Want to maximize productivity? Try a daily brain scan

PLUS: You can now develop apps for Light Phone’s dumbed-down software.

View in browser  |  Your newsletter preferences 04.30.26 Do you want to scan your brain every day and maximize productivity? Or do you want to shed ties to your smartphone and touch grass? We got two ends of the spectrum in the news this week. On Tuesday, brain-computer interface company Neurable announced that it is moving to a licensing model, meaning its technology will be available in a “flood” of wearable consumer gadgets that go on your head in the coming years, like headphones, smart glasses, or even hats. It showed off a pair of gaming headphones made in collaboration with HyperX; it will monitor a wearer’s brain waves, then suggest brain breaks to prevent burnout, with tips to maximize focus. The idea is that it could improve reaction times and accuracy—crucial in the world of esports gaming. Today, Light Phone, which sells “minimal phones” with basic utilities and no access to Instagram or TikTok, announced a developer program that would make it dramatically easier for anyone to develop “Tools” or apps for its dumbed-down software. Think of it as an app store, except all the Tools are free, there are no ads, and the company doesn’t sell your data. If that sounds nice, WIRED has the exclusive details right here. Julian Chokkattu Senior Gear Editor Get Ready for More Brain-Scanning Consumer Gadgets BY JULIAN CHOKKATTU Neurable, which makes noninvasive brain-computer interfaces, is licensing its technology and promises a “flood” of new third-party hardware this year and next. The Hottest Anti-AI Gadget Is a Cyberdeck BY REECE ROGERS On TikTok, young women are going viral for crafting whimsical homemade computers inside purses. Light Phone Is Making Its Dumb Phone More Useful With Third-Party ‘Tools’ BY JULIAN CHOKKATTU A new developer program for LightOS allows anyone to create tools for the Light Phone, whether that’s a local public transit app for your city or a way to read ebooks. ADVERTISEMENT   The WIRED Gear Team’s Tips on Ways to Save Money If you aren’t Jeff Bezos, the much-discussed affordability crisis is probably hitting you hard. (And if you are Jeff Bezos, you can stop reading right here). As the cost of essentials like gas and electronics spike, many of us are looking for ways to cut costs where we can, which is why WIRED’s Gear team has compiled a (very fun) list of tips for saving money. Such lists are often full of ideas about how to deprive yourself of the things you love, but many of the suggestions put forth by our Gear friends will only add to your life—like Reece Rogers’ hack for cheap food, which involves picking up delicious, heavily discounted, otherwise soon-to-be discarded meals from local restaurants, or Julia Forbes’ reminder that once you’ve hit the secondhand jackpot at a thrift shop, you’ll never go back to overpriced retail.—writes Elana Klein.   Colorado's Anti-Repair Bill Is Dead BY BOONE ASHWORTH Colorado has led the US on legislation that ensures people can fix their stuff. Manufacturers tried to claw back that control but ultimately failed—for now. Motorola’s New Razr Folding Phones Command a Higher Price With Few Upgrades BY JULIAN CHOKKATTU Say hello (Moto) to price hikes on all three of Motorola’s latest Razr flip phones. This Laptop Is Taking Aim at the 'Own Nothing' Industry The Framework Laptop 13 Pro has great battery life, a touchscreen, a haptic touchpad, and is fitted with Intel processors.   ✚ Read more: “We’re fighting for a future where you can own everything and be free," says CEO Nirav Patel The Most WIRED Watches at Watches and Wonders 2026 Forget worldly woes for a few minutes and gawk at these spectacular and mind-bogglingly spendy timepieces we saw in Geneva.   ✚ Read more: From Rolex to IWC and more, here are WIRED's top picks from the 2026 show Adidas’ Lightest Shoes Ever Were Behind the First Sub-2-Hour Marathon BY ALESSIO CAPRODOSSI Weighing 97 grams with a stiff carbon-fiber plate in the sole, Adidas’ new shoes helped Sabastian Sawe beat the two-hour mark in the London Marathon, a time barrier once considered insurmountable. Ikea's New Blow-Up Chair Was Tested by Cats BY JEREMY WHITE Part of the new PS 2026 collection, it's taken the Swedish company 26 years to finally nail inflatable furniture. ✚ What does “home” mean to you? Affordability, climate change, and cultural factors have transformed the home ownership landscape. As such, we are looking for readers to tell us about their homes—how you live now and what you imagine for the future. ADVERTISEMENT Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up to receive it for free here. Plus, find all of our newsletters here. 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 2026. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.