Technologies

Alienware Intros Thinnest x14, Most Powerful m18 Gaming Laptops

Alienware redesigns its laptops for greater comfort, with better cooling and next-gen components.

At CES 2023 in Las Vegas, gaming PC-maker Alienware surprised us with four new laptops, including its most powerful gaming laptop ever and the world’s thinnest 14-inch gaming laptop. All of the new models will be loaded with next-gen chips from Intel, AMD and Nvidia and were developed using an updated version of the Dell-owned company’s Legend design framework.

Legend 3.0 changes the design slightly, flattening the back to make it more comfortable to carry as well as an updated nose so they’re easier to open. They all have a new foot design to allow for better cooling and greater comfort when used on your lap. They all have taller 16:10 displays, Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision support, full-HD webcams and a thermal material on the CPU and GPU for optimized heat dissipation.

The second-gen Alienware x14 is the smallest of the bunch and Alienware says it’s the thinnest 14-inch gaming laptop in the world. Its display has a 2,560×1,600-pixel resolution with a 165Hz refresh rate and 100% P3 color range.

The Alienware x14 arrives this winter starting at $1,799. UK and Australian availability and pricing weren’t announced, but the US price converts to approximately 1,490 or AU$2,635.

A 16-inch version, the Alienware x16, will also be available for those who want a bit more power and screen real estate but still in a slim package. It’s expected to start at $2,149 but only high-end configurations will be available at launch, starting at $3,099.

If you want to go even bigger though, Alienware announced the all-new m18. It’s an impressive 18-inch laptop, which you can load up with your choice of Intel or AMD processors and Nvidia or Radeon graphics. To keep the components cool, Alienware used seven heat pipes and four fans while keeping the same body thickness as last year’s m17.

The m18 has a full-sized keyboard and number pad with optional Cherry MX mechanical keys, plus dual user-replaceable DDR5 SO-DIMM slots and up to 9TB of potential storage. Alienware will offer it with either a 165Hz 2,560×1,600-pixel resolution or a 480Hz 1,920×1,200-pixel resolution.

Again, Alienware will only have high-end configurations at launch, with prices starting at $2,800. Entry-level m18 models will start at $2,099. And, like the x14, you can opt for a smaller 16-inch m16, which will have many of the same features, ergonomics and design qualities as the m18. At launch, the m16 will start at $2,599 but lower-end configurations are expected later this year, starting at around $1,899.

Technologies

iPhone 17 Preorders Spike and Overall Phone Sales Aren’t Slowing Down Despite Tariffs

Global smartphone shipments saw a notable increase in the third quarter of 2025. Plus, preorders for Apple’s new iPhone 17 beat out the iPhone 16.

Despite tariffs and market uncertainty, global smartphone shipments increased 2.6% in the third quarter of 2025, compared to the same time last year, according to the International Data Corporation. Additionally, preorders for the iPhone 17, which launched last month, outpaced last year’s iPhone 16.

These increased sales include premium phones like the latest iPhones and Samsung foldables, suggesting yet again that pricier phones still sell in periods of economic strain. It’s a remarkable achievement, says IDC senior research director Nabila Popal, citing shrewd financing options as the reason people keep buying these high-end phones, which cost anywhere from $800 to nearly $2,000.

«[Phone makers] have mastered the art of innovation not only in hardware and software to entice upgrades but also in removing purchase friction. They have flawlessly combined cutting-edge devices with innovative financing models and aggressive trade-in programs that make the upgrading decision a ‘no-brainer’ for consumers,» Popal said in an IDC press release.

Apple sold 58.6 million iPhones this quarter, an increase of 2.9% over the same period in 2024, with more preorders for the iPhone 17 series than its predecessor. But Samsung wasn’t far behind, with its Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 selling better than all of the company’s prior foldables. The company still reigns atop the phone market with 61.4 million phones sold, representing 19% of the market in the third quarter of this year — an increase of 6.3% from the same period last year. Meanwhile, Apple lands slightly behind Samsung with 18.2% market share this quarter.

The other phone makers trailing Apple and Samsung are, in order: Xiaomi, with 13.5% of the market; Transsion, with 9%; and Vivo with 8.9%. The remaining companies in the phones industry, from Chinese stalwarts like Oppo and Honor to Motorola and Google, make up the remaining 31.4% of the market for the quarter. All told, 322.7 million phones were sold, up from 314.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, according to IDC.

IDC’s findings for the third quarter continue the small but steady growth of phone sales over the year, including a modest 1% increase in the preceding three months — which includes the April deadline when President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs. In the second quarter, IDC cited midrange devices like Samsung’s Galaxy A36 and other phones that started incorporating AI. But even persistent tariffs haven’t slowed down people’s appetites for pricier phones in the third quarter.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Tuesday, Oct. 14

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Oct. 14.

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 Mini Crossword has an odd vertical shape, with an extra Across clue, and only four Down clues. The clues are not terribly difficult, but one or two could be tricky. Read on if you need the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

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 to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.