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In the past few years, multiple tech executives have told us that glasses could be the next big interface for consumer hardware. And yet, today’s smart glasses rely a lot on phones, even if they have good hardware. Even Realities’ G2 smart glasses are in the same boat. They’re a premium-looking pair of glasses with a neon-style heads-up display you can see in any lighting — but their functionality relies heavily on their connectivity with the phone, which can be** unreliable and frustrating.

Even Realities takes a different approach to smart glasses than players like Meta. Their devices have a monochrome heads-up display that shows text and information in green, giving it the look of a neon board.

There are no cameras or speakers, and that is by design. The company wants to focus on productivity rather than recording, so the people around you don’t have to worry about being filmed.

The G2 is the second pair of smart glasses from Even Realities and an improvement over the G1 released a few years ago. The G2 has a brighter 1,200-nit display (vs. 1,000 nits on the G1), four mics (vs. two), and a 75% larger display area than its predecessor. The new display also has a better 60Hz refresh rate, compared with 20Hz on the G1.

In the few months I’ve used the G2, the connectivity with the phone has improved tremendously. Early on, the glasses would disconnect from the app so frequently that I nearly gave up on them. But after a few app updates, that issue got better.

The glasses are targeted at people who might be constantly in meetings, giving presentations, and traveling to countries where different languages are spoken. 

Design

The glasses, which come in two frame designs, are very light at 35 grams. The frame is made out of magnesium alloy, and the temples (the arms that go over your ears) are made out of titanium alloy. In terms of weight and fit, the glasses were comfortable to wear. 

Since I work from home most of the time, though, I didn’t feel much need to wear them all day. That said, the lenses have UV protection built in, so they’re still worth wearing outside just for eye protection — smart features or not.

Image Credits: Even RealitiesImage Credits:Even Realities

The company claims that, based on typical usage, G2’s battery can last up to two days on a single charge. The glasses come with a protective case that can recharge them up to seven times before needing to be plugged in itself. I personally didn’t test the two-day claim, but the battery lasted me long enough to put them back into the case without running out of juice.

That case is big — you can’t shove it in a pocket — but it’s solid, and the glasses fit in snugly.

Features and operation

The glasses act as your companion for schedules, reminders, and access to notes. You can wake them up by tapping on the stem-based controls. If you double-tap on the control pad on the stem, you will see a dashboard with information like your upcoming meetings, stocks, and top news. 

The G2 can also show real-time phone notifications, but the pop-ups weren’t always reliable — and since my phone is usually within reach anyway, I didn’t find much use for the feature.

Long-pressing the temple control opens a menu with several functions: a notifications tray, Translate, Conversate, Teleprompt, a to-do list, and Navigate. Translate lets you set a target language and converse with anyone. At the recent Global Connect Show (GCS) in China, I wore the glasses while talking to company reps doing demos, and the translation was good enough for me to follow along when someone spoke Chinese. I also tried it with other journalists speaking various languages, including French and Spanish. (The downside of this feature is that the other person doesn’t know what you’re saying in your language unless they’re also using the app.)

Navigate is a cool feature that shows turn-by-turn directions on the heads-up display. The catch: it doesn’t work with Google or Apple Maps. Instead, you have to set your route through the Even Realities app. I tried it a few times walking to cafes near my house. The directions showed up well on the display, but the app kept getting the addresses wrong, so I can’t rely on it for places I don’t already know how to get to. Still, I could see cyclists or motorbike riders finding it useful once the company fixes the accuracy issues.

Conversate, at first, just showed a live transcript of the conversation on the glasses, which felt pointless since you can just as easily record a meeting with an app or an external notetaker. Later, the company added a “prep notes” feature that surfaces more context: you can manually add notes or documents ahead of a meeting and let the AI reference them during the conversation, or let it listen in real time and pop up short explainer bubbles for concepts as they come up. For instance, during a briefing about energy, it showed me a bubble for “Green Hydrogen,” and tapping it brought up a definition right in front of my eyes. That was genuinely useful — though I wouldn’t want a transcript or explainer bubbles for every conversation I have.

At the center of all this is the built-in assistant, Even AI. As with any voice assistant, you say a wake word to activate it and ask questions or add items to your to-do list. It often misunderstood my to-do list requests, and for general questions, the answers were often long paragraphs that streamed across the screen with no way to interrupt or skip ahead.

Another issue: despite having four mics, Even AI often failed to activate, or misheard me, when I was outside. The ambient noise in India could have played a part, but I’d still expect a modern gadget to have better noise handling.

The G2’s screen was legible in most conditions, but in a bright room I had to adjust the brightness manually through the app. Even if the company hasn’t built an automatic-brightness sensor yet, I’d like to see a manual brightness control built into the glasses themselves, rather than requiring the phone app.

Don’t put the R1 ring on it

Even launched a companion ring called the R1 alongside the G2. The idea is to control the glasses through a touch surface on the ring instead of the glasses’ own touch controls. But its price and functionality don’t quite justify the cost.

The ring works well, and I didn’t have any issues using it. But I struggled to find scenarios where I actually needed it, since the touch-sensitive temples on the glasses already do the same job.

Image Credits: Even RealitiesImage Credits:Even Realities

On top of that, Even built health tracking into the ring — heart rate, calories, steps, sleep, and SpO2 (blood oxygen level). Personally, I’d rather go for a dedicated ring like Oura or Ultrahuman if I wanted that form factor with health tracking. Second, if I already use a fitness tracker, I wouldn’t want to buy a ring where health is an auxiliary function for a ring that is meant to control the glass. 

All this functionality bumps up the ring’s price to $249, which is not cheap. If I used my smart glasses a lot, I would consider buying a controller ring at a lower price if it also had a mic, which I could use for issuing commands to the AI assistant. As it stands, I’d skip the R1. 

Where does Even G2 stand?

Smart glasses are coming out fast. Camera-equipped, screen-free models like the Meta Ray-Bans are popular, but Meta, Snap, and other competitors are racing to build glasses with color screens, too. Only a handful of Chinese companies — like Rokid and Inmo — are making glasses with this same neon-display style.

The Even G2 costs $599 and delivers solid hardware in a light, good-looking frame. The company is also working to make the glasses more customizable by supporting third-party apps, though I didn’t find any app compelling enough to make me reach for the glasses more often. They’re a nice-to-have: fun to explore if you like tinkering with new hardware and don’t mind trying out third-party apps.

The hardware itself is good, but outside of jobs that require constant translation or teleprompting, it’s hard to find a clear everyday use case for smart glasses like these.

Even’s bet is that skipping the camera and speakers is the right move for a productivity-focused device — and I don’t disagree with that direction. But now that the company has newly reached unicorn status, it needs to build out more first-party software to make the glasses something people actually reach for every day.

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When Lydia Peabody saw her friend pull out a flip phone at a party last year, she burst out laughing.

“I was like, ‘Girl, what are you doing with that thing? That has to be a joke!’” Peabody told TechCrunch. But it wasn’t just a prop — her friend was participating in Month Offline, a community challenge in which a small cohort of people exchange their smartphones for flip phones.

Peabody couldn’t fathom giving up her smartphone, but her friend inspired her. A year later, her life looks different. She left her career as a licensed therapist to become the founding CMO of Dumb Co, the flip phone company that grew out of Month Offline. She’s happier.

“I did Month Offline, and I was like, ‘Whoa, why am I suddenly not anxious? Am I feeling good?’” she said. “I didn’t even know that this is what I needed, and that spending this much time on my screen after work was causing me to feel so yucky.”

Dumb Co sells flip phones that sync to your smartphone, rather than replace it, forging a happy medium between the infinite connectivity of the iPhone and the unrealistic limitations of an early 2000s relic. Funded by friends and family, the company is run by a small team in their 20s and early 30s. Like their peers, they’re dissatisfied with the fast pace of plugged-in, frictionless life. They grew up with iPads and Instagram but now crave something simpler.

In the humble shell of a $20 TCL flip phone, Dumb Co loads its own software so that users can access apps like WhatsApp, Spotify, Apple Music, and Uber. You can even access iMessage through a third-party app (shh, don’t tell Apple). By packaging familiar comforts like music streaming, maps, and blue bubble texts in a flip phone, Dumb Co is creating something for people who want to reduce their screen time and be more present but struggle to fully disconnect in a world built for the smartphone.

Image Credits:Dumb Co

“We are trying to make something where you can leave your smartphone at home and literally just live your life and engage with other people,” Afreka Ebanks, Dumb Co’s communications director, told TechCrunch. “And when you want to be on your smartphone and you come back home, you can use it, because the feature for call forwarding and text forwarding can be turned off.”

I spent over a month testing the device — which Dumb Co calls the Dumb Phone — buoyed by the knowledge that in case of emergency, I always had my iPhone on hand. I didn’t use the Dumb Phone that much at first, but as I carried it around to show my friends, I noticed that they weren’t confused by my flip phone — they were envious of it.

“I’ve been getting into a lot of interesting conversations with people as I’m walking and someone sees me at the stoplight like, ‘What is this thing you have?’” said Ebanks, who bedazzled her flip phone. “I think it’s a great conversation starter, and I think it’s incredible watching people — myself included — work through the awkwardness of socializing with others, because I’m no longer distracted because I’m looking down at my phone.”

The author using an iPhone and a Dumb Phone.Image Credits:Sam Rizer (opens in a new window)

The Dumb Phone is clunky at times. It’s slower than I’m used to, and I end up spending more time typing T9 texts than if I just used my iPhone (what I really want is a dumb Sidekick with a QWERTY keyboard). Yet there’s something undeniably refreshing about knowing that if you want to open social media, take a picture you’ll never look at again, or check your email, you can’t.

When I talked to Peabody toward the end of my month of dual iPhone/flip phone ownership, she asked if I had ever left the house with just my flip phone. I confessed that I had not. I explained that sometimes I need to check public transit schedules, or keep up with Slack if I go to an appointment during the day.

“The truth is, when you say the word need, it almost gives the same meaning as like, ‘I need food or shelter,’” Peabody told me. “Yeah, sure, it’s actually helpful to know when the buses are coming, but if you don’t have that information, you turn to your neighbor and say, ‘Do you know when the next bus is coming?’”

Image Credits:Jacques Morel / Dumb Co

Peabody dared me to leave my iPhone at home. The day we spoke, I had already planned to report on an event at a library across town. I tried to explain that I had never been to this library and wasn’t sure what subway stop to get off at. She told me to just write down directions before I left. I worried that I wouldn’t be able to record interviews at the event. She told me that the Dumb Phone can record audio.

“I really, really want you to do this, because I know that this is something that’s best experienced,” Peabody said. “When I switched to a Dumb Phone last summer, I did not use my smartphone for seven weeks, and I went on a cross-country road trip to New Mexico. I did not think I could do that, but I’m telling you that you can.”

I was running out of excuses. Peabody drove thousands of miles without a smartphone. How could I tell her that I needed my iPhone so that I could triple-check that Tasker-Morris is the right train stop?

Smartphones and social media are not a one-sided evil. There’s real value in connecting with friends online, sending pictures of your dog to your grandma, and using Apple Pay when you forget your wallet. While researchers don’t classify smartphone dependence like they would a substance addiction, there are certainly parallels. Not everyone has an adversarial relationship with their phone, but for people like me, more screen time often makes me feel more anxious, unfocused, and less grounded. Peabody even compared her relationship with her phone to getting hooked on Juul in college.

“It was really, really hard, but I totally broke that addiction, and now when I see a vape or something, I actually detest it – I’m like, ‘Oh no, I do not want that,’” she said. “When I turned off my smartphone for seven weeks, I would think about using it again, and I felt that same repulsion. I actually didn’t look at it or touch it.”

The author using an iPhone and a Dumb PhoneImage Credits:Sam Rizer (opens in a new window)

I was nervous to leave my iPhone at home, but I trusted my knowledge of the transit system and managed to get myself across town without my iPhone (I will admit, I texted someone just to be extra super sure that the library is off the Tasker-Morris stop). When I needed to send a text that was too long for T9 typing, I sent a voice message. I felt more connected with the world around me, and nothing went wrong.

I don’t see myself exclusively switching to the Dumb Phone, but I find it valuable as a tool to help me pay more attention to how and when I’m using my smartphone. The Dumb Phone ships with a black velour pouch, which you’re supposed to put your smartphone in when you leave it at home. I can’t quit the iPhone cold turkey, but I tossed the velour pouch in my bag on a beach trip, just in case. I used it for a few things, like ordering food and checking train times. But while I enjoyed a day on the beach, I didn’t take out my phone. I had a book, a sandwich, two bottles of water, some sunscreen – what else could I need?

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Meta’s AI glasses have a growing reputation as a creepy technology. The company hopes to change that opinion by announcing an update that will disable the camera if the LED light that indicates the glasses are recording has been tampered with.

The move is seemingly a concession to consumer sentiment that the glasses aren’t just fun, fashionable accessories, happily promoted by Kylie Jenner, but have serious implications for consumer privacy: They can be abused as surveillance devices.

Yet, even as Meta touts the new safeguard this week, the company is also pushing products and features that ask users to surrender more of their privacy to the company.

Whether that’s training its AI on your images, enabling AI features using your personal content unless you opt out, or exploring ways to continuously record or use biometric facial recognition, Meta’s vision of the future seems to always depend on collecting more of your personal data.

In its blog post about the new camera safety feature, the company pats itself on the back, noting that “no other kind of camera has done this and we’re proud to lead the industry effort.” However, Meta also admits that the move was necessary because some people had been using tape to cover the LED light, which had already forced Meta to adapt its tech to disable recording when the LED is blocked.

Determined, those same AI glasses creeps would then use “sophisticated efforts to modify or destroy the capture LED,” Meta’s announcement explains.

In other words, Meta is confirming that some people who use AI glasses have hidden agendas — namely a desire to record situations or people (often women) without their consent.

Despite this, the company is reportedly testing a prototype of AI glasses that would “continuously collect audio while taking photos every few seconds,” sources recently told Financial Times.

Meta’s blog post about the glasses feature attempts to assuage people’s fears about the devices’ privacy by answering questions like “who can see the photos and videos I take on my glasses?” Meta answers by promising, “You, and only you — unless you choose to share them.” Yet, Meta’s privacy policy has explained that any image you share with Meta AI can be used to train its AI.

Image Credits:Meta (screenshot of privacy policy on July 8, 2026)

All the while, the company is facing multiple investigations and lawsuits over Meta AI glasses privacy violations. One lawsuit comes after Meta notably canceled a contract with an outsourced tech firm after some of its Kenyan workers alleged they had to view graphic content, like sex, nudity, and people using the toilet, while training Meta’s AI using people’s Meta AI glasses’ videos.

These are hardly Meta’s first scrapes with privacy violations or safety measures, either.

Arguably, Meta’s reputation on privacy has been tainted for years after numerous leaks and lost lawsuits about its alleged lack of child safety measures and desire for growth at all costs. There are books by whistleblowers documenting its alleged abuses, not to mention previous large-scale privacy disasters, like the Cambridge Analytica data scandal and others.

After the 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal, Meta now insists on its Privacy Progress Update page, “Since 2019, we’ve invested significantly in people, products, and technology to continue to evolve our rigorous privacy program.”

Still, the company plows forward with what many people would consider privacy-violating ideas. Case in point: On the same day it announced the Meta glasses’ new safeguard, it shared that Meta AI can now use anyone’s public Instagram photos to make AI images, unless you opt out.

It also built features to use Meta AI on images in your Camera Roll you’ve never shared and implemented such poor privacy controls in its Meta AI app, leading users to essentially dox themselves by revealing their embarrassing searches.

This is the same company that Apple wouldn’t partner with due to privacy concerns, that records its employees’ keystrokes to train its AI, and that plans to sell targeted ads based on data in your AI chats.

So, while an LED safeguard on AI glasses might be a necessary feature, consumers clearly still have many reasons to remain distrustful of how social media will use their images and data, especially in its broader AI plans.

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Google is preparing for its Made by Google launch event, which is scheduled for August 12 in New York City, as announced on Tuesday.

We’re hoping this event will be less cringeworthy than last year’s, which featured Jimmy Fallon and other celebrities, including Stephen Curry and the Jonas Brothers.

There are numerous rumors circulating about the upcoming Pixel 11 lineup. According to email invites shared by outlets like The Verge and Bloomberg, the new devices are expected to feature design upgrades, particularly a new gold color variant for the Pixel 11.

Google Pixel event – August 12 pic.twitter.com/Veo1RCJN7j

— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) July 7, 2026

Other leaks suggest that the base Pixel 11 may come with slimmer bezels and a sleek black camera bar, while the Pixel 11 Pro is rumored to be slightly thinner than its predecessor. Additionally, there is speculation about the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, which might have a redesigned camera bump and a lighter profile compared to the previous model.

On a negative note, one report suggests that Google may skip the 128GB option for the new models, starting instead with 256GB, which could lead to a higher price tag.

Last year, the event took place on August 20, where Google announced the Pixel 10 series, AI-powered upgrades, and other devices, including a new foldable, the Pixel Watch 4, and the second generation of its budget-friendly A-Series earbuds.

If you’re looking for an e-reader that allows you to buy expensive bestsellers from your local independent bookshops, your research will inevitably point you to Rakuten’s Kobo eReader. But, as it turns out, this reputation is largely based on outdated methods for buying Kobo books, involving signing up for a Kobo account from bookshops’ websites.

While there are a handful of indie bookshops nationwide still supporting Kobo through this website method, most of that kind of support ended years ago. I’ve found it impossible to buy e-books for my recently purchased Kobo from any of my local, beloved bookshops.

I want to support these bookshops, and I don’t want to own a physical copy of every book I read. I also want to use an e-reader rather than an Android or iOS app on a phone or tablet because e-readers offer long battery life, digital ink, and low-glare screens. These allow me to read comfortably for hours, even outdoors, similar to a physical book.

One solution for Kobo owners, originally promised for 2025, was a partnership with Bookshop.org, an Amazon competitor that supports local bookshops with every order. Bookshop.org currently offers e-books through its mobile app for iOS and Android.

That partnership was at first promised for 2025 and then delayed to 2026, and for a brief time earlier this year, looked like it would be delayed indefinitely.

After Bookshop.org changed the wording on its webpage referencing Kobo support, removing “2026” and replacing it with “sometime in the future,” I reached out to get a status update.

Bookshop.org’s founder and CEO, Andy Hunter, told me in an emailed reply that progress with Kobo has now been made. The webpage has been updated, saying once again that support is expected to roll out “later this year.”

“The Kobo integration is something both Kobo and Bookshop.org want to make happen,” Hunter said.

The hold-up has been both on the business side and engineering to ensure it is “done in such a way that respects publisher requirements for digital rights management. It took us some time to hammer out the business terms and allocate the necessary engineering resources,” he explained.

Hunter, whose company also competes with Amazon by selling physical books, says his engineers have been focused on improving the mobile device app, which launched about 15 months ago.

Their attention is now being returned to Kobo support, albeit the timing remains vague. “We have recently settled on business terms with Kobo, and we are confident the collaboration is going to happen, but can’t promise a specific launch date until the engineering work is further along,” Hunter said.

Obviously, whether or not Bookshop.org ever figures out Kobo support, Kobo users don’t have to buy all their books from Japanese-based e-commerce giant Rakuten. Kobo users can read a large selection of digital rights management (DRM)-free books on their readers, and a large selection (though not all) of library books offered through Overdrive. Independent e-book store Books.com also delivers DRM-protected books in a format that Kobo supports, it says.

Another solution, should your goal be to support local bookshops with e-book purchases, is to use a different e-reader. An Android reader like Boox or Meebook that supports the Google Play app store should be able to download Bookshop.org’s app, the bookseller says.

Still, like countless other Kobo owners, I’m rooting for the Bookshop.org integration to materialize. Supporting local independent bookstores was my main motivation for buying this particular e-reader, misled as I was by my online research (and the confident advice of ChatGPT).

Now that I own a Kobo Libra Colour, I really do love its reading screen, fast response, and long battery life. I also continue to hold onto my six-year-old Kindle for the same reasons.

But I also love the local, small-business bookstores with their personalized recommendations, support of local authors, and sheer love of books. Here’s hoping that the top e-commerce site that supports local shops, Bookshop.org, will soon actually support the popular Kobo device, which claims 12 million users in 190 countries.

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We spend dozens of hours at our desks each week (if not more), so it’s worth creating a workspace that’s productive and enjoyable. The right desk gadgets can help you reduce clutter, stay focused, and add a little extra convenience to your day.

From ambient lighting to smart mugs, there are lots of products designed to make your time at your desk better, so we’ve combined a list of some options. Whether you’re working from home or in an office, these gadgets can help transform your workspace.

Odistar Desktop Vacuum Cleaner — $13

Image Credits:Odistar

The Odistar desktop vacuum is an affordable option for keeping your desk clean and crumb-free, especially if you often eat lunch or snack at your desk. You can also use it to clean your keyboard and remove dust and debris between keys. 

It’s quiet and simple to use, and because it’s so compact, you can keep it on your desk or tuck it away in a drawer until you need it. It’s cordless and uses two AA batteries. At just $13, the desktop vacuum is a great way to keep your desk clean as you work. 

Ember Mug 2 — $150

Image Credits:Ember

If you’re someone who enjoys hot coffee but often finds yourself drinking it cold after getting sidetracked while working, the Ember Mug 2 can help keep your drinks at the perfect temperature. 

You can set an exact temperature using your phone and the smart mug maintains it for up to one and a half hours with the 10-ounce version and up to 80 minutes with the 12-ounce version. The mug allows for a more consistent coffee experience, making your workday more enjoyable. 

Amazon Echo Dot — $50

Image Credits:Amazon

The Amazon Echo Dot can be a great addition to your work desk as you can use voice commands to set reminders, create to-do lists, check your calendar, play music, adjust smart lights, or get quick answers to questions without having to reach for your phone. 

Since it’s small, you can easily place it anywhere on your desk where it can act as a hands-free assistant that helps keep you organized and focused throughout your workday.

Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels — $189.99

Image Credits:Govee

The Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels are a simple and fun way to add some personality to your work desk setup without taking up any actual desk space. The hexagon-shaped panels mount on the wall behind your monitor and can display different colors and customizable lighting effects through the Govee app. 

They can be used to create a focused atmosphere during work hours and can be switched to more dynamic effects when gaming or taking a break. The panels can be arranged in different patterns to match your style.

Speks — $35

Image Credits:Speks

If you’re someone who hasn’t yet delved into the world of fidget toys but often finds yourself playing with random objects or even wrappers during calls or meetings, Speks might be for you. They’re tiny magnets that you can fidget or build with to keep your brain focused and your hands busy.

Instead of fidgeting with whatever happens to be within reach, you can have something that is actually made for the job and is more satisfying to have in your hands. They can help you stay focused and relieve stress throughout your workday.

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My biggest pet peeve with meeting apps is that each one has a different shortcut for muting your mic or turning off your webcam. It’s hard to remember which keys do what when you’re mid-meeting and trying to make a point or ask a question. I always wanted a physical, universal button for mute and camera control — something I could hit without thinking. Project Mirage’s Dune, a tiny, three-key aluminum keypad — about the size of a stick of gum — that plugs into your MacBook’s USB-C port, does just that.

The $119 gadget has three buttons, and it changes context based on what app you are looking at. For instance, in meeting apps and sites, it could be toggle mic, toggle video, and bring window to the front. For Excel or Sheets, it could be copy, paste, and undo. For Chrome, it could be refresh, jump to URL bar, and paste. You get the gist. Developers can also use it with apps like VS Code or GitHub to merge, approve, or close a pull request.

The startup builds each unit to match your specific Mac model, so it sits flush against the laptop with no gap underneath. If your ports are already in use, you can connect it through a dongle instead. Dune has no battery and needs no separate charger — it draws power straight from the MacBook.

Currently, the startup supports M2 Air or later and M1 Pro or later models of MacBook running macOS 15 Sequoia or a later version.

The device looks and feels nice, but I felt the keys had more resistance. Right now, it is easy to push a key by mistake. A few times, I mistakenly unmuted myself or killed my camera because my hand brushed the device while reaching for a water bottle or coffee mug. It shouldn’t be this easy to press a key.

Dune ships with a companion app for configuring shortcuts, either per-app or system-wide. Within a given app, you can assign a Dune key to a keyboard shortcut, a command, or a link that opens an app or URL.

Image Credits:Project Mirage

Through the app, Dune also syncs with your calendar and surfaces your next meeting a few minutes before it starts, so you can join, dismiss, or send an “I’m running late” message with one tap.

If you want deeper customization, you can write and run your own Python script. If you don’t code, Dune has an easy integration with Claude Desktop: you describe the shortcut you want in plain language, and Claude writes it and assigns it to a key for that app — no manual setup required.

I built a shortcut that, whenever I’m on a startup’s website, pulls up a quick brief on the company: its competitors, investors, and questions I might ask if I booked a meeting with them. For anyone whose job involves sizing up companies quickly — investors, founders, operators — it’s a task tailor-made for Dune. I also built one that converts images to JPG so I can upload them quickly to WordPress or social platforms. Both were easy to build and needed no manual configuration, though getting a shortcut fully working still takes some back-and-forth with Claude, including debugging once you actually run it.

The app also has a marketplace, from where you can explore skills made by other Dune owners. If the marketplace takes off, it could become core to Dune’s growth and retention strategy — hardware as a thin front-end for a Claude-powered skills ecosystem, where each new skill gives owners one more reason to stick around.

However, at the moment, there are only limited skills. Plus, there is no way to test out a skill without assigning it to the hardware button — ideally, the app would let you preview a skill before committing it to hardware. The startup also needs to proactively add more of its own suggested skills for different apps to its users.

Project Mirage’s device retails for $149 after its introductory price expires, and it’s a solid pick for anyone productivity-minded. MuteMe covers just mute/unmute, and Stream Deck offers business-focused macros, but Dune is easier to customize on both hardware and software.

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Elon Musk’s SpaceX has shown investors a prototype of a “handset-like” AI device, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The prototype is reportedly sleeker and slimmer than an iPhone, making us wonder if it’s something between a small touchscreen phone and a Rabbit R1. SpaceX reportedly showed the device to investors and stakeholders before it went public, and told them it’s at an early enough stage that the design could still change. 

Musk has denied the reporting, calling it “utterly false.”

SpaceX, alongside sister company Tesla, does have the manufacturing expertise to pull off mass-producing a bunch of AI devices — not to mention access to the chips needed to power any on-device compute. SpaceX has also signaled that it’s keen to expand into wireless, with Starlink Mobile as a potential competitor to Verizon and AT&T. One analyst even went as far as to speculate that T-Mobile or AT&T would make fine acquisition targets for the rocket builder, though such a purchase would, undoubtedly, be pricey.

It’s also not clear if SpaceX is just throwing spaghetti at the wall or if it will attempt to really mass-produce and market such a device. But one thing that seems clearer is that if OpenAI is doing it, Musk would, perhaps, want to try to do it better.

As we know, OpenAI is working with Apple’s former chief design officer Jony Ive on an AI device that CEO Sam Altman has claimed will be more peaceful than an iPhone. Reports from last autumn suggest the company has been struggling to get the details right, and OpenAI recently brought on another Apple executive to potentially help move things along. News dropped last week that Paul Meade, Apple’s VP in charge of the Vision Pro headset, has joined OpenAI’s hardware team. 

Like OpenAI, SpaceX’s prototype is reportedly designed to run on a proprietary operating system and integrate technology from xAI, Musk’s AI company that SpaceX acquired earlier this year. This would prevent these new devices from being trapped inside another company’s platforms (like Google’s Android). But the intent also appears to be to create something new, with native AI interfaces. That said, the graveyard is crowded with the unsuccessful launches of AI devices from companies like Humane and Rabbit. A company wanting to sell an AI device does not equate to consumers wanting to buy such a thing. Yet.

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Clicks Technology, a startup that’s preparing to launch its own take on the BlackBerry smartphone, is showing off what it has in store in a new video, released today.

The device, known as the Clicks Communicator, was introduced at January’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas to cater to people who do a lot of work on their phones, like texting and emailing. It’s particularly meant to appeal to those who miss the BlackBerry’s physical keyboard, which some argue is better for these types of tasks.

Priced at $499, the Communicator looks a lot like a modern-day BlackBerry might, with a screen for viewing and responding to messages, and a tactile, touch-sensitive keyboard below.

The phone goes beyond being just a BlackBerry dupe, however, by innovating in other areas. For instance, its clever “Signal Light” feature offers a light-up button on the side of the phone that can be customized with different colors and light patterns to indicate when you’ve received messages from certain people, groups, or apps. 

It also offers customizable back covers that can be popped off and swapped, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a physical SIM card tray (in addition to an eSIM), expandable microSD storage (up to 2TB), and a tactile switch for turning on or off airplane mode.

The Clicks Communicator may also appeal to the growing number of users looking to distance themselves from modern-day smartphones, with their addictive social apps and games. (The company partnered with the Niagara Launcher to provide access to the Android apps it runs). With the Signal Light, you can safely ignore your phone unless you see a critical notification come through.

Image Credits:Clicks Technology

In the new video, the company shows its pre-production hardware and internal software as a preview of what’s to come when the phone begins shipping in the fourth quarter of this year.

At CES, TechCrunch was able to get a feel for the Communicator by handling a prototype that was the same size and weight as the device that’s preparing to ship at the end of this year. We found it felt good to hold, not too light or heavy, and was easy to grip. The keys were also fairly clicky, giving it a BlackBerry-like feel, though the team was then planning to slightly adjust the pressure to make the device work better for fast typers.

Future videos will go more in-depth into specific Clicks Communicator features, like the Signal Light, Prompt Key, Message Hub, touch-sensitive keyboard, and more.

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The mid-2026 release of the Microsoft Surface Pro 13-inch (12th Edition) marks a massive milestone for Windows on Arm. Powered by Qualcomm’s second-generation Snapdragon X2 Elite processor, this 2-in-1 isn’t just a minor iteration; it’s a direct shot at the traditional laptop market and Apple’s iron grip on efficient silicon.

Below is an analytical review of the Surface Pro 13-inch X2 Elite, focusing on how it stacks up against standard laptops, its viability as a full PC replacement, and its performance relative to Apple Silicon.

Microsoft Surface Pro 13 Technical Specifications

The Surface Pro 13 12th Edition ships in two primary chip configurations: Snapdragon X2 Plus (10-core) and Snapdragon X2 Elite (12-core), with LCD or OLED displays, up to 64GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of removable SSD storage. This review focuses on the X2 Elite with OLED.

ComponentSpecificationProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite (12 Cores)GraphicsQualcomm Adreno X2-90 iGPUDisplay13-inch OLED, 2880 x 1920 (3:2), 120Hz, 900 nits peak HDRMemory / Storage16GB / 32GB / 64GB LPDDR5X
/ 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (removable SSD)NPUHexagon NPU (Copilot+ PC Certified)Battery LifeUp to 15 hours of video playback / Up to 10–12 hours of mixed useStarting Price$1,499 (Tablet only; keyboard sold separately)

Microsoft’s Surface Pro has always been compelling enough to justify its existence, but expensive enough to question it. The 12th Edition changes calculus more than any generation before. For one, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite is a very welcome addition. The optional OLED finally does justice to the form factor, and Windows on ARM simply shines now. But Microsoft still charges you extra for the keyboard, and Apple, as always, charges ahead.

1. Can It Compete With the Latest Laptop Models?

Historically, the Surface Pro has struggled to compete with traditional laptops. But the Snapdragon X2 Elite lineup brought some fundamental changes:

• The Display Advantage: The 13-inch 120Hz OLED panel is spectacular. With a 3:2 aspect ratio, it offers more vertical workspace than standard 16:9 or 16:10 laptops, making it excellent for documents and web browsing.
• The Lapability Fix: Microsoft’s premium Surface Pro Flex Keyboard changes the game. It is stiffer and heavier, featuring a haptic trackpad that rivals the best MacBooks. Because it operates wirelessly when detached, this keyboard offers versatility that standard laptops cannot match.

• The Price Caveat: It competes in performance, but pricing is aggressive. At $1,799 for the X2 Elite/OLED model (before adding the $300+ Flex Keyboard), you are firmly in high-end laptop territory (e.g., MacBook Pro or Intel Panther Lake ultrabooks).

2. How Comparable is Performance to Apple Silicon?

While the Snapdragon X2 Elite seeks to bridge the gap, its architectural philosophy differs markedly from Silicon’s. Here is how it stacks up against Apple’s baseline M5 generation:

CPU Performance

• Single-Core (Apple Wins): Apple’s architectural advantage remains superior. In single-core benchmarks (like Cinebench 2024), the Apple M5 outperforms the Snapdragon X2 Elite by roughly 35%. For snappiness in basic daily tasks, Apple still holds the crown.
• Multi-Core (Snapdragon Wins/Ties): When utilizing all 12 cores, the X2 Elite is a powerhouse, boasting up to a 49% generational leap over the original X1 Elite. It easily matches (and even beats) base Apple M5 performance in heavily threaded tasks like rendering and video compilation. However, it still lags behind Apple’s premium M5 Pro and Max chips.

PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS

Surface Pro 13 X2 Elite vs. MacBook Air M5

Surface Pro 13 · X2 Elite

* Estimates based on aggregated third-party benchmark data. Actual Surface Pro 13 X2 Elite scores may vary. Direct comparisons account for platform and thermal differences.

Graphics & Gaming

Qualcomm’s Adreno X2-90 iGPU is a massive leap forward, capable of pushing titles like Cyberpunk 2077 to ~40 FPS at 1200p (Medium settings with FSR 3).

The Catch: While raw frame rates are high, the 1% lows (minimum frame rates) suffer from optimization stutters, dropping into the high teens. Apple Silicon’s metal optimization and Intel’s Panther Lake (Arc B390) still provide a smoother, more consistent gaming and graphical experience.

Battery & Efficiency

With a real-world battery life hitting roughly 13–15 hours of mixed productivity (and up to 17 hours of video playback), the Surface Pro finally matches the “charge once a day” luxury popularized by the MacBook Pro and Air models.

3. Does It Fully Replace a Computer?

For 90% of users, absolutely. For power-users and gamers, not quite.

Whether this replaces a traditional desktop or beefy laptop depends entirely on your software ecosystem.

• The Win-on-Arm Emulation Layer is Mature: In 2026, the Prism emulation layer in Windows 11 handles legacy x86 applications seamlessly. Standard apps (Microsoft 365, Slack, Spotify) and native ARM creative apps (Adobe Suite, Handbrake) run perfectly without noticeable overhead.
• Peripherals and Docks: With USB4/Thunderbolt support, you can plug this tablet into a dual-4K monitor setup with an external mouse and keyboard, and it behaves identically to a high-end desktop tower.
• Where it Fails as a Full Replacement: 1. Extensive Gaming: Anti-cheat software (like Vanguard or Ricochet) and kernel-level drivers often do not play nice with ARM architecture, making many popular competitive multiplayer games unplayable. 2. Niche Legacy Software: Specialized enterprise database tools or older proprietary x86 software may run slowly or fail to launch entirely.

PC REPLACEMENT TEST

Can It Actually Replace a Computer?

✅

Replace for: Knowledge Work

Writing, research, Office 365, email, video calls, light development — the Surface Pro handles all of it without compromise.

⚠️

Consider carefully: Creative Pro

Adobe CC runs well; DaVinci Resolve is improving. Pen input is outstanding for illustrators. But GPU-heavy workflows still favor a MacBook Pro or dedicated workstation.

❌

Not yet: Gaming & Legacy x86

Anti-cheat incompatibility blocks most competitive titles. Specialized x86-only software runs via emulation with performance penalties.

Depreciation & What Your Surface Pro Is Worth Later

While at the beginning the Surface Pro tablets retained their salvage value measurably better than any other PC, that is no longer the case. And just like any Windows-based device, they now depreciate much faster than MacBooks. Apple’s locked ecosystem, consistent software support across generations, and consumer brand loyalty create a secondary market that Surface Pros and Surface Laptops simply no longer can match. That said, the Pro 13th edition premium configuration and the halo effect of a strong Snapdragon X2 launch should provide above-average initial retention (for a Windows device).

Based on historical Surface Pro resale trends, buyers who keep their tablets in excellent condition can expect roughly 50–65% of retail value at the one-year mark, dropping to around 40% by year two. These curves steepen as new generations hit the market. Microsoft’s annual iteration pace is both a feature and a resale risk. If you plan to upgrade in a year or two, selling your Surface Pro while it is relatively current and in top condition is essential.

Projected Resale Value Retention

SURFACE PRO 13 · BASED ON HISTORICAL SURFACE PRO RESALE DATA

NEW
2026

1 YEAR

2 YEARS

3 YEARS

4 YEARS

* Projections based on historical Surface Pro resale trends (2019–2025). Actual values vary by condition, configuration, and market timing. OLED configs retain slightly better than LCD equivalents.

The most effective strategy for Surface Pro owners: Sell within 12–18 months of purchase, before the next-generation announcement triggers a price drop on resale markets. Gadget Salvation’s buyback process makes this straightforward:

1 – Get an instant quote

2 – Ship for free, and

3 – Receive the payment within 1-2 business days of delivery.

The Verdict

The Microsoft Surface Pro 13-inch with Snapdragon X2 Elite is the best 2-in-1 Microsoft has built to date. The removable SSD is a feature most competitors lack. And the camera quality beats any laptop, period.

• Buy it if: You want the ultimate hybrid device, true all-day battery life, do heavy multi-threaded productivity work, and enjoy the tablet/stylus form factor.
• Skip it if: You are on a budget (the total package scales past $2,100), require a flawless gaming computer, or rely on highly specialized x86 software.

Questions & Answers

01
Can the Surface Pro 13 (2026) fully replace a laptop?

For most productivity, content creation, and school tasks, yes, particularly if paired with the Flex Keyboard. The Snapdragon X2 Elite delivers genuine laptop-class performance and Windows 11 runs full desktop applications. The main caveats are the separately-sold keyboard (not included), limited gaming compatibility on ARM, and niche software that still relies on x86 emulation.

02
How does the Snapdragon X2 Elite compare to Apple M5?

The Snapdragon X2 Elite holds a meaningful advantage in multi-core CPU throughput (roughly 35% ahead of M5 MacBook Air) and NPU performance with 80 TOPS versus Apple’s ~38 TOPS. Apple’s M5 retains the edge in single-core speeds and efficiency, sustaining far lower wattage under load (26W vs up to 45W), which translates to noticeably better real-world battery life.

03
Is the OLED display worth the upgrade?

Yes, for most users who spend significant time looking at their screen. The OLED model hits 900 nits peak brightness (vs 600 nits on LCD), with deeper blacks and better color accuracy. For artists, photographers, video editors, and anyone who consumes media on the device, the OLED is a clear upgrade. If you primarily work in bright office environments and use the display for spreadsheets and documents, the LCD saves money without meaningful loss.

04
Does the Surface Pro 13 support gaming?

Gaming on the Surface Pro 13 is improving but still limited by ARM compatibility. Many popular titles run via Prism x86 emulation or native ARM ports, and the Adreno X2-85 GPU is now competitive for casual gaming. However, anti-cheat software for most competitive multiplayer titles remains unsupported on ARM Windows, making this a poor choice for dedicated PC gamers. Microsoft has committed to expanding ARM gaming support through 2026, so the situation is improving.

05
How does the Surface Pro 13 hold its resale value?

Windows 2-in-1 tablets depreciate faster than MacBooks due to continuously higher demand for pre-owned Apple products on resale markets. A Surface Pro typically retains around 50-60% of its value at one year, dropping to roughly 40–45% after two years. Selling promptly after upgrading, while the tablet is still in excellent condition, maximizes return. Gadget Salvation offers competitive buyback pricing for Surface Pro models — get an instant no-obligation quote at gadgetsalvation.com.

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

London-based Flipper Devices is known for its Flipper Zero gadget, used by hackers and tinkerers to access different radios with Bluetooth, RFID, NFC, and a sub-1GHz transceiver. The company today took a different direction and launched a productivity-focused gadget called Busy Bar, which helps you set timers, block apps, and display custom messages and widgets on an LED display.

Flipper Devices announced the device last year, and now it is putting it on open sale next month. The Busy Bar looks like a table clock with many knobs and buttons. On the front, it has a 72×16 LED matrix display with up to 400 nits of brightness, support for 16 million colors, and a sensor to adjust brightness automatically.

On the back, there is a monochrome screen to display status, timer, battery, and connectivity indicators. This lets you look at information if the screen is facing the other side. What’s more, there is a small speaker on the side for playing custom sounds and notifications.

Image Credits:Flipper Devices

On top, there is a mode selector switch, a start/stop button, an indicator, and a scroll wheel to navigate menus and set the time. The device has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB connection options.

The Busy Bar has a 3250 mAh battery, which can last up to eight hours of active status time and up to two weeks of standby time. The company said that with a 15W adapter, users can fully charge the device in an hour.

The idea behind the device is that you can set a message to indicate to others (and to yourself) when you are doing a task. This is helpful in a work-from-home setup where you might have other people in the house. You can also set Pomodoro-style timers for productivity blocks for you to concentrate on finishing tasks.

Flipper Devices is releasing apps for iOS, Android, and macOS, with support planned for a Windows app. Users can block select apps with different types of timers on iOS and Android. Plus, there is a mic integration with macOS, through which the device shows an “on call” status on the display and mutes notifications when you join meetings or start recording or streaming.

Image Credits: Flipper DevicesImage Credits:Flipper Devices

The Busy Bar is also Matter-certified, meaning that it can work with your existing smart home setup across Amazon, Apple, and Google-based smart home ecosystems. This means users can trigger smart home automations based on the bar’s status.

The company has made the device suitable for developers to customize with open firmware. They can use open HTTP API, MQTT, and official Python and TypeScript libraries to build widgets and components. Users can also control the Busy Bar over the internet through its cloud API.

The first 3,000 users will be able to purchase the device at $199. All other users will have to shell out $249 for the device. Shipping and sales will begin from July 14 to the U.S., EU, U.K., and Canada. The company also plans to release accessories, including wall mounts, screen protectors, and custom switches.

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Apple refreshed both the MacBook Air and the entry-level MacBook Pro with the M5 chip, and now these two models share the same 10-core CPU, Neural Engine, and even the same webcam. On paper, they’re almost identical. In practice, the Pro is a meaningfully different laptop, and identifying those differences actually determines which is the right one for your money.

This guide breaks down every category that matters: performance under load, display quality, ports, battery, price, and long-term resale value. If you’re upgrading from an Intel Mac, an M1, or an M2-generation machine, we’ll also tell you whether the jump makes sense at all — and how to get top dollar for whatever you’re trading in.

Side-by-Side Specifications

SpecMacBook Air M5MacBook Pro M5 (14″)CHIPApple M5Apple M5 (base); M5 Pro / M5 Max availableCPU10-core (4P + 6E)10-core (4P + 6E) baseGPU8-core (10-core on 15″ and upgrades)10-coreNEURAL ENGINE16-core16-coreUNIFIED MEMORY16GB / 24GB / 32GB16GB / 24GB / 32GBBASE STORAGE512GB SSD UPGRADE512GB SSDDISPLAYLiquid Retina, 500 nits, 60 HzLiquid Retina XDR, 1000 nits sustained / 1600 nits peak, ProMotion 120 Hz (PRO WINS)SCREEN SIZE13.6″ or 15.3″14.2″COOLINGFanless (passive)Active (fan) (PRO WINS)PORTSMagSafe 3, 2× Thunderbolt 4, 3.5mmMagSafe 3, 3× Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SDXC, 3.5mm (PRO WINS)WIRELESSWi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 (AIR WINS)Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3BATTERY LIFEUp to 18 hours of videoUp to 24 hours of video (PRO WINS)WEIGHT2.7 lbs (13″) / 3.3 lbs (15″) (AIR WINS)3.4 lbsTHICKNESS0.44″ (AIR WINS)0.61″COLORSSilver, Starlight, Sky Blue, Midnight (AIR WINS)Silver, Space BlackSTARTING PRICE$1,099 (13″) / $1,299 (15″) (AIR WINS)$1,699

1. MacBook Air M5 vs MacBook Pro: Raw Power and Performance

When it comes to pure computing, the architectural designs of these two laptop models are quite different:

• MacBook Air M5: Powered by the baseline M5 chip, the Air features a robust 10-core CPU (4 super-charged performance cores and 6 high-efficiency cores) paired with up to a 10-core GPU. It achieves a blazing 153GB/s of memory bandwidth. Crucially, the Air operates on a completely fanless design, prioritizing silent operation over sustained, heavy-duty processing thermal curves.
• MacBook Pro M5: The Pro series exists in an entirely different performance tier. While a standard 14-inch Pro is available with the base M5 chip, the M5 Pro and M5 Max configurations truly redefine workstation metrics. Built on Apple’s new multi-die Fusion Architecture, the M5 Max boasts an astonishing 18-core CPU and up to a 40-core GPU, paired with a massive 614 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Furthermore, the MacBook Pro line utilizes high-efficiency active dual-fan cooling systems, allowing the silicon to run at peak capacity indefinitely without thermal throttling.

🏆 Performance Winner: MacBook Pro M5. For professional rendering, complex programming, heavy 3D modeling, and local LLM prompt handling, the Pro’s active thermal management and higher multi-core limits surpass the Air.

2. Best for School and Academic Life

For the average student, university life requires a computer that boots up instantly, lasts through back-to-back lectures, and won’t weigh down a backpack.

• MacBook Air M5: The Air excels effortlessly here. It offers up to 18 hours of continuous video streaming and dead-silent operation, ideal for quiet libraries or crowded lecture halls. Weighing just 2.7 pounds, it is incredibly easy to carry around all day.
• MacBook Pro M5: The Pro is undeniably powerful, but its feature set is massive overkill for typical student tasks like writing papers, building slide decks, and running research browser tabs. The only notable exceptions are advanced STEM, data analytics, film production, or architecture students who rely heavily on intensive software applications such as MATLAB, AutoCAD, or DaVinci Resolve.

🏆 School Winner: MacBook Air M5. The lower baseline pricing, coupled with standard 16GB RAM and a spacious 512GB starting storage, makes the Air the most sensible, economical, and lightweight companion for 90% of students.

3. Best for Office and Enterprise Environments

Workplace demands often boil down to two critical factors: multi-display connectivity and expansive I/O options.

• MacBook Air M5: Offers excellent day-to-day office capabilities, natively supporting up to two external displays even over a single Thunderbolt port. This makes it an exceptional choice for standard office workers and remote administrators.
• MacBook Pro M5: The Pro transforms into the ultimate desktop replacement. Equipped with Thunderbolt 5 ports (on Pro/Max models), an HDMI port, a high-fidelity SDXC card slot, and support for up to four external high-resolution displays simultaneously, it handles dense dock setups with ease.

🏆 Office Winner: MacBook Pro M5. Thanks to native multi-display versatility, desktop-grade ports, and unmatched multi-threaded task handling, the Pro remains the gold standard for enterprise environments.

4. MacBook Air M5 vs MacBook Pro: Travel Friendliness and Portability

On the road, every millimeter and ounce matters.

• MacBook Air M5: At an ultra-thin 0.44 inches in profile and weighing a mere 2.7 pounds for the 13-inch variant, it slides into any travel sleeve unnoticed. Its lightweight compact power adapter further simplifies packing for travel.
• MacBook Pro M5: The Pro is noticeably chunkier. The 14-inch model is 0.61 inches thick, while the muscular 16-inch model measures 0.66 inches and weighs up to 4.7 pounds. While the Pro boasts a legendary 24-plus-hour real-world battery life under standard workflows, hauling its heavier brick through airport security is a heavier burden.

🏆 Travel Winner: MacBook Air M5. The Air wins decisively for pure portability. It is tailor-made for airplane trays, café tables, and nomadic professional setups where physical footprint is a primary constraint.

Resale Value: MacBooks Age Better

One of the advantages of any MacBook Air or Pro is how exceptionally well it holds its value. MacBooks typically retain approximately 50% of their original price after three years, compared to 25–40% for Windows equivalents from Dell, HP, or Lenovo. Several factors drive this: aluminum construction that resists damage to the hinges and chassis, years of macOS software support, and broad demand for secondhand inventory from existing (and new) Apple users.

The M5 generation’s strong resale outlook is reinforced by Apple’s track record with Silicon. M1 MacBooks from 2020 still sell for $233–$600 in 2026, six years after launch. The M5 architecture, with Apple promising 7–8 years of macOS support for current silicon, is on track to follow the same curve:

Projected Resale Value Retention

// MACBOOK M5 · BASED ON HISTORICAL M-SERIES RESALE DATA

NEW
2026

1 YEAR

2 YEARS

3 YEARS

4 YEARS

Selling Your Current MacBook Laptop

If an M5 MacBook Air or Pro is on your radar, selling your current computer first is often the smartest move. Apple Trade-In is convenient for upgrades, but a no-go for cash sales. Besides, it consistently offers trade-in values below market value unless you catch a promo deal right after the new Mac is released. Gadget Salvation, on the other hand, offers competitive valuations for MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models across generations, with free shipping and payment within a day of delivery. For anyone upgrading, the resale proceeds can easily cover $100–$500 of the newer model’s cost.

Conclusion: Essentially, a $600 Question

The 13-inch MacBook Air M5 starts at $1,099. The 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 starts at $1,699, an extra $600. That extra buys you the XDR display, active cooling, and more ports.

For most people, the Air is the rational choice. It handles everything short of sustained professional rendering or multi-display creative workstations. The $600 premium on a Pro only makes sense if you’ll genuinely need what it offers.

Frequently Asked Questions

01
Does the MacBook Air M5 have a cooling fan?

No. The MacBook Air M5 utilizes a completely fanless, passive thermal design. It runs in absolute silence, even under heavy processing loads.

02
Is the MacBook Air M5 good enough for video editing?

Yes, it handles light-to-moderate 4K video editing well. For short exports and color grading it performs close to the MacBook Pro M5. Under sustained heavy renders it will eventually throttle due to its fanless design, so professionals doing long, continuous exports will benefit from the Pro’s active cooling.

03
Which one holds its resale value better?

Both age well: M-based MacBooks retain up to 50% of their value after three years, well above comparable Windows laptops. Still, MacBook Pros generally retain a higher dollar amount.

04
Which model has better battery life?

While the MacBook Air M5 delivers a whopping 18 hours of video playback, the larger 16-inch MacBook Pro M5 Max models routinely cross 24 to 27 hours in standard productivity testing due to their massive physical batteries.

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

Unlike AI gadgets like Rabbit or Humane, companies building dedicated gadgets for recording and transcribing meetings have actually seen some traction. The market is huge — though a bit constrained, as smartphones work fine for such tasks when paired with note-taking apps — and startups like Plaud, Mobvoi, Anker, Viaim, and Vibe have jumped in to take advantage.

In this crowded market, Y Combinator-backed Pocket thinks it can win with its design, packaging, and pricing. The company sells a $129 credit card-shaped puck, which sticks to the back of your phone, and promises unlimited recordings, transcriptions, and to-do items, no subscription required.

The startup says it has sold more than 130,000 units since launching last year, and that momentum has now helped it score $11 million in funding from Accel, Y Combinator, and ElevenLabs CEO and co-founder Mati Staniszewski.

Pocket’s core idea isn’t novel: You stick the puck to the back of your phone, turn on recording during a meeting, and it’ll record and transcribe your conversations.

Image Credits:Pocket

Users can then ask the accompanying phone app to generate summaries of meetings, ask an AI assistant questions about meetings, create mind maps, and transform the text into different templates.

While the basic transcription comes free with the puck, the company sells a $200-per-year plan to unlock unlimited AI summaries, queries to the AI assistant, daily highlights, and file attachments.

“You can record on the go, offline, and in the field, which is exactly how lawyers, salespeople, doctors, real estate agents, construction workers, and students use Pocket today,” Accel partner Cecilia Wang said. “Not only are people present rather than shifting focus to take notes, but more information and insights also get captured than ever before, which otherwise would have been lost. Over time, that accumulation of insights is really valuable: one central place where your ideas, conversations, and thoughts live, rather than scattered and lost,” Wang said.

Pocket was founded by Akshay Narisetti, who was a founding member of rival note-taking startup Omi; and Gabriel Dymowski, who previously founded a blockchain-based document management startup.

Pocket co-founders Akshay Narisetti and Gabriel Dymowski Image Credits:Pocket

“We thought every meeting notetaker was built for online conversations, but nothing was geared towards real-life talk. AI really needs a lot of context to work better for us, and a lot of that context exists offline,” Narisetti told TechCrunch.

For its enterprise customers, Pocket offers custom workflow management, webhook support, and integration with apps such as Google Calendar, OneDrive, Google Drive, Obsidian, Claude, and Cursor. Plus, there is a model context protocol (MCP) server to connect its AI assistant to other databases.

Like other meeting notetakers, Pocket wants to help people automate tasks like drafting emails, updating CRMs, and creating action items based on meetings. The company is banking on shipping software fast to enable these integrations.

Devices like Pocket undoubtedly face competition from software players such as Granola, Zoom, Fireflies, Otter, and Read AI. However, device-first companies like Plaud, which is on track to generate annual revenue of $100 million via software sales, are also building enterprise capacity along with desktop apps for digital meetings.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

For some people, the ice in a beverage is almost as important as the drink itself. That’s the audience Govee had in mind when designing its latest ice maker, the GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro. This $500 premium smart home gadget is aimed at those who crave what’s called “the good ice,” the soft, chewable nugget ice often found in fast food or restaurant drinks. 

Govee says that the modern-design gadget delivers nugget ice in as little as six minutes. That’s a claim that proved true in my testing. It can make up to 60 pounds of ice per day, and has a 3.5-pound ice basket that automatically refills as you scoop out ice.

The hefty price tag means it’s not for people who are perfectly happy with refrigerator ice and don’t know what “good ice” even means. Instead, it’s for self-proclaimed ice enthusiasts willing to splurge on a fun, luxury gadget that makes everyday drinks a little more enjoyable. 

It’s simple to use, as you just need to fill the tank with water and press start on the screen. You can also control the ice maker with the GoveeHome app, which lets you start ice production from your phone or schedule it so ice is ready when you need it, such as before your morning coffee. 

Image Credits:TechCrunch/Aisha Malik

The app control is quite convenient. I could start ice production from my phone while working at my desk, and by the time I wanted an iced latte, there was fresh nugget ice ready to go without ever having to walk to the kitchen to turn the machine on. The app also shows ice production in real time and how much is currently in the ice bin, which is useful for wanting to stop production when you just want a certain amount. 

The ice maker also supports voice commands with Alexa and Google Assistant, which means a quick ““Hey Google, start the ice maker,” leads to fresh ice. 

The ice maker uses what Govee calls AI NoiseGuard technology to keep operating noise low, too. Designed to operate at around 40 dB, the system can automatically trigger defrosting cycles to minimize noise and help ensure a steady supply of ice. The machine does produce a steady hum while making ice, but I didn’t find the noise distracting or overtly loud. 

It wouldn’t be a Govee product if it didn’t offer customizable ambient lighting. The smart ice maker has a light that illuminates the ice basket and adds a fun visual element to the appliance. Through the app, you can choose from a variety of presets or create your own custom lighting effects. You can choose how bright you want the lights to be or turn them off altogether. 

I mostly kept it on a light pink setting, but occasionally switched to the “cyberpunk” mode, which casts a changing purple and red glow that felt fun and futuristic when I had people over. 

Image Credits:TechCrunch/Aisha Malik

Measuring 17.28 inches deep, 13.98 inches wide, and 17.01 inches tall, the ice maker takes up a lot of counter space and weighs a hefty 50 pounds. If you have a small kitchen, it can appear bulky, especially because its sleek design doesn’t exactly resemble an ice maker from afar.

As for setup, it was pretty straightforward, but afterwards I definitely needed my husband’s help to place it in our kitchen, and then again when I needed to move it around when it came to descaling and cleaning the machine. 

Overall, the nugget ice elevated my iced drinks, giving them a coffee shop feel at home and making my morning routine more enjoyable. I also observed that the ice melted more slowly than my fridge ice, so my drinks stayed colder for longer without getting watered down as quickly.

Another big plus was its speed. It made ice much faster than my refrigerator, so I always had enough on hand when hosting friends and family. The ice maker itself was something guests noticed when they came over, not just because of its size and beaming lights, but because the nugget ice was a hit with the other self-proclaimed ice connoisseurs in my life (some even threatened to steal it). 

Whether or not the GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro is for you really comes down to how much you care about having nugget ice on demand and how often you’ll actually use it. If you aren’t much into ice, you obviously don’t need a fairly niche appliance.

But if you’re someone who regularly drinks iced beverages and loves “the good ice,” this ice maker could be the gadget you never knew you needed.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Amid a worldwide memory shortage driven by the AI buildout, Apple is raising prices of its Mac and iPad lineups, as reported by Bloomberg. For the moment, there is no rise in iPhone prices, but there is a possibility that it could arrive later in the year.

The new entrant to the MacBook lineup, MacBook Neo, will now cost $699 instead of $599. The company also raised the base MacBook Air’s price from $1,099 to $1,299 and the MacBook Pro’s price from $1,699 to $1,999. The desktop-class Mac Studio now costs $2,499, up from $1,999

iPads also received a price bump: the Air now costs $749, up from $599, and the Pro now costs $1,199, up from $999. The base iPad model with the A16 chip now costs $449 instead of $349, and the iPad Mini with the A17 chip costs $599 instead of $499.

Apple’s smart home devices are costlier as well. The standard HomePod is up from $299 to $349, HomePod Mini is up from $99 to $129, and the Apple TV box is up from $99 to $129.

The company’s Vision Pro headset is now priced at $3,699, from its already costly tag of $3,499.

“The consumer electronics industry is facing an unprecedented challenge. The rapid expansion of AI data centers has created an extraordinary surge in demand for memory and storage. We have never seen a component price increase this much, this quickly,” the company told CNBC in a statement.

“We know this is not welcome news, and we are working tirelessly to find solutions,” it added.

Last week, Tim Cook told the Wall Street Journal that price hikes for Apple’s products were “unavoidable,” as memory and storage component prices keep rising because of the AI boom. During the company’s earnings call in April, Cook alluded that for iPhones, the company was facing constraints on the main processing chip rather than memory. He also said that it “may take several months to reach supply-demand balance” for Mac Studio and Mac Mini.

Apple discontinued the base 256GB $599 Mac Mini in May, and made the $799 base model with 512GB storage the base model. The M4 Pro configuration is now $1,599, up from $1,399.

In March, analyst firm Counterpoint noted that smartphone DRAM prices have jumped by 50%, and NAND Flash storage prices have jumped by over 90% quarter-over-quarter in Q1 2026.

“We have reached a point where absorbing memory price hikes is impossible unless one wishes to run a business at a major loss. Memory prices have increased more than fourfold since Q4 2025, and this single component has eroded the profit margins of most consumer electronics players. Apple has done well to hold prices steady until now, though it hinted at increases last week,” Tarun Pathak, Research Director at Counterpoint, told TechCrunch.

“The growing demand for AI infrastructure has fundamentally changed the memory supply chain, meaning higher BOM (Bill of Materials) costs are now a lasting challenge. We also expect other PC and tablet OEMs to follow Apple’s example. They may raise prices on select products, cut discounts, or adjust their product lines to focus more on premium devices,” he added.

While the AI chip crunch is affecting consumer companies, suppliers like Micron are reaping the benefits. The company clocked in a 4x jump in year-over-year revenue in its most recent earnings.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

BOTTOM LINE — ACER NITRO V 16 ANV16-72-70F4

Acer Nitro V 16 ANV16-72-70F4

CPU: INTEL CORE 7 240H
GPU: RTX 5060 · 8GB GDDR7 · 95W
DISPLAY: 16″ WUXGA 180HZ IPS
RAM: 16GB DDR5-5600
PRICE: $1,024.99 MSRP

Bottom line: The Acer Nitro V 16 ANV16-72-70F4 is one of the most complete sub-$1,100 gaming laptops money can buy in 2025–2026. An NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 with a full 95W TGP, a crisp 16:10 180Hz IPS panel, Thunderbolt 4, Killer networking, and an upgrade path make it a formidable daily driver — provided you can live with its plastic chassis and modest 512GB starting storage. Unless you specifically need a 2560×1600 display or faster multi-core CPU performance, there’s no compelling reason to spend $475 more on the Core 9 version for a gaming-primary machine.

The Acer Nitro V 16 (ANV16-72-70F4) emerged in 2026 as the “sweet spot” configuration for mid-range gamers. By moving away from the “Nitro 5” branding and adopting the 16:10 aspect ratio, Acer has modernized its budget lineup to compete with the likes of the Lenovo LOQ and ASUS TUF series.

Acer Nitro V 16 ANV16-72-70F4: Specs at Glance

The ANV16-72-70F4 is the entry-level configuration of Acer’s refreshed Nitro V 16 (ANV16-72) line — a gaming laptop family that sits directly below the Predator Helios but above the stripped-down Aspire Gaming series. This model ships with Intel’s Arrow Lake-H Core 7 240H, NVIDIA’s Blackwell-architecture RTX 5060, and a 76Wh battery in a familiar all-black plastic chassis.

ComponentSpecificationProcessorIntel Core 7 240H (10 Cores, up to 5.20 GHz)GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 (8GB GDDR7)Memory16GB DDR5 RAM (5600MHz)Storage512GB PCIe Gen4 SSDDisplay16″ WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS, 180Hz, 16:10ConnectivityThunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 6E

Design and Build Quality

Acer keeps the Nitro V 16’s aesthetic deliberately restrained. The all-black plastic chassis features a tapered profile — thinner at the front lid, thickening toward the rear exhaust — that at least gives the impression of purposeful engineering. The lid wears a metallic Nitro logo at the center. Nothing about the exterior loudly announces “gaming laptop,” which lets it easily blend in in an office environment.

The polymer construction is high-quality for the price, with noticeably greater rigidity than older Nitro releases. The hinge opens to ~140 degrees and holds the display well at any angle. Admittedly, the chassis is not as good as aluminum, but it doesn’t feel cheap either.

At 5.29 lbs, it’s heavier than true ultrabooks but comparable to competing 16-inch gaming laptops. The bundled 135W adapter adds another ~300g, so budget bag space accordingly.

Port Layout & Connectivity

Port placement is well thought out for right-handed mouse users. The two fastest USB-A ports (10Gbps) sit on the right, keeping the mouse pad area clear of cable clutter. The left side hosts RJ-45 Ethernet, a slower USB-A Gen 1 port, and a microSD slot. Notable bonuses include a full Thunderbolt 4/USB4 40Gbps port, HDMI 2.1 output (supporting 4K/60Hz or 1080p/240Hz external displays), and Killer E2600 Gigabit Ethernet backed by Killer Wi-Fi 6.

Display Performance

The 16:10 aspect ratio is a true upgrade over older 16:9 gaming laptops: Users get more vertical real estate for code editors, browser tabs, and document windows. 100% sRGB coverage ensures colors are accurate enough for light content, and the anti-glare coating keeps reflections manageable indoors. The 3ms overdrive response time pairs well with the 180Hz panel for competitive play.

The main limitations are familiar Nitro compromises: 300 nits of peak brightness makes outdoor use uncomfortable, and there’s no DCI-P3 or HDR certification. If you plan to do color-sensitive photo or video editing, step up to the Intel Core 9-based version with the optional WQXGA (2560×1600) panel. But purely for gaming and everyday productivity, this screen is genuinely excellent at its price.

CPU & GPU Performance

Intel Core 7 240H

The Core 7 240H uses Intel’s hybrid P+E core architecture: six Performance cores clocked up to 5.20 GHz and four Efficiency cores reaching 4.00 GHz. The on-die NPU handles AI-accelerated workloads and offloads tasks like background noise suppression and video upscaling. In everyday gaming and streaming scenarios, the Intel Core 7 240H keeps up without bottlenecking the RTX 5060 — it’s ranked around #91 in LaptopMedia’s CPU performance hierarchy, which is perfectly competitive in the sub-$1,100 tier.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 (95W TGP)

The RTX 5060’s key wins over the outgoing RTX 4060 are DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation and an upgraded 572 AI TOPS neural processing capability. In practice, DLSS 4 MFG in supported titles like Alan Wake 2 can double or triple the rendered frame rate with minimal perceptible loss in quality — effectively making the RTX 5060 feel like a faster-tier GPU. The 95W Max Graphics Power configuration in this model (vs. the 85W variant in some competing configurations) means Acer isn’t artificially throttling the GPU to save thermals or cost.

Real-world gaming benchmarks place the ANV16-72-70F4 at approximately 85–110 FPS in titles like Counter-Strike 2 at 1200p on “Very High” settings. Shadow of the Tomb Raider runs comfortably at 90–100 FPS at native resolution on the “Highest” preset. Metro Exodus Enhanced (ray-tracing enabled) lands at around 70 FPS — playable and visually stunning for a sub-$1,100 machine.

Thermal Management

The GPU cooling story is excellent: Acer’s dual-fan system keeps the RTX 5060 stable and cool during extended sessions, resulting in consistent frame rates without GPU throttling. The CPU tells a different story under prolonged multi-threaded workloads — sustained Cinebench runs show the Core 7 240H throttling back after the initial boost window as the system prioritizes GPU thermals. For gaming, this is largely irrelevant. For CPU-heavy tasks like video encoding or 3D rendering, you will notice thermal limitations.

// THERMAL TIP

Using Acer’s NitroSense utility, switch between Silent, Balanced, and Performance modes. Enabling Performance mode and pairing it with the laptop on a hard, flat surface (not a pillow) dramatically reduces CPU throttling under load.

Intel Core 7 240H vs Core 9 270H Versions: Which Should You Buy?

The Nitro V 16 ANV16-72 lineup spans three CPU tiers — Core 5 210H, Core 7 240H, and Core 9 270H — paired with either an RTX 5060 or RTX 5070. The two most relevant configurations for most buyers are the Core 7 240H + RTX 5060 (our subject today) and the step-up Core 9 270H + RTX 5070. Here’s how they compare head-to-head:

ANV16-72-70F4
CORE 7 240H + RTX 5060
ANV16-72-933F
CORE 9 270H + RTX 5070

CPU Rank
#91
#33

GPU
RTX 5060 (95W)
RTX 5070

GPU Speed Diff.
Baseline
~11% faster

Display Options
WUXGA 1920×1200 only
WUXGA + WQXGA 2560×1600

Base RAM
16GB DDR5-5600
32GB DDR5-5600

Base Storage
512GB PCIe Gen 4
1TB PCIe Gen 4

Multi-core Work
Good
Significantly better

CPU Throttling
Moderate under load
More pronounced — same cooling system

Price (MSRP)
$1,024.99
~$1,499.99

Best For
1080p/1200p gaming, everyday use
1440p gaming, heavier CPU workloads

The Core 9 270H model has a faster CPU on paper, but there’s an important catch: The same cooling system that excels at keeping the RTX 5070 cool struggles to adequately manage the Core 9 270H under heavy CPU loads, leading to more aggressive throttling than you’d expect for a $1,500 laptop. If you’re buying this laptop primarily for gaming— which most people are — the Core 7 240H + RTX 5060 combination is the smarter value proposition at $1,025. The GPU performance delta between the RTX 5060 and RTX 5070 is only ~11%, and DLSS 4 effectively closes that gap further in supported titles.

The only scenario where we’d confidently recommend spending up to the Core 9 is if you need the WQXGA 2560×1600 display option (sharper, significantly better for content work).

5 Ways to Reduce the Cost of Your Acer Nitro V 16 Upgrade

The ANV16-72-70F4 already offers an excellent value at its $1,025 MSRP, but the 2026 global memory price surge has made new computers more expensive across the board. So here are five concrete strategies to lower your real out-of-pocket cost:

1. Time your purchase around major sale events. Historically, Acer Nitro V models drop 12–18% during Amazon Prime Day (July), Best Buy’s Black Friday sale (November), and Micro Center’s periodic student deals. If you can wait, signing up for price-drop alerts on CamelCamelCamel for the B0FS8BZDQ9 ASIN will notify you when the price dips. Plan the transition so your old computer sells quickly, while your new one is on discount.

2. Sell your current laptop on Gadget Salvation first. Before you buy anything, get an instant offer on the computer you are replacing at GadgetSalvation.com. A 2–3 year-old mid-range gaming laptop in good condition can net $200–$500, directly offsetting the cost of the Nitro V 16. The process is free to use, including complimentary shipping postage, and pays within one to two business days — you can time the selling ahead of your new laptop purchase.

3. Choose the Core 7 configuration over the Core 9. As established in our comparison above, the $1,025 ANV16-72-70F4 (Core 7 + RTX 5060) delivers approximately 91% of the gaming performance of the $1,499 Core 9 + RTX 5070 model. For most gamers at 1200p resolution, the Core 7 is the smarter purchase — pocket the $475 difference.

4. Buy open-box or Acer Certified Refurbished. Acer’s certified refurbished program and retailers like Best Buy’s open-box section regularly list Nitro V 16 configurations at 10–20% below MSRP. Combined with Acer’s standard warranty on certified units, the risk is minimal.

5. Self-upgrade RAM and storage post-purchase. Rather than paying Acer’s factory premium for 32GB or 1TB configurations, buy the base 16GB/512GB model and upgrade yourself. A 2×16GB DDR5-5600 kit costs ~$45–60; a 2TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD runs ~$80–100. Total self-upgrade cost: ~$160, versus a ~$200–300 MSRP premium for the factory-configured version.

The Verdict

Acer Nitro V 16 ANV16-72-70F4 is the rare budget gaming laptop that doesn’t feel like a compromise. At $1,025, you get a full-power RTX 5060, a really good 180Hz 16:10 screen, Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, Killer networking, and the ability to upgrade RAM and storage down the line. The Intel Core 7 240H won’t win benchmark trophies, but it keeps pace with the GPU without becoming the bottleneck. Unless you specifically need a 2560×1600 screen or significantly faster multi-core CPU performance, there’s no compelling reason to spend $475 more on the Core 9 version for a strictly gaming laptop. Finally, you can further offset the cost of a new Nitro V 16 model if you sell old Acer (or almost any other brand!) on Gadget Salvation.

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

Luxury smartphone brand Vertu on Thursday unveiled a foldable phone powered by an AI agent that connects with enterprise software and coordinates workflows. The company is targeting executives who manage business operations and communications on the move.

Called the Alphafold, the foldable smartphone starts at $6,880 for the calfskin version. Higher-end models feature bespoke finishes including alligator leather, 18K gold, and natural diamond accents, along with customized detailing. This continues Vertu’s long-standing strategy of positioning its phones as luxury status symbols aimed at affluent buyers. The company told TechCrunch that its highest-end standard model is currently priced at $46,800, with further customization options available.

The launch marks Vertu’s latest attempt to reinvent itself for the AI era after struggling to remain relevant in the modern smartphone market. The Hong Kong-headquartered company, once known for luxury handsets and concierge services popular among wealthy buyers before the rise of the iPhone, has changed ownership multiple times over the years as mainstream smartphone makers came to dominate the industry. Nonetheless, Vertu is betting the Alphafold can help reinvent the brand for the AI era by combining luxury hardware with enterprise-focused AI capabilities.

Vertu’s Alphafold comes with Hermes Agent, built on top of the open source Hermes project by Nous Research. The agent can connect to enterprise systems like ERP and CRM, and coordinate tasks such as approvals, scheduling, sales tracking, travel planning, and operational reporting through natural-language prompts. However, the company said that its Phone-to-ERP and VPS deployments would be customized for each customer depending on their existing enterprise systems, with pricing varying accordingly.

Image Credits:Vertu

The Alphafold, Vertu said, can route requests across multiple AI models, including OpenAI’s GPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini, and selected open source models, while also integrating with more than 80 apps and dozens of native phone functions for cross-platform workflows.

Existing AI features on smartphones from major manufacturers remain focused largely on consumer tools such as image editing and voice assistance, Vertu CEO Molly Ma said. This leaves room for more advanced AI-agent workflows tied to enterprise systems. She also pointed to earlier AI-agent smartphone experiments in China that gained popularity before facing challenges over data privacy and cloud-based data collection.

The Alphafold, Ma said, aims to address those concerns through a privacy-focused architecture featuring a proprietary A5 security chip. This silicon is designed to isolate authentication keys, biometric credentials, and sensitive enterprise information from the main operating system, the company said. It added that commercially sensitive data can be processed locally on the device, while prompts sent to external AI models are redacted or tokenized before leaving the phone.

While Vertu has emphasized the device’s privacy and security architecture, including on-device processing and data redaction features, the company said the system has not yet undergone third-party security audits or independent certification. However, Vertu told TechCrunch that independent audits and certification remain on its security roadmap “as an explicit next-stage commitment,” adding that it would “communicate the progress and the results publicly” once the product matures further.

The Alphafold is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor and features an 8.05-inch foldable display alongside a 6.53-inch outer screen, a 6,500 mAh battery, and satellite communication capabilities. The device also includes a triple rear camera setup with 50-megapixel primary and ultrawide cameras, as well as a 5-megapixel telephoto lens. Vertu said the phone’s hinge uses metal, titanium, and carbon-fiber components and is rated for up to 650,000 folds.

The Alphafold is not Vertu’s first attempt to combine AI with foldable devices. The company last year introduced Agent Q, a clamshell-style foldable smartphone focused on AI-driven automation and productivity features.

However, Ma told TechCrunch that Alphafold represents a significant step forward from Agent Q, arguing that AI-agent technology has matured rapidly over the past year, with improvements in memory, automation, and app integration.

Foldable smartphones remain a niche segment globally despite years of investment by major manufacturers, including Samsung and Huawei. As many as 20 million foldable smartphones were shipped globally in 2025, accounting for less than 2% of total smartphone shipments, according to IDC data shared with TechCrunch. The research firm said foldables sold at an average price of about $1,300 last year — roughly three times the price of non-foldable smartphones.

Kiranjeet Kaur, associate research director for mobile phones research at IDC, said foldables could eventually benefit from AI-agent workflows because their larger displays are better suited for multitasking and productivity-oriented experiences. She, however, added that enterprise AI adoption on smartphones still lags behind computers, and that most enterprise smartphone decisions continue to be driven by ecosystem integration and device management support rather than AI capabilities.

The first 115-unit batch of Vertu’s Alphafold begins shipping this week across major markets, including the U.S.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

We talk about recycling all the time — but recycling is a last resort. Before a product gets broken down and reborn as something new, it has a whole second, third, or even fourth life waiting. Mindful reuse is the practice of seeing that potential before the bin even enters your mind.

The concept of “reduce, reuse, recycle” has been drilled into us since grade school — yet in practice, most people jump straight from “use once” to “bin it.” The middle step, reuse, is by far the most impactful: it preserves the energy, materials, and labor that went into making a thing in the first place. And it costs almost nothing.

Mindful reuse isn’t about obsessive frugality or filling your home with junk you’ll never use again. It’s a small shift in perception — pausing before disposal and asking: Does this have an alternative use?

1. Everyday Objects: Start With What’s Already in Your Home

The most impactful reuse habits aren’t dramatic — they’re tiny decisions made twenty times a day. A glass jar becomes a pantry container. A worn-out t-shirt becomes a cleaning rag. A cardboard box becomes packing material for your next shipment.

The trick is slowing down enough to notice the object before you toss it. A brief pause at the bin — five seconds — is usually all it takes to spot alternate utility.

• Before buying a new item, check whether you already own something that could do the job
• Keep a small basket near your kitchen bin for items that need a second look before disposal
• Designate a “reuse shelf” in a cupboard — old containers, bags, ribbons, rubber bands — raid it before buying new
• Switch to cloth napkins, beeswax wraps, and refillable bottles for daily household use

Every product in your home represents hours of human labor and decades of ecological debt. Using it once and discarding it is the real waste.

2. Clothing & Textiles: Rethink Your Wardrobe Before You Shop

The fashion industry is one of the most resource-intensive sectors on the planet. The antidote isn’t a capsule wardrobe sold to you by another brand — it’s learning to work with what you have, repair what’s broken, and pass on what you’ve genuinely outgrown.

Clothes swaps with friends are an easy win: A social event where everyone brings items they no longer wear and leaves with something “new.” Platforms like Vinted and Depop have industrialized this principle — anything you no longer love is someone else’s treasure.

Before donating, consider whether a worn item can be repaired first. A cobbler can resole boots. A tailor can take in a blazer that no longer fits. The bar for “beyond repair” is much higher than most of us assume.

3. Technology: Your Old Devices Have More Life Left Than You Think

Electronics are among the most resource-intensive objects we own — rare-earth metals, complex manufacturing chains, and significant carbon costs go into every phone, laptop, and tablet. Yet the average upgrade cycle is under three years, and most people discard devices that still function perfectly well.

Mindful reuse here has two dimensions: Extending the life of what you own and responsibly rehoming it when you’re done. A laptop that’s two years old and “feels slow” likely just needs a memory upgrade, a battery replacement, or a fresh OS install — not a new machine.

50M+

TONNES OF E-WASTE / YEAR

80%

NOT FORMALLY RECYCLED

3×

LONGER LIFESPAN WITH CARE

When upgrading is unavoidable, selling your old electronics is far better than letting them gather dust in a drawer — for both the planet and your wallet. Resale platforms have made this easier than ever, and reputable services will even handle the logistics.

// BUYBACK SERVICE ADVICE

Sell Your Old Mac or PC With Gadget Salvation

Gadget Salvation is a long-standing buyback platform specializing in used laptops, smartphones, desktops, game consoles, and more. Site visitors can calculate an instant quote, receive a complimentary shipping label, should they choose to move forward, and get paid ultra-fast. We at Gadget Salvation strive to make truly easy for our customers to give their old electronics a new life. Resale is one of the cleanest ways to practice mindful reuse with your tech.
Our company’s motto is “Go green and make green”!

The environmental case for device resale is compelling. When a laptop is resold and reused for even one extra year, it defers the production of a new unit — and manufacturing a new laptop generates significantly more carbon than keeping an existing one running.

4. Food & Kitchen: Zero-Waste Cooking Is Closer Than You Think

Food waste is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions globally, yet kitchen reuse is among the easiest habits to build. Vegetable peelings become stock. Stale bread becomes breadcrumbs or croutons. Overripe bananas freeze for later or become banana bread.

The practice of “mise en place” — preparing and repurposing ingredients intentionally — is a useful frame not just for professional kitchens but for home cooks. Cook once, eat twice: roast a whole chicken on Sunday, use the carcass for stock on Monday, and the leftover meat in a salad on Tuesday.

• Keep a stock bag in the freezer — add vegetable trimmings throughout the week, then simmer for 30 minutes
• Learn the “use-it-up” meal: a weekly dish built from whatever needs eating before it spoils
• Invest in good glass containers that go from fridge to oven to table — fewer single-use packaging moments
• Compost anything that can’t be eaten — it closes the loop and feeds your garden or a local scheme

5. Community: Reuse Is More Powerful When It’s Shared

Individual action matters, but the leverage of mindful reuse multiplies when it happens at the community level. Tool libraries let neighborhoods share drills, ladders, and lawnmowers that would otherwise sit idle 98% of the time. Buy Nothing groups on Facebook and Nextdoor enable hyper-local gifting of items that still have value.

Libraries themselves — the original sharing economy — deserve more credit than they get. Beyond books: libraries of things, seed libraries, toy libraries, and skills-sharing programs are growing in cities around the world. The infrastructure of reuse already exists in most communities; it just needs participation.

Ownership is often just custody. The most mindful thing you can do with an object is make sure it ends up in the hands of someone who actually needs it.

Repair hubs are another underrated resource: volunteer-run spaces where people bring broken items (lamps, bicycles, clothing, small electronics) and skilled volunteers fix them for free. They exist in most major cities and are a true act of community building alongside their sustainability benefits.

Conclusion: From Convenience to Consciousness

The deeper shift that underpins all of this is moving from a default of convenience to a habit of consideration. Modern consumer culture has trained us to treat disposal as frictionless and acquisition as the default solution to nearly any problem. Mindful reuse reverses that: it makes you ask what already exists before reaching for something new.

This doesn’t mean stoicism and deprivation. It means a different relationship with stuff— one where an object’s story doesn’t end when you’re done with it. The jacket you pass on during a neighborhood winter coat drive, the laptop you sell through Gadget Salvation, the jar you wash and refill — each of these is a small act of care for the material world we all share.

Start with one room. One category. One habit. Mindful reuse compounds quietly, and over time, it stops feeling like effort — it just becomes the way you live.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is mindful reuse, and how is it different from recycling?

Recycling breaks a material down to create something new — it’s a last resort that still consumes energy. Mindful reuse means extending the life of an object in its current form: repurposing, repairing, reselling, or donating before it ever reaches the bin. It preserves far more of the original energy and resources than recycling does.

Where do I start if I’ve never thought about reuse before?

Start with one category: Your kitchen is usually the easiest. Swap single-use items for reusable alternatives (cloth napkins, glass containers, a reusable water bottle) and add a five-second pause before throwing anything away to ask if it has another use. Small habits compound quickly.

Is it worth repairing old electronics, or should I just buy new?

Almost always worth repairing first. A slow laptop often just needs more RAM or a storage replacement — both are far cheaper than a new computer. If repair isn’t viable, selling on a marketplace (eBay, Facebook) or through a buyback platform like Gadget Salvation and many others gives your tech a second life with someone who needs it more.

Does mindful reuse actually make a measurable environmental difference?

Yes — significantly. Manufacturing new products accounts for a large share of their lifetime carbon footprint. Keeping an existing laptop in use for one extra year, for example, defers the production of a new unit and its associated emissions entirely. When multiplied across millions of households, reuse habits have a genuine, measurable impact on resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

What We Love

• 5.6mm frame redefines what a premium smartphone can look like today
• A19 Pro chip with 12GB RAM is absolute overkill — in the best way
• Grade 5 titanium with Ceramic Shield 2 front and back: very durable
• LTPO 120Hz display matches the Pro lineup in quality and brightness
• Battery efficiency punches far above the 3,149 mAh cell’s weight
• 18MP Center Stage front camera is a generational leap for selfies
• Full Apple Intelligence suite runs entirely on-device for privacy
• Exceptional long-term resale value — Apple phones lead the secondhand market

What We Don’t

• Single rear camera misses ultrawide, macro, and spatial video entirely
• Mono speaker sounds noticeably weaker compared to dual-speaker rivals
• $999 entry price — $200 more than iPhone 17 for significant trade-offs
• No MagSafe Battery included; add-on pack costs an extra $99
• Titanium is fingerprint-prone; a case is strongly recommended

With the new iPhone Air, Apple’s proposition is simple: What if we made the thinnest, lightest iPhone we possibly could, and didn’t apologize for any of the trade-offs? At 5.6mm thick and weighing 5.96oz, this smartphone feels more futuristic than the chunky glass-and-steel slabs dominating the market in recent years.

But elegance has a price. A single rear camera, a 3,149 mAh battery smaller than the iPhone 17’s, a mono speaker, and no ultrawide lens are all the trade-offs Apple made in the name of thinness. Whether that bargain makes sense for you depends almost entirely on what you actually do with your phone.

Design & Build Quality

Holding the iPhone Air for the first time is an experience in itself. The polished Grade 5 titanium frame (crafted from 80% recycled titanium) catches light the way jewelry does, with a high-gloss mirror finish that feels decisively high-end. The form is so thin that the eye initially refuses to accept it as a real smartphone: it reads more like a concept render mockup.

At the heart of the design is the plateau — a precision-milled raised section on the back that houses the camera, speaker grille, and Apple silicon. Rather than treating this bulge as a necessary evil (the camera bump approach taken by the Pro line), Apple has leaned into it architecturally, making it a geometric accent that anchors the otherwise plain back panel. The result is something genuinely distinctive.

The four available colors — Space Black, Cloud White, Light Gold, and Sky Blue — are all understated and sophisticated. Sky Blue is particularly interesting: it shifts character under different lighting, reading almost white in bright indoor conditions, then revealing a soft, steel-tinted blue outdoors. It’s the same color-shifting quality Apple brought to the M4 MacBook Air, and it works beautifully on titanium.

Durability credentials are strong: Ceramic Shield 2 on the front delivers 3× better scratch resistance than any previous iPhone, and the back is now Ceramic Shield-protected as well — a first. Drop tests suggest the frame handles concrete impacts better than the iPhone 17(!) despite being thinner, a testament to titanium’s strength-to-weight ratio. The Action button and Camera Control button both return from the Pro lineup, a welcome addition at this price point.

Display & Brightness

Apple’s decision to equip the iPhone Air with the same panel technology used in the Pro models pays enormous dividends here. The 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED runs at up to 120Hz with Apple’s LTPO adaptive refresh technology, dropping as low as 1Hz when the always-on display is idle. At 460 ppi and a resolution of 2736×1260, sharpness is essentially a non-issue at any reasonable viewing distance.

Peak brightness hits 3,000 nits outdoors — comfortably readable in direct Chicago summer sunlight — while HDR content peaks at 1,600 nits. Color accuracy is excellent, with support for both HDR10 and Dolby Vision, and the always-on display locks in for a useful persistent glance layer without meaningful battery drain thanks to the LTPO panel’s efficiency.

The slight curvature at the corners and the tight tolerances at the titanium-to-glass transition give the display a cohesive, jewelry-grade feel that the iPhone 17’s aluminum frame simply can’t match. This is, point for point, one of the finest smartphone displays available at any price in the first half of 2026.

Performance & Apple Intelligence

The A19 Pro chip with its 16-core Neural Engine and 12 GB of RAM is not a watered-down processor — it’s the same silicon powering the iPhone 17 Pro, and it shows in every interaction. Apps launch instantly, multitasking feels frictionless, and demanding tasks like 4K video export, on-device AI image generation, and AAA gaming sustain peak performance without thermal throttling that was sometimes noticeable on the iPhone 14 Pro.

Apple Intelligence — the suite of on-device AI features baked into iOS 26 — runs entirely locally on the Neural Engine, meaning features like Clean Up, Writing Tools, visual intelligence via the Camera Control button, and the enhanced Siri with deeper app integration are available without cloud roundtrips. The privacy implications of this architecture are really meaningful in an era when competing AI phone features routinely send data to remote servers.

iPhone Air Camera System

The camera is where the iPhone Air gets a lot of both praise and hate. Rather than include an ultrawide lens — which would have required a taller, wider bump— Apple equipped the Air with a single 48MP Fusion Main camera at f/1.6 with sensor-shift optical image stabilization. Software handles the rest: Apple’s computational photography stack produces a 2× optical-quality telephoto at 52mm by cropping to the center 12MP of the sensor.

In practical use, the main camera works fine. Daylight images are punchy, detailed, and color-accurate, with a wide dynamic range that handles challenging scenes like backlit subjects. Night Mode has continued to improve, and the larger pixels enabled by going single-lens deliver noticeably better low-light performance than you’d expect.

The front camera is a meaningful leap: the new 18MP Center Stage camera with its square sensor enables both portrait and landscape selfies in native orientation. For video calls and group selfies, AI automatically expands the field of view and rotates framing to keep everyone included — it’s the kind of feature that sounds gimmicky until you use it, and then you wonder why it took this long.

Where the camera system falls short is macro photography (no ultrawide means no macro), spatial video (requires two lenses), and telephoto reach beyond 2× optical quality. For most people, none of these omissions will sting daily. For photographers who reach for a 5× zoom or shoot architecture, the iPhone 17 Pro’s triple-lens system is a far better tool.

Battery Life & Charging

Battery life is where users should be prepared to manage their expectations. However, we should also note that Apple’s engineering team has performed quite a miracle here. The iPhone Air’s 3,149 mAh cell is the smallest battery in Apple’s 2025 iPhone lineup, smaller than those of the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro. On paper, this is alarming for a $999 flagship.

In practice, the combination of the LTPO display’s adaptive refresh rate (1–120Hz), the efficiency-tuned A19 Pro, and iOS 26’s aggressive background power management produces results that defy the spec sheet. In fact, the manufacturer claims up to 27 hours of video playback. At the same time, real-world video streaming endurance ranges from 13 to 22 hours, which is still pretty impressive for a battery of this size.

iPhone Air vs. The Competition

The Apple iPhone Air is somewhat of a novelty among other flagships. It’s thinner than Samsung’s own ultra-thin contender (S25 Edge) and more powerful than any Android at the same price point — but it also makes camera and battery compromises that the competition does not. Here’s where each cellphone wins:

SPEC
IPHONE AIR
IPHONE 17
GALAXY S25 EDGE

CHIPA19 ProA19Snapdragon 8 Elite
RAM12 GB8 GB12 GB
NEURAL ENGINE16-core16-coreHexagon NPU
ON-DEVICE AIFull · Apple IntelligenceFull · Apple IntelligencePartial · Galaxy AI
FRAME MATERIALTitaniumAluminumTitanium
DISPLAY6.5″ LTPO 120Hz6.3″ LTPO 120Hz6.7″ LTPO 120Hz
REAR CAMERAS1 (48 MP)2 (48 MP + 12 MP)2 (200 MP + 12 MP)
BATTERY3,149 mAh3,577 mAh3,900 mAh
PRICE (BASE)$999$799$1,099

iPhone Air vs. iPhone 17: The iPhone 17 at $799 is the pragmatist’s choice. It has a larger battery, a second ultrawide camera, stereo speakers, and faster charging — and it costs $200 less. The iPhone Air wins on looks/design, processor class, RAM, display size, and frame material. The split comes down to whether thinness and premium finish justify the price.

iPhone Air vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: Samsung’s own thin flagship is a fascinating phone. The S25 Edge is slightly thicker than Air, but it packs a 200MP main camera and a larger battery. It runs Android 15 with Galaxy AI, a strong competitor to Apple Intelligence for some workflows, but still relies more heavily on cloud processing. The Galaxy S25 Edge starts at $1,099 — $100 more than the iPhone Air, making Apple’s device the better value in the ultra-thin segment, particularly for anyone already in the Apple ecosystem.

iPhone Air Resale Value Projection

Apple consistently leads the smartphone resale market, and the iPhone Air’s premium positioning — titanium frame, Pro-class chip, Pro-equivalent display — means it should retain salvage value comparable to that of the iPhone Pro lineup. Based on historical iPhone depreciation curves, here is how the Air is projected to retain its value over the first four years of ownership:

Projected Resale Value Retention

IPHONE AIR · BASED ON HISTORICAL IPHONE PRO RESALE DATA

NEW
2025

1 YEAR

2 YEARS

3 YEARS

4 YEARS

* Projections based on historical iPhone Pro resale trends. Actual values vary by condition, storage tier, color, and market timing.

These numbers reflect why timing your sale matters. The steepest drop occurs in the first 12 months — from $999 to roughly $765 — which makes year one the worst time to sell. But holding through years two and three still yields a meaningful cashback, especially for 512GB and 1TB configurations.

💸

// RESALE TIP //

When you’re ready to upgrade, Gadget Salvation is one of the most reliable buyback sites to sell your used iPhone. We offer instant online valuations, free shipping, and fast payment — no auctions, no waiting, no buyers flaking. For Apple gadgets in particular, our quotes have been consistently competitive, making it worth checking our site out before you hand your cell to a carrier for a fraction of its worth.

Verdict

The iPhone Air is one of the more philosophically interesting Apple products in years. It is not the best iPhone you can buy — the iPhone 17 Pro is more capable in almost every aspect. It is not the most affordable iPhone — the standard iPhone 17 costs $200 less and offers most of the same experience. What it is, however, is a statement: proof that premium design and premium performance can coexist in a form factor that feels almost futuristic.

For those who value how a device feels in the hand and pocket, and how it looks, this smartphone is definitely a compelling choice. For heavy camera users, battery-anxious travelers, or anyone working within a tighter budget, the iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro, at an extra $200, is a more sensible choice.

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

Oura on Thursday unveiled the fifth generation of its popular smart ring, starting at $399. The Ring 5, which Oura describes as the world’s smallest smart ring, arrives just a year and a half after the company launched the Ring 4 and seven months after the Ring 4 Ceramic. The Ring 5 is 40% smaller than its predecessor and comes with more accurate sensing and enhanced battery life.

The Ring 5 is launching alongside new software updates that include blood pressure signals, live activity tracking, on-demand care, and other features that will also roll out to the Oura Ring Gen3 and later.

The new smart ring is available for preorder starting today and will start shipping on June 4. It’s available in sizes 6 to 13 and comes in six finishes, including a redesigned Gold with a truer gold tone, an updated Deep Rose with a copper-like look, plus Silver, Brushed Silver, Black, and Stealth. The Black and Silver retail for $399, while the rest cost $499. For comparison, the Ring 4 started at $349.

Maz Brumand, VP of Product at Oura, told TechCrunch that the company reduced the ring’s width by about two millimeters and its thickness by roughly 30%. Brumand noted that Oura members had been asking the company to make a ring that was smaller and thinner, prompting the shift toward a slimmer design. Oura achieved the new size by redesigning the mechanical, electrical, optical, battery, and sensing architectures, Brumand explained.

Image Credits:Oura / Oura

The new ring is designed to be desirable to a broader audience, especially people who have found smart rings too bulky in the past. Oura says the latest model is designed to look and feel like any other ring.

While Oura could previously get away with a bulkier design as the dominant player in the smart ring market, new products from subscription-free rivals like RingConn and Ultrahuman have increased the pressure to innovate. Increased competition also likely explains why Oura is launching a new ring just a year and a half after the Ring 4, compared with the roughly three-year gap between the Ring 3 and Ring 4. It’s also worth noting that the announcement of the Ring 5 arrives a day before RingConn’s Gen 3 is set to start shipping.

In terms of the enhanced battery life, the Ring 5 can last between six to nine days, compared to the five to eight days on the Ring 4.

Oura also says it has reengineered its sensors for better skin contact and added more powerful LEDs in an effort to increase accuracy across a wider range of finger sizes and skin tones.

Software updates

As for the software updates, Oura is launching “Health Radar,” which is designed to monitor key biometric signals in the background to surface patterns members should pay attention to. Health Radar is launching with two foundational capabilities: Blood Pressure Signals and Nighttime Breathing.

Oura says it will continuously detect shifts and patterns that may indicate cardiovascular strain, alerting members when their biometrics suggest signs of increasing blood pressure. With Blood Pressure Signals, Oura tracks blood pressure patterns during sleep when the body’s cardiovascular patterns are most stable, since blood pressure should naturally dip overnight. When it doesn’t, it can signal potential cardiovascular risk that daytime readings may miss, Oura notes.

Image Credits:Oura

Members will also be able to log actual blood pressure readings from cuffs directly in the Oura app.

With Nighttime Breathing, Oura wants to give users a better understanding of how sleep and breathing patterns may impact their health. Members will get a 30-day rolling view of sleep-related breathing patterns and disturbances, expanding on the nightly breathing regularity insights they already receive.

Oura is also moving beyond insights into offering actual care. The company is partnering with Counsel Health, an on-demand platform that combines AI with licensed physicians to bring care directly into the Oura app. Members will be able to ask health questions, receive personalized medical advice, and connect with licensed physicians in the U.S. To access this, members will have to pay an additional fee on top of the standard $5.99 monthly subscription, though Oura did not say how much the added service will cost.

Members in the U.S. will also be able to import diagnosed conditions, medications, lab results, and allergies into the app to get a fuller picture of their health. While some may be understandably wary of uploading their health data to the app, the company promises it’s taking a privacy-first approach to the records.

Image Credits:Oura

Additionally, Oura is adding a new live activity tracking experience that lets members start a workout and view key metrics in real time on their phone, such as pace and distance during activities like running and cycling. The company also updated its “Automatic Activity Detection” to be more accurate for low-motion activities, like Pilates. Members can also connect third-party heart-rate monitors to see their heart rate in real time.

Oura is also adding GLP-1 insights that will give members a longitudinal view of their medication journey and track weight and body changes in one place.

For the first, time, Oura is also attempting to study brain health. Eligible members will be able to enroll in a Brain Health Study that seeks to match short in-app tasks with long-term physiological trends. Oura believes it will eventually be able to map how daily choices and recovery impact mental sharpness and long-term brain health.

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If you enjoy homemade pizza but don’t love the hassle that comes with it, an electric pizza oven may be the ideal upgrade. The Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven is aimed at people who want delicious pizza nights without having to deal with things like propane or wood pellets, unlike many other pizza ovens.

I need to preface this review by admitting that I am no pizza connoisseur, but I ended up with quick, restaurant-style pizzas using the oven, largely thanks to its simplicity and easy-to-use design.

The oven plugs into a standard outdoor outlet and gets up to 700°F. It’s worth noting that although it’s electric, it’s not suitable for indoor use. 

It features five pizza settings — Neapolitan, New York, Thin Crust, Pan Pizza, and Custom — that you can quickly toggle between. It comes with a pizza stone that can cook 12-inch pizzas. While I found that the 12-inch size was perfect for me and my husband, some may wish for the option to make bigger pizzas when feeding a larger crowd.

Since the oven has heating elements on both the top and bottom, pizzas cook evenly and consistently without needing to rotate the pie, manage a flame, or constantly babysit the cooking process, especially once you’ve gotten familiar with the different modes.

Image Credits:Aisha Malik/TechCrunch

Just like the cooking process, setup was quite easy. All I had to do was remove the oven and pizza stone from the box and packaging, plug it in, and start the preheating process. 

I first tested the Neapolitan setting, which cranks the oven to its max temperature of 700°F and can cook a pizza in just three minutes. It took about 20 minutes for the oven to preheat, and it beeped to let me know it was ready. I had my first pizza ready on the pizza peel that Ninja sent me alongside the oven (sold separately), and I was able to easily shimmy it onto the pizza stone inside the oven. 

After that, you just need to push the Start button to begin cooking the pizza and begin the timer. While the pizza is cooking, you can adjust the timer using the dial if you want to cook it for a custom amount of time. 

While I did keep an eye on the pizza through the small front window and internal light to make sure it didn’t burn, the three-minute cook time ended up being perfect, leaving me with a pizza that had an airy crust, puffed edges, and light charring. The airy crust is something I was never able to achieve when making homemade pizzas in my standard kitchen oven. 

For the subsequent Neapolitan pizzas that I made, I didn’t have to keep an eye on them and instead relied on the timer to beep and let me know when they were ready. 

It’s worth noting that if you’re looking for that authentic wood-fired flavor, you won’t get that with this oven. But if you’re happy with consistent, reliable results, then this oven is perfect for you. 

Image Credits:Aisha Malik/TechCrunch

I also tried the New York setting, which sets a lower temperature than the Neapolitan mode and has a longer cook time. I used this setting for a topping-heavy pizza to get an even bake and more doneness in the middle. With this setting, I got less of a char on the crust, which is what I was looking for. 

As for cleaning the oven, it’s fairly straightforward and low maintenance since you don’t have to deal with soot from an open flame. The interior can be easily wiped down with a damp cloth to remove crumbs and any light messes. For the pizza stone itself, I scraped off debris after it cooled down, since you’re not supposed to use soap on a pizza stone because it’s porous and can absorb water and potentially crack or shatter when exposed to high heat.

What I like most about the pizza oven is that homemade pizza nights no longer feel like a weekend-only activity. Before, making pizza at home felt like too much of a project for a weekday, so I saved it for occasional weekends. But with how fast and simple the Ninja Artisan oven is to use, homemade pizza now feels like something I can quickly make after work without it feeling like a task.

I think the pizza oven is worth buying if you want to make restaurant-style pizza at home without the complexity of traditional pizza ovens.

The Ninja Artisan Pizza Oven costs $300 and comes in four colors: green and gold, blue and gold, black and gold, and dark gray.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

The 2026 MacBook Pro 16 with Apple’s M5 Pro chip and the newly rebranded Dell XPS 16 running Intel’s Panther Lake platform represent opposite philosophies for what a pro laptop should be. One bets everything on silicon integration and ecosystem. The other bets on Windows flexibility, a knockout OLED display, and dedicated NVIDIA graphics. Here’s how they actually compare.

Dell XPS 16 vs MacBook Pro 16: The Short Version

If you live in the Apple ecosystem and need blistering, sustained performance with near-day-and-a-half battery life, the MacBook Pro 16 M5 Pro is the most capable 16-inch laptop money can buy. It starts at $2,699, and the performance-per-watt lead over any Intel-based competitor remains commanding in 2026.

The latest 2026 Dell XPS 16— rebranded from last year’s “Dell 16 Premium” — is the better choice if you need Windows, dedicated GPU horsepower for gaming or CUDA workflows, a next-generation tandem OLED display, or the flexibility of upgrading storage yourself. It starts at $1,750, undercutting Apple by a meaningful margin.

Benchmarks & Real-World Speed

The M5 Pro marks a significant architectural leap. Apple claims roughly 20% more CPU throughput and 30–50% more GPU performance than the M4 Pro, and independent benchmarks confirm the story. In Geekbench 6 multi-core, the M5 Pro’s 18-core configuration scores around 25,000 — comfortably ahead of the Core Ultra X7 358H’s approximately 9,700 in the same test. That gap is wide by any measure.

For CPU-bound workloads — video encoding, compiling, running local AI models — the MacBook Pro’s lead is essentially unassailable on a per-watt basis. The M5 Pro sustains its peak speeds without throttling, a hallmark of Apple silicon’s thermal discipline. Even during extended benchmarking sessions, reviewers report the fans barely register.

The Dell tells a different story once you add a discrete GPU. The optional NVIDIA RTX 5070 configuration unlocks CUDA acceleration, ray tracing, and gaming performance that Apple simply can’t match in a thin-and-light chassis. For 3D rendering in Blender, DLSS-assisted gaming at native 4K, or CUDA-dependent scientific workloads, the XPS 16 wins convincingly.

SSD Speed: The M5 Pro MacBook Pro comes with faster PCIe 5.0 SSD storage, delivering roughly 2× the sequential read speeds of the Dell’s PCIe Gen 4 drive. For workflows involving large media files, this translates to very noticeable time savings.

Screen Quality: Mini-LED vs Tandem OLED

Display MetricMacBook Pro 16 (XDR)Dell XPS 16 (Tandem OLED)TechnologyMini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR)Tandem OLEDNative Resolution3456 x 2234 (254 ppi)3200 x 2000Peak Brightness (HDR)1600 nits~750-800 nitsSustained Brightness1000 nits500 nitsRefresh Rate120Hz ProMotion20Hz – 120Hz AdaptiveColor AccuracyDelta-E Delta-E ~0.21Touch CapabilityNoYes (10-point multi-touch)

This is perhaps the most nuanced comparison in the whole article, because both displays are excellent — just in different ways. The MacBook Pro’s 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Mini-LED panel delivers 1,000 nits sustained SDR brightness and an eye-watering 1,600 nits in HDR. For outdoor use, prolonged sessions in bright offices, or HDR video work, it’s peerless. ProMotion (10–120Hz adaptive) ensures buttery smooth scrolling and responsiveness throughout.

The Dell XPS 16 counters with a 16.3-inch tandem OLED — the headline feature of the 2026 redesign. Tandem OLED stacks two emissive layers, dramatically boosting peak brightness while preserving true color depth and ultra-vivid contrast. Furthermore, it significantly increases the display’s lifespan, mitigating the burn-in risks expected from OLED. The panel supports full DCI-P3 and Dolby Vision, making it ideal for color-critical creative work and HDR video consumption.

Endurance: A Decisive Win for MacBook Pro 16 M5

Battery life is where the MacBook Pro’s advantage becomes almost comically large. Apple officially claims up to 24 hours of use; however, owners report approximately 20 hours. This is extraordinary for a laptop with pro-level processing power.

The Dell XPS 16, by contrast, delivers what you’d expect from an Intel-based laptop with a discrete GPU: approximately 9 to 12 hours in light workloads, and considerably less under sustained load. Not terrible for a Windows laptop — it’s actually competitive — but the MacBook’s lead is difficult to overstate for anyone who works on the go.

Performance on battery: Apple silicon delivers identical performance whether plugged in or running on battery. Intel’s x86 chips often throttle when unplugged. For on-the-go professionals, the MacBook’s behavioral consistency is a meaningful real-world advantage.

Chassis, Keyboard & Portability

Apple’s MacBook Pro 16 design didn’t change. Its all-recycled-aluminium (!) body, massive ForceTouch trackpad, and backlit keyboard remain class-leading. The laptop weighs 4.7 lbs and includes full-size ports that require no dongles: MagSafe 3, three Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, and a full-size SD card slot.

Dell’s 2026 XPS 16 redesign brings welcome modifications. The chassis now opens from the keyboard side for storage upgrades — a first for the XPS line and a nod to repairability. And it is slightly lighter than Mac, at 4.3 lbs. The zero-lattice keyboard and invisible-until-needed touchpad are visually striking. Dell has added subtle edge ridges to the touchpad so users can locate it by feel, addressing a common criticism of earlier XPS designs.

Ecosystem, AI Features & Long-Term Support

The MacBook Pro ships with macOS Tahoe and Apple Intelligence — on-device AI features powered by the M5’s 16-core Neural Engine. Apple’s advantage here is privacy: AI tasks run locally rather than in the cloud. For creative professionals already using Final Cut Pro, Logic, or the Adobe suite, macOS’s tight hardware/software co-design translates to real speed gains.

The Dell XPS 16 is a Copilot+ certified PC, meaning it meets Microsoft’s NPU performance requirements for the latest AI-powered Windows features. Intel’s Panther Lake platform includes a built-in NPU to accelerate on-device tasks such as live captions, image generation, and Recall. The XPS 16 also benefits from Windows’ broader app compatibility — particularly for enterprise software, niche creative tools, and gaming.

Long-term software support is another Apple strength: macOS Tahoe will run on MacBooks back to 2018, and Apple’s track record on software updates significantly outlasts the standard Windows OEM support span. For buyers planning on a 4- to 5-year ownership timeframe, this matters.

M5 MacBook Pro 16 vs Dell XPS 16: Long-Term Value

Purchase price is only half the ownership cost story. The other half is what you can recover when it’s time to sell. This is an area where Apple’s MacBooks have consistently dominated the premium laptop resale market — and the 2026 generation is no different.

NEW
2026

1 YEAR
2027

2 YEARS
2028

3 YEARS
2029

4 YEARS
2030

MACBOOK PRO 16 M5 PRO · 2-YEAR COST

Purchase price $2,699

Resale @ 2 yrs (68%) − $1,079

Effective 2-yr cost
$1620

$432 / year of ownership

DELL XPS 16 · 2-YEAR COST

Purchase price $1,750

Resale @ 2 yrs (48%) − $700

Effective 2-yr cost
$1050

$455 / year of ownership

💰

Ready to sell your MacBook Pro or Dell XPS? Get an instant online quote from Gadget Salvation — we buy used laptops in almost any condition. Get the highest cashback today before next-gen announcements drive down the resale value.

* Projected resale values are estimates based on historical MacBook and Dell XPS secondary market data compiled from Gadget Salvation, Swappa, Back Market, and eBay sold listings. Actual values vary by condition, storage tier, market timing, and configuration. Dollar values calculated against base-tier purchase prices ($2,699 MBP / $1,750 XPS 16).

In two to three years’ time, or whenever you are ready to upgrade, come back to GadgetSalvation.com to sell your MacBook Pro or Dell XPS. We provide instant online offers based on current secondary market data, free shipping labels, and pay within a day of delivery and inspection.

Bottom Line

These two laptops aren’t really competing for the same buyer. The MacBook Pro 16 M5 Pro is the most capable professional laptop in the world for macOS users — full stop. Its performance lead, long-lasting battery, and resale value make it a rational long-term investment. The Dell XPS 16 (2026) is the best 16-inch Windows laptop to date, offering a transcendent OLED display, dedicated GPU options, and a less-prohibitive price point. And while the math on total cost of ownership is remarkably close, the MacBook Pro’s day-to-day user experience remains a step ahead.

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

The 2025 Razer Blade 14 is Razer’s boldest statement yet in the compact gaming laptop space. Combining AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 365 with NVIDIA’s RTX 50-series Blackwell GPU—all inside a narrow-profile chassis—it targets a very specific buyer: the mobile gamer who refuses to compromise on performance or aesthetics. Starting at $2,299 and climbing to $2,999 for the top configuration, this is unambiguously a premium laptop. But does it deliver premium results? Keep reading to find out.

Design & Build Quality

Razer has always excelled at making laptops that look and feel expensive, and the 2025 Blade 14 is no exception. The CNC-machined aluminum chassis comes in a new Mercury White colorway alongside the classic Onyx Black, both featuring a subtle, not-at-all-gaming aesthetic. The hinge is firm yet smooth, and the lid opens easily with one hand while keeping the display panel steady.

At 12.23 x 8.83 x 0.62 inches and just 3.59 lbs, Razer claims this is the thinnest Blade 14 ever produced — a statement that holds up in practice. The reduced bezels around the 14-inch OLED panel make the footprint feel even smaller than the specs suggest. Connectivity is solid: two USB4 (USB-C) ports, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, HDMI 2.1, a microSD slot, a combo audio jack, and a Kensington lock slot cover virtually every use case without the need for a hub.

2025 Razer Blade 14 OLED Display

The 2025 Blade 14’s screen is, without question, one of its strongest selling points. The 14-inch OLED panel running at 2880×1800 resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate delivers colors and contrast that make even high-quality IPS displays look flat and washed out by comparison. Black levels are absolute, colors are vivid and accurate, and the high pixel density (approximately 240 PPI) makes text, UI elements, and game textures appear razor-sharp.

The upgrade from prior LCD-based Blade 14 models is immediately noticeable and arguably one of the most compelling reasons for existing Razer laptop owners to upgrade.

Performance: CPU & GPU

Under the hood, the 2025 Blade 14 is powered by the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 — a 10-core, 20-thread chip built on AMD’s Zen 5 architecture, with a base clock of 2 GHz and a boost up to 5 GHz. The chip also includes AMD’s integrated NPU capable of up to 50 TOPS, positioning the Blade 14 as an AI-ready machine for Copilot+ tasks and local AI workloads.

GPU options are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 (entry-level) or the RTX 5070 (mid- and top-level configs). Both are built on NVIDIA’s new Blackwell architecture, which introduces Multi-Frame Generation (MFG) — a key feature that dramatically boosts frame rates in supported titles by generating up to 4x frames. In testing, the RTX 5070 model hit approximately 91 fps in Cyberpunk 2077 at native 1800p with Ray Tracing Ultra settings and 4x MFG enabled — a result that would have been unthinkable on this class of hardware a generation ago.

RAM configurations span 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB of LPDDR5X, while storage is either a 1 TB or 2 TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD, with sequential read speeds approaching 7 GB/s. The 32 GB / 1 TB mid-tier configuration at $2,699 represents the sweet spot for most buyers.

Benchmark Highlights (RTX 5070 / 32 GB config):

• Cyberpunk 2077 (RT Ultra, 1800p, DLSS Quality + 4x MFG): ~91 fps
• Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail (1800p, max settings): ~68 fps average
• PCIe SSD speeds: up to ~7 GB/s sequential read
• 3DMark Steel Nomad / Speedway: competitive with other RTX 5070 laptop implementations

Thermal Management & Fan Noise

Image source: razer.com

One of the headline improvements in the 2025 model is a redesigned fan layout that moves more air through the chassis with less noise. In practice, gaming sessions remain noticeably quieter than you might expect for a 3.6 lb machine running an RTX 5070. Temperatures remain well managed under sustained load, making the Blade 14 a rare example of a thin-and-light gaming laptop that doesn’t throttle aggressively due to heat.

Battery Life & Unplugged Performance

Battery life is where the Blade 14 tells a more complicated story. The 72 Wh Li-ion pack is physically limited by the thin chassis, and real-world performance reflects that. For productivity and light workloads, expect 5–7 hours of mixed use — workable for a work shift if you’re disciplined about brightness and browser tabs. Under gaming load, the battery runtime drops to approximately 2 hours (or less).

More critically, Razer’s Synapse software locks performance profiles when the laptop is unplugged, meaning you cannot manually select a higher-performance mode on battery. Users are stuck with a throttled, mid-range performance tier the moment they disconnect from power — a deliberate design decision that preserves battery and thermals, but one that undercuts the “mobile powerhouse” narrative. For users who primarily game at a desk and occasionally travel between locations, this is a non-issue. For true on-the-go gaming, it is a genuine limitation.

Keyboard & Trackpad

Razer’s per-key RGB keyboard remains a highlight: the key travel, actuation feel, and overall responsiveness are class-leading for a thin gaming laptop. Typing long documents or coding sessions is genuinely comfortable.

The trackpad, however, has drawn mixed reactions. Its size and surface quality are fine, but some reviewers have noted inconsistent tracking and a stiffer-than-expected click. For a $2,700 machine, the trackpad should be exceptional rather than merely adequate. Pairing a mouse for serious productivity or gaming use is advised.

Audio

The speaker configuration produces sound that’s surprisingly full for a chassis this thin. Audio is clear at medium volumes, though the low end naturally lacks the depth of larger laptops. For casual music and video playback, it’s perfectly acceptable. Competitive gamers will want headphones regardless.

Software & AI Features

The Blade 14 ships with Windows 11 and Razer’s Synapse software suite for lighting, fan control, and performance profiles. Synapse remains both feature-rich and occasionally finicky — a firmware update shortly after launch is recommended to address early stability issues some users encountered.

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 365’s NPU enables Copilot+ features on Windows 11, including Live Captions, AI-powered image editing, and emerging on-device AI integrations. As the software ecosystem matures, these features will become increasingly relevant.

How the 2025 Razer Blade 14 Compares to Competition

The 2025 Razer Blade 14’s most direct competitor is the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 GU405, which offers a similar form factor at a slightly lower price, but with an RTX 5080 in its top config. For raw GPU performance per dollar, the G14 has an edge. The Blade 14 counters with superior build quality, a quieter fan profile, better keyboard feel, and Razer’s refined chassis design.

For buyers who prioritize a larger screen, the Razer Blade 18 offers a major step up in both display size and GPU options. For those on a tighter budget, the Asus TUF Gaming A14 can be found for under $2,000.

Resale Value & Selling Your Razer Laptop

Razer laptops are known for holding their value better than many gaming laptop brands, thanks to premium build quality, brand recognition, and a loyal enthusiast community. When it’s time to upgrade — whether moving from an older 2024 14-inch gaming laptop model or simply changing direction — selling your used Razer can recover a meaningful portion of your original investment.

Gadget Salvation is one of the best platforms for selling used Razer laptops quickly and at a fair buyback value. Our online resale process is straightforward: get an instant quote, ship your computer for free, and receive payment once it is inspected (typically within 24 business hours of delivery). For sellers who want to avoid the hassle of marketplace listings, buyer negotiations, and the risks of fraud associated with eBay or Craigslist, Gadget Salvation offers a reliable alternative. So, if you’re sitting on a 2021, 2022, or 2023 Razer Blade 14, now is an ideal time to get an offer before the resale market adjusts further to the 2025-2026 releases.

Verdict

The 2025 Razer Blade 14 is one of the finest compact gaming laptops ever built. Its OLED display is stunning, its RTX 5070/Ryzen AI 9 365 combination is powerful, and its build quality is in a class of its own for the size. NVIDIA’s Multi-Frame Generation technology helps the RTX 5070 punch significantly above its hardware weight in supported titles.

The caveats are real but narrow: the price is steep, the trackpad needs improvement, and the battery performance will frustrate users who genuinely need full gaming power away from an outlet. But for the majority of buyers — professionals and gamers who want premium portability without sacrificing desktop-like performance — the 2025 Blade 14 is an outstanding computer.

FAQ

How does the 2025 Blade 14 compare to the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14?

The two are close competitors. The G14 offers a slightly better GPU (RTX 5070 Ti in top config) at a lower price in the US, while the Blade 14 edges ahead in build quality, keyboard feel, and thermal noise.

Can I game on battery with the 2025 Razer Blade 14?

Yes, but with reduced performance. Razer’s Synapse software locks the performance profile when unplugged, throttling the GPU to a mid-range tier. Full RTX 5070 performance is only available when plugged into a power outlet.

Is the 2025 Razer Blade 14 good for video editing and creative work?

Absolutely. The OLED display’s color accuracy, the Ryzen AI 9 365’s multi-core performance, and up to 64 GB of RAM make it a capable creative workstation, not just a gaming laptop.

Where can I sell my old Razer laptop when upgrading?

While Razer does not have a trade-in program, Gadget Salvation is a great alternative platform for selling used Razer laptops (and other computer brands). We provide instant quotes, free shipping, and fast payment — making it one of the simplest ways to recoup salvage value on your older gadget.

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

Meta is developing an AI-powered pendant that it plans to start testing in the next year, according to a memo viewed by The Information.

This device would presumably build on the work of Limitless, an AI device startup that Meta acquired at the end of 2025. The startup made an AI pendant that users could attach to their shirt or wear as a necklace to record their conversations. At the time, Meta said the acquisition would allow it to “accelerate our work to build AI-enabled wearables.”

Earlier AI wearables have failed to catch on with consumers — perhaps due to privacy concerns and tone-deaf marketing, or perhaps because they just weren’t that useful. But companies like OpenAI aren’t giving up.

The memo also reportedly states that the company is planning to expand its lineup of AI glasses and launch a business subscription called Wearables for Work. With all these planned devices, Meta is apparently hoping to reverse the fortunes of its hardware-focused Reality Labs division, which lost $4 billion in the first quarter of this year.

TechCrunch has reached out to Meta for comment.

Timing is everything when it comes to getting the most money for your old iPhone. Sell too late, and you could lose a meaningful sum in buyback value almost overnight. Understanding the best time to sell your iPhone comes down to one core principle: get ahead of Apple’s release cycle, not behind it.

However, as of mid-2026, the iPhone resale market is uniquely volatile, influenced by the recent introduction of the iPhone 17e, faster depreciation of experimental models like the iPhone Air, and the impending disruption of a bifurcated iPhone 18 launch cycle that threatens to upend nearly two decades of established market behavior.

Why Timing Matters So Much?

While iPhones don’t devalue as quickly as competitor flagship phones, understanding their depreciation trends is crucial. Basically, as soon as a new model is announced — let alone released — demand for older models drops sharply, and resale prices follow. According to data from resale platforms, an iPhone can lose between 15% and 36% of its resale value in the weeks surrounding a new launch. That means a well-timed sale can be worth $25–$150 more (depending on your iPhone model and specs) than waiting even just one month.

Timeline of Milestone Releases and Market Impact

The introduction of the iPhone 15 and 16 series marked a shift toward a more aggressive depreciation cycle. Resale data indicates that the iPhone 15 depreciated by an average of 55.57% in its first year, a significant increase from the 40% seen with the iPhone 13 series. This acceleration is partly due to saturation in the high-end smartphone market and the increasing longevity of modern hardware, which, paradoxically, makes older models more durable and less expensive.

The following table contextualizes the current 2026 market within the broader history of the product’s release cadence, illustrating how release frequency has increased over time.

Model GenerationAnnouncement DateMarket Release DateKey Technological ShiftOriginal iPhoneJan 9, 2007June 29, 2007Multi-touch InterfaceiPhone 4June 7, 2010June 24, 2010Retina Display / FaceTimeiPhone 6 / 6 PlusSept 9, 2014Sept 19, 2014Large Screen FormatiPhone XSept 12, 2017Nov 3, 2017Face ID / OLED TransitioniPhone 12Oct 13, 2020Oct 23, 20205G Connectivity / MagSafeiPhone 15Sept 12, 2023Sept 22, 2023USB-C TransitioniPhone 17Sept 9, 2025Sept 19, 20252nm Process PotentialiPhone 17eFeb 19, 2025March 11, 2026Mid-Cycle Budget Entry

The shift from summer to fall releases, solidified by the iPhone 4S in 2011, established the September “value reset” that has defined the market for fifteen years. In 2026, however, the March launch of the iPhone 17e has introduced a new mid-year volatility point, as consumers now have a current-generation alternative available halfway through the flagship cycle.

Tiered Depreciation: iPhone Pro Models vs. Standard and Experimental Units

One of the most persistent trends in the secondary market is the superior value retention of “Pro” and “Pro Max” models compared to standard, “Plus,” or “Air” models. Pro models are sought after by second-hand buyers for their superior displays and camera systems, which typically remain competitive for three to four years after release.

Model Category1-Year Retention Rate2nd-Year Retention Rate2026 Market VolatilityiPhone Pro Max65-72%45-50%LowiPhone Standard55-60%35-40%ModerateiPhone SE / e-Series45-50%25-30%HighiPhone Air (Ultra-Thin)50-55% (10 Weeks)TBDExtreme

The 2026 market has been particularly unkind to the iPhone Air, an ultra-thin model introduced with the 17-series. Data from the resale markets just ten weeks after its launch showed that the iPhone Air depreciated materially faster than the rest of the 17-series lineup, losing an average of 44.3% of its value in just over two months. This suggests that “design-first” models may face skepticism in the secondary market due to perceived compromises in thermal management and structural durability.

The Best Windows to Sell Your iPhone

Aside from the most recent 17e March release, Apple normally announces its new iPhone lineup in September each year. That makes the summer months — particularly June through early August — the sweet spot for sellers. Demand is still steady, your model is still considered “current,” and buyers haven’t yet been tempted by what’s coming next.

As the market approaches the fall of 2026, the traditional September release cycle is expected to face its most significant disruption in the product’s history. Rumors indicate that Apple will adopt a “split launch” strategy for the iPhone 18 lineup, separating the premium models from the mass-market offerings.

Anticipated iPhone Release Phases for 2026 and 2027.

Expected DateModelsImpact on Resale ValueSeptember 2026iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, iPhone FoldHigh-end 17 Pro value collapsesDecember 2026Extends 17 standard model valuesCreates ultra-premium price floorSpring 2027iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, iPhone Air 2Extends 17 standard model’s buyback value

This split launch means the standard iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e may not have direct successors this September. It could create a unique “value plateau” where standard models retain their value longer because there is no $799 or $899 new alternative available to drive prices down. Conversely, the introduction of the first foldable iPhone (rumored to cost upwards of $2,000) will shift the focus of the high-end market, potentially making current Pro Max models appear more “mid-tier”.

iPhone Buyback Ecosystem

In 2026, the iPhone resale route remains as critical as the timing. When selecting a platform, the seller should weigh the trade-off between cashback value and transaction convenience:

1. Online Buyback Aggregators (e.g., SellCell): These offer an effective way to maximize cash returns. By comparing 40+ vetted buyers, these sites ensure the highest market rate and often offer “Best Price Guarantees”.
2. Dedicated Buyback Sites (e.g., Gazelle, Gadget Salvation, Gizmogo): These platforms are ideal for fast payouts, with many issuing payments via PayPal or Venmo within 24 hours of receiving the phone. They often accept older or damaged models that Apple or carriers would reject or value at zero.
3. Marketplace-Buyback Hybrids (e.g., Back Market, Swappa): Back Market uses a matching system that connects the seller with over 250 verified refurbishers. This can lead to more competitive offers for high-end models, as refurbishers compete for inventory.
4. Apple Trade-In: This is the most seamless option, but rarely the most profitable. It is primarily useful for those who want instant store credit toward a new purchase. For smartphones more than two years old, Apple’s offers typically sit 30% below top online buyback sites.
5. Carrier Trade-In Programs: Carriers like Verizon and AT&T often advertise very high trade-in values (up to $1,000). However, these are almost always paid out as monthly bill credits over 36 months. If the user cancels their service or upgrades early, they lose the remaining credits. This makes carriers a poor choice for those seeking liquid cash.

Selling a Used iPhone: A Step-by-Step Strategy

Regardless of the platform you choose, we highly recommend following this value maximization strategy:

Step 1: Honest Condition Assessment and Preparation

Before shopping for offers, you must remove all personal data, sign out of iCloud (Find My), and remove the SIM card. Any physical damage, even minor scratches, should be noted. Buyback and trade-in platforms will lower their offer if the iPhone is in a condition worse than described. If the original box and accessories are available, they should be included, as this can marginally improve the offer on peer-to-peer marketplaces.

Step 2: Multi-Platform Comparison

Never accept the first offer received; shop around instead. At a minimum, a comparison should be made between:

• Gadget Salvation (for fast cash, ease of use, 30-day offer guarantee).
• Swappa (if you are willing to manage the sale for a potential 10% higher payout).
• Apple Trade-In (only as a baseline for store credit).

Step 3: Timing the Quote

If selling during the spring, the quote should be initiated in early April. If selling in the fall, the quote should be initiated in mid-to-late August. Ideally, look for a 30-day price lock for maximum flexibility.

Step 4: Shipping and Payments

If selling via a buyback platform, a prepaid free shipping label is typically provided by the company. However, if selling on a marketplace like eBay, the shipping costs are the seller’s responsibility. And while an iPhone can either sell within an hour of listing or may take weeks, you’ll receive the funds (minus the fees) within 24 hours to 3 days after the item is confirmed delivered, so be sure the package is trackable.

As for buyback platforms, most issue payments within 24 to 72 hours of inspection — check the site’s FAQ for the exact timeframe.

Conclusion: Should I Sell My iPhone Before the New One Comes Out?

It might seem logical to hold on to your phone until the newest model drops, then sell it when everyone wants an upgrade. But this is the most common mistake sellers make. By the time the next iPhone is in people’s hands, your older one has already lost significant value.

Ultimately, the best time to sell an iPhone in 2026 is either late March-early April (but looks like you already missed that window?) or mid-late August. With the online buyback upfront instant offers feature and 30-day price locks, sellers can navigate seasonal shifts with minimal risk and get the most cashback for their older technology.

FAQ

What is the best time of year to sell an iPhone?

The best time to sell your iPhone is between April and mid-August, before Apple announces its next iPhone in September. The buyer’s demand for current/last year’s models remains strong, and resale prices have yet to decline, driven by new iPhone shipments.

Does iPhone storage size affect resale value?

Absolutely. Models with larger storage—256GB and above—hold their value better than the base 128GB option (which typically oversaturates the secondhand market). If you’re buying a new iPhone with resale in mind, opting for more storage is often a worthwhile investment.

Should I sell my iPhone to Apple or use a third-party platform?

Apple’s trade-in is a convenient way to upgrade, but it does not always offer the best value. Third-party options like Gadget Salvation, Swappa, or eBay typically yield 15–40% more money, especially if you sell at the right time.

What should I do before selling my iPhone?

Back it up, remove passcodes/Face ID, sign out of iCloud, and do a factory reset. Clean the iPhone, take well-lit close-up photos if selling on a marketplace, and be sure to include the cable or packaging — all of which can increase buyer confidence and your selling price.

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

I’ve had screen time limits on my iPhone for years, allowing me 30 minutes on social media each day. How many times have I dismissed the limit notification and continued watching mindless Reels? I’d be horrified to find out.

It turns out that all along, what I needed was a $59 hunk of grey plastic (self-discipline would have been more affordable, but it was out of stock). The Brick — a magnetic, matchbox-sized gadget — has accomplished what no screen time app has ever achieved. It actually got me to use my phone less and improve my sleep habits.

Brick stands apart from your standard screen time app because it takes things a step further into the physical world. The gadget is a branded, NFC-enabled square that only lets you deactivate your custom screen time limits if you tap your phone to the Brick, just like you’re buying something at a tap-to-pay kiosk. Apparently, if I have to physically get up and tap my phone to the Brick to go on Instagram, I will not go on Instagram.

“Brick was born from a personal need: our phones were getting in the way of living,” co-founder Zach Nasgowitz told TechCrunch via email. “We searched for solutions to this problem in our lives, but we found that nothing was quite right, so we decided to build something for ourselves that would solve this problem.”

Image Credits:Brick (opens in a new window)

I used Brick to help me with my sleep hygiene, and I am embarrassed to admit that it’s working even better than I could have hoped.

Like many other millennials — especially those of us whose jobs are so connected to the internet — I have a bad habit of getting into bed at night and scrolling mindlessly on my phone, making it harder to sleep. Even worse, sometimes when I wake up, I end up staying in bed on my phone, and I start the day feeling groggy.

I created a “Sleep” mode on the Brick app, which turns on each night at 10:30 p.m.. Then, my phone automatically blocks all apps except for messaging apps (I want to be reachable, just in case) and audio apps (I sometimes listen to podcasts or audiobooks to help me sleep). When I wake up, I can’t waste time on my phone unless I get out of bed, walk downstairs, and tap my phone to the Brick. (If you want to leave your phone out of your bedroom altogether, but use podcasts as a sleep aid, I’d suggest the Dreamie alarm clock.)

It’s embarrassing that I needed a $59 piece of plastic to make a lifestyle change, but without the Brick, it would be too easy for me to fall back into old habits. I’ve been testing a Brick that the company sent me to review, and it’s been so effective that I’m going to buy one so that I can keep using it (we return or give away our review units for ethical reasons). If you really wanted to, you could even try to DIY something like a Brick by using an NFC tag and Apple Shortcuts.

“Software-only solutions like Screen Time and Digital Wellbeing are easy to bypass, and what actually works is adding friction,” Brick co-founder TJ Driver told TechCrunch via email. “This has allowed physical technology to come into play to create real separation that a software prompt can’t replicate. By requiring you to physically return to the device to unblock your apps, the decision to reconnect becomes an intentional one rather than an unconscious reflex.”

Users are provided a small number of “emergency unbricks,” just in case you’re out when your phone bricks and you really need a specific app, like Google Maps or Uber, to get home safely. But I find it easier to just lump those apps into my sleep mode for the rare occasion that I’m out late, so I don’t need to waste an emergency unbrick. It doesn’t affect my sleep to know that I can open the Uber app. I do not doomscroll on Uber.

“Rather than constantly relying on willpower, it can be more effective to design your environment so that you don’t have to always be taxing your willpower or brain,” Driver said. “Things like Brick help people choose how they want their phone to best serve them for a given moment or task, and then design their digital environment so that they don’t have to think about it anymore.”

Image Credits:Brick, screenshots by TechCrunch

This emphasis on personalization and agency is what has made the product work for so many customers.

“One user had wanted a dumb phone for years, but couldn’t give up his primary texting app, KakaoTalk, for communicating with his wife and friends based in Korea,” said Nasgowitz. “He shared that, ‘Brick has turned my phone into what I always wanted – a phone that can text, call, take some photos, and use Kakao. It’s perfect.’”

People are getting more interested in switching to “dumb phones” as they become more disillusioned with Big Tech. But flip phones aren’t made for our current lifestyles, where we scan our phones instead of printing out concert tickets, use our phones to pay subway fares, and have jobs that require us to use specific two-factor authentication apps. (Some companies, like Dumb.Co and Commodore, are trying to remedy this by hacking flip phones to load apps like authenticators and WhatsApp, or by creating new hardware altogether.)

If you’re nervous about making a more extreme change like getting a flip phone, the Brick is a happy medium — it works, but it’s not as drastic an intervention. You can make your phone as dumb as you want, whenever you want.

“When you zoom out and think about the screen time movement as a whole, it isn’t about rejecting technology,” Driver said. “It’s about reclaiming agency and being intentional again.”

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Board, the three-year-old, New York-based startup building what it calls “together tech” — tech designed to bring people physically into the same room — has closed a $20 million Series A led by Union Square Ventures.

General Partner Michael Mignano, in his first investment since joining USV, will join the company’s board of directors. The round also brought in some famous angel investors including Biz Stone, Tim Ferriss, and Scott Belsky.

The raise comes about eight months after founder Brynn Putnam — who previously sold connected fitness startup Mirror to Lululemon for $500 million — unveiled Board publicly at TechCrunch Disrupt last October.

The $399 Board device is a 24-inch touchscreen in a wood-finish frame that uses proprietary technology to recognize physical game pieces, blending the tactile feel of board games with the interactivity of video games.

Traction since launch has been strong, the company says: Board is now in tens of thousands of homes, schools, hospitals, and restaurants across all 50 states, with 85% of customers averaging 30 or more play sessions per month.

Alongside the funding, Board announced Board Studio, an AI-powered creation platform launching later this year that will let anyone build original games using natural language prompts — from idea to playable prototype in under an hour, it says.

Board had previously raised $15 million in funding led by the venture firm Lerer Hippeau, which had also led Mirror’s $3 million seed round years earlier. That was a bet that paid off handsomely when Putnam sold the connected fitness company to Lululemon in 2020.

Putnam sees Board as a natural extension of what she learned about consumer hardware while building Mirror. “Mirror was very much about me,” she once told TechCrunch. “It was my reflection, my performance, it was about making your own self better. At that next phase, my life was really just much more about my family and my friends and my relationships.”

The result is a product built around the simple but increasingly popular idea that the best use of tech might be to get people to put their devices down and look each other in the face.

The raise arrives at a moment when consumer tech, long out of favor with investors, is showing signs of bouncing back, driven in large part by what AI is making newly possible.

“I’m more excited about consumer than I’ve been in a long time,” said Ben Lerer, managing partner of Lerer Hippeau, late last year during a separate sit-down with TechCrunch. “We’re seeing a very high-quality group of founders saying, ‘Now’s the time to get back in the pool.’ There are things that are possible today that weren’t possible six months ago or a year ago, and the slope is steep.”

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When I reach out to the self-proclaimed “open source baddie” CC for an interview, I’m pretty sure she’s emailing me back from a pink mermaid purse.

“I’m just having so much fun,” she tells me about her seashell cyberdeck. “It’s a Tamagotchi. It’s also an e-reader. It’s networked to my vault and my servers, so it has access to all of my server data, which has all my PDFs, and books, and notes, and everything… It’s also connected to my local AI setup at home.”

CC has no background in software engineering or computer science, but she’s gotten good enough at building unconventional cyberdecks — small DIY computers — that she documents the process on her blog Bimbo Tech so that other women can follow her lead, even if they don’t yet know what RAM is.

The idea of the cyberdeck originated in William Gibson’s 1984 sci-fi novel “Neuromancer,” and when credit card-sized computers like the Raspberry Pi came on the market in the 2010s, hardware enthusiasts began building and sharing their own cyberdecks in niche online communities. But over the last few months, these communities have exploded in popularity thanks to women on social media who are teaching each other to build artistic, hyper-feminine computers by documenting their building processes.

“I have a running joke that there’s this underlying misogyny in tech — because whenever they release a pro model, or an elite model… I’m always like, let me guess, it’s black or silver,” CC said. “It’s never going to come in pink.” 

The process of customizing and designing a cyberdeck has become an art form in itself. On Instagram and TikTok, you can find a cyberdeck made of wood and moss that runs Game Boy Color games; a desert-inspired MP3 player built inside a 3D-printed fossil; a Barbie dollhouse that opens up to reveal a functional mini-computer; or a duck figurine that can be used to record voice notes.

CC’s cyberdeck during the building processImage Credits:CC / Bimbo Tech

“I don’t want Meta AI glasses. I want to pirate books in a tiny embellished shell,” said the creator Sarahbelle Kim on TikTok. “No one can surveil you there. You can get some basic parts at the thrift store or eBay and just customize it.”

There’s obviously an aesthetic motivation to the rise of girly cyberdecks — why not use a Hello Kitty purse to check your email? It’s fun for the sake of fun. But the women building these over-the-top, bedazzled cyberdecks aren’t in it for the glitter alone. This trend is reaching its peak at a time when people feel powerless against the omnipresent homogeneity of big tech.

“I think that’s such a refreshing thing for people who were sold these devices that are like Apple’s… If you try to jailbreak it, if you try to do anything to this phone that you paid $1,000 for, that you own, it’s out of warranty,” CC said. “So I just love seeing people taking the power back into their hands, taking the control back into their hands, which obviously always means creativity when people are given the means to go outside of the black box.”

Maro Vardanyan doesn’t work with hardware as a blockchain developer, but she’s always enjoyed collecting and tinkering with old computer parts.

“A few months ago, I just started as a hobby making art and jewelry pieces and purses with recycled or upcycled old computers I had,” she said. “When I saw everyone doing cyberdecks, I was like, wait, why am I just doing recycled and upcycled ones when I can actually preserve the pieces on something that’s wearable, that’s movable?” 

Image Credits:Maro Vardanyan

Vardanyan has taken a different approach to building cyberdecks, opting instead to emphasize the historic relationship between fiber art and technology. Vardanyan refers to her work as “crocheting with computers” or “macrame motherboards,” deliberately nodding to the role of weaving — a practice often viewed as domestic, women’s labor — in the history of early computing.

Before silicon processors, some early computers ran on magnetic-core memory, made up of copper wiring that was precisely threaded to encode the 1s and 0s of binary code. In order for NASA to build the Apollo Guidance Computer, for example, expert women textile workers were tasked with meticulously weaving wires in painstakingly complex patterns, which powered the spacecraft that landed the first man on the moon.

Image Credits:Maro Vardanyan

“The original processor was handwoven by seamstresses, not by engineers or anybody else,” she said. “I feel like the hand weaving, and even the fashion-meets-technology… It’s so full circle.”

Vardanyan started weaving pink Raspberry Pis to make purses and corsets, then posted photos of her works-in-progress on X.

“Of course, when the macrame went viral, all of the men are like, ‘This is such a waste of the Raspberry Pi,’ … or, ‘what about the rain?’” she said. “And then I have to be like, ‘Actually, it’s preserved in an acrylic shell.’ And then they’re like, ‘This is so performative, and the GPIO is gonna lose energy!’ And I’m like, ‘Actually, I’m using a conductive thread, so it actually will move and be fully functioning.’”

@gazi.ai

grass cyberdeck (allat to play pokemon yellow 🥀). thoughts ↓ cyberdecks were never about making the “best” computer. they came out of Neuromancer (yes, i wrote my senior essay on it) as messy, personal machines. now it’s a whole maker subculture, but the core’s the same: control + identity + a quiet resistance to how polished tech has become. this one’s a grass cyberdeck, wood + moss + exposed parts. something that feels a little alive, a little off. built on a Raspberry Pi, nothing fancy. honestly a simple build, just wanted to show how easy it is to make something like this in your bedroom (i post my pc a lot, but this is just as cool). it’s not trying to compete with a GeForce RTX 4090 or be practical. it’s more about rejecting the “black box” (our everyday sealed, untouchable devices) and leaning into radical ownership, something you can open, understand, and actually call yours. more optimization soon 🙂 #cyberdeck #pokemonyellow #reelsinstagram #hardware

♬ original sound – Gazi Jarin

CC has also encountered condescending men on the internet who balk at the idea that someone would use a Raspberry Pi on something as frivolous as a seashell purse computer during a RAM shortage.

“This guy on Reddit was like, ‘You built your first computer a month ago, calm the f— down.’ Mind you, I’ve been building PCs for years,” CC said. “So, long story short, he ends up apologizing and buying me the circuit board for my next cyberdeck.”

From CC’s mermaid purse computer to Vardanyan’s Raspberry Pi corset, these cyberdecks are a direct rejection of Silicon Valley culture, and not just in their egregious embrace of the color pink. They’re impractical and inefficient on purpose, which seems sacrilegious in a culture so obsessed with optimization that unregulated Chinese peptide injections are trendy. It’s a radical act to opt for hacky, DIY tech experiences in order to forge a closer relationship with the devices that feel so abstract despite their ubiquity.

“Ten years ago, I would walk into a conference, there would be three girls, and people would literally just be like, ‘Were you hired for the marketing team?’” Vardanyan said. “I can’t even tell you how amazing it is seeing so many girls all over my social media and Instagram being into hardware, being into software, and then educating [each other], and that’s definitely the energy that we’re missing on every level in society.”

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PROS AND CONS:

The FX608L ASUS TUF Gaming F16 is the most significant refresh the TUF lineup has seen in years — and it arrives at exactly the right moment. Announced at CES in March alongside the A16 and A18, the F16 sheds the “budget compromise” label once and for all. What you get instead is an Intel Arrow Lake powerhouse wrapped in a battle-tested chassis, equipped with an OLED screen option that was unthinkable in this segment just 24 months ago.

With this model, ASUS pulled off a genuine trifecta: a brand-new Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor, up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU, and — the headline grabber — a choice between a breathtaking 2.5K 165Hz OLED panel or an ultra-smooth 2.5K 300Hz IPS for the competitive crowd. The TUF F16 isn’t trying to be an ROG Zephyrus. It’s something arguably more useful: a machine that does everything well, breaks nothing on price, and will still be relevant in three years.

“For the first time, the TUF A16 and F16 can be configured with either a 2.5K OLED panel with a 165Hz refresh rate, or a high-refresh 2.5K 300Hz IPS option for competitive gamers — a major shift from the IPS-only past.”

ASUS TUF F16 Design & Build Quality

ASUS describes the F16’s design philosophy as “blending power with portability,” and now that statement finally feels wholly earned. The chassis clocks in at just 17.9mm at its thinnest point — genuinely slim for a laptop packing this much hardware — and weighs approximately 4.85lbs. That means the F16 will actually fit in the laptop sleeve of most everyday backpacks.

The F16 has an understated look: no aggressive, gamer-angry angularity, no RGB strips bleeding through the chassis. ASUS knows who the TUF customer is — someone who needs a capable computer for gaming at home but doesn’t want to look conspicuous pulling it out to work at a coffee shop or in a campus lecture hall.

Durability credentials remain a cornerstone of the TUF identity. Every unit passes rigorous MIL-STD-810H testing, which covers drops, vibration, humidity, and extreme temperatures. The full-width rear exhaust vent is a functional detail that frees up both side panels entirely for I/O — a clean layout that shows careful engineering rather than cost-cutting.

The 180-degree hinge design lets the lid lie completely flat, which is surprisingly useful for presentations, sketching with a stylus on an external display, or simply sharing your screen with someone across the table.

Display: A Stunning OLED Upgrade

This is the headline for the TUF Gaming F16 line. For the first time, ASUS offers a 2.5K OLED panel at 165Hz in the TUF series — and the results are predictably stunning. Deep, inky blacks, near-infinite contrast, and color accuracy that rivals purpose-built creator screens. If you split your time between gaming and content creation (or if you simply can’t stand the grey “blacks” on most IPS screens), this is the configuration to choose.

The panel uses a 16:10 native resolution (2560×1600)— a meaningful aspect-ratio upgrade over the 16:9 screens that dominated mid-range gaming laptops for years. The extra vertical space is a game-changer. And the instantaneous 0.2ms response time eliminates motion blur completely, keeping fast-paced action entirely sharp. All configurations natively support G-Sync to eradicate screen tearing.

Performance: Arrow Lake + Blackwell

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus

The latest Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus — part of Intel’s Arrow Lake refresh lineup — powers new F16 FX608L models. ASUS highlights improvements in multi-threaded throughput and per-core efficiency compared to prior generations. In practice, the Ultra 9 290HX Plus delivers a significant boost to both sustained gaming and creative workloads like video editing and 3D rendering.

In content creation benchmarks, the F16’s CPU+GPU pairing achieves a DaVinci Resolve PugetBench score north of 8,200, which means timeline scrubbing and real-time 4K playback are handled without breaking a sweat. For developers, data scientists, or streamers who also game, the chip offers built-in AI acceleration in select content creation apps — a practical advantage that compounds over time as software optimizations roll out.

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop

The GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU is the star of the show, and ASUS hasn’t kneecapped it with a stingy TGP allocation. In tested configurations, the GPU runs at a full 115W — a power envelope that allows it to punch well above its technical tier, competing head-to-head with lower-TGP RTX 5060 configurations found in competing laptops.

Game / BenchmarkSettingsResolutionAvg FPSCyberpunk 2077Ultra + DLSS 4 MFG2.5K120+ fpsBlack Myth: WukongUltra + DLSS 4 MFG2.5K120+ fpsIndiana Jones & the Great CircleUltra1200p~90 fpsShadow of the Tomb RaiderHighest1080p95 fpsFar Cry 6Ultra1080p90 fpsValorantMax2.5K165Hz+ cap

DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation is the RTX 50-series’ most transformative feature for gaming laptops, and the TUF F16 takes full advantage. In the most demanding AAA titles — Cyberpunk 2077, Black Myth: Wukong — DLSS 4 MFG pushes frame rates past 120 fps at the panel’s native 2.5K resolution. That’s a level of performance that felt exclusive to $2,500+ laptops just one generation ago.

Thermals & Cooling

ASUS has long earned its thermal reputation in the TUF line, and the latest F16 release maintains that standard. The cooling system pairs second-generation Arc Flow Fans with five heat pipes and a full-width rear heatsink. In extended stress testing, the RTX 5070 maintains a stable average core temperature of approximately 72°C — considerably cooler than most competitors at the same TGP — allowing the GPU to sustain higher boost clocks for longer without throttling.

CPU temperatures stay manageable even under prolonged combined CPU+GPU loads, rarely breaching 90°C in Turbo mode. The system does get loud at peak — that’s the trade-off for thermal headroom — but the Armoury Crate software offers three fan modes (Silent, Performance, Turbo) to let you dial in the balance you need for the moment. In Silent mode, the laptop is genuinely quiet for everyday tasks.

ASUS TUF F16 FX608 Battery Life

Let’s be frank: the Intel-based F16’s battery life is its major weakness. Although we also have to keep in mind that gaming laptops are not known for battery longevity in general. Still, in light-use testing — web browsing, video playback, productivity apps — expect up to 5 hours on the 90Wh cell. That’s workable for a coffee shop session, but it’s almost half what the AMD-powered TUF A16 can achieve. If maximum unplugged endurance is your priority, the A16 is the clear recommendation.

The 100W USB-C charging is a genuine convenience. Whether you’re using the bundled adapter or a compatible GaN charger from a bag full of cables, topping up on the go requires no heavy power brick — a meaningful quality-of-life upgrade for commuters and travelers.

Keyboard, Audio & Connectivity

The TUF F16’s keyboard delivers desktop-quality in all the right ways. It is very snappy, thanks to ASUS’s Overstroke technology; the F16 will definitely have users notice improved responsiveness for rapid inputs. Each key is rated for over 20 million presses, and the uniform RGB backlighting — with highlighted WASD accents — looks polished without being overdone.

Image source: Asus.com.

Audio is handled by twin speakers powered by Dolby Atmos, with Hi-Res Audio over headphones and two-way AI noise cancellation for calls and streams. The speakers are competent — wider soundstage than most thin-and-light laptops — though bass is limited, as with virtually all thin gaming notebooks.

The FX608’s port selection is ample:

• Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C, DisplayPort 1.4)
• USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DisplayPort 1.4
• HDMI 2.1 FRL for 4K/8K output
• Multiple USB-A 3.2 ports
• Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45)
• Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.3
• 3.5mm audio combo jack

Image source: Asus.com.

Multi-monitor setups are fully supported out of the box — a bonus for streamers and power users who want to expand their workspace without dongles.

Resale Value & Long-Term Investment

The latest TUF Gaming F16 laptop is expected to hold its value exceptionally well in the used-laptop market. The MIL-STD-810H build quality means units should maintain their structural integrity after years of real-world use. And the combination of an upgradeable RAM and storage configuration (two SO-DIMM slots, dual M.2 support) means buyers can upgrade the hardware (and thus improve performance) rather than replace the whole notebook, extending its lifespan for at least another year or two. But when the time comes to move on, Gadget Salvation will make selling your used ASUS TUF Gaming laptop a swift, easy experience. We provide instant, competitive online valuations, free shipping, expedited processing, and multiple payment options for sellers to choose from. At any rate, visit our site for a no-obligation offer when the time to sell your Asus TUF gaming finally comes.

Who Is the ASUS TUF Gaming F16 FX608 For?

The F16 is built for the pragmatic gamer — someone who wants top-tier performance in a well-engineered package without paying ROG-level premiums or carrying ROG-level weight. It’s equally well-suited to:

• Serious gamers who want 2.5K gaming with ray tracing and DLSS 4 at a realistic price point.
• Content creators who game — the CPU/GPU combo handles video editing, 3D rendering, and game streaming simultaneously.
• Students and professionals who want a durable daily driver with a subtle aesthetic that works in any environment.
• Competitive players who want a 300Hz IPS panel with G-SYNC to chase frame rates in esports titles.

It is not ideal for users who need all-day battery life — for those buyers, the AMD-based TUF A16 is the better choice.

The Verdict

As of today, the ASUS TUF Gaming F16 is the most complete mid-range gaming laptop ASUS has ever built. A first-ever OLED option, the best Intel mobile processor of the year, RTX 5070 muscle with a high-power TGP, and the same battle-hardened chassis the TUF series has been perfecting for years — all in a sub-4.9lbs body with Thunderbolt 4 and 100W USB-C charging. The only meaningful concession of the Intel-based configuration is poor battery life compared to AMD, but for plugged-in gaming and serious everyday performance, no laptop at this price comes close to doing it all.

Frequently Asked Questions

What processor does the ASUS TUF FX608 Gaming F16 use?

The latest TUF Gaming F16 lineup is powered by the new Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, part of Intel’s Arrow Lake refresh. This chip delivers improved multi-threaded throughput and better per-core efficiency compared to prior TUF generations, and is paired with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU. The earlier FX608 release features Intel Core i5-13450HX and Core i7-14650HX processors.

Does the TUF Gaming F16 have an OLED display?

Yes — for the first time in TUF F-series history. The most recent F16 refresh offers a 2.5K 165Hz OLED panel for stunning color and contrast, and a 16:10 aspect ratio with advanced anti-reflection coating.

Is the ASUS TUF Gaming F16 FX608 good for content creation?

Absolutely. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, paired with the RTX 5070, makes it a capable computer for creators. The model achieves a DaVinci Resolve PugetBench score above 8,200, enabling smooth 4K timeline editing and rendering.

How long does the 2026 ASUS TUF Gaming F16 battery last?

In light-use scenarios (web browsing, video playback), the Intel-based F16 delivers up to 5 hours of use. During active gaming with the laptop plugged in, performance is unrestricted. For users who need longer unplugged endurance, the AMD-powered TUF A16 has longer battery life on the same cell.

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

Think back to 2015-16. Streaming was still considered a novelty, you could find a massive desktop tower in any office, and “the cloud” was something your IT department quietly warned about. Fast-forward a decade, and the technological landscape has shifted almost beyond recognition. The way we work, communicate, store information, and even think about our devices has fundamentally transformed — and those changes carry real implications for the tech you own right now.

Computing: From Desktops to Edge AI

Ten years ago, the average home had one or two primary computers — a desktop or a chunky notebook — running Windows 7 or 8. Processing power was mostly wasted on idle desktops, and upgrading RAM was still a weekend project that enthusiasts looked forward to. By 2026, computing power will have become nearly invisible. Thin-and-light laptops outperform server racks from 2015, ARM chips have redefined what portable means, and on-device AI has turned ordinary machines into genuinely intelligent tools.

Smartphones: From Nice-to-Have to Central Nervous System

In 2015, a flagship smartphone had a 12–16 MP camera, 2 GB of RAM, and fit in most pockets without drama. They were impressive — but they were accessories. Today, your AI-capable phone is your wallet, your boarding pass, your ID, your fitness tracker, your therapist, your office, and your videographer. The mobile ecosystem has swallowed whole categories: dedicated GPS devices, point-and-shoot cameras, MP3 players, and physical boarding passes have all but disappeared for most consumers.

Category20152025Storage16–64 GB on-device512 GB–1 TB + cloud-firstCameraSingle lens, 12 MPMulti-lens, 200 MP, AI-enhancedConnectivity4G LTE5G mmWave + Wi-Fi 7Primary useCalls, social, mapsWork, payments, health, AI assistantAvg. upgrade cycleEvery 2 yearsEvery 3–4 years

The Cloud Took Over Everything

A decade ago, backing up your files meant plugging in an external hard drive every few weeks — if you remembered. Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud have been around, but mostly felt optional. But fast forward to today, and local storage is almost an afterthought for most users. Documents live in the cloud, software is licensed as a service, and the idea of reinstalling apps from a disc is quaint enough to get a laugh. The shift to cloud-first has also accelerated hardware replacement: when your data travels with you, there’s less friction in switching to another device.

Remote Work Reshaped the Hardware Market

Nothing accelerated technology adoption like the shift to remote and hybrid work over the past five years. Webcams, external monitors, microphones, and ergonomic peripherals flew off the shelves. Business laptops became interchangeable with personal computers. The result was a massive wave of hardware investment — and a corresponding wave of refresh cycles, with millions of formerly enterprise-grade machines entering the secondary market at an unprecedented pace.

The typical enterprise laptop refresh cycle shrank from 4–5 years in 2015 to 2.5–3 years in 2025 — meaning that high‑quality used hardware now enters circulation much faster than it did a decade ago.

A Decade of Progress in Terms of Salvage Value

All of this technological evolution has a financial dimension that often gets overlooked. Electronics that once depreciated to near-zero within a few years now hold meaningful residual value — especially business-class laptops, workstations, and Apple hardware. Consumer awareness of secondary markets has grown substantially, and platforms have emerged to make selling used tech straightforward and transparent. Our buyback site, Gadget Salvation, has been at the origins of this shift, launching the service way back in 2008. Today, we bring over a decade of expertise to the computer buyback and resale market. Our data-driven approach to valuation of pre-owned technology reflects just how dramatically the landscape has changed and continues to change. What we see now is a positive, emerging shift to used hardware retaining better salvage value over time, thanks to the continuous switch to higher-quality hardware across industries.

What This Means for the Devices You Own Today

The accelerating pace of change cuts both ways. On one hand, today’s technology is significantly more capable and durable than anything available in 2015-16. On the other hand, the rapid cadence of AI-capable hardware means that a laptop from 2022 may already feel underpowered for the 2026 workloads. Knowing when to hold, when to upgrade, and how to extract value from aging hardware has never been more important — or more financially rewarding when done right.

Frequently Asked Questions

How has everyday computer use changed most dramatically in the last 10 years?

The biggest shift is the move from local to cloud-first workflows. Files, apps, and identities now live online, making the physical backup drive or even a server almost secondary. The rise of AI tools has also changed how people write, code, and create — tasks that took hours in 2015 now take minutes.

Is a 10-year-old laptop still “workable” today?

While a well-maintained computer can still work for basic tasks like email, browsing, and document editing, modern collaboration tools, AI features, and security requirements increasingly demand the latest hardware. Furthermore, a decade-old laptop is universally considered obsolete today; thus, it has no cashback value (with a few exceptions for certain Apple Macs) if you were planning on selling it.

Why do devices depreciate faster now than they used to?

Faster innovation cycles — particularly around AI-capable chips and new form factors — mean that each new product generation brings a more meaningful performance leap than before. Remote work also drove mass purchasing, which increased the supply of near-new used devices and compressed resale timelines.

What is the best way to sell an old computer?

Dedicated online resale platforms offer the most convenient process. Gadget Salvation is a well-established option with over a decade of experience in computer resale. We can calculate instant offers on your old computer based on the specific model and condition, handle shipping logistics, and pay promptly, making it far simpler than selling on marketplaces.

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

When I opened the box the Oura Ring 5 comes in, my first thought was, “Wow, that’s tiny.” My second thought was that this is a smart ring a lot of people have been waiting for. 

As someone who got quite used to wearing the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic, I was surprised how noticeably smaller and lighter the new Ring 5 is.

The Ring 5, which Oura describes as the world’s smallest smart ring, is 40% smaller than its predecessor, measuring 6.09 mm wide compared to the Ring 4’s 7.90 mm, and 2.28 mm thick compared to the Ring 4’s 2.88 mm. Although the exact weight depends on your ring size, the Ring 5 weighs between 2 grams and 2.69 grams, while the Ring 4 weighs between 3.3 grams and 5.2 grams. 

I found that these changes dramatically improve the ring’s comfort, and also make it more aesthetically pleasing compared to its predecessor. The ring no longer screams smart ring, and blends in with the rest of your jewelry. Oura says the Ring 5 is designed to look and feel like any other ring, and I think the company has achieved that. 

The Ring 5 starts at $399.

Whenever I saw people discussing Oura’s smart rings, there always seemed to be two opposing viewpoints. One side swore the ring had changed their life, and the other argued that it was too bulky and that they would never consider getting one. I think the Oura Ring 5 changes the game and appeals to a larger audience, including those who shied away from smart rings due to their bulkiness. 

Image Credits:Aisha Malik/TechCrunch

Oura was aware of the demand for a smaller ring. The company told me that users had been asking for a thinner and more compact design, prompting the company to comply. Of course, Oura has also had to update its rings in response to competition from subscription-free rivals like RingConn and Ultrahuman, both of which sell rings lighter than the Ring 4. 

While I never found the Oura Ring 4 overtly uncomfortable, the Ring 5 feels noticeably better on my finger. With the Ring 4, I was always aware that I was wearing it, but with this latest model, I often forget it’s there, which is great for people like me who don’t always wear jewelry. 

I also found that the ring’s smaller size makes it more comfortable to wear at night for tracking sleep and health metrics. A smart ring is more comfortable than a smartwatch for nighttime wear, and the Ring 5’s smaller design lets it be even less noticeable at night.

As for battery life, the Ring 5 lasts between six and nine days, compared to the five- to eight-day range on the Ring 4. In my experience, the improvement seems to hold up. The ring arrived 50% charged, and after about 30 minutes on the charger following the set-up process, it reached 75%. After five days of continuous wear, I still haven’t needed to charge it, and I’m down to about 25% battery. 

It’s worth mentioning that the Ring 5 comes in fewer sizes (sizes 6 to 13) than the Ring 4 (sizes 4 to 15). Oura told me that the fewer sizing options are due to the challenges of manufacturing smaller rings in the new form factor. The company said it chose to focus on the most popular sizes, and is monitoring demand for the discontinued sizes.

Image Credits:Oura

The Ring 5 comes in six finishes, including a redesigned Gold with a truer gold tone, an updated Deep Rose with a copper-like look, plus Silver, Brushed Silver, Black, and Stealth.

Oura sent me the Gold version, and I really like how it looks. Unlike previous gold Oura rings, this new color doesn’t have a yellow tinge to it, and instead has a subtler tone that feels closer to actual gold jewelry. It’s worth noting that the Gold finish, along with the Stealth and Deep Rose finishes, is priced at $499, exactly $100 more than the standard finishes. 

As for durability, Oura says the Ring 5 is more scratch-resistant than previous generations thanks to a new finishing technique, but I can’t fully speak to durability yet considering I’ve only had it for five days. There was a moment when I thought I had scratched the ring’s alignment guide line when I’d grabbed a rusty swing chain, but it turned out that rust had only rubbed on to the ring, and I was able to clean it off with a cloth.

Oura says the Ring 5’s new physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating process ensures the wearable retains its premium “out-of-the-box” look for longer. It will be interesting to see how this promise holds up.

The Oura Ring 5 is being launched alongside new software features that are also coming to the Oura Ring Gen3 and later products, including Blood Pressure Signals and Nighttime Breathing. I can’t speak to those yet, as they’re set to launch later this month. 

Overall, the Oura Ring 5 is a notable upgrade over the Ring 4 in terms of comfort and aesthetics, making it a great choice for anyone who has yet to buy a smart ring. As for people who already have the Oura Ring 4, the decision to upgrade depends on your budget and how much you value aesthetics, especially since the Ring 4 will get all of the new software updates.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

You bought an LG Gram, arguably one of the best ultrabooks ever made, but now it’s time to move on. Maybe you’re upgrading, maybe you’ve switched ecosystems, or maybe it’s simply no longer needed. Either way, you’re about to discover something that surprises a lot of American sellers: LG laptops are harder to flip in the US than you might expect.

This guide explains why, what that means for your resale price, and — most importantly — the absolute fastest way to get paid for your LG laptop without the drama of marketplace listings.

The LG Laptop Paradox: A Superstar Abroad, a Niche Brand at Home

If you’ve spent time in South Korea, you probably have seen LG Gram computers everywhere — in cafes, in schools, on subway commuters’ laps. That’s not a coincidence. LG Electronics is one of South Korea’s most trusted national brands, and the Gram line is a real cultural phenomenon there.

#1
Laptop brand among Koreans in their 20s (2018)

~9%
LG Electronics global laptop market share (2025)

24%
Lenovo US share — the American default

In Korea, the laptop brand competitiveness index consistently places LG at or near the top, trading the top spot with Samsung depending on the year. The Gram series, famous for its under-3-lb build and military-grade durability certification, resonates deeply with consumers who value premium portability.

Cross the Pacific, and the picture shifts dramatically. The US laptop market is dominated by Lenovo (approx. 24% market share), HP (approx. 20%), Dell (approx. 15%), and Apple (approx. 9%). LG USA doesn’t register in most US-focused market reports. While the brand has a loyal following among ultrabook enthusiasts and online tech reviewers, it simply does not have the same recognition here to drive strong second-hand demand.

Market Reality:

When fewer Americans want an LG laptop, the pool of private buyers willing to pay top dollar on eBay or Facebook Marketplace is smaller — meaning longer wait times and more lowball offers than you’d face selling a ThinkPad or MacBook of comparable specs.

Why This Matters for Your Resale Value

Resale value is driven by two main factors: hardware quality and buyer demand. LG Gram scores exceptionally on quality: these laptops use premium Intel chips, IPS panels, and magnesium-alloy chassis that hold up very well over time. But buyer demand in the US secondary market lags far behind brands like Apple and Lenovo, creating a gap between what your laptop is worth and what you can realistically get in a reasonable timeframe.

“While it may be easy to sell a popular gizmo, like the latest iPhone model, certain computers can be a tough sell.”
//from Gadget Salvation Blog

Speaking from experience, niche-brand laptops tend to sit for months on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and even eBay. You’ll encounter buyers who aren’t familiar with the Gram line, don’t understand its value proposition, and instinctively compare it to whatever Acer Aspire or Lenovo Ideapad all-plastic chassis computer they saw at Best Buy for $200 less.

Typical LG Gram Resale Value Retention

// BASED ON HISTORICAL ULTRABOOK RESALE TRENDS · US SECONDARY MARKET

NEW
2026

1 YEAR

2 YEARS

3 YEARS

4 YEARS

* Estimates based on observed LG Gram resale patterns in the US secondary market. Values vary by model year, RAM/storage config, condition, and timing.

The takeaway? The longer you wait to sell, the steeper the depreciation curve — and the smaller the pool of qualified US buyers for a niche brand, like LG. Speed matters.

The Fastest Way to Sell Your LG Laptop: Use a Buyback Service

The single fastest, most reliable way to sell a used LG laptop in the US is to use a dedicated electronics buyback platform, like Gadget Salvation, and we do accept a number of LG Gram models.

We have been purchasing pre-owned electronics since 2008 — before resale platforms were a thing — and have built a name for fast, transparent, no-hassle transactions. Unlike a typical store trade-in program (which pays in store credit, not cash), Gadget Salvation pays actual cash via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or check.

How it Works:

01

Get an instant offer

Browse our buyback database by brand and model. It includes well over 4,000 gadgets. If your exact LG model isn’t listed, use the Custom Quote email form, and we’ll let you know if we can make an offer.

02

Ship for free

Once you check out online, a prepaid shipping label is issued at no cost to you. Pack your laptop well, drop it at any UPS location, and you’re done with your part.

03

Receive funds within 1 business day

After we receive and inspect your LG Gram, payment is issued within one to two business days via your preferred method. No waiting weeks for a buyer to materialize.

Tips to Maximize Your LG Laptop’s Resale Value

Whether you go with Gadget Salvation or another route, these steps will help you extract maximum value from your used LG Gram.

1. Sell sooner rather than later

Every month you wait, the resale value ticks down. Intel-based Gram models from 2022–2023 remain competitive, but a new generation of AI-integrated ultrabooks has already entered the market. Don’t let a perfectly sellable laptop become a “vintage” one in a matter of months.

2. Be precise about specs

The resale price difference between an LG Gram with an Intel Core i5 11th-generation chip and an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H one is significant. Know your exact model number (e.g., 16Z90P, 14Z90R) and specs before you get an offer.

3. Assess and disclose the condition honestly

Cosmetic wear, battery health, and any functional issues all affect the offer. Be upfront: if Gadget Salvation or another buyer receives the laptop in worse condition than described, they’ll revise the offer or return the device. Honesty keeps the selling process smooth.

4. Factory reset before shipping

Wipe data before your LG laptop leaves your hands. On Windows: Go to Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC. This protects you and speeds up inspection at the buyer’s end.

5. Include accessories if you have them

The original charger is expected to be included. Boxes and sleeves won’t dramatically affect the offer, but can add a few extra dollars and speed up a private sale.

Selling an LG Laptop Online vs. Other Options

Buyback Service (Gadget Salvation)

• Payment in 1 business day — no waiting for buyers
• Postage cost included, no selling fees to deduct
• Cash payout via PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, or check
• No negotiations, no meetup follow-throughs
• Works for broken laptops, not just mint condition
• No risk: decline the offer and get your gadget back

Private Marketplace (eBay / FB Marketplace)

• LG brand recognition is low: Expect slower turnaround
• eBay fees eat 10–13% of your final sale price
• No-shows, scammers, and endless low-ball offers
• You handle shipping, disputes, and returns
• Price research required; easy to under or overprice
• Average sell time for niche laptops: 3 weeks to several months

The Bottom Line

LG makes exceptional laptops. The Gram series is versatile and offers some of the finest ultrabook engineering available — lightweight, durable, and surprisingly capable. But exceptional hardware doesn’t automatically translate to a fast, high-value resale in the US second-hand market, where LG simply doesn’t have the same brand recognition as Apple, Dell, or HP.

The smart move is to sell fast and sell to a buyer who already understands the value. Gadget Salvation fits that profile — we’ve been buying both niche and mainstream laptops since 2008, and the selling process requires almost no effort on your part.

Ready to sell your LG laptop?

Get an instant offer from Gadget Salvation — free shipping, speedy payment, zero risk.

Get My Free Quote →

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

The latest FA401GM ASUS TUF Gaming A14 model has a lot to offer. From the GeForce RTX 5060 upgrade to the MIL-STD-810H-certified chassis, all while staying under 4 lbs, the new A14 is the most portable TUF ever.

ASUS TUF Gaming A14 Key Specs at a Glance

Two configurations were launched at CES 2026. Our review focuses on the FA401GM — the gaming-first model pairing NVIDIA’s discrete RTX 5060 with AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 465 processor.

CPU

AMD Ryzen AI 9 465

10-core · 20-thread · up to 5.0 GHz · 34MB cache

GPU

RTX 5060 Laptop GPU

8 GB GDDR7 · 115W TGP · DLSS 4 · MUX Switch

NPU / AI

AMD XDNA · 50 TOPS

Copilot+ PC · Windows AI features

Display

14″ · 2560×1600 · IPS

165 Hz · 3ms · G-SYNC · sRGB 100% · 16:10

RAM

32 GB LPDDR5X-7500

Dual-channel · soldered · max 32 GB

Storage

1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe

2× M.2 2280 slots · up to 4 TB total

Battery

73 Wh

50% charge in ~30 min · USB-C 100W PD

Weight

1.46 kg (3.22 lbs)

Lightest RTX 5060 gaming laptop in class

Dimensions

312 × 220 × 16.9mm

CNC aluminum lid · diamond-cut underside

USB / Video Out

USB4 · USB-C · 2× USB-A

HDMI 2.1 FRL · DP via USB4 & USB-C

Storage I/O

microSD UHS-II

312 MB/s · 3.5mm combo audio jack

Wireless

Wi-Fi 6E · BT 5.3

Realtek 8852CE · 2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz

Keyboard

Backlit Chiclet

Redesigned for airflow · Copilot key

Cooling

Dual 97-blade fans

135W TDP max · 0dB silent mode · +15% airflow

OS

Windows 11 Home

Copilot+ PC certified · also available no OS

Design & Build

Right out of the box, the first thing that stands out is just how light the new ASUS TUF Gaming A14 is (3.22 lbs). ASUS achieved this through a CNC-machined aluminum lid with geometric diamond-shaped cutouts in the underside that double as air intake vents. It looks intentional rather than cheap.

The chassis earns its MIL-STD-810H certification through a battery of tests covering temperature extremes, vibration, humidity, and drop resistance. It doesn’t feel fragile — there’s almost no flex in the lid or keyboard base. The hinge is firm without being stiff. Overall, A14 sports a precision finish that elevates it above typical plastic-heavy gaming laptops at this price.

***THERMAL DESIGN NOTE***

The redesigned keyboard now actively contributes to airflow, and the 97-blade fans draw in 15% more air than the first-gen A14. In practice, the laptop runs remarkably cool to the touch under sustained workloads — an area where heavier competitors often lose.

Display

The 14-inch 2560×1600 (2.5K) IPS panel is a highlight — literally. Running at a 16:10 aspect ratio at 165 Hz with a 3ms response time, it’s an excellent canvas for both gaming and content work. G-SYNC support (via MUX Switch + Optimus) means tearing is essentially absent once you flip into dGPU-only mode. Colors cover 100% of sRGB, which is accurate and punchy for gaming and everyday media consumption.

One honest critique: At a borderline premium price, the absence of an OLED or DCI-P3 panel feels like a letdown. Rivals like the ROG Zephyrus G14 have trained buyers to expect OLED at this weight class. That said, for gaming specifically — where response time and refresh rate trump panel type — the IPS here more than holds its own.

ASUS TUF Gaming A14 Gaming Performance

The RTX 5060 Laptop GPU at 115W TGP in Manual Mode is a meaningful jump from the constrained 80W–90W implementations common in ultra-thin notebooks. Blackwell architecture with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation means the A14 can punch above its GPU tier in supported titles.

In practice: Cyberpunk 2077 at 2.5K with Ultra settings + DLSS Quality lands comfortably in the 70–90 FPS range. At 1080p, competitive titles hit well above 120 FPS. The MUX Switch makes a measurable difference — bypassing the iGPU drops latency and recovers roughly 10–15% GPU performance in demanding scenes.

⚠ FA401EA WARNING:

The alternative FA401EA model (Ryzen AI Max+ 392 + Radeon 8060S) trades the discrete RTX 5060 for a powerful integrated APU. Tom’s Hardware found it adequate for moderate gaming but a weak value at ~$2,200 versus the RTX 5060 model at $1,500 or less. Unless you specifically need unified memory for AI or creative workflows, the FA401GM is the better pick.

Silent Mode: A Sleeper Feature

ASUS’s 0dB Ambient Cooling cuts the fans entirely during light workloads, letting the chassis dissipate heat passively. Essentially, streaming videos and browsing are all done “fanless”. This is not a small thing for a gaming laptop. The fans auto-resume when temperatures rise, making it usable as a quiet daily driver rather than just a gaming rig.

How It Compares: 14-Inch Gaming Laptop Showdown

The 14-inch gaming laptop space has never been more competitive. Here’s how the ASUS TUF Gaming A14 stacks up against its most direct rivals in 2026:

The TUF A14 wins decisively on weight, GPU power per dollar, and thermal management. It loses the display comparison — the Zephyrus G14 and Razer Blade 14 both offer OLED at their respective price points. The Blade 14, in particular, is a stunning computer, but at nearly double the price, it’s in a different product category.

Resale Value & Long-Term Ownership

Gaming laptops depreciate, but they don’t depreciate equally. The ASUS TUF line has historically lost salvage faster than competitors, but durable build and the continued upgrades the series receives each year are earning it increasing recognition in the secondhand market.

For the best experience reselling your used laptop when you’re ready to upgrade, why not start with Gadget Salvation — a trusted platform that offers instant valuations and quick cash payment for used ASUS laptops, including the TUF Gaming line. Our transparent pricing and straightforward process make getting value back on your aging tech genuinely painless.

NEW
2026

1 YEAR
~2027

2 YEARS
~2028

3 YEARS
~2029

4 YEARS
~2030

Year 1 Retention

68%

Above gaming avg.

Year 2 Retention

56%

Strong mid-life value

Sell-Sweet Spot

Yr 1–2

Before next GPU gen

💡

Ready to sell your ASUS TUF? Get an instant quote at
Gadget Salvation
— fast payment, no hassle, competitive pricing on used gaming laptops.

* Projections based on historical ASUS TUF resale trends via Gadget Salvation market data.
Actual values vary by condition, configuration, and market timing.

Verdict: Who Should Buy It?

Buy the ASUS TUF Gaming A14 if you want the most gaming GPU power available in a sub-4-lb chassis without paying the Razer Blade or Predator Triton 14 AI kind of price. You care about thermals — this thing runs cool and silent when you need it to. You travel frequently and need a machine that won’t wreck your back. You’re a student who needs a workhorse for games.

Look elsewhere if: Display quality is your top priority, in which case the Zephyrus G14’s OLED is worth paying more for. You need more than 32 GB RAM (soldered, not upgradeable).

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the ASUS TUF Gaming A14 laptop cost?

The FA401GM (Ryzen AI 9 465 + RTX 5060) starts around $1,299 (on sale). The FA401EA (Ryzen AI Max+ 392 + Radeon 8060S) launched at Best Buy for $2,199. For gaming, the RTX 5060 variation is the clear value winner.

Can I upgrade RAM on the 2026 TUF Gaming A14 model?

No, the RAM is soldered onto the motherboard, and there are no additional RAM slots. The FA401GM ships with 32 GB LPDDR5X-7500 in dual-channel and cannot be expanded. Storage is a different story: dual M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 slots let you add or swap SSDs up to 4 TB total.

How does it compare to the ROG Zephyrus G14?

The Zephyrus G14 is ASUS’s premium thin-and-light gaming laptop, offering a superior OLED display and a more refined build. It typically costs $300–$400 more for a comparable GPU tier. The TUF A14 wins on GPU power-per-dollar and thermal headroom; the G14 wins on display quality and looks.

Does the TUF 14 support gast charging?

Yes. The 73 Wh battery supports fast charging via the included 100W USB-C adapter, reaching 50% capacity in approximately 30 minutes at optimal temperatures (68–110°F). The USB4 port also supports third-party USB-C charging.

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

If you are an Apple device user who has ever tried and failed to find an email message that you know you’ve received, or a photo you know you’ve taken, has Apple got news for you. The company said Monday at its WWDC 2026 event that it realized Search didn’t work well. So, it has completely rebuilt it.

“We’ve all had that moment where you search for something you know is there, but it just won’t show up,” Stacey Ford, vice president of OS Program Management, said during the WWDC opening keynote. “So on iOS, iPadOS and macOS, we’ve rebuilt the foundation of search that powers Spotlight, Photos, and Mail. At its core is the Search Index, a rich catalog your device builds of all your content, so it can understand what you have and where to find it.”

Ford says that the company re-architected Search so it will reindex both new and older content. Perhaps most hopeful of all, she said that the mail app will get a new “ranking system” that should surface the mail you are looking for, whenever it was sent.

As a long-time iPhone user myself, I have my fingers crossed that Apple’s new search system will work as promised. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to find a travel itinerary or an email about something important that my husband (an Android user) sent me, only for the device to confidently present me with an old email that doesn’t even include the terms I’ve searched for.

And, if it can help me find the photo I’m seeking, too, hurrah!

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Over the last five years, the consumer tech industry has witnessed a massive paradigm shift. Once dominated by an unyielding cycle of “buy new, upgrade yearly, discard old,” the electronics industry has evolved to embrace recommerce (reverse commerce). Between 2021 and 2026, the second-hand and refurbished electronics market actually continued to transform from a niche arena for bargain hunters into a mainstream, multi-billion-dollar economic powerhouse.

Driven by shifting consumer values, macroeconomic pressures, and structural changes in technology, the tech resale market has rewritten the rules of retail.

Electronics is now the fastest-rising resale segment — projected to climb from 16% to 20% of the global market by 2036. Refurbished gadgets, once viewed as a last resort, are becoming the mainstream choice for cost-conscious and environmentally aware buyers alike.

A Five-Year Timeline

Major Shifts in the Tech Resale Market (2021–2026)

Several core catalysts have accelerated the growth of the tech resale ecosystem over the last five years:

1. Premium Pricing and Inflationary Pressures

The price of flagship smartphones, laptops, and gaming consoles has steadily climbed. With new premium cellphones and AI-capable laptops pushing well past the $1,000 mark, consumers have faced tightening household budgets due to inflation. Recommerce has provided a vital alternative, allowing individuals to access high-quality, relatively recent tech at a fraction of the retail cost.

2. The Rise of the Green Consumer and Circular Economy

Environmental consciousness has migrated from marketing buzzwords to an active driver of consumer behavior, particularly among Gen Z and Millennials. E-waste is one of the fastest-growing environmental crises globally. Buying refurbished and pre-owned gadgets or responsibly recycling old ones is now viewed as an ethical imperative. Extending a device’s lifecycle by just a few years dramatically slashes its carbon and mining footprint.

3. Legislative and Regulatory Momentum

The “Right to Repair” movement resulted in historic legislative acts in several states (including CA, MA, MN, and NY). These laws forced original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to provide better access to parts, tools, and manuals. This unlocked a steady supply of repairable inventory for refurbishers, standardizing quality and boosting consumer trust in second-hand electronics.

4. The Rise of Buyback Platforms

In the past five years, electronics buyback platforms have gained greater trust and popularity among used-tech resellers, prompting a shift away from peer-to-peer models. Completing a transaction in under a week via an online platform became preferable to meetups for many consumers, given the challenges of handling lowball offers, data security, and shipping logistics.

Navigating the Ecosystem: Where Consumers Go

The current tech resale landscape is broadly split into three spaces:

• OEM & Big Retail Trade-ins: Programs run by Apple, Samsung, Best Buy, or mobile carriers. While convenient, they often tie consumers to specific store credits or lock them into long-term carrier contracts.
• Marketplace Aggregators: Platforms like Back Market or Swappa, which host third-party sellers. These are great for buyers, but still require sellers to manage listings or wait for a buyer to bite.
• Direct BuyBack Sites: Services that buy pre-owned electronics directly from consumers, inspect them, and pay out cash. This is where long-standing platforms like Gadget Salvation have cemented their value.

Gadget Salvation: Streamlining the Resale Process

Founded in 2008 with a mission to reduce e-waste by keeping dated technology in circulation, Gadget Salvation is an example of how direct-to-platform resale has perfected the user experience to meet modern consumer demands.

Because we handle the entire resale process in-house — rather than acting as a marketplace middleman — we can pass back more of the sale proceeds to the seller. Here is how we stand out:

Algorithmic, Real-Time Valuation

Our platform uses a proprietary pricing algorithm that pulls real-time resale data from major e-commerce platforms and calculates offers based on that information. A seller can go on our site, look up their specific device type (ranging from Windows laptops and MacBooks to iPhones, gaming consoles, and smartwatches), brand, and specs, checkmark its cosmetic and functional condition from the options menu, and receive an instant quote.

Risk-Free Transaction

One of the historical deterrents of online resale was shipping costs and transit risks. Gadget Salvation removes this barrier by providing a free, prepaid shipping label. If, after arrival, our technicians find that its condition doesn’t match the user’s initial description, we’ll follow up with an adjusted offer. If the seller declines, our team ships the device back normally at no extra charge (unless it does not meet the requirements outlined in the Service Agreement).

Speed and Payout Flexibility

Amazon Prime spoiled us: We now expect things to arrive quickly all the time, so when it comes to resale, consumers also expect rapid liquidity. We sped up the turnaround by eliminating the wait for mailers and offering digital labels instead, saving sellers a solid week. Once a package reaches Gadget Salvation’s HQ, it is inspected within one to two business days. Rather than forcing sellers to accept store gift cards or wait weeks for a paper check, we offer the most popular instant digital payment options, including Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, and PayPal (alongside traditional checks). The entire process—from dropping a box at a UPS store to cash in hand—is compressed into a matter of days.

Data Security

At Gadget Salvation, we use NIST-compliant data erasure software as part of our standard electronics processing. Every gadget is wiped beyond a simple factory reset, and failing or non-readable storage drives are physically destroyed and then recycled, giving sellers peace of mind.

Conclusion: Sustainability Has Never Mattered More to Consumers

Beyond the financial calculus, resale is now deeply tied to environmental consciousness. Electronics manufacturing is resource-demanding (mining rare earth materials, energy-hungry fabrication, global shipping). And every used/refurbished gadget that finds a second owner delays the production of a new one.

Platforms like ours have been built around this mission since their inception, re-routing working gadgets from landfills and reconditioning them for continued use. As consumers increasingly factor a device’s resale potential into their original purchase decisions, a habit currently practiced by only 30% of buyers, but one that is growing, the circular economy is steadily becoming the norm.

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

For over a decade, Apple executives (dating back to Steve Jobs himself) insisted that touchscreens didn’t belong on a MacBook. But times change, and so does Apple’s design philosophy.

As we enter the second half of 2026, the tech community is buzzing with reports of supply chain leaks and analyst reports pointing to the most radical laptop redesign that Cupertino has ever attempted: the first-ever touchscreen MacBook Pro. Armed with a Tandem OLED display, a next-generation M6 chip, and a brand-new interface, this laptop is set to rewrite the rules of macOS.

Here is a detailed breakdown of everything we know so far about the upcoming MacBook Pro touchscreen model, its expected specs, and whether you should save your money or wait for this historic release.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

When Will the MacBook Pro Touchscreen Come Out? (Release Date)

Following the March 2026 rollout of the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros, Apple is already looking toward its next massive hardware cycle.

According to seasoned Apple analysts like Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and Ming-Chi Kuo, the touchscreen version of the MacBook Pro is currently scheduled for a late 2026 or early 2027 release.

• The Optimistic Timeline (Late 2026): Mass production on the touch-capable OLED panels has reportedly begun ahead of schedule. If Apple clears its manufacturing checkpoints, a special keynote in October or November 2026 is highly likely.

M6 MacBook Pro — Release Timeline

2023 — First Reports

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman first floats the idea of a touchscreen MacBook, dismissed widely as speculation.

September 2025 — Analyst Confirmation

Ming-Chi Kuo publishes supply chain research pointing to late-2026 mass production for an OLED MacBook Pro with on-cell touch tech.

October 2025 — Bloomberg Detail

Gurman reports the machines are codenamed K114 (14-inch) and K116 (16-inch), confirming a late 2026 to early 2027 target launch window.

February 2026 — Deep Detail

A major Bloomberg report reveals Dynamic Island, OLED display, macOS 27 touch optimizations, and confirms the M6 Pro / M6 Max chipset pairing.

May 2026 — Samsung Production Begins

Samsung Display reportedly begins mass-producing the Tandem OLED panels. Foxconn assembly expected to begin Q3 2026. Chip shortages may push the full launch toward early 2027.

• The Delayed Timeline (Early 2027): More recent supply chain reports cite global SSD/RAM component shortages and “supply chain snags” regarding the new display assembly. If these bottlenecks persist, the release could slide into the first quarter of 2027.

Regardless of the exact date, the touchscreen model is being positioned as a celebration of the MacBook Pro’s 20th anniversary, making a late 2026 launch the target Apple is aiming for.

What the Touchscreen MacBook Pro M6 is Expected to Offer

Apple isn’t just slapping a touch digitizer onto the existing MacBook architecture; they are completely re-engineering the laptop. Here are the groundbreaking specs expected for the 14-inch and 16-inch models:

1. Ultra Retina XDR Tandem OLED Display

Say goodbye to Mini-LED. The new MacBook Pro will borrow the Tandem OLED technology first seen in the iPad Pro. By stacking two OLED panels, the screen will achieve infinite contrast ratios, pitch-black dark modes, and unprecedented HDR peak brightness—all while drawing less power. Naturally, this panel will feature multi-touch integration.

2. The Dynamic Island Comes to Mac (Goodbye, Notch!)

The controversial display notch introduced in 2021 is finally on its way out. Leaks suggest Apple will transition to a punch-hole camera design integrated with software-based Dynamic Island functionality. Adapted for macOS, this digital island will expand and contract to show background tasks, rendering progress, AirDrop transfers, and system alerts.

3. Next-Gen Apple M6 Pro & M6 Max Chips (2nm Architecture)

While the current M5 line is incredibly fast, the touchscreen MacBook Pro is expected to debut the M6 series silicon. Built on TSMC’s cutting-edge 2-nanometer (2nm) process, the M6 chip will focus heavily on next-level on-device AI efficiency, massive graphics processing improvements, and thermal regulation to keep the laptop cool.

4. Re-Engineered Hinge and Ultra-Thin Frame

To address Steve Jobs’ original critique of touchscreen laptops, Apple is redesigning the MacBook chassis. The laptop will feature a significantly thinner, lighter aluminum frame and a reinforced friction hinge. A stiffer hinge is meant to prevent the display from wobbling or flexing backward when you tap, swipe, or pinch-to-zoom on the screen.

5. Built-in 5G Connectivity & N1 Wireless Chip

For professionals on the go, the MacBook Pro touchscreen variation is rumored to offer an optional built-in 5G cellular modem (Apple’s proprietary C-series chip). Additionally, it will pack the N1 networking chip to deliver blazing-fast Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 performance.

How Will the Touchscreen Work on macOS 27?

The most important thing to understand about the M6 MacBook Pro touchscreen is that Apple is not trying to turn it into an iPad. Touch is being positioned as a complementary input method, not a replacement for the keyboard and trackpad that define the Mac experience.

Instead, macOS will introduce a dynamic interface mode that detects when touch input is being used and adapts accordingly. When the system detects a touch, UI elements like menu bar items will expand into larger, finger-friendly controls. Switch back to the trackpad and everything returns to its traditional, compact dimensions.

Touch Gestures Coming to macOS

Familiar iOS and iPadOS gestures are expected to be natively supported, including fast scrolling, pinch-to-zoom on images, PDFs, and web pages, and swipe-based window and desktop management. The emoji picker is also reportedly getting a touch-optimized interface, letting users tap characters directly on-screen.

Is It a Worthy Upgrade for Apple Users?

As with any major redesign, a major price hike is to be expected. Premium components like Tandem OLED and a 2nm M6 chip mean the touchscreen MacBook Pro will likely cost a few hundred dollars more than the current M5 MacBook Pro models.

So, should you buy one?

Who Should WAIT for the Touchscreen MacBook Pro:

• Digital artists & content creators: If you frequently jump between an iPad Pro and a Mac to sketch, edit, or control complex UI layouts, a unified touch-enabled MacBook Pro should significantly streamline your workflow.
• Power users & early adopters: If you want a future-proof Mac with 5G connectivity, an OLED display, and the absolute latest 2nm M6 processing power, this will be the gold standard.
• Windows converts: If you’ve stayed on Windows simply because you love touchscreen ultrabooks like the Dell XPS or Microsoft Surface, this is the laptop you’ve been waiting for.

Who Should SKIP It:

• Traditionalists: If you strictly use a mouse and keyboard and find the idea of fingerprints on a laptop screen frustrating, the touch features will offer you no real value.
• Budget-conscious buyers: The current M5 MacBook Pro models (released in early 2026) already deliver staggering speed and AI efficiency. If you don’t need a touchscreen, there is no reason to upgrade so soon.

Sell Your Current Mac Before the M6 Arrives

Here’s a truth that doesn’t get enough attention in upgrade conversations: MacBooks have the best resale value retention of any laptop brand. A three-year-old MacBook Pro typically retains between 50–60% of its original purchase price. A comparable Windows laptop at the same age is often worth 20 cents on the dollar.

That also means resale value is highest right now, before the touchscreen MacBook Pro release date is officially announced. History consistently shows that MacBook resale prices drop 10–20% within weeks of a major new release.

M6 MacBook Pro: Projected Resale Value Retention

ESTIMATED BASED ON HISTORICAL MACBOOK PRO RESALE DATA

NEW
2026-2027

1 YEAR

2 YEARS

3 YEARS

4 YEARS

* Projections based on historical MacBook Pro resale trends. Actual values vary by condition, configuration, and market timing.

The implication is clear: to get the maximum value back, sell your current MacBook before the M6 announcement, not after. You’ll pocket considerably more money (or trade-in credit)-whichever reselling method you’ll end up choosing.

♻️

Sell Your Mac with Gadget Salvation

When it comes to selling used computers, Gadget Salvation is the smart choice. We offer instant quotes, free shipping, and fast payment via an app of seller’s choice. No haggling, no fees, no waiting for a buyer to show up. Gadget Salvation specializes in electronics resale, meaning we understand Mac pricing better than most.

If you’re planning to upgrade to the M6 MacBook Pro, sell your current Mac now, before the announcement eats into its buyback value.

Sell My MacBook Pro Now →

The Bottom Line

The first-ever touchscreen MacBook Pro won’t be a gimmick. It is meant to represent a carefully considered shift in Apple’s platform strategy, one that the brand has resisted for over a decade. Touch on macOS 27 is designed to complement, not replace, the keyboard and trackpad. Tandem OLED is a leap in laptop displays. Dynamic Island is a hardware+software unification that makes the entire Apple ecosystem feel more coherent. And the M6 chip — Apple’s first on a 2nm process — will be the fastest, most efficient Mac silicon ever made.

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

There’s nothing worse than going to a dinner with a big group of friends, opting out of drinking to save money, but then still having to pay for your friends’ espresso martinis when the group decides to split the bill evenly. You don’t want to come off cheap and make everyone wait while you recalculate the bill. Now, Apple has a solution for this, which it unveiled at WWDC 2026.

With the new feature, you can point your iPhone camera at a receipt. Then Siri mode in the Camera app will make each item selectable so that you can keep track of who got each item, and send people separate Apple Cash payment requests depending on what they actually ordered. Ideally, this feature should make bill splitting a less awkward and drawn-out experience.

“If you’re grabbing a bite with friends and point your iPhone at the bill, then [you can] select what you ordered to split the tab with Apple Cash,” said Apple VP of Software Sebastien Marineau-Mes during Apple’s presentation.

This kind of bill-splitting was already available with apps like SplitWise or Tab, but realistically, these products never got that popular (at least in my experience; no one has ever offered to use one of those tools). Since Apple’s payment features exist within the architecture of native apps like iMessage, it feels more organic to send someone a payment request through an app that they don’t have to go out of their way to download.

You might also use another similar Siri mide in Camera feature while out to dinner — instead of pointing your camera at the bill, you can use it to see estimated nutrition information about the food you’re eating.

Catch up on WWDC 2026

Everything announced, from start to finish

Siri AI’s update, explained

All the new AI features coming to Apple Photos

Apple Intelligence’s updates coming this year

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

The vibe of Apple’s 2026 WWDC event felt like a spouse proudly listing all the items on a honey-do-list they’d finally completed. Rather than showcase something exciting and new, Apple launched the keynote detailing fixes to last year’s “Liquid Glass” design; an overhaul of its awful search function; improvements to its Playground feature; and so on.

Perhaps most importantly, two years after promising but failing to launch a smarter Siri, Apple finally showed off an overhauled version of its AI-powered voice assistant.

But the most telling detail wasn’t what Apple announced. It was how it chose to show some things off. Many of the Apple Intelligence demoes featured someone standing, phone in hand, pressing buttons or using voice commands in real time, while another camera showed off the phone’s response.

These weren’t live onstage, anything-could-go wrong demos; they were pre-taped. But they looked far more like proof of working features than what Apple showed at WWDC 2024, when the company unveiled Apple Intelligence and a new Siri to the world through slickly produced videos that turned out to be more promise than product.

Apple WWDC 2026 iOS 27 demoImage Credits:Apple/screenshot

This demonstration style was noticed, with comments on X on Monday comparing today’s keynote to those 2024 so-called “vaporware” demos.

Apple said at that time that the features would be available soon to those who upgraded to the iPhone 15 Pro and newer devices with M1 chips or better. But by March 2025, Apple admitted to Daring Fireball that rolling out the features shown via production video was “going to take us longer than we thought to deliver.” Not long after, the Cupertino company faced a lawsuit in federal court alleging false advertising over the features shown at that 2024 event — a case that carried real reputational risk for a company whose brand has long been built on the promise that its products just work.

Last month, Apple agreed to pay a $250 million settlement on the suit, without admitting wrongdoing.

Monday’s presentation appeared designed, at least in part, to avoid a repeat. There were still plenty of fully produced videos of features, like the one showing how to adjust Siri’s voice and another demonstrating improved voice-to-text transcription. But many of the AI features were shown in this “live-like” format, with someone using the feature on an actual device. The implicit message being that these features work on actual devices, and you will soon have them.

Apple WWDC 2026 iOS 27 demoImage Credits:Apple/screenshot

Apple also is not requiring users to buy the latest iPhone to get these features. The new Siri will be available through the new iOS 27 on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max and all iPhone 16 models and later, according to the company. The current model is the iPhone 17, meaning most users who upgraded in the past couple of years won’t need to buy new hardware to get access.

It’s a concession, perhaps, that Apple won’t lock the features behind new devices to create upgrade pressure when it promised, two years ago, that such features would be available on iPhone 15.

Apple also said the new features will be available across its broader hardware lineup, including the iPad mini (A17 Pro), iPad models with M1 or later, MacBook Neo (A18 Pro), Mac models with M1 or later, Apple Vision Pro, Apple Watch Series 10 or later, Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later, and Apple Watch SE 3 when paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone nearby.

Catch up on WWDC 2026

Everything announced, from start to finish

Siri AI’s update, explained

All the new AI features coming to Apple Photos

Apple Intelligence’s updates coming this year

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

I’ve struggled with insomnia since I was very young. Like many chronic overthinkers, I tend to fall asleep best when my mind is occupied by something else, such as podcasts, YouTube compilations, or my personal favorite: rain sounds. But earbuds can be uncomfortable, and playing audio out loud isn’t exactly considerate when I’m staying at my partner’s place. 

That’s why I was intrigued by the new Peace Duo Under-Pillow Speaker from Jabees.

Launched last month, this ultra-thin speaker utilizes bone conduction technology — which sends vibrations through your skull directly to your inner ear — to transmit sound through your pillow and into your ear privately. Just place it beneath your pillow and listen as you drift off.

In my testing, I found the Peace Duo was so thin that I almost forgot it was there. I mainly used the built-in sleep sounds, which come preloaded on a micro SD card with four hours of soothing soundscapes, including gentle waves, light rain, rain with thunder, and soft wind. For more personal content, the Peace Duo also offers Bluetooth connectivity, so you can connect your phone and stream your favorite audio.

Image Credits:Jabees

Battery life is another standout. A single charge lasts up to 10 nights of one-hour listening sessions, so you won’t have to remember yet another device that requires nightly charging. The foldable design also makes it easy to put away in the included magnetic fabric travel case.

There is one important caveat: It doesn’t work well with thick memory foam pillows. Unfortunately, that’s what I normally use, so I switched to a regular cotton pillow and the sound came through clearly. (The company claims that thinner memory foam pillows should work fine.)

Image Credits:Jabees

Priced at $59.99, the Peace Duo comes in two colors: Sunrise Yellow and Mist Green. It also offers personalization; users can swap out the magnetic snap-on frames for custom images and even add their names, making it a great gift for families, students, or anyone who needs extra help getting restful sleep.

The Peace Duo won’t cure insomnia, but it’s a practical, unobtrusive sleep gadget — and for what the company is charging, it’s a small price for a decent night’s sleep.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

I work from home, so I typically listen to audio through headphones or AirPods. But I’ve always wanted a desk speaker that doesn’t take up too much space, which made the new Sonos Play a fitting first Sonos product to review.

The Play, launched in March, is Sonos’ first new device in more than a year. The $299 speaker is a hybrid: part home speaker, part portable. It sits on your desk in a pill-shaped dock, but at 1.3 kilograms, with a “utility loop” on the back, it’s easy to carry around the house or take outside.

Image Credits:Sonos

While testing it, I often started a podcast at my desk and carried the Play to the kitchen while I cooked or made coffee. The advantage over wearing AirPods is that you remain aware of your surroundings — no more missing what someone across the room is saying. And you don’t need to rely on voice commands to control playback; the Sonos Assistant and Alexa are both built in.

Physical controls are another advantage. Skipping tracks or adjusting volume with greasy hands is awkward on AirPods; the Play’s buttons are more forgiving. That said, the controls themselves are easy to miss — they’re the same color as the silicone top and barely raised above the surface. After a few days I had memorized their positions, but the learning curve is a minor frustration that better contrast or more tactile buttons could have avoided.

Image Credits:Ivan Mehta

The speaker is sturdy and IP67-rated, meaning it can handle rain and brief submersion — I ran it under a tap without issue. It can also charge your phone in a pinch, doubling as a power bank, which is a welcome feature for outdoor use.

For sound, the Play relies on dual-angled tweeters, a mid-woofer, and three digital amplifiers, with two passive radiators to reinforce bass outdoors. The result is balanced and detailed at moderate volumes — instrument separation is particularly good. The soundstage is narrow, though, meaning the music can feel somewhat contained rather than expansive, and at higher volumes the mix loses some of its clarity.

The Play is well-suited to a desk or a patio; it isn’t trying to fill a room. For that, Sonos’ Era 100 SL — which launched alongside the Play — is the better choice. Two Play units can be paired into a stereo configuration, either through the app or, more cleverly, by holding the play/pause button on both speakers simultaneously. It’s a useful feature that makes a noticeable difference for music, though less so for television audio — which these speakers aren’t really designed for anyway.

Image Credits:Sonos

Sonos has also built in Trueplay, which uses the speaker’s microphones to automatically calibrate sound based on the room. Earlier versions of this feature required waving your phone around the space to tune the audio — an awkward workaround that would have made little sense on a portable speaker. The new implementation handles it automatically.

Sonos has had well-publicized struggles with its app — disappearing speakers, glitchy volume controls — and while the company has made meaningful improvements, a few rough edges remain. Sync between the Play and my MacBook was occasionally laggy, for example, and playing or pausing audio on YouTube sometimes produced a noticeable delay before the speaker responded.

Switching audio between speakers worked reliably through AirPlay but failed repeatedly in the Sonos app until I installed the Apple Music integration — and even then, the process is more cumbersome than it should be.

The “Apply” button in the Sonos app, required to confirm speaker changes, feels like an unnecessary extra step. AirPlay handles the same action with a single tap.

Pocket Casts integration has a resuming bug: podcasts restart from the beginning rather than picking up where you left off.

Overall, the Sonos Play is a solid speaker that largely delivers on its premise. The app issues are real but not dealbreakers, and Sonos has shown it is willing to iterate. If portability isn’t a priority, the Era 100 ($219) or Era 100 SL ($189) offer more volume for less money. If you want something more rugged and truly portable, the Sonos Roam 2 or JBL Charge 6 are worth considering. But if you want a speaker that works equally well on a desk and a back porch, the Play makes a convincing case for itself.

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When investing in a premium personal computer, the initial price tag is only a part of the financial equation. The other, often overlooked aspect is residual value: how much of that money you can get back when it is time to upgrade. Historically, Apple’s computer lineup has run circles around its Windows competitors, treating Mac owners to significantly softer depreciation curves. However, not all Macs lose value at the same pace.

Whether you are a student eyeing an entry-level laptop or a creative professional configuring a powerhouse workstation, understanding how different models age can save you thousands of dollars. Let’s break down the data to see which Mac model is the reigning value-retention champion.

Why Every Mac Owner Worries About Resale Value

When you spend $1,200 or $3,500 on a laptop, what happens to that money two years later isn’t an afterthought — it’s part of the total cost of ownership. And here, Macs have an enviable track record. Apple Silicon models retain 55–75% of their retail price after one year, and 40–60% after two years — numbers that Windows laptops simply can’t match in the same category.

But not all Macs depreciate equally. The chip generation, RAM configuration, and model tier you choose at purchase will dramatically shape what you can recover when it’s time to upgrade.

The single biggest factor? Chip generation. Each new generation adds approx. $100 more to resale value. An M1 MacBook Air nets $180-200 in 2026, while an M3 Air gets $430–470 — same form factor, completely different market.

Best Used Mac Models to Sell in 2026

Here’s how the current lineup stacks up — ranked by how much of your original purchase price you can expect to recover.

Resale Value Retention At-A-Glance

Mac Model Avg. Year 1 RetentionAvg. Year 3 RetentionPrimary Value DriversMacBook Air (Base Specs)50% – 65%43% – 50%Massive student demand, low initial entry costMacBook Pro 14″ (Base)60% – 70%45% – 50%XDR Display, high port layout, active cooling appealMacBook Pro 16″ (Maxed Specs)55% – 68%35% – 40%Niche pro buyers, massive custom markup lossMac Studio & Desktops50% – 60%40% – 45%Workstation stability, specific professional target audience

The Clear Winner: MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max

No other Mac holds value like a MacBook Pro. A base 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro that retailed for $1,599 currently sells for approximately $999 on eBay — a decent return on each dollar spent after two years of ownership. Configured pre-owned Pro 16 models with M4 Pro or M4 Max chips also yield a decent cashback on the resale markets.

The reason is simple: creative professional audience (video editors, developers, 3D artists) needs sustained performance and doesn’t compromise. Max chip configurations are also comparatively rare on the secondhand market, which supports solid pricing through basic supply dynamics. At the same time, limited audiences mean lower demand, which, in turn, drives prices down.

Why the MacBook Air is a Close Second

If you are looking for the absolute safest way to get into the Apple ecosystem, the base-configuration 13-inch MacBook Air gets you there. It sells faster than any other Mac on the resale market because more buyers can use it. The M3 and M4 Air models, in particular, with 16GB of RAM, have become the sweet spot — they appeal to students, remote workers, and casual creatives alike. That wide buyer pool translates to faster sales while still maintaining competitive pricing.

One important caveat: the 8GB RAM configurations are depreciating faster than they used to. As Apple Intelligence and modern apps push memory requirements upward, buyers in 2026 are specifically filtering for 16GB configurations.

The Depreciation Traps: What Loses Value Fastest?

To maximize your return on investment, it is just as vital to understand which Mac setups decline the fastest in depreciation. The data highlights two massive traps:

1. High-End Custom Configurations (“BTO/CTO”)

If you purchase a MacBook Pro and max out the specifications to 96GB of RAM and a 4TB or 8TB SSD, you are paying a massive, non-recoverable premium. On the secondary market, a buyer looking for a used Mac will compare your listing to the base model. While they might pay a slight premium for your upgraded storage, they will come nowhere near compensating you for the hefty upgrades Apple initially charged you.

2. High-Tier Desktop Workstations

Computers like the Mac Studio and high-end Mac Pro face niche-market demand. Because technology in professional spaces moves exceptionally fast, businesses looking for Max or Ultra chips usually buy brand new to secure warranties and instant corporate tax write-offs. Consequently, used desktop workstations see a much shallower pool of individual buyers.

How to Maximize Your Mac’s Resale Value

Getting the most money for your used Mac is about preparation and timing. A few simple steps can meaningfully increase the amount of money you recover.

Sell before a new launch: Apple typically updates the MacBook Pro in October–November and the MacBook Air in March–April. Values can drop 10–17% in the days following a keynote announcement. Pay attention to each press release, however, because those cycles shift. For example, the upcoming release of the touchscreen MacBook Pro will likely alter this schedule. In any case, the sweet spot for selling is 4–6 weeks before an expected announcement cycle.

Clean, reset, and document: A factory reset, clean keyboard, and a screen free of fingerprints and scratches signal to buyers that the computer was well cared for throughout its lifecycle. Take clear photos in natural light. Include original accessories, even the box, if you still have it.

Use a reputable resale service. When it comes to getting a fair price without the hassle of listing and negotiating, Gadget Salvation is a go-to for many Mac owners. We buy a variety of used MacBook models, providing competitive instant valuations, cover shipping costs, and pay quickly — no waiting for a buyer, no replying to endless lowball offers on marketplaces. Whether your MacBook is in perfect condition or has seen better days, Gadget Salvation will make an offer.

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Mac Resale Value: Your Questions Answered

Do Apple Silicon Macs hold value better than older Intel models?

Yes, exponentially better. The shift to M-series chips completely altered the landscape. Intel-based Macs plummeted in value because modern software and modern macOS releases are optimized entirely for Apple Silicon architecture.

Does trading directly with Apple give the best value?

Not necessarily. Apple Trade-In provides maximum convenience but often offers the lowest financial return (unless the seller takes advantage of the incentives Apple offers with each new product release). In most cases, selling your Mac privately or through an established third-party resale platform can net you 20% to 40% more cash.

How much does battery health affect resale value?

Substantially. On the used market, a Mac with a battery health percentage above 80% sells for a significantly higher price. If the battery status says “Service Recommended,” expect buyers to demand a discount equal to or greater than the cost of a battery replacement (even if that battery still holds a charge).

What about the MacBook Neo resale value?

The MacBook Neo is too new for historical resale data, but based on the pattern of its predecessors, it should retain 60–70% of retail after one year. The 8GB base model may depreciate faster as the software ecosystem catches up with AI demands. The Neo’s neural engine and Apple Silicon architecture give it strong long-term software support, which is the backbone of Mac resale value.

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

Finding a balance between enterprise-level performance and reasonable cost has always been a challenge in the mobile workstation market. For years, professionals needing desktop-class power for CAD, 3D rendering, and machine learning were forced to choose between ultra-premium (and ultra-expensive) flagship lines and compromises in build quality.

Enter the HP ZBook Power G11. Positioned in the sweet spot of HP’s legendary ZBook lineup, the Power G11 sits comfortably between the entry-level Firefly and the beefy Fury workstations. Refreshed with the latest Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen processors, alongside NVIDIA RTX Ada Generation graphics, this 16-inch workhorse promises elite-tier durability and performance without the astronomical price tag.

In this comprehensive review, we’ll take a deep dive into the ZBook Power G11’s design, benchmarks, display options, upgrades, and overall value.

HP ZBook Power G11: Key Specifications

Before diving into the details, let’s take a look at the technical hardware options available for this 16-inch beast:

ComponentSpecification OptionsProcessor (CPU)Intel Core Ultra 5 / Ultra 7 / Ultra 9 (Series 1 / Meteor Lake) OR AMD Ryzen 5 / 7 / 9 PRO 8000 SeriesGraphics (GPU)Integrated Intel Arc / Radeon 780M; Dedicated up to NVIDIA RTX 3000 Ada Generation (8GB GDDR6)Memory (RAM)Up to 64 GB DDR5 SODIMM (Dual-channel, user-upgradable)StorageDual M.2 PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe SSD slots (Up to 8 TB total storage)Display16.0″ 16:10 aspect ratio; options from WUXGA (1920×1200) IPS to 120Hz WQXGA (2560×1600) IPSBattery83Wh with HP Fast Charge (50% charge in 30 minutes)ConnectivityWi-Fi 6E/7, Bluetooth 5.3, optional Nano SIM/LTE moduleWeightStarts at 4.68 lbs Dimensions14.15″ x 9.88″ x 0.90″

Design and Build Quality: Solid and Professional

The HP ZBook Power G11 boasts a newly refreshed chassis. HP opted for an all-aluminum, dark-silver finish that is incredibly rigid and highly resistant to fingerprint smudges. There are no flashy RGB elements or over-the-top styling cues here; this laptop is built to blend seamlessly into boardrooms, engineering labs, and production sets.

Key Design Highlights:

• Military-Grade Durability: The G11 is built to pass rigorous MIL-STD-810H tests, meaning it can survive drops, vibrations, extreme temperatures, and dusty environments.
• Great Keyboard Input: Key travel is satisfying without being mushy, and the larger chassis allows for a roomy palmrest. The touchpad uses a subtly cooler gray finish that contrasts with the silver chassis, a small design touch that works well in practice.
• Upgradeability: Two SODIMM slots and two M.2 2280 Gen 4 SSD ports translate into longevity — a feature that consumer ultrabooks increasingly forgo and one that directly affects long-term ownership value.

⚖️ Portability reality check: At 4.68 lbs, this is heavier than a typical 16-inch consumer laptop, but well within expectations for its class. If daily commuting is your primary concern, the ZBook Firefly is the better fit.

Performance: Where ZBook Power G11 Earns Its Name

The defining characteristic of the ZBook Power G11 laptop is how it manages its hardware. Unlike consumer thin-and-lights that thermal-throttle under sustained workloads, this model is designed for continuous, high-intensity processing.

CPU Performance

The Core Ultra 9 185H returned a Geekbench 6 single-core score of 2,397 and a multi-core score of 11,906 in independent testing: respectable results that trail the newer Intel Series 2 chips (which typically reach 2,700–2,900 single-core). The AMD G11 A variant with the Ryzen 9 Pro 8945HS performs comparably, with both platforms demonstrating HP’s capable thermal management.

Even though it is now an “older” Series 1 variation, Ultra 9 185H performs exceptionally well, easily competing with modern desktop-class processors. It excels at multi-threaded tasks such as code compilation, scientific simulations, and large-scale data manipulation.

GPU and 3D Capabilities

The real star of the show is the NVIDIA RTX 3000 Ada Generation dedicated graphics card. Designed specifically for enterprise workloads, independent software vendor (ISV) certifications ensure it runs seamlessly with pro software like Autodesk, SolidWorks, and Adobe Creative Suite.

In the OpenCL graphics benchmarks, the ZBook Power G11 scored an exceptional 88,543 points. That’s more than twice the output of a GeForce RTX 4060 in consumer gaming laptops (~35,000) and nearly three times the scores of integrated AMD or Intel Arc graphics solutions (~27,000–33,000). For 3D rendering, CAD visualization, and simulation workloads, this gap is the entire reason to buy this computer.

🚀 Key GPU takeaway: The RTX Ada Generation GPUs in the ZBook Power G11 are professional-grade: NVIDIA Quadro-class compute, not gaming-oriented GeForce. This means ISV certification for AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Catia, and Maya, plus ECC memory support and optimized OpenGL/Direct X drivers. The performance gap over consumer GPUs is real and practically meaningful.

Display Options: Functional, but Choose Wisely

The G11 comes with a 16:10 aspect ratio screen—ideal for productivity, as it gives you more vertical screen space for timelines and code. However, you must choose your display panel configuration carefully.

1. The Base WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS Panel: While bright (averaging around 380-450 nits in real-world use) and color-accurate enough for general office tasks (covering 98% sRGB), its pixel density is low at just 141 PPI. Text can appear slightly soft if you are accustomed to high-resolution displays.
2. The WQXGA (2560 x 1600) 120Hz IPS Panel (Recommended): If your budget permits, this is the display to get. The jump to a sharper QHD resolution and a fluid 120Hz refresh rate makes a massive difference for 3D modeling, video editing, and overall user experience.
3. HP Sure View Reflect: An optional privacy screen that blocks off-angle viewing with the touch of a button—excellent for working with sensitive data in public spaces.

Battery Life: A Pleasant Surprise

Battery life has historically been subpar in mobile workstation laptops. But the HP ZBook Power G11 attempts to change that trend. In video playback endurance tests, it yields up to 12 hours, well above average for the class and enough to last a full working day.

HP suggests up to 13 hours for the Intel variant and 13–18 hours for the AMD G11 A, depending on configuration. The 83Wh battery is the maximum you can carry on a commercial flight, and the fast-charge system can reach 50% in approximately 30 minutes when the machine is off or in standby — a real convenience for frequent travelers.

Thermal Management

The Power G11’s cooling system is one of its most underappreciated strengths. HP has fitted a sizable thermal array with larger fans than you’d find in a consumer laptop, but the key engineering achievement is that it runs quietly under sustained load. During extended rendering tests, the CPU maintained impressive sustained clocks, a result that simply doesn’t happen without a well-tuned thermal design.

The fans do spin up under heavy workloads, as you’d expect, but never to the distracting high-pitched whine common in thinner ultrabooks. For engineers who need to run simulations in a shared office, this does matter.

I/O Ports Galore

The ZBook Power G11 includes exactly what a professional laptop should, and nothing it shouldn’t. It features:

• 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C ports (with Power Delivery and DisplayPort 2.1)
• 2x USB Type-A ports (one supporting charging)
• 1x HDMI 2.1 port
• 1x RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet port
• 1x SD Card Reader (Optional/Configuration dependent)
• 1x Audio combo jack

This is a dock-friendly lineup. The pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports supports HP’s full range of Thunderbolt docks for single-cable desktop-mode deployment: connect one cable, and you have power, two displays, Ethernet, and peripherals. Wi-Fi 6E ensures strong throughput in congested office environments, and Bluetooth 5.3 handles peripherals without issue. An optional Intel 4G WWAN can provide connectivity on the go.

Smart Financial Lifecycle: Used HP Resale Value & Trade-Ins

A mobile workstation is a major financial investment. When buying enterprise hardware like the HP ZBook Power G11, it’s vital to consider the full lifecycle of your tech.

Used workstation laptops occupy an interesting niche in the secondhand market. They depreciate faster than premium consumer ultrabooks in percentage terms, largely because enterprise procurement cycles create a steady flood of off-lease units. However, their durability, upgradeability, and professional certification offer real value to small businesses, independent contractors, and researchers who can’t justify purchasing new hardware.

Based on standard PC depreciation curves and HP ZBook historical trade-in data, here’s what a well-maintained ZBook Power G11 can realistically retain of its original value over time:

In the resale space, ZBook Power G11’s upgradeable RAM and dual-SSD configuration don’t add much in terms of buyback value. If you plan to sell or trade in within the next 2–3 years, maximizing the CPU/GPU tier at purchase typically yields the best long-term cost of ownership.

Online Buyback to the Rescue

Selling a used HP ZBook Power G11 is an excellent way to offset the cost of your next purchase. And one of the easiest (and arguably fastest) ways to do it is to sell through Gadget Salvation. Why? Because we offer an instant online valuation process, provide free shipping labels, and rapid payments upon delivery. Utilizing our platform ensures that your workstation is either safely repurposed or recycled in an environmentally responsible way—all while putting cash back in your pocket.

Pros and Cons of the HP ZBook Power G11

Pros:

• Superb Build Quality: Rugged, all-aluminum chassis that passes military durability standards.
• Exceptional Graphics Performance: The NVIDIA RTX 3000 Ada GPU handles intense 3D and AI workloads with ease.
• Superb Thermal System: Extremely quiet fan, even under sustained rendering loads.
• Outstanding Upgradability: Has two RAM slots and two SSD slots.
• Good Port Selection: Includes Ethernet, Thunderbolt 4, and an SD card reader.

Cons:

• Underwhelming Base Display: The entry-level 1200p screen lacks sharpness and vibrant color depth.
• Bulky Footprint: At 0.90 inches thick, it’s noticeably bulkier than creative laptops like the Dell XPS 16.
• A bit Cramped: The inclusion of a numpad forces a smaller main keyboard layout.

Conclusion: Who is the HP ZBook Power G11 For?

The HP ZBook Power G11 is, without a doubt, an absolute workhorse. It delivers the structural integrity, thermal efficiency, and ISV software certifications of elite workstations at a price point that won’t break the bank.

If you are a 3D artist, CAD engineer, software developer, or data scientist who needs reliable, non-throttling desktop performance on the move, the ZBook Power G11 is a worthy buy. Just make sure to skip the entry-level 1200p screen in favor of the sharper 1600p 120Hz display option to truly unlock its potential.

FAQ

Is the HP ZBook Power G11 good for gaming?

While the dedicated NVIDIA RTX Ada GPUs are optimized for professional design software (CAD, rendering, etc.), they run on the same core architecture as GeForce gaming cards. The G11 will easily run modern AAA games at respectable frame rates, though gaming-specific features like optimized game-ready drivers and high-refresh-rate display synchronization (G-Sync) are not the primary focus of this laptop model.

How does the ZBook Power compare to the ZBook Fury?

The ZBook Power is designed to be a more accessible, slightly thinner, and lighter option. The ZBook Fury is HP’s flagship desktop replacement, offering even higher-tier GPU options (like the RTX 5000 Ada) and four memory slots, but it is significantly thicker, heavier, and more expensive.

What is the battery life like on the HP ZBook Power G11?

For light productivity tasks (web browsing, document editing) with optimized power saving, the 83Wh battery can last 10–12 hours. However, if you are actively utilizing the dedicated GPU for heavy tasks like 3D rendering or compile runs, expect the battery life to drop significantly to around 3 hours.

Can I upgrade the RAM and storage on the ZBook Power G11?

Yes! The laptop features two user-accessible DDR5 SODIMM slots (supporting up to 64GB) and two M.2 PCIe Gen 4×4 SSD slots (supporting up to 8TB of total storage).

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

Meta on Tuesday said it’s launching a new line of smart glasses, dubbed Meta Glasses, starting at $299. These glasses are being made in partnership with EssilorLuxottica, but unlike the tech giant’s other smart glasses, they don’t carry Ray-Ban or Oakley branding.

The Meta Glasses are available in several countries starting today in a variety of color and lens combinations.

Meta has been continuing its push into wearables as competition in the space heats up. It’s worth noting that Meta and EssilorLuxottica are the largest players in the space, with an estimated market share of more than 80%, according to data from Counterpoint Research.

Image Credits:Meta

The Meta Glasses don’t have a screen, but they come with a camera and personal speakers. There’s a dedicated button that by default triggers the Meta AI assistant, or you can customize the button to launch a specific feature.

Meta claims these new glasses have over eight hours of battery life, and the on-the-go charging case provides up to 40 hours of additional usage.

The first pair of the new glasses, called the “Meta Adventurer,” features a rectangular shape, and is available in standard and large sizes. The “Meta Fury” frame is boxier, resembling popular styles of men’s glasses. The most notable are “Meta Glasses by Kylie,” which feature a slim oval frame designed in collaboration with American model Kylie Jenner.

Image Credits:Meta

Meta says the Meta AI assistant on these new glasses can answer questions about everything from sports scores to local restaurant picks, can understand what you’re seeing, and can help manage your daily life.

The company said these display-less glasses will soon support the “Pedestrian navigation” feature, which provides turn-by-turn directions for walking around. Meta’s also adding support for 14 new languages for its live translation feature, including Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, and Korean.

Meta’s new smart glass range comes a week after Snap unveiled Specs, its long-awaited consumer smart glasses, at a hefty $2,195 price tag.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

For years, choosing a premium gaming laptop meant looking no further than Razer’s iconic snake logo. But in 2026, the decision isn’t just about selecting which ultra-powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50-series Laptop GPU you want inside your chassis—it is also about deciding on the silicon brain driving the machine.

With the latest Razer Blade 16 lineup offering both the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, buyers face a major dilemma. Not only do these chips represent entirely different structural designs, but the Intel version continues to command a steep, eye-watering premium.

In this deep-dive comparison, we will unpack the performance realities of these 2026 powerhouses, analyze why the Intel 386H version is so much more expensive, look at how both stack up against alternatives from ASUS and Lenovo, and explore the resale value of Razer laptops on the used market.

Intel Core Ultra 9 386H vs. AMD Ryzen AI 9 365: The 2026 Core Differences

To understand the massive price gap, we first have to look at what’s happening under the aluminum hood of these 2026 configurations.

FeatureIntel Core Ultra 9 386HAMD Ryzen AI 9 365ArchitecturePanther Lake (advanced 3D hybrid layout)Strix Point (hybrid Zen 5 + Zen 5c)Core & Thread CountUp to 16 Cores / 22 Threads10 Cores (4 Zen 5, 6 Zen 5c) / 20 ThreadsManufacturing ProcessIntel 18A / TSMC (multi-tile layout)TSMC 4nmMax Turbo BoostUp to 4.9 – 5.1 GHzUp to 5.0 GHzIntegrated GraphicsGraphics 4 Xe3 (Intel Xe3-LPG)Radeon 880M (RDNA 3.5, 12 CUs)Neural Processing UnitIntel NPU (Up to 50 TOPS)AMD XDNA 2 (Up to 50 TOPS)Total Platform AI Power~80+ TOPSUp to 73 TOPSMax Native I/ONative Thunderbolt 5 (Up to 120Gbps)USB4 (Up to 40Gbps)

A Note on Battery Performance

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 represents efficient, high-performance computing on the go. AMD utilizes a smart hybrid layout, combining 4 full-fat Zen 5 performance cores with 6 highly efficient Zen 5c dense cores. It helps extend the laptop’s battery life, giving users up to 30% more work time for standard productivity tasks on a single charge compared to the Intel model.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H focuses on pushing the envelope in single-core burst speed and high-bandwidth multimedia capabilities. Backed by Intel’s newest Xe3-LPG graphics architecture for its iGPU, it offers phenomenal media encoding speeds. However, under heavy loads, it demands significantly more power, making it a system designed primarily to run while plugged into the power source.

Why Is the Intel Core Ultra 9 Version So Much More Expensive?

If AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 is more power-efficient with less fan noise, why does the Intel Core Ultra 9 version of the Razer Blade 16 cost $1600 more? It comes down to manufacturing complexity, premium I/O, and platform bundling.

1. Complex 3D Silicon Stacking

The Core Ultra 9 386H is one of the first mass-market chips manufactured on Intel’s own 18A node, using Intel’s 3D Foveros technology to stack different tiles (compute, SoC, graphics, and I/O) on top of each other. This multi-tile manufacturing process is highly complex and has lower fabrication yields than AMD’s consolidated TSMC 4nm chiplet/monolithic designs. Unfortunately, the production complexity is passed directly to the consumer.

2. Native Thunderbolt 5 Integration

Intel’s high-end mobile platforms feature native Thunderbolt 5 support, delivering a mind-boggling bidirectional bandwidth of up to 120 Gbps (via Bandwidth Boost). Implementing Thunderbolt 5 requires strict certification, physical logic controllers on the motherboard, and advanced routing on the motherboard. AMD’s system relies on USB4, which, while incredibly fast and backward-compatible with Thunderbolt, is capped at 40 Gbps and cannot match Thunderbolt 5’s massive throughput for external PCIe arrays and multi-8K displays.

3. Razer’s Component Upselling and Exclusivity

Razer deliberately uses its premium Intel configurations as the vehicle for its highest-end auxiliary components. If you want the ultra-premium dual-mode Mini-LED display (which lets you switch between 4K 120Hz and FHD+ 240Hz) or the absolute top-tier RTX 5090 GPU, Razer reserves these features for the Intel-based configuration.

Razer Blade 16 Gaming & CPU Performance: AMD vs Intel

In GPU-bound gaming scenarios (the vast majority of modern titles at QHD+ with RTX features enabled), both Ultra 9 and AMD Ryzen AI 9 perform nearly identically. Meaning the price gap here doesn’t buy you more frames.

But things diverge in CPU-heavy loads. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, with its Zen 5 architecture and 24 threads, leads in sustained multi-threaded tasks such as video encoding, 3D rendering, and code compilation. Benchmarks consistently show AMD pulling ahead in Cinebench R24 multi-core, though the Intel chip wins in single-core efficiency and thermal headroom within the thin chassis.

Intel’s real and decisive advantage is power efficiency. The Core Ultra 9 386H from Panther Lake consumes approximately 3–4x less power than the previous-generation HX desktop-class chips Razer used in 2024.

Razer Blade 16 vs. Alternatives in 2026

The Razer Blade 16 exists in a pretty narrow category: Ultra-thin premium gaming laptops where build quality and display excellence raise the bar (and the cost). And while the competitor brand options aren’t exactly cheap, several rivals offer more performance per dollar, particularly ASUS and Lenovo gaming laptops (at the cost of a less refined aesthetic or a heavier chassis):

LaptopCPUMax GPUFrom ($)How it ComparesBlade 16 (2026)Core Ultra 9 386HRTX 5090$3,499Best build & display; priciest in classBlade 16 (2025)Ryzen AI 9 HX 370RTX 5090$2,399Same chassis, more GPU tiers compared to 2026 RTX 5060, lower priceASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026)Core Ultra 9 386HRTX 5090~$2,799$500–800 cheaper; lower HDR brightness; same chipLenovo Legion 9iCore Ultra 9 / i9-14900HXRTX 5090~$3,299Upgradeable RAM; thicker; better sustained TGPAlienware 16 Area-51 (2026)Core Ultra 9 285H+RTX 5090~$3,499Cherry MX keyboard option; heavier; more serviceableMSI Titan GT16 HXCore i9-14900HXRTX 5090~$3,299Desktop-class CPU; far heavier; no portability pretense

The 2026 ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 is the Blade’s most direct rival: it uses the same Panther Lake chip, similar GPU options, and has a comparably thin chassis. It consistently undercuts the Blade by $500–$800, depending on configuration. Razer wins on display quality and build prestige. Blade’s OLED produces noticeably richer colors and dramatically brighter HDR highlights. Whether that gap justifies the price difference is a personal call.

The Lenovo Legion 9i makes a compelling case for workstation users who care about upgradability — it has upgradable DDR5 RAM slots rather than soldered LPDDR5X, and its thicker chassis allows higher sustained GPU TGP. The Alienware 16 Area-51 competes closely on price with Cherry MX keyboard options and better repairability. Neither can match the Blade’s design, which matters to some buyers and not at all to others.

Related: The ASUS TUF Gaming F16 FX608 Laptop Review.

The Reality of Razer Blade Resale Value

When a laptop costs more than $3,000, you have to consider the long-term cost of ownership. Historically, Razer Blade models have depreciated at a moderate rate. Nevertheless, because hardware updates and refreshes are so frequent, a two-year-old Razer Blade will often lose 40% to 60% of its initial retail value on platforms like eBay, Swappa, or r/Hardwareswap. Used-laptop buyers are often cautious about purchasing out-of-warranty high-end models due to the higher costs of maintenance and repair.

Interestingly, we are now seeing a shift, with AMD Ryzen AI configurations tending to hold a higher percentage of their value on the used market. Second-hand buyers specifically seek out AMD-based Blades for their reputation for better thermal management and significantly better long-term battery health. This was not the case just a few years ago, when buyers favored Intel over AMD. So, if you plan to sell your laptop in 2 to 3 years to fund your next upgrade, the AMD version might actually save you money on both ends of the transaction.

Selling Your Used Razer Laptop with Gadget Salvation

When the time comes, Gadget Salvation is a strong choice for a hassle-free resale experience. We buy the full Razer Blade lineup across many generations, including current RTX 50-series models, offer instant online quotes, and pay quickly with no selling fees to deduct. If your configuration isn’t listed in our online database, our custom quote form lets you provide the details directly for evaluation. And sure, you’ll receive slightly less than you would through a private eBay sale, but the trade-off in convenience and security is significant for high-value computers.

Ready to sell your Razer Blade computer?

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The Verdict: Which Razer Blade 16 Should You Buy?

• Buy the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 version if you want a cooler-running laptop, better battery life, a slightly lower price point, and better retention of resale value over time. It is the practical choice for most gamers and students.
• Buy the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H if you require the absolute highest transfer speeds over native Thunderbolt 5, want high-end content creation performance, or want the specific display panel + GPU configuration combo exclusive to the Intel version.

FAQ:

Can you upgrade the RAM on either of the Razer Blade 16 models?

No. Both the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H and AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 Razer Blade 16 versions use soldered LPDDR5X memory, which cannot be upgraded after purchase. Choose your configuration at checkout carefully. 32GB covers most use cases; opt for 64GB if you run heavy virtual machines, do 4K video editing, or want to future-proof the system.

Does the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H perform better in games than the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365?

When plugged into a wall outlet, gaming performance is almost identical. The Intel 386H might offer a minor 3% to 5% advantage in highly CPU-bound esports titles at 1080p, but at native QHD or 4K display resolutions, the GPU does the heavy lifting, making the gaming difference unnoticeable.

Does the Razer Blade 16 overheat during extended gaming?

The ultra-thin chassis imposes TGP limits — the Blade sustains up to 130 W GPU TGP with 155 W Dynamic Boost, less than thicker competitors. Both AMD and Intel configurations use a vapor chamber and Honeywell PTM7958 thermal interface gel for heat management. Under max settings for extended sessions, expect the chassis to get noticeably warm. The 2026 Intel model runs cooler at the CPU level, which aids sustained GPU boost clocks. A laptop cooling pad is a worthwhile accessory for prolonged gaming or rendering sessions.

Should I wait for the Intel Blade 16’s price to drop before buying?

If you can wait 6–9 months, probably yes. Razer Blade pricing historically drops by $200–$400 within the first year as AMD inventory clears and Intel models become standard. If you need a laptop now, the previous 2025 AMD model at a discounted price offers excellent value (comparable, if not better). Another option is to consider pre-owned inventory, although, given the computer is so recent, there isn’t much supply yet.

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

The Intel Core i series defined a decade of laptops. But with the Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake) now shipping, AMD Ryzen AI 300 threatening the mainstream, and Apple Silicon eating into resale values across the board — where does the classic “i5” or “i7” badge stand today?

Intel Core i Processors History

Intel’s naming history is a mess. The “Core i” branding — i3, i5, i7, i9 — ran from 2010 through roughly 2023 before Intel transitioned to “Core Ultra.” If someone’s selling a laptop with an “Intel Core i7” today, they’re almost certainly offering a machine built around 12th- or 13th-generation silicon, code-named Alder Lake or Raptor Lake. These aren’t bad chips. But they are aging.

In 2024, Intel rebranded aggressively. The “Core Ultra 100” series (Meteor Lake), “Core Ultra 200” series (Arrow Lake / Lunar Lake), and now the flagship Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake, launched this year) have all dropped the “i” suffix entirely. So when you see “Core i5” or “Core i7” on a listing today, the generational context matters enormously.

BrandingCodename / GenYearVerdict in 2026Core i (10th–11th Gen)Ice Lake / Tiger Lake2019–2021AvoidCore i (12th Gen)Alder Lake2021–2022Budget onlyCore i (13th Gen)Raptor Lake2022–2023Discounted dealsCore Ultra 100Meteor Lake2023–2024Decent midrangeCore Ultra 200H/HXArrow Lake2024–2025Solid buyCore Ultra Series 3Panther Lake2026Current gen

The table above is the single most important filter. A “Core i7” sticker on a new-ish laptop at a suspiciously low price almost certainly means you’re looking at 12th or 13th Gen — silicon that’s now 3–4 years old and heading toward the software support cliff.

How Does Legacy Intel Core i Hold Up Today?

Let’s be clear: For everyday productivity (email, Office, browsing, video calls), a 12th-generation Core i7 is still perfectly functional in 2026. The problem isn’t performance in isolation. It’s the competitive context in which Core i chips now exist.

Intel’s Panther Lake (Core Ultra Series 3), launched at CES 2026 on the new Intel 18A process node, represents the company’s most dramatic single-generation improvement in years. The flagship Core Ultra X9 388H ships with up to 16 CPU cores, integrated Arc B390 graphics with 12 Xe3 GPU cores, and a 50 TOPS NPU — delivering claimed multi-threaded performance improvements of around 60% over the previous generation, plus up to 77% faster gaming throughput. Battery life tests on Panther Lake systems regularly hit 20+ hours of real-world use, closing the gap with Apple Silicon, which has long plagued Intel.

And AMD isn’t sitting still either. The Ryzen AI 300 series (Strix Point), with its XDNA 2 NPU architecture and Radeon 890M integrated graphics, competes directly at the high-performance end while often delivering better multi-core efficiency. On the ARM side, Apple’s M5 chips — and increasingly Windows on ARM via Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 — are setting a new efficiency standard that x86 is only just beginning to close in on.

For a legacy Intel Core i-based laptop purchased today, software depreciation alone is the real threat. Microsoft’s AI-powered Copilot+ features require a 40+ TOPS NPU, which no Core i generation meets. Windows will continue to run fine, but the “AI PC” wave of 2025–2027 will completely pass these computers by.

What Happens to Your Intel Laptop’s Value Over Time?

This is where the Intel Core i story gets pretty painful. Laptops depreciate at roughly 35% per year on average, and budget Intel-based ones tend to land at the harsher end of that curve:

Resale Value Retention by Laptop Category

// PROJECTED FROM PURCHASE PRICE · BASED ON MARKET RESALE DATA

Core Ultra Premium (XPS / ThinkPad)

* Projections based on market resale trends (Gadget Salvation, Back Market, Swappa). Actual values vary by condition, configuration, and market timing.

A mid-range Core i-based notebook purchased for $800 may resell for up to $450 after one year of use, ~$300 after two, and under $200 after three. Compare that to a MacBook M-series equivalent at the same price point, which commonly retains 50–63% of its value at the two-year mark.

Brand matters too. Premium Intel lines like Dell XPS or Lenovo ThinkPad hold value meaningfully better than budget Inspiron or budget Ideapad configurations: Build quality and software support longevity create demand in the secondary market. A Core i7 in a quality chassis will always depreciate at a slower pace than a Core i5 in a plastic shell.

Have an outdated Core i7 laptop?
Gadget Salvation buys Intel laptops — even older Core i generations — for instant cash. Sell it before the value drops further.

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The broader point: if you’re buying an Intel Core i laptop today, understand that its resale mileage is shorter than you might expect. The secondhand market is aware that these chips are now effectively retired, and pricing reflects that.

Pros and Cons of Buying a Core i Laptop in 2026

There are real use cases where a Core i computer still makes sense. At the same time, there are situations where buying a discounted processor is ill-advised. Here’s the breakdown.

PROS:

• Unbeatable Value: Retailers are aggressively discounting 13th and 14th-generation Core i laptops. You can easily pick up a highly capable Core i7 model for a fraction of the cost of a mid-tier modern Core Ultra one.

• Overkill for Basic Productivity: If your daily routine consists of web browsing, processing large Excel sheets, streaming video, or working within standard SaaS applications, a recent (12th- to 14th-generation) Core i5 or i7 provides more than enough raw computational speed.

• Ecosystem and Drivers: Unlike newer ARM-based architectures, which still battle occasional software compatibility hiccups, x86 Core i chips run every legacy Windows application perfectly.

CONS:

• Subpar Battery Life: Compared to 2026 standards set by Intel’s Lunar Lake/Arrow Lake or Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platforms, older Intel Core i architectures are notoriously power-hungry, leading to significantly worse battery life.
• Zero Next-Gen AI Support: Without an NPU, you lose access to local AI features, smart background removal, real-time translations, and automated productivity enhancements built into modern OS kernels.
• Diminishing Software Longevity: Over the next 2–3 years, developers will optimize software specifically for NPU and hybrid architectures, potentially making older chips feel sluggish when running next-gen OS updates.

If You’re Buying Intel in 2026, This Is the One

It’s worth separating “legacy Core i” from “new Intel” entirely, because Core Ultra Series 3 laptops represent a genuine step forward. Intel’s 18A has provided the efficiency gains that Arrow Lake promised, but didn’t fully deliver.

That said, even a Panther Lake laptop bought today will depreciate faster than an equivalent MacBook. Apple Silicon’s combination of platform lock-in and aspirational brand value sustains secondhand prices in a way Windows hardware simply doesn’t. We consistently see Mac resale prices running 15–25% higher than comparable Windows premium laptops at the same depreciation stage.

Already Own an Intel Core i Laptop? Here’s What to Do

If you’re reading this because you already have a Core i machine and you’re weighing whether to hold or sell — the answer almost always favors selling sooner rather than later.

Resale values for Core i laptops (particularly 10th and 11th Gen) are eroding quickly as the gap to current-gen silicon widens. A 12th or 13th Gen machine still commands reasonable secondhand prices today, but in 12–18 months the Panther Lake wave will push those valuations lower. The depreciation curve is nonlinear — it steepens as newer architectures arrive and legacy machines lose software relevance.

The math: if your Core i laptop is worth $400 today and loses 25% per year, waiting one more year to sell costs you roughly $100. That’s money that could reduce the cost of a current-gen upgrade. Time-of-sale decisions matter, and acting during a strong secondary market window preserves more of your original investment.

Turn Your Core i Laptop Into Cash While You Still Can

Gadget Salvation pays top dollar for used laptops — Intel Core i- and AMD Ryzen-based, Core Ultra, and more. Get an instant online offer in just 30 seconds.

The Bottom Line

Legacy Core i at full retail price: hard pass. You’d be overpaying for discontinued hardware, locked out of AI features, and set to depreciate faster than AMD and Snapdragon counterparts. The only context where an older Core i-based computer makes sense is a heavily discounted or pre-owned purchase where you don’t care about future resale, but even then, shop carefully.

Core Ultra 200H / 200V: still a good buy if the price is right. These chips perform well and run Copilot+ features (200V). Expect steep secondary-market depreciation relative to Apple, but the hardware is very much still considered current and capable.

Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake): the first Intel mobile chip in years that’s genuinely exciting. Battery life that competes with ARM, integrated graphics that can finally handle gaming, and a 50 TOPS NPU that meets every current AI standard. If you want a Windows laptop in mid-2026, this is the architecture to buy.

And when it’s time to move on — whether you’re upgrading from a four-year-old Core i5 or a pristine Core Ultra 9 Series 3 — Gadget Salvation is here to turn that hardware into cash. The best time to sell a laptop is always before the next generation comes out.

FAQ

Did Intel stop making Core i3, i5, i7, and i9 chips?

Yes. Intel officially retired the “Core i” architecture starting late 2023. They replaced it with the “Intel Core” (for mainstream entry chips) and “Intel Core Ultra” (for performance and AI-focused chips) nomenclature.

Will Windows 11 continue to support Intel Core i processors?

Absolutely. Windows 11 fully supports 8th-generation Intel chips and newer. Standard security updates, operating system patches, and basic feature sets will function without issue on Core i laptops for years to come. However, specialized local AI features will be locked out due to the lack of an NPU.

Can I still play modern games on a Core i laptop in 2026?

Yes, assuming the laptop has a capable dedicated GPU (such as an NVIDIA RTX 40-series GPU), as modern games still heavily prioritize raw clock speeds and GPU power over NPU-driven capabilities.

How do I tell if a Core i laptop is too old to buy?

Look at the generation number directly following the modifier (e.g., Core i7-13700H is 13th Gen; Core i5-1240P is 12th Gen). In 2026, we strongly recommend avoiding anything below a 12th-generation chip, as older models lack the hybrid performance/efficiency core architecture and will bottleneck rapidly.

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

OK, so that HP Pavilion, Spectre, or EliteBook has served you well. But with next-gen AI PCs and the latest HP OmniBook lineup taking over the tech world, your current laptop model might be starting to feel a little (or a lot) dated.

The good news? The secondhand laptop market is booming. Whether you’re looking to fund a brand-new upgrade or doing some digital decluttering, selling your used HP laptop online can net you a solid chunk of change.

Here is your foolproof, step-by-step guide to prepping, pricing, and successfully selling your HP laptop online.

What Your HP Laptop Is Actually Worth in 2026

HP’s laptop lineup spans more price tiers than almost any other manufacturer, which means resale value varies enormously depending on which model you own.

Zbook mobile workstations and the Omen gaming HP series hold their resale value best. The demand for used consumer models like the Pavilion is not as robust: anyone who wants a cheap laptop tends to buy new rather than used.

If you’re not sure exactly what HP model you have, flip the laptop over. The model number is usually on a sticker on the bottom panel, or you can check Settings → System → About in Windows.

How Condition Affects Your Payout

Condition is the single biggest lever you can actually control. A pristine HP EliteBook and a beat-up one of the same model can differ in resale value by 40% or more. Buyers — whether that’s an individual on eBay or a buyback service like Gadget Salvation — grade laptops consistently across a few standard tiers:

// CONDITION GRADING

How Condition Affects Your Payout

// TIER A

Flawless

No cosmetic wear whatsoever. Screen, chassis, keyboard, and ports look exactly as they would out of the box. Zero scratches, scuffs, or marks.

Full resale value

// TIER B

Good

Light surface scratches or minor scuffs visible on close inspection. Screen clear with no marks. Normal signs of careful everyday use.

~75–90% of value

// TIER C

Fair

Visible scratches, scuffs, or wear marks noticeable at arm’s length. May include minor dents on corners or edges. Screen free of damage.

~50–70% of value

// TIER D

Poor

Heavy cosmetic damage — deep scratches, significant dents, cracked casing, or a damaged screen. All core functions still work.

~25–45% of value

Be honest with yourself here. Overrating your computer’s condition is the most common reason sellers end up disappointed when a trade-in service adjusts its quote after a physical inspection. Gadget Salvation’s inspection process is transparent — if there’s a discrepancy in the seller’s description, we’ll explain it and let you either accept the revised offer or get your gadget back at no cost.

Prep Your HP Laptop Before You Sell

These steps take about 30 minutes and can meaningfully improve your payout, or at a minimum, protect you from surprises. Don’t skip the data wipe. Ever.

1. Back up everything. Use an external drive or cloud backup (OneDrive, Google Drive) to copy your documents, photos, and any application data you want to keep. Once you factory reset, this data is gone. 
2. Deauthorize software licenses. If you have licensed software tied to this notebook (Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft 365, or similar), deactivate it before resetting. Most apps have a “Sign out” or “Deauthorize this device” option in their account settings. This frees up the license for your next computer.
3. Factory reset Windows. Go to Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC. Choose “Remove everything” and select “Remove files and clean the drive” for the most thorough wipe. This option overwrites data rather than just deleting the pointer to it (important if this device is going to a stranger).
4. Clean the exterior. A microfiber cloth and a small amount of isopropyl alcohol (70%) can remove fingerprints, dust, and grime that make a laptop photograph poorly and look worse than it is. Clean the keyboard, screen, and chassis. Don’t spray directly on the screen; dampen the cloth first.
5. Check battery health. Run powercfg /batteryreport from the Command Prompt. This generates an HTML report showing your battery’s current capacity compared to its original design capacity. Know this number: it’s something any serious buyer or trade-in service will assess. If it’s below 60%, that factor is factored into pricing.

// PRE-SALE CHECKLIST

Before You Ship Your HP Laptop

• Data backed up

  External drive or cloud — documents, photos, anything you want to keep

• Software deauthorized

  Sign out of Adobe, Microsoft 365, and any other licensed apps on this device

• Windows factory reset — full drive wipe

  Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC → Remove everything → Remove files and clean the drive

• Exterior cleaned

  Microfiber cloth on screen, keyboard, and chassis — removes grime that lowers perceived condition

• Model number confirmed

  Bottom sticker or Settings → System → About — needed for an accurate quote

Most buyers/buyback sites expect the charger to be included with the laptop. But additional accessories, such as docking stations, spare chargers, a mouse, or storage upgrades, rarely add any meaningful dollar value to your used HP. Still, if you list on a marketplace (Facebook Marketplace or eBay), noting the extras in the description can speed up the sale.

Where to Sell a Used HP: Platform Comparison

Every selling platform involves a trade-off between payout potential and the time and risk you take on. Here’s how the main options stack up for selling an HP laptop in 2026:

Platform TypeBest ExamplesProsConsInstant Buyback SitesGadget Salvation, BuyBackTronics, etc.Zero hassle, instant quote, free shipping labels.You’ll get slightly less than market value. But it is a cash payout.Peer-to-Peer MarketplaceseBay, SwappaReaches a massive audience; yields the highest payout.Platform fees, shipping logistics, potential return hassles, and chargebacks.Local SalesFacebook Marketplace, OfferUpQuick cash, no shipping costs, no platform fees.Flaky buyers, safety concerns (always meet in a public, well-lit place).Retailer Trade-InsBest Buy Trade-In, HP Trade-InConvenient and streamlined. Perfect for when you are upgrading to the newer model or buying another gadget from that retailer. Pays out in store credit, not cash. Offers are typically 25-45% below what a dedicated reseller will pay.

For many people in 2026, when it comes to selling a used HP laptop online, Gadget Salvation strikes the perfect balance. You get real cash (not store credit), you don’t have to deal with buyers directly or even wait for a motivated buyer, and the whole process takes days rather than weeks.

Creating a Listing on a Marketplace

If you decide to sell your HP on eBay, Swappa, or Facebook Marketplace, the listing needs to stand out from the sea of other sellers.

Ditch the Stock Photos

Buyers want to see your actual product. Take clear photos in good, natural lighting from multiple angles: the top lid, the screen turned on (showing it successfully boots), the keyboard, and the ports. Be completely honest and take close-ups of any scratches or dings. Honesty prevents returns and bad reviews later.

Write a Clear, Spec-Heavy Title

An example of eBay listing titles.

Don’t just write “HP Laptop.” Use keywords that buyers actually search for.

• Bad: HP Laptop for sale
• Good: HP Spectre x360 14″ Intel Core i7-1355U, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, in Mint Condition

Be Transparent in the Description

List the exact specs (Processor, RAM, Storage, Screen Resolution, and Battery Health if you know it). State clearly what is included (e.g., “Comes with original HP charger and a protective sleeve”).

Price It Competitively

Do a quick search on eBay for your exact model and filter by “Sold Items” to see what people are actually paying, not just what other sellers are asking. Price yours competitively based on its condition. If you want a quick sale, price it about 5% to 10% below what a competitor asks. Monitor and revise the price regularly.

In Conclusion

Selling a used HP laptop online doesn’t have to be complicated, but getting it right takes a few deliberate steps and choices. Know your model, research prices, be honest about the condition, and factory reset your HP. Lastly, don’t wait: every month a laptop sits unused is a month of depreciation you’re absorbing for free. In other words, your HP is worth more today than it will be six months from now.

FAQ

What is my HP laptop worth in 2026?

It depends heavily on the model line and specs. For example, Intel Core i-based HP models will likely see a dramatic drop in resale value as new Ultra-series processors continue to be released.

Can I sell an HP laptop if it has a dead battery or a broken screen?

Absolutely, but you must clearly select and state “For Parts / Not Working” in both the title and description, if selling on a marketplace, or specify that the computer is “Defective” when calculating an offer on the buyback site.

Does the HP laptop need to come with the original box or charger?

While you don’t need the original packaging, a working charger is often expected or even required to be included. If you are shipping the computer, make sure to securely pack it in a sturdy box with padding.

Is Gadget Salvation legit for selling HP laptops?

Yes, we have been operating since 2008 and maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Because we are not a generalized marketplace, our buyback process is designed specifically for selling used computers (along with smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets). Here, upfront, transparent pricing, free shipping, and fast payment are the standard, not the exception.

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

There aren’t many success stories to refer to when it comes to AI hardware. Plaud, which makes AI-powered notetakers, is trying to become one by targeting professionals who take a lot of meetings. The company said it has sold more than 2 million of its devices, including Plaud Pins and credit-card-styled gadgets that stick on the back of the phone. It also said that its subscription business has reached more than $100 million in annualized revenue run rate.

Plaud pointed out that many AI companies often rely on digital documents and prompts typed from memories. Its argument is that its devices, which don’t have any screens, help people have conversations in real life and recall important points along with summaries and action items later.

“Most AI companies have scaled through software behind a screen. We took a different path. The conversations that actually move things forward don’t happen on a keyboard. We built the interface for the post-screen world. And the market validated it,” said Nathan Xu, co-founder and CEO of Plaud.

Last year, the company launched the $179 Plaud Pro, and this year, it added the new Plaud Pin S at a similar price. Besides hardware, the company has accelerated its software development, too. Earlier this year, it launched a desktop app that can take Granola-style notes via system audio for online meetings. Last month, it also introduced Plaud Teams with shared memory to target enterprises.

Plaud users can buy the hardware and get 300 minutes of transcription for free. However, if someone has many meetings a day, the free limit is likely to run out quickly. For extra minutes and other features, users can get monthly, annual, or add-on plans. Xu told TechCrunch that its revenue is largely powered by nearly 50% of the device users upgrading from the basic plan to the pro or unlimited plans.

The company doesn’t yet sell standalone software subscriptions. That means, typically, it’s the users who own a Plaud device who are buying its paid plans.

The meeting note-taking hardware market has a lot of competition, including accessories company Anker, Transsion-backed Viaim, Sequoia China-backed Vibe, and YC-backed Pocket.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

NVIDIA’s first-ever Windows chip fuses a Grace ARM CPU, a Blackwell GPU, and up to 128GB of unified memory into the thinnest, most capable AI laptops ever built. Here is everything you need to know before Fall 2026.

What Is the NVIDIA RTX Spark?

At Computex 2026 in Taipei, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang walked onto the stage beside Microsoft’s Satya Nadella and announced something the industry had been whispering about for three years: NVIDIA was finally entering the consumer PC chip market. The result is the NVIDIA RTX Spark Superchip — the company’s first-ever Windows system-on-chip (SoC), and arguably the most significant laptop platform announcement since Apple Silicon.

NVIDIA N1X ARM-based laptop processor.

RTX Spark is not a discrete graphics card strapped onto a CPU. It is a unified superchip — NVIDIA’s own ARM-based Grace CPU paired directly to a Blackwell-architecture GPU, connected by the company’s NVLink C2C interconnect, and sharing a single pool of up to 128GB of LPDDR5X memory. The whole package is manufactured on TSMC’s 3nm process. The result is a chip that delivers up to 1 petaflop of FP4 AI compute inside a chassis thin enough to forget you’re carrying it.

RTX Spark Superchip: Full Specs

NVIDIA has confirmed two chip variants under the RTX Spark umbrella. The N1X (RTX Spark Superchip) is the platform’s flagship. A more accessible N1 variant targets lower price points with reduced CPU and GPU resources.

Feature / SpecificationFlagship Tier (N1X Silicon)“Budget” Tier (N1 Silicon)CPU20-Core NVIDIA Grace CPU (Arm-based)12-Core NVIDIA Grace CPU (Arm-based)GPUBlackwell RTX GPU (6,144 CUDA Cores)Blackwell RTX GPU (RTX 5050 equivalent)Unified MemoryUp to 128GB LPDDR5X Unified MemoryUp to 64GB LPDDR5X (128-bit bus)AI Tensor Precision5th Gen Tensor Cores with FP4 Support5th Gen Tensor Cores with FP4 SupportTarget Form FactorPremium 15″ – 16″ Pro laptops (~12.9mm thin)Ultraportable 13″ – 14″ laptops (~3lbs)

Real-World Performance Expectations:

• Local Frontier AI Models: With up to 1 Petaflop of local processing power via FP4 precision, these laptops can execute massive 120-billion-parameter Large Language Models (LLMs) with up to a 1-million-token context window completely offline. This transitions the PC from a simple tool into an active, autonomous teammate that handles data, coding, and asset generation with ultimate local privacy.
• Heavy Creation & World Building: Because the system dynamically shares a massive memory pool, 3D artists can render ultra-large 90GB+ 3D scenes natively in tools like Blender or NVIDIA Omniverse. Major software suites like Adobe are completely rearchitecting Photoshop and Premiere Pro from scratch to leverage this architecture, promising a 2x leap in rendering and AI performance.
• Elite Mobile Gaming: Traditionally, “Windows on Arm” architectures have struggled with gaming due to bad emulation. NVIDIA has bridged this gap by combining Microsoft’s enhanced Prism emulation layer with native driver hooks. RTX Spark laptops run AAA titles beautifully, delivering crisp 1440p gaming at over 100 FPS with full support for real-time ray tracing, DLSS Frame Generation, Reflex, and G-Sync.
• The Battery Breakthrough: Because the heavy lifting is handled by an ultra-efficient Arm architecture, these laptops defy the old rule that high performance means short-lived battery. Early designs routinely achieve true all-day battery life while maintaining ultra-thin profiles.

Every RTX Spark Laptop Confirmed So Far

NVIDIA has confirmed partnerships with six laptop brands for the initial launch, with Acer and GIGABYTE to follow shortly. In total, over 30 laptops and around 10 compact desktops are expected at launch this fall. Here’s what we know about each confirmed device:

Surface Laptop Ultra

128 GB
Blackwell GPU
Co-developed

Microsoft’s own flagship RTX Spark device. Built for creators and AI developers, with the deepest Windows agent integration of any OEM — Microsoft co-designed the platform alongside NVIDIA.

Fall 2026

ProArt P16

4K 120Hz OLED
G-SYNC
99.9 Wh

16-inch creator flagship with Lumina Pro OLED up to 4K 120Hz VRR, 1,600-nit peak, G-SYNC. CNC-machined chassis in Nano Black or Neo White. Up to 128 GB unified memory.

Fall 2026

ProArt P14

3K OLED

~0.5″ thin

Compact 14-inch sibling to the P16. Lumina Pro OLED up to 3K, ultra-thin CNC chassis. Built for creators who prioritise portability without sacrificing the full N1X AI stack.

Fall 2026

XPS 16 Creator Edition

Tandem OLED
HDR 600
HDMI + SD

The XPS 16 reborn for the AI era. True Black HDR 600 Tandem OLED, full-size HDMI and SD card slot, up to 128 GB. Aimed at creators who refused to choose between ports and performance.

Fall 2026

OmniBook Ultra 16

15.73 mm thin
Thinnest 16″

HP claims this will be one of the thinnest RTX Spark laptops available — just 15.73 mm at the rear. A strong option for road warriors who need full N1X power in the slimmest possible chassis.

Late 2026

OmniBook X 14

13.53 mm thin
Thinnest 14″

The 14-inch counterpart to HP’s Ultra 16, claiming the title of thinnest 14-inch RTX Spark laptop at just 13.53 mm rear height. Ultra-portable with full Spark AI capability.

Late 2026

Yoga Pro 9n

16-inch
Creator Focus

Lenovo’s beloved Yoga Pro 9 line steps into the RTX Spark era with a 16-inch N1X configuration. Full display and pricing specs are still TBA, but the Yoga Pro pedigree promises a premium build.

Fall 2026

Prestige N16 Flip AI+

UHD+ OLED
Touchscreen
2-in-1

The only confirmed convertible in the first RTX Spark wave. 16-inch UHD+ Tandem OLED touchscreen, MSI Nano Pen stylus, 99.9 Wh battery. Ideal for artists and tablet-mode AI workflows.

Fall 2026

// More Coming

Acer & GIGABYTE

Second wave confirmed by NVIDIA. Details TBA.

In addition to laptops, MSI is shipping the EdgeMesa N AI+ Mini PC, a micro-form-factor desktop with enough USB-C and HDMI bandwidth to drive up to four external displays simultaneously. It is positioned as a 24/7 local AI agent computer that can run models continuously at your desk without the power constraints of a laptop chassis.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra is one of the first laptop models optimized for the RTX Spark chip.

Gadget Salvation Buyback

Upgrading to RTX Spark?

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How Much Will RTX Spark Laptops Cost?

While no official prices have been published yet, let’s not kid ourselves: NVIDIA RTX Spark laptops are going to be very expensive. This is enterprise-grade supercomputer hardware tailored into a consumer clamshell, and the early models will carry a premium.

Morgan Stanley projects that the entry-level models with N1 silicon (paired with 16GB of unified RAM) will start at a steep base price of $1,800. If your workload demands the top-tier N1X configuration with 128GB of RAM, expect to spend around $3,500 to $5,000+.

This prohibitive pricing stems from three manufacturing caveats:

1. On-Substrate Memory Routing: Integrating massive, high-speed, unified pools of LPDDR5X memory directly adjacent to the processing cores requires specialized, low-yield advanced packaging methods.
2. Massive Silicon Footprint: Fusing a Grace CPU with a heavy Blackwell GPU requires a giant physical die layout, driving up semiconductor fabrication costs.
3. Premium Chassis and Displays: Laptop vendors are treating these as halo-tier products. You won’t find these chips in cheap plastic bodies. Every announced device incorporates high-end CNC-machined aluminum builds, advanced cooling arrays, and elite display tech (such as 4K 120Hz Lumina OLEDs or 2,000-nit Mini-LED panels).

For ordinary consumers, these numbers will hurt. But for AI developers who currently pay for cloud GPU time, an RTX Spark laptop running 120B-parameter models locally could pay for itself within months in avoided API costs.

Whom Are Spark Laptops For?

Given the steep financial investment and extreme performance overhead, an RTX Spark laptop is completely unnecessary for everyday tasks like web browsing, document writing, or casual media streaming. Instead, this ecosystem caters to specific elite tiers of power users:

• AI Developers, Researchers, and Data Scientists. This is RTX Spark’s strongest use case, and the premium price is most easily justified here. It is ideal for those writing, fine-tuning, or prototyping cutting-edge local AI models using CUDA-accelerated PyTorch, llama.cpp, and TensorRT. The 128GB memory ceiling enables local testing of models that previously required thousands of dollars per month in cloud compute infrastructure.
• High-End Creative Professionals & World Builders. Adobe’s deep partnership with NVIDIA on RTX Spark is a serious signal. For editors, motion designers, and 3D artists who have been forced to choose between portability and horsepower, RTX Spark is the first truly compelling answer.
• No-Compromise Premium Enthusiasts Who Game. Users who have long envied the silent operation, premium build, and long-lasting battery of high-end MacBook Pros, but refuse to leave the native Windows ecosystem, local developer environments, or the vast world of AAA ray-traced PC gaming, will appreciate RTX Spark.

NVIDIA RTX Spark vs. Apple Silicon: How Do They Compare?

The obvious reference point for an ARM SoC with a large unified memory pool and thin-and-light form factor is Apple Silicon. The comparison is inevitable and interesting because the two chips make very different trade-offs.

Apple Silicon vs. RTX Spark

// BENCHMARK COMPARISON · PRE-LAUNCH ESTIMATES · COMPUTEX 2026

AI Compute

AI TOPS
(FP4 / Neural Engine)

Max LLM
Parameters (local)

GPU Performance

GPU Synthetic
(est. relative)

Memory

CPU

* Pre-launch estimates based on NVIDIA Computex 2026 disclosures, Notebookcheck analysis, and comparable DGX Spark benchmark data. RTX Spark devices not yet available for independent testing. Gaming estimates assume DLSS 4.5 enabled. Apple M5 bandwidth figures per Apple spec sheet. Actual results will vary by OEM thermal implementation.

NVIDIA RTX Spark has a massive lead in raw AI computing power thanks to the Blackwell Tensor Core architecture and FP4 support. Apple’s Neural Engine delivers 38 TOPS compared to RTX Spark’s ~1,000 TOPS (a 26× gap). For GPU-accelerated AI frameworks like PyTorch and the full CUDA ecosystem, RTX Spark is decisively ahead.

The picture is more nuanced for creative work and general performance. The N1X’s GPU performance should sit between the Apple M5 Pro and M5 Max in creative benchmarks, while NVIDIA expects an edge in games. Apple Silicon’s single-core CPU performance and memory bandwidth remain class-leading, and macOS app compatibility is still broader than Windows on ARM for many creative professionals.

The main argument for RTX Spark is the CUDA software ecosystem. Every AI development tool, every GPU-accelerated renderer, every CUDA-native application (ComfyUI, Stable Diffusion, Blender GPU rendering, DaVinci Resolve with CUDA acceleration) runs natively and optimally. For anyone already living inside CUDA workflows, this is not a small thing.

NVIDIA’s Three-Generation Spark Commitment

One of the most strategically significant moments at Computex 2026 wasn’t the unveiling of the RTX Spark chip — it was Jensen Huang publicly committing to a three-generation roadmap for the Spark platform. This matters because the biggest risk with any new Windows on ARM platform is partner hesitation: OEMs and software vendors are reluctant to invest unless they believe the platform will be around for multiple cycles.

// Gen 1
Fall 2026
Launching Now

Grace Blackwell

20-core Grace CPU
6,144 CUDA Cores
1 PFLOP FP4
128 GB LPDDR5X
TSMC 3nm
300 GB/s

The debut superchip. A 20-core Grace ARM CPU paired with a Blackwell GPU over NVLink C2C, delivering 1 petaflop of FP4 AI compute in chassis as thin as 13mm. Launches in 30+ laptops from ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, and MSI.

// Gen 2
~2027–2028

Vera Rubin

Vera CPU
Rubin GPU
LPDDR6 Memory
Higher Bandwidth
Next-gen node

The second Spark generation advances to NVIDIA’s Vera CPU architecture alongside the Rubin GPU. The move to LPDDR6 memory promises significantly higher bandwidth and improved power efficiency — the same generational leap Apple Silicon typically delivers every two years.

// Gen 3
~2028–2029

Rosa Feynman

Rosa CPU
Feynman GPU
Next-gen Memory
TBA

The third confirmed generation pairs a Rosa CPU with Feynman GPU architecture. Memory technology is yet to be publicly specified. Publicly committing to this generation at Computex 2026 is NVIDIA’s clearest signal yet that RTX Spark is a long-term platform — not a one-cycle experiment.

* Roadmap confirmed by Jensen Huang at Computex 2026. Gen 2 and Gen 3 specs are not yet fully disclosed. Timeline estimates based on NVIDIA’s typical 18–24 month architecture cadence.

The third confirmed generation pairs a Rosa CPU with a Feynman GPU architecture and a next-generation memory solution that is yet to be publicly outlined. The platform roadmap extends NVIDIA’s commitment to the Spark form factor well into the end of the decade.

This multi-generational public commitment is NVIDIA’s answer to the question that killed Qualcomm’s Windows on ARM ambitions: “Will you still be here in three years?” NVIDIA’s answer is “yes“, and they’re showing the receipts. For enterprise buyers, ISVs, and OEMs evaluating whether to invest in the platform, this roadmap is foundational to any decision.

Should You Buy an RTX Spark Laptop?

The RTX Spark superchip is, without a doubt, a historic announcement. For the first time, a Windows laptop will offer the full NVIDIA CUDA ecosystem, datacenter-class AI compute, and a large unified memory pool in a thin chassis with all-day battery life. On paper, it closes the gap with Apple Silicon that Windows users have been tolerating for four years. And as far as AI workloads go, Spark doesn’t just close the gap, it laps it.

Buy if: You are an AI developer paying for GPU cloud time, a creative professional whose workflows are bottlenecked by VRAM, a researcher who needs to run large local models privately, or a gamer who also does serious creative work. For these buyers, the premium is legitimate, and the platform will be genuinely transformative.

Wait if: You primarily use your laptop for productivity, communication, or light media consumption. The mainstream Windows laptop market is well-stocked with $800–$1,500 offerings, and RTX Spark’s advantages don’t apply to those tasks. Additionally, early adopters on Windows on ARM always face some app compatibility friction, so waiting a generation allows the software ecosystem to iron out the wrinkles.

Sell your laptop now if: You know an RTX Spark computer is in your future. The optimal moment to trade in your current model is before the new release shifts the resale market. We at Gadget Salvation have been helping people get compelling cash back for aging hardware since 2008, and our instant quotation system lets you lock in today’s resale value in minutes.

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

We’ve all got one: that “tech drawer” or shelf where our old electronics retire. Sitting tucked away is your previous laptop. It might be a bit sluggish, the battery might not hold a charge as long as it used to, or maybe you simply upgraded to a newer model and never quite figured out what to do with this one.

But letting an old laptop sit there doesn’t just clutter your home. It is a missed opportunity. Depending on its age and condition, your computer could be a source of fast store credit, extra cash in your account, or a lifeline for someone bridging the digital divide.

Deciding whether to trade in, resell, or donate your laptop comes down to balancing three factors: time, money, and social impact. This guide will walk you through the steps to prepare your laptop and help you choose the best path forward.

The Quick Decision Path

If you only read one section, read this one. Here’s how most people land on the right answer.

Option 1: Trade It In (Cash or Store Credit)

Trading in means selling your laptop directly to a service that specializes in buying and reselling used electronics. You answer a few questions about the model and condition, get a locked quote, ship the device in (often with a prepaid label), and get paid — usually within a few days of the laptop arriving.

Why Do People Choose It:

• Speed. The timeframe from a quote to payout (or upgrade credit) is typically measured in days.
• No buyer risk. No flaky buyers, no lowball offers and bargaining, no chargebacks.
• Buyback works with broken laptops, too. Cracked screen, dead battery, won’t boot: most online buyback sites, including Gadget Salvation, still pay something because individual components (RAM, SSD, etc.) retain value even when the whole unit no longer works as intended.
• Data handling is built in. Reputable services securely wipe the drive as part of processing, which removes one of the more stressful parts of letting go of a device that’s had your whole digital life on it.

Where It Falls Short:

• You’ll typically get less than what a private sale could fetch, as you’re trading a portion of the cashback amount for speed and certainty.
• Quotes and speed vary by service, so it’s worth comparing two or three before committing.

A trade-in or selling via an online buyback is the right call for most people, most of the time. It’s the path of least resistance, and for a laptop that’s still in working order, it often yields the best dollars-per-minute-of-effort among the three options.

Option 2: Sell It Privately

This is the eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist route: listing the old laptop yourself and selling directly to another individual. It’s the option with the highest price potential, but also the highest effort required.

Why Do People Choose It:

• Higher potential payout. Cutting out the middleman can help you capture more of a laptop’s resale value, especially for desirable or recent models.
• You control pricing. You can set your asking price rather than accepting a fixed quote.

Where It Falls Short:

• Time. Taking photos, providing an accurate description, answering buyer questions, negotiating — this easily eats a few hours, sometimes spread across days (or even months).
• Risk. No-show buyers, payment scams, and chargeback fraud are all real and common on peer-to-peer marketplaces.
• Shipping is on you. You’re responsible for safely packaging and shipping the computer and handling any damage-in-transit disputes.

Private resale makes the most sense for well-known laptop models with strong demand. More recent MacBooks, popular gaming laptops, and premium ultrabooks are where the price gap between a trade-in quote and a private sale is large enough to justify the legwork.

Option 3: Donate It

Donating is the right move when a laptop’s resale value is low or nonexistent, but it still has functional life left. Or when you’d simply rather see it go to a school, nonprofit, or someone who needs a basic computer than chase a small cash payout.

Why Do People Choose It:

• Zero financial expectation, zero stress. No listing, no negotiating, no shipping logistics to manage.
• Tax deduction potential. In the US, donations to registered 501(c)(3) organizations are generally deductible at fair market value if you itemize and get the receipt.
• Direct community impact. Schools, libraries, and nonprofits often have an ongoing need for basic, working laptops.

Where It Falls Short:

• You get $0 (aside from a possible tax deduction), so it’s the wrong choice if the laptop has real resale value.
• Many donation programs have minimum requirements and won’t accept nonfunctional or damaged laptops, so check before dropping off the computer.

Donation is best reserved for laptops that are pretty old, have basic, low-spec hardware (like Celeron/Pentium CPU, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC), or are too cosmetically unappealing to be worth selling (think anything more than six years old, or models that have already been quoted near $0 by a trade-in service).

Side-by-Side Comparison

Factor
Trade-In
Private Sale
Donate

Payout speed
Days
Days to weeks (sometimes months)
None

Typical dollar value
Moderate, guaranteed
Highest, uncertain
$0 (tax write-off only)

Effort required
Low
High
Low

Works if broken / won’t boot
Usually yes
Rarely worth it
Often not accepted

Buyer risk / scams
None
Real risk
None

Data wiping handled for you
Yes, by service
No, your responsibility
No, your responsibility

How Much Your Laptop Loses Just by Waiting

One factor that pushes a lot of people toward buyback/trade-in over the “I’ll get to it eventually” is that laptops depreciate, i.e., lose resale value, as time goes by. A notebook that’s worth a meaningful sum today will be worth meaningfully less in twelve months, and a lot less in three years.

Before You Choose: Always Do This First

• Back up your files. Photos, documents, anything you’d miss: get it onto a drive or cloud storage before that old laptop leaves your hands.
• Sign out of every account. iCloud, Google, Microsoft, and, in particular, any DRM-locked software. Forgetting this step can leave the computer inaccessible (thus useless) to the next owner.
• Securely wipe storage. Use your operating system’s built-in secure erase or reset tool. If you’re trading in, reputable services handle this for you as part of processing.
• Note the condition honestly. The condition of the hardware is just as important (if not more so) than looks. Battery health, for example, is something buyers care about; therefore, it is factored in in the laptop’s resale price. Be upfront about any known issues and blemishes when getting quotes or listing for sale, to safeguard yourself from potential returns and offer adjustments.

So, Which One Should You Pick?

So here is the short version: buyback/trade-in wins on convenience and certainty, private sale wins on maximum dollars (if you’re willing to put in the time), and donation wins when the resale value is too low to bother chasing. For the large majority of working hardware under five years old, trade-in hits the best balance. And it costs nothing to check what your laptop is worth before deciding anything else.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Can I trade in a laptop that doesn’t turn on?

Yes. Most trade-in services, including Gadget Salvation, still buy non-functional laptops.

Is it better to trade in or sell a laptop privately?

Trade-in is better when speed, certainty, and zero hassle matter most. You get a locked quote and fast payment without listing, photographing, or shipping risk. Private resale can net more money but takes longer, carries risks, and generally requires more effort.

How do I calculate the tax deduction for a donated laptop?

To claim a tax deduction, you must donate to a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which will provide you with a tax receipt. The deduction amount is based on the laptop’s fair market value: what a buyer would reasonably pay for it in its current condition, rather than what you originally paid for it new. Consult a tax professional for specific filings.

What should I include with my old laptop?

You should always include the original power charger. Omitting it will lower laptop’s trade-in or resale value. Including optional extras like the original box, a laptop sleeve, or a wireless mouse can make your listing much more appealing to private buyers, but is not relevant when trading in online.

Tech enthusiast and digital storyteller with a passion for demystifying the world of gadgets, software, and emerging technologies.

When Apple announced the MacBook Neo in March 2026, it wasn’t just another MacBook Air refresh — it was the first Mac ever built around an iPhone chip. The A18 Pro, originally destined for iPhone 16 Pro models, gave the 13-inch Neo enough power for everyday tasks and on-device AI at a starting price of just $599. It was quickly dubbed the best budget laptop Apple has ever shipped, and it sold well enough that Apple had to order an entirely new production run of chips to keep up with the demand.

That kind of success doesn’t go unnoticed. The PC ecosystem has scrambled to respond to Apple’s budget breakthrough. None of the current Windows laptops is a perfect match, since the Neo’s strength is Apple’s tight hardware-software integration rather than any single metric on a spec sheet. But several come close enough, and a few actually beat it outright in specific areas.

What Actually Makes a Good Neo Rival

Before getting into specific models, it’s worth defining what “Windows equivalent” should mean here. It’s not just about hitting a similar price — it’s about matching the feel of a laptop that doesn’t feel cheap.

Price Band

$599–$799

Anything pricier stops being a true Neo competitor and becomes a different category.

Build

Metal, not plastic

The Neo’s aluminum chassis is the bar every Windows maker is now building toward.

Battery

All-day minimum

The Neo claims up to 16 hours; competitors need to match or beat that to matter.

On-Device AI

NPU-equipped

Copilot+ PC certification or equivalent NPU power to match Apple Intelligence.

5 Windows Laptops Going Head-to-Head With the MacBook Neo

Two of these are available on shelves today: the Dell 14 Plus and the Acer Swift Go 14. The Dell XPS 13, Asus Zenbook A14, and MSI Modern 14S AI+ were just announced at Computex 2026 and are expected to ship later this year, so the specs below are close to final but not yet confirmed.

1. Best Upgradeable: Dell XPS 13 (2026)

From $699

• Aluminum chassis that Dell calls the thinnest and lightest XPS it has ever built — and it’s actually lighter in hand than the Neo
• Runs Intel’s new “Wildcat Lake” chips, configurable up to a Core Ultra 7 Series 3 processor
• Unlike the Neo’s fixed 8GB, RAM is configurable up to 32GB — a real advantage for anyone planning to keep the laptop for years
• 120Hz touchscreen with an anti-reflective coating, USB-C ports on both sides, a backlit keyboard, and Windows Hello face unlock

2. Best Display & Battery: Asus Zenbook A14

From $749

• An OLED 120Hz panel with deep blacks, a real step up from the Neo’s already-sharp LCD display
• Built from Asus’ Ceraluminum, a ceramic-aluminum blend, in a 2.6-pound chassis
• Available with Intel, AMD, or Qualcomm Snapdragon chips, with the Snapdragon variant priced lowest and claiming up to 21 hours of battery life
• Better port selection than the Neo: two USB-C ports, one USB-A, and a full-size HDMI

3. Longest Battery Life: Acer Swift Go 14

From $599

• A laser-etched aluminum chassis with a 180-degree hinge (a clear step up from Acer’s old budget-plastic reputation), at around 2.5 pounds
• Available with Intel’s latest Core Ultra (Panther Lake) chips, or a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus configuration for longer unplugged time
• OLED display options ranging from 1920×1200 up to 2880×1800, with up to 400 nits and full DCI-P3 coverage on the higher tiers
• A generous 71Wh battery — nearly double the Neo’s 36.5Wh cell — alongside Copilot+ AI features and Wi-Fi 7

An existing Acer line refreshed for 2026 and already shipping in select configurations, unlike many of the brand-new Computex announcements here.

4. Toughest Build: MSI Modern 14S AI+

Pricing TBA

• Aluminum alloy chassis (apart from the bottom panel), weighing roughly 3 pounds, paired with a 14-inch OLED display
• The most complete port selection here: Ethernet, full HDMI, USB-A, and two USB-C ports
• MIL-STD-810H certified, meaning it’s built to handle drops, dust, and temperature swings far better than the Mac Neo
• Runs the same Intel Wildcat Lake chip family as the Dell and Acer options

First shown at CES 2026, with more details outlined at this year’s Computex. Would be a best fit for students or commuters who beat don’t treat their hardware with kid gloves.

5. Available Today: Dell 14 Plus

From $810

• In stores and ready for shipment. Users have already called it one of the best bang-for-the-buck Windows laptops around
• Aluminum lid and base keep the build feeling solid
• Ships standard with 32GB of RAM, four times the Neo’s fixed 8GB, plus a 1TB SSD
• Port selection beats the Neo outright: Thunderbolt 4, a second USB-C with DisplayPort, USB-A, and HDMI 2.1

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Specs Comparison

LaptopStarting PriceChipDisplayBatteryBuildMacBook Neo$599Apple A18 Pro13″ Liquid Retina, 500 nitsClaimed up to 16 hrsAluminum, 60% recycledDell XPS 13$699Series 3 Intel Core CPU13″ 2.5K touchNot yet availableAluminum, upgradeable to 32GB RAMAsus Zenbook A14$749Intel / AMD / Snapdragon14″ OLED, 120HzUp to 21 hrs claimed (Snapdragon)Ceraluminum, 2.6 lbsAcer Swift Go 14$599Intel Core Ultra (Panther Lake) or Snapdragon X Plus14″ OLED, up to 2880×180071Wh battery (~2x Neo capacity)Laser-etched aluminum, ~2.5 lbsMSI Modern 14S AI+TBAIntel Wildcat Lake14″ OLEDNot yet disclosedAluminum alloy, MIL-STD-810HDell 14 Plus$810Intel Core Ultra Series 214″ 2.5K, non-touch32 GB LPDDR5X; solid real-world battery lifeAluminum lid/base, plastic palmrest, ships today

Quick Picks by Priority

✓ Want Neo-level build quality, but upgradeable specs: Dell XPS 13 is the only option here with configurable RAM up to 32GB.

✓ Want the best screen and longest-lasting battery: Asus Zenbook A14 (Snapdragon configuration).

✓ Want maximum battery capacity for heavy daily use: Acer Swift Go 14 has a 71Wh battery, nearly double the Neo’s size.

✓ Want a laptop that survives drops, spills, and travel: MSI Modern 14S AI+ — MIL-STD-810H certified, better I/O port selection.

The Elephant in the Room: 8GB RAM Debate

If you read other tech reviews in search of a Neo-comparable PC laptop, you’ll notice a key talking point: Windows 11 vs. macOS memory management.

While an 8GB Windows laptop like the entry-level Dell XPS 13 can occasionally stutter under heavy multitasking, the Mac Neo handles the exact same workload surprisingly well. Because macOS and the A18 Pro chip are tightly integrated, Apple can squeeze every drop of performance from the measly 8 GB of RAM.

When choosing a Windows equivalent to the MacBook Neo, we highly recommend spending an extra $50 to $100 to get a 16GB RAM configuration. Windows simply thrives with more memory, and having 16GB ensures your laptop will feel fast for years to come.

Upgrading? Don’t Let Your Old Laptop Sit in a Drawer

Whichever direction you go, stick with macOS or wait for the RTX Spark superchip, you’re probably retiring something older to make room for it. That old laptop likely still has resale value, and letting it sit unused is the most expensive way to store it. Macs, in particular, tend to hold their resale value better than most PC laptops, but a well-maintained Windows computer still has salvage value, especially if the model is fairly recent.

Gadget Salvation has been buying back laptops since 2008, and we have perfected the process over the years. It’s very simple: get an instant valuation, ship the gadget for free, and get paid fast once we receive it, no waiting around, no haggling.

FAQ:

Is there a true Windows equivalent to the MacBook Neo?

Not a perfect spec-for-spec match, but several 2026 launches target the same $600–800 price band and thin-and-light aluminum build. The Dell XPS 13, Asus Zenbook A14, and MSI Modern 14S AI+ each compete with the Neo in different ways — some on battery, some on display, some on durability.

Which Windows laptop has the best battery life compared to the MacBook Neo?

Asus claims up to 21 hours on the Snapdragon-powered Zenbook A14, though real-world results vary by usage. The Acer Swift Go 14 also packs a 71Wh battery, nearly double the Neo’s capacity.

Should I buy the MacBook Neo now or wait for the Windows competition?

It depends on your priorities. Almost anyone who wants the cleanest out-of-the-box experience and does not mind macOS would prefer the Neo. Those looking for upgradeable RAM and storage, a higher-refresh OLED display, or a wider port selection may find it worth waiting a few more months for the newer Windows models to start shipping.

What should I do with my old laptop when I upgrade?

Trade it in instead of letting it sit unused. Gadget Salvation, established in 2008 and BBB A+ rated, offers instant no-obligation quotes, free shipping, and fast cash payouts for resale-worthy laptop models.

Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.

After years of incremental updates, Google is betting that its Gemini AI can reinvent its smart speaker. On Wednesday, the company introduced its first audio device built specifically for Gemini with the $99.99 Google Home Speaker.

The new Google Home device is the first stand-alone smart speaker from the tech giant since the Nest Audio in September 2020. That older device arrived at a time when smart speakers were thought of largely as handy controllers for your smart home and music-playing systems. They lacked the smarts of today’s AI chatbots, as commands often had to be phrased correctly to get things to work.

The Google Home Speaker is changing that, as you’ll be able to speak using natural language requests and even make multistep requests using the phrasing you’d like. For instance, you could tell the speaker to “turn off all the lights except for my bedside lamp,” or “dim the kitchen lights, play some relaxing music, and set a timer for 20 minutes.”

You can also make corrections mid-sentence as you speak instead of having to try requests again, and Gemini will understand. That means you could say something like, “Turn off the coffee maker … I mean, turn it on!” and the AI will respond appropriately, Google points out.

Image Credits:Google

Plus, the device will ship with 10 new voices that can have two-way conversations with you about topics that aren’t limited to smart home tasks or other simple commands. You can ask more nuanced questions and dive deeper into topics you want to learn about, as you could when speaking with Gemini on your smartphone. The speaker’s microphone can also remain on briefly when using the “Continued Conversation” feature, so you can more naturally ask follow-up questions without having to say “OK, Google” again.

The device looks similar to older versions, with its 3D-knit textile wrapping and rounded 3.4 x 4.2-inch design. In the U.S., the speaker comes in Jade and Berry colors in addition to the Hazel and Porcelain options available in the rest of the world. A new ring light at the bottom will indicate if the speaker is listening, thinking, or responding.

But not all of the new device’s AI smarts will be free.

Google will sell Google Home Premium subscription plans for $10 per month (or $100 per year) if you want to take advantage of more powerful AI features. This includes being able to have more free-flowing conversations with Gemini Live, which you kick off by saying, “Hey, Google, let’s chat.” Home Premium can also help you ask about and make sense of activity captured on your home’s Nest cameras, or offer summaries of what happened in the home while you were out.

Whether those capabilities are compelling enough to justify another monthly subscription remains to be seen, particularly when many of the device’s Gemini features are available without paying.

Google will try to get you used to the advanced features by offering them for free for six months before pushing you to subscribe. If successful, Google will have reinvigorated the smart speaker lineup with generative AI and will have found a way to get some customers to pay for those technological advances.

The device is available for preorder now and will ship later this month.

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