Technologies

I Tested the New Circle to Search on the Galaxy S26 and It Nailed My Outfit

Samsung’s AI-powered visual search tool on its new phones is now dangerously good at helping me shop. RIP my bank account.

As a fashion lover who’s always hunting for outfit inspo, I’ve spent more hours than I care to admit trying to track down the exact pieces from a TV scene or red carpet look. So when Samsung unveiled an upgraded version of Circle to Search at its Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco that can identify multiple items from a single image, I made a beeline for the Galaxy S26 demo area to try it myself.

Circle to Search, which first appeared on the Galaxy S24 phones and then expanded to other devices as Google Lens, felt like magic: Circle anything on your screen and get instant results. The AI-powered visual search tool can identify objects, translate text and surface contextual results without ever leaving the app you’re on.

Now it’s gotten even smarter, and broader: Google says it’s now also on Pixel 10 devices.

Instead of just identifying a single item, it can recognize and surface information about multiple things you’ve presented it with, including an entire outfit. The feature can be used for just about everything, from identifying bird species to translating text, but Samsung says fashion and shopping are hands-down the most popular use case.

So of course I had to put it to the test by having it scan my outfit — and I was genuinely floored. In the crowded event space under harsh lighting, I was skeptical it could deliver. It did.

First, it pulled up an AI summary describing the scene: «The look features a vibrant blue structured blazer, white top, dark fitted leggings and classic black leather boots.» Right below that, I pressed the «Find the look» button and watched it do its magic.

Within seconds, I was staring at the exact same in-your-face cerulean blazer I was wearing, with a link to the online store I’d bought it from, along with a slew of strikingly similar shopping options ranging from upscale alternatives to budget-friendly picks. This level of stalking would’ve taken me at least 20 minutes to lock down.

Scrolling down revealed the same for my glossy black leggings. Despite being from many seasons ago and not available anymore, it returned convincing dupes from different retailers. It did the same for my decade-old knee-high boots and even pulled up a used pair from Postmark; a nod at the fact that mine are old AF. The only thing it failed to surface was the shirt I was wearing under the blazer that was clearly visible in the shot. Maybe layers is the next frontier for Circle to Search.

Surprisingly, the hardest part of the process was figuring out how to use the feature. I had to ask a Samsung employee to take a full-body picture of me. Once I had it on the screen, I long-pressed on the home button at the bottom of the screen, which triggered a Google overlay. I then had to circle myself from head to toe. It’s the kind of feature I’d program on an action button if I could — although my wallet would likely suffer the consequences.

In doing this, Samsung and Google have virtually removed the friction between liking someone’s outfit, and pressing the trigger on buying it. It wasn’t that long ago that the closest alternative involved screenshotting a look, posting it to Pinterest and attempting to track down similar pieces. This is faster, cleaner and almost dangerously good for fashion lovers like me.

If this gets any better, Samsung may need to add a few guardrails for those of us prone to a little too much impulse shopping.

Technologies

NordVPN Now Covers Every State in New Server Expansion

The VPN software giant expands to 211 locations, with better speeds than ever.

Server numbers and reach are always important features for VPNs, since they show your options for choosing a server location and help spread out users to reduce server load. NordVPN — our pick for the best fast VPN service — announced a major expansion on Thursday in its coverage.

NordVPN now has 211 server locations, with a server in every state. This follows NordVPN’s swift growth globally in the past year, as the company has entered countries like Fiji, Barbados and Chad.

«With its larger server network, NordVPN now has an even further-reaching global footprint, which is great for travel and streaming,» says Moe Long, senior editor at CNET and VPN specialist. «Proton VPN has more servers (20,000) and more countries (145), but doesn’t have servers in all 50 US states. Servers in all 50 US states make it a great option for unblocking regional sports matches in the US, or traveling to and within the US.»

Only a few VPNs have servers in every state, including ExpressVPN and PIA. This expansion has also increased NordVPN’s total global capacity to 100Tbps. That’s good news for those worried about slowdowns, as it could help ease the load under peak network usage, depending on how NordVPN manages its new capacity and where you tap into its network.

VPNs, or virtual private networks, keep your information private and your data secure while you’re online. You can change your location as it appears to sites and services, so you can get around geoblocks like those on streaming services.

When I reached out to NordVPN, CTO Marijus Briedis told me, «A state-level presence helps users connect to location‑sensitive services without sacrificing privacy. With broader coverage, users can pick the server that best fits their needs — speed, locality or redundancy — without compromising on security.»

If these developments have you eyeing NordVPN as a potential VPN choice, keep in mind that some parts of the United States are considering laws to ban or limit the use of VPNs.

On the other hand, NordVPN is currently offering a discount on its two-year plans that brings the cost down to around $3 per month, quite good for a paid VPN. But you may want to explore our recommendations for free options before you decide.

Technologies

Swiss Privacy Goes Global: Proton VPN Grows Coverage to 145 Countries

It is now the top provider on our best VPN list for worldwide coverage.

Privacy in the digital age is more important than ever, and using a strong VPN can help keep your internet behavior safe from prying eyes. We write a lot about VPNs, and one provider has been making moves over the past two weeks to expand its global coverage.

Proton VPN is the privacy tool in question, and the Swiss-based company’s network, which has the best free VPN option on the market, now spans roughly 20,000 servers across 145 countries — with new server locations in Lebanon, Nicaragua, Gabon, Papua New Guinea, Kyrgyzstan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo — making it the top provider on our best VPN list for worldwide coverage.

VPNs, or virtual private networks, operate by masking your actual IP address with one from a remote server, allowing you to disguise your location and keep your internet activity secure.

There are a multitude of ways a VPN can enhance your experience, whether you’re looking to access streaming titles from another country or get around oppressive government firewalls that can block important information and communication pathways, and impede an open, uncensored internet.

Proton VPN now has the biggest global footprint out of all the VPNs CNET has tested. It has a vastly larger number of servers than NordVPN (9,300), and its reach exceeds NordVPN’s (135 countries), ExpressVPN’s (105 countries) and Surfshark’s (11 countries).

There is one caveat in all of this expansion: Proton VPN doesn’t have a server presence in all 50 US states, unlike NordVPN. That said, it’s still an excellent choice for watching streaming TV shows and movies — especially if you’re traveling internationally.

A Proton VPN spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to our request for comment.

Technologies

Meta Raises Prices on Quest 3 and Quest 3S Due to RAM Shortage

The VR headsets are RAMageddon’s latest victims.

Meta’s latest virtual reality headset, the Meta Quest 3 (512 GB), will cost $100 more starting Sunday. You can blame the ongoing RAM shortage.

Meta released the pricing update on Wednesday in a blog post calling out price increases for the Meta Quest 3 and 3S models. «The cost of building high-performance VR hardware has risen significantly,» Meta said in the post explaining the increase.

High demand from AI data centers is straining memory chip supplies, causing supply constraints and price increases in consumer tech. Many experts aren’t expecting the RAM shortage to end until 2028.

Counterpoint Research released findings in February showing that RAM costs increased by 80% to 90% in the first quarter of this year. Tech companies continue to hike prices, with Microsoft being the latest to increase the cost of the Microsoft Surface and Samsung doing the same for some Galaxy devices.

Here’s the original pricing as of Thursday, along with what you can expect to pay starting April 19.

Price changes for Meta Quest 3 models

Meta Quest model and storage	Original price	New price
Meta Quest 3S (128 GB)	$300	$350
Meta Quest 3S (256 GB)	$400	$450
Meta Quest 3 (512 GB)	$500	$600

Expect price bumps for refurbished Meta Quest headsets. Prices for Quest accessories will remain the same for now, though we’re unsure whether this applies to games in the Meta store, or whether there’ll be a change in the future.

Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Meta Quest 3 and 3S are Meta’s latest virtual reality headsets. The Quest 3S is the budget-friendly version, while the Quest 3 is the «pro» model. CNET’s Scott Stein rated both models high for their mixed reality, with better color cameras and improvements from the Quest 2.