Build the most powerful AI you possibly can. Let it reason, remember, watch, listen and act. Then give me the absolute power to tell it no. The problem isn't what AI can do. It's who gets to decide when it's allowed to do it.

The Thor is faster, more powerful and better at almost everything. That's exactly why I'm buying the Pocket Duo instead — I don't need a $400+ powerhouse just to play Nintendo games designed for hardware from 2004 and 2011.

I have access to plenty of expensive headphones, yet the three pairs I actually wear every day all cost under $200. Cheap audio didn't just get better — it got good enough to make the traditional headphone price ladder increasingly difficult to justify.

With the AYN Thor already targeting dual-screen gaming and the Pocket 5 offering Retroid’s Dual Screen Add-on, the new Retroid Pocket Duo could be the company’s most interesting handheld yet.

AYANEO makes some of the most interesting gaming handhelds on the market, but complaints about shipping delays, customer service, repairs and crowdfunding have hurt its reputation. Even AYANEO admits it needs to earn that trust back.

After years of professionally installing TVs and soundbars, I’ve learned that mounting the soundbar isn’t always the best answer. Dolby Atmos drivers, mount weight limits, power and cable routing can turn a simple-looking install into a much bigger job.

The best EDC gear isn't necessarily expensive. From affordable knives to rechargeable flashlights, practical everyday carry should be dependable enough to trust, affordable enough to use, and replaceable enough that losing it isn't a disaster.

Fosi Audio, Topping, SMSL and other Chi-Fi brands have made affordable hi-fi ridiculously fun. You can build a killer desktop or small-room system for a few hundred bucks—and this stuff isn't the cheap Chinese audio gear you remember from 2009.

AYN Thor vs. Odin 2 Portal comes down to more than one screen versus two: after testing dual-screen emulation with Pokémon Platinum and Alpha Sapphire, I found the Odin 2 Portal’s 7-inch display, better ergonomics and simpler form factor made it the better all-around DS and 3DS handheld for me.

Which retro handhelds have the best resale value? AYN devices can hold surprisingly close to their original price, while Retroid, AYANEO and Anbernic handhelds follow very different depreciation curves—and that can determine whether you should buy new or used.

After 15 years of installing smart homes, my standards have gotten simpler: make something easier, work every time, and stay out of the way. From Roku and WiiM to mesh Wi-Fi and soundbars, the best smart home tech isn’t always the smartest — it’s the stuff you never have to think about.

Premium TVs still look incredible. The problem for Sony, Samsung and everyone else charging thousands is that cheap TVs stopped looking bad—and for a lot of people, “good enough” has gotten really, really good.

The SMSL SU-1, Fosi Q6 and AIYIMA DAC A7 are three of the best DACs under $100, but they're built for very different systems. We compare eight budget DACs to find the best choices for stereo systems, desktop speakers, subwoofers, headphones and gaming.

From the $60 TrimUI Brick and Anbernic RG40XX V to the Snapdragon 865 MANGMI AIR Y Pro and flagship AYANEO Pocket DMG, we compare the best vertical retro handheld upgrades for R36S owners in 2026.

Buying IEMs has become ridiculously confusing. There are hundreds of models, endless driver combinations, and prices ranging from $25 to well over $1,000—but spending more doesn't automatically mean getting better sound. After comparing budget, hybrid, open-back and higher-end IEMs, these are the models I'd actually consider at $25, $50, $100 and $300, where the real sweet spot is, and when spending more finally starts making sense.

AI may be the biggest technology shift in years, but I still haven't had a single home-tech client ask me for an AI-powered product. Consumers don't want AI. They want cameras that miss fewer alerts, hearing aids that make conversations clearer, and technology that simply works better.

The industry has spent years convincing us that smaller is smarter. Sometimes that's true. But every time I sit down in front of a great pair of tower speakers, I'm reminded that convenience and performance have never been the same thing—and physics still hasn't gotten the memo.