Gaming handhelds are amazing. They make it so much easier to fit all kinds of games into my day. Sadly, they’re less affordable than they’ve ever been — due to an unprecedented, AI-fueled shortage of memory chips, an unforced oil crisis, rampant inflation, fallout from tariffs, and more.
Technology
Winter storms can knock out your tech fast: Prepare now
States prepare for massive winter storm
FOX Weather meteorologist Bayne Froney joins ‘America’s Newsroom’ in Dallas, Texas as the first signs of a massive winter storm begin to show. Texas is preparing accordingly following the devastating winter storm five years ago.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Weather forecasters are warning that a major winter storm is expected to impact large portions of the United States starting Friday. Forecasts call for snow, freezing rain and ice stretching from Texas and the Southern Plains through the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and into the Northeast. This system is concerning because it combines ice accumulation, gusty winds and plunging temperatures. In many regions, especially across the South and parts of the Mid-Atlantic, infrastructure is not designed to handle prolonged ice events.
That increases the risk of extended power outages and disrupted cell service. When the grid goes down, everyday tech becomes critical. Phones, alerts, vehicles and apps may be your only connection to updates and emergency help. Preparing now matters far more than reacting later.
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.
RUSSIAN WINTER STRIKE LEAVES NEARLY 800K HOMES WITHOUT POWER AND HEAT IN UKRAINE’S DNIPRO REGION
Ice storms can take down power lines fast, leaving homes without electricity and cell service for hours or even days. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Why ice storms are especially disruptive
Ice storms cause more damage than most people expect. Unlike snow, ice sticks to everything and adds significant weight. Ice builds up on trees and power lines, causing branches to snap and lines to fall. Utility crews often cannot begin repairs until conditions improve, which delays restoration. Forecasters at Fox Weather warn that freezing rain across the South and interior Southeast could be particularly damaging, while snow and wind farther north may slow emergency response.
Even if cell towers remain standing, networks often overload during severe weather. When thousands of people try to call at once, connections fail. Texts and alerts usually have a better chance of getting through. That is why you should assume you may be offline longer than expected.
Immediate tech actions to take before the storm hits
These steps are simple, but timing matters. Do them before the weather conditions worsen.
Charge devices and prepare backup power
- Charge all phones, laptops, tablets and battery packs
- Fully charge wearable devices like smartwatches
- Turn on Low Power Mode on phones now
- Lower screen brightness to extend battery life, and check out these other tips to keep your phone battery charged longer
- Make sure you have a reliable portable charger on hand, like those highlighted in our 5 best portable chargers for emergencies on Cyberguy.com
- For outages that could last days in this winter storm, a good generator can keep your home powered the longest and safest
- Reliable lighting matters during storms and blackouts. Invest in a high-output flashlight and hats with built-in lights that can be especially useful when visibility is poor
- Keep a battery-powered weather radio on hand so you can receive emergency updates even if power and cell service go out
A fully charged phone, smart power settings and a reliable portable charger can keep you connected early in an outage while longer-term home power solutions carry you through the days ahead.
A woman walks with an umbrella in the rain in the Manhattan borough of New York, Feb. 5, 2014. (REUTERS/Carlo Allegri)
Plan for offline communication and limited cell service
- Download offline maps for your area.
- Save emergency contacts locally on your device.
- Write down key phone numbers on paper.
- Plan to text instead of calling if networks are congested. Text messages use less bandwidth and often go through when calls fail.
- Cold weather can also make phones harder to use. Touchscreen-compatible winter gloves let you stay connected without exposing your hands to the cold.
Set up a family check-in plan before the storm
- Agree on specific check-in times
- Choose one out-of-area contact everyone can message
- Avoid constant calling, which can overload networks
Clear expectations reduce panic and unnecessary phone use
Make sure emergency alerts are enabled
Emergency alerts can reach your phone even when apps and social media cannot. They are designed to cut through network congestion and deliver critical warnings.
How to turn on emergency alerts on iPhone
- Open Settings
- Tap Notifications
- Scroll to Government Alerts
- Turn on Emergency Alerts
- Enable Always Play Sound
- Turn on Imminent Threat Alerts under Enhanced Safety Alerts
US POWER CRUNCH LOOMS AS OKLO CEO SAYS GRID CAN’T KEEP UP WITHOUT NEW INVESTMENT
Ice storms add heavy weight to trees and power lines, causing widespread damage and outages that can overwhelm repair crews and communication networks for longer than expected. (AP/Craig Ruttle)
How to turn on emergency alerts on Android
Settings may vary, depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
- Open Settings
- Tap Safety and emergency or Notifications
- Select Wireless emergency alerts
- Turn on Severe threats and Extreme threats
- Enable Allow alerts and Alert sound
On some phones, you may also see options for Public safety messages or Emergency alerts, which should be turned on. These alerts may include evacuation notices, shelter updates and severe weather warnings.
Both iPhone and Android let you preview alert sounds and settings in these menus, so take a moment to test them now and make sure alerts are loud enough before severe weather hits.
Know how to use Emergency SOS on your phone
If you need help during a winter storm, Emergency SOS can contact emergency services even when you cannot unlock your phone or make a normal call. Set this up now. Do not wait until you are stressed, cold or without power.
How to set up and use Emergency SOS on iPhone
- Open Settings
- Tap Emergency SOS
- Turn on Call with Hold and Release or Call with 5 Button Presses
- Scroll down and add emergency contacts
To activate Emergency SOS during an emergency, press and hold the side button and a volume button, or quickly press the side button five times, depending on your settings.
How to set up and use Emergency SOS on Android
Settings may vary, depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
- Open Settings
- Tap Safety and emergency or Privacy and safety
- Select Emergency SOS
- Turn on Use Emergency SOS
- Choose how SOS is triggered, such as Require to swipe to call
- Add emergency contacts and medical information by clicking Emergency sharing settings
On many Android phones, pressing the power button five times will trigger Emergency SOS. Emergency SOS can call for help, share your location and alert emergency contacts when conditions are dangerous.
If cell towers go down during this storm, features like Emergency SOS can still help you reach emergency services. Our guide explains in more detail how these lifesaving settings work.
Apps you should have installed ahead of time
The right apps can deliver critical updates when power is out, cell networks are strained and social media is unreliable. Install and set these up before the storm arrives.
Weather and severe alert apps
- Fox Weather app: A trusted option for real-time forecasts, winter storm alerts, radar tracking and location-based notifications. Make sure local alerts are turned on.
- MyRadar Weather Radar: A highly rated radar app that shows storm movement in real time and sends push alerts when severe weather is approaching your area.
- Storm Shield Severe Weather App: Delivers National Weather Service alerts based on your exact location, similar to NOAA weather radio warnings, with clear push notifications for winter storms and ice events.
- NOAA Weather Radio apps (iPhone and Android): These apps stream official NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts, providing continuous updates, watches and warnings directly from the National Weather Service. Weather radio streams often remain available even during major outages.
Using more than one weather app can give you redundancy if one service is delayed or overloaded.
Utility and outage tracking apps
- Your local power utility app: Most utilities offer apps that allow you to report outages, view outage maps and track restoration progress in real time.
- FEMA App: Provides official weather alerts, disaster resources, shelter locations and safety guidance during severe weather events.
These apps can confirm outages, provide restoration updates and reduce unnecessary calls to utilities when systems are overwhelmed.
Do not overlook vehicle tech and preparedness
Your vehicle may become a critical resource during extended outages.
Prep your car before conditions worsen
- Fill your gas tank early. A full tank allows you to run the engine briefly for heat or charging if needed.
- Keep a phone charger in the car.
- Store a fully charged portable power bank in the glove box or center console. This gives you emergency phone power if your car battery dies or you cannot run the engine.
- Download weather and road condition alerts.
- Also, consider buying a Snow brush and ice scraper, jumper cables, a set of 6 LED Road Flares Emergency Lights and a First Aid Trauma Pack with QuikCloth, so you will not be caught off guard in an emergency.
- There are also portable tech solutions designed to help you stay warm and powered during outages or roadside delays, including heated gear worth purchasing in advance.
Storms also bring scams and fraud attempts
Severe weather creates ideal conditions for scams. Power outages, delayed responses and anxiety make people more likely to trust messages that appear urgent or official.
Fake utility and restoration scams
Scammers often impersonate electric, gas or water utilities.
- Texts or calls claiming your power will be restored sooner if you pay
- Messages warning service will be shut off unless you act immediately
- Spoofed phone numbers that look like your local utility
What to know: Utilities do not charge fees to restore power and do not demand payment by text, gift cards or apps.
Emergency aid and disaster relief scams
These scams spike right after storms hit.
- Messages promising emergency funds, fuel vouchers or hotel assistance
- Fake charity links claiming to help storm victims
- Social media posts asking for donations using stolen images
What to know: Legitimate aid is announced through official government or well-known nonprofit channels, not unsolicited messages.
Fake delivery, fuel and repair service scams
Storms disrupt normal services, which scammers exploit.
- Links claiming fuel delivery is available in your area
- Messages about delayed packages that require confirmation
- Ads for emergency home repairs that ask for upfront payment
What to know: Do not click links or pay deposits without verifying the company independently.
Charging your devices and lining up backup power now can make the difference between staying informed during an outage and being cut off once the storm hits. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Account takeover and identity theft attempts
Storm chaos makes it easier for attackers to slip through unnoticed.
- Password reset emails pretending to be from banks or retailers
- Login alerts asking you to “secure” your account immediately
- Calls claiming suspicious activity that push you to share codes
What to know: Never share one-time codes or login details, even if the message looks legitimate.
How to protect yourself before and during the storm
Taking a few precautions now can help you avoid costly mistakes when outages, delays and scam messages start piling up.
1) Slow down and verify every urgent message
Scammers rely on panic. If a message pressures you to act fast, stop and verify it through a trusted source.
2) Avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages and use strong antivirus software
Go directly to official websites or apps instead of tapping links in texts or emails. Keep your operating system up to date, and use strong antivirus software to block malicious links and fake websites.
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.
Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.
3) Lock down accounts before outages hit
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on email, banking, and utility accounts so stolen passwords cannot be used alone.
4) Reduce your exposure with a data removal service
Many storm scams work because criminals already have your phone number, address or email. Using a data removal service to opt out of data broker sites can reduce how easily scammers target you during emergencies.
While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.
Check out my top picks for data removal services, and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.
Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.
5) Never pay to restore power or receive aid
Utilities and government agencies do not charge fees to restore service or release emergency assistance.
When power and internet access are limited, it is harder to verify messages quickly. That makes preparation just as important as awareness. A little skepticism now can prevent financial loss and identity theft when help is hardest to reach.
Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?
Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Winter storms can turn small tech decisions into critical ones. Ice, power outages and overloaded cell networks can leave people cut off faster than expected, especially in regions not built for prolonged winter weather. Preparing your devices, alerts, vehicles and accounts ahead of time gives you more control when conditions worsen. It also reduces panic and limits your exposure to scams that thrive during emergencies. A little planning now can make a big difference when help is harder to reach.
Have you taken steps to prepare your tech for this winter storm, or did this checklist highlight something you still need to do? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.
Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
I know what you are thinking. Why on earth would Google want to release millions of mosquitoes? That was my first reaction too.
Usually, when we hear “Google” and “bugs” in the same sentence, we think about software. This time, the bugs are real.
Google’s Debug project is asking federal regulators for permission to release sterile male mosquitoes in New Jersey, California and Florida. The goal is to reduce mosquito populations that can spread disease.
Now the big question is whether this is a smart new way to fight mosquito-borne disease, or a tech-backed experiment that needs much more public scrutiny.
GOOGLE’S DARK SIDE: 5 SEARCH TERMS TO AVOID AT ALL COSTS
Google Debug project workers. (Courtesy: Google Debug Project)
Join CyberGuy Live: Lock Down Your Phone in 30 Minutes (This Saturday, June 13, 10 am ET)
- Your phone holds your email, passwords, photos, banking apps and personal data. In this free, live online class, Kurt the CyberGuy will walk you step by step through simple phone security fixes you can do in real time. You’ll learn how to improve your privacy settings, spot the latest phone scams, use trusted security tools and walk away with a simple checklist to stay protected. Register here: CyberGuyLive.com.
How Google’s mosquito plan is supposed to work
Google’s Debug project says it is using science, automation and engineering to fight disease-carrying mosquitoes. The idea comes from a method called the sterile insect technique.
Here is the basic version. Scientists raise male mosquitoes that cannot produce viable offspring. Then they release those males into the wild. When the sterile males mate with wild females, the eggs do not hatch. Over time, the local mosquito population can shrink.
That part is important. Male mosquitoes do not bite. Female mosquitoes are the ones that bite and can spread disease. So Google isn’t trying to release more biting mosquitoes into neighborhoods. It is trying to release males that can help stop future generations from hatching.
Why Google wants to release mosquitoes
Google’s Debug project sees mosquito control as a public-health and technology challenge. The team says it wants to use engineering, automation and AI tools to reduce disease-carrying mosquito populations.
The idea is to stop “bad bugs” with “good bugs.” That may sound strange, but the science behind it has been studied for decades.
Sterile insect releases have been used against other pests, including fruit flies, screwworms and codling moths. Mosquitoes are harder. They are fragile, difficult to raise at a massive scale and challenging to sort by sex. That is where Debug says Google’s technology can help.
Why sorting male mosquitoes matters
Debug says the process starts by raising sterile male mosquitoes. One approach uses Wolbachia, a naturally occurring bacterium found in many insects.
The bacteria can make males incompatible with wild females that do not carry the same Wolbachia strain. When they mate, the eggs fail to develop.
After that, Debug has to separate males from females. This step matters a lot. If the project releases too many females by mistake, the whole idea becomes much harder to trust.
That is where Google’s tech background comes in. Debug says its team is using sensors, algorithms, automation and monitoring tools to raise, sort, release and track mosquitoes at scale. In other words, this is mosquito control with a Silicon Valley twist.
STOP GOOGLE FROM FOLLOWING YOUR EVERY MOVE
Debug Google facilities in Singapore. (Courtesy: Google Debug Project)
Why sterile male mosquitoes could help
Mosquito-borne diseases are a serious global health problem. Some mosquitoes can spread dengue, Zika, yellow fever, chikungunya, West Nile virus and other illnesses.
Traditional mosquito control often depends on pesticides. Those can help, but they can also raise environmental concerns. Mosquitoes can also become harder to control over time.
That is why sterile male releases interest some researchers. The approach targets a specific mosquito population. It also avoids spraying more chemicals into the environment.
If it works, the local mosquito population drops because fewer eggs hatch. That could mean fewer disease risks in areas where these mosquitoes are a problem.
Why residents are worried about Google mosquitoes
Even with the science behind it, the public concern is easy to understand. Nobody likes the phrase “release millions of mosquitoes.” It sounds like the start of a bad summer, not a public-health project.
Some residents also worry about control. Once living insects are released, people want to know what happens next. They want to know who monitors the program, who pays for follow-up work and what happens if the results are not what scientists expected. Those are fair questions.
There is also a trust issue. A project like this can feel very different when a private tech giant is involved. People may support disease prevention and still feel uneasy about a corporation playing such a large role in local ecosystems.
The biggest challenge with sterile mosquito releases
The success of this idea depends on precision. Male mosquitoes do not bite. Female mosquitoes do. So the sorting process has to be extremely accurate.
Debug says it is working on technology to separate males from females quickly. That may include sensors, algorithms and engineering systems that spot biological differences between them.
However, this is the part many people will focus on. If the public is told only males will be released, they will want proof. They will also want clear oversight from regulators. When you are dealing with living insects, “close enough” isn’t the most reassuring phrase.
NEW GOOGLE TOOL MAKES REMOVING PERSONAL INFORMATION EASIER
Images of freshly-enclosed male and female mosquitoes marching in a straight line before they get sex sorted. (Courtesy: Google Debug Project)
What the EPA is reviewing
The EPA is reviewing Google’s request for an experimental use permit. The filing involves Wolbachia pipientis contained in live adult male mosquitoes.
The purpose is to test whether Debug’s male mosquitoes can mate with wild females and suppress the population.
The EPA will decide whether to approve or deny the request. If it approves the permit, it can also set conditions for how the project must operate.
What Google mosquitoes could mean for you
Even if you do not live in one of the proposed release areas, this is worth watching. If Google’s project works, more communities may look at sterile mosquito releases as another tool against disease. That could be good news in areas dealing with mosquito-borne illnesses.
At the same time, it raises a larger question. How much public-health work should depend on private companies with their own funding, technology and long-term goals? For many people, the science may sound promising. The setup may still feel uncomfortable. Both reactions can be true.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Google releasing mosquitoes may sound strange, but the goal is real public health. Debug wants to use sterile male mosquitoes to cut down populations that can spread disease. There is a reason scientists are interested. Male mosquitoes do not bite, and sterile insect releases have been studied for decades. Still, communities deserve more than a promise that everything will go as planned. They need clear answers about monitoring, safeguards, costs and what happens if the project fails. Fighting mosquito-borne disease is important. But once living insects are released into the wild, trust and oversight have to come first.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Would you trust Google to help control mosquitoes in your community? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
- Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox.
- For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit CyberGuy.com – trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily.
- Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join.
Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
But that’s not going to stop you. You’ve decided now’s the time to buy one, before the next shoe drops.
I won’t talk you out of it! I genuinely don’t know when or if prices might come back down. So instead of telling you to hold off, I’ll try to help you navigate this “new normal” I keep hearing so much about.
We’ll do this four ways:
- First, if you just want me to tell you what to buy and be done with it, grab an Xbox Ally X if it’s still $999 at the time you read these words. It’s the handheld I’d buy for myself if I were buying today. It’s the only top-tier handheld that hasn’t hiked its price, and it has a good mix of performance, comfort, and battery life.
- Second, let’s talk bargains. There are a few refurbished and open-box handhelds worth nabbing on closeout — if you can find them at all.
- Third, I’ll ask you some questions. Assuming you’re buying new, are you looking for the most powerful handheld? The one with the most battery life? The most affordable? The best screen? The easiest to pick up and play? Because all of those are different handhelds, and none are the Xbox Ally X. Click the links in this paragraph to find out which.
- Fourth, I’ll list every other handheld PC you’re likely to find when you shop around, and why you should probably skip them. I want you to know whether that seemingly good closeout deal is actually worth your money.
But before I go down the list, let’s talk Windows and Linux.
While I’ve dinged many of the handhelds I’ve reviewed for The Verge for Windows woes, that’s not as big a deal today — because you can install Bazzite or even SteamOS on many of them for a better pick-up-and-play experience. The same exact handheld is often more stable and performant with Linux, and you often get instant sleep and resume that’s hit-or-miss on the operating system they shipped with.
It’s still true many competitive online multiplayer games don’t work on Linux because of anti-cheat fears, though others do. It’s also true that Windows has gotten better at sleep and resume with certain handhelds like the Xbox Ally X. But it’s a misconception that Linux can’t play as many games as Windows. The reality is that Linux can play more — decades of Windows games work better on Linux thanks to Proton patches and community profiles that translate old mouse and keyboard controls to your gamepad.
Ready? Let’s go down each list, from least to most expensive.
Open box and refurb bargains
Refurbished Valve Steam Deck LCD (typically $279-$359)
If you ever see it in stock, do not hesitate: buy a refurbished Steam Deck LCD. Valve discontinued the original in December 2025, but Valve refurbs are now the best deal in town. The Steam Deck OLED meaningfully improved on the LCD model in many ways, but it is absolutely not worth $400 more than a certified refurbished LCD model.
Reddit is flooded with examples of Valve’s excellent customer support, so I wouldn’t be worried about getting a lemon, and the Steam Deck LCD is one of the easier handhelds to pick up and play thanks to preloaded SteamOS and well-placed controls. It has enough performance for games as intensive as Elden Ring, but expect to play higher-end titles at low settings, with lots of upscaling, for less than two hours on battery. Light fare can last longer.
Open-box Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme (typically $500-$550)
At $500, if you’re willing to install Bazzite, and if you don’t play far from a cord, I can genuinely recommend the ROG Ally Z1E in today’s economy. It’s one of the weaker devices to carry that chip, with one of the smallest batteries at 40 watt-hours, but it’s also got the same kind of smooth (if not colorful) 7-inch 120Hz VRR screen you’ll find in the Xbox Ally X. When plugged into the wall, or in short sessions on battery, its turbo mode gives you Steam Deck-beating performance.
Open-box Lenovo Legion Go (sometimes $600 open box, normally $850)
The original Legion Go is an acquired taste I’m never going to acquire: big, bulky, with extra buttons weirdly squishing under my hands when I grip. The battery’s only a little bigger than in the original ROG Ally, it doesn’t have a variable refresh rate screen, and the 2560×1600 resolution is far more than the chip can power in modern games. (Lightweight stuff can look good.)
But Bazzite works great, you get a big 8.8-inch screen for those who need it, detachable controllers with a mouse mode; a built-in kickstand; you can use it as a tablet in a pinch. I’d pick a Steam Deck over it any day, but the Z1 Extreme’s turbo mode makes it far faster for short sessions or plugged into the wall. Twin USB4 ports too. And you can add the Legion Go 2’s more ergonomic controllers for roughly $100. (Don’t forget you need left and right ones.)
As a $600 open-box deal, it’s worth it. But I wouldn’t pay much more.
Closeout Lenovo Legion Go S Z2 Go with Windows ($550 closeout, normally $1600)
Almost the polar opposite of the original Legion Go, with no detachable controls, a smooth variable refresh rate screen at a more sensible 1920×1200 resolution, comfortable grips — and a much slower AMD Z2 Go chip that couldn’t meaningfully compete with the Steam Deck in my Windows tests.
At $550 closeout like we saw the other day, sure, put Bazzite on it. It should slightly beat the Steam Deck in performance using its turbo modes after that. Please don’t pay much more. Also please don’t expect its tiny trackpad to be useful.
Refurbished Valve Steam Deck OLED 512GB ($629)
I hate to admit it, but if you ever see a refurbished Steam Deck OLED for $629, you might want to spend the money. Yes, Valve is charging $190 more for the refurb model than it did before RAMageddon, but it’s still a discount of $160 compared to what a Deck OLED costs brand-new today and “only” $80 more than what a new one cost before the price hikes. As I’ll explain a few paragraphs below, the Deck OLED is still one of the best handhelds you can buy.
So those are the closeouts. Here’s what I’d suggest if you’re buying brand-new:
The most affordable handheld you can actually find: Asus Xbox Ally
($600 MSRP, sometimes $500 on sale)
When the Steam Deck OLED could be had for $549, there was no way I’d have ever recommended a vanilla white Xbox Ally instead. Now that the Deck starts at $789, I have to reconsider. The Xbox Ally has very comfortable prong-shaped grips and effectively the same chip as the Steam Deck, only you can crank it up to 20 watts instead of 15 watts for more power, you get a smoother 120Hz VRR screen, and a slightly larger battery.
I’ve never been able to get the Windows version to sleep reliably — I retested this month — and the screen feels cramped and dull by comparison. But Bazzite fixes sleep and performance, making it more than a match for the Deck. The build feels a little cheap (I broke the top off an analog stick and had to superglue it back on) and it’s nowhere near as powerful as any handheld with a Z1 Extreme or better. The Xbox Ally X and MSI Claw 8 have larger batteries, too, and you don’t get the Steam Deck’s twin touchpads, four back buttons, and community controller profiles.
But I’d buy it if I didn’t want to spend more than $600.
The easiest to pick up and play: Steam Deck OLED
($789 for 512GB, $949 for 1TB, $629 or $759 refurbished)
When it comes to portable PC gaming, nothing “just works” like a Steam Deck OLED. You power it on, you scan a QR code to connect your Steam account, you download, you play, you get a solid two to eight hours of battery life on a fantastic screen without having to think about what performance mode to put your handheld in. The controls are infinitely customizable in ways the competition hasn’t even tried to match, and you can just browse community controller profiles instead of needing to roll your own.
At $789, it’s a way harder sell than at $549, because if your budget stretches to $1,000, the Xbox Ally X’s performance and battery life are much better — and you can put Bazzite or SteamOS on that one, too. But I’d still buy a refurb Steam Deck OLED at $629, and I could see some paying $789 for its ease of use and unprecedented support: no company ships updates like Valve ships updates, regularly making the Deck better.
The handheld I’d buy for myself: Xbox Ally X
Like the Steam Deck, the Xbox Ally X originally shipped half-baked. Now, it’s suddenly the best deal in handheld gaming. While the 7-inch IPS screen feels a lil claustrophobic and muted compared to 8-inch rivals, it’s now the most powerful handheld under $1,000 with its Z2 Extreme chip, one of the longest-lived with an 80 watt-hour battery, and (IMO) the most comfortable to hold with its huge prong grips.
It’s also the best-supported outside of Valve’s Steam Deck; Asus and Microsoft keep shipping a flurry of updates. I can finally trust the Xbox Ally X to sleep and wake reliably, picking up my game right where I left off, and I can control the virtual keyboard by joystick instead of smudging a touchscreen. I can now tap the triggers to scroll the long clickwrap agreements that pop up before some games, too.
Just know it’s not much more powerful than a Z1 Extreme or Z2 handheld, and the controls leave a few things to be desired. There’s no touchpad (and the joystick mouse mode is still finicky to enable), the ABXY buttons are very clacky, my triggers developed a noisy squeak, and I hate accidentally pressing the Library button thinking it’s Start and getting yanked out of a game. A future Ally fixes lots of these things, but it’ll be pricey.
The longest battery life: MSI Claw 8 AI Plus*
($1,300, often $1,120 on sale)
Frankly, I’m astonished how good the MSI Claw 8 can be. It’s got a bigger, better screen than the Xbox Ally X, and I find its Intel chip faster in the games I want to play — it gives me a smoother experience in 007: First Light and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. And, it lasts very slightly longer on the same capacity (80 watt-hour) battery, the longest I’ve tested so far.
There are only four reasons it’s not the one I’d buy for myself. The scalloped grips aren’t as comfortable, the controls aren’t as customizable (and gyro doesn’t work as well), MSI just isn’t offering the same level of support (I’ve had to manually download drivers several times, for example), and it now costs a good bit more. I’d pick it if it were $900.
*The newer EX version of the Claw 8 will come out this month with even better life, performance, and comfort, it seems — but it could cost much more. Read my preview.
The Best Screen: Legion Go 2 Z2
If your eyes are the priority, the Legion Go 2 has the best handheld screen money can buy today — not only is it the rare handheld with an OLED panel, with the inky blacks and gorgeous colors that can afford, it’s an HDR panel with 500-nit brightness and 1,000 nit peaks, plus variable refresh rate that goes all the way down to 30Hz and up to 144Hz for smoother gameplay. It’s a joy in person.
The grips are far more comfortable than the original Legion Go, you still get the unique kickstand and detachable gamepads with optical mouse mode, the controls are competent, it has top and bottom USB-C ports, and the 74 watt-hour battery’s only a little smaller than other flagships.
The things holding back Legion Go 2 at launch were a high price and Windows. And while the price has gone up, the Z2 variant’s price hike isn’t quite as ridiculous as that of the Z2 Extreme. And the Z2 Legion Go 2 is pretty close to the Z2 Extreme version in performance — you should watch ETA Prime’s whole comparison video to see just how close. As for Windows, Bazzite seems to work well on my review unit of the Z2 Extreme model, though the gyro and some of Lenovo’s unique buttons can be a chore to configure there.
The most powerful: GPD Win 5 or OneXPlayer Apex
I can’t afford a $2,500 handheld, but for those who want the ultimate in performance, AMD’s Strix Halo is the most powerful chip that fits between two hands. When I tested the GPD Win 5, it felt like a portable PS5, comfortably playing intensive games at 1080p resolution with ultra levels of detail.
But beyond price, you should consider just how “portable” the Win 5 and the rival OneXPlayer Apex truly are: to cram in that power, they rely on either bulky external battery backpacks that won’t last an hour at full power, or a big power cord plugged into the wall.
I also haven’t been offered full review units yet, so I don’t know whether GPD or OneXPlayer have nailed other fundamentals or are offering proper support. Proceed with caution.
What if you’re not finding any of those handhelds? Be careful before you buy these alternatives instead:
The handhelds you probably shouldn’t pay for
Open-box Asus ROG Ally Z1 (typically $380-$450)
Don’t be fooled: the Asus ROG Ally with a weaker AMD Z1 chip may look identical to the one with the Z1 Extreme, but this one’s less capable than a Steam Deck and less efficient last I checked. With one of the smallest batteries in a handheld (40 watt-hour, tied with the Steam Deck LCD) it’ll die quick, and it’s not as potent plugged in as the Z1E version. Unless you can find it for under $250 like ETA Prime did, leave it be.
MSI Claw 7 ($650 to $750)
Somehow, Target still has stock of the original MSI Claw for $100 less than its original asking price, while Best Buy still has it at MSRP. Here is what I wrote in 2024:
- “No one should buy an MSI Claw.”
- “[T[he $750 MSI Claw feels like an inferior clone of the Asus ROG Ally.”
- “The less expensive Steam Deck OLED all but completely wiped the floor with the MSI Claw in power and performance. “
I hear Bazzite doesn’t fix this one, either. Just skip it.
Lenovo Legion Go S Z2 Go with SteamOS ($990)
Another case of “don’t get fooled.” The Legion Go S with AMD’s Z2 Go is far weaker than the version with the older Z1 Extreme processor — or any other Z1 Extreme handheld. It can have a slight performance and battery advantage over the Steam Deck in more intensive games, but fall behind on battery in less demanding ones.
Nice large smooth variable refresh rate screen, comfy grips, comes with SteamOS, but it wasn’t a good pick even when it cost $50 more than a Steam Deck OLED — now that it costs $200 more, forget about it.
I have never been able to recommend an Ayaneo handheld PC, because the company tends to ship them before they’re ready and quickly move on to the next thing. As exciting as it sounded, the Ayaneo 3 seems no different; I never got its awesome-sounding swappable controls to stay connected reliably, and the company didn’t have a solution for me. $900 for an fancy OLED handheld sounded enticing in 2025, but I wouldn’t recommend my experience at $400 let alone the $1,183 asking price now.
MSI Claw A8 ($1,300, often $1,200 on sale)
I haven’t used this one myself, but it costs substantially more than an Xbox Ally X for basically same internals. Even used ones will cost you nearly $1K. Bigger grips and screen, though.
GPD Win Mini 2025 ($1317)
Haven’t used this one either, and I’m intrigued by the idea of a tiny handheld cyberdeck after my good experiences with the GPD Win Max 2 below. It’s got a 1080p VRR screen that should be better for gaming than the Win Max 2. But it also shot up in price from roughly $900 to over $1,300, and its Ryzen 7 8840U laptop chip will chew right through the small 44Wh battery in more than light-lift games.
The Win Max 2 is not a comfortable gaming experience with weird grip and a fixed 60Hz 1600p screen, and the nearly $1,500 pricetag hurts for something that cost $1,000 last year. But do you want maybe the tiniest laptop to ever have a keyboard this excellent, one that can double as an awkward gaming handheld in a pinch? I wouldn’t pay for it, but I will continue to hope a future version adds the bigger battery, VRR, vibration dampening, better mousing and better webcam it needs.
Lenovo Legion Go S Z1 Extreme with SteamOS ($1580) or Windows ($1680)
$1,600 for a handheld with less performance and smaller battery than the Xbox Ally X and MSI Claw 8? Get outta here. It’s a legitimately good handheld, but even back when it cost $830 I’d have picked a Steam Deck instead. Now it costs nearly double – even more than the Legion Go 2 with a far better screen.
This giant honking 11-inch rebranded Tencent handheld theoretically has the same Intel guts as the MSI Claw 8 AI Plus, but it certainly doesn’t feel that way. The autostereoscopic 3D screen is terrible for gaming in my tests. It’s not very smooth even at its fixed 60Hz refresh rate, and gets ridiculously choppy in 3D mode without even providing a convincing 3D effect, even in 3D native games like Trine 2. I saw all kinds of crosstalk that better 3D screens cracked ages ago. I’d rather play Nintendo 3DS.
Lenovo Legion Go 2 Z2 Extreme ($2,000 to $2,350)
Pretty much identical to the Legion Go Z2, save you’re paying $425 more for twice the RAM (32GB instead of 16GB) and slightly better battery life due to the more efficient chip. I wouldn’t.
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Your iPhone can feel nearly useless to a thief once you mark it as lost. Apple’s Activation Lock can help turn a stolen device into a locked brick. That should make phone theft less profitable. Yet thieves have found a nasty workaround.
According to new research from Infoblox Threat Intel, the cybersecurity research team at Infoblox, criminals are using fake Apple pages, smishing texts and Telegram-based unlocking tools to trick stolen iPhone owners into handing over their passcodes.
Infoblox Threat Intel tracks cybercriminal activity partly by studying DNS, the system that helps devices find websites online. Think of DNS as the internet’s phone book. By watching patterns in suspicious website names and traffic, researchers can spot fake domains, phishing pages and larger scam networks.
The scary part is how personal the scam can feel. The thief may already have your phone. The message may arrive right after the theft. The fake page may even show what looks like your iPhone moving on a map.
WHY IPHONE USERS ARE THE NEW PRIME SCAM TARGETS
Cybercriminals are using fake Apple pages and text messages to trick stolen iPhone owners into giving up their passcodes. (Kurt CyberGuy Knutsson)
Researchers found that many thieves care less about the data on the phone and more about turning the device into resale cash. Once they get your passcode, they can remove protections, wipe the device and sell it.
Join CyberGuy Live: Lock Down Your Phone in 30 Minutes (This Saturday, June 13, 10 am ET)
- Your phone holds your email, passwords, photos, banking apps and personal data. In this free, live online class, Kurt the CyberGuy will walk you step by step through simple phone security fixes you can do in real time. You’ll learn how to improve your privacy settings, spot the latest phone scams, use trusted security tools and walk away with a simple checklist to stay protected. Register here: CyberGuyLive.com.
How the stolen iPhone passcode scam starts
Here is the part that feels especially cruel. When you lose an iPhone, you may put a message on the lock screen with a phone number to call. That feature can help a good person return your device. A scammer can use that same number to contact you.
In one case described by the researchers, a stolen iPhone owner received a text shortly after the theft. The message linked to a fake Apple-style website. The page showed what looked like a moving phone location on a map. Then it asked for the phone’s PIN code. Had the victim entered it, the thief would have gained control of the device. That is what makes this scam so believable. The thief may really have your phone. The message may arrive at the perfect moment. The fake page may look close enough to Apple’s real Find My experience to catch someone who is stressed and trying to recover an expensive device.
Why thieves want your iPhone passcode
A locked iPhone has limited resale value. An unlocked iPhone can be wiped, removed from an Apple account and sold for much more. The researchers found Telegram groups selling phone unlocking services. Some tools target older phones. Others help criminals collect information about newer devices so they can build a more convincing phishing attack. These services can include “Find My iPhone Off” kits, fake Apple login pages, AI voice call tools and prerecorded messages that impersonate Apple.
The pricing also makes this underground business easy to enter. Some unlocking attempts cost only a few dollars. According to the research, unlocking a recent iPhone can cost anywhere from $5 to $50, depending on the seller, with an average price below $10.
That low cost helps explain why this scam can spread. A thief no longer needs deep technical skills. They can buy a kit, follow instructions and send a polished scam message.
Fake Apple texts make the scam feel real
The scam does not stop with one generic text. Criminals can customize phishing pages with details pulled from the phone or from linked accounts. That can include the victim’s name, email address, device details and even whether the passcode has four or six digits. The fake page may also show a chosen location on a “lost iPhone” map. Then the scammer sends the link by text, WhatsApp or email.
Once the victim enters credentials or a passcode, the information can go straight back to the attacker through Telegram. From there, criminals can remove linked devices from the Apple Account and prepare the phone for resale. That is why the message can feel oddly personal. The scammer may know enough to make the alert feel urgent and official.
Stolen iPhone scams are growing fast
Researchers identified more than 10,000 domains tied to these phone unlocking tools and smishing campaigns. Many used Apple lookalike names or generic customer-support wording, such as fake location and phone-finding themes. They also found that traffic to verified smishing domains rose 350% in 2025 compared with the previous year.
Some tools even try to fight security blocks. The research found scripts that check whether smishing domains are blocked. Then those scripts submit fake explanations to try to get them removed from Google Safe Browsing warnings. That means criminals are not only building fake pages. They are also working to keep those pages online long enough to fool victims.
DON’T GET CAUGHT IN THE ‘APPLE ID SUSPENDED’ PHISHING SCAM
A stolen iPhone owner may receive a fake Find My alert that appears to show the device moving on a map. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What this iPhone scam means to you
If your phone gets stolen, the most dangerous message may arrive after the theft. You may be worried, angry and desperate to track your device. That is exactly the moment scammers want. A message claiming to be from Apple, Find My or customer support can feel helpful.
However, Apple will not ask you to enter your iPhone passcode through a random link sent by text or WhatsApp. The passcode is the prize. Once you give it up, you may help the thief turn your locked phone into a sellable device.
Ways to stay safe from stolen iPhone scams
If your iPhone goes missing, a few calm steps can help you avoid handing thieves the one thing they need most: your passcode.
1) Never enter your iPhone passcode through a text link
Your iPhone passcode should stay on your iPhone. Do not type it into a website that arrives by text, email or WhatsApp, even if the page looks like Apple.
2) Go directly to Find My
If your iPhone is missing, use the Find My app on another Apple device or go directly to iCloud through your browser. Do not use a link from a message.
3) Treat urgent recovery messages as suspicious
Scammers love pressure. A message may say your phone has been found, moved or scheduled for removal. Pause before you click. Open Apple’s tools yourself instead.
4) Use a strong iPhone passcode
Avoid simple codes such as birthdays, repeating numbers or easy patterns. A longer alphanumeric passcode gives thieves a much harder target.
5) Keep Activation Lock turned on
Make sure Find My is enabled before anything happens. On iPhone, go to Settings > your name > Find My > Find My iPhone and confirm that Find My iPhone is turned on.
6) Do not remove the stolen iPhone from your Apple Account too quickly
If your iPhone is stolen, keep it listed in Find My and your Apple Account. Removing it can also remove Activation Lock, which helps stop someone else from erasing, activating and reselling your phone. If you use Find My, select the stolen iPhone and choose Mark As Lost or Erase This Device if needed. Avoid Remove This Device unless Apple Support, your carrier or law enforcement tells you to do it.
FIND A LOST PHONE THAT IS OFF OR DEAD
Apple’s Activation Lock can make stolen iPhones harder to resell, but scammers are trying to trick victims into disabling protections. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
7) Use strong antivirus software on your devices
Strong antivirus software can help block malicious links, phishing pages and scam sites before they do damage. It can also warn you when a site looks unsafe. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.
8) Report the stolen iPhone
Report the stolen phone to local police and your wireless carrier. Your carrier may be able to suspend service or block the device from the network.
Yes. Android phones have their own anti-theft protections, but thieves may still try a similar trick. Instead of asking for an iPhone passcode, a scammer may send a fake Google, Find My Device, Find Hub, Samsung Find or carrier message after your Android phone is stolen.
The message may claim your phone was found, moved or ready to be recovered. Then it may send you to a fake page that asks for your Google account password, Samsung account password or screen lock PIN, password or pattern.
That information can help a thief get around protections that make a stolen Android phone harder to reset and resell. Google’s Factory Reset Protection can require the previous Google account or screen lock after an unauthorized reset. Samsung says Google Device Protection works on Galaxy phones when a Google account and lock screen are set up.
The advice is the same: do not use a link from a text, email or WhatsApp message to recover a stolen Android phone. Go directly to Google’s Find Hub, Samsung Find or your carrier’s official website yourself. Never type your phone’s screen lock or account password into a recovery page that arrived by message.
Kurt’s key takeaways
A stolen iPhone used to be a headache for thieves because Activation Lock made resale harder. Now, criminals are trying to make you part of the unlocking process. They do it with fake Apple pages, carefully timed texts and slick-looking maps that play on panic. The safest move is to slow down. If your phone disappears, use Apple’s official Find My tools and ignore any message that asks for your passcode. That very code may be the one thing standing between a locked brick and a payday for a thief.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Should phone makers and wireless carriers do more to stop stolen phones from being resold, or is the responsibility mostly on users to lock down their devices? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
- Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox.
- For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit CyberGuy.com – trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily.
- Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join.
Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
-
Politics4 minutes agoClinton judge indefinitely blocks Trump’s $1.776B anti-weaponization fund
-
Health11 minutes agoWoman’s unexpected turnaround in Alzheimer’s symptoms follows psychedelic use
-
Sports13 minutes agoWorld Cup Buzz: Neymar Out For Brazil’s Match Against Morocco On Saturday
-
Technology19 minutes agoGoogle wants to release millions of mosquitoes
-
Business26 minutes agoParamount’s $111-billion Warner Bros. acquisition clears key hurdle
-
Entertainment29 minutes agoESPN’s coverage of 2026 NBA Finals is setting ratings records for ABC
-
Lifestyle34 minutes agoHow to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Fred Armisen
-
Politics41 minutes agoTrump’s quiet crackdown: Fewer ICE raids, harsher rules push immigrants to leave
