Windows Central Insider
Microsoft VP explains why Windows 11's new "Low Latency Profile" performance boost is good
Windows 11 Windows 11's upcoming "Low Latency Profile" feature has been branded "lazy" by online trolls. Microsoft VP explains why they're wrong.
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Features
Sandisk's official Xbox Ally X MicroSD card is great — but you probably shouldn't buy it
Xbox I was able to grab Sandisk's official microSD card for the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X range. But ... it's honestly not much more than a logo. Here's what you need to know.
Windows 11 Insider Program just got easier, and here's how to get started
Windows 11 Microsoft revamps the Windows Insider Program with fewer channels, built-in feature flags, and simpler testing for Windows 11 previews.
'TerraTech Legion' merges tank building and bullet heaven on Xbox Game Pass
ID@Xbox Collect blocks to snap together your own modular tank equipped with lasers, railguns, and battering rams to clear out hordes of AI bots.
Xbox keeps moving forward, but the conversation around it tells a different story
Xbox A look at how Xbox’s steady progress gets overshadowed by constant negativity.
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Nine years ago, Microsoft bet big on UWP. The story looks very different today.
Flashback Microsoft has a problem with its Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and what it means for developers and consumers. Here is how they plan to fix that and why it means ignore phones.
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Windows 10 Mobile's Best Idea? Looking back at the debut of Continuum
Flashback From the Archives: The dream of the phone that's also a PC was announced today, 11 years ago, at Microsoft Build 2015.
When Lumia phones unlocked slo-mo video
Flashback From the archives: If you're running the Windows 10 Mobile Insider preview on a Lumia 930, 1520, or Icon, you can now try slow-motion video with the updated Windows Camera app.
When the Lumia 950 and 950 XL were threatened by Surface's success
Flashback Will the Surface's success cause fans to pass on the Lumias 950 and 950 XL during the critical launch of a new OS? Time and how these devices sell will tell.
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When Windows 10 Mobile was on nearly 6 percent of all Windows Phones
Flashback From the archives: Things were looking bright for Windows 10 Mobile as proved "by the numbers" on a Wednesday in 2015.
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When Windows Mobile still had a pulse, and concept phones promised a reboot that never came.
Flashback From the archives: Back in 2015, when Windows Phone was fighting for relevance, we dreamed of bold reboots and concept phones. A look back at where Microsoft was — and where our community’s imagination took us.
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Windows & Software
Your how‑to guide for enabling Windows 11’s experimental Feature Flags
Windows 11 Windows 11 now lets Insider users enable experimental features from Settings without ViveTool. Here's how "Feature flags" works.
Windows 11 Insider Program just got easier, and here's how to get started
Windows 11 Microsoft revamps the Windows Insider Program with fewer channels, built-in feature flags, and simpler testing for Windows 11 previews.
Microsoft Store drops $99 company registration fee for companies
Apps Microsoft has removed the $99 registration fee for companies joining the Microsoft Store, matching last year’s change for individual developers.
PC Hardware
Why a dedicated password manager may be safer than using Edge
Browsing Edge is the only Chromium browser that loads all saved passwords in plaintext on startup. If that worries you, a dedicated password manager offers stronger protection.
New Telegram client brings modern messaging features back to Windows Phone
Windows Phone A new Telegram client for Windows Phone uses clever tricks to work around the unsupported platform's lack of push notification support.
Surface fans say the brand is broken
Surface Surface fans across multiple Reddit communities say the brand has lost its identity, pointing to rising prices, a lack of innovation, and a stripped‑down lineup.
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LG just launched a $599 laptop — how does it match up to the MacBook Neo?
Laptops The LG gram Book 15 for 2026 has made its debut at a discounted $599, which immediately makes me think of the MacBook Neo. Here's how the two laptops compare.
A working TrackPoint foot controller exists and the creator explains why
Hardware Almost every ThinkPad ever made has had a TrackPoint pointing system, and one engineer wants to repurpose them to create affordable accessibility controllers for PC gaming and more.
“Gaming compatibility on Snapdragon X has come such a long way”: What 200 tested games tell us about Surface Pro 11
Surface A YouTuber spent 15 months testing 200 games on the Surface Pro 11, showing how much Windows on Arm gaming has improved and where Snapdragon X still needs work.
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Deals
One of Samsung's finest 2-in-1 laptops, which we rated highly, is on sale for 25% off
Deals With an Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 256V, 3K AMOLED Touchscreen with 120Hz refresh rates, and more features, the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 is more than capable of crushing productivity and creative assignments
Razer's customizable Huntsman V3 Pro is the best esports gaming pick
Deals The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro is an esports secret weapon with a durable build and adjustable actuations to suit your needs.
Listen to music and games at the same time with this dual headset
Deals The Razer Barracuda Pro is a superb lifestyle headset for gaming and casual use with amazing sound, a simple yet splendid design, and tight active noise cancellation.
This compact 75% gaming keyboard is an "ultra-comfortable option"
Deals The Razer BlackWidow V4 75% keyboard is a fine PC gaming accessory with plenty of customization options, responsive controls, and world-class comfort that's now 32% easier to afford.
Handheld Gaming PCs
"Default Game Profiles" update boosts Xbox Ally handheld performance
Handhelds Xbox expands Default Game Profiles with over two dozen new titles on Xbox Ally and Ally X, improving performance and battery life through per-game optimization in the Xbox app.
Gaming
Sandisk's official Xbox Ally X MicroSD card is great — but you probably shouldn't buy it
Xbox I was able to grab Sandisk's official microSD card for the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X range. But ... it's honestly not much more than a logo. Here's what you need to know.
Helldivers 2 reviews crash to 'Mostly Negative' on Steam after controversial update and AMA
Gaming Helldivers 2 players have review bombed the game's Steam reviews to "Mostly Negative," with many extremely frustrated with its current state.
Xbox posts the Forza Horizon 6 launch trailer a week before its Early Access release date
Forza A week ahead of Forza Horizon 6's Early Access release date, Xbox has posted the game's official launch trailer — and it's got some neat references.
Artificial Intelligence
The Microsoft/OpenAI breakup: Copilot in Windows lost its exclusive edge
AI Copilot in Windows 11 doesn't feel as exclusive after Microsoft and OpenAI's new non-exclusive deal.
Leaked OpenAI memo throws serious shade at Microsoft
AI The ChatGPT maker indicated that its new partnership with Amazon will help enhance its enterprise market share while highlighting key constraints in its Microsoft tie-up.
OpenAI’s new feature is just like Windows Recall: Chronicle watches you
AI OpenAI’s Codex gets a memory upgrade, improving developer workflows by boosting effectiveness and efficiency.
Microsoft says its faster MAI-Image-2-Efficient AI model slashes costs
AI Microsoft unveils MAI-Image-2-Efficient, a faster and cheaper AI image model designed to deliver photorealistic results at scale.
Microsoft
Xbox is getting serious — Windows Central Podcast LIVE
LIVE Join Daniel and Zac on May 7 at 2PM ET for a live episode of the Windows Central Podcast.
Microsoft Teams’ status indicator sparks a whole surveillance debate
Teams Microsoft Teams’ status feature sparks backlash as workers say it wrongly marks them unavailable after brief inactivity.
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Microsoft Edge loads your passwords into memory in plaintext, but Microsoft says not to worry
Microsoft Edge A security researcher has discovered that Microsoft Edge will load all your stored passwords into memory in plaintext at startup, making it easy for malware to scrape those passwords.
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Microsoft is spending big. The question is why
Microsoft Microsoft beat expectations again, but investors want proof that rising AI spending will deliver real profit down the road.
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Peripherals & Accessories
SteelSeries' Arctis Pro Omni is the perfect multiplatform gaming headset
Review The Arctis Nova Pro Omni ticks every single box for multiplatform gamers, in an option far more affordable than its Elite cousin. Finally, after almost a decade, I've replaced my battered Astro A50.
