Win free gadgets The Verge can’t accept for ethical reasons
▼ Summary
– The Verge’s ethics policy prohibits staff from keeping, selling, or giving away review gadgets; items are returned or donated to avoid conflicts of interest.
– Journalist Sean Hollister has been quietly asking companies to allow him to give away unwanted gadgets from his “Today I’m Toying With” video series to readers.
– The giveaway offers random prize packs of items like robot toys, chargers, and gaming gear, with winners chosen at random from a big list.
– Entries are limited to legal residents of the 50 US states and Washington D.C., with no purchase required and a sweepstakes period from May 27 to June 10, 2026.
– To enter, participants submit their name and email via a form, subscribe to The Verge on Instagram and TikTok, and can follow the author for future giveaway announcements.
It’s the question I hear more than any other: “So do you get to keep all those gadgets you play with?” And since I started hosting Today I’m Toying With, a video series built around the pure joy of unboxing and testing new tech, the curiosity has only grown.
The honest answer is a firm no. Our ethics policy is straightforward and non-negotiable: we do not accept gifts of value from companies or their PR representatives, period. That means we never keep the devices, sell them, or pass them along to friends or family. Our standard practice is to return them. But when a company doesn’t want the item back, we’ve found a better use for it.
Here’s a little secret I’ve been keeping for over a year: I’ve been quietly asking those companies for permission to give those unwanted gadgets directly to you.
The original idea behind Today I’m Toying With was simple. I wanted to let you experience the thrill of playing with cool, often expensive tech without having to buy it yourself. (Trust me, I can’t afford even a tenth of what I get to try!) But what if you could actually hold these gadgets in your hands? What if I mailed you the exact items you’ve seen me open on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok? What if I did it every month, or even every week?
That’s exactly what we’re launching now. I’ve packed up dozens of awesome prize bundles filled with robot toys, USB-C chargers, gaming gear, and more. And I plan to keep this going for as long as I can. Each prize box will be selected at random from my master list, so neither of us will know exactly what any winner gets until they open the package.
There are a few ground rules. You’ll need to enter each new giveaway separately. Our legal team has made it clear that shipping prizes is limited to the 50 U. S. states and Washington D. C., because international paperwork gets complicated fast. Also, while I deeply appreciate our Verge subscribers, this sweepstakes must be a “no purchase necessary” event, so it can’t be exclusive to subscribers.
If you’re eligible, you could get a surprise package from me in the mail. Just fill out the entry form with your name and email address, follow The Verge on Instagram and TikTok, and watch for the next giveaway next month. To make sure you never miss an announcement, follow me on The Verge or Bluesky. The official rules are available for full details.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Sweepstakes begins at 9:00AM ET on May 27th, 2026 and ends at 9:00AM ET on June 10th, 2026. Open to legal residents of the 50 U. S. states and Washington D. C., of legal age of majority, with internet access and a valid email address. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Governed by and subject to the Official Rules; additional eligibility restrictions apply. Vox Media Privacy Policy applies. Sponsor: Vox Media, LLC, 1701 Rhode Island Ave., Washington DC 20036.
(Source: The Verge)
