A little more than two years ago, Lenovo teased a concept laptop with a rollable screen that could expand and contract with the touch of a button. And now at CES 2025, the company has turned that idea into a reality with the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable.
Remarkably, Lenovo’s new device looks incredibly similar to what the company showed off in the past. The laptop features a flexible 14-inch OLED display that can unfurl itself to become a 16.7-inch panel at the push of a button. This effectively adds an extra 50 percent of screen space to the system without the need for any additional accessories or peripherals. Alternatively, you can use gestures to expand and contract the display for a truly touch-free experience. Though in my experience, that took so much longer you might as well use the dedicated key. Thankfully, brightness is more than sufficient at 400 nits while the OLED panel delivers rich, vibrant hues.
Just this functionality would be a feat on its own. However, to help maximize the potential of its rollable display, Lenovo added a custom set of multitasking features that allow you to add widgets to the expanded screen space or use it as a visual clipboard and a place to view frequently used docs. And when you’re doing something like sharing your view during a video call, you can use the extra display as a virtual monitor, so you have a clean desktop for presentations.
But to me, one of the most impressive things about the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable is that it’s not that much bigger or heavier than a traditional clamshell of a similar size. It weighs around 3.6 pounds and measures three quarters of an inch thick. Performance looks solid too, thanks to the inclusion of Intel's Core Ultra 7 CPU, up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. And while its port selection is just OK, you still get two Thunderbolt 4 jacks and 3.5mm audio along with other handy features like Wi-Fi 7 and a 5-megapixel webcam with an electronic privacy shutter. So even with Lenovo’s focus on the laptop’s futuristic screen, you still get a pretty well-rounded machine.
Honestly, as someone who is always looking for more screen space while traveling (to the point where I often bring a portable monitor), I could see myself using the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 today as my primary work device. Its build quality feels a lot more solid than you’d expect and let’s not forget: the wow factor on something like this is hard to beat.
That said, the obvious downside is its cost, because with the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 expected to start at $3,500 when it goes on sale sometime later this spring, you’re paying a hefty premium to be on the very cutting edge of laptop tech. That means at least for now, systems like the Yoga Book 9i (which has gotten a couple of important updates for 2025) and ASUS’ Zenbook Duo are better choices for most people as they offer similar amounts of added screen space but for much less money. But if Lenovo can get the price down even a bit, it could open up another pathway for a new breed of transforming notebooks with deceptively small displays.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/the-thinkbook-plus-gen-6-rollable-is-a-crazy-concept-made-real-162813649.html?src=rss
Lenovo is already announcing one new handheld (or two depending on how you’re counting) at CES 2025. However, that isn’t stopping the company from looking ahead to its next portable gaming device by teasing an early prototype of the Legion Go 2.
Right off the bat it’s important to note that this successor to the original Legion Go is non-functioning and meant to be more of a design preview of Lenovo’s second-gen handheld instead of true first look. That said, the Legion Go 2 appears to share a number of features with its predecessor including detachable controllers, a large 8.8-inch display, a small touchpad on the right, a built-in kickstand and, if you look closely at the bottom, there’s even a toggle that allows the right gamepad to enter FPS/vertical mouse mode. So it’s clear this follow-up isn’t straying too far from the first model’s general blueprint.
Instead, it seems like Lenovo is focusing on making some small tweaks regarding the handheld’s ergonomics including more rounded grips and tapered sides along with a new circular D-pad as opposed to the cross-shaped component used on the previous model.
Additionally, Lenovo shared some early (but still unfinalized) specs which include a new Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip from AMD, support for up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 1TB of SSD storage and a significantly larger 74Wh battery (up from 49.2Wh). This should deliver a noticeable boost in overall performance while its 8.8-inch OLED display is expected to feature very similar specs including 500 nits of brightness and a 144Hz refresh rate.
However, there are two important changes to the screen. The first is a slightly lower 1,920 x 1,200 resolution (down from 2,560 x 1,600), which might seem like a weird downgrade. But on a display this size, especially when paired with a mobile APU, the Legion Go 2’s new resolution should deliver a boost in terms of overall performance. The second important upgrade is the addition of VRR, so the screen can more easily adjust to match the framerate of whatever you’re playing.
Finally, just like before, the Legion Go 2 will be based on Windows 11, though this is one thing I think Lenovo should reconsider. That’s because after seeing the early positive reception for Legion Go S powered by SteamOS, I think it would be a wise move to offer support for Valve’s platform alongside the standard Windows model.
Unfortunately, Lenovo has not released official pricing for the Legion Go 2 just yet, but I expect it to cost around the same as the original model at launch (around $800). As for a release date, there’s nothing concrete there either, though the company said that it's preparing to “bring this exciting innovation to life for gamers worldwide in 2025.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/lenovo-is-already-teasing-the-successor-to-its-flagship-legion-go-gaming-handheld-161852837.html?src=rss
The list of titles coming to Game Pass this month is a bit on the paltry side, aside from one massive exception. The original 1996 Diablohits PC Game Pass on January 14, so those of us who have been living under a rock since Bill Clinton’s first term can finally see what all of the fuss is about.
What can I say about Diablo that hasn’t been said already? It’s the OG action-RPG that basically defined the genre. It’s a legitimate classic. There’s a reason why the franchise is still going strong deep into the 21st century. The battles are intense, the progression is satisfying and the character customization options are just as deep now as they were in the 1990s.
This isn’t the first time that the game has been re-released. Blizzard and GOG struck a deal back in 2019 to bring the title to the latter’s digital gaming marketplace. However, this is the first time it’s been free-ish, assuming a pre-existing PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
Diablo is, by a huge margin, the most notable Game Pass release for January, but it’s not the only one. The post-apocalyptic farming sim My Time at Sandrock will be available on January 8 and EA Sports UFC 5 will be playable on January 14.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/the-original-diablo-hits-pc-game-pass-on-january-14-161519350.html?src=rss
The price hikes for streaming services have already started for 2025. Discovery+ has announced its plans are increasing in price for all subscribers. The Discovery+ plan with ads will go up to $6 per month, from $5, while the ad-free plan will increase to $10 per month, from $9.
No, an extra $1 monthly isn't horrible, but $12 yearly, now that's a meal's worth of extra fees. The new fee tiers go into effect immediately for new subscribers. However, existing customers who pay through Discovery+ or the app store will pay more on their first bill after February 7. Any subscribers on promotional deals won't have an increase until that period ends.
Discovery+ previously increased the price of its ad-free plan in late 2023. At the time, it went up from $7 to $9 monthly.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/discovery-is-raising-prices-for-all-customers-160646636.html?src=rss
TV remote control and Discovery+ logo displayed on a laptop screen are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on February 9, 2022. (Photo illustration by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
If 2024 was the year augmented reality glasses started to feel real, 2025 is already shaping up to be a really interesting year for AR, with a number of smaller companies showing off AR at CES 2025. Chinese company RayNeo brought their new X3 Pro AR frames to CES, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that it seems to have squeezed an impressive amount of tech into a relatively small pair of frames.
Like AR glasses from Meta and Snap, RayNeo use microLED projectors and waveguides to produce a full-color AR display. The field of view is just 25 degrees — notably smaller than what Snap or Meta have in their products — but it’s impressively bright. Even under the fairly bright lights of a Las Vegas casino ballroom, I had no problem seeing the menus or even reading text (the display outputs 2,500 nits, according to the company).
What stood out the most, though, was the size. At less than 3 ounces, the RayNeo X3 Pro are impressively lightweight. Like other AR glasses I’ve tried, they don’t quite look like a “normal” pair of frames, but they don’t feel that far off either. RayNeo opted to put the onboard cameras in the center of the frames rather than in the corners, which does add a bit of bulk.
Karissa Bell for Engadget
In terms of apps, there wasn’t much to demo. I tried a real-time translation app, which beamed English text in front of me as RayNeo’s Bernie Liu spoke Chinese. I can’t speak for the accuracy of the translation, but it seemed to do a pretty good job despite the fact that we were in a noisy environment.
I also briefly chatted with a built-in AI-assistant powered by chatGPT and snapped a few photos. Liu told me the company is also working with outside developers who are already creating their own apps for the upcoming device, so hopefully it will roll out with a few more capabilities.
That said, battery life will likely be an issue as it is with other AR glasses. Liu said the battery currently lasts around 30 minutes with heavy use, though the company is still working on improving various aspects of the frames.
RayNeo hasn’t announced an official price or launch date yet, but Liu told me they are hoping to put them on sale later this year for around $1500.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/rayneo-ar-glasses-hands-on-at-ces-2025-surprisingly-light-and-bright-120047035.html?src=rss
Maingear is one of the original boutique PC makers that popularized water-cooled rigs more than 20 years ago. However, after focusing more on air-cooled systems over the past few years, at CES 2025 the company is returning to its roots with two stunningly-crafted machines in the Apex Force and Apex Rush.
Based on Phanteks’ NV9 case, the Apex Force is the unquestionable flagship in Maingear’s new 2025 lineup. It weighs upwards of 50 pounds and has pre-bent hardline tubes that have been angled 10 degrees to match the distinctive sloped design of its enclosure. It boasts not one but two separate cooling loops for its CPU and GPU with massive dual 420mm radiators, three 140mm fans plus another 65mm intake on the bottom to push all that hot air out.
But what I appreciate the most are some of the signature touches Maingear included to make maintaining the system easier, even for someone who may have zero experience with liquid-cooled setups. The Apex Force’s reservoir is entirely clear, which not only looks great but makes it easy to do a visual check on water levels. More importantly, Maingear installed two quick-disconnect fittings for the system’s pump and drain ports, so in the event you need to change out water or perform a repair, you can empty the desktop without risking splashing liquid on sensitive components. And of course, almost all of the PC’s components and even the color of its tubes, fittings and RGB lighting can be customized to your desire. The limit is pretty much the size of your budget.
Meanwhile, for those who want something a bit more compact (though that’s relative in this case), the Apex Rush represents a small step down to a rig based on a mid-tower case from Lian-Li (the O11 EVO RGB). Unlike the Apex Force, the Rush uses a single cooling loop that’s augmented by seven 120mm fans (with optional RGB) meant to create a positive pressure environment to ensure optimal airflow while also keeping dust out. In fact, Maingear is so confident about its fan arrangement, it didn’t bother to equip the Apex Rush with dust filters, claiming those would actually decrease thermal performance and cleanliness. And in a first for Maingear, this system can be configured with neoprene soft tubing with braided sleeves for anyone looking for an alternative to custom hard lines.
But for me, what elevates the Apex Rush line even over the Force is that alongside the standard models, Maingear will also release three themed variants. There’s a Miami Vice-inspired model, one with cyberpunk stylings and my favorite, a lucky cat-inspired option. Each one features automotive-grade paintjobs littered with hand-drawn art and they are absolutely gorgeous. There are tons of subtle details such as pictures with various textures within the same illustration, multiple gamer-themed easter eggs, plenty of RGB lighting and matched tubing to fit each version’s particular aesthetic. The custom Apex Rush rigs are truly works of art, though, as you’d expect from heavily configurable systems, they won’t come cheap.
That said, Maingear has yet to reveal official pricing for both the Apex Force and Apex Rush lines. However, the company says that due to high expected demand, anyone interested in one of these PCs should try to snag a spot in line with a fully refundable $100 deposit when reservations officially go live today on Maingear’s website.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/the-maingear-apex-force-and-apex-rush-might-be-the-most-beautiful-water-cooled-desktops-at-ces-2025-160050312.html?src=rss
Lenovo has made history with its new Yoga Slim 9i laptop, which has an under-display camera similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold phone. In other words, the 32-megapixel camera is situated beneath the screen where you can’t see it, but it can capture video and images just fine. The Yoga Book 9i is also getting updated with a larger screen, an NPU and higher peak brightness.
Having an under-display camera lets device manufacturers use thinner bezels. In the Yoga Slim 9i’s case, Lenovo was able to achieve what it calls a world’s first: a 98 percent screen-to-body-ratio on a laptop, which the company claims is a world-first. Plus, the 4K120 OLED touch display measures 14 inches. Its PureSight certification includes 100 percent sRGB and Adobe RGB support. Additionally, the Yoga Slim 9i has a peak brightness of 750 nits, and supports VESA DisplayHDR True Black 600.
The Yoga Slim 9i is capable of handling AI tasks, thanks to an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and with a 48 trillion operations per second (TOPS) NPU. The 75WHr battery provides up to 17 hours of battery life. Graphics are handled by an uniform memory access Intel Arc GPU.
The Yoga Slim 9i can come with 1TB of storage and 32GB of RAM, making it a portable workhorse of a laptop. As for ports, there are two Thunderbolt 4 ports besides the charging-only USB-C port.
The latest Yoga Book 9i has also received several upgrades. The screen size has been increased from 13.3 inches to a full 14 inches, and the 400 nits brightness has been upped to 750 nits. The new model has a 94 percent screen-to-body-ratio, up a little over two percent from the prior generation. Plus, it now has AI capabilities thanks to new hardware.
Finally, we can take a brief look at the Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition, a convertible laptop. The 14-inch 2.8K120 screen supports multi-touch and has a peak brightness of 1100 nits. It also has Smart Modes that let users customize the settings quickly. At 2.91 pounds, it’s easy to carry around for work.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/lenovos-yoga-slim-9i-is-the-first-laptop-to-get-an-under-display-camera-160045339.html?src=rss
The CES 2025 spotlight is firmly on electric vehicles on Tuesday, with the likes of Afeela (Sony’s and Honda’s joint venture) and others holding keynotes. Honda has its own dedicated keynote coming up and you can watch it right here. The automaker is continuing to showcase its 0 Series EVs after debuting two concept models at CES 2024. Next up is a look at two prototypes ahead of Honda starting to ship these vehicles in 2026.
What to expect at Honda's CES 2025 press conference
Last year, we got a look at two Honda 0 Series concept vehicles — a sedan that the company called the Saloon and a minivan-style Space-Hub. Honda's mantra for 0 Series development is "thin, light and wise," and its CES 2025 keynote will focus on the latter.
Honda says it will unveil the 0 Series operating system and automated driving tech, while spilling the beans about the SoC that will power the EVs. In addition, it will reveal details about an energy service that it will roll out alongside the 0 Series vehicles.
The big draw of the keynote, however, will be the two prototype 0 Series EVs that Honda will show off. The company plans to start shipping those in 2026. A teaser image (above) indicates that it Honda has a sedan and a minivan or SUV ready to discuss.
Watch the Honda CES 2025 livestream
You can watch Honda's CES 2025 press conference live below. The stream will start Tuesday, January 7 at 1:30PM ET.
Follow real-time CES updates on our liveblog
For a recap of the Honda event as well as other news coming out of Las Vegas this week, check out our main CES 2025 liveblog.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/honda-ces-2025-keynote-watch-honda-reveal-its-0-series-ev-prototypes-live-here-160037969.html?src=rss
While it might seem sacrilegious to ditch the carbon fiber frames and Trackpoint nubs found in classic ThinkPads, at CES 2025 Lenovo’s new ThinkPad X9 line is here to prove that there’s still plenty of room in the family for fresh designs.
Lenovo may not admit it outright, but the goal with these new models is to entice younger buyers who might not have a ton of nostalgia for the company’s 30-year-old laptop line. That said, the X9 line (which will be available in both 14- and 15-inch variants) still delivers the same military-grade durability (MIL-SPEC 810H) you’d expect from a typical ThinkPad while boasting an even sleeker and more minimalist appearance.
The lid of the X9 line is made from a smooth sheet of aluminum with the only defining characteristic (aside from the ThinkPad logo) being the long communication bar that houses the laptop's microphones and cameras. On the inside, Lenovo’s streamlined aesthetic reveals the complete absence of a Trackpoint nub, a redesigned keyboard with new keycaps and an even larger haptic touchpad than what you’d get from the X9’s siblings.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
So even though I’m an elder millennial who has some fondness for old-school ThinkPads, I must admit that I find Lenovo’s break from tradition rather appealing. I never understood the Trackpoint nub, especially on modern notebooks with super responsive touchpads. Getting rid of it not only reduces distractions, but makes the keyboard easier to use. And even with its tweaked keycaps, there’s still plenty of travel to deliver a very comfortable typing experience.
On its bottom, Lenovo is using what it calls an Engine Hub to deliver great connectivity for its size including a Thunderbolt 4 port on each side, a full HDMI 2.1 jack, 3.5mm audio and USB-A, while still providing plenty of room for thermal management. The X9 line’s D-cover (the bottom panel) can also be removed by loosening just four captured screws, which gives you easy access to the laptop's user-replaceable SSD and battery. Unfortunately, because the system is powered by up to Intel Core Ultra 7 processors, RAM is soldered on so you can’t upgrade its memory on your own.
Both the 14- and 15-inch versions of the X9 feature bright OLED displays with 2.8K resolutions and 400 nits of brightness (or 500 nits on the X9 15) and all models come with 80Whr batteries, Wi-Fi 7, 8-megapixel high-def webcams and dual noise-canceling microphones. I also appreciate a lot of the smaller design touches like the physical shutter for the webcam and what might be one of the smallest 65-watt power adapters I’ve seen from any major laptop manufacturer to date.
Finally, Lenovo’s Aura Edition branding is there to remind you that the X9 line includes a handful of AI-powered tools including Smart Share, dynamic power modes, enhanced security and more. And in case anything ever goes wrong, you’ll also have access to 24/7 live support that’s meant to deliver more of a white-glove experience compared to less premium machines.
The internals of the Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 and 15 can be accessed just by removing four screws. Unfortunately, while the SSD is upgradable, its RAM is soldered on.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
All told, the new X9 line really does seem like a more modern approach to laptop design. Now, that doesn’t mean Lenovo needs to kill the classic ThinkPad (I still love those carbon fiber frames), but especially for younger customers, I feel like there’s plenty of room for both of these lines to live together happily.
Both models are expected to go on sale in February, with the ThinkPad X9 Aura Edition starting at $1,399 or $1,549 for the 15-inch version.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/lenovos-new-thinkpad-x9-is-the-least-thinkpad-ever-160019926.html?src=rss
Lenovo has a new series of updated Legion gaming laptops at CES 2025. The star of the show is the 10th-generation Legion Pro 7i. It supports up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, thanks to its cooling system that enables up to 250W thermal design power (TDP). It also has an AI engine that dynamically adjusts CPU and GPU wattage for optimal performance.
The 2025 Legion Pro 7i supports up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and the aforementioned RTX 5090 on the graphics side. Lenovo’s Legion Coldfront Vapor cooling helps it support that high-end hardware. Tack on up to 64GB of 6400Mhz DDR5 (2 X 32GB) RAM and the built-in LA1+LA3 AI chip, and you’re looking at a souped-up machine for on-the-go gaming (and just about anything else you could throw at it).
The laptop has up to a 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600, 16:10) OLED display. The screen supports up to a 240Hz frame rate and has a 1ms response time. It can reach 500 nits of brightness. The Legion Pro 7i has two USB-C ports (one of which is Thunderbolt 4), three USB-A ports and HDMI 2.1. With all that high-end hardware inside, it’s quite the beefy machine, with a starting weight of around 6 lbs.
It launches in March. But all that horsepower doesn’t come cheap: Lenovo says the Legion Pro 7i has an expected starting price of $2,399 — and you can safely bet that RTX 5090 variants will fetch a premium on top of that.
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i
Lenovo
Meanwhile, the 10th-gen Legion Pro 5i (Intel) and Legion Pro 5 (AMD) offer up to an Intel Ultra 9 275HX (the same as the Pro 7i) or AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX, respectively. Their thermal power supports up to 200W, which enables up to an RTX 5070 Ti Laptop for graphics. You can order configurations with up to 32GB (2 X 16GB) of 6400Mhz DDR5 RAM.
It also has up to a 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600, 16:10) OLED screen at up to 500 nits with a 1ms response time. But at 165Hz, its maximum frame rates don’t go quite as high as the Pro 7i.
Like the Pro 7i, the Pro 5 series uses Lenovo’s AI Engine+ with a Scenario Detection feature that dynamically tweaks the CPU and GPU wattage based on the moment’s needs. It has the same port setup as the Pro 7i, but at least it weighs a bit less (a minimum of 5.58 lbs).
Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait longer for the more affordable Pro 5 series. The Legion Pro 5i launches in May (starting at $1,499), while the Legion Pro 5 arrives in June (starting at $1,399).
Lenovo Legion 7i
Lenovo
Lenovo also has a 10th-gen version of the (non-“Pro”) Legion 7i, which the company’s oddly specific PR copy says is for “gamers actively studying in STEM programs and fields.” It also supports up to an Intel Ultra 9 275HX and RTX 5070 GPU and has up to a 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) OLED with up to 240Hz and 1ms. However, its Coldfront Hyper cooling maxes out at a lower 145W TDP, so you won’t get the same top-level performance as the more expensive Pro models.
Starting at 4.4 lbs., it’s notably thinner and lighter than the Pro models. (The fact that it’s more portable but still decently powerful likely explains Lenovo’s strange “STEM student” framing.) It has an all-metal chassis. It will be available in June for $1,599.
Finally, there’s also a 10th-gen Legion 5i. Sticking with the oddly specific PR framing, Lenovo says this model is for “university gamers in non-STEM programs.” (Gotta nail down every niche!) It has up to a 15.1-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600, 16:10, 165Hz, 1ms) OLED and supports up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and RTX 5070 Laptop GPU. (There’s also an AMD variant with up to a Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU.)
The Legion 5i is slated for a May launch, starting at $1,299.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/lenovos-10th-gen-legion-pro-7i-gaming-laptop-supports-up-to-rtx-5090-graphics-160004451.html?src=rss
The Lenovo Legion Go is sort of like the SUV of gaming handhelds. It’s big and beefy and comes with extra equipment like detachable controllers, a kickstand and vertical mouse functionality that lets it adapt to all sorts of situations. Unfortunately, those features made it kind of bulky too, so at CES 2025, Lenovo is announcing a slightly more portable version called the Legion Go S with support for not one but two different OSes.
Before we get too deep into the details, it’s important to mention that I only got a chance to check out the Windows 11 model. However, for anyone who’s ever wanted a Steam Deck with better performance, Lenovo is also making a version that comes pre-loaded with SteamOS. That said, the specs on both variants are nearly identical. They feature either an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go chip or the Z1 Extreme APU Lenovo used on the previous model, with up to 32GB of RAM, 1TB SSD and a 55.5Wh battery. You also get a microSD card slot for expandable storage, two USB 4 ports and a 3.5mm audio jack. The main difference is their color (and release date, but more on that later) as the Windows 11 Legion Go S comes in white while the SteamOS model will be available in black.
Compared to the original Legion Go, the S features a smaller but still large 8-inch 120 Hz OLED display (down from 8.8 inches) with a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution and VRR instead of 2,560 x 1,600 144Hz panel like on the original. It also doesn’t have detachable controllers or a kickstand. The benefit of this is that the whole system feels much sturdier, which should make you feel better about tossing it in a bag before your next trip. It’s also noticeably lighter at 1.6 pounds versus 1.9 for its older sibling.
Notably, you still get analog sticks with Hall Effect sensors, which you don’t get on rivals like ASUS’ pricey ROG Ally X. Lenovo also moved to a new pivot-style D-pad, though I’m not sure that counts as a true upgrade as I tend to prefer the classic cross-style ones. Another nice bonus for tinkerers is that on the inside, the Go S comes with a shorter 2242 SSD module even though it can accommodate desktop-size 2280 sticks.
Initially, I got a chance to check out the Windows 11 version, whose performance felt quite snappy thanks to the drop in resolution to 1,920 x 1,200, which feels like a more suitable match for its components. Lenovo has also made some improvements to its Legion Space app, so it functions much better as a general game launch and a place to tweak performance and settings. I also appreciate little touches like how even though it's much smaller, the Legion Go S still has a touchpad in front, which is such a huge help when you need to exit Legion Space and navigate around in Windows. I’d even say that despite its size, the pad on the Go S is more responsive, as it feels more like a trackball than a tiny touchpad. And around back, there’s a small toggle for adjusting how far you can pull the shoulder buttons.
As for the Legion Go S powered by SteamOS, I found it remarkable how similar it felt to the Steam Deck despite not being made by Valve. The UI is almost identical, the only differences are some subtle tweaks Lenovo added to support things like the handheld’s RGB lighting and higher 30-watt TDP. In person, the SteamOS models’ casing looks more like a dark purple than pure black, which is a nice subtle touch. However my biggest takeaways is that Valve’s OS felt slightly more responsive that it does on the Steam Deck, which I’m attributing to the Legion’s newer APU.
The small hiccup is that a higher-end version of Legion Go S running Windows 11 is expected to go on sale first sometime later this month starting at $730 with an AMD Z2 Go processor, 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Unfortunately, that means anyone who wants one of the more affordable models with 16GB of RAM or running SteamOS will have to wait a bit longer, as those variants won’t be available until May. On the bright side, the Legion Go S powered by SteamOS will have a lower starting price of $499 compared to an equivalent Windows model which will start at $599.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/the-lenovo-legion-go-s-is-the-first-third-party-steamos-handheld-160001245.html?src=rss
Sony had a lot of entertainment news to share during its CES 2025 press conference, especially when it came to movies and shows based on PlayStation properties. The company is also expanding its anime streaming service, Crunchyroll, with a new manga app.
The standalone Crunchyroll Manga app is coming to iOS and Android later this year. It'll debut in the US and Canada. It will only be available in English at first and support for more languages will arrive down the line. You'll need to pay extra to use the app, however, as it's slated to be a premium add-on for Crunchyroll. The service hasn't divulged which titles you'll be able to read in the app — it will announce details about that and publisher involvement at a later date. Web browser support is coming at some point as well.
Word of the Crunchyroll Manga app comes soon after Sony was in talks to buy Kadokawa, the parent company of Elden Ring developer FromSoftware and (more pertinently in this case) a major publisher of anime and manga. The companies instead agreed for Sony to take a larger stake in Kadokawa and become its biggest shareholder. As such, it would be quite a surprise if Kadokawa's library of manga was somehow not featured in the upcoming app.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/a-new-crunchyroll-manga-mobile-app-arrives-later-this-year-155234860.html?src=rss
Sony has announced the latest additions to its Midnight Black Collection for the PS5. The new accessories join existing Midnight Black Collection products, such as the Midnight Black PS5 console cover and DualSense wireless controller.
The most important accessories for the PS5 are the controllers, and there are three in this collection. They include the PlayStation Portal Midnight Black remote player and DualSense Edge Midnight Black. Both controllers cost $200.
Next, we have audio peripherals. The Pulse Explore wireless earbuds and Pulse Elite wireless headset will now come in Midnight Black. They cost $200 and $150, respectively. Both will come with a felt grey carrying case and necessary accessories.
These products are expected to be available on February 20, but pre-order access begins on January 16 at 10AM ET. Participating retailers will also begin pre-orders on that day, but the exact time depends on the region.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sonys-latest-ps5-midnight-black-accessories-arrive-next-month-155005798.html?src=rss
Wellness brand Moonbird launched a kids’ version of its stress-relief breathwork device at CES 2025 and it is so cute. Moonbuddy is like a little calming companion — the roughly egg-shaped device is outfitted in a silicone animal costume and offers tactile guidance for breathing exercises. It’s designed to help kids slow things down for a few minutes so they can feel grounded and ultimately more relaxed.
Unlike the adult version, there’s no accompanying app, so the activity is entirely screen-free. Moonbuddy is activated by a button on the back, and there are four different breathing modes that range from 6 breaths per minute to 10.5 breaths per minute. Once you’ve selected an exercise, the device’s squishy belly will begin to expand and contract slowly to match the desired breathing rhythm.
Moonbuddy looks and feels like a toy that’s meant to be cradled in your hands. The company showed it off with bird and bear versions of the removable sleeve, and it’s hard to choose which is the cuter between the two. But you’ll have to, because only one sleeve comes with the $89 device and they aren’t currently sold as separate accessories. I’d love to see that option down the line, especially since the team says it’s working on other animal designs that could someday join the mix.
Cheyenne MacDonald for Engadget
That aside, adults aren’t the only ones who experience stress and anxiety — kids go through it too, and breathwork can be really helpful for easing those feelings and their potential consequences, like troubled sleep. But getting a kid to sit down and focus on slow, controlled breathing isn’t always an easy thing to do. Moonbuddy could be a great, albeit pricey, tool to have on hand in that regard, making the exercises much more approachable. I may or may not be seriously considering buying one for myself.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/moonbuddy-is-an-adorable-guided-breathing-device-thatll-help-your-kid-wind-down-153038369.html?src=rss
We're in the midst of CES 2025 and Amazon has announced a series of new features and devices across its product lines. In the case of Ring, this means increasing the quality of its cameras, with Ring Floodlight Cam Pro and Spotlight Cam Pro getting 2K video resolution. This upgrade should improve the quality of each bit of video footage for increased clarity and safety.
Ring will roll out 2K video resolution on January 8. Anyone with a Floodlight Cam Pro or Spotlight Cam Pro can use the Ring app to upgrade their device's resolution for free.
At the same time, Ring has teamed up with Kidde, a fire safety company, to create smoke and carbon monoxide alarms with Ring's technology. Basically, the devices will send real-time alerts on the Ring app if they detect unsafe levels of either smoke or carbon monoxide. Critically, individuals don't need to own a Ring Alarm or hub to use them.
Ring
For $5 monthly, customers can get professional monitoring of their devices, which allows agents to contact emergency personnel and contacts. These devices will only be available for US customers at Home Depot starting this April.
We're reporting live from CES 2025 in Las Vegas from January 5-10. Follow our CES 2025 liveblog for the latest from the show floor.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/ring-brings-2k-video-resolution-to-its-cameras-151625629.html?src=rss
We first checked out Displace TV back at CES 2023 and were pretty impressed with the company's 55-inch 4K OLED screen — it was wireless, had hot-swappable batteries and you could stick it onto any smooth surface thanks to its proprietary active-loop vacuum technology. Unfortunately, what we saw was just a prototype and only 100 units were ever planned for production. For CES 2025, Displace TV has returned with a market version of its stick-on wireless 4K TV, and also unveiled a wireless soundbar and speakers.
There are a few changes from the early versions we saw two years ago. For one, the rechargeable batteries are no longer swappable and now, in addition to the suction cup tech, there are concealed, pop-out legs for setting the screen on a surface.
Displace is producing two models, the Basic and the Pro. Each has the same operating system, the company's own AI-fueled Displace OS. They both have 4K OLED displays, with the option of 27 or 55-inch screen sizes. The Pro model is packed with a more powerful 8-core Intel N-300 processor, 32GB of RAM, 256GB of storage and a larger 10,000mAh battery. For comparison, the Basic model uses a Intel N-100 4-core CPU, has 16GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and a smaller 5,000mAh battery. The Pro also includes Displace's new soundbar and speakers that not only offer better sound, but also increase the battery life by 150 hours. (Without the added boost from the speakers, you'll be able to watch between 40 and 60 hours of TV before you need to recharge.)
To control the set, Displace has created a multi-touch control device that also packs its own screen. This is a new addition to what we saw in 2023, as those TVs were controlled purely through gestures. Gesture control is still present with the new TVs but only works for basic functions like pause and play. Any further input will require touching the remote.
Another change since 2023 is price. Displace targeted a substantial $3,000 price tag for the 55-inch model back in 2023. Now that price is $2,500 for the 27-inch Basic model and $3,500 for the 55-inch. If you want the Pro version, those are going for $4,000 and $6,000 for the same two sizes, respectively.
If you're tempted, you may like to know that right now, Displace will give pre-order customers a $1,000 discount on any of the sets — but only during CES. The show officially packs up January 10, so you don't have long to decide whether a wireless suction cup TV needs to be a part of your life. Units are expected to ship in late March this year.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/displace-will-finally-ship-its-wireless-4k-oled-suction-tvs-in-march-of-this-year-150025595.html?src=rss
Black Friday is more than a month behind us, but it seems Beats isn’t done with its deals. The 2024 Beats Pill is now $100, down from $150. The last time we saw the speaker on sale for $100 was during Black Friday, and we’re glad to see this discount again.
The 2024 Beats Pill is a portable powerhouse with several upgrades compared to its predecessor. It has improved sound quality, and support for lossless audio if you use a USB-C connection. While the official description rates battery life at up to 24, Engadget found that it can go more than that, but only if you keep the volume lower than 50 percent.
A standout feature of the 2024 Beats Pill is Stereo mode. If you have two of them, you can connect both to your device and activate this feature. Each speaker then plays one of the two stereo channels, resulting in a wider soundscape. You can also have both play the same audio through Amplify mode, which doubles the sound.
The 2024 Beats Pill has a good reputation amongst our team members. We not only included it in our list of best portable Bluetooth speakers, but we’ve also given it an in-depth review. We recommend it if you’re thinking of getting a portable speaker.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-2024-beats-pill-is-on-sale-for-100-right-now-144920729.html?src=rss
It’s been a while since I’ve tried a pair of personal cinema-style AR glasses given their propensity to be rubbish. The field of view is often too restrictive, they’re often too low-res and they’re often prone to giving me eyestrain headaches. But after I tried on Xreal’s new One Pro glasses at CES 2025, I was suitably impressed as the company's latest addresses all of those gripes and plenty more.
Xreal turned up in Las Vegas to show off the One Pro, which is a marginal improvement on the Xreal One that debuted, and quickly sold out, a month ago. Both pairs are equipped with the company’s first in-house spatial computing chip, delivering less blur, no flicker and a 120Hz refresh rate. They’re also equipped with Bose-branded sound, not that I was able to test their quality in a crowded casino ballroom. The difference between the two comes down to slightly better optics.
The point of the new X1 chip is to ensure the glasses can do all the spatial brainwork without needing to rely on whatever device you’re hooked up to. That enables you to have ultra-wide displays that could be used to give yourself a mega desktop if you need to get some serious work done. Or, if you want to pin a games console in one place in your virtual environment, you can now do that even if you’re wired up to something low power. Speaking of, I got to try two different demos, the first playing Super Mario Odyssey on a Switch, and then one with an ultra-wide desktop display on a laptop.
Photo by Daniel Cooper
On one hand, these glasses remain bound by the same constraint every other pair of these devices have ( and will always have). You’re trying to trick your eyes into thinking two small screens close to your eyes are actually one massive screen that’s a lot further away. Your eyes are, however, smarter than that, and it’s rare that I’ve been able to view the illusion as its creators intended. But, mercifully, the resolution, brightness, low latency and broad field of vision all help to sell the trick here in a way that worked better than I have ever experienced.
In fact, I got quite lost playing Odyssey, not realizing that I’d been playing for five or more minutes as my eyes didn’t put up their usual protest. Hell, the fact I just mindlessly got on with it and it never occurred to me to stop to give my eyes a rest was the first sign these were a cut above. When I got to the desktop and was able to comfortably read the text on the screen (even the tiny titles in browser tabs), it felt revelatory. Look, this is table stakes for a device like this, but the fact I managed to use it comfortably speaks volumes.
I’ll reserve full judgment until I’ve had the chance to put these through their paces properly but, right now, I’m impressed. The Xreal One will be back in stock shortly, while the One Pro should begin shipping in March 2025.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/xreals-new-one-pro-ar-glasses-are-surprisingly-good-143034826.html?src=rss
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced a major shift in the company's approach to moderation and speech. Meta is ditching its fact-checking program and moving to an X-style Community Notes model on Facebook, Instagram and Threads.
Zuckerberg said in a video that Meta has "built a lot of complex systems to moderate content" in recent years. "But the problem with complex systems is they make mistakes. Even if they accidentally censor one percent of posts, that's millions of people." He added that we're now at a point where there have been "too many mistakes and too much censorship."
To that end, he said, "we're gonna get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies and restoring free expression on our platforms." That's going to start with a switch to "Community Notes, similar to X, starting in the US."
Meta's new Chief Global Affairs Officer (and Nick Clegg's replacement) Joel Kaplan wrote in a blog post that the company has seen the Community Notes "approach work on X — where they empower their community to decide when posts are potentially misleading and need more context, and people across a diverse range of perspectives decide what sort of context is helpful for other users to see."
The company plans to phase in Community Notes in the US over the next few months and iterate on them over this year, all the while removing its fact checkers and ending the demotion of fact-checked content. Meta will also make certain content warning labels less prominent.
Meta says it will be up to contributing users to write Community Notes and to decide which ones are applied to posts on Facebook, Instagram and Threads. "Just like they do on X, Community Notes will require agreement between people with a range of perspectives to help prevent biased ratings," Kaplan wrote. "We intend to be transparent about how different viewpoints inform the Notes displayed in our apps, and are working on the right way to share this information."
The Community Notes model hasn't entirely been without issue for X, however. Studies have shown that Community Notes have failed to prevent misinformation from spreading there. Elon Musk has championed the Community Notes approach but some have been applied to his own posts to correct falsehoods that he has posted. After one such incident, Musk accused "state actors" of manipulating the system. YouTube has also tested a Community Notes model.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Meanwhile, Zuckerberg had some other announcements to make, including a simplification of certain content policies and ditching "a bunch of restrictions on topics like immigration and gender that are just out of touch with mainstream discourse. What started as a movement to be more inclusive has increasingly been used to shut down opinions and shut out people with different ideas, and it's gone too far. I wanna make sure that people can share their experiences and their beliefs on our platforms."
When asked to provide more details about these policy changes, Meta directed Engadget to Kaplan's blog post.
In addition, the filters that Meta had used to search for any policy violations across its platforms will be focused on "illegal and high-severity violations." These include terrorism, child sexual exploitation, drugs, fraud and scams. For other, less-severe types of policy violations, Meta will rely more on users making manual reports, but the bar for removing content will be higher.
"We’re going to tune our systems to require a much higher degree of confidence before a piece of content is taken down," Kaplan wrote. In some cases, that will mean multiple reviewers looking at a certain piece of content before reaching a decision on whether to take it down. Along with that, Meta is "working on ways to make recovering accounts more straightforward and testing facial recognition technology, and we’ve started using AI large language models (LLMs) to provide a second opinion on some content before we take enforcement actions."
Last but not least, Meta says it's taking a more personalized approach to political content across its platforms after attempting to make its platforms politically agnostic for the past few years. So, if you want to see more political stuff in your Facebook, Instagram and Threads feeds, you'll have the choice to do so.
As with donating to Donald Trump's inauguration fund, replacing longtime policy chief Nick Clegg with a former George W. Bush aide and appointing Trump's buddy (and UFC CEO) Dana White to its board, it's very difficult to see these moves as anything other than Meta currying favor with the incoming administration.
Many Republicans have long railed against social media platforms, accusing them of censoring conservative voices. Meta itself blocked Trump from using his accounts on his platforms for years after he stoked the flames of the attempted coup of January 6, 2021. "His decision to use his platform to condone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters at the Capitol building has rightly disturbed people in the US and around the world," Zuckerberg said at the time. "We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great." Meta removed its restrictions on Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts last year.
Zuckerberg explicitly said that Trump's election win is part of the reasoning behind Meta's policy shift, calling it "a cultural tipping point" on free speech. He said that the company will work with Trump to push back against other governments, such as the Chinese government and some in Latin America, that are "pushing to censor more."
He claimed that "Europe has an ever-increasing number of laws institutionalizing censorship and making it difficult to build anything innovative there." Zuckerberg also took shots at the outgoing administration (over an alleged push for censorship) and third-party fact checkers, who he claimed were "too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they created."
These are all significant changes for Meta's platforms. On one hand, allowing more types of speech could increase engagement without having to rely on, say, garbage AI bots. But the company may end up driving away many folks who don't want to deal with the type of speech that could become more prevalent on Instagram, Facebook and Threads now that Meta is taking the shackles off.
"Now we have an opportunity to restore free expression and I am excited to take it," Zuckerberg said. While he noted that "it'll take time to get this right and these are complex systems that are never gonna be perfect," and that the company will still need to work hard to remove illegal content, "the bottom line is that after years of having our content moderation work focused primarily on removing content, it is time to focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our systems and getting back to our roots about giving people voice."
Update January 1, 2:58PM ET: Noting that Meta responded to our request for comment.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-is-loosening-some-content-policies-and-moving-to-an-x-style-community-notes-system-142330500.html?src=rss
How are you ever going to improve your Elo if you can’t stop shivering or sweating in your gaming seat? Razer’s latest innovation is Project Arielle, a gaming chair that sports integrated temperature controls, plus the company’s signature pretty lighting of course.
Evolved from the Fujin Pro, Razer’s breathable mesh chair, Project Arielle uses a bladeless fan system to either warm up or cool down the entire frame. The side of the seat features a touchscreen control panel where you can change the three-speed fan settings and swap between warm and cool airflow. The edges of the seat and backrest have RGD lights that change dynamically from blue to red as the temperature changes, too. The bladeless fan is housed in a cylinder dangling off the base of the backrest like a little stubby tail, and a cable runs from this same area, connected to a sizable power brick.
Razer says Project Arielle can reduce the perceived temperature by 2 to 5 degrees C in dry environments, and its self-regulating, energy-efficient heater delivers warm air of up to 30 degrees C (86 degrees F).
Razer
In action, Project Arielle is surprisingly effective and quiet. I had a chance to experience — not just sit in — the chair at CES 2025, and it functioned even better than expected. With the warm setting engaged, I felt a breeze of heated air swirl around my head, neck and upper back, and the temperature change was tangible even in a hot room. The cool setting provided instant relief, with the airflow particularly noticeable along my back, neck and under my arms. The fan was noiseless in the demo room, which contained about a dozen people and a handful of laptops and PCs. I strained to hear the fan running in this environment, and even then, it was barely noticeable as a soft hum.
As someone who’s always chilly, especially in sedentary situations, Project Arielle is an incredibly attractive chair. Instead of piling on sweatshirts and blankets to warm up my frozen bones, I’d be happy to just switch on the heating function and bask in the warm air. The cute lights certainly don’t hurt, either.
Project Arielle is just a concept for now, but Razer has a pretty good track record when it comes to turning its experiments into actual products. Just look at the Project Esther haptic gaming cushion, which debuted at CES 2024 and then went on sale nine months later as the Razer Freyja.
Will Project Arielle help boost your rank or shave seconds off your speedrun? Maybe, maybe not. But it’ll definitely keep you cozy while you try.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/razer-reveals-project-arielle-at-ces-2025-its-first-temperature-controlled-gaming-chair-140053028.html?src=rss
