Picking a great Thunderbolt or USB-C dock isn’t always easy because there are so many things to consider, including the ports that it offers and, if you’re charging your laptop, how much power it can provide. But price shouldn’t have to be the biggest deciding factor, so being able to save some money on one of our favorite docks is a big bonus.
The Accell Thunderbolt 4 docking station would normally sell for around $180 at Amazon, but right now, the retailer has slashed that price to just $140. You don’t need to enter any codes or clip any coupons, but we don’t know how long this deal is going to last, so be sure to place your order soon if you don’t want to risk paying more later.
This dock has everything you’re likely to need, including support for dual 4K monitors or a single 8K monitor if that’s how you roll. It’ll even provide up to 96W of power to your laptop, which is enough to charge even the most power-hungry of portables.
In terms of connections, there are plenty, starting with the upstream Thunderbolt 4 port, USB-A port, and 3.5mm audio jack found on the front. Those ports are joined by an SD card slot, too. Around the back, we have two Thunderbolt 4 ports joined by a DisplayPort 1.4 output and a gigabit Ethernet port. Three USB 3.1 Gen 2 USB-A ports are also present, as is the power connector for the whole thing.
There’s a lot to like about this hub ,and it’s definitely worth adding it to the top of your list while it’s available at this price. Don’t have a laptop to use with it? No problem, check out our list of the best laptop deals, and you’ll be up and running in no time.
Top-tier devices from Samsung and Apple dominate the tablet market, especially at the high end, but many of us don’t necessarily need a premium model. For those looking for a more affordable alternative, the OnePlus Pad is a solid option worth picking up. It’s one of our favorite tablets you can get right now, at least for Android fans, so don’t count it out if you’re buying on a budget.
And right now there’s an excellent deal available at Amazon that discounts the OnePlus Pad down to $400 from $480. We aren’t sure when this deal is going to expire but this price matches the lowest we’ve seen on it to date, so it’s a good idea to pick it up sooner rather than later.
The OnePlus Pad hit shelves just this spring, and CNET’s Scott Stein called it one of the best Android tablets in its price range, so it’s an even better value when you can pick it up on sale. It has an 11.6-inch LCD display as well as a powerful eight-core Dimensity 9000 CPU for smooth performance and comes equipped with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It also measures just 6.5mm thick and weighs in at 552 grams (1.22 pounds), making it perfect for taking care of business while you’re on the go.
You can also pick up some accessories for the OnePlus Pad such as the OnePlus magnetic stylus for $100, the magnetic keyboard for $150 and the folio case for $40. Also, be sure to check out some of these other great tablet deals if the OnePlus Pad doesn’t quite tickle your fancy.
Samsung has already launched a slew of new products this year, and it’s continuing that streak with two new midrange phones: the Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G. Both phones will include the company’s Knox Vault security system for the first time, and Samsung is flaunting the A55 5G’s ability to take better photos in the dark.
Like Google’s Pixel A series and Apple’s iPhone SE family, Samsung’s Galaxy A phones are a lower-cost alternative to the company’s premium devices. Samsung’s press release didn’t mention pricing or availability, but we can expect these phones to fall in the same price range as last year’s devices. The Galaxy A54 5G, for example, launched at $450.
Only the Galaxy A35 5G will be available in the US. Samsung is instead positioning the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 FE as cheaper options for those who want something more powerful than the Galaxy A35 5G, but at a more affordable price than the Galaxy S24.
“We can confirm that Galaxy A35 5G will be coming to the US market and look forward to sharing more details in the coming weeks,” a representative from Samsung’s US branch said in a statement to CNET, adding that it “will not be carrying the Galaxy A55 5G at this time.”
The headline feature of both phones seems to be the addition of Samsung Knox Vault, a secure environment that’s physically separated from the phone’s main processor and memory for storing sensitive data like login credentials. While Knox Vault has been available on other devices like those in the Galaxy S product line, it’s the first time Samsung’s made this security feature available on the more affordable Galaxy A family.
Both phones have a 6.6-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 5,000-mAh battery, but there are some differences when it comes to camera hardware. Samsung says the Galaxy A55 5G should take crisper nighttime photos thanks to the phone’s AI image signal processing, although it’s unclear whether the Galaxy A35 5G will also have this capability. However, Samsung’s Indian product page for the Galaxy A35 5G does suggest it will have an improved neural processing unit and enhanced sensor for low light photos.
The Galaxy A55 5G has a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 5-megapixel macro camera and a 32-megapixel front camera. The Galaxy A35 5G has similar camera hardware, but a slightly lower-resolution 8-megapixel ultrawide camera and 13-megapixel front camera along with the 50-megapixel main camera and 5-megapixel macro camera.
Samsung’s press release didn’t include many details on the phones’ design, but the company’s Indian and Malaysian product pages suggest they have glass backs made with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus Plus and IP67 water resistance, while the Galaxy A55 5G also has a metal frame. Both phones will run on an octa-core processor, according to those product pages, although the company hasn’t shared more details.
The websites also suggest both phones will have expandable storage — a notable difference that separates them from the more premium Galaxy S series — and will receive four generations of Android and Samsung’s One UI software updates. That’s not as long as the seven-year pledge Samsung made for the Galaxy S24 series, but it matches the company’s previous software support policy.
With the Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G, Samsung appears to be focused on upgrading core elements like design and security rather than adding flashy new features. Samsung is seemingly building on its approach with last year’s Galaxy A54 5G, which included a fresh design that felt more premium than its predecessor’s.
If you’re a tech lover looking for something unique to add a little ambiance to your office, game room or den, Grid Studio’s frames are a great choice. These deconstructed gadgets make great art pieces, and right now, you can snag one at a great price. Grid is currently offering up to $300 off select frames, and you can save another 15% when you use the promo code SP15 at checkout now through March 31.
One of the best offers you’ll find at this sale is over $300 off the Grid 1. It’s a 13-inch frame that features the components of the first-gen iPhone — making it the perfect piece for Apple fans. And you can snag it for just $339 after the promo code is applied.
Or if you’re looking to give the gamer in your life a dose of nostalgia, you can snag them this Grid Game Boy Color, which features the clear atomic purple color variant of this iconic handheld console. It’s automatically $50 off, and you can save an extra $30 off using the promo code, which drops the price down to $169.
And for the lowest prices on framed pieces in this sale, you can snag the Grid 4S or preorder the Grid NES controller for just $99 right now. That’s a $70 discount on each. Just note that these two pieces are not included with the promo code offer and the Nintendo controller won’t ship until the holidays, so keep that in mind as you shop.
You can also find a ton of other product teardowns, including many from Nokia, Google, Sony and BlackBerry, as well as other Apple products such as the Apple Watch, iPod Classic and iPad Mini. Just be sure to use the coupon code SP15 at checkout for maximum savings. Keep in mind that there are limited quantities of each device available, and certain items have already started to sell out, so if you have a specific product or collection in mind, you may want to consider checking out sooner rather than later so that you get exactly what you want.
The great thing about wireless headphones is that there isn’t much setup required to start listening to music from your phone. If you’ve got AirPods and an iPhone, you can quickly pair the two and you’re pretty much good to go.
Not everyone will enjoy the same listening experience though.
Don’t miss: Best Apple AirPods for 2024
If you find it increasingly difficult to understand others when you’re on a phone call or music just doesn’t right to you, you may have to adjust your settings to make the audio better for you. Your iPhone has EQs, which can boost vocals or reduce treble. Your AirPods also have settings, like spatial audio and transparency mode, to help with tailoring audio to your liking.
However, if those don’t fix the issues you’re having, your iPhone has a hidden feature that makes it really easy customize your headphone audio levels. All you need to do is take a test and listen to a few audio samples and you can get better audio tailored specifically to you. Here’s what you need to know.
For more, check out these 17 hidden iOS 17 features and settings on your iPhone and how to use your iPhone’s hidden trackpad feature.
Which headphones support Headphone Accommodations on iOS?
The setting to easily customize your audio, known as the Headphone Accommodations setting, is available only on supported headphones, like the most recent AirPods, EarPods and Beats. As long as you have iOS 14 and later (or iPadOS 14+), you can use Headphone Accommodations with the following:
Under Headphone Accommodations, you have the option to manually configure audio settings, but the way we’re going to do this is through Custom Audio Setup, which runs a series of listening tests and provides you with suggested settings to configure based on choices you make after listening to a few audio samples.
But before you run the test, you must do a few things:
Update to the latest version of iOS, especially if you don’t see Headphone Accommodations in your settings. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to update to the latest iOS (currently iOS 17.4).
Turn on Headphone Accommodations. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Headphone Accommodations and toggle the feature on.
Choose how you want Headphone Accommodations to work. At the bottom of the setting’s page, you can toggle on your recommended audio settings for phone (phone calls, FaceTime and third-party video calls) and/or media (music, movies, podcasts, audiobooks, Siri and voicemails).
Next, disable any EQ you might have. Go to Settings > Music > EQ and select Off.
Pair and connect your compatible headphones to your iPhone. The two devices must be connected for Custom Audio Setup to work.
Finally, find a quiet environment before taking the test.
Run Custom Audio Setup to your customized audio settings results
Now that your AirPods or other supported headphones are connected to your iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Headphone Accommodations and hit Custom Audio Setup.
First, you’ll see a see a brief summary as to what Headphone Accommodations can do for you. You can also upload an audiogram, which shows you how loud sounds need to be for you to hear them, but if you don’t have one, you can just skip that section.
The test will start with an audio sample of someone speaking very softly. If you can hear it, hit Yes. If you can’t, tap No. The next few audio samples will be of the same music, in different tunings, with soft sounds being boosted. You’ll have two versions to choose from each time. If they sound the same, choose the first version. You may also be asked to customize transparency mode so that you can better hear what’s around you when the feature is enabled.
At the end of the test, the audio settings recommended for you will automatically selected. You may see optimizations for boosting middle frequencies to improve vocal range or boosting of high frequencies for optimizing brightness in the audio you heard. You may also see the boosting of soft sounds, either slightly, moderately or strong.
For more, check out Apple Music’s monthly version of Replay Recaps.
Who doesn’t love a good deal? At CNET, our Deals team scours sales every day to bring you a curated Deal of the Day on quality products we think you’ll love. We’ve even created a daily text that puts the savings directly into your messages, so you’ll never miss a chance to jump on a genuinely good sale.
Signing up is super easy (it’ll take less than a minute), safe, trusted — and you can opt out any time.
We apply the same level of deep research and confirmation that these discounts are legitimate and useful, just in a bite-sized format. There’s no AI here pulling the strings, either. We have actual people looking for actual deals. If we find something interesting for an affordable rate — usually under $50 at a significant discount — you’ll hear about it from us. We find a cool thing on sale, and we share it with you directly once a day.
Separately, during major shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day, you can opt in to a greater volume of deals texts from any retailer offering something unique or interesting. We’ll send out a notice ahead of these events so you always have control over how many texts you get from us.
If you aren’t seeing the deals you want to see, all you need to do is ask! This text platform is a two-way street powered by the CNET Deals team, which means every message is sent by a person and we see every reply. If you’re ever looking for a notification when a specific thing is on sale, all you need to do is ask and we’ll do our best to help you out.
For other CNET deals, check out our ongoing efforts to track down the best laptop deals across the internet. We’ve also got a great collection of TV deals right now, and if you’re really feeling like saving, you should have a look at all the AirPods deals we’ve gathered up for you.
The Microsoft ecosystem is one of the first and most widespread ecosystems used for home, work, and pretty much anything you can think of. Luckily, you can grab a whole bundle that includes Windows 11 Pro, Office Professional Plus 2019, Visio 2019 Professional and Project 2019 Professional, all for the price of just $80. That’s down from the eye-watering $928,but you do have to use the code ENJOY20 to get the total discount. These are one-time subscriptions, so there’s no paying of a monthly fee or anything.
While most people are know their way around the Microsoft Office suite of apps, you may not be as familiar with Visio and Project, both of which are handy tools. Visio is all about diagramming, and it gives you great tools and templates to turn large or complex data sets into things like flowcharts or hierarchy trees. As for Project, it’s useful for staying on top of a project in terms of tasks, scheduling, budgets and resources. It’s a super-powerful task tracker that can be used for projects great or small.
As for Windows 11 Pro, it adds a lot of extra features to the standard home version and is great if you recently grabbed a laptop deal and want to upgrade the OS to something better or if you’re building a PC from scratch. And having a recent version of Office included allows you to avoid paying monthly for Microsoft 365 which can get pricey over time. Even if you don’t have current use cases for all of the software in this bundle just yet, you’re paying less for the collection than you would for some of the individual items alone, so it definitely makes sense to go for the bundle if one or two of the pieces meet your needs right now.
Sunday’s Oscars ceremony will bring out people passionate about the films of 2023, whether they’re big fans of Barbie, can’t stop thinking about Anatomy of a Fall, or insist that movies don’t get any better than Oppenheimer.
Hosted for a fourth time by Jimmy Kimmel, the Oscars will honor flicks like Christopher Nolan’s film about J. Robert Oppenheimer, which collected the most nominations out of the bunch — 13. The next most-nominated film is Yorgos Lanthimos’ dark comedy Poor Things, with 11 nods, followed by Martin Scorsese’s epic drama Killers of the Flower Moon, with 10.
The 96th Academy Awards will feature musical performances for each of the five nominees for best original song, including the Ryan Gosling-sung power ballad I’m Just Ken. In other Barbie-related news, there’s a nearly-five-minute-long Oscars promo you can watch right now that features Kimmel and members of the Barbie cast.
Stay tuned for how to watch the Oscars, whether or not you have cable. If you want to watch and stream the nominated flicks, here’s a roundup for that.
How to watch the Oscars
The 96th Academy Awards will air on ABC on Sunday, March 10, at 4 p.m. PT (7 p.m. ET).
The matchup between NordVPN and ExpressVPN is right up there with other heavyweight classics like Jordan vs. Bird, Tupac vs. Biggie or Balboa vs. Creed. Both virtual private networks are fast, secure, feature-rich and based outside US jurisdiction. Express and Nord deliver superb streaming service unblocking for accessing international Netflix libraries or enjoying your US catalog while traveling abroad, so whether you’re privacy-focused, an entertainment enthusiast or somewhere in between, these VPN companies have you covered.
NordVPN is cheaper at the onset for an annual or two-year subscription, although eventually, both companies charge you the same price per year. We recommend ExpressVPN for most folks because of its fast internet speeds, generous simultaneous device allowance, excellent streaming support and unmatched transparency. It’s our Editors’ Choice as the best VPN overall. NordVPN is the fastest VPN in our testing while delivering a few extra security features, making it better for people who need a VPN for bandwidth-heavy activity. Luckily, neither VPN is bad. Let’s dive in for a head-to-head matchup of NordVPN vs. ExpressVPN so you can pick the right virtual private network for your needs and budget.
ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN compared
Major features compared
ExpressVPN
NordVPN
Cost
$13 a month, $60 bi-annually, $100 a year
$13 a month, $60 annually (then $99 a year) or $96 for two years (then $99 annually)
Avg. speed % loss (2024 tests)
25%
11%
Server network
3,000-plus servers across 105 countries
6,000-plus servers across 67 countries
Encryption
AES 256-bit encryption
AES 256-bit encryption
VPN protocols
OpenVPN, IKEv2, Lightway
OpenVPN, WireGuard (NordLynx)
Jurisdiction
British Virgin Islands
Panama
Compatible platforms
Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS/iPadOS, Fire TV, Apple TV, Browsers, Routers
Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS/iPadOS, Fire TV, Apple TV, Browsers, Routers
Simultaneous connections
8
6
Speed winner: NordVPN is the fastest VPN we tested
Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN are two of the fastest VPNs available. All virtual private networks somewhat slow down your internet connection, but these two companies keep it to a minimum. In our 2024 tests, NordVPN resulted in a 11.1% average speed loss. While ExpressVPN was slower, with an average 24.8% dip in speeds, it was still plenty fast for bandwidth-heavy tasks like 4K video streaming, gaming and working from home. ExpressVPN isn’t slow by any means — Nord is simply faster, but the difference likely isn’t unnoticeable in daily use. Whichever VPN provider you pick, you’ll enjoy reliable connectivity.
Cost winner: NordVPN is cheaper for a year or two, but then pricing is the same
ExpressVPN charges a premium for their service: You’ll pay $13 monthly, $60 biannually (every six months), or $100 per year. NordVPN somewhat undercuts Express, but only with promotional prices. Nord charges $13 per month, the same as Express. Its yearly plan costs $60 for the initial 12 months before jumping to $100. A two-year bundle sets you back $96 for 24 months of service, then hopping to $100 annually. We don’t suggest signing up for more than a year-long plan because of the VPN space’s volatility. That high-quality VPN you sign up for might be slower, acquired by a shady company, suffer a data breach or be out of business after a year.
Eventually, ExpressVPN and NordVPN charge you the same prices for their annual subscriptions, although Nord is significantly cheaper upfront. If you take advantage of seasonal deals, you can keep the cost low even after your sweet introductory price savings. Factoring in various benefits that Express offers — namely a more generous simultaneous connection allowance and a larger list of countries to connect to — further muddies the price difference since you get a bit more value for your money than with Nord. Although NordVPN is cheaper than ExpressVPN, it’s not by much and you’ll get a feature-rich VPN either way.
Privacy and security winner: NordVPN has more features, but Express has unmatched transparency
ExpressVPN and NordVPN each offer unparalleled security features. Each company boasts a strict no-logging policy that, while challenging to verify, adds peace of mind. You’ll enjoy robust AES 256-bit encryption and jurisdiction in a country that’s not part of the Five Eyes or Fourteen Eyes intelligence-sharing communities (Panama for Nord and the British Virgin Islands with Express). Both VPN services use RAM-only servers for increased data privacy; your data gets wiped out after each server reboot, but ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer technology takes it a step further by reinstalling the entire software stack with every reboot. You’ll appreciate robust safety options with either choice, including a kill switch (which cuts your internet connection if your VPN stops suddenly), obfuscation (to hide your VPN usage) and split tunneling (for using a VPN for some applications but not others).
In 2022, ExpressVPN underwent 12 independent security audits to support its claims and improve transparency. NordVPN also substantiated its service with third-party audits. In our testing, we didn’t experience any DNS leaks from NordVPN, but detected leaks in a certain edge case with ExpressVPN on its Windows app when split tunneling was enabled. ExpressVPN immediately issued an emergency update to its Windows app that disabled split tunneling entirely, and was fully transparent about the issue after we reported it to company representatives. Nord packs more features than Express, like Double VPN and Onion Over VPN. Onion Over VPN enhances anonymity online using the Tor network, while Double VPN encrypts your internet traffic twice. Express is more transparent with additional independent security audits, while Nord throws in a few niche features such as Onion Over VPN and Double VPN, so either way, you’re getting plenty of reassurance. Nord’s move from a warrant canary to transparency reports is a great step in the right direction for bolstering its already strong transparency.
Entertainment winner: ExpressVPN is better for streaming and gaming, by a hair
Although VPNs are widely used for privacy and security, they’re also popular for entertainment, like unblocking geographically protected content. For instance, you can use a VPN to access international Netflix libraries which lets you watch Star Trek: The Next Generation — normally only available on Paramount Plus in the US, or stream Prey on Disney Plus (a Hulu exclusive in the States). Conversely, you can enjoy region-restricted content from your home country while traveling. A VPN for gaming could improve your gaming experience by lowering ping and protecting against DDoS attacks — but it could also slow down your internet, so make sure you really need one for online play before you buy.
I tested both ExpressVPN and NordVPN for streaming and gaming. Both services successfully unblocked Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video and a handful of other sites while remaining fast enough for even 4K ultra HD video playback. Generally, I found the ExpressVPN app slightly easier to navigate on Android TV and Fire TV, although NordVPN’s apps are uncomplicated. Nord lacks a kill switch on its Fire TV and Android TV platforms, which is usually a deal breaker for us, although this feature may be unnecessary for streaming. While Nord’s server network is much more extensive, Express has a larger global footprint thanks to its larger country list (despite a smaller number of total servers). I give Express an edge thanks to its more feature-rich streaming device apps and additional country server choices.
Bottom line
The good news is that you can’t make a poor decision if you’re choosing between ExpressVPN and NordVPN. Express scored an 8.8 in CNET’s assessment and is our Editors’ Choice for the best overall VPN. Nord scored an 8.6 and is one of the fastest, most secure and reliable options on the market. I recommend ExpressVPN for most people with its more generous simultaneous device allowance, terrific security features, blisteringly fast internet speeds and excellent geo-unblocking. ExpressVPN is the VPN I pay for out of pocket for personal use. Nevertheless, Nord is the fastest VPN on the market and flaunts a few additional privacy benefits, but you won’t notice the difference unless you’re a power user.
Tottenham travel to fourth-placed Aston Villa on Sunday, knowing that a win will pull them to within 2 points of their opponents in the English Premier League table.
Spurs had to come from behind with three late goals to seal a 3-1 comeback victory over Crystal Palace last weekend, in a match that saw Timo Werner score his first goal for the club.
Villa, meanwhile, edged past Luton with a 3-2 win over the Hatters last Saturday, before drawing 0-0 in midweek against Dutch giants Ajax in the Europa Conference League.
Spurs will be without Richarlison thanks to a knee issue for this match, while Jacob Ramsey faces a late fitness test for Villa.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the game live wherever you are in the world.
Aston Villa vs. Tottenham Hotspur: When and where?
Aston Villa host Spurs at Villa Park in Birmingham on Sunday, March 10. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. GMT, which is 9 a.m. ET or 6 a.m. PT in the US and Canada, and 12 a.m. AEDT on Monday, March 11, in Australia.
How to watch the Aston Villa vs. Tottenham 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 Aston Villa vs. Tottenham in the US
Sunday’s Aston Villa vs. Tottenham 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 Aston Villa vs. Tottenham 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). Aston Villa vs. Tottenham 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 Aston Villa vs. Tottenham game in Canada
If you want to stream Aston Villa vs. Tottenham live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to Fubo. The service has exclusive rights for this Premier League season.
Livestream the Aston Villa vs. Tottenham 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.
