MakeUseOf's Best of CES 2025 Awards

Quick Links The start of each year means it’s time for CES in Las Vegas, with thousands of booths showing off the latest in tech innovations. This year, we’re on the ground to take a look at what’s on offer and highlight the truly exceptional products amongst all the noise. Here are our selections of the best tech at CES 2025 and why they’re so interesting. 1Lenovo Legion Go S Lenovo is releasing an update to its Legion Go handheld gaming console with the Lenovo Legion Go S....

July 5, 2025 · 10 min · 2034 words · Robert Evans

Nintendo Is Hoping To Fix A Major Gaming Problem With Switch 2's Launch

Summary Nintendois already hoping to make good on recent gaming industry problems with the release of the Switch 2. The Switch’s unnamed successor is, at this point, all but confirmed.Switch 2 leaks have been circulatingfor a while, suggesting major revivals of classic Nintendo series, new installments in its flagship franchises likeMarioandZelda, and perhaps evenbackwards compatibility with the original Switch. With the Switch’s astronomical sales numbers and incredible library of first-, second-, and third-party titles,failing to learn from its successes would be leaving money on the table....

July 5, 2025 · 7 min · 1384 words · Donald House

Nook Glowlight 4 Plus review: A worthy upgrade for Nookworms

It’s no secret thate-readers changed the gamefor bookworms forever. We’re no longer tied to shelves of physical paper. However, now that we’re over a decade removed from the first-ever e-reading tablet, manufacturers are honing these devices with incremental improvements. Small details edge a product ahead of the competition, which is precisely what Barnes & Noble’s Nook GlowLight 4 Plus (a longtime tooth-and-nail contender against Amazon’s Kindle) brings to the table this year....

July 5, 2025 · 7 min · 1473 words · Douglas Pierce

Password vs. Passphrase: Which Is Better for Your Online Security?

Password vs. Passphrase: Which Is Better for Your Online Security? In the majority of successful cyberattack attempts, poor login credentials are the prime suspect. By creating a strong password you can remove the risk of cybercriminals figuring out your logins and stealing your sensitive data, right? However, many cybersecurity experts are suggesting that switching from passwords to passphrases could be critical in solving this rising security challenge. Since they aren’t a confusing combo of characters, passphrases are easier to remember, and they can be pretty personal too....

July 5, 2025 · 4 min · 834 words · Michael Blanchard

Samsung Galaxy A55 leak shows off an awkward design choice

Samsung’s Galaxy A5x-series has consistently been a top choice in its price range. Despite the 2022 hiccup with the Galaxy A53, last year’s Galaxy A54 helped the series reclaim its position as one of thebest budget phones. It’s no wonder that the next version, possibly named the Galaxy A55, is generating excitement. Now, newly leaked renders suggest that this mid-range device might draw design inspiration from the recently unveiled Galaxy A15 and Galaxy A25 5G....

July 5, 2025 · 3 min · 438 words · Savannah Roberts

Stranger Things Gifted Us The Perfect July 4th Binge-Watch 5 Years Ago

Summary Five years ago, Netflix’sStranger Thingsseason three premiered, providing an exciting binge-watch experience that was perfectly lined up for the Fourth of July. This season in particular drew discussions and comparisons between the other seasons of the show, due to the nostalgic ’80s aura, riveting supernatural elements ofthe Upside Down, and over-engaging visuals and plot. Thepremiere occurring on the fourth truly augmented excitement during the summer festivities, making its debut memorable and ideal for the holiday marathon....

July 5, 2025 · 4 min · 750 words · Chad Jones

The 7 Best Family Bonding Apps

Nowadays, family bonding can be tough. For parents, your kids may be in their revolting teenage years, and for kids, your parents may always be busy. We understand how weird and cringe it may be when you suggest a family outing or plan a family activity and it doesn’t make it out of the group chat. That’s why we’re bringing you apps and games that can foster family bonding. Whether you desire to encourage interaction or spark liveliness in your household, these family bonding apps are just what you need....

July 5, 2025 · 6 min · 1190 words · Trevor Rowe

The Fantastic Four Cast Photo Brings Together Marvel's First Family For The First Time

Summary TheMarvel Cinematic Universecast forThe Fantastic Fourcomes together in a new group picture, showcasing the four leading heroes together. After years of being with 20th Century Fox, Marvel Studios is finally getting ready to reboot the Fantastic Four forthe MCU timeline. As Marvel’s First Family will become part of the MCU, the world has actively been waiting to see any glimpses of the new film. The Fantastic Fourcastis getting ready to finally start shooting the upcoming reboot after years of delays....

July 5, 2025 · 3 min · 483 words · Curtis Knox

The Rings Of Power: Celebrimbor Restores The Original Point Of Amazon's LOTR Prequel

The Rings of Powerseason 2 finds theperfect Galadriel replacementin Celebrimbor, andCharles Edwards' character restores the original point of Amazon’sLord of the Ringsshow. Galadriel is the focal point of many ofThe Rings of Powerseason 1’s storylines, and she unwittingly gets the closest to Sauron throughout its run. AfterThe Rings of Powerseason 1’s ending, she is wiser to theLord of the Ringsvillain’s corruption. Unfortunately, Celebrimbor replaces Galadriel as Sauron’s primary victim. Posing as Annatar, Sauron manipulates Celebrimbor throughout season 2, pushing the Lord of Eregion to do his bidding....

July 5, 2025 · 5 min · 869 words · Jacqueline Bryant

This hot $375 Galaxy A54 deal makes our favorite budget Samsung phone even easier to recommend

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G It feels like the Samsung Galaxy A54 has only just been released, but we’re already seeing impressive discounts for this device. While the phone was $50 off last week, it’s now down by $75, which means you can get it for a mere $375. TheSamsung Galaxy A54is a fantastic mid-range phone, especially when compared with the rather disappointing A53 from last year. With an MSRP of $450, the A54 is budget-friendly and an easy choice for anyone who really doesn’t want to splurge on the new S23 line....

July 5, 2025 · 2 min · 345 words · Gregory Nunez

What Microsoft's Auto Super Resolution Is and How It Compares to DLSS and FSR

Quick Links With Nvidia’s DLSS, AMD’s FSR, and Intel’s XeSS, there’s no shortage of upscaling tech that makes games look and run better. However, Microsoft is now entering the market with Qualcomm and reworking Windows 11, which has come with a few new pieces of software, including its Auto Super Resolution (ASR) upscaling tech. Like other upscaling tools, ASR claims to boost performance when playing games on Qualcomm-powered Windows laptops. However, Microsoft hasn’t explained its new feature very well—and that’s why we’re here to help....

July 5, 2025 · 6 min · 1150 words · Jonathan Jones

WhatsApp Channels inch closer to Telegram's familiar design

WhatsApp played a big role in making one-on-one messaging andgroup chatsover the internet seem as convenient as they do today. However, needs for communication evolve, and WhatsApp recently started facilitating even larger group interactions throughCommunities. Notably, the app still lacks a scalable method for one-to-many communication, even thoughTelegramhas had Channels for many years now. Now, we have more clarity on WhatsApp’s upcoming feature of the same name. Following astring of reportsspotting the feature in development,WABetaInfohas discovered a new prompt educating users about Channels, prepped for when it drops....

July 5, 2025 · 2 min · 299 words · Mindy Goodwin

Why My External Monitor Was Blurry—and How I Fixed It

A blurry external monitor can disrupt productivity and strain the eyes. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be that way—there’s a lot you can do to fix a blurry monitor! 4Preliminary Fixes to Try A loose or poorly connected HDMI cable can cause your display to look fuzzier than it should. Hence, the first thing you should do is disconnect and reconnect the HDMI cable to ensure it’s securely plugged in on both ends....

July 5, 2025 · 4 min · 696 words · James Ward