Laptops

Microsoft is bringing the feature we’ve always wanted to Windows

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The dream of a Windows 10 smartphone running desktop apps is apparently alive and well. And perhaps next year, it might arrive at a store near you.

Microsoft today announced a partnership with top mobile chip maker Qualcomm at a hardware developer conference in Shenzhen, China that will basically allow next-generation ARM chips to deliver a full-fledged Windows 10 experience, support for peripherals and mainstream applications included. So, yeah, we’re talking a better execution of Windows RT, which tried but ultimately failed to make ARM devices play nicely with Windows.

[irp posts=”7256″ name=”Microsoft Surface Studio is the all-in-one PC of our dreams”]

Microsoft says it is building an emulator into Windows 10 that will allow forthcoming Snapdragon-powered phones and tablets to run Adobe Photoshop, Google Chrome, Microsoft Office, or any of the million existing desktop apps right now. They should even be able to have a go at Crysis 2 without problems.

It is said the Snapdragon 835 will be the first Qualcomm chipset to offer hardware emulation, but it won’t be the last, and that the first ARM-based PCs aren’t due for release until the second half of next year.

Microsoft isn’t keen on explaining how the technology works, and, unfortunately, the emulator won’t run on today’s hardware, so we’ll have to wait until next year to find out. You can bet, though, that Snapdragon PCs should sell at lower price points and easily outlast their Intel and AMD counterparts, which is what Microsoft is pushing for here.

Think how much more compelling Windows 10 ultraportables would be if they were more affordable and offered all-day battery life without asterisks. It would have been the final nail in the coffin for Intel’s Atom family of processors, except the company had already thrown in the towel not too long ago.

Where does the Surface phone fit into all of this? Your guess is as good as ours; Microsoft is still mum on the fabled Windows 10 device. But it’s likely that — fingers crossed — when it does show up, it will have a Qualcomm chip under its bonnet.

[irp posts=”125″ name=”10 Best Features of Windows 10″]

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Laptops

Alienware celebrates 30th anniversary with new Area-51 laptops

The series features Alienware 30, an all-new design language.

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March 17, 2026

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Despite the rise of more gaming brands, Alienware is still one of the most recognizable names for gamers who want dedicated hardware. This year, the brand is celebrating its 30th anniversary. To commemorate the milestone, Alienware has launched the new Area-51 and Aurora notebooks.

Alienware Area-51

Alienware’s Area-51 lineup is the brand’s flagship line of notebooks, packing in the best of the best from the industry. This time is no different.

First of all, the new series will rock Alienware 30, a new design philosophy made especially for the 30th anniversary. On the outside, the laptops have fluid contours, emphasizing curves opposed to the industry’s more angular contemporaries. It also has a Zero Hinge, which hides the laptop’s hinge from view. Finally, it has pillowed palm rests to make usage easy for long gaming sessions.

The 16-inch model can rock up to a WQXGA Anti-Glare OLED screen, featuring 240Hz refresh rate and 620 peak HDR nits. It will also have an LCD option. Alternatively, the 18-inch model has a WQXGA screen, featuring 300Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of brightness.

Inside, the Alienware Area-51 boasts up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX processor and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 24GB GPU. For memory, gamers can enjoy up to 64GB Dual-Channel DDR5. Finally, for storage, the series can rock up to 2TB SSD natively but can support up to 3 slots, allowing for up to 12TB of internal storage.

The series will have a sizable 96Whr battery. This is complemented by a 280W adapter and the brand’s largest fans by volume to keep things cool.

Alienware 16X Aurora

For those who portability over raw power, the new Alienware 16X Aurora fits inside any day-to-day kit. For example, it ditches the thermal shelf typical of most gaming notebooks today to increase portability. It has rounded edges to make it easier to grasp and to create a slightly pillowed palm rest, similar to its flagship counterpart.

The 16-inch WQXGA OLED panel touts 240Hz refresh rate, 0.2ms response time, and 620 nits HDR peak brightness.

Inside, the notebook has up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU. These specs are paired with up to 64GB Dual-Channel DDR5 memory and up to 2TB SSD.

Finally, the Alienware 16X Aurora will have a 90Whr battery. This is supported by up to a 280W charger (for the RTX 5070 variant).

Price, availability

Both series are available starting today, March 17.

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Laptops

Apple MacBook Neo Review

The Mac You’ve Been Waiting For!

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March 12, 2026

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Apple disrupts the industry with their latest MacBook — an affordable to say the very least.

If you’re a student, a first-time Mac owner, someone who’s been priced out of this ecosystem their whole life, someone who just needs a laptop for basic tasks but one that looks great, without slowing them down, this is it!

Or maybe you’re torn choosing between the MacBook Neo and the more powerful M5 MacBook Air?

Well, that’s what we’re here for. Here’s our review with the all-new MacBook Neo.

Get the MacBook Neo here!

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Laptops

Hands-on: NEW iPhone 17e, iPad Air, MacBooks, Studio Displays

What Apple has announced other than the MacBook Neo

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March 9, 2026

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The MacBook Neo was the star of yesterday’s Apple event, and it has every right to be but it’s been a big week for Apple.

So as promised, we also went hands-on with every other device announced this week: iPhone 17e, M4 iPad Air, M5 MacBook Air, MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, and the new Studio Displays.

 

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