Despite launching an all-new version of the m16 last year, Alienware has completely redesigned its mainstream 16-inch gaming laptop again for 2024 to address customer feedback while optimizing performance for the most popular configs. I got to check out the new m16 R2 ahead of CES 2024 and there’s a lot to like about Alienware’s more purpose-built revamp.

Unlike the 2023 M16, which could accommodate RTX 4090 cards, the m16 R2 tops out at an RTX 4070. In return for lowered top-end performance, you get a sleeker and lighter laptop with a larger 90 Whr battery, slimmer bezels, and a larger touchpad – all in a package with a 15 percent smaller footprint.

As before, display options will go up to a 16:10 QHD+ panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, while CPU options are getting a bump to Intel’s latest batch of Core Ultra H-series chips. Meanwhile, by eliminating the old model’s thermal shelf (which was the big protrusion that stuck out past the hinge), Alienware was able to shave off about an inch and a half in depth while also redesigning its cooling system to provide 43% more airflow. Notably, even though the new model is significantly smaller, it still offers a solid selection of ports including Ethernet, a full-size HDMI 2.1 jack, two USB Type-A 3.2 and two USB-C (one of which supports Thunderbolt 4).

There are also a handful of subtle, but much-appreciated, aesthetic changes, including a new RGB lightning loop that runs around the perimeter of the touchpad. That said, if you want to quickly hide your power level, you can instantly turn off all of the laptop’s lighting and set the system to quiet by hitting F2 and activating Alienware’s Stealth Mode. It’s a small but very handy addition that makes it easy for you to avoid drawing unwanted attention.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Other small changes and features include user–upgradeable DDRR5 RAM and M.2 SSDs (two slots each), a new FHD IR webcam with support for facial recognition and Windows Hello and AI-powered noise-cancellation for improved video calling. Additionally, all new Alienware laptops for 2024 will receive upgraded far-field microphones, support for Wi-Fi 7 and the latest version (6.1) of the company’s Command Center app.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

But most importantly, the new Alienware m16 R2 feels like it’s better designed for gaming on the go. It’s not quite as powerful as last year’s model, but it’s almost a pound and a half lighter (5.75 pounds vs 7.17 pounds). It should have better battery life too, and it’s just easier to carry around thanks to its slimmer dimensions. You still get a premium construction with smooth matte aluminum panels on top and bottom. And if you really want a 16-inch thin-and-light gaming laptop with big graphics, there’s always the Alienware x16, which hasn’t gotten a redesign but will have updated specs for 2024 including support for up to an RTX 4090.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

The new Alienware m16 R2 is scheduled to go on sale on January 11 with select configs starting at $1,650 before more options become available later this quarter.

We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

Without a new generation of NVIDIA GPUs to accommodate, this year at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, laptop manufacturers have been forced to come up with other ways of getting attention. Some OEMs have opted for complete redesigns while others have introduced smaller (and super light) versions of existing models. But on the 2024 Predator Helios 18, Acer has opted for the flashiest method yet, featuring a captivating new hinge along with updated specs.

Compared to last year’s model, the outside of the Helios 18 doesn’t look that much different. It features a familiar matte black chassis and, at 7.17 pounds and 1.14 inches thick, it’s about the same size and weight as well. But then you get to the back where its new hinge is waiting to dazzle you with a seemingly endless series of RGB lights to gawk at. It’s a cool effect that Acer has dubbed the Infinity Mirror lighting bar, and while I’m not sure that alone would cause me to buy one, it’s certainly fun to stare into. All hail the hypno hinge.

Aside from that, the other new design change is the introduction of Acer’s MagKey 3.0 on the Helios 18’s WASD buttons, which allows you to swap not only the keycaps but also the mechanical switches beneath for a truly customized gaming experience. The laptop will come with two extra sets of keycaps and switches in the box. I just wish Acer allowed owners to swap out every key and keycap instead of just WASD. Unfortunately, because I only saw a pre-production model, I didn’t have the chance to try it myself.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Inside, the Helios 18 has been refreshed with an Intel Core i9-14900X CPU and support for up to 32GB of RAM, 4TB of storage and NVIDIA RTX 4090 graphics. Meanwhile, to keep its operating temps in check, Acer has upgraded to 5th-gen Aeroblade 3D fans and switched to liquid metal thermal grease for improved heat conductivity. And as you’d expect on a system this big and starts at $2,000, the Helios 18 has great connectivity including Wi-Fi 7 and tons of ports (full-size HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, microSD, dual USB-C and more). The Helios 18’s display has also gotten some attention with the move to a 250Hz mini LED panel with a peak brightness of 1,000 nits and a gamut that covers 100 percent of DCI-P3.

And while I didn’t get to see it myself, if you don’t want a gaming laptop this big, there will also be a Predator Helios 16 that offers all the same specs (up to an RTX 4090) including a 90 Whr battery, but in a chassis that weighs 5.95 pounds and measures 1.05 inches thick.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

But it doesn’t stop there because at CES 2024, Acer is announcing more budget-friendly Neo versions of the machines above. Also available with 16- and 18-inch screens, the Predator Helios Neo 18 and Predator Helios Neo 16 come with the same i9-14900X chip, but with a slightly slower 240Hz display and GPU options that cap out at an RTX 4070. Sadly, similar to the Predator Helios 18, the Helios Neo 16 I saw was a pre-production model and had some finishes and speaker grilles that didn’t match the rest of the system, though Acer says that will be fixed on retail models.

Regardless, Acer will have a bunch of updated 16 and 18-inch gaming laptops for you to consider no matter your budget.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

The Predator Helios 16 will start at $1,900 and go on sale in January, followed by the Predator Helios 18 at $2,000, which will arrive sometime in March. Alternatively, the Predator Helios Neo 18 and Neo 16 will start at $1,550 and $1,500 respectively, with both officially launching in March.

We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

Razer was so proud of the screens on its updated Blade laptops it announced some details a week before CES. Now that I’ve seen them, I can say they look even better in person.

The big upgrade for the Blade 16 is without a doubt its screen, which Razer says is the world’s first 16-inch 240Hz OLED display. The impressive thing is that, even when compared to the Blade 14 and Blade 18’s panels which both look great, the one on the 16 just pops a little bit more. Colors look rich and it covers 100 percent of DCI-P3 color gamut, plus its response time of just 0.2ms is super fast. You also get VESA ClearMR 11000 and DisplayHDR True Black 500 certifications. And while its QHD+ resolution isn’t quite 4K, you can always opt for the dual mode mini LED screen Razer introduced last year.

Inside, you get a new 14th-gen Raptor Lake Core i9-14900HX chip and up to an RTX 4090 with a TDP of 175 watts. While the Blade 16’s starting price looks pretty steep at $3,000, it’s important to note that that figure includes the brand new OLED display and 4070 graphics, which is better than the 4060 cards you get as base from a lot of Razer’s rivals. The Blade 16 is on sale today. 

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

As for the Blade 14, it’s got a new AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS chip and up to an RTX 4070 GPU with a TDP of 140 watts. As for its display you’re looking at a 16:10 QHD+ panel with a 240Hz refresh rate. And all this comes in a chassis that still weighs 4.05 pounds and measures 0.7 inches thick, which might make this my favorite of the three due to its combination of power and portability. I just wish that it had the OLED display from the Blade 16. Pricing is still to be determined, though pre-orders are slated for the end of January.

Finally, there’s the Blade 18, whose most important new feature is the world’s first 18-inch 4K 165Hz display. Now I should mention that this display is so new, the model we saw at CES has a placeholder lid, so the system I saw was significantly thicker than it will be at launch. The other big claim is that the Blade 18 will feature a Thunderbolt 5 port, which is the first time I’ve heard any company pledge to include this connector. Unfortunately, that’s all we know about the Blade 18 for now, as it’s not scheduled to launch until sometime later this year.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

One last notable change for 2024 is that across the entire Blade family, you’ll now be able to equip each system with up to 96GB of RAM and 8TB of SSD storage. Those are pretty monstrous figures and you can bet upgrading won’t come cheap, but if you need it, you need it.

CES often sets the tone for all of a manufacturer’s products that year. And apparently the theme for MSI in 2024 is “big.” It’s kicking things with three new 18-inch gaming laptops at CES 2024, plus one of the best-looking budget systems around.

As usual, MSI’s roster of gaming notebooks is headlined by the Titan series, in this case the Titan 18 HX. For those familiar with the previous generations, you may notice a lack of a two-letter tag in front of the system’s names (e.g., GT, GE, et cetera), a move MSI is making across all of its laptops to simplify its naming scheme.

In addition to a revamped design based on a new magnesium alloy chassis, the Titan 18 HX is crammed full of the most powerful components you can fit in a laptop including up to a 14th-gen Intel Core i9-14900HX chip, RTX 4090 GPU, 128GB of RAM, three SSD slots, Wi-Fi 7 and more. In total, we’re talking about a TDP of 270 watts with stable clock speeds of up to 5.2GHz across the CPU’s eight performance cores.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Its display also shines thanks to what MSI claims is the world’s first 18-inch 4K Mini LED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which boasts VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification. Meanwhile, for gamers who don’t feel like plugging in an external mouse, there’s a haptic touchpad that boasts eye-catching RGB backlighting. The only drawback is that with a starting price of $5,000, the Titan is only for people with equally large bank accounts.

For those who want a big gaming machine that’s still very fast but a tiny bit more affordable there’s the Raider 18 HX, which starts at around $3,500 to $4,000 (exact pricing still TBA). It sports a similar design to the Titan, except this there’s a big lightbar in front to really show off your love of RGB. The Raider also supports up to an i9-14900HX CPU and RTX 4090 GPU, but with a slightly lower overall 250-watt TDP. Unfortunately, the model we saw wasn’t functioning, so there wasn’t much more to glean from it.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Then there’s the Stealth 18 AI Studio, which is the first time MSI’s best-selling thin-and-light line has been available in this size. At 6.3 pounds, it’s almost two pounds lighter than both Titan and Raider while still supporting up to an RTX 4090 (but with a lower 185-watt TDP). The main difference is that as its name implies, it’s based on a 14th-gen Meteor Lake chip instead of Raptor Lake refresh, so it has a dedicated NPU for handling AI tasks.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Finally, I saw the Cyborg 14 and, if you’re a fan of old-school gadgets made out of translucent plastic, you’re going to appreciate MSI’s new approach to budget chassis design. Instead of a bunch of bulky plastic with too much RGB, the Cyborg has smoky gray accents scattered across its body – from its WASD keys to its sides and bottom panel. And its specs are solid for a system starting at around $1,000. It has a 16:10 144Hz display, support for up to an RTX 4060 and 13th-gen Core i7 chip. So not blisteringly fast, but not too shabby either. It’s a good value and has a little flair that shows that a company put some thought into a product beyond the price. And while it may not get a ribbon, if Dell’s G-series was the best-looking budget laptop at CES last year, the Cyborg 14 looks to be the early favorite in 2024.

That said, these four laptops were only a sample of all the new systems MSI is launching in Las Vegas, which includes spec refreshes for existing systems like the Stealth 14/16 alongside bigger revamps for others like the Vector line.

MSI has yet to announce full pricing and availability info for the Titan 18 HX, Raider 18 HX, Stealth 18 AI Studio and the Cyborg 14, so stayed tuned for updates.

We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

Sometimes the never-ending quest to shave an extra gram or millimeter off a new laptop can become a bore. However, when a company can do it without cutting too many corners, that deserves some attention. And that’s what HP has done with the new Omen Transcend 14, which is making its debut at CES 2024 as the lightest 14-inch gaming laptop in the world.

Weighing just 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg), the Omen Transcend 14 is much closer in size and lightness to an ultraportable than an average gaming laptop. To put that into context, that’s just 0.1 pounds heavier than a 14-inch MacBook Pro and 0.15 pounds lighter than rival super-portable gaming laptops like the ASUS ROG Zepyrys G14. And while it’s not quite as powerful as the larger Omen Transcend 16, it certainly won’t be hurting for performance thanks to support for 14th-gen Intel Core Ultra 7 or Ultra 9 processor, up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM, 2TB of storage and an RTX 4070 GPU.

Critically, despite its petite dimensions, you still get two USB-A and two USB-C ports (one of which supports Thunderbolt 4) plus a full-size HDMI 2.1 jack around back. And for those who want peak wireless speeds, you’ll also have the option to upgrade to Wi-Fi 7 card with Bluetooth 5.4.

The Transcend 14 does feature a Meteor Lake chip with a dedicated NPU, but don’t expect any game-changing breakthroughs in terms of AI capabilities. At HP’s demo station, I saw the Omen run Cyberpunk 2077 smoothly at a 2K resolution while simultaneously livestreaming using OBS at 1080p. In this situation, the laptop was offloading camera effects to the NPU, which provides a small performance bump as that task would normally be handled by the GPU. AI is destined to be a big buzzword at CES 2024, but this is probably the most realistic example of what you should expect on next-gen notebooks.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

The Transcend 14’s display looks great, packing a 2.8K (2,880 x 1,800) OLED panel with a variable 120Hz refresh rate. It supports HDR with a peak brightness of 500 nits and a wide color gamut that colors 100 percent of the DCI-P3 spectrum. Meanwhile sound is handled by a pair of DTS:X Ultra speakers, though an interesting change for 2024 is that following HP’s acquisition in 2021, the Transcend 14’s audio tuning will now be handled by its in-house sub-brand HyperX. This comes with the added bonus of the Transcend 14 having a built-in wireless receiver for the company’s Cloud III headphones. So, if you already have a pair or decide to purchase some later, you won’t have to waste one of your precious USB ports on a dongle.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

The Transcend 14 shares a lot of design traits with its 16-inch sibling (which is getting a spec refresh and new OLED panel option for 2024) including minimalist lines with a matte finish in classic black alongside a new white color option. The two main differences are that on the smaller model, the trackpad is centered on its deck while the keyboard features a more translucent lattice that allows HP’s RGB backlighting to pop even more. I think this makes the Transcend look especially good in white, where it looks slightly out of place on the black model, but to each their own.

I really appreciate that HP paid attention to little details that matter for travel-ready gaming laptop, like opting for USB-C power delivery. This means you can use the Omen’s adapter to juice up other gadgets like a phone or a tablet instead of needing a separate charging brick for each device.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

In a vacuum, the goal of being the lightest isn’t all that important. But when a company like HP can make a laptop that’s easy to carry around that also has solid specs and a slick design, that’s when superlatives come into play. And with a starting price of $1,600, HP isn’t demanding a huge premium for a machine this sleek. That said, with some other extremely sleek gaming PCs due out at CES 2024, it's unclear how long the Transcend 14 will hold this title.

The Omen Transcend 14 is expected to go on sale sometime in Q1 2024.

We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

There's always a number of surprises at CES and during its First Look event, Samsung teased the world's first transparent MicroLED display. 

While there's still no word on how much it costs or when this tech will find its way into retail devices, Samsung showcased not one but three different transparent micro LED displays with slightly different designs. Two of the demo units featured tinted glass which made it easier to ignore any potential districting objects behind the panels, while another appeared to be as transparent as regular glass while also boasting a frameless design. 

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

In person, the effect Samsung's transparent micro OLED displays have is hard to describe, as content almost looks like a hologram as it floats in mid-air. All of the demo units were freestanding and measured only about a centimeter thick, which adds even more to the illusion of a floating screen. Additionally, because of micro LEDs high pixel density, images also looked incredibly sharp. So far Samsung has only uploaded a single vertical video overflowing with EDM, but hopefully it gives you some idea what we saw:

According to a Samsung representative, because transparent MicroLED displays have higher brightness compared to transparent OLED panels, they are also less impacted by ambient light. 

The bad news is that with Samsung's current crop of non-transparent MicroLED TVs currently costing $150,000 for a 110-inch model, it's going to be a decently long time until these new displays become anything close to affordable.

We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

Every day it feels like there’s a new handheld gaming PC hitting the market. But instead of churning out yet another Windows-based rival for the Steam Deck, Lenovo is putting its spin on the category with the Legion Go. It combines top-notch performance with a huge OLED display and borrows some design traits from the Nintendo Switch. The result is a powerful though somewhat bulky $700 gaming machine that also offers some hidden tricks.

Design and display: An XL gaming handheld

Packing a 2,560 x 1,600 8.8-inch OLED display, the Legion Go has one of the largest, if not the largest screens on any gaming handheld today. But it’s not just big, because with a 144Hz refresh rate, it’s rather speedy and thanks to a peak brightness of around 500 nits, it’s pretty vibrant too. This makes the panel a great centerpiece for Lenovo’s handheld. The only thing it’s missing is full variable refresh rate support (VRR).

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Flanking its display are a pair of controllers that can be detached just like with the Nintendo Switch. The two highlights are a built-in touchpad for smoothly mousing around Windows and Hall effect joysticks that are just a touch more responsive and accurate than on ASUS’ ROG Ally or Valve’s Steam Deck. Elsewhere, the Legion Go features an Xbox-style button layout complemented by four rear paddles and a kickstand so you can easily prop the system up when needed.

The whole package feels rather sturdy even when you factor in its removable controllers (though detaching them does take a little practice as they slide down and outwards instead of up like on the Switch). You even get two USB-C ports (both of which support USB 4), which is one than on its rivals, plus a microSD card slot for expandable storage. My two small gripes are that the touchpad doesn’t support haptics or the ability to press down on it. This means you have to perform more of a quick tap to simulate a traditional left click while not having an easy shortcut for right-clicking. I also wish the Legion Go had a fingerprint sensor like the ROG Ally, as that would make unlocking the device faster and easier.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

But that’s not all, because on the bottom of the right controller, there’s a toggle that lets you activate FPS mode. When you flip this switch and then slot the controller into Lenovo’s bundled puck, it turns the controller into a vertical mouse, at which point you can play FPS games (hence the name of the switch) with even greater precision, assuming you’re into that kind of thing. However, for someone like me who isn’t a huge fan of shooters, I find this setup is better simply for navigating through Windows, especially for anyone planning to hook this up to an external monitor and keyboard and use it like a desktop. Lenovo even included a little wheel on the right controller so you can quickly scroll through docs and web pages.

The downside to Lenovo’s XL-sized design is that since it weighs 1.88 pounds and measures 11.76 inches across, the Legion Go is noticeably larger and bulkier than both the ROG Ally and the Steam Deck. That said, none of the current crop of gaming handhelds are what I’d call pocketable, so you’re still going to have to toss any of them in a separate bag for traveling. And to Lenovo’s credit, the Legion Go comes with a case that has a clever cutout that lets you snake in a power cord so you can charge it while it’s nestled safely inside. Meanwhile, the ROG Ally doesn’t come with at case at all.

Performance: Big power that needs some optimizing

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

The Legion Go is based on an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor along with 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. This is the same chip and amount of memory as the top-spec ROG Ally, and as you’d expect performance is very similar and about as good as it gets among current handheld gaming PCs. You can play major AAA releases like Elden Ring and Starfield, though if you’re dead set on hitting 60 fps, you will need to fiddle around with graphics settings.

Like the ROG Ally, the Legion Go offers a range of preset performance modes (Quiet, Balanced and Performance) and a custom setting that allows users to select a TDP (thermal design power) ranging from 5 to 30 watts. The issue is that since the Legion Go was released more recently, Lenovo hasn’t had as much time as ASUS to refine its software and drivers. Unfortunately, this meant that when I tried to benchmark both systems at 25 watts, I ran into an issue where framerates on the Legion Go fell far short of expectations. When I reached out to Lenonvo, I was told this is a known bug with the current software build and should be addressed in an upcoming patch. Thankfully, after I installed some beta drivers and a BIOS update (which are expected to be officially released sometime in the coming weeks), framerates jumped back up to levels that matched the ROG Ally.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

In Cyberpunk 2077 at 800p and medium settings with FSR set to Performance, at 15 watts the Legion Go hit 45 fps, essentially matching the ROG Ally’s 46 fps at the same power level. And when set to 25 watts, both systems remained close, with the Legion Go pulling ahead slightly with 74 fps versus 71 fps for the ASUS. Notably, Valve’s OLED Steam Deck beat both systems at 15 watts in Cyberpunk 2077, hitting 53 fps, though because it doesn’t have a higher power setting, it still falls short in terms of overall performance.

Software: barebones but functional

One of the big knocks against Windows-based handhelds is that Microsoft’s OS still feels clunky when you’re not playing games. This is still the case here, though Lenovo tries to address that with its Legion Space app, which serves as a one-stop shop for tweaking performance, customizing the system’s RGB lighting or quickly launching titles. It’s functional, but it also feels half-baked. Things like performance modes aren’t properly labeled, so there’s no clear indication that Performance mode on the Legion Go means a TDP of 20 watts instead of 25 like on the ROG Ally. And while the app makes it easy to see all of your installed games across various services like Steam, Epic and others, the tab for Android Games is simply a link to download the Amazon App Store. But the most annoying thing is if you want to buy games directly inside Legion Space, clicking the Game Store tab brings you to a page that kind of looks like Steam but is actually run by a different third-party retailer in Gamesplanet. Now, this isn’t a knock against Gamesplanet itself because the service does provide a legit way to buy new titles, but purchasing game keys and then needing to enter them in a separate app is kind of awkward and confusing.

Battery life

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

One of the concerns with having big performance in a handheld is the impact that has on battery life. However, Lenovo has done its best to counteract that with a large 49.2Wh battery (versus 40Wh on the ROG Ally). The result is a system that lasts between an hour and a half to three hours depending on the game you’re playing and your power settings. At 15 watts, the Legion comes up short against the Steam Deck, which still reigns supreme in terms of efficiency with runtimes of over two hours. But when compared to the ASUS machine, the Legion Go typically lasts 30 to 45 minutes longer when playing the same title.

Wrap-up

The Legion Go is an interesting take on a handheld gaming PC. With its kickstand and detachable controllers, it’s appropriated the adaptability that Nintendo introduced on the Switch. But Lenovo took things further with a built-in touchpad and a clever FPS mode that makes the system easier to use as a PC. And capping things off is a gorgeous 8.8-inch OLED display that makes the Legion Go’s potent performance shine.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

On the flipside, its bulk feels like it’s pushing the definition of a handheld device. Any bigger and you might as well carry around a thin-and-light gaming laptop and a dedicated controller. And while Lenovo’s beta software addresses some of the performance hangups I ran into, the Legion Go isn’t going to reach its full potential until its software is properly optimized, which might not happen for another month or two.

In a lot of ways, the Legion Go is like a super-sized alternative to the ROG Ally. What it lacks in portability it more than makes up for in flexibility. Between its dual USB-C ports and FPS mode, I think it’s a better laptop replacement than the Ally, too. Granted, the Legion Go isn’t as affordable or long-lasting as either version of the Steam Deck, but it offers way more horsepower. So while some might find its size a bit excessive, that big, vibrant display is hard to say no to. I just hope Lenovo can polish off its software sooner rather than later.

Tea is so much more than just a drink. It’s a ritual, a habit that allows you to explore an endless variety of flavors, aromas and preparations. And, without getting into the argument of true teas (aka leaves from Camellia Sinensis) versus herbal teas, there’s a wonderful world of concoctions to try – from earthy oolongs, to grassy matchas, to smoky yerba mates and more. So while coffee may be the go-to beverage of choice in the West, this holiday season, we wanted to put together a list of some of the best gifts to buy for people who appreciate the finer cup of brew.

Hiware Borosilicate glass pitcher

Hario Cold Brew Bottle

Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle

Subminimal Nanofoamer

Breville IQ Electric Kettle

OXO Brew Tea Infuser Basket

Rishi Tea Sampler

Fellow Atmos Vacuum Canister

Breakaway Matcha Flight Kit

Firebelly Tea Travel Mug

Tea House tea-scented candles

The holidays are a time to gather, drink and share your favorite dishes. And for the people who are doing the cooking, there’s no better way to show your appreciation (besides offering them a helping hand) than by giving them something to make the process faster, simpler, or just more fun. So regardless of whether they prefer baking, cooking savory dishes or making healthy juices, we’ve got a huge range of tried and tested gear that will make great gifts for foodies.

KitchenAid Cordless Variable Speed Hand Blender

Made-in Half Sheet Pan

Silpat Baking Sheet

Breville Juice Fountain

Kan Kitchen Chef Knife

Kyocera Ceramic Chef Knife

Misen Non-stick pans

Instant Vortex Plus air fryer

Anova Precision Cooker 3.0

Microplane Classic Grater

ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2

John Boos cutting board

The Good Shears by Material

Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy rice cooker

Vitamix Explorian blender

OXO Good Grips Precision scale

SodaStream Terra

ButcherBox Favorites

It’s rare, but now and then a company will go out on a limb and create a truly cutting-edge device, even if its books take a hit. That’s exactly what HP has done with the Spectre Fold. Despite having the same processor as last year’s ASUS Zenbook 17 OLED, HP’s take on a flexible-screen laptop is thinner, lighter and more polished than anything that’s come before it. The Spectre Fold represents a true leap when it comes to next-gen hybrid design to the point where you might even want to buy one. The issue is that at $5,000, this thing will blow up pretty much anyone’s budget.

Display

The centerpiece of the Spectre Fold is its 17-inch 2,560 x 1,920 OLED panel from LG, which features plenty of brightness (400 nits for SDR content or up to 500 nits with HDR) and an impressive color gamut (99.5 percent of DCI-P3). More importantly, it’s got thin bezels and only the faintest hint of a crease. This means in laptop mode, the Spectre Fold looks almost like any other small ultraportable, with what is effectively a 12.5-inch screen. But at a moment’s notice, you can pull its keyboard down to create what HP calls Expanded mode (which gives you the equivalent of one and a half screens) or prop the system up on its kickstand to use its full 17-inch panel. So depending on your needs, you get the perfect-sized display for your content or working space. And as a kid who grew up watching Transformers, there’s something magical about a portable all-in-one that you can pack up and easily toss in a bag. (I still haven’t decided if the Spectre Fold is more like Perceptor or closer to a bot like Reflector though.)

Design

However, where HP really flexes its skills is with the Spectre Fold’s design. Unlike the Zenbook 17 Fold which had a clunky design and flaky peripherals, it feels like HP has accounted for every detail. There’s a kickstand that folds flush against the body of the system, so it disappears when not in use. And its keyboard fits neatly inside the system when closed, while hidden magnetic charging coils keep both the keyboard and HP’s included stylus topped up so they’re always ready to go. The whole kit weighs just 3.58 pounds and measures 0.84 inches thick (when closed), which is significantly thinner and lighter than ASUS’ flexible Zenbook (4.04 pounds, 1.25 inches).

Also, unlike the ASUS, there was virtually no setup involved. The keyboard automatically paired itself during the Spectre Fold’s initial boot and its Bluetooth connection was rock solid. And while the Spectre’s two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 might seem awkwardly placed at first, having them on opposite sides of the device means there’s always at least one within reach regardless of what mode the system is in. To ensure the Spectre Fold is never short on connectivity, there’s an included dongle that adds two more USB-A ports and an HDMI jack. The result is a device that feels surprisingly polished, especially when you consider that this class of laptop has only existed for just a few years.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

The one awkward thing about the Spectre Fold is that, while it has a sharp 5-MP webcam with support for Windows Hello, the orientation of the camera itself can be an issue depending on what mode the laptop is in. When set up as an all-in-one, the webcam is in portrait mode instead of landscape. And when you combine that with a sensor that’s located on the left bezel of its display, it can be difficult to frame yourself properly while keeping the laptop centered.

Performance

The Spectre Fold’s processor is the one part of its spec sheet that doesn’t feel quite as sophisticated. There’s only a single configuration that features an Intel Core i7-1250U chip along with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. This isn’t very impressive for a system this pricey, though HP says it chose that chip to ensure it would fit inside the Spectre Fold’s super thin chassis (just 0.33 inches unfolded). Regardless, for general productivity, this thing is speedy enough. Just don’t expect to do any sort of serious gaming or video editing.

Battery Life

Typically on gadgets like this that are basically glorified concept devices, battery life is an afterthought. But the Spectre Fold defies those expectations with longevity that’s on par with more-traditional ultraportables. On PCMark10’s Open Office rundown test, it lasted 10 hours and 29 minutes, which is just 10 minutes shorter than the ASUS Zenbook S13’s time of 10:39. Though that was in laptop mode. With its 17-inch panel fully unfolded, battery life dropped by two hours to 8:31.

Wrap-up

A lot of people remain skeptical about gadgets with flexible displays (for good reason, I might add), but the $5,000 Spectre Fold is the best example yet of what this tech can offer. It’s a sleek machine that fits in tight spaces but also expands when you have more room to work. And when you need to pack up and go, it tucks away neatly in a bag. It gives you all the benefits of carrying around a portable monitor but with practically none of the drawbacks, while also addressing nearly every shortcoming from previous bendy attempts by Lenovo and ASUS.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

However, putting a concrete score on something like this feels like it would be missing the point. Sure, it’s insanely expensive, but HP’s goal wasn’t to make something with mass appeal. The mission was to take the most advanced components and design principles available today to showcase the true potential of next-gen hybrid devices. And to that end, I think this device is a success. With the Spectre Fold, HP has made the first flexible-screen laptop you might want to buy. But now comes the hard part: making one that people can actually afford.