{"id":2028012,"date":"2026-07-05T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2028012"},"modified":"2026-07-05T14:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T11:00:00","slug":"the-sourdough-sidekick-automates-the-boring-bit-of-baking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2028012","title":{"rendered":"The Sourdough Sidekick automates the boring bit of baking"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><main id=\"content\"><\/p>\n<div class>\n<article>\n<div class=\"duet--article--lede duet--page-layout--feature-article _1se63890\">\n<div class=\"duet--ledes--feature-lede _1m5y14k0\">\n<div class=\"_1m5y14k1\">\n<div class=\"_1m5y14k6\">\n<div class=\"_1xtd7xb5 _1xtd7xb4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1044qiz7\">\n<div class=\"_1m5y14k2 _1044qiz3\">\n<div class=\"_1m5y14k3\">\n<div class=\"_5s9d1e0 _5s9d1e2\">\n<div class=\"_5s9d1e3\"><span class=\"_29pwo217\"><\/p>\n<ul class=\"_1phh1th0\">\n<li>\n<div 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id=\"follow-category-breadcrumb-dmcyOmNhdGVnb3J5OjMyNQ==\"><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\"><span class=\"gnx4pm0 _1uf8q815 _19wv7tc5 _1618ekm0\"><span class=\"_1ajq89ka _1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><span class=\"_1618ekm9\">Reviews<\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmNhdGVnb3J5OjMyNQ==-breadcrumb\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _1se63890\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5\">Reviews<\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"duet--cta--button _11kb06m1 _11kb06m0 fv263x2 _11kb06mg\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/reviews\">See All <!-- -->Reviews<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div id=\"follow-category-breadcrumb-dmcyOmNhdGVnb3J5OjI3Mg==\"><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\"><span class=\"gnx4pm0 _1uf8q815 _19wv7tc5 _1618ekm0\"><span class=\"_1ajq89ka _1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><span class=\"_1618ekm9\">Smart Home<\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmNhdGVnb3J5OjI3Mg==-breadcrumb\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _1se63890\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5\">Smart Home<\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"duet--cta--button _11kb06m1 _11kb06m0 fv263x2 _11kb06mg\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/smart-home\">See All <!-- -->Smart Home<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div class>\n<h1 class=\"cbn62f2 cbn62f0 cbn62f7 _19wv7tcb _19wv7tc9\">The Sourdough Sidekick automates the boring bit of baking<\/h1>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup cbn62fi cbn62fg _19wv7tcb _19wv7tc1\">\ufeffBut I\u2019d only recommend it if you bake at least a loaf a week, and ideally more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_5s9d1ea\">\n<p class=\"pf8b0f0 _19wv7tcb\">If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. <a class=\"pf8b0f1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ethics-statement\">See our ethics statement.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo22 _29pwo20 _29pwo221\">\n<div class=\"_29pwo29 _29pwo2h\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-byline _19wv7tcb _1p3b6390\"><span class><span>by<\/span> <!-- --> <span aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\"><span id=\"follow-author-author_byline_lead-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MTI1\" class=\"t0jcdf0 gnx4pm0 _1p3b6392 _1p3b6394 t0jcdf1\"><span class=\"t0jcdf2\"><span class=\"_1ajq89ka _1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><\/span><span>Dominic Preston<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MTI1-author_byline_lead\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _1se63890\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1bw37384\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Dominic Preston\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1bw37385 i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/01\/DOM_BLURPLE-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5 _1bw37380\">Dominic Preston<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1bw37381\">\n<div class=\"_1bw37382\">News Editor<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"duet--cta--button _11kb06m1 _11kb06m0 fv263x2 _11kb06mg\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/authors\/dominic-preston\">See All by <!-- -->Dominic Preston<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw6 g4xafw1 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _19wv7tcb\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-05T14:00:00+00:00\">Jul 5, 2026, 2:00 PM UTC<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo2m\">\n<div class=\"_29pwo2x _29pwo215\"><span class=\"_29pwo216 _29pwo217\"><\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--share-buttons _1e9wo7z0\">\n<li>\n<div class=\"_1e9wo7zo\"><button aria-label=\"Copy link\" class=\"_1e9wo7z3 _1e9wo7z1\"><title>Link<\/title><\/button><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Share article\" class=\"_1e9wo7z3 _1e9wo7z1\"><title>Share<\/title><\/button><\/li>\n<li>\n<div><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Gift this article\" class=\"_1e9wo7z3 _1e9wo7z1\"><title>Gift<\/title><\/button><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/span><span class=\"_29pwo224 _1044qizr _29pwo216 _29pwo217\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo219\">\n<div class=\"o1ls98 o1ls90 o1ls92h\">\n<div class=\"o1ls90 o1ls9f o1ls99\" data-concert=\"article_sponsorship_white_mobile_and_tablet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo21u\">\n<div class=\"_29pwo21h\">\n<div class=\"o1ls98 o1ls90 o1ls92i\">\n<div class=\"o1ls90 o1ls9d o1ls99\" data-concert=\"article_sponsorship_white_desktop\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo218 _1044qizp\">\n<p class=\"pf8b0f0 _19wv7tcb\">If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. <a class=\"pf8b0f1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ethics-statement\">See our ethics statement.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1xtd7xb0\">\n<div class=\"_1m5y14k5 _1xtd7xb1\">\n<div class=\"_19dn9e80\">\n<div class=\"_19dn9e82 _19dn9e81 sticky-nav-trigger\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--layout--entry-image _1l4uy9l0\">\n<div class=\"_1l4uy9l1 _1l4uy9l2\">\n<div class=\"_1044qizn _1044qizx\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"sourdough-sidekick-3\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/sourdough-sidekick-3.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.011361054305837%2C100%2C99.977277891388&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1044qizm _1044qizw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"sourdough-sidekick-3\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/sourdough-sidekick-3.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.659090909091%2C0%2C66.681818181818%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1m5y14k8\">\n<div class=\"duet--media--caption _77sxmb0\"><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _19wv7tc2 _77sxmba\"><em>The Sourdough Sidekick was codeveloped with King Arthur Baking Company.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--layout--entry-body-container j2p4kx0 _1044qiz3 _1044qiz17\">\n<div class=\"j2p4kx1\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--entry-body mebm7x0\">\n<div class=\"duet--ledes--standard-lede-bottom\">\n<div class=\"h9mca15\">\n<div class=\"waimqt2 waimqt0\">\n<div class=\"_4aoxp30 _4aoxp31\">\n<div class=\"_4aoxp33\"><a class=\"_4aoxp36\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/authors\/dominic-preston\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Dominic Preston\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"36\" height=\"36\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"_4aoxp34\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/01\/DOM_BLURPLE-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=96\"><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"_4aoxp35\"><span aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\"><span id=\"follow-author-standard_article_details-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MTI1\" class=\"t0jcdf0 gnx4pm0 _1p3b6392 _1p3b6393 t0jcdf1\"><span class=\"t0jcdf2\"><span class=\"_1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><\/span><span>Dominic Preston<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MTI1-standard_article_details\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _1se63890\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1bw37384\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Dominic Preston\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1bw37385 i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/01\/DOM_BLURPLE-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5 _1bw37380\">Dominic Preston<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1bw37381\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"duet--cta--button _11kb06m1 _11kb06m0 fv263x2 _11kb06mg\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/authors\/dominic-preston\">See All by <!-- -->Dominic Preston<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p> <span class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _4aoxp37\">is a news editor with over a decade\u2019s experience in journalism. He previously worked at <em>Android Police<\/em> and <em>Tech Advisor<\/em>.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"zephr-anchor\" class=\"_1044qiz13\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _18mzr4b6 _18mzr4b5 _19wv7tc1\">Baking sourdough bread is inherently old-fashioned, relying on natural fermentation and wild yeast instead of the simple, predictable commercial stuff. So it might sound anathema to bring a gadget into the mix.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">The trick to the Sourdough Sidekick \u2014 backed and branded by King Arthur flour \u2014 is that it promises to automate the boring bit of sourdough baking: starter management. It feeds your starter flour and water on a set schedule, ready for exactly when you want to bake, leaving you to focus on kneading, shaping, and the actual baking.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Like any single-purpose kitchen gadget, you\u2019ll have to be confident you\u2019ll get enough use to justify both the cost and the counter space. That\u2019s doubly true here thanks to a few design quirks that make the Sourdough Sidekick frustrating to use if you don\u2019t bake multiple times a week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1xorkac1 _1xorkac0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div class=\"gc3ws21\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--scorecard gc3ws25 gc3ws24\" data-product-filter id=\"product-card-dmcyOnByb2R1Y3Q6OTU5NjQw\">\n<div class=\"gc3ws2k\"><a class=\"gc3ws2g gc3ws2c\" href=\"https:\/\/shareasale.com\/r.cfm?b=2129490&amp;u=1225169&amp;m=130131&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.kingarthurbaking.com%2Fitems%2Fsourdough-sidekick\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Photo of the Sourdough Sidekick on a kitchen counter\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/sourdough-sidekick-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.659090909091%2C0%2C66.681818181818%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/a><a class=\"gc3ws2j gc3ws2d\" href=\"https:\/\/shareasale.com\/r.cfm?b=2129490&amp;u=1225169&amp;m=130131&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.kingarthurbaking.com%2Fitems%2Fsourdough-sidekick\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Photo of the Sourdough Sidekick on a kitchen counter\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/sourdough-sidekick-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.011361054305837%2C100%2C99.977277891388&amp;w=2400\"><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"xhcq400\">\n<p class=\"xhcq401\">6<\/p>\n<p class=\"xhcq402\">Verge Score<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"gc3ws29\">\n<div class=\"gc3ws2a gc3ws2b\">\n<h3 class=\"gc3ws2l\"><a class=\"gc3ws2y\" href=\"https:\/\/shareasale.com\/r.cfm?b=2129490&amp;u=1225169&amp;m=130131&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.kingarthurbaking.com%2Fitems%2Fsourdough-sidekick\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Sourdough Sidekick<\/a><\/h3>\n<div class=\"gc3ws2q\"><span class=\"gc3ws2t\">$<!-- -->180<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"gc3ws2r\"><span class=\"gc3ws2s\">$<!-- -->180<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"xhcq405 _19wv7tc1\">\n<div class=\"xhcq406\">\n<h4 class=\"xhcq408\">The Good<\/h4>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup xhcq409\">\n<ul>\n<li>Set it and forget it starter feeding<\/li>\n<li>Works with most flour types<\/li>\n<li>Flexible Custom mode<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"xhcq407\">\n<h4 class=\"xhcq408\">The Bad<\/h4>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup xhcq409\">\n<ul>\n<li>Works best if you bake twice a week<\/li>\n<li>Core parts aren\u2019t dishwasher-safe<\/li>\n<li>Noisy<\/li>\n<li>Yet another single-purpose kitchen gadget<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"gc3ws2w\"><a class=\"gc3ws2x\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sourdoughsidekick.com\/products\/sourdough-sidekick\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">$180 at Sourdough Sidekick<\/a><a class=\"gc3ws2x\" href=\"https:\/\/shareasale.com\/r.cfm?b=2129490&amp;u=1225169&amp;m=130131&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.kingarthurbaking.com%2Fitems%2Fsourdough-sidekick\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">$180 at King Arthur Baking Company<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"xhcq403\"><a class=\"xhcq404\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/pages\/how-we-rate\">How we rate and review products<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">The Sourdough Sidekick is a joint project by FirstBuild \u2014 the GE Appliances \u201cinnovation hub\u201d responsible for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/24191807\/ge-profile-opal-2-0-ultra-nugget-ice-maker-review\">viral Opal ice maker<\/a> \u2014 and King Arthur Baking Company, which is why you\u2019ll see the latter\u2019s logo on the front. It <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/news\/638390\/sourdough-starter-king-arthur-flour-firstbuild-indiegogo\">launched with a crowdfunding campaign<\/a> in March 2025, but it\u2019s now available to buy directly from King Arthur for $179.99 \u2014 though it\u2019s US-only.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">The basic operation is pretty simple. You drop a small amount of existing starter into the crock \u2014 15g, or a tablespoon\u2019s worth \u2014 and fill the two dispensers with flour and water. On Auto mode, you then tell the Sidekick when you want to make bread, and how much starter you\u2019ll need for your recipe, and it will drip-feed flour and water on a dynamic schedule that takes into account the local temperature, mixing as it goes, so that you end up with the right amount of starter, at its peak of activity, right when you need it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Using a simple white bread flour, this worked a treat. I told the Sidekick I wanted to bake in a few days\u2019 time, left it alone, and came back to find my starter strong, healthy, and ready to bake a pretty decent white loaf. If anything my bread came out overproofed, suggesting the Sidekick produced a more active starter than I usually manage by myself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1xorkac3 _1xorkac0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div id=\":R6gbcprar96:\" class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-four-up _1044qizj\">\n<div class=\"_1pegheu6\">\n<div class=\"_1pegheu7\">\n<div class>\n<div class>\n<div style=\"background-image:none\" class=\"duet--media--content-warning _1k8kvzd0\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-image _1pegheu0 _1044qizx\"><a class=\"_1pegheu1\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/sourdough-sidekick-4.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0.011361054305837,100,99.977277891388\" data-pswp-height=\"1466.6666666666667\" data-pswp-width=\"2200\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Photo of the Sourdough Sidekick on a kitchen counter showing the flour pot\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/sourdough-sidekick-4.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.011361054305837%2C100%2C99.977277891388&amp;w=2400\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--media--caption _77sxmb0\"><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _19wv7tc2 _77sxmba\"><em>Flour goes in the hopper at the top.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1pegheu9\">\n<div class>\n<div class>\n<div style=\"background-image:none\" class=\"duet--media--content-warning _1k8kvzd0\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-image _1pegheu0 _1044qizx\"><a class=\"_1pegheu1\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/sourdough-sidekick-5.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0.011361054305837,100,99.977277891388\" data-pswp-height=\"1466.6666666666667\" data-pswp-width=\"2200\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Photo of the Sourdough Sidekick on a kitchen counter showing the water tank\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/sourdough-sidekick-5.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.011361054305837%2C100%2C99.977277891388&amp;w=2400\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--media--caption _77sxmb0\"><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _19wv7tc2 _77sxmba\"><em>Water in the detachable tank at the back.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1pegheu6\">\n<div class=\"_1pegheu8 _1pegheu7\">\n<div class>\n<div class>\n<div style=\"background-image:none\" class=\"duet--media--content-warning _1k8kvzd0\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-image _1pegheu0 _1044qizx\"><a class=\"_1pegheu1\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/sourdough-sidekick-2.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0.011361054305837,100,99.977277891388\" data-pswp-height=\"1466.6666666666667\" data-pswp-width=\"2200\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Photo of the Sourdough Sidekick on a kitchen counter saying it is feeding\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/sourdough-sidekick-2.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.011361054305837%2C100%2C99.977277891388&amp;w=2400\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--media--caption _77sxmb0\"><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _19wv7tc2 _77sxmba\"><em>And a few buttons and a dial handle the controls.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1pegheua _1pegheu9\">\n<div class>\n<div class>\n<div style=\"background-image:none\" class=\"duet--media--content-warning _1k8kvzd0\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-image _1pegheu0 _1044qizx\"><a class=\"_1pegheu1\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/sourdough-sidekick-6.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0.011361054305837,100,99.977277891388\" data-pswp-height=\"1466.6666666666667\" data-pswp-width=\"2200\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Photo of the Sourdough Sidekick on a kitchen counter showing the goal date and weight on the screen\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/sourdough-sidekick-6.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.011361054305837%2C100%2C99.977277891388&amp;w=2400\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--media--caption _77sxmb0\"><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _19wv7tc2 _77sxmba\"><em>In Auto mode, you simply set a goal date, time, and starter weight.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">You don\u2019t have to use white flour, though any time you switch flours, you\u2019ll have to spend a few minutes recalibrating the Sidekick to account for the different densities. It handled most whole wheat and rye flours just fine, though when I tried an especially coarse-milled rye flour from British miller Landrace for a <a href=\"https:\/\/braise.substack.com\/p\/recipe-seeded-sourdough-rye-bread\">dense Danish-style rye loaf<\/a>, the resulting starter proved too thick for the Sidekick to mix properly, leaving me with dry clumps and thin patches. The starter needed more water to reach the right texture, but for that I needed to leave the pointedly simple Auto mode.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Auto mode has a few other limitations. It\u2019s designed to work with exactly 15g of starter to begin with, so you\u2019ll have to weigh that out every time to get the proportions right. More annoyingly, it has odd limits to the minimum amount of starter it\u2019s willing to make. Set a bake day a few days out and it\u2019ll let you produce as little as 150g, but aim for four days or longer and it insists on making at least 400g. That\u2019s far more than I usually use in a single loaf, resulting in much more discard (excess starter you won\u2019t use to bake) than my manual feeding ever creates.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">There\u2019s no option to set the Sidekick into an Auto maintenance mode. You <em>have<\/em> to set a bake day, and that <em>has<\/em> to be within the next week. That\u2019s great if you know you\u2019ll be baking soon and when. But sometimes I just want to keep my starter alive and don\u2019t know for sure when I\u2019ll next need a loaf of bread. In that case, you either have to set an arbitrary target date and let it create some discard, or pull the main crock out of the machine, pop the lid on, and stick the whole thing in the fridge for a few days.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">The Sidekick has two other modes, Ratio and Custom, which are a little more flexible. While Auto feeds your starter with flour and water at a 1:1:1 ratio, Ratio mode gives you a few preset ratios to pick from and lets you set the starter seed amount and the feeding frequency. The odd limitation is that the set ratios only vary the proportion of starter relative to the other ingredients. Ratio mode doesn\u2019t let you add unequal amounts of flour and water to make a starter that\u2019s either thicker or thinner than normal \u2014 exactly what I needed for my coarse rye flour.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">For that you need Custom mode. This lets you set the seed amount, the feeding frequency, and the exact quantities of flour and water you want at each feed. I was able to use it to make a slightly looser starter for my rye, thin enough for the Sidekick to happily mix, and it should be possible to use it to create a custom maintenance mode with micro-feeds. FirstBuild also provides instructions for using Custom to make a starter from scratch \u2014 I managed to get a healthy new starter up and running in four days \u2014 or rehab one that\u2019s on its last legs. Just note that neither Ratio nor Custom mode take into account the ambient temperature, unlike Auto, so won\u2019t adjust the feeding schedule if it\u2019s especially warm or cool, and you\u2019ll have to monitor how active your starter is yourself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1xorkac3 _1xorkac0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div id=\":R6sbcprar96:\" class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-two-up _1044qizj\">\n<div class=\"_1pegheu5\">\n<div class=\"_1pegheu8 _1pegheu7\">\n<div class>\n<div class>\n<div style=\"background-image:none\" class=\"duet--media--content-warning _1k8kvzd0\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-image _1pegheu0 _1044qizx\"><a class=\"_1pegheu1\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/sourdough-sidekick-7.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0.011361054305837,100,99.977277891388\" data-pswp-height=\"1466.6666666666667\" data-pswp-width=\"2200\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Photo of the Sourdough Sidekick on a kitchen counter showing that the starter is ready to use\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/sourdough-sidekick-7.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.011361054305837%2C100%2C99.977277891388&amp;w=2400\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--media--caption _77sxmb0\"><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _19wv7tc2 _77sxmba\"><em>When your starter is ready, the Sidekick displays a new timer showing how long it has been since the planned time.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1pegheua _1pegheu9\">\n<div class>\n<div class>\n<div style=\"background-image:none\" class=\"duet--media--content-warning _1k8kvzd0\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-image _1pegheu0 _1044qizx\"><a class=\"_1pegheu1\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/sourdough-sidekick-8.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0.011361054305837,100,99.977277891388\" data-pswp-height=\"1466.6666666666667\" data-pswp-width=\"2200\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Photo of a loaf of sourdough bread cut in half on a wooden table\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/sourdough-sidekick-8.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.011361054305837%2C100%2C99.977277891388&amp;w=2400\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--media--caption _77sxmb0\"><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _19wv7tc2 _77sxmba\"><em>Not a bad loaf by any means, with plenty of signs of activity from the starter.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">The Sidekick isn\u2019t really a smart home gadget. There is a Wi-Fi option and an app, but they\u2019re easy to ignore. The app will send notifications when your starter is ready to use or discard needs to be removed, but the built-in screen does that too. Otherwise the app lets you check the Sidekick\u2019s current settings, but not change them. There\u2019s little compelling reason to use it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">FirstBuild recommends that you clean the glass crock, lid, and paddle between every feeding cycle to prevent unwelcome buildup. It makes sense, but the crock and lid aren\u2019t dishwasher-safe, so you\u2019ll have to wash those by hand. Less frequently, you\u2019re recommended to wash the water tank and flour hopper, but those at least can be popped into the dishwasher.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">The Sidekick is also oddly noisy. By default, it stirs the starter once every two hours, which involves 30 seconds of loud whirring each time. Since it\u2019ll likely be in your kitchen, that\u2019s probably fine, but in a small space like a studio apartment, it might get on your nerves.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">I can\u2019t see myself buying the Sourdough Sidekick, but that\u2019s mostly me. My kitchen is too small to justify single-purpose appliances (coffee machine excepted), and my fianc\u00e9e is counting down the days until she can reclaim the counter space and get rid of the mixing sounds every two hours.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">I also don\u2019t bake enough to get the most out of it. I make one loaf a week at most and usually less. I\u2019d be taking my starter in and out of the Sidekick on the regular, probably manually feeding it between weeks in the fridge, losing half the benefit of having it in the first place.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _18mzr4ba _19wv7tc1\">But if I had a bigger kitchen and baked twice a week? I suspect I\u2019d be happy to own a device that takes care of the one bit of baking I don\u2019t really care for. And I suppose my partner would just have to make her peace with the noise.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\"><em>Photography by Dominic Preston \/ The Verge<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tly2fw0\"><span class=\"tly2fw2\"><strong>Follow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"tly2fw3\">\n<li id=\"follow-author-article_footer-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MTI1\"><span aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"gnx4pm0 _1uf8q814 _19wv7tc5 _1618ekm0\"><span class=\"_1ajq89kf _1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><span class=\"_1618ekm9\">Dominic Preston<\/span><\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MTI1-article_footer\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 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class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/gadgets\/960753\/matic-robot-vacuum-mop-price-increase-cost-buy\">Matic\u2019s robot vacuum is getting a $250 price hike in September<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Hey number pad lovers, this is a keyboard we can finally agree on\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" 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loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/268620_ikko_MindOne_Pro_AJohnson_0003.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0.012500000000003%2C0%2C99.975%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/960509\/ikko-mindone-pro-hands-on\">The square-ish phone that I wanted to love<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The fanfiction community is at war with AI \u2014 and itself\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/AI_Hands_A_Bernis_02.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/960854\/ai-fanfiction-ao3-claude-detector\">The fanfiction community is at war with AI \u2014 and itself<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Qi fan fan\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/IMG20260703155425.jpeg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C8.0180555555556%2C100%2C88.888888888889&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/961332\/qi-active-cooling-really-works\">Qi fan fan<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Amazon updated 2023\u2019s Fire HD 10 tablet with 4GB of RAM\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/amazonfirehd.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0.036127167630056%2C0%2C99.92774566474%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/961387\/amazon-2023-fire-hd-10-tablet-4gb-update\">Amazon updated 2023\u2019s Fire HD 10 tablet with 4GB of RAM<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1hofmaw2\">\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqjj _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Matic\u2019s robot vacuum is getting a $250 price hike in September\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/258028_Matic_Robot_Vacuum_JTuohy_0009.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.666666666667%2C0%2C66.666666666667%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Matic\u2019s robot vacuum is getting a $250 price hike in September\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/258028_Matic_Robot_Vacuum_JTuohy_0009.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/gadgets\/960753\/matic-robot-vacuum-mop-price-increase-cost-buy\">Matic\u2019s robot vacuum is getting a $250 price hike in September<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Sheena Vasani<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-04T16:00:00+00:00\">Jul 4<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Hey number pad lovers, this is a keyboard we can finally agree on\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/268621_Epomaker_RT98_mechanical_keyboard_review_ADiBenedetto_0049.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.666666666667%2C0%2C66.666666666667%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Hey number pad lovers, this is a keyboard we can finally agree on\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/268621_Epomaker_RT98_mechanical_keyboard_review_ADiBenedetto_0049.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/960837\/epomaker-rt98-mechanical-keyboard-modular-numpad-review\">Hey number pad lovers, this is a keyboard we can finally agree on<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-04T14:00:00+00:00\">Jul 4<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The square-ish phone that I wanted to love\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/268620_ikko_MindOne_Pro_AJohnson_0003.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.675%2C0%2C66.65%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The square-ish phone that I wanted to love\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/268620_ikko_MindOne_Pro_AJohnson_0003.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0.012500000000003%2C0%2C99.975%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/960509\/ikko-mindone-pro-hands-on\">The square-ish phone that I wanted to love<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Allison Johnson<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-04T13:00:00+00:00\">Jul 4<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The fanfiction community is at war with AI \u2014 and itself\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/AI_Hands_A_Bernis_02.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.666666666667%2C0%2C66.666666666667%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The fanfiction community is at war with AI \u2014 and itself\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/AI_Hands_A_Bernis_02.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/960854\/ai-fanfiction-ao3-claude-detector\">The fanfiction community is at war with AI \u2014 and itself<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Jess Weatherbed<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-04T12:00:00+00:00\">Jul 4<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Qi fan fan\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/IMG20260703155425.jpeg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=17.39375%2C0%2C75%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Qi fan fan\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/IMG20260703155425.jpeg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C8.0180555555556%2C100%2C88.888888888889&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/961332\/qi-active-cooling-really-works\">Qi fan fan<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Thomas Ricker<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-04T07:00:00+00:00\">Jul 4<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqjk _1ismqjl _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Amazon updated 2023\u2019s Fire HD 10 tablet with 4GB of RAM\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/amazonfirehd.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.690751445087%2C0%2C66.618497109827%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Amazon updated 2023\u2019s Fire HD 10 tablet with 4GB of RAM\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/amazonfirehd.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0.036127167630056%2C0%2C99.92774566474%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/961387\/amazon-2023-fire-hd-10-tablet-4gb-update\">Amazon updated 2023\u2019s Fire HD 10 tablet with 4GB of RAM<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Andrew Liszewski<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-03T17:33:55+00:00\">Jul 3<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--ad--native-ad-linkset _14xz0mv4 _14xz0mv5 _14xz0mva hidden\" data-native-ad-id=\"container\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"visually-hidden\">\n<div class=\"dynamic-native-ad-native_ad_linkset_link\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\"><\/p>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"_14xz0mv7\"><span data-native-ad-id=\"preamble\" class=\"_14xz0mv8 _14xz0mv9\">Advertiser Content From<\/span><\/p>\n<div><img data-native-ad-id=\"logo\" src alt=\"Sponsor Logo\" class=\"_14xz0mvg\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"_14xz0mvj\" data-native-ad-id=\"title\">This is the title for the native ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"e3czlx6\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--header-pattern _75r1tr2\">\n<div class=\"_75r1tr3\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--page-header bpecqn0\">\n<div class=\"bpecqnj bpecqnf\">\n<h2 class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup bpecqno bpecqnm _19wv7tc2\">Top Stories<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sticky-nav-trigger\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_75r1tr4\">\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqjj _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"jelpep4 jelpep0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw8 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-05T13:00:00+00:00\">Two hours ago<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/960916\/vizio-mini-led-quantum-tv-review\">Vizio accidentally made the best dumb TV on the market<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"jelpep4 jelpep0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw8 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-05T12:00:00+00:00\">Two hours ago<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/column\/960600\/xbox-is-a-disaster\">Xbox is a disaster<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"jelpep4 jelpep0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw8 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-04T13:00:00+00:00\">Jul 4<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/960509\/ikko-mindone-pro-hands-on\">The square-ish phone that I wanted to love<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqjk _1ismqjl _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"jelpep4 jelpep0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw8 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-05T13:51:56+00:00\">An hour ago<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/podcast\/961470\/keurig-coffee-k-up-version-history\">How Keurig saved\u00a0\u2014\u00a0and ruined \u2014\u00a0your coffee<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/main><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tech Close Tech Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. 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