The Verge’s annual summer ‘in’ and ‘out’ list
What’s in, what’s out, and what’s a bit of both this summer.
by Jul 3, 2026, 1:00 PM UTC
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images
The Verge’s annual summer ‘in’ and ‘out’ list
What’s in, what’s out, and what’s a bit of both this summer.
by Jul 3, 2026, 1:00 PM UTC
Mia Sato is features writer with five years of experience covering the companies that shape technology and the people who use their tools.
In the AI slop-loaded, algorithm-powered modern reality, trends come and go — and the tech industry is no different. For the last few years, The Verge staff has compiled a selection of things that are IN for summer and OUT for summer — and each time there are some strong feelings. (Here are the last two years’ predictions.) Let’s do it again!
IN
OUT
Motion sickness glassesAI “pervert” glassesFiberProteinBootleg sports merchOfficial tech company merchFloating in waterTouching grass
IN
OUT
The great New York renaissanceThe Great American State FairThe Knicks garbage canTaylor Swift’s MSG weddingThe InviteBelieving Olivia Wilde is a bad directorSeeing through your own human eyesThe Kylie Jenner Meta glasses
IN
OUT
The NYC ferryThe NYC subway (sorry it’s too hot rn)Using AI to draft letters to your landlordUsing AI to draft breakup texts, or anything else personalLetterboxdThreadsAbsolutely unhinged design ideas that AI could never come up withMillennial minimalism
IN
OUT
Flintstones vitaminsGray market peptidesDrugstore moisturizerLooksmaxxingThe FDA approving a new sunscreen filterWhatever it is RFK Jr. is doingWriting in an analog journalAI wearables that record everything you doAccepting we will all dieWhatever it is Bryan Johnson is doing
IN
OUT
EverQuest (2026)EverQuest (1999)Entire bootleg movies on TikTok20-part “story” edits on TikTokBoston as the most Scottish city in the USBoston as the most Irish city in the US
IN
OUT
A single plain text fileVibecoding your own to-do appSilo season threeTed Lasso season fourVertical sitcomsVertical dramas
IN
OUT
Any movie theater that does not serve food to your seatAlamo DrafthouseProton MailGmailBuying refurbished devicesBuying new devices
IN
OUT
LeaksPress releasesPractical effectsGenerative AI in moviesMaking computersBuying computersWebringsX, the everything appLetting your phone battery dieDoomscrolling
IN
OUT
Being a bandwagon sports fanRivalries – lifelong, heated, etcGelato Frozen yogurtDua Lipa’s joie de vivreKylie Jenner’s whole dealMineral sunscreenBeef tallow “sunscreen”
IN
OUT
Friendslop gamesLive-service gamesExpensive PC gaming Expensive console gamingxboXXBOX
IN
OUT
Unconstitutional Iran warPeaceThe shortest inseam you can find and/or makePantsCeasefireUnconstitutional Iran warWorld CupOwala tumblers and other adult sippy cupsUnconstitutional Iran warCeasefireMajor League Cricket (Go Unicorns!)Major League BaseballCeasefireUnconstitutional Iran warMcCartney IITaylor SwiftUnconstitutional Iran warCeasefireExcommunicationJD VanceCeasefireUnconstitutional Iran warFollow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.