These days, the best open world games are the gift that keeps on giving – and they’re not going anywhere. In 2018, it seems like even game franchises that used to be linear experiences are embracing the open world. From RPGs like The Witcher 3 to shooters like Far Cry 5, we can see why everyone seems to love the best open world games on PC.

It’s not hard to see why many developers are jumping on the open world bandwagon, abandoning more linear experiences. You can just look at how it transformed franchises like Metal Gear and Final Fantasy, moving them into the modern era. They didn’t lose any of their identity, and gained so much.

In recent times, there have been plenty of unconventional indie games embracing this open world style. Titles like the Long Dark, Neo Scavenger, Rust and more embrace open maps and player freedom – and are some of the best open world games you can buy today.

But we've picked our favourites out of the best wide worlds gaming has to offer. Disagree? Shout at us on Twitter.

Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article

I mean, you know what this is about. There isn't a gamer reading this today who isn't aware that Minecraft consists of; exploration and crafting in a blocky, bright 8-bit world. And when night falls or when you go deep underground, monsters come out... and that's not just on the multiplayer servers.

Though it's now on every last platform going, from iOS to Linux and even to Amiga, its fundamentals are the same - a large open world to explore, with no purpose beyond the one you which you create yourself. If you want to create a moving replica of Mark Hamill's face or the hanging gardens of Babylon or just a suburban house built exclusively of dynamite, Minecraft can do it.

If you're bored of Minecraft, you're bored of life. But if you really are bored (of Minecraft and/or life), either try the 2D Minecraft Terraria, its sci-fi sibling Starbound or wait for Subnautica. They're lifesavers.

Sure, Fallout 4 is the latest Fallout title, but New Vegas is the best of the series. It brought back the weirdness and smarts of the original titles to post-apocalyptic Las Vegas – maybe it’s because many of the team members of developer Obsidian worked on Fallout 2.

The series always drops the player in an open world wasteland, where you must fight and talk to survive, often exploring the bizarre vaults beneath the desert or battling the mutated creatures that scrape by. Its combat system called VATS is divisive (i.e most people think it's rubbish), but it introduces tactical flexibility to an otherwise brutally-hard game.

In Fallout: New Vegas, you play as an anonymous Courier. Left for dead, you roam the strange wastes around Arizona, Nevada and California, hunting for your killer, or exploring weird side quests. Turning on the hardcore game mode also means that food, water and sleep are essential, making it into a classic open world survival game, like S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

The first two titles in the Witcher trilogy were compelling and strange, but only enjoyed minor success. However, all the word of mouth about the first two games paid off when the Witcher 3 came out and absolutely blew up. It was a massive step up in quality, as well, and probably one of the best RPGs of the last decade. You step in the role of Geralt a mutated monster hunter, or witcher, searching for his adoptive daughter in a medieval world ravaged by war.

The open world setting of the game is uniquely well-realized, completely blowing something like Skyrim away. Geralt can walk, ride, or sail across the war-ravaged lands of Novigrad and Velen, or sail across the monster-riddled and frost-ridden islands of Skellige in the North. He can forage for herbs, explore under the seas or the back alleys of cities, and encounter all kinds of folk and creatures.

And the other elements of the game are spectacularly polished as well - limber, agile combat, a deep levelling system, and a storyline with some unusually-smart storylines.

Grand Theft Auto V is simply one of the best open world games to have ever existed. It’s a huge pastiche of L.A that you can drive, fly or run across. It’s an amazing achievement and the fact that it works in multiplayer is astounding.

What makes it such a success is the freedom it gives you. When you’re not running around and robbing banks during the campaign, GTA V basically lets you do whatever you want – even if it breaks the game. You can go anywhere, do anything and commit however many atrocities as your wicked heart pleases.

There are also a ton of side activities available. So, in your downtime from creating all kinds of mayhem, you can take up some tennis, yoga, or even kick your feet up and watch some TV. There’s a reason this game is so beloved.

The plot may have made less sense than a mumbling monkey with a mouthful of marbles, but Hideo Kojima's swansong was a masterpiece of layered open world mechanics.

In its twin deserts of Afghanistan and Angola, your character Big Boss has a range of objectives to achieve. He traverses these areas on foot, horseback, or in a variety of ground vehicles. You can take either lethal or non-lethal weapons, and a variety of strange AI companions.

The world itself is believably bleak, weather-torn and heavily-guarded. Uniquely, it learns from your behaviour - overuse a particular tactic, and enemies will adapt. For example, rely too much on headshots and they'll start to wear metal helmets.

Away from the frontline, you can develop Big Boss' base, by building new facilities and airlifting enemy soldiers, prisoners, resources, vehicles, animals and anything else you want to from the battlefield.

Klei's indie survival horror game takes the drawing style of Edward Gorey, the twisted monstrosities of the Binding of Isaac, and the crafting mechanics of Minecraft and creates an unholy, dark 2D world for players to explore. Suffice to say, it's a joy.

As players explore the world, they encounter (and die at the appendages of) its various flora and fauna. Eventually, the player might have enough knowledge to not die from starvation, not to be eaten by monsters, not to die of thirst… and then they might learn how to survive winter.

Beyond that, Don't Starve has tremendous replay value from unlockable characters, the Together expansion that allows for multiplayer survival, and the Shipwrecked expansion which introduces a whole new area to be eaten by monsters in.

The inaccessible indie open world game par excellence, Dwarf Fortress' world is open in space, but more importantly in time. Before you even start playing, the game's engine generates thousands of years of history for its huge fantasy world, then narrows in on a tiny slice of its history and geography.

Players can then either take control of a single adventurer, exploring this generated world or a caravan of dwarfs, setting off to found a colony in the history-saturated wastelands. Taking the latter mode, you have to establish supplies of food, beer, weaponry and a hundred other essentials for a comfortable dwarf dwelling.

Inevitably, they come under attack by hideous monsters, either wandering through the world or having been unearthed by Digging Too Deep. And then they all die or go insane.

If you're looking for a much more accessible version of the game, you could try Keeper RL - which allows players to take control of dungeon full of monsters attempting to wipe out humans, dwarves and elves.

An entirely text-based open world? In 2016? Well, sure. Failbetter's Fallen London story world has been developing for seven years and by now probably has more text in it than the Bible. And it's better written too.

Despite that, it was the Fallen London spin-off, Sunless Sea, that has won the studio plaudits. Failbetter has taken the same choose-your-own adventure model and built it into a game where you're exploring an underground sea adjacent to Fallen London.

The shipping and combat is so-so, but the game is driven by its amazingly rich storyline, full of charming devils, malevolent icebergs and soul-filled great apes. There's no peace in Sunless Sea's dark waters, just endless storylines to explore - and you will.

Far Cry 5 might just be a benchmark of what the best open world games  on PC will look like in 2018. Far Cry 5 is unique in the fact that it allows you to truly go anywhere on the map – and do anything. And, it doesn’t water this freedom down by limiting the amount of space you have open to you either, it’s perhaps one of the biggest game maps we’ve ever experienced. 

You’re dropped into the middle of the Montana wilderness, and while it does feature a loosely connected plot involving cultists or something, that all falls into the background as you wander around and get lost in the massive world Ubisoft crafted here. We still haven’t ‘finished’ this game, but we don’t think you’re supposed to.

Now that a ton of Yakuza games are coming to PC, PC gamers can finally experience the insanity that is so unique to the Yakuza series. 

Yakuza 0’s map isn’t as capacious as some of the other games on this list, but it is dense with activities. Everywhere you turn either has a mini game, a side quest, or some other kind of content that you can interact with. If you’ve never played a Yakuza game, do yourself a favor and try Yakuza 0 on for size – it’s unlike anything else you’ve ever played, we promise. 

Where to begin with Assassin's Creed Origins? Have you ever wanted to explore Ancient Egypt, from Memphis, along the Nile to the steps of the Library of Alexandria? We think 'yes' is a safe assumption to make. 

This is the most truly open world game ever released in the Assassin's Creed franchise and it's stunning, rich and completely alive. There's endless amounts to see and do while you traverse a country that's been created with an incredible attention to detail by the Ubisoft team. Even better, with the game's free Discovery Mode you can purely explore this glorious open world and learn about the history behind the game. 

Slowly but surely, HP is rebuilding the reputation that made it such a beloved PC maker back in the day. And, it’s done so with the best HP laptops – the same brand of mobile workhorses that were thought to be extinct just a few years ago. But, thanks to the advent of Windows 10 and convertible laptops that aren’t terrible, even the best HP laptops are getting better and better as time moves forward. Just this year, we’ve seen HP transform into a company that concentrates on design flair rather than cheapness.

In some ways, this means the reintroduction of its increasingly prominent ‘privacy filter,’ called SureView, to an ever-expanding range of devices. In others, it equates to the gorgeous gold trimmings we’re seeing on HP’s high-end offerings, like the HP Spectre line of Ultrabooks and 2-in-1s. To help you find the best HP laptop for your demands, we’ve gone hands on with a wide range of hardware, narrowing our picks down to the 5 best HP laptops on the market in 2018.   

Over the last few years, HP has been perfecting its flagship 13-inch convertible laptop – and it’s been one of our favorite 2-in-1 laptops for a few years running. It features perfectly slim bezels and it’s lightweight enough to use as a tablet comfortably. As a regular notebook, you won’t find many with a better keyboard, brighter display or two Windows Hello biometric solutions. 

Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 

This might just be one of the most beautiful laptops we’ve ever seen. The ceramic white finish is complemented by a two-prong, glossy hinge design that’s absolutely irresistible. That’s all fine and dandy, but in terms of power it’s a winner, too. In fact, it leverages tehs heer might of 8th-generation Intel Kaby Lake R processors perfectly.

Read the full review: HP Spectre 13 

What it lacks in performance prowess, the HP Pavilion 15 makes up for in finesse. It’s one of the few remaining AMD-based laptops HP is still making, but the Ryzen chips on display here are nothing to shake a stick at – and will be enticing for anyone on a budget. It’s affordable, but don’t think it’s cheap. The HP Pavilion 15 is a rare example of a laptop that knows how to strike a balance, making it a fantastic value proposition, and one of the best laptops for students. 

No one wants to blow their entire tax refund on a laptop, which is why laptops like the HP Chromebook 14 G5 exist to begin with. It’s an economical Chromebook that never feels cheap, which is a distinction that Chromebooks wear like a badge of honor. This Chromebook in partiular boasts a sleek aesthetic, and passable performance, especially when you spec it out with the higher-end Celeron and 8GB of RAM. 

Gaming laptops have long been criticized for their lack of upgradeability, thereby making them more disposable than a gaming desktop by nature. HP, on the other hand, has subverted this crucial flaw by adding an essential features that most gamer’s notebooks lack. Specifically, the Omen X adds overclocking, meaning you determine performance rather than HP.

• Bill Thomas has also contributed to this article

• These are the best laptops to date, bar none

The camera app that Google puts on its Pixel phones is one of the best in the business, and now it looks like that same Google camera app is heading to Chrome OS too – it's appeared in the developer channel of the software for the Pixelbook and may well start showing up on other Chromebooks as well.

That would significantly improve the photo-taking capabilities of supported Chrome OS devices, and maybe even introduce extra features like a slow-motion video mode and the ability to launch the smart Google Lens mode from within the camera app.

Now you probably don't want to be taking too many photos with your laptop, but as Chrome OS starts showing up on more tablets and 2-in-1 devices, a decent camera app becomes more important. Most new Chromebooks include support for Android apps too, which is another reason to roll out the Google Camera app.

New app, better photos

A shortcut to the new camera app was spotted alongside the old camera app by some users running the dev channel of Chrome OS on their devices. For the time being, the new app only seems to launch properly on the Pixelbook, so there's still work to do.

Among the features available in the Google Camera app are support for HDR images, a portrait mode, and Motion Photos (where a little snippet of video is taken with each picture). Whether or not some or all of these features will make it over remains to be seen, but better photos should be the end result.

Based on some digging into the Chrome OS code, it looks as though the new camera will eventually show up for all Chromebooks that can run Android apps. At the time of writing though, Google hasn't said anything officially about the switch.

• These are the best Chromebooks that money can buy

Via Android Police

In conjunction with the elimination of the headphone jack on iPhones, Apple released its wireless earphones, the AirPods, at the end of 2016. In that time, they've become immensely popular despite the fact that they are rarely available for less than their original list price of $159. Well, that's changed. Today, Amazon has put them on sale for $145. (Adorama has them for the same price.)

While it's only a $14 drop, that represents one of the only times we've seen AirPods for below list price. In fact, due to demand, they're more expensive than their list price. But who knows how long this price will last, so better jump on it quick.

• Check out all the AirPods deals we could find.

If you enjoy plugging headphones into your iPhone, cover your ears: the supplier of Apple’s headphone dongle says that the next three iPhones won’t have the stalwart converter in the box.

The supplier is called Cirrus Logic and, according to a Barclays research note, they’ve confirmed that Apple will no longer include that $9 (about £6, AU$12) Lightning-to-3.5mm aux jack converter in every box, starting with the next generation of iPhones that Apple will unveil next month. 

Recently, we heard reports that Apple might cut the adapter out of the iPad Pro package, and analysts predicted that the iPhone might be a target back in early May, but now it appears that decision has already been made. 

Apple has provided an adapter with every new iPhone since the launch of the iPhone 7, all the way through to the most recent launch, the iPhone X. From the sounds of things, that could all come to a screeching halt in the near future.

Apple’s a cord-cutter, too

While a statement from the manufacturer seems pretty conclusive, nothing’s set in stone at this point – Apple hasn’t publicly confirmed the information. 

That said, on the other hand, the move would be on-brand for Apple, a company that has not tried to hide its disdain for the cable. CEO Tim Cook told audiences at Apple keynotes for years that Apple envisions a wireless future and the company has gone through great lengths to make that transition happen faster, thanks to the introduction of AirPower, a new wireless charging pad.

Interestingly, Cirrus Logic hasn’t said that it will stop producing the dongle outright, leading some sites and analysts to believe that the converter will still be available to purchase separately. The dongle, which costs a whopping $9, isn’t a huge expense, but then, why cut it in the first place? 

It's the iWay or the highway, we guess.

• Better start prepping now by taking a look at the best wireless headphones

 Via MacRumors 

While it might not seem that way at first glance, a core inspiration for Microsoft’s new Surface Go tablet came from an executive’s time away from technology. That’s what Microsoft Modern Life and Devices team lead Yusuf Mehdi told The Washington Post recently.

In an interview, Mehdi recalls a three-month sabbatical in which he stayed away from connected tech as much as possible, only to feel great pride in everything he had accomplished in that time away from connected devices.

Mehdi goes on to say that the Surface Go captures how the company is thinking about how technology products and services should fit into users’ lives. In short, devices and services should work to get out of their way, not draw them in and keep them there.

Driving this new outlook for the company is a series of surveys that it conducted, finding that 59% of American respondents feel that their devices drive them to feel as if they should be ‘always on,’ and that 53% feel that having a mobile device on hand ‘forces’ them to work on the go.

How Microsoft is looking to get out of your way

Of course, Mehdi concedes that this is more a software issue than a hardware one in the interview, but regardless Microsoft heavily considered this in developing Surface Go. The tablet’s smaller size is meant for it to more easily disappear in your bag when you’re done working on it, while the LTE chip is designed to make getting in and out of online work environments easier.

Mehdi makes no claims as to whether Surface Go will actually be the answer for those who feel as if they’re drowning in connectivity, but intimates that this is the start of its devices and services working harder to get you back to your life as quickly as possible.

“All tech companies need to think broadly about how will this technology land,” Mehdi told The Washington Post. “How does it benefit people? Have we thought about the second order effects of landing with people? The more that we do that, the more we’ll get better and provide better outcomes.”

Naturally, this message couldn’t come at a better time, with companies like Facebook, Apple and Google under fire for designing products and services aimed to keep your eyes glued to the screen, making it easier for Microsoft to take this stance so as to look like the white knights of the tech world. 

Personally, we haven’t noticed much in our time with the Surface Go that personifies this stance, though it is an excellent device nevertheless. We’ll just have to take Microsoft on its word as the Surface line and Windows 10 software move forward.

• These are the best Windows tablets we've tested this past year

Qualcomm has revealed its plans for worldwide dominance of the IoT market.

The US chipmaker, best known for its mobile and smartphone hardware, has released more details on its IoT strategy, which it expects to be a major money-spinner.

Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf said that the company expects revenues from its IoT business to top $1bn this year as it enjoys double-digit growth in the sector - representing around a fifth of its non-mobile turnover.

The company added that Qualcomm chips can be found in more than 200 wearable devices and 1,300 different wireless headsets, earbuds and wireless speakers on sale todat across the world.

Qualcomm IoT

Qualcomm's optimism comes despite the company recently seeing its $44bn takeover bid of fellow chipmaker NXP fall apart following resistance from Chinese authorities. 

However it seems that the firm is set to majorly ramp up its R&D spend in IoT as it looks to capitalise on a rapidly-growing market.

“The strategy we set a few years back of taking our leading-edge technologies into growth opportunities is delivering results," said Qualcomm president Cristiano Amon.

“We are committed to providing innovative technologies to help expand the IoT ecosystem.  We are looking to make it easier for companies of all sizes to succeed in designing and commercializing innovative IoT solutions and to participate in this huge opportunity."

• Want to find out more about 5G? Check out our dedicated 5G hub!   

Apple is the first company to reach the long sought-after $1 trillion market valuation, making it the first company on record to ever reach the mark. 

While Apple was hovering just beneath the historic 13-figure number since late July, it wasn’t until earlier this morning after stocks rose 2.7% to $207.05 – the highest in company history – that it became official.

The dream of being the world’s first trillion-dollar company is something the tech giants have long been chasing and, while Apple was the first to cross the finish line, the rest aren’t all that far behind: Microsoft currently sits at a $824 billion valuation, while Alphabet and Amazon loom just ahead at $854 billion and $878 billion, respectively – each a gilded stone’s throw away from a trillion.

That said, the competition's continued success doesn't lessen the significance of today’s milestone – a capstone to the company’s meteoric rise to power over the last decade after a period of near-death in the '90s.

For what it's worth, Apple's trillion-dollar debut comes during one of the company's highest heights in terms of products. This year saw a slew of new Macbook Pro models, the Apple HomePod and rides on the tail of the late-2017 launch of the iPhone X. 

And, that's saying nothing of the company's still-rumored projects like its AR/VR Glasses and a streaming service that could be cheaper than Netflix – two projects that rumors suggest are close to being unveiled.

The path to $2 trillion

All of these products and more have helped Apple get to where it is today the world's leading company, a position that Apple will need to fight to keep against increasingly tough competition. This is just the beginning of a new chapter for the company – one in which it will have to choose its priorities more carefully now than ever. 

For now, though, Apple seems to be at the top of its game, expanding recently into the Chinese market and finding success overseas. 

So long as it can maintain this momentum, $2 trillion in the next decade doesn't seem like a pipe dream. 

• Speaking of phones, here's everything you need to know about iPhone 9

If you're looking for the best cheap MacBook deals, you've come to the right place, as we've just updated our guide with the very latest 2018 models. The decision of whether or not you should pick up a new MacBook is an easy one: does it play to your strengths? Maybe you need the lightest and most portable macOS machine out there today, one with good battery life. Perhaps you want an iMac with a beautiful, vibrant display that’s or rendering your crisp documents and gorgeous media. Or, maybe you just don’t like Windows? Whatever your reason, there are plenty of deals out there to help you save on a Mac.

Our exclusive price comparison tool will check the price of every readily available model of MacBook on all major retail websites, so you can be sure you’re always getting the best MacBook deal. We've stopped comparing prices on some older models if they're not widely available or if they generally cost more than newer versions despite the dated tech inside. All you need to do now is work out whether it’s a MacBook, a MacBook Pro or a MacBook Air that you want. We'll help though.

If you're not quite set on a Macbook (they are rather pricey), then we have some alternative options for you, along with the best prices. Take a look at our selection of best laptops for other top performing machines or our cheap laptop deals for solid buys that won't break the bank as we search for great prices all year round. 

The 2018 version of the 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro is the best yet, comes with the Touch Bar as standard and features a range of improvements over the older models. The screen resolution may be the same with the excellent Retina display, but now there's True Tone technology inside that senses ambient lighting in the room or outdoors to adjust the brightness of the screen for the best possible picture. The keyboard is quieter and less 'clicky' too. You're getting the brand new 8th-gen Coffee Lake core processor and the quad-core CPUs have doubled the performance of the 2017 models. With more options for larger RAM too, options really open up for creatives and professionals with the MacBook Pro 2018.

The larger 15-inch version of the 2018 MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar is generally going to cost a fair bit more than the 13-inch model, but that's not just because of the larger screen. This model packs a lot more under the hood too, with Apple providing multiple options with increased RAM, extra processing power with a six core Coffee Lake processor and larger SSD storage options. Naturally, you're getting the same improvements over the 2017 version too like the True Tone screen technology and quieter keyboard. This really is a powerhouse laptop for designers and industry creatives. If you don't need all the power though, we'd consider the cheaper 13-inch model, or maybe even one of the older versions found below if the prices are right for you.

MacBook Air (2017) deals

The MacBook Air series is making a comeback

We have to admit, we thought Apple was done with the MacBook Air line after the new Pro lineup was just as compact and almost as light. Apple has given the 13-inch MacBook Air its first update since 2015 though. This means you can now get a much healthier 8GB of RAM instead of 4GB along with a processor upgrade to 1.8GHz (over 1.6GHz) making it much better at multi-tasking. Older MacBook Air stock is gradually disappearing from retailers now although prices have been stubbornly high even on refurbs. In all honesty, you're getting much better value by opting for this modern version instead.

Macbook (2017) deals

The Kaby Lake upgrade you've been waiting for?

The screen and compact dimensions on the 2017 MacBook are the same as the 2016 edition. But if you're weighing up the actual differences between the new 2017 and 2016 MacBooks, here are some key points to consider. You're now getting the 7th-gen Kaby Lake processors with i5 and i7 options now available. 2015 MacBook owners are more likely to appreciate the improvements really. The prices we're seeing lately though aren't that much more expensive than the 2016 models.

MacBook Pro (2017) 13 and 15-inch deals (with Touch Bar)  

A touch above the rest?

The 2017 updates to the MacBook Pro lineup didn't change an awful lot in all honesty. The main improvement was the upgrade to Kaby Lake processors. The 7th-gen chips offer increased performance for 4K streaming and media editing. Eventually the 2016 versions will disappear at most retailers, but it's worth keeping an eye on the comparison chart below to see if there any are discounted models lingering around.

MacBook Pro (2016) 13 and 15-inch deals (with Touch Bar) 

2016 was crying out for a refresh of the MacBook Pro and Apple once again came up with something rather special. In addition to the internal spec getting a long awaited upgrade and that gorgeous Retina display (available in 13-inch and 15-inch flavours), Apple introduced its long-rumoured Touch Bar technology. This mini-LED display replaces the Function keys and comes up with different touch display controls for loads of different programs. Uses so far include safari bookmarks, predictive text, search field, emojis, photo galleries or even more intensive actions like photo editing or mixing records. Simple, yet innovative.

2017/2016 MacBook Pro 13-inch deals (no Touch Bar)

The 2016 and 2017 models are MacBook Air rivals with Pro spec

The older 13-inch MacBook Pros are amongst the cheaper options if you want to go Pro. These versions don't come with a Touch Bar which is something to factor in when comparing how much you'll save versus the added functionality the new tech could add to your work and computing life in general.

These are incredibly light for MacBook Pros, but they still pack an incredible punch with 2.3GHz (2.0GHz on the 2016 model) and dual core processors ranging from i5 to i7. The trackpads are larger than older MacBook Pros too and you're getting fantastic Retina displays which still look stunning today.

Macbook (2016) deals

If you decide that Apple's mini marvel is for you, you're getting one of the best Macbooks Apple's ever made. With faster internals than the outdated 2015 model , it's capable of zipping through lesser-demanding tasks without complaining and leaves you with more confidence to get the job done. Plus, well, look at it.

MacBook Pro 13-inch with Retina display (2015) deals

The older and smaller MacBook Pro is still a force of nature

The 2015 MacBook Pro didn't undergo a dramatic reimagining, but then there wasn't anything particularly wrong with it in the first place. Improvements to its performance meant it was better value than before, and the noticeably improved battery life makes it even more of a mobile workhorse.

MacBook Pro 15-inch with Retina display (2015) deals

Looking for something a bit bigger?

If you're looking for the larger-sized laptop experience in the MacBook range, the 2015 model 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is still an impressive piece of kit and arguably worth a shout even today if you can get a good price. The Intel Core i7 2.5 GHz processor combined with 16GB of RAM will make light work of anything you can throw at it. 512GB of super fast flash storage, a new Force Touch trackpad and that incredible four million pixel-packing display make this a fantastic laptop.

Why not upgrade your storage with a cheap hard drive or SSD? See the best hard drive and SSD deals.

It's only just been announced but we've rounded up the latest Microsoft Surface Go deals for your consideration with the freshest batch of pre-orders for the new tablet.

If you've been eyeing up the line of Surface Pro tablet/laptop convertibles but thought they were a bit expensive, or too big to carry around a lot, the Surface Go is the cut-price diminutive alternative.

During the pre-order phase there are two versions of the Microsoft Surface Go tablet for you to consider. The cheapest option comes in at $399.99 / £379.99 / AUS$599.99  and has a 64GB SSD and 4GB of RAM. Need a boost in spec? There's also a 128GB / 8GB RAM model coming in at $549.99 / £509.99 / AUS$839.99.

Much like the bigger Surface Pro though, the Surface Go, doesn't come with a keyboard (known as the Type Cover) as standard, so do bear that in mind when checking out the latest prices, as the cheapest offers more than likely don't include the keyboard as a bundle. As things stand, you order the Type Cover separately, with prices starting at $99.99 in the US, £99.99 in the UK AU$149.95 in Australia. 

If the 10-inch screen or reduced spec aren't going to cut it for you though, we've rounded up the latest Microsoft Surface Pro deals and prices too.

Microsoft Surface Go release date

Pre-orders are live now in the US, UK and Australia but the actual release dates are staggered as follows:

• USA: August 2
• UK: August 23
• Australia: August 27

We'll update this article with how and were to pre-order the Surface Go mouse when Microsoft lets us know the details. We also expect more retailers to get some Surface Go pre-orders in before release, although don't expect much, if any, difference in price during the pre-order phase.

Looking for more of the best deals in tech, mobiles, gadgets, broadband, VPN, gaming and more? Then head on over to our Deals section.

The deadline to get a free upgrade to Windows 10 has sadly now passed. Not to worry though as you can rely on TechRadar to help you buy Windows 10 for the best price. Windows 10 is generally seen as an improvement over Windows 8 - yes, the Start button is back!

So, if you're building a brand new system or want to upgrade to Windows 10 on an older device, you're going to need to buy a copy. Don't worry though, because we check the prices of Windows 10 every day to make sure you get the best deals.

Buy Windows 10 Home deals

The perfect version of Windows for home users

Windows 10 Home is the version that most people will need. It's for home use and includes game streaming from Xbox One and other consumer features like Cortana, as well as Windows Hello for logging into your PC via a fingerprint scanner or your face. If Windows 8 was the steepest learning curve imaginable, Windows 10 is like meeting a great friend you once knew again - it's just that they've bought some new clothes of which you really do approve.

Buy Windows 10 Pro deals

Go Pro if you think it's worth paying more for the Pro features

Windows 10 Pro comes with security and management improvements over the Home version above. It includes Hyper-V for virtualisation, BitLocker whole disk encryption, enterprise mode IE, Remote Desktop, a version of the Windows Store for your own business and assigned access (which locks a PC to running only one modern application, to use like a kiosk). Network admins can also schedule updates so they don't happen at important times.

Buy Windows 7 deals

Windows 7 - because we fear change

What's this? Windows 7 deals on a page that advertises Windows 10? We understand some of you really want to stick with Windows 7, maybe even on a new machine. Don't worry, we totally get it. Maybe it's because you have some hardware/software that works better on the old OS or it just feels better. Or maybe it's because you've no time for the ridiculousness of the tiles format. Windows 7, the classic choice of the PC connoisseur?

In its latest financial results Apple witnessed its best revenue ever in the June quarter – and hit double-digit growth for the fourth consecutive quarter – with strong iPhone and ‘services’ sales, but the company’s desktop computers slumped in terms of the money they’re bringing in.

In fact, as ZDNet observed, in Q3, Mac sales dropped to 3.72 million units, which is  a seven-year low. That has to be a worrying statistic for Apple, and it represents a 13% slide compared to the same quarter last year.

The previous two quarters, looking at them comparatively to the same time last year, pretty much held levels of sales where they were (although Q2 did drop slightly).

As we’ve observed previously, looking at last year, there were certainly blips in Mac sales, but overall Apple’s desktop computers hit their highest revenue total ever in 2017.

Mac action

So why might computer sales be flagging now? Well, the Mac range hasn’t seen much action of late, and while Apple did wheel out a pair of refreshed MacBook Pros in July, that was too late to have an impact on the sales from Q3 (which ran up to the end of June).

And, when it comes to the MacBooks, that lack of refreshes is compounded by the pricing of the notebooks. Just as we did at the end of last year, we still feel that these are an off-puttingly pricey proposition, particularly for Touch Bar-toting MacBook Pros.

Well-publicized flaws like the MacBook keyboard woes could well have played a part here as well, and indeed it looks like the new MacBook Pro has attempted to tackle this particular bugbear with a dust-defeating membrane.

Apple will certainly be hoping that the new machine helps to turn things around in the next quarter, along with other new notebooks later in the year, with a further three fresh introductions rumored to be in the pipeline, including a possible budget MacBook Air. And the latter could really help push Apple’s laptops on the pricing front, which we feel will likely be a key factor in future sales.

• Check out the best cheap MacBook Pro deals

Looking to buy Microsoft Office for the best price in the land? You're in look as our comparison charts are constantly hunting for the best Microsoft deals 24/7.

You could buy an Office subscription from Microsoft directly, but it's often possible to get a better deal from a reliable third party retailer. In our guide below, we'll give you the best possible prices for both Microsoft Office 365 and Microsoft Office 2016. We're expecting a brand new version of Microsoft Office later this year, but until then, these will be your best options for cheap Microsoft Office discounts.

If you're in the UK and want to install your new copy of Microsoft Office on a new machine, you might be interested in our selection of the UK's best cheap laptop deals. We also have an Australian and US selection too.

Buy Microsoft Office 365

If you're looking to buy Microsoft Office 365, you should know that this is a subscription-based service. The prices below are for your first year for one user to use on one PC, along with a tablet or mobile too.

The advantages of using Office 365 include having access to all the latest versions of programs in the Microsoft Office suite and having 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage. The latter is particularly useful for editing documents on the go. So you could go from writing on the laptop/desktop to making a few changes or crucial last minute updates on your mobile or tablet. If the online cloud storage and device switching won't be useful, we'd recommend scrolling further down this page and consider buying Microsoft Office 2016 instead for a one off fee.

Buy Microsoft Office 2016

If you want to get one of the best Office suites out there and not have to worry about subscription costs further down the line, we'd suggest you buy Microsoft Office 2016, also known as just Office 2016.

While it does cost more than a year of Office 365, Office 2016 may work out cheaper for you in the long run. The cheapest version is usually the 'Home & Student' Edition which comes with a lifetime license for one user. And no, you don't have to be a student to buy and use this version which comes with the essential Office suite items like Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.

• Find your next Microsoft Office machine in the best laptop 2017

The Google Chromecast is not only one of the most useful and innovative gadgets of the last few years, it's also dazzlingly cheap. And if you're looking to pick one up for the cheapest possible price, you've come to the right place!

Chromecast is a Wi-Fi HDMI dongle that you plug directly into your TV. From there you can use your smartphone or tablet to 'throw' video at your TV over Wi-Fii, whether it be Netflix movies, live football matches from the major broadcasters or simply just a funny YouTube video. On this page we'll find you the best prices for the Chromecast Ultra, Chromecast 2 (or just Chromecast now) and Chromecast Audio and explain how they differ.

With prices already incredibly cheap, there's no need to hang on for the sales. If you're in the UK or US and would prefer to stream content from a standalone box, you should take a look at the latest Roku deals. Or maybe hold on for a better deal around Amazon Prime Day?

What is a good Chromecast deal?

This one's easy. The standard price for a Chromecast 2 is $35 in the USA, £30 in the UK and $58 in Australia. You should never, ever pay more than that because you can always find one for that price.

Chromecast 2 deals

The Chromecast 2, or 'new Chromecast' as it's also known, is very similar to the now discontinued 2013 Chromecast. Sure, it looks a little different. And it's got slightly faster network performance and a few other tweaks such as coming with a dangly cable instead of as a rigid stick. But essentially the same product in a different shape - that's why the prices were basically the same. If you can find one for the same price, get this new one.

Chromecast Audio deals

While it doesn't offer true multi-room streaming at the moment (fingers crossed that comes soon), this easy-to-use and affordable device modernizes any trusty set of wired speakers you already own with wireless capabilities. In doing so, it also opens them up to features that will grow and get even better over time. Got an old set of speakers or an ancient iPod dock? Turn it into a wireless speaker with Chromecast Audio!

Chromecast Ultra deals

The 4K Chromecast Ultra is the newest member of the Chromecast family. If you have a 4K TV or are planning on getting one, it's certainly worth picking one of these up. The Chromecast Ultra is a cheaper alternative to Amazon's Fire TV or the US-only Roku 4 for getting 4K content on your TV. Chromecast Ultra deals are usually around £69/US$69/AU$95, so anything cheaper is an added bonus.

When it was revealed by Microsoft, the Windows 10-powered Surface Studio shocked the world. Fast forward to 2018, and we’re extremely eager to get our hands on the sequel.

While the original was lacking when it came to ports, the Surface Studio could – and should – rectify this by coming with an 8th-generation Coffee Lake CPU and a 5K display. If Microsoft pulls this off, it could be the perfect competition to Apple’s iMac Pro.

We don’t have much to go off of, though, as Microsoft remains tight-lipped about the Surface Studio sequel. However, we don’t need to know much to do some speculation, though, so let’s dive into what the Surface Studio 2 may look like.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The would-be second Surface Studio desktop
• When is it out? Possibly between September and November 2018
• What will it cost? Likely as much as – if not more than – the current model

Surface Studio 2 release date

The original Surface Studio launched in late 2016, so Microsoft’s iMac competitor is due for a refresh given the firm’s general cadence for Surface products that aren’t the Surface Pro.

However, we haven’t really heard anything about when the Surface Studio sequel is coming. All we have to go off of is a Windows Central report citing sources that said ‘Surface Studio 2 is a-go.’ As such, the outlet expects to see the device ‘in the fall.’

That amounts to anytime between September and November for a possible Surface Studio 2 launch – though time is running out to make that date. Until more concrete information shows up, though, this is the expectation we’ll have to stick with.

Surface Studio 2 price

Sadly, there’s even less known regarding the Surface Studio 2’s possible pricing, i.e. absolutely nothing. So, all we can expect of the potential device’s price so far is for it to hold close to that of the previous model.

Currently, the Surface Studio goes for anywhere between $2,999 (£2,999, AU$4,699) and $4,199 (£4,249, AU$6,599). For Microsoft to go any further above that price might be a shot in the foot, especially considering the pricing of its primary competition, the Apple iMac line.

Conversely, it’s tough to expect Microsoft to drive the price much lower than it is now, either, as the original Surface Studio saw an impressive demand at its current price point during launch. Stay tuned to this space as more rumors and leaks come to light.

What we want to see in Surface Studio 2

For as impressed as we were – and still are – by the Surface Studio, plenty has progressed in the nearly two years since its release, and there’s always room for improvement. Here’s what we hope to see come to fruition in the Surface Studio 2:

More powerful components
This is obvious, sure, but the Surface Studio 2 could use some more powerful hardware – the original had weak hardware on release day. This time around, a proper desktop-grade processor is all but essential, as are up-to-date graphics – a Coffee Lake, or even a 9th-generation Coffee Lake-S CPU and Nvidia Turing graphics would be a nice touch. Plus, one of the best SSDs would be hugely beneficial to the creatives it’s targeted at. 

An even sharper screen
The current Surface Studio screen is absolutely gorgeous, sporting a massive 4,500 x 3,000-pixel resolution across the sRGB, DCI-P3 and Vivid color spaces. But, there’s no reason that it can’t go further. Seeing a 5K Surface Studio to directly rival the priciest iMac would be awfully exciting for content creators.

Thunderbolt 3 connectivity
For as versatile as the Thunderbolt 2 DisplayPort is on the current Surface Studio, it's time for Microsoft to collectively move onto Thunderbolt 3 via USB-C. Not only does the it offer more throughput for file transfers, it could also serve as a one plug hub for all displays and other peripherals you want to connect. If the Surface Studio 2 is to truly compete, it needs to respect this growing standard for its target audience’s sake.

All accessories included
For what it’s charging for the current – and will charge for the future – Surface Studio, Microsoft should be including all of the essential accessories in the box. Yes, that includes the awesome Surface Dial alongside the Surface Mouse and Keyboard. It’s only fair for a several-grand purchase.

• These are the best computers we’ve tested to date

Whether it’s going to keep the MacBook Air moniker or amalgamate into the MacBook 12-inch line, rumors are mounting for a 2018 refresh of an affordable, lightweight notebook from Apple.

The MacBook Air’s current model is sports a relatively archaic 5th-generation Intel processor, but reports from Taiwanese publication Economic Daily News, suggest that a new model is due later in 2018 and will use 8th-generation Kaby Lake Refresh processors.

These i5 and i7 quad-core CPUs were released late in 2017 and have base clock speeds ranging from 1.6GHz to 1.9GHz, with Turbo Boost speeds between 3.4GHz and 4.2GHz. This is obviously faster than the chipsets from 2015, but is it enough of an upgrade?

About timing

According to Economic Daily News, Apple isn’t keen on waiting until 2019 for Intel’s Cannon Lake chips (which use a 10nm process rather 14nm, greatly improving power, performance, and heat efficiency).

Apparently, Apple isn’t even willing to wait for Intel’s Whiskey Lake processors either, which should be replacing the Kaby Lake Refresh line in the coming months, pointing to an impending release date for the MacBook Air successor.

If this rumor is true, then the news is bittersweet – we will be seeing a MacBook Air launch sooner rather than later, but it’ll sport the previous generation of CPU.

About time

The MacBook Air was one of the Apple’s most popular releases, but the most recent model is three years old at this point, and it hasn’t had a design refresh since 2010, so the growing rumors for a 2018 model would certainly be timely if true.

Instead, the 12-inch notebook that Apple just calls the MacBook started to take over this space from 2015 onwards, sharing many of the same design principles by offering a more affordable and lightweight alternative to the powerful MacBook Pro, albeit with weaker specs to start with.

As such, there’s still discussion as to whether or not the MacBook will well-and-truly replace the MacBook Air line, but no matter what form Apple’s latest affordable entry will take, we’re likely to hear more about it soon.

• MacBook Air 2018: what we want to see

If you already have one of the best gaming PCs with one of the best graphics cards, the natural next step is to get one of the best gaming keyboards.

We get it though – it’s tempting to just go to your local big box store and buy a cheap membrane keyboard, especially after dropping so much cash on the best computer you could muster. However, you don’t want to play the best PC games on just any keyboard – trust us. 

Keep in mind, however, that the best gaming keyboards will go a long way to making you better at the games you play – not ot mention that there’s a certain je ne sais quoi about having your desk light up like a Christmas tree with RGB lighting.

Just keep in mind that the best gaming keyboard won’t usually have membrane switches – so, keep an eye out for mechanical gaming keyboards, as they allow for better travel and tactile feedback. And, don’t forget RGB lighting, it’s 2018 – you don’t want one of the best gaming keyboards without it.

That brings us to this list of the 10 best gaming keyboards on the market today. Even if you’re on a tight budget, you’ll find something to love here – we here at TechRadar strive to find products that strike a happy balance between price and performance. You can be confident that every gaming keyboard on this list will perform admirably, be reasonably priced and most importantly – look awesome.

With the Huntsman Elite, Razer has taken speed to a whole new level with its optomechanical switches. That sounds like a mouthful, but Razer has managed to take mechanical switches and integrate optical sensors, this allows the Huntsman Elite to take actuation to another level – you simply won’t find a faster keyboard in 2018. But switches aside, it feels great to type on, and it’s covered in more RGB lighting than you can shake a stick at. Sure, it requires two USB cables for power with no passthrough and it costs a small fortune – but with tech like this, it’s absolutely worth it.

Read the full review: Razer Huntsman Elite 

Keyboards abandoning Cherry MX switches in favor of custom ones has been in vogue so far in 2018, but none have taken it to the same heights that Roccat does with the Vulcan 120 Aimo. Not only does this keyboard feature switches that feature the tactile feedback that gamers require, but it’s comfortable to type on and isn’t too loud. This alone would make the Vulcan 120 Aimo one of the best gaming keyboards, but when you add in the jaw-dropping aesthetics of this board, there’s no denying that this is the gaming keyboard to beat in 2018.

Read the full review: Roccat Vulcan 120 Aimo 

• This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Razer Black Widow Chroma 

One of our biggest pet peeves with Cherry MX Red keys is that while they’re good for gaming, they’re not great for typing anything but your Steam credentials. And, that’s where the Logitech G513 and its Romer-G Linear switches outshine the rest of the competition. Add in the brushed metal finish that, miraculously, is all but immune to fingerprints, and you have a recipe for one of the best gaming keyboards you can buy today.

Read the full review: Logitech G513 

• This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Razer Black Widow Chroma 

Marketed as a keyboard and mouse combo, the real star of the Cooler Master MasterSet MS120 is its ‘mem-chanical’ keyboard. Sitting at just under a hundred bucks , this keyboard – which, again, is only half of the package – is up there with other, more expensive ‘mem-chanical’ keyboards. Sure, the mouse is extremely mediocre, but with a keyboard this good – does it even matter?

Read the full review: Cooler Master MasterSet MS120 

We have seen plenty of wireless gaming mice over the last few years, but not many wireless gaming keyboards. Until now. The Corsair K63 Wireless keyboard takes what made the wired version of the K63, and transfers it into the wireless version – without sacrificing much at all. Packing tight Cherry MX Red switches, full RGB lighting and convenient media controls, the K63 wireless shows us what wireless keyboards can be capable of in 2018.

Read the full review: Corsair K63 Wireless 

Following in the footsteps of Kingston’s first HyperX-branded gaming keyboard, namely the HyperX Alloy FPS, the HyperX Alloy Elite tweaks the company’s first winning keyboard to provide only a few subtle changes. For only $10 USD more than its predecessor, you’re getting media keys, a light bar and even a palm rest, all of which were previously absent. They’re also a series of delightful treats, making for a value proposition that shouldn’t be ignored.

Read the full review: HyperX Alloy Elite

Just like the Corsair K70 Rapidfire that came before, the K95 RGB Platinum is a mechanical keyboard that puts gaming above all other things. Rocking 8MB of dedicated memory for storing different profiles, this keyboard certainly has the versatility to get the job done, whatever it may be. It features a beautiful build, as well, with a military-grade aluminum finish that complements Corsair’s fantastic RGB lighting perfectly. 

Read the full review: Corsair K95 RGB Platinum

If you’re new to PC gaming, and you want a keyboard that’ll perform admirably without the high price tag that a lot of mechanical keyboards carry, the Razer Cynosa Chroma might be for you. It might not have the tactile clickiness of a higher-end board, but the hybrid mesh switches perform well enough, boasting a 1ms polling rate and 10-key rollover. That’s not to mention the sick RGB lighting.

Read the full review: Razer Cynosa Chroma 

Accidents happen – it’s just a fact of life, especially when you’re gaming. Luckily, it’s becoming more common for the best gaming keyboards to be able to handle anything you could throw at them, even Mountain Dew. The Corsair K68 RGB takes a fantastic keyboard design with Cherry MX Switches and makes it water resistant, so you don’t have to worry about a sudden soda shower during a frantic play session. And, with its subdued, stylish design and reasonable price tag, it’s easy to recommend the Corsair K68 RGB.

Read the full review: Corsair K68 RGB  

If you’re looking for a gaming keyboard, and you don’t plan on doing much else, the SteelSeries Apex M750 is a great choice. It has fantastic software for customization and gorgeous RGB lighting. It also has a great tactile feel to it and feels extremely robust and durable. The only drawback is that the keyboard is extremely loud and uncomfortable for productivity work. 

Read the full review: SteelSeries Apex M750 

Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article

With a steady stream of the best PC games, the PC continues to be the best platform to play your games on. From best-in-class RPGs like Dark Souls: Remastered to intense shooters like Far Cry 5, having the best gaming PC for your budget can make a world of difference for your gaming experience.

It doesn’t matter whether you prefer Intel, AMD or Nvidia – most PC makers will let you choose the best processors and best graphics card for your needs anyway. And, now that cryptocurrency mining has died down a bit, the prices of the best gaming PCs will inevitably fall as well.

You’ll find the best gaming PCs from manufacturers you’ll know like Alienware and Lenovo to those you’ve likely never heard of like Corsair and Zotac. We went ahead and collected all the best gaming PCs we could find – after putting through an ultimate test to decide which ones provide the most bang for your buck. So, let’s dive into the 10 best gaming PCs you can buy today, so you can get to pushing your pixels.

As is custom with pre-built gaming PCs, the Alienware Aurora R7 isn’t just a computer. It’s a whole menu of computers that you can choose from and personalize based on the specs of your liking combined with a set budget. It’s important, then, for it to be easily upgradeable and attractive to look at considering its awfully high price tag. Fortunately, the Alienware Aurora R7 is both of those things and will impress those unconvinced that they should build their own rig.

Read the full review: Alienware Aurora R7

• This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the MSI Aegis 3 

It’s not uncommon anymore for PC makers to brandish their pre-built desktop rigs as VR-ready. What is unusual is to do so with a computer that’s also ready to conquer any game you throw at it at well over 60 frames per second and for under two grand. That’s exactly what MSI has accomplished with the Infinite A, a tower whose graphical efforts aren’t thwarted by its preparedness for VR, nor is it so expensive that it would see your head turn the other way.

Read the full review: MSI Infinite A

• This product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. Australian and UK readers: check out a fine alternative in the Overclockers 8Pack Asteroid 

If you’re looking for one of the best gaming PCs, but want something that doesn’t look like, well, a gaming PC – you’re in luck. While the Intel Hades Canyon NUC isn’t as powerful as some of the other gaming PCs on this list, it’s also much smaller – looking more like a set-top box than any PC. And, even with its small form-factor it still packs just as much power as the best gaming laptops with its beefy 8th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU and discrete-class Radeon graphics. Just keep in mind you’ll have to supply your own RAM, storage and OS.

Read the full review: Intel Hades Canyon NUC 

Positioned as a ’console killer,’ the MSI Trident 3 looks a lot like an Xbox One S and is more powerful than a PS4 Pro, but at the end of the day, it’s a PC that feels just right in your living room. Complete with all the ports you could ever dream of, the MSI Trident 3’s advantages are clear. Still, in trying to be as thin and light as possible, the MSI Trident 3 comes equipped with a 330W external power supply brick, resembling some of the most less attractive console designs.

Read the full review: MSI Trident 3

If you’re buying a pre-built PC, upgrades should be simple, right? That’s the philosophy behind the Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900. Embellished with red lights all over, the front of its chassis is bespeckled with textured patterns that’ll no doubt make your friends jealous. On top of offering support for a VR-ready GTX 1080, the Lenovo IdeaCentre boasts SLI support and room for up to 64GB of RAM, which are thankfully complemented by a convenient tool-less design.

Read the full review: Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900

• This product is only available in the US and UK as of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair One.

The Dell XPS Tower, much like the sublime XPS 13 is a lesson in packing beefy specs into a subtle chassis. This inconspicuous gaming rig looks like something you’d find in your dad’s office, rather than something powering the latest PC games. But, beneath that quiet exterior, the Dell XPS Tower is one of the best gaming PCs, packing an Intel 8th-generation Coffee Lake processor and an Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti at the lowest configuration option. With the Dell XPS Tower Special Edition, you’re getting one of the best gaming PCs you can buy in 2018, without any of the off-putting ‘gamer aesthetic’. 

Read the full review: Dell XPS Tower Special Edition 

• This product is only available in the US and UK as of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair One.

When you buy a computer from Origin, it’s almost like you’re building it on your own. You have to be familiar enough with PC components to decide for yourself what goes into the rig and how much money you’re going to spend on it. So, of course, our only real criticism of the Origin Millennium is that you can build a similar model for cheaper. However, because of its subtle design and flexible specs, we’re willing to bet you won’t want to.

Read the full review: Origin Millennium 

• This product is only available in the US as of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Overclockers 8Pack Asteroid.

In classic Alienware fashion, the Area 51 Threadripper Edition pushes the limits of both technology and your wallet. It’s wildly powerful, markedly featuring the latest AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X across all of its configurations. The Area 51’s triad-design hasn’t changed much since its introduction back in 2014, but on the inside this machine is essentially tool-less to upgrade, not that you would even need to.

Read the full review: Alienware Area 51 Threadripper Edition 

• This product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair One  

One of the only advantages gaming consoles have traditionally held over the best gaming PCs is size – in the past it’s been incredibly difficult to have a gaming PC blend into the background. However, with the MSI Vortex G25, that’s no longer the case. Not much bigger than a PS3 Slim, but with a ton more power, the Vortex G25 will feel right at home in your living room, while providing out-of-this-world gaming performance. You do give up some upgradeability with a chassis so small, but the included Thunderbolt 3 softens that blow a bit.

Read the full review: MSI Vortex G25 

Corsair has made a name for itself in pretty much every category of PC components, so it’s only natural that it would eventually create one of the best gaming PCs you can buy today. Enter the Corsair One Elite, a high-spec PC in a compact and quiet case that, while expensive, blows the competition out of the water. The Elite is a huge improvement over the original Corsair One, packed with an 8th-generation Core i7 processor, a Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti and more water cooling than you can shake a stick at. If you can afford its high price tag, the Corsair One Elite is one of the best gaming PCs you can buy today. 

Read the full review: Corsair One Elite 

Joe Osborne and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article