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No one knows yet what the perfect device looks like for mobile gaming, but we’re getting a sense of what will be on the inside of them — and it looks like it’ll come from either AMD or Qualcomm. And Qualcomm’s making a bid to be inside game-focused handhelds across the price spectrum with its Snapdragon G series.

Qualcomm’s reached the reference design stage for the top-of-the-line G3x Gen 2 chipsets, the processors for products intended to have the whizziest features and performance. (A reference design is something between a proof-of-concept and a way to give manufacturers something to work from to design and build their own products.) It’s the second generation of the G3; Razer used the Gen 1 in its Razer Edge.

What counts as whizzy? Everything you need to play mobile AAA games and other power-draining, heat-generating mobile games that you don’t want to inflict on your phone: active cooling, hardware ray tracing, haptics, upscaling for games, XR glasses tethering, the latest generation of Bluetooth (for lowest latency audio connections), and high-speed WiFi 7 and 5G networking. Breakout illustrations also suggest dual 3,000mAh batteries, plus the chipset supports upgradable storage.

Qualcomm doesn’t have any high-profile partners lined up yet (though there’s always this power team up) — or at least isn’t talking about any of them — just OEMs whose names you probably wouldn’t recognize.

The reference design I saw for the G3x Gen 2 was pretty similar to the one Scott Stein saw when Qualcomm first launched the G3, just a little boxier. Plugged in with a set of XR glasses gave a taste of that future, which offers more immersion (and comfort) because you can look forward — a lot more comfortable over long stretches than looking down.

At the moment, the nascent mobile market is pretty much owned by Qualcomm and AMD. AMD’s Ryzen processors are popular for expensive gaming devices like the Xbox Series X|S and PS5 consoles as well as handhelds designed to run PC games like the Valve Steam Deck and the new Asus ROG Ally. And if it runs Android, chances are it’s got an Qualcomm Snapdragon inside.

True, most of those are phones, but the Logitech G Cloud and Razer Edge also fall into that camp. The Nintendo Switch is an outlier, a relatively old handheld still equipped with an Nvidia Tegra X1 — a chip that debuted in 2015 — but Nintendo uses a lightweight, proprietary operating system and games are constrained to work within the performance limitations. Who knows if it will carry through to the Switch 2, whenever that appears.

For that end of the spectrum (more or less under $200), Qualcomm is offering the Snapdragon G1 for devices almost solely intended to stream games locally — the way PlayStation’s Portal (formerly Project Q) is just a remote way to play games running on your PS5 — or playing via the cloud with services like GeForce Now and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Cloud Gaming.

Because the device doesn’t do any onboard rendering when streaming games, just processing input and output and decoding video, they won’t run hot. So they’re intended for fanless designs, low input lag and optimized for battery life. It’s Wi-Fi only, which helps keep the cost down; but it’s a bit disappointing that it’s WiFi 5, which isn’t as robust for this use as WiFi 6 and above or 5G.

And in the middle sits the Snapdragon G2, which adds native mobile games to cloud gameplay and better networking: WiFi 6/6E and 5G.

I wouldn’t expect to see any devices incorporating the G series before CES 2024, although it’s possible Razer could slip in a Gen 2 upgrade in its Edge beforehand.

Apple’s iPhone 14 series may be the latest models available from the brand, but there are of deals on older iPhones. If you’re looking to find a great deal on a phone and don’t necessarily need the most advanced models out there, you may want to consider some of the refurbished models currently available at Woot.

You can grab older generation iPhones — including the previous-gen iPhone 13 — along with refurbished Apple Watches starting at just $200, which can save you hundreds. This offer is available now through Aug. 31, while supplies last. Some models have already begun to sell out, however, so we recommend making your purchase sooner rather than later.

All of the models available in this sale are fully unlocked and are Grade A refurbished models, which means the phones have been tested, inspected and repaired to full working condition and have minimal cosmetic damage. And they are backed by a 90-day limited warranty from Woot, just in case.

Woot has both the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro available for purchase, with the base model starting at $550 and the Pro model going for $700. The iPhone 13 is still our favorite everyday phone on the market. And both the base and Pro versions feature a 6.1-inch screen and come with 128GB of storage, though you can upgrade to the 512GB version of the iPhone 13 for just $650, which is only $100 more and may be worth the splurge if you tend to save a lot of photos and videos.

But if you prefer a larger screen over massive storage, you may want to snag the iPhone 12 Pro Max instead. It’s a generation older, but it’s still a solid phone and it comes with a 6.7-inch screen, which may be a better fit for some people. Plus, it’s available for as low as $630 right now — and with cloud storage readily available, there are plenty of ways for you to hold onto your memories. And the base model iPhone 12 is also marked down to just $370.

However, if you’re looking for a bottom-dollar deal on a solid smartphone, the iPhone 11 is available for as low as $290 for the 64GB model or $330 for the upgraded 128GB version.

And for those that are just getting into the smartwatch game or want a decent option without paying the price for the Series 8 or Ultra, you can grab the Apple Watch Series 6 GPS model starting at $200, with an upgrade to the LTE version for just $5 more. It still offers an always-on display, an ECG sensor and tons of fitness-tracking features to help you keep up with activity levels and more. Plus, you can play music or receive calls and messages right from your wrist, which is convenient when you’re on the go.

Between the photos, videos, games and more, it feels like you never have enough storage on your phone or tablet. Fortunately, a lot of mobile devices these days allow you to expand their storage capacity with a microSD card. This durable Samsung Evo Select card boasts a whopping 512GB of storage, and right now you can pick it up for just $30 at Amazon, saving you $11 compared to the usual price. Though there’s no set expiration for this deal, so you’ll want to get your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

With a 512GB capacity, this Evo Select microSD card has enough space to store up to 30 hours of 4K video, or over 200,000 4K photos. And it boasts impressive data transfer speeds of up to 130MB/s. It also features a rugged design that can handle some pretty extreme conditions. It can operate in temperatures ranging from -25 degrees to 85 degrees Celsius, and is protected against water, X-rays and magnets. Plus it can handle drops of up to five meters. It also comes with a standard SD adapter, so you can use it in your digital camera as well.

It’s worth noting that the 256GB model is on sale for just $18 right now, so you could pick up two for around the same price. And you can check out our full roundup of all the best microSD card deals for even more bargains.

The newest Netflix Game now available to subscribers is WrestleQuest, a pro wrestling RPG from Mega Cat Studios.

WrestleQuest, originally released on other platforms on Aug. 8, is touted by its creators as the “ultimate fusion” between pro-wrestling and role playing games. Mega Cat Studios describes the game as a collection of “wild realms, exotic monsters, action figure fighters and spandexed allies [that] await as this fantasy goes beyond the ring.”

You can access this game and others with any of Netflix’s subscriptions, which start at $7 a month. To access Netflix games, open the Netflix app on your Android or iOS device, scroll down the homepage until you see the Mobile Games carousel, and tap into the game you want to play. If you’re a Canadian or UK Netflix user, you may have the option to play Netflix Games on your TV.

Other games recently released on Netflix include Cut the Rope Daily, The Queen’s Gambit Chess and Too Hot to Handle 2.

For more, check out the best gaming subscriptions and see why CNET gave Netflix an 2023 Editors’ Choice Award for best streaming entertainment.

Xbox is leaning into the Starfield game hype by bringing out a new wrap for the Xbox Series X that allows gamers to add customization to their console without having to buy a whole new unit, Microsoft said Monday.

Three new wraps, which retail for between $45 and $50, deliver “an option that’s more affordable and more sustainable than purchasing a special edition or limited edition console,” Microsoft said.

Because the Xbox Series X console wrap isn’t a sticker, it can easily be folded around your console and removed. Microsoft said the exterior is wrapped in microfiber and has a “soft smooth white high-tech feel” secured “with a hook and loop enclosure.” Unlike a vinyl skin, these wraps seem to be made of a thicker material and don’t sit nearly as flush as a sticker would on the gaming console.

As well as Starfield, the wraps will also be available in arctic camo and mineral camo colorways. Already for Starfield, Microsoft has released a limited edition wireless controller and headset, both of which are sold out.

The Starfield edition wrap will launch on Oct. 18, with the camo versions following on Nov. 10. You can preorder them now.

Microsoft isn’t the first console manufacturer to offer gamers ways to customize their consoles. Sony released PS5 console covers early last year in a variety of different colors. Limited covers include a Spider-Man 2 variant as well as a LeBron James edition. While Sony hasn’t given exact numbers on how well its console covers have sold, considering the company has sold over 40 million PS5 units, accessory sales are likely an important factor in PlayStation’s overall earnings. It isn’t surprising that Microsoft is offering its fans similar customization options.

If you’re a student filmmaker, you know how important it is to create professional quality work and save as much money as humanly possible. As a student filmmaker, I struggled with the same balance. My priority was spending on tech that would accommodate both my academic and creative needs, so when it came time for me to sit down and write my short, I was left with little to spend on script-writing software.

What I needed as a student was a cost-effective or free option that would yield professional results. I wanted my scripts to look high-quality, particularly since I was going to be sharing them with my peers. I also needed the software to work with the tech I already had. So I went on a screenwriting software deep dive, and in my research I found all sorts of programs that stood out to me.

Some programs fit my needs perfectly, including Arc Studio Pro or Studio Binder. However, I also came across tons of other software that would fit every writer’s budget and needs. Writing is a personal undertaking, so it’s important that your software feels like an extension of you, and not just a means to an end. What worked well for me might not work for others, and that’s perfectly fine! It’s the reason I’ve included other industry favorites and well-loved programs in this list — there’s something here for everyone.

Something I noticed when doing my own screenwriting software research is that the pricing gets confusing. Every program seems to have a different payment schedule, and that can make it hard to directly compare pricing. So, for the sake of comparison, one-time purchase prices have been translated into what the monthly cost would be if the software were purchased on a monthly basis. I’ve done the same for yearly subscriptions, so you’ll see both the yearly recurring price and what that price would be if you were paying month-by-month.

Check out more on cost-effective computers and budget-friendly tablets.

If there’s one company who can be credited with reviving interest in quality, budget turntables it’s U-Turn. The original Orbit was a hit with undeniable appeal — it was American-made and it was simple to use — but it wasn’t going to be perfect. After the release of the show-stopping U-Turn Orbit Theory it seems the company has decided to go back to basics with a makeover that would make even the Queer Eye team proud.

The company has now unveiled three newly enhanced models, including:

• Orbit Basic ($249) with Audio-Technica AT91 cartridge
• Orbit Plus ($399) with Ortofon OM5E cartridge
• Orbit Special ($549) with Ortofon 2M Red cartridge

The company’s new range includes a number of upgrades as well as some luxe options for audio tweakers. These improvements begin with the tonearm: The original aluminum hybrid arm was always a little awkward, and this has been fixed with a one-piece magnesium tonearm, named the OA3. The drive system has seen an overhaul with a new, grooved MDF platter, and a seamless silicone belt replacing the old elastic band. Though changing speeds on the Orbits is easier than most, with a flick of the belt between pulleys, the Orbit Special and Custom now come with electronic speed control.

The options, available across the range, now include a choice of colors, as well as two solid wood plinths (for an extra $120). Users have the ability to add a set of height-adjustable aluminum feet, which use sorbothane to reduce external vibrations. And the defeatable Pluto 2 Phono Preamp can be included, which means you don’t need a separate phono amp on your stereo system.

Hands-on

I received an Orbit Basic, in the optional walnut, and with the defeatable preamp onboard. I had a quick listen to it alongside my new favorite budget table, the Monolith by Monoprice. The U-Turn had been set up in the factory, so all I had to do was put the platter on, wind the drive belt around the pulley and it was ready. It’s always nice to not have to install every last component. The Monolith was a bear to get working properly comparatively — the tonearm was fairly floppy — but vinyl fans still shouldn’t find it that difficult.

The U-Turn is noticeably smaller than the Monolith, though it’s certainly more elegant looking. The one feature I do wish the U-Turn had is a tonearm lift — some people are happy to use the finger lift, but having a lever is more accurate. Especially if you’re doing a bit of party DJing and want to cue up the next song.

I only had time to play one song on each turntable — and I chose Clint Eastwood by Gorrilaz. The song was a perfect match for the rambunctious Orbit as it burst with hefty bass and a lean high-end response. This turntable is ready to party! The Monolith was a little more refined with more detail, particularly of Damon Albarn’s vocals. There was a better sense of separation between the instruments — this song can be more than “just a bass track” to two-step to.

I look forward to hearing more from the Orbit, and early impressions seem to indicate there has been some sonic improvement. There are some impressive turntables at the same price that are also better featured, but if the Basic is anything like the stellar Orbit Theory, it’s got some surprises left in it yet.

The Orbit range is available from U-Turn and select retailers now.