Apps

4 Free-to-Play Mobile MOBAs: Which game is for you?

Published

November 22, 2017

Leez

There’s no way you can play PC multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video games with ease. Besides the obvious factor of portability, the amount of time it takes to play, accessibility, and barrier of entry are just a few things that make mobile MOBAs a popular alternative.

Baby steps

I never got into MOBAs, and probably won’t be as into it as other games. But aside from facets of real-time player versus player gameplay and the typical map, I’ve learned to enjoy the genre through its simplified mobile alternative.

The advantage for mobile MOBAs is that they sustain the backbone of the genre and practically test what they can strip off and alter. With mobile MOBAs, you get to experience a relatively lower barrier of entry (in comparison to PC versions), quicker plays, and quirkier characters that developers integrate.

Here are some of the best mobile MOBAs you can try out without having to sink your teeth too deep into the more technical and mechanical parts of the game:

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is, by far, the most friendly mobile MOBA I’ve encountered. With quick and easy virtual joystick controls, convenient tap-to-equip system, and automated targeting, the game pulls through with the fundamentals of the genre. A feature that makes Mobile Legends: Bang Bang distinct from the others would be its Artificial Intelligence Assists when anyone disconnects from the game. On the downside though, I still find the automated targeting annoying and skins (that are acquired through in-app purchases) boost hero performance.

Pros: Quick and easy play, AI Assists

Cons: In-app purchases affect hero performance, automated targeting

Garena AOV: Arena Of Valor

Garena AOV: Arena Of Valor is not too different from Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. With the skeletal structures of the genre down pat, Garena AOV: Arena Of Valor has thirty playable heroes, virtual joystick controls, and fun custom games. The game is simple and easy to learn; its charm comes from how it manages to patch the flaws of targeting in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. I think this follows for the games that come after this one, but automated targeting is just an irritating handicap. Unfortunately, from its early release, it does have a ton of glitches.

Pros: Quick and easy play, targeting

Cons: Early-release glitches

Heroes Evolved

Heroes Evolved features over 40 heroes, a clan system, short match options, and more. Besides the obvious basics, Heroes Evolved heroes has relatively faster cooldowns making for quicker gameplay compared to other mobile MOBAs. If there’s anything strange I found with the game, it was that it integrated a teleport ability with a cooldown instead of the regular recall and observer wards.

Pros: Quick and easy play, quick cooldown

Cons: Unfamiliar features

Vainglory

It’s one of everyone’s favorite mobile multiplayer online battle arena games. Having quickly built a community after its initial release late 2014, Vainglory manages to integrate the MOBA playing style and compact it into a snug mobile game. You can play the game on casual, quick-play, or ranked. Vainglory stands out with touch controls instead of the typical virtual joystick, as well as in-game item boosts that require you to return to base or drop by the shop.

Pros: Quick and easy play, touch targeting

Cons: Learning curve for stubby fingers, average barrier of entry

Which is your game match?

Each one has its own charm from hero variety and out-of-place characters, to the streamlined controls and designed interface. I personally played all four not just for this article, but also from genuine curiosity. If I had to pick my top two, I’d pick Vainglory and Heroes Evolved.

I started playing Vainglory early this year, and it has warmed me up to other mobile MOBAs. It can be a bit tough since I’m now getting more used to the virtual joystick to move around in the games, but first loves die hard — at least in this case.

Heroes Evolved sustains the ease of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang but patches up the nasty bits of targeting and the unfair purchasing of better skins for boosted heroes, plus it adds interesting features.

If you want the quickest and lowest barrier of entry, go for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. It doesn’t pry you on customizing item boosts, targeting is automated, and it has smart AI Assistance whenever someone disconnects from the game.

[irp posts=”14611″ name=”What’s the deal with Mobile Legends?”]

Apps

Disney+ launches a TikTok-coded vertical feed called Verts

Published

March 13, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

TikTok has changed how we consume media. Everything is now vertical. Even the most established streaming services, often a bastion for traditionally horizontal content, is adopting the different format. Now, Disney+ is getting a vertical feed called Verts.

Like its contemporaries, Verts presents a continuous feed of content but tailored to show the plethora of titles from the Disney+ library. This might include the first scenes of shows or notable highlights. The hope, of course, is to direct users to the longform content.

Directly from the Verts feed, users can easily add the respective title to their watchlist or go straight to the title’s page. In turn, the feed is accessible from the homepage since it has its own tab.

According to Disney, early experiments with the feature have driven engagement to available content. Right now, the feed is mostly for clipping enticing content from shows. However, the platform will experiment further with the format for new ways to tell stories.

Though Verts surely stands for “verticals” in this case, “adverts” might fit better as its full government name. Still, it might be a useful tool if you’re figuring out what to watch for the night.

Currently, Verts is available for Disney+ subscribers in the United States. Disney also has plans to expand the feature to ESPN for sports-related content.

Apps

Google Maps is finally getting a 3D mode

The app will also have a Gemini chatbot baked inside.

Published

March 13, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Some of today’s navigation apps are living in the future. Instead of a two-dimensional map, these apps render the user’s surroundings in 3D. It’s a nifty upgrade that helps drivers more accurately visualize directions on the fly. Finally, Google Maps is getting a much-needed upgrade and will take navigation to the third dimension.

In a new update rolling out today, the new Immersive Navigation feature will bring your surroundings to life. The 3D view creates a render of the surrounding buildings, overpasses, and terrain around the car. It takes the guesswork out of navigation by showing precisely where to turn and what landmarks to look out for.

In the same vein, you can now use Street View to preview your destination before you arrive. Google Maps will also highlight your destination’s entrance, side of the street, and nearby parking.

Outside of how the map is visualized, Google Maps is also infusing its service with Gemini. The new Ask Maps feature will let you engage with the app in a conversational manner. For example, if you’re in the middle of a long drive, you can now ask Maps where the best place is to stop over and have a coffee break. Ask Maps will provide directions, a potential itinerary, and even helpful links to book a reservation ahead of time.

Now, availability for both of these features is still a bit limited. Immersive View is rolling out today to compatible devices and vehicles in the United States. Further, availability will expand over the coming months.

Meanwhile, Ask Maps is available now in the United States and India for Android and iOS. A desktop version is coming soon.

Apps

Apple Music, TikTok launch Play Full Song, a new music discovery experience

Rolling out worldwide exclusively through Apple Music

Published

March 12, 2026

GadgetMatch

Ever came across a viral 15 or 30-second music snippet on TikTok that instantly became your jam on repeat?

For years, TikTok has been a regular source of songs that have become part of our playlists. And together with Apple Music, listening to the music you discover has just gotten even easier.

That’s through Play Full Song, a new music discovery experience, which launches exclusively though Apple Music.

With the new feature, Apple Music subscribers can now enjoy full-length tracks that they discover on TikTok. That’s without ever leaving that popular streaming app.

Fans who discover a song that they love on their For You or Sound Detail page can simply tap the Play Full Song button to open up an Apple Music player and enjoy the song in its entirety.

From there, subscribers can continue listening to a personalized stream of recommended songs. That means no more need to switch apps and search separately.

The new Play Full Song experience helps music fans move seamlessly from the moment of discovery to deeper listening. It’s also designed to be instant and all within the same environment.

Moreover, users can also save their favorite songs to Your Music and add them directly to their Apple Music playlists.

Built using Apple’s MusicKit, full-length song playback takes place on Apple Music. This way, streams are paid within the Apple Music service, supporting artists and rights holders while giving fans a smooth, uninterrupted experience.

Listening Party also launched

The feature builds on the success of TikTok’s Add to Music App. This was previously launched to help artists and fans convert discovery on TikTok to a playlist save in Apple Music and other streaming services.

To cap the announcement, TikTok and Apple Music are also introducing Listening Party. This new feature is designed to bring artists and fans together around music.

It creates a shared environment where fans can listen to songs from their favorite artists in real time, interact with each her, and engage directly with the artist during the session.