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11 Sep 2025

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18 months of OLED testing show burn-in worries might be over
OLED monitors are the hot ticket for PC upgrades, both on the gaming and standard productivity sides. But if you were around when OLED panels were starting to spread in TVs and smartphones, you might be a little worried about burn-in. One YouTuber’s long-term testing shows that, at least for some of the more recent designs, you shouldn’t be. We checked out the burn-in torture test from Monitors Unboxed back in February, when a year of brutal use for thousands of hours showed visible, but minimal burn-in for a 4K OLED panel. After extending the same worst-case scenario test to 18 months and over 4000 hours of side-by-side productivity tasks, the testing also shows a persistent, dark taskbar, as is probably the standard for most Windows 11 users. Watching the results on my own OLED monitor, which has gone through about eight months of primary work and gaming conditions, the burn-in in the video is definitely visible, but only when specifically looking for it in all-dark or all-light tests. It’s nothing so distracting as, say, the burned-in panel on my grandmother’s LG OLED TV from watching years of constant cable news. On that one you could see the text ticker and dark area for the talking head. With a similar torture test for a more modern panel, designed to be used for desktop computing, I think the results are barely even notable. It is considerably worse than what you’d get from an LCD panel, even a high-quality one in the same price range as a 4K OLED monitor. But it’s not something that would prevent me from buying an OLED, especially if I planned on using one for gaming or media. That said, Monitors Unboxed did start to notice the burn-in on some dark-hued apps and in video for the first time. So it’s something to be aware of if you plan to use an OLED for productivity tasks, and if you do, be sure to run those cleaning cycles. I’ll also point out that most gaming OLED monitors now come with extended warranty protection for burn-in.

12 ingenious USB-C gadgets you didn’t know you needed
I don’t know how your tech drawers look, but mine are filled with wires I’ll likely never use again because technology has advanced quite a bit. Thankfully, USB-C seems to be here to stay since there is no wrong way to plug these things in. It’s not just smartphones, tablets, and laptops that use these, however, but also a long list of gadgets. We’ve scoured the market for hidden gems: 12 gadgets that will make you think “Wow, I didn’t know I needed that, but it will make my life so much easier!” Let’s dive in and see what cool devices you’ll be able to use your type-C cables and ports with. Wowstick 1F+ mini electric screwdriver Wowstick If you often have to fiddle around with your computer or other gadgets, this Wowstick mini electric screwdriver may be just what you need. This pen-shaped screwdriver features three LED lights so it’s easier to see what you’re working on and rotates 200 times per minute so you can finish the job faster. The screwdriver has a stylish base so you can hold it on your desk, and a whole collection of 56 aluminum alloy bits. The screwdriver can be charged via USB-C and it can last for hours. This super fun electric screwdriver usually goes for $41. Anker Nano Power Bank Anker One thing you need to have in you bag/pocket/backpack is a power bank because you never really know when your phone will fail you and cry for a recharge. Well, the Anker Nano power bank is tiny enough to fit just about anywhere. It comes with a foldable USB-C connector and a port on the side so you can charge two devices at once if you need to. The 5,000mAh capacity is just about enough for a full phone recharge, so it will be great in a pinch. It’s also only $30, but we’ve seen it as low as $16. Endoscope camera with light Ennovor Although it’s not something you’ll use every day, this Ennover endoscope camera can definitely come in handy. You just plug it in your phone, install and app, and see everything your camera does. Our team swears by it, using it for finding whatever they dropped behind the desk, while working on the car, or looking for pipe leaks. Since it has an IP67 rating, you can even plop it in your aquarium. The camera comes with a 16.4ft semi-rigid cable and several accessories, including a hook, magnet, and a mirror. You can get this one for $23 right now. Blukar flashlight Blukar I don’t care who you are—you need a flashlight. The smaller, the better, because you get to shove it into any pocket. This model from Blukar comes with a built-in 1800mAh battery that you’ll recharge with one of those many type-C cables you have in that tech drawer we were talking about. It can work for up to 16 hours on a single charge, which is pretty decent. There are four different lightning modes to cycle through, including one that will help you signal for help. Plus, one of these is only $10, so no excuse to pass on this one. Heat It insect bite healer Anyone plagued by mosquitoes in the summer will be particularly pleased with this ingenious gadget. This tiny device, which can be easily connected to your smartphone via USB-C, can significantly reduce the itching of bites and stings with targeted heat. You simply charge the small Heat It bite healer via the app and then hold it on the bite. The heat then does the rest, breaking down the proteins in the mosquito bite that cause the area to swell, itch, and hurt. A true must-have for summer, and it costs only $20. A tiny air pump Also perfect for summer is this small air pump from Cycplus, which fits in any bag while on the go. Not only can it inflate a bicycle tire in two minutes at the touch of a button, but it’s also USB-charged. According to the manufacturer, it’s suitable for mountain bikes, road bikes, motorcycles, and even cars! In addition to being an air pump, this practical gadget can also be used as a flashlight or power bank for on-the-go use — all things that come in very handy on a bike ride. And at just $57, it’s highly recommended if you need quick help with a flat tire. USB-C mini fan These little fans are also pretty ingenious; you can easily carry them in your pocket in the summer and quickly use them whenever you need them. Anyone who’s ever sat on a crowded subway train in 30-degree heat and wished for at least a little fresh air will love this gadget. The mini fan, which costs just $20, has a USB-C port and can be easily powered by power banks, computers, laptops, or USB chargers. There are even smaller and cheaper fans available that can be connected directly to your phone, costing under $10 each. But these also provide less powerful airflow, so we recommend the standalone version. Reading light with a book clamp Anyone who enjoys reading a lot, sometimes late into the night, will appreciate this little gadget: a reading lamp that you can simply clip onto your book. It may not be groundbreaking, but with a total of three color temperatures and five different light modes, you can individually adjust how much light you need for reading. The Gritin reading lamp costs just $15 on Amazon and features a 1200 mAh battery that lasts up to 80 hours depending on usage. Afterward, you can easily recharge it via USB. You can swivel the neck of the lamp back and forth as desired, and there’s even a small charging indicator. What more could you want? External DVD Drive Amicool If your laptop is like mine and lacks a DVD drive, then this little gadget will come in handy for you. This Amicool external DVD drive uses a USB-C (or USB-A) to connect to your laptop and give yout he optical drive you sometimes need. It can read and burn DVDs and CDs with ease, allowing you to install software, copy files, back up data, play games, and so on. You won’t even need to install drives as this thing is plug and play. While this thing’s usually $29, you can often get it for around $20, which is an absolute bargain. Samsung flash drive Samsung The vast majority of flash drives have a USB-A connector, but this one from Samsung has a Type-C connector. With transfer speeds of up to 400MB/s, you’ll move files around in no time. The beauty of this thumb drive is that you can even pop it in your smartphone to record 4K vids directly on it. The Samsung Type-C flash drive comes in multiple storage options, starting at 64GB and up to 512GB and they start at $14. The 256GB version, for instance, is $27 at the time of writing. Type-C microSD card reader Ugreen Most laptops nowadays don’t come with a card reader anymore (I know mine doesn’t), so finding other ways to get data off those little buggers is a must. Whether you need to pull data off your dashcam’s card or if it’s from your camera, this tiny Ugreen USB-C microSD reader will work just fine. This reader is tiny enough that you should probably put it on a keychain of some kind. If you’d rather a slightly more versatile version, Ugreen has a model that also works with SD cards and features both USB-C and USB-A connectors. Any of these will cost you less than $10, so they’re worthwhile investments. USB-C to HDMI adapter Anker If your laptop has a USB-C port but you haven’t updated your monitor in ages, your display won’t feature a Type-C port. This Anker adapter fixes this problem for you, enabling you to connect the regular HDMI cable you plug in your monitor with this gadget. The adapter supports resolutions of up to 4K at 60Hz, which is pretty awesome. This is also a nifty way to connect your phone or tablet to your monitor or TV. This thing’s $20, but we’ve seen it as low as $12. Editor’s note: This article was originally published on May 16, but was updated to include additional devices.

Youngest All White in 45 years could go to three World Cups in nine months
17-year-old Luke-Brooke Smith became the youngest All White since Ceri Evans in 1980 during Tuesday night’s loss to Australia.

All Blacks set make changes for Springboks rematch
All you need to know ahead of the All Blacks team naming for Saturday’s clash with South Africa in the capital.

If a council water pipe bursts and triggers a landslide on your land, who is responsible?
Melanie Dawson is unable to go home due to a landslide on her property that was “most probably” triggered by a burst council pipe. The council is refusing to pay for repairs.

‘Thrilling’ flying fox falls victim to safety standards
“Of course it’s dangerous”: Abrupt closure of playground favourite angers community.

Parking officer sacked for allegedly harassing his ex while on the job
Data obtained by Auckland Transport allegedly revealed the man had spent an unusual amount of time near his ex’s workplace.

Unemployed drug dealer loses $89,000 cash, Harley-Davidson and Ford Ranger
Samuel Sheridan left a wad of cash and drugs in a car he crashed while being followed by police.

Microsoft ends OpenAI exclusivity in Office, adds rival Anthropic
Microsoft will end OpenAI's exclusive hold on its productivity suite, adding second AI supplier.

Countdown champion stabbed rival at fans' event
Jurors decide John Cowen attacked a rival with a knife at a Countdown-themed event in Blackpool.

YouTube Music locks song lyrics behind a paywall
Music streaming service YouTube Music appears to have a new trick to nudge free users toward a YouTube Premium subscription. Android Authority reports that the music service now locks song lyrics behind a paywall. Free users report on Reddit that they can now see only a limited number of lyrics. To view more, they’re prompted to upgrade to a Premium subscription. This isn’t the first time a music streaming platform has tried this approach. Spotify, YouTube Music’s rival, tried something like this last year but quickly backed off after users (rightfully!) complained. The people of Reddit are pretty annoyed too, saying they use lyrics for karaoke, sing-alongs, or just learning new songs. They feel the change is a frustrating way to monetize features that were previously free. YouTube Music has over 125 million users, and this little lyrics paywall might push some folks to go Premium. But it could also anger folks who just want to see the words without feeling forced to cough up the cash. Whether other services like Apple Music or Amazon Music follows suit, or if enough people complain to make YouTube back off, only time will tell.