This smart basketball tracks data about every shot. It could be headed to the NBA

PLUS: We'll show you what Qi2 is and how to use magnetic charging.

View in browser  |  Your newsletter preferences 07.31.25 I Lived With Alexa+ for a Week. Here's How It Went BY NENA FARRELL I tried the new Alexa+ across three Echo Show devices in my house. The experience was pretty solid for early-access software.   Here's the Best Amazon Echo for Your Home BY NENA FARRELL We've rounded up our favorite speakers that let you talk to Alexa, from the best Echo products to third-party options like the Sonos Era.   Everything You Wanted to Know About China's Auto Industry Takeover BY JEREMY WHITE, SOPHIE JOHAL, AND MICHAELA NEVILLE Does Tesla have a future? Where are the cheap US electric vehicles? How rapidly are Chinese EVs taking over the globe? Here's what we know.   This Smart Basketball Tracks Data About Every Shot. It Could Be Headed to the NBA BY BEN DOWSETT The league is considering adopting the tech for in-game use. Since the sensor is in the valve stem, the ball dribbles, shoots, and rebounds nearly the same as always.   ADVERTISEMENT   Qi2 Delivers Better Magnetic Wireless Charging and It's About to Get Faster As someone who has ornery cats and a robovac that seems to find (and get entangled in) every charger in my house, I try to avoid using wired chargers whenever possible. That's why I prefer wireless charging, which most often follows the Qi standard. The new, upgraded Qi2 enables faster, more efficient magnetic wireless charging, which is great for charging on the go without the hassle of tangled wires. Here's our complete guide to Qi2, and how to use our preferred magnetic charging method, writes Molly Higgins.   I Tried Out the MacOS Tahoe Public Beta to See If It's Worth the Early Upgrade BY LUKE LARSEN MacOS 26 brings a slew of new features, and you can now try them out for yourself.   No, of Course You Can't Actually Play the New Lego Game Boy BY VERITY BURNS A promo video of the new brick-built Nintendo collaboration has some people confused as to what your $60 will buy you.   Gear News of the Week: Amazon Buys Bee, VSCO Has a New App, and CMF Debuts a Smartwatch BY JULIAN CHOKKATTU Plus: Google Photos lets you convert images to videos, Microsoft has a 5G Surface, and Palmer Luckey asks if you'd buy a US-made laptop.   Seriously, Why Do Some AI Chatbot Subscriptions Cost More Than $200? BY REECE ROGERS The price of expensive chatbot subscriptions is driven by vibes—not immediate profitability for AI companies.   ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for reading.   Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here. Plus, browse more newsletters from WIRED. You're receiving this email because you signed up for the Gear newsletter from WIRED.   Manage your preferences  |  View our Privacy Policy  |  Unsubscribe   Have questions or comments? Send us a message. Need help? Contact us.   Copyright © Condé Nast 2025. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.