Category: Technologies

Few sports have cooler gadgets and tech than skiing and snowboarding. And there’s such a wide range of equipment to choose from, including action cameras like GoPro to new goggles, helmets, gloves and ski-friendly accessories for iPhone and Android devices, as well as ski clothing that features high-tech material.

While a lot of the gear here is battery-powered, there’s plenty that isn’t. I’ll add more top ski gear products to this list as I test them.

Best action cams for skiers

Josh Goldman/CNET

GoPro Hero 11

Best GoPro action cam and value

The Hero 11 Black, GoPro’s latest flagship camera, looks just like last year’s Hero 10 Black except for the number change. However, there’s a big change on the inside — a new larger image sensor — that enables a handful of features that will make the camera more attractive to pros, creators, casual users and even first-time GoPro buyers.

CNET’s resident action cam expert, Josh Goldman, says that while the sensor’s size increase improves image quality some, it’s more about how GoPro is using the full sensor for 27-megapixel photos and 5.3K-resolution video with an 8:7 aspect ratio. With a high-resolution 8:7 aspect ratio, one clip can be edited to 16:9, 4:3 or 1:1, or vertical video at 7:8, 3:4 or 9:16.

That means whatever your social media platform of choice is — YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok — the single clip can be edited to meet your needs. What’s even better is GoPro’s Quik app makes the whole process painless. Plus, with all the extra resolution, you can crop in and still have good-looking results.

If you buy directly from GoPro.com and sign up for the GoPro subscription service — which is included with the camera — GoPro knocks $200 off, so it’s $350 (a year of the service, which costs $50 a year or $5 a month, is included for free).

The subscription service gives you unlimited cloud backups at original quality, damaged camera replacement, discounts on GoPro accessories and gear and access to GoPro’s premium livestreaming platform. It’s a good value, which is why a lot of folks don’t cancel after the first free year.

Read our GoPro 11 review.

$500 at Gopro

Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

Oclu action cam

Compact action cam for skiers less than $200

If you’re looking for an action cam that’s a little more compact and lighter than the GoPro Hero 11 Black (and more discreet overall), the Oclu is worth checking out. It shoots 4K but is best for capturing 1080p video and costs $200 (don’t be fooled by the coupon code saying you can get $100 off — the $100 discount is baked into the price on Oclu’s site). And while you can’t see it in the photo above, the camera does have an integrated LCD on top.

Oclu also sells a Snow Bundle accessory kit for an additional $86 that includes a chest mount. And other accessory bundles are available.

$200 at Oclu

Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

Akaso Brave 7 LE

Best budget action cam for skiers

Josh Goldman, CNET’s action cam guru, thinks the Akaso Brave 7 LE is a very good value because it delivers good 4K video for less than $150 and it has a front display. The body is water-resistant but, along with a variety of mounts, two batteries, a charger and a wrist remote, Akaso includes a dive housing good to 40 meters (131 feet). A touchscreen on the back lets you tap your way through its simple interface to change modes and camera settings. A long press on the Mode button on top lets you switch to the front display so you can see yourself while you shoot.

As for picture quality, you’ll want to keep this budget action camera set to 4K30 with the image stabilization and video quality set to high for the best results, though. Also, while it offers a solid mix of resolutions and frame rates, not all of them have image stabilization — including 1080p120 for slow motion.

$135 at Amazon

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Insta360

Insta360 X3

Best 360 action cam

The Insta360 X3 is more of everything we liked about its predecessor, the One X2. The X3 is a small, waterproof 360 camera that creates immersive 360 videos and photos. But it can also be used as a single-lens action cam. Or you can use its powerful processing, clever accessories and its mobile editing tools to create clips ready for whatever social sharing site you choose. It’s a lot of camera for $450

Read our Insta360 X3 first take.

Best audio accessories for skiers

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Aleck 006

Bluetooth helmet communication speakers

The Aleck 006 earpieces slip into your helmet and can be used as wireless headphones for listening to music or as a headset for making calls. They offer decent sound but what makes them even more useful is if you link multiple Aleck 006 together and set up what amounts to a walkie-talkie system among friends or family members.

With real-time GPS tracking in the Aleck Go app for iOS and Android, you can also map the location of everyone in your party.

$130 at Amazon

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Outdoor Technology Chips 3.0

Helmet audio

You’d think that more companies would have made Bluetooth headphones that slip inside your helmet, but Outdoor Technology is one of the few that does (some Chinese companies like Outdoor Master have gotten into the game in the last couple of years). Their appeal has waned now that true wireless earbuds have come along, but the Chips are now on their third generation with upgraded Bluetooth 5.2 and up to 13 hours of battery life — 3 hours more than what you get with the Chips 2.0, which can be had for around $90 or $40 less.

How it works is you charge up the Chips and slide them into the earflaps on your helmet (they should work with most helmets). You want to make sure that no excess padding in your helmet is covering the Chips or else they’ll get muffled and you’ll lose some volume; you want them as close to your ears as possible.

Like with their predecessor, I thought the sound quality was decent for Bluetooth but not great. That said, it’s nice to be able to stick your helmet on and have the headphones built-in with no wires to worry about. Battery life is rated at 10 hours, and the Chips are sweat- and water-resistant but not waterproof.

Outdoor Technology also sells the Chips Ultra, a true-wireless version of the Chips that costs more (about $163). I don’t think the Ultras are worth the money.

$130 at Amazon

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Sony LinkBuds S

Helmet-friendly Sony buds

Battery Life

Rated up to 9 hours

Noise Canceling

Yes (ANC)

Multipoint

No

Headphone Type

Wireless Earbuds

Water-Resistant

Yes (IPX4 — splash-proof)

There are several compact, lightweight earbuds that work well under helmets, including the AIrPods Pro and and Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. I personally like Sony’s LinkBuds S, which are comfortable to wear and offer very good sound and noise canceling along with a good transparency mode so you hear the outside world around you when you’re not listening to music. While they list for $200, they often go on sale for less than $150.

Read our Sony LinkBuds S review.

$128 at Amazon

$150 at Best Buy

$150 at Target

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JBL Live Free 2

Affordable compact buds

Battery Life

Rated up to 7 hours

Noise Canceling

Yes (Adaptive)

Multipoint

Yes

Headphone Type

Wireless earbuds

Water-Resistant

Yes (IPX5 — protection against low-pressure water streams)

Samsung-owned JBL has a couple of relatively new sets of earbuds, the Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 that are surprisingly good and affordable when they are on sale (which is often). Both are equipped with the same 11mm drivers, six microphones, oval tubes and oval silicon tips. And they also combine a comfortable fit along with strong noise canceling, very good sound quality and voice-calling performance, plus a robust feature set, including multipoint Bluetooth pairing, an IPX5 splash-proof rating and wireless charging.

Aside from the design — The Live Pro 2 has stems while the Live Free 2 is pill-shaped and slightly better suited for helmet wear — the biggest difference between the two buds is battery life. The stemless Live Free 2 are rated for up to seven hours, while the Live Pro 2 are rated for 10 hours. Both are IPX5 water-resistant, which means they can be hit with a sustained spray of water and shouldn’t have a problem surviving a drop in the snow.

Read our JBL Live Free 2 first take.

$75 at Amazon

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Wearable ski coach

Florian Breitenberger

Carv Digital Ski Instructor

Virtual private ski coach

Private lessons have gotten really expensive, so why not get a virtual one?

Carv is a digital ski coach that combines some hardware that you attach to your boots with an iOS app (Android coming soon) that delivers real-time feedback about how you’re skiing. I’m still waiting to try this out but have had friends use it and really like it. In 2021, the software was updated to version Ted Ligety 2.0 with some small hardware enhancements, including a more compact battery with the same battery life.

For better or worse, Carv has moved to a subscription model that makes the hardware less expensive (the original kit is now $149 instead of $349), but requires you to purchase an add-on subscription for $199 a year or $298 for a two-year plan. That’s still a lot less than what a single full-day private lesson would cost you at most resorts — at least in the US.

The company has also partnered with two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time World Alpine Ski Champion Ted Ligety to develop a new program called “Train with an Olympian,” which offers personalized coaching from Ligety to help transform your technique, whether you’re a beginner, advanced skier or something in between. The Carv subscription includes Ligety’s training program, Carv’s real-time audio coaching, video coaching and its library of off-snow content.

$298 at Carv

Top high-tech helmets for skiers

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Giro Orbit (Aria for Women)

Helmet with integrated goggles

Helmets with integrated lens shields or goggles have become popular in Europe in recent years, and Giro makes one of the best ones with its Orbit helmet that also comes in a version for women called the Aria (it looks very similar but has different colored trim elements). While these types of helmets tend to be expensive, they’re good for people who wear glasses or just like the convenience of eye protection integrated into a helmet design — you can rotate the articulating “shield” up onto the helmet or tilt it down over your face. It’s also worth noting that the large Vivid lens (with optics by Zeiss) provides a very wide field of view.

Unlike some shields that have an open design at the bottom, this one has a foam liner and is designed to sit on your face like goggles, though the seal isn’t quite as tight as a typical pair of goggles. There’s good ventilation and the helmet is very comfortable to wear, with a Polartec “Power Grid” padded lining that helps with moisture management. Like many of Giro’s helmets, this one also incorporates the company’s custom Spherical MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection) technology.

The included lens shield is designed to work well in a variety of conditions (it is replaceable for $125). It does a very good job staying fog-free on nonstorm days, but I can’t guarantee that it won’t fog at times on big snow days, which can be challenging for most goggles (particularly if you wear glasses or prescription lens inserts with your goggles). That said, it’s an excellent helmet overall.

$450 at Amazon

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Smith Code Helmet

Top midrange helmet

In the past, I’ve highlighted Smith’s Vantage helmet, which has a visor. The Code is more oriented toward snowboarders and free riders, but a lot of mainstream skiers like its streamlined look.

Smith didn’t change anything in this year’s model from last year’s — except for the color options. It packs in most of Smith’s latest technologies. On the inside, instead of hard foam you’ll find Koroyd inserts that, from the top, look like a honeycomb with circular (not hexagonal) cylinders. The high-tech material is made of lightweight, eco-friendly polymer extruded tubes that are thermally welded together to form a strong layer of protection that also allows for good airflow. (Smith has added other materials and design elements to the helmet and is calling the whole protection package Aerocore construction.)

Beyond the fancy padding, there’s the BOA FS360 fit system (with a 360-degree halo design), which helps you get a snug, “custom” fit. And new this year: a Wayfinder strap system featuring Fidlock that’s basically a quick-release magnetic system that makes it easier to open and close the strap.

The helmet only comes in a MIPS version, which offers increased protection. In a MIPS Brain Protection System, the shell and liner are separated by a low-friction layer that “allows the helmet to slide relative to the head.”

$160 at Amazon

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Giro Jackson

Another favorite midrange helmet

Giro says the “modern profile” of its Jackson helmet, which comes in multiple color options, utilizes the new Passive Aggressive Venting system that’s “inspired by the aerodynamic airflow of high-end autos.” Well, it’s a good looking helmet and also pretty lightweight and comfortable while offering MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection) technology.

It doesn’t have the company’s upgraded Spherical MIPS technology found in its Emerge helmet ($150), this model has Giro’s Form 2 Fit system that allows you to dial in the fit of the helmet (it’s similar to Smith’s dial-in fit), which allowed me to get a more snug fit. The Emerge uses the company’s Stash Fit system that allows you to remove or add layers of padding to customize your fit.

Both the Emerge and the Jackson are designed for maximum compatibility with Giro goggles but they work just fine with other goggles.

$135 at Amazon

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Smith Survey helmet

Smith helmet with built-in goggles

Smith’s all-in-one helmet and goggles combo, the Survey, doesn’t feature Smith’s most high-end helmet and goggles technology… but it’s a comfortable midrange helmet with flip-down goggles and Smith’s ChromaPop lenses. The seal on the goggles will vary from face to face (some wind may leak through). I have yet to try this helmet in a storm and will update this entry when I do. It is currently on sale for $208, which is a good deal, but only the black color remains.

$208 at Smith

Atomic

Atomic Redster CTD

Smart tech-enabled helmet

Atomic’s new Redster CTD helmet is pricey but has some cool features that may someday find their way into more helmets. Inspired by Atomic’s pro racing helmets, this model has sensors that assess any damage after the helmet takes a hit. You get a report on your helmet’s condition via the Atomic Shocksense app for iOS and Android. Also, if you slam into something hard enough and the helmet takes heavy damage, it will automatically send SOS alerts out to your emergency contacts.

As far as protection goes, it’s serious. Atomic says the Redster CTD’s Atomic Multi-directional Impact Deflector (AMID) dual-density foam system absorbs shock from all angles to deliver 30% higher impact protection than International Ski Federation standards require. It’s available in black, red and white.

$460 at Atomic

Best cell-phone accessories for skiers

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Phoozy Thermal Case

Insulated case for your phone

When your phone gets too cold its battery drains faster, and if it’s really cold, it might shut off. That’s where the Phoozy comes in.

A simple sleeve or “capsule” for smartphones, the Phoozy has a Chromium Thermal Barrier Shell and SpaceTech Penetration Layer, as well as a bit of velcro to keep it closed at the top. That will help keep your phone warm on extra cold days and help preserve battery life. It will also keep your phone from overheating.

Phoozy pouches now come in a few different versions and sizes and start at $30. Just make sure to get one that’s big enough to hold your phone.

$36 at Amazon

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Infinity Lab InstantGo 5000

Best new power bank with integrated Lightning cable

Infinity Lab is Samsung-owned Harman Kardon’s new accessories subsidiary and I like its InstantGo 5000 and InstantGo 10000 power banks, which come with an integrated Lightning cable for easy iPhone charging. The larger 10,000-mAh version costs $20 more and is heavier and bulkier, but it can charge most iPhones twice.

$35 at Amazon

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MyCharge Superhero MagLock

Wireless battery charger

You don’t want your phone to go dead on the mountain so it’s always good to pack a battery pack.

MyCharge calls its new line of magnetic power banks Superhero MagLock, implying that they’re real saviors. I was impressed by their design. Not only do the batteries, which come in various capacities, have strong magnets and stick really well to the back of your iPhone 12 or 13, but they have raised coils, which are supposed to help reduce heat levels while charging. It does seem to work.

The 3,000-mAh battery ($35) is lightweight and slim and is nice to have around for some emergency charging. However, it won’t get you a full charge, so you’ll probably want to step up to one of the higher-capacity options like the 6,000-mAh model, which retails for $60 but is currently being discounted to $42. The 9,000-mAh version is beefy and feels like your phone is attached to a small brick — the battery and phone do fit in your hand nicely, but the combo certainly isn’t pocket-friendly.

All the MagLock batteries charge Qi-enabled iPhones at 5 watts, although you can get faster charging if you go wired and use a USB-C-to-Lightning cable. I also liked how there’s a chime when the charging starts and your phone tells you how much juice is left in the battery pack (it’s tied into iOS 15). You can wirelessly charge Android devices as well but the MagLock won’t stick unless you have a metal ring on the back of your phone’s case (stick-on rings are available).

$42 at Amazon

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Anker 622 MagGo magnetic battery

What’s cool about Anker’s 622 magnetic battery is that it’s a wireless battery that has an integrated magnetic flap that converts into a stand. You won’t get fast wireless charging from this 5,000-mAh battery (it charges at up to 7.5 watts), but it’s slim and easy to carry around.

It charges via USB-C and if you use a USB-C to Lighting to charge your iPhone, it will charge at a faster rate of 12 watts. That’s not as fast as what a 20-watt USB-C power adapter can deliver, but it’s faster than 7.5 watts.

$59 at Amazon

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Otterbox Fre with MagSafe

Waterproof case

Most new phones, including the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 series models, offer a decent level of water resistance. But if you want some added protection, Otterbox still sells its waterproof and shockproof Fre case — and the latest version is built for MagSafe accessories.

The Fre case is also available for some Samsung Galaxy models but that version doesn’t feature MagSafe, a feature that adds $10 to the case.

$100 at Otterbox

Top high-tech ski goggle options

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Smith 4D MAG S

Top goggles

The Smith 4D MAG googles are the company’s current top-of-the-line model and have seen a price increase from $280 to $320 (that said, sometimes they go on sale for closer to $250). They feature a wider field of view (25% wider than the I/O Mag, according to Smith) and a 5x antifog inner lens with AirEvac Integration Technology that helps reduce fogging. Changing the lenses is easy with the MAG system. Two levers release the lens, which adheres magnetically to the goggles. One low-light and one bright-light lens are included.

$256 at Smith Optics

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Spy Marauder Elite

Premium antifog OTG goggles

The Marauder Elite is Spy’s latest and greatest model of goggles that features 60% more venting over the similarly styled Spy Ace goggles (another highly vented model). That makes it “nearly impossible to fog,” according to the company. They didn’t fog on me during my limited testing, but I still need to put them through a wider variety of conditions to confirm that.

The goggles’ lenses adhere magnetically and can be easily swapped out (two lenses are included). These are over-the-glasses, or OTG-type, that are suitable for use with RX eyeglasses and have subtle notches in the temples to allow your glasses to fit better. Like Spy’s other premium goggles, these feature the company’s Happy lens tech, which it says is “scientifically tuned to boost mood and alertness while optimizing color and contrast.”

They’re a nice pair of goggles and although they’re expensive, Spy has been having trouble keeping them in stock.

$310 at Spyoptic

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Glade Adapt 2 goggles with Photochromic Lens

Photochromic goggles for less

If you don’t want to pay upward of $200 for a set of Smith I/O goggles, there are plenty of more affordable alternatives, including those from Colorado-based Glade, which prides itself on making goggles that offer similar or better performance than high-end models from other companies for a lot less.

The big deal is its Adapt 2 goggles include a Photochromic Flux lens for $149 (that’s up from $129 for the original model). This is a lens that changes colors according to the lighting conditions you experience. In other words, it’s the chameleon of lenses, and typically photochromatic goggles cost a lot more.

$129 at Glade

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Smith I/O MAG XL

Goggles for those who wear glasses

If you wear glasses, the $270 I/O MAG XL goggles are a good choice, albeit a fairly expensive one, though they sometimes go on sale.

The MAG XL is Smith’s MAG lens change system featuring — you guessed it — magnets that let you easily swap out lenses, as well as a 5x antifog inner lens with AirEvac Integration Technology that helps reduce fogging. They come with two lenses.

The Smith I/O MAG XL goggles come in several different ChromoPop lens colors.

$216 at Smithoptics

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Bollé Torus Goggles

High-contrast lens with wide field of view

Bollé’s Torus goggles come in a version with a standard lens for around $120 (or less), but I tried the step-up version with the company’s high-contrast Volt lens, which is harder to find in stock. You get one lens with these goggles, but the Ice Blue Cat 3 lens (with a pink base tint) offers some flexibility in terms of what lighting conditions you can use it with. The goggles offer a wide field of view and good ventilation.

$160 at Campmor

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Giro Method Goggles

Modern retro goggles

Giro makes a couple of goggles in the $150 range, including the Method and Article. It describes the Method as having a “bold retro style” that’s been advanced with “the most modern technology.” It’s a comfortable goggle with a wide field of view and good venting that helps keep the goggles fog-free in most conditions (I haven’t met a goggle that’s truly fog-free in all conditions).

Like the more rounded Article goggles ($170), the Method uses Giro’s Vivid lens with optics by Zeiss and a second lens is included. The Method is available in a few different color options.

$90 at Amazon

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Zeal Optics Goggles

Excellent optics

Zeal goggles have excellent optics and a wide field of view, and many feature the company’s Rail Lock System that makes the lenses easy to change and the goggles easy to vent when you’re in hiking mode.

The base models with standard lenses are pretty affordable, ranging from $109 to $159. Things get more expensive when you move to the Automatic Plus GB lens, which is photochromic and changes quickly with the lighting and works in any conditions. Add that Automatic Plus lens and the price goes up to $279.

I like the Portal XL (on right), which also starts at $179 for the standard two-lens option. It has the widest field of view and is an OTG type that allows you to wear glasses.

The new Hemisphere, starting at $109, has a spherical frame with upper and lower ventilation and triple-layer face foam and is available in a variety of lens options. It doesn’t have the RLS system, but the lens quality is quite good for the price.

See at Zeal Optics

High-tech ski gloves and glove liners

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Eddie Bauer Guide Pro Smart Heated Gloves and Mitts

More affordable heated gloves and mitts

Eddie Bauer has entered the heated glove arena with its new-for-2022 Guide Pro Smart Heated gloves and mitts, which list for around $300 but are currently on sale for $225. They feature Clim8 technology. I tried the mitts and found them to be comfortable. I like how the batteries have a rubber coating and seem better designed than some of the batteries I’ve seen in these heated gloves.

$224 at Eddie Bauer

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Seirus Magne Mitt Heatwave Plus Soundtouch Summit

Mitt and glove in one

If you’re looking for a little extra dexterity from your mittens, the Seirus Magne Mitt Heatwave Plus Soundtouch Summit might pique your interest. On the inside, you’ll find a Seirus Heatwave Plus glove liner. On the outside, each mitt has a slit that is sealed magnetically and is therefore easy to open with a tug to let your fingers out. The built-in liners do seem to help the warmth factor, and the mitt seems well constructed and durable. I did find that it runs slightly small so you may want to size up if, say, you fit a medium (like me) but can sometimes wear a large.

They come in men’s and women’s versions, and there’s also a step-down model, the Magne Mitt Heatwave Plus ST Ridge that uses less premium materials and costs $50 less.

$160 at Seirus

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Seirus HeatWave Glove Liner

High-tech glove liner

These glove liners are equipped with Seirus’ Kinetic heat return system that it says amplifies your body heat 4 to 5 degrees and reflects it back to you for 20% more warmth. Of course, how warm your hands are will also depend on how warm the gloves are that go over these (they can be used as stand-alone gloves, but more for running in cold weather than skiing).

$25 at Backcountry

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Dakine Baron Gore-Tex Index

The Dakine Baron Gore-Tex Index is one of the warmer mitts I’ve tried, though it does run slightly small (if you’re thinking about wearing a glove liner with it, you may want to size up). It has goat leather on the palms, a Gore-Tex waterproof insert and PrimaLoft Gold for insulation. This mitt also comes in a solid black color as well a trigger mitt version with a separate thumb and index finger.

$130 at Evo

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Seirus HeatTouch Hellfire

Heated gloves

Seirus’ flagship HeatTouch Hellfire gloves are available for $450 for men or women. The gloves haven’t changed for a few years, but the battery was upgraded last year to a more slimmed-down version with increased battery life.

At the low-heat setting you can get up to 12 hours of battery life, with medium pegged at around 8 hours and high at 4 hours.

It’s also available in a mitten for $450.

$450 at Amazon

Après-ski accessories

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Theragun Mini Massage Gun

Portable massage gun

After a day of shredding, your body will certainly appreciate a little percussion massage gun action. There are plenty of options available but we like the travel-friendly Theragun Mini because it won’t weigh your luggage down too much and is a great little massage gun for $199 that’s surprisingly powerful for its size.

Like the other new Theragun models, the Mini is equipped with Quiet Force technology that allows the device to run just as powerfully but much more quietly than the previous generation of Theraguns. The Theragun Mini has three speed settings, ranging from 1,750 rpm to 2,400 rpm, and the battery lasts for 150 minutes of continuous use.

The one notable downside to the Theragun Mini is that it only comes with one attachment, the standard ball head. You could buy other Theragun attachments a la carte because the Mini is compatible with all the same attachments that come with other models, but that brings the price up.

$149 at Amazon

$150 at Target

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Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Light Shacket

Smart-looking down-filled shirt jacket

In case you don’t know what a shacket it is, it’s basically a shirt jacket combo, and this down-filled “baffled” version from Mountain Hardwear is pretty smart looking. You’re probably not going to ski in this jacket (except for maybe on a warmer spring day), but you might do a little drinking in it. And it’s also good for everyday use.

The Stretchdown Light Shacket comes in four color options and packs down into a pocket for transport in a suitcase or bag.

$173 at Mountain Hardwear

Sunglasses for skiing

Smith

Smith XC

Ski sunglasses with flip-up lenses

Smith’s XC sunglasses are retro remake from Smith’s 1983/84 Collection and feature a flip-up lens and “heritage styling dating back to the original Smith cross-country sunglasses.” The big modern upgrades here are Smith’s ChromaPop lens technology that includes smudge and moisture-resistant coatings and megol nose pads to keep the glasses securely in place. The XC is available in 5 color options.

$179 at Smithoptics

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Spy Helm Tech

Glacier-style sunglasses

Constructed from Grilamid, a lightweight but very durable frame material, the Spy Helm Tech sunglasses are a modern take on glacier sunglasses that includes removable side shields so you can block both the sun and all the “haters” at the same time, according to the company (they turn into standard wayfarer sunglasses without the side shields).

The sunglasses have hidden sweat channels in both the nose pads and inner temples for breathability and feature the company’s Happy Tech lens tech that it says is “scientifically tuned to boost mood and alertness while enhancing color and contrast.”

True or not, I will say they fit comfortably, the optics were very good and I was indeed happy using them.

$150 at Spyoptic

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Smith Wildcat Sunglasses

Eyewear for sunny days

This is Smith’s goggles-sunglasses hybrid, the Wildcat ($200). Constructed with the same materials used in Smith goggles, the Wildcat glasses provide lots of eye coverage and good airflow but have the comfort of a more lightweight pair of sunglasses. The Wildcat sunglasses come with a bright-light ChromaPop lens and a secondary clear lens for flat-light overcast days and are available in three color options.

$74 at Amazon

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Top ski jackets

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Helly Hansen Elevation Infinity 2.0

Ultimate shell jacket

Helly Hansen’s flagship $750 Elevation Infinity 2.0 technical shell jacket features the company’s LIFA Infinity Pro technology, its new waterproof, windproof yet breathable material that it says is the “first to-market to be made entirely without added chemicals.” Typically, waterproof jackets are chemically treated, but Helly Hansen says the Infinity’s “everlasting water-repellent protection never needs to be reproofed with chemical treatment after use.”

For a shell jacket it offers good flexibility and doesn’t feel stiff. While it has a three-layer fabric construction and offers some warmth, it’s not insulated so in very cold conditions you’d need to wear another jacket underneath it, like the Lifaloft Air Insulated Jacket or Odin Stretch Hooded Insulator.

The Elevation Infinity 2.0 comes in black and deep fjord (pictured) and, like other premium Helly ski jackets, also features its Life Pocket Plus, which uses Aerogel insulation to help keep your phone from getting too cold, thus preserving its battery.

$750 at Helly Hansen

Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

Stio Environ Jacket

High-quality shell

Year in and year out, Stio’s Environ Jacket is one of its best-selling products and one of the better shells I’ve tested. Available in several color options along with a companion ski pant, Stio says it’s revamped the Environ this year with “recycled fabric, improved fit and a host of features including a forearm RFID pass pocket, Cohaesive hood adjust and a reengineered powder skirt.”

The jacket features Dermizax fabric that’s highly waterproof yet offers good breathability while protecting you from the elements. It also has just the right amount of amply sized pockets, and it isn’t too stiff. Like with all shells, on colder days, you’ll want to wear a warm mid layer or two under this jacket. The Environ is available in both men’s and women’s versions.

$465 at Stio

Awesome midlayers for skiers

Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

Montane Fireball Lite Insulated Hooded Jacket

Snug yet stretchy midlayer

Made with recycled insulation, the Fireball Lite is a lightweight jacket that’s relatively warm for how thin it is and also has stretch Thermo Grid side and underarm panels that allow for more comfortable range of motion. While it can be worn just as an outer layer (the integrated hood does help increase the warmth factor), It’s designed to be worn snugly and runs a little small. That tight makes it a good midlayer to wear under a shell or parka on colder days.

$259 at Montane

Ibex

Ibex Wool Aire Hoodie

Versatile puffy

Ibex, which is known for its high-tech merino wool garments, describes its Wool Aire Hoodie as having “backcountry performance with frontcountry style.” Available in a few colors and both men’s and women’s options, it’s a puffy jacket that’s not all that puffy but is lightweight, comfortable (it has some stretch to it) and can be used as either a midlayer on cold days or outer layer on not-so-cold days.

It’s constructed of eco-friendly Bluesign-certified materials and is wind- and water-resistant. Also worth noting: It packs up into its chest pocket, which makes it travel-friendly.

$285 at Ibex

Best packs for skiers

Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

Mystery Ranch D-Route

Versatile pack

Whether you’re skinning up the mountain or just doing laps on high-speed lifts, the Mystery Ranch D-Route is a lightweight yet durable pack that has two main pockets and comes in a couple of nifty color options. It’s also hydration reservoir compatible.

$82 at Moosejaw

$109 at Mystery Ranch

Amazon

USWE Flow 16L Backpack

Versatile alpine touring backpack with hydration feature

This product comes at the recommendation of CNET editor Justin Jaffe, who lives in New England. He writes:

“As Covid surged again this winter, I’ve taken up alpine touring: skinning up a mountain and skiing down. The benefits are considerable — you can often get by without a lift pass and it delivers a much more rewarding cardio workout than pure downhill skiing. This highly adjustable USWE backpack has become an essential tool for me, providing the right amount of space for gear as well as an insulated water bladder that has never once frozen up. And there is a strap and pocket for everything, from goggles to helmet to skis. Highly recommended.”

$160 at Amazon

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Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

CamelBak Zoid

Trim hydration pack

If you’re looking for a very compact hydration pack with just enough room to fit some essential gear, the Camel Back Zoid is a good option, CamelBak also makes step-up packs that are larger, the Powerhound 12 and Snowblast 22.

The Zoid comes in multiple color options and is currently on sale for 25% off with the code CYBER25.

$90 at Camelbak

Satellite communicators

Garmin

Garmin inReach Mini 2

Upgraded Garmin satellite communicator

Don’t have a new iPhone 14 with Emergency SOS? Don’t worry: Garmin sells standalone devices that offer similar emergency satellite communications for backcountry skiers. The new inReach Mini 2 has the same compact, lightweight form factor but adds additional features, including a more energy-efficient processor that greatly improves battery life (now up to 14 days of battery life, using default 10-minute tracking, and your location is sent to your MapShare page for friends and family to view), a higher resolution display and user interface, as well as compatibility with Garmin’s Explore app and some new navigation features.

Garmin says that while most users will interact via their phones or paired Garmin devices, you can still send a check-in, read incoming messages, and reply with either a pre-canned QuickText or write a custom message from the device itself.

You do need an active satellite subscription to use the inReach Mini 2, with basic annual plans starting at $11.95 a month or $14.95 for a single-month subscription.

For 2022, Garmin has released the InReach Messenger, which costs slightly less and has a monochrome display.

$350 at Garmin

Garmin

Garmin InReach Messenger

Streamlined satellite communicator

Garmin says its new-for-2022 InReach Messenger is “built for those who want a quick and easy way to reach friends and family when outside cellular coverage and provides seamless satellite communication either as a standalone device or when paired to the new Garmin Messenger companion app.”

It lists for $100 less than the inReach Mini 2 and is even more compact, weighing only 4 ounces. With a relatively affordable subscription plan, it provides global two-way texting, location sharing, SOS capabilities and more. One of its key features is the battery life: It’s rated for up to 28 days on a single charge.

$300 at Garmin

High-tech base layers

Beringia

Beringia Diomede Base Layers

Ultimate long underwear

If you’re looking for the ultimate Merino wool base layers, these tops and bottoms from Beringia may just be it. Diomede is Beringia’s proprietary fabric “that seamlessly knits multiple layers of fabric into one ultrastretchy waffle.” Real-world translation: The fabric is thin, lightweight and comfortable but also warm. The only downside is that tops ($150) and bottoms ($175) are quite expensive and there’s no deal if you buy both together, although you can get 15% off with your first purchase.

Beringia Diomede base layers are available in a few color options and three sizes, as well as women’s versions. The top also comes with a snorkel hoodie for $25 more.

$175 at Beringia

Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

Seirus Heatwave Mapped Base Layer

Base layer that looks like a high-tech glove liner

Seirus makes excellent glove liners (and gloves) with its high-tech fabrics, three of which are featured in this premium base layer (it’s available in both a top and bottom and for men and women).

As with any good base layer, the goal is to lock heat in while not trapping moisture. There’s a bit of spandex in the mix for comfort, and Seirus says the heat reflective properties of its Heatwave material are focused on certain parts of your body, particularly the chest area. I usually go with a Merino wool base layer, but this did help keep me warm on some very cold days in upstate New York.

$130 at Seirus

Face protection for skiers

Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

Seirus Dynamix Quick Headliner

Artistic face covering

Seirus has a line of face coverings that feature the work of artist Lamont Joseph White that are certainly eye-catching. They come in a choice of headliner, combo hinged headline, balaclava and neck-up.

$28 at Seirus

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If you pick up the original model Nintendo Switch, the little Switch Lite or the fancy Switch OLED, you’ll have heaps of stellar games to choose from. However, if you want online multiplayer gaming and access to a library of retro Nintendo 64, SNES, NES and Sega Genesis titles, you’ll want to sign up for Nintendo’s Switch Online subscription service and check out its Expansion Pack tier for some nostalgic joy.

The Genesis retro library added Alien Storm, Columns, Golden Axe 2 and Virtua Fighter 2 on Thursday.

The September Nintendo Direct livestream revealed that beloved 1997 shooter GoldenEye 007 will join the N64 lineup “soon,” but it’s unclear when it’ll arrive. Mario Party 3, Pokemon Stadium 1 and 2, 1080 Snowboarding and Excitebike 64 are all coming in 2023.

The higher tier is pricey but also gives you access to Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ paid expansion and the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course tracks at no extra cost, along with the N64 and Genesis libraries.

The SNES and NES libraries also expanded recently, with Fighter’s History, Kirby’s Avalanche and Daiva Story 6: Imperial of Nirsartia joining the list of classics. These are available in a standard membership, so you don’t need the Expansion Pack tier to play them.

The service lets you race against faraway friends in Mario Kart 8, battle distant rivals in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and trade with fellow trainers in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. It also includes support for cloud backup of game data, access to the Nintendo Switch phone app and a few exclusive offers. Let’s take a look at the whole lot.

How much does Nintendo Switch Online cost?

The basic plan will set you back $4 ( 3.49, AU$6) for a month, $8 for three months or $20 for a year. You could also opt for the $35 family plan, which is designed for households with a bunch of people who want their own accounts. It lets up to eight people play online, use cloud saves and access the SNES and NES libraries and other basic features for a year.

You also have another option: a Nintendo Switch Online plus Expansion Pack subscription. This gives you access to a larger library of classic games, from the N64 and Genesis, along with the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Happy Home Paradise DLC expansion.

The Expansion Pack is considerably more expensive than a basic subscription. An individual membership costs $50 for a year, while a family plan subscription costs $80. There are no options for paying monthly or for three months, so you have to commit for a year.

Does the Nintendo Switch Online family plan have restrictions?

The family plan lets you create a group of up to eight Nintendo accounts across multiple Switch systems and gives each person unrestricted access to Switch Online’s features. The person who sets up the account pays the subscription fee and is designated as the administrator and parent or guardian, giving them the ability to add or remove people to and from the plan.

The administrator account doesn’t get control over the other people’s accounts and you can leave whenever you want. You’ll just revert to a single-account subscription if it’s still active, or you’ll need to sign up for a new subscription if not.

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It’s possible for the administrator to set other accounts in the plan as “supervised,” letting them restrict eShop purchases and viewing, as well as reviewing sign-in history.

The Expansion Pack tier doesn’t add any restrictions for subscribers on family plans, so it’ll work the same way as it does on the basic tier.

Online play

The most basic perk of Nintendo Switch Online is online multiplayer gaming. If you want to visit a friend’s island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons or battle your buddies in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, you’ll need a subscription. However, one major multiplayer game will work without a subscription: Fortnite is playable online even if you don’t have an active online subscription.

Classic Nintendo games

Subscribing to Switch’s online service lets you access a library of old N64, SNES, NES and Genesis games, like a Netflix for Nintendo games. These are all found within the system-specific apps, which you can download from the eShop. This service will also be the only way to access digital versions of classic Nintendo games once the Wii U and 3DS eShops close in 2023.

Much like the NES Classic and SNES Classic retro consoles, you can switch between visual filters in the apps’ menus — a 4:3 mode, pixel perfect and a fuzzy scan-line-filled CRT mode for the true retro experience.

Less retro is the cheeky rewind feature. If you want to try something again, you can press and hold ZL and ZR to jump back a few frames, and it’ll be like your mistake never happened. This feature isn’t available on N64 games, but you can create suspend points so you can save your game at any time.

Nintendo has also included online multiplayer in games that were previously local-only. It’s also added online modes into some games that don’t have typical multiplayer options. You can pass the second player controller to a friend over the internet, so you can take turns. You can also try SP versions of some games, which add special features.

You’ll also lose access to your classic game libraries if your console is disconnected from the internet for more than a week. The console needs to check in with the service every seven days to make sure you’re still subscribed.

Which N64 games are available on Nintendo Switch Online?

If you pay for the more expensive Expansion Pack subscription, you’ll be able to play a bunch of N64 classics (and with more on the way):

• 1080 Snowboarding (coming in 2023).
• Banjo-Kazooie.
• Dr. Mario 64.
• Excitebike 64 (coming in 2023).
• F-Zero X.
• GoldenEye (coming “soon”).
• Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards.
• Mario Golf.
• Mario Kart 64.
• Mario Party.
• Mario Party 2.
• Mario Party 3 (coming in 2023).
• Mario Tennis.
• Paper Mario.
• Pilotwings 64.
• Pokemon Puzzle League.
• Pokemon Snap.
• Pokemon Stadium (coming in 2023).
• Pokemon Stadium 2 (coming in 2023).
• Sin and Punishment.
• Star Fox 64.
• Super Mario 64.
• The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask.
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
• Wave Race 64.
• WinBack: Covert Operations.
• Yoshi’s Story.

It typically reveals upcoming Switch Online additions in trailers about a week before they’re added to the library. We’ll update this page when the trailers drop.

Which Sega Genesis games are on the service?

Also included in the Expansion Pack will be a selection of games from the Sega Genesis (or the much cooler Mega Drive if you’re outside North America):

• Alien Soldier.
• Alien Storm.
• Altered Beast.
• Castlevania: Bloodlines.
• Columns.
• Comix Zone.
• Contra: Hard Corps.
• Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine.
• Dynamite Headdy.
• Ecco the Dolphin.
• Golden Axe.
• Golden Axe 2.
• Gunstar Heroes.
• Light Crusader.
• Mega Man: The Wily Wars.
• Musha.
• Phantasy Star IV.
• Ristar.
• Shining Force.
• Shining Force II.
• Shinobi 3.
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
• Sonic The Hedgehog Spinball.
• Space Harrier II.
• Streets of Rage 2.
• Strider.
• Super Fantasy Zone.
• Sword of Vermillion.
• Target Earth.
• Thunder Force 2.
• ToeJam & Earl.
• Virtua Fighter 2.
• Zero Wing.

More Genesis games will be added in the future, Nintendo noted, but it hasn’t hinted at what they’ll be.

What about the SNES games?

The SNES library is included in a standard Switch Online membership. You don’t need the Expansion Pack tier to play these:

• Bombuzal.
• Breath of Fire.
• Breath of Fire 2.
• Brawl Brothers.
• Caveman Ninja (aka Joe & Mac).
• Claymates.
• Demon’s Crest.
• Donkey Kong Country.
• Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest.
• Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble.
• Doomsday Warrior.
• EarthBound.
• Fighter’s History.
• F-Zero.
• Jelly Boy.
• Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics.
• Kirby’s Avalanche.
• Kirby’s Dream Course.
• Kirby’s Dream Land 3.
• Kirby Super Star.
• Magical Drop 2.
• Mario’s Super Picross.
• Natsume Championship Wrestling.
• Operation Logic Bomb.
• Panel de Pon.
• Pilotwings.
• Pop’n TwinBee.
• Prehistorik Man.
• Psycho Dream.
• Spanky’s Quest.
• Star Fox.
• Star Fox 2.
• Stunt Race FX.
• Super Baseball Simulator 1.000.
• Super E.D.F. Earth Defense Force.
• Super Ghouls’n Ghosts.
• Super Mario All-Stars.
• Super Mario World.
• Super Mario Kart.
• Super Metroid.
• Super Punch-Out.
• Super Puyo Puyo 2.
• Super Soccer.
• Super Tennis.
• Super Valis IV.
• The Ignition Factor.
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.
• The Peace Keepers.
• Tuff E Nuff.
• Wild Guns.
• Yoshi’s Island.

And the NES games?

Like the SNES games, the NES library is included in the standard subscription. Some have modified SP versions, which let you jump to the last level, start with a bunch of power ups or otherwise tweak the experience:

• Adventures of Lolo.
• Balloon Fight.
• Baseball.
• Blaster Master (SP).
• City Connection.
• Clu Clu Land.
• Crystalis.
• Daiva Story 6: Imperial of Nirsartia.
• Donkey Kong.
• Donkey Kong Jr.
• Donkey Kong 3.
• Double Dragon.
• Double Dragon 2: The Revenge.
• Dr. Mario (SP).
• EarthBound Beginnings (aka Mother).
• Eliminator Boat Duel.
• Excitebike.
• Fire ‘n Ice (aka Solomon’s Key 2).
• Ghosts’n Goblins (SP).
• Gradius (SP).
• Ice Climber.
• Ice Hockey.
• Journey to Silius.
• Kid Icarus (SP).
• Kirby’s Adventure (SP).
• Kung-Fu Heroes.
• Mario Bros.
• Metroid (SP).
• Mighty Bomb Jack (SP).
• NES Open Tournament Golf.
• Nightshade.
• Ninja Gaiden (SP).
• Ninja JaJaMaru-kun.
• Pro Wrestling.
• Punch-Out.
• River City Ransom.
• Rygar.
• S.C.A.T: Special Cybernetic Attack Team.
• Shadow of the Ninja.
• Soccer.
• Solomon’s Key.
• Star Soldier (SP).
• StarTropics.
• Super Dodge Ball.
• Super Mario Bros.
• Super Mario Bros. 2.
• Super Mario Bros. 3 (SP).
• Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.
• The Immortal.
• The Legend of Zelda (SP).
• Tecmo Bowl.
• Tennis.
• TwinBee (SP).
• Vice: Project Doom.
• Volleyball.
• Vs. Excitebike.
• Wario’s Woods.
• Wrecking Crew.
• Yoshi.
• Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (SP).

What other classic games are coming?

A possible April 18 leak suggests that Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance games are hitting Nintendo Switch Online soon. The list of games tested for the service includes The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald, Metroid Fusion and many others. Take this with a grain of salt for now though.

Can I play the Japanese versions?

You can access more classic games via the Japanese eShop, at no extra cost. Here are the steps for this:

1. Create a second Nintendo Account and set Japan as the region. You’ll have to use a different email address than the one linked to your regular account.

2. Create a new profile on your Switch and link it to your Japanese account.

3. Download “Family Computer — Nintendo Switch Online” and “Super Famicom — Nintendo Switch Online” apps from the Japanese store. Don’t worry about the language barrier; you’ll spot the English “Nintendo Switch Online” option.

These apps are similar to the NES and SNES ones, in Japanese. They also contain that country’s versions of games and a few that aren’t available in the West.

Japanese SNES (Super Famicom) exclusives

• Dead Dance (Tuff E Nuff).
• Doomsday Warrior.
• Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War.
• Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem.
• Kirby’s Super Star Stacker.
• Shin Megami Tensei.
• Shin Megami Tensei 2.
• Shin Megami Tensei If…
• Sugoi Hebereke.

Japanese NES (Famicom) exclusives

• Adventures of Lolo 2.
• Atlantis no Nazo.
• Clu Clu Land: Welcome to New Cluclu Land.
• Downtown Nekketsu Kōshinkyoku: Soreyuke Daiundōkai.
• Famicom Wars.
• Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (SP).
• Joy Mech Fight.
• Route 16 Turbo.
• Smash Ping Pong.
• Tsuppari Oozumou.
• Yie Ar Kung-Fu.

There are also some SP versions that are exclusive to Japan and some regional differences in games, beyond the language.

Your main Nintendo Account’s subscription will give you access to the apps from the Japanese store, so you won’t need to pay for a separate subscription. If you can overcome the language barrier — all the text will be in Japanese — it’s worth giving these games a try.

How does cloud save data work on Nintendo Switch Online?

For subscribers, game data will automatically be backed up to Nintendo servers if you have an internet connection. If you sign in to your account on a new console, you’ll be able to download that data and pick up right where you left off. It’s an easy, simple way to protect the time you’ve invested in Nintendo Switch games.

Certain titles aren’t compatible with this feature, to prevent cheating. On the surface, that seems to make sense — players can’t hack their Pokemon Sword and Shield data to get all the starters — but it means that competitive multiplayer games with a single-player component aren’t protected. If you lose your Switch and want to pick up where you left off in Splatoon 2’s single-player campaign, you’ll be out of luck.

If you cancel, you have six months to resubscribe before your cloud data is potentially deleted, Nintendo told IGN. That’s the same amount of time Sony gives PlayStation Plus users.

How do I get the retro N64, Genesis, SNES and NES controllers for Switch?

For those who want to feel legit old-school when playing the console’s retro library, you need the controller to match. Subscribers can preorder wireless, Switch-compatible Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis controllers from Nintendo for $50 apiece. These expensive controllers are currently sold out, and restocks have been few and far between.

The N64 controller has built-in rumble, so you won’t need an unwieldy Rumble Pak add-on like gamers in the ’90s did.

For the other retro games, SNES and NES controllers are available for subscribers as well. It’s $30 for a single SNES pad or $60 for a pair of NES pads.

Does Nintendo Switch Online include any other perks?

Subscribers will get access to free content, discounts, in-game items or the ability to play a Switch game for free during a set period. The current trial game is Pokemon fighter Pokken Tournament DX, which you can download and play at no extra charge until Aug. 24.

During its Feb. 9 Nintendo Direct livestream, the company revealed Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s Booster Course Pass. It’ll add remastered versions of tracks from older games in the series in six separate waves through the end of 2023, meaning the racer will get 48 extra tracks. You can purchase the pass for $25, or it’ll be included if you subscribe to the Expansion Pack tier. However, you’ll lose access if you unsubscribe.

Similarly, Expansion Pack tier subscribers can access the paid Animal Crossing: New Horizons downloadable expansion Happy Home Paradise and Splatoon 2’s Octo Expansion at no additional cost. When you want to download the expansions, you can find them on the Switch’s eShop or through the Switch Online tab on the console’s home screen.

It’s also offered free original games, like Tetris 99, which came out in February 2019. A physical version has since become available for $30, in a bundle with a 12-month Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

There’s also the Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers promotion, which lets you download two qualifying Switch games for a set price of $100, instead of paying $120 to buy them separately.

If you subscribe for a year, you’ll get in-game items for Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Super Kirby Clash.

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Voice chat and the Nintendo Switch app

Online multiplayer is great, but without the ability to talk to other players, it’s a weirdly solitary social experience. That’s why voice chat is so important. Unfortunately, Nintendo’s solution to voice chat is a little strange.

Most game consoles allow you to plug a headset into the console’s USB port or audio input jack and talk to players directly through the game. But most Nintendo Switch games that support voice chat require the user to piggyback off a phone, using the free Nintendo Switch Online app, available on Android and iOS.

To chat with other players in Splatoon 2, you’ll need to download the app on your phone, invite your friends to a Skype-like VoIP chat in the game, then fire up the app and, finally, connect to your match. You’ll be talking with your team on your phone while playing the game on your console.

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An update made it a little better, in certain games. If you start a multiplayer session in the Switch’s NES library, the phone app will automatically detect your play session and connect you to your friend. Some games will even let you chat with other players who aren’t on your friends list: Mario Kart 8 will tell you that other users are in voice chat, prompting you to open the app.

If you want to have a traditional console experience, you’ll need to buy a complicated audio splitter to literally tether your Switch to your phone. It isn’t a user-friendly experience, which is why some games sidestepped it. You can chat in Fortnite by plugging a headset into the console and playing.

The app also lets you access special features in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Splatoon 2.

How popular is Nintendo Switch Online?

The service had 32 million subscribers (PDF) as of September last year, Nintendo said in a management briefing at the time. That was a jump of around 6 million from the number at the same time the previous year (PDF).

Can I try out Nintendo Switch Online for free?

If you want to sample the goods before shelling out any money, Nintendo is offering a one-week free trial. The seven-day trial offers almost all the benefits of the core service, but it won’t let you access special offers, like those retro NES and SNES controllers.

If you don’t like the service, however, you’ll have to manually disable auto-renewal to avoid being charged a $4 monthly fee at the end of your trial.

You need a Nintendo account to sign up

If you’ve been playing Nintendo Switch for a while, you probably already have this sorted. Just in case, let’s break it down. Your Switch has individual profiles for each user. The company also has a Nintendo account to manage your profile and purchase-history on its website, console devices and phone apps. To use Nintendo Switch Online, you’ll need both and they’ll have to be linked.

Just make sure you link your profile to the right account. Any Switch profile linked to a Nintendo account will be permanently locked in.

How do I sign up?

Prepaid subscription cards are available at select retailers, but the easiest way to buy the service is simply to try to play a multiplayer game on your Switch. It’ll take you directly to the eShop to complete the sign-up process.

Since Elon Musk took control of Twitter on Oct. 27, the social network has been roiled by controversy. First, half the staff was laid off via email, and an ill-advised new implementation of its “blue check” verification system left the site plagued by trolls and fake “verified” accounts. Now, Twitter has banned accounts that Musk promised to protect and suspended several prominent journalists who report on Elon Musk.

Twitters users concerned about changes at the company are looking for other social media options, and the open-source network Mastodon has been a big beneficiary. Mastodon Count, a bot that tracks usage on the network, showed a 400% increase in the rate of new account sign-ups on Dec. 15, when Twitter suspended the journalists who cover Musk.

The growing popularity of Mastodon might partly explain why Twitter is now blocking many links to Mastodon servers and suggesting the URLs are “harmful” or include malware. Twitter has also suspended the official account for Mastodon, prompting a joke from creator Eugen Rochko about never having to check Twitter notifications again.

Read on to see how Mastodon works, how to sign up, and how it compares to Twitter. For more, see how to delete your Twitter account, and get the latest on Twitter’s verification badge plans.

What is Mastodon and how is it different from Twitter?

Mastodon is a free social media service that functions much like Twitter. You can post “toots” (instead of tweets), follow other people and organizations, and favorite (like) and boost (retweet) posts from other people.

Mastodon was created and originally released in October 2016 by Eugen Rochko, the CEO and lone employee of the nonprofit organization Mastodon gGmbH. In May, Rochko explained the service’s oddly named substitute for “tweet.” He says the original button was called “publish,” but a committed supporter promised lifetime support of the Mastodon Patreon account if he would change it to “toot.” (On the iOS and Android apps it says “publish.”)

In an interview with Time Magazine, Rochko said he began developing Mastodon when he realized that “being able to express myself online to my friends through short messages was actually very important to me, important also to the world, and that maybe it should not be in the hands of a single corporation that can just do whatever it wants with it.”

Read more: Mastodon Is No Twitter Replacement

Instead of one town square for everyone, however, Mastodon is composed of thousands of social networks, all running on different servers, or “instances,” that can communicate with each other through a system called the Fediverse. The Fediverse also contains other social networks like PeerTube for videos, Funkwhale for music, PixelFed for photos and NextCloud for files.

Mastodon servers aren’t required to be connected to the Fediverse, In fact, the most famous Mastodon instance is Truth Social, the social network of former US President Donald Trump.

How do I join Mastodon?

The hardest part of Mastodon is getting started. Since there’s no one common Mastodon area for everyone — as with Twitter — you’ll need to register on a specific Mastodon server.

Servers can be based on a geographic location, subject interest, professional background or literally anything an administrator can think of. For example, the folks at dolphin.town are only allowed to post the letter “E,” while the literary buffs at oulipo.social are forbidden from ever using the letter “E” (in honor of OuLiPo writer Georges Perec’s lipogram “La Disparition“).

Two of the biggest Mastodon servers, aka instances, are mastodon.social — the official server of the Mastodon project — and mstdn.social, though both have temporarily paused registrations. Another large general server that I recently joined is mas.to. Other popular Mastodon instances include masthead.social for journalists and fosstodon.org for open-source software.

Don’t worry too much about which server you pick — you can join as many as you want and leave or switch servers at any time. And you can follow people across servers, so picking one doesn’t keep you from communicating with those on other instances.

One good place to find a server to join is the official Mastodon website at joinmastodon.org. The site currently lists about 80 servers that have committed to the Mastodon Server Covenant, an agreement to enforce moderation, make backups of the site and give at least three months warning before ever shutting down an instance.

Each server’s “about” page will tell a little bit about the Mastodon instance and list the server’s rules. If you don’t find a server that you like on joinmastodon.org, you can try other Mastodon directories, such as instances.social, which offers a wizard for picking a server as well as a sortable list of 16,412 instances.

Most Mastodon servers with open registration will only ask for your email address and a password to get started. Once you respond to a verification email, you’re ready to start using Mastodon. Other, more private Mastodon servers may ask you to make a request to join and then wait for an invitation.

How do I use Mastodon?

Like Twitter, Mastodon lets you post short messages to the world or to select people, but instead of tweets, Mastodon posts are called toots. And many of Mastodon’s other features are a lot like Twitter’s, too, with slight differences. Each post is limited to 500 characters (instead of 280), and you can include links, images (JPG, GIF or PNG, up to 8MB), audio files (MP3, OGG, WAV, FLAC, OPUS, AAC, M4A and 3GP up to 40MB) and videos (MP4, M4V, MOV, WebM up to 40MB).

Your posts on Mastodon can be set to be public, only for your followers or completely unlisted from all timelines. You can create polls for your followers and use all your favorite usual emojis, plus custom emojis created for specific servers.

Any post can be marked with an explanatory “content warning” that requires a click before viewing, and Mastodon users take advantage of the feature often.

You can even edit posts on Mastodon. Each version of your toot remains available for review, and people who reblog your post are notified after it’s edited.

Just like Twitter, Mastodon uses hashtags that start with the “#” symbol, such as #Gaming, #Anthropology or #Veganism. Since there’s no algorithm to suggest your posts to nonfollowers, using hashtags to categorize your posts for people who might be interested is even more important than on Twitter.

You can follow any account on Mastodon, whether or not it’s on your own server instance, and the account’s posts will be added to your Home feed in chronological order. Know that for some accounts, you need to request permission to follow them.

Free web apps like Debirdify, Fedifinder and Twitodon can help you find accounts you followed on Twitter that have migrated to Mastodon.

If you don’t want a particular account following you, you can block them just like on Twitter, or you can choose to block an entire server.

Mastodon lets you “favorite” posts, but the favorites count doesn’t appear on timelines — if you want to promote someone else’s posts, you’ll need to “boost” or reblog them. Unlike Twitter, there are no “quote toots” on Mastodon, a deliberate choice to discourage “dunking” on other people’s posts. A separate “bookmark” feature lets you save toots on Mastodon without notifying the account that posted it.

Mastodon does have a feature called Direct Messages, but the name is a little misleading. Rather than providing person-to-person messages, Mastodon’s feature sets the visibility of a post to only the people mentioned in it. In other words, they’re toots that only certain people can see, rather than actual direct messages.

How do the Mastodon timelines work?

Whereas Twitter just has one timeline (sorted chronologically or by “top stories”), Mastodon has three: your Home timeline shows all the posts and reblogs from everyone you follow, your Local timeline shows everything from your own server instance, and your Federated timeline shows all posts from all Mastodon servers on which you follow someone.

Using a web browser, you can set Mastodon to look like Twitter, showing one feed at a time, or you can view multiple feeds and notifications simultaneously (much like Tweetdeck) by selecting “Advanced view” from your Preferences.

Are there any mobile apps for Mastodon?

You bet. Due to the open-source nature of Mastodon, you have a lot of choices for apps on both iPhone and Android.

Your first and easiest option is the official app from Mastodon gGmbH (for iOS or Android), but there are other solid third-party apps. The two most popular alternative Mastodon apps right now are Metatext for iPhone and Tusky for Android.

Mastodon apps for iPhone:

• Metatext
• Tootle for Mastodon
• Toot!
• Stella
• Mast

Mastodon apps for Android:

• Tusky
• Subway Tooter
• mastalab
• 11t

If you do get started with Mastodon, make sure to follow me @peterbutler@mas.to. (And say hello!)

For more about social media and Twitter, follow a timeline of the Elon Musk purchase and read about the big changes that could be in store for Twitter.

Correction, Nov. 7: A previous version of this story incorrectly described Mastodon’s features. Mastodon added the ability to edit posts in March 2022.

With the holidays just around the corner, Apple Watch Series 8 deals are available for those looking for a smartwatch upgrade. Apple’s latest wearable is now readily available to pick up at a variety of retailers and discounts are coming thick and fast with the gifting season upon us.

The new Apple Watch variant is the first model to come with a temperature sensor, which will be used to bring new ovulation-tracking features to the Apple Watch. Apple also added car-crash detection to the Series 8 so that emergency services and contacts can be notified in the event of an accident.

An enhanced low-power mode can temporarily disable features like the always-on display and auto-workout detection to preserve battery life if you need to eke out a little bit more power without taking too much away from the overall experience. That feature is not Series 8-exclusive, though, and will be available on the Series 4 and later models.

The Apple Watch Series 8 starts at $399 for the GPS-only model, with the GPS and cellular version going for $499 and up. If the Series 8 is not for you, be sure to peruse our list of the best Apple Watch deals for discounts across all models.

Best Apple Watch Series 8 deals

Apple

Apple Watch Series 8: $349

Save $50

Apple Watch Series 8 deals start at just $349 at Walmart right now — $50 of the regular price for the entry-level model and a match for the lowest we’ve seen the device go since its fall launch.

$349 at Walmart

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Apple

Apple Watch Series 8: $350

Save $49

Amazon is listing the Apple Watch Series 8 from $350. That’s a $49 discount on the entry-level 41mm Wi-Fi model, and other configurations, like cellular-enabled stainless steel models, are also discounted there.

$350 at Amazon

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Apple

Apple Watch Series 8: $350

$49 off + 5% off with RedCard

Target is also selling the Apple Watch Series 8 in various configurations from $350 — a $49 saving. Better yet, if you are a Target RedCard holder then you can get a further 5% off your purchase which is good for $17.50 off the entry-level variant and more off the more expensive models.

$350 at Target

Apple

Apple Watch Series 8: $399

Up to $150 off with trade-in and free Apple Fitness Plus

Best Buy isn’t currently discounting Apple Watch Series 8 models outright but you can get up to $175 when you trade in your old smartwatch, dropping prices down as low as $250. You’ll also score four free months of Apple Fitness Plus there, which is a month more than Apple gives new Apple Watch owners, and four months of Apple News Plus for new or returning subscribers.

$399 at Best Buy

Apple

Apple Watch Series 8: From $399

Up to $155 off with trade-in

Go straight to the source for your Apple Watch Series 8 order and score three months of Apple Fitness Plus. If you’ve got an old Apple Watch to trade in, you could get as much as $155 off your Apple Watch Series 8 purchase.

See at Apple

Looking for a MacBook Pro M2 deal? Now that the 2022 machine has been on the market for six months or so, there are several ways to snag a saving on one — especially ahead of the holidays.

Unveiled alongside a redesigned MacBook Air M2 at Apple’s WWDC 2022 in the summer, the 13-inch MacBook Pro has been upgraded for 2022 and now packs even more power into a familiar design for an affordable entry-level professional laptop.

Retailing for $1,299, the MacBook Pro M2 is now readily available to buy and pick up in-store, and we’ve been on the hunt for the best MacBook Pro M2 deals across a variety of retailers since its launch. We’ve listed the best MacBook Pro M2 deals below and we’ll keep this list updated as new offers emerge to help save you the most cash.

Best MacBook Pro M2 deals

Amazon Games will be the publisher behind the next mainline Tomb Raider game, it said Thursday. Developer Crystal Dynamics is building the game on Unreal Engine 5, and the game will be released on multiple platforms.

The e-commerce giant started dabbling in the gaming industry by creating Amazon Games back in 2012, but the studio hasn’t published any major gaming IP like Tomb Raider in its 10-year history. As such, the Crystal Dynamics deal moves Amazon substantially forward in the gaming industry.

Square Enix sold Crystal Dynamics, the studio behind the Tomb Raider franchise, to Embracer Group earlier this year to increase financial bandwidth to invest more in blockchain, AI and cloud gaming. That selloff has opened the gates for Crystal Dynamics to make unique publishing deals like this one.

“Crystal Dynamics has an extraordinary opportunity following our acquisition by Embracer to redefine what a publishing relationship is for Tomb Raider,” Scot Amos, head of studio at Crystal Dynamics, said in Thursday’s press release.

“Transformative is what we’re looking for, and with Amazon Games, we found a team that shares our creative vision, ambitions, and values for a Lara Croft universe across the spectrum of possibilities.”

Facebook Memories are usually good for a laugh, a cringe (the mid-2000s, right?) or a fond recollection. However, the daily memories can go back more than a decade depending on how long you’ve used Facebook, and it’s likely there’s more than a few we’d like to forget.

Instead of being caught off-guard by regrettable memories, you can customize your Facebook settings to hide them. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Facebook app on your phone

2. Tap the Settings bars in the top-right corner of the screen

3. Choose Memories

4. Tap the Gear icon in the top-right corner

5. You can choose between All Memories, Highlights or None. All Memories means Facebook will show you all your memories from that day, Highlights will only show you special videos and collections, and None means you won’t get notifications for any memories.

If you want something more specific, you can choose to hide memories involving specific users and date ranges. Follow the steps above, but instead tap People and type in a user’s name that you want to hide from your memories. The user(s) won’t be notified, and your selections are saved automatically.

Follow the same steps to hide date ranges, but in this case tap Dates. From there, you can enter almost any span of time — a day, a week, month or an entire year — going back in time to well before 2000. When you’re done, tap Save.

For more information, check out the privacy setting that keeps Facebook from tracking you and where the Meta stands on a new media bill.

The Nothing Phone 1 launched earlier this year as an affordable iPhone SE-rivaling 5G device with an eye-catching LED design, but it was available only in Europe and the UK. Now the phone is coming to the US, though as part of an internal testing program, so don’t expect it to grace store shelves just yet.

The Nothing Phone 1 will arrive on American shores as a “testing program” for the Nothing OS 1.5 Beta, the company’s custom version of Android 13, CEO Carl Pei tweeted. It’s unclear how people will be able to request a Nothing Phone 1 or whether they can purchase or retain it beyond the testing phase. Nothing didn’t respond to a request for comment by time of publication.

Despite launching the phone outside America, Pei, who co-founded OnePlus before leaving to helm Nothing, had repeated his interest in bringing the phone to the US market. Nothing had been in early conversations with US carriers to launch the Nothing Phone 1 in the states, but the company needed more time and technical support to configure the software tweaks carriers required, Pei told CNBC earlier this month. These early talks could lead to a future device launching in the US, he said.

It’s unclear if this testing phase will be tied to those carrier negotiations.

According to my eyes (and my wallet), if you’re looking for the best value on a new computer monitor, you’ll want to be shopping for a 27-inch QHD display or a 32-inch UHD display. These monitors are going to offer the biggest bang for your buck in terms of screen size, resolution and price. Just about any model with these specs is going to produce a satisfactorily sharp picture for the size of the panel while still retaining a reasonable price.

My current monitor is a 27-inch QHD (quad HD or 2,560×1,440-pixel resolution) monitor that I bought for $250, but I did nearly go with a 32-inch UHD (ultra HD or 3,840×2,160-pixel) display that would have offered more room and more pixels for only a bit more money. Between these two different sizes, you can easily find a screen to perfectly fit your desk space, your work needs and, most importantly, your budget. The world’s creatives, hobbyists and professional gamers who worry about color gamut and refresh rates might find that they need a higher-end screen than you’ll find on our list, but these displays are big enough for most needs, and with sufficient pixel density to produce a sharp, quality image.

Be sure to check out CNET’s monitor buying guide for more info, and keep updated on the best deals I currently see among 27-inch QHD and 32-inch UHD displays. I will continue to keep this story updated as pricing fluctuates and I uncover better deals, so check back often.

Best 27-inch monitor deals

These 27-inch models feature QHD resolution and give you more screen real estate than a 24-inch, FHD (full HD or 1,920×1,080 pixels) display, and better resolution, too. And it gives you all of that for not too much more money. You might also come across 27-inch 4K displays in your search. Those displays offer a certain quality worth consideration, but in my experience, a QHD or 2K resolution is more than sufficient when stretched across a 27-inch panel.

LG

LG 27QN600-B: $200

Save $50

This is the model I ended up buying on Amazon after shopping around. I got it for a reasonable $250, and it’s $50 less than that right now. It’s an IPS panel with a QHD resolution, a rated 350 nits of brightness and thin screen bezels. I like the simple stand, although I wish it offered height support. Most monitors at this price, however, don’t offer height adjustment, so I can live without it. It doesn’t have internal speakers, but those are generally terrible and not something I’d ever use when I have a Bluetooth speaker in my home office. It has one DisplayPort and two HDMI ports, giving the flexibility to connect to a variety of PCs and laptops. I’ve got no complaints about its image, which I find to be sufficiently bright and crisp.

The 32-inch version of this monitor is even less if you want to size up.

$200 at Amazon

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Amazon

Koorui 27-inch gaming monitor: $170

Save $40

I’m unfamiliar with the Koorui name but this monitor gets favorable reviews on Amazon and is priced at $170 with a $40 discount. That’s rare for a 27-inch monitor with a QHD resolution. Most budget monitors are rated for a dull 250 nits of brightness, but this Koorui model is rated for a more adequate 300 nits. It’s labeled as a gaming monitor because it has a 144Hz refresh rate that’s speedier than the typical 60Hz refresh rate and also features AMD FreeSync. It’s out of stock at the moment so you might have to wait for a few days or weeks for it to return.

$170 at Amazon

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HP X27q: $249

Save $50

This 27-inch HP features a QHD resolution, a speedy 165Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync technology for fluid action while gaming. Plus, it has low blue light to protect your eyes, without sacrificing color accuracy. The stand provides height, tilt and swivel adjustment. It’s $50 off at Amazon.

$249 at Amazon

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Newegg

Pixio PX277: $245

Save $15 at checkout

You can get this 27-inch Pixio monitor for a reasonable $245 at Amazon when you apply the $15 instant coupon on the product page that reduces the price at checkout. It features a QHD resolution along with AMD FreeSync and a speedy 144Hz refresh rate if you want to use it for gaming in addition to work. It’s rated for an ample 350 nits of brightness, so it should be a bit brighter than the Acer and Koorui models above.

$245 at Amazon

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Viewsonic

ViewSonic VX2785-2K-MHDU: $250

Save $20 + $40 at checkout

The highlight of this ViewSonic model is its USB 3.2 Type-C port, which means you can connect a MacBook and other laptops with a USB-C port (but not HDMI) to the monitor without an adapter or special conversion cable. It also supplies both HDMI and DisplayPort connections along with AMD FreeSync and is rated for 300 nits of brightness. It’s currently $20 off at Amazon and you can take an additional $40 off at checkout.

$250 at Amazon

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Best 32-inch monitor deals

The next step up in size, resolution and price from a 27-inch QHD display is a 32-inch UHD display. Ultra HD is also commonly referred to as 4K.

Newegg

Samsung LU32J590UQNXZA: $250

Save $90

This Samsung model has a relatively low max brightness of 270 nits, making it a better fit for a basement den or otherwise low-light room than for a sun-drenched office. It features AMD FreeSync, two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort and a headphone jack, but no USB ports. It’s currently $90 off, dropping its price to a very reasonable $250.

$250 at Amazon

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Newegg

ViewSonic VX3211-4K-MHD: $300

Save $30

This is one of the more affordable 32-inch 4K monitors and features HDMI and DisplayPort connections, a 300-nit brightness rating, and built-in speakers. It also supports HDR10 and AMD FreeSync and comes wrapped in a compact if basic package with thin bezels.

$300 at Newegg

LG

LG 32UN500: $300

Save $30

This LG is similar to the above two monitors — 32-inch 4K display with FreeSync and built-in speakers — but is the brightest of the trio with a rating of 350 nits. It’s $30 off at LG right now and can sometimes be found with an $80 discount.

$300 at LG

Dell

Dell S3221QS: $370

Save $30

At 32 inches, a curved display starts to become an option and not just for gamers. A curved display lets you sit closer without needing to crane your head as much to see the whole screen. This curved Dell display features a gentle 1,800R curvature along with AMD FreeSync and integrated speakers. It also boasts a wealth of adjustability with tilt, swivel and height adjustment. It has a bounty of connectivity with two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort connection, two USB-A ports, a USB-B port and headphone jack. And it’s currently $30 off at Amazon.

$370 at Amazon

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More work-from-home essentials

• Best Laptops for 2022
• The Best Monitors, According to the CNET Staff Who Use Them

• Best Printer for 2022
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Thanks to the Nintendo Switch, iPads, phones, VR headsets, and a ton of new gaming handhelds, I’m not gaming on my TV much anymore. In fact, gaming seems to be everywhere else other than the big panel hanging on my wall. Of course, that’s been the case before 2022. But thanks to the arrival of the Steam Deck and other handheld hardware, it feels like something’s finally happening that I’ve been waiting on for years: gaming tech is starting to become Switchified. I dreamed this would happen back in 2017.

Valve’s Steam Deck was the biggest new handheld arrival by far this year, and its popularity stands out on several fronts: as a gaming PC, it shows how software is finally starting to get more flexible and mobile, hopping between screens in a way that felt well overdue. But also, as another vehicle for streaming game services, it shows how gaming tech is starting to unbundle in a lot of strange ways.

The Nintendo Switch remains an aging, but strong, console. Mobile gaming feels like it’s starting to accelerate, thanks to cloud streaming apps and more excellent game controller cases, plus developments from mobile chip manufacturers like Qualcomm and new gaming tablets like the Razer Edge. Similarly, Logitech’s G Cloud handheld, arriving recently, is another flavor of mobile: a type of Android-based mobile device, but made to lean on game streaming.

And I didn’t even mention my favorite quirky indie handhelds, the Analogue Pocket and Panic Playdate, which have helped me rediscover tons of old games and plenty of indie newbies, too.

Can we also count VR headsets as handhelds? No, not really, although future devices like the Pimax Portal show some possibility for handhelds and VR to dovetail in ways you may not have been thinking about.

Here’s why it all matters.

Steam Deck: PCs can be handhelds now

Valve’s Steam Deck did it. The handheld Steam-compatible game system seemed like an impossible dream before it launched, but the hardware really does play tons of PC games well, and has proven to be one of the biggest gaming surprises of this year.

Valve doing it shows how other manufacturers could give it a go, too: in fact, companies like Dell and Razer already have, in a sense, via previous prototype experiments. The Steam Deck lives, though, and now there’s no reason not to make more of them.

The Steam Deck’s easy sleep/wake functions and its TV docking make it feel every bit as modular as a Switch, even if its controllers don’t detach. It’s the flexibility of the Steam Deck’s OS that shows a lot more promise. Running a variety of games or even apps, and being able to stream games, gives it the possibilities that we’d hoped the Nintendo Switch might gain someday. The Switch’s older processor limits what it can do, but the Steam Deck advances those ideas five years forward. Really, we knew this already with phones in our pockets that are as powerful as laptops, but gaming handhelds can do a lot more at also being full-fledged machines to connect to a much more cross-platform world.

I’m really curious where Valve goes next: in particular, to VR. Valve’s been active in VR for years, and is expected to make its own standalone “Deckard” VR headset in the near future. Could a new Steam Deck be compatible? It seems more than likely.

Stream Machines: Games can live anywhere

In a sense, Logitech’s G Cloud handheld and the Razer Edge tablet have a lot in common. CNET didn’t love the G Cloud, but the idea of it — an Android tablet with controls and the ability to stream games — is like a custom-made version of what you can already do with a phone or tablet and a game controller. The Razer Edge feels like a more advanced version of a similar idea, building a modular tablet with controllers around a higher-powered Qualcomm processor that’s capable of running games better, but also of streaming games as well.

These both remind me of the promises made way back by the Nvidia Shield, a tablet that was way ahead of its time and began to play with game streaming back in 2014.

Streaming games have finally come of age, both in the cloud and locally from console to handhelds. You may very well be doing this already with your phone or tablet. But, between the rise of very good game controller cases like the Backbone One and Razer Kishi and these types of specific standalone devices, it looks like mobile options could be multiplying.

Analogue Pocket and Panic Playdate: Rise of the new indies

Analogue’s ultimate retro handheld, the Pocket, and Panic’s crazy crank-enabled Playdate are very different pieces of hardware. Yet, they both point to a similar trend in gaming. The Pocket plays original Game Boy, Game Boy Advance and even Sega Game Gear game cartridges (with an adapter), and can run virtual hardware cores to recreate other game platforms. The Panic Playdate has its own season of included indie games that beam onto the handheld via Wi-Fi once a week. Both, however, can also sideload indie efforts made to run specifically on these systems.

Gaming portals like itch.io have become my most-visited places, as I check to see what experimental games people make available for Pocket or Playdate. Indie game designers create amazing efforts for all sorts of platforms: you don’t need a Playdate or Pocket for them. But these systems feel like vehicles that are ready to bring more indie efforts to life, and both feel like they’re living entirely outside of the world of the big game studios and hardware manufacturers. Maybe there’s room for more experimentation like this.

Could VR and AR be a doorway to more?

Arriving soon, the Pimax Portal is a curious sign of how tech could merge. Pimax, a manufacturer of VR headsets, is making a Switch-like Android gaming handheld that can also dock into a VR headset, becoming a handheld and standalone VR system all at once. It’s a return to the “VR goggles” concepts of early phone-based hardware like the Samsung Gear VR and Google’s Daydream, but in a potentially far more optimized and advanced format. I haven’t tried the Portal yet, but am really curious to. It’s an idea I could see more companies trying out, especially if it works better than those old limited-motion phone goggles.

Many upcoming VR headsets and AR glasses will start connecting with phones and smaller puck-like processors: the Magic Leap 2 is made this way, and Qualcomm’s next wave of AR glasses are designed to work with phones. Valve’s rumored standalone VR headset, Deckard, could possibly do the same with future Steam Decks.

Maybe Apple has similar plans in mind for how its VR headset will work with its phones and iPads. As headsets get smaller, more glasses-like, and lean on passthrough cameras and AR more, handheld accessories like game systems seem like a natural fit.

Nintendo had the right idea by making those Switch controllers slide off and work as little motion-sensitive magic wands…maybe the future of mobile gaming has been right in front of us all along.

Where this leads to in 2023

We’re already overdue for a truly new Nintendo Switch, and the Steam Deck seems bound for a sequel (although maybe not in 2023). We know a new wave of stand-alone VR headsets is on its way, and new phones and tablets are perpetual givens. The success of the Steam Deck, in particular, seems to open the door in ways that should impact both PC and console gaming. The Steam Deck was announced back in the middle of 2021, which means competitors have had a long time to prepare. But I’m also excited to see where truly decoupled indie gaming hardware could go: The Pocket and Playdate show all sorts of ways handhelds could live beyond traditional app store gateways. Cloud-connected gaming opens new pathways across hardware, too. It’s time for any mobile hardware to be more aware and flexible in its gaming strategies, because all the pieces are there. Of course, the handheld game system you’re most likely to be using in 2023 is your phone, but expect more dedicated gaming hardware to push the boundaries, too.