JPMorgan is piloting a system that monitors junior investment bankers to avoid burnout (source paywalled; alternative source). “[T]he bank will seek to match up hours claimed by the bankers with digital activity,” reports Bloomberg. “The tool won’t be used for evaluation purposes, but is designed to provide a better estimate of employee workloads.” From the report: The program will monitor the weekly digital footprint, including video calls, desktop keystrokes, and scheduled meetings, the Financial Times reported earlier, adding JPMorgan plans to roll out the effort more widely across its investment bank. Banks on Wall Street are known for heavy working hours, but can in return offer salaries of as much as $200,000 for entry-level analyst and associate roles. “Much like the weekly screen time summaries on a smartphone, this tool is about awareness — not enforcement,” a representative for JPMorgan said in a statement. “It’s designed to support transparency, well-being, and encourage open conversations about workload.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

The Amazon Big Spring Sale is in full swing, and it features some deep discounts to streaming tech. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly option for the guest room or you want to upgrade your old gear to the newest thing, there’s a deal for you.

Roku Smart TV 2026 – 40-Inch Select Series, 1080p Full HD TV – RokuTV with Voice Remote – Flat Screen LED Television with Wi-Fi for Streaming Live Local News Sports & Movies – Bluetooth Headphone Mode

$129.00
at Amazon

$229.99
Save $100.99

$129.00
at Amazon

$229.99
Save $100.99

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select

$17.99
at Amazon

$39.99
Save $22.00

$17.99
at Amazon

$39.99
Save $22.00

Google TV Streamer 4K – Fast Streaming Entertainment on Your TV with Voice Search Remote – Watch Movies, Shows, Live TV, and Netflix in 4K HDR – Smart Home Control – 32 GB of Storage – Hazel

$79.99
at Amazon

$99.99
Save $20.00

$79.99
at Amazon

$99.99
Save $20.00

Amazon Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)

$99.99
at Amazon

$139.99
Save $40.00

$99.99
at Amazon

$139.99
Save $40.00

VSDINSIDE Macro Keypad, Stream Controller Deck Gaming Streaming Shortcut Keyboard, 18 Programmable Keys Customizable Visual AI Pad USB Soundboard for OBS, YouTube, Desk Office Setup, Laptop, PC, Mac

$43.99
at Amazon

$54.99
Save $11.00

$43.99
at Amazon

$54.99
Save $11.00

All-in-one streaming TV: Roku Smart TV 2026

The Roku Smart TV 2026 is a standout pick in this year’s Big Spring Sale if you want everything in one package. The 40″ version is marked down 44% to just $129. It’s an all-in-one, hassle-free streaming solution that’s perfect as a second TV in a bedroom or office. It comes with the Roku interface that can be navigated with voice remote, and it offers access to over 500 free live TV channels as well as Netflix, Disney+, and any other pay streamer you can think of.

Budget streaming device: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select

If you need to make video TV stream and you’re on a budget, you won’t find many less expensive options than Amazon’s Fire TV stick. It’s marked down 55% to $17.99. That’s less than 20 bucks for HDRO10+ supported 4K streaming. This is the first stick to run Amazon’s new Vega OS, so the response time should be faster than older budget devices, and it has Amazon’s new Alexa+AI built in as well. If you’re a gamer, it supports Xbox Game Pass and Amazon Luna so you can stream games to your TV without a console.

Best streaming choice for smart homes: Google TV Streamer 4K

The Google TV Streamer 4K is a more “sophisticated” streaming upgrade that’s perfect for a smart home. Currently 20% off ($79.99), it’s a full media console that doubles as a Matter smart home hub and a Thread border router. Both are key to a functional smart home: Matter is a universal language that allows smart devices from different brands to talk to each other, while Thread is a mesh network that makes devices respond instantly without slowing down your wifi. Google TV Streamer 4K features 32GB of storage, a built-in Ethernet port for faster 4K streaming, and Gemini AI, but my favorite feature is the “Find My Remote” button on the base, because I’m always losing the damn thing.

The “we need more power” choice: Amazon Fire TV Cube

If you’re tired of sluggish menus, the Fire TV Cube will obliterate them. It’s the fastest streaming device Amazon makes—it has twice the power of the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. Currently on sale for $99.99 (29% off), Fire TV Cube supports Wi-Fi 6E, offers an ethernet port for faster speeds, and features an octa-core processor for near-instant app launches. You can navigate all of it with your voice, and it features an HDMI input, so you can plug in a game console in or cable box directly.

The streaming accessory you never knew you always needed: VSDINSIDE Macro Keypad

If your home streaming is running from a PC, consider a macro keyboard. They might be made for gaming, but the VSDINSIDE Macro Keypad can be a killer media dashboard for your home entertainment set-up. Currently on sale for $43.99 (20% off), this device features 15 customizable LCD keys that can be programmed to act as a physical interface for your TV—instead of navigating menus to get to Netflix, you just hit the Netflix button and instantly launch it. Since it’s a Smart Home friendly setup, you can program a button to dim your Matter-enabled lights when you’re ready to start the movie, but best of all, it features tactile, physical knobs you can use to control volume, brightness, or other settings.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hasn’t had a director since August, and now it’s without even a temporary one after the Trump administration blew through a federal deadline on Wednesday to nominate someone for the permanent role.

According to federal law, there’s a 210-day limit on a Senate-confirmed position being filled by someone in an acting capacity. The clock started when anti-vaccine Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired Susan Monarez from her Senate-confirmed role as CDC director in late August—allegedly after she refused to rubber-stamp changes to CDC vaccine recommendations. Until yesterday, Jay Bhattacharya, who heads the National Institutes of Health, had stepped in to also be the acting director of the CDC. But he can no longer hold the position officially.

The void of leadership comes as the Trump administration is working to restrain Kennedy after finding his relentless anti-vaccine agenda is widely unpopular and potentially harmful to Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections.

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Netflix isn’t preparing for a multibillion acquisition anymore, but it’s still raising prices.

As first spotted by Android Authority today, Netflix now lists its ad-supported plan as costing $9 per month, up from $8/month. The Standard, ad-free plan went up from $18/month to $20/month, and the Premium ad-free plan (which supports viewing from four, instead of two, devices simultaneously, 4K, and spatial audio) went from $25/month to $27/month.

For comparison, Disney+ starts at $12/month with commercials and $19/month without.

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We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

One of my all-time favorite products is marked down during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale: The Enabot EBO ROLA Mini FamilyBot.

Enabot EBO ROLA Mini FamilyBot

$128.34
at Amazon

$150.99
Save $22.65

$128.34
at Amazon

$150.99
Save $22.65

I love this thing. It’s an adorable little robot-with-a-camera designed to help pet owners to interact with their pets when they’re not home. You control it with an app and it takes surprisingly nice-looking 2K video, even when it’s dark. It also transmits and listens to sound, so you can talk to your pet, or press a button to make it meow, bark, or quack. It can also act as a surveillance camera and take pictures or video when something moves in front of it.

This is literally the only toy my cat has ever played with. My cat is not nice. She won’t let you pet or hold her. She’s all business. I’ve tried catnip, all kinds of toys, balls of string, and everything else, but Peepers was never interested in anything until I got her a robot/surveillance camera. Then, for a few, glorious moments, I got the Most Serious Cat on Earth to bat a toy around. It was a breakthrough in our relationship, and I even caught it on camera.

Netflix is raising prices across all of its subscription tiers, according to an updated “Plans and Pricing” page spotted by Android Authority. The company last raised prices in January 2025, when the cost of all of its tiers were jacked up by $1 or more.

As of this latest price hike, Netflix’s ad-supported Standard plan is going from $8 per month to $9 per month, while the ad-free version is rising from $18 to $20 per month. The company’s Premium plan, meanwhile, which supports things like 4K streams, spatial audio and the ability to watch content on four devices at the same time, is jumping from $25 to $27 per month. Netflix is also making the cost of adding an extra member to your plan more expensive. Adding a member to an ad-supported plan now costs an additional $8 per month, while adding someone to an ad-free plan now costs $10 per month.

When asked to comment on the price changes, a Netflix spokesperson shared that the company is updating “prices in the U.S to reflect improvements to our wide range of entertainment and the quality of our service.” The new prices will roll out to current subscribers in the coming weeks. “Existing members will be notified by email a month before the new prices are applied to them,” the spokesperson said. “The exact timing will depend on the specific member’s billing cycle.”

Netflix is not quite at the point where it’s raising the cost of its subscription every year, but it’s getting close. Prior to last year’s price hike, the company last raised prices in 2023. The streaming service’s growing subscription fees have helped Netflix to continue its push into streaming live events like sports and reality TV competitions, and to license new kinds of content like video podcasts. If Netflix hadn’t dropped out in February, they also would have served as financial backing for the company’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Even though Warner Bros. Discovery ultimately decided to take Paramount Skydance’s offer, Netflix didn’t leave the deal empty handed: Paramount paid the company $2.8 billion to formally end its acquisition of the historic film studio.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/ugh-netflix-is-raising-prices-again-202318277.html?src=rss

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

While companies might make you feel like you always need to buy their latest and greatest model, you can save quite a bit by opting for their older devices. These days, the hardware from reputable manufacturers tends to be good enough to last years, which makes one or two generation-old devices a great value. As such, if you’re in the market for a new iPad, consider an “old” iPad instead. Amazon has Apple’s cellular M3 iPad Air with AppleCare+ up to 23% off for its Big Spring Sale.

iPad Air (11-inch)

$718.99
at Amazon

$928.00
Save $209.01

$718.99
at Amazon

$928.00
Save $209.01

As you might assume from the intro, the M3 iPad Air is not the latest iPad Air. Apple has since released the M4 version, which comes with very few perks over the M3. The first, of course, is that it has the M4 chip, which is one generation newer, and also enables the iPad’s Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support (as opposed to Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 on the M3). The M4 chip has one more efficiency core than the M3 (five vs. four), 120GB/s memory bandwidth over the M3’s 100GB/s memory bandwidth, and 12GB of RAM over the M3’s 8GB.

Aside from that, however, these are the same exact iPads, down to the battery life (10 hours of web surfing over wifi, according to Apple). What you get with the M3 Air, then, is Apple’s “modern” iPad design, with thin bezels, a selfie camera along the long bezel (perfect for video calls when holding the iPad in landscape), and one 12MP camera on the back. These are also the cellular models, which means you can pay for an optional plan to use the iPad out and about—including connecting to 5G networks.

Really, the only decision is which size to get: The Air comes in either 11-inch or 13-inch variants, each of which will impact the pricing. The 13-inch is $838, which Amazon says is 16% off the list price. The 11-inch, however, is $718.99, which is 23% off the list price. Both of those prices are for the 256GB wifi-only models. The 11-inch comes in Space Black for this sale, while the 13-inch comes in Blue.

I still use my 2021 iPad Pro with its M1 chip, and it has no trouble handing iPadOS 26. I have no reservations about recommending an iPad with a chip that’s two generations newer than that. Apple’s iPad software, while more robust than it has ever been, isn’t the most demanding, so these chips really do last a long time.

You can save some money if you don’t want the model with AppleCare+. Amazon will sell you an 11-inch cellular M3 iPad Air for $649.99, it just won’t be covered by Apple’s extended warranty.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Prospective Vizio TV buyers should know there’s a good chance the set won’t work properly without a Walmart account. In an attempt to better serve advertisers, Walmart, which bought Vizio in December 2024, announced this week that select newly purchased Vizio TVs now require a Walmart account for setup and accessing smart TV features. Since 2024, Vizio TVs have required a Vizio account, which a Vizio OS website says is necessary for accessing “exclusive offers, subscription management, and tailored support.” Accounts are also central to Vizio’s business, which is largely driven by ads and tracking tied to its OS.

A Walmart spokesperson confirmed to Ars Technica that Walmart accounts will be mandatory on “select new Vizio OS TVs” for owners to complete onboarding and to use smart TV features. The representative added: “Customers who already have an existing Vizio account are being given the option to merge their Vizio account with their Walmart account. Customers with an existing Vizio account can opt out by deleting their Vizio account.” The representative wouldn’t confirm which TV models are affected. Walmart’s representative said the Walmart account integration is “designed to respect consumer choice and privacy, with data used in aggregated, permissioned, and compliant ways” but didn’t specify how.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Old school boomboxes might be a relic of the past, but they’ve been reinterpreted in recent years with sleek, modern, and more portable silhouettes. While not as compact as some Bluetooth speakers, they pack a bigger punch in sound, especially when it comes to playing music outdoors. One of the best-rated ones on the market is the JBL Boombox 3, which earned a PCMag Editor’s Choice Award—and it’s currently 40% off for Amazon’s Spring Sale, bringing it down to its lowest price ever of $299.95 (originally $499.95).

JBL Boombox 3

$299.95
at Amazon

$499.95
Save $200.00

$299.95
at Amazon

$499.95
Save $200.00

At 14.7 pounds, it might not be the most lightweight speaker, but it’s still technically portable given the built-in handle that lets you carry it from place to place. The control bar lets you link to other JBL speakers, control volume, power, play/pause and Bluetooth pairing, but doesn’t allow you to go back to the previous track. It has a covered rear panel with a compartment housing a 3.5mm aux input, a USB-A port that allows you to charge other devices, and a connector for the included power cable. Aesthetically, it’s similar to the Boombox 2, but adds an extra subwoofer. 

It’s compatible with Bluetooth 5.3 and supports the SBC codec, but not AAC or AptX. Still, the bass and volume have impressive output in both AC and battery power modes. Battery life lasts up to 24 hours on a charge and takes around 6.5 hours to fully charge from empty. An IP67 rating makes it dust-proof and waterproof (up to one meter of depth for 30 minutes), so poolside hangs or unexpected rain shouldn’t pose an issue. Just note that the snap-shut cover on the back needs to be closed for the rating to apply. The companion app includes a customizable three-band EQ, firmware updates, and battery life monitoring.

If you’re looking for a loud, durable outdoor speaker with deep bass and adjustable EQ, and you don’t mind slightly limited Bluetooth codec support or a heavier build, the size-to-power ratio makes this award-winning speaker a reliable choice. With summer right around the corner, and the JBL Boombox 3 at nearly half off, now is a great time to invest.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

If you work out at home, investing in some adjustable dumbbells is a no-brainer. The math is simple: Buying individual pairs of dumbbells from five to 80 pounds in five-pound increments would cost well over $1,500 and eat up valuable floor space. Adjustable dumbbells deliver the same versatility for a fraction of that price, whichever brand you choose.

Right now, the PowerBlock Elite EXP Adjustable Dumbbells are $339.51, down from their usual $449 price tag. That’s a solid $110 savings for Amazon’s Big Spring Sale.

PowerBlock Elite EXP Adjustable Dumbbells (Pair, 5-50lb)

$339.15
at Amazon

$449.00
Save $109.85

$339.15
at Amazon

$449.00
Save $109.85

You’d be hard-pressed to find a “best home dumbbells” list without PowerBlocks near the top. Lifehacker senior health editor Beth Skwarecki ranks these her favorite adjustable dumbbell set, and for good reason. The futuristic cubic design isn’t just for show. These dumbbells are incredibly compact, which is the whole point of going adjustable over a traditional rack of individual weights. The only real drawback is the frame design: You have to place your hand inside the dumbbell’s structure to grip it.

If you’re not yet sold on adjustables, this 150-pound set of traditional dumbbells is also on sale right now—down to $159.99 from $189.99.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

I’ve been keeping an eye on all the best deals on fitness tech, and here are my top picks. Several wearables are on their lowest price ever. While many of the sales are on slightly older models, everything I’m including here is a device I think is very much worth buying, or at least considering, in 2026. There are deals on fitness brands like Garmin and Suunto, budget options from Fitbit, and even smartwatches from Apple, Google, and Samsung.

The best deals on Garmin watches

• Garmin Vivoactive 5, $179.99, down from $194.85, or $299.99 when it first launched in 2023.

• Garmin Forerunner 265 and 265S, $344.95, originally $449.99 when it first launched in 2023. (It has since been replaced by the Forerunner 570.)

• Garmin Forerunner 965, $499.99, originally $599.99 when it first launched in 2023. (It has since been replaced by the Forerunner 970.)

• Garmin Forerunner 165, $199.99, down from $249.99 when it first launched in 2024. This is a slightly older model but is still current—Garmin has not released a replacement.

• Garmin Forerunner 55, $169.00, down from $199.99 when it first launched in 2021.

• Garmin Instinct E, $214.99, originally $299.99. This is a current model, which launched in 2025.

Garmin Instinct E 45mm

$214.99
at Amazon

$299.99
Save $85.00

$214.99
at Amazon

$299.99
Save $85.00

The best deals on Fitbit trackers

• Fitbit Charge 6, $119.95, down from $159.95

• Fitbit Inspire 3, $69.95, down from $99.95

• Fitbit Versa 4, $149.95, down from $199.95

Fitbit Versa 4

$149.95
at Amazon

$199.95
Save $50.00

$149.95
at Amazon

$199.95
Save $50.00

The best deals on Suunto watches

• Suunto Run: $179 (normally $199).

• Suunto Race S: $299 (normally $349)

• Suunto Vertical: $379 (normally $499)

Suunto Run Sports Watch

$179.00
at Amazon

$199.00
Save $20.00

$179.00
at Amazon

$199.00
Save $20.00

The best deals on Pixel watches

• Pixel Watch 4, 41mm, Wifi, $289.99, down from $349.99. The Pixel Watch 4 is the current version, and was released in 2025.

• Pixel Watch 4, 41mm, LTE, $389.99, down from $449.99

• Pixel Watch 4, 45mm, Wifi, $339.99, down from $399.99

• Pixel Watch 3, 41mm, Wifi, $169.99, from a regular price of $249.99, and an original price of $349.99. The Pixel Watch 3 was released in 2024.

• Pixel Watch 3, 41mm, LTE, $242.98, from a regular price of $349.99.

• Pixel Watch 3, 45mm, Wifi, $179.99, from a regular price of $299.99

• Pixel Watch 3, 45mm. LTE, $239.99, from a regular price of $399.99

Google Pixel Watch 4 (41mm) – LTE

$389.99
at Amazon

$449.99
Save $60.00

$389.99
at Amazon

$449.99
Save $60.00

The best deals on Polar heart rate monitors

Today’s deals on Polar heart rate monitors include: 

• Polar H10: $76.99, down from $104.99. This is widely regarded as the best heart rate monitor out there. 

• Polar H9: $56.44, down from $69.90. This model can only pair to one Bluetooth device at a time, which is enough for most of us.

• Polar Verity Sense: $84.99, down from $104.99. This is an armband with an optical sensor.

Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor

$84.55
at Amazon

$104.95
Save $20.40

$84.55
at Amazon

$104.95
Save $20.40

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From the moment Mark Scout (Adam Scott) first rode an elevator down to his office and became a totally different person, we’ve been obsessed with Severance. Over two spectacular seasons, Ben Stiller’s sci-fi satire has explored the banality of corporate culture (and corporate cults), the impact of trauma, and the power of memory—or lack thereof. The story of a group of people who undergo the severance procedure, creating a separate workplace persona called an “Innie” who is essentially a separate individual lacking their outside memories, delivered one of the best finales of all time with its second-season ender “Cold Harbor.”

But it’s been a year since then, and there’s no official word on when we’ll see season three. If you’re jonesing for more of that bleak corporate vibe, mysterious and important work, and surprisingly nuanced commentary on the human condition—and you’ve already explored our list of streamalike shows—allow me to suggest some equally terrific books, movies, video games, and podcasts that will fill that empty space in your head.

The best books like ‘Severance’

Severance packs a lot of literary references into its scripts, adding a dense layer of subtext that makes every storyline richer (and more challenging). Unsurprisingly, there are a lot of choices if you’re looking for a reading experience that will give you similar vibes.

Tell Me an Ending: A Novel

$13.29
at Amazon

$20.00
Save $6.71

$13.29
at Amazon

$20.00
Save $6.71

The Room: A Novel

$12.84
at Amazon

$14.00
Save $1.16

$12.84
at Amazon

$14.00
Save $1.16

The Fold: A Novel

$14.51
at Amazon

$21.00
Save $6.49

$14.51
at Amazon

$21.00
Save $6.49

Several People Are Typing: A GMA Book Club Pick

$13.35
at Amazon

$18.00
Save $4.65

$13.35
at Amazon

$18.00
Save $4.65

Echo Wife

$10.12
at Amazon

$17.99
Save $7.87

$10.12
at Amazon

$17.99
Save $7.87

Tell Me an Ending, by Jo Harkin

One reason Severance is so compelling is the question raised by its basic premise: We are the sum of our experiences, so what would we be like if we didn’t have some (or most) of them? In Tell Me an Ending, a corporation offers a revolutionary memory-erasing procedure, and customers can choose to either be aware that they had a memory deleted—or not. Around the globe, people struggle with the consequences of removing crucial memories, including one character who slowly realizes he’s deleted the majority of his existence from his own brain.

The Room, by Jonas Karlsson

If you miss the wonderfully creepy vibe of the Macrodata Refinement Department at Lumon Industries, The Room is the story for you. Björn is a government worker who strives to be the perfect employee, driven by an almost cultish desire to do everything required of him. When he discovers a strange room in the office—one his coworkers scrupulously pretend isn’t there—he begins spending time in it, apparently staring off into space, talking to himself. The more he does it, the harder his peers try to get him fired—but Björn has a plan to defend himself. And it involves what he’s discovered in the room.

The Fold, by Peter Clines

The dual nature of the characters is a major aspect of Severance’s appeal—the Innies and Outies share a body, but have diverging personalities and desires that become more and more pronounced (and tragic) as time goes on. In The Fold, a man with a photographic memory is asked to investigate a series of odd events around a secret project that appears to have invented teleportation by folding dimensions—with strange side effects for those who walk through the “perfectly safe” portal, including one team member who was apparently driven insane by his experience. It’s a dark sci-fi story about mysterious and important work that is not at all what it seems.

Several People Are Typing, by Calvin Kasulke

If you love Severance’s off-kilter take on corporate life (and its sly, often laugh-out-loud sense of humor), Several People Are Typing is the book for you. Told entirely in Slack messages (and if you experienced a full-body chill upon reading that sentence, this is definitely the book for you), this is the story of a man who somehow uploads his consciousness into his company’s Slack channel. As he tries to figure out what’s happened, his coworkers carry on as if nothing’s unusual, creating a wonderfully absurd scenario crammed with emojis, Slack-speak, and deep observations on the dual nature of our online/offline lives.

The Echo Wife, by Sarah Gailey

Evelyn Caldwell is a renowned scientist and happy spouse—until Martine, her clone, arrives on the scene. Martine was intended to be a distillation of everything good about Evelyn—kind, gentle, and subservient. But everything goes off the rails when Martine has an affair with Evelyn’s husband, who soon winds up dead. Like Severance, The Echo Wife pivots into an exploration of the nature of identity as the two wives team up to conceal the crime, turning to the cloning technology that created Martine to pull it off.

The best movies like ‘Severance’

Severance has a unique and finely-detailed visual look and feel. The transition from the “Outie” world (which is relatively normal, and resembles our own reality) to the “Innie” world of primary colors, old-school computer systems, and terrifyingly empty, white corridors, is always startling. If you want more of that kind of unnerving visual experience, here are some films to check out.

Playtime (1967)

This brilliant comedy from French legend Jacques Tati is an acknowledged influence on the show’s aesthetic and mood. In the largely dialog-free story of Playtime, Tati’s silent character Monsieur Hulot moves through a midcentury Paris that is depicted not as the beautiful City of Lights, but a modern maze of office cubes, sterile buildings, and apartments that resemble museum displays. It’s hilarious, but there’s a darkness underneath the slapstick that resonates sixty years later. Stream Playtime on The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video.

Playtime (1967)

at Prime Video

at Prime Video

Synecdoche, New York (2008)

Charlie Kaufman’s masterpiece predicts Severance’s examination of identity, and the way our physical surroundings affect us even when they’re artificial (or maybe especially when they’re artificial). In Synecdoche, New York, the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a director who responds to a life crisis by staging an immense work of theater involving a replica of New York City built in a massive soundstage, populated by actors who basically live their entire fictional lives within it. As time goes on, the replica becomes more real than the city outside, and doubles are brought in to play the actors who are portraying the characters—leading to a grimly hilarious ending you won’t soon forget. Stream Synecdoche, New York on The Roku Channel or rent it from Prime Video.

Synecdoche, New York (2008)

at Prime Video

at Prime Video

Sorry to Bother You (2018)

If it’s the biting satire of modern-day employment that makes you love Severance, you have to check out Sorry to Bother You. Cassius Green (LaKeith Stanfield) is a Black man struggling in his telemarketing job until he learns to use a “white” voice on the phone. As his numbers skyrocket, he’s pulled deeper into the corporation, discovering some very weird vibes indeed. Visually inventive and offering an extremely low opinion of what it’s like to be employed in modern America, this is a perfect complement to our beloved Apple TV series. Stream Sorry to Bother You on Kanopy or rent it from Fandango at Home.

Sorry to Bother You (2018)

at Kanopy

at Kanopy

The Truman Show (1998)

The Innies working at Lumon Industry are part of an experiment they don’t understand (or even know about, initially); the mysterious and important work they’re doing has a purpose they only begin to understand in the second season. In The Truman Show, the same can be said for Truman Burbank, who is basically like an Innie who never leaves the office, his entire life a lie crafted around him so he can be filmed, his life the ultimate reality TV show. And like the Lumon Innies, Truman slowly realizes that something is off—and takes dramatic steps to find the truth. Stream The Truman Show on Peacock or rent it from Prime Video.

The Truman Show (1998)

at Peacock

at Peacock

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Another sci-fi story that considers the role of memory in making us who we are, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind syncs up with Severance thematically—and when Joel (Jim Carrey) begins fighting to stop his memories of his failed romance with Clementine (Kate Winslet) from being erased in a controversial medical procedure, it syncs up in terms of vibes as well. The haunting and often hilarious sequences where Joel attempts to hide Clementine in his other memories have the uncanny energy of Lumon’s weirdest melon-themed parties. Stream Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

at Hulu

at Hulu

Coming soon: Backrooms

If you’ve been online at all in the last few years, you’ve probably encountered The Backrooms, a creepy image of an eerie, infinite liminal space that just doesn’t feel right. Plenty of memes and games (see below) have been adapted from the concept, and A24 is set to release a Backrooms movie on May 29, 2026. The tone of ominous unreality is likely going to be perfect for Severance fans.

The best video games like ‘Severance’

There’s a definite “secret level” vibe to Severance, with many of the Lumon teams’ adventures feeling like deranged video game speedruns. Why not lean into that by playing some of these off-kilter games with a similar tone?

The Stanley Parable

Severance co-creator Dan Erickson confirmed that The Stanley Parable was an inspiration for the show, and it’s easy to see why: You play as employee 427, aka Stanley, who discovers that all the other employees in his office have vanished. As you investigate, a dry-witted voice narrates your actions—and not-so-subtly tells you what to do. You can choose to follow directions or not, with the story splitting off into many different and unexpected directions that subvert just about every video game trope you can imagine.

Platforms: PlayStation 5, macOS, PC, Xbox

The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe

The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe is an expanded re-imagining of the critically acclaimed, award winning indie game The Stanley Parable from 2013.

$24.99
at Microsoft

$24.99
at Microsoft

Portal & Portal 2

A more full-blown science fiction story than Severance, the Portal games share the same absurdist tone when it comes to working in a strange, hauntingly empty office space. In both games, you’re forced to run a series of increasingly deadly gauntlets using a portal gun that lets you teleport between different flat surfaces, making each room you enter a devious puzzle of warped physics. But it’s the slowly-unfurling story and the secrets you uncover as you move through the ancient, crumbling labs and office spaces, that really nail the Severance vibe.

Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, PC, macOS, Nintendo Switch, Steam

Portal 2 – Xbox 360

$15.98
at Amazon

$15.98
at Amazon

The Exit 8

One of the weird pleasures of Severance is the slow doling out of details and atmosphere that feel “off,” coalescing into the nightmarish reveal of what’s actually happening down there in Macrodata Refinement. The Exit 8 offers a similar experience, though it rapidly descends into overt horror much, much more quickly. Your goal is to exit a subway station—but the corridor leading to the exit seems to repeat forever, and when you notice “anomalies” you must turn and flee immediately or suffer the consequences. The sense of liminal dislocation is perfect for Severance fans.

Platforms: Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox

The Exit 8

You are trapped in an endless underground passageway. Observe your surroundings carefully to reach “The Exit 8”.

$3.99
at Sony Playstation

$3.99
at Sony Playstation

Limbo & Inside

These two games are both set in worlds that initially seem familiar, only to slowly become increasingly strange and threatening—similar to how the underground world of the Innies seems like any outdated office at first. Both games offer a creepy, suffocatingly ominous vibe as the unnamed young boy you control makes his way past enormous spiders, brain-controlling slugs, and an entire economy seemingly powered by zombies.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, macOS, PC, Xbox One

INSIDE / LIMBO Double Pack – PlayStation 4

$33.90
at Amazon

$33.90
at Amazon

Escape the Backrooms

It feels like the Lumon Industries offices were built in a place like The Backrooms, bizarre and off-putting spaces filled with unnerving wallpaper and oatmeal carpeting. Where the memes were unsettling, Escape the Backrooms adds more overtly horror elements, like the various deadly entities you can encounter while wandering these weird, empty spaces. It’s that vibe of moving through a space that shouldn’t exist, maybe, that makes it a great pairing with the show.

Platforms: GeForce Now, PC, Steam

Escape the Backrooms

Escape the Backrooms is a 1-4 player co-op horror exploration game. Traverse 30+ eerie backrooms levels while avoiding entities and other dangers. Try to escape but be warned: survival isn’t guaranteed.

$7.99
at Steam

$9.99
Save $2.00

$7.99
at Steam

$9.99
Save $2.00

The best podcasts like ‘Severance’

One of the great things about Severance is how deep the discussion about it can be, and how it can inspire similar narratives that explore the same themes. If you’re a podcast fiend as well as a Severance fan, here are some to check out.

Homecoming

Credit: Podcast logo

If you love the slow-burn mystery aspect of Severance, this hit narrative podcast will be your cup of tea. Set at an experimental facility designed to help veterans return to civilian life that’s run by a mysterious organization, Homecoming offers similarly creepy vibes. It’s told in a masterful melange of voicemails, overheard conversations, and therapy sessions, all voiced by some of the best actors working today—and once you’ve listened through, you can watch the Julia Roberts-starring adaptation on Prime Video.

The Severance Podcast With Ben Stiller and Adam Scott

Credit: Podcast logo

If what you really want is a deep, deep dive into the behind-the-scenes world of Severance, why not go straight to the source? Star Adam Scott and writer/director Ben Stiller have done episode-by-episode breakdowns, giving you all the Innie-side info you could want, and they’ve also done one-offs exploring the influences and inspirations that shaped the scripts and performances. It’s the perfect companion for a rewatch.

Illumination Above All

Credit: Podcast logo

For an outsider perspective on Severance, including episode breakdowns as well as broader discussions about themes and references, Illumination Above All is a stellar podcast to dive into. If you don’t have friends who share your obsession with the show, this is probably going to be the next best thing.

Within the Wires

Credit: Podcast logo

A series of standalone stories set in a shared alternate history universe, Within the Wires is all about subtle worldbuilding—just like Severance, which lets the visual and audio clues do a lot of the work. In this universe, the world was drastically altered after World War I, with much of the population wiped out and most of the old traditions and social structures lost. You learn everything from a series of in-universe recordings—relaxation guides, museum audio tours, for example—that slowly build up the details of what’s going on. It’s a deep dive into the weird any Severance fan will appreciate.

SAYER

Credit: Podcast logo

A near extinction-level event, a secretive and nefarious corporation, a self-aware and unreliable AI—SAYER has it all. After an asteroid impact decimates Earth, Ærolith Dynamics builds an artificial moon called Typhon, where its employees are also its research subjects. Filled with pitch-black humor and inventive storytelling this might just get you through the long months until Severance season three drops.

With a new war in the Middle East driving up gas prices, American drivers are once again remembering that electric vehicles are much cheaper to operate and therefore worth considering. Buying a brand-new EV might not be the best way to save money, but the good news is that the used EV market continues to grow, and for the buyer looking to spend between $15,000–$20,000 on something electric, we’re starting to hit a real sweet spot.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve looked at used EVs on a smaller budget. If you don’t need much range, even $5,000 will get you behind the wheel of a Nissan Leaf. At $10,000, BMW’s interesting i3 becomes affordable, as does the Chevrolet Bolt, although expect examples to have some mileage on them. For $15,000 you can find newer Bolts and bigger-batteried i3s, as well as some of Hyundai and Kia’s smaller or older EVs.

Once we jump up into the next (arbitrary) price bracket—$15,000 to $20,000—many of the newer, longer-range EVs that debuted post-pandemic are now affordable.

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Fitness watches aren’t always known for being polite, but I do know of one that is actually thoughtful and effective when it tells you to take a movement break. Normally $499.99, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is currently on sale for $369.99 as part of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

$369.99
at Amazon

$499.99
Save $130.00

$369.99
at Amazon

$499.99
Save $130.00

As my colleague Beth Skwarecki shares in her in-depth review, this fitness watch’s alerts are customizable and gentle in its nudges. This is huge for anyone who has stress dreams over closing their rings.

Overall, the Galaxy 8 Classic is a well-designed watch that not only looks stylish, but also communicates information in a way that actually makes sense. For instance, heart rate zones come with a note about what they’re based on. Similarly, the built-in running coach unlocks two workouts at a time, so that you can do them out of order or skip one guilt-free.

If you’re not sure whether to get the regular Galaxy 8 or the Classic, the biggest difference is that the Classic comes with a rotating bezel that helps you navigate the menus. For loyal Samsung users, that rotating bezel makes the Classic a fan favorite.

You can read more about the Galaxy 8 Watch in CNET’s review, too.