Category: Technology

There is no such thing as the “best game console,” but figuring out which one is right for you is more in reach. There are seven systems that you could reasonably call “current gen,” and others, such as Valve’s Steam Deck, further muddying the waters. Engadget staffers play games on pretty much every console you can think of, and a few that you might not have thought about for a very long time.

For some, nothing but the highest-specced system will do; others just need the cheapest way to play the latest games; maybe you value portability over everything; or maybe you haven’t played in years and are looking for a system for your family to enjoy together. There are endless use-cases for a games console, and that’s why we’ve put together this article.

We’ve reviewed and evaluated every console in here, some more than once, and tried to categorize the “best gaming console” for specific needs. You’ll find 10 picks in here, with all of the big players represented, and two best “high-end consoles,” each for different reasons. We hope by the end of this guide, you’ll be much closer to deciding on the perfect console for you.

Best high-end console: PS5

The PlayStation 5 delivers the most stunning graphics and seamless performance of any current-gen gaming console. Sony stuck with the traditional hardware-upgrade cycle for the PS5, significantly improving processing power and visual fidelity over the previous generation, and introducing a new gamepad packed with immersion mechanics. The DualSense, Sony’s latest controller, is a standout feature: It offers intense and precise haptic feedback along the grips, and has adaptive triggers, meaning tension in the R2 and L2 buttons changes as players equip various weapons and tools. This is something that the Xbox Series consoles simply don’t have.

Meanwhile, the PS5 offers a library of console exclusives including God of War: Ragnarök, Returnal, the Demon’s Souls remake, Insomniac’s Spider-Man series, every The Last of Us game and re-release, and a litany of Final Fantasy titles. PlayStation Plus Premium, the highest tier of Sony’s monthly subscription service, adds cloud streaming, freebies and a catalog of games to download at any time. Premium costs $18 a month or $120 annually, and there are cheaper tiers with fewer perks in the Plus ecosystem.

The PS5 may look a little funny sitting next to your TV, but truly, it’s what’s inside that counts. And hey, that’s why companies like dbrand exist. – Jessica Conditt, Senior Reporter

Best high-end console: Xbox Series X

The Xbox Series X is the most powerful gaming console on the market, and together with a Game Pass subscription it gives you an almost endless library of titles to dive into (including launch-day Microsoft releases). While we’d still like to see more exclusives on Xbox, there are major titles on the horizon like Starfield, Redfall and the revamped Forza Motor Sport. PC gamers may also appreciate cross-purchases between Windows and Xbox titles, as well as the ability to stream games from the cloud using Game Pass. Sure, Sony still has a stranglehold on big-budget narrative games, but the sheer wealth of offerings on Microsoft’s platforms — including small indies, classic franchises and a ton of great games via EA Play (included with Game Pass for PCs and Ultimate) — is staggering.

It used to be that you’d have to stick with the same console all of your friends are using, but these days the availability of cross-play multiplayer on most titles makes that consideration moot. If you want to play Call of Duty with your friends, it doesn’t really matter if you get an Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5. So the best advice now? Base your choice on the exclusives you’d like to play, as well as the potential subscription benefits. If you want to see where Master Chief goes next, or are just tired of paying full price for first-party games and some indies, you’ll probably be happiest with a Series X and Game Pass. – Devindra Hardawar, Senior Reporter

Best budget console: Xbox Series S + Game Pass

The Xbox Series S packs enough power to play the latest and greatest games, but it truly shines as a semi-portable Game Pass machine. The Series S is a disc-less, compact console that typically costs $300, though it’s frequently on sale for $250 to $270. This little rectangular baby can play games at resolutions higher than 1080p, though it won’t hit 4K, and it’s less powerful overall than the Series X. The Series S also has less storage space than its big sibling, and this is its main drawback.

That’s where Game Pass comes in. A Game Pass Ultimate subscription unlocks cloud streaming on the Series S (as well as PC and mobile devices), allowing players to dive into a large library without downloading anything. Game Pass Ultimate is $15 a month, with the first month for $1. Microsoft has the most reliable cloud network in the business and it’s committed to releasing all of its big new Xbox Game Studios titles on Game Pass day-one. Sony has yet to make such a promise with in-house launches on PlayStation Plus.

Even without Game Pass, the Series S is the cheapest way to participate in the Xbox console ecosystem and it’ll play every game the Series X can. You might just have to delete downloads as you go. – J.C.

Best for local multiplayer: Nintendo Switch

It’s a pity that the rise of online multiplayer meant the death of local options for most gaming consoles — that is, except for the Nintendo Switch. Chalk it up to Nintendo’s legacy: It’s a company that’s always prioritized the simple beauty of playing with your friends and family on the couch. Be it four players racing against each other locally in Mario Kart, or diving into an assortment of mini-games in Mario Party, you can have a blast using a single Switch hooked up to a TV. It’s a cinch to connect other controllers to let your friends join — something they’ll likely have on-hand if they have their own Switch. And since it’s a portable console, you can always play against others over local networks, giving you the beauty of being together with friends while also having your own private screen. Just try doing that with a PS5. – D.H.

Best couch portable: Valve Steam Deck

The idea of a portable console that’s primarily used at home might feel counterintuitive, but this is actually how a lot of people prefer to play games, and the Steam Deck helped prove it. The Steam Deck came out in February 2022 and quickly emerged as a popular PC portable for people who wanted to spend time away from their desks, but not their Steam libraries. It’s a chunky handheld gaming console with dual analog sticks and trackpads; standard face buttons, bumpers and triggers; four rear clickers, and a 7-inch LCD touchscreen. It’s big and strangely beautiful, and plays most PC games just fine.

The Steam Deck starts at $400 and tops out at $650, making it relatively affordable in the world of PC portables. The Steam Deck is a little too big and battery-sucking to be a must-have carry-on while traveling, but it’s perfect for cuddling on the couch – with a supportive pillow and power outlet nearby. – J.C.

Best for first time gamers: Nintendo Switch Lite

Nintendo has a history of making tank-like portable consoles, and the Switch Lite is no exception. It’s just as fast as its larger sibling, but since it has integrated controls, you won’t have to worry about any Joy-cons flying away if it’s dropped. The Switch Lite’s 5.5-inch screen and smaller frame always makes it easier for tiny hands to hold, something I’ve found particularly useful as my four-year-old daughter is finally getting into games. There’s a wide variety of child-friendly content available on the Switch, but we’d recommend diving into the classic of library Nintendo titles via the console’s online service. Kids will ultimately figure out Minecraft on their own, but it’s up to the older generation to instill the value of proper platforming with Super Mario Bros. 3. – D.H.

Best for commuting: Nintendo Switch Lite

The Switch Lite is by far the cutest handheld gaming console on the market today and this is just one reason it’s ideal for use in public. The Switch Lite is a tiny, lightweight handheld with a 5.5 inch LCD touchscreen and basic gamepad buttons, and it’s sold in a variety of colorways and special editions. It feels natural to pull out while on the bus, riding the subway, in a waiting room, or just hanging out at a cafe, bar or park. It’s a low-profile portable that offers a library of engaging games from Nintendo and beyond, including exclusive franchises like The Legend of Zelda, Pokemon, Mario Kart, Smash Bros., Bayonetta, Animal Crossing and Kirby.

In comparison to the standard Switch, the Lite model is sturdier for everyday commutes because it doesn’t have detachable controllers and it takes up less space in your bag. It’s also about $150 cheaper than the larger Switch, at $200. – J.C.

Best for air travel: Nintendo Switch

The Switch’s hardware may be showing its age, but it’s still the best way to get some gaming in during long flights. Having a 6.2-inch screen (or 7-inches with the pricier Switch OLED) in your hands makes it easy to ignore annoying seat neighbors, countless delays and all of the other indignities of air travel. The Switch should also survive for several hours of gameplay, and it’s easy to charge for longer journeys. While the Steam Deck may be tempting, it’s also so large it’ll likely fill up much of your backpack. The Switch can still fit alongside your computer and other gear, and its game library is so vast, you’ll never be left wanting for things to play. – D.H.

Best handheld gaming console for nostalgia: Retroid Pocket 3

The Retroid Pocket 3 is an accessible, streamlined emulation machine that’s capable of handling games from the sixth generation down – that’s anything up to the GameCube and PlayStation 2. It can even run some PSP games, apparently, but at this point, you’re just getting greedy. The Retroid Pocket 3 brings classics like Super Mario RPG, Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy IX and so many others to modern audiences, and they all look better than ever.

What’s more, the Retroid Pocket 3 is an Android-based handheld gaming console, which means it also works as a hub for cloud streaming through services like Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. This little device is tinier than a Switch Lite and it has a 4.7 inch LCD touchscreen – that’s smaller than Nintendo’s latest handheld but bigger than the screen of a classic Game Boy, for what it’s worth. What’s most astonishing about the Retroid Pocket 3 is its price: just $150. – J.C.

Best console with a large game streaming library: Xbox Series X (or S)

For console gamers, Microsoft’s Game Pass subscription has been a revelation. For $10 a month, you can play hundreds of games, including all of Microsoft’s first-party software, as well as major titles like Monster Hunter Rise and A Plague Tale Requiem. Even better, Microsoft-owned titles are available the day they’re released! Bump up to the $15 Game Pass Ultimate tier and you’ll also get access to cloud gaming, which lets you stream select titles to your phone, computer and even some TVs. The sheer variety of content on Game Pass makes it hard to stomach paying full price for a game ever again.

Sony’s response to Game Pass amounts to an evolution of its PlayStation Plus service. Its highest-tier “Premium” offering costs $18 a month, and it also gives you access to a large library of titles and cloud streaming. But, Sony isn’t adding first-party titles to any PS Plus tier the day they launch — you’ll either have to pay full price, or wait until they get added to the rotation. Until Sony caves, having release day access to titles makes Game Pass the obviously better subscription service. – D.H.

 

Bungie has been embroiled in a legal battle with cheat provider AimJunkies since 2021, with both sides slapping the other with lawsuits. Now, the game developer has walked away with $4.3 million in damages and fees after a victory in an arbitration proceeding, according to TorrentFreak. Bungie first sued AirmJunkies in 2021, accusing it of copyright and trademark infringement for hosting “Destiny 2 Hacks” on its website. 

US District Court Judge Thomas Zilly ruled mostly in favor of AimJunkies last year, deciding that Bungie had failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove its claim. However, he gave Bungie the chance to present more evidence. That copyright infringement lawsuit is still headed to trial, but Zilly apparently referred the non-copyright-related aspects of the case to arbitration. 

TorrentFreak says arbitration Judge Ronald Cox has decided that AimJunkies and “Destiny 2 Hacks” developer James May violated the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Cox based his decision on May’s previous testimonies that he connected reverse engineering tools to the game in order to create cheats for it. May also said that Bungie caught and banned him several times for doing so, but that he looked for methods to circumvent the bans. 

Since AimJunkies sold and profited from May’s creation, the judge found it liable. Cox also found AimJunkies and its parent company Phoenix Digital Group liable for selling not just game cheats, but also the loader used to inject cheats into games. Based on evidence presented, AimJunkies sold over 1,000 copies of the cheats and over 1,000 copies of the cheat loader. In addition to the evidence and May’s statements, one other reason why Cox sided with Bungie was because AimJunkies owner David Shaefer underreported the website’s cheat sales. “Given respondents’ egregious and willful conduct, including their ongoing concealment of sales, Bungie is entitled to the full statutory damages available,” he wrote in his decision. 

As a result, Bungie was awarded $3.65 million for all DMCA-related violations and an additional $700,000 for fees and other costs. According to TorrentFreak, Bungie will use this victory as part of its argument in AimJunkies’ countersuit in which it accused the developer of violating its ToS for reverse-engineering its cheat software. AimJunkies also previously claimed that Bungie illegally hacked May’s computer, but the court dismissed that complaint last year. 

 

You can now test your racing skills against Sony AI’s GT Sophy – the one already wiping the floor with folks who get paid to play this professionally – when it arrives in today’s update for Gran Turismo 7 on the PlayStation 5 today. Players will face off against four GT Sophy AI opponents, all with vehicles specced slightly differently. There will be a four-circuit series separated by difficulty, too. The GT Sophy races will only be available until the end of March.

Meanwhile, an amateur Go player beat a highly-ranked AI system after exploiting a weakness discovered by a second computer. By exploiting the flaw, American player Kellin Pelrine defeated the KataGo system decisively, winning 14 of 15 games without further computer help.

It’s a rare Go win for humans since AlphaGo’s milestone 2016 victory. FAR AI developed a program to probe KataGo for weaknesses. The trick was to create a large “loop” of stones to encircle an opponent’s group, then distract the computer by making moves in other areas of the board. Even when its group was nearly surrounded, the computer failed to notice. Now we just need to figure out how to use this strategy on the Gran Turismo circuit…

– Mat Smith

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The OnePlus 11 Concept will feature a ‘flowing back’ with blue lighting

It’s emphasizing the device’s gaming prowess with PC-like LEDs.

OnePlus has teased a version of its latest phone, the OnePlus 11 Concept, with… lots of LED lights. The “flowing back” has a unibody glass design with a meandering stream-type LED lighting pattern with a ring around the camera module. (Yes, it does remind us a little of the Nothing Phone 1’s transparent, light-up back.) It will be revealed on February 27th at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023 in Barcelona.

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The Fellow Opus is a coffee grinder that doubles as a showpiece

Consistency and versatility in an attractive package.

Fellow has a proven track record for well-designed, sturdy coffee gear. The company makes everything from travel mugs to kettles, including a grinder primarily designed to prepare beans for pour-over. Fellow’s second grinder is more versatile, used to prep beans for nine-bar espresso in addition to pour-over, French press, cold brew and much more. It’s consistent, easy to use and, well, stylish.

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Google Chrome’s memory and battery saver modes are rolling out to everyone

The features first emerged in December.

Google Chrome has increasingly become a resource hog over the years, vacuuming up more and more of your system’s memory and battery life with reckless abandon. Now, Google is doing something about it. As part of Chrome 110 for Windows, Mac and Chromebook desktops, the company is rolling out memory- and energy-saver modes. The features, which Google announced in December, are now enabled by default. You can turn them off in the Performance section of Chrome settings. Memory Saver puts inactive tabs on ice to free up RAM for other pages and apps. When you click on a frozen tab, you’ll be able to continue from where you left off.

Continue reading.

 

Late last year, Microsoft announced that it was “committed” to bringing Call of Duty (CoD) to Nintendo for 10 years if its Activision Blizzard acquisition was approved. Now, president Brad Smith has tweeted that the “binding” 10-year contract has been signed, and confirmed that Nintendo would get the same access to CoD as Xbox.

“Microsoft and Nintendo have now negotiated and signed a binding 10-year legal agreement to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo players — the same days as Xbox, with full feature and content parity,” Microsoft wrote in a statement. “We are committed to providing long term equal access to Call of Duty to other gaming platforms.” 

Microsoft previously said that it offered Sony a similar deal for PlayStation consoles, and committed to offer the game on Steam at the same time as Xbox — provided the merger goes through, of course.

The deals are all part of Microsoft’s efforts to convince regulators allow its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard to proceed. The deal is strongly in limbo right now, as the US Federal Trade Commission has sued to block the takeover, and the UK may require Activision to divest parts of its business for the merger to proceed. 

On top of that, the European Union is reportedly set to join the UK in declaring that the proposed acquisition could reduce competition. To that end, Microsoft reportedly requested a hearing with EU regulators to defend the deal — and that meeting is set for today, according to Reuters. 

The acquisition ran afoul of regulators from the start over concerns that it would cut off Sony’s PS5 and other consoles from key games, particularly CoD. Sony vehemently opposes the deal, having called it a “game-changer that poses a threat to our industry.” Microsoft has said that Sony’s comments were “self-serving” and promised to support Call of Duty on PlayStation “forever.”

 

Cheaters are why we can’t have nice things. All the time, money and effort that could be going towards expanded DLCs and improved gameplay mechanics is instead spent staving off the legions of mediocre players who mistake aimbots for actual gaming prowess. The entire exercise is exhausting and Ubisoft isn’t going to take it anymore, the company announced Monday. Come the game’s next update release, any ‘Rainbow Six Siege’ player found cheating through the use of input spoofing — that is, using a third-party device to run a keyboard and mouse on their console instead of a controller — will see their lag times drastically extended. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

These devices — which include the XIM APEX, the Cronus Zen, or the ReaSnow S1 — allow players to leverage the heightened sensitivity and increased reactions that a keyboard and mouse offer over console controllers. They also incorporate aim assist, autoreload, and autoscope features which have long (and rightfully!) been scorned by the larger gaming community and banned from anything even loosely resembling official competition. But that hasn’t stopped folks from increasingly relying on such devices to artificially boost their scores in online shooters from ‘Destiny 2’ to ‘Overwatch.’

That will no longer be the case with ‘Rainbow Six Siege.’ The company revealed its Mousetrap system on Monday, a detection suite built specifically to sniff out accounts running these illicit hardware devices. Mousetrap is already live, has been for a few seasons now as the company honed the system’s detection capabilities and built out a database of known cheats. Also, yes, they’re very much onto you and your pedestrian FPS machinations. 

“We know exactly which players are spoofing and when they were spoofing,” Jan Stahlhacke, gameplay programming team lead for ‘Rainbow Six Siege,’ announced in the Y8S1 reveal above. “We also know that at the highest ranks spoofers become much more common.”

Should the system spot one, that account will see a notable increase in its response times, more than enough to cancel out any ill-gained advantages. The user will have to unplug the device, then play a few more rounds with the “al-ping-tross” chained to their neck before the lag penalty will (eventually) dissipate. Activision took similar — and equally inventive — measures in 2022 against Call of Duty cheats with its Disarm measure. 

The company does acknowledge that such devices are used legitimately by gamers with disabilities and Ubisoft urges those players to reach out with feedback about how these changes might impact them. Huh, seems like the sort of thing you’d want to get squared away before enacting a sweeping policy such as this but, then again, Ubisoft isn’t exactly famous for its culture of inclusivity.

 

Ram pulled the wraps off its 1500 REV electric truck concept at CES, following that up with a proper unveiling earlier this month. Eager early adopters could reserve a 2024 model with a $100 deposit for the so-called Ram REV Insider+ membership. However, late last week, Stellantis shut down pre-orders as “membership max capacity” had been reached. Initial news of the closure was posted on a Ram 1500 REV forum early Friday and Jalopnik confirmed with the automaker that reservations were indeed sold out. No additional information on the number of memberships purchased or when they might re-open was made available to the outlet.

During the official debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Ram revealed an electric truck that looks more like its gas-powered siblings than the futuristic design we saw at CES. That’s not uncommon as Ford’s F-150 Lightning also closely resembles it’s massively popular existing lineup. We still don’t know much about the 1500 REV’s specs yet, though Car and Driver reports it will have a battery pack that can quick charge at 350 kilowatts that’s based on 800-volt architecture. Ram is targeting a driving range of up to 500 miles and towing capacity over 10,000 pounds. 

The Ram concept featured an interior that can be reconfigured for three rows of seating thanks to a powered midgate. And with the midgate down, the 1500 REV can carry items up to 18 feet in length. It’s unknown at this point if those storage and seating options will make it on the final production model. We also don’t know exactly how much the truck will cost, but it will likely be comparable to the F-150 Lightning, which currently starts at just under $56,000. 

 

When a microphone has been around for 30 years, it must be doing something right. The Rode NT1 is arguably the company’s flagship studio mic and origin story for the brand’s name. The mic was originally called the Rodent1, shortened to Rode NT1 and the rest is history. Today, the company is unveiling the fifth iteration and it comes with two key updates that should interest podcasters and vocalists alike. Those would be 32-bit float recording and the addition of USB connectivity.

The inclusion of USB might feel like something that should have been there all along, but typically “pro” studio microphones are XLR only, with USB being the reserve of desktop microphones. Times are changing though and more folks are seeking a classic microphone but without the need to use an audio interface. Now, with the NT1 you have both. The USB connection is tucked away right at the base of the existing XLR port. It’s a clever solution, but you will need a USB cable with fairly slim connections else it won’t fit.

With the new USB connectivity comes the option for tailoring the sound of the mic. Usually that part is offloaded to an interface or mixer, but now there’s an onboard DSP that allows you do apply things like a noise gate or compressor to the mic directly (via Rode’s Central or Connect apps). Not to mention this makes the microphone much more portable as you won’t need to bring a separate, often clunky interface along with you.

Easily the biggest benefit of the MK5 (and that built-in DSP) is the introduction of 32-bit float recording. In a nutshell, 32-bit allows for an exponentially larger dynamic range than 16- and 24-bit (which is what most systems use). This means you can forget about clipping (when audio is too loud and distorts) as there’s enough headroom for almost any sound that would be possible. Or, put another way, you can effectively forget about setting levels safe in the knowledge you can adjust them in post without any audio loss.

What this means for podcasters and vocalists is less time worrying about levels at the point of recording, knowing you can set things as you want in post. Of course, good levels at the point of recording is always adviseable if possible, but it at least means any sudden sounds won’t ruin your take. It’s also currently very rare to find 32-bit float on a microphone like this – typically you’d have to buy a pro-level audio recorder if you wanted this feature.

At $259 the NT1 sits in an interesting spot. Shure’s MV7 also offers XLR and USB connectivity and retails for $250 without 32-bit float (it’s also a dynamic mic which will be either a benefit or a disadvantage depending on your needs). Sennheiser’s fantastic MK 4 condensor typically runs for around $300 and doesn’t offer USB connectivity. Similarly, if you’re using something like a Blue Yeti and looking for an upgrade, the NT1 makes a compelling option.

The NT1 goes up for pre-order today. 

 

It’s perhaps not a huge surprise that Sonos has more speakers on the way, but a new report reveals what the company’s next models probably look like, as well as some of the specs and approximate pricing. The Sonos Era 300 and 100 are slated to arrive in late March, according to The Verge. The latter is said to effectively be a replacement for the Sonos One, which has been around since 2017.

The Era 100 looks similar to the One, though it has a more spherical design. The physical controls, meanwhile, appear to be on an indented bar. The Era 100 could be a little more expensive than the $219 One (Sonos is said to have bandied around a price of $250), but it reportedly has extra features, such as Bluetooth audio and USB-C line-in support. It’s believed that the Era 100 won’t have upward-firing drivers, though it should build on the Sonos One’s performance by including a second tweeter (to help deliver stereo audio) and larger mid-woofer for stronger bass.

The drum-style Era 300, meanwhile, appears to have similarly indented controls and seems to be designed with spatial audio in mind. It reportedly has six drivers. The Verge indicated that, when a pair of the Era 300 speakers are combined with the Arc or Beam (Gen 2) soundbar — used as rear surround speakers in this case — they’ll deliver Atmos surround sound with upward-firing audio. Like the Era 100, the 300 is said to support Bluetooth audio and USB-C line-in. It’s anticipated that the Era 300 will cost around $450, which is less than the Sonos Five.

While the speaker reportedly supports spatial audio from Amazon Music Unlimited, it’s believed that Sonos has not reached an agreement to stream Apple Music’s Dolby Atmos tracks directly on an Era 300. There are workarounds involving an Apple TV 4K and Sonos’ soundbars, though for the time being, it seems that standalone Apple Music Dolby Atmos playback will remain an exclusive HomePod feature.

Both Era speakers are said to have WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 and AirPlay 2 support. The report suggests they’ll work with Trueplay calibration on Android phones. They’d be the first Sonos devices to do so. 

Meanwhile, it’s expected that Sonos will separately sell a line-in adaptor for USB-C audio. It’s also understood that you’ll need to buy a so-called combo adapter if you want to plug in an Ethernet cable as neither speaker has a built-in port. In any case, we should find out more details about both speakers in the coming weeks.

 

Over the 14 years since it debuted, Google Chrome has increasingly become a resource hog, vacuuming up more and more of your system’s memory and battery life with seemingly reckless abandon. At long last, Google is doing something to make the browser less of a strain on your computer. As part of Chrome 110 for Windows, Mac and Chromebook desktops, the company is rolling out memory and energy saver modes.

The features, which Google announced in December, are both enabled by default. You can turn them off from the Performance section of the Chrome settings.

Memory Saver puts inactive tabs on ice to free up RAM for other pages and apps. When you click on a frozen tab, you’ll be able to continue from where you left off. As Android Police notes, a speedometer icon in the address bar will show that the tab was inactive and now it’s in use again. There’s the option to exempt certain sites from Memory Saver too. Google claims that the feature reduces Chrome’s memory usage by up to 30 percent. You know what else would help? Closing tabs you aren’t using!

Energy Saver, meanwhile, can start limiting background activity, video frame rates and animated effects when you’re using Chrome and your laptop or Chromebook’s battery level drops below 20 percent. It’s also possible to configure the feature to kick in as soon as you unplug the charger to improve efficiency. When Energy Saver is active, you’ll see a leaf icon next to the address bar, not to mention fewer visual effects in the tab you’re using.

 

TikTok is rolling out a new program in the US that’s designed to help creators increase their earning potential and “unlock more exciting, real-world opportunities.” The Creativity Program builds on initiatives like the Creator Fund. TikTok wrote in a blog post that it took feedback from previous efforts into account while building the program.

Details are relatively scant for now, but TikTok says the Creativity Program will be invite-only at the outset before opening up to all eligible creators in the US in the coming months. Participants need to be at least 18 years old; meet the minimum follower and video view counts; and have an account that’s in good standing. TikTok hasn’t said how many followers a user will need to take part, but a previous report suggested the floor is 100,000 followers, a significant jump from the 10,000 baseline for the Creator Fund.

In addition to meeting certain concrete metrics, TikTok says users need to post “high-quality, original content longer than one minute” to be able to earn through the Creativity Program. It added that creators will be able to track video eligibility on an updated dashboard and see their estimated revenue alongside video performance data.

Many creators have taken fire at TikTok, with some claiming that they’ve received payouts of just a few dollars for videos that were viewed millions of times. The TikTok Creator Fund was unveiled in 2020 with an initial commitment of $200 million. Soon after, the company said it would support hundreds of thousands of creators with over $2 billion in funding over the next three years. TikTok hasn’t confirmed how much it plans to pay out through the Creativity Program, but confirmed to TechCrunch it will “provide a higher average gross revenue for qualified video views” under a revised formula.

TikTok is starting to roll out the Creativity Program in the US after testing it in France and Brazil over the last few months. The company has other monetization plans in the works, according to reports, such as a way for creators to paywall their videos. The Stateside debut of the Creativity Program comes soon after YouTube started sharing ad revenue with Shorts creators.