Broadcom will be using SK Hynix's HBM in its custom AI chips to aid those looking for an Nvidia-free AI future.

You now need 7GB free on any Apple device you want to install Apple Intelligence on.

You have likely seen multiple ads for products and services designed to make you more secure online. When you turn on your television, see online ads, or even when you get in-app notifications, you are likely to encounter cybersecurity technology marketed as the ultimate solution and the last line of defense against digital threats.Cybersecurity is big business, and tech companies often sell their products based on fear. These campaigns are often rooted in what I call the technology vs. user cycle, a feedback loop that creates more problems than it solves.It works like this: Cybersecurity companies often market their products using tactics that emphasize fear (Hackers are coming for your data!), blame (Its your fault if something happens!) and complexity (Only our advanced solution can protect you). They perpetuate the idea that users are inherently not savvy enough to manage security independently and that the solution is to adopt the latest product or service.As a cybersecurity researcher, I find that this approach often has unintended, harmful consequences for people. Rather than feeling empowered, users feel helpless, convinced that cybersecurity is beyond their understanding. They may even develop techno-stress, overwhelmed by the need to keep up with constant updates, new tools and never-ending warnings about threats.Over time, this can breed apathy and resentment. Users might disengage, believing that no matter what they do, theyll always be at risk. Ironically, this mindset makes them more vulnerable as they begin to overlook simple, practical steps they could take to protect themselves.The cycle is self-perpetuating. As users feel less secure, they are more likely to demand new technology to solve their problem, further fueling the very marketing tactics that created their insecurity in the first place. Security providers, in turn, double down on promises of fix-all solutions, reinforcing the narrative that people cant manage security without their products.Ironically, as people grow dependent on security products, they can become less secure. They start ignoring basic practices, become apathetic to constant warnings, and put blind trust in solutions they dont understand.The result is users remain stuck in a loop where they depend on technology but lack the confidence to use it safely, creating even more opportunities for people with malicious intent to exploit them.Cybercrime evolutionIve worked in cybersecurity since the early 1990s and witnessed the field evolve over the decades. Ive seen how adversaries adapt to new defenses and exploit peoples growing reliance on the internet. Two key shifts, in particular, stand out as pivotal moments in the evolution of cybercrime.The first shift came with the realization that cybercrime could be immensely profitable. As society moved from paper checks and cash transactions to digital payments, criminals found that accessing and stealing money electronically was relatively easy. This transition to digital finance created opportunities for criminals to scale up their attacks, bypassing physical barriers and targeting the systems that underpin modern payment methods.The second shift emerged over a decade ago as criminals targeted individuals directly rather than just going after businesses or governments. While attacks on companies, ransomware campaigns and critical infrastructure breaches still make headlines, there has also been a rise in attacks on everyday users. Cybercriminals have learned that people are often less prepared and more trusting than organizations, and so present lucrative opportunities.This combination of digital financial systems and direct user targeting has redefined cybersecurity. Its no longer just about protecting companies or critical infrastructure; its about ensuring the average person isnt left defenseless. Yet, how cybersecurity technology is marketed and deployed often leaves users confused and feeling helpless.User empowermentThe good news is that you have more power than you think. Cybersecurity doesnt have to feel like an unsolvable puzzle or a job for experts alone. Instead of letting fear drive you into techno-stress or apathy, you can take matters into your own hands by leaning on trusted sources like community organizations, local libraries and tech-savvy friends.These trusted voices can simplify the jargon, provide straightforward advice and help you make informed decisions. Imagine a world where you dont have to rely on faceless companies for help but instead turn to a network of people who genuinely want to see you succeed.I believe that cybersecurity vendors should offer tools and education that are inclusive, accessible and centered on real user needs. At the same time, people should actively engage with community-driven initiatives, adopt thoughtful security practices and rely on trusted resources for guidance. People feel more confident and capable when they surround themselves with people willing to teach and support them. Users can then adopt technology thoughtfully rather than rushing to buy every new product out of fear or disengaging completely.This community-based approach goes beyond individual fixes. It creates a culture of shared responsibility and empowerment and helps create a more secure and resilient digital ecosystem.ResourcesKnowing where to find reliable information and support is essential to take control of your cybersecurity and start building your confidence. The following resource list includes trusted organizations, community programs and educational tools that can help you better understand cybersecurity, protect yourself against threats and even connect with local experts or peers for guidance.Whether youre looking to secure your devices, learn how to spot scams or stay informed about the latest digital threats, these resources are a great place to begin. Empowerment starts with taking that first step toward understanding your digital world.The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has excellent resources to help you understand security.The Federal Trade Commission has resources on consumer safety and privacy.The Cyber House Rock website provides fun videos to help you understand security and privacy.To report a cyber incident, you can go to the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center.Doug Jacobson is a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Iowa State University.This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with an upgraded M4 Pro chip and 1TB of storage is on sale for $2,179, delivering a $220 price cut off MSRP.Save $220 on this 1TB 14-inch MacBook Pro.The $2,179 price is valid on the M4 Pro spec featuring a 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU, which is an upgrade from the standard 12C CPU/16C GPU chip found in the M4 Pro line. The laptop also comes with 24GB of unified memory and a bump up to 1TB of storage, making it a well-equipped model that normally retails for $2,399.Save $220 at Amazon Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Sleep tech runs the gamut from trackers and apps to expensive smart beds, but it doesnt all address the same issues. Are you trying to see how your sleep impacts your athletic performance? Hoping to mask the sound of a snoring partner? Ive tested all sorts of sleep tech and can point you toward the right gadget for your sleep goal.One question to ask yourself is how well a device fits your lifestyle. If you want to monitor your trends, the Oura Ring and Whoop 4.0 have some of the most in-depth sleep and recovery tracking around. But these are devices with a singular focus. Busy folks might want something thats also useful during the day. Smartwatches like the Pixel Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, or Apple Watch will get you more utility for the price. On the other hand,Withings Sleep or the Google Nest Hub. And if youre looking for earbuds to drown out noise,Ozlo Sleepbuds now. What were looking forPerformance A good sleep tech gadget doesnt try to do too much at once. It ought to be excellent at addressing the main issue its trying to solve. The rest is gravy.Value Sleep tech can be expensive. If youre going to shell out, the gadget should make you think Hell freakin yeah, this was totally worth it!ComfortYou cant sleep well if youre not comfy. Good sleep tech shouldnt disturb your sleep. Is a tracker too bulky to be useful? Does a smart mattress cover feel lumpy? ContextData is useless without context. If its a sleep tracker, how well does it present your sleep data? Will you learn anything valuable, or is it a mess of graphs that dont make sense?Battery LifeA sleep gadget that cant last through the night aint that helpful. You should be confident the device can last a whole night without dying. If its also a fitness gadget or wearable, it should be able to either last all day between charges or support fast charging so it doesnt run out midday. Sleep tech has come a long way in just a few short years, but these arent medical devices, so take their sleep tracking data with a grain of salt. Gadgets like the Withings ScanWatch, Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 / Ultra, and Apple Watch Series 10 / Ultra 2 have FDA clearance for monitoring sleep disturbances. That doesnt mean they can definitively diagnose you with sleep apnea. No matter how advanced the sensors are, or how many features a product may boast, trackers are meant to help spot when somethings off. Nothing more.Taking all that into consideration, Ive compiled these recommendations based on how well a sleep gadget addresses the problems its trying to fix. We also considered comfort, accuracy, battery life, and whether it provides good context for its data.The best sleep trackerOura Ring 4$349The new Oura Ring 4 now has a new, more accurate Smart Sensing algorithm and recessed sensors for improved comfort.The $349 Oura Ring 4 isnt a fitness tracker that happens to track sleep. Its a sleep tracker that happens to track some fitness metrics. The ring has seven temperature sensors, a green LED sensor for measuring heart rate, and red and infrared LEDs to measure blood oxygen. Thats not including the battery or accelerometers.All these sensors provide a holistic look at your recovery. Each morning, youre given a report on your readiness, sleep quality, and activity goals for the day. These reports tell you how your sleep impacts your daily ability to take on stress,and whether you should take it easy or challenge yourself. The app also includes wellness features like guided meditations and white noise to help you fall asleep.Oura recently released its fourth-gen model, and over the past year has released several new features like cardiovascular age and capacity, an AI-powered chatbot advisor, daytime stress and resilience. If you use the Natural Cycles app for digital birth control or fertility planning, it can be used in lieu of a basal body thermometer as well. The Oura Ring 4 has an improved algorithm and recessed sensors. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The VergeOf all the sleep gadgets Ive tested, the Oura Ring has the best context for its data, which it presents in an intuitive way. Its version of blood oxygen monitoring is also preferable to the random spot checks found on devices like the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch 7. Instead, the Oura Ring passively monitors your blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels during sleep and encourages you to check your baseline over a long period of time. Its not exciting, but its a more useful measure for the average person. The Oura is also one of the few devices to include a recovery mode. If youre sick or injured, you can hit pause on your activity goals until youre back to full health.But the main appeal here is the form factor: A ring is infinitely more comfortable than a watch. And although its not the most fashionable, its nondescript enough to wear to any event. Plus, you get up to a week on a single charge. The only thing I dont love is that it now comes with a $6 monthly subscription. You can at least save a bit on the hardware if you opt for the last-gen Oura Ring while supplies last. However, if youre truly passionate about monitoring your sleep and willing to commit long-term, its well worth the price.Read my review of the Oura Ring 4.The best smartwatch with sleep trackingGoogle Pixel Watch 3 (45mm, Wi-Fi)$350$40013% off$350$350$40013% offThe 45mm version is identical to the 41mm model, but its display is even bigger than its predecessor. Like its 41mm sibling, it also features more advanced running capabilities, adds offline Google Maps functionality, and offers deeper integration with other Google devices.The $349.99 Google Pixel Watch 3 has come a long way since the original Pixel Watch launched. For sleep tracking, the most important improvements since launch are better battery life and an automatic Bedtime Mode that detects when youve fallen asleep. On the data side, the Pixel Watch also benefits from being a Fitbit smartwatch. Fitbit might be floundering a bit these days, but it was early to sleep tracking and it shows. Of course, you get sleep stages, but you can also view how your sleep compares to other people of your age and sex. Like the Oura Ring, it eschews SpO2 spot checks for passive overnight tracking (via the Estimated Oxygen Variation metric) and also provides a Daily Readiness Score based on your long-term activity and sleep quality. Since launch, Google also added nightly SpO2 percentagesSleep Profile feature to the Pixel Watch. After 14 days of sleep data in a month, the following month youll be assigned a cute sleep animal based on your sleep habits. The idea is to help you better understand your circadian rhythms and how it impacts sleep.The Pixel Watch 3 also now comes in two sizes. This is the larger 45mm. Image: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The VergeCompared to the Oura Ring, youre going to get better exercise-tracking capabilities with the Pixel Watchs built-in GPS. Although Oura has beefed up its exercise tracking, its still barebones. And the Pixel Watch is handier in day-to-day life because you can set silent alarms, use it for contactless payments, and receive notifications. It also supports Google Assistant.If youre a Samsung user, you might want to consider a combo of a Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 or Galaxy Watch Ultra and the Galaxy Ring. Together, they let you mitigate the watchs not-so-great battery and rely instead on the Ring to get your sleep data more comfortably. Admittedly, this is an expensive route. Samsungs accuracy isnt quite as good as Fitbits, but the companys fleshed out its advanced sleep features. It too has a sleep profile feature thats similar to Fitbits, though it arguably has a better selection of cartoon animals. (Samsungs sleep coach said I was a cautious deer but spiritually, I identify as a nervous penguin.) Another point in Samsungs favor? Its been continually improving its sleep tracking. Galaxy Watch users can now view sleep stats in more detail from the wrist. The new software will also introduce a tweaked Sleep Mode, which utilizes the invisible infrared sensor for tracking instead of the visible green LED sensor. Earlier this year, Samsung also added FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection, but youll need a Samsung phone to use that feature.Galaxy Watch 7 (40mm, Bluetooth)$239$30020% off$239$239$30020% offThe Galaxy Watch 7 adds a faster processor and a new 3-in-1 BioActive sensor. Its an iterative update, but its more comfortable for sleep tracking than the Galaxy Watch Ultra. Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS)$329$39918% off$329$329$39918% offThe Apple Watch Series 10 has a larger, wide-angle OLED display with up to 30 percent more screen area. Its also thinner and lighter than its predecessors.Neither of these two Android-only watches is an option for iPhone users, of course. If you refuse the green bubble life, the Apple Watch is the best smartwatch overall but its native sleep-tracking features have a long way to go. If youre set on having an Apple Watch, theyll get you the basics, plus FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection with the Series 10 and Ultra 2, and you can set sleep schedules that sync with your phones Focus modes. However, if you want great sleep tracking and are dead set on an Apple Watch, youre better off downloading a third-party sleep app or getting one of the other options in this buying guide.Read my review of the Google Pixel Watch 3.The best sleep tracker for athletesWhoop 4.0 (with 12-month subscription)$239This distraction-free recovery tracker helps you monitor your sleep quality and cardiovascular strain. The hardware is free, but it costs $30 per month.As far as recovery goes, no sleep tech gadget goes the extra mile for athletes quite like Whoop. It primarily tracks your bodys ability to take on cardiovascular strain, but its take on sleep is unique. Instead of focusing on sleep quality, it zeroes in on your sleep debt and whether the sleep youre getting is enough to fuel your training.If youre into scrutinizing how certain factors impact your sleep, Whoop is far ahead of the competition. You can log how anything from the COVID-19 vaccine to magnesium supplements affects your sleep. Its not a necessary feature, but its a bonus if sleep journaling is important to you.Unlike with most modern wearables, youll get next to nothing in the way of notifications or smart features. However, that also means its got good battery life. The Whoop 4.0 also comes with a portable battery pack that slides onto the tracker itself. The result is you can go several days without ever having to take the tracker off. Whoop also gives you flexible options for wearing the device. For example, you can opt to wear it on your bicep, in your leggings, or even in a sports bra.The Whoop 4.0 tracks sleep with a strong focus on athletic performance. Photo by Victoria Song / The VergeThat said, this is a niche product best suited for athletes who engage in intensive cardio sports. (Its not the best at tracking strain from activities like strength training.) The device costs nothing, but the $30 monthly subscription is steep. Whoop recently discounted its prices for annual and 24-month memberships, but if youre a casual athlete, your money is still better spent elsewhere. But if you are someone whos always training for an event or prone to overtraining, the Whoop 4.0 can get you that extra edge.If this option is too pricey or a minimum 12-month membership isnt appealing then you may want to consider a Garmin tracker or smartwatch. Like Whoop, youll get long battery life coupled with robust training features that factor in your sleep quality when determining your recovery. Garmin doesnt have the best sleep stage accuracy, but the fitness insights make up for it. Especially if your real goal in improving sleep is to enhance athletic performance. There are dozens of Garmins to pick from, but if youre on a budget, we really like the $179.99 Vivomove Sport or the $249.99 Venu Sq 2. The $449.99 Forerunner 265S is also another excellent midrange option for runners or triathletes. Read my review of the Whoop 4.0.The best budget sleep trackerWithings Sleep$100$13023% off$100$100$13023% offA non-invasive sleep tracker that you can slip under your mattress. It generates in-depth sleep reports that you can share with your doctor.If you dont want to wear any gadgets to bed, the $129.95 Withings Sleep is a good, affordable option. Its a long, rectangular mat with sensors and a fabric covering that you slip under your mattress. The sleep tracking was wonky when this product was first launched as the Nokia Sleep, but has since been improved. In addition to your heart rate and sleep cycles, it also tracks snoring and breathing disturbances. Its also not battery-operated, so you dont have to worry about charging the device every day.The Withings Sleep now generates detailed sleep diaries you can share with your doctor Photo by Victoria Song / The VergeThe Withings Sleep is also one of the best options if youre trying to suss out long-term sleeping patterns. Within the Withings app, you can generate an automatic, comprehensive sleep diary that helps break down important trends and visualize your metrics. That report can then be exported as a PDF that you share with your doctor.The Withings Sleep isnt particularly fancy, but it punches above its weight. While were bummed that Withings recently raised the price by $30, this is something you often see on sale during holidays. Withings also offers a bundle in case you need a second one for your sleep partner.Read my review of the Withings Sleep.The best temperature-regulating sleep techEight Sleep Pod 4 Ultra$4599$46992% off$4599$4599$46992% offThe Eight Sleep Pod 4 Ultra allows you to control the temperature of each side of the bed. The Ultra also adds a tech base that can change the beds elevation. Cat not included.$4599 at Eight SleepFor folks who run hot or cold, the Eight Sleep Pod 4 (starting at $2,649) is an effective albeit ludicrously expensive way to stop fighting over the blankets. The cover zips over your own mattress and comes with a water pump that regulates temperature on both sides of the bed. You can manually set your temperature schedules, or Eight Sleep has an autopilot function that adjusts the temperature of your bed for you. It plugs into an outlet, so theres also no need to worry about battery life unless theres a blackout. The new Pod 4 also gives you the option to go Ultra and add a new tech base for an extra $2,000. The base lets you change your beds elevation and slots directly into your existing bedframe. (And if you snore, it can automatically adjust as you sleep to reduce said snoring.) But like I said, this is a pricey option. On top of buying the thing, theres also a $17 monthly membership. Theres a more expensive membership option at $25, but the main difference is an extended warranty.If you get the base with the Ultra, you can switch up your beds elevation too. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The VergeTheres also a silent alarm that vibrates to wake up one partner without disturbing the other. The cover itself has sensors for sleep tracking, though thats not its primary focus. The app gives good context as to what your sleep data means, though its better for monitoring sleep consistency and habits than sleep quality or recovery.Another solid addition to the Pod 4 is the tap zone, which lets you quickly control the temperature, dismiss alarms, and change the beds elevation without needing your phone. Ultimately, this is a big investment and if elevation doesnt tickle your fancy, then only getting the Pod 4 Cover can save you a lot of money. Or, if youre like me, you can just scream YOLO and commit to spending big for a really good nights sleep.Read my review of the Eight Sleep Pod 4 Ultra.The best sunrise lamp / smart alarm clockHatch Restore 2$170The Hatch Restore 2 is a smart alarm clock that doubles as a sunrise lamp. It also has a number of white noise sounds and audio content to help you build morning and nighttime routines.The $169.99 Hatch Restore 2 is a viral TikTok sensation for a reason. Not only is this an aesthetically pleasing sunrise lamp for your nightstand, but it also doubles as a smart alarm clock and white noise machine. Normally, Im wary of multi-tasking gadgets, but the Restore 2 blends all three in a natural, intuitive way.The point of a sunrise lamp is to wake you up gradually with the light of a simulated sunrise. With the Restore 2, you can pick from the whole rainbow of colors, as well as preprogrammed sunrise and sunset palettes. Everyones sensitivity to light is different, but the Hatch Restore 2s linen covering makes for a gentle experience without sacrificing brightness. There are audible alarms as well, but theyre more peaceful than a blaring siren. For example, you can choose from nature sounds or retro lo-fi beats. I also like that there are tactile buttons, which makes it easy to roll over and turn off the alarm (or hit snooze) without having to actually look at the thing.The Hatch Restore 2 gives off gentle, diffused light thanks to the linen covering, but its still bright enough to wake you up. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The VergeBut the best part of the Restore 2 is that it can help you build morning and nighttime routines. Theres original content that ranges from meditations, positive affirmations, white noise (and pink / brown noise), as well as sleep stories. The only rub is that to get full access to the content library, you need to pay a $49.99 yearly or $4.99 monthly subscription. On the flip side, you dont need a subscription if all you want are sunrise alarms and sleep sounds. The subscription mostly gets you access to sunset simulations and morning moments, which are Hatchs inspirational audio content designed to kick off your day. Read my review of the Hatch Restore 2.The best sleep earbudsAnker Soundcore Sleep A20$150Sleep buds that allow you to play Bluetooth audio and white noise as well as track your sleep.The Bose Sleepbuds had a devoted following so it was upsetting when the company pulled the plug on them a few years ago. But if you liked those, Ankers Soundcore Sleep A20 are a good alternative.Like the Bose, they have a design that sits more flush with your ear than a regular AirPod. That makes it ideal for side sleepers, though it might take some getting used to at first. But one thing these buds have over Bose is you get to play your own content via Bluetooth. Ankers app also allows you to play sounds from a white noise library as well as track certain sleep metrics like how often you toss and turn. Plus, you can set alarms, set audio to fade out after a certain period, or have it automatically shut off as you fall asleep. Battery life is also pretty good at around 14 hours. The Soundcore Sleep A20 let you play your own Bluetooth audio perfect if you want to fall asleep to podcasts. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The VergeJust keep in mind that these dont have active noise canceling. (Which is why they can last 14 hours.) They can passively dampen sound simply by sitting in your ear, but theyre not going to completely block out snoring or noisy neighbors unless you have media playing. The A10 buds are quite similar but have slightly less battery life at 10 hours.But if youd really rather the Bose Sleepbuds good news! Theyve been resurrected as the Ozlo Sleepbuds and are virtually the same product in every way with one key improvement: you can now play your own audio! Sometime in early 2025, Ozlo says they intend to add sleep tracking as well. The downside is that at $299, theyre double the price of the Soundcore A20s.Read our review of the Anker Soundcore Sleep A20.Update, January 4th: Updated pricing and availability for 2025.

The Twelve South AirFly SE is one of those gadgets that can make long flights go by just a little faster, allowing you to eschew the shoddy pair of complimentary earbuds you get with most airlines in favor of your own set of Bluetooth cans. And right now, its on sale at Amazon and Best Buy for $29.99 ($5 off), which is a new all-time low.RelatedTwelve Souths entry-level Bluetooth transmitter features an integrated 3.5mm cable, meaning all you need to do is plug it into the seatback entertainment system and pair it with your favorite pair of wireless earbuds or noise-canceling headphones. It doesnt last as long as the step-up AirFly Pro and Pro Deluxe nor does it allow for two simultaneous connections but it still lets a single user eke out 20 hours of continuous playback on a single charge. Plus, it works with virtually any standard audio jack, making the compact dongle an easy way to add Bluetooth connectivity to older devices... including that aging treadmill at the gym thats always tuned to CNN, SportsCenter, or reruns of Friends.Twelve South AirFly SE$30$3514% off$30$30$3514% offTwelve Souths base Bluetooth transmitter provides up to 20 hours of continuous use, rendering it a great travel companion regardless of where youre going.Other ways to save this weekendLike clockwork, eBay has kicked off its annual New Years promo, letting you save 20 percent on gaming consoles, 4K OLED TVs, and other items with coupon code NEWYEAR20. Highlights include iRobots Roomba j7 Plus and Sonys WH-1000XM5 headphones, the latter of which are on sale via BuyDig for $238.80 (about $111 off) through January 5th. Personally, I prefer their tighter sound over the XM4, though I do wish they still folded down like the last-gen model for easy transport. Read our review.Hotos sleek Hand Tool Set has fallen to just $39.99 ($30 off) at Amazon, its lowest price to date. The portable kit is a great example of why a reader once emailed us to call Hoto the Apple of tools. Each component, from the claw hammer and self-locking measuring tape to the included steel bits, dons a handsome aesthetic and excellent build quality, making it a great addition to any household in need of some basic tools for small repairs.It seems everyone has high hopes of getting fit in the new year, though I doubt most people are thinking about putting together a proper recovery regimen. Thankfully, if youre looking for an easier way to soothe various aches and pains, the second-gen Theragun Mini is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and direct from Theragun for $149 ($50 off). Thats an excellent discount on the portable massage gun, which offers three speeds, USB-C charging, and a several attachments for a more personalized touch.

The first two episodes of Solo Leveling season 2 are now streaming on Crunchyroll.Much like the video games it emulates, the anime series Solo Leveling often forces its protagonist to tediously grind away in order to gain experience and level up a gift unique to Sung Jinwoo in this universe of invading monsters and the magical hunters who keep them at bay. But when that repetition is followed by a big, hyper-intense, and awesome fight, it justifies the whole thing. This is a show thats practically criticism-proof: Just when it seems like Solo Leveling is wasting the audience's time with a subplot that goes nowhere or with side characters that threaten to steal our attention away from Jinwoo's feats of strength, it throws a dozen visually stunning, jaw-dropping things at the screen. Theres not much substance to Solo Leveling beyond its thrilling fights, but the beginning of season 2 is still an exhilarating, fist-pump-worthy good time.Thanks to the flashyThese two episodes see Jinwoo continue his journey toward antiheroism (and at times full-on villainy). They even raise some interesting questions about the corrupting nature of Jinwoo's powers and make some hints that hes becoming more like the monsters he fights in the dungeons. Yet all that is quickly brushed aside in favor of developments like the arrival of vicious killer Hwang Dung-soo, whos looking for Jinwoo in order to avenge the death of his brother. Hed be an intimidating presence if Solo Leveling had any sense of stakes, but we all know theres zero chance of this guy actually posing a threat to Jinwoo.We also get more of the White Tiger Guild leader's interest in Jinwoo and whether or not he has reawakened, an interesting mystery with some potentially huge consequences for the larger world of Solo Leveling. But that storyline is moving at a snail's pace and its kind of hard to remember that people discovering Jinwoos stupidly huge increase in power is meant to be important. And, of course, there's the mystery of the program that allows Jinwoo to level up, the most compelling story of the show, but thats another pot that seems to be simmering in the background. What we said about Solo Leveling Season 1"The first season of Solo Leveling brings gaming mechanics to animation, with a thrilling power fantasy that understands the tediousness of experience farming, the fun of gaining a new level and skill points, and the thrills of facing down a boss. Thanks to dazzling visuals, a killer soundtrack, and interesting world-building that explores how the emergence of magic and monsters would reshape our modern world, this is the start of a great anime." Rafael MotamayorScore: 8Read the complete Solo Leveling Season 1 Review.So there is more to Solo Leveling than the action, but in the early stages of season 2, the show seems uninterested in paying attention to anything other than Jinwoo's accomplishments in combat. Once these storylines move along, perhaps the anime will gain some actual substance. But for now, it doesn't matter. Everything is secondary to the intensity of the fight scenes and the tremendous number of "hell yeahs" they elicit.And you know what? It works. This is not a show I watch for complex characterizations, nuanced discussions of morality, intricate world-building, or even memorable characters. I keep up with Solo Leveling for the same reason I watch gamers pull incredible acts of badassery in Elden Ring or play a game using every cheat code and mod available. That's where Solo Leveling becomes a distinctively thrilling viewing experience.Solo Leveling Season 2 Premiere Gallery

If you've been considering a phone upgrade and are after a solid Android phone then a Google Pixel smartphone is well worth the investment. While the Google Pixel 7 Pro isn't the newest model in the Google Pixel lineup, it's a still a fabulous phone and right now, it's having a massive price cut. It first retailed for well over $1,000 when it was the latest and greatest, and the 512GB model is currently down to $400 at Woot. Available in three different colors -- hazel, obsidian and snow -- that's a huge $700, 64% discount. Plus, because Woot is an Amazon subsidiary, Amazon Prime members get free standard shipping. See at WootThe Pixel 7 Pro is a great option for Android fans shopping on a budget or seeking a cheaper phone for a young family member. This 5G phone has a 6.7-inch OLED screen and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. It also runs on a powerful Google Tensor G2 chip, which still delivers top-notch performance.Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.As for photos and videos, there's have a lot to work with -- the Pixel 7 Pro has a 50-megapixel wide camera, along with a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 48-megapixel telephoto lens and a 10.8-megapixel front-facing camera. Plus, there are plenty of features for editing, including Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Real Tone and more.Why this deal matters Though no longer the flagship Google Pixel phone, this phone won the CNET Editors' Choice Award in the year of its release. At a massive $700 discount, it's a great option for a phone with a lot of bells and whistles at a much more affordable price of $400. If you're interested in seeing what discounts you can score on other popular phone brands, be sure to check out our roundup of the best phone deals currently available. More shopping deals from CNET CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on theCNET Deals page, and sign up for theCNET Deals Textto get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Add the freeCNET Shopping extensionto your browser for real-time price comparisons and cash-back offers. And peruse ourgift guide, which includes a full range of ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and more. See at CNET

I'm sitting at a restaurant with a few pals, enjoying dim sum, when a friend asks whether he should upgrade to the iPhone 16. I ask him which iPhone he has. My friend ponders aloud, "The iPhone 14? Or is it the 13? I don't know; they all look the same." He then pulls out his phone, an iPhone 12, and hands it to me to verify, as if I were one of the guys on the show Pawn Stars.My friend brilliantly and unintentionally makes a valid point. Recent iPhone models look conspicuously similar. It's a sentiment I've heard from family members, friends and Apple enthusiasts, and seen opined across the tech journalism sphere with headlines calling the iPhone boring, or saying the new iPhone looks just like the old one.Of course, boring is in the eye of the beholder, and such criticism might not be apropos in 2025 as rumors indicate that Apple will launch a new, thinner-style phone, nicknamed the iPhone 17 Slim. The phone's primary appeal would be its svelte design, forgoing the camera-dominant allure of current Pro and Pro Max models.But I have to wonder whether an iPhone that looked like it took Ozempic would actually excite Apple enthusiasts, who yearn for a truly major update. Current iterations of the iPhone already have a bounty of features and services that are both vital to our daily lives and nifty but often overlooked. Therefore, a slimmer phone would be unlikely to shake things up, especially at a time when Apple emphasizes the iPhone's utility-centric design, which makes the device as impressive as it is mundane."You can't go more minimal than minimal." Paul Snyder, College of Creative Studies in Detroit When Apple released its earnings report last month, it showed signs of growth and stagnation. iPhone sales rose 6% for the fourth quarter of 2024 but were nearly flat for the fiscal year and showed just a 3% increase over the fourth quarter of 2023. Most companies would love to have those financials. But Apple is held to a different standard, and some observers see less than record-breaking results as a weakness.It's difficult to know how much those numbers were impacted by customers who've grown indifferent to Apple's design aesthetic and held off on getting a new phone, or others who've jumped brands for a foldable phone, like the Motorola Razr Plus. Clearly, there's pressure on Apple to innovate (look at the launch of Apple Intelligence this year) and there will always be a burden on the company to be a consumer product leader for enthusiasts and shareholders alike. Since phones are still the biggest product Apple sells, a majority of that pressure falls on pushing forward the iPhone's design and development while artfully pleasing its massive and diverse user base. That can be a bit of balancing act. Take it from tech writer John Gruber, who publishes the site Daring Fireball. He says: If you ask "the mainstream people, the people who make up most of the billion people on the planet using Apple devices, 'Do you want a radically new iPhone that you have to learn again?' ... the answer is, 'Are you out of your mind?'"The iPhone X defined what a modern phone should be The iPhone X marked a turning point in smartphone design. Sarah Tew/CNETBut how did we get here? The iPhone's current design is the result of 17 years of refinements. Over its first nine years, the iPhone went through a lot of changes, some quite revolutionary: It got taller, bigger and then thinner. It lost the headphone jack but gained an extra rear camera. The back went from aluminum to plastic to glass to aluminum again, and then returned to glass with the iPhone X, remaining that way ever since.It's as if Apple had been tailoring mock-ups of the ideal phone for nearly a decade, only to lock everything down with the release of the iPhone X."Apple being Apple kind of got to this basic form factor with the iPhone X," said Gruber. "At that point, it's like, 'Yeah, here's the way they should be.'""We've settled into this era now where phones are a utility. They're a commodity. They are about as sexy to buy as a new microwave oven." Michael Fisher of the MrMobile YouTube channel The iPhone's design has certainly changed in small ways since the iPhone X debuted in 2017. The iPhone X, XS, XR and 11/11 Pro had curved sides. The iPhone 12 and newer models have flat edges. The camera bump seems to grow in size every year and, since the iPhone 11 Pro's arrival, houses three different lenses on the Pro models. But in terms of the iPhone X, the soul of its design became an archetype for what a modern smartphone should be and is today: a metal chassis to house the phone's internals, sandwiched between two pieces of glass, one for the display and the other with a camera bump.It's not just Apple. Samsung, Google, OnePlus and others have all gotten to a similar minimalistic glass-sandwich design with rounded corners for their smartphones. A lazy criticism would be to say that they're copying Apple, which is not really the case. But much in the same way that laptops now all have a similar fundamental aesthetic (compared with the wild early years of notebook computers with trackballs, in the '90s and early 2000s), it feels like phones are starting to settle into a universal look. And this ubiquity, as humdrum as some might find it, proves that the iPhone, and smartphones in general, have finally become a mature consumer product, in the same way laptops or automobiles have over decades. Samsung's Galaxy S24 stands to the left of an iPhone 15. Yep, the camera arrays are different but not much else. James Martin/CNETApple's earnings clearly prove that the company is doing just fine with its current approach and doesn't need to disrupt a good thing for the sake of change. And much in the same way that a breakthrough in touchscreen technology was fundamental to launching the original iPhone, it would likely take another innovation to truly transform things."Whether or not [Apple's] up for a radical shift in design is anybody's guess," said Paul Snyder, chair of transportation design for undergraduate studies at the College of Creative Studies in Detroit. "You can't go more minimal than minimal."Also check out: A Billion Pixels a Second: An Inside Look at Apple's iPhone 16 Camera LabsBelieve it or not, iPhones used to be quite fun With a 3.5-inch display and that flat glass sandwich design, the iPhone 4 was as much a tiny jewel as it was a phone. Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesIf the iPhone's current design is considered boring, you have to wonder when the device was exciting. In 2010, when Steve Jobs launched the iPhone 4, he described the design as "glass on the front and the rear, and stainless steel running around. And the precision of which this is made is beyond any consumer product we've seen. It's closest kin is like a beautiful, old Leica camera."The previous two models, the iPhone 3G and 3GS, had plastic backs that were contoured to fit in your palm. So it was profound to see Apple make the jump to the iPhone 4's flat glass sandwich design. And for many people, including myself, the iPhone 4, and the nearly identical iPhone 4S, are the pinnacle of Apple design. The stainless steel band made the phone look and feel premium, especially with the band encircling that back of glossy black glass."You had Steve Jobs on stage geeking out about how the industrial design of the iPhone 4 was evocative of a Leica camera," said Michael Fisher, a tech reviewer who helms the MrMobile channel on YouTube. "It was just so gorgeous, and it was such a lovingly crafted phone that I had left iOS behind in favor of the Palm Pre and wanted to jump back." This is the iPhone 5S, which launched in 2013 and looks nearly identical to the iPhone 5. Notice the chamfered edges. Sarah Tew/CNETAfter the iPhone 4 and 4S, Apple launched the iPhone 5, which had a taller, 4-inch screen, compared with the 3.5-inch one on previous models (it's wild how small either of those displays seems today). Apple replaced the glass back on the 4 series with an aluminum one for the launch of the iPhone 5, which made the phone even thinner.Then the iPhone 6 arrived. It was slim and had a large (at the time) 4.7-inch screen, curved edges and an aluminum back that wrapped around the sides and sported antenna lines. Apple released a second version, called the iPhone 6 Plus, with a bigger, 5.5-inch screen. But let's put it this way: No one compared the iPhone 6 to a Leica. If the iPhone 4 exemplified the heights Apple design could reach, the iPhone 6 showed how the company could turn a product into a daily utility that everyone needed cue the record years of iPhone sales. A pile o' iPhones. From the top down: the iPhone 5S, the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus. Sarah Tew/CNETIf you were to mash up the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 6, you'd start to see where something like the iPhone X and the current iPhone 16 series came from."We've settled into this era now where phones are a utility. They're a commodity," said Fisher. "They are about as sexy to buy as a new microwave oven."Laptops, phones and automobiles Here's a display window in Prague with several Apple PowerBook 100 models. Getty ImagesIn 1992, my father, who was an architect, brought home one of the strangest things I'd ever seen. It was the PowerBook 100 that Apple launched in 1991, and it had a 9-inch black-and-white screen, a lead battery, and a trackball (where today you might find a trackpad). It weighed more than 5 pounds and cost $2,500 (the equivalent of $5,800 today). Thankfully, my dad's firm bought it for him to run the program AutoCAD.The PowerBook though it bears some squint-your-eyes resemblance to the MacBook Pro I'm writing this story on looks ridiculous. There was a very obvious gap when it was closed, to accommodate the trackball, and it was chunky: 1.8 inches thick when it was closed. But 17 years after that first Apple laptop launched, we got the very first MacBook Air, which, much like the iPhone X, cemented what a contemporary laptop should be."When we talk about the Razr Plus, we're seeing that 25% of consumers are actually coming from iPhone devices." Majo Martin, North America marketing director at Motorola Laptops, like cars, have had their design refined over decades. And smartphones are approaching that two-decade mark."It's an unsatisfying answer to say that boring year-over-year revisions for years, between major updates, are really the way to go," said Gruber. "But it's the truth, and it's the way everything goes. Cars had decades of innovation, and then reached a point where can you really tell a 10-year-old car on the road?"Of course, automobiles, especially in the US, are heavily regulated, which in turn is reflected in a car's design. No matter the manufacturer, if you're trying to make a vehicle, you have to take into consideration multiple factors, like the aerodynamics for fuel efficiency, and safety features for a crash, and you're going to end up in the same general area as other companies in terms of design."I think what the customer sees is like the silhouette. You look at a midsized CUV, for example, and the silhouettes are very similar," said Snyder. Check Out the iPhone 16 Pro Max's Cameras, Display and Colors See all photos And even though phones aren't regulated to the extreme that vehicles are, both smartphones and cars have become devices that house our various ecosystems and software. Apple's revenue from its services grew by 12% in the fourth quarter of 2024, and that's from things like the App Store, Apple Music and iCloud."It's not a phone anymore, right? It's actually a horrible phone, because I have to take five steps to actually make a call," said Greg Darby, who, like Snyder, is at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, as chair and associate professor for product design. "That's what's happening within an automotive interior. It's the fact that it's more than just, 'I just want to sit in a car and drive someplace.' Although I think people are starting to become too saturated with technology."iPhone Fold, Slim or hello, Moto? Former CNET writer Stephen Shankland tries out Adobe Lightroom on the Apple Vision Pro. Stephen Shankland/CNETWhen you look at the scale and size of Apple's customer base and you factor in the iPhone's ubiquity, it raises the question of what can Apple do, if anything, with new iPhone models beyond refinements. And the answer might be to look at the innovative interfaces that yielded other significant Apple products. The original Macintosh was a breakthrough primarily because of its mouse and graphical user interface. The iPod took off because of the scroll wheel, which is sadly no more. And the iPhone was defined by its touchscreen and software."We've already seen the next interface, and indeed, we have rejected it," said Horace Dediu, an Apple analyst and tech commentator. "It is, of course, the Apple Vision Pro."Dediu, who's a fan of Apple's headset, is right about the Vision Pro. But we've only seen the first version. Just because a new interface can be innovative and compelling doesn't mean it'll quickly achieve wide adoption. It took years for the iPhone to really take off with consumers. Though I think a greater number of people at this point would be more thrilled by an iPhone Slim than a Vision Pro. Here's a mock-up of what iOS might look like on a foldable iPhone modeled on Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip. Mock-up by Justin Reynoso/CNETWhat if there was another option, though? Over the last five years, Apple's competitors have been experimenting with a new phone design that seems like it came straight from an episode of Westworld: foldable phones."In order to get any kind of fun these days from a phone, in terms of a hardware perspective, you really have to look at foldables," said Fisher.Foldable phones arrived in 2019 and improved on some of their initial wonkiness, particularly durability issues and software, only over the last couple of years. They typically come in two forms. The first is a flip style, where the phone folds in half to become smaller, much like the clamshell flip phones of the late-'90s and early-2000s, but with a foldable screen. And then there's the fold-style option that opens out into a mini-tablet-size screen.In recent years, the foldable phone space has seen rapid growth. A March report fromIDC estimated that there'd be 37.6% more foldables shipped in 2024 compared with 2023. The same report projects that companies will ship 45.7 million foldable phones in 2028. Keep in mind, that's still a relatively small number, when you consider that the same firm estimated in November that there'd be 1.24 billion smartphones shipped in 2024. Now that we're into 2025, it'll be interesting to see how those estimates pan out. The Motorola Razr Plus (2024) is positioned half open, with its 4-inch exterior screen lit up. James Martin/CNETBut as some Apple enthusiasts hope for a possible foldable iPhone or even an iPhone Slim, other companies, like Motorola, are seizing the moment to convert iPhone owners into first-time buyers of a foldable phone."When we talk about the Razr Plus, we're seeing that 25% of consumers are actually coming from iPhone devices," said Majo Martin, Motorola's North America marketing director.By comparison, Martin told me that 20% of new Motorola Razr owners in 2023 switched over from an iPhone. She said that growth is driven by emotional response. When I reviewed the Motorola Razr Plus (2024), I had trouble remembering the last time I'd used a phone that was as fun as the Razr. Motorola prioritized the experience of using the Razr Plus over pretty much everything else, and there's a lot of value in that for people who want to have their phone be another way to express themselves and their personality.Will Apple ever release a foldable? And will it be popular? I mean, the names "iPhone Flip" and "iPhone Fold" do have a nice ring."The foldable thing is a future possibility that Apple would go do and that would go mainstream," said Gruber. "And if and when it happens, it will inevitably be the exact same story that we have covered so many times, where Apple waited and waited and waited and waited, and now they have a foldable. And they're not going to to say, 'This is the first foldable phone,' but they're going to present it like, 'This is the first good foldable phone.'" Apple's iPhone 16, 16 Plus Show Off Bolder Colors and Buttons See all photos

Surfshark: $2 a month for 28 months Billed $56 upfront See at Surfshark ExpressVPN: $5 a month for 28 months Billed $140 upfront See at ExpressVPN NordVPN: $3 a month for 27 months Billed $81 upfront See at NordVPN Norton VPN: $4 a month for 12 months Billed $50 upfront See at Norton PIA VPN: $2 a month for 28 months Billed $57 upfront See at PIA IPVanish: $2 a month for 24 months Billed $53 upfront See at IPVanish ProtonVPN: $3 a month for 24 months Billed $72 upfront See at ProtonVPN PureVPN: $2 a month for 60 months Billed $120 upfront See at PureVPN Staying safe on the internet is easy enough, but a good VPN service adds an extra layer of protection that will give you peace of mind. After all, being connected to so many people and businesses vying for your attention and clicks can get overwhelming. Right now there are plenty of VPN service deals that can save you money, protect your information and even help you enjoy more from your favorite streaming services during travels. Amber Guetebier and other members of CNET's dedicated deals team have analyzed and rounded up the top deals currently offered by the best VPN services below, and they start at $2 per month. Here are a few things to keep in mind while you decide which service is right for you:Some of these offers have countdown clocks claiming the VPN deals end today. These are usually marketing gimmicks that have no relationship to the deal's actual end date.We'll update sale prices when we notice a change, so check back often.The VPN industry has undergone significant changes in the past few years, withall three of our top VPN choices announcing major shiftsin corporate ownership. In 2021,ExpressVPN announced that it had joined Kape Technologies, a company that already owns several other VPNs and hasraised privacy concerns in the past. In February 2022,NordVPN and Surfshark announced they were merging, although they continue to operate autonomously. We've givenExpressVPN,NordVPNand Surfshark fresh reviews in light of these changes, and continue to evaluate other VPN services as well. Our rankings are subject to change, as they reflect our latest findings.Most of the offers below are for two-year or longer subscriptions, which is a long time to tie yourself to a service that could change ownership or terms of service, or even have a security incident. Although most services have a 30-day free cancellation policy, check the terms of service before signing up for a long-term commitment. What is the best VPN deal right now?If you're on a budget, Surfshark is offering the best VPN deal right now. Starting at just $2 a month, it's the most affordable of our top three VPN services (which also includes ExpressVPN and NordVPN), and there's no limit on the number of devices you can use. It also includes a few other services, such as an ad blocker and a masked email generator. Hey, did you know?CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.Best VPN dealsThe VPNs in this first group have been tested and reviewed by CNET's team of experts. We can broadly recommend them, with the caveats noted above. The fast-changing ownership landscape in the VPN market may continue to shake things up, but we'll continue to update this list as we uncover more. Surfshark Devices: UnlimitedRefund policy: Fully refundable for 30 daysA relative newcomer to the VPN market, Surfshark has quickly become known for its speed, which is why it's one of our VPN experts' top picks. Surfshark also supports unlimited devices, which is great for large households. Currently, all of the plans are discounted by up to 87%. If you commit to 24 months of Surfshark Starter VPN right now, you'll get four free months thrown in. That means you'll be billed $56 upfront for 28 months, averaging out to only $2 a month. If you want a few more perks, you can try Surfshark One, which sets you back just over $2 a month or an upfront payment of $70. This gives you some added features like a private search engine and 24/7 virus protection. In a similar deal, you can get Surfshark One Plus for $4 a month, with four months free for a 28-month subscription, billed at $112 upfront. You'll get everything the other two packages offer, plus data removal from companies' databases and people-search websites.Note that Surfsharkmerged with rival NordVPNin 2022, although the companies have continued to operate independently. See at Surfshark ExpressVPN 2024 Latest Tests DNS leaks detected, 25% speed loss in 2024 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands Devices: Up to eightRefund policy: Fully refundable for 30 daysExpressVPNstill tops our list of thebest VPNs, and you can save on a subscription by going for its 24-month plan, which gets you four months free for just $5 a month or $140 upfront. We evaluate VPNs based on their overall performance in three main categories: speed, security and price. Express isn't the cheapest, but it's among the fastest and the most secure so far, even after its acquisition by Kape Technologies. 82% off with 24mo plan (+6 free months) See at ExpressVPN NordVPN Devices: Up to 10Refund policy: Fully refundable for 30 daysAn industry heavyweight and still one of CNET'stop picks, NordVPN has some substantial savings going on right now, with up to 74% off its plans supporting up to 10 devices.You can grab the basic plan for $81 for two years (and get three free months), which works out to just $3 a month. If you want the upgraded Plus plan, with its added malware, ad-blocking and password management tools, you can get a two-year subscription for just $105 plus three free months, which works out to less than $4 a month. Similar promos apply to the Complete plan, which is just under $5 per month. The top-tier Prime plan is available for just under $8 per month for 27 months. The Prime plan includes 1TB of cloud storage and cyber protection benefits for users in the US, among other bonuses, plus all of the aforementioned benefits.(Again, we note that NordVPN and Surfshark have mergedbut have continued to operate autonomously so far.) See at NordVPN Norton Norton might be a company better known for its antivirus software, but Norton Secure VPN is a solid option for those who want a way to keep their data private while browsing the internet. Right now, you can save 54% on its annual plan, which scores you 12 months of service for $50, or just over $4 per month. See at Norton Private Internet Access Devices:UnlimitedRefund policy:Fully refundable for 30 daysPrivate Internet Access earned a spot on our list of thebest VPN services of 2024as one of our favorite budget options. Right now you can use this VPN for even less. You can get the two-year plan with four extra months included for just $57 upfront, which works out to just over $2 per month.Despite its affordable price, PIA's VPN tested fairly well. It offers AES 256-bit encryption as well as a kill switch function, and it boasts a respectable speed loss of just 24%. You also get 500GB of cloud storage with this deal. It's worth noting that PIA does fall underUS jurisdiction, which might be a concern if you're a security-focused user, although the company appears to be doing everything in its power to alleviate those concerns, including making its source code openly available. See at PIA Devices: UnlimitedRefund policy: Fully refundable for 30 days(Disclosure: IPVanish is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)With one of the best user interfaces in the field, according to our reviewer, IPVanish is good for those who want to customize settings and for those who are new to a VPN. If this is your first time at the rodeo and you want to know more about the technology, IPVanish is a reliable service with a gentle learning curve. Normally, IPVanish goes for about $156 a year, but this deal gets you two years of service for about $53 (just over $2 a month). If you want to save without a multiyear commitment, there's a discount on the yearly plan that scores you 12 months for about $40 (a little over $3a month). Note that IPVanish is also based in the US, which may be a concern if you're focused on security. See at IPVanish Proton VPN Devices: Up to 10Refund policy: Fully refundable for 30 daysProtonVPN is the only free VPN we recommend, but if you need more functionality, you can upgrade to ProtonVPN Plus for $3 a month for 24 months. Keep in mind that this deal is billed as $72 upfront. ProtonVPN Plus has no data caps or server-switching limits. Its ease of use, Tor support and ad-blocking feature make ProtonVPN a favorite with many users. See at ProtonVPN Additional VPN dealsWe haven't fully tested the following VPN. Because of that, we can only recommend it for casual use, such as bypassing geographic restrictions while streaming media. PureVPN Devices: Up to 10Refund policy: Fully refundable for 31 daysPureVPN presents another affordable option if you're in the market for a simple VPN without a big price tag. With a solid server fleet numbering over 6,500 in 78 countries, PureVPN promises reliable service, although we haven't had the chance to verify that. Another disclaimer: PureVPN was reported by our sister site ZDNetas having provided timestamp-only logs to the FBI in a cyberstalking case in 2018. PureVPN has since stopped the timestamp logging practice and undergone a third-party audit to ensure that it keeps to its no-log policy.It currently has a special offer on a five-year Standard plan, knocking it down to $120 -- or just $2 a month. That's a super cheap plan for the long term if you're certain PureVPN is the service for you. If you're looker for a shorter commitment, two-year plans start at just $2 a month. Different service tiers are offering additional features like password management and up to 10 logins. See at PureVPN How we evaluated these VPN dealsThis list is almost exclusively focused on VPN services that have been tested and reviewed by our team of experts, as you don't want to risk having your personal information leaked just to save a few bucks. Fortunately, almost all of our top-rated VPNs are offering some excellent deals right now. We've analyzed the discounts, subscription length, refund policy, internet speed loss, maximum number of devices allowed and what each service is best suited for to bring you the best offers available right now. VPN deals FAQs Do I need a VPN? With online crime rates on the rise, just about anyone can benefit from using a VPN. By creating an encrypted connection between your device and the internet, a VPN prevents your browsing data from being collected by your internet service provider and helps shield your passwords, bank information and other private information. Are VPNs legal? Outside of a handful of countries -- such as China, Iran, Oman, Russia, Turkmenistan, UAE and Belarus -- VPNs are perfectly safe and legal to use, so you don't have to worry about ending up in hot water. It's important to note VPNs are not a "get out of jail free" card, and engaging in illegal activity online is still illegal regardless of whether you're using a VPN. What about free VPNs? With the exception of Proton VPN's free tier, we strongly advise against using a free VPN service. For the most part, they're playing that same game of scooping up and selling your data, which could put you at even greater risk than just browsing unprotected. Considering that you can get access to a top-rated VPN for as little as $2 per month, it's certainly not worth the risk.