🎮 New N64, 🍎 iPad mini 7, 🌈 Kindle color, 📆 Next PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary restock
10 tech stories in the quickest format possible
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🎮 1. Analogue 3D plays N64 games in 4K – and it sounds like a dream come true
🎮 The Analogue 3D is a modern spin on the Nintendo 64
🕹️ It can play original cartridges at 4K resolution via HDMI
👏 It’s packed with today’s features: save states, Bluetooth & WiFi
📆 Pre-orders start October 21 at 11am ET – and it will sell out quickly
💰 It’ll cost $250 to get that proper 90s GoldenEye 007 nostalgia trip
Still got your old N64 cartridges and controllers? The Analogue 3D should be on your radar. It can play Nintendo’s nearly 400 N64 games at a full 4K resolution on any TV with an HDMI port, and the console is packed with modern-day features like save states, Bluetooth and WiFi. You can even take screenshots.
It costs $250 and you can pick up a special 8BitDo-designed N64 controller for $39 if you want a wireless option. Pre-orders begin on October 21 at 11am ET / 8am PT.
🔮 Prediction 1: Like previous Analogue products like the Analogue Pocket, expect this new console to sell out fast. I’ll track pre-orders on X.
🔮 Prediction 2: This may create a run on N64 games on both eBay and in retro game shops. Tip: Secure classic games now before everyone gets their refreshed console and N64 cartridge prices are driven up. 📈
Ask Matt Swider on Twitter or Instagram for hand-picked deals from Walmart / Best Buy / Amazon / B&H / Samsung / Google / GameStop / Xbox / Microsoft Office (PC) deal / MS Office (Mac) deal
📱 2. iPad mini 7 stealth launched with a new chip for Apple Intelligence, faster USB-C
📱 Apple announced a new iPad mini after three years of waiting
⚙️ What’s new: the A17 processor and 128GB base storage
✏️ Fresh upgrades: Apple Pencil 2nd gen support & faster USB-C port
🎨 Five colors, including the new blue and purple colors
📆 iPad mini is available for preorder now for $499; ships October 23
It took three years, but Apple has finally launched a new iPad Mini. It features an upgraded A17 processor, twice as fast USB-C port (USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 offers up to 10Gbps speeds), and supports the 2nd generation Apple Pencil and new $59 Smart Folio case. Not much else has changed, but you can get it for $499 for the WiFi-only model or $649 with cellular.
🎨 3. Amazon Kindle Colorsoft adds color to the e-reader for the first time
🙏 The Kindle Colorsoft feels like a long time coming
😍 It’s Amazon’s first color Kindle, and it’s an exciting proposition
✍️ The new display will bring book covers to life and make annotating easier
😁 However, it’s the transformative effect on graphic novels that’s really exciting
Amazon’s first color Kindle is now available, and it’s called the Colorsoft. It retains all the features of Amazon’s excellent Paperwhite e-reader, but the new E-ink display opens up new possibilities like graphic novels. It’s the e-reader many will have been waiting for.
Amazon also announced a new Kindle Scribe, two new Kindle Kids models, and a refreshed Paperwhite. They’re available now, but the best time to buy will be Black Friday or when the next Amazon Prime Day rolls around in June 2025.
🎮 4. Next PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary restock will likely be at Amazon
📦 Amazon never sold PS5 30th Anniversary console like other retailers
🙏 There’s still hope that the $499 limited-edition PS5 will be sold
📆 The Shortcut has a theory on when it’ll likely be in stock
🔔 Follow Matt Swider on X and turn on notifications for alerts
Amazon PS5 30th Anniversary Collection pre-orders haven’t gone live yet, and it’s one of the few US retailers to hold back its inventory of the limited-edition console. That’s good news if you want to buy the PS1-themed $499 PS5 Slim console.
The Shortcut checks the Amazon PS5 30th Anniversary pre-order page routinely, offering reliable restock alerts to followers of Matt Swider on X. Even though we saw other American retailers like Walmart, Best Buy and GameStop offer pre-orders on October 10 at 10am ET, Amazon didn’t sell the 30th Anniversary console. It’s safe to say that Amazon could restock the new PS5 at any time, but we’re watching for one specific date. Tap “Find out more” to… find out more.
🎶 5. Sonos Arc Ultra doubles the bass and packs Dolby Atmos surround into a thinner soundbar
🔊 Sonos announces its new Arc Ultra soundbar and Sub 4 subwoofer
📣 The Sonos Arc Ultra features 14 drivers, three more than the Arc
📐 It’s also thinner than the four-year-old Sonos Arc
🎛️ Sound Motion drivers produce bigger & heavier sound
🎶 Sonos Arc Ultra can produce a 9.1.4 sound field all on its own
🫨 Sonos Sub 4 features a new matte finish and dual force-cancelling woofers
📆 Ships October 29, but Sonos Arc Ultra ($999) & Sub 4 ($799) pre-orders begin today
Sonos has announced its long-awaited Arc Ultra Dolby Atmos soundbar, and it truly is an all-in-one surround sound system.
The Sonos Arc Ultra features 14 drivers units, which gives it three more drivers than found in the standard Arc soundbar from 2020 and yet it’s also slimmer than Sonos previous soundbar. Sonos says it has developed Sound Motion technology so smaller driver units can produce bigger and heavier sound.
🆚 6. Meta Quest 3S has a big advantage over the more expensive Quest 3
💪 Meta’s more budget-friendly headset is no slouch
👏 It features better low-light tracking than the Quest 3
👀 It’s because it has IR Illuminators built-in
💰 The Meta Quest 3S is available now for $299
🧠 7. Sonos Roam 2 review: size-defying sound from the only Wi-Fi-enabled Bluetooth speaker
🏆 Review score: 4 out of 5
Pros:
✅ 📻 Compact, portable speaker with size-defying audio quality
✅ 🔊 Versatile sound with clear instruments and vocals, balanced treble, and present bass
✅ ➕ Perfect add-on speaker for those heavily bought into a Sonos system already
✅ 🪄 Automatic TruePlay tuning ensures you get the best sound in any space
✅ 💵 Competitively priced
Cons
❌ 📶 Connects over the outdated Bluetooth 5.0 standard only
❌ 👨💻 Only supports AAC and SBC codecs
❌ 🪫 Max 10-hour battery life is too short
❌ 📵 TruePlay still not available to Android users
🏆 8. The top 30 groundbreaking tech winners: The Shortcut IFA 2024 awards
🧪 We tested 100+ gadgets over the last month in Berlin
🏆 We picked the 30 best technology innovations we saw in person
🥇 Big award winners: DJI Honor, Lenovo, Anker, Ugreen and Govee
💯 IFA, which turned 100 this year, is Europe’s version of CES
Over the last month, The Shortcut team tested 100+ new and forthcoming gadgets to give you a glimpse of the future of technology. There was no better place to show off the latest laptops, phones, drones, smart fans and cans (as in headphones) than IFA 2024 in Berlin. IFA is the CES of Europe and just hit its centennial anniversary.
IFA stands for the Internationale FunkAusstellung (International Radio Exhibition), and obviously, the expo has evolved since its inception in 1924. On the 100th anniversary of IFA, we’re reviewing our favorite of the 100 gadgets we tested.
Here are the top 30, according to your tech experts at The Shortcut.
🎧 9. Soundcore Space One Pro review: these $200 headphones with ANC are Anker’s best
🏆 Review score: 4 out of 5
Pros
✅ One of the best values in the headphone market
✅ Comfortable over-the-ear headphones
✅ Solid sound quality with amazing ANC
✅ Long 40-hour battery life
✅ Cross-platform app support on iOS and Android
Cons
❌ Transparency mode is bad
❌ Mic quality is disappointing
❌ They’re kind of chunky
✋ 10. I can't buy the PS5 Pro – but it's not because I don't want to
😞 The PS5 Pro is a harder sell than it needs to be
🤔 The digital-only console requires a disc drive, which Sony sells for $79.99
🤷♂️ However, in the UK, it’s still sold out everywhere
🙌 Thankfully, it’s back in stock in the US but could sell out soon
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