Household robot manufacturer iGarden unveiled its new M1 series of robotic pool cleaners at CES today, complementing its existing K series line of underwater scrubbers. And much like the K series, these four new models are distinguished almost exclusively by their battery size and resulting operating time. The M1 series showcases a revamped design that features four wheels instead of treads, with a bulbous section in the center of the robot that makes it look like the cockpit of a race car. The bright red color treatment only furthers that connotation, much as it did with the K Pro 150 we reviewed in October, 2025.) The very front of the robot, however, is where you’ll find its secret sauce, including twin cameras designed to help it scan the pool in 3D. iGarden says the cameras improve debris detection, floor coverage, and obstacle avoidance. As is becoming increasingly common with household robots, AI-powered algorithms analyze the video feed and are key part of the behind-the-scenes intelligence. iGarden also launched its new L- and L AWD-series robot lawn mowers at CES.iGarden Additional features across the M1 line include a new two-tier filter designed to improve tiny particle capture while reducing clogging, and a dual water pump design that adapts suction power to the environment, based on an analysis of how much and what type of debris the robot is capturing. A welcome one-touch return system instructs the robot to climb the nearest wall to reach the waterline for easy, pole-free retrieval, although it isn’t entirely clear how this system works at the moment. (Based on photography we’ve seen, it’s likely through a remote-control wand with flashing lights on one end.) At launch, the four models in the new series are the M1-50, with a 7500mAh battery and about 5 hours of running time; the M1-80, with a 10,400mAh battery and about 8 hours of running time; the M1-100, also with a 10,400mAh battery but a promised 10 hours of running time; and the M1 Pro-125, with a 14,500mAh battery and about 12.5 hours of running time. The units also differ based on pump rate, with the M1-50 offering a lower flow of 3,170 to 5,019 gallons per hour, the middle two robots featuring 4,227 to 6,076 gallons per hour, and the M1 Pro-125 hitting 5,283 to 7,133 gallons per hour. Many of the other features of the K Series, including running time options, periodic scheduling, various cleaning modes, and iGarden’s speed-boosting “Turbo Mode,” remain ported over to the new M1 models. Pricing and availability for each of the new robot models had not been published at press time. This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best robotic pool cleaners. Read...

It’s easy to feel a little scared about how AI is developing. Even if you don’t believe in the end-of-the-world dystopias, there are many scary questions: What happens to jobs when AI takes over? How will energy-hungry data servers affect the environment? Can democracy survive the flood of disinformation? This is not really something we, as individuals, can influence, but there are things you and I can do to reduce the risks of AI. Here are my top tips: 1. Choose the right service Not all AI services handle your data the same exact way. Some are based in regions with strong privacy regulations, and others may use your information to improve their systems. Understanding who owns the service and where it’s based can help you make informed choices. If privacy is important to you, look for platforms that prioritize data protection. 2. Check the source Checking the source is always important on the internet, and it’s vital when it comes to AI services. When you ask a question, AI uses many different web pages to formulate its answer and while it often gets it right, there are no guarantees. Fortunately, all AI services are now quite good at providing the source of their claims. If in doubt, always click on the original source to assess its credibility! If there is no source citation, you can ask the follow-up question “What are your sources?” to display it. 3. Take responsibility When you write and speak in public, you are responsible for the accuracy of the information you share. Mistakes happen, sure, but it’s up to you to verify the facts. For example, Kd leader Ebba Busch referred to AI when she cited an incorrect quote in her Almedals speech. So, what’s the lesson here? Relying on AI is never an excuse. Always double-check your sources. 4. Search privately By default, your searches and conversations are saved and may be used to train the AI services. If you don’t want that, ChatGPT offers a feature called Temporary Chat. It works like a browser’s incognito mode and lets you search and interact without saving your history. 5. Clearing the history The more you use an AI service, the more it learns about you. If you feel uncomfortable, you can go to the settings menu and look for the delete history feature. In ChatGPT, this found under Data Controls. 6. Protecting private information No matter how you use AI, it’s important to remember that what you write and upload is shared with someone else. That’s why you need to be careful with sensitive information like passwords and bank details. Assume that everything can be read by someone else no matter what the services say. 7. Talk to your boss Are you using AI at work or in an organization? Check with your manager or chairperson on what the rules are. There are often guidelines on how to use AI, and many companies and organizations pay for professional versions with greater security. Read...

Brendon McCullum’s hopes of remaining England head coach rest on whether he is willing to accept an ultimatum of making major changes to the team’s environment and culture. Read...

One of the most exciting PC trends overall this decade is the rise of gorgeous OLED monitors. They’ve steadily improved year after year, delivering ever-more-luscious visuals at ever-increasing speeds, and during CES 2026, LG revealed a slew of new OLED panels designed to drive gaming fidelity even further. Note that I said panels, not monitors; as a panel supplier, these LG displays will wind up in monitors from other vendors as well as LG’s own goodies. And as a panel supplier, LG is doubling down on OLED. OLED has been under attack from the rise of RGB mini-LED panels that build upon existing LCD technology, for better or worse. LCD and OLED behave in very different ways, and LG’s new Tandem WOLED and Tandem OLED technologies (its first new OLED brands in 13 years!) push the advantage even further. Tandem WOLED will appear in larger displays, like TVs and PC monitors, while Tandem OLED targets smaller devices like laptops, tablets, and automotive displays. I’m a thirsty, disgusting gamer so for this article, let’s focus on Tandem WOLED. Officially called “Primary RGB Tandem 2.0,” Tandem WOLED can hit up to a whopping 4,500 nits in peak form, or 1,500 nits in PC monitors. A nit is equivalent to the brightness of a single candle, and we prefer that laptops hit 250 to 300 nits (or more) for optimal viewing, so that 1,500 nits is a big number — and one you can instantly feel and appreciate witnessing the technology in action. New “Perfect Black Anti-Reflection” tech “offers the world’s lowest reflectance of 0.3%,” ensuring a crisp picture even in bright conditions. Even better, Tandem WOLED supports 99.5% DCI-P3 coverage, an industry term that means its color accuracy is indeed insanely color accurate. The ”WOLED” comes from an additional white light source, joining the usual RGB trio. “By precisely stacking RGB light sources in tandem, it creates pure white light and picture quality that nears perfection — blacks deepen, colors stay naturally true in any environment,” LG says. After seeing it in action, I have to say I agree! OLED vs. Mini LED LG drove home the point in several discrete demos comparing an “affordable” OLED TV against a rival mini LED television. Mini LED uses standard LCD technology, with roughly 1,500 “block-dimming” chunks spread across the screen; OLED can turn each of the 33 million+ pixels in a 4K display on and off independently. It makes a huge difference. The mini LED still looked a lot better than most people’s TVs, but it suffered from color inaccuracy and other issues next to LG’s Tandem WOLED. Since mini LED (and all LCD panels) only dim colors in blocks, images can be affected by surrounding colors; you can witness “bloom” lightening effects around fireworks, and nearby colors affecting the look of people’s skin or supposedly white areas. None of those appeared in LG’s Tandem WOLED panels. To be fair, these were mostly canned test demos to show extremes, but those extremes do happen, and the results largely aligned with my prior experiences with mini LED and LCD displays. Sadly, I wasn’t able to capture convincing pictures of the comparison, since the visual nitpicks on the display can’t be captured by my camera. But trust me: You have to see it to believe it. LG’s boundary-pushing OLED panels At CES 2026, LG announced three boundary-pushing new Tandem WOLED panels to push the advantage. First, there’s a 27-inch gaming OLED capable of hitting a blistering 720HZ at 1080p resolution, or 540HZ at 1440p resolution — ludicrous speeds. This isn’t actually “new” though — the panel already debuted in Asus’ ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W (pictured above) late last year, which knocked our socks off in our review. It earned 4.5 (out of 5) stars and an Editors’ Choice award. “The Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W pulls out all the stops to deliver best-in-class motion performance and a long list of bonus features,” our synopsis says. Enough said! Well, not really — read our full review for a deeper look at the underlying tech, and how it handles in the ROG Swift. World’s first OLED with a 240Hz RGB stripe pixel structure LG also showed off an OLED panel with the world’s first 240Hz RGB stripe pixel structure. “RGB stripe structure arranges the three primary color subpixels in a straight line, significantly reducing the visual distortions that can happen at close viewing distances,” LG’s press deck states. It “enables highly detailed and crisp graphic reproduction at 160 pixels per inch.” That’s a lot of geek talk. Let me break it down for you. OLED panels have a flaw that’s not always talked about. Yes, the deep blacks and vivid colors look amazing while gaming or watching videos — but the technology often reproduces on-screen text less precisely. Called “fringing,” text on OLED monitors can sometimes appear somewhat blurry and distorted depending on the implementation. I covered this in-depth in my review of the Corsair Xeneon Flex (which used an LG OLED panel) in 2023, and you can see an example of text fringing from that very monitor below. All those nerd words LG used to describe what “240Hz RGB stripe pixel structure” does basically say that text looks way less sucky. LG says this panel is “Optimized for operating systems such as Windows as well as font-rendering engines, ensuring excellent text readability and high color accuracy.” LG showed off the monitor using a world-building game with lots of text, complete with a magnifier hooked up to the display to show how the RGB subpixel display looks IRL. Fortunately, I was able to get a glimpse of a real world monitor with this panel over at Asus’ booth. Considering that Asus also helped debut those 720Hz/540Hz OLED monitors late last year, I guess Asus and LG are BFFs! Here’s a picture of the just-announced Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27UCWM, using LG’s new panel. The system was fairly locked down but I was able to summon the right-click context menu to get a peek at the text fringing advancements, and welp, it looked significantly better than most rival OLEDs. The panel uses LG’s Dynamic Frequency and Resolution (DFR) tech to run at 240Hz at 4K or 480Hz at 1080p. Look for monitors with this new panel to arrive sometime in Q2. LG’s 39-inch ‘5K2K’ gaming OLED 4K? Ha! That’s so yesterday. Acer and LG are making 5K gaming monitors the hot new flex at CES 2026. For LG, that means the introduction of the world’s first 39-inch 5K gaming OLED, with a standard 21:9 aspect ratio and 1500R curvature. There’s not really much more to say beyond that, but hot damn did it look luscious in real life — huge, wide, and utterly packed with high-quality OLED pixels galore. Once these monitors launch in Q2, you’ll want to head down to a Best Buy or Microcenter to check them out with your own eyes — they’re that damned gorgeous. I’m willing to review one of these, just sayin’ LG. Stay tuned to PCWorld (and our live blog) for all the hottest CES 2026 news all week long! Read...

TL;DR: Learn to code with Microsoft Visual Studio Professional plus beginner-friendly programming courses for $39.97 (MSRP $1,999). One of the biggest hurdles for new developers isn’t learning syntax—it’s figuring out which tools to use and how to use them properly. This coding bundle removes that friction by combining Visual Studio Professional, Microsoft’s full-featured IDE, with structured courses that teach real-world programming skills step by step. Visual Studio Professional is a full-featured development environment used by professionals around the world. As Microsoft’s first 64-bit IDE, it can handle complex projects with improved performance and memory management. It supports multiple programming languages and platforms, offers real-time collaboration with Live Share, and includes tools like IntelliCode and CodeLens to help you write better code, faster. The included coding e-courses cover essential programming languages and tools, including Python, JavaScript, C++, Java, and SQL. You’ll also get training on frameworks like Flask and Vuex, automation with Google Assistant, mobile development with Flutter and Dart, and AI tools like ChatGPT and OpenCV. These training courses are designed to help you build practical, real-world skills, whether you’re working toward a new career or just expanding your technical abilities. If you want to start your tech training, don’t wait. This learn-to-code bundle is on sale for $39.97 for a limited time (MSRP $1,999). No coupon is needed. Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 + The Premium Learn to Code Certification BundleSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

Ecovacs has introduced a new robot mower at CES as the company pushes further into lawn care. The Goat LiDAR Pro brings smarter navigation and more complete edge trimming, aiming to reduce the cleanup typically left behind by earlier-generation robot mowers. Equipped with Ecovacs’s HoloScope 360 suite, the Goat LiDAR Pro uses a combination of LiDAR and vision sensors to map the mowing area in three dimensions, enabling more precise path planning and obstacle avoidance. The array of sensors allows the mower to adapt in real time to changes in the environment, a critical feature for homeowners with pets, kids, or complex landscaping. Ecovas Also notable is the addition of a built-in TruEdge Trimmer, designed to solve a common shortcoming of robot mowers: their inability to mow flush against fences, garden edges, and hardscaping. Traditional robotic mowers tend to leave a narrow strip of uncut grass along boundaries due to their inward blade placement and safety margins. The TruEdge system addresses this by using advanced positioning and edge-detection algorithms to guide the mower closer to lawn perimeters, trimming grass that would otherwise require manual cleanup. According to Ecovacs, this combination of smarter mapping and closer cutting brings the Goat LiDAR Pro closer to delivering a fully autonomous lawn care experience, an appealing promise for homeowners looking to eliminate the small chores that earlier robot mowers couldn’t quite handle. Ecovacs hasn’t yet released pricing or availability details for the Goat LiDAR Pro. This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best robot lawn mowers. Read...

Mammotion is expanding its robotic lawn mower lineup for 2026, introducing three new models at CES that aim to simplify autonomous yard care for a broader range of homeowners. The company unveiled a new flagship model, the Luba 3 AWD, alongside smaller offerings in the Luba Mini 2 AWD and the Yuka Mini 2 series. Mammotion Luba 3 AWD The standout among them is the Luba 3 AWD, a high-end mower designed for large and complex lawns. It debuts a next-generation version of Mammotion’s Tri-Fusion Navigation System that combines LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) for 3D mapping, RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) satellite correction for centimeter-level positioning, and AI-powered vision for real-time object recognition and obstacle avoidance. Unlike many older robotic mowers that rely on perimeter wires or basic camera systems, the Luba 3 AWD operates without any external equipment. The result is a mower designed to navigate open terrain, tree-lined lawns, and sloped landscapes with minimal setup. According to Mammotion, the Luba 3 AWD scans its environment in 360 degrees using horizontal and vertical LiDAR, identifies obstacles using dual 1080p cameras, and uses satellite correction data via NetRTK to stay precisely on course, even in challenging GPS environments. The Luba 3 AWD is designed to navigate open terrain, tree-lined lawns, and sloped landscapes. Mammotion The Luba 3 AWD is available in four configurations, covering properties from 0.37 to 2.5 acres. The top model can handle slopes up to 80 percent (38.6-degree inclines), navigate up to100 zones, and mow up to 7,000 square feet per hour. It also features all-wheel drive, dual cutting discs, a 15.8-inch cutting width, and an adaptive suspension system that can climb over 3-inch curbs. Pricing starts at $2,299, with availability beginning January 5 in the U.S., E.U., and U.K. Mammotion Luba Mini 2 AWD For homeowners with smaller yards–or tighter budgets–Mammotion is introducing the Luba Mini 2 AWD, which borrows several features from the flagship, including all-wheel drive, slope handling, and obstacle detection. It uses a tri-camera AI system and NetRTK, skipping LiDAR in favor of a simpler, compact design. This model covers up to 10,760 square feet (about 0.25 acres), supports multi-zone mapping, and includes a new side-mounted edge-cutting disc to trim closer to walls and fences, trimming within one inch of edges. The Luba Mini 2 AWD can trim within one inch of lawn edges. Mammotion Mammotion Yuka Mini 2 Also announced is the Yuka Mini 2 series, a more affordable robot mower with variants tailored to different yard conditions. Some Yuka models include full 360-degree LiDAR and vision navigation, while others stick with tri-camera vision alone. Most models include the same AI chip used across the lineup, offering object detection for pets, toys, and lawn furniture; plus, automated mapping through a smartphone app. Pricing for the Luba Mini 2 starts at 1,499 Euros, with U.S. and U.K. pricing to be announced later. Select models will be available immediately in the U.K. and the E.U., with others opening for preorder in North America from January 5. The Yuka Mini 2 series features variants tailored to different yard conditions. Mammotion Mammotion’s announcement comes as robotic mowers continue to evolve beyond their early limitations, with manufacturers adopting technologies once reserved for self-driving cars and high-end robot vacuums. While camera-based navigation has been standard in earlier models, new systems incorporating LiDAR and RTK offer higher precision, especially in environments with trees, fences, or subject to inconsistent GPS satellite signals. If you’re attending CES in person, Mammotion is exhibiting its wares at Venetian Expo booth #51632. This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best robot lawn mowers. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Rapid response times and customizable trigger paths Clear, flexible software 8.000 Hz polling rate for minimal latency. Smooth, pre-lubricated switches, and good housing insulation Hot-swappable PCB Housing made from 65 percent recycled plastic Cons High price Mediocre casing finish in places Rattling space bar Silicone feet are inflexible and prone to dust Our Verdict The Wooting 80HE, with its analogue keys, Rapid Trigger, and 8,000 Hz polling rate, is a high-end mechanical gaming keyboard designed for FPS gamers who love to tinker. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Wooting 80HE Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices When a keyboard is hailed as the holy grail of competitive gaming, it deserves a closer look. The Wooting 80HE’s reputation precedes it. More than just an input device, its state-of-the-art technology gives you a real advantage in shooters like Counter-Strike 2 or Valorant. We put the highly coveted 80 percent gaming keyboard through its paces. Along the way, we examine whether its innovative analogue technology justifies the steep price tag of around $199.99, and if its recycled plastic housing lives up to the standards of a premium product. Wooting 80HE: Design and construction Even unpacking the Wooting 80HE is fundamentally different from dealing with conventional manufacturers. The company consistently focuses on modularity and sustainability, which means that you can build it yourself. The keyboard base and keycaps are supplied separately in some cases, so you first have to fit the high-quality PBT keycaps to the switches yourself. Although this takes a few minutes, it immediately gives you a deep understanding of the device and emphasizes the “DIY charm” of the brand. Friedrich Stiemer Our test model comes in a black casing made of PCR plastic. PCR stands for “Post-Consumer Recycled,” meaning the chassis is largely made of recycled plastic. This is good for the environment, but it does have some disadvantages in terms of feel. The Wooting 80HE appears robust at first glance, but the plastic housing does show a certain amount of give under heavy pressure, especially above the space bar. The material can be noticeably pressed in and occasionally responds with a quiet creaking noise. Anyone expecting the absolute rigidity of an aluminum block will either have to adjust their expectations or dig deep into their pockets and purchase the optional metal casing. Friedrich Stiemer The manufacturer also goes its own way when it comes to ergonomics. Instead of relying on classic folding feet for height adjustment, the keyboard comes with various silicone pads. These pads are attached to the underside without tools to adjust the angle of inclination to 2.8, 6, or 10 degrees. Although this solution ensures a non-slip stand, it’s impractical in everyday use. The rubber feet attract dust almost magically and can come loose if you frequently move the keyboard around on your desk. Friedrich Stiemer Wooting 80HE: Technology and features The real highlight of the Wooting 80HE lies hidden under the keycaps. No classic mechanical contacts are used here, which only have an “on” or “off” function. Instead, Wooting uses Lekker V2 magnetic Hall-effect switches. This allows the keyboard to measure exactly how deep a key is pressed, which is anywhere from 0.1 to 4.0 millimeters. Friedrich Stiemer This analogue recording enables functions that make conventional gaming keyboards feel outdated. The most important feature for gamers is undoubtedly “Rapid Trigger.” Unlike normal switches, which first have to pass a fixed point before resetting, the Wooting 80HE’s reset point adapts dynamically. As soon as you lift your finger, the signal is interrupted. If you press it down again, it’s immediately triggered again. The result is an extremely fast reaction time, which can offer a noticeable advantage in terms of precision, especially during fast sideways movements in shooters (known as strafing). Friedrich Stiemer In addition to top-tier performance, the analogue technology also allows controller-like control. In racing games, for example, you can fine-tune the throttle and steering depending on how deeply you press the buttons. This technology is supported by an extremely high polling rate of 8,000 Hz. This means that the Wooting 80HE reports its status back to the PC 8,000 times per second. Even if this difference to conventional 1,000 Hz keyboards is barely perceptible to the average gamer, it gives professionals the reassuring feeling that the hardware isn’t a technical bottleneck. Keep in mind, however, that a cable connection is absolutely necessary for this speed. You’ll have to do without wireless features such as Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz radio. Friedrich Stiemer Wooting 80HE: Software Wooting’s “Wootility” software manages all these complex features in an exemplary manner. A big advantage here is that you don’t have to download an installation file if you don’t want to. The tool runs entirely as a web app directly in the browser and is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux across platforms. Friedrich Stiemer You can configure the trigger point for each individual button on the Wooting 80HE through its clearly organized interface. Whether you want the WASD keys to react the instant you touch them or the space bar to trigger only when fully pressed, the choice is entirely yours. RGB lighting and key assignments are also controlled here, stored directly in one of the keyboard’s four internal memory profiles. Although Wooting offers advanced scripting functions for perfect “counter-punishing” (known as “Snappy Tappy” or SOCD), you should exercise caution here. Game developers such as Valve have begun to block such automated input aids in titles like Counter-Strike 2. However, the core functions like rapid trigger and analogue triggering remain unaffected and continue to be legal competitive advantages. Friedrich Stiemer Wooting 80HE: Typing feel and gaming performance In everyday use, the Wooting 80HE shows two faces. When simply typing, it surprises with a very pleasant feel. The Lekker switches are well lubricated, gliding smoothly without scratchy feedback. Thanks to several layers of insulation in the casing, the acoustics are rich and comparatively quiet, which makes it perfectly suitable for office use. However, there is one acoustic outlier: the space bar. Compared to the other keys, it sounds much hollow, loud, and can rattle. Given the price, this is annoying, although experienced users can improve this themselves with a little grease on the stabilizers. Friedrich Stiemer When you switch from a word processing program to a game, the keyboard really comes into its own. In our gaming test, controlling the game character felt incredibly direct and instantaneous. Stopping and shooting happens at the exact moment the thought reaches your finger. It’s difficult to describe, but anyone who has experienced Rapid Trigger on the Wooting 80HE often finds conventional mechanical keyboards sluggish in comparison. The keyboard almost gives the feeling of artificially shortening your own reaction time. For competitive players who want to get the most out of their gaming, this feedback is worth its weight in gold. Friedrich Stiemer Read...

Microsoft’s big focus for Windows is AI integration. Meanwhile, Valve has been not-so-quietly pilfering the entire PC gaming ecosystem from Microsoft, turning the Linux-based SteamOS into a real competitor to Windows. In a few years, gaming laptops may run SteamOS instead of Windows. And Microsoft has no one to blame but itself. Valve’s big PC gaming push is bigger than the Steam Deck handheld, with a new Steam Machine living room PC. PC gaming — even PC games designed and written first and foremost for Windows — is now much bigger than Windows. Surprise, Microsoft: While you were focused on Xbox consoles and cloud gaming, Valve stole your crown jewel. Valve started its push with SteamOS back in 2013 For years, PC gaming has been one of the big reasons to use a Windows PC. Let’s be honest: Apple never took gaming seriously on Macs. Google wasn’t much better, either: The Steam for Chromebooks experience is about to be axed. Microsoft poured so much energy into Xbox consoles as a separate platform from Windows. Valve’s first big attempt to decouple PC gaming from Windows was the original version of its Linux-based SteamOS operating system, released back in 2013. A wave of Steam Machine living room consoles from partners followed shortly thereafter. SteamOS launched in the era of Windows 8, when it looked like Windows might become a locked-down, iPad-style operating system with a focus on touch screens, blocking Valve from offering Steam on Windows. (Steam never ran on the Arm-based Windows RT. Only Microsoft’s own desktop apps, like Microsoft Office, ran on that platform.) Asus/Valve Valve ported its own games — Half-Life 2, Portal, and all that good stuff — to Linux, and Valve’s focus was on convincing game developers to port their games to Linux. In 2013, SteamOS didn’t take off. People didn’t want to buy Steam Machine PCs from partners, and most game developers didn’t want to invest resources in porting their games to an operating system few people were using. But SteamOS helped increase the industry pressure on Microsoft, and the company was forced to pivot and keep Windows an “open” operating system that wasn’t locked to its own Store, like Windows RT was. Microsoft discontinued Windows RT. But, while Steam Machines vanished from the shelves and Microsoft seemed to be playing ball with Windows, Valve kept Steam working on Linux. And Valve had a better plan up its sleeves. Valve’s Proton changed the whole industry The game changer was Valve’s Proton compatibility layer, initially released in 2018. It’s software built into Steam that lets you run Windows games on SteamOS and other Linux-based operating systems. Proton is based on Wine, a Windows compatibility layer for Linux and macOS that has been around for decades. Proton was intriguing at the time, but the initial version wasn’t earth-shattering. I’ve been using Wine since the early 2000s, and it’s always been flaky. Lots of companies have dabbled with Wine, but Valve put in serious effort and stuck with it. Chris Hoffman / Foundry Proton kept improving, and Valve released the SteamOS-based handheld Steam Deck in 2022. To run on the Steam Deck, game developers needed their Windows games to perform well in Valve’s Proton environment on Linux. Now, the majority of games in my Steam library run on Linux. It’s automatic, and I don’t have to tweak anything. PC games often run better on Linux than Windows The industry tends to gloss over how crazy this is: Most Windows PC games now run on Linux, and the biggest name in PC gaming is pushing Linux as an alternative to Windows! Microsoft never expected this. And erstwhile Linux users like myself never expected Wine would become this usable. Benchmarks now show that PC games often perform better on SteamOS than Windows 11. I’ve experienced similar results when I use a handheld Windows PC like the Lenovo Legion Go S alongside my Steam Deck. I reviewed the Lenovo Legion Go 2, and Windows really held it back. Microsoft is struggling to catch up with Valve, scrambling to release a full-screen Xbox gaming experience optimized for handheld PCs in Windows. PC gaming is now bigger than Windows The secret to success is often just persistence. As of 2022, Valve was directly paying more than 100 open-source developers to work on Proton and other critical parts of the Linux-based SteamOS operating system, as Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais told The Verge. While Microsoft was testing a crypto wallet for Edge, getting excited about the metaverse, and pivoting to AI, Valve was putting serious work into SteamOS as a gaming platform. Anti-cheat software is one of the last strengths of Windows. Many multiplayer games demand kernel-level access to block cheating software. Proton can’t allow this, but game developers often want to support the Steam Deck, and Proton already supports anti-cheat software like Easy Anti-Cheat and BattlEye. Chris Hoffman / Foundry Plus, let’s be honest: Lots of gamers don’t want anti-cheat software to have deep access to their PCs, anyway. These programs function a lot like a rootkit, and Steam now requires developers disclose this on their store pages. If SteamOS doesn’t support this, that may be an advantage, even if it can’t run every game. But, aside from that, Valve has made huge inroads. While Microsoft has been focused elsewhere, most of the PC gaming ecosystem has become portable — something that can move between PCs running Windows, SteamOS, and other Linux distributions. The future: SteamOS for more than gaming? SteamOS is a Linux-based operating system. While Valve has focused on the Big Picture experience for handheld PCs and the forthcoming Steam Machine hardware, you can use SteamOS as a desktop operating system today. Valve gets to piggyback on the whole desktop Linux ecosystem, which is surprisingly mature these days. SteamOS has a desktop environment running KDE Plasma, and you can leave the Steam interface and use it as a desktop PC to run Linux software, including web browsers like Firefox and Chrome. You can install it on a gaming PC, if you want. You can even use the Steam Deck as a desktop PC with a dock. Chris Hoffman / Foundry When Valve’s new Steam Machine launches in 2026, I bet lots of people are going to use the desktop environment to get a Linux-based desktop experience on their TVs. The future could involve laptops and desktop PCs running SteamOS — why not? You can already install them on a desktop PC today! Microsoft is less invested in native Windows apps and more invested in cross-platform web apps, anyway. PC gaming was one of Microsoft’s big moats — the reason you picked Windows is because it was compatible with your hardware and could run all those PC games, even if you were interested in Linux. Windows is about to lose that advantage. And PC manufacturers are beginning to install SteamOS on their own devices. SteamOS is ready to compete on Arm PCs, too Valve is even ready for PCs with Arm processors instead of traditional x86 ones from Intel or AMD. Valve’s Steam Frame is the first Arm PC that will run SteamOS, and it happens to be a standalone VR headset. Valve has been funding the Fex emulator, and SteamOS devices running on Arm hardware will have a version of Proton with a built-in Fex emulator to run Windows PC games written for traditional x86 CPUs on Arm-based versions of Linux. As Valve’s Griffais recently said: “In 2016, 2017, there was always an idea we would end up wanting to [run PC games on Arm hardware], and that’s when the Fex compatibility layer was started, because we knew there was close to a decade of work needed before it would be robust enough people could rely on it for their libraries.” Valve is ahead on gaming handhelds, and now Windows vs. SteamOS looks like the next great console war. At this point, Microsoft can’t put the genie back in the bottle. Microsoft could get serious about gaming on Windows, improving the handheld gaming experience, boosting performance, and turning the next Xbox into a PC that can run PC games from Steam. Microsoft will be competing with Valve either way. Windows is no longer the only choice for PC gaming. It’s funny: Windows 8 seemed designed to cement Microsoft’s hold on Windows as an application platform, and now Microsoft has less control of it than ever. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Extremely low weight (39 grams) Very precise and fast sensor Optical switches with a clean click feel Sturdy workmanship despite lightweight Construction Switchable 8,000 Hz polling rate Cons Short battery life, especially at high polling rates Open underside susceptible to dust No comfort features like RGB, Bluetooth, or additional buttons Less suitable for large hands High price Our Verdict Ultra-light, precise, and fast, the Pulsar X2 Crazylight Medium packs impressive performance into just 39 grams of wireless technology. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Pulsar Gaming Gears X2 CL CrazyLight Medium Wireless Retailer Price $129.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Can you build a wireless gaming mouse that weighs less than a chicken egg? Pulsar pushes the limits with its X2 Crazylight Medium, an FPS-focused mouse that weighs just 39 grams. In this review, we’ll explore whether this featherlight wonder delivers in real-world gameplay. Pulsar X2 Crazylight Medium: Design and features The Pulsar X2 Crazylight Medium lives up to its name: the mouse only weighs around 39 grams, which is almost unbelievably light for a wireless mouse. By comparison, even ultra-light competitors like Logitech’s G Pro X Superlight 2 at around 60 grams or Razer’s Viper V3 Pro at 54 grams are about 20 grams heavier. Pulsar achieves this weight through careful internal weight savings. The result? The Pulsar X2 Crazylight Medium feels surprisingly stable despite its lightweight design. The housing neither creaks nor rattles during everyday use, and the buttons sit firmly without any annoying wobble. Friedrich Stiemer The surface is matte and smooth, which makes for a pleasant feel, but it can become a little slippery with very sweaty hands. Optional grip tapes help here. It would have been a nice touch if the manufacturer had included them by default. The shape and dimensions of the Pulsar X2 Crazylight Medium follow the popular Pulsar X2 design in a slightly shrunken version. The Medium model is around 12 centimeters long, 6.3 centimeters wide, and has a flat, symmetrical body. This allows the mouse to sit comfortably in the hand, especially for claw-grip and fingertip players. Those with medium-sized or small hands will find the low, wide shape extremely comfortable. The mouse doesn’t completely fill the hand, but it provides plenty of control for quick movements. On the other hand, the Pulsar X2 Crazylight Medium may feel a little small for larger hands. Pulsar also offers a large and a mini version. Friedrich Stiemer Pulsar X2 Crazylight Medium: High-end sensor Despite its minimalist design, Pulsar doesn’t skimp on top-level technology. At the core of the mouse is Pulsar’s exclusive XS-1 sensor, which is based on Pixart’s PAW9350. This optical sensor supports an impressive 32,000 DPI resolution, 750 IPS, and 50 G acceleration. That’s more than enough for extreme sensitivity settings or even 360-degree spin shots in shooters. Friedrich Stiemer Pulsar also offers an optional polling rate of 8000 Hz (8 kHz) via 2.4 GHz radio. By default, the mouse transmits at 1000 Hz, which is already very responsive. However, if you want every possible millisecond and have the right hardware, you can increase the polling rate up to 8000 Hz using a separately sold dongle. Currently, only a few mice like the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 (Lightspeed 2) support such a higher wireless rate out of the box, without replacing the receiver. In practice, the difference is only noticeable in professional esports or with high FPS displays. For most users, 1000 Hz is preferable given the potential side effects… but more on than later! Friedrich Stiemer It’s especially pleasing that Pulsar uses specially developed optical switches, which should last up to 100 million clicks and is designed to prevent double-click problems. The click feel and mouse wheel are subjectively different from mechanical switches. In the case of the Pulsar X2 Crazylight Medium, we noticed slightly less “rich” feedback, but clearly defined scroll steps. This is largely a matter of taste, though. Friedrich Stiemer Pulsar X2 Crazylight Medium: Tiny battery Speaking of side effects, the radical lightweight construction does have its drawbacks. In order to reduce the weight so drastically, Pulsar has cut corners, especially with the battery and the base of the housing. The battery is tiny. Pulsar itself claims a battery life of up to 65 hours, but this figure is probably only valid under the best conditions. In everyday use, you’ll have to charge the mouse more often than usual, especially when using high polling rates. The battery drains rapidly, sometimes after less than 10 hours of continuous use. In 1000 Hz mode, the mouse lasts a few days depending on the usage profile. In our experience, it lasted around five to seven days with average gaming time. This result is fine, but it’s significantly shorter than other competitors. Logitech’s Superlight 2, for example, lasts up to 90 hours. Friedrich Stiemer The second compromise concerns the underside. The X2 CrazyLight has a skeletonized base plate to shave off some weight. In concrete terms, this means that, in addition to the PTFE gliding feet (Pulsar supplies smaller “dot” skates in the package), there are recesses through which you can see inside–even the battery is partially exposed. While this design saves on weight, it also exposes the electronics to dust and dirt. This isn’t a major problem in a clean gaming environment, but we’d recommend not using the mouse on dirty or crumbly surfaces. In more unusual scenarios, you could theoretically push the battery through the openings, but this is unlikely to happen in normal use, unless you finger the underside of the mouse with sharp objects. Overall, we find the compromise acceptable. Most gamers will appreciate the weight advantage more than a fully closed base plate. Friedrich Stiemer Pulsar X2 Crazylight Medium: Performance In FPS use, the Pulsar X2 Crazylight Medium delivers immediate, almost weightless handling. Fast flick shots are precise, and changes in direction feel effortless thanks to the mouse’s low weight. The combination of a high-precision sensor and optical switches creates a direct, responsive gaming experience, which is especially noticeable in titles like Valorant or Counter Strike. You also benefit from the precise fine control in tactical shooters, as even slow, deliberate movements are tracked accurately. Friedrich Stiemer Away from shooters, the mouse still performs reliably. In MOBAs like League of Legends, you benefit from the fast responsiveness of the buttons, although the limited number of additional buttons may be a drawback for some folks. In action RPGs like Diablo, the mouse feels comfortable even during longer sessions thanks to its lightweight casing. The precise tracking also makes it well suited for creative tasks, such as image cropping or detailed work in graphics programs. The symmetrical shape supports smooth control, making long office or browsing sessions comfortable and effortless. Read...