Jackie Chan Adventures is one of the best Kids WB shows of all time. It stood toe-to-toe with classics such as Animaniacs, newcomers like Static Shock, and acquired cartoons like Yu-Gi-Oh!. But unlike the rest, it came completely out of nowhere. It wasnt attached to the WB brand, DC Comics, or another anime Pokmon competitor. Instead, it was based on some action hero we knew vaguely from the movies our dads and older brothers watched.

I once worked with a fleet operations team that monitored dozens of vehicles in multiple cities. Their dashboard showed fuel consumption, live GPS locations, and real-time driver updates. Yet the team struggled to see what needed urgent attention. The problem was not a lack of data but a lack of clear indicators to support decision-making. There were no priorities, alerts, or context to highlight what mattered most at any moment.Real-time dashboards are now critical decision-making tools in industries like logistics, manufacturing, finance, and healthcare. However, many of them fail to help users make timely and confident decisions, even when they show live data.Designing for real-time use is very different from designing static dashboards. The challenge is not only presenting metrics but enabling decisions under pressure. Real-time users face limited time and a high cognitive load. They need clarity on actions, not just access to raw data.This requires interface elements that support quick scanning, pattern recognition, and guided attention. Layout hierarchy, alert colors, grouping, and motion cues all help, but they must be driven by a deeper strategy: understanding what the user must decide in that moment.This article explores practical UX strategies for real-time dashboards that enable real decisions. Instead of focusing only on visual best practices, it looks at how user intent, personalization, and cognitive flow can turn raw data into meaningful, timely insights.Designing for Real-Time Comprehension: Helping Users Stay Focused Under PressureA GPS app not only shows users their location but also helps them decide where to go next. In the same way, a real-time dashboard should go beyond displaying the latest data. Its purpose is to help users quickly understand complex information and make informed decisions, especially in fast-paced environments with short attention spans.How Users Process Real-Time UpdatesHumans have limited cognitive capacity, so they can only process a small amount of data at once. Without proper context or visual cues, rapidly updating dashboards can overwhelm users and shift attention away from key information.To address this, I use the following approaches:Delta Indicators and Trend SparklinesDelta indicators show value changes at a glance, while sparklines are small line charts that reveal trends over time in a compact space. For example, a sales dashboard might show a green upward arrow next to revenue to indicate growth, along with a sparkline displaying sales trends over the past week.Subtle Micro-AnimationsSmall animations highlight changes without distracting users. Research in cognitive psychology shows that such animations effectively draw attention, helping users notice updates while staying focused. For instance, a soft pulse around a changing metric can signal activity without overwhelming the viewer.Mini-History ViewsShowing a short history of recent changes reduces reliance on memory. For example, a dashboard might let users scroll back a few minutes to review updates, supporting better understanding and verification of data trends.Common Challenges In Real-Time DashboardsMany live dashboards fail when treated as static reports instead of dynamic tools for quick decision-making.In my early projects, I made this mistake, resulting in cluttered layouts, distractions, and frustrated users.Typical errors include the following:Overcrowded Interfaces: Presenting too many metrics competes for users attention, making it hard to focus.Flat Visual Hierarchy: Without clear emphasis on critical data, users might focus on less important information.No Record of Changes: When numbers update instantly with no explanation, users can feel lost or confused.Excessive Refresh Rates: Not all data needs constant updates. Updating too frequently can create unnecessary motion and cognitive strain.Managing Stress And Cognitive OverloadUnder stress, users depend on intuition and focus only on immediately relevant information. If a dashboard updates too quickly or shows conflicting alerts, users may delay actions or make mistakes. It is important to:Prioritize the most important data first to avoid overwhelming the user.Offer snapshot or pause options so users can take time to process information.Use clear indicators to show if an action is required or if everything is operating normally.In real-time environments, the best dashboards balance speed with calmness and clarity. They are not just data displays but tools that promote live thinking and better decisions.Enabling Personalization For Effective Data ConsumptionMany analytics tools let users build custom dashboards, but these design principles guide layouts that support decision-making. Personalization options such as custom metric selection, alert preferences, and update pacing help manage cognitive load and improve data interpretation. Cognitive Challenge UX Risk in Real-Time Dashboards Design Strategy to Mitigate Users cant track rapid changes Confusion, missed updates, second-guessing Use delta indicators, change animations, and trend sparklines Limited working memory Overload from too many metrics at once Prioritize key KPIs, apply progressive disclosure Visual clutter under stress Tunnel vision or misprioritized focus Apply a clear visual hierarchy, minimize non-critical elements Unclear triggers or alerts Decision delays, incorrect responses Use thresholds, binary status indicators, and plain language Lack of context/history Misinterpretation of sudden shifts Provide micro-history, snapshot freeze, or hover reveal Common Cognitive Challenges in Real-Time Dashboards and UX Strategies to Overcome Them.Designing For Focus: Using Layout, Color, And Animation To Drive Real-Time DecisionsLayout, color, and animation do more than improve appearance. They help users interpret live data quickly and make decisions under time pressure. Since users respond to rapidly changing information, these elements must reduce cognitive load and highlight key insights immediately.Creating a Visual Hierarchy to Guide Attention.A clear hierarchy directs users eyes to key metrics. Arrange elements so the most important data stands out. For example, place critical figures like sales volume or system health in the upper left corner to match common scanning patterns. Limit visible elements to about five to prevent overload and ease processinggroup related data into cards to improve scannability and help users focus without distraction.Using Color Purposefully to Convey Meaning.Color communicates meaning in data visualization. Red or orange indicates critical alerts or negative trends, signaling urgency. Blue and green represent positive or stable states, offering reassurance. Neutral tones like gray support background data and make key colors stand out. Ensure accessibility with strong contrast and pair colors with icons or labels. For example, bright red can highlight outages while muted gray marks historical logs, keeping attention on urgent issues.Supporting Comprehension with Subtle Animation.Animation should clarify, not distract. Smooth transitions of 200 to 400 milliseconds communicate changes effectively. For instance, upward motion in a line chart reinforces growth. Hover effects and quick animations provide feedback and improve interaction. Thoughtful motion makes changes noticeable while maintaining focus.Layout, color, and animation create an experience that enables fast, accurate interpretation of live data. Real-time dashboards support continuous monitoring and decision-making by reducing mental effort and highlighting anomalies or trends. Personalization allows users to tailor dashboards to their roles, improving relevance and efficiency. For example, operations managers may focus on system health metrics while sales directors prioritize revenue KPIs. This adaptability makes dashboards dynamic, strategic tools. Element Placement & Visual Weight Purpose & Suggested Colors Animation Use Case & Effect Primary KPIs Center or top-left; bold, large font Highlight critical metrics; typically stable states Value updates: smooth increase (200400 ms) Controls Top or left panel; light, minimal visual weight Provide navigation/filtering; neutral color schemes User actions: subtle feedback (100150 ms) Charts Middle or right; medium emphasis Show trends and comparisons; use blue/green for positives, grey for neutral Chart trends: trail or fade (300600 ms) Alerts Edge of dashboard or floating; high contrast (bold) Signal critical issues; red/orange for alerts, yellow/amber for warnings Quick animations for appearance; highlight changes Design Elements, Placement, Color, and Motion Strategies for Effective Real-Time Dashboards.Clarity In Motion: Designing Dashboards That Make Change UnderstandableIf users cannot interpret changes quickly, the dashboard fails regardless of its visual design. Over time, I have developed methods that reduce confusion and make change feel intuitive rather than overwhelming.One of the most effective tools I use is the sparkline, a compact line chart that shows a trend over time and is typically placed next to a key performance indicator. Unlike full charts, sparklines omit axes and labels. Their simplicity makes them powerful, since they instantly show whether a metric is trending up, down, or steady. For example, placing a sparkline next to monthly revenue immediately reveals if performance is improving or declining, even before the viewer interprets the number.When using sparklines effectively, follow these principles:Pair sparklines with metrics such as revenue, churn rate, or user activity so users can see both the value and its trajectory at a glance.Simplify by removing clutter like axis lines or legends unless they add real value.Highlight the latest data point with a dot or accent color since current performance often matters more than historical context.Limit the time span. Too many data points compress the sparkline and hurt readability. A focused window, such as the last 7 or 30 days, keeps the trend clear.Use sparklines in comparative tables. When placed in rows (for example, across product lines or regions), they reveal anomalies or emerging patterns that static numbers may hide.Interactive P&L Performance Dashboard with Forecast and Variance Tracking. (Large preview)I combine sparklines with directional indicators like arrows and percentage deltas to support quick interpretation.For example, pairing +3.2% with a rising sparkline shows both the direction and scale of change. I do not rely only on color to convey meaning.Since 1 in 12 men is color-blind, using red and green alone can exclude some users. To ensure accessibility, I add shapes and icons alongside color cues.Micro-animations provide subtle but effective signals. This counters change blindness our tendency to miss non-salient changes.When numbers update, I use fade-ins or count-up transitions to indicate change without distraction.If a list reorders, such as when top-performing teams shift positions, a smooth slide animation under 300 milliseconds helps users maintain spatial memory. These animations reduce cognitive friction and prevent disorientation.Layout is critical for clarifying change:I use modular cards with consistent spacing, alignment, and hierarchy to highlight key metrics.Cards are arranged in a sortable grid, allowing filtering by severity, recency, or relevance.Collapsible sections manage dense information while keeping important data visible for quick scanning and deeper exploration.For instance, in a logistics dashboard, a card labeled On-Time Deliveries may display a weekly sparkline. If performance dips, the line flattens or turns slightly red, a downward arrow appears with a 1.8% delta, and the updated number fades in. This gives instant clarity without requiring users to open a detailed chart.All these design choices support fast, informed decision-making. In high-velocity environments like product analytics, logistics, or financial operations, dashboards must do more than present data. They must reduce ambiguity and help teams quickly detect change, understand its impact, and take action.Making Reliability Visible: Designing for Trust In Real-Time Data InterfacesIn real-time data environments, reliability is not just a technical feature. It is the foundation of user trust. Dashboards are used in high-stakes, fast-moving contexts where decisions depend on timely, accurate data. Yet these systems often face less-than-ideal conditions such as unreliable networks, API delays, and incomplete datasets. Designing for these realities is not just damage control. It is essential for making data experiences usable and trustworthy.When data lags or fails to load, it can mislead users in serious ways:A dip in a trendline may look like a market decline when it is only a delay in the stream.Missing categories in a bar chart, if not clearly signaled, can lead to flawed decisions.To mitigate this:Every data point should be paired with its condition.Interfaces must show not only what the data says but also how current or complete it is.One effective strategy is replacing traditional spinners with skeleton UIs. These are greyed-out, animated placeholders that suggest the structure of incoming data. They set expectations, reduce anxiety, and show that the system is actively working. For example, in a financial dashboard, users might see the outline of a candlestick chart filling in as new prices arrive. This signals that data is being refreshed, not stalled.Handling Data UnavailabilityWhen data is unavailable, I show cached snapshots from the most recent successful load, labeled with timestamps such as Data as of 10:42 AM. This keeps users aware of what they are viewing.In operational dashboards such as logistics or monitoring systems, this approach lets users act confidently even when real-time updates are temporarily out of sync.Managing Connectivity FailuresTo handle connectivity failures, I use auto-retry mechanisms with exponential backoff, giving the system several chances to recover quietly before notifying the user.If retries fail, I maintain transparency with clear banners such as Offline Reconnecting In one product, this approach prevented users from reloading entire dashboards unnecessarily, especially in areas with unreliable Wi-Fi.Ensuring Reliability with AccessibilityReliability strongly connects with accessibility:Real-time interfaces must announce updates without disrupting user focus, beyond just screen reader compatibility.ARIA live regions quietly narrate significant changes in the background, giving screen reader users timely updates without confusion.All controls remain keyboard-accessible.Animations follow motion-reduction preferences to support users with vestibular sensitivities.Data Freshness IndicatorA compact but powerful pattern I often implement is the Data Freshness Indicator, a small widget that:Shows sync status,Displays the last updated time,Includes a manual refresh button.This improves transparency and reinforces user control. Since different users interpret these cues differently, advanced systems allow personalization. For example:Analysts may prefer detailed logs of update attempts.Business users might see a simple status such as Live, Stale, or Paused.Reliability in data visualization is not about promising perfection. It is about creating a resilient, informative experience that supports human judgment by revealing the true state of the system.When users understand what the dashboard knows, what it does not, and what actions it is taking, they are more likely to trust the data and make smarter decisions.Real-World Case StudyIn my work across logistics, hospitality, and healthcare, the challenge has always been to distill complexity into clarity. A well-designed dashboard is more than functional; it serves as a trusted companion in decision-making, embedding clarity, speed, and confidence from the start.1. Fleet Management DashboardA client in the car rental industry struggled with fragmented operational data. Critical details like vehicle locations, fuel usage, maintenance schedules, and downtime alerts were scattered across static reports, spreadsheets, and disconnected systems. Fleet operators had to manually cross-reference data sources, even for basic dispatch tasks, which caused missed warnings, inefficient routing, and delays in response.We solved these issues by redesigning the dashboard strategically, focusing on both layout improvements and how users interpret and act on information.Strategic Design Improvements and Outcomes:Instant visibility of KPIsHigh-contrast cards at the top of the dashboard made key performance indicators instantly visible.Example: Fuel consumption anomalies that previously went unnoticed for days were flagged within hours, enabling quick corrective action.Clear trend and pattern visualizationBooking forecasts, utilization graphs, and city-by-city comparisons highlighted performance trends.Example: A weekday-weekend booking chart helped a regional manager spot underperformance in one city and plan targeted vehicle redistribution.Unified operational snapshotCost, downtime, and service schedules were grouped into one view.Result: The operations team could assess fleet health in under five minutes each morning instead of using multiple tools.Predictive context for planningVisual cues showed peak usage periods and historical demand curves.Result: Dispatchers prepared for forecasted spikes, reducing customer wait times and improving resource availability.Live map with real-time statusA color-coded map displays vehicle status: green for active, red for urgent attention, gray for idle.Result: Supervisors quickly identified inactive or delayed vehicles and rerouted resources as needed.Role-based personalizationPersonalization options were built in, allowing each role to customize dashboard views.Example: Fleet managers prioritized financial KPIs, while technicians filtered for maintenance alerts and overdue service reports.Strategic Impact: The dashboard redesign was not only about improving visuals. It changed how teams interacted with data. Operators no longer needed to search for insights, as the system presented them in line with tasks and decision-making. The dashboard became a shared reference for teams with different goals, enabling real-time problem solving, fewer manual checks, and stronger alignment across roles. Every element was designed to build both understanding and confidence in action.2. Hospitality Revenue DashboardOne of our clients, a hospitality group with 11 hotels in the UAE, faced a growing strategic gap. They had data from multiple departments, including bookings, events, food and beverage, and profit and loss, but it was spread across disconnected dashboards. Strategic Design Improvements and Outcomes:All revenue streams (rooms, restaurants, bars, and profit and loss) were consolidated into a single filterable dashboard.Example: A revenue manager could filter by property to see if a drop in restaurant revenue was tied to lower occupancy or was an isolated issue. The structure supported daily operations, weekly reviews, and quarterly planning.Disconnected charts and metrics were replaced with a unified visual narrative showing how revenue streams interacted.Example: The dashboard revealed how event bookings influenced bar sales or staffing. This shifted teams from passive data consumption to active interpretation.AI modules for demand forecasting, spend prediction, and pricing recommendations were embedded in the dashboard.Result: Managers could test rate changes with interactive sliders and instantly view effects on occupancy, revenue per available room, and food and beverage income. This enabled proactive scenario planning.Compact, color-coded sparklines were placed next to each key metric to show short- and long-term trends.Result: These visuals made it easy to spot seasonal shifts or channel-specific patterns without switching views or opening separate reports.Predictive overlays such as forecast bands and seasonality markers were added to performance graphs.Example: If occupancy rose but lagged behind seasonal forecasts, the dashboard surfaced the gap, prompting early action such as promotions or issue checks.Strategic Impact: By aligning the dashboard structure with real pricing and revenue strategies, the client shifted from static reporting to forward-looking decision-making. This was not a cosmetic interface update. It was a complete rethinking of how data could support business goals. The result enabled every team, from finance to operations, to interpret data based on their specific roles and responsibilities.3. Healthcare Interoperability DashboardIn healthcare, timely and accurate access to patient information is essential. A multi-specialist hospital client struggled with fragmented data. Doctors had to consult separate platforms such as electronic health records, lab results, and pharmacy systems to understand a patients condition. This fragmented process slowed decision-making and increased risks to patient safety.Strategic Design Improvements and Outcomes:Patient medical history was integrated to unify lab reports, medications, and allergy information in one view.Example: A cardiologist, for example, could review recent cardiac markers with active medications and allergy alerts in the same place, enabling faster diagnosis and treatment.Lab report tracking was upgraded to show test type, date, status, and a clear summary with labels such as Pending, Completed, and Awaiting Review.Result: Trends were displayed with sparklines and color-coded indicators, helping clinicians quickly spot abnormalities or improvements.A medication management module was added for prescription entry, viewing, and exporting. It included dosage, frequency, and prescribing physician details.Example: Specialists could customize it to highlight drugs relevant to their practice, reducing overload and focusing on critical treatments.Rapid filtering options were introduced to search by patient name, medical record number, date of birth, gender, last visit, insurance company, or policy number.Example: Billing staff could locate patients by insurance details, while clinicians filtered records by visits or demographics.Visual transparency was provided through interactive tooltips explaining alert rationales and flagged data points.Result: Clinicians gained immediate context, such as the reason a lab value was marked as critical, supporting informed and timely decisions.Strategic Impact: Our design encourages active decision-making instead of passive data review. Interactive tooltips ensure visual transparency by explaining the rationale behind alerts and flagged data points. These information boxes give clinicians immediate context, such as why a lab value is marked critical, helping them understand implications and next steps without delay.Key UX Insights from the Above 3 ExamplesDesign should drive conclusions, not just display data.Contextualized data enabled faster and more confident decisions. For example, a logistics dashboard flagged high-risk delays so dispatchers could act immediately.Complexity should be structured, not eliminated.Tools used timelines, layering, and progressive disclosure to handle dense information. A financial tool groups transactions by time blocks, easing cognitive load without losing detail.Trust requires clear system logic.Users trusted predictive alerts only after understanding their triggers. A healthcare interface added a "Why this alert?" option that explained the reasoning.The aim is clarity and action, not visual polish.Redesigns improved speed, confidence, and decision-making. In real-time contexts, confusion delays are more harmful than design flaws.Final TakeawaysReal-time dashboards are not about overwhelming users with data. They are about helping them act quickly and confidently. The most effective dashboards reduce noise, highlight the most important metrics, and support decision-making in complex environments. Success lies in balancing visual clarity with cognitive ease while accounting for human limits like memory, stress, and attention alongside technical needs.Do:Prioritize key metrics in a clear order so priorities are obvious. For instance, a support manager may track open tickets before response times.Use subtle micro-animations and small visual cues to indicate changes, helping users spot trends without distraction.Display data freshness and sync status to build trust.Plan for edge cases like incomplete or offline data to keep the experience consistent.Ensure accessibility with high contrast, ARIA labels, and keyboard navigation.Dont:Overcrowd the interface with too many metrics.Rely only on color to communicate critical information.Update all data at once or too often, which can cause overload.Hide failures or delays; transparency helps users adapt.Over time, Ive come to see real-time dashboards as decision assistants rather than control panels. When users say, This helps me stay in control, it reflects a design built on empathy that respects cognitive limits and enhances decision-making. That is the true measure of success.

From a distance, it looks like Melbourne sprouted a mountain range overnight. Up close, the rocks arent rocks at all theyre air. With the Australian debut of Iwagumi Air Scape, art and technology studio ENESS turned Prahran Square into a larger-than-life rock garden you can squeeze through, touch, and hear come alive with sound.Although Melbourne-based, ENESS founder and artist Nimrod Weis drew inspiration from Japanese culture in creating Iwagumi Air Scape. Through this artwork we are celebrating how Japanese people acknowledge and recognize nature as the ultimate designer in terms of composition, Weis explains. Culturally, the Japanese admire and respect natural forms such as rock formations, observing these compositions in great detail, which they then translate into various artforms. This is evidenced by rock gardens in spiritual places, in civic spaces, in small domestic gardens and aquariums through aquascaping. Weis takes this concept and inflates it literally to monumental size.The installation is made up of 16 inflatable rocks some stretching up to over 30 feet long arranged to form crevices and passages that mimic a canyon. As visitors move through the work, they trigger a layered soundscape of birds, frogs, crickets, monkeys, bats, and mountain streams. Each inflatable appears strikingly real thanks to surface patterns derived from photographs of granite. Only when touched does the illusion break, revealing that what looks like thousands of tons of stone is, in fact, weightless. There is a huge element of surprise in this work, when visitors touch the artworks and realize that in fact, they are inflatable, Weis says. At night, Iwagumi Air Scape transforms again, glowing in vibrant red tones as if the Weis was hosting the installation on another planet.While the work is designed to reconnect us with nature, its very existence is rooted in technology, raising questions about how wilderness and our relationship to it can exist in an increasingly digital world. Our creative practice interrogates the relationship between the virtual and physical worlds. In this case, we created digital rocks that are printed and illuminated but exist in space as convincing natural forms. The fact that these artificial objects can help in reconnecting people with nature says a lot about our world at this time, says Weis. The installation reflects this duality, as sounds from the surrounding streets seep into the immersive soundscape, blurring the line between the constructed canyon and the real city beyond.Although Iwagumi Air Scape has wrapped its Melbourne run, the installation is set to continue its global tour. Next stop: Spain. Keep an eye on ENESS to see if their monumental, weightless rocks land in your city next.To learn more about the Iwagumi Air Scape installation by ENESS, visit eness.com.Photos by Ben Weinstein.

Weekly curated resources for designersthinkers andmakers.Vibe Coding began with a modest description: Karpathy framed it as a way to use AI as a coding assistant through natural language. But as the term spread, it was quickly inflatedspawning offshoots like context engineering and promises of faster prototyping, instant creation, and lowered barriers, even the idea that anyone could code without really coding. A lighter vision than the Metaverse, but one that also stretches language further than reality canhold.Both are wrapped in the language of transformation.Vibe coding vs. the metaverse By YoujinNamPut customer insights on autopilot with Marvin [Sponsored] Say hello to Marvins AI Moderated Interviewer. A completely new tool for collecting customer feedback. Add AI Moderated Interviewer to your research toolkit, and scale your ability to explore the why behind key findings. - Complement your existing research methods- Turn survey insights into deeper understanding- Rich, qualitative insights vs. checkbox answers- Real conversations, real understandingGive your research team the best tools for every challenge. Try it forfree!Editor picksYou might be a victim of corrupt personalization Is your feed populated by your interests or corporate interests?By DaleyWilhelmThe airport: Where we pretend to have arrived The junkspace non-place of the modern aerotropolis.By VioletPiperHonda Preludes Porsche problem When mainstream brands borrow luxury design language, who wins?By ElvisHsiaoThe UX Collective is an independent design publication that elevates unheard design voices and helps designers think more critically about theirwork.Brutal Types: unearthing Europes forgotten interwar letterforms Make methinkAI as teleportation There are huge benefits. Global commerce is supercharged. Instead of commuting, people can spend more time with family and friends. Pollution is way down. The AGI company runs a sweet commercial of people teleporting to see their parents one last time before they die. At the same time, some weird things start happeningThe destination for AI interfaces is Do What I Mean Freed from interface bureaucracy, you want to optimise for capturing user intent with ease, expressiveness, and resolutionvery different from the low bandwidth interface paradigm of jabbing single fingers at big buttons.You dont need animations When done right, animations make an interface feel predictable, faster, and more enjoyable to use. They help you and your product stand out. But they can also do the opposite. They can make an interface feel unpredictable, slow, and annoying. They can even make your users lose trust in your product. So how do you know when and how to animate to improve the experience?Little gems thisweekHow can AI UI capture intent? By SharangSharmaTake your pleasure seriously: why joy sustains serious work By TakumaKakehiWhat digital UX can learn from the physical media revival By AndrewTippTools and resourcesMaking Figma and Notion play ball Convert text layers in Figma into Notion databases.By EdOrozcoResponsible AI workflows for UX Research Human + machine.By Sahil AfridFarookhiAuditing your design system for accessibility How to fix A11y issues at the system-level.By AlliePaschalSupport the newsletterIf you find our content helpful, heres how you can supportus:Check out this weeks sponsor to support their worktooForward this email to a friend and invite them to subscribeSponsor aneditionVibe coding, corrupt personalization, responsible AI workflows was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage?Take these stepsfor better search results,including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.The rumor mill is working overtime about news that might drop at next week's Meta Connect 2025. Two new pieces of gossip: Meta may announce that its rumored AR smart glasses are powered by a smart watch, and the company may reveal Meta-powered Prada frames during the event. Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer Glasses With Meta AI (Clear Lenses, Shiny Black) $299.00 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $299.00 at Amazon Both a potential Prada Meta release and a Meta watch-controller for its expected AR glasses require a little "internet rumor math" and conclusion-jumping, so take it with a grain a salt, but here's the breakdown:Meta's rumored smart watchThe "Meta smart watch" speculation comes from a late July post on Digitimes suggesting Meta will roll out its own smart watch at Meta Connect 2025. Since Meta's next-gen smart glasses are expected to need a wrist controller, it makes sense that Meta would make it a watch. Almost everyone would prefer wearing a smart watch to a dedicated tech bracelet, right?If Meta's wrist controller/watch actually exists, we have no idea what other "watch-like" features it might include (beyond telling time, of course) but if Meta is planning to release a functional smart watch and a linked pair of display-enabled smart glasses, while charging only $800 (the rumored price) for the bundle, I predict a lot of interest. The rumor about a Prada-Meta collabWhat if Meta's new glasses look really cool too? Like, something Prada puts out? Pradas boxy, thick frames seem tailor-made for tech, and Meta already partners with its parent company, EssilorLuxotica, which also owns Ray-Ban and Oakley. Plus, rumors of Prada Meta glasses date back to June, and EssilorLuxotica also makes watches, so all the dots seem to connect and suggest that Meta could either add Prada to its lines of glasses with AI and cameras, or launch new display glasses under the Prada name.Or not. This is all speculation. It's not baseless speculation, but it could all turn out to be wrong. Maybe Meta thinks the public wants a wrist device that controls our glasses but doesn't tell time. Maybe Meta Prada frames will be announced at some later date. Maybe the gigantic corporations involved have decided the two brands don't fit together well enough to elicit consumer interest. Only time, as they say, will tell. If you're keeping score at home, though, below are five things that could be announced at Meta Connect 2025, in order of my own, personal excitement:Meta display smart glasses There is so much smoke around the idea that Meta plans to announce smart glasses with a built in display in one of the lenses, there has to be fire, right? Actually, no. But the rumor says that Meta's next smart glasses will feature a dedicated display on one lens for alerts and mini-apps, as well as all the AI, audio, and camera/video features of the current generation of Meta Ray-Bans and Meta Oakley smart glasses. All of this will theoretically be facilitated via a wireless wristband or a smart watch(!).Next-generation Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta smart glasses Meta announcing a better version of its two already successful audio-and-AI focused smart glasses seems extremely likely. I'd put money on "third generation" Meta smart glasses having a better camera, longer-lasting battery, and vastly improved AI, but that's not going very far out on a limb. I'm a huge fan of my Ray-Ban Metas, and I'd love an upgrade. Prada Meta smart glasses Just on vibes, Prada-Meta glasses make so much sense: there's a kind of person who wears Ray-Bans, and a different kind of person who wears Oakleys, but neither of them are the kind of person who wears Prada. Personally, I expect the Prada glasses to be added to the audio and AI line of Meta smart glasses, as opposed to being rolled out as the flagship frames for Meta's rumored AI style smart glasses. Third-party apps for Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta glasses Meta opening its smart glasses infrastructure to third-party developers isn't likely to drive many headlines, but it could low-key change the game for Meta users. Having a suite of apps for different uses would be amazing. Improvements to Meta Horizon OSSmart glasses may be hogging all the attention, but Meta is expected to announce some improvements to the Horizon operating system that powers its VR headgear too. Specifically, expect better graphics in Horizon Worlds and your virtual home, and easier connectivity too. If you want check out the event as it happens, Meta Connect 2025 will begin with a keynote from CEO Mark Zuckerberg on September 17 at 8 p.m. ET and continue through September 18. You can stream the keynote and developers conferences on Facebook or the official Meta Connect site.

A great mobile phone doesnt need to cost a fortune. In 2025, features once exclusive to high-end devices big batteries, multi-camera arrays, high refresh rate OLED displays and more have trickled down to more affordable models. Sure, youll still need to buy a flagship smartphone to get the best camera or fastest processor, but you dont need to compromise nearly as much anymore if youre looking for a great handset at a reasonable price. If you have less than $600 to spend, let us help you figure out what features to prioritize when trying to find the best midrange smartphone. Table of contents Best midrange phones in 2025 What is a midrange phone? What to consider before buying a midrange smartphone What won't you get from a midrange phone The best midrange phones for 2025 What is a midrange phone? While the term frequently appears in articles and videos, there isnt an agreed-upon definition for midrange beyond a phone that isnt a flagship or an entry-level option. Most of our recommendations cost between $400 and $600 any less and you should expect significant compromises. If you have more to spend, you might as well consider flagships like the Apple iPhone 17 and the Samsung Galaxy S25 if you want the best smartphone experience. Devices like Pixel phones often sit in this price range too, offering some of the best value for Android buyers. What to consider before buying a midrange smartphone Buying a new device can be intimidating, but a few questions can help guide you through the process. First: what platform do you want to use? If the answer is iOS, that narrows your options down to exactly one phone. (Thankfully, its great.) And if youre an Android fan, theres no shortage of compelling options. Both platforms have their strengths, so you shouldnt rule either out. Of course, also consider how much youre comfortable spending. Even increasing your budget by $100 more can get you a dramatically better product. Moreover, manufacturers tend to support their more expensive devices for longer with software updates and security updates, so its worth buying something toward the top limit of what you can afford. Having an idea of your priorities will help inform your budget. Do you want a long battery life or fast charging? Do you value speedy performance above all else? Or would you like the best possible cameras with high megapixel counts? While they continue to improve every year, even the best midrange smartphones still demand some compromises, and knowing whats important to you will make choosing one easier. What wont you get from a midrange smartphone? Every year, the line between midrange and flagship phones blurs as more upmarket features and functions trickle down to more affordable models. When Engadget first published this guide in 2020, it was tricky to find a $500 phone with waterproofing and 5G. In 2025, the biggest thing you might miss out on is wireless charging and even then, thats becoming less true. One thing your new phone probably wont come with is a power adapter; many companies have stopped including chargers with all of their smartphones. Performance has improved in recent years, but can still be hit or miss as most midrange phones use slower processors that can struggle with multitasking. Thankfully, their camera systems have improved dramatically, and you can typically expect at least a dual-lens system on most midrange smartphones below $600 with decent camera quality, selfie performance and software support to keep things running smoothly for years to come.. Midrange smartphone FAQs How long do midrange phones get software updates? Support varies by brand, but most midrange phones receive around three to five years of software and security updates. Apple tends to support iPhones longer while companies like Google and Samsung now promise several years of Android and security patches for their midrange models. Budget-focused brands might offer less so its worth checking the update policy before you buy. Are midrange phones good for gaming? Yes, many midrange phones handle gaming well, especially popular titles like Fortnite, Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile. They usually include capable processors, though you wont always get the smoothest performance in the most demanding mobile games or at max settings. If you play casually or stick to less graphically intensive titles a midrange phone will feel more than adequate. Georgie Peru contributed to this report.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/best-midrange-smartphone-183006463.html?src=rss

The Omni S2 sucks up your dust and leaves a fresh scent in its wake.

China's market regulator on Monday said that Nvidia violated the country's anti-monopoly law in relation to its aquisition of Mellanox in 2020.