It’s the preschool show that adults love too, and there’s a triple helping of the Heeler family on deck, as Bluey hit fans with yet another new standalone episode featuring the cattle dogs from Brisbane.
Coming hot on the heels of season 3, the first of the new episodes in April, Ghostbasket, promised the return of two classic characters, with Bluey and Bingo’s granny alter-egos Janet and Rita making an appearance.
Even bigger news for fans of the 2D animation was the release of The Sign, the show’s longest episode yet, which clocked in at 28 minutes — the equivalent of four normal Bluey episodes. The special saw the Heeler family getting ready for “the wedding of the year” between babysitter Frisky and their uncle Radley. And then Disney rolled out Surprise this past weekend, with Bluey and Bingo dragooning their dad into two games at once.
Find out by following our guide on how to watch all the new Bluey episodes and why a VPN could be a useful tool.
When did the Bluey episodes ‘The Sign’ and ‘Surprise’ come out?
The Sign was released on Disney Plus on April 14, and on April 20, Disney announced a pop-up episode called Surprise, which dropped on April 21. Viewers could watch the series on ABC Kids in Australia, and globally on Disney Junior, Disney Channel and Disney Plus.
How to watch new Bluey episodes ‘Surprise’ and ‘The Sign’ in Australia for free
Australia’s ABC iview carries the series on-demand in the country.
How to watch new Bluey episodes ‘The Sign’ and ‘Surprise’ in the US, UK and Canada
The latest episodes of Bluey are available to stream in the UK, US and Canada on Disney Plus, with Ghostbucket, The Sign and Surprise all on the platform now.
Disney Plus’ ad-free service costs more in the US, but you can also try out the new ad-free Disney bundle, which launched in September. The service’s ad-free tier increased to $140 a year or $14 a month, and an ad-based tier is also offered which costs $8 per month (with no option to pay annually). Read more on how we tested Disney Plus’ ad-supported tier and what to expect with the price hike.
How to watch new Bluey episodes from anywhere using a VPN
Perhaps you’re traveling abroad and want to stream the new Bluey episodes while away from home. With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the series from anywhere in the world. There are other good reasons to use a VPN for streaming too.
A VPN is the best way to encrypt your traffic and stop your ISP from throttling your speeds. Using a VPN is also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network and want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins. Streaming TV can be a bit smoother with a reliable, quality VPN that’s passed our tests and security standards.
You can use a VPN to stream content legally as long as VPNs are allowed in your country and you have a valid subscription to the streaming service you’re using. The US and Canada are among the countries where VPNs are legal, but we advise against streaming or downloading content on illegal torrent sites. We recommend ExpressVPN, but you may opt for another provider from our best list, such as Surfshark or NordVPN.
Follow the VPN provider’s instructions for installation and choose a country where Bluey is streaming on Disney Plus. Before you open the streaming app, make sure you’re connected to your VPN using your selected region. If you want to stream the TV show on more than one device, it’s possible you’ll need to configure each one to ensure you’re signed in. Go to settings and check your network connections to verify you’re logged in and connected to your VPN account. Now you’re ready to open Disney Plus to stream.
If you run into issues with streaming, first make sure your VPN is up and running on its encrypted IP address. Double-check that you’ve followed installation instructions correctly and you’ve picked the right geographical area for viewing. If you still encounter connection problems, you may need to reboot your device. Close all apps and windows, restart your device and connect to your VPN first. Note that some streaming services have restrictions on VPN access.
Arsenal have the opportunity of putting daylight between them and title rivals Man City and Liverpool, as they host Chelsea in Tuesday’s London derby at the Emirates.
After a battling 2-0 away win against Wolves on Saturday, the Gunners could open up a 4-point gap at the top of the English Premier League.
Having lost to Man City in their FA Cup semifinal clash at Wembley at the weekend, a top-seven finish now represents Chelsea’s only hope of qualifying for Europe next season, making a win here just as vital for the Blues.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the game live wherever you are in the world.
Arsenal vs. Chelsea: When and where?
Arsenal host Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium in north London on Tuesday, April 23. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. BST, which is 3 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. PT in the US and Canada, and 5 a.m. AEST on Wednesday, April 24, in Australia.
How to watch the Arsenal vs. Chelsea game online from anywhere using a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view the game locally, you may need a different way to watch the game — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. So if your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, non-blackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.
Livestream Arsenal vs. Chelsea in the US
Tuesday’s Arsenal vs. Chelsea match is streaming on USA Network, which you can access as part of your cable package or at the NBC Sports website with a valid login, and can be streamed via Sling TV and other more expensive streaming TV services.
Livestream the Arsenal vs. Chelsea game in the UK
Premier League rights in the UK are split between Sky Sports, Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports (previously known as BT Sport). Arsenal vs. Chelsea is exclusive to Sky Sports, showing on its Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League and Ultra channels. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream the game via its Sky Go app, but cord-cutters will want to get set up with a Now account and a Now Sports membership to stream the game.
Livestream the Arsenal vs. Chelsea game in Canada
If you want to stream Arsenal vs. Chelsea live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to Fubo. The service has exclusive rights for this Premier League season.
Livestream the Arsenal vs. Chelsea game in Australia
Football fans Down Under can watch this EPL fixture on streaming service Optus Sport, which is showing every single Premier League game live in Australia this season.
Quick tips for streaming the Premier League using a VPN
With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming EPL matches may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
Season 10 of Overwatch 2 brings back the best part of Overwatch 1 (instant access to new heroes), alongside the usual suite of seasonal goodies, plus a new limited-time mode. It’s a strong showing after the significant changes in season 9, which changed health pools for all heroes and added size changes for all damage projectiles. The new season launched on Tuesday, April 16, and while it’s a little light on balance changes, there’s plenty for new and returning players to like.
Here’s your guide to Overwatch 2 Season 10.
Mirrorwatch swaps the forces of good and evil
I haven’t been this excited about a seasonal event and battle pass theme since season 4’s space opera theme. Season 10 introduces Mirrorwatch, an alternate universe where the heroes of Overwatch and the villains of Talon have switched sides — with Doomfist, Sombra and Widowmaker leading Overwatch against villainous versions of Ana, Reinhardt and Mercy. Some skins are available in the battle pass, while others can be purchased in the shop. (I can’t tell you whether the Arch-Commandant Ana skin is worth $40 for the ultimate battle pass, but I personally couldn’t resist.)
The Mirrorwatch limited-time event starts today, giving heroes twists on their usual abilities, like Doomfist’s Power Block providing a shield for his team. The Mirrorwatch event pits the twisted versions of Overwatch and Talon against each other on the Watchpoint Gibraltar map and will be available until May 13.
New Hero: Venture
The first new damage hero since Sojourn joined the roster at launch, Venture is a dynamic addition to the game. Their excavation drill quickly grinds down enemies at close range, and both of their abilities offer neat mobility options. Venture’s ultimate ability blasts powerful shockwaves in a conical pattern, and enemies who get hit take major damage and are launched several feet into the air
I played Venture a few weeks ago during the trial weekend and had a blast. When playing the damage role, I typically prefer sniper heroes like Ashe and Widowmaker, but I really enjoyed how fluid and dynamic Venture’s kit was. Unlike previous hero releases, Overwatch 2 has made Venture immediately available in competitive mode.
New heroes freed from battle pass jail
One of the biggest complaints about Overwatch 2 when it launched was that new heroes were stuck behind battle passes. Players could unlock them at tier 45 on the free battle pass, or buy the premium battle pass for $10 that season to get immediate access. This was a drastic change from Overwatch 1, where every new hero was released to everyone for free.
In a developer update last month, Overwatch 2 Game Director Aaron Keller announced that new heroes would be immediately available to all players starting in season 10, no battle pass required. This is an enormous improvement for the game, removing a point of friction for returning players and giving new players the opportunity to jump in if a new hero piques their interest. This is the best change the game has made since it launched in October 2022.
More ways to unlock mythic skins
Mythic skins are among the coolest features Overwatch 2 added to the game, allowing players to customize the look of their heroes and enjoy unique voice lines, visual effects and sound effects — like the lightning bolts that strike players when Zeus Junker Queen lands a knife toss on them. In past seasons, the premium battle pass allowed players to unlock only the mythic skin introduced that season. But starting in Season 10, players can earn mythic prisms, which can be used to unlock mythic skins from any season, including this season’s Vengeance Mercy. Players can earn mythic prisms in the premium battle pass or purchase them separately from the store. If you’re not a fan of this season’s mythic and you missed out on an earlier mythic, you now have the ability to save up and pull something from the vault.
New game mode trial: Clash
For the first two weeks of the season, you can try out an upcoming game mode called Clash. As Blizzard describes it in its Season 10 blog post: “This ultimate tug-of-war challenges teams to capture points along a linear path. With five capture points strategically placed on a mirrored map, teams must deftly maneuver to capture and defend points to clinch victory.”
Clash feels like a cross between the Flashpoint and Push game modes, where you’re fighting over capture points, but the areas you’re fighting over change location as you or your opponents successfully take control. My early experience is that it’s fast and frantic with less downtime than other game modes. Clash will be available until April 29 and will formally enter the map rotation in a future season.
Grouping changes in competitive
Overwatch is answering a long-requested change by allowing players to queue for competitive matches regardless of their ranks. No more getting left behind by your grandmaster friend while the rest of you languish in plat, or leaving your silver friends behind when you hit diamond. Now, competitive groups are classified as either narrow (players are close in ranks) or wide (players are uncommonly far apart in rank, or are queuing in the grandmaster or champion ranks regardless of rank disparity).
Wide groups will face longer queue times and lower rank gains the larger the gaps are between the ranks of your team members. If you’re in a wide group, the system will notify you before you queue up for a game. According to a developer blog post, the matchmaker will attempt to match wide groups against wide groups and narrow groups against narrow groups, which means wide groups of four players are not allowed (thus sparing solo players from being thrown into a game with a wide group of strangers). Good news, solo players: You’re now queuing exclusively against other solo players and narrow groups.
The latest edition of Adobe’s Firefly generative AI model is out, promising better images and prompt analysis, along with the ability to add new details and work faster.
According to Adobe, Firefly has generated over 7 billion images since its debut in March 2023. It has also helped the nearly 40-year-old image-editing software Photoshop realize a 30% year-over-year increase in users, said Zeke Koch, vice president of generative AI product management.
Now, as competitors like Google and OpenAI push into Adobe’s visual turf with gen AI tools like Gemini and Sora, Adobe wants to remind users of its prowess in visual content.
The Firefly Image 3 Foundation Model offers “massive advancements to quality and control,” Adobe says.
That includes more photorealistic images thanks to better lighting, positioning and attention to detail — particularly when it comes to rendering people, including emotions.
If you look closely at AI-generated images, you’ll likely notice certain details like hands or clothing aren’t quite right, or are sometimes blatantly weird. This is what Adobe sought to address in the latest model — in part by offering what Koch referred to as “photographic detail.”
That would be an improvement from earlier this year, when CNET’s Stephen Shankland found that “Firefly images suffered plenty of the common generative AI problems like weird anatomy and unreal rendering of areas where two subjects come into contact.”
For expert reviews of other generative AI tools like Gemini, Claude, ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, along with all the latest AI news, tips and explainers, see CNET’s new AI Atlas guide.
Adobe also says that Firefly Image 3 has a better understanding of text prompts and scenes, which means you can input long, complex prompts to get precisely what you want.
“We made a new version of Firefly that’s about twice as big inside,” Koch said. “And because it’s twice as big, it has twice as much of an understanding of the world [and] it generates images that are way more photographically detailed.”
Firefly Image 3 is available in beta via Photoshop and firefly.adobe.com. That means you can try it out and provide feedback, but you can’t use the tool commercially. A spokesperson said it will be more widely available later this year.
On Tuesday, Adobe also announced the addition of new editing features to Photoshop, which are powered by Firefly Image 3. They include the ability to use reference images to generate new content, as well as to create and replace backgrounds and fine-tune images. Firefly is also coming to publishing software InDesign.
The goal is to help users bring their ideas to life more quickly. As a result, even novice users can find their way around Photoshop and become more advanced users more quickly, said John Metzger, director of product management of gentech AI in Photoshop.
Editors’ note: CNET used an AI engine to help create several dozen stories, which are labeled accordingly. The note you’re reading is attached to articles that deal substantively with the topic of AI but are created entirely by our expert editors and writers. For more, see our AI policy.
Apple hasn’t had a new iPad in years, but the wait should be over in a few weeks.
An invite for a virtual Apple event appeared in my inbox this morning, scheduled for May 7 at 7 a.m. PT (10 a.m. ET). The invite, which says “Let Loose,” shows a hand holding an Apple Pencil. Considering the iPad is the only device that uses the Apple Pencil, that doesn’t leave much to the imagination.
Apple’s been expected to release new OLED-screened iPad Pros with newly designed Pencils and Magic Keyboard cases. New iPad Airs are also expected, including a larger-screened 12.9-inch model. Apple’s iPad Air lineup tends to be slightly redesigned versions of previous-model iPad Pros, so just look to the M2 iPad Pro lineup for a sense of what the next Airs could be. These would be the first new iPads since the iPad Pro M2 model arrived in late 2022.
Budget iPads aren’t expected to be on tap here: Both the entry-level iPad and iPad Mini may not get updated until sometime in the fall. In the meantime, Apple will likely push new creative uses for these higher-end iPads, and justify what could end up being a significantly higher price for the revamped OLED-screened models. The Pro modes are also expected to have M3 processors, and all the iPads should finally have front cameras centered on the landscape edge for better-framed video chats when docked with a keyboard, like the 10th-gen iPad has (and all MacBooks).
There are two open-ended questions I have: Will iPads and Pencils become more hooked-in to the Apple Vision Pro? And will iPads become more of a Mac replacement than they currently are? The answer to both is probably no for now, but with Apple’s software-focused WWDC conference only a month afterwards, it’s an interesting time to release new pro hardware.
Time to cue up Natasha Bedingfield. Anyone But You, the rom-com starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, is now available to stream on Netflix.
The film originally opened in theaters during the 2023 holiday season. It was the highest-grossing romantic comedy in recent years, earning over $200 million globally, according to Variety. After leaving theaters, it became available to rent on demand. And now, Netflix subscribers can stream the R-rated flick at home. Alongside Sweeney and Powell, the cast includes Darren Barnet, Alexandra Shipp, Hadley Robinson, GaTa and Charlee Fraser.
Here’s what you need to know about streaming Anyone But You and why you may want to consider using a VPN to stream it.
For more, check out what streaming services to keep in April and the best VPNs for Netflix.
What to know about Anyone But You
Anyone But You has an intriguing premise: rom-com king Glen Powell and Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney star in a loose, modern adaption of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. If you’re not the biggest fan of the Bard, that means two household names take on some classic rom-com tropes, including enemies to lovers and fake dating.
The movie features the song Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield, an early-2000s pop anthem. Powell’s character Ben refers to it as his “serenity song” in the movie, and like all good rom-coms, we get an end-credits montage of the whole cast singing along. It also led to a series of TikToks of folks dancing to the song in theaters after the movie ended.
When to watch Anyone But You on Netflix
Sony Pictures’ Anyone But You is available to stream on Netflix now, beginning Tuesday, April 23. If you only have the ad-supported plan for $7 per month, you will not be able to watch the movie. Other Netflix plans, including the standard and standard plus, will have the flick. Previous Sony movies, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and No Hard Feelings, were restricted to these more expensive plans due to licensing agreements.
How to watch Anyone But You from anywhere with a VPN
Perhaps you’re traveling abroad and want to stream Netflix while away from home. With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the movie from anywhere in the world. There are other good reasons to use a VPN for streaming, too.
A VPN is the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds by encrypting your traffic. Using a VPN is also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins. Streaming TV can be a bit smoother with a reliable, quality VPN that’s passed our tests and security standards.
You can use a VPN to stream content legally as long as VPNs are legal in your country and you have a valid subscription to the streaming service you’re using. The US and Canada are among the countries where VPNs are legal, but we advise against streaming or downloading content on illegal torrent sites. We recommend ExpressVPN, but you may opt for another provider from our best list such as Surfshark or NordVPN.
Follow the VPN provider’s instructions for installation and choose a country where Anyone But You is streaming on Netflix. Before you open the streaming app, make sure you’re connected to your VPN using your selected region. If you want to stream the rom-com on more than one device, it’s possible you’ll need to configure each one to ensure you are signed in. Go to settings and check your network connections to verify you’re logged in and connected to your VPN account. Now you’re ready to open Netflix to stream.
If you run into issues with streaming, first make sure your VPN is up and running on its encrypted IP address. Double-check that you’ve followed installation instructions correctly and you’ve picked the right geographical area for viewing. If you still encounter connection problems, you may need to reboot your device. Close all apps and windows, restart your device and connect to your VPN first. Note that some streaming services have restrictions on VPN access.
It’s happened a few times before. I’m in the middle of nowhere, out in the wilderness, trying to get a cell signal, but I’m having no luck. I see that my phone says SOS in the corner, which means I don’t have service, but can make emergency calls if needed.
However, this isn’t an emergency. I just want to be able to use my phone to use my maps or quickly Google something.
Eventually, I make my way back to civilization, to a place where I should definitely have service, but for some reason, I still don’t. That pesky SOS is still in the corner of my screen, and no matter how high I raise my iPhone to the sky, I still can’t get access to the internet.
What gives?
In this story, we’ll take a look at what Emergency SOS via Satellite is and what you can do when your iPhone gets stuck in Emergency SOS mode. Here’s what you need to know.
While you’re here, check out how to use Emergency SOS via Satellite to contact 911 and how to prevent your iPhone from automatically calling 911.
What exactly is Emergency SOS via Satellite?
Patrick Holland has a pretty great explainer on the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature, which you can check out here. In short, Emergency SOS via Satellite is a feature on the iPhone 14 and later that allows you to get in contact with emergency services and share your location with them, even if you don’t have cellular network service.
Whenever you don’t have cellular service or Wi-Fi, you’ll see an SOS in the corner of your iPhone, indicating that you can use Emergency SOS via Satellite to get emergency help.
Note: There’s also Emergency SOS on every iPhone, and while this feature does call your local emergency number and share your location information with emergency services, it requires you to have service. It’s not the same as Emergency SOS via Satellite.
So what’s the problem?
Once your iPhone loses service and is in Emergency SOS mode, your device might have trouble finding your network, even if you’re back in an area that has service. You might notice that someone else in the area has service while you don’t, or vice versa. Luckily, there are various ways to tackle this issue.
Read more: Best iPhone in 2024
What to do if you’re stuck in Emergency SOS mode
According to Apple, if you see “SOS” or “SOS only” in the status bar, you can do the following to help your device find a cellular network:
Make sure that you’re in an area with cellular network coverage. You can check in with people around you who have service, while you don’t.
Turn your cellular data off and on. Go to Settings > Cellular and turn Cellular Data off and back on.
Restart your iPhone. On the iPhone X and later, hold either of the volume buttons and the side button until the power off slider appears, and then drag the slider. Wait 30 seconds and then press and hold down on the side button to turn your iPhone back on. If you have an older iPhone model, here’s how to restart it.
Check for a carrier settings update. Your carrier may send out a carrier settings update to improve your cellular network connectivity and performance. As long as you’re connected to the internet, go to Settings > General > About and check to see if there is an update available.
Turn your cellular line off and on. Go to Settings > Cellular > your phone number and turn your cellular line off and on. If you’re not using an eSIM, remove the SIM card from your phone and put it back in.
Update your iPhone. If the software has a bug, it may be causing issues with your cellular service. To check for a software update, go to Settings > General > Software Update. You’ll need internet for this to work, so Wi-Fi would be your only option if you can’t connect to cellular.
Reset your network settings. WARNING: this will reset all your Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings and VPN settings, so only do this if you’ve tried all of the above first. If you’re fine with that, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset NetworkSettings.
Lastly, if network connection issues persist, Apple suggests contacting your phone carrier in case there are issues with your carrier or account that could be affecting your service, like outages in your area or an unpaid account.
If you’re traveling internationally, and get stuck on SOS when you arrive, make sure that data roaming is enabled. You can go to Settings > Cellular > your phone number and toggle on Data Roaming.
For more, read what’s brewing in the iPhone 16 rumor mill.
Lately, I’ve developed a habit I’m not proud of. Whenever I feel overwhelmed or anxious, my immediate instinct is to reach for my phone, open up TikTok and find solace in mindless videos offering comic relief or a temporary escape from reality. I suspect this impulse to flee to my device is a common one.
It’s enjoyable in the moment, as I’m scrolling through videos that keenly tap into my interest areas. But once it’s time to put down my phone, reality sets in. The weight of the time I’ve wasted, along with the problem that still stands poised before me, waiting to be tackled, overshadows any temporary high.
See also: Excessive Screen Time Costs Billions, Report Says. Here’s What It Costs Your Health
As our lives have shifted increasingly online, it’s no secret that our dependence on smartphones has also escalated. But this can lead to unhealthy behaviors, like endlessly scrolling through social media or remaining glued to our tiny screens for hours on end. Around 57% of Americans say they’re addicted to their phones, according to a 2023 survey by Reviews.org. Additionally, Americans spend an average of 4 hours and 25 minutes on their mobile devices each day – an increase of 30% over 2022, the study found.
That sense of reliance can create a harmful, somewhat paradoxical relationship with our devices. A Pew Research survey from March found that 72% of US teens say they feel “peaceful” when they don’t have their smartphone, while 44% say it makes them anxious. These feelings aren’t limited to teenagers; as a 30-year-old who finds herself reaching for her phone far too often, and feeling a mixture of relief and unease when I’m without it, I wholeheartedly relate.
“Phones have become like a security blanket,” says psychologist Carder Stout. If someone who’s more introverted walks into a restaurant and is waiting for a friend, for instance, they might feel anxious or uncomfortable and instinctively reach for their phone.
“All of a sudden, when they start scrolling, they feel safe,” Stout adds. “They feel this sense that they’re connected to something, whether it’s texting another friend or looking at social media.”
Incessant scrolling can also be a procrastination tool. You might immerse yourself in social media to avoid a task or for a temporary reprieve from whatever’s on your mind.
“It’s just so easy to turn on your phone and look at something else to distract yourself,” says clinical psychologist Paul Losoff. “Over time, your brain starts to recognize that this feels good…That’s where some may argue that it’s the same thing as an addictive process where your brain just craves more and more of it.”
Each notification or social media “like” can offer a hit of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that gives feelings of pleasure. Ginger Pennington, an associate professor of psychology at Northwestern University, compares the experience of scrolling through social media to “retail therapy.”
“We just want some kind of emotional fix to feel good,” she notes. “And if making a little purchase makes us feel good, or getting a little sound bite off TikTok or a little funny video will make us feel good – it’s just seeking that mental, psychological, emotional reward.”
It doesn’t help that apps are “designed to tap into our addictive tendencies,” as Joseph Trunzo, psychology professor at Bryant University, puts it. Along with dopamine hits from high-performing posts, platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels use unpredictability to keep us scrolling. Not every video will make you laugh or resonate with you, so you might keep scrolling until you find one that does. Constantly thinking that next gem is just within reach makes it harder to put down your phone, Pennington says. And once you come across that great video, there’s more of an incentive to keep scrolling to find the next one.
“There are so many ways these platforms are being engineered to play on our psychology,” says Juliana Schroeder, an associate professor at the University of California, Berkeley, “and keep our eyeballs on the screen.”
The effects of endless scrolling
Being glued to your phone can not only impact memory (remember when you could memorize a phone number?) and focus, but it can also take a toll on real-life relationships. If everyone has their phones out while at dinner, for example, that can diminish the quality of time spent together.
“Humans aren’t well set up to multitask in that way,” Schroeder says. “It takes away the focus from offline interactions.”
There’s an understandably heightened focus on screen time’s impact on younger, more vulnerable minds that are still developing. Instagram caused outrage among child advocates when it shared plans in 2021 to launch a platform for kids under 13 – an effort that the company ultimately put on hold. And its parent company Meta (then Facebook) came under fire after its own researchers found Instagram is “harmful for a sizable percentage” of young users, particularly teenage girls.
Competitor TikTok has also faced its fair share of criticism for surfacing harmful content. And while the app’s “For You” feed does an excellent job of pinpointing users’ interests, I can confirm it also does a great job of ensnaring you for hours on end. Its streamlined interface is designed to keep you scrolling.
Android and iOS have screen time tools to help you mitigate time spent on your favorite apps. Social media companies have also introduced safety and mental health measures to curb criticism, like hiding likes on Instagram or limiting teens’ screen time on TikTok by default. A TikTok spokesperson noted the company uses a combination of technologies and moderation teams to pinpoint and remove content that violates its community guidelines, and has well-being tools like a screen time dashboard that summarizes how long someone’s spent on the app. But some say it’s not enough.
“They can tell us all day long that they’re not doing anything nefarious, or they’re trying to minimize harm to kids,” says Losoff. “And while they may believe that, and while they may be taking steps, they’re still trying to get kids’ eyeballs on the screen for longer.”
These concerns about the effects of modern-day technology aren’t novel; they’ve existed since the advent of radio and television. But our collective obsession with our phones and social media differs in a key way: “We’re not with our TV set all day long,” Pennington notes. Social media companies have also found ways to serve us personalized content in ways traditional media never could, using algorithms and by tracking our behavior, like whether we click on an ad or how long we watch a video.
“Before, a phone was just a phone, and now it’s a mini computer that’s more easy to use and accessible than any real computer,” says Sheehan Fisher, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University. “It’s almost something that’s learning you better than you know yourself.”
How to break your endless scrolling habit
So what can you do if, like me, you want to spend less time on your phone? Here’s what experts suggest.
Don’t use your phone as your alarm. Get a physical alarm clock, so that your phone isn’t the last thing you see before you go to sleep and the first thing you check when you wake up. I can confirm it’s a slippery slope; once I set or turn off my phone alarm, it’s easy to check TikTok or Instagram, and I ultimately end up spending more time staring at a screen than I anticipated.
If you want to take things a step further, you can even leave your phone in a separate room, as CNET mobile reporter David Lumb did to improve his sleep. Doing so could eliminate the temptation to check it as you drift off. And when you wake up in the morning, you won’t be able to reach over and start your day by scrolling through TikTok videos (guilty!).
You can also set designated days to be fully unplugged, like Sundays, suggests Losoff. Put your phone away and have a screen time detox.
If that sounds too challenging, you can do what my colleague Jessica Fierro suggests and utilize Focus modes on your iPhone or Android phone. You can create custom settings to silence or allow certain notifications during designated times. For example, you can set a focus mode for work and select which people and apps to receive notifications from. That way, I can get calls and texts from my mom, but block pings from Instagram or TikTok that could distract me.
You can also go into your phone’s settings and turn on grayscale mode to make looking at typically colorful posts less appealing. However, Schroeder notes those features “don’t seem to work that well, because they’re so annoying that people don’t stick with them.”
And while I’m still on this journey of limiting screen time, I’ve found it helps to delete apps I don’t want to use as much, like X (formerly Twitter), and to remove others from my home screen to tap into the “out of sight, out of mind” approach. That extends to work-related apps like Slack, so I have less reason to check my phone or be lured by yet another notification badge on my home screen. In fact, Stout recommends only working from a computer when you’re at home, to create separation between your professional and personal life and make it easier to focus on quality time with loved ones. In other words, don’t multitask by sending emails from your phone while having a conversation with your kids or eating dinner.
“Your work time is your work time, and your social time or your time with family then becomes something else,” Stout says. “But you’re not doing them simultaneously.”
I’ve also been making an effort to bring a book or Kindle with me wherever I go, so if I’m waiting at a restaurant or on the train, I can focus on something that can’t get notifications to read instead of mindlessly scrolling.
Stout says it comes down to setting realistic goals so you don’t feel unmotivated or despondent if you can’t give up scrolling cold turkey. If you spend two hours on social media, cut it down to one hour. After some time, you might find that you can cut that down to half an hour.
“You want to set achievable goals for yourself, and ones that work for you,” he says. “Ones that ultimately are going to make you feel good and give you self esteem, which is, ‘You know what, I set that goal and I achieved it, and I feel really good about myself.’”
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I am very much a part of the Apple ecosystem. I’ve used MacBooks, iPads and the iPhone for over a decade. But somehow, I’ve never tried the Apple Watch, that is, until now. Why not? Well, I was happy with checking the time and how many steps I walked per day on my iPhone. But I didn’t realize the breadth of additional data the Apple Watch could offer about my workouts, sleeping habits and more. Plus, I’ve been trying to become less reliant on my smartphone. So I wore a cellular Apple Watch Series 9 for a week to see if it could help me spend less time scrolling on my iPhone and more time practicing self-care (Watch the video above to see what my first week with the Apple Watch Series 9 looked like.)
Before I started using the Series 9, my daily average iPhone screen time was 9 hours, 3 minutes — i.e. much higher than I would’ve liked it to be. I’ve been trying to reduce that number. So last month, I replaced my iPhone 15 Pro Max with a Nokia flip phone and while that did lower my screen time, it also made me anxious. I would compare my iPhone to an adult pacifier that I subconsciously reach for when I’m stressed or bored. So cutting it out of my life was difficult for me, hence the anxiety that came with temporarily adopting the flip phone.
I wanted to try a cellular Apple Watch because it covers a lot of the key functions of my smartphone. You can use it to call, text, listen to music on Spotify, access your cards with Apple Pay and navigate with Maps, even if your iPhone isn’t around. So I was hoping it would make me use my 15 Pro Max less, without having to get rid of it entirely.
In light of that goal, after I set up my Apple Watch, I went on a walk without my smartphone. You’ll have to read to the end of this article to find out what my screen time was after my first week with the Series 9, but I will say, that initial walk without my 15 Pro Max was kind of life-changing.
The cellular Series 9 is a game-changer for outdoor walks
I usually bring my iPhone on walks to stay connected to friends and family and to listen to music. Using a Series 9 with cellular made me realize I don’t need my smartphone for those things; I can do them all on my watch. While it initially felt weird to leave my phone at home, I didn’t miss it once I was walking. I’ve actually come to prefer walks without my iPhone. I’m so much more present when I don’t even have the option to scroll on my socials. The 15 Pro Max is heavy, so it’s very nice to not have to carry it around.
Speaking into my watch on phone calls kind of makes me feel like a cool spy. I like to use my AirPods when I’m out in a noisy environment because it’s easier for me to hear the other person, and vice-versa.
Messaging on the Apple Watch isn’t my fave (but I still appreciate that I can do it at all)
The Series 9 has a new feature called Double Tap where you touch your pointer finger and thumb together twice on the hand you’re wearing your watch on. You can use it to do things like responding to a message or answering a call without touching the device. On my first day wearing the watch, my CNET colleague, Abrar Al-Heeti, sent me a Slack message to ask if I wanted to take a coffee break. I used Double Tap to reply with dictation.
Messaging is where I use Double Tap the most. Still, I don’t find myself making this gesture often, simply because I’m not used to it yet. Maybe that’ll change over time.
As you can see, I wasn’t great at dictation at first (I accidentally said “send” aloud so it was included in my response to Abrar). And although I’ve gotten better at it, I still don’t love using it. Dictation inserts a lot of periods, which makes my messages sound more serious than intended.
I also don’t love pecking at the keyboard to type, because the Apple Watch screen is pretty tiny. I think the easiest way to compose a message is by continuously moving my finger from letter to letter on the keyboard. Even this method doesn’t always result in perfect messages, so I still prefer texting on my iPhone if it’s around. I appreciate that the Apple Watch allows me to see and reply to important messages even when my iPhone isn’t around. It’s also worth mentioning that I have a 41-millimeter Apple Watch because my wrist is small, but there’s a 45-millimeter option that’s probably easier to type on.
I love having Apple Pay, Spotify and Maps on my wrist
I really appreciate that the Apple Watch allows me to pay for stuff without having my wallet or phone with me. I also love that I can listen to music on Spotify. I do wish the watch version had a search bar. If I’m on my Apple Watch, I can only choose from songs in my library or songs Spotify recommends to me, but sometimes I want to listen to something totally random. (Yes, I’m team Spotify; sorry Apple Music.)
If you read my last story on my Nokia flip phone journey, you know I don’t have a great sense of direction. Having Maps on my Apple Watch was very helpful. I never got used to the haptics telling me when to turn, so I just read the instructions on-screen. That didn’t bother me: I was just happy to have those directions, especially when going for walks without my phone.
I had so much confidence in my cellular Apple Watch that I even went to a concert without my iPhone. While I was more present, I wouldn’t do that again. I briefly lost my friend in the crowd and it would have been so much easier to call and text her on my smartphone. I couldn’t type my messages to her as quickly as I would’ve liked to on that tiny screen. Because I forgot my AirPods, it was pretty hard for us to hear each other on a call above the noise of the crowd.
I get the hype around closing those Activity rings
I’ve been hearing my Apple Watch friends talk about closing their Activity rings for years, and now I get it. While I was very enthusiastic about getting active on my first day with the Series 9 watch, by day two, I was tired and didn’t want to leave the house. My watch encouraging me to close those rings inspired me to get up and walk anyway. Once I was walking, I didn’t regret it. The fresh air and movement did make me feel so much better.
While I already have workouts I like to follow on YouTube, I tried a Fitness Plus core workout and loved the Apple Watch integration. I appreciated that when I started the Fitness Plus video on my iPhone, it automatically began tracking the workout on my Apple Watch. I loved that I could pause the video (and workout) from my watch, too.
I really only use my Series 9 to see how close I am to closing my rings and, occasionally, how many steps I’ve taken. To a first-time smartwatch user like me, the breadth of data the Apple Watch tracks is impressive (e.g. flights climbed, humidity during an outdoor walk, and so on). As I continue to incorporate fitness into my life, I’m interested to see if I’ll dig into this data more. While there are plenty of smartwatches out there that track the same stats as the Apple Watch (or more), the data I get with the Series 9 is still impressive to a newcomer like me.
I also liked the Mindfulness app, which encourages you to take a moment to breathe, reflect and record how you’re feeling. The activities are short, but they’re enough to take a beat and really check in with myself.
I even tried a 20-minute gratitude meditation through Fitness Plus. It was surprisingly hard; I kept getting distracted and having to bring myself back to the focus of the meditation. Afterwards, my mind felt so much clearer. I’ve been meaning to meditate for years, and the Apple Watch finally gave me the motivation to do it.
Once I realized movement and mindfulness were making me feel physically and mentally better, I was on a roll… At least, until the Sunday scaries hit (and I didn’t wear my watch or leave the house). Did I close my Activity rings and practice mindfulness every day? Definitely not, but the Apple Watch did encourage me to do those things for the first time in a while, and for that, I’m grateful for this device. This watch has inspired me to continue incorporating these practices into my routine until they become a consistent part of it.
My newest pet peeve is forgetting to start my workout. The Apple Watch does have automatic workout detection that kicks in after a certain amount of time so you get credit towards your rings. During this challenge, I realized my walks start at a very leisurely pace, and it took about 30 minutes for the watch to detect I was working out. That’s a me problem, not an Apple Watch issue, so I need to get better about starting those Outdoor Walk workouts as soon as I leave the house.
Sleep tracking makes me want to get closer to 8 hours of shut-eye a night
I have insomnia and have never tried sleep tracking before. As such, I was very interested to see what my Apple Watch had to say about my sleep. I only tracked my slumber for three days and there are two reasons why. First, sleeping with a watch on is kind of uncomfortable. Second, sleep tracking doesn’t happen automatically. You have to do a few things first, including setting a Sleep Schedule and a Sleep Focus Mode in the Health app on your iPhone.
I didn’t realize this until halfway through my first week with the Apple Watch, which is my bad, so I missed some data. When I did track my sleep with the watch, I realized I wasn’t getting a full eight hours. I was close, but not quite there yet, which motivates me to keep working to improve my sleep patterns.
The Apple Watch tracks so much more than how many hours you slept. For example, you can see how much time you spend in sleep stages like REM sleep and deep sleep. I’m excited to dive deeper into this data and examine my sleeping trends over time. The Apple Watch isn’t the only smartwatch with sleep tracking. Most modern smartwatches offer this, and can even measure the quality of your sleep, not just the quantity.
I normally put my watch on around 10 a.m. and after a busy day of calling, texting, listening to music, working out and navigating — often on my watch’s cellular connectivity — I’d be running low on battery by around 10 or 11 p.m. So I’d charge the watch for about 30 minutes before bed for sleep tracking. I’d juice it back to 100% while I was getting ready the next morning. The Apple Watch charges up pretty quickly from my laptop, so having to do it daily wasn’t a pain point for me. On days when I’m not relying as much on my watch’s cellular connectivity, I can wait about a day and a half before needing to plug it in again.
Thank you to my Apple Watch for encouraging me to take better care of myself
Did the Apple Watch reduce my screen time? Unfortunately, no. My screen time increased by 13% during my first week with my watch. How could that be? Well, while it lowered my screen time when I was out on walks (and at that concert), the Apple Watch didn’t change the way I interacted with my smartphone at home. I still have my iPhone next to me all day, and I’m still inclined to reach for it and scroll on social media (more specifically, TikTok) whenever I’m anxious or bored. To make progress towards decreasing my screen time, I’ll need to go straight to the source: my iPhone (and yes, TikTok).
Here’s the contrast: While the Apple Watch hasn’t reduced my iPhone screen time, it has transformed my relationship with self-care. It motivated me to consistently exercise and practice mindfulness for the first time in a long time. Now, I’m starting to incorporate these things into my routine and, ultimately, prioritize my physical and mental health so much more. That is huge for me.
I know that wearing an Apple Watch for a week only allows me to scratch the surface of what it can do. I’m still wearing it now (it’s been three weeks) and I’m learning more and more about how I like to use it each day. I’ve updated my watch face so I have easy access to my Activity rings, Spotify, my workouts, phone and messages since those are the things I currently use most. I just tested the Camera Remote app to frame selfies taken with my iPhone’s rear camera more easily (this is a game-changer if you haven’t tried it), and I ordered a new watch band that matches my gold jewelry. I can’t wait to see how the Apple Watch continues to become a part of my life as I keep wearing it.
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David CarnoyExecutive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET’s Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He’s also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
ExpertiseMobile accessories and portable audio, including headphones, earbuds and speakersCredentials
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What are the best bone-conduction headphones overall?
Bone-conduction headphones continue to increase in popularity — particularly for runners and bikers — as Shokz, the leading maker of bone-conduction headphones, has made incremental improvements to their design, performance and sound quality over the years. The company’s current top-of-the-line OpenRun Pro is the best bone-conduction headphone, although it may be a little too pricey for some people.
While bone-conduction headphones are lacking in the bass department (unless you plug up your ears with the included foam earplugs), they’re appealing for a few reasons. First, since they deliver sound to your ear through your cheekbones, you don’t have ear tips jammed into your ears. And thanks to their open design, you can hear what’s going on around you — traffic noise in particular — while listening to music or having a phone conversation. Also, some race coordinators don’t allow runners to wear anything in their ears, which is where headphones like this come in handy.
You may notice that there are only Shokz products on this list. That’s because they’re currently the best option. We’ve tested other bone conduction headphones — you can find plenty of inexpensive generic models on Amazon — but we’ve always come away feeling you’re better off buying Shokz’ entry-level OpenMove headphones than any of those.
Here’s a look at the top models. I’ll update this list a new bone-conduction headphones are released.
The OpenRun Pro are Shokz’ current top-of-the-line bone conduction headphones. Featuring ninth-generation bone-conduction headphones, they offer slightly improved bass performance compared to the company’s earlier flagship model, the Aeropex (now called the Shokz OpenRun). That makes the OpenRun Pro the best bone-conduction headphones you can get right now, although they still can’t match the sound quality of traditional headphones.
The OpenRun Pro have a lightweight, wraparound titanium frame and are rated for up to 10 hours of music playback and you can get 1.5 hours of battery life from a 5-minute charge (they have a proprietary charging cable instead of USB-C, which is unfortunate). I found them comfortable to wear, but you may occasionally have to adjust them on your head to relieve potential pressure points. While they do offer a bit fuller sound with more bass — it’s an incremental improvement, not a huge leap forward — like other bone-conduction headphones these are strongest in the midrange where voices live so they’re very good for podcasts, talk radio, newscasts and audiobooks. A hard carrying case is included as well as foam ear tips that you can jam into your ears to get better bass performance (most people use those tips sparingly).
Unlike Shokz’ higher-end models, the OpenMove doesn’t have as sleek a design. Nor does it feature its latest bone-conduction technology (it’s equipped with its seventh-generation technology with its PremiumPitch 2.0 sound). But these headphones do sound and perform better than other budget-priced bone-conduction headphones out there. In other words, while they’re a step down from both the OpenRun and OpenRun Pro, they’re still decent bone-conduction headphones that fit securely and comfortably (they just weigh a little more). Note that their price occasionally dips to as low as $55 during flash sales.
A few years ago, Shokz turned its OpenRun (formerly Aeropex) bone-conduction headphones into a more communications-friendly headset with an integrated boom microphone called the OpenComm ($160), which remains available. The second-generation OpenComm 2 UC costs more than the original, but features an upgraded Bluetooth 5.1 chipset that improves performance a bit and now allows for the firmware upgrades that are required for Zoom certification. Additionally, the microphone has moved from the left ear to the right and a convenient mute button has been added to the boom microphone — an important addition.
Since these leave your ears open — the sound is conducted through your cheekbone — they aren’t for people who want to seal their ears out from outside noise. Rather, the idea is that you can hear everything around you without having anything covering your ears or jammed inside them. The headset is quite comfortable to wear. Some folks find that liberating and these do feature excellent noise reduction for calls, as callers told me they heard very little background noise even when I was out on the noisy streets of New York.
While the Shokz are arguably the best-sounding bone-conduction headphones, they aren’t great-sounding for music because they’re lacking in the bass department. However, they’re great for speech, so they work very well as a headset for making calls and listening to podcasts or audiobooks. These also have multipoint-Bluetooth pairing, so you can pair them with your phone and PC and easily switch to your phone if a call comes in while you’re on your computer. And they come with either a USB-A or USB-C wireless dongle (you choose) that you plug into your computer for quick and reliable wireless connectivity.
As long as you don’t mind the boom microphone, you can use the OpenComm 2 for sporting activities as well and are favorites for runners who want to keep their ears open to hear the outside world for safety reasons. They’re also water-resistant. The only downside is they require a proprietary charging cable instead of USB-C. Battery life is rated at 16 hours of talk time and 8 hours of listening.
Released in 2021, the Shokz OpenRun is based on the company’s former top-of-the-line bone-conduction model, the Aeropex. The OpenRun’s design is the same as the Aeropex, but the headphone has been upgraded with a quick-charge feature and Bluetooth 5.1. It features eighth-generation bone-conduction technology instead of the ninth-generation technology found in the step-up OpenRun Pro (that OpenRun Pro has slightly better sound quality). The Pro also has slightly better battery at up to 10 hours versus the 8 hours for this model. That said, the OpenRun is fully waterproof and dust-proof with an IP67 rating while the Pro has an IP55 rating, which means it’s dust-resistant and can deal with a sustained spray of water.
Overall, the Pro does feature a slightly better design and performance, but it’s not a huge difference (maybe 10% to 15% better) and the OpenRun does cost $50 less.
The OpenRun Mini is just the OpenRun headphones with a shorter neckband. The OpenRun Mini has a .83 inch shorter band size than OpenRun and Shokz says that if the back of your head’s measurement from the left to the right ear is 9.25 inches or less, the Mini is your better choice.
The Shokz OpenSwim is a rebranded version of AfterShokz Xtrainerz (yes, OpenSwim is much better name). This model is equipped with Shokz seventh-generation bone conduction technology, so it’s not going to sound as good as the OpenRun Pro, which uses ninth-generation technology, but you’re probably not going to be doing any critical listening while swimming (most people are just looking for passable sound while swimming underwater). Note that these don’t feature Bluetooth for wireless listening (Bluetooth doesn’t transmit underwater). They have 4GB of onboard storage for playback of MP3 files that you have to load onto the headphones like an old-school MP3 player.
The OpenSwim offer up to hours of battery life and are obviously fully waterproof with an IP68 rating.
