This digest compiles the latest from The Verge.
Today’s The Verge Roundup
Lucid sells more robotaxis to Uber, appoints a new CEO
14 Apr 2026, 2:17 pm by Andrew J. Hawkins
Lucid is making some changes. The luxury EV company said Tuesday that it was expanding its robotaxi deal with Uber – and nabbing some additional investment cash in the process. And it’s naming a new CEO who hails not from the world of electric vehicles, but from a company that manufactures a different kind of mobility device: elevators, escalators, and moving walkways.
First, Lucid said that Uber is increasing the number of Lucid Gravity SUVs it is purchasing, from 20,000 to 35,000, for its robotaxi fleet. If you’ll recall, last year, Lucid, Uber, and autonomous delivery startup Nuro announced a massive robotaxi deal that would see the dep …
Has Google’s AI watermarking system been reverse-engineered?
14 Apr 2026, 1:53 pm by Jess Weatherbed
A software developer claims to have reverse-engineered Google DeepMind’s SynthID system, showing how AI watermarks can be stripped from generated images or manually inserted into other works. A claim that, according to Google, isn’t true.
The developer, going by the username Aloshdenny, has open-sourced their work on GitHub and documented his process, claiming all it required was 200 Gemini-generated images, signal processing, and “way too much free time.” A little weed also seemed to help.
“No neural networks. No proprietary access,” Aloshdenny said on Medium. “Turns out if you’re unemployed and average enough ‘pure black’ AI-generated im …
Anbernic’s new handheld is a pocket-friendly Android device with a swiveling screen
14 Apr 2026, 1:43 pm by Andrew Liszewski
Anbernic, one of the most prolific makers of handheld consoles and emulators, isn’t afraid to experiment with creative designs. After debuting a wireless controller with a heart rate monitor earlier this year, the company has announced a new gaming device with a square design, basic controls, and a swiveling touchscreen. What’s not so creative is the name of the new device; the Anbernic RG Rotate.
The company shared a video yesterday showing off some of the RG Rotate’s features. The handheld’s screen swivels using a “self-developed ultra-thin alloy hinge built for lasting durability.” Even companies like Nintendo sometimes struggle with kee …
Ben McKenzie vs. crypto
14 Apr 2026, 1:34 pm by David Pierce
A few years ago, during the absolute peak of the cryptocurrency craze, a somewhat surprising skeptic emerged. Most people know Ben McKenzie from his acting work on Southland or Gotham, or would recognize him instantly as Ryan Atwood from The O.C. While seemingly everyone else was buying Bitcoin, McKenzie decided to figure out what Bitcoin was actually all about. And, of course, he decided to film it.
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On this episode of The Vergecast, McKenzie takes us into his many adventures i …
Samsung is hiking the prices of its Galaxy phones and tablets
14 Apr 2026, 1:34 pm by Emma Roth
Samsung is raising prices across Galaxy Z Flip 7, Galaxy S25 FE, and Galaxy S25 Edge phones, as spotted earlier by Phone Arena. Though the base model of each phone is staying at the same price, devices with higher storage are now up to $80 more expensive:
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 (512GB): $1,219.99 to $1,299.99
- Galaxy S25 FE (256GB): $709.99 to $749.99
- Galaxy S25 Edge (512GB) $1,219.99 to $1,299.99
Last week, Samsung also increased the price of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, bringing its 1TB model from $2,419 to $2,499, while the 512GB version jumped from $2,119 to $2,199. Samsung’s price hikes don’t just end with its phones, however, as Phone Aren …
Apple and Amazon are teaming up to challenge Starlink’s smartphone ambitions
14 Apr 2026, 1:29 pm by Stevie Bonifield
Amazon has made a deal to buy Globalstar’s low-Earth orbit satellite network for $11.57 billion, snapping up its spectrum licenses, operations, and assets to combine with its upcoming Leo internet satellite constellation. Apple owned 20 percent of Globalstar, and as a part of the deal, Amazon will continue to support satellite services like Emergency SOS for iPhones and Apple Watches, and develop future services that connect them to its Leo satellite network. The deal is currently scheduled to close in 2027, pending approval by regulators.
Globalstar currently provides direct-to-device services to the iPhone and Apple Watch. That’s differen …
GoPro goes bigger and pro-er with support for Micro Four Thirds lenses
14 Apr 2026, 1:00 pm by Antonio G. Di Benedetto
GoPro is announcing its Mission 1 cameras, a new line of video-centric action cams with 50-megapixel, 1-inch-type sensors and the company’s new GP3 in-house processor. Pricing is still TBD, but there will be three models launched in two waves: a base-model Mission 1 and the Mission 1 Pro will be available May 28th, and a higher-end flagship Mission 1 Pro ILS with interchangeable Micro Four Thirds lenses is expected in Q3 2026.
The base Mission 1 can shoot video at up to 8K / 30 frames per second in 16:9 as well as open gate of its whole 4:3 sensor at up to 4K / 120 fps. It can do slow-motion of up to 240 fps at 1080p. The Mission 1 Pro ups …
Ecovacs’ new robovac spots and pretreats dried stains using powerful jets
14 Apr 2026, 1:00 pm by Andrew Liszewski
Ecovacs announced a new addition to its Deebot line of autonomous cleaners with a new feature that could make the robovac better at cleaning floors in a single pass. The Deebot X12 OmniCyclone uses cameras and AI to identify dried stains on floors, such as muddy paw prints or spilled soda. Before cleaning the stain with its roller mop, the X12 blasts a mixture of water and cleaning solution in the bot’s path to soften tricky messes, making them easier to scrub away.
The Deebot X12 OmniCyclone is available starting today for $1,499 through the company’s online store and Amazon. That price includes the robovac’s OMNI Station dock, which empti …
Alienware’s new gaming monitor offers a 240Hz QD-OLED panel for just $350
14 Apr 2026, 1:00 pm by Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Alienware has announced a new budget-friendlier QD-OLED monitor, the AW2726DM. As some of the numbers in the convoluted product name hint, it’s a 27-inch QHD panel, with 2560 x 1440 resolution, HDR support, and a high refresh rate of 240Hz. But what really makes it special is its comparatively low price of $349.99.
High-refresh OLED monitors are great for gaming but also nice for everyday use, thanks to their strong contrast, vibrant colors, and their ability to smoothly display motion across your desktop. The AW2726DM makes the whole formula more approachable, as fancier gaming OLEDs typically run $500 to $900 or higher (and that’s not cou …
The heist of iOS 26
14 Apr 2026, 1:00 pm by Jay Peters
The most consequential YouTube video of Jon Prosser’s career opens on Prosser himself, in a black hoodie and transparent glasses. The backdrop is familiar to viewers of his tech news channel, Front Page Tech, with warm, hanging lights and a bright white “fpt” logo behind him. Prosser stares meaningfully into the camera, and kicks the video off with just one line of introduction: “I have seen some things.”
The video debuted on January 17th, 2025, with the title “Here’s your very first look at iOS 19.” For six and a half minutes, Prosser describes an unreleased version of Apple’s iPhone software, not set to be publicly revealed for another s …
End of today’s The Verge roundup.
