Google this month took the wraps off its new affordable A-series phone, the Pixel 7A, and you can nab the first direct discount on one at Amazon right now. The Pixel 7A is already inexpensive at $499, but the on-page coupon at Amazon takes $50 off that price at checkout, nabbing you the unlocked handset for just $449. The deal only applies to the charcoal color, though you can get the blue or white versions with a free $50 Amazon gift card instead which is as good as cash back if you shop at Amazon a lot.
Though the Pixel 7A is designed to be an entry-level device, it’s still plenty powerful. It features the same Google Tensor G2 chip as the flagship Pixel 7, a 64-megapixel camera and 6.1-inch, 90Hz display. It’s also got nice extras like face unlock and wireless charging, aspects previous Pixel A phones scrimped on. Battery life should last up to 24 hours with mixed usage, too. All told, it’s the best phone under $500.
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If you prefer to go the carrier contract route or want a solid trade-in offer, be sure to check out our roundup of the best Pixel 7A deals available.
Meta’s sequel to the most popular VR headset in the world right now will be a 2023 product, and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg has already confirmed it will be priced similarly to the Quest 2. That should mean it’ll be a far more affordable headset than what Apple is readying.
The Quest Pro (left) next to the Quest 2 (right). The Quest 3 may be smaller in the front like the Pro, but with the Quest 2’s elastic head straps.
Scott Stein/CNET
Price: Somewhere around $400?
Meta’s work-focused Quest Pro headset that debuted last fall was a misfire, starting at $1,500 and now reduced to $1,000. Meta’s Quest 3 should fall in line with the $400 price of the Quest 2 headset (although that’s an increase from the Quest 2’s original price of $300). Although considering it will likely have better performance and features, it could end up being a little more expensive.
That price would be less than the PlayStation VR 2, which also needs a PlayStation 5 to work. And it would likely be thousands of dollars less than what the Apple headset is expected to cost, which many industry watchers are pinning at $3000.
Watch this: Meta Quest Pro Half a Year Later: Why I Wear It and Why You Should Wait for the Quest 3
06:31
Features: Mixed reality, but maybe not eye tracking
The future of VR is already moving towards mixed reality, blending VR with real-world surroundings using passthrough cameras projecting real-time footage in-headset. The Quest Pro and Vive XR Elite already do it, and Apple’s headset is expected to do the same.
The Quest 3 should have color passthrough cameras, much like the Quest Pro, Vive XR Elite and Pico 4 do. The Quest 2 has only a basic monochrome passthrough camera. The Quest 3 could also have better depth sensing capabilities, either through improved on-headset sensors or computer vision algorithms. Meta’s selection of mixed reality apps is pretty bare right now, but a mainstream Quest 3 that also taps into the possibilities could spark a lot more apps and games.
VR/AR YouTuber Bradley Lynch detailed a bunch of Quest 3 features last year based on leaks from Meta, which details a lot of what to expect: a depth sensor is planned to be onboard.
Eye tracking may be left out. The Quest Pro has eye tracking and face tracking, which can be turned off in settings and isn’t used for all apps. The PlayStation VR 2 uses eye tracking frequently to optimize graphics performance, but it’s also tethered to the PS5, and doesn’t have to deal with battery drain concerns. The Quest 3 might skip the feature to save on cost, or perhaps because Meta isn’t ready to deal with the privacy ramifications yet.
A new processor is expected, though. The aging Snapdragon XR2 chip could get a true follow-up (reports say it’ll be a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2), improving graphics and speed for the new headset, and maybe battery performance as well. Qualcomm already has a multi-year partnership with Meta, unveiling new XR chips that will roll out to other devices in the future. This could be the debut of a new chip, much like the XR2 was for the Quest 2.
Storage sizes and RAM might be upgraded as well, according to Lynch’s report from last year, with a 512GB storage option finally becoming available.
The Pico 4 (left) is significantly smaller in the front than the Quest 2 (right), but the battery gets moved to the larger back strap. The Quest 3 should also be smaller, with the battery staying in the front.
Scott Stein/CNET
Slimmer design
Meta’s improved “pancake optics” lenses for the Quest Pro slimmed down the front of the VR headset versus the Quest 2, with a clearer lens to boot. The Pico 4 headset, another affordable Quest 2-range VR headset, added pancake optics last year. The Quest 3 should get this upgrade too, adding up to a much smaller headset size than the Quest 2.
Smaller could mean more portable. Will new cases and accessories emphasize this? Being able to take a Quest 3 on trips more easily would be a big advantage. HTC’s Vive XR Elite folds down into the size of a pair of (big) glasses, with an optional tube-shaped carry case.
The Quest Pro controller (right) is a big redesign over the Quest 2 controller (left).
Scott Stein/CNET
It could work with Meta’s new Quest Pro controllers
Meta updated its controllers with the Quest Pro, adding cameras for better tracking consistency and shrinking down the size. These controllers are currently an expensive upgrade for Quest 2 owners, they sell for $300 separately, but would Meta include them with the Quest 3? Or could they still be optional upgrades?
Another possibility could be another redesigned set of controllers. Meta doesn’t seem ready to get rid of controllers completely for the Quest, although that seems to be the long-term strategy as hand tracking continues to improve.
Lynch also showed leaked looks at the headset last year that suggested the Quest 3 might charge in the current Quest Pro dock.
Games should be a major focus, once again
Meta’s experiments in work and social apps – aka, the metaverse – haven’t taken off, which means gaming is still the biggest use for the Quest 2 (along with fitness). Meta’s upcoming games showcase on June 1 is emphasizing that the Quest 2 is, first and foremost, a game console.
With an expected fall debut, the Quest 3 will likely be positioned again as a game console with a lot of potential fitness, work and social benefits. It’s Meta’s safest bet, and with its expected console-level price, not an absurd proposition in a year where there aren’t expected to be any other new game console debuts to compete with.
Will Quest 3 spark a wave of mixed reality apps?
The Quest 3’s bigger mixed reality focus, and its lower price than the Quest Pro, should finally trigger a wave of new apps that aim to use mixed reality more often. It’s the Quest 3’s biggest new feature, and with Apple likely to show off mixed reality quite a bit as well, it might mean developers are finally going to think in a more AR-like mindset. It’s Meta’s biggest opportunity to try to advance the Quest experience beyond its VR-minded status.
If you’re looking to buy a headset, you should wait
At this point, the fall isn’t far away. The Quest 3 looks like it’ll be the best Meta VR headset, and could be one of the best options for its price when it arrives. Anyone looking for a headset right now should hold off and see what’s coming, especially with both this and Apple’s headset on the horizon.
Nvidia’s Ada-architecture GPUs for 1080p gamers — and for those whose pocketbooks can’t stretch to accommodate $500-plus graphics cards — are finally appearing to replace last generation’s RTX 3060 and 3060 Ti models, at really attractive prices.
The RTX 4060 Ti starts shipping next week. Nvidia will only be offering an 8GB version of its own Founders Edition cards, which start at $399; $499 and up 16GB models will be coming from its partners. We won’t see the $299-plus RTX 4060 cards until July, and Nvidia won’t be offering those itself.
Specifications
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060
Memory
8GB or 16GB GDDR6
8GB GDDR6
Memory bandwidth (GBps)
288
272
Memory clock (GHz)
9
8.5
GPU clock (GHz, base/boost)
2.31/2.535
1.83/2.46
Memory data rate/Interface
18Gbps/128 bits
17Gbps/128 bits
RT cores
34
24
CUDA Cores
4,352
3,072
Texture mapping units
136
96
Streaming multiprocessors
34
24
Tensor Cores
136
96
Process
4nm
4nm
TGP/min PSU (watts)
160/550
115/550
Max thermal (degrees)
194F/90C
194F/90C
Bus
PCIe 4.0×8
PCIe 4.0×8
Size
2 slots
2 slots
Launch price
$399 (8GB), $499 (16GB)
$299
Ship date
May 24, 2023
July 2023
The 8GB and 16GB versions of the 4060 Ti are identical in all other ways, though the latter may be a bit bigger to accommodate any extra cooling and it draws a smidge more power. It’s not the first time we’ve seen multiple memory configurations for a given GPU, but it never gets less confusing. Basically, jumping to 16GB can help if you want to load higher-resolution textures (for better quality), smoother video (and sometimes photo) editing and some other similar tasks.The two cards are also intended for upgrades or new builds of low-power — a power supply of 600w or less — or compact systems where you can’t fit or support a triple-slot, 11-inch long card.
The two cards are also intended for upgrades or new builds of low-power — a power supply of 600 watts or less — or compact systems where you can’t fit or support a triple-slot, 11-inch long card.
It’s generally worth bumping up to the Ada generation cards from previous generations for the performance improvement you get from Nvidia’s DLSS 3 optimization technology over DLSS 2, though I can’t state whether that general observation holds as true for these specific GPUs until I get to test them. Based on specs alone, the RTX 4060 Ti promises notably better performance than the lower end card.
It will also be interesting to see how well these perform relative to Intel’s Arc A750 and A770 GPUs, since those more modern cards have generally performed better than last-gen competitors.
Microsoft announced Thursday that the first Xbox game to arrive on Nvidia’s cloud gaming service GeForce Now is the latest installment of the Gears of War franchise, Gears 5. GeForce Now subscribers can play the game now. The tech giant also said the games Deathloop, Grounded and Pentiment will arrive on the cloud gaming service on May 25 with more games to come in the future.
The release of Xbox games on Nvidia GeForce Now is part of a 10-year agreement Microsoft and Nvidia signed in February. Xbox Gaming CEO Phil Spencer tweeted at the time that the agreement will allow GeForce Now players to stream Xbox PC games. Spencer also said Activision Blizzard games, like Call of Duty, would be available on GeForce Now following Microsoft’s acquisition of the studio.
Nvidia GeForce Now lets subscribers play more than 1,500 PC games on multiple devices, including in their cars, with plans that range in price from free to $20 a month. CNET’s review of GeForce Now found that the cloud gaming service can get expensive, if you choose the top subscription tier, but it’s worth its for people with large game libraries who want to be able to play titles across devices. More Xbox games, like the Halo, Doom and Fallout franchises, are expected to arrive on GeForce Now in the future.
When Razer released its Nommo speakers in 2018, the cylindrical design of the satellites was novel. The 2023 update isn’t as novel as it was then, but the satellites have been shrunk from their bulky predecessors. The new novelty is a wireless connection between the subwoofer and the satellites for the 2.1-channel Nommo V2 Pro, though it’s still wired for the step-down Nommo V2.
There’s also an entry stereo model, the V2 X. Razer distinguishes it from the soundbar-plus-sub Leviathan V2 line by the need for positional precision — because the speakers are all physically centered right in front of you, the Leviathan has to virtually create a surround effect, which is less accurate than using multiple speakers.
The speakers will all ship in June at $450 for the Nommo V2 Pro, $300 for the V2 and $150 for the V2 X.
Razer
In addition to the more compact size, there’s a new wireless control pod — it’s bundled with the Pro but optional for the others — and all the models now support Bluetooth (5.3 for the two sub-equipped versions and 5.0 for the stereo) connections. The two higher-end Nommos also have two zone rear-projection illumination, with an ambient aware mode that syncs the lighting with your game where supported. You can connect them to a PS4 or PS5 via USB, though you have to swap the connection between the PC and the console.
The drivers are slightly bigger — 3.2 inches versus 3 — and Razer has switched the material of the phase plugs to aluminum to improve the internal sound wave reflections, presumably for more accurate sound. For surround, the system uses Razer’s THX technology, and has dropped Dolby.
Scrivener 3 is a powerful writing tool that can assist just about anyone who writes and needs to keep everything organized. Loved by novelists, researchers, journalists and students alike, the software is a solid investment for anyone — and right now, you can nab a lifetime license for either the Mac or the Windows version of the appfor just $30 at StackSocial. That’s a 50% discount on its usual price.
Scrivener 3 is essentially a word processor designed for long writing projects, meaning you can stop trying to make Microsoft Word work for your lengthier pieces of work. It lets you write in any order that makes sense to the project you’re working on, be it a novel or a research paper, and keep everything organized with an easy-to-use project outline and fast access to any background material you need to refer to. There are powerful editing tools built in too, whether you simply need to fix typos or restructure entire sections. When you’re done with your manuscript, it’s simple to export it to popular formats such as Word, PDF, Final Draft or plain text to suit your needs and those of whom it is destined for next.
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We didn’t hear about the Pixel 8 at Google’s I/O conference, but the company did launch the Pixel 7A — a more wallet-friendly alternative to the Pixel 7. It’s great news for Pixel fans, since the 7A offers many of the same benefits as the Pixel 7 — such as a great camera and the new Tensor G2 processor — for $100 less. But it also makes me wonder whether Google’s A-series phones are beginning to overshadow its flagship Pixels.
Now that Google has narrowed the gap between the Pixel 7 and 7A, it should think more carefully about its target audience for the Pixel 8. If the Pixel 7A is for those who want a basic Pixel experience without compromising on performance and camera quality, and the Pixel 7 Pro is for photography enthusiasts, then who’s the Pixel 7 for? That’s the question I’m hoping Google answers with the Pixel 8, along with some other routine improvements to software support and battery life.
Google typically releases new Pixel phones in the fall, so we’re expecting to learn more about the Pixel 8 in a few months.
The Pixel 8 needs to stand out from Google’s next A-series phone
With the Pixel 8, Google needs to do more to make its upcoming mainline Pixel phone stand out. The $499 Pixel 7A already has many of the features most people are looking for in a new phone, such as a great camera, smooth performance, easy-to-use software and decent battery life.
The main differences between the Pixel 7 and 7A come down to the former’s slightly more durable design, larger screen and battery share. That latter feature lets you charge compatible accessories by resting them on the back of the phone, essentially turning it into a wireless charger. The Pixel 7 also has a larger camera sensor that’s more light sensitive according to Google, but I didn’t notice much of an improvement when comparing photos from both phones.
The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7A feel like they’re targeting the same audience: Android fans who want a general-purpose phone with a great camera and a reasonably sized screen. The Pixel 7 Pro stands out for its larger screen, extra telephoto camera and macro photography. It also comes in a 512GB storage option, unlike the Pixel 7, and has a screen with a higher, 120Hz refresh rate for even smoother scrolling. Case in point: There are plenty of factors that distinguish the Pixel 7 Pro from the Pixel 7, but not as many that differentiate the Pixel 7 from the 7A.
Moving forward, there are a few changes Google could make to fix that. Perhaps it could slightly increase the Pixel 8’s display size to 6.4 inches instead of 6.3 inches. That would put more distance between the Pixel 8’s screen and a future Pixel 8A, assuming Google keeps the same 6.1-inch display size for upcoming A-series phones.
Google could also give the Pixel 8 a speed boost when it comes to charging, since the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7A offer similar charging speeds (up to 18W on the Pixel 7A versus up to 21W on the Pixel 7). Increasing the charging speed to create more of a gulf between the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8A could make the case for buying the Pixel 8 a little stronger. Increasing the base storage of the Pixel 8 to 256GB, much like Samsung has done with the Galaxy S23 Plus, along with offering an additional 512GB storage option could further distinguish the Pixel 8 from a future Pixel 8A.
These changes combined with the existing differences between the Pixel 7 and 7A could certainly make the Pixel 8 feel like a compelling choice over upcoming budget Pixel phones. Of course, this is assuming Google maintains its current strategy of releasing new flagship and Pro phones in the fall and a cheaper A-series phone in the spring or summer time frame.
Extended Android version support
Software is a big part of what makes Pixel phones so appealing, from the call assist features in the phone app to Google’s clutter-free version of Android. The problem, however, is that Google generally offers Android version updates for only three years following a Pixel phone’s release.
Though it does provide security support and other updates beyond that point, Google lags behind Samsung and Apple when it comes to operating system version support. Samsung typically offers up to four generations of Android platform updates on new phones, while Apple’s most recent software is compatible with iPhones as old as the iPhone X and iPhone 8 generation, which launched in 2017.
If Google could match Samsung’s four years, or surpass five years, that would make the Pixel line even more competitive.
Longer battery life
Battery life can never feel long enough, which is why I’m hoping to see some improvements in the Pixel 8. The Pixel 7’s battery life was long enough to get through a full work day and then some in my experience. But I’d want to pack a charger if I expected a particularly long day.
The Pixel 7A also performed better than the Pixel 7 in CNET’s three-hour battery test, during which I streamed a YouTube video at full brightness and tracked the battery percentage at each hour. It would be great to see Google make some improvements in this regard on the Pixel 8.
Pixel 7A vs. Pixel 7 battery test
Pixel 7A
Pixel 7
1 hour
96%
95%
2 hours
90%
88%
3 hours
85%
81%
We won’t know what to expect from the Pixel 8 until Google announces its new phones, which will likely happen in the fall. The camera has been a focal point for Google’s Pixel series, so I’m expecting to see some advancements in that area, along with a new version of the Tensor processor in the Pixel 8. If Google makes those changes while offering longer battery life, additional Android support and more exclusive features that differentiate the Pixel 8 from its A-series phones, Google’s next $600 phone could be a hit.
For tons people, music is an essential part of any workout. However, you can’t always listen to your tunes out loud, so you’ll want to invest in a solid pair of headphones for your workouts. The Beats PowerBeats Pro earned a spot on our lists of the best earbuds for running and working out, and right now, you can snag a pair at a serious discount. Woot currently has them on sale for just $145, saving you $105 compared to the usual price. This deal is available through May 21, but there’s a good chance these popular earbuds will sell out before then, so we’d recommend getting your order in sooner rather than later.
One thing that sets the PowerBeats Pro apart is their integrated ear hooks. They’re flexible so they’ll fit comfortably, and keep your earbuds securely in place during even your most rigorous workouts. Plus, they feature an IPX4 water-resistance rating, so you don’t have to worry about them getting damaged by sweat or rain. Internally, they’re equipped with Apple’s H1 headphone chip, and support spatial audio for an immersive listening experience. Each bud also has built-in volume and track controls so you can easily adjust your music on the fly without having to pull out your phone. They do have a few drawbacks, including a lack of active noise-canceling capabilities, and a bulky charging case, but at this price, those may be flaws you can overlook.
And if you’re looking for a different style, you can check out our roundups of all the best Beats deals, and best headphone deals overall for even more bargains.
With AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon offering dozens of plans, not to mention the exponentially larger assortment from prepaid and smaller carriers like Mint Mobile, Visible and Google Fi Wireless, it’s not easy choosing the best cellphone plan out there. You could end up paying a lot more than you should without doing the right research, and no one wants to lose out on saving money.
Here’s our guide for sorting through the madness and some of our picks for what we think are the best unlimited and prepaid plans available right now.
Sarah Tew/CNET
What’s the difference between “prepaid” and “postpaid” plans?
When choosing a phone plan, there are generally two main options: a postpaid carrier like AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile (plus cable options like Spectrum Mobile and Xfinity Mobile) and prepaid providers such as Mint Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Google Fi Wireless and Cricket.
The difference boils down to this: With postpaid you are paying for your plan after you’ve used your service, while prepaid lets you buy that allotment in advance.
Prepaid providers are generally cheaper than postpaid options, though they also often (but not always) are more limited when it comes to additional streaming perks, hotspot data or device discounts. To get a several hundred dollar trade-in credit toward a new iPhone, Pixel or Galaxy, you often will need to commit to a postpaid plan from one of the big three carriers and be willing to stay with that provider for 24 to 36 months.
All three of the major wireless carriers also offer a variety of discounts on the plan pricing depending on age, employment, military or veteran status or if you or someone on your family plan is a nurse, teacher or first responder. You can find those details here: AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon.
What about networks?
Look at a zoomed-out map of the US on the websites for AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon and you’ll likely see it pretty well colored in by their respective color. Zooming in is where things get a bit more complicated, which is why we can’t offer blanket recommendations for one carrier over another. T-Mobile’s service in New York may be excellent, but if you’re in a rural area in Colorado, Verizon could be more reliable.
All three, however, offer 5G and ever-increasing coverage and data speeds as they all ramp up deployments of the latest wireless flavor. It’s quite possible that a decade ago you left a network complaining about its weak service, but now it’s beefed itself up because of that race to acquire customers.
This is also why we recommend talking to friends, family or colleagues that have a different provider where you live, as locally your mileage may vary. You could also go to a carrier’s store and see if it offers any free ways to try out the service before switching over, such as T-Mobile’s Network Pass. Verizon now offers a similar 30-day program, while the Cricket prepaid service has rolled out its own trial program that lets you sample parent AT&T’s network.
As for the smaller carriers, they often use the networks of the larger providers. This includes the prepaid options owned by the big carriers (AT&T owns Cricket, Verizon owns Tracfone, T-Mobile owns Metro) as well as smaller options like Mint Mobile (which runs on T-Mobile), Google Fi Wireless (which largely runs on T-Mobile) and Boost Mobile (which runs on AT&T, T-Mobile and parent company Dish’s 5G networks). We explain this all in more detail here.
Why get unlimited?
If you’re on T-Mobile, all of your plans are unlimited, and Verizon no longer lets new users sign up for a shared data plan. Only AT&T still offers some tiered data plans and… it’s not great.
It has a 4GB-per-line plan that runs $50 a month for one line ($160 for four lines). Each line here gets 4GB of data, but if you go over that threshold in a month you’re paying $10 for every 2GB. AT&T’s plan also does not include access to its 5G networks.
Although everyone’s wireless needs are different, for most we think unlimited plans make the most sense, especially when it comes to choosing a new plan.
AT&T’s basic unlimited plan, called Unlimited Starter, is $65 a month for one line or $140 for four lines. If you have one or two lines and don’t use a lot of data, you may be fine with one of these plans, though if you have just one line we’d recommend switching over to AT&T’s $50-per-month Value Plus option or T-Mobile’s Essentials Savings. Two lines of that T-Mobile plan run $80 a month, which is $10 cheaper than two lines of AT&T’s 4GB plan and comes without the worry of navigating how much data you use.
T-Mobile recently reshuffled its plans, getting rid of what was our previous pick in this spot, the Base Essentials plan that offered a single line for $45 per month. It replaced that option with an Essentials Savings plan, a “limited time” offer of $50 a month for a single line.
The data remains unlimited, and you now get 50GB of high-speed data as opposed to 20GB that Base Essentials offered. T-Mobile hasn’t said how long the Essentials Savings option will hang around, but we break down how it compares to the carrier’s plans here.
As with before, perks like free Netflix or the bundling of taxes and fees into the sticker price aren’t included. You do get unlimited hotspot at “3G speeds,” and unlimited talk, text and 2G data in Mexico and Canada.
At $50 for a single line, the Essentials Savings plan is now the same price for a single line as with AT&T’s Value Plus plan, and both could be solid options for those looking for a single line without frills.
While the prices between AT&T and T-Mobile are now the same, we give T-Mobile the edge here mainly because it includes hotspot access. Even at “3G speeds,” the option could be a useful feature in a pinch.
It also is worth mentioning that T-Mobile allows for multiple lines of this plan, with two lines running $80 a month. (If you need three or more, you may want to look at one of T-Mobile’s other plans, which could be cheaper thanks to various promotions that the carrier regularly runs.)
You may need to click “see more plans” on T-Mobile’s site to get this option to appear.
Those looking to save the most on unlimited service from the major carriers may also be best off with T-Mobile’s Essentials Savings. As mentioned above, unlimited talk, text and data are included for all of the carrier’s base unlimited plans, including 5G access.
You can always reevaluate your options as the three major carriers roll out the latest updates to their respective 5G networks over the next couple of years.
The savings of T-Mobile’s plan also become more pronounced the more lines you add. Two lines of Essentials Savings is $80 a month, while a similar offering from AT&T or Verizon runs $120 a month. Three lines will also run $90 at T-Mobile thanks to a promotion, compared to $120 at Verizon (for Unlimited Welcome) and $135 at AT&T (for Unlimited Starter). The four-line option is $100 at T-Mobile, compared to $120 at Verizon and $140 at AT&T.
These prices do come with a couple of caveats: Unlike T-Mobile’s Go5G or Magenta plans, taxes and fees are not included in any of these Essentials prices, making the final total a little higher. All the deals also require that you set up AutoPay and paperless billing.
And as mentioned, you may need to click “see more plans” on T-Mobile’s site to get this option to appear.
This is a bit more complicated. Verizon used to be our pick with its Play More plan that bundled in the Disney Bundle (ad-free Disney Plus, ESPN Plus and Hulu with ads) and services like Google Play Pass or Apple Arcade into the plan’s sticker price.
Now the carrier has updated its wireless plans to remove perks like the Disney Bundle or Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass from being automatically included with its service. Even with its new plans it still is our pick for best perks, but this will require a bit more explanation.
Instead of automatically putting services in, it now offers a variety of perks at $10 per month per perk, allowing users to pick and choose what they want. It also now allows its lower-cost plan, known as Unlimited Welcome, to participate.
Unlimited Welcome runs $65 per month for one line or $120 per month for four lines. You get unlimited talk, text and data but you don’t get access to Verizon’s fastest 5G networks (what it calls “5G Ultra Wideband”) or hotspot data. For that, you will need to step up to its pricier Unlimited Plus plan ($80 for one line, $180 for four lines).
Both the Welcome and Plus plans include the ability to add perks at that $10 per month rate. This includes the Disney Bundle (normally $15 per month), Apple One individual (normally around $17 per month), Apple Music Family (which can be shared with five people and normally runs $17 per month) and Walmart Plus (normally $13 per month but also includes Paramount Plus Essential).
There are also other perks including an additional 100GB of hotspot data (normally $45 per month), 2TB of Verizon’s cloud storage (normally $15 per month), three days of international data (what the carrier calls TravelPass, normally $10 per day).
All perks can be turned on or off at will, and you could forgo them entirely. You can even go with multiple perks on a single line if you wanted.
Whether this makes sense for your situation, however, may require some time with a spreadsheet going through what services work for you and what you’re willing to pay for them. The savings could add up if you’re paying for some of these services directly, but it also could be more expensive than your existing plan.
It is also worth mentioning that Verizon allows you to “mix and match” lines, so if not everyone needs the faster 5G connectivity they could be on Unlimited Welcome while the one who does can go on Unlimited Plus.
AT&T allows something similar with its unlimited plans, but at the moment no longer offers any streaming perks. To get T-Mobile’s perks everyone has to be on the same plan.
But if you wanted a cheaper way to save on one or two services like the Disney Bundle, you could have four lines for $120 per month, add the Disney perk for $10 and be paying $130 per month for the whole package.
Oh, and you can also combine these plans with Verizon’s other discounts for teachers, nurses, military and first responders to save a bit more.
Boost Mobile has added an unlimited plan that offers unlimited talk, text and data to new users for $25 per month with taxes and fees included. Unlike Mint Mobile’s 12-month plan, our previous pick in this slot, Boost’s plan isn’t tied to 12-month increments. You do, however, need to be a new Boost customer to get this offer.
The plan includes 5G access and 30GB per month of high-speed data (if you blow through that, your data will slow until your next billing month starts). Hotspot is included as well, with that data pulling from your high-speed allotment. One thing worth noting: You need to set up automatic payments to get the $25-per-month rate.
When it comes to family plans, Google’s Fi Wireless cell phone service is a solid option. While its $50 pricing for one line is way higher than Mint’s, if you have three lines or more you can save a little.
Called Simply Unlimited, the plan runs roughly $27 per line per month with three lines and drops to $20 per month if you have four or more lines (both options run $80 per month total). It now includes 35GB of high-speed data plus talk, text and data in Canada and Mexico. The plan also now offers 5GB of hotspot data, though that is a “hard” cap where the hotspot feature stops after 5GB is used, as opposed to the data slowing.
When it comes to data under 10GB, Mint once again has the best value if T-Mobile’s network is solid in your area. Whereas Metro and Cricket charge $40 per month for one line and Boost has a $35 plan for 10GB of data, Mint beats them all on price, and now data too.
In April Mint upped its 10GB plan to 15GB of 4G LTE/5G monthly data while keeping the same $20 per month price (when purchased in 12-month increments). After that, you can buy three more months at $35 per month ($105 total), six months at $25 per month ($150 total) or another year at $20 per month ($240 total).
If you’re looking for service for a backup phone that’s rarely used, TextNow has a free plan. Running on T-Mobile’s network, the service offers free unlimited talk and unlimited texting, though ads are placed in its app which you use to call and text people. There isn’t any data included with this option and removing the ads without adding data would run you $10 a month. If you want to watch YouTube, FaceTime, or surf the web make sure to connect to Wi-Fi.
Text messages are also done through the company’s TextNow app, not through iMessage or WhatsApp which makes sense as those services require data.
Getting 1GB of high-speed mobile data starts at $9 a month, with the company throttling you down to “2G speeds” if you use that up before your billing cycle resets. If you are largely on Wi-Fi, this could be a good option. 2GB runs $16 a month, with the company offering up to 5GB of high-speed data for $28 a month.
A small keyboard and trackpad lies in my lap. But there’s no screen. Not that you can see, anyway. To me, I have a curved wraparound workspace with dozens of windows open. I’m seeing it on a pair of AR glasses (with prescription inserts) perched on my nose.
I first tried the Spacetop in Las Vegas back in January, but the company that developed it, Sightful, is finally announcing the early-access product experiment now. I’ve seen tons of AR and VR headsets, but very few unique peripherals designed to work together with these future goggles and glasses. Instead of gaming or social experiences, Spacetop’s main pitch is to turn laptops into AR-assisted devices with endless virtual displays.
If that sounds like a weird pitch, consider that I’ve already lived it. I’ve paired Meta’s Quest Pro to my laptop to extend its virtual monitors around my head, and plenty of solutions like this already exist using available apps. The interfaces can be clunky, and the hardware isn’t totally made to be mobile. Spacetop’s keyboard base, with its own Qualcomm processor inside, acts as a spatially tracked anchor that the AR glasses can follow and track the floating displays to. The tracking can work while in motion in a car or plane, and a button on the keyboard can make the floating displays vanish for an in-room conversation with someone, toggling the virtual screens on and off.
This visualization of working on Spacetop is actually very similar to the experience of using it, except the field of view at any time is smaller (imagine viewing through a narrower window).
Sightful
The Spacetop comes with a pair of NReal Light AR glasses as part of its package, which need to be physically tethered to the keyboard to work. Sightful’s founders are planning for wireless options eventually, but found the tethered option more reliable for consistent tracking right now. Also, the whole concept could eventually work with other AR and mixed-reality headset hardware down the road.
The Spacetop’s keyboard. No screen, just a base. There’s a cradle for the AR glasses.
Scott Stein/CNET
That would make sense, considering how many devices should be on their way: Apple’s, to start, and whatever Samsung, Google and Qualcomm are cooking up in the next year or so. NReal’s glasses are fine, but don’t work over my own glasses. Instead, I had to use prescription inserts, which Sightful will make for buyers of the hardware. The inserts I tried weren’t a perfect match, but were enough to appreciate that the display resolution was more than good enough for monitor readouts. The field of view, however, is narrower than most VR headsets: it can show something like a 40-inch TV screen as seen across a table, but I have to turn my head to see the other floating windows of other minimized browsers in the Spacetop’s Chrome-like software interface.
Sightful’s co-founder, Tomer Kahan, demoing Spacetop with me. I worked on it, too.
Scott Stein/CNET
Zooming into displays, or scrolling around, is all done through trackpad and keyboard work. The keyboard itself is the interface.
Sightful’s team has experience in AR: Founders Tamir Berliner and Tomer Kahan came from Magic Leap, and Berliner also founded Primesense, the depth-sensing technology that powered Microsoft Kinect and which Apple acquired as the foundation to its Face ID TrueDepth camera.
As Apple’s headset begins to imagine how mixed reality could work with other devices — perhaps iPads, or the Apple Watch — upcoming glasses and goggles will start to imagine working better with phones or laptops, and other tools to come. It makes sense that new peripherals would arrive as well — not just controllers, but tracking rings, wearable trackers and a new wave of keyboards designed specifically for mixed reality.
I think Spacetop is a bit ahead of the curve here, and while it’s designed as a primary computer with its own headset, the future may belong to smart accessories that evolve from this idea to work with more headsets to come. If VR and AR are ever going to be more than just places for games, better work tools need to arrive. Spacetop is a pretty fascinating first step to what I imagine will be a lot more on this front.
