At launch, Microsoft touted things like ray-traced lighting as being a major feature, but most developers haven't opted to use performance-costly technology heavily. The Xbox Series X and its PS5 counterpart have been very quickly outpaced by gaming PCs in the graphics department, although it remains an incredibly capable console with good performance-to-price ratios — despite President Trump's tariff-induced price hikes.

Powered by a custom AMD 8-core Zen 2 APU, complete with 52 CUs and RDNA 2 graphics at 12 teraflops, the 16GB RAM Xbox Series X has delivered games all the way up to 120 FPS in some circumstances, including popular titles like Call of Duty and Overwatch 2. Xbox differentiated itself from competitors by offering Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers day one access to all Xbox-owned games, alongside many heavy-hitting third-party titles.

The Xbox Series X has notoriously struggled to keep up with the PS5 in sales, though, owing to weak distribution, a lack of highly desirable exclusive games, and Microsoft's Xbox One hangover. The next Xbox looks set to include full Windows at its core, opening up the ecosystem to third-party stores like Steam, potentially destroying the need for "exclusive" games. It'll be interesting to see if Microsoft's Xbox platform can stick the landing, as scrutiny over its hardware plans remains endless.

Essential Xbox Series X reading

We had Xbox Live in the past, but it has since evolved into Xbox Game Pass, a Netflix-like all-you-can-eat gaming subscription service, officially launched in 2017. The service has long been called the "best deal in gaming," although price hikes and restructures have tarnished its image throughout 2025, as analysts wonder if the deal was actually simply too good to be true.

As of now, Xbox Game Pass is structured into three main categories. Essential ($9.99/month), which offers a small pool of games, rudimentary cloud gaming access, and online multiplayer. Premium ($14.99/month), which offers a larger pool of games, improved cloud gaming access, and online multiplayer. And then Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ($29.99/month), which offers day one access to Xbox-owned games like Call of Duty, the largest pool of games, enhanced 1440p cloud gaming, and other benefits. Microsoft also has PC Game Pass separately ($16.49/month), which also offers day one games, but increasingly it looks like PC Game Pass might get deprecated in the future, as it's almost hidden away on the website as of writing.

Xbox Game Pass remains a great deal despite the price increases, but only if you're someone who will actively use its features (or has cash to burn, I guess). It remains to be seen if the service will remain viable at its current pricing, but so far, it's showing no signs of winding down.

Essential Xbox Game Pass reading

Xbox had solid success in the United States and other English-speaking markets, buoyed by heavy hitters like Halo and Forza, alongside various heavy hitting third-party exclusive titles. Microsoft's Xbox is responsible for various gaming innovations that are now commonplace. Online live infrastructure, "games as a service" titles, subscription services, and cloud-first business models owe at least something to initiatives spearheaded by Microsoft (for better or worse).

In 2013, Microsoft's push to turn Xbox into a digital-first entertainment center saw widespread pushback from the gaming community. Despite predicting trends that are now commonplace, the way Microsoft positioned Xbox back then has seen it struggle to regain the relevance it once enjoyed as a brand in a universe of increased competition from other platforms, in addition to always-on forms of entertainment and smartphone-delivered social media algorithms.

As Xbox enters its 25th year, Microsoft is once again reinventing what Xbox is with its new approach, doubling down on Windows' openness, and returning to the original vision of Windows gaming in the living room. It'll be fun to see how it pans out.

Essential Xbox reading

As is to be expected from Obsidian Entertainment, this is a first-person adventure that requires players to make decisions that have lasting consequences, and there are plenty of surprises to discover as well.

Whether you're playing on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Game Pass, PC, or PlayStation 5, every player will be working to save the colony of Arcadia from being destroyed by a war waged between rival factions.

Essential The Outer Worlds 2 reading

It's also expected to supercharge ChatGPT, bolstering its user experience.

Here's everything we've covered on GPT-5!

It's also expected to supercharge ChatGPT, bolstering its user experience.

Here's everything we've covered on GPT-5!

Essential ROG Xbox Ally reading

It's definitely something that fans of the original game will want to check out. Get ready to enjoy a leveled-up, shrunk-down experience, whether you buy the game outright or access it via PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate.

Everything you need to know about Grounded 2

The 2025 show runs from May 20 to May 23, but in true trade show fashion, much of the action starts in advance of this with special presentations and early looks at all the new goodies on offer. Some of the heavy hitters you can expect to see out in Taipei include the likes of NVIDIA, AMD, Qualcomm, and ASUS.

For the latter, this is very much the home show, with the company's global HQ mere miles from the Computex location, and as such, ASUS always brings the heat. We can also expect news from others such as Intel, HP, MSI, and smaller manufacturers specializing in PC components.

The show floor itself is always a terrific sight for PC fans, and one of the coolest parts of the show every year is the weird and wacky custom PC builds that are literally everywhere. The bigger issue is having the time to take it all in!

It's appropriately called Amazon Gaming Week, and we're big fans of both Amazon and gaming. But what are the BEST deals? We're spending all week highlighting what we'd recommend based on pricing and our extensive reviews of popular gaming hardware like headphones, best Xbox headsets, best Xbox controllers, best mobile controllers, best gaming laptops and things we use ourselves!

With a combined 75+ years of gaming experience (and our site going on its 18th year), we know our gaming, so take our recommendations with confidence.

Are you curious about Amazon Prime? We have an entire Amazon Prime FAQ to help answer your questions.

And remember, this is one week only running Monday, April 28th, to Sunday, May 4th.

• Best gaming laptops for Microsoft Flight Simulator
• Best laptops for playing Minecraft
• Best Surface for students
• Best upgradable laptop
• Best Windows on Snapdragon X laptops
• How to choose the right Dell laptop

Desktops

• Best All-in-One (AIO) PCs
• Best pre-built gaming PC
• Best pre-built PCs for playing Minecraft

Xbox

• Best Xbox gaming keyboards
• Best external hard drives for Xbox

Handhelds

• Best Legion Go S accessories
• Best Steam Deck accessories

Peripherals

• Best computer monitor
• Best Surface Pen and Slim Pen alternatives
• Best wireless headsets for home and office

Accessories

• Best gaming laptop accessories
• Best PC gaming accessories

Components

• Best CPU for NVIDIA RTX 3070
• Best CPU for NVIDIA RTX 3080
• Best CPU coolers
• Best motherboard for AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
• Best motherboard for AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
• Best motherboard for the Intel Core i5-14600K
• Best motherboard for the Intel Core i7-14700K
• Best motherboard for AMD Ryzen 9 7950X and 7950X3D
• Best RAM for AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D and 7950X

The short version is that a tariff is a tax paid by companies importing goods to a specific country. Tariffs are used as a trading strategy to offset imbalances caused by competition and different levels of importing/exporting by countries and to protect core markets.

Every country imposes tariffs, which vary based on the product or industry, and many are agreed to via trade agreements.

For example, let's say the US imposed a 125% tariff on goods from China on April 9th, 2025 (which actually happened). A company importing a $1,000 laptop from China must now pay $1,250 as a tax.

So, instead of a $1,000 laptop, it would now cost $2,250!

Who ultimately pays the tariff is up for debate and varies by industry and individual companies. The assumption is that most of the tariff is ultimately paid for by consumers as companies pass on the higher price, meaning things cost more (although people's wages don't increase to make up for it).

• Follow our Tariff Live Blog for all the latest breaking news related to PC, laptops, gaming, and more

These higher prices could reduce purchases, causing companies (and economies) to shrink due to forced lower demand.

Alternatively, a company can swallow the cost with reduced profit margins. Companies may do this to maintain a current market lead that, were they to raise their price, could let their competitors gain market share due to variations in supply chains and origin of export. The downside is that reduced profits are bad for stockholders and could cause a company's valuation to drop with its stock.

In 2025, tariffs have become very relevant due to the Trump administration suddenly raising tariffs across 70+ countries. The ultimate goal of this strategy includes bringing manufacturing jobs back to the US (so companies can avoid paying the tariff altogether), renegotiating free trade agreements with individual companies to favor US priorities, and bringing in money to offset expected tax cuts.

For Windows Central, we cover PCs, laptops, GPUs, processors, and gaming consoles, all of which are negatively affected by tariffs, especially the high ones imposed on China.

Most electronics are manufactured in China, meaning that PCs, laptops, memory, GPUs, etc., will dramatically increase in price or become unavailable as companies (like Razer) halt importing new devices to the United States.

At Windows Central (going on our 18th year ourselves), we've chronicled the journey of this tech giant—a company that began with Bill Gates and Paul Allen's shared 1975 vision of putting a computer on every desk and in every home.

Over the years, Microsoft has given us unforgettable highs, such as the revolutionary Windows 95 launch that practically defined the PC era and milestones like the Xbox 360, which cemented its place in gaming history. We've covered the company's pursuit of innovation through hits like the Surface Pro line and missteps like the Windows Vista release, which struggled under high expectations.

There's a certain nostalgia in looking back at Microsoft's evolution. We miss the simpler days when Clippy popped up with unsolicited advice or when Zune tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to take on the iPod—a quirky reminder of the company's willingness to think outside the box. Our favorite moments include covering the bold move to unify Windows 10 across devices and the thrill of seeing CEO Satya Nadella pivot the company toward AI and cloud computing—a strategy that solidified Microsoft's relevance in modern tech.

And of course, Windows Phone (RIP) 🥲

Here at Windows Central, celebrating Microsoft isn't just about marking milestones; it's about appreciating a company that has left an indelible mark on tech history while continuing to surprise us with what's next.

Here's to the next fifty years, and we hope you enjoy our lookback articles covering this event by our staff!

However, it's now optimized for various screen sizes and focuses on supporting controller inputs rather than a traditional mouse and keyboard. While SteamOS is still primarily built for AMD hardware, starting with the Steam Deck and recently expanding to the Lenovo Legion Go S, it can be compatible with NVIDIA and Intel Arc graphics with mixed success.

SteamOS differs from Windows 11 because it is immutable, meaning the user can't modify or overwrite its core system files. Plus, while Valve's Proton translation layer can attempt to run any game or application designed for Windows, its stability is never guaranteed, and some core systems like anti-cheat software still suffer incompatibility — rendering some multiplayer games unplayable.

For instance, Microsoft's multi-billion partnership with OpenAI defines AGI (at least figuratively) as an AI-powered system capable of generating up to $100 billion in profit.

Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI have made significant headway in the AI race. Still, it remains unclear who will make it to the finish line as the technology continues to scale greater heights and becomes more exorbitant, demanding more resources.

Here's everything we've covered on AGI!

Avowed's general release is scheduled for 10 AM Pacific Time on February 18. That translates to 1 PM on the East Coast and 6 PM in the UK.

Initially, Microsoft offered the OS as a free upgrade to Windows 7 and 8.1 users throughout the first year of its release, and it famously marked a return to a more traditional Start menu, just as Windows 8.1 shifted from its full-screen Windows 8 variant.

It also stood as an introduction to Cortana, Microsoft's digital assistant named after a popular artificial intelligence in the Xbox Halo game series. Now, Copilot offers much of the same and even more, but the foundations were laid with Windows 10 and Windows Phone.

It primarily focuses on digital storefronts rather than physical stores, with discounts typically expiring as the Monday ends. However, we've seen some persist until stock sells out, just like Black Friday.

Some deals often show the same Black Friday discount, while others enjoy a further reduction or even a unique deal that never appeared on the earlier event. We'll share the best Cyber Monday deals with you as soon as retailers switch, publish their hottest listings, and check for any record-breaking savings.

Quick links

• All our TOP recommended Cyber Monday deals: Just the best
• Mini PC deals: up to 47% off tiny PCs
• GPU deals: early price drops on NVIDIA RTX before they go up
• Microsoft Surface deals: save up to $500 on premium PCs
• Xbox accessories: best deals on gadgets for your Xbox Series X|S and PC
• Gaming laptop deals: the best laptops for the best price
• Xbox controllers: our top picks for best controller deals
• ANC headphones: great Cyber Monday deals on the best ANC headphones
  
  Even more Cyber Monday deals:
• Dell deals: 13 deals from Dell.com that you shouldn't miss
• Best Buy: 34 hottest discounts on laptops, monitors, gaming, and more
• Walmart: 7 top laptop deals you shouldn't miss
• Samsung monitors: the best Samsung display deals we've found
• Retro gaming: handhelds, arcade machines, old school consoles, and more
• Gamer merch: Blizzard’s Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo IV collectibles
• Game keys: 10 PC game codes are even cheaper at Loaded (formerly CDKeys)
• Accessories: Even more PC accessories starting at $17

The best deals on our favorite hardware

We'll check every deal to see if it's a historically low price, but other savings will still be listed if they're a great deal. Again, not every deal will place a product at an all-time low, but hardware that sees more infrequent discounts will always be shared here.

Although some storefronts label their deals with tags like 'Black Friday,' it's not guaranteed that the price won't drop again. Unfortunately, it's impossible to say whether a hot item will fall further in price.

Still, some third-party stores like Newegg offer a price drop guarantee that will reimburse you if you purchase within this window, and many retailers offer membership programs that can expand your returns window, so check our explainers for more information before buying.

Quick links

• All our TOP recommened Black Friday deals: Just the best
• mini PC deals: up to 47% off tiny PCs
• GPU deals: early price drops on NVIDIA RTX before they go up
• Microsoft Surface deals: save up to $500 on premium PCs
• Xbox accessories: best deals on gadgets for your Xbox Series X|S and PC
• Gaming laptop deals: the best laptops for the best price
• Xbox controllers: our top picks for best controller deals
  
  Even more Black Friday deals:
• Samsung monitors: the best Samsung display deals we've found
• Retro gaming: handhelds, arcade machines, old school consoles, and more
• Gamer merch: Blizzard’s Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo IV collectibles
• Game keys: 10 PC game codes are even cheaper at Loaded (formerly CDKeys)

The best deals on our favorite hardware

When does Cyber Monday start?

Cyber Monday always follows Black Friday and lands on December 1, 2025, this time. It primarily focuses on digital storefronts rather than physical stores, with discounts typically expiring as the Monday ends. However, we've seen some persist until stock sells out, just like Black Friday.

Some deals often show the same Black Friday discount, while others enjoy a further reduction or even a unique deal that never appeared on the earlier event. We'll share the best Cyber Monday deals with you as soon as retailers switch, publish their hottest listings, and check for any record-breaking savings.

Most popular topics on Windows 11

Most popular topics in Artificial Intelligence

Top software tips for students and graduates

Now in its 101st year, IFA’s roots as a radio and audio fair remain in its name (Internationale Funkausstellung), but today it’s a sprawling showcase where the world’s biggest brands debut the gear that will define the year ahead. From keynote bombshells to surprise device drops, expect Berlin to set the pace for Windows hardware through the holiday season and beyond.

If you’re into Windows laptops, PC hardware reveals, or just want to see the tech industry set its fall agenda, IFA Berlin is where the action is.

Windows Central will be on the ground bringing you the biggest announcements, hands‑on impressions, and maybe a few surprises along the way (Lenovo rarely disappoints).

Berlin in September, the halls packed with cutting‑edge gear — it’s the kind of show that reminds you why we love covering tech.

When does IFA 2025 start?

IFA Berlin 2025 is about to light up the German capital, once again turning Messe Berlin into Europe’s ground zero for consumer tech. The show kicks off Friday, September 5, at 10 a.m. and runs through Tuesday, September 9, at 6 p.m., with the B2B‑only IFA Global Markets spinning up over at STATION Berlin from September 8–10.

Whether you’re going for hands‑on time with the latest Windows laptops, scoping out next‑gen PC hardware, or just soaking in the spectacle, this is the tech calendar’s late‑summer epicenter.

Public and trade tickets are already live on the official IFA site — and yes, snagging a spot at the IFA Sommergarten live music event still gets you into the main show floor for free

See you there!

➡️ Shop Amazon's full Prime Day sale

Amazon generally offers significant discounts on first-party hardware like Echo smart speakers and Fire smart TVs, as well as a vast range of laptops and gaming accessories, but its competitors also fire back with savings on their own.

Windows Central is here to find the best deals using our expertise and advice based on our real-world experiences, so check back and check often!

Best Amazon and Best Buy Deals (October 2025)

• Shop all Prime Big Deal Days deals at Amazon
• 16 hottest new deals at Best Buy's massive Techtober event
• These are the best Windows 11 laptops to replace your old PC
• Geekom mini PC deals
• Grab a new Windows 11 Copilot+ PC for under $500
•  Surface Pro 11 with OLED, Snapdragon X Elite, and 16GB RAM for just $899
• Surface Pro 12-inch for $649

Do I need Prime membership?

To enjoy all of the Prime Day discounts during the event, you need to have a paid membership or sign up for a 30-day free trial if you haven't previously registered.

Here's everything you need to know about it!

What is Copilot and how can you use it?

Top how-to guides for Microsoft Copilot

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2026) is about to light up Las Vegas once again, kicking off just days after New Year’s fireworks fade. This isn’t just another trade show—it’s the global launchpad for the next wave of technology, where the biggest names in the industry flex their innovation muscles and set the tone for the year ahead.

This year, expect more than dazzling TVs and futuristic cars. HP, Dell, Lenovo, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Samsung, ASUS, and Microsoft are all primed to showcase breakthroughs that will hit shelves by spring. The spotlight is firmly on AI‑powered everything: laptops with Intel’s Panther Lake CPUs, AMD’s Zen 5 Ryzen 9000X3D processors, Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite, and NVIDIA’s latest GPUs designed to supercharge generative AI workloads. Expect Copilot+ PCs to dominate the conversation, with Microsoft weaving AI deeper into Windows experiences.

But CES wouldn’t be CES without the wild concepts. Razer and Lenovo are rumored to bring their signature “what if?” devices—think foldable gaming rigs, modular accessories, and experimental form factors that blur the line between PC and console. The automotive sector will continue its AI revolution, with BMW, Mercedes, and Sony Honda Mobility teasing cars that double as digital assistants. And don’t overlook the smart home: Samsung and LG are pushing ambient AI appliances that anticipate your needs before you ask.

CES 2026 is shaping up to be the year of ambient AI and performance leaps. From OLED gaming notebooks that punch above their weight to AI‑driven wearables that monitor health in real time, the show floor will be packed with devices that feel like science fiction made real.

Follow our non‑stop coverage as we break down every major announcement, from headline‑grabbing keynotes to the hidden gems tucked away in startup booths. And when the dust settles, stay tuned for our Best of CES 2026 Awards, where we crown the most jaw‑dropping, game‑changing, and downright coolest tech of the year.

And we review just about anything that's relevant to Microsoft and the Windows ecosystem, including PCs (laptops, desktops, 2-in-1s, all-in-ones, convertibles, towers, and everything else), phones, apps, games (Xbox and PC), and what seems like an endless array of peripherals and accessories for all of these things.

If it is Windows-related reviews you seek, you have come to the right page.

In an effort to highlight products we like, we've established the Windows Central Best and Recommended awards. Sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming to read long, detailed reviews in pursuit of your perfect device. For that reason, we've done most of the hard work for you. We live and breathe Microsoft and Xbox, so we know good stuff when we see it.

When you see the seal associated with being a Windows Central Best winner, you can trust that our staff has identified this product as the absolute best of the best in a product category. When you see the seal associated with being a Windows Central Recommended winner, you can feel confident that the product has been tested and is recommended by our knowledgeable staff.

We don't take these awards lightly either. We know that you rely on us to help you make an informed decision when it comes to tech — and Windows in particular — and we absolutely use these products as you would, so we can separate the best from the rest, and only those that are truly worthy receive our awards.

With new episodes weekly, the Xbox Central Podcast an exciting way to get caught up with all things in the world of Xbox.

• Xbox Central Podcast via Soundcloud

• Xbox Central Podcast via RSS
• Xbox Central Podcast via iTunes
• Xbox Central Podcast via Pocket Casts
• Xbox Central Podcast via Twitter

For more on E3 2016, head to Expo page, and keep it locked here for all the latest from E3 2016!

Microsoft has many products in both the consumer and enterprise space. Most consumers are familiar with Microsoft through their operating system Windows, their office software suite Microsoft Office, their home entertainment consoles Xbox, and their mobile operating system Windows Phone.

Microsoft rose to power in the 90’s thanks to its operating system Windows and its office software suite called Microsoft Office. In the early 00’s Microsoft cracked the living room by launching the original Xbox. The Xbox has now seen three generational entries, with the Xbox One being Microsoft’s answer to the eight generation of gaming consoles.

Windows and Office continue to be a large part of revenue for Microsoft, but their future plans have shifted from a “computer on every desk” to “mobile first, cloud first”. Microsoft is investing heavily in their Azure, their cloud computing platform that will be the backbone of what they do for the next generation of computing.

Windows, Windows Phone, Office, Azure, Azure, Surface, and Cortana are all at the heart of what Microsoft’s future will focus on. 

Bethesda opened the event with its first ever E3 presentation, launching some hot new titles as well as showing off the hotly anticipated Fallout 4 for the very first time.

The Microsoft #XboxE3 briefing takes place on June 15 at 9.30 a.m. local time and it's set to be the biggest one yet. Windows 10, HoloLens and a whole host of exclusive game news from the likes of Halo 5, Forza 6 and more are expected to be a part of the presentation.

Beyond this the video game world's biggest and best are on hand. EA and Square Enix are but two others holding big events, and that's before we even get to the show floor.

Be sure to bookmark this page for Windows Central's complete coverage of E3 2015!

Apple makes iTunes for Windows and now Beats Music for Windows Phone. Beats Music is a music streaming app that's available for all major mobile platforms. Apple acquired the Beats company in May 2014 and now owns an app in the Windows Phone Store.

The company plans to support Beats Music on Windows Phone for the foreseeable future.

For more on Apple visit iMore

That’s what the Program is for. It’s labeled ‘Preview for Developers’ but in reality, it’s for anyone with a Windows Phone 8 device, as the barriers to participate are extremely low.

Microsoft is well aware that carriers tend to drag their feet on updates, so this is their way around that roadblock. It’s a sly move as Microsoft actually wants you to use this Program so that they can show carriers that these updates won’t take down their networks (seriously, that’s what carriers worry about).

All you need to do is register your email address and download an app to your phone. You can read more by following our guide on the Developer Preview Program, including how to sign up and what to expect!