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Windows budget laptops edge closer to MacBook Neo with double RAM and storage
8 days ago•Source: Windows Central
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Xbox Ally expands Default Game Profiles with two dozen new titles to boost performance and battery life
Xbox is expanding Default Game Profiles for the Xbox Ally and Ally X, adding over two dozen titles that apply per-game tweaks (power use, TDP, and frame-rate targets) to improve performance and extend battery life when games run through the Xbox app; notable additions include Forza Horizon 6 and Halo: Spartan Assault, though not all games support both devices yet (e.g., Invincible VS and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II), and the feature remains limited to Xbox app titles on handhelds with more titles expected to follow.
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Microsoft plans OLED Surface upgrades with a two‑stage Intel-first rollout
Windows Central•1 month ago
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Microsoft shutters Surface Hub line, ending 50-inch and 85-inch collaboration displays
Windows Central•1 month ago
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Surface price surge: RAM crunch pushes Microsoft’s PCs into the $1k-plus club
Microsoft has raised prices across its Surface PC lineup due to RAM and component cost pressures, pushing midrange devices above $1,000 and flagships into the $1,499–$1,599 range. The Surface Pro 12-inch now starts at $1,049 (up from $799), the Surface Pro 13-inch at $1,499 (up from $999), the Surface Laptop 13-inch at $1,199 (up from $899), the 13.8-inch Laptop at $1,499 (up from $999), and the 15-inch Laptop at $1,599 (up from $1,299), with a top-end 15-inch model configured with 64GB RAM and 1TB SSD hitting $3,649. The move, tied to RAM supply constraints, is expected to ripple across retailers and likely persist through upcoming Surface refreshes.
MSI Elevates AM5 with X870E UNIFY-X MAX and Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition
MSI introduces full AM5 support for AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition and unveils the MEG X870E UNIFY-X MAX, a flagship overclocking motherboard featuring an 18+2+1 power design, Direct OC Jumper, OC Engine, and robust cooling for extreme tuning. The Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 is a 16-core, 32-thread CPU with 192 MB L3 cache, up to 5.6 GHz boost, and 200 W TDP, designed to pair with MSI’s CLICK BIOS X, Latency Killer, X3D Gaming Mode, and fast connectivity (Wi-Fi 7 + 5G LAN). An AGESA PI 1.3.0.0 BIOS update is expected for 600 & 800-series boards to optimize Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition performance.
Boxed and shelved: my repaired Xbox ROG Ally X loses to Lenovo Legion Go
A Windows Central editor details having her Xbox ROG Ally X repaired and returned, only to fall for the Lenovo Legion Go's bigger screen, detachable controllers, charging options, and overall comfort. She spent around £800 on the Ally X five months earlier and questions the need for the most expensive tech, as the repaired Ally X sits back in its box while the Legion Go becomes her daily driver for games like Stardew Valley and Diablo 4; she even contemplates selling the Ally X as she reassesses what a handheld should deliver.
HP slashes price on Omnibook 5 14-inch AI laptop, duels MacBook Neo
HP is offering a 57% discount on the Omnibook 5 14-inch AI laptop at HP US, dropping the price to $499.99 (from $1,149.99). The Snapdragon X-powered ARM laptop features 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, a 2K OLED display with 95% DCI-P3, and an estimated 34-hour battery life. It’s pitched as a cheaper, higher-RAM alternative to Apple’s MacBook Neo, with more RAM and storage for less money, though RAM is soldered and the SSD is upgradeable. As a Windows on ARM device, some traditional x86 apps may run via emulation, and affiliate links are in use.
Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 at $549 bests MacBook Neo on RAM and storage
Dell’s Inspiron 14 2-in-1 is on sale for $549 at Best Buy, packing 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD in a 14-inch convertible with a touch display, undercutting the $599 MacBook Neo and offering stronger multitasking and external-display support. The Neo trades portability and brightness for a smaller, lighter chassis and fewer ports, but comes up short on RAM/storage. In short, the Dell represents better value for Windows users at a significantly lower price.
Surge pricing could spark a PS1 comeback
A GamesRadar Hardware piece argues Sony’s “dynamic” PS5 surge pricing for digital games could push players toward retro and physical options, suggesting buying older consoles (PS1/PS2/PS3) or sticking with physical discs as a form of protest. The author notes the price test is an A/B experiment across roughly 150 games in 68 regions for several months, and urges gamers to resist digital price shenanigans and keep classic hardware in play.
ASUS's Windows 11 Pure OS: a lean, enterprise-focused install, not for consumer laptops
ASUS’s ExpertBook B5 G2 includes a Windows 11 pure OS option—a clean Windows 11 install with no ASUS software, intended for enterprise deployments and tender/RFP use. It’s not offered to regular consumers; ASUS also sells models with no OS installed for organizations to image under existing licensing agreements.
Dumpster Discovery: PC Hobbyist Nets $500 in Premium DDR4 RAM
A PC hobbyist reportedly salvaged about $500 worth of premium DDR4 RAM from a dump or recycling center, highlighting how scavenging discarded hardware can yield valuable components as RAM prices spike. The piece touches on dumpster-diving for PC parts and invites reader perspectives on salvaging hardware, amid broader hardware market dynamics.
Casio teases a 16-pad portable standalone sampler at NAMM 2026
Casio previewed a new portable standalone sampler at NAMM 2026 (initially unnamed, later referred to as Casio SXC1). The unit is a 4×4 pad device with 16 voices, 16-bit 48kHz WAV sampling, 64GB internal storage, sampling via built-in mic and USB-C, a built-in sequencer and speaker, a 1.3-inch OLED display, dual dials, and about 2 hours of battery life. It can store up to 16 samples in up to 10 banks (final specs pending), and Casio has not announced a release date or price yet; more details to come.
Lenovo's rollable laptop stumbles on Fallon, fueling a debate on the tech
Lenovo unveiled an ultrawide rollable-display gaming laptop, but the Fallon demo ended with a breakage, reigniting questions about the practicality and readiness of rollable technology for mainstream buyers.