• 🤔 Apple has explained why its new iPad mini doesn’t have ProMotion support

• 💨 ProMotion unlocks 120Hz refresh rate for smoother on-screen motion

• 🤷‍♂️ Apple explained that it thinks the reduction in motion blur by virtue of moving to an OLED constitutes a big upgrade on its own

• 😎 It comes alongside boosted brightness and contrast for the new iPad mini, plus being a bigger screen in general

Shop iPad mini at Walmart

Shop iPad mini at Best Buy

Shop iPad mini at Amazon

Apple announced its new iPad mini this week, its first with an OLED screen, and to a few people’s surprise, the device doesn’t support Apple’s ProMotion tech.

This would have allowed it to have a higher 120Hz refresh rate (and variable refresh rate), as opposed to a more standard 60Hz, for smoother on-screen action – it seems odd as to why it wasn’t included.

However, as per MacRumors, we finally know why. In an interview with YouTuber and podcaster Christopher Lawley, Apple’s VP of hardware design, David Pakula, has explained that its OLED screen still has faster pixel response times than the previous LCD model, resulting in reduced motion blur.

As Pakula stated in the interview, “Display experience is about more than just a single spec” and that “one of the things that’s really cool about OLED is it actually has this really fast pixel response time. So it’s like more than an order of magnitude faster than the pixel response time for an LCD display. And what that does is it makes everything really smooth. Motion blur is significantly reduced compared to LCD.”

His sum-up for the new iPad mini’s OLED screen is that when “you pair that with the other things that I mentioned, the contrast, the brightness, and the color, this is just a killer display.”

It appears therefore that Apple saw more of a benefit in simply upgrading to OLED rather than going the whole hog with a ProMotion-enabled screen, which will remain an iPad Pro-exclusive feature for the time being. Maybe in a future iteration Apple may bring ProMotion to the mini, but today isn’t that day.

Delving into the specs, the new iPad mini’s screen is larger at 8.5 inches and has a max brightness of 600 nits – the old model only went up to 500, for reference. For HDR content, it’ll also go as high as 1200 nits for impactful highlights.

Being an OLED also means this screen benefits from deeper, inky blacks, more vivid colors and stronger dynamic range, as evidenced by the rated 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio on Apple’s spec sheet. The screen also retains a 326ppi pixel density and P3 wide color support.

Apple announced its new iPad mini with some significant upgrades this week, including not only an OLED screen, but also the new A20 processor for beefier performance, stronger water and dust resistance with IP67 and better speakers.

The new iPad mini launches on November 8 and starts at $699.

Up next: iPhone Air 2 gets closer to early 2027 release date, says new rumor

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Reece Bithrey is a journalist with bylines for Trusted Reviews, Digital Foundry, PC Gamer, TechRadar and more. He also has his own blog, UNTITLED, and graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in International History and Politics in 2023.

• 🙌 Those who were lucky enough to pre-order the Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2 online are beginning to receive the console

• 🚨 Our Zelda Switch 2 restock tracker @mattswider on X will send out an alert as soon as stock appears

• 👀 Nintendo Store has been the most active retailer for restocks, while Walmart and Target have announced a new order date of November 6

• ⌚ In-store midnight launches are also being held at GameStop, Best Buy, and Nintendo New York/San Francisco on November 5

Walmart: Zelda Switch 2 console

Best Buy: Zelda Switch 2 console

GameStop: Zelda Switch 2 console

Nintendo: Zelda Switch 2 console

Nintendo’s special edition Zelda Switch 2 has been in high demand since its announcement, leading to pre-orders selling out as soon as the console was revealed. In the run up to launch, restocks have been scarce, with only the Nintendo Store and Amazon offering new opportunities to grab the console. But now that’s it’s launched, where’s the next best place to look, and is it still possible to get one?

The Nintendo Store was the best destination on launch day, as we saw several restocks throughout the day – though many were false dawns that left consumers unable to checkout with the console. Still, it shows that Nintendo is working hard to provide new stock, and we already know more consoles are on the way. If any retailer will have priority access, its Nintendo’s own store.

November 6 is the next big Zelda Switch 2 restock date

The console will also be available to order online at Walmart on November 6, with Target also offering the same date. We were expecting Walmart to have more units on launch day, but a supply chain issue seemingly scuppered that plan. The good news is that it should have more inventory on November 6, which is one day after The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launches.

Walmart: Ocarina of Time

Best Buy: Ocarina of Time

Amazon: Ocarina of Time

Of course, we’ll still be tracking every retailer with our exclusive Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2 restock tracker for any earlier opportunities, which provides up-to-the-second information when the Zelda Switch 2 is in stock. If the console appears, our followers will still be the first to know.

In-store options are also available

If you’re willing to travel to your local brick and mortar store, Best Buy and Nintendo are holding in-store events on November 5 (you’ll need a Warp Pipe Pass for Nintendo’s event), and GameStop is also letting customers pre-order in-store. Some were lucky enough to get the console in-person at Walmart and other retailers, while others were less successful.

Why you should use our Zelda Switch 2 restock tracker

It can be difficult tracking down the Zelda Switch 2, with new stock selling out almost as soon as it appears. However, by using our restock tracker, you’ll get an alert if and when we see any stock online. We’ve helped over 400,000 people find hard-to-find items like the PS5 when it was sold out for close to two years. While we can’t always be right in our predictions, we can at least increase your chances of getting the console.

Up next: Nintendo Switch Sports Resort review roundup: ‘the Nintendo Sports series at its best’

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Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.

🏆 Review Score: 4.5/5 – ‘Awesome!‘

🏅 Editor’s Choice Award

✅ Pros:

• 👏 Adjustable-tension joysticks

• 👍 Removable D-Pad and analog sticks

• 👆 Chunky, micro-switch face buttons

• 🔫 Dual-mode triggers

• 💻 Compatible with PC, Xbox and Bluetooth devices

• 🔧 Customizable using the Nacon app

❌ Cons:

• 🤷‍♂️ It’s time for one unified Nacon app

• 🎮 Two more back buttons would have been welcome

• 🔋 Battery life is decent, not great

The Shortcut Review

Shop Nacon controllers at Walmart

Shop Nacon controllers at Best Buy

Shop Nacon controllers at Amazon

Nacon: Revolution X Pro

Nacon has produced some excellent pro-grade controllers over the years, and the Revolution Pro X is no exception.

With its tactile micro-switch buttons, Hall Effect sticks and triggers, instant-trigger locks, and two programmable rear buttons – it ticks most of the boxes competitive gamers expect. However, what sets the Nacon Revolution Pro X apart is its toolless, adjustable-tension joysticks, and its extremely competitive price point.

At just $129, it significantly undercuts the likes of Sony’s $199 DualSense Edge and Microsoft’s Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller. It’s also noticeably cheaper than offerings from Scuf and other pro-level gamepads, making it one of the best value pro controllers for Xbox and PC.

It’s a fantastic-feeling gamepad to hold, with a design that blends the ergonomics of a DualSense and Xbox controller. The sloped shoulder buttons and triggers admittedly take a bit of getting used to, but the overall feel and weight is excellent.

Nacon Revolution Pro X specs 🛠️

• Price: $129.90

• Compatibility: Xbox, PC, mobile

• Connectivity: 2.4 GHz dongle, wired, Bluetooth

The adjustable-tension joysticks are the stand out feature, as you can simply twist the base to dial in a firmer or looser feeling stick. I’ve always preferred having a loose left stick to handle movement, and a firmer, tighter right stick for aiming and fine-movements. Being able to adjust the tension without any disassembly or requiring a tool is also greatly appreciated.

Another nice perk is that the Revolution Pro X features four vibration motors, including the often overlooked impulse triggers. Xbox gamers know what a difference the impulse triggers can make in racing games like Forza Motorsport, and it’s a feature that tends to be cut.

Compatibility with PC along with Bluetooth support adds extra value, and you can of course customize the controller to your liking, including remapping the buttons, adjusting the vibration strength, removing the deadzones, changing the analog response curves, and switching between four profiles. Throw in a simple controller stand that neatly stores an additional D-Pad and two convex sticks, and it’s hard to argue with the value proposition on offer.

Of course, I’d have loved to see two more back buttons (or shoulder buttons) so that every face button can be mapped. But it’s a small mark against what is generally an excellent pro controller that’s competitively priced. Read my full Nacon Revolution Pro X review below.

A review unit was provided by Nacon.

What I loved about the Nacon Revolution Pro X ❤️

👏 Adjustable-tension joysticks. The star of the show, and something that I wish more controllers offered, you can effortlessly change the tension of the Nacon Revolution Pro X joysticks. Simply turn the base of the analog stick to the left to loosen the tension and to the right to tighten. It works wonderfully, and means you can dial in the exact analog tension you prefer, with far more incremental steps than the Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller offers.

👆 Chunky, micro-switch face buttons. I’ve praised Nacon’s decision to use oversized face buttons on previous controllers like the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro, and I’m glad it’s sticking with them. The clicky micro-switches make them a joy to press, and the flat profile means they never dig into your thumb over time.

👍 Removable D-Pad and analog sticks. A staple of any good pro controller is giving players the option to switch between a circular or cross D-Pad, along with a few analog stick choices. The Nacon Revolution Pro X comes with two grippy concave analog stick caps, and two slightly taller, concave sticks. You also get a circular and cross D-Pad, which are great for those who want consistent directional inputs or want to make it easier to hit diagonals.

🔫 Dual-mode triggers. You can switch between Hall Effect analog triggers or micro-switch instant triggers by simply flicking a switch on the back. It lets you fire faster when playing a first-person shooter, and the micro–switch provides a far more tactile and quicker feel than the Xbox Elite Series 2 or DualSense Edge trigger locks, which feel spongy and have too much travel. The triggers also rumble in compatible games.

💻 Compatible with PC, Xbox and Bluetooth devices. You can use the Nacon Revolution Pro X across multiple devices. On PC, you get the benefit of a 1000 Hz polling rate and 1ms latency when wired, and there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack for console players who prefer using a wired headset. Bluetooth also means it’ll work with your smart phone or TV.

🔧 Customizable using the Nacon app. You can create four profiles for the Nacon Revolution Pro X, though it comes with Racing, Fighting, RPG and FPS profiles as standard. You can remap buttons, adjust the analog stick deadzones and response curves, and the vibration strength of each side of the controller. You can also change the EQ of the controller when using a 3.5mm headset, which is a unique touch.

What I disliked about the Nacon Revolution Pro X 💔

🤷‍♂️ It’s time for one unified Nacon app. I’ve reviewed a few Nacon controllers over the years, and it feels like each new controller requires its own dedicated app. Hopefully, Nacon can offer either one universal app in the future or a browser-based system that doesn’t require yet another program to be installed.

🎮 Two more back buttons would have been welcome. It’s not a deal breaker, as many pro controllers only feature two back buttons, but two more remappable buttons would have been nice to have. It means every face button could be mapped, so you never need to take your thumbs off the sticks.

🔋 Battery life is decent, not great. At around 15 hours, depending on your settings, the battery life on the Nacon Revolution Pro X shames the DualSense Edge, but falls short of the Steam Controller, Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller, and Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, which offer 30 hours or more.

Should you buy the Nacon Revolution Pro X? 🤔

Shop Nacon controllers at Walmart

Shop Nacon controllers at Best Buy

Shop Nacon controllers at Amazon

Nacon: Revolution X Pro

Yes, if…

• ✅ You want an excellent pro controller under $150

• ✅ You’d like to dial in your own joystick tension level

• ✅ You play competitive games on PC or Xbox

No, if…

• ❌ You’re used to pro controllers with four remappable buttons

• ❌ You’re not a fan of micro-switch buttons or D-Pads

• ❌ You want a controller that rarely needs charging

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Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.

🏆 Rating: 4.5/5

✅ Pros

• 🔋 3+ days of battery life is wildly impressive

• ⌚️ Gorgeous, large screen that’s easy to see in the sun

• ❤️ Upgraded health sensors means more accurate data

• 💪 Durable enough for every adventure

• 🚀 Faster performance and charging

• 🤖 Siri AI is so much better in watchOS 27

• ❌ No price hike, unlike the iPhone

❌ Cons

• 💔 Key features like the new Health app are still missing

• 🤷 Same design might not appeal to those who want something different

• 💰 Still quite expensive for a smartwatch

The Shortcut review

Let’s get one thing out of the way: the Apple Watch Ultra 4 looks identical to the Ultra 3 on the outside, and therefore, it’s very easy to assume there’s nothing new here. But this $799 smartwatch has never been as powerful, accurate, and efficient as it is today, all thanks to vast under-the-hood improvements that take Apple’s most robust smartwatch it’s ever shipped and make it even better.

The Ultra 4 gets an entirely new health tracking system powered by a new heart rate sensor, which tracks your status 60x more frequently than before. That’s backed by new algorithms to understand your health in better context, and it’s all powered by the upgraded S11 SoC (system-on-a-chip), the fastest processor ever in an Apple Watch. What’s more, this watch gets even longer battery life than the Ultra 3, going from roughly two days on a charge to three.

It’s a smartwatch I had no idea Apple could make. By maintaining the same design since the Apple Watch Ultra’s inception four years ago, I always assumed battery life and performance would eventually be capped. But as it turns out, Apple’s engineering chops can somehow cram faster performance, longer battery life, and more accurate health tracking into the same exact chassis - all without sacrificing weight or thickness. If you’ve been wanting a new Apple Watch and love the idea of a super computer on your wrist, this is the one to get.

Amazon: Apple Watch Ultra 4

Best Buy: Apple Watch Ultra 4

Walmart: Apple Watch Ultra 4

Review notes

🎶 Same Old Song and Design. Cue up the Aerosmith, because Apple’s doing the same old song and dance it’s done since the Apple Watch Ultra came out in 2022. The chassis itself looks completely unchanged compared to the Ultra 3, with the same bulky form factor that’s rugged and ready for all of life’s adventures. Of course, if you flip the Ultra 4 on its face, you’ll find a sensor array that looks completely different than before, but we’ll get to that later. In short, if you were hoping for some kind of redesign here, you may have better luck when the Ultra 5 drops.

⚫️ The Black finish is growing on me. I usually don’t rock the Black version of the Apple Watch Ultra, but after Apple sent me the darker model to review, it’s kind of growing on me. I like its stealthy aesthetic and ability to stand out a bit less on the wrist, although it does often look dirtier than the Natural version since any dirt or dust it collects above the side button is far more visible. Still, it’s a really nice color that I didn’t expect to like as much as I do.

⌚️ Same bands, too. It’s also worth noting that Apple is still using the same band connection mechanism it always has for the Ultra 4, so all of your existing 49mm bands will work perfectly with it. The company let me check out its Trail Loop in Burgundy this time around, and it’s perfect for anyone picking up the iPhone 18 Pro in Burgundy and want their Apple Watch to match. I also got sent some bands from Nomad, including a couple of new Rocky Point bands and a new Stratos band, all of which have matching black hardware. They look incredibly sleek on this watch and continue to be my favorite third-party bands. (Not sponsored, by the way - these bands are just that good.)

💪 Still rough and tough. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is just as durable as every other Apple Watch Ultra that’s come before it. The aerospace-grade titanium case is MIL-STD-810H certified for shock and drop resistance, it has WR100 water resistance for scuba diving, the sapphire glass is some of the most scratch-resistant Apple’s ever shipped, and the IP6X dust resistance keeps things like sand and dirt from damaging the internals. I wore my Ultra 3 everywhere last year and dunked it a million times in salt water over the summer, and I have no doubt the Ultra 4 will be up for the challenge as well.

🔋 Big battery life boost. Apple has somehow eked out even more endurance from the Ultra 4 than it did on the Ultra 3. I was impressed with how long the battery could last on last year’s model, and I’m even more impressed this year. Apple delivers with up to 45 hours of use if you use Extended Workout tracking, which is nearly four days between charges. I was able to cruise through three days without having to charge it with a blend of tracking workouts, using apps like Home and Spotify, asking Siri questions, and regularly checking my sleep score. Slowly but surely, Apple is achieving the multi-day battery life power users crave from their smartwatches, and the Ultra 4 is the best at it yet.

⚡ Even quicker charging. Apple gave the Ultra 4 even faster charging, too. If you use the supplied charging puck in the box and a power adapter that supports at least 20W, it’ll juice up quicker than any previous Apple Watch Ultra. I’ll admit, the difference isn’t huge so you might not notice it at first, but quick top-ups for around 10-20 minutes on the charger will give you about 10-15% extra battery, which is nice.

🚀 A little bit faster now. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 does feel a bit faster than the Ultra 3. That’s thanks to the new S11 SoC, which helps apps load quicker, your workouts start faster, and Siri process requests in less time. I’ll admit, you have to be using the Ultra 4 next to the Ultra 3 to notice the difference given how minuscule it is, but it’s definitely there.

❤️ The “most accurate” health wearable yet? The Apple Watch Ultra 4 (and Series 12) gets Apple’s new Health Sensing System, an upgraded array of sensors on the back of the watch that takes the watch to new heights. It measures your heart rate every five seconds, your heart rate variability up to 24x more often, and has improved algorithms to better represent your results from working out, getting to sleep on time, and your recovery. Apple says it’s the most accurate health tracking wearable on the market, which is a seriously bold claim. It even published a whole study breaking down how it compares to other wearables, and the Apple Watch came out on top when it comes to accuracy.

🧑‍🔬 Far more insightful than before. This new system can apply to any type of user and give you more accurate results. For me, I use my Apple Watch Ultra for tracking walks around New York City, weightlifting, kayaking in the summer, and the occasional bike ride between press briefings. After wearing the watch all day, my rings seem to better represent the amount of movement I’ve had that day. Calories burned aren’t quite as high as they used to be, but the numbers I got from my Ultra 3 always seemed exaggerated anyway. Plus, I have far more granular detail on my heart rate through the day, which isn’t just helpful for workouts, but also for seeing how certain foods and caffeine spikes affect me.

😴 Readiness Scores are (generally) spot on… It’s one of the features I’ve been most excited about, largely because I’d love to ditch my Whoop and go all-in on a single fitness tracker. While I love the recovery scores I get from the Whoop, my Readiness Scores on my Apple Watch Ultra 4 serve the same purpose - and it’s pretty good. Apple’s take on a Readiness Score combines several factors like your heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, heart rate variability (HRV), and blood oxygen. It also considers how active you were the previous day and how well you slept, then rates your performance on a scale between 0 and 10. For me, my score typically reflects how I’m feeling that day when I wake up, just like my Whoop. While I don’t let it guide my physical decisions that day, I do find value in understanding why I might feel groggy one day, or why I may feel more energized than normal, and the score breakdown is helpful for that.

❌ … but not always. That being said, it’s not always accurate. There seems to be more times with the Apple Watch where it tells me I slept great and I’m ready for the day, whereas I know I went to bed too late and tossed and turned all night long. It doesn’t generally skew negative, either, instead telling me that I slept well but could use improvement. Meanwhile, my Whoop will give me a huge red ring around my recovery and ask me what went wrong when I feel exhausted. It almost feels like the algorithm wants to be much nicer to the end user than blatantly honest. That might be good for continuous encouragement for those just starting their fitness journey, but it’s not ideal for those who’ve been in the game for a while and need to hear the honest truth.

⏳ The new Health app is (still) coming. All of these data points can be found in the Health app, as per usual, but there’s a lot more to come. Apple is completely revamping the Health app with more proactive recommendations to help you stay on track, more detailed information on your data, and new recovery scores that seem squarely aimed at Whoop users (like me). While I did get to play with the new Health app in a previous beta version of iOS 27.2, Apple pulled the updated app and says in a prompt that it’ll ship “later this year.” I’ll update this review with thoughts on the new Health app once I’ve had time to use it.

🔊 Waiting on Audio Intelligence. There are two other missing features from the Ultra 4 I haven’t been able to test yet: Live Rewind and Siri Recap, two AI-powered features that were met with a lot of skepticism when Apple announced them. The features require your watch to constantly listen to your surroundings and record what’s being said around you. The former will let you double tap the Digital Crown and read what was said in the last 15 seconds, while the latter will give you a brief at the end of your day on what happened to help you recall meetings or conversations. I haven’t tried either of these features yet, so I don’t have any thoughts on them. Once again, when Apple releases them in a future software update, I’ll update this review with my impressions.

🤖 watchOS 27 is a great update… for Siri. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 comes with watchOS 27 out of the box, and you won’t notice a huge difference between it and watchOS 26 until you fire up Siri. The company integrates its revamped virtual assistant so you can ask it questions, research different topics, and speak to it like you would Gemini or ChatGPT. It’s much better at understanding what you’re trying to say, you don’t need to speak in robot voice anymore, and all of your past conversations live in the Siri app for future reference. If there’s an AI update on this watch that’s 100% worth using, it’s this one.

Should you buy the Apple Watch Ultra 4?

Yes, if…

• ✅ You’ve been waiting to upgrade your Apple Watch Ultra 1 or 2

• ✅ You need your smartwatch to last more than two days on a charge

• ✅ You want a watch that’s super durable and waterproof

No, if…

• ❌ You own an Apple Watch Ultra 3

• ❌ The design is too big on your wrist (get the Apple Watch Series 12)

• ❌ You use an Android phone (get the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2)

Amazon: Apple Watch Ultra 4

Best Buy: Apple Watch Ultra 4

Walmart: Apple Watch Ultra 4

Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut and co-host of The Shortcut Live. He’s been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.

• 🎮 The Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2 was released on October 29 and flashed in and out of stock at the Nintendo Store

• 🚨 Our Zelda Switch 2 restock tracker @mattswider on X will send out an alert as soon as stock appears

• 👀 Walmart was our top pick to have a restock, but a supply chain delay has pushed the date back

• ⌚ In-store midnight launches are being held at GameStop, Best Buy, and Nintendo New York/San Francisco

Walmart: Zelda Switch 2 console

Best Buy: Zelda Switch 2 console

GameStop: Zelda Switch 2 console

Nintendo: Zelda Switch 2 console

The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 launched yesterday, and it was the Nintendo Store that held the most restocks. The console flashed in and out of stock repeatedly throughout the day as limited units were sold and quickly snapped up.

Many were met with error messages, “sold out” signs, or “couldn’t add the required amount” to their baskets. However, with a little persistence and luck, others were more successful. As it stands, it’s the best place to try to get the Zelda Switch 2, even if the experience can be a little frustrating.

We’re expecting a similar situation today as our tracker continues to receive restock alerts. However, we’re reluctant to share them all as many have been false flags, but we immediately notified The Shortcut followers once the first restock went live.

Amazon was the only other retailer to hold an online restock, though it sold out almost instantly. No more restocks took place, and sadly, the major Walmart restock of the Zelda Switch 2, which we were confident would take place, did not happen because of a supply chain issue.

The console will now be available to order online at Walmart on November 6, with Target also offering the same date.

Some lucky shoppers could also get the Zelda Switch 2 in-store, with The Shortcut readers sharing their personal accounts of getting the console at Walmart and helping each other out.

If you’re willing to travel to your local store, Best Buy and Nintendo are holding in-store events on November 5 (though you’ll need a Warp Pipe Pass for Nintendo’s event). GameStop is also letting customers pre-order in-store..

We’ll still be tracking every retailer with our exclusive Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2 restock tracker, which provides up-to-the-second information when the Zelda Switch 2 is in stock. If the console appears – which it might – our followers will still be the first to know.

Up next: PS5 Pro restock: it’s available again, but you’re paying more than you should

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Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.

• 📱 Apple’s upcoming iPhone Air 2 continues to make progress towards its release

• 🏭 The phone has reportedly entered an important phase in production

• ⚙️ The device will deliver key upgrades over the current Air

• 📆 It’s expected to land sometime in early 2027 alongside the iPhone 18

Apple is gearing up to launch a next-generation iPhone Air next year, and rumor has it that it’s reached an important phase during production. Leaker Sunny on X claims that the phone has entered what’s called EVT, which stands for Engineering Validation and Testing. It’s the first step in moving on from a proof of concept to a product you actually manufacture, which indicates the iPhone Air 2 release date seems to be in the near future.

• More: See the touchscreen MacBook Pro OLED – and the Apple logo finally glowing again

The next iPhone Air has been in the rumor mill for quite some time. It’s expected to debut sometime in early 2027, likely in the spring. Apple is said to release it alongside the base iPhone 18 and the budget-friendly iPhone 18e.

It’s said to come with a slew of upgrades over the original iPhone Air, which was released in September of 2025. The device will sport a familiar design that’s still impossibly thin and light, with one big external change: a secondary ultra-wide camera next to the primary camera.

Under the hood, Apple is rumored to include the A20 Pro chip (the same one found in the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro), a bigger battery, and new chips for improved wireless connectivity. The screen size is expected to remain the same at 6.5 inches, while a new purple color could wind up taking the place of blue in Apple’s lineup.

There was a rumor nearly two months ago that the iPhone Air 2 will replace the iPhone 18 in Apple’s lineup, although it’s unclear if that’ll actually happen. We haven’t heard anything beyond the initial report about it, so continue taking it with a grain of salt.

We’ll be tracking more iPhone Air 2 rumors until Apple decides to announce the phone next year. Stay tuned.

• Up next: Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 restock: Walmart and Target confirm exact release dates

Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut and co-host of The Shortcut Live. He’s been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.

Three free PS Plus games – Dead Island 2, Tomb Raider IV – VI Remastered, and Monster Train 2 – will be available to download for PlayStation Plus Essential subscribers from November 3. You can add these games to your library for free if you’re subscribed to Sony’s PS Plus Essential, PS Plus Premium, or PS Plus Extra service. Don’t forget to grab them before Monday, November 30; otherwise, you’ll miss out.

Don’t have PS Plus? Want to stop paying full price? Our PlayStation Plus discount code knocks off $10 versus what Sony charges.

PS Plus free games November 2026

• Dead Island 2 (PS5, PS4)

• Tomb Raider IV – VI Remastered (PS5, PS4)

• Monster Train 2 (PS5)

Dead Island 2

Dead Island 2 is a visceral RPG experience that sees you journey to iconic LA locations, take on quests, and survive zombie hordes with an insatiable appetite for humans. Explore the game alone, or join up to three other players in online co-op.

Tomb Raider IV – VI Remastered

Tomb Raider IV – VI Remastered includes Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, Tomb Raider: Chronicles and Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness. You can swap between the original polygonal models or remastered graphics at any time.

Monster Train 2

A single-player deckbuilding roguelite, Monster Train 2 sees you commanding clans of former angels and demons, as they work together to oust powerful beings known as Titans. You’ll need to recruit powerful new units, upgrade cards, and experiment to survive.

About downloading PS Plus free games

You can download all three PlayStation games – and if you run out of storage space on the internal SSD, check out The Shortcut’s expert PS5 SSD upgrade how-to guide and best SSD for PS5.

The free PS Plus games for October 2026 will no longer be available from November 2, 2026 (if you added them to your PlayStation games library before the cut-off date, you can continue to play them, don’t worry). Note: these PS Plus games don’t have to be downloaded; just add them to your PlayStation games library before they expire from the PlayStation Store.

The primary reason to get a PS Plus membership is online multiplayer, but these ‘free games’ have rounded out the value of Sony’s online service. It helps PlayStation Plus compete with Microsoft’s more robust offering (see our Xbox Game Pass Ultimate review and save $20 with our Xbox Game Pass discount code) which has become a Netflix-like on-demand gaming service. That’s why PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now have merged to form PlayStation Plus Premium, PlayStation Plus Extra, and PlayStation Plus Essential.

How to get the PS Plus free games

1. Get PlayStation Plus through this discount code to save $10 (you can’t stack multiple years anymore, but your pre-paid code won’t expire if you find the deal tempting. You’ll be able to turn off auto-renew and redeem it when it does expire

2. Go to the PlayStation Plus tab on the PlayStation Store on your console

3. Add each of the four games to your library (you don’t have to download them but you do need to add them to your library)

4. You can also download them by logging into the PlayStation Store through the web and adding them to your library that way (it will be faster for some people)

You’ll be able to add the PlayStation Plus free games for November to your library until November 30. On that date, new games will take over, and you’ll lose your chance to add these games to your PlayStation library. Adding the PS Plus games to your library doesn’t require downloading them and therefore doesn’t take up any hard drive or PS5 SSD storage space.

Why you shouldn’t wait on PS Plus free games

Should you buy PlayStation Plus today for these games? While online multiplayer is essential for some people, the free games for $79.99 a year MSRP (but $45 a year with a PlayStation Plus discount code) seems like good value if you play PS5 (if you don’t have a console yet, check out the Target PS5, and Amazon PS5 restock guides along with the Sony Direct queue guide). This is despite the fact you don’t know if the PS Plus free games will be any good month-to-month.

But here’s why you should get them right away: You won’t be able to add the November 2026 free PS Plus games to your library after November 30. My expert advice is that if you don’t have a PlayStation Plus membership, get it today or before the end of the month to claim all of the PlayStation games this month and the next, and for the following ten months.

Can I keep PS Plus free games forever?

As long as you’re subscribed to PlayStation Plus, you can continue playing any free games added to your library. If you cancel your PS Plus subscription, all the PS Plus free games and DLC become inaccessible.

• Check out our PlayStation Premium review 👈

There is a caveat: if you resubscribe to PlayStation Plus at any point, the free games added to your library will become playable again. So it’s worth getting PlayStation Plus if the free game is to your liking and start accumulating a nice collection.

What were the past PS Plus free games?

If you missed out on past PS Plus games, there’s no way to turn back the clock. However, I can tell you the game list for the titles you missed.

PS Plus free games list October 2026

• F1 25

• Hunt: Showdown 1896

• Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2

PS Plus free games list September 2026

• MLB The Show 26

• Sniper Elite: Resistance

• Wobbly Life

• Chained Echoes

PS Plus free games list August 2026

• Dying Light 2: Stay Human Reloaded Edition

• Signalis

• Big Walk

PS Plus free games list July 2026

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

• For The King II

• CrossCode

PS Plus free games list June 2026

• Grounded: Fully Yoked Edition

• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2

• Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

PS Plus free games list May 2026

• EA Sports FC 26

• Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

• Nine Sols

PS Plus free games list April 2026

• Lords of Fallen

• Tomb Raider I-III Remastered

• Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream

PS Plus free games list March 2026

• PGA Tour 2K25

• Slime Rancher 2

• Monster Hunter Rise

• The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road Collection

PS Plus free games list February 2026

• Undisputed

• Subnautica: Below Zero

• Ultros

• Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

PS Plus free games list January 2026

• Need for Speed Unbound

• Disney’s Epic Mickey: Rebrushed

• Core Keeper

PS Plus free games list December 2025

• LEGO Horizon Adventures (PS5)

• Killing Floor 3 (PS5)

• The Outlast Trials (PS4, PS5)

• Neon White (PS4, PS5)

• Synduality Echo of Ada (PS5)

PS Plus free games list November 2025

• Stray

• EA Sports WRC 25

• Totally Accurate Battle Simulator

PS Plus free games list October 2025

• Alan Wake 2

• Goat Simulator 3

• Cocoon

PS Plus free games list September 2025

• Psychonauts 2

• Stardew Valley

• Viewfinder

PS Plus free games list August 2025

• Lies of P

• DayZ

• My Hero One’s Justice 2

PS Plus free games list July 2025

• Diablo IV

• King of Fighters XV

• Jusant

PS Plus free games list June 2025

• NBA 2K25

• Alone in the Dark

• Bombrush Cyberfunk

• Destiny 2: The Final Shape

PS Plus free games list May 2025

• Ark: Survival Ascended

• Balatro

• Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun

PS Plus free games list April 2025

• RoboCop: Rogue City

• The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

• Digimon Story: Cybersleuth - Hacker’s Memory

PS Plus free games list March 2025

• Dragon Age: The Veilguard

• Sonic Colors Ultimate

• TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection

PS Plus free games list February 2025

• Payday 3

• High on Life

• Pac-Man World Re-Pac

PS Plus free games list January 2025

• Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

• Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered

• The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe

PS Plus free games list December 2024

• It Takes Two

• Aliens: Dark Descent

• TemTem

PS Plus free games list November 2024

• Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged

• Ghostwire: Tokyo

• Death Note Killer Within

PS Plus free games list October 2024

• WWE 2K24

• Dead Space

• Doki Doki Literature Club Plus

PS Plus free games list September 2024

• Quidditch Champions

• MLB The Show 24

• Little Nightmares 2

PS Plus free games list August 2024

• LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

• Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach

• Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights

PS Plus free games list July 2024

• Borderlands 3

• NHL 24

• Among Us

PS Plus free games list June 2024

• SpongeBob Squarepants: The Cosmic Shake

• Streets of Rage 4

• AEW Fight Forever

PS Plus free games list May 2024

• EA Sports FC 24

• Ghostrunner 2

• Tunic

• Destiny 2: Lightfall

PS Plus free games list April 2024

• Immortals of Aveum

• Minecraft Legends

• Skul: The Hero Slayer

PS Plus free games list March 2024

• F1 23

• Sifu

• Hello Neighbor 2

• Destiny 2: The Witch Queen

PS Plus free games list February 2024

• Foamstars

• Rollerdrome

• SteelRising

PS Plus free games list January 2024

• A Plague Tale: Requiem

• Evil West

• Nobody Saves the World

PS Plus free games list December 2023

• LEGO 2K Drive

• PowerWash Simulator

• Sable

PS Plus free games list November 2023

• Mafia 2: Definitive Edition

• Dragonball Z: The Breakers

• Aliens: Fireteam Elite

PS Plus free games list October 2023

• The Callisto Protocol

• Weird West

• Farming Simulator 22

PS Plus free games list September 2023

• Saints Row

• Black Desert: Traveler Edition

• Generation Zero

PS Plus free games list August 2023

• PGA 2K23

• Dreams

• Death’s Door

PS Plus free games list July 2023

• Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

• Alan Wake

• Endling: Extinction is Forever

PS Plus free games list June 2023

• NBA 2K23

• Jurassic World Evolution 2

• Trek to Yomi

PS Plus free games list May 2023

• Grid Legends

• Chivalry 2

• Descenders

PS Plus free games list April 2023

• Meet Your Maker

• Sackboy: A Big Adventure

• Tails of Iron

PS Plus free games list March 2023

• Battlefield 2042

• Minecraft Dungeons

• Code Vein

PS Plus free games list February 2023

• OlliOlli World

• Mafia Definitive Edition

• Evil Dead: The Game

• Destiny 2: Beyond Light

PS Plus free games list January 2023

• Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

• Fallout 76

• Axiom Verge 2

PS Plus free games list December 2022

• Mass Effect: Legendary Edition

• Biomutant

• Divine Knockout

PS Plus free games list November 2022

• Nioh 2 / Nioh 2 Remastered

• LEGO Harry Potter Collection

• Heavenly Bodies

PS Plus free games list October 2022

• Hot Wheels Unleashed

• Injustice 2

• Superhot

PS Plus free games list September 2022

• Toem

• Need for Speed Heat

• Granblue Fantasy: Versus

PS Plus free games list August 2022

• Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2

• Yakuza: Like a Dragon

• Little Nightmares

PS Plus free games list July 2022

• Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time

• Man of Medan

• Arcadegeddon

PS Plus free games list June 2022

• God of War

• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl

• Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker

PS Plus free games list May 2022

• FIFA 22

• Curse of the Dead Gods

• Tribes of Midgard

PS Plus free games list April 2022

• Hood: Outlaws & Legends

• SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated

• Slay the Spire

PS Plus free games list March 2022

• Ghostrunner (PS5)

• Sonic Team Racing

• Ark: Survival Evolved

• Ghost of Tsushima: Legends (PS4 or PS5)

PS Plus free games list February 2022

• UFC 4

• Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep

• Planet Rollercoaster (PS5)

PS Plus free games list January 2022

• Persona 5 Strikers

• Dirt 5

• Deep Rock Galactic

PS Plus free games list December 2021

• Godfall: Challenger Edition

• Lego DC Super-Villains

• Mortal Shell

• PSVR games: The Persistence, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, Until You Fall

Are PSVR 2 games ever part of the PS Plus free games list?

Sony has released PSVR games as part of its PS Plus free games membership perk before, and thankfully it’s now added PSVR 2 games to the lineup. However, you’ll need to be a PS Plus Premium member to access these games. Sony may have been pushed by Meta to offer free PSVR 2 games, which launched its own subscription service called Meta Horizon Plus.

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Last updated: October 29, 2026

• 🎮 The Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2 is out today, October 29, but Walmart and Target are planning online restocks for November 6

• 🚨 Our Zelda Switch 2 restock tracker @mattswider on X will send out an alert as soon as stock appears

• 👀 Walmart was our top pick to have a restock, but a supply chain delay has pushed the date back

• ⌚ GameStop, Best Buy, and Nintendo are holding in-store midnight launches where units will be available

Update (11:23 AM ET): Today’s launch day for the Zelda Switch 2 console and we’re constantly checking Walmart just in case more pre-orders open up.

Walmart: Zelda Switch 2 console

Best Buy: Zelda Switch 2 console

GameStop: Zelda Switch 2 console

Target: Zelda Switch 2 console

Nintendo: Zelda Switch 2 console

A new update has dashed our hopes of a major Walmart restock of the Zelda Switch 2 console, which we were confident would happen today. However, a new Reddit post (thanks, Wario64) has revealed that Walmart is waiting until at least November 6 to sell the special edition console online.

A employee note says: “Due to a supply chain delay, some stores may not receive the Nintendo Switch 2 Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition in time for its planned Oct. 29 release. To allow time to fulfill preorders and reshop inventory as needed, the point-of-sale (POS) block will remain in place through at least Friday, Nov. 6. As inventory arrives, orders will be fulfilled based on preorder priority and available inventory.”

The Redditor who posted the news shared that some people were able to get the console from Walmart after 8:00am local time, so there is still hope.

Target recently updated its Zelda Switch 2 listing to reveal that it will also start taking orders of on November 6, with in stores orders beginning November 5. Clearly, the supply chain delay is impacting other stores, otherwise we likely would have seen a restock take place today, as we initially predicted.

We now know that Walmart and Target will be taking online orders, and that Best Buy and Nintendo are holding in-store events on November 5. GameStop is also letting customers pre-order in-store via their website.

Despite the news, we’ll still be tracking every retailer with our restock tracker, which provides up-to-the-second information whether something is in stock. If the Zelda Switch 2 does appear – which it might – our followers will still be one of the first to know.

Up next: PS5 Pro restock: it’s available again, but you’re paying more than you should

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Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.

• 🎧 The PlayStation Pulse headset, developed with Audeze, is available to pre-order today

• 👏 It features planar magnetic drivers and PlayStation Link

• 💰 The PlayStation Pulse headset costs $99.99

• 📅 Pre-orders for the Pulse begin today, October 29, with a release date of November 19

Best Buy: PlayStation Pulse black

Best Buy: PlayStation Pulse white

Walmart: PlayStation Pulse black

Amazon: PlayStation Pulse black

PS Direct: PlayStation Pulse white

PS Direct: PlayStation Pulse black

Sony’s PlayStation Pulse headset for PS5 is available to pre-order today, October 29, 2026. Made in collaboration with Audeze, the high-end audio company Sony acquired in August 2023, the PlayStation Pulse headset features planar magnetic drives and uses PlayStation Link for low-latency audio.

🚨 If you’d like an alert when the PlayStation Pulse headset is in stock, follow Matt Swider on X and set your notifications on. You can also become a free or paid subscriber to The Shortcut to help support our work. 🚨

The Pulse headset costs $99 and comes in White and Midnight Black. You can connect the Pulse to PS5, PC, Mac and Bluetooth devices. There’s also support for simultaneous Bluetooth audio.

It’s not to be mistaken with the upcoming Pulse Edge, which includes active noise cancellation, a detachable boom mic for improved voice chat over the Pulse headset’s integrated mic, along with a premium carrying case.

PlayStation Pulse pre-order times

Pre-orders for the PlayStation Pulse began today, October 29, at 10am ET / 7am PT. The headset launches on November 19, 2026. You’ll find links to every retailer below, and this page will update when each retailer has a listing live.

Best Buy: PlayStation Pulse black

Best Buy: PlayStation Pulse white

Walmart: PlayStation Pulse black

Amazon: PlayStation Pulse black

PS Direct: PlayStation Pulse white

PS Direct: PlayStation Pulse black

Where to buy the PlayStation Pulse headset

The PlayStation Pulse is available to pre-order from PlayStation Direct and participating retailers such as Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon, and Target.

Up next: PS5 Prism Collection: pre-order date, price and release date

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Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.

• New GTA 6 gameplay appeared in Wednesday’s episode of South Park

• The clip shows protagonist Jason hitting a man in the head with a bag of dog poo

• The footage was presumably supplied to the show by Rockstar

• It’s not the first time South Park has featured a Rockstar game

A new look at Grand Theft Auto 6 has appeared in an unlikely place: the latest episode of South Park.

• Walmart: GTA 6 - $79.99

• Best Buy - GTA 6 - $79.99

• GameStop: GTA 6 - $79.99

• Amazon: GTA 6 - $79.99

• Target: GTA 6 - $79.99

• PlayStation Store: GTA 6 - $79.99

The episode, titled “Guinea Pig on a Stick,” saw Stan, Cartman and Kyle trying to get local beef back into their school after the town’s supply suddenly became highly prized.

Near the end, the owner of the steakhouse buying it all up tells the boys the beef isn’t the real issue. In what looks like a nod to the upcoming US midterms, she says people care about the country, not the cows.

She then switches on a TV, claiming “a lot of good Americans died to smuggle this to us.” What follows is new GTA 6 gameplay, which was presumably provided to South Park’s creators by Rockstar.

In the clip, Jason is on a beach when he spots a dog owner letting their pet do its business on the sand before picking it up with a bag. Jason throws an object at the man, which kicks off a fight. He then grabs the bag of dog poo and hurls it at the man’s head.

The steakhouse owner calls the graphics “seriously next-level” and says the world-building is on show, because players can pick up the dog poo and use it as a weapon. “That is what is coming in November,” she adds, which is when GTA 6 launches next month.

This isn’t the first time a game has turned up in South Park. Past episodes have centered on World of Warcraft, Guitar Hero, and Red Dead Redemption 2 became a plot point in “Time to Get Cereal,” where Sergeant Yates is annoyed that a police investigation is getting in the way of his Red Dead 2 sessions. We’ve also seen Cartman freeze himself to speed up the release of the Wii, and a turf war break out between Sony and Microsoft during Black Friday over Xbox One and PS4 bundles.

GTA 6 launches in just under a month, releasing on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

We might not have to wait too long for a PC port, either, as it could come in early 2027.

The PC release could coincide with GTA 6 Online launching, which Twitch CEO Dan Clancy has predicted will take place “next year”.

Up next: GTA 6 file size revealed, taking nearly a quarter of the PS5 slim’s storage

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Reece Bithrey is a journalist with bylines for Trusted Reviews, Digital Foundry, PC Gamer, TechRadar and more. He also has his own blog, UNTITLED, and graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in International History and Politics in 2023.

Update (9:39 AM ET): A new employee post on Reddit suggests that Walmart is reserving stock until November 6, due to a supply chain delay. Target has also updated its website with November 6 for online orders.

• 🎮 The Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2 is out today, October 29

• 🚨 Our Zelda Switch 2 restock tracker @mattswider on X will send out an alert as soon as stock appears

• 💰 The special edition costs $519.99 but doesn’t include a copy of the game

• 👀 Walmart is our pick to have a restock, and we’re tracking all the other retailers

Walmart: Zelda Switch 2 console

Best Buy: Zelda Switch 2 console

GameStop: Zelda Switch 2 console

Target: Zelda Switch 2 console

Nintendo: Zelda Switch 2 console

Today is the day we’ve been waiting for. There’s a strong probability that a Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2 restock will take place at Walmart to mark the console’s release, and we’ll be keeping a close out on the retailer throughout the course of the day.

As the largest retailer in the US, Walmart should have the biggest stock allocation. It’s also historically held back units for launch days, even when pre-orders have sold out. Walmart sometimes ends up with an online exclusive as a result, with many stores offering in-store stock instead of online.

We saw a similar situation with the PS5 Pro, where Walmart offered next-day delivery with snacks included.

Aside from a surprise restock at the Nintendo Store taking place on October 26, which we alerted our followers to, the Zelda Switch 2 has remained out of stock since it went on sale.

Best Buy and Nintendo have announced in-store events on November 5, and GameStop is also letting customers pre-order in-store via their website. Hopefully, Walmart is reserving its stock for online customers, and today is when we expect to see a Zelda Switch 2 restock take place.

Walmart also tends to restock on Thursday and Friday mornings, so the timing conveniently lines up with its usual pattern. Of course, along with Walmart, we’ll be tracking every retailer for any restocks and sending out an alert to our followers as soon as stock appears.

Cancelled pre-orders and failed payments could have also freed up more stock, so we’re cautiously optimistic a restock at Walmart is on the cards.

There’s a good chance Walmart will also have a Zelda Switch 2 Pro Controller restock which, like the console, has been completely sold out.

Why you should use our Zelda Switch 2 restock tracker

We’re constantly monitoring all the major retailers for any stock updates, and will send an alert on X to Matt Swider’s followers. It’s the best way to get hold of Nintendo’s special edition console, as it means you’ll be first in line. Our followers were one of the first to hear about the Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 restock at the Nintendo Store before it sold out again.

If you’re new to The Shortcut, we helped over 400,000 people buy a PS5 when it was impossible to find during the pandemic. Since then, we’ve continued to help our subscribers find hard-to-find items that quickly sell out or are remain in high-demand months later.

Remember: you’ll receive a notification on X (if set to on) when new Zelda Switch 2 stock arrives, thanks to our up-to-the-second US store inventory checks at the biggest retailers.

Up next: PS5 Pro restock: it’s available again, but you’re paying more than you should

Subscribe now

Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.

Looking for Zelda Switch 2 console or Pro Controller pre-orders? Click our links, especially Walmart!

• 🫵 It’s the first touchscreen Mac, courtesy of the new PROLED XDR

• 🍎 Apple’s glowing logo returns to the lid for the first time since 2016!

• 🏝️ The iPhone’s useful Dynamic Island comes to MacBook for the first time

• ⚙️ Uses Apple’s M5 Pro or M5 Max chips; up to 128GB of RAM, 16TB SSD

• 💰 Starts at $2,899 for the M5 Pro, 1TB of storage and standard glass

• 📆 Pre-orders start today; ships Friday, November 6

It’s taken ten years, but this is the MacBook Pro redesign I’ve been waiting for. I’m about to “Pro and Tell” you why it’s Apple’s big glow-up moment, and why I pre-ordered ASAP.

I ordered the 14-inch MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR (it also comes in 16-inch), and I’m happy to report the illuminated Apple logo is back on the lid, and it’s bringing a friend: the first-ever Mac touchscreen. Apple has long resisted this feature, but it pairs well with the bright, color-accurate MacBook Pro display and its new interactive Dynamic Island.

It’s a huge shift for the MacBook, but before I touch on other points, let’s say hello to our Substack sponsor dbrand’s new cases for the iPad and skins for the MacBook Pro.

dbrand’s 47 MacBook Pro skins are on sale

Want to basically look inside your new MacBook Pro with a cool dbrand skin or just simply protect your $3,000 investment from scratches?

dbrand has already launched 47 skins for the new 14-inch and 16-inch laptops – and yes, there’s an option for a logo cutout to let that Apple logo shine! There’s also a Buy One, Get One Free option on several of the skins.

dbrand: MacBook Pro skins

dbrand’s new Folio Grip for iPad mini

dbrand has been making some of our favorite accessories for phones, gaming consoles, and laptops. But beyond skins, it hasn’t had much for iPads… until now.

This week, dbrand is introducing the new Folio Grip case. It took its existing Grip case for devices like the iPhone Duo and stretched it out to protect your iPad. It’s available for the iPad Pro and baseline iPad, as well as the new iPad mini with OLED.

The case wraps around the entirety of your iPad to protect it from drops and scratches, all while giving you a ton of extra grip thanks to a unique texture on the outside. It also comes with a folio flap on the front to protect the display, which can also bend to varying degrees to prop up your iPad exactly how you want. The best part? You can remove the flap and just use the case itself if it gets in your way.

The Folio Grip also accommodates your Apple Pencil on the edge of your iPad, and it has the same clicky buttons as the Grip case for phones and other devices.

dbrand is also launching a PRISM screen protector designed for iPad. It uses the same premium tempered glass as other PRISM screen protectors in its lineup that repels dust, prevents scratches, and has a fingerprint-resistant finish so your display will always look clean. Plus, you get dbrand’s genius installation tray in the box to make applying the protector to your iPad as idiot-proof as possible. It’s also available for iPad mini, as well as the higher-end Pros and the base iPad.

You can pick up the new accessories right now on dbrand’s website. Here’s how pricing shakes out for it all.

dbrand Folio Grip

• iPad mini: $69.95

• iPad Pro and iPad: $79.95

dbrand: iPad Folio Grip

dbrand PRISM

• iPad mini: $49.95

• iPad Pro and iPad: $59.95

dbrand: iPad PRISM

🎬 Breaking down today’s Apple news

Today marks a major shift for the MacBook Pro, and the high price reflects the cutting-edge technology you’ll see. We also got a new iPad mini with an OLED display, an upgraded 14-inch MacBook Pro, and a new 24-inch iMac.

As a team of creators, The Shortcut’s Slack has been blowing up with early thoughts and impressions on everything Apple has unveiled for the past three days, and we’re beyond hype to get a chance to review it all.

💻 MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR

📺 The first OLED screen on a MacBook. Apple has equipped the new MacBook Pro with the first PROLED XDR display its ever shipped. It’s a new tandem OLED display that stacks two OLED screens on top of each other for better brightness, which Apple says can reach 2,000 nits. It’s backed by all sorts of algorithms and engines to tune the display to show off accurate colors, deliver Extreme Dynamic Range, and boast an industry-first 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio. You can also add a nano-texture coating to reduce glares and make it easier to see in the sun.

🎙️ Touch me, baby. Cue The Doors, because you can touch the screen on the new MacBook Pro. Apple says that it’s built right into the display panel and not behind it, so it feels like you’re actually touching the content on your screen. You can do things from swipe through webpages to flick windows across your desktop. Apple also says it opens new possibilities for folks like graphic designers who want a 360 of what they’re working on, musicians who want to finely tune a project they’re working on, and more. The laptop is equipped with a hinge that keeps the display sturdy every time you touch it so it won’t wobble back and forth.

🏝️ Dynamic Island arrives on top. Look at the top of the new MacBook Pro and you’ll see something familiar: the Dynamic Island. Apple got rid of the notch for the Center Stage camera and built it into a hole-punch cutout in the display, then added the Dynamic Island to keep things alive and functional. You can do pretty much everything with it as you can on your iPhone, from controlling your music to tracking your Uber Eats order.

🚀 Unreal specifications. Apple equips the MacBook Pro with either the M5 Pro or M5 Max chip, depending on your performance needs and preferences. The chips deliver insane performance boosts for AI processing, handling 8K ProRes video, rendering complex 3D graphics, and more. But look on Apple’s specs page and you’ll see some other staggering configurations. You can load up to 128GB of RAM into these things, as well as an insane 16TB of storage. Yeah, if you plan to use your computer for the next, I dunno, 15 years, this is the one to get.

📐 A slightly slimmer design. Apple was able to shave a bit less than a millimeter from the thickness of both the 14.2-inch model and the 16.3-inch model. They’re also a bit lighter, coming in at three and four pounds, respectively.

💡Apple’s glow-up. This is the coolest design touch. The Apple logo on the back glows for the first time since 2016, which makes me extremely happy as someone who used to fawn over Apple laptops back in the 2010s when everyone had glowing Apple logos. It’s more than a statement piece. It’s an engineering feat to get the glowing Apple logo working inside a lid this thin. 👏

🔊 Industry-leading speakers. Apple claims to have reinvented speakers once again with its new MacBook Pro. There’s a new six-speaker audio system that gets you 50% deeper bass, while all-new tweeters should give your music and movies more definition. The most interesting tidbit here is the fact that Apple optimized the speakers to perform well when the lid is closed, which is how a lot of professionals wind up working if they need an external monitor. I’ll be the judge of how good this sounds when I get to test it for myself at Swider Studios, so stay tuned.

🔌 Plenty of ports, solid connectivity. Apple is still giving professionals all the ports they need to get work done. You get three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI, an SDXC card slot, MagSafe, and a headphone jack on both models. You also get Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 for improved wireless performance. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Apple has introduced a 5G version of the MacBook Pro, as previous rumors suggested.

📈 Higher and higher. That’s a great way to sum up the prices of the new MacBook Pro. The 14-inch version now starts at $2,899, $900 more than the Mini LED version of the laptop. Meanwhile, the 16-inch now starts at $3,399. If you max out your configuration for the new 16-inch MacBook Pro, you’ll wind up paying $14,549. Yeah, these things ain’t cheap, folks.

📆 Launching November 6. Apple is opening preorders for the new MacBook Pro today, with orders shipping on Friday, November 6.

📱 iPad mini with OLED

One of the most anticipated updates to the iPad lineup arrived early this week with the new iPad mini, which is now equipped with an OLED display. While it’s more expensive than before at $699, there are plenty of upgrades to talk about.

📺 A much prettier screen. Apple swapped the 8.3-inch LCD panel from the old iPad mini for a new 8.5-inch OLED, which will deliver higher brightness, deeper black levels, and better contrast. Your movies, e-books, and games will all look far better on this display. What’s more, Apple is offering an option to upgrade to a nano-texture display, similar to what the iPhone Duo has, that lets you see the screen more easily in the sunlight.

📐 Thinner and more durable. With the OLED display, Apple was able to make the tablet even thinner than before at just 5.4mm. On top of that, it’s the most durable iPad mini yet with an IP67 certification, which means it’s safe against dust and water. You’ll be able to take this thing to the pool next summer without worrying about getting it wet, no problem.

⚙️ A big performance boost. The iPad mini's specs are the most powerful we’ve seen yet in a tablet. Apple gave it the A20 Pro chip (the same one that’s inside iPhone 18 Pro Max), the N1 and C2 chips for faster Wi-Fi and 5G, quicker charging speeds, and iPadOS 27 with Siri AI.

⬇️ Read more:

🖥️ M6-powered iMac and MacBook Pro

The smallest upgrades Apple introduced this week also happen to be quite powerful. The iMac and 14-inch MacBook Pro both got a brand-new chip: the M6.

🚀 More power to ya. Apple touts that the M6 chip, which was announced back in August, gives the iMac and base MacBook Pro big leaps in performance. From editing videos to AI-related tasks, the M6 delivers a faster CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine so that the entire experience is smoother and snappier. You can pair the chip with up to 32GB of RAM, 2TB of storage in the iMac, and up to 4TB of storage in the MacBook Pro.

🛜 Better connectivity. Apple also upgraded the two Macs with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, both of which will give you more reliable connectivity. The iMac’s Ethernet port is also capable of 2.5Gb speeds, which will make your internet speed even quicker.

📐 Same design and colors. Beyond these key internal upgrades, the iMac and MacBook Pro remain largely unchanged. Apple kept the same designs and colors as before for both models, as well as the same array of ports. The iMac costs a bit more at $1,499, while the MacBook Pro starts at the same $1,999 as before.

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• 🥳 Sony has revealed its new Prism Collection that brings transparent designs to the DualSense controller and PS5 console

• 👀 Three colors are available: Flare Orange, Emerald Green, and Graphite Gray

• 📅 The Prism Collection launches globally on February 4, 2027

• 🚨 Pre-orders open on November 10 at 10am ET/7am PT

Shop PS5 at Walmart

Shop PS5 at Best Buy

Shop PS5 at PlayStation Direct

Sony has unveiled new transparent designs for the PS5 DualSense controller and PS5 Slim console, which its calling the Prism Collection.

🚨 If you’d like an alert when PS5 Prism Collection is up for pre-order, follow Matt Swider on X and set your notifications on. You can also become a free or paid subscriber to The Shortcut to help support our work. 🚨

As per a new PlayStation blog post, the Prism Collection brings three new colors for players to purchase: Flare Orange, Emerald Green, and Graphite Gray.

Sony describes Flare Orange as being “a bold and vibrant aesthetic”, Emerald Green as being “elegant” with a “silky green exterior”, and Graphite Gray as “classy” and “refined”.

Leo Cardoso and Satoshi Aoyagi from Sony’s color, material, and finish design team shared more about the creative process.

“We know how much our fans have been looking forward to the return of transparent controllers. We wanted to bring back the iconic see-through trend of the late ’90s in a fresh, modern way that complements the PS5’s industrial design,” said Leo Cardoso.

“The high-gloss clear finish extends across the back of the controller, offering a look at the technology that powers the DualSense controller while maintaining a sleek, monochromatic look.

The metallic finish on the middle cover brings the contrasting surfaces together for a premium appearance that feels consistent with the PS5 generation.

To complement the futuristic aesthetic, we carefully selected three distinct colors: a vibrant orange that subtly takes on a rosy hue where the transparent material overlaps, a deep hunter green that gains depth through its transparency, and a cool-toned storm gray.” said Satoshi Aoyagi.

Here’s everything you need to know about the PS5 Prism Collection, including the pre-order date, price and release date.

PS5 Prism Collection pre-order date

Pre-orders for the Prism Collection DualSense controllers and PS5 console covers begin on November 10, 2026, at 10am ET / 7am PT. Sony will sell the controllers directly and through participating retailers. The PS5 console covers are exclusive to Sony’s PlayStation Direct store.

PS5 Prism Collection release date

You’ll have to wait a few months for the PS5 Prism Collection to arrive, as the release date isn’t until February 4, 2027.

PS5 Prism Collection price

Sony has attached the usual $84.99 price tag to the PS5 Prism Collection controllers and $74.99 for the PS5 console covers.

Up next: PS5 Pro restock: it’s available again, but you’re paying more than you should

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Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.

• 🆕 Samsung has announced the new Galaxy Buds On

• 👂 It’s the first set of open-ear clip-on wireless buds from Samsung

• 💦 IP54 water resistance and clever tech inside to reduce sound leakage

• 🗜️ They feature a more secure fit than older earbuds

• 🔋 9.5 playback hours on the buds, 38 hours with the case, and powered by Qualcomm’s energy-efficient Snapdragon S7 Gen 1 Sound Platform

• 💰 You’ll be able to buy them from next month at a cost of $229

Get the Galaxy S26 Ultra

Samsung has unveiled its first open-ear clip-on wireless earbuds, the Galaxy Buds On, as it enters a growing market sector currently dominated by Sony and Bose.

The new Samsung buds feature a clip-on design for a more secure fit than some of its older open earbuds, and feature Audio Leakage Reduction tech that Samsung says reduces sound leakage for those around you. To achieve this, Samsung’s tech protects reversed sound waves at the rear of each earbud.

The new buds are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S7 Gen 1 Sound Platform, which offers longer playback at higher volumes. A high-efficiency Class-D amplifier drives it, intricately designed to optimize power consumption.

Samsung says it has pulled data from over 119 million ear scans to help these new buds fit well across a range of ear shapes and sizes. They’re designed to ensure a low-pressure fit around the ear, making them more comfortable for extended periods than typical earbuds. For fitness fanatics and commuters, an IP54 water-resistance rating is a welcome bonus.

These aren’t technically Samsung’s first open design, as it released the Galaxy Buds Live some years ago, while the newer Galaxy Buds 4 have an open-type, semi-in-ear profile as recent AirPods do.

Samsung has packed in a new high-efficiency Class D amplifier for punchy audio and stronger efficiency – to this end, the 9.5 hours of playback on a single charge is solid, with the charging case upping this to 38 hours.

For calls, the Galaxy Buds On have three mics and a voice pickup in it which detects vibrations – the two elements work together to cut out noise and isolate your voice, plus it incorporates algorithms which have been trained to cancel out ambient sounds such as construction noise and car horns.

Samsung has also included support for gesture controls, so you can nod or shake your head to accept or decline calls, and even dismiss notification readouts.

If you’ve got a Galaxy smartphone, you’ll be able to access Gemini Live, as well as Quick Voice Memo recordings among other things, and the buds will connect to your phone as soon as you open the case.

The Galaxy Buds On will launch in early November 2026 and will be priced at $229.

Up next: Apple responds to iPhone Duo crackgate: ‘we are aware of an issue’

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Reece Bithrey is a journalist with bylines for Trusted Reviews, Digital Foundry, PC Gamer, TechRadar and more. He also has his own blog, UNTITLED, and graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in International History and Politics in 2023.

• 😲 GTA 6 is set to be the biggest game Rockstar has ever made in terms of full size

• 📈 The standard edition for PS5’s size is set to be 210GB

• 😬 That’s a quarter of a PS5 Slim internal SSD’s capacity

• 🎮 It means it’ll be over double the size of both RDR 2 and PS5’s GTA 5 port

The file size for GTA 6 has been revealed, and if true, it could be a rather hefty title.

According to PlayStation Game Size on X (via GameSpot), the $80 standard edition of GTA 6 will reportedly take up 210GB of storage on PS5.

• Walmart: GTA 6 - $79.99

• Best Buy - GTA 6 - $79.99

• GameStop: GTA 6 - $79.99

• Amazon: GTA 6 - $79.99

• Target: GTA 6 - $79.99

• PlayStation Store: GTA 6 - $79.99

That works out to approximately a quarter of the usable capacity inside a PS5 Slim – and, if you’re on an original PS5 with the 825GB SSD (666GB of which is usable), then you’re looking at nearly a third of your capacity being taken up by one game.

We don’t know how big the $100 Ultimate Edition is, which includes even more content than the standard game, nor how large the Xbox Series X|S version of GTA 6 is going to be.

For some good news, you’ll at least be able to preload GTA 6 on November 12, giving you a week to move some games around or uninstall them so you can fit Rockstar’s newest title on your SSD.

For reference, if this file size is true, it’s double the size of Red Dead Redemption 2, and between two and three times as large as GTA 5 Expanded and Enhanced on PS5.

It’s for good reason, though, as the GTA 6 map is three times the size of Red Dead Redemption 2’s, and Rockstar has packed the title with all sorts of fine details not even the executives know about just yet.

GTA 6 launches in just under a month, releasing on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

It seems like we also won’t have to wait too long for a PC port, as it could come in early 2027 according to reports.

The PC release could coincide with GTA 6 Online launching, which Twitch CEO Dan Clancy believes will also take place “next year”.

Up next: The next Grand Theft Auto won’t take 8 years to make: ‘we’re not going to rip it apart’

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Reece Bithrey is a journalist with bylines for Trusted Reviews, Digital Foundry, PC Gamer, TechRadar and more. He also has his own blog, UNTITLED, and graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in International History and Politics in 2023.

• 🎮 The Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2 releases tomorrow, October 29

• 🚨 Our Zelda Switch 2 restock tracker @mattswider on X will send out an alert as soon as stock appears

• 💰 It costs $519.99, $20 more than the standard console

• 👀 Walmart is the most likely to have a restock tomorrow, and we’re tracking all the other retailers

Walmart: Zelda Switch 2 console

Best Buy: Zelda Switch 2 console

GameStop: Zelda Switch 2 console

Target: Zelda Switch 2 console

Nintendo: Zelda Switch 2 console

We’re expecting to see a Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2 restock at Walmart tomorrow, as the special edition console officially launches. Despite being sold out for several weeks, and aside from a surprise restock at the Nintendo Store taking place on October 26 which we alerted our followers to, there hasn’t been many stock drops to get excited about.

However, that should change tomorrow, as Walmart is our pick to watch if you’re after the elusive console. The retailer historically reserves stock for launch day events, even if its pre-orders have sold out, and sometimes even offers next-day delivery with snacks – as we saw with the PS5 Pro.

As the largest retailer in the US, Walmart usually gets the most stock – and while Best Buy and Nintendo have announced in-store events on November 5 – Walmart could be piling up units for online orders.

Walmart tends to restock on Thursday and Friday mornings, so the timing also lines up with its usual pattern. Of course, we’ll be tracking every retailer for restocks, and will send out an alert as soon as stock appears.

Hopefully, Walmart will also offer the Zelda Switch 2 Pro Controller which, like the console, sold out fast. Like the Zelda Switch 2 console, the Pro Controller releases on October 29. Cancelled pre-orders and failed payments could free up more stock, and we’ll also be sending out alerts if we see the Zelda Pro Controller appear.

Why can trust our Zelda Switch 2 restock tracker

Our Zelda Switch 2 restock tracker is the best way to get hold of Nintendo’s special edition console. We’re constantly monitoring all the major retailers for any stock updates, and will send an alert on X to Matt Swider’s followers. Our followers were one of the first to hear about yesterday’s Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 restock before it sold out at the Nintendo Store.

Previously, we’ve helped over 400,000 people buy a PS5 when it was impossible to find during the pandemic, and we’ve continued to help our subscribers find items that quickly sold out or are remain in demand. The Shortcut followers were some of the first to secure the Switch 2 when it went on sale, and we’ve also helped countless others get consoles like the extremely limited PS5 30th anniversary edition.

Remember: you’ll receive a notification on X (if set to on) as soon as new Zelda Switch 2 stock arrives, thanks to our up-to-the-second US store inventory checks at the biggest retailers.

Up next: PS5 Pro restock: it’s available again, but you’re paying more than you should

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Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.

• 📅 The Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 releases on Thursday, October 27

• 🚨 Our Zelda Switch 2 restock tracker @mattswider on X will send out an alert when stock appears

• 😲 Nintendo Store held a surprise restock on October 26 and is holding a midnight launch event on November 5

• 🙏 Other retailers may be holding back stock for launch day, too

Walmart: Zelda Switch 2 console

Best Buy: Zelda Switch 2 console

GameStop: Zelda Switch 2 console

Target: Zelda Switch 2 console

Nintendo: Zelda Switch 2 console

We’re expecting to see a Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2 restock tomorrow at major retailers like Walmart, as the console and Pro Controller are set to launch. However, Nintendo has joined Best Buy in announcing a midnight launch event for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on November 5, where limited quantities of the special edition console will be available.

There is a catch, though. To attend the in-store event, which will be held on November 4 at Nintendo San Francisco and November 5 at Nintendo New York, a Warp Pipe Pass is required, which means capacity will be limited.

If you’re lucky enough to receive a Warp Pipe Pass (they’re currently fully booked), you’ll be able to purchase The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition console, Zelda 40th Anniversary Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller and display stand, the Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 Pro Controller on its own, and the Zelda 40th Anniversary carrying case and screen protector.

Purchases will be limited to one “per customer” and will be sold on a “first come, first served basis.”

Why you should follow our Zelda Switch 2 restock tracker

Obviously, many will be looking to receive the Zelda Switch 2 before November 5, and an instore event isn’t exactly ideal for many. That’s where our exclusive Zelda Switch 2 restock tracker comes in, as we’re providing up-to-the-second US store inventory checks. Those who follow Matt Swider on X and turn on notifications will be the first to know when new stock is live, as you can see in the post below.

We’re strongly expecting retailers like Walmart to have stock on launch day, especially as it’s the largest retailer in the US. Cancellations can also occur in the run up to release, meaning more stock is made available that was previously taken. Thursday and Friday mornings is also when Walmart tends to offer restocks online.

We’re predicting other retailers like Target, GameStop and Amazon will also get a new wave of consoles on launch day, and we’ll notify you if and when any Zelda Switch 2 restocks appear.

You can trust our restock tracker as we helped over 400,000 people buy Sony’s console when it was in and out of stock for two years. We’ve since made it our goal to help our subscribers purchase hard-to-find items. We’ve done the same with the PS5 30th anniversary edition and many more in-demand products.

Up next: Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 Pro Controller restock looks increasingly likely at Nintendo Store

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Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.

🏆 Review score: 4.5/5

🏅 Editor’s Choice Award

✅ Pros

• 🌈 More colorful and vibrant Colorsoft display than the original

• 📚 Color e-ink display brings front covers and comic books to life

• 🖍️ Highlighting in multiple colors for note-taking

• 🤏 Thinner, aluminum chassis

• 🎨 Color-matched front face plates

❌ Cons

• 🔅 Colorsoft display vibrancy is still no match for a real LCD screen

• 😶‍🌫️ Layers of coatings make the screen look hazy compared to the Kindle Paperwhite

• 🔵 Slight blue tinge on the e-reader display

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft – $289

Kindle Colorsoft Signature Ed. – $319

The Shortcut Review

The new Kindle Colorsoft (2026) is a categorical improvement on Amazon’s first color e-reader. Colors are rendered more vibrantly and beautifully, and paired with the Kindle Colorsoft’s sleeker aluminum chassis, this just became the best e-reader to buy and gift this holiday.

It costs a pretty penny at $319 for the Signature Edition or $289 for the standard version, $90 more than the $199 Kindle Paperwhite, but you get a nice bit of extra functionality with that color e-ink display.

One immediate benefit of the Kindle Colorsoft is seeing gorgeous cover art and magazines in soft color, plus enjoying comics in all their multicolored glory. The Colorsoft also lets you highlight lines of text in five different colors – one more than the previous model – making this Kindle even better for saving quotes.

Color in general is slightly improved on the new Kindle Colorsoft, appearing more saturated and vibrant. However, colors still look ultimately softer than you’ll see from a true LCD screen, including the Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro.

Lastly, the new Kindle Colorsoft is physically thinner and looks even nicer with the color-matched front display. Amazon said it revised its entire backlight to make this possible, and it lets you appreciate the new Fig color, now available on another Amazon e-reader besides the Kindle Scribe, for the first time. The aluminum chassis makes the Signature Edition a worthy $30 upgrade. It makes the Kindle Scribe feel much sturdier, and it also lets you use Amazon’s spiffy new magnetic cases and charger.

Should you buy the Kindle Colorsoft?

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft – $289

Kindle Colorsoft Signature Ed. – $319

✅ Yes, if…

• 🦸🏻‍♂️ You own magazines and comics from Amazon’s Kindle store

• 🖍 You want the ability to highlight text in different colors

❌ No, if…

• 📖 You read strictly books (get the Kindle Paperwhite instead)

• 💸 Your e-reader budget caps out at $200 or even $100 (get the 6-inch Kindle instead)

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Kevin Lee is The Shortcut’s Creative Director. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam

• 📗 Amazon introduces a larger $499 Echo Show 16 with a Nanomatte display and Dolby Atmos surround sound

• 🕗 $199 Echo Time is Amazon’s first smart clock with ultrasonic sensors and smart home pairing

• 🔊 $99 Echo Dot improves sound quality and voice pickup with more smart home hub capability and a 1,000ft Wi-Fi extender

• 📺 $219 Echo Studio is Amazon’s first home-theater-grade smart home speaker

• 📹 $249 Echo Studio with Home Camera adds video calling, home monitoring, and visual intelligence features

• 🖼️ $199 Alexa Photo Frame is a smart 10-inch photo frame you can personalize as a gift

• 🏷️ Amazon Echo Time, Echo Dot, Echo Studio, and Alexa Photo Frame are all available to order now

• 📅 Amazon Echo Show 16 will release later this year

Amazon is ending a month of new products by putting the smackdown on the Apple HomeView with its own 16-inch smart home screen, the Amazon Echo Show 16.

That large 16-inch screen gives the Echo Show 16 more than double the screen real estate to the Apple HomeView’s 7.7-inch display. It puts that display to good use, offering a full Fire TV experience with its 16:9 aspect ratio for Prime Video, HBO Max, Peacock, YouTube, and more streaming apps. It also features eight custom micro woofers and two tweeters that deliver an impressively loud, cinematic sound experience.

The Echo Show 16 also features the same Nanomatte display option as the Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro. Having used this display on Amazon’s tablet, you can expect glare-free viewing even in direct sunlight or under bright spotlights. Unlike matte coatings, Nanomatte uses a pixel-aligned texture that maintains black levels, so you don’t get a washed-out image on the Echo Show 16.

The Echo Show 16 also features a new custom processor with 20% more computing power, which for me translated into a smooth tapping and swiping experience. Amazon debuted its new Neo user interface that, in a word, feels bouncy. Elements smoothly shrank and expanded as I swiped left to right through Alexa+ answers to my AI questions. You can ask Alexa+ to help you do anything from scoping out your vacation to making meal plans for the week, or simply researching Halloween costume ideas, and it saves everything into a history of cards you can dive back into.

The Amazon Echo Show 16 is available for preorder starting at $499 – $569 for the Nanomatte display upgrade – and will begin shipping later this year. It can be either wall-mounted or put on a stand for $69. There’s also an adjustable swivel-and-tilt stand for $124.99.

Amazon Echo Time

Amazon also announced another Echo device with a screen in the new Echo Time. It’s quite literally an Echo Dot with a clock face, and we love that simplicity. You can still ask it questions and have it perform AI tasks through Alexa+ and use it as a radio, but the Echo Time primarily functions as a clock.

To that end, you can link the Echo Time to a smart light and have it gently turn on as your wake-up alarm approaches. Alternatively, the Echo Time can use its ultrasound sensors to detect when you’re in a lighter sleep stage and wake you up earlier so you feel less tired.

Echo Time is available today for $199.99 and comes in Graphite, Glacier White, and Coral Pink, and you can buy a color-matched adjustable stand for $39. The Amazon Kids Echo Time comes in two distinct designs – Galactic Grape and Cosmic Lime – starting at $209.99 with a one-year Kids+ subscription included.

Amazon Echo Dot

Amazon has also upgraded its most basic smart speaker, the Echo Dot. This new 2026 model features a vastly upgraded AZ3 processor, which allows it to act as a smart home hub with support for Zigbee, Matter, and Thread. At the same time, it functions as an eero Wi-Fi Extender to give you an extra 1,000 feet of coverage.

For sound, the new Echo Dot also adds a full-range driver that delivers more back volume for crisp vocals and 50% more bass than the last-generation model. It also adds a fourth microphone, letting the Echo Dot hear you better when you call for Alexa+ from another room.

The $99 Echo Dot is available today in Graphite, Glacier White, Agave Green, and Coral Pink. There are also two versions of the Amazon Kids Echo Dot, Octopus and Penguin, that start at a slightly higher $109.99.

Amazon Echo Studio

The Amazon Echo Studio has also grown up from just being a better-sounding Echo Dot to being a fully blown home entertainment speaker. Amazon’s Panos Panay demoed how a trio of these speakers could create a Dolby Atmos surround sound experience that tunes itself to the room’s acoustics using Advanced Room Adaptation. It’s all thanks to the new Echo Studio’s arrangement of three full-range drivers.

There’s also a new Echo Studio with Home Camera model that can be used for video calls and visual intelligence. For instance, you could hold up a board game and ask Alexa+ to explain the rules. Alternatively, you could have Alexa monitor your home and check if the dog is okay or if you left the room lights on.

The Echo Studio is available now for $219, and the Echo Studio with Home Camera is priced at a slightly higher $249.99.

Amazon Alexa Photo Frame

Lastly, Amazon has introduced possibly the best holiday gift, the Alexa Photo Frame. As the name suggests, it’s an Alexa-powered 10-inch digital photo frame. It includes an Alexa microphone and speaker, so you can ask Alexa to bring up photos specifically of family members or a particular vacation.

Amazon is also making the gifting process of the Alexa Photo Frame more personal by allowing users to upload a few photos and add a voice note for their recipient to hear as soon as it turns on.

The Alexa Photo Frame is available starting at $199 in Black, and $229 in real Birch or Walnut wood frames.

What’s possibly even better than the new Alexa Photo Frame is that Amazon is launching Amazon Photos, which gives anyone who signs up unlimited photo storage space for free.

• Up next: Apple HomeView announced: new Siri AI hub for your smart home

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Kevin Lee is The Shortcut’s Creative Director. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam

• 🆕 ModRetro has added two rare games, ClayFighter: Sculptor’s Cut and Body Harvest, to the M64 library

• 💰 ClayFighter: Sculptor’s Cut is a rare Blockbuster exclusive with loose copies valued around $1,500

• 🔞 Body Harvest was originally delayed by Nintendo due to its mature themes

• 👏 Both games cost $49.99 each and are also compatible with original N64 hardware

ModRetro: Clay Fighters

ModRetro: Body Harvest

ModRetro: M64

GameStop: Smoke ModRetro M64

ModRetro has expanded the M64’s library of games with two new titles, each of which will appeal to collectors and retro gaming fans.

ClayFighter: Sculptor’s Cut is arguably the pick of the bunch. The fighting game was originally released as a Blockbuster exclusive, making copies extremely hard to find.

According to ModRetro’s founder Palmer Lucky, loose copies of the game typically go for $1,500, while sealed copies can fetch as much as $175,000.

Body Harvest is also a fantastic addition for ModRetro M64 owners. It was originally intended to be an N64 launch title but was pushed back by Nintendo over concerns about the game’s mature and violent themes. Released in 1998, it was developed by DMA Design, the visionary creators who would go on to develop Grand Theft Auto III.

The re-releases of ClayFighter and Body Harvest will also work on the original N64 if you don’t own ModRetro’s modernized take on Nintendo’s classic console. Each title costs $49.99 and joins the releases of Buck Bumble, Xeno Crisis, Extreme G: Turbo Fusion and XIBALBA 64.

ModRetro has promised that more N64 games are on the way – including brand-new titles. The company recently released the ModRetro Chromatic Transparent, a more affordable version of its excellent Game Boy/Game Boy Color handheld.

Up next: Commodore is back: the C64C Ultimate begins shipping to customers worldwide

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Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.