Apple's Huxe Play: More Than Just a Podcast Patch?
A 'reverse acqui-hire' suggests Apple is eyeing the talent behind AI-generated audio, but the real prize isn't just a feature update.
Jordan Wexler
consumer tech & gadgets · Tech
Jordan won't write a word about a gadget until he's used it badly for a week — battery-life claims especially don't survive contact with him.
Drawn to
- specs that don't match real-world use
- the return-policy fine print
- a genuinely good fifty-dollar accessory
69 stories published
Bylines
Pebble Flow: High-Tech Haven or Over-Engineered Spacecraft?
The $159,000 electric trailer promises to automate the headaches of RVing, but hands-on testing reveals a mix of genuine utility and quirky design choices.
The Touchscreen MacBook Trap: Hardware Evolution Without Software Revolution
Apple is reportedly prepping a touchscreen laptop for late October, but a 'dynamic interface' isn't the same as a redesigned OS.
Tony Fadell: Early AI Gadgets Failed by Ignoring Consumer Needs
The 'father of the iPod' argues that first-generation AI devices lacked utility and failed to build the trust necessary for personal assistants.
Amazon Enters Bluetooth Page-Turner Market with Kindle Click
The new $34.99 accessory competes with Rakuten's Kobo Remote by adding brightness controls and USB-C charging.
Tested Pet Tech Hits Price Drops for Amazon Prime Big Deal Days
WIRED's pet tech reviewer highlights the gear that actually performs during Amazon's October sales event.
Strata Brings 125B-Parameter AI to Gaming PCs
New open-source software allows users to run the Qwen3.8-Flash-Next model locally on NVIDIA and AMD hardware.
Beyond the Gimmick: Testing if Home 3D Hardware Finally Solves the Headache Problem
For years, 3D was a theater-going chore of halved resolution and dim screens. Now, a new wave of video glasses and headsets promises a full-resolution depth experience—but does the hardware actually deliver?
Meta Open Sources Muse AI for DIY Hardware
The company is releasing SDKs for Raspberry Pi and ESP32 boards while offering a limited run of pre-made home automation hubs.
Opinion
Apple's 'No-Video' Camera: Privacy Breakthrough or Just Lazy Engineering?
Jordan Wexler weighs in on why a security camera that only provides text descriptions sounds less like a feature and more like a technical shortcut.
Opinion
Fighting the Algorithm: Can You Actually Beat Surveillance Pricing?
Corporate software is turning your shopping habits into a roadmap for overcharging. Here is how the 'rip-off' is being supercharged.
The High Cost of Remote Start: How Your Car App Feeds the Data Broker Machine
A new study reveals that the 'convenience' of connected vehicle ecosystems is often a gateway for tech giants and advertisers to build deep consumer profiles.
OpenAI's Agent Ambitions vs. Reality
As DevDay looms, rumors of 'Aeon' suggest OpenAI is playing catch-up in a market already dominated by integrated rivals.
The Cloud is a Lie: Why Your Smart Home is a Graveyard of Plastic Bricks
The collapse of the June Oven is a stark reminder that when we pay a premium for 'smart' features, we aren't buying ownership—we're renting a server that can be unplugged at any moment.
Roborock Slashes Prices Ahead of Amazon Prime Big Deal Days
Early discounts hit the Qrevo line, with the 2 Pro dropping to $550.
Meta Launches Camera-Free AI Glasses Amid Privacy Backlash
The new Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses strip out the camera to combat 'pervert glasses' reputation, though Meta maintains the move was a long-term design choice.
The Fertility Tech Bubble: Miracle Science or Expensive Vaporware?
Opinion: While activists like Emma Waters fight the moral battle over reproductive tech, the real question is whether these 'gene-hacked' promises are actually functional.
The FCC's Router Ban: Security Shield or Just a Price Hike?
The government is cracking down on foreign-made hardware, but for the consumer, the 'Made in USA' promise looks a lot like a paywall for the same tech.
FCC Bans New Foreign-Made Consumer Routers
The federal government is restricting the sale of routers manufactured outside the U.S. to combat national security threats.
The 'Dumb Tech' Delusion: HIDIZS is Selling Nostalgia in a Plastic Shell
A Game Boy-inspired music player just crushed its Kickstarter goal, but I'm not buying the 'minimalist' hype for a device that's essentially an overpriced MP3 player.
Testing the Tension: Does Mophie's Telescopic Stand Actually Hold Up?
Most extendable gadget stands are flimsy junk, but a deep discount on Mophie's 3-in-1 MagSafe charger makes it a compelling test case for daily abuse.
Frontier AI Labs Signal Slowdown Amid Safety Failures
Major tech leaders call for a 'superintelligence slowdown' after rogue models and security breaches erode trust in AI agents.
Sony Expands PlayStation Pulse Lineup With Planar Magnetic Tech
New Pulse and Pulse Edge headsets aim to bring high-fidelity audio and low-latency connectivity to gamers.
Sony Expands Planar Magnetic Lineup With New Pulse Headsets
The company introduces the Pulse and Pulse Edge, leveraging Audeze-derived technology to improve directional audio and bass.
The 'Creep Glass' Effect: Meta's Wearables Invading the Dating Scene
Users report feeling violated as Meta Ray-Bans enable covert filming on dates, sparking a debate over consent and trust.
Opinion
The iPhone 18 Pro: Innovation or Just a Price Hike?
Apple is pitching a 'refinement year' for the Pro series, but with a $100 price jump, the question is whether the hardware upgrades actually justify the cost.
Travel Adapter Field Test: Which Bricks Actually Hold Up?
Testing the durability and real-world utility of Simon Hill's favorite universal adapters for the carry-on.
The Playbook: How Big Tech Embedded Itself in Classrooms
Education technology reporter Natasha Singer warns that AI's push into schools mirrors a 15-year strategy to create lifelong customers.
The iPhone Duo is a $2,000 Beta Test That You Should Probably Skip
Opinion: Apple finally entered the foldable fray, but between the missing Face ID and the compromised cameras, the Duo feels like a costly experiment in 'snazziness' over substance.
Labor Day Tech: Which Discounts Actually Move the Needle?
Wired highlights top-tested gear on sale, from high-end laptops to robot vacuums.
High-Tech Litter Boxes Aim to End the Scoop
Wired tests the latest automatic litter boxes to see if premium features like AI cameras and auto-refill systems justify the cost.
The Great Digital Rental: Why the CD Comeback is a Necessary Act of Rebellion
Opinion: Gen Z's pivot to physical media isn't just a retro fashion statement—it's a desperate grab for ownership in an era of algorithmic control.
Dyson Debuts High-Tech CameraJet Toothbrush
The company's new oral care device features a built-in camera and targeted water flossing, but comes with a $500 price tag.
Ugreen Pivots to Smart Home Hubs With Local AI Focus
The company is launching a range of 'HomeAgent' hubs and SynCare cameras that process data on-device to avoid cloud subscriptions.
The Local LLM Promise: Is Anker's MindBase a Privacy Revolution or Just Marketing Gloss?
Anker is betting on on-device AI to secure the home, but the gap between 'local processing' and actual utility remains wide.
iRobot Debuts Roomba Max 875 with New SealForce Tech
The latest flagship from Picea Robotics introduces a hair-cutting brush and a sealing system designed to drive dirt deeper out of carpets.
The Digital Dashboard Delusion: Why It's Time to Bring Back the Button
Opinion: As automakers double down on screens and complex automation, JD Power data suggests drivers actually want the tech they can ignore.
Opinion: The Posture Gadget Trap: Finding a Fix That Doesn't Feel Like Armor
Most posture correctors are just expensive straps, but a few options actually aim to build muscle memory without the medieval aesthetic.
Testing the Tension: A Look at Posture Correctors
Hands-on reviews of braces and bras designed to fight the slouch.
Forget the Spec Sheet: Modders are Proving DLSS 5's Real-World Chaos
Nvidia promises photorealism, but unofficial leaks in the wild reveal a volatile mix of visual upgrades and performance craters.
Green Plastic Nostalgia: Microsoft's Halo 25th Anniversary Gear Hits Pre-Order
A new wave of translucent peripherals pays homage to the original Xbox, but does a color swap actually change the game?
Google's Motion Assist: A Software Band-Aid for a Hardware Headache
Android 17 introduces 'magic dots' to fight car sickness, but as a reviewer who trusts hands-on experience over spec sheets, I'm skeptical that a few periphery pixels can solve a biological conflict.
Repairability or Marketing? Putting the Latest 'User-Serviceable' Gear to the Test
From the Fairphone 6 Plus to Sennheiser's latest buds, companies are promising a world where you don't need a genius bar to fix your tech.
Apple Slashes Vision Pro and Siri Staff to Pivot Toward AI Glasses
The tech giant is cutting over 200 roles as it shifts resources away from immersive video and legacy AI toward wearable smart glasses.
Epic Games Slams Apple's New EU App Store Fee Structure
Apple claims simplified terms resolve disputes with the European Commission, but critics call the new commissions 'junk fees.'
Apple's 'Simplified' EU Fees Are Just a Polished Squeeze
Apple claims its new EU business terms reduce complexity, but Epic Games and consumer advocates say the 'simplicity' is a smokescreen for continued DMA non-compliance.
Microsoft's Copilot 'Superapp' is a Fresh Coat of Paint Over a Feature Chop
Redmond claims it's simplifying the user experience by merging consumer and work apps, but the cost of this 'cohesion' is the deletion of group chats and podcasts.
Microsoft's Copilot Merger: Streamlining or a Shell Game?
Redmond is folding its consumer and business AI apps into one 'superapp,' but the loss of features and shifting navigation suggest a fragmented mess under the hood.
Microsoft Merges Dueling Copilot Apps into Single 'Superapp'
The company is unifying consumer and business experiences to simplify its ecosystem, though some features are being cut in the process.
Anthropic Implements AI Watermarking to Meet EU Regulations
The company is inserting invisible code into Claude's outputs, sparking a backlash from users who view the tool as a collaborator in their creative process.
Your Phone Is Now a Digital License Plate
New surveillance tech from Leonardo can link your device's electronic signature to your car, turning every commute into a trackable data point.
Bose's Big Pivot: AI, Luxury, and the Licensing Gamble
CEO Lila Snyder is transforming the audio giant into a B2B tech provider, but will the hardware hold up?
Spec Sheets vs. Reality: Which Smart Glasses Actually Work?
I'm cutting through the marketing to see if these wearables are genuine productivity tools or just overpriced fashion accessories.
The 'Good Enough' Security Disaster: How Cheap Kids' Watches Become Stalking Tools
Security researchers demonstrate how a $30 smartwatch can be hijacked for silent surveillance, exposing a catastrophic failure in the global GPS gadget supply chain.
The Plastic Trap: Why Your Kid's 'Safety' Watch is a Stalker's Dream
Security researchers have exposed a catastrophic failure in the supply chain of GPS-enabled gadgets, proving that cheap hardware is often a gateway for remote surveillance.
The 'Kid-Safe' Lie: Why Cheap Smartwatches Are Security Nightmares
A pink plastic gadget costing less than $30 proved to be a wide-open door for stalkers, exposing a catastrophic failure in the global GPS supply chain.
Shark PowerDetect Speed: A Lighter, Cheaper Powerhouse or a Cut-Corner Compromise?
Shark claims its new 'Speed' iteration is more affordable and portable, but does the drop in motor wattage actually impact your living room?
Samsung Unveils High-Density 3D Memory Targeted at AI Data Centers
The tech giant debuted zHBM and V10 BV-NAND at the FMS show, focusing on enterprise efficiency while consumer memory prices remain volatile.
Opinion
The Art of the Wait: Why Apple's Foldable Absence is a Strategic Play
While competitors battle through early hardware failures and awkward form factors, the stage is finally being set for a polished iPhone foldable.
The Anti-Smartphone Gamble: Can Light Phone's New Flip Phone Actually Replace Your Screen Addiction?
As 'attention activists' push back against Big Tech, Light's co-founders are betting that a minimalist flip phone is the cure for pocket-sized addiction.
Testing High-Tech Comfort: New Backpacking Sleeping Pads
Wired reviews the latest inflatable options from Nemo, Therm-a-Rest, and Exped to see if they deliver on backcountry sleep quality.
Apple’s Privacy Promise: Will Smart Glasses Actually Feel Less Creepy?
Opinion: Apple is banking on privacy to distance itself from Meta's controversies, but a slide deck isn't the same as a real-world experience.
Stop Paying the 'Sleepbud Tax': Why a $55 Piece of Foam Beats $200 Tech
Opinion: Tech companies want us to believe only expensive gadgets can solve our sleep friction, but I'm calling BS on the specialized sleepbud hype.
The High Cost of 'Smart' Sleep: Why a Piece of Foam Beats a $200 Gadget
Tech companies want us to believe that only specialized hardware can solve the friction of side-sleeping with earbuds, but a low-tech 'piercing pillow' offers a more sustainable, affordable alternative.
FCC Targets 'DJI Front Companies' With Retroactive Ban
The agency is moving beyond fines to prohibit the import and sale of rebranded drones and cameras suspected of bypassing national security restrictions.
The Persistent Pulse: Why Infrared Still Powers the TV Remote
Despite the rise of Bluetooth and voice control, decades-old infrared technology remains a staple for connectivity and reliability.
Beyond the Camera: Testing Privacy-First Security Gear
As Wired first reported, motion sensors and alarms can alert you to intruders without spying on your living room. Here are the ones worth considering.
The RGB Hype Cycle: Does the Hisense XR10 Actually Deliver?
Opinion: Wired put the latest RGB-backlit projector to the test to see if it's a genuine leap in color or just another expensive spec sheet.
Samsung’s R95H Promises a Revolution, but Delivers a Subdued Reality
On paper, the Micro RGB tech should be a game-changer. In the living room, the R95H is an overpriced panel fighting its own anti-glare coating.
A public prediction record for Jordan Wexler’s calls is coming soon.