It still surprises me that gaming in 4K isn't more popular in 2025 than it is. Sure, 4K gaming has often been the dream, but back in 2016 when I bought my first proper gaming laptop, I got a 4K panel thinking it would quickly become the default.

Let’s be honest, it’s time to move on from TeamViewer for remote access. Once dominant, it’s showing its age while the open-source contenders have caught up fast. These modern alternatives are faster, more flexible, and customizable. Additionally, you won’t feel the pinch in your wallet with subscriptions and restrictive licensing terms.

HP's OmniBook 7 Aero is an ultra-light, 13-inch laptop that weighs under 2.2 pounds depending on your configuration. It's a laptop light enough that you might think it's just a display sample if you pick it up, and yet it's a fully functional PC. The OmniBook 7 Aero's lightweight recycled aluminum chassis contains the power of an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 APU, and thus meets the Copilot+ requirements for enhanced AI features.

My Linux journey started many years ago, and it got off to a really rocky start. I was just beginning to learn how computer hardware went together, and in the process of reviving an old rig that had belonged to my dad, I installed Ubuntu on it. I had no idea what I was doing outside of the GUI, so naturally, I made a ton of mistakes, eventually got frustrated, and proceeded not to touch it again for years.

Ayaneo is best known for its retro gaming handhelds, but the company has now confirmed its first phone will be coming soon. Ayaneo briefly teased that it was working on a phone back in August during the event where it unveiled the dual-screen Pocket DS. Of course, many of the company’s gaming handhelds run a custom take on Android, so putting a cellular modem in one isn’t much of a stretch.We don’t know much about the handheld. The video offers a quick glimpse at a pretty standard-looking rectangle. There are dual cameras in the top-left corner, and you can make out what appear to be shoulder buttons. Android Central has suggested that the Ayaneo phone could have a sliding design similar to the Sony Xperia Play, where the controls are hidden beneath the screen, but it’s impossible to tell from the video. Ayaneo wouldn’t be the only company on the market with a gaming-focused phone, but modern versions typically eschew physical controls. They tend to be phones first and foremost, but with high-end chips and cooling to help them handle demanding games. Physical controls are usually reserved for accessories, but maybe the Ayaneo phone will buck that trend. Of course, we don’t even know if the Ayaneo phone will be coming to the US or not, so don’t get too excited just yet.

Home Assistant and other platforms can provide control over an array of smart devices, including plugs, lights, sensors, and more. However, automating these tasks with various triggers and actions can be quite cumbersome, even within Home Assistant itself. This is why I needed to automate the entire home lab with a self-hosted workflow engine, to help make my life considerably easier while allowing me to create some truly awesome results. YAML can get complicated fast, especially when filling files with lines of code.

Gaming laptops comprise a pretty decent subset of the laptop market, and while they do work out of the box as complete gaming PCs, laptop keyboards often get hot while gaming. Which makes a wired or wireless controller a must for most owners of gaming laptops.

November is typically a very hectic time of year for gaming. Not only do lots of games sell during Black Friday, but the final barrage of games hoping to launch before that shopping-spree window also comes out. This year is no different, as there are several new games to look forward to across PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2 this month.

When life gives you a new handheld gaming PC, you'll eventually want to connect it to a monitor and use it as a desktop. Sure, you might primarily use your handheld as the gods intended, and game on the go, but what about when you're at home? Sure, you can still use it in handheld mode, but it's a full PC — why not use it for more than just playing Hades II on your commute to work?

Extraction shooters are in the middle of a wild, wild evolution right now, and I couldn't be more excited. All those years ago, these games started as a niche subgenre defined by tension, high stakes, and gear loss. Now, it has exploded into one of the most exciting spaces in gaming, with one Arc Raiders currently leading the charge. With its gorgeous retro-futuristic aesthetic and brilliant handling of PvPvE systems, Arc Raiders is inarguably the new gold standard for the masses' looter shooters.

Over the last 20 years, I've used everything from dial-up and DSL to fiber connections on my PCs, even when my motherboard had Wi-Fi support. In 2025, using a wireless connection on my PC isn't terrible or anything, but it just can't compete with a wired connection. Despite Wi-Fi 6E being commonplace now, Ethernet has some unassailable advantages over Wi-Fi. That's why I always make it a point to install a direct connection from my router to my PC, even if it becomes a logistical nightmare.

Google’s last-gen Pixel Watch 3 is on sale for $199.99 ($100 off) for a limited time. There are plenty of good smartwatches out there, and Google’s last-gen Pixel Watch 3 is one of them. Right now, the 45mm / Wi-Fi model is available at Amazon, Walmart, and Target for $199.99 ($100 off), which is a new low price and $150 less than the Pixel Watch 4. In her review, our own Victoria Song noted how impressed she was by the larger size’s lengthy battery life, as well as how versatile a companion it was to Android phones, particularly Pixel devices. For example, you can use the watch as a remote for your Google TV, download offline Google Maps navigation routes, and create voice recordings that automatically sync and are transcribed on a Pixel phone. Google Pixel Watch 3 (Wi-Fi)Where to Buy: $299.99 $199.99 at Amazon (45mm) $299.99 $199.99 at Walmart (45mm) $299.99 $199.99 at Target (45mm)The Pixel Watch 3 recently received an overhaul, too, as Google rolled out an update to Wear OS 6, which introduced a refreshed design and Gemini AI to the watch (our initial tests show that it still has a long way to go before becoming vital). On the fitness and wellness side, the Pixel Watch 3 can track your activity, sleep, blood oxygen level, and heart rate. You can also use it to take an EKG from your wrist, if you feel the need. Anker 140W 2-in-1 USB-C to USB-C CableWhere to Buy: $22.99 $16.99 at Amazon (black; with Prime) $22.99 $16.99 at Amazon (white; with Prime) $22.99 $16.99 at Anker (with code WSPDV22SVFBJ)If you need to charge more than one device at a time, Anker’s 2-in-1 USB-C cable will let you do that. It’s a practical, inexpensive gadget we think you’ll enjoy, and it’s nearly matching its best-ever price at $16.99 ($9 off) at Amazon (with Prime) and Anker’s online storefront (with code WSPDV22SVFBJ). One end of the cable plugs into the power adapter, while the other splits into two USB-C cables that can be plugged into different devices. You can use any USB-C power adapter with this cable, but you’ll take full advantage of its peak power throughput with a 140W adapter — such as Apple’s 140W USB-C Power Adapter, which is also on sale for $74.99 ($25 off) at Amazon. The cable will automatically allocate how much power to send to both devices, but if you plug in two laptops, the first one that’s plugged in gets priority. Xbox Wireless ControllerWhere to Buy: $64.99 $39.99 at Amazon $64.99 $39.99 at Target $64.99 $39.99 at Best BuyMicrosoft’s official Xbox Wireless Controller has held the top spot in our guide to the best Xbox controllers for years, and now the black and white versions are selling for a new low of $39.99 ($25 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. The wireless gamepad is comfortable to hold, and its buttons, triggers, joysticks, and D-pad feel satisfying to use. I’ve used the one that came with my Xbox Series X for nearly five years, and it still feels new, with no dropped inputs or other signs of wear.It runs on a pair of AA batteries, which you can easily swap out. You can also purchase a rechargeable battery pack for the controller if you prefer, but be mindful that it’ll lose its charging capacity over time. Xbox’s wireless controller costs as much on sale as many of our wired recommendations, and its wire-free design means you won’t feel tied down when you use it.A few more deal standoutsSteelSeries’ Arctis Pro Wireless is probably the only headset under $200 right now that offers swappable batteries, and right now it’s down to $149.99 ($130 off) at Best Buy. It comes with a pair of batteries, so you can always keep one freshly charged to pop in when needed. Another unique feature at this price point is its wireless base station, which lets you connect and manage audio from two different inputs. Additionally, it lets you control the headset’s EQ, as well as the audio mix of your game and chat. Verge senior editor Sean Hollister uses SteelSeries’ headset every day, and has for years. If you’ve been curious about trying a foldable phone, let us direct you toward the Motorola Razr (2024), which is down to just $349.99 ($350 off) at Best Buy as part of the retailer’s latest Black Friday promo. The phone features a 120Hz 6.9-inch 2640 x 1080 OLED display when unfolded, along with a 90Hz 3.6-inch OLED display on the outside. It comes with 256GB of storage, 8GB of RAM, and a dual rear-camera system comprising a 50-megapixel main lens and a 13-megapixel ultrawide. The phone comes unlocked, but you can snag it for just $249.99 if you activate it on AT&T or Verizon through Best Buy.The Logitech Lift may look unusual at first, but not only is it comfortable to use, it’s available for an all-time low of $49.99 ($30 off) at Amazon in white or black. The ergonomic mouse is designed for individuals who experience discomfort with standard mice; its vertically oriented design places your hand in a more handshake-like position, which should alleviate some wrist pain. It also features multiple programmable buttons, including a pair located near the elevated thumb rest and a clickable scroll wheel, which can be customized via the Logi Options Plus app. A circular DPI-switching button on the top, meanwhile, lets you quickly adjust the pointer speed.