If you’ve ever tried to match a very specific hair color from a box on a shelf, you already know the struggle. It’s either out of stock, slightly off-tone, or you end up buying multiple shades just to mix your own. The Zuvi ColorBox takes that whole problem and turns it into a simple, creative process that actually feels approachable.
ColorBox is essentially an at-home semi-permanent hair color mixer. Instead of picking from a limited list of premade shades, you build your color using primary tones and a base cream, then let the device dispense the exact amount you need. The vibe is less “hair dye chore” and more “self-expression tool,” which is honestly what semi-permanent color should feel like.
The app is a big part of the experience. It does a solid job showing visual references of what colors might look like across different hair types and it helps guide you through the mix so you’re not guessing. One thing to keep in mind though: what you see in the app can come out darker in real life. When we tested blue, it landed deeper than expected. Not necessarily bad, just something to plan for if you’re aiming for a brighter, more vibrant shade. Timing matters and leaving it in longer can help push the color closer to what you want.
What I really like is how low-commitment this feels. Because it’s semi-permanent, you’re not locking yourself into a long-term decision. The hardest part is honestly choosing a color in the first place, but even that becomes less stressful when you know you can switch things up later. The device also saves your mixes, so if you finally land on your perfect shade, you can recreate it without trying to remember exact ratios.
My biggest nitpick is simple: I wish it came with a fast charger power brick. It includes the cable, but not the actual adapter. If you have one lying around, you’re fine, but if you don’t, it’s one extra thing you have to go buy before you can really get going.
The ColorBox feels like a genuinely fresh product category. It takes something that’s usually messy, intimidating, or wasteful and makes it feel more controlled and creative. If you’re into hair color as a form of expression and you like the idea of mixing shades on demand, this is a really fun concept that’s surprisingly easy to use once you start. Check out the video review above and on our Youtube channel.
The POVEC C1 introduces electrochromic technology to sunglasses, allowing the wearer to manually adjust lens tint with a swipe on the frame. Instead of relying on UV like traditional photochromic lenses, the C1 changes tint in about one second, giving users instant control over brightness and visibility.
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The lenses move between Category 1, Category 2, and Category 3 tint levels, essentially giving you multiple lighting options in one pair of glasses. A touch-sensitive strip on the right side of the frame lets you swipe forward to increase brightness or swipe back to darken the lens, making adjustments quick and intuitive.
Beyond the technology, the C1 is built with performance in mind. The glasses feature UV400 protection, enhanced contrast optics, and impact-resistant lenses, all housed in a lightweight TR90 frame known for its durability and flexibility in sports eyewear. Whether you’re cycling, hiking, or spending long hours outdoors, the design keeps comfort and stability in mind.
Battery life is another highlight. The POVEC C1 can last up to 28 days with moderate use, charging through USB-C. The glasses automatically activate when opened and enter sleep mode when folded, helping conserve battery between uses.
One thing we quickly realized while testing the C1 is that they’re not just useful for sports. We actually loved using them while driving, especially in situations where lighting changes quickly, like moving between shaded streets and bright sunlight. Being able to instantly adjust tint made a noticeable difference.
It also got us thinking about where this technology could go next. Electrochromic lenses like these would make a lot of sense in motorcycle helmet visors, where riders constantly deal with shifting light conditions and glare.
The POVEC C1 feels like a strong example of how proven electrochromic technology, already used in things like automotive dimming systems, can translate into everyday gear. Check out the video above and our youtube channel @LVLONETECH for the full rundown and how it works!
Alex is a pro-wrestler from New York, originally introduced in Street Fighter III, known for his mix of heavy strikes and command grabs. He made his return to Street Fighter 6 as a DLC character on March 17 2026. Bringing a more refined version of a playstyle that’s always sat between grappler and brawler.
This version is built around sustained close-range pressure. Once Alex gets in, he doesn’t give space back easily. His offense is structured around repeated strike/throw situations, forcing the defender to commit to an option under pressure rather than resetting to neutral.
The command grab is still a key part of his kit, but it functions as a condition rather than a win condition. It forces hesitation, and that hesitation is what allows his frame traps and pressure sequences to stay effective.
His stance is what ties everything together. It advances him forward while maintaining access to multiple follow-ups, allowing him to extend pressure without spending Drive. That gives him more consistent offense and better control of momentum than previous versions.
That control becomes significantly stronger in the corner.
Alex now has consistent corner juggle routes, letting him extend combos instead of ending early. This gives him control over damage, positioning, and pressure depending on the situation. Combined with that, he has anti-air conversions into Super, meaning jump attempts can lead directly into high-damage punishes rather than just a reset.
He’s also better equipped to deal with zoning than before. Unlike SFV, he now has more reliable ways to advance and contest space, allowing him to work his way in without taking as much risk. Zoners can still slow him down, but they don’t shut him out the way they used to.
Mechanically, he’s more consistent. Less reliance on charge inputs allows for cleaner confirms and more stable pressure. His movement, pressure, and conversions all align with a clear objective.
This is the most coherent version of Alex, and they did a great job with the character design and feel.
Next we have Ingrid, ending the Season 3 DLC. Coming early Summer 2026.
ASUS Republic of Gamers is bringing back the ROG Strix G16 and Strix G18 for 2026, and the focus is clearly on giving gamers and creators more power without losing the signature Strix identity. Both machines are built around Intel’s new Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor and can be configured with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU, putting them squarely in the high-performance category for competitive games, AAA titles, and heavier creative workloads.
The display story is one of the bigger upgrades this time around. The Strix G16 gets a 16-inch 2.5K 300Hz ROG Nebula Display, which is a step up from the previous generation’s 240Hz panel, while the Strix G18 packs an 18-inch 2.5K 240Hz ROG Nebula HDR Display with Mini LED for the first time in this model. ASUS says the G18 can hit up to 1600 nits peak brightness, which should give it a stronger edge for HDR gaming and content work. Both also use ACR anti-reflection tech to help with visibility and color consistency.
Cooling and upgradeability are also a big part of the pitch. ASUS is using its latest ROG Intelligent Cooling setup with Tri-Fan Technology, a full vapor chamber, and a sandwiched heatsink design to keep performance stable under load. On top of that, the 2026 chassis has been redesigned with tool-less access, making it easier to get to the SSD and RAM without dealing with tiny screws and clips. That alone is going to be a welcome change for anyone who actually likes to upgrade their laptop over time.
As for the rest of the spec sheet, both models support up to 64GB DDR5-6400 memory, up to 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD storage, WiFi 7, 2.5G LAN, Thunderbolt 5, and a 90Wh battery. ASUS is also keeping the full-surround RGB treatment and the usual bold ROG styling intact, so these still look like proper Strix machines and not just spec bumps in a new shell.
ASUS also confirmed that the ROG Strix SCAR 18 is on the way in Q2 2026, with support going up to an RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, though more details are still coming later. For now, the G16 and G18 look like the main event, and on paper they feel like a smart refresh for players who want strong performance, better displays, and less friction when it comes time to upgrade.
NVIDIA used GTC to announce DLSS 5, and they’re calling it their biggest graphics breakthrough since real-time ray tracing hit the scene back in 2018. The big shift this time is that DLSS isn’t just about boosting performance anymore. NVIDIA says DLSS 5 is moving into neural rendering, using AI to actively enhance a scene with more photoreal lighting and materials while still running in real time, even up to 4K.
For context, DLSS started in 2018 as AI upscaling, then evolved into frame generation, and it’s now been adopted in over 750 games. NVIDIA also pointed out that at CES they revealed DLSS 4.5, which leans heavily on AI to produce most of the pixels you actually see on-screen. DLSS 5 is the next step in that same direction, but with a bigger emphasis on realism instead of just raw frames.
The way NVIDIA explains it, DLSS 5 takes a game’s color and motion vectors per frame and uses a new AI model to layer in lighting and material detail that stays consistent frame to frame and remains anchored to the underlying 3D content. The goal is to close that gap between what real-time rendering can do today and what we usually associate with high-end film VFX, but in a way that still feels smooth and interactive.
DLSS 5 is set to arrive this fall, and NVIDIA says it already has support lined up from major publishers and developers like Bethesda, Capcom, Ubisoft, Tencent, Warner Bros. Games, and more. They also name-dropped a big list of games expected to get DLSS 5 support, including Starfield, Hogwarts Legacy, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, NARAKA: BLADEPOINT, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and Resident Evil Requiem, among others as you can see some from the demo video above.
That said, it’s worth keeping expectations grounded. There’s already been some chatter online about the “AI look” in early examples, and in a few cases it seems like upscaling could subtly shift character details in ways people may not love, especially if faces start drifting from the original models. Still, the concept here is genuinely impressive, and it raises a wild idea: if this works as promised, “remastering” could start to look less like a full rebuild and more like what happens when you have a powerful enough GPU and the right tech stack behind it. Either way, I’ll be watching closely as we get closer to the fall rollout.
JBL is expanding its audio lineup with a redesigned Live series and a new push into AI-powered karaoke gear. The updated headphone range includes the over-ear JBL Live 780NC for $249.95 and the on-ear JBL Live 680NC for $159.95, both built for all-day use with a foldable design, softer silicone ear cushions, a premium metallic finish, and new color options like green, blue, and champagne.
On the feature side, both models pack JBL Signature Sound, Hi-Res Audio support in wired and wireless modes, multi-point connectivity, and up to 80 hours of battery life with Speed Charge. The bigger difference comes down to noise canceling, with the Live 780NC using 6-mic True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0, while the Live 680NC uses a 4-mic version. Both also include Perfect Calls 2.0 with a 2-mic setup for clearer voice pickup.
JBL is also leaning into party audio with new EasySing technology, aimed at making karaoke a little less awkward and a lot more fun. The company says the system uses vocal separation, AI Voice Removal, Voice Boost, and natural reverb to lower the original track vocals, clean up background noise, and help bring out whoever is on the mic.
Leading that side of the launch is the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus for $419.95, a compact speaker with 100W of power, dual silk-dome tweeters, a 5.25-inch woofer, built-in lighting effects, and a carrying strap. JBL is also rolling out the EasySing Mics for $199.95, offering a 30-meter wireless range, 10 hours of battery life, and in-app EQ and voice effect controls for compatible PartyBox speakers.
Turtle Beach just revealed a fresh new version of its award-winning Victrix fight gear, and this one is aimed straight at the FGC nostalgia lane. Just in time for Capcom Pro Cup Victrix Pro KO Leverless Fight Stick Street Fighter II: Champion Edition is officially licensed by both Sony Interactive Entertainment and Capcom, and it leans hard into that classic era with a faceplate design inspired by the legendary Player Select screen, featuring Ryu and Chun-Li front and center.
The core appeal stays focused on competitive performance and customization, with hot-swappable Cherry MX Speed Silver RGB switches, customizable RGB lighting around each button, and a removable aluminum top plate for easier modding and maintenance.
For players who like to dial in their layout, the Pro KO supports up to 16 moveable and mappable buttons, letting you fine-tune your setup for whatever game you are grinding, whether it’s Street Fighter, Tekken, Guilty Gear, or anything else that rewards speed and clean inputs. It’s built to be precise, responsive, and durable, with that premium Victrix feel aimed at players who take their setups seriously.
Compatibility is geared for the modern console crowd, with support for PS5 and PS4, plus Windows 10/11 PC (with the note that PC compatibility is not tested or endorsed by Sony). Pricing lands at $299.99, and the stick launches April 9, 2026, with pre-orders available now through Victrix and participating retailers.
If you want a leverless fight stick that performs like a tournament-grade controller but also looks like a tribute to one of the most iconic fighting games ever, this one is clearly made for that overlap. The Street Fighter II: Champion Edition design is a clean flex, but the real story is that it is attached to hardware that was already built to win.
A Street Fighter Backpack was also made from Victrix as well. The Victrix™ Tournament Backpack – Street Fighter™ Edition is $99.99 and includes Padded compartment fits Victrix™ Pro KO, Pro FS, and Pro FS-12, padded laptop pocket for most 15-inch devices, exclusive Street Fighter™ artwork and more. You can find more on the official website!
Sonos is taking a pretty direct swing at that mindset with two new products: Sonos Play and the Era 100 SL. You’re getting speakers that are built for both home listening and getting out of the house. It’s a portable speaker, but it’s also meant to be a real Sonos speaker. Sonos is promising rich stereo sound with deep bass, wrapped in a design that’s ready for daily life. It’s IP67-rated for dust and water resistance, has drop resistance, and even includes a built-in utility loop so it’s easier to toss on a bag or carry around without feeling precious.
You’re getting:
Sonos Play is the brand’s most versatile addition to the Sonos system, delivering rich stereo sound with deep bass designed for both home listening and on-the-go use. It features an IP67-rated dustproof and waterproof design with drop resistance and a built-in utility loop for everyday portability.
Designed for flexibility, Sonos Play offers up to 24 hours of battery life, includes a charging base, and features built-in power bank capability so you can charge your phone while listening.
Sonos Play automatically adapts to any environment with Automatic Trueplay™ tuning and supports seamless control through voice services, Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, and the Sonos app, bringing music, rooms, and devices together in one experience.
Extend your Sonos system anywhere: connect Sonos Play to your phone via Bluetooth and press and hold the Play/Pause button on up to three additional Sonos Play or Move 2 speakers to sync them instantly, bringing the Sonos multi-room experience with you even when you’re away from Wi-Fi.
Sonos Era 100 SL offers a simplified, mic-free entry into the Sonos ecosystem with streamlined controls and confident, room-filling sound, making it easy to start or expand a system over time with stereo pairing, additional rooms, or a full home theater setup.
Sonos Era 100 SL, speaker
Sonos Play Speaker
As for pricing and release timing: Sonos Play is $299 and Sonos Era 100 SL is $189. Both are available for pre-order now at Sonos, with general availability starting March 31.
Samsung just took the wraps off the Galaxy S26 lineup at Unpacked, and this year they made the phone feel smarter in nearly everyway. The S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra all lean into that idea, with Samsung pushing more proactive features that surface at the right time, plus a few hardware upgrades that actually matter if you use your phone in public, shoot a lot of photos, or game regularly.
On the design side, the lineup looks more refined and consistent across the board, but the Ultra is the one that stood out to me. It’s slimmer than last year and sits at 214g, which is not nothing for a big flagship. Display-wise, Samsung keeps the familiar setup: the Galaxy S26 has a 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, the S26+ is 6.7-inch, and the Ultra stretches to 6.9-inch, with the Plus and Ultra stepping up to QHD+ while all three run 120Hz.
One of the most interesting new ideas is something Samsung is calling Privacy Display, and it’s Ultra-only. The short version is it’s built into the screen itself and helps block side-angle viewing, so you’re not constantly doing the “phone tilt” every time you’re checking something private in public. Samsung is framing it as quick to toggle, and it can be set up to kick in for things like PIN entry or sensitive notifications. It’s one of those features that sounds small until you’ve had someone on a train read your screen over your shoulder.
The Galaxy AI getting more useful background features. Things like Now Brief and Now Nudge to surface context-aware suggestions based on what you’re doing, what’s on your calendar, and what you’re likely to need next. Circle to Search is also being pushed harder this time, with multi-object recognition so you can circle more than one thing in an image and get smarter results, like picking out multiple pieces of an outfit in one go. Samsung also keeps the door open on how you want to do the assistant side of things, calling out Bixby, Google Gemini, and Perplexity integrations, with more of a natural language approach to controlling settings and getting tasks done.
Performance-wise Samsung’s putting the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform for Galaxy in the S26 Ultra, and they’re also talking up a redesigned vapor chamber and thermal structure to help sustain performance when you’re gaming or doing heavier multitasking. Charging also gets a notable bump on the Ultra, with Super Fast Charging 3.0 and up to 75% in about 30 minutes using a 60W adapter (sold separately). That’s the kind of thing you feel immediately if you’re always topping up before you leave the house.
Camera-wise, on the Ultra the headline numbers are a 200MP wide camera and a 50MP telephoto setup with 5x optical zoom, plus Samsung’s continued “optical-quality” zoom claims when you push further. They’re also emphasizing improvements to the AI processing pipeline for better low-light results and more natural-looking front camera output. On the video side, Samsung’s calling out support for APV, which is aimed at people who actually edit their clips and want better quality retention across a workflow. And the edit tools continue to get more aggressive: object removal, filling in missing bits, lighting changes, and prompt-like creative tools that basically let you remix photos into stickers, wallpapers, and shareable assets without bouncing across three apps.
Samsung also used Unpacked to talk about the new Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro, with a redesigned fit and more “intelligent” audio tuning. Buds4 Pro is the premium one with a wider woofer and upgraded ANC, but both are being positioned as part of the same ecosystem, including hands-free assistant control and adaptive audio behavior based on fit and environment.
If you’re buying through Verizon, pre-orders start today, February 25, at 1 PM ET, and full availability kicks off March 11 online and in stores. Pricing on Verizon Device Payment over 36 months starts at $24.99/month for the Galaxy S26 ($899.99 retail), $30.55/month for the Galaxy S26+ ($1,099.99 retail), and $36.11/month for the Galaxy S26 Ultra ($1,299.99 retail). Verizon’s early promos include the S26+ “on us” with a new smartphone line on Unlimited Ultimate or Unlimited Plus (or $10/month on Unlimited Welcome), and a trade-up option where new and existing customers can get the S26 Ultra (256GB) on us with an eligible trade-in in any condition when adding a new line on Unlimited Ultimate. Verizon Business customers also get their own version of the S26 Ultra (256GB) on us with eligible trade-in and a new line or upgrade on qualifying plans. Verizon’s listing also notes all three models will be available via Verizon stores, the MyVerizon app and verizon.com, plus Verizon Prepaid and Visible, with Straight Talk, Total Wireless and Simple Mobile carrying the Galaxy S26 starting March 11.
And if you’re planning to bundle accessories, Verizon lists the redesigned Galaxy Buds4 Pro at $249.99 and Galaxy Buds4 at $179.99, with pre-orders for both starting February 25. Stay tuned here for more Samsung Galaxy news, potential hands-on and reviews!
Microsoft just made one of its biggest Xbox moves in years, and it is the kind of leadership shake-up that could signal a true “next chapter,” and not just a minor org chart update. Phil Spencer is retiring after decades at Microsoft and more than a decade leading Xbox, and Sarah Bond is also departing as President as well. In their place, Microsoft has named Asha Sharma as CEO Microsoft Gaming, pulling in a high-profile executive from the company’s AI leadership ranks to take the wheel at a moment where Xbox feels like it has a lot to prove. Alongside that, Matt Booty has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, reporting to Sharma.
The message from Microsoft states gaming is still a core pillar, but the future is going to be reshaped by platform thinking and a “return to Xbox”. Sharma is coming in from leadership roles tied to Microsoft’s AI and product org, and the company is positioning this as a new era of Xbox which we believe thinks it might have been slipping from Microsoft as of late. The question here is does this leadership change bring Xbox back to a stronger identity and clearer focus?
Because let’s be real, Xbox has been fighting an uphill battle when it comes to grabbing new players over other platforms, and in the process it has also managed to frustrate some of its most loyal fans, especially with the multiplatform shift, studio closures and the constant debate over what “Xbox” even means now. I am in that same camp of people hoping this moment becomes a reset. Not a retreat but a return to the confidence that made Xbox feel special during its best eras. The Peter Moore Xbox 360 period is still the blueprint in a lot of people’s minds because Xbox felt bold, focused, and culturally loud in a way that was hard to ignore.
This all is coming about because of Xbox losing huge momentum and focus since Xbox One and while Phil Spencer was able to get Xbox out of what could have been its last console launch then, it since has had interesting and somewhat confusing shifts of what Xbox actually is and means at this point while under Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond’s leadership. This is all to say that any of the above could all be smoke and mirrors and what we might be getting is the quiet end of Xbox as knew it and know it now. Seamus Blackley who was on the team for the original Xbox console in the early 2000’s suggests the division’s new CEO, Asha Sharma, will act like a ‘palliative care doctor, who slides Xbox gently into the night.’ Microsoft’s heavy investment into AI might be painting the biggest picture in that direction in which they don’t want to see the future of Xbox flourish with dedicated gamers, great games being created and console and sales but rather new AI models that could involve game creation with a different name entirely?
While this is indeed a shakeup overall, the opportunity is there though. Xbox has the studios, the tech foundation, the distribution power to be a monster and be the most profitable entity in Microsoft’s portfolio of products again. But it needs clarity. It needs a roadmap that feels like it is built to grow the platform without alienating the people who kept it alive through the rough stretches. A new CEO can change priorities, change tone, and change how decisions are made and while some are worried about what Asha’s background in AI and lack there of in terms of gaming, now we get to see if this is the start of Xbox finding its footing again, or if it becomes another chapter of it losing its identity. Lets hope some of the drive that Peter Moore once brought to the Xbox brand is studied and returned too.
