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Review: This Portable Controller Is the Perfect On the Go Gaming Accessory

The Crkd Neo S is a fun, little controller with a reasonable price — and a few quirks.

Gaming controllers are a dime a dozen, and it’s not easy to know which ones are worth spending money on. Often, the question is whether you really need to upgrade to a new controller when you still have the one that came with your console. However, the truth is there are so many more ways we can play our favorite games now, including on our phones and tablets. Plus, having something you can quickly drop into your bag in case you want to game on the go is super helpful, too.

I’ve been testing a lot of controllers lately, and the Crkd (pronounced like «cracked») Neo S offers nearly everything you’d want in a good, easily portable game controller — and it’s affordable, too. The company let me check out the Frost Edition, and I’ve been quite impressed.

What I like about the Crkd Neo S

Hardware and customization

Crkd mostly nails the hardware on the Neo S. Firstly, I had not used a rectangular controller before, but it felt very comfortable after just a few minutes. The slightly protruding grips on the back help out quite a bit.

The buttons are really clicky, the joysticks are stiff without being too rigid and the triggers feel great. Gaming with the Neo S for a couple of hours at a time was a pleasure, and I never missed an input due to mushy controls.

The Neo S connects wirelessly via Bluetooth, but there’s also a USB-C port and an included cable for wired gaming. Up to three devices can be connected at a time. Once set up, I was able to quickly switch between my PC, iPad and Nintendo Switch in just a few seconds.

It’s impressive that it’s as good as it is, considering its size. The Neo S is small enough to tuck into a large pants or jacket pocket if you really need to, and it easily slipped into my backpack. Although, the lack of a carrying case meant the sticks caught on my bag occasionally, but it’s quite easy to travel with.

Another fun thing about the Neo S is all the different special editions available. I have the Frost Edition, which is exclusive to the Apple Store (and currently sold out), but there are options like Retro Gold, Classic Clear, Fortnite and several others. You can add them to your «collection» in the Crkd app, and the app will tell you the product number of your controller and even give it a rarity rank depending on how many were made.

It would be cool if you could collect points or something by adding more to your collection, which you could then redeem for discounts on other controllers or accessories, but right now, points seem to be for bragging rights only.

One other impressive thing about the Neo S is the pro-level of customization built into it. Considering its price and size, you wouldn’t necessarily think you could customize almost everything possible input on it. Things like the vibration intensity, trigger sensitivity, even the dead zones for the joysticks — all things that you can normally only customize on controllers that cost a few hundred dollars.

Despite all of its features and compact design, the Neo S is still reasonably priced. At the time of writing, you can find most editions for about $40 to $50, though newly released editions are typically around $60. Plus, you get even more discounts if you buy a few at a time (like if you want to upgrade the kiddos’ Switch controllers). That’s really not a bad price at all for such a good controller, especially with as much customization as this one offers.

What I don’t like about the Crkd Neo S

For as good as the inputs on the Neo S are, the haptics are surprisingly mediocre. They aren’t as bad as others I’ve used, but I would recommend keeping them on the lowest setting or just turning them off. They’re nice to have for some games, but I’m just not a fan.

Also, while the controller is extremely customizable, tweaking those settings is pretty confusing. Changing any of them manually on the controller requires pressing a combination of the big Crkd button at the top and some other random button. It’s not at all intuitive, so you either have to memorize the different button combos or look them up every time.

Thankfully, you can change everything in the Crkd iOS or Android app, but that means pausing your game, connecting to the other device, changing the settings and switching back to the console. It’s quite a lot of steps, and it doesn’t save settings between devices — you’ll have to change them every time.

This confusion also translates to the setup process. Pairing to and switching between devices took some trial and error at first, and even so, you have to remember which button combo connects to which device (D-pad up plus Crkd button for iOS, D-pad right plus Crkd button for Switch, and so on). Having a tiny LCD screen that could help walk you through stuff might help, but my recommendation is to just pair the controller with one device and leave it.

Should you buy the Crkd Neo S?

All that being said, I would absolutely recommend the Neo S in a heartbeat. It’s a really solid little controller that’s incredibly portable and quite comfortable to use. Plus, the immense level of customization means you can get pro-level controls for a fraction of what you’d pay for something like an Xbox Elite controller.

The collectible nature of the special editions also adds another layer of fun to the Neo S.

Personally, I wish I’d discovered Crkd controllers years ago.

Technologies

Dangerous TikTok Chromebook Challenge: Avoid Sparking a Fire in Your Laptop

Well, this is a bad idea: Kids are jamming metal into their school computer USB ports.

TikTok is full of entertaining cat videos, humorous dances, and yes, even challenges — the famed ice-bucket challenge has returned and is promoting mental-health support. But now a dangerous TikTok challenge is spreading through the short-form video app and through schools across the US.

The Chromebook Challenge, named for Google’s line of laptops, encourages students to insert metal items into the USB port on their school-issued computers, intending to create sparks, smoke and possibly a fire.

A representative for TikTok told NBC News that the challenge videos were not exclusive to their platform, and that search terms like «Chromebook Challenge» have been blocked.

A representative for Google didn’t immediately respond to CNET’s request for comment

Read more: Best laptops of 2025

Searching TikTok will bring up videos showing kids attempting the dangerous and damaging challenge. Schools, as you might expect, are not happy.

David Winston, principal of Lincoln Park Middle School in Morris County, New Jersey, sent a letter home to parents about the dangers of the act, as reported by NorthJersey.com.

Read more: The 75 Hard and 75 Soft TikTok Fitness Challenges Explained

«We expect our students to make responsible choices and refrain from any behavior that could result in injury, property damage, disciplinary action, or the loss of privileges,» Winston said in his letter. «This type of act is considered a form of vandalism and, if a fire results, could be treated as arson.»

And kids might not be laughing when their parents get the bill for a damaged or ruined laptop.

«We’re asking for your help in talking to your child about the importance of taking care of their school devices and thinking twice before participating in online challenges like this,» reads a letter sent to parents of kids in Virginia’s Prince George’s County Public Schools, as reported by FOX5. «As a reminder, families are responsible for the cost of any deliberate damage done to school-issued Chromebooks.»

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Technologies

Hey Wordle Players, the New Pope Is One of Us

He also saw the movie Conclave, plays Words with Friends and is a Chicago White Sox fan.

Maybe an upcoming Wordle puzzle will include the word PAPAL. On Thursday, Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost was chosen the first American pope ever, taking the papal name Pope Leo XIV. Although he spent years of his ministry in Peru, he might just have some things in common with his fellow Americans. According to an interview with his brother John, who lives in Illinois, the new pope enjoys the New York Times game Wordle, plays the Scrabble-like game Words With Friends, and yes, he has seen the 2024 movie Conclave, which focuses on a fictional papal election.

Read more: Click for answers to today’s Wordle, Connections, Strands, Connections: Sports Edition and Mini Crossword

NBC Chicago spoke to the new pope’s brother, who’s understandably overwhelmed. John Prevost said he talked to his brother on Tuesday before the conclave started, and asked Robert Prevost, who was then still a cardinal, if he’d seen the Conclave film. And indeed he had.

«He had just finished watching the movie Conclave,» John Prevost told NBC Chicago. «I wanted to take his mind off of it and laugh about something. Because this is now an awesome responsibility.»

Read more: How to Stream Conclave

According to NBC News, John Prevost also said his chat with his brother included «discussing Wordle and playing Words with Friends.» Wordle is the New York Times’ online game where players are given six chances to guess a five-letter word. (CNET posts the answers to Wordle and other NYT puzzles daily.) Words with Friends is another word game, but more like Scrabble, and allows for back-and-forth play between two friends. Or brothers. Or a soon-to-be pope and his brother.

Read more: Wordle Players, Use Our Tip Sheet to Find Your Next Favorite Starter Word

A representative for the New York Times didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The pope’s brother also set the Holy Father’s Chicago baseball allegiance straight. Although the Chicago Cubs tried to claim him on social media, his brother confirmed that the pope is from the South Side of Chicago and is a White Sox fan.

While quotes from NBC didn’t flat-out say the new pope plays Wordle (they said he «discussed it»), who discusses a puzzle they don’t play? So when you fire up your next round of Wordle, and puzzle over those double letters, or rack your brain for a way to use the yellow letters you just can’t place, think to yourself that maybe the new pope is doing the exact same thing.

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Friday, May 9

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for May 9.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.


Today’s NYT Mini Crossword is one of those oddball ones where certain letters in certain answers get placed into circles, and they serve as a clue for 9-Across. I usually shudder at such game tricks, but this was an easy puzzle, so the circles didn’t bother me. Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Humpty Dumpty, in many illustrations
Answer: EGG

4A clue: Cartoon bear who wears a red shirt and no pants
Answer: POOH

6A clue: Collection of world maps
Answer: ATLAS

8A clue: Counterpart of «adios»
Answer: HOLA

9A clue: [See circled letters]
Answer: WOW

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Clean water org.
Answer: EPA

2D clue: Subculture with black clothing
Answer: GOTH

3D clue: «When they ___ …» (start of a memorable Michelle Obama line)
Answer: GOLOW

5D clue: Angel topper
Answer: HALO

7D clue: It has sharp teeth
Answer: SAW

How to play more Mini Crosswords

The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.

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