• 🎟️ Valve has opened a reservation queue for the new Steam Controller

• ⏰ Users can register their interest and reserve a place in a queue to purchase a controller when its restocked

• 👏 Valve is taking measures against scalpers, such as limiting users to one controller, requiring your Steam account to be in good standing, and more

• ✋ Users who have already purchased the $99.99 controller won’t be able to reserve a second one

If you missed out on the new Steam Controller the first time around, then fear not, as Valve is giving interested users another chance to buy one.

When it was first made available on May 4, the Steam Controller sold out in a matter of 30 minutes, and resellers on eBay listed the controller for double its $99.99 price tag or more, with some listings selling as folks wanted to grab one at seemingly any cost.

However, this isn’t fair to those who want to buy one at the MSRP, and Valve has recognized the issues it faced with the Steam website when the controller initially went on sale, and is now offering users another opportunity to grab one with a reservation queue.

How to get a Steam Controller restock alert

As opposed to restocking the controller at random times, Valve is taking a different approach to other in-demand products and is using a similar system to when the Steam Deck launched.

Valve has announced that there is now a reservation queue for the device, where you can input your email. When the controller gets restocked, you’ll be emailed by Valve with an opportunity to purchase the controller.

Valve Steam Controller restock date

The reservation queue opened on May 8 at 10am PT. It’ll save your place in line for the chance to grab a Steam Controller.

Valve is limiting reservations to one controller per user, and once it’s your turn, you have three days, or 72 hours, to make your purchase on Steam.

Customers who have already picked a controller can’t reserve a second one just yet, although it’s unclear if this may change.

You also must have a Steam account in good standing, according to Valve, and have made a purchase before April 27, 2026, using the retailer. This is hopefully another measure to deter scalpers from setting up fresh accounts just to reserve controllers.

Valve Steam Controller: where to buy

The only place to buy the Steam Controller is through Steam officially, and it isn’t on sale through any third-party stores at retail price.

Third-party sellers, such as those on eBay and elsewhere, will be charging a lot more, as we’ve already seen.

Why you need the Steam Controller

The new Steam Controller is a hefty upgrade over the original variant, and is quite a unique proposition over other controllers you can find, as it essentially takes the main controls from the Steam Deck and shrinks them down into a smaller peripheral.

This means you get two large touchpads on the front, alongside a symmetrical button layout, gyro controls, and four rear grip buttons. The thumbsticks also have TMR sensors that are drift-proof and especially accurate, alongside having capacitive grip sensors that will work well with the Steam Frame headset. Check out our Steam Controller review roundup for more.

Up next: Steam Controller Wilhelm screams if you drop it, as players discover Valve’s hidden Easter egg

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Reece Bithrey is a journalist with bylines for Trusted Reviews, Digital Foundry, PC Gamer, TechRadar and more. He also has his own blog, UNTITLED, and graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in International History and Politics in 2023.

• 🏎️ iRacing now supports Apple Vision Pro, offering high-fidelity immersion in sim racing

• 👀 The update uses foveated streaming to render sharp graphics in the driver’s line of sight

• 🧤 The technology blends your physical racing rig and hands with the virtual cockpit

• 💪 A powerful PC is required to stream the high-fidelity rendering to the headset wirelessly

The Apple Vision Pro remains an extremely niche product because of its high price tag, but that hasn’t stopped some developers from creating unmissable experiences, like watching NBA games as though you’re sitting courtside.

And while gaming has often been an overlooked aspect of Apple’s headset, a new update for iRacing brings “a level of immersion and fidelity never before seen in sim racing”, according to iRacing President Tony Gardner.

As part of the visionOS 26.4 software update, iRacing utilizes foveated streaming – technology that Valve’s upcoming Steam Frame will use – to “render the sharpest content in the driver’s direct line of sight”.

Immersion is increased by “seamlessly blending your racing rig with the virtual cockpit, aligning your physical steering wheel with one in-game. You’ll also be able to see your physical hands on the wheel.

You’ll need a powerful PC in combination with the Apple Vision Pro to experience the new iRacing upgrade, as physics calculation and high-fidelity graphic rendering is performed on a PC, while frames are encoded and shared wirelessly over Wi-Fi to iRacing Connect on visionOS. iRacing also requires an ongoing subscription.

Apple refreshed the Vision Pro with a new M5 chip model, but a lighter, more affordable headset still hasn’t materialized, despite several rumors. Apple has also reportedly cut production of the Vision Pro because of low demand, with high return rates reported.

Up next: Nacon Revosim Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team custom set review: a compelling racing upgrade

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Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.

• 😱 Early users of the Steam Controller have found out it can scream if you drop it

• 😂 Valve has put the Wilhelm Scream is as an Easter Egg

• 🎬 The scream is a famous stock sound effect used in film and TV

• Users have reported hearing it if dropped while playing in Steam Big Picture Mode

Valve has implemented a fun Easter egg for the Steam Controller that sees the new gamepad let out a famous scream when it’s dropped.

As discovered by early adopters of the controller, such as Reddit user RF3D19, dropping the controller can sometimes cause it to let out the famous Wilhelm scream.

The Wilhelm scream is a stock sound effect of a man screaming, which has been featured in Star Wars and Indiana Jones, and has been used in over 400 films and TV shows since 1951.

VGC has also tested the Easter egg with its own Steam Controller and confirmed that Valve’s new hardware does indeed scream when dropped, though please don’t drop your controller onto a hard surface if you want to hear it.

The way the sound can be triggered is by your PC being in Steam Big Picture mode. If you drop the controller while on the main menu, it may let out the Wilhelm scream.

This sound effect isn’t triggered by an internal speaker on the Steam Controller, but instead is created using its advanced haptics. For instance, this is the case for the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, which can use it HD Rumble to make musical sound effects in games such as Super Mario Bros. Wonder, if a player walks across musical blocks or uses grind rails.

The Steam Controller sold out in a matter of 30 minutes when it launched last week, and resellers on eBay listed the controller for double its $99.99 price tag or more, with some listings even selling.

Valve has since implemented a reservation queue as an anti-scalping measure, where players can get in line for a Steam Controller and be notified when the controller comes back in stock. Once emailed, they have three days to purchase one.

Reservations will be limited to one Steam Controller per user. Once an order email is received, users have 72 hours to make a purchase. Users who have already bought a Steam Controller won’t be able to reserve a second one.

Up next: The Steam Machine may come in four different models

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Reece Bithrey is a journalist with bylines for Trusted Reviews, Digital Foundry, PC Gamer, TechRadar and more. He also has his own blog, UNTITLED, and graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in International History and Politics in 2023.

• 📷Sony announces its newest flagship a7R VI full-frame mirrorless camera

• 🖼️ Features a 66.8MP fully-stacked sensor that promises 5.6x faster shooting speeds

• 🎞️ Captures 14-bit RAW images in 30fps bursts at full resolution

• 🎥 Records uncropped 4K120p and 4K60p video, 8K30p footage with a 1.2x crop

• 🎯 Bionxz XR processor stacks AI subject recognition on top of the camera’s 759-point AF system

• 📅 Available in the first week of June for $4,499

Sony has announced the long awaited a7 R full-frame mirrorless camera almost four years after its a7R V predecessor released in 2022.

The Sony a7R VI features a new 66.8MP fully stacked, full-frame sensor that grants this camera 5.6x faster shooting performance. This allows the Sony a7r to capture up to 30fps burst capture 14-bit RAM images with the camera’s full 66.8MP resolution – which translates to about 3GB per second.

The new Bionxz XR processor, meanwhile, grants this camera AI+ subject recognition paired with the camera’s 759 point phase-detect autofocus system. You can also shoot up to 8K30p movies with a 1.2x crop, or 4K120p and 60p movies without a crop.

Externally, the Sony a7R features a new tally light that turns on while video recording, backlit buttons, and new star symbol on the mode dial grants users access to 30 menu-based shooting modes. The grip is also larger, but mostly to make room for Sony’s 17% larger batteries, jumping from 2,500mAh to 2,670mAh, that promise up to 710 shots per charge.

The EVF has also been upgraded with a new 9.44 million-dot OLED EVF that promises to be 3x brighter than the one on the a7R V and displays a liveview in 10-bit HDR and at 120fps.

The Sony a7R VI will be available in the first week of June 2026 for $4,449.

• Up next: GoPro Mission 1 Pro hands-on review: the 8K pocket cinema camera you can take anywhere

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Kevin Lee is The Shortcut’s Creative Director. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam

• 🤖 The Xperia 1 VIII features a new AI camera assistant that suggests optimized settings for scenes and subjects

• 📸 It includes a new telephoto camera with a sensor four times larger than its predecessor for improved imaging

• 💎 The smartphone introduces a new ‘ORE design’ inspired by gemstones and runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip

• 💰 Pre-orders are open now for £1,399/1499EUR, including a free pair of WH-1000XM6 headphones

Sony has announced its new Xperia 1 VIII flagship smartphone, which features a new AI camera assistant powered by Xperia Intelligence.

Using AI, the assistant can enhance your photos by suggesting camera settings such as color tones, lens selection, and bokeh effects, which are optimized depending on the scene and subject you’re shooting.

The Xperia 1 VIII is also armed with a new telephoto camera with a 1/1.56-inch image sensor, which is around four times larger than the one used in the Xperia 1 VII.

Sony also says that all three cameras on the Xperia 1 VII (16mm / 24mm / 70mm) deliver low-light performance that’s comparable to a full-frame sensor in terms of noise reduction and dynamic range, which should produce clear imaging in darker environments.

The Sony Xperia 1 VIII has a new look, which Sony is calling ‘ORE design’. It’s inspired by natural materials with color choices originating from raw gemstones: Graphite Black, Iolite Silver, Garnet Red, and Native Gold.

In terms of specs, the phone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and promises to deliver up to two-days of battery life. There’s a headphone jack, a microSD card slot, and new full-stage stereo speakers.

The Sony Xperia VIII is available for pre-order today, May 13, direct from Sony and select online retailers. It costs 1499EUR / £1,399 for the 256GB version, and those who pre-order will also receive Sony’s high-end WH-1000XM6 headphones.

A 1TB Native Gold version is also available exclusively from Sony online in select countries for 1999EUR / £1,849.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the Sony Xperia 1 VIII will be available in the US.

Up next: Sony still doesn’t have a projected PS6 release date or price

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Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.

• 💰 Nintendo is launching a ‘Choose Your Game’ bundle in early June to encourage purchases before a price hike

• 📈 The console currently costs $449.99 but will increase by $50 to $499.99 starting September 1, 2026

• 👏 The new bundle includes a choice of Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, or Pokémon Pokopia, saving up to $29.99

• 🤷‍♂️ Nintendo cited changing market conditions and the global business outlook as reasons for the price revision

Walmart: Nintendo Switch 2 - $449

Nintendo has given consumers even more of an incentive to pick up its new console before it increases in price in September.

A new ‘Choose Your Game’ bundle means you can get the console and one of the best Switch 2 games, and save up to $29.99.

The bundle, which includes either a digital copy of Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza or Pokémon Pokopia, will be available for a limited time at participating retailers and begins in early June.

For now, the Nintendo Switch 2 costs $449.99. However, from September 1, 2026, it’s increasing in price by $50, and means the console on its own will cost $499.99.

In a press release, Nintendo said: “In light of changes in market conditions, and after considering the global business outlook, Nintendo will revise the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices of the Nintendo Switch 2.”

Nintendo had previously offered Switch 2 bundles that included either Mario Kart World or Pokémon Legends: Z-A Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for $499.99, but those deals expired.

The new Nintendo Switch 2: Choose Your Game Bundle is a great opportunity to get Nintendo’s console for less and with one of the best games before it goes up in price.

Nintendo recently revealed its remaking Star Fox 64 for the Switch 2 and is also changing the name of the My Nintendo Store to simply the Nintendo Store from May 27.

Up next: The Steam Machine may come in four different models

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Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.

• 💻 Lenovo has updated its ThinkPad X13 Gen 7

• 🪛 More sustainable and repairable design, gaining a 9/10 score from iFixit

• ⚙️ Equipped with new Intel Core Ultra Series 3 and AMD Ryzen AI 400 processors

• 🖥️ The new ThinkStation P4 desktop powerhouse features Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9000 CPUs and Nvidia RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell GPUs

• 📦 The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 7 will be available later this month for $1,499 to start

• 📅 Lenovo ThinkStation P4 arrives in June, price to be announced later

Lenovo has announced updates to its ThinkPad X13 Gen 7, along with a brand-new ThinkStation desktop that looks like quite the powerhouse.

The new ThinkPad X13 Gen 7 laptop now features the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 3 or AMD Ryzen AI Pro 400 Gorgon Point APUs, delivering a performance boost over the last generation, especially in graphics and AI performance.

Intel Core Ultra Series 3 or Panther Lake processors have already impressed, allowing us to play Battlefield 6 on devices like the Asus ZenBook Duo and MSI Prestige 14 AI+ Flip, and we expect to see the same from the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 7. Though you’ll more likely use all that GPU power for more AI inference and running learning models.

In addition, the ThinkPad X13 Gen 7 devices offers improved repairability, gaining 9/10 iFixit scores. The ThinkPad X13 Gen 7 weighs in at 2.05 pounds, 0.01 pounds heavier than the previous Gen 6, even when equipped with the same 41Wh battery. Beyond that, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 7 features the same 1,920 x 1,080 display and ports, but a higher 64GB of configurable memory.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 7 will be available starting in May for $1,499 to start.

Lenovo ThinkStation P4

Lastly, the ThinkStation P4 is a shiny new desktop workstation designed for pros, featuring AMD’s new Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9000 series of workstation chips and top-end Nvidia RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell GPUs.

This Lenovo powerhouse also sports liquid cooling for its high-end components and a spacious 30-liter chassis made of sustainable materials. It also comes with enterprise-level security from the brand’s ThinkShield suite.

The Lenovo ThinkStation P4 will be available in June, but pricing has yet to be announced.

• Up next: Google unveils AI laptops powered by Gemini Intelligence called Googlebook

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Reece Bithrey is a journalist with bylines for Trusted Reviews, Digital Foundry, PC Gamer, TechRadar and more. He also has his own blog, UNTITLED, and graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in International History and Politics in 2023.

• 🤖 Google has announced Gemini Intelligence, a more powerful suite of AI features that spans across Android

• 📲 It offers a more contextual and personalized experience than traditional Gemini

• 👀 It’s only available on the most premium Android devices

• 📅 Gemini Intelligence will gradually roll out starting this summer

Google is taking its AI chops up a notch.

Today, the company announced Gemini Intelligence, a more powerful suite of features that brings the best of its AI to the most advanced Android devices out there. It’s a far more contextual, personalized system that can do things on your behalf, generate helpful widgets to keep you informed, and a whole lot more. It’s a big part of Android 17, Google’s next major upgrade for its mobile OS, that’ll be released later this year for Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices.

🧠 Gemini Intelligence features and capabilities

🤖 Automate anything. One of the biggest new features in Gemini Intelligence is the ability to automate almost anything. While Gemini has technically been able to call an Uber or order DoorDash for you, Google is widening the amount of services you can access to automate a far greater amount of things you can do on your phone. For example, you can have Gemini research trips for your entire family based off a picture of a brochure you found in a hotel lobby, or put in an order of groceries based on a list you wrote. It has access to all of your Google account data, too, so if you need Gemini to perform an action based on an email in your Gmail inbox, it can do that.

🪄 Mundane tasks, be gone. You can even automate tasks in Chrome with Gemini Intelligence. Google’s new AI can research and summarize topics across the web for you, and you can have it complete tasks like booking a parking spot for a concert you’re attending. Google also highlighted how, when filling out forms, it can present information you have stored in images to fill in each field accordingly, like entering your passport number from a picture of your passport. Gemini Intelligence wants to handle all the mundane stuff you use your phone for, and it sounds like Google’s on the right path to accomplishing that.

🧑‍💻 Vibe-code your next widget. Widgets have been a huge part of Android since its inception, and now, you can create your own with Gemini Intelligence. When you go to add a new widget to your home screen, you can ask Gemini to make a specific one for you, like particular weather details for riding a bike around town or tracking when a specific stock hits a certain price. The possibilities seem almost endless in Google’s demos. It’s the first time vibe-coding has ever taken shape in such an accessible way.

🗣️ I was born a Rambler man. There’s also a neat new feature part of Gemini Intelligence called Rambler. It’s built into the keyboard as the new way you type with your voice. When sending a text, email, or other type of message, you can use all the “umm’s”, “uhh’s”, and “wait - no’s” you want, jump from topic to topic, and even float between languages, and Gemini will understand what you’re trying to say. Once you’re done talking, it’ll clean up everything you said and give you a message that actually makes sense.

😍 It looks beautiful. Google built a new interface around Gemini Intelligence to highlight it throughout Material 3 Expressive in Android, and it looks stunning. The subtle color gradients and animations give it a lot of life, and everything blends together nicely as you jump between tasks.

🤔 Where is it available?

Google is bringing Gemini Intelligence to top-of-the-line Android devices across categories. It’ll be available on phones like the Pixel 10 and Galaxy S26, Wear OS watches like the Pixel Watch 4, Android Auto (which is getting a big redesign to accommodate), and even laptops like the new Googlebooks.

📅 Coming very soon

Google will roll out Gemini Intelligence features in “waves” to the latest Pixel and Galaxy phones this summer. Then, later this year, it’ll make its way to watches, cars, glasses and laptops.

• Up next: Google unveils AI laptops powered by Gemini Intelligence called Googlebook

Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut and co-host of The Shortcut Live. He’s been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.

• 💻 Google has announced its Chromebook successor: the Googlebook

• 🤖 It relies on an Android-based OS to power Gemini Intelligence, a more powerful version of the AI system

• 👀 It’s similar to what Chrome OS used to be, except rooted in AI instead of a simple web browser

• 🏭 The first Googlebooks to hit the market will be from companies like Lenovo, HP, and Asus

• 📅 Googlebooks will hit the market this fall

Google is jumping back into the world of laptops. After Chromebooks took the low-end laptop market by storm over 10 years ago, the company has developed a new kind of laptop to replace it: the Googlebook, a far more intelligent take on laptops that’s centered around Gemini. It runs an Android-based operating system and integrates Google’s new Gemini Intelligence experience, which promises to be smarter and more contextual to you.

Details on the exact software Googlebooks use remain unclear, as Google hasn’t shared a name for the OS just yet (although it is, indeed, using the rumored Aluminium OS, which remains the system’s codename). We do know it supports all of the apps you can find in the Play Store, and you can use your phone from a Googlebook through a built-in mirroring feature, similar to iPhone Mirroring in macOS.

Where the real magic happens is in Gemini Intelligence, which is at the core of the Googlebook experience. Google relies on AI for a lot of what makes its new laptops useful. It’s even built into the cursor; jiggle it around and you’ll see AI light it up with contextual suggestions. Hover over a date, and you’ll have the option to add it to your calendar. Select a couple of images, and Gemini will help you blend them together (helpful if you need to visualize how furniture will look in your home).

Other Gemini Intelligence features, like creating custom widgets, will also be available. With this feature, you can ask Gemini to make a widget with specific weather information, travel plans for a specific trip, countdowns to dates, and more. You can then place them around your home screen so you can quickly reference them. Gemini Intelligence also comes to the keyboard for quickly filling in information, and you can use multi-model features like having Gemini book trips or order DoorDash on your behalf.

All of this will be built into laptops with premium hardware, according to Google. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be expensive, but it also doesn’t sound like they’ll be budget-friendly enough for schools or younger users.

You’ll know you’re looking at a Googlebook when you see its glowing light strip on the lid, which will activate whenever you trigger Gemini. Google says it’s partnering with manufacturers like Lenovo, HP, Asus, and more to develop the first batch of Googlebooks. The first models will start shipping this fall. We’ll likely learn more about them leading up to then, so stay tuned.

• Up next: Logitech’s leaked foldable wireless mouse promises to fit into any pocket

Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut and co-host of The Shortcut Live. He’s been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.

• 🍀 Valve’s upcoming Steam Machine could come in four variants

• 🕵️‍♂️ Dataminers spotted four different SKUs in Steam’s update code

• 🧠 Storage may start at 512GB and go up to 2TB

• ❓ Other model specific specs remain unclear

• 🎟️ Valve may add a reservation queue to deter scalpers following Steam Controller restocks

It looks like the Steam Machine will come in four different variants when it launches, seemingly soon.

Originally spotted by Wccftech, code found in a new Steam update indicates that there will be four different versions of Valve’s Steam Machine, along with two variants of the Steam Frame.

We don’t have all the specifics of the four variants, but storage will start at base 512GB and go up to 2TB. There could also be simply two models with and without a controller, but that is pure speculation. The other key thing we don’t know just yet is how much the Steam Machine is going to cost in general, or in a variant-specific case.

Considering the current price of SSD storage and file size of modern games, Valve will hopefully offer a middle-ground 1TB storage option.

Valve will more than likely have a reservation queue for the Steam Machine, as it recently did with the Steam Controller and Steam Deck, to try to deter scalpers.

The Steam Controller sold out in a matter of 30 minutes when it launched last week, and resellers on eBay listed the controller for double its $99.99 price tag or more.

Things are heating up for the Steam Machine to launch very soon, especially as Valve has reportedly imported 50 tons of ‘games consoles’ in recent days, which is what the company called the Steam Deck in import documents when it launched four years ago.

The company hasn’t officially stated anything beyond ‘2026’ for the Steam Machine and Steam Frame’s release window after the memory crisis threw its original plans into disarray.

• Up next: Nintendo Switch 2 prices are going up worldwide this September

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Reece Bithrey is a journalist with bylines for Trusted Reviews, Digital Foundry, PC Gamer, TechRadar and more. He also has his own blog, UNTITLED, and graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in International History and Politics in 2023.

• 🎮 Scuf introduces its first fully customizable wireless controller, the Scuf Omega

• 🕹️ Features replaceable TMR thumbsticks, face buttons, side buttons, back paddles, and faceplate

• ⚙️ Reprogrammable back paddles, side buttons, and front-facing G-Keys

• 🏆 Designed for competitive play with a fast 1000Hz connection over 2.4GHz

• 🔋 Up to 17 hours of battery life

The Scuf Omega is the brand’s first fully customizable wireless controller designed for the PS5, PC, Mac, iOS, and Android.

The controller is fully toolless, with replaceable TMR thumbsticks, face buttons, side buttons, back paddles, and a fully magnetic faceplate that you can swap for fresh designs.

While the Scuf Omega has 18 replaceable parts, it comes with only three sets of thumbsticks (concave, convex, and long versions of both) in the box. So you’ll have to wait for Scuf to release accessory packs before you can really swap out the face buttons for an Xbox set or replace the four individual D-Pad buttons with a circular rocker pad.

Thankfully, the Scuf Omega features plenty of built-in customization through its programmable buttons, including four back paddles, two side buttons, and five G-Keys at the controller’s bottom lip. By default, three of the G-Keys are preset to control volume up and down as well as mic muting, and you can remap the remaining two buttons on PlayStation. You can reprogram all five G-Keys on PC to perform complex macros.

The Scuf Omega is otherwise designed for competitive play with a 1000Hz polling rate over its 2.4GHz dongle connection. You can also expect 17 hours of battery life from this controller.

The Scuf Omega is available now for $219.99 from Scuf, Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers.

• Up next: Steam Controller review roundup: ‘a massive improvement over the flawed original

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Kevin Lee is The Shortcut’s Creative Director. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam

• 🍎 Apple has released iOS 26.5 with end-to-end RCS encryption support

• 📲 This means that texts between iPhones and Android will be much more secure

• 🧪 The feature is still in beta and is slowly rolling out to users on supported carriers

• 🔒 You’ll know your conversation is encrypted when you see a lock icon above your messages

One of the biggest perks of using iMessage to text your friends is its end-to-end encryption, which keeps each message secure and hidden from prying eyes. Now, that same feature is coming to texts between iPhones and Android phones with RCS.

Apple has begun rolling out iOS 26.5, a software update for the iPhone that includes end-to-end encryption for RCS. The texting standard was originally released in iOS 18.1 for iPhone users, but up until now, it hasn’t been nearly as secure as it is when texting between Android phones, since Google Messages has had built-in support for it for years.

Starting with iOS 26.5, your texts between your iPhone and your “green bubble friends” will be more secure. However, there are a couple of things to note. End-to-end encryption is technically in beta, meaning it’s not quite production-ready and there could be some bugs with it. It’s also taking its sweet time rolling out; Apple is gradually releasing the feature to users on supported carriers over time, so if you don’t have access to it right after you install iOS 26.5, chances are you’ll have to wait a bit longer.

To use end-to-end encryption with RCS, you’ll need to go to Settings > Messages > RCS Messaging and toggle on “End-to-End Encryption (Beta)”. Afterward, future messages will be secured and won’t be visible to Apple, your carrier, hackers, and more. You’ll know that the feature is working when you see a little lock icon at the top of your text thread.

As the feature continues rolling out, Apple says it’ll be enabled by default, so there’s a chance you won’t need to manually turn it on.

Supported carriers

Apple listed the following North American carriers as the first to support E2E RCS.

• AT&T

• Bell

• Boost Mobile

• C Spire

• Cellcom Wisconsin

• Chatr

• Consumer Cellular

• Cox Mobile

• Cricket

• Family Mobile

• Fido

• FirstNet

• Freedom Mobile

• Koodo

• Lucky Mobile

• Metro by T-Mobile

• Mint Mobile

• Nex-Tech Wireless

• Public Mobile

• PureTalk

• Red Pocket

• Rogers

• SaskTel

• Spectrum

• Straight Talk

• Strata

• T-Mobile USA

• Telus

• TracFone

• Ultra Mobile

• US Cellular

• Verizon Wireless

• Videotron

• Virgin Mobile

• Visible

• Xfinity Mobile

To download iOS 26.5 to your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software update.

• Up next: Apple Vision Pro isn’t getting a sequel any time soon, says report

Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut and co-host of The Shortcut Live. He’s been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.

• 🤷‍♂️ Sony has admitted it doesn’t know when the PS6 will be released or how much it’ll cost

• 💸 The current impact of the memory crisis could affect long-term pricing and availability beyond launch

• 🎮 Microsoft is also in the same boat with a higher price for Project Helix

• 📈 Sony has already raised prices of its existing hardware owing to similar concerns

Sony has admitted it doesn’t have a projected release date or retail price for the PlayStation 6 due to the current memory crisis.

The revelation comes from an investors’ Q&A session following Sony’s annual corporate strategy and earnings call, where Sony president and CEO Hiroki Totoki responded to a caller who asked how the ongoing memory crisis is affecting the brand’s approach to the PlayStation 6.

Totoki responded via a translator (thanks, VGC) with the comment that Sony hasn’t decided on the PS6 release date, nor how much it may cost.

He explained that as the price of memory increases, the cost of the device’s bill of materials and manufacturing has increased to the point that it could have a knock-on effect on the console’s manufacturing process.

For the rest of 2026, Sony has acquired the necessary volume of materials it needs and has “to a certain extent agreed on the price itself”, according to Totoki. However, he also said that memory prices are also expected to be very high for the next financial year, meaning Sony “must think carefully” about the availability and pricing of its next-gen console.

We don’t know much about the PlayStation 6 officially, beyond that Sony has said the next console generation has been “top of mind” in recent months, although leaks have indicated it could be a versatile console with accompanying handheld with a large amount of memory and with the ability to play discs as well as digital games.

The PlayStation 6 is expected to launch in 2027, according to leakers, and Microsoft is rumored to be targeting next year for its next-gen Project Helix hybrid console, too.

Microsoft has stated that the next-gen console’s price will also be affected by the memory crisis, meaning Sony isn’t alone in navigating the current market conditions with its next big hardware release.

The memory crisis has had adverse effects elsewhere in the PC and console hardware industry, with it being pretty well documented that it has played havoc with the Steam Machine’s price, plus Valve’s refusal to commit to a release date for both the Steam Machine and Steam Frame beyond the vague “2026” window.

Sony itself has also cited “continued pressures in the global economic landscape” for its recent hefty PS5 price rise, which saw the PS5 Pro rise to $900, and the PS5 Standard and Digital models rise to $650 and $600, respectively.

• Up next: Steam Machine release could be imminent after Valve imports ‘50 tons’ of game consoles

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Reece Bithrey is a journalist with bylines for Trusted Reviews, Digital Foundry, PC Gamer, TechRadar and more. He also has his own blog, UNTITLED, and graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in International History and Politics in 2023.

• 🐭 Logitech is gearing up to release a new foldable wireless mouse

• 🩳 Leaked marketing assets show a mouse that can fold and easily slip into a pocket

• 🛜 Bluetooth connectivity to multiple devices and platforms

• 🛞 “Adaptive Touch Scrolling” feature may change scrolling speed depending on how fast you swipe

Logitech might be launching its first foldable mouse that looks strikingly similar to the old Microsoft Surface Arc Mouse.

Winfuture obtained marketing imagery showing a wireless mouse that folds up like a clamshell phone and fits into a pocket. From all appearances, it looks more compact than the old Microsoft Surface Arc or Lenovo Yoga mouse, both of which could only fold flat.

This mouse seems to feature the usual two main mouse buttons, curiously a large middle button that’s actually a touch panel for scrolling. This touchpad presumably adapts the scrolling speed based on how fast you swipe with a new feature called “Adaptive Touch Scrolling,” similar to Hyperscroll found on the brand’s higher-end Logitech MX Master 4 mice. Towards the back is a ribbed edge that gives the mouse an ergonomic arc for your palm.

In the leaked materials, Logitech touts that this new foldable mouse will reduce muscle strain by 22% compared to a traditional laptop trackpad, making it more comfortable for on-the-go and office work.

As with other Logitech products, we expect this mouse to support multiple operating systems. Product shots show a laptop and tablet, and it’s safe to assume it’ll work across the mainline desktop and mobile operating systems. The Winfuture article says it can connect up to three devices via Bluetooth, although battery life is unknown.

So far, we’ve only seen Logitech’s new foldable mouse in a graphite gray color, but there might be more colors in the wings. The leaked materials consistently show this mouse paired with Logitech’s Keys-to-Go-2 keyboard, which also comes in an off-white with purple accents. So the folding mouse might come in the same two colors to match the keyboard.

We don’t currently know the price, release date, or any other information for this Logitech foldable mouse, though with product photos and marketing assets already ready, it’s likely not far off. This could be one to watch if you liked Microsoft’s or Lenovo’s old foldable mice.

• Up next: Asus ROG Falchion Ace 75 HE review: this eSports-grade gaming keyboard erases input lag

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Reece Bithrey is a journalist with bylines for Trusted Reviews, Digital Foundry, PC Gamer, TechRadar and more. He also has his own blog, UNTITLED, and graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in International History and Politics in 2023.

• ⌚️ Apple’s next generation of Apple Watches has been rumored to come with Touch ID

• ❌ However, a new leak suggests the company is skipping the feature entirely

• 🔋 The reason? It affects battery life, other health features, and price

• ☝️ Leaked code suggested that Apple was at least working on adding Touch ID

Apple is always experimenting with new features for its products, and one that we caught wind of a while ago was Touch ID for the Apple Watch. Leaked code had suggested that “AppleMesa” (the codename for Touch ID) was being prepared for the 2026 Apple Watch lineup, including the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. However, a new rumor now suggests the company won’t include the security feature after all.

According to a Weibo post, Instant Digital (a well-known Apple leaker) says that Touch ID won’t be coming to this year’s Apple Watch lineup. The sensor doesn’t make sense for Apple to include, according to the leaker, mostly because of how constrained space is on the device.

The Apple Watch has gotten slimmer and lighter over the years, to the point where only the Ultra is noticeable on the wrist. Instant Digital says that Touch ID would only complicate things, claiming it would eat directly into the space that Apple could use for a bigger battery or new health sensors. Adding the sensor would also increase Apple's production costs, likely leading to a price increase for the watch.

Apple is fine with the current way you unlock your iPhone, according to Instant Digital, which involves unlocking your paired iPhone after putting it on your wrist. You can also unlock it directly with a PIN. While this level of security is enough for most users, it’d be nice to have biometric security built into the side button or under the screen, if only because you can keep sensitive information like health data and credit cards on your watch.

If the Apple Watch Series 12 or Ultra 4 don’t come with Touch ID, it’s unclear when Apple might integrate the feature. We aren’t expecting a redesign of the Apple Watch until at least 2028, according to rumors, with simple spec-bumps planned for this year and next.

• Up next: Apple Vision Pro isn’t getting a sequel any time soon, says report

Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut and co-host of The Shortcut Live. He’s been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.

• 🥽 Apple isn’t releasing a new Vision Pro any time soon, according to a report

• 2️⃣ The headset isn’t getting a proper sequel for at least two more years

• 👓 Instead, Apple is prioritizing work on new smart glasses

• 🧑‍🔬 It’s also working to make the Vision Pro lighter and smaller, but no specific project is in active development

When the Apple Vision Pro launched in February 2024, many were quick to try out the bleeding-edge headset before realizing the second generation would likely be much better. Unfortunately, it sounds like it’s gonna be a while before the time comes that the Vision Pro 2 launches - Apple isn’t dropping a new one for at least another two years.

That’s according to Mark Gurman from Bloomberg. In his Power On newsletter, the famed Apple reporter says that a Vision Pro sequel isn’t in active development. While the company may be working on new materials and technologies to get the headset smaller and lighter behind the scenes, its primary focus lies in other wearables like smart glasses, something the company is expected to release next year.

The news comes as reports of Apple’s Vision Pro Group team being dismantled surface. Gurman says that while the team was broken up a bit, it was in an effort to create dedicated Vision Pro hardware and software teams, while reshuffling some executives to other tasks like working on Siri, AirPods with AI cameras, and an AI pendant. Job listings for Vision Pro and visionOS were suggested as evidence of the Apple Vision Pro being in turmoil with no staff behind it, but Gurman simply says it’s to find more people to work on glasses and support visionOS.

The Apple Vision Air (codenamed N100) was expected to be the next version of the Vision Pro with a lighter design and fewer impressive features. However, that project was canceled last year to shift work to other projects. While that headset may have died, we haven’t heard anything about the Apple Vision Pro 2 being axed or shelved entirely.

It’s also worth noting that Gurman doesn’t mention anything about occasional spec upgrades for the Vision Pro, like Apple did with the M5 model last year. It’s possible Apple will give it better performance over time with new internals and software upgrades, while a proper sequel is worked on in secret before emerging with a new design and new features.

We’ll keep you posted if we hear anything else.

• Up next: AirPods with AI cameras inching closer to release date, says report

Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut and co-host of The Shortcut Live. He’s been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.

• 📱 Samsung is rolling out AirDrop support to the Galaxy S25 series

• ⬆️ It’s part of the new One UI 8.5 update

• 🛜 The feature works through Quick Share to let you send files to iPhones, and vice versa

• ⚙️ AirDrop support originally debuted on Pixel phones before reaching the Galaxy S26

Samsung is bringing one of the hottest new Android features to last year’s Galaxy S25 lineup: AirDrop.

As part of the company’s new One UI 8.5 update, AirDrop is finally being released to the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra. The feature comes two months after the Galaxy S26 family got it, making it the first non-Pixel phone to support it.

AirDrop support integrates directly with Quick Share on Android. So long as you turn on Apple device support in the settings app, when you go to share a file through Quick Share, you’ll see available iPhones, MacBooks, and more pop up. Tap on any of them, and you’ll watch your file transfer seamlessly.

I’ve used the feature a ton on my Galaxy S26 Ultra and Pixel 10 Pro XL, and it works like a charm. Now, those who use Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series will get the same advantages.

One UI 8.5 brings a few other features to the table as well. Samsung has updated the look and feel of the software with more transparency and blur effects, along with enhanced personalization features to help make your phone feel like yours. There are more agentic Galaxy AI features than ever before, and there are a slew of improvements to apps like Camera and Samsung Health. You can check out the full release notes on Android Authority.

Samsung’s One UI 8.5 update is rolling out now to users in the United States and Korea on the Galaxy S25 family. The update is also said to be rolling out to the Galaxy S24 family momentarily, which means anyone who owns those devices could also be getting AirDrop support soon.

• Up next: Galaxy Z Fold 8 release date: here’s when Samsung could launch its next foldable

Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut and co-host of The Shortcut Live. He’s been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.

• 📱 Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to arrive this summer

• ⚙️ The phone is rumored to come with minor upgrades compared to the Fold 7

• 👀 It’ll launch alongside two other foldables

• 🧠 We’ve been tracking rumors, and we have an idea of when it could come out

• 📅 Here’s what we’ve heard about the Z Fold 8’s release date

Samsung is sticking to its guns and releasing yet another folding phone this year. The company’s been on a roll over the past few years, delivering upgraded versions of its folding phones that regularly bring the bleeding-edge form factor to new heights. This year, we’re expecting the Galaxy Z Fold 8 to debut, and we might know when it’s gonna come out.

The Z Fold 8 is rumored to be a minor upgrade over the Fold 7. It’ll maintain the same general look as last year’s foldable with 6.5-inch and 8-inch screens, square corners, and flat sides. It might be a bit thicker, though, to accommodate two things: a larger 5,000mAh battery and S Pen support, something Samsung dropped last year to the dismay of many. The phone is also expected to get the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and a new 50MP camera.

But when is it coming out? We’ve been tracking a lot of the rumors swirling around the Galaxy Z Fold 8 release date, and we have a pretty good idea of when Samsung will launch it (assuming history is any indication, which it usually is).

• Related: iPhone Fold release date: here’s when Apple could finally launch a foldable

Galaxy Z Fold 8 rumored announcement date

A report from Korea Economic Times says that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will be announced on July 22, a date that lines up with previous Galaxy Z launches. The phone will debut alongside the Galaxy Z Wide Fold, Samsung’s answer to the Apple iPhone Ultra, and the Galaxy Z Flip 8.

Samsung usually hosts its Galaxy Unpacked events in mid-July to announce new foldables, so this timing makes sense for the company. Where the announcement will take place is another question; the report mentions London as the destination, but Samsung often hosts these events in New York City. That being said, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is being held close to July 22 in New York and New Jersey, so Samsung might want to avoid the East Coast of the United States to prevent any travel issues for journalists and influencers alike. So, London it is.

Galaxy Z Fold 8 rumored release date

Following the announcement date, Samsung will typically put its foldables up for preorder for a couple of weeks, then release them. Last year, the Fold 7 was announced on July 9 and launched on July 25 (16 days later). In 2024, the Fold 6 was announced on July 10 and launched on July 24 (14 days later).

If Samsung follows a similar timeline for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 launch, we can expect the phone to launch on August 5 or 7. That’s a good bit later than Samsung’s most recent Galaxy Z launches, but that could also be due to a schedule shift caused by the Galaxy S26 release date was, which was much later than usual.

Will there be any delays?

Speaking of which, so far, we haven’t heard anything about Samsung delaying the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 8. The same goes for the mysterious Wide Fold and Flip 8. All three phones will likely launch at the same time after being unveiled on July 22. Of course, we’ll update this article if we hear anything different.

Our Galaxy Z Fold 8 coverage continues

We’re tracking all of the latest Galaxy Z Fold 8 leaks, rumors, and more leading up to the launch date. Subscribe so you don’t miss out on anything.

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Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut and co-host of The Shortcut Live. He’s been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.

• 🎧 Apple is making a lot of progress on its AI-powered AirPods

• 📸 The new earbuds with built-in cameras have entered advanced testing stages

• 🏭 Apple is just a few steps away from reaching the point of mass production

• 🤖 The earbuds will use cameras and Visual Intelligence to identify the world around you

• 🗺️ This could be helpful with turn-by-turn directions, reminding you to do things, and more

• 📅 It’s unclear when the new AirPods could launch, but it seems like it could be soon

Apple is rumored to be working on a pair of AirPods with built-in cameras to enable new AI features, and it sounds like the company is making important progress towards an eventual release. Mark Gurman at Bloomberg reports that Apple’s next-generation earbuds have entered a phase in development “where prototypes feature a near-final design and capabilities,” a sign that the buds are almost ready for customers.

The rumored AI-infused AirPods have leaked several times over the past couple of years as Apple prepares to make its most aggressive AI push yet. The buds will integrate cameras into the stems, which are said to be a bit longer than the current AirPods Pro stems. This will allow them to see what’s around you and provide contextual prompts, information, and more.

Bloomberg notes that this could mean the AirPods can recommend meals based on what it sees in your fridge, turn-by-turn directions based on landmarks in front of you, and other related functions. The cameras themselves won’t be able to take pictures or videos, and a small LED light will indicate when they’re in use and learning what’s going on around you.

The AirPods will integrate with Apple Intelligence, which is getting a huge upgrade later this year with its new Gemini foundation. Apple had to delay the release of the earbuds due to its qualms with getting Siri in a better place, but since it seems to be on track to come out later this year with iOS 27, the buds might be right around the corner.

An exact release date for the next version of AirPods has yet to be shared, but we’ll let you know when we hear something.

• Up next: MacBook Neo demand forces Apple to make more A18 Pro chips, says report

Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut and co-host of The Shortcut Live. He’s been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.

• 📲 Qualcomm is beefing up budget phones with two new SoCs

• 🎮 The Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 should bring 90fps gaming to budget phones with a 77% more powerful GPU

• 📈 The Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 brings 21% better GPU performance alongside the Adaptive Performance Engine

• 📅 Both chips should be seen in new phones starting in the second half of 2026

Qualcomm has announced two new mobile SoCs that aim to deliver smooth and slick operation to your next affordable phone.

The new Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 and Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 chips promise to bring a smoother experience to cheaper handsets, while offering “stronger performance and extended battery life.”

The headline feature on both SoCs is Snapdragon Smooth UI, which the brand says delivers 20% faster app launches and 18% less screen stutter on the 6 Gen 5 chip, and 43% faster app launches and 25% less screen stutter on the 4 Gen 5.

The 4 Gen 5 also beefs up the chip’s GPU performance by 77% to bring 90FPS gameplay to the Snapdragon 4-series chips for the first time. So your next affordable phone could have beefier gaming performance than ever before.

As for the 6 Gen 5, this is obviously a step up from the 4 Gen 5, and Qualcomm is touting 21% better GPU performance than the last gen for smoother gameplay and beefier performance. It also introduces the Adaptive Performance Engine 4.0 to aid “smooth, long‑lasting play”.

The higher-end chip adds support for AI-powered camera features, such as Night Vision for better low-light photography, up to 32MP photos, and 100x digital zoom for reach.

Qualcomm says the Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 will come to devices from Honor and Redmi. Meanwhile, 4 Gen 5 is coming to Oppo, realme, and Redmi handsets. Both should be available in the second half of 2026.

• Up next: MacBook Neo demand forces Apple to make more A18 Pro chips, says report

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Reece Bithrey is a journalist with bylines for Trusted Reviews, Digital Foundry, PC Gamer, TechRadar and more. He also has his own blog, UNTITLED, and graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in International History and Politics in 2023.