Retroid Unveils Pocket 6, Fulfilling Community Anticipations for an Alternative Gadget
It’s been quite an eventful week for Retroid.
Essential Information
- Retroid has unveiled the Pocket G2 along with the Pocket 6.
- The Pocket G2 is currently available for purchase, and will be on sale for the upcoming two weeks.
- Following its initial announcement of the Pocket 6, Retroid changed its stance based on community input.
Surprisingly, it has been nearly a year since Retroid introduced the Pocket 5 and Pocket Mini. Both devices were equipped with the Snapdragon 865, categorizing them as the most advanced gaming handhelds from the company. Earlier this week, two new models were launched, with the Pocket G2 and Pocket 6 set to be the upcoming flagship devices from Retroid.
Beginning with the Pocket G2, this device is fundamentally the Retroid Pocket 5, but features a new design and enhanced internal components. Specifically, the Snapdragon 865 is swapped out for the Snapdragon G2 Gen 2, which was announced at GDC 2025 alongside the G3 Gen 3 and G1 Gen 2. Performance-wise, the G2 Gen 2 appears to sit between the Snapdragon 865 and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
“Thief VR: Classic Series Returns with Budget-Friendly Release on PSVR and Meta Quest”
**Thief VR’s Inaugural Meta Quest Gameplay Trailer: All We Hoped to Discover**
The much-anticipated Thief VR is slated to launch on December 4, 2025, on PlayStation VR2, Meta Quest, and Steam VR platforms. This marks the initial VR installment in the iconic Thief franchise and the first new game in the series in over ten years. Gamers will embody a new character, Magpie, engaging in stealth-focused gameplay with the recognizable voice of Stephen Russell, who previously voiced Garrett in the original games.
The recently unveiled gameplay trailer presents the first-ever recorded Meta Quest 3 gameplay, showcasing stunning graphics and captivating environments. The trailer implies that Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow will provide a visually breathtaking experience comparable to significant titles like Batman Arkham Shadow.
Created by Vertigo Games, renowned for Arizona Sunshine, in collaboration with Maze Theory, the minds behind Peaky Blinders VR, Thief VR aims to offer a VR-centric experience designed by seasoned developers. In spite of its high-profile status, the game is set to release at an approachable price of $29.99, with a preorder discount of $26.99 available.
For those keen on experiencing Thief VR on Meta Quest 3 or Quest 3S, it’s suggested to keep an eye out for potential sales during Black Friday, as discounts on these headsets have been observed lately. With its reasonable pricing and the skill of experienced VR developers, Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow is set to become an essential title for VR aficionados.
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Google Maps Unveils New Battery-Saving Feature for Improved Performance
New Energy-Saving Mode Converts Google Maps to Monochrome for Extended Battery Life
Google Maps is finally addressing its battery consumption issue with a new power-saving mode that prioritizes navigation when your device is low on battery. This feature intends to display only vital information such as upcoming turns, distance, and ETA while minimizing visual distractions. Maps will transition to a monochrome setting, eliminating colors and additional UI components to decrease power usage.
Google Maps tends to drain battery life. While it’s the application you depend on most when you’re lost or on a lengthy journey, it’s also the one that can rapidly deplete your battery, potentially leaving you with a dead screen. Although your phone’s overall battery saver mode aims to assist, it frequently exacerbates the situation by restricting GPS functionality precisely when you need it most.
Google has evidently listened to our shared concerns, as the company appears to be developing a specialized power-saving mode integrated directly into the Google Maps app for Android, employing a rigorous strategy to maintain your phone’s charge.
Initial code discovered by the team at Android Authority implies a complete reimagining of how Maps functions when your battery is low. The feature was noted in the latest Google Maps for Android (version 25.44.03.824313610), where code snippets mention a “Power saving mode” that presents solely “key information such as next turns.”
Rather than depending on your device’s general battery saver, Maps’ integrated mode is crafted to safeguard what is crucial: navigation. When activated, the display reportedly shifts to a monochrome view, removing its vibrant graphics and other interface features.
Stripped to the Essentials
The application continues to present key details like your next turn, distance, and estimated arrival time, but eliminates everything else to minimize power consumption. This new mode could be activated by pressing the power button during navigation, making its use quick and instinctive.
Preliminary code indicates this mode functions across driving, walking, and cycling navigation, although public transit routes may not be supported at this time. It also seems that this feature operates separately from Android’s system-wide battery saver, allowing its use at any time, even when the standard saver mode is disabled.
This could significantly benefit anyone needing Maps to last through extensive journeys or hikes. However, there are a few drawbacks. Landscape mode might not be operational, which could pose challenges for drivers who utilize their phones horizontally. The black-and-white interface may also obscure critical elements like traffic or highlighted routes, but it’s a reasonable exchange for enhanced battery longevity.
While there isn’t an official launch date available yet, it may preview in a future beta before making its way into the stable version. Once it becomes available, it could be one of those minor yet genuinely beneficial updates that make a significant improvement the next time you are navigating with 5% battery remaining and no charger available.
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Pixel 10 and Pixel 9 Speakerphone Problem Continues to be Unresolved Indefinitely
This is not the sole issue circulating.
Essential information
- Users of Pixel 10 and Pixel 9 have noted that past complaints regarding a speakerphone glitch in the Phone app appear to have been disregarded by Google.
- It has been noted that the company has classified the matter as “won’t fix (Infeasible)” on the Issue Tracker, citing insufficient “actionable” data.
- Google’s Pixel 10 is currently experiencing two significant issues: unstable camera performance due to EIS and application crashes following the October update.
Notice
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Amazon’s Echo Dot Max and Studio Unveil Cutting-Edge AI and Improved Audio in Smart Speakers
The latest Echo speakers from Amazon have arrived, designed for a more intelligent Alexa.
Essential information
- The Echo Dot Max includes a woofer and tweeter for enhanced audio, delivering three times the bass of its predecessor and driven by the AZ3 chip for quicker, more intelligent replies.
- The Echo Studio returns in a body that is 40% smaller yet still provides Dolby Atmos and spatial audio, utilizing the more powerful AZ3 Pro chip for better on-device AI.
- Both versions feature Amazon’s Omnisense sensor platform, granting Alexa+ environmental awareness for contextual automation.
Notice
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Disney Channels Taken Off YouTube TV Following Unsuccessful Talks
As of October 30, 2025, channels such as ABC, ESPN, and various Disney networks are no longer accessible on YouTube TV due to the inability to secure a new distribution agreement between the two entities. This disruption impacts 21 channels, encompassing significant networks like ABC, ESPN, and The Disney Channel. Both parties have released statements supporting their viewpoints. Google asserts that Disney is leveraging its market power to stifle competition, whereas Disney contends that YouTube TV is unwilling to pay appropriate rates. YouTube TV is providing a $20 credit to subscribers if the content stays offline for a prolonged duration. This conflict underscores the persistent friction in content rights discussions, with Disney having recently taken over Fubo and integrating it with Hulu with Live TV, heightening rivalry in the live TV streaming arena.
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Fairphone 6 Debuts in the US with a $900 Price Point
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Best Buy Provides $240 Price Cut on Leading Chromebook for Students in Early Black Friday Promotions
Deals on Chromebooks are emerging weeks ahead of Black Friday, featuring a $240 discount on the 2-in-1 Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus available at Best Buy.
The Flex 5i Plus is not only our top pick for students but also offers a versatile 2-in-1 foldable design, enabling users to operate it as a conventional laptop or a tablet that can be positioned in “Tent Mode” or laid flat for improved touchscreen interaction. In either configuration, Lenovo claims users can enjoy up to 11
“Leading Ray-Ban Meta Accessory Gets Introductory Price Cut”
Charge your glasses and their case in an incredibly convenient manner.
AMVR offers some of my all-time favorite accessories for Meta Quest, and now they’re entering the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses accessory market as well. I received this charger recently and was delighted to discover that it is compatible with both Ray-Ban Meta Gen 1 and Gen 2 smart glasses, and currently it’s discounted at Amazon for a few dollars off, bringing it to just over $30.
Why invest in a charging dock when the glasses come with a charging case? The reason is to avoid a scenario where both your glasses and the charging case are out of power. This clever little dock allows you to easily place your glasses and case on it as soon as you step inside your door and retrieve them from a convenient spot when leaving.
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YouTube TV and Disney Continue to be at a Stalemate, Extending Blackout
Neither side is willing to budge.
(Image credit: Android Central)
What you need to know
- YouTube TV and Disney’s stalemate sees no change, as both sides find fault in the other.
- YouTube TV claims Disney has been “unnecessarily aggressive and assertive,” while Disney states the former has blown things out of proportion.
- Viewers lost 21 of Disney’s channels last week, including ABC and ESPN, as neither side could reach a content agreement before the October 30 deadline.
Disclaimer
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