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Your Android phone is like a car — it requires regular maintenance so that you can identify any major issues, address them and help prevent future problems. That’s how you keep your phone running at its best.

To start, you should give the exterior of your phone a good clean, since you’re likely putting it close to your face every day. Dust, dirt and gunk can quickly collect in the charging ports and speakers, and it’s not only bad for your hygiene — it can also shorten your phone’s lifespan.

But the most important upkeep work is under the hood, and it includes changing phone settings you may never have touched before.

An investment of just a few minutes can turn your Android phone into something that looks and feels new — at least until you’re able to upgrade. Read on to find five simple tips for decluttering, reorganizing and customizing your Android phone to keep it in tip-top shape.

And if you’re interested in getting a completely new device, check out the best Android phones for this year.

Android Pro Tip – Regularly clean your phone with this $10 kit.

As we mentioned above, part of making your Android phone feel new again is to also clean up the hardware. This $10 Amazon cleaning kit comes with the tools you need to clean your screen and all the stubborn dirt stuck in all the ports. And the best part is the kit can be used for any phone, as well as your headphones, laptop, tablet and more.

$8 at Amazon

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Delete all of your forgotten apps

Take a few minutes to go through your home screen or app drawer and delete any and all apps you no longer use. Not only do those apps take up precious storage, but they potentially have access the personal information or permissions you approved when the app was first launched.

How you go about deleting an app can vary based on who makes your device, but I covered all the bases in this post. Give it a read if you don’t see an uninstall option after long-pressing on the app’s icon.

Eliminate old files to free up storage

After removing any old apps, free up more storage by going through the files saved on your Android phone. It’s far too easy to forget about all of the files you’ve randomly downloaded — like the takeout menu of the new place down the road or a GIF a friend sent. And those files add up. The quickest and easiest way to manage your phone’s storage is to use the Files app that comes preinstalled.

Actually, some phones use a variation of that same app. On Samsung, for example, it’s called My Files. On the Pixel lineup, it’s just Files. On the OnePlus 10 Pro, it’s File Manager — you get the point.

I recommend opening the app drawer on your phone and reaching for “files.” Odds are that will reveal whatever your phone-maker calls the app.

Start with checking the Downloads folder, where you can either delete the files you no longer want or move them somewhere like Google Drive.

Most file apps will also reveal any large files that are saved on your device. For instance, the OnePlus 10 Pro’s File Manager app has a dedicated section in the app for files that are taking up a lot of space.

Tweak home screen settings for a new look

One of the best parts of Android is how much you can customize the entire look of your phone. From installing app icon packs to completely replacing the launcher your phone uses, there are plenty of options to personalize your phone.

While you can definitely jump into tweaking launchers and installing app icons, start by digging into the home screen settings your phone already provides. I do this once in a while and it’s surprising how subtle tweaks to aspects like app layout can make it feel like an entirely new phone.

Long-press on a blank area of your home screen, then select Home settings (or some variation of that). That will open the options for your home screen, where you can customize various settings.

Settings like the size of the app grid. It may seem like a small change to go from a grid of 4×5 apps to 5×5, but that extra column can make a big difference (the same can be said about shrinking the grid).

This is also where you’ll find settings for things like swiping down on the home screen to view notifications instead of having to swipe from the top of the screen.

Go through the respective settings your phone has and experiment with your home screen setup.

Optimize your device settings

Speaking of settings, now is a good time to go through and change any settings that have been annoying you. I have a roundup of settings you’ll want to change and customize on any Android phone to get the most out of it.

For example, turning on dark mode not only makes the app look better, but it saves battery life. And yes, I even show you how to stop app icons from automatically appearing on your home screen.

Customize your privacy options

Before you take a break, do yourself and your Android phone one last favor — double-check your privacy settings.

Open the Settings app then tap Privacy > Permissions Manager. Go through each category to see which apps currently have access to which treasure trove of your personal data. Find an app you don’t want to have access to your location? Turn it off. The same goes for contacts, calendar or camera.

It doesn’t take long to go through each section, and even if it did, it’s well worth the effort.

Razer’s customizing-comes-first mechanical gaming keyboard line, BlackWidow, hits its fourth generation with the BlackWidow V4 Pro, a $230 ( 230, AU$400) full-size model with some notable improvements over its predecessor. These improvements include expanded lighting, more programmable controls, USB passthrough and an improved wrist rest design. These are all notable updates; but while I welcome all the changes in spirit, I’m not thrilled with the execution in a few cases.

Nothing has changed in its fundamental keyboard aspects, with the exception of a boost of the maximum polling rate to 8,000Hz, something I’m not sure you really need here. The switches and keycaps remain the same: You have a choice of the latest generation of Razer’s tactile Green or linear Yellow switches and Razer’s durable DoubleShot ABS keycaps.

Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro

$230 at Razer

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Like

• Good, durable switches
• Expanded lighting zones
• More programmable controls
• Vastly improved magnetically attachable wrist rest
• Added USB passthrough

Don’t Like

• Buttons on left side are really easy to hit accidentally
• Multicontroller roller is too low relative to the height of the keys

There are a lot more lighting zones thanks to the addition of underglow strips on the left and right, plus a front strip on the wrist rest, five new backlit macro keys down the left side and a new programmable control dial in the upper left corner.

Razer says it’s added lenses to the individual backlight LEDs, which does seem to improve the focus in particular directions. I also think it’s made a difference in the number of perceptible brightness levels — if you need that level of granularity. I wish you could take advantage of that by controlling the brightness levels for individual or groups of keys the way you can control colors: That way the keys you need most frequently could be brighter as well as a different color, but not completely dark.

The new control dial allows you to map zooming, scrolling and other customization to your profiles. For example, the mappings default to zoom, keyboard brightness, task switching and track jogging. That’s becoming a more common feature these days, and it’s a useful one that extends beyond gaming. The physical control is fine, if a bit hemmed in. The downside is there are no presets beyond the basics — usually these controls come with sets — which means it requires a lot of time-intensive setup for a control you may end up not using.

There are also three new switches on the left side. I love the idea, but not so much the execution. I constantly make microadjustments to the location of keyboards — a nervous tic when I’m not actively typing — and so I end up hitting them a lot. It doesn’t help that I’m also adjusting to avoiding the left-side macro keys when reaching for alt-tab, where my compensation means my ring and pinky fingers naturally fall on those switches. And they’re too easy to activate, which may probably be a more broadly applicable issue.

These aren’t really complaints, since it’s certainly not the first keyboard to put the macro keys down the left side, but if you’re used to other layouts your muscle memory might need some retraining.

Then there’s the redesigned multicontroller, the roller bar with a bank of five, tall, round buttons above the number pad. It’s similar to the design on other keyboards, but the location and elevation don’t work, at least for my hands. The keys are so tall, relative to it, that it’s awkward to use. And remapping the control dial to do the same things, like adjust audio volume, isn’t quite as convenient, since you have to press it to cycle through the different mappings.

Like a lot of the programmability, you have to be running Razer’s Synapse utility for your customizations to work; you can’t save a lot of them to the internal keyboard memory. On the other hand, when you cycle through the mappings for the control dial there’s a popup telling you what the setting is and what the rotation does. There’s also a backlight color attached to each mapping but it’s not persistent, so you don’t know which setting the dial is currently mapped to with a glance.

The USB passthrough is a nice-to-have, and the new wrist rest is a lot more comfortable than the old one, plus it now attaches — pretty strongly — to the keyboard. If you’re sensitive to textures in a “I wear my shirts inside out because the seams make me crazy” kind of way, the bumpy faux leather may bother you, though.

It’s still big and heavy, but solidity in a keyboard isn’t something to complain about. Razer has upped the switch rating to 100 million keypresses, but they’re the same switches as before — they’ve just been tested more. I don’t put a lot of stock in durability ratings, but it’s nice to know that pounding on the keys won’t kill them any faster than it used to.

I’ve been using optomechanical switches for so long — and, more recently, linear ones — that going back to the feel of the tactile mechanicals has required some adjustment. But it’s nice to know that my fingers won’t accidentally trigger strokes if I rest them on the keys. That’s one of the perks that I miss with other types of switches.

For games where fast keyboard combos you can program are more important than single-key quick responsiveness, the BlackWidow V4 Pro makes a lot of sense. But unless you’re on board with how all the controls work, $230 might feel too expensive for your needs.

If you’ve been holding our for a price drop on the Nintendo Switch OLED model, your patience is being rewarded today with Woot discounting the console by $20. Usually, Nintendo Switch deals consist of accessory bundles or free gift cards, but today’s deal offers a rare chance to make a direct saving on the hardware itself. You’ll have to be quick if you want in on the deal, though, with similar discounts on Pokemon and Animal Crossing-themed consoles having already sold out this morning.

The Nintendo Switch OLED is the best Switch console on the market right now and our top pick when it comes to handheld game consoles. It has a larger screen than both the original Switch and Lite models, with a 7-inch OLED display offering more vivid colors and greater contrast. The device also has a redesigned kickstand and TV dock, along with 64GB of internal storage.

Whether you’re investing in a Nintendo Switch for the first time, want to upgrade your current device or are buying a console as a gift, this deal makes it more affordable. And unlike a lot of Woot deals, the console is offered brand new with a full Nintendo warranty.

It’s been a busy February in the NBA, with LeBron James passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer followed by a dizzying number of deals made at the league’s trade deadline. Now, the NBA will take a well-deserved break for its All-Star Weekend. Basketball’s brightest stars will assemble in Salt Lake City for the Slam Dunk Contest and 3-Point Contest on Saturday night, followed by the All-Star Game on Sunday. All the events will be televised on TNT, and you don’t need cable to watch the action.

When is the NBA Slam Dunk Contest?

The Slam Dunk Contest is part of the All-Star Saturday Night festivities starting at 5 p.m. PT (8 p.m. ET) on TNT on Saturday. It’s the third and final event of the night, following the Skills Challenge and 3-Point Contest.

Who’s in the Slam Dunk Contest?

Four players will participate in the dunk contest:

• Kenyon Martin Jr. of the Houston Rockets
• Mac McClung of the Philadelphia 76ers
• Trey Murphy III of the New Orleans Pelicans
• Jericho Sims of the New York Knicks

Who’s in the 3-Point Contest?

Eight of the league’s best shooters will compete in the 3-Point Contest:

• Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers
• Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat
• Buddy Hield of the Indiana Pacers
• Kevin Huerter of the Sacramento Kings
• Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers
• Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz
• Anfernee Simons of the Portland Trail Blazers
• Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics

When is the NBA All-Star Game?

The All-Star Game tips off at 4:30 p.m. PT (7:30 p.m. ET) on TNT.

Who’s playing in the All-Star Game?

It’ll be Team LeBron versus Team Giannis for the All-Star Game with LeBron James acting as the captain of the Western Conference All Stars and Giannis Antetokounmpo heading up the team from the East. The All-Star draft will take place right before the game.

How can I watch the Slam Dunk Contest and All-Start Game?

Four of the five major live TV streaming services (all but FuboTV) offer TNT.

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Sling TV

Carries TNT for $40 month

You can use either Sling TV’s Orange or Blue plan to watch TNT. Each plan costs $40 a month.

Read our Sling TV review.

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YouTube TV

Carries TNT for $65 a month

YouTube TV costs $65 a month and includes TNT.

Read our YouTube TV review.

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Hulu

Hulu with Live TV

Carries TNT for $70 a month

Hulu with Live TV costs $70 and includes TNT.

Read our Hulu with Live TV review.

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Directv stream

DirecTV Stream

Carries TNT for $75 a month

DirecTV Stream’s basic plan costs $75 a month and includes TNT.

Read our DirecTV Stream review.

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All of the live TV streaming services above offer free trials, allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live-TV streaming services guide.

More streaming advice

• 10 Ways to Save Money on Streaming
• How to Cut the Cable TV Cord in 2023
• See More at Streaming TV Insider

Let the guessing begin once more! America’s most off-the-wall musical game show is back as The Masked Singer returns for season 9.

The last season of the Nick Cannon-hosted show saw Amber Riley crowned the winner as the Harp, while ’80s all-girl trio Wilson Phillips finished as runners-up, the Lambs.

This latest installment is likely to bring surprise sopranos, wild costumes and unfortunate flat notes from a host of celebrities in disguise. It also promises a new twist, with the “Ding Dong Keep It On” bell.

The intriguingly titled new feature is set to give judges Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Nicole Scherzinger and Ken Jeong the ability to save one mystery star per bracket from exiting the show. And last season’s tense double eliminations will also be in play for the coming season.

New contestants include Axolotl, the Gnome, the Gargoyle, French Hen, California Roll, Medusa, Jackalope and the Rock Lobster.

Don’t miss a moment by following our guide to watching The Masked Singer season 9 from anywhere in the world.

When does The Masked Singer Season 9 start?

This latest run of secret singing celebrities kicks off on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox in the US, and on CTV in Canada. (8 p.m. ET is 1 a.m. on Feb. 16 in the UK.) New episodes will be broadcast at the same time from then on every Wednesday evening.

How to watch The Masked Singer season 9 from anywhere on VPN

So what if you’re traveling outside your home country and want to enjoy the show or want an added layer of privacy for streaming? There is an option that doesn’t require searching the internet for a sketchy website: You can use a VPN, or virtual private network.

With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the show. If you find yourself unable to watch locally, a VPN can come in handy. Plus it’s a great idea for when 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.

Most VPNs, like CNET’s Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it easy to virtually change your location. Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals.

Sarah Tew/CNET

ExpressVPN

Best VPN for streaming

ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month. But you can save 49% plus get three months of access for free — the equivalent of $6.67 a month — if you get an annual subscription.

Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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Watch in the US

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Hulu

Carries Fox in the US

The Masked Singer season 9 premieres in the US on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox.

Cord-cutters will be able to watch the show on streaming service Hulu one day later, on Feb. 16.

New Hulu subscribers can take advantage of a Hulu free trial for 30 days on its With-Ads or No-Ads plan. After the trial ends, the service will set you back $8 a month. There’s also the option of the Disney Plus bundle with Hulu thrown in from $10 a month.

See at Hulu

Sarah Tew/CNET

YouTube TV

Carries Fox in the US

If you don’t have cable, there’s also the option of watching The Masked Singer live via YouTube TV.

At $65 a month, YouTube TV offers one of the best live TV streaming experience overall, with a healthy selection of channels and a superb cloud DVR feature.

See at Tv.youtube

Sarah Tew/CNET

Sling

Carries Fox in the US

Sling TV is another option for cord-cutters in the US who want to watch the latest season of The Masked Singer.

One the cheapest and most flexible cable alternatives, Sling plans start at $40 a month for 47 live channels.

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Watch in Canada

CTV

CTV

Carries The Masked Singer Season 9 in Canada

The great news for Canadian gameshow fans is that they can watch The Masked Singer season 9 live at the same time as Americans and for free. The broadcast will be available on CTV as well on the CTV website and the CTV mobile app.

Can I watch The Masked Singer Season 9 in the UK?

Now that the latest UK version of The Masked Singer is at an end, you may be hoping to watch the latest episodes from America. Sadly, it looks like there could be a bit of a wait in store, with no confirmed transmission date for Season 9. In the meantime you can stream seasons 3 through to 6 for free on ITV’s new streaming service ITVX.

Tips for streaming The Masked Singer Season 9 using a VPN

• With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — experience and success 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 viewing 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 in to 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 network’s 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.

Thinking about new headphones? I love to use different kinds of headphones in different situations. For travel, I love a good pair of in-ear, noise-canceling earbuds and for the gym, I prefer over-the-ear headphones that won’t budge when I move around.

Having a great pair of headphones can make a huge difference, whether you want to listen to your favorite songs or want to get hyped for a workout. Whatever your reason for getting headphones, searching for good headphones or earbuds with quality sound can be a daunting task with so many options out there.

While some may be more expensive than others, the quality that Beats by Dr. Dre offers is impressive given how reasonably priced its headphones are. The Apple-owned company has maintained its unique logo and sound, and more of its products are integrating Apple technology.

Deals on Beats headphones and earbuds are fairly common across multiple retailers, which can be rare for other Apple products. Apple even matches some Beats headphone deals from third-party retailers at its own online store. And with older models, the deals are even better. Check out the best prices currently available.

Here’s a look at the current best Beats headphone deals. Prices fluctuate frequently and sometimes certain colors are less expensive than others, so click through on any model to see specific pricing for specific colors. Note that while the Beats Solo Pro, Powerbeats and Beats EP have been discontinued from production, some remain available for purchase from various retailers.

Read more: Best True-Wireless Earbuds for 2023

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Beats Studio3: $200

Save $150

Beats’ Studio3 Wireless over-ear noise-canceling headphones were released back in 2018. They’re still good headphones, and they’re on sale for just $200 — that’s 43% off — at Amazon right now in a few different colors.

Read our Beats Studio3 Wireless review.

$200 at Amazon

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Beats Powerbeats Pro: $200

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Beats’ Powerbeats Pro, which have been out for a few years, list for $250. We’ve seen them drop as low as $150, but they usually hover around $200. With Beats’ new Fit Pro earbuds also available (read our Fit Pro review), these Powerbeats Pro are regularly on sale.

Read our Beats Powerbeats Pro review.

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Beats EP: $100

Save $30

Beats’ entry-level EP wired headphones are a surprisingly good listening experience — and value. The list price is $130, but right now, Amazon has them on sale for just $100 in all four colors. These on-ear headphones aren’t as swanky as Beats’ forgotten on-ear Mixr or its over-ear Executive and Pro models. But thanks to their reinforced metal frame, they remind me of low-frills versions of those headphones — they aren’t flashy and don’t fold up or fold flat for travel (the frame has no hinges). The EP headphones offer decent, clean sound with enough bass here to satisfy a low-end audiophile, but not so much to turn off someone who’s looking for a more balanced, neutral sound quality in their headphones.

Read our Beats EP review.

$100 at Amazon

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Apple

Beats Fit Pro: $150

Save $50

These lightweight, sporty headphones won an Editors’ Choice Award in 2021 and offer good sound and better battery life than the first-gen AirPods Pro. Powered by Apple’s H1 chip, the Beats Fit Pro earbuds offer spatial audio and other features like active noise canceling.

$150 at Amazon

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Beats Solo3: $130

Save: $70

First released in 2016, the Beats Solo3 headphones predate the Solo Pro and have the W1 chip instead of the H1 chip. While they’re wireless, unlike the Solo Pro, they’re missing noise cancellation. That said, it’s one of the most popular Beats models ever made. You can get Beats Solo 3 for $130 right now.

Read our Beats Solo3 review.

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Beats

Beats Flex: $60

Save $10

These wireless earbuds are not true wireless, but they’re not bad — and the price of the Beats Flex is even better. They provide up to 12 hours of listening time per charge and have auto-pause magnetic buds to boot.

Read our Beats Flex review.

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Now playing:Watch this:Beats Fit Pro are the sports AirPods you’ve always wanted

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Anker recently recalled some of its 535 Power Bank products, citing possible overheating and fire risk as a safety hazard, according to a notice on the company’s website.

The China-based electronics manufacturer said on its website that it discovered a “manufacturing condition” that impacted a small number of its 535 Power Banks — specifically PowerCore 20K A1366 models — and issued a voluntary recall on Jan. 18. The 535 Power Bank is a portable charger typically used for devices like laptops, tablets and smartphones during travel.

The UK’s Office for Product Safety and Standards posted a recall notice on Feb. 1 about the Anker 535 Power Banks, stating that some of the products’ battery cells may have been damaged during the production process, which could cause a power bank to overheat.

In the US, an Anker 535 Power Bank was recently cited as “the most probable cause” of a Maryland house fire, as “there were no other electrical devices or anything else in the suitcase” where the fire appeared to start that would have caused the blaze, a local fire chief said.

Anker’s website says it’s working closely with local government agencies to “ensure a comprehensive and safe recall process.”

If you purchased an Anker 535 Power Bank, you can determine whether yours may have been affected by checking the bottom back of the battery and verifying the make and model. If it reads “535 Power Bank (PowerCore 20K) Model: A1366” you should stop using the device and return it to Anker.

Here’s how to safely dispose of 535 Power Bank and request a refund from Anker. The company says to:

1. Stop using the device immediately.
2. Store the 535 Power Bank in a safe location.
3. Don’t throw the battery into the trash or recycling bin.
4. Dispose of your device only at a facility that accepts Lithium batteries.
5. FIll out this recall form and request a refund for your 535 Power Bank.

You can contact the company via email at support@anker.com or 800-988-7973 in the US.

In a statement to CNET, Anker said it has “stopped all sales of the affected product and has begun the process of informing customers and communicating with our retail channels,” as well as filing notice with the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission and cooperating with the recall effort.

Loverwatch is a web-based dating sim — the biggest and best surprise Overwatch 2 has delivered. In the game, you’re guided by Hanzo in Cupid form as he helps you navigate your way to Genji’s or Mercy’s heart — whether that means friendship or romance is up to you. The journey will take you to Overwatch locales like a Midtown comedy club and a five-star restaurant in Circuit Royale as you spend time with your date and get to know them better. It’s a hilarious ride filled with self-aware jokes and a surprising amount of heart.

You can play Loverwatch by going to loverwatch.gg. It plays directly in your web browser — no downloads required. Simply follow the prompts on screen, follow Cupid’s advice, and interact with your dates. If you sign in to your Battle.net account, you’ll be able to earn in-game rewards for successfully winning the admiration of the Overwatch heroes.

As I mentioned in CNET’s season 3 guide, the Overwatch roster is overflowing with eligible dates. Of those 30-plus heroes, though, Genji and Mercy are two of the most popular, with plenty of backstory to draw from. That makes them good choices for Loverwatch, which is hopefully just the first iteration of a larger Overwatch dating sim. The game itself hints at the hopes of doing more.

Loverwatch, as weird and unexpected as the project might seem, is one of the best things Overwatch has produced. CNET got to talk to the game’s writers and brand manager in media interviews the day after its launch. Here’s what we learned about the game’s origins and the possibility of fans getting more in the future.

Is Loverwatch canon?

No. The writers pulled from the characters’ personalities based on longstanding lore and in-game interactions, but the events of the dating sim aren’t canon. The game states that upfront before players begin courting the hero of their choice.

How to get the secret ending

For the rewards hunters: Genji and Mercy are the two options at the start of the game, but theirs aren’t the only hearts you can win. If you successfully form a connection with both heroes, you’ll unlock a secret ending where Cupid himself tells you that he admires your dedication to love in all its forms. You’ll get a unique reward for earning this ending, which transfers to your Battle.net account.

Why a dating sim?

Overwatch has needed something like this for years. It’s a bright, vibrant game filled with characters who inspire late-night lore-binging sessions, yet the core game is a competitive shooter — not the most inviting or accessible environment for everyone. A dating sim is a great way for Blizzard to get the game and its characters out in front of more people without asking them to go through the terrors of online matchmaking. The writers do a remarkable job of slipping in-jokes into the dialogue for people who’ve played for years, while still providing context for people who might’ve joined when Overwatch 2 launched as a free-to-play game.

The developers seem to be aware of the potential for engagement outside of the core gameplay. Overwatch Brand Manager Beth Bryson said that, as part of the game’s new free-to-play model, “We’re going to give [fans] ways to experience the Overwatch world and experience our heroes and interact with them in unique and different ways,” and Loverwatch is the introductory path.

According to Senior Narrative Designer Miranda Moyer, heroes are the lifeblood of the game, and the Overwatch developers were enthusiastic about giving fans an opportunity to interact with those heroes in a more character-focused experience. Moyer wrote Genji’s path in the dating sim.

Narrative Designer Kyungseo Min, who wrote Mercy’s path, said, “We wanted to [expand the universe] in a way where we wanted to include members of the community who kinda felt left out by the PVP experience,” and that a project like Loverwatch gives them the opportunity to expand while being inclusive.

Will there be more Overwatch dating sims?

Everyone who plays the game seems to be asking for more. Bryson said the hope is that the player response will be big enough to explore other avenues like Loverwatch. “I think there’s a very large appetite for that within the team. No promises, but we certainly make a stronger case for ourselves if players are jumping in and enjoying it.”

Moyer added, “There is absolutely a lot of enthusiasm behind this project, and we have a ton of ideas for the rest of the cast.”

Maybe your ultimate hope is to be able to court the troubled-but-wholesome members of Overwatch or the more complicated heroes like Ashe or the members of Talon. Or perhaps you just have an unquenchable thirst for one of the game’s omnics. Regardless, the best way to guarantee that possibility is to go play Loverwatch right now. Trust me, it’s worth the 10 minutes or so a single playthrough will take you, and you’ll be helping out the entire Overwatch community by advancing our obsession.

For more on Overwatch, check out how the newest hero expands the game’s lore and what you can find in the new map.

The Oppo Find N2 Flip has arrived. The Chinese company showed off its first flip phone at a global launch event on Wednesday. Oppo’s clamshell-style phone appears to be heavily inspired by the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4’s squarish design, but with a notably different cover screen.

Unlike the Z Flip 4, the Find N2 Flip’s cover display has a vertical orientation and is much bigger, measuring 3.26 inches with a resolution of 720×382 pixels. By comparison, the Z Flip 4 has a 1.9-inch external display with 260×512-pixel resolution; last year’s Motorola Razr came with a 2.7-inch cover screen with a 573×800-pixel resolution. In fact, the Find N2 Flip has the largest vertical cover screen on any flip phone.

Apart from the display, the Find N2 Flip has all the features you’d expect from a flip phone in 2023. There are two rear cameras, including one with a 50-megapixel sensor, a 32-megapixel front-facing camera, a capable processor (MediaTek Dimensity 9000 Plus) and a 4,300-mAh battery, which can be fast-charged at up to 44 watts. There’s no IP rating for water or dust resistance. For comparison, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 has an IPX8 rating, which means It can withstand water immersion but has no rated protection against dust. At this time there isn’t a foldable phone that is rated for dust resistance.

The Find N2 Flip will be available to preorder from today in the UK starting at 849, which converts roughly to $1,020 and AU$1,480. There are no plans currently for a US release, but the phone is set to hit stores in parts of Europe and Asia.

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Find N2 Flip’s cover screen is big

It’s commendable that Oppo dared to shake up the design of the cover screen on flip phones. Although this might not look as aesthetically elegant as the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s horizontal screen, I believe the Find N2 Flip’s cover screen has the potential for greater functionality. After all, it does boast the largest vertical cover screen on any flip phone.

In the few hours I spent with the phone, I found the Find N2 Flip’s cover screen convenient for quickly scanning the weather without needing to open up the phone. All I had to do was swipe left, and the cover screen would display my chosen widgets, including the camera, a timer, the weather and the recorder. I could receive notifications on it, but I couldn’t view my plans. I hope Oppo adds a Google Calendar widget to the cover screen.

Navigation is simple. You can swipe down the cover screen to bring up the control panel, swipe up to see a list of notifications and swipe left to bring up different widgets.

The camera widget lets you use the cover screen as a viewfinder, meaning you can take selfies and portrait photos and even shoot video without opening up the phone. Thanks to the larger screen size, you get a good idea of how the photo will turn out as you’re taking the photo.

Quick replies — also available on the Z Flip 4 — are another convenient feature on this device. When I received a WhatsApp message, I could simply reply from the cover screen by choosing from a set of prewritten templates. I also had the option to create my own message template. In addition to WhatsApp, the quick replies feature is available on Slack, Messenger, Telegram and Line. Like the Galaxy Z Flip 4, this phone doesn’t allow you to type or dictate a reply without opening up the phone. You’re limited to the templates.

In its current form, however, the Find N2 Flip’s cover screen has limited functionality compared to the one on Motorola Razr. In 2020, the second-generation Razr got a full keyboard for typing and the ability to curate apps suited for the cover screen (such as Gmail and YouTube), and it even lets you play games like PUBG mobile. I wish the cover display on the Find N2 Flip offered such freedom and utility, but there certainly is potential if Oppo manages to nail the software component.

The Find N2 Flip has a 50-megapixel camera

There are two rear cameras on this phone: a 50-megapixel main camera and an 8-megapixel ultrawide. The Find N2 Flip lacks a telephoto camera so don’t expect it to take crisp shots of faraway subjects. At this point, there isn’t a foldable flip phone that includes a dedicated telephoto camera. I took a few pictures. Images tend to look soft when you zoom in digitally to a 5x magnification. To be fair, you’re not likely to be buying this phone for its zoom skills. I found the photos I took with the Oppo respectable. Take a look below at some examples.

The Find N2 Flip’s inner display has a slight crease

The inner display of the Find N2 flip takes the form of a 6.8-inch AMOLED panel. At first glance, you might not notice the crease that runs across the screen. Sometimes it appears when you’re holding it at certain angles or under bright lighting. I can also feel it on occasion when I’m scrolling or interacting with the screen. For the most part, however, the crease didn’t sour my experience and it’s by no means a deal-breaker. Otherwise, the display looked crisp, was responsive and reasonably bright in sunny conditions.

The main display has a 120Hz refresh rate, which made navigating between apps and scrolling through news feeds look smooth. This year, Oppo has updated its hinge, which the company says is smaller and thinner, yet stronger than the one on its predecessor. According to the company, Find N2 Flip has been tested for 400,000 folds. Oppo says the display also has an ultrathin glass coating that should help with durability.

For more details on the Oppo Find N2 Flip, take a look at the specs chart below.

With one week to go before the PlayStation VR 2’s Feb. 22 launch, Sony gave us a look at the $550 PS5 headset and its Sense controller’s internal components in a pair of teardown videos.

The first sees Takamasa Araki, head of PlayStation’s mechanical design team, smoothly pulling the PS VR 2 headset apart using his hands, a screwdriver and tweezers. He discusses each element in detail, though seeing the dinky little fan that’s designed to stop you from turning into a sweaty mess as you play, and the mechanics of the lens adjustment dial are some of the most satisfying.

Araki also reveals how the device tracks your eye movements; each lens has an infrared LED working with an IR camera that captures its light.

The second video follows Takeshi Igarashi from the peripheral design team as he dissects the PS VR2 Sense controller. He highlights how finger-touch detection enables players to make more natural hand gestures as they play, along with the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers that mirror the DualSense wireless controller.

Sony warns us not try these teardowns at home, since doing so invalidates the device’s warranty.