ExpressVPN overhauls its VPN plans with a new tier structure and lower prices

Tech-news September 4, 2025

In a move it’s calling “one of the most significant changes in the company’s 16-year history,” ExpressVPN has switched to a tiered pricing structure. As of Sept. 2, the popular VPN provider now offers three types of subscriptions with varying levels of features, more simultaneous connections, and lower long-term pricing options.

ExpressVPN previously had one membership option that cost $6.67 to $12.95 per month, depending on the length of the subscription and available promotions. It was generally one of the most expensive premium VPN services available (something we knocked it for in our review).

Going forward, ExpressVPN is offering three different membership tiers starting well under $5 per month, putting it more in line with competitors like NordVPN and Surfshark. ExpressVPN has also increased its cap of eight simultaneous connections per subscription to a minimum of 10, making one plan usable across more devices.

ExpressVPN introduces tiered pricing plans.
Credit: ExpressVPN

“This marks a fundamental shift in how ExpressVPN is offered, built on the reality that the internet has changed along with your privacy needs,” the company wrote in a blog post.

The new tiers are:

Mashable Light Speed

Basic Plan: Subscribers get access to the VPN on up to 10 devices at a time. It comes with a kill switch, a tracker blocker, split tunneling on most platforms, and ExpressVPN’s Lightning protocol, which is designed for speed and efficiency. Prices range from $3.49 per month for 28 months to $12.99 on a monthly basis.
Advanced Plan: In addition to the VPN, users get a built-in ad blocker, a password manager, and an ID theft tool suite called “Identity Defender” that includes fraud alerts, theft protection, and a credit scanner. ExpressVPN Advanced subscribers can use the service on up to 12 devices. Prices start at $4.49 per month for 28 months and max out at $13.99 month to month. Yearly subscribers get a bonus three days of unlimited international mobile data via eSIM.
Pro Plan: On top of everything included in the Advanced tier, ExpressVPN Pro subscribers get a dedicated IP address, two extra Identity Defender features (a data removal tool and monthly credit reports), and up to 14 simultaneous connections. Prices range from $7.49 per month for 28 months to $19.99 per month. Long-term subscribers get five days of unlimited international mobile data via eSIM.

Advanced and Pro subscribers also receive discounts on ExpressVPN’s AirCove WiFi 6 routers, which come with its VPN pre-installed. All of the new ExpressVPN plans are covered by its existing no-logs policy and usual 30-day money-back guarantee.

Why Dierks Bentley and Wife Cassidy Black Sleep in Separate Beds

Honor of Kings Launches HOK Studio and Esports Qualifier in India

After its recent launch, Honor of Kings is now doubling down on the market with a two-pronged strategy. First, build a creator ecosystem, then strengthen its esports pathway. For this, the game has announced the rollout of HOK Studio, alongside the King’s Arise India: KWC at EWC26 Qualifier. Here’s everything you need to know.

HOK Studio to Boost Creator Ecosystem

At the center of this push is HOK Studio, the game’s official creator platform designed to support content creators across formats. This includes short videos, livestreams, tutorials, esports coverage, and more. As part of its initial phase in India, HOK Studio will introduce a Content Creator Incentive Program with rewards exceeding ₹1 crore (₹10 million). Creators can also get access to in-game tokens, exclusive rewards, official promotional support, and even early access to new content.

Dean Huang, the game’s producer, said:

India is a key market for Honor of Kings, and our focus is on building a strong, localised ecosystem that goes beyond gameplay. With HOK Studio, we are committed to developing a program worth an initial ₹10 million, to empower creators who play a critical role in shaping how the game is experienced and shared. At the same time, through initiatives like the KWC at EWC26 Qualifier, we are creating opportunities for Indian players to compete at the highest global level. Together, these efforts reflect our long-term commitment to growing both the creator and competitive ecosystems in India.

EWC Qualifier

Alongside creators, the game is also focusing heavily on competitive play. The King’s Arise India: KWC at EWC26 Qualifier will act as a structured pathway for Indian teams to reach the global stage. Registration for the tournament will run from April 19 to April 26, followed by open qualifiers, playoffs, and offline finals on May 17. The tournament features a prize pool of ₹5 lakh and will eventually select two teams to represent India at the global KWC event, where the total prize pool stands at million.

The competition will follow global formats like Global Ban & Pick, which prevents teams from reusing heroes across matches, and a Bo7 Grand Final with an “Ultimate Battle” tiebreaker. These formats are designed to test strategy, adaptability, and team coordination at the highest level.

#Honor #Kings #Launches #HOK #Studio #Esports #Qualifier #IndiaKrafton

#Honor #Kings #Launches #HOK #Studio #Esports #Qualifier #IndiaKrafton">

mwasimuddin125 0

launch, Honor of Kings is now doubling down on the market with a two-pronged strategy. First, build a creator ecosystem, then strengthen its esports pathway. For this, the game has announced the rollout of HOK Studio, alongside the King’s Arise India: KWC at EWC26 Qualifier. Here’s everything you need to know.

HOK Studio to Boost Creator Ecosystem

At the center of this push is HOK Studio, the game’s official creator platform designed to support content creators across formats. This includes short videos, livestreams, tutorials, esports coverage, and more. As part of its initial phase in India, HOK Studio will introduce a Content Creator Incentive Program with rewards exceeding ₹1 crore (₹10 million). Creators can also get access to in-game tokens, exclusive rewards, official promotional support, and even early access to new content.

Dean Huang, the game’s producer, said:

India is a key market for Honor of Kings, and our focus is on building a strong, localised ecosystem that goes beyond gameplay. With HOK Studio, we are committed to developing a program worth an initial ₹10 million, to empower creators who play a critical role in shaping how the game is experienced and shared. At the same time, through initiatives like the KWC at EWC26 Qualifier, we are creating opportunities for Indian players to compete at the highest global level. Together, these efforts reflect our long-term commitment to growing both the creator and competitive ecosystems in India.

EWC Qualifier

Alongside creators, the game is also focusing heavily on competitive play. The King’s Arise India: KWC at EWC26 Qualifier will act as a structured pathway for Indian teams to reach the global stage. Registration for the tournament will run from April 19 to April 26, followed by open qualifiers, playoffs, and offline finals on May 17. The tournament features a prize pool of ₹5 lakh and will eventually select two teams to represent India at the global KWC event, where the total prize pool stands at $3 million.

The competition will follow global formats like Global Ban & Pick, which prevents teams from reusing heroes across matches, and a Bo7 Grand Final with an “Ultimate Battle” tiebreaker. These formats are designed to test strategy, adaptability, and team coordination at the highest level.

#Honor #Kings #Launches #HOK #Studio #Esports #Qualifier #IndiaKrafton">Honor of Kings Launches HOK Studio and Esports Qualifier in India

After its recent launch, Honor of Kings is now doubling down on the market with a two-pronged strategy. First, build a creator ecosystem, then strengthen its esports pathway. For this, the game has announced the rollout of HOK Studio, alongside the King’s Arise India: KWC at EWC26 Qualifier. Here’s everything you need to know.

HOK Studio to Boost Creator Ecosystem

Dean Huang, the game’s producer, said:

India is a key market for Honor of Kings, and our focus is on building a strong, localised ecosystem that goes beyond gameplay. With HOK Studio, we are committed to developing a program worth an initial ₹10 million, to empower creators who play a critical role in shaping how the game is experienced and shared. At the same time, through initiatives like the KWC at EWC26 Qualifier, we are creating opportunities for Indian players to compete at the highest global level. Together, these efforts reflect our long-term commitment to growing both the creator and competitive ecosystems in India.

EWC Qualifier

#Honor #Kings #Launches #HOK #Studio #Esports #Qualifier #IndiaKrafton

Apple’s New CEO Could Bring Us Less Pro, More ‘Neo’
Apple’s new chief, John Ternus, is set to bring hardware back to the fore. The first instance of a true Ternus brainchild, the cheap and vibrant MacBook Neo, proved ludicrously successful. Under Ternus, Apple has the chance to take the “Neo” name and revitalize all of Apple’s low-end products, from iPads to Apple Watches to iPhones.

Outgoing CEO Tim Cook is still at the helm until Sept. 1. That means this upcoming WWDC, taking place on June 8, will be his last hurrah and his final chance to share his vision for the trillion tech monolith. But Cook was not a hardware guy. Ternus is. The new CEO started his time at Apple as an engineer and worked his way up through Apple’s external displays, AirPods, and iPads and finally to an executive position where he oversaw the Mac’s landmark transition from Intel’s x86 architecture to ARM-based M-series chips. The M5 MacBook Air is a great value and the M5 Max MacBook Pro offers some of the best performance we’ve seen from a laptop of its size. Both still cost a tidy sum that many consumers still can’t afford. If there’s any one Mac that has Ternus’ stamp of approval, it’s the 0 MacBook Neo. It came with a new name that had never been used in Apple’s lexicon. It offered a suite of subtle, though still vibrant, colors we had not had on any Mac product before it. It broke with Apple’s penchant for premium and offered a build quality you can’t get from PCs at this price point. The ‘Neo’ is a blueprint for a more affordable Apple A pretty pink color emphasizes the MacBook Neo’s appeal. © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo Ternus, as Apple’s hardware figurehead, propped up the MacBook Neo. He, not Cook, stood up on stage during the laptop’s New York City showcase back in March and extolled the merits of solid build quality and affordability. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman wrote that Ternus “urged the company to sell a cheaper laptop that could appeal to a younger generation.” And people loved it. The laptop continues to sell so well that shipping times for either the 0 or 0 version with extra storage space have slipped all the way into May.

The next Apple products may similarly look downstream for a new customer base. Apple’s cheaper products, like the base iPad and Apple Watch SE 3, are still good for what they are. They just don’t spark the imagination. The Neo name could become the term for all of Apple’s lower-end products. Instead of an iPad that receives an iPhone chip and the leftovers of the iPad Air or iPad Pro, Apple could offer some new features that will entice lingering tablet users to upgrade.

The 0 iPhone 17e addressed most of our complaints about the iPhone 16e, but it still lacks many defining iPhone features, like the Dynamic Island and multiple cameras. I could see the next generation of cheap(er) iPhones drop the “e,” add “Neo” in the name, and offer more than just the scraps of the next-generation iPhone 18. Perhaps we could use more colors than just black, white, and a subtle pink. Apple doesn’t have to abandon premium products. Its next MacBook Pro with the rumored M6 chip could add an OLED display and a touchscreen, and it will likely cost even more than today’s M5 MacBook Pros do should it see the light of day. The supposed foldable iPhone will certainly cost a pretty penny. Apple’s Mac sales slowed down for the past few years until the Neo came along. Ternus has witnessed firsthand how angling products to the cash-strapped masses is enough to turn things around. #Apples #CEO #Bring #Pro #NeoApple,iPad,iPhone,john ternus,MacBook — A pretty pink color emphasizes the MacBook Neo’s appeal. © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

#Apples #CEO #Bring #Pro #NeoApple,iPad,iPhone,john ternus,MacBook">

mwasimuddin125 0

MacBook Neo, proved ludicrously successful. Under Ternus, Apple has the chance to take the “Neo” name and revitalize all of Apple’s low-end products, from iPads to Apple Watches to iPhones.

Outgoing CEO Tim Cook is still at the helm until Sept. 1. That means this upcoming WWDC, taking place on June 8, will be his last hurrah and his final chance to share his vision for the $4 trillion tech monolith. But Cook was not a hardware guy. Ternus is. The new CEO started his time at Apple as an engineer and worked his way up through Apple’s external displays, AirPods, and iPads and finally to an executive position where he oversaw the Mac’s landmark transition from Intel’s x86 architecture to ARM-based M-series chips.

The M5 MacBook Air is a great value and the M5 Max MacBook Pro offers some of the best performance we’ve seen from a laptop of its size. Both still cost a tidy sum that many consumers still can’t afford. If there’s any one Mac that has Ternus’ stamp of approval, it’s the $600 MacBook Neo. It came with a new name that had never been used in Apple’s lexicon. It offered a suite of subtle, though still vibrant, colors we had not had on any Mac product before it. It broke with Apple’s penchant for premium and offered a build quality you can’t get from PCs at this price point.

The ‘Neo’ is a blueprint for a more affordable Apple

A pretty pink color emphasizes the MacBook Neo’s appeal. © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

Ternus, as Apple’s hardware figurehead, propped up the MacBook Neo. He, not Cook, stood up on stage during the laptop’s New York City showcase back in March and extolled the merits of solid build quality and affordability. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman wrote that Ternus “urged the company to sell a cheaper laptop that could appeal to a younger generation.” And people loved it. The laptop continues to sell so well that shipping times for either the $600 or $700 version with extra storage space have slipped all the way into May.

The next Apple products may similarly look downstream for a new customer base. Apple’s cheaper products, like the base iPad and Apple Watch SE 3, are still good for what they are. They just don’t spark the imagination. The Neo name could become the term for all of Apple’s lower-end products. Instead of an iPad that receives an iPhone chip and the leftovers of the iPad Air or iPad Pro, Apple could offer some new features that will entice lingering tablet users to upgrade.

The $600 iPhone 17e addressed most of our complaints about the iPhone 16e, but it still lacks many defining iPhone features, like the Dynamic Island and multiple cameras. I could see the next generation of cheap(er) iPhones drop the “e,” add “Neo” in the name, and offer more than just the scraps of the next-generation iPhone 18. Perhaps we could use more colors than just black, white, and a subtle pink.

Apple doesn’t have to abandon premium products. Its next MacBook Pro with the rumored M6 chip could add an OLED display and a touchscreen, and it will likely cost even more than today’s M5 MacBook Pros do should it see the light of day. The supposed foldable iPhone will certainly cost a pretty penny. Apple’s Mac sales slowed down for the past few years until the Neo came along. Ternus has witnessed firsthand how angling products to the cash-strapped masses is enough to turn things around.

#Apples #CEO #Bring #Pro #NeoApple,iPad,iPhone,john ternus,MacBook">Apple’s New CEO Could Bring Us Less Pro, More ‘Neo’

Apple’s new chief, John Ternus, is set to bring hardware back to the fore. The first instance of a true Ternus brainchild, the cheap and vibrant MacBook Neo, proved ludicrously successful. Under Ternus, Apple has the chance to take the “Neo” name and revitalize all of Apple’s low-end products, from iPads to Apple Watches to iPhones.

Outgoing CEO Tim Cook is still at the helm until Sept. 1. That means this upcoming WWDC, taking place on June 8, will be his last hurrah and his final chance to share his vision for the $4 trillion tech monolith. But Cook was not a hardware guy. Ternus is. The new CEO started his time at Apple as an engineer and worked his way up through Apple’s external displays, AirPods, and iPads and finally to an executive position where he oversaw the Mac’s landmark transition from Intel’s x86 architecture to ARM-based M-series chips.

The M5 MacBook Air is a great value and the M5 Max MacBook Pro offers some of the best performance we’ve seen from a laptop of its size. Both still cost a tidy sum that many consumers still can’t afford. If there’s any one Mac that has Ternus’ stamp of approval, it’s the $600 MacBook Neo. It came with a new name that had never been used in Apple’s lexicon. It offered a suite of subtle, though still vibrant, colors we had not had on any Mac product before it. It broke with Apple’s penchant for premium and offered a build quality you can’t get from PCs at this price point.

The ‘Neo’ is a blueprint for a more affordable Apple

#Apples #CEO #Bring #Pro #NeoApple,iPad,iPhone,john ternus,MacBook

Lenovo

Legion 7i Gen 10 (16 Inch, Intel)

Now, there’s another class of high-end gaming laptop that focuses more on performance than being thin or portable. The Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 10 is one of my favorites in this class, featuring a beautiful white chassis and glossy OLED display. Unlike some OLED displays, the Legion 7i’s screen can be cranked up to over 1,000 nits of brightness. The result is some really splendid HDR performance that brings games to life. HDR is a powerful way of improving the visuals of your games without a performance cost. The Legion 7i Gen 10 is one of the very best in this regard.

It’s still fairly thin at 0.7 inches thick too, while a lot of the ports are found on the back. It’s the definition of a “clean” gaming laptop. It’s no slouch when it comes to performance either, offering either the RTX 5070 Ti or RTX 5080 for graphics.

Cheap Gaming Laptops That Are Worth It

No gaming laptops worth buying are actually cheap. High-refresh rate displays and discrete graphics will always make them more expensive than standard laptops. But as you get closer to $1,000, there is one laptop I always come back to: the Lenovo LOQ 15. Pronounced “Lock,” this Lenovo subbrand is known for cutting the fluff and focusing on giving gamers the performance they need at an affordable price. No laptop does that better than the LOQ 15. Many laptop manufacturers sell their RTX 5060 configurations for hundreds of dollars more. In reality, if you’re shopping around $1,000, there’s no reason to not buy the LOQ 15. Just do it.

If you do want to save some extra cash, there is another option that is cheaper than the LOQ 15 with a few compromises in key areas. The Acer Nitro V 16 is that laptop, which comes with an RTX 5050. This was as affordable as $600 at one point last year—before prices on laptops have risen due to the ongoing memory shortage—but it remains the only laptop cheaper than the Lenovo LOQ 15 that’s actually worth it. It’s fairly powerful for the RTX 5050, and while the screen is pretty shoddy, it’s not a bad-looking laptop. The one big caveat is that the 135-watt power supply it comes with doesn’t deliver quite enough power to keep it charged in Performance mode. Read more about this issue in my review, as it’s important to know about if you’re planning to buy it.

There are other cheap gaming laptops out there I’ve tested, such as the MSI Cyborg A15, but either the Acer Nitro V 16 or Lenovo LOQ 15 are better, cheaper options. You will also find lots of gaming laptops under $1,000 that use older graphics cards, such as the RTX 4050 or 3050. In general, I’d recommend staying away from these. They’re only one or two generations back, but remember: Nvidia only releases new laptop graphics cards every couple of years. So, an RTX 4050 laptop may be well over two years old already, and an RTX 3050 is over five years old. Not only do you get worse graphics performance, these laptops are much more likely to need to be replaced sooner.

Experimental Stuff

One of the exciting things about the world of gaming laptops right now is the experimentation. While clamshell gaming laptops with a conventional Nvidia GPU are the most standard way to go, there’s a few different ways to take your PC games on the go that stretch the boundaries. You might consider a gaming handheld, for example, like the Steam Deck or Xbox Ally X. These handhelds have their fans, and while you can’t also do your homework on these devices, they’re great on couches, trains, and planes.