPad Pro and its new display are lovely. But this tech begs for better software and a deeper OS. I’m looking at two Apple computers on my desk. They both fold open and have keyboards and trackpads. They both have 13-inch screens. They both have M-series processors. They both have USB-C/Thunderbolt ports. They both have nice, centered video cameras. One has a touchscreen and a stylus. The other runs MacOS.
OpenAI is ‘very interested' in building out ChatGPT integrations for wearables
OpenAI's facing a firestorm of late: a rogue agent hacking Hugging Face , a lawsuit launched by Apple accusing OpenAI of stealing trade secrets , and ongoing anger about AI and AI devices in general , plus a delayed IPO In the midst of all of this, OpenAI President Greg Brockman spoke to reporters in New York Thursday to discuss the company's latest AI plans and recent events.
iPad 11th Gen Review: Great if You Keep It Basic
The 11th-gen iPad is the same exact thing as the 10th-gen, with more basic storage and a slightly faster chip. / Scott Stein/CNET iPad (11th-gen, 2025) 8.2 Low price 128GB storage included on base model Solid front video camera Better A16 processor No support for Apple Intelligence Won't work with newer Pencil Pro or Pencil 2 stylus Accessories still too expensive Editor’s note, Nov. 24: This iPad received a CNET Editors’ Choice award for its price-to-performance appeal for families.
Meta’s Quest Game Subscribers Will Be Getting Some Xbox Extras
Meta hasn’t done a lot with its Quest VR platform this year (in fact, it’s done more to dismantle it), but it’s throwing an Xbox bonus into its gaming subscription plan to try to sweeten the deal. Horizon Plus, the monthly gaming subscription service for Meta’s Quest VR headsets, is adding an Xbox Game Pass starter edition that includes a limited amount of cloud gaming time a month.
iPadOS 27 Doesn't Reimagine the iPad, but It Does a Great Job With Siri
13 hours ago Opera says its iOS browser saw monthly active users grow 93% in the UK and 50% in the US during Q2 2026 compared with the same period last year. Here are the details. Opera gains on mobile in the US and UK According to a press release published today, Opera One for iOS saw monthly active users (MAUs) …
iPad Air 2024 Review: The iPad 'Pro' You Should Buy
The basic, standard iPad is the iPad most people I know buy, and the one I most frequently recommend. It's family- and kid-friendly. However, in the past year, the model I typically pick up is the 11-inch M1 iPad Air for its great combo of high-end speed and a not-too-outrageous price. Starting at $600, the 2024 iPad Air is a $250 uptick over the 10th-gen iPad (the current entry-level model) and looks almost the same from a distance.
Xreal's Android XR Aura Glasses Are Coming This Fall, With a Brand New Qualcomm Chip Inside
Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon Reality Elite could show up in a lot more future headsets, but it’s appearing in Google and Xreal’s upcoming Android XR glasses first. It’s promising significant boosts for graphics, battery and AI. In May, I was wowed when I demoed the surprisingly powerful VR-like experience inside Xreal and Google’s Project Aura glasses, which are now being called Xreal Aura and are arriving this fall.
Snap's New Specs Are Chunky, Pricey and I Really Need to Try Them
Earlier this year, I went to a play in New York where all the actors were prerecorded volumetric 3D ghosts. The experience — called An Ark — ran on years-old Magic Leap 2 glasses tethered to my seat, and didn’t work with my eye prescription. It doesn’t have to be that difficult. A new generation of smart glasses is on the way that might help. Case in point: Snap Specs, arriving this fall for $2,195.
Snap's New Specs Are Chunky, Pricey and I Really Want to Try Them
4 hours ago We don't typically go all in on covering Augmented World Expo, which the organizers describe as "the world's largest spatial computing event." But in recent years, more of the companies we report on have attended, presented or made announcements at the event. And today, we expect Snap CEO Evan …
Snap's New Specs Are Chunky, Pricey and I Really Need to Try Them
Now The new Specs are priced at $2,195, and you can preorder them starting today. Snap is finally launching augmented glasses for the public. Specs, which Snap describes as “a wearable computer built into see-through augmented reality glasses,” will cost $2,195. You can preorder a pair of Specs now at …
AWE 2026 Live: Smart Glasses Are Bringing AI to Our Faces
I may have too many devices. Scott Stein/CNET AI is wildly disrupting the world at large, and tech more specifically, and one manifestation of that is the advent of new devices like smart glasses. I’ve been covering the emergence of wearables, virtual reality and augmented reality for over 15 years, but the current moment is more in flux than any I’ve witnessed. This week, I’ll be in Long Beach, California, for AWE 2026, the biggest AR/VR-focused conference of the year.
I'm Letting Siri See My Life on Vision Pro, and It's a Sign of Things to Come
In my office, there are bookshelves where I keep my magic tricks. Next to them are panoramic windows looking out on Paris — except, not really. They’re mixed reality overlays that greet me when I wear Apple’s Vision Pro headset, mapped to my actual windows. A virtual clock hangs on the wall. The bookshelves are real; the Paris windows and wall clock aren’t. But Siri, which I invoke as a glowing orb in front of me, sees them all. When I ask what’s in front of me, Siri’s text box describes it all.
I'm Letting Siri See My Life on Vision Pro, and It's a Sign of Things to Come
Technology 5 hours ago Amazingly, Apple may emerge unscathed from its AI mess - Fast Company Fast Company - BY Harry McCracken • 5h After two embarrassing years in limbo, Siri is looking good. And Apple Intelligence finally seems poised for additional progress. Hello again from Fast Company and welcome back to Plugged In. Throughout its 15-year history, Siri has often seemed to be cursed, or at least an eternal underachiever.
Hey Siri, You're the Framework for Apple's Smart Glasses Now
No, Apple didn’t announce smart glasses at WWDC. Or camera AirPods. Or a folding phone. This developer conference was, as many expected, free of new products. But while this show was all about the new Siri and other AI capabilities, in many ways that’s exactly what’s needed to drive smart glasses and more in the next years. I said this in a preview story ahead of WWDC, and now that the news is out I feel like it’s even more true.
Apple's Vision Pro Sees the World With AI In VisionOS 27
Apple’s Vision Pro hardware, last updated in the fall with an M5 chip, is getting new software upgrades with the latest version of VisionOS announced at WWDC. A big one is Visual Intelligence, camera-aware AI, at long last. It’s exactly the sort of thing Apple’s expected smart glasses, likely arriving next year, are going to need. VisionOS 27 can be previewed now in a developer beta, and there are a handful of little updates that look ready to improve how the headset works this year.
One Year On, Nintendo's Switch 2 Impresses Me More Than Ever
Why You Can Trust CNET Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement Commentary: It’s a rough time for game consoles, but Nintendo’s Switch sequel now seems like a better proposition than it did in 2025. A year ago, I scrambled to give on-the-fly thoughts about the Switch 2 as it arrived on shelves amid a ton of hype.
One Year On, Nintendo's Switch 2 Impresses Me More Than Ever
After spending all week gawking at the new MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, I think I’m finally ready to bid adieu to my beloved Steam Deck MSI’s Claw 8 EX AI+ was far from the only handheld gaming PC on display at Computex 2026, but it was certainly my pick for the one to watch. In its …
Belkin's Pricey New Battery Grip Makes My Switch 2 Feel Like a Steam Deck
The Nintendo Switch 2 is my favorite gaming handheld right now, but its battery life is still a weak point compared to older Switches. Belkin’s new $100 battery pack and grip combo accessory, called the Charging Grip, solves some of the battery issues and even handheld comfort. But it makes the Switch 2 a lot bigger in the process. I’ve been trying an early review sample of the Charging Grip over the last week, and there’s stuff I appreciate.
My Favorite VR Fitness App Supernatural Is Returning, and It Won't Be Owned by Meta
Meta’s slow-motion breakup with many pieces of its VR ecosystem earlier this year let a lot of people down, especially those of us who used the subscription fitness app Supernatural. Although the service essentially stopped making new content earlier this year, it’s now poised for a comeback. And it won’t be owned by Meta. According to a message sent to Supernatural fans Tuesday, the new app is arriving in the fall from an independent company called Supernatural Health.
My Favorite VR Fitness App Supernatural Is Returning, and It Won't Be Owned by Meta
Woojer Vest 4: It's like THX for your torso When I first saw the Woojer vest about seven or eight years ago on Kickstarter, I remember thinking that it sounded fun, but maybe a little gimmicky. …
Acer Says Hey, We Can Do Smart Glasses Too
Age-Related 'Unraveling' of DNA May Be Reversible, Study Suggests The slow march of time is inexorable and irreversible, but that doesn't mean its effects on our bodies have to be etched in stone. One of the more …
Google's AI Health Guidance Is What I've Been Looking for, but I Miss the Fitbit App
Commentary: A few weeks with Fitbit Air helped me through a brutal week of work and hard fun, but is a chat-based AI the right way to do this? After spending all night working on a story about my hands-on time with Google’s upcoming smart glasses, I woke up weary from five hours of sleep. Google Health was sure to make me aware of that: “You’re getting high-quality sleep but not enough of it,” the app said when I opened it. I paid attention.
Xreal's New Budget Display Glasses Can Change Their Look on the Fly
Xreal makes some of my favorite display glasses around, functioning as wearable USB-C tethered monitors in glasses form. Xreal’s new budget pair of $299 display glasses, called a01, is part of a new sub-brand called X by Xreal. They’re significantly less expensive than Xreal’s other glasses and have some clever features their other glasses lack. For the most part, the a01 glasses are more feature-limited compared with the Xreal One Pro and 1S.
Xreal's New Budget Display Glasses Can Change Their Look on the Fly
3 hours ago In The Room | Ex-SNP chief’s embezzlement scandal and the shady role of money in politics The Independent - Cleo Watson and Helen MacNamara • 3h A Dyson floor lamp, a £4,000 fountain pen, boxsets of Scandi noir TV dramas. These are a handful of the items former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell purchased with the £400k he embezzled from the party over the course of a decade. The full list is even longer. Murrell has been remanded in custody and likely faces lengthy prison time.
Yoshi's New Switch 2 Game Is a Lovely Nintendo Wildlife Expedition
Why You Can Trust CNET Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement Yoshi and the Mysterious Book makes me think of my backyard, and Borges. I stare into my overgrown backyard lately, and I see a chonky little critter sitting in the tall grass. Squirrel? No, but we also have those. Rabbit? No, but we have those, too. It sits up. It’s a groundhog.
I Chatted With Google's Lifesize, Hyperreal AI Companion
6 hours ago Indie singer-songwriter Brye has shared a TikTok video revealing that her song Lemons – that notched up 100M streams – was produced in GarageBand on a school iPad with a cheap plug-in mic. The pop singer, whose full name is Bryanna Noelle Sebring, says her experience demonstrates that you don’t need …
Everything We Know About Google's Upcoming Smart Glasses Ahead of I/O
Last December, I wore Google Glasses while they were still under development. At this week’s Google I/O developer conference, we should find out when you’ll be able to get your hands on a pair. Until now, Meta has been the biggest tech company aiming to place a screen on your face in glasses form. But Google’s entering the race with a range of smart glasses, its first return to everyday face tech since Google Glass in 2013.
A Gemini-Fueled Fitbit Could Be the Muscle That Google's Smart Glasses Need
Commentary: Trying out Google’s new Gemini-powered Fitbit makes me wonder if this is the killer companion for Google’s upcoming glasses. I bet it will be. Artificial intelligence for health and fitness is one of the most disturbing — and one of the most promising — things I can think of. For the last few days, it’s been more of the latter. I’m wearing Google’s new Fitbit Air tracker and have access to an early prerelease build of Google Health, which replaces the Fitbit app but adds a Gemini layer.
Google's Glasses Are on Their Way This Year: Here's What to Expect
Last December, I wore Google Glasses in several forms while they were still under development. Soon you’ll be able to get your hands on the final versions. When, exactly, and for how much? We may find out more in just a handful of days. While Meta has been the biggest tech company aiming for a place on your face in glasses form, it’s far from the only one. Google’s about to enter the race with a whole range of smart glasses, the company’s first return to everyday face tech since Google Glass in 2013.
Asus and Xreal's $849 Gaming Display Glasses Are Available for Preorder
There are a lot of smart glasses right now, including a lot of display glasses, which work specifically like plug-in monitors for your face. Xreal makes a number of them. A new set made along with Asus, the ROG Xreal R1, is arriving starting in June. They have a better refresh rate than any other display glasses I’ve seen, but they’re also a lot more expensive for the privilege.
The Steam Controller Wilhelm Scream Easter Egg Is Incredible
Thanks to Reddit, one of the best little secrets of the Valve Steam Controller has been discovered. Now I can’t stop dropping it, because it turns out it makes a Wilhelm scream if it does. I tested it, and can confirm. You don’t even need the controller paired to anything to make it happen. Throughout my several-week review of Valve’s new game controller, I never knew that it made the infamous Wilhelm scream, a stock sound effect that has been used in hundreds of movies, when dropped.
Google Glasses Are Coming Again: Here's What to Expect
Last December, I wore Google Glasses in several forms while they were still under development. Soon you’ll be able to get your hands on the final versions. When, exactly, and for how much? We may find out more in just a handful of days. While Meta has been the biggest tech company aiming for a place on your face in glasses form, it’s far from the only one. Google’s about to enter the race with a whole range of smart glasses, the company’s first return to everyday face tech since Google Glass in 2013.
Surprise! Nintendo's StarFox Remake Hits Switch 2 on June 25
It looks like a remake of StarFox 64, but the visuals look impressive. Fox McCloud, appearing in Super Mario Galaxy, already seemed to telegraph that Nintendo had some sort of StarFox game up its sleeve sooner or later. On Wednesday, Nintendo surprise-dropped news that StarFox is headed to Switch 2 very soon, although it’s not a totally brand-new game. StarFox is a remake of the critically acclaimed StarFox 64, a Nintendo 64 game that can already be played on the N64 app on Nintendo Switch Online.
iPad Pro M5 Review: Closer Than Ever to the Future Mac
Why You Can Trust CNET Years of Experience Hands-on Product Reviewers 6,0007,0008,0009,00010,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000 Sq. Feet of Lab Space CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. 8.8 / 10 Score CNET provides expert, unbiased reviews of products and services. When we assign a score, we use a scale of 1-10.
Viture Beast Review: I Think I Found My New Favorite Display Glasses
Excellent big, bright micro OLED displays Surprisingly strong sound Deep controls to adjust picture size and position Dimmable lenses Works with a variety of USB-C ready devices Glasses still feel a bit bulky Lacks built-in eye-prescription diopter that other models have Maybe you’ve never considered putting a monitor on your face. Maybe you don’t consider the concept to be very interesting. My question is, Have you ever tried it?
Valve's New Steam Controller, Coming May 4, May Be My Favorite Controller, Period
It’s a fantastic Steam Deck extension for your TV, and a lot more. Article updated on April 27, 2026 at 10:00 AM PDT Our Experts Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. Guess what?
Tim Cook Only Half Solved Tech We Wear on Our Faces. Now It's Ternus' Turn
Commentary: One big product frontier still looms for Apple. Will smart glasses have their AirPods moment at last? A decade ago, I wore AirPods in my ears and people wondered what the heck I was doing. Nobody asks that question anymore: AirPods have become one of the greatest product success stories of the Tim Cook years at Apple, iconic white buds that I see people wear practically nonstop. The Vision Pro was another story.
These $299 Glasses Are Like an HDR TV on Your Face
TCL’s budget Air 4 Pro display glasses, reviewed: They’re great for movies, not so good for work or audio. No one needs a TV they can wear on their face. But it’s fun. I’ve been living with display glasses for years now, and I’m pretty shocked with how good they’re getting. It’s also made me curious about how comparatively good different models can be. Xreal and Viture’s latest glasses look like 1080p big-screen TVs floating in front of your eyes, with impressive clarity for their size.
It's Always Surreal in Philadelphia, Where Art Meets AI in a Sweeping Space
Philadelphia’s Ministry of Awe is a multilevel art installation and immersive house of oddities that uses AI in subtle and fascinating ways. I took a visit, and I’m totally coming back. Climbing up flights of stairs in a bank building full of rooms draped in surrealist art, tunnels with lurking beasts called “skin horses” and exhibits of keepsakes imaginary and real, I find myself looking at an art mural across a domed ceiling that I can explore with instruments next to me.
PlayStation Prices Increasing Next Week: Prepare for $900 for a PS5 Pro
Welcome to the world of the $650 PS5, $900 PS5 Pro and $250 Portal. Increasing prices across the board are becoming a plague now, fueled by everything from tariffs to wars to the AI industry’s devouring of hardware components. Sony’s PlayStation hardware is the latest to get an increase, according to a blog post from the company on Friday. It’s the second such hike, in fact, after 2025’s price bumps.
Nintendo's $20 Switch 2 Upgrade for Super Mario Wonder Is Worth It for the Extras
Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s Bellabel Park DLC is here this week, but it’s more about lots of chaotic multiplayer minigames than new courses. I want a new Super Mario Bros. Switch 2 game as much as anyone, but almost a year into the console’s first year, it hasn’t happened yet. Mario Kart? Mario Tennis? Mario Party? Yes. New Yoshi game? That’s happening soon, too. And now, we have the next closest thing: The wonderful 2023 Super Mario Bros.
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